Helenia Bragg had few options.
After getting arrested last year in her Old Town home for possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs, the Alexandria native faced a minimum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. Bragg previously spent the greater part of 20 years incarcerated for three possession charges, and had been clean and sober for eight years before falling off the wagon.
(Updated 10:15 a.m.) One month after the Alexandria Library was crippled due to a “data incident,” the library is still recovering services and won’t say more about what caused the outage.
For weeks in early July, many of the library network’s digital services were completely inaccessible, including audiobooks, wifi and signing up for a library card.
Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: The weather forecast predicts mostly sunny conditions with a high temperature near 87°F, accompanied by a west wind at 5 to 10 mph. By Wednesday night, the sky turns mostly cloudy and the temperature drops to around 69°F. The southwest wind at 6 mph will become calm in the evening.
This year’s Very Godly VBS, inspired by The Titan’s Curse, invites children into the world of Camp Half-Blood to explore faith, courage, belonging, and community through storytelling, music, crafts, games, science, and reflection in a fun and welcoming environment for all.
Location: The Falls Church
Feeling grimy? A new soap shop is holding its grand opening in Old Town on Saturday.
White Lily Shoppe, now at 101 S. Saint Asaph Street, first launched in 2019 as a “one-woman Etsy shop for brides,” founder Bianca Del Cid wrote on her website. The shop makes and sells small batches of vegan and cruelty free soaps, bath bombs, body scrubs and sea salts,
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.
(Updated 8/9) The Alexandria Police Department said one person has been injured in an officer-involved shooting on the 3500 block of Richmond Highway in Potomac Yard.
“There is a moderate police presence in and around the 3500 block of Richmond Highway in response to a federal law enforcement officer-involved shooting,” police said on social media. “One person was injured. APD is on scene.”
Musical duo The Bacon Brothers, consisting of Michael and Kevin Bacon, are coming to the Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mount Vernon Avenue) again this fall.
The two initial nights, Oct. 7 and 8, have already sold out. A third night on Monday, Oct. 9, was added and — as of 1 p.m. on Aug. 8 — tickets were still available.
One month after Nasrat Ahmad Yar’s murder in D.C., the family said the GoFundMe has helped them stay in their home.
Yar worked as an interpreter for U.S. Army Special Forces in Afghanistan before moving to the United States with his family after the collapse of the Afghan government in 2021. Yar lived in Alexandria and worked as a tow truck driver and rideshare driver to support his family.
After years of battling between residents at Southern Towers and building management, a program next week aims to help renters get a better understanding of their rights.
The Tenant’s Rights workshop, presented by Mary Horner of Legal Services of Northern Virginia, is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 17, at 1 p.m. at the Workforce Development Center (4850 Mark Center Drive).
Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: The weather forecast for Tuesday is mostly sunny with a high temperature of around 84 degrees, accompanied by a breezy west wind blowing at 14 to 20 mph, and gusts reaching up to 26 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low temperature of about 67 degrees, and a west wind blowing at 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
