News | ALXnow - Part 967

Neighborhood Health Sets Up COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Sites in Alexandria

Published April 27, 2020 at 5:25PM | Updated April 28, 2020 at 11:37AM

A young boy is tested for COVID-19 at a Neighborhood Health testing facility outside Casa Chirilagua in Arlandria (Staff photo by James Cullum)

The little boy in the blue hooded jacket cried out as a long cotton swap poked deep into his nostril.

It only took a second on a recent afternoon, as his masked mother held him inside a Neighborhood Health COVID-19 testing facility outside Casa Chirilagua on Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria. The boy and his mother made an appointment for him online and walked to the site, checked in with staff wearing protective gear and walked over to the tent with a plexiglass shield separating them from the health official.

Waypoint at Fairlington Moves Ahead as Traffic Concerns Linger

By Vernon Miles

Published April 27, 2020 at 4:45PM | Updated May 1, 2020 at 10:13AM

As The Waypoint at Fairlington moves forward, some old traffic concerns and misconceptions about the project have resurfaced.

The Waypoint, and 81-unit affordable housing development at Fairlington Presbyterian Church (3846 King Street) was approved in 2018, but old criticisms of the project’s added density flooded the comment sections when the city applied for federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME Investment Partnerships.

ALIVE! Distributed 13K Pounds of Food on Saturday, Needs Financial Donations

By James Cullum

Published April 27, 2020 at 3:15PM

ALIVE! gave out 13,000 pounds of food Saturday, and much of it was transported to a distribution point by DASH buses. The nonprofit is asking for donations in this year's Spring2ACTion event on April 28. (Photo via DASH/Facebook)

ALIVE! gave out 13,000 pounds of food to more than 1,300 Alexandria households on Saturday morning, and the nonprofit is now collecting financial donations for the next distribution.

The food cost about $65,000 and amounted to 4,300 grocery bags, which were distributed within two hours at the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center (23 W. Reed Ave.) and John Adams Elementary School (5651 Rayburn Avenue).

Supporting Del Ray Businesses Becomes a Game of Bingo

By Vernon Miles

Published April 27, 2020 at 2:00PM

The Del Ray Business Association has turned supporting local businesses during the coronavirus pandemic into a game.

A bi-weekly bingo series that started today (Monday) fills a 5×5 card with ways to support local businesses in Del Ray. The goal, according to the association, is to “wear a face mask, maintain social distance, and play for the chance to win $50 in Del Ray Dollars,” which are redeemable at some businesses in Del Ray.

Aftertime Comics Folds Up, Waits for Pandemic to End Before Reopening in New Space

By James Cullum

Published April 27, 2020 at 11:30AM | Updated April 27, 2020 at 3:33PM

After 35 years, Aftertime Comics owner David Erskine closes up shop. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

For David Erskine, the last 35 years have passed like the pages of a must-read comic book, and on Saturday he did the unthinkable and took down the sign outside his shop, Aftertime Comics.

“We’re all done here,” Erskine told ALXnow as he unscrewed the sign.

BREAKING: Alexandria Surpasses 600 COVID-19 Cases, 300+ Case Jump in Last 10 Days

By James Cullum

Published April 27, 2020 at 10:20AM | Updated April 27, 2020 at 3:31PM

Alexandria now has 627 probable or positive cases of COVID-19, an increase of 36 cases since yesterday, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

There have been more than 300 new or probable cases in the last 10 days alone in Alexandria.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published April 27, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated April 27, 2020 at 12:47PM

Customers waiting for food orders outside of The Fish Market on King Street, April 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Hard Times Café Founder Passes Away — “Sad news. @HardTimesFun founder Fred Parker passed away last night. He was a very special friend and an icon in #AlexandriaVA. Thank you Fred for so many memories. You will never be forgotten #RIP” [Twitter]

Birchmere Joins Group to Lobby Congress for Coronavirus Relief — “With large gatherings forbidden throughout the country, the live music industry has ground to a halt, closing revenue streams and putting things like rent and payroll payments in jeopardy. More than 450 venues across the U.S. are banding together under the new group called the National Independent Venue Association to present one voice to lawmakers.” [Washington Business Journal]

COVID-19 Update: Deaths Now at 19, Cases Increase to 591

By James Cullum

Published April 26, 2020 at 2:25PM | Updated April 27, 2020 at 9:52AM

There are now 19 COVID-19-related fatalities in Alexandria, according to VDH. There have been 10 male deaths and nine female deaths, and the most recent death was a woman. A majority of the fatalities have been senior citizens, although the most infected residents are in their 30s and 40s.

There have been 309 females and 278 males who tested positive for COVID-19 in the city, and it is not clear how many people have recovered. There have been more than 500 probable and new cases reported in the city this month alone.

Three More COVID-19 Deaths, Alexandria Advises Residents Not To Ingest Disinfectants

By James Cullum

Published April 25, 2020 at 2:45PM

COVID-19 cases in Alexandria (ALXnow)

Three more people have died and there are now 575 probable or positive cases in Alexandria, an increase of 28 cases since yesterday, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

The Alexandria Health Department is also now warning residents against ingesting disinfectants, after President Trump suggested that doing so could eradicate the coronavirus. The department cited the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s warning that disinfectants should never be ingested or mixed.

Alexandria Grapples with Emergency Federal Spending Restrictions

By Vernon Miles

Published April 24, 2020 at 5:30PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria is expecting to receive between $20-27 million dollars in federal CARES Act funding, but that comes with comes a few strings.

“All of that must be used for new expenses,” Mayor Justin Wilson said in a video town hall on Thursday night. “It cannot be used for any expense [that was] in the budget previously.”

Casa Chirilagua Gives Meals to More Than 1,000 Families, Needs Face Masks

By James Cullum

Published April 24, 2020 at 4:45PM | Updated May 1, 2020 at 3:59PM

Casa Chirilagua gave out more than 1,000 meals to families in Chirilagua on Thursday, and needs food, cash and face mask donations for Alexandria’s vulnerable Hispanic population.

Casa Chirilagua works with more than 120 families living below the poverty line, and so far nonprofit has also paid more than $25,000 in rent and utilities for families impacted by COVID-19.