Editorial: So Hard to Imagine?
Poor families face challenges that officials and many of the rest of us have trouble envisioning.
The Commonwealth of Virginia and even Northern Virginia includes many poor families and individuals. But officials seem to have trouble wrapping their brains around some of the difficulties this can cause.
Stakes Are High in Virginia Budget Standoff
Lawmakers flee Capitol, where partisan gridlock reigns.
The budget standoff in Richmond could have drastic consequences in Northern Virginia, where every service from education to transportation is on the line.
Calendar for March 8
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.
Fairfax Supervisors to Consider Even More Cuts to Library System
In the last four years, more than $5 million has been slashed from the library budget.
Walk into the Centreville Library and one is confronted with an institution in crisis.
Letter: Fiscally Prudent?
I am concerned by efforts to portray cuts to the state's safety net by the legislature as fiscally prudent while not harming Virginians with low incomes.
Letter: Serving Constituents
I find it fascinating that Mr. H. Jay Spiegel appears to have just discovered that Del. Scott Surovell votes (gasp!) left-of-center in the House. Even more entertaining is the implication that, after winning the election with almost 60 percent of the vote, he pulled a Romney-like switcheroo on our “somewhat moderate politically” district.
Letter: Standing Up For What’s Right
The bills that didn't pass listed by H. Jay Spiegel ("Truly Representative?" March 1-7, 2012) made me proud to have a delegate who is brave enough to depart from the "mainstream" in Richmond.
Letter: MVHS Crew Tag Day a Success
The Mount Vernon High School Crew Team would like to thank the local community for their continued support to our athletic program
Letter: Legislation Does Hurt the Poor
In last week’s Gazette, Jay McConville objects that the front page story, "New Laws Attack Poor" (Feb. 16-22, 2012) is filled with the assertion that "legislation promoting good financial stewardship … is an attack on the poor."
Letter: Reasonable, Not Radical
In the March 1 edition of the Mount Vernon Gazette, Jay Speigel criticized Del. Scott Surovell's support for a Republican Delegate's legislation to automatically restore the voting rights of nonviolent ex-felons.
Warming Up For Festival Concert
The “Mirage” Advanced Women’s Chorus at Mount Vernon High School was in rehearsal on Tuesday, March 6, for this Thursday night’s “I Hear A Voice” Festival Concert in the Mount Vernon High School Little Theatre.
Column: Two Surovell Bills Become Law; State Budget Stalls
Governor McDonnell signed two of my bills into law on Feb. 29. One clarifies that when a person files an action for child custody, child support or spousal support, any powers of attorney between the parties would automatically terminate.
Column: Budget Stand Is About People
Democrats in Virginia’s State Senate voted down the Republican budget last week. Although this move is being used to label Democrats as obstructionists, the real story is much more complex. Senate Democrats are fighting to save important quality of life issues for the people of Virginia, not for political gain!
Night of the Ballyshaner’s Grand Marshal’s Ball
The Grand Marshal’s Ball is the annual Alexandria kick-off to the Irish-American Month.
Column: Protecting Residents in Tax, Road Debates
Congress finally has acted to ensure payroll tax relief for 170 million individuals and families through the rest of 2012. This additional tax relief is critical for maintaining the momentum of the economic recovery, and Northern Virginians will realize an average savings of $2,000 per household.
Project Enlightenment Visits Old Town
Students from McLean High School in the Historical Reenactment Society, Project Enlightenment performed before audiences at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop in Alexandria last month.
Column: Look What She Saw—Sort Of
Well there’s five seconds that fellow super-market-shopper won’t have back anytime soon. The question, the curiosity is: will she have nightmares and/or live to regret staring at me so intently that I think I may have seen the whites of her eyes – and it wasn’t even remotely dark?
Local Governments Enjoy Record Spending
Bucking national trend, local governments here expand while others are contracting.
As local governments across America are laying off firefighters and teachers, governments in Northern Virginia are experiencing record levels of spending and an all-time-high number of employees.
Not-So-Super Tuesday
Turnout for Virginia's presidential preference primary was lowest in recent memory.
With two of the major candidates in the Republican presidential contest failing to qualify for the ballot in Virginia, Super Tuesday was anything but super.
Wolverines Not Assuming They’re Patriot District’s Best
Talented West Potomac softball team in search of first district title since 2006.
The West Potomac softball team entered the 2011 season loaded with talent and, as far as the Wolverines were concerned, possessed a clear path to the Patriot District championship. It didn’t take long for perennial power South County to issue West Potomac an early-season wake-up call.