Author: Emily Leayman

Emily Leayman is the editor of ALXnow and contributes reporting to ARLnow and FFXnow. She was previously a field editor covering parts of Northern Virginia for Patch for more than eight years. A native of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, she lives in Northern Virginia.

Around Town

Adoptable pet of the week: AWLA’s longest stay pet seeks forever home

By Emily Leayman
Long stay resident Bruno is seeking a home (via AWLA)

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is hoping to find a landing place for its longest-stay pet.

According to AWLA, 5-year-old Bruno is an easygoing dog weighing about 46 pounds with a white and brown coat. He can be a shy guy at first when meeting new people and will warm up to them slowly before revealing his gentle nature.

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Around Town

Makers markets, 9/11 day of service and Oktoberfest top Alexandria’s weekend lineup

By Emily Leayman
Outdoor market stall under a white canopy selling vintage clothing; racks of jackets and bags line both sides, with a sign reading 'The Vintage Keeper Shop'.
Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market vendor (via Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market/Facebook)

Residents and visitors in Alexandria can expect a full lineup of weekend events in September, starting with this weekend.

As Alexandrians remember 9/11, the day will be followed by a National Day of Service and Remembrance for volunteers at Alexandria National Cemetery.

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News

Aspasia Xypolia appointed as permanent Alexandria Office of Housing director

By Emily Leayman
Aspasia Xypolia has been appointed as the permanent director of the Alexandria Office of Housing (via City of Alexandria)

The acting director of Alexandria’s Office of Housing has been chosen to fill the permanent role.

City Manager Jim Parajon appointed Aspasia Xypolia as director of the Office of Housing, the city announced today (Sept. 10). The city had conducted a national search to fill the role after former director Helen McIlvaine announced her retirement at the end of April.

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News

Alexandria’s DASH ridership climbs as state evaluates Northern Virginia bus merger

By Emily Leayman
Front view of a blue city bus with DASHBUS.COM on its sign, stopped on a street beside a walkway and wooden railing, trees in the background
A DASH bus driver leaves the Braddock Road Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

As the state studies a potential consolidation of several Northern Virginia bus systems, year-over-year data showed Alexandria’s DASH continues to see ridership growth.

The data presented to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission on Sept. 3 focused on transit providers in Northern Virginia — Arlington Transit, City of Fairfax CUE, Alexandria DASH, Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Transit, Metro and Virginia Railway Express.

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News

Multiple drawbridge openings anticipated overnight on Woodrow Wilson Bridge

By Emily Leayman
Views by the Potomac River (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Late-night drivers should be prepared for delays during the next drawbridge opening on the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge.

The drawbridge will open between 10 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 10) and 5 a.m. Friday (Sept. 11) for maintenance work. According to AlertDC, multiple bridge openings and intermittent traffic stoppages will occur.

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News

Alexandria remembrance ceremony to mark 25 years since 9/11 attacks

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria's Joint Public Safety Honor Guard at the 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Alexandria's Market Square, Sept. 11, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria and the rest of the nation will take a day to reflect and remember Friday (Sept. 11) on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The City of Alexandria will hold its annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony from 10-11 a.m. Friday at Alexandria Police Department Headquarters (3600 Wheeler Avenue). The ceremony, remembering the victims, survivors, first responders and others impacted by 9/11, will include a presentation of colors, remarks by Mayor Alyia Gaskins and public safety officials and a return to quarters ceremony.

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News

Federal leases and housing conversion push down Alexandria office vacancy rate

By Emily Leayman
The new U.S. Housing and Urban Development building, pictured with an America 250 flag, in the Carlyle neighborhood (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Office vacancies are trending down in Alexandria, although Old Town and Old Town North are going against the trend.

That’s according to the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership’s Mid-Year Market Report released Tuesday (Sept. 8) looking at commercial real estate trends for the first half of the year through June 30, 2026.

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News

Jean B. Reid Media Center dedicated at Alexandria school for longtime reading specialist

By Emily Leayman
Group photo in the Jean B. Reid Media Center lobby with a man in a wheelchair at center and smiling staff and visitors surrounding him.
The Jean B. Reid Media Center at Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School was dedicated on Sept. 8, 2026 (via ACPS/Facebook)

Alexandria City Public Schools carried out the third of four facility namings Tuesday (Sept. 8) — this time in honor of a longtime educator.

The Jean B. Reid Media Center at Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School was dedicated in honor of the educator who worked for the school system for 30 years. Reid was a reading specialist from 1971 until her 2001 retirement and held leadership positions at various schools.

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News

Old Town townhouse proposal prompts debate over city’s development review process

By Emily Leayman
Parking lot with several cars beside red brick buildings under a clear blue sky.
The parking lot of 330 N. Washington Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Old Town neighbors say a pending townhouse development application exemplifies why the city needs to better align the Board of Architectural Review process with development special use permit reviews.

The BAR continues to consider a concept review of Merion Row at 330 N. Washington Street, where the property owner seeks to build six three-story townhomes with rear-loading parking garages and rooftop terraces. The homes would take the place of two of the three drive-thru banking aisles at the Wells Fargo bank.

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News

Pedestrian dies after being struck on I-395 in Alexandria: state police

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

A pedestrian on Interstate 395 was killed in a crash Monday night (Sept. 7) in Alexandria, according to Virginia State Police.

Around 8:29 p.m., a pedestrian was struck on southbound I-395 north of Duke Street. Police say the striking vehicle stopped a short distance from the crash and contacted 911.

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News

UPDATE: Over 4K more lose power after earlier transformer-related outage in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman
Map showing a red polygon boundary over parts of Alexandria, VA (Fairlington, Rosemont, North Ridge) with a red alert marker at the center.
Dominion Energy’s outage map shows over 4,300 outages remaining in Alexandria on Sept. 8, 2026 (courtesy of Dominion Energy)

Thousands of additional Dominion Energy customers are experiencing power outages Tuesday morning (Sept. 8) after an earlier outage tied to a transformer.

As of 11 a.m., more than 4,300 customers are without power in North Ridge, Fairlington/Bradlee, Seminary Hill, Taylor Run, Rosemont and Del Ray. Dominion Energy attributed the outage to a circuit being out and estimated that restoration would happen between 2-5 p.m.

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