Mayhem and Marathons
LTA performance raises $7,500 for local charities.
The madness and mayhem, not to mention the meat pies, were the theme of the night as Brooke Curran and ACT's Running Brooke Fund raised more than $7,500 for local charities including ACTion Alexandria, Community Lodgings, The Reading Connection, Child and Family Network Centers and Girls on the Run at a special benefit performance of “Sweeney Todd” Aug. 7 at The Little Theatre of Alexandria. “This is an incredible cause,” said Elizabeth Luchessi, a Running Brooke Fund supporter and sponsor of the LTA performance. “It's really great seeing the traction that Brooke is getting and all the impact she is having on the community.” In attendance were representatives from Curran's beneficiary organizations, including Community Lodgings executive director Bonnie Baxley. “We are so grateful to Brooke for all she has done to support us,” Baxley said.
Mayhem and Marathons
LTA performance raises $7,500 for local charities.
The madness and mayhem, not to mention the meat pies, were the theme of the night as Brooke Curran and ACT's Running Brooke Fund raised more than $7,500 for local charities including ACTion Alexandria, Community Lodgings, The Reading Connection, Child and Family Network Centers and Girls on the Run at a special benefit performance of “Sweeney Todd” Aug. 7 at The Little Theatre of Alexandria. “This is an incredible cause,” said Elizabeth Luchessi, a Running Brooke Fund supporter and sponsor of the LTA performance. “It's really great seeing the traction that Brooke is getting and all the impact she is having on the community.” In attendance were representatives from Curran's beneficiary organizations, including Community Lodgings executive director Bonnie Baxley. “We are so grateful to Brooke for all she has done to support us,” Baxley said.
Video Receives Public Relations Award
A video of Virginia’s legal leaders discussing the issue of attorneys and substance abuse received a Capital Merit Award during the 65th Virginia Public Relations Awards ceremony held in May at The Jefferson Hotel.
Journey of Hope
T.C. grad cycles 4,000 miles for disability awareness.
As the strains of Bruce Springsteen's “Born in the USA” blared out over crowd, more than 50 friends, family members and fellow T.C. Williams graduates gathered on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Aug. 5 to watch Alexandria's Louis Barnett cross the finish line in the 25th Annual Journey of Hope bike ride across America.
Tiny Dancers Receives Top Honors
Tiny Dancers, located on S. Washington Street in Old Town, has been voted “Best Ballet or Dance Studio”' in the July 2012 issue of Washington Family Magazine. This is the third year in a row that the company has received this award.
Poetry AX 8/15/2012
3 poems about The Athenaeum's current art show
Dog Days of August
Celebrate the Dog Days of August in poems and pictures. Alexandria's poet laureate, Amy Young, invites the residents of Alexandria to visit their local dog parks from Aug. 18-26 to view poems written and submitted by Alexandria residents in honor of the dogs in their lives. The 2nd Annual Dog Days of August is sponsored by the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.
FOIA, How To Avoid Real News
For some time a one-way brouhaha has been bubbling between the Fourth Estate and local governments. The on-going battle at the moment is like a one-way love affair and no fun. This is not something new in the news business. Nor is it solely a problem that only involves the Alexandria city government and public schools. Throw in the counties of Fairfax, Arlington, Prince William and Loudoun and the problem exists even more. In fact, Harry Potter’s magical coat is evident everywhere. Governments love hiding facts and the public is "shielded" by city hall obfuscation.
Business /notes
Inova Alexandria Hospital (IAH) has launched two critical trials- Ultrasound-Accelerated Thrombolysis for Pulmonary embolism (PE) and Prostatic Artery Embolization for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate. IAH was the first in the U.S. to enroll a patient in the SEATTLE II trial, offered at only 25 hospitals. The trial uses the EKOS EkoSonic Endovascular Device which employs high-frequency, low power ultrasound to deliver clot-busting medication, tPA to the arteries at the time of an embolism.
Bulletin Board
Thursday/Aug. 16 CARD Virginia School will host open house 6:30-8:30 p.m. for families of children ages 3-12 with autism spectrum disorders. CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disorders) offers a program with a one-to-one student-teacher ratio and 215 days of instruction per year. At 5400 Shawnee Rd. Suite 208. Visit http://virginia.centerforautism.com or call 855-345-2273.
Wright To Read Reorganizes
The longtime literacy program Wright to Read, serving Alexandria children, will become a separate, independent non-profit 501 c3. Frank and Betty Wright started the Wright to Read program in 1979 as a part of their family foundation. Since that time, Wright to Read has provided tutoring and mentoring services for elementary school children who fall behind in reading skills. As part of The Frank and Betty Wright Foundation, Wright to Read was administered from 1979-2010 by The Campagna Center, a community non-profit serving Alexandria children and families.
Westminster Awards $20,155 in Grants
Westminster Presbyterian Church, a North Ridge landmark church founded in 1940 with a commitment to local mission work, announced the awarding of $20,155 in new grants to five Alexandria charitable organizations: Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services (ANHSI), the Alexandria Seaport Foundation, United Community Ministries (UCM), Computer CORE, and Space of Her Own (SOHO).
Donate School Supplies at Four Sites
Alexandria City Public Schools is collecting school supplies for children in grades K-12. Visit http://www.acps.k12.va.us/back-to-school/ to see the complete lists of needed supplies. The drop-off locations and times are:
Renovation Work At Park Playground
The Mount Jefferson Park Playground, 301 Hume Avenue, is under construction and renovation now through Oct. 12. The renovation will include installation of new play equipment and site furniture, new rubberized safety surfacing, and new drainage systems. The playground and adjacent multipurpose court is closed to the public during construction. For a list of City of Alexandria Playgrounds and Tot Lots, visit http://alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/recreation/info/PlaygroundsandTotLots.pdf.
Alexandria Mentoring Partnership Seeks Volunteers
The Alexandria Mentoring Partnership is looking for volunteers. Interested residents should attend a mentoring information session on Tuesday, Aug. 21, at the Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street, Alexandria, from 6:30 –8 p.m. A light meal will be served.
Hurley Graduates from West Point
Matthew Brett “Matt” Hurley of Mount Vernon graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on May 26. He received his bachelor of science degree and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army within his chosen branch: Infantry. He has already reported to Fort Benning, Ga. for a succession of training courses.
Become an Election Officer
Residents are invited to become a part of history by serving as an election officer for the City of Alexandria during the Nov. 6, Presidential Election. The Alexandria Electoral Board is looking for civic-minded individuals with basic computer user skills who are interested in the election process and are available to help on Nov. 6.
Ireton Looking To Match, Eclipse Last Year’s Success
Cardinals’ 2011 season ended in heartbreaking fashion.
The Bishop Ireton football team looks to maintain its winning ways.
Hurley Graduates from West Point
Matthew Brett “Matt” Hurley of Mount Vernon graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on May 26. He received his bachelor of science degree and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army within his chosen branch: Infantry. He has already reported to Fort Benning, Ga. for a succession of training courses.
Column: A Pill a Day…
Hopefully will keep the cancer at bay. (I’d say “away,” but let’s be realistic, three and a half years past a NSCLC diagnosis, there is no way, generally speaking, that stage IV lung cancer disappears into the ether; it’s classified as stage IV for a reason.