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

How To Keep One’s Financial Affairs in Order

Plan, plan, plan — it’s never too early. This was the mantra at last week’s Senior Speaker Series event: Planning for your Family’s Future, sponsored by Senior Services of Alexandria and ACT for Alexandria. Temple Beth El Hebrew Congregation hosted a crowd or more than 100 for a panel discussion about the steps we all need to take to protect our assets and put our legal affairs in order.

A Chaplain, a Clown, a Magician

In a world besieged with serious issues, problems and tragedies, Theodore White provides a special touch that impacts those around him in positive ways. White has served as a volunteer chaplain at Inova Alexandria Hospital since the early 1990s.

Proclamation Celebrates Harry Lee and Robert E. Lee

The following proclamation was issued by Mayor William Euille on Jan. 10.

Challenges of a Lean Economy

Could Meals Tax Be Answer To Fund Schools?

The school budget, roads and money were the main topics Monday night, Jan. 20, when Supervisor Michael R. Frey (R-Sully) gave his annual, “State of Sully” address.

Investigating Crime Scenes

Police detective discusses the job of the Crash Reconstruction Unit.

Fairfax County Police Det. Josh David minored in physics at GMU, and it’s come in handy in his job. A 13-year member of the Police Department, he’s been with the Crash Reconstruction Unit for five years now. And, he said, “I realized how much math, physics and science is involved in what I do.”

Burke Target Employee Killed by VRE Train

A cashier at the Burke Target was hit by a Virginia Railroad Express Train traveling from Washington to Manassas on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Churches, County Organize Blanket Drive to Aid Syrian Refugees

Blankets collected in Northern Virginia’s Blanket Drive for Syrian Refugees will soon be arriving in Turkey, where a local relief agency will distribute them to Syrian refugee families in the Adana refugee camp. More than 18,000 blankets were collected. These blankets were donated by residents of Northern Virginia through grass-roots efforts organized by local elected officials in conjunction with the Fairfax County Interfaith Council. Residents were asked to drop off clean and folded blankets at locations throughout Northern Virginia. In Fairfax County, seven meetinghouses of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) served as donation collection points, as well as two Islamic Centers, and offices of several members of the county Board of Supervisors. Chairman Sharon Bulova joined volunteers at one LDS meetinghouse and publicly thanked the church for its efforts in supporting the effort.

Hybrid Tax Repeal On Its Way

Commentary

The General Assembly is now in full swing with action on major bills starting to move through. The first bill I introduced was the repeal of the $64/year tax on hybrid vehicles – HB4. In the last few days, the Senate approved the repeal of the Hybrid Tax. A vote by the full house comes later this week.

Work on Display

Local woodworker participates in Sugarloaf Crafts Festival.

Alexandria woodworker Benjamin Leatham will be among the more than 250 jury selected artists showcasing their works at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival from Jan. 24-26 at Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly.

Into the Budget Fray

Bulova highlights accomplishments, challenges in annual address.

Despite the lingering impact of an anemic economy, and the regional ripple effects of federal sequestration, Fairfax County residents will see some concrete signs of progress this year.

‘Ella’ Opens at MetroStage

“Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song” opens this week at MetroStage. It is the story of young Ella literally dancing in the streets and winning a talent contest at the Apollo Theatre when she was 15 years old. She headlined with Chick Webb and his Orchestra at the Savoy Ballroom, performed Live at the Cote D’Azur and so much more. She discovered that she could “scat” and mastered a new art form called “bebop.” It is a fascinating journey of a legendary artist.

Editorial: Extend Health Coverage in Virginia

Standing on what is essentially scorched earth, Republicans in the Virginia General Assembly have condemned hundreds of thousands of poor Virginians to living without health coverage even though it would be fully funded by Federal money for the next three years, and with Virginia paying 10 percent after five years.

Friends Forever

Since it had been more than a few months, today I summoned up the courage to Google my long-time friend and fellow stage IV lung cancer survivor, Suzanne. Suzanne and I had been years out of touch (for no real reason other than initiative and the geographic consideration that she lived in Barnstable, Ma. and I live in Burtonsville, Md.) and recently back in touch – due to our identical cancer diagnoses. I learned that she had succumbed to her disease back in October, 2013. We last had contact electronically back in the summer. She was extremely weak then, she said, too weak to talk, so e-mailing was best. In that e-mail, ultimately her last, she wrote that the most recent chemotherapy drug with which she was infused was no longer effective and that her oncologist had no other drugs left to recommend. Not that she said it in so many words, but at that point her prognosis was grim. She offered that her two boys were with her and from them she would gain great comfort. The news was very unsettling to me and I was afraid that this e-mail might be our last – and so it was.

Roundups for 1/22/14

The editor presents the roundups for the week of 1/22/14.

Council Escapes History Buffs

A couple of weeks ago news broke that Councilman Justin Wilson, of historical Del Ray, the city's sin capital a century ago, introduced a bill that some old-timers thought would banish naming city streets for Confederate generals who many consider heroes. Second reading on Mr. Wilson's proposal is scheduled this Saturday (Jan. 25). Along with the no naming, council will also eliminate an old ordinance preventing lewd co-habitation in the city. No squawks on this.

In Memory of Robert Steidl

Robert Steidl was born on Aug. 14, 1940 in Linz, Austria. Linz was occupied by the Nazi German party at that time and Robert’s family had the courage to give safe haven in their home to the Jews who were being hunted down. Robert had an early memory of an American soldier who was stationed in Linz after the Nazis were gone.

‘Broadway Magic’ To Be Shown at Herndon High

A “crazy colorful, an explosion of fun” show.

“When you guys land, land on the balls of your feet, don’t land with your feet flat. Then pivot on right foot, but sing the melody,” Dana Van Slyke said. Herndon High School’s Choral Director Van Slyke was speaking to students in the school auditorium practicing choreography for a song from the musical “South Pacific.” The cast and crew conducted a weekend recital to prepare for the annual cabaret show. “The cabaret show is about an hour and a half production of songs from classical musicals all the way to contemporary shows,” Van Slyke said.

Del. Comstock Shares Her Notes on Opening Week

A new beginning, a new chairmanship and a new legislative session.

It is always an honor to be part of the oldest continuous legislative body in the western world. On Jan. 8, we began a new session with a new Administration. The session is always kicked off early in the morning (7 a.m.) with the annual Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast. In keeping with tradition, outgoing Governor McDonnell and incoming Governor McAuliffe and senior government officials attend. This year I had the honor of offering the prayer for State Legislators at the Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast also features guest speakers every year and everyone was moved by the powerful testimony of Thomas Haynesworth, a truly inspirational man, who was exonerated in 2011 after being wrongfully imprisoned for 27 years for crimes he did not commit. Mr. Haynesworth spoke of his faith sustaining him throughout this unjust ordeal.

‘This Is the Town’s Building’

Vienna Community Center will receive addition, renovation.

For nearly half a century, Vienna’s community center has served its residents. Whether hosting classes, meetings or special events, it’s one of the most heavily used buildings in town. Since its dedication on April 17, 1966, it’s been renovated three times. But the last time was in 1998 and, now, it’ll be repaired again, and enlarged, as well.

Floris United Methodist Opens Doors to Area Homeless

Members of Floris United Methodist Church (FUMC) in Herndon have participated in programs assisting the area’s homeless for years, mostly through food and clothing donations and by volunteering to serve meals at shelters and seasonal food pantries and kitchens. Last year a number of the congregation who have given their time to those efforts decided to see if FUMC would take their involvement to the next level by agreeing to literally open the church doors for one week as part of the annual Hypothermia Prevention and Response program coordinated by local non-profit FACETS. The response by FUMC leadership and worshipers alike was overwhelmingly positive.

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