Flooding, School Resource Officers: Top News Of 2021 In Del Ray

ALEXANDRIA, VA — While 2021 continued to be overshadowed by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, there was a variety of news that interested Del Ray Patch readers.

Business news tends to be one of our popular topics. We said goodbye to several Del Ray businesses in 2021 — the Sushi Bar, Rosmarino D'Italia and Ascend Cycle. There was development news in nearby Potomac Yard as construction of the first Virginia Tech Innovation Campus academic building gets underway. A groundbreaking for the Oakville Triangle development with an Inova facility was also held. Plus, the opening of the long-awaited Potomac Yard Metro is delayed at least until fall 2022.

There were some notable police and fire stories affecting Del Ray. November's two-alarm fire impacted families in two duplex units, but the community came together to hold a GoFundMe fundraiser. Other top stories involved safety incidents and school resource officers at Alexandria public schools. School resource officer funding had been removed by City Council and replaced with mental health positions. But safety incidents in and around schools in the fall — including the arrest of a student with a gun outside the high school — caused school officials and parents to express concerns. City Council returned school resource officers temporarily while an alternative school safety plan is developed. However, SROs at Alexandria City High School were recently put on leave as a complaint is investigated.

Lastly, there was a variety of other community news, from election results to pay increases for public safety personnel. Impacts of flooding continue to be seen, from flash flooding in Del Ray to tidal flooding on the waterfront. Alexandria will also say farewell to retiring Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, longtime Councilwoman Del Pepper, Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (who will represent the 45th Virginia House District) and Councilman Mo Seifeldein. Next year, a City Council with three new members will be sworn in, and a new city manager will take over for retiring City Manager Mark Jinks.

To stay up to date on Del Ray and Alexandria news in 2022, subscribe to our free news alerts and morning newsletter. If you would like to share story ideas, send me an email at Emily.Leayman@patch.com.

Here are Del Ray's top stories of 2021:

Business

• Virginia Tech Innovation Campus Breaks Ground On First Building
• Virginia Tech Innovation Campus Gets $50M Commitment From Boeing
• Potomac Yard Metro Opening To Be Delayed In Alexandria: Metro
• Rosmarino D'Italia Set To Close In Del Ray
• Ascend Cycle To Close In Del Ray At End Of 2021
• The Sushi Bar Closes, Replaced By Holiday Pop-Up Bar In Del Ray
• Oakville Triangle Redevelopment Groundbreaking Held In Alexandria
• Support For Del Ray Businesses Urged After Power Outage
• Alexandria's Mom Made Foods Closes Amid Pandemic Challenges
• 5 New Restaurants To Check Out This Summer In Alexandria
• Asian, Pacific Islander-Owned Alexandria Businesses To Support
• Del Ray-Based Neighborhood Restaurant Group Wins RAMMY Award
• New Chef Brings Fresh Look To Kaizen Tavern In Del Ray
• Del Ray Sylvan Center Helps Students Study Through The Pandemic
• Dolce & Bean Wins 2021 Heart Of Del Ray Award
• Alexandria Restaurant Makes OpenTable 100 Best Neighborhood Gems
• Dr. Lauren Fisher Elected Del Ray Business Association President

Flooding

• Flash Flooding Results From Heavy Rainfall In Alexandria: Photos
• Tidal Flooding Moves Into Old Town Alexandria Streets: Photos
• Stormwater Utility Fee Proposed To Double In Response To Flooding
• 'Road May Flood' Signs Installed On Del Ray Area Streets

Police and fire

• Del Ray 3-Alarm Fire's Probable Cause Identified
• Alexandria City High School Lockdown Lifted, Student In Custody
• Temporary School Resource Officer Program To Return In Alexandria
• 'Serious Complaint' About SROs Investigated In Alexandria
• VA Shopping Cart Serial Killer: 4 Victims Found, More Suspected
• Woman's Death Investigated As Homicide In Alexandria
• 1 Injured In Shooting Near Braddock Road Metro
• Pedestrian Struck, Killed In Arlandria, GoFund Me Created
• Homeless Woman Found Dead In Arlandria Area: Police
• Vehicle Stolen At Gas Station In Alexandria, Later Recovered
• 2 Charged In Gunshots Incident In Hume Springs Area
• Day-Long Barricade Ends As Suspect Surrenders In Alexandria
• Route 1 Crash Hospitalizes Driver In Alexandria
• Shootings Investigated In Arlandria, North Ridge: Police

Other community news

• Alexandria Election Results: Mayor, City Council, School Board
• 3 Outgoing Alexandria City Council Members Honored
• Pay Increase Approved For Alexandria Government Employees
• 2-Cent Real Estate Tax Reduction In Alexandria Approved Budget
• Plastic Bag Tax Starts Jan. 1 In 3 Northern Virginia Localities
• New City Manager Appointed By City Council In Alexandria
• Alexandria Sheriff Lawhorne To Retire At End Of 2021
• School Board Approves New Names For T.C. Williams, Maury Schools
• T.C. Williams Name Changed To Alexandria City High School
• Sign Replaced At Renamed Naomi L. Brooks Elementary In Alexandria
• Remembering 9/11 Victims From Alexandria 20 Years Later
• Fines Eliminated At Alexandria Library Locations
• Free Fares, Redesigned Bus Network Coming To DASH In Alexandria
• WETA Celebrates History, Homes Of Del Ray On 'If You Lived Here'
• Noah Lyles Takes Bronze Medal In 200M At Tokyo Olympics
• Olympic Medalist Noah Lyles Speaks On Mental Health In Alexandria
• Del Ray Holiday Card Lane Display To Return In 2021
• Alexandria Schools Among Top Private Schools, Most Diverse: Niche
• First Night Alexandria 2021 Activities Canceled, Fireworks On