Camps and Schools Notes
The Fairfax Falcons Paralympic Sports team, a Fairfax County Neighborhood and Recreation Services Therapeutic Recreation program, is recruiting new players.
Column: Deep Space Mind
Commentary
A few years back (OKAY, more than a few years back; I’ll blame the cancer for my time lapse), there was a spin-off from the original Star Trek: Star Trek: The Next Generation captained by Jean-Luc Picard (a.k.a. Patrick Stewart) which itself spawned two other spin-offs: Star Trek Voyager and Deep Space Nine (commanded by Avery Brooks, a.k.a. Captain Sisko).
Alexandria Mayoral Standoff
First debate in race for mayor focuses on failing infrastructure.
Differences between incumbent Mayor William Euille, current Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg, and former Mayor Kerry Donley emerged during a debate as the three took turns directing blame for Alexandria’s current problems on each of the other two during the first mayoral debate.
LTA Presents 'The Odd Couple'
Neil Simon comedy has been reinvented as ladies take over roles of Unger and Madison.
The Little Theatre of Alexandria is presenting "The Odd Couple" (The Female Version) from now through May 16. Unger and Madison are at it again — Florence Unger and Olive Madison, that is — in Neil Simon’s comic classic. The comedy has been reinvented from a different perspective as the women take over the roles of the mismatched couple to give this well-known play a whole new life.
Port City Playhouse Presents ‘Stick Fly’
Port City Playhouse in Alexandria will present "Stick Fly," Lydia R. Diamond’s wry but affectionate look at the experiences of upper-income African-Americans, from May 1 through May 16.
Editorial: Fostering Connections, Faltering
Why are federal dollars acceptable for roads, but not for helping foster children?
While there is plenty of competition for the title “most vulnerable,” foster children are certainly among them.
Class of 2015: Arlington Has New Tree Stewards
Tree Stewards volunteer to keep communities green.
Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria graduated a class of 20 new Tree Stewards on April 14.
Not Enough Progress Made on Affordable Housing in Alexandria
Alexandria Needs Assessment finds affordable housing severely lacking.
The 2010 City Council Strategic Plan laid out seven main goals for the city’s long-term development. Goal number one was to “achieve a net increase in the number of dedicated affordable rental and ownership units in the city by 2015.”
Renovating the Historic House
Expert Murray Bonnitt says be prepared for extra and unexpected delays and expenses when renovating a historic property.
Renovating a historic home is a labor of love and can be a test of real patience. Do you think renovating your own modern home is a challenge? Try one from the 19th century. With so many homes in the region from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th century, a significant commitment to maintaining them comes with a desire to make them compatible for our time.
Transformation: from Swamp to Gorgeous Design
"In 1995 when I first started working on this yard, it was basically a swamp with dense trees growing straight up because they had nowhere to go."
Historic Home on the Market
18th-Century Shreve House for sale.
After stepping through the handmade, mahogany front door of a home nestled in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, visitors might feel as though they’d been transported back to the late 1700s, the period during which this Virginia home was built.
Alexandria Real Estate Agent Gets Top Honor
Allison Goodhart selected as one of REALTOR Magazine’s ‘30 under 30’ for 2015.
A local, young professional has joined ranks of the real estate elite. Allison Goodhart of The Goodhart Group at McEnearney Associates, Inc. in Alexandria was selected as one of REALTOR Magazine’s “30 under 30” for 2015. Chosen from a pool of close to 400 nominees from around the country, the finalists were judged on community service, work ethic and commitment to their clients.
Outlook Optimistic for Local 2015 Real Estate Market
After what seemed to be an endless winter, spring has finally come calling, signaling the start of the year’s first real estate high season. Homes trade hands all year long, but spring is often for buyers, seller, agents, brokers and lenders like those weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas; buyers at full speed searching out the best bargains and sellers looking to move their wares without having to resort to price-slashing sales tactics.
Editorial: Connection Papers Win Awards
Variety of coverage honored at annual Virginia Press Association conference.
On Saturday, April 18, a group of journalists from the Connection Newspapers traveled to Roanoke for the annual Virginia Press Association event to collect awards for business reporting, government writing, writing about health, science and the environment, feature writing, sports writing, column writing, obituaries, cartoons, entertainment pages and writing, public safety writing, editorial pages and writing, page design, informational graphics and more.
Community Rallies Behind Fire Victims
After a Mount Vernon High School student and family lost their home in a fire on April 14, principal Nardos King sent an email the following Friday morning to school staff and the Mount Vernon “Keep In Touch” contact list asking for donations to help the family start over.
T.C. Williams Crew Excels at Smokey Jacobs Regatta
Titans finish first in six races, capture second place in four others.
The T.C. Williams boys’ and girls’ crew teams reunited in Occoquan on April 18 to take on tough competitors in the Smokey Jacobs Regatta.
Obituary: Sam Hinson
Obituary
Samuel Laing Hinson, Jr., Colonel, USAF (ret), died April 11, 2015. Born Sept. 1, 1919, he was raised in Albany, Ga., the youngest of seven children.
Alexandria: Battle of Robinson Terminal South Ends
Council approval yields compromises amidst unyielding opposition.
In a 5-1 vote, the City Council approved EYA’s redevelopment of Robinson Terminal South. In many ways, the City Council public hearing on April 18 was largely a repeat of the April 9 Planning Commission and a number of committee hearings before that. Many of the same voices from the audience voiced the same concerns or showed the same support.
Letter: Police Oversight Board Needed
Letter to the Editor
As a lifetime resident of Mt. Vernon District, and a Mt. Vernon appointee to the Fairfax County Human Services Council (HSC), I have had the honor and pleasure of meeting and volunteering on behalf of Mt. Vernon and Fairfax County residents.
Alexandria: Plaque Recalls Education Before Desegregation
Alumni of Parker-Gray High School gather.
Alumni and city officials gathered on April 16 for the unveiling of a plaque outside the Alexandria City Public Schools’ Central Office commemorating Parker-Gray High School.