Letter: Hurrah for Alicia Hughes
To the Editor: Reading through the list of potential additions to Alexandria’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2013, we were struck by the incongruity of the modest requests for funds to support Sunday delivery for the Meals on Wheels program ($60,000) or to restore the library hours cut during the Great Recession ($50,000) as opposed to the outrageous requests to keep the King Street holiday lights on all year ($96,000) or to provide additional opportunities for awards to City employees ($500,000) or for “traffic-calming” measures (also $500,000), for example. We fail to understand what most members of the City Council are thinking. As taxpayers, we expect our elected officials to provide the necessary services for citizens, not to spend money on frivolous matters like extending holiday lights or providing unnecessary additional avenues to reward City staff or to add speed bumps instead of conducting badly needed traffic studies for areas the Council seems intent on cramming with overdense development.
Letter: It’s Time for Real Change
To the Editor: I’m generally a Democrat, but in Alexandria the Democrats that run the City now might as well be just developers. Mayor Bill Euille is an 18-year member of the Council and a developer who invests in local restaurants. Vice Mayor Kerry Donley works for a bank that invests in local developments. The June 12 primary offers residents their first chance to elect Democrats who are truly progressive, who actually think that good government means listening to all your constituents.
Snapshot for May 9
Spanish exchange student Pablo Rodriguez (bottom left) poses with his T-shirt creation of The Wolf and fellow exchange students: Christian Plugari, Zlatomir Nedeltchev, Beatriz Vasquez, Nicolas Cortes Kellems, Vijil O’Neal, Trish Brown and Laura Messerschmidt. Pablo is an exchange student in the Rotary Club program. The other students also attending T.C. Williams are part of the American Field Service Program and the Future Leaders Exchange Program.
Letter: Campaign Signs Borrowed
To the Editor: One of our Old Town neighbors had such a burning desire to exhibit their support for Councilmembers Del Pepper and Paul Smedberg, as well as nomination aspirant Justin Wilson, last Saturday evening, that they pilfered our yard signs so they could exhibit them. That is the conclusion we came to since nobody in Alexandria would interfere with our First Amendment rights. While elated that a neighbor wished to signal their support for these outstanding candidates, we are forced to tell one and all that if they call the candidates (they are all listed in the local phone directory) they will deliver them their own signs and hence leave ours alone.
Letter: Commentary On the Budget
To the Editor: I write today about the budget city council recently passed largely for two reasons. First, the public deserves to know my views. Second, we have received numerous e-mails, some from ACPS PTSA parents and school board members urging council not to cut the ACPS budget. And third, to address concerns/beliefs that action by council to cut the ACPS budget was intended as a punitive measure to punish the school board for not firing the superintendent.
Letter: City’s Futile Legal Battle
To the Editor: You have to wonder what the City Council majority was thinking April 14 when it decided to appeal the Board of Zoning Appeal’s decision to uphold the citizens’ protest against the proposal to rezone the waterfront area to permit hotels, increased density and higher buildings. In justifying this action, Mayor Bill Euille stated that the BZA’s decision to support the citizens not the city would “set a bad precedent.” The Mayor is flat wrong. The BZA April 12 ruling sets no precedent.
Letter: First-Rate Responders in Second-Rate System
To the Editor: When someone in Alexandria has an emergency and calls 911, they expect help to arrive quickly. In parts of Alexandria, help may not arrive for 15 or 20 minutes, however, when it may be too late to really matter.
House Fire in Alexandria
Firefighters from the City of Alexandria Fire Department, assisted by Fairfax County Fire Department, responded to a report of a kitchen fire in a home located in the 200 block of South Payne Street on Monday, April 30.
Sharing Memories of George Washington High School
Graduates of George Washington High School in Alexandria gathered Saturday, May 5, in the school cafeteria for a Lunch Social. George Washington High School Alumni Association president Dave Beach welcomed all and mentioned that all of the past yearbooks have all been digitalized and disks are available for sale.
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive set for May 12.
The 20th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive will take place Saturday, May 12, when postal workers in Alexandria will pick up donations of food items during the regular mail delivery schedule.
Spring2Action and They Did
5th annual initiative increases volunteerism, online giving to local nonprofits.
For four days, thousands of Alexandrians came together for the 5th Annual Spring for Alexandria, a citywide weekend of events that focuses on giving and service throughout the community.
Battle of the Bulge
Cook-Off weekend raises $130,000.
A sold out crowd of more than 500 descended on Alexandria's Birchmere Music Hall April 29 for the 10th anniversary of the 2012 Carpenter's Cook-Off, a friendly culinary competition to raise money for the programs of Carpenter's Shelter.
'Fair Winds and Following Seas'
ODBC holds 132nd flag raising.
The Old Dominion Boat Club welcomed members, guests and dignitaries to the foot of King Street May 6 for the 132nd annual flag raising ceremony, a yearly tradition of hoisting new flags to kick off the official start of a safe boating season.
Banana Tree 'Pops Up' in Del Ray
Former Old Town retailer joins online trend.
For 25 years, Monique Bergin ran the Banana Tree retail shop on King Street in Old Town. But last year, she closed the shop and converted to an online-only business.
2012 Athletes of the Year
Tim Hightower to keynote Sportsman's Club awards dinner May 15.
Washington Redskins running back Tim Hightower will be on hand as 25 of the city's best high school athletes are honored for their academic and athletic excellence at the 56th annual Alexandria Sportsman's Club Awards dinner May 15 at the Westin Carlyle Hotel.
Energy Loans Offered
The City of Alexandria has launched of the Northern Virginia Home Performance with Energy Star program, to help resiodents overcome barriers to improving energy efficiency in their homes. The nonprofit group Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) and CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union (COFCU) have partnered with Alexandria to offer the program to residents.
Alexandria Named ‘Playful City USA’
The City of Alexandria was named one of 213 Playful City USA Communities by KaBOOM! for its efforts to increase play opportunities for children. Playful City USA, sponsored by the Humana Foundation, is a national program advocating for local policies that improve children’s play opportunities.
Letter: Squandered Inheritance?
To the Editor: Alexandria’s Planning Commission last week unanimously adopted the Beauregard Small Area Plan (BSAP), now scheduled for a vote at Saturday’s City Council meeting.
Alexandria Real Estate: Top Sales in March 2012
In March 2012, 163 Alexandria homes sold between $1,144,500-$87,000.
Alexandria Real Estate: Top Sales in March 2012
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