Calendar for May 9
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.
Memories for Mom
A memory book makes for thoughtful Mother’s Day gift.
This Mother’s Day go beyond breakfast in bed and give mom a gift she’ll always remember, a memory book from the whole family.
Virginia Irene Sullivan Bruch Dies
Virginia Irene Sullivan Bruch (“Ginny”) was born May 26, 1921 in Hickman, Ky. A teacher and published poet, genealogist, and civic leader in Alexandria, she began a career in the Civil Service in 1948, retiring in 1980 from the Pentagon Army Library, where she was a section chief.
Dorothy P. Miller Dies
Dorothy P. Miller (Jane) died of complications following surgery in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 27, 2012. Dorothy was the daughter of the late John P. and Dorothy Shepherd of London, England. She is survived by her son Michael Miller and his wife Jane of Springfield, Va., her daughter Mary Jane Seebach and her husband Steven of Newbury Park, Calif., a cousin Anne Farnario and her husband Jack of St. Clairsville, Ohio and a sister-in-law Alice Jennings of Bellevue, Washington. She is also survived by three grandsons, Philip Miller of Rockville, Md., Ian and Spencer Seebach of Newbury Park.
Planning a Town Center at Land Bay G
Site could embrace restaurants, hotels, movies.
In 2007, MidAtlantic Realty Partners, a veteran Washington area real estate developer, bought 17 acres of land from the Pulte Group for $70 million. MRP’s plan was to develop Potomac Yard’s Land Bay G, the third largest parcel in the city’s concept of Potomac Yard and what Alexandria planners saw as a “Town Center” — a place with restaurants, stores, movies, offices and hotels could serve the giant residential neighborhood being developed next door by the Pulte Group.
Land Bay F Compares in Scope to Crystal City
Increased density would help pay for new Metro station.
Third in a three-part series about Potomac Yard development.
Commentary: Taylor Run
CHURCH PARTY Parishioners at Grace Episcopal Church decided some time ago to welcome those who came to the 5 o’clock Sunday service with a little party occasionally. Mai-Lin Smith and Cindy MacIntyre were the two who organized the event. Mai-Lin’s husband Phil was there Sunday as were Sharon and Phil Hickok, Frank and Linda Waskowicz, Beth Wiggers and Dorothea Daniels. They served little ham sandwiches, little mince pies, spinach triangles, deviled eggs, brownies and other treats.
Commentary: Seminary Valley for May 9
Congratulations to our neighbors over at the St. Martin de Porres Senior Center. The Center celebrated its “Jade” anniversary — 35 years of service on April 26. After remarks by MaryAnn Griffin, director of the Division of Aging and Adult Services for the City of Alexandria, Sally O’Dwyer, VP of Community Services for Catholic Charities (Arlington Diocese), Art Bennett, CEO of Catholic Charities (Arlington Diocese) and Mayor Bill Euille, the following volunteers were recognized:
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.
Video
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