Virginia Sales Tax Holiday

When is it?

August 3-5, 2018. The 3-day sales tax holiday starts the first Friday in August at 12:01 am and ends the following Sunday at 11:59 pm. 

What is it? 

During the sales tax holiday, you can buy qualifying school supplies, clothing, footwear, hurricane and emergency preparedness items, and Energy Star™ and WaterSense™ products without paying sales tax.

What items are eligible?

• School supplies, clothing, and footwear 
  • Qualified school supplies - $20 or less per item
  • Qualified clothing and footwear - $100 or less per item
• Hurricane and emergency preparedness products  
  • Portable generators - $1,000 or less per item
  • Gas-powered chainsaws - $350 or less per item
  • Chainsaw accessories - $60 or less per item
  • Other specified hurricane preparedness items - $60 or less per item 
• Energy Star™ and WaterSense™​ products 
  • Qualifying Energy Star™ or WaterSense™ products purchased for noncommercial home or personal use - $2,500 or less per item

Detailed lists of qualifying items and more information for retailers can be found in the 2018 Combined Sales Tax Holiday Guidelines. 

Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week - February 17-26

For 10 days and two weekends, 60 Alexandria restaurants offer a $35 three-course dinner for one OR a $35 dinner for two during Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week,February 17-26, 2017. More than 30 restaurants will also offer lunch deals at $10, $15 or $20 per person in addition to the dinner specials.
New to Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week are five new restaurants— Vola’s Dockside Grill, Hen Quarter, Live Oak, Northside 10 and BurgerFi—as well as first-time participants Dos Amigos and Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant. Returning participants include Restaurant Eve, Bastille, Vermilion, Blackwall Hitch, Carluccio’s, Cheesetique, and Virtue Feed and Grain.
Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week showcases the inventiveness of local chefs in neighborhoods throughout the city, including Old Town, Del Ray, Carlyle and the West End. At a range of locales, from fine dining establishments to casual neighborhood favorites, guests will savor the flavors of Alexandria's distinctive collection of eateries.
Guests will find a flip-book of menus on www.AlexandriaRestaurantWeek.com. 
WHAT: Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week
WHEN: 10 Days – February 17-26, 2017 WHERE: Neighborhoods throughout Alexandria, including Old Town, Del Ray, Carlyle and the West End
HOW: $35 three-course dinner for one OR $35 dinner for two; select locations offering lunch from $10-20/person
INFO: www.AlexandriaRestaurantWeek.com; 703-746-3301

Seeking Nominations for Salute to Women Awards

The Alexandria Commission for Women seeks nominations of women, men and youth who have made a significant impact on women and girls in Alexandria.

Winners will be honored at the Commission’s 37^th Annual Salute to Women Awards Program on March 20, 2017 at 6 p.m. at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Proceeds support the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center and Domestic Violence Program.

Winners will be recognized for their achievements in several areas, including health and safety, legislative advocacy, leadership, artistic endeavors, business and career development, and providing opportunities for youth.

All nominations must be submitted by the close of business on Friday, Feb. 3, 2017. Late submissions will not be accepted and the deadline will not be extended. Nomination forms can be completed online.

To purchase tickets to the Annual Salute to Women Awards Program or to serve as a sponsor, please visit: https://www.alexandriava.gov/dchs/info/default.aspx?id=82658.

For more information, contact Marilyn Patterson at marilyn@joyousevents.com.

Girl Scout Troop Collecting Food for New Hope Housing

TC Williams Fall Sports Tryout Schedule

FALL SPORTS TRYOUTS

Fall sports tryouts start soon so it is time to get ready #1.  You must have a physical dated after May 1, 2016.  The physical and other forms are available on the T.C. Athletics Website. #2.  Register for tryouts.  See the tryout webpage. Monday (7/25/16):       Field Hockey and Golf Tuesday (7/26/16):      Football - JV and Freshman Wednesday (7/27/16):  Football - Varsity Thursday (7/28/16):     Volleyball and Cheer Friday (7/29/16):          Cross Country Registration times for each day 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. #3.  Tryouts start: August 1: Football August 1: Field Hockey            August 1: Competition Cheer August 3: Cross-country August 8: Volleyball Please share especially with any rising 8th and 9th graders you know!

The Del Ray Music Festival is in NEED of Volunteers

THE 9th ANNUAL DEL RAY MUSIC FESTIVAL takes place on Saturday, July
23 from 3pm to 8pm. Local musicians will perform on two stages at the Pat
Miller Neighborhood Square, located at the intersection of Mount Vernon
Avenue and Oxford Avenue in the heart of Del Ray. Seven of Del Ray's top
restaurants will host pop-up beer gardens in the three blocks surrounding
the stage. The event is free and open to all. For more information, visit
www.delraymusicfestival.com <http://www.visitdelray.com/>.

*Can you help out and volunteer? If so, email Ellen Patrick
<ellen.france.patrick@gmail.com> to sign up. *

*thanks!! -Del Ray Music Festival Committee*

*Del Ray Music Festival Saturday July 23rd*

*Summer Outdoor Festival Features Top Local Bands & Pop-Up Beer Gardens*

The 9th Annual Del Ray Music Festival will take place on Saturday, July
23 from 3pm to 8pm. Local musicians will perform on two stages at the Pat
Miller Neighborhood Square, located at the intersection of Mount Vernon
Avenue and Oxford Avenue in the heart of Del Ray.

Headlining this year's festival is award-winning guitarist Anthony
Pirog, a recipient of the Washington Area Music Association's Best Modern
Rock Instrumentalist award. In an interview with *Guitar Moderne*, Andy
Summers, the guitarist of The Police, recently said Pirog is "one of my
favorites at the moment." *The Washington Post *has praised Pirog for
his “fusion
of talent and creativity," while *Guitar Player Magazine *named him one of
the “Rising Artists You Must Hear."

New this year, Mount Vernon Avenue will be closed to traffic for the
three blocks adjacent to the stage, and seven of Del Ray's top restaurants
will host pop-up beer gardens -- a first for an outdoor street festival in
the City of Alexandria. "The Del Ray Community is excited about this
signature event, we hope to show once again that Del Ray is the best
neighborhood for fun in Alexandria," said Del Ray Business Association
President Bill Blackburn.

The lineup:

- 3pm: Jack Kilby & The Front Line
- 3:45pm: Noise In The Basement
- 4:15pm: Elroy Jenkins
- 5pm: Geno & The Spirit of Jazz
- 5:30pm: Wanted Man
- 6:15pm: Near Northeast
- 6:45pm: Anthony Pirog

Held each summer, the Del Ray Music Festival celebrates the diverse,
local talent in the Washington, DC area music scene. The event is free and
open to all. For more information, visit www.delraymusicfestival.com
<http://www.visitdelray.com/>.

TC Williams All Night Grad Party NEEDS Volunteers!

Parents and friends please help.  The All Night Grad Party is this Saturday and we still need about 15+ volunteers for the late shift and are about $2000 short of our fundraising needs.  Please act now and help our 2016 graduates have a fun, safe and exciting last TC event. 

Click here to tickets, donate or volunteer:
http://www.http://www.titansallnightgradparty.org/index.html.org/index.html

Volunteers Needed for Vine on the Water

We need your help! We are in urgent need of at least 40 additional volunteers at the 2016 Vine on the Waterfront on Saturday, June 25. Volunteers will assist with selling tickets, checking IDs, handing out wine glasses, children's area, and more! Groups are encouraged, so bring a family member or friends! 

We need volunteers for the following shifts: 

11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. 
2:30-5:00 p.m. 
4:30-7:30 p.m. 

Each volunteer will receive 10 free food tasting tickets for volunteering their time! 

Please sign up HERE http://handsonconnect.volunteeralexandria.org/HOC__Volunteer_Opportunity_Details_Page?id=a0CU000000ffxbi! 


If you have any questions, please contact Volunteer Alexandria at mail@volunteeralexandria.orgor 703-836-2176. We hope to see you there! 

STEAM Event in Alexandria

Alexandria Tot Rock Festival

Blue Park Candy Free Easter Egg Hunt

The Blue Park candy-free Easter egg hunt tradition continues this year! The egg hunt is open to kids of all ages though has largely been the 5 and under crowd in the past. If you're looking for such an event, please see the details below:

Date: Saturday, March 26, 2016

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Location: Blue Park Playground, (Rosemont) 22301

Your role: Drop off 10-12 candy-free eggs (please NO food items at all) per participating child by Friday, March 25 to

196 W. Uhler Terrace

or

106 E Linden St.

Suggestions for candy-free items: Stickers, tattoos, small packages of bubbles, pencils, erasers, silly putty, check the dollar section at Target, dollar stores, etc.

Join the Alexandria Pothole Patrol!

 For Immediate Release: March 7, 2016

On March 7, the City began a month-long effort to repair potholes across the City, and is asking residents and businesses to help find and report potholes using Call.Click.Connect., or by calling 703.746.HELP (4357).

Potholes form when water seeps into tiny cracks in pavement and expands during freezing temperatures. During the 2015 campaign, crews repaired more than 10,000 potholes throughout the City, and this year crews have already begun aggressively repairing damaged streets. This year’s severe winter weather has already caused more potholes than usual. A typical repair consists of digging out any loose material and installing a permanent hot asphalt patch. When the weather doesn’t allow for a permanent repair, a cold mix material is used for a temporary patch, followed by a permanent repair later in the season.

For more information about the City’s pothole repair efforts or paving program, including a short video to share via social media, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Potholes.

Public Meting on Operating Hours of Ben Brenman Dog Park

Please note a community meeting has been scheduled with the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities for Thursday, March 3rd at 7 PM at Cameron Station to discuss the Brenman Park Dog Park expansion, operating hours and illumination. Currently the hours are from "sunrise to sunset" and now would be from 6 AM to 10 PM in all lighted areas of the park. The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities is seeking a Special Use Permit to add lights to the Ben Brenman Park Dog Park located in the back corner of Ben Brenman Park across Holmes Run. Because the addition of lights at this location will extend the use of the park past sunset hours, there will be an associated change to the hours of the park that we wanted to make sure you are aware of. We would encourage all residents to attend but especially those residents who live on or near the park.   From Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities: The Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities (RPCA) will hold a community meeting on March 3, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Cameron Station Community Room, 200 Cameron Station Blvd. to seek input on the hours of use in Ben Brenman Park. The Planning Commission requested RPCA hold the meeting in conjunction with the Special Use Permit (SUP2015-0128) request to add lights to the Ben Brenman Dog Park, located in the back corner of Ben Brenman Park across Holmes Run. The original Special Use Permit for Ben Brenman Park (SUP98-0048) allows the hours of operation for the park to be 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, the hours have been more limited in large portions of the park to sunrise to sunset, except by permitted use. Because the new lights in the dog park will extend the use of that part of the park, RPCA proposes to change the posted hours of operation in the park as follows: * The current posted hours state that the park is open from "sunrise to sunset, except by permitted use." * The new posted hours will state that the park is open from "6 a.m. to 10 p.m. in all lighted areas of the Park." On April 5, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and action to consider the request to add lights to and to expand the Ben Brenman Dog Park. Individuals unable to attend the community meeting are encouraged to send written comments to Dana Wedeles, Urban Planner III, by email at dana.wedels@alexandriava.gov  or standard mail to RPCA, Attn: Dana Wedeles, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria VA 22314. All comments received by March 31, 2016 will be forwarded to the Planning Commission for consideration.  The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City's Human Rights Code and the American with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, please call Jack Browand at 703.746.5504 (VA Relay 711) or e-mail jack.browand@alexandriava.gov.

  

Boots & Bling: A Western Fling Fundraiser for Alexandria's Kids

Annual fundraiser to help Alexandria's Kids continue to provide services to child abuse victims and vulnerable families in Alexandria, VA.  

When: February 25, 2016, 
Where: Blackwall Hitch Restaurant, on the waterfront, Old Town, Alexandria, VA 
When:  7-10pm. 

The event will include: 

• live music
• dinner (including a full taco bar!)
• open bar

along with a chance to win: 

• a week in Jackson Hole
• a weekend in Washington, VA, 
• a $2500 Neiman Marcus card, 
• and/or a signed Chip Esten (TV’s Nashville) guitar. 

Tickets can be purchased  at www.alexandriaskids.org

Hope for Accreta & ICAN Blood Drive October 3

Saturday, October 3 11:00 - 4:00 Alexandria Beatley Library Alexandria, Virginia Local blood recipients and placenta accreta survivors Alexis, Dawn and Marianne from the Hope for Accreta Foundation Northern Virginia chapter and members of ICAN of Northern Virginia invite you to join us at our first joint blood drive. All three placenta accreta survivors are here today because of blood donations from people like you. Our mission at this blood drive is to raise awareness of placenta accreta, promote cesarean awareness, and help women be prepared with the blood products they might need after giving birth. Please join us at our inaugural blood drive on Saturday, October 3 at the Alexandria Beatley Library at 5005 Duke Street in Alexandria, Virginia (map). Donate Blood! If you are eligible to donate, please consider booking an appointment now with Inova Blood Donor Services through the link below by entering Sponsor Name: Hope for Accreta/ICAN, Sponsor Code: 8131, or calling 866-256-6372. If you're not sure if you're eligible check out the eligibility requirements. At the blood drive all donors complete a short medical history, receive a mini-physical in which temperature, blood pressure and iron level are measured, recline comfortably for 5-10 minutes while donating, and enjoy light refreshments before leaving. The whole process takes about one hour. If you donate regularly be sure not to donate whole blood after August 8 in order to be eligible again - you must wait at least eight weeks/56 days between donations.

Schedule an Appointment Online

Volunteer! If you are not eligible to give blood, but can volunteer at the blood drive, we could use your help. We are in need of people to greet donors when they arrive, to serve refreshments, hand out gift bags to donors, and to watch donors' children while they donate blood. Children are welcome to help as well as long as they are accompanied by a parent.

Sign Up to Volunteer

Or do both! Allow an hour to donate blood and plan to volunteer with us before and/or after your appointment.   Bring your kids! The Alexandria Beatley library is a family-friendly location including a large play area for little ones next to the room where the blood drive will take place. We encourage you to bring your child(ren) and if you don't have someone to watch them while you donate we will have volunteers to help.

We will have food, refreshments and all donors and volunteers will walk away with a gift bag with some fun goodies. If you are unable to join us on October 3 be sure you are subscribed to our email list and we'll notify you of the next blood drive in the spring of 2016. Be an Accreta Hero and help support lives by donating blood! Alexis, Dawn and Marianne Hope for Accreta Northern Virginia Chapter Members of ICAN of Northern Virginia Hope for Accreta is a charitable foundation that provides research and support for Placenta Accreta, Increta and Percreta patients, survivors and their families. Approximately 1 in 333 pregnancies experience placenta accreta, increta or percreta*, a condition in which the placenta attaches itself too deeply into the wall of the uterus. There is nothing a woman can do to prevent this condition, and there is little that can be done for treatment. But we can be prepared with the blood products they might need after birth. *Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Facebook Twitter Website The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). We are the Northern Virginia chapter, with members throughout the greater Washington, DC area. We hold support group meetings once a month, which offer a safe place for post-cesarean mothers to find healing and support and for others to learn about cesarean prevention.  Facebook Twitter Website

Alexandria Police Seek Public’s Help in Identifying Robbery Suspects

The Alexandria Police Department is investigating the robbery of a Dunkin Donuts store in the 4600 block of Duke Street in the Foxchase Shopping Center on Thursday, August 13. 

Around 9:45 p.m., two unknown men entered the store. The men brandished silver handguns, took cash from the register, and fled. There were no injuries. 

The suspects were both described as black males, between 5’9” and 6’, in their 30s. One suspect was last seen wearing a white sleeveless shirt, a second white t-shirt around his neck, jeans, and a red baseball cap. The other suspect was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. He had a white t-shirt tied around his head and medium length dreadlocks. The suspects left the area in a medium to dark-colored sedan.

Anyone with information about this incident or who recognizes the suspect is asked to call Detective Christopher Perry at 703.746.6191.

Funeral Arrangements for John Severson of Al's Steakhouse

The family will receive friends at Everly Wheatley Funeral Home, 1500 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA on Thursday, August 20, 2015 from 6-9 PM. 

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, August 21, 2015 at 10:30 AM at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1427 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA. 

A private family burial will take place at Mount Comfort Cemetery.

http://www.everlywheatley.com/m/obit…/John-Severson/Memories

Literacy Tutors - Volunteers Needed

Volunteer Alexandria is teaming up with the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium to recruit enough tutors this school year for 125 ACPS students. 
We need YOU to help us meet this challenge 
by signing up to tutor today! 

Students need a one-on-one volunteer tutor to help them reach and exceed their reading goals for the year. These students are at risk of falling below their grade level and will not be able to read to learn in third grade and 
beyond if they do not have a tutor to help them learn to read now. These students need YOU to step up and help them reach their goals this year! 

What volunteers need to know: 
· Volunteers choose which Elementary School is convenient for them 
· Volunteers are asked to tutor twice a week for 30 minutes or find a partner to split the sessions with 
· Volunteers tutor October-May 
· ATC provides volunteers with individualized lesson plans and materials 


Sign up to become a tutor! Please click HERE http://handsonconnect.volunteeralexandria.org/HOC__Volunteer_Opportunity_Details_Page?id=a0CU000000ZaD6OMAV&wrs=HOC0105-002-4da8cef7-45bb-46ee-9e85-c742d3d9dd51or 
visit www.VolunteerAlexandria.org 


and enter ‘tutor’ in the search field 

John Severson of Al's Steakhouse Passed Away Yesterday

This was posted yesterday around 1pm on Al's Steakhouse Facebook page.

Behalf John Severson Jr (Bo) would like to inform
you that our good old man John Severson has passed away today. We want to thank all you guys for all
the love and support. We will keep you guys posted for details on his ceremony.

John was diagnosed with inoperable, stage 4 lung cancer just about 1 year ago.  He underwent chemotherapy but the cancer had spread to other parts of his body. 

Here is an article from Alexandria News Org dated September 29, 2014.  

And here are some comments after we posted about John's passing on Twitter. 

AlexandriaVAMom  might just have to go have a cheese steak in his honor tonight! He will be missed. Truly an institution

JohnKnippenbergAug 15, 5:59pm via Twitter for Windows Phone

@AlexandriaVAMom Yes, that guy kept the place moving and it was always BUSY. Best cheesesteak this side of Philly, sad news.

sbjalexvaAug 15, 4:58pm via Twitter Web Client

@AlexandriaVAMom  We loved him here!

Missing Teen from Fairfax County

Zainesha Jelahn Hawkins has gone missing from Richmond Highway in Alexandria, Virginia. PLEASE SHARE and REPOST. Help us bring this young lady safely back home.

• AGE: 15
• HEIGHT: 5'5 
• WEIGHT: approximately 125 pounds
• EYE COLOR: brown

If you have any information please contact Fairfax County Police or her mother, father, or sister (contact information below).

Mother: 571 332 8724
Father: 240 423 3938
Sister: 240 640 7810