Schools Name Lead Psychologist
John C. Baker has been named lead psychologist for the Alexandria City Public Schools.
Face of America Ride Honors Disabled Veterans
They came from across the country, gathering before dawn in the shadow of the Pentagon to begin a two-day journey to honor the sacrifices of America's wounded warriors and gain a better understanding of people with disabilities.
Is Richmond Highway Improving?
New survey says attitudes are improving, but critics say change is too slow.
Is Richmond Highway improving? A new survey of 900 consumers shows that the vast majority of respondents thinks so, and by a two-to-one margin. Others say progress along the Route 1 corridor lags far behind other parts of Northern Virginia.
Classified Advertising
Read the Latest Employment and Classified ads!
Hauptle Leads Wolverines to Victory on Senior Night
West Potomac girls’ lacrosse defeats South County in overtime.
Emily Hauptle’s final regular season game as a member of the West Potomac girls’ lacrosse team began with an invite to the prom. It ended with the senior scoring a pair of overtime goals to beat South County.
Editorial: Reminders to Press Ahead for Housing
Spring discussion on hypothermia shelters could help preparations for winter.
In February, 2007, 59-year-old Robert Bruce Miller was found dead outdoors in Chantilly. Miller was homeless, known to businesses and residents in the area. He died of hypothermia, exposure to the cold.
Column: News That’s Fit To Print
As our Publisher and fellow cancer survivor, Mary Kimm, e-mailed back to me last week: “Who knew ‘stable’ could be so exciting?”
Area Welcomes Discovery
A famed pace Shuttle finds home in Chantilly.
The Washington area kept its eyes to the sky on Tuesday morning April 17, for a special over-flight by the Space Shuttle Discovery docked to its 747 carrier aircraft. The Discovery is moving to its new home at the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. The Discovery has flown 39 missions, spent 365 days in space, and was the longest-serving orbiter in NASA’s shuttle program.
Historic Huntley To Open at Last
Hybla Valley villa to become Fairfax County’s newest public park next month.
After decades of waiting, Historic Huntley will finally open its doors to the public next month. Officials with the Fairfax County Park Authority are planning a May 19 launch, a long-awaited opening for a historic property built in the 1820s by Alexandria Mayor Thomson Mason. The old house has been boarded up since being purchased by the Fairfax County Park Authority in 1989, when county leaders set out to restore the villa overlooking Hybla Valley. Since then, county voters have approved two bond referendum ballot items worth $3 million.
Debutante Ball at West Potomac High School
On Saturday, April 21, the first Power of Pink Debutante Ball was held in the Gunston Gym at West Potomac High School. The Power of Pink is a young ladies mentoring program.
Opinion: Poetry Submissions
The following poems, submitted because April is National Poetry Month, are from Mount Vernon resident John J. Finerty.
On Their Way to Iowa
Stratford Landing Elementary School’s 5th grade Odyssey of the Mind team, coached by Terri Bell, has qualified to go to the World Finals in Ames, Iowa. Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving competition for students ages Kindergarten through college. The team worked on their problem in the category of Weird Science. They came in first in their division at the regional competition, which was held at West Potomac High School, and also came in first at the state finals in Newport News on April 14. The team was also the only team, out of 108 competing at the state level, that was given the Ranatra Fusca award, which is presented to a team that demonstrates exceptional creativity at the competition.
Fort Hunt Softball Volunteers Honored
More than 450 attend opening ceremonies.
The Fort Hunt Youth Athletic Association (FHYAA) Girls Softball Program held its opening day ceremonies on Sunday, April 16 at Walt Whitman softball fields. More than 450 players, coaches and family members attended the event. FHYAA has 154 girls signed up to play softball this season in three different leagues: U9, U12 and U18.
Join in Mount Vernon CROP Walk
“Because they walk, we walk” is the theme of the 32nd annual Church World Services CROP Hunger Walk on May 6. Sponsored by area churches through Ventures in Community (VIC) and starting at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 8531 Riverside Road, Alexandria, the CROP Walk winds through the local community for 1.5 miles. Registration begins at 12:30 at St. Aidan’s, and the Walk begins at 1:30.
Commentary: New State Budget Misses the Mark
I voted against the final state budget last week because it fails to address our needs and reflects badly-skewed priorities. It was an eventful two days in Richmond.
Opinion: Will Virginia’s Health Care Improve Without Better Data?
The answer is “no.” The Virginia Health Reform Initiative Advisory Council (created by Governor McDonnell) stated the case for change in its 2010 report. “Virginia’s overall quality of care is average, with strengths in cardiac care, hospital care generally, and home health. Weaknesses in Virginia’s quality rankings include nursing home care, diabetes care, and maternal and child health. Specifically, Virginia ranks 41st in the nation in breast cancer death rates, and 35th in infant mortality. None of these statistics measure up to Virginia ranking sixth, nationwide, in median family income.”
Letter: Adverse Actions Have Consequences
To the Editor: Martin Tillett understandably wants to avoid having the downfall of the proposed Kings Crossing Town Center as his legacy in the civic arena. In prior letters to the Gazette, I've explained the role the Spring Bank Community Association (SBCA) played, under the leadership of Mr. Tillett and SBCA President David Dale in the demise of Kings Crossing (see my letter in the August 13, 2009 Gazette) and the resulting development of a Wal-Mart store on the property.
Letter: A Meeting Without Answers
To the Editor: Sunday April 22, at St. Stephens UMC in Burke, Fairfax County officials and elected supervisors (including Board Chair Sharon Bulova) met with over 200 volunteers from 36 church-based hypothermia shelters to ease our anxieties. We have heard rumor that the fire marshal has determined that 18 of these churches will not be able to open and operate their “hypothermia” ministry next year as they had in the past. This puts the hundreds of homeless individuals who use these facilities at risk of frostbite, hypothermia and death.
'Witness for the Prosecution' Opens at LTA
It's 1954 and Leonard Vole stands accused of the murder of a rich elderly woman whom he befriended. His wife's testimony could save him until she suddenly becomes a “Witness for the Prosecution” in the Agatha Christie thriller now playing at The Little Theatre of Alexandria.
Calendar for April 25
E-mail announcements to the Gazette, gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Photos and artwork are encouraged. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week's paper. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 with questions.