Community Corner

Port City Dispatches: Huge Blaze, Lenny Harris, Table Talk, Sur La Table and Morton Sherman

Some recommended reading concerning Alexandria.

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

From the City of Alexandria Patch sites:

Fire Crews Contain 6-Alarm Blaze in Alexandria — By Drew Hansen, West End Alexandria Patch

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A six-alarm fire that sprung from a Pickett Street warehouse close to noon was contained at around 3:20 p.m., according to the City of Alexandria. 

A city official tells Patch one firefighter was taken to the hospital for treatment of a “minor medical condition” related to the huge blaze, which cast a huge plume of smoke above the city that could been seen from miles away.

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Virginia Supreme Court Says Waterfront Appeal is Moot — By Drew Hansen, Old Town Alexandria Patch

The Supreme Court of Virginia says an appeal filed by three Old Town residents to invalidate Alexandria’s waterfront plan is moot, perhaps clearing the way for redevelopment along the Potomac River.

The three women who live near the city’s riverside—April Burke, Beth Gibney and Marie Kux—argue that council should not have approved the plan because it did not follow an appropriate process.

Alexandria Police Investigating Indecent Exposure Incident at Duncan Library — By Drew Hansen, Del Ray Patch

Alexandria police are investigating an indecent exposure incident that was reported at 7:39 p.m. Aug. 28 at Duncan Library.

A 35-year-old female victim reported an unknown male exposed himself to her inside the library, which is located and 5201 Commonwealth Ave. in Del Ray. The incident was reported at 7:39 p.m.

Police responded to the scene after the suspect had left the immediate area.

Trial Begins in Case of Slain Alexandria Activist Lenwood Harris — By Sonia Dasgupta, Old Town Alexandria Patch

The man accused of murdering Alexandria activist Lenwood Harris will be put on trial this week in Prince George's County, Maryland.
Tyrone Lewis is charged with murder, armed carjacking, armed robbery and other charges in the death of Harris, according to Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks. 

Harris, 53, went missing from Alexandria in September 2011. After a months-long search, his body was found in a Fort Washington well on Jan. 26, 2012. 

Motorcyclist Suffers Serious Injuries in Saturday Collision in Del Ray — By Drew Hansen, Del Ray Patch

A motorcyclist suffered serious injuries in a Saturday, Aug. 31 accident at the corner of Nelson and Mount Vernon Avenues in Alexandria.

At approximately 5 p.m. Saturday, a crash between a motorcycle and a car occurred at the Del Ray corner. The motorcyclist was transported to George Washington Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The motorcyclist’s status was later upgraded, according to a message to city officials.

Table Talk Reopens After Rare Day of Closure — By Drew Hansen, Old Town Alexandria Patch

Table Talk Restaurant on Duke Street was forced into a rare day of closure last week after a drunk driver drove through the front of eatery very early the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 28.

“They never hit their breaks,” owner Nick Kapetanakis said.

Sur La Table Opens on King Street — By Drew Hansen, Old Town Alexandria Patch

Seattle-based Sur La Table opened its new King Street location near City Hall on Thursday and handed out free coffee to visitors.

The space formerly housed a CVS, which moved up the street to a larger space at 503 King St. in 2012. That spot was vacated by Books-a-Million.

UpCycle Opens in Downtown Del Ray — By Sharon McLoone, Old Town Alexandria Patch

Tucked away in Del Ray down the driveway, up the stairs and through the double doors is UpCycle, a new nonprofit focused on creating community engagement through the arts and environmental awareness.

From elsewhere:

Alexandria Welcomes Acting Superintendent, Days After Morton Sherman Steps Down — By Michael Alison Chandler and T. Rees Shapiro

Margaret May Walsh, the newly appointed acting superintendent of Alexandria city schools, welcomed students and parents at George Mason Elementary with a smile and a personal introduction on the first day of school Tuesday.

To many parents and teachers, the longtime Alexandria administrator already was a familiar face.

“You were a principal when my son was in ninth grade,” said Martha Waldron, a retired Alexandria teacher and neighbor who stopped by the school to show the new schools chief her support. “He’s a daddy now. He’s 33. I’m so glad to see you!”

Police Address Recent Spike in Car Break-Ins in Del Ray — By Erich Wagner, Alexandria Times

Police are urging residents to secure their belongings and remain on the lookout for suspicious activity after a spate of car break-ins in Del Ray.

Capt. Len Fouch, commander of sector two of the Alexandria Police Department, said the entire region is experiencing a spike in thefts from cars.

In his sector, which includes Del Ray, there have been 75 vehicles broken into during the past 90 days. Nearly 65 percent of the cars targeted by thieves were left unlocked.

Morton Sherman Era Draws to Dramatic Close at Alexandria City Public Schools — By Michael Lee Pope, Alexandria Gazette Packet

As members of the Alexandria School Board were behind closed doors in a one-hour executive session last week, Glenn Hopkins was thumbing through a draft report he was preparing to the release from the Student Achievement Advisory Committee. The report was not good. On item after item, the report would show that Alexandria School Superintendent Morton Sherman failed to make progress on a series of recommendations designed to improve student achievement.

"I'm not sure what we're going to do with this report now," said Hopkins, glancing toward the room where School Board members were meeting in secret. "The target is gone."

The target — the embattled superintendent of the city's struggling public school system — was about to be toast. 

Analysis: Morton Sherman’s Legacy Mired in Controversy — By Derrick Perkins, Alexandria Times

With Morton Sherman’s abrupt departure, the former superintendent leaves Alexandria City Public Schools in turmoil — a word that could sum up much of his time with the district.

Sherman arrived on the scene in 2008, just months after the tumultuous departure of former Superintendent Rebecca Perry. Often clashing with school board members in her final years, Perry was ousted in dramatic fashion: They changed the locks on her after ending her contract early.

Del Ray United Methodist To Celebrate 120 Years — By Ashley Claire Simpson, Alexandria Gazette Packet

Although the Rev. Mark Mrini said no one can pinpoint the exact date of Del Ray United Methodist Church’s anniversary, the congregation will officially celebrate 120 years on Sunday, Sept. 15.

Mrini said it is an exciting time for all members of the congregation — from members who have joined the church in the seven years he has been on board, to the people who have been members for decades.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here