Alexandria Remembers D-Day
Speakers and screening mark 68 years since Normandy invasions.
On June 6, 1944, American and Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy and began operations that would eventually lead to the liberation of France and the rest of Europe. The scars of the invasion can be felt 68 years on.
Gathering on Memorial Day
Veterans pay tribute to fallen soldiers.
A crowd of more than 75 people gathered May 28 to pay tribute to Alexandria's veterans in a Memorial Day ceremony held at Alexandria National Cemetery.
Alexandria Veteran Featured Speaker at Rolling Thunder Rally
An estimated one million riders roared in procession from the Pentagon to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial May 27 in the 25th anniversary Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom in remembrance of American POWs and service members still missing in action.
Enjoying Jazz By the Water
Susan and Desi Cooper are joined by friends Dana, Lena and Donovan Dyson at the 35th Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival at Waterfront Park.
A Night at the Races
The Fund for Alexandria’s Child holds annual fundraiser on the Potomac.
Sport a favorite hat and enjoy a cruise on the Potomac River for A Night at the Races, this year’s premier fundraising event for The Fund for Alexandria’s Child.
Commentary: Helping To Restore Identities in Missing Persons Cases
Each year, Inova Alexandria Hospital’s Radiology Department conducts more than 30,000 computed tomography (CT) scans that help our physicians, nurses and staff diagnose, treat and heal the many patients who seek our expertise. Our dedicated staff of 16 CT employees and technologists scan injuries from trauma, stroke, sports or chronic disease. They have pretty much seen it all; but a call for help from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) changed all that and launched a partnership that NCMEC has encouraged other hospitals to follow.
Commentary: Taylor Run
HILLTOP PARTY Those party-loving people on Hilltop Terrace celebrated Memorial Day with a large gathering. Clam and Amy Lorenz, aided by children Charlie and Jay, and the Shriver family — Elaine Gort and Alex Shriver with Jake and Josh — organized the party.
Letter: Deserves Support
To the Editor: Historically Alexandria has always been a City at Crossroads. However, rather than talk about polar bears, icebergs and trips to exotic places, as independent mayoral candidate Andrew Macdonald likes to do, we'd rather talk about how Alexandria has actually been guided through its crossroads by our current Democratic mayor, Bill Euille, and why Mayor Euille has the experience, vision and commitment to continue leading Alexandria forward.
Letter: Vision for The City
To the Editor: Some have questioned why Andrew Macdonald, the independent candidate running for Mayor of Alexandria, resigned his Vice-Mayor position in 2007. And can we count on him to remain in office if he is elected. The answer is plain and simple. As Mr. Macdonald stated then and continues to say, he voluntarily stepped down because he needed to take care of his elderly mother as well as other family matters. Being his mother’s sole caretaker, Mr. Macdonald felt his family responsibilities would take his attention away from his obligations as a City Councilmember. I believe that stepping down was the responsible thing for Mr. Macdonald to do.
Letter: Visit Local Schools
To the Editor: The fact that a superintendent of a small school district has to advertise school system information as "No Politics, Nothing Personal, No Rhetoric" should be a cause for concern in itself. Here are a few counterpoints to the "ACPS facts":
Letter: Value Those Bicyclists
To the Editor: I am writing to respond to a letter, "Bike Share Now Needs City Money," printed in the May 24 Alexandria Gazette Packet. As chair of the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), I was asked to attend the Waterfront Commission Meeting where the Capital Bikeshare station options were discussed. For me, this letter raises three concerns.
Letter: Bikes Reduce Traffic
To the Editor: In a lengthy letter published in your May 24 issue, Townsend A. Van Fleet presents arguments against the Bike Share program planned for Alexandria. Among his various objections, a central theme is that Bike Share will somehow exacerbate “traffic problems in the Old and Historic District.” This seems a rather curious point of view. Van Fleet makes much of what he terms Alexandria’s “narrow streets already crowded with pedestrians, tour buses, metro buses, dash buses, delivery trucks, trolleys, garbage trucks, skate boarders, joggers, and cyclists.” What is remarkable about this impressively comprehensive list (“garbage trucks” to “pedestrians”) is that it omits the word “automobiles.” It may be helpful to reflect for a moment on the fact that a primary objective of the Bike Share program is to reduce the number of automobiles on our city streets. As I am sure most fellow residents recognize, cars remain the principal source of congestion on the streets of Old Town. While I appreciate Mr. Van Fleet’s frustration at being impeded in his driving by the growing number of pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists on our city streets, programs like Bike Share that aim to reduce downtown traffic can only enhance Alexandria’s reputation as an exceptionally friendly and livable community.
Letter: What’s Best For the City
To the Editor: It is clear that an antidevelopment bloc has developed among the Democratic candidates running for City Council.
Letter: Memorable Experiences
To the Editor: MetroStage specializes in “memorable moments” on stage. This season that ensemble cast in that Bronz bar in "Savage in Limbo." Memorable. Broadway parody, Tiny Tim singing “I’m Going to Walk Tomorrow” (think "Annie"), irreverent, but wickedly funny holiday entertainment in "Broadway Christmas Carol." Memorable. Josephine Baker and her banana dance, Maurice Hines’ choreography, fabulous songs from gospel to blues in the world premiere of "Josephine Tonight." Memorable. "Escape from Cuba," treacherous waters and a moonless night, mojitos in the lobby afterwards, shared stories by others about their own escape to freedom following "Be Careful! The Sharks Will Eat You!" Memorable and very emotional.
Letter: We Don’t Own The Problem’
To the Editor: The title says it all; that’s the response nearly 30 Alexandria residents living on a street adjacent to the playing fields at Patrick Henry Elementary School received when they contacted ACPS School Security to complain about the illegal use of said playing fields.
Letter: Affordable Housing
To the Editor: The vanishing amount of affordable housing in Alexandria has been a frequent topic of discussion in the City in recent weeks. It is a complex topic that has people confusing “market-rate” affordable housing with “dedicated” affordable housing, which differ significantly.
Letter: Planned Or Inadvertent?
To the Editor: My opposition to the Beauregard rezoning’s height, density, and Arlington-style out-of-character land use is almost beside the point. Instead, consider what city hall would like folks to believe versus what went into this rezoning catastrophe:
Letter: Determining Transit Priority
To the Editor: Although a goal of the Beauregard Small Area Plan Draft is to create a modern transit-oriented community, most of the attention has been focused on a traffic ellipse that is not part of the proposed Bus Rapid Transit corridor. The Draft Plan barely mentions the Mark Center Station, the prospect of VDOT approving the I-395 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) ramp or proposals for a transit station at Southern Towers. These changes are significant and should be addressed in the Draft Plan.
Letter: Deserves Being Elected
To the Editor: Why I endorse Donna Fossum for City Council and why she should be elected:
Letter: A Matter Of Respect
To the Editor: Memorial Day is often taken for granted; too many don’t give a thought about what it means. The freedom so many hold so dearly and yet so close to heart came from the many who gave their lives for our country.