Mount Vernon, Alexandria Communities Mourns Death of Herb Harris
Former member of Congress, district supervisor.
Former Mount Vernon Supervisor and U.S. Rep. Herbert Harris died at his home in Mount Vernon on Dec. 24, 2014. He was 88 years old.
Celebrating the Holidays with Alexandria Seaport Foundation
Staff, friends and supporters of the Alexandria Seaport Foundation gathered for a final holiday party in the Duke Street workshop at the Robinson Terminal South on Dec. 9. The boats in progress were decked out with festive greens as the work tables were laden with food and wine. The ASF will vacate the current premises later in 2015 when demolition for redevelopment begins at the terminal.
Ushering in the New Year in Alexandria
First Night fireworks light up Alexandria.
Fireworks lit up the sky over the Potomac River to usher in 2015 as part of the 20th anniversary of First Night Alexandria.
Alexandria Civil Rights Pioneer Ferdinand Day Dies
The force behind the philosophy of “Every Student Counts.”
When Ferdinand Day was born in 1918, Virginia had just passed its first compulsory school attendance law for children ages 8-12. But with legalized segregation, funding for the education of African American students was sorely limited, with only four black public high schools in the entire state. It would take decades before one existed in Alexandria.
Secret Santas in Alexandria
Departmental Progressive Club collects toys for Jefferson-Houston families
Members of the Departmental Progressive Club stopped by Jefferson-Houston Elementary School Dec. 15 to deliver more than 100 toys for students in need. “We are so thankful for what the Departmental Progressive Club has done,” said Jefferson-Houston principal Chris Phillips. “Each toy here means one more kid will wake up happy.”
Hooray for Small Business in Alexandria
Celebrating community role of small businesses.
On 2012’s Small Business Saturday, President Barack Obama visited One More Page Books in Arlington and set a trend for politicians in the Washington area: small Northern Virginia bookstores are the place to be on Nov 29. That tradition continued in Hooray for Books! on this year’s Small Business Saturday when U.S. Small Business Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet , U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, and local politicians converged to emphasize their patronage of the King Street bookstore.
Working toward English Literacy in Alexandria
Campagna Center program helps immigrants.
"Good morning ladies." Marcia D'Arcangelo stands in the large central room greeting teachers and students as they walk by, headed for their English classes. She is director of the New Neighbor ELL program in Alexandria funded by the Campagna Center. "We have nine different levels here. We recently added a new entry level of literacy when we discovered some people didn't know the basics of the English language, like the alphabet," D'Arcangelo said.
Alexandria Church Holds Prayer Vigil
Hundreds gather at Alfred Street Baptist Church for Michael Brown, Jr.
Alfred Street Baptist Church, an African American Baptist Church founded in 1803, held a special prayer vigil on Nov. 25 for Michael Brown, Jr., the African American 18-year-old male who was fatally-shot in Ferguson, Mo., on Aug. 9, by Police Officer Darren Wilson.
Living Legends of Alexandria: Fifer: Focusing on Key Community Needs
Co-founder of Alexandria Volunteer Bureau, now Volunteer Alexandria.
When you ask Lissette Bishins, executive director of the Carpenter’s Shelter, about Lee Fifer, she will tell you that he “is a lifelong Alexandrian who is a passionate advocate for those in need. His touch is all over Alexandria. He loves this city and the people in it; he is philanthropic and drives others to follow his lead.”
Alexandria: Annie B. Rose Crafters
Dozens and dozens of brightly colored knitted caps filled the table beside a Christmas tree in the lobby of the Annie B. Rose House on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 2.
Alexandria: Correction
In last week’s People at Work column, “Creating a Floral Centrepiece,” The caption for the photo at the top of the article should have read: Scott Marchand adds an accent of circus roses.
St. Mary’s School in Alexandria Hosts Christmas Bazaar
St. Mary’s School held its annual Christmas Bazaar at the school on Green Street on Saturday, Nov. 22.
Hope for the Holidays in Alexandria
’Tis the season of giving: of gifts, of parties and of thanks. But what should be a time of hope and happiness too often can be a time of despair for Alexandria’s vulnerable and low income families.
Clarification
Last week’s story, “I Wanted a Better Life,” on the life of Nelson Greene Sr., should have included credit to Sarah Becker for her Living Legends profile of Mr. Greene which was incorporated in the Nov. 20 Gazette Packet article.