365 - Feather

365 - Sticky

365 - Tube

I can't seem to find these neat squeeze tubes anywhere anymore, which means my bathrooms are going to be messy.  ugh!

King Street Art Festival this weekend

Alexandria YMCA Swim Team

FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD LISTSERVE: 


Our very own YMCA has a swim team - the Alexandria Y Sea Dragons. It's relatively new, and grew out of their stroke clinic program. It's a wonderful way for kids to get exercise, meet new friends and participate in a sport that allows parents to only have to attend ONE meet since it's co-ed and multiple age groups! 

This Sunday, 9 September, from 4pm - 6pm, will be the official kick-off of the Sea Dragons 2012-2013 season at the YMCA at 420 Monroe Avenue.

Coaches will assess kids' swimming ability and there be a short social meeting/Q&A/meet and greet for parents following the assessment from 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm. 

The Sea Dragon 2012 - 2013 season's weekly practices are as follows:
Monday 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Tuesday 4:30 pm - 6:45 pm
Wednesday 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Thursday 4:30 pm - 6:45 pm
Saturday 8 am to 9 am
Sunday [TBD]

Depending on level, children attend 1-3 practices of their choice per week. 

It's a very supportive environment and all are welcome! 

Go Sea Dragons!

Beltway Bargain Mom is coming to Alexandria 9/8

Beltway Bargain Mom, Laura Harders,  is coming to Alexandria for a Grocery Coupon Workshop.  

Saturday, September 8.

10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 

Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke Street

In celebration of National Coupon Month and the 75th Anniversary of the Alexandria Virginia Library system, Laura Harders, author of BeltwayBargainMom.com and a Savings.com DealPro, will teach this 1.5-hour Grocery Coupon Workshop.

Children are...

Children are…

Amazing, acknowledge them

Believable, trust them

Childlike, allow them

Divine, honor them

Energetic, nourish them

Fallible, embrace them

Gifts, treasure them

Here now, be with them

Innocent, delight with them

Joyful, appreciate them

Kindhearted, learn from them

Lovable, cherish them

Magical, fly with them

Noble, esteem them

Open minded, respect them

Precious, value them

Questioners, encourage them

Resourceful, support them

Spontaneous, enjoy them

Talented, believe in them

Unique, affirm them

Vulnerable, protect them

Whole, recognize them

XTra Special, celebrate them

Yearning, notice them

Zany, laugh with them

~~Meiji Stewart~~

365 - Peas?

What are these things?  we've seen them in several places while out walking.

Traffic Committee MEeting 9/18 & 10/2

FROM THE DEL RAY CITIZENS ASSOCIATION:

The Del Ray Citizens Association is forming a traffic committee to explore possible solutions to traffic issues facing the neighborhood. Some neighbors have been particularly concerned about cut-through traffic coming from the developing residential communities in Potomac Yard. The first meeting of the committee will be held on Tuesday, September 18, at 7 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center. A follow-up meeting will be held on Tues., Oct. 2, same time and place. The meetings will be convened by DRCA second vice president Jay Nestlerode (jnestlerode@gmail.com).

Alex. Police to Host CIT Awards Ceremony

ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
3600 WHEELER AVENUE
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22304
703-746-6600

NEWS RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 5, 2012 #12-052
12:45 P.M. DONALDSON

Alexandria Police To Host Crisis Intervention Team Awards Ceremony

Alexandria’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) will hold an Awards Ceremony and Cookout Thursday, September 6, at 4:00 p.m.  The event will be held at Alexandria Police Headquarters, located at 3600 Wheeler Avenue; and will be hosted by Mayor William D. Euille, Police Chief Earl L. Cook, Sheriff Dana Lawhorne and Liz Wixson from the Department of Community and Human Services.

The CIT program has trained more than 150 first responders to intervene with persons experiencing a mental health crisis, helping divert many away from the criminal justice system and into appropriate treatment.  The program has helped to decrease the cycle of criminal justice recidivism often experienced by person with mental illness, thus changing the lives of many in the process. 

Media is invited and encouraged to attend.  For more information, please contact the Public Information Office at703.746.6600.

City to Host 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony

City of Alexandria Hosts 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony on September 11

For Immediate Release: September 5, 2012                            

The City of will host a 9-11 remembrance ceremony on Tuesday, September 11, at 6:30 p.m. in Market Square (301 King St.). The purpose of the commemoration is to remember those who died, and pay tribute to those in the community and in uniform who responded on 9-11 without fear, acted without hesitation, and gave their lives to save others.

The ceremony will feature remarks from Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille, Alexandria Undersheriff Tony Davis, Police Chief Earl L. Cook, and Fire Chief Adam K. Thiel. The tribute includes the “Return to Quarters” bell-ringing ceremony and a musical tribute.

Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network Kick Off

Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network (A-COAN)

North Ripley St Playground - Playdate Kick Off Tuesday, Sept 25th, 5 - 6:30 pm

Can one person make a difference?  Yes!  A local mother nominated an area close to N Ripley St to receive a grant from a task force associated with the city's Health Department.  The result?  The playground is complete and a representative from the Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network & Project Play Task Force will explain who they are, how our part of the Holmes Run Park was selected, and extend an invitation to attend the inaugural Playdate celebration.

365 - M&M

(first day of school treat!)

Alexandria Police make arrest in Jewelry Store Larceny

ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
3600 WHEELER AVENUE
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22304
703-746-6600

NEWS RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 #12-049
12:00 P.M. DONALDSON

UPDATE:  Alexandria Police Make Arrest in Jewelry Store Larceny

On Thursday, August 30, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Section of the Alexandria Police Department, along with detectives from the Metropolitan Washington DC Police Department arrested Cedric William Earles, 50, at his residence in Washington, DC.  He was charged with Grand Larceny and is being held in Washington, DC pending extradition to Alexandria. 

 Alexandria Police Seek Public’s Help Identifying Suspect in Jewelry Store Larceny

Alexandria Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect involved in a larceny from Kings Jewelers, located at 609 King Street.  On July 24, 2012, at 3:20 p.m., the suspect entered the business and asked to look at diamond rings.  During this time, the suspect took a platinum and diamond ring valued at over $25,000.

The suspect is described as a black male, 40 to 50 years old, 5’10” to 6’1”, weighing approximately 185 to 190 pounds.  He had a bald head, a mustache and was wearing wire rimmed glasses, an off-white long sleeve polo type shirt, blue jeans and black and brown boots.  The suspect also had a tattoo on the left side of his neck that included the words, “Sigma Forever”, but might have also had a third word that is unknown.

The suspect was also wearing a unique wedding band that is described as white gold that crisscrossed at the top of the ring where there were three diamonds in a row.

Anyone with information about this case or who recognizes the suspect in the surveillance photos is asked to call Detective Julie Goble of the Criminal Investigations Section at 703.746.6804.  Also if anyone has information about the stolen ring or its whereabouts is asked to call Detective Goble.

Detectives would like to remind residents that they may remain anonymous.

Special Education Events in the area

FROM THE ACPS PARENT RESOURCE CENTER: 

The Family Resource Center Thursday morning support group will resume on September 20th  
10:00 am-Noon, Minnie Howard, Room 134, 3801 W. Braddock Rd, Alexandria

Please join us for coffee, bagels, and sharing.

September 5: Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia (JCCNV) Special Needs Parent Support Group

7:00-8:30pm, JCCNV, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax

Special Needs Parent and Caregiver Support Group Meets the first Wednesday of each month from 7pm to 8:30pm, unless it's a holiday. Notice will be given for make-up. This group welcomes parents and caregivers of school-age children with disabilities/special needs. Melissa Hochberg, JCCNV Special Needs Resource Specialist and JSSA's Larisa deGraffenreid, LCSW, facilitate the group, focused on providing resources, gaining knowledge, learning coping mechanisms and strategies and providing mutual support. Please email Melissa at MelissaH@jccnv.org if interested in attending this group. Cost: $15 per meeting.

September 8: POAC-NV Morning Support Group Meeting

10:00am-Noon, Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, 6304 Lee Chapel Road, Burke

In response to the survey in the Spring, we will be hosting a morning support group. We will have them on the first Saturday of every month. It is FREE and open to the public.It will take place in the library, and we'll offer coffee and a munchie. Please RSVP to Nicole Zupan atnicizupan@verizon.net if you need childcare, so we can make the appropriate arrangements. We look forward to seeing some of you at the next meeting!

September 10: Access Community Lecture Series "iCan Use It!" Hi-Tech Wireless Solutions for the Special Needs Community

7:30-9:00 pm McLean Bible Church, Tysons Campus Community Room A, 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna

With technology moving at a lightning pace, sometimes it is hard to keep up with all the changes! This lecture will explore various wireless solutions for individuals with and without disabilities. This includes, but is not limited to, iPad applications, e-readers, note-taking devices, task management, Braille and captioning. Guest Speaker: Kara Zirkle, IT Accessibility Coordinator George Mason University. To RSVP please email: erin.roundtree@mcleanbible.org or call 703-770-2938.

September 11: Early Intervention Webinar Series: Advocacy

10:00-11:30am

This webinar will discuss Virginia’s Early Intervention program and the challenges it is facing, how families can help and effectively advocate for this program. September 11: 10 a.m. & November 28: 1 p.m. To participate in a webinar, you will need an Internet connection and phone connection. All webinars will be recorded and posted to The Arc of Virginia’s website at www.thearcofva.org. To learn more or to sign up, contact: Debra Holloway, Director of Training and Technical Assistance The Arc of Virginia dholloway@thearcofva.org 804 649-8481 ext. 103 

Future Webinars within the Early Intervention Webinar Series. 9/21, 10/3, 10/18, 11/28, 12/3

September 12: CARD STAR: Training for Parents and Professionals

11:30am-12:30pm Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore MD

Play with a Purpose: Being an Effective Play Partner to Your Child. Parents and caregivers will learn how to join and expand their child's play to promote higher levels of engagement and learning.Presenters: Kerry Buechler, BA and Becky Zimmerman, BSRegister at http://kennedykriegercard.eventbrite.com/ or by calling Stacey Duvall at (443) 923-7680

September 13: Transitional Workshop Series: Social & Recreational Opportunities Workshop

7:00-9:00pm, JCCNV, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax

The Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia and The Washington Group Special Care Planning team presents the 2nd workshop in our transitions series on "Social and Recreational Opportunities". This is for individuals, families, case managers, and community members who want to learn about social and recreational opportunities for individuals with Special Needs. The social and recreational areas are many times a neglected area of concern. This workshop will focus on introducing many opportunities, many that you may not be familiar with. There will also be a social and recreational focused resource fair, with many participating vendors. Please RSVP to Carey Alford at (703) 279-6561, or calford@financialguide.com.

The Virginia Ability Alliance maintains a calendar of local events . For more information:http://www.thearcofnova.org/info-referral/calendar/

Register for the Learning Disabilities Association of VA's 2012 Conference:

October 13: Learning Disabilities & Transition to Higher Education: What Students, Families, Professionals Should Know…

8:15am-2:00pm Marymount University, Reinsch Library

With the increasing numbers of students with learning disabilities seeking admission and being admitted to colleges and universities, it’s important for students and their families to be informed about the processes, legal information, and procedures that enable successful preparation for transition from secondary to postsecondary education. Keynote speaker: Elizabeth Getzel, director, postsecondary initiatives at Virginia Commonwealth University. For more information:http://www.ldavirginia.org/events.html

Autism Speaks launches School Community Tool Kit: The Autism Speaks Family Services Department is pleased to announce the launch of the School Community Tool Kit 2.0 – a tool kit to assist members of the school community in understanding and supporting students with autism.  Attached, please find a one-sheet flyer that describes the School Community Tool Kit 2.0, including how to download the Tool Kit for your school’s use. For more information:http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/school-community-tool-kit

The Virginia Ability Alliance hosts Parent Information Sessions: Get help navigating the complicated state and local service system from the experts.  Bring your questions and get answers about life on the spectrum.  RSVP 703-532-3214 because space is limited. UPCOMING MEETINGS---Lunch Bunch:  9/4,  9/18,  10/2,  10/16,  10/30, 11/13, 12/11 ---GPS+: 9/5,  10/3, 11/7, 12/5.  For more information:http://asnv.org/images/uploads/default_site/general_files/lunchbunchgps_flyer.pdf

Fashion Night Out - Thursday Night

FROM THE OLD TOWN BOUTIQUE DISTRICT: 

This Thursday, come to the Old Town Boutique District and celebrate in style and shop local for Alexandria's first-ever Fashion's Night Out. From 6-10PM, your favorite OTBD boutiques will host fashion shows, trunk shows, exclusive style events, special promotions and more. Catch the Fashion Show at The Torpedo Factory (7-9PM), emceed by Monte Durham from Say Yes to the Dress - Atlanta, featuring the latest fashion from Zoe Boutique, Bishop Boutique, Current Boutique, The Shoe Hive and more. See you there!
Apple Seed Make-overs, massages, skin care consults & footbaths Bellacara  Make-overs and special promotion Bishop Boutique Elaine Turner and Julie Collection trunk shows and Sip & Sale all day! Current Boutique  Champagne, cupcakes and gift with purchase Diva Jewelry maven Leda, 10% off jewelry, stylist Christy Monaco, beverages, one-night specials & raffles fibre space Designer trunk shows, walk the runway with your own knit or crochet creations, prizes awarded Gossypia Lee Andersen fashion show (6-8PM), refreshments, raffle and 10% off Hooray for Books! Fashion craft activities for children (5-10PM) and storytimes La Cuisine Virginia bubbly and NoVA launch of Marcy Butler designer aprons Mint Condition Bubbles, hors d'oeuvres and bargains.		Mystique Jewelers Commercial filming, jewelry designer Alberto Parada and Union of Angels fashion show presented by designer Cindy Bapst Olio Tasting Room Stella & Dot trunk show plus dip fresh breads with olive oils & vinegar Periwinkle THE SHIRT by Rochelle Behrens trunk show and 10% off THE SHIRT purchases Pretty People Vintage Specialty cocktails, Fall fashion preview, special pricing and prize drawings Red Barn Mercantile Home fashion, drawing for prizes like a free bedroom design consultation and Pine Cone Hill sheets The Christmas Attic Trunk show of popular and fashionable-themed holiday ornaments, informal modeling and gift with purchase The Dog Park Doggy fashion show, refreshments for humans and pets The Shoe Hive Trunk show of Alexandria jewelry line Toka + Chris, cocktails in the courtyard, prize drawings Today's Cargo Trunk show of Del Ray jewelry designer Tracey Navratil, light refreshments. Zoe Boutique Cake pops, prosecco, party favors, raffles

Back to School from the Alexandria Police Dept.

ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
3600 WHEELER AVENUE
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22304
703-746-6600

NEWS RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 #12-048
9:30 A.M. DONALDSON

Back-To-School Reminders

Alexandria Police remind motorists to be extra vigilant for children and school buses as City schools start classes this week.

Residents should expect increased traffic congestion throughout the week during the morning and afternoon hours.  Please allow extra time to reach your destinations.   School Crossing Guards will be out at intersections throughout the City helping children get to their bus stops and schools safely.  Patrol officers and motor units will be checking school zones to help ensure pedestrian and bicyclist safety and monitor the safe loading and unloading of students from school buses. 

The police department reminds drivers that when bus lights and stop signs are activated, vehicles must stop in both directions, unless they are separated from the bus by a median.  The safety of our children is important so please help us make a it a great start to the new school year. 

Jefferson Houston Community Mtg 9/18

FROM THE UPPER KING ST. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSN. 

SAVE THE DATE: CITY TO SPONSOR JEFFERSON-HOUSTON COMMUNITY MEETING ON SEPT. 18On Tuesday, Sept. 18, the City of Alexandria will host a community meeting on the Jefferson-Houston School of the future. The meeting will occur at 6 p.m. in the Durant Center conference room, 1605 Cameron St. For more information, contact Principal on Assignment Mark Eisenhourat 703-965-3418.

 

Volunteers

Volunteers are needed for the Reading Consortium.
It only takes 30 minutes one or two times a week and you can make a difference in the life of a an elementary school student.

Everything is provided for you - training and lessons.


If your interested in helping call 703-549-6670 x 119 or go to www.alexandriatutors.com

365 - Labor day

People don't understand learning disabilities

FROM THE WASHINGTON POST EDUCATION COLUMN BY JAY MATTHEWS 

This is important and I wanted to share the article in it's entirety.

People just don't understand learning disabilities.  Let's try to change that........
Let's try to educate ourselves and our community about those who learn differently.
They are not and should not be the butt of jokes.  They are not stupid, they just learn differently.

HELPING STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES STARTS WITH BETTER EDUCATING THE REST OF US 

Posted at 03:54 PM ET, 09/02/2012

Our ignorance of learning disabilities

By Jay Mathews

Raising the achievement of students with learning disabilities is hard, expensive, controversial and complex. School systems must pay private school tuition for students they can’t adequately serve. Educators and parents sometimes disagree on what methods to use. Education writers like me rarely deal with the subject because it is difficult to explain and lacks many success stories.

That explains in part why learning disabilities are so poorly understood, as revealed by a remarkable survey just released by the nonprofitNational Center for Learning Disabilities. The representative sampling of 2,000 Americans provides a rare look at the depths of our ignorance.

Forty-three percent believe that learning disabilities correlate with IQ. Fifty-five percent think that corrective eyewear can treat certain learning disabilities. Twenty-two percent believe that learning disabilities can be caused by spending too much time watching computer or television screens. All of those impressions are wrong.

Other mistaken views include the 31 percent of survey respondents who think learning disabilities are caused by poor diet, the 24 percent who blame childhood vaccinations and the more than a third who think those disabilities are caused by poor parenting or teaching in early childhood.

That so many of us know so little is a shame, although the survey shows that at least one disability is familiar to most people. The survey found that 90 percent of Americans know that dyslexia is a learning disability, and 80 percent can accurately define it. This may be because so many of us know someone whose reading difficulties have been blamed on dyslexia, or have seen the many television shows dramatizing that disability.

Even though we have not educated ourselves well on what learning disabilities entail, we have been spending increasing amounts of our tax dollars to deal with them. One study by Richard Rothstein and Karen Hawley Miles of the Economic Policy Institute found that from 1967 to 1991 in nine school districts, money poured in to help students with disabilities. Per pupil spending increased by 73 percent during that period, but only a fourth of the increase went to regular education. The portion of all spending designated for special education in those districts went from four to 17 percent.

Several federal laws, highlighted by the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, gave new rights to adults and children with disabilities. The national center’s survey shows many of us are still not familiar with them. One third of respondents said hiring officials are allowed to ask job candidates if they have learning disabilities, which is against the law.

Inappropriate humor also lives on. Thirty percent of those surveyed confessed to making jokes about learning disabilities when someone makes a reading, writing or math mistake.

Insensitivity and ignorance about disabilities in schools is evident. The survey found that 34 percent of Americans believe that students with learning disabilities interfere with the ability of other children in class to learn. Forty-five percent of parents of children with disabilities said their children have been bullied in the past year.

In my experience, parents of children with disabilities read everything they can find that might help improve their kids’ educations. Every time I write about special education I get unusual numbers of e-mails from them, sharing their own experiences and research. Sixty-four percent of parents in general said in the survey that their child’s school doesn’t provide information on learning disabilities.

“Better-informed parents will recognize markers earlier and become more effective advocates for their children,” said James H. Wendorf, executive director of the national center. The center’s Web site has much to offer, but it would also be good if I covered this difficult issue better than I do, and if we all admitted how much we need to learn about what keeps certain children from learning.

365 - Nuts!

Lots of nuts out there.  The squirrels are making a mess!