It was a busy week for meetings in Alexandria.
There was a seven-hour meeting on Tuesday where the City Council voted to move forward with the design for the Duke Street Transitway. The Transitway will reconfigure portions of Duke Street to have center-running bus lanes, along with a host of other transit and pedestrian/cyclist improvements. At the meeting, the plan had its share of supporters, detractors, and those in the middle who supported parts or nearly all of the plan but had specific concerns about pieces of the proposal.
A City Council-School Board joint work session also became tense after city leaders expressed frustration over a “contingency” in the Alexandria City Public Schools budget that held some funding in reserve unless the City of Alexandria adhered to a set of demands from the school district. The School Board voted on Wednesday to replace the language in the operating budget to remove that contingency.
At any rate, we’re tired and the boss is on vacation today, so we’re heading out early. We’ll see you on Wednesday!
The most-read stories this week were:
- Police: Argument at Alexandria City High School led to teens shooting each other
- There’s a new mural at 901 King Street in Old Town
- Alexandria City Council votes to move forward with Duke Street Transitway after marathon meeting
- Senators Warner and Kaine task Southern Towers owners to resolve eviction conflict with residents
- Next stop for the Duke Street Transitway: Alexandria’s City Council
- Man assaulted and robbed inside McDonald’s on S. Van Dorn Street
- What’s Up in Alexandria This Weekend: June 30- July 4
- Alexandria wins fight against water company over surcharge
- Alexandria School Board walking back budget ‘contingency’ after scuffle with City Council
- JUST IN: Alexandria Police searching along Four Mile Run for grand larceny suspect
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If you had a chance to enhance a child’s future with a time commitment of less than 2 hours a week, how would you respond? You have that opportunity right now to join over 200 Alexandrians as a reading tutor volunteer with the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC).
ATC tutors work with one child in kindergarten, first, or second grade in Alexandria public schools who need extra help with reading. Tutors meet with their Book Buddy 1-2 times each week for 30 minutes October-May at school, during school hours. Many struggling readers only receive one-on-one instruction through this program, and it makes all the difference. Last year, ATC served 195 children, of whom 82% ended the year reading on grade level and 96% made substantial reading gains. But the need is great, and we are still seeing learning lags from the pandemic.
This year, ATC plans to significantly increase the size of the program to reach over 250 students and to serve every elementary school in Alexandria. This is very exciting news, but we will only succeed if we can recruit more tutors. ATC trains you, matches you with a child, and provides ongoing lesson materials and support.
If you have been thinking about buying your first home or haven’t owned one in the last three years, THIS IS FOR YOU!
In the DMV area, it can be difficult to save the downpayment necessary for you to get into your own home. We have a solution. The Funder’s Summit!
We have assembled a summit with different municipalities to tell you how to access their funds for your home purchase.
Family Fun Fall Fest
Mark your calendars and join us for the Family Fun Fall Fest on Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 11am – 2pm!
This FREE in-person event will be held at the Shoppes at Foxchase, located at 4641 Duke St, Alexandria, VA
2023 Alexandria Fall Festival
Food trucks, bounce houses, pony rides, magic shows and more at the 2023 Alexandria Fall Festival, an Alexandria Living event presented by The Patterson Group. Join us at River Farm on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
