Alexandria Pp
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
●2017 Summer Camps s s EducationEducation&Activities&Activities s p p p m mm a a a C C C Activities & ● ● ● r r r e e e 25 Cents Inside Inside Inside m mm Education&Activities Education Education&Activities m mm Alexandria u u Alexandria u April 27, 2017 Gazette Packet S S S ● Alexandria wLwowc.aClo nMnecdtioan CNeownsnpecapetriso.nco mLLC Alexandria Gazette Packet ● Ap roiln 2l0i1n7e ●a tS uwmwmwer. cCoamnnpse c●t Eidouncnateiowns &pa Apectrivsi.tcieosm 1 Gazette Packet ‘Here Come Serving Alexandria for over 200 years • A Connection Newspaper The Scientists’ National Science Foundation may Science Foundation Impact Alex- bring investment andandria?,” traffic. highlighted that while By Vernon Miles Photos by Eden Br Gazette Packet the NSF will bring benefits to the Donald Trilling area, it also comes with a share of and his two problems. According to Stephanie friends, Thai Phi n just a few months, the Na- Landrum, president and CEO of Le, from Arlington,and Eileen tional Science Foundation will open at its new location the Alexandria Economic Develop- Gaughran, from ment Partnership, the Eisenhower own/Gazette Packet Ialong Eisenhower Avenue. Alexandria, is Valley has faced stagnation over running his 30th In September, the new building the last five years after the initial consecutive will bring more than 2,000 em- bump from the Federal Court- George Washing- ployees into the Carlyle neighbor- house and Patent and Trademark hood. The facade is already com- ton Parkway Clas- Office (PTO) wore off. plete, new residential towers are “There [wasn’t] a lot of people sic, at age 89. He is completed or in development given race number breaking ground,” said Landrum. “one” every year across the street. So Alexandria is “So we’re already seeing signs of See Panel, Page 8 to honor his long left wondering: what will the new success. The announcement and NSF building mean for the city? record of consecu- tive runs inrace. this An Agenda: Alexandria panel on April 24, “Here Come the Scien- tists – How Will the New National ‘Skeeter’ Swift Dies at 70 inspiring race on Saturday, April 23. Four thou- sand four hundred and eighty-one runners ran 10 Determination at Parkwaymiles. Another 1,318 runners Classic ran the 5K race. As Remembering a they did last year, Pacers Running Shops handled logistics, busing runners into the start and back basketball legend. By Jeanne Theismann Over 5,000 runners to their parking lots, with Two Men and a Truck Gazette Packet shuttling belongings, Starbucks offering coffee, the participate. By Eden Brown Gazette Packet National Park Service taking pictures of partici- pants, bands entertaining, Port City Brewing hand- e was larger than life — a 6- ing out beers, and local residents, volunteers, and foot-3, 230-pound athlete security officials providing a friendly buffer along Hcelebrated as one of the the parkway. amie Watts will be pleased when she sees Once again, running groups raising money for greatest legends of high school sports her time for the 33rd annual George Wash- veterans, neighbors in need, and breast cancer in Alexandria in the 1960s. His name Jington Parkway Classic. She cut her time was Harley Swift, a chubby kid from Photo contributed were there, getting shout-outs on the public ad- down to six hours and 20 minutes, covering the dress system. the wrong side of the tracks who was An 18-year-old Skeeter 10 miles with the kind of dedication she shows in Meredith Klinger, who was running her first GW known simply as “Skeeter.” “Alexandria is where it all started for Swift, left, playing in a the rest of her life. Alexandria residents cheered Parkway race, and who began to run for the first GW High School basket- her on as she closed in on the end of the race in time in her life this year, finished in just over two me,” said Swift during a recent inter- ball game in 1965. Old Town. Donald Trilling, the oldest participant hours with a 12:05 mile. view with the Gazette Packet. “Ever in the race, will be pleased he once again came in since I can remember, I had a basket- ball in my hand.See I dribbled‘Skeeter,’ that Page ball 4 just short of last. His time was four hours and 51 Alexandria minutes, which is not bad for 89. resident Donna 22314 VA Alexandria, The GW Parkway race again proved to be an St., King 1604 To: Oliver holds a Reques Service Address sign up for ted runners, pour- material. ing on the Time-sensitive Postmaster: good cheer Attention Chris Petrock runners need ❖ 1 Permit #482 Permit of Alexandria at that point in VA Alexandria, PAID ❖ April 27 - May 3, 2017 won first place the race. Postage U.S. in the 45-49 STD PRSRT age group, Alexandria Gazette Packet running the race in just 1:01. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com 2 ❖ Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ April 27 - May 3, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Alexandria Gazette Editor Steven Mauren News 703-778-9415 or [email protected] Alexandrians Open Wallets, Hearts to Refugees Churches, city Definitions Immigrant: A person who is not a citizen or a national of the U.S. and who is lawfully granted services, individuals the privilege of residing in the U.S. Refugee: A person who is outside his/her country work to meet needs. and who is unable or unwilling to return because of persecution or a well-founded fear of Photos by Shirley Ruhe/Gazette Packet by Shirley Photos persecution due to race, religion, nationality, By Shirley Ruhe political opinion or membership in a particular Gazette Packet social group. Asylee: An individual who is in the U.S. or at the border and has been granted asylum by an his is a time of extremes — immigration court or by the Department of State very welcoming or very Citizenship and Immigration Services. They must meet the qualifications under the refugee “Tunwelcoming for refugees,” definition. said Melanie Gray, director Special Immigrant: A person who qualifies for a of Outreach and Mission at Historic Christ green card (permanent residence) under the special immigrant program. This includes Church. “Our church started meeting about religious workers, broadcasters, Armed Forces a year ago. We knew we wanted to do some- members, Iraq nationals who worked for or on thing about refugees but we weren’t sure behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq and Afghan or Iraq nationals who supported the U.S. where we were going. As we continued our Armed Forces as translators. meetings I began to see more refugees and asylees coming into our church’s Lazarus is mostly women who never had the oppor- Financial Ministry seeking financial assis- Mohammad Yaqoobi and his wife Homa sit with Natasha Jones at the tunity to go to school or work due to cul- tance.” Alexandria Workforce Development Center on Beauregard Street getting tural or socio-economic reasons. He says in Gray said that their effort has grown in an orientation to the Virginia Initiative for Employment Not Welfare order to receive the benefits they must meet past months to include a number of other (VIEW) program. The family arrived from Afghanistan five months ago a work requirement unless they qualify for churches in the Alexandria community, and where Yaqoobi was a teacher and served with U.S. military forces. an exemption. at the last monthly meeting there were 20 But Gray says after a couple of months or more people from Grace Episcopal, served 615 refugees from more than a services such as food, clothing, furniture, although Medicaid and SNAP are still in Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, Emmanuel dozen countries since October 1, 2016. We prescription and burial assistance as well place, the resettlement services such as Episcopal on Russell, are authorized by the U.S. Department of as rental utility assistance. In addition, the rental and subsistence assistance end, and Refugees Westminster Presbyterian, State to resettle 600 refugees a year, plus Workforce Development Center offers em- often the refugees haven’t found a job yet Commonwealth Baptist and an additional 10 percent if there is a need.” ployment assistance to help refugees tran- and can’t pay their rent or buy necessities. others. Gray says their group She explains they are capped for the year sition into the workforce. Daniel Mekibib, So the churches and local groups step in to has been working with 10 refugee families and currently they only receive Central a program manager at Alexandria’s continue the assistance until the refugees who were referred to their Lazarus Minis- American minors who are joining their par- Workforce Development Center, says refu- can get on their feet. And Gray says, as she try by Alexandria’s Department of Commu- ents or family in the greater Fredericksburg gees are eligible for the same benefits and knocks her knuckles on the wooden arm of nity and Human Services. The churches area. services that are available to U.S. citizens her chair, “It’s incredible to watch how fast provide temporary rental assistance and Before the refugees arrive, the resettle- with the exception of Medicaid which is they get on their feet. Seven out of 10 fami- such things as rides to the doctor, meals, ment agencies have rented a place for them available to refugees but not to Virginia lies are stabilized now.” children’s toys, furniture and moral support. to live and equipped it with basic necessi- male residents. Virginia’s local departments The churches work together to assign a Upon a refugee’s arrival in the United ties. They meet the refugee at the airport.