Alexandria’s Maury School Book Fair Slated for Saturday, Dec. 6 at Potomac Yard
December 4th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria
Alexandria’s Maury Elementary School (600 Russell Rd., Alexandria, VA) will hold its 2nd Annual Book Fair on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Barnes & Noble store in the Potomac Yard Shopping Ctr.
Book fairs are a popular way for Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) to raise funds and a great way to promote reading and encourage neighborhood support and participation in public school education.
Maury has lined up a full day of activities:
- Advice on selecting books for young readers with Maury librarian Ann Garrison (10:00am - 11:00am)
- Advice on selecting books for young readers with reading specialist Alison Vovchuk (noon - 2:00pm)
- Kindergarten stories with Ms. Dykhuis and Ms. Nelson (10:30am - 11:00am)
- Story time with Principal Jackson (11:00am)
- Pajama time stories with Ms. Scully (7:00) Everyone is cordially invited to wear pj’s!
- Free gift wrapping for B&N purchases by Maury PTA volunteers
FAQ’s (from volunteer/organizer extraordinaire Kelly Wilson):
How will this book fair benefit Maury?
The amount the PTA receives depends on net sales for the period of the fair. Our goal is to have net sales for that day of over $10,000 which would give us 25% in B&N credit. We use that credit to purchase books for school-wide readings and for teachers to “give” to their students for winter break and summer reading.
What if I can’t shop on Saturday?
You have five days following the fundraiser to make purchases that benefit Maury. But from Dec. 7-11 you MUST have the Maury Book Fair Voucher# to get credit. So bring the attached voucher and shop to your heart’s content.
What about my far away relatives–do on line purchases count?
No. This fundraiser is for sales at the Potomac Yard store only.
I’m a B&N member–will I still get my discount?
Yes. Saturday is also Educator’s Appreciation Day so pre-k-12 teachers will get 25% off books and gifts and 10% off DVD’s and CD’s but you MUST HAVE a school ID to receive an Educator’s Discount card (this is separate from a B&N membership).
What if I already have too many books?
Can such a thing be possible? I don’t think so… but you can also purchase music, DVDs, games, stationery, even snacks at the cafe and Maury will get credit as long as you tell the cashier that you are supporting the Maury Book Fair.
Well, that’s about it. It’s a great cause and I encourage you to add it to your list of things to do this Saturday along with Old Town’s Scottish Walk and Del Ray’s tree lighting (see below).
See you there . . .
Michael
P.S. Barnes & Noble is also spearheading a holiday book drive for children at the Northern Virginia Outpatient Center of Children’s Hospital.
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Holiday Traditions Abound in Alexandria, Virginia
December 3rd, 2008 Categories: Alexandria, Del Ray, Old Town
We like an orderly progression of holidays - and traditions - and now that Thanksgiving has been generously celebrated and shared with family and friends, we’re ready to talk about Christmas.
Alexandria, Virginia celebrates its Scottish history with the 38th Annual Campagna Center Scottish Walk Dec. 4-6. Old Town homes are decked for the holidays, a Christmas Marketplace sells traditional heather and greens and a parade rounds out the celebration.
- Thursday, noon to 5:00pm - Christmas Marketplace at the George Washington Masonic Memorial
- Friday and Saturday, 10:00am to 5:00pm - Christmas Marketplace at the George Washington Masonic Memorial
- Saturday, 10:30am - Scottish parade in Old Town with more than 100 Scottish clans showing their tartans, bagpipe bands, local dignitaries, dog clubs (visualize hundreds of “Scotties”), antique cars and living history units. This year’s Grand Marshall is Willard Scott of NBC’s Today Show.
The mission of the Campagna Center, an Alexandria institution since 1945, is to “draw together the resources of the Alexandria community to strengthen families and provide programs that help children become caring, productive adults.”
Later on that same Saturday, Del Ray (formerly known as the Town of Potomac) will host its own tree lighting at Colasanto Park at the corner of Mt. Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues at 6:00pm. Following the illumination, everyone is invited to “stroll the avenue” to:
- Enjoy the Luminarias
- Sing holiday carols
- Visit local businesses open late for shoppers
- Sip on a cup of hot cider or hot chocolate at participating stores
- Sit on Santa’s lap at the end of the walk
And, in the true spirit of the holidays, neighbors and visitors are asked to bring items that will be donated to Carpenter’s Shelter for the homeless. The following items are greatly needed and may be dropped in marked boxes at the tree lighting:
- Food - cereal or canned goods
- Hats, gloves, scarves
- New socks, underwear
- Disposable diapers
Carpenter’s Shelter is the largest organization of its kind in Northern Virginia and their mission is “to end homelessness through services education and advocacy.”
Saturday is a great opportunity to both support community services in Alexandria and simply enjoy the traditions of the day. Put your walking shoes on and we’ll see you there . . .
Michael
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Ft. Belvoir Set to Become Northern Virginia’s Next “Small City” - Part 2
November 30th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria, Real Estate News
Ft. Belvoir in Fairfax County is experiencing a growth spurt that will take it from being a large town to Northern Virginia’s next small city as part of the Defense Department’s 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Process (BRAC).
As I noted in Part 1, traffic congestion is a major concern and to reduce traffic, officials have divided the new development into three sites:
- the main post which occupies 12.25 acres on the banks of the Potomac;
- the Engineer Proving ground several miles inland;
- and the newly announced, yet-to-be-built office complex off Seminary Road at I-95.
The main post will take in 3,400 new workers, 8,500 will go to the Proving Ground and another 6,400 will to the new office complex. Thousands of additional visitors will flock to the post’s new hospital which will serve active and retired service members. The $800 million hospital at Ft. Belvoir is designed to replace Walter Reed Medical Center which will be closed after Belvoir is completed.
The new hospital will have 120 beds and five buildings. Soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan will recuperate in a nearby Warrior in Transition Unit.
Another major draw is the widely anticipated Army Museum which is scheduled to open in 2013. The museum is not part of BRAC and its $160 million cost comes primarily from private donations.
By law the BRAC development must be completed by September 2011 and is “going to take place regardless of what’s happening in the economy,” noted Gerald L. Gordon, president and chief executive of the Fairfax County Economic Development Corporation.
Whether for your primary use or as an investment property, this area of Fairfax is one to watch. Call me at 703.927.4554 to find out more.
Michael
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