Alexandria Times

07/05/2019

"Werewolf murder" defendant found not guilty by reason of insanity | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Pending an order by the court, Pankaj Bhasin will be sent to a Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services facility, according to a news release.

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] The Alexandria Circuit Court found Pankaj Bhasin, a New Jersey resident arrested for the murder of a man he believed to be a werewolf, not guilty by reason of insanity of first-degree murder on Monday. Bhasin was taken into custody on July 13, 2018, af...

07/02/2019

Updated Green Building Policy sets stricter standards for new developments | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Starting in March 2020, new public developments must meet LEED Gold standards, and new private developments must meet LEED Silver standards.

By Missy Schrott | [email protected] At its public hearing Saturday, city council approved an update to the city's Green Building Policy that sets stricter environmental standards for new developments. The new policy is an update to the Green Building Policy council adopted in 2009. Based on th...

07/02/2019

Late last night, Tall Ship Providence made her way under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to her new home on the Alexandria marina. Look out for the full story on Providence's journey in this week's Times.
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(Photos: Missy Schrott)

07/01/2019

Smedberg named WMATA Board of Directors Chairman | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Last week, the WMATA Board of Directors elected former city councilor Paul Smedberg as its chairman.

By Arya Hodjat | [email protected] The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's Board of Directors elected former Alexandria City Councilor Paul Smedberg as its next chairman Thursday night. He succeeds former chair Jack Evans, a Washington D.C. city councilor who resigned after the boar...

06/28/2019

With local jam band duo, the song never remains the same | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Free Flowing Musical Experience has gigs scheduled at venues throughout the city this summer.

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] To call the Free Flowing Musical Experience a cover band is to deny the thought and talent that goes into each of the band's creative, fluid performances. Over the past three and a half years, the acoustic jam-band duo has stitched together setlists wi...

06/28/2019

Traffic and Parking Board votes for Seminary Road to remain four lanes | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Council is slated to take action on the controversial topic in September.

By Arya Hodjat | [email protected] The Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board voted 3-2 on Monday night to recommend that Seminary Road remain a four-lane street, with the addition of two new traffic lights. Board chair William Schuyler, vice chair Jim Lewis and board member Ann Tucker voted in fa...

06/27/2019

Getting in shape doesn't have to cost money | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Workout classes don't need to cost a fortune. In our latest Health & Wellness column, Adi Serbaroli of FiA Alexandria shares tips for getting fit on a budget.

By Adi Serbaroli People face plenty of barriers when getting themselves to exercise, but expense should not be one of them. It's no secret the cost of living in Alexandria is high. With that comes high overhead expenses for fitness businesses to operate. I know people who pay hundreds of dollars eac...

06/27/2019

Scooters in Alexandria Part 5: State bill regulates e-scooters | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Parts of a state bill regarding the city's ability to regulate electric scooters will go into effect on July 1.

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] Since the early days of Alexandria's e-scooter pilot program, voices of opposition have called for more regulation of the vehicles and their riders – or outright cancellation of the program. The former is being addressed by a new state bill, some pro...

06/25/2019

City receives draft permit to fill Potomac Yard Metro wetlands | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

The Potomac Yard Metro Station project would impact 3.57 acres of wetland, according to a VDEQ draft water protection permit.

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issued a draft water protection permit to the City of Alexandria on June 14 that would allow for wetlands at the proposed Potomac Yard Metro site to be filled. According to the drafted permit, the new Me...

06/24/2019

Traffic and Parking Board to consider Seminary Road restructuring | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

The Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board will consider changes to Seminary Road at its meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers.

By Arya Hodjat | [email protected] The city's plan to convert a stretch of Seminary Road from four to three lanes has been met with opposition from residents throughout the controversial community engagement process. The proposed changes are part of the Seminary Road Complete Streets Project. Se...

06/21/2019

Carlyle neighborhood strives for vitality, sense of community | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

The Carlyle Vitality Initiative will host a block party tomorrow at John Carlyle Square from noon to 8:30 p.m.

By Missy Schrott | [email protected] In recent years, the Carlyle neighborhood in Alexandria has been growing, from the development of new office buildings and residential complexes to the evolution of the area's sense of community and vibrancy. Carlyle is a 76-acre, mixed-use community adjacen...

06/20/2019

Scooters in Alexandria Part 4: City's scooter pilot aims to hold companies accountable, liable | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Part 4 in our "Scooters in Alexandria" series examines accountability and liability in the city's scooter pilot program.

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] With most school years coming to an official end this month, summer will likely be the busiest and most demanding for Alexandria's e-scooter pilot program, raising alarm bells for some residents. Questions about accountability and liability linger in t...

06/17/2019

School board adopts FY2020 budget | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Are you happy with the school board's adopted FY2020 budget?

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] School board members voted unanimously to approve Superintendent Dr. Gregory Hutchings' fiscal year 2020 combined funds budget and FY2020-2029 Capital Improvement Program budget on June 6. The FY2020 combined funds budget, also known as the operating b...

06/14/2019

Alexandria Aces launch new season with tough stretch | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

The Alexandria Aces play tonight at Gaithersburg Giants and tomorrow at home against the FCA Braves.

By Arya Hodjat | [email protected] The Alexandria Aces have hopes of improving on last season's performance, but so far are off to a rough start with an 0-6 record. The Aces, an Alexandria-based collegiate summer baseball team, compete each year in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, a le...

06/13/2019

Virginia Tech Innovation Campus relocates to 65-acre site near Potomac Yard Metro | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Local leaders discuss what's going to happen to the Potomac Yard Shopping Center and the planned ACPS school located on the site Virginia Tech will now occupy.

By Missy Schrott | [email protected] The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus coming to Alexandria will be located on a much larger site than the one announced last fall, Virginia Tech President Tim Sands announced Monday morning. The campus will now be located in Potomac Yard on the east side of Ro...

06/12/2019

Greg Parks wins Democratic clerk of court nomination | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Greg Parks beat opponent Ben Ortiz by 893 votes, according to the Virginia Department of Elections' unofficial results.

By Missy Schrott | [email protected] Greg Parks won the Alexandria's Democratic clerk of court nomination by 893 votes, according to the Virginia Department of Elections' unofficial results. After polls closed at 7 p.m. this evening, unofficial results from all 31 of the city's voting precincts...

06/12/2019

Primary election results are in, and with 55.96% of the vote, Greg Parks has won the Democratic nomination for Alexandria's clerk of court.

Final results:
Greg Parks: 4,192 votes, 55.96%
Ben Ortiz: 3,299 votes, 44.04%

06/11/2019

Clerk of court election approaches | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Don't forget to head to polls today to vote for one of Alexandria's Democratic clerk of court candidates.

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] Ben Ortiz and GregParks will compete for theDemocratic nomination for Alexandria's clerk of court in the June 11 primary election. The two candidates began campaigning for the office after Ed Semonian announced earlier this year that after 40 years as....

06/10/2019

Virginia Tech Innovation Campus to get larger site | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Alexandria's Virginia Tech Innovation Campus will no longer be located in Oakville Triangle.

By Missy Schrott | [email protected] The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus coming to Alexandria will be located on a much larger site than the one announced last fall, Virginia Tech President Tim Sands announced this morning. The campus will now be located in Potomac Yard on the east side of Rout...

06/07/2019

City's scooter program raises safety concerns | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Part 3 of our "Scooters in Alexandria" series explores the safety statistics and concerns related to the city's flock of e-scooters.

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] Scooters first started rolling into Alexandria late last year, bringing with them a wave of anxiety over public safety. The city is now five months into its nine-month long e-scooter pilot program, and the initial swell of public concern has somewhat d...

06/06/2019

Fire Chief Robert Dubé announces retirement | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Effective July 3, Corey Smedley will take over as acting chief of the Alexandria Fire Department.

By Arya Hodjat | [email protected] Alexandria Fire Chief Robert Dubé is retiring effective July 3, according to a city news release. Dubé, who has served as the city's fire chief since 2014, will be replaced in the interim by Corey Smedley, the city's assistant fire chief of administration. ...

06/06/2019

Undefeated T.C. Williams girls' soccer heads to states | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

The Titans take on James River High School in the state semifinals tomorrow at noon.

By Missy Schrott | [email protected] The T.C. Williams varsity girls' soccer team is two games away from a perfect season. After a 3-2 win over Chantilly High School in the Virginia High School League quarterfinals on Tuesday, the team will carry its 21-0 record to Glen Allen, Virginia for the....

06/05/2019

Former T.C. student, army veteran helps city schools go green | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

T.C. Williams High School graduate Andrew Aultman has returned to Alexandria to help transform local schools into models of eco-friendly behavior.

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] Hang around Andrew Aultman for any length of time and he'll call you "sir" or "ma'am." He can't help himself. It's one of those things that sticks with a soldier, active or otherwise. And, like so many soldiers, Aultman's life is defined by the things....

06/04/2019

Food hall, coworking space to anchor Carlyle adaptive reuse project | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

A 12,000-square-foot food hall operated by the team behind ALX Community will be located at the base of the largest adaptive reuse project the city has ever seen.

By Missy Schrott | [email protected] Alexandria's first food hall, complete with 12,000 square feet of space and 12 individual vendors, is coming to Carlyle in 2020. The food hall will be located on the ground floor of the largest adaptive reuse project the city has ever seen, according to City...

06/03/2019

Former T.C. football coach Bill Yoast dies at 94 | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Yoast was the assistant coach on T.C. Williams' famous "Remember the Titans" team

By Arya Hodjat | [email protected] Bill Yoast, the former T.C. Williams High School football coach whose key role in the team's integration was memorialized in the movie "Remember the Titans," died May 23 at an assisted living facility in Springfield, Virginia. He was 94. Yoast, who was white,....

05/29/2019

Home Profile: Art and light transform Old Town rowhouse | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Ashley and Peter Spencer have spent 30 years infusing art, light and personality into a historic rowhouse in Old Town.

By Missy Schrott | [email protected] Ashley and Peter Spencer have spent 30 years infusing art, light and personality into a historic rowhouse in Old Town. Ashley, originally from New Orleans, and Peter, who hails from Rhode Island, met while attending the University of the South in Sewanee, Te...

05/28/2019

Episcopal High School to get new field, entrance | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Plans for the new Hoxton Field include a new pedestrian crossing on West Braddock Road across from the entrance to Fort Ward Park.

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] City council approved plans for a new track and field at Episcopal High School during its public hearing on Saturday. The decision came after lengthy discussions about the required deforestation and reforestation efforts involved with the plan, which i...

05/27/2019

New businesses set to bounce into the city | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

City council approved special use permits for a variety of new businesses ranging from an indoor trampoline park to a multi-family apartment complex during its public hearing on May 18.

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] City council approved special use permits for a variety of new businesses ranging from an indoor trampoline park to a multi-family apartment complex during its public hearing on Saturday. Get Air One of the more notable developments to go before city c...

05/24/2019

Travel alternatives to consider during the summer Metro station closures | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

The Metro shutdown begins tomorrow. Are you prepared?

By Missy Schrott | [email protected] After a year of apprehension, the Metro shutdown will officially commence next week, disrupting the commutes and travel routines of thousands of Alexandria residents and visitors. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced about a year ago....

05/23/2019

SSSAS lax dominates state tournament | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

This past Saturday was a big day for St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School: Both the boys' and girls' lacrosse teams won state championship titles.

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] Saturday was a big day for St. Stephen's and St. Agnes athletics. After victorious playoff seasons, both the SSSAS boys' and girls' lacrosse teams took home state championship titles. Neither team is new to the state spotlight. The boys' 10-5 victory o...

05/22/2019

Tying the Knot: Gregory and Cheryl Hutchings share their 20-year love story | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

How well do you know the Alexandria City Public Schools superintendent?

By Denise Dunbar | [email protected] When Gregory Hutchings and Cheryl Carter locked eyes across the room in a Norfolk restaurant in 1999, neither could have imagined the incredible adventure the next 20 years would hold. Gregory, now superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools, was at the....

05/21/2019

Superintendent Hutchings proposes custodian plan | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Dr. Hutchings' proposed solution to ACPS' custodian funding shortage involves getting administrators back in the classroom.

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] After months of public outcry, a plan is in the works to address the 30 Alexandria City Public Schools custodians who could lose their jobs with the passage of the fiscal year 2020 budget. Superintendent Dr. Gregory Hutchings, Ed.D., proposed the plan,...

05/21/2019

Serious crimes decrease for fifth consecutive year | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

ADP announced today that nuisance crimes in Alexandria, including drug and alcohol offenses, decreased by 23.5 percent in the past year.

By Missy Schrott | [email protected] Serious crime in Alexandria decreased 1.7 percent in 2018, marking the fifth year in a row that offenses have gone down, the Alexandria Police Department announced on May 8. The Federal Bureau of Investigation classifies these serious crimes, which include c...

05/20/2019

Scooters in Alexandria Part 2: For riders, e-scooters are more than just a fad | Alexandria Times | Alexandria, VA

Amid a storm of complaints against the scooters in Alexandria, riders share their side of the story.

By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected] One mile. For drivers, it is a distance easily crossed. For runners, a mile is only the start of a workout. For commuters, though, that seemingly short distance can present problems; it might be only a 20- to 25- minute walk, but a mile can make all th...