Arlington: The More Things Change at H-B Woodlawn ...
A new principal at H-B embraces an old school tradition.
H-B Woodlawn is a little different.
Alexandria: Class of 2016 Bids Farewell to T.C. Williams
Class of 2016 Graduation marks the school’s 50th anniversary and the end of Principal Dingle’s first year.
According to Principal Dr. Jesse Dingle, life at T.C. Williams High School is a kaleidoscope. It’s constantly moving and shifting, full of every imaginable form of diversity.
Alexandria: Puppy Boat
Animal Welfare League celebrates 70 years.
It was all paws on deck Sunday, June 12, as staff and supporters of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria were joined by dogs and a kitten for a trip up the Potomac on the Potomac Riverboat Company’s “Cherry Blossom.”
Alexandria: Cutting Out City Council?
Backlash follows proposed changes to city’s charter.
In the span of one docket item, City Council voted to yield more approval powers to city staff, but were more wary of a proposal that would give final approval powers to the Planning Commission.
Arlington: Garvey Prevails
Incumbent County Board Chair defeats primary challenger.
After a split from the Arlington Democratic establishment following her opposition to the streetcar project and her support of independent John Vihstadt, County Board Chair Libby Garvey faced a primary.
Arlington: ‘A Lot of Project in a Little Space’
New condominium approved despite neighborhood concerns about density.
As Arlington County’s population continues to climb, projects are getting more densely packed together.
Alexandria is Hemorrhaging Affordable Housing
Alexandria continues to lose affordable housing.
Living in Alexandria isn’t cheap and for many locals who need affordable housing, it seems to be getting more expensive by the day.
Arlington: The State of Affordable Housing
Arlington continues to struggle with loss of affordable housing.
With each year, Arlington becomes less and less affordable. According to David Cristeal, housing director for Arlington County, between 2000 and 2013, Arlington has lost 13,000 units of affordable housing.
Alexandria: Police Investigate Murder of Pierre Clark
A father reforming his life was killed less than one month after jail release.
The idea was to live big and double the stakes.
Alexandria: A Peace Plan
Confederate Memorials and Street Names Advisory Group completes recommendations.
The Civil War is over. The bitter, year-long argument over what to do about the Confederacy’s legacy in Alexandria seems to have ended with a report from the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Confederate Memorials and Street Names.
Potomac Yard Metro Project Moves Forward
Lingering doubts around parking surround Potomac Yard approval.
After years of planning, Potomac Yard Metro is starting to come together. But for many local residents, the arrival of the new Metro station comes with some remaining hurdles.
City Takes Control of Alexandria’s Torpedo Factory
Temporary measure met with cautious optimism by artists.
On the surface of Alexandria’s arts community, but in the depths of city bureaucracy, major changes are underway at the Torpedo Factory, the arts facility right at the heart of Alexandria’s waterfront.
Alexandria: Trial of City Council Underway
City faces allegations of corruption in rezoning case.
329 N. Washington St. is a quintessential Old Town mansion. It’s a historic, four-story home facing the George Washington Parkway on one side and the the cobblestone Princess Street on the other. Unlike most Old Town homes, however, the property is currently at the heart of a lawsuit against the City Council with allegations of corruption within City Hall.
Alexandria Veterans Honor Fallen Comrades and Retiring Commander
Lost but not forgotten.
There’s some laughter and chatting around the American Legion headquarters under Gatsby’s Tavern, but a heavy mood still weighs over the room.
Alexandria: Board Decides Last Minute Reversal for Patrick Henry
School Board rejects advisory group’s recommendation and approves controversial design.
A few weeks ago, it seemed almost certain that the controversy over Patrick Henry Elementary School had been settled.
Arlington: 1st Street Car-tastrophe?
County inaction prompts local social media campaign.
Around August last year, a car went speeding down 1st Street in the wrong direction.
Inside the Alexandria Police Department: Graduation
An occasional series, drawn from the Alexandria Citizen’s Police Academy.
After 10 weeks of education in the role of the Alexandria Citizens’ Police Academy, 16 students graduated from the program.
Alexandria Resident Visited by Police After Redevelopment Criticism
After speaking out about Old Colony Inn, Marston visited by police.
Morrill “Bud” Marston is one of the residents who’d expressed dissatisfaction with the Old Colony Inn redevelopment, sometimes more vocally than his neighbors, but that’s never been uncommon at meetings surrounding new development in Old Town Alexandria.
Alexandria: Ethics Pledge Passes
Limited Code of Conduct and ethics reform.
For now, the Ethics Pledge battle is over. City Council received the Code of Conduct revisions and the proposed Ethics Pledge at its May 18 meeting, to be reviewed and to determine the next steps. But while Mayor Allison Silberberg had struggled for months to get reform pushed through opposition on the council, there was one last surprise: passing it.
Inside the Alexandria Police Department: Self Defense
An occasional series, drawn from the Alexandria Citizen’s Police Academy.
The man arrives at the door. One second passes.
Alexandria: Remembering Ronald Kirby
Alexandria honors slain transportation expert.
Originally, the Woodrow Wilson bridge was going to be a car only bridge, like the old drawbridge it replaced.
Alexandria: Four Mile Run Restored
Natural habitats slowly return to Alexandria’s northern creek.
In the 1970s, Alexandria was desperate. Throughout the ’60s and ’70s, Four Mile Run along the city’s northern border with Arlington was flooding.
Alexandria: Gearing Up for Bike to Work Day
Local cyclists share tips for new riders.
On May 20, expect to see more Alexandria commuters leaving the cars in the garage. The annual “Bike to Work” day encourages commuters to try out a car-free lifestyle, and some local experts are ready with tips for new riders.
Inside AlexRenew
Early June eyed for AlexRenew field opening.
On the surface, the nearly completed park near the east end of Eisenhower Avenue looks like any soccer field.
Arlington: Building Better Businesses
County Board candidates talk commerce in local debate.
The core differences between the Democrats, and even the independent running for County Board, are slim. So when the three candidates met the evening of May 16 for a debate, the conversation centered around differing approaches to the same issues affecting the county.
Arlington: Gearing Up for Bike to Work Day
Local cyclists share tips for new riders.
On May 20, expect to see more Arlington commuters leaving the cars in the garage. Annual “Bike to Work” day encourages commuters to try out a car-free lifestyle, and some of the local experts are ready with tips for new riders.
Alexandria Brief: Food Truck Locations Approved
After a long battle at the Parking and Traffic Board, the proposed locations for Alexandria’s Food Trucks made it’s way to City Council on May 10 with the two locations in North Old Town removed.
Alexandria: Two Cents Worth
Where the city’s tax increase is going.
When the city manager presented his proposed budget to the City Council, it came with a one cent tax increase.
Alexandria: Responding to Metro Delays and Closures
City leadership and ridership look at upcoming Metro changes.
It's frustrating but necessary.
Inside the Alexandria Police Department: Street to Cell
An occasional series, drawn from the Alexandria Citizen’s Police Academy.
Whether it’s being pulled over for a traffic violation or being directed around the site of a crash, virtually every Alexandrian has had some interaction with the Alexandria Police Department’s Traffic Section.
Arlington: Schools To Dip Into Reserves
School Board sacrifices future budgets to avoid cuts in 2017.
The good news is that the Arlington School Board approved a budget without cutting any of the proposed programs from the $582 million budget the School Board sent to the County Board.
Arlington: Responding to Metro Delays and Closures
Arlington leadership and ridership look at upcoming Metro changes.
From elected officials to Metro riders just passing through, this has been the response to the long-awaited plan to fix the Washington Metro.
Inside the Alexandria Police Department: Specialists in Action
An occasional series, drawn from the Alexandria Citizen’s Police Academy.
In 1989, a hostage situation was unfolding at 316 Hopkins Court. A man trying to collect on a drug debt had taken hostages at gunpoint inside a house and the Special Operations Team (S.O.T.) was called out to the site in response.
Alexandria: Opposition to Old Colony Inn Proposal Turns Personal
Has it gone too far?
After nearly a full year of back and forth through boards, commissions, and community engagement, the Old Colony Inn is one step away from redevelopment. Hot on the developer’s heels, however, were local neighbors objecting to the zone transition allowances by staff.
Alexandria: Design Supported as Patrick Henry Moves Forward
N. Latham Street controversy resolved; auditorium questions loom.
After a series of back and forths between the School Board, an advisory group, and project staff, Patrick Henry Elementary School is moving forward with a compromise that seems to have satisfied most parties. Questions and concerns remain about the site, including a looming discussion about the exclusion of an auditorium from the design, but at the April 27 meeting of the Patrick Henry Advisory Group, the group agreed to support the Option C.1 design.
Alexandria: Accomplice in Beverley Park Homicide Sentenced
Teen’s attorney details background of abuse.
On April 28, the family of Jose Luis Ferman Perez met the girl who was at least partially responsible for his death. The defendant, 16-year-old Leidi Granados Gutierrez, is one of three MS-13 affiliated suspects connected with last year’s Nov. 9 homicide of Jose Luis Ferman Perez.
Arlington: Garvey, Gutshall in Democratic Primary
Democratic Primary pits incumbent Libby Garvey against establishment-backed newcomer Erik Gutshall.
Two years ago, County Board member Libby Garvey refused to back the Columbia Pike Streetcar.
Inside the Alexandria Police Department: Crisis
An occasional series, drawn from the Alexandria Citizen’s Police Academy.
The Alexandria Citizens’ Police Academy is a 10-week course hosted by the Alexandria Police Department (APD) to offer citizens a better understanding of how the department works. Throughout the course, participants sit in on emergency calls and ride along with police officers on patrol. In the sixth week of the course, citizens learned more about how the Alexandria Police react to crisis situations, including hostage situations and riot control.
Arlington Neighborhood Outlook: Along the Corridor
New retail and commercial spaces fill Rosslyn and Ballston.
Indoor-outdoor dining is the new trend, according to Rosslyn BID President Mary-Claire Burick.
Arlington County Board Passes Budget Mostly as Proposed
Affordable Housing Investment Fund gets boost from 2016 leftovers.
Between the County Manager Mark Schwartz’s budget proposal in February and the final adoption on April 19, little had changed.
Alexandria: City Council OKs Improvements
In an update to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, the City Council approved on April 16 some major extensions and renovations to four miles of new sidewalks and 88 miles of bicycle improvements.
Alexandria: Management Misfiring at Torpedo Factory?
Torpedo Factory hangs in balance between artistic enclave and commercial asset.
Everyone seems to be in agreement: the Torpedo Factory is one of the star attractions of Old Town Alexandria.
Alexandria Snapshot: Higher Power
Power outage along Duke Street on Tuesday, April 19 interrupted Shiloh Baptist Church’s service, so Pastor Taft Quincey Heatley organized his congregation and the visiting worshippers from Arlington’s Macedonia Baptist Church to take the service into the adjacent parking lot. “We came to worship, so that’s what we’re going to do,” said Heatley. “The church is not the building, it’s the people.”
Inside Alexandria Police Department: On the Job
An occasional series, drawn from the Alexandria Citizen’s Police Academy.
The Alexandria Citizens’ Police Academy is a 10-week course hosted by the Alexandria Police Department (APD) to offer citizens a better understanding of how the department works. Throughout the course, participants sit in on emergency calls and ride along with police officers on patrol.
Transitway Comes to Arlington
Ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the launch of joint Arlington-Alexandria bus service.
“This is Arlington,” said Sandra Borden from the Crystal City Civic Association as she points across Glebe Road, “and over there, that’s Alexandria.”
Arlington: Streetscape Improvements for Rosslyn
With a series of new furnishings, the streetscapes of Rosslyn might start to look a little more vibrant. Within this year, Lucia deCorde, president and urban design director of the Rosslyn BID, said that Rosslyn residents and visitors will begin to see wayfinding posts, informational stalls, new benches and vegetation along the sidewalks.
Alexandria: McAuliffe Visits City Hall for Veto
Mayor and Domestic Violence specialists back Governor’s stance.
On paper, giving domestic violence victims under protective orders access to concealed weapons without permits or training may have appeared sound, but with his veto of a series of bills out of the Virginia legislature, Gov. Terry McAuliffe and others argued that adding more guns would only put more lives at risk.
Inside Alexandria Police Department: Use of Force
An occasional series, drawn from the Alexandria Citizen’s Police Academy.
The Alexandria Citizens’ Police Academy is a 10-week course hosted by the Alexandria Police Department (APD) to offer citizens a better understanding of how the department works. Throughout the course, participants sit in on emergency calls and ride along with police officers on patrol.
Alexandria: Council Hears Ethics Recommendation
A pledge for city’s elected and appointed officials.
The ethics pledge makes no changes to the law, increases no reporting qualifications, and includes no complaint process, but after months of City Council fights over its necessity and implications, the draft presented by the Code of Conduct Review Committee at the April 12 City Council meeting was received with relatively little fanfare.
Alexandria: Civil War Still Reverberates
Indecision and conflict continues over Confederate street names and statues.
After four tumultuous meetings, the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Confederate Memorials and Street Names has not managed to settle the 150-year-old conflict over the legacy of the Confederacy in Alexandria.