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Alexandria/Mount Vernon Weekend Fun: July 31-Aug. 9

Events in and near Alexandria and Mount Vernon.

Fairfax County School Board Honors Retiring Leaders, Adopts Budget Review and Audit Plan

In their last meeting of the summer, Fairfax County School Board members began by remembering former superintendent Dr. Robert Spillane, who recently died, and recognizing outgoing members of the school system’s leadership team.

Tons of Trucks’ Drive to Success

Event sparks memories, old and new.

Passing showers could not keep away the hundreds of eager people searching Chinquapin Park for long lost loves and new found interests in every day city vehicles. The inaugural event on Saturday, July 18 hosted seven departments including the fire department and Alexandria County Public Schools.

People At Work: City’s Sign Fabricator

Meeting an ever-increasing need for signs.

The black wedge jerks back and forth, making small cuts in the shiny red vinyl. Two or three minutes later Abraham (“they call me Abe here”) Kifle, sign fabricator for the City of Alexandria, cuts off the 24-inch rectangle from the large roll with his sharp blade.

Alexandria: Frontlines Falter

... in city’s affordable housing war.

While the city prepares to gain a little over 100 affordable housing units at Potomac Yard and The Filmore, one of the city’s bastions of affordable housing is in the process of pricing out residents, formerly protected by a rent freeze, who can’t keep up with rapidly rising rent costs.

Arlington Weekend Fun: July 31-Aug. 9

Events in Arlington, Va.

Alexandria: Old Colony Inn Faces Setback

Developer and neighbors go toe-to-toe over hotel expansion.

The Old Colony Inn in North Old Town off of the George Washington Parkway has a major upgrade planned. The two-story Best Western Hotel is planning to double its height and expand to include a restaurant on the corner.

Letter: Appropriate Recommendations

Although historical fact is close to objective, historical interpretation is very subjective. As painful as a lot of American history is, as Americans we need to be regularly reminded of it to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Letter: Revisiting Primary

It has been most amusing to read the letters in this paper about the Democratic primary and the results.

Commentary: What Point-In-Time Count Means for Homelessness

On Jan. 28, 2015 the City of Alexandria counted 267 persons experiencing homelessness within the city during the annual Point-in-Time count, the exact same number as last year. While this number is just a one night snapshot of those who are either living on the streets or temporarily housed in shelters, it is full of meaning that needs to be carefully examined.

Commentary: Value of New Next to Old

The debate rages in Alexandria about what our new waterfront should look like. It is an issue that our next mayor will be dealing with. One argument says that new buildings should fit in with existing brick buildings, mainly the two-story homes and townhouses that were built with local clay from the late 1700s to the early 1900s. This idea has been the guiding light for every building built in Alexandria for the last 20 some years. Every office building must be built with an outer brick shell.

Alexandria: Masked and Hungry Critters Are Coming Down to Earth

One of your neighbors might be a raccoon.

This is the time of year when Alexandrians might step out into a yard or alley and encounter a masked creature, wearing stripes. Raccoons, born in the trees in spring, are descending to street level to search for food.

Alexandria: 10 Things To Know about Local Drinking Water

Virginia American Water joins thousands of water utilities across the country in the release of its annual water quality report available on line at www.amwater.com/vaaw/customer-service/water-quality-reports.html. In honor of the occasion, Virginia American Water offers this list of the top 10 things everyone should know about their drinking water.

Potomac Weekend Fun: July 31-Aug. 9

Events near Potomac for July 31-Aug.9

Alexandria Brief: City Benefits from Bond Ratings

After both major rating agencies reaffirmed the City of Alexandria’s top bond ratings, the city earned favorable interest rates on the competitive sale of new bonds and the refinancing of existing bonds.

Alexandria: Cold Treats for the Summer Heat

Gelato, ice cream shops rise to the occasion in the throes of summer.

Tucked half a block off of King Street in what was formerly a private residence at 111 S. Payne St., Casa Rosada’s pink-hued façade beckons pedestrians and drivers alike. The gelato café – whose name means “Pink House” in Spanish, an homage to the presidential residence of Argentina, the country where Casa Rosada’s owners hail from – has certainly made itself at home in Old Town in its 13 months of life.