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News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Oct 23, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published October 23, 2026 at 9:00PM

Good Friday evening, Alexandria. Here’s a look back at today’s most-read stories and a look ahead to tomorrow.

📈 Today’s most-read stories

🕗 More from today

Everything else we published today, Oct 23, 2026.

📣 Announcements

Alexandria Fitness Studio for People Over 50 Closes Fall Into Fitness Program in 11 Days
Revolutionary Fitness, the semi-private strength and longevity studio at 215 N. Payne St. in… [Announcement]

Army Navy Game Day 5k and 10k Run, sponsored by the Washington, D.C. Foreign Area Officers Association
Attention all runners, joggers, and Army Navy fans! Come join us on Saturday, 12 December 2026… [Announcement]

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Saturday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

10:00 am: Countdown to the Holidays
12:00 pm: Lost Boy Cider Fall Fest 2026
1:00 pm: The Old Town Alexandria Women’s Crawl + Dance Party
1:30 pm: Specialty Tours: Preservation of Carlyle
4:00 pm: NAMIWalks Northern Virginia 2026
4:00 pm: Tapestry: A Festival of Belonging
5:00 pm: Miracle League of Alexandria – 15th Anniversary Celebration
6:00 pm: Death Comes to Carlyle House
👉 8:00 pm: Halloween Improv Comedy Show with the Auxiliary

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

12:00 pm: Canopy of Discovery
12:00 pm: The Carpenter’s Cook-Off 2026
2:00 pm: 30th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade
3:00 pm: Swedish Coffee Culture Event
4:00 pm: The DC Death Collective Presents: Death Over Drafts at Lost Boy Cider (free)

⭐ Featured events

🎭 Halloween Improv Comedy Show with the Auxiliary
Oct 24: Join the Auxiliary Improv for a night of Halloween-themed comedy in Old Town, Alexandria VA! [Event]

CatRad Halloween Eve!
Oct 30: Join us for our second annual CatRad Halloween Eve! A night of ghoulish fun, spooky treats… [Event]

Imperium Open House: Discover a Smarter Way to Get Stronger
Nov 1: Explore a different approach to strength training at Imperium’s free open house in Old Town Alexandria. [Event]

Dialogue for Democracy
Nov 3: Dialogue for Democracy invites high school students from across the DMV to George Mason University. [Event]

How Retirement Communities Work – A Free Workshop
Nov 4: Interested in learning about how Continuing Care Retirement Communities work, but don’t know where to start? Join us on 11/4 to learn more! [Event]

Submit events, announcements, or home listings to ALXnow.

🌤️ Weather update

Today: Alexandria saw a high of 64° at 2:00 p.m. (3° below normal), a low of 48° at 5:55 a.m., no rain and a peak gust of 16 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Northeast wind 1 to 5 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 65. Northeast wind 1 to 6 mph.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The photo above is from the City of Alexandria’s marina webcam.

Thanks for reading!

Around Town

Del Ray Halloween Parade returns for weekend of spooky events in Alexandria

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 23, 2026 at 3:45PM

The Del Ray Halloween Parade on Oct. 26, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Spooky season will be in full swing throughout Alexandria this weekend.

Led by the return of Del Ray’s popular Halloween parade for its 30th year, the next few days will also bring Old Town’s annual trick-or-treat event, an exploration of 18th-century mourning at Carlyle House, and even themed improv comedy shows and fitness crawls.

Does every will have to go through probate in Virginia?

By PJI Law

Published October 20, 2026 at 4:45PM

When a loved one passes away, families often face difficult decisions about funeral arrangements, finances, and the distribution of property. One common question is whether having a will automatically means the estate must go through probate.

Not necessarily. Whether probate is required in Virginia depends largely on how the deceased person’s assets were owned and whether those assets have another method of transferring to heirs or beneficiaries.

Understanding when probate is required—and when it can be avoided—can help families navigate estate administration with greater confidence.

What Is Probate in Virginia?

Probate is the legal process used to administer certain assets belonging to a deceased person, or decedent. In Virginia, probate generally takes place through the circuit court in the city or county where the decedent lived.

When probate is necessary, the court recognizes the will, if there is one, and appoints a personal representative to handle the estate. The personal representative is responsible for identifying and collecting assets, addressing valid debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining property according to the will or Virginia’s intestacy laws.

Importantly, having a will does not automatically mean every asset must pass through probate. A will generally controls probate assets, while certain property passes directly to another person through ownership arrangements or beneficiary designations.

When Is Probate Required?

Probate is generally necessary when someone dies owning assets in their individual name that do not have another method of transferring ownership.

Examples can include:

Real estate owned solely by the decedent
Bank accounts without joint ownership or beneficiary designations
Vehicles, jewelry, collections, or other personal property owned individually

In these situations, probate may be necessary to give the personal representative authority to transfer or distribute the property.

When Is Probate Not Required?

Some assets can transfer automatically after death and therefore may not need to pass through probate.

Jointly owned property: Assets held jointly with rights of survivorship generally pass to the surviving owner.

Beneficiary-designated accounts: Life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and certain bank accounts can pass directly to the beneficiaries named on the account.

Revocable living trusts: Assets properly transferred into a revocable living trust generally avoid probate because the trust owns the property rather than the deceased individual.

Virginia also provides a simplified option for certain small estates. Under Va. Code § 64.2-601, qualifying personal property valued at $75,000 or less may be transferred using a small estate affidavit rather than a full probate proceeding, provided the statutory requirements are satisfied.

This simplified procedure applies to qualifying personal property, not real estate, and can be particularly useful when an estate consists of modest assets such as a bank account or vehicle.

What Happens When Probate Is Required?

When probate is necessary, the personal representative must complete several steps before the estate can be closed. These typically include identifying and valuing estate assets, filing the required inventory, addressing creditor claims and taxes, and distributing assets to beneficiaries.

Virginia also imposes deadlines for certain estate filings. The inventory generally must be filed within four months after qualification, while the first accounting is generally due within 16 months.

(more…)

News

Alexandria appoints D.C.’s 911 chief as emergency communications director

By James Cullum

Published October 23, 2026 at 3:00PM

Heather McGaffin has been hired as Alexandria's director of the Department of Emergency and Customer Communications (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria has hired Heather McGaffin as director of its Department of Emergency and Customer Communications.

McGaffin, who worked most recently as the director of the District of Columbia’s Office of Unified Communications, will officially succeed the retiring Renee Gordon on Jan. 4, 2027, according to the city.

News

Family of man who died in APD custody sues city, officers

By James Cullum

Published October 23, 2026 at 1:45PM

The Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

The family of a 32-year-old man who died in Alexandria Police Department custody last summer has filed a federal lawsuit against the city and the officers involved in his arrest.

The family of Allan Tucker II is asking the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for relief against the City of Alexandria and two officers involved in his arrest and death on Aug. 15, 2025.

Event

Imperium Open House: Discover a Smarter Way to Get Stronger

November 1, 2026 11:00 am -2:00 pm

Event location

Imperium Strength & Longevity

323 S Washington St

Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Add to Calendar

Curious about strength training but not sure where to start? Or perhaps you're looking for a more efficient alternative to traditional gyms?

Imperium Strength & Longevity invites the Alexandria community to an Open House on Sunday, November 1, from 11 AM to 2 PM.

Opinion

Poll: The best pizza places in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com

Published October 23, 2026 at 11:45AM

For this week’s Readers’ Choice poll, ALXnow is revisiting the question of the best pizza restaurant in Alexandria after readers picked Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap in 2025. In addition to serving up delicious, fresh-out-of-the-oven slices, local pizzerias often become essential gathering spots that help shape the character of neighborhoods throughout the city.

Here are the nominees for Best pizza places in Alexandria as part of our ALXnow Readers’ Choice awards. Did we miss your favorite spot? Write it in!

Voting will close at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Voting for Best veterinarian in Alexandria is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 11:59 p.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best places to hike in Alexandria. The full results are now official:

🥇 Mount Vernon Trail — 56 votes
🥈 Winkler Botanical Preserve — 37 votes
🥉 Dora Kelley Nature Park — 19 votes
Jones Point Park — 15 votes
Fort Ward Park — 14 votes

From regional facilities like the 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail to local gems like the Dora Kelley Nature Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, Alexandria offers a variety of opportunities for both casual and seasoned hikers to stretch their legs despite its relatively small, compact footprint.

A total of 189 votes were cast.

See every ALXnow Readers’ Choice winner, past and present, here.

News

Alexandria leaders say proposal to merge local bus services is ‘problematic’

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 23, 2026 at 9:15AM

A DASH bus driver leaves the Braddock Road Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria leaders have joined counterparts from across the region in voicing reservations about a proposed consolidation of local bus systems in Northern Virginia.

If enacted, the proposal would roll Alexandria’s DASH system into a broader future operation spanning two counties and two cities that would have a service area totaling about 450 square miles and a population of more than 1.5 million.

News

Morning Notes for October 23, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published October 23, 2026 at 7:30AM

Boats docked at the Old Town waterfront (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Hydrofoil Ferry Talks Revived — “There have long been talks about running ferries on the Potomac and Anacostia, but concerns like costs and feasibility previously waylaid plans … Officials last week presented an early feasibility study envisioning a commuter service using hydrofoil ferries,” with Old Town Alexandria among the potential stops. [Axios DC]

Ground Breaks on Second Heritage Building — “Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners broke ground Tuesday on the second apartment building at The Heritage at Old Town, a 288-unit project at 535 S. Alfred St. that the developer says will be finished in 2029.” Construction on the project’s first building, which will deliver 310 apartments, began in June 2025. [Alexandria Brief]

Maintenance to Affect Duke and King Streets — “Two upcoming maintenance projects beginning the week of October 26 near the railroad tracks along Duke Street and King Street are expected to result in limited traffic impacts to the area. Bridge maintenance work will take place on the deck of the Duke Street bridge over the CSX railroad tracks beginning the week of October 26th.” Virginia Railway Express is also planning track maintenance starting Oct. 28. [City of Alexandria]

State Legislators Consider Building Reforms — “Every three years, Virginia updates its building code, requirements for new construction that account for safety standards and energy efficiency. As the state readies for its next update cycle in 2027, some lawmakers are flagging a series of reforms they argue can help increase housing supply and address affordability issues.” [Virginia Mercury]

Local Man Sentenced for Drug Ring — “Three more men have been sentenced in connection with a drug and prostitution ring operated out of a hotel in Dumfries. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, two men were sentenced on Wednesday in connection with the Red Carpet Inn’s third-floor drug den,” while a third man from Alexandria was sentenced to over 15 years in prison on Sept. 18. [Patch]

Alexandria Business Leaders Recognized — “The Washington Business Journal released its annual ‘Power’ list Tuesday, a list of the region’s most influential business leader with a twist this year, increasing the number from its usual 100 to a list of 250 in honor of the sesquicentennial. Alexandria is well represented. Here’s a look at the leaders who work in Alexandria or have strong ties to the city.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

It’s Friday — Sunny with a high near 63 and northeast winds around 6 to 8 mph. Friday night will be clear, with a low around 40 and a light northeast wind. [NWS]

No time to read? Now you can listen to your local news. Subscribe to the ALXnow Daily Update on Apple, Spotify or Amazon.

#Morning Notes

News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Oct 22, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Published October 22, 2026 at 9:00PM

Good Thursday evening, Alexandria. Here’s a look back at today’s most-read stories and a look ahead to tomorrow.

📈 Today’s most-read stories

🕗 More from today

Everything else we published today, Oct 22, 2026.

📣 Announcements

Alexandria Fitness Studio for People Over 50 Closes Fall Into Fitness Program in 11 Days
Revolutionary Fitness, the semi-private strength and longevity studio at 215 N. Payne St. in… [Announcement]

Army Navy Game Day 5k and 10k Run, sponsored by the Washington, D.C. Foreign Area Officers Association
Attention all runners, joggers, and Army Navy fans! Come join us on Saturday, 12 December 2026… [Announcement]

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Friday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

10:00 am: Burke Branch Friends, Inc Fall Book Sale
12:00 pm: What Everyone Needs to Know about the Safe Use of AI (Webinar)
5:00 pm: Blind Wine Tasting at Cherry on Top
6:00 pm: 1920s Party: American Girl Celebration
6:00 pm: Styling Series: Spook & Shop — Current Boutique Old Town

⭐ Featured events

🎭 Halloween Improv Comedy Show with the Auxiliary
Oct 24: Join the Auxiliary Improv for a night of Halloween-themed comedy in Old Town, Alexandria VA! [Event]

CatRad Halloween Eve!
Oct 30: Join us for our second annual CatRad Halloween Eve! A night of ghoulish fun, spooky treats… [Event]

Imperium Open House: Discover a Smarter Way to Get Stronger
Nov 1: Explore a different approach to strength training at Imperium’s free open house in Old Town Alexandria. [Event]

Dialogue for Democracy
Nov 3: Dialogue for Democracy invites high school students from across the DMV to George Mason University. [Event]

How Retirement Communities Work – A Free Workshop
Nov 4: Interested in learning about how Continuing Care Retirement Communities work, but don’t know where to start? Join us on 11/4 to learn more! [Event]

Submit events, announcements, or home listings to ALXnow.

🌤️ Weather update

Today: Alexandria saw a high of 59° at 8:25 p.m. (8° below normal), a low of 45° at 7:35 a.m. and no rain.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 47. North wind around 8 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Northeast wind around 9 mph.

About 753 Dominion customers are without power.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The photo above is from the City of Alexandria’s marina webcam.

Thanks for reading!

News

Prescription Drug Take Back Day returns to Alexandria this Saturday

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 22, 2026 at 3:45PM

Mix of pills and medications (Photo by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash)

The Alexandria Police Department’s headquarters and other sites in the city will once again participate in National Prescription Take Back Day, which is returning to communities across the country this Saturday (Oct. 24).

Led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the initiative encourages people to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unneeded prescription and over-the-counter drugs.