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Mount Vernon Snapshot: Fall Festival — Unleashed

Westgrove Pack, the community sponsors of the Westgrove Off Leash Dog Park, will celebrate the success of the park with a festival and fundraising launch on Nov. 5, 1-4 p.m., to which all dog enthusiasts — and those few who still need convincing — are invited.

Mount Vernon: Service To Celebrate Joshua Owusu’s Life

Joshua Owusu, a sixth grade student at Stratford Landing Elementary School lost his battle with brain cancer on Tuesday, Sept. 26. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Oct. 8, 11 a.m., at Aldersgate Church, 1301 Collingwood Drive. A reception will immediately follow in Wesley Hall. Burial will be in Mount Comfort Cemetery, 6600 S. Kings Highway at 2:30 p.m.

Mount Vernon: Dig Pink Rally

A Dig Pink Rally, supporting breast cancer research, is being sponsored by West Potomac High School Volleyball, 6500 Quander Road, at its Oct. 13 games against Mount Vernon: 5 p.m. (Freshman), 6 p.m. (JV), and 7:15 p.m. (Varsity). The rally will include a Memory/Honor Wall, bake sale, and a Ft. Hunt volleyball players serving contest. The volleyball teams welcome everyone to cheer on the local high school players and wear pink.

Alexandria: Who Should Steer Torpedo Factory?

Artists Association proposes new management structure.

Starting in October, the City of Alexandria has taken over management of the Torpedo Factory. But even as the city starts its temporary control, the Torpedo Factory Artists Association (TFAA) has presented some different ideas for how the property should be run in the future.

Alexandria Lawyer Saves Innocent Man from Death Row

“It took a team of people hundreds of hours to save one life. If we hadn’t taken this case, he’d be dead.”

Alfred Dewayne Brown loves the Alexandria Waterfront. He enjoys visiting the shops and restaurants in Old Town and meeting the family of his Alexandrian lawyer, Brian Stolarz. Brown is closer with Stolarz than most clients are with their attorneys. The two are good friends and even have matching tattoos: scales of justice. Brown has the number “154” written above his, because Brown is the 154th inmate on death row to be exonerated. If it weren’t for Stolarz, Brown would be dead.

Alexandria People At Work: New Boutique Opens in City

Elizabeth Todd picks up the phone. "Hey, we just got in this great Veronica Beard classic jacket with a zip-in dickey — just your style. Do you want me to hold it for you?" Todd says she has a loyal client base and she calls to let them know what has just arrived. "I get to know who needs comfortable shoes to walk in on the Hill." Todd has just opened the Hive, described as a luxury lifestyle and clothing boutique, at 301 Cameron St.

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Alexandria: Historic Christ Church Welcomes New Rector

From Atlanta to Alexandria.

Alexandria welcomed the Rev. Noelle York-Simmons, the 28th rector of the 243-year-old Christ Church, in September. She’s the first female rector, and among the youngest at 40 or under, in the church’s history of attending to the spiritual needs of U.S. presidents to the very poor and everyone in between.

Alexandria Living Legends: Their Leadership Preserved Gadsby’s Tavern

Foley and McNamara ensured Post 24’s historic gift to the city.

In the early 20th century, Gadsby’s Tavern and the adjoining City Hotel were in such a dilapidated condition that the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City made an offer to purchase some of the woodwork, including the ballroom, to preserve its history because the destruction of these buildings seemed imminent. The buildings were prominent in the 18th century as a meeting place for patriots of the revolution, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Each of the first five presidents of the United States was entertained there.

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Alexandria: Raise the Roof

$50,000 raised for low-income residents.

More than 160 people turned out Sept. 22 for Rebuilding Together Alexandria’s Raise the Roof fundraiser at Port City Brewery, raising more than $50,000 to help low-income residents in the city.

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Alexandria: Fire Department Celebrates 150 Years

Gala to raise funds for antique equipment restoration.

In 1774, the Friendship Fire Company was established as the first volunteer fire company in Alexandria. George Washington was a member of the company and purchased the city its first fire engine in 1775. But it wasn’t until 1866 when Joseph Young, at a rate of $70 per month, became the city’s first paid firefighter thus marking the birth of the Alexandria Fire Department.

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Alexandria: Free Health Fair for Uninsured Returns Nov. 5

Number of partners joining the Health Fair effort soars.

This year, with many more sponsors, Arlene Hewitt, Richard Merritt, Dan Hawkins, Bill Euille, Mary Anne Weber, Dr. John Klousia, Canek Aguirre, Eduardo Mantilla-Torres, and Jamie Conrad have cobbled together another free health fair for the uninsured. Some of them are part of the Alliance for Alexandria’s Uninsured, a lead partner and staffer of the Planning Committee for the fair. They see a difference between last year’s fair and this year’s: last year, there were five or six sponsors: this year there are 54 ... and counting.

Vienna, McLean, Great Falls: Electric Bike Expo at Tysons Corner Center Offers Safety Presentation

The national traveling experiential demo tour for electric pedal assist Bikes is coming to the Tysons Corner Center next weekend and will offer attendees an opportunity to test ride more than 100 different electric bikes models from a dozen leading brands.

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Vienna Oktoberfest Celebrates the Season

As the drizzle and dark clouds moved out of Vienna on Saturday, Vienna Oktoberfest guests moved into the celebration grounds.

Vienna: Optimists Host Family Fun Day on Town Green

Club’s annual fundraising campaign on behalf of Growing Hope netted about $32,000.

The Optimist Club of Greater Vienna – once again – raised more than $32,00 from its annual “Growing Hope” fundraising campaign on behalf of families facing childhood cancer .

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Vienna: Capitol Steps to Perform at Oakton High

A Benefit for the Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna to be held on Sunday Oct. 23.

Mark your calendars for Sunday, Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. and enjoy an outrageously funny afternoon of political humor and laugh-out-loud fun with Capitol Steps.