From the Archives: Snow Craft Ideas

Missing the snow?  Here are a few ideas for "snow crafts"

- make snow flakes -
use white paper
fold and cut the paper to create snowflakes
(decorate the house with them)

-glitter snowflakes
use colored construction paper
use glue to "draw" a snowflake
use glitter on the glue

-use shaving cream and ice cubes to create snow scenes on construction paper

-marshmallow painting
use marshmallows dipped in white paint on blue construction paper

From the Archives: Books for the Winter

Here is a list of books that are appropriate for the Winter months.

The Mitten

Tacky

Mr. Poppers Penguins

I Like it When

Flip & Flop

Polar Bear Night

No Bath for Boris

Ralph's Frozen Tail

Little Mo

SuperBowl Snack Recipes

Chicken Dip 
3-4 boneless chicken breasts - cooked and shredded
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup Franks Hot Sauce
1 jar Marie's Blue Cheese Dressing

mix all together
bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes, until bubbly and slightly brown
serve with tortilla chips

Turkey Wrap 
1 pkg large fajitas
2 containers Aluoette vegetable cheese spread
1/2 lb sliced turkey 

spread the cheese on the fajita
place the turkey on top
roll up
wrap in Saran Wrap
refrigerate for 1 hr or overnight
slice and serve
(makes about 40 slices)

Vegetable Salad Bars

1 can crescent rolls
1 pkg. (8oz) cream cheese
1 pkg. DRY ranch dressing 
2 rounded tsp sour cream
2 rounded tsp mayo 

½ small head cauliflower
½ sm bunch broccoli
2 sm carrots

Shredded Cheddar, Swiss or Monterey cheese

Shred the veggies in a food processor

Unroll the crescent rolls and lay out on the jelly roll pan – pinch together the seams 
Bake as suggested
Let cool

Mix together cream cheese, dressing, sour cream and may – you can let this sit overnight. 

Cover roll with cream cheese mixture 
Pat on shredded vegetables
Sprinkle with cheese
Press firmly

Cover w/ Saran Wrap and refrigerate
Cut into bars and serve. 

Will keep for several days

Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities Schedules Basketball Light Replacement at Ewald Park

The City of Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities is replacing the existing basketball court lights at Ewald Park, 4452 Duke St. The replacement lights will include state-of-the art cut off technology and improve energy efficiency.

Work is scheduled to occur through February 22. Residents will see equipment in use and crews at work during the daytime, and the court lights will be inoperable for approximately ten days during construction. For your safety please use extra caution when moving around the site.

For additional information or questions about the work, contact Bethany Carton, Project Manager, at bethany.carton@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5492.

Alexandria Seeks Input on Youth Master Plan

City Seeks Input on Youth Master Plan

The City of Alexandria is developing its first Youth Master Plan.  The Plan is intended to set long-term, community-wide priorities for young people and identify specific action steps toward those goals.  City leaders want to ensure that all children and youth are healthy and safe, academically and vocationally prepared, and socially and civically connected.

To that end, the City needs your help.  All residents and stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the plan development process, including youth, parents, youth-serving professionals, businesses, community groups and faith-based organizations. Three public forums will be held:

• Saturday, February 9, from 10 a.m. – Noon

T. C. Williams Cafeteria, 3330 King Street

• Monday, February 11, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Charles Houston Center, 901 Wythe Street

• Saturday, February 23, from 10 a.m. – Noon

William Ramsay Center, 5650 Sanger Avenue

               

Public comments for the Youth Master Plan may also be submitted to Ron Frazier atron.frazier@alexandriava.gov or by calling 703.746.5967.  To attend a forum or request language interpretation assistance, call 703.746.5970.  To receive the most current information on Youth Master Plan development, subscribe to the City’s eNews alerts for Youth Master Plan at alexandriava.gov/enews.

Plan development is led by the City’s new Children Youth and Families Collaborative Commission.  The Commission advocates for Alexandria’s children and youth, aged prenatal to 21 years, and their families by advising City Council, the school board, and City and school staff on policies that affect children, youth and their families. To learn more about the CYFCC and the youth Master Plan process, visit alexandriava.gov/CYFCC.

28th MidAtlantic Erg Sprints

OLYMPIANS & PARALYMPIAN TO BE AMONG THE OVER 1,600 ATHLETES

AT THE 28th MIDATLANTIC ERG SPRINTS THIS COMING WEEKEND

World's 2nd largest indoor rowing competition scheduled for

T.C. Williams High School this Saturday, February 2nd

ALEXANDRIA, VA - Over 1,600 adult and student athletes will descend on T.C .
Williams High School in Alexandria this Saturday, February 2nd, for the 28th
MidAtlantic Erg Sprints, an annual event that has grown to become not only
the second largest indoor rowing competition in the world, but one that will
this year feature Olympic and Paralympic rowers, as well.

The rowers are: Esther Lofgren
http://www.usrowing.org/Pressbox/AthleteBios/EstherLofgren.aspx> , who won
a Gold Medal as a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic women's rowing team in
London this past summer; Sam Stitt
http://www.guhoyas.com/sports/m-crew/mtt/stitt_sam00.html> , who rowed in
the 2008 Beijing Olympics and is now the Varsity Lightweight Rowing Coach at
Georgetown; Emma Preuschl
http://ww.usrowing.org/Pressbox/AthleteBios/EmmaPreuschl.aspx> , who won a
Silver Medal as a member of the 2008 U.S. Paralympic women's rowing team in
Beijing and competed in 2012 London games as well; Linda Miller
http://www.gwsports.com/genrel/miller_linda00.html> , who rowed for T.C.
Williams and George Washington University and went on to become a member of
the 2000 U.S. Women's Olympic rowing team in Sydney; and, Lisa Schlenker
http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/w-rowinglt/mtt/schlenker_lisa00.html> , a
member of the 2000 and 2004 Olympic rowing teams who is now the Head Coach
of the University of Wisconsin's Women's Varsity lightweight rowing team.

The Olympians and Paralympian will be helping to lead two informational
seminars entitled, "Going for the Gold: Rowing in College and Beyond." The
hour-long seminars will be held at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm and are open to all
students who are competing at the MidAtlantic Erg Sprints. According to Erg
Sprints Director Jeff Byron, the seminars are intended to provide young
rowers with practical advice on their futures in the sport, from what
colleges are looking for to what it takes to become an elite rower and
compete in the Olympics and Paralympics. 

"In addition to being the world's second largest indoor rowing competition,"
Byron stated, "the MidAtantic Erg Sprints is also the biggest event of its
kind for juniors. With all these young rowers under one roof, we thought it
was a good time to bring in some elite rowers who could provide some words
of wisdom about what it takes to compete in the sport and be the best. To
that end, we are fortunate to have with us some of the best of the best --
rowers who not only competed in college, but represented their country in
the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Byron noted that in addition to leading the seminars, Lofgren and Stitt will
also be competing in the Erg Sprints - Lofgren rowing in the Open Women's
500 meter sprint and 2000 meter race, and Stitt competing in the Master's
Men (age 30-39) 2000 meters and Open Men 30 minute row. 

Byron added that this year's competition will feature more than 100 events
for junior, college, and masters rowers, as well as events designed for
lightweight rowers, coxswains, parent/child teams and kids. The Erg Sprints
will also feature events designed for adaptive rowers -- a category of event
specifically designed for individuals with disabilities and one, Byron
noted, that has featured Wounded Warriors in the past and will once again
feature rowers from Athletes Without Limits and the Capital Adaptive Rowing
Program in Washington, DC.

Races on February 2th will begin at 8:00 am and conclude at approximately
3:00 pm. The top finishers in the MidAtlantic Erg Sprints will qualify to
compete in the World Indoor Rowing Championship - also known as the Crash-B
Sprints - which will be held in Boston on February 17th. 

The MidAtlantic Erg Sprints were first held in Alexandria in January 1986.
The event is sponsored by the Alexandria Crew Boosters. For the schedule of
events and more information, please visit www.ergsprints.com.

Project Time

time for the science fair project.....

City of Alexandria Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission Community Forums

City of Alexandria Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission Community Forums

The City of Alexandria's Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission (CYFCC) is sponsoring a series of community forums next month to invite members of the community to provide input on the city's first Youth Master Planning, which is essentially a set of priorities and roadmap for helping young people ages 0-21 thrive in our community, and be prepared for college work and life. The forums will be held throughout the city on Saturday, Feb. 9, 10 a.m. to noon, in the cafeteria at the T.C. Williams High School main campus, 3330 King St.; Monday, Feb.11, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Charles Houston Recreation Center, 905 Wythe St.; and Saturday, February 23, 10 a.m. to noon, atWilliam Ramsay Elementary School, 5700 Sanger Ave. All are welcome.
Click here for a flyer that you may send to others to help spread the word. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Alexandria City Academy Now Accepting Applications

Alexandria City Academy Now Accepting Applications For Immediate Release: January 29, 2013

News Highlights

• The Alexandria City Academy (formally Citizens Academy) is an eight-week program that allows residents to get to know their City government.
• The deadline for applications is Friday, February 15.

For More Information

• Visit alexandriava.gov/CityAcademy 
• The City of Alexandria’s Office of Communications and Public Information offers the eight-week Alexandria City Academy program, which provides residents with the opportunity to learn about City government through first-hand experience with a wide range of government functions, services, activities and issues.

Classes will take place on Thursdays, March 8 through April 25, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Meetings will occur in various locations around the City. The City Academy is open to City residents ages 18 and over, and to business owners within the City limits.

Class size is limited to 15 to 20 students and space fills up quickly! The deadline for registration is Friday, February 15. To request an application, please visitalexandriava.gov/CityAcademy or pick up a copy at City Hall, 301 King St., Room 1900.

There are several ways to submit your completed application:

• Online at alexandriava.gov/CityAcademy
• By fax to 703.838.6426
• By hand to 301 King St., Room 1900, Alexandria VA 22314
• By mail to 301 King St., Room 1900, Alexandria VA 22314

For additional information, contact Elaine Scott at 703.746.4317 orelaine.scott@alexandriava.gov

Civil War Recruiting Day

Saturday, February 9, 1-4 p.m.

The Civil War Sesquicentennial is the perfect time to pursue or simply learn more about the popular field of Civil War reenacting. Find out about this fun hobby on Saturday, February 9, 2013, when Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site presents “Civil War Recruiting Day.”

Soldiers and civilians of the 3rd U.S. Regular Infantry, Company K, will be on hand between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to talk about period clothing and equipment, demonstrate drills, and explain the variety of roles that military and civilian interpreters can portray. Visitors can also inquire about how to join local reenactment units and learn what kind of clothing and equipment a novice reenactor requires. Admission is free. The snow date is Saturday, February 23.

Nearly 50,000 men, women and children across the United States enjoy the hobby of Civil War reenacting. As individuals, couples and families, reenactors take on the roles of persons who fought as soldiers between 1861 and 1865, or who were part of the civilian homefront. In addition to learning more about their national heritage, reenactors can employ dramatic and interpretive skills, converse with the public, and perform activities such as campfire cooking, drilling, needlework, medical care and setting up camp. Reenactors can pose as soldiers, clergy, politicians, laborers, doctors, farmers, merchants, sailors, journalists, photographers, schoolchildren, or civilians from almost any 19th-century walk of life.

Fort Ward is the best preserved fortification in the Defenses of Washington, an extensive system of Union forts built to protect the Federal capital during the Civil War. The Museum offers changing exhibits, tours, and interpretive programs throughout the year. Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site is located at 4301 West Braddock Road in the City of Alexandria.

For more information, please visit www.fortward.org or call 703.746.4848

MOMS Club Consignment Sale

The MOMs Club of Alexandria NE 

Annual Spring Consignment Sale

February 23rd

8am-2pm

Trinity United Methodist Church

2911 Cameron Mills Drive Alexandria, VA 22302

Toys, gear, maternity clothes, clothes for babies and kids, and AMAZING deals from local businesses like The Purple Goose and Little Choux! Take a minute to mark your calendars for Feb 23th and have a great week!

Dog bowl

this is the ice from the dog's outside bowl.  It never melted today....

City of Alexandria Launches Call.Click.Connect.

City of Alexandria Launches Call.Click.Connect.

New Customer Service Initiative Places “Your Government @ Your Fingertips”

On January 28, the City of Alexandria launched Call.Click.Connect., a new customer service initiative that combines people, processes and technology to deliver information, services and solutions to the public through a centralized, streamlined process. At the heart of the initiative is an online system for entering, tracking, and resolving service requests, designed to help the City respond more efficiently to requests from residents and the public.

Users can call 703.746.HELP (4357), or click the Web portal on alexandriava.gov to easily access information and connect with their City government.

Call.Click.Connect. places City government “at your fingertips” through multiple features, including:

• One number, 703.746.HELP, for all customer requests and inquiries.
• Options that allow customers to create and track the status of their own requests, from start to finish, either online or by telephone.
• A Contact Center staffed with experienced professionals to respond to customer inquiries.
• The ability for the City to use information documented throughCall.Click.Connect. to track service request trends, determine emerging policy concerns, improve service delivery and make better policy decisions.

“Excellence in service is one of the City’s guiding principles,” said City Manager Rashad M. Young. “Call.Click.Connect. exemplifies our pledge to ensure our accountability and transparency, and deliver exceptional services that enrich the quality of life for everyone in Alexandria.”

For more information, visit the Call.Click.Connect. page on alexandriava.gov, or call the City’s Contact Center at 704.746.HELP.

confused