Thursday, March 31
Inside the Alexandria Police Department: Criminal Investigations
“I’d be lying if I said it’s not cool.” — Sgt. John East from APD Vice
The Alexandria Citizens’ Police Academy is a 10-week course hosted by the Alexandria Police Department (APD) to offer citizens a better understanding of how the department works. Throughout the course, participants sit in on emergency calls and ride along with police officers on patrol.
Alexandria: Addressing Business Woes
City Council and state legislators examine Alexandria’s business woes.
Over oatmeal, Alexandria’s City Council and state legislators did their best to reassure local businesses, distressed by a recent spate of closures in Old Town.
Alexandria: Transitway Plan Branches Out
Council approves West End Transitway after argument over tree canopy.
If all goes as planned, implementation is still four years away, but the West End Transitway took a step forward at the March 29 meeting with the City Council unanimously voting in support of guidance for the planning of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route between the Van Dorn Metro Station and the Pentagon.
Alexandria People at Work: Emily Henry of Hooray for Books Makes Transition
Emily Henry makes transition from story hour to the guitar.
It is 10:29 a.m. and the floor is crowded with chairs all filled for the Friday morning story hour at Hooray for Books on King Street.
Alexandria Column: Public Policy and Locating Affordable Housing
Commentary
“Planning is both art — politics and leadership — and science — demographics and economics,” Bill Klein, director of Research for the American Planning Association explained in 2009. In Alexandria’s Braddock neighborhood many residents equate planning with a backward notion of racial politics.
Alexandria Snapshot: Memorial Table
Members of the Alexandria Police Foundation presented Chief Earl Cook with a table made from a sample piece of the glass from the Alexandria Police Fallen Officers Memorial.
Alexandria Snapshot: On the Hill
Hammond Middle School students who participated in the RARE (Reach and Raise for Excellence) Program of the Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria (CCNA) attended the Fifth Annual BWR (Black Women's Roundtable) Women of Power Summit at the Capitol last week.
Alexandria Letter: Problem? Just Raise Taxes
Letter to the Editor
During the most recent election process Bob Wood and I predicted there would be a large real estate tax increase this year if the incumbents were reelected.
Alexandria Letter: Revolutionary Thought
Letter to the Editor
After the Revolutionary War was over, was there discussion in Alexandria about changing the names of streets such as King, Prince, Duke, Queen, Princess, Fairfax, and Royal? Since the names were not changed, what was the reason?
Alexandria Letter: Safety First
Letter to the Editor
In his recent letter [“25 MPH Please,” March 24], Jim Durham writes, "Will 25 mph speed limits ‘push’ traffic to nearby streets, such as W Taylor Run? Not really."
Alexandria Letter: Less Than a Minute
Letter to the Editor
As a Seminary Road resident, I want to thank motorists on Seminary Road who have been driving at 25 mph since last Friday. The difference has been amazing.
Alexandria Letter: A Solution That Isn’t
Letter to the Editor
Growing up, I had two pre-k teachers: Mrs. Cook, who was kind and theone you could tell anything to, and Miss Lurton, the focused, learneddisciplinarian. If you were lucky to go to preschool, I bet you remember your teachers too. They were often the first adults outside your family you grew to depend on and trust.
Alexandria: Former Deputy Fire Chief Dies
Michael Conner dies at 68.
Each October during National Fire Prevention Week, a solemn ceremony takes place at Ivy Hill Cemetery where a Roll Call of the Fallen is taken to honor firefighters who have given their lives protecting the citizens of Alexandria. This year’s ceremony will take on new meaning when the toll of a bell rings out for Michael Conner, the former deputy fire chief whose recruit class first dedicated Ivy Hill’s Circle of Honor in 1970.
Alexandria Column: Aging Well in Alexandria
Commentary–Senior Services of Alexandria
Many of us love Alexandria and want to stay as we grow older. When considering their needs and hopes as they age, many Alexandrians may think about the health services offered in their community or nearby. In fact, to be able to remain independent for as long as possible, older residents must rely on many other community features.
Alexandria Column: Budget Seeks To Improve Preschool
Commentary–School Board
Preschool is the critical piece to serving Alexandria City’s student population. For our English Language Learners, it can provide a setting that they start to learn to speak, read and write in English. For our Special Education community, it can provide an opportunity for identification and early services. For our Free and Reduced Lunch populations, it can provide the resources for growth and health of our most in need population. For our typical learners, it provides a diverse environment that familiarizes them with the school setting.
Wednesday, March 30
Alexandria: Bishop Ireton Girls’ Lax Improves to 6-0
The Bishop Ireton girls' lacrosse team is off to a 6-0 start.
Alexandria: TC Boys’ Lacrosse Beats West Potomac
The T.C. Williams boys' lacrosse team beat West Potomac on Tuesday.
Editorial: Money to Treat Addiction, Mental Health Issues
Affordable Care Act could pay for help, better health for 100,000 uninsured people in Virginia with mental illness or addiction issues.
Poor people without health insurance in Virginia are being unnecessarily tortured, in some cases to death, by a General Assembly that refuses to expand Medicaid.
Commentary: Congress Must Act on the Growing Opioid Epidemic
Our nation is in the midst of an exploding opioid epidemic.
Commentary: Progress on Ad Hoc Commission Recommendations
Thoughtfulness and deliberation should not be construed as resistance or foot dragging.
A tremendous amount of progress has already taken place to implement many of these recommendations.
Fairfax Connector Considering Service Changes, Seeks Public Input
Fairfax Connector is proposing service changes for implementation in June 2016.
Sex Trafficking Young Victims in Northern Virginia
Federal funds for gang task force expire April 1.
The first article in an occasional series on human sexual trafficking in Northern Virginia.
Tuesday, March 29
Eating Smart
Profile: Jean Janssen, force behind area’s Smart Markets.
Food shoppers should take their collective hats off to Jean Janssen. She is the motivating spirit behind the area’s Smart Markets
Letter: Where is Civilian review Panel?
To the Editor
Last October, the 40 strong Ad Hoc Commission to Review Police Procedures, set up by Chairman Bulova and her Board of Supervisors (BOS), unanimously adopted a large number of recommendations, which they submitted to the BOS.
Monday, March 28
Centreville Snapshot: Southwestern Youth Association Honors Volunteers
On March 5, 2016, the Southwestern Youth Association (SYA) held its annual Volunteer of the Year Awards Casino Night at the Chantilly National Golf and Country Club. The Executive Board of Directors presented the awards.
Alexandria Snapshot: Generation to Generation Gala
Senior Services of Alexandria hosted its annual Generation to Generation Gala March 12 at the Hilton Mark Center Alexandria. The 2016 honorees included Sue Goodhart and Allison Goodhart DuShuttle, and Kitty, Mike, Kirby and Keely Porterfield. H. Arthur Sauer was awarded with SSA’s first Special Service Award. For more information about SSA’s programs and services go to seniorservicesalex.org.
Alexandria: Wiggle Toes Plié Through the Morning
People at Work
The warm up music begins from the corner. "Are you ready?" Jessica Petchenick, instructor at Tiny Dancers on S. Washington Street, asks, "Can you dance with your eyes?" Moms and leotard-bedecked children blink at each other. "Can you dance with your nose?" Noses wiggle including five mothers and one father who has accompanied his daughter to today's Wiggle Toes class for 2-3 year olds. After wiggling ears and patting tummies, at last the answer is "You dance with your feet."
Friday, March 25
Alexandria/Mount Vernon Weekend Fun: March 25-April 3
Entertainment
Events in Alexandria and Mount Vernon, Va.
Thursday, March 24
Alexandria: Abed Takes Over as TC Head Boys’ Soccer Coach
Titans improve to 2-0 with victory over Gar-Field.
The T.C. Williams boys' soccer team is off to a 2-0 start.
Alexandria Snapshot: Fighting Fire
Flames were visible Sunday night at 5845 Monticello Road near Huntington Station in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County. The fire was held fast on neighborhood fences by firemen of the Pen Daw Fire Station led by Captain Pitman.
Mount Vernon Column: The State Budget – More for Schools, the Disabled, State Troopers
Commentary
Last week, I covered the good news in the state budget for the 36th Senate District. This week, I am detailing some of the important features of the state budget that help the entire state.
Mount Vernon Brief: Park Board Approves Mastenbrook Grant for Little League
The Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved a Mastenbrook grant at its meeting on March 9, that will help support Little League in Northern Virginia.
Alexandria Brief: King Street Park Revitalized
Beverley Park isn’t the only Alexandria Park looking at major redevelopment. The park at the end of King Street, appropriately named “King Street Park,” could be seeing a temporary boost before Waterfront redevelopment transforms the area. Currently the site hosts a small anchor monument and a bench, but expansion into two nearby sites could turn the park into the missing link between the northern and southern parts of the Alexandria waterfront.
Alexandria: Old Town North Development Approved
The empty lot in North Old Town, formerly home to Giant, will soon be home for 232-units of residential development. Local citizens protested the traffic and parking impact of the new building, and while City Council did tighten the on-street parking requirement, City Council approved the development at the March 12 public hearing.
Alexandria: Hidden Consequences to Lighting the Landscape
Lights may not be an ideal crime-deterrent.
Beverley Park is a fairly inconspicuous park at the heart of one of Alexandria’s northern residential neighborhoods, but locally it has a somewhat more ominous name: the Pit.
Alexandria Snapshot: Celebrating 100 Years
Friends and family gathered to celebrate William Charity’s 100th birthday. The party was held on Saturday, March 12, at the Elks lodge at 227 N. Henry St.
Alexandria: Local Breweries Bring in Kitchens on Wheels
Working together to serve customers.
At Port City Brewing in western Alexandria, the “pearl,” a layered dish of macaroni and cheese, baked beans and barbecue meat, is downed with a micro beer so it’s known to bring on a “food coma,” of sorts. Port City is one of the many microbreweries that serve no food but rely on independent food trucks that pull up outside for their food source.
Alexandria: Local Church Members Travel to Flint
The water crisis affecting residents in Flint, Mich., captured local attention at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria. Through a partnership made possible with Lott Carey, a missions-based convention, Alfred Street Baptist Church is sending teams to Flint to help distribute water to residents in need and to serve as eye-witnesses to the tragedy. “I wasn’t anticipating the complexity of the problem in Flint,” said Aaron Watson, a church member and volunteer on one of the teams.
Alexandria Letter: 25 MPH Please
Letter to the Editor
I recently met a neighbor who required physical therapy for 18 months as a result of being rear-ended by a high-speed vehicle while she turned into her driveway.
Alexandria Letter: Make Our Streets Safe
Letter to the Editor
On March 25, speed limits on Seminary Road and N. Quaker Lane are planned to change from 35 mph to 25 mph to help Make Our Streets Safe. As a Seminary Road resident, I ask for others in Alexandria to support this change; please drive no more than 25 mph in our neighborhoods. In June, 2015, a group of residents, primarily fr
Alexandria Letter: Re-engage After Master Plan Changes
Letter to the Editor
Like former Mayor Euille’s remark about the campaign contributions he takes from folks with business before the City Council not affecting how he decides, Councilman Chapman’s insistence that unilaterally upending the carefully crafted compromises in the Braddock East master plan, arrived at via a community engagement process, “is not unethical by any means” strains credulity.
Alexandria Letter: Donate Blood, It Could Save a New Mother’s Life
Letter to the Editor
April is Accreta and Cesarean Awareness Month and I’m grateful to be alive to celebrate my survival story and host two blood drive events to help save the lives of more mothers.
Alexandria Letter: Do The Right Thing
Letter to the Editor
When I first moved to Alexandria, I would often run and walk around the water in Old Town.
Alexandria Column: My Mentor, My Friend–Alex and Allisson
Mentor of The Week
Wright to Read provides volunteer-based one-on-one sustained literacy tutoring & mentoring relationships to City of Alexandria elementary school children in need, and collaborates with families, schools and community partners to create a comprehensive support network that guides each child to success. Wright to Read is a member of the Alexandria Mentoring Partnership (AMP). AMP was created in 2006 to ensure that quality mentors and mentor programs are available for Alexandria's youth and young adults in need. To learn more about Wright to Read, visit www.wrighttoread.org or to learn more about AMP, visit: www.alexandriava.gov/Mentoring.
Alexandria Resident Pens: ‘Drinking Adventurously’
Book spotlights 52 beverages.
Alexandria resident Jeff Cioletti had more than a decade of writing professionally about a full spectrum of beverages — from Chinese spirits to bottled iced teas to the best sparkling wines in America. As the current editor-at-large of Beverage World, where he’s held editorial roles for more than 13 years, he decided a few years ago to chronicle his adventures with these beverages in a 335-page book, “The Year of Drinking Adventurously: 52 Ways to Get out of Your Comfort Zone.”
Wednesday, March 23
Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Awards $380,000 in Local Grants
Five of 36 grant awardees speak at “Cocktails & Conversation” event.
When Lorton residents Marcy Mager and husband David Lunter’s daughter Michell Merhige was killed in 2009, they wanted to establish a scholarship in her honor but knew handling the financial logistics would be tricky.
Editorial: Purple State
Nonpartisan redistricting could support the best interests of the population, not the politicians.
Classified Advertising March 23, 2016
Read the latest ads here!
Thursday, March 17
Alexandria Home Sales: February, 2016
In February, 2016, 120 Alexandria homes sold between $3,700,000-$102,000.
Alexandria Home Sales: February, 2016
Letter: Gerrymandering Promotes Partisanship and Polarization
To the Editor
Everywhere we turn today, the media is bombarding us with antics of the current presidential campaign.
Letter: Time to Speak Out for Quality of Life in Fairfax County
To the Editor
Fairfax County is a composite of many things that make the quality of life rich for people living here.
Caregiving
Workshops and seminars for seniors and caregivers.
Wednesday, March 16
Alexandria Snapshot: Thanking United Way
The City Council recognizes a $100,000 grant from United Way of the National Capital Area to local nonprofits: Family Matters, New Hope Housing, the Dunbar Alexandria-Olympic Boys & Girls Clubs, Alive!, Offender Aid and Restoration of Arlington County, Senior Services of Alexandria, Carpenter’s Shelter, Bethany House of Northern Virginia, and the Ethiopian Community Development Council.
Alexandria: Ramsey Resolved
Despite approvals, Ramsey Homes redevelopment pushed back until 2017.
The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority has agreed to a work plan with the city. One of the core tenets of this plan, number 3 on the list, is “no surprises.”
Alexandria: Euille Meets with Inmates
Former mayor discusses need for jobs to curb recidivism.
“Before we start, I want you to know that I can’t do anything to get you out sooner,” said former Mayor William Euille to inmates at the Alexandria Detention Center on March 10. Euille spoke about his own experiences with successes and defeats throughout his life, including his recent loss to Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg.
Alexandria: Make Eisenhower Great Again
City Manager Mark Jinks lays out plans for Eisenhower area.
While the city makes adjustments to local transit and fosters more cultural activities in the Carlyle and Eisenhower area, there’s been no word yet on the biggest issue affecting the Eisenhower Valley: whether or not the Transportation Safety Administration will move into the long-vacant Victory Center. At the March 10 meeting of the Eisenhower Partnership, City Manager Mark Jinks said that the city’s been hearing that they’ll find out whether or not Alexandria will be the new TSA home “any day now” since a judge voided the contract in November 2015.
Alexandria People At Work: Back to Kindergarten
Ponytails and polka dots bounce through the door at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School a few minutes before 8 a.m. The noise gradually levels off, and the daily kindergarten routine begins.
Alexandria: Church Offers Grants to Nonprofits
For the fifth year in a row, Westminster Presbyterian Church opened its call for local grant applications as part of its local mission program. The grant program seeks to award $25,000 to local non-profits in 2016 who aid children, hunger, education, shelter or self-sufficiency for Northern Virginia residents. To date, the Westminster Community Grant Program has awarded 23 grants totaling more than $85,000 to local community programs.
Alexandria Snapshot: ‘March for Meals’ Month
At a recent City Council meeting, the month of March was proclaimed as “March for Meals” to bring awareness around the topic of senior isolation and hunger. Councilwoman Del Pepper read the proclamation signed by Mayor Allison Silberberg that establishes the March for Meals Campaign and recognizes the importance of the Older American Act Nutrition Programs.
Alexandria Snapshot: Read Across America
To celebrate Read Across America, Cora Kelly School invited Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, Deputy Valarie Wright and other guest readers from the community to read books to their students. The Read Across America campaign is held annually during the anniversary of the birth of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as children’s author Dr. Seuss. Lawhorne and Wright visited Cora Kelly on March 2 and read to students in a classroom and in the library. Lawhorne wore a “Cat in the Hat” hat as he read “Miss Nelson is Missing” and Wright, wearing a big green and white hat, read “The Lady with the Alligator Purse” to the students.
Alexandria Snapshot: Grant to SCAN
SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) of Northern Virginia has received a $5,000 grant from The Rite Aid Foundation, thanks to local supporters who enrolled in Rite Aid’s wellness+ program in January and designated SCAN as their nonprofit of choice.
Alexandria: Davis Named to State Board
Audrey P. Davis, director of the Alexandria Black History Museum, has been appointed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe to the State Historical Records Advisory Board. The board serves as the central advisory body for historical records planning and related projects developed and carried out by the state, and promotes an understanding of the role and value of historical records.
Alexandria Snapshot: Top Employers Institute
Gov. Terry McAuliffe welcomes Top Employers Institute to Alexandria at a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 8. Top Employers Institute, which certifies companies around the globe for excellence in their HR policies and practices and the workplace environment they create to support the development of their employees, has chosen Alexandria for its first U.S. office. Above: Jennifer Ives, Top Employers Institute (left of the governor); McAuliffe; and David Plink, CEO, Top Employers Institute (to the right of the governor) are joined by Top Employers Institute and strategic partner HR Certification Institute board members and employees.
Alexandria Snapshot: Honored for Crisis Intervention Work
The Alexandria Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) honored five CIT members at its annual awards luncheon at police headquarters on Tuesday, March 15.
Alexandria Letter: A Too Tall Proposal
Letter to the Editor
On Wednesday, March 9, a neighborhood association meeting was held at the Durant Center for the purpose of listening to representatives from MHF Properties V LLC an affiliate of Magna Hospitality. A representative from planning and zoning also attended. There were approximately 22 members of our neighborhood also in attendance.
Alexandria Letter: Correcting The Record
Letter to the Editor
Ellen Tabb’s coverage [Letter, “Careful about History,” page 14] of the Feb. 8 hearing of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Confederate Memorials and Street Names was indeed right on.
Alexandria Letter: A Tale of Three Tickets
Letter to the Editor
My recent experience with the city’s parking bureaucracy has confirmed that city government has failed to make the most basic review of its system and rushed gluttonously into proposing to raise taxes and spend $1.1 million on parking enforcement.
Alexandria Letter: Doesn’t Fit Neighborhood
Letter to the Editor
Today I am writing to you with a major concern for our neighborhood.
Alexandria Brief: Salute to Women Nominees
The following individuals have been nominated for the Salute to Women Awards.
Alexandria Brief: K9s to Receive Body Armor
Alexandria Police Department K9’s Chance, Gage, XigXag, Trajan, and Zara will each receive a ballistic and stab-protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
Alexandria Brief: Convicted of Child Sexual Abuse, Man Faces 6 Years in Prison
Oscar Antonio Rodriguez Granados, 33, of Alexandria, was convicted by a jury on March 9 of three counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor over whom he maintained a custodial or supervisory relationship.
Alexandria Brief: Four-Vehicle Crash on I-395
Virginia State Police responded to a four-vehicle, chain reaction crash in the northbound lanes of I-395, just south of Seminary Road, at 11:01 p.m. Saturday, March 12.
Alexandria Brief: SSA Receives $1,500 Grant
Senior Services of Alexandria has received a $1,500 grant from Meals on Wheels America for its participation in Subaru of America’s eighth annual Share the Love Event. During the event held Nov. 22, 2015 through Jan. 2, 2016, Subaru of America, Inc. donated $250 for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased to the customer’s choice of participating charities, including Meals on Wheels America, of which SSA is a Member.
Alexandria Brief: ‘Spring Spruce Up’ With Local Designers
Members of the American Society of Interior Designers, including Alexandria’s Sydnye Pettengill, will take part in the The ASID Washington Metro Chapter’s 20th Annual Spring Spruce Up.
Alexandria/Mount Vernon Snapshot: Top State Honors
The Alexandria-based George Washington Chapter of the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) was recognized as the Best Very Large Chapter in Virginia for 2014-2015 during the 126th Annual Meeting of the Virginia Society, SAR (VASSAR), held in Richmond on Feb. 19-21.
Column: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
... of the 2016 General Assembly session.
The Virginia General Assembly finished its work for the 2016 legislative session a day early and adjourned a “long” 60-day session where we made progress on many issues but fought bitterly on several others. Because the improving economy has led to increased revenue collections, we were able to invest in critical areas and make a sizable deposit to our Rainy Day Fund without increasing taxes.
Alexandria: Ireton Girls’ Lax Focused on Remaining Championship Contender
Nationally-ranked Cardinals defeat Georgetown Visitation.
The Bishop Ireton girls' lacrosse team defeated Georgetown Visitation 16-8.
Tuesday, March 15
Real Food for Kids' Culinary Challenge
11 teams of middle and high school students compete in school food competition.
Eleven teams of middle and high school students competed in the fourth annual Real Food for Kids' Culinary Challenge on Saturday, March 12 at Robinson Secondary School.
Mission: Promoting Peace
22 students or student groups receive the Student Peace Award, for their efforts to promote peace.
With causes ranging from anti-bullying efforts to human trafficking awareness to interfaith dialogue, students in Fairfax County were recognized for their peacemaking efforts at the 11th Annual Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County on March 13.
Encouraging STEM-curious Youth
Third Annual STEM Symposium draws a crowd at the Nysmith School.
“We need people in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields today, tomorrow and as far as we can envision.”
No E-Z Answers on I-66
VDOT’s Transform I-66 Inside the Beltway meeting leaves public waiting for answers.
There were also questions and comments of a financial nature.
And the Winner Is...
Wakefield Forest Elementary School student to compete at Scripps’ National Spelling Bee.
After 11 rounds of competitive play, fourth grade student Eric Kim, from Wakefield Forest Elementary School, was declared the champion for correctly spelling every word thrown at him.
Private Schools: When Leaving Unexpectedly
Spring is time to commit to one’s school of choice.
When Ashley and Clark Leonard enrolled their son in a local independent school, they were excited about the prospect of him thriving in a new, smaller academic environment.
Editorial: Homelessness on Its Way Out in Fairfax
Homelessness should be rare, brief and non-recurring; 776 fewer homeless individuals in 2016 than in 2008.
Homelessness is down in Fairfax County in every major category, a fact confirmed on Jan. 28, 2016, the annual Point in Time Count.
Legislative Wrap-Up Forum
Learn what your area legislator did during the Virginia General Assembly.
FCPL to Hold Community Forum
Fairfax County Public Libraries will hold community forums to see public opinion on what is needed in the community.
‘Do You Keep a Gun in Your Home?’
Starting conversations about gun safety can help prevent play date tragedies.
Starting the conversation felt awkward. After all, she didn’t want to offend another parent.
Monday, March 14
It Takes a Village
Campaign designed to end homelessness in Fairfax County.
When speaking with Kathy Albarado, one might not guess that she’d experienced periods of homelessness as an adolescent.
Thursday, March 10
Alexandria Letter: What Makes ARHA Special?
Letter to the Editor
At last Wednesday’s ARHA-Council work session on Ramsey Homes, disturbing points emerged that should cause Alexandrians concern.
Alexandria Letter: Careful About History
Letter to the Editor
At the Feb. 8 public hearing of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Confederate Memorials and Street Names, a speaker said that George Mason IV of Gunston Hall had decapitated four slaves and put their heads on display upon the chimneys of City Hall.
Alexandria Letter: Ramsey Homes Deserve Better
Letter to the Editor
I am a neighbor of Ramsey Homes, and am one of the signers of the protest petition. Over 75 properties nearby to Ramsey were represented in the petition; this is not an example of a few individuals protesting a redevelopment proposal. I am writing to articulate the concerns of many of the neighbors of Ramsey, and to make clear our objections to the current proposal.
Alexandria Letter: Parking While Black?
Letter to the Editor
I am a first year student at the University of Virginia. I have lived in Alexandria's West End since I was 2 years old and am a proud graduate of T.C.Williams High School. I've followed the rules, did well in school, I was active in my community and my school. Nothing prepared for what was to happen when I returned from college for Thanksgiving and Christmas break.
Alexandria Letter: Renaming Streets
Letter to the Editor
I was dismayed to learn [“War of Passive Aggression” Feb. 11] that of the eight white residents who addressed the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Confederate Memorials and Street Names at the Feb. 8 meeting, every one of them spoke against renaming the streets and moving the memorial.
Alexandria Letter: Insightful Article
Letter to the Editor
This article ["Reynes Shares Something Sweet," March 3, Gazette Packet] provides wonderful insight on the beauty of passion, hard work, and interdependence in one’s own community.
Alexandria Letter: Stick to Braddock Plans
Letter to the Editor
How curious! Twenty-two of the existing affordable housing units adjacent to the Alfred Street Baptist Church will be demolished so the church can expand its sanctuary. In another forum Councilman John Taylor Chapman demanded the city violate two of its plans rather than forgo loss.
Column: Focus on Family, Starting at Home
Commentary–Rebuilding Together Alexandria
Family is a central focus for Tamir, who lives with his wife and two teenage children in Alexandria. He was laid off in the fall and started working as an Uber driver to make ends meet while he seeks a new job. Making matters worse, his refrigerator broke the week before Thanksgiving. With money tight, he did not know how he was going to replace it.
Column: Countdown to Gadsby’s Ball
Commentary–Gadsby's Tavern Museum Society Board
The top 10 things about Gadsby’s Tavern that you may not know and why you should go to its Best Bib & Tucker Ball:
Column: True Grit–Two Stories of the Value of AmeriCorps Experience
Commentary-Community Lodgings
Cristina O'Brien, 25, grew up in Long Island, N.Y., and knew that one day she would work with Spanish-speaking immigrants. She heard about AmeriCorps, a national service program that offers a stipend and college tuition reimbursement, while majoring in Spanish at American University. She searched for a position that would allow her to work with Spanish-speaking and immigrant children, and when she was placed at Community Lodgings in 2013, it was the perfect fit.
Column: Governor’s First Vetoes and Ongoing Supreme Court Battle
Commentary
The 2016 General Assembly will be wrapping up its work this week, and of the more than 3,200 bills and resolutions that were introduced, over 1,350 pieces of legislation have passed both chambers.
Meet the Chef: Frantz of Majestic
Chef Frantz discovers her sweet spot in the kitchen.
Wedges of lemon, squares of unsalted butter, curly green onion slivers, low country gravy and blackened shrimp sit mise en place in the prep kitchen at The Majestic on King Street. Lisa Marie Frantz, executive chef at The Majestic, is preparing shrimp and grits made to order for each customer.
Alexandria People at Work: Getting Back on Track
Something's always happening at FireFlies on Mount Vernon. It might be Pick a Pasta Night on Tuesday, Build Your Own Omelet or Quiche Brunch on Sunday, live comedy on Monday Burger Night, local musicians on the weekend or children dancing on the stage when it's not otherwise occupied. Marylisa Lichens, owner with her husband Dan, says, "We wanted it to be a place where families could bring their children and have dinner a couple of times a week. We wanted it to become an extension of the neighborhood."
Musings from the Maestro: ‘Lushness & Lyrical’
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will present “Lushness & Lyrical” on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3.
Alexandria Appetite: Hank’s Pasta Bar Brings Little Italy to Old Town
Newcomer to the neighborhood has already gained solid following.
North Old Town has a new hotspot in the neighborhood. Hank’s Pasta Bar, the kid sister to the venerable Hank’s Oyster Bar on King Street, has taken the area by storm since opening about five weeks ago. And the newness hasn’t worn off yet. From the two fully booked soft openings to a recent Monday night that found the dining room out of space for the evening by 7 p.m., it’s clear that residents have a hankering for pasta. And Hank’s stands at the ready to accommodate.
Alexandria: Ramsey Reconsidered
Rebuilding the strained “special relationship.”
Rezoning a piece of property without having an approved plan — for what will replace it — is highly unusual, but it doesn’t mean the City Council won’t do it.
Alexandria: ‘Boots & Bling’ Supports Children
The Center for Alexandria’s Children hosted “Boots & Bling: A Western Fling” on Feb. 25 at Blackwall Hitch to benefit its programs for child abuse victims and vulnerable families in Alexandria.
What City Can Do To Help Businesses Succeed
Small business owners offer suggestions.
It might not sound like much for the average Alexandrian, but a zoning community meeting could be the first step towards making Alexandria a better home for small businesses. On March 19, the city will host a Small Business Zoning Community Meeting, starting at 10 a.m. in the Sister Cities room at City Hall.
Alexandria Snapshot: Grand Opening
From left: Lily Damtew, Mayor Allison Silberberg, and Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile Selassie, who is president of The Crown Council of Ethiopia, at the official opening of the The Abyssinia Mart, located at 720 Jefferson in South Old Town.
Commentary: A Step Backwards for Virginia
Virginia New American leaders respond to the nomination of Ken Cuccinelli for the State Supreme Court.
From immigration to contraception to climate change denial to LGBT rights, Ken Cuccinelli has built a career on extreme conservative positions that are out of step with Virginia today.
Wednesday, March 9
Alexandria: Her Artwork Captures Vibrancy of Life
Del Ray Artisans exhibit features artist with special needs.
Like most children, Yasmine Iskander liked to color with crayons. And like most mothers, Silvia Sagari was proud of everything her daughter created. But four years ago, when someone suggested to Sagari that Yasmine genuinely had talent, she took notice. Because Yasmine is not like most children.
Alexandria Obituary: Remembering Dorothy Evans Turner
Public housing, Civil Rights activist dies at 87.
To her friends, she was affectionately known as “Peaches.” But the tender moniker belied the fierce, unyielding spirit of Dorothy Turner, a descendant of one of Alexandria’s oldest African American families, when she was fighting for equal rights for public housing tenants.
Alexandria: A Salute to Service
Senior Services of Alexandria gala set for March 12.
It was Thomas Jefferson who said that “every human being feels pleasure in doing good to another,” and the willingness of Alexandrians to serve others is often cited as what sets the community apart from others. On March 12, Senior Services of Alexandria will hold its annual Generation to Generation Gala to honor individuals who have been creating change for their neighbors and community through service.
Alexandria: Micklem, Dorrance Engaged
Mr. and Mrs. Mark C. Micklem of Alexandria announce the marriage of their daughter, Karie Elizabeth, to William Lloyd Dorrance, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bradford Dorrance of Hershey, Pa. Karie and William, both 26, live in New York City.
Alexandria: ‘Cherry Challenge’ Winners
The George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee announced the winners of the eighth annual “Cherry Challenge.” The Cherry Challenge took place between Jan. 28 and Feb. 11 in 53 Alexandria restaurants. It featured cherry-inspired dishes, appetizers, drinks, and desserts created by the restaurant chefs. Some of the restaurants have competed in the past, but there were many restaurants new to the competition this year.
Tuesday, March 8
Editorial: Making Good Choices on Saint Patrick’s Day
Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), will offer the 2016 St. Patty’s Day SoberRide program, providing free cab rides to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington-metropolitan area next Thursday, March 17.
Editorial: Bringing Back the Electric Chair
In a world: Barbaric.
No doubt Virginia and Texas will be the last two states to continue with the death penalty until, inevitably, evolving standards of decency lead the U.S. Supreme Court to declare that the death penalty is unconstitutional.
Nanny Suites Add Value
High-end live-in quarters attract au pairs and can increase property values.
When Peggy Delinois Hamilton relocated to the Washington, D.C. area and began working full-time after spending eight years as an at-home mother of two children, childcare was one of her top concerns.
Remodeled Home Tour Set for March 12
Home evolves from center hall colonial to open plan with boldly original finishes.
To satisfy a couple's evolving lifestyle requirements, Sun Design Remodeling dramatically reconfigured the home's first level, introducing a “kitchen-centric” plan that better supports everyday uses and entertainment needs.
Buying or Selling?
A primer for doing either and avoiding pitfalls.
Here we are, once again right on the heels of the spring/summer real estate season when it seems like “For Sale” signs become the most common lawn ornament or condo window decoration.
Teen Trafficking Awareness Event in Springfield
West Springfield High School and Just Ask Prevention Project will hold an awareness night to address the issue of sex trafficking in the region on Wednesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. at West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield.
FCPS Students Named to 2016 Virginia Honors Choir
High school and middle school students named to honors choir.
Saturday, March 5
Mount Vernon: ACCT Stages ‘Little Women’
Classic tale traces lives and loves of four sisters during the Civil War.
Aldersgate Church Community Theatre (ACCT) is putting on "Little Women" from March 4-20. Written by Louisa May Alcott, the story traces the lives and loves of four sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. During the Civil War, their father is away serving in the army, leaving his "little women" in the care of their mother. The family, headed by Marmee, must struggle to make ends meet with the help of their wealthy neighbor, Mr. Lawrence, and his high-spirited grandson, Laurie.
Alexandria: A Fast-Paced Romp through the Bard's 37 Plays
LTA presents “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).”
The Little Theater of Alexandria (LTA) is presenting the "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" from Feb. 27 to March 19. The show where the cast plays themselves is an irreverent, fast-paced romp through the Bard's 37 plays in 97 minutes. It was also London's longest-running comedy, having clocked nine years in London's West End.
Mount Vernon Column: Ups and Downs of the House Budget
Commentary
This past Thursday, the House of Delegates passed the 2016-2018 state budget in a bipartisan 98 to 2 vote. This new budget addresses important needs in the Commonwealth, such as an additional $1 billion in education spending.
Alexandria Obituary: Alan Neal Rudd
Alan Neal Rudd, formerly of Alexandria, died Feb. 6, 2016. His family, friends, and professional colleagues remember him as a man of great kindness, sincerity, and integrity.
Alexandria Letter: Over 80 and Volunteering?
Commentary–Volunteer Alexandria
A poet/songwriter said, “Oh, how I hate to get up in the morning … Oh, how I hate to get out of bed. But the hardest blow of all is to hear the bugler call, ‘You’ve got get up, you’ve got to get up, you’ve got to get up! It’s morning …’” That’s my midnight serenade every Wednesday evening as I drift off to sleep.
Alexandria Letter: Council in Disarray
Letter to the Editor
For those who saw the City Council’s Public Hearing on Feb. 20, followed by a second meeting on the 23rd, they witnessed a group in total disarray.
Alexandria Letter: Improve Notification
Letter to the Editor
Monticello Park is renowned for its great diversity of migrating warblers and is possibly the best place to see them and other neo-tropical migrant songbirds in the entire metropolitan area.
Alexandria Letter: Maintain Healthy Hearts
Letter to the Editor
Take this time every year to take care of your heart. Each year heart disease affects more than 6.5 million American women and is responsible for one in four deaths.
Alexandria Letter: Keep Tree Lights On
Letter to the Editor
I know there are very important projects happening around and in the city but I have an observation I would like to offer.
Alexandria Letter: Breaking Trust
Letter to the Editor
My home is two blocks from Ramsay Homes project. My neighbors and I had no problem with Ramsey Homes.
Alexandria Letter: Renaming City Streets
Letter to the Editor
In the late1950s the city’s Civil War Centennial Committee was tasked with a way to “commemorate” the approaching event. The committee proposed the restoration of Fort Ward — one of the Union forts that had surrounded the city from 1861-1865.
Alexandria Letter: Twinkling Lights Continue to Cheer
Letter to the Editor
I want to thank all my Old Town neighbors for keeping their Christmas lights on through the weary winter.
Alexandria Letter: In Playground Sandbox?
Letter to the Editor
I am appalled at the actions of some members of our City Council who appear to believe that incivility is the way to show that you are smart or clever.
Alexandria Letter: Battling Invasive Plants
Letter to the Editor
With regards to invasive plant management in Monticello Park, it is a mystery to me as to how some people can self identify as “avid birders” and have no awareness of the importance of a healthy eco-system made up of diverse native plants.
Alexandria Column: Exploring How To Live an Active and Rewarding Life
Senior Services of Alexandria teams up with AARP.
Everyone wants to live an active and rewarding life, and older adults are no exception. Retirement gives seniors the opportunity to step back, evaluate their priorities, and choose where we want to focus our time and energy.
Alexandria Column: What To Do To Create Lifelong Readers
Commentary–Reading Connection
March is National Reading Awareness Month, which makes it a good time to review what we can do to best assure that our kids will become lifelong readers.
Alexandria Column: Duty, Honor, Country
American Legion celebrates 97 years.
As we celebrate the American Legion's 97th birthday on March 15, duty, honor and country are the three words that capture the story of the American Legion over its more than nine decades in existence. The duty that we have as Legionnaires is spelled out in the Preamble to the Constitution of the American Legion. It’s our duty to “uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America."
Mount Vernon Obituary: Claudia E. Gordon
Claudia J. Edwards Gordon, aged 58, died after a long disease, lupus and allied challenges and finally cancer, at Virginia Hospital Center, Arlington, on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016, with doctors and nurses and her husband, John W. Gordon, by her side. She was a fourth-generation Georgia lawyer whose cause in life was to represent those who needed help.
Alexandria Snapshot: ‘The Beauty and the Beast’
St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School will present "Beauty & the Beast: The Musical," March 4, 11, and 12 at 7:30 p.m.; March 5 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 See www.sssas.org/arts or call 703- 212-2950. Performers include (from left) Christian Corpening '18 as Lumiere, Darnell Clement '17 as the Beast, Sarah Wilton '16 as Cogsworth, Katie Connor '16 as Chip, Stephany Guadalupe '17 as Mrs. Potts, and Kyla Carney '17 as Belle.
Alexandria: Renner Named St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal
John J. Renner, II was installed as the 2016 Alexandria St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal on Friday, Feb. 26.
Alexandria Votes Moderate
City residents favor Clinton, Rubio, and Kasich.
The ballots are hidden, but when he went to the polls at Lyles-Crouch Elementary School early on Super Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner made no secret of whom he was supporting.
Thursday, March 3
Police Arrest 20 for Heroin Use in One Day
Operation Save-a-Life offered low-level offenders the chance at recovery treatment rather than jail time.
On Wednesday, Feb. 24, Fairfax County Police served 20 arrest warrants, all for possession and or distribution of heroin.
Small Lifestyle Changes Can Have Big Impact
Researchers found that moderate weight loss improves health.
Dropping as little as five percent of one’s body weight can lead to significant health improvements, according to a new study published in the Cell Metabolism journal.
Managing Medication Can Be Challenging
“Let’s Talk about RxSM” helps seniors avoid prescription drug mishaps.
It was around 2 a.m. on a frigid winter night when Janet Russell was awakened from her sleep by the sound of woman calling for help.
Four-Cent Tax Rate Increase, with Side of Vitriol
Reconsideration hours later gives same result; board will consider putting meals tax to referendum in November.
Tuesday morning, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted for a four-cent tax rate increase, advertising a tax rate of $1.13 per $100 of assessed value.
Alexandria: Building on Giant’s Bones
Despite traffic concerns, Planning Commission green lights North Old Town development.
Currently, the city block between in North Old Town that formerly housed the Giant grocery store sits empty except for a lone ABC store.
Alexandria Brief: City Establishes 12-Person North Potomac Yard Advisory Group
At the Feb. 23 City Council meeting, the council voted to establish an Ad Hoc North Potomac Yard Advisory Group.
Opportunities for Alexandrians
City job fair centers around entry level positions.
If you host it, they will come. While 3.4 percent unemployment in Alexandria is slightly below the 3.9 percent average for Northern Virginia, it still leaves 3,381 Alexandrians unemployed.
Alexandria: Reynes Shares Something Sweet
People at Work
Julie Reynes walks down the ramp and pushes the buzzer at the side door of Harris Teeter on N. Saint Asaph Street. She checks in with Ashley Bigelow, the store's receiver, who verifies that the quantity of dates matches the invoice. Reynes pushes through a door that brings her out in the back side of the long glass deli case.
Alexandria: SOLA Bids Farewell to Kluge
“There is no question my heart is here in Alexandria.”— ASO maestro Kim Allen Kluge
The Symphony League of Alexandria held its 29th annual Symphony Ball and Auction Feb. 27, celebrating Maestro Kim Allen Kluge’s 28th and final year at the helm of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra.
Alexandria Snapshot: In Honor of Washington's 284th birthday
At the George Washington's birthday celebration on Feb. 22 at the Duncan Branch, Alexandria Library, are (from left) Thomas Darcy (portrayed by Terry Zerwick); a man in service to John Dalton, close friend of George Washington (Danny Smith); John Carlyle (Chuck Aldridge); and Adam Stephen, one of Washington's lieutenants in the French and Indian War (Philip Smucker).
Alexandria: Talking with Mrs. Washington
Martha pays a visit to Lloyd House.
America’s first First Lady made a visit to Alexandria Feb. 27, holding court at Lloyd House as part of the Talking With Washington series and celebration of George Washington’s birthday.
Alexandria: Mother Keeps Positive, Trusting Baby’s Medical Team
“It was so hard for me to not think of the worst case scenario.” –Loren DePina
Before Loren DePina of Alexandria gave birth to her preemie son Cameron last year, who arrived a terrifying and alarming 10 weeks early, she assumed that her experience potty-training her oldest son would go down as one of the most challenging times in her personal parenting history. Today, DePina laughs at how much stress she felt during the toilet training process.
Alexandria Snapshot: 'Tis the Season
Members of Girl Scout Troop 2825 from Belle View Elementary School sell cookies in Old Town Feb. 27 as the organization’s cookie drive gets underway across the nation.
Wednesday, March 2
Classified Advertising March 2, 2016
Read the latest ads here!