To have an item listed, mail to the Gazette-Packet, 1604 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314; fax to 703-917-0991 or e-mail to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. If you have any questions, call Elizabeth Orr at 703-917-6449.
The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce will host a Chart House Member/Guest Event on Thursday, Sept. 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Chart House Restaurant, 1 Cameron St., Alexandria. For more information contact Barbara Lord at blord@alexchamber.com
Virginia Commerce Bank has opened a new Mount Vernon branch at 7901 Richmond Highway, Alexandria. The branch, which is the 14th overall for VCB, opened Aug. 10 but will hold a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 16. Special guests will include U.S. Rep. Jim Moran and Fairfax County Supervisors Gerry Hyland and Dana Kauffman. Refreshments will also be served.
Business Advantage Trade show. Monday, Sept. 20, 5:30- 8 p.m. at Don Beyer Volvo & Subaru, 7416 Richmond Highway, Alexandria. For a registration form or more information, visit www.MtVernon-LeeChamber.org, or call the Chamber office at 703-360-6925
September Business Development Roundtable. Presented by the Alexandria Chamber of Congress and the Alexandria Small Business Development Center, with a theme of "Targeting Your Message." Tuesday, Sept. 21, 12-1 p.m., at the Alexandria Chamber of Congress, 801 N. Fairfax St., Suite 402, Alexandria. For more information, contact Erika Mendez at 703-549-1000, ext. 212
Networking Luncheon. The Alexandria Women's Network sponsors a Networking Luncheon at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria Tuesday, Sept. 28, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The fee is $16 for members, $17 for guests with reservations, and $20 for walk-ins. Reserve by 10 a.m. Sept. 24. For reservations, call 703-287-0890. The Holiday Inn is located at 2460 Eisenhower Ave.
Networking Mixer. Hosted by the Mount Vernon Health & Racquet Club, 7950 Audubon Ave., Alexandria. 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30. Refreshments, door prizes, networking and a sampling of the racquet club's activities. For more information, call the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce at 703-360-6925.
The Alexandria Business and Professional Women Meeting. Tuesday, Oct. 12, featuring a panel of women's speakers share how they dealt with the glass ceilings in their lives in honor of National Business Women's Week. The event will be held at the Eisenhower Avenue Holiday Inn at 6:30 p.m. For information and reservations, call 703-765-1965.
The MAIDS Home Service of Alexandria, a residential cleaning service owned by Elizabeth Daus, was recently selected as one of the best of the more than 690 MAIDS franchises in the U.S. and Canada. Daus received the company's President's Club Award at a recent annual convention in Omaha, Neb. In addition, Judith McGhee, operations manager for the Alexandria MAIDS, won the 2003 Manager of the Year Award. For more information, about The MAIDS call 703-212-0100.
Morris Wade Associates, a new project/construction management firm based in the Chicago area with a branch office in Alexandria, was formed June 9 to provide project/construction management and related services to government agencies, building owners, developers, and architects throughout the United States and worldwide. The company was developed by Michael Morris and Philip Wade. Both are former executives of Hanscomb Associates, now Hanscomb Faithful & Gould. Morris Wade specializes in project management, cost estimating, and scheduling to help clients maximize value in building design and construction. Services range from individual cost estimates or value management studies to full-scale project/construction management. For more information on the complete range project and cost management services offered by Morris Wade, contact Philip Wade at 630-649-0699 or visit www.morris-wade.com.
King Street Blues has had artist Brian McCall create a paper mache caricature of both President George W. Bush, riding a steer in cowboy attire, and Sen. John Kerry, riding a motorcycle in bike riding attire. They can currently be viewed hanging from the walls of King Street Blues at 112 N. Saint Asaph St., Old Town Alexandria, along with all their other paper mache art hanging from the walls. After the election in November, one of the candidates is coming down off the wall, dependent on the outcome of the election. The "loser" will be auctioned off at the restaurant, and the proceeds will be donated to the local branch of the Boys and Girls Club.
St. Elmo's Coffee Pub of Alexandria was a winner of this year's Governor's Community Service and Volunteerism Awards, administered by the Virginia Governor's Commission on National and Community Service. The event celebrates the generosity of Virginians who contribute to their community. St. Elmo's won in the small business category.
Two Alexandria businessmen have joined the Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) Board of Directors. One new member, Jeff Bliss, is the president of The Javelin Group, a marketing, media and investment firm for the sports and entertainment industries located in Alexandria. The other new member, Charles Spearman, is the president of Tucker Spearman & Associates Inc., a management consulting firm specializing in Equal Employment Opportunity compliance and diversity consulting located in Alexandria.
A $10,000 grant from the Boeing Employees Community Fund has been awarded to the Alexandria Chapter of the American Red Cross in support of local disaster relief. The Boeing Employees Community Fund (ECF) is supported by contributions from employees of The Boeing Company. ECF is the largest employee-owned and employee-managed charitable fund in the world, annually raising and distributing more than $30,000,000 nationwide. Administrative costs of the ECF are paid by The Boeing Company, so that 100 percent of all employee contributions to the fund go to nonprofit agencies to meet critical needs in the local communities where Boeing's employees live and work.
Richard Eaton, who has worked with trees in Canada, Thailand, Indonesia and New York, recently became the district manager for The Care of Trees’ Alexandria office. Eaton studied resource management and holds a bachelor of science in forestry. Following his degree he went overseas to work on conservation projects where he worked in nature preserves before returning to work in the New York City area.
The Care of Trees is the exclusive tree care company for the American Horticultural Society. To reach The Care of Trees Alexandria office, call 703-922-8733, or visit
ww.thecareoftrees.com.
CALIBRE, an employee-owned government information technology and management services firm based in Alexandria, donated 13 desktop computers to Franconia Elementary School recently. CALIBRE and the school formed a partnership in June 2002 to share and develop resources, promote community involvement and enhance student learning. In addition to donating equipment and school supplies, CALIBRE frequently provides technical support, financial support, and volunteers for tutoring and mentoring. Franconia Elementary School, in return, provides student writings and artwork for the company's newsletter and Alexandria headquarters office, use of the school's facilities, and seasonal concerts for employees.
For more information about CALIBRE, visit www.calibresys.com.
Allstate Insurance staff member Ivonne Ona has completed the "Allstate-Certified Professional Representative" program, which is designed to enhance business skills, knowledge and professionalism. She is a licensed staff member of the Allstate agency located at 1704 Belle View Road, Suite 32, in Alexandria.