Alexandria City Public Schools will reopen its doors to students on March 16, after being shut down for a little more than a year due to the coronavirus, Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. told the School Board on Thursday.
“Now it’s time, and we will be returning back to our school buildings,” Hutchings said. “We are now ready. It is now time for this pivot to occur.”
Alexandria Police Participate in Honoring Fallen Capitol Police Officer — “APD participated in the memorial service for fallen U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. Our officers rendered honors for Ofc. Sicknick, and joined the escort from the U.S. Capitol to Arlington National Cemetery. Our prayers are with his family and friends.” [Twitter]
Free COVID-19 Self-Testing Kiosks Available Around City— “Visit a Curative COVID-19 self-testing kiosk in Alexandria for a free test. Tests do not require government ID; service available in English and Spanish. Make an appointment at Curative.com. Walk up testing also available. For more info: alexandriava.gov/114730.” [Twitter]
Alexandria Police are mourning one of their own today, after releasing news that longtime Parking Enforcement Officer Edward Bonds passed away from COVID-19 complications on Thursday, Jan. 28.
“APD extends our heartfelt condolences to Bonds’ family, friends, and his coworkers with the Parking Enforcement Office,” Alexandria Police said in a release. “Coworkers say Bonds loved old school R&B music and loved to sing. They say he also loved playing the lottery and apparently, was lucky and good at it.”
Del Ray Business Association Launches ‘I Love Del Ray’ Campaign — “Now through April, you’re going to see a lot of marketing and promotion out there about all of our wonderful small businesses — both in-home and brick-and-mortar — and how we can support them through these tough upcoming winter months.” [Zebra]
How Alexandria is Celebrating Black History Month — “Join the City in celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth with special virtual events and activities throughout February, honoring the history, culture, achievements and contributions of African Americans.” [Twitter]
Alexandria’s COVID-19 deaths are now at 104, and the number of cases has reached 9,121.
That’s three more deaths and 361 cases since this time last week, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The fatal victims were in their 60s and 70s.
The Del Ray Business Association just launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Inova Alexandria Hospital.
Hospital workers are on the front line of the pandemic in the city, and the DRBA campaign is just the latest of numerous efforts to show appreciation.
It was a cold and news-filled week in Alexandria.
It all started with the report of two public safety incidents over the weekend — a serious car crash in Old Town and another shooting in the West End.
Bread & Water Co. at the Belle View Shopping Center has decided to expand its menu with a fried chicken sandwich.
For $10 every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, customers can get a fried chicken sandwich on a homemade brioche bun, with pickles and special sauce. New $4.50 side orders include waffle fries, brownies and banana pudding.
Beyer Calls for Accountability in Wake of Capitol Siege — “The idea that we would just move on and not hold those responsible for this accountable is immoral.” [Twitter]
Stonebridge Sells Piece Of Oakville Triangle Site To Townhouse Builder — “Stonebridge is under contract to sell a 3.5-acre piece of the site to Winchester Homes to build an 84-unit townhouse project, Stonebridge principal Doug Firstenberg tells Bisnow.” [Bisnow]
While sports are under consideration at ACPS, the Alexandria Soccer Association is gearing up for a youth soccer tournament this March.
“Alexandria Soccer returned to play in fall 2020 and is operating under guidance from the City of Alexandria and the local health department,” the organization said on its website. “While we are thrilled to offer our tournament series at this time we will continue to operate with the safety of participants as our number one priority.”
With an estimated 25,000 Alexandria residents on the waitlist for the COVID-19 vaccine, Northern Virginia’s Congressional delegation want the Biden administration to include a community vaccination site for the region in its plan to defeat the virus.
Virginia Democrats Don Beyer (D-8th), Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11th) and Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-10th) wrote the acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday, and asked that Northern Virginia be included in the administration’s plan to install 100 federally run mass vaccination sites throughout the country.
