Alexandria: Gearing Up for Bike to Work Day
Local cyclists share tips for new riders.
On May 20, expect to see more Alexandria commuters leaving the cars in the garage. The annual “Bike to Work” day encourages commuters to try out a car-free lifestyle, and some local experts are ready with tips for new riders.

Alexandria Snapshot: National Healthcare Decisions Day
Woodbine Rehabilitation and Healthcare host its annual National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 29 to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning.
Alexandria: Mother Keeps Positive, Trusting Baby’s Medical Team
“It was so hard for me to not think of the worst case scenario.” –Loren DePina
Before Loren DePina of Alexandria gave birth to her preemie son Cameron last year, who arrived a terrifying and alarming 10 weeks early, she assumed that her experience potty-training her oldest son would go down as one of the most challenging times in her personal parenting history. Today, DePina laughs at how much stress she felt during the toilet training process.
Alexandria: City Health Department Offers Guidance on Zika Virus
Case of Zika virus in Virginia was imported from outside the U.S.
As of Feb. 8, there is one known case of Zika virus in Virginia, according to Alexandria Health Department Director Stephen Haering.

Alexandria: Panel on Uninsured Hosts Health Fair
Coverage gap remains issue for some low-income and unemployed.
For the past year, members of the Mayor’s Advisory Panel on the Uninsured have been meeting to discuss how they can help Alexandrians caught in the so-called “Coverage Gap.”

Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria Celebrates Collaboration
Mayor announces free health clinic to be held Nov. 16.
At Alexandria’s Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria, many volunteers from many backgrounds gave their time and joined forces to solve problems some Alexandrians did not even know they had.

Close Call with West Nile for Alexandria
Observant citizens prompt removal of mosquito breeding ground
With construction for the Indigo Hotel occurring in the area, it might have been easy to dismiss the pit of standing water at the corner of Duke and The Strand.

Alexandria: Backpacks, School Supplies and More
‘My Brother’s Keeper’ ministry hosts annual event.
The Alfred Street Baptist Church frequently steps in to meet community needs that can go unnoticed, and the thousands of youth returning to school without the supplies they need is no exception. In two weeks’ time, volunteers at the church filled more than a thousand backpacks for elementary, middle and high school students attending Alexandria City Public Schools.

Alexandria: A Hopeful Afternoon
Spreading awareness of ovarian cancer.
The survival rate of ovarian cancer is a grim 44 percent, and symptoms are described as obscure at best. But, early detection of the disease yields a survival rate of over 90 percent.

Alexandria: Luck Be a Lady(burg)
Ladyburg bath and body apothecary opens in Old Town.
For Crystal and Fred Wellman, there was never any doubt that Alexandria is where they were meant to be.
Alexandria: 10 Things To Know about Local Drinking Water
Virginia American Water joins thousands of water utilities across the country in the release of its annual water quality report available on line at www.amwater.com/vaaw/customer-service/water-quality-reports.html. In honor of the occasion, Virginia American Water offers this list of the top 10 things everyone should know about their drinking water.
Alexandria: Zarek Honored for Service with The Twig
Starlet G. Zarek of Alexandria was honored last month for her 25 years of service to The Twig, the junior auxiliary of Inova Alexandria Hospital.

Alexandria: Wine Cellar Needs a Little Help from Friends
Elizabeth and Rick Myllenbeck have a vision for 207 King St. They want to turn the historic 1810 Bartleman house in the heart of Old Town into the Sonoma Cellar, a wine-tasting room, bistro, and gift shop.
Alexandria: Going the Distance for City’s Children
Parks, play and promising futures.
Summer vacation season is upon us. Vacations are not just fun, but can also be important for our health. We can return from time away with a renewed sense of vigor, fresh perspectives, and increased mental acuity. A break from the daily grind can relieve stress and increase productivity in all of us.

Alexandria People at Work: The Hunt for the Culex Mosquito
Daniel Sherwood poked the long-handled dipper into the manhole. "Let's see if we can get any here." He peered into the stagnant water in the dipper. "Look at this; we have all four instars in here. These rafts are filled with eggs, and each raft can have 50-100 mosquitoes. See that little guy wiggling around in there," he said. "He is getting ready to pupate. We are really concerned about the pupa. When they get to the fourth instar stage, they stop eating and start laying eggs."