Editor's Notebook

Fighting Through Illness (Sans Baggins)

Del Ray Patch readers offer their cold and flu remedies.

I recently came down with that nasty business that seems to be working its way through Del Ray like those gnarly creatures riding wolfen things across Middle Earth in “The Hobbit.” (Not a Tolkien expert, but you get the idea).  My friend Dana calls it “the funk.” It’s probably better known as a cold or virus and lately it seems just about everyone is crossing its path. If you haven’t yet, just wait. It, too, is riding a wolfen thing and Bilbo isn’t around to save you (Mr. Baggins is always in Old Town, after all). When I fell ill, I reached out to Del Ray Patch Facebook followers for their recommendations and remedies and, boy, did you guys offer plenty.  Here are your appreciated, thoughtful and occasionally hilarious suggestions:    …

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Law Enforcers Collect 165 Pounds of Unwanted Drugs

More than 3,100 pounds were collected across Northern Virginia as part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

The Alexandria Police Department, Sheriff’s Office and the Substance Abuse Coalition of Alexandria teamed with the Drug Enforcement Administration to collect 165 pounds of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, residents dropped off their potentially dangerous prescriptions at police headquarters on Wheeler Avenue and in the breezeway next to the Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray on Mount Vernon Avenue. The service was free and anonymous. “Most people throw them out of flush them and they end up in our water. It’s important that [these drugs] be incinerated,” said Stacey Swartz, owner of the Neighborhood Pharmacy. “We have a [drug …

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Dispose of Unwanted Drugs on National Take-Back Prescription Drugs Day

The city will take unwanted and expired drugs at three locations on April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Sheriff's Office and the Alexandria Police Department are partnering with the Substance Abuse Coalition of Alexandria and the national Drug Enforcement Agency to collect unwanted prescription drugs. On Saturday, April 28, the city will take expired, unused and unwanted drugs at three sites: Alexandria Police Headquarters on Wheeler Avenue, the Neighborhood Pharmacy parking lot behind the store's Mount Vernon Avenue location and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial on Callahan Drive. The service, which will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is free, anonymous and no questions asked. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, along with the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses …

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Neighborhood Pharmacy Wins Heart of Del Ray Award

Stacey Swartz presented with giant cardboard heart from Del Ray Business Association.

The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray was presented with the Del Ray Business Association’s Heart of Del Ray award on Monday morning. Stacey Swartz was presented the award by DRBA officer Gayle Reuter and realtor Bobi Bomar, last year’s winner.  “It’s super exciting,” Swartz said about the award. “It’s just so nice to be in a wonderful community with so many great businesses. This really is a great thing to start the day with.” The award is given annually around Valentine's Day to the business that best demonstrates a warm and welcoming attitude to customers, shows generosity and commitment to the community and contributes to making Del Ray a great place to live, work and shop. Citizens were asked to vote for their favorite business on a …

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Neighborhood Pharmacy Now Offers iPhone App

Pharmacy serves residents from Del Ray and surrounding areas.

Mia Stephens of south Arlington loves the personalized service she receives at the Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray, but she counts herself among a growing number of customers who are using or plan to use the pharmacy’s new service application for iPhones and iPads. “I’m going to try it out,” Stephens said.  “If I was in a meeting all day, I could check in. I’m curious.” The app allows customers to order prescriptions without calling the pharmacy, emailing the Mt. Vernon Avenue business or stopping by in person. "We started to notice a lot of people were emailing me, so we wanted to set up a way that people could get access, just in case I was away from my email for a while so it could get filled for them,” said co-owner Stacey Swartz. “We…

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