Column: Sharing Lives through Friendly Visitor Program
Sharing Lives through Friendly Visitor Program
Our wonderful journey with the Friendly Visitor Program at Senior Services Alexandria began around two years ago.
Alexandria People at Work: The Art of Making Bread
The oven is warming to 450 degrees. Lisa Parkinson has lined up the unbleached flour, yeast and milk beside the freshly chopped rosemary, basil and thyme.
Alexandria: Living Legend Marga Fripp Strives To Empower Women
Living Legends of Alexandria is an ongoing 501(c)(3) photo-documentary project to identify, honor and chronicle the people making current history in Alexandria.
Obituary: Frances Dowdle Abbott "Smokie" Lyon
Frances Dowdle Abbott "Smokie" Lyon, 91, of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., died on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015.
Alexandria: TSA Transports out of Arlington
Arlington’s loss of the Transportation Security Administration headquarters is Alexandria’s gain.
While Alexandria celebrates the recent Transportation Security Administration’s decision to move to West Eisenhower, Arlington struggles to recover from another blow to the county’s office vacancies. The 3,800-person headquarters will leave its Arlington location in 2018 to settle into the Victory Center.
Alexandria Snapshot: One Love Festival
Harold and Sherman Harris, brothers of community activist Lenny Harris, attended the One Love Festival
Alexandria Snapshot: The Time of Their Lives
Chadwick’s owner Trae Lamond and his wife Carolyn channel Dirty Dancing stars Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey as they get into the spirit of ‘80s night Aug. 8.
Letter: Examining Fiscal Policies
Letter to the Editor
A recent letter praised city officials for a good bond rating. Believing that a AAA Bond rating is a sign of how great the finances of the city are being run shows a basic lack of understanding of public financing. A Bond rating directly affects how much the city has to pay to borrow money and is an indication of the level of risk an investor assumes in providing that funding. In other words, the higher your Bond rating, the easier it is to borrow money. The current Alexandria administration has subscribed to a borrow, build and hope strategy and adjusted city fiscal policies to maintain or improve the city's Bond rating rather than make responsible decisions that buy down the city's debt and reduce the future burden on the city taxpayers.
Letter: City's Enviable Balance Sheet
Letter to the Editor
One Republican City Council candidate recently referred to “debt that continues to escalate at a problematic rate.” Another Republican City Council candidate last week asserted, falsely, that the council had revised its debt policy guidelines downward. An independent City Council candidate recently spoke of the city's “burdensome” debt. Unfortunately, the recently concluded mayoral primary was dominated by false assertions about Alexandria’s debt.
Letter: Where To Spend
Letter to the Editor
A self- congratulatory announcement from the city arrived via e-news about the low interest rates our triple A bond rating has earned us. According to the mayor, it’s all due to good management.
Alexandria: Luck Be a Lady(burg)
Ladyburg bath and body apothecary opens in Old Town.
For Crystal and Fred Wellman, there was never any doubt that Alexandria is where they were meant to be.
Letter: Deferred CIP Projects
Letter to the Editor
In response to my letter to the editor about the budget that was published last week in the Alexandria Gazette, Councilman Justin Wilson suggested that I was in error concerning the debt guidelines, and that these guidelines had not been altered. Mr. Wilson was indeed correct in that the city did not alter their debt guidelines in order to close the $31 million deficit on the operating budget.
Alexandria: Help Sought in Missing Person
The Alexandria Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Reyam Abed.
The Alexandria Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Reyam Abed. She was last seen in the 5300 block of Essex Court around 3 p.m. on Aug. 3.
Letter: City Can Do Better
Letter to the Editor
Over the past few days in our local news, I have read various opinions over an important topic facing our city: Can our city do better? I want to unequivocally state that I know we can do better. That is why I am running for Alexandria City Council. I have enjoyed this recent discussion because quite frankly, vigorous debate is missing from the halls of City Council. When one party controls all the seats on the council, it is far too easy to fall into “group think." Democracy functions best when ideas are thoroughly debated and vetted. When all viewpoints are heard, compromise can lead to great solutions. I call for more rigorous debate when we contemplate the future of our city.
Letter: Overlooked Candidate
Letter to the Editor
While I do not live in Alexandria I was in the west end of the city recently giving a contribution to City Council candidate Monique Miles from my organization, the Virginia Federation of Republican Women. I am sure Herve Aitken [“Is City ‘Well-Run,” letter, July 30-Aug. 5, Gazette Packet] did not mean to slight or forget her as he listed all the other Republicans in the race. Ms Miles is a wonderful representative on my organization