News | ALXnow - Part 700

City Council asks Alexandria City Public Schools to not miss another quarterly deadline and deliver report on school safety

Published March 3, 2022 at 2:15PM

Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

After missing quarterly reporting deadlines on school safety, Alexandria City Public Schools says it will deliver a report this week.

In a joint City Council/School Board work session on Wednesday night, some Council members were not pleased that ACPS has not delivered quarterly performance reviews on the school resource officer program. At the meeting, ACPS staff announced that the Board will soon receive a report on school safety data and the proposed school law enforcement partnership (SLEP) advisory group. The report has not yet been made public, and should be posted today (March 3) or tomorrow as an agenda item for the upcoming meeting.

Snugglebug French Bulldog ‘Lilac’ needs a new home

By James Cullum

Published March 3, 2022 at 1:15PM

French bulldog Lilac needs a new home to chew up her toys, and the squeakier the better, says the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

The nine-year-old pooch is up for adoption, and may need some medical attention in the future.

Trendy convenience store Foxtrot opens in Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published March 3, 2022 at 10:45AM

Foxtrot in Old Town, photo via Foxtrot/Facebook

Corner store and cafe Foxtrot is opening today (Thursday) in Old Town.

The company announced in a release that their first Virginia location opened this morning at 701 King Street. The new Alexandria location is the trendy corner store’s 18th location, with others in D.C. as well as Chicago and Dallas. There are a handful of events and specials planned throughout this weekend to celebrate.

Alexandria Seaport Foundation’s second floating center gets back on City Council docket

By James Cullum

Published March 3, 2022 at 10:00AM

After two years in limbo, the Alexandria Seaport Foundation’s request to open a second floating Seaport Center on the waterfront is going back to City Council for approval next week.

The project was supposed to go to the Planning Commission in April 2020, but got sidelined by the pandemic. On Tuesday, March 8, Council will vote on the second center, which would be adjacent to its current location — the 1,200-square-foot McIlhenny Seaport Center at 0 Thompsons Alley.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published March 3, 2022 at 5:00AM

Local wedding coordinator profiled — “We’re sitting down with some of our vendors, including Juli Valentine of Completely Coordinated, to get the dish on all things weddings.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

It’s Thursday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 54 and low of 37. Sunrise at 6:39 am and sunset at 6:04 pm. [Weather.gov]

Alexandria City Manager wants authority to reduce speed limit in business and residential districts

By James Cullum

Published March 2, 2022 at 3:45PM | Updated March 3, 2022 at 3:08PM

(Updated at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 3) Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon wants to be able to reduce speed limits from 25 miles per hour to 15 mph in business and residential districts.

The proposal is part of the city’s efforts to pilot slow zones in residence districts, and goes before City Council on Tuesday, March 8. The City Manager already has the authority to reduce the speed limit, just not to 15 mph.

New wine bar and coffee shop coming to Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published March 2, 2022 at 2:30PM

1000 Cameron Street, image via City of Alexandria

A new one-stop shop for life’s essentials — coffee and wine — is coming to Old Town.

A new shop called Pluma Cafe and Wine Bar has filed a special use permit to build a restaurant at 1000 Cameron Street. According to the application, the first floor will be the coffeehouse with the wine bar on the second floor.

ACPS Superintendent Hutchings focuses on racial equity in first-ever ‘State Of The Schools’ speech

By James Cullum

Published March 2, 2022 at 1:15PM

The hour-long presentation at Alexandria City High School focused on new programs to offer free associate degrees to Alexandria City High School graduates, improving graduation rates for Hispanic males and sticking to the ACPS 2025 Equity For All Strategic Plan. The speech did not focus on more controversial issues, such as Covid-related mandates or public safety issues within the school system.

“Our strategic plan takes us through 2025 and I know it sounds like it’s far away, but we’re already in 2022,” Hutchings said. “And we will still have much to accomplish to fulfill all of these accomplishments.”

Regional leaders start eyeing financing and operational questions for new Alexandria-Tysons bus-rapid transit

By Vernon Miles

Published March 2, 2022 at 11:00AM

Envision Route 7 BRT concept, photo via NVTC

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) is starting to look at financing for an extensive transportation project connecting Alexandria and Tysons.

The Envision Route 7 BRT project aims to bring a high-capacity transit service running from Tysons to Mark center in Alexandria, with stops at Seven Corners, Falls Church and the East Falls Church Metro station. The project is currently undergoing a mobility study looking over traffic operations and impact, with a particular eye toward the Falls Church segment.

Wegmans to open in Carlyle neighborhood on May 11

By James Cullum

Published March 2, 2022 at 10:15AM | Updated March 2, 2022 at 10:54AM

Carlyle-Wegmans concept rendering, photo via Wegmans

Wegmans Food Markets will officially open in Carlyle on May 11, and the grocery store is still hiring hundreds of employees.

Recruiting started in September for the new 81,300 square-foot space at 150 Stovall Street. The store is part of the massive mixed-use Carlyle Crossing development, and will employ upward of 450 employees.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published March 2, 2022 at 5:00AM

Alexandrians supporting Ukranian refugees — “Alexandria artist Kellie Sansone is selling paintings and prints of classic Ukrainian foods, with all profits going to the Ukrainian Crisis Fund through care.org” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

It’s Wednesday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 59 and low of 40. Sunrise at 6:40 am and sunset at 6:03 pm. [Weather.gov]