Column: Lessons for Serving and Governing
An inaugural column.
This is the first in a series of columns, coordinated by former council member Lonnie Rich, that will also include other past city leaders writing on governance and politics.
Column: Caregivers: The Selfless Citizens
The caregivers are husbands, wives, daughters, sons, other relatives and friends. ... These good people are unsung heroes who do not seek praise and glory, but the community should never ignore their hard work.
Opinion: Embracing Our Diversity
If you can ever find the time to attend a federal naturalization ceremony in Fairfax County for new citizens, do it. It reinvigorates one’s patriotism and reminds us all how lucky we are to be Americans.
Opinion: Celebrating Diversity Through Culture
So, when people from different countries, diverse cultures, and dissimilar values migrate to United States, they try to adjust and adapt to the new culture. But the onus should also be on American people to welcome them, to make them comfortable and feel at home. What do we do to create awareness about different cultures? Unfortunately, I have not seen much effort on the part of the government.
Editorial: Diversity Growing
Tune in to our series on immigration.
This week, the Connection kicks off a series about immigration, diversity and the growing population of foreign-born residents in Fairfax County. County reporter Victoria Ross opens with a story that captures vignettes and statistics of the changing population. It is a topic consistent with the original Thanksgiving story. More than 28 percent of Fairfax County's population is foreign born; that's 317,000 residents.
Editorial: Shop Locally, Give Locally
Small business Saturday isn't enough; don't wait until then, and don't stop after that.
An effort to support locally owned businesses has resulted in the recognition of Small Business Saturday, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year that is Nov. 24. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is a day of national zeal for shopping. Presumably the next day shoppers can focus on local shopping.
Letter: Smokers: Ready To Quit?
Thursday, Nov. 15 marks the 37th annual Great American Smokeout sponsored by the American Cancer Society. The Smokeout encourages smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day.
Letter: Thanks for Civic Participation
As I was collecting the yard signs this past Wednesday, I was struck by this thought. I thought about our fellow citizens that expressed themselves by running in the municipal and school board elections.
Letter: Election Creates Community Loss
Tuesday’s election had a very serious shortcoming … one of the hardest working, most innovative, most caring, most committed ACPS Board members, Helen Morris, didn’t get reelected.
Letter: Is City Hall Listening?
Once again Alexandria elected officials and city staff are "playing head games" with citizens and planning their first "community dialogue" meeting with city residents in order to listen to citizens and hear what we have been telling them what we want for the past several years as it relates to development and transportation issues.
Letter: Was Honored To Serve
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your city councilman since July 2009. Unfortunately that will come to an end on Dec. 31, 2012 as the votes did not go my way in Tuesday's election.
Letter: Analyzing Voting Results
How is it that the official election results show the City Council’s top vote-getter Allison Silberberg with only 12.30 percent when she got almost 7,000 more votes than Andrew Macdonald with 39.91 percent in losing to Mayor Euille?
Letter: A Matter Of Respect
Veterans Day is often taken for granted; too many don’t give a thought about what it means. The freedom so many hold so dearly and yet so close to heart came from the many who gave their lives for our country.
You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby
March 4 is a great day. That’s the day, back in 1970, when Willa* moved from Jamaica to the States, following many of her friends who had done so in the ‘60s. First living in Fairfax, Willa and her husband moved to northwest D.C. after he joined her here in 1976.
Making a Difference
ACT for Alexandria (ACT) joins community foundations across the country in celebrating National Community Foundations Week Nov. 12-18 to recognize our role in promoting charitable giving and engagement to build a stronger Alexandria.