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

VA250 Mobile Museum to bring American Revolution history to Alexandria’s Sails on the Potomac

By Emily Leayman
VA250 Mobile Museum (via Virginia’s American Revolution 250 Commission)

VA250 Mobile Museum has provided an update to ALXnow on the museum’s opening hours.

A traveling museum led by Virginia’s American Revolution 250 Commission will make a stop at Alexandria’s waterfront for the Sails on the Potomac festival this weekend.

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News

State budget impasse leaves uncertainty as Alexandria School Board lines up final budget

By Emily Leayman
Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt talks about a proposed policy change on student publications at the May 8, 2025, School Board meeting (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City School Board held a work session yesterday (June 9) to decide adds and deletes from the budget before final approval, but the state budget impasse leaves future funding for compensation and other items unresolved.

Several of the 38 add/delete proposals that had at least four co-sponsors received support to be added into the Alexandria City Public Schools budget. The School Board will vote on the final budget tomorrow (June 11).

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Around Town

Alexandria to mark Juneteenth with cemetery memorial, concert and festival

By Emily Leayman
Shiloh Baptist Church (staff photo by James Cullum)

The city has announced various events planned for Juneteenth, a federally observed holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.

On June 19, 1865, the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free — two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American history and freedom.

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News

City targets summer 2027 start date for flood mitigation project in northern Del Ray

By Emily Leayman
Illustration of a proposed culvert during future construction of the Commonwealth, Ashby, and Glebe Flood Mitigation Project (via City of Alexandria)

The city is getting ready for a potential 2027 start date on one of its biggest projects to address stormwater flooding in Lynhaven and the northern part of Del Ray.

The city held a meeting on the Commonwealth, Ashby, and Glebe Flood Mitigation Project last Thursday (June 4) at the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center. Since the last community meeting in 2025, the project has received final design plans, and the city is preparing to solicit a construction contractor. It is also coordinating with utility owners for utility relocation to accommodate new stormwater infrastructure. Summer 2027 is the tentative construction start date.

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Around Town

Boutiques to hold ‘Shop the Checkers’ to welcome Croatian team to Alexandria

By Emily Leayman
Croatian flag (via Niels Bosman/Unsplash)

In honor of the Croatian National Football Team making Alexandria its home base, boutiques in Old Town will be decked out in the Croatian checkered flag and offer specials inspired by the country.

Old Town Boutiques, a coalition of independently-owned boutiques in Old Town, will host Shop the Checkers Boutique Week from Sunday, June 14 through Sunday, June 28. Participating retailers will display special Croatian red-and-white checkerboard crest flags at their storefronts and offer experiences drawn from Croatian culture.

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News

City Council to consider $135M funding plan for former power plant redevelopment this week

By Emily Leayman
Former Potomac River Generating Station (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A funding plan to facilitate the redevelopment of the former Potomac River Generating Station site in Old Town North will be on Alexandria City Council’s agenda this week.

City Council will receive a briefing on the funding plan Tuesday (June 9), then hold a public hearing and consider approval of the agreement on Saturday (June 13).

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News

State trooper rescues kitten discovered on I-395 in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman
Kitten rescued from I-395 in Alexandria (via Virginia State Police)

A kitten had the luck of nine lives when it was rescued from Interstate 395 late Friday (June 5) in Alexandria.

Virginia State Police were alerted around 11:54 p.m. to a kitten that a driver observed on the interstate near the King Street exit. A state trooper safely retrieved the 4-week-old kitten, which was then taken to a nearby animal hospital.

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Around Town

From Croatian festival to Best of the West: Guide to Alexandria’s June 5-7 weekend events

By Emily Leayman
Taste of Del Ray in 2023 (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

The first weekend of June brings plenty of summer happenings, from a welcome celebration for the Croatian National Football Team to other food festivals, concerts and tours.

Events like Best of the West, Flavors and Sounds of Croatia in Alexandria and the sold-out Taste of Del Ray will keep foodies satisfied this weekend. History fans will enjoy the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex Walking Tour. Musicians will also treat the community to free concerts with Alexandria Citizens Band: A Journey Through American Music and LIVE at the Lyceum: Piano & Friends Concert.

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Around Town

Adoptable pet of the week: Pint-sized Layla makes a good lap dog

By Emily Leayman
Adoptable Layla (via Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

Meet Layla, a pint-sized pup who will be your loyal companion once she warms up to you.

This 4-year-old dog is timid when meeting new people, but an Animal Welfare League of Alexandria volunteer told ALXnow patience goes a long way with her.

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Around Town

Alexandria to mark Pride Month with fair, markets, prom and bar crawl

By Emily Leayman
Alexandria’s 8th Annual Pride Fair at Market Square on Saturday, June 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

An earlier version of this story said Metro would have a shutdown the weekend of June 19-21, but Metro has finished its Crystal City station project and cancelled the upcoming shutdown.

Members of Alexandria’s LGBTQ+ community are celebrating Pride Month with events throughout June.

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News

Alexandria proposes converting parking spaces to pocket park in Del Ray

By Emily Leayman
Locations of proposed pocket park at 3000 Fulton Street (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA) has proposed the conversion of parking spaces to a pocket park in the Del Ray neighborhood.

The proposed pocket park would be located on a current parking island at 3000 Fulton Street at the Clifford and Commonwealth Avenues intersection. The parking island provides space for about five to six standard passenger vehicles.

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