Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published December 15, 2021 at 5:00AM

The Tall Ship Providence and The Cherry Blossom on the Potomac River with the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in the distance. (staff photo by James Cullum)

New Alexandria officers, Sheriff’s deputies graduate from academy — “The new law enforcement officers completed 21 weeks of training before their graduation from the Criminal Justice Academy.” [Patch]

Richmond Highway motel could be replaced with multi-family residential building — “The transformation of Richmond Highway continues with plans to replace the Brookside Motel with a new multi-family residential building.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

News

Message boards being placed near Duke Street ahead of upcoming signal overhaul

By Vernon Miles

Published December 14, 2021 at 2:40PM

Traffic on Duke Street in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

The City of Alexandria is trying to get the word out about major changes coming to a stretch of Duke Street and the connecting streets.

The proposed overhaul will change traffic patterns along Duke Street near Telegraph Road, a major connection to I-395 and a source of significant backup onto nearby residential streets. The pilot phase for the program is planned to start Monday, Jan. 3. The pilot project is scheduled to end on March 30, followed by a period of traffic analysis.

News

City Council to take a second look at its ethics pledge and code of conduct

By Vernon Miles

Published December 14, 2021 at 10:45AM | Updated December 14, 2021 at 3:24PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 3:20 p.m.) Ahead of the new City Council being installed in January, the current body is scheduled to take another look at the city’s ethics pledge.

The Mayor and City Council make a pledge when being sworn in to abide by a somewhat nebulous one-page code of conduct. The pledge was a point of contention when it was introduced by then-Mayor Allison Silberberg, who fought tooth-and-nail to get the pledge passed.

News

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum looking for volunteer tour guides

By Vernon Miles

Published December 14, 2021 at 9:30AM

Tours have been getting going around Alexandria’s historic sites over the last year, and one of the most iconic — the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum — is looking for public help to handle new visitors.

“Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, part of the Office of Historic Alexandria, is recruiting volunteers to lead guided tours,” the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) said in an email. “Guides are trained to use the historic tavern spaces to share the stories of diverse people in early America who both shaped and were shaped by the young nation.”

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 14, 2021 at 5:00AM | Updated December 14, 2021 at 3:28PM

A man delivers scooters in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Indoor dog park and bar opening in Alexandria’s West End — “Snouts & Stouts will offer a 6,000 sq. ft. indoor dog park, dog daycare, and drinks and snacks for humans.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Gingerbread house decorating event raises nearly $6K for Carpenters Shelter — “On Wednesday, Dec. 8, the 4th annual Gingerbread Decorating Event, sponsored by Visit Alexandria and Federal Conference, raised almost $6,000 for Carpenters Shelter, the local nonprofit that supports homeless and transitioning families and individuals.” [Alexandria Times]

News

City looking for feedback on new Eisenhower trail

By Vernon Miles

Published December 13, 2021 at 3:30PM

Old Cameron Run Trail Project, via City of Alexandria

The city is looking for feedback on a planned new trail at the east end of the Eisenhower corridor in the Carlyle neighborhood, though the construction of the trail is still years away.

The plan is to build a half-mile shared use path between Hooffs Run Drive and South Payne Street. Another quarter-mile section will connect it to redevelopment between Mill Road and Hooffs Run Drive.

News

Alexandria got nearly $30 million in ARPA funding this year; here’s what the city’s been doing with it

By Vernon Miles

Published December 13, 2021 at 2:35PM | Updated December 14, 2021 at 9:01AM

(Updated 12/14) Remember the American Rescue Plan Act? Earlier this year, the city received $29.8 million in funding to allocate toward projects across the city.

Five months later, a new report to the City Council scheduled to be presented at a meeting tomorrow breaks down how that’s been going so far. Here is ALXnow’s simplified, condensed version:

News

Police investigating shots fired in Braddock neighborhood

By Vernon Miles

Published December 13, 2021 at 9:00AM

First Street, where Alexandria police responded to a shots fired call, photo via Google Maps

Police are investigating a shots fired call at the northern end of the Braddock neighborhood.

Police closed off First Street between Fayette Street and Route 1 this morning around 8 a.m., but reopened it not long after.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 13, 2021 at 5:00AM

A flock of geese in flight near Cameron Run (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arrest made in murder of Alexandria student — “A Virginia State University student turned himself in to law enforcement Friday night following a Dec. 5 shooting that killed Daniel Wharton, a fellow VSU student from Alexandria.” [WTOP]

11-year-old Alexandria ice skater has eyes set on Olympics — “A local ice skater who recently won a national championship has her eyes set on the Olympics.” [Fox 5]

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published December 10, 2021 at 3:30PM

It’s been a rough couple of days for Alexandria City High School.

The school lost its varsity boys basketball coach yesterday when he resigned. He was suspended earlier in the week after a brawl during a game with Wakefield. Threats against the school were investigated earlier this week, and today the Minnie Howard campus was locked down following a bomb threat.

News

JUST IN: Minnie Howard campus evacuated after bomb threat

By Vernon Miles

Published December 10, 2021 at 12:20PM | Updated December 10, 2021 at 1:34PM

Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus at 3801 W. Braddock Road was evacuated on Friday, Dec. 10, after a bomb threat. Here, Alexandria Police and a Bomb Dog look for anything suspicious outside the school. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Updated 1:15 p.m. — ACHS King Street Campus has returned to normal operating status and Alexandria Police have finished their sweep of the Minnie Howard campus.

12/10/21, 12:50 p.m. APD threat assessment completed & ACHS King St campus back to normal operating status & normal student schedule