Good Thursday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: Expect sunshine and a high of 42 degrees, accompanied by a 10 to 14 mph southwest wind, which may gust up to 22 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to around 25 degrees. Winds will shift to the northwest at 6 mph before calming down in the evening.
There’s a big sale going on at the Bellies & Babies consignment shop in Del Ray, as the store’s last day is on Sunday (Dec. 15).
There’s still plenty of inventory, like kids and maternity clothing, gear, books, and shelving and racks, said store owner Lee Raynes.
Many people who look into estate planning ask, “What is the difference between wills and trusts?” While both wills and trusts deal with estate planning, they serve different purposes. In this post, the legal team of PJI Law, PLC, estate planning lawyers from Fairfax, VA, outline the key principles of wills, trusts, and their role in asset protection.
Here are the basic features of wills and trusts:
While we recommend that everyone have at least a will (whether or not you also have a trust), trusts aren’t strictly necessary for all individuals. Trusts are particularly helpful for individuals who have assets that are potentially going through probate, own property across several states, or have minor children.
A will, also known as a last will and testament, is a legal document specifying how the will maker wishes to handle asset distribution and other affairs after their death. A will typically includes all of the principal’s assets, such as real estate, vehicles, and other property, and usually a list of debts. A will may also provide directions for a funeral or memorial service.
Usually, every will must go through a probate court before execution. In some states, it may be possible to avoid probate under specific conditions. Certain assets, such as insurance policies and retirement accounts, may, if planned properly, pass directly to named beneficiaries without probate. (more…)
After a series of dog deaths connected to the Potomac Yard PetSmart earlier this year, Alexandria is seeking independent authority to inspect animal boarding facilities.
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria — who the City of Alexandria contracts for animal care and control services — ultimately concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge PetSmart or any staff with a crime but did cite poor conditions at the boarding facility.
The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) is asking for help in making the holidays special for some local kids this weekend.
ARHA is collecting toys for its 15th annual Santa’s Winter Wonderland this weekend, in which children 17 and under who are members of ARHA households receive gifts from Santa.
Come celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s War for Independence with renowned music historians David & Ginger Hildebrand for performances of special period music. The Hildebrands will don period attire to discuss and perform music associated with Alexandria’s sister cities: Caen, France; Dundee, Scotland; Helsingborg, Sweden; and Gyumri, Armenia. Scottish music was especially influential in the American colonies, and once the French joined the Revolutionary cause there were musical celebrations for Generals LaFayette, Rochambeau and other French leaders. This concert event is part of the “Alexandria commemorates America’s 250” campaign. David & Ginger specialize in researching, recording, and performing early American music. Since 1980 they have presented concerts and educational programs throughout the country and abroad at museums, historic sites, schools and universities. Mount Vernon, The National Gallery of Art, The National Archives, and Colonial Williamsburg are among their many past sponsors.
Tickets are $20.
This weekend marks the return of one Alexandria neighborhood’s very special, long running local tradition: the Warwick Village Luminaria.
The Luminaria is celebrated with thousands of paper lanterns lining the streets of the neighborhood. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14, beginning at sunset (approximately 5 p.m.).
Traffic safety advocacy group Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) compiled crash data from 2021 to 2024 and put together a ranking of the city’s most dangerous corridors with one standing out in particular.
The ranking looks not at the number of crashes, but the number of total casualties — from visible and non-visible injuries to severe and fatal crashes — reported by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!
🌧️ Today’s weather: Heavy rain and patchy fog are expected until 1pm, with temperatures peaking at 64°F by 10am before dropping to around 47°F. Breezy south winds of 14-22 mph will shift to the northwest in the afternoon, with gusts up to 31 mph. There is a 100% chance of precipitation. For Wednesday night, expect a chance of rain before 10pm and cloudy skies that will gradually clear. Lows will be around 32°F with breezy west winds of 10-20 mph and gusts as high as 29 mph. The chance of precipitation is 40%.
Surrounded by city leaders, Alexandria’s new Police Chief Tarrick McGuire was sworn in on Tuesday (Dec. 10).
McGuire is the third permanent chief of the Alexandria Police Department in three years. The city’s Chief Circuit Court Judge Lisa Kemler swore him in onstage at the amphitheater of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Old Town.
More than a dozen Alexandria businesses with skill gaming machines were “put on notice” last month.
The businesses were notified that skill games are illegal gambling machines, and were informed of the legal consequences in a Nov. 19 letter from City Attorney Cheran Ivery, then-Interim Police Chief Raul Pedroso and Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter.
