Author: Vernon Miles

Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.

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Torpedo Factory to host LGBTQ-focused ‘Pride Prom’ next month

By Vernon Miles
The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town(staff photo by James Cullum)

A local organization that cares for the mental health of local LGBTQ teens is hosting its second annual Pride Prom — a prom event focused on making queer teens feel safe.

Safe Space NOVA is hosting Pride Prom at The Torpedo Factory (105 N Union Street) on June 16 from 7-11 p.m.

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City holds ribbon cutting for ‘West End City Hall’ honoring Del Pepper

By Vernon Miles
Ribbon-cutting at the Redella S. "Del" Pepper Community Resource Center (image via City of Alexandria)

A new city facility occasionally called West End City Hall had an official ribbon cutting last week that honored the building’s namesake: longtime City Council member Del Pepper.

The building at 4850 Mark Center Drive is a hub for several city services like the Department of Community and Human Services, the Alexandria Health Department, a permit center and more.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

This week, Alexandria officials dove in on several major issues around town, from responding to crime to dealing with declining school enrollment.

In the same week as Alexandria saw more high-profile crimes — an armed robbery and armed carjacking — Alexandria Police Department Assistant Chief Easton McDonald said the department will be increasing its presence in high-crime areas, having weekly walks through neighborhoods where major crimes are occurring, and organizing more community cook-outs.

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Cut-through no more: Duke Street changes yield significant results for nearby residential streets

By Vernon Miles
Traffic backed up in Taylor Run neighborhood off Duke Street, courtesy Jill Hoffman

After years of struggling with terrible traffic and frequent crashes, recent changes to West Taylor Run Parkway have had a substantial impact on the trouble street’s residents.

Alexandria city staff are recommending that a Duke Street Traffic Mitigation pilot — which redirects traffic flow onto Duke Street and off of “cut-through” streets winding through nearby neighborhoods — be made permanent.

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Police investigating armed carjacking in Old Town, vehicle recovered in Fairfax

By Vernon Miles
Alexandria Police at night (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department is investigating an armed carjacking that allegedly occurred in Old Town earlier today..

The incident allegedly took place around 2 p.m. near the 700 block of S. Alfred Street. According to the scanner, the victim told police a man in all-black clothing put a gun to the driver’s head and took the white Mercedes.

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Holmes Run Trail trail repair could be pushed back to 2025

By Vernon Miles
Detour for Holmes Run trail (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Five years after extensive flooding severely damaged parts of the Holmes Run Trail, a staff report to the City Council this week indicated that repairs could take even longer than expected.

Parts of the trail have been inaccessible since the flooding in 2018. Earlier reports estimated the trail would be repaired by this spring, then by late fiscal year 2024, but the newest Capital Projects Status Report (item 10) indicated a new estimated substantial completion as the second quarter of fiscal year 2025.

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News

Detroit-style pizza chain coming to Lynhaven

By Vernon Miles
Detroit-style pepperoni pizza (image via Jet's Pizza/Facebook)

Jet’s Pizza, a Detroit-style pizza chain, is opening its first location in the region at 6 E Glebe Road in the Lynhaven neighborhood, the Washington Business Journal first reported.

The new shop will be taking the place of the now-closed Auburn Cleaners. The Washington Business Journal said no opening date has been announced yet.

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Alexandria officials say some property owners discriminating over eviction assistance

By Vernon Miles
A rally to extend the moratorium on rent evictions in front of the Alexandria Courthouse on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

During a City Council meeting last night, discussion of a new report shed light on property owners discriminating against residents who received eviction protection aid — a move the city says is illegal.

Helen McIlvaine, director of the Office of Housing, and housing analyst Kim Cadena shared a report on the specifics of where the city’s housing investments are going.

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Alexandria public school enrollment stagnation puts scrutiny on capacity-boosting projects

By Vernon Miles
Students return to George Washington Middle School (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A new report indicated Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) enrollment could stagnate over the next few years.

In a meeting of the City Council and the School Board yesterday, it was clear that stagnation is causing some in city leadership to look skeptically at some of the school district’s ambitious capacity-increasing programs planned over the next few years — the modernization of George Mason Elementary School in particular getting name-dropped.

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