News | ALXnow - Part 916

Superintendent: ACPS Needs Time to Educate Public Before Vote to Change T.C. Williams High School Name

Published August 20, 2020 at 10:45AM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 5:20PM

If all goes according to plan, Alexandria City Public Schools will begin a public engagement process in September and October to educate the public on who Thomas Chambliss Williams was, followed by a vote on whether to change the name of T.C. Williams High School.

The actual vote on a new name would be chosen next spring after a vote on whether the name should be changed in December, according to ACPS Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr., who reported the news to the school board in a virtual retreat on Wednesday.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2020 at 9:00AM

Beyer Calls Out Minority Leader for Post Office Tweet — “Trump admitted he was sabotaging the US Postal Service to stop people from voting in a televised interview on FoxNews. It was even on a channel you guys actually watch.” [Twitter]

Alexandria Now Has 3,165 Cases of COVID-19 — “The latest update from the City on COVID-19: Positive tests up 19 to 3,165 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]

Lena’s in Del Ray Applies for Large Second-Floor Expansion and To-Go Alcohol Sales

By Vernon Miles

Published August 19, 2020 at 4:30PM | Updated August 19, 2020 at 5:04PM

Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza and Tap could be undergoing a bit new expansion if its special use permit gets approved.

According to the application, new plans would expand Lena’s into the second floor of 515 Mount Vernon Avenue. The expansion would add 180 additional indoor seats to the restaurant.

West End Computer Repair Shop LapFix Sees Business Spike During Pandemic

By James Cullum

Published August 19, 2020 at 2:45PM | Updated August 19, 2020 at 3:36PM

Karim Hussen’s business is spiking. With more customers working from home on personal laptops, the owner and staff of LapFix (4613 Duke Street) have their hands full recovering data and fixing personal computers and phones.

“We are busier now than ever, because everyone needs cameras for their computers and webcams for Zoom chats,” Hussen recently told ALXnow. “Of all things it’s webcams. Thankfully we are an essential business, according to the Commonwealth of Virginia, so I’m thankful that we never closed.”

Truck Lit on Fire, Stripped of Identification at City Impound Lot

By James Cullum

Published August 19, 2020 at 1:30PM

An Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police are investigating the intentional burning of a truck in the city’s impound lot (5249 Eisenhower Avenue) on July 30.

An Arlington County police officer witnessed the burning of a black four-seat Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and reported seeing a person jump into a getaway vehicle. Investigators later found that the Silverado had no tags and the VIN plate on the dashboard “appeared to have been removed,” notes a search warrant affidavit.

Restaurant Week Returns With New Options and Takeout Focus

By Vernon Miles

Published August 19, 2020 at 11:45AM

The building at Mia's Italian Kitchen at 100 King Street (via Mia's Italian Kitchen/Facebook)

Alexandria’s Restaurant Week is back, though in the takeout and delivery format that many restaurants have had to adapt to during the pandemic.

From this Friday, Aug. 21, to Sunday Aug. 30, over 60 restaurants in Alexandria will offer a $49 takeout, delivery, or curbside pick-up dinner for two. The event, which started in 2009, is being rebranded as Alexandria Restaurant Week To-Go.

Alexandria Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote

By James Cullum

Published August 19, 2020 at 10:45AM

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson (on left), Councilwoman Del Pepper and Councilwoman Amy Jackson honor the passage of the 19th Amendment with an event at the Barrett Library on August 18, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria commemorated the 100 year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment on Tuesday with a socially distant ceremony outside the Kate Waller Barrett Library.

Mayor Justin Wilson read a city proclamation that recounted the dozens of suffragists who were imprisoned, tortured and ultimately released from the Occoquan Workhouse after their case was thrown out in the federal courthouse in Alexandria.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 19, 2020 at 9:00AM

Alexandria Man Wins $100,000 in Virginia Lottery — “Darrar, who used to be a small business owner, bought the winning ticket at Global Food, 1476 North Beauregard Street in Alexandria for the July 28 drawing. He plans on saving his winnings.” [Patch]

COVID-19 Cases Increase by 16 — “Positive tests up 16 to 3,146 in the City 7-day Positivity Rate up to 5.8% 3 new hospitalizations Still safer at home, wash hands, wear masks and support our essential workers.” [Twitter]

ACPS Outlines What Families With Young Children Can Expect This Fall

By Vernon Miles

Published August 18, 2020 at 4:45PM

Students learning at home during the COVID-19 shutdown (Photo via ACPS/Facebook)

Fall 2020 is going to be an unusual start to the school year for all involved, but ACPS is taking some special precautions to help guide parents and students who have the additional challenge of being new to schools.

Within the Virtual+ model ACPS is pursuing, some specific measures are aimed at the school system’s new Pre-K and Kindergarten families.

Alexandria Sees Record High Absentee Ballot Requests

By Vernon Miles

Published August 18, 2020 at 3:30PM | Updated August 18, 2020 at 4:04PM

A voter leaves City Hall after casting a callot (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

In 2016, Alexandria’s Office of Voter Registrations and Elections sent out 1,668 absentee ballots by mail in September. This year, there are 18,498 applicants already signed up.

“We have definitely seen a large increase in absentee by mail ballot requests,” said Angie Maniglia Turner, Alexandria’s new General Registrar. “[As of] this morning we’ve had 18,498 applications processed and they’re coming in every moment. This year is going to be very unique.”

ACPS Still Cutting Down 150-Year-Old Tree, Preparing for Parker-Gray Stadium Renovation

By James Cullum

Published August 18, 2020 at 2:45PM | Updated August 18, 2020 at 3:03PM

A 150-year-old tree was cut down on the grounds of T.C. Williams High School so that a new concession stand can go in its place. (Image via Boyd Walker)

Over the last several weeks there has been renewed discussion over the fate of the Witness Tree, which the school system said must go to make way for a new concession stand. A Change.org petition to save the tree even garnered more than 2,500 signatures.

John Finnigan, the acting director of Educational Facilities for Alexandria City Public Schools, said that a contractor for the project has been chosen and that work will likely begin in the next few weeks.