SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 Council Votes to Narrow Seminary with 100+ Public Hearing Speakers, Issue Divides Residents and Council
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Alexandria Times Vol. 15, No. 38 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper. SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 Council votes to narrow Seminary With 100+ public hearing speakers, issue divides residents and council BY CODY MELLO-KLEIN national organizations City council voted 4-3 have banded together to to reduce a portion of Sem- support reducing the road inary Road from four to from four to three lanes – three lanes and add bike one lane in each direction lanes during the public with a center turn lane hearing on Saturday. – and adding bike lanes. The vote was the culmi- In the middle sits the nation of a year-long pro- 0.9-mile portion of Semi- cess, one that has bitterly nary Road between North divided neighbors over the Howard Street and North future of Seminary Road. Quaker Lane. Community members The debate began in and a group of 13 civic as- 2018, when the Department sociations have joined to- of Transportation and En- gether on one side to sup- vironmental Services start- port keeping the road at ed considering whether to four lanes and adding addi- restructure the road when tional safety features. performing routine resur- Meanwhile, other com- facing this fall. munity members, local T&ES started to gath- PHOTO/CODY MELLO-KLEIN bike and pedestrian ad- More than 100 speakers stepped up to the podium during the eight-hour city council public hearing for vocates and regional and SEE COUNCIL | 5 the remodeling of Seminary Road on Saturday. High school project nears decision INSIDE Commonwealth’s School board to the new high school project – tions: creating a second high Attorney consider one vs. two and the future of Alexandria school or a series of smaller Bryan Porter releases high schools at City Public Schools – during satellite campuses for T.C. true-crime book on Sept. 26 meeting its Sept. 26 board meeting. Williams High School. Charles Severance. With high school capacity “We have to know that Page 10 BY CODY MELLO-KLEIN estimated to hit 5,000 stu- the priority for Sept. 26 is, dents by 2025, the vote next are we going to have one Seniors School is back in session Thursday is a significant step high school or are we going Healthy aging involves and students aren’t the only forward for ACPS. The school to have two comprehensive Ryan Wallace protecting eyes and ones with major deadlines. board will vote to approve Miracle League vision. The school board will vote on one of two potential direc- SEE SCHOOL BOARD | 8 on page 18 Page 19 Matthew McCarthy 703-236-1366 ® NOVA 4617 Duke St, Alexandria 2 | SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 ALEXANDRIA TIMES Maximize the value of your home. STRATEGIC STAGING Compass Concierge is the hassle-free way to sell your home faster and for a higher price. From painting to flooring, Concierge transforms your home with zero upfront costs and no interest. Get started at compass.com/concierge FRESH PAINT UPDATED FLOORING AND MORE... Rules & Exclusions apply. Compass offers no guarantee or warranty of results. Subject to additional terms and conditions. WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 | 3 WEEKLY BRIEFING Police investigate body found in Holmes Run stream The Alexandria Police to the release. APD Public ical examiner to determine So Many Ways to Department is investigating Information Officer con- the cause of death, accord- the body of a man found in firmed the body was found in ing to the release. Explore this Fall! the 1200 block of North Be- a Holmes Run stream. As of press time, APD auregard Street on Tuesday, Police identified the man had no further updates re- Experiential according to a news release. as Jose Mendez Padilla, 49, garding the incident, Bal- Learning Classes: A passerby found the body of Alexandria. lantine said in an emailed Reiki in Holmes Run around 9:22 The body was taken to statement. Chakras a.m. on Tuesday, according the office of the chief med- [email protected] Intuition Connecting with our Ancestors Learn more and register at Ten jurisdictions form Northern Virginia www.fourdirectionswellness.com Economic Development Alliance Ten Northern Virgin- Fauquier County, Loudoun news release. ia localities have joined to County, City of Manassas, Moving forward, the alli- HOMEOWNERS! form the Northern Virginia City of Manassas Park and ance will work with the Vir- Economic Development Al- Prince William County De- ginia Economic Development Are you ready to liance, the new alliance an- partment of Economic De- Partnership to access more nounced on Monday. velopment. economic development tools, climb those ladders The alliance is composed The formation of the take a regional approach to to paint your home? of the Alexandria Econom- NOVA EDA is due, in part, challenges like affordable ic Development Partner- to the arrival of Amazon’s housing, transportation and ship, Arlington County, City HQ2 and the collaborative education and craft a strong TECH PAINTING of Fairfax, Fairfax County work the jurisdictions did to regional brand, according to is ready to help you Economic Development Au- attract the corporate giant the release. protect your most thority, City of Falls Church, to the region, according to a [email protected] valuable asset, so you can focus on doing something fun this Torpedo Factory dedicates studio to year instead! Marian Van Landingham Call us today to schedule a The Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association dedicated studio 311 to Marian Van Landingham, the founder of the TFAA and first director of the art center, on Sept. 12. FREE ESTIMATE! 703-684-7702 Since 1987 PHOTO/MARGARET STEVENS CORRECTION: The Times incorrectly printed the name of the director of the Little Theatre of Alexandria’s “A Few Good techpainting.com Men” on Sept. 12. The director is Kathleen Barth. The Times regrets the error. 4 | SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 ALEXANDRIA TIMES WEEKLY BRIEFING Fallen soldier honored in Alexandria On the morning of Sept. Legion Post 24 and members Gonzalez arrived at the A Few Good Men 9/7-9/28 10, Jose Juan Gonzalez, a of the Alexandria Sheriff’s Cunningham Funeral Home This riveting courtroom drama U.S. Army Special Forces Department, the Alexandria on Cameron Street shortly tells the story of military lawyers sergeant killed in action in Police Department and the after 6 a.m. on Sept. 10. He at a court-martial who uncover a Afghanistan on Aug. 21, was Alexandria Fire Department, was buried at Arlington Na- high-level conspiracy in the course saluted in Alexandria by vet- according to former Mayor tional Cemetery on Sept. 11. of defending their clients, two erans, the Green Berets, the Allison Silberberg. [email protected] U.S. Marines accused of murder. Based on events that took place at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in July 1986, the play investigates both the nature of our military mentality and the Marine code Buy tickets early at our of honor. box office or online! 600 Wolfe St, Alexandria | 703-683-0496 WWW . THELITTLETHEATRE . COM CITY OF ALEXANDRIA 2019 CAR TAX AND BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY COURTESY PHOTO TAX ARE DUE OCTOBER 7, 2019 Please note, beginning with Tax Year 2019, City Coun- Del Ray Farmers’ Market cil has eliminated the requirement to display vehicle windshield decals. Accordingly, decals were not included celebrates 25 years with the 2019 tax bills and the Police Department no Established in 1994, the put together a 25th anniver- longer issues citations for failure to display a City decal. Del Ray Farmers’ Market has sary recipe book. Residential parking permits are still required in applica- been offering fruits, vegeta- The market, located at ble parking districts. bles, meats, cheeses, baked the corner of Mount Vernon goods and flowers at Pat and Oxford avenues, oper- Personal property tax (car tax) and the residential park- Miller Square for 25 years. ates year-round on Satur- ing fee, if applicable, must be paid no later than October To celebrate the anniver- days from 8 a.m. to noon. 7, 2019, to avoid a late payment penalty and interest. PHOTO/DEB RILEY sary, vendors and volunteers [email protected] Business personal property tax must also be paid by October 7, 2019. Please see the City’s website at alexan- driava.gov/finance for more information. CRIME Pay by credit card or eCheck on the City’s website at alexandriava.gov/payments. Pay in person at City Hall or at any SunTrust Bank Branch located in the City. Car Suspect injured in officer-involved shooting tax payments can also be mailed to City of Alexandria, PO Box 34710, Alexandria, VA 22334-0710. Business A suspect was injured in an adult male suspect armed into the shooting. Also, personal property tax payments can be mailed to City of an officer-involved shooting with a firearm. The officers per APD policy, the officers Alexandria, PO Box 34901, Alexandria, VA 22334-0901. early Sept. 13, according to a shot and wounded the sus- involved in the shooting, news release. pect, who was transported to whose names have not been For vehicle assessment questions or to receive a tax bill, At 3:17 a.m., two Alexan- a local hospital and is being released, have been placed please email [email protected] or call the Rev- dria Police Department offi- treated for serious but non- on administrative leave. enue Division at 703.746.3995. For business assessment cers responded to a report of life threatening injuries, ac- Anyone with information questions or to receive a tax bill, please email busines- a burglary inside a residen- cording to the release. The related to the incident is asked [email protected] or call 703.746.3903. For payment tial building in the 300 block officers were not injured.