Around Town

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Oct 13, 2025

By ARLnow.com

Good Monday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Oct 13, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

☁️ Tuesday’s forecast

The weather will be mostly cloudy and reach a high near 70, accompanied by a north wind at 11 to 14 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. Tuesday night will see mostly clear conditions, with temperatures dropping to around 54 and a north wind around 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
– Albert Schweitzer

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum.

Around Town

Arlington amputee to participate in charitable Mount Kilimanjaro hike

By Katie Taranto

An Arlington man is preparing to scale the highest peak in Africa with a prosthetic leg, aiming to fundraise for clean water and inspire other amputees.

Jacob Rainey, who walks with an artificial right leg, is embarking on a seven-day, 43-mile challenge to hike Mount Kilimanjaro this February. Alongside a group including veterans and former athletes, he is raising funds for Waterboys, a clean water advocacy initiative by former NFL defensive end Chris Long.

Rainey, who shares a hometown connection and mentor-like relationship with the retired player from Charlottesville, told ARLnow that he is motivated by a desire to provide clean water around the world while inspiring people who may share a similar story of adversity.

Rainey was a high school quarterback when, in 2011, his knee was dislocated while being tackled during a scrimmage. The dislocation severed his popliteal artery, leading doctors to amputate the leg above the knee to save his life.

He returned to the field with a prosthetic leg as a captain during his senior year, and later joined the University of Virginia’s football team as a preferred walk-on. The story earned national attention from outlets like ESPN and the New York Times, which reported on the young man’s journey of fortitude.

“That’s one of the reasons why I enjoy getting involved in different foundations, giving back where I can, because I know there’s other people out there that maybe haven’t been as fortunate, in terms of the support systems and resources,” Rainey said.

This winter, Rainey, who currently works for a D.C. investment firm, hopes to continue spreading the message of defying expectations while giving back.

“You don’t let anyone else set expectations for you,” he said. “Hopefully it does reach others that can feel inspired to get going … you know, not let any sort of adversity get in their way and slow them down.”

The Waterboys’ annual hike raises funds to construct new water wells across Tanzania. Past participants have included the likes of Jason Kelce and Beau Allen, and hikers fundraise through a donation page on the program’s website.

Climbing one of the world’s tallest peaks is no small task. Rainey said he is preparing for the trip with vigorous uphill treadmill walks, long weekend hikes with his wife and dog, and a recent vacation spent hiking the Italian Dolomites.

“Kilimanjaro definitely makes me a little uncomfortable in terms of the challenge, which I think is a good sign that it’s the right thing to do to challenge myself,” he said.

Sponsored

Listing of the Day: 6223 Langston Blvd

By ARLnow.com

Address: 6223 Langston Blvd
Neighborhood: Lee Ridge
Type: 3 BR, 2 BA single-family detached – 3300 sq. ft.
Listed: $1,299,000

Noteworthy: City living with tailored country surroundings/two-car garage

A timeless North Arlington Cape Cod, lovingly maintained and thoughtfully upgraded by the same owners since 1995.

This home features three upstairs bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Set behind a handsome stone retaining wall, the home enjoys wonderful privacy and quiet, thanks to its solid one-foot-thick stone construction. Large windows on every side invite natural light to spill across the high ceilings, solid wood floors, and custom built-ins found throughout both levels.

The kitchen is a chef’s delight, complete with a gas cooktop, granite countertops, and a suite of thoughtful additions including a microwave with convection capabilities. Surround sound enhances the first floor, ceiling and wall speakers in the sunroom, dining room, and living room, and SpeakerCraft ceiling speakers in the kitchen. Bright recessed lighting runs throughout the home, while the basement shines with upgraded fixtures that bring exceptional brightness to the space.

Outdoor living is equally as inviting with a rear stone patio and exterior lighting with carriage lamps and multiple spotlights that showcase the grounds beautifully. The primary suite is a true retreat with custom built-in cabinetry featuring granite countertops that flow seamlessly into the walk-in closet and bathroom.

Recent updates include exterior and interior painting (2024), a fully renovated lower-level bath (2024), and roof replacements over both the house and garage (2017). An oversized detached two-car garage with storage plus a driveway accommodating four or more cars provides exceptional convenience. This residence offers easy access to Georgetown, downtown DC, Airports, and Metro.

Listed by:
James Corry – James Corry Real Estate Services
[email protected]
(561) 389-3111

News

Crime Solvers celebrates K9 teams at Arlington sheriff’s office and police department

By Scott McCaffrey

Some public-safety heroes walk on two legs while others walk on four, Sheriff Jose Quiroz noted as Arlington County Crime Solvers saluted the 13 K9 teams serving with local agencies.

Each of the dogs and their handlers at the Arlington County Police Department and Arlington County Sheriff’s Office have received specialized training to meet a range of challenges in an urban environment. As such, they are collectively deserving of the “Officer of the Year” award, Crime Solvers president Andres Tobar said.

The sheriff’s office is home to three K9 teams: Cpl. Matthew Camardi and Logan; Cpl. Kevin McCabe and Weaver; and Cpl. Ewelina Zajkowski and Hope.

Logan and Weaver have received specialized training related to explosives, electronics and drug detection. Hope is the office’s wellness ambassador, helping to reduce stress and promote mental well-being among staff, detainees and the community.

“Safety is not only about enforcement — it’s about compassion,” Quiroz said at the luncheon, held at Busboys & Poets in Shirlington.

The police department has 10 K9 teams, four of which focus on explosives detection and six of which patrol units that have been cross-trained in either firearms or narcotics detection.

Their efforts help to enhance law-enforcement capabilities, Penn said.

Local police K9 teams go through 16 months of training followed by four weeks of specialized detection training. They continue to receive regular updated training throughout their careers, Penn said.

ACPD provides training not only for dogs in Arlington, but for those destined for roles in other jurisdictions, such as Loudoun County.

The Oct. 9 luncheon marked the end of Tobar’s 15-year tenure as president of Crime Solvers. He took over from former Arlington Chamber of Commerce president Rich Doud.

“We wish him some well-deserved rest and relaxation,” said Dulce Carrillo of Arlington Public Schools, who emceed the program.

While no successor has been named, Tobar said there were a number of qualified individuals serving on the organization’s board.

“I’m delighted with the talent that has stepped up,” he said.

Arlington County Crime Solvers offers the public an opportunity to provide anonymous information about criminal activity at (866) 411-TIPS or online. The organization also works to bridge any divides between public safety and the community.

Tobar serves as executive director of the Shirlington Employment and Education Center (SEEC), and has worked to build bridges between the immigrant community and law enforcement.

Andres Tobar is honored by Police Chief Andy Penn and Sheriff Jose Quiroz (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Collaborations such as those are needed now more than ever, he said.

“We’re in some very tough times now. People are hurting,” Tobar said. “But we will persevere and we will do it by focusing on things we can control.”

Penn and Quiroz jointly presented Tobar with a plaque to mark his “steadfast leadership.”

“He is passionate about making a difference,” Penn said.

Also at the luncheon, Veronica Santos was presented with the 2025 Crime Solvers Community Champion Award. Santos is director of external affairs for Comcast’s Beltway Region, and long has been active in the organization.

Opinion

Carlos “DC” De Castro Pretelt: Why you should vote for me

By Opinion Contributor

We recently invited the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 4 General Election to write a post about why Arlington residents should vote for them. Find information on how and where to vote here.

Below is the unedited response from Carlos “DC” De Castro Pretelt, who is running for County Board.

Competition is the cornerstone of America. We see it in sports, in school, and at work. It is a critical component of a well-functioning society because it encourages members to collaborate and advance through the creation and implementation of new ideas. Competition enables a marketplace of ideas.

The current state of politics is the oppositive of this. Over the last few decades, the incentives in our electoral system have brought forth a specific type of candidate. One that relies on fear and outrage to continually discourage citizens from communicating and collaborating with each other. Over time, this lack of communication has forced politicians to adopt more extreme positions to win their elections.

I am running for office because I am tired of this nonsense. I refuse to continue being a bystander while political discourse deteriorates, with increasingly tragic results. I understand that as an independent the deck is firmly stacked against me, as I do not have the financial resources of either party. I am fine with that. I like competition and I have been immersed in it since I came to this country over 25 years ago.

Over the past few years, I’ve been an advocate with grass roots organizations promoting Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). RCV has been heralded as one of the best ways to increase participation by independents and smaller parties in the political process, increasing competition and a new marketplace of ideas. This November, Arlington County will be using Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) during the general election. Promoting RCV and seeing it implemented is part of what drew me to campaign.

Beyond politics, I want to make Arlington very competitive. I want it to be more than merely a suburb for those who work in DC. I want Arlington to have its own unique, exceptional economic engine, resilient to the whims of the federal government. I want Arlington to be known as a one-of-a-kind destination in the US. A city known for its highly-educated, health-focused, enterprising population and indomitable spirit.

As your elected representative, I promise you all my efforts will go towards ensuring this vision comes true. Our exceptional community is what makes us strong. In these very challenging times, it is time to embrace a new style of politics, one that seeks to understand our differences rather than exploit them. A politics focused on answering all the needs of our diverse community. I think it’s time.

“Nothing else in the world…not all the armies…is so powerful as an idea whose time has come”

Announcement

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