Alexandria Times Vol. 14, No. 26 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper JUNE 29, 2017 BID proposal is back to the drawing board BY ALEXA EPITROPOULOS People walk After months of heated debate, plans along King Street, where for a business improvement district in a proposed Old Town are being put on hold for the Old Town summer, though a proposal put forward BID could by four council members and approved affect many at the meeting sets the stage for a new businesses. BID plan to form during the months A vote on council is on recess. the decision A vote on a BID, originally slated for has been the June 24 public hearing and pushed postponed until fall. to a discussion at Tuesday’s legislative meeting, couldn’t proceed due to the city’s failure to advertise it three times beforehand, City Manager Mark Jinks FILE PHOTO announced before the discussion began. City council members, however, Justin Wilson and Councilmen Paul look. took the opportunity to discuss how Smedberg, John Chapman and Willie Smedberg said the proposal formed they’d like to see a new proposal formed Bailey, and agreed to by the other two after the public hearing on June 24 and by the city manager over the summer. council members, outlined how a new in response to the numerous emails that An agreement signed by Vice Mayor and improved BID proposal should SEE BID | 5 JULY 4TH INDEPENDENCE DAY Events in Alexandria ACE IN THE HOLE MOUNT VERNON Alexandrian Hughes Page charts a journey from Little League stardom to U-Va. and Aces INDEPENDENCE BY EVAN BERKOWITZ FIREWORKS When: June 30 - July 1, With one out left in the 2008 District 6 to 9:45 p.m. 4 Little League championship game, What: Historic Mount Vernon Hughes Page, playing catcher, watched hosts fireworks, mansion as a breaking ball whizzed by him to- tours, musical performances ward the backstop. and games ahead of the “I thought it was a live ball and I Fourth of July festivities. turned around to get it,” Hughes said, TOP GUN warming up in his Alexandria Aces uni- SCREENING form nearly a decade later. The underdog When: July 1, 8:30 p.m. 9/10 Alexandria All-Stars were only up What: John Carlyle Square by two, with the potential winning run hosts a free screening of the for regional powerhouse Vienna at the 1980s classic “Top Gun” plate. at sundown. As Page scrambled for the would-be wild pitch, the umpire called strike three. BOAT RIDE TO The Vienna batter had swung and missed, NATIONALS PARK and Alexandria was headed for states. When: July 4, 10 a.m. “Everyone’s dogpiling,” Page said. “It What: Catch a ride to the Independence Day match was a great feeling.” PHOTO COURTESY MARK BRISCOE/ALEXANDRIA ACES between the Nats and They went on to make the semifinals Alexandria Aces pitcher Hughes Page winds up during the team’s June 9 home matchup against the Baltimore Redbirds. Page, about to enter his second year at the the Mets on the Potomac SEE HUGHES | 11 University of Virginia, grew up in the Port City. 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Separate living new granite countertops, stainless spacious family room, screened porch, from Old Town, Clarendon and DC! & dining areas. Roomy bedroom appliances, Will be gone before you and garage. 3 Bedrooms, 1.5 Baths 2 bedrooms, 2 baths with lots of closet space. know it! 1 Bedroom + Den. 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 JUNE 29, 2017 | 3 THE WEEKLY BRIEFING John Adams pre-K names first principal The pre-K center slated to the release. “We firmly believe Lutheran University, among open at John Adams Elementa- that children do better in the other qualifications. Valley Paving and Masonry ry School in fall 2018 has found long term when they have been When Dischner starts July 571-707-9532 its principal, Alexandria City set up for success at school 17, she’ll be the first dedicated 15% discount Public Schools announced in a through pre-K.” principal for the city’s number Driveways ~ Walkways ~ Patios ~ Steps ~ Pavers news release. An assistant principal at Ar- of early childhood programs. valleypavingandmasonry.com Outgoing Superintendent lington’s Randolph Elementary “I believe that every child is Alvin Crawley named Rachael School since 2013, Dischner capable of learning and achiev- R.B. Dischner head of the new previously served for two years 360-student pre-K center, ac- as a pre-K special education co- ing when given the proper tools cording to the release. ordinator in Arlington. to meet individual needs and “We are very excited to Dischner holds a master's utilize strengths,” Dischner said The Lamplighter have Ms. Dischner on board to degree from George Mason in the release. “I look forward to work with us to plan the new University and a special educa- leading the new pre-K center.” LED Light Bulbs! pre-K center,” Crawley said in tion certificate from California -Evan Berkowitz We have Night Lights, 60 Watt, Carluccio’s unceremoniously All in 100 Watt, a color 3-Way, of And PARs for recess light closes its Old Town location fixtures! Carluccio's has closed its nience!" existence. It’s housed a number light that Old Town restaurant at 100 The Bethesda location of of restaurants since the 1970s, you King St. that opened with much Carluccio's has closed as well. including an Italian restaurant, are fanfare just over two years ago. Calls to the Old Town and a German restaurant, a south- used to The Italian market concept Bethesda stores were not an- west-themed restaurant called restaurant, which is based in the swered. In addition, the Carluc- Alamo, American restaurant 100 U.K. and has a number of loca- cio's U.S. website is down. King and Thai restaurant Red 1207 King Street Curry. The latter two restaurants Alexandria, VA tions there and in Ireland, opened The departure of Carluccio’s 703-549-4040 were both short-lived. its first U.S. eatery in Old Town from 100 King St. leaves a siz- www.lamplighterlamps.com -Alexa Epitropoulos and, shortly after in early 2016, able vacancy along Old Town's opened a second U.S. location prime commercial corridor. The in Bethesda. On June 20, hours 150-seat restaurant was occupy- after it was scheduled to open at ing a 6,500-square-foot space. 7 a.m., the restaurant remained The building has long been closed, with a sign attached the known for its “curse,” due to door reading, "We will be closed numerous businesses shutter- today. Sorry for the inconve- ing in its century and a half of T.C. teacher gets $4K science grant A T.C. Williams High out nationwide, the release School science teacher will re- read. ceive a $4,000 research grant for Lowe tweeted her excite- robotics equipment, computers ment with a link to information on and laboratory equipment from the organization, which also pub- a D.C.-based nonprofit, accord- lishes magazine Science News. ing to a recent news release. “I’m thrilled that the Society The Society for Science … is able to provide exempla- & the Public, which supports ry teachers with the tools they scientific literacy, STEM ed- need to engage their students ucation and research, named in scientific research,” the soci- Shawn Lowe of T.C.