Senior Living: Planning for Multigenerational Living
Making room for older family members.
Planning for multigenerational living has been on the rise in recent years. With life expectancies increasing and early baby boomers entering their golden years, this trend is expected to continue. As with any remodeling project, there are a number of factors to consider when planning a renovation for a growing household.
Senior Living: Regaining Mobility
Local orthopedic surgeons offer keys for successful joint replacement surgery.
Tired of the limited mobility and pain that have thwarted her love of foreign travel and fall hiking, Lynda S. Johnson, 72, scheduled a knee replacement surgery for later this month. She chose a doctor, found a pet sitter to watch her Cairn terrier, and enlisted her sister to live with her while she recovers. “I had been debating for months about whether to have it,” she said. “I was in so much pain, though, that I don’t really think I have anything to lose.”
Medicare Open Enrollment Nears
Tips to help Medicare beneficiaries get ready.
Medicare beneficiaries preparing for open enrollment this month may want to consider their current health needs and the many preventive services covered by Medicare.
Senior Living: Life at Vinson Hall — Living the Difference
Mary DeMaris is headed down on the elevator at Vinson Hall with her black case of art supplies, an artist headed to a still life class out of the building. “There is a club here for everything — poetry, art, choral group, photography, book, gardening,” she said.
Mount Vernon Column: Needs of Aging Population
Commentary
By 2030, one-in-four Virginians will be over 60 years old. That’s over half a million more people than today, and that number will include me too. This is a tremendous demographic change, and it will present the Commonwealth with many new challenges to allow Virginians to age with dignity and respect.
Mount Vernon Snapshot: Warning
A sign set up Sept. 29 on Fort Hunt Road at Belle View Shopping Center warned residents of heavy rains expected.
Mount Vernon Letter: No Tax Relief With Meals Tax
Letter to the Editor
I am writing to oppose the Meals Tax Referendum. I attended a meeting last week in which the referendum was debated. Attendees included Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck and Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity.
Mount Vernon Letter: Property Taxes Shouldn’t Pay All
Letter to the Editor
By now, you’ve no doubt heard about the meals tax referendum Fairfax County voters will face this November.
Mount Vernon: Back to the Future
Original Mount Vernon High School reopens for teens after 30 years.
The Original Mount Vernon High School Gym is once again going to be used by teens, only this time as a part of the existing Teen Center at the South County Government Center. The gym is located across the road from the South County Government Center and completes the current Teen Center with a full-size gym and basketball courts.
Mount Vernon Musing: Heavy Metal George
There is a myth that George Washington's false teeth were made of wood. In this case, a myth is not as good as a mile. Woodn't you like to know the truth? Fact is, President Washington had several sets of teeth, made of various materials including ivory, gold and lead. And what does this tell us about George? First, he could clearly take a big bite out of the most difficult tasks. Second, he was clearly a man of very strong mettle, maybe even heavy metal (Do I hear Aerosmith playing in the background?). Plus, he had "endentured" servants.
Mount Vernon Snapshot: Fall Festival — Unleashed
Westgrove Pack, the community sponsors of the Westgrove Off Leash Dog Park, will celebrate the success of the park with a festival and fundraising launch on Nov. 5, 1-4 p.m., to which all dog enthusiasts — and those few who still need convincing — are invited.
Mount Vernon: Service To Celebrate Joshua Owusu’s Life
Joshua Owusu, a sixth grade student at Stratford Landing Elementary School lost his battle with brain cancer on Tuesday, Sept. 26. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Oct. 8, 11 a.m., at Aldersgate Church, 1301 Collingwood Drive. A reception will immediately follow in Wesley Hall. Burial will be in Mount Comfort Cemetery, 6600 S. Kings Highway at 2:30 p.m.
Mount Vernon: Dig Pink Rally
A Dig Pink Rally, supporting breast cancer research, is being sponsored by West Potomac High School Volleyball, 6500 Quander Road, at its Oct. 13 games against Mount Vernon: 5 p.m. (Freshman), 6 p.m. (JV), and 7:15 p.m. (Varsity). The rally will include a Memory/Honor Wall, bake sale, and a Ft. Hunt volleyball players serving contest. The volleyball teams welcome everyone to cheer on the local high school players and wear pink.
Alexandria Appetite: BurgerFi Sets Up Shop in Old Town
With its opening last week, local co-owners celebrate a homecoming.
Peer down the 100 block of North Pitt Street and it’s easy to spot a new neighbor. The erstwhile Pat Troy’s Ireland’s Own, shuttered for several years, now has new life in the form of the city’s first BurgerFi. Open since Sept. 26, the locally owned franchise has begun to generate quite a bit of foot traffic — and prelaunch interest, too, with would-be customers peeking in the front door in anticipation. But you haven’t missed a grand opening event, franchise co-owner David Landry says.
Mount Vernon: Quander Road School provides flexible, family-like special education experience
Within the first week of the 2016-2017 school year, teachers at the Quander Road School in Mount Vernon had already finished their jobs for five students. For that select group, they were ready to return to their base high school and transition back to a less restrictive educational experience.
Mount Vernon: West Potomac Freshman Verbally Commits to Auburn Softball
On a recent unofficial visit to Auburn University, West Potomac High School freshman Claire Davidson committed verbally to play softball at the college. At the end of the 2016 season, Auburn was the SEC conference champion and finished second in the NCAA national championship.
Mount Vernon Letter: Pay To Fix Meals Tax Brochure
Letter to the Editor
In my letter to the Gazette two weeks ago, I discussed a brochure sent to Fairfax County residents at the behest of the Board of Supervisors (BOS) discussing the Meals Tax Referendum and pointing out that the brochure only set forth reasons to support the Referendum and no reasons to oppose it.
Mount Vernon Letter: Meals Tax Or Slush Fund?
Letter to the Editor
Recent discussions of the proposed meals tax can be stated as three large problems.
Mount Vernon Letter: Costs of Capital Projects
Letter to the Editor
There are two capital projects in the Mount Vernon District being proposed for the upcoming Bond Referendum.
Mount Vernon Letter: Food for Thought
Letter to the Editor
The meals tax has come forward at this time as a possible way of providing much-needed income to the schools. Broadly speaking, the schools have cut budget for 10 years and held teacher salaries flat through most of that period. (I believe 2016 is the one exception to that trend thanks to the leadership of Karen Garza.) Now Fairfax County schools have larger class sizes and lower paid teachers than surrounding systems.