The Special Education Parent Resource Center holds a weekly Support Group for Parents of Children in Special Education from 10 a.m. to noon every Thursday in the Parent Resource Center at Jefferson-Houston Elementary School, 1501 Cameron St. (Ring the bell at door No. 4).
Each meeting includes coffee and bagels, and an opportunity to share stories, support, information and problem-solving ideas related to special education issues, school and family life. The group is open to parents who have children of all ages with special needs. Infants and toddlers are welcome. Parents are welcome to drop in whenever they can.
For more information, please contact Anne Lipnick at 703-706-4552 (office) or 571-274-2866 (work cell), or email alipnick@acps.k12.va.us.
U.S. Rep. James P. Moran will host his 17th Annual Women’s Issues Conference featuring Special Guest, Donna Brazile, CNN commentator, strategist, author and professor
on Saturday, September 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kenmore Middle School at 200 S. Carlin Springs Road in Arlington. Participants are asked to register for the conference through the Congressman’s website at www.moran.house.gov.
Pizza Lunch included, admission free and open to the public
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 City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Citizen Corps Council will provide emergency preparedness information at three community events in September to help residents “Be Ready, Alexandria!” The events and locations are as follows:
∗ Olde Towne Dogge Walke, Sept. 14, 9-11 a.m., 529 Oronoco St.
* Cora Kelly Community Day, Sept. 27, noon to 5 p.m., 25 W. Reed Ave.
* World Rabies Day Fun Day, Sept 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ben Brenman Park
For more information about the Citizen Corps Council, or to download emergency preparedness checklists, visit alexandriava.gov/citizencorps or contact Kim Purcell at 703-706-3940, ext. 231.
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.
Monday, Sept. 22: “On Stage: The State of Alexandria’s Performing Arts.” Agenda:Alexandria explores what it has taken for Alexandria to earn and keep its national reputation as an arts destination. Holiday Inn Eisenhower Metro Center, 2460 Eisenhower Avenue. Reception at 6:30 p.m., Dinner ($22 members with reservations/$27 non-members) at 6:45 p.m.; Program only (free to members/$5 non-members) 7:15 p.m. Mail checks to PO Box 3598, Alexandria, VA 22302. For information, contact Sherry Brown, agendaalexandria@aol.com or 703-549-4696.
Laurel Colless, will discuss the EEP pilot program on Wednesday, September 24, 7 to 9 p.m., at Virginia Tech’s Alexandria Center, 1021 Prince St., 3rd floor Conference Room. Free. For more information, contact Kris Wernstedt, 703-706-8132 or krisw@vt.edu.
Tenants and Workers United, The Cora Kelly Recreation Center, and the City of Alexandria will host the Annual Community Day and Health Fair on Sept. 27 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The Health Fair will provide free medical services and information from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. There will be games, music, food, and more. It will be at the Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 25 West Reed Ave.
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 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 Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) program is looking for compassionate listeners, both English speaking and bilingual, who would be comfortable talking to sexual assault survivors and their families. The next SARA training is scheduled to begin in early October and meets two evenings a week from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and on two Saturday mornings. For more information or to register for the SARA training, contact Stacey C. McCullough at 703-838-5030 or HYPERLINK "mailto:stacey.mccullough@alexandriava.gov"stacey.mccullough@alexandriava.gov.
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.
The City of Alexandria invites residents to take part in the fall session of the Alexandria Citizens Academy, which begins on Sept. 25. Classes will be held every Thursday from 7-9 p.m. The class size is limited to 15–20 people and is open to City residents over the age of 18 years and/or owners of businesses located in the City. The majority of the classes will be held in the Council Workroom at City Hall, 301 King St., however, a few classes will be held at different locations throughout the City. The deadline for applications is Sept. 15. For more information and/or an application visit www.alexandriava.gov/citizensacademy or call Elaine Scott, Office of Citizen Assistance, at 703-838-4800.
Getting rid of leftover oil-based and paint and stains, cleaning solvent, and other household hazardous waste is not as simple as tossing the items in the trash. Improper disposal of these items can be dangerous and harmful to you, the environment, and to others.
City of Alexandria residents may dispose of household hazardous waste safely, conveniently, and at no cost through the Household Waste Facility, 3600 Wheeler Ave. For the convenience of residents, the facility is now open two days a week: Mondays and Saturdays, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The facility is available to City residents only; photo identification will be required to prove residence at time of drop off. Several examples of acceptable and unacceptable drop off items include:
Acceptable Materials: Antifreeze, Battery Acid, Gasoline, Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Unacceptable Materials: Explosives, Ammunition, Biological Waste, Unlabeled Substances
For more information about the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, or about household hazardous waste collection, please visit www.alexandriava.gov/tes or contact Alton Weaver, Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, at 703.519.3486.
The Alexandria Commission for the Arts is seeking nominations for the 2008 Alex Awards. The program recognizes individuals, organizations, schools, and businesses that have made exceptional contributions to cultural life in the City of Alexandria. All nominations must be submitted to the Durant Center, 1605 Cameron St., by 4 p.m. on Friday, September 19.
The annual program, sponsored by the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, promotes interest and involvement in the arts by recognizing excellence in four categories:
Artistic – Excellence in an Artistic Discipline
Community – Excellence in Service to the Arts
Education – Outstanding Contributions to Arts Education
Business – Innovative Partnerships between Businesses and the Arts
The Alexandria Commission for the Arts invites colleagues in these sectors to nominate individuals they believe helped to inspire and sustain a creative environment for the Alexandria community throughout this year
The Alexandria Community Services Board is in need of volunteers to serve in the following positions:
* Friends of the Alexandria Mental Health Center Board Members: Friends is seeking new members who will take an active role in fund-raising, building relationships with the business community and helping coordinate Friends community events. The Board meets one Wednesday evening every other month with occasional subcommittee meetings and additional time required for leading or assisting with projects.
* Mural Artists: Alexandria Vocational Services is seeking a mural artist or group of artists to paint a portion of a 30’x 60’ concrete wall in a warehouse that houses the Sheltered Workshop Program. Program participants complete projects such as labeling, envelope stuffing and film recycling. Some funds are available for supplies.* Representative Payees: Payees receive Social Security checks and pay bills for persons with an intellectual disability or mental illness. A separate bank account is opened with automatic deposit and there are few monthly transactions. The duties require two hours per month, per account. For more information about these volunteer opportunities, contact Jennifer Cordero at jennifer.cohen-cordero@alexandriava.gov or 703-838-4455, x 161.