News | ALXnow - Part 819

Morning Notes

Published December 14, 2020 at 9:15AM

Where to Get the COVID Vaccine in Alexandria — “In early 2021, when more vaccine doses are available, people who are in essential and critical industries (including first responders) will receive vaccinations — some through their workplace, and others through doctors offices and local hospitals.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Christmas Restaurant Round-Up — “Below we’ve rounded up some options for meals around Alexandria. Some will offer special holiday menus, while others will be open for their usual dine-in and takeout menus.” [Patch]

ALXnow’s Top Stories this Week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published December 11, 2020 at 3:45PM

Big things are in the works in the city. The proposed police review panel is coming back to the City Council in January, but discussions still rage in the community over what authority it should have. New plans are also moving forward for Potomac Yard, while the question of whether or not the Virginia Tech initials will be added to the name remains up in the air.

What stories impacted you this week? Let us know in the comments.

Alexandria Pastor’s Wife Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Scheme

By Vernon Miles

Published December 11, 2020 at 2:50PM

Federal courthouse (image via Google Maps)

An Alexandria woman pleaded guilty to money laundering as part of a scheme to defraud investors in a church-related investment business.

The fraud involved Brenda Millender and her husband, Pastor Terry Millender — leaders of the Victorious Life Church — soliciting themselves as leaders of a Christian organization brokering Nigerian oil sales. The pair were convicted in 2017.

Restaurants and Other Businesses For Sale in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published December 11, 2020 at 1:15PM

Sometimes buying an existing business is easier than starting from scratch.

The latest Alexandria listings on BizBuySell show a number of businesses for sale. Many are restaurants, which have been heavily impacted by the pandemic.

Gas Leak Closes Portion of King Street

By Vernon Miles

Published December 11, 2020 at 11:50AM | Updated December 11, 2020 at 1:30PM

(Updated at 1:20 p.m.) The Alexandria Police Department said a portion of King Street is closed due to a gas leak.

“The Alexandria Police Department is assisting the Fire Department with a road closure in the 2500 block of King Street due to a gas leak,” police said in a press release. “Expect police and fire activity in the area.”

Soup Season: Pho Nam Opens on King Street in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published December 11, 2020 at 11:30AM

A new pho restaurant is now open for business in Old Town — five months after the fact.

Pho Nam, the second location for the Gaithersburg-based company, was under construction for six months at 606 King Street. It was supposed to open in May, but got held up because of the pandemic. The restaurant officially opened on Oct. 20.

Eisenhower’s ‘Too Expensive to Cancel’ Project Moves Forward This Month

By Vernon Miles

Published December 11, 2020 at 10:30AM

Say your farewells to the traffic circle at the end of Eisenhower Avenue, because later this month work is scheduled to start on a widening and roadway improvement project that will replace it with a T-intersection.

A construction open house is scheduled for Tuesday, December 15, at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 11, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated December 11, 2020 at 9:17AM

New Torpedo Factory Art Features Local Waste — “The AlexRenew Wastewater Treatment Facility treats a mix of sewage and storm water. The facility runs the wastewater through a series of settling tanks and treatment processes to remove nutrients before discharging it to tributaries of the Potomac River. The brown-colored media was crowdsourced from thousands of area toilets, according to Len.” [WWD Magazine]

Work Resumes on the Fairfax Building with the Massive Fire — “It’s been 10 months since a devastating fire at the South Alex construction site near Alexandria, Virginia, but the project is back up and running.” [WTOP]

Southern Towers Residents Protest Eviction Amid Pandemic

By James Cullum

Published December 10, 2020 at 4:45PM | Updated December 11, 2020 at 12:06PM

“My money for food!” shouted a vocal group of tenants facing eviction at the Southern Towers apartment complex in the West End on Thursday.

Resident Sami Bourma was one of them. He’s back to working part-time as a cook, but is $11,000 in the hole with his rent. His wife is expecting to give birth to their third child any day now, and he hasn’t fully paid for his $1,515-a-month one bedroom apartment since March. He got a couple months of it covered through city resources, but now has to go back to court in January to seek a third extension from eviction.

Land Rover Alexandria Planning Move to Fairfax County in 2022

By James Cullum

Published December 10, 2020 at 3:30PM

Construction has started in Fairfax County at the new home of Beyer Automotive Group’s Land Rover Alexandria.

After more than 20 years at 2712 Duke Street, the dealership plans to move into its new home on a 5.9-acre lot at 5636 S. Van Dorn Street in 2022.

Man Hospitalized After Fall at Eisenhower Rock Climbing Gym Sportrock

By Vernon Miles

Published December 10, 2020 at 2:30PM

Rock climbing section in Sportrock (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A fall in late November at indoor climbing gym Sportrock (5308 Eisenhower Avenue) led to a hospitalization for one climber.

On Nov. 29, a climber lost control during a climb and fell, at which point the belayer lost control of the rope and was unable to stop the fall, according to Sportrock. Fire Department spokesperson Raytevia Evans confirmed the department responded to a medical call at the facility for a fall.