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Shirley Ruhe

Stories by Shirley

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It’s Mom’s Turn: Try Breakfast in Bed

It’s her special day.

Second Chances Benefit the Whole Community

Toby Pendergrass opens the 13th Second Chance virtual fundraising breakfast on Thursday, April 22.

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Stop Waiting — Start Donating

Blood donors suffering from COVID fatigue; visit www.inovablood.org/donate-blood/

Just a few minutes of your time can save a life.

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Walker Chapel Cemetery Moves from Maintenance to Ministry in Arlington

Elaborate plans open spots for congregation and community.

Walker Chapel United Methodist Church, after four long years of permits and drawings and dreams, is set to break ground on renovations to its historic cemetery.

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“Sisters” Leave Privilege to Join Resistance

Story of nine Vietnamese women in their fight against French oppression

Patricia (Kit) Norland sat listening to a Vietnamese social worker in 1988 in Saigon as Oanh explained in beautiful English what it was like to suffer postwar trauma with poverty, unemployment, domestic abuse and street children.

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Manoukian Brothers Oriental Rugs in Arlington Nears 100 Year Anniversary

“Live from the Rug Shop” features local performers.

A stack of 3x10-foot runners lines one of the walls at Manoukian Brothers Oriental Rugs on Columbia Pike.

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Campers Excited to be Back in Person in Arlington

Cars full of bouncing, excited children line up in the parking lot of Cherrydale United Methodist Church on the first day of spring break to participate in Encore Stage and Studio outdoor, in-person Spring Break Camp.

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The Year That Was in Arlington

Feeding the multitudes during COVID — one can at a time

In March 2020, COVID suddenly brought about the closing of schools where children had regularly received free breakfast and lunches.

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Daffodils are Bursting Out all Over in Arlington

Things may be different this year, but 28,000 daffodils are waiting to poke their tendrils above ground and burst into bloom at Culpepper Garden this spring.

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Plot Against Hunger Spring Garden Kickoff Begins March 13 in Arlington

Feeding our community, one garden at a time

What better way to celebrate the coming Spring season than joining the Plot Against Hunger’s Spring Garden Kickoff on March 13?

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Gardens Come in All Kinds in Arlington

Woman’s Club sponsors bike garden

Instead of planting vegetable seeds, The Woman's Club of Arlington is planting good safety seeds on rules of the road.

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Inside Guest House in Alexandria

Challenges posed by Covid add to tough road to recovery

Kari Galloway, Executive Director of Friends of Guest House in Alexandria, says “It’s hard. Our clients feel like they just got out of prison and then they come here and get quarantined for two weeks in their room.”

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It’s the First Day of School in Arlington — But It’s March

Load up your backpack, wash your hands, complete your daily online symptom screener, put on your mask, and head for the school bus.

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Obituary: Father John Van de Paer Leaves 100-Year Legacy

Father John Van de Paer died peacefully at the Capital Caring Health Halquist Hospice Center in Arlington on Feb. 9, 2021.

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Don’t Forget to Feed Your Backyard Pets in Arlington

If you want to buy birdseed, you have to be persistent.

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Blunders That Changed History

“From the Eyes of Coldcase Killers” to self-help books to great blunders of history.

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One More Tree Due for Destruction in Arlington

Neighbors along with Arlington Tree Action Group (ATAG) volunteers gathered Feb. 8 to protest “the unnecessary destruction of a Willow Oak in the corner of a lot at 2437 N. Utah Street.”

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Preview: Opera NOVA Continues Concert Series

Opera NOVA will hold its third 30-minute virtual concert on Feb. 25.

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Do Flamingos Drink Bourbon in Arlington?

...or is it just my imagination?

Scott Sklar, wearing his cowboy hat, sits on the curb amid the flamingos in his front yard.

394 Boxes of Girl Scout Cookies and Counting in Arlington

This is seven-year-old Erin Parks’ first year selling Girl Scout cookies, but she has sold 394 boxes so far.

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Neighborhood Parade Celebrates 104th Birthday in Arlington

Her secret? Blueberries daily.

The snowflakes stopped and the sun came out Sunday, Feb. 7 in Green Valley just in time for Mary Lockett’s surprise 104th birthday car parade.

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Desire for Vaccines Outpaces Supply in Arlington

How do you divide 2,750 vaccines among 50,000 residents?

Arlingtonians are angry, frustrated and frightened about Covid.

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In the Kitchen: Anything You Want During Alexandria Restaurant Week

It’s a cold Monday morning Jan. 25, but Frank and Nancy Camm are on their lunch excursion to pick up their favorite pizza at Mia’s on King Street during Alexandria’s Restaurant Week.

Back to Basics: Help Make Recycling Work in Arlington

Arlington trash cans this week were decorated with “Recycling Made Simple” pamphlets outlining the four categories of materials that are acceptable in the blue recycling bin.

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Opera NOVA Reaches Out to Seniors

Put away your jigsaw puzzles, turn off the TV and tune in to an Opera NOVA performance targeted to seniors which will launch on Jan 28.

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Some Vaccines Are Available, But What to Do?

You know you are 75 years old.

Democrats Laud Bickford’s Service on Arlington Electoral Board

The Arlington County Democratic Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 6, approved a resolution commending Charlene Bickford, Chair of the Arlington County Electoral Board, who is retiring from the Board after 23 years of service with distinction.

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Star Light, Star Light But No Star Tonight in Arlington

Your car lines up to join the search for the winter star that used to light up the sky, “giving a glorious aura and making you feel complete.

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Pandemic is Forcing Business Changes, but Life is Good in Arlington

Jason Andelman has just spent all day packaging his hundreds of boxes of chocolates for shipping.

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Extension Programs Pivot, Operate Better Than Ever in Arlington and Alexandria

“Sit back, find a comfy seat and get ready for some excitement.”

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Arlington’s Letters to Santa Are On Their Way

Rachael Toman, Conservation and Interpretation Manager for the Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation, reports that the mailbox located at Gulf Branch Nature Center is stuffed with letters from Arlington children for Santa.

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Living Legends of Alexandria: The Dynamic Duo

Ginny and Richard Obranovich at the helm of APF

The Alexandria Police Foundation was originally founded in 2002 to provide health insurance for retiring police K9 dogs.

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In the Kitchen in Alexandria: Small Business Changes Course in Middle of Pandemic

Mindy’s delivery dinners spread like wildfire in Del Ray

Erin White has just returned from delivering 50 boxed chicken kabobs, couscous salad and cornbread lunches to hospital workers at Inova Alexandria Hospital on Nov. 17.

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Opera NOVA Is Back on a High Note

Opera NOVA is back in operation after a nine-month hiatus due to the pandemic.

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Golden Radish Awarded for Urban Gleaning in Arlington

Each year, Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture gives out the Golden Radish Award to a person, group or business that has made a significant contribution to advancing urban agriculture issues, policies, programs and enterprises in Arlington.

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100th Birthday for Father John van de Pear

Cars line up early in the lower parking lot of Missionhurst on N. 25th Street on Sunday, Nov. 29 for a surprise drive-by parade for Father John van de Paer’s 100th birthday.

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Yorktown Students Organize Doorways Toy Drive

From Legos to Baby Alive dolls, a smile for every face

Lauren Rosenthal is on a toy buying Zoom call with several friends the Wednesday before Thanksgiving trying to decide what toys to buy for 45 children at Doorways.

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Virtual or In-Person in Arlington

What should “back to school” look like during a pandemic?

Sept. 8, early October, November and now 2021.

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Delivery Changes, But Cheer Remains the Same in Arlington

Cars line up in the Harrison Shopping Center parking lot on Nov. 20 to drop off toys at the contactless, drive-thru Fill the Cruiser Holiday Toy Drive event.

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Pavilion Fenced Off as Site for SEEC Workers in Arlington

The pavilion on South 27th Street and Shirlington Road sits empty after 20 years of serving as a meeting place for Shirlington Employment and Education Center (SEEC) workers.

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A Turkey in Every Pot in Arlington

AFAC orders 2,500 turkeys to feed needy families

A refrigerated Cisco semi-trailer sprinkled with raindrops pulls up in front of the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) headquarters on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

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From Yorktown High School to Outer Space

Patrick Moran chosen as pilot for commercial space travel program

Patrick Moran is in his car headed for Spaceport America, New Mexico.

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Rich History for Opera NOVA

Online offerings, but missing the annual Children’s Opera

Right about now in November, Jose Sacin would usually be in the middle of the Children’s Opera, Opera NOVA’s big event of the year.

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Pumpkin or Police Car in Arlington?

Sirens blare and lights flash from blocks away to announce the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) “frightfully fun parade of costumed cruisers.”

Return to School Plans in Arlington

Arlington will begin to provide in-person learning support for Level 1 students with disabilities beginning on Nov. 4.

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Halloween Takes on a New Look in Arlington

Leftover heating pipe, plywood, bungee cords and a couple of hours, and you have a couple of Halloween treat chutes.

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Chilly but Determined in Arlington

Most voters already voted before Election Day

Almost two-thirds of active registered voters in Arlington had voted either by mail or in person by Saturday when the in-person early voting closed in Virginia.

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Another Kind of Scary in Arlington

Halloween is an official holiday, but is not regulated by the County.

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Census Bureau: Arlington Hits 99.98 Census Response

Self response rate was 76.5 percent by mail, phone or on-line

Stand up and be counted, and Arlington did.

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Arlington Schools Set to Reopen in Stages

Newspaper headlines on March 13 broadcast “Breaking News: Arlington Public Schools Closing Monday Through Spring Break.”