Saturday, May 31
TC Williams Boys' Soccer Breaks Semifinal Curse
Williamson scores twice in regional quarterfinal victory over McLean.
The T.C. Williams boys' soccer team will face Battlefield in the 6A North region semifinals.
Friday, May 30
Summer 2014 at Wolf Trap
As America's National Park for the Performing Arts, Wolf Trap plays a valuable leadership role in both the local and national performing arts communities. A typical season at Wolf Trap includes theatre, and musical performances ranging from country to pop to orchestra. Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road in Vienna, is accessible from the Metro and parking is free. Visit www.wolftrap.org for more.
Farmers Markets 2014
Buy fresh fruits and veggies from local vendors this summer.
Your guide to all the farmers markets in the Northern Virginia area.
Thursday, May 29
Splishin' and Splashin’ in the Summer Sun
This summer, cool off with the family at Great Waves Waterpark.
Great Waves Waterpark is a summer fun must-do. Between the water slides, the Kids Zone, and the Wave Pool, Great Waves offers something for everyone in the family to enjoy.
Out Walking
Four of Alexandria AHA — At Home In Alexandria — walkers were out taking a hike in north Old Town along the Potomac River on May 20. They are, from left, Bill Clayton, Mary Nefedov, Eleanor Kask and Barbara Rosenfeld. At Home Alexandria is a nonprofit organization that helps seniors to remain independent in their homes, and stay involved in their communities.
CFNC Thanks Supporters
The Child & Family Network Centers held its annual spring benefit at the home of Alex and Caulley Deringer on May 3.
Waterfront Joy
Visitors enjoy the warm spring weather in Founders Park in Old Town Alexandria. There were dogs playing and residents walking along the water.
Outdoor Studies
Claudia Johnson, originally from Germany, is studying for CPA exams down by the Potomac.
Summer Fun
Great Waves Waterpark offers these twisting slides leading into a splash pool. Must be 48” or taller to ride.
Stamp Out Hunger
According to Alexandria organizer Brian McCormick, this year's drive collected more than 70,500 pounds of food to be distributed locally.
JROTC Beck Honored
Cadet 1LT Derrick Beck of T.C. Williams High School, receives a Bronze ROTC medal.
A Hero's Welcome
Quadruple amputee defies the odds.
In the weeks leading up to the 2014 GI Film Festival, the buzz was all about actor and veterans advocate Gary Sinise appearing at the May 23 Salute to Hollywood Patriots night at the Old Town Theatre. But by the end of the evening, it was Army Staff Sergeant and quadruple amputee Travis Mills that left everyone starstruck.
Letter: Ombudsman Should Be Elected
Letter to the Editor
Letter: Join in Fight Against Obesity
Letter to the Editor
Letter: Successful Family Fun Night
Letter to the Editor
Letter: Need Independent Ethics Investigator
Letter to the Editor
Letter: Who Best to Replace Moran?
Letter to the Editor
Column: Covert Matters
Endangered Species List Grows
It is interesting how the business of political correctness has sneaked into American life with a threatening bang. It is getting "worser and worser."
390 Campaign Yields Full-Time Jobs
Thanks to a partnership with Verizon Fios through Troy Bly, Verizon contractor and owner of 3 Light Marketing, Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s social services department has placed 12 ARHA residents into full-time jobs.
An Alexandria Monument
Highly visible, mostly forgotten.
Ninety-nine years ago, almost to the day, a ladies’ patriotic organization made a gift to the City of Alexandria with the permission of the City Council. Its centerpiece is a cannon abandoned by Major General Edward Braddock at the start of his march against the French and their Native American allies in 1755. Braddock’s aide-de-camp was a colonial officer named George Washington. The artillery piece sits upon a pedestal of cobble stones taken from the streets of Old Town. Drivers rushing through the busy intersection of Russell and Braddock roads hardly notice the structure. For pedestrians, access to the small plot can be a challenge.
Obituary: John Theodore Geary
Captain John Theodore Geary, USN (Ret.) died at his home on May 17, 2014 at the age of 89. John, a native of Phoenix, Ariz., was born on Jan. 17, 1925 and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with the class of 1947.
Classified Advertising May 28, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Seven in the Eighth: Epic Democratic Primary Heads Toward Final Days
Hotly contested race to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8)
Ten names will be on the ballot June 10, although only seven candidates are still in the Democratic primary to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8).
Sheriff's Deputy Charged with Raping Inmate
Prosecutor says he forcibly raped inmate using an ink pen as a weapon.
Deputies at the Alexandria Sheriff's Office say Bryant Duane Pegues was a quiet man, someone who got his work done and did not draw much attention to himself since he was hired in 2007.
Wednesday, May 28
Some Good News and a Lot of Uncertainty
Realtors discuss the mortgage market at finance summit.
The Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR) hosted Finance Summit 2014 at their Fairfax Headquarters on Wednesday, May 21. The event brought together a panel of speakers with an impressive collection of credentials and expertise. Moderator Ken Harney’s “Nation’s Housing” column is nationally syndicated. Harney is also a member of the Federal Reserve Board Consumer Advisory Council, an author and commentator on real estate and mortgage issues, and the host of CNBC’s “Real Estate Magazine” weekly television program.
Column: Team Up
Just as “everyone knows Geico can save you 15 percent in 15 minutes,” that is, if you watch television, listen to radio, access the Internet or even sit on the beach at Ocean City and watch the single-engine planes flying by pulling banners; so too do people know that when your primary care physician tells you that you need to meet with an oncologist to discuss your recent medical results, you should bring along family, friends, advocates, doctors, lawyers, etc. (your presumptive “team”), because, well, you know why: your life may depend on it.
Editorial: New Measure - More Living in Poverty
Inside the Beltway, that is Alexandria, Arlington and parts of Fairfax, 32 percent of children are living in poverty or near poverty. In Fairfax County, 26 percent of children live in or near poverty. This is according to the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.
May 28: Council Notebook
News briefs from the city council on May 28.
Seaport Foundation Without a Seaport?
Waterfront plan leaves nonprofit homeless, for now.
A sense of uneasiness fills Randall Smith when he starts talking about the future of the Seaport Foundation, the nonprofit that taught him how to build boats. One recent afternoon found him scarfing a board so that it has the right ratio to be part of a kit that the nonprofit sells for people to make a kind of boat known as a Bevin's Skiff. By this time next year, the nonprofit will have to move out of this building, which will be demolished as part of the waterfront plan.
Friday, May 23
T.C. Williams Boys' Soccer Team Wins Conference 7 Championship
In one year, sophomore Nunez goes from fan to clutch goal-scorer.
The T.C. Williams boys' soccer team won its second district/conference championship in three years.
Classified Advertising May 21, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Thursday, May 22
Photo: Pair of Ospreys
That's Founders Park, loaded with strollers enjoying the warm weather, in the background. The female bird, in the rear, is usually bigger than the male. They have at least one egg, not quite visible, but no chicks at the time.
Snapshot: Ferris Wheel
Photographer Sal Ruibal caught a image of a waterfront battle. He reports: "Saw this battle between The Awakening Hand and the new Ferris Wheel at National Harbor. The carnage was incredible. Lucky to get this shot in all the chaos."
Future Fund Gala Honors Organizations That Help Veterans
Gala awards grants from the next generation of philanthropists.
The Future Fund held its gala aboard the Cherry Blossom on Friday, May 16. The Fund raised approximately $52,000 that evening. The Future Fund engages young professionals in their 20s, 30s, and 40s in philanthropic efforts.
Remembering ‘Miz Virginia’
Friends and family and T.C. Williams High School alumni gathered in the high school for a reception and presentation honoring longtime ACPS school nurse Virginia Smith on Saturday afternoon, May 10.
Euille, Cook Join Masons
Virginia Universal Lodge #1 of Alexandria and the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Virginia Free and Accepted Masons Incorporated held an Occasional Ceremony at the Magnus Temple Fort Belvoir on April 26 to make Mayor William E. Euille and Police Chief Earl L. Cook Master Masons.
Hometown Hero
Salvation Army honors Gandee, ServiceMaster for community service.
ServiceMaster of Alexandria owner and president Jane Gandee was honored May 13 by the Salvation Army National Capital Area Command for her company's dedication and support as a community partner to the organization.
Fore Willie
ASF remembers tournament founder.
The Alexandria Seaport Foundation held its 8th Annual Paul Weeks II Golf Tournament May 12 at Pohick Bay in the Mason Neck area of Fairfax County. This year's tournament was held in memory of Willie Taylor, founder of the tournament and former president of the Robinson Terminal Warehouse where the ASF is located.
A New Way for Seskey To Serve the City
Six months ago, Joseph Seskey was an Alexandria police sergeant overseeing logistics for special events. Today he’s traded in his police badge for a new one, as deputy director of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and the city’s chief animal control officer
Local Lawyers Teach in Ireland
Discussions range from drug cases to Edward Snowden.
A group of Alexandria attorneys have continued their international globetrotting of teaching, lecturing and discussing intricacies of American law.
Resources for Seniors, Family Members and Caregivers
Senior Services of Alexandria
Alexandria’s seniors can benefit from a vast array of services and programs available through local non-profits and city programs, but it may be challenging to know where to start. The good news is that there are a variety of ways to get information about what is available to seniors living in the City of Alexandria:
Rebuilding Together Alexandria: Southern Charm
Alice* is a D.C.-native who moved to Alexandria in the 1970s for a job. She and her husband built a life in this “sleepy, southern town,” eventually buying a home. They watched as the small town grew into a bustling mini-metropolis, spurred by the Metro. Despite the growth and change, Alice believes her neighborhood was “just as lovely then as it is now.”
Letter: Recalling Ruth Kaye
Letter to the Editor
Commetary: Brown v. Board of Education: 60 Years Later
Today marks the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision.
Letter: Dysfunctional City Hall
Letter to the Editor
Letter: In Praise of Food Trucks
Letter to the Editor
Letter: Thank Those in Military Service
Letter to the Editor
Wednesday, May 21
Bishop Ireton Girls’ Lax Knocks Off SSSA to Win State Title
Cardinals also won WCAC championship this season.
The Bishop Ireton girls' lacrosse team won the WCAC and VISAA Division I state championships this season.
Martinez’s Clutch Save Sends TC to Championship Game
Titans beat Annandale in penalty-kick shootout.
T.C. Williams will host South County on Thursday in the Conference 7 championship game.
Migrating Birds Flock to Monticello Park
Monticello Park, tucked away in a neighborhood in Alexandria, is a migrant trap for warblers and other migrating birds such as tanagers and orioles. Beginning in March but escalating in April and at prime season in May, this park has a large variety and number of warblers. In 2013 from May 8-17 in nine out of 10 days there was a 100 day warbler total with some days counting over 20 different species. In early May of this year the number of warblers had exploded, already breaking that record. This park is unusual because it has a small stream running through the underbrush, and warblers often fly down when the sun warms up in the morning to bathe in the water. This means you can see warblers all day long. Birders who are used to the seasonal malady of "warbler neck" from staring into the tall trees for hours searching for movement, are delighted that the birds are only a few feet away from them in the stream.
Three Generations Sing Togather
On May 3, Choir Recognition Sunday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Suzanne Brock, her daughter Lisa, and two grandchildren all sang at the same service; and at times, all three choirs were singing at the same time.
2014 Athletes of the Year
GMU's Hewitt to keynote Sportsman's Club awards dinner May 29.
George Mason Men's Basketball head coach Paul Hewitt will be on hand as 27 of the city's best high school athletes are honored for their academic and athletic excellence at the 58th annual Alexandria Sportsman's Club Awards dinner May 29 at the Westin Carlyle Hotel.
Too Patient a Patient
Since I’m in the honesty business (as you regular readers know; and based on many of the e-mails I receive, commended on being so), if I were to admit anything concerning my behavior during these last five-plus years as a lung cancer survivor, it would have to be my continual tendency to minimize new symptoms, and in turn, not contact my oncologist (which from the very beginning is the exact opposite of what we are told to do). Stupid, stubborn, scared, naive, in denial; you pick.
You’re Never Too Young for Poetry
Local educators say exposing children and even babies to rhyme and rhythm can help develop reading and language skills.
Though Keith Ward's son is still a baby, the young child is already being exposed to exposed to not just silly stories, but poetry, and a variety of poetic forms at that.
Editorial: Remembering on Memorial Day
Fewer deaths as military operations wind down, but 22 veterans a day die of suicide.
In Arlington over the coming Memorial Day weekend, the organization TAPS, or Tragedy Assistance for Survivors, will hold its 20th annual Military Survivor seminar and Good Grief camp for young survivors, children of all ages. TAPS offers support to anyone who is grieving the death of someone who died in the military, whether from combat, suicide, terrorism, homicide, negligence, accidents or illness. http://www.taps.org/
GI Film Festival 2014
VMI story told in “Field of Lost Shoes.”
A standing room only crowd packed the Old Town Theatre May 19 for the GI Film Festival’s world premiere of “Field of Lost Shoes,”
In Support of Stratford Hall
The Alexandria Committee of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association held its annual fundraising reception in support of Stratford Hall at the home of Leslie Ariail on Sunday afternoon, May 18.
Piloting Food Trucks
Most of controversial food truck proposal placed on back burner.
The food truck craze is coming to a city park or a farmer's market near you, part of a 16-month pilot program that will allow the mobile vendors to set up shop and see what happens. City Council members approved the pilot program in a four-to-two vote with Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg and Councilman Paul Smedberg voting no. Disgruntled restaurant owners across the city are talking about creating a new association specifically to fight expanding the program to hot spots in Old Town and Del Ray, a move city officials have been pushing for more than a year. The pilot is scheduled to begin in July and run through October 2015.
Alexandria Community Trust Turns Ten
Hundreds of residents attended the ACT Birthday and Barbeque Bash at the Waterfront Market & Café...
Nightmare on Green Street?
Neighbors say house is a nuisance; city officials say their hands are tied.
The 800 block of Green Street is tucked away in a quiet part of Old Town, a few blocks west of Washington Street where spring flowers are in bloom and neighbors know each other by name. Except Michael Wargo. Property records say he purchased 813 Green St. in 1989 for $263,000. But neighbors say he hasn't lived in the house for 12 years, and they are concerned that the house is a firetrap that's attracting wild animals and growing concern.
Tutors Choose Gift Books for Students
Reading tutors for Alexandria students celebrated the completion of a year-long tutoring program by selecting gift books for the Alexandria City Public School kindergarten and first grade students they tutored.
Friday, May 16
Signature Stages “The Threepenny Opera”
Musical presents dark critique of capitalism in this updated translation.
“Life’s a bitch and then you die.” Signature Theatre in Shirlington is staging an updated version of “The Threepenny Opera” through June 1. While it was written in 1920s Germany (and based on John Gay’s 1728 “The Beggar’s Opera”), its themes are timeless: the brutality of humanity and the scathing critique of a capitalist society.
LTA Presents “Boeing, Boeing”
Comical farce stars a philandering architect engaged to three stewardesses.
The Little Theatre of Alexandria is presenting the non-stop comedy, “Boeing, Boeing,” now through May 24. Set in a 1965 Paris apartment on the same day, the classic farce written by French playwright Marc Camoletti is centered on Bernard, a swinging architect engaged to three flight attendants all at once. Bernard’s life goes haywire when his friend Robert comes to visit and a newer, speedier Boeing jet messes up all of his careful planning. Inevitably, all three stewardesses come to visit at the same time, but the ending’s not what you’d expect.
Alexandria Home Sales: April, 2014
In April 2014, 227 Alexandria homes sold between $1,700,000-$105,000.
Alexandria Home Sales: April, 2014
Thursday, May 15
City in Violation of Its Charter
Citizens hampered from accessing departmental rules and regulations.
While Alexandria’s ordinances are enacted in public by the City Council and are readily accessible to the citizenry, usually in the form of “The Code of the City of Alexandria, 1981,” departments and offices across city government also promulgate official rules and regulations, but they are neither publicized nor readily accessible by the citizenry. This directly violates the express wording of the city’s charter.
Letter: Two Strikes And Counting
To the Editor: The city manager’s initiative “What’s Next Alexandria”, ostensibly a program to develop a set of principles for civic engagement, has just imploded. The city manager established a Food Truck Advisory Group to ascertain if and where food trucks ought to be able to operate in the City of Alexandria. Presently food trucks can only operate at construction sites, special events, and at the farmers markets if Special Use Permits (SUPs) allow them to do so. The group met over a six-month period, yet because of the heavy snows we had last winter the group was unable to complete its work. However the over-rambunctious city staff could not wait until all of the issues were settled, and a final report rendered, before taking the program to the Planning Commission on May 6 and the council will address the issue on May 13 followed by a public hearing sometime in June or September. During their May 6 presentation, the Planning Commission was aghast at being told that they were only being asked to listen to the staff presentation and then comment but not to vote on whether they agreed or not. At least four of the seven commission members could not believe the subterfuge employed by the city staff in ram-rodding this program through.
Letter: Concerned with Animal Rights
To the Editor: When I heard about Jim Moran retiring I was hoping that his replacement would work as hard as he has for animal rights. But after reading Michael Lee Pope’s article last week and speaking directly to some of the candidates, I am relieved to know that three candidates, and especially Don Beyer, but also Adam Ebbin and Mark Levine will continue supporting a cause that I think is very important.
Letter: Best Suited For Congress?
To the Editor: To hear Mayor Bill Euille tell it, Alexandria will be just fine if we have more development. His vision for Alexandria is to sell historic City Hall to a developer to put up more condos for the very wealthy. That way, we can erect the Taj Mahal of city halls in Eisenhower Valley to showcase our rise from historic seaport to generic urban center.
Letter: Be Selective on Food Truck Sites
To the Editor: The City of Alexandria is about to entertain the idea of food trucks. We can look at the issue from two perspectives.
Del Ray Art Market Opens for Season
For the fifth year, artists filled the Nicholas A. Colasanto Park offering their work for sale at the annual Del Ray Art Market. More than 25 artists have signed up for the monthly market. The market is held on the second Saturday of the month from May through October.
Know Stroke’s Warning Signs
Do you think you would recognize if you or a loved one were having a stroke? Early recognition and prompt treatment are critical to minimizing serious or permanent disability from stroke; yet, a study in the journal “Stroke” published in March found that one in five U.S. women couldn’t name even one symptom of stroke. In previous studies, men have fared no better.
Classified Advertising May 14, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Serving Up Controversy Over Food Trucks in Alexandria
Council members indicate they're likely to approve a pilot program at farmers markets.
City Council members are bracing themselves for a massive food fight this Saturday, when elected officials will take up a divisive proposal to allow food trucks in Alexandria.
Wednesday, May 14
Bishop Ireton Girls’ Lax Wins First WCAC Championship
Cardinals beat Norfolk Academy in VISAA state quarterfinals.
The Bishop Ireton girls' lacrosse team advanced to the VISAA state semifinals.
Be Selective on Food Truck Sites
To the Editor: The City of Alexandria is about to entertain the idea of food trucks. We can look at the issue from two perspectives. First, setting up a food truck is far cheaper to set up than a regular restaurant. By some accounts, it is around 15 percent of the cost of setting up a regular restaurant, and as such, a way for people who really have a desire but not means to enter the market.
2014 Nonprofit Leaders Honored
The 16th annual Alexandria Business Philanthropy Summit was held May 7 as Volunteer Alexandria honored five individuals for their service to the community. Held at the First Baptist Church of Alexandria, more than 250 people turned out for the event that featured former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina as the keynote speaker.
Alexandria to Host GI Film Festival
Sinise, Arquette set to honor troops.
Gary Sinise, David Arquette and Adam Driver are just three of the celebrities who will be in attendance as the GI Film Festival heads to Alexandria May 19-25.
The Fighter
Longtime congressman celebrated by Alexandria Democrats.
During his first run for Congress, then-Mayor Jim Moran assembled a campaign team that was hungry to oust incumbent Republican Stan Parris. Mame Reiley ran the operation, which included a young communications consultant named Joe Trippi. As the race headed toward Election Day, Reiley and Trippi became concerned that Moran's campaign signs kept disappearing from Eisenhower Avenue. So they set up a sting operation with a video camera to catch the culprit, who turned out to be Jim Moran.
House Historian
Family and friends remember Ruth Lincoln Kaye.
Alexandria's premiere house historian, a woman who pioneered the industry and fiercely protected her research, died April 30. She was 95. "She had a curious and inquisitive mind," recalled her son, Arthur Lincoln Kaye. Kaye was known throughout the city as a sort of walking history book, a woman who possessed an extensive institutional memory and a razor-sharp wit.
May 14: Council Notebook
Council Notebook briefs.
Tuesday, May 13
Editorial: Virginia Proves Elections Matter
Health and economic issues are entwined.
Some people continue to assert, either with their words or by simply abstaining, that voting just doesn’t matter. Here in Virginia, nearly every day we prove that is incorrect. All of Virginia’s elected representatives who are elected by the entire state are of the same political party. They are all Democrats: Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, Attorney General Mark Herring and Virginia’s two U.S. Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
Riding for the Fallen
More than 100 officers cycle through Virginia, for cause.
Police officers from all over the country vowed to "ride for those who died" this week. Police Unity Tour Chapter IV - also known as the Virginia chapter - challenged officers on a three day bicycle tour from Richmond to D.C. in memory for fallen officers. Before the last stop at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, the group of 122 officers and loved ones of fallen police stopped for lunch at McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center Monday in Fairfax as a tribute to the county most the officers served.
Northern Virginia Family Service Holds 16th Annual Gala
Local donors and supporters recognized at event.
The evening of Friday May 9 at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, the nonprofit Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) held their 16th Annual Road to Independence Gala. The festive event gave community and business leaders an opportunity to celebrate the impact of NVFS on families and children in need. It also recognized donors and supporters dedicated to giving back to the community in which they live making NVFS services possible.
Seventeen of Fantastic 50 Companies in Virginia Hail from Fairfax County
Seventeen Fairfax County companies are part of the 2014 Virginia Chamber of Commerce Fantastic 50 rankings of the 50 fastest-growing businesses in Virginia. Chantilly-based First Line Technology, which sells products to first responders and the military, received a Virginia Vanguard Award for having the highest growth rate among companies in the manufacturing category.
County Hosts Nearly 100 Outdoor Festivals
With a population of more than one million residents, it has long been known that Fairfax County is the most populous jurisdiction in the National Capital Region. However, what may surprise both residents and visitors is that the County is also home to nearly 100 annual outdoor festivals, most of which have very strong arts and cultural components.
Still Curious, But Maybe Not Dying
Although one never knows, especially if that one is living in "cancerville." And by "cancerville" I mean, euphemistically speaking, anywhere where one of us diagnosed with cancer is living. Living being the operative word. Still, as my column from a few weeks ago entitled, "Dying With Curiosity" discussed, cancer patients are often besieged by their subconscious, changing fact into fiction and manipulating feelings into inevitabilities. If only there was a switch to turn off the mind games that don’t exactly mind their "man-ners" or "women-ers" for that fact, I’d flick it in a second. Cancer creates physical problems – as we all know, but I have to tell you, it’s the mental problems that can be just as deadly.
Outdoor Entertaining
Local style gurus offer tips for alfresco soirees.
The mild temperatures that usher in late spring and early summer beckon many outdoors for alfresco parties. Whether held on a patio, deck or veranda, the necessary logistics for coordinating even a simple gathering can be daunting.
C-Section Boom in Northern Virginia
Region has some of the highest rates of cesarean-section deliveries for low-risk pregnancies.
Behind the closed doors at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church and the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, a quiet change has been taking shape over the last few decades.
Friday, May 9
Classified Advertising May 7, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Me & My Mom 2014 — Mother’s Day Photo Gallery and My Mother: an Appreciation
"A tribute to my mother, Lorena W. Mayhew, a superb seamstress..."
Shirley M. Bailey, 84, of Burke submitted this poem “as a tribute to my mother, Lorena W. Mayhew, a superb seamstress, who kept her four children well dressed during the Depression and even later with her superb skills as a seamstress.
Thursday, May 8
Glory Days
BI alumni football games raises $25,000 for Sean O'Malley scholarship fund.
The helmets, pads and jerseys of years gone by were dusted off as 72 Bishop Ireton alumni suited up for a full contact football game April 12 to raise money for the Sean O'Malley Scholarship Fund. More than 500 people turned out at Fannon Field on the BI campus to watch players from as far back as the class of '68 take to the field for a game that also helped celebrate the school's 50th anniversary.
Learning about Nature for Community Stewardship Day
TC students took part in various Earth Week activities throughout the area.
Approximately 370 students from the new International Academy at T.C. Williams High School took part in Earth Week on Friday, April 25. International Academy students broke into groups across the area to participate in Earth Week activities along the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
Future Fund Gala May 16 Aboard the Cherry Blossom Charter
The Future Fund will celebrate its 2014 grantmaking and raise funds for the 2015 cycle at its annual Awards Gala on Friday, May 16 aboard the Cherry Blossom Charter in Old Town, Alexandria.
QuinTango Honored for Artistic Excellence
Alexandria-based QuinTango will be honored May 13 with the 2014 award for Artistic Excellence at the GALA Hispanic Theatre’s annual Noche de Estrellas benefit recognizing arts, community and philanthropic leaders from the Washington region.
Despite Advances, Many Virginians Remain Uninsured
Affordable Care Act expands coverage, but more than 800,000 still have no health insurance.
What is the state of the uninsured in Virginia?
Wednesday, May 7
Editorial: Yes to the Meals Tax Referendum
Voters could decide on the tax in November.
Economic diversification is worthy goal. All of your eggs shouldn’t be in one basket. All of your revenue shouldn’t come from one source. In Fairfax County, adding a meals tax at the same level as Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and the City of Fairfax, 4 percent, could generate $88 million a year. The county estimates that 25-30 percent of the meals taxes collected would be paid by non-county residents. The inability to implement alternative revenue sources will mean continued dependence on one basket. The combined increase in the real estate property tax rate and home values means that most homeowners will be paying hundreds of dollars more in property taxes regardless of their ability to pay.
Airbag Thefts on the Rise in Fairfax
Doesn’t take long to steal.
This year, Fairfax County has become one of the biggest suppliers of stolen airbags for Virginia’s auto parts black market. Since January, more than 50 airbags have been stolen in Fairfax County alone, and, in April, Arlington reported that a dozen airbags had been stolen.
Feeling Repercussions of Winter
Schedule adjustments for Northern Virginia public school students.
This winter, thousands of area students were given more days off than expected. Day after day, parents, students and faculty received notice that school had yet again been cancelled due to the heavy snow and cold weather, which forced students and faculty to watch one of the coldest and heaviest winters since the 2010 Snowmagedden from home.
Hearing Loss Doesn’t Have to be Life-changing
“What?” May is Better Hearing and Speech Month.
On any given workday, you might find Arlington resident Erin Weiner sitting in a family-friendly restaurant causally coloring or playing games with a young child. At first glance, she might be mistaken for any young mother entertaining her offspring while they wait for a meal. In actuality, Weiner, who is a speech-language pathologist, is employing what she describes as an innovative approach to therapy that involves working with a child in his or her natural environment.
A Tale of Two Seasons
It is not the best of times, nor is it the worst of times; it is, simply put: the time between the end of winter and the beginning of summer. It is the season known as spring, but more to the point of this column, it is the time when, if the weather cooperates/accommodates, I won’t need to turn the heat or the air conditioning on in my house. I will instead be able to ride the wave, so to speak, and not incur any post-winter/pre-summer utility bills. Possibly, I might even be able to pay off my oil-heating budget bill balance for the 2013/2014 season – before the 2014/2015 budget cycle begins, and hopefully not have to cool down the house at the same time – due to an early summer – so that on the day my oil-heating bill is due, it won’t be competing for cash with my upstart electric/air conditioning bill for money not well spent and for money hardly in abundance.
Supervisors Pass County Budget
Three supervisors vote against the $3.7 billion budget.
Educators are not happy that the school district will receive $64 million less than they asked for next year. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed the county’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget, which includes a 3 percent increase in the School Fund Transfer, at the April 29 meeting.
Animal Instinct: Democrats in Hotly Contested Primary Divided on Speciesism
Will Jim Moran's successor share his enthusiasm for animal rights?
Candidates in the Democratic primary for Congress have a wide range of views on animal rights, an issue that has become one of the defining legacies of retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8).
Going into Business with Mom
Mother-daughter Realtor teams say working together can work.
Allison Goodhart has a vivid childhood memory: pulling a wagon filled with pumpkins and her younger sister around her family’s Del Ray neighborhood in Alexandria, helping to promote her parents’ real estate business. Today Allison Goodhart works alongside her mother as part of Old Town Alexandria-based Goodhart Group of McEnearney Associates Inc., Realtors.
Words With Frenemies
Pulitzer-prize winning historian outlines research at Lyceum.
The handwritten words of a former Virginia slave splashed across the screen at the Lyceum Tuesday night, part of a presentation by Pulitzer-prize winning historian Alan Taylor's War of 1812 Bicentennial Lecture. Taylor was explaining the research behind his new book, "The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832."
Pleas for Services Increase Taxes
Council raises tax rate to fund services for seniors and schoolchildren.
Seniors will be able to keep their tax relief, and Engine 204 will remain at the city's Powhatan Park headquarters. But homeowners will see their tax bills going up once again. That's because members of the Alexandria City Council voted to increase the tax rate last week, adding $2 million to the budget proposal City Manager Rashad Young presented back in February.
Review: Guys and Dolls’ at Paul VI
“They call you Lady Luck, but there is room for doubt. At times you have a very un-lady-like way of running out!” But if you did run out of Paul VI Catholic High School’s production of “Guys and Dolls,” you would have missed a fun night filled with laughter, jokes, and an attempt to answer to the age old question: “What won't a guy do for a doll?”
Letter: Redevelopment’s Economic Benefits
To the Editor
Letter: More Debt, More Spending
To the Editor
Letter: The Original Brand: Old Town Alexandria
To the Editor
Letter: Design Underwent Several Reviews
To the Editor
Protecting the Potomac
ASF program teaches community stewardship.
More than 300 students from T.C. Williams International Academy and Minnie Howard STEM Academy spent the morning of April 25 at the Alexandria Seaport Foundation participating in a hands-on program to celebrate community stewardship.
Letter: J-H: Still on Wrong Course
To the Editor
Letter: Best to Continue Moran's Reform Legacy
To the Editor
Donnie Wintermute: An Agent of Change
Her commitment to help others reaches across the community.
Donnan Chancellor Wintermute (known to most as Donnie) takes great pleasure in transforming lives, whether in her professional services as vice president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or in her many volunteer activities fueled by her sustained commitment to giving from the heart.
TC HostsTitan Expo
Pies were flying, along with rubbers chickens and baseballs, as the games got underway at the annual T.C. Williams Titan Expo...
Earth Day in Alexandria
The annual festival opened up last month in Ben Brenman Park at 10 a.m. with greetings and a showcase of Alexandria City Public Schools students displaying and performing their ideas on upcycling in the performing arts, literature and fashion.
Bowties & Belles
The Campagna Center hosted its annual Bowties & Belles soiree on Saturday afternoon, May 3, at the Belle Haven Country Club.
Got Food?
Stamp Out Hunger food drive set for May 10.
he 2014 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers and the U.S. Postal Service, will take place Saturday, May 10 throughout the City of Alexandria.
Column: Positive Approaches to Difficult Conversations
Senior Living
For many people, there comes a time when we need to become more involved in finding ways to address major obstacles confronted by the older members of our families.
Column: When DNA Isn't Helpful
I could hardly contain myself that finally progress could be reported. An alleged triple murder suspect was returning to Virginia. At the least, “the” information came from various people always in the know. I must admit this old news dog could barely contain himself.
Tuesday, May 6
Madison Girls’ Lax Learns From Season’s Toughest Challenge
Warhawks fall to national power St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes.
The St. Stephen's & St. Agnes girls' lacrosse team defeated Madison 13-8 on Monday.
Thursday, May 1
Classified Advertising April 30, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Working and Rebuilding Together
More than 600 volunteers separated into teams to rehab 38 homes in Alexandria on Saturday morning, April 26, at the First Baptist Church. Katherine Dixon, executive director of Rebuilding Together Alexandria, organized the event to help residents whose income is near the poverty rate — earning near or less than $27,000 a year.
Miracle League Opens Its Season
Grant to help build Alexandria’s first inclusive playground.
On April 26, CVS Caremark celebrated the start of a new baseball season at the Miracle League of Alexandria’s Opening Day festivities, with representatives from the Miracle League, the Kelley Cares Foundation and Miracle League Athletes.
Center Plants Pinwheel Garden To Symbolize Hope
The Center for Alexandria’s Children joined in a nationwide public awareness campaign that puts a new spin on child abuse prevention when it planted a Pinwheel Garden today at its office on North Beauregard Street. The pinwheel, the national symbol of Child Abuse Prevention and a symbol of childhood, represents the efforts of Prevent Child Abuse Virginia to demonstrate the importance of ensuring healthy, happy and full lives for all children in the community.
Letter: Neighborhood
Taylor Run
Friends and relatives of the late Beverly Beidler gathered for a celebration of her life at Everly-Wheatley on Saturday, April 26. The entire congregation sang “Oh Shenandoah,” “We Shall Overcome,” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” Grandchildren Brad and Mariah Simonton spoke, and Mariah read a poem.
Letter: Committed, Despite State
To the Editor: My partner of 20 years and I are getting married next month in Maryland because Virginia, of course, does not allow same-sex marriage. For non-resident marriage applications, Maryland allows us to appear before a Clerk of the Circuit Court where we reside to affirm, under oath, that the information we provide on the application (names, Social Security numbers, address, etc.) is true.
Letter: How Did This Get Approved?
To the Editor: I want to apologize to the residents of Alexandria who live around the new Jefferson-Houston School currently under construction. I did nothing to help prevent the building of that school. I live in Old Town but not near the school and didn't pay much attention to the plans.
Letter: Budget Hurts Senior Citizens
To the Editor: The new city budget will hinder the people most in need and bring dismay to our city residents and the communities throughout the city.
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: I urge my fellow Alexandrians to contribute generously to help fund the Alexandria Police Memorial honoring 18 Alexandria police officers who have given their lives in the performance of duty. The memorial will be located in a publicly accessible area in front of the new Alexandria Police Department Headquarters building on Wheeler Avenue.
Rooftop Worker
The students at Charles Barrett Elementary School celebrated SCA Spirit Day on Friday, April 25, at the school. The students were asked to dress in their CBES shirts or dress up in attire that reflected a future career choice.
T.C. Williams High School Alumni Baseball Game
The 3rd Annual T.C. Williams Alumni Baseball Game will be played at Simpson Field June 14 at 2 p.m. The game is open to anyone who has played high school baseball on an Alexandria team.
'Spring Sweep' Set for May 2
Alexandria Crew Boosters, ODBC to host annual T.C. fundraiser.
The Alexandria Crew Boosters will host its annual fundraiser to benefit the T.C. Williams High School rowing program May 2 at the Old Dominion Boat Club.
Senior Living: ‘The 5 Senses and Aging’
We all know that as we age, so do our five senses. Knowing what to expect can help us take steps to continue to live independent and productive lives. That was the message from the April Speaker Series event co-sponsored by Senior Services of Alexandria, Inova Alexandria Hospital and Alexandria’s Successful Aging Committee. More than 100 seniors flocked to the Nannie J. Lee Center last Wednesday for a lively morning filled with valuable information and a Health and Fitness Fair. Participants tried their hand at belly dancing and tai chi, sampled delicious healthy recipes, had free blood pressure and hearing tests, and even enjoyed shoulder massages.
SSSAS Teammates Peppers, Gregory Shine at Capital Classic
Ireton’s Moseh records double-double for victorious West all-stars.
Saints' Gregory, Cardinals' Moseh produce double-doubles at Capital Classic.
Mentor of the Month: Leigh Ann Smith
Leigh Ann Smith has been mentoring with Higher Achievement in Alexandria since spring of 2010. She takes the time each week to prepare a lesson for all of her scholars that will both teach them concrete skills and keep them engaged at the same time. On
These Shelter Pets Face Challenges
Beauty is more than skin-deep.
As the old maxim goes, you can’t judge a book by its cover. The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria encourages potential adopters to apply that same advice to pets seeking new homes. “An animal can be a 10- to 20-year commitment, and it is important to select an animal that matches your lifestyle and energy level and to pick your companion based on personality rather than appearance,” said Megan Webb, executive director of the League.
ARHA Adopts Non-Smoking Policy
The Board of Commissioners of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority unanimously approved a resolution calling for a Non-Smoking Policy for all ARHA residents at its meeting last month. When fully implemented in late Spring 2015, the new policy will cover approximately 3,000 residents.
Camps, Classes & Workshops
Camps and classes in the area.
Summer Learning Activities
Local educators offer tips to keep children learning during the summer.
When summer vacation begins and school ends in a few weeks, learning doesn’t have to take a hiatus. Students can keep their academic skills sharp without entering a classroom or even sitting down with a pencil and paper.
Choosing a Summer Camp
Camp experts offer advice on selecting a camp, but now is the time to register.
Many families with school age children will plan to have their children spend some of the much-anticipated summer season in camp. If you haven’t yet selected camps for your children, now is the time.
Many Ideas for Summer Activities
Avoid those dreaded words: ‘I’m bored.’
Molly McAlister enjoys the freedom of summer, but there are three words she dreads hearing: “Mom, I’m bored.” Creating activities to keep her three children busy during the summer is a task she enjoys, but it isn’t always easy.
Food Fight: Work Group Snubbed on Food Trucks
City officials move forward with recommendations without report from work group.
Last May, City Manager Rashad Young issued a series of recommendations that would have opened the door to food trucks in Old Town, Del Ray and Carlyle.