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Alexandria’s Sportrock Climbing Center is packed with business after Biden visit

By James Cullum
(L-R) Climbers Charlie Osborne, Abigail Humber and Tessa Huang at SportRock Climbing Center at 5308 Eisenhower Avenue. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Sportrock Climbing Center has been pretty packed since President Joe Biden visited with the First Lady and Governor Ralph Northam last month.

Sportrock staff claim that it’s the first time any president has ever visited a climbing gym, and that it has shined a spotlight on their 35,000 square-foot operation. On a recent weekday evening, every parking spot was taken outside their location at 5308 Eisenhower Avenue. Inside the massive gym, masked and unmasked climbers hung out, lifted weights, belayed, and worked their ways to the top of the tallest climbing walls in the Mid-Atlantic.

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Alexandria eyes bus rapid transit and bike lanes for Duke Street

By Vernon Miles
Duke Street near Landmark and Cameron Run (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

As Alexandria works through the first stages of its Duke Street transit overhaul, city staff are laying out expectations for what’s being considered for the corridor.

In a public meeting last week, staff presented early plans for a transit-focused overhaul of Duke Street and fielded both questions and some early concerns from residents.

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Alexandria leaders acknowledge serious security issues with elimination of school resource officer funding

By James Cullum
Alexandria police (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria leaders have acknowledged that the city’s public school system faces major security issues with the elimination of school resource officer funding.

In a joint City Council/School Board Subcommittee Meeting Monday night, School Board Vice Chair Veronica Nolan was highly critical of Council’s 4-3 decision last month to divert the program’s nearly $800,000 in funding to Alexandria City Public Schools mental health and City health resources.

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Basilica of St. Mary bridge and expansion designs move forward

By Vernon Miles
Basilica School of Saint Mary redesign, via City of Alexandria

The Basilica of Saint Mary in Old Town is looking for city permission to make some expansions to the church grounds and make parts of the property more accessible.

The designs for a new bridge are headed to review at the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday, July 21, as part of a broader process of adding to the Basilica School of Saint Mary. The church is hoping to add a new new library and media center to the campus, and install a connecting bridge that will help make the different parts of the facility more connected.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria turns 75 — “Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson and several City Council members were among the attendees milling about, chatting with friends, reviewing the dozens of items up for auction, and touring the facility as well as the AWLA’s new surgical and event vehicle, Waggin’ Wheels.” [Zebra]

Former Steak & Ale building demolished — “Long-time residents of Alexandria may remember the old Steak and Ale restaurant at the intersection of Kenmore Avenue and Seminary Road. The 6,800 square foot Tudor-style building has been abandoned for more than a decade, since the restaurant chain declared bankruptcy.” [Alexandria Living]

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Alexandria using Teen Wellness Center at T.C. Williams High School for COVID-19 testing and vaccine pilot

By James Cullum

The Alexandria Health Department has launched a COVID-19 testing and vaccine clinic at the Teen Wellness Center in an effort to get more 12-to-19-year-olds vaccinated.

The pilot will help the department figure out how to incorporate it into the school system, acting AHD Director Dr. Anne Gaddy told City Council and School Board members in a meeting Monday night.

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Military spouses ask Sen. Tim Kaine to help with childcare in Alexandria roundtable

By James Cullum
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine listens to military families at the National Military Family Association in Alexandria on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine got an earful on military family needs at a roundtable he hosted Tuesday morning at the National Military Family Association in Alexandria.

Facing few childcare options, one military spouse had to take three years off of work as a physician’s assistant to take care of her young children.

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Alexandria urges caution with upcoming hazardous heat conditions

By Vernon Miles
Playing at the sprayground at Potomac Yard Park (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s not Pacific Northwest-bad, but the National Weather Service is warning that that Alexandria could reach a heat index of 105 or higher over the next few days.

The NWS has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the next few days, with high temperatures estimated for Wednesday afternoon.

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