Vernon Miles | ALXnow

ACPS Extends Parent Feedback on In-Person Schools Through This Week

Published December 14, 2020 at 10:45AM

Alexandria City Public Schools is still hoping to hear from local parents whether they are comfortable sending their children back to school.

“We are extending the deadline for the Family Choice Form until Friday, Dec. 18,” ACPS said. “We have not yet heard from everyone and we need to hear from all our families to be able to refine our transition plan to reopen our school buildings for in-person learning.”

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Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 14, 2020 at 9:15AM

Where to Get the COVID Vaccine in Alexandria — “In early 2021, when more vaccine doses are available, people who are in essential and critical industries (including first responders) will receive vaccinations — some through their workplace, and others through doctors offices and local hospitals.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Christmas Restaurant Round-Up — “Below we’ve rounded up some options for meals around Alexandria. Some will offer special holiday menus, while others will be open for their usual dine-in and takeout menus.” [Patch]

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ALXnow’s Top Stories this Week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published December 11, 2020 at 3:45PM

Big things are in the works in the city. The proposed police review panel is coming back to the City Council in January, but discussions still rage in the community over what authority it should have. New plans are also moving forward for Potomac Yard, while the question of whether or not the Virginia Tech initials will be added to the name remains up in the air.

What stories impacted you this week? Let us know in the comments.

News

Alexandria Pastor’s Wife Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Scheme

By Vernon Miles

Published December 11, 2020 at 2:50PM

Federal courthouse (image via Google Maps)

An Alexandria woman pleaded guilty to money laundering as part of a scheme to defraud investors in a church-related investment business.

The fraud involved Brenda Millender and her husband, Pastor Terry Millender — leaders of the Victorious Life Church — soliciting themselves as leaders of a Christian organization brokering Nigerian oil sales. The pair were convicted in 2017.

News

Gas Leak Closes Portion of King Street

By Vernon Miles

Published December 11, 2020 at 11:50AM | Updated December 11, 2020 at 1:30PM

(Updated at 1:20 p.m.) The Alexandria Police Department said a portion of King Street is closed due to a gas leak.

“The Alexandria Police Department is assisting the Fire Department with a road closure in the 2500 block of King Street due to a gas leak,” police said in a press release. “Expect police and fire activity in the area.”

News

Eisenhower’s ‘Too Expensive to Cancel’ Project Moves Forward This Month

By Vernon Miles

Published December 11, 2020 at 10:30AM

Say your farewells to the traffic circle at the end of Eisenhower Avenue, because later this month work is scheduled to start on a widening and roadway improvement project that will replace it with a T-intersection.

A construction open house is scheduled for Tuesday, December 15, at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 11, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated December 11, 2020 at 9:17AM

New Torpedo Factory Art Features Local Waste — “The AlexRenew Wastewater Treatment Facility treats a mix of sewage and storm water. The facility runs the wastewater through a series of settling tanks and treatment processes to remove nutrients before discharging it to tributaries of the Potomac River. The brown-colored media was crowdsourced from thousands of area toilets, according to Len.” [WWD Magazine]

Work Resumes on the Fairfax Building with the Massive Fire — “It’s been 10 months since a devastating fire at the South Alex construction site near Alexandria, Virginia, but the project is back up and running.” [WTOP]

News

Man Hospitalized After Fall at Eisenhower Rock Climbing Gym Sportrock

By Vernon Miles

Published December 10, 2020 at 2:30PM

Rock climbing section in Sportrock (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A fall in late November at indoor climbing gym Sportrock (5308 Eisenhower Avenue) led to a hospitalization for one climber.

On Nov. 29, a climber lost control during a climb and fell, at which point the belayer lost control of the rope and was unable to stop the fall, according to Sportrock. Fire Department spokesperson Raytevia Evans confirmed the department responded to a medical call at the facility for a fall.

News

The Case for the Virginia Tech Initials on the Potomac Yard Metro Station

By Vernon Miles

Published December 10, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated December 10, 2020 at 10:55AM

While a poll showed most ALXnow readers don’t need convincing, Virginia Tech is still pulling out all the stops as it works to get its name added to the Potomac Yard Metro station.

Virginia Tech is in the process of creating Innovation Campus, a new 1 million-square-foot campus at the northern end of Potomac Yard planned to have planned to have around 750 students by the time its completed in ten years. The school has pushed to have the nearby Metro station named “Potomac Yard — VT” to highlight the campus.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 10, 2020 at 9:00AM

Waterfront Shipping Container Bar Starts to Take Shape — “On Monday morning, the shipping containers were moved from the barge to the pier for a portion of the restaurant.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Drop Boxes Announced for Medication Disposal — “Unwanted medication can be dropped off at one of these 3 locations. Do not flush unwanted medications down the toilet or drain.” [Twitter]

News

City Council Pushes to Ensure Equity in Marijuana Decriminalization

By Vernon Miles

Published December 9, 2020 at 3:30PM

Marijuana (photo via Wesley Gibbs/Unsplash)

As the state legislature continues to work towards marijuana decriminalization, members of the City Council at a meeting last night urged that revenue and opportunities from legal marijuana sales work their way back into communities long punished for its use.

“My concern is that any revenue generated by [decriminalization] is where those funds are going to,” said City Councilman Canek Aguirre. “It’s important to stress this going to people whose lives affected [and] who were locked up.”