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Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ December 6-12, 2018 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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Serving Alexandria for over 200 years • A Connection Newspaper December 6, 2018

Page, 14

WellbeingWellbeing

See Proposing Ways, Page 8

See Preschool, Page 20

Scottish ChristmasWalk ParadeThe Kiltie Band of Yorkpasses by the reviewingstand in the 48th annualScottish Christmas WalkParade Dec. 1 in Old Town.The parade is part of theScottish Walk Weekend ofevents benefitting theCampagna Center. Morephotos, page 4.

Drum Major KonstantinGojnycz leads the City

of Alexandria Pipesand Drums.

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By Dan Brendel

Gazette Packet

City Council expressedcautious optimism onTuesday, Nov. 27about a plan to help

optimize decision-making aboutdelivering public services and ad-dressing costly deferred mainte-nance of public facilities.

The city’s Strategic FacilitiesPlan could shape a forthcomingjoint planning process with thepublic schools.

The city government and schoolsystem manage a lot of real estate.Nearly 400 properties, 97 percentof them owned rather than leased,include an array of facilities — fireand police stations, schools, librar-ies, offices, parking, etc. — plusnumerous vacant lots. Many facili-ties are slated for major overhaulsor replacement.

A condition assessment study of109 city-owned facilities, not in-cluding school division facilities,reported an average building ageof 62 years. About two-thirds re-

ceived letter grades of C, D or F.The new plan estimates the citymust invest $201 million over 10years to maintain current condi-tions; $286 million to attain B-grades; $351 to attain A-grades.

The school division is currentlyassessing its facilities using a com-parable system, so that council canmake apples-to-apples decisionsabout relative priorities, said Jer-emy McPike, the city’s general ser-vices director. Though the divisiondoesn’t expect the results untilaround springtime, similarly as-sessments are likely.

The schools’ work will “aug-ment” the city’s, said McPike.Eventually they’d mesh together ina long-term Joint Facilities MasterPlan. A joint plan would, based ondevelopment and population fore-casts and targets, help determinewhere core services and facilitiesshould be best located to serveAlexandrians over the next 20-30years. It would help identify “op-portunities to bundle projects forefficiency in execution” and use of

Goal: ImprovePublic ServiceCity government aims to squeezemore effective, cost-efficientservices out of its real estate.

By Dan Brendel

Gazette Packet

While in town for theScottish ChristmasWalk Parade, Pamela

Northam, Virginia’s First Lady, vis-ited local preschool children andreinforced her priority of childcareand education before age 5.

The Campagna Center adminis-ters the program for three- andfour-year olds that Northam vis-ited. The classroom resides in theJackson Crossing affordable hous-ing development. Northam wasgreeted with flowers and read withthe children.

During her weekend visit,Northam also “had a roundtable

discussion with local early child-hood stakeholders,” said DavidCary, her chief of staff.

Gov. Ralph Northam, who tookoffice in January, established aChildren’s Cabinet, an interagencycollaborative and advisory body,which his wife Pamela chairs.

Asked what are some of the mostdecisive priorities for early child-

hood care and education, she saidgreater “recognition and respect”for professionals in that field. Achildcare worker or preschoolteacher is “not just a glorifiedbabysitter.” Early brain develop-ment sets a foundation for educa-tion for the rest of a person’s life,and so society can realize the

Virginia’s First Lady visits preschool,says early development a priority.‘Largest Return on Investment’

Virginia’s First Lady Pamela Northam talks with childrenat a preschool program adminstered by the CampagnaCenter.

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2 ❖ Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ December 6-12, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com


News

By Jeanne Theismann

Gazette Packet

Despite less than idealweather conditions,thousands of specta-tors gathered at sun-

down along the Alexandria water-front Dec. 1 to watch as more than50 boats participated in the 19thannual Holiday Boat Parade ofLights.

Led by Alexandria’s fireboat,Vigilant, and Washington D.C.’sfireboat, John Glenn, the illumi-nated boats cruised the PotomacRiver as they competed for prizesin categories ranging from Best inShow to Best Try.

Media personality Tommy McFlyof 94.7 Fresh FM and NBC4 servedas announcer of the mile-long pa-rade, which featured a mixture ofpowerboats and sailboats.

Best of Alexandria Show wasawarded to Letter of Marque, ledby Captain Walter Weiss, with thetheme “Hanukkah, the Festival of

Lights.” Best Powerboat went toIechyd Da! and Captain LarryChandler for “A Bohemian Rhap-sody Holiday.” Best Sailboat wasawarded to Dark Star and CaptainDoug Savage who presented“Little Drummer Boy and Friends.”

Other notable entries includeMost Holiday Cheer winner RevaD, led by Captain Rich Hart, for“The Griswalds” theme includinga station wagon in lights, andThinking Outside the ChristmasBox winner Firefly, led by CaptainDave Easter, for their “JingleBones”-themed sailboat.

The 2018 winners include: Bestof Alexandria Show — Letter ofMarque, Captain Walter Weiss,“Hanukkah, the festival of lights;”Best Powerboat — Iechyd Da!,Captain Larry Chandler, “A Bohe-mian Rhapsody Holiday;” BestSailboat — Dark Star, CaptainDoug Savage, “Little DrummerBoy and Friends;” Best Spirit ofAmerica — Mental Recession, Cap-tain Seth Frankel, “Caps Caps

Holiday boats light up the Potomac.

Nauti and Nice

Thinking Outside the Christmas Box honors wentto Captain Dave Easter and Firefly for “JingleBones” at the 2018 Holiday Boat Parade of LightsDec. 1 along the Alexandria waterfront.

Most Spirited Crew honors went to BlownAway Blown Away and Captain Mike Moreauwith “Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Captain Larry Chandler and Iechyd Da!won Best Powerboat with “A BohemianRhapsody Holiday.”

Best of Alexandria Show honors went to Captain Walter Weiss and Letterof Marque for the display “Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights” at the 2018Holiday Boat Parade of Lights Dec. 1 along the Potomac River.

Kairos, with Captains Michael Bradford and Tipper Williams Bradford,took home the Most Animated prize with “Kairos Christmas on thePotomac” at the 19th annual Holiday Boat Parade of Lights Dec. 1 alongthe Potomac River.

Captain Doug Savage and Dark Star won Best Sailboat honors with “Little DrummerBoy and Friends.”

Caps” celebrating Stanley Cupchampions the Washington Capi-tals; Thinking Outside the Christ-mas Box — Firefly, Captain DaveEaster, “Jingle Bones;” Most Ani-mated — Kairos, Captains MichaelBradford and Tipper Williams

Bradford, “Kairos Christmas on thePotomac;” Most Holiday Cheer —Reva D, Captain Rich Hart, “TheGriswalds;” Most Spirited Crew —Blown Away, Captain MikeMoreau, “Nightmare BeforeChristmas;” Best Theme — Fuelin’

Around, Captain Jack Stoddard,“Christmas Cheer;” Hardiest Soul— O’Sea Dee, Captain WilNeubauer, “A Blue Christmas” withElvis impersonator; and Best Try— Nelson, Captain Hank Hart,“Starry Night, Winter Lights.”

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Alexandria Gazette Editor Steven Mauren

703-778-9415 or [email protected]


News

Dreary skies couldn’tdampen the spirits atthe 48th annualScottish Christmas

Walk Parade, the signature eventof the Scottish Walk Weekend ofevents benefitting the CampagnaCenter. Scottish clans sportedtheir tartans as the sound ofbagpipes filled the air fromtraditional pipes and drumsmarching units. Scottish dancers,reenactment groups, Scottiedogs, dignitaries, classic cars andSanta Claus braved the rain tocarry on the parade tradition andsupport the early childhoodprograms of the CampagnaCenter. Seewww.campagnacenter.org

— Jeanne Theismann

The 48th annual Scottish Walk Parade.

Plaid TidingsMembers of the T.C. Williams High School JROTC march in the 2018Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.

Four-legged friends were popular parade participants.

Campagna Center CEOTammy Mann watchesthe Scottish ChristmasWalk Parade from thereviewing stand.

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) and his wife Megan participatein the 2018 Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.

Mayor Allison Silberbergwaves to the crowd.

A member of the MacGregorclan waves to the crowd.

A member of the Auld Aleance in theScottish Christmas Walk parade.

Burke and Herbert’s Joe Collum wears histrademark holiday suit in the ScottishChristmas Walk parade.

Photos by Mark Mogle/Gazette Packet

Former U.S. Senator andSecretary of the NavyJohn Warner on thereviewing stand.


News

‘Tis the SeasonThe Del Ray Business Association kicked off the holiday season Dec. 2with its annual Christmas tree and Menorah lighting at the Pat MillerNeighborhood Square. The event featured an appearance by Santa,who led the crowd in carols and posed for photos with children. As istradition, Mount Vernon Avenue was illuminated by thousands ofluminarias in honor of the late Nancy Dunning. For more informationon holiday happenings in Del Ray, visit www.visitdelray.com.

Photo by “Mango” Mike Anderson


People

By Shirley Ruhe

Gazette Packet

Jillian Poole sits on her couch in herhigh rise Rosslyn apartment awaiting her visit from the SynergyHome Care providers. Mitchell

Opalski, owner of Synergy, and Corrie Cyre,Director of Nursing, have come to check inon Poole who is ready to be released soonto resume her independent life.

Poole had a fall some weeks ago and af-ter rehab she needed someassistance and didn’t want tomiss out on her social life.Cyre says she is proud ofPoole who has made great

progress. Opalski says, “She got strongerand we consider that a success story if shedoesn’t need assistance anymore.”

“Oh, I didn’t offer you anything,” Poolesays as her visitors take a seat in front ofthe wall of windows overlooking the riverfar below. Sculptures dot the room with gi-raffes perched on the kitchen counter be-side a bowl of fresh fruit. “My mother,” sheanswers. “She was a sculptor. She has sev-eral things in the National Portrait Gallery,and my son is also an accomplished artist.”Poole says, “We have traveled the world.“Each one of these tells a story, and you re-connect when you return home.”

Cyre says that Synergy provides whatpeople need and want. Some people justneed a bit of bathing, grooming or theydon’t drive anymore. In the case of Poole,Cyre says, “I sat down with her and we de-veloped a plan together and then spoke toher caregiver.” In the beginning she had acaregiver 24 hours a day but a couple ofweeks ago Poole released the night care.“Now,” Poole says, “My daytime caregiverKendra goes to the gym with me and su-pervises my bike riding, walking and armexercises.”

Kendra also takes Poole to MOM’s OrganicMarket nearby and to doctor’s appointmentsas well as social engagements. “I had lunchat the Cosmos Club today,” she says.“Kendra takes me a-n-y-where.”

Poole adds, “I give Kendra a nice bedroomand a parking space. I take care of her and

she takes care of me. Kendra knows me alltoo well.”

Opalski says, “She may write a book.”Poole comments with a smile, “She may

already have.” This check-up visit is just oneof the services offered by Synergy as partof each person’s individualized plan. Cyresays, “We have customized service forpeople who have chosen to die in theirhomes. It depends on what people need andwant. They say ‘I want it my way.’”

Cyre had started the day having break-fast with a client with dementia in Alexan-dria. “He can get violent, not on purpose,and it can be a challenge to meet his needs.I wanted to check up on the safety and wellbeing of the new caregiver to be sure shewas comfortable with the client.” Then Cyrespoke to the nurse about some medicationthat could decrease the client’s repetitive

behavior at certain times of the day.Opalski says he started to see a shift to

home care about the time he bought hisSynergy franchise 12 years ago. He says, “Istarted with one employee who was doingmany tasks.” Now he has 110 caregivers and60-80 clients at a time serving Alexandria,Arlington and other local areas. Opalskiexplains the company offers both long-termand short-term care. He estimates about 60-70 percent of his clients are aging in placeand 30 percent are recovering.

Opalski says he first got interested in thisarea when he was COO of the National As-sociation for Homecare & Hospice. “I knewit was what I wanted to do.”

Poole confides, “I have had other homecare people, not like these people. Theyhave been a very good provider, not perfectbut damn close.”

Providing ‘What Each Person Needs and Wants’SynergyHomeCare designsindividual plans.

Corrie Cyre,director ofNursing atSynergyHomeCare,checks inwith JillianPoole whois about tobe releasedto resumeher inde-pendentlife.

Mitchell Opalski, owner of SynergyHomeCare, explains SynergyHomeCare “provides what eachperson needs and wants.”

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Delman, Vliet EngagedDanae and Eric Delman of Mount Vernon announcethe engagement of their daughter, Erika CarolineDelman to Jeffrey Alan Vliet. Erika grew up in Alex-andria and is a graduate of Virginia Tech. She iscurrently working at a financial consulting firm inTysons Corner, Va. Jeff is the son of Susan and AlanVliet of Falls Church, Va. He is a veteran of the AirForce and currently works for the FAA. A wedding isplanned for the fall of 2019.

ServingThose LessFortunateDeacon EarlBrown and AlfredStreet BaptistChurch membersbox food Nov. 17at the church.More than 700Thanksgivingbaskets weredistributed by thechurch.

Deacon Carlton Willis

Church member and activistGeri Baldwin with JohnMcCauley, Jr. Deacon Earnestine Easter

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News

A city staff-proposed Strategic Facilities Plan looks toward streamlining adjacent city and public school system operations in the “Witter/WheelerCampus” along Duke Street.

Proposing Ways to Improve City ServicesFrom Page 1

scarce land, according to an advisory taskforce’s report.

Aiming to take a step in this direction,the city is considering how to redeploy itsassets, rather than fixing or replacing ail-ing facilities. Redeployment could entail co-location or consolidation of services, bothwithin and between departments, and shift-ing facilities to fill service gaps in the WestEnd.

The city’s Department of Community andHuman Services, currently spread acrossseven sites, would prefer a consolidatedfacility in the West End. Because it offersrelated services, the Alexandria Health De-partment, currently located at two sites,would prefer co-location with DCHS. Au-thorization for this consolidation is all but

a done deal, though the specific site isn’tyet publicly disclosed, said Mayor AllisonSilberberg.

What the plan calls the “Witter/WheelerCampus” along Duke Street is home to 15city and schools properties. As the singlelargest, contiguous publicly-owned area, it’slong been considered a golden opportunityfor what the plan calls “space synergies.”For example, various vehicle fleets, like cityand school buses, could share parking ar-eas and maintenance facilities under an al-ternating work schedule.

City and school officials generally supportco-locating or jointly acquiring other prop-erties as well, though details still need iron-ing out. For example, Ferdinand T. Day El-ementary School occupies the first fourfloors of a six-story converted office build-

ing. City staff considered though ultimatelyrejected various options of what it mightput on the top two floors. They couldn’tdetermine how adequately to separate chil-dren from the comings and goings of an-other public use, said Mignon Anthony, theschools’ COO.

In a separate study, staff will recommendhow to reconfigure city hall’s interior lay-out and department location to streamlinecitizens’ customer service experience. Coun-cil members generally agree that core po-litical activities — council meetings andoffices, the city manager’s office — wouldremain at city hall. But other services, likefinance and code administration, might re-locate elsewhere, perhaps through satel-lites. “I want to make sure that we’re notviewing these departments as monoliths,”

said Vice Mayor Justin Wilson. For instance,“we can be a lot more deliberate about howwe approach” the use of libraries and rec-reation centers as “portals for a lot of thoseother services.”

“I’m very interested to see the creativity[in terms of public-private partnerships]that can come from the private sector be-ing a part of the conversation,” said Coun-cilman John Chapman.

Councilman Paul Smedberg expresseddoubt about the new plan’s usefulness, sinceit lacks a definite plan about city hall’s fu-ture.

“We have to start somewhere,” though it’sa “living document,” replied McPike.

Council will vote on the strategic plan’sfinal iteration at its legislative meeting onTuesday, Dec. 11.


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Gazette PacketAlexandria

Letters

See Letters, Page 22

By Jeanne Theismann

Gazette Packet

A community Chanukah celebration washeld Dec. 4 at the Lyceum with MayorAllison Silberberg and Rabbi Mordechai

Newman lighting the city’s largest Menorah tocelebrate the Festival of Lights.

“We dedicate this evening to the 11 souls thatwere lost in Pittsburgh,” said Newman in refer-ence to the Oct. 27 shooting at the Tree of LifeSynagogue. “We are doing what they would wantus to do — to not be afraid and to spread loveand light.”

Newman presided over the ceremony, which washosted by Chabad Lubavitch of Alexandria-Arling-ton, where he is director. The Festival of Lights cel-ebration included a public kindling of a 6-footMenorah followed by the singing of traditional songs.Hot potato pancakes and doughnuts, the traditionalfoods of Chanukah, were served to the crowd.

“We want people to ‘taste’ the tradition,” saidNewman, who will preside over ceremonies cul-

minating Dec. 6 with Chanukah on ICE in Penta-gon City.

Newman shared the history and tradition ofChanukah and the Festival of Lights.

“In ancient times our ancestors rededicated theTemple in Jerusalem with the Menorah,” Newmansaid. “Today, we rededicate ourselves to makingthis world a better and brighter place. Chanukahpropagates the universal message that ultimatelygood will prevail over evil, freedom over oppres-sion and light over darkness.”

See www.chabadAA.org.

Menorah lightingdedicated to Pittsburghsynagogue victims.

Let There Be Light

City Councilman John Chapman withRabbi Mordechai Newman, the directorChabad Lubavitch of Alexandria-Arlingtonand Mayor-elect Justin Wilson in back.

Photo by James Cullum/Gazette Packet

RabbiMordechaiNewman,right, thedirectorChabadLubavitch ofAlexandria-Arlington,assists MayorAllisonSilberberg inlighting theMenorah atthe Lyceumon Dec. 4.

What StepsTo Fix Traffic?To the Editor:

Upon reading the city manager’sremarks on the new traffic, oopsreturning traffic (pre-fifth roundmilitary base realignment), withthe announcement of Amazon’scoming to the area,I found myselfremembering the first 18 monthsof life in Alexandria having arrivedthe evening on July 3, 1994 hav-ing moved to the 400 block ofHenry St.

What was that like? Rush hourtraffic that often took three ormore traffic light cycles just to goone block and car after car over-heating on a hot summer day.Since this time, developers werehanded height and density zoningvariances like candy on Hallow-een.

Amazon’s arrival will bring newtraffic and the question becomeswhat will the city manager andT&ES [Transportation and Envi-ronmental Services] do to preparefor it?

We already have people usingthe left lane on Cameron at Co-lumbus as a thru lane and car af-ter car using the right lane on Gib-bon at Route 1 as a left turn lane.Left-turning traffic on southboundMt. Vernon Avenue at Braddockoften ignore pedestrians.Cameron, Pendleton, and Wythestreets often get blocked duringevening rush hour traffic fromHenry Street. I have seen moreand more cars turn right on to Gib-bon from the center lane of south-bound Washington Street. Eventhe Arlington Ridge Road/Mt.Vernon Avenue corridor has seenan increase in evening rush hourtraffic.

Of course our police often usethe excuse of the shift change thatoccurs during evening rush hourtraffic, so again what will the citymanager, T&ES, and our newlyelected mayor going to do to keeptraffic from coming to a standstill?For the record, I personally thinkthe Amazon announcement is agood thing for the local economy.

Ruben “Bill” DuranAlexandria

In RecognitionOf MasonTo the Editor:

Alexandrian George Mason isamong the most important of ourFounding Fathers, but few people– even in our city and at his home,Gunston Hall, celebrate his Dec.11, 1752, birthday because theydo not know and therefore honorhis contributions to our federalrepublic – nor do most celebrate

Bill of Rights Day, Dec. 15 (1791),although it is by far the best knownsection of the Constitution.Mason’s insistence on its inclusioncost him Washington’s friendshipand his rightful place in our his-tory books written by the general’sFederalist partisans. Mason alsoprovided Jefferson with the mostfamous claims in our Declarationof Independence.

Jefferson used the thesis of hismentor Mason, whom he deemedthe most intelligent man of his day,when he wrote the Declaration ofIndependence. He had copies ofMason’s first and final drafts of theVirginia Declaration of Rights,adopted by the General Assembly

on June 12, 1776, and admirablyedited its language to some of themost stirring words ever written.Mason’s lines, “That all men areborn equally free and indepen-dent, and have certain inherentnatural Rights … among which arethe Enjoyment of Life and Liberty,with the Means of acquiring andpossessing Property, and pursuingand obtaining Happiness andSafety” became in Jefferson’swords “…. all men are createdequal, that they are endowed bytheir Creator with certain unalien-able Rights, that among these areLife, Liberty and the pursuit ofHappiness.”

Inspired by the English Enlight-

enment philosopher John Locke(1632-1704), Mason had the thenradical insight: a republic neededa legally binding commitment thatindividuals have inalienable rightssuperior to any government. Also,it is necessary for those rights tobe written so they would be clearto both government officials andthe people. Therefore, he createdthe first written statement of thoseindividual rights which he be-lieved must be included to restrainall levels of government.

Mason also wrote Virginia’s (andthe colonies’) first Constitution,which included a Bill of Rights,and was used until the 1970s. That

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News

By Dan Brendel

Gazette Packet

The city government is evaluat-ing how local public policies andgovernment processes may con-tribute to racial inequity, senior

staff told City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 27.“Governments have historically created

structural and institutional racism throughpublic policy decisions. Alexandria has avery rich history, … but not always laud-able,” said Jean Kelleher, the citygovernment’s human rights director. “Weneed to focus as we move forward and de-velop the city economically, how we planto built environment, and how we allocateresources to avoid disparate impacts on cer-tain communities.”

To that end, an intergovernmental work-ing group — including the public school andlibrary systems, health department and ju-venile justice agency — have begun review-ing the city’s policies and practices. They’vefocused mainly on racial inequity, with theexpectation that improving racial dispari-ties will tangentially improve the lots ofother “marginalized groups” as well, saidKelleher.

So far, remedial activities have consistedlargely of enhanced staff training.

Some 300 city employees have receivedtraining “on structural and institutional rac-ism and privilege and implicit bias,” saidCity Manager Mark Jinks. The goal is toimprove staff consideration of multiple per-spectives and ripple effects regarding com-plex issues like land use and housing.

“Our staff makes decisions about whetheror not children will remain with their fami-lies, … [whether] people will have fundsfor food, … [whether] people will be de-tained,” said Kate Garvey, who heads up thecity’s department of community and humanservices. “So our understanding of our ownbias, our understanding of how we makedecisions, is absolutely critical.”

All police department staff has completed“implicit bias training,” said Michael Brown,Alexandria’s chief of police.

The department also implemented a Ra-cial Equity Plan which aims to implementformer President Barack Obama’s 21st Cen-

tury Policing Task Force Recommendations.Among other things, the department ex-panded its Community Oriented PolicingUnit. Officers assigned to this unit focus onbuilding relationships within specific neigh-borhoods.

City Council praised the effort to date.Councilman Tim Lovain appreciated shift-

ing focus away from individual attitudes.Racism isn’t primarily “a matter of, if onlyall white people could purify their hearts,then everything would be fine,” he said.“The practice of racism in our country overthe centuries has become institutionalizedin ways that we don’t even recognize,whether it’s cultural bias or old boy net-works in hiring. People of good hearts andgood intentions still are implementing thesepractices, which have these racist outcomes.… The cycle of poverty, for example, mightbe the most insidious form of institutional-ized racism ….”

Vice Mayor Justin Wilson said: “Wherewe put density, what types of housing weapproved — I think we have to view thosedecisions through the lens of equity.”

Councilman John Chapman suggestedthat equity should be part of where the citylocates services and facilities in connectionwith its long list of capital improvements.In a discussion with Mayor AllisonSilberberg about the relative importance ofcity hall as a historic artifact, he said: “Whatneeds to change is how the residents of theWest End feel about their connectedness tothe city government, how they feel that theycan get services …. I don’t think any of ushas not heard from West End residentsabout their feeling that they do not getserved by this government because, in part,of where we are located, where our servicesare located.”

Other than Arlandria, the West End in-cludes the city’s only census tracts withmajority black or Hispanic populations.

Asked later if Silberberg thinks city hall’slocation adequately ensures equitable ac-cess for all citizens to their city’s services,she said it does. She says she proactivelysupports locating certain services elsewherein the city — for example, consolidating the

City government aims to identify,correct racial and other prejudices.‘Not Always Laudable’

Because sources vary, comparisons within a given measure above arebetter than comparisons between measures. Many reporting agenciesfollow the Census Bureau’s convention, according to which “Hispanic”/ “Latino” isn’t a race, but an ethnic category that can apply to anyrace. This doesn’t necessarily reflect colloquial convention, accordingto which “Hispanic” / “Latino” may often mean a de facto racial cat-egory of “brown,” distinct from “white” and “black.” Agencies alsodon’t necessarily apply the formal convention uniformly. Sometimesthey report overlapping figures such that, e.g., a Hispanic white wouldcount both as “white” and “Hispanic” (e.g., ACS total population,DCHS above). Other times agencies differentiate Hispanics from non-Hispanic whites and blacks, in which case there’s no overlap (e.g, APDabove). Sometimes public documents don’t clarify the convention used(e.g., ARHA above).See Disparities, Page 13


See Getting Credit, Page 21

News

By Dan Brendel

Gazette Packet

The city government’s recently re-leased annual financial evalua-tion, including financial statements and an independent

auditor’s report, describes a clean bill of fis-cal health, especially regarding the city’sconservative debt posture.

The financial report — the Comprehen-sive Annual Financial Report — serves as akind of companion to the budget. Each year,whereas the budget looks forward to thenext fiscal year, the financial report evalu-ates the prior fiscal year.

Reviewing FY 2018, which ended June30, independent auditors offered an “un-modified” opinion, the best possible, of thecity’s financial statements. That’s after ob-taining “reasonable assurance” that thestatements “are free of material misstate-ment,” according to the audit report. Mate-rial misstatements include errors, omissionsand fraud, which in the auditor’s “profes-sional judgment” might, among otherthings, “influence the economic decisionsof users,” according to the American Insti-tute of CPAs, a professional association.

In addition to the audit, the report in-cludes analysis of various metrics that de-scribe fiscal health, a few of which are de-

in calculation methods over the years thatcan complicate historical comparison.

The city’s “net position” is its bottom line.Specifically, it’s “the difference between as-sets and deferred outflows, on the one hand,and liabilities and deferred inflows, on theother,” according to the Governmental Ac-counting Standards Board, a standards-set-ting organization. Non-monetary capitalassets (land, buildings, etc.) and long-termbond and/or pension liabilities are in-cluded. “Over time, increases or decreasesin the City’s net position are indicators ofwhether its financial health is improving ordeteriorating,” according to the report.

Fund balance is similar to net position,though narrower and shorter-term in scope,indicating only the net of financial assetsand liabilities of specific funds, such as thegeneral or capital projects funds. This mea-sure is of “central importance to the credit

reviews performed by municipal bond ana-lysts;” it serves “to identify the available liq-uid resources that can be used to repay long-term debt,” according to the GovernmentalAccounting Standards Board. The govern-ment can also draw on fund balance to ad-dress emergencies.

Director of Finance Kendel Taylor citedNew York’s Westchester County as a cau-tionary tale: “We have actively increasedfund balance reserves over the past 5-plusyears to go from 10 percent to more than15 percent. Also, … we were within onepercent of [our budgeted revenue] target,”she said. By contrast, “Westchester wasdowngraded [from its AAA rating] for notmaintaining a healthy reserve and for rev-enue forecasts that were somewhat risky.”

DEBTThree debt ratios that the city tracks have

all increased over the past decade: debt asa percentage of the assessed value of realproperty; debt per capita as a percentageof per capita income; debt service as a per-centage of general government expenditure.But all measures remain within their state-mandated and self-imposed limits.

In the first case, while the state constitu-tion would allow the city to carry debt equalto 10 percent of total fair market value, thecity carried only 1.49 percent in FY 2018.On the one hand, Taylor cited a recent re-view from Moody’s, a credit rating agency,which lauded Alexandria’s “conservativedebt issuance guidelines” and “manageable”long-term debt, “despite an extensive capi-tal plan.” On the other hand, keeping thedebt ratio low left $3.4 billion in untappedlegal debt capacity.

Asked why the city doesn’t issue morebonds in light of its looming list of capitalprojects, Taylor said: “It is important thatdebt service payments in relationship to therest of the budget do not become dispro-portionate. … If debt service were to be-

Annual report indicates city government’sstrong fiscal health, especially debt health.Getting Credit for Good Credit

scribed below.

BOTTOM LINEThe city’s net position and General Fund

balance have exhibited upward trends overthe past decade, notwithstanding changes


Ballet Arts Ensemble of FairfaxPresents

Nutcracker In A Nutshell

Call for More Info: 703-273-5344www.thecenterforballetarts.com

Saturday, Dec. 1 that 3:00 pm & 7:30 pm

Sunday, Dec. 1 that 3:00 pm

Rachel SchlesingerConcert Hall and Arts Center

at NOVA Alexandria CampusTickets $

Vivian Louise Brent-Caple, a woman ofGod, love and wisdom,

born to Charlie and Sarah Brentin Alexandria. Vivian’s lifespanned from Feb. 17, 1928 toNov. 25, 2018. She was the old-est girl from a family of 12 chil-dren.

Vivian was preceded in deathby her parents Charlie Brent and Sarah Brent-Smith;brothers: Edward, Robert, Charles, and WilbertBrent, Donald and Alvin Smith; sisters: Doris Brent,Shirley Tyree, Bernice Majors, Maxine Hackley, andArelia Douglas; daughter Rebecca “Toots” Caple.

She is survived by her sister-in-law Gwendolyn“Peggy” Menefee-Smith; daughter: Sarah Wiggins(Keith); grandsons: William Blake (Selethia) andHoward Eaves, Jr. (Veronica); granddaughters:Tonya Eaves and Nydia Latson; 12 great grandchil-dren; 15 great great grandchildren, and a host ofnieces, nephews, and friends. Vivian attended LylesCrouch and Parker Gray High School. She also at-tended an all business machine school in the Op-portunity Industrial Center. She was employed with1st American Bank which later merged with UnionTrust, Union First and 1st Union. Vivian retired in1989 and began working part-time for MontessoriSchool in Alexandria.

Funeral services for Vivian Caple were held onWednesday, Dec. 5 at Robert’s Memorial UnitedMethodist Church at 606 S Washington St, Alexan-dria.

Maudy Walker Mays diedNov. 27, 2018. She wasthe widow of Dr. Gilbert

Mays. She leaves behind her belovedchildren: Daughter, Blanche DeloresMays Maness; Granddaughter, TamikaNicole Hutchinson; and Great Grandson,Brandon Olliver Hutchinson. In addition,she leaves nieces, nephews, and a cadreof close friends.

Born Aug. 16, 1919, to Benjamin Wertand Nealie Short Walker whom broughtforth 16 children. At 99 years old, Maudywas the last living of the siblings to pass.At an early age it was instilled by herparents: to have a relationship with Goddeeply rooted in faith and the fulfillmentof his will. She carried this trait and amissionary mindset throughout her en-tire life.

Maudy received her bachelor’s degreefrom Saint Paul’s College inLawrenceville, Va. and later received herMaster’s Degree from Virginia State Col-lege, now Virginia State University. At theage of 12, after urging from her father,Maudy began teaching children in Sun-day School; little did she know thiswould eventually plant the seed to a 40-plus year career in education, specificallyteaching reading and grammar. Afterteaching in Brunswick County, shemoved on to Richmond City PublicSchools and finished her career in Alex-

andria City Public Schools. All of theaforementioned roles gave her the op-portunity to change numerous youngchildren’s lives with her kindheartedgentle way of teaching reading.

Maudy was active in Lawrenceville,Va. with church and support of civicgroups; and, in Richmond, Va., mem-ber of Moore Street Baptist Church.Later she became president of AlphaKappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., UpsilonOmega Chapter.

In Alexandria City, Maudy affiliatedwith organizations which supportedyoung children and others in her com-munity. She was an active member ofThe Reading is Fundamental Board,Hopkins House, Shiloh BaptistChurch, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,Inc., Zeta Chi Omega Chapter, Alex-andria Beautification Commission, Al-exandria Mental Health Commission,Alexandria Chapter of the NAACP, Al-exandria Afro-American Festival Com-mittee, Alexandria Democratic PartyCommittee, George Mason University,Phi Delta Kappa Charter member,Alfred Street Baptist Church, and anAlexandria Election Officer. Maudy de-lighted in being a beacon of light, sup-port, and encouragement for all sheknew – she never expected accolades,simply God’s grace. Viewing and visi-tation is scheduled for Thursday, Dec.6, 2018 at 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m., Ivy Be-yond the Wall Ceremony (AKA),

10:15-11 a.m., Viewing and Visitation;11 a.m. Eulogy; Repast immediatelyfollowing at Alfred Street BaptistChurch, 301 South Alfred St., Alexan-dria. The Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley,officiating. Interment, Monday, Dec.10, 2018, 11 a.m., at Quantico Na-tional Cemetery, Quantico, Va.

Arrangements entrusted to: J.M.Wilkerson Establishment, Inc., 102Church Avenue, Petersburg, Va.,Shelton M. Smith, manager and fu-neral director.

Obituaries

Vivian Louise Brent-Caple Maudy Walker Mays

department of community and hu-man services in the West End. Butshe says city hall is Alexandria’shistoric seat of government and animportant part of the city’s heri-tage. For these reasons, certaincore government activities — CityCouncil meetings, council offices,the city manager’s office — shouldremain located there. She says thecity is small enough, there are suf-ficient modes of transportation andremote and electronic venues forcitizen input, that city hall’s loca-tion doesn’t inhibit political partici-pation. Moreover, “the vast major-ity of publicly subsidized housingis located in the eastern half of ourcity,” she said.

From Page 11

Disparities


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or call 703.778.9431

Wellbeing

By Marilyn Campbell

Standing outside the glass doors of thestudio, lit harshly by fluorescent bulbs,Annabelle VanLandingham admits thatshe is intimidated by a group of women

standing in front of her — all model-thin andwearing cropped tank tops that reveal finelytoned abs.

“I always feel like I don’tfit it and everybody is star-ing at me, but this time,I’m really going to stickwith it,” she said, ac-knowledging her failed at-tempts to make regularexercise part of her dailylife.

Vows to change habitsare easy to make, butkeeping them can seemnearly impossible. Com-mitments to cookinghealthy weeknight din-ners give way to the real-ity of packed schedules, while a morning medi-tation practice is overtaken by an inability toresist checking email right after getting out ofbed. Local human behaviorists say that whenit comes to creating habits, understanding howthey develop is a first step.

“Essentially, a habit is turning a new behav-ior into something that is done automatically,”said Lauren Puglisi, LCSW. “For example, grab-bing a cigarette after dinner or putting on yourseatbelt when you get in the car are automatic.You don’t have to talk yourself into doing thosethings, you do them without even thinking.”

For those who want to make activities likeexercising or meditating life-long habits, thekey is to begin with realistic and attainablesteps. “New habits are best formed in small,manageable increments,” said JessicaMcLaughlin, Ph.D. assistant professor of psy-chology at Montgomery College. “For instance,if you want to develop the habit of exercising,start by taking 10-minute walks instead ofpromising to exercise for an hour every day. Itis easier to form habits if the changes are simi-lar to what you are already doing, as opposedto something that drastically alters your cur-rent day-to-day schedule.”

Develop a list specific actions to take, advisesPuglisi. “For example, swapping out potato chips anda soda for hummus and whole wheat pita bread foran afternoon snack or taking a 30-minute walk threedays each week can be attainable ways to get started,”she said. “Otherwise, you might get overwhelmedand give up.”

“Research supports that it can take approximatelytwo months of daily repetition to develop a habit,but keep in mind that some habits aren’t as easy tomake automatic, and may require more time,” addedJoanne Bagshaw, Ph.D., professor of psychology atMontgomery College. “For instance, developing ahabit of walking 15 minutes every day may take eightto 10 weeks to become an automatic behavior, butrunning five miles every day could take much longer.”

Find ways to increase ac-countability. “Write down yourgoals and keep [the list] in avisible place where you have aconstant reminder and cancheck off your accomplishmentseach day,” said McLaughlin.“Tell someone else what you aredoing or, better yet, make thechange with someone else, suchas practicing mindfulness to-gether or eliminating sugarydrinks as a team.”

Setting up reminders can helpone avoid backsliding, espe-cially when habit formation is

in its early stages,” said Puglisi. “If you want developa meditation practice to relieve stress at work, setan alert on your phone for a time that know you’lldefinitely be free,” she said. “Set a realistic amountof time to spend meditating, and select a specificmediation. This will make it easy to do quickly andeasily, so you’ll have fewer excuses not to do it.

The company one keeps also plays a role in habitformation. “You’re likely to boost your willpower ifyou choose to spend time with someone who hasstrong willpower,” said Bagshaw. “Plan on creatingyour daily walk or running habit with a friend, orcoach, or group who will be a role model for self-control.”

Assess your progress regularly. “Self-monitoringadds to success,” said psychologist Stacie Isenberg,Psy.D. “Writing down what you’ve eaten each daycan help you stay honest with yourself. That said, berealistic with your time frames and don’t cause your-self extra stress. If thinking about how you ate dur-ing the week on a Friday is less stressful than writ-ing it every day, do that. But do choose a regulartime to consider progress and impediments or you’llbe at 2020 without your new habit.”

“It helps to set up the environment to remind youto do the behavior and make it easy to followthrough,” said Jerome Short, Ph.D., associate pro-fessor of psychology at George Mason University. “Forexample, put vegetables and fruits on the first shelfyou see when you open the refrigerator. You are morelikely to eat what you see than what you do not see.”

Don’t forget rewards, says McLaughlin. “Changewon’t happen unless you are motivated to make thechange,” she said. “This means you have to find whatis rewarding for you. You might find that what youare doing is intrinsically rewarding, such as increas-ing your energy levels or seeing your scale numbergo down. Other times, you might need to create yourown reward, such as getting a manicure when you’vegone a week without biting your nails.”

Key to makingchanging old habitsand making new ones.

Habits that Stick

“If you want develop ameditation practice to relievestress at work, set an alert onyour phone for a time thatknow you’ll definitely be free.”

— Lauren Puglisi, LCSW

“Plan on creating yourdaily walk or runninghabit with a friend, orcoach, or group whowill be a role model forself-control.”

— Joanne Bagshaw, Ph.D.,Montgomery College


By Steve Hibbard

The Little Theatre of Alexandriais ringing in the holiday seasonwith Charles Dickens’ classic, “AChristmas Carol,” from now

through Dec. 16. The show stars EbenezerScrooge, a miserable, bitter old miser whotravels with ghostly guides through Christ-mas past, present, and future to find thetrue meaning of the holidays. The show,based on the novella first published in 1843,is produced by Brooke Angel and is com-plete with special effects, Victorian carols,and Tiny Tim.

Director Shelagh Roberts said she waslooking for a new challenge, and she cer-tainly got it. “Along with so many others,the story has always had a special place inmy heart. Dickens’ genius provides a per-fectly balanced story with its contrast of theharsh conditions of Victorian London withthe joy and goodness of Christmas. Becauseeveryone knows the plot and characters, it’sone of those shows that brings theaudience’s expectations into the theatrewith it,” she said. “The show has everything:realism, romance, fantasy, and charactersthat are bigger than life. And the produc-tion is a lot of fun with the colorful cos-tumes and lighting, beautiful Christmas car-ols, and special effects.”

She added: “We want to keep faithful tothe narrative and spirit of Dickens’ novella.This adaptation by Donna Farragut was firstproduced at LTA in 2006. Through the years,everyone puts a different spin on the taleand it’s always a lot of fun. We wanted toproduce it as close as possible to Dickens’original words and intentions while keep-ing it at a family-friendly length, since thereis no intermission. The Victorian carols in-terspersed throughout the production havealways been one of my favorite parts, andLinda Wells’ beautiful piano work and un-derscoring really adds texture to the pro-duction.”

Brian Lyons-Burke is playing the role ofEbenezer Scrooge, a miserly, bitter man whohas shut himself off from all close human

contact in his pursuit of wealth. “In particu-lar, he scorns Christmas and the ‘idiots’ whocelebrate it. Through the course of ‘A Christ-mas Carol,’ he is reminded of his past, madeto see the reality of his present, and shownthe bleak nature of the future if he doesnot change his ways,” he said.

“He experiences an incredible range ofemotions as he is transformed from a bittermisanthrope to a joyful benefactor of hisfellow man. It is extremely challenging tohonestly portray not only each of theseemotions, but to manage the transitions ashe is forced to recognize his place in theworld, the effect of his choices, the pricethose choices demanded from him, and hischance to live a better life,” he said.“Scrooge is an iconic, well-known charac-ter; the audience will already have expec-tations of what they will see. My goal is togive them something real, something new,while not disappointing those expectations.And it is a definite challenge living up tothe level of talent of the veritable army ofartists that all work together to create thisproduction.”

Colin Davies is playing the dual roles ofCharles Dickens and the Ghost of Christ-mas Present. “People imagine Dickens tohave been a kind and thoughtful man wholoved children, but there was a very nega-tive side to him as well. He probably hadaffairs with both his wife’s sisters and alsowith the actor Ellen Ternan. He abandonedhis wife after 20 years, blaming her for hav-ing so many children. He was certainlycharming, but also vain, and by all accountswas very strict with his children,” he said.“The other character I play — the Ghost ofChristmas Present — is a very jolly and lik-able fellow, often portrayed as a kind ofFather Christmas.”

He said he’s one of two British-born ac-tors in the show and also the British accentcoach. “There are some major pronuncia-tion differences between the two accents:UK English uses the long ‘a’ in words like‘past’ and ‘afternoon’. There’s also the dif-ferent way of pronouncing words like ‘new’:Americans pronounce it ‘noo’, Brits add a

‘y’ sound to make it ‘nyoo’. And Americanspronounce the ‘r’ in words like ‘paper’,whereas Brits say ‘pay-pa’. So, we’ve beenall been working on our accents,” he said.

Larry Grey is playing the dual roles ofJacob Marley/Mr. Fezziwig. “Dickens beginshis story with, ‘To begin with Marley wasdead’ .... ‘This must be distinctly understoodor nothing can come of the story I am aboutto relate.’ The only true ghost; the rest arespirits — they represent Scrooge’s past,present, and future; Marley sets things inmotion for Scrooge’s redemption. He rep-resents what lies in store for Scrooge if hedoes not change his heart. His is an eter-nity of trying to make amends for a life spentin selfish misery and is tortured by the factthat he cannot do so. He is repentant andyet willing to go to great lengths to give hissurviving partner ‘a chance and a hope’ be-fore it is too late. He represents death’s eter-nal judgement on the unrepentant heart,”he said.

He added: “In contrast is the other char-acter I play — Old Fezziwig — Scrooge’smentor from his distant past. A jovial manwith an open, generous heart who trulylived the spirit of Christmas all year round.He understood the joy in giving and he

Holiday Entertainment

LTA Presents ‘A Christmas Carol’Story by Charles Dickens shows Scrooge’stransformation into a kinder spirit.

embraced all the happiness and love life hasto offer; money was secondary to him. ‘Withbut a few pounds he had the power to makeus happy or miserable;’ he chose to use hiswealth to make people happier and livesbetter. He represents what Scrooge hadclosed his heart to in pursuit of wealth andhaving been hurt by life.”

Christine Tankersley plays the role of Mrs.Cratchit, the wife of Bob Cratchit and themother of six children. “She’s kind, loving,and wants the best for her family, but notafraid to tell Bob what she really thinks,”she said.

She said the challenge for her was memo-rizing the lines. “But beyond memorization,imagining the loss of a child has been diffi-cult — to be incredibly sad and heartbro-ken, but know that you must have a posi-tive attitude for the rest of your family whois also suffering,” she said.

The Little Theatre of Alexandria presents“A Christmas Carol” through Dec. 16. Showtimes are Wednesdays through Fridays at 8p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.; andSundays at 3 p.m. The venue is located at600 Wolfe St., Alexandria. $20. Call 703-683-0496 or visit www.thelittletheatre.com.

In the past, Scrooge (Brian Lyons-Burke) sees the younger version ofhimself (Alex Eskew) in LTA’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” whichruns through Dec. 16.

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Calendar

Submit entertainment announcementsat www.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.

ONGOING“Adventures with Mr. Bear.”

Through Dec. 15, at The Lab atConvergence, 1819 N. Quaker Lane,Alexandria. One winter afternoon, ayoung girl and her favorite stuffedanimal, Mr. Bear, play a game of hideand seek which evolves into a seriesof exciting adventures. $10.Performance Schedule:(Thursday,Dec. 6 at 10:30 a.m.; Friday, Dec. 7at 10:30 a.m.; Saturday, Dec. 8 at 10a.m. and 11:30 a.m.; Thursday, Dec.13 at 10:30 a.m.; Friday, Dec. 14 at10:30 a.m.; Saturday, Dec. 15 at 10

and 11:30 a.m. Purchase tickets atwww.artsonthehorizon.org/mr-bear-2018.html.

Christmas Tree Sale. Through Dec.16, at Belle View Shopping Center,1632 Belle View Blvd., Alexandria.Mount Vernon Kiwanis will hold itsannual Christmas Tree Sale featuringFrasier Fir trees and garland andwreaths. 100 percent of profits go toscholarships and local charities.

Christmas Tree Sale. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.At 110 Callahan Drive, in the AmtrakParking Lot, Alexandria. TheAlexandria Police Youth CampChristmas tree sale begins. The lotwill be open daily until they run outof trees. The youth camp has beenoperating for more than 70 years andthis fundraiser is the largest, helping

to cover approximately 50 percent ofthe summer camp operation. The treesale runs from Mon.-Fri., 4-8 p.m.;and Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Mount Vernon Farmers Market.Wednesdays, 8 a.m.-noon atSherwood Hall Regional Library,2501 Sherwood Hall Lane,Alexandria. Every Wednesday(through Dec. 19), 15 local farmersand producers will sell fresh produceand fruits; meats; breads andpastries; honey, jams and jellies;dairy products and eggs; herbs; andmore. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets.

DEC. 5-JAN. 6Milton Shinberg Exhibit. At The

Torpedo Factory Art Center (Studio21), 105 North Union St., Alexandria.From unique vantage points andunexpected perspectives, painter andarchitect Milton Shinberg invitesviewers to rediscover Washington inwatercolor, through his limberbrushstroke and clear, glassy palette.Shinberg captures fragments ofWashington in luminous watercolor,lingering on details that captivate themind of an architect and beguile thehand of an artist. Visitwww.theartleague.org or call 703-683-1780.

THURSDAY/DEC. 6Shops of Del Ray’s Ladies’ Night

Out. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Throughout

Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria.Shop local and enjoy specialpromotions while sipping Virginiawine. Call 703-683-2570 or visitwww.VisitDelRay.com.

Holiday Open House. 5:30-7:30 p.m.at Mount Vernon GovernmentalCenter, 2511 Parkers Lane. JoinSupervisor Storck, his staff andmembers of the Mount VernonDistrict Boards, Authorities andCommissions for a holiday openhouse. RSVP by Dec. 1, appreciatedbut not required. Call 703-780-7518.

Community Shopping Event. 7-9p.m. at Ten Thousand Villages, 519King St. Every gift purchased willprovide special needs assistance to anAlexandrian – a child, teen, adult, orolder adult – of limited means who is


Join us in 2019 for an even more successful Taste for Giving

Rotary Club of Alexandria’s 2018Taste for Giving Raises more than $70,000

Special thanks to all the sponsors and attendees who made this year’s 11th Annual Taste for Giving successful Proceeds of more than $70,000 will be distributed to Alexandria charities


MetropolitanSchool of the ArtsNutcracker Ballet

The Metropolitan School of the ArtsNutcracker Ballet showcases a world-class, international principle guestdancer, Brooklyn Mack, who performsthe role of Cavalier. Saturday-Sunday,Dec. 8-9, 1 and 5 p.m. at the Rachel M.Schlesinger Center, NOVA Alexandriacampus. Tickets are $26-$28 atwww.metropolitanarts.org.

striving for recovery and wellbeingwith help from the City’s mentalhealth services. Enjoy lightrefreshments, music, free gift-wrapping, and a great selection ofhandcrafted items made by artisansfrom over 38 countries. The moreitems purchased, the greater the helpto those in need. [email protected].

FRIDAY/DEC. 7A Season of Celebrations. 6-9 p.m.

At Durant Arts Center, 1605Cameron St., Alexandria. Come hearthe Russkie Musikanti Ensembleperforming music from Russia,Ukraine and Eastern Europeancountries on traditional instrumentsand in costume as part of “A Seasonof Celebrations.” They will be joiningRoumana, who will be performingMiddle Eastern music primarily. Visitthe Pop-up Holiday Fair with itemsfrom around the world for purchasefor last minute holiday gifts. $9,children 5 years and under are free.Children must be accompanied by atleast one adult. Visitalexandriava.gov/Arts.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY/DEC. 7-8Art League Holiday Ceramics Sale.

Hours are Friday from 12-9 p.m.;Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. At 305Madison St., Alexandria (insideMontgomery Center). From ceramicbowls to holiday ornaments, give thegift of artisan craftsmanship bypurchasing a creative gift for yourloved one from The Art LeagueHoliday Ceramics Sale. Features one-of-a-kind ceramic vessels andsculptures created by Art Leagueartists and students. Visitwww.theartleague.org or 703-683-

1780.Mount Vernon by Candlelight. 5-8

p.m. At George Washington’s MountVernon Estate. Join Mount Vernon’sresidents and visitors for a festiveevening tour. $25, adult; $17, youth(ages 6-11). Visit mountvernon.org/candlelight.

Believe: A Holiday Pops Concert.Dec. 7 and 8, at 7:30 p.m.; and 2p.m. on Saturday. At Convergence,1801 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria.Join the Alexandria Singers for itsannual holiday pops concert weekendas they weave pop and jazzarrangements of traditional holidayclassics with new tunes that willinstantly become your holidayfavorites. Admission: $25 premiumreserved seating; $20 generaladmission; $15 groups of 10+, freechildren 5 and under. Visitwww.AlexandriaSingers.com.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY/DEC. 7-9Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market.

Friday, 6-9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday,11 a.m.-6 p.m. at 2704 MountVernon Ave., Alexandria. Offershandmade fine arts and crafts fromlocal artists. Different artists eachweekend. Choose from wall art,pottery, photography, jewelry, glass,and more. Plus FUNdraising 2019wall calendars, cookbooks, andupcycled tote bags to support Del RayArtisans. Free admission. VisitDelRayArtisans.org/event/holiday-market-2018.

SATURDAY/DEC. 8Kwanzaa Workshop. 11 a.m.-12:30

p.m. At The Alexandria Black HistoryMuseum, 902 Wythe St., Alexandria.Kwanzaa, celebrated Dec. 26 – Jan.1, is one of three inherently African

American celebrations, along withJuneteenth and Watch Night. Thisinteractive workshop will teachparticipants about Kwanzaa and howto do it. Included will be history,principles, symbols, activities, anddecorating ideas to aid in planning aKwanzaa Celebration. The programwill be entertaining and educationalfor children, youth, and adults. $5.Call 703-746-4356.

Civil War Christmas in Camp. 12-4p.m. At Fort Ward Museum &Historic Site, 4301 West BraddockRoad, Alexandria. This family-oriented event features a patrioticCivil War Santa Claus, reenactors inwinter camp settings, perioddecorations, fort tours, and kidsactivities. The program features aCivil War-era Union Santa Claus,based on an 1863 cover of Harper’sWeekly by artist Thomas Nast, whowill interact with the public, presentreadings of “The Night BeforeChristmas,” and visit soldiers incamp. The suggested donation is $2per person, and $5 for families. Call703-746-4848, or visitwww.fortward.org.

Photos with Santa. 12 p.m.-3 p.m. AtHooray for Books, 1555 King St.,Alexandria. Hooray for Books! andVisit Alexandria will present photoswith Santa and Mrs. Claus. Advancereservation is required. To reserve a10-minute slot for a child to meetwith Santa, make any size donationto the bookstore’s special Santaaccount, which will be used toprovide books, toys and games forthe Alexandria Domestic ViolenceProgram’s Holiday Party. Visitwww.Hooray4Books.com.

Touch a Truck. 4-5 p.m. At FirstChristian Church of Alexandria, 2723King St., Alexandria. Touch a truckincluding fire and police vehicles.

Learn about car seat safety. Enjoysnacks and hot chocolate. Donate anunwrapped toy (no weapon typetoys). Visit www.fccalexandria.com.

Historic Alexandria CandlelightTours. 4-9 p.m. At the followinglocations: Gadsby’s Tavern Museum,134 N. Royal St.; Carlyle House, 121N. Fairfax St.; Lee-Fendall House,614 Oronoco St. Travel throughcenturies of local history and learnmore about Alexandria during theholiday season at Carlyle House,Gadsby’s Tavern Museum and theLee-Fendall House. Enjoy each site bycandlelight, smell seasonal greenery,sip on drinks and taste periodinspired food. Seasonal libations willbe available for purchase. Admission:$25 adults; $20 seniors (65 years andolder) and active military; $5children (ages 6-17). Call 703-746-

4242 or visit Shop.AlexandriaVA.gov.Del Ray Candy Cane Bar Crawl. 4

p.m. Throughout Mount VernonAvenue, Alexandria. Take a breakfrom the bustle of holidaypreparations and enjoy specialtycocktails, beer and food specials atselect Del Ray restaurants during aneighborhood bar crawl to benefitlocal nonprofits. Admission: $10 foradvanced tickets; $15 at the door.Call 703-683-2570 or visitwww.VisitDelRay.com.

“Peace, Peace, Peace.” 7 p.m. AtChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter DaySaints, 6219 Villa St., Alexandria.Featuring the Mount Vernon VirginiaStake’s annual Christmas program,“Peace, Peace, Peace – A MusicalCelebration of the Season.” Thisconcert will highlight local musiciansas well as the spoken word by Church

BrooklynMack

photo by

Erik Sawaya



Albert Coia, Brian O’Connor, Sherri L. Edelen, Katherine Riddle and Jimmy Mavrikes inMetroStage’s production of “Christmas at the Old Bull & Bush.”

Christmas at the Old Bull & BushThe Old Bull and Bush Public House is alive with British music hall songs and carols, corny jokes and funny sketches, tune-

ful melodies, sing-a-longs and sausage rolls. Celebrate the holidays with Florrie Forde, the most famous music hall star of theera, and her troupe of British performers. Through Dec. 23, at MetroStage, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria. Admission is $55.Call 703-548-9044 or visit www.MetroStage.org.

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leaders. It will also highlight theStake’s handbell choir. This programis open to the public and is free toattend. Visit www.facebook.com/MountVernonVAStake/ for more.

“Chips for Charity” Fundraiser. 7p.m. at The U.S. Patent andTrademark Office, in the MadisonAuditorium, 600 Dulaney St. TheU.S. Patent and Trademark OfficeMilitary Association is hosting a“Chips for Charity” to raise funds forServe Our Willing Warriors (SOWW).SOWW is a local non-profit charity inHaymarket that provides no-costretreats and other programs thatpositively impact the lives ofwounded, ill, or injured militaryservice members and disabledveterans. Open to the public. $30 forplayers, $20 for non-players. Ticketscan be purchased atptomilitaryassociation.org/chips-for-charity.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY/DEC. 8-9Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale. 9

a.m.-6 p.m. At St. Aidan’s EpiscopalChurch, 8531 Riverside Road,Alexandria. Fraser Fir trees andwreaths will arrive fresh fromPennsylvania and be ready to sell theday after Thanksgiving. The tree lotis a festive atmosphere, completewith hot cocoa and cookies. Visitwww.staidansepiscopal.com.

Metropolitan School of the ArtsNutcracker Ballet. 1 and 5 p.m. atthe Rachel M. Schlesinger Center,NOVA Alexandria campus, 4915 EastCampus Drive, Alexandria. TheMetropolitan School of the ArtsNutcracker Ballet showcases a world-class, international principle guestdancer, Brooklyn Mack, whoperforms the role of Cavalier. Ticketsare $26-$28 atwww.metropolitanarts.org.

SUNDAY/DEC. 9Holiday Centerpiece Workshop. 10

a.m. and 2 p.m. At GeorgeWashington’s Mount Vernon Estate.Construct a homemade holidaywreath during this two-hourworkshop. Mount Vernon’sgreenhouse manager instructsparticipants how to construct thewreath using greens, preservedpomegranates, and dried seed headsfrom Mount Vernon’s gardens. $75per person. Visit mountvernon.org/christmas.

Discussion on Recent Fires. 12:30p.m. At Mount Vernon UnitarianChurch, 1909 Windmill Lane,Alexandria. Doug MacCleery, retiredU.S. Forest Service policy analyst,former Deputy Assistant Secretary ofAgriculture, and former Californiawildland firefighter, will give anillustrated presentation on the realbackstory and history behind theCalifornia fires, which is seldomproperly covered in the news media.Visit mvuc.org for more.

Facetime with History. 1-5 p.m. AtGadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N.Royal St., Alexandria. Featuring Mr.and Mrs. William Bates – guestsstranded at the City Tavern afterdancing the night before. On the 2ndSunday of every month, guests willbe greeted by a person from the pastwhile journeying through themuseum. Included in admission fee.Sponsored by the Gadsby’s TavernMuseum Society. Visitwww.alexandriava.gov.

The Mount Vernon Flutes. 2 p.m. AtThe Athenaeum, 201 Prince St.,Alexandria. Free. The Mount VernonFlutes have been an Athenaeumfavorite for many years. This smallensemble from the Mount VernonConcert Band will perform holidaysongs in the gallery. Visitwww.nvfaa.org.

Music Concert. 3 p.m. At GeorgeWashington Masonic Memorial, 201S. Washington St., Alexandria. The

Washington MetropolitanPhilharmonic continues its seasonspotlighting women composers withJoan Towers’ “Fanfare for theUncommon Woman” and “Made inAmerica,” plus Jennifer Higdon’s “AllThings Majestic.” The WMP will alsofeature Robert Tindle’s “Concerto forBass Trombone and Orchestra” withsoloist Adam Stokes. $25, generaladmission; children are free. Visitwww.wmpamusic.org.

Holiday Concert. 3-4 p.m. At CarlSandburg Middle School, 8428 FortHunt Road, Alexandria. The NationalConcert Band of America presents afree concert that celebrates theholiday season and salutes America’sArmed Forces. Visitwww.nationalconcertband.org.

Concert at Saint Luke’s. 5 p.m. AtSt. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 8009Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria. Acandlelight concert with the return of“Words & Music,” titled ‘Star of theMorning’ including the seasonalmusic of Advent, Hanukkah, theSolstice, Christmas and the coming ofthe New Year. Offering four voices,piano and pipe organ. A receptionwill follow. $20, adults; $15, seniors;free for children under 18 years. Visitwww.saintlukeschurch.net/events.

Christmas with the Annie MosesBand. 6 p.m. At First Baptist Church,2932 King St., Alexandria. From thespirited renditions of ‘God Rest Ye,Merry Gentlemen,’ ‘Deck the Halls’and ‘The Sussex Carol’ to the beautyof ‘O Holy Night,’ this evening ofmusic is invigorating, reverential,and transporting. Tickets atAnnieMosesBand.com/tour.

The Christmas Reading. 7 p.m. Atthe Old Presbyterian Meeting House,Heritage Hall, 323 South Fairfax St.,Alexandria. For 28 years, TheChristmas Reading and Carolspresents the sacred and secularstories, poetry, essays andamusements by well-known andlesser-known writers. Free. Visitwww.opmh.org.

MONDAY/DEC. 10Ballroom Dance Classes. 7-9 p.m. at

The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St.

Instructor Gary Stephans offerstechniques that will help all levelsbecome a relaxed and confidentsocial dancer in these small,personalized dance classes. Beginnersand experienced dancers welcomed –no partner needed. Two hours ofdance lessons, practice dancing andrefreshments. $30 per-person or $55per couple. Visitwww.artofballroomdance.com or call703-505-5998. Visit www.nvfaa.orgor call 703-548-0035.

MONDAY-SUNDAY/DEC. 10-16Holiday Door Decorating Contest.

Sponsored by Alexandria’s Old TownWalled Garden Club, the contestrecognizes holiday door decorationsin the Historic District. Except forfestive bows and ribbons the doordecorations should feature onlynatural materials and be made by thehomeowners themselves.Professionally-made decorations arenot eligible. Judging will take placeDec. 10-16. Contact the Old TownWalled Garden Club [email protected].

TUESDAY/DEC. 11Del Ray Artisans Benefit. Reception,

6:30 p.m.; performance, 8 p.m. atLittle Theatre of Alexandria, 600Wolfe St. Little Theatre of Alexandriaperformance of “A Christmas Carol”to benefit Del Ray Artisans. $45. VisitDelRayArtisans.org/event/christmas-carol.

FRIDAY/DEC. 14Holiday After Work Concert. 6-8

p.m. At The Alexandria HistoryMuseum at The Lyceum, 201 S.Washington St., Alexandria. Thismonth features a holiday concertwith Meridian, which weavestogether beautiful music and themesof Christmas with much older WinterSolstice traditions. Meridian is Colinde la Barre and Olivia Gale. Cost is$5; free for members of the FolkloreSociety of Greater Washington. Lightrefreshments and a cash bar will beavailable. No ticket required. Visit

www.fsgw.org.Holiday Sing-Along. 7:30-8:30 p.m.

At Del Ray United Methodist Church,100 East Windsor Ave., Alexandria.Join the Alexandria Citizens Band forthe fun and popular AlexandriaHoliday Sing-Along. They’ll playmusical favorites, and the audience isinvited to sing along. Wear holidaysweaters and Santa hats. Bring familyand friends. [email protected] www.facebook.com/events/174884993456719/.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY/DEC. 14-15Christmas Illuminations at Mount

Vernon. 5:30-8:45 p.m. At GeorgeWashington’s Mount Vernon Estate.Kick off the holidays with an eveningof family-friendly fun and fireworkschoreographed to holiday music,with fireworks beginning around8:30 p.m. Take a stroll through theestate while being serenaded by localchoirs, visit with re-enactors from theFirst Virginia Regiment, and learn18th-century dance moves fromcostumed guides. George and MarthaWashington will also be on site togreet Mount Vernon’s holiday guests.Tickets: $35 adult/$25 youth withMansion tour, $30 adult/$20 youth.Visit mountvernon.org/illuminations.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY/DEC. 14-16Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market.

Friday, 6-9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday,11 a.m.-6 p.m. at 2704 MountVernon Ave., Alexandria. Offershandmade fine arts and crafts fromlocal artists. Different artists eachweekend. Choose from wall art,pottery, photography, jewelry, glass,and more. Plus FUNdraising 2019wall calendars, cookbooks, andupcycled tote bags to support Del RayArtisans. Free admission. VisitDelRayArtisans.org/event/holiday-market-2018.

SATURDAY/DEC. 15Cookie Decorating. 10 a.m. and 1

p.m. At George Washington’s MountVernon Estate. Visit the cozy

greenhouse and receive a box ofcookies and decorations to adornthem. Create beautiful gingerbreadcookies with the guidance of a MountVernon staff member. $5 per personin addition to general admission.Visit www.mountvernon.org/christmas.

A Victorian Christmas. 11 a.m.,12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. At Lee-FendallHouse, 614 Oronoco St., Alexandria.Experience a Victorian Christmas atthe Lee-Fendall House. The housewill be beautifully decorated for theseason and there will be holidaycrafts, photographs with Santa,seasonal treats, story time, anantique toy exhibit and more.Admission: $10; free to members.Call 703-548-1789 or visitwww.LeeFendallHouse.org.

Photos with Santa. 12 p.m.-3 p.m. AtHooray for Books, 1555 King St.,Alexandria. Hooray for Books! andVisit Alexandria will present photoswith Santa and Mrs. Claus. Advancereservation is required. To reserve a10-minute slot for a child to meetwith Santa, make any size donationto the bookstore’s special Santaaccount, which will be used toprovide books, toys and games forthe Alexandria Domestic ViolenceProgram’s Holiday Party. Visitwww.Hooray4Books.com.

Portside Holidays: Storytime withSanta. 3 to 4 p.m. At AlexandriaWaterfront Marina at the foot ofCameron Street near the TorpedoFactory, 105 N. Union St.,Alexandria. Free. Join Santa for aspecial storytime that includes areading of holiday stories like “’Twasthe Night Before Christmas.” Takepart in the Penny Post pop-up towrite a letter to Santa that he willtake back with him to the North Pole,enjoy a gourmet giant s’more fromThe Capital Candy Jar, and warm upwith a cup of hot cocoa from DolciGelati’s hot chocolate bar. Get in theholiday spirit with a musicalperformance by the Cantamoschildren’s ensemble. Visitwww.PortsideInOldTown.com.

Carols of the World. 3-4:30 p.m. AtConvergence, 1801 N. Quaker Lane,Alexandria. Sopranessence rings inthe holiday season with music thatwill take you on a trip around theworld. Celebrate the season whileglobetrotting with the Divas throughEurope, Asia, Africa and the Americas– all without needing a passport.Tickets are $10-$20 presale; $25 atthe door. Visitwww.sopranessence.org.

Stroll the Boardwalk. 5-7 p.m. AtHuntley Meadows Park, 3701Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Joinpark naturalists to take a tour ofconstellations, comets and othercelestial happenings. Find out what’snew in the night sky. $9 per person.Canceled if there’s rain or othersevere weather. Call 703-768-2525 orvisit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley-meadows.

Country-Western Dance. Lessons, 6-7 p.m.; open dancing, 7-9:30 p.m. atLincolnia Senior Center, 4710 NorthChambliss St., Alexandria. TheNorthern Virginia Country-WesternDance Association will hold a dance.A DJ provides music. Couples andsingles of all ages welcome.Admission for NVCWDA members$10; non-members $12; childrenunder 18 accompanied by a payingadult $5. Smoke-free, alcohol-free.BYO refreshments. Visitwww.nvcwda.org.

Little Tree. 7:30-9:30 p.m. at TrinityUnited Methodist Church, 2911Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria.Join Alexandria Choral Society for itsholiday concert, featuring the DelRay Kinderchoir. The performancewill include Julian Wachner’s “Hark!The Herald Sing!” and “Angels WeHave Heard on High” and StephenHeitzeg’s “little tree,” a tender settingof the e.e. cummings poem of the


127 N. Washington St., Alexandria • 703-548-4661 Smoke-Free Restaurant

www.lerefugealexandria.com

Patio seating available


Maybe you’re throwing a holiday party thisweekend. Maybe you’re having somefriends over for the Army-Navy game and

they’ll be hungry. Or maybe a quiet “fireside chat”for four has become a festivity for 14. Regardless,Alexandria eateries have you covered. Check outthese ideas for a no-muss, no-fuss menu and get backto mingling with your guests.

District Taco, 701 S. Washington St.Give your fiesta a Mexican flair with some food

from District Taco. Whether you’re hosting a dozenguests or 40, the local taco franchise comes packedwith all the fixings. Choose between a straight-up

taco bar, which comes complete with achoice of proteins as well as tortillasand a slew of toppings, or go with apremade approach, where tacos arrive

already piled high with protein and with toppingson the side.

Another perk of District Taco’s menu: Its wide ar-ray of proteins for a plethora of palates. From carni-vore-friendly barbacoa and carne asasa to vegetar-ian-accessible black beans and the company’s newveggie protein, Itza, the menu meets a growing listof standards for guests.

Sugar Shack, 804 N. Henry St.Who says one cannot live on doughnuts alone?

With Sugar Shack providing the sweets, it’s time totry. And the doughnut purveyor makes it easy — some

might argue a little too easy — to bring dozens ofconfections to the comfort of your home with littleadvance notice. From family favorites such as saltedcaramel and maple bacon to holiday specials such aspeppermint and red-and-green sprinkles, there’s aflavor for all palates.

Ordering fewer than 100 doughnuts? That can beaccommodated online, scheduled in advance anddelivered to your party via UberEats. Order more andyou’ll need to call Sugar Shack’s catering services(703-577-9023) to set something up.

The Italian Place, 621 Wythe St.When it comes to entertaining a large group, sand-

wiches are the name of the game. The Italian Placemakes it easy to feed a crowd. With nearly two dozensandwiches to choose from, plus paninis and salads,all your guests can have a taste of the Italian life.Select individual sandwiches for a smaller group. TheGiorgio comes in hot with prosciutto, soppressata,salami, provolone and a slew of vegetables to topthings off. The Godfather is the eatery’s take on aneggplant parmesan sub, garnished with marinara andprovolone.

The Italian Place also offers a more traditional ca-tering experience with its party samplers. Dubbed“super foot-long subs,” the five options are sliced into22 mini-sandwiches that make for easy eating.

Hope Nelson owns and operates the Kitchen Recessionistablog, located at www.kitchenrecessionista.com. Email her anytime at [email protected].

3 Ways to Feed a Holiday Crowd

Appetite

same name. Cost is $20 adults, $15senior/military/student, 13 andunder free. Visitwww.alexandriachoralsociety.org.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY/DEC. 15-16Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale. 9

a.m.-6 p.m. At St. Aidan’s EpiscopalChurch, 8531 Riverside Road,Alexandria. Fraser Fir trees andwreaths will arrive fresh fromPennsylvania and be ready to sell theday after Thanksgiving. The tree lotis a festive atmosphere, completewith hot cocoa and cookies. Visitwww.staidansepiscopal.com.

SUNDAY/DEC. 16Colonial Handbell Ringers

Concert. 2 and 4 p.m. At TheAlexandria History Museum at TheLyceum, 201 S. Washington St.,Alexandria. The ringers will performchildren’s classics, timeless holidaytunes, and original show-stoppers.

Audience participation in the sing-a-long encouraged. Free. Noreservations accepted in advance andseating capacity is limited.

Christmas Traditions at HistoricHuntley. 4:30-6 p.m. At HistoricHuntley, 6918 Harrison Lane,Alexandria. Get a glimpse at holidaycelebrations of past generations.Share a glass of hot cider andshortbread cookies, and make a smallgift for a loved one. Cost is $10 perperson. Call 703-768-2525 or visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/historic-huntley.

18th Century Christmas. 5-8 p.m. AtGeorge Washington’s Mount VernonEstate. The experience begins in theFord Orientation Center, wherevisitors can enjoy the sounds of theholiday season and view Christmastrees highlighting the lives of theWashingtons and their home. Visitorswill be guided into the 18th centuryfor a lantern-lit tour of the historicarea. Inside the Mansion, MarthaWashington and other Mount Vernon

residents will welcome guests. $25adult, $17 youth (ages 6-11). Visitmountvernon.org/candlelight.

Holiday Performance with TheCapital Hearings. 7 p.m. TheAthenaeum, 201 Prince St. TheCapital Hearings, Washington, DC’sversatile vocal ensemble, performs ana capella selection of pop, classical,and jazz music for the season.Reception immediately following theconcert, with wine and dessert at 8p.m. $30. Visit www.nvfaa.org or call703-548-0035.

MONDAY/DEC. 17Teen Poetry Circle Reading. 7-8:30

p.m. At Durant Arts Center, 1605Cameron St., Alexandria. Comecelebrate the creative voices ofAlexandria teens at the Teen PoetryCircle Reading. Light refreshmentswill be provided from 7-7:30 p.m.,The Poetry Circles are free from 7:30-8:30 p.m. To register, RSVP [email protected].


An Alexandria community fixture for more than 100 years, the Royal Restaurant offers the best in Greek, Italian and American cuisine. Enjoy burgers, steaks, prime rib, chicken, seafood, pasta and full salad bar complete with special children’s menu items.

Reservations Suggested

Food fit for a king on a family budget

The Best in Family Dining

734 North Saint Asaph Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314703-548-1616 • www.RoyalRestaurantVA.com

Award-winning wine menu • Major credit cards accepted

HOLIDAYCATERING &

EVENTLOCATIONS!

News

At the request of the Alexandria Police, theVirginia State Police Bureau of CriminalInvestigation’s Fairfax Field Office continues

to pursue leads and examine evidence related to theSunday, Dec. 2 shooting of a 28-year-old male by anAlexandria Police Officer. The male subject is beingtreated at George Washington University Hospitalin Washington, D.C., for serious, but non-life threat-ening, injuries. The male subject has no fixed ad-dress, but most regularly stays in Alexandria, Va.,and Prince George’s County, Md.

The incident began Sunday at approximately 4:21p.m., when Alexandria Police responded to multiple

“shots fired” calls in the 900 block of N. Patrick Street.Upon arriving at N. Patrick Street, an officer locatedan adult male armed with a handgun.

The male subject was subsequently shot andwounded. The suspect’s handgun was recovered atthe scene.

The officer involved in the shooting was not in-jured during the encounter. There were no reports ofinjuries related to the initial shots fired calls.

Anyone with information related to this investiga-tion is encouraged to contact the Virginia State Po-lice at 703-803-2676, by dialing #77 on a cell phoneor by email to [email protected].

State Police Investigate Shooting

From Page 1

Preschool“largest return on investment” by focusingon pre-kindergarten, she said.

She said the administration is consider-ing ways to increase teacher compensationand avenues for professional development;incentives to businesses to providechildcare; and ways to promote childcareas a business, in order to attract more peopleinto the profession.

The governor’s budget proposal, whichwill be released the week after next, willinclude more details, she said.

Another priority is to build up the capac-ity of the array of existing local providers,said Jenna Conway, the state’s recently ap-pointed Chief School Readiness Officer, whoaccompanied Northam’s visit. This includesboth out-of-home “center-based” providerswhich skew eastward in Alexandria, and in-a-private-home “family-based” providers,which skew westward.

It’d be difficult to serve the highest-riskchildren without “meeting them where theyare,” in terms of provider type, she said. Thisstands in contrast to another school ofthought, which holds that center-based set-tings deliver more quality than family-basedsettings. Dr. Tammy Mann, Campagna’s ex-ecutive director, says she appreciates theadministration’s broader approach.

A third priority is to systematize programquality evaluation. Virginia Quality, thestate’s scoring system in which participationis voluntary, captures only 17 percent ofprograms receiving public resources, ac-cording to Conway. So “we don’t know” howthe majority fare, she said.

Historic House of WorshipRoberts Memorial United Methodist Church,one of the oldest traditionally African Ameri-can congregations in Virginia, is decoratedfor the holiday season. Located on SouthWashington Street, the church was organizedin 1832 as a worship space for free andenslaved blacks that was free of the indigni-ties of life for persons of African ancestry.Visit www.robertsumc.org

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Submit civic/community announce-ments at ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at leasttwo weeks before event.

HOLIDAY DONATIONSToys for Tots Drive. Through Dec.

10. Area Sheehy Auto Stores willcollect new and unwrapped toys tobenefit the U.S. Marine CorpsReserve Toys for Tots Program,which will distribute those toys asgifts to less fortunate children in thecommunity in which the campaign isconducted. Sheehy’s Toys for Totsdrop-off locations include:

* Sheehy Honda of Alexandria, 2434Richmond Highway, Alexandria

Children’s Holiday Party. TheAlexandria Domestic ViolenceProgram (DVP) organizes a Holiday

Party for children and mothers whohave been recently served by theprogram on Dec. 13. At the party, thefamilies reunite with past shelterfriends and staff, eat and takepictures with Santa Claus, amongother activities. Each mother andchild receives a bag of gifts to wrapand place under their own tree onChristmas Day. If you wish to donatechildren’s toys or other gifts, providenewly purchased, unwrapped items.DVP will provide each mother withwrapping paper to personalize eachchild’s gift. DVP is requesting giftcertificates to local stores indenominations of $25. For helpdeciding what to purchase, orquestions about donating, callMagdalia or Hewan at 703-746-4911for assistance. For more informationabout Domestic Violence visitalexandriava.gov/DomesticViolence.

Toy Drive. Through Friday, Dec. 14 atlocal Weichert, Realtors offices.Members of the community areinvited to drop off new, unwrappedtoys at the company’s sales offices.The toys will be delivered throughoutthe holidays in conjunction with localcharities that assist financially andphysically disadvantaged children. Tofind your local office, go towww.weichert.com/offices/.

Sponsors and Volunteers forHoliday Sharing Needed. TheCity of Alexandria invites the publicto help make the 2018 holidayseason brighter for the mostvulnerable members of ourcommunity, including –low-incomefamilies, foster children, seniors andresidents with disabilities. 400registered families are still in need ofassistance. Residents can sign up to

Bulletin Board


News

Getting Credit for Good CreditFrom Page 12

come a greatershare of thepie, either pro-grams or ser-vices wouldneed to be re-duced or elimi-nated or the taxrate wouldneed to go up.”Furthermore,“Issuing signifi-cantly moredebt than isplanned woulddefinitely causeconcerns withour ratingagencies. … Asudden, signifi-cant increase indebt would becontradictoryto our long

as being acceptable to support future pension costs.However, funding levels across the different plans[surveyed at the time] ranged from about 32 to 113percent. Those state and local governments withplans that are funded below acceptable levels mayface tough choices in the future between the need toraise taxes, cut spending, or reduce benefits in orderto meet their obligations.”

Kendel concurs that “a pension that is 80 percentfunded is definitely in great shape. However, we don’tshoot for 80 percent. We do shoot for 100 percent,but rarely get there. Changes in investment perfor-mance, changes in assumed rates of return, and otheractuarial analysis and assumptions can quicklychange a pension’s funded levels.” For more, visitwww.alexandriava.gov/FinancialReports.

Opening of Early Childhood CenterSuperintendent of Schools Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. was joined by MayorAllison Silberberg and ACPS’ Early Care and Education Workgroup partners toformally open the new Early Childhood Center on Friday, Nov. 30. The group, ac-companied by 12 preschool students, cut a ribbon at the newest ACPS schoolbefore taking a tour to see teachers and students at work in classrooms. The cen-ter is co-located at John Adams Elementary School.

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sponsor or to volunteer. Monetarydonations can be made by credit card

time practice for which we receive positive feedbackfrom the rating analysts,” and which allow the cityto borrow more cheaply.

PENSION FUNDING“Long-term pension liability funding is critical. The

[credit] rating agencies are looking for it” as “a verystrong criterion,” Taylor told City Council earlier thisyear.

“Funding status is a measure that captures agovernment’s ongoing effort at one point in time toprefund its future pension liability, generally ex-pressed as the ratio of assets to liabilities (also re-ferred to as the funded ratio),” according to a 2007report from the U.S. Government Accountability Of-fice. An 80 percent funding level is “generally viewed

online or donation checks can bemade payable to The Fund forAlexandria’s Child or to the DCHS

Senior Fund and mailed to HolidaySharing Program, 2525 MountVernon Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301.


From Page 10

Letters

constitution was a model for our nationalConstitution.

Mason was the first delegate at the Con-stitutional Convention to urge including aBill of Rights with our Constitution; indeed,he thought it should begin with a statementof rights. His proposal was voted downunanimously (Washington vigorously op-posed it), but when the states ratified theConstitution, almost all required a Bill ofRights be added. Mason was one of threedelegates present for the entire Constitu-tional Convention to vote against its adop-tion. His 16 objections listed its failure toend slavery and include a Bill of Rights. Inthe Virginia General Assembly’s ratificationdebate, Mason, Edmund Randolph andPatrick Henry argued vigorously againstadopting the Constitution; if five men hadvoted the other way, it would have failed.Washington was furious at Mason’s failureto support his higher priority: creation of astrong national government — with the Billof Rights to come later if it were necessary,which he doubted.

Fortunately for us, Mason’s argument pre-vailed.

Ellen Latane Tabb/Alexandria

ResponsibleMeasuresTo the Editor:

The open letter [“Lost Our Humanity,”Gazette Packet, Nov. 29] to U.S. Rep. DonBeyer and Sens. Mark Warner and TimKaine characterizes President Trump’s bor-der protection measures as “appalling hatecrimes” when in fact they are merely mea-sures to protect our border from a mob at-tempting illegal entry.

The amount of non-lethal force used wasproportionate to the risk and necessary todeter breaching existing border barriers andforcing illegal entry (a misdemeanor crime).

Demonstrations in U.S. cities in whichpolice use tear gas, for example, sometimesonly generate “disorderly conduct” misde-meanor convictions. The fact that those at-tempting illegal entry brought children withthem, functioning as de facto “humanshields”, or for that matter subjected chil-dren to a harrowing thousand mile journeymight easily be construed as child abusewere it done inside the country by U.S. resi-dents.

The Trump Administration is processingthe caravan members’ asylum claims delib-erately to assure they are bona fide whichmany, likely most, will not be because ap-plicants must show that their government(not miscellaneous thugs) is directly respon-sible for the harms they allege. The fact thatMexico offered them asylum and most cara-van members rejected Mexico’s offerstrongly suggests that applying for U.S. asy-lum is a strategy to game the system to gainentry the the U.S. when their real motiva-tion is economic or otherwise does notqualify as asylum.

Far from “appalling hate crimes”, our gov-ernment is merely exercising due diligenceand attempting to maintain civic order anddue process.

Dino Drudi/AlexandriaKenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative for

The Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

And that’s what worries me. There’s a part of me (too big a part, I’ll admit), that rationalizes not going to the doctor as a means of prevent-ing an untimely death.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I go to the doctor as often as needed. In fact, I’ve been com-mended as being a very “compliant” patient, meaning I show up for my appointments (apparently some patients don’t). And I will continue to do so.

However, this column is not about the appointments I do make, it’s about the ones I don’t make.

Huh?Let me clarify. I am referring to the volun-

tary-type appointments that I schedule myself – at my discretion, when some symptom or other, relating to cancer or not, manifests itself. The symptom which forces me to consider my own mortality because it’s “presenting” at a time and place at which my oncologist is unaware.

The kind of symptom which, were I not a cancer patient, I wouldn’t give a second

am a cancer patient, whatever the symptom is – and I mean any and all symptoms: small, medium or large, it must be “the cancer” as “Forrest, Forrest Gump” characterized his mother’s cause of death, and therefore, can’t be minimized. In point of alternative fact, it must be maximized, and in that maximization comes anxiety and fear and every other stress-related emotion you can imagine.

Nevertheless, just as George advised Jerry in a long-ago “Seinfeld” episode on how to beat a lie detector test: “It’s not a lie if you believe it,” so too do I employ a similar strategy: if I don’t go to the doctor and get evaluated then the symptoms I’m experiencing can’t be con-

to worry about than if they were. The symp-toms are simply the same kind and frequency as non-cancer patients experience and do not represent a slippery slope for yours truly.

I suppose there’s a part of me (the irrational, unreasonable and illogical part) that believes if I don’t make any extra-curricular-type visits to any of my doctors then my cancer can’t get worse and I can continue to go on living as if I’ve not been diagnosed with a terminal dis-ease: non-small cell lung cancer, stage IV.

It reminds me of my late father’s philosophy concerning automobile maintenance. If he never takes the car in for service, the mechan-

version of what you don’t know can’t hurt you. Well, in the cancer world in which I live

24/7, it all can hurt you and it can do so on it’s own timetable; when you least expect it and when you most fear it.

As yet another attempt to explain why this column has been written. For the past three weeks I’ve had persistent cold symptoms.

Since the symptoms never got any worse (though my fear did), I went along, tissue in hand, until my voice got so hoarse and weak that my wife, Dina – to her credit – insisted that I visit my internal medicine doctor and email my status as well to my oncologist. All of which I’ve done.

So far, nothing conclusive to report. I’ve been prescribed some pre-pneumonia

pills, have had a CT scan of the neck (per my oncologist’s direction), results for which have not YET been received, am seeing an ENT doc-

nostril twice a day. My symptoms have not totally subsided but neither have they gotten worse – unlike my anxiety.

I really don’t think there’s anything wrong with me medically; mentally however, is anoth-er matter.

Scared to …


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