This column has been a little sporadic lately…my apologies, got a little overextended! Just back from a trip to California to see my family. Birthday parties and generous helpings of wine aside, I still had to "train" for my annual appearance in last week’s TC Crew Boosters’ Run V. Row 10K. Boy, that’s a big contrast, running five miles through a vineyard in California’s Central Coast (along with some coyotes) and then returning to the streets of Old Town! Also got to do my weekly swim, albeit in an outside pool!
Tanned, rested and ready, I write this column with snow falling, several dates of which to remind Seminary Valley residents. Don’t miss the quarterly meeting of our Civic Association, slated for Monday April 16, at 7 p.m. at the Burke Library. There are many new neighbors in the Valley; if you are planning to attend, take a recently-arrived along!
If you have ever tried to go east from Seminary Valley on a Friday night, and turned around because you couldn’t get to your destination, here’s the meeting for you: on Thursday April 19, Mayor Euille and the City Council are sponsoring a forum on local and regional transportation efforts. The event starts at 7 p.m. at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Auditorium, 600 Dulany St. West End residents are advised to leave an hour early due to traffic on Duke Street or our only other alternative route, Van Dorn Street.
Alexandria’s Earth Day celebration will be just a stroll away at Ben Brenman Park, on Saturday April 21. The day’s theme is "Eco-City: Urban Going Green." Activities, which get underway at 9 a.m., will include Blue Sky Puppets, music by Carbon Copy and composting!
Garbage pickers, take note: the City’s Spring Cleanup kicks off in our area on Saturday, April 14. Place your items on the curb before 7 a.m. Place your materials in containers and tie all brush and timber needs in bundles no more than four feet long and not more than 75 pounds. No concrete, hazardous waste, loose yard waste or building materials, please.
The Eisenhower Partnership Mini-Golf Classic has now become the "Taste of the Valley Mini-Golf Classic." The event, set for Sunday, May 6 will feature the mini-golf course at Cameron Run and samples of dishes from local restaurants. You can purchase ticket books at www.eisenhowerpartnership.org. The fun starts at 1 p.m. and dogs and kids are welcome. For more information, contact poleax@eisenhowerpartnership.org.
Last, and we should say "least"…John LaValle was the Biggest Loser for 2007. John lost an impressive 39 pounds (16.2 percent body weight). Sheila Avsec was the ladies’ winner, losing 16 pounds (9.5 percent). John took his winnings to Atlantic City … and Sheila is taking that new svelte self to Ohio, where she is moving to set up shop as a personal trainer and life coach. Sheila’s weight loss was on top of a prior 82-pound loss via Weight Watchers. Check out her progress at www.freewebs.com/vasma.
As a group, these Seminary Valley Biggest Losers lost a total of 209 pounds; the Red Team accounted for 114 of those pounds and the Blue Team’s share was 92. The Red Team is treating the Blue Team to dinner sometime in the near future. Although this group of your neighbors altered their eating habits somewhat, they really took exercise seriously. John LaValle and Jon Sargeant took part in the St. Patrick’s Day 8K and Jackie Krooneman ran in the Cherry Blossom 10-miler. Several members took their families skiing, too, over a March weekend. More calories out than in, that’s how you do it!
<b1>— Mia Jones
<b2>Patrick.jones44@verizon.net