Editorial: So Hard to Imagine?
Poor families face challenges that officials and many of the rest of us have trouble envisioning.
The Commonwealth of Virginia and even Northern Virginia includes many poor families and individuals. But officials seem to have trouble wrapping their brains around some of the difficulties this can cause.
Stakes Are High in Virginia Budget Standoff
Lawmakers flee Capitol, where partisan gridlock reigns.
The budget standoff in Richmond could have drastic consequences in Northern Virginia, where every service from education to transportation is on the line.
Calendar for March 8
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.
Auction To Benefit Elementary School
Stratford Landing hosts annual auction and ice cream social.
Stratford Landing Elementary School will host its annual Spring Fling Silent Auction and Ice Cream Social on Friday, March 23, from 6-9 p.m. at the school located at 8484 Riverside Road.
Director Maurice Hines Returns To the Scene
It isn’t often that an out-of-town director has the opportunity to return to a show in a regional theatre and see how it has grown, evolved, and progressed since opening night. But Maurice Hines, director and choreographer of MetroStage’s world premiere production of "Josephine Tonight" did just that recently. He returned to Alexandria with his associate director Mel Johnson Jr. to surprise the cast and see what his work looked like four weeks later. One of the exciting things about live theatre is that it is going to be slightly different every night. Actors can grow in their roles, further understand and develop their characters, and simply inhabit the stage with their fellow actors more comfortably over time.
Letter: Serving Constituents
I find it fascinating that Mr. H. Jay Spiegel appears to have just discovered that Del. Scott Surovell votes (gasp!) left-of-center in the House. Even more entertaining is the implication that, after winning the election with almost 60 percent of the vote, he pulled a Romney-like switcheroo on our “somewhat moderate politically” district.
Letter: Standing Up For What’s Right
The bills that didn't pass listed by H. Jay Spiegel ("Truly Representative?" March 1-7, 2012) made me proud to have a delegate who is brave enough to depart from the "mainstream" in Richmond.
Letter: MVHS Crew Tag Day a Success
The Mount Vernon High School Crew Team would like to thank the local community for their continued support to our athletic program
Letter: Legislation Does Hurt the Poor
In last week’s Gazette, Jay McConville objects that the front page story, "New Laws Attack Poor" (Feb. 16-22, 2012) is filled with the assertion that "legislation promoting good financial stewardship … is an attack on the poor."
Letter: Reasonable, Not Radical
In the March 1 edition of the Mount Vernon Gazette, Jay Speigel criticized Del. Scott Surovell's support for a Republican Delegate's legislation to automatically restore the voting rights of nonviolent ex-felons.
Night of the Ballyshaner’s Grand Marshal’s Ball
The Grand Marshal’s Ball is the annual Alexandria kick-off to the Irish-American Month.
Learning Chinese Culture
St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes Lower School celebrated the Chinese New Year on Feb. 3.
’Up Day’ at Dee Campbell Boathouse
It was "Up Day" at the Dee Campbell Boathouse on Saturday, Feb. 18 — sign-up day for new rowers on the T.C. Williams High School Crew Team, and clean-up day to make sure the dock is ready for the year.
Project Enlightenment Visits Old Town
Students from McLean High School in the Historical Reenactment Society, Project Enlightenment performed before audiences at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop in Alexandria last month.
Letter: Plugged In And Pre School
Recently, I went to the Joint School Board/City Council Budget Work-session and I learned about a new adult education program called Plugged-In (www.pluggedinva.com).
Letter: Plugged In and Pre School
Recently, I went to the Joint School Board/City Council Budget Work-session and I learned about a new adult education program called Plugged-In (www.pluggedinva.com). It cites a recent report saying a General Education Degree (GED) is not enough and does not prepare students for the skills needed in today’s workforce.
Letter: City Cuts Affect Parade’s Future
I am writing to alert the citizens of Alexandria about some serious financial decisions made by our city council in the past few years that could impact the way that George Washington, St. Patrick’s Day, and our Scottish heritage is celebrated and remembered (or not) in Alexandria.
Letter: Where Are Students Going?
As a West Street resident and a parent, I am amazed that Alexandria’s leaders – both on the School Board and the City Council – are spending nearly $45 million and probably more to come in taxpayer money for a newer and bigger Jefferson-Houston School when it looks to be just as empty as before.
Letter: Vision-based Planning
Mr. Auld’s letter in your most recent edition (“What’s Best for All Residents”) is full of straw men. No one in CAAWP (or anywhere else that I’m aware of) is arguing for mindless “preservation” of the kind that he knocks down.
Letter: Losing Low-Cost Housing
Concerning the Council Notebook “Double Offense” and last week’s article on the destruction of public housing: I have been active fighting for affordable housing in Alexandria since 1985. During these 27 years every City Council member has been clear about their strong commitment to affordable housing and equally clear about their inability to do anything about market forces that are destroying affordable housing. This is the “big lie” that is constantly repeated while working people — particularly African Americans and immigrants — are forced from Alexandria.