Alexandria Local

Letter: Consider Ward Format

The City Council election affirmed that most Alexandria voters are far and away Democrats; not Republicans.

Letter: Sermonizing At Poll Site?

I am writing to express my outrage at the voting atmosphere this morning [Nov. 6] at my polling place in Alexandria at the Blessed Sacrament Church on 1427 W. Braddock Road.

Hometown Title and Escrow, LLC celebrated the opening of its new offices in Courthouse Square Sept. 21 with a reception that also marked the announcement that Kellye Curtis Clarke has joined the company as partner and branch manager of the Alexandria office.

Hit or Myth: Is There a Post-Election Real Estate Boom?

We hear it all the time: the real estate market in the metro area really picks up after national elections, especially in Presidential election years. But is that really true? Here are the basics.

TC’s Girma, Brown Qualify for XC Regionals

Lake Braddock wins boys’, girls’ Patriot District XC titles.

The T.C. Williams boys' cross country team had two runners qualify for regionals.

Alexandria/Mount Vernon Calendar: Oct. 31, 2012

Upcoming events and activities

Fighting for Public Housing Tenants

Dorothy Turner and Gwen Menefee-Smith have helped city progress from its early integration roots.

The two women, both public housing tenants themselves earlier in life, worked tirelessly to improve the quality of living for Alexandria low income and minority residents.

Dressed up for Halloween

Del Ray cancelled its 16th annual Halloween Parade but held the haunted house decorating contest this past weekend.

Alexandria Voters to Determine Direction of City Government

Growth, development, taxes and spending are the hot-button issues dividing candidates.

Are voters pleased with the recent direction of city government, which has dramatically increased the amount of density available to developers in recent years?

Refugees from Slavery: Contrabands in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia

The National Park Service and the Office of Historic Alexandria will co-sponsor a program called Refugees from Slavery: Contrabands in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, at the Alexandria Black History Museum from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The program will consist of two parts. Initially, Professor Chandra Manning of Georgetown University will explain the history of the Contrabands, men and women who escaped slavery during the Civil War. Afterward, there will be further discussion about who the Contrabands were and how they can be remembered by a panel consisting of researchers, descendants, rangers, and local historians from across the region.

Calendar

Saturday/Nov.10 Preschool Fall Festival. noon-2 p.m. The Plymouth Haven Baptist Church Preschool Fall Festival will feature a chili and macaroni & cheese cook-off, hot dogs, chips, apple cider, coffee, cold drinks, and dessert for only $6 ($3 for children under 12). There will be raffles and drawings featuring goods and services from local businesses. There will also be an inflatable obstacle course, a hay ride, a bean bag toss, apple bobbing contest, old-fashioned sack race, face painting/tattoos, popcorn, and much more. All proceeds go to Plymouth Haven Preschools Scholarship and Enrichment Programs.

Upheaval at Target

In celebration of Fotoweek DC, the Target Gallery hosts a juried photography exhibition that explores the theme Upheaval, whether in our own lives or throughout the world. Visit on Thursday, Nov. 8, 6-8 p.m. for a reception to meet some of the artists and listen to a gallery talk by juror Brie Castell at 7 p.m. The exhibition will showcase 16 works by nine artists from across the country, including two local artists, Sascha Hughes-Caley (Great Falls) and Angela Kleis (Arlington). Other selected artists are Therese Brown (CA), Lisa

Obituary

Ernest (Ernie) J. Colton

Ernest (Ernie) J. Colton, 96, of Springfield, died on Oct. 25, 2012 at Greensprings Retirement Community’s Renaissance Gardens. He was the husband of Ruth Litten Colton who preceded him in death along with his parents, brother and other aunts and uncles. Survivors include his son David Martin Colton, daughter-in-law Cheryl Anne and granddaughter Alexis FuBao from Alexandria, and daughter Esther Joanna Colton from Berlin, Germany.

Right Policy

To the Editor: Let's face it — Alexandria is the loveliest jurisdiction of the entire Washington Metropolitan Area. I have lived here for half of my life. And in the course of this many years, "things happen." The city was always there when needed — whether it was a tornado hitting four houses on our street, ours included; the Fire Department ambulance staffed with an emergency physician when I fainted while jogging; the battle with "our" monopolist TV and high-speed internet provider; the city arborist to support our drive to re-forest our street (80-year old oak trees had either died a natural death or had been trimmed to extinction because of above-ground wires); the Recycling/Solid Waste Department's responsiveness to "special needs" recycling or simple oversights; our highly competent Police Department whenever "odd" occurrences were reported on our small street; the General Court Clerk when we needed procedural information; the Environmental Inspector as to noise pollution and flooding problems; the Tax Department for additional information and help. And so on. The list is long, and I am fully appreciative not only of what our city does but also of what it represents historically.

Inclusive Dialogue

To the Editor: This year, the local elections in Alexandria are particularly important for the future of our city. The choices are clear and stark. On the one hand, we may elect a Mayor and City Council that will continue to follow the closed, secretive, and divisive practices that have allowed development to run amok throughout the city. If we choose this path, we will condemn Alexandria to an uninspiring future of mediocrity, allowing it to develop into just another McCity with uninspiring architecture that could be located anywhere in the nation. On the other hand, we can choose new leadership that will encourage open, transparent, and inclusive practices that respect and preserve the unique, historic character of Alexandria. If we choose this direction, we can retain the best aspects of life in a city that has witnessed first-hand the most important and dramatic episodes in our nation’s history. These and our rich cultural heritage are the things that make Alexandria such a desirable place in which to live and which annually draw hordes of tourists to our city. Lose them and we lose our major attractions.

Alexandria Gazette Packet