Letter: Two Strikes And Counting
To the Editor: The city manager’s initiative “What’s Next Alexandria”, ostensibly a program to develop a set of principles for civic engagement, has just imploded. The city manager established a Food Truck Advisory Group to ascertain if and where food trucks ought to be able to operate in the City of Alexandria. Presently food trucks can only operate at construction sites, special events, and at the farmers markets if Special Use Permits (SUPs) allow them to do so. The group met over a six-month period, yet because of the heavy snows we had last winter the group was unable to complete its work. However the over-rambunctious city staff could not wait until all of the issues were settled, and a final report rendered, before taking the program to the Planning Commission on May 6 and the council will address the issue on May 13 followed by a public hearing sometime in June or September. During their May 6 presentation, the Planning Commission was aghast at being told that they were only being asked to listen to the staff presentation and then comment but not to vote on whether they agreed or not. At least four of the seven commission members could not believe the subterfuge employed by the city staff in ram-rodding this program through.
Letter: Concerned with Animal Rights
To the Editor: When I heard about Jim Moran retiring I was hoping that his replacement would work as hard as he has for animal rights. But after reading Michael Lee Pope’s article last week and speaking directly to some of the candidates, I am relieved to know that three candidates, and especially Don Beyer, but also Adam Ebbin and Mark Levine will continue supporting a cause that I think is very important.
Letter: Best Suited For Congress?
To the Editor: To hear Mayor Bill Euille tell it, Alexandria will be just fine if we have more development. His vision for Alexandria is to sell historic City Hall to a developer to put up more condos for the very wealthy. That way, we can erect the Taj Mahal of city halls in Eisenhower Valley to showcase our rise from historic seaport to generic urban center.
Letter: Be Selective on Food Truck Sites
To the Editor: The City of Alexandria is about to entertain the idea of food trucks. We can look at the issue from two perspectives.
Del Ray Art Market Opens for Season
For the fifth year, artists filled the Nicholas A. Colasanto Park offering their work for sale at the annual Del Ray Art Market. More than 25 artists have signed up for the monthly market. The market is held on the second Saturday of the month from May through October.
Know Stroke’s Warning Signs
Do you think you would recognize if you or a loved one were having a stroke? Early recognition and prompt treatment are critical to minimizing serious or permanent disability from stroke; yet, a study in the journal “Stroke” published in March found that one in five U.S. women couldn’t name even one symptom of stroke. In previous studies, men have fared no better.
Classified Advertising May 14, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Serving Up Controversy Over Food Trucks in Alexandria
Council members indicate they're likely to approve a pilot program at farmers markets.
City Council members are bracing themselves for a massive food fight this Saturday, when elected officials will take up a divisive proposal to allow food trucks in Alexandria.
Bishop Ireton Girls’ Lax Wins First WCAC Championship
Cardinals beat Norfolk Academy in VISAA state quarterfinals.
The Bishop Ireton girls' lacrosse team advanced to the VISAA state semifinals.
Be Selective on Food Truck Sites
To the Editor: The City of Alexandria is about to entertain the idea of food trucks. We can look at the issue from two perspectives. First, setting up a food truck is far cheaper to set up than a regular restaurant. By some accounts, it is around 15 percent of the cost of setting up a regular restaurant, and as such, a way for people who really have a desire but not means to enter the market.
2014 Nonprofit Leaders Honored
The 16th annual Alexandria Business Philanthropy Summit was held May 7 as Volunteer Alexandria honored five individuals for their service to the community. Held at the First Baptist Church of Alexandria, more than 250 people turned out for the event that featured former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina as the keynote speaker.
Alexandria to Host GI Film Festival
Sinise, Arquette set to honor troops.
Gary Sinise, David Arquette and Adam Driver are just three of the celebrities who will be in attendance as the GI Film Festival heads to Alexandria May 19-25.
The Fighter
Longtime congressman celebrated by Alexandria Democrats.
During his first run for Congress, then-Mayor Jim Moran assembled a campaign team that was hungry to oust incumbent Republican Stan Parris. Mame Reiley ran the operation, which included a young communications consultant named Joe Trippi. As the race headed toward Election Day, Reiley and Trippi became concerned that Moran's campaign signs kept disappearing from Eisenhower Avenue. So they set up a sting operation with a video camera to catch the culprit, who turned out to be Jim Moran.
House Historian
Family and friends remember Ruth Lincoln Kaye.
Alexandria's premiere house historian, a woman who pioneered the industry and fiercely protected her research, died April 30. She was 95. "She had a curious and inquisitive mind," recalled her son, Arthur Lincoln Kaye. Kaye was known throughout the city as a sort of walking history book, a woman who possessed an extensive institutional memory and a razor-sharp wit.
May 14: Council Notebook
Council Notebook briefs.
Editorial: Virginia Proves Elections Matter
Health and economic issues are entwined.
Some people continue to assert, either with their words or by simply abstaining, that voting just doesn’t matter. Here in Virginia, nearly every day we prove that is incorrect. All of Virginia’s elected representatives who are elected by the entire state are of the same political party. They are all Democrats: Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, Attorney General Mark Herring and Virginia’s two U.S. Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
Riding for the Fallen
More than 100 officers cycle through Virginia, for cause.
Police officers from all over the country vowed to "ride for those who died" this week. Police Unity Tour Chapter IV - also known as the Virginia chapter - challenged officers on a three day bicycle tour from Richmond to D.C. in memory for fallen officers. Before the last stop at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, the group of 122 officers and loved ones of fallen police stopped for lunch at McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center Monday in Fairfax as a tribute to the county most the officers served.
Northern Virginia Family Service Holds 16th Annual Gala
Local donors and supporters recognized at event.
The evening of Friday May 9 at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, the nonprofit Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) held their 16th Annual Road to Independence Gala. The festive event gave community and business leaders an opportunity to celebrate the impact of NVFS on families and children in need. It also recognized donors and supporters dedicated to giving back to the community in which they live making NVFS services possible.
Seventeen of Fantastic 50 Companies in Virginia Hail from Fairfax County
Seventeen Fairfax County companies are part of the 2014 Virginia Chamber of Commerce Fantastic 50 rankings of the 50 fastest-growing businesses in Virginia. Chantilly-based First Line Technology, which sells products to first responders and the military, received a Virginia Vanguard Award for having the highest growth rate among companies in the manufacturing category.
County Hosts Nearly 100 Outdoor Festivals
With a population of more than one million residents, it has long been known that Fairfax County is the most populous jurisdiction in the National Capital Region. However, what may surprise both residents and visitors is that the County is also home to nearly 100 annual outdoor festivals, most of which have very strong arts and cultural components.