Miracles Continue in Mattie's Memory
A day of fun in honor of a brave boy raises money to help families battling cancer.
When Vicki Sardi-Brown sees a butterfly, she knows her son is near. Mattie, her 7-year-old son with husband Peter Brown, bravely faced an uphill battle with multifocal osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive type of bone cancer, for 14 months, much of that time spent at Georgetown University Hospital.
People Notes
Steve Strobridge, deputy director of government relations for the Military Officers Association of America was named one of the 100 most influential people in U.S. Defense in Defense News and Military Times’ inaugural list of influential players from the worlds of politics, the military, business, government and academia. Strobridge, of Alexandria, was cited for his work in helping to shape legislation affecting issues of importance for military personnel and their families. Christine M. Candio, RN, FACHE, CEO, Inova Alexandria Hospital, and senior vice president, Inova Health System, has been nominated as the 2013–2014 Chairwoman-Elect of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), an international professional society of more than 40,000 healthcare executives.
It’s All About Knowing the Options for Long-Term Care
While it may be something we don’t want to think about, we will probably be faced with making long-term care decisions. What happens if I get sick, and I can’t remain in my home? How can I stay in my home, and receive care? How will I pay for all of this? Knowing what the options are, how to make preparations, and putting things into place in advance can help. Last Thursday, Senior Services of Alexandria’s Speaker Series focused on this important topic. Panelists at the SSA event covered a wide range of long-term care services and support available here in Alexandria, as well as state-wide resources. David DeBiasi, AARP’s associate state director, framed the issue and spoke about the cost of care in Virginia. The audience heard from local service provider Adult Companion Care about in-home support, and also learned about the various options available for assisted living, continuing care and nursing home facilities. Kathy McNulty from Capital Care of Alexandria talked about when palliative or hospice care may be the right choice.
Joe Guiffre: Retired But Still Connected
Responsibility means taking active role in the community.
For more than six decades Joe Guiffre has been involved in the business, civic and religious life of his community. That’s why he is a 2013 Living Legend of Alexandria.
Obituary: John W. Merck
John W. Merck died on March 9, 2013, at age 87. Friends are invited to funeral services at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, in the Memorial Chapel, Ft. Myer, Arlington, followed by military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
Obituary: David Edward Jacobs, Jr.
David Edward Jacobs, Jr. of Boca Raton, Fla., formerly of Alexandria, died Feb. 10, 2013 surrounded by his loving wife and family members.
Emergent Art for Mom
Suggesting gifts for Mother’s Day.
Emergent art can make a cherished gift for mom this Mother’s Day, yet finding the right tone or subject can be difficult. According to a trio of emergent Alexandria artists, landscape paintings make for thoughtful gifts as they bring to mind powerful connections to previous experiences.
Sengel Honored
SAR presents Law Enforcement award.
The George Washington Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution awarded the Law Enforcement Commendation Medal to Commonwealth's Attorney S. Randolph Sengel for his distinguished career enforcing the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Sengel was presented the award April 27 in a ceremony at Belle Haven Country Club. He has served as a prosecutor in Alexandria since 1979 and was first elected Commonwealth's Attorney in 1997.
Honoring Those Who Serve
Ceremony pays tribute to fallen officers.
Dozens of active duty and retired law enforcement personnel joined Chief of Police Earl Cook and Sheriff Dana Lawhorne as they placed a wreath at the Police Memorial in Waterfront Park May 6 to pay tribute to Alexandria police officers and sheriff's deputies who have died in the line of duty. Cook read each of the 16 names inscribed on the memorial, dating back to Constable Elijah Chenault, who was the first reported officer killed in the city in 1823, and ending with Corporal Charles W. Hill, who was slain in March of 1988.
Changes Under Foot
Old Town Masterpieces closing after 35 years.
They grew up together in Iran, and in 1971, Ahmed Loghmanian and Hossien Garakyaraghi made the move to America to study at George Washington University. But it wasn't long before the pull of the family business back home beckoned them to open Old Town Masterpieces, a landmark Oriental rug store closing its doors after 35 years in business. “I think he met George Washington,” Loghmanian said in jest to Garakyaraghi, his lifelong friend and brother-in-law. “That's how long we've been here.”
Raising Healthy Children with Healthy Minds
Back in 2011 President Obama announced the creation of a National Prevention Strategy, a comprehensive country-wide plan to increase the number of Americans who are healthy, both mentally and physically at every step of their lives. In the wake of Newtown, a new discussion erupted over mental health and the need to improve services. That was wonderful news to advocates, families and those with mental illnesses themselves. But it soon became obvious that in many circles what political leaders were talking about was not more and better services that would guarantee good mental health for everyone, but putting people away without due process, in other words a return to those past practices that destroyed people’s minds and lives as well as their families.
The Astonishing Motor 8
In less than two weeks, May 20 to be exact, the final segment in the brutal and senseless shooting of an Alexandria police officer gets under way in the city’s Franklin P. Backus Courthouse. Officer Peter Laboy was shot in the head on routine daytime duty, suffering a catastrophic brain injury, on Feb. 27. This story has resonated around the Commonwealth and throughout the nation and generated thousands of prayers on his behalf.
Esten Concert Raises $22,000
A night of songs, jokes and nostalgia in Old Town benefits T.C. Williams grads.
The Durant Arts Center multipurpose room rarely gets as glamorous as it did on Friday night, May 3, when The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria ushered Charles “Chip” Esten onto its brightly lit stage. The “Nashville” star, who plays Deacon Claybourne on the hit series, informed the audience of Alexandrians that though he would be whoever they wanted him to be that night at autograph time — Deacon, Charles or Chip — he was the boy they knew. “It’s Chip not Charles. It’s Puskar,” said the star as he walked on.
Thomas M. Hughes Dies
Avid outdoorsman, devoted family man.
Tom Hughes wasn't going to let cancer rob him of his sense of humor.
Obituary: Clydine M. Bridgeman
Clydine M. Bridgeman, 83, formerly of Alexandria, died of cancer on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at the Villas at Gulf Breeze, an assisted living facility in suburban Pensacola, Fla.
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