Commentary: Much To Cherish This Fourth of July
Two-hundred thirty-seven years ago, Thomas Jefferson put down his pen and sent the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. It was a steamy July day and after two days of debate and edits they emerged with the document we hold so dear and celebrate this week. A philosophical treatise and declaration to King George, it begins “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Commentary: Distracted Driving Can Be Reckless
On July 1, a new Virginia Law goes into effect makes it clear that writing or reading emails or text messages is now a primary offense for which a driver may be stopped. The law also makes clear that if someone is convicted of reckless driving and texting/emailing while driving, there is a mandatory minimum fine of $250.
Letter to the Editor: Unsatisfactory Response
Thank you for your reply to my letter of June 3; although I must say your reply, if anything, gives me even more concern than I felt before, and I didn’t think that was possible. You say in your reply that “In response to a march 29, 2011, Board Item to establish a review process for the Fairfax County Police Department, the county’s Internal Audit Office issed a report” and that I could look up the report on the county’s website.
Mount Vernon Crime Report
ASSAULT/LARCENY, 4000 block of Fielding Street, June 20, 11 p.m. A 14-year-old boy reportedly was at a local park attempting to retrieve his bicycle. Several juvenile boys confronted him and allegedly assaulted him.
Housing’s Roaring Rebound?
Pent-up demand creates seller’s market for Northern Virginia real estate.
In February, Patricia Stack, a broker with Weichert Realtors, held an open house for a single-family home for sale in Vienna just listed for $739,000. Within three hours, more than 70 people toured the home. “The home went under contract substantially above list price,” Stack said. “2013 has started with a bang in Northern Virginia real estate. In fact, it appears to be a market more like 2005-2006 than anything we've seen since,” Stack said.
Mount Vernon Bulletin
Colonial Republican Women Meeting. 6:30-9 p.m. at Virginia Hills Administration Center, 6520 Diana Lane. Refreshments will be served. E-mail colonialrepublicanwomen@gmail.com or 703-624-3252.
Mount Vernon Military Notes
Army Capt. Jeffrey J. Gunlicks has returned to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., after being deployed to Iraq serving in support of Operation New Dawn. Gunlicks, an officer in charge of the Taji Projects Office attached to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C., has served eight years in the military. The captain is a resident of Cannes Court, Alexandria.
Points of Sail
Sailing instructor Sam Fleuchaus worked the better part of the end of an hour reinforcing the idea of wind and maneuvering on the river.
Safe to Eat Potomac Offerings?
States advise which to avoid, which to limit, due to PCBs and methyl mercury.
Recreational and subsistence fishermen who catch fish on the Potomac River and its tributaries beware: Resident largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish, yellow perch, eel, and migratory striped bass (rockfish) and white perch, and other fish contain unhealthy levels of PCBs, methyl mercury, and pesticides.
Mount Vernon School Notes
Mariya Ilyas graduated from Bowdoin College with a major in mathematics and a minor in government and legal studies.
West Potomac Class of 2013 Celebrates All Night
More than 70 businesses and sponsors came together to celebrate the West Potomac High School Class of 2013 with donations to the all-night graduation party on June 18.
Mount Vernon Crime Report
Ladson Lane/Richmond Highway, June 13, 10:30 p.m. A 34-year-old man reported he parked his car when an unknown man opened the door and demanded money. The victim did not have any money.
Letter to the Editor: More Shirts, More Names
A Richmond mom first made the clothesline of white t-shirts six years ago — 32 of them in all; one for each of the victims of Virginia Tech. It's been six years, but we have not forgotten. The names written on each of those t-shirts are heartbreakingly familiar ... Mary, Reema, Daniel ….
Obituary
Betty Jeanne Canfield Randall
Betty Jeanne Randall died on June 5, 2013 at home with family in Alexandria after a valiant, short battle with cancer. Born in Los Angeles (’41), she graduated from South Pasadena High School with honors and Mount St. Mary’s College with honors. Being driven, as she was, she finished college in 3 and a half years with a degree in English (’63).
Pastor Marks First Anniversary
Pastor Robert. L. Lewis, Jr. will be celebrating his first year at Messiah Lutheran Church in Alexandria with a summer sermon series entitled ,”What’s Faith, Why Faith?” based on the book in the Bible known as The Letter to the Galatians. The sermon series will be during the regular Sunday Worship at 10 a.m. Messiah Lutheran called Lewis in June of 2012 and he began his ministry the following month. He came to Messiah Lutheran after serving at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Bethesda, Md. as the pastor for youth and family for eight years.