News | ALXnow - Part 478

For-profit university applies to move into vacant Eisenhower Avenue office

Published October 27, 2023 at 11:00AM

2900 Eisenhower Avenue (image via Google Maps)

For-profit Washington University of Science and Technology could be moving into a vacant office on Eisenhower Avenue that was formerly a Stratford University campus.

Washington University of Science and Technology is a for-profit university based out of Tysons. The school is applying to a new location in a 4-story commercial office building at 2900 Eisenhower Avenue. The building was previously approved for special use as a private academic school in 2013, but the location closed in October 2022 when the Stratford shut down.

Alexandria announces crackdown on aggressive driving on the city’s arterial roads

By Vernon Miles

Published October 27, 2023 at 10:05AM

Crash at 4600 block of Seminary Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

A few days after videos emerged of a mob taking over a Seminary Road intersection, Alexandria announced a new carrot-and-stick approach to dealing with traffic safety.

The carrot is a new public safety campaign. According to a release from the City of Alexandria:

Notes: Your vote wanted for ‘Best Decorated Halloween House’ in Del Ray

By Vernon Miles

Published October 27, 2023 at 9:00AM | Updated October 27, 2023 at 11:34AM

Halloween Beer Pong in front of a Del Ray home. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 11:30 a.m.) Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Partly sunny today, with a high near 81. Partly cloudy tonight, with a low around 62. Then sunny and warm again on Saturday.

BREAKING: Bradlee Shopping Center murderer sentenced to five years with Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice

By James Cullum

Published October 26, 2023 at 3:05PM | Updated October 26, 2023 at 8:37PM

Police at the Bradlee Shopping Center where 18-year-old Luis Mejia Hernandez was fatally stabbed on May 24, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 8:30 p.m.) A 17-year-old former Alexandria City High School student was sentenced Thursday to five years with the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice for the 2022 murder of 18-year-old Luis Mejia Hernandez in the parking lot of the Bradlee Shopping Center, with one of those years already served.

Ryan Vega was 16 when he fatally stabbed Hernandez during a melee with dozens of ACHS students in the parking lot. In a two-day June bench trial, Judge James C. Clark found Vega guilty of second-degree murder and murder by mob, and said that Vega took advantage of his time behind bars at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center by exhibiting good behavior and doing well with school.

Charles Barrett Elementary School celebrates 80 years in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published October 26, 2023 at 2:30PM

A tree planting commemorating the 80th anniversary of Charles Barrett Elementary School, Oct. 25, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

World War II was at its peak when Charles Barrett Elementary School first opened 80 years ago. In recognition of the anniversary, on Wednesday students and school officials gathered in front of the school, planted a baby oak tree and sang the school song.

The tree was donated by the North Ridge Citizens’ Association.

What’s Up in Alexandria This Weekend: Oct. 27 – 29

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 26, 2023 at 1:30PM

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)

On tap this weekend – Del Ray Halloween Parade, Old Town Trick-or-Treat, Ghost Ship Providence and much more.

Here’s a look at all that’s happening for events, live music, and entertainment this weekend in Alexandria, Virginia, enjoy!

Alexandria City Council member says VRE grappling with post-Covid identity crisis

By Vernon Miles

Published October 26, 2023 at 9:55AM

A VRE train heading south through Potomac Yard (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

As Metro stares down potentially devastating cuts, City Council member Sarah Bagley said the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is grappling with similar funding struggles as it tries to redefine itself.

Bagley, who serves on the VRE Operations Board, said the rail service’s new plans to add weekend service represent an effort to broaden the ridership beyond commuter traffic.

Notes: New Detroit-style pizza coming to Lynhaven soon

By ALXnow.com

Published October 26, 2023 at 8:50AM

Detroit-style pepperoni pizza (image via Jet's Pizza/Facebook)

Good Thursday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching a high of around 79 degrees. In the afternoon, a calm wind will pick up from the south at around 5 mph. As for Thursday night, the sky will be partly cloudy and the temperature will drop to around 60 degrees. There will be a southwest wind blowing at 3 to 6 mph.

School Board restructuring plan is ‘dead’ as-is, says Alexandria City Council Member

By James Cullum

Published October 25, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated October 25, 2023 at 4:31PM

ACPS headquarters and clock (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Alexandria School Board’s preferred options to restructure itself are “dead” as-is, mostly due to a lack of engagement with the Alexandria City Council, City Council Member John Taylor Chapman told members of the School Board on Monday night.

“I think you’re losing Council by not really engaging with them right now,” Chapman told the City Council/School Board Subcommittee meeting Monday night. “Given the response I’ve seen from my colleagues, I think you have even more of an uphill battle than you had before, and that’s not a good thing if this is supposed to be a process that’s collaborative.”

Hauntingly good times to be had in Old Town this Halloween

By Vernon Miles

Published October 25, 2023 at 2:45PM

Mourner at the Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden (image via Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden/Facebook)

If you’ve binge-watched The Fall of the House of Usher and are in the mood for some Edgar Allan Poe readings, the good news is an acclaimed Poe reenactor is making his annual return to Old Town for a reading on Halloween.

The bad news: it’s sold out. But there are still plenty of other options to get your spooky fix in Alexandria on Halloween.

City leaders push to accelerate stormwater infrastructure planning and get shovels in the ground

By Vernon Miles

Published October 25, 2023 at 2:00PM

Civil engineers work on new stormwater mitigation projects in Parkfairfax (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A discussion of one of the city’s larger stormwater infrastructure projects spurred a question from city leaders: can the city do more to make these projects happen faster?

Adriana Castañeda said at a City Council meeting last night that the city is a little over halfway through the design process for the Commonwealth, Ashby, Glebe Flood Mitigation Project, one of the largest stormwater infrastructure projects in the city — outside of the immense AlexRenew project.