Letter: Silence Means Approval
To the Editor: It has come to my attention that the city has approached the Founders Park Community Association for approval to use Founders Park for large and small events, public, commercial and private. Please contact the Founders Park Board and City Council to let them know your feelings about such use of Founders Park.
Editorial: Value-added Evaluation?
TJ admissions illustrate growing gap between “haves” and “have-nots.”
More than 181,000 students attend Fairfax County Public Schools. So why do the 480 students who were accepted for next year’s freshman class at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology seem so important? Fairfax County Public Schools have a single elite magnet school, Thomas Jefferson, and TJ is frequently referred to as the top high school in the country. Dramatic disparity in the makeup of admissions at TJ is an indicator of disparity in early identification of students as gifted and talented, of access to advanced classes and enrichment, and in the basic education that the Fairfax County Public school system offers to all of its students.
‘We Have Not Forgotten’
Residents rally in Vienna to support stricter gun control measures.
Less than six miles from the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, more than 100 people gathered on the Vienna Town Green Saturday, April 13, to urge Congress to support stricter gun control measures.
Editorial: Voting Again
Every year is election year in Virginia, and it’s a bit much.
The most hotly contested race for statewide office in Virginia, the Republican contest for lieutenant governor, will be decided at a statewide convention on May 18. That’s about a month from now.
Poem
Art Like That Of an Artist
An artist’s work - yet not known - Like the Little and Big Dipper stars above Throughout our Old Town Alexandria Trees of bright lights dispelling the darkness Like the sky’s far-flung stars that one can only wish upon Heartfelt of hope, vision and dreams within. — Geri Baldwin, Alexandria
Letter: Letters to the Editor-Overlooked Probation Office
To the Editor: Over the years, the Alexandria Gazette Packet has published many favorable articles about our Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office. They are both excellent agencies and certainly deserving of the accolades provided by the countless stories, editorials and letters to the editor. However, there is another law enforcement agency in the city that has labored in relative obscurity, the Alexandria Office of Probation and Parole.
Letter: Letters to the Editor-Practical Considerations On Tree Lights
To the Editor: There are compelling practical and aesthetic reasons to take the lights down from the trees on King Street at the beginning of April. First of all, once the trees have their leaves, the leaves will obscure the lights.
Letter: Letters to the Editor-Underspending On Capital Needs
To the Editor: The April 8 meeting of the Del Ray Citizens Association explored a major reason why the city’s tax rate and our taxes are going up again this year and why they will probably continue to go up in the future. The short answer is the city’s capital budget, or its investment in new and existing public facilities.
Letter: Letters to the Editor-Libraries, Parks And Bikes
To the Editor: The City of Alexandria intends to expand the Bikeshare program at the expense of libraries and parks that benefit all residents. It is expected that 960,000 people will visit Alexandria’s libraries in 2014; this is 53 times the number of Bikeshare members in the region. Yet, the city is cutting libraries by $93,000 and giving Bikeshare $120,000.
Letter: Letters to the Editor-Stand With Working Families
Saturday is “D” day for thousands of Alexandria residents living in the Beauregard neighborhood. In this case, “D” doesn’t just stand for “decision,” it also stands for “development” and “displacement.”
Letter to the Editor: Governing Behind Closed Doors
On March 16, the Alexandria City Council passed controversial and sweeping planning changes that are already the subject of litigation. The city passed these changes to transform an honest policy disagreement into Through the Looking Glass litigation tactics, where nothing is as it appears to be.
Letter to the Editor: Budget’s Effect On Officers
I am Sean McGowan, executive director of the Virginia Police Benevolent Association. I am a retired Alexandria police officer, having served 25 years in the department.
Letter to the Editor: Sharing the Joy Of Easter
The beauty of giving shines brighter than one can speak of.
Planning for Retirement
Everyone looks forward to the “golden years,” when you reached the point where you can enjoy all that life has to offer and not worry about all that comes with reaching that phase of your life.
Column: Protecting the Antibiotic Arsenal
Since the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928, antibiotics have served an essential role in helping the body’s immune system fight infections caused by bacteria. They are prescribed to treat myriad illnesses like pneumonia, strep throat, and urinary tract infections.