Port City Dispatches: July 14-20

Here are some important, interesting and fun stories written this week concerning Alexandria and its people.

From the City of Alexandria Patch sites:

“Opening Soon: Old Town H&M” — By Drew Hansen, Old Town Alexandria Patch

Clothing retailer H&M announced Wednesday on its Facebook page that it will open its new Old Town store at noon Thursday, July 25.

The storefront, located at 614 King St., most recently housed Restoration Hardware.

"Parks Commission Chair: 'Like Giving a Site in Yellowstone to a Hotel Chain'" — By Drew Hansen, West End Alexandria Patch

Members of the Alexandria Parks and Recreation Commission and Youth Sports Advisory Group expressed concerns about handing city parkland over to the private sector following a briefing Thursday night on an unprecedented offer to build a huge athletics complex on the site of a city park.

“Attention Cyclists and Drivers: Del Ray Bike Box Enhancements Arrive” — By Drew Hansen, Del Ray Patch

Commonwealth Avenue’s new-look bicycle box has arrived.

As part of a plan to improve bicycle lanes, the bicycle box in the southbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue at its intersection with Mount Vernon Avenue is now enhanced with a green-colored coating. A new detection system has also been installed allowing cyclists to alert the signal.

“Police Reports: MS 13 Graffiti, Thefts in Old Town” — By Beth Lawton, Old Town Alexandria Patch

A person reported that someone spray painted “MS 13” on their vehicle in the 700 block of Wilkes Street.

“Euille 'Troubled' by Zimmerman Verdict” — By Drew Hansen, Del Ray Patch

Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille said Tuesday in a statement that he respects the jury’s outcome in the George Zimmerman trial but is “troubled” by the verdict.  

“… One must question how an innocent child walking in his neighborhood could end up dead at the hands of an armed neighborhood watchman—only for that man to be found not guilty by a paneled jury,” Euille said.

“$88,615: What a Four-Person Family Needs to 'Get By' in NoVa, Study Says” — By Mary Ann Barton, West End Alexandria Patch

Everyone knows that the DC area's cost of living is high, but apparently if you're a family of four living in the Northern Virginia suburbs, a new study says you need at least $88,615 to "attain a secure yet modest living standard by estimating community-specific costs of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, other necessities, and taxes," according to a new study out by the Economic Policy Institute.

From elsewhere:

“Contract Dispute Could Go to Trial” — By Derrick Perkins, Alexandria Times

J and J Landscaping Management may pursue a lawsuit against City Hall after what it deems a flawed bid process cost the business a contract earlier this year.

The landscaping company was one of at least two businesses vying for a contract to maintain the city’s public right-of-ways and median strips as well as other groundskeeping tasks. But owner James Derrington quickly noticed the scope of the contract did not match that of previous years.

“Grocery Store Flight Only Temporary” — By Erich Wagner, Alexandria Times

You could be forgiven for worrying about an advent of food deserts in the Port City. With two branches of Giant Food closing last month and Magruder’s going out of business last year, Alexandria appears to have experienced quite the grocery store exodus.

Not so, said Christina Mindrup, vice president of commercial real estate at the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership.

“New Book Chronicles African-American History in Alexandria” — By Michael Lee Pope, Alexandria Gazette-Packet

Alexandria currently has its first black mayor, its first black city manager, its first black city attorney, its first black Circuit Court judge and its first black police chief — not to mention the first black president in the White House. But the strains of race relations continue to haunt the city, whether it's the division brought about by the George Zimmerman trial in Florida or the racial divide among Alexandria churches that takes place every Sunday morning.

The struggle for civil rights is not over, and yet standing at the dawn of the 21st century it's clear that the stories of how the movement took shape in Alexandria is an inspiring tale of perseverance and hope. That's why a group of authors came together to write "African Americans of Alexandria, Virginia: Beacons of Light in the Twentieth Century."

“Piece of Cake” — By Jeanne Theismann, Alexandria Gazette-Packet

It was a party 264 years in the making as Alexandria celebrated its birthday July 13 with a day of fun and entertainment that culminated with a fireworks display over the Potomac River accompanied by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra's playing of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.

“Ramsay Parents Speak Out About Staff Turnover” — By Carla Branch, AlexandriaNews.org

Members of the William Ramsay Elementary School PTA spoke to the Alexandria School Board last week about staff turnover at the school.

Earlier this year, the Ramsay PTA considered disbanding because of the lack of collaboration between the PTA and Ramsay Principal Rosario Casiano, according to school sources. That was averted and Jack Browand is the new Ramsay PTA president. However, outgoing PTA President Shana Johnson and her family are leaving Alexandria so that her child will no longer attend an Alexandria City Public school.

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