Ryan Belmore | ALXnow

Adoptable dog of the week: Meet Eddie, a 10-month-old pup ready for his forever home

Published October 9, 2025 at 10:00AM

Eddie (Credit: AWLA)

Eddie, a 10-month-old dog with a steel gray coat and white markings, is looking for his forever family through the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

The 44-pound pup came to the AWLA as a local stray and has since charmed volunteers with his friendly, affectionate personality and notably calm demeanor for such a young dog.

Around Town

Metro School of the Arts hires Helen Hayes-winning music director

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 9, 2025 at 9:00AM

Metropolitan School of the Arts Welcomes Award-Winning Music Director Walter "Bobby" McCoy to Musical Theatre Faculty (via Metropolitan School of the Arts)

Metropolitan School of the Arts has appointed Walter “Bobby” McCoy, a multiple Helen Hayes Award-winning music director, to its musical theatre faculty and private lesson staff.

McCoy, a Nicaraguan-American artist prominent in the D.C. regional theater scene, will teach private music lessons and serve as music director for the school’s musical theatre workshop class, according to an announcement on Wednesday.

News

Morning Notes for October 9, 2025

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 9, 2025 at 8:00AM | Updated October 15, 2025 at 7:13AM

City of Alexandria (Photo credit Hover Solutions for Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria Shooting Under Investigation — “Alexandria Police are investigating a shooting incident in the 300 block of N. West Street that occurred late Wednesday night. One man sustained a non-life-threatening injury in the incident. Police reported maintaining a presence in the area as of 10:40 p.m. as the investigation continued. No additional details have been released.” [APD on X]

Phil Vassar Brings Tour to Birchmere — “Country music star Phil Vassar returns to his Virginia roots this month, bringing his ’25 Years of Paradise’ tour to Alexandria’s Birchmere Music Hall on Oct. 26. For Vassar, who attended James Madison University before moving to Nashville in the 1980s, performing at the Birchmere holds special meaning. ‘I used to go there when I was starting out as a musician, and I went to James Madison,’ Vassar said in an interview with ALXnow on Wednesday. ‘It’s just such a historic venue, and I just love coming to rock.'” [ALXnow]

Around Town

Ethiopian fall festival to celebrate culture, music at Chinquapin Park Sunday

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 9, 2025 at 6:18AM

2025 Festival Flyer (Contributed image)

The Ethiopian Community Support and Assistance Center will host its fifth annual Ethiopian Fall Festival on Sunday at Chinquapin Park, featuring live music, traditional dance and authentic cuisine.

The event runs from 1-7 p.m. at the park at 3210 King St. and is open to the public.

Around Town

Virginia native Phil Vassar brings ‘Paradise’ tour home to The Birchmere

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 8, 2025 at 4:30PM

Phil Vassar will perform at The Birchmere on Oct. 26. (Photo Credit: Phil Vassar on Facebook)

Country music star Phil Vassar returns to his Virginia roots this month, bringing his “25 Years of Paradise” tour to Alexandria’s Birchmere Music Hall on Oct. 26. The Lynchburg native celebrates the 25th anniversary of his breakout No. 1 hit “Just Another Day in Paradise” with an intimate acoustic performance that promises nightly setlist changes and covers of musical legends like Billy Joel and Elton John.

For Vassar, who attended James Madison University before moving to Nashville in the 1980s, performing at the Birchmere holds special meaning. “I used to go there when I was starting out as a musician, and I went to James Madison,” Vassar said in an interview with ALXnow on Wednesday. “It’s just such a historic venue, and I just love coming to rock.”

News

Alexandria Police target high-crash corridors with increased patrols

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 8, 2025 at 2:45PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Alexandria Police Department announced on Tuesday that it will focus enforcement efforts on speeding and distracted driving as part of the city’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on local roads.

The department is targeting three intersections where crashes have clustered over the past three years: Duke Street and Washington Street, King Street and Interstate 395, and Duke Street and Van Dorn Street. Those areas account for a significant portion of the 73 injury crashes recorded in Alexandria during October over the past three years, according to police data.

News

Alexandria City Council tackles capital priorities amid tight debt capacity

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 8, 2025 at 8:30AM | Updated October 8, 2025 at 4:17PM

Alexandria City Council held a Capital Improvemnt Work Session on Oct. 7. (Photo by Ryan Belmore/ALXnow)

Alexandria City Council members grappled with difficult decisions on Tuesday evening about which major infrastructure projects deserve funding over the next decade, as Alexandria approaches its debt capacity limits while facing $307 million in unfunded needs.

The work session at City Hall focused on prioritizing projects within the city’s Capital Improvement Plan — a $2.1 billion blueprint for infrastructure investments through 2035 that includes everything from school replacements to fire station upgrades and recreation facilities.

News

Mayor Gaskins discusses federal shutdown impacts, ‘Alexandria first’, and infrastructure projects during monthly Q&A

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 7, 2025 at 3:30PM

Ryan Belmore, Publisher of ALXnow, and Mayor Alyia Gaskins in conversation on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (via YouTube)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins outlined the city’s response to the ongoing federal government shutdown and provided updates on significant infrastructure projects during her monthly virtual conversation with ALXnow on Tuesday.

The mayor emphasized that Alexandria has proactively prepared for the shutdown’s impact on the community, which includes nearly 16,000 federal workers employed full-time and part-time in the city. A resource page on the city’s website offers information on housing assistance, food assistance, and property tax payment plans.

News

Warner, Kaine demand removal of partisan messages from federal websites

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 7, 2025 at 3:00PM

Screenshot of HUD.gov on Tuesday, Oct. 7

Virginia Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined 22 Senate colleagues Monday in demanding the Trump administration remove partisan political messages from federal agency websites and employee email accounts.

The Democratic senators sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought claiming the messages violate federal law prohibiting the use of government funds for propaganda purposes.

News

Alexandria activist group plans 1,200-person protest along Route 1 as part of national ‘No Kings’ movement

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 7, 2025 at 2:30PM

No Kings Protests Return on October 18 with Hands Across Alexandria (via Indivisible Do Something Alexandria)

About 1,200 people are expected to line the sidewalks of Route 1 on Saturday, Oct. 18, as part of a national day of protests targeting the Trump administration, according to organizers.

The “Hands Across Alexandria” demonstration will run from 9:30 to 11 a.m. along northbound Route 1 between Powhatan Park and Potomac Yard, Indivisible Do Something Alexandria announced Tuesday.

News

Rep. Beyer says federal workers guaranteed back pay despite Trump administration memo

By Ryan Belmore and The Associated Press

Published October 7, 2025 at 12:33PM | Updated October 7, 2025 at 1:10PM

The Capitol is illuminated at dawn in Washington, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., whose district includes Alexandria and has one of the largest concentrations of federal employees in Congress, said Tuesday that federal workers are guaranteed back pay “without question or exception,” pushing back against Trump administration warnings that retroactive pay is not assured during the government shutdown.

Beyer, who sponsored the 2019 bipartisan legislation guaranteeing back pay, called the administration’s memo an attempt “to frighten federal employees and their families as a negotiating tactic, which is despicable.”