Uncertainty Haunts Jefferson-Houston Groundbreaking
Questions linger as officials prepare ceremonial shovels.
City leaders and school officials are about to break out the ceremonial shovels and turn the earth at Jefferson-Houston School, the long-troubled facility near the King Street Metro station.
Council Notebook
It's official. The Alexandria City Council is against expanding operations at a hazardous materials facility on the West End of the city near the Van Dorn Metro station and just a few hundred feet from Tucker Elementary School.
Office Vacancy Hits Historic High in Alexandria
City officials blame Base Closure and Realignment Commission.
The crush of rush hour traffic at Mark Center is not the only headache caused by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.
Schools?School Notes
Francis C. Hammond 1 Middle School Principal Benjamin G. Costa announced his resignation to pursue other career goals. Former Alexandria City School Board Member and ACPS Principal Blanche Maness will become the acting principal at Hammond 1, effective immediately.
People Notes
Steve Strobridge, deputy director of government relations for the Military Officers Association of America was named one of the 100 most influential people in U.S. Defense in Defense News and Military Times’ inaugural list of influential players from the worlds of politics, the military, business, government and academia. Strobridge, of Alexandria, was cited for his work in helping to shape legislation affecting issues of importance for military personnel and their families. Christine M. Candio, RN, FACHE, CEO, Inova Alexandria Hospital, and senior vice president, Inova Health System, has been nominated as the 2013–2014 Chairwoman-Elect of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), an international professional society of more than 40,000 healthcare executives.
Neighborhood
TAYLOR RUN
FRIENDS OF FORT WARD Friends of Fort Ward will hold its annual meeting May 18 at the museum at 5:30 p.m. Following the meeting there will be a reception and a concert by the Federal City Brass Band, playing music appropriate to the period and wearing their splendid uniforms which are also of the period.
More Density Means Higher Taxes
To the Editor: I am not surprised by our City Council decision to increase taxes. Given a choice to spend or not to spend, they revert to form. After all, each and every one is a good Democrat, which means their natural inclination is to spend and tax. Their varying reasons for taking ever more money from the public is also genuine.
Supportive Commissioners
To the Editor: The Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center (NVJDC) is a 70-bed secure juvenile detention facility located in Alexandria serving Alexandria, Falls Church and Arlington. The Sheltercare Program is a 14-bed, juvenile residential program which is also under oversight of the commission. As executive director since 2002, I would like to particularly acknowledge Dorathea Peters and Lillian Brooks, the two members appointed by Alexandria, to the Juvenile Detention Commission for Northern Virginia (JDCNV). They are volunteers receiving no stipend for their time on the five-member commission.
Preferential Treatment?
To the Editor: As reported in the Alexandria Gazette Packet ( May 9) Mayor Euille and city officials expressed major concerns about Norfolk Southern's proposed plan to increase their ethanol transloading and had not been notified about this proposed plan, our local elected officials quickly decided to vote on an resolution opposing Norfolk Southern's plan. Is this resolution really that important and necessary? There is no question from most Alexandria residents that Norfolk Southern's proposed plan to double their ethanol transloading might impact the environment for those residents who live nearby at Cameron Station and other residential properties. However, Norfolk Southern has been at this location for more then 20-plus years long before Cameron Station and other condos/schools were built in that neighborhood. Further, the Surface Transportation Act supercedes local law movement by rail and the city of Alexandria lost its lawsuit against Norfolk Southern about six years over the same issue.
A Vital Part of the Rich History of Alexandria
After living in the Boston area for many years, I returned to Alexandria about six years ago. Having an opportunity to witness the tremendous growth of the city has been a phenomenal experience. I have walked down streets I frequented, as a child of color, with a sense of nostalgia that is sometimes overwhelming. I can still hear some of the old voices of my youth speaking as I pass homes that are so familiar and yet so foreign. I still remember some of the catchy rhymes my father said and sang as we walked on the Hill to visit relatives and friends. I can still feel my hand in my mother’s hand as we walked along enjoying the sights of the route chosen for the evening. We so often walked from North Alfred or North Fayette to “ The South side.”
Kindness On Bike Trail
To the Editor: In this fast-paced world it is easy to become cynical and concerned with what has been dubbed as the “me” generation. However, this notion was dispelled one early morning, when a buddy and I went on a 25-mile bike ride on the W&OD, Custis and Mount Vernon Bike Trail. It was surprising how many young and older riders use the trail, many commuting to work.
Making Learning Fun
The students chattered and compared paint colors as they strolled along the path at the Winkler Preserve on Friday, May 10, to launch hand-crafted model sail boats and play the cigar box guitars they had made over the past semester in their class through a joint effort by the Alexandria Seaport Foundation and Alexandria City Public Schools.
Rebuilding Together Day
Volunteers rebuild homes for those in need.
More than 700 local volunteers took part in National Rebuilding Together Day April 27 to provide critical repairs and upgrades for low-income homeowners in Alexandria.
Opposition Heats Up over City's Plans for Founders Park
Council to be asked to amend current restrictions on special events.
The proposed amendment to allow special events in Founders Park took center stage at the May 10 annual meeting of the Founders Park Community Association. “I can't believe the city is proposing this,” said one attendee who asked to remain anonymous. “There should be more respect for Ellen Pickering, Chuck Hamel and Patricia Golubin for saving this land. The park would not exist at all if it weren't for their efforts back in the '70s.”
Some Like It Haute
Old Town Theater hosts Boutique District Spring Style event
The Old Town Boutique District held a Spring Style party April 29 at the Old Town Theater to introduce media representatives from throughout the region to the retail offerings available in the historic district of Alexandria.
Video
- NewsTalk Segment 25 comments
- County Council President Roger Berliner Faces Angry Crowd in Potomac 17 comments