Editorial: Back to School - Good Steps, Good Intentions
The first day of school in Fairfax County is Tuesday, Sept. 2, but Monday, Sept. 8 is the beginning of something important. For the first time in decades, elementary school students will have a full day of school on Mondays instead of being sent home hours early. This action makes so much sense in for families with children in elementary school. The ability of Superintendent Karen Garza to facilitate this change to go into effect right away is remarkable, and we hope a promise for more changes ahead.
Newcomers Guide: Area Nonprofits
A list of nonprofits in the community.
A list of nonprofits in the community.
T.C. Williams Football Looking to Build on 2013 Playoff Berth
Coach Randolph: Titans lacking senior leadership.
The T.C. Williams football team will open the season against Dunbar on Sept. 6.
Letter: Test of Time In Design
Letter to the Editor
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)
Letter: Is New Building Enough?
Letter to the Editor
As the new Jefferson-Houston school building gets rave reviews and is about to open its doors to students this fall, I watch with anticipation to see over the next year (or years) whether a new building is enough to attract families, diversify the student body, and change the tide of the past 10 to 11 years of failing to meet testing benchmarks. The School Board would counter that it is not just the new building.
Letter: Animal Waste Fouls Water
Letter to the Editor
Recently the drinking water of 400,000 Toledo residents was fouled by animal waste. With unfettered growth of animal agriculture and ineffective discharge regulations, it will happen again in our own state.
Letter: A Matter Of Trust
Letter to the Editor
This month’s troubling events in Ferguson, Mo., give our entire nation pause. As the mayor of a broad and diverse city, I am proud of Alexandria’s accomplishments as a community and our tradition of passionate but peaceful approaches to difficult issues.
Letter: Ways To Improve Pedestrian Safety
Letter to the Editor
While reading of Mr. Farooq's tale in the Gazette's "Safety at a Crossroads" article, I could not help but nod my head in assent every few lines.
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.
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.
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.
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.