Schools
School Notes
Email announcements to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday at noon. Photos are welcome. The following Washington and Lee students have earned dean's list status for the recently ended fall 2012 term: Tyler Gehrs, a member of the class of 2013; Caleb Russell, a member of the class of 2014; Caroline Schmidt, a member of the class of 2013 and Russell Schmidt, a member of the class of 2016.
Housing Market: ‘Sell and Buy’ 4/24/2013
Sustained low interest rates and rising prices have energized the marketplace.
The local real estate market is thriving, with Realtors reporting multiple offers on homes in some areas and dwindling inventory of homes for sale. At least two things are contributing to this change in the market.
Urban League Presents Annual Scholarship Awards
Morgan Lataillade of T.C. Williams High School; Beatrice Williams of C.D. Hylton High School, Zoel Stackhouse of Forest Park High School, Gabriela Alvarez of Dominion High School, Kristian Welch of Tuscarora High School, N'Dri N'Cho of Washington-Lee High School, Javier Mery of Potomac Falls High School, Tyrone Simpson of South County Secondary School, Nathaniel Smith of Lake Braddock Secondary School, and Osasenaga Aghayere of South Lakes High School were honored with $5,000 scholarships at the 23rd annual Northern Virginia Urban League Community Service Scholarship Awards Dinner on Friday, April 19, at the McLean Hilton in Tysons Corner.
Celebrating Creative Spirit, Sharing Experiences
Commentary
For the third year in a row, Alexandria will celebrate the connection between the creative spirit and mental health by displaying the art works of people whose lives have been affected by mental illness, substance abuse disorders or intellectual disabilities. Some of these works of art are playful, some stark, some beautiful, and some so sad and disturbing, they stop the viewer in his or her tracks. Through their pieces, these artists are sharing not only their hopes and dreams, but their pain and fear and their own personal stories. The telling of their stories is just part of what should be a community-wide conversation about mental health and the often long and bumpy road to recovery.
Bulletin Board
Absentee Voting Opens On Tuesday June 11, there will be a Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Absentee voting for the primary begins on Friday, April 26. Many Alexandria voters are eligible to vote absentee, but relatively few take advantage of this option. Qualifying circumstances: commute and work for 11 of the 13 hours the polls are open; caregiver for a confined family member; unable to go to the polls in person on Election Day because of an illness or disability; or will be absent from Alexandria on Election Day because of personal business, work, school, or vacation. To learn more about these, and other circumstances in which absentee voting is an appropriate option, visit alexandriava.gov/Elections and click on “Absentee Voting,” or call 703-746-4050.
Celebration Time in Centreville
International Music and Dance Fiesta is April 27.
A variety of ethnic songs, dances, food and fun are on tap for the third annual Centreville International Music and Dance Fiesta. It’s slated for Saturday, April 27, from 7-10 p.m., at Centreville United Methodist Church, 6400 Old Centreville Road.
Entertainment
Calendar
‘Pacific Pulse’ Nicholaus Aman attempts to express the nature of the Pacific coast through his solo exhibition, Pacific Pulse, at Alexandria's Artspace 109 Gallery. The Pacific Pulse exhibition will be on display through May 11. Artspace 109 is located at 109 North Fairfax Street, 3rd Floor Alexandria. Gallery hours are: Tuesday through Friday noon-5 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sundays noon-5 p.m.
Banquet Celebrates African American Women
S.T.O.M.P. (Sisters Touching Others thru Mentoring and Prayer) hosted its first awards banquet on March 24, at the Hampton Inn, Alexandria. The event’s theme was: “Celebrating African American Women: Honoring Our Elders” and was planned in celebration of Women’s History Month and specifically designed to highlight the contributions of African American women to their community.
Letter: Protect The Park
To the Editor: Despite a recent proposal by the city to the contrary, Founders Park should not be used for private events.
Mayors for Meals
Hundreds of volunteers help keep seniors fed.
Mayor Bill Euille joined other mayors and elected officials across the nation in delivering meals to homebound seniors March 21 as part of Mayors for Meals, a component of the March for Meals Campaign of the Meals on Wheels Association of America and Senior Services of Alexandria.
‘Castle’ To Give Way to Playscape Highlighting Nature
Beverley Hills Church Preschool playground being transformed.
After being on hold for more than four years, the renovation and revitalization of Alexandria’s Beverley Hills Church Preschool playground is officially underway. On Wednesday, April 17, the playground fundraising committee is participating in Act for Alexandria’s Spring2ACTion, a day devoted to online advertising and fundraising for non-profit organizations in the city of Alexandria, according to the preschool’s former director Sissy Walker.
Bulletin Board
Email announcements to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday by noon. Photos welcome. National Child Abuse Prevention Month Events SafeAssured Child Identification. SafeAssured ID Kits provide families with vital information needed by law enforcement and the media to immediately broadcast information unique to a missing child. Open to the public.
What To Know about Retirement
Senior Services of Alexandria
There was a full house at the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library for Senior Services of Alexandria’s recent speaker series event about “Planning for and Making the Most of your Retirement.” There are many issues to consider and it can all be a bit overwhelming, but attendees walked away with valuable resources from a dynamic panel of local experts.
Candlelight Vigil for Gun Violence Victims
A candlelight vigil for the victims of gun violence and to demand action from Congress on gun violence prevention legislation was held Saturday, April 13, in Market Square. The candlelight vigil was sponsored by Organizing for Action and Alexandria’s Concerned Citizens against Gun Violence.
Giving for Boston
Alexandria nonprofit leaders Spring to Action to help Boston victims.
What happens when tragedy strikes? Alexandria springs into action. With Monday's Boston bombing looming over the week, organizers of Alexandria's annual Giving Day scrambled to find some way to respond by Wednesday — the daylong online philanthropy event known as Spring2ACTion.