Missing adult in Alexandria

MISSING PERSON: James Mack Orange The Alexandria Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing, endangered adult. James Mack Orange is missing from the City of Alexandria. Mr. Orange suffers from early onset dementia. He has epilepsy and requires medication which he does not carry with him. Mr. Orange was last seen on Thursday, May 22, 2014, at 7:00 a.m in the 300 block of South Reynolds Street. He stated that he was walking to a nearby 7-11 store to buy coffee and never returned home. Mr. Orange is known to frequent 7-11, bus stops and McDonalds in the west end of Alexandria. Mr. Orange is a 50 year-old black male. He is approximately 5’7” tall and 140 lbs. He has black, thinning hair and brown eyes. Mr. Orange was last seen wearing a dark-colored winter coat, brown or tan pants, grey Adidas basketball shoes and a dark-colored baseball cap. Alexandria Police ask that anyone who has seen Mr. Orange call Detective Dan Gordon at 703.746.6685. If you see Mr. Orange, please call the non-emergency number at 703.746.4444 for immediate assistance.

Alexandria police arrest suspect in copper downspout thefts and more

FROM NEIGHBORHOOD LISTSERVE:

Alexandria Police made an arrest of a suspect that was involved in the thefts ofcopper downspouts and gutters in Old Town.  He was involved in at least five incidents.

In addition, police made three arrests for several auto thefts that occurred in the south side. These suspects were also involved in several thefts in Fairfax County.

 

Alexandria City Council Approves Food Truck Pilot Program

Alexandria City Council Approves Food Truck Pilot Program

For Immediate Release: May 22, 2014

On May 17, Alexandria City Council voted 4-2 to approve a pilot program that will allow food trucks to operate in off-street locations on public and private property. The pilot program will begin on July 1, 2014, and run through October 31, 2015.

City Council adopted the pilot program ordinance after a community input process.  While the initial draft of the ordinance would have also allowed food trucks to vend from public street parking spaces, the adopted pilot program is limited to off-street locations and permitted special events.

Under the approved pilot program, beginning July 1:

Locations

• Food trucks will be allowed at parks and other City property with off-street parking, subject to approval by the City Manager.  There are at least 20 such locations where food trucks could operate, including four recreation centers.  Operation at parks will be further subject to policies adopted by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
• Food trucks will be allowed at farmers’ markets with off-street parking, at the discretion of each market manager. 
• Food trucks will be allowed on Alexandria City Public Schools property with off-street parking, subject to approval by the Superintendent of Schools.
• Food trucks will be allowed on private property (such as churches, private schools, and commercial and multi-family apartment parking lots), with the permission of the property owner.  Food trucks may also serve private residential events in the same manner as caterers.
• Food trucks will be allowed at special events within the area designated in each special event permit.

Hours

• A permitted food truck may operate between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., for up to four continuous hours at a time.

Permits and Additional Regulations

• A food truck must obtain and maintain all applicable annual licenses and permits, including a business license, a food truck vending permit, a health permit, and (if applicable) a fire prevention permit.
• Permit fees for a food truck will typically total approximately $470 per year for off street vending.
• Food trucks are subject to the same food safety requirements and inspections as brick-and-mortar restaurants.
• Food trucks must comply with all existing noise and signage codes.  No amplified music or other amplified sound is allowed to originate from food trucks.
• Food trucks must provide receptacles for customers’ food waste and litter.
• The pilot program ordinance gives the City Manager authority to create additional rules and regulations to implement the program, and provides penalties for food trucks that do not comply with applicable requirements.

Additional information, including application forms and other resources for prospective food truck vendors, will be available at alexandriava.gov/FoodTrucks by July 1.

For more information, contact Craig Fifer, Acting Director of Communications and Public Information, at craig.fifer@alexandriava.gov, or 703.746.3965.

Open Space Celebration

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA:

For Immediate Release: May 22, 2014

City of Alexandria to Host Open Space Celebration on Saturday, May 31 at Four
Mile Run Park

The public is invited to the Alexandria Open House Festival on Saturday, May 31 at the Conservatory Center at Four Mile Run Park, 4109 Mount Vernon Ave. The City is hosting an afternoon of family activities and an opportunity for the public to learn about and share ideas on Open Space in Alexandria.

Activity Schedule:

• 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Public Open House
  • Learn about the success of the 2003 Open Space Master Plan, the Eco-City Plan
  • Provide ideas and recommendations on the future of Open Space in Alexandria
• 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Four Mile Run Clean-up
• “Competition” co-sponsored by the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT)
• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Soccer Field Open Play
• 6 p.m.: Movie night
  • Free viewing of the film “Green Fire” (Spanish subtitles) – sponsored by NVCT

For additional information, visit www.alexandriava.gov or contact Laura Durham, Open Space Coordinator, at laura.durham@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5493.

Visitors are encouraged to walk or take DASH or Metro Buses For DASH schedule information, call 703.370.DASH or visit www.dashbus.com. For Metrobus schedule information, call 202.637.7000 or visit www.wmata.com. Bicyclists may visitwww.alexandriava.gov/localmotion for the City’s Bikeways Map, which features the City's best on street and off-road bikeways, as well as locations of grouped bicycle parking.

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, call Laura Durham of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.746.5493 (Virginia Relay 711) or e-maillaura.durham@alexandriava.gov.

Go Out and Play May 31

FROM NEIGHBORHOOD LISTSERVES:

On Saturday, May 31, The National Science Foundation http://www.nsf.gov/ and Code for America's Northern Virginia Brigade http://www.codefornova.org/ are teaming up to host a National Day of Civic Hacking http://hackforchange.org/. As part of the day's events, we're asking kids and their parents to test out a new playground mapping website in the City of Alexandria http://alexandriava.gov/. Parents and kids can visit their nearest playground, test out the equipment and then take a short survey to help fill in data for the new website. 

The playground mapping website will include the location of the playground and its features, including bathrooms, appropriate age range and features such as whether there are slides, swings, sandboxes, and other amenities. 



Please go out and play on May 31st and help us make playtime even more enjoyable for all children and families in Alexandria! 




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Dangers of Hot Cars

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA: 

Hot Cars Can Be Deadly for Children

As summer approaches, the Department of Community and Human Services reminds parents and caregivers that leaving a child unattended in a hot car can be deadly. Experts note that temperatures can rise as much as 19 degrees in an enclosed car within 10 minutes. Over time, and even when the outside air temperature is only 70 degrees, the interior of a car can reach 125 degrees. Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to hot temperatures because their body temperatures rise three to five times faster than an adult’s, which can cause serious injury to the brain, liver and kidneys, and result in death.

On average, 38 children die in hot cars nationwide each year after being trapped inside motor vehicles, according to Kids and Cars, a non-profit organization that tracks national statistics on child injuries and deaths. Many of these incidents occur as a result of a change in routine, fatigue, distraction or anxiety, bringing about a momentary lapse of memory on the part of the parent or caregiver.

Parents need to carefully follow the guidelines for placing car seats in the back seat – the safest place for children to ride. Additionally, babies should ride rear-facing in their car seats until age two, according to the guidelines prescribed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. At the same time, parents must understand that while requiring children to ride in the back seat has saved many lives, it also requires drivers to take extra precautions to avoid unknowingly locking children in an untended vehicle.

The Department of Community and Human Services recommends taking certain steps to ensure that children will be safe even on days when memory fails.

• Never leave a child alone in a vehicle, NOT even for a minute or with the windows down.
• Engage your child or baby by singing songs or talking to her/him while driving – this will help you remember to focus on your child.
• Do not be distracted by using your cell phone while your child is in the car.
• Make sure that all children leave the vehicle with you when you reach your destination – don’t forget sleeping infants (parents and caregivers should always count heads twice to make sure all children have exited the vehicle before leaving).
• Give yourself a reminder. Get in the habit of placing your purse, briefcase or other important items in the back seat next to your child’s car seat to help you remember to check the back before leaving the car.
• Be particularly mindful on days when there is a change in routine or schedule.  For example, if one spouse is dropping the child at day care on the way to work when typically the other spouse does. Or, if there was a holiday mid-week and you are returning to work the next day.
• Purchase new technological devices that can signal when your child has been left in the vehicle. 
• If you see a child or pet left unattended in a vehicle, call 911 immediately.
• Have a plan for your child care provider to call you if your child does not arrive at school or a child care site within 10 to 15 minutes of your usual time.

Sent on: 05/21 14:51