Talk of the Town: If It’s Not One Thing, It’s Your Mother
Happy Mother’s Day!
While the Wanderer’s attitude towards most events and holidays is somewhat nonchalant at best, leaning a bit toward cynical at worst, this is not his approach to the day devoted to his dear Mum.
Council Notebook
It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s Councilman Frank Fannon. No, he’s not Superman. But Mayor Bill Euille is praising Fannon for quick thinking and fast action in coming to the assistance of a citizen in need.
Northern Virginia Bill Signing Puts Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence in Spotlight
A rare moment of bipartisanship between Republican governor and Democratic legislators.
Strangulation will be punished more aggressively to combat violence against women. Campus police will work with other police agencies to crack down on domestic violence of unmarried couples. And the telephone number for a human trafficking hotline will be placed in the restrooms at strip clubs across Virginia.
Council Members Dip Into Rainy-Day Fund to Avoid Raising Tax Rate
Unanimous budget will raise average residential property tax bill by $52.
Taxpayers can expect to pay more money now that members of the Alexandria City Council have adopted a tax rate for the coming year that will increase the average residential property tax bill by $52.
Business Matters
City leaders may be taking on more debt than Alexandria can handle. That’s the conclusion of the Budget and Fiscal Advisory Commission, which presented its annual report Tuesday night.
Potential Compromise Emerges in Corridor Dispute Between Arlington and Alexandria
Is a treaty of Four Mile Run in the works to iron out differences between neighboring jurisdictions?
Back in October 2010, Northern Virginia Streetcar Coalition chairman Tim Lovain feared what he called a “disaster” on the horizon — transit corridor commuters may be facing a day when they would have to get off an Arlington streetcar and board an Alexandria bus.
Incumbents and Candidates Face Difficult Test as City Council Campaign Heats Up
Rival groups of Democrats endorse slates of candidates for June 12 primary.
The fiercely competitive Democratic primary for the Alexandria City Council is about to get even more intense this weekend, as current council members take up the most controversial development proposal since the waterfront plan.
SSSAS Girls’ Lax Coach Jenkins Earns Win No. 600
Saints coach co-founded program at St. Agnes School in 1976.
Kathy Jenkins, who co-founded the girls' lacrosse program at St. Agnes School in 1976, earned her 600th career victory on May 3.
TC Crew Freshman Girls Capture Silver Medal
When they began the season, the T.C. Williams girls’ freshman 8 was like any other freshman boat in the sport of rowing — unproven, untested, and unsure of how they would do. By the end of this past weekend, the TC girls’ freshman 8 was something else — one of the two best boats in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
History Awards
Six individuals were honored April 25 who have made noteworthy contributions to the preservation of the historic, cultural and artistic heritage of Alexandria.
Treaty of Four Mile Run?
A potential compromise to ongoing dispute between Arlington and Alexandria.
Back in October 2010, Northern Virginia Streetcar Coalition chairman Tim Lovain feared what he called a "disaster" on the horizon — transit corridor commuters may be facing a day when they would have to get off an Arlington streetcar and board an Alexandria bus.
The Best Seats Outside the House
Local designers offer tips for creating a spectacular patio or deck.
Warm weather means more time spent lounging by the pool or grilling on the patio. A winter-worn outdoor space can make popular warm weather pastimes less than appealing. Creating a space that provides both comfort and style can be a daunting undertaking. Local designers are offering suggestions for creating a luxurious retreat fit for relaxing or outdoor entertaining.
Housing Discrimination Alert
Officials step up education, outreach efforts to reach immigrant communities about "fair housing" rights.
Housing discrimination cases have been on the rise in Fairfax County in the past few years. And the Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs (OHREP), the agency that enforces fair housing laws in the county, is shining a spotlight on the problem through seminars for housing providers, realtors, community groups and other interested parties. "Sadly, housing discrimination is alive and well and we’ve seen an uptick in complaints during the past six years," said Kenneth Saunders, executive director of OHREP.
Column: “I’m Fine”
Mostly. All things considered, and as a stage IV (terminal) lung cancer patient, it’s impossible – for me, to not consider all things.
SSSAS Boys’ Lax Blows Out Episcopal
It has been said records can be thrown out when rivals play one another. On April 27, the St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes boys’ lacrosse team might have disregarded Episcopal’s record, but it didn’t forget the Maroon’s three-game win streak between the Alexandria programs.
TC’s Whitmire Commits To Play Volleyball at JMU
Kate Whitmire got off the phone with the James Madison University volleyball coaching staff on April 23 and started to dance. The T.C. Williams junior had determined where she was going to college and it was time to celebrate a weight lifted off her shoulders.
TC Rowers Claim 3 Victories at Charlie Butt Regatta
The T.C. Williams crew team traveled to Georgetown this past Saturday, April 28 to compete in the Charlie Butt Regatta, a race that started on the Potomac just above the Key Bridge and ended in the shadow of the Kennedy Center just down the river.
Building from East Glebe Road to Monroe Avenue Bridge
After delays, construction on 164-acre part to finish by 2020.
Second in a three-part series about Potomac Yard development.
Fine Arts for May 3
May 3 to June 3 The Biennial Ikebana Show and Tea Ceramics Exhibit. Reception is May 31, 6-8 p.m. Some 200 ceramic artists from all corners of the United States and Canada turned out to submit various wares associated with the ritual of drinking, serving, and presenting tea. Juror John Neely, ceramic artist and current Professor of Art in Ceramics and Assistant Department Head at Utah State University in Logan, UT, selected 47 pieces created by 33 artists from 19 states and Canada. At The Art League, 105 North Union Street, Studio 21, in the Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria. Visit www.theartleague.org or call 703-683-1780.
Mount Vernon’s Spring Wine Festival & Sunset Tour
Mount Vernon’s Wine Festival & Sunset Tour celebrates the history of wine in Virginia with exclusive evening tours of the Mansion and cellar, appearances by “George and Martha Washington,” and live jazz on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River. Visitors can bring a blanket and relax on the lawn as they sample wines from 16 Virginia wineries on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 18, 19, and 20, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Individual tickets are $35 per person.