News | ALXnow - Part 924

Beatley Central Library Closed Until Further Notice Due to ‘Emergency Conditions’

Published September 2, 2020 at 4:15PM | Updated September 2, 2020 at 5:41PM

The Charles Beatley library in Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Updated 5:40 p.m. — According to Anton Murray, spokesman for Alexandria Libraries:

Due to an incidence of COVID-19 with a staff member at the Beatley Library, the Library has been closed for 1-3 days for deep cleaning. The nature of that staff member’s role in the library requires little to no significant direct contact with the public or other staff. Based on investigation to date (including contact tracing) by the Health Department no quarantine recommendations were needed for other staff or the public.

ACPS Cuts Down 150-Year Old Tree to Make Way for Concession Stand

By James Cullum

Published September 2, 2020 at 3:30PM

ACPS cut down a 150-year-old oak tree to make way for a concession stand on September 2, 2020. (Courtesy photo)

Alexandria City Public Schools today cut down a 150-year-old oak tree to make way for a concession stand as part of the renovation of Parker-Gray Stadium at T.C. Williams High School.

“Shame,” Alexandria activist MacArthur Myers told ALXnow. “A crime has been committed.”

Alexandria’s 7.8% July Unemployment a Slight Improvement Over June

By Vernon Miles

Published September 2, 2020 at 2:30PM

Data put out today by the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) shows that nearly 8% of the city was unemployed in July, only a fraction improvement over June’s figures.

The VEC data showed that the city had a civilian labor force of 100,938 in July. Of that, 93,084 remained employed while 7,854 had filed for unemployment.

DASH Announces Restored Weekday Bus Service in Two Weeks

By Vernon Miles

Published September 2, 2020 at 1:30PM

In an update to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, Alexandria bus service DASH said it will resuming increased increased levels of service starting on Sunday, Sept. 13.

“DASH will increase service levels in Alexandria to approximately 80% of pre-COVID service on September 13,” the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission said in materials for an upcoming meeting. “Weekday service will be restored on several routes and limited service will resume on most routes that were discontinued in March.”

Halal Slaughterhouse Construction Begins, Opening Reset to Mid-November

By James Cullum

Published September 2, 2020 at 11:30AM | Updated September 2, 2020 at 11:10PM

Construction has begun at a controversial halal slaughterhouse, and the owner says that the business at 3225 Colvin Street will open in mid-November.

“As a company we are doing great,” Abdul Mused, the owner of Saba Live Poultry to ALXnow. “We are extremely busy. With restaurants closed, we have had a 500% increase in our business. Everybody comes to us now.”

Police: Three Alexandria ABC Stores Broken Into, High-End Liquor Stolen

By James Cullum

Published September 2, 2020 at 10:30AM

An Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police are investigating smash-and-grab incidents at three ABC stores that occurred at night on August 25 and 26.

“We have had three instances of ABC stores burglarized,” APD spokesman Lt Courtney Ballantine told ALXnow. “All high end liquor. Fairfax (County) has had similar incidents.”

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published September 2, 2020 at 9:00AM

17 New COVID-19 Cases and No New Fatalities — “The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Alexandria is now 3,395, including 62 fatalities.” [City of Alexandria]

Beyer Says Trump Defense of Wisconsin Shooter is Purely Political — “This is why Trump is defending a person charged with murder, it’s plain as day.” [Twitter]

Braddock ‘Elizabeth’s Counter’ Last of Regional Chain After Bankruptcy Filing

By Vernon Miles

Published September 1, 2020 at 4:45PM

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing has left Elizabeth’s Counter in Alexandria as the last vestige of the once powerful ring of regional Sugar Shack locations, according to the Washington Business Journal.

Months after Sugar Shack owner Rob Krupicka unveiled ambitious plans to convert the Northern Virginia and D.C. locations from donut shop Sugar Shack into a new restaurant called Elizabeth’s Counter, Krupicka told WBJ that the pandemic drove down sales and forced him to close locations in Arlington and Washington D.C.

North Potomac Yard Plans Going to Planning Commission, Board of Architectural Review

By James Cullum

Published September 1, 2020 at 3:45PM

This and next month, the Alexandria Board of Architectural Review and the Planning Commission will receive half a dozen plans for the 1.9 million square-foot mixed use North Potomac Yard development.

“This application… represents the culmination of an extensive planning process for North Potomac Yard,” according to a master plan amendment filed with the Planning Commission to increase building heights near the proposed Potomac Yard Metro Station. Buildings in Block 15 would increase in height from 85 feet to 90 feet, and increase from 90 feet to 115 feet on Block 18 — both of which are near the developing Potomac Yard Metro Station.

AWLA Wins $10,000 Grant for Local Pet Assistance Programs

By Vernon Miles

Published September 1, 2020 at 2:30PM | Updated September 1, 2020 at 2:59PM

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) has won a $10,000 grant to help provide assistance to pet owners who might not otherwise be able to afford veterinary care for their animals.

The Mars Petcare Better Cities for Pets program is funded by Mars Petcare and administered by the Humane Society of the United States. The AWLA said funds from the grant will allow the organization to assist pet owners in the community to address urgent or chronic veterinary concerns.

Zero Waste Old Town Grocery Store Plans to Add Beer Growler Refills

By Vernon Miles

Published September 1, 2020 at 11:30AM

After a tumultuous start right as the pandemic hit, business at Old Town zero waste grocery store Mason and Greens (913 King Street) is doing better as quarantine has forced locals to reassess trash output.

“When we started off, we were just doing online orders,” said Justin Marino, who opened Mason and Greens with his wife Anna Marino in March. “We pushed up the deployment of our website a little further so we could do online orders and pickups.”