News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Alexandria launches pop-up recreation — “Stationed at various outdoor locations throughout the city, including parks and schools, the Pop-Up Rec will encourage people of all ages to get physically active. There will also be some indoor activities. Look for the Pop-Up Rec every Monday, Thursday and Saturday.” [Zebra]

Struggling veterans find new home in Alexandria — “Operation Renewed Hope Foundation opened a new home in Alexandria for Northern Virginia veterans struggling with homelessness on March 9, according to a news release.” [Alex Times]

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Al’s Steak House to endure under new management

By Vernon Miles

After month’s of uncertainty following the previous owner’s death, a new special use permit (SUP) filed with the City of Alexandria indicates the restaurant will survive under new ownership.

The Del Ray cheesesteak business has been in operation for 65 years. Longtime fan of the restaurant Jim Breeding took over the restaurant when the original owner died in 2015, but Breeding died last August as a result of complications from diabetes.

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ACPS to open five days a week this fall as CDC school distancing guidelines reduced to 3 feet

By James Cullum
Students walk the halls of Alexandria City High School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria City Public Schools plan on opening for five-day instruction this fall, Superintendent gregory Hutchings, Jr. reported to the School Board on Thursday night.

Hutchings said that the transition back to in-person hybrid instruction on March 2, March 9 and March 16, has been “seamless,” and that the Board will receive a logistical update in April.

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City lays out roadmap for stimulus plan

By Vernon Miles
Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Like a lot of Americans, Alexandria is working on figuring out how to put its upcoming stimulus checks to good use.

The City of Alexandria is preparing to receive around $59.4 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the city is currently working through how and where to put that money to use.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

City Council to condemn bigotry against Asian Americans — “On Tuesday evening Council will be considering a resolution condemning the disturbing rise in anti-Asian American bigotry and violence in our country. We stand with our Alexandria AAPI community and we will continue to work to #StopAsianHate” [Twitter]

Total Wine store might be coming to Alexandria — “The typical Total Wine & More store carries more than 8,000 different wines from every wine-producing region in the world. The typical Total Wine & More also carries more than 2,500 beers, from America’s most popular brands to hard-to-find microbrews and imports, and more than 3,000 different spirits in every style and price range.” [Alexandria Living]

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Unions sign off on City Council collective bargaining proposal

By James Cullum
Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

In a major reversal, Alexandria’s unions are pleased with the direction City Council took on establishing a collective bargaining ordinance at its meeting on Wednesday night.

Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker introduced amendments to the city’s manager’s proposed plan that expanded the scope of bargaining.

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Waterfront Commission tries to avert ‘Disneyland-like’ development in Old Town

By Vernon Miles

It’s the Kobayashi Maru of developing in Old Town: how do you simultaneously create a building that fits in seamlessly with the historic nature of Old Town without being seen as imitating it?

The issue was recently brought up at a Waterfront Commission meeting on Tuesday in a discussion about the proposed redevelopment of an existing parking garage at 101 Duke Street into townhomes.

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Alexandria DWIs, collisions and speeding tickets down in 2020, but reckless driving numbers inconclusive

By James Cullum
Traffic moves along Duke Street near N. Jordan St. (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The coronavirus pandemic has meant less traffic on Alexandria roadways, fewer accidents and collisions, although there is a noted increase in the number of reported reckless driving incidents.

There was a 67% increase in reckless driving tickets issued by the Alexandria Police Department in 2020 over 2019. There were 184 reckless driving tickets issued in 2019 and 307 in 2020. With 98 incidents so far this year, the city is on track to exceed last year’s number. However, APD started doing eCitations in late May 2019, and as such the 2019 Reckless Driving ticket numbers are incomplete. All other tickets before that point were filled out manually, skewing the numbers as they were not broken up by citation type.

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Soulmate pooches Cookie and Chispin are up for adoption in Alexandria

By James Cullum
Cookie and Chispin (on right) are up for adoption with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. (Photo via AWLA)

Bonded buddies Cookie and Chispin are inseparable, and the pair are looking to be adopted from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Cookie, a 12-year-old terrier mix, reportedly likes nothing more than to hang out with her closest companion, Chispin, a 10-year-old female hound mix.

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