Alexandria Gazette Packet

Helping Rebuilding Together Alexandria

Twenty-one volunteers from Safeway spent Thursday, April 12 constructing an outside porch and wheel chair ramp for John Patterson, a double amputee veteran of the Vietnam War. The volunteers also repaired broken faucets, painted, repaired a fence and pergola and planted a summer garden. Katherine Dixon, executive director of Rebuilding Together Alexandria said, “In addition to the $20,000 donation from Safeway, we leveraged a significant amount of volunteer help, discounted materials, and professional labor.”

SCAN Names 2012 Ally in Prevention Awardees

SCAN named Erick T. King, co-founder of the Capital Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP); Valerie Cuffee, who recently retired as division chief of Arlington County's Child & Family Services Division; and the late Cynthia Hull, former executive director of United Community Ministries, as the 2012 Allies in Prevention for Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax, respectively. The award was given at SCAN's 10th Annual Allies in Prevention Awards Luncheon.

"Flight 905 Heavy"

The Space Shuttle Discovery, atop its Boeing 747 carrier, flies over Windmill Hill Park on Tuesday, April 17. The shuttle will become part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. The flight was referred to as “flight 905 heavy” on the air traffic control channel.

Nancy Larsen Turner Dies

Nancy Larsen Turner, 83, formerly of Alexandria, died on March 2, 2012 at her home in Boonton, N.J. Born in Ogden, Utah, in 1928, she spent her childhood in Yellowstone Park, Wyoming, where her father worked for the Park Service.

Watershed Cleanup in Alexandria

Volunteers collected hundreds of pounds of trash from Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria on Saturday, April 14. The cleanup was organized by Alexandria’s Transportation and Environmental Services, Office of Environmental Quality and Solid Waste Division in conjunction with the Alice Ferguson Foundation. The foundation, established in 1989, organized watershed cleanup activities at 600 sites in five states on Saturday.

Baseball Legend Frank Howard Visits Sportsman's Club

He took the field with the likes of Carl Furillo, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese and Ray Campanella. But Frank Howard didn't just play with baseball's finest, he was one of them, winning National League Rookie of the Year honors in 1960 and appearing in four All Star games for the American League from 1968 to 1971. On April 17, the former Washington Senator and Los Angeles Dodger spoke at the Alexandria Sportsman's Club and recounted some of the most memorable moments of his career.

No Butts About It: Ramparts Shifts to “No Smoking” Policy

The gang of regulars at Ramparts had a friendly wager going: How long would it take Butch Shunk to return after his vow to never again set foot in the popular Alexandria watering hole after its sudden shift to a no smoking policy on Easter Sunday? Some said three months but in the end it only took three days for the loyal customer to be back in his customary place at the end of the bar.

Alarm Over Fire Code at Shelters

Fairfax County officials respond to concerns about fire code violations at local shelters.

Spring fever hit the region early this year. Last week’s record-high temperatures had residents flocking outdoors to play, bike, jog and picnic.

Community Lodgings Celebrates 25 Years, Raises $40,000

More than 170 people turned out April 15 for the 7th annual “Spring Forward to Union Street,” a fundraiser to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Community Lodgings that also recognized program participant Harriet Owusu for her exceptional strides in attaining self-sufficiency.

Alexandria Gazette Packet