Alexandria Gazette Packet

Alexandria Gazette Packet

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Migratory

Great Egrets winter in Mexico and South America and breed along the shore, passing through this area in migration.

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Old Town History: Bank of Alexandria

A fairly nondescript building sits on southeast corner of North Fairfax and Cameron Streets. It’s a bit taller than the others nearby, and forms a quiet bookend for the distinctive Carlyle House next door. It’s anonymity, however, belies its rich history.

Letter: Value of an Ombudsman

Recently a new group, Democrats for a Better Alexandria, has suggested that the City needs an Ombudsman (or Ombudswoman). According to Wikipedia, an Ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between government, and constituents, representing the broad scope of constituent interests.

Letter: Don’t Encourage ‘Magic Bullets’

As a desperate high school student just sliding by, I too would hope for a magic bullet cram course to improve my standardized test scores and chances of getting into college.

Letter: Fixing Flaws, Building on Successes

The following open letter is addressed to school staff and residents.

Letter: Consider Children’s Safety

The following letter was sent to the City Council and School Board.

Letter: Clear Cutting Of Trees

This morning I watched as contractors for WMATA cut down tree after tree after tree along the property line adjacent to my apartment complex.

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Letter: Another Step for Smoke-Free City

The Mayor and City Council are to be congratulated for steps they have recently taken to address what Surgeon Generals of the U.S. have called the two leading causes of preventable death and disease in America: tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. In January, the City Council, by a vote of 5 to 1, authorized the placement of signs discouraging smoking in all City-owned parks, playgrounds and bus shelters.

Letter: Hybrid School Board?

That in the past few months there have been issues of extraordinary concern and increasing public outrage over ACPS is well-understood.

Letter: Pay More Attention To City Schools

Where there’s smoke there’s usually fire. Unfortunately, for Alexandria City Public Schools, too few people have pulled the alarm.

Letter: GW Memorial Parkway Metro?

Although officially it is referred to as the Potomac Yard Metro, if the option to move the tracks closer to the GW Memorial Parkway is used, it creates a construction zone on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, and furthermore creates a right-in right-out for the trucks and mechanical equipment to use.

Letter: Time To Step Down?

The following letter is addressed to Dr. Morton Sherman, Superintendent of Schools, Alexandria City Public Schools.

Letter: Best Way To Spend $7 Million?

The mayor and the City Council have proven again that they do not represent their Alexandrian citizens.

Letter: Support Cleaner Environment

As a 14-year-old boy growing up in Virginia, I am so happy that President Obama has taken the time to create a plan to clean bodies of water and major rivers of the pollutant mercury.

Letter: Re-evaluate Public Amenities

The recently released Beauregard Small Area Plan Draft includes a complicated and risky provision that earmarks the increase in property tax revenue generated in the plan area into a separate fund.

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