Alexandria Times Vol. 16, No.25 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper. JUNE 18, 2020 Faith groups ponder reopening Religious rituals in Alexandria stopped hold- involving singing, ing in-person services in communion present mid-March, when cases of challenges COVID-19 began to appear BY MISSY SCHROTT in the region. While religious organizations were tech- When restaurants got the nically allowed to continue green light to resume in-per- holding in-person services son dining, many jumped at with a maximum of 10 peo- the opportunity to reopen ple, many elected to switch to their doors. When religious virtual services and offer live facilities got the go-ahead, streamed and pre-recorded many houses of worship were videos for congregants. PHOTO/CHRIST THE KING a little more hesitant. An outdoor Christ the King Anglican Church service at 1801 N. Quaker Lane last Sunday. Most places of worship SEE FAITH GROUPS | 6 Petitions advocate renaming T.C. Williams Supporters garner served as the spark to light a ly and thus needed to have thousands of fire under communities like separate schools, citing test signatures Alexandria that are reckon- score data and ignoring the BY CODY MELLO-KLEIN ing with their own complex, discrepancy in funding be- problematic histories with tween schools for white and A community conversa- race. black students. tion about whether to re- T.C. Williams High When the parents of black name T.C. Williams High School is named after students applied to trans- School gained traction last Thomas Chambliss Wil- fer their children from black week, as several residents liams, who served as super- schools to white schools, started petitions to present intendent of schools from Williams was notorious for to the school board. the 1930s to 1963 and was a rejecting their applications. In the aftermath of noted segregationist. In 1958, the families of 14 George Floyd’s killing un- Even after the 1954 Su- students sued Williams in PHOTO/ALEXANDRIA PUBLIC LIBRARY LOCAL HISTORY/SPECIAL COLLECTIONS Portrait of T.C. Williams for the high school dedication ceremony derneath the knee of a white preme court decision in federal court to overturn program in 1965. Minneapolis police officer, Brown vs. Board of Educa- his decisions. Williams fired people across the country tion that ruled segregation Blois O. Hundley, a Lyles- have taken to the streets to in schools unconstitutional, Crouch Elementary School INSIDE protest police brutality and Williams vocally supported cook, because of her partici- Business Finance systemic racism in the Unit- segregated education. He pation in the suit. Tips for navigating ed States. Floyd’s killing also argued that white and black Bike sales boom during the pandemic. COVID-19 financially. students learned different- SEE RENAME T.C. | 9 Page 10 Page 12 2 |JUNE 18, 2020 ALEXANDRIA TIMES Christine Roland Garner I Sell More Because I Do More! Celebrating 32 Years. The time to sell is now. Let me put my 32 years of experience to work for you! Since 1988 LIBERTY ROW/ OLD TOWN $1,849,000 Luxury living at its best! Rarely available and much sought after townhome in north Old town. One of only 2 townhomes in Liberty Row with over 4,500 sq ft of living space with high end custom finishes and appointments throughout. Open floor plan, 3 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and garage parking. YouTube video: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GlwZKMc6_qc&t=30s JANNEYS LN TORPEDO FACTORY $835,000 $599,000 Fabulous brick and stone rambler on over 8,500 sq ft lot! City pools may be closed but THIS POOL IS OPEN! Three bedrooms and 3 full baths. Beautiful hardwood floors on the main level, spacious living room with wood burning fireplace and windows look out to pool. Large sliding glass doors Fabulous pied a terre in the heart of Old Town! Rarely available NE facing, corner unit in the Torpedo Factory. open to a huge deck with a lower level private patio and Spacious 1,000 sq ft . light filled one bedroom, one bath with windows on all walls,a river view and wood pool access. Updated kitchen with light wood cabinets, burning fireplace. One assigned garage space just steps from the front door. Enjoy the river -walk , restaurants recessed lights, granite counters and stainless steel & shops, festivals and parades. Relax & enjoy the private rooftop deck or entertain and grill on the patio appliances. The new glass door in the hall invites you to surrounded by perennial gardens and brick serpentine wall. Blocks to the river, bike path and parks. YouTube to a finished lower level...and you will be surprised! video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-mf5X91KVg Christine Garner (703) 587-4855 Weichert My Priorities Are Simple...They’re Yours! For additional information & Photos, Go to: www.ChristineGarner.com WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM JUNE 18, 2020 | 3 WEEKLY BRIEFING City chronicles COVID-19 pandemic Local boy scout troop and aftermath of George Floyd’s killing distributes masks in Rosemont The city is launch- Boy Scout Troop 135 Vallance, who is leading the ing initiatives to capture will be producing and dis- community service project. and document two his- tributing masks made from Residents can pick up the toric, life-altering events t-shirts at Commonwealth masks from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. that Alexandria is in the Baptist Church, 700 Com- for free as long as supplies midst of experiencing: the monwealth Ave., on Satur- last. COVID-19 pandemic and day, according to Jackson de [email protected] the aftermath of the killing PHOTO/MISSY SCHROTT of George Floyd, according From the King Street protests on June 5. to a news release. Sunrise on the Potomac Through “Chronicling the ations to capture Alexandria’s calls for reforming and even Pandemic” and “The Legacy response to these events. abolishing the police, the of George Floyd and Alexan- For “Chronicling the Pan- killing of Floyd has sparked a dria’s Response,” the Office of demic,” community mem- national conversation about Historic Alexandria aims to bers are encouraged to share policing and systemic racism. “gather oral histories and col- their stories about life during The city encourages residents lect select memories, objects, the pandemic, how they have to share everything from signs photographs and documents been able to help other resi- and flyers to photographs, that capture these unprece- dents or illustrate how others journals and personal stories dented moments in history,” have helped them. Stories can that document local vigils and according to the release. be shared by going to www. protests. To share a story or Both initiatives will engage research.net/r/Alexandria- object, go to www.research. with residents, businesses, VA-ChroniclingThePandemic. net/r/AlexandriaVA-Docu- schools, healthcare workers, With protests still taking mentingProtests. faith groups and civic associ- place across the country and [email protected] PHOTO/ SCOTT COLLINS A peaceful sunrise captured along the waterfront on June 12. 4 |JUNE 18, 2020 ALEXANDRIA TIMES WEEKLY BRIEFING Alexandria Birthday Celebration goes virtual for 2020 Did you know that scientists have found a Alexandria's 271st birth- exandria website. The city fireworks, live music and day party, alongside the has yet to announce what food vendors. Last year, at- connection between uncorrected city's celebration of the these virtual offerings will tendees gathered in Orono- hearing loss and mental decline? United State's 244th birth- look like. co Bay Park for a fireworks day, will be modified to vir- The annual celebration, display put to tunes by the We’re OPEN! tual alternatives this year which gives July 4th cel- Alexandria Symphony Or- Learn more and have your hearing because of the pandemic, ebrations a run for their chestra. evaluated at Cosmetic Hearing Solutions! according to the City of Al- money, normally includes [email protected] Call for an appointment today! 424 South Washington St. • Alexandria VA 22314 1-571-312-7345 • www.cosmetichearingsolutions.com Red Cross testing blood dona- tions for COVID-19 antibodies Residents looking to a donor’s immune system can be made at RedCross- figure out if they have an- has produced antibodies for Blood.org, 800-733-2767 or tibodies to COVID-19 are COVID-19, whether the do- the Red Cross’ blood donor in luck: The American Red nor has symptoms or not. app. Residents will be able Cross is now testing blood, The decision to expand donate blood at the Red platelet and plasma dona- testing to donors comes at Cross’ Alexandria site at 123 tions for COVID-19 anti- a time of ongoing need for N. Alfred St. on June 25 from bodies, according to a news blood donations as hospi- 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Resi- release. tals are resuming surgeries dents are also encouraged The antibody test, which and treatments that require to visit RedCrossBlood.org has been approved by the blood, according to the re- to find the most convenient U.S. Food and Drug Admin- lease. location for them. istration, can determine if Donation appointments [email protected] WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM JUNE 18, 2020 | 5 Congratulates the Class of 2020! Top Row: Aidan Bain, Jackie Beauregard, Ella Bennett, Raegan Bonner, Kyle Burner, Laura Duffield, Brooke Dunton Second Row: Claire Engelhardt, Elizabeth Eskew, Robert Greenberg, Shiane Heiber, Preston Heilig, Kyla Johnson, Kelsey Mathieson Third Row: Ellie McNulty, Nikolas Mercader, Jack Nagtzaam, Anthony Noufal, Brian Peguero, Steven Peguero, Channing Pinkos Fourth Row: Rylie Reid, Keenan Reynolds, Daniel Rowe, Jack Ryder, Reeves Versaggi, Sawyer Weiss, Jeremy Young Members of the Class of 2020 have been offered admission to and/or will be attending the following high schools: BASIS Tysons, Bishop Ireton High School, Bishop O’Connell High School, DeMatha Catholic High School, Edmund Burke School, Elizabeth Seton High School, Emma Willard School, Episcopal High School, The Field School, Foxcroft School, Garrison Forest School, Gonzaga College High School, Langley High School, Maret School, St.