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Morning Notes

Published May 18, 2020 at 9:00AM

Group to Sue City for Pollution Near Recycling Center — “After a 7 On Your Side Investigation aired about the amount of Styrofoam piling up along the banks of the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia, organizers with Advocates for Clean & Clear Waterways, a new non-profit, has informed the City it plans on suing.” [WJLA]

DASH Bus Requiring All Riders to Wear Face Masks — “Based on guidance from the Alexandria Health Department, the Alexandria Transit Company (DASH) will require all passengers to wear face coverings while using DASH buses beginning Monday, May 18, 2020. The measure will help protect DASH employees and passengers from contracting the COVID-19 virus and is consistent with the actions of the agency’s regional transit partners, including WMATA, Frederick Transit, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County Transit. This precaution will remain in effect until further notice.” [DASH]

News

Feed the Fight Alexandria Director Gets $40 Parking Ticket Picking Up 300 Cupcakes for Inova Hospital Workers

By James Cullum

Published May 15, 2020 at 5:15PM | Updated May 16, 2020 at 12:04PM

(Updated on May 16 at 12:00 p.m.) The director of Feed the Fight Alexandria was picking up 300 cupcakes from Alexandria Cupcake to donate to three Inova hospitals on May 6, when she found an unexpected surprise waiting on her windshield — a $40 parking ticket.

The ticket was later paid for by an Alexandria Police officer.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published May 15, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated May 15, 2020 at 9:39AM

Arlandria in Crisis Over COVID-19 Spread — “Azucena Esquival lives in a cramped apartment in the Arlandria neighborhood of Alexandria, where the problem of community spread isn’t just theoretical. The pandemic is in her household. Earlier this month, she tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Another adult in her household paid $300 to get a test, which was also positive. They are living with two people who have not been tested. None of them are currently working, and they have no source of income.” [Gazette]

Alexandria Unemployment Claims Spike — “As of the Times’ print deadline, Alexandria residents had filed 10,609 initial unemployment claims, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. Initial claims began pouring in throughout mid-March, climbing from 33 the week of March 14 to 797 the week of March 21.” [Alex Times]

News

Alexandria Economic Development Partnership Lays Out Path to Recovery for Local Economy

By Vernon Miles

Published May 11, 2020 at 3:30PM

In a memo to City Council, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) laid out the path to recovery for Alexandria businesses as the city prepares to sift through the economic wreckage left in the wake of COVID-19

In a series of short term and longer-term phases, AEDP President and CEO Stephanie Landrum laid out a number of things the city can do to help support businesses in the city struggle to hold on through the pandemic.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published May 8, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated May 8, 2020 at 9:23AM

The Dunham family outside their Del Ray home for First Thursday. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Family Says Lack of Information Contributed to Nurse’s Death — “Some family members who have loved ones at Silverado are also upset, complaining they are being kept in the dark. A woman whose mother is at the facility asked that News4 conceal her identity. She says families need more information about the outbreak such as how many staff and residents have tested positive and how many have died.” [NBC4]

Beyer Blames President for U.S. Coronavirus Outbreak— “Tens of thousands of Americans – over 73,000 – have now died from a pandemic that has hit our country so much harder because this President ignored warnings from health officials over and over again. This is so dangerous.” [Twitter]

News

Hundreds of Alexandrians Sign Up for Billy Sabatini’s Front Porch Photo Series

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2020 at 4:35PM | Updated May 7, 2020 at 6:19PM

The Front Steps Project Alexandria. (Photo by Billy Sabatini)

Alexandria photographer Billy Sabatini had no idea how popular his Front Steps Project would be, and over the last several weeks he’s ended up taking photos of more than 150 families and sequestered individuals in front of their homes.

“I thought it’d be kind of a fun, small thing and maybe get a handful of people to participate,” Sabatini told ALXnow. “I started taking photos of friends and neighbors, and after about a week-and-a-half word of mouth spread and it just took off. I’ve now got 100+ families on my list and my plan is to take pictures of them all.”

News

Goodhart Group Raises Nearly $14K for Local Restaurants

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2020 at 2:00PM

Alexandria Realtors The Goodhart Group has raised nearly $14,000 for local restaurants in a GoFundMe campaign, and each $15 meal goes to Inova Alexandria Hospital.

The Goodhart Group raised $13,925, exceeding its goal of $13,500.

News

Chadwicks Cautious of Fully Reopening, Thanks Alexandrians for Support

By James Cullum

Published May 6, 2020 at 4:55PM | Updated May 6, 2020 at 8:15PM

Chadwicks at 203 Strand Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s been an incredible challenge, but Chadwicks owner Trae Lamond is hopeful everything will get back to normal with his business… eventually.

The 39-year-old Lamond was forced to lay off a majority of his 50 full and part-time staffers, and since March the favorite bar and restaurant for many Old Town residents has been working with a skeleton crew of about 17 employees.

News

Alexandria Businesses Brace for a Cautious Reopening Next Week

By Vernon Miles

Published May 6, 2020 at 2:15PM

After Gov. Ralph Northam’s announcement that restrictions could start easing up on Virginia businesses next week, some Old Town businesses are already preparing for steps on how to cautiously reopen.

A representative of the Old Town Boutique District said in an email that various businesses that had previously been closed are taking steps to reopen while still offering some degree of social distancing.

News

Pacers Partners with Potomac Running to Provide Shoes During Pandemic

By Vernon Miles

Published May 6, 2020 at 11:30AM | Updated May 6, 2020 at 2:10PM

Running store Pacers, which has a flagship store in Alexandria, announced today (Wednesday) that it is partnering with the Potomac River Running Store and Switzerland based ON Shoes to donate 5,000 shoes to frontline workers and regional organizations impacted by the pandemic.

Pacers and Potomac River Running Store will be in charge of identifying and distributing the stores to individuals or groups impacted by the pandemic. Each store will receive 2,500 shoes of various sizes and types.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published May 6, 2020 at 9:00AM

‘Le Refuge’ Restaurant Founder Passes Away — “Jean-Francois Chaufour was born in born in Tavers, France June 7, 1952. He and his wife, Francoise, both hailed from the Loive Valley area and came to the United States together in 1976 and started working as servers in the metropolitan area. After many years of hard work and saving, they pursued the American dream of opening their own establishment.” [Zebra]

Beyer Provides COVID-19 Updates — “I’ve compiled a series of summaries of financial assistance (direct payments, unemployment, paid leave, & more), plus housing, food, and small business resources.” [Twitter]