Centre View Calendar
The Airbus IMAX Theater at National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air & Space Museum Parkway, is showing movies including “Hubble,” “Fighter Pilot,” “Space Junk,” “Air Racers”, “The Dream is Alive” and ”Star Trek: Into the Darkness”.
Creative Flourish at Youth Arts Festival
Art displays filled the gym and overflowed down the sidewalk at George Washington Middle School for the annual Youth Arts Festival on Saturday, June 8.
Crime Report
BURGLARY, 13800 block of Laurel Rock Court, June 18, 5:35 p.m. A resident reported someone entered the home and stole jewelry. Forced entry was made through a rear door. ROBBERY, 14400 block of Turin Lane, June 18, 2:50 a.m. Two 24-year-old men reported they were assaulted and robbed of their wallets. The victims were walking when they were allegedly assaulted by three men. The suspects fled. One victim was not seriously injured; the other was transported to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. During an investigation, a 19-year0ld man from Centreville was arrested and charged with malicious wounding and robbery. The case is under investigation.
Centreville Day Plans Are Now Underway
Event seeking sponsors, vendors, crafters, nonprofits.
Centreville Day isn’t until fall, but event organizer Cheryl Repetti is putting out the call for participants now. Sponsorships, vendor, crafter and nonprofit spaces are available at early-bird pricing through July 31. The one-day, outdoor festival is held in Centreville Park in the Centreville Historic District and includes a variety of fun, activities and entertainment for all ages. This year’s 21st annual event is Oct. 19, and the planning is already beginning.
Mount Vernon School Notes
Simone Liu was honored at a statewide awards ceremony for academically advanced children sponsored by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth.
He Preserved 200-Year-Old Legacy of Citizen Activism
Thomas Y. “Jay” Johnson, Jr. fought for volunteer firefighters.
Thomas Y. “Jay” Young Johnson Jr. hails from a long line of proud volunteer firefighters. His father and uncles were volunteer firefighters in Alexandria, where Jay was born, raised and educated. His early memories include doing his homework at the fire station. Now, 35 years after his father’s generation, he reflects on a distinguished history as president of the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department. In addition to his family, a major influence in Johnson’s life was Mrs. Rigby, a teacher at T.C. Williams High School who arranged a part-time job for him at the Department of the Navy. He worked this job after school and in the summers, and parlayed it into a life-long career. He is now at the Pentagon as the deputy director of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, Human Resources and Enterprise Support.
Alexandria Calendar of Events
Summer Classes. Art at the Center, 2804 Sherwood Hall Lane. Children ages 6-10 can participate. Register at www.artatthecenter.org or 703-201-1250.
Letter to the Editor: So Many Supported Grad Party
On June 13, the Chantilly community came together to celebrate the graduation of the Chantilly High School Class of 2013. The 2013 CHS All Night Grad Party, themed “Oh, What a Knight,” was held at Chantilly High School. It proved to be quite the night of fun for all who attended. The graduates enjoyed inflatables, carnival and casino games, as well as great food. It was a fantastic sendoff for our seniors as they begin a new phase of their lives. An event of this size takes many volunteers to make it a success.
Letter to the Editor: Wake Up City Leaders
I own a business in Old Town. We are an advertising agency. We make TV commercials — the kind you like to hate, political. There are some 30 ad agencies in the cty like mine. But we have a problem that is not being addressed. The Internet in our town is too damn slow. (I am intentionally swearing for emphasis!) How did I discover this?
EagleBank Lands in Old Town
Newest branch opens at 277 S. Washington St.
More than 175 people from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and local business community joined EagleBank in celebrating the official opening of its latest branch with a ribbon cutting ceremony and reception on June 19 at the bank's facility in Old Town. “It's great to be back in Alexandria,” said EagleBank vice president and branch manager Ed Velarde, who returns to the area following 15 years of commercial banking experience with J.P. Morgan in New York.
Chantilly Tragedy Described As Family Murder-Suicide
Police say suspect killed brother and himself.
The tragic event in which two men were stabbed and another was shot last week inside a Chantilly home has turned into a murder-suicide. Fairfax County police identified the murder victim as Haseeb Raza, 24. They also said his suspected killer was his 20-year-old brother, Mohammad H. Raza.
Moss Named Rising Star
Jeremy R. Moss, an associate with MercerTrigiani law firm, has been named a 2013 Rising Star by both Virginia Super Lawyers and Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers. Moss was previously honored as a 2010 and 2012 Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Star, however, this is his first-time recognition by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers
Commentary: Much To Cherish This Fourth of July
Two-hundred thirty-seven years ago, Thomas Jefferson put down his pen and sent the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. It was a steamy July day and after two days of debate and edits they emerged with the document we hold so dear and celebrate this week. A philosophical treatise and declaration to King George, it begins “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Preserving Vienna’s ‘Oral History’
Interns conduct interviews, create exhibit on Vienna history.
Working with Historic Vienna, Inc., interns Caroline Gardiner and Virginia Harness have undertaken a project to create an archive of town residents’ memories. Harness describes the project as an “oral history of the town.”
Giving Circle Sponsors Car Seat Workshop
The Giving Circle of Alexandria sponsored a car seat workshop on June 8 for families that participate in playgroups for low-income families. These playgroups enables The Giving Circle to reach children who otherwise might not receive any preparation for kindergarten.
Commentary: Distracted Driving Can Be Reckless
On July 1, a new Virginia Law goes into effect makes it clear that writing or reading emails or text messages is now a primary offense for which a driver may be stopped. The law also makes clear that if someone is convicted of reckless driving and texting/emailing while driving, there is a mandatory minimum fine of $250.
Letter to the Editor: Unsatisfactory Response
Thank you for your reply to my letter of June 3; although I must say your reply, if anything, gives me even more concern than I felt before, and I didn’t think that was possible. You say in your reply that “In response to a march 29, 2011, Board Item to establish a review process for the Fairfax County Police Department, the county’s Internal Audit Office issed a report” and that I could look up the report on the county’s website.
Mount Vernon Crime Report
ASSAULT/LARCENY, 4000 block of Fielding Street, June 20, 11 p.m. A 14-year-old boy reportedly was at a local park attempting to retrieve his bicycle. Several juvenile boys confronted him and allegedly assaulted him.
Gerald Mann Becomes Director of Middle Schools
Gerald Mann has been appointed the new director of middle schools. He will begin his new job on July 1. Mann formerly served as principal of George Washington 1 Middle School. Previously he served as an assistant principal at George Washington, where he led the Special Education, English Language Learner and Middle Alternative Program for Students departments, and worked with department chairs to provide instructional support and develop strategies to implement school-wide initiatives.
Alexandria Bulletin
Tech Zoo Tuesdays. 3-5 p.m. at Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke St. Learn about the latest electronic reading devices or bring equipment for hands-on help. Call 703-746-1702.