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Morning Notes

Published December 12, 2019 at 7:30AM

Bus Barn Set for Demolition — “Located at 600 N. Royal St., the former Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) bus garage, a.k.a. bus barn, has remained vacant since August 2014… Demolition of the bus barn is scheduled to begin on January 2, 2020. In its place, a mixed use apartment building will be built.” [Zebra]

Prominent Local Pastor Announces Sabbatical — “After 30 years of preaching more than 5,000 sermons, the Rev. Howard-John Wesley stood in front of his congregation on Dec. 1 and admitted he needed a break from the Lord’s work… Wesley, 47, has been pastor of the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., for the past 11 years, leading four services every weekend, averaging 4,500 in attendance and 50,000 viewers online.” [Washington Post]

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Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published December 11, 2019 at 8:00AM

ACPS Working to Improve Racial Equity — “Students and teachers in Alexandria still face racial bias, and now school officials are working with social justice advocates to expand training sessions and restorative justice practices. That’s some of the aftermath of an alarming racial equity survey conducted this year to prevent race and socioeconomic status from being predictors of academic success or opportunity.” [Gazette Packet]

Tim Carman Visits Smoking Kow — “Several readers (and the owner of the place himself) asked why Smoking Kow BBQ didn’t crack my top 10. I assure you there’s a very good reason for its omission: Until recently, I had never set foot in the original Alexandria location, nor its second shop in Arlington (2910 N. Sycamore St.)… Consider this column a mea culpa.” [Washington Post]

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Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published December 10, 2019 at 8:00AM | Updated December 10, 2019 at 9:25AM

Amazon Presence on Innovation Campus? — “Virginia Tech leaders and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) executives are working toward a partnership that could give the company’s cloud computing arm a home at the $1 billion innovation campus at Potomac Yard.” [Washington Business Journal]

Underage Drinking Prevention Town Hall — “On Dec. 10, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe St.), the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria will host a town hall discussion titled, ‘Healthy Youth, Healthy Families: Promoting Alcohol-Free Holidays.'” [Zebra]

News

City Touts ‘Lowest-Ever Interest Rate’ on New Bonds

By ALXnow.com

Published December 9, 2019 at 4:25PM

The City of Alexandria is borrowing money for school projects and the new Potomac Yard Metro station at the lowest interest rates in its history.

The city received just over $200 million in bonds at a 2.67% interest rate, it said in a press release Monday.

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Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published December 9, 2019 at 7:55AM

Historic Del Ray (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Catch on the Avenue Closing — “In a quick social media post on Sunday, December 8, 2019, Catch on the Avenue, 2419 Mount Vernon Avenue, announced it is closing. ‘It is with regret that we announce the permanent closing of Catch on the Ave. Thank you for all your support. We look forward to seeing you at our other locations.'” [Zebra]

Some Residents Want to Ban Waze — “A few residents asked why Alexandria can’t just ban Waze and other congestion-avoidance apps from allowing commuters through certain parts of the City where cut-through traffic is the worst. The reason Mayor Wilson gave: free speech. Other municipalities that have tried to block Waze have lost in court on the premise that Waze is simply providing data to the public and thus has some protection.” [Alexandria Living]

News

JUST IN: Shoppers to Close Potomac Yard Store

By ALXnow.com

Published December 6, 2019 at 4:05PM

Shoppers is closing in Potomac Yard, its parent company announced today.

The supermarket, at 3801 Richmond Highway, is expected to close by the end of January. Other Shoppers stores in Manassas, Baltimore and Severn (Maryland) are also closing, and the company is selling 13 other locations.

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Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published December 6, 2019 at 8:00AM

Slaughterhouse Lawsuit Dismissed — “Alexandria Circuit Court Judge Lisa Kemler ruled on Nov. 27 to dismiss a lawsuit filed against city council’s decision to approve a live poultry butcher shop at 3225 Colvin St. The hearing was in response to a complaint filed by 10 plaintiffs… Kemler ruled to dismiss the case, concluding that the alleged harms were ‘too speculative.'” [Alexandria Times]

Photos With Santa and AFD — “Get your holiday pictures taken with Santa! @IAFFLocal2141 Helping Hands Fund will host its Photos with Santa event at Fire Station 201 (317 Prince St.) from 11am to 3pm Sunday, Dec. 8 and again on Sunday, Dec. 15. Photos are $10 & proceeds benefit the IAFF Local 2141 Toy Drive.” [Twitter/@AlexandriaVAFD]

Opinion

Poll: What Types of Stories Would You Like to See ALXnow Cover More Often?

By ALXnow.com

Published December 5, 2019 at 9:55AM

ALXnow has been reporting on Alexandria for just over two months, but it’s never too early to think about ways we could better serve our readers.

While we can see in our analytics how many people read any given story, it is hard to discern patterns with only a couple of months of data. So today we are asking you: what types of stories would you like to read more of on the site?

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Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published December 5, 2019 at 8:00AM | Updated December 5, 2019 at 9:33AM

King Street Metro at sunset (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Potomac Yard Metro to Create Jobs — “Those behind the new Potomac Yard Metro station say the area is about to be transformed in more ways than one…. Amazon has promised 25,000 new HQ2 jobs in ten years. But Alexandria City says a finished Potomac Yard Metro will… bring 26,000 jobs on top of that. [WUSA 9]

Local Nonprofit Raises Thousands on ‘Giving Tuesday’ — “Together We Bake, the nonprofit that provides workforce and personal development for women in need in Alexandria, raised $22,821 on Giving Tuesday.” [Zebra]

News

TRAFFIC ALERT: Car Overturns on Braddock Road

By ALXnow.com

Published December 4, 2019 at 1:00PM

Overturned vehicle on W. Braddock Road (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A car has crashed and overturned on W. Braddock Road at the intersection with N. Quaker Lane, near the Bradlee Shopping Center and Episcopal High School.

The crash happened around 12:30 p.m. on the west side of the busy intersection. Eastbound Braddock was briefly shut down to traffic, but two lanes have since reopened.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published December 4, 2019 at 8:15AM

Redevelopment Plan in North Old Town — “As the American Physical Therapy Association prepares for a move to Potomac Yard, its current headquarters in North Old Town Alexandria is now slated for a major mixed-use redevelopment.” [Washington Business Journal]

ACPS Teacher’s Harrowing Journey — “When Onelio Mencho-Aguilar was 13-years-old, he left his mother and siblings to embark on a treacherous journey through rural Guatemala to the U.S. alone… against the odds, he found a home here in Alexandria and with the support he found, he thrived. First as a student at T.C. Williams High School and now as a teacher at the International Academy where new arrivals to the U.S. are educated and supported.” [Alexandria City Public Schools]