Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published October 15, 2021 at 5:00AM

Mayoral candidates engage in public forum — “Alexandria’s mayoral candidates gathered in a virtual forum on Saturday, kicking into high gear to get their message out ahead of the Nov. 2 general election.” [Alexandria Times]

Amazon backs grant program to spur affordable development near D.C.-area transit — “Amazon will fund a new grant program to help local governments and nonprofit developers pursue affordable projects near transit stations, directing $500,000 of its recently announced $2 billion Housing Equity Fund to this effort.” [Washington Business Journal]

News

Two Metro Yellow Line shutdowns scheduled for 2022

By Vernon Miles

Published October 14, 2021 at 1:30PM

Metro’s Yellow Line, which runs through Arlington and Alexandria, could see some closures next year as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) works to repair the Yellow Line Bridge between Virginia and D.C. and bring the Potomac Yard Metro station online.

Yellow Line Bridge and tunnel rehabilitation project will include repairs to the bridge and fix water-caused erosion in the tunnels.

News

Homes evacuated after gas leak near Potomac Yard

By Vernon Miles

Published October 14, 2021 at 11:25AM | Updated October 14, 2021 at 1:03PM

(Updated 1 p.m.) The Alexandria Fire Department evacuated homes near a construction site after an apparent gas leak at the 400 block of Calvert Avenue.

AFD Senior Public Information Officer Raytevia Evans said that had been closed Richmond Highway to northbound traffic at E. Glebe, but has since reopened. Calvert Avenue is closed, though the gas leak has been fixed.

News

Police: Call about shooting at Hammond Middle School unfounded

By Vernon Miles

Published October 14, 2021 at 11:00AM | Updated October 14, 2021 at 4:03PM

(Updated 11:30 a.m.) Francis C. Hammond Middle School was locked down this morning after a call about a shooting at the school, but the Alexandria Police Department said the call was unfounded.

According to the Alexandria Police Department:

News

Alexandria City High School on lockdown after anonymous threat

By Vernon Miles

Published October 14, 2021 at 9:10AM | Updated October 14, 2021 at 9:42AM

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

(Updated 9:40 a.m.) Alexandria City High School and the Minnie Howard Campuses are on lockdown and will have an asynchronus learning day.

According to the school’s website:

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published October 14, 2021 at 5:00AM

School Board forum yields big turnout from District B constituents — “Alexandria City School Board candidates gathered in the second of two virtual forums last weekend to prepare for the Nov. 2 general election.” [Alexandria Times]

The Chamber ALX is hosting a wine and chocolate get-together for local businesswomen — “We’re excited to be back in person for our annual Evening of Perfect Pairings: Wine + Chocolate, Women + Business event! Join us in the beautiful back (heated) garden of Sonoma Cellar for a curated wine tasting/food pairing, networking and celebration of the year.” [The Chamber ALX]

News

Project crowdsourcing Alexandria history aims to go nationwide next year

By Vernon Miles

Published October 13, 2021 at 3:30PM

Postcard for the Beachcomber restaurant in Alexandria (photo via Ken Lopez/OurHistoryMuseum)

A photo of a horse dead on the street, missives between sweethearts during the Civil War, a 1909 postcard for a local drugstore: OurHistoryMuseum is a digital gallery of local oddities from private collectors around town. It’s a love letter to the kinds of small local history that don’t make it into physical museums but might go unknown to the public as they gather dust on a local shelf.

Now, OurHistoryMuseum founder Ken Lopez is hoping to take his local project nationwide.

News

City-wide leaf collection starts early next month

By Vernon Miles

Published October 13, 2021 at 1:00PM

Fall colors along King Street near the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Halloween decorations are out, locals are buying pumpkins, and the leaves are starting to turn. It’s that time of year again, and starting next month, the City of Alexandria will be resuming its annual leaf vacuuming and leaf bag collection.

On Monday, Nov. 1, the city’s leaf vacuuming and bag collection starts for those residents that receive city trash and recycling collection, the city said in a press release. Leaf collection is slated to continue into January.

News

King Street pedestrian zone meets with enthusiasm from City Council

By Vernon Miles

Published October 13, 2021 at 9:45AM

It was barely a footnote in the six-hour City Council meeting, most of which was consumed with a tense discussion on School Resource Officers, but towards the end City Council meeting last night the group expressed widespread support for permanently making the 100 block of King Street a pedestrian zone.

The closure of the 100 block of King Street into a pedestrian zone was an idea that Mayor Justin Wilson and City Councilman John Chapman spearheaded before the pandemic, but was fast-tracked to benefit local restaurants and businesses that needed the outdoor space for social distancing. The closure has been popular with local businesses and the community at large, a survey put out by the city indicated.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published October 13, 2021 at 5:00AM

A fall wreath on a door in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

New gift shop in Old Town helps people with disabilities — “B.E.S.T stands for ‘Building Employment Solutions Together’ and is a collaboration between the Joey Pizzano Memorial Fund (JPMF) and ServiceSource to provide meaningful employment for people with disabilities.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Alexandria wins housing policy leadership awards — “Affordable and workforce housing policies and programs put in place by the governments of Alexandria, Virginia, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, have been selected as joint winners of the 2021 Urban Land Institute Robert C. Larson Housing Policy Leadership Awards.” [Urbanland]

News

Virginia American Water announces $1.2 million in Old Town water service upgrades

By Vernon Miles

Published October 12, 2021 at 2:15PM

Water faucet (photo via SHTTEFAN/Unsplash)

Utility company Virginia American Water announced today that it plans to replace approximately 1,700 feet of aging water mains through Old Town to boost local water service reliability in the area.

While there have also been stormwater investments in Old Town, the Virginia American Water upgrades are focused more on the consumer-end of reliable water service. According to the press release, the new water pipes will increase reliability, allowing for better water flows into households and improving fire protection.