Nominees for the Fifth Annual Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award

Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission and Alexandria Renew Enterprises Seek Nominees for the Fifth Annual Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award

Award Honors Legacy of Distinguished Alexandria Environmental Steward

For Immediate Release: February 12, 2013

The City of Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission and Alexandria Renew Enterprises (formerly the Alexandria Sanitation Authority) are seeking nominees for the fifth annual Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award. The award honors and recognizes those who demonstrate a commitment to protecting the natural environment and keeping the City “green.”

The award will be presented during the Alexandria Earth Day 2013 celebration at Ben Brenman Park (4800 Brenman Park Dr.) on Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. A tree will also be planted in honor of the recipient of this year’s Award. The event will include numerous educational exhibits, demonstrations, hands-on activities for children, a tree sale and more to emphasize this year’s theme: Water: Every Drop Counts!

The Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award is named in honor of Frances Ellen Pickering, a former Board member of the Alexandria Sanitation Authority, who was dedicated to preservation and conservation in the City throughout her life. She helped create the Mount Vernon Trail between Alexandria and Washington. Mrs. Pickering was committed to preserving and enhancing the City’s waterfront and urged the adoption of the City’s Open Space Plan, lobbying to preserve Founder’s Park and protect it from high-rise development. She also implemented the planting of 1,000 citizen-donated cherry trees during her tenure as Chair of the Alexandria Beautification Commission.

Mrs. Pickering served on a number of City boards and commissions, and was elected to City Council as an independent for one term between 1976 and 1979.

Qualifications: Residents, groups, clubs, organizations or corporations may be nominated. To be eligible, nominees must live with the City of Alexandria, and corporations, organizations and other groups must operate within the City of Alexandria. The actions of the nominees must have a direct impact on protecting the natural environment and natural resources within the City of Alexandria.

Selection: Selection will be made by a special committee composed of representatives from Alexandria Renew Enterprises, the Environmental Policy Commission, and members of Mrs. Pickering’s family.

Applicable Topics: Subject matter applicable to the award criteria include natural resource preservation, energy conservation, education outreach regarding environmental sustainability, water preservation, water conservation, waste reduction and/or materials reuse/recycling, and promotion of clean air.

Those making nominations may also refer to the Alexandria’s Eco-City Charter, adopted in 2008, and the Environmental Action Plan 2030, adopted in in 2009. Both documents define the guiding principles of environmental sustainability. Visit the Eco-City Alexandria page for more information.

Nomination Requirements

Submissions must include the following:

• The nominee’s name, address, and telephone number, or the key individual to contact if the nominee is not an individual.
• The name, address, and telephone number of the person nominating the candidate must be included.
• A brief description (not to exceed one page) of the nominee’s accomplishments and qualifications for the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award.

Nominations may be submitted in several ways:

• Online Nominations: http://alexearthday.org/award.html
• Mailed or delivered to:

The Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission
Alexandria City Hall
T&ES, Office of Environmental Quality
301 King Street, Room 3000
Alexandria, VA 22314

Nominations must be received by March 15.

Planned replacement of the Timberbranch footbridge

For Immediate Release: February 12, 2013

Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities to Hold Informational Meeting on Planned Timberbranch Parkway Footbridge Replacement

The public is invited to attend an informational meeting about upcoming construction to replace the existing footbridge located near the intersection of East Timberbranch Parkway and Timberbranch Dr. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Chinquapin Park Recreation Center, 3210 King St. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-March and is anticipated to take approximately two months to complete.

For additional information, contact the Judy Lo, Project Manager, at 703.746.5490 or e-mail judy.lo@alexandriava.gov.

George Washington Birthday Celebration Open Houses

In celebration of George Washington's Birthday the following Museums and Historic locations in the City of Alexandria will be open and have FREE admissions on Monday, February 18. 

Gadsby's Tavern Museum
134 N. Royal St.; Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: Gadsby's Tavern Museum
phone 703.746.4242

Friendship Firehouse Museum
107 S. Alfred St., Alexandria; Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: Friendship Firehouse Museum
phone 703.746.3891

Old Presbyterian Meeting House
323 South Fairfax Street; Time: 10a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: Old Presbyterian Meeting House
phone 703.549.6670

The Lyceum
201 S. Washington St.; Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: The Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum
phone 703.746.4994

Carlyle House
121 N. Fairfax St.; Alexandria. Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: Carlyle House Museum
phone 703.549.2997

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
105-107 S. Fairfax St.;  Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, telephone 703.746.3852

Christ Church
118 N. Washington St.;  Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact:  Christ Church, telephone 703.549.1450

John Adams Elementary without Power - Students relocated

Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 UPDATE: John Adams Elementary remains without partial power. Students in grades PreK -2 were relocated to Patrick Henry Recreation Center and students in grades 3-5 were relocated to William Ramsay Recreation Center. Call703-824-6635 for more information or to reach the school.

Parents may pick up students at the William Ramsay and Patrick Henry locations or students will be dismissed as normal to ride the bus home from these locations at 2:35 p.m. Walkers will be returned to John Adams to meet parents or to take their normal route home.  Students enrolled in Campagna or recreation center after-school programs will remain at the William Ramsay or Patrick Henry locations until they are picked up by their parents.  Please call the ACPS Central Office at 703- 824-6635 if you need to reach the school or for more information. Thank you.

A LETTER FROM THE ALEXANDRIA CITY SCHOOL BOARD EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO OPPORTUNITY EDUCATION INSTITUTION LEGISLATION

FROM ACPS:

A LETTER FROM THE ALEXANDRIA CITY SCHOOL BOARD EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO OPPORTUNITY EDUCATION INSTITUTION LEGISLATION

  

Alexandria Va.  —  In a letter sent to Governor Bob McDonnell, the Alexandria City School Board expressed opposition to recent Opportunity Education Institution legislation approved by the Virginia Senate and the House of Delegates on Tuesday. 

Read the letter in its entirety here: http://acps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/alexandria/upload/0/162.pdf.

Direct questions about the letter to Kelly Alexander at 703-824-6635 or news@acps.k12.va.us.

And an article from patch.com

http://oldtownalexandria.patch.com/articles/acps-school-board-opposes-legislation-in-letter-to-governor?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001

For Immediate Release: February 11, 2013

Public Invited to Attend Community Meeting for Planning the Open Space Property at 5325 Polk Ave.

The public is invited to attend a community meeting to discuss the new park property at 5325 Polk Ave. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 19 at 7 p.m. and will be held at the William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Ave.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss future community use and potential improvements to the property. Based on community input, City staff will draft a plan for the future use and improvements to the new park. The draft plan will then be reviewed and discussed at a public hearing with the Park and Recreation Commission this spring.

The property was purchased in December 2012 when City Council authorized City Manager Rashad M. Young to contract for the acquisition for $1.9 million. The City’s purchase of this 2.34 acre property used the $1.5 million provided by the Department of Defense to mitigate loss of open space in the West End, as well as $0.4 million in City Open Space funds. The Beauregard Rezoning Advisory Group recommended the acquisition of this site in October 2012 after reviewing 8 sites in the City’s West End which had been nominated by City residents.

Persons unable to attend the meeting can send written comments to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, Attention: Laura Durham, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria, VA 22314, or e-mail laura.durham@alexandriava.gov.

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, please call Laura Durham, Open Space Coordinator, at703.746.5493, or e-mail laura.durham@alexandriava.gov.