365 - baking

let the baking begin!

365 - Memories

I LOVE this book!
It's where I record our holiday - our family photo, what we did, who we saw, any entertaining we did, what we gave and received.

pet peeve

Dropping a kid at school in the morning---- there is always "that" car in front of me where the driver/parent and kid are talking.  Really, you had the entire ride to talk and make your plans.   And it's not just a have a good day talk or I love you exchange of words.  It's a discussion.

Then the kid has to get their back pack out of the trunk.  So they get out of the car, move to the back of the car and wait for the driver to pop the trunk.   

Now cars are lining up behind me.  

I can't go around because I thought the car in front of me would be moving out of the way and I'm too close to go around. 

My kid is already out of the car and in the building. 

The car behind me is waiting too, so close that I can't back up and go around the car in front.  

Then the driver in front of me has to adjust things, make a call, read/send a text, etc.. really?!?! 

It's drop off, get out of the car quickly, and move on!  

365 - Veggie Pizza

one of our favorite snacks!

Christmas Books for Children

originally posted last year.....

I thought I’d share some of my family’s favorite Christmas books. 

(And these are in no particular order)

Happy Holidays

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado

Alabaster’s Song by Max Lucado

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojceichowski

Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear by Don & Audrey Wood

Santa’s Book of Names by David McPhail

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

Snowmen at Night

and

Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner,

This is The Star by Joyce Dunbar

Santa Calls by Willam Joyce

Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck

Who’s That Knocking on Christmas Eve by Jan Brett

I’ve Seen Santa by David Bedford

The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett

Santa Mouse & Santa Mouse Where Are You by Michael Brown

Bright Christmas, an Angel Remembers by Andrew Clements

Rocking Horse Christmas by Mary Pope Osborne

How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky

MacArthur Elementary School Hosts Blood Drive 12/19

MacArthur Blood Drive (December 19)The Douglas MacArthur Elementary School PTA will host a Red Cross Blood Drive for the school and community from 3-7:30 p.m. in the Library (1101 Janneys Lane). Schedule an appointment online by clicking the “GIVE BLOOD” tab, clicking on the upper right-hand corner’s blue “Make a Blood Donation Appointment” box and filling in the “Enter a Sponsor Code” box with MacArthur’s code: 05314896. For more information, contact Jeannie White.

365 - decorate

City of Alexandria Prepared for 2012-2013 Winter Weather

City of Alexandria Prepared for 2012-2013 Winter Weather

For Immediate Release: December 5, 2012

As the 2012-2013 winter season approaches, emergency response, including snow and ice removal operations, continue to be a top priority and core service for the City of Alexandria’s snow response teams, public safety and emergency management.

Snow and ice storms produce an average accumulation of 15 inches annually in Alexandria, generally spread over several events in a typical winter. During the winter months, City staff track potential storms 24 hours per day, and on-call City crews and contractors are available to begin working in 12-hour shifts when winter weather is forecasted. 

Clearing city streets and sidewalks is a difficult process that takes time, hard work, and good communication between residents, business owners, and the City. Alexandria clears snow from over 521 lane miles of roadways, 20 miles of City-owned walkways/trails, and 44 acres of municipal parking lots or City-owned squares.  Visit the City’s web site to learn more about the Alexandria's snowfighting capacity and technology.

Residents are reminded that sidewalks, driveways, and entrances abutting residences and businesses are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner, occupant, community association, or business for snow removal. Snow and ice must be cleared from all paved sidewalks abutting your property within 24 to 72 hours of the end of the snowfall, depending on the storm response level.

When up to eight inches of snow or other winter weather conditions are in the forecast, City snow removal crews will first work to make snow-covered roads and sidewalks passable for emergency vehicles and ensure schools are accessible. Roadways and/or sidewalks may not be completely clear for as many as three days.

For more information about City’s efforts to prepare for winter weather and other emergencies, visit alexandriava.gov/Snow, sign up for the City’s eNews service, or connect online at alexandriava.gov/SocialMedia. 

Governor Robert F. McDonnell has proclaimed December 2-8 as Winter Preparedness Week in Virginia. For information on how you can prepare yourself and your family for winter emergencies, visit alexandriava.gov.

Maintenance work Scheduled at George Mason School Park

The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities will be performing maintenance work at George Mason School/Park, 2601 Cameron Mills Rd. Work will include installing new stone along drainage swales, general cleanup, and mulching. These measures are intended to help alleviate soil erosion occurring on the north and east side of the athletic field.

The work is weather dependent and is scheduled to be completed within a three to four day period prior to December 14. Residents are encouraged to exercise caution around the work areas.

In addition, the athletic field has recently been reseeded. Please keep dogs off of the field as they can cause harm to this restoration work. Dogs are not allowed on school property as they pose health risks to children using the field for physical education and recreational purposes.

For additional information, contact Judy Lo, project manager, call with the Park Planning Division at 703.746.5490 or e-mail judy.lo@alexandriava.gov. 

ACPS-TV Programming and Viewership Survey

FROM ACPS: 

Greetings ACPS Community! Did you know that ACPS-TV has been online since January 15, 1999, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and can be accessed in every ACPS classroom and in the homes of more than 55,000 cable subscribers in the City of Alexandria? We work hard to bring you quality programming that the whole family can enjoy. We also strive to keep you informed by broadcasting school board meetings and other important functions at ACPS. To keep meeting your needs, we invite you to tell us a bit about your viewing habits and how we can strengthen ACPS-TV to encourage you to watch more. The ACPS-TV Programming and Viewership Survey has just 10 questions and should take only a few minutes to complete. Would you also forward this email to your friends? And should you ever need to reach the TV Station, simply email nathang@acps.k12.va.us Best, Kelly Alexander Director of Communications Alexandria City Public Schools

Click Here



Thank you,
Kelly Alexander

365 - bug

it was so warm today that the bugs came back out....
(this is blurry but it was big!)

Solid Waste & Recycling Announcements

Solid Waste & Recycling Announcements

·   Holiday Solid Waste Collection Announcements

·   Holiday Tree Recycling - January 7-18

·   Household Batteries – Safe Disposal Information

·   America Recycles Day – A Success in Alexandria

More Information:
• Department of Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES), Solid Waste Division • Eco-City Alexandria Initiative

Trash and Recycling Collection
Due to the Christmas and New Year holidays, which take place on December 25 and January 1, residents are reminded that trash and recycling will be picked up one day later on these holidays.  Therefore, trash and recycling will be collected on the following schedule: 
Regular Collection Day                    Holiday Collection DayMonday                                               Monday
Tuesday                                               Wednesday
Wednesday                                         Thursday
Thursday                                             Friday

*Remember, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve days (Monday) will operate on a regular refuse and recycling schedule.

  
Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection
The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Electronics Collection drop-off center will be closed on Christmas Eve day, Monday, December 24. 

Normal hours of operation are every Monday and Saturday from 7:30 am - 3:30 pm located at 3224 Colvin Street.

Holiday Tree Recycling (Save the Date: January 7-18)

Holiday trees can be recycled curbside by residents who receive refuse collection services from the City.  Trees must be set at the curb, on your regular refuse collection day, starting January 7 – January 18.  Trees collected during this time will be ground into mulch and available to residents in the spring.  Please remove any stands, lights, and decorations from trees.  Remember, trees placed prior to January 7 will be collected as regular refuse.  For more information: alexandriava.gov/SolidWaste .

Household Batteries – Safe Disposal Information

Many holiday gifts require batteries… so make sure during this holiday season, you are safely disposing of any unwanted batteries.  When purchasing batteries, consider rechargeable batteries in order to reduce waste.  Remember, bring unwanted batteries to the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Center located at 3224 Colvin Street.  Standard alkaline batteries can be discarded as regular trash, but if you are unsure of a battery’stype you can always double-check at the HHW facility.  For more information:alexandriava.gov/SolidWaste

America Recycles Day – A Success in Alexandria!
On Saturday, November 17 residents took part in three events to celebrate America Recycles Day locally, these events included; mercury disposal, document shredding, and household hazardous waste drop-off.  Residents disposed of over 20 mercury containing devices containing, approximately 188 grams of liquid mercury, and received $5 gift cards compliments of Covanta Energy. The recovered mercury has the potential to contaminate 225 million gallons of water, which would be unsafe to drink, and contaminate a 3700 acre lake (about 1/3 the size of Alexandria) making all fish unfit to eat. Additionally, 32 residents brought documents to be shredded, which amounts to approximately a ton of paper. Shred Station Company, located in Springfield, donated shredding services for the event.  T&ES’ Solid Waste Division received an award from Service Source Foundation, an Alexandria based non-profit, for partnering to recycle computers and electronic waste, which is collected at the City’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) site.

Reception for LGBTQ Task Force

Reception for LGBTQ Task Force 

Please join us for a reception to celebrate the accomplishments of the past five years and honor the partners who have worked to improve services and outreach to LGBTQ people in Alexandria. All are welcome! The event will take place Thursday, December 6, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Vola Lawson Lobby and Sister Cities Conference Room in City Hall, 301 King Street.

RSVP to Erika Callaway Kleiner at erika.kleiner@alexandriava.gov. Refreshments provided by Friends of the Alexandria Commission for Women.

Sanitary Sewer Master Plan – Public Meeting Monday, December 17

Sanitary Sewer Master Plan – Public Meeting Monday, December 17

The Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES), Engineering Division invites residents to attend a public meeting about the City’s draft Sanitary Sewer Master Plan on Monday, December 17, from 7 to 9 pm at the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center, located at 1605 Cameron Street (Rooms 3 and 4).  The draft Sanitary Sewer Master Plan provides a summary of sanitary sewer assets and needs, along with a plan to assess future wastewater flows corresponding to forecasted growth. This plan uses growth forecasts through build-out conditions (post year 2040) to analyze hydraulic capacity of the collector sewers and interceptor sewers, wastewater treatment plant capacity, and the impact of significant wet weather events on both the separate sanitary and combined sewer systems.

For more information visit the City’s Sanitary Sewer Master Plan web page or contact the Engineering Division at 703.746.4045. 

Braddock Community Park Community Meeting

City of Alexandria to Host Braddock Community Park Community Meeting

The City of Alexandria Departments of Planning & Zoning and Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities has scheduled a community meeting on Monday, December 10 to discuss planning activities for the proposed Braddock Community Park. The meeting will be held at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St., from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For additional information, please reference the Braddock Community Park meeting flyer.

365 - Bunny

"Aunt Clara had for years labored under the delusion that I was not only perpetually 4 years old, but also a girl."
- Ralphie in A Christmas Story 

Jefferson Houston Fundraiser

Chuck e. cheese night

For

Jefferson-houston

Please Tell your friends & neighbors

 

Thursday, December 6

(Richmond hwy, next to the walmart)

 

Please mention JH when ordering !

The proceeds of this fundraiser are used to create after school clubs at Jefferson-houston

Holmes Run Park Committee Meeting

Holmes Run Park Committee Meeting

Thursday, December 6th

7 - 8:30 pm

Beatley Library, Large Community Room

Duncan Blair, land use attorney for the Delaney Project will explain the redevelopment of the Bowling Alley on S Pickett St.  This project has already received the Planning Commission and City Council approvals.  Approximately 10,000 sf of retail is planned for the ground floor with units above.  The current bldg has 48,000 sf.

Also planned is a clarification/update of the misreported sexual assault as printed in the Thursday weekly section of the Wash Post for November 17th, 9:18 am at Duke and the Holmes Run Trail.

The next mtg will be January 3, Beatley Library, 7 - 8:30 pm.  Speakers are our General Assembly representatives: Delegate Charniele Herring and Senator George Barker, who will share trending issues to watch for during this year's short session. 

365 - Advent (count down)

let the count down begin.....