Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | ALXnow

ELECTION: Virginia Democrats win big in Alexandria

Published November 8, 2023 at 9:45AM | Updated November 8, 2023 at 4:15PM

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (center) with Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker and State Sen. Adam Ebbin outside Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray on election night, Nov. 7, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Democratic members of the Virginia’s General Assembly were swept back into office on election night.

There were no surprises from the unofficial election returns Tuesday night. Facing no opposition, Democratic incumbents Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (5th) was reelected to a second term with 21,622 votes, and Del. Charniele Herring (4th) was reelected to her eighth two-year term with 10,368 votes. Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3rd) was also reelected with 81% (16,837 votes) and defeated independent candidate Major Mike Webb.

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30% voter turnout expected today in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published November 7, 2023 at 2:30PM | Updated November 7, 2023 at 9:16PM

Casting a ballot at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center precinct on election day, Nov. 7, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

About 30% of Alexandria voters are expected to turn out at the polls on election day today, Nov. 7.

As of 10 a.m. — four hours after polls opened — 21,661 voters cast their ballots, which is about 23% of the city’s 96,232 active registered voters. A vast majority of those ballots, 13,927 votes (64%), are from absentee voters. Also as of 10 a.m., 7,734 voters cast their ballots in person, according to the city’s Office of Voter Registration and Elections.

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PHOTOS: Thousands turned out for the Del Ray Halloween Parade on Sunday

By James Cullum

Published October 30, 2023 at 10:55AM | Updated October 30, 2023 at 8:26PM

Watching the Del Ray Halloween Parade on Oct. 29, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Thousands turned out in costumes for the 27th annual Del Ray Halloween Parade on Sunday.

This year, the parade was named one of the top 10 Halloween Parades in the country by USA Today.

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PHOTOS: Alexandria celebrates 274th birthday on the waterfront

By James Cullum

Published July 10, 2023 at 2:30PM | Updated July 11, 2023 at 9:56AM

Alexandria's birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 8, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Thousands attended Alexandria’s birthday celebration on the waterfront on Saturday.

For a minute it seemed that rain on Saturday would result in a washout, like last year when the event was postponed. But skies cleared and grass dried enough for the event to continue as planned.

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Alexandria Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker and husband welcome new daughter

By Vernon Miles

Published May 16, 2023 at 10:45AM | Updated May 17, 2023 at 8:47AM

Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker with husband Stephen and newborn daughter (image via Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker 1,427 Tweets See new Tweets Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker/Twitter)

Fresh off a busy legislative session, Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-45) and her husband Stephen welcomed a new constituent to their district last week: their new daughter.

Bennett-Parker announced on social media that their daughter was born on Monday, May 8.

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Alexandria School Board considering staggered terms, fewer members and eliminating districts

By James Cullum

Published December 14, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated December 15, 2022 at 2:25PM

ACPS headquarters and clock (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated 4:15 p.m.) Are there too many Alexandria School Board Members? Should their terms be staggered and should districts be eliminated? The Board wants these questions answered by the time voters cast their ballots in November 2024.

Yesterday (Tuesday), the nine-person Board unanimously agreed to establish a process for asking the public these questions. The answers will inform a Board resolution that is expected to go before the Alexandria City Council next year and the Virginia General Assembly in 2024.

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Inova Alexandria Hospital celebrates 150th anniversary

By James Cullum

Published December 12, 2022 at 4:00PM

(Left to right) Mayor Justin Wilson, Council Member Alyia Gaskins, Inova Alexandria Hospital President Dr. Rina Bansal, Inova President Dr. J. Stephen Jones, Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, Vice Mayor Amy Jackson, Rep. Don Beyer and Council Member Canek Aguirre at the 150th birthday celebration for Inova Alexandria Hospital. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Inova Alexandria Hospital celebrated its 150th anniversary on Monday with local elected officials.

The hospital was founded in 1872, in the wake of a typhoid outbreak. It is Virginia’s oldest continuously operating community hospital.

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Elizabeth Bennett-Parker announces reelection campaign for House of Delegates

By James Cullum

Published December 1, 2022 at 10:50AM | Updated December 1, 2022 at 11:41AM

Elizabeth Bennett-Parker casts her vote on primary day, June 8, 2021, at Matthew Maury Elementary School. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker is running for reelection for Virginia’s 45th District, she announced on Wednesday.

Bennett-Parker will kick off her campaign formally on Jan. 7.

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PHOTOS: Santa helps light Alexandria’s holiday tree in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published November 21, 2022 at 3:30PM

The holiday tree lighting at Market Square in Old Town, Nov. 19, 2022. (Via Griffin Vision)

Old Town just got a little brighter.

On Saturday (Nov. 19), Santa Claus made his way to City Hall on the King Street Trolley to help members of City Council light the holiday tree at Market Square in front of City Hall.

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PHOTOS: Thousands marched in the Del Ray Halloween Parade

By James Cullum

Published October 31, 2022 at 10:45AM | Updated October 31, 2022 at 1:40PM

The Del Ray Halloween Parade on Sunday, October 30, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

It was crisp, clear on Sunday in Del Ray — perfect for the annual Del Ray Halloween Parade.

Thousands of kids and adults marched in costumes for the event, including members of the Alexandria City Council and the Alexandria City High School ‘Zombie Band’.

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Alexandria dedicates massive RiverRenew Tunnel Boring Project

By James Cullum

Published July 14, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated July 14, 2022 at 3:47PM

Mayor Justin Wilson christens Hazel, the tunnel boring machine for AlexRenew's RiverRenew Tunnel Project, July 14, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

It moves at a snail’s pace, but Alexandria’s tunnel boring machine is ready to drill through 100-foot-deep soil to prevent millions of gallons of combined sewage from flowing into the Potomac River, Hooffs Run, and Hunting Creek.

On Thursday, Alexandria’s leaders were on-hand for the unveiling and dedication of AlexRenew’s RiverRenew Tunnel Project. The $454.4 million project is the largest infrastructure project in the city’s history, and will result in a 12-foot-wide, two-mile-long waterfront tunnel, which will divert approximately 120 million gallons of sewage every year.