People

Brief: A Witness to History

Vienna resident Richard C. Kirkland, an 89-year-old veteran pilot, author and artist, joined the Army after the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941, and flew 103 combat missions in the famous Flying Knights fighter squadron with America’s greatest ace, Major Dick Bong.

Brief: Virginia Interfaith Center Honors John Horejsi

Brief: The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy in Richmond has honored John Horejsi, a Vienna resident and founder and coordinator of Social Action Linking Together (SALT), as one of the top 30 Social Justice Makers in Virginia.

Interfaith Service Brings Community Together

The Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna sponsors the annual interfaith worship.

Linnea Nelson, director of Religious Exploration at the Universalist Unitarian Congregation of Fairfax, spoke at the 14th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Worship, sponsored by The Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna (SCOA), hosted this year by Emmanuel Lutheran Church on Nov. 20th and attended by members of Methodist, Unitarian, Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist and other denominations.

Great Falls Kicks Off Holidays

Annual tree lighting event is once again a community favorite.

The annual Great Falls tree lighting ceremony was off to a brisk but cheerful start Saturday evening as families, friends and community members piled onto the open field to celebrate the much anticipated tree lighting ceremony.

Obituary: Hansel "Hank" Mundy

Hansel "Hank" Mundy died on Nov. 25, 2012 in Alexandria.

Mike Oliver: A Volunteer for All Seasons

Santa is in his blood, which he’s donated over 35 gallons.

One does not often get to sit down in a chair next to Santa Claus; the usual seat is in his lap. But Mike Oliver, who is Santa’s number one helper in Alexandria, took time during a respite after the busy Christmas rush to be interviewed about the numerous activities that led to his selection as an Alexandria Living Legend.

Ginzler Receives 1st National Spirit Award

Currently the senior director of the Center for Supportive Services at the Jewish Council for the Aging in Rockville, Md., Elinor Ginzler was presented with the At Home Alexandria’s 1st National Spirit Award last month.

Soprano Voice Radiates along Waterfront

Impromptu singing gathers audiences.

The sound emanating from King Street in the area of Old Town Alexandria will cause people to stop in their tracks and turn their heads.

10th Annual Toast to Hope Raises $65,000

Event supports SCAN’s local child abuse prevention programs.

More than 270 people turned out Nov. 17 for the 10th annual Toast to Hope, a garden-party themed gala that raised more than $65,000 for SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) of Northern Virginia, a local nonprofit that leads child abuse prevention efforts across the region.

Desperately Seeking Santas

Black Fire Service Professionals to host annual toy drive.

The Black Fire Service Professionals of Alexandria are looking for donations from community partners in preparation for its 12th annual holiday toy party for underprivileged and at-risk children.

Bows, Baskets and Bikes

ACVA launches “Alexandria Cares” corporate service program.

Holiday spirits were high as the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association launched Alexandria Cares, a corporate community service program in partnership with the nonprofit Get Out and Give Back to offer corporate groups the opportunity to include service projects in their Alexandria-based business meetings.

Alexandria’s Own Fashion Archivist

An Old Town native with vintage style helps others keep their memories alive.

Siobhan “Bunny” McDonough grew up running through the alleys on Prince Street, playing games with her brothers and living it up as a tomboy.

Fundraiser Yields 126 Thanksgiving Dinners

More than 75 Keller Williams Realty Old Town staff and friends volunteered on Tuesday, Nov. 20, to sort, bag and deliver 126 complete Thanksgiving dinners to families in Alexandria.

Author Examines Life by the Letter

Joe Reynolds publishes collection of letters on variety of topics.

In an era of e-mails, text messages and tweets, the art of writing a letter hasn’t been lost on McLean resident Joe Reynolds. It’s something he was raised on, his father and grandfather wrote him letters while he was at college, a tradition that he continued while his three children were away at school.

Chrissellene Petropoulos Trains Future Singing Talents

Potomac resident shares system for vocal mastery.

“My voice took me to Europe, where I sang opera, operetta and musical theater and was contracted with the Vienna State Opera and the Kassel State Opera in Germany. Soon I was singing everywhere from Greece, France and Italy to The Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center. Ultimately, my voice began to fail me,” said Chrissellene Petropoulos, a vocal teacher whose many students come to her for performance training — but they also come for the other lessons she imparts.

The Connection