Vernon Miles | ALXnow

The Alexandria detention center population has been declining since 2011, here’s why

Published December 10, 2021 at 11:15AM | Updated December 10, 2021 at 12:22PM

The William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center (via City of Alexandria)

Over the last decade, Alexandria’s jail has been getting a little less crowded.

Since 2011, the average population at the William Truesdale Adult Detention has generally trended downward. Even pre-COVID there was an 18% population decrease since 2011, which only became more pronounced during the pandemic. In 2011, the average daily population in the Alexandria jail was 430. In 2019 it was 352. This year it’s 277.

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BREAKING: Alexandria City High School on lockdown after social media threats

By Vernon Miles

Published December 10, 2021 at 9:45AM | Updated December 10, 2021 at 12:24PM

The Alexandria City High School marquee (staff photo by James Cullum)

Update at 12:20 p.m. — The Minnie Howard campus is being evacuated as police investigate a bomb threat against the school.

Both Alexandria City High School’s main campus and the Minnie Howard campus are on lockdown after threats made on social media.

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Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 10, 2021 at 5:00AM

A runner makes their way down a trail near Cameron Run (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

ACHS basketball coach resigns — “Alexandria City varsity boys’ basketball coach Darryl Prue said he resigned from his position Thursday morning following an in-game incident Tuesday night in which he went into the crowd to confront heckling fans at Wakefield High in Arlington.” [Washington Post]

French bakery ‘Fresh Baguette’ crossing the river into Old Town Alexandria — “Fresh Baguette bakery will be opening its fourth location — and first in Alexandria — at 1101 King St. in early 2022. The French bakery has stores in Bethesda, Rockville and Georgetown.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

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New incredibly small private school coming to Cameron Station

By Vernon Miles

Published December 9, 2021 at 2:30PM

Bright Start Learning Program in Cameron Run, image via City of Alexandria

With only 15 total students in the entire school in a single room, it’s unlikely students at the proposed Bright Start Learning Center will get lost in the crowd.

Bright Start currently has a child care program at 4920 Brenman Park Drive but is looking to convert the administrative space at 4917 Brenman Park Drive into a school for elementary-age children.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 9, 2021 at 5:00AM | Updated December 9, 2021 at 11:00AM

(Updated 10:50 a.m.) ACHS basketball coach suspended after confronting hecklers — “Alexandria City boys’ basketball coach Darryl Prue has been suspended indefinitely following an in-game incident in which he went into the crowd to confront fans Tuesday night at Wakefield.” [Washington Post]

Alexandria gets record-low interest rate on Landmark bond deal — “The City government has earned the lowest interest rate in its modern history on the competitive sale of new general obligation bonds. The bonds will fund capital improvement investments for the City and Alexandria City Public Schools, and the first payment for purchase of land for the redevelopment of Landmark Mall as the future site of Inova Alexandria Hospital.” [City of Alexandria]

News

APD: 23-year-old woman murdered in the West End

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2021 at 11:55PM | Updated December 9, 2021 at 12:01PM

Alexandria Police at night (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 12 p.m.) The Alexandria Police Department has ruled the death of a 23-year-old black woman in the West End as a homicide.

Police responded to a call for service at the 40 block of South Van Dorn Street on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at approximately 2:40 p.m. In a press release, police said upon arriving they found a 23-year-old black female deceased in her apartment. Today (Wednesday), police said a medical examiner ruled the cause of death to be homicide.

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Fort Ward Museum planning a Christmas-overhaul for the Civil War camp

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2021 at 3:45PM

A reenactor dressed as a Civil War-era depiction of Santa, photo courtesy Fort Ward Museum

A celebration this weekend will look at how Christmas was commemorated during the Civil War at Fort Ward, a Civil War fort turned museum in Alexandria.

The family-friendly event is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 11, from noon to 4 p.m.

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How King beat Cameron to be Alexandria’s main street

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2021 at 1:15PM

With all due respect to Mount Vernon Avenue, King Street is probably Alexandria’s most iconic roadway — but it wasn’t intended to be.

Today, King Street is synonymous with Old Town and runs out to the northwest corner of the city, where it becomes Leesburg Pike. According to Historic Alexandria, the office that oversees the city’s museums and historic sites, back in 1749 city planners had intended for Cameron Street to be the main avenue in Alexandria.

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Torpedo Factory overhaul gets a price tag and timeline

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2021 at 10:05AM

The Torpedo Factory in Old Town (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

After taking some flack for not having the financial impacts at-hand; Diane Ruggiero, director of the Office of the Arts, returned to the Waterfront Commission on Monday with pricing for modernizing the Torpedo Factory.

Julian Gonsalves, assistant city manager for public/private partnerships, talked through the cost estimates for the Torpedo Factory overhaul. Continuing as-is, with relatively minor building repairs funded over time with artist space being left mostly untouched, was priced at $16 million.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2021 at 5:00AM

City seeking an aquatics coordinator — “The Aquatics Recreation Coordinator works with the Aquatic Manager and Chinquapin management team in overseeing and leading programs and staff for all aquatic facilities.” [Washington Post Jobs]

Alexandrian publishes book on local Scottish history — “Hamilton began research on the project in 2016, spending over a year diving into Alexander’s book, his citations, and other archival sources related to the migration of Scots to America.” [Zebra]

News

ACHS Principal: Social media posts about Minnie Howard campus investigated; no threat to school found

By Vernon Miles

Published December 7, 2021 at 3:50PM

(Updated 4 p.m.) In a note to Alexandria City High School (ACHS) students, families and friends, Principal Peter Balas said a potential threat to the school was investigated this morning by school security and school resource officers but determined there was no credible threat.

The post in question was a potential threat aimed specifically at the Minnie Howard Campus, a branch of Alexandria City High School that serves 9th-grade students.