After 34 years and no sick leave, James “JJ” Jackson wrapped up his last shift at Fire Station 203 yesterday (Tuesday).
Short of a little time in Del Ray and Old Town, Jackson said he’s spent every year of his career at the firehouse in Alexandria’s Beverly Hills neighborhood.
Alexandria Keeps High Bond Rating — “S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service have reaffirmed the City of Alexandria’s top bond ratings of ‘AAA’ and ‘Aaa,’ respectively, in advance of the City’s planned sale of $205 million in general obligation tax-exempt bonds to fund the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station and school facility capital projects.” [City of Alexandria]
More Phone Problems for City — A week after an issue with a fiber optic line knocked out incoming calls for most Alexandria non-emergency phone lines last week, the same issue with incoming calls cropped up yesterday. It was reported to be resolved later Tuesday afternoon. [Twitter/@AlexandriaVAGov]
Alexandria is getting just over $2.6 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for upgrades to the city’s fire department.
Of the FEMA grants, one will provide $1.5 million over three years to add nine full-time firefighter/medics to the staff, allowing for the recommended four-person staffing on fire trucks and engines. Nine new fire cadets have already been hired, the city says.
(Updated at 10 a.m.) A suspected gas leak has prompted the evacuation of George Washington Middle School.
The school at 1005 Mount Vernon Avenue, near the Braddock Road Metro station, was evacuated shortly after 9:30 a.m. amid cool (45 degree) but sunny weather, due to an odor of natural gas inside the building. The fire alarm was said to be sounding as students walked out of the building.
City Phone Service Restored — The City of Alexandria’s non-emergency phone lines are working again after service was restored Tuesday night. A cut to a fiber optic line caused the outage, a city spokeswoman said. [Twitter/@AlexandriaVAGov]
House With George Washington Connection on Airbnb — “George Washington may have slept here, and now so could you… in the heart of Old Town Alexandria in Virginia, where a house that once belonged to the first U.S. president is available to rent. The George of Old Town is a 6000-square-foot townhouse on Cameron Street, and it is available on Airbnb.” [WTOP]
Residential Parking Permit Changes in the Works — “Changes to the city’s residential parking permit program are underway and both residents and businesses are concerned about what the proposed changes could mean… The most controversial change, which staff has since removed from its list of recommended changes, would have eliminated the three-hour parking option for non-permit holders in RPP districts.” [Alexandria Times]
Port City Brings Home Gold Medal — “Several Northern Virginia craft brewers brought home medals from the 2019 Great American Beer Festival, including two gold medals… Port City Brewing in Alexandria won a gold medal for its German Pilsner in the Kellerbier or Zwickelbier category.” [WTOP]
Key Leader Chosen for New VT Campus — “Virginia Tech has found its founding director for the computer science program at its forthcoming Innovation Campus in Alexandria. Sara Hooshangi, a faculty member at George Washington University’s College of Professional Studies since 2010, will join Virginia Tech in January to build the curriculum at the new campus.” [Washington Business Journal]
Va. Tech Flags at Market Square — “Thanks to @AlexandriaVAGov #VirginiaTech flags are flying on Market Square commemorating the one-year anniversary of the #VTInnovationCampus announcement. Snap your photo – they’ll be up all week.” [Twitter]
Don’t be surprised if you see a lot of fire department and police activity at Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria on Monday — it’s just a drill.
The synagogue at 3830 Seminary Road will be hosting a “a critical incident training exercise” from 8-11 a.m. and 6-9 p.m. on Veterans Day (Nov. 11). Alexandria police and firefighters will be conducting the exercise.
(Updated at 1:45 p.m.) Firefighters from Arlington and Alexandria are on scene of an apartment fire in Arlandria.
The fire broke out at a garden-style apartment building on the 3800 block of Old Dominion Blvd shortly before 1 p.m.
Road Closure Near King Street Metro — “Weather permitting, this Fri. Nov. 1, 9:30am-3pm construction work will close Cameron St. btwn Commonwealth & King (red oval). King & Dangerfield (orange lines) will be single lane. Periodic 10 minute total closures will occur. Avoid the area.” [Twitter]
New Boutique Now Open — “When Sarah Bryen and Abigail Wolverton realized they’d been dating the same guy, neither could have imagined they’d be signing a lease on a boutique together less than a year later. The pair soft-opened Sassy Boutique, a mid-to-high-range women’s clothing resale store, in a 225-square-foot space in Crilley Warehouse on North Lee Street about two weeks ago.” [Alexandria Times]
Alexandria firefighters and police responded to a collision between a train and a vehicle this morning on the 4100 block of Wheeler Avenue, near Port City Brewing.
A VRE train loaded with hundreds of passengers struck a construction vehicle that was too close to the tracks. No injuries were reported and the train did not derail, but the crash drew a large emergency response.
