SSA Speaker Series Highlights Things To Do
Spring is almost here! It’s time to think about getting out and exploring what our wonderful city has to offer in the way of recreation and cultural activities. There is something for everyone, especially for seniors. If you are curious about what’s out there, come to Senior Services of Alexandria’s next speaker series event to hear from Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and Alexandria Library about special programs for seniors. This free program will be held at Chinquapin Recreation Center at 3210 King St. on March 12 from 9:30 a.m. – noon. Light refreshments will be served and free parking is available.
Letter to the Editor: Impact On Parking
To the Editor: Parking spaces, parking spaces where have they gone? It seems that every time I say that parking in Old Town is becoming near impossible some uninformed member of one of our boards or commissions tries to tell me that that there are excess parking spaces in the Old and Historic District. Well, as all of you know that's not true. In fact, the parking situation is going to get worse as our esteemed transportation director continues to recommend to the council members that they take parking spaces away from us.The taking of the 27 parking spaces on upper King Street is a good lead-in followed by the taking of 66 parking spaces at the King Street Metro.
Commentary: Have You Scheduled Your Colonoscopy?
Colonoscopies save lives. Just ask Audrey Marcoe. The 83-year old Alexandria resident underwent a colonoscopy in December at Inova Alexandria Hospital due to a severe bout of anemia that left her exhausted and significantly underweight. Her doctors suspected she might be bleeding into her colon. The exam revealed a large cancerous tumor on her ascending colon that was likely causing her anemia. She would need surgery to remove it. “I was surprised at this, truthfully,” she said. “I just never thought I’d get it.” Cancers of the colon and rectum — part of the body’s digestive system — are unfortunately rather common, especially among Americans age 50 and older. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), colorectal cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer among men and women combined. It will cause an estimated 50,000 deaths this year alone. Fortunately, those numbers have been declining for the last two decades thanks to proper screening, increased disease awareness (remember TV anchorwoman Katie Couric’s colonoscopy on the “Today” show?) and advances in treatments and surgical techniques.
Letter: Race to Watch
Thanks for the well-documented article on the political trends in Virginia's 10th Congressional District ("How Red is the 10th District?" February 19-25, 2014). The conventional wisdom among political prognosticators is that the District leans Republican. However, recent voting patterns suggest that a strong Democratic candidate could be well within striking distance for a win. Consider the following: first, in the past two gubernatorial elections, the Republican nominee won the 10th District by only 1 percent. Second, the seat is now open, and retiring Congressman Frank Wolf’s name recognition and constituent service record are not in play.
Making Mentoring Matter
It’s hard to believe that Erika Stratmann and Jenny have only known each other for a little over a year. Whenever they get together, they talk non-stop about everything and anything under the sun, from career opportunities to when Jenny’s going to be able to get her driver’s license. Jenny’s really excited to learn how to drive, even though she still has a few years to wait.
Letter to the Editor: Improving Public Safety
To the Editor: The stretch of what is now King Street from near the Metro Station and the Alexandria Train Station to Janneys Lane was originally used as a major road transporting farm commodities to warehouses in Alexandria. It was (Leesburg Pike) not built for cars or bikes, but instead for horse drawn wagons, and carriages. It was an early farm to market road promoting local transportation and commerce.
Letter to the Editor: Safety on King Street
To the Editor: At the February Traffic and Parking Board hearing, city staff presented a detailed plan that referred to the King Street Traffic Calming plan as nothing “cutting edge.” The plan implements standard and accepted practices for making a street safe. The common practices for King Street are part of the common practices in the city’s Transportation Master Plan. City staff is just following through.In its Pedestrian section, the city’s Transportation Master Plan (pages 2-7) states “Sidewalks along arterials should be wide and well buffered since these streets provide key transit access.
Letter to the Editor: Questionable City Budget Priorities
To the Editor: Any of us who thinks that Alexandria cares about its people is sadly mistaken. Just take a look at the 2015 proposed city budget and you’ll soon understand why this city’s priorities lie elsewhere. Look at the proposed cuts while the city continues rampant spending on a metro station, large legal and planning staffs, BikeShare program and premature waterfront landscape plans.
Why Care about Ten Mile Creek?
For several months the County Council has been grappling with a Limited Master Plan Amendment for Ten Mile Creek. The Clarksburg Master Plan, adopted in 1994, staged development in Clarksburg so when triggers were met on stages I - III, the last stage could not go forward without assessing impacts of the first three stages on Ten Mile Creek. Even 20 years ago, planners realized the high water quality of this stream; one of three that empty into the Little Seneca Reservoir which was built in the 1980s to act as an emergency water supply in times of drought should the Potomac River flow drop too low to withdraw the massive quantities needed to supply our regional drinking water.
Letter: Common Sense Law Obstructed
Keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people is just common sense – but sadly, in Virginia, our system is backwards and works to protect criminal access to guns.
Letter: Opposing Special Permit
Last week’s Great Falls’ Connection carried a story on a topic of interest to many: horseback riding in Great Falls and the role of Blacks Hill Stable, LLC, in providing a commercial riding venue ["Molster Family Stable Awaits Special Permit Decision"].
Not Yet, Really
While we’re exchanging pleasantries here, in semi real time – although this column will not be most read until March 6th (I need to submit it on Monday, March 3rd as we go to press on Tuesday, March 5th), I feel the obligation, given how last week’s column ended, to update you on the results from my February 26th CT Scan. Presumably, by the title you all have determined that as of this writing, Saturday, March 1st, I have not heard back from my oncologist. Typically, I would have already heard from him, electronically. But so far, not a peep, electronic or otherwise and believe me, I’ve been checking, as you might imagine.
Impasse over Medicaid Expansion
This week we enter what will hopefully be the last week of the 2014 legislative session. The Senate and House must agree on a budget before we adjourn, but Healthcare remains the issue where legislators are having trouble moving forward. Republicans are refusing to discuss any options that involve Medicaid expansion and they are turning around and accusing the Democrats of holding the budget hostage. It is one thing to have an honest debate on differences in opinion, but it is not acceptable to stonewall the other side of the aisle to score political points. I recently spoke on the House floor this week about the need to compromise on healthcare and the budget; video is available on my website www.krupicka.com. Mental Health has been another one of the big issues this year. I co-patroned several bills this year relating to emergency detention. There has been some disagreement on how long we should extend the time for an emergency detention order, but the General Assembly has shown strong resolve to make real progress with our state’s mental health system and I am confident we will find a compromise to this issue.
News Brief: Applicants Sought For Planning Board
The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants to fill a position on the Montgomery County Planning Board for the expiring term of Democrat Françoise Carrier. Her term will expire on June 14. Carrier, who serves as the Planning Board Chair, has indicated that she will not apply for reappointment. No more than three members of the Planning Board may be from the same political party, and each member must be a resident and registered voter of Montgomery County when appointed. Members serve four-year terms and are limited to two full terms. The position can be filled by a Democrat, Republican, a voter who declines to affiliate with a party, or a member of another party officially recognized by the Montgomery County Board of Elections.
Letter to the Editor: A Call to Action: Jefferson-Houston School’s Future
Within the next few weeks the Alexandria City Public School (ACPS) Board plans to decide on a way forward for Jefferson-Houston (JH) School. The School Board discussed three options at its Feb. 20 meeting for the school’s future. You may be saying, I don’t have a child in school, why should I care? Because the city (and you as a tax payer) has invested $44 million for a new JH school building to open this fall which will double the school’s capacity. Meanwhile, everyone is working hard to reverse more than a decade of low achievement.