News | ALXnow - Part 833

Morning Notes

Published March 5, 2021 at 9:00AM

Virginia State Police Car Chase Ends With Arrest — “State police found the vehicle heading north on the Beltway near Braddock Road. A state trooper tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver sped away. Police say the vehicle reached speeds above 100 mph and struck three vehicles and a trooper’s vehicle during the pursuit.” [Patch]

Stomping Ground to Open ‘The Alley’ — “The Alley’s menu is available for sampling now at Stomping Ground, at 2309 Mt. Vernon Ave. Stomping Ground is the brainchild of Nicole Jones, who is also working on opening a new venture at The Atrium in Old Town.” [Alexandria Living]

City Could Help Turn Hotels Emptied by Coronavirus Into Affordable Housing

By Vernon Miles

Published March 4, 2021 at 4:45PM

Regional losses to tourism and the hotel industry could be an unexpected windfall for Alexandria’s ongoing efforts to find affordable housing.

During a presentation to the City Council last week, Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) President and CEO Stephanie Landrum said that the city could look at streamlining some rezoning to help transform hotels emptied by COVID into affordable housing units.

Councilwoman Amy Jackson Argues With School Board Over MacArthur Elementary Construction Schedule

By James Cullum

Published March 4, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated March 4, 2021 at 10:09PM

City Councilwoman Amy Jackson in front of Douglas MacArthur Elementary School. (Image via Facebook)

Alexandria City Councilwoman Amy Jackson argued with members of the School Board and Alexandria City Public Schools staff at a budget meeting last night (Wednesday) over construction of the new Douglas MacArthur Elementary School.

Jackson, who is running for reelection, lambasted the school system earlier this week on Facebook with a one minute video. In the video, Jackson stands outside MacArthur wearing a face mask with the words “Your Vote Matters” printed on it, raises her left hand questioningly and then says: “March 1, 2021. Almost a year and no construction has started at MacArthur. When is it going to happen?”

Man in Good Condition After Arlandria Stabbing

By James Cullum

Published March 4, 2021 at 1:15PM | Updated March 4, 2021 at 10:06PM

Alexandria police (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

An Alexandria man is in good condition after being stabbed in Arlandria on Wednesday afternoon (March 3).

Police tweeted at 4 p.m. Wednesday that four men were in a fight and that one of them was stabbed in the leg in the 3800 block of Old Dominion Blvd. They are now searching for three male suspects.

Superintendent Proposes New Names for T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary

By Vernon Miles

Published March 4, 2021 at 11:30AM | Updated March 4, 2021 at 2:28PM

“Alexandria High School” and “Naomi Brooks Elementary School”.

These could be the new names for T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School, and they are Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr.’s recommendation to the School Board.

‘Boots’ the Tabby Needs a New Stomping Ground in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 4, 2021 at 10:30AM

Boots is up for adoption with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (Photo via AWLA)

Boots is named after “Puss in Boots” in the Shrek movies, and her eyes even get big when she wants attention.

The five-year-old tabby loves bird watching and making biscuits, and she’s up for adoption with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published March 4, 2021 at 9:00AM

Famed Jewish Songstress Dies in Alexandria at 97 — “Singer, songwriter, guitarist and accordionist Flory Jagoda worked hard to preserve the music and language she inherited from her Sephardic Jewish ancestors in her adopted American home. Named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2002, she died on Jan. 29 at age 97 in Alexandria, Va. at a long-term memory care facility, according to an obituary placed by her family.” [NPR]

Virginia American Water Identifies Source of Water Main Break — “The issue on S Whiting Street was identified to be a broken valve which has been repaired. We are slowly restarting service and it may already be on for some customers. We anticipate it will be fully restored within two hours.” [Twitter]

Restaurants, Salons and Other Businesses for Sale in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 3, 2021 at 4:30PM

Buying an existing business can be easier than starting from scratch.

The latest listings on BizBuySell show businesses for sale in and around Alexandria. Many are restaurants, which have been heavily impacted by the pandemic.

Alexandria Opens Spring Program Registration, Some Capacity Limited by COVID

By Vernon Miles

Published March 3, 2021 at 3:30PM

As Alexandria approaches its second spring and summer with COVID, the city is starting to put out details on limited selection of recreational programs that will be available to the public.

Registration for spring programs launched today with a variety of camps and sports clubs open to enrollment.

Just In: Vice President Visits Old Town Shop Fibre Space

By ALXnow.com

Published March 3, 2021 at 2:30PM | Updated March 4, 2021 at 10:46AM

Danielle Romanetti (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris. (Photo via fibre space)

Updated at 2:30 p.m. — Vice President Kamala Harris managed to stitch a visit to Old Town knitting store fibre space (1319 Prince Street) into the day’s agenda.

It was the vice president’s first official visit to a small business since she took office in January. Harris spoke for more than a half hour with owner Danielle Romanetti and her staff about the impact of the pandemic and the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill that’s working its way through the U.S. Senate.

Man Suffers Minor Injury in West End Armed Robbery

By James Cullum

Published March 3, 2021 at 11:35AM

Alexandria Police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police are investigating an armed robbery yesterday (Tuesday) that left a West End man with minor injuries. The incident occurred just before 9 p.m. in the 5700 block of Exeter Court.

The victim suffered a minor injury and his phone and cash were stolen, but he did not go to the hospital, according to police.