Erinn Roth credits her mother with everything.

Roth spent 24 years in the U.S. Army before starting Ms. Jo’s Petite Sweets in Alexandria in 2016. She literally had a dream about making cupcakes before retiring from the Army as a lieutenant colonel and told her parents she wanted to make desserts for a living.


Just as Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) gained a new permanent superintendent last week, it was announced this week that the school district would be losing Alexandria City High School (ACHS) Principal Peter Balas.

Balas broke the news last night that he would be heading north to Arlington to become principal at Wakefield High School. It’s a major shakeup in ACPS: Balas had been principal at ACHS (formerly T.C. Williams High School) since 2017 and has been with ACPS for 22 years.


(Updated 5/13) A 53-year-old Manassas resident has been hit with 17 counts of felony embezzlement after allegedly taking $600,000 from her job at Hank’s Oyster Bar in Old Town.

The woman was a general manager at the restaurant — currently at 818 N. St Asaph Street, formerly at 1024 King Street — and allegedly embezzled the money over eight and a half years, according to the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney.


Alexandria City High School (ACHS) Principal Peter Balas announced that, after graduation in June, he’s heading north to become the new principal at Arlington’s Wakefield High School.

Balas, who has been with Alexandria City Public Schools for 22 years, took over at then-T.C. Williams High School in 2017. Since then, Balas has navigated the school through Covid, the “One T.C.” decision, the school renaming and issues around violence in the school.


An Alexandria man was robbed at gunpoint after hanging out with a woman he met on Instagram, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

The incident occurred after 11 p.m. on April 11 (Tuesday) in an apartment complex in the 3800 block of Russell Road. The victim told police that he was robbed after meeting up with a woman that evening at St. Rita’s Catholic Church (3815 Russell Road).


After being closed since January, Abyssinia Market and Coffee House will reopen on Saturday (May 13) in Old Town, owner Lily Damtew recently announced on Facebook.

“I’m very happy to announce that we’ll be reopening the coffee shop this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.” she wrote on Facebook. “All beer and wines are on sale everything must go. Thank you for all the love and support you showed us, we hope to see you on Saturday!”


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