What's up Alexandria! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
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In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Grand African Run and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Alexandria Mails 2026 Second Half Real Estate Tax Bills Due November 16 (alexandriava.gov) — If you own property in Alexandria, your second-half 2026 real estate, refuse, and stormwater bills are due Monday, Nov. 16, with steep penalties and interest starting the next day. The city outlines multiple ways to pay, how to get a missing bill, and tax relief options for seniors, disabled residents, and qualifying disabled veterans or surviving spouses.
2. Taste of Scotland Returns to Alexandria Dec. 4 (thezebra.org) — Alexandria's beloved Taste of Scotland whisky tasting returns Dec. 4 to the ALX Community Penthouse, kicking off Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend and raising funds for Campagna Center programs serving about 2,000 local residents. Expect dozens of Scotch varieties, games, and a festive Old Town setting, plus a free Scottish Holiday Walk Parade and Holiday Boat Parade of Lights the following day.
3. Alexandria to consider revised flood plan (fox5dc.com) — Alexandria is weighing a revised $152.7 million Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project that drops a controversial pumping station at Waterfront Park in favor of upgraded storm sewers, bulkheads, and drainage. With Architectural Review Board approval sought this week, construction could begin in 2027 to better protect Old Town's low-lying streets, including lower King Street, from increasingly frequent flooding.
4. ACPS scores rose at 16 of 17 schools; 3 of 17 are rated as meeting state expectations (alexandriabrief.com) — Alexandria City Public Schools saw test scores rise at 16 of 17 schools this year, and all 17 are now fully accredited under Virginia's standards. However, only three schools are rated as meeting or exceeding state expectations, with most others downgraded because certain student groups, especially students with disabilities, were flagged for federal support.
5. $120 Million Samuel Madden Homes Redevelopment Reaches Major Milestone in Alexandria (thezebra.org) — A major affordable housing redevelopment at Samuel Madden Homes in Old Town has reached its structural "topping out," bringing 295,000 square feet of new mixed-income housing closer to reality for Alexandria families. City leaders and ARHA say the $120 million project will replace 66 former public housing units with modern, energy-efficient homes and on-site services designed to support residents' long-term stability.
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Ok Alexandria! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white?" — A chalk board (Thank you Charlie H. for sending it in!)
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