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Happy Monday!  
Here’s the inside scoop.

☕️ Good morning, Arlington! We hope you had a great weekend. The last full week of summer is here, and there’s plenty happening. Enjoy the week and beautiful weather!

In today’s ARL Scoop:
📰 Readers Rise + Missing Middle Case
📆 Book Mini Golf + Westover Tree Walk

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📰 News Bites 
Quick local updates

🐻 Smokey Bear's Arlington Roots 
Smokey Bear, the iconic mascot of America's longest-running PSA campaign, has an Arlington connection. Artist Rudy Wendelin, a longtime Bluemont resident, gave Smokey his friendly face, hands, and trademark "Only YOU" pose—transforming him into the wildfire-prevention symbol recognized by generations nationwide.

🎓 Meet ARL’s Top Scholars
22 Arlington students have been named 2026 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, placing them among the top 1 percent of high school seniors nationwide. Representing schools across the county, they now compete for finalist status and a share of nearly $26 million in scholarships next year.

📚 APS Launches ‘Readers Rise’
Parent advocacy has prompted Arlington Public Schools to pilot "Readers Rise," a volunteer reading program at Barrett, Hoffman-Boston, and Long Branch elementary schools. Beginning mid-October, trained volunteers will spend an hour each week helping students build reading skills, with plans to potentially expand districtwide.

🏘️ Court Revives Missing Middle Case 
A Virginia appeals court reversed a ruling that had struck down Arlington's 2023 "missing middle" zoning policy, siding with developer Wilson's Ventures. The case now heads back to circuit court, prolonging the legal battle and leaving the future of small multifamily housing in Arlington uncertain.

🌱 EcoAmbassadors Program Launches
EcoAction Arlington and partners are launching EcoAmbassadors, a new volunteer program focused on climate and energy action. Training runs October 8–November 5, with sessions in Arlington and Alexandria. Volunteers will support projects on energy, transportation, and waste. Applications are due September 24.

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📆 This Week in Arlington
Weekday Happenings

🐝 Monday

• Board Game Evening at Aurora Hills at Aurora Hills Library, Free, 6 – 8 PM

• Navigating Crisis Together at Lubber Run Community Center, Free, 6 – 8 PM

• Great Decisions Discussion Group at Cherrydale Library, Free, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

• Short Story Social Club at Courthouse Library, Free, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

• Buzzy Spelling Bee at Punch Bowl Social, Free to watch / $13 to compete,  7PM

• Author Alma Katsu Celebrates the Release of FIEND at One More Page Books, Free, 7– 8 PM

🗳️ Tuesday

• Rank Choice Voting Workshop for Teens at Center for Youth and Family Advocacy, Free, 5:30 – 7 PM

• Arlington Civics: Virginia Voting Rights - 1965 to Today at Shirlington Library, Free, 6 – 7:30 PM

• Mindful Art at Courthouse Library, Free, 6 – 7:30 PM

• Salsa Dance Lessons outside Shirlington Library, Free, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

• Quintet for Clarinet & Strings at Glencarlyn Library, Free, 7 – 7:45 PM

• The Co-Conspirators and Sunshine Gang Acoustic Cafe at 2909 16th St S, Free but donations are welcome,  7 - 8 :30 PM

🪄 Wednesday

• Practicing Mindfulness at Courthouse Library, Free, 12 – 12:45 PM

• Kids Club: Play Lotería Bingo Game (Hispanic Heritage Month) at Central Library, Free, 4:15 – 5 PM

• Island Yoga at Island Time Bar & Grill, $29, 5:30 – 7 PM

• Shop Class: Miniature Magic at Central Library, Free, 6 – 7:30 PM

• Mozzarella Making at Pirouette Café, $85, 6 – 7:30 PM

• Garden Talks: Fall Foraging at Central Library, 6:30 – 7:30

• Author Talk: Emma Violand-Sanchez - "Dreams and Shadows" at Central Library, Free, 6:30 – 7:45 PM

• Pitch-a-Friend - Millennial Focused at Quincy Hall, Free, 7 PM

🍷 Thursday

• Business After Business with Arlington Chamber of Commerce at Rooftop Recess, $25 - 40, 4:30 – 6:30 PM

• Create a Venezuelan Toucan with Artist Ana Chabela and featuring music from Max Rosado and the 7th St. Band (Salsa) at Met Park, Free, 5 – 7 PM

• Fall Dried Wreaths Class at PLNTR, $75, 5:30 - 7 PM

• NAACP Arlington Branch September Membership Social at Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, Free, 5:30 - 7 PM

• Book Mini Golf at Shirlington Library, Free, 6 – 7:30 PM

• Bachata Dance Lessons at Columbia Pike at Columbia Pike Library, Free, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

• Rosslyn During Prohibition at Central Library, Free, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

• Special Wine Tasting & Food Pairing at Copperwood Tavern, $55, 6:30 - 10 PM

• Paris Sashay Presents: Tequila Made Me Do It at Arlington Drafthouse, $18 - 30, 7 PM

 🖼️ Friday

• Flow Yoga at Central Library, Free, 3 – 4 PM

• The Wizard of Oz at Met Park, Free, 6 PM

• It's A Steal Art Sale at Church of the Covenant, All Pieces Under $150, 5 – 7 PM (Saturday & Sunday too)

• Blacksmith Campfire at Gulf Branch Nature Center, $6, 6 - 7 PM

• Parent's Night Out drop off program for kids 5 - 10 at Walter Reed Center, $40 per participant, 6 – 10 PM

• Jen Kober Comedy Show at Arlington Drafthouse, $24, 7 & 9:30 PM (Saturday too)

• Live Comedy Starring Chris Alan at Crystal City Sports Pub, $18, 8 - 10 PM

🌳 Saturday

• Rosslyn Walk with City Girl DC at 1850 N Moore St, Free, 10 AM

• EcoAction Arlington Trash Tally, Volunteering, 10 AM – 12 PM

• Take and Make Solar-Powered Cars at Columbia Pike Library, Free, 10 AM - 5 PM

• Neighborhood Tree Walk in Westover meeting Outside Westover Library, Free, 10:30 – 11:30 AM

• Nonprofit Spotlight: Learn about Arlington Neighborhood Village at Cherrydale Library, Free, 10:30 – 11:30 AM

• Knits & Flicks at Westover Library, Free, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

• Spirited Ink Studios + Camille Hay Pop-Up at PLNTR, Free, 12 – 4 PM

• Green Valley Day at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School, Free, 12 – 5 PM

• Ecstatic Dance Arlington Fall Equinox at Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, ~$25, 2 – 5:30 PM

• Oktoberfest at Astro Beer Hall, 5 – 7 PM

• Landing Local Artisan Market at Waterpark, Free, 5 – 9 PM

• Pumpkin Campfire at Gulf Branch Nature Center, $6, 5:30 – 6:30 PM

• Cinema on the Plaza: The Legend of Zorro at Mason Plaza, Free, 8 – 10 PM

🧘‍♂️ Sunday

• Wandering Warblers at at Potomac Overlook Regional Park, $7, 10 AM – 12 PM

• MoCA on the Move featuring mixed media fall wooden ornament decoration and music from Caleb Hacker at Met Park, Free, 10 AM – 1 PM

• Chess Club at Courthouse Library, Free, 2 – 3:30 PM

• Honoring the Vietnam Donut Dollies: Documentary & Celebration at Military Women's Memorial, Free, 1 – 4 PM

• Cocktails & Coloring at Ballston Market food market, Free to join but encouraged to bring your own coloring supplies, 2:30 – 4:30 PM

• Sunset In The Garden Wine Festival at Arlington Beer Garden, $34 - 50, 3 – 9 PM

• Yoga for Good: Mindfulness and Meditation with Annie Moyer to benefit Arlington Thrive at Sun & Moon Yoga, Free Class but Donations Welcomes, 6 – 7 PM

• Anthony Robustiano Comedy Show at Arlington Drafthouse, $24, 7 PM

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Have a great day, Arlingtonians!