city government | ALXnow

Cleanup ends for Lake Cook chemical spill, fishing to resume later this week

Published May 19, 2021 at 10:45AM

A week after an accidental discharge from Cameron Run Regional Park contaminated Lake Cook next door, the City of Alexandria said the cleanup process is finished and the lake will be safe for activities like fishing at the end of the week.

“According to the Fire Marshals Office, NOVA Parks has completed the cleanup process with the environmental contractor,” said Kelly Gilfillen, a spokesperson for the city, “[they] are are permitted to resume normal operations of the pool at this time, as it appears they have satisfactorily addressed the obvious issues they were cited for.”

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 14, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated May 14, 2021 at 4:21PM

What a week in Alexandria.

Our top story this week is on Gregory Elliott, a special education teacher at T.C. Williams High School. Elliot also goes by the name of “Sugar Bear” for the D.C.-based go-go band Experience Unlimited, and their song “Da’ Butt” from the Spike Lee movie “School Daze” was featured at the Oscars, along with actress Glenn Close dancing to it.

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Alexandria prepping for cicada reemergence

By Vernon Miles

Published May 14, 2021 at 2:15PM

Cicadas are all the buzz right now, and the city released a quick update with advice for local residents and updating some tree plans to deal with the bugs’ anticipated emergence.

According to the city:

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Alexandria approved for $59.6 million in American Rescue Plan funding

By James Cullum

Published May 12, 2021 at 4:45PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by Kalina Newman)

Alexandria was approved for $59.6 million in American Rescue Plan funding, City Manager Mark Jinks announced to the City Council on Tuesday night.

Jinks said the city’s Congressional delegation was successful in convincing U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to include Alexandria as not only a city, but as a county as well, resulting in the City taking home double what it would have otherwise received.

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Alexandria Master Gardener Joyce Hylton awarded Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award

By James Cullum

Published May 12, 2021 at 1:00PM

Master gardener Joyce Hylton was awarded the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award by the Alexandria City Council on Tuesday night.

Hylton, a local training coordinator for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program, received the award during a virtual City Council meeting. The award, which is the top environmental honor given in the city, is usually handed out in person at the annual Earth Day celebration and cleanup on April 22, but the pandemic forced the event to shift to a virtual format.

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Alexandria City Manager Mark Jinks hints at retirement, says city birthday celebration is a go this July

By James Cullum

Published May 12, 2021 at 9:30AM

Mark Jinks isn’t getting any younger, and the Alexandria city manager says he is closing in on the end of his career.

“I turn 70 in 2022,” Jinks told ALXnow. “I am closer to the end than the beginning, that’s for sure.”

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Election: Stark differences as Wilson and Silberberg face off in mayoral debate

By James Cullum

Published May 10, 2021 at 10:15AM | Updated May 10, 2021 at 12:07PM

A voter leaves City Hall after casting a callot (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Stark differences were on full display Saturday night, as Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson and former Mayor Allison Silberberg sparred in a contentious debate on local issues.

Wilson defended his record since taking the mayorship from Silberberg in 2018. Silberberg, however, said she wants to restore the public trust, and that the city is at an inflection point.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2021 at 3:30PM

What a week in Alexandria. Here are some of the highlights.

The Alexandria City Council on Wednesday approved its Fiscal Year 2022 $770.7 million budget on Wednesday, and it includes a 2 cent real estate tax reduction. It’s the first time that’s happened in 15 years, and the budget also fully funds Alexandria City Public Schools’ request and includes a 1% raise for city and state employees.

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Here’s which City Council candidates signed the new ‘Alexandria Constituents’ Bill of Rights’ pledge

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2021 at 2:15PM | Updated June 9, 2021 at 4:11PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

A group of city residents are asking that City Council members and candidates pledge themselves to a document they are calling the Alexandria Constituents’ Bill of Rights.

Rachel Sheedy and Stafford Ward are spokespeople for the group For Better Alexandria Government, although they declined to answer many of ALXnow’s questions, including who drafted the document and what a rejection of the document means. Their group launched its website tracking candidates who pledge themselves to it on May 1.

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Where should Alexandria’s American Rescue Plan funding go?

By Vernon Miles

Published May 7, 2021 at 1:00PM

The City of Alexandria is hosting a virtual meeting this weekend to gather public input on where federal funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) should go.

The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) from 10-11 a.m.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2021 at 5:00AM

Elo’s Italian pop-up opens in Live Oak space — “The owners of Live Oak in Del Ray have opened a pop-up Italian restaurant in the Live Oak space in Del Ray. Chef Justus Frank is offering family Italian fare Tuesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Brunch is ‘coming soon’ according to the owners. The menu includes a variety of appetizers, flatbreads, paninis, seasonal pasta dishes, fish, chicken and more. A kid’s menu is available.” [Alexandria Living]

Police asking for help finding robbery suspects — “APD is following active leads and working with neighboring jurisdictions on the investigation into 2 armed robberies that occurred on May 5. One happened at 12:15pm on E. Oxford Ave. The second happened at 12:40pm in the 3900 blk of Courtland Cir… Witnesses and anyone with security video should contact Det. Stephen Riley at [email protected] or 703.746.6225. Even the smallest details can be significant.” [Twitter]