Ballyshaners Parade Weekend Is Here — “The Ballyshaners‘ 43rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is expected to draw thousands of spectators to celebrate alongside a lineup of performers and community organizers. Local dignitaries plan to kick off festivities at noon Saturday, March 7, with the parade stepping off at 12:30 p.m.” [ALXnow]
Reminder: Early Voting Starts Today — “Alexandria voters can begin casting early ballots this Friday to participate in the city’s April 21 special election. This includes the City Council race and a proposed constitutional amendment to redraw Virginia’s congressional maps.” [ALXnow]
Peak Bloom Projected –“When is peak bloom for the famed cherry blossoms in DC? The National Park Service made their prediction Thursday. The timeframe they predict when we will see peak bloom is March 29-April 1.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Missing Woman Found — “The Alexandria Police Department is pleased to report that Virginia Richards has been safely located. Mrs. Richards was found this evening after a passerby saw her and contacted authorities. She is now receiving appropriate care.” [APD]
ICYMI, Potomac Advisory Partially Lifted — “The Virginia Department of Health has partially lifted its recreational water advisory for a portion of the Potomac River as repairs continue from January’s massive sewage spill. The advisory, first issued Feb. 13, has now been lifted for a stretch of the river including Alexandria’s waterfront. The cleared area starts south at the Route 120 Chain Bridge and ends at the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge in King George County.” [ALXnow]
Housing 2040 Meeting Recordings Now Available — “Housing 2040 February 28 Open House information boards and breakout session presentations and recordings are now available on the Housing 2040 website. The boards and presentations provide useful context for the released Draft Recommendations and Strategies for the Housing 2040 Plan. The public is invited to provide feedback on the draft through March 22 in three ways.” [City of Alexandria]
Women’s Health Forum on Sunday — “The EmpowerHer Women’s Health Forum will feature panel discussions, curated vendors and breakout sessions to discuss mental, sexual and reproductive health. The event will be held at the recreation center at 901 Wythe Street from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.” [ALXnow]
Water Taxi Launches Today — “City Cruises Washington D.C. Wednesday announced that the Potomac Water Taxi will resume daily service for the 2026 season beginning Friday, March 6. The service will once again provide daily connections between Old Town Alexandria and The Wharf, Georgetown and National Harbor, offering a relaxing and efficient way to travel between some of the region’s most vibrant waterfront destinations.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
Portion of Mount Vernon Trail Closing — “A section of the Mount Vernon Trail just north of Old Town will be closed for five to six weeks, starting this Friday. During that time, contractors with the National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration project will conduct shoreline embankment repair work. The project will shut down the trail between north of E. Abingdon Drive and 3rd Street, and trail users will be redirected to an alternate trail on E. Abingdon Drive.” [ALXnow]
Va. On Path To Rejoin RGGI — “Virginia is on its way to rejoining a regional agreement that works to accelerate clean energy generation and limit carbon emissions. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, often referred to as RGGI, is currently comprised of 10 states, not including the Commonwealth. As a market-based carbon trading program, the idea is to incentivize energy producers to transition to clean energy by requiring them to purchase a limited number of permits for each ton of carbon they emit.” [WVIR]
City Launches Eco-City Advocates Grant — “The City of Alexandria’s Office of Climate Action is launching the Eco-City Advocates Grant. This initiative empowers Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to engage residents, especially in underserved neighborhoods, in energy efficiency and mobility programs, support low-income communities, and reduce energy burdens in Alexandrians’ households.” [City of Alexandria]
It’s Friday — Showers may occur after 4pm, with foggy conditions clearing up before 11am. Expect a mostly cloudy sky with a high near 54 degrees and an east wind blowing at 5 to 8 mph. The chance of precipitation stands at 20%. For Friday night, showers could occur after 7pm, and a low temperature around 45 degrees under a mostly cloudy sky with east winds at 5 to 8 mph and a 30% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
