Senator Ken Cuccinelli ( R-37) will speak to the Commonwealth Republican Women's Club (CRWC) on Thursday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Gail Ledwig, 503 Cathedral Drive, 703-823-0975.
Alexandria Library now offers its patrons a chance to write their own reviews of almost all of the Library holdings (books, movies, music, and other materials) on the Alexandria Library Web site online catalog at www.alexandria.lib.va.us. To access the online catalog, visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us , click on “Library Catalog,” and begin browsing. To write a review, simply register and type your review for all to read. For more information, contact Mark Schwartz at 703-519-3498, or e-mail mschwartz@alexandria.lib.va.us.
The community is invited to volunteer for the first annual Spring for Alexandria event on Friday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteer help is needed at project sites throughout the City to complete a variety of tasks, ranging from landscaping, stream cleanup, painting, and more. Volunteers can sign up individually, or recruit a team for a specific project. All interested individuals can register themselves and team members and request their service project choices at www.springforalexandria.org.
The City of Alexandria will observe the Days of Remembrance, Yom HaShoah, for the victims of the Holocaust at noon on Tuesday, April 29, in Market Square, 301 King St. It is part of the weeklong commemoration of the national Days of Remembrance, Sunday, April 27, through Sunday, May 4. Free. 703-838-4812.
“Climate Change: An Opportunity to Raise Consciousness” will be discussed at 6 p.m. on April 27 at Yoga In Daily Life National Center, 2402 Mt. Vernon Ave. As the negative implications of climate change become more widely understood, an opportunity arises to recognize how we as a society can work together. Reservations requested. $10 recommended donation. Refreshments follow the program. 703-299-8946.
On Saturday, May 3, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. the Landmark/Van Dorn Advisory Group will host a community workshop at Samuel Tucker School, 435 Ferdinand Day Drive, to develop planning principles and options for the planning area for further analysis. For further information on the Landmark/Van Dorn planning program, visit the web page at http://alexandriava.gov/planning/info/default.aspx?id=7014
On Monday, May 19, 7 p.m. The Landmark/Van Dorn Advisory Group will meet at Landmark Mall, 5801 Duke St. The primary topic for this meeting is affordable housing. In addition, the group will work with the information from the planning and design charrette to further define specific future options to be evaluated and discuss the evaluation process. For further information on the Landmark/Van Dorn planning program, visit the web page at http://alexandriava.gov/planning/info/default.aspx?id=7014
An internationally recognized expert on biodiversity will present a lecture on Climate Change and Nature on Sunday, April 27, 2008, 10 a.m. at the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church (MVUC), 1909 Windmill Lane, Alexandria. The public is invited and welcome to attend.
Commonwealth Academy is an independent college prep school in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria is holding the CARE Awards Dinner on April 29, from 6:30 - 9 p.m. at National Museum for Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. Visit www.nmwa.org.
The City’s Alexandria Commission for the Arts invites the public to attend Agenda Alexandria’s “Public Art: What is it? How Much Do We Want? Who Pays for It?” on Monday, April 28, at the Holiday Inn Eisenhower Metro Station, 2460 Eisenhower Ave. The program begins with a reception and buffet at 6:30 p.m., and a panel discussion beginning at 7:15 p.m. The cost of admission for the reception and buffet is $20 for Agenda Alexandria members and $25 for non-members or members without reservations. Individuals can attend the panel discussion only for $5. For additional information and to make a reservation, call Sherry Brown, at 703-549-4696 or e-mail agendaalexandria@aol.com.
The City of Alexandria will be hosting the Eco-City Summit at the T.C. Williams High School on May 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Residents interested in attending the Eco-City Summit are asked to RSVP at Eco-CitySummit@alexandriava.gov.
Join Kids Helping Kids and help raise money for other kids in Alexandria by running a lemonade stand. It is easy to participate – download and submit a form to KHK, pick up your lemonade kit on the morning of April 26th, run a lemonade stand in your neighborhood and then donate the money. All proceeds benefit Coats for Kids and the Center for Alexandria’s Children. Log on to www.kidshelpingkidsalexandria.org to sign up to run a lemonade stand on April 26.
The City of Alexandria will host the 15th Annual Alexandria Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration at Ben Brenman Park (4800 Brenman Park Dr.) on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s theme "What's YOUR footprint?” will focus on everyday activities residents can do to reduce their environmental footprint, and will educate residents about how they can make a difference, both locally and globally. This year, the Alexandria Earth Day Committee has committed to making this a zero-waste and carbon neutral event.
The event features City agencies and organizations dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Exhibitors will provide educational activities that inform residents about how to modify their behavior to reduce their environmental footprints.
The City’s Alexandria Commission for the Arts invites the public to attend Agenda Alexandria’s “Public Art: What is it? How Much Do We Want? Who Pays for It?” on Monday, April 28, at the Holiday Inn Eisenhower Metro Station (2460 Eisenhower Ave.). The program begins with a reception and buffet at 6:30 p.m., and a panel discussion beginning at 7:15 p.m. The cost of admission for the reception and buffet is $20 for Agenda Alexandria members and $25 for non-members or members without reservations. Individuals can attend the panel discussion only for $5.
Featured panelists include Marian Van Landingham, Founder, the Torpedo Factory Arts Center; Matthew Harwood, Chair of the Alexandria Commission for the Arts’ Public Art Committee; and Patrice Walker Powell, Deputy Chair, National Endowment for the Arts. Panelists will define the term “public art,” discuss the current role of public art in the City, and talk about public art’s meaning and value in the midst of the City’s tight budget.
For additional information and to make a reservation, call Sherry Brown, Executive Director of Agenda Alexandria, at 703.549.4696 or e-mail agendaalexandria@aol.com.
The Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities is seeking nominations for three annual awards that honor local residents and organizations that have made a difference in the lives of people with disabilities in the community. Application forms, available online at www.alexandriava.gov/humanrights are due by Wednesday, April 30. For more information, reasonable accommodations, or an alternative format, contact Mike Hatfield at mike.hatfield@alexandriava.gov or 703.519.3357, 711 TTY.
To sign up to speak or to obtain a copy of the agenda for the May 1 Alexandria Community Services Board public hearing on the needs of Alexandrians with a mental illness, intellectual disability, and/or a substance dependency problem, call Will Thompson at 703-838-4455, ext. 208, or e-mail will.thompson@alexandriava.gov. Written comments may be sent to Will Thompson via e-mail or faxed to 703-838-5070, or mailed to 720 North Saint Asaph Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Community Partners for Children’s fourth annual baby supply drive is underway. The following Alexandria drop off locations will have donation baskets and containers at their businesses. The items collected during the drive will be donated to four local non-profit groups that help struggling families: Casey Clinic, Alexandria Neighborhood Services in Arlandria, Center for Alexandria’s Children and the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM). The other way to help is to donate a tax-deductible check to support Community Partners for Children’s Baby Supply Drive, Back-to-School Drive and the Holiday Toy Drive. Send your check to Community Partners for Children, PO Box 2738, Alexandria, VA 22301.
* A Show of Hands, 2204 Mt. Vernon Ave.
* Burke & Herbert Bank, 306 E. Monroe Ave.
* Caboose Café, 2419 Mt. Vernon Ave.
* Chinquapin Rec. Center, 3210 King St.
* Chrysalis Chiropractic, 3140 Commonwealth Ave.
* Dairy Godmother, 2310 Mt. Vernon Ave.
* St. Elmo's Coffee Pub, 2300 Mount Vernon Ave.
* T.C. Williams High School, Main Office, 3330 King St.
* Yoga in Daily Life, 2402 Mt. Vernon Ave.
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is seeking persons who are diplomatic, assertive, and good communicators to serve as volunteer ombudsmen. Volunteers are assigned to a specific local nursing home or assisted-living facility in the City of Alexandria and make weekly visits, meeting one-on-one with residents. For further information and to obtain an application, call 703-324-5422, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/LTCOmbudsman.
Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Company has formed a special promotional partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia and Habitat for Humanity, Prince William County. The "Bank Better & Do Good" campaign will run through April 30. During that time period, Burke & Herbert Bank will donate $25 for every Advantage Checking Account opened at the bank to either of the two Habitat chapters.
To celebrate National Preservation Month this May, the Office of Historic Alexandria is offering “Alexandria Preservation 101,” a series of lectures and workshops to help educate owners of historic homes. Preservation 101 classes are open to all and will be held at the Lloyd House, 220 North Washington Street, in Old Town Alexandria. Following is the schedule:
* Tuesday, May 6: Lecture: 7:30-9 p.m., $10
* Saturday, May 10 (two sessions): Workshop: 10 a.m. to noon, $15, “Ornamental Plaster” by Hayles & Howe, Inc. Workshop: 1-3 p.m., $15, “Wall Plaster” by Hayles & Howe, Inc.
* Tuesday, May 13: Lecture: 7:30-9 p.m., $10
* Saturday, May 17 (two sessions): Workshop: 10 a.m. to noon, $15, “Repairing Historic Windows” by David Gibney, restoration carpenter. Workshop: 1-3 p.m., $15. “Restoring Historic Porches” by David Gibney, restoration carpenter
* Tuesday, May 20: Lecture: 7:30-9 p.m., $10
Lectures cost $10 each or $25 for the series of three, and workshops cost $15 each or $50 for the series of four. Advance registration is requested and can be made by calling 703-838-4554 or visiting www.historicalexandria.org.
For the 22nd consecutive year, the Alexandria City Public Schools Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) will sponsor the Harry Burke Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Special Education. Nomination forms may be submitted to Lillian Fennell, Division of Student Services, Alexandria City Public Schools, 2000 North Beauregard Street, Suite 203, Alexandria, Virginia, 22311. The deadline is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29.
The purpose of this award is to recognize an Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) employee who demonstrates outstanding ability, excellence in performance of duties and a deep commitment to the education of children with disabilities. SEAC will present Harry Burke Awards to special education teachers, instructors or employees at the elementary and secondary school levels. For the second year, the group also will present the Anne Lipnick Inclusion for All Award to a general education teacher. This award debuted last year to honor ACPS’s own icon of inclusion, Parent Resource Center Director Anne Lipnick.
Harry Burke Special Education Awards recipients will be announced at a reception hosted by SEAC at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, at the Minnie Howard School cafeteria, 3801 West Braddock Road, Alexandria.
On May 10, the City will host an Eco-City Summit to provide residents with a public forum to comment on environmental issues, and to draft an environmental action plan for the City. For more information about the Eco-City Summit, please contact the City’s Division of Environmental Quality at 703.838.4334, or visit alexandriava.gov/tes.
The Alexandria Commission on Aging, which advocates for the needs of Alexandria seniors, is seeking nominations for its Annual Excellence in Aging Awards. These awards honor individuals, regardless of age, who have demonstrated superior contributions in advancing issues and projects that favorably affect older Alexandrians. For more information or to obtain a nomination packet, call Debbie Ludington at the Department of Human Services Office of Aging and Adult Services at 703-838-0927.
Have an attic or basement full of treasures collecting dust? Put them to good use instead by donating them to MV Big Flea. The Big Flea benefits the Mount Vernon Community School PTA in Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood. Here's how it works: You donate items to the school PTA. They sell them and keep the proceeds. You receive a tax-deductible contribution. Donations can be dropped off on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at 409 E. Alexandria Ave. If possible, send an email to joseph.lamountain@gmail.com and let Joe know that you are coming and what you plan to bring so we can plan accordingly. You may also contact Joseph LaMountain at 202-288-5124.
The Alexandria chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) meet at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Contact 703-684-6190 or visit www.naacpalexandria.org.
The City of Alexandria invites design submissions from architects, landscape architects, artists, students, and the general public to memorialize and honor the 1,800 individuals—who escaped slavery by fleeing to Alexandria during the Civil War—that are buried in Contrabands and Freedmen’s Cemetery. The three-acre site is located at the southwest corner of Church and South Washington Streets in Alexandria. Submissions are due Friday, April 25. Information and criteria for the design are available at alexandriava.gov/freedmens. Submissions must be mailed to Lee Center, Attention: Design Competition, 1108 Jefferson St.,Alexandria, VA 22314.
The City’s Department of Human Services Office of Aging and Adult Services has a new program entitled The new Door Thru Door transportation. The Door Thru Door program will provide a trained aide to help adults, age 18 or older, who need someone to accompany them to non-urgent medical appointments because of physical or cognitive limitations. The aide will go to the home and help individuals get ready for the appointment, help them into the vehicle, stay with them at the appointment and then ride back home with them. Cost estimates range from zero to $30 per trip. Reservations are being accepted and service will begin on Feb. 4. To make a reservation, call Home Care Partners at 202-638-0736.
For the last 40 years seniors from Alexandria have been coming to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 100 W. Luray Ave. for a fun time on the third Thursday of each month. An optional informal worship service is held at 11a.m. and is followed by a meal and a program. Free, but reservations required. Call the church office at 703-548-8608 by the Tuesday preceding the luncheon to place your reservation.
Greenlight Toastmasters International meets every second and fourth Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Mount Vernon Rec Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. Visit greenlight.freetoasthost.info or 703-569-4810.
City residents who are experiencing difficulty in meeting their monthly mortgage payments, as well as those already in the process of foreclosure, are eligible for a free training and counseling service offered by Housing Counseling Services (HCS). The goal of the program is to encourage and assist delinquent homeowners to seek actionable, workable and immediate solutions to prevent foreclosure. HCS is a contract agency of the City of Alexandria, which already provides training and individual counseling for first-time home buyers who live or work in Alexandria.
HCS’s Foreclosure Prevention Clinic will offer participants a presentation on the "dos and don'ts" when facing mortgage delinquency. At the end of the workshop, participants will be individually assessed, triaged, and will immediately be given the opportunity to schedule a default and delinquency (D&D) counseling session. At the individual session, the client's personal situation will be explored, options will be presented and a work plan to address financial issues will be established.
The Foreclosure Prevention Clinic is held twice each month in English and once each month in Spanish. Sessions are currently scheduled to be held on the first Tuesday of every month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the third Tuesday or every month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at HCS offices, located at 2410 17th Street, NW, Suite 100 (Adams Alley Entrance) Washington, D.C.
Every Saturday, 7–9 a.m. there are bookmark distributions in Del Ray and Old Town to promote awareness about domestic violence. For more information contact Stephanie Romonchuk at Stephanie.romonchuk@alexandriava.gov or 703-838-4911.
Rebuilding Together Alexandria provides free home repairs to in-need homeowners. If you are a Veteran (or a care-taker or widow of a veteran), we want to help. We are able to do up to $10,000 worth of repairs to your home, free of charge. Repairs include ramps, grab bars, roofs, lever handles, etc. The Alexandria home must be owned by you or owned by your care-taker (if you physically reside there) or the home of a widowed owner. To find out if qualified, call RTA at 703-836-1021.