[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: March 7 – 13, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 6, 2009

Saturday, March 7 – Twenty-eighth Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
On Saturday, March 7, the City of Alexandria and the Ballyshaners (Gaelic for “Old Towners”) will host the 28th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in celebration of Irish-American heritage. The parade begins at King and West Streets and follows a route down King Street, past the reviewing stand at North Royal Street, and ends on the block of Fairfax Street that lies between King Street and Cameron Street. The parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. and is expected to conclude by 2:30 p.m. The Grand Marshal for the 2009 Parade will be James V. Kimsey, the founding CEO of America Online. For further information, please visit www.ballyshaners.org or call 703.237.2199.

Monday, March 9 to Friday, March 13 – Celebrate DASH’s 25th Anniversary 
The Alexandria Transit Company is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the City’s DASH bus system with DASH’s Anniversary Week. On Monday, DASH Appreciation Day, a display of “DASH Around Alexandria” artwork by the City’s fourth graders will be featured in City Hall. Tuesday, the Alexandria City Council will recognize DASH in a reception in the Vola Lawson Lobby of City Hall at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday is DASH Anniversary Day. DASH drivers and staff will give tokens of appreciation to customers, free mocha shots will be provided at the King St. Metro station from 3 to 6 p.m., and passengers wearing their “I LOVE DASH” button will ride free all day. Thursday is DASH Employee Appreciation Day, and on Friday, passengers will be awarded free DASH passes and other DASH goodies. To participate in the drawing, or to learn more about DASH Anniversary Week, visit www.dashbus.com.

Tuesday, March 10 – City Council Work Session on Green Building Policy
There will be a City Council work session on Green Building policy at 6 p.m. in the Council Work Room at City Hall (301 King St.) For more information, contact Katye Parker at 703.838.4666 ext. 372.

Wednesday, March 11 – Community Meeting Regarding Lindsay Automotive Group Proposal
There will be a community meeting regarding the Lindsay Automotive Group proposal for 3650 Wheeler Ave. at 7 p.m. at Lindsay Cadillac Sales & Service (1525 Kenwood Ave.) For more information, contact Natalie Sun at 703.838.4666 ext. 368.

Now Available – Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities’ Spring & Summer 2009 Program Guide 
The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities’ Spring & Summer 2009 Program Guide is now available. Individuals who subscribed to receive the program guide will receive it in the mail by March 7. Residents who did not subscribe can download a free copy by visiting www.alexandriava.gov/recreation or pick up a printed copy at their local recreation center or library. The program guide highlights City classes, programs, activities and special events occurring April through August. Registration for spring and summer classes and activities begins on Monday, March 16 at 9 a.m. For registration information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Coming Soon!

Saturday, March 14 – City of Alexandria to Hold Tenth Annual Dance for All Ages 
The City of Alexandria invites the community to attend the tenth Annual Dance for All Ages on Saturday, March 14, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at T.C. Williams High School, 3330 King St.  Admission and parking are free.  This year’s theme, “The Great Gatsby,” is designed to appeal to both the young and the young at heart. The dance will feature music and jazz and dance tunes by DJ Enrique. There will be Roaring 20’s-style decorations, door prizes and great fun for all! Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by Monday, March 9, to Margaret Orlando or Tutu Kargbo at 703.838.4345, or e-mail margaret.orlando@alexandriava.gov. For additional information, visit www.alexandriava.gov.

Wednesday, March 18 – City of Alexandria Schedules Community Meetings on Fort Ward Park Draft Action Plan
The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and the Office of Historic Alexandria invite the public to attend a third community meeting to receive the findings from two previous meetings and to take comments on a draft action plan for Fort Ward Park. The community meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 18, at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of T. C. Williams High School, 3330 King St. For additional information, please call Laura Durham, Open Space Coordinator, at 703.838.5095, ext. 350 (TTY 703.838.4902), or e-mail laura.durham@alexandriava.gov.

Thursday, March 19 – Eco-City Action Plan Cafe
Are you passionate about protecting the environment, reducing pollution, or improving access to public transportation? If so, the City of Alexandria and the Environmental Policy Commission (EPC) invite you to attend the Environmental Action Plan Cafe on Thursday, March 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St.  This will be an opportunity for residents, the EPC and the City to determine long term actions to make Alexandria a more environmentally sustainable City. For more information, please contact Eco-CityAlexandria@alexandriava.gov or Khoa Tran at 703.838.4334. 

Thursday, March 19 – King Street Retail Forum
Businesses, residents and other interested parties are invited to learn more about opportunities to strengthen the vitality and viability of King Street at the King Street Retail Forum. The forum will be held twice: at 8 a.m. in Room 2000 of City Hall (301 King St.) and again at 7 p.m. at The Lyceum (201 S. Washington St.). The event is hosted by the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association, the Small Business Development Center and the City’s Department of Planning & Zoning. The forum will include a presentation by Bob Gibbs of Gibbs Planning Group Inc. to present the findings of his King Street Retail Study. For more information, contact Andrea Barlow at 703.838.3866 ext. 665.

Saturday, March 21 – Share Your Vision for a Healthier Alexandria
The Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria would like to invite everyone who lives, works, learns, or plays in Alexandria to a community meeting to share their ideas and experiences on how to make Alexandria a healthier place to live. The “Share Your Vision for a Healthier Alexandria” event will be held on Saturday, March 21 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the First Baptist Church (2932 King St.) Everyone is invited, but please RSVP for this event by contacting Carrie Fesperman at 703.838.4400 ext. 263 or carrie.fesperman@vdh.Virginia.gov. More information about this visioning process is available on the Partnership’s Web site at www.alexhealth.org/partnership/mapp.html.

Ongoing Events

Open through Saturday, March 28 – A Radiant Spirit: The Journey of Mary Ellen Henderson 
This traveling exhibition from the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation highlights the efforts of educator and activist Mary Ellen Henderson of Falls Church. This civil rights champion dedicated herself to ensuring educational equality for African Americans in a segregated school system and community. Free opening reception on Thursday, February 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St. For more information, visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Open through Tuesday, March 31 – “Hail to the Chief” Mini-Exhibition
A rare 1797 medal commemorating George Washington and excavated in Alexandria is among the many local artifacts and historic images featured in “Hail to the Chief.” Located at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 N. Union St., #327, this mini-exhibition showcases American presidents, including Washington, Jackson, Lincoln, Grant and Harrison. The exhibition is free and open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org or call 703.838.4399.

Now through Wednesday, April 15 – City of Alexandria Offers Free Tax Preparation Assistance for Qualified Residents
The City of Alexandria is offering free tax preparation assistance to low-income residents during the 2009 tax season. Taxpayers are eligible for the Tax Preparation Assistance Program if their income is below approximately $22,000 for individuals and below approximately $42,000 for families. Persons requesting the assistance must bring a picture ID, W-2 forms and other income records, and records or receipts for expenses such as child care and/or education. They must also provide social security cards or ITIN letters for all family members and a copy of last year’s tax return, if possible. The sessions will be held in the lobby of the Alexandria Department of Human Services, 2525 Mount Vernon Ave. Taxpayers will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis. Spanish-speaking volunteers will be available on-site, and electronic filing will be available to help taxpayers receive their refunds more quickly. Tax preparation sessions are scheduled from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturdays, and from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays through April 15.