Alexandria Gazette Packet

Letter: Spring Cleaning In Alexandria

Spring begins on March 20 and many in Alexandria will find themselves in the yearly act of cleaning a house from top to bottom, a traditional act that helps to keep everyone accountable.

Letter: Transportation Commission’s Role?

Unfortunately, the March 7 monthly meeting of the obscure Alexandria Transportation Commission wasn’t covered by cable TV as is done for sessions of the City Council — but perhaps it should have been.

Letter: City’s Vision Is Practical

Mr. Robert Pringle [Letter, “Vision-based Planning”] recently responded to my March 7 letter. His comments show a very different view than mine. Addressing his concerns is appropriate.

Virginia Officials Deliberately Moving Slowly on Health Care Exchange

If Supreme Court upholds health-care reform, governor would have to call special session.

Virginia has eight months to create a certification plan for how it plans to create a health-care exchange, a legal requirement of President Barack Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Week in Alexandria

The budget standoff in Richmond could have dramatic consequences in Alexandria, where every service from education services to transportation funding is on the line.

Business Matters

How far did the empire of Orange Julius reach? What’s the capital of Banana Republic? Is Aeropostale aerodynamic?

Dysfunctional Budgeting Prompts Crisis at Alexandria City Public Schools

Independent audit rips school system; vice mayor calls for superintendent to step down.

An independent auditor has concluded that the budget office at Alexandria City Public Schools suffers from a “dysfunctional environment," approving contracts that had not been budgeted and providing inaccurate information to School Board members.

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.

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.

Alexandria Gazette Packet