Senior Living: Regaining Mobility
Local orthopedic surgeons offer keys for successful joint replacement surgery.
Tired of the limited mobility and pain that have thwarted her love of foreign travel and fall hiking, Lynda S. Johnson, 72, scheduled a knee replacement surgery for later this month. She chose a doctor, found a pet sitter to watch her Cairn terrier, and enlisted her sister to live with her while she recovers. “I had been debating for months about whether to have it,” she said. “I was in so much pain, though, that I don’t really think I have anything to lose.”
Medicare Open Enrollment Nears
Tips to help Medicare beneficiaries get ready.
Medicare beneficiaries preparing for open enrollment this month may want to consider their current health needs and the many preventive services covered by Medicare.
Senior Living: Life at Vinson Hall — Living the Difference
Mary DeMaris is headed down on the elevator at Vinson Hall with her black case of art supplies, an artist headed to a still life class out of the building. “There is a club here for everything — poetry, art, choral group, photography, book, gardening,” she said.
Alexandria: Who Should Steer Torpedo Factory?
Artists Association proposes new management structure.
Starting in October, the City of Alexandria has taken over management of the Torpedo Factory. But even as the city starts its temporary control, the Torpedo Factory Artists Association (TFAA) has presented some different ideas for how the property should be run in the future.
Alexandria Lawyer Saves Innocent Man from Death Row
“It took a team of people hundreds of hours to save one life. If we hadn’t taken this case, he’d be dead.”
Alfred Dewayne Brown loves the Alexandria Waterfront. He enjoys visiting the shops and restaurants in Old Town and meeting the family of his Alexandrian lawyer, Brian Stolarz. Brown is closer with Stolarz than most clients are with their attorneys. The two are good friends and even have matching tattoos: scales of justice. Brown has the number “154” written above his, because Brown is the 154th inmate on death row to be exonerated. If it weren’t for Stolarz, Brown would be dead.
Alexandria People At Work: New Boutique Opens in City
Elizabeth Todd picks up the phone. "Hey, we just got in this great Veronica Beard classic jacket with a zip-in dickey — just your style. Do you want me to hold it for you?" Todd says she has a loyal client base and she calls to let them know what has just arrived. "I get to know who needs comfortable shoes to walk in on the Hill." Todd has just opened the Hive, described as a luxury lifestyle and clothing boutique, at 301 Cameron St.
Alexandria: Historic Christ Church Welcomes New Rector
From Atlanta to Alexandria.
Alexandria welcomed the Rev. Noelle York-Simmons, the 28th rector of the 243-year-old Christ Church, in September. She’s the first female rector, and among the youngest at 40 or under, in the church’s history of attending to the spiritual needs of U.S. presidents to the very poor and everyone in between.
Alexandria Letter: Time to Stop Talking about Talking
Letter to the Editor
“Well, it was a lot of talking about talking,” was T.C. Williams junior Sam Wingfield’s reaction after attending a town hall meeting on the overcrowding at TC’s King Street and Minnie Howard campuses with Vice Mayor Justin Wilson on a beautiful Sunday, Sept. 25. More than 100 Alexandrians, including TC students and teachers, and members of City Council and School Board, came to Beatley Library to discuss what to do about our crowded high school.
Alexandria Letter: Historical Fabric
Letter to the Editor
The Alexandria Archealogical Commission (AAC) strongly opposes the recent vote by City Council to seek authorization from the Virginia legislature to move the Appomattox statue from its current location at the center of Washington and Prince streets. Both the statue and its placement at the site Alexandrians left for war, a context with which it is intertwined as a piece of art, are important elements of Alexandria’s history — and our nation’s. We view moving the statue as destruction of our vanishing local historical fabric, and in effect obscuring important truths about our city and community.
Alexandria Living Legends: Making a Difference One Child at a Time
Steve Nearman began his volunteering at Child & Family Network Centers.
Many read news stories or hear about young people doing something dangerous or illegal and then wonder why in the world they did that. Then they move on. Steve Nearman did the same thing until 20 years ago when he decided he couldn’t change things for every young person, but he might make a difference for one child; help them see a different option and take the better fork in the road.
Alexandria Living Legends: Their Leadership Preserved Gadsby’s Tavern
Foley and McNamara ensured Post 24’s historic gift to the city.
In the early 20th century, Gadsby’s Tavern and the adjoining City Hotel were in such a dilapidated condition that the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City made an offer to purchase some of the woodwork, including the ballroom, to preserve its history because the destruction of these buildings seemed imminent. The buildings were prominent in the 18th century as a meeting place for patriots of the revolution, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Each of the first five presidents of the United States was entertained there.
Alexandria: Remembering H. Stewart Dunn, Jr.
Civil liberties advocate dies at 87.
Stew Dunn was known for many things, primarily his commitment to civil liberties and a passion for the City of Alexandria. But not long ago he made a revelation that took even his son Chris by surprise.
Alexandria: Raise the Roof
$50,000 raised for low-income residents.
More than 160 people turned out Sept. 22 for Rebuilding Together Alexandria’s Raise the Roof fundraiser at Port City Brewery, raising more than $50,000 to help low-income residents in the city.
Alexandria: Fire Department Celebrates 150 Years
Gala to raise funds for antique equipment restoration.
In 1774, the Friendship Fire Company was established as the first volunteer fire company in Alexandria. George Washington was a member of the company and purchased the city its first fire engine in 1775. But it wasn’t until 1866 when Joseph Young, at a rate of $70 per month, became the city’s first paid firefighter thus marking the birth of the Alexandria Fire Department.
Alexandria: Free Health Fair for Uninsured Returns Nov. 5
Number of partners joining the Health Fair effort soars.
This year, with many more sponsors, Arlene Hewitt, Richard Merritt, Dan Hawkins, Bill Euille, Mary Anne Weber, Dr. John Klousia, Canek Aguirre, Eduardo Mantilla-Torres, and Jamie Conrad have cobbled together another free health fair for the uninsured. Some of them are part of the Alliance for Alexandria’s Uninsured, a lead partner and staffer of the Planning Committee for the fair. They see a difference between last year’s fair and this year’s: last year, there were five or six sponsors: this year there are 54 ... and counting.
Alexandria Column: Blancato to Keynote Senior Law Day Event
Commentary–Senior Services of Alexandria
As the trees on the Potomac once again start to change color and the end of the year approaches, most people take stock of things they meant to do this year, but never started. We often postpone tackling situations that we feel are unpleasant or out of our control.
Alexandria Appetite: BurgerFi Sets Up Shop in Old Town
With its opening last week, local co-owners celebrate a homecoming.
Peer down the 100 block of North Pitt Street and it’s easy to spot a new neighbor. The erstwhile Pat Troy’s Ireland’s Own, shuttered for several years, now has new life in the form of the city’s first BurgerFi. Open since Sept. 26, the locally owned franchise has begun to generate quite a bit of foot traffic — and prelaunch interest, too, with would-be customers peeking in the front door in anticipation. But you haven’t missed a grand opening event, franchise co-owner David Landry says.
Alexandria Letter: Memorials’ Purpose
Letter to the Editor
My grandmother and her lady friends used to carry buckets of water and soap to scrub city grime off the pedestal of the Appomattox Statue, a statue now deemed offensive by the politically correct neighbors with whom we dwell in this city.
Alexandria Letter: Re-ignite Civil War?
Letter to the Editor
My family settled in New Kent County, Va., in 1656. More than 100 of my extended family served as Confederate soldiers during the War Between the States; and many of them died in the war — including my own
Alexandria Letter: Much To Learn From the Past
Letter to the Editor
The Alexandria Gazette-Packet coverage of the Appomattox Statue controversy, Sept. 22, 2016, quotes an eloquent statement by Councilman Chapman that the statue where it stands is a "terrific teaching point that we are not all equal yet."