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Letter: More Study, Less Emotion

To the Editor: John S. Glaser’s letter “Benefits of Medicaid Expansion” in the May 1-7 Mount Vernon Gazette responding to my letter is typical of those who blindly push for something using whatever emotional data that suits their purpose and usually ignoring facts. For example, he uses data from a study report, as I said in my earlier letter, that contains caveats and cautionary language to decision makers to take into account before making any decision about expanding Medicaid. The study most often quoted states on page one “The uncertainties increase after 2019 and that period was not part of the scope of the study.” Under the Executive Summary it states “Given the overarching policy issues with PPAC, the reader should weigh the assumptions and caveats closely with conclusions and findings.” The Virginia Senate Finance Committee also has caveats.

Letter: Bipartisan Voice

To the Editor: I believe there is always a way to reach common ground with people I don't immediately see eye to eye with. But like many people, I have grown frustrated with politicians who are more interested in partisan talking points and political image than in compromise. Finding common ground in my everyday life is important to me and those around me — and it should be to elected officials as well.

Cappies Review

Mount Vernon Players presented a fascinating production of “Aida” School Edition on April 25. With simple but timely sets and an enthusiastic ensemble the Mount Vernon players created a memorable play. The cast’s energy in numbers and their exuberant facial expressions shine through to create a vivid story and make the musical come alive through the singing, the dancing and the acting.

Signature Stages “The Threepenny Opera”

Musical presents dark critique of capitalism in this updated translation.

“Life’s a bitch and then you die.” Signature Theatre in Shirlington is staging an updated version of “The Threepenny Opera” through June 1. While it was written in 1920s Germany (and based on John Gay’s 1728 “The Beggar’s Opera”), its themes are timeless: the brutality of humanity and the scathing critique of a capitalist society.

LTA Presents “Boeing, Boeing”

Comical farce stars a philandering architect engaged to three stewardesses.

The Little Theatre of Alexandria is presenting the non-stop comedy, “Boeing, Boeing,” now through May 24. Set in a 1965 Paris apartment on the same day, the classic farce written by French playwright Marc Camoletti is centered on Bernard, a swinging architect engaged to three flight attendants all at once. Bernard’s life goes haywire when his friend Robert comes to visit and a newer, speedier Boeing jet messes up all of his careful planning. Inevitably, all three stewardesses come to visit at the same time, but the ending’s not what you’d expect.

Letter: Project-Based Learning

To the Editor: It seems like every time you read an article regarding education there is talk of standardized high-stakes testing. Teachers spend hours planning and prepping lessons that ensure their students will select the correct answer on a lengthy multiple choice test. Students regurgitate this information one day late in the spring, when the only thing anyone can focus on is the looming summer months. When you think about what we want our students to be able to do when they exit high school, is being really good at test taking the first thing that comes to mind?

Support Fundraising Clifton Homes Tour and Marketplace

The Clifton Homes Tour and Marketplace, sponsored by the Clifton Community Woman’s Club, will be held on Thursday, May 15. Net proceeds from the Clifton Homes Tour go to the organization’s charitable trust.

Enjoy Classic Clifton Experience

17th Annual Clifton Caboose Twilight Run is May 17.

Gary Anderson, chairman of the Clifton Caboose Twilight Run, isn’t entirely sure why the run was originally chosen to take place at twilight. It was already a twilight run when he became chairman in 2005, and he liked it that way.

For ‘Dedication and Devotion to Duty’

PFC Rick Call is honored as Sully CAC’s Officer of the Month.

Honored for his police work that helped solve cases in Fairfax County and Washington, D.C., PFC Rick Call is the Sully District Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee’s (CAC) Officer of the Month for April. He was presented his award by Lt. Bob Blakely, assistant station commander. A local high-school teacher contacted him about a female student who thought she’d been drugged and sexually assaulted. Call met with the student who told him she and a friend were picked up by a man in Centreville and taken to an indoor swimming pool in the District.

Carrie Lake, Future Fund Membership Committee chair announced the winners of the live auction items …

Fairfax Home Sales: April, 2014

In April 2014, 98 Fairfax homes sold between $1,180,000-$161,000.

Fairfax Home Sales: April, 2014

McLean Home Sales: April, 2014

In April 2014, 102 homes sold between $3,400,000-$162,750 in the McLean and Falls Church area.

McLean Home Sales: April, 2014

Alexandria Home Sales: April, 2014

In April 2014, 227 Alexandria homes sold between $1,700,000-$105,000.

Alexandria Home Sales: April, 2014

City in Violation of Its Charter

Citizens hampered from accessing departmental rules and regulations.

While Alexandria’s ordinances are enacted in public by the City Council and are readily accessible to the citizenry, usually in the form of “The Code of the City of Alexandria, 1981,” departments and offices across city government also promulgate official rules and regulations, but they are neither publicized nor readily accessible by the citizenry. This directly violates the express wording of the city’s charter.

Letter: Two Strikes And Counting

To the Editor: The city manager’s initiative “What’s Next Alexandria”, ostensibly a program to develop a set of principles for civic engagement, has just imploded. The city manager established a Food Truck Advisory Group to ascertain if and where food trucks ought to be able to operate in the City of Alexandria. Presently food trucks can only operate at construction sites, special events, and at the farmers markets if Special Use Permits (SUPs) allow them to do so. The group met over a six-month period, yet because of the heavy snows we had last winter the group was unable to complete its work. However the over-rambunctious city staff could not wait until all of the issues were settled, and a final report rendered, before taking the program to the Planning Commission on May 6 and the council will address the issue on May 13 followed by a public hearing sometime in June or September. During their May 6 presentation, the Planning Commission was aghast at being told that they were only being asked to listen to the staff presentation and then comment but not to vote on whether they agreed or not. At least four of the seven commission members could not believe the subterfuge employed by the city staff in ram-rodding this program through.

Letter: Brick Sidewalks Need Repair

To the Editor: There is a very serious problem existing in the Old Town area of the city. This problem is to be found on many sidewalks. When we walk on the sidewalks, we have a problems existing under our feet. That problem is a horrific danger. People are falling because of loose bricks, broken bricks, missing bricks and holes between bricks. The problem may have arisen by excessive rains and heavy snowstorms that have hit the city several months ago. I have not seen or heard of any repairs to these bricks. Some of these problems may have existed prior to these storms. Repairs of the bricks in Old Town streets will enable walkers to walk into restaurants and shops without literally falling into them.

Letter: Alexandria Isn’t Arlington or D.C.

To the Editor: Something smells very rotten indeed in the process regarding the proposals for food trucks in our city. The panel who toiled long and hard and the concerned citizens who attended those meetings have been completely disregarded. The panel was not even allowed to issue a final report after eight months of meetings. Worse, city staff reported that many issues were decided unanimously by the panel — totally false! What is the rush in bringing this type of trade to our city? One can only assume that this is being driven by city staff as the final proposal is nearly identical to what was first proposed. This entire process makes a mockery of civic engagement and I fear what that impression holds for our future.

Letter: Best Suited For Congress?

To the Editor: To hear Mayor Bill Euille tell it, Alexandria will be just fine if we have more development. His vision for Alexandria is to sell historic City Hall to a developer to put up more condos for the very wealthy. That way, we can erect the Taj Mahal of city halls in Eisenhower Valley to showcase our rise from historic seaport to generic urban center.

Del Ray Art Market Opens for Season

For the fifth year, artists filled the Nicholas A. Colasanto Park offering their work for sale at the annual Del Ray Art Market. More than 25 artists have signed up for the monthly market. The market is held on the second Saturday of the month from May through October.

Know Stroke’s Warning Signs

Do you think you would recognize if you or a loved one were having a stroke? Early recognition and prompt treatment are critical to minimizing serious or permanent disability from stroke; yet, a study in the journal “Stroke” published in March found that one in five U.S. women couldn’t name even one symptom of stroke. In previous studies, men have fared no better.

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