Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Alexandria Leadership Ask Residents to Respect Gov. Northam’s Stay at Home Order

Published March 30, 2020 at 3:15PM

Gov. Ralph Northam issued a stay at home order for all Virginians that will be in effect until June 10 unless otherwise rescinded or extended.

Northam made the announcement in a press conference today, and said that those congregating in groups of ten or more could be charged with a class 1 misdemeanor. The order requires that Virginians stay at home unless they are getting food, medical attention, going to work or getting a little fresh air.

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Alexandria Suspends Additional Parking Restrictions

By Vernon Miles

Published March 30, 2020 at 11:30AM

A parking meter in Old Town Alexandria on King Street

Alexandria is cutting down its parking enforcement even further as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The city said on its website that the changes in parking enforcement were aimed at helping the disrupted routines caused by working from home and other effects of social distancing.

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Here’s a List of Online Religious Services This Weekend in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published March 27, 2020 at 5:15PM

Several local religious institutions are changing the way they host their services to try to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Coronavirus’ spread in the D.C. region has been closely associated with religious gatherings, from Georgetown church where a pastor was infected to the Virginia Theological Seminary where Alexandria had its first identified case. As large social gathering places, churches nationwide are emptying as quarantine orders are ramping up.

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Alexandria Looks to Overhaul Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

By Vernon Miles

Published March 27, 2020 at 11:30AM

Electric vehicle charging station (file photo)

Looking ahead to a time after the coronavirus pandemic is over, Alexandria is working on overhauling its electric vehicle infrastructure.

The aim of the new effort, called the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Readiness Strategy project, is to examine current electric vehicle charging needs and try to predict where and how those needs will spread.

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Local Women’s Shelter Tries to Boost Spirits in Painfully Familiar Lockdown

By Vernon Miles

Published March 26, 2020 at 3:15PM

For many women at Friends of Guest House, self-quarantining bears an uncomfortable familiarity to the jails and prisons they just left.

The Alexandria shelter helps women emerging from incarceration reenter their communities. But coronavirus has put a new wrench into those plans and spokesperson Marisa Tordella says there’s some extra frustrations and tensions for women who once again feel like they are in lockdown.

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Del Ray and Arlandria Plan Updates Leave the Town Hall and Go Online

By Vernon Miles

Published March 26, 2020 at 2:00PM

Historic Del Ray (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria’s goal of reshaping the Del Ray and Arlandria plans is still moving forward, but the once town hall-driven process is going entirely digital to combat the spread of coronavirus.

The long term plans for the neighborhoods shape policies on things like retail, residential and public spaces in Del Ray and Arlandria. These plans were last updated in 2003 for Arlandria and 2005 for Del Ray. With Amazon moving in next door, the new plans aimed to help these neighborhoods hold onto their sense of community.

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Alexandria Farmers Markets Go Take-Out

By Vernon Miles

Published March 26, 2020 at 11:30AM | Updated March 26, 2020 at 2:54PM

Farmers' Market (photo courtesy Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria’s farmers’ markets are adapting to the new coronavirus restrictions with a new Market To-Go program.

Under the new system, visitors will browse vendors online and place orders, then pick them up at the market with minimal social interaction.

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Alexandrians Organize Letter Writing Campaign for Isolated Seniors

By Vernon Miles

Published March 25, 2020 at 4:30PM

A letter-writing campaign in Alexandria is underway to help break the isolation at some local senior care facilities.

The campaign is aimed at getting letters to three facilities: Sunrise of Alexandria (3520 Duke Street), Woodbine Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (2729 King Street) and Brandywine Living at Alexandria (5550 Cardinal Place).

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Metro Temporarily Shuts Down Potomac Yard Metroway

By Vernon Miles

Published March 25, 2020 at 2:00PM

In addition to a series bus line closures due to coronavirus, Metro is suspending service of Metroway-Potomac Yard — a bus line running between Pentagon City and Braddock Road.

The Metroway runs between Arlington and Alexandria through Crystal City and the Potomac Yard Shopping Center. The move comes after a day after Metro shut down several stations, including the Eisenhower Avenue and Van Dorn stations in Alexandria.

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Alexandria Has 13 COVID-19 Cases, Moratorium Set on Restaurant and Hotel Taxes

By Vernon Miles

Published March 25, 2020 at 10:30AM

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Alexandria yesterday jumped from nine to 13 as the city struggles to manage a pandemic that may just be getting started.

“Ordinarily would be talking about Potomac Yard and housing crisis — we’re pushing that aside,” said Mayor Justin Wilson at an emergency tele-City Council meeting last night. “It’s been a heartbreaking week, with the promise of more heartbreak ahead.”

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Grant Program Aims to Help Local Businesses Stay Afloat During Pandemic

By Vernon Miles

Published March 24, 2020 at 4:30PM

Local small businesses have until the end of the week to file for a grant that could help them retain their workforce during the pandemic.

The Alexandria/Arlington Emergency Layoff Aversion Assistance Program, a state-funded program, aims to save jobs in Alexandria City and Arlington County.