1. education
2. school

Vol. 11, No. 12 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper
MARCH 19, 2015
Doughnut delegate calls Parents push for
schools funding in
it quits
city budget
Rob Krupicka announces
he won’t run for re-election
Some propose tax
increase to cover $3
million difference
By Erich Wagner
and Susan hale thomas
After 12 years in politics,
state Delegate Rob Krupicka
(D-45) will retire from public
service to focus on his new
doughnut business and his family, he announced in a statement Monday afternoon.
“Between business, family,
and public service, it is clear
that I’m burning more candles
at more ends than I can sustain,”
Krupicka said.
Krupicka began his political career when he was elected
to city council in 2003, where
he served for nine years. ThenGov. Tim Kaine selected Krupicka to serve on the Virginia
Board of Education in 2009.
In 2012, he was elected to
the Virginia House of Delegates in a special election held
after the resignation of Delegate David Englin, and has
served in Richmond for three
years. Krupicka did not return
calls for comment.
In January, Krupicka opened Sugar Shack Donuts, a
handmade doughnut shop at
804 N. Henry St., an area that
has seen a surge in redevelopment. In addition to serving pastries, he plans to open
a speakeasy-style bar called
Captain Gregory’s that connects to the doughnut shop.
Mayor Bill Euille said he
hadn’t yet had a chance to
By Erich Wagner
FIle PHOTO
State Delegate Rob Krupicka (D-45) announced Monday that he would
not seek re-election this fall, shocking many residents and city leaders.
Krupicka was renowned as a strident advocate for local school districts,
lobbying for additional early childhood education funding and leading
the effort to stop a state takeover of struggling schools.
As a Democrat
in the House,
it’s easy to be sort
of lost in oblivion,
so it takes a special
kind of gift to make
a mark. And he’s
made a mark.”
- Tim Lovain
City councilor
talk to Krupicka since his announcement Monday but the
mayor wished him well.
“I’m certainly saddened to
see Rob go after three years
representing the 45th District
and having served on city council,” Euille said. “Rob has done
a great job. I’m certain it was a
tough decision for him but he’s
got a new business and his family. Priorities come first.”
Former state Sen. Patsy
Ticer said Monday she was
shocked to hear the news. She
and Krupicka have been friends
since he worked on one of her
campaigns many years ago,
and she described him as an effective advocate for the city.
“He’s an old buddy, as
young as he is,” she said. “He’s
always been very supportive
… so I’m sad to hear that, but I
wish him well on his doughnut
venture. I just hope he doesn’t
get fat, although I don’t think
there’s much chance of that.”
City Councilor Tim Lovain
said it was remarkable what
Krupicka has been able to accomplish, given his status as a
Democrat in the Republicandominated House of Delegates.
“He has creative ideas and
persistence and a gift for bringing people together and working to get things done, so I
think he’s made the most of it,”
SEE Krupicka | 6
For perennial city budget
hawks, the difference between
the city’s public budget hearing Monday afternoon and last
year’s iteration couldn’t be
more stark.
Groups of residents and
employees, from local library
advocates and juvenile court
judges to police officers and
senior service advocates, who
last year all expressed dismay
at proposed allotments to city
programs, took turns lauding
Acting City Manager Mark
Jinks for preserving or bolstering funding. Libraries would
see an increase in their materials
budget; police officers are slated
for a pay raise; and there are no
cuts in programs for seniors proposed for fiscal 2016.
Instead, one issue quickly
took center stage as residents
read their prepared statements
to city councilors: education
funding. Although the city’s proposed budget includes $197.8
million for Alexandria City
Public Schools — a $6 million
increase, representing 55 percent
of all new general fund revenue
— that number still falls just
SEE Budget | 5
T.C. Williams student
found dead
Police: No sign of foul play
By Erich Wagner
Alexandria police are investigating the death of a T.C. Williams student found dead on the
morning of March 12.
Around 7:45 a.m., first responders responded to the
2800 block of Park Center
Drive. When they arrived, they
found a 17-year-old boy dead
outside a building. The victim,
Alex Rivera, was a sophomore
at T.C. Williams.
Officials announced Fri-
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day that autopsy results revealed Rivera died as a result
of a “descent from a building,” with no other signs of
trauma, but declined to specify the manner of death.
“We’re just trying to tie all the
ends together to determine what
happened,” she said. “An autopsy can say what injuries there
were, but it can’t necessarily say
how [the victim got them].”
And police spokeswoman
- PAGE 13
SEE Student | 12
2 | march 19, 2015
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WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM march 19, 2015 | 3
THE WEEKLY BRIEFING
Barrett Elementary staffer awarded national honor
Charles Barrett Elementary
School social worker Ana Bonilla-Galdamez has been awarded
the National Social Worker of
the Year Award, the first social
worker from Virginia to do so in
50 years.
In addition to her work at
Barrett,
Bonilla-Galdamez
served the school district as a
social worker and gang-counseling specialist at the T.C. Williams Minnie Howard campus.
“This is an honor, but it’s really an award for all the kids I’ve
worked with,” she said in a statement. “They gave me permission
to enter their lives and be part of
who they are. I’m very passionate about what I do, but I’m also
aware it’s a great responsibility.”
At the age of 12, Bonilla-Galdamez came to the United States
from El Salvador and spoke no
English. As a young girl, she
faced the same pressures young
immigrants do today, she said.
Bonilla-Galdamez worked
at Minnie Howard for 13 years
and started the Latino Youth for
Excellence, a program to help
support students in their relationships and lives at home. It
gives at-risk students a sense
of belonging and builds self-esteem, something teens seek out
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Ana Bonilla-Galdamez, a social worker at Charles Barrett Elementary School, recently was presented the National Social Worker of
the Year Award. Bonilla-Galdamez said she draws on her own childhood experience as an immigrant from El Salvador to connect with
and help students.
and can make them vulnerable
to gangs.
“I focused on their talents. I
treated them like kids who want
to fit in, which is what teenagers are,” she said. “The key is
that everybody has a place and
everybody belongs.”
Bonilla-Galdamez moved to
Charles Barrett hoping earlier intervention in students’ lives could
make a bigger impact. At the
same time, many families moved
into the area causing Barrett’s
population to shift. She worked to
ensure new families and students
felt welcomed and connected to
the school community.
“Today, kids look to me and
they refer each other to me because I can empathize with their
struggles,” she said. “I dealt
with some of the things that
they are dealing with and was
never told in high school that
college was an option.
“I try to make sure they know
about college and other opportunities for their future. I want
them to know that they have a
choice to dream and make those
dreams a reality like I did.”
Bonilla-Galdamez will accept the award at a reception
in Washington next month.
- Susan Hale Thomas
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POLICE BEAT
The following incidents occurred between March 11 and March 18.
27
5
Thefts
Vehicle
thefts
14
2
6
Drug
Crimes
20
1
3
robberies
bURGLARies
Assaults
413 Green Street
SEXUAL
OFFENSE
Aggravated
Assaults
*Editor’s note: Police reports are not considered public information in Virginia. The Alexandria Police
Department is not required to supply the public at large with detailed information on criminal cases.
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ALEXANDRIA TIMES
Redrawing the lines
oms
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ACPS officials propose
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By Susan hale thomas
Schools Superintendent Alvin Crawley announced the
Alexandria City School Board
would be redrawing the city’s
public school boundaries at a
meeting last Thursday.
District lines have not
changed since 1999 and Crawley said he expected schools to
be over capacity by 2020, with
enrollment growing by 4 percent each year.
In his presentation, Crawley
listed several benefits of redistricting. He said it would allow
for a more equitable apportionment
of students across
the district and
would alleviate
overcrowding and
untenable scheduling situations. The
outcome, he hopes,
will create a better atmosphere for
staff and students
in which to work
and learn.
The redistricting, if approved,
will be implemented ahead of
the 2016-2017 school year.
Crawley outlined a stepby-step process the board will
work through between now and
February 2016, when the plan
should be ready for approval.
Public engagement sessions
will be held to gather feedback as well as through public
hearings, a survey, community
forums, principal chats, PTA
meetings and open houses.
Crawley said students
would be assigned to schools
through an assignment committee, the school board and
community representatives.
Board members were concerned about the impact redistricting could have on the system as a whole. Bill Campbell
suggested the redistricting process be overlaid with the ACPS
modernization plan to see po-
tential conflicts or benefits.
Kelly Booz asked how transportation might be affected.
Campbell also expressed
his concern about the potential for legal issues if the board
inadvertently oversteps its authority.
“What limits do we have
in terms of some of the social
engineering that we are getting
ready to undertake?” he asked.
“So, if there are any documents
that perhaps limit what we can
do we certainly want to look
for those.”
School board member Pat
Hennig was concerned that
only three public hearings
were proposed and asked that a
fourth hearing be added. Hennig also suggested bringing
in an external group for assistance. Chairwoman Karen Graf
agreed.
Board member Marc Williams was curious about what
operational efficiencies could
be found through a different
student placement plan.
“Obviously it would be
great if [students] could start
lunch at 11 a.m. instead of
10:30 a.m.,” he said. “I don’t
know what other efficiencies
could be achieved. Maybe
there’s more efficient bus routing that could be achieved that
is not being achieved now?
“But I think the question
that is naturally going to arise
is: Is this going to cost us more
money? Will it be it easier on
the staff? Is it going to be easi-
er on the students?”
Vice Chairman Chris Lewis
was interested in seeing background data on transfers between schools.
“I get a lot of questions
from folks about who gets
transfers, why they get transfers, and is it fair,” he said.
“[To] me the reason that
we’re doing this … is because
we have schools with hundreds of kids who can’t go to
their neighborhood school,
and to me, that is the number
one reason why this needs to
happen.”
Campbell wanted to know if
all city schools students should
be able to walk
to their school or
whether the district
would have open
enrollment. Board
member Marc Williams asked for
specific placement
models that officials could study.
If
school
boundaries are to
be redrawn, officials will need
to figure out how
Courtesy image
to deal with the
disruption and stress it could
cause students and families.
Board member Kelly Booz
suggested a grandfather clause
of some sort to apply to students already in a school.
“That could be really jarring for a young person to have
to move to a different school,”
she said. “Are there case studies of different approaches that
help us to begin to go through
redistricting and go through
maybe a five-year roll out or
three-year roll out?”
In anticipation of great public interest, the board asked for
workable criteria and practices
for themselves and the public,
feeling it would help facilitate
the redistricting process for all
interested stakeholders.
The first public hearing on
redistricting will be held in
May.
WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM march 19, 2015 | 5
budget
FROM | 1
over $3 million short of the district’s $201 million request from
City Hall.
Parent after parent spoke
of the need for additional
funding for education in the
budget. Melissa Harrington,
a parent at George Mason
Elementary School, said the
school system’s proposal is a
modest effort to keep up with
enrollment and maintain quality instruction.
“The proposal is lean with no
frills, and the initiatives in it are
very modest,” she said. “That
$3 million is needed to keep
up with school growth, dealing
with our facilities, which are
crumbling and leaking, and to
retain teachers.”
The budget proposal put forth
by schools Superintendent Alvin
Crawley includes a full step in-
crease for all teachers and staff,
which district leaders argue is
needed to keep up with surrounding jurisdictions and to attract
and retain quality teachers.
“Arlington [County Public
Schools’] per-pupil spending is
higher, while their percentages
of English Language Learners
and students eligible for free
and reduced lunches are lower,”
Harrington said. “A significant
portion of the recent enrollment
increases [in Alexandria] need
ELL services and need much
more support.”
Kathy Matthews, president
of the James K. Polk Elementary Parent Teacher Association,
echoed those comments with her
experience walking the halls of
her child’s school.
“Our school facilities have
not been able to keep up with
the city’s growing population,”
she said. “At Polk, there are
classrooms literally in storage
closets and in our library.”
Nearly every parent that
spoke in favor of fully funding
the school system’s budget request also announced his or her
support for a proposal to close
the gap.
“[The funding gap] also cannot be offset by just volunteers,
who are already doing so much
in our schools,” said Marie Randall, a parent of children both
at George Mason Elementary
and George Washington Middle
School. “[It] is our responsibility to be able to provide for all of
our students, and in order to do
that I would also support a 1 percent increase in [property] taxes
that would go to the schools.”
Elsewhere, Maury Elementary School parents and students
advocated for city leaders to include money to pay for storm
water management upgrades
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6 | march 19, 2015
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
Krupicka
FROM | 1
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Lovain said. “With his expertise
with issues like education, he’s
made an especially strong impact. The whole of Alexandria
benefited from his speaking
truth to power on those issues.
“As a Democrat in the
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House, it’s easy to be sort of lost
in oblivion, so it takes a special
kind of gift to make a mark.
And he’s made a mark.”
Krupicka spearheaded the
fight against former Gov. Bob
McDonnell’s Opportunity Educational Institution, a controversial state agency tasked with taking control of struggling schools
until it was ruled unconstitutional last year. And he was a persistent advocate for local education
funding, from restoring funding
to teacher salary subsidies for
northern Virginia to early childhood education.
Rumors have flourished in
the immediate aftermath of the
news about who might try to
fill the new void. But with the
filing deadline just around the
corner — March 26 — many
people are struggling to organize both their personal lives
or campaign infrastructure.
“It’s especially tricky because, unlike city council or the
school board, which you can
kind of do part time, you basically have to set aside all of your
other work for several months
of the year,” Lovain said. “I
know I have the kind of job that
I couldn’t just put it aside for
a couple months at a time. …
There was some joshing about
it yesterday [by councilors] but I
don’t think anyone on the council is really looking at it.”
Alexandria Democratic Committee chairman Clarence
Tong said he is considering a
run, and has recused himself
from the nominating committee for the seat. Other names
that have been the subject of
rampant speculation are Julie
Jakopic, a local management
consultant, politico and friend
of Krupicka, and Carrie Ann
Alford, the legislative aide to
state Sen. Tommy Puller, who
lives in the Fairfax County
portion of the district.
Neither Jakopic nor Alford
were immediately available
for comment.
Friend and City Councilor
Justin Wilson said he believes
Krupicka’s service to the community will be ongoing.
“Rob is a good friend and a
conscientious public servant,”
Wilson said. “All around our
city, and particularly in our
classrooms, there is evidence
of the results of his labor. Our
city and our commonwealth
are better off for his service,
and I have every confidence
that service will continue out
of elected office.”
All around
our city, and
particularly in our
classrooms, there
is evidence of the
results of his labor.
Our city and our
commonwealth are
better off for his
service, and I have
every confidence
that service will
continue out of
elected office.”
- Justin Wilson
City councilor
Ted Johnson, Erik Dorn, Shannon Catlett, Charlie Collum, Pam De Candio and Kerry Donley
640 Franklin Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-289-5950
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Member
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Delegate Rob Krupicka (D-45) has been active in Alexandria politics since
well before he was elected to the House of Delegates in 2012. He was
first elected to city council in 2003, and then-Gov. Tim Kaine appointed
him to the Virginia Board of Education in 2009.
WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM march 19, 2015 | 7
Charting a new course for ACPS
School officials, residents
unveil five-year plan
By Susan hale thomas
Former schools Superintendent Morton Sherman already may seem like a distant
memory for city residents,
but Alexandria City Public
Schools officials hope a new
policy roadmap will solidify
the district’s new direction.
More than 100 citizens
provided feedback on the
first draft of a new five-year
strategic plan at a forum last
week at George Washington
Middle School. School officials and a committee of
25 community stakeholders
have worked since last summer to develop the draft plan
to guide both policy and budgeting into the future.
The 2020 Strategic Plan
will be the first such roadmap
to be adopted under the leadership of Superintendent Alvin Crawley. The document
focuses on closing achievement gaps to ensure all children within the school district
receive quality educations
and are prepared for the career of their choice.
Stakeholder committee cochairman John Lennon said
what the work his group is doing is extremely important.
“One of my favorite
quotes is from ‘Alice in Wonderland’: ‘If you don’t know
where you’re going, any
road’ll take you there,’” Lennon said. “If we don’t have
specific goals and objectives,
we won’t know where we
will be in the future and this
is especially important for
ACPS.”
ACPS schools spokeswoman Helen Lloyd said the
new plan doesn’t throw out everything Sherman enacted during his tenure, but it marks a
codified departure from his oftcriticized management style of
overloading students and staff
with a variety of new initiatives.
We take pride in our schools and we
want to see our students become
well-rounded critical thinkers with a real
passion for learning. We want to make
sure that we have a plan which is aligned
with our goals as we move toward a highachieving school division over the next
five years.”
- Alvin Crawley, schools superintendent
“I know some of the people involved are wanting to
see it carry on from the previous 5-year plan, but in a
slightly different direction,”
Lloyd said. “They want it to
be more in-depth, more focused and more geared to
what we really need now.
“We’re not completely
abandoning the past, but
we’re building on it … in a
way that is sensible and feasible.”
Janet Eissenstat, co-chairwoman of the stakeholder
committee, joined the group
because she feels the school
system has the potential to
be unique and dynamic, but
to get there, it takes renewed
commitment.
Eissenstat
works as an executive coach
and leadership trainer and is
the mother of two children
with special needs in city
public schools.
“Why is it we have systemic
challenges we haven’t seemed
to get traction on?” she said.
“[Slow] and steady wins the
race. It takes 18 months for a
team to coalesce. Staff turnovers cause the kids to suffer.
Let’s fix the process of how
we do things and commit to
what we’re doing.”
The draft plan places a
priority on early childhood
education and care and also
makes student health and
wellness a priority. The draft
says that ACPS will provide
access and support that enables students to be physically and mentally healthy,
which in turn makes learning
easier.
For Eissenstat, it’s all about
finding ways to stay focused
on a couple of key issues.
“As a community we are
working to prioritize what
ACPS needs to be good at,”
she said. “No school district
can excel at everything. We
must focus on the things that
matter most.”
Lloyd said the focus of the
new plan is what sets it apart
from previous leadership
teams.
“It’s a case of aligning
things and then not getting
off that track,” she said. “In
previous years, it was a bit
erratic, but this is our roadmap, and it’s going to be enforced at every level. Every
policy that comes before the
[school] board is going tried
and tested against this plan.”
At last week’s forum, residents offered feedback on the
plan’s goals, which include
better accountability and
community engagement, the
recruitment and retention of
teachers, updating facilities
and classrooms, health and
wellness, and academic excellence and equity.
A public survey provided
to the committee revealed residents’ priorities were to improve the condition of school
buildings and create equitable
SEE strategic | 17
Join us for the
Disability Resource Center
Open House and Resource Fair
Open to the Public
More than 40 partner organizations exhibiting.
Resources on employment, benefits, medical,
advocacy, assistive technology and much more.
Refreshments served by Blossom Daily Café and Gift Shop.
Friday, March 27, 1:00—4:00pm
10467 White Granite Drive Oakton, VA 22124
Visit www.servicesource.org for more information.
8 | march 19, 2015
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
WORD ON THE STREET
By Abigail Jurk
If the long winter this year
gave you cabin fever, here are
a few ideas of ways to get out
and about now that spring is finally in the air.
WHAT’S NEW
Everyone is talking about
Mason Social; a new restaurant located at 728 N. Henry
St. Mason Social is a farm-totable restaurant that specializes in using local ingredients.
The name is borrowed from
Thomas Mason, who was mayor of Alexandria in the 1820s.
The ambience of the restaurant
leans toward that time period
but with a contemporary twist
— think reclaimed wood, concrete countertops and pictures
of historic Alexandria on the
walls. The style of food fits
right in: contemporary American cuisine. Chad Sparrow,
one of the owners, says not to
miss out on the mussels during
your visit. Prepared with local
beer, bone marrow butter, bacon and scallions, they are one
of the most popular dishes on
the menu.
If you’re not looking for a
full meal but just want to have
a cocktail and spend some time
with friends, Mason Social has
that covered as well. They have
a bar that is separate from the
dining room, in which guests
can relax and have a drink or
a snack. Amongst a selection
of local beer and wine, Mason
Social also features a specialty
cocktail list. Sparrow says the
Mason Punch — grapefruit
vodka with honey and tarragon
syrup — is especially good.
Sparrow said he and the other
partners grew up in Alexandria
and always thought about opening a restaurant. They wanted to
give the neighborhood a place to
relax, be comfortable and enjoy
great food. Mason Social cer-
D eals , D rinks and F un across alexandria
tainly seems to be all of
these things. And, Sparrow says, they’re just
getting started. As the
restaurant moves forward, they hope to add
happy hour and brunch
to the mix, and maybe
even a rooftop bar. This
definitely will be a place
to add to your list of
hang-outs.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Barre workouts are sweeping the Port City. The new
fitness trend is on the tip of
everyone’s tongue. If you’re
interested in joining the trend,
Xtend Barre, located at 1701
Duke St., Suite 160, is a great
place to get started.
If you’re not familiar with
barre, it is a workout that is done
predominantly at a ballet bar,
using your own body weight,
heavy repetition and features
lengthening and strengthening
outs. Strahorn says
the difficulty levels of
moves can be modified for each person
depending on their
abilities.
Xtend Barre offers
individual classes for
$25, and also offers
package deals for longer periods. There is a
live DJ class offered
PHOTO/Rich Kessler Photography
to members and a new
“Babies on Board” class where
exercises to modern, upbeat moms (or dads — Xtend is open
music. No dance background is to both men and women) work
required and there are no expe- out with babies strapped on.
rience brackets; classes include Strahorn says after the workout,
people of all different ages (min- many members stay and chat.
imum 16) and abilities. Barre So if you’re looking for a new
provides a full body workout, workout this season, give Xtend
but also focuses individually on Barre a try. You can get in shape
each area of the body and cardio. and have fun while you’re at it.
Nicole Strahorn is the owner and
an instructor at Xtend Barre. She
To request a place, event or
says barre is a fun social activity,
special be featured in Word on
but everyone focuses on themthe Street, contact Abigail Jurk
selves and their individual workat [email protected].
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Alexandria Times 9.3x5.25 MORTGAGE AD.indd 1
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WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM march 19, 2015 | 9
over the line
N ews from greater alexandria | by chris teale
Mark Twain students honored for documentary by C-SPAN
Two young filmmakers from
Mark Twain Middle School have
been recognized by C-SPAN in
the television network’s national
StudentCam competition.
Eighth graders Tad Rosenberg and Kyle Pinkney were
among almost 5,000 students
in middle and high school
from across the country that
entered, and were one of 32
teams to come in third place
and receive $750.
Entrants to the competition are asked to produce a five
to seven-minute documentary
on a national policy issue, and
this year the question they were
asked to answer was “The Three
Branches and You: Tell a story
that demonstrates how a policy,
law, or action by either the executive, legislative, or judicial
branch has affected you or your
community.”
In response, Rosenberg and
Pinkney’s video was titled,
“The Affordable Care Act: Can
We Afford the Risks?” and saw
them go out into the streets
of Old Town and conduct interviews with both ordinary
citizens as well as representatives from the Defense Health
Agency and the 60 Plus Association about President Barack
Obama’s controversial law.
Health care was one of the
most popular areas of policy
on which films were produced,
joined by education and the
economy in the top three. All of
the documentaries were judged
by a panel of education representatives from C-SPAN, who
Police investigation ongoing after
Tasered inmate dies in jail
The Fairfax County Police
Department is investigating the
death of 37-year-old Natasha
McKenna, who died at the Fairfax County jail in February after
being Tasered by deputies.
McKenna’s last listed address was in Alexandria, and
was first sent to Fairfax County’s
jail on January 26 on a charge of
assaulting a police officer. On
February 3 she was scheduled
to be transported to Alexandria’s
William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center, but refused to cooperate with deputies.
During the struggle, she
was Tasered and experienced
what sheriffs describe as a
“medical emergency.” She was office says it is cooperating fultransported to Inova Fairfax ly with investigators, but they
Hospital, but died on February are unable to release evidence
8 after being removed
related to the infrom life support.
vestigation. The of The Fairfax County
fice added that they
Sheriff’s Office policy
are updating their
states that the incident is
policies, procedures
now classified as an inand training based
custody inmate death.
on
recommendaJust after McKenna’s
tions from the Fairdeath, Sheriff Stacey
fax-Falls
Church
Kincaid said in a stateCommunity Servicment, “We anticipate a Natasha McKenna es Board and other
prompt and comprehensive in- advocates for people suffering
vestigation and will continue to from mental illness. The Washupdate our website as new infor- ington Post reports that McKmation becomes available.”
enna had been held in the Fair As of March 9, the sheriff’s fax jail’s mental health unit.
Fairfax County Supervisor
Gerald Hyland to retire
Gerald Hyland
Gerald Hyland, a Democrat
who has represented the Mount
Vernon District on the Fairfax
Board of Supervisors since he
first was elected in 1988, will
retire at the end of this year, he
announced last month.
Hyland’s decision means
there will be two open seats on
the board in November’s election,
following Supervisor Michael
Frey’s (R-Sully) announcement
of his retirement in January.
The Washington Post reports that Hyland’s cited his age
and health as primary reasons
for not running for a seventh
four-year term on the board, especially since representing the
Mount Vernon district involves
working long hours.
“I’ve got a little bit of high
SEE Fairfax | 12
made their decision based on the
quality of participants’ work and
their use of different viewpoints.
“This year, the competition saw its greatest number of
participants ever,” said Craig
McAndrew, C-SPAN’s manager of education relations, in a
statement. “All aspects of these
student video productions, including the research, planning,
and diverse range of expert interviews, demonstrate the highest levels of critical thought and
initiative.”
“StudentCam affords our
nation’s youth a platform to express their opinions on national
issues, and we’re confident these
documentaries will prove eye
opening and inspire viewers
across the country.”
Thomas Jefferson High
School for Science and Technology also saw a team honored, as
seniors Anna Venetianer, Anna
Weidman and Vincent Billett
received an honorable mention
and $250 for their documentary,
“Extension of the Silver Line.”
10 | march 19, 2015
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
SCENE AROUND TOWN
Much ado about doo-wop
Synetic’s latest production
drops the dark motif
By Jordan Wright
In Synetic Theater’s jived
up version of “Much Ado
About Nothing,” Las Vegas’s flamboyant landscape
of feathered and sequined
showgirls becomes the backdrop for Director Paata Tsikurishvili’s reinvention of the
beloved comedy and the next
installment in the troupe’s
“Silent Shakespeare” series.
In his interpretation, Beatrice (Irina Tsikurishvili) is
a lovelorn lounge singer and
Benedick (Ben Cunis) her
castoff lover, who are reunited in her Uncle Leonato’s
(Peter Pereyra) casino.
Much to each other’s dismay.
Benedick has joined Don
Pedro’s (Philip Fletcher)
gang, the “Syneticons,” who
blow into town on their motorcycles — gleaming singlewheel choppers designed by
Props Master Kasey Hendricks and Technical Director Phil Charwood. Soon
gang member Claudio (Scott
Brown) falls hard for Don Pedro’s daughter Hero (Emily
Whitworth) and that’s when
the jealousies, betrayals and
backstabbing ruses begin.
In this “Grease”-meets“West Side Story”-meets“Car 54 Where Are You?”
fantasy, the comic relief often
is provided by a hilarious trio
of cops, led by the Chief of
Police, Dogberry, purposely
overplayed by Vato Tsikurishvili. The cut-ups give
chase to the lawless gang in
slapstick routines worthy of
Buster Keaton and Laurel and
Hardy. Of particular note is
Zana Gankhuyag, who plays
Verges.
Choreographer Irina Tsikurishvili pulls out all the
PHOTOS/KOKO LANHAM
Unlike many Synetic Theater productions, “Much Ado About Nothing”
drops the macabre atmosphere for 1950s enthusiasm and pop dance
routines (above). Irina Tsikurishvili and Ben Cunis star as lovers reunited (left) in the latest in the troupe’s “Silent Shakespeare” series.
stops, letting the dancing dictate the period. In a departure
from the dark dynamic that
infuses many of Synetic’s
productions, the cast’s mood
and infectious enthusiasm is
flat-out joyful. Girls jitterbug
in poodle skirts with James
Dean-esque bikers clad in
leather and tight jeans, while
the theme from “Peter Gunn”
takes it into overdrive.
It’s a doo-wop mash-up of
oldies from back in the day
as sound editor and composer Konstantine Lortkipanidze and music director Irakli
Kavsadze conspire to bring
back Chubby Checker with
“The Twist,” Bobby Darin’s
“Dream Lover” and the era
of “Beach Blanket Bingo.”
Actually, a few decades
overlap here, but who cares;
it’s an idealized backdrop
for teenage angst and puppy
love.
So even if the Chippendales
didn’t launch their striptease
act until 1979, we don’t mind
these hot male dancers doing
a bit of bump-and-grind along
with a game of strip poker.
And even though Leonato reminds us a bit of Al Pacino in
“Scarface” and the preacher is
a black Elvis (Wait! Was that
James Brown?), it’s fun to
play along.
As expected, there is
breathtaking dancing and
gravity-defying
acrobatics
from the classically trained
Georgian troupe. And although it gets off to a bit of
a slow start, after a few minutes, it explodes into fullthrottle Synetic-style mania,
fueled by dancers that look as
if they’ve been just waiting to
cut loose and show their cool
daddy-o side.
“Much Ado About Nothing”
runs through March 22 at
Synetic Theater, 1800 S. Bell
St., Crystal City in Arlington.
For tickets and information call
866-811-4111 or visit www.
synetictheater.org.
WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM march 19, 2015 | 11
Location: Alexandria Black History
Museum, 902 Wythe St.
Information: 703-746-4356
March 22
WINTER WARMER LADIES TEA
Calendar
To have your event
considered for our
calendar listings,
please email
[email protected].
Each Monday
TAVERN TODDLERS Join other
families as you and your toddler (walkers
through 36 months) have fun in Gadsby’s Tavern Museum’s historic ballroom.
Playtime features a craft table, book
corner, toys, as well as group dancing.
Time: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: American Legion, 400
Cameron St., check in at museum first.
Information: 703-746-4242 or www.
gadsbystavern.org
March 21
JAVA JOLT — ALMOST A BOOM:
A BRIEF HISTORY OF NEW
alexandria Friends of Alexan-
dria Archaeology sponsors a Java Jolt
lecture with author Jay Roberts, who
will discuss the little known neighborhood of New Alexandria, which was
proclaimed the “Coming Manufacturing
Metropolis of the South” in 1893.
Time: 10 to 11 a.m.
Location: Alexandria Archaeology
Museum, 105 N. Union St., Suite 327
Information: [email protected]
DOCENT-LED TOUR OF FRIENDSHIP FIREHOUSE MUSEUM
Come for an in-depth guided tour of
Friendship’s firehouse and learn about
the company’s firefighting procedures
and equipment, as well as the different
roles the organization played in serving
the community. Tickets available for
purchase online.
Time: 11 a.m. to noon
Location: Friendship Firehouse
Museum, 107 S. Alfred St.
Information: 703-746-4994
PUTTING THE FAMILY TOGETHER The first of two introductory
classes to genealogy entitled “Putting
the Family Together and Organizing
Your Family History.” In the first session
of the course, you will learn how to
research and organize the paternal
and maternal branches of your family
tree. It will also cover preserving and
protecting family heirlooms. Admission
costs $60 for the two sessions.
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Choose from a variety of 18th-century
desserts while you sip John Gadsby’s
special blend of tea or take a cup of
American Heritage Chocolate. Historic
guest Martha Washington will catch
you up on the latest Alexandria news
during the tea. Admission costs $35 per
person, tickets can be bought online.
Time: 3 to 5 p.m.
Location: Gadsby’s Tavern Museum,
134 N. Royal St.
Information: www.gadsbystavern.org
WONDERS OF SCIENCE Visit the
Apothecary and discover curious objects, from poison bottles to dragon’s
blood, and find out how they were
used and if they worked. During these
hour-long tours, Project Enlightenment,
McLean High School’s historicalreenactment society, will conduct
18th century scientific demonstrations
which are certain to expand visitors’
knowledge about science in the 1700s.
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
Location: Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 S. Fairfax St.
Information: shop.alexandriava.gov
BOOK DISCUSSION As part of
Women’s History Month, the Alexandria
chapter of the NAACP hosts a discussion with local author Nisa Harper
on her second book, “The Legacy of
Fathers…The Pain, The Power, and the
Promise”. The event is free.
Time: 2 to 5 p.m.
Location: Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St.
Information: 703-684-6190
March 24
MUSIC AT MOUNT VERNON
CONCERT SERIES Three concerts
of chamber music, performed by
members of the National Symphony
Orchestra. Each performance is prefaced by a brief piece of Mount Vernon
history, while afterwards guests enjoy
champagne and gourmet chocolates
with the musicians.
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Mount Vernon: George
Washington’s Estate & Gardens, 3200
Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
Information: 703-780-2000, info@
mountvernon.org or www.mountvernon.org
March 26
SALUTE TO WOMEN AWARDS
Alexandria’s Commission for Women celebrates its 35th Annual Salute to Women
Awards. Eleven women will be recognized
for their accomplishments in civic life and
for the improvements they have brought
to the well-being of Alexandria’s women.
Tickets are $65 per person.
Time: 6 p.m. reception, 7:15 p.m.
awards ceremony
Location: U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office, 600 Dulany St.
Information: 703-746-3132 or [email protected]
March 28
ANNUAL RUM PUNCH CHALLENGE Enjoy different rum punch
creations from local distilleries,
restaurants and caterers and vote for
your favorite. There is also period and
modern food as well as a silent auction. Admission costs $50 per person.
Time: 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Gadsby’s Tavern, 134 N.
Royal St.
Information: 703-746-4242, [email protected] or www.
gadsbystavern.org
EXTRAVAGANZA AT FOUR
MILE RUN National Community
invites all Arlandria area families for
live music, refreshments and family
friendly. A wellness team will also be
on-hand to offer check-ups.
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: 4109 Mount Vernon Ave.
Information: 571-264-3371 or www.
theaterchurch.com
MICRO-GRANTING DINNER
A micro-granting dinner that connects innovators with enthusiasts and
supporters to fund new creative community projects. Admission costs $15
per person, dinner included.
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Location: Convergence, 1801 N.
Quaker Lane
Information: 703-998-6260 or www.
torpedofactory.org
March 29
CREATIVE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM A program on creative mentor-
ship for youth in need. Keynote speaker
is Linda Odell, founder and executive
director of Space of Her Own, Inc.
Time: 2 to 4 p.m.
Location: Cameron Station Clubhouse (Great Room), 200 Cameron
Station Boulevard
Information: 202-331-3074 or [email protected]
LECTURE: GENERAL BRADDOCK’S EXPEDITION A lecture
on General Braddock’s expedition in
1755 as part of the Braddock Day
events and weekend symposium.
Time: 7 to 8 p.m.
Location: The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.
Information: 703-549-2997
April 2-16
TREATY OF GHENT BALL
DANCE CLASS In preparation for
the Treaty of Ghent Ball on April 18,
learn 18th-century English country
dancing from expert dance instructors.
Time: Each Thursday, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Gadsby’s Tavern Museum,
134 N. Royal St.
Information: 703-746-4242, [email protected] or www.
gadsbystavern.org
April 3-5
ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT
Children and families will hunt Easter
SEE Calendar | 19
God of Carnage
2/28 - 3/21
God of Carnage - Join us for the show that the
New York Times called, “Satisfying primitive
entertainment.” A playground altercation
between two boys brings together two sets
of parents for a meeting to resolve the
matter. At first all is well, but as the evening
progresses, the rum flows, the gloves come
off the night becomes a
Coming soon
side-splitting free-for-all
with parents behaving
badly! Just how easy is it for the veneer covering
our animal brutality to be stripped away? Come
see this 2009 Tony Award winner and find out!
Warning - show contains adult language.
600 Wolfe St, Alexandria | 703-683-0496
w w w . t h e l i t t l e t h e at r e . c o m
12 | march 19, 2015
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
budget
FROM | 5
to coincide with their proposal
to renovate the school’s playground, which suffers from severe drainage issues, through a
combination of ACPS and private funding.
Maury parent Kyle Lynch
described the current situation in
the schoolyard as “disastrous.”
“The city owns the property
on which Maury sits, yet the
city’s answer so far has been to
add curb cuts onto Russell Road,
which just allows more water,
mud and silt into the city’s sewers, hardly a permanent answer
to the problem,” he said. “This
is not just about fixing the flooding, muddy or icy sidewalks on
Russell Road that our children
are forced to navigate each day.
“This is about finding a permanent solution to the drainage
issue that cause these problems,
[which] can only be done by fixing the drainage on and under
the schoolyard itself.”
And cycling advocates decried cuts to transportation upgrades, from the operating cost
incurred by the planned expansion of Capital Bikeshare stations to the long-planned extensions of the Cameron Run and
Backlick Run bicycle trails.
“With the extension of Capital Bikeshare, all that is lack-
ing are $10,000 per year, per
station, for operating funds,”
said Jim Durham, chairman of
the city bicycling and pedestrian advisory committee. “[If
cut], the developer contributions that have been set aside
for Bikeshare could revert to
the developers and be lost to
the city.”
student
Lloyd said workers with
PRS/CrisisLink have been onsite at T.C. for anyone who
needs help or wants to talk. She
also promoted use of the group’s
free hotlines — 703-527-4077
or 1-800-273-8255 — and text
line: 703-940-0888.
“The crisis workers answering the hotline and text line understand that everyone grieves
differently and that there is no
‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to experience a loss,” said Greg Forbes,
the district’s director of secondary
school counseling, in an email.
Additionally, Lloyd said that
while T.C. has not held a formal
memorial service for Rivera, it
is actively working with an effort to help defray costs for the
family’s funeral expenses. She
encouraged anyone interested
in donating to visit http://www.
gofundme.com/orgk54.
FROM | 1
“The Hermitage is
where I’ve finally
found my family.”
—Helena Scott
Enjoy the Carefree
Lifestyle You Deserve
D
iscover why many people like you have come to call
the Hermitage home—the chance to experience a new
lifestyle with an array of services and amenities.
The residents at the Hermitage stay busy. Just ask Helena Scott,
who was confined to wheelchair for 30 years because of Multiple
Sclerosis and with regular physical therapy at the Hermitage, can
now walk a mile a day when the weather permits. In her spare
time, Helena knits scarves for fellow residents, volunteers in the
beauty salon, sits on the Health Center Committee and delivers
mail. Our residents also rave about our superb dining service,
our courteous and helpful staff, and an overall feeling of caring
and security that comes with living at the Hermitage.
You’ll also gain peace of mind knowing that health care
and supportive services are available right here, if you ever
need them.
h
For more information, call 703-797-3814.
Call
703-797-3814
to schedule a tour
of our beautifully
appointed
apartments.
h
Alexandria, VA
www.Hermitage-Nova.com
Crystal Nosal stressed that the
local medical examiner is focused on whether it was a suicide or an accident.
“Despite the rumors at the
school, there was no sign of foul
play,” she said.
ACPS has not released a formal statement about the incident,
but spokeswoman Helen Lloyd
outlined some resources the district has made available to T.C.
students in light of the tragedy.
“We’re definitely doing
counseling and helping in that
way,” she said. “Our director
of secondary school counseling
sent out some info saying that,
you know, loss can be especially
unsettling for children and teens
so social supports can be invaluable for grieving students.”
Fairfax
FROM | 9
blood pressure, I’ve had some
heart issues, and, frankly, sleep
apnea is an issue that I’m having
checked because I’ve found myself at committee board meetings
dozing several times, which I find
unacceptable and embarrassing,”
the 78-year-old told the Post.
“When you put it all together, it raises the questions: ‘Am
I personally fit? And, second,
am I fit as I need to be for my
constituents, who have a right
to have someone who doesn’t
have limitations?’”
Hyland first won election
to the board in 1987 by just 26
votes, having served in the U.S.
Air Force for 30 years and practiced law. He has been a colorful character in Fairfax County
politics, from his love for puns
to his walking cane, but also has
a number of achievements for
his Mount Vernon constituents
he can reflect upon.
He was instrumental in
closing the county-owned Interstate 95 landfill, now the site
of the Covanta waste-to-energy
plant in Lorton, while he also
helped keep the Mount Vernon
hospital open.
Hyland described the decision to step aside as “one of the
most difficult things in my life.
Nothing has given me more
satisfaction than the opportunity to make a difference in
people’s lives.”
His successor will be tasked
with representing a district that
includes the Mount Vernon and
Belle Haven areas of Alexandria as well as Lorton.
Over the Line is a monthly
feature highlighting news from
the Alexandria section of Fairfax County. Send story ideas to
[email protected].
WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM march 19, 2015 | 13
The Alexandria Times
Bridal Directory
2015
Welcome to the 2015 Alexandria Times Bridal Directory.
Design your dream wedding with the help of top local vendors
and some innovative approaches to planning your special day.
Finding the right wedding venue:
important but not impossible
By Chris Teale
t is one of the most important
decisions to be made when planning a wedding, and can also be
one of the toughest. Finding a venue
for the big day, be it for the ceremony,
the reception or both, is one of the first
things that needs to be finalized. With a venue selected, every other detail should have
little trouble falling into place.
When trying to find a suitable venue, its
location and accessibility is of paramount importance. Whatever your setting, consider the
logistics of having guests descend on it from
all corners, and keep in mind the possibility of
guests getting lost along the way. With that in
mind, a simple set of directions enclosed with
your invitation can save a whole lot of stress
for your traveling guests.
Similarly, ensuring there is enough parking
available for your guests is key, while those
traveling long distances might appreciate the
option of overnight accommodation, so they
can enjoy the day and not have to return to the
road so quickly after its conclusion.
SEE BRIDAL | 14
14 | march 19, 2015
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
The Alexandria Time
Bridal
Private rooms for your
Bridal Shower, Rehearsal
Dinner or Wedding Party!
218 N. Lee Street, Alexandria, VA
703-683-1007
www.labergerie.com
Providing Memorable Dining Experiences
for over 35 years.
FROM | 13
The size of your guest list also
should be an important indicator of
which venue to choose, as it is of
paramount importance that there is
space for everyone you wish to invite. Pick a setting that is too small,
and you risk offending any guests
who are left out, while a venue whose
capacity is too large could feel far too
cavernous and unnecessary, given
the expense that will go along with it.
When considering different capac-
ities, ensure that there will be enough
space in your venue for all that you
wish to do in your wedding. Guests
must not feel too packed in, while
making sure that there is enough room
for tables and chairs as well as other
features like a dance floor ensures that
the room will not feel too tight.
Finally, when looking to narrow
down a list of potential venues, making
sure they have the date available for
your marriage is a must. Sometimes,
venues may be willing to make tentative bookings, but bear in mind that
venues may not hold onto them for too
r r,
t fo ne
po l din nch
s
ct sa lu
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Th our ides day- nch
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br
1 Marina Dr., Alexandria, VA 22314
703-548-0001 • www.indigolanding.com
Wedding
3104 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
703.370.8922
Caterer
Tues - Wed 11-7 • Thurs 11-8
Fri 11-5 • Sat 10-5 • Sun - Mon Closed
www.KatherinesBridalBoutique.com
Hollin Hall
A Historic
Wedding Venue
in Alexandria
5701 General Washington Dr.,
Suite F
Alexandria, VA 22312
(703) 539-8646
We offer garden ceremonies and two beautiful
indoor reception areas for up to 150 people.
Contact Amanda at 703-298-6965
or [email protected]
[email protected]
www.toyourtastecatering.com
Photos at www.hollinhallweddings.com
Contact 703-739-0001 or [email protected] to advertise in the Alexandria Times.
WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM march 19, 2015 | 15
es Bridal Directory
long if they have found another party
willing to commit more solidly to a date.
When visiting potential venues,
ensure you make an appointment beforehand and while there, take notes
and shoot your own photos of the
venue space. It is most likely that
there will be several possible venues
on your shortlist, so make sure that
everything you come away with is
filed away as efficiently as possible to
avoid any confusion later on.
It may seem like a lot to take in,
with planning and booking required
a long time in advance, but there are
plenty of venues across Alexandria
ideal for hosting a wedding, reception
or even both.
River Farm is four miles south of
Old Town in Mount Vernon, and with
its sweeping views of the Potomac
River and numerous lawns and gardens,
it can be a perfect venue in those hot
summer months. At 25 acres, there are
plenty of different settings throughout
that provide an excellent backdrop, be it
the meadow and view of the river or the
formal gardens. With so many options
Host your
ceremony or
reception
Amidst the
natural historic elegance of
Carlyle House
gardens
121 N. FairFax Street,
alexaNdria. 703.549.2997
www.carlylehouSe.org.
SEE BRIDAL | 16
1102 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 836-6866 • www.todayscargo.com
ALON LIVNE CLAIRE PETTIBONE CLAIRE PETTIBONE ROMANTIQUE
ELIZABETH FILLMORE EVE OF MILADY INES DI SANTO MARISA
PALOMA BLANCA PETER LANGNER PRONOVIAS PRONOVIAS ATELIER
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ROSA CLARA SOFT SASSI HOLFORD SUZANNE NEVILLE
Call for an Appointment 703 549 0387
www.HANNELORES.com
106 NORTH LEE STREET ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314
Sweet and
Savory Crepes,
Steak Frties,
Mussels,
Boutique Wines
and Craft Beers,
Movie
• Weekend Brunch
Lunch • Dinner French
Night
Celebrate Parisian style at Fontaine!
Perfect for intimate bridal and wedding events.
119 South Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
.535.8151
• www.fontainecaffe.com
Lunch •703
Dinner
• Weekend
Brunch
119 South Royal Street, Alexandria VA 22314
703.535.8151 • www.fontainecaffe.com
Contact 703-739-0001 or [email protected] to advertise in the Alexandria Times.
16 | march 19, 2015
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
The Alexandria Times
Bridal Directory
Bridal
FROM | 15
to choose from, one of George Washington’s former farms could be ideal.
In Old Town itself, Morrison House
was named one of the best wedding
venues by Washingtonian Magazine,
and it is easy to see why as the Federal-style building provides an excellent
background for photos. In addition,
with catering provided by The Grille,
your intimate wedding will be memorable, right in the heart of Alexandria.
For those who are looking for
something a little different, the riverboat cruise companies based along the
waterfront also offer spectacular wedding packages that give a wedding or
reception a nautical feel. The likes of
Potomac Belle, the Potomac Riverboat
Company and Odyssey Cruises are all
notable choices and can accommodate
as many as 500 people on board.
Planning and choosing a venue for
your wedding and reception can seem
like a very stressful task. There are so
many factors to consider, but with so
many options available, you should
have no trouble finding the right one.
Have your rehearsal
dinner, reception or
any other wedding
event at one of
the most handsome
and convenient
venues in Alexandria.
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the
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www.theismanns.com
K not
Call today for a tasting with one of our Bridal Consultants
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Follow us
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Belle View
Shopping
Center
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1510-A
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•
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703.660.6085 • www.dishesofindia.com
The 2015 Alexandria Times
Bridal Directory
B ridalD irecto
AlexAndriA timeS 2015
Get a jump on spring wedding planning by
reserving your space in the Times bridal pages.
A dramatic & memorable site for
wedding ceremonies, receptions, and parties.
www.nvfaa.org | 703-548-0035 | [email protected]
T wo more issues~ April 16 • May 21
Get a jump on spring wedding planning by reserving
Contact
or bridal pages.
your space in the Times now for the
703 - 739 - 0001
[email protected] to advertise!
Bridal Shops • Tuxedo shops • Catering Services • Wedding planners
Wedding Sites • Bakeries • and more!
Contact 703-739-0001 or [email protected] to advertise in the Alexandria Times.
“Black Friday” Holiday Shopping
Shop, dine & celebrate on Alexandria’s historic Main Streets
Alexandria “Black Friday” Features: Free Parking*, Early Openings, Deep Discounts
* Go to VisitAlexanriaVA.com for a list of free parking garages, shops with early hours and special discounts.
WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM strategic
FROM | 7
learning environments.
Eissenstat said she kept
hearing diversity was a primary reason for the school
system’s challenges.
“Diversity should be our
crowning jewel,” she said.
“It’s what should draw people
Diversity
should be our
crowning jewel. It’s
what should draw
people to ACPS. We
should celebrate
our diversity
and make it our
strongest asset.”
- Janet Eissenstat
Co-chairwoman,
stakeholders committee
to ACPS. We should celebrate
our diversity and make it our
strongest asset.”
The current plan will lapse
in June, when the new plan
will take effect and be in place
through 2020.
march 19, 2015 | 17
“We take pride in our
schools and we want to see our
students become well-rounded
critical thinkers with a real passion for learning,” said Superintendent Alvin Crawley.
“We want to make
sure that we have a
plan which is aligned
with our goals as we
move toward a highachieving school division over the next
five years.”
Over the next three
months, the committee
will continue to tweak
the plan based on input from community
forums, online data and
several smaller presentations to groups including
teachers, staff and parent teacher associations.
In June, the school board will
adopt the final plan.
Public comments on the
draft strategic plan can be
made online at www.acps.
k12.va.us. A final public forum will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at Francis C. Hammond
Middle School. After the forum and online feedback are
reviewed, a second draft will
be published.
Turning Back Time
This week in 2009:
City has six cents when it comes to
taxes: Officials consider real estate
tax-rate hike to raise revenue -
“After advising City Manager Jim Hartmann to
propose a budget championing a static fiscal
year (beginning July 1), the city council examined a possible tax rate increase of up to six
cents for the 2009 calendar year Saturday, citing the additional revenue it would provide
for the city while riding out the recession.”
Lyceum premieres Jewish history exhibit - “A new exhibit titled “Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of an American Community” made its premiere on a rainy
March 15 at the Lyceum, featuring a variety of fascinating stories and photos depicting
the Jewish community in the area. The exhibit also contains artifacts from the Jewish
community in Northern Virginia from 1795 to the present.”
Two Lady Titans gain big-time recognition again - “For almost any athlete,
being named Virginia’s Gatorade Player of the Year in his or her sport or taking home a
national championship would probably be the crowning glory of one’s high school career. As they have both proven time and again, T.C. Williams seniors Tierra Ruffin-Pratt
and Tynita Butts are not quite like other athletes.”
AlexRenew customers...
It’s time
to clean the pipes.
PHOTO/Susan Hale Thomas
Safiyah Rboub (center), a fourth grader at James K. Polk Elementary School, was honored by the Alexandria City School Board
after having her poster chosen as one of the 12 winners of the
“Use a Helmet Prevent Epilepsy” poster contest sponsored by the
Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia. Rboub and other winners spent
January 27 in Richmond and attended a special reception with
members of the General Assembly.
Alexandria Renew Enterprises cleans the dirty water that’s pumped to our major
intercepting sewer lines from the smaller sewer lines owned and maintained by the City.
Beginning in February and ending in July, we will perform preventive maintenance on the
Potomac Interceptor by cleaning the pipes to ensure dirty water flows freely.
Want to learn more? Visit us at www.alexrenew.com or call 703-549-3383.
18 | march 19, 2015
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
Sports
The
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1207 King Street
1207
King
1207
Street
King
Alexandria,
VA Street
Alexandria,
Alexandria,
VA
VA
703-549-4040
703-549-4040
703-549-4040
www.lamplighterlamps.com
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For SAle
FOR SALE
RARe FRee STAnding PRoPeRTy
on WAShingTon STReeT
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ON WASHINGTON STREET
417 N. Washington Street
Alexandria,
Va St.
417
N. Washington
Alexandria, Va
Building Size:
3,450 SF
Building Size: 3,450 SF
Price Guide:
$2,000,000
Price Guide: $2,000,000
Features:
Features:
• Suitable for Commercial
 Suitable for Commercial or
or Residential Use
Residential Use
• 4 Parking Spaces
 4 Parking Spaces
• Architecturally Significant Property
 Architecturally Significant Property
• Prominent Location on
Prominent Location on Major

Major Thoroughfare
Thoroughfare
For more information on this property
Call: 703-549-1695
BROKERAGE / ASSET MANAGEMENT / DEVELOPMENT
Photo/Chris Teale
Cardinals goalkeeper Ryan Verducci and a defender look on as their teammates make progress up
the field. Ireton went on to beat Maret 8-7.
Ireton boys lacrosse’s first
victory in a year signals
new direction for program
By Chris Teale
At the final buzzer, the relief
and the jubilation were palpable
around Fannon Field, as Bishop
Ireton’s boys lacrosse team celebrated their first victory in league
play in a year as they snuck past
Maret High School 8-7.
The Cardinals had not been
victorious since March 13, 2014,
when they beat St. Andrew’s
Episcopal on the road, but under
new head coach Brandon Rose,
the program has resolved to improve and grow after some disappointing seasons in the past.
That desire to improve
is symbolized by the slogan
“100%” on the bottom of the
team’s warm-up jerseys. For
Rose, who became head coach
at Ireton after being lead varsity
assistant coach at Episcopal, that
concept of maximum effort is
crucial for his team.
“That’s their slogan this year,
for no matter what you do —
and I understand there’s going
to be a lot of mistakes you make
in a new system — but you need
to be going at 100 percent at all
times,” he said. “At least that
way you’re still putting in the effort and everything else.
“You’re going to find you’re
going to hit a brick wall and
you’re not going to be able to do
things, but if you go at 100 percent, you’re going to find some
success somewhere.”
The game itself was a tight
one as both teams kept up a
frenetic pace of play. Maret
stormed into a 3-0 lead early in
the second quarter, but Ireton
came roaring back and took a
4-3 lead as time expired in the
first half. The Frogs went ahead
on another two occasions, but
David Dorsett drew the teams
level in the fourth quarter at 7-7
and also completed a hat trick.
Then, with just 2:52 left in the
game and with Maret holding a
man advantage, Antonio Caffi
scored the winner for the Cardinals, who then wound down the
clock and secured the victory.
After such a topsy-turvy encounter in which they came back
from deficits three times, Rose
was happy with his side’s efforts
but knows they still have a long
way to go.
“It wasn’t bad,” he said.
“We’ve got some things to work
on. Luckily we came and fought
back after the first quarter to tie
and eventually go ahead at the
end of the half, but there’s definitely some things we’ve got to
work on to get better and improve throughout the season.
“I’m happy that we had that
fight in us to [come back]. We
didn’t continue to quit, and we
kept going forward to pull out
the victory.”
The hard work of rallying
when behind fits in with the
ethos that Rose has brought to
the team in his new role, and is
something the players already
are appreciating after years of
losing records.
“He’s brought in a real bluecollar work ethic to this team,”
senior Ciaran Lewis said after
the game. “He’s teaching us the
right way to play lacrosse. It’s a
relief to have a coach who knows
the game, the ins and outs, and
he can bring up the young guys
and teach them how to properly
play the game — ground balls,
penalties, how to shoot.”
One thing that remains important also is reducing mental
errors and learning to deal with
SEE IRETON | 19
WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM march 19, 2015 | 19
Lyles brothers lead T.C. to indoor state title
Calendar
The accolades keep pouring in for T.C. Williams sprinters Noah and Josephus Lyles,
the brothers who have surpassed nearly all challengers
in recent years at the state, national and international levels.
The pair led the Titans
to a 6A state title at the Virginia High School League’s
indoor track championship
meet, with both brothers part
of T.C.’s gold medal-winning
4x1,600-meter relay team
alongside Mahlique Booth
and Isaih Clarke.
Noah Lyles then earned an
individual honor of his own as
he won gold in the 200 meters
at the New Balance Indoor
Nationals in New York with
a time of 20.83 seconds. It
was the second-fastest time
eggs, have photos taken with the
Easter Bunny, enjoy snacks, and make
fun crafts to take home at Lee-Fendall
House’s 16th annual Easter egg hunt.
Tickets are $12 for ages 0-10, and
$5 for all older children and adults.
Reservations are encouraged.
Time: Friday 1 p.m., 3 p.m.; Saturday
10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.;
Sunday 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Location: Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, 614 Oronoco St.
Information: 703-548-1789,
[email protected] or www.
leefendallhouse.org
IRETON
FROM | 18
them when they happen, something that Rose continually emphasizes to his squad in games
and practice.
“I’d say the game is almost completely mental, and
that’s where a lot of our errors
came in,” junior goalkeeper
Ryan Verducci said. “We’ve
got guys on the field right now
working to shoot. We’ve got
to keep our work ethic up, and
that’s something that Coach
Rose has definitely instilled in
us, which is critical.
“While we’re playing,
your mistakes are very minor
Information: 703-746-4536
FROM | 11
April 10-26
April 4
Courtesy Photo
ever over that distance by an
American athlete, and Lyles’
first national championship.
Both will graduate from
T.C. in 18 months, and have
ambitions of becoming profes-
sional runners like their father
Kevin, who was part of the U.S.
4x400-meter relay team at the
1995 IAAF World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Chris Teale
things in the grand scheme of
the game. If you fail to pick
up a ground ball, you’ve just
got to get back onto defense;
you’ve got to get the next one.
For the most part there’s always a second chance.”
The win gives the Cardinals some much-needed momentum and confidence, having started with an 0-3 record
and lost 7-6 in overtime to
Rockhurst of Kansas City, Mo.
in their home opener. With this
victory under their belts, Ireton
is hopeful of further success.
“I know Bishop Ireton’s
been down for the past few
years, and I wanted to come
over here and help these guys
learn the game and be successful,” Rose said. “I think we’re
starting to get there, but we’ve
got a long way to go.
“We’re going to focus on
fundamentals and just changing the aura of the program itself. We’ve brought in a new attitude into it and we’ll go from
there. It may take a couple of
years to get this turned around,
and it’s just small simple mistakes that we need to fix. I think
we’ll improve greatly once we
fix those ourselves.”
“Confidence right now
is really high,” sophomore
Niall Lewis said. “We want to
[keep winning], and just keep
building from there.”
NEWLY RENOVATED APARTMENTS
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JAZZ 4 JUSTICE The Alexandria
Law Foundation and Northern Virginia
Community College Jazz Ensemble
presents the second Annual Jazz 4
Justice concert. It benefits the charitable endeavors of the Alexandria Bar
Foundation, Legal Services of Northern
Virginia and the music scholarship
fund at NOVA. Donations requested of
$15 per person.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rachel M. Schlesinger
Concert Hall and Arts Center, 4915 E.
Campus Drive
Information: 703-548-1106 or
[email protected]
STUDENT ART EXHIBITION
UNDERWATER EGG HUNT
Explore the water to find as many eggs
as possible, some of which will have
prizes. There will also be games, an
Aqua Challenge inflatable and a visit
from Alex the Bunny. Bring your own
waterproof basket.
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
Location: Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility, 3210
King St.
Information: 703-746-5553 or [email protected]
April 6
Del Ray Artisans and the T.C. Williams
High School Art Department jointly
present the 18th annual Student Art
Exhibition. The exhibit will feature
artwork from T.C. Williams High School
students in grades 9-12.
Time: Thursdays and Sundays noon
to 6 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays noon
to 9 p.m.
Location: Del Ray Artisans, Nicholas
A. Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount
Vernon Ave.
Information: 703-402-4847 or
[email protected]
April 11
R.E. LEE CAMP DINNER
Listen to speaker Billie Earnest discuss
“The Life of George Pickett.” The real
story of his life will be told; while on
display will be many treasured items
that once belonged to the General and
his family.
Time: 6:15 p.m.
Location: American Legion Post 24
Hall, 400 Cameron St.
Information: 703-299-1725 or www.
leecamp.org
April 7
FIREFIGHTING IN CIVIL WAR ALEXANDRIA WALKING TOUR The “We’ve Been
Burned: Alexandria Firefighters During
the Civil War” walking tour will explore
firefighting during the Union occupation, visit the sites of four of the five
firehouses and learn what happened if
there was a fire in the occupied city.
Time: 1 to 3 p.m.
Location: Friendship Firehouse
Museum, 107 S. Alfred St.
Information: 703-746-4994
April 12
EMANCIPATION COMES TO
ALEXANDRIA This program con-
tinues Alexandria’s commemoration of
the 150th anniversary of the American
Civil War, and will focus on Alexandria
becoming the capital of the Unionist
government of Virginia and the actions
then taken to ensure the emancipation of slaves in the City. Reservations
suggested.
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Alexandria Black History
Museum, 902 Wythe St.
MAD SCIENCE Explore where real
science and mad science collide with
45 minute tours, which start every 30
minutes and feature historic medicines
with surprising side effects. Upstairs,
meet the Museum’s very own mad
scientist bringing to life some crazy
concoctions and the science behind
them. Reservations recommended.
Time: 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Location:Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 S. Fairfax St.
Information: shop.alexandriava.gov
Our Savior Lutheran School
Pre-K (age 4 by September 30th) through 8th grade
BRIDGEYARDLIVING.COM
Thursday, April 23rd, 9 - 11 am and 6 - 8 pm
• Extended day program available
• Small class sizes, diverse student body
• Christian education, fully accredited and licensed
• We start each day with The Pledge of Allegiance
and My Country ‘Tis of Thee
825 South Taylor Street, Arlington, VA 22204 • (703) 892-4846 • www.osva.org
20 | march 19, 2015
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
At Home
The modern farm’s charm
By Mary G. Pepitone
You don’t need an attached
acreage to enjoy the honest design of farm living. While the
mauve ruffles and dusty blue
“duck-in-bonnet” motifs of the
1980s country craze are out,
today’s true farmhouse details
also can be at home in suburbia
or a city loft.
The modern take on classic
country design creates a homey
feel no matter where you live,
says Joanna Gaines, co-owner
with husband Chip Gaines of
their Waco, Texas-based Magnolia Homes, and co-star of
HGTV’s “Fixer Upper.”
“People are so busy in their
lives, they crave simplicity and
calm when they come home at
the end of a frantic day,” she
says. “Chip and I see the value in
taking something old and mak-
ing it new again, whether we’re
repurposing or restoring it.”
Modern farmhouse design
begins with solid craftsmanship,
whether it requires rehabbing an
old house or just bringing a bit
of “old soul” into a newly constructed home. “The details in
older homes are perfectly imperfect,” Chip says. “These homes
are meant to be lived in and have
a character about them that only
time can give.”
OPEN SPACES
Removing interior walls to
achieve an open floor plan is often the first step toward creating
a modern farmhouse aesthetic.
“You want the energy to flow in
a home,” Joanna says. “A lot of
walled-off rooms really affects
the functionality of a space —
SEE farm | 21
PHOTO/MOLLY WINN PHOTOGRAPHY
Chip and Joanna Gaines, owners of Waco, Texas-based Magnolia Homes, and co-stars of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper,” purchased this 1895 Victorian-era farmhouse, located on 40 acres outside of Waco, in 2012. After
renovations, the house’s square-footage doubled and is the epitome of the modern farmhouse aesthetic.
HOME OF THE WEEK
Rooms with a view in Monticello Park
Deceptively unassuming
from the street, this spacious
Monticello Park home will surprise you with its charm, square
footage and gorgeous finishes.
Once inside, you will be
immediately impressed by
the living room with vaulted
ceilings and a wood burning
fireplace. Rooms like this are
perfect for art enthusiasts.
The crown jewel of this
home is the open, show-stopping kitchen and family room
with unobstructed views of
Monticello Park. High-end appliances and custom cabinetry
with all the conveniences of
modern life create functionality and beauty. The oversized
windows in this space bring
the outdoors inside, even on
cloudy days.
The marvelous way the
rooms flow together in this
home extends to the patio and
deck. This home was made for
entertaining both inside and
out, and a gathering of any size
can easily be accommodated.
In just a few short weeks, the
shrubs and beds will be blooming with flowers, announcing
that spring has arrived.
The owner’s suite shares
the same gorgeous views as
the family room and the high
ceilings would easily allow a
four-poster bed. The beautiful tile work and soaking tub
in the master bath resembles a
luxurious hotel or spa.
At a Glance:
Bedrooms: 3
Location: 3119 Circle Hill Road,
Bathrooms: 3
Alexandria, VA 22305
Contact: Elizabeth Lucchesi,
Price: $1,174,000
McEnearney Associates, 703-868-5676,
www.lizluke.com
Size: 3,180 square feet
Lovely spring blooms are just days away.
Chefs of all skill levels will want to cook here.
Courtesy Photo
PHOTO/truplace
WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM march 19, 2015 | 21
PHOTOs/MOLLY WINN PHOTOGRAPHY
White ceilings with stained wooden beams, open shelving cabinetry
and rustic design details are all at home in a modern farmhouse (left).
Bright and airy interiors invite natural light into a space through windows. The cornerstone of modern farmhouse design is to focus on the
kitchen (above) and its connected living and dining areas.
farm
FROM | 20
and not in a good way.”
Chip and Joanna bought
their family’s 1895 Victorian-era
farmhouse, located on 40 acres
outside of Waco, in 2012. The
Gaineses reconfigured the walls
within the original 1,800-squarefoot home to highlight the kitchen
as the workhorse of their house.
The cornerstone of modern
farmhouse design is to focus on
the kitchen and its connected living and dining areas, but Chip
warns against being too eager to
“take down those walls.”
“As much as we promote
DIY (do-it-yourself) projects,
removing walls requires a reputable professional,” he says. “A
respected contractor will know
whether a wall is load-bearing
before removing it, because the
last thing you want is to compromise the structural integrity of
your home.”
LIGHT, BRIGHT AND WHITE
DESIGN
After achieving an open floor
plan, Joanna builds on a clean
color palette by painting walls
white or a neutral color. “Interest is created in a home by using natural materials,” she says.
“I love painting the walls’ wood
paneling or shiplap white and
then layering wood, stone, metal
and pops of color on top of that
blank canvas.”
White ceilings with stained
wooden beams, open shelving
cabinetry and wide-plank wood
flooring are all at home in a
modern farmhouse. Bright and
airy interiors invite natural light
into a space through windows.
A bright tip is to install vintage
light fixtures — whether it’s
over the kitchen table or the
bathroom tub — to illuminate
and accentuate this simple, yet
sophisticated style.
The Gaines’ farmhouse was
originally a two-bedroom home
with an unfinished attic. After its
renovation, the home’s squarefootage doubled by finishing
the upstairs with a family room,
guest bedroom and craft room. A
master bedroom was added onto
the house, and Joanna incorporated old doors and fixtures
while using salvaged molding
and trim pieces to preserve the
architectural integrity and interest in the home.
But Chip cautions against
having the interior of the house
too monochromatic. “An operating room is also light, bright and
white, but we’re not going for
a sterile environment,” he says.
“Don’t be afraid to incorporate
rustic touches or distressed finishes into your home, because
that’s what gives it character and
warmth.”
While the design foundation
of the farmhouse is neutral tones,
Joanna likes to accessorize with
the colorful dishes she displays
or textiles she uses. A simple
needlepoint sampler, colorful
antique quilt or rustic folk art
piece can personalize the space
and add to a farm fresh vibe.
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The overall modern farmhouse style can be viewed as
uncluttered and contemporary.
But by incorporating natural elements into an otherwise austere
atmosphere — such as a wooden
butcher-block countertop, metal
basketry and stone fireplace — a
warm, intimate farmhouse feeling can be achieved.
The Gaineses look to nature
for design inspiration. If possible, keep windows bare or use
light and airy window treatments
so outdoor views are unobstructed. French doors can replace
windows that lead to an outside
deck, patio or porch.
“Use what you have and only
have what you use” is the modern
farmhouse mantra. Farmhouses
were historically constructed
without waste, so reclaimed
wood can be used to build a
kitchen island, or an old dresser
can be converted into a freestanding bathroom vanity.
“It’s the tiny details that
add charm and personality to a
home,” Joanna says. “And don’t
forget the flowers — whether you
pick them up at a grocery store or
just pick them from the garden
outside your home.”
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22 | march 19, 2015
Our View
City political landscape
continues to shift
Alexandria’s political scene, long as calm as a
mountain lake on a windless day, is in the midst of major upheaval. First, then-U.S. Rep. Jim Moran decided
against running for re-election last year after serving
24 years in Congress. Moran’s announcement set off
an unwieldy, 11-person race for the 8th District Democratic nomination, ultimately won by former Lt. Gov.
and Ambassador Don Beyer.
Long-time Mayor Bill Euille currently is facing competition from two credible challengers in the Democratic primary.
That post could change hands for the first time in 12 years.
On Monday, the Port City’s political waters were roiled
a bit more, when Delegate Rob Krupicka (D-45), one of
two Alexandria representatives in the Virginia House of
Delegates, announced he would not seek re-election.
Krupicka’s announcement was unexpected, as he has
only held the post since 2012. But on closer examination,
his decision is not surprising: serving in the Virginia General Assembly means a father like Krupicka must leave his
family behind for the better part of two months each year.
That’s a tough commitment to make long-term. In addition,
Krupicka has a burgeoning business empire here in Alexandria, with the opening of his Sugar Shack donut shop in
January and an adjacent bar planned soon.
Though understandable, Krupicka’s departure is a loss
for Alexandria and Virginia as a whole. In the current era
of nasty partisanship, Krupicka stands out for his unusual
ability to work with colleagues on the other side of the aisle
to get things done. Blessed with a moderate temperament,
Krupicka has earned the respect both of fellow Democrats
as well as Republicans for his pragmatic, wonk-ish approach to issues.
Rather than throw bombs, or take stances on issues that
garner publicity but have little chance of being enacted,
Krupicka worked behind the scenes to increase local educational funding and to prevent Richmond from taking
control of struggling local schools.
Serving in Richmond can be a lonely endeavor for
someone from Alexandria. Our city is overwhelmingly
Democratic — we haven’t sent a Republican to Richmond
since Bob Calhoun, who was defeated by Patsy Ticer in
1995 — yet the state legislature has been increasingly in
Republican hands since then. It requires particular deftness
in such circumstances to get things done while remaining
true to one’s beliefs.
Krupicka was equally effective during his time on Alexandria City Council and on the Virginia Board of Education. We hope his departure from Richmond is but a sabbatical from public life, and wish him well in his business
endeavors.
Meanwhile, Alexandria’s fascinating season of political
change continues.
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
Opinion
“Where the press is free and every man is able to read, all is safe.”
- Thomas Jefferson
Your Views
Give city council more credit
for the decisions it makes
To the editor:
Frankly I am tired of
reading the letters to the editors in the local newspapers
each week, dragging myself through all of the “city
council does nothing right”
screeds. The point is: city
council has been very responsive to the citizens’ needs.
Council regularly faces hostile crowds seeking specific
outcomes favorable to them,
but do not recognize the
overall needs of Alexandria’s
citizens and the urban center
we have become. Recently
Alexandria’s downtown was
recognized as one of the top
10 downtowns in the country,
which is quite a statement.
Let me be specific. Recently, several letters to the editor about councilors’ decision
to approve the memory care
facility on King Street were
very negative. I live just off of
King Street to the east of this
facility and testified at both
the planning commission and
city council in favor of it. Both
made the right decision (except for one councilor). Zoning
codes, like laws, are purposely
written to create a framework,
but must be somewhat flexible to meet unforeseen future
changes in the community.
In this case, the underlying zoning was industrial.
The 1992 master plan covering this area could not know
exactly what the needs of
the community would be in
2015 and beyond. Therefore,
council and planners wisely
agreed to change the zoning
to accommodate this important facility. All Alexandrians
are better for it. The impact
on the neighborhood was
judged not to be as extrava-
gant as witnesses testified.
This also is correct. The argument I have read lately was
that it was a zoning issue not
a memory care facility issue,
that the vote “was being spun
to appear as if it were to help
seniors.” The facility is intended to and will benefit seniors. The zoning was altered
to accommodate the memory
care facility, not the reverse.
On occasion, council is
faced with a decision between
what is good for a neighborhood and what is good for the
city as a whole. These decisions are not trivial or easy.
My opinion is that council
has done a good job in making those decisions, and has
extended every effort to hear
and digest all of the citizens’
arguments related to those isSEE council | 24
WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM march 19, 2015 | 23
Metroway ridership success
belies high costs
To the editor:
I read the article that
praised Metroway’s ridership success (“Metroway exceeds early expectations,” March 12).
When one considers the
cost of the system, however, the results seem
less impressive.
The cost of putting the
route in is given as $22.5
million. That works out
to $16,791 for each daily
rider, the cost of a modest new car. Although this
money apparently was
obtained from the federal
government, the federal
government had to add
this amount to the national debt because it was
running annual deficits
during the development
of the system.
As to operating costs,
it appears from the frequency of the runs —
Although this money
apparently was obtained
from the federal government, the
federal government had to add
this amount to the national debt
because it was running annual
deficits during the development
of the system.”
as little as six minutes
during rush hour —
that there are probably
around 100 runs up the
route and 100 runs down
the route per working
day. Given the number of
daily riders stated in the
article, the use appears
to be a little under seven
riders per run. At a fare
of $1.75, the revenue per
run would be about $12.
Surely the cost of a run
(fuel, maintenance, driv-
er, management, depreciation, etc.) substantially exceeds that revenue.
It is easy to see why
riders would be happy
at the price they pay for
such expensive service
(and a luxurious step-up
from ordinary Metrobus
service). But the price being paid by others has to
be kept in mind to get the
full picture.
- William H. Kuehnle
Alexandria
Potomac Yard Metro will be
latest debt quagmire
To the editor:
Uh oh. We’re in trouble. All three Democratic
contenders for mayor
believe a new Metro station is necessary. They
want to put this station
in Potomac Yard very
near the new and popular Bus Rapid Transit
lanes. They think this
new Metro stop will create more tax revenue because it will attract more
tax-paying residents and
businesses to Potomac
Yard and, by implication,
the BRT will not.
Their group-think assertion is beyond shameless. First, it falsely suggests they are interested
in making Alexandria
business-friendly. If that
were the case, they could
do this now, without a
new Metro station.
They could start by
not trying to compete
with the private sector,
the one that generates tax
revenue. The city operates
money-losing businesses
that rent bikes and operates a bus service, neither
of which pays taxes.
Second, their thinking is wrong, plain and
simple. Think about it:
If Metro stations attracted tenants, then there
would be no vacancies,
especially in commercial
buildings, within a mile
of the King Street, Braddock Road and Van Dorn
Street Metro stations.
Think about this, too:
if this wrong-headed
idea gets any traction,
we taxpayers will be
facing the prospect of
paying a debt that will
surpass the cost of any
single project ever undertaken in Alexandria’s
long history.
The cost estimates for
a new Metro station in
Potomac Yard, all drawn
from the city’s website,
run between a quarter-billion to almost three-quarters of a billion dollars, all
of which will be borrowed
money.
When debt service
is added to these prices,
you’re talking about hefty
payments that will span
generations and which,
perforce, will raise your
property and business
SEE metro | 24
Chamber Corner
with Rachael E. Luzietti
Encouraging workforce
equality is an ongoing effort
Women have struggled to so- tors, coaches, and advisors, these
lidify their place in society for leaders are ensuring that those that
centuries. Today, that struggle is follow in their footsteps will have
centered on a woman’s place in the tools they need to continue to
the work force, and whether one grow and advance in their careers
is the CEO of a large company or and society as a whole.
just starting out, we all have ex- One of these women is Shirley
perienced the difficulties inherent Davis. Davis is president of SDS
in establishing ourselves in our Enterprises LLC, a global talent
management solutions firm that
careers.
provides strategies and
Professional women
solutions for working,
face many unique challeading and succeedlenges as they work to
ing in a global, virtual,
advance in their cadiverse and hyper-conreers. However, we all
nected world. Davis
know women who have
has traveled the world
propelled themselves to
to speak on these topics
the top of their fields.
and has seen first-hand
We have learned from,
the professional chaland been inspired by,
these women to face our Rachael E. Luzietti lenges faced by women
own challenges head on and pur- across many cultures. Her ability
sue our own career goals, always to connect with and inspire those
benefiting from those who went around her has made her a highly
sought after speaker.
before us.
It should come as no surprise Davis will be the keynote
that women struggle to find effec- speaker at the Alexandria Chamtive mentors. Indeed, in 2010 the ber of Commerce’s Second AnWorld Economic Forum surveyed nual Women’s Leadership Forum
companies in 20 countries and — “Reinventing Yourself: Tips
found that 59 percent had internal for Moving Up The Ladder of
mentoring/networking opportuni- Success.” The forum will be held
ties, with only 28 percent of them March 31 at The Little Theatre of
targeted specifically at women. As Alexandria. The event, organized
women claim a more dominant by the Alexandria Chamber of
role in the work force, we hope Commerce Professional Womthat more and more companies, en’s Network, is the cornerstone
organizations and networks will event in the network’s mission
develop ways to help women con- to strengthen Alexandria’s comtinue exploring and establishing munity of professional women
mentor-mentee relationships with though local networking and educational opportunities. Open to
other women.
Strong women leaders serving both women and men, the forum is
as role models to millions of wom- sure to provide insight and inspien around the world are essential ration no matter your profession.
to developing strong mentoring To register for the forum visit:
relationships for women. Many of h t t p : / / w e b . a l e x c h a m b e r. c o m /
these influential and inspirational events/Women%27s-Leadershipwomen have made it their mission Forum-2006/details.
to share their experiences, struggles and successes with those who The writer is the chairwoman of the
are now facing some of the same
Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
challenges. By serving as menProfessional Women’s Network.
24 | march 19, 2015
Metro
FROM | 23
taxes — no ifs, ands or buts
about it.
And keep in mind that
our city government has not
completed a single multimillion dollar project on time
or within budget. Every single one has experienced cost
overruns, some massive.
Remember: these Democratic candidates for mayor are
the very people who brought
you one of the most expensive
elementary schools in America believing, apparently, the
building will better educate its
chronically underperforming
students; a palace instead of a
police station and a waterfront
plan the cost for which has
never been ascertained, but is
widely accepted to be in the
ever-increasing mega-millions.
These candidates do not
know how to create wealth;
they know only how to spend
your money; this time for a
half-billion dollar Metro stop
that is intended to make a new,
pricey neighborhood more attractive at every Alexandria
taxpayer’s expense.
If one of them doesn’t come
to their senses and break away
from the wrong headed group-
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
These
candidates
do not know how
to create wealth;
they know only
how to spend your
money; this time
for a half-billion
dollar Metro stop
that is intended to
make a new, pricey
neighborhood
more attractive at
every Alexandria
taxpayer’s expense.”
think they’ve all embraced,
then all we can do is hope a fiscally sensible person will challenge the eventual Democratic
candidate for mayor.
Even if that mystery challenger appears, but especially
if one doesn’t step forward, to
protect the taxpayers, we need
a cap on how much city council
can spend without first obtaining public approval. It’s our
money, after all.
- Jimm Roberts
Alexandria
council
FROM | 22
sues. Council always listens
to the negatives presented
often by the “Not in my back
yard” crowd, or NIMBYs.
Traditionally, those in favor
of an issue do not come to
testify on the other side of an
argument because they feel
city staff is the proponent for
this.
I am not saying that
NIMBYs don’t have valid
points, they do. But those arguments need to be considered as part of a discussion
on the larger issues facing
the entire city. There were
significant changes to the
design of the facility to accommodate the neighbors
before the vote. City councilors looked at all of the issues and came to the best decision. In my judgment our
council does this well.
Another issue raised in recent letters was a suggestion
that that we need to alter the
current at-large representation to a ward system for city
councilors. Alexandria is 15
square miles with a population of 150,000. There are
six councilors and the mayor.
Mayor Bill Euille says, “One
Alexandria,” and the at-large
system works best for this
community to foster that ideal. If you want “NIMBY on
steroids,” install a ward system. Our city councilors must
represent all of Alexandria
and make decisions for the
whole of the city.
Also mentioned was that
council has “put us a half billion dollars in debt and mortgaged our future.” Of course.
The city uses the proceeds
from debt to build infrastructure for current citizens’
needs and for the future.
Municipal debt is issued to
build schools, public safety
buildings, parks and infrastructure that last for generations. We pay some of that
in cash today, and let future
citizens pay for their share.
So this “mortgage” is an investment. Should we be concerned about the city’s debt?
Yes. But our debt load is not
out of bounds. The credit rating agencies still feel we are
within our means, and rate
us AAA accordingly.
Also, the city has taken
advantage of a very low
interest rate environment
where the amortized debt
payments are significantly
lower than when debt was is-
sued 20 years ago.
This brings me to my final point. The largest source
of city revenues is residential and commercial property taxes. Alexandria is out
of balance. A 50-50 balance
has been a city goal since
1994, but the current split
is approximately 60-40.
Proponents of commercial
growth in Alexandria do not
say “Yes” to anything developers propose. The development must be needed and fit
in with the “personality” of
Alexandria.
The point is, Alexandria
is no longer a bedroom community. We are faced with
urbanization pressures. To
reject the idea that we are
an urban community is a
disservice to those that live
here now. We need commercial growth to help alleviate
increases in residential taxes. Smart growth is the necessary vision for our city’s
leaders to bring about what
Alexandria citizens need.
Opponents of commercial
growth love to reference
history. I guess they forgot
that Alexandria was founded as a commercial hub.
- Dennis Auld
Alexandria
Van Fleet: commenter misunderstands my position on development
To the editor:
In the March 12 edition
of the Alexandria Times, an
anonymous commenter “West
End Renter” made a few allegations in the “From the
Web” section about previous
comments I had made (“City
councilors prioritize commercial development over
all else,” March 5). Initially,
the writer stated that I possess an anti-development attitude, which is not true. I
am solidly in favor of good
developments that fit in with
and connect to neighborhoods. However, I am not in
favor of maximizing value to
landowners without providing compensating amenities
for the community.
We know developments are
going to happen, but the method of approval and the rapid
approval rate is what I object
to. The city has a de facto policy of expediting premature and
overwhelming projects under
the guise of zoning changes
that, from an empirical perspective, equate to property
value maximization.
The most egregious example is the James Bland
development, consisting of
replacement public housing
residences, since the property
owner, ARHA, was going to
default on a $20 million loan
to the city. The city then increased the height and density of the development, and
drastically decreased its open
space. With four times the
previously approved density,
and almost no open space,
the sterile rendering of the
James Bland development is
a missed opportunity.
If some of the 100-plus
large, majestic trees and considerable open space had been
retained, the James Bland development could have had a
far better sense of place, and
would have been worth more
in the long run. The term “development” should not stand
for “packing in density for
maximum profit,” but rather
for “mutually beneficial conditions for all.” As it stands
now, the James Bland development is exactly just that
— a dense collection of bland
saltboxes with minimum setbacks.
Additionally, the author
stated that I had invoked my
“God-given right to speak for
George Washington,” saying
that if he were alive nowadays, that he would be against
the senior center. Their memory does not serve him or her
well, because I actually referenced my direct ancestor
George Mason IV in conjunction with George Washington,
whom he knew well. I have
previously stated that my ancestor (who was a member
of the Alexandria Council
for 25 years) would certainly
not approve of the development currently being pursued
by this council, especially on
the waterfront. Although I did
not state that George Mason
would be against the senior
center itself, I am certain that
he would have been against
the decision-making process,
since he was a great proponent of citizens’ rights.
The author certainly is
entitled to his or her opinion, but he or she should accurately address the relevant
comments I have made. In
addition, the Times should
never publish an anonymous
article. If an individual does
not have the intestinal fortitude to admit authorship, then
their work should not be considered for publication.
- Townsend A. “Van” Van Fleet
Alexandria
WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM march 19, 2015 | 25
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Kerry writes:
[Dino] Drudi was probably the
first and only person to use this new
bus lane in the city. The multi-million dollar “bus lane,” has been a
flop for taxpayers. Considering it’s
only a convenience for one mile, it
has been a budget nightmare.
There is no positive return for
the City of Alexandria. The city
throws money at projects like this,
without any money in return (check
out the King Street Trolley issue).
This is one of many reasons why the
city is bankrupt.
Erich Wagner
Executive Editor
[email protected]
Susan Hale Thomas
Staff Reporter / Photographer
[email protected]
In response to
“Metroway exceeds early
expectations,” March 12:
L
ast week’s article on
Volusia, the home of
Felix Richards and his
family during the Civil War,
contained a significant error
that warrants correction here.
The article described the old
Richards home as being in the
northwest corner of the 156acre farm, when in fact the
home and outbuildings were
to the northeast section of the
property, in the area of what
is now North Howard and Imboden streets.
The home identified last
week as the Richards residence was actually that of
their immediate neighbor to
the west, the Auld family,
whose driveway paralleled
the edges of Holmes Run and
Spring Branch.
In this aerial photograph
found in the historical collections of Fort Ward Museum,
taken around 1930, the Richards home can be seen clearly
in the extreme lower center
portion of the image, as a lightcolored dwelling with a small
icehouse to the right. A small
tenant house is located just
slightly to the northwest, and a
barn, stable, corncrib and farm
shed would have been located
to the East, just out of view.
Before the Civil War, the
section of land behind the main
house was fenced and heavily
forested, but the area was almost completely denuded by
Union soldiers camped on the
property during the war years.
The leveling of trees at Volusia
proceeded right to the property
line, as evidenced by the sharp
point at the northwest corner
of the Richards lands.
One item of interest in the
photograph is the small square
of features located just beyond the main house on what
appears to be a hilltop in an
open field. Accessed from a
pathway from the nearby ten-
ant house, the size and shape
of the anomaly suggests that
it may be a cemetery with
standing gravestones casting
shadows on the surrounding
terrain.
The image documents
a remarkable view of what
was then the rural character
of eastern Fairfax County, an
area that was annexed by the
City of Alexandria in the early
1950s. In the upper right, Seminary Road slices through the
corner of the photo, just south
of the theological grounds that
also were occupied by Union
troops during the war. The site
served as one of the best-run
Union hospital facilities in Alexandria, and as the residence
of Gen. George McClellan and
his family just before the Peninsula Campaign in the winter
months of 1862.
Billy writes:
Kerry, actually, plenty of Alexandria residents use the Metroway, myself included. The dedicated bus lanes
only stretch for about a mile, but the
bus service covers a 3.5-mile transit
gap between Braddock Road and
Crystal City. In the absence of a Potomac Yard Metro station, Metroway
provides passable access to Metro.
As someone who lives in the
North Del Ray area, it has been a
huge improvement. The existing
9A bus service along Route 1 was
basically unusable due to 30-minute
headways, so using transit wasn’t a
realistic option. With the amount of
development underway in Potomac
Yard at the moment and the inevitable surge in traffic, the city definitely needs to provide incentives
for people to use transit instead of
driving through the area.
Online all the time:
Out of the Attic is provided by the
Office of Historic Alexandria.
Weekly Poll
Last Week
Should city officials continue to retain Hughes Group
Architects for the Chinquapin pool project?
This Week
Should city council restore the school system’s full
funding request?
A. Yes.
B. No.
70% No.
30% Yes.
67 votes
Take the poll at alextimes.com
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
Weekly Words
26 | march 19, 2015
10 Beginning to pend?
69 Hook’s nemesis
11 Fido, for one
70 Duke or bishop preceder
12 Showing a lot of feeling
71 God of war, in mythology
13 Couple’s furniture?
72 ___ Nevada
14 Romanov bigwig, once
73 Hotel amenity
15 James Cameron epic
76 Above
16 Desecration
77 “Schindler’s ___”
17 Airport info, initially
78 Cod or bass
18 “___ gloom of night ...”
79 Surveyor’s map
24 Film-rating unit
80 “___ to a Nightingale”
29 Fleur-de-___
82 Part of a blind spot?
30 Epilogue
83 Hanging around
32 Tablet maker
86 Parker and Roosevelt
33 She played Carla on “Cheers”
88 “To know me ___ ...”
34 Passenger in a yellow car
90 “Big ___” (comic strip)
36 Primitive shelter
38 Root vegetable
39 Wire measures, for short
41 Decayed, as wood
42 Excelled on, as on an exam
43 Indian liquid butter
44 Go on the warpath, verbally
47Drunkard
50 Pigeon coop
YOUR CH-CHOICE By Gia Kilroy
across
58 Some snack cookies
1
Sitting Bull, e.g.
59 Hawaiian gift
6
Hospital divisions
61 ATM bill
11 Boston basketballer, briefly
15 Yemeni city
19 “All systems go!”
20 “Ciao!”
21 Book after Joel
22 Congress-thwarting move
23 Inclines
25 Chevy of yore
26 Sometimes it’s safest to love from here
27 67.5 degrees, in terms of direction
28 Short on energy
29 Well-read types
31 Not together
34 End of a film
62 Word with “motion” or “smoke”
65 Borgnine’s “From Here to
Eternity” role
67 Not tricked by
68 Banned military tactic
72 Farmer’s storage unit
74 “Friends” star Matthew
75 Nocturnal bug-eater
79 Rogue or scoundrel
81 Legendary elephant eater
82 Word in two Steven Seagal movie titles
84 Seven on a sundial
85 Current that goes with the wind
51 Give a shellacking
106 “Desperate Housewives” lane
52 Twice as spooky
110 What the Mohs scale
measures
54 ___ good example
112 Deep-bodied herrings
114 ___ and outs
115 Beaming look
117 Long-ago days
118 Be sold or traded
121 Brown alternative
122 While opener?
123 Nomadic mob
124 1/12 of a subscription, often
125 Old wedding vow word
126 Air France fleet members, once
127 Comic strip light bulbs
128 A sturdy box
35 When leaves turn
87 Condition of having no offspring
DOWN
37 Present time, for many
91 Provide with weapons
40 Cornered, in a way
92 Emmy-winning Ward
2 “Stormy Weather” singer Lena
42 Be on the same wavelength
94 Baseball’s Maglie
3 “___ Forgettin’”
(Michael McDonald hit)
45 Diver’s supply
95 We all live here
4 Where a Cockney wears his ‘at
46 Freedom from pain or worry
96 Propaganda pamphlet
5 “By the way” abbr. on a memo
48 Longtime Chinese chairman
98 State of unhappiness
6 Moose relative
49 With no moral qualities
104 “God’s Little ___”
7 Goes nuts over
55 Driving rain, e.g.
105 “Billy Don’t Be ___”
(1974 hit song)
8 Shine’s partner
57 Poet’s dusk
1 Dynamic Duo duds
9 Palindromic document
53 Popular side dish
56 Continue, as a subscription
60 Tel Aviv’s land
63 Acclaim
64 Sunday singer
65 Travel by air
66 Adult
89 Put in the post
93 Massachusetts college
97 Nook’s companion
99 Attacks from every angle
100 1040 collector
101 Its capital is Kigali
102 Gnatlike flies
103 Actual existence
107 Shampoo-bottle directive
108 Pakistan’s longest river
109 Cash, for one
111 Rugmakers’ supplies
112 Wearing footgear
113 Greyhound’s quarry
115 Main mail drop (Abbr.)
116 Vicksburg victim
118 T’ai ___
119 Cup opening?
120 Cigar dropping
Last Week’s Solution:
WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM march 19, 2015 | 27
Classifieds
LEGAL NOTICE
Obituaries
BRADLEY L. M. BITTINGER (56),
of Alexandria, February 23, 2015
WILSON T. DAWSON (71),
formerly of Alexandria, March 5, 2015
SANDRA ANN NOBILE (72),
of Alexandria, March 10, 2015
JULIA ANNE PERRY PATTIE (103),
of Alexandria, March 11, 2015
MARY E. HERTZ,
WILLIAM ANDERSON PAYNE (93),
BURTON G. HURDLE (97),
WILLIAM C. RAPOSA (90),
PATRICIA FULLERTON LAWLER
(88), of Alexandria, March 8, 2015
LAUREL D. SHULTZ (67),
MARY H. NASH (94),
LARRY M. WHEELER,
of Alexandria, March 15, 2015
of Alexandria, March 13, 2015
of Alexandria, March 4, 2015
of Alexandria, March 7, 2015
of Alexandria, March 1, 2015
of Alexandria, March 14, 2015
formerly of Alexandria, March 5, 2015
home Services
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www.alexandriava.gov/planning or call
(703) 746-4666.
Special Use Permit # 2015-00023
5999 Stevenson Avenue – Proposed Business: Spirit Massage & Bodywork, LLC New
Administrative Special Use Permit request
to operate a massage establishment; zoned
OCM50/Office Commercial Medium (50)
In accordance with section 11-500 of the
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above, please contact Planning and Zoning
staff at 703.746.4666 or email the planner
listed no later than April 9th, 2015.
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28 | march 19, 2015
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
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509 Cameron Street
8000 Boulevard drive e
1700 russell road
OFFERED AT $1,799,950
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