"how to keep one's financial affairs in order"

Resources for Seniors, Family Members and Caregivers

Senior Services of Alexandria

Alexandria’s seniors can benefit from a vast array of services and programs available through local non-profits and city programs, but it may be challenging to know where to start. The good news is that there are a variety of ways to get information about what is available to seniors living in the City of Alexandria:

Rebuilding Together Alexandria: Southern Charm

Alice* is a D.C.-native who moved to Alexandria in the 1970s for a job. She and her husband built a life in this “sleepy, southern town,” eventually buying a home. They watched as the small town grew into a bustling mini-metropolis, spurred by the Metro. Despite the growth and change, Alice believes her neighborhood was “just as lovely then as it is now.”

A New Mission

Veteran to teach yoga to fellow veterans.

After 12 years in the U.S. Air Force, Arlington resident Natasha Glynn is taking a step in a new direction. Thanks to a fellowship with the non-profit organization The Mission Continues, Glynn will spend the next six months teaching yoga to fellow veterans in the D.C. Metropolitan area.

Cherry Blossom Trees To Be Removed for New School

Residents still think trees can be salvaged.

Over the next week, the Crescent Hills community will lose what is remaining of about over a dozen cherry blossom trees that Sholar planted, to a new elementary school that will be built alongside Williamsburg — a decision that many residents think is wrong.

Once Cramped, Outdated; Now Modern, Efficient

When the Fairfax County Animal Shelter was built in the early 1970s, it was intended to be a dog pound to handle stray and homeless dogs. Renovated in the mid-1980s, it increased the number of kennels from 48 to 72 to better care for dogs in isolation and quarantine.

County Schools’ Autism Program Could Face Major Cuts

School board to vote on program's budget this Thursday.

Arlington public middle and high schools are facing possible budget cuts regarding the schools' autism programs.

Honoring the County’s Devotion to Animals

Shelter’s renovation and expansion are celebrated.

Residents, politicians and even four-footed alumni flocked to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter on Saturday, May 17, to celebrate completion of its renovation and expansion. It was a long time in coming, so it made the event even sweeter. “We’re making history today for the animal shelter, Animal Services division, police department and county,” said shelter Director Tawny Hammond. “Fairfax is a national role model and leader, and it’s a very exciting day.”

Life as a Comic Frenzy

Providence Players present Neil Simon's farce, ‘Rumors.’

Women in lovely evening attire and men in snappy tuxedos were walking about the stage of the James Lee Community Center theater. It was an early dress rehearsal for the Providence Players (PPF) production of "Rumors," a farce by award winning playwright Neil Simon. The PPF cast was getting a feel for the set as final touches were being made to a tastefully decorated, contemporary two-story New York City apartment.

Group Assembly Proposal Could Limit Home Gatherings

Residents voice opposition to proposal at public meetings.

After a heated public meeting on a proposed change to the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance, which would limit gatherings of more than 49 people to three times in a 40--day period in a residential dwelling, Leslie Johnson, the zoning administrator for Fairfax County, told residents she doubts the proposal will go any further, based on the feedback that has been received.

Major Construction and Lane Closures on I-95 This Summer

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced that drivers traveling on I-95 in Northern Virginia should prepare for more lane closures and traffic impacts this summer. While construction-related lane closures on I-95 will be restricted through the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, drivers will face continued closures of the existing HOV and regular lanes on I-395/95 during overnight hours and weekends, as well as on weekdays during non-rush hours, as crews advance Express Lanes construction. Construction of the nearly $1 billion 95 Express Lanes project is nearly 80 percent complete. The high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes project remains on-schedule to be substantially finished by late 2014 and open to traffic in early 2015.

Column: You and I Should Lead in Mental Health Response

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Unfortunately, we as a community and as a Commonwealth have not prioritized and advocated for mental health outreach and service solutions. The heartbreaking suicides by local high school students, the well-publicized suicide of Senator Creigh Deeds’s son after help could not be found, and the disproportionate numbers of our veterans struggling with mental health challenges all highlight the critical need to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and address the difficulty in finding treatment.

Distracted Driving Rising in Fairfax County, Interstate 95

Drivers are encouraged to avoid their phones

Although April was designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the issue continues to affect drivers in and around Fairfax County throughout the year. According to the Fairfax County Police Department, distracted driving resulted in 1,175 crashes in 2013. In the Lee district, Franconia Road and South Van Dorn Street was a top location for crashes involving distracted drivers.

Commetary: Brown v. Board of Education: 60 Years Later

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision.

Honored for Enthusiasm and Dedication

West Springfield Senior Natalia Rivero Nogales recognized by Hispanic Leadership Alliance.

When Natalia Rivero Nogales graduates in a month from West Springfield High School, she plans on majoring in psychology so she can become a counselor and help people, something that she says is her goal in life.

Letter: Dysfunctional City Hall

Letter to the Editor

Bringing Hope and Health to Lorton

Hope and Health Festival provides health information and screenings for area residents.

In the south county area, many residents have trouble receiving health care, says Linda Patterson, executive director of the Lorton Community Action Center. It was this struggle to access care that was behind the motivation for the Hope and Health Festival, a collaborative effort between the Lorton Community Action Center, South County Church, and the Lorton Library.