A 58-year-old Alexandria man who spent years behind bars for possession of child pornography now faces at least 10 more years in prison after being convicted Thursday for the same offense in federal court.
James B. Clawson, Sr., was convicted in 2009 for possession of child pornography after it was discovered that he was the administrator for a forum dedicated to spreading around child porn. Clawson was on supervised release when, in July 2019, his probation officer found a laptop in a hidden shelf in his home, as well as multiple thumb drives with images of children having sex.
Standards of Learning Test participation drops in Alexandria — “At ACPS, 60 percent of eligible students participated in the spring 2021 SOL tests. In past years, the school division had participation above 98 percent. The SOL pass rates for ACPS for all participating students were 57 percent for reading, 82 percent for writing, 44 percent for history and social science, 39 percent for mathematics, and 43 percent for science.” [Patch]
Fire Department trains at The Birchmere — “Recently, AFD conducted a multi-company drill at the Birchmere on Mount Vernon Avenue. Regular training, communication, and familiarization with their coverage areas keeps our first responders well prepared to respond during emergency situations in the City.” [Facebook]
Dining area: The main level’s open layout runs from the dining area toward the kitchen and the back of the house.
Front exterior: The attached homes at 31 and 29 E. Reed Ave., each with its own entrance off a shared front porch.
Kitchen: A large island with seating, a gas range, and stainless steel appliances anchor the kitchen.
Primary living area: Sliding glass doors open from the main level to the patio and backyard.
Primary bedroom: A tray ceiling and windows on two sides give the primary bedroom plenty of natural light.
Primary bath: Dual vanities and a walk-in tiled shower with a bench.
If you’re looking for a brand-new home that lives like a single-family house, with no HOA and an easy walk to Potomac Yard, your search may end on E. Reed Ave. Located at 29 and 31 E. Reed Ave. in Arlandria, these two attached homes bring modern design and everyday convenience to a residential block between Potomac Yard and Del Ray.
Brought to you by Midtown Partners, a multifamily and boutique home builder rooted in the Northern Virginia real estate landscape since 2010, the homes were built with practical, well-considered layouts in mind.
Easy to Get Around
E. Reed Ave. puts a lot within reach on foot:
5-Minute Walk: Potomac Yard Center for groceries, dining, and shopping.
Walkable to Metro: The Potomac Yard Metro station for commuting into the District and beyond.
Nearby Neighborhoods: Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria and the shops and restaurants of Del Ray are a short trip away.
Trails: The Potomac Yard Trail and Four Mile Run Trail are close by for walking, running, and biking.
Regional Access: Route 1, National Landing, Reagan National Airport, and Washington, DC are all within easy reach.
Designed for Everyday Living
Each priced at $1,324,000, the homes offer about 3,185 square feet across three finished levels:
4 Bedrooms & 4.5 Baths: Three bedrooms upstairs, each with its own private bath, plus a fourth bedroom suite on the lower level with a walk-in closet.
Flexible Main Level: A private study, a powder room, and an open layout connecting the kitchen to the dining and living areas, well suited to hosting.
Kitchen: A large island, stainless steel appliances, and a gas range.
Primary Suite: A large walk-in closet and a bath with dual vanities and an oversized shower.
Finished Lower Level: A recreation room, a wet bar, and a flex space that could be a gym, media room, or playroom.
Light and Space: 9-foot-plus ceilings, recessed lighting, and a fireplace.
Upstairs Laundry: Washer and dryer hookups on the bedroom level.
Off-Street Parking: One dedicated space.
No HOA Fees: No monthly association dues.
Built by Midtown Partners
With projects across Alexandria and Arlington, Midtown Partners focuses on well-built homes in walkable, established neighborhoods. The E. Reed homes continue that approach: new construction designed to fit the way people live today.
Only two homes are available. Schedule your private tour today.
(Updated 3:45 p.m.) Alexandria and the surrounding localities are under a severe thunderstorm and flood warning.
Residents are advised to seek shelter immediately and avoid driving through water on roadways. More than half of all flood-related deaths happen when someone drives through flood waters, according to Consumer Reports.
At its October general membership meeting, the NAACP Alexandria Branch 7043 Nominating Committee presented its slate for the 2027–2028 term and named John Hopkins-Gillispie as its nominee for Branch President.
Hopkins-Gillispie is a life member of the branch. He has chaired the Freedom Fund Dinner for the past two years, and this year’s dinner raised more than $40,000 for the branch. He serves on the Legal Redress Committee, reviewing discrimination complaints brought to the branch. He has provided input on issues from the Alexandria Police Department’s hate crimes policy to the proposed Edsall Road data center. He also represents the branch as co-chair of the host committee for the 2027 Virginia State Conference convention.
George Washington Middle School (staff photo by Vernon Miles)
A fox outside George Washington Middle School briefly forced the school to go into a lock-in today (Thursday), according to Alexandria City Public Schools.
The fox was spotted running around outside the school at around 8:15 a.m., and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s Animal Services team was at the school 15 minutes later, AWLA spokesperson Gina Hardter told ALXnow.
Layout of Del Ray Gateway park, via City of Alexandria
Plans for a new fountain and “splash park” at the north end of Del Ray are moving forward as the city aims to have design finished by the end of the year.
The Del Ray Gateway project is a plan to redevelop a triangular park where Mount Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues meet into a water-based community play area.
A 24-year-old Alexandria man was arrested last week and released on bond after allegedly beating his ex-girlfriend with a chain and his fists in Old Town North, according to court records.
Herman Stitt was arrested Aug. 20 and released on bond the same day after allegedly fighting with his ex-girlfriend at her home at Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority property in the 800 block of Montgomery Street in Old Town.
Female tortoiseshell cats Bella and Gigi are waiting inside an office at the Animal Welfare League until they get adopted.
“Their human officemate reports they are a lot of fun to share an office with — as long as you have extra hands to do your work and pet your new feline friends,” said AWLA spokesperson Gina Hardter. “We’d rate them not so high as office assistants but excellent as cuddling partners.”
The committee was established in 1991 and celebrates both the city’s ties with Caen, France, and French culture in general. It’s one of the more obscure ones, known primarily for the annual D-Day commemorative event, but committee member Elodie Guillon says there’s hope for that to change.
Revolutionary Fitness, the strength and longevity training studio for people over 50 at 215 N. Payne St., is opening 5 spots in its members-only year-end challenge.
Every year, the stretch between Thanksgiving and New Year’s knocks people off track. Workouts get skipped, schedules fill up, and the plan becomes “I’ll start in January.”
