SCHEDULE OF SERVICES FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY, JULY 4^TH

All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

• Health Facilities: The Alexandria Health Department, 4480 King St.; the Flora Krause Casey Health Center, 1200 N. Howard St.; and the Teen Wellness Center, 3330 King St., will be closed on July 4.
• Hotlines: All emergency hotlines operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including the child protective services hotline at 703.746.5800; the domestic violence hotline, 703.746.4911; the emergency services for mental health or substance abuse crisis hotline, 703.746.3401; and the sexual assault hotline, 703.683.7273.
• Libraries: All Alexandria Library branches will be closed on July 4.
• Parking: On July 4, the Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces, as well as time restrictions in residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits.
• Recreation Centers: The Chinquapin Park Recreation Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 4. All other City recreation centers will be closed. 
• Refuse Collection: Residential trash and recycling will not be collected on July 4. Scheduled collections will be delayed by one day during the week of July 4. The household hazardous waste and electronics recycling collection site will be open on July 2 and closed on July 4.
• State Offices: The following Commonwealth of Virginia offices located in Alexandria will be closed on July 4: the Circuit, General District, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts, the Clerk of Court Office, and the DMV Office at 2681 Mill Road.
• Transit: Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule on July 4.

For more information, contact Jennifer Harris, Communications Officer, Office of Communications, at 703.746.3961 or jennifer.harris@alexandriava.gov. 

ALEXANDRIA POLICE BEGIN WARNING PERIOD FOR PHOTO SAFETY PROGRAM

On Friday, July 1, the Alexandria Police Department will begin the first phase of an active Photo Safety Program to help reduce red-light runners throughout the City.  Photo enforcement cameras will capture still images and video of red-light violators.  During the initial phase, a 30-day warning period from July 1 to July 30, a warning notice will be issued to the vehicle’s registered owner, for any violations.  There will be no fines during this warning phase.  At the completion of the warning phase, fines will be issued for all citations.

The photo-enforcement cameras are located at three intersections:

• South Patrick Street and Franklin Street
• South Patrick Street and Gibbon Street
• Duke Street and South Walker Street

Cameras will operate 24 hours a day and capture images of every vehicle running the red-lights at those intersections.  Warning signs alerting drivers to the red-light cameras have been installed prior to the warning period.

The Alexandria Police Department’s program is administered by Redflex Traffic Systems (http://www.redflex.com).  Each violation will be reviewed and approved by the Alexandria Police Department prior to being issued.

Chief of Police Earl L. Cook said, “This grace period will give motorists an opportunity to become familiar with the Photo Safety Program in Alexandria.  Our goal is to deter red-light runners and prevent accidents resulting from these violations.”

For more information contact the Public Information Office at 703.838.4636.

WARWICK VILLAGE POOL HOUSE UPDATES & EVENTS

Why Funding for Warwick Pool is not in the City Budget – and Why We’re Hopeful We Can Get it Back

Funding was removed because Alexandria had no strategy for its aquatics.  The city has hired a team of independent consultants to conduct an Aquatics Assessment and develop a “Master Plan”.  We have been invited to offer feedback and we will ask that Warwick pool improvements be part of the Plan.  Link to Details.

Warwick Pool is Getting a Makeover!

Several key improvements, including new fences, toilets, and lounge chairs, are complete or underway thanks to the city!  Link to details.

• the pool is now open 7 days a week
• there’s lots of great changes happening –> new paint job inside and out and everything especially the bathrooms looks WAY nicer

Swimming Lessons and Memberships To Be Offered at Warwick Pool
That’s right – classes for children, and both individual and family memberships, are available!  Link to Details.

“Friends of Warwick Pool” has a Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Warwick-Pool/156137701064167.  I am posting information as I receive it such as the information below.

Strong participation in volunteer projects shows the city we care and improves the pool – a win-win!  Each of the opportunities listed takes from a few minutes to a few hours at most.  Check them out and reply to this email or comment on the site if you can contribute.  Link to details.

Opportunities:

• Community survey(dates flexible)
• Flyers to advertise the pool (dates flexible)

ANNUAL USA & CITY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION ON SATURDAY, JULY 9^TH

Visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation

The City of Alexandria will celebrate its 262nd and the USA’s 235th birthday on Saturday, July 9, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., located at the Potomac River between Fairfax, Pendleton, and Madison Streets. Admission is free.

The celebration includes fun for the entire family, including children’s activities, community exhibits, and birthday cake. The highlight of the evening is a concert by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra with Maestro Kim Allen Kluge presenting an explosive night of fun and fanfare featuring “Dreams of Summer.”

Fireworks close out the celebration featuring Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” with cannon support by the United States Marine Corps, Basic Training School, Quantico, VA at 9:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, fireworks only will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 10 at 9:30 p.m.

Oronoco Bay Park has lawn seating, and participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Food, such as ice cream, hot dogs, hamburgers, shaved ice and kettle corn will be available for purchase, but everyone is welcome to pack a picnic supper. No grilling allowed. Attendees are encouraged to leave pets at home.

Visitors to the historic district are encouraged bike, walk or take the Metrorail Yellow or Blue lines to the King Street Station and take King Street Trolley to the unit block of King St., a short walk to Oronoco Bay Park. The King Street Trolley will operate until midnight for individuals wishing to return to the King Street Metro following the celebration.

For DASH schedule information, call 703.746.DASH or visit www.dashbus.com. For Metrobus schedule information, call 202.637.7000 or visit www.wmata.com.

Parking is available at Simpson Properties Garage, 700 North Fairfax Street; Tishman Speyer, 44 Canal Center Plaza (at a special $5 fee); and Trammell Crow Company, 601 North Fairfax Street.

For additional information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation or call the Special Events Hotline at 703.746.5592.

DEL RAY ARTISANS PRESENTS “STATES OF MIND”

Alexandria, VA (June 30, 2011) Del Ray Artisans (DRA) is pleased to announce the show: States of Mind.  The show runs from Friday, August 5, through Sunday, August 28, and is open and free to the public.

Seven über-volunteers are showcasing their artwork in this mysteriously named show.  Join them as they welcome you into their creative world.  The Opening Reception on August 5th from 7-10 pm and a Silent Auction that runs through August 28th are already on the menu — could there be something more? You’ll never know unless you visit the DRA Gallery in August! 

• Kimberley Bush:  Creates 2D forms that focuses on positive and vibrant energy and combines encaustic painting with horsehair or raku decorating processes on hand-cut ceramic panels and 3D pieces that consist of horsehair or raku bottle/vase forms.
• Ellyn Ferguson:  Life offers many moments for self-reflection and so do her pieces, literally.  Artwork is multi-media incorporating mirrors, found items, paper and shiny bits and pieces.
• Lesley Hall:  Painting dreamlike landscapes and abstract art using colors that would otherwise be… enemies.
• Fransi Kaye:  Abstract mixed media focused on emotional symbolism.  The Soul’s Condition and Expression will be featured in this show.
• Katherine Rand:  Drawings, prints and mixed media works inspired by the figure.
• Gloria Vestal:  Explores the natural world in watercolor, oils and stained glass.
• Tracy Wilkerson:  Using found objects or recycled materials in unique ways to make one-of-a-kind handmade greeting cards, jewelry pieces, and 2D & 3D mixed media artwork.

Del Ray Artisans’ gallery is located at the Nicholas A. Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301 and the facility is handicap accessible.  For more information about States of Mind, contact Tracy Wilkerson (703.501.1736, tlwideas@comcast.net) or visit www.TheDelRayArtisans.org for gallery hours and directions.

NEW SENIOR DISCOUNT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012

Effective July 1, 2011, the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities will implement a 20% senior discount off the regular price of adult fitness room fees at the neighborhood recreation centers (Charles Houston, Cora Kelly, Nannie J. Lee and William Ramsay Recreation Centers) and recreation classes for Alexandria City residents ages 55 and older. For more information, call 703.746.4343.

FRIENDS OF DUNCAN LIBRARY AUTHOR TALK

Author Talk by Neva Herrington on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 Blue Stone and Other Poems

The Friends of Duncan Library are hosting an author talk, described below, and I sincerely hope you can help spread the word about it. Thanks for your consideration!

In the fall of 1994 Neva Herrington’s daughter Elizabeth was murdered in Fredericksburg. The trail grew cold, but eight years later the DNA from a single hair finally helped track down the killer, and the story later became an episode in A&E Network’s Cold Case Files. Neva, who has taught college-level English and creative writing in Texas and Virginia, wrought from this sad tale not a detective story but a series of poems.

She will be at the Duncan Library on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM to read from her poems, including those on lighter subjects like garlic and coffee cake, which appear in the collections
“Blue Stone” and “Her BMW,” and to speak on how they came to be written.  Please come for what promises to be an enjoyable and moving experience.

Author talks are given at Duncan Library on a monthly basis; they are free and open to all. Light refreshments are served. A copy of each book discussed, signed by its author, is added to Duncan’s collection through funding by the Friends of Duncan Library.

The Duncan Library, a branch of the Alexandria Library system, is located at 2501 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301. For more information or directions, please call 703-746-1705 or visit the library online at www.alexandria.lib.va.us, or the Friends website at http://friendsofduncanlibrary.org/.

MADE IN THE U.S.A.

Show Dates: July 1–22, 2011

Del Ray Artisans will be celebrating Independence Day and the month of July with artwork inspired by U.S. people, places and/or things.  Artists are asked to create artwork with U.S.-made materials so as to emphasize both the origin of the materials and that we represent a large, important purchasing bloc.   The goal of this exhibit is to reflect everything that represents the U.S., including the actual artistic materials themselves.

Show Opening and Artist Reception: Friday, July 1^st from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.  Light snacks and refreshments will be available.

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 6 pm (First Thursdays, 12 noon to 9 pm, May – September); 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. For more information, visit www.TheDelRayArtisans.org.

ALEXANDRIA ART MARKET

Market Dates:          7/2/11, 8/6/11, 9/3/11, 11/5/11

Del Ray Artisans (DRA) is pleased to announce its 2^nd season of The Alexandria Art Market.  The market will be held in the Nicholas A. Colasanto Park, adjoining the Del Ray Artisans gallery at 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA (corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Mount Vernon Avenue). This is a rain or shine event and is free and open to the public.

A variety of original artwork from over 25 artists will be displayed for sale including, but not limited to, painting, photography, pottery, jewelry, and glasswork.

The grand opening festivities for the 2^nd season will be on May 7, 2011 will include music by The Kate Moran Band and yummy food from local food purveyors.

Market Creator and Coordinator Kimberley Bush is so pleased that last year’s art market was so successful that she was able to add an additional month which is May and increased the number of artists.  She continues to believe that the DRA artists and artisans would benefit from consistent exposure to the art world.  This event will be another opportunity and a perfect venue to connect with the community.

The market will be held on the 1^st Saturdays of May, June, July, August, September and November, 2011 in the Nicholas A. Colasanto Park on the corner of Commonwealth and Mount Vernon Avenues from 10-4 pm rain or shine.

For more information about the Alexandria Art Market, how to apply for an artspace at the market, about being a food purveyor or musical act, please contact Kimberley Bush at 703-627-7656 or email DRA.AlexandriaArtMarket@gmail.com.

HAPPENINGS IN DEL RAY

BARKLEY SQUARE – has new wheat free bacon cheddar gourmet pet treats. And for that beloved cat we now have cat treats. Come see us at the Del Ray farmers market and buy three treats get one free.

DEL RAY ARTISANS – Made in the U.S.A. exhibition opens Friday, July 1, 7:00pm-10:pm, Alexandria Art Market Saturday, July 2, 10-4 rain or shine; local artists, food, music with Mike Durham playing 12:00-2:00, Location:  2704   Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301. Details: www.TheDelRayArtisans.org, 703.838.4827.

Del Ray Performing Arts Center – School of Rock Camp – ages 7-16. July 5th – July 9th 9am – 3pm. Details at www.delrayperformingartscenter.com.  Location 2405 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria VA 22301 (703) 402 4598.