Good Thursday morning, Alexandria!

🌤️ Today’s weather: The weather will be partly sunny with temperatures reaching a high of around 77°F, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 6 to 9 mph. In the evening, expect increasing clouds and a low temperature around 49°F, with an east wind at the same speed of 6 to 9 mph.

🚨 You need to know

Alexandria City Public Schools is looking for public feedback on its weapons abatement program. The metal detectors have been in place in Alexandria City High School and the city’s secondary school locations, and the school system is conducting a survey on the pilot that will end at 11:59 p.m. on Friday.

According to ACPS:

The Department of Facilities and Operations, Office of Safety and Security at Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is administering a survey on the current pilot weapons screening equipment program that is open through Fri., April 19, 2024. As shared during the February 22, 2024, School Board meeting, the weapons screening equipment program started in May 2023 and has been ongoing at all secondary school locations (not including the K-8 schools).

This survey is an opportunity for all stakeholders (students, staff, families and community members) to provide thoughts and feedback on the pilot program. The results of this survey will help inform the formal staff recommendation to the School Board regarding the future of the weapons screening equipment program in ACPS.

The last ACPS survey on the subject was conducted in March 2023 — two months before the pilot program started. There were more than 4,000 respondents, with about 85% supporting some form of weapons abatement.

📈 Wednesday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 17, 2024.

1. Notes: Old Town North building sold for $15.4 million to be turned into mixed-use apartment building (2655 views)
2. Alexandria City Council approves new ‘neighborhood’ at former Vulcan Materials site (1191 views)
3. Mystic BBQ & Grill opens on Lee Street in Old Town (862 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

• 1:00 pm: Purple Star School Designation Workshop
• 6:00 pm: ART + WINE + CHEESE at Nepenthe Gallery – New Works by Gary Fisher
• 6:00 pm: Author Ta;l: Your Daughter, Your Advocate

Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!

🌧️ Today’s weather: Expect showers between 9am and 3pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 72°F. South wind will be 6-8 mph and a 40% chance of precipitation. On Wednesday night, showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11pm, with a low around 59°F. Southeast wind around 6mph will become northwest after midnight, with a 60% chance of precipitation. New rainfall of less than a tenth of an inch is expected, while higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.

🚨 You need to know

An Old Town North property was officially sold in February, and its new owner plans to start construction of an eight-story mixed-use building with 250 multifamily units, an underground parking garage, a restaurant and an arts/cultural anchor on the ground floor, according to the Washington Business Journal.

The property was bought by an affiliate of Carr Properties in February for $15.4 million, according to city property records. The owner is named 901 N. Pitt Street, LLC, which is a mix of The Oliver Carr Company and Carr Holdings II LLC, and the company was granted a special use permit to develop on the property in 2022.

The building on the 69,000 square-foot property was built in the 1980s, and the new building would grow to 250,000 square feet. One tenant, nonprofit dance studio CityDance has signed a lease for space in the building, according to the Washington Business Journal. Additionally, Carr Properties is developing the project with SK+I Architecture and interior designer Streetsense LLC.

📈 Tuesday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 16, 2024.

1. Man held without bond after dog allegedly executed in West End apartment (1121 views)
2. One-third of Alexandria’s workforce works from home (923 views)
3. Local organization forms to push Alexandria back to district/ward elections (686 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

• 1:00 pm: The Caregiver | Caregiving Workshop
• 👉 5:00 pm: Vintage Night Market
• 5:30 pm: Meet the AWLA & Adoptable Animals

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

🌤️ Today’s weather: Expect a mostly sunny day with a high temperature near 75 degrees and a light northeast wind shifting to the south at around 6 mph in the afternoon. On Tuesday night, there’s a 40% chance of showers after 2 am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 57 degrees accompanied by a south wind of approximately 6 mph.

🚨 You need to know

The wait is over for ice cream lovers, because it’s Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry’s.

There’s no strings attached. Since 1979, the ice cream shop has handed out free ice cream cones one day a year, and that day has come.

The Old Town shop is located at 103 S. Union Street, and staff said that it’ll be busy today.

More than a million scoops will be handed out today around the world, according to Ben and Jerry’s.

📈 Monday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 15, 2024.

1. CVS set to close in Taylor Run off Duke Street (2021 views)
2. Notes: Fundraiser for motorcyclist killed on Duke Street raises thousands (1258 views)
3. No arrest after fistfight leads to gunfire in Lincolnia (1055 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

• 👉 7:00 pm: Celtic Corridor in Concert at the Lyceum

It was quite a week in Alexandria.

It seems that nearly all of Monday’s news was overshadowed by the eclipse. Hundreds of bespectacled residents turned out at Ben Brenaman Park to witness the cosmic event.

Out top story this week was on the four-year-old autistic student at Jefferson-Houston Elementary School who walked away from the school and was found barefoot in a tunnel near the King Street Metro station. The head of school and academic principal were subsequently placed on administrative leave, and the child’s mother told us that she was thankful for her daughter’s safe return, but that she won’t be returning her to Jefferson-Houston.

On Tuesday, we also reported about a new seven-story residential development proposal in the Landmark area. A developer filed a permit to redevelop 6101 and 6125 Stevenson Avenue, which is currently an office building and parking lot, into a seven-story residential apartment building with 270 units, a 340-space parking garage and amenity space.

City Council has a full docket at their meeting this Saturday, and will vote on raising fees for ambulances, stormwater utilities and late car tax payments. Council will also consider the proposed residential redevelopment of the Vulcan Materials site in the West End.

The most-read stories this week were:

1. Jefferson-Houston Elementary School administrators put on leave after autistic 4-year-old walked away from school (14934 views)
2. Notes: City cancels eclipse viewing party in Old Town, but there’s another party at Ben Brenman Park (12016 views)
3. JUST IN: 23-year-old Alexandria motorcyclist identified after fatal crash on Duke Street (9870 views)
4. Motorcyclist dies after crash with DASH bus on Duke Street (6063 views)
5. New seven-story residential development pitched for Landmark neighborhood (4766 views)
6. Amazon Fresh in the Potomac Yard Shopping Center is still happening (4676 views)
7. Police: Man released after getting stuck in harness on Seminary Road Bridge over I-395 (4258 views)
8. Alexandria man charged with forcible sodomy and attempted rape in Old Town (3519 views)
9. Del Ray bar Hops N Shine wants live outdoor music 10+ hours a day (3201 views)
10. Alexandria’s Planet Fitness evacuated after emailed bomb threat (2930 views)

Have a safe weekend!

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms, partly sunny skies, and a high around 68. Breezy conditions will prevail, featuring a west wind at 14-24 mph and gusts up to 43 mph; there’s a 40% chance of precipitation. Friday night will see scattered showers, mainly before 2am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low near 52. The breeze will continue with a west wind at 21 mph and gusts reaching 39 mph, accompanied by a 30% chance of precipitation.

🚨 You need to know

Like Rodney Dangerfield, U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) is going back to school.

Patch reported that the 73-year-old Congressman enrolled at George Mason University to get a Master’s Degree in artificial intelligence.

Does it pose an existential threat? Beyer says no.

“I tend to be an AI optimist,” Beyer said after taking a recent class. “We can’t even imagine how different our lives will be in five years, 10 years, 20 years, because of AI. … There won’t be robots with red eyes coming after us any time soon. But there are other deeper existential risks that we need to pay attention to.”

📈 Thursday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 11, 2024.

1. Mayoral candidates say Alexandrians lost trust in public officials because of failed Potomac Yard arena deal (1023 views)
2. Alexandria police investigating white supremacist fliers posted in Potomac Yard (923 views)
3. What’s Up in Alexandria This Weekend: Del Ray Dog Fest, Spring Garden Market, Spring Oysterfest, and more! (460 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today and this weekend in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

• 9:00 am Friday: 2024 Spring Garden Market at River Farm
• 8:30 am Saturday: MVCS Big Flea in the Neighborhood
• 9:00 am Saturday: 2024 Spring Garden Market at River Farm
• 👉 9:00 am Saturday: Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market
• 12:00 pm Saturday: The “Grandest Congress”: The French and Indian War in Alexandria
• 8:00 pm Saturday: LIVE Comedy Game Show with the Auxiliary Improv

Good Thursday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect showers and potential thunderstorms after 5 pm, with a high near 69. Southeast winds will be 9-16 mph, gusting up to 25 mph. There is an 80% chance of precipitation, bringing new rainfall amounts of up to a quarter-inch. Thursday night may see showers and thunderstorms mainly before 5 am, followed by scattered showers and breezy conditions. Lows will be around 57, with south winds of 13-20 mph and gusts up to 30 mph. Precipitation chances are 100%, with an additional quarter to half an inch of rainfall possible.

🚨 You need to know

Mayor Justin Wilson said that the Biden administration’s finalized strict limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water will improve the health of Alexandria residents.

Alexandria’s drinking water has an “actionable” level of Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). PFAS are proven to weaken immune response, increase cancer risk and liver damage, and pose a risk to pregnant women and their babies.

Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that $27.2 million from President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law would go to Virginia to address “emerging contaminants” in drinking water. The manufactured chemicals are known as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), and include industrial and consumer products such as cosmetics, shampoo, certain dental flosses, cleaning products, fire extinguisher fluid, food containers and non-stick cookware.

EPA proposed new maximum contaminant level (MCL) goals by targeting a number of PFAS. It also forces water providers to replace old lead pipes.

Last year Alexandria’s City Council voted to support these proposed PFAS regulations.

With actionable levels of PFAS in our drinking water, implementation of these new rules will improve the health of our residents.

I look forward to swift compliance.https://t.co/4SdyItnF9G

— Justin Wilson (@justindotnet) April 10, 2024

📈 Wednesday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 10, 2024.

1. JUST IN: 23-year-old Alexandria motorcyclist identified after fatal crash on Duke Street (1558 views)
2. Alexandria man charged with forcible sodomy and attempted rape in Old Town (1506 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

• 6:00 pm: Art+Wine+Cheese at Nepenthe Gallery – Meet New Artist JoEllen Murphy

Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!

🌧️ Today’s weather: Showers are likely mainly before 8am, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 76. A southwest wind will blow at 5 to 7 mph, and there is a 60% chance of precipitation. New precipitation amounts will be less than a tenth of an inch. On Wednesday night, there is a slight chance of showers before 2am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 61. A southeast wind will blow at 3 to 5 mph, with a 20% chance of precipitation.

🚨 You need to know

For the third consecutive year, Alexandria City High School’s Titan Robotics team won the FIRST Impact Award on Saturday at the Chesapeake District Championships in Petersburg, Virginia. The win means that the team will now compete at the 2024 FIRST Championship in Houston, Texas, from April 17-20.

Titan Robotics’ robot, iBeam, got tenth place out of the 54 teams at the District event. The team is a nonprofit, student-led club at Alexandria City High School.

“But, robotics isn’t all about the robot, it is also about inspiration, teamwork, collaboration, and giving back to the community,” the team said in an email. “The Impact Award is given to teams that reflect the values and embody the mission of FIRST Robotics to transform the culture in ways that will inspire the highest levels of respect for science and technology while encouraging more youth to become leaders in these areas.”

📈 Tuesday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 9, 2024.

1. Jefferson-Houston Elementary School administrators put on leave after autistic 4-year-old walked away from school (2232 views)
2. New seven-story residential development pitched for Landmark neighborhood (1476 views)
3. Amazon Fresh in the Potomac Yard Shopping Center is still happening (1197 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

• 6:30 pm: Iconic Chateau Montelena Tasting

Good Tuesday morning, Alexandria!

⛈️ Today’s weather: Showers are possible from 2pm to 5pm, followed by potential showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Expect mostly cloudy conditions and a high of 78°F. Winds will remain calm before turning south at 6 mph in the afternoon, with a 30% chance of precipitation. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms may continue, bringing cloudy skies, a low of 59°F, and a south wind at 6 mph. The chance of precipitation increases to 50%.

🚨 You need to know

Tired of paying such a high electric bill? From now until June 30, the city is holding its annual Solarize Alexandria program that provides residents a free assessment for their property to install home solar power systems.

“During this period, Alexandria homeowners can sign up to receive a free solar satellite assessment of their property and discounted prices from vetted solar system installers,” the city said in a release.

According to the city:

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Solarize Alexandria! Solarize Alexandria is part of the broader Solarize Virginia program, a grassroots, community-based outreach initiative managed by the state non-profit Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP). LEAP provides ongoing customer support and education throughout the Solarize process.

Find out more at solarizeva.org.

📈 Monday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 8, 2024

1. Notes: City cancels eclipse viewing party in Old Town, but there’s another party at Ben Brenman Park (6127 views)
2.  Alexandria’s Planet Fitness evacuated after emailed bomb threat (1702 views)
3. Police: Man released after getting stuck in harness on Seminary Road Bridge over I-395
   (1568 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

• No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

Over the last few days, Alexandrians have endured an asteroid impact, the tremors of a distant earthquake, and now: a solar eclipse.

At a viewing party at Ben Brenman Park, hundreds of Alexandrians came together to observe the eclipse through special glasses.

Fidelis Msacky watched with his fiancee Tanya Borachi.

The couple live nearby and bought their viewing glasses on Amazon.

“What’s cool for me is how the next eclipse is so far away,” said Msacky. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event that we can experience.”

Borachi said that the turnout for the cosmic event at the park was uplifting.

“People really went all-out,” she said. “That’s really cool to see everybody out here watching this.”

Ready to witness a breathtaking celestial event?

Watch the 2024 total solar #eclipse live with us. https://t.co/0dMwJLSBL6

— NASA (@NASA) April 8, 2024

James Cullum and Vernon Miles contributed to this story

Good Monday morning, Alexandria!

🌤️ Today’s weather: Expect mostly sunny skies with a high around 68 and a light southeast wind, which will shift to the south and increase to 5-10 mph in the morning. By Monday night, the sky will become mostly cloudy and the temperature will drop to a low near 52, with a south wind at 3-7 mph.

🚨 You need to know

Alexandria canceled its eclipse viewing party today at Old Town Pool.

Not to worry.

There’s still an eclipse viewing party today at Ben Brenman Park, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

“Eclipse viewing glasses will be provided (one per group) while supplies last,” according to Alexandria Library. “Maximum coverage occurs at 3:20 p.m.”

In case of inclement weather, the event will occur inside the Charles E. Beatley Library with NASA’s live feed of the event.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

• 1:30 pm: Eclipse Viewing Party
• 1:30 pm: Solar Eclipse Viewing Party