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‘Near miss’ incidents involving kids in Alexandria raise concerns about Hickory Street intersection

Published January 8, 2026 at 10:30AM

The roundabout at Hickory and Kennedy Streets in Alexandria's Potomac West neighborhood, Nov. 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new report on traffic safety in Northern Virginia is raising concerns about the number of “near miss” incidents in Alexandria, especially those involving children.

A total of 155 near miss incidents involving children were reported in Alexandria from January 2024 to December 2025 — more than in any other Northern Virginia locality, according to the report from Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS). Of those incidents, 53 of them occurred at a single intersection in Potomac West.

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SoberRide offering free Lyft rides in Alexandria for New Year’s Eve

By Katie Taranto

Published December 31, 2025 at 10:00AM

SoberRide vehicle (via Washington Regional Alcohol Program/Facebook)

SoberRide, the initiative that has been offering free Lyft rides home in the D.C. area this holiday season, will continue to operate for New Year’s Eve.

Rides will become available starting at 10 p.m. tonight (Wednesday) and lasting until 4 a.m. tomorrow. During that period, residents 21 and older can enter a promotional code into Lyft’s “Payment” tab to receive a ride home. Tonight’s promotional code will be posted at 9 p.m. on www.SoberRide.com.

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Friends of Guest House residents get donations of pajamas and comfy socks for Christmas

By James Cullum

Published December 29, 2025 at 2:45PM

Friends of Guest House residents opening Christmas presents, DEC. 24, 2025 (courtesy photo)

Friends of Guest House residents will have a comfy new year, as more than 75 sets of new pajamas and cozy socks were donated to the nonprofit and handed out on Christmas Eve.

The donations are enough to keep the residents outfitted with pajamas for an entire year, and were made possible by Maureen Clyne, a local realtor, who started the holiday effort seven years ago.

Around Town

UpCycle Creative Reuse Center reopens in new location after six-month closure

By James Cullum

Published December 23, 2025 at 1:45PM

Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Alisa Brooks of Continues Arcade attend an October 2025 event hosted by UpCycle Creative Reuse Center (via UpCycle Creative Reuse Center/Facebook)

After being closed for nearly six months, UpCycle Creative Reuse Center has reopened in an industrial area just south of the Carlyle neighborhood.

The shop has sold all manner of “upcycled” materials, including paper goods, fabrics, craft and party supplies, office goods, containers, jewelry and more since its founding in 2013 by Susan Miranda and Kelley Organek.

Around Town

‘Operation Elf’ toy drive distributes holiday gifts to children of inmates, local nonprofits

By James Cullum

Published December 16, 2025 at 1:45PM

Toys from Operation Elf going to the children of inmates at the Alexandria jail (staff photo by James Cullum)

In a room packed with toys and books, the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office gathered more than 50 gift bags for kids today (Tuesday), hoping to spread cheer to children of inmates this holiday season.

Since last month, the office has collected gifts for the families of 55 inmates, with kids receiving five gifts each. It’s all part of Operation Elf, the office’s annual holiday toy drive.

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Free Lyft rides available in Alexandria beginning Friday through New Year’s Day

By Katie Taranto

Published December 15, 2025 at 1:45PM

SoberRide vehicle (via Washington Regional Alcohol Program/Facebook)

Free Lyft rides are returning to Alexandria and the D.C. area starting this Friday and lasting through New Year’s Day.

Lyft rides totaling up to $15 will be available free of charge from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. nightly through Thursday, Jan. 1. The rides are courtesy of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s SoberRide initiative, which aims to combat drunk driving.

Around Town

Alexandria nonprofit Cornerstone Craftsman receives $10K donation, 100 laptops for apprentices

By James Cullum

Published December 11, 2025 at 3:00PM

(Left to right) Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Garrett McGuire of AT&T, Cornerstone Craftsman Executive Director Roberto Gomez and board member Melissa Riddy with donated laptops and a $10,000 check to the organization, Dec. 11, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

An Alexandria nonprofit that teaches trades to underserved youth received 100 refurbished laptops and $10,000 from AT&T and Human I-T today (Thursday).

Apprentices at Cornerstone Craftsman will each receive one of the laptops after they graduate from high school. The donations were made by AT&T after Garrett McGuire, the company’s regional director of external and legislative affairs, spoke with Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins about workforce development.

Around Town

‘Ten Thousand Villages’ store in Old Town to rebrand as ‘The World Crafted on King’

By James Cullum

Published December 9, 2025 at 11:45AM

The previous Ten Thousand Villages at 915 King Street in Old Town (via Google Maps)

A longstanding nonprofit retailer dedicated to fair trade practices with artisans around the world is set to undergo a rebranding.

After closing multiple locations around the country and shifting to online sales, Ten Thousand Villages at 915 King Street continue as-is, but with a new identity. In February, the Old Town shop will hold its grand reopening as “The World Crafted on King.”

Around Town

Friends of Guest House seeks holiday pajama donations for residents

By James Cullum

Published December 9, 2025 at 9:15AM

Christmas tree (via Sapan Patel/Unsplash)

An Alexandria nonprofit is requesting donations of women’s pajamas for its residents who are transitioning back into the community after incarceration.

Friends of Guest House, located at 1 E. Luray Avenue, is collecting women’s pajama sets to provide for its residential program participants during the holiday season. Realtor Maureen Clyne has collected hundreds of sets since starting the annual effort seven years ago.

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Alexandria earns sixth consecutive ‘perfect score’ on LGBTQ+ equality index

By Katie Taranto

Published November 20, 2025 at 9:15AM | Updated November 20, 2025 at 1:20PM

Alexandria's 8th Annual Pride Fair at Market Square on Saturday, June 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

For the sixth year in a row, Alexandria has received a “perfect score” from an annual evaluation of United States cities by a national LGBTQ+ rights nonprofit.

Alexandria earned a maximum score of 100 points on its Municipal Equality Index scorecard from the Human Rights Campaign, the city announced yesterday (Wednesday). The score accounts for factors like non-discrimination laws, protections for LGBTQ+ employees and fair enforcement of the law.

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Alexandria nonprofit Cornerstone Craftsman builds new futures by teaching trades

By James Cullum

Published November 18, 2025 at 1:45PM

Cornerstone Craftsman Executive Director Roberto Gomez directs apprentices at the nonprofit's office on Eisenhower Avenue (courtesy photo)

Over two dozen young men in Alexandria are learning how to foster a successful career in skilled trades with the help of an Alexandria-based nonprofit.

Roberto Gomez, the CEO of remodeling company Even Scale, founded Cornerstone Craftsman in 2021 with a vision to dispel cycles of generational poverty through trade education. Today, his program works with 28 apprentices, providing mentorship and training in skilled trades, as well as math and science tutoring.