Alexandria Local

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Selling Alexandria's City Hall

A costly repair bill for City Hall creates discussion of potential public/private partnership.

Facing a $53 million heating ventilation and air conditioning price tag for City Hall, some on the City Council have begun questioning the wisdom of continuing to operate in City Hall. At a City Council Work Session on March 17, discussion became heated after Mayor William Euille said he had his own ideas for the future of the building and referred to the City Hall property as “a pot of gold.”

Alexandria: Compromise on Waterfront Barging

After a long tug-of-war between local residents and waterfront property developer EYA, acting City Manager Mark Jinks announced an agreement with EYA to use barging instead of trucking to transport materials to and from the South Robinson Terminal development.

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Some Gave All: Police Memorial in Alexandria Dedicated to Fallen Officers

Police memorial dedicated to fallen officers.

Judy Birney was just 12 years old when her father, youth detective Conrad Birney, was killed responding to a bank robbery in 1972. She went on to follow in her father’s footsteps, serving as an Alexandria police officer until 1999. On March 28, she joined more than 350 people for the dedication of the Alexandria Fallen Officers Memorial honoring the sacrifice of her father and 17 others who died in the line of duty.

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Obituary: ‘The Original Ballyshaner,’ Judge O'Flaherty

Judge Daniel O’Flaherty dies at 89.

To anyone appearing in his courtroom, his name invoked fear. But those who knew Judge Daniel O’Flaherty, knew him as a kind and quiet man, a proud Irishman devoted to his family and the City of Alexandria.

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Maestro’s Musings: ‘Dare to Think Heroically’ Opening Night

The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will perform a pair of concerts titled "Dare to Think Heroically" on Saturday, April 11 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 12 at 3 p.m. at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, 4915 E Campus Dr. This is the fourth concert program in a season-long celebration of the theme "Dare To..."

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Preview: MetroStage Presents ‘The Island’

Play depicts human dignity and justice during the 1970s Apartheid.

As part of the 30th anniversary season, MetroStage in Alexandria is staging "The Island" now through April 26. The highly charged two-person play is set on Robben Island, South Africa, and depicts the plight of two political prisoners, John and Winston, as they perform labor by day and rehearse Sophocles’ "Antigone" by night.

Letter: Choose ‘No Build’ For Potomac Yard

Letter to the Editor

Recently, there have been a number of briefings regarding the proposed Metro Station in Potomac Yard. At every one of these briefings, City staff described the four alternatives that were under consideration (now reduced to two). Alternative A, which will cost about $209 million, is adjacent to Potomac Greens, and Alternative B, which is calculated to be $268 million, is very close to the Potomac Yards mall, but is also on a scenic easement owned by the National Park service. Neither location will be outfitted with a Kiss-and-Ride lot, so potential riders must walk to these locations. This may be difficult for some, especially for the handicapped.

Letter: Make Veterans Day School Holiday

Letter to the Editor

I was disappointed to read that the Fairfax County School Board voted against an amendment making Veterans Day a school holiday.

Letter: Viable Options May Cost City

Letter to the Editor

When someone says he or she favors a Metro on Potomac Yard, the next question needs to be, “Which one?”

Column: Join in Fight against Child Abuse

Commentary

A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds in our country, one of the worst records among industrialized nations that results in the death of between four and seven children each day. These tragic fatalities are just the tip of the “iceberg” of consequences our community faces due to child victimization.

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Cartoon: Voyager

Voyager

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Cartoon: Fire Hydrant

Fire Hydrant

Helping Hands

Senior Services of Alexandria

Five years ago, Mary Lee Anderson was asked if she could help Senior Services of Alexandria set up an information database. Since that time, what was supposed to be a part-time commitment has turned into a second career for the international telecommunications corporate executive.

Arlene Hewitt Sets the Pace for Seniors in Alexandria

A recipe for activism at any age.

She is four feet 10 inches tall and 84 years old. She tutors children who cannot read; she champions health insurance for the uninsured in Alexandria; she meets with mayors and senators; she takes 90-year-old gentlemen out to dinner; she wants to reduce the teen pregnancy rate in Alexandria; and she never lets more than a few days go by without chatting with her children or grandsons, usually via email or skype.

Aging in Place

Finding out about the latest services and programs.

Alexandria is a great place to be a senior – there are so many different services and organizations with programs designed to help older residents remain in their homes and age in place safely and in a healthy environment.

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