First opened in 1965, Landmark Mall remained a landmark of Alexandria for over 50 years. The mall officially closed its doors in early 2017. The redevelopment of the site was approved by the City Council in the summer of 2021. Demolition of the mall began in May of 2022 with many locals gathered to witness the first swing of the wrecking ball on the site. Reinvention and construction are nothing new to Landmark Mall, beginning as an outdoor mall in the 1960s, to in 1990 when the mall was turned into the multi-floor indoor shopping center the public knew it as, up until its closure.
We’ve all experienced that moment when you just want to sink into the ground or turn invisible, whether it be from fear or embarrassment. Opossums have the solution for you… playing possum. To play possum means to play dead-as you may have guessed the phrase is derived from the actions of the opossum.
Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid that is the number one contributor to drug overdoses in America. In recent years, the U.S. has seen a spike in fentanyl related deaths, increasing by 23% from 2020 to 2021. 67% of all overdose fatalities in 2021 involved fentanyl or other similar synthetic opioids. Fentanyl is often added to other less powerful drugs, without the user’s knowledge, in an attempt to increase potency. Often, people who overdose on fentanyl were initially unaware they were using the drug.
It's been three years, but the Alexandria City Homecoming Dance is back! Taking place on Saturday, November 5 at the St.James in Springfield, the Homecoming Dance will be from 7-10 p.m. The St. James is an athletic center that has many large, indoor sports facilities, including a 110,000 square foot indoor field where the dance will take place. Although, given its location, the dance will be different from the Homecomings of the past, the St. James provides a much-needed increase in space and ventilation.
Parent-teacher conferences will be taking place all day on Thursday, September 29 and Friday September 30 at the Minnie Howard and King Street campuses. Conferences provide a time for parents and family members to meet with their student’s teachers and discuss any concerns or any questions they may have about their student or their schedule. Students will have the days of the conferences off in order to allow conferences to take place in-person during school hours rather than in the evening.
I found my community in a Crystal City hotel because of a TV show. It was my main source of happiness for over a year. During the lockdown era of the pandemic, I learned how important human interaction is to my mental health and how unhappy I am without it.
