City Seeks Nominations for 6th Annual Ellen Pickering Award

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA:

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

For immediate Release: January 27, 2014

The City of Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission and Alexandria Renew Enterprises (formerly the Alexandria Sanitation Authority) are seeking nominees for the Sixth 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 2014 celebration at Ben Brenman Park, (4800 Brenman Park Dr.) on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. A tree will 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: Are You An Eco-Citizen?

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.  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.

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 within 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.

Nomination Requirements:

Submissions must include the following:

• The nominee’s name, address, and telephone number, or the key individual to contact if a nominee is an organization.
• 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 14.

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. 

ACPS Calendars

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2014

CONTACT: Kelly L. Alexander, Director Office of Communications and Public Relations 703-824-6635 • news@acps.k12.va.us

Alexandria City School Board Adopts 2014-15 Academic Calendars,Revises 2013-14 Snow Make-Up Days   Alexandria, Va. - The Alexandria City School Board has approved both the 2014-15 School Year Academic Calendars and a modification of the snow/weather make-up days for the 2013-14 school year calendars for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) students. There are two Academic Calendars: the traditional calendar that the majority of schools follow and the modified calendar applicable to Mount Vernon Community School (2013-14) and Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School (2013-15).    The School Board voted unanimously to modify the current 2013-14 school year calendars to allow for more flexibility in making up days missed because of inclement weather. The calendars previously required weather-related closures beyond three days to be made up only by adding school days to the end of the year. The revised calendar, however, allows those days to be made up on the following specific teacher work days and professional days:   Traditional Calendar: March 14 and April 11, 2014 Modified Calendar: February 28 and March 21, 2014   Because Jan. 21 and Jan. 22 were the fourth and fifth weather-related closures of this year, students will now be required to attend school on March 14 and April 11 for traditional-calendar schools and February 28 and March 21, 2014 for modified calendar schools. If there are more than six weather-related closures, the administration may add minutes to the school day to make up lost instructional time in lieu of adding days to the end of the year.   The School Board also voted (7-2) to approve the 2014-15 academic calendars. The School Year 2014-15 calendars include 183 student days and 196 teacher contract days. Columbus Day is a student holiday, but a split professional development day and work day for teachers. Winter break has been extended to a full two weeks. In order to extend winter break by two days, Veterans Day will be a regular school day, and one teacher professional day in December has been eliminated.     Next school year, any weather-related closures beyond three days will be made up on January 30, March 9 and April 17, which are professional days or teacher work days. Any additional closures will result in days being made up by adding minutes to the school day under a structured plan as an alternative to adding days to the end of the school year.   To view the approved traditional and modified academic calendars for 2013-14 and 2014-15 online, visit http://www.acps.k12.va.us/calendars.

Alexandria Fire Chief Adam K. Thiel Resigns to Join McAuliffe Administration

Alexandria Fire Chief Adam K. Thiel Resigns to Join McAuliffe Administration

For Immediate Release: January 24, 2014

City Manager Rashad M. Young has announced that Alexandria Fire Chief Adam K. Thiel is resigning his position to accept an appointment by Governor Terence McAuliffe as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security for the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

Thiel, who became fire chief in 2007, is responsible for many accomplishments. They include the opening of Fire Station 209 in Potomac Yard, construction of Station 210 on Eisenhower Avenue, complete replacement of the City’s front-line fleet of fire apparatus and EMS units, and securing funding for a new fireboat. Under his leadership, the Fire Department increased staffing on fire suppression units, provided a dedicated health and safety officer on each shift, and provided dedicated fire and EMS field training officers. Thiel also served as the City's operations section chief for several presidentially-declared disasters, and served alongside Alexandria Fire Department members and other City staff in the aftermath of Paramedic Joshua Weissman's tragic line-of-duty-death in February 2011.

“Chief Thiel has served Alexandria with distinction,” said City Manager Young. “His strong leadership, strategic vision, and passionate commitment to our community have left an indelible mark on our City and ensure our continued safety. He has been a vital part of our team, and he will be missed.”

"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this amazing City and the committed members of our Alexandria Fire Department family,” Chief Thiel said. “I know the Department will continue moving forward with dedication to our community, our profession, and each other."

Thiel is expected to begin his new position in February. The City will launch a nationwide search for a new fire chief. An acting fire chief will be announced by the City Manager at a later time.

For media inquiries, contact Tony Castrilli, Director, Office of Communications and Public Information, at 703.888.7166 or tony.castrilli@alexandriava.gov.