The Department of Planning and Zoning will hold an Information Session on the proposed Small Business Zoning Changes on Thursday, May 29 from 7-9 p.m. in Room 2000 of City Hall. A staff report and proposed changes for Small Business Zoning were presented to the Planning Commission on May 6. If there are any questions or comments regarding the proposed changes prior to the Information Session, please direct them to the Department of Planning & Zoning, attn: Rich Josephson at: City Hall, 301 King Street, Room 2100, Alexandria, VA 22314; Fax: 703-838-6393; Email: richard.josephson@alexandriava.gov. Questions can be directed to Rich Josephson at 703-838-4666.
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.”
The City of Alexandria invites residents to a community meeting to provide input on the development and design of a comprehensive, citywide wayfinding signage system. The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m. at the George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/wayfinding or call Carrie Beach at 703-838-4666 ext. 325.
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 Animal Welfare League has created a new TV show, "Alexandria Animal Matters" under the aegis of Comcast's community outreach program. The new show starts on June 9 at 6:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable 69. Each 30-minute show will feature an animal segment, as well as two interview sessions with interesting guests talking about varying topics that will inform and entertain the entire family. Visit www.alexandriaanimals.org.
Alexandria Masters Swimming begins the summer season of swim workouts starting Monday, June 2. The group is one of over 300 local clubs belonging to US Masters Swimming, an organization promoting adult swimming and fitness. Swimmers interested in summer fitness and triathletes interested in maintaining or improving their swimming skills are invited to come swim with us, and can try a workout with no obligation. There are six early morning workouts and four evening workouts a week during the summer. Swim workouts will be held at Waynewood, Little Hunting Park, Virginia Hills, and Hollin Hills pools. Interested swimmers can obtain more information on the club's Web site: HYPERLINK "http://www.AlexandriaMasters.com/"www.AlexandriaMasters.com.
Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is hosting an information session on Saturday, June 14, 11 a.m. –noon at the John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive. To learn more about advocating for abused or neglected children, call 703-273-3526, ext. 22 or e-mail ekosarin@casafairfax.org for more information.
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.
"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.
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.