Archive for 'News'

Alexandria student vies for geography bee title

Alexandria student vies for geography bee title

By Melissa Quinn Ten-year-old Lars Nordquist will read anything — except for Charles Dickens. The Alexandrian likes to play hockey as well as tennis and transforms into an architect when he constructs Lego sets of all [...]

Krupicka, Saslaw honored for focus on education

Krupicka, Saslaw honored for focus on education

The Virginia Education Association named Delegate Rob Krupicka (D-45) Rookie of the Year for his efforts to support public schools and teachers during his first General Assembly session. The former state Board of Education member and [...]

Long road to reform worries Alexandria’s cab drivers

Long road to reform worries Alexandria’s cab drivers

City officials are preparing to take another look at the taxi industry, but drivers say their most important issue — moving freely between companies — is a quick and easy fix. About 100 drivers gathered on [...]

Spring2ACTion nets record haul after 24-hour online fundraiser

Spring2ACTion nets record haul after 24-hour online fundraiser

By Melissa Quinn ACT for Alexandria’s annual online philanthropic event, Spring2ACTion, raised a record amount of money last week — $659,951 for 97 local nonprofits in 24 hours. “People certainly understand in the times we’re living, [...]

Quidditch takes off during last week’s tournament

Quidditch takes off during last week’s tournament

By Jim McElhatton John Andrews, 67, stuck a broom between his legs and galloped around the grounds of the Virginia Theological Seminary on Saturday. On any other day, it’s the sort of thing that might get [...]

Marathon tragedy: Local survivor hopes to thank man who aided her

Marathon tragedy: Local survivor hopes to thank man who aided her

By Derrick Perkins His name is Steve and he lives in Boston’s North End. He caught Monday’s Red Sox game. And he helped reunite a scared, dazed and distraught Leslie Malm with her family after the [...]

Alexandria’s cabbies pan proposed credit card mandate

Alexandria’s cabbies pan proposed credit card mandate

By Derrick Perkins A measure that would require Alexandria-based taxicabs to accept major credit cards drew the ire of drivers during Saturday’s city council meeting. As written, the proposal lets cab companies pick the credit cards [...]

ACPS mulls ditching enrollment lottery for focus programs

ACPS mulls ditching enrollment lottery for focus programs

By Melissa Quinn  Alexandria City Public Schools staff contemplated ending the lottery system for focus programs during a board meeting April 11, but members expressed reservations about the change. Families can apply for focus programs through [...]

West End residents rise up in protest of ‘toxic’ project

West End residents rise up in protest of ‘toxic’ project

By Melissa Quinn As the Virginia Department of Transportation continues work on a new ramp to Interstate 395, West End residents have risen up in protest, worried the lanes pose significant risks to public health. Concerned [...]

Marathon tragedy hits close to home for Alexandria businessman

Marathon tragedy hits close to home for Alexandria businessman

By Melissa Quinn Chris Farley was standing in the security line at Boston’s Logan Airport when he learned the news. He’d signed into his Twitter account and faced a steady stream of 140-character accounts of the [...]