Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Alexandria pet festival and adoption event returns next Sunday in Old Town

Published October 3, 2023 at 9:45AM | Updated October 3, 2023 at 10:26AM

Gambit, a dog available for adoption at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (image via Animal Welfare League of Alexandria/Facebook)

(Updated 10/3) Paws in the Park, a pet-themed festival, is returning next Sunday (Oct. 15) to Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison Street).

The event is the biggest pet adoption event of the year for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA). Activities include a dog costume contest, a “pet parade,” and activities for both pets and owners.

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Notes: Experts divided over chances of snow this winter in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published October 3, 2023 at 8:50AM

The George Washington National Masonic Memorial under the snow, Jan. 4, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Expect sunny weather with a high temperature near 84°F and calm winds shifting east at 6 mph during the afternoon. In the evening, skies will be mostly clear with a low temperature around 59°F. South winds will be around 5 mph before becoming calm later in the night.

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Little Theatre of Alexandria hosting ‘The Laramie Project’ fundraiser this month

By Vernon Miles

Published October 2, 2023 at 2:45PM

Flyer by The Little Theatre of Alexandria

The Little Theatre of Alexandria (600 Wolfe Street) is hosting a pair of staged reading events over the next two weeks to commemorate the murder of Matthew Shepard and raise funding for The Matthew Shepard Foundation.

Shepard, a young gay man in Laramie, Wyoming, was beaten, tortured and killed in a hate crime. Shepard’s murder sparked awareness of and advocacy for hate crime legislation, including the launch of the LGBT nonprofit Matthew Shepard Foundation by his parents.

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Mayor: Alexandria needs to make parking easier for in-home childcare workers

By Vernon Miles

Published October 2, 2023 at 11:00AM

Street parking on Main Line Boulevard in Potomac Yard (staff photo by James Cullum)

In-home childcare providers have, for years, faced a problem: many of them work in residential neighborhoods requiring Residential Parking Permits, leaving them with no good options for parking.

A zoning change working through city bureaucracy could make it easier for in-home childcare workers to secure parking in residential neighborhoods.

News

Delays linger on Blue and Yellow lines after Friday derailment near National Airport

By Vernon Miles

Published October 2, 2023 at 9:55AM

Normal train service resumed today on most Metro lines, but delays remain on the Blue and Yellow line after a derailment on Friday between the National Airport and Potomac Yard Metro stations.

Metro GM and CEO Randy Clarke said on Friday that a 7000-series train derailed after hitting a 20-inch diameter object on the tracks that fell from an earlier train, possibly part of the brake assembly.

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City Council members say ward system would be a bad idea for Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published September 29, 2023 at 2:45PM

Members of the Alexandria City Council celebrating centenarians at City Hall, Sept. 12, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

At a town hall meeting last Sunday, most City Council members said — in no uncertain terms — that they are opposed to a ward system in Alexandra.

Currently, all City Council leaders are elected in an at-large system. Each Council member represents the city as a whole. D.C., on the other hand, had a City Council that’s a mix of at-large members and ward members — representatives of specific areas of the city.

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NEW: Metro train derailed between Potomac Yard and National Airport, no injuries reported

By Vernon Miles

Published September 29, 2023 at 12:45PM

The Potomac Yard Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Shuttles are running between the Potomac Yard Metro station and National Airport Metro station after a derailment this morning.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) said there were no injuries in the derailment and shuttles are ferrying passengers between the stations.

News

Expanded outdoor seating, live music and more proposed for Del Ray BBQ spot

By Vernon Miles

Published September 29, 2023 at 10:45AM | Updated September 29, 2023 at 11:31AM

Meal at Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ (image via Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ/Facebook)

Outdoor barbeque spot Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ in Del Ray could be getting a significant expansion — provided it can get the permits next month.

A special use permit heading to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, Oct. 3, details plans for expanded seating, live entertainment and more, though only some of those have staff’s recommendation for approval.

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Alexandria naval attraction becomes ‘Ghost Ship Providence’ this Halloween

By Vernon Miles

Published September 29, 2023 at 9:55AM

The Tall Ship Providence and The Cherry Blossom on the Potomac River with the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in the distance. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Among many of the Halloween happenings around Alexandria this year is a new one on the waterfront: a conversion of the tall ship Providence into a ghost ship.

The Saturday (Oct. 28) before Halloween, the Providence is set to be decked out for the spooky season and will set sail along the river with a spooky party.

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Police: One victim injured in Mark Center-area robbery

By Vernon Miles

Published September 28, 2023 at 1:50PM | Updated September 28, 2023 at 2:15PM

Robbery on the 2000 block of North Beauregard Street (image via Alexandria Police Department/Twitter)

The Alexandria Police Department (APD) said one man was injured in a robbery near the Mark Center.

APD said the victim sustained minor injuries.

News

Alexandria City Public Schools launches new partnership to offer students virtual mental health services

By Vernon Miles

Published September 28, 2023 at 10:45AM

The first day at school at George Mason Elementary School, August 21, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new partnership launching next month should help Alexandria students have better access to mental health services, including free access to therapists.

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is partnering with Hazel Health, a school-based telehealth provider, to offer students telehealth access to psychologists, counselors, nurses and social workers. Part of the partnership involves access to therapists with no out-of-pock costs to families.