[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: May 2 - 8, 2009

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: May 2 – 8, 2009
For Immediate Release: May 1, 2009 

Saturday, May 2 – Spring Clean-Up 2009 
Citizens who receive the City of Alexandria's refuse services are invited to participate in Spring Clean-Up 2009. Scheduled pickups will be held each consecutive Saturday throughout the month of April and first weekend in May. Please check the Spring Clean-Up map at www.alexandriava.gov/tes/solidwaste to determine your assigned collection area and date of collection. For more information, call 703.519.3486.

Saturday, May 2 – Spring for Alexandria Event, Lemonaide Day 
Spring for Alexandria’s three-day celebration of giving and service concludes with Lemonaide Day. Alexandria youth will be selling lemonade at stands stationed throughout the City to raise money for Coats for Kids and the Alexandrians Involved Ecumenically (ALIVE!) children’s program. The community is encouraged to support the cause by getting out and purchasing lemonade at a stand in their neighborhood. For more information, visit www.springforalexandria.org.

Saturday, May 2 - Invasive Species Plant Garlic Mustard Pull 
The City of Alexandria seeks volunteers to take part in the statewide Garlic Mustard pull. As part of the City’s Eco-City Alexandria initiative, this event focuses on hand-pulling and bagging the invasive Garlic Mustard along the paths of Holmes Run from the western end of the City at Dora Kelly Park east to the Duke Street Bridge. For more information on volunteer meetup locations and times, contact Claudia Hamblin-Katnik at 703.519.3400, ext. 219.

Sunday, May 3 - City Announces the Opening of the West End Farmers’ Market 
The public is invited to the opening of the West End Farmers’ Market at 9 am on Sunday, May 3 at Ben Brenman Park, located at 4800 Brenman Park Drive. The West End Farmers’ Market is open to the public on Sundays beginning May 3 through November 22 from 9 am to 1 pm. The market features fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, fresh-baked breads, cheeses, jams, jellies, coffee, local honey, and free-range, grass-fed beef and chicken. For additional information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Monday, May 4 – Tavern Toddlers
Join us for a special program for toddlers (walkers through 36 months) and their caregivers at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St. Tavern Toddlers features a weekly open playtime in Gadsby’s historic ballroom Mondays, excluding Federal holidays, any time between 10:30 a.m. and noon. New themes each month! Cost is $7 for a group of three, which must include one adult, or $30 for purchase of a five-week pass. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Monday, May 4 – Thursday, May 7 – “Lunch Bunch” Concerts at Market Square
The City’s Departments of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and General Services are sponsoring the “Lunch Bunch” concerts at Market Square, 301 King St. The concerts, which feature students from local and visiting schools, are free and open to the public. All concerts begin at 12:15 p.m. Please note that in case of inclement weather, concerts may be canceled. To check the status of concerts, please call the Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686. Scheduled performances this week includes:
May 4     John Adams Elementary School Chorus & Drum Ensemble (Alexandria, VA)
May 5     St. Rita School Band (Alexandria, VA)
May 6     Episcopal High School Jazz Ensemble (Alexandria, VA)
May 7     St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School 5th Grade Saints Choir (Alexandria, VA)

Tuesday, May 5 – Alexandria Election for Mayor, City Council, and School Board
The elections for Mayor, City Council, and School Board are on May 5; polling hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The deadline for in-person absentee voting is May 2. Check www.alexandriavoter.org or call 703.838.4050 for complete information.

Tuesday, May 5 – Lecture by Dr. Anne Kendall, Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week
Psychologist Anne Kendall, Ph.D., co-author of Effective Parenting for the Hard-to-Manage Child, will give a presentation from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. Dr. Kendall will share practical strategies for parents of infants, children and teens who exhibit emotional and behavioral issues such as difficulty adapting to change, inability to self-calm, intense behavior and over-reaction to stimulation. There is no charge to attend and child care will be provided. The event is sponsored by the Alexandria Community Services Board’s System of Care Project in recognition of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

Thursday, May 7 – Youth Voices for Unity Art Exhibition
Alexandria’s Youth Voices for Unity is hosting a reception to unveil its artwork exhibition, “We Are More Than What You See,” from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mt. Vernon Ave. Youth Voices for Unity brought together a diverse group of Alexandria’s youth to meet with professional artists and create artwork that focused on the themes of race, ethnicity, identity, prejudice, and discrimination. For more information, contact Karen Parker-Thompson at 703.8246639 or JoAnn Maldonado at 703.838.0709.

Friday, May 8 – Parent Leadership Training Institute 2009 Graduation Ceremony 
The Parent Leadership Training Institute will host its 2009 graduation ceremony at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Alexandria City Hall, 301 King Street. During the past few months, participants in this program have attended 20 sessions to become trained in community and political involvement and leadership. They created an ongoing community project as the capstone of their coursework. For more information, contact Fay Slotnick at 703.739.0233.

Coming Soon!

Saturday, May 9 & Thursday, May 21 - Confident City Bicycling Classes
The City of Alexandria is partnering with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association to teach residents how to ride safely and skillfully through city traffic.  Residents may attend one of two free workshops:  Saturday, May 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 25 West Reed Avenue or Thursday, May 21 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Community Recreation Center, 27011 Commonwealth Avenue. For more information, contact Yon Lambert at 703.519.3400, ext. 183, or visit alexandriava.gov/localmotion. To register, visit www.waba.org.

Monday, May 11 - Eco-City Action Plan Open House 
The City of Alexandria and the Environmental Policy Commission (EPC) invite you to attend the Eco-City Action Plan Open House from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. This will be an opportunity for residents, the EPC and the City to review and discuss the draft Phase II Environmental Action Plan, which focuses on long-term actions the City and residents can do during the next twenty years to make Alexandria an Eco-City. For more information, please contact Eco-CityAlexandria@alexandriava.gov or the Office of Environmental Quality, Department of Transportation & Environmental Services, at 703.838.4334.

Friday, May 15 - Bike to Work Day
In recognition of national Bike to Work Day, the DC area celebrates and promotes bicycle commuting as an affordable, efficient, and environmentally-friendly way of getting to work. The City of Alexandria’s pit stop will take place from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Market Square, 301 King Street. Commuter cyclists are invited to enjoy free food, beverages, and services provided by local businesses and sponsors. For more information or to register, contact Yon Lambert at 703.519.3400, ext. 183, or visit www.alexandriava.gov/LocalMotion.

Ongoing

Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission Seeks Nominations for the 2009 CIVIC Awards 
The Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission is seeking nominations for the 2009 CIVIC Awards. The annual awards program recognizes the unsung volunteer efforts of Alexandrians who are involved in their communities and who have provided a valuable service to Alexandria in meeting recreation, park, or cultural needs. Deadline to submit a nomination is Thursday, June 11, 2009. For additional information, call 703.838.4343 or visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.

April through May – All Alexandria Reads 2009
The Alexandria Library presents All Alexandria Reads 2009, a community-based reading cooperative program designed to create a dialog through reading. This year’s book is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver. Kingsolver is a Virginia author who chronicles her family’s attempt to eat home-grown and locally produced food. From April to May, the Alexandria Library will hold numerous community events that relate to the themes of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. This week’s events feature “Mini Herb Garden Workshop” at Barrett Branch Library on May 2, and “Grow Your Own Pizza” workshops on Saturday, May 2 at the Burke Branch Library and Wednesday, May 6, at the Barrett Branch Library. For more information about All Alexandria Reads events, visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us.

For more information, contact Jennifer Harris, Communications Officer, Office of Communications, at 703.838.5078 or jennifer.harris@alexandriava.gov 

PIO#124-09