Author: Scott McCaffrey

Future elections may require more precincts in Arlington, new early-voting sites

By Scott McCaffrey

County election officials have concluded that Long Bridge Park won’t work as an early-voting site for the 2028 presidential election, and they’re working to identify alternatives.

The county government’s fitness and aquatics center at the park was used as one of three early-voting locations in 2024 but “ended up serving fewer voters than expected,” election officials said in a draft strategic plan currently out for public review.

“Long Bridge turned out not to be an ideal location, due to citizens’ unfamiliarity with the facility and its out-of-the-way location,” election officials said. “Finding satellite locations that are easily accessible to voters is important.”

In 2024, the Long Bridge location operated alongside the existing early-voting sites at the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, Madison Community Center and Walter Reed Community Center.

“During the 2024 presidential election, existing locations were able to meet demand, but lengthy voter lines sporadically developed on the first and last days of early voting at several locations,” the draft report notes.

Even Madison Community Center, long an early-voting site accessible for many North Arlington residents, is not without its challenges, election officials said:

“The Madison satellite location has experienced difficulties because the largest room at that facility is unavailable except on Election Day. Early voting is relegated to a room insufficient for the number of voters it handles.”

Election officials are looking not only at finding a replacement for the Long Bridge facility for 2028, but also expanding early-voting sites in subsequent elections to handle expected population growth and many voters’ desire to cast ballots in person but in advance of Election Day.

But adding more early-voting sites could add “significant stress” to the county’s elections office, as they are labor-intensive efforts and require acquisition of additional equipment.

Population growth also would likely require the creation of new voting precincts beyond the current 54. Election officials have asked county leaders to work with developers on agreements to set aside space for Election Day voting in their new projects.

Comments on the draft strategic plan are being accepted through Oct. 17.

Gardener group urges property owners to ‘leave the leaves’ to boost ecosystem

By Scott McCaffrey

With leaves falling along with autumn temperatures, Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia is pleading with local property owners not to rake and remove all their leaves from yards.

“There are many ways you can use them rather than sending them to the landfill,” said Claudia Gerwin, who on Oct. 3 led an online program for Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Arlington-Alexandria office.

Gerwin trained as Master Gardener in 2012 and currently serves as cochair of the organization’s public-education committee.

Leaves release valuable nutrients as they decompose, improving soil quality, Gerwin said, offering a number of opportunities:

  • Spreading a layer of leaves about 3 to 4 inches deep around trees — though not immediately adjacent to the trunk — will offer winter shelter for insects and animals while providing moisture for the trees themselves
  • At-home composting provides a carbon- and nitrogen-rich result that can be used to dress gardens and lawns

Gerwin said those who take the outlined steps are not just benefiting themselves. “Your yard plays an important role in the ecosystem,” she noted.

There were some concerns raised during the program about composting and leaf-leaving resulting in a proliferation of snakes and rodents, but generally that was not a problem, several said.

“They have their own [shelter] system already in place,” said Ginny McNair, one of the participants.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a joint effort of Virginia Tech and Virginia State University. The Arlington office is located at the Fairlington Community Center, and speakers on a wide array of topics are available for presentations to community organizations.

The local Master Gardeners Help Desk is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street. In-person, phone and email inquiries are answered.

In addition, local residents can get answers to questions at the second annual Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia Fall Fest, slated for Saturday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Duncan Library in Alexandria.

Elaine Mills of Master Gardeners said the online Oct. 3 program was the last for the year, but 2026 will provide many more.

“Look for our class list for new programs in December,” she said.

Presentations from Master Gardener speakers are archived online. The recent “Leave the Leaves” program will be added in coming weeks, Mills said.

For those who do put some or all of their leaves out for collection, the Arlington government makes several sweeps through neighborhoods in November and December each year.

About 50,000 cubic yards of leaves are collected each year, being turned into mulch that is available to local residents without charge if picked up or with a fee if delivered.

Tree seedlings available from Dept. of Forestry

The Virginia Department of Forestry this month is offering a wide variety of trees and shrubs for purchase through its online seedling store.

Bred specifically for Virginia’s soils and climate, seedlings are grown and sold directly from the agency’s nurseries in Augusta and Sussex counties. The nurseries are financially self-supporting, and have been providing seedlings for more than a century.

Nearly 60 tree and shrub species are available this year. Additions include northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), as well as returning best sellers like eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), pawpaw (Asimina triloba) and American hazelnut (Corylus americana).

Orders are accepted until April, but supplies are limited, and some species sell out quickly. Deliveries and pickups are scheduled for mid-February through late April.

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Department of Forestry also is offering seedlings from some of the oldest white oaks in Virginia — many being as old as the country’s founding.

A brief description and photo of the parent white oak will be shipped along with the seedlings.

The Virginia Department of Forestry has offices throughout the commonwealth. Inquiries from Arlington residents are handled from the Fairfax office.