All results / Stories / Shirley Ruhe
Prisoner Reentry: Some Solutions
Local programs, services help ex-offenders.
Ex-offenders may face stigma, lack of family support, inadequate life skills suitable for making it on "the outside" and difficulty getting and retaining employment.
Alexandria People at Work: It’s All About the Pan
Mauviel copper saucepans and fry pans hang on pegs across the wall in back of the counter at La Cuisine on Cameron Street.
Many Good Choices for Arlington Seniors
Need a ride to the doctor? Your computer break down? Want to join a group trip to a Nats game?
Alexandria People At Work: Dancing the Afternoon Away
Dancing the Afternoon Away
Shiny silver heels glide over the polished wooden floor. Today Lioudmila Blinov will review the steps of the Argentine tango with Gregory and Lindsey Bearce from Alexandria who have been dancing there since January. You can do it "slow slow slow" or "slow quick quick slow. It's what you feel." They have already been through the foxtrot and other basics. "He bought me a dance lesson as an anniversary present,” Lindsey says. "And now it's kind of like a date night sort of thing," Gregory adds.
People at Work: Sweets at the Sugar Cube in Alexandria
Finding the right candy from throughout the U.S.
People at work: "Please pass the M&Ms," a small voice pipes up from his seat at the end of the table. He stares at his large white sugar cookie a moment before beginning his masterpiece. "M&Ms are new this year," says Alyssa Theodore, owner of The Sugar Cube on King Street in Alexandria. "I'm pretty sure they'll be the hit."
People at Work: A Day of Cleaning Teeth
A Day of Cleaning Teeth — and bringing down blood pressure.
"Open wide." Sidney Siewert offers her patient sunglasses because the light is bright and “so that the minty grit doesn't get in her eyeballs.” Siewert is a dental hygienist for Dr. Daniel Cassidy on Duke Street. She begins with a periodontal exam. "I'm checking her gums. We do this every couple of years so we can keep track of patterns." Cassidy stops by for a short chat. "How are her gums?" So far, so good. Siewert proceeds to the scaling of Tiny Colby's teeth that she says takes most of the hour appointment. "This is to clean the tartar from the teeth," Siewert said.
Alexandria: Making Progress Against Childhood Hunger
Serving up ways to provide food.
“When you look at the big picture of childhood hunger in Alexandria, you almost don't want to tackle it," said Melanie Gray, director of Outreach and Mission at Historic Christ Church in Alexandria. "So we take it one piece at a time."
A Page a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
180 shoppers arrive in the first five minutes of the Arlington Public Library book sale.
“It’s wild, very exciting. The dealers are first in the door with a plan and a mission and know what they are looking for.” — Peter Petruski, Division Chief of Collections and Access, Arlington Public Library
Alexandria People at Work: The Hunt for the Culex Mosquito
Daniel Sherwood poked the long-handled dipper into the manhole. "Let's see if we can get any here." He peered into the stagnant water in the dipper. "Look at this; we have all four instars in here. These rafts are filled with eggs, and each raft can have 50-100 mosquitoes. See that little guy wiggling around in there," he said. "He is getting ready to pupate. We are really concerned about the pupa. When they get to the fourth instar stage, they stop eating and start laying eggs."
Alexandria: Never a Slow Day in the ER
People At Work
It is 11:10 a.m. and the emergency room is full with light blue curtains drawn across the patient rooms lining the long hallway.
In the Kitchen: Working Inside Alexandria Food Trucks
Specializing in what their customers want.
Mike Tokarz has pulled on his transparent plastic gloves and scoops out the second layer of the Pearl Special, a pint-size container layered with mac and cheese, baked beans and chopped pulled pork in the Rocklands Barbeque food truck kitchen.