Foodie Spots in Shirlington, but owned by Alexandrians

There are two new ventures in Shirlington Village that should catch, and grab!, the attention of Alexandria residents.


Cheesetique, the specialty cheese shop and wine & cheese bar that we have come to know and love in Del Ray will be opening a second location, 4056 Cambell Avenue.  (Where The Curious Grape used to be, and has since moved around the corner).


This is what owner Jill Erber sent out in an e mail recently: 
"This Autumn we will open a second outpost in the ever charming, ever-bustling Village at Shirlington.  We're knee-deep in construction now, but before you know it, we'll be moving on to the fun stuff. Like cheese. And wine. Cheesetique loves being a neighborhood joint and are thrilled to be part of such a special community. Thanks for making us feel so welcome already, Shirlies!"








Ah Love Oil and Vinegar,  an Artisanal Olive Oil and Vinegar shop has opened at 4017B Cambell Avenue.  Ah Love Oil and Vinegar sells fresh olive oil and aged rich Italian balsamic vinegar as well as specialty gift items. 
This new shop is owned by Alexandria resident Cary Kelly and her husband Kevin.
Stop by to sample the amazing variety of olive oils and balsamic vinegars and get ready to have your taste buds wowed!


(703) 820-2210
ahloveoilandvinegar.com

TC Williams Athletes to pick up eligibility cards

Students wanting to participate in Fall Sports/athletics at TC Williams can pick up their eligibility cards as follows: 

Monday and Tuesday, 8/1 & 8/2,  at 9 am 

those students participating in Cross Country and golf. 

Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday, 8/3, 8/4. 8/5, at 9 am

students participating in Cheerleading, volleyball, football and field hockey. 

AND on Wednesday 8/17, Parents are invited to attend a concussion information meeting at 7 pm. 

City Seeks Comments on Northern Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA: 

Alexandria’s Office of Emergency Management welcomes public comments on the draft Northern Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan 2010 Update.  This plan addresses hazards and risks facing Northern Virginia jurisdictions, including the City of Alexandria, as well as planned hazard mitigation actions.  It is hoped that this plan will be a useful tool for all community stakeholders.  You can review and comment on the draft plan at http://alexandriava.gov/49926.

Hazard mitigation is sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and their property from hazards.  State and local governments are required to develop hazard mitigation plans as a condition for receiving certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance. Hazard mitigation plans form the foundation for a community's long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses and break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage.  The planning process is as important as the plan itself.  It creates a framework for risk-based decision making to reduce damages to lives, property, and the economy from future disasters.

The City of Alexandria’s Financial Situation Remains Sound

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA:  News Highlights: ·      Moody’s has announced that, in light of the potential downgrading of the federal government’s credit rating, they are reviewing credit ratings of 162 Aaa-rated local governments, including the City’s Aaa rating. ·      Earlier this month, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service reaffirmed the City of Alexandria’s bond ratings of AAA and Aaa, respectively. ·      The City’s economy and financial management and debt strategies remain sound. On July 28, Moody’s Investors Service announced that the City of Alexandria, along with the other Northern Virginia jurisdictions, is among the 162 Aaa-rated local governments across the United States under review for possible credit rating downgrades.  This announcement follows Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s decisions to review the U.S. government’s credit rating due to the impasse in federal debt ceiling deliberations.  Although concerned about the ratings agencies’ review of the City of Alexandria’s credit rating, Mayor William D. Euille has expressed confidence in the City’s outlook.  “The potential downgrade of the City’s credit rating is based on federal inaction, not any weakness on the part of the City,” stated Mayor Euille. “Nothing has changed about the strong, flexible economy and sound financial and debt-management policies that have built the City’s solid financial reputation on Wall Street.” Earlier this month, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s reaffirmed the City of Alexandria’s bond ratings of AAA and Aaa, respectively. The City has maintained these top grades from the major bond rating agencies since 1986 (Moody’s) and 1992 (S&P).  In reaffirming the City’s AAA bond rating earlier this month, S&P cited the City’s “strong and diverse local economy,” “strong financial management,” and “moderate-to-low debt burden.” S&P also rated the City’s financial management practices “strong,” which is the highest rating given in the financial management category.  In reaffirming the City’s Aaa bond rating, Moody’s Investors Service stated that “this Aaa quality rating reflects the city’s strong and vibrant tax base, above average socioeconomic profile,” and cited Alexandria’s “sound financial condition, conservative budgeting,” and “favorable debt profile.”  On July 14, the City of Alexandria competitively bid and sold $69.95 million in AAA/Aaa-rated general obligation bonds at a favorable overall 3.18 percent true interest cost over the 20-year life of these serial bonds, which is one of the lowest rates ever achieved by the City.  The City does not anticipate issuing general obligation bonds again until summer 2012; however, a downgrade of the City’s credit rating could increase the City’s future borrowing costs. The City has begun an immediate review of the effects that credit rating downgrades, federal default and federal budget cuts may have on the City’s economy, budget, and financial condition.  Based on that review, City staff will develop an immediate plan to react promptly and effectively to address any and all problems that may arise.

Mom Made Foods, Mom Made Moms

Mom Made Foods is looking for Moms to join their Family, become a Mom Made Mom

Mom Made Foods is located right here in Alexandria, 107 West Street.  And you can find their products in Whole Foods stores all over the place.

Now Mom Made Foods has an opportunity for fans to get a first look at their products, receive special coupons, and have opportunities to be a part of the Mom Made Family.  

From Mom Made Foods website: 

Who are the Mom Made Moms?

Mom Made Moms are a group of everyday parents who care deeply about nourishing themselves and their family. Mom Made Moms enjoy feeding their kids delicious food, and believe that the food that kids love should also be good for them.   Mom Made Moms want to help spread the word on the things they like, and importantly, Mom Made Moms love Mom Made Foods!

Join Us!  Become a Mom Made Mom

If you are interested in joining our family and becoming a Mom Made Mom, click on the link below and send us your information.  Then, we’ll send you a welcome package with goodies and instructions!

http://www.mommadefoods.com/news-events/events.asp

Alexandria Police Begin Photo Safety Program

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA: 

On Monday, August 1, the Alexandria Police Department will begin the second phase of the Photo Safety Program to help reduce red-light violations and crashes throughout the City.  Photo enforcement cameras will capture still images and video of red-light violators.  Fines will be issued for all citations.  This comes following a 31-day warning period from July 1 to July 31.  During this warning period, a warning notice was issued to the vehicle’s registered owner for any violations but no fine was assessed.  
The photo-enforcement cameras are located at three intersections:
• South Patrick Street and Franklin Street
• South Patrick Street and Gibbon Street
• Duke Street and South Walker Street

Cameras will operate 24 hours a day and capture images of every vehicle running the red-lights at those intersections.  Warning signs alerting drivers to the red-light cameras have been installed prior to the warning period.

The Alexandria Police Department’s program is administered by Redflex Traffic Systems (http://www.redflex.com).  Each violation will be reviewed and approved by the Alexandria Police Department prior to being issued.

For more information contact the Public Information Office at 703.838.4636.

Register to vote by August 1

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA:  August 1 Deadline to Register and Update Virginia Voter Registrations The legal deadline to register to vote in the August 23 Primary Election is Monday, August 1, at 5 p.m. In Alexandria, there will be a Democratic primary for the 30th State Senate District and a Republican primary for the 39th State Senate District. Mail registration applications must be postmarked on or before August 1. The same deadlines are in effect for Virginia voters who are registered, but have moved within the city or within Virginia. Voters who do not update their voter registration applications will risk being ineligible to vote this Election Day. Checking Registration Alexandria voters who are not certain if they are registered at their current address can visitwww.alexandriava.gov/Elections and click on “Am I Registered and Where do I Vote?” or call the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration at 703.746.4050. New Registrations The Alexandria Office of Voter Registration offers the following voter registration methods: Citizens may download applications from alexandriava.gov/Elections and submit them by mail to the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration. Applications must be postmarked on or before August 1. Mail applications may be obtained at Alexandria Libraries or the Office of Communications and Public Information on the first floor of City Hall. Citizens can register in person at the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration and at Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Customer Service Centers. Alexandria Office of Voter Registration and Elections 132 North Royal Street, Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22314 703.746.4050  703.838.6449-fax Address Updates In addition to the methods listed above, Virginia registered voters who need to update their addresses may do so in one of these ways: Complete the form on the back of their old Voter I.D. card and mail or fax it to the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration (703.838.6449). Complete a voter registration application and mail or fax it to the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration (703.838.6449). Voter cards for new or transferred registrants will be mailed within one week of the registration date. Absentee Voting Absentee voting is now in progress. Visit alexandriava.gov/Elections or call 703.746.4050 for absentee and other election information, including sample ballots and maps of the new legislative districts.

Neighborhoods Celebrate National Night Out

National Night Out is Monday, August 1.  Celebrate with your neighbors at these events in Alexandria  Seminary Valley:  Polk Elementary School 6:30pm to 8:30pm.   There will be FREE professional face-painting, moon-bounce, snow cones and lots of visiting!   Don’t miss the opportunity to catch up with old (or meet new) friends! Contact Keith and Leslie Kruse for more information atkeith.kruse@bsvca.org. Warwick Village:  3301 Landover St., Warwick Pool.   5:30 - 8:30 pm  The swimming pool will be open, there will be live music and more...  A Jack Taylor's Toyota shuttle bus will be running back and forth between Mount Vernon Recreation Center and the park.    This event is sponsored by the Alexandria Police Department and the Del Ray and Warwick Village Citizens Associations

Second Annual Youth Arts Festival - "Art Comes Naturally"

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA:    "Art Comes Naturally", Saturday, July 30 The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) and our partners, The Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, and the Urban League will host the Second Annual Youth Arts Festival on Saturday, July 30 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Jefferson Houston Elementary School Field, 1501 Cameron St. The festival offers the youth from across the City of Alexandria the opportunity to create original art, participate in creative dance, youth theatre and music including jazz. Food and beverage sales will be available, and the festival will be held rain or shine. The festival features a group of exceptional artists in all areas of art, dance and music to help children nourish their thirst for learning and to encourage them to use their imagination. Our special guest is world-renowned photographer Mr. Oggi Ogburn known as the "Entertainer’s Photographer." Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille, Congressman James Moran, Vice Mayor Kerry Donley, HUD Washington Field Director, Marvin Turner, ARHA Board of Commissioners, Community and Business Leaders will welcome hundreds of children and their families to this unique event for young aspiring artist to showcase their talent in art, music and dance. Through this partnership, ARHA’s goal is to increase arts participation and deepen community engagement through the arts with innovative intervention throughout the City of Alexandria. For additional information, contact Sandra Fowler with the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority at 703.549.7115, ext. 231 or email

Alexandria offers new after school program

For Immediate Release: July 28, 2011

New Nature "Buddies" Afterschool Program

The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities is offering a new afterschool program at the Jerome "Buddie" Ford Center, 5750 Sanger Avenue, where children can stay until parents get off work. This alternative program provides a safe, quiet setting for homework, study, reading, nature walks and other nature -oriented activities. Open to children ages five to ten, the program operates Monday through Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., September 6, 2011 through June 20, 2012.

Pre-Registration is ongoing and closes when space is full. Registration fee is $85 per week, or save at $325 per month! Bus transportation is available from select City of Alexandria public schools. Juice and snacks are included in registration fee.

For additional information, call the Naturalist staff at 703.746.5525.

Space is limited, so register today!

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Mark Kelly with the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.746.5525 or e-mail

mark.kelly@alexandriava.gov.


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Wordless Wednesday - Shark Week

 

 

 We are just a little bit excited about the upcoming Shark Week

ACPS Verified with Pride

FROM ACPS: 

Alexandria City Public Schools launched  √ACPS Verified with Pride on June 13, 2011.

This re-registration initiative requires ALL rising 3rd, 6th, and 9th grade students to re-register for enrollment in ACPS at their home school.

By re-registering, families will assist ACPS in having the most accurate and up-to-date information for students including emergency contact information. This process will allow ACPS to update students' cumulative folders and student records. Most importantly, the enrollment verification process will provide up-to-date contact information for parents and guardians and allow ACPS to reach parents quickly in emergency situations. Additionally, updated information will provide cost savings with less returned mail and more efficient use of resources.

Why be √ACPS Verified with Pride?

Participating in √ACPS Verified with Pride will give families the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process by making sure that their students are accurately counted in enrollment and budget calculations. Participating in √ACPS Verified also ensures that families receive valuable information and can be notified promptly of an emergency involving their child. Everyone benefits from participation in the √ACPS Verified with Pride initiative.

What do you need to do?

As the parent or guardian of a rising 3rd grader, you should bring the appropriate documents for registration to your child's home school. Parents/guardians of rising 6th and 9th graders should bring the appropriate documents for registration to the main office of the school your child will attend for the 2011-2012 school year. The registrar at your school will assist you in the registration process. You will receive a letter of notification requesting that you re-register. If you do not receive a letter, but have a rising 3rd, 6th, or 9th grader, please contact the registrar at your child's home school for more information.

When do you re-register?

Rising 3rd graders: June 13 - August 30, 2011
Rising 6th and 9th graders: August 15 - September 30, 2011
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

What do I need?

Parents/guardians must bring the following to re-register a student:

1. Completed Student Registration Form (PDF)
2. Child's original birth certificate
3. Proof of guardianship (name on birth certificate must match the person registering or a picture ID, or legal custody documents)
4. Two forms of proof of residency (rent receipt, personal property tax receipt, or notarized temporary residency verification)

School Supply Donation Drive

School Supply Drive -- Now through August 29

Community Partners for Children, a  community-based nonprofit organization that works to better the lives of needy children in Alexandria, will be collecting school supplies and backpacks for over 5,000 children attending Alexandria City public schools.

The school supplies that are generously donated by individuals, organizations and businesses, are given to school social workers who then distribute them to eligible and needy students at the beginning of the school year.

There are collection sites and boxes throughout the city, including public libraries and recreation centers. 

Our Treat Of The Day

Because of the heat and the rain, we're staying inside and creating.
And since I didn't want to turn on the oven to bake cookies or brownies, we made Oreo Milk Shakes. 

Ingredients:

4 tsp. chocolate syrup (enough to coat the bottom of dessert glass)

8 OREO Cookies, divided

1-1/2 cups milk

2 cups BREYERS® All Natural Vanilla Ice Cream, softened (we used whatever was in the freezer)

Preparation:

 

SPOON 1 tsp. syrup into each of 4 glasses. Roll each glass to coat bottom and inside of glass.

Finely chop 4 cookies; set aside.

QUARTER remaining cookies; place in blender.

Add milk and ice cream; blend until smooth.

POUR into prepared glasses;

top with chopped cookies.

Serve immediately

 

They didn't look exactly like the picture but boy were they YUM-MY! 

 

 

Keeping Kids Safe Workshop TONIGHT

Keeping Kids Safe: An Internet & Mobile Safety Workshop
will be presented TONIGHT at 7pm at the Duncan Library.

This 45-minute workshop will use the latest statistics, videos, resources, and expert tips to empower parents with a better understanding of the issues facing digital children and the resources they need to communicate with their kids about making safer decisions.
Parents will also be given information about digital tools designed to them keep their kids safe when they use social networking and mobile phones.

This event is free and open to everyone.

City Seeks Public Input on Four Mile Run Park Name

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA:

City of Alexandria Seeks Public Comment on Proposal to Name the New Community Building at Four Mile Run Park

The City of Alexandria is seeking public comment on a proposal to name the new community building located at 4109 Mount Vernon Ave. the Conservatory at Four Mile Run Park. The Executive Committee of the Arlandria Action Plan Advisory Group forwarded the proposal.

In May 2011, the Arlandria Action Plan Advisory Group initiated a discussion on the future naming of the new community building. This building, formerly a Duron Paint store, was converted to a community building this past spring as part of the Four Mile Run Park Expansion project. The proposed building name, "Conservatory at Four Mile Run Park" received overwhelming support from the Advisory Group, which represents businesses and citizen leaders within the diverse community. The group agreed that the consensus highlights the unique nature of the location of the building and both the environmental and arts foundations of the community building. Their proposal states that the term "conservatory" also captures the facility’s origins as a conservation project, its adaptive reuse and its green elements.

A Special Use Permit (SUP) to convert the building from a commercial use to a community building was approved by City Council in June 2010. Potential community uses approved with the SUP include: community meeting space; community festival area, farmers and craft market building, Four Mile Run and related environmental education facility, art shows and markets, film viewings and festivals, City events, classes and summer camps, professional organization meeting space, and one-time health or bicycle clinics. For more information on the SUP, please see the staff report at

The public is invited to provide comment on the proposal to name the community building the "Conservatory at Four Mile Run Park" through Monday, August 29, 2011. Those interested in providing comments will be able to record their comments by email to jack.browand@alexandriava.gov, subject line: Conservatory at Four Mile Run Park, or in a notebook on display at the Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 25 W. Reed Ave. Comments may be mailed to Recreation and Parks, Attn: Jack Browand, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria VA 22314. All comments received or postmarked by Monday, August 29 will be reviewed by the City Council Naming Committee.

For additional information, contact Jack Browand, Acting Deputy Director, at 703.746.5504 or by email at jack.browand@alexandriava.gov.
http://dockets.alexandriava.gov/icons/pz/pc/CY10/060110/di8.pdf.

MOMS Club Open House

Are you a stay at home mom looking for support and fun activities for you and your child?  MOMS Club of Alexandria is part of an International organization that is devoted to fulfilling the motto of "Moms Offering Moms Support".

Membership benefits includes:
*An online support network of moms in your neighborhood
* A monthly on-line newsletter with the activities for the month
* Monthly general meetings with informative speakers
* Weekly daytime events throughout the month for all ages
* Playgroups for infants to school-age children
* Moms' Night Out activities once a month
* Community Service Projects, especially those benefiting children

Open House Information:
Who: Moms and kids who live in the following zip codes: 22301, 22302, 22305 and 22314
When: Tuesday July 26th at 10:00 am - 11:30
Where: Christ Church
118 North Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-307
What:  Our general monthly meeting and new member open house

If you have any questions, email jenniferphayes@aol.com.