The Big Event is returning to Alexandria! The Alexandria Volunteer Bureau (AVB) is organizing Alexandria youth to participate in its second annual day of service called The Big Event. On Saturday, Sept. 6 The Big Event will bring together nonprofit organizations, corporate sponsors, faith groups and local youth for one big day of service aimed to give one big thanks to the Alexandria community. Teens and adult team leaders can still register for the Big Event. For more information about The Big Event and other community service opportunities, please visit www.alexandriavolunteerbureau.org or call 703-836-2176.
The deadline to enter the 2008 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics is Fri., Sept. 5. This year’s NVSO competition begins Sat., Sept. 20 and runs through Thurs., Oct. 2. The registration fee is $10 which includes one event; additional events are $1 each. There are also additional fees for bowling, golf and miniature golf. For more information and a registration form, call 703-228-4721 or download from www.novaseniorolympics.com
The City of Alexandria has mailed 2008 Vehicle Personal Property Tax bills to all vehicle owners who have lived in the City for all or part of calendar year 2008. If you do not receive a personal property tax bill by Sept. 15, e-mail the Personal Property Tax Branch at vehicletax@alexandriava.gov or call 703-838-4560. You may also e-mail the City’s Treasury Division at payments@alexandriava.gov or call 703-838-4777.
The City of Alexandria has mailed 2008 Business Personal Property Tax bills to all businesses that were operating in the City as of Jan. 1, 2008. If you do not receive a business personal property tax bill by Sept. 15, e-mail the Business Tax Branch at businesstax@alexandriava.gov or call 703-838-4680. You may also e-mail the City’s Treasury Division at payments@alexandriava.gov or call 703-838-4777.
The Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) of Alexandria announces the start of its third program year of training parents to participate more fully in community and school life for the betterment of their children. Applications for the 20-week program in leadership skills, community building, civics, public policy, and practical democracy action are now being accepted. Up to 25 students may participate in the 2008-2009 program, which begins on Oct. 24, and continues to April 24, 2009. For more information or to request an application, please contact Fay Slotnick, Executive Director, at 703-739-0233, or e-mail info@plti-alex.org. Visit the PLTI website at www.plti-alex.org.
On Sunday , September 14 , the second annual "Olde Towne Dogge Walke" will be held in Alexandria , benefiting the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA). The mile and a half walk will kick off from the Olde Towne School for Dogs at 9 am. ET when Washington-area animal lovers and their four -legged friends take to the streets to raise money to fill the AWLA's recently aquired disaster preparedness trailer. This year Mayor Bill Eullie will be walking "Alex" the city's official mascot. Also "Sherman" the City of Alexandria's newest bomb sniffing dog will be joining the walk.
The registration fee is $25 per person and includes a free participant t-shirt and dog bandana. Registration forms are available at the Olde Towne School for Dogs ( 529 Oronoco St. ). A number of animal and people-friendly prizes will also be raffled off on site. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the AWLA.
For more information contact Olde Towne School for Dogs at 703-836-7643
The Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College is hosting a Community Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 20. This free family-friendly event will bring together community residents, businesses and civic organizations for a day filled with fun, food and activities.
The festival will feature children’s arts and crafts, entertainment, community exhibitors, and more. The event is sponsored by Northern Virginia Community College, AARP, Advantage Dental Care and First Family Dental, H. E. Enterprises, Ethnic Expressions, and State Farm.
The campus is located at 3001 N. Beauregard Street in Alexandria. For more information, contact Yolanda Barbier at 703-933-5076 or ybarbier@nvcc.edu.
Photographs of 48 of Alexandria's 2006-07 Living Legends will move from the Lyceum to the third floor of City Hall on Sept. 9. The exhibition, which identifies, honors, and chronicles individuals who have made significant contributions to the quality of life in the City is a joint project of the Rotary Club of Alexandria and the Alexandria Gazette Packet. The public is invited to view the exhibition and learn about the project at a reception at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria, on Thursday, Aug. 28, 6:30-8 p.m. Autographed copies of the exhibition catalog will be available for sale at that time.
The Park and Recreation Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 10, to discuss plans and ideas for the proposed renovation of the Patrick Henry Recreation Center. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4643 Taney Ave. A regular meeting of the Park and Recreation Commission will follow the public hearing. Persons who are unable to attend can send written comments to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, Attention: William Chesley, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria, VA 22314, or e-mail william.chesley@alexandriava.gov by Friday, September 26.
Enjoy a square dance lesson on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at Lincolnia Center, 4710 N. Chambliss St. Free. 7:30-9:30 p.m. 703-573-8378.
The Alexandria Workshop of Ikebana International meets at the Hollin Hall Senior Citizen Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road, at 9:30 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month from September through June except December and January. Ikebana is the Japanese art of floral arrangement. The group makes Ikebana floral arrangements, studies the history of the art and learns new techniques. New members are welcome. For more information call Julie Cimino at 202-544-5331.
The City of Alexandria is offering transportation workshops to help residents cope with energy costs by providing information and education on traveling efficiently by bicycle, ridesharing, and public transportation.
Sept. 17, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, Alexandria City Hall, 301 King St.
alexandriava.gov/localmotion to register for a workshop. For more information, contact Donna Norfleet, Local Motion Program Coordinator, at 703-838-3800.
The Friends of Fort Ward will present the City of Alexandria with the second annual General John G. Barnard Award on Saturday, Sept. 20, commemorating a more than 50-year legacy of preservation activities at the Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site. The award will be presented during “Fete at the Fort,” a celebration from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Museum. In addition to the presentation, Douglas Jimerson and the Civil War Comrades will offer a program of period music. Call 703-838-4848 to make a reservation. For more information, please visit www.fortward.org.
The Mount Vernon Republican Women will host a Wine & Cheese Book Signing on Thursday, September 18, starting at 7 p.m. at the home of Bryan and Sandy Bourne in Alexandria. Alexandria resident and author Craig Shirley will speak about his first book: Reagan’s Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign that Started It all. After the discussion, books will be personalized by the author. Mr. Shirley will also discuss his second book Rendezvous With Destiny: Ronald Reagan and The Campaign That Changed America, and will address the overall state of the GOP. Cost is $20 per person (includes 1 autographed book) or $30 for two people (includes one autographed book). Additional autographed books are $20 each. Reservations are required by September 12th. A reservation made is a reservation paid. For more information please email info@mvrw.org.
The Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College is seeking volunteers to assist with their Community Fall Festival scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20. Volunteers are needed to assist with various task during the festival between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. All volunteers will receive a free T-shirt. For more information about the Community Fall Festival call Yolanda Barbier at 703-933-5076 or visit www.nvcc.edu/alexandria/festival/ .
Super Saturdays/Super Seniors will provide a limited number of trips for $5 fares anywhere in the City of Alexandria on every Saturday in August 2008 between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm. on a first-come, first-serve basis. Contact Alexandria Union Cab at 703-683-1200.
There is a basic business course on Wednesdays through Sept. 17 at UCM-Workforce Development Center, from 7-9 p.m. Call 703-360-9088 ext. 101 for cost.