Meet Laurie Olin - Alexandria Times

Transcription

WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM october 17, 2013 | 1
Vol. 9, No. 42 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper
OCTOBER 17, 2013
Meet Laurie Olin
City Hall taps renowned
landscape architect for
shoreline design
By Derrick Perkins
photo/erich wagner
HONORING THE FALLEN Fire officials remember those that came before them during the department’s
annual memorial service Friday. The first responders gather each year with the relatives of the deceased to
commemorate their service. Though usually held at Ivy Hill Cemetery, the ceremony was moved to First Baptist
Church of Alexandria because of inclement weather.
Welcoming state intervention
Not all oppose takeover
of Jefferson-Houston
School
By Erich Wagner
While city and education
officials stand united in opposition to a state takeover of the
struggling Jefferson-Houston
School, more than a few parents and residents are leaning
toward it.
During a city council meet-
ing last month, Alexandria’s
top elected officials endorsed
a school board resolution
supporting a legal challenge
against the state takeover of local schools. Norfolk City Public Schools and the Virginia
School Boards Association are
spearheading the litigation.
“I believe it is extremely
important for local governments to stand behind, and
in some cases, stand with
their school districts,” said
City Councilor John Chapman. “We feel that our school
board and new district leadership is working hard to improve academic achievement
for all of our students, and
we are proud to support them
and the local effort to enact
change in our district.”
But it’s not a black-andwhite issue. After years of
trying — and failing — to
SEE takeover | 11
idaho is no small potatoes - page 12
Pressed for an honest assessment of the city’s Potomac
River shoreline, Laurie Olin,
the man charged with revitalizing the public space along
the waterfront, paused before
saying, “It has good bones.”
“It needs to be better,” the
famed landscape architect
said a few beats later, facing
a standing-room-only crowd
Tuesday night. “It needs to be
a better waterfront.”
The evaluation came at the
tail end of a meet-and-greet
with residents organized by
city officials. Alexandria’s
denizens got a feel for Olin’s
philosophy and his past projects at the get-together, the
first in a series as the controversial waterfront redevelopment plan goes into action.
Officials — and developers — have thrown themselves
headlong into the plan after
city council reaffirmed the
contentious zoning changes
along the shoreline earlier this
year. Additionally, the state
Supreme Court dismissed the
roadmap’s most serious legal
challenge last month.
September also saw the
sale of the Robinson Terminals
— both slated for redevelop-
ment in the plan — by The
Washington Post Co. to JBG,
EYA and CityInterests. And
Washington-based Carr Hospitality continues working on a
longstanding hotel project for
a third redevelopment site: the
Cummings and Turner block
along South Union Street.
I thought
it was
inspirational, and
it gives me some
hope that such
a professional is
going to get a shot
at a design plan.”
- Bob Wood
Waterfront plan critic
In a related development,
Mayor Bill Euille announced
last week that he was no longer willing to wait for negotiations with the Old Dominion
Boat Club for its waterfront
parking lot. Planned as the location for a future public plaza, Euille said he would seek
eminent domain to secure the
property if necessary.
Though vitriol and contention often marred the multiyear
SEE waterfront | 6
2 | october 17, 2013
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
Christine Roland Garner
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THE WEEKLY BRIEFING
Local school psychologist wins
prestigious statewide award
The Virginia Academy of
School Psychologists honored
Virginia Larsen, of Samuel
Tucker Elementary School, as
its 2013 School Psychologist of
the Year.
Larsen, who’s spent 10plus years working for Alexandria City Public Schools, has
a knack for helping students
and connecting parents to their
children’s education, her colleagues said.
“Virginia is a bridge-builder,” Principal Rene Paschal said
in a letter of recommendation
for the prestigious award on
Larsen’s behalf. “She continually seeks to bring parents into
the educational lives of their
children, going out of her way
to make them feel comfortable
here at school. Her breadth of
knowledge on academic as well
as emotional and behavioral
matters never ceases to amaze
me.”
Larsen, a city resident and
graduate of George Mason University, remains in the running
for the National School Psychologist of the Year Award for
her longstanding work with the
district. It would not be possible
without
her dedicated and
supportVirginia Larsen
ive colleagues, she said in a statement.
“Simply put, I cannot do my
job without working collaboratively with students, parents,
teachers, fellow psychologists,
other school professionals and
community agencies,” Larsen
said. “I truly feel that our successes are a result of team vision and persistence.”
- Anna Harris
Our NEW Old Town Branch is
COMING
SOON!
Musicians tune up for fundraising telethon
Supporters of The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria hope a
Sunday afternoon of music will
lure more than a few residents
to take a break from football
and open their pocketbooks for
T.C. Williams students.
The 19th annual telethon
for The Scholarship Fund of
Alexandria will kick off at 4
p.m. Sunday with 93 cents of
every dollar donated contributing to need-based scholarships
for exceptional seniors at T.C.
Williams. This year’s musical
acts include Step Four, Shady
Groove, Check Please, 1001
Black Inventions and Allison’s
Degradation.
As usual, the telethon will
be broadcast live on Channel
71 and through the websites
of Alexandria City Public
Schools and The Scholarship
Fund of Alexandria.
In addition, organizers are
hoping to make a splash this
year with the online challenge
Clash of the Titans. The Internet based contest pits alumni
against one another to see
which class can raise the most
money before the telethon begins.
For more information, call
703-824-6730 or go to www.
alexscholarshipfund.org.
- Anna Harris
Damaged beam beneath Old Town bridge
slated for repair next year
A mangled beam beneath
the train bridge spanning King
Street by Alexandria Union
Station has concerned residents, but CSX Corp. representatives say not to worry.
While the beam is broken,
the damage does not affect
the bridge’s overall stability, which is why trains have
continued running across the
CSX-owned trestle.
A CSX spokesperson said
the transportation giant would
fix the bridge next year. Because the broken beam does
not pose an immediate threat,
the repairs aren’t considered a
priority.
“CSX’s first priority is the
safety of our infrastructure,
and bridge spending therefore
focuses on improvements that
maintain or upgrade the structural integrity of bridges rather
than aesthetics,” CSX said in
an official statement.
The company was unaware
of the damage until the Times
brought it to the attention of
CSX representatives. The
bridge’s next inspection is set
for later this year.
“CSX will work with city
officials to schedule the repair,” said Melanie Cost, the
company manager of financial
and media relations.
Erik Dorn, Ted Johnson, Charlie Collum and Pamela DeCandio
Business Banking
Right in Town
We’re coming to Old Town
with money to lend!
Our new address will be
700 South Washington Street,
Alexandria, VA 22314. We can
be reached at 703-289-5950
and you can visit us online at
JohnMarshallBank.com.
Member
- Anna Harris
4 | october 17, 2013
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
CRIME
City council considers eliminating
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Leaf CoLLeCtion
October 28 – December 27
There are three ways to recycle
your leaves this season!
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Eco-City
Alexandria
By Erich Wagner
The city council introduced
a bill last week that would remove an arcane piece of Alexandria bicycle regulations that
requires local shops to log every sale of a two-wheeler with
police.
The city reviewed and updated its decades-old bicycle
laws in the spring, but police
officials asked for the unenforced requirement to remain
theft and moving bikes, the
national registry is a better option than doing it locally.”
City Councilor Justin Wilson said during the summer
that he was always in favor of
removing the registry provision
along with other outdated rules.
“The whole section was
written in 1963, so most of it
was very anachronistic,” he
said. “In the context of review,
my view all along was that the
provision should go.”
The city council will hold
a public hearing and vote on
the proposal at a meeting Saturday morning.
Alleged TD Bank robber connected
to other heists in the region
The city man arrested for
holding up a West End TD
Bank late last month may be
connected to other robberies
in Fairfax County, Alexandria
police say.
Carlton Thorne, 48, was
charged with robbery for allegedly strolling into the 557
S. Van Dorn St. bank and demanding money from a teller
while implying he was armed.
Police said Thorne fled after receiving an unspecified
amount of cash.
No one was injured during
the heist.
Fairfax County authori-
ties meanwhile have drawn up
three warrants for Thorne in
connection with bank robberies in their jurisdiction, officials said. More charges could
be coming, police said.
- Derrick Perkins
POLICE BEAT
The following incidents occurred between October 9 and October 16.
12
0
Assaults
SEXUAL
OFFENSEs
www.alextimes.com
on the books. The ensuing uproar from cycling activists and
business owners prompted
city councilors to revisit the
measure.
Although authorities initially said they were contemplating a local database,
which would help track down
stolen bikes, Police Chief Earl
Cook later said the department
had changed its tune. Instead,
police opted to embrace an existing — and voluntary — national database.
“There’s no utility,” Cook
told city councilors in June.
“With the transitory nature of
31
0
Thefts
Assaults with a
Deadly weapon
4
8
Breaking &
Enterings
robberies
5
2
Vehicle
thefts
Drug
Crimes
Source: crimereports.com
*Editor’s note: Police reports are not considered public information in Virginia. The Alexandria Police Department is not required to supply the public at large with detailed information on criminal cases.
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6 | october 17, 2013
waterfront
FROM | 1
debate over the shoreline’s future, the meeting Tuesday night
was markedly conciliatory in
contrast. Taking on an appropriately professorial tone, Olin
— who teaches at the University of Pennsylvania — walked
residents through his earlier
work while shying away from
any specific ideas for Alexandria’s waterfront.
“No two [projects] are
alike,” he said. “Whatever you
think we’ve done somewhere
else ... is probably not what you
should end up with.”
Olin’s previous projects include revamping the grounds
of the Washington Monument,
the Independence National
Historical Park in Philadelphia
and Bryant Park in New York
City. The landscape architect
hit the right notes throughout
the meeting, telling residents
that the final design was up to
them and would be for them —
not tourists.
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
“A lot of people go to Paris because it’s beautiful,” he
quipped. “But you’ve got to understand: The Parisians built it
for themselves.”
His approach won over even
fierce critics of the plan like
Bob Wood, who unsuccessfully
ran for city council last year as
an opponent of the approved
roadmap. City Hall should have
brought Olin in earlier in the
process, he said.
“I thought it was inspirational, and it gives me some
hope that such a professional is
going to get a shot at a design
plan,” Wood said. “The [waterfront] plan was always missing
a design plan. What we built
was a framework without a design plan.”
Mark Mueller, a staunch
opponent of the plan, remains
cautious but was likewise impressed by Olin’s presentation.
“I think he’s done some
marvelous work in other places,” he said. “We’ve got a set
of challenges that are perhaps
photo/Derrick pERKINS
more daunting than his other City residents pack a conference room in north Old Town on Tuesday to meet renowned landscape architect
projects.”
Laurie Olin. Even ardent critics of the waterfront plan left impressed.
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8 | october 17, 2013
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
Shake-up of ACPS capital projects draws scrutiny
School board ditches
old proposals for
$700K in savings
By Erich Wagner
City councilors prodded Alexandria City Public Schools
officials about proposed changes to its capital improvement
budget last month, in light of
news that board members are
eliminating a few projects altogether.
The probe came as school
board chairwoman Karen Graf
presented the district’s request
to reorganize its capital budget.
The tweaks represent $700,000
in savings from canceled projects, $550,000 in savings from
the consolidation of related
CITY OF ALEXANDRIA
SECOND HALF
2013 REAL ESTATE TAX
AND REFUSE FEE ARE DUE
NOVEMBER 15, 2013
The second half 2013 real estate tax and refuse fee must be
paid by November 15, 2013, to avoid late payment penalty
and interest.
Pay by credit card or eCheck on the City’s website at
alexandriava.gov/Payments, in person at City Hall or at
any SunTrust Bank Branch located in the City. Real estate
tax payments can be mailed to City of Alexandria, PO Box
34750, Alexandria, VA 22334-0750. Payments can also be
made with cash only at approximately 70 Global Express
Cash Payment Centers conveniently located throughout
Northern Virginia. For a complete list of the available cash
payment centers, please visit the City’s website at alexandriava.gov/Payments.
Real estate tax information is available on the City’s website
at alexandriava.gov/RealEstateTax. Under Additional
Resources on that webpage, there is a link for Real Estate
Tax History and Payments, which provides detailed tax balances and payments. For payment questions or to request
a tax bill, please call the Treasury Division at 703.746.3902,
Option 8, or email payments@alexandriava.gov. For assessment questions or to change a mailing address, please call
the Real Estate Assessments Department at 703.746.4646 or
email realestate@alexandriava.gov. For refuse fee questions, please call the Solid Waste Division at 703.746.4410.
The Finance Department is open, Monday through Friday,
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A drop box located on the Royal
Street side of City Hall is available 24 hours a day. (Payments must be in the drop box by midnight on November
15, 2013 to be considered on time.)
proposals and the addition of
$200,000 for emergency repairs.
Graf said the eliminated
projects had been carried over
in the budget for several years.
Many are simply unfeasible,
she said.
“Our emergency repair
fund was at $39,000 going into
winter,” Graf said. “That’s just
irresponsible.”
But City Councilor Paul
Smedberg worried about the
sheer list of changes to the facilities budget — not to mention the amount of money getting shifted around.
“There are projects that
seemed to be ongoing on the
list, that we paid for two or
three or four times; how are
those being addressed?” Smedberg said. “[At] the time when
these [canceled projects] were
first put on the list, we were
told that these were important
projects.”
Graf said the moves come
as part of a sweeping reform
of the school system’s capital
improvement department. The
overhaul stems from revelations in 2011 of a lack of internal oversight and unauthorized
fund transfers among projects.
That scandal saw the ouster of
several high-ranking district
officials and calls for thenSuperintendent Morton Sherman’s resignation.
“We’re just now fully
staffed in the department, following the [capital improvement projects] incident a few
years back,” she said. “We’re
now exercising proper oversight ... but it takes time to rebuild a department.”
Among the commonly
cited projects that have been
removed from the budget was
a proposed green roof at the
Minnie Howard campus of
T.C. Williams. While financially planned for several years,
officials recently discovered
such a development was impossible.
“There are certain projects,
like Minnie Howard for example, [that] might have made
sense when they were designed
six or seven years ago, but they
make no sense with the current technology,” said thenacting Superintendent Margaret Walsh at the hearing. “So
we’re doing a real, clean scrubbing.”
But Smedberg said in an interview that the 2011 scandal is
one of the primary reasons for
his concerns.
“We’re in situations sometimes where money apparently
was being shifted and funding
approved for various projects
was shifted around,” Smedberg
said. “My basic concern is if
a budget is passed that has a
funding line on [projects], then
those are the projects that get
funded. Not, ‘Oh, we can wait
a year or two or use this [money] for that [project].’”
Smedberg said he hopes
recent reforms, like the complete retooling of the capital
projects department as well as
the reinstitution of the school
SEE projects | 11
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Travel industry sees interest take off
Local agency, national
group report increased
business
By Anna Harriss
Is the travel industry gaining newfound steam? At least
one local agency has seen interest pick up — an anecdote
that matches the results of a recently released national survey.
Lida Behnam, owner of
Lida Travel Inc., has noticed
an increase in her business so
far this year. Though Behnam
can’t fully account for why
people suddenly want to travel
through an agent, “I’m glad
that they do,” she said.
Behnam isn’t alone in experiencing a boost, according to
the latest market research from
the Alexandria-based American Society of Travel Agents.
Among the findings was a
marked uptick in performance
and client numbers over the
first half of last year.
After a rocky decade, travel
agents — as well as leadership
at the national organization —
are optimistic that people are
returning to agencies for their
vacation needs.
“ASTA members are benefiting from the appetite consumers have for travel,” said
Zane Kerby, the president and
CEO of the organization. “Consumer studies have shown that
Americans say travel makes
them happier. Leveraging the
experience and expertise of an
ASTA travel agent can maximize one’s travel experience. ”
In fact, the travel bug has
bitten people around the world,
regardless of whether they
work with an agent. A global
study released by Visa shows
that globetrotters plan to in-
crease their travel budgets by
40 percent over last year.
Visa’s findings are backed
up by another survey this year
from TripAdvisor, which indicated 50 percent of vacationers
from across the globe plan on
increasing their travel budgets.
The American Society of
Travel Agents conducted its
survey by bringing together
agency representatives from
mom-and-pop shops to multinational corporations. The
panel discussed how they were
doing so far that year, and the
majority exuded optimism.
“We put together a panel
every year of about 500 travel
agencies of various sizes that
match what the industry looks
like,” said Melissa Teates, the
director of research at the trade
group. “The panel reflects
what’s going on in the industry.”
file photo
Alexandria-based American Society of Travel Agents has released findings that show an uptick of people using travel agents for their vacation needs, which is a good sign after a rocky decade for the industry.
Why might travelers seek
out an agent instead of booking and planning a trip on their
own? After all, the Internet
has made it easy enough. But,
according to Teates, agencies
are invaluable in navigating a
complex and occasionally corrupt system.
Letting an agent handle the
logistics takes the worry out of
booking a trip, she said.
“[Travelers] want people
with experience to make sure
they’re dealing with legitimate people for safety while
they’re abroad,” Teates said.
“[It’s about making] sure
you’re getting the trip that you
paid for.”
And inconveniences pop
up while traveling across the
United States and abroad.
Agents can help with anything
from canceled flights to disasters to wedding fiascos.
“No one wants to be stranded,” said Teates.
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10 | october 17, 2013
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
Coming to grips with the shutdown
Local businesses, federal
workers weather extreme
uncertainty
By Anna Harris
Though Congress lumbered
toward a deal to end the government shutdown Wednesday,
Alexandria’s businesses and
residents already have felt the
fallout from the crisis, though
in a few unexpected ways.
To start, many local businesses have seen an unanticipated boost in customer traffic.
Megan Lemieux, a sales associ-
ate with Lavender Moon Cupcakery, said that the shop has
seen a subtle uptick in visitors.
“In the beginning it did
slow down,” she said. “But
as the week went on, business started to pick up because
groups [of people] would come
in with nothing else to do.”
However, she’s less optimistic about customer turnout if the
government shutdown drags on.
Furloughed workers might have
more time to spend but fewer
dollars at their disposal.
It’s a phenomenon that
business owner Ben Wegdam
already has seen firsthand. Wegdam, owner of the Lou Lou
boutique in Old Town, said his
store had the same increase in
traffic as Lavender Moon Cupcakery, but it didn’t carry over
into sales.
“People are spending time,
but they’re not spending [money],” he said. “People are wandering the shops looking but
not taking out their wallets to
buy stuff.”
And because many monuments are closed, he believes
businesses are losing out on
sales normally made by tourists visiting the region.
PREPARING FOR THE
WORST
Responding to rising concerns in the business community, the Alexandria Small
Business Development Center
hosted a roundtable discussion on the shutdown Tuesday.
Business owners and federal
contractors discussed options
and strategies to cope with the
difficult time.
Ensuring that customers
affected by the furlough feel
that owners empathize with
their plight was a reoccurring
theme. Offering deals for government workers relieves a bit
of purchase anxiety and gives
consumers a sense that someone understands their situation,
experts said. It also bolsters
customer loyalty.
Many local shops and restaurants, though, did not wait
until the roundtable to start
extending deals to people affected by the shutdown. For
example, Artfully Chocolate
offered 25-percent off any hot
chocolate or milkshake to customers with a federal ID, while
Pork Barrel BBQ gave out free
pulled-pork sandwiches to furloughed workers.
Experts also stressed taking
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to new ways to combat dementia, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide and carries heavy societal burdens.
Although the reason for the link between the two conditions
is unknown, the investigators suggest that a common pathology may underlie both or that the strain of decoding sounds
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advantage of the lull. Owners
could use the downturn to revisit their business plans, make
adjustments for the future and
prioritize.
Foremost among the areas already tangibly affected
by the shutdown is the city’s
hospitality industry, which
suffered immediate losses.
According to a survey of four
area hotels, 1,700 room nights
have been canceled, meaning a
$368,000 profit loss in just the
first week of furloughs, said
Patricia Washington, president
and CEO of the Alexandria
Convention and Visitors Association.
“It’s hitting hotels hard
right now,” Washington said.
“We’re hoping that the situation can be resolved as quickly
as possible.”
Her organization is offering
free “Key to the City” booklets — essentially a package of
special deals to area businesses
and admission to nine historic
sites — to overnight visitors
and furloughed workers for the
duration of the shutdown.
TIME TO SPARE
As businesses grapple with
lost sales, furloughed employees are trying to stay busy.
Omar Chavez, a government analyst and contracting
officer, spends his free time at
home or at a local Starbucks.
Sitting at a table outside the
coffee shop in gym shorts
and jacket with a cup of joe
in hand, Chavez said he just
wants to go back to work.
He can’t do much with
his extra time, as he could be
called back for what’s deemed
essential business at a moment’s notice. And it’s hard
planning ahead when the government shutdown could suddenly come to an end, Chavez
said.
“It’s limbo, basically,” he
said. “And I’m just waiting to
see when it’s over.”
Embracing
Richmond
takeover
FROM | 1
meet state and federal benchmarks, there are city residents
and parents who think it’s time
to let someone else take the
wheel at the school.
During the most recent
Standards of Learning exams,
50 percent of students at Jefferson-Houston tested proficient in math, compared with
only 35 percent last year. But
students fell behind on reading
— like most schools in Virginia — because of a new, more
rigorous test on the subject.
proved enough; I don’t think
the scores are showing enough
[improvements],” she said.
“[These] kids are suffering.
They just passed my grandson with all D’s. How can you
pass him with all D’s?”
Kathleen Wiederman, a
city resident whose daughter
attends a private school, said
education officials have had
more than enough chances
to fix problems at JeffersonHouston.
“Obviously, we’re past
some sort of threshold that
if they can’t handle it themselves and manage their own
[These] kids are suffering.
They just passed my grandson
with all D’s. How can you pass him
with all D’s?”
- Bea Porter
projects
FROM | 8
board’s budget and audit
committee, will provide better oversight. But he will
continue keeping a close eye
“I’ve made a lot
of good friends
since moving to
the Hermitage.”
—John Mutchler
Jefferson-Houston School grandparent
Bea Porter, who has two
grandchildren enrolled at Jefferson-Houston, said she has
had enough with the constant
scrambling to improve performance.
“They’ve done everything
they could possibly do,” Porter said. “They’ve replaced
multiple teachers and staff.
Staff have come in, and staff
have quit. ... It’s time to just
get the whole thing switched
up and stop trying and trying
and trying.”
Porter also has seen her
grandchildren being pulled
from one learning strategy to
another over the past few years,
with no discernable results.
“I don’t think it’s im-
schools, I’m for [a state takeover],” Wiederman said. “I
think it’s pretty interesting
that this is such an educated
and somewhat affluent area,
and yet schools could be taken
over and people feel they need
to send their kids to private
school.”
Porter said the constant
flux of staff and pedagogy not
only affects school employees, but also the children and
their ability to perform.
“I don’t think it can get
better if you keep changing
and changing and changing,”
she said. “We need someone
to come in with a fresh start
and a fresh outlook, who can
come in and fix this.”
h
Move into one
of our featured
apartments and
take advantage of
special incentives,
saving you
thousands.
Call
703-797-3814
for details.
h
on the facilities budget.
“We’ll take that on good
faith, that’s what they told us
that night, and I do hope that’s
the case,” he said. “The city
has to balance a lot of capital projects — both from the
school board and the city’s
perspective over the next several years. We have to have
confidence that the list and
priorities we do get are in line
with what they need, so we
can weigh that as an entire
package during the budget
process.”
Enjoy the Carefree
Lifestyle You Deserve
I
f you’ve been thinking about moving to the Hermitage,
now is one of the best times ever. We’re offering special
incentives on our beautiful featured apartments.
And once you’ve settled in, you’ll discover why many
people like you have made the move: the chance to experience a new lifestyle with an array of services and amenities. Just ask resident John Mutchler, who appreciates the
freedom from home maintenance and the opportunity to
participate in clubs and social activities. Our residents also
rave about our superb dining service, our courteous and
helpful staff, and an overall feeling of caring and security
that comes with living at the Hermitage.
You’ll also gain peace of mind knowing that health care
and supportive services are available right here, if you ever
need them.
For more information, call 703-797-3814.
Alexandria, VA
www.Hermitage-Nova.com
12 | october 17, 2013
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
GET OUT OF TOWN
Wining and dining in Idaho
courtesy Photo
Musician Spike Coggins takes a break with writer Frederica Dunn’s travel companions during an outdoor brunch on the group’s final day in Idaho. The picturesque Sun Valley is a
must-see — particularly during the annual harvest festival — for any traveler with a penchant for good food and drink.
Food lovers will find a land
of delights in the Gem State
By Frederica Dunn
If potatoes are the first thing
to come to mind when you
think of Idaho, you don’t know
how wrong you are.
The Basque people from
Spain settled the western state,
and sheepherding was how
they made their living. Unsurprisingly, lamb remains a top
choice on restaurant menus —
one sign of the impact that they
made on the state.
Another is the annual
Trailing of the Sheep Festival, which follows fast on the
heels of the Sun Valley Harvest
Festival. Onlookers can catch
sight of 1,500 sheep meandering down Ketchum’s Main
Street as sheepherders direct
the traffic. If you can’t make
it to the Running of the Bulls
in Pamplona, there’s always
sheepherding in Idaho!
With the running of the
sheep still days away, our
group arrived in Boise for a
wine and culinary adventure.
We spent our first night in the
Riverside Hotel, which overlooks the Boise River.
Early the following morning, we joined walkers and joggers on a scenic 25-mile recreation pathway along the river
that connects 15 parks. Despite
adjusting to the time change, we
managed a brisk morning walk.
That evening, Chandlers
restaurant in downtown Boise
hosted a welcome dinner. The
staff’s expertise in pairing
wine with a top dining experience has earned the establishment Wine Spectator awards
for the past 15 years.
“It represents a significant
milestone in my 40-year career to create an exclusive experience for not only our local
community, but also a premier
restaurant destination for national travelers to Boise,” said
owner Rex Chandler.
After such a satisfying din-
ner — the delightful culinary
experience having provided
the perfect backdrop for getting to know each other — we
boarded the bus the following
morning and headed for the
mountains and the Sun Valley Harvest Festival. But since
Idaho is home to 50 wineries,
we were obliged to make a few
stops along the way.
Our first such distraction
was a chance to sample Coiled
Wines, which is made from
grapes grown in the Snake
River Valley. We enjoyed a
lovely Syrah, Tempranillo and
— my favorite — the Viognier,
a crisp, white semidry wine
with peach and apricot flavors.
The Viognier has earned a gold
medal in competitions.
A bit farther north, the family-owned Bitner Vineyards
deck and picnic area served
as the perfect setting for a box
lunch. The region’s warm days
and crisp, cool evenings were
great for us and perfect for
growing grapes.
Our next stop was the family-owned Symms Fruit Ranch.
It was fascinating to watch all
of the fruit — of superior quality — coming off various assembly lines. All are harvested
by hand each summer and fall.
There are nine varieties of apSEE idaho | 14
WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM To have your event considered
for our calendar listings,
please email events@
alextimes.com. You can also
post your event directly to our
online calendar by visiting
www.alextimes.com.
Now to October 18
ART ON THE AVENUE Celebrating
the diversity of Del Ray, this 18th annual
street festival will feature 300 juried
artists, three stages of music, children’s
art activities (scarecrows and pumpkin
painting) and restaurants selling their
specialties. The event is free.
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Mount Vernon Avenue,
between Bellefonte and Hume streets
Information: 703-683-3100
Now to December 31
OCCUPIED CITY: LIFE IN CIVIL
WAR ALEXANDRIA EXHIBITION
Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Location: Fort Ward Museum, 4301 W.
Braddock Road
Information: 703-746-4848 or www.
fortward.org
Now to January 4
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ACTIVISTS EXHIBITION Living Legends
of Alexandria is an ongoing project,
conceived by Nina Tisara, to create an
enduring artistic record of the people
whose vision and dedication make a
positive, tangible difference to the quality of life in Alexandria. Over the years, 13
African-Americans have been chronicled
as part of the project: Ferdinand Day
in 2007-08; Lillie Finklea, Carlton Funn
Sr., Eula Miller, Melvin Miller and Bert
Ransom in 2008-09; Nelson Greene Sr.
in 2010; Lynnwood Campbell in 2011;
Lillian Patterson, Gwen Menefee-Smith
and Dorothy Turner last year; and Willie
Bailey Sr. and Rosa Byrd this year.
Admission is $2.
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday
through Saturday
Location: Alexandria Black History
Museum, 902 Wythe St.
Information: www.alexandrialegends.
com or www.alexandriava.gov/blackhistory
October 17 - 19
This exhibition examines life in an American town seized and held by its federal
government, following Virginia’s decision
to secede from the Union in May 1861.
Explore the experiences of Alexandrians
and others who lived here during this
tumultuous time through their words, as
well as period photographs and collections items. Suggested admission is $2.
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m.
Sunday
Location: The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.
alexandriahistory.org
that book you’ve wanted to read or find
something else intriguing. Everything will
be on sale — from children’s books to
self-help to politics and the classics.
Time: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. Sunday
Location: James M. Duncan Branch
Library, 2501 Commonwealth Ave.
Information: www.friendsofduncanlibrary.org/special-events
MARSHALL HOUSE INCIDENT
EXHIBITION The deaths of Union Col.
CITI ROAD TO RECOVERY FOR
MILITARY CitiMortgage and Veter-
Elmer Ellsworth and secessionist James
Jackson at the Marshall House Hotel
along King Street during the Federal occupation of Alexandria on May 24, 1861,
stirred patriotic fervor in the north and
south. This exhibit at Fort Ward features
objects from the museum collection —
like a star from the flag which had flown
over Marshall House and loan items
from the Mary Custis Lee chapter of
the Daughters of the Confederacy
— to tell this notable story about the
event that launched the Civil War in
Alexandria.
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through
FRIENDS OF DUNCAN LIBRARY
BOOK SALE Come pick up a copy of
roller derby.
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.
Location: fibre space, 1219 King St.
fibrespace.com
STITCH IN SPACE WITH DC
ROLLERGIRLS Come relax with the
DC Rollergirls and get your stitch on.
Make some friends, get help on a project and find out more about the sport of
DEATH AND DYING DURING
THE CIVIL WAR Come enjoy this
lecture with J. Lance Mallamo, director
of the Office of Historic Alexandria. This
Civil War Sesquicentennial event is free.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Lloyd House, 220 N.
Washington St.
GREAT BOOKS DISCUSSION
GROUP The group will discuss “The
New Organon,” by Francis Bacon.
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central
Library, 5005 Duke St.
October 18 - 19
HEALTHY EATING Join registered
dietitians from Inova Alexandria Hospital
in a discussion about how to eat healthy
to stay healthy. Learn how to reduce your
and your family’s risk for medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch
Library, 4701 Seminary Road
CALM PARENTING Need help
calming your explosive household?
Tired of yelling at, negotiating with and
bribing your child? Come to this free
event, where you will laugh and leave
with a dozen practical strategies that
really work.
Time: 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9:30 to
11:30 a.m. Saturday
Location: Westminster Presbyterian
Church, 2701 Cameron Mills Road
Information: www.wpc-alex.org
SHORT ROW CRASH COURSE
Join fibre space in welcoming local
designer Olga Buraya-Kefelian as she
teaches about the magic of short rows
and all methods of their execution and
application. Knitters will master this
newly learned technique by making a hip
Japanese-inspired necklace. The class
costs $75.
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: fibre space, 1219 King St.
fibrespace.com
October 18 - 20
BOOK SALE The Friends of the
Beatley Central Library invite everyone
to this book sale. There will be deals on
hardbacks and paperbacks in all genres,
DVDs, CDs, audio books, and comics.
Time: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday; 10
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday; and 1 to
4:30 p.m. Sunday
alexandria.lib.va.us
POEMS AND STORIES OF
EDGAR ALLAN POE Actors from
Guillotine Theatre will read stories and
poems by Edgar Allan Poe. The program
will feature many chilling stories, such
as “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Cask of
Amontillado” and “The Raven.” Tickets
are $10.
Time: 7 p.m.
October 17
ansPlus are coming to the D.C. area for
the 2013 Road to Recovery for Military,
featuring a homeowner-support event
for current and former service members.
Time: Noon to 7 p.m.
Location: Hilton Alexandria Mark
Center, 5000 Seminary Road
Information: 1-866-915-9417 or www.
citiroadtorecovery.com
Location: The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St.
Information: www.nvfaa.org
October 18
INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP Children learn valuable social
October 19
5K FOR WOUNDED WARRIOR
CAREGIVERS This 5K run and
walk will raise funds for caregivers of
wounded warriors.
Time: 6:30 to 11 a.m.
Information: Cameron Run Regional
Park, 4001 Eisenhower Ave.
Information: Contact Helen Lynch at 703582-5722 or helenlynch21@gmail.com
OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET
The market includes local dairy, fish,
fruits and vegetables. There is free parking in the garage during market hours.
Time: 7 a.m.
Location: Market Square, 301 King St.
SENIOR LAW DAY Sponsored by
Senior Services of Alexandria and the Alexandria Bar Association, this free event
will explore opportunities for aging well
in the Alexandria community. Learn from
law enforcement, legal and financial
experts about the diverse frauds, scams,
identity theft, financial abuse and other
schemes targeting seniors in the Washington Metropolitan area.
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Location: First Baptist Church of
Alexandria, 2932 King St.
Information: www.seniorservicesalex.org
SEE calendar | 19
POO TT OO M
MA
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C R
R IIVVPEEotomac
R BB O
OA
A TT
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C OO M
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C
PNirate
703.684.0580 | W W W . P O T O M A C R I V E R B O AT C O . C O M
Potomac Pirate Cruise
Saturday, October 19th
11 AM & 12 PM
In the spirit of Halloween we will be doing
a best dressed pirate costume contest!
Reservations are highly recommended. Please go
to our website www.potomacriverboatco.com to
reserve tickets for you and your mates. Boarding
will begin 15 minutes prior to the tour.
Children must be
accompanied
by an adult.
The Little Theatre of Alexandria presents
The 39 Steps
skills through play. Parents and caregivers will join their child in stimulating activities that reinforce physical, cognitive
and social development. The playgroup
is free.
Time: 10:30 a.m. to noon
Location: Cora Kelly Recreation Center,
25 W. Reed Ave.
Information: Contact Deatrice Williams at 703-746-3430 or deatrice.
williams@alexandriava.gov
skills and improve their developmental
Leah Otten - Looks of Love Photography
Calendar
of Events
october 17, 2013 | 13
10/26 - 11/16
This entertaining thriller-spoof is a tonguein-check homage to spy thrillers and all
things Hitchcock. Four actors play over one
hundred roles, meaning you are in for a
break-neck treat on the LTA stage!
600 Wolfe St, Alexandria • 703-683-0496 • www.thelittletheatre.com
Ask about private
OCTOBER 19TH
birthday parties on the
PIRATE CRUISE!
Fu n f o r a l l ! Fun for all!
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
PRB_PIRATE_CRUISE_OCT_5X4a.indd 1
9/30/13 2:11 PM
14 | october 17, 2013
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
Photos/Frederica Dunn
Stunning views and spectacular cocktails are among the treats
awaiting a traveler with plans to explore Idaho. If cocktails aren’t your
thing, the Gem State also is home to 50 wineries.
idaho
FROM | 12
ples alone.
Another delightful side trip
took us to Koenig Vineyards,
where the emphasis is on European brandies and Idaho potato
vodka. The owner spent his
boyhood years in Austria and
loves the spirits.
Next, we proceeded on to
the Sawtooth Estate Winery.
Nestled between 500 acres of
vineyards, Sawtooth was the
magnificent backdrop for a
gourmet outdoor dinner and
wine pairing. Exchanging
views and travel tales made for
a lively meal.
Finally, after a long and arduous journey, we reached our
destination. Set in picturesque
Sun Valley, the annual harvest
festival has become the signature food and wine event of
the region.
The Sun Valley Lodge is
a charming resort adjacent to
the city of Ketchum, where
Ernest Hemingway spent the
last years of his life. Visitors
from around the world enjoy
its skiing, ice-skating, hiking
and trail riding, as well as other
outdoor recreation. Ketchum
is about a mile from the resort
and offers bistros, restaurants
and a variety of small shops in
a picturesque setting.
Early the next morning,
several of us walked into town
for a country breakfast at
The Kneadery. The delicious
breads, pastries and pancakes
were all homemade — a great
way to start the day.
Lunch at CK’s Real Food
was a special treat. The soup of
the day was a cold cantaloupe,
yogurt and lime, which was
delicious, followed by the lava
lake lamb gyro served on pita.
Dessert was homemade raspberry ice cream.
We gathered at the Ketchum
Town Square to begin our
foodie adventure. Well-known
chefs demonstrated their favorite dishes, and everyone got to
sample the finished results after the presentation.
Later, we sampled the regional fare and learned culiSEE idaho | 15
School Open Houses
Independent
Learners
Effective Communicators
Balanced
Community Minded
K-8  coed  nonsectarian
Please join us for an Open House at 9:00 am on:
October 19
December 17
November 11
January 10
or call to schedule a tour 703.837.1303
2400 Russell Road Alexandria, VA 22301 www.acdsnet.org
Fall Open House
Sunday, October 20, 2013
2-4 pm
An independent school for girls grades 6-12
guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church
Find out more at Oakcrest.org
To advertise your school’s Open House
in the Alexandria Times, call 703-739-0001 today!
idaho
their incredible vegan cuisine. Again, the chefs created an
They catered Ellen DeGeneres assortment of mouthwatering
FROM | 14
and Portia de Rossi’s vegan hors d’oeuvres, featuring sturnary secrets from a few of the wedding and Arianna Huffing- geon caviar from Fish Breeders
country’s top chefs. Their cre- ton’s party at the Democratic of Idaho. Mixologist Ryan Sullivan created incredible cockative menus used regional in- National Convention.
gredients and paired local wines Our last food stop was with tails, featuring Square One OrAkasha Richmond, owner of ganic Spirits and potato vodka.
with each course.
Executive chef Rodrigo Akasha Restaurant in Culver Our final day in Idaho startBueno, from Rancho Pescadero City, Calif. She discussed her ed with an outdoor brunch. We
in Baja, Mexico, showed us passion for organic foods and learned the ins and outs of prehow to spice up local food with a healthy lifestyle. Her favorite paring meals in the backcountry
an international flair with his lo- cooking experiences from the as our teachers demonstrated
cal goat Mexican chorizo with Hollywood area include: mak- cooking incredible food over an
ing holiday dinners for Billy open grill and in a Dutch oven
Idaho potatoes.
We met another famous culi- Bob Thornton, catering parties — without leaving a trace of denary artist, Chicago pastry chef for Pierce Brosnan and work- bris. We sampled the food and
Malika Ameen, who’s fascina- ing as a private chef for Barbra enjoyed Michelle’s sparkling
wine accompanied by Spike
tion with spice and attention to Streisand.
Coggins’ authentic music.
The
highlight
of
the
weekend
detail began in a food-focused
was
an
invitation
to
The
Round But what culinary vacation
home where family dinners
house’s
martini
and
caviar
party.
would be complete without a
were prepared from scratch
Off
we
went
on
a
scenic
gondola
last dinner on a working ranch?
each day. She has just launched
Celia Gould, director of the Idaride
up
Baldy
Mountain
while
an online pastry business.
Tal Ronnen and Scot Jones sipping a glass of Michelle spar- ho State Department of Agriculhail from Crossroads Kitchen in kling wine. The view alone was ture, was our delightful host.
After sipping watermelon
Alexandria
5.50”
x 6”the(3evening.
columns x 6”) 4-color
Los
Angeles and Times:
are known
for worth
Make a note to yourself:
Don’t miss the most
beautiful time of year, the
genuine hospitality and
wonderful culinary delights from
the people of Idaho.”
and Idaho vodka martinis, the
chef prepared a delicious fresh
vegetable salad, surf-andturf dinner, and a dessert of
poached pears and huckleberry
sauce with peach sorbet and
chocolate bacon potato chips.
Lively conversation and ranch
war stories topped off the entertaining evening.
Make a note to yourself:
Don’t miss the most beautiful time of year, the genuine
hospitality and wonderful culinary delights from the people
of Idaho.
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16 | october 17, 2013
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK
Sports
South County Stallions
top Titans in thriller
Despite loss,
T.C. remains in
playoff contention
~ French Poodle Lovers Alert ~
Say “bon jour” to le petit “Bow Wow”! A darling fellow, Bow
Wow is the perfect age to enjoy playtime as well as rest time.
During his stay at the Shelter, this distinguished gentleman
has made friends with our Staff and his fellow pets-in-waiting.
Well-socialized, Bow Wow is a wonderful companion as he
enjoys good conversation, talking walks, and spending time
with friends. Lap-sized, Bow Wow is hoping for a new human
before the weather turns cold this autumn.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
ADOPTABLE PETS WAITING FOR
HOMES AT THE SHELTER, PLEASE
VISIT www.alexandriaanimals.org
or call 703-746-4664 ~ Thank You! ~
The Alexandria Animal Shelter’s
Pet of the Week is sponsored by
Diann Hicks.
703-628-2440
www.diannhicks.com
By Jim McElhatton
Trailing by a touchdown
with six seconds left, T.C.
Williams quarterback Darius
Holland dropped back and
scanned the field, desperately
searching for an open receiver
on the final play of Saturday’s
game.
A completion could have
led to an improbable comeback against the South County
Stallions. Early on, the game
— which featured a pair of 4-1
teams — had all the makings
of a South County blowout.
But after clawing back,
the Titans watched on as Holland’s last pass sailed deep
into the end zone, where South
County junior defensive back
Ernest Majors batted it away.
Final score: South County
44, T.C. 37.
Though the Stallions improved to 5-1, head coach
Gerry Pannoni wasn’t happy
with the win, citing his team’s
penalties and mistakes.
“They’re a good team,
one of the best teams we’ve
played,” Pannoni said of the
Titans. “But we should’ve
played a lot better today. Our
goal is to play in December,
and [we] need to do a better
job if we’re going to do that.”
But it was more than just
South County’s penalties that
let the Titans hang around and
make a comeback. Running
back Malik Carney racked up
233 rushing yards, a statistic
bolstered by an 89-yard run in
the second quarter that turned
the game around and gave
T.C. fans hope.
Photo/jim mcelhatton
After giving South County a 21-point lead early in the game, T.C.
Williams roared back to within a touchdown of tying it up. But the
Stallions held on to secure the win, 44-37.
South County took a 21-0
lead with about 10 minutes
left in the first half on a 32yard pass by quarterback David Symmes to wide receiver
Kevin Quigley, who ran into
the end zone untouched.
The Titans defensive players shook their heads as they
trudged toward the sideline.
And the situation got
worse before things started
turning around. The Titans
were pinned down inside their
20-yard line after the kickoff. Then Stallions defensive
back Khave Konteh broke up
a short pass attempt on first
down.
But on the next play, Carney found a wide-open path
cleared by the offensive line
and cut for the sidelines. Once
he found open field, it became
a footrace between the running back and the Stallions
defenders.
It wasn’t close; Carney
easily sprinted into the end
zone.
SEE Titans | 17
titans
FROM | 16
Again and again throughout the game, the Titans turned
to Carney to keep pace with
the Stallions. He scored once
more in the fourth quarter on
an 85-yard run. By that time,
every time Carney touched
the ball, South County fans
screamed, “Stop him! Stop
him!”
Even if the Stallions had no
answer for Carney, the Titans
struggled containing a South
County offense that scored
more than 50 points in four of
its past five games.
Titans coach Dennis Randolph said the teams were
clearly evenly matched, describing the game as exciting
“right up until the last second.”
“They dominated pretty
much the whole first half, and
we came back and made it a
game,” he said. “There were
a couple of situations where
we could’ve gotten stops, and
there were times when we got
the ball that we really shot ourselves in the foot and didn’t
get in the end zone.”
Though it was of little
consolation after the loss, the
Titans scored more points
against South County than
any other Stallion opponent
this season. Holland finished
the game with one touchdown
pass — a 37-yard completion
to wide receiver Alexander
Bledsoe — as well as a 49yard rushing touchdown that
brought the Titans to within
one score.
Despite South County’s
early lead, the Titans resisted
the urge to panic, the quarter-
back said.
“We’ve practiced too hard
to let that hold us down for the
whole game,” Holland said.
“We know there’s more game
left and that we’ll make plays.
We just have to execute.”
Saturday’s setback aside,
T.C. remains in playoff contention. Securing a berth this
season would end a playoff
drought that’s 20-plus years old.
After the loss, the Titans
stand 4-2 overall and 2-1 in
conference. T.C. faces a 2-4
Lee squad Friday night.
“We’re still better than we
were last year,” Holland said.
“We just have to finish strong.”
Photo/Sawyer mcelhatton
Though T.C. Williams fell 44-37 to South County on Saturday, the Titans remain in playoff contention.
MA
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Canine Cruise
Saturday, October 26th 10 AM & 11 AM
Come out with your costumed canine and cruise to
some Halloween tunes along the Potomac! We will have
Halloween treats on board along with a photographer to
capture how humiliated your pup
feels in that ridiculous pumpkin costume on film!
All are invited, with or without a four legged friend.
The dog rides free but the human must pay for their ride.
OCTOBER 26TH
“BARK OR TREAT”
10 AM & 11 AM
Note: Reservations are highly recommended. Please go to our website to
reserve tickets. Dogs must be on a 6 ft. flat leash. Retractable leashes are not permitted.
703.684.0580
|
W W W . P O T O M A C R I V E R B O AT C O . C O M
PRB_F13Canine_CRUISE_5X4_OCT13.indd 1
9/30/13 2:08 PM
www.alextimes.com
18 | october 17, 2013
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
10%
discount
for new
clients!
Shop Around the Corner
A special advertising feature of the Alexandria Times
Providing, customized, client-centered
therapeutic massage since 2001
Come and see our beautiful new location
At 3303 Duke Street in Alexandria.
www.oldtownmassagecenter.com
Check us out on FB and Twitter
Excellence in technical services.
An atmosphere of relaxation and tranquility.
Full-service hair treatments for women & men.
A LEXANDRI A
20 Readers’ Choice 13
Look for us on Yelp to get
your First Visit Discount!
712 N Washington St., Alexandria, VA
(703) 683-0755 • aquilanosalon.com
Register online for fall knit &
crochet classes of all skill levels!
Visit us for unique yarns and community
events in our bright, new space!
www.fibrespace.com
1219 King Street Old Town Alexandria
Old Town Massage Center celebrates
new shop along Duke Street
Jette Hansen and Crystal Kaplan, president and vice president
of the Old Town Massage Center, respectively, celebrated the
shop’s new Duke Street location
earlier this month with John Long
III, president of the Alexandria
Chamber of Commerce.
The Old Town Massage Center has been providing city residents with customized therapeutic massages and care since 2001.
“Our skilled therapists provide our clients with the very best
that massage has to offer,” Hansen said. “And now, we can do so
in a beautiful, serene setting that
better meets their needs as well as
our own.”
The waiting room at the center
is calm and inviting. The lighting
and ambiance creates a soothing
atmosphere, which starts clients
off on the right foot. Relaxation
is key at the business, as well as
working with people individually.
“Stress impacts everyone’s
body differently, which is why
we work individually with each
client at each and every visit,”
Hansen said. “We place a high
premium on helping our clients
unlock and release painful patterns, which are commonly held
in the body as a result of stress,
trauma, or even illness and accidents.”
And the center has a multitude
of services available to help people deal with the stress.
“Our therapists offer many
modalities, including deep tissue work, myofascial release,
sports massage, biodynamic craniosacral therapy, neuromuscular
therapy, hot stones, reflexology,
prenatal massage and — most
courtesy Photo
Employees and community members celebrate the grand opening of Old
Town Massage Center’s new location on Duke Street earlier this month.
recently — we added cupping
to our offerings,” Hansen said.
“Therapists will often incorporate
multiple modalities in a single
session.”
These sessions are handled by
the center’s excellent staff members, who Hansen and Kaplan
carefully selected for their handson skills and nuanced approach.
“We believe that the quality of
the massages provided by our expert staff and the tranquil new setting of Old Town Massage Center
makes a difference in the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of our clients,” Hansen
said. “Every person is unique.”
This focus on the client has
made Old Town Massage Center
a much-loved and well-respected
establishment in the community.
“We have a significant number
of loyal clients who have been
coming here for years,” Kaplan
said.
www.alextimes.com
And for visitors, there’s always a good time available, since
the center caters to the consumer.
“Old Town Massage Center
is open seven days a week because D.C. area residents work
demanding hours and need flexible schedules to fit in time for
self-care and well-being,” Kaplan said. “We are here Sunday
through Friday 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
and Saturdays from 9 [a.m.] to 6
[p.m.] because those are the hours
that work best for our clients.”
Old Town Massage Center
offers free parking at 3303 Duke
St. and is fully wheelchair accessible. Call 703-518-8484 or
visit www.oldtownmassagecenter.
com for an appointment and
experience why people say this
place offers the best massages in
Northern Virginia.
Calendar
FROM | 13
ST. RITA SCHOOL 5K The 5K run
and 1K fun run for children will raise
funds for academic programs and financial aid at St. Rita’s School.
Time: 9 to 11 a.m.
Location: Cora Kelly Elementary
School, 3600 Commonwealth Ave.
Information: Contact Jude Prabaharan at 703-509-3094 or jprabaharan@
gmail.com
HOLLIN HALL SENIOR CENTER
MEGA BAZAAR This free event —
which is the main fundraiser for Hollin
Hall Senior Center — will feature more
than 30 crafters, a huge silent auction
with services and new merchandise, a
terrific bake sale, and door prizes.
Location: Hollin Hall Senior Center,
1500 Shenandoah Road
hollinhallseniorcenter.org
CREATING 3D AVATARS OF
ACHAEOLOGICAL OBJECTS Dr.
from the Alexandria Archaeology Museum collection.
Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Location: Alexandria Archaeology
Museum, 105 N. Union St.
APD: FREE CHILD IDENTIFICATION EVENT The Alexandria Police
Department — in partnership with the
community and human services department, the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office
and the Center for Alexandria’s Children
Inc. — will host a SafeAssured Child
Identification event for city residents.
Free SafeAssured child identification kits
will be available to families with children
16 and younger.
Location: Police Headquarters, 3600
Wheeler Ave.
FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL The festi-
Bernard Means will discuss the efforts
of the Virtual Curation Laboratory to
digitally preserve the past, will share 3D
digital models and plastic replicas generated by the models, and demonstrate
the 3D scanning process using artifacts
val will feature children’s activities, such
as scarecrow-making, pumpkin and face
painting, a moonbounce, puppet show,
band performance, and pony rides.
Location: Armistead L. Boothe Park,
520 Cameron Station Blvd.
Information: Contact Cheryl Lawrence
at 703-746-5592 or cheryl.lawrence@
alexandriava.gov
COUNTRY DAY Come enjoy a day
of games, food and fun for all ages at
Alexandria Country Day School’s annual
Country Market. The event will feature a
performance by The Great Zucchini.
Location: Alexandria Country Day
School, 2400 Russell Road
acdsnet.org
RARE AND OLD BOOK APPRAISALS Allan Stypeck, a noted
antiquarian book expert from Second
Story Books, will appraise books and
determine values. The event is free.
Time: Noon to 2 p.m.
alexandria.lib.va.us
AUTHOR TALK WITH MAGGIE
SEFTON Come meet New York Times
bestselling author Maggie Sefton, who
will talk about her recent release of the
second novel in the Molly Malone trilogy
called “Poisoned Politics.” There also will
be a book signing at this free event.
Time: 3 to 4 p.m.
Location: Barnes & Noble Booksellers,
3651 Jefferson Davis Highway
Information: www.barnesandnoble.com
SPIRITS, SUFFERING AND
SOCIETY In commemoration of the
150th anniversary of the Civil War, the
Lee-Fendall House, once sanctuary to
wounded Union soldiers, will continue
its living history program. This year,
come explore the mass degree of loss
experienced by Civil War soldiers and
their families. Tickets are $15.
Whole Maine Lobster
Dinner $17.95
KEIKO MATSUI The Japanese-born
pianist, producer and composer has sold
more than 1.5 million records worldwide.
Keiko Matsui also is the first Japanese
artist to top Billboard’s contemporary
jazz charts for three weeks in a row. Her
latest album is “Soul Quest.” Tickets are
$39.50.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Birchmere, 3701 Mount
Vernon Ave.
birchmere.com
ST. LUKE’S CHOIR CONCERT
This event will benefit United Community
Ministries. There is a $15 suggested
donation.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church,
8009 Fort Hunt Road
October 20
ALEXANDRIA SHELTER WALK
FOR HOMELESS ANIMALS The
Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
will host the second Alexandria Shelter
Walk for Homeless Animals. The event
aims to raise awareness about pet
overpopulation in the region as well as
the thousands of homeless animals at
the league. The walk is $25 for adults,
$10 for kids, 6 to 16 years old, and free
to children, 5 and younger.
Time: 9 to 11 a.m.
Location: Market Square, 301 King St.
Information: Contact Patrick Cole at
703-746-5655 or pcole@alexandriaanimals.org
NATIONAL CAPITAL STROLLATHON The National Capital
Strollathon is the signature event of the
International Rett Syndrome Foundation.
It’s a family event that raises crucial
research dollars and public awareness
of Rett syndrome in communities across
the country.
Location: Founders Park, 351 N.
Union St.
Information: Contact Jeffrey Greenwald at 301-961-1539 or jeffg1605@
mac.com
CIVIL WAR SUNDAY Explore the
Civil War in Alexandria with Civil War
Sundays, a showcase of an original May
26, 1861, edition New York Tribune
detailing Col. Elmer Ellsworth’s death in
Alexandria; a Peeps diorama illustrating Ellsworth’s death; a TimeTravelers
Passport exhibit featuring the Civil War
drummer boy; a diorama of a heating
system constructed in Alexandria to
warm Civil War hospital tents during the
winter of 1861; a cocked-and-loaded
Wickham musket discarded in a privy
during the 1860s; and an exhibit on the
Lee Street site during the Civil War. The
event is free.
Time: 1 to 5 p.m.
Location: Alexandria Archaeology
Museum, 105 N. Union St.
events
& catering
Not valid with other offers
It’s our
Third YEAR!
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Location: Lee-Fendall House Museum,
614 Oronoco St.
A special advertising feature of the Alexandria Times
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Special Dinner for Two $34
6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. (in-dining only - Sun, Mon & Tues)
Your choice of 2 entrées and 1 bottle
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S imone marchand singing
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L ight Up
the S eaSon !
Host your holiday gathering at Indigo Landing Restaurant.
From intimate to extravagant, we’ll help you spread the
cheer with our warm hospitality and the perfect menu.
Call Aimee Eddington, Private Dining Manager at (703) 548-9027
1 Marina Dr., Alexandria, VA 22314 • indigolanding.com
20 | october 17, 2013
Our View
Though not ideal, state
intervention is necessary
Local officials and more than a few parents are up in
arms at the prospect of the state taking over the struggling Jefferson-Houston School. But after careful consideration and more than a bit of soul-searching, we believe the city and school district should give Richmond
a chance — with a few caveats.
Though the community has fought valiantly to turn
the embattled school around, it still lacks state accreditation. Let’s be honest: Despite longer school days, a
voluntary dress code, applying for International Baccalaureate status, and too many other changes and initiatives to mention here, Jefferson-Houston still comes up
short.
Have there been gains? Of course, which is why we
want to be clear that we are in no way passing judgment
on community efforts. But the successes over the years,
laudable as they may be, do not represent a decisive victory.
It’s time to give someone else a shot.
This is not a wholesale endorsement of the controversial Opportunity Educational Institution, the state
entity created by Gov. Bob McDonnell and the General
Assembly to oversee school takeovers. We share many
of the same concerns as those in the city adamantly opposed to it.
Most disturbingly, the legislation behind the institution is far too vague when it comes to relinquishing
seized schools. For instance, once a school receives full
accreditation, it “shall be eligible” to return to local control, according to state code. And if a school goes five
years without reaching full accreditation, then the state
“shall decide” whether to hang on to the institution or
give it back.
The language is such that Richmond — if state officials felt like it — could retain control of these schools
indefinitely. There’s no reason to be wishy-washy on
this point. If a school earns full accreditation, then it
should immediately fall back under local control. If after five years the state can’t turn the school around, then
it should return to the locality.
This is particularly pressing in Jefferson-Houston’s
case. Since the city is committed to building a multimillion-dollar replacement building, it’s critical knowing
when — and under what specific circumstances — control of the school would return to Alexandria. For this,
we turn to our state representatives, who already have
indicated that they would seek clarity on this point.
We recognize this legislation isn’t perfect. But we
all understand there comes a time when intervention is
more than OK, when it becomes necessary. JeffersonHouston School is at that point.
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
Opinion
“Where the press is free and every man is able to read, all is safe.”
- Thomas Jefferson
Your Views
Democrats deserve blame for
government shutdown
To the editor:
Who bears the responsibility for the shutdown? Democratic Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid and his cohorts
who play along with him —
including President Barack
Obama — that’s who. This is
the case, despite the claims of
the liberal media who say it’s
the Republicans’ fault.
Note that the House of
Representatives under Speaker John Boehner passed several continuing resolutions
to fund the government, but
Reid refused to take up any
of them, even the bills on
which he admits the Demo-
crats agree with the Republicans. His excuse that passing
individual bills is too timeconsuming is patently absurd. Bills pass in an instant
by unanimous consent.
The president’s announcement that he would veto such
bills was sadly manipulative
and foolish. And his vetoes
could have been overridden in a jiffy. The president
should put the good of the
country first and lead efforts
to pass a reasonable budget,
as well as set a better example for his party.
Refusing to negotiate is
what dictators do. We want
to keep our federal republic
operating. The Constitution
was the product of hard compromising. Surely our representatives, who have sworn to
uphold the Constitution, know
about that precedent. We expect our legislators to work
hard to find the best solutions,
not refuse to meet with those
with whom they disagree.
Shame on Reid, his Democratic cohorts and the president. It’s time for them to do
the job for which they continue to draw handsome salaries.
- Ellen Latane Tabb
Alexandria
A reflection on National Disability
Employment Awareness Month
Finding the right job can ployment rate for people with
be hard — especially if you’re disabilities is 14.1 percent —
dealing with special challeng- double that of people without
disabilities.
es.
As a child, I thought of the I found that I needed to stay
type of job I would like to have strong and confident that one
when I started out on my own. day these hard experiences
I wanted to enter fields like would pay off. A person tends
to get frustrated
nursing, teaching and
when you go for
accounting, among othan interview for
er exciting possibilities.
a job and are told
I always knew I wanted
your
adaptive
to help others yet wasn’t
equipment probsure how to go about it.
ably won’t work
But when it was time
in that environto find employment, I
ment or with their
found getting a job quite
hard. A few of the jobs I My View system.
When
I
tried I just did not like.
When I did find a job Donna Browning worked in state
that would suit me, the lack of jobs, adaptive equipment was
adaptive materials and assis- available to assist me in pertive equipment prevented me forming my duties. However,
from getting it. Retaining a job when I worked in the priproved to be troublesome at vate sector, assistive technology necessary for my success
times, too.
While looking for jobs, I was much harder to come by.
faced the sort of challenges Even when I borrowed needed
that left me — at times — con- equipment, it often failed to be
cerned about my career. And fully compatible with either
my system or the interface that
I’m not alone.
Last year, the Bureau of La- was being used at that job.
bor Statistics reported that 17.8 I found that cooperation,
percent of persons with a dis- keeping an open mind and creability were employed in the ativity — combined with opUnited States. In contrast, the portunity — will open doors.
employment-population ratio The employer gains a hardfor persons without a disability working addition to their team
was 63.9 percent. The unem- who, in turn, paves the way
to new understanding and opportunity for others. The employee earns an opportunity to
improve their circumstances
through income and purpose.
We all need to know we
have a purpose, as this motivates us to make changes and
achieve.
I work a job that took 10
years to get. During my calls to
conduct business, I frequently
asked if jobs were vacant.
When I heard about this job, I
knew it was right for me.
I am happy that I am now
working the job that allows me
to help others lead a productive
and happy life. This is because
I was given the chance to prove
myself.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness
Month, and this year’s theme
is Because We Are EQUAL
to the Task. This echoes what
individuals with disabilities already know: We are dedicated
employees and successful in
the workplace when provided
an opportunity.
The writer is a member of the
Alexandria Commission on
Persons with Disabilities.
Advice from a former furloughed federal worker
To the editor:
I worked for the federal government from 1976 until 2008,
and I believe that I witnessed everything at least twice. The feds
were furloughed 17 times during
my career. The longest time was
in 1996, when we were out for 21
days.
Most of the time it was no big
deal because the work belonged
to us, and we decided where and
when it would be done. True,
the government and Congress
own the buildings, desks, cars,
phones, copy machines and computers, but the work has always
belonged to the workers.
Former President Ronald Reagan hired James Watt to lead the
Department of Interior early in
my career. His approach was to
threaten everyone with a “reduction in force.” Frankly, that administration didn’t believe what
we were doing was necessary.
The threats worked, and 12 of my
staff of 15 left voluntarily for fear
that they would be laid off.
From that experience, we
were more determined not to
let politically motivated people
take our jobs from us. You see,
we were public servants, and we
believed in the idea of working
in the interest of the public. The
free-market system can do a lot
of things, but it cannot represent
the public interest in America.
Some days during this period,
the situation was dismal. Once,
with a death wish in our heart,
we organized a workers strike —
SEE furloughed | 25
This is what a good
politician looks like
To the editor:
As the government
shutdown underscores,
a politician’s personal
conduct matters because
— as very public figures
— they set examples and
shape the quality of political life. For these reasons, I want to offer some
insight into the character
of state Delegate Rob
Krupicka (D-45), who is
kept in contact with Rob
occasionally via email,
and he never failed to
respond promptly. Periodically, I also received
emails from Rob informing his constituents of
General Assembly developments and his legislative work on issues
that affect us all. More
recently, I knocked on
constituents’ doors with
... I kept in contact with Rob
occasionally via email, and
he never failed to respond promptly.”
running for re-election,
based on my interactions
with him.
Prior to moving to Alexandria in June 2012, I
taught sociology at Stetson University in Florida.
As a sociologist, I studied
American political culture and, in particular,
how and why people engage in or disengage from
politics. Having studied
and engaged in politics
for many years, I know
that politicians can do a
lot to connect with constituents and inspire their
political engagement.
Not long after I moved
to Alexandria, I met Rob.
This was when he was
running for a seat in the
General Assembly during last year’s special
election. Just prior to the
election, I knocked on
doors for Rob and found
that many people already
knew him — as a neighbor and city councilor —
and planned to vote for
him.
After the election,
which he won handily, I
Rob and participated in a
packed public discussion
about education issues at
his home as he earnestly
took notes.
All of these experiences may seem ordinary,
but together they paint an
extraordinary model. I’ve
seen more than enough
politicians who are slow
to respond to emails —
or don’t respond at all
— and prefer the easier
public gatherings to the
harder work of knocking on their constituents’
doors.
Most politicians, in
my experience, also don’t
welcome
constituents
into their homes to talk
at length with them about
the issues and take notes
on what they say. Yet in
good democracies, this is
what good politicians do.
Thanks, Rob, for your
example at a time when
we could use more good
politicians.
- Paul Lachelier
Alexandria
22 | october 17, 2013
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I
A city home to architecture
of ‘no equal’
n 1946, the Curtis Publishing Co.
released an illustrated coffee-table
book authored by Richard Pratt simply titled, “A Treasury of Early American
Homes.”
A marvelous resource for architects,
designers and lovers of period American
homes and furnishings, the book instantly
became a valued resource on the nation’s
historical dwellings. Additional printings
of the popular tome were initiated for
years thereafter.
The book actually had been compiled
by popular demand after 22 separate articles in a regional series that ran in the
Ladies Home Journal magazine. The project, featuring beautiful color photographs
of homes largely unseen before, was economically feasible only because it was underwritten by a major magazine, popular
with millions of readers throughout the
country.
To prepare the project, Pratt traveled
across the United States, visiting regions
far afield — from New England to the
Deep South and California — at different times of the year. Photographs were
taken when they would present a property
in its best light, mostly in the spring or
fall, when flowers were in bloom and trees
were just transitioning.
In the end, though, Pratt admitted that
it was a bit unnecessary to create spectacular backdrops, since the homes were “sufficiently wonderful by themselves.”
Usually, Pratt wrote about the chronology of the homes he profiled or the
regional geographic area from which they
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The Ariail family
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Send your comments to:
letters@alextimes.com
Letters must be signed by the writer. Include address and phone for verification
(not for publication). Letters are subject
to editing for clarity and length. Personal
attacks will not be published.
photo/library of congress
hailed. But he took great pains to deliver a
two-page spread highlighting Alexandria,
which was described as one of the most
beautiful early American cities.
Pratt was amazed that at almost every
turn in the older parts of Alexandria, one
could take advantage of views of handsome and important architecture. He featured three representative properties for
his article, including the Holland House
off Wolfe Street, then owned by Berenice
Fleming-Holland, and the Dulaney House
at 601 Duke St., then owned by Mr. and
Mrs. John Howard Joynt.
It was the third area along Prince
Street — between South Union and South
Fairfax streets — that truly captured his
eye, including the row houses seen here in
a 1940s view of 103-133 Prince St.
“These two blocks of Colonial and
Federal houses on Prince Street have no
equal anywhere for period completeness,”
he wrote.
Out of the Attic is provided by the
Office of Historic Alexandria.
From the web
In response to “Waterfront
lot is boat club’s domain,”
October 10:
Kevin writes:
The Old Dominion Boat Club
should willingly sell that [parking]
lot if it cared at all about the City of
Alexandria and what was best. It’s
an eyesore that has no place being
there. It doesn’t fit in, and that land
needs to be better utilized.
The fact is that cities have main
areas, and just because the boat
club has been there forever doesn’t
mean that it should be ignoring the
current needs of the city. I just can’t
understand why the [boat club]
won’t cooperate here. But since it
won’t, the city needs to do what it
needs to do.
James Duda writes:
... Allowing the use of eminent
domain would set a dangerous
precedent. The city would be better served seeking ways to partner
with the boat club to improve the
look and function of the club and
parking lot (and Wales Alley while
we’re at it) without threatening to
take them away. From what I know
of the club, members are more than
willing to work with the city to upgrade the lot … That may not go as
far as some would like but would
be a win — even if a small one —
for everyone involved.
Weekly Poll
Last Week
Since negotiations seem to be at a
stalemate, should the city use eminent
domain to take the Old Dominion Boat
Club parking lot?
This Week
Should the state intervene at JeffersonHouston School?
A. Yes.
B. No.
93% No.
7% Yes.
280 votes
Take the poll at alextimes.com
At Home
20th-century style’s top-100 hits
By Bill LaHay
There’s a certain level of competence that most professionals
have to demonstrate in their lives
if they hope to attract and keep
paying clientele. (Would you open
your mouth for a dentist with bad
teeth?) That just makes sense. We
expect professional expertise to be
reflected somehow in the personal
lives of the practitioners, and this is
especially true of design work.
We look to artists, fashion designers, architects and other professionals in aesthetic trades not only
for what they provide to clients or
the public, but also to see the work
they do for themselves. Unfettered by the constraints that come
with most paid commissions, this
personal work is often more dar-
ing, more expressive or perhaps
the purest version of a designer’s
work, pared down to the essential
elements.
British design writer Dominic
Bradbury recognizes that designers’ homes can be great and unique
examples of the craft, and for some,
he takes it a step further. The really
exceptional ones, in his view, are
iconic. That is, they are definitive
works that capture the essence of a
particular style or movement — or
even of a specific historical period.
Bradbury has singled out 100
of these homes for inclusion in his
book, “The Iconic Interior: Private
Spaces of Leading Artists, Architects, and Designers.” The largeformat hardcover is a thinking
person’s coffee-table book, mixing plenty of eye candy (more than
500 color photographs) with an informed and in-depth discussion of
what makes these homes what the
author calls “essential reference
points in the history of interior design.”
The book opens with Bradbury’s take on how we got where
we are today — how social and
technological changes have shaped
residential architecture, and why
interior design has evolved from a
domain for the elites into a passion
for many “ordinary” homeowners.
The 20th century ushered in many
profound changes, he says, one of
them being the transformation of
the home from basic shelter into a
vehicle for creative self-expression.
Previous centuries had produced
SEE style | 24
Photo/Richard Powers; courtesy of “The Iconic Interior”; Abrams
A cowhide chair, Navajo rug and rustic pine wall planks
evoke the rugged warmth of the American Southwest,
but in a London penthouse apartment designed by
architect Berthold Lubetkin. Unexpected touches like
these are common in a designer’s personal home.
HOME OF THE WEEK
Understated elegance in desirable Malvern Hills
This beautifully expanded
brick home — with two finished levels — sits in a serene
setting surrounded by perennial gardens.
The light-filled rooms,
gleaming wood floors, high
ceilings, custom built-ins and
wonderful flow make this
home ideal for entertaining.
The foyer entry welcomes you
to a spacious living room with
high ceilings, wainscoting and
a fireplace.
The formal dining room
features built-in china cabinets
and is adjacent to the gourmet
kitchen. The beautiful family room with a fireplace ad-
joins a fabulous year-round
sunroom, which includes a
wet bar, Italian tile floors and
French doors that open to a
deck and lovely yard.
The master suite is on the
main level, and so is another
bedroom with full bath. The
spacious walkout lower level
hosts a recreation room with a
fireplace, two bedrooms, a full
bath and lots of storage space.
At a Glance:
Location: 1310 Trinity Drive,
Photos/DS Creative Group
(Left) The residence sits on a large lot surrounded by mature landscaping and perennial gardens.
(Right) Enjoy this spacious sunroom addition year-round.
Price: $1,070,000
Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 3.5
Fireplaces: 3 wood-burning Contact: Christine Garner,
Lot Size: 12,004 square feet of Weichert, Realtors, at
Parking: Off Street/Driveway 703-587-4855 or
Neighborhood: Malvern Hills
www.christinegarner.com
ADVERTORIAL
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EuropEan HandcraftEd furniturE, antiquEs & VintagE accEssoriEs
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24 | october 17, 2013
Style
FROM | 23
stunning artistry in buildings,
certainly, but much of it in the
form of ornamentation. Impressive exterior facades concealed structural forms that
remained fairly basic, acting as
shells and subshells to be filled
with fine interior furnishings
produced by guild artisans. To
paraphrase the late comedian
George Carlin, they were big
boxes to hold artsy stuff.
When architects broadened
their role and took a more organic approach to building design, interior spaces became
part of the design package, not
just the empty stage for someone else’s performance.
Late 19th-century Victorian
styles had featured elaborate
decoration that masked line and
structure; now those core elements were featured prominently, even celebrated, in cleaner
and simpler works of the Arts
and Crafts and modernist aesthetics.
Toss in consequences from
two major European wars —
many artists and professionals
fleeing to the United States, air
travel coming to the civilian
market and military technology spinning off new materi-
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
als, such as plywood and aluminum — and by mid-century,
the cross-pollination of cultures and ideas was underway
and unstoppable. Traditionalists and modernists found
room to grow, either through
reinventing classical styles or
by claiming new artistic turf of
their own.
The resulting diversity is
part of what makes Bradbury’s
book possible, and he has dutifully assembled here a remarkable array of spaces and
places. Readers get glimpses
and in-depth looks at: writer
Edith Wharton’s neoclassical
New England residence, The
Mount, Frank Lloyd Wright’s
Hollyhock House, fashion designer Coco Chanel’s Paris
apartment, the respectful and
dramatic home that architect
Ray Kappe built into a California hillside, and the jawdropping 17th-century Chateau
du Champ de Bataille, restored
and owned by French interior
designer Jacques Garcia.
American and European
homes comprise the bulk of the
entries, but other featured locations beckon from as far away
as South America, Australia,
South Africa, Japan, Morocco,
Turkey, China and Thailand.
Photography by Richard Pow-
Photo/Richard Powers; courtesy of “The Iconic Interior”; Abrams
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma calls his Beijing, China, home the Great Wall, trying to downplay the
enclosed aspect of the space. Extensive use of bamboo, fabric and natural light patterns are intended
to tie the house to its surrounding landscape.
Tuckpointing: New life for historic brick buildings
(202) 547-2345
www.rendevdc.com
ers and others aims for a timeless quality to match the featured interiors.
With the book’s focus on
20th-century work, contemporary design themes outnumber
traditional examples, but it’s
hard to believe that anyone
who appreciates architecture
and design won’t find a lot to
love in this volume. If I have a
gripe, it’s only that having this
international tour of beautiful
homes at my fingertips makes
me wistful, knowing I can’t see
them all in person.
october 17, 2013 | 25
furloughed
FROM | 21
complete with a signed resolution
— and walked off the job one afternoon. Luckily, we reconsidered
before anyone knew we were gone.
When we recovered from the
Watt years, we accepted the fact
that many federal agency managers were mean-spirited and had
agendas that were more political
than public-minded. We expanded
our budget to more than $2 million
and hired a staff of 43. We recruited
people who believed that their work
was important.
Our belief was grounded in our
legislative mandates and the strong
support we received from state, local and private leaders across the
country.
When you are working as a
federal employee and a furlough
comes, it turns you around. Some
people find the experience not
worth the trouble and move on to
the private sector or other levels of
government.
For those of us that braved the
storms of uncertainty, we survived
by taking refuge in our belief that
it’s an honor to serve our country.
That work was what made the good
times and the hard times worth it.
Those recently furloughed need
to use their downtime to think
about what motivates their interest
in federal service beyond a job or a
paycheck.
Finding a job is easy. Finding a
job that makes a difference — and
that you have a passion for — is
more of a challenge. Until you decide differently, the work belongs
to you, no matter what.
- J. Glenn Eugster
Alexandria
alextimes.com
Weekly Words
WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM ACROSS
1 River of forgetfulness
6 Marathons they’re not
12 Desk go-with
17Safe from a skunk’s
defense
19 Some woodwind musicians
21 Drum sounds
23 Guy behind the counter?
24Like some stops, in speaking
25Goddess often depicted in
armor
26Third man from the first
man
27 Happening many times
29One skilled at handling his
pride?
31“Alexander’s Bridge” novelist Cather
33 Dutch painter Jan
35 Map legend, usually
36Branch of medicine dealing
with X-rays
40 Like graduation caps
42 Like a dead weight
43 Change your story
45 50-50, in the Senate
46 ___ chi
49 No less than
52 Elaborate wall tapestry
54 Clears up, as rumors
57 Tell an untruth
58Prefix with “brewery” or
“wave”
60 After-hours school grp.
62 Animal with a hump
63 French G.I.
65 Thin, crisp cookie
68 Old name for the flu
69What a circus promises to
be
73 Pressing issue?
74 Expression of praise
75 Suit sizes
76 Grocery store pathway
77 Venomous reptile
78 Search deeply (with “into”)
80 Sigma follower
83 Alternative to contacts
85 Run ___ of (conflict with)
88 Some refuse receptacles
91 TV Tarzan Ron
92 Gobbled down
94 Midmonth, to Caesar
95 The best and the brightest
96 Quaking
99 Salad greens
103Insect’s sense organs
106Spanish coins of yore
107Lehar operetta “The Merry
___”
108Largest land animals
110Bed extension?
112Shaving mishap
116Like right-slanting type
117Friz Freleng’s real first
name
120Collection of teams
122Like some thunderstorms
123Guy in a cockpit
124Request from a happy
audience
125Completes the defense
126Handsome horses
127Throat ailment, commonly
DOWN
1 Tire nuts
2 Alternative to a saber
3 Buffoon
4Act that makes people look
up
5 67.5, direction-wise
6 GI ID
7 A willing partner?
8 In a bit
9 Strike
10 Letters on a cornerstone
11Becomes hard and dry, as
bread
12Start of some juice blend
names
13Actress McDaniel of “Gone
With the Wind”
14 Easily accessible
15 Agenda listings
16 Indian queen (var.)
18 Whimsical
20 Most guileful
22 Bakery offering
28“Kiss my grits” utterer of TV
fame
30 City near Syracuse
32 Tiny amount
33 The clink
34 “Bye-bye,” to a Brit
36 100 Iranian dinars
37 Proposal foe
38 Remove, to an editor
39 Decade segment
41 Flowery wreath in Hawaii
44 Be half asleep
46Offer chocolates to a dieter,
say
47 Letter before beth
48 Ferry destination, possibly
50 Strike down, Biblically
51 Bathroom square
53 Spurt out
55 Scrawny individual
56 Couples
59 Zodiac boundaries
61Message board annoyance
63Bell tower emanations
64 Desert watering holes
66 “Caught you!”
67 Cheesy dish
68Offspring’s inheritance
69 Cook, in a way
70 Express anew
71 Spanish appetizer
72Star that brightens and
then fades
73 Barred enclosure
77 Behind, asea
79 “What ___ can I say?”
80Best part of the lobster, to
many
81 Pony up for a hand
82 Brings into play
84“In one ___ and out the
other”
86Type of dirt for a builder
87 Laudatory poems
89Comic book character,
often
90It may involve a bucket of
fake water
93 Ipecac, e.g.
96 Brandy-making fruit
97 Souvenir stand item
98 Low men at La Scala
100Bake sale goods
101Org. with covert operations
102Discombobulate
103Architect I.M. and family
104Take in or let out
105Exit
109Biggest diamonds on a
table
110Bottom of the foot
111Walked heavily
113Transylvanian lab
assistant?
114Remedy
115Hold on to
118Fit for the job
119Tool’s partner
121Cincinnati trios
Last Week’s Solution:
26 | october 17, 2013
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
Classifieds
Obituaries
Former city councilor
dies overseas at age 73
Lois Walker remembered
for public transportation
advocacy, love of art
Former City Councilor Lois
Walker, renowned for her work
advocating for public transportation, died Sunday of pneumonia while vacationing in Turkey
at the age of 73.
Walker served on the city
council from 1994 until 2000
and later was the president of
Virginians for High Speed Rail.
Her son, Boyd Walker, said her
passion for transportation issues began at a young age.
“She loved trains; my
grandfather was a train engineer,” Boyd Walker said. “I
had been on a high-speed rail
trip with her from Paris down
to Barcelona and back. ... She
became passionate about bringing high-speed rail to the East
Coast.”
Boyd Walker said his mother was instrumental in championing future transportation
projects in the area — from a
Potomac Yard streetcar line
to ensuring that the renovated Woodrow Wilson Bridge
would have a bike trail and the
capacity for accommodating a
future Metro line.
“She was a visionary [on
transportation policy], looking
several years into the future,”
he said. “You have to be, since
transportation planning takes
many years to actually implement.”
Outside of public service,
Lois Walker loved ancient and
historic culture, studying art
history at George Washington
University. Boyd Walker described her as the glue of her
group of friends and family.
“They’d all come to her
house, and she’d organize dinners with them,” he said. “For
many years, we’d have a big
Thanksgiving with about 30
people.”
Her family will hold a memorial service in her honor
October 26 from 6 to 8 p.m.
at the Torpedo Factory.
ROY S. GILLINSON
(90), of Alexandria,
October 14, 2013
MAY TING MOY,
of Alexandria,
October 9, 2013
MARILYN BLACKWELL GRIMES,
formerly of Alexandria, October 9,
2013
ALLEN THOMAS
SMITH (80),
of Alexandria,
October 5, 2013
By Erich Wagner
FREDERICK M.
HENDERSON,
of Alexandria,
October 11, 2013
DONALD T. LASOWSKI, of
Alexandria, October
14, 2013
MARK ANDREW
TURNER (41),
of Alexandria,
October 6, 2013
FRANCES J. WITTE,
of Alexandria,
October 8, 2013
ABC NOTICE
HELP WANTED
Part time sales position in Old Town boutique available. 2 - 3 days per week, some weekends included.
Some familiarity with computers a plus. Call evenings: Ms. Lasker 703-765-7583.
What can the Times
I was quite pleased that
several people came to my
open house having seen
our ad in the Alexandria
Times. One or two brought
the ad with them!
- Jud Burke,
McEnearney Associates
do for
you?
703.739.0001
Business Directory
Home Services
Sign up
and
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electronic
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of the
Alexandria
Times every
week!
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Residential & Commercial
Custom Carpentry,
Book Cases,Painting,
Drywall, Storage Sheds
Doors, Molding,
Mantles, Rail, Kitchen
& Bath remodeling
Home Improvements and Remodeling
Call Terry at 571.239.4464
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Contact John Hajduk-Notary
Call 703-507-5193
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Professional. Experienced. Licensed.
electronicedition@alextimes.com
Advertise your business or service.
Contact Kristen Essex at
kessex@alextimes.com | 703.739.0001
28 | october 17, 2013
ALEXANDRIA TIMES
The William Lambert House
407 Duke Street, Old Town
Offered at $4,150,000
The presence of a home such as 407 Duke Street
is proof that Old Town Alexandria continued
to be an important port long after the Colonial
era. Considered the grandest home in town
when it was completed in 1872, the William
Lambert House is the City’s foremost example
of the Second Empire style, as evidenced most
conspicuously in its Mansard roofline and its
exquisite ornamentation. it was built to impress, as
it continues to do today.
With 13-foot ceilings and 8-foot windows, paneled
doors measuring over 10 feet in height, vast yet
comfortable rooms with original random-width
flooring, nine working fireplaces and a privileged
location on a double lot, there are few other
homes to compare for grandeur of space.
Susan Anthony, gri
Life Member,
NVAr Top Producers Club
Life Member, NVAr
Multi-Million Dollar Sales Club
$10+ Million in Sales YTD 2013
703.795.9536
www.susanbruceanthony.com
I sincerely appreciate your
referrals whether for assistance
here in Northern Virginia or for
referrals who are moving out of
the area. McEnearney Associates,
Inc. has an extensive network of
agents in other locations around
the country and the world!
From the softly shaped marble steps and visibly decorated entrance, one is prepared
for grandeur, confirmed by the double drawing room and banquet-sized dining room.
A family room on the main floor and library on the second level as well as the kitchen
which seats six at its 9-foot foot granite island allow for warm and less formal living. A
master suite with private sleeping porch occupies the back of the second floor and there
are four additional, generously sized bedrooms and four full baths.
Side and back terraces and gardens as well as a deep Victorian side porch fill the
generous lot. There is off-street parking for two cars.
If you are thinking of selling or buying a home,
call me for up-to-date information on our local market.
Let my 28 years of experience work for you!
®
®
109 S. Pitt Street • Alexandria, VA 22314

Meet Laurie Olin - Alexandria Times

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