Filling in the Blanks with Melanie Kay-Wyatt: Hope and the ‘heart work’

By Melanie Kay-Wyatt, Ed.D. Hope is a driving force as we look ahead to the 2025-2026 school year with a vision of what the future can hold. It is with hope that we come together to do the “heart work” in order to realize a promising future for Alexandria City Public Schools, our students, staff, … Continued

Out of the Attic: Alexandria’s birthday origins

This column was originally published July 13, 2023. For centuries, Native Americans lived in and traveled through the land that now makes up Alexandria. Today’s indigenous groups and state and federally recognized tribes and nations of Virginia include the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway), Chickahominy, Chickahominy Eastern Division, Mattaponi, Upper Mattaponi, Monacan, Nansemond, Nottoway, Pamunkey, Patawomeck and Rappahannock. … Continued

Eco City designation is meaningless

To the editor: The City of Alexandria needs to plant more canopy trees in every possible area of the city, protect green space and its remaining forests, encourage citizens to plant trees in their yards and put money, energy and clout into its Natural Resources Division under the Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities. … Continued

Alexandria resident recalls time at Camp Mystic, scene of July 4 flood

By Denise Dunbar | ddunbar@alextimes.com Nearly 120 people have died as of Wednesday afternoon, with another 173 still missing, following devastating flooding in the Texas Hill Country between San Antonio and Austin that occurred in the early hours of July 4.  Twenty-seven of the victims were campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a private Christian … Continued

Phased ACPS, DASH integration proposed to City Council

By Caitlyn Meisner | cmeisner@alextimes.com DASH, Alexandria’s fare-free public transportation system, could service a portion of Alexandria City High School students starting in the 2026-2027 school year, according to a recent recommendation from City Manager Jim Parajon. Following months of meetings between DASH, city and Alexandria City Public Schools staff before City Council’s summer recess, … Continued

New Poet Laureate Cristi Donoso kicks off first months in post

By Hannah Shiblaq | alextimes.com According to Cristi Donoso, poetry is “just kind of something that happened” to her. It was 2017, after she had lost a close friend and said goodbye to the child that she and her husband had been fostering, when she turned to the medium as a source of comfort. She … Continued