Alexandria Missing person

MISSING PERSON

The Alexandria Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing adult.  Jorge Oliseo Munoz Orellana is missing from the City of Alexandria.  Mr. Munoz Orellana was last seen on Friday, March 7, 2014, at approximately 11:30 A.M at the European Auto Body located in the 700 Block of North Henry Street.  According to family members his absence is very unusual as Mr. Munoz Orellana cares for his elderly mother.

Mr. Munoz Orellana is a 38 year old white Hispanic male. He is approximately 5’7” to 5’8” tall and 190 to 200 lbs.  Mr. Munoz Orellana has black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about the disappearance of Mr. Munoz Orellana is asked to call Detective Victor Ignacio at (703) 746-6798 or (703) 746-4444.

John Adams Elem. School Closed on Friday

John Adams Elementary School Closed on March 14

School Surfaces Being Disinfected to Stop the Spread of Stomach Illness

 

Alexandria, Va. - Nearly 200 students at John Adams Elementary School, and more than 30 staff members, have developed a stomach illness (nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea) in the past two days. The majority of the student illnesses were reported today. As school staff performed classroom checks to confirm absences, nearly 50 additional students who exhibited symptoms of the illness were sent home. A letter was sent to parents of John Adams students yesterday to inform them that cases of the illness had been reported in a small group of students. 

 

The school division, collaborating with the Alexandria Health Department, has worked to identify cases and prevent the spread of this illness. Although those who have taken ill are not currently at the school, the building will be closed tomorrow, March 14, in order to clean and disinfect all shared surfaces and protect healthy students and staff from contracting this illness. SSC Service Solutions has been contracted to disinfect the school and will be supervised by ACPS Department of Facilities staff. Cleaning will take place on Friday, March 14, and the building will be disinfected throughout the weekend. School is scheduled to resume on Monday, March 17.

 

According to the Alexandria Health Department, many viruses and some bacteria can cause stomach illness, or “gastroenteritis.” The most likely cause in this case is a virus called “norovirus.” Symptoms usually get better in two days. Actions to prevent additional people from catching this are necessary because there is no medicine or treatment to shorten the illness. This type of illness is usually highly contagious through contact with an infected person or through contact with contaminated food or objects.

 

The health department recommends that parents make sure their child washes his or her hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If your child develops vomiting or diarrhea, please keep your child home for 24 hours after the symptoms stop before sending your child back to school.

 

To help protect students and prevent the spread of illness, please keep your child at home and inform school officials if you believe your child is ill. Please also consult your doctor if you suspect your child has a stomach illness and share this information with them. Sick children should remain home until they are free from symptoms for one entire day (24 hours). Parents should watch for signs of dehydration if your ill child cannot drink fluids. Call your doctor immediately if you have any concerns about dehydration. More information about this type of stomach illness is available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 

For more information, please contact Director of Communications and Public Relations Kelly L. Alexander at 703-824-6635.

 

 - END -

Friends of Beatley Library Spring Book Sale

     ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Friends of the Beatley Central Library Spring Book Sale -- 

April 24-27:  Members Only Preview (Memberships at door for $10 donation),Thursday, April 24, 4:00 - 8:30PM; open to general public Friday, April 25, 10:00AM - 5:30PM; Saturday, April 26, 10:00AM - 4:30PM; and Sunday, April 27, 1:00PM - 4:30PM.  Gen'l Prices:  $1, for paperbacks; $3 for hardbacks;  kids' books for less. Charles E. Beatley Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria. Info:  703-746-1702; www.alexandria.lib.va.us.

8th Congressional District Straw Poll

Vola Lawson, Ruthanne Lodato Among Ten to be Honored at Salute to Women Awards

Vola Lawson, Ruthanne Lodato Among Ten to be Honored at Salute to Women Awards 

For Immediate Release: March 12, 2014
The Alexandria Commission for Women has announced the honorees for its 34th Annual Salute to Women Awards. Ten women will be recognized for their accomplishments in civic life and for the improvements they have brought about to the well-being of Alexandria women and girls. The awards are presented for achievement in private and governmental pursuits, including the arts, business, service to youth, public policy, health and safety, public service and civic leadership.

Among this year’s award recipients are the late Vola Lawson, former City Manager (recipient of  the Susan Lowell Butler Lifetime Achievement Award), and the late Ruthanne Lodato, founder of the children’s program “Music Together Alexandria” and pianist for Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church  (Donna Bergheim Cultural Affairs Award recipient).  

The other 2014 awardees are Jen Walker (Marguerite Payez Award), Joyce Rawlings (Youth Community Services Award-Adult), Nancy Martinez (Youth Community Services Award--Youth), Joan Renner (Leadership in Business and Career Development Award), Jean Kelleher (Marian Van Landingham Legislation and Public Policy Award), Amy Creed (Making a Difference Award), Wendy Webb (Vola Lawson Award) and Cynthia Skinner (Rising Star Award).  All awardees were selected by an independent committee appointed by the Commission.

The Salute to Women Awards event will be held Monday, March 31, at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, 600 Dulany Street. The reception begins at 6pm followed by the awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person. Sponsorships and ads in the event program are available. Proceeds from the event benefit the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center. Visit www.alexwomen.com or call Latoshia Love at 703.746.3123 for details or to purchase tickets. 

King Street Safety Petition

FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD LISTSERVE:

King Street Safety Petition

Dear Alexandria Residents, 

The residents along King Street between Cedar and Janney’s Lane need your help.  The city has recognized the issue of safety along this portion of King Street, but their plan of addressing it is flawed.  The plan can be found here (Http://alexandriava.gov/localmotion/info/default.aspx?id=74320).  It calls for removing all of the on-street parking for the three blocks between Cedar St and Highland Place.

We disagree with this plan for the following partial list of reasons:
- King Street is too narrow to accommodate bike lanes and the approx. 13,000 vehicles per day that travel this section of King Street going to/from Old Town. The City’s proposal shrinks traffic lanes by one foot - this two-lane roadway, already too narrow, is used by tractor trailers, buses, car carriers, emergency vehicles, and large delivery vans. Vehicles would creep into bike lanes, endangering the cyclists.

- Proposed bike lanes would increase congestion on King Street due to lack of ability for vehicles to go around vehicles turning left onto the side streets, residents backing into driveways, vehicles stopping for pick-ups and deliveries, etc.

- Maximum of 5 bicycles an hour during rush hour and even fewer during non-rush hours have been documented by residents -- not a convincing case for bike lanes

- City proposal is confusing and will cause accidents: Biking enthusiasts have commented that the proposed bike traffic configuration on this short King Street stretch is confusing for both bicyclists and motorists

- It is unlikely that bike lanes with so few bikes would have a traffic calming effect as the City claims-- on-street parking does have a calming effect and provides a safety buffer

- Neighborhood would lose 27 parking spaces, which provide safe residential and commercial parking and access to homes.  Many homes do not have off-street parking that is accessible and useable. 

- Safety will be compromised: Without a place to park, safety will be compromised when picking up and dropping off residents, including children going to school and the elderly and disabled.

What can we do about it?

1.     Please sign the on-line petition to reject the proposal located here:http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/reject-king-street-option-2 and include your address so that you count as a local who is concerned.

2.     King Street residents are in the process of finalizing alternate plans that provide safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists alike.

3.     Please attend the City Council Public meeting and sign up to speak or just be counted on Saturday, March 15^th at City Hall (301 King St, 2nd Floor Council Chamber).  The meeting starts at 9:30 AM.  If you would like to speak, you must sign up at the beginning of the meeting and will have 3 minutes.

4.     Write City Council about your support for safety measures and against bike lanes for this stretch of road:703-746-4500  OR  www.alexandriava.gov, at top right side use:  Call.Click.Connect

5.     Spread the word!!

 

 

Thanks so much in advance for your time and consideration.

For Immediate Release: March 10, 2014  

Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities Seeks Community Input on Programming

The City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities is conducting a Program Interest survey to help determine programming priorities by location, user group and time of day. Feedback received from both residents and nonresidents will guide staff in the development of future program offerings.

The survey only takes a few minutes to complete and will ensure that all programs, structured and unstructured, occur at times and locations that best suit the interested groups. Community members will also have the opportunity to suggest new program offerings.

To ensure your voice is heard, surveys must be completed by May 2, 2014. Written surveys are available at all City community recreation centers, or click the  Program Interest Survey to take it online. Once compiled, the results of the Program Interest survey will be available at alexandriava.gov/Recreation.

If you have questions, please contact Kelly Gilfillen, Marketing Manager, with the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.746.4644 orkelly.gilfillen@alexandriava.gov.  

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. For additional information regarding the meeting and to request a reasonable accommodation or materials in an alternative format, call Kelly Gilfillen at 703.746.4644 (VA Relay 711) or e-mailkelly.gilfillen@alexandriava.gov.

St. Patrick's Day books for children

Some of our favorite St. Patrick's Day books -

Patrick, Patron St. of Ireland by Tomie dePaolo

Jamie O'Rourke and the Pooka by Tomie dePaolo

Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaolo

Too Many Leprechauns, or How That Pot O' Gold Got To The End Of The Rainbow by Stephen Krensky

A Day to Remember at Giant's Causeway

Fluffy's Lucky Day

A Fine St. Patrick's Day by Susan Wojciechowski

The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh by Janet Nolan

St. Patrick's Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting

That's What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting

Fergus and The Night Demon, An Irish Ghost Story, by Jim Murphy

The Leprechaun in the Basement by Kathy Tucker

Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman

Public Invited to Attend Informational Meeting on the Armistead L. Boothe Park Improvements

Public Invited to Attend Informational Meeting on the Armistead L. Boothe Park Improvements

The public is invited to attend an informational meeting about the Armistead Boothe Park improvements at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12 at the Samuel Tucker Elementary School, 435 Ferdinand Day Dr. City staff, the contractor, and representatives from Alexandria City Public Schools will be available to provide information and answer questions about the work.

Improvements include the relocation and renovation of the playgrounds, rubberized safety surfacing, resurfacing of basketball and tennis courts, and other site work. Anticipated completion is summer 2014.

For additional information read the Armistead L. Boothe Park Construction FAQ, or contact Judy Lo, Project Manager, at 703.746.5490 or e-mailjudy.lo@alexandriava.gov.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. For additional information regarding the meeting and to request a reasonable accommodation or materials in an alternative format, call Judy Lo at 703.746.5490 (VA Relay 711) or e-mailjudy.lo@alexandriava.gov.