coronavirus | ALXnow

Del Ray Pizza Restaurant Converts Parking Deck Into Tropical Oasis Themed Bar

Published June 18, 2020 at 3:30PM | Updated June 18, 2020 at 4:51PM

(Updated 4:50 p.m.) There isn’t a lot of space inside Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap (401 E Braddock Road) to both reopen the restaurant to the half-capacity required in the second phase of reopening and maintain the take-out service, so restaurant operator Dave Nicholas said the restaurant decided to transform

“We decided that our to-go business is really strong,” Nicholas said. “Want to still be able to service neighborhood to-go. We decided to do a pop-up tent and concept on top of the parking deck behind the restaurant.”

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Utility Rate Increase Cut Down as Alexandria Residents Reel from COVID-19

By Vernon Miles

Published June 18, 2020 at 11:45AM | Updated June 18, 2020 at 5:58PM

(Updated 4:25 p.m.) Local wastewater management service Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew) is still going to need that $370 to $555 million for the massive upcoming infrastructure project, but due to COVID-19 the organization is cutting down the planned utility rate increase.

“Recognizing the impact COVID-19 has had on the Alexandria community, AlexRenew has updated its previously planned budget, which included an 11% rate increase that was approved last year to support RiverRenew, a state-mandated program to address Alexandria’s combined sewer pollution,” AlexRenew said in a press release. “While an increase is still necessary to support the project, AlexRenew has reduced its rate increase to 6.6%, which will go into effect July 1.”

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Inova Alexandria Hospital Now Treating 20+ Coronavirus Patients

By James Cullum

Published June 18, 2020 at 10:20AM | Updated June 18, 2020 at 1:17PM

The number of coronavirus patients being treated at Inova Alexandria Hospital is now in the 20s — a far cry from the more than 90 patients at the facility during the peak of the virus.

Still, that doesn’t mean residents should throw caution into the wind, hospital President Dr. Rina Bansal told ALXnow.

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The Silver Parrot is Back in Business in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published June 17, 2020 at 4:45PM | Updated June 17, 2020 at 5:04PM

(Left to right) The Silver Parrot staffers Lisa Wylhite, Janet Cowley and Megan Vail at the newly opened shop in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

On Monday, The Silver Parrot opened its doors after three months of being closed. The jeweler at 113 King Street is now open seven days a week, has updated its website for online sales — but the staff is a little concerned about the closing off of vehicular traffic on their block.

“It’s nice to be around people again,” store manager Megan Vail told ALXnow. “I live on my own, so it was like three months of talking to myself and my cats.”

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ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund Raises $1 Million, Gives Most to Local Nonprofits

By James Cullum

Published June 17, 2020 at 3:20PM

A mother and child at a food distribution outside Casa Chirilagua in Arlandria on Thursday, May 21, 2020. Casa Chirilagua is one of the recipients of the ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

ACT for Alexandria’s ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund has now raised more than $1 million, and $910,000 has been given in grant funding to other city nonprofits.

ACT for Alexandria Executive Director Heather Peeler says that even though COVID-19 numbers are going down, the community needs are still great. The nonprofit has paused its grant request process for the month of June while it maps out its fundraising strategy for the rest of the year.

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ARHA Leadership Praised After COVID-19 Shutdown

By Vernon Miles

Published June 16, 2020 at 3:15PM | Updated June 16, 2020 at 3:33PM

Residents have reportedly been threatened with eviction if they or their children play at an Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority park that has been sectioned off (staff photo by James Cullum)

After some early concerns and criticisms, the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority‘s resident community praised the organization’s leadership and swift action through the pandemic, and vice-versa.

Kevin Harris, the president of the Public Housing Resident Association in Alexandria, praised ARHA’s leadership and CEO Keith Pettigrew in particular. Harris and Jeremy McClayton, an associate organizer with Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement, said it was a stark contrast to earlier experiences with ARHA.

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Torpedo Factory in Old Town Reopens on Weekends

By Vernon Miles

Published June 16, 2020 at 11:45AM

The Torpedo Factory in Old Town (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Torpedo Factory Artists Association (TFAA) announced that as part of the city’s phased reopening, the Torpedo Factory is now reopened to the public on weekends, with some precautions.

“The Torpedo Factory is now open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,” the TFAA said on Facebook. “You can enter through the waterfront entrance and masks are required inside the building. Please come out and enjoy some art.”

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Alexandria Restaurant Partners to Host Job Fair to Re-Staff Local Eateries

By Vernon Miles

Published June 15, 2020 at 11:30AM

As Alexandria Restaurant Partners (ARP) starts expanding its restaurant capacity with the city’s phased reopening, the local restaurant group is planning to hire new staff.

ARP is scheduled to host a job fair on Thursday (June 18) from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at Vola’s Dockside Grill & Hi-Tide Lounge (101 N. Union Street).

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Mayor and Health Department Urge Caution as Alexandria Moves into Phase 2 of Reopening

By James Cullum

Published June 12, 2020 at 3:25PM | Updated June 12, 2020 at 4:28PM

Enjoying the weather and outside seating on lower King Street in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria formally moved into the second phase of its economic recovery today (Friday), and while some businesses are embracing the easing of restrictions, others are taking a slower approach.

Even though there was only one new reported case of coronavirus in the city today, Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said that phase 2 does not mean that the city is out of the woods just yet.

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New Unemployment Claims in Alexandria Fall Under 500

By Vernon Miles

Published June 12, 2020 at 11:30AM

After reaching a high of 2,578 unemployment claims in Alexandria on April 4, the number of new unemployment claims has been gradually dwindling over the last few weeks and reached 454 new claims for the week of June 6 — the lowest since the pandemic started.

New claims are still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. For comparison, there were 33 new unemployment claims the week before the pandemic hit.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 12, 2020 at 9:00AM

Alexandria Enters Phase 2 of Reopening Economy — “Under phase two, the maximum number of people allowed to gather increases from 10 to 50. Restaurants can open indoor dining at 50 percent capacity, and fitness centers can open at 30 percent capacity.” [Alex Times]

Del. Herring Supports Criminal Justice Reform — “As legislators there is a lot of work ahead of ahead of us. This piece was originally published in 2018 & updated. From policing to solitary confinement this is worth reading & then acting.” [Twitter]