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Letter: Avoid Stone Dust Surface

Letter to the Editor

Since 2009, a group of Mount Vernon residents has worked together expending thousands of hours of volunteer time and many thousands of dollars in an effort to create an off-leash dog area (OLDA) at Westgrove Park. The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) allowed the OLDA to initially be established on an interim basis upon approval by the Planning Commission and payment of $3,000 as a contribution toward installation of a peripheral fence.

Mt. Vernon: Children’s Issues Dominate Hispanic Town Hall

On Saturday, Aug. 16, I held my third town hall meeting of the year and my first ever Hispanic Community Town Hall. I was also joined by the first Democratic elected Latino State Delegate — Alfonso Lopez — who represents South Arlington and Bailey's Crossroads.

Alexandria: Titans 6th Grade Boys Team Takes National Title

Team brings home National Travel Basketball Association 2014 Championship title.

During the week of July 20 through July 28, the Alexandria Titans 6th and 9th grade teams traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C. to participate in the National Travel Basketball Association Nationals Championship Tournament.


Alexandria: On the Road Again

Longtime director heads back to sunny Florida.

When Rich Baier came to Alexandria in 2000, the city had few bike lanes and no BikeShare. Monroe Avenue Bridge was a twisted jag that created gridlock on Jefferson Davis Highway. The idea of dedicated lanes for transit would have seemed alien. Now the longtime director of the Alexandria Department of Transportation and Environmental Services is stepping down to take a position as director of public works for Sumpter County, Fla.

Alexandria: Letters

Test of Time In Design

Is Mayor Euille serious when he stated he was "not opposed to glass and steel" when discussing new buildings to replace the Robinson Terminal ? ("Identity Crisis," front page, July 31)

Alexandria: Generation-to-Generation Volunteering

Senior Services of Alexandria's volunteers — both young and old — have been delivering Meals on Wheels seven days a week throughout the summer months.


Battle of Bladensburg – August 1814

This is the seventh of a series of articles telling how Alexandrians were affected 200 years ago by the War of 1812. For earlier articles in this series, go to alexandriagazette.com.

On Aug. 18, 1814, authorities in Washington learned that British warships were sailing up the Patuxent River in considerable force. Was Washington their target? Taking no chances, the authorities immediately ordered the District of Columbia militiamen, including the Alexandria Brigade under General Robert Young, to report for duty.

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Alexandria: Inspiring Minds

Inventor of digital camera visits Camp Invention.

Steve Sasson was just 25 years old and beginning to work his way up at the Eastman Kodak Company when he got an assignment from his supervisor: build an electronic camera using a charge coupled device. The result — U.S. patent number 4,131,919 — earned Sasson induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for what is known today as the digital camera.

Editorial: Accountability for Police in Northern Virginia

There is more transparency in the police shooting in Ferguson last week than in police shootings in Northern Virginia.

This is not Ferguson, and tanks do not roll down the streets of Northern Virginia driven by police officers pointing sniper rifles at residents.


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Removing Barriers to College

Local services help students complete college paperwork, remove barriers.

LaQuita King relocated across the state from Chesapeake, Va., to Alexandria in the summer of 2013, moving into an apartment with her aunt and three cousins. King had just graduated from high school and was looking forward to taking classes at Northern Virginia Community College. So far, that hasn’t happened.

All Write For Now

And so it goes, every three months or so; a CT Scan, a week or so of waiting, and then a face-to-face appointment with my oncologist to learn/discuss the results. Thankfully, the results continue to be amazing. My doctor has told me that I’m his third miracle; stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer patients generally don’t live beyond two years. I’m in year six.

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Potential Rivals Circling Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille in Advance of Democratic Primary

Kerry Donely and Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg consider primary challenges.

Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille's poor performance in the congressional primary to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8) is calling into question his ability to lead the city, opening the door to talk about former Mayor Kerry Donley challenging Euille in next year's Democratic primary. That possibility has encouraged talk about Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg possibly entering the race as a candidate who would oppose the kind of large-scale development that Euille and Donley both support.


Take Precautions against Rabies

Animal Shelter offers advice to reduce the risk.

Rabies is a deadly virus that infects animals and may be a risk to humans, as well. The most commonly reported rabid animals in Fairfax County include foxes, raccoons, skunks, and bats. But even pets aren’t automatically immune to this disease and must be vaccinated against it.

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Heads Up Football Flourishing in Fairfax County

Program reduces concussion risk by teaching players to take the “head” out of tackling.

It wasn’t that long ago when youth football coaches believed a player’s toughness was measured by his ability to play through the pain. Concussions and other serious injuries were just “part of the game.”

Organized for School Year

Local organizers offer suggestions on dealing with the summer mess.

When summer comes to a grinding halt in a few weeks, a new school year will begin. From alarm clocks and school bells to piles of homework assignments and sports schedules, maintaining a coordinated household can be difficult, however. Local organizers are offering simple suggestions to help make the transition from summer to the start of the school year seamless.


Homelessness: Source of Trauma for Children

Nearly 700 children live in emergency homeless shelters in Fairfax County at some point during the year.

Summer vacation is wrapping up; kids everywhere are gearing up for the return to school. Stores are filled with school supplies; back-to-school advertising fills our TVs, radio and mailboxes. Many families are hustling from store to store getting supplies, backpacks, clothes and haircuts. As children, while we hated to see summer end, we fondly remember the yearly ritual and the excitement and anticipation of getting all those new things.

Alexandria: Poetry

Selfless Dedication

Like red blood cells, women’s equality flows through Alice Paul’s veins, her pulse beat a women’s right to vote, her fervor, women’s equality

Need Help with Repairs?

Trust and pride are two reasons that people — especially seniors — don’t always reach out to us to help them with home repairs. But it’s for those very reasons that people should. Rebuilding Together Alexandria is a nonprofit that focuses on neighbors helping neighbors.


Helping Children To Get Ready for School

At Inova Alexandria Hospital, our staff is collecting school supplies to help area children arrive at school in September prepared to hit the books. We’ve teamed up with Alexandria City Public Schools’ (ACPS) Family and Community Engagement Center and the non-profit Community Partners for Children for the 23rd annual ACPS School Supply Drive.

Helping Seniors and Their Pets

Two of Alexandria’s service organizations, Senior Services of Alexandria and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA), have developed a unique partnership to help the area’s senior citizens.