On This Day in Alexandria History — “On, October 14, 1918, a contract was awarded by the United States government for construction of the U.S. Naval Torpedo Station on the Alexandria waterfront. Ironically, work on the building began on November 12, 1918, the day after Armistice Day, which marked the official end of World War I. The first torpedo was produced there in November 1920. Once fully operational, the Torpedo Station was responsible for the manufacture and maintenance of torpedoes for the next five years … In 1974 the building was converted into the Torpedo Factory Arts Center, one of the nation’s first adaptive reuse projects for a historic building.” [Historic Alexandria]

Whistleblower in Pet Death Case Unveils New Allegations — “Jackie Long, 61, worked for more than 14 years for Your Dog’s Best Friends, a popular dog grooming and boarding facility in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood. She told 7News that the July 2024 death of Abigail, a young golden retriever, could have been avoided had managers heeded her earlier warnings about animal abuse at the facility … She added that she complained to both managers and business owner Paul Haire about ‘four or five’ other employees of Your Dog’s Best Friends engaging in what she considered to be abusive behavior toward dogs.” [WJLA]


The incoming superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools has his work cut out for him.

Before starting work with ACPS on Feb. 1, 2027, Jharrett Bryantt will wrap up more than four years as superintendent for the Anchorage School District in Alaska by preparing a budget for his successor. In Alexandria, Bryantt will have had less than three weeks on the job before the Alexandria City School Board votes on the ACPS fiscal year 2028 combined funds budget, which will have been drawn up by Interim Superintendent Grace Taylor and ACPS staff.


After Alexandria’s mayor and City Council spoke out against an electric substation for a data center development near the city, some elected officials joined a march against data centers.

On Saturday (Oct. 10), residents and community groups marched from Aslin Beer Company in Alexandria’s West End to the nearby Plaza 500 site in Lincolnia where a data center campus is planned.


After nearly five years in executive leadership with Alexandria Restaurant Partners, Nazia Millwala has been named the company’s president.

Millwala’s ascension is part of a “planned evolution” for the company as ARP partners Dave Nicholas, David Clapp and Scott Shaw are moving away from day-to-day operations, the company announced. In Alexandria, ARP owns Vola’s Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge, Joe Theismann’s Restaurant, Ada’s on the River, Barca Pier and Wine Bar, Mia’s Italian Kitchen and Royal Restaurant. The company also owns Palette 22 in Arlington and a Mia’s Italian Kitchen and Café Tu Tu Tango in Orlando, Fla.


The Alexandria Health Department will see a leadership change next month after director Dr. David Rose departs his role.

After Nov. 9, Rose will be leaving the AHD to take a role as regional director of the north/northwest region at the Virginia Department of Health. The AHD is part of the state-run Virginia Department of Health and falls under the northern region that Rose will oversee.


On This Day in Alexandria History — “On October 13, 1905, the Cole & Rogers Circus opened in at the old fairgrounds along upper King Street. The circus, featuring performers and live animals, had a free parade at noon and then paid performances in the afternoon and evening.” [Historic Alexandria]

City Council Convenes Tuesday for Legislative Meeting — At the 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 meeting, City Council will have an economic update, presentation on the 911 system and the Ben Brenman Award presentation as well as consider a friendship city with Osijek, Croatia. [City of Alexandria]


A fourth “No Kings” protest against the Trump administration is coming to Alexandria.

Indivisible Do Something Alexandria is hosting the event to highlight a nationwide day of early voting before the Nov. 3 midterm elections outside the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke Street) on Saturday, Oct. 17. Protesters will line Duke Street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.


Dominion Energy customers in Alexandria’s West End were experiencing outages Monday afternoon.

According to Dominion Energy’s outage map, more than 2,200 customers lost power in the city as of 3 p.m. Most outages were concentrated in neighborhoods along Duke Street, Edsall Road and Interstate 395, extending into Fairfax County. The majority were resolved by 4:15 p.m.


On the evening of Saturday, Oct. 17, onlookers on lower King Street might feel like they’ve been transported into a Michael Jackson music video.

Coldwell Banker Realty real estate agents Barb Scheeler and Rachel Knapp are coordinating a “Thriller” Zombie Flash Mob in the unit block of King Street in Old Town, at 5 p.m. Saturday. Scheeler and Knapp told ALXnow there are about 100 dancers signed up to participate, and hundreds of spectators are expected to attend with the dancers.


The Samuel Madden Homes public housing redevelopment in the Braddock/Parker-Gray neighborhood just hit a major milestone.

Last week, city leaders celebrated the topping out ceremony for the six-story, 295,000-square-foot project at 899 and 999 N. Henry Street that will be home to 207 one-to-four bedroom affordable housing apartments, 7,500 feet of open space, a 500-square-foot ALIVE! community food hub, a Hopkins House early learning and childcare center and retail.


A juvenile is expected to make a full recovery after getting struck and pinned under an SUV in Alexandria’s West End.

The girl was struck and pinned under the front axle of the vehicle in the 600 block of N. Ripley Street, near Holmes Run Parkway on the night of Tuesday, Oct. 6. Multiple people called in the incident around 7:10 p.m.


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