May 28: Council Notebook
News briefs from the city council on May 28.
Seaport Foundation Without a Seaport?
Waterfront plan leaves nonprofit homeless, for now.
A sense of uneasiness fills Randall Smith when he starts talking about the future of the Seaport Foundation, the nonprofit that taught him how to build boats. One recent afternoon found him scarfing a board so that it has the right ratio to be part of a kit that the nonprofit sells for people to make a kind of boat known as a Bevin's Skiff. By this time next year, the nonprofit will have to move out of this building, which will be demolished as part of the waterfront plan.
Future Fund Gala Honors Organizations That Help Veterans
Gala awards grants from the next generation of philanthropists.
The Future Fund held its gala aboard the Cherry Blossom on Friday, May 16. The Fund raised approximately $52,000 that evening. The Future Fund engages young professionals in their 20s, 30s, and 40s in philanthropic efforts.
Remembering ‘Miz Virginia’
Friends and family and T.C. Williams High School alumni gathered in the high school for a reception and presentation honoring longtime ACPS school nurse Virginia Smith on Saturday afternoon, May 10.
Euille, Cook Join Masons
Virginia Universal Lodge #1 of Alexandria and the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Virginia Free and Accepted Masons Incorporated held an Occasional Ceremony at the Magnus Temple Fort Belvoir on April 26 to make Mayor William E. Euille and Police Chief Earl L. Cook Master Masons.
Hometown Hero
Salvation Army honors Gandee, ServiceMaster for community service.
ServiceMaster of Alexandria owner and president Jane Gandee was honored May 13 by the Salvation Army National Capital Area Command for her company's dedication and support as a community partner to the organization.
Fore Willie
ASF remembers tournament founder.
The Alexandria Seaport Foundation held its 8th Annual Paul Weeks II Golf Tournament May 12 at Pohick Bay in the Mason Neck area of Fairfax County. This year's tournament was held in memory of Willie Taylor, founder of the tournament and former president of the Robinson Terminal Warehouse where the ASF is located.
A New Way for Seskey To Serve the City
Six months ago, Joseph Seskey was an Alexandria police sergeant overseeing logistics for special events. Today he’s traded in his police badge for a new one, as deputy director of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and the city’s chief animal control officer
Local Lawyers Teach in Ireland
Discussions range from drug cases to Edward Snowden.
A group of Alexandria attorneys have continued their international globetrotting of teaching, lecturing and discussing intricacies of American law.
Migrating Birds Flock to Monticello Park
Monticello Park, tucked away in a neighborhood in Alexandria, is a migrant trap for warblers and other migrating birds such as tanagers and orioles. Beginning in March but escalating in April and at prime season in May, this park has a large variety and number of warblers. In 2013 from May 8-17 in nine out of 10 days there was a 100 day warbler total with some days counting over 20 different species. In early May of this year the number of warblers had exploded, already breaking that record. This park is unusual because it has a small stream running through the underbrush, and warblers often fly down when the sun warms up in the morning to bathe in the water. This means you can see warblers all day long. Birders who are used to the seasonal malady of "warbler neck" from staring into the tall trees for hours searching for movement, are delighted that the birds are only a few feet away from them in the stream.
Piloting Food Trucks
Most of controversial food truck proposal placed on back burner.
The food truck craze is coming to a city park or a farmer's market near you, part of a 16-month pilot program that will allow the mobile vendors to set up shop and see what happens. City Council members approved the pilot program in a four-to-two vote with Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg and Councilman Paul Smedberg voting no. Disgruntled restaurant owners across the city are talking about creating a new association specifically to fight expanding the program to hot spots in Old Town and Del Ray, a move city officials have been pushing for more than a year. The pilot is scheduled to begin in July and run through October 2015.
Alexandria Community Trust Turns Ten
Hundreds of residents attended the ACT Birthday and Barbeque Bash at the Waterfront Market & Café...
Nightmare on Green Street?
Neighbors say house is a nuisance; city officials say their hands are tied.
The 800 block of Green Street is tucked away in a quiet part of Old Town, a few blocks west of Washington Street where spring flowers are in bloom and neighbors know each other by name. Except Michael Wargo. Property records say he purchased 813 Green St. in 1989 for $263,000. But neighbors say he hasn't lived in the house for 12 years, and they are concerned that the house is a firetrap that's attracting wild animals and growing concern.
Serving Up Controversy Over Food Trucks in Alexandria
Council members indicate they're likely to approve a pilot program at farmers markets.
City Council members are bracing themselves for a massive food fight this Saturday, when elected officials will take up a divisive proposal to allow food trucks in Alexandria.
2014 Nonprofit Leaders Honored
The 16th annual Alexandria Business Philanthropy Summit was held May 7 as Volunteer Alexandria honored five individuals for their service to the community. Held at the First Baptist Church of Alexandria, more than 250 people turned out for the event that featured former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina as the keynote speaker.