Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!
⛅ Today’s weather: Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 58 and low of 53.
☔ Tomorrow: Light rain in the morning. High of 65 and low of 51. Sunrise at 6:41 am and sunset at 6:02 pm.
🚨 You need to know
Alexandria Fire Department (AFD) Deputy Chief Brian Hricik died last week after a three-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Hricik had been with the AFD since 1997 and was EMS Operations Manager from 2007-2020. In 2020, Hricik was promoted to deputy chief.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Hricik worked diligently with internal and external stakeholders to provide information and care for the Alexandria community while ensuring the safety of first responders,” the city said in a release last year.
A memorial service for Hricik will be held on Saturday, March 11 at 1 p.m. at the Vienna Presbyterian Church (124 Park Street NE).
According to an obituary posted on his health journal website:
“Brian was a loving husband and father, a cherished member of his extended family,” the message said. “He also had a second family; Brian was a brother to his fire department friends and colleagues, and he was no less cherished. As a paramedic, Brian was dedicated to saving lives. As a supervisor, Brian also tended to the needs and well-being of the members of his shift. As a chief, Brian worked tirelessly to ensure the Alexandria Fire Department provided the best emergency medical care imaginable… and he did!”
📈 Tuesday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Feb 28, 2023.
- Alexandria’s School Board and City Council butt heads over school safety (309 views)
- No arrests after stolen car crashes into front yard of townhouse in Potomac West (241 views)
- Notes: Cherry blossom season could start sooner than ever this year (240 views)
- Volunteer organization brings full length of Mount Vernon Trail to Google Street View (72 views)
🗞 Other local coverage
- Samuel Madden Redevelopment Gets Alexandria City Council Approval
Patch (Tuesday @ 3:43 pm)
- 3 Alexandria High School Wrestlers Make State Championships in Virginia Beach
Zebra (Tuesday @ 3:02 pm)
- Alexandria Businesses: Spotlight Your Business With Patch Readers
Patch (Tuesday @ 2:36 pm)
- ‘Mulch Madness’: Help Alexandria High’s Lacrosse Booster Club Raise Funds To Support Boys and Girls Teams
Zebra (Tuesday @ 1:07 pm)
- 🌱 Milkshake Bar Coming To Old Town + Upcoming Cherry Blossom Events
Patch (Tuesday @ 12:59 pm)
- Crazy Shake Bar Plans Summer 2023 Opening In Alexandria
Patch (Tuesday @ 10:30 am)
- New Del Ray Dog Fest Announced For Spring 2023
Patch (Tuesday @ 9:40 am)
🐦 Tweets of note
OH SHIT THAT WAS TODAY!?! Alexandria city manager Jim Parajon forgets to prep budget presentation, spends all afternoon frantically calling department heads asking how much things cost around here, eventually just cribs off the mayor’s 5,000 word Facebook post. pic.twitter.com/0VObToMxxu
— Alexandria Shallot (@ALXShallot) February 28, 2023
https://twitter.com/AlexandriaNow/status/1630672000753565697
Which local movie theaters sell beer?
— Port City Brewing Co (@PortCityBrew) February 28, 2023
Swing by the fabled Witter Training Grounds this Saturday during the ASK Tournament to check out our Spirit Wear table. We’ve got tees, scarves, stickers, chairs and more! pic.twitter.com/4dXUpBvRlK
— Alexandria Soccer (@AlexandriaSoc) February 28, 2023
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
- No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
Recent Stories
At a town hall meeting last Sunday, most City Council members said — in no uncertain terms — that they are opposed to a ward system in Alexandra. Currently, all…
Alexandria is bracing for a federal government shutdown at midnight on Sunday (Oct. 1). The city is preparing a package of services for impacted city residents, should Congress not come…
Shuttles are running between the Potomac Yard Metro station and National Airport Metro station after a derailment this morning. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) said there were no injuries…
Just Listed includes a 1 BD/1 BA freshly painted condo with an in-unit washer/dryer, hardwood floors and built-in cabinetry.
If you had a chance to enhance a child’s future with a time commitment of less than 2 hours a week, how would you respond? You have that opportunity right now to join over 200 Alexandrians as a reading tutor volunteer with the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC).
ATC tutors work with one child in kindergarten, first, or second grade in Alexandria public schools who need extra help with reading. Tutors meet with their Book Buddy 1-2 times each week for 30 minutes October-May at school, during school hours. Many struggling readers only receive one-on-one instruction through this program, and it makes all the difference. Last year, ATC served 195 children, of whom 82% ended the year reading on grade level and 96% made substantial reading gains. But the need is great, and we are still seeing learning lags from the pandemic.
This year, ATC plans to significantly increase the size of the program to reach over 250 students and to serve every elementary school in Alexandria. This is very exciting news, but we will only succeed if we can recruit more tutors. ATC trains you, matches you with a child, and provides ongoing lesson materials and support.
If you have been thinking about buying your first home or haven’t owned one in the last three years, THIS IS FOR YOU!
In the DMV area, it can be difficult to save the downpayment necessary for you to get into your own home. We have a solution. The Funder’s Summit!
We have assembled a summit with different municipalities to tell you how to access their funds for your home purchase.
2023 Alexandria Fall Festival
Food trucks, bounce houses, pony rides, magic shows and more at the 2023 Alexandria Fall Festival, an Alexandria Living event presented by The Patterson Group. Join us at River Farm on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
