Mount Vernon Me and My Mom Photos
Elizabeth Rees with children Sophia (now 8), Dylan (now 5) and Maya (now 2). This picture was taken on Pentecost last year. I'm a priest, and this picture is taken after church. I was exhausted and relaxing on the couch, and all the kids came over to snuggle with me.
Poetry by Patrick Rhoads
"Control our Debt" to the tune of "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
Poetry by Peter Lattu
Botanicals
Future Educators Win Awards at Conference
Mount Vernon High School students Shai West and Khortney Hamlin won first place awards in individual events at the Virginia Future Educators Association (FEA) Conference, held recently in Virginia Beach. Mount Vernon’s FEA chapter won more awards than any other school in the competition.
Friends of Trees Award
Mount Vernon High School teacher Matthew Thompson, who teaches chemistry and IB environmental systems, received a Friends of Trees Award from the Fairfax County Tree Commission for his efforts coordinating an effort to plant 465 native trees on the MVHS campus on April 20. Thompson’s efforts brought together students, teachers, administrators, sports teams, club members, community members, local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, and members of the Environmental Protection Agency. Further, he worked with the local non-profit group, Fairfax ReLeaf, which provided many trees towards the effort. To cover additional expenses, Thompson was able to solicit over $1,800 in donations from local businesses to help fund the project.
Frithjof Olsen Dies
Frithjof Olsen, a retired architect, died on March 25, 2012, three weeks before his 103rd birthday. He was born in 1909 in Fevik, Norway, the seventh of nine children, to Ingeborg and Ole Christian Olsen.
West Potomac Academy Students Produce Fashion Show
In the Springbank auditorium on Friday, May 4, West Potomac High School students were practicing their steps on the runway, lights and sound were checked, back in wardrobe, dressers were waiting for the models and changes, make-up was being applied in the band room as the preparations for the spring fashion show were near complete. This year’s show, Runway Ready “Catwalk to Concept,” featured student designs: Pink Paradise, Street Intentions, My Bougie Baby, Vintage Appeal and Masked Elegance. Guest designers included Nam Nguyen and the Ugglee Collection.
Letter: Ways To Restore Dyke Marsh
To the Editor: This week, the National Park Service (NPS) held a public meeting to discuss four optional courses of action concerning the erosion of Dyke Marsh. The Marsh is a tidal marsh where the brackish waters of the Potomac River ebb and flow with the tide, covering land at high tide and exposing land at low tide. While Dyke Marsh is a relatively large example of a tidal marsh, numerous other examples abound in the Potomac River and its tributaries. The main distinction is that Dyke Marsh is located within a national park, the George Washington National Historic Parkway Park. This introduces the prospect of using federal funding to restore it.
Letter: Thank You To Community
To the Editor: The Mount Vernon Evening Lions Club thanks the Mount Vernon community for its generous donations at our White Cane Day which was held at the Belle View Safeway on Saturday, April 28. All money will be used for sight projects. Please drop off any used eyeglasses or hearing aides at the recycle boxes located in local libraries. For questions, contact Andrea Corsillo at 703-960-4973.
Letter: How To Measure Excellence
For the past several years around the May timeframe, the Mount Vernon Gazette has published a nice picture of the Waynewood Elementary School principal, who — along with a teacher — is receiving an Academic Excellence Award from Dan Storck (see last week's edition of the Gazette). While I think it's great that Waynewood receives this award year after year after year, I wonder what type of message that sends to the other hard-working school administrators and teachers in the area who cannot compete with Waynewood's "success" on many levels.
Letter: Keep Larger Perspective
To the Editor: A mega issue is playing out under the guise of a mini issue in northern Mount Vernon district.
When a Child Goes Missing
Annually in Virginia over 1,000 children are reported as missing.
What started as a missing child report on April 27 has since been resolved by the Mount Vernon police. On Friday, May 4, the police determined that the 12-year-old girl is in the custody of a family member. The investigation is ongoing but no charges have been placed at this time.
Help ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ This Saturday
Postal carriers to collect donated food.
Among the letter carriers across the nation collecting food donations this Saturday, May 12, for the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is Mount Vernon’s postal carrier David Yip who delivers mail along Fort Hunt Road.
Auction To Benefit Club Programs, Projects
Join Belvoir Officers' Spouses' Club on “Military Spouse Appreciation Day” with a “Caring for our Community Dinner and Auction.” Items on the auction block, called by a professional auctioneer, include a football signed by the NFL's Mannings - Eli, Peyton and Archie, along with its certificate of authenticity, a pearl necklace, a stay at the Hollywood Casino, Pink Bicycle Tea Room, Wine Tasting tours and picnic parties at several local wineries, a man's Officina del Tempo Watch, roundtrip New York City bus tickets and theater tickets to several shows, Dandy Cruise Ship four-course dinner cruise for two, Stonewall Resort’s two-night stay for two, Hunting Hawk Golf Club greens fees, Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre, Olde Towne Pet Resort three-night stay and spa bath for a canine or feline family member, a season pass to the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, and other items. The evening will also feature entertainment by guitarist Stan Hamrick of the Potomac Jazz Project.
Park Improvements at Mount Eagle Park
Residents and local officials will gather on Saturday, May 12, at 10 a.m. to celebrate the completion of improvements at Mount Eagle Park. The 12-acre park recently received a new playground, pavilion and sand volleyball court. A brief ceremony to be held at the pavilion will mark the occasion. Mount Eagle Park is located at 5919 North Kings Highway, Alexandria.