Pics from Around Town this Week 9/13 - 9/19

another cool car seen around town. 

a little more red....

busy squirrels

great new marker but is it really needed?  a waste of $!  

The very modern house on the corner of Braddock Rd. and High St. 

yucky green cheese balls. 

cool old Toyota 

An oldie but a goodie (notice the pay phone in the background - don't see those very often anymore) 

hard to see but car being removed from the Masonic Temple grounds.  Apparently drove right off the rd and up the hill. 

New Power Lines & Bigger Substations: October 1st Dominion Power Open House

FROM THE ARLANDRIAN:

Much of the discussion about a new proposal from Dominion Power has focused on deciding along which route they will run the new high-voltage power lines across Alexandria to Arlington, but a lesser discussed aspect of the proposal involves what will happen at the substations at either end of the new lines.

Along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Dominion and its partner Pepco envision enlarging the existing substation on the former GenOn power plant. While they don't expect to expand the property, the substation itself would expand within the existing property and take up much of its space, bringing it closer to the park's roadway.

Along South Glebe Road, however, Dominion has indicated that more property will be needed to host an expanded substation. From their website:

Work at Dominion’s Glebe Substation will require construction inside an expanded footprint to accommodate a new line and new equipment to support reliability needs to local residents and businesses.

Dominion is offering the chance for the public to engage with them regarding the proposal. They are hosting an informational open house to learn more about proposed plans to add a new 230kV electric transmission line between its Glebe Substation, located at the intersection of S. Glebe Road and S. Eads Street in Arlington County, and Pepco’s Potomac River Substation at the intersection of Slaters Lane and E. Abingdon Drive in the City of Alexandria.

While there will not be a formal presentation, the public is welcome to speak with subject matter experts who will be available to answer specific questions:

Wednesday, October 1, 2014
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (drop by anytime during these hours)
Mount Vernon Community School
2601 Commonwealth Avenue
Alexandria, VA

Late last Spring, Dominion Virginia Power has approached the City of Alexandria regarding Dominion’s proposal to construct a new 230-kilovolt underground transmission line between Alexandria and Arlington in the vicinity of Jefferson Davis Highway and Potomac Yard. The project enlarge and upgrade equipment at the existing switching station on E. Abingdon Drive in Alexandria, and connect it to the Glebe Substation on S. Glebe Road in Arlington.

On September 11th, the City's newly formed Underground Transmission Line and Substation Working Group held its first meeting to examine the effects of the proposal.  Dominion Virginia Power identified nine preliminary alignments for the new transmission line connecting these two substations. Dominion indicated that they intend to file with the State Corporation Commission by the end of November for the project.

Dominion Virginia Power will hold a public information meeting on Wednesday, October 1st from 5-8pm at the Mount Vernon School (Community Room) located at 2601 Commonwealth Ave. 

For more info see the project page on the City's website:

Dominion Virginia Power Proposed Transmission Line Project.

Or check out the Dominion Virginia Power 230KV Line Project website.

Brandishing Near School Unfounded

Brandishing Near School Unfounded

The Alexandria Police Department has thoroughly investigated the reports of a subject brandishing a weapon toward school children at Maury Elementary School on Tuesday, September 16, 2014. It has been determined that the reports were false. Given the number of weapons violations that occur at schools across the nation, the Police Department takes reports of this nature seriously and responds accordingly. The Alexandria Police Department, along with Alexandria City Public Schools, immediately responded to this incident and both agencies are pleased with the quick resolution to a potentially dangerous situation.

Storage Needed for Titan Expo Books

FROM TC PTSA:

Titan Expo Book Storage Help

Seeking a storage location for donations to the Titan Expo Used Book Sale. Do you have a dry space in a basement or garage that will accommodate boxes of books that we collect during the year to be sold at the Titan Expo in May? Storage space in ACPS facility is not available any longer. Please contact Michael Quint atmquint3820@gmail.com if you can help or can suggest a solution!

For Immediate Release: September 16, 2014

City of Alexandria to Hold Tenth Annual Doggie Day Swim on Saturday, September 20

Treat your pooch to a late summertime dip at the City of Alexandria’s Tenth Annual Doggie Day Swim on Saturday, September 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.at the Old Town Pool, 1609 Cameron St. Following the end of the summer pool season, this annual event provides dogs with the opportunity to swim and play games in one of the City’s pools. This year, due to the generous donation by Your Dogs Best Friend, admission is free! Register Online Now (activity number 140950).

Dog handlers must be 16 years of age or older, and cannot swim or enter the pool with their dogs. Dogs must be sociable and remain leashed while on the pool deck. All dogs should wear current vaccination tags or must have a current rabies certificate or letter from their veterinary stating that they have received the shots in order to gain entry to the event. Space is limited to 100 dogs in the pool area at one time.

For additional information, call Ralph Baird, Aquatics Supervisor, at703.746.5435.

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 Ralph Baird of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at703.746.5435 (VA Relay 711) or e-mail ralph.baird@alexandriava.gov. 

Description of Suspect in Brandishing Outside Maury Elementary School

The Alexandria Police are looking for a suspect in a brandishing that occurred outside Maury Elementary School today.

The suspect is described as a black male with a medium complexion, 5'6" to 5'8", medium build with a "belly", with a short black mohawk style haircut. He was wearing a black shirt, blue pants, black boots, and carrying what appeared to be a "long gun."

If you see someone matching this description call 9-1-1.

Free TREEs To Beautify Alexandria

FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD LISTSERVE: 


Free TREEs To Beautify Alexandria

Redbud, Dogwoods, Witch Hazel, Persimmon, River Birch, Hackberry, Hornbeam, Black Gum,
Swamp White Oak, Chestnut Oak , Red Oak

RESERVE YOUR TREE ON LINE 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alexandria-tree-distribution-tickets-12670280149

Then pick up on Saturday October 18th from 9-1pm
Del Ray Baptist Church * 2405 Russell Road 

Families are limited to only one of the small flowering trees and one of the larger shade trees. Those living in apartments, condos or HOAs with room for multiple trees should have individual residents reserve trees. For additional information see www.TreeStewards.org or info@TreeStewards.org 




Made possible with funding from Alliance for Community Trees and CSX

Fall Nature Walks

In Alexandria --

Ft. Ward Park, W. Braddock Rd.
some trails, open space, historical, small playground

Dora Kelly Park (Near the Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center), 5750 Sanger Avenue
Wildlife sanctuary, trails, stream, rocks, wetlands, and more

Winkler Botanical Preserve, Beauregard St. to Roanoke Ave.  (looks like your going into an apartment complex, follow it to end - dead ends into the Preserve)
wildlife sanctuary, trails, ponds, stream, water fall (man made),  and more.

And if you want to go a little further---

Roosevelt Island - G.W. Parkway South
trails and monument

Longbranch Nature Center and trails 
625 S. Carlin Springs Road
Arlington, VA 22204

Huntley Meadows - 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Fairfax
Nature Center, wetlands, boardwalk, trails, etc.. 

For Immediate Release: September 15, 2014

Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities Seeks Public Input on Neighborhood Parks

The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities is seeking public input to inform a Park Improvement Plan for the City’s existing neighborhood parks, which we characterize as being 0.5 - 10 acres and serving neighborhoods within 0.5 miles. The results of this plan will help determine budgeting priorities and recommendations for both short and long-term incremental improvements, ensuring that neighborhood parks serve Alexandria’s needs now and into the future. Department staff wants to know how you use the parks, what you like about the parks, and what you hope to see in the future.

The neighborhood parks include:

• Montgomery Park 
• Lee Center 
• Powhatan Park 
• Beach Park 
• Hooff’s Run Park and Greenway 
• Timberland Park 
• Goat Hill Park 
• Landover Park 
• Angel Park 
• Hume Springs Park 
• 3550 Commonwealth Ave 
• James Mulligan Park 
• Stevenson Park 
• Luckett Field & Schuyler Hamilton Skate Park 
• Ewald Park 
• Taney Avenue Park 
• Chambliss Park 

You can help by informing us of YOUR neighborhood park needs. Share your thoughts in the following ways:

1. Visit http://alexva.us/80193 to take an online survey about the neighborhood park you use
2. Attend one of the following Park Planning Workshops:
   
   
   • District 1: Montgomery Park, Lee Center, and Powhatan Park
     Saturday, September 27, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St.
   • District 2: Beach Park, Hooff’s Run Park & Greenway, Timberland Park, Goat Hill Park, Landover Park, Angel Park, Hume Springs Park, and 3550 Commonwealth Ave.
     Saturday, October 25, 9-11a.m., Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave.
   • District 3: Mulligan Park, Stevenson Park, Luckett Field & Skate Park, Ewald Park, Taney Avenue Park, Chambliss Park
     Saturday, November 1, 9-11 a.m., William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Ave.
     
     (note: children are welcome to join the workshops and provide their input at a 12 and under park planning table)
     
3. Use #PlanyourParkAlexVA to send us park photos on Twitter or Facebook to show us how you use the park or what you’d like to see improved

We will post the results of the public feedback at the end of November, 2014.

We hope to hear from you!

For additional information, including a map of the neighborhood parks, visit the project website http://alexandriava.gov/65170 or contact Dana Wedeles, Park Planner, at 703.746.5491 or Dana.Wedeles@alexandriava.gov. 

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Dana Wedeles at 703.746.5491(Virginia Relay 711) or e-mail Dana.Wedeles@alexandriava.gov.