News | ALXnow - Part 915

ALXnow’s Top Stories This Week in Alexandria

Published August 21, 2020 at 4:45PM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 5:27PM

Alexandria has put another summer work week to rest.

As the City Council enjoys a legislative break, the School Board conducted a virtual meeting to discuss the renaming process for T.C. Williams High School. Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr., and the board advocate a public engagement process that could result in the board voting to change the name this December, followed by a vote on a specific name next spring. A group of community activists, however, believe that the name should be taken off immediately, since ACPS acknowledged Williams was an avowed racist and segregationist.

Alexandria Needs Help Running the November Election

By Vernon Miles

Published August 21, 2020 at 3:30PM

The City of Alexandria is looking locals to help run the upcoming election in November.

“There are 30 precincts in the City of Alexandria, each requiring a minimum of 5 election officers,” the city said on its website. “These officers are needed to maintain a high level of service throughout Election Day… More than 200 election officers are needed to conduct each election (and as many as 500 for the Presidential Election). Alexandria enjoys an excellent reputation for conducting honest and efficient elections. The City needs your help to maintain this tradition.”

Alexandria Police Increase Presence to Stem Uptick of Violent Crime in Parker Gray/Old Town

By James Cullum

Published August 21, 2020 at 2:15PM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 3:48PM

Police car lights (file photo)

Even though it’s just three blocks away, Heather Lesley doesn’t let her teenage daughter walk to the Braddock Road Metro station to meet her when she gets back from work.

“I don’t feel comfortable letting her do that anymore,” Lesley told ALXnow. “My neighbor has bullet holes in the brick wall of their home.”

Alexandria Tutoring Consortium Launches Virtual Literacy Fundraising Campaign

By James Cullum

Published August 21, 2020 at 11:35AM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 2:31PM

The Alexandria Tutoring Consortium has launched a fundraising campaign to continue a virtual program that teaches young children how to read.

The 24-year-old nonprofit needs $22,000 to fund a leveled reading program that started after its personalized literacy tutoring program was shifted online after the pandemic hit the city in March. So far, Burke and Herbert Bank donated $1,000 to kick things off, and donations can be made on the ATC website.

Alexandria’s ‘Spice Girls’ Rats Looking for a New Venue

By Vernon Miles

Published August 21, 2020 at 10:20AM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 10:42AM

The Alexandria Animal Welfare League has been overrun but a veritable vermintide as it seeks to find a new home for five spicy rats.

“Anise, Basil, Nutmeg, Paprika and Saffron may sound spicy, but these ladies are the sweetest rats in town,” said Gina Hardter, spokesperson for the AWLA.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 21, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 11:48AM

COVID-19 Cases up 21 to 3,186 in Alexandria — “The latest update from the City on COVID-19: Positive tests up 21 to 3,186 in the City 7-day Positivity Rate steady at 5.8% 0 new hospitalizations Still safer at home, wash hands, wear masks and support our essential workers.” [Twitter]

Ebbin Bill Would Require Landlords Offer Tenants Payment Plans — “Senator John Bell and my bill to require landlords to offer payment plans to tenants who miss a payment due to COVID-19 rather than evicting them reports unanimously from the General Laws committee. This bill is a win-win and will stem the potential tide of evictions in Virginia, and has consensus support from tenants and landlords alike.” [Facebook]

Alexandria Drive-In Movie Theatre Sells Out All 6 Shows

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2020 at 4:45PM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 11:50AM

Just four days after announcing the launch of the Alexandria Drive-In Theatre, all six shows are sold out.

Now, with a waitlist of sponsors wanting to get involved, organizers are thinking about expanding the offerings, but only after they’ve ironed out the wrinkles from these first shows.

City Requests $1.7 Million in HUD Funding For a Suite of Local Affordable Housing Programs

By Vernon Miles

Published August 20, 2020 at 3:45PM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The city is requesting a $1.73 million in funding from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to finance a wide series of programs aimed at improving the city’s affordable housing.

A release from the City of Alexandria said the funding would go to improvements under the Rental Accessibility Modification Program (RAMP). RAMP provides accessibility modifications to rental units occupied by low and moderate income tenants at no cost to the tenant or landlord.

Saunas and Ice Baths: A New Coworking Office Focusing on Wellness Opens in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2020 at 2:15PM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 3:54PM

The Loop coworking space at 215 N. Payne Street in Old Town offers the amenities you expect out of such an office, and some you won't expect. (Courtesy photo)

Need a quick sweat in the office sauna before an upcoming meeting? How about an ice bath? For folks tired of working from home, a new coworking office just opened in Old Town with amenities focused on wellness.

Real estate developer Christopher Campagna was ready to open The Loop at 215 N. Payne Street back in March, but then the pandemic struck and it pushed back his plans. He was all set for a virtual opening when George Floyd was killed and the city experienced a period of social unrest, and so he pushed the opening to late summer.

Climbing Gym Sportrock Holding On for Dear Life Through Pandemic Recovery

By Vernon Miles

Published August 20, 2020 at 2:00PM

Interior climbing gym amid pandemic (photo courtesy Kian McKellar/Sportrock)

An Alexandria climbing gym is surviving by its fingertips amid a slow recovery.

“We are talking about a year of survival,” said Sportrock spokesperson Sean Taft-Morales, “not a year of thriving.”

Affordable Housing Communities to Get Free Wood-Fired Pizza the Next Two Saturdays in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2020 at 11:30AM

An Arlington nonprofit has partnered with a D.C. food truck to provide free pizza to affordable housing communities in Alexandria this month.

This is the fifth local campaign for Hearts of Empowerment, which has partnered with Timber Pizza Company to provide free wood-fired pizzas from its food truck on August 22 at Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street) in Old Town at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, and at the same time at the Parkview of Alexandria apartments in Arlandria on Saturday, August 29.