Security and Road Closure Information for George Washington Parkway Classic

Security and Road Closure Information for George Washington Parkway Classic
For Immediate Release: April 19, 2013

Following the tragic attack at the Boston Marathon, the City of Alexandria is working with the organizers of the George Washington Parkway Classic road race to ensure the safety of all participants and spectators.

In addition to an increased police presence (including uniformed officers and non-uniformed personnel) during the Sunday, April 21 event, the City will restrict parking in and around the finish line area, and seal trash cans prior to the race.

There will be no parking on North Union Street between King Street and Oronoco Street between 4 a.m. and noon on April 21. Parking restriction signs will be posted in the days prior to the race, and vehicles parked in these areas on April 21 will be moved to a non-restricted area.

At noon on Saturday, April 20, the Alexandria Police Department will be closing Pendleton Street (between Fairfax and Union Streets) and N. Union Street (between Oronoco and Pendleton Streets) until approximately noon on Sunday, April 21.

On the day of the event, the Alexandria Police Department will close the following roads:

• The George Washington Parkway (Washington Street) southbound from Franklin Street to the City line, beginning at 6:30 a.m. Residents in affected areas will be accommodated.

• Franklin Street between South Washington and South Union Streets, South Union to King Street, North Union to Oronoco Street, and parts of North Fairfax and Oronoco Streets.

• Cross traffic will be allowed during breaks in the race; motorists should be patient and expect delays.

• The bike path at Oronoco Bay Park will close on Saturday, April 20 at noon. Bikers will be detoured to Fairfax Street.

• Additionally, the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services will cover and seal City-owned trash cans before the event. Race day trash and recycling receptacles will be available for participants and spectators.

For the last mile of the race, the course will be lined with uniformed public safety officers, including City public safety officers, Virginia State Police, and officers from other area jurisdictions in honor of injured APD officer Peter Laboy. They will also have public safety vehicles nearby. This is separate from other planned race security and medical providers, but will add to the large public safety presence in Alexandria for this race.

For further details, please call the City of Alexandria Police Public Information Office at 703.746.6600, or contact Tony Castrilli, Director of Communication and Public Information, at 703.746.3958 or tony.castrilli@alexandriava.gov.

ALEXANDRIA CITY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES FY 2014 COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET OF $244.96 MILLION

FROM ACPS:  

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 17, 2013

CONTACT

Office of Communications and Public Relations

703-824-6635 • news@acps.k12.va.us

 

 

ALEXANDRIA CITY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES

FY 2014 COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET OF $244.96 MILLION 

   

Alexandria Va.  —  The Alexandria City School Board has adopted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Combined Funds Budget.  The FY 2014 Approved Combined Funds Budget of $244,960,261 is a 2.4 percent increase over the FY 2013 Final Combined Funds Budget. The FY 2014 Approved Operating Budget totals $226,459,115, an increase of 3.9 percent, or $8,504,682 over the FY 2013 Final Operating Budget. The Combined Funds Budget includes the approved operating budget, as well as $11,373,998 in grants and special projects and $7,127,148 for school nutrition services. The budget also includes a City of Alexandria appropriation of $185,486,405, an increase of 3.3 percent, or $6,000,000 over FY 2013. 

 

"We respect the fiscal challenges of the City Council, and we are pleased to provide a budget that is within the targets set by the Mayor, Council and City Manager," said School Board Chair Karen Graf.  "Having taken office in January, the school board carefully considered the comments and input from the principals, community members and staff over the past two months.”

 

Enrollment for 2014 is expected to reach 13,707, which is an increase of 593 students over the current enrollment. ACPS has among the most diverse student populations and the highest number of students who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals (56 percent) in Northern Virginia. The approved budget continues support for transformation efforts and provides stronger investments in student achievement and professional learning for staff.  

 

Highlights of the FY 2014 approved budget include: 

• Net increase of more than 50 full-time equivalents (FTEs), all funding sources combined; the operating budget includes a net increase of more than 70 FTEs offset by reductions in grant-funded positions.
• Flexibility for elementary schools in staffing for their most pressing needs
• Authentic texts for elementary reading
• New science and social studies textbooks for secondary schools
• Appropriate school administration staff for all buildings, with additional assistant principals for elementary schools
• Increased number of elementary counselors to catch up with growing enrollment and maintained secondary counselor-to-student ratios
• Support for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
• Support for the T.C. Satellite Campus
• Support for the Family And Community Engagement (FACE) Centers 
• Support for the dual-language programs
• A revised and more rigorous professional learning model
• Continued investment in extended learning
• Continued investment in special education staffing above state requirements
• Additional support for English Language Learners (ELL) students and the International Academy
• Increased commitment to Prekindergarten education, including three additional classrooms
• Continued investment in employee compensation by adopting a full-step increase to be awarded halfway through the contract year for all eligible employees

"We take pride in the open discussions the administration has had with the community and the school board over the past months to both make compromises and preserve a first-rate budget to allow us to provide an excellent education to our students,” said Superintendent Morton Sherman. “The core of this budget is an ongoing commitment to support our students through excellence in the classroom. The addition of ELL teachers, counselors, preschool teachers and related support services maintains our beliefs and continues our improvement through direct and focused instruction." 

 

Budget information and documents may be viewed at http://www.acps.k12.va.us/budgets.  

 

Second Public Meeting on Landmark Mall Redevelopment Set for May 1

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA: 

For Immediate Release: April 17, 2013

The Howard Hughes Corporation, which owns the central section of the Landmark Mall site, has submitted an application to the City for redevelopment of the portion of Landmark Mall between the existing Sears and Macy’s stores. This project will hopefully be the first phase of a larger eventual build-out of the site as was envisioned in the Landmark/Van Dorn Corridor Plan.

The City and the Howard Hughes Corporation presented the concept for the redevelopment at a well-attended community meeting on Monday, April 8.  The second meeting on this project is planned for May 1 and is a follow up to this first meeting. The community meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Landmark Mall, on the second floor of the former Lord and Taylor space. 

At the May 1 meeting, community members can ask additional questions and offer opinions on a variety of topics relating to transit, school impacts, and how this first phase proposal relates to the eventual build out of the site, particularly in terms of how it complies with the Landmark/Van Dorn Corridor Plan.

As noted at the April 8 meeting, the proposal calls for demolition of the two-story central area of the mall and replacement of this portion with a mixed-use residential and retail complex with a traditional street grid, sidewalks, trees, and open space.  This application calls for approximately 250,000 to 300,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, along with approximately 350 to 400 apartments. Howard Hughes Corporation has been working in conjunction with adjoining property owners, Sears and Macy’s, to explore the feasibility of this redevelopment of Landmark Mall as a mixed-use project. 

The Howard Hughes Corporation owns, manages and develops commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate throughout the country. The company owns a number of significant and successful retail properties, including South Street Seaport (Manhattan, NY), various properties in Columbia Town Center (Columbia, MD), Riverwalk Marketplace (New Orleans, LA), Rio West Mall (Gallup, NM), Cottonwood Square (Holladay, UT), Park West (Peoria, AZ) and Ward Centers (Honolulu, HI).

For more information about this proposal, please come to the community meeting on May 1, visit the City’s Landmark Mall Redevelopment page  or call Colleen Willger in the City Department of Planning and Zoning at 703.746.3817.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, e-mailcolleen.willger@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.3817, Virginia Relay 711. 

Reception Marks Opening of Art Uniting People Exhibit

The Mental Health Anti-Stigma HOPE Campaign announces the opening of the Third Annual Alexandria Art Exhibition, Art Uniting People, Thursday, May 9, from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the   Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St. The exhibit engages the community in a conversation about the uniqueness and commonality of people through art.  It is part of an effort to raise awareness about the stigma faced by those with mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual disabilities.

This year storyteller Auntie Oyé and Master Drummer Joseph Ngwa and Friends will provide entertainment. Join them in a celebration of the creative spirit!  Program starts at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information contact carrie.fesperman@vdh.virginia.gov
 

Panel to Discuss Mental Health Legislation

Delegate Rob Krupicka, District 45,  and members of the General Assembly will discuss mental health legislation that passed this session and work that’s yet to be done.  Learn about Mental Health First Aid for Youth, a new program providing education for parents and those who work with children, and discover what mental health services are available for children and youth from local Community Services boards (CSBs) and what is needed.

The event will be held Saturday, May 18, at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria,  22314. A social meet and greet session will begin at 11:30 a.m. The forum and panel discussion will start at noon and end at 2 p.m.  Childcare is available for ages four and up. For childcare reservations, email donielle.marshall@alexandriava.gov or call703.746.3523.

ALIVE! is hiring

ALIVE! (Alexandria's largest private resource for families in need) is seeking a part-time administrative assistant. 20 - 30 hours per week, flexible hours. Qualified candidate will have experience with establishing and maintaining basic office procedures, filing, handling mail, organizing invoices for payment and database management. Additional responsibilities include managing production of quarterly newsletter and disseminating information to Board, volunteers, and others. Attention to detail, ability to prioritize, and manage several tasks simultaneously a must. Experience with a non-profit organization preferred. To learn more about ALIVE!, visit our website at www.alive-inc.org

Sent resume to: ALIVE! 2723 King Street. Alexandria, VA 22302,
FAX: (703) 837-9399 or info@ALIVE-Inc.org

Flex Professionals is looking for......

Flex Professionals is looking to hire/place the following positions in the Alexandria area: 

  

Marketing Consultant for a data sourcing & analytics company (Northern VA). PT, project based, 10-20 hrs/wk, virtual w/occasional meetings in NoVA. Rate: $30-$50/hr.

  

Bookkeeper for a provider of HR telecommunications (Alexandria, VA). FT, flex, 30-40 hrs/wk + 50% virtual. Must have Quickbooks exp. Rate: TBD.

Development Director for a non-profit musical organization (Alexandria, VA). PT, hours TBD, but flexible!  Rate: $25-$35/hr.

Price Snapper for exciting start-up building a local shopping platform (Arlington, Alexandria & DC). Flexible, project based, 6-40 hrs/wk, as determined by candidate. Rate: pay is based on the number of digital photos taken & uploaded to company platform. (See job description for more details). 

Please visit our website at www.flexprofessionalsllc.com for a complete, detailed listing of jobs, helpful resources, and more!

Spring grumpiness

Things that make me go argh....
(I've been saving a few of these up)

Gas stations that post a price on their BIG signs only to find out that it's the cash only price (it's in really small print), and you pay .10 more for using a credit card.  
Really, how many people pay with cash anymore?  OR just charge the same for cash and credit!

People who don't pick up after their dog!

Neighbors who are grumpy and don't even wave or speak to their fellow neighbors.   Would it kill ya to just say hi?

People who hit "reply all" all the time.  You should know better by now! (not like the whole e mail thing is new!)

People that don't pull their cars up enough at intersections - either not allowing you to get into a turn lane by just a hair or not tripping the light to change.  They usually aren't paying attention because they are texting or talking on their phones.

Neighbors who always speed through the neighborhood when they know kids are out playing, riding scooters and bikes.