ACPS | ALXnow - Part 65

Morning Notes

Published April 10, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated April 10, 2020 at 10:49AM

A couple shop at Greenstreet Gardens at 1721 Braddock Road. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Vice Mayor Volunteers For ACPS Food Giveaway — “I’m putting my food manager’s license to good use this week in coordinating the preparation of school meals at TC. Thanks to a rock-star team of Alexandria City Public Schools employees, Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities employees, and Volunteer Alexandria volunteers, we distributed more than 1700 meals yesterday.” [Facebook]

Police Hosting Virtual Story Time Tonight — “Great news! Every Friday evening APD will be starting a new initiative–APD #VIRTUALStorytimes at 7PM. This Friday join Sgt. Morgan as she reads “Little Blue Truck” by Alice Schertle. Do you have any book recommendations you wish to see us read???” [Twitter]

News

Letter to the Editor: ALIVE! Thanks Alexandria for Overwhelming Response

By James Cullum

Published April 9, 2020 at 3:15PM

Food at ALIVE! (Photo via ALIVE!/Facebook)

The following Letter to the Editor was written by Jennifer Ayers, the executive director of ALIVE!

A few weeks ago, like many, I wondered if coronavirus was just another bad case of the flu. Would it just pass?

News

Budget Cuts Push Back T.C. Expansion and Waterfront Redevelopment

By Vernon Miles

Published April 8, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated April 8, 2020 at 1:53PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 1:10 p.m.) As expected, this year’s $753.3 million city government budget will be significantly cut down — with a $46.6 million reduction from the operating budget and $140.6 million in the capital budget put forward in April.

City Manager Mark Jinks called the new document “Budget 2.0,” representing the possibility that its contents are subject to change at next Tuesday’s (April 14) City Council meeting and throughout the budget process. Jinks said the total projected revenue loss for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal year is $92.2 million, and that the sharp reduction in the budget is due to a deferral of the 2 cent tax residential tax increase initially proposed and a steep drop off in commercial tax revenue.

News

ALIVE! Gave Away 30,700 Pounds of Food to 1,000 Families on Saturday

By James Cullum

Published April 6, 2020 at 5:15PM | Updated April 6, 2020 at 6:06PM

ALIVE! handed out four bags of food apiece at its drive-thru food distribution at Cora Kelly School and John Adams Elementary last Saturday morning. (Photo via ALIVE!/Facebook)

ALIVE! gave out 30,716 pounds of food to more than 1,000 Alexandria households on Saturday, and now its shelves are nearly empty.

The 50-year-old nonprofit’s next distribution of food will not be until the end of May, although ALIVE! will continue providing food to local pantries between now and then, said Executive Director Jennifer Ayers.

News

T.C. Williams Teachers Use Pandemic to Push New Education Methods

By Vernon Miles

Published April 6, 2020 at 2:15PM

While many teachers are grappling with reshaping their curriculums for the new digital era, some Alexandria teachers have been making the most of the new situation and pushing the schools to embrace new teaching methods.

Gabriel Elias, a history teacher at T.C. Williams High School, has made national headlines for his morning show broadcast to the T.C. community and was singled out for praise by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

News

ACPS Still Providing Families Food During Spring Break

By James Cullum

Published April 3, 2020 at 10:15AM

Alexandria City Public Schools will distribute food on a modified schedule to families during spring break next week, Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. announced on Thursday.

“We have been able to partner with the city, which I’m really excited about, to continue to have our grab-and-go meal distribution on next week,” Hutchings said in his daily video. “It will not be at all of our sites, though. It will only be at T.C. Williams next week.”

News

City Manager Presents Radically Changed FY2021 Budget Proposal

By James Cullum

Published April 2, 2020 at 10:15AM

Alexandria City Hall (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

City Manager Mark Jinks presented the City Council with preliminary estimates for a $743.5 million fiscal year 2021 budget on Wednesday night — a $56.4 million reduction from the budget he unveiled in February.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Alexandria to drastically change its budget over the course of the last month. Preliminary cuts include eliminating the previously proposed 2 cent real estate tax increase, implementing a city hiring freeze [except $2 million to hire new Health Department staff], deferring raises for city staff and reducing the multi-million dollar transfer to Alexandria City Public Schools.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published March 31, 2020 at 9:00AM

Writer Ellen Weston works alone along the Potomac River at Oronoco Bay Park (Staff photo by James Cullum)

There are Now 36 Cases of COVID-19 in Alexandria — “On March 30, the Alexandria Health Department confirmed four additional cases of COVID-19 in Alexandria, bringing the total to 36. AHD is identifying and contacting individuals who came in close contact with the confirmed cases.” [City of Alexandria]

DASH Further Reduces Service — “As part of a wider effort to protect the health and safety of the Alexandria community and DASH employees, DASH implemented an Enhanced Sunday Operating Plan on weekdays and Saturdays, beginning March 30. No changes are anticipated to Sunday service; however, King Street Trolley service will discontinue until further notice.” [DASH]

News

Alexandria Now Has 32 Cases of COVID-19

By James Cullum

Published March 30, 2020 at 10:15AM | Updated March 30, 2020 at 11:35AM

Inova Alexandria Hospital at 4320 Seminary Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

The number of COVID-19 cases in the city is now at 32 — a sharp increase of nearly 20 cases since this time last week.

The Alexandria Health Department announced the new number of cases on the city website on Saturday, March 29.

News

Interview: Mayor Justin Wilson on Working Through COVID-19

By James Cullum

Published March 27, 2020 at 10:15AM | Updated May 27, 2020 at 12:28PM

There were four members of the city council present at the meeting at City Hall on Wednesday, including Mayor Justin Wilson and Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson is full of praise for the city’s COVID-19 response efforts, but the hard times are just beginning, he told ALXnow in a recent interview.

“Everyone is trying to find so many different ways to give back,” Wilson said. “It’s been very gratifying and we’re gonna need it because the need is only going to be exacerbated over the next couple of weeks and months, if not longer.”

News

ACPS Opens New ‘Grab and Go’ Meal Sites

By James Cullum

Published March 25, 2020 at 5:15PM

Packed lunches at T.C. Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School), March 16, 2020. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools have added three “grab and go” breakfast and lunch distribution locations for children over the age of two.

Food distribution at all the ACPS locations has also been limited to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to encourage social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic that has shuttered the school system for the remainder of the academic year.