Letter: Learn How To Protect Children
To the Editor: Who could hurt a child? I don’t know, but many adults do hurt and exploit children for selfish reasons. Our children deserve our protection from predators and others who do not have their best interests at the forefront. Adults all share the common experience of childhood. Who among us has not felt vulnerable, alone, or betrayed as a child? Do you remember who hurt you as a child? Was it an adult or another child perhaps? How long did the pain linger in your heart and soul? I know that mine does to this day. Childhood hurts affect our adult behavior and may leave us under developed in body, mind and spirit. Childhood injury to body and mind can be minimized if adults use common sense and encourage children to take on the responsibility of personal safety. Children will grow into their own sense of personal safety with adults guiding and challenging them to think about situations, places, and people that are potentially harmful. Instead of not thinking about childhood personal safety, let’s empower them with courage and tools.
Letter: Working with Citizens
To the Editor: I appreciate the effort the Gazette has made to differentiate the four different slates that political action committees including Alexandrians for a Livable City support. You are doing the work that a local newspaper should do, educating the voters so that they may make informed decisions. I would appreciate your in-a-box list of how the candidates including incumbents stand on the disgraceful Beauregard Corridor Plan even more if you had put every incumbent in his correct box.
Letter: Mistaken Presumption?
To the Editor: As someone who has raised millions of charitable dollars, whose nonprofit management text The New York Times described as “one of the better,” I thank Rod Kuckro for his contribution to the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club. He guessed wrong and payment is due.
Commentary: Making Progress: Transforming T.C. Williams High School
One thing that we all have agreed upon as a community, especially over the past few years, is that the success of T.C. Williams High School is a priority for our students and the City of Alexandria.
Commentary: A Day To Remember, Celebrate U.S. Heroes
When you walk down the ramp to enter Alexandria's American Legion Post 24 (at the base of the pole flying the American flag), a brass plaque to your left reads: “For God and Country. Erected to the memory of the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines from Alexandria, Virginia who gave their lives during the World War.” The names of the dead are listed.
Commentary: Continuing the Conversation
For the second year in a row, Alexandria is holding an unusual exhibit of art. Its purpose is both a celebration of creativity and the artist's own special vision, and an opening gambit to begin the conversation on what mental health is, what it means to have a mental illness and how those with intellectual and developmental disabilities see and deal with the world around them.
Column: Living Longer, Sort of Prospering
Though my column has appeared in the newspaper as usual the last few weeks, I haven’t felt much like writing. Typically, I’m weeks ahead with my column inventory, having regularly found the time and inclination to put pen to paper and provide the prose you regular readers have come to expect.
Column: Enabling Resident To Stay in Her Home
Dorothy* and her husband moved into their Alexandria home when her son was just three months old — that was nearly 50 years ago. And although the neighborhood has gone through many changes over the years, Dorothy, born and raised in Alexandria, is here to stay. Her siblings, two sisters and a brother, keep her here, too!
Opinion: Searching for the Noun
When you’re working it’s common to define your self as what you do. At a social gathering or networking event you are a [fill in the blank] lawyer, doctor, CEO, manager, etc.
Letter: Much To Be Thankful For
To the Editor: This week provides two special opportunities to give thanks to those in our lives who have made a difference. In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week and Mothers’ Day I wish to say two simple, yet profound words, that often go unspoken: Thank you.
Letter: A Ticket To Nowhere
To the Editor: Alexandria Democrats should think twice before providing support to City Council Candidates Lovain and Wilson for numerous reasons, the top four being:
Letter: Growth That Isn’t Smart
To the Editor: If elected mayor in November, I will change the kind of planning process that brought us the waterfront plan, Beauregard plan and the proposed $500 million Potomac Yards metro station. The current approach assumes growth is always good and more growth is even better, and that all new development will make Alexandria more livable.
Letter: A Solution for Catastrophe
To the Editor: Based on the City’s approval of the Beauregard Small Area Plan we can expect the continued forced exodus of at least 5,000 low- and moderate-income people from Alexandria. We have the City proclaiming its commitment to diversity as City actions will result in the forced displacement of its most diverse neighborhood. The West End neighborhood holds high concentrations of African American, African, Latino and Muslim and most are likely to move without City intervention.
Letter: A Prediction
To the Editor: Everybody loves predictions. So here are mine for the slate to be endorsed by the group Securing Alexandria’s Future in the June 12 Democratic Primary.
Letter: Support Mental Health Services
To the Editor: May is Mental Health Month, established in 1949 to spread the word about the importance of mental health and to combat the stigma associated with mental illness.