News | ALXnow - Part 932

A Beautiful Friendship: Volunteer Alexandria Keeps ALIVE! Up and Running

Published July 14, 2020 at 11:45AM

Volunteers sort food at ALIVE! (Photo via ALIVE!/Facebook)

On Saturday, ALIVE! provided hundreds of hungry families with free food at it’s mid-month free food distribution at Cora Kelly School and John Adams Elementary. The nonprofit has given out three times more food on a monthly basis since the pandemic hit the city, and the only way it’s been made possible has been through the efforts of Volunteer Alexandria.

“People respond to our calls to action,” Marion Brunken, executive director of Volunteer Alexandria, told ALXnow. “Our data shows that there are three times as many volunteers before COVID that signed up to volunteer. That translates to 7,500 people.”

King Street Buildings from Early 1800s to Get Modern Touchup with Redevelopment

By Vernon Miles

Published July 14, 2020 at 10:30AM

The former Pines of Florence and Aftertime Comics buildings at 1300 and 1304 King Street may not stand out much to the casual Old Town visitor, but faded brick buildings have a historic legacy that a new development hopes to bring out again.

The property at 1300 King Street is being redeveloped with an L-shaped building that will have 33 multifamily units over ground-floor retail, Washington Business Journal reported. Though it’s just one building, the project’s design is aimed to appear like two: with a red brick building facing King Street and a grey brick one facing S. Payne Street.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published July 14, 2020 at 9:00AM

Longtime Bishop Ireton Teacher Dies — “It is with sadness but also with great faith in our Lord that we share that Mr. Ron Umbeck, a beloved faculty member at Bishop Ireton for more than 50 years, passed away earlier this evening. He is now at peace in Heaven and we are sure that he met St. Peter with a math book, a crossword puzzle, an It’s Academic prep sheet and a Bishop Ireton pin. He loved this school, but more importantly, he loved his students and his Bishop Ireton family.” [Facebook]

Mayor Talks About Coronavirus on PBS — “My thanks to ⁦@AlexandriaVAGov⁩ Mayor ⁦@justindotnet⁩ for spending time with us to talk #Virginia re-opening, concerns about virus spread, and how he’s balancing the two. Our report, produced by ⁦@courtneyknorris, on ⁦@NewsHour⁩ tonight…” [Twitter]

ARHA Sponsors Senior COVID Testing in Alexandria This Week

By Vernon Miles

Published July 13, 2020 at 5:15PM

The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) is planning to sponsor COVID-19 testing later this week.

“ARHA will be sponsoring COVID-19 testing for residents of Ladrey (300 Wythe Street) and Annie B. Rose (399 Pendleton Street) buildings on Thursday, July 16, from 8-11 a.m. in the parking lot behind the building,” said Rose Williams Boyd, spokesperson for the organization.

Unemployment Continues to Climb in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published July 13, 2020 at 4:30PM

Continued unemployment claims (graph by Vernon Miles)

Hopes that the third phase of reopening could have turned around a two-week trend of increasing unemployment have not borne out.

New data from the Virginia Employment Commission shows that continued claims — the number of Alexandrians continuing to claim unemployment week after week, has gone up to 6,410 during the week of July 4. This is the highest number of continued claims since the week of June 6.

GoFundMe Campaign Raises Thousands for COVID-Stricken Alexandria Families

By James Cullum

Published July 13, 2020 at 3:15PM

The Alexandria Community Alliance has raised $12,670 in a GoFundMe campaign for Alexandria families impacted by COVID-19.

The nonprofit was formed shortly after the pandemic struck Alexandria, and is reportedly helping more than 50 families a week with bare necessities like food, toiletries and cleaning supplies.

Coronavirus Claims Longtime Irish Gift Shop in Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published July 13, 2020 at 2:00PM

After 50 years in business, The Irish Walk at 415 King Street will close by the end of July.

“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that after 50 years in business; The Irish Walk will be closing its doors on July 31, 2020,” owner Patty Theobald said in an email. “From the original owners, the Butler Family, to the Troy Family, to me and my staff, we have all enjoyed getting to know our customers and community over the last five decades.

Suspect Arrested After More Shots Fired in Braddock Neighborhood

By James Cullum

Published July 13, 2020 at 11:35AM

Police car lights (file photo)

An adult male is in custody after gunshots were fired in the Braddock early on Saturday morning.

This was the second incident of gunfire in the city since July 9, and police are investigating whether the cases are connected. No victims were located, according to the city.

Alexandria Now Has 2,456 Cases of COVID-19, No New Deaths This Month

By James Cullum

Published July 13, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated July 13, 2020 at 4:47PM

There are or have been 2,456 cases of COVID-19 in Alexandria and there have been no new deaths this month.

The number of cases has trickled upward through July, and on July 10, 20 new cases were reported. The city is no longer providing COVID-19 updates on weekends, and since Friday there have been 17 new cases and fatalities remain at 57.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published July 13, 2020 at 9:00AM

Lower King Street in Old Town, Alexandria, in June 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

City Celebrates 271st Birthday Virtually — My favorite event of each year is gathering with 30,000 of my closest friends to celebrate Alexandria’s birthday.‬ ‪This year, it is not to be, but join us for our virtual celebration with our Poet Laureate, Alexandria Symphony Orchestra & more.‬ Happy 271st Alexandria!‬” [Facebook]

Beyer Rebukes White House for Statement on Fauci — “From the moment this pandemic started the White House spent more time attacking Trump’s perceived enemies and massaging his fragile ego than they did listening to scientists, developing a testing strategy, figuring out how to safely reopen schools, or strengthening the response.” [Twitter]

ALXnow Weekend Discussion

By Vernon Miles

Published July 10, 2020 at 5:15PM

Abyssinia Market and Coffee House (photo via Abyssinia Market and Coffee House/Facebook)

A pair of incidents — racist threats at a local martial arts champion and a man spitting at a local coffee house owner — were the prevailing stories Alexandria.

Alexandria Police told ALXnow that a suspect in the incident was found and taken into custody, but ultimately was not identified and “received services.”