COMMUNITY MEETING ON OPEN SPACE PROPERTIES

The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities invites the public to attend a meeting with the community to begin the park planning and design process for the open space properties at 4109-4125 Mount Vernon Ave., including an update and discussion about the approved community use of the former Duron Paint store building. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 20 at 7 p.m. at the Cora Kelly Recreation Center, located at 25 West Reed Ave.

 The purpose of the meeting is to gather input from the community about potential park elements that would support the community use of the property and to discuss a concept plan for the site developed by area architects. City staff will use the ideas generated from this meeting to refine a concept park plan and design options for the four open space parcels. The draft design options will then be reviewed and discussed in upcoming public meetings. Following this process, a phased draft park plan will presented for public hearing and approval by the City of Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission.

A Special Use Permit application for the public use of the former paint store was approved by the City Council in June 2010.

These open space parcels were purchased in 2007 in accordance with the City of Alexandria’s Open Space Master Plan through the Open Space Fund. The Arlandria Small Area Plan and Four Mile Run Restoration Master Plan both anticipated the use of this property as public open space with park related uses.

Persons unable to attend the meeting can send written comments to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, Attention: Laura Durham, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria, VA 22314, or e-mail laura.durham@alexandriava.gov.

DUNCAN LIBRARY – VISITING AUTHOR – KATHIE TRUITT

The Friends of Duncan Library are hosting Alexandria writer Kathie Truitt, author of False Victim, on Wednesday, September 22, 2010, at 7:30pm.
 
False Victim, a gripping psychological thriller based on a true story, is Kathie’s first novel. She recently sold the film rights to the book and the Discovery Channel is including the plotline in a documentary to
be shown in January during National Stalking Awareness Month.
 
The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. The Duncan Library is part of the Alexandria Library system and is located at 2501 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301. For more information or directions, please call 703-746-1705 or visit us online at www.alexandria.lib.va.us.

DEL RAY ARTISANS EVENT – “ONCE UPON A TIME”

Opening Reception:                Friday, October 1, 7 – 10 pm

Show Dates:                             October 1 – October 24, 2010

Alexandria, VA (September 8, 2010)  Join Del Ray Artisans at 7 pm on Friday, October 1, for the opening reception of ONCE UPON A TIME:  Fantastical ‑ Magical ‑ Nostalgic Re-imaginings. October’s show, which is open to all area artists, invites artists working in all media to explore an enchanting memory and recapture that “once upon a time” magic!   

Come re-discover childhood imagination!  See how artists have revived, deconstructed, and reinvented a nostalgic nursery rhyme, a beloved bedtime story, a favorite fairy tale or fable, or a memory.  Let your own inner child take a flight of fantasy with the artists, and allow your imagination bring your own “once upon a time” to life!

For more information, please visit www.TheDelRayArtisans.org or contact Curator Amy Souza at amy.souza@gmail.com or Curator Coordinator Michele Reday Cook at dra.curatorcoordinator@gmail.com. 

The show will be at the Del Ray Artisans gallery at the Nicholas A. Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22301.  Gallery hours are: Thursdays, 12 noon to 4 pm; Fridays, 12 noon to 9 pm; Saturdays, 10 am to 9 pm; and Sundays, 12 noon to 6 pm.  The gallery is free, open to the public and handicap accessible.