Vernon Miles | ALXnow

ACPS Superintendent Hutchings wins contract renewal with enthusiastic support from School Board

Published June 18, 2021 at 1:15PM

Despite a year of setbacks that included vocal community disagreement with Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, both from the community and within the school system, the School Board rallied around him and approved renewal of his contract.

The new contract renews Hutchings’ role in ACPS through June 30, 2025. During the discussion Thursday night, School Board members repeatedly praised his handling of the Coronavirus pandemic over the last year.

News

Towering east Eisenhower development headed to Planning Commission next week

By Vernon Miles

Published June 17, 2021 at 4:45PM

Rendering of two Carlyle Plaza towers, via City of Alexandria

A stretch of the Carlyle neighborhood that’s been mostly empty fields could see its mixed-use development transformation approved over the next month.

The sweeping redevelopment of the east end of Eisenhower Avenue is headed to the Planning Commission next Thursday (June 24) before going to the City Council on Tuesday, July 6.

Opinion

Poll: Where should Alexandria prioritize its American Rescue Plan Act funds?

By Vernon Miles

Published June 17, 2021 at 3:45PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

This Saturday, the Alexandria City Council will vote on where it should allocate the first installment of its $59.6 million federal funding package.

Nine items round out the list of “Tier 1” priorities and nine additional items are listed as “Tier 2” priorities. All of these are considered projects and programs that will have the most immediate impact, are considered highly important, and are “shovel-ready.”

News

Local construction worker gets a second chance at professional baseball

By Vernon Miles

Published June 17, 2021 at 11:00AM | Updated June 17, 2021 at 11:48AM

Jake Marshall, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs player, courtesy photo

Last year, Jake Marshall thought his baseball career was over. The pandemic shut down the league he played with in California and he returned to Alexandria to set up a home construction business. But a chance connection has given him a second shot at that dream.

The 27-year-old Marshall lives in Arlington and runs his construction company out of ALX Community in Old Town, and recently signed to play with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs — a professional baseball team based out of Waldorf, Maryland. Marshall joined the team as second-string catcher, though he’s also been designated hitter more frequently than he expected.

News

New flood mitigation committee sizes up deluge of city stormwater problems

By Vernon Miles

Published June 16, 2021 at 4:45PM

After literal flooding from record-breaking rainfall and proverbial floods of frustrated local citizens, an ad hoc committee has started gathering for a multi-year overview of what’s been going wrong and needs changing regarding flood control in Alexandria.

The Ad Hoc Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Group met for the first time last week and, in addition to the usual groundwork for committees, also discussed the state of the city’s stormwater projects.

News

Alexandria Black History Museum secures grant to bring city’s civil rights history online

By Vernon Miles

Published June 16, 2021 at 10:45AM

The Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe Street) has just secured a substantial new grant that will help the museum digitize much of its collections.

The museum announced yesterday that it will receive a $243,356 grant from the IMLS Museum Grants for African American History and Culture. The grant will help fund digitization and interpretation for four of the museum’s archival collections.

News

Pedestrian struck by vehicle in Carlyle and taken to hospital

By Vernon Miles

Published June 15, 2021 at 5:00PM | Updated June 15, 2021 at 6:08PM

2101 Jamieson Avenue via Google Maps

A man was struck by a vehicle in the 2100 block of Jamieson Avenue this afternoon and taken to the hospital, though his injuries are not considered life-threatening.

“We had a male pedestrian struck on Jamieson,” said Alexandria Police Department senior communication officer Amanda Paga. “[He] was taken to the hospital due to his age, but he had non-life-threatening injuries.”

News

Here’s what to do when you find dead birds amid recent epidemic

By Vernon Miles

Published June 15, 2021 at 3:30PM

Alexandria's Animal Services responds to call for injured bird (staff photo)

As you’ve probably heard, something is going around and killing regional birds, and local residents are encouraged to report bird deaths to a state database.

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has launched a form to collect data statewide on which birds are being affected, how, and where. The form asks basic location information but also asks residents to identify specific issues, namely whether there’s visible crusting or swelling around the eyes, or if there are neurological problems like head tilting or uncoordinated movement.

News

For Taco Bamba owner, newly announced Landmark location is a homecoming

By Vernon Miles

Published June 15, 2021 at 10:30AM

Image courtesy Taco Bamba

This fall, a little space just off Little River Turnpike will become the latest spot for small regional chain Taco Bamba. For the restaurant owner, the restaurant will also be a full-circle return to where his culinary career got started.

The Landmark neighborhood will be the seventh Taco Bamba, Chef Victor Albisu said in a press release. The Taco Bamba will open at 6259 Little River Turnpike. The restaurant will feature and indoor/outdoor bar and a seasonal patio area.

News

City launches Duke Street transit overhaul process

By Vernon Miles

Published June 14, 2021 at 3:35PM

Duke Street near Landmark and Cameron Run (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

In the docket for an upcoming Transportation Commission meeting, city staff unveiled plans to open op a process to “define the future of Duke Street.”

In a 2008 Transportation Master Plan, the city identified several corridors through Alexandria as prime locations for transitways — redesigned streets to meant to emphasize high-frequency and reliable public transit. A 2012 concept plan further elaborated with a more detailed framework for what transitways would entail.

News

Alexandria Black History Museum partners with a cappella group for Juneteenth Celebration

By Vernon Miles

Published June 14, 2021 at 10:45AM

Washington Revels Jubilee Voices (Courtesy Washington Revels Jubilee Voices)

The Alexandria Black History Museum is partnering with Washington Revels Jubilee Voices — a group that preserves local Black traditions through a cappella music, dramatic performances and dance — for a virtual Juneteenth Celebration this weekend.

Juneteenth is a holiday that marks date that slavery was fully abolished in the United States. A virtual program called “Our People: A Juneteenth Story” will premiere on Saturday, June 19, and will include footage of Washington Revels Jubilee Voices at historically significant sites throughout Alexandria presented by the Black History Museum.