The Alexandria Alliance Aganist Domestic Violence is holding its annual Candlelight Vigil at Market Square on Thursday, October 19, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The "Silent Witness" displays will honor the memories of women who suffered extreme violence at the hands of their husbands and boyfriends.The plywood silhouettes, painted red with a shield over their hearts, tell the story of their tragic deaths. Scheduled to speak are Alexandria's Chief of Police David P. Baker and family member Jackie Winborne, whose daughter Shaquita Bell disappeared in 1996. Ms. Bell was last seen with her ex-boyfriend; her body was never found and no one was ever charged in her disappearance. The public is invited to attend the vigil at 7 p.m
Flu shots will be available at St. Martin De Porres Senior Center, 1420 Taney Avenue,on Thursday, Oct. 12,
from 9 am to noon. Call the Center 703-751-2766 for more information. Flu shots will be available at Alfred Street Baptist Church (at intersection of Alfred and Duke Streets) on October 29, after the 8 a.m. and 11 a.m .services. Dr. DeSandies has ordered 100 extra flu shot dosages for non-Alfred St. Baptist persons who might choose to take advantage of this service.
Seniors and those with chronic respiratory disease or other conditions which make them more vulnerable are encouraged to obtain a flu shot. Usually, Medicare enrollees pay nothing and all others may have to pay a fee. (If there is a fee for non-Medicare enrolled persons, you should expect it to be at least $25.)
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde invites law enforcement and public safety officers, firefighters and emergency personnel and their families from throughout the diocese to attend the third annual Blue Mass to remember those who have fallen in the line of duty, and to pray for the safety of all officers, Friday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, 3901 Cathedral Lane, Arlington. Reception to follow. People of all faiths are welcome.
The Blue Mass began in Baltimore in 1934 to honor the men and women who protect our cities, counties and nation. The Mass has become an annual tradition for many dioceses throughout the country. Visit www.arlingtondiocese.org.
Volunteers are needed to participate in the 2006 Virginia Waterways Cleanup and help clean Little Hunting Creek in Alexandria. The cleanup will take place 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Oct. 14. Participants will meet at the end of South Royal Street and Jones Point Drive. The event will be held rain or shine. Trash bags and gloves will be provided and waterproof boots are recommended. The 2006 Virginia Waterways Cleanup is sponsored by Clean Virginia Waterways, a nonprofit organization dedicated to citizen stewardship of Virginia’s water resources, and is part of the International Coastal Cleanup. Contact Diana Handy of the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, Division of Environmental Quality, at 703-519-3400, ext. 166 or diana.handy@alexandriava.gov.
The League of Women Voters of Alexandria is holding a unit meeting on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the Proposed Constitutional Marriage Amendment: Ballot Question #1, at The Durant Memorial Center, 1605 Cameron St. Delegate Adam Ebbin, will debate with Virginians for the Marriage Amendment. Refreshments will be served at 7 p.m. and following the program.
The 13th Annual Walk to Fight Breast Cancer is just around the corner. The 2006 Walk, presented by American Society of Clinical Oncology, Safeway Food & Drug and Mix 107.3, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 8 a.m. Walkers can choose from a 1.5K/3.5K/5K walk or run and the Walk route is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. Registration and parking will be located at AMC Hoffman Center Theatres, with free DASH shuttle service to the Walk route. Registration costs $25 for adults and $10 for children, if pre-registered by Oct. 18. On-site registration is $35, so register early to save! Visit www.alexcancerwalk.com
In the spirit of the Halloween season, the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society (GTMS) will host a Murder Mystery Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 21, at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 North Royal Street, Alexandria). The theme is “Great Gatsby” with an elegant three-course dinner in the Ballroom and three murders…will it be you? The event will be limited to 75 people and hosted by a professional acting troupe. The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $75 for GTMS members; $100 for non-members. Call 703-838-4242 or visit www.gadsbystavern.org.
<City Archaeologist Dr. Pamela Cressey will lead a two hour guided tour exploring Alexandria’s maritime and archaeological heritage on Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to noon. It is free but reservations are required. Meet at Founder’s Park, corner of North Union and Oronoco Streets. Call 703-838-4399.
The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria will hold its 12th annual Telethon on Sunday, October 29, from 4 to 9 p.m. at T.C. Williams High School Auditorium, located at 3330 King Street in Alexandria. Sponsored by Comcast Communications, the program will air live on Comcast Channel 69 in the City of Alexandria. This year's Telethon will again feature the popular Teen Talent Search and will include up to 15 on-air challenges led by a cross-section of Alexandriaís business and community leaders.
T.C. Williams Athletic Director and former Alexandria Mayor Kerry Donley, former City Council member David Speck, and Channel 4 reporter Julie Carey will host the telethon on-air. Peter Smeallie, a parent of T.C. Williams students, is chairing the event.
The Telethon raises money for scholarships to help academically qualified T.C. Williams High School seniors afford higher education after they graduate. During the past 20 years, the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria has awarded nearly $4 million to more than 2500 graduates.
To make a pledge during the Telethon, viewers can telephone 703-824-6730 or contribute online via the Scholarship Fund of Alexandriaís website at www.AlexScholarshipFund.org. Advance contributions are accepted via the website beginning October 15, 2006.
The City of Alexandria’s Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center is accepting entries for its Nature Photography Contest. Entries must be submitted by Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. to the Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center, 5750 Sanger Ave. The theme for the photo contest is “Wildlife in Alexandria.” Awards will be presented in three categories: Adults (18 and older), Young Adults (13-17) and Children (6-12). Entries will be judged on lighting, subject appeal and composition. Winning entries and honorable mentions will be showcased at the newly renovated and expanded Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center. Call 703-838-4829 or visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation/nature/buddie_ford_center.html.
Virginia Tech’s Urban Affairs and Planning Program in Alexandria is presenting a New Metropolis Lecture Series during 2006-2007. The lecture series focuses on cutting-edge topics and ideas about metropolitan development in the United States and abroad. Lectures will be held from 7-9 p.m. at Virginia Tech’s Alexandria campus, 1021 Prince Street, 3rd floor main conference room, and are open to the public, free of charge.
Nov. 1, Marie Howland, Professor, University of Maryland — “Urban Development Challenges and Accomplishments in Post Soviet St. Petersburg, Russia”
Nov. 29, Paul Knox, University Distinguished Professor, Virginia Tech — “Vulgaria: Material Consumption and the Built Environment in the New Metropolis”
Jan. 31, 2007, Bruce Beard, Assistant Director for Environmental Readiness Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Installations and Environment) — “Linking Landscapes—Linking Mission?”
Feb. 21, 2007, Peter Katz, author of The New Urbanism; Toward an Architecture of Community — “The New Revolution: Form-based Codes”
April 25, 2007, William Millar, President of the American Public Transportation Association — “The Future of Transit in the U.S.”
Contact Heike Mayer at 703-706-8122 or heikem@vt.edu
How did police identify criminals before mug shots and fingerprints? Could one police chief actually smell whiskey that was buried underground? Why did officers host boat trips on the Potomac? Was a modest town home on North Lee Street once a house of ill repute?
In conjunction with their current exhibit, Serving with Distinction: African Americans in Alexandria Public Safety, the Alexandria Black History Museum is hosting a gallery talk, Saturday, November 4, at 11 a.m. Alexandria police spokesperson Amy Bertsch will discuss the challenges local police encountered between 1900 and 1935. The gallery talk is free and open to the public.
Bertsch, who recently compiled a soon-to-be-released photo history of the Alexandria Police Department (Arcadia Publishing 2006), will discuss police equipment, vice activity, criminal identification techniques and the impact of motor vehicles in Alexandria during the early 20th century. Guests will see historic photographs and documents from the police archives and learn about the unique work Alexandria officers did in the City and in outlying areas, from violent crime and accident investigation, to animal control and Prohibition enforcement.
Several police artifacts, including antique handcuffs, are currently on display at the museum as part of the Serving with Distinction exhibit.
The Alexandria Black History Museum is located at 902 Wythe Street. The Museum complies with the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Visitors who require special assistance should call one week in advance of their visit. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Museum is owned and operated by the City of Alexandria. Call 703-838-4356.