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Invasive Restrictions: Effort to Restrict Sale of Invasive Plants May Wilt in Richmond

Legislative delegation wary of running afoul of the free market.

They’re all over Mount Vernon — English ivy, Bradford pear, porcelainberry, oriental bittersweet and bamboo.

Refugees from Slavery: Contrabands in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia

The National Park Service and the Office of Historic Alexandria will co-sponsor a program called Refugees from Slavery: Contrabands in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, at the Alexandria Black History Museum from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The program will consist of two parts. Initially, Professor Chandra Manning of Georgetown University will explain the history of the Contrabands, men and women who escaped slavery during the Civil War. Afterward, there will be further discussion about who the Contrabands were and how they can be remembered by a panel consisting of researchers, descendants, rangers, and local historians from across the region.

Calendar

Saturday/Nov.10 Preschool Fall Festival. noon-2 p.m. The Plymouth Haven Baptist Church Preschool Fall Festival will feature a chili and macaroni & cheese cook-off, hot dogs, chips, apple cider, coffee, cold drinks, and dessert for only $6 ($3 for children under 12). There will be raffles and drawings featuring goods and services from local businesses. There will also be an inflatable obstacle course, a hay ride, a bean bag toss, apple bobbing contest, old-fashioned sack race, face painting/tattoos, popcorn, and much more. All proceeds go to Plymouth Haven Preschools Scholarship and Enrichment Programs.

Right Policy

To the Editor: Let's face it — Alexandria is the loveliest jurisdiction of the entire Washington Metropolitan Area. I have lived here for half of my life. And in the course of this many years, "things happen." The city was always there when needed — whether it was a tornado hitting four houses on our street, ours included; the Fire Department ambulance staffed with an emergency physician when I fainted while jogging; the battle with "our" monopolist TV and high-speed internet provider; the city arborist to support our drive to re-forest our street (80-year old oak trees had either died a natural death or had been trimmed to extinction because of above-ground wires); the Recycling/Solid Waste Department's responsiveness to "special needs" recycling or simple oversights; our highly competent Police Department whenever "odd" occurrences were reported on our small street; the General Court Clerk when we needed procedural information; the Environmental Inspector as to noise pollution and flooding problems; the Tax Department for additional information and help. And so on. The list is long, and I am fully appreciative not only of what our city does but also of what it represents historically.

Inclusive Dialogue

To the Editor: This year, the local elections in Alexandria are particularly important for the future of our city. The choices are clear and stark. On the one hand, we may elect a Mayor and City Council that will continue to follow the closed, secretive, and divisive practices that have allowed development to run amok throughout the city. If we choose this path, we will condemn Alexandria to an uninspiring future of mediocrity, allowing it to develop into just another McCity with uninspiring architecture that could be located anywhere in the nation. On the other hand, we can choose new leadership that will encourage open, transparent, and inclusive practices that respect and preserve the unique, historic character of Alexandria. If we choose this direction, we can retain the best aspects of life in a city that has witnessed first-hand the most important and dramatic episodes in our nation’s history. These and our rich cultural heritage are the things that make Alexandria such a desirable place in which to live and which annually draw hordes of tourists to our city. Lose them and we lose our major attractions.

Stop More Tall Buildings

To the Editor: The question that should be asked every candidate or City Council or mayor is: What will you do to keep Alexandria from becoming Crystal City? The essence of Crystal City is tall buildings — office buildings, condominiums, hotels — that tower over people walking along narrow sidewalks below.

After the Storm

Stay informed by signing up for the county's Community Emergency Alert Network (CEAN) text/email updates that will provide weather alerts and other critical information.

Bi-Partisan Leadership

To the Editor: I want to encourage my fellow Alexandrians to vote for Frank Fannon for Alexandria City Council on Nov. 6. Frank has set an example of bi-partisan leadership in the Alexandria City Council and has been the fresh, new voice needed for so long.

Allen v. Kaine For Senate 10/31/2012

Voters have stark choice between candidates to replace U.S.

Candidates for U.S. Senate George Allen and his Democratic challenger Timothy M. Kaine have much in common. Both were popular governors of the Commonwealth of Virginia; both have long political resumes; and both men are passionate about the success of their adopted home state. Now locked in a race that could determine control of the U.S. Senate, both candidates are fighting to secure the seat of retiring Sen. Jim Webb (D), spending a record $55 million-plus on an avalanche of ads to sway swing voters in Northern Virginia and across the state. The message from both candidates is simple: voters have a stark choice. Kaine, 54, has portrayed himself as a bipartisan bridge-builder who supports gender equality and believes that access to higher education and investing in what he calls the “talent economy” are critical to the success of Virginia and the nation.

Former Board Chairs Endorse

To the Editor: We, as former School Board chairs, enthusiastically encourage Alexandria voters in District B to re-elect Marc Williams to the Alexandria School Board. Marc has served on the board for the past four years and, with a minimum of six new members on the board, it is important to maintain the experience and continuity that Marc brings in order to continue the progress that has been made in raising student achievement throughout ACPS. Marc is a consensus builder, proven leader and dedicated School Board member who has demonstrated his commitment to programs and curriculum that challenge and meet the needs of all our students.

Balanced Representation

To the Editor: With the national elections in the spotlight, I want to draw your attention to our local Alexandria City Council race. On Nov. 6, the front of the ballot will hold the Federal races and constitutional amendments, while the back of the ballot will hold our Local Alexandria races. This will be the first time our local election will be held on the same day as the presidential race. This is an important election both nationally and locally in Alexandria.

Representative Candidate

To the Editor: According to 2010 Census Profiles, 52 percent of Alexandria’s population is female and collectively, minorities represent 38 percent (Blacks 22 percent and Hispanics 16 percent). Everyone should be represented at the seat of government. We are women — young and old, Republican and Democrat, married and single, black and white. And we want genuine representation on the City Council just like everyone else. Alicia Hughes, in one person, represents all of us and we want her back on City Council. She is a black woman who happens to be Republican too. We need a balance of perspectives on council that no one party alone can provide. Most importantly, her stellar record of service, open-mindedness and intellect has earned our support.

Protect Property Rights

To the Editor: On Nov. 6, Virginia voters will be asked to vote on a Virginia constitutional amendment to prevent the government from taking private property through eminent domain and simply transferring it to another person

Analytical Skills Needed

“If not now, when?” — A 40 year Alexandria citizen and life-long Democrat, I must abandon one claim (only within this city) to preserve the other. Clinging to the claim of “citizen”, I cannot vote for any of the BRAC Five, all Democrats (Euille, Pepper, Wilson, Lovain, Smedberg). I find their positions on development destructive to the essential character of our city — putting at risk our heritage and keys to our future economic prosperity. At one debate I heard four of them attribute their BRAC position in part to being misled by city staff’s presentations. Tantamount to an admittance of poor analytical skills and/or their ability to assert true leadership, their “excuse” is unacceptable. Might these flaws explain their advocacy for shortsighted and damaging positions on development from the waterfront to the west end?

Important Balance

To the Editor: As I head to the polls on Nov. 6, there is one candidate who will surely get my vote, and I encourage other Alexandrians to do the same. First term Councilman Frank Fannon has been a true asset to the City Council over the past three years. Fannon is a lifelong Alexandrian who has worked and been involved in civic life for over 20 years. He brings an important balance that is needed in local government. He is a straight shooter, sticks to the point and is realistic about the issues facing Alexandria.

Moving Forward Together

To the Editor: I thank the Gazette-Packet for publishing my opinion columns as I’ve written on what affects our lives through my lens as a member of the Alexandria City Council, Virginia Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring and Liaison the Virginia Task Force on Local Mandates Review. My public service to you remains a privilege. I run again for council and have served purposed on “Keeping People First to Perfect One Alexandria.” I have been pleased to successfully: (1) lead the charge to keep the tax rate flat; (2) provide hot meals to seniors on Sundays through Meals on Wheels, starting Nov. 4; (3) have Old Town Farmer’s Market hours extended; (4) secure funding to reduce the pre-K backlog; and (5) preserve the integrity of neighborhoods while honoring our history, including having secured funding that led to the revelation of graves of Black soldiers in Fort Ward Park. I am also proud to be credited with leading the discussion that brought about a year-long study on how we use consultants and can curtail spending on them in Alexandria and saving local governments across the Commonwealth millions of dollars through my work on the Task Force on Local Mandates Review as the Governor’s Liaison to the Commission on Government Reform.

As Sandy Rolls In, Still Plan to Vote 10/31/2012

Variety of choices in political landscape.

Hurricane Sandy means that the week preceding the election will not be what we were expecting. This editorial is being written Sunday night, Oct. 28, as forecasters predict five inches of rain and 65-mile-per-hour winds over the next two days. With some predicting that power could take a week or more to restore, we have to worry about the likely condition of the Eastern seaboard will be on Election Day, Nov. 6. Absentee voting in person had been cancelled for Monday, and most government offices were closed in anticipation of the storm. What will this mean for voter turnout, for access to voting places on Election Day?

Letter: Right Policy

We need to reset City Hall with Andrew Macdonald as mayor and Bob Wood on the City Council, neither one beholden to developers but dedicated to preserve, protect and defend our culture, history and environmentally sustainable quality of life.

Letter: Inclusive Dialogue

We believe that it is high time for a change in our city administration. In our view, Andrew Macdonald is the best choice for mayor on Nov. 6.

Letter: Glorification Of Lost Cause?

Your recent articles on the restoration of the Confederate statue at the intersection of Prince and South Washington streets — Montie Martin's "A Statue with 100 Names" (Sept. 27) and Nancy Jennis Olds' "'Appomattox' Gets Makeover" (Oct. 11) — indicate that the romanticism and sentimentality of the South, otherwise known as the Lost Cause and exemplified in the glorification of the Confederate soldier, continue into the 21st century.

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Legislative delegation wary of running afoul of the free market.

Voters have stark choice between candidates to replace U.S.

Variety of choices in political landscape.