Vernon Miles | ALXnow

RiverRenew Project Moves Forward With New Contract

Published November 18, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated November 18, 2020 at 2:27PM

(Updated 2 p.m.) The sweeping RiverRenew project being helmed by Alexandria Renew Enterprises has some new forward momentum with a contract awarded yesterday (Tuesday).

The AlexRenew Board of Directors met yesterday to award a contract to build the RiverRenew Tunnel System to Traylor-Shea Joint Venture, a team specializing in tunnel projects that recently completed the 4.5-mile-long, 23-foot-wide Blue Plains Tunnel in D.C.

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Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published November 18, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated November 18, 2020 at 9:38AM

ACPS Virtual Helpline Extended to Next Year — “When the Virtual PLUS+ Helpline began in August 2020 to help our families transition into an unconventional school year, it was expected to be a short term endeavour, over in a matter of weeks.” [ACPS]

Volunteers Clear Mount Vernon Trail Bridge — “Friends of Mount Vernon Trail volunteers are the greatest people on earth. Today volunteers removed kudzu from the power plant bridge to improve sight lines and prevent bridge damage.” [Twitter]

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Traffic Alert: Woodrow Wilson Bridge Opening Tonight

By Vernon Miles

Published November 17, 2020 at 4:30PM

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

A planned Woodrow Wilson Bridge opening tonight could disrupt travel plans for late-night drivers on I-495.

According to an alert, the bridge could be impassable from 11 p.m. tonight (Tuesday) until sometime Wednesday morning (Nov. 18). VDOT warned that travellers should expect delays and consider other routes.

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City Council Members Urge Changes to Electronic Participation and Private Prisons in Legislative Session

By Vernon Miles

Published November 17, 2020 at 2:45PM | Updated November 18, 2020 at 8:59AM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 11/18) The Alexandria City Council met with state legislators this weekend to hammer out priorities for the upcoming year, complete with a few sparks as legislators and City Council representatives clashed.

A few times every year, Alexandria’s city leadership meets with state representatives to iron out what local government sees as priorities for the session. The meetings have grown substantially more hopeful in the year since the Democrats took control of the legislature.

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Nonprofits Help Overhaul Alexandria Reentry Program ‘Friends of Guest House’

By Vernon Miles

Published November 17, 2020 at 1:30PM

Nonprofits Hearts of Enpowerment and The Oasis Alliance has helped to makeover the homes for some local survivors of trauma and for Alexandria-based recovery program Friends of Guest House — an Alexandria reentry program for women leaving prison.

“Hearts of Empowerment contributed its fundraising capacity to raise over $4,500, supply furniture and building materials, as well as provide discounts at local hardware stores,” the organization said in a press release. “The group promoted the program to shelters and community centers to help identify individuals and families that could benefit from the service.”

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Free COVID-19 Testing in Alexandria Throughout the Month

By Vernon Miles

Published November 17, 2020 at 10:30AM

A young boy is tested for COVID-19 at a Neighborhood Health testing facility outside Casa Chirilagua in Arlandria (Staff photo by James Cullum)

The city’s partnership with Neighborhood Health is continuing this month with a series of four free COVID-19 testing events in the city.

Testing covers everyone above the age of two, though anyone under 18 requires a parent or guardian present. Bringing ID and insurance cards is encouraged, but not required.

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Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published November 17, 2020 at 9:00AM

The Loop Opens in Old Town — “The Loop at 215 (located at 215 N. Payne St. in Old Town) is finally open now. The mission is to help companies and individuals ‘work better, be better, and do better.’ The co-working space has a mixture of serviced private offices and open flex workspaces.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Three ACPS Students are National Merit Scholar Finalists — “Earlier this month, the T.C. Williams High School seniors discovered they had all been named National Merit Scholarship semi finalists after outstanding results in the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test last October.” [ACPS]

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Killer E.S.P. Staff Quit, Again, Over Alleged Inappropriate Behavior

By Vernon Miles

Published November 16, 2020 at 5:15PM

Yesterday, Killer E.S.P. (1012 King Street) manager Mary Gmaz decided she’d had enough.

Gmaz said a recent encounter with owner Rob Shelton left her rattled and she decided to walk out immediately. The rest of the staff left with her, leading to the second mass-quitting among the local coffee shop’s staff this year.

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Cookie Crawl Planned for Old Town This Weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published November 16, 2020 at 3:45PM

An upcoming “Cookie Crawl” will send Alexandrians chasing their sweet tooth across Old Town chasing a sugar rush at 25 local boutiques.

This year’s cookie crawl is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21 and Sunday, Nov. 21. Online registration is $30. Participants will stop by each of the stores on the tour and received a pre-wrapped cookie at each site. The cookies are prepared courtesy local bakeries and restaurants. Participants will also receive a commemorative cookie tin.

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Developer Buys GenOn Plant in North Old Town for Redevelopment

By Vernon Miles

Published November 16, 2020 at 2:55PM

Eight years after the GenOn power plant closed, a developer has purchased the property and is planning to redevelop the site.

Hilco Redevelopment Partners, based out of Illinois, announced the purchase of the 20-acre site today, the Washington Business Journal first reported.

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Details Emerge in Late September West End Armed Robbery

By Vernon Miles

Published November 16, 2020 at 11:30AM | Updated November 16, 2020 at 11:57AM

Several people were threatened at gunpoint twice by the same group of armed robbers in the West End in late September.

New details in a police affidavit show that several men who had been threatened by a group of robbers had tried to take a circuitous route home to avoid showing where they lived, only to run into the robbers again with a repeated demand for cash.