ELECTION 2018 Serious Crimes Decrease in Alexandria Police Chief Expresses Concern About Increase in Domestic Violence by MISSY SCHROTT
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Alexandria Times Vol. 14b, No. 22 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper. MAY 31, 2018 ELECTION 2018 Serious crimes decrease in Alexandria Police chief expresses concern about increase in domestic violence BY MISSY SCHROTT Serious crime in Alexandria decreased 13 percent in 2017, the Alexandria Police Depart- VOTER ment announced May 24. The decrease was specifical- ly in Part I crimes, offenses clas- sified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, GU I DE burglary, larceny and auto theft. SEE CRIME | 14 Don Simp- Make an informed decision son Sr. dies On June 12, voters will head to the polls to choose between incumbent Mayor at 87 Allison Silberberg and challenger Vice Mayor Justin Wilson. They will also decide Simpson’s real estate which of the dozen Democratic candidates will gain the party’s nomination for and development efforts transformed city six city council seats. Our voter guide will help you get to know these candidates, BY MISSY SCHROTT their goals and their visions for the city's future. Inside, on page 40, you'll also find Donald F. Simpson Sr., endorsements for the six council candidates we believe are best equipped to move prominent city businessman and benefactor, died on May us forward as a city. We’ll give you the tools, and then the decision is up to you. 14. He was 87. Page 17 Simpson is known through- out the community as the developer behind the con- struction or remodeling of INSIDE INOVA Alexandria Hospital, Operation Tin Panda Ramsey Homes Honoring Local Heroes Alexandria City Hall, George Six Alexandria residents convicted as Council approves additional loan for City observes Memorial Day at Rocky Washington Masonic Temple, part of federal firearm, drug operation. ARHA's Ramsey Homes redevelopment. Versace Plaza and Alexandria National Page 4 page 10 Cemetery. SEE SIMPSON | 6 Page 12 2 |MAY 31, 2018 ALEXANDRIA TIMES SAVE 1.5% of your loan Ask Us How! amount up to $10,000* ALEXANDRIA $1,995,000 GREAT FALLS $1,849,000 ALEXANDRIA $925,000 ALEXANDRIA $689,000 Rosemont Park – Total renovation and Seneca Hunt - Enjoy the finest finishes Stratford Landing - Georgian colonial Clover – Mid-century modern on a cul expansion of this charming 1920 crafts- and touches: marble & hardwood floors, w/seasonal views of the Potomac. de sac with over 2300 sqft of living space! man. Every detail thoughtfully planned gourmet kitchen, lavish MBR & bath. Refinished hardwoods, expansive living Includes a upgraded kitchen with granite and executed. Wolf/Subzero/Bosch and Relax in your game room, work out in room + entertainment room. Finished and stainless, open floorplan, flat fenced Cambria counters in the kitchen. Gor- your gym, or host a party on your outdoor basement w/ kitchenette ideal for in- yard. Close to Metro and MacArthur geous hardwoods. 6 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths decks and patios. 6 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths laws/au-pair. 5 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths Elementary. 5 Bedrooms, 3 Baths ARLINGTON $580,000 ALEXANDRIA $304,500 ALEXANDRIA $269,001 OXON HILL $130,000 Wunders Crossroads - A mile to Ballston Exchange @ Van Dorn – Enjoy condo Belle View Beauty - Your oasis of peace Wilson Bridge – Investment opportuni- metro & minutes to Clarendon. Main level living in your spacious, updated flat near and tranquility! You will love the gorgeous ty near Tanger Outlets, National Harbour, hardwoods, kitchen w/granite & new the Metro, shopping, and 495. Include wood floors, fabulous gourmet feel kitchen and MGM Casino. Updated kitchen, fresh stainless appliances. Upper level suite w/ balcony, spacious bedrooms with walk-in with stainless steel appliances, and updated paint, and balcony. In a great area with walk-in closet. Lower level family room/3rd closets, fireplace, two parking spaces, and porch. Walk to shopping, the GW Trail, or improving infrastructure and redevelop- BR w/fireplace. 2/3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths tons of amenities. 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths pop into Old Town. 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath ment. 3 Bedrooms, 1.5 Baths Contact Maxine McLeod Miller, Managing Broker: 703-836-1464 [email protected] 300 N. Washington St., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22314 ©2017 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity. *Savings are based on the discounts received by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty’s mortgage and title affiliates as compared to purchasing the settlement services from Berkshire Hathaway PenFed Realty’s mortgage and title affiliates without retaining the services of Berkshire Hathaway PenFed Realty. Terms and conditions apply and are subject to change without notice. WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM MAY 31, 2018 | 3 WEEKLY BRIEFING 105 South Union @ King Street Alexandria to commemorate 703-684-4682 www.TheOldTownShop.com @TheOldTownShop D-Day anniversary JUNE EVENTS Next week, the city will retary of Defense on June 7 gramming, which includes observe the 74th anniver- at 7 p.m. at the Lyceum. The WWII re-enactors, live 40s LOCAL AUTHOR NIGHT sary of the Allied invasion lecture is titled “D-Day: The swing music from Blue Jazz, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. of Normandy, France, which Decision to Go,” and will exhibition swing dancing, took place on June 6, 1944. chronicle the effort of plan- community booths and a James Stejskal Stephen Ryan The Alexandria-Caen ning the invasion and the “french market,” will take Sister City Committee will moments leading up to the place from 2:30 to 5 p.m. host its eighth annual events operation. The lecture costs The City of Alexandria on June 7 and 9. $10 per person. has been a “sister city” to The commemoration A formal commemoration Caen, the capital of Nor- begins with a lecture from ceremony will take place at mandy, since 1991. Dr. Aaron George from the Market Square on June 9 at - aepitropoulos@ Historical Office of the Sec- 3:30 p.m. Other event pro- alextimes.com New principal for Jefferson-Houston School Alexandria City Public school last year though, with Schools Interim Superinten- its pass rates increasing for Coming Soon to the dent Dr. Lois Berlin has ap- reading and writing. Its 8th Alexandria Waterfront pointed a D.C. Public Schools grade English reading score principal and former ACPS jumped by 27 points, from 54 employee as principal of Jef- percent to 81 percent passing, ferson-Houston Pre-K-8 and its 8th grade writing pass THE WATERMARK School, according to a news rate increased by 24 points, 211 STRAND STREET release. from 40 to 64 percent passing. MScott Berkowitz, a resi- Berkowitz has experi- dent principal at DCPS’ C.W. ence improving performance Harris Elementary School MSCOTT BERKOWITZ metrics, including during his through the Mary Jane Pat- time at Hybla Valley. He led a terson fellowship program, he served as the assistant double-digit percentage im- will start his new position on principal of Hybla Valley Ele- provement in science, math July 1. He replaces Christopher mentary School within Fair- and writing SOL scores for Phillips, who was appointed fax County Public Schools, the school’s fifth grade team, principal in 2014. vice principal of instruction according to the ACPS news Berkowitz isn’t new to at Cesar Chavez Public Char- release. Jefferson-Houston or ACPS. ter School for Public Policy on “I am looking forward He spent nine years with Capitol Hill, assistant prin- to continuing the positive the school system as a mid- cipal of Hardy Middle School academic trends at Jeffer- dle school math and science at DCPS and summer school son-Houston and am excited teacher and as an instruction- principal of Walker-Jones Edu- to build on the foundation al coach between 2004 and cation Campus at DCPS. that has been laid over the last 2013. He spent one of those Jefferson-Houston was de- four years,” Berkowitz said in a years at Jefferson-Houston. nied accreditation for the statement. INTRODUCING 18 BOUTIQUE Before becoming a Mary sixth consecutive year in 2017. - aepitropoulos@ LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS Jane Patterson fellow in 2017, SOL scores did improve at the alextimes.com IN OLD TOWN FOR MORE INFORMATION Alexandria Seaport Foundation appoints CALL 703-558-7324 new executive director WATERMARKOLDTOWN.COM The Alexandria Seaport 1, succeeding Stephen Mut- nonprofit, has been involved Foundation has appointed a ty, who occupied the role for with the Seaport Foundation new leader. more than two years. for a decade. Kathleen Seifert started Seifert, previously chief THE IDI GROUP COMPANIES as executive director on May development officer for the SEE DIRECTOR | 4 4 |MAY 31, 2018 ALEXANDRIA TIMES CRIME Six Alexandria residents convicted as part of Operation Tin Panda Six Alexandria residents in the furtherance of a drug blood gangs and drug dis- were convicted as a result of and trafficking crime, faces a tributors involved in violent Operation Tin Panda, the U.S. mandatory minimum of five crimes and criminal activity Attorney of the Eastern Dis- years and a maximum of life in Northern Virginia. The op- trict of Virginia announced upon sentencing on June 22. eration uncovered criminal May 25 in a news release. Demisse, charged with use acts that were affiliated with Operation Tin Panda, and carry of a firearm during gang and firearms distri- which began in spring 2017, and in relation to drug traf- bution, including homicide, led to the takedown of 36 in- ficking, faces a mandatory malicious wounding, robbery, dividuals on federal firearm minimum of five years and a shootings and drug and fire- and drug charges in Decem- maximum of life upon sen- arm distribution. ber, and to the convictions tencing on June 15.