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

Free timed tours of four tall ships lined up at Old Town’s Sails on the Potomac festival

By Emily Leayman
The Tall Ship Providence sails to its new home, The Senator John Warner Maritime Heritage Center at Waterfront Park (staff photo by James Cullum)

Tickets are being released for timed tours of four tall ships at Sails on the Potomac, one of Alexandria’s events celebrating America250.

The festival will coincide with the ALX Jazz Fest from June 12-14 at Waterfront Park (1A Prince Street). The city is planning numerous events for America250, which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

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News

Rise of tickborne illnesses prompts prevention campaign in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman
Tick prevention sign at Dora Kelley Nature Park(via Alexandria Health Department)

The Alexandria Health Department is raising concerns about the rise of tickborne illnesses as spring progresses.

The health department and Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities are partnering for a tick bite prevention campaign this spring, when tick activity increases as temperatures warm. The city is placing 30 educational signs across parks and trails encouraging residents to do tick checks. There will also be educational sessions about tick prevention and giveaways of tick removal tools at the events and the Alexandria Health Department headquarters (4850 Mark Center Drive).

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News

Alexandria sheriff’s deputy fired after accusation of drug smuggling attempt in jail

By Emily Leayman
The William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center (via City of Alexandria)

A sheriff’s deputy was fired after attempting to smuggle drugs into the jail Saturday, according to the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said former Deputy Sheriff Amarachukwu W. Igwe tried to provide drugs to an inmate at the jail. After an investigation, the sheriff’s office took Igwe into custody before she could deliver the drugs.

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Around Town

Del Ray House & Garden Tour tickets on sale after sold-out 2024 event

By Emily Leayman
A house featured on the 2024 Del Ray House & Garden Tour (Courtesy of Del Ray Citizens Association)

After a sold-out event two years ago, tickets are on sale for the next Del Ray House & Garden Tour returning on Saturday, May 9.

The biennial tour, hosted by the Del Ray Citizens Association, gives ticket holders access to participating homes and gardens throughout the neighborhood. This year’s event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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News

Police investigate after shots fired in Alexandria West

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

No injuries have been reported after gunshots were fired in the Alexandria West neighborhood yesterday (Thursday), according to police.

Officers responded to the shots fired report in the area of Reading Avenue and Winston Court around 7 p.m. Police radio dispatches indicate officers received multiple calls about a group of males wearing hoodies, other dark-colored clothing and ski masks fleeing the area of the Shops at Mark Center shopping center. One caller reported hearing at least three gunshots.

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Around Town

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Truffles, a dog in search of a gentle human

By Emily Leayman
Truffles (via Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

Meet Truffles, a young dog who could use a confidence boost from her new family.

This 11-month-old dog came to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria as a frightened stray and is doing better in a foster home, an AWLA volunteer told ALXnow. She has lived with a dog and cat in her foster home and would do well with another dog in her adopter’s home.

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Around Town

Old Town shop’s art show spotlights new program for people with disabilities

By Emily Leayman
Artwork created through ServiceSource's Arts & Abilities program in Alexandria (courtesy of ServiceSource)

A new program helping people with disabilities hone their art skills will be put on display at Old Town’s B.E.S.T. Gift Shop tomorrow (Friday).

The boutique, run by nonprofit ServiceSource at the B.E.S.T. Gift Shop (919 King Street), will hold an end-of-residency art show from 1-3 p.m. The exhibition showcases work by George Mason University graduate student Francesca “Franki” Campos and Arts & Abilities program participants.

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Around Town

Underwater egg hunt, other Easter events set for holiday weekend in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman
Easter egg hunt (Miro Vrlik/Unsplash)

Get your Easter baskets ready and hop to egg hunts and other festivities over the holiday weekend in Alexandria.

Egg hunts, visits with the Easter Bunny and more family-friendly events are taking place over Easter weekend. Some of the highlights are an underwater egg hunt in the pool, brunch with the Easter Bunny and Councilman John Taylor Chapman’s returning egg hunt.

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News

More than 20 operator proposals received for Alexandria’s new tech accelerator

By Emily Leayman
The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A program operator for a new tech startup accelerator will be selected in mid-April after the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership received numerous applications through its request for proposals process.

AEDP is launching the accelerator program to support new tech startups based in the city — the first direct support the organization has provided for startups in these industries. Attracting high-growth industries and boosting support for entrepreneurs is one of the strategies in ALX Forward, a roadmap for the city’s future economic growth recently approved by City Council.

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News

Gov. Spanberger signs first group of bills on housing, health care, energy

By Emily Leayman
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs bills on March 31, 2026 (via Office of the Governor of Virginia)

After more than 1,200 bills passed in the Virginia General Assembly, Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed the first set of bills tackling several areas of affordability.

The governor’s action marks the first major set of bills signed from the 2026 General Assembly session. Spanberger had previously signed voter referendum legislation allowing mid-decade congressional redistricting to go before voters on April 21. The signed bills address housing, health care and energy.

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News

Alternatives to large plunge pool proposed for Taylor Run stream stabilization project

By Emily Leayman
Areas covered by the Taylor Run Infrastructure Stabilization Project (via City of Alexandria)

Two alternatives to a larger plunge pool for the Taylor Run stream stabilization project — with fewer impacts to trees — were proposed as the project moves closer to construction.

The city is conducting the Taylor Run Infrastructure Stabilization project on about 1.7 acres around Chinquapin Park near Alexandria City High School. It replaced the original stream restoration project that City Council sent back to study in 2021 amid controversy over its environmental impacts. The project aims to address erosion around the stream while protecting surrounding infrastructure, including sanitary sewer pipes, manholes, stormwater pipe outfalls and the park’s trail.

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