Council Notebook
For years, city leaders have thought the surface parking lot at the King Street Metro is just too suburban.
Census Records Show Alexandria is Getting Older and More Educated
New report shows shifting black population and an increase in African-born residents.
Alexandria is getting older and more educated, and its residents are increasingly likely to take public transportation to work.
Struggling Nonprofit Fights Against Cuts to At-Risk Children
City Council members consider elimination of Urban League program for troubled youth.
Since 1981, the city of Alexandria has been funding an Urban League program to help at-risk youth.
Business Matters
The Old Town Farmers Market is about to get a little later.
17 New Artists join Torpedo Factory Through Annual Jury Process
The Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association welcomes seventeen new artists through the annual jury held March 19-23 at the art center. An outside panel of art experts made the selection from among 84 artists who applied during this year’s annual jury process.
Midori and Friends Visit T.C. Williams
It was the chance of a lifetime for members of the T.C. Williams High School youth orchestra as world-renown Midori spent March 27 coaching aspiring musicians as part the legendary violinist's week-long Orchestra Residencies Program.
Fine Arts for March 28
March 23 to May 6 "In Medusa's Company." Ceramic artist Judith Kornett's works at the Schlesinger Center Margaret W. & Joseph L. Fisher Gallery at the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College. Opening Reception Saturday, March 31, from 3 – 5 p.m. with Artist’s Talk at 4 p.m.
Calendar for March 28
E-mail announcements to the Gazette, gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Photos and artwork are encouraged. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week's paper. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 with questions.
Classified Advertising
See the latest Employment, Home and Garden, and classifieds!
Column: Peculiar Presence
In the last few months, out of the blue, I have received electronic correspondence from each of my three oldest childhood friends (none of whom have remained adulthood friends, though all three remain of interest to me) commenting on my cancer diagnosis; each having stumbled across one of my cancer columns online, presumably after initiating a Google-type search for yours truly.
Northern Region Sports Roundup
Lloyd to be inducted into basketball shrine.
The Lee High boys’ soccer team (1-2-1), under head coach John Millward, was able to hold off a late charge by the Oakton Cougars to win 1-0 in Lee's home opener this past Tuesday night, March 27. After a quick re-start, and some quick midfield play, Luis Aguilar, a senior forward, found senior midfielder Jamie Ahmed, who took a one-touch into space then placed a 36-yard shot into the upper net with 12 minutes left.
NOVA Women Capture State Basketball Crown
Vienna’s Carlie Zirkle earns MVP honors.
The Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) women’s basketball team won the 2012 Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Championship by defeating Southside Virginia Community College, 48-26. The tournament was held March 2-4 in Chesapeake. Former Marshall High standout Carlie Zirkle (Vienna) received the most valuable player honor and was named to the All-Tournament team, along with Halley Cummins (Vienna) and Yvette Gilliam (Woodbridge).
Editorial: Interrupting Harassment and Bullying
Empowering bystanders to intervene, students to set boundaries.
With a controversial and much discussed new movie, "Bully," coming out this week, local school districts continue to wrestle with the issue of bullying in the schools.
Letter: Community Disconnect?
The silly season is upon us, the time of year in which the Mount Vernon Council (MVCCA) passes budget resolutions in which it urges the Board of Supervisors to raise every conceivable tax so that sufficient funding is available for the progressive spending the MVCCA supports. This year is no different.
Letter: Falling from Middle Class to Poverty
While the economy shows signs of improving, many in our area are still facing hardships and struggling to make ends meet.
Letter: Problem with Assuming
Can you tell a person's race merely by the color of their skin? Apparently, H. Jay Spiegel can.
Letter: Government Intrusion
In my previous letter, in response to H. Jay Spiegel’s commentary on Del. Scott Surovell’s voting record during this year’s legislative session, I asked how Mr. Spiegel could “suggest that any of Del. Surovell’s positions rise to anywhere near the level of ‘government intrusion in our lives’ represented by the infamous ‘personhood’ and ‘trans-vaginal ultrasound’ bills.”
Letter: Changes Ensure Ballot Integrity
Ensuring the integrity of the ballot box is just as important as ensuring that everyone has access to the voting booth. And while hardly the strictest in the nation, Virginia’s new voter ID law allows for other forms of ID to be used if a driver’s license is not available on Election Day. Furthermore, a voter without a photo ID can still vote using a provisional ballot — and such ballots are available at every polling station.
Aldersgate Methodists Confront a Mountain
Cinderblock after cinderblock, hefting trowel after trowel of mortar, mission trip after mission trip, Aldersgate United Methodists are intent on transforming an impoverished Guatemala community perched 12,500 feet up on San Antonio Mountain.
Column: Breast Cancer Charities - Knowledge is Power
Recent controversial decisions made by the Susan G. Komen organization have thrust the ethics of breast cancer fundraising into the national spotlight. While Komen's choice of fund allocations threatened their status as a non-partisan entity, the practices of breast cancer charities as a whole are being closely examined.