Letter: Choose the Right Path
To the Editor: On March 24, the Fairfax County Republican Committee (FCRC) held an extremely successful convention at West Springfield High School. With over 1000 attendees, this is the largest convention anyone can recall the Fairfax GOP ever having, and it is a sign of great things to come in 2012 and beyond.
West Potomac Prepares ‘Seussical the Musical’
The West Potomac Theatre Department, headed by Philip Lee Clark, will present “Seussical the Musical” in the school’s Springbank Auditorium with performances for the public beginning April 25.
At Regional Science Fair
Megan McKinney, a junior at Mount Vernon High School stands next to her finished project board in the Robinson Secondary School field house just before the start of the 57th Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair on March 16. McKinney compared the rate at which different types of grass absorbed nitrogen. The goal would be to plant grasses that would reduce detrimental runoff into important watersheds.
Mount Vernon Crime Report April 4
Activities reported by the Mt. Vernon police department through March 30.
County Launches Transit Study
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation has launched its 2050 Countywide Transit Network Study. This study includes a survey of the public to develop recommendations for where Metrorail should be extended, where streetcars, light-rail or other transit modes are appropriate, and where dedicated lanes that allow buses to move faster could be built. The study will recommend transit improvements in various corridors that work together to improve/facilitate movement throughout the county, as well as how these transit modes can be phased-in and funded over time.
Area Health Students Win State Awards at Conference
Twelve Health and Medical Sciences students from Fairfax County Public Schools won awards at the 32nd annual HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) State Leadership Conference held recently in Williamsburg.
Bittersweet Wins Eighth Annual Great Rum Punch Challenge
Bittersweet was the big winner with its “Pomander Punch” on March 24 at the Eighth Annual Great Rum Punch Challenge at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, beating out runner-up Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant, the defending champ Dogfish Head, and worthy competitors Bacardi, FireFlies, and RedRocks. This is the third win for Bittersweet, which took top honors in 2007 and 2009.
Notes from the Artistic Director
Patrons ask how do I come up with a season of plays and musicals, and I always respond that every single show has a different story of how it got to my desk. Favorite actors bring their favorite plays to my attention and if I fall in love with the play, it feels like a match made in heaven. Our reputation for launching new musicals (chamber size musicals-four to six characters, no more than five musicians, unit set) means I get a lot of demo tapes sent in my direction.
Mount Vernon Bulletin Board April 4
Register for Summer Camp MVCCT's Summer Camp. Two-week sessions: July 2 to July 13; July 30 to Aug. 10; Aug. 13 to 24; One week: July 23 to 27. Prices range from $270-$650, discounts for Early Bird, siblings, and all day attendance available. At Heritage Presbyterian Church, 8503 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria. To register for camps, visit www.MVCCT.org
19-Year-Old Pianist Wins with 103-Year-Old ‘Rach 3’
Min Ji Lee won first prize playing one of the most challenging piano concertos in the standard classical repertoire — Sergei Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor.
Gift Shop Hosts Meet the Artist Exhibit
What do Alexandria Meals on Wheels, Carpenter's Shelter and Christians for Sudan have in common? These three and many others receive financial support from the Historic Christ Church Gift Shop.
In Support of Child & Family Network Centers
On March 22, the home of designer Sydnye Pettengill served as the backdrop for The Child & Family Network Centers’ benefit kickoff. The event honored CFNC donors, and introduced 2012 Benefit Chair Elizabeth Reynolds Marino. Steering committee members include Lizzie Siegel, Ann Scully, Kim Gess and Lisa Herget. Committee chairs include Twig Murray, Tandy Harrison, Shazalynn Winfrey, and Alex Deringer.
Column: Taylor Run
SHERLOCK TO VANDERBILT Daniel Sherlock has been accepted for the master’s program in special education at Vanderbilt University. Daniel worked for years for the therapeutic recreation program here in Alexandria, as a result of which he developed his interest in the work.
Column: Seminary Valley
If it is Spring Break, graduation must not be far away. Congratulations are definitely in order for 10 T.C. Williams seniors who started out their ACPS careers at James K. Polk Elementary School as kindergartners. These Owl-Titans are: Michelle Avila, Haley Cooper, Abby Cox, Phillip Espinoza, Tiffani Gibson, Sam Jones, Layla Mustafa, Franz Vosseler, Rebecca Wood-Conover and Scott Young. Well done!
Old Town History: Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary
Martha Washington was ailing terribly in April 1802. Searching for help in that era of primitive medicine, she sent a man with a note to an apothecary in Alexandria. “Mrs. Washington desires Mr. Stabler will send by the bearer, a quart bottle of his best castor oil, and the bill for it.” Sadly, the treatment did not improve her health and she died the following month.
Wedding Vendors Gather at Carlyle House
Stacey Hawkins, Annette Miller and Karen Kilday hosted a wedding vendor fair March 24 at the historic Carlyle House in Alexandria. Calling Card Events specializes in small events and programs at historic sites in the local area. Caterers, vacation planners and gift shops staff were on hand to offer information and samples of most of their services. The group is planning two more wedding vendor events at Collingwood on June 16 and July 21.
‘Banking on Our Future’
Chairman, Founder and CEO of Operation Hope John Hope Bryant gave a special presentation to the afterschool math students at Hammond Middle School on March 29. Starting out with the theme of respect of each other and oneself, Bryant dove into the source of real wealth: that which is within each person. Bryant initiated a program “Banking on Our Future” to foster dignity and hope and teach financial literacy and economic self-sufficiency to low-income communities in the U.S., South Africa and Haiti. For more information on the program visit www.operationhope.com.
At Regional Housing Expo
The doors at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington opened its doors March 24 to the 2nd annual Northern Virginia Housing Expo. The Expo is sponsored by Fairfax-based nonprofit AHOME in cooperation with the Virginia Housing Development Authority, the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church, the counties of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun, and the Town of Herndon. The fair featured homeownership and rental opportunities and resources throughout Northern Virginia. Free classes included “Are You Ready to Rent?,” “Are You Ready to Buy?,” “The ABCs of Credit and Credit Scores” and “Financing Your Home.”
‘Hopa Tropa Kukerica!’
The Ambassador Theater presented “Hopa Tropa Kukerica!,” a Bulgarian masquerade with puppetry, song and dance April 1 at the George Washington Masonic Temple in Alexandria. The play was conceived and directed by Lilia Slavova with choreographer Ivan Dimitrov, set designer Antonio Petrov, puppet design by Julia Tashev and music arranger Petko Kilov. For more information on upcoming events visit www.aticc.org
Sportsman's Club to Host Frank Howard April 17
Washington baseball legend Frank Howard will be the guest speaker at the April 17 meeting of the Alexandria Sportsman's Club.