Euille, Cook Join Masons
Virginia Universal Lodge #1 of Alexandria and the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Virginia Free and Accepted Masons Incorporated held an Occasional Ceremony at the Magnus Temple Fort Belvoir on April 26 to make Mayor William E. Euille and Police Chief Earl L. Cook Master Masons.
Hometown Hero
Salvation Army honors Gandee, ServiceMaster for community service.
ServiceMaster of Alexandria owner and president Jane Gandee was honored May 13 by the Salvation Army National Capital Area Command for her company's dedication and support as a community partner to the organization.
Fore Willie
ASF remembers tournament founder.
The Alexandria Seaport Foundation held its 8th Annual Paul Weeks II Golf Tournament May 12 at Pohick Bay in the Mason Neck area of Fairfax County. This year's tournament was held in memory of Willie Taylor, founder of the tournament and former president of the Robinson Terminal Warehouse where the ASF is located.
A New Way for Seskey To Serve the City
Six months ago, Joseph Seskey was an Alexandria police sergeant overseeing logistics for special events. Today he’s traded in his police badge for a new one, as deputy director of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and the city’s chief animal control officer
Local Lawyers Teach in Ireland
Discussions range from drug cases to Edward Snowden.
A group of Alexandria attorneys have continued their international globetrotting of teaching, lecturing and discussing intricacies of American law.
27th Annual Taste of Arlington
Thousands of residents and visitors strolled up and down Wilson Boulevard on Sunday, May 18, enjoying samples of food and beverages offered by 46 local restaurants and 13 breweries at the annual Taste of Arlington in Ballston Commons.
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.”
Photos: AWLA Walk
The 19th Annual Walk for the Animals was held on Saturday, May 10, at Bluemont Park. The walk raised awareness and funds to benefit the hundreds of adoptable animals and community programs supported by the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
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.
Over $45,000 Raised for Fragile X
Second Annual Fragile X Walk hopes to raise $50,000.
Families and friends of those with Fragile X gathered at Burke Lake Park last week to participate in the second annual Fragile X walk.
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.