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National Night Out returns tonight one week after multiple shootings

By Vernon Miles
National Night Out 2023 (photo via Alexandria Police Department/Facebook)

Tonight is National Night Out — an event where Alexandria’s first responders interface with the communities. This year’s celebrations come after a rough week with the city rattled by multiple shootings, including one homicide.

“On Tuesday, August 1, 2023, The City of Alexandria will celebrate National Night Out (NNO), a day designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, generate support for anti-crime programs, and send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized, and working with law enforcement to help prevent crime,” the city said in a release.

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ALIVE! and Volunteer Alexandria collect 33.5K pounds in first citywide food drive

By James Cullum
Marion Brunken, executive director of Volunteer Alexandria (on left), and Jenn Ayers, executive director of ALIVE!, celebrate reaching the goal of collecting more than 33,500 pounds of canned goods and cooking oil during the month of July (courtesy photo)

ALIVE! and Volunteer Alexandria exceeded their goal and collected more than 33,500 in last month’s first-ever citywide food drive.

The nonprofits collected 33,511 pounds of food from 38 locations across Alexandria last month.

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Alexandria’s DASH bus network sees record high ridership after going fare-free

By Vernon Miles

Alexandria’s DASH network has set a record high with 4.5 million boardings in a single year, according to the transportation company.

DASH said in a release that the record high boardings exceeded the previous ridership high of 4.3 million in 2015. DASH credited the success to a mix of taking the network fare-free and realigning the system to prioritize frequent service in higher-density corridors.

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Manager sentenced 1.5 years for stealing $500K from Alexandria office by creating fake employees

By James Cullum
The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse at 520 King Street in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

A Virginia man was sentenced to a year-and-a-half in prison this week for embezzling more than a half million dollars from ABM Industries.

John Babsa, a 34-year-old former manager of the Northern Virginia branch of New York-based ABM Industries, pleaded guilty to one count of felony embezzlement at his July 27 trial. The former manager also paid $583,000 in restitution directly to ABM Industries via his attorney.

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Mieza Blendery, a craft beer brewery, opens in Alexandria’s West End

By James Cullum
Alex Lynch of Mieza Blendery at 109 Clermont Street in Alexandria's West End (courtesy photo)

Like yeast in a beer barrel, Alex Lynch has been patient for the last several years.

In June, the D.C. native had enough beer brewed to open Mieza Blendery at 109 Clermont Street in Alexandria’s West End. With 12 distinct flavors this season, Lynch opened his tasting room to the public.

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Alexandria Mayor says city needs to combat police attrition after recent shootings

By Vernon Miles
Saturday afternoon shooting in Braddock (photo via Alexandria Police Department)

 

After another pair of shootings last week, one that resulted in a death and one in a life-threatening injury, Mayor Justin Wilson said the multi-pronged response includes more police officers in Alexandria.

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Notes: Patrick Henry Principal wins Virginia Mrs. America crown, heads to nationals this month

By ALXnow.com
Ingrid Bynum, Principal of Patrick Henry (image via ACPS)

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: The weather forecast predicts a sunny day with a high temperature of around 84, accompanied by a light northward wind at about 6 mph. For Tuesday night, expect it to be mostly clear with a low temperature of roughly 65 and a gentle northeast wind ranging from 3 to 6 mph.

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Restaurant Week returns to Alexandria in two weeks

By Vernon Miles
Bucatini Carbonara at Thompson Italian (image via Thompson Italian/Facebook)

Alexandria Restaurant Week, a biannual event where restaurants around the city offer pre-set dinners, is making its return this August.

Visit Alexandria said in a release that the summer Alexandria Restaurant Week is set to run from Friday, Aug. 18, to Sunday, Aug. 27.

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Alexandria’s teen pregnancy rate falling but numbers rising for Hispanic girls

By James Cullum
Alexandria's teen pregnancy rate (via City of Alexandria)

(Updated 3 p.m.) Alexandria’s teen pregnancy rate is falling, although Hispanic girls are disproportionately high, according to new data presented by the city.

The numbers are on the rise for Hispanic girls, with 22.4 pregnancies for every 1,000 female ages 15 to 17 reported in 2021, according to the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP), part of the Department of Community & Human Services. That’s an 8% increase from the previous year, but still below the 26 pregnancies per 1,000 females reported in 2020.

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