Alexandria Dispatches: Beauregard Rezoning, StoryCorps Coming

Welcome to Alexandria Dispatches, a collection of this week's top stories you may have missed in West End Alexandria and surrounding communities.

West End Alexandria Patch:

Planning Commission OKs Beauregard Rezoning: Commissioner Derek Hyra wanted more affordable housing in the plan.

: The Alexandria Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Beauregard-area rezoning Tuesday night.

: This year’s book is “Listening is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project.”

Alexandria Crime Falls to Historic Lows: Crime in 2012 in the city decreased more than 9 percent.

Old Town Alexandria Patch:

Jury Awards City Whistleblower in Wrongful Termination Case: Former city architect Henry Lewis says he was fired for trying to stop a contractor from cutting costs and overcharging, according to an article in Virginia Lawyers Weekly.

: The Virginia Department of Transportation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon.

Transportation Commission Wants to Maintain Trolley Headways: Commission members also discussed the Capital Improvement Program Wednesday.

: Such areas typically see people who exercise more and have fewer chronic diseases, according to a new Gallup-Healthways report.

Del Ray Patch:

: Alexandria Fire Department crews extinguish fire in a little more than an hour.

Cherry Blossom Custard Available at The Dairy Godmother in Del Ray: Owner Liz Davis says to expect the return of Cicada Crunch frozen custard in May.

Calvert Overhaul Project Suffers Delay: Massive renovation and expansion was initially scheduled to be completed in late 2013.

Del Ray Walgreens Project Ready to Move Forward: Mount Vernon Avenue drug store closer to reality after planners resist request from Alexandria officials to pursue locations elsewhere in the city.

Annandale Patch:

Annandale High School Teacher Charged with Assaulting Student: A female teacher was served a summons and charged with one misdemeanor count of assault for a March 12 incident involving a student.

School Board Approves Contract for $90 Million TJ Renovations: The renovations will help alleviate overcrowding and pay for additional technology resources for students.

Fundraiser Planned for Injured Mason District Officer Dinh: Mason District Station Officer Long "Junior" V. Dinh suffered severe injuries in a head-on car crash in February.

Campbell & Ferrara Outdoor Living to Relocate in May: The garden center and landscape business announced last fall it would relocate after more than 60 years at its Annandale-area location.