The Del Ray House & Garden Tour will take place on Saturday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This year's tour will feature eleven of Del Ray's historic homes and their gardens, as well as the Del Ray Artisan's Center. Advance tickets are $15 per person if you purchase by Friday, May 16th, and $20 on the day of the tour. Tickets will be available for purchase at: Del Ray Farmers' Market, Saturdays 8 a.m. to 12 noon, A Show of Hands, 2204 Mt. Vernon Avenue, and online at www.delraycitizen.org.
On Monday, May 19 Agenda:Alexandria presents “Alexandria and National Harbor: Partnership for Prosperity.” Agenda:Alexandria explores the impact of National Harbor on Alexandria with Stephanie Pace Brown, Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association, and Charlotte Hall, Vice President, Potomac Riverboat Company. Located Holiday Inn Eisenhower Metro Center, 2460 Eisenhower Ave. Reception at 6:30 p.m., dinner ($20 members with reservations/$25 non-members) at 6:45 p.m.; Program (free to members/$5 non-members) 7:10 p.m. Mail checks to PO Box 3598, Alexandria, VA 22302. For information, contact Sherry Brown, agendaalexandria@aol.com or 703-549-4696.
On Monday, May 19, 7 p.m. The Landmark/Van Dorn Advisory Group will meet at Landmark Mall, 5801 Duke St. The primary topic for this meeting is affordable housing. In addition, the group will work with the information from the planning and design charrette to further define specific future options to be evaluated and discuss the evaluation process. For further information on the Landmark/Van Dorn planning program, visit the web page at http://alexandriava.gov/planning/info/default.aspx?id=7014.
The City of Alexandria’s Beautification Commission is accepting nominations for the 2008 Alexandria Beautification Awards. The awards program recognizes City residents, organizations, and businesses for their efforts in contributing to the beautification of City neighborhoods and public vistas with landscaping and aesthetic design. Nominations must be received by Friday, May 16. Nominations, with a clearly identified property address, may be sent by e-mail to marie.johnston@navy.mil, or by postal mail to:
Alexandria Beautification Commission P.O. Box 178 Alexandria, VA 22313
The award winners will be recognized at the Beautification Awards Ceremony on October 6 at the Lyceum, located at 201 S. Washington St.
On Thursday, May 29, 6:45 p.m., at Minnie Howard Auditorium, 3801 W. Braddock Road. Nationally-renowned author and speaker, Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine will discuss “Personal and Professional Perspectives on Depression.”
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.
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 .
Firefighters from Fire Station 208, 175 N. Paxton St., are participating in the Alexandria “Adopt-a-Park” program. Station 208 has adopted the James Marx All Veterans Park, located near the 200 block of N. Pickett St. The park was chosen due to its proximity to the fire station and to Holmes Run. Firefighters from the A-shift chose this opportunity as a unique approach to their overall commitment to community outreach. They will begin regular cleanup activities at the park at the end of April.
Members of the public are invited to attend the seminar,
"Understanding Your Personality with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator" on June 10 from 7–9 p.m. at the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce offices, 801 N. Fairfax St., Suite 402. The MBTI seminar is $89 and includes the cost of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and an introductory Type workbook. Registration is required; visit http://www.alexjaycees.org/seminars. Class size limit is 45.
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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.
Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Company has formed a special promotional partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia and Habitat for Humanity, Prince William County. The "Bank Better & Do Good" campaign will run through April 30. During that time period, Burke & Herbert Bank will donate $25 for every Advantage Checking Account opened at the bank to either of the two Habitat chapters.
To celebrate National Preservation Month this May, the Office of Historic Alexandria is offering “Alexandria Preservation 101,” a series of lectures and workshops to help educate owners of historic homes. Preservation 101 classes are open to all and will be held at the Lloyd House, 220 North Washington Street, in Old Town Alexandria. Following is the schedule:
* Saturday, May 17 (two sessions): Workshop: 10 a.m. to noon, $15, “Repairing Historic Windows” by David Gibney, restoration carpenter. Workshop: 1-3 p.m., $15. “Restoring Historic Porches” by David Gibney, restoration carpenter
* Tuesday, May 20: Lecture: 7:30-9 p.m., $10
Lectures cost $10 each or $25 for the series of three, and workshops cost $15 each or $50 for the series of four. Advance registration is requested and can be made by calling 703-838-4554 or visiting www.historicalexandria.org.
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.
The Alexandria City Council is seeking applicants to fill the following vacancies on City of Alexandria boards, commissions and committees. Council will act on these vacancies at the May 27, 2008 City Council meeting. All applicants must complete a Personal Data Record Form and return it to the Office of Citizen Assistance or file the form electronically via the City’s website no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 16, 2008. Applications received after this deadline will not be forwarded to City Council.
Alexandria Commission for Women has three citizen vacancies due to expiring terms. The Commission meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. Approximately eight hours per month are required of Commission members.
Alexandria Human Rights Commission has one vacancy for a citizen member due to an expiring term. The Commission meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. Approximately five hours per month are required of Commission members.
All applicants must comply with City Ordinance No. 2452, which states that no appointee shall reside outside of the City of Alexandria unless a residency waiver is granted, and City Ordinances No. 2641, which states that City employees may not apply for vacancies on boards, committees or commissions that relate to the responsibilities of the department in which they are employed.
Members of the Human Rights Commission are available to assist any person or attend any meeting to explain the board and commission application process. To request such assistance, contact Jean Niebauer at 703.838.6390.
For further information about the vacancies or responsibilities of these boards and commissions, contact Rose Williams Boyd or Kathryn Mendenhall in the Office of Citizen Assistance on 703.838.4691.