Help Shelter on Free Cone Day
On Tuesday April 9, Ben & Jerry’s across the nation will host its annual Free Cone Day.
Join Spring2ACTion on April 17
On April 17, 95 of Alexandria’s nonprofit organizations are enlisting the community to raise money for local causes during Spring2ACTion, a 24-hour online giving drive. Also known as Alexandria’s Giving Day, Spring2ACTion, is hosted by ACT for Alexandria and ACTion Alexandria.
Local Researchers Address ‘Concussion Culture’
Education and proper health care are keys.
With the impending warmer weather comes an increased number of children participating in outdoor activities. Some local health care professionals and researchers are issuing words of caution.
Fairfax County’s Homeless Population Declines 12 Percent
Emphasis on rapid re-housing, prevention keys to success.
Despite economic obstacles and fallout from across-the-board sequester cuts, Fairfax County’s number of homeless individuals declined 12 percent decline in the past year, and 26 percent since 2007.
Classified Advertising March 27, 2013
Read the latest ads here!
Letter: Let There Be Light
To the Editor: For those who are unaware, the tree lights along King Street are scheduled to be turned off March 31 just as Alexandria's tourist season begins. I am an advocate to keep those lights on as long as is reasonable because lighting up our city to market it as illuminated, friendly and safe is the message they send for me and many businesses as well as citizens.
Editorial: More Obstacles to Transparency
General Assembly puts more information out of public reach, but other factors also limit access.
The first paragraph of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, passed by the General Assembly in 1968, states that all public records "shall be presumed open." It doesn’t add, “except when we don’t want to,” although that provision does seem to be available in many cases. Individual government entities have a variety of ways of making it hard for the public to access public information.
Column: 14.8 Percent
That is the percentage of diagnosed lung cancer patients who survive beyond five years, according to The National Cancer Institute’s SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2009, in a graph published in the Feb. 26, 2013 Washington Post’s weekly Health & Science section. As a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survivor beginning his fifth year post-diagnosis, charting my prospects in such a cold and impersonal manner is both chilling and arguable. “Chilling” in that facts speak for themselves and are hardly made up of whole cloth, to invoke one of the late Jack Kent Cooke’s more famous quotes. And “arguable” in that charts, statistics, etc., may very well measure the mean, but it sure doesn’t measure the man (this man, anyway). Meaning, from my perspective: sure, the chart is scary as hell, but I’m not sure I’m on it, if you know what I mean? (I know you know what I hope.)
Better Training, More Technology
The bipartisan commission released findings, recommendations regarding long lines on Election Day.
"The commission has identified a variety of improvements and efficiencies to ensure access and convenience for voters in future elections.” —Sharon Bulova
Parents Rally to Save FACE as Alexandria School Board Considers Budget Cuts
Board members must close a $3 million gap before sending budget to City Hall.
Dozens of parents appeared before members of the Alexandria School Board last week with a simple plea — save FACE.
Governor Approves Conditional Budget for Medicaid Expansion
Vote-swapping operation traded transportation votes for Medicaid money.
Half a million uninsured Virginians may be eligible for Medicaid under an agreement now being worked out in Richmond — a deal in which Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell agreed to include Medicaid expansion as part of the budget if Senate Democrats supported a transportation package.
Ireton Girls’ Lax Beats PVI with Season-High 21 Goals
Cardinals bounce back from lopsided losses to Visitation, SSSAS.
The Bishop Ireton girls' lacrosse team improved to 3-2 with a victory over Paul VI on Tuesday.
Fairs and Festivals 2013-2014
Information on fairs and festivals taking place in 2013-2014.
Alexandria and Mount Vernon Calendar March 27
Information on events going on in the Alexandria and Mount Vernon areas.
Las Vegas Comes to Alexandria
Big name magicians convene to share tricks, entertain families at Magi-Whirl 2013 on April 6.
An annual magic convention will bring big stars of the entertainment world to a high school auditorium early next month, and everyone's invited.
1930s: Boom Time for Archaeology in America
“Shovel Ready” details program under Roosevelt’s New Deal.
Former Alexandria resident and archeologist, Bernard K. Means’ new book, “Shovel Ready”, looks at the impact that ordinary citizens had on archeology during the Great Depression.
Celebrating Spring Equinox
Douglas MacArthur Elementary School celebrated the Spring Equinox on March 20 with the school’s compass rose dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony, unveiling the new addition of a painted compass rose in the school's Learning Garden.
Letter to the Editor: More Than Just Money
Governor McDonnell is considering legislation that would seize control of the unaccredited Jefferson Houston Elementary School from the Alexandria City Public School Board and Superintendent Sherman can only say, “We believe we are going to make accreditation. We’ll have a conversation in June or July, and I hope I’m not here saying ‘Oops.’”
Letter to the Editor: Reasonable Requirements
Democracy is the foundation of the American way of life, and the driving force behind democracy is the power to vote.
Letter to the Editor: Protect Del Ray, Not West End?
The recent concerns of many Del Ray residents about the possibility that Walgreens may move into their neighborhood at the corner of Mt. Vernon Avenue and E. Monroe Avenue and displacing several businesses who have been in the Del Ray neighborhood for many years raises a very important question/concern for this resident.