People

How Clever!

Forestville Elementary students will compete at international Odyssey of the Mind finals.

One local elementary school is a champion at brainy sports. One of Forestville’s 11 Odyssey of the Mind teams is going to the World Finals in Iowa for the third year in a row after landing first place at the national-level competition in Rocky Mount recently. The finals will take place from the 28th through the 30th at Iowa State University.

Editorial: Remembering on Memorial Day

Fewer deaths as military operations wind down, but 22 veterans a day die of suicide.

In Arlington over the coming Memorial Day weekend, the organization TAPS, or Tragedy Assistance for Survivors, will hold its 20th annual Military Survivor seminar and Good Grief camp for young survivors, children of all ages. TAPS offers support to anyone who is grieving the death of someone who died in the military, whether from combat, suicide, terrorism, homicide, negligence, accidents or illness. http://www.taps.org/

GI Film Festival 2014

VMI story told in “Field of Lost Shoes.”

A standing room only crowd packed the Old Town Theatre May 19 for the GI Film Festival’s world premiere of “Field of Lost Shoes,”

DAR Presents Junior ROTC Medal

Marsha Price of Providence Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), presented the DAR ROTC Bronze Award to Cadet Major Tanya Kumar at the Air Force Junior ROTC Pass-in-Review ceremony on May 10.

In Support of Stratford Hall

The Alexandria Committee of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association held its annual fundraising reception in support of Stratford Hall at the home of Leslie Ariail on Sunday afternoon, May 18.

Alexandria Community Trust Turns Ten

Hundreds of residents attended the ACT Birthday and Barbeque Bash at the Waterfront Market & Café...

Horses, Hounds and Hats Compete at Potomac Hunt Races

Yes, there were horses, plenty of them, at the 62nd annual Potomac Hunt Races last Sunday, but it was the crowd that had officials and old-timers talking.

Volunteers Mosey Up for Hoedown

Scores honored for good deeds at Rising Hope.

Home on the range, it was a time for tall boots, cowboy hats and “no discouraging words” at the Rising Hope Hoedown which feted the church’s scores of volunteers from the Mount Vernon community and surrounding churches, Friday, May 2, at the South County Building. In fact, the words were most encouraging.

Cycling on National Bike Day

Students and teachers bike to school.

Walt Whitman Middle School was one of more than 30 Fairfax County public schools participating in National Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 7. National Bike Day is part of the national program Safe Routes to School.

Back from Atlanta with More Than 25 Awards

At 6 a.m., the morning of April 24, more than 120 students, 19 chaperones, three teachers, and one administrator, arrived at Walt Whitman Middle School to take three buses and head to Atlanta to participate in the 2014 Music Showcase Festival.

Letter: More Study, Less Emotion

To the Editor: John S. Glaser’s letter “Benefits of Medicaid Expansion” in the May 1-7 Mount Vernon Gazette responding to my letter is typical of those who blindly push for something using whatever emotional data that suits their purpose and usually ignoring facts. For example, he uses data from a study report, as I said in my earlier letter, that contains caveats and cautionary language to decision makers to take into account before making any decision about expanding Medicaid. The study most often quoted states on page one “The uncertainties increase after 2019 and that period was not part of the scope of the study.” Under the Executive Summary it states “Given the overarching policy issues with PPAC, the reader should weigh the assumptions and caveats closely with conclusions and findings.” The Virginia Senate Finance Committee also has caveats.

Letter: New Stream Of Revenue

To the Editor: On two visits to Norway we found the meal tax for food served in a restaurant to be 25 percent or more. I can tell you that Norwegians still eat. And so did we.

Letter: Bipartisan Voice

To the Editor: I believe there is always a way to reach common ground with people I don't immediately see eye to eye with. But like many people, I have grown frustrated with politicians who are more interested in partisan talking points and political image than in compromise. Finding common ground in my everyday life is important to me and those around me — and it should be to elected officials as well.

Signature Stages “The Threepenny Opera”

Musical presents dark critique of capitalism in this updated translation.

“Life’s a bitch and then you die.” Signature Theatre in Shirlington is staging an updated version of “The Threepenny Opera” through June 1. While it was written in 1920s Germany (and based on John Gay’s 1728 “The Beggar’s Opera”), its themes are timeless: the brutality of humanity and the scathing critique of a capitalist society.

LTA Presents “Boeing, Boeing”

Comical farce stars a philandering architect engaged to three stewardesses.

The Little Theatre of Alexandria is presenting the non-stop comedy, “Boeing, Boeing,” now through May 24. Set in a 1965 Paris apartment on the same day, the classic farce written by French playwright Marc Camoletti is centered on Bernard, a swinging architect engaged to three flight attendants all at once. Bernard’s life goes haywire when his friend Robert comes to visit and a newer, speedier Boeing jet messes up all of his careful planning. Inevitably, all three stewardesses come to visit at the same time, but the ending’s not what you’d expect.

The Connection