Green: Color for Sewers and Boots in Alexandria
Bill Jones climbs into his white city truck and heads for 5375 Duke St. to respond to an emergency ticket.
Recalibrating Fight Against Hunger
Setting Priorities
The monthly meeting of Hunger Free Alexandria focused on the accomplishments since the release of the report “Toward an End to Hunger in Alexandria” which was released in 2014.
Firefighters from Station 201 Read to Lyles-Crouch Elementary Students.
‘So, Who Has Ever Heard of a Turnip?’
The fire engine pulls up in front of Lyles-Crouch Elementary School on Friday morning and four firefighters jump out and head for the front door.
Thomas Pollack advances to Eagle Scout
Twelve Years from Cub Scout to the Top
Thomas Pollack reached the end of a long journey on Saturday, Jan. 7 when he received his Eagle neckerchief in his Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony at the Army-Navy Country Club.
Get Fit for the New Year in Arlington
MADabolic opens new gym in Clarendon.
Marked white, teal and black weighted balls slam into the ground. Heavy ropes snake up and down through the air. Running shoes sprint across the floor.
Bondareff Expands Pediatric Practice in Alexandria
Fifty-three years brings many changes.
Four-month-old Quinn Doren wiggles her toes and squirms on the table in the nursing area at Pediatric Associates of Alexandria.
Holidays in the Homeless Services Center in Arlington
Good cheer, warm and supportive environment
Walk into the Homeless Services Center at 2020-A 14th Street N and one immediately feels the good cheer.
Tables Overflow for Project Christmas Angel in Arlington
Gift-wrapping for children of incarcerated individuals.
Susan Olson, chair of the Offenders Aid and Restoration Board (OAR), says this year they put the wish list for the children of incarcerated individuals on Amazon.
The Dilemma: What to Put in That Arlington Christmas Stocking
Christmas stockings can pose a number of challenges.
Meet Chef Euripides at the Royal Restaurant in Alexandria
A community institution since 1904.
Richard Euripides, chef at the Royal Restaurant on N. Asaph Street, has boiled two packages of ribbed Zerega lasagna noodles for a customer favorite.
Column: People at Work in Alexandria
Making Thanksgiving Possible
Tables are piled high with canned green beans, boxes of stuffing and mashed potatoes, cans of broth and yams and marshmallows; “for some reason we got double marshmallows. But one of our volunteers says you have to put marshmallows on sweet potatoes."
Alexandria: People At Work
Store combines exotic plants and comics since 1974.
The front window of Exotic Planterium and Card and Comic Book Collectorama on Mount Vernon Avenue is crowded with plants of all varieties.
Goodwin House of Alexandria Residents Share Memories of Thanksgiving
Residents at Goodwin House on Fillmore Street in Alexandria shared memories of Thanksgiving traditions.
Alexandria Station 206 Firefighter Wins Best Chef Contest
Cooking with an eye to sudden interruptions.
Ever wonder what firefighters on 24-hour duty eat for dinner?
Collecting Food Donations
Charlie Gaylord from Boy Scout Troop 106 is nearing the end of his 167-house route on Williamsburg Boulevard at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12.
Alexandria: Behind the Glass Wall
Alexandria history at one’s fingertips.
“What's Behind the Glass Wall?” The sign sits outside the Local History and Special Branch of the Alexandria Library on Queen Street.
From Homeless to New A-SPAN Home
Veteran counts his blessings.
Walk through the front door of Dennis Clark's new apartment on N. Thomas Street.
Helen Leverone’s Acrylic Paintings Featured
Helen Leverone’s acrylic paintings were featured as number 6 on the first annual Westover Studio Tour Oct. 29 and 30 where artists open their workspaces to the public for a weekend.
Early Voting in Arlington
Early Voting in Arlington
Church and Preservationists Clash over Graveyard
Preserving cemetery would affect expansion plans.
A controversy has erupted between the Central United Methodist Church (CUMC) in Ballston and Arlington County historic preservationists over a proposal to transform the church property into a new worship space.
‘Trick or Treat’
Batgirl, Robin, witch, and princess plus mom from 39th Street in Arlington crowd up to a door in their neighborhood, yelling “trick or treat.”
People at Work
Sharing Food and Conversation
The telephone is ringing; customers line up at the counter for large white carry-out plastic bags of scrambled eggs and pancakes; the cash register clinks.
Alexandria People at Work: Neighborhood Pharmacy Cares for Its Community
Over 1,000 look-alike white bottles line the shelves, cram the nooks and crannies and sit in the refrigerator at Neighborhood Pharmacy on Mt. Vernon Street in Del Ray. Stacey Swartz, pharmacist and co-owner, has operated the independent pharmacy for eight years since she bought the space from Show of Hands. "Monday is the busiest day of the week," she says, "with all of the things piled up from the weekend."
Arlington: Lessons in Housecleaning
Learning to be green.
The five-week Green Housecleaning class for immigrant women began in 2013 as the vision of Andres Tobar, director of the Shirlington Employment and Education Center (SEEC), who said, "We have SEEC that was established in 2000 to help find connect immigrant daylaborers with temporary employment, but these are almost always men. There was nothing for the women. This Green Housecleaning class gets to women with the toughest challenges."
Alexandria People at Work: Shaping Her Life, Her Art
Renee Altman wedges off a large chunk of high-fired stoneware clay and puts it on the workbench. "It's like kneading dough. I usually do this 100 times." Altman owns The Clay Queen Pottery on Mt. Vernon Avenue.
Arlington: Ambar Combines Balkan Countryside with Urban Feel
New restaurant on Wilson Boulevard.
Favorite Balkan dishes with a modern twist have arrived in Arlington with the opening of Ivan Iricanin's new Ambar restaurant on Wilson Boulevard. Iricanin sits at a table refurbished from the previous restaurant and looks around the new space designed by his wife, Nya Gill. "Final touches," he said as the fresh plants are arranged in the overhead room-length rectangular planter, "and opening only two days late."
From the Beginning to the End
982 participants signed up for 2016 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics.
The Northern Virginia Senior Olympics (NVSO) opened Sept. 10 and ran through Sept. 21 with another record registration of 918 participants.
Arlington: Where Learning and Camaraderie Doesn’t End
Inside Langston-Brown Senior Center.
The Langston-Brown Senior Center at 2121 N. Culpepper St., one of six senior centers in Arlington, offers field trips, classes focusing on health, consumer education, cooking and languages as well as dancing lessons, sports and yoga. Most classes are free with a Senior 55+ pass at a cost of $20.
Senior Living: Life at Vinson Hall — Living the Difference
Mary DeMaris is headed down on the elevator at Vinson Hall with her black case of art supplies, an artist headed to a still life class out of the building. “There is a club here for everything — poetry, art, choral group, photography, book, gardening,” she said.
Alexandria People At Work: New Boutique Opens in City
Elizabeth Todd picks up the phone. "Hey, we just got in this great Veronica Beard classic jacket with a zip-in dickey — just your style. Do you want me to hold it for you?" Todd says she has a loyal client base and she calls to let them know what has just arrived. "I get to know who needs comfortable shoes to walk in on the Hill." Todd has just opened the Hive, described as a luxury lifestyle and clothing boutique, at 301 Cameron St.
Alexandria People at Work: Chef Couple Cooking through 26 Years at Tempo
Sharing cooking duties.
"First I give the lobster a shower." Serge Albert puts the 1.5 pound Maine lobster under running water to get off "whatever is on there." Today he is making Linguine alla Aragosta, one of the customer favorites at Tempo on Duke Street. "We have one customer who comes in twice a week and orders it,” he said.
Alexandria People at Work: Stetanova’s Secret – Plenty of Coffee
Kremena Stetanova opens the Caboose Cafe and Bakery on Mt. Vernon in Del Ray Monday and Thursday and leaves at 2:30 p.m. Other days are regular hours. "Well first I turn on the lights and make sure there is plenty of coffee. That's the biggest thing, then put out the muffins."
Arlington: Life in America ... Heaven and a Half
Personal trainer analyzes people’s behavior.
It is mid-morning, and Mustafa Nazary sits on his living room couch. He had started the day at 6 a.m. with his first appointment at Ultimate Results, his fitness center in Georgetown, where he is a personal trainer. His 5-year-old son Idris, joins him on the couch. “He is hip-to-hip with me.”
Alexandria People At Work: Listening to Her Patrons
Talking Books librarian provides concierge-style service.
The green caterpillar inches along a tree branch toward a juicy looking leaf.
Arlington: Senior Olympics Opens with a Splash
The Northern Virginia Senior Olympics (NVSO) opened Sept. 10 with an afternoon splash at Yorktown Aquatic Center.
Alexandria People at Work: Gonzalez Creates Art as a Team
"O.K. everyone, out on the field." Arms grab trumpets, clarinets, with a shoulder harness for the drum. Band members head out the door, down the steps and onto the end of the football field at T. C. Williams High School on a hot first school day of the year.
Alexandria: Faces of Hunger
Stories from a church’s “pop-up” grocery.
Third in a series on childhood hunger in Alexandria.
Alexandria People at Work: Recruiting as Match-Making
TorchLight Hire: Number 621 out of 5,000 fastest growing private companies.
Heidi Parsont says, "I've always been a connector. So, 12 years ago I randomly ended up in sales/business development and built relationships with companies.
Never Too Old To Compete
800 expected to compete in Northern Virginia Senior Olympics.
Herb Levitan adjusts his goggles, pulls on his swimming cap and lowers himself into the pool. Levitan had been up at 7 a.m. to run three miles and had biked from home to the Ocean Dunes Water Park as he trains for the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics.
Sailing: So Near to the City but So Far Away
Lessons on the water.
Joan Darrah walks down the wooden pier to the Flying Scot. "Hold on to the mast while you step on the boat," she says to Sarah White, a summer employee who is out for a refresher. Darrah is a senior sail instructor at the Mariner Sailing School at Belle Haven Marina.
Chantilly: Chef-in-Training Program for Those with Disabilities
Sangiorgio works with Community Services Board.
Alberto Sangiorgio walks through the kitchen at Wildflour Caterers bumping pinky fingers with Tasha, stopping to say hello to Cathleen and Phillipe as he walks by.
Alexandria People at Work: Jones Reinvents Himself at 60
Not a choice: what he was meant to do.
Guy Jones hunches over his clay board panel in Studio 337 working on a pen and ink commission of a guy's dad in Vietnam. "The father is standing there in his uniform but had adorned himself with a beautiful red flower. His son wanted to catch that spin of his father." Jones says he has several pictures of the father as examples and will create a new image. "I sketched the face this morning. By tomorrow I should have it knocked out."Guy Jones hunches over his clay board panel in Studio 337 working on a pen and ink commission of a guy's dad in Vietnam. "The father is standing there in his uniform but had adorned himself with a beautiful red flower. His son wanted to catch that spin of his father." Jones says he has several pictures of the father as examples and will create a new image. "I sketched the face this morning. By tomorrow I should have it knocked out."
Arlington Snapshot: Exploring Vernal Ponds
The Campbell family participates in a class in vernal ponds at Potomac Overlook Regional Park on Sunday afternoon. Park Naturalist Emily Rarity has handed out small nets to Chris, Colin and Leo for scooping tadpoles out of the murky water.
Alexandria Snapshot: Friendship Firehouse Festival
The crowd arrives early for the Friendship Firehouse celebration Aug. 6.
Alexandria People at Work: The Many Faces of Firefighting
On a normal day Durant Cephers would be working at Firehouse 206 on Seminary Road. But it is Aug. 6 and he is on S. Albert Street at the Friendship Firehouse 150th anniversary event.
Alexandria People at Work: Campolieta Thinks Outside the Piano
Daniel Campolieta remembers when he was about four years old his mother attached numbers with masking tape to the keys on a little plastic keyboard. "She wrote out the accompanying numbers for my favorite songs in a book — like the Ninja Turtles theme song." Campolieta's mother was a piano teacher and noticed he seemed to like it so his piano career started from there.
Community Works Together To Alleviate Hunger
Food for Others assemble backpacks of non-perishable food.
Food for Others started its Power Pack Program -P3- in Fairfax County four years ago "after we noticed the need and heard from school counselors. We started with eight schools and are now up to 28," according to Jessica Cogen, director of development and outreach of Food for Others. Cogen also emphasized that "we are seeking to expand the number of schools served this year to help meet the need."
Alexandria People at Work: Act, Sing and Dance Through Summer
Michael Page is the Director of summer camps at LTA.
"Everyone ready to go on stage? Awesome!" The Counselors In Training at The Little Theatre of Alexandria Summer Camp have just rolled up the comic strip backdrop of villains and heroes created by the 3-5 grade group. The actors have been practicing giving each other a punch because, “We are superheroes for goodness sake. But we need to be focused so people don't get hurt."