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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

What a challenging week in Alexandria. Here’s the rundown.

Alexandria track star Noah Lyles won the bronze medal in the 200 meters at the Tokyo Olympics, garnering congratulations from around the country, including locally by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Mayor Justin Wilson. Also this week, Lyles’ mom and brother held a watch party at his alma mater, Alexandria City High School.

This week, we also spoke with Alexandria boxer Troy “The Transformer” Isley, who said competing in the Olympics was a ‘dream come true.” Tynita Butts-Townsend, the third T.C. Williams High School graduate to participate in the games, did not make it past the first round of the high jump.

“I thought I would feel more crappy about getting last at the Olympics, but then I read that sentence again…IM STILL AN OLYMPIAN!” Butts-Townsend tweeted.

On the coronavirus front, with the City recommending residents wear masks indoors, this week the School Board voted to make it mandatory that face masks be worn when school starts later this month.

Important stories

Top stories

  1. Parks Department braces for strain on system when Minnie Howard field closes down
  2. Alexandria reports 204 COVID-19 cases in July, a big jump over last month
  3. Alexandria City High School to host Olympics watch party to cheer on alumnus Noah Lyles
  4. ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria
  5. GoFundMe launched for Will Nichols, retiring manager of St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub in Del Ray
  6. With ACPS expecting enrollment increase, Alexandria Mayor explains where kids come from
  7. Report details life of Black Alexandrians post-Civil War in home slated for redevelopment
  8. Noah Lyles to race for gold medal in 200 meters at Tokyo Olympics
  9. 18-year-old arrested for firing gunshots at West End apartment building
  10. EXCLUSIVE: Halal slaughterhouse opens, gives away free chickens for first two days in business
  11. Heritage project skirts denial at Board of Architectural Review meeting

Have a safe weekend!

Via Tcwtitantrack/Facebook

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WATCH: Noah Lyles wins bronze medal in 200 meters at Tokyo Olympics

Alexandria sprinter Noah Lyles took home the bronze medal in the 200 meters in the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, August 4.

The 24-year-old clocked in at 19.74 seconds, behind silver medalist Kenneth Bednarek’s 19.62 seconds and Canada’s Andre de Grasse, who took home gold with 19.62 seconds — the fastest 200m in the world this year. Lyles previously ran the fastest 200m this year with the same time of 19.74 in the Olympic trials in June.

Congratulations to Lyles were tweeted out from all over country, including back at home from Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson and the Alexandria City High School (ACHS) track team. Lyles is a graduate of T.C. Williams High School (now ACHS) and fulfilled a lifelong dream to compete in the Olympics.

At an Olympic viewing party earlier this week, Lyles’ mother told ALXnow that her son now wants to go on a vacation.

“I think he wants to go to Bermuda, Mexico, and probably a couple other places,” she said.

https://twitter.com/CBCOlympics/status/1422904886023409667

Via Tcwtitantrack/Facebook

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Noah Lyles to race for gold medal in 200 meters at Tokyo Olympics

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(Updated 9:30 p.m.) After advancing in two straight preliminary races, Noah Lyles will run for the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday.

Lyles’s family is staying at a hotel in the area to watch the gold medal match, his mother Keisha Bishop said at a watch party at Alexandria City High School on Monday night.

“We’re just trying to support him the best that we can,” Bishop told ALXnow. “We thought that the best way to do that is to go back to where it all started, at Alexandria City High School.”

Josephus Lyles is talking with his brother every day via text message.

“He’s feeling pretty good,” Josephus Lyles said. “He’s definitely ready. He says he’s in the best shape of his life and I definitely believe him. He’s definitely ready to go and ready to show the world what he’s capable of.”

The watch party was sponsored by the Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation, and the evening included games for kids in the school gym, raffles and appearances by Mayor Justin Wilson and ACPS leaders.

Noah Lyles, who barely made it to the semifinals after slowing down before the finish line, is predicting that he will win the gold medal.

After the frustration of a postponed Olympics last year, he gave the 2020 commencement speech for the graduating class of T.C. Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School). In the speech, he highlighted the importance of mental health — something his mother says was important for his development.

“I call it having a check-up from the neck up,” Bishop said. “I just think it’s really important to have a neutral space where you can get your thoughts out, let somebody know how you’re feeling and process everything that’s going on.”

Josephus, who missed the cut on this year’s Olympic team, said he wants to compete in the 2024 and possibly 2028 Olympics. The brothers live and train in Clermont, Florida, and make it back to Alexandria a few times a year.

“Something that my mom instilled in us early is that mental health is important,” he said. “You can be in the best shape of your life, but if you’re not mentally ready, then it’s a lot harder to run fast.”

School Board Chair Meagan Alderton called Bishop “super-mom’.

“Talk about one of the most amazing mothers,” Alderton said. “Keisha Bishop embodies the effort and the resilience in parenting that goes with making a champion. Her kids are so positive, humble, so well balanced.”

Track coach Michael Hughes said that the Lyles brothers were destined for greatness.

“I was fortunate to be with them,” Hughes said. “Many high school coaches run their athletes into the ground, and I just needed to help them get to where they needed to go. They were going to be the athletes they are today.”

Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. said that ACPS prepared Noah Lyles to win the gold medal.

“Once a Titan, always a Titan,” Hutchings said. “We are just fortunate to have a school system where our kids are exposed to so many different cultures. He was exposed and prepared for greatness here so that he could represent the United States of America in Japan.”

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

It was a quick week in Alexandria. Here’s the rundown.

With summer in full swing, three Alexandria athletes have made it on the U.S. Olympic Team — sprinter Noah Lyles, high-jumper Tynita Butts-Townsend and boxer Troy Isley.

In other sporting news, Old Town businesses beat Del Ray in a controversial softball game Wednesday, adding fuel to the fire of an intense rivalry.

It’s been super hot out lately, and the City urged caution and reminded residents to take advantage of special cooling centers.

On the COVID front, the city’s DASH bus service announced that one of its drivers passed away from complications from the virus.

Meanwhile, Mayor Justin Wilson believes that the city has met its 80% vaccination threshold, while Virginia Department of Health data says about 65% of residents over the age of 16 are partially vaccinated. The Alexandria Health Department, which just launched a COVID-19 test and vaccine pilot at T.C. Williams High School, says the data does not take into account city residents vaccinated in Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

It’s also July 4 weekend, and in this week’s poll we asked whether readers plan on traveling, with 67% of respondents voting to stay home, 27% opting to travel by car and just 6% traveling by air.

Important stories

Top stories

  1. Researchers call out shoddy craftsmanship in buried 18th century Alexandria ship
  2. Man suspected of raping 12-year-old stepdaughter in Landmark area flees to El Salvador
  3. Landmark Mall plan approved as Planning Commission demands better environmental considerations
  4. Alexandria leaders acknowledge serious security issues with elimination of school resource officer funding
  5. Shortened Alexandria Birthday celebration is still on for July 10
  6. Alexandria eyes bus rapid transit and bike lanes for Duke Street
  7. Parker-Gray tiny lot home moves forward with some unique challenges
  8. Alexandria woman dies after veering off road on Interstate 95
  9. City talks strategy on making Chirilagua/Arlandria neighborhood Amazon-proof
  10. UPDATE: Man taken into custody as West End apartment barricade situation ends peacefully
  11. BREAKING: California man arrested for West End murder, indicted with 16 others in massive racketeering conspiracy

Have a safe weekend!

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Alexandria’s Noah Lyles wins 200 meters, fulfills dream to compete in the Olympics

Alexandria’s Noah Lyles is officially on the U.S. Olympic Team after winning the 200 meter race in the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday night.

Lyles ran the race in 19.74 seconds – the fastest time clocked this year in the world — speeding to Tokyo as the second Alexandrian to join the team behind boxer Troy Isley.

The 23-year-old Lyles, a 2016 graduate of T.C. Williams High School, didn’t place in the 100 meter trials, and promised on Twitter that the 200 meter race was going to be “disgusting”. He also plans to run in the U.S. 4×100 relay team, meaning that he could possibly bring home two medals.

Lyles, who was pushed back against competing when the games were postponed last year, gave the commencement address at last year’s graduation at T.C. The winner of four Diamond League trophies told the students that he was bullied in school, and is also dyslexic and an asthmatic.

“Facing those adversities are what got me here today,” Lyles said. “You need to know that you can make it through, because just this time period of 2020 will not be your last, and you can make it to the next one, and the next one and the one after that, and you will look back on the times of 2020 and say, ‘I got through that, and I came out stronger than ever.'”

Keisha Caine Bishop tweeted that the journey to the Olympic team took 10 years of hard work and a lot of support for her son, who won the world championship in the 200 meters in 2019.

 

https://twitter.com/FloTrack/status/1409376810308194307

Courtesy Noah Lyles/Twitter

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Morning Notes

Alexandria’s Noah Lyles tweets that upcoming 200 meter Olympic trial will be ‘disgusting’ — “For everyone who is worrying about my mental don’t worry I’m good. I gave my all and am healthy. Of corse I wanted to make the 100 but it wasn’t meant to be this year. But I will tell you this 200 will be disgusting.” [Twitter]

City Council approves outdoor dining area for Chadwicks — “Yesterday council approved our new outdoor dining area. Now we’ve just got to build it. We’ll see you later this summer for drinks on our new balcony.” [Facebook]

Goodwin House Incorporated named a 2021 Top Washington-Area Workplace — This is the third year in a row that Goodwin House received the honor. [Washington Post]

Lost Boy Cider turns 2 — “A special thank you to everyone who was able to join us for our 2yr anniversary party. We are so grateful to be able to do what we love and to be surrounded by the friends who are sharing in this journey.” [Facebook]

Rock It Grill brings back karaoke on Wednesday nights — “Karaoke Karaoke Karaoke!!! We are now adding Wednesdays… Every Wednesday through Saturday nights… Karaoke 9:30 PM ’til 1:30 AM”  [Facebook]

Today’s weather — “A steady rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 73F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%… A few clouds from time to time (in the evening). Low around 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.” [Weather.com]

New job: Seasonal marina dock assistant — “The Marina Dock Assistant performs journey-level tasks of more than ordinary difficulty and must be able to perform heavy physical labor safely and efficiently. This position works under the immediate supervision of a lead worker who lays out the details of each specific assignment and constantly checks the work in process and upon completion; or performs routine tasks independently after initial instruction. This position performs duties under the general supervision of the Dock Master and Assistant Dock Master.” [Indeed]

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Morning Notes

Usain Bolt compliments Alexandria’s running phenom Noah Lyles — “He talks the talk, but I’m looking forward to seeing how he’s going to match up – because he’s proven that he has the speed, just throughout the circuit and the way he’s running.” [USA Today]

City Council votes against Braddock West development — “A request by West Street Acquisitions, LLC to build a large multifamily residential building across the street from the Braddock Road Metro Station were denied in a 4-3 vote by City Council on Saturday.” [Alexandria Living]

Goodwin House residents recall activism — “As a college student, Dr. Drue Shropshire Guy was immediately inspired when he heard the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They drove him to take part in campus sit-ins while studying at Ohio St. University. These demonstrations were meant to shed light on segregation in the local community.” [Zebra]

City collecting mulch orders for April delivery — “Remember all those Christmas Trees collected in January and the leaves collected in the fall? Orders for wood and leaf mulch are being accepted for April delivery. Visit alexandriava.gov/Mulch to place your order.” [Twitter]

Today’s weather — “Rain (during the day). High near 60F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch… Thunderstorms during the evening giving way to periods of light rain overnight. Low 42F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%.” [Weather.com]

New job: Server — “HomeGrown Restaurant Group is a family-owned group and initially established its roots in Alexandria in the early 1990s. We currently have six locations spanning five different concepts. We are looking for servers to join our team that are well organized, customer service oriented, and have an overall positive attitude.” [Indeed]

10 Comments

Morning Notes

Beyer Says House Democrats Working to Protect Postal Service — “So many of you are writing, calling, and urging us to act to protect the US Postal Service. We share your anger and frustration about what Trump is doing and your alarm about what it could mean for the election. And we ARE working to stop him.” [Twitter]

Noah and Josephus Lyles Win First and Second in 200 Meter Race in Monaco — “Lyles raised a black, fingerless-gloved right fist before getting into the blocks to win a 200m in his first international race of the season, conjuring memories of the famous 1968 Olympic podium gesture. He clocked 19.76 seconds, leading a one-two with younger brother Josephus.” [NBC Sports]

ALIVE! Gives Food to 900+ Households — “916 households received food at today’s Truck to Trunk food distribution. Thanks to everyone who made this possible- donors, volunteers, Department of Community & Human Services, City of Alexandria, VA; Volunteer Alexandria; Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, City of Alexandria, Virginia; Police Department, City of Alexandria, Virginia; Transportation & Environmental Services, City of Alexandria, Virginia and ALIVE! Staff!” [Facebook]

Monte Durham’s Salon Opening at Waterfront Next Month — “The chic boutique salon, located next door to Hotel Indigo, will feature Durham, who got his start as a hair stylist before heading down the bridal path to a hit reality TV show, TLC’s ‘Say Yes to the Dress – Atlanta.'” [Alexandria Living]

Chris Daughtry of American Idol to Play Virtual Concert for Birchmere — “Next week, Chris Daughtry presents his virtual “Live from Home Tour” on Aug. 18 to benefit 19 venues across the country, including The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia.” [WTOP]

Today’s Weather — “Partly cloudy early. Scattered thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 83F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.” [Weather.com]

New Job: K-8 Teacher — “SchoolHouse is a new, innovative education startup that helps families to form Learning Pods, and matches excellent teachers with those Pods. A Pod is a group of approximately 4 – 8 students, of the same or similar grade level, who are learning, growing, and socializing together.” [Indeed]

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T.C. Williams High School Seniors Graduate Virtually Amid Pandemic

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T.C. Williams High School held a graduation ceremony like no other on Saturday, with world champion sprinter Noah Lyles, members of the student body, the superintendent and principal — while most of the school’s 865 graduates never left the comfort of their homes.

The virtual ceremony was the first of its kind in the history of the Alexandria City Public School system, as all schools throughout Virginia were shut down in March for the remainder of a school year that would also be defined by the state of race relations in the country. The graduating class of 2020 was also the largest in T.C. history, according to ACPS.

Lyles, a 2016 graduate of T.C., said that his life was also filled with adversity and that he is a lifelong asthmatic who was bullied in high school and is dyslexic.

“Facing those adversities are what got me here today,” Lyles said. “You need to know that you can make it through, because just this time period of 2020 will not be your last, and you can make it to the next one, and the next one and the one after that, and you will look back on the times of 2020 and say, ‘I got through that, and I came out stronger than ever.'”

Class President Amiya Chisolm said that she and her classmates faced a school year full of uncertainty and that it will make them stronger in the future.

“Right about now we had envisioned going to our prom, senior cookout, walking around the hallways of our elementary and middle schools and even hearing our names celebrated as we walk across the stage at (George Mason University),” Chisolm said. “Instead, we were unexpectedly hit with a pandemic that not only took away our plans — and some of our loved ones — but also blurred our futures. In addition to this pandemic, we have also witnessed multiple murders in the black community at the hands of police brutality.”

Posted by Alexandria City Public Schools on Monday, June 15, 2020

Superintendent Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., said that the class made history with its virtual graduation, and that it will be defined by righting societal wrongs.

“These are times when we can actually collectively feel the uncertainty, the stress, the anxiety as individuals, as families as a school division and as a nation,” Hutchings said. “Class of 2020, we must advocate for social justice and anti-racism in America, regardless of your race, regardless of your background. This is a new time in all of our lives when all lives must matter and we must rethink our priorities, our values and reinvent a new normal.”

T.C. Principal Peter Balas said that the class of 2020 was one of the most special he has ever led, and challenged the graduates to lead the way in the future.

“I challenge you to lead the way and to be the change that you want to see in the world,” Balas said. “And to accept nothing less, because your futures matter. I can promise you that the class of 2020 will always be remembered.”

https://www.facebook.com/acpsk12/videos/304725407199397/?__xts__[0]=68.ARAsbRe8VyP2ncLA2_J1k6lH3AaPI6ygQCfN0wrkLl7ZwL3DlT8-3DTUQnTB8gnUOpP5tuINP6Guu0yxwGCQ2x3EsfZnxDkXVfNVkzNccLQIjg_fW-IiTlH_ONy5Gn7ciqdeulYRDObGN0L4SnHSbnI3OTEo214vlaI206vsslhIfV0KIUXjGAy79wUshyIw3Z0r4uRSQKk0JrL0ha8Urz6CAq5XvWUUTUZ69iMyA1gLr1J9lzpjR27-BdPnh2usBHstFH_mCH5cnLvMuKXgRBrC53iABl2V390tYGjwxmwqtwZRL2ySzEVWt6ifLp5AMLie-wszVaCleu2J_56BlbmuZ7Vmt5qxzR8&__tn__=-R

Images via ACPS/Facebook

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Noah Lyles to Give T.C. Williams Graduation Keynote Address on Saturday

World champion sprinter Noah Lyles will give the keynote address at the T.C. Williams class of 2020 graduation on Saturday, June 13.

Lyles, a 2016 T.C. graduate and Olympic hopeful, will congratulate his fellow Titans in a virtual ceremony that will be featured on ACPS-TV Channel 71, Facebook Live and on its website.

The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr., on Thursday reminded the city to commemorate the occasion by lighting up their homes in red, white and blue. He also said that the George Washington Masonic Memorial will be also lit up that night.

“Please show your support by sharing photos and comments on our social media pages with the hashtags #TCW2020 and #TitansRising,” Hutchings wrote. “On Saturday evening we want to see the entire city lit up in our Titan colors of red, white and blue. The George Washington Masonic Temple will lead the way.”

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner will provide a congratulatory statement, and class president Amaya Chisolm will speak, in addition to Principal Peter Balas and Hutchings.

https://www.facebook.com/acpsk12/photos/a.281772705295865/1748037968669324/?type=3&theater

Photo via ACPS/Facebook

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