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Pathway to Zero in Alexandria

December 27, 2017

Viewpoints in McLean

January 2, 2018

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Office Vacancy Hits Historic High in Alexandria

City officials blame Base Closure and Realignment Commission.

The crush of rush hour traffic at Mark Center is not the only headache caused by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

Schools?School Notes

Francis C. Hammond 1 Middle School Principal Benjamin G. Costa announced his resignation to pursue other career goals. Former Alexandria City School Board Member and ACPS Principal Blanche Maness will become the acting principal at Hammond 1, effective immediately.

People Notes

Steve Strobridge, deputy director of government relations for the Military Officers Association of America was named one of the 100 most influential people in U.S. Defense in Defense News and Military Times’ inaugural list of influential players from the worlds of politics, the military, business, government and academia. Strobridge, of Alexandria, was cited for his work in helping to shape legislation affecting issues of importance for military personnel and their families. Christine M. Candio, RN, FACHE, CEO, Inova Alexandria Hospital, and senior vice president, Inova Health System, has been nominated as the 2013–2014 Chairwoman-Elect of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), an international professional society of more than 40,000 healthcare executives.

Neighborhood

TAYLOR RUN

FRIENDS OF FORT WARD Friends of Fort Ward will hold its annual meeting May 18 at the museum at 5:30 p.m. Following the meeting there will be a reception and a concert by the Federal City Brass Band, playing music appropriate to the period and wearing their splendid uniforms which are also of the period.

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Making Learning Fun

The students chattered and compared paint colors as they strolled along the path at the Winkler Preserve on Friday, May 10, to launch hand-crafted model sail boats and play the cigar box guitars they had made over the past semester in their class through a joint effort by the Alexandria Seaport Foundation and Alexandria City Public Schools.

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Rebuilding Together Day

Volunteers rebuild homes for those in need.

More than 700 local volunteers took part in National Rebuilding Together Day April 27 to provide critical repairs and upgrades for low-income homeowners in Alexandria.

Opposition Heats Up over City's Plans for Founders Park

Council to be asked to amend current restrictions on special events.

The proposed amendment to allow special events in Founders Park took center stage at the May 10 annual meeting of the Founders Park Community Association. “I can't believe the city is proposing this,” said one attendee who asked to remain anonymous. “There should be more respect for Ellen Pickering, Chuck Hamel and Patricia Golubin for saving this land. The park would not exist at all if it weren't for their efforts back in the '70s.”

Calendar - ro

BalletNova Open House on June 1

BalletNova Center for Dance holds a free Open House on Saturday, June 1 from 2-5 p.m. at the BNCD studios. Free 30-minute mini-classes for children and adults are offered in a variety of dance genres. Ballet, tap and hip hop for varying age groups will be available for children to try. Adults can sample from basic levels of jazz, tap, modern, ballet, dance cardio and hip hop. The Open House is a great way to sample different BNCD teachers and types of dance and conditioning, and special class discounts are available. There will also be crafts for the kids and refreshments, as well as tours of the 20,000 square foot 6-studio dance training facility. Everything is free and open to the public.

Calendar

Ongoing Food Truck Thursdays. In the surface parking lot at the corner of Crystal Drive and 18th Street. Line Dancing Class. Fridays, 10-11 a.m. Line dancing with Barbara Allen. Covers the basic steps, then combines them to music for a gentle aerobic workout. More experienced line dancers are welcome as they can assist newer dancers. At Aurora Hills Senior Center. Call 703-228-5722.

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Some Like It Haute

Old Town Theater hosts Boutique District Spring Style event

The Old Town Boutique District held a Spring Style party April 29 at the Old Town Theater to introduce media representatives from throughout the region to the retail offerings available in the historic district of Alexandria.

It’s All About Knowing the Options for Long-Term Care

While it may be something we don’t want to think about, we will probably be faced with making long-term care decisions. What happens if I get sick, and I can’t remain in my home? How can I stay in my home, and receive care? How will I pay for all of this? Knowing what the options are, how to make preparations, and putting things into place in advance can help. Last Thursday, Senior Services of Alexandria’s Speaker Series focused on this important topic. Panelists at the SSA event covered a wide range of long-term care services and support available here in Alexandria, as well as state-wide resources. David DeBiasi, AARP’s associate state director, framed the issue and spoke about the cost of care in Virginia. The audience heard from local service provider Adult Companion Care about in-home support, and also learned about the various options available for assisted living, continuing care and nursing home facilities. Kathy McNulty from Capital Care of Alexandria talked about when palliative or hospice care may be the right choice.

Forum To Address Mental Health Issues for Youth - Details

Mental Health Forum on Children and Youth Saturday, May 18

Forum To Address Mental Health Issues for Youth

We read about the tragic results of untreated mental illness everyday. The mass shootings at Newtown, Tucson, Aurora and Virginia Tech were all perpetuated by students or young people with reported mental health issues. The effects of mental illness are not always so high profile — most people with mental illness are non-violent — but for the 1 in 17 Americans living with a serious mental illness the consequences are significant. Our youth are particularly hard hit. Mental illness frequently strikes when people are young with 50 percent the cases of mental illness starting by the time an individual is 14 and three quarters by the age of 24. The consequences can be devastating. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for people ages 10-24. More than 90 percent of those who commit suicide have a diagnosable mental disorder.

People

People Notes

Martin Ogle, chief naturalist at Potomac Overlook Regional Park in Arlington, is the first recipient of the Arlington Green Patriot Award. The honor recognizes an individual, business or organization that exemplifies sustainability in more than one aspect of their recent life or operations to improve civic life in Arlington. Ogle was recognized for his lifelong dedication to environmental education and for emphasizing the interrelationships between people and the rest of nature. He served on the boards of several environmental and community organizations, including the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia, Arlington Food Co-op, Arlington Heritage Alliance, the Arlington/Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless and Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment.

Bulletin Board

Absentee Voting Opens On Tuesday June 11, there will be a Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Absentee voting for the primary began Friday, April 26. Many Alexandria voters are eligible to vote absentee, but relatively few take advantage of this option. Qualifying circumstances: commute and work for 11 of the 13 hours the polls are open; caregiver for a confined family member; unable to go to the polls in person on Election Day because of an illness or disability; or will be absent from Alexandria on Election Day because of personal business, work, school, or vacation. To learn more about these, and other circumstances in which absentee voting is an appropriate option, visit alexandriava.gov/Elections and click on “Absentee Voting,” or call 703-746-4050.

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