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Shirley Ruhe

Stories by Shirley

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Arlington Snapshot: Clearing the Shelter

An exciting day on all sides at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. Pets were available with waived adoption fees at shelters participating in the nationwide Clear the Shelter event.

Alexandria People at Work: Walking through City’s History

“There is no real place called Mercy Street although it would have been right there on the 100th block of N. Fairfax Street," according to Meredith Barber, tour guide for DC Military Tours.

Alexandria: Making Progress Against Childhood Hunger

Serving up ways to provide food.

“When you look at the big picture of childhood hunger in Alexandria, you almost don't want to tackle it," said Melanie Gray, director of Outreach and Mission at Historic Christ Church in Alexandria. "So we take it one piece at a time."

Alexandria: Trying To Ease the Pains of Childhood Hunger

Massive need requires massive effort.

Childhood hunger in Alexandria is just beyond the doorstep. Some of the underlying causes include lack of knowledge about the existence of the problem or the resources available to alleviate it.

Alexandria People at Work: One Pint Can Save Three Lives

Robbins manages Red Cross Blood Drive in Alexandria.

It was 12:20 p.m., and donors were starting to line up for the American Cross Blood Drive at Alexandria Chapter House.

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Alexandria People at Work: A Second Family at Sunrise

Every Alzheimer’s story is unique.

A yellow balloon zooms across the room. An arm reaches up from a wheelchair and bats it back across the room. The balloon flies faster and faster. "Go Hunter, you throw harder than anyone." Some of the residents are down the hall taking naps.

Arlington: Room for a Human or a Horse?

Film focuses on solitary confinement.

Step into your room. It is 80 square feet, smaller than most horse stables. It has a bed, sink and toilet. This is your solitary confinement cell for weeks, months or years. Your only contact is with prison guards and your food is delivered through a slot in the door.

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Alexandria: Teacher Retires After 40 Years

Cecelia Snyder leaves Old Town Montessori School.

After 20 years of teaching 3-6-year-olds at the Old Town Montessori School on S. Columbus Street and serving as its administrative director, Snyder is retiring.

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Arlington: Kick Off Relay for Summer Reading

Ten-year-old Charley Hicks carries the summer reading Olympic torch on the first leg of the Summer Reading Relay on Saturday, June 4.

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Alexandria: Kiosk Enhances Four-Mile Run

Eagle Scout-organized effort completes project.

It was 92 degrees and Thomas Pollack stood on the spot where the new Four Mile Run Wetlands Trail and Bike Trail meet in Four Mile Run Park.

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Alexandria People at Work: Singing Is Breathing

Voice coach Elizabeth Kluegel-Niblock starts with basics.

"So let's warm up." Elizabeth Kluegel-Niblock says, "we always start with a neutral vowel."

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Meet The Chef: London Curry's Naina Mohammed

Cameron Station restaurant offers regional specialties.

Naina Mohammed stirs a large pot of tomatoes, purple onions, fresh ginger, garlic bits and marsala — 15 different spices: "I use everything."

Arlington: Luke Sends Balloon to Heaven to Honor Dad

TAPS sponsors five-day event over Memorial Day.

Luke Carron sat at the edge of the astroturf waiting for the balloon release that will carry the note to his father in heaven.

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Arlington: Fashion Center Expands with Shake Shack

Rachad Alaour, general manager, cuts the wide green ribbon on Wednesday, May 4 for the opening of Shake Shack at Pentagon City. Laurie Van Dalen (left), general manager for Fashion Center, says they began the expansion of Fashion Center 20 months ago and Shake Shack is the first of five businesses to open in this new space. Megan Purtell, assistant general manager, is at far left.

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Arlington County Offers Summer Camps for Kids

Gulf Branch Nature Center features three different sessions.

Arlington County offers nine sessions of weekly summer camp beginning June 27 and running through the week of Aug. 29-Sept. 2. Times for the sessions vary. Some of the camp content is repeated at each location and different park locations so the camp brochure indicates campers should attend only one session.

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Responding to Teen Sex Trafficking

Comprehensive approach seeks to educate teens.

In 2012 Fairfax County Detective William Woolf discovered a 16-year-old girl being prostituted by the M-16 gang. At the time there was little recognition that the problem existed locally. The girl was recovered and since then Woolf has interviewed 300 recovered victims, some as young as 12-years old. After the initial shock, Northern Virginia businesses, faith communities and educational groups sought to understand the extent of the problem.

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Arlington: Panel Discusses Reinstatement of Virginia Parole

U.S. tops world incarceration rates.

Al Schuman says "three strikes and you're out," instituted in 1995, was one of the biggest mistakes of the country. Twenty years ago, the Commonwealth adopted legislation to abolish discretionary parole and adopted the Truth-in-Sentencing (TIS), which required offenders to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences.

Arlington Snapshot: Gulf Branch Blacksmith

Meyer Kachel is stretching out the hot metal to the size of his pinkie and will pound it “really thin and curl it into a key fob.”

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In the Kitchen: Meet Chef Pawel Podbielski of Le Refuge

The Making of Filet de boeuf Wellington

Chef Pawel Podbielski sprinkles flour on the counter so the pastry won't stick. He is making Filet de boeuf Wellington, a customer favorite, at Le Refuge on Washington Street. "Last Saturday night I made 12 of these and they all sold out," he says. "I'm getting this pan nice and hot and then I'll add Kaola gold oil because it's no trans fat and has a buttery taste."

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In the Kitchen: Meet Chef Pawel Podbielski of Le Refuge

The Making of Filet de boeuf Wellington

Chef Pawel Podbielski sprinkles flour on the counter so the pastry won't stick. He is making Filet de boeuf Wellington, a customer favorite, at Le Refuge on Washington Street. "Last Saturday night I made 12 of these and they all sold out," he says. "I'm getting this pan nice and hot and then I'll add Kaola gold oil because it's no trans fat and has a buttery taste."

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Becoming Aware of Child Sex Trafficking

The problem extends throughout northern Virginia.

She stands on the sidewalk outside the mall with her backpack full of 7th grade science and math books. An older man pulls up and she gets in the backseat of his car.

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