Shots Fired in Alexandria
Police continue investigating wave of gunfire reports from across city.
The first “shots fired” call of the summer came in on April 18. Since then, there have been 13 reports of “shots fired” across Alexandria.
Alexandria: City Council Brief for 6/26
Pepper Celebrates 30 Years on Council
At the close of the 2014-2015 City Council session, members of the council watched a presentation and recalled where each was 30 years ago. For most, they were memories of playing sports as a young adult or living with their families, Councilman John Chapman was still celebrating a single-digit birthday. But for Council member Del Pepper, 1985 was memorable for an entirely different reason: it was the year she joined City Council.
Alexandria: Lodato Memorial Playground Now Open
The new accessible playground, named after Ruthanne Lodato, an Alexandria piano and music teacher who was an active supporter of Alexandria’s special needs community, is officially open.
Obituary: Alice June Atkinson Higgins
Obituary
Alice June Atkinson Higgins died on Monday, June 22, 2015.
Obituary: Olive Jean Osbourn Powell
Obituary
Olive Jean Osbourn Powell died on June 7, 2015 in Alexandria, after a brief illness.
Alexandria: Celebrating Wright To Read
Wright to Read welcomed more than 50 Alexandria City Public Schools students with their families and their Wright to Read tutors for the Annual Celebration Picnic on Saturday, June 6. The sunny afternoon in the organization’s yard featured food; fun and games; giveaways of books, bookcases, and desks; and recognition of each child’s reading achievements.
Alexandria: Helping Veteran-Owned Businesses
The Bunker@DC opens at Capitol Post.
The Bunker@DC, an incubator program for early-stage, veteran-owned businesses and veteran entrepreneurs, is accepting applications through June 30 for its first cohort of companies. Operating out of the Capitol Post’s co-working office space in Old Town, The Bunker@DC will support veterans in launching and growing a business in a peer- to-peer setting.
Alexandria: ‘The Shiloh Story’ Tells History of Local Church
Telling the church’s history.
With her halo of salt and pepper hair and a calm voice, Lillian Stanton Patterson has an air of someone who has seen it all. When it comes to Alexandria history, there’s some truth to that. Patterson is a lifelong resident of Alexandria with a family history in the city dating back to the 1800s. Patterson and co-author Sarah R. Robertson have recently completed their book, “The Shiloh Story, Journey to Jubilee: 150 Years.” The book chronicles the history of Shiloh Church, its Civil War beginnings, its clergy, church officers, community efforts and the many historical events Shiloh encountered over the years.
Alexandria People at Work: The Hunt for the Culex Mosquito
Daniel Sherwood poked the long-handled dipper into the manhole. "Let's see if we can get any here." He peered into the stagnant water in the dipper. "Look at this; we have all four instars in here. These rafts are filled with eggs, and each raft can have 50-100 mosquitoes. See that little guy wiggling around in there," he said. "He is getting ready to pupate. We are really concerned about the pupa. When they get to the fourth instar stage, they stop eating and start laying eggs."
Alexandria: The Longest Day Bridge Tournament Supports Alzheimer’s Research
Event at Beth El Hebrew Congregation raises $21,500.
Yuen De Anda bustled around the function room at the Beth El Hebrew Congregation on Seminary Road without pausing, greeting all participants by name and putting the final flourishes on the The Longest Day event she’s been planning for months. The Longest Day — held on June 21, the longest day of the year — was organized by Bridge Heroes United, a cooperative endeavor between The Northern Virginia Bridge Association, the Washington Bridge League, and the Richmond Bridge Association. The event’s goal was to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research.
Call for Pet Connection Photos
The Pet Connection, a twice-yearly special edition, will publish on July 22, and photos and stories of your pets with you and your family should be submitted by July 15. Our favorite pictures include both pets and humans. We welcome short stories about how you got your pet, a noteworthy talent or anecdote about your pet, tales of the bonds between your family and your pet, plus drawings, paintings or other artwork of your pet by children or adults Please tell us a little bit about your creature, identify everyone in the photo, give a brief description what is happening in the photo, and include address and phone number (we will not publish your address or phone number, just your town name).
Editorial: Safe Planning for Independence
Talking and planning about celebrating July 4, and throughout the summer months.
Independence Day is a national celebration, and for many, that celebration includes alcohol. The summer overall and July 4 in particular are times of greater risk for drinking and driving.
Alexandria Appetite: Good Restaurants Make Good Neighbors
Once bereft of eateries, Carlyle community now boasts embarrassment of riches.
For years, the Carlyle community has been more than a nine-to-five business district. While condos and apartments have been full for more than half a decade, the restaurant population has been slow to catch up. In a neighborhood that was once dominated primarily by sandwich shops and other lunchtime eateries, some more substantial dining spots have emerged, and they’re certainly worth a visit.
Alexandria Home Sales: May, 2015
In May, 2015, 276 Alexandria homes sold between $3,100,000-$95,000.
Alexandria Home Sales: May, 2015
Alexandria: Therapist Convicted of Sexual Abuse
Gary Stephen Hankins, 45, of Arlington, was convicted last month by a jury of six felonies related to the sexual abuse of a minor who had visited Hankins for the purpose of receiving therapy.
Ideas for Summer Learning
Experts offer suggestions for avoiding summer brain drain.
While summer is opportunity for fun, it can also be a breeding ground for stagnation.
YouthQuest Runs ThinkLink
Experts say 3D printing can open a world of imagination and critical thinking.
Adonis Gonzales had always wanted to become a master electrician, but when he was asked to leave high school at 16 because of a poor attendance record, his prospects looked bleak.
Alexandria: Patrick Henry Plan Advances
School Board addresses community criticisms of Patrick Henry development.
A divided School Board moved forward with plans to rebuild the Patrick Henry Elementary School. In a 6-3 vote, the School Board approved construction of a new Patrick Henry School and will begin the planning phase for the new building. Patrick Henry Elementary currently houses nearly 600 students in grades preK-5, but will expand to 800 students as a preK-8 school.

