The Zebra Press - GOOD News in Alexandria, VA

01/19/2026

Remembering the Dream: Alexandria Keeps Living Dr. King’s Legacy Through LOCAL Firsthand Voices

As Alexandria continues to honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., today, we wanted to mention a few local leaders with the power of lived experience—reminding new generations that history is not abstract, but personal.

Last February, the Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria 21 (CCNA), in partnership with Goodwin Living, hosted a moving Black History Month program featuring eyewitnesses to one of the most pivotal moments in American history: the 1963 March on Washington and Dr. King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.

The event brought together a diverse audience, including local high school students, to hear directly from individuals who stood on the National Mall that day—more than 250,000 strong—when Dr. King addressed the nation from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Among those sharing memories was local educator and CCNA board member Gwen Day-Fuller, who recalled the atmosphere of unity and purpose that defined the march.

“There were people from all walks of life,” recalled Day-Fuller. “You could hear singing. You could see movie stars, Lena Horne and Harry Belafonte, political people, and everyday people. It was just a wonderful experience.”

What brought her there that day? After reading Dr. King’s speeches, including “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, Day-Fuller, like so many others, felt galvanized and recognized the significance of the moment and what it meant for the country as a whole.

“We were all there fighting for jobs, fighting to end racism and segregation,” she said. “Some of his speeches were soft and some were not. He was really telling us what we needed to do in our country.”

Former FBI Special Agent Mark Raabe also spoke about the extraordinary convergence of events surrounding the march, noting the national tension of the era and the significance of the civil rights leaders’ decision to move forward despite uncertainty. Assigned to the crowd that day, Raabe remembered the gathering as peaceful, focused, and profoundly inspiring.

“When Dr. King finished his speech,” Raabe reflected, “there was no way you could walk away without feeling that change was going to come.”

For Day-Fuller, the message is as important today as it was in 1963.

“Every little bit that we do helps us,” she said. “I’m hopeful that young people learn from what has happened in the past—and that they’ll help lead us where we still need to go.”

As Alexandria reflects on Dr. King’s legacy amid a complex and challenging national moment, events like these serve as a reminder: the dream lives on when stories are shared, voices are heard, and history is passed hand to hand.

Original story in comments.

01/19/2026

Today, 1/19/26, Is A National Day of Service in the United States of America
Celebrating the Life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Born January 15, 1929
Died April 4, 1968
If You’re Unable to Attend an Oganized Event Remember….. Kindness Counts!

Photo Kelly MacConomy

01/19/2026

Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, has died. She passed away Saturday, surrounded by her loving family. She was 95.

Her story began far from satellites and supercomputers. Born into poverty on a Virginia farm during the Jim Crow era, West grew up in a segregated South where opportunity was scarce. Through determination and extraordinary academic talent, she graduated first in her high school class and earned a scholarship to Virginia State College (now Virginia State University). She received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1952 and went on to earn a master’s degree in 1955.

In 1956, West began working as a mathematician at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Virginia. She was only the second African American woman hired at the base and one of just four African American employees at the time. What followed was a career that would quietly change the world.

At Dahlgren, West devoted herself to solving one of science’s most complex challenges: accurately modeling the shape of the Earth. Her painstaking calculations and programming helped transform raw satellite data into precise geodetic models, enabling reliable satellite-based navigation. That work ultimately became the backbone of the Global Positioning System (GPS) — now essential to aviation, shipping, emergency response, smartphones, and daily life worldwide.

Though her work reshaped modern navigation, West remained largely unknown for decades. Friends and colleagues have often noted that GPS’s remarkable accuracy rests on years of meticulous mathematical labor done behind the scenes by scientists like West, who pursued the work not for recognition, but because it mattered.

Over many years, Jane Plitt, founder and board chair of the Alexandria-based National Center for Women’s Innovations (NCWI), made it her mission to put Gladys West on the map—quite literally. West’s story became the centerpiece of NCWI’s inaugural work, culminating in a lavish gala celebrating her 93rd birthday on October 27, 2023. Emceed by Deborah Roberts, the evening showcased West’s extraordinary contributions, with West herself declaring, “This is the best day of my life.”

Through Plitt’s leadership, NCWI brought Gladys West’s legacy into the public spotlight. On March 7, 2024, Plitt unveiled an interactive exhibit honoring West’s groundbreaking research at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard. After drawing thousands of visitors in the campus lobby, the exhibit went on the road and has since traveled to multiple states, sharing the story of another “hidden figure” whose work helped shape modern technology.

In a tribute shared on her social media feed tonight, Jane Plitt announced that West passed away Saturday evening, January 17, surrounded by friends and family. She remembered her as “petite in stature but gigantic in impact.”

Beyond her scientific achievements, West was deeply devoted to her family. She is reunited in death with her beloved husband, Ira West, and leaves behind a legacy of love, intellect, and inspiration that continues through generations. West leaves behind three children, Dr. Carolyn West Oglesby, David West, and Michael West, along with seven grandchildren.

Dr. Gladys West’s life stands as a powerful reminder that brilliance can emerge from the most unlikely circumstances—and that quiet determination can alter the course of history. As those who knew her have urged, keep her story alive.

⬇️Link in comments and here: https://thezebra.org/2026/01/18/dr-gladys-west-mathematician-whose-work-made-gps-possible-dies-at-95/


National Center of Women's Innovations

01/19/2026

Starting soon: PUPPY KINDERGARTEN - January 25th

Puppy Kindergarten not only gives you a great puppy today, it lays the foundation for a friendly, well-socialized, well-mannered, and great dog tomorrow! Cover the basics like potty-training, sit, come, and more!

The next session starts Sunday, January 25 and is filling up. Secure your spot today!

01/18/2026

As Alexandria voters prepare for Tuesday’s Democratic firehouse primary for House of Delegates District 5, they have an opportunity Sunday to hear directly from the candidates seeking the nomination.

The Alexandria Brief is hosting a series of live, virtual, one-on-one interviews today, Sunday, January 18, with the three Democratic candidates currently in the race: Kirk McPike, Eileen Cassidy Rivera, and Chris Leibig.

The live conversations are intended to give voters insight into why each candidate is running, the issues they see as most pressing for Alexandria, and how they would represent the city in Richmond if elected. Viewers will be able to submit questions during each broadcast.

🫏🫏 Link in the comments

01/18/2026

Mason Butler has officially entered the race for Virginia’s House of Delegates District 5, becoming the Republican nominee for the seat entirely within the City of Alexandria, which has 18 of the City of Alexandria's 32 precincts.

As reported earlier by The Alexandria Brief, the Alexandria Republican City Committee named Butler its nominee after he emerged as the sole applicant, canceling a previously scheduled party canvass. Butler will face the winner of the Democratic firehouse primary in the upcoming special election.

Butler is not new to Alexandria politics. In 2024, he ran as an Independent candidate for Alexandria City Council in a crowded at-large race. While he did not secure a seat, his campaign raised his profile as a business-minded candidate focused on city finances, public safety, and quality-of-life concerns, as previously reported by The Patch.

An IT industry executive for more than 30 years, Butler has held leadership roles across the public and private sectors. His career began by writing technology grants for elementary and high schools in rural Kentucky, helping schools secure IT equipment. He later managed business operations for IBM across the country, led several IT startups, and has worked with the federal government in Washington, D.C., since 2003.

A longtime Alexandrian, Butler has lived in the city for more than a decade and is a 2017 graduate of the Alexandria City Academy. Since 2001, he has served in financial and leadership roles for several education-focused and fraternal organizations. He has also been active in local civic life, including involvement with organizations, serving as a board member of The Campagna Center and as a member of the Alexandria Rotary Club.

In announcing his candidacy for House District 5, Butler said he plans to bring a pragmatic, results-driven approach to Richmond, emphasizing economic growth, strengthening the local tax base, and addressing public safety issues. He has also said he hopes to work across party lines on issues that directly affect Alexandria residents.

The House District 5 seat is entirely within the City of Alexandria and is expected to draw significant attention in the special election, given the city’s political makeup and the timing of the race. Butler will square off against the Democratic nominee selected through a firehouse election process in February.

Butler lives in Alexandria with his wife of 10 years, Kristin, and their dog, Derby. Outside of work and politics, he spends time with local friends, plays what he describes as less-than-average golf, watches soccer matches, and volunteers in the community.

01/17/2026

Escape the ordinary, celebrate, and unwind at Jula's on the Potomac

01/17/2026

Woodbine offers subacute rehab, ventilator care, long term care and more at 2729 King Street, Alexandria, VA.

Woodbine Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center

01/17/2026

Chris Leibig, a longtime criminal defense attorney and community advocate, has officially launched his campaign for Delegate in the Fifth District, inviting voters to cast their ballots for him on January 20. 

Leibig, a proud Democrat, committed family man, and lifelong supporter of workers and unions, says his campaign will focus on expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and standing up for everyday residents. 

A graduate of Falls Church High School, Georgetown University, and William & Mary Law School, Leibig began his legal career in public defense, serving at the Alexandria Public Defender’s Office from 1996 to 2002. Since then, he has built a reputation as one of the region’s leading defense attorneys with a private practice based in Old Town Alexandria. 

“My work over the past decades — in the courtroom, in the community, with labor and unions, and fighting for justice — has shown me that real change starts with representation that listens, learns, and leads with courage,” Leibig said in a campaign statement. He emphasizes his experience defending the rights of individuals and his commitment to equal educational opportunities, criminal justice reform, mental health system improvements, and support for labor and unions. 

Leibig highlights his involvement with labor organizations and advocacy groups, including serving as President-Elect of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and maintaining a long-term role supporting the National Organization for the Reform of Ma*****na Laws (NORML), where he has worked on legal reform issues. 

“Democracy is under attack across our country,” Leibig notes on his campaign website. “We must elect leaders who have the experience, empathy, strength of character, and poise under pressure to defend our community and its values.” 

Leibig lives in Del Ray with his wife, a current Alexandria public defender, and together they are parents of three and grandparents to two. 

Voters in the Fifth District will head to the polls on January 20 to decide on the next Delegate. 

01/17/2026

And then there were THREE! Chris Leibig has entered the January 20 Democratic Party firehouse primary for the 5th District.

Alexandria, VA — Chris Leibig, a longtime criminal defense attorney and community advocate, has officially launched his campaign for Delegate in the Fifth

01/17/2026

Old Town Farmers' Market Alexandria, VA has moved INTO ROYAL STREET and to Square next to 's Tavern .
We parked on Pitt Street and walked through.
Great to see vendors-
, (Jon Meyers) and ( Joe & Pete) , and all the regular vendors!

01/16/2026

Is it really a "New Year" when last year is STILL in your carpets? You need HADEED!

Hadeed Carpet