Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Alexandria City Public Schools has another ‘traditional snow day’ on Friday

Published January 18, 2024 at 4:55PM

Old Town under the snow, Jan. 4, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Somebody in Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is making the proper sacrifices to the snow gods: Alexandria students and teachers will have another snow day tomorrow (Friday).

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt said the school system will have another snow day tomorrow — i.e. no virtual learning will take place — after getting one earlier this week on Tuesday. With MLK Day on Monday, ACPS students only attended classes on Wednesday and Thursday.

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Monumental goes on the PR offensive with new new pro-Potomac Yard arena website

By Vernon Miles

Published January 18, 2024 at 3:45PM

Monumental Opportunity website

The proposed Potomac Yard arena, a collaboration between various government leaders and Monumental Sports & Entertainment, has gotten more than a little community pushback.

Now, Monumental Sports is counterattacking with a new website, called Monumental Opportunity, which claims to “provide project facts and information” and “correct misconceptions.”

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ACHS’ Titan Robotics celebrate ten years of innovation and creation

By Vernon Miles

Published January 18, 2024 at 10:55AM | Updated January 18, 2024 at 11:32AM

Titan Robotics team receiving instructions for the 2024 FIRST Robotics Competition (photo via Titan Robotics/Facebook)

True to the legacy of the titan Prometheus, Alexandria City High School’s Titan Robotics team is celebrating ten years on the cutting edge of discovery and innovation.

Titan Robotics kicked off its tenth season earlier this month.

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Turkish Coffee Lady celebrates two years in Old Town with free coffee event this weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published January 18, 2024 at 10:00AM

Turkish Coffee Lady staff and U.S. diplomats heading to Turkey at the Old Town location (image via Turkish Coffee Lady/Instagram)

Turkish Coffee Lady at 1001 King Street is celebrating 15 years in business and two years in Old Town with an event offering free Turkish coffee this weekend.

On Saturday, Jan. 20, Turkish Coffee Lady (1001 King Street) will distribute Turkish coffee cups from 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

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New pilot could add information screens to DASH buses

By Vernon Miles

Published January 17, 2024 at 3:45PM

A DASH bus in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria’s DASH bus system is seeking state funding for a project to add new information screens inside the city’s buses.

A pilot program would install information screens that would help show things like upcoming stops, transfer connections, service alerts and more.

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Early voting for Presidential primaries kicks off this week

By Vernon Miles

Published January 17, 2024 at 2:55PM | Updated January 17, 2024 at 3:35PM

A voter participates in the Super Tuesday primary at Mount Vernon Community School, March 3, 2020 (Staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 3:35 p.m.) Early voting will start on Friday, Jan. 19, for the dual Presidential primaries.

The primaries are scheduled for March 5. The deadline for early voting is March 2.

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Gadsby’s Tavern hosting 18th century game night on Friday

By Vernon Miles

Published January 17, 2024 at 9:50AM

Gaming at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (image via Gadsby’s Tavern Museum/Office of Historic Alexandria)

Care to try your hand at some tavern games by candlelight?

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Two-hour delay for Alexandria schools on Wednesday morning

By Vernon Miles

Published January 16, 2024 at 5:05PM

Adam K., 13, sleds in front of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Jan. 15, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After getting a snow day on Tuesday, ACPS students and faculty will get a two-hour delay tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.

In a release, Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt said the delay is due to the extreme temperatures and hazardous conditions, with the National Weather Service warning of hazardous conditions as temperatures drop.

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ACPS looking for volunteers to judge Science and Engineering Fair

By Vernon Miles

Published January 16, 2024 at 2:35PM

Microscopes (photo via Ousa Chea/Unsplash)

From the National Science Foundation to Del Ray weather gurus, there’s a bevy of scientific talent in Alexandria, and Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is hoping some can help pass that love of science on to the next generation.

ACPS said volunteers are needed to judge projects at the ACPS Science and Engineering fair at the Alexandria City High School’s King Street campus (3330 King Street) on Jan. 25.

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JUST IN: Opening of Virginia Tech campus at Potomac Yard delayed to 2025

By Vernon Miles

Published January 16, 2024 at 1:35PM

The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, as seen from the Potomac Yard Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia Tech’s Potomac Yard campus has hit a snag and won’t open until spring 2025.

Project delays have become a local tradition around Potomac Yard. The school said the new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus will open in 2025 rather than later this year, as was planned when the project broke ground in 2021.

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National Weather Service warns of hazardous road conditions as temperatures drop this afternoon

By Vernon Miles

Published January 16, 2024 at 11:16AM

Snow outside ALXnow editor's apartment (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The National Weather Service warned that even after snow tapers off around noon today, winds are expected to pick up and temperatures could drop.

In a Special Weather Statement, the National Weather Service said slick spots should be expected on some local roadways, even after the snowing stops.