Letter: Challenging Bicyclists
To the Editor: The Alexandria City Council recently adopted a new bicycle ordinance allowing bicycles on the sidewalks.
Letter to the Editor: Ready For Flight
As of the date of publication, the two osprey chicks in the Little Hunting Creek OspreyCam nest are over 50 days old. As reported by the Georgian Bay Osprey Society (http://www.gbosprey.ca/About.html), osprey chicks typically begin flying at 50-60 days, so we are about to witness their first aerial efforts.
Letter: Citizen’s Review Board Needed
To the Editor: Regarding your report on Commonwealth Attorney Randy Sengel's findings into the shooting of Taft Sellers [Alexandria Gazette Packet, July 4]: It seems to be straightforward enough, but it causes me to question whether one local law enforcement official (the commonwealth attorney) should be investigating the fatal shooting of a citizen by other local law enforcement officials (Alexandria police officers).
Alexandria People Notes
Email announcements to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday at noon. Photos welcome.
Letter to the Editor: A Reputation For Safety
To the Editor: In Michael Pope's recent article, “Bike to the Future,” there was a comment about "younger and less confident bicyclists, who wanted to avoid getting run over by a DASH bus."
Should the Yellow Line Be Extended South Beyond Huntington to Lorton?
Transit study could determine fate of possible Metro extension along Route 1 corridor.
Should the Yellow Line be expanded beyond the Huntington Metro station?
On the Campaign Trail
Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe is not the standard candidate for higher office.
Week in Alexandria
What happens when you mix raw emotions and firearms? Sometimes people get injured.
Celebrating in Style
47th annual Independence Day Parade held in Fairfax.
The City of Fairfax held its 47th annual Independence Day Celebration in historic downtown on July 4th. Among this year’s entries were eight high school marching bands from as far west as Nebraska and Minnesota. This year’s Grand Marshall was the Hon. Quin S. Elson, a long-time community activist and Fairfax Police Youth Club volunteer.
Dance Studio Moves Into Workhouse Arts Center
Metropolitan Fine Arts Center (MFAC) of Alexandria has officially moved into the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton. The new studio at the Workhouse Arts Center, building W-4, is 7,000 square feet, much larger than their former location in Fairfax Station, allowing for more classes and performance space.
Week in Springfield
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation Fairfax Connector has launched its new Express Connector bus service from Springfied to Tysons. The buses travel to Tysons via the 495 Express Lanes and commuters get to experience fast Express Lanes speeds without having to pay a toll.
Sounds of Summer at Reston Town Center
In spite of the summer heat, the Reston Town Center free summer concerts still prove to be quite the draw for locals. The concert on July 6 was no exception as crowds gathered at the Town Center’s pavilion and went as far back as the fountain for the evening’s entertainment: David Akers and the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra.
Alexandria Leaders Consider Lawsuit Challenging Takeover of Long-Troubled School
Unless courts intervene, new statewide division will take control of Jefferson-Houston next year.
Is Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell's effort to take over Jefferson-Houston School constitutional?
Fourth of July in Lorton
The whole town comes out to celebrate with food and fun.
The South County Federation held its annual Lorton Independence Day Parade and Celebration on July 4th down Lorton Station Boulevard with festivities ending at Lorton Station Town Center
Clifton’s Old-fashioned Fourth
The Town of Clifton’s Fourth of July celebration included a parade, flag-raising ceremony, children’s games and a potluck picnic in the park.
Westfield Preps for Parade in Pasadena
Tournament of Roses president speaks to students
Sure, the students in Westfield High’s marching band are enjoying their summer. They’re also busy learning new music and practicing their drills. Besides marching on the Bulldog football field come fall, they’ll be participating Jan. 1 in the Tournament of Roses Parade. And before school ended, Parade President R. Scott Jenkins came here to officially extend the invitation to Westfield’s band. During the band’s awards banquet at the Westfields Marriott, he gave each member an autographed “Dreams Come True” poster. In return, the band performed a concert for him at GMU’s Center for the Arts. First, though, Jenkins came to the school to meet the students and tell them a bit about the parade. He discussed its history, gave them specifics about what to expect and told them how happy he is that they’ll be participating.
CSB Launches Its Good Neighbor Campaign
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB), the county agency that plans, organizes and provides services for people in our community who have mental illness, substance use disorders and/or intellectual disability, is launching a Good Neighbor campaign.
People
Graduating From Air Force Academy
Stephanie Ann Marris, a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, has graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. with a degree in engineering and a minor in Spanish.
Letter: Deeper Meaning of Ramadan
It’s that time of year again! The blessed month of Ramadan has finally arrived. I’m sure many of my peers still aren’t certain as to why Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan.
Letter: Omission As a Good News
The omission of additional Metrorail from I-66 planning is good news [Editorial: “HOT-Lanes and No Metro for I-66?”, Connection July 3-9, 2013]. Metro to Dulles will cost Fairfax County taxpayers plenty. Extending it beyond Vienna would be costly and the return on investment is unknown. I carpooled on I-66 for eight years.