The City of Alexandria is nearing the end of removing debris resulting from recent storms. City crews are currently removing trees, limbs and branches that have fallen into City streets and public rights of way. It is anticipated that storm cleanup will be completed by the first week of July.
Trees growing on private property that have fallen on private property are the responsibility of the homeowner. Debris should be bundled and placed curbside for pick up on your normally scheduled refuse collection day. Brush materials must be bundled in lengths no longer than four feet, and weigh no more than 70 pounds per bundle. Branches or brush pieces should not be larger than 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and should not include logs or stumps. Debris should not block fire hydrants. For more information about refuse collection, please call the City's Solid Waste Division at 703.519.3486.
If a City tree has fallen onto private property, notify the City at 703.838.4999 for removal. If a tree falls onto City streets, or is blocking streets and/or highways, contact the Alexandria Police Department at 703.838.4444.
The City of Alexandria, in partnership with other regional organizations, invites residents to attend a “Build Your Own Rain Barrel” workshop on Saturday, July 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Francis C. Hammond Middle School, 4646 Seminary Drive. Registration for this workshop is required. Visit www.arlingtonenvironment.org/barrel.htm to register online. For more information about the Rain Barrel Workshops, contact Jesse Maines, Office of Environmental Quality, Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, at 703-519-3400, ext. 166.
Seniors 50 years of age and over are eligible to enter the 2008 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics to be held Sept. 20-Oct. 2. Registration information is available now at local senior centers, community centers, senior residences or by calling 703-228-3600, ext. 9996. They can also be downloaded online at www.novaseniorolympics.com. Registration deadline is Sept. 5.
The City of Alexandria’s Department of Transportation and Environmental Services announces new permit and fee amounts effective July 1. These rates are comparable to other municipal jurisdictions in the surrounding area. For more information, contact the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services at 703-838-4324 or visit www.alexandriava.gov/tes.
There is a pet calendar contest to benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. All pets are eligible and all entries will appear in the calendar. $25/pet, which includes one calendar. Entry deadline is Aug. 22. Visit www.alexandriaanimals.org or 703-838-4774.
The Alexandria chapter of the Coronary Health Improvement Project (CHIP), will sponsor a Community Health Expo and Seminar on Sunday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Community Praise Center, 1400 Russell Road. The event highlights include a fitness clinic, vegan cooking demonstrations, health information on hypertension, diabetes, cancer, cholesterol, door prizes. Free health screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, body fat analysis and more will be provided. Services for alternative health therapies will also be offered for a nominal fee. The expo is free and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP, call 703-823-2139 or email cpcchip@comcast.net
Nonprofit organizations and other grantseekers in Alexandria looking for funding sources now have access to a valuable new collection of resources through Alexandria Library. The Foundation Center’s core collection includes The Foundation Directory Online and Foundation Grants to Individuals Online. All four Alexandria Library branches have access to the two databases through their catalog computers. The complete Cooperating Collection of print and electronic resources is held at the Barrett Library, located at 717 Queen St. For more information visit visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us .
The City of Alexandria has partnered with Alexandria City Public Schools to obtain a grant for $70,000 to retrofit approximately 40 school buses with clean air technology that reduces pollutants emitted by diesel engine school buses. For more information about the Retrofit Grant Program, please contact Erica Bannerman, Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, at 703-838-4334 or David Rose, Alexandria City Public Schools, at 703-461-4169.
The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) invites youth (6th – 12th grades) and adults who live in the City of Alexandria or work with Alexandria youth to complete a short online survey that asks for perceptions and opinions about youth substance abuse in our community. Incentives are provided for youth participants, and adult survey participants have access to recent statistics on youth substance abuse in Alexandria. Community members are asked to complete one of the seven questionnaires, which are all available at alexandriava.gov/sapcasurvey and can be completed in about 10-15 minutes.
The 4Paws Rescue Team is allowed to keep foster cats at the Petco in Alexandria to increase their chances of finding a loving home. Petco volunteers are asked to commit to one evening or morning each week to care for 2-4 cats. Currently are in dire need of Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning volunteers (until noon), but volunteers for other shifts are encouraged to apply as well. 
If interested, contact info@fourpaws.org or by phone at 703-715-6369.
On Friday, June 27, Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille and the City of Alexandria’s Health Department will host a rally in recognition of National HIV Testing Day. The rally will begin at noon at Market Square in front of City Hall (301 King St.). Vice Mayor Redella S. “Del” Pepper will make remarks, followed by persons with HIV/AIDS, who will give their personal testimonies about living with the disease. T. C. Williams High School student Young Lyric, a rap artist and winner of the Citywide Spoken Word competition, will provide entertainment at the rally. For more information, please contact Nechelle Terrell at 703-838-4400 ext. 305.
Thursday, June 26: “Managing for Results In a Downturned Economy.” The workshop is open to Alexandria restaurant and retail businesses and will be from 8 - 9:45 a.m. at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. There is no charge for this workshop, but space is limited so attendees must register in advance. Send an e-mail to pmelton@alexandriasbdc.org. Indicate “Willson Workshop” in the Subject line and include the name of the attendee(s), business name, address, telephone and e-mail.
The Northern Virginia Review is accepting entries for the next issue, slated for publication in March 2009. The Review, an annual journal of essays, fine art, photography, poetry and short stories, accepts submissions from residents of the Northern Virginia and the greater Washington metropolitan area.
People may submit two essays, two works of fiction, three pieces of artwork and four poems, with a limit of five items per person. The deadline for entries is Sept. 18. Additional guidelines can be found at http://www.nvcc.edu/depts/nvreview/nvr-submit.htm. The Review is funded by Northern Virginia Community College, the NVCC Educational Foundation, individuals and corporate sponsors. Contributions are tax deductible and all donors are recognized in the publication. To make a donation or learn more about the journal, contact Managing Editor Steve Drasner at sdrasner@nvcc.edu.
The Alexandria Archaeological Commission (AAC) is now accepting nominations for the Bernard “Ben” Brenman Archaeology in Alexandria Award. The Brenman Award is open to businesses, organizations, families, professional preservationists, volunteers, students and other individuals who have demonstrated work or efforts in archaeological investigation, research, site protection, education, public interpretation, open space design, collections, or conservation. Nomination forms are available at www.alexandriaarchaeology.org or by calling the Alexandria Archaeology Museum at 703.838.4399. The deadline for nominations is June 30.
Alexandria Library now offers its patrons a chance to write their own reviews of almost all of the Library holdings (books, movies, music, and other materials) on the Alexandria Library Web site online catalog at www.alexandria.lib.va.us. To access the online catalog, visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us , click on “Library Catalog,” and begin browsing. To write a review, simply register and type your review for all to read. For more information, contact Mark Schwartz at 703-519-3498, or e-mail mschwartz@alexandria.lib.va.us.
Community Partners for Children’s fourth annual baby supply drive is underway. The following Alexandria drop off locations will have donation baskets and containers at their businesses. The items collected during the drive will be donated to four local non-profit groups that help struggling families: Casey Clinic, Alexandria Neighborhood Services in Arlandria, Center for Alexandria’s Children and the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM). The other way to help is to donate a tax-deductible check to support Community Partners for Children’s Baby Supply Drive, Back-to-School Drive and the Holiday Toy Drive. Send your check to Community Partners for Children, PO Box 2738, Alexandria, VA 22301.
* A Show of Hands, 2204 Mt. Vernon Ave.
* Burke & Herbert Bank, 306 E. Monroe Ave.
* Caboose Café, 2419 Mt. Vernon Ave.
* Chinquapin Rec. Center, 3210 King St.
* Chrysalis Chiropractic, 3140 Commonwealth Ave.
* Dairy Godmother, 2310 Mt. Vernon Ave.
* St. Elmo's Coffee Pub, 2300 Mount Vernon Ave.
* T.C. Williams High School, Main Office, 3330 King St.
* Yoga in Daily Life, 2402 Mt. Vernon Ave.
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is seeking persons who are diplomatic, assertive, and good communicators to serve as volunteer ombudsmen. Volunteers are assigned to a specific local nursing home or assisted-living facility in the City of Alexandria and make weekly visits, meeting one-on-one with residents. For further information and to obtain an application, call 703-324-5422, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/LTCOmbudsman.
Have an attic or basement full of treasures collecting dust? Put them to good use instead by donating them to MV Big Flea. The Big Flea benefits the Mount Vernon Community School PTA in Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood. Here's how it works: You donate items to the school PTA. They sell them and keep the proceeds. You receive a tax-deductible contribution. Donations can be dropped off on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at 409 E. Alexandria Ave. If possible, send an email to joseph.lamountain@gmail.com and let Joe know that you are coming and what you plan to bring so we can plan accordingly. You may also contact Joseph LaMountain at 202-288-5124.
The Alexandria chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) meet at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Contact 703-684-6190 or visit www.naacpalexandria.org.
Greenlight Toastmasters International meets every second and fourth Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Mount Vernon Rec Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. Visit greenlight.freetoasthost.info or 703-569-4810.
Every Saturday, 7–9 a.m. there are bookmark distributions in Del Ray and Old Town to promote awareness about domestic violence. For more information contact Stephanie Romonchuk at Stephanie.romonchuk@alexandriava.gov or 703-838-4911.
Come and volunteer at the The Child and Family Network Centers (CFNC) headquarters offices in Alexandria. Again this year, CFNC staff and volunteers will be preparing our holiday solicitation mailing. We need your help to hand-address, collate stuff and stamp over 2500 letters. We always have a wonderful time working on this project, talking, snacking and getting to know each other. We would love to have you join us. CFNC relies on the funds from this mailing to help provide no cost preschool and family services to those children and their families living at or below the poverty level in Alexandria and Arlington. Please call Patricia Chapman at 703-836-0214, or e-mail to pchapman@cfnc-online.org.