"BOB GEIER 1903 CURVED DASH OLDSMOBILE"

Letter: Bikes Reduce Traffic

To the Editor: In a lengthy letter published in your May 24 issue, Townsend A. Van Fleet presents arguments against the Bike Share program planned for Alexandria. Among his various objections, a central theme is that Bike Share will somehow exacerbate “traffic problems in the Old and Historic District.” This seems a rather curious point of view. Van Fleet makes much of what he terms Alexandria’s “narrow streets already crowded with pedestrians, tour buses, metro buses, dash buses, delivery trucks, trolleys, garbage trucks, skate boarders, joggers, and cyclists.” What is remarkable about this impressively comprehensive list (“garbage trucks” to “pedestrians”) is that it omits the word “automobiles.” It may be helpful to reflect for a moment on the fact that a primary objective of the Bike Share program is to reduce the number of automobiles on our city streets. As I am sure most fellow residents recognize, cars remain the principal source of congestion on the streets of Old Town. While I appreciate Mr. Van Fleet’s frustration at being impeded in his driving by the growing number of pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists on our city streets, programs like Bike Share that aim to reduce downtown traffic can only enhance Alexandria’s reputation as an exceptionally friendly and livable community.

Letter: Determining Transit Priority

To the Editor: Although a goal of the Beauregard Small Area Plan Draft is to create a modern transit-oriented community, most of the attention has been focused on a traffic ellipse that is not part of the proposed Bus Rapid Transit corridor. The Draft Plan barely mentions the Mark Center Station, the prospect of VDOT approving the I-395 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) ramp or proposals for a transit station at Southern Towers. These changes are significant and should be addressed in the Draft Plan.

State PTA Volunteer of the Year

Del. Tim Hugo attended the April PTA meeting at Union Mill Elementary to present Kate Trussell with a proclamation from Gov. Bob McDonnell recognizing her as the Virginia PTA volunteer of the year. Hugo commended Trussell for coordinating our Bread Basket program that made over 11,000 sandwiches for Food for Others last year. As of this year, students at Union Mill have already made almost 13,000 sandwiches for Food for Others. Above, with Trussell are her husband, Jeff, and daughter, Sarah.

Arlington Calendar for May 30

Know of something missing from our community entertainment Calendar? Send it to The Arlington Connection, e-mail it to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is 2 p.m. the Thursday before publication. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 with any questions. Photos are welcome.

Let’s Roll

Bob Sussan of Fairfax, vice chairman of the Department of Virginia American Legion Riders, gets ready to participate in the 25th anniversary Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom May 27. More than one million riders participated in the rally from the Pentagon to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in honor of American POWs and MIAs.

Fairfax Honors the Fallen

Memorial Day ceremony held at old Fairfax courthouse.

On Monday, May 28, dozens gathered on the lawn of the old Fairfax courthouse for a ceremony honoring those who have died in battle. The American Legion Post 177 and VFW Post 8469 partnered for the service.

Letter: Education 2012: A Third Dimension

Letter to the Editor

In my piece, "Education in the USA, 2012," I said: "There are three distinct ways which make it impossible to say that, aside from equality under the law, all children are created equal." I followed this with only two ways, thus shortchanging the reader. To make amends, I should like to provide my third reason now.

Letter: Misguided Belief

Karen Christenson’s commentary on the health care ["Strengthening, Not Blocking, Health Care Law," Reston Connection, May 23-29, Reston Connection] provided an excellent illustration of a number of shortcomings in America’s medical practices. As Ms. Christenson ably illustrates, self-employed persons are particularly disadvantaged by our system.

McLean Baseball Eliminated in Region quarterfinals

Highlanders come from behind to force extra innings with Bruins before losing 6-5 on ninth inning suicide squeeze play.

The McLean High baseball team gave one of the Northern Region’s annual powerhouse programs, Lake Braddock, a huge scare on Monday’s Memorial Day when the Highlanders rallied to tie the game in the latter innings. Ultimately, the home team Bruins won the Northern Region second round (quarterfinals) playoff game in extra innings, 6-5.

Making Reston into Reality

Historic Trust presents early planning of Reston.

Shortly after purchasing the land that would become Reston in March 1961, founder Robert Simon was on a plane back to New York City. The story he likes to tell is that’s where he grabbed a legal pad and began coming up with ideas for his new community, ideas based on his travels and life experiences.

Housing Discrimination Alert

Officials step up education, outreach efforts to reach immigrant communities about “fair housing” rights.

Housing discrimination cases have been on the rise in Fairfax County in the past few years. And the Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs (OHREP), the agency that enforces fair housing laws in the county, is shining a spotlight on the problem through seminars for housing providers, Realtors, community groups and other interested parties.

Langley Girls Lacrosse Powers Way to Region Semifinals

Saxons defeat host W.T. Woodson, 14-9, in quarterfinals contest.

The Langley High girls’ lacrosse team advanced to the semifinals of the Northern Virginia Regional Tournament with a 14-9 win over the Patriot District champion Lady Cavaliers of W.T. Woodson High School. The postseason contest took place last Friday, May 18 at Woodson.

Letter: Where’s Data For New Trolley?

To the Editor: It’s time to take a closer look at the proposed free Del Ray trolley service to determine whether it’s politics or data-centric analysis that is driving this $700,000 project.

Letter: Stop Ignoring The Obvious

To the Editor: Last Friday night, the Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) voted 6-1 to ask the city to provide them with independent legal counsel as they face the city's high priced legal team in court. The city government, led astray again by the City attorney, Mr. James Banks, is determined to fight both the citizens on the BZA and the citizens who correctly filed the petition which challenged city zoning actions on the waterfront. This is worth reviewing.

Letter: Bike Share Now Needs City Money

To the Editor: On May 14, I met with the other members of the Waterfront Commission. The city’s new bike share program headlined the docket. It seems that last October the City Council voted unanimously to authorize Alexandria to join the regional Capital Bike Share Network. Rich Baier’s pilot program was to be jump started using some $400,000 of federal grant funds so we wouldn’t ever have to pay anything. However, now we find out that on April 13, 2012 the Federal Highway Administration announced that federal funds could not be used for operating expenses associated with bike share programs. Therefore, the city intends to use $186,000 out of its Transportation Improvement budget to fund bike share’s operating expenses through Fiscal Year 2013. The actual cost of the bikes is $411,000 which is funded with two other grants. This latest information was not shared with the Waterfront Commission or anyone else for that matter until the Council Docket for May 22 was published. This total lack of transparency pales the imagination.

Hershey’s Track & Field Meet

Hundreds of city children competed in the annual Hershey's Track and Field Program on Saturday, May 19 in the Parker Gray Stadium at T.C. Williams High School. The meet featured the 50, 100, 200, and 400-meter dash; 800 and 1600 meter run, 4 x 100 relay, softball throw and standing long jump. Winners can advance through District, Regional, State and National Competitions.

Gathering Highlights Waterfront

Annual Founders Park Community Association meeting attracts crowd.

Residents and concerned citizens gathered May 20 for the annual Founders Park Community association meeting to discuss issues affecting the park and the future of the Alexandria waterfront.

Arlington Calendar May 23