Alexandria Times Vol. 14b, No. 37 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper. SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 Contractor named for Potomac Yard Metro Access planned for International and Schiavone those impacted by Construction Co., as the con- southern entrance tractor in the long-in-the- removal works and often fraught Po- BY ALEXA EPITROPOULOS tomac Yard Metro project. The contract totals $213.7 WMATA and the City of million and puts into mo- Alexandria have named Po- tion the construction of the tomac Yard Constructors, a dual venture from Halmar SEE POTOMAC | 3 PHOTO/MISSY SCHROTT James Ross atop the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, one of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra's main performance venues. AN OVERTURE TO A HISTORIC SEASON Alexandria Symphony Orchestra welcomes PHOTO/ALEXA EPITROPOULOS new maestro ahead of 75th anniversary When it rains... The intersection of Union and King streets flooded over the BY MISSY SCHROTT weekend and remained under inches of water on Monday and Tuesday during high tide. Businesses have prepared for the Saturday marks the start of a nounced he was stepping down after possibility of more inclement weather by stacking sandbags momentous season for the Alexan- 28 years with the orchestra in 2016. and moving furniture and equipment to higher ground ahead dria Symphony Orchestra. Not only Ross was among four final can- of the possible impacts of Hurricane Florence (See page 6). is the organization celebrating its didates selected from a pool of 75th anniversary – it’s introducing 170 applicants to audition as mu- INSIDE the Symphony’s first new music di- sic director by conducting one of rector in almost 30 years. the ASO’s concerts last season. He Council preview Foodie James Ross was selected as the was named the new director af- Council members expect to Make the most of the late new maestro after a two-year-long ter the close of the season in May. consider T.C. lights, land use, summer harvest with this search process. He replaces for- transportation and more. fresh fruit tart. mer conductor Kim Kluge, who an- SEE ROSS | 18 Page 13 Page 29 Matthew McCarthy 703-236-1366 ® NOVA 4617 Duke St, Alexandria 2 |SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 ALEXANDRIA TIMES Christine Roland Garner I Sell More Because I Do More! Since 1988 The time to sell is now. Let me put my 30 years of experience to work for you! OLD TOWN SKYLINE PLAZA $1,200,000 $275,000 Located on the lobby level with no elevator or stairs to worry over! 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1372 sq. ft. with 1 garage Gorgeous historic plaqued residence with parking 1 block off King St.! parking space. Freshly painted, updated baths and kitchen 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bath with over 2,500 sq. ft. on 3 levels. Living room and formal dining room share a 2 sided gas with granite counters, SS appliances and natural wood cabinetry. Hardwood floors in living/dining room, new fireplace. Kitchen opens to family room with access to private yard with lush landscaping. Spacious Master suite, carpet in bedrooms. Large balcony (3 levels above grade) updated baths, heart of pine floors and lots of storage in the unfinished lower level. Blocks to King St. METRO! facing trees. Lots of amenities for carefree living! ROSEMONT Coming soon Beautiful Colonial with a 3 story addition blocks to Metro & Maury Elementary! 5 bedrooms (all upper level), 3.5 baths with over 3,900 sq. ft. on 4 levels. Generous room sizes, fireplaces in the living room, family room and Master suite. Gourmet eat-in kitchen, updated baths, main level den and lower level recreation room. Screened side porch and fenced yard with patio. Freshly painted interior, refinished hardwood floors on 3 levels. Located on a quiet 1 way street. 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 SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 | 3 WEEKLY BRIEFING Mercedes-Benz of Alexandria Joanna Anderson named acting Is proud to introduce its Old Town city attorney Representative City Manager Mark Jinks tant city attorney, Anderson the city attorney’s office as appointed Joanna C. Ander- has provided legal counsel a law clerk in 2001. She re- son, chief deputy city attorney on major citywide initia- ceived a law degree from the since 2016, as acting city at- tives, including infrastruc- George Mason University George K. torney on Sept. 11. Anderson’s ture projects, interpretation School of Law in 2003. appointment is effective im- of the zoning ordinance and Anderson will serve as mediately and follows James small area planning. acting city attorney until a Jermstad Banks’ resignation on Sept. 7. Anderson graduated from permanent city attorney is Specializing in factory certified pre-owned sales. Contact As chief deputy city at- the University of New Hamp- appointed. George at 703-864-3386 for your next Mercedes-Benz! torney, and, before, as assis- shire and began working in - [email protected] “The best or nothing.” Mercedes-Benz of Alexandria Naming committee discusses 200 South Pickett Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22304 controversial waterfront park name Main Telephone 703-341-2100 The City Council Naming that works to preserve and Troy had advocated for years Committee met on Wednesday promote the city’s Irish heri- to name the park for Fitzger- afternoon to discuss the nam- tage. Ballyshaners Chair Kim ald. The group thought they ing process for the park at the Moore said the name change had been victorious when the foot of King Street. was unannounced and oc- name was applied to the Wa- The meeting follows the curred on March 17, 2018. terfront Plan. city’s decision to temporarily Lt. Col. John Fitzgerald was The committee also dis- change the name from Fitz- an Irish immigrant and aide- cussed a proposal to name the gerald Square to King Street de-camp to George Washing- park at 3550 Commonwealth Park at the Waterfront, accord- ton in the Revolutionary War. Ave. “Unity Park,” and the ing to the project’s page on the He also served on Alexandria’s establishment of a memorial BEETHOVEN city website. King Street Park city council in 1784, according plaque at Windmill Hill Park at the Waterfront is a place- to the Fred. W. Smith National for Ryan Wojtanowski, the holder name, according to city Library for the study of George longtime captain of the Nina’s Symphony No. 7 spokesman Craig Fifer. Washington at Mount Vernon. Dandy boat. The name change has Moore said the naming The meeting took place af- drawn opposition from Alex- was a significant issue, as the ter press time Wednesday af- andria’s Ballyshaners, a group Ballyshaners’ late founder Pat ternoon. POTOMAC FROM | 1 that goes into just the man- Despite the southern agement of the contract on entrance being eliminat- Metro station after delays the WMATA side. ed, Baker said c. Chelsea Sanders and controversy. Deputy City The construction language in the Manager Emily Baker said cost is not the contract with that, though the Potomac full cost.” Potomac Yard September 29, 2018@8pm Yard Constructors’ bid was Some of those Constructors in- September 30, 2018@3pm $106.3 million less than the expenses include cludes an access Opening increased $320 million bud- acquiring right of point for resi- James Ross, Music Director get approved by council in way, easements dents that live April, it was still necessary and environ- to the south, Weekend! Alexander Kerr, Violin to eliminate the southern mental mitiga- perhaps in the entrance because of other tion for the land form of a ramp Also featuring music by Torke, Dvořák and Saint-Saëns expenses the city will incur exchange, Baker that connects to during the process. said. EMILY BAKER the northern en- “We increased the bud- “We needed to reduce the trance. The new access point ADULT: $20-$80 • STUDENT: $10 • YOUTH: $5 get by about $50 million in scope and increase the bud- would, hopefully, extend ac- the spring because there are get in order to pay construc- cess to residents of Potomac other costs to delivering the tion costs and other costs Greens, Old Town Greens Metro station,” Baker said. associated with the project,” “… There’s a lot of expense she said. SEE POTOMAC | 17 (703) 548-0885 • www.alexsym.org 4 |SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 ALEXANDRIA TIMES CRIME Alexandria man charged in murder of grandfather A 31-year-old Alexandria Scott’s residence on East prison. The firearms charges resident has been charged Reed Avenue. Scott was have a minimum sentence of in the murder of his grand- found deceased the morning 13 years in prison. father, Com- of July 23. Smith is being held at monwealth’s Smith fac- the William G. Truesdale Attorney Bry- es five felony Alexandria Adult Detention an Porter an- counts, includ- Center, where he has been nounced Mon- ing first degree since the Alexandria Police day. murder, burglary Department charged him Dallas Smith, while armed, with obstruction, a felony 31, of no fixed two counts of charge, on July 25. A date address, was use of a firearm for his trial has not been set indicted by a in the commis- at this time. grand jury on sion of a felony Anyone with information five charges DALLAS SMITH and possession about the incident is asked related to the of a firearm by a to contact Detective Brad shooting death of 82-year- convicted felon. The murder Cecchetti at 703-746-6858. old Jerry Scott. The homi- and burglary charges have a - aepitropoulos@ cide took place in July at maximum sentence of life in alextimes.com ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of brother A 24-year-old Alexan- showed no evidence that he I hope the circumstances dria resident has pleaded intended to kill Cruz, ac- of this case stand a warn- guilty to manslaughter in cording to the release.