On This Day in Alexandria History — “On August 17, 1814, towards the end of the War of 1812, Alexandrians agonized in desperation as they waited for a pending British attack. Capt. James Gordon, commander of a fleet of British ships, sailed into the mouth of the Potomac hoping to draw the Americans attention away from a pending attack from the north on the nation’s capital. Gordon’s ships included the 38-gun HMS Seahorse, the 36-gun Euryalus, the ‘rocket’ vessel Erebus, and several bomb vessels, the Aetna, Devastation, and Meteor. All that lay between the prosperous town of Alexandria and the attack force was the fortification at Fort Washington (then called Fort Warburton), and the shallow depths and shoals of the riverbed. Gordon’s boats were slowed for days on at least twenty occasions due to grounding but, assisted by his second in command, Charles Napier, he persevered. Finally closing in on the Maryland fort, which was blown-up by its panicked commander almost immediately upon Gordon’s order to fire, the prize of Alexandria was now in site.” [Historic Alexandria]
Former Old Town Business Association Leader Joins Breast Cancer Collective — “Charlotte Hall, one of Alexandria’s most recognizable community and small-business leaders, has been named interim executive director of the Breast Cancer Collective, effective Monday, Aug. 17. The appointment places Hall at the helm of the Alexandria-based nonprofit as its board begins a search for a permanent executive director and prepares for a busy fall fundraising and outreach season.” [The Zebra]
United Way’s Back to School Drive Today — United Way of the National Capital Area is holding its Back to School Stuff the Bus initiative at its Alexandria headquarters on Monday to provide school supplies to 1,000 students in seven schools. Francis C. Hammond is one of the seven Title I schools in Virginia and Maryland benefiting. [Patch]
Duke Street Land Use Plan Comment Period Extended — “On July 20, we released the Working Draft Recommendations and their associated Figures and Maps for the Duke Street Land Use Plan. In order to ensure that community members have enough time to provide meaningful feedback, we are extending the public comment period through September 15.” [City of Alexandria]
Alexandria Forum on Revolutionary History Planned in September — “Historic Alexandria will host the Alexandria Forum on Friday, September 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street. This day-long Forum, ‘Nothing But Independence,’ will explore Alexandria and Northern Virginia during the Revolutionary War and how these moments in time continue to reverberate through today … The Alexandria Forum, in partnership with Emerging Revolutionary War, will feature lectures by historians and researchers.” [Historic Alexandria]
Museum Access to Be Impacted by Freedom 250 Grand Prix — “The National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of Natural History will be located within the race’s ticketed-access zone, called the Stripes and Stars perimeters. On Friday, museum visitors can enter through the nearest Grand Prix gates and no Grand Prix tickets are required to visit these museums. However, visitors to the museums will need Grand Prix tickets on Saturday, Aug. 22 and Sunday, Aug. 23.” [WTOP]
Judge Declines to Stop Virginia’s New Hemp Restrictions — “The law, passed by the Virginia General Assembly, tightens limits on the amount of THC allowed in hemp products. THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. The restrictions mean some hemp products that businesses could legally sell Friday can no longer be sold in Virginia.” [WUSA9]
It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 89°F and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 PM, accompanied by northwest winds at 6 to 9 mph. Tonight, there is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 PM, decreasing to a slight chance until midnight, with partly cloudy skies and a low around 71°F. North winds will blow at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]
