On This Day in Alexandria History — “On November 2, 1909, teachers and students at the new Lee School for Girls on Prince Street participated in a fire drill, directed by the principal. It took two just under two minutes for all to safely evacuate the building.” [Historic Alexandria]
More Single Tracking on Blue Line This Week — “[Monday] through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Blue Line trains will single track between Van Dorn St and Franconia-Springfield for thermite welding. This process uses intense heat to join tracks, replace rail, and repair rail defects.” [Metro/Bluesky]
Leaf Collection Season Begins — “🍂 Mark your calendars! Alexandria’s leaf collection season begins November 2. Get ready for fall cleanup and check the collection schedule to plan ahead. For the full schedule and more information, visit: alexandriava.gov/leafcollection.” [Alexandria T&ES/Bluesky]
Rally Held After Anti-Immigrant Messaging — “Friday night, a group of neighbors rallied in Del Ray at Mount Jefferson Park to support anyone living in fear. Parents and kids used chalk to write messages of support for immigrants in Alexandria, including ‘We love our immigrant neighbors’ and ‘Diversity makes Alexandria better.'” [DC News Now]
Homicide Victim’s Family Speaks Out — “[Sister-in-law] Michelle [Cochran] described Joshua [Cochran] as the ‘goofy uncle’ who loved making people laugh and cared deeply about his family. ‘He cared so deeply about his son, his nieces and nephews. He was the goofy uncle. He loved his parents, his dogs,’ she said. Cochran grew up in Bowie and moved to Alexandria to be closer to his eight-year-old son, Michelle said. He worked as a digital editor at FOX News.” [WUSA9]
Last Day to Register for Public Hearings on Dominion-NextEra Merger — Nov. 2 is the deadline to file as a public witness for public testimony on Nov. 5, 9 and 10. Written comments can be provided through Nov. 9. An evidentiary hearing with intervening parties will happen on Nov. 17. [ALXnow]
What’s Driving Voters in Tuesday’s Election — “Virginians headed to the polls Saturday for the final day of early voting ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, with affordability and three proposed amendments to the state constitution among the issues driving voters to cast their ballots.” [WUSA9]
Teens Conquer Outdoors with Wilderness Kids Alexandria — “For some Alexandria teenagers, their first hike was no gentle walk through the woods. It was Old Rag Mountain: 9.4 miles of climbing, wet rock, cold wind, and the famous boulder scramble near the summit. Ten Alexandria City High School students made the early-October trip with Wilderness Kids Alexandria, a local nonprofit that helps teenagers from under-resourced families experience hiking, paddling, climbing, camping and other outdoor activities.” [The Zebra]
Next Community Cookout in Alexandria — “Come out to enjoy free food, games, activities, giveaways, and an opportunity to connect and learn more about the wide variety of services and programs available through the City of Alexandria agencies.” The cookout will take place from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2425 Mill Road (across from Wegmans). [City of Alexandria]
Tree Lighting Set for Late November — “Start your holiday season with the City of Alexandria at the annual Holiday Tree Lighting! We’re hosting the same tradition at a new location. Join us at Waterfront Park at 6 p.m. on November 21 for a joyful evening of community celebration.” [City of Alexandria/Facebook]
Former Felons’ Voting Rights in Spotlight for Virginia Election — “Nov. 3 will be Seychell Williams’ first time voting, a civic duty she said she’s excited to experience. Despite advocating for criminal justice reform laws at the state Capitol over the years, she’s been unable to vote herself due to a past felony conviction for which she served five years in prison … Williams is among more than 200,000 Virginians who regained their voting rights after a court ruled earlier this year they never should have lost them based on a Reconstruction-era law. In addition to that case, Gov. Abigail Spanberger restored about 60,000 others’ rights over the summer. But the third in a slate of constitutional amendments on Election Day ballots will determine if voting restoration will become automatic after incarceration, or remain a petition-based system.” [Virginia Mercury]
Lawsuits Over Triumphal Arch — “There are now three lawsuits calling for a halt to potential work on a monument that would rise 250 feet in Memorial Circle, at the Virginia end of Memorial Bridge near Arlington National Cemetery. That would make the arch 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty is from its base to the top of the torch.” [ARLnow/Associated Press]
‘AI Flood Slop’ Draws Backlash — “Searching for a quick bite in Northwest Washington this month, he stopped, like generations of Washingtonians before him, at the century-old deli. On the menu screen over the order counter, he saw something that made him pause. The images of pizza, burgers and tenders appeared clearly generated with artificial intelligence … The post is one of many that have in recent months targeted small businesses and restaurants in D.C. for using artificial intelligence in their marketing, launching virtual debates about what place the technology has within real-life communities.” [The Washington Post]
It’s Monday — Cloudy skies will linger through midmorning before gradually clearing, with a high near 66. Winds will be calm early, becoming southerly around 5 mph in the afternoon. Monday night will be mostly clear with a low around 47 and a light south wind. [NWS]
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