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Meals Tax: Myths and Misconceptions

Commentary

As the Nov. 8 General election draws near, we would like to take the opportunity to set the record straight and do some myth busting regarding the meals tax.

Focusing on Domestic Abuse

Commentary

Since 1989, October has been designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Vote ‘Yes’ for FCPS Teachers' Salaries

Commentary

When you vote on Tuesday, Nov. 8, Fairfax County voters can vote for our schools by voting to allow a four percent tax on prepared restaurant meals.


Foundation’s Historic Roots

Its mission is to help needy students with learning disabilities.

“The Gunston Hall School” foundation that donates money to financially needy students with learning disabilities, has origins going back to 1892

Classified Advertising October 26, 2016

Read the latest ads here!

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Ghost Stories of Alexandria

Mysteries, phantoms, and Devil-Bats lurk through city streets.

With 267 years of history, Alexandria is a city fraught with supernatural hauntings.


Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness Supports Meals Tax

After careful consideration, the Fairfax – Falls Church Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness has decided to fully support the proposed 4 percent Fairfax County Meals Tax.

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American Elections: French Perspective

I am a French student who chose to come to study close to Washington DC for what I thought would be one of the most interesting elections in the history of Uncle Sam’s country.

Column: No to the Meals Tax

A food tax is not a silver bullet.

I have been opposed to the meals tax from the start, but what has concerned me most over the last several months has been the tactics used to try to convince our residents to vote for it and the county’s failure to deal with its spending problems. I would like to offer some clarity on these points and why I am against the meals tax.


Vote Yes: Immigrant Families Rely on Schools for More Than Education

Fairfax County Public Schools are more than just a place to learn. Growing up in Burke, I saw firsthand how our schools created a sense of community and neighborhood camaraderie. Schools are where we could go to borrow a book, where we could watch and play sports, and where we could perform a play or listen to a concert.

Column: Yes to the Meals Tax

Reduces dependence on property tax.

As a businessman here in Fairfax and a former member of the Fairfax County School Board, I write on behalf of a coalition of thousands of homeowners, parents, teachers, firefighters, police, friends and users of our libraries and our parks and recreation facilities, and those who belong to churches and non-profit organizations working to ensure that Fairfax County also protects those in need [www.yesmealstax.org].

Letter: Supporting Meals Tax

Letter to the Editor

I’m writing to encourage Fairfax County voters to support the county meals tax referendum on the ballot in November.


Letter: Meals Tax: A Better Option

Letter to the Editor

After reviewing Fairfax County’s proposed 4-percent meals tax, the Class Size Counts (CSC) board voted to support the Nov. 8 referendum because it decided that it would be better to raise money for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) through a tax on prepared foods rather than through additional increases to County property taxes.

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Advice from the Pros

Local private school admissions directors share wisdom they’d offer to their own children.

From interviews to essays to standardized tests to open houses, the season for submitting independent school applications is underway. For families vying for a spot at the area’s most elite schools, the process can be fraught with anxiety, stress and confusion as parents and students wade through the myriad academic options in the Washington, D.C., region.

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Remembering the Fallen

Ivy Hill ceremony honors fire and EMS personnel.

Alexandria’s fallen firefighters and EMS personnel were remembered by members of the city’s first responder and law enforcement agencies at a memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony Oct. 14 at Ivy Hill Cemetery as part of the annual National Fire Prevention Week ceremonies.


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Alexandria: WWII Cadet Receives CAP Congressional Gold Medal

Haynes joined Civil Air Patrol in 1942.

It’s not everyday someone can say they’ve earned a pilot’s license before their driver’s license, or went on to join the U.S. Air Force and then attend MIT at their own expense. Such is the case of longtime Alexandria resident, mother of four, Elizabeth “Libby” Daggit Haynes, 89, a World War II Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Cadet.

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Alexandria: The Unlikely Republican

Hernick

Republican candidate Charles Hernick meets at Commonwealth Joe’s, a coffee shop in Pentagon City so new it hasn’t even had its official opening. It’s populated almost exclusively by millennials, and Hernick fits right in. When asked about the political issues that matter to them, the students and baristas at Commonwealth Joe’s all answer that climate change and combating student debt are their key voting issues. It’s a liberal atmosphere, but that doesn’t stop Hernick from trying to win them over.

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Alexandria: Money Talks

Citizens unite over city budget priorities.

Above all else, Alexandrians want a healthier and more transit accessible city, and they’re willing to pay for it. At a meeting on Oct. 13 at Patrick Henry Elementary School, the city’s FY2018 budget process kicked off with an opportunity for the 50 citizens present to voice their thoughts on what parts of the budget merited further investment.


Alexandria Appetite: Food and Drink Events Abound

Some snippets from the Alexandria restaurant scene over the coming month.

Autumn is in full swing, and with the season comes a passel of activities in the food and beverage scene across the city (and beyond). Here are some items to put on your docket in the coming weeks.

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Alexandria People at Work: Neighborhood Pharmacy Cares for Its Community

Over 1,000 look-alike white bottles line the shelves, cram the nooks and crannies and sit in the refrigerator at Neighborhood Pharmacy on Mt. Vernon Street in Del Ray. Stacey Swartz, pharmacist and co-owner, has operated the independent pharmacy for eight years since she bought the space from Show of Hands. "Monday is the busiest day of the week," she says, "with all of the things piled up from the weekend."