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Jeanne Theismann

Stories by Jeanne

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Vander Zee Reception Offers a Breath of Spring

Art reception celebrates end of winter.

When Nancy Ziegler’s husband died in 2006, a friend gave her a gift certificate to be used at The Art League. It was there that she discovered her artistic talents and has been a flourishing artist ever since.

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Wonder Women: Salute to Women Awards Honors 11

Salute to Women Awards honors 11.

T.C. Williams High School principal Suzanne Maxey was one of 11 women, including three from the Alexandria City Public School system, honored March 26 at the 35th annual Salute to Women Awards.

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Some Gave All: Police Memorial in Alexandria Dedicated to Fallen Officers

Police memorial dedicated to fallen officers.

Judy Birney was just 12 years old when her father, youth detective Conrad Birney, was killed responding to a bank robbery in 1972. She went on to follow in her father’s footsteps, serving as an Alexandria police officer until 1999. On March 28, she joined more than 350 people for the dedication of the Alexandria Fallen Officers Memorial honoring the sacrifice of her father and 17 others who died in the line of duty.

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Obituary: ‘The Original Ballyshaner,’ Judge O'Flaherty

Judge Daniel O’Flaherty dies at 89.

To anyone appearing in his courtroom, his name invoked fear. But those who knew Judge Daniel O’Flaherty, knew him as a kind and quiet man, a proud Irishman devoted to his family and the City of Alexandria.

Helping Hands

Senior Services of Alexandria

Five years ago, Mary Lee Anderson was asked if she could help Senior Services of Alexandria set up an information database. Since that time, what was supposed to be a part-time commitment has turned into a second career for the international telecommunications corporate executive.

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Hawkins Steps Down From Alexandria EDP

Landrum named acting CEO.

Val Hawkins, credited with luring the National Science Foundation Headquarters away from its longtime home in Ballston, stepped down effective March 15 as president and CEO of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership.

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There’s No Place Like Home, Alexandria

Carroll takes the helm at Inova Alexandria.

When Susan Turner Carroll, the recently named CEO of Inova Alexandria Hospital, says she is from Alexandria, she means it.

Obituary: Mary Ellen Feeney

Mary Ellen Feeney, a fourth generation Alexandrian, passed away peacefully March 9, 2015, in her home of 64 years on Richmond Lane. She was 89.

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Chamber Hosts Legislative Breakfast

Officials discuss top state, local issues.

The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce hosted members of City Council and the Virginia General Assembly at its annual Legislative Breakfast March 10 at the Hotel Monaco.

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Paving the Way in Alexandria

Basketball pioneer Earl Lloyd dies at 86

When Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947, he did it under the glare of a national spotlight. Three years later, on a snowy evening in 1950, a similar but quieter revolution took place when a black man stepped onto a court in Rochester, N.Y., marking the first time an African American had played for an NBA team. That man was Earl Lloyd.

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All in the Family for Alexandria

SSA to honor generations of giving.

’Twas the night before Christmas, literally, when a man walked into the Senior Services of Alexandria office and handed an envelope to then-executive director Janet Barnett. The year was 2007 and the man was Ron Bradley. “Ron asked how he could help the seniors of Alexandria,” Barnett said. “When I explained that the city did not provide meals to seniors on holidays, Ron stepped in with $10,000 to fund a holiday meals program. But he had a condition — that they could not be ordinary meals. He wanted our seniors to enjoy a festive meal just like we do at home.”

Top Firefighter To Keynote Breakfast

Friendship Firehouse event kicks off Parade Day celebrations.

U.S. Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell Jr. will be the keynote speaker at the annual Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association breakfast Feb. 16 to kick off the citywide George Washington Birthday Parade day celebrations.

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Alexandrian WWII Veteran Remembers The Battle of the Bulge

‘We Were Annihilated’

It was one of the best kept secrets of World War II. When 20-year-old U.S. Army Medic Robert Wineland arrived in the village of Laudersfeld, the wooded countryside of far eastern Belgium was relatively peaceful, a quiet buffer zone disrupted only by occasional artillery fire and brief skirmishes between opposing infantry patrols. But on Dec. 16, 1944, the sleepy Ardennes front was about to wake up.

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Citizens to the Rescue

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy accepting applications.

The Fairfax County Citizens Fire and Rescue Academy, a free nine-week program to learn about the work of firefighters and paramedics, will begin its next session March 12, with the deadline for online applications closing on Feb. 16.

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Alexandria: Amazing Grace

APD mourns loss of first female police K-9.

For more than a year, it looked as if she would defy the odds, but on Christmas Eve, Gracie, Alexandria’s first female police K-9, lost her battle with kidney cancer. “Gracie was not only an outstanding police dog, she was a great family dog,” said APD K-9 officer Steven Escobar.

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Warm Welcome in Alexandria

Owner Laurent Janowsky, left, welcomes California winemaker Merry Edwards to La Bergerie restaurant Dec. 9.

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Ushering in the New Year in Alexandria

First Night fireworks light up Alexandria.

Fireworks lit up the sky over the Potomac River to usher in 2015 as part of the 20th anniversary of First Night Alexandria.

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Alexandria Civil Rights Pioneer Ferdinand Day Dies

The force behind the philosophy of “Every Student Counts.”

When Ferdinand Day was born in 1918, Virginia had just passed its first compulsory school attendance law for children ages 8-12. But with legalized segregation, funding for the education of African American students was sorely limited, with only four black public high schools in the entire state. It would take decades before one existed in Alexandria.

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Secret Santas in Alexandria

Departmental Progressive Club collects toys for Jefferson-Houston families

Members of the Departmental Progressive Club stopped by Jefferson-Houston Elementary School Dec. 15 to deliver more than 100 toys for students in need. “We are so thankful for what the Departmental Progressive Club has done,” said Jefferson-Houston principal Chris Phillips. “Each toy here means one more kid will wake up happy.”

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Alexandria: Bows, Baskets and Bikes

The Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association held its third annual Bows, Baskets and Bikes event Nov. 20, bringing together area event planners and hotel partners to help build bicycles for needy families and announcing its new partnership with Volunteer Alexandria.

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Hope for the Holidays in Alexandria

’Tis the season of giving: of gifts, of parties and of thanks. But what should be a time of hope and happiness too often can be a time of despair for Alexandria’s vulnerable and low income families.

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Glory Days in Alexandria

ASC celebrates Old Oaken Bucket rivalry.

From George Washington High School’s opening in 1935 until 1968, Thanksgiving mornings were synonymous with the pinnacle matchup of Virginia high school football. Residents and visitors braved plummeting temperatures and postponed culinary preparations to attend the grand spectacle of talent and grit known as the Old Oaken Bucket rivalry between GW and Arlington’s Washington-Lee High School.

Alexandria: ‘I Wanted A Better Life’

Civil Rights pioneer Nelson Greene Sr. dies at 100.

When Nelson Greene Sr. came to Alexandria in 1953, blacks were the target of racial discrimination, schools were segregated and a poll tax was required to vote.

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Alexandria: The Right Stuff

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin salutes USPTO veterans.

It was one small step taken 45 years ago. Around the world, eyes were collectively riveted to grainy pictures on a television screen while others gazed up at the sky in wonder and awe.

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Wicked Fun

ACPS students make Halloween visit to the White House.

Forget South Lee Street in Old Town. For 44 fifth-graders from Patrick Henry Elementary School, the White House was the place to be on Halloween.

Veterans Day: Faces of the Fallen

Vietnam Memorial seeking photos of local veterans.

Along with more than 58,000 other soldiers, the name of Capt. Humbert Roque "Rocky" Versace is memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Veterans Day: Alexandria Honors Veterans Week

Nov. 9-16 schedule of events

Alexandria Honors Veterans Week will kick off a series of events to honor and celebrate the service of local veterans.

Veterans Day: Leading the Charge

McMahan spearheads veterans business unit.

In June of 2001, Emily McMahan was a newly commissioned military police officer and recent graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.

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Firefighters Distribute 2,500 Pairs of Shoes

Seeing is believing for Nicholas Chakos and his family, who made the drive from Pittsburgh to Alexandria to help provide 2,500 pair of shoes to children in need as part of the Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue coat and shoe distribution Oct. 28 at Penn Daw Fire Station 11.

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A Feast for Foodies

Rotary’s Taste For Giving raises funds for local nonprofits.

The Rotary Club of Alexandria held its seventh annual Taste For Giving, a community-wide fundraiser to benefit more than 30 local charities and nonprofits, Oct. 24 in the atrium of the U.S. Patent and Trade Office.

Sole Provider

Firefighters distribute 2,500 pair of shoes to children in need.

Seeing is believing for Nicholas Chakos and his family, who made the drive from Pittsburgh to Alexandria to help provide 2,500 pair of shoes to children in need as part of the Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue coat and shoe distribution Oct. 28 at Penn Daw Fire Station 11.

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And the Winners Are ...

Chamber honors 2014 local Businesses of the Year.

The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business of the Year Awards Oct. 22, honoring businesses throughout the community and Lonnie C. Rich as the 2014 Business Leader of the Year.

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Arlington Strong

Wardian leads local runners in 39th Marine Corps Marathon.

It’s been a busy month for Michael Wardian. The 40-year-old Arlington resident took to the starting line of the 39th Marine Corps Marathon to run his third marathon in 21 days with a 50-mile race added to the mix.

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A Dream Come True

Alexandria Book Shelf Turns 1, dedicates MVCS location.

Summer school paid off for Mount Vernon Community School principal Peter Balas, who officially opened the newest Alexandria Book Shelf Oct. 6 as part of the DreamDog Foundation literacy program.

Family and Friends Mourn Death of Georgina Parks

Former ACPS speech pathologist, civic volunteer dies of cancer.

In the fall of 1967, Roger Parks was checking out “the impressionable young freshman” girls at the University of Kentucky when he met the woman who would change his life.

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‘Taste of Teeter’

Crowds flock to opening of Harris Teeter in Old Town.

Deborah Henderson stood for hours cheerfully answering questions and directing shoppers to the proper aisles as hundreds of residents turned out for the “Taste of Teeter” night Oct. 21 to celebrate the long-awaited opening of Old Town’s Harris Teeter grocery store.

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John McEnearney Dies at 87

Real estate pioneer, community leader was decorated Vietnam veteran.

For John McEnearney, helping the area’s most vulnerable citizens was part of his DNA, a testament to his family’s nearly 100-year commitment to helping others.

Rich Named Business Leader of the Year

Chamber to host business awards Oct. 22.

Lonnie C. Rich, founding partner of Rich, Rosenthal, Brincefield, Manitta, Dzubin and Kroeger LLP, has been named the 2014 Business Leader of the Year by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.

Lights, Camera, Action

Travel Channel show to feature Del Ray’s Pork Barrel BBQ.

Hollywood invaded Alexandria Sept. 25 when the Travel Channel descended on Del Ray’s Pork Barrel BBQ Restaurant to tape an episode of its food show BBQ Crawl.

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Going, Going, Gone

Contents of Old Town Theater auctioned off.

The entertainment phrase “bringing down the house” held a different meaning this week as the contents of the Old Town Theater were dismantled and auctioned off Oct. 7 after the landmark venue dimmed its marquee lights for good earlier this summer.

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La Zona Rosa

NVFAA benefit held at historic Athenaeum.

The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association held its second annual La Zona Rosa reception Oct. 5 at the historic Athenaeum in Old Town. “This is a way for us to thank our supporters and board members as well as to welcome our incoming board,” said NVFAA board chair Amy Heiden. “This is the second year for this fundraiser and a fun way for us to say ‘thank you’ to our members.”

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Art on the Avenue

Record crowds attend Del Ray festival.

A record 55,000 people took to the streets of Del Ray Oct. 4 for the 19th annual Art on the Avenue, one of Alexandria’s premiere events and largest arts festivals in the mid-Atlantic region.

‘Extraordinary Alexandria’

ACVA unveils latest marketing campaign.

The Alexandria Convention and Tourism Association unveiled the latest addition to its “Extraordinary Alexandria” tourism campaign during its annual meeting where officials also released the latest figures on visitor spending.

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For Those Who Serve: Groundbreaking for Alexandria Memorial

Alexandria Police Foundation breaks ground on Fallen Officers Memorial.

Alexandria police officer Eugene Yoakum was 31 years old when he was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 27, 1964. On the 50th anniversary of his death, his daughter Sharon joined other family members of slain officers at Police Department headquarters for the groundbreaking of the Alexandria Fallen Officers Memorial.

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It’s All Relative

“Three Sistahs” returns to MetroStage.

It’s the third funeral in as many years for Olive, Marsha and Irene, sisters brought together by tragedy in “Three Sistahs,” a poignant tale of family relationships now playing at MetroStage Theatre.

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Miracle League Opens Fall Season

Brayden Kemp was all smiles as he stepped up to the plate at the Kelley Cares Miracle Field Friday night. Wearing the colors of his newly adopted hometown Washington Nationals, the 8-year-old was taking his first at-bat as a participant in the Miracle League of Alexandria.

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Alexandria: Inspiring Minds

Inventor of digital camera visits Camp Invention.

Steve Sasson was just 25 years old and beginning to work his way up at the Eastman Kodak Company when he got an assignment from his supervisor: build an electronic camera using a charge coupled device. The result — U.S. patent number 4,131,919 — earned Sasson induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for what is known today as the digital camera.

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Friendship Firehouse Festival Aug. 2

Historic firehouse celebrates 240th birthday.

Alexandria’s historic Friendship Firehouse will celebrate its 240th birthday Saturday, Aug. 2 at the annual Friendship Firehouse Festival.

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'Service Above Self'

Rotary Club contributes $90,000 to local nonprofits.

The Rotary Club of Alexandria, in partnership with the Alexandria Day Nursery and Children's Home, continued its decades-long tradition of awarding grants to local nonprofit organizations with the presentation of more than $90,000 to 32 organizations at the annual Contributions Day luncheon June 17 at Belle Haven Country Club.

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The Sound of Music

Alexandria Singers to present ‘Road Trip’ concert June 20, 21.

The year was 1975, when gas was $.57 a gallon, the top selling car was the Oldsmobile Cutlass and The Captain and Tennille’s “Love Will Keep Us Together” topped the Billboard charts. It was also the year that 16 Alexandria residents got together to form the group known today as The Alexandria Singers.