Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Waterfront Museum under consideration to house remnants of Old Town Armada

Published March 29, 2021 at 1:00PM

Several largely-intact ship hulls found underground in Old Town a few years ago could see new life in a proposed “Waterfront Museum” in the early stages of consideration in the upcoming budget.

The possible museum could house and display the timbers of at least one of the four-total ships found under new developments in 2018.

News

Old Town church establishes memorial to victims of COVID-19

By Vernon Miles

Published March 29, 2021 at 9:45AM

Flags remembering Alexandria’s losses to Covid-19 at Christ Church in Old Town (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The 128 deaths from COVID-19 in Alexandria are being commemorated in the small yard outside Christ Church (118 North Washington Street), a historic Episcopal in Old Town.

The green lawn is partially covered in white flags, each marking a death from the pandemic that started one year ago.

News

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria seeks public help to identify dead dog

By Vernon Miles

Published March 26, 2021 at 11:00AM

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is trying to find out more about what happened to a dog found dead and wrapped in blankets off N. Armistead Street and Beauregard Street.

The AWLA is hoping to find more information about the owners of the dog to inform them of the dog’s death and to try to learn what happened to it.

News

Alexandria Police mourn loss of retired K-9 ‘Rocco’

By Vernon Miles

Published March 25, 2021 at 4:45PM | Updated March 25, 2021 at 5:21PM

Earlier today, the Alexandria Police Foundation announced the passing of one of the city’s retired police dogs.

According to the police foundation, a non-profit that helps care for retired police dogs among other services to Alexandria police, police K-9 Rocco worked with the Alexandria Police Department from 2011 to his retirement along with his handler Officer Wuckovich in 2018.

Opinion

Poll: Which mayoral candidate has your vote?

By Vernon Miles

Published March 25, 2021 at 10:30AM | Updated March 30, 2021 at 10:59AM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

Update on March 30 at 10:45 a.m. — ALXnow has conducted an analysis on this poll, and found that a number of fraudulent votes were cast.

A seemingly safe reelection bid for incumbent Mayor Justin Wilson took a sudden sharp turn this week as two new candidates entered the race, including former Mayor Allison Silberberg coming back for a rematch.

News

Chadwicks going double-decker on outdoor dining at upcoming BAR meeting

By Vernon Miles

Published March 24, 2021 at 3:30PM

Rendering of planned Chadwicks balcony expansion (image via City of Alexandria)

Waterfront restaurant Chadwicks (203 Strand Street) could be doubling down on its outdoor seating with a new second floor metal balcony.

A proposal headed to the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday, April 7, would allow the restaurant to add a new metal balcony to the north side of the building, across from Big Wheel Bikes. The new outdoor dining would replace parking spots in the alleyway.

News

Alexandria man pleads guilty to producing child pornography

By Vernon Miles

Published March 24, 2021 at 2:15PM

An Alexandria man has pleaded guilty to two counts of producing child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Abel Amcrocio, 54, was arrested last year, and after pleading guilty, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 4. Amcrocio faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.

News

New federal funding could help combat flooding, among other city priorities

By Vernon Miles

Published March 24, 2021 at 10:30AM

Flooding at Prince St. and The Strand in Old Town (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

In the latest adaptation of Brewster’s Millions, Alexandria is sorting through how to make the most of $59.4 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding coming to the city over the next two years with an emphasis on not leaving a penny unspent.

The challenge for Alexandria is sorting through some ill-defined language. According to the city, funding can be allocated in the following ways:

News

Delays expected with Woodrow Wilson Bridge closing tonight

By Vernon Miles

Published March 23, 2021 at 3:30PM

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge at sunset (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Late night motorists are going to have to take the long way around if they want to get from Alexandria to Maryland tonight.

No fun story behind the opening this time — VDOT announced that a series of ongoing tests and maintenance work will leave the Woodrow Wilson Bridge inaccessible starting at 11:30 p.m.

News

School Board hopes for pool at Alexandria high school dampened by budget concerns

By Vernon Miles

Published March 23, 2021 at 2:30PM

Athlete on the T.C. Williams Swim and Dive Team (photo via T.C. Williams High School/Facebook)

A new report on plans to overhaul Alexandria High School’s Minnie Howard campus made a splash as staff said a planned aquatics facility likely won’t make the cut.

In a School Board meeting on March 18, staff reviewed three concepts for what the new school could look like. But while the proposed aquatics facility is included in school designs, staff said it’s ultimately unlikely that ACPS will have the funding necessary to go forward with a pool.

News

Alexandria races to put Arlandria affordable housing plan in place before Amazon’s arrival

By Vernon Miles

Published March 23, 2021 at 10:45AM

The Arlandria-Chirilagua area of Alexandria is one of the last bastions of market rate affordable housing in Alexandria. With the arrival of Amazon on the horizon threatening that, the City of Alexandria is working on a plan to try to keep the area’s gentrification at bay.

A pair of Zoom meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, March 30, to present a drafted series of affordable housing recommendations. The first, at 6 p.m., will be held in Spanish with English interpretation. The second, at 7:30 p.m., will be in English with Spanish interpretation.