Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Tuesday, Aug. 26, the 238th day of 2025. There are 127 days left in the year.
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny, with a high near 80 degrees. West wind 3 to 6 mph. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61 degrees. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Paula Schneider, a breast cancer survivor and leader with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, will discuss her new children’s book “Love Stays Strong” during a Sept. 3 event at Old Town Books.
The 7 p.m. presentation will feature Schneider alongside Karin Purugganan, a licensed professional counselor in Alexandria. The event will take place at Old Town Books, 130 S Royal St.
Game, set, Gala! On Saturday, Nov. 14, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation’s annual Tennis Creates Gala, presented by QTS, comes to The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, celebrating the transformative power of tennis.
The evening raises critical funds to make the sport accessible to all across Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and eastern/southern West Virginia.
Every dollar goes back into local communities through programs like Girls Rule the Court™, which has served more than 2,000 girls, along with Junior Player Scholarships and Tennis in Schools. Gala funds also help restore public courts. Over the last three years, the Foundation has invested $505,000 across 17 public facilities.
Emceeing the evening is Emmy Award-winning ESPN journalist Malika Andrews, host of NBA Today and NBA Countdown, who joined ESPN’s tennis coverage this year for the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Andrews has pointed to the electric moment American tennis is having, with stars like the DMV’s own Frances Tiafoe reaching the 2026 US Open men’s semifinals, and says she’s grateful for the chance to support the sport at the local level.
Joining the celebration is new USTA CEO Craig Tiley, who took the helm of the national governing body in July after over 20 years at Tennis Australia. As he leads the USTA toward its goal of 35 million players by 2035, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation drives the grassroots work to grow the sport right here in the region.
The Foundation will present its Tennis Creates Impact Award to Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck, U.S. Navy (ret.), 63rd Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, recognizing his leadership in fostering character, community, and well-being through tennis.
The heart of the night is the 2026 Tennis Creates Awards, honoring local changemakers. Alexandria’s Leigh Ann Jackson receives the Adult Leader Award for coaching Girls Rule the Court at Groveton Elementary, where she has served 130 students over five seasons and championed the program’s expansion to Hybla Valley.
Arlington’s Gabrielle Berg earns the Youth Leader Award for founding a Northern Virginia chapter of Tennis For Fun, which runs free year-round clinics for people with special needs in partnership with the Arlington YMCA. Burke’s Khoi Truong, head coach at Lake Braddock Secondary School, is the 2026 Coach of the Year.
They’ll be joined by fellow honorees Dr. Ellen Markowitz (Community Champion), James Skinner (Provider Champion), and Janelle Nichols (Tennis in the Classroom Awardee).
Tickets and tables are now available. Can’t make it? Make a gift to USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation or bid in the silent auction to help put a racquet in the hands of the next generation of players.
The Tennis Creates Gala takes place Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean, VA 22102.
For more information, visit TennisCreatesGala.com.
After spending years searching for new deputies and lateral hires from other law enforcement agencies, the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office (ASO) has just launched a recruiting website, JoinASO.com.
In Alexandria, an entry-level deputy sheriff earns an annual salary of $61,375, and $67,667 for new deputies with law enforcement and/or Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services certifications. The office currently has 12 deputy vacancies, and the website launched on Aug. 13, according to ASO.
An Alexandria-based frozen custard shop has been announced in the fifth-annual American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation‘s “Backing Small Historic Restaurants program.”
Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats is situated in a historic ice house at 200 Commerce Street in Old Town and is one of four local businesses to receive the $50,000 grant.
When there’s a chill in the air, nothing satisfies like a rich Cabernet, a velvety Merlot, a smoky Syrah, or a brambly Shiraz. So put down your garden rake (the leaves can wait) and head to Arrowine to sample 20 of the Best Bargains in Big, Bold Reds from California, Washington State, and beyond.
We have spent the last two months tasting well over 200 wines and selected the top 20 for you to enjoy during this event. All of these wines overperformed and have exceptional price-to-quality value ratios. We know you will be impressed with our selections.
The Alexandria Police Department is currently investigating multiple break-ins and the reported theft of more than $11,000 in jewelry and cash from two vehicles parked in the garage of a luxury apartment building in the 4900 block of Seminary Road in Alexandria’s West End.
Details on the incidents were released Monday in a search warrant affidavit, allowing APD to recover video surveillance footage from the parking garage.
How should city resources be spent in Alexandria City Public Schools’ fiscal year 2027 budget?
As the school system and city prepare for budget season, the public will have the opportunity to weigh in on a series of “Funding Our Future” sessions starting this month and concluding in October. The first meeting will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27, in the media room of George Washington Middle School (1005 Mount Vernon Avenue) in Del Ray.
A new high-paying civilian job just opened up within the Alexandria Police Department.
The department recently announced that Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire needs a new chief of staff with budget experience to serve as his principal aide and senior advisor, and also to oversee all daily operations in the chief’s office. The position pays between $102,000 and $181,000, and the deadline to apply is Sept. 21 at 11:59 p.m.
Alexandria residents and visitors have plenty to choose from this weekend as the city’s popular Summer Restaurant Week extends through Labor Day weekend, offering diners special menus and pricing at participating establishments. The long weekend features a mix of outdoor markets, cultural events and live entertainment across the city’s neighborhoods.
Saturday highlights include the weekly Old Town and Del Ray farmers markets, while Sunday adds the West End and Four Mile Run markets to give shoppers multiple opportunities to browse local produce and crafts. Music lovers can catch performances ranging from jazz at The Birchmere to traditional Irish sessions at Daniel O’Connell’s, while families can explore history at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum’s Family Day with Young Historians on Sunday. The Alexandria City Public Schools will host several community meetings throughout the week, including funding discussions and board development sessions, before city offices close Monday for the Labor Day holiday.
Classes began today at Virginia Tech’s Alexandria campus as students returned to the 300,000-square-foot Academic Building One for their first complete fall semester since the building opened in January.
The 11-story facility at 3625 Potomac Avenue houses more than 500 graduate students in computer science, computer engineering, and business programs. Located adjacent to the Potomac Yard-VT Metro Station, the campus focuses on research in artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and next-generation wireless technology.
