Friday, July 31
Cartoon: Mission Accomplished
NASA discovers new rocky planet outside of the solar system, Kepler 425b.
Alexandria and Mount Vernon Sports Brief: Senior Olympics Offers Variety of Events
The 2015 NVSO will be held Sept. 12-25 at 23 venues throughout Northern Virginia. More than 50 events are open to adults 50-plus years of age living in a sponsoring jurisdiction. NVSO is sponsored by the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Fauquier and Prince William.
Thursday, July 30
Tons of Trucks’ Drive to Success
Event sparks memories, old and new.
Passing showers could not keep away the hundreds of eager people searching Chinquapin Park for long lost loves and new found interests in every day city vehicles. The inaugural event on Saturday, July 18 hosted seven departments including the fire department and Alexandria County Public Schools.
People At Work: City’s Sign Fabricator
Meeting an ever-increasing need for signs.
The black wedge jerks back and forth, making small cuts in the shiny red vinyl. Two or three minutes later Abraham (“they call me Abe here”) Kifle, sign fabricator for the City of Alexandria, cuts off the 24-inch rectangle from the large roll with his sharp blade.
Alexandria: Frontlines Falter
... in city’s affordable housing war.
While the city prepares to gain a little over 100 affordable housing units at Potomac Yard and The Filmore, one of the city’s bastions of affordable housing is in the process of pricing out residents, formerly protected by a rent freeze, who can’t keep up with rapidly rising rent costs.
Alexandria: Interning at Horatio Alger Association
High Point University rising junior Blake Pohanka is working with the Horatio Alger Association at her summer internship in her hometown of Alexandria.
Alexandria: Visiting Community Lodgings
Lynn Thomas (near left), executive director of Community Lodgings, discusses the challenges of providing low-income and affordable housing with U. S. Rep. Don Beyer (D) (right) after they toured the nonprofit's transitional housing unit on Friday, July 24.
Letter: Change in Leadership
Coverage of plans for a Bill Euille write-in campaign have emphasized that Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg defeated the mayor by a narrow margin. While true, accompanying commentary has missed the larger point: 65 percent of those who voted in June 9 Democratic primary voted for a candidate other than the incumbent mayor.
Alexandria: Old Colony Inn Faces Setback
Developer and neighbors go toe-to-toe over hotel expansion.
The Old Colony Inn in North Old Town off of the George Washington Parkway has a major upgrade planned. The two-story Best Western Hotel is planning to double its height and expand to include a restaurant on the corner.
Letter: Appropriate Recommendations
Although historical fact is close to objective, historical interpretation is very subjective. As painful as a lot of American history is, as Americans we need to be regularly reminded of it to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Letter: Revisiting Primary
It has been most amusing to read the letters in this paper about the Democratic primary and the results.
Letter: Is City ‘Well-Run?’
This replies to the letter to editor of July 23 [“City’s Wise Investments”] stating that Alexandria “cannot get any better” city finances; “we have an amazingly well-run city” and that “[w]e should re-elect our current City Council, including a write-in vote for Mayor Bill Euille ….” Really?
Alexandria: 2015 Julia Johns Award of Distinction
Inova Alexandria Hospital CEO Susan Carroll, the Jones, Brock and Miller families join with the 2015 recipient of the Julia Johns Award of Distinction Allessandro Ghidini, M.D. at the 23rd annual 1872 Society membership reception on June 2.
Alexandria: Smith, Ridgway Engaged
Lauren Elisabeth Smith met James Alan Ridgway, Jr. during March Madness (2014) on eHarmony.
Alexandria Brief: Shooting Victim Hospitalized
The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred in the 1200 block of North Quaker Lane on Friday, July 24. At approximately 9:52 p.m., officers responded to an apartment complex for reports of a shooting.
Alexandria: Renaming Confederate Relics
A step towards reconciliation, really?
Renaming of streets and monuments of Confederate soldiers and generals some say would be a step in the right direction towards racial reconciliation. Besides the nightmarish logistics of renaming major thoroughfares, I question, for a moment, the optimism (even idealism) of the desired outcomes.
Commentary: What Point-In-Time Count Means for Homelessness
On Jan. 28, 2015 the City of Alexandria counted 267 persons experiencing homelessness within the city during the annual Point-in-Time count, the exact same number as last year. While this number is just a one night snapshot of those who are either living on the streets or temporarily housed in shelters, it is full of meaning that needs to be carefully examined.
Commentary: Value of New Next to Old
The debate rages in Alexandria about what our new waterfront should look like. It is an issue that our next mayor will be dealing with. One argument says that new buildings should fit in with existing brick buildings, mainly the two-story homes and townhouses that were built with local clay from the late 1700s to the early 1900s. This idea has been the guiding light for every building built in Alexandria for the last 20 some years. Every office building must be built with an outer brick shell.
Alexandria: Masked and Hungry Critters Are Coming Down to Earth
One of your neighbors might be a raccoon.
This is the time of year when Alexandrians might step out into a yard or alley and encounter a masked creature, wearing stripes. Raccoons, born in the trees in spring, are descending to street level to search for food.
Alexandria: 10 Things To Know about Local Drinking Water
Virginia American Water joins thousands of water utilities across the country in the release of its annual water quality report available on line at www.amwater.com/vaaw/customer-service/water-quality-reports.html. In honor of the occasion, Virginia American Water offers this list of the top 10 things everyone should know about their drinking water.
Alexandria Brief: City Benefits from Bond Ratings
After both major rating agencies reaffirmed the City of Alexandria’s top bond ratings, the city earned favorable interest rates on the competitive sale of new bonds and the refinancing of existing bonds.
Alexandria Brief: Street Improvements Underway
As part of the city’s Complete Streets and Street Resurfacing programs, safety improvements will be made at several locations in Alexandria this summer.
Alexandria Brief: Sheriff’s Office Reaccredited
The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office has been reaccredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). The office received its formal reaccreditation at a ceremony Saturday, July 25, during CALEA’s summer conference in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Alexandria: Owen Retires from Marine Corps
Acknowledging that he would miss his colleagues in the Naval Aviation Training Systems Program Office (PMA-205), U.S. Marine Corps Col. David Owen, the Marine Corps department head for PMA-205, marked his retirement from the service July 10 during a ceremony at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Md.
Alexandria: Cold Treats for the Summer Heat
Gelato, ice cream shops rise to the occasion in the throes of summer.
Tucked half a block off of King Street in what was formerly a private residence at 111 S. Payne St., Casa Rosada’s pink-hued façade beckons pedestrians and drivers alike. The gelato café – whose name means “Pink House” in Spanish, an homage to the presidential residence of Argentina, the country where Casa Rosada’s owners hail from – has certainly made itself at home in Old Town in its 13 months of life.
Wednesday, July 29
Alexandria Q&A: T.C. Williams Grad Holland to Play at Fairmont State
QB helped Titans reach playoffs in 2013, snapping 22-year drought.
Q&A with T.C. Williams graduate Darius Holland.
Letter: Alexandria Strong
Letter to the Editor
In this great country, we have a system in place that allows its citizens to elect their representatives at all levels of government. With all of its flaws, it remains the best democratically representative system in the world.
Letter: Upcoming
Letter to the Editor
In “City’s Wise Investment,” [letter to the editor, July 23-29, Gazette Packet], the writer indicated that the City of Alexandria’s debt is “not an issue.” Of course it is not a current issue, since Alexandria has revised its debt guidelines recently to accommodate a $35 million budget deficit that would have otherwise required significant adjustments.
Letter: Don’t Oversimplify City Debt Issue
Letter to the Editor
A letter was printed last week citing the city’s AAA bond rating as evidence that (the) “City’s debt isn’t an issue.” The author, promoting a Bill Euille write-in campaign, characterizes other candidates who are talking about the need for better defined policy regarding debt limits, as “complaining,” and admonishes them
Alexandria: The World of Accordion
City hosts the accordionists’ festival.
The performers hugged their bellows, and like a sigh of relief, the instrument breathed out its reedy melody. The New Jersey-based all-accordion orchestra, made up of 25 men and women, performed at the Holiday Inn ballroom, in front of fans, family, and fellow musicians at the American Accordionists’ Association Festival, July 8-12.
Column: On A Tangent
Not that I live day-to-day or even month-to-month, but I do live – in my head anyway – quarter-to-quarter; that interval representing the usual and customary time between my recurring diagnostic scans. The time when the rubber hits my road.
Obituary: Charlotte Elaine Kline Rixse
Obituary
Charlotte Kline Rixse, 97, died on Sunday evening, July 19, 2015 at Goodwin House in Alexandria.
Obituary: Marcella Anderson
Obituary
Marcella Anderson, of Alexandria, died in her home on Sunday, July 26, 2015.
Governor’s School Students Complete Research
Six students from high schools throughout Virginia — including West Potomac High School’s Hayden McCloud — presented their summer research projects at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science on July 17 in front of an audience of mentors, parents, peers, and members of the VIMS community.
Face of True Evil
To the Editor: Sometime prior to July 16 of this year Sully Plantation Historic Site, a Fairfax County park, hosted what it called a World War II "Bivouac."
Thursday, July 23
Wednesday, July 22
Alexandria Firefighter a Pass-Catching Force for D.C. Divas
Whisonant won bodybuilding title at World Police and Fire Games.
The D.C. Divas will play on July 25 for a chance to go to the WFA national championship game.
Alexandria: Harold John Berman, Local Dermatologist, Dies at 87
Active in the Alexandria Medical Society.
Harold John Berman, a dermatologist who practiced in Alexandria for more than 54 years, died June 28 at Suburban Hospital of respiratory complications. He was 87.
Alexandria: Land, Air, Sea
EYA reveals historic influences for Robinson Terminal South development.
Despite a long struggle with local residents, plans for Robinson Terminal South’s redevelopment into an apartment and retail space are moving forward.
Alexandria: Assembling Social Justice League
Social Services Advisory Board regroups and refocuses.
Everyone on the Social Services Advisory Board was there for different reasons, and most have concerns related to a specific human services need.
Column: 'Abyssful' Ignorance
Hopefully not. But you never know – per last week’s column, until you know. And the preferred pattern seems to be that waiting to be spoken to in person, a week or so post-scan, is the best the process can be; or at least, that’s the process that suits the doctor/HMO.
Mount Vernon: Students Receive Battelle-UCM Scholarships
United Community Ministries (UCM) and Battelle awarded their Battelle-UCM Scholars for 2015.
Mount Vernon: UCM Presents Valencourt Scholarships
United Community Ministries (UCM) has presented its Valencourt Scholarship Fund awards for 2015.
Arthur V. ‘Art’ Fox, Alexandria Waterfront Commissioner, Dies at 72
Fourth of July celebrations in Alexandria are traditionally low key as the city formally celebrates its own birthday a week later with a fireworks display over the Potomac River. The exception was the Old Town home of Art Fox, where for years an invitation to his annual Independence Day party was one of the most sought after in town.
Rowing for Loyola
Lillian Lane, a 2015 West Potomac High School graduate, committed to row for the Loyola University Maryland crew team next year.
Alexandria: AWLA’s Got Seoul
A local response to global issue.
It is hard to imagine that dogs in some parts of the world are being prepared for brutal deaths to become human food.
Alexandria People at Work: Midwife Says Full Moons Bring on the Babies
Jennifer Argueta has first call for 24 hours beginning Saturday at 10 p.m. "First call almost always means a baby," Argueta said. She is a midwife at BirthCare & Women's Health on King Street in Alexandria.
Alexandria: Summer Tips for Pet Lovers
From the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
Be sure your pets have access to fresh water and shelter from the sun. Fair-skinned dogs or those with light coats and exposed skin should wear sunscreen or be kept inside during peak hours of sun exposure.
Alexandria: AWLA Hosting 2016 Alexandria Animal of the Year Contest
Does your dog look at a camera and smile, or do your cats like to snuggle together? Or maybe your guinea pig shares dried papaya with your cockatoo? If your pet is especially adorable, capture the moment, and he or she could become the 2016 Alexandria Animal of the Year.
Letter: Empty Rhetoric
Letter to the Editor
Having recently questioned the Gazette for its silence on the ongoing saga of Hunting Point aka The Bridgeyard, I was happy to see the coverage on the Planning Commission’s approval of the proposed clubhouse there.
Letter: City’s Wise Investments
Letter to the Editor
The City of Alexandria just received a bond rating upgrade — to AAA stable. You cannot get any better than this!
Alexandria: ‘Senior Academy’ To Launch This Fall
Senior Services of Alexandria
Senior Services of Alexandria (SSA) along with the City of Alexandria is reaching out to seniors 60 and over to participate in a 4-week “Senior Academy.” The Academy’s goal to inform Alexandria residents about the various city government programs and services available to seniors and to encourage them to get involved in all that the city has to offer.
Alexandria: ‘Listening’ to Vesey Folk Opera
At Black History Museum
"It was a much-needed break from technopoly," said one theatregoer at a recent Wednesday evening at The Black History Museum in Alexandria. Technopoly is a term often used today to describe how technology monopolizes our daily lives.
Letter: Reminders of Oppression
Letter to the Editor
The recent controversy over Confederate memories has really made me to start thinking about our memories that are preserved. Then I realized that here in the USA, especially the East we have so many reminders of an old regime of which we are no longer apart.
Letter: Rules for The Road
Letter to the Editor
When will Alexandria take a cue from Arlington County with the portable "State Law" pedestrian crosswalk signs. From eastbound Braddock Road at the crosswalk/train tracks, to Mt. Vernon Avenue in Del Ray/Arlandria and elsewhere, they are constantly moved into lanes of traffic presumably by pedestrians and I'm guessing transit bus drivers.
Letter: Ignoble Cause
Letter to the Editor
The flying and subsequent removal of the Confederate battle flag from the Capitol grounds in Columbia, S.C., has focused attention on symbols of the Confederacy elsewhere.
Editorial: What’s Special about Alexandria?
Share tips in upcoming Newcomers and Community Guide.
The Gazette Packet’s annual Newcomers and Community Guide will publish Aug. 26. A bevy of interns, plus staff writers and editors, are preparing this year’s editions, but we need help from our readers.
Monday, July 20
Editorial: What’s Special about Your Community?
Share tips in upcoming Newcomers and Community Guides.
The Connection’s annual Newcomers and Community Guides will publish Aug. 26. A bevy of interns, plus staff writers and editors, are preparing this year’s editions, but we need help from our readers.
Thursday, July 16
Alexandria Home Sales: June, 2015
In June, 2015, 269 Alexandria homes sold between $2,675,000-$104,000.
Alexandria Home Sales: June, 2015
Alexandria/Mount Vernon Weekend Fun: July 17-26
Events in Alexandria & Mount Vernon this week.
Wednesday, July 15
Q&A: TC Williams Rising Senior Tovsky Committed to Elon Baseball
Titan pitcher listens to Katy Perry, Kesha before games.
Q&A with T.C. Williams rising senior Andrew Tovsky.
Column: 'Scant' Know For Sure Anymore
After six years, four months and two weeks since being diagnosed with stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer (the “terminal” kind), I can say with certainty that I have no sense of what my next CT scan, scheduled for July 15th, will indicate. Previously (multiple scans over multiple years), I’ve felt something in my upper chest/lungs where the largest tumors are located and the subsequent scan showed nothing of consequence.
Letter: Anger and Disappointment
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: I would like to share with you a very disturbing scene that I witnessed over the weekend. I have not been able to shake the anger and disappointment that I have felt ever since, and so I am reaching out to you to help shed light on this issue.
Obituary: Georgia Marie Peters Bruch
Georgia Marie Peters Bruch, beloved wife, mother and friend, died on July 7, 2015 in Richmond, Va.
Alexandria: 2015 PLTI National Training Participants
For the fourth year in a row, the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) hosted the National Facilitator’s Training between July 10-12
Alexandria Brief: ‘At Large’ Representative Sought for Fort Ward
The Fort Ward Management Plan Implementation Monitoring Group is now accepting nominations for an “at large” representative. On July 11, City Manager Mark Jinks announced that nominations could be submitted to Julie Fuerth at julie.fuerth@alexandriava.gov by July 20.
Observing Ramadan in Alexandria
Holy month strengthens spiritual core.
Visit any area mosque these days and it’ll be abuzz.
Alexandria: Framing History
From George Washington to today’s White House.
It was just about three weeks ago when Gary Eyler got a call on Tuesday to be in the White House briefing room on Wednesday for the unveiling of a replica of the original White House Correspondents Charter. The original had disappeared in 2007. Eyler had been asked to recreate it.
Alexandria Appetite: A Taste of Ethiopia Near Home
Alexandria boasts several Ethiopian restaurants well worth your time and money.
Alexandria: Zarek Honored for Service with The Twig
Starlet G. Zarek of Alexandria was honored last month for her 25 years of service to The Twig, the junior auxiliary of Inova Alexandria Hospital.
Alexandria: First Alexandrians
Alexandria celebrates its 266th and 13,000th birthday.
While many Alexandrians celebrated the city’s 266th birthday on July 11, in truth, residents have lived and commuted here much, much longer. No one at the festival could trace their roots to the first Alexandrians, and little to no written history remains to give detailed accounts of their lives, but historians at the Alexandria Archeology Museum examine flakes of stone tools and broken pottery to piece together what life was like for American Indians living in what is today Alexandria before colonists arrived.
Alexandria: Hunting Point is Trading Park For Clubhouse
Hunting Point plan reduces open space, raises community ire.
Following approval from the Alexandria Planning Commission, Hunting Point Apartments is moving forward with a plan to construct an 8,000-square-foot residential amenity building between the two apartment towers. But the new amenity comes with its own share of hidden costs, and not everyone at Hunting Point Apartments is happy with the addition.
Alexandria: Mourning Loss of Sydney-Chanele Dawkins
Filmmaker, arts advocate dies at 47
Sydney-Chanele Dawkins, an award-winning filmmaker, film festival producer and former chair of the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, died July 8 at her home in Alexandria of complications from breast cancer. She was 47 years old.
Alexandria: City Celebrates 266th Birthday
ASO, fireworks highlight festivities.
The City of Alexandria celebrated its 266th birthday July 11 as more than 15,000 people enjoyed food, music and fireworks at Oronoco Bay Park.
Alexandria: Gathering Includes Banjos and Poetry
At “Wailin’ Ghosts of the Civil War,” a small group of Alexandrians gathered to hear the music and poetry of the Civil War on July 9 at the Athenaeum. Edgar Poe, a South Carolinian banjo player, performed songs from the Civil War between poetry from the era read by Peter Lattu, a local poet.
Alexandria: Backpacks for All
Thousands of students will begin school this fall at a disadvantage; help now so they have the basics.
The first day of school each year is fraught with anticipation and anxiety. Many local students will be concerned about what they wear, who they will see, what it will be like. They’ve already had multiple shopping trips, online and otherwise, to be sure they have the supplies and extras they need. We live in an area where many if not most families have the means and desire to do almost whatever it takes to give their children the best chances for success.
Alexandria: Helping a Model Citizen
Eve’s a homeowner who lives in a historic, beautiful home that was built in 1893. This fits Eve, a former model and caterer who is gracious, poised, and looks 20 years younger than her 77 years. Originally from Michigan, Eve came to visit D.C. in the 1960s and was taken with its charm. She finally moved in to Old Town in 1996. She loves the compliments the city receives. She worked at Mt. Vernon for 11 years, and often heard visitors from around the country say: “This town is so great I want to live here!” Even her son in law who lives in Connecticut regularly comments: “You live in the most charming city in the United States.” And she agrees.
Letter: Historic Lessons
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: Regarding “Learn from History” [letter, July 9], the writer makes a case that, quite frankly, appalls me. Maybe he should take a little more time to seriously look at history in regards to the Civil War. He states that a “small fringe” of flag adherents use it as a racist hate symbol while the “vast majority” regard it as a symbol of other things. Not sure where his support for this statement comes from. A significant problem I have with this interpretation is that he is suggesting that all of the factors he names, “family/ancestral heritage, rebellion against central authority, local anatomy, hierarchical rather than (Marsian) egalitarianism, social order, resistance to abuse of power, etc.” should deserve equal status.
Letter: One Nation ... Indivisible
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: I was surprised at a letter last week [“Learn from History”], but then I realized that writer must be a young man. Those of us who lived through the ‘50s and ‘60s lived through the history of the Confederate flag being used as a symbol of defiance to the Supreme Court decisions on equal rights and desegregation as well as the Federal Government’s use of force to enforce these decisions. The Confederate flag did not fly over the South Carolina capitol building until that time, and I remember clearly the searing images of policemen in the south wearing the flag on their helmets, white supremacists using the flag as a clear symbol of opposition to what was happening, and simmering racism boiling over into the streets in many locations.
Letter: Disappointing Coverage
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: I was disappointed that your July 2 cartoon pictured Miss Dixie, gazing at the Confederate flag, disrespectfully with her hoop skirt billowing up to show her undergarments. This was an unnecessary attack on a lady; she could have been portrayed in a more dignified posture. Or was this an attempt to put humor into the drawing? Of the adolescent variety if that. How does this drawing prove modern cultural superiority to that of the 19th century South?
Letter: Quantrell Avenue?
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: As the city considers what to do about street names and monuments honoring the Confederacy, let me suggest that a good place to start is with Quantrell Avenue in the city’s West End. In 2011, the Office of Historic Alexandria pretty much confirmed what I had long suspected.
Alexandria: New Season Focuses on Symphonic Traditions
Where have all the symphonies gone? To the Silver Screen! Contemporary symphonic film composers are carrying on the tradition of Wagner, Tchaikovsky and Puccini by writing music that accompanies theatrical genres.
Letter: Preserve History
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: The Military Order of the Stars and Bars at its convention held on July 10, 2015 in Alexandria passed the following resolution: Resolved that: History should not be abolished or wielded in the pursuit of vengeance. It is a tool that is to be used to build a better future. The Confederate heritage community acknowledges that the battle flag has been inappropriately used and abused by certain hate groups. We will not surrender to hate, or abandon our heritage.
Letter: Reflect on This Monument
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: While we realize that there has been no official call to remove or move the memorial to Alexandria’s fallen Civil War soldiers, we write to express our point of view, which is of deep appreciation for this historic monument and the story it tells.
Alexandria and Mount Vernon: Keeping Guns from Criminals
Focusing on private gun sales.
What are you going to do about gun safety and gun violence? These were words I heard over and over again from constituents last year when I first ran for Congress. They couldn’t understand why in the world I would want to be part of a Congress they largely viewed as dysfunctional. And the next words out of their mouth would be an impassioned plea, dysfunction be damned, to reach across party lines and find a compromise — any incremental step — that would begin to make our society safer from horrific shootings.
Letter: Solemn Sentiment
Letter to the Editor
Calls to take down the statue of the Confederate soldier at the corner of Washington and Prince streets may be understandable, but ultimately misguided. In the wake of the Charleston shootings, the efforts to remove the Confederate battle flag from state houses, license plates and other venues is completely justified. The flag had been captured by racist elements and made deeply offensive to many Americans.
Letter: Reduce Power Plant Pollution
Letter to the Editor
Alexandrians deserve to learn of a recent act of political courage and wisdom on the part of U.S. Rep. Don Beyer.
Tuesday, July 14
Editorial: Backpacks for All
Thousands of students will begin school this fall at a disadvantage; help now so they have the basics.
The first day of school each year is fraught with anticipation and anxiety. Many local students will be concerned about what they wear, who they will see, what it will be like. They’ve already had multiple shopping trips, online and otherwise, to be sure they have the supplies and extras they need.
Unscheduling Summer Play
Experts praise the benefits of free play for children.
What was once a time for catching fireflies, swimming and exploring has evolved into a period of elite day camps, academic enrichment classes and top-dollar sports clinics.
Thursday, July 9
Wednesday, July 8
Q&A: SSSAS Grad Majure Competes in Under Armour All-America Game
Majure to play lacrosse at Duke, looking forward to watching Duke basketball.
Q&A with St. Stephen's & St. Agnes graduate Ellie Majure.
Column: My Manifesto, Sort Of
Being diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer (no, they’re not all “terminal”) is “a heck of a thing,” to extrapolate a bit from Jim Valvano’s memorable 1993 ESPY Awards speech given a few months before he succumbed to his cancer.
Alexandria: Community Lodgings Opens Doors for Those Facing Homelessness
Tours offered at Fifer Family Learning Center.
Community Lodgings seeks to promote self-sufficiency and break the cycle of poverty in the city. In operation since 1987, the nonprofit founded by a collective of Episcopal churches works with families to create stability.
Service and Brotherhood
Mentor of The Month
“The most rewarding thing about Space of His Own was the interaction with the kids and seeing them transform from the beginning of the program where everyone’s nervous and there’s a sense of formality, and seeing it evolve to where there’s a level of comfort between the mentor and the mentee.”
Alexandria: Walking Aboard History
Lycee Rochambeau students, French expatriates, and many Americans visit L'Hermione
Students from the Lycee Rochambeau looked up at L'Hermione and called it “a ship with feelings.”
Committing to Cautious Driving
Senior Driving Tips
As the old saying goes, we are all creatures of habit. It’s true of life — and it’s definitely true of driving.
Letter: Place Plaque In Museum
Letter to the Editor
It’s about time we discuss whether the city should have a statue of a Confederate soldier facing south in the middle of Washington Street (“Confederate Concerns,” July 1). While that debate proceeds, another and more offensive Confederate marker needs to be removed
Letter: Testimony to History
Letter to the Editor
The Appomattox soldier should be left where is. The Confederate flag has unfortunately come to symbolize racial hate. But this soldier, facing south, with his back turned on the source of his troubles, has nothing to do with hate.
Alexandria: Murder in Braddock Sparks Tension
Death of Shakkan Elliot-Tibbs sparks community outrage.
Shakkan Elliot-Tibbs had spent July 2 in Alexandria visiting his cousin. Elliot-Tibbs was on his way to the metro to meet his mother in Springfield when he was struck by gunfire. Police arrived at 11:30 p.m. responding to one of the many “shots fired” calls from the neighborhood, but that night found Elliot-Tibbs suffering from a gunshot wound.
Alexandria: ‘Open Heart and Open Home’
KidSave hosts Summer Miracles program.
KidSave, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding forever-homes for foster children and orphans in foreign countries, is bringing Tatiana from Colombia to Alexandria for the summer.
Alexandria Mayoral Race Write-In Tightrope
Mayor Euille withholds support for either Silberberg or Write-In Euille.
One month has passed since Allison Silberberg was nominated as the Democratic candidate for nayor of Alexandria over incumbent Mayor William Euille and former Mayor Kerry Donley.
Alexandria: Petroleum Spill in Four Mile Run
Cause and extent of petroleum spill remain unknown
Four Mile Run is normally a scenic stream that divides Arlington and Alexandria, but on July 1, the public was told to stay away from the area due to contamination from a petroleum discharge.
Letter: Time To Rename Highway
Letter to the Editor
Regarding the unease over the Appomattox statue, the display of the Confederate flag on Lee-Jackson day, and the Jefferson Davis highway: to me, by far the most offensive, and indefensible, is the last.
Alexandria: Development Briefs for the Week of July 8
Development
226 The Strand, recently approved for demolition, may get a second chance at life. A petition to appeal the Board of Architectural Review’s (BAR) decision to approve demolition of the building has gained more than 25 signatures from local property owners in the Old & Historic District. The appeal will be taken to City Council in the fall.
The Rotary Club of Alexandria Puts 'Service Above Self'
Rotary donates over $112,000 to local nonprofits.
The Rotary Club of Alexandria, in partnership with the Alexandria Day Nursery and Children's Home, continued its decades-long tradition of awarding grants to local nonprofit organizations
Letter: Restore Community Policing
Letter to the Editor
The recent homicide of Shakkan Elliot-Tibbs at the Andrew Adkins public housing project one block from Braddock Metro is a tragedy for his family and friends. But in a sense it was also a death foretold.
Letter: ‘Shots Fired’ Not Whole Story
Letter to the Editor
This morning there was an alleged Navy Yard incident, a report of gunshots fired. The report was said to be in error.
Letter: Importance of Camp
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: Seems like a simple enough question. For those of us that work, live and visit this extraordinary City called Alexandria, we do not want it to become the focus nor experience the events that occurred in cities like Ferguson and Baltimore.
Letter: Work Together for Community
Letter to the Editor
This past Monday evening, July 6, I had the opportunity to attend a community meeting being hosted by Alexandria Police at the Charles Houston Recreation Center regarding last week’s deadly shooting of Mr. Shakkan Elliot-Tibbs.
Alexandria: Wine Cellar Needs a Little Help from Friends
Elizabeth and Rick Myllenbeck have a vision for 207 King St. They want to turn the historic 1810 Bartleman house in the heart of Old Town into the Sonoma Cellar, a wine-tasting room, bistro, and gift shop.
Letter: Questioning VDOT On I-66 Plan
Letter to the Editor
The following is a statement by the 66 Alliance at the Virginia Department of Transportation’s public information meeting on the “Transform 66 Inside the Beltway Project” at the Arlington Public Library on June 17.
Letter: Leave Confederate Statue Alone
Letter to the Editor
I am writing to respond to the article about the Confederate statue at the intersection of Prince and South Washington streets (“Confederate Concerns, Alexandria’s Appomattox statute under scrutiny,” July 2). Our local politicians that were quoted (Democratic mayoral candidates Donley, Euille and Silberberg) should focus more on practical matters such as whether or not the city is being run efficiently and honestly.
Alexandria/Mount Vernon: Beer and Barbecue at Bilbo Baggins
In the Kitchen
Ancho chili pepper, garlic and onion powder are poured into the large aluminum pot already simmering with ketchup, vinegar and leftover pork drippings.
Letter: Effects of Redevelopment
Letter to the Editor
So the other day I decided to stop at Target (Hybla Valley store, and said to myself, boy they could really expand this store out to the side parking lot and still maintain adequate parking for its customers once Alexandria kicks out the retailers at Potomac Yards.
Letter: Streets Safer For All Users
Letter to the Editor
I write in response to the letter to the editor titled “Revisit the Bike Lanes” in the July 2, Alexandria Gazette Packet. The King Street Traffic Calming Project was aimed at making this portion of King Street safer for all users. The writer unfortunately focuses narrowly on the number of cyclists using the bike lines during a two-hour period on one particular day.
Letter: Why Not Re-open Pool?
Letter to the Editor
In the article titled “Splash with DASH” [Alexandria Gazette Packet, July 2], there is no mention of the public pool located next to the Mt. Vernon school
Letter: Learn from History
Letter to the Editor
All of my ancestors arrived in the USA in the 20th century, so I don’t have any emotional relationship with the Confederate flag, monuments, statues, etc, but I do understand their integral part in our history.
Tuesday, July 7
A House by the Sea
Design ideas for beach homes.
As the sweaty days of summer slog on, many are dreaming about a home by the sea, a wistful retreat where cares flow as freely as an ocean breeze.
Editorial: Yes to Nonpartisan Redistricting
Politicians shouldn’t be choosing voters.
Virginia’s Congressional map is unconstitutional because African American voters are packed into District 3, according to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The problem will have to be remedied by drawing new boundaries.
Thursday, July 2
Alexandria/Mount Vernon Weekend Fun: July 3-5
Events in Alexandria and Mount Vernon for the July 4 weekend.
Wednesday, July 1
Column: Quality of Life
Throughout my nearly six and a half years of cancer treatment, starting at the initial Team Lourie meeting on February 27, 2009, when my oncologist suggested I take that vacation I’ve always dreamed of (to which I exclaimed “WHAT!?”), my quality of life has always been important to him.
Mt. Vernon: Many Made WPHS All Night Graduation Party Possible
Grads enjoy all night celebration supported by 80 local businesses.
The West Potomac High School All Night Graduation Celebration provides a safe, fun, drug- and alcohol-free event for seniors following their graduation ceremony.
Alexandria: Joy over Court Decision
Members of the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church (MVUC) congregation celebrate the extension of same-sex marriage to all 50 states by Friday's U.S. Supreme Court decision.
Rail Is Better than Bus
I sit on the AT2X bus taking me home from work. It pulls out of Mark Center and onto the Seminary Road bridge over 395. I can see below four lanes of cars, packed and barely moving. It’s like this every day. North-bound lanes are busy too.
Letter: Spring Bank and Fairchild Park
Letter to the Editor
The history of seeking a park and restoring Quander Brook is easily understood with facts.
Gala Celebrates 50th Reunion of Parker-Gray Class of ‘65
The Parker-Gray High School Class of 1965 hosted its 50th anniversary on June 12-13
Letter: Supporting Students
Letter to the Editor
Dan Storck is a hero for students and staff in Fairfax County Public Schools.
Mt. Vernon: Surovell fundraiser photo
Cinco de Surovell
Del. Scott Surovell's Sixth Annual Cinco de Surovell fundraising event was held in May in Fort Hunt Park.
Alexandria: Port City Releases Derecho Common
Like the microwave, the pacemaker, and the Slinky, Port City’s Derecho Common is the fortunate, if accidental, byproduct of nature and some experimental science.
Alexandria: Confederate Concerns About Appomattox
Alexandria’s Appomattox statue under scrutiny.
With a national dialogue underway on the appropriateness of Confederate flags and imagery, some Alexandrians have begun questioning whether the Appomattox statue to Alexandria’s Confederate dead should remain on Prince Street.
Alexandria: ‘Don’t Judge Me’ Music Video Promotes Tolerance
Kids Empowering Kids debuts music video.
Their voices were timid at first, but one by one students at William Ramsey Elementary School spoke up when asked how they have been judged by their friends and classmates.
Alexandria: Splash with DASH
DASH to operate free service on pool bus route.
The Alexandria Transit Company (DASH), in partnership with the Advocates for Alexandria Aquatics, and the City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities, revealed a new initiative to get families and children to the Old Town Pool this summer. More than 20 local businesses, along with the support of the USA Swimming Foundation – Make a Splash, are sponsoring free rides during July and August on DASH’s AT10 route.
Alexandria: Tenants and Timeline Unclear for Landmark Mall
As city approves details for the mall redesign, other questions remain unanswered.
While City Council expressed support for new amenities and retail spaces at Landmark Mall, members of the public remain skeptical until more details emerge.
ACCT Stages ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’
Comedy tells of efficiency expert who raises a family with 12 children.
Aldersgate Church Community Theater (ACCT) is staging the light-hearted classic comedy "Cheaper by the Dozen" July 3-19 in Alexandria.
Alexandria: Rejoicing on Decision Day
Multifaith gathering celebrates national same-sex equality.
As Rev. Robin Anderson from Alexandria’s Commonwealth Baptist Church discovered this weekend, planning a party around a U.S. Supreme Court decision can be problematic. First, when Anderson began planning the Northern Virginia Multifaith Gathering for Marriage Equality, there was no set date for the decision. Decision day could have been anything between June 25 to June 29. And second, there was no way to determine the outcome of the decision. Hanging a festive banner could make for an awkward situation if the Supreme Court ruled against marriage equality.
Alexandria: Wolfe Street Bares Teeth at Developer
Potential property sale stirs controversy.
The historic 415 Wolfe Street home hasn’t been sold yet, but even the possibility of a sale to a developer has some neighbors incensed. The owners of the historic property insist that the home is still on the market, and while a few developers have expressed an interest in the project, nothing is close to being finalized. Yet, some neighbors have already begun expressing concerns that a potential townhouse development could have a serious impact on the neighborhood.
Alexandria: Changing Face of Family-Friendly Dining
Quick: Think of a traditionally “kid-friendly” restaurant. It’s likely that one particular genre comes to mind: A loud establishment teeming with chaos, impatient servers, and a small children’s menu offering the usual fare for your little ones. But the face of “family-friendly” dining is changing, and some of the restaurants leading the way in Alexandria may surprise you.
Letter: Debacle at Patrick Henry
Letter to the Editor
Just recently the city has begun the process of rebuilding our school infrastructure. Long overdue and neglected, the first project begins with Patrick Henry School. The school dates back to the 1950s and is currently unfit for educating our youth. The city has budgeted $38.7 million for this project with no firm budget for the accompanying recreation center ($6.9-$8.2 million have been tossed around). Without adequate discussion and public hearing, the School Board and the City Council have passed the buck and moved this project forward,despite the failure of the planning board and recreation department to deliver a viable plan for the recreation center. Dissension and hesitation on the part of the School Board and City Council have permeated the discussions and we are only in the second inning of this project with 11 more to follow. An inauspicious beginning.
Alexandria: Best for Vets
Alexandria tops list of cities for veterans.
The Military Times has named Alexandria as the top mid-size community for veterans in its first Best for Vets: Places to Live feature article.
Letter: Winning By Listening
Letter to the Editor
Winning precincts across the city from the West End to Parkfairfax to Old Town, Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg won the primary on June 9 by a convincing plurality to become the Democratic nominee for mayor of the city of Alexandria. She defeated the incumbent mayor, Mr. Bill Euille, who has served since 2003. She also defeated the former mayor, Mr. Kerry Donley, who served as mayor eight years prior to Mayor Euille. Against a combined 20-year incumbency as well as being outraised by both candidates, Vice Mayor Silberberg pulled off an upset. She won in an old-fashioned way. She actively listened to one voter at a time with the promise to bring new energy to the table.
Alexandria: Accountability Supports My Students
Kids, like the rest of us, want to know how they’re doing. As their teacher, it is also my job to know how they’re doing. What do they know? What do they still need to learn? I hold myself accountable for my students’ growth and it is with this data that I am best able to teach them and make sure of their progress.
Alexandria: Going the Distance for City’s Children
Parks, play and promising futures.
Summer vacation season is upon us. Vacations are not just fun, but can also be important for our health. We can return from time away with a renewed sense of vigor, fresh perspectives, and increased mental acuity. A break from the daily grind can relieve stress and increase productivity in all of us.
Letter: Disheartened Residents
Letter to the Editor
It’s really disheartening to live in this wonderful city I call home and watch it slowly lose its historic charm, ambience and cache. With each and every planning decision, we are slowly becoming just like every other city. And it’s all because current decision makers apparently have little concern about anything but getting things built.
Alexandria: Brunch Benefits Surgical Services
The Board of Lady Managers held its annual brunch on June 21 at the Union Street Public House. The brunch raised funds for the purchase of two state-of-the art neurology microscopes for Inova Alexandria Hospital Surgical Services. So far over $5,000 has been raised towards the goal of $640,000.
Alexandria People At Work: Dancing the Afternoon Away
Dancing the Afternoon Away
Shiny silver heels glide over the polished wooden floor. Today Lioudmila Blinov will review the steps of the Argentine tango with Gregory and Lindsey Bearce from Alexandria who have been dancing there since January. You can do it "slow slow slow" or "slow quick quick slow. It's what you feel." They have already been through the foxtrot and other basics. "He bought me a dance lesson as an anniversary present,” Lindsey says. "And now it's kind of like a date night sort of thing," Gregory adds.
Letter: How Not to Run A Meeting
Letter to the Editor
The other night, I attended the Old Town Area Parking Study (OTAPS) group meeting at City Hall. The meeting started off with the chairperson asking for comments from the public. I was aghast, since not one item on the agenda had even been discussed. What were the citizens in attendance going to base their comments upon? As a result, only a few citizens commented at this meeting.
Letter: Bike Lanes Revisited
Letter to the Editor
Alexandria residents on King Street (Rosemont Avenue to Janney's Lane) look out on empty bike lanes that occupy 30 percent of the roadway. A year ago parking, available to residents when they bought their homes, was removed and the roadway was narrowed two feet to accommodate these bike lanes.