Alexandria Times Vol. 16, No. 2 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper. JANUARY 9, 2020 SSSAS boys’ Cheers to a new decade First Night Alexandria, the city's annual family friendly New Year's Eve festival, basketball shoots celebrated its 25th anniversary last week. On Dec. 31, residents and visitors attended musical performances throughout Old Town before congregating for playoffs at the waterfront to ring in 2020 with a midnight fireworks display. Team is 11-2 after win beginning of December. The against Flint Hill team also dominated the an- BY LUKE ANDERSON nual Sleepy Thompson Tour- nament Dec. 5 through 7. Last year, the St. Ste- Later in the month, the phen’s and St. Agnes boys’ team suffered two losses, varsity basketball team won coming up short against the Virginia Independent two of the top teams in D.C. Schools Athletic Associa- The Saints fell to Gonzaga, tion state tournament for 69-63, on Dec. 15 and lost to the first time since 1990. DeMatha, 72-63, on Dec. 29. This year, they’re going for The new year brought a a repeat. change of pace, the Saints The Saints started off redeeming themselves with the 2019-2020 season strong with a winning streak at the SEE SSSAS | 4 PHOTO/MISHA ENRIQUEZ FOR VISIT ALEXANDRIA City to buy Freedom House Former slave trading ia Urban League announced went through the Duke Street headquarters went up the site was for sale in Oc- building on their way to slave for sale in October tober. With the city’s an- markets farther south, accord- COURTESY PHOTO BY CODY MELLO-KLEIN nouncement, the future is a ing to a news release. SSSAS senior Jamal Barnes in a game against St. Anne's-Belfield bit brighter for the National “I think what is unique School in early December. The City of Alexandria Historic Landmark. about this building is that announced that it plans to Freedom House served as so many of our fellow Amer- INSIDE purchase Freedom House, the the headquarters for a series icans can trace their family historic site of a former slave of slave trading operations be- history through that build- Small Business Spotlight City Creatives trading firm, on Monday. tween 1828 and 1861, includ- ing, through ancestors that Residents launch socially Del Ray potter Stephen The future of Freedom ing Franklin and Armfield, one went through that building, conscious coffee roaster Lally uses wood firing to House, located at 1315 Duke of the largest in the nation. It’s were essentially marketed Lambda Coffee. meld form and function. St., has been up in the air estimated that about 50,000 Page 6 Page 9 since the Northern Virgin- enslaved adults and children SEE FREEDOM | 8 2 |JANUARY 9, 2020 ALEXANDRIA TIMES Nancy Perkins 2019 NOTABLE SALES ACTIVE | Represents Seller SOLD | Represented Buyer SOLD | Represented Buyer 606 President Ford Lane, Alexandria, VA | $1,895,000 302 S Union Street, Alexandria, VA | $1,882,325 304 Virginia Avenue, Alexandria, VA | $1,740,000 SOLD | Represented Seller SOLD | Represented Seller SOLD | Represented Buyer 416 S Royal Street, Alexandria, VA | $950,000 428 N Peyton Street, Alexandria, VA | $883,000 7774 Belvale Drive, Alexandria, VA | $778,310 SOLD | Represented Buyer SOLD | Represented Seller UNDER CONTRACT | Represents Seller 7 W Alexandria Avenue, Alexandria, VA | $750,000 177 Cameron Station Boulevard, Alexandria, VA | $742,000 823 Church Street, Alexandria, VA | $715,000 SOLD | Represented Buyer SOLD | Represented Buyer SOLD | Represented Buyer 1104 Colonial Avenue, Alexandria, VA | $706,500 102 E Cli Street, Alexandria, VA | $698,000 1567 N Van Dorn Street, Alexandria, VA | $425,000 Nancy Perkins +1 703 402 5599 [email protected] Watch My Film: NancyPerkins.ttrsir.com 400 South Washington Street, Alexandria, VA ©2020 Sotheby’s International Realty A liates LLC. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty A liates LLC. Each O ce Is Independently Owned And Operated. SIR1 WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM JANUARY 9, 2020 | 3 WEEKLY BRIEFING City to host 2020 Housing Summit The city is set to host its ing to meet future affordable Discussion sessions will 2020 Housing Summit, a housing needs, according to tackle the HMP, equity and day-long examination of the the city website. potential regional partner- future of housing in Alexan- With the summit, the city ships, according to the re- dria, on Saturday, according aims to re-evaluate the direc- lease. to a news release. tion of the HMP and address The 2020 Housing Sum- As part of the summit, ongoing affordable housing mit takes place from 8:30 participants will re-exam- challenges, according to the a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lee Cen- ine the city’s 2013 Housing release. Participants will go ter, 1108 Jefferson St. ADOPTThose ABLE PET OF THE WEEK Master Plan. Unanimously on bus tours highlighting interested in attending A local favorite for 36 years! approved by city council on affordable housing develop- the summit can register at Dec. 14, 2013, the HMP es- ments throughout the city www.surveymonkey.com/r/ breakfast • lunch • dinner tablished long-term princi- and learn more about afford- NQHYRC9. ples, goals and strategies for able housing and community [email protected] 3648 King St. | 703-671-0250 the city to pursue in attempt- service organizations. Bradlee Shopping Center Signing Day comes early An early signing day event took place at T.C. Williams High School last month. Titans Luke Wilson, Robert Longerbeam, Madeline Toaso and Shane Tucker celebrated years of hard work by formal- ly committing to colleges for their individual sports. Longerbeam, the varsity ~ Phoenix ~ football quarterback who, this The pets-in-waiting are asking Santa for a home of their own this PHOTO/ON THE HUNT PHOTOGRAPHY holiday. Your donation sustains them while they wait. ~ Special Needs ~ season, lead the Titans to their From left to right: Luke Wilson, Robert Longerbeam, Madeline ~ Canine Health Care ~ first playoff win in almost 30 Toaso and Shane Tucker. AlexandriaAnimals.org/DonateExtra patience may be required to adopt Flash. At years, signed on to play foot- 703-746-4774 agePuppies 4, he is require energetic, surgery and sometimes. needs encouragement “Sarah’s Fund” to ball at Rutgers University. THANK YOU provides Shelter pets with needed procedures. Another critical Titans Toaso, a star rower for Tucker, a T.C. Williams slow down. football player, offensive both the T.C. rowing team varsity baseball Thispitcher, puppy will soon undergo an operation to repair lineman Wilson, signed on and the Old Dominion Boat signed to New YorkHe’s Institute lost a leg, but gained perspective on what’s to play at the University of Club, signed to Oregon State of Technology. “pulmonic stenosis”, with donations from Alexandrians. Rochester. University. [email protected]; be happy~ Celebrate each day, the and New love Year those ~ Your five-dollar donation adds to Sarah’s Fund and around you. FlashRico is well ready forknows the new year! this This credo, Staffordshire and terrier hopes has already together with resolvedcontributions to get more exercise of others, (He loves aensures long walk), eatthat better (He for a homehopes of you his have own some treats), to share get some morethe sleep love. (18 hours a day is School board approves 10-year plan medicaljust NOTcare enough), is there and most when importantly needed. of all, find his new family! FOR INFO ABOUTTo help with ALEXA that last one,N Rico’sDRIA’ adoptionS ADOPTABLE fees have already been pre- The Alexandria School School, George Mason Ele- school project in fiscalFOR MORE years INFORMATIONpaid. Rico will ABOUT be an excellent SARAH’S personal FUND, trainer, PLEASE ensuring CALL that you get Board approved a $530.7 mil- mentary School, Cora Kelly 2021 and 2022.703-746-4774 PETS, PLEA OR VISITSE VIUSS ATIT WWW. www.alexandriaanimals.org.a dailyALE walkX forANDRIAANIMALS your good health in 2020!.ORG/DONATE lion 10-year Capital Improve- School for Math, Science and The school board’s CIP AlexandriaAnimals.org/Donate 703-746-4774 ment Program budget at a Technology and Matthew budget will go before city THANK YOU meeting on Dec. 19. Maury Elementary School in council during council’s bud- THANK YOUTHANK YOU The plan includes the the next 10 years. get process thisTheThe spring. AlexandriaAlexandria It is AnimalAnimalDiann Shelter’sShelter’s Hicks Carlson PetPet of of the the modernization of Doug- The plan also includes slated for a voteWeek in May is 2020.sponsored Associateby Diann Broker Hicks, • Weichertfinding las MacArthur Elementary $158.2 million for the high [email protected] is sponsored by Diann Hicks Carlson, findinghomes homes for pets for andpets humans,andOld humans, Town alike. alike. 703-628-2440 Support us by supporting them! www.diannhicks.coThe Alexandria Animalm Shelter’s Pet of the Week is brought to you Our advertisers are our partners in bringing you the news every week. by Diann Carlson, finding homes Please show them your thanks by patronizing their businesses. for pets and people, too. 4 |JANUARY 9, 2020 ALEXANDRIA TIMES I feel like if we do that, then that’ll put us in the best situation to be successful down the stretch, if we just focus on one game at a time.” – Mike Jones, SSSAS head coach SSSAS FROM | 1 undefeated the rest of the season.” solid wins against Grace To reach their goals, the Brethren Christian School team is sticking to the same on Jan. 3 and perennial pow- strategy that led them to vic- erhouse Flint Hill School on tory last season: take it “one Jan. 4. The win over Flint game at a time.” Hill was especially meaning- “That’s exactly our strat- ful since SSSAS lost to them egy,” Jones said.