PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Alexandria, VA Permit #482 25 Cents Attention Postmaster: Time-sensitive material. Requested in home 7/3/08 Vol. XIX, No. 27 Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Paper July 3, 2008 A Community Farewell Briefing est challenges of his Belvoir BRAC brings tomorrow to Belvoir today. tenure. However, Lauritzen also ac- By Chuck Hagee mistic about BRAC. But, we knowledged the primary Gazette have been successful in imple- “boggy” in the overall BRAC menting the many facets of plan. That is the still unre- early 100 members of BRAC because it is a team solved location of the Wash- the Mount Vernon-Lee, sport and you have been will- ington Headquarters Services NSpringfield, and Fairfax ing participants,” Lauritzen (WHS) element of 6,300 per- chambers of commerce said in kicking off his review sonnel, also known as BRAC packed a ballroom at the Springfield of BRAC and other activities 133. The decision as to that Hilton by 8 a.m. June 26 to hear Fort that have taken place at location has now been pushed Belvoir Installation Commander Col. Belvoir during his three year back to this September. Brian W. Lauritzen give his final com- tour-of-duty. “If the decision is made in munity wide assessment of the Base Repeating his oft stated be- September 08 we’ve got a flat Realignment and Closure Report lieve that BRAC is only one three years to get it done,” he (BRAC) on the area’s military and ci- element of an ongoing Fort said. Presently there are three vilian interests. At the conclusion, he Belvoir metamorphosis, sites under consideration — received a standing ovation. Lauritzen said, “We were busy Victory Center and Mark Cen- before BRAC and we will be ter, both in Alexandria, and the busy after BRAC. Ten years GSA Warehouses site in “Outreach to the from now this will all be a blip Springfield. Mark Center, ad- on the screen.” jacent to I-395, has the least community has defined Emphasizing the point of complicating factors. other Belvoir activities, Referring to the new cam- Photo by Photo my time as Ft.Belvoir’s Lauritzen cited the growth in pus-style headquarters of the Installation Commander.” the base commissary that, at National Geospatial Intelli- $95 million a year, is doing gence Agency (NGA) head- —Col. Brian W. Lauritzen twice the business for which Chuck Hagee quarters under construction at it was designed and noted that Belvoir’s Engineering Proving “This commander cares about the a recent ribbon cutting Grounds (EPG), Lauritzen people and gets the job done. He was marked the 1000th home con- said, “This will be a beautiful and is the right man in the right place structed on Belvoir under the facility when it is completed.” at the right time for the job,” said Residential Community Initia- /Gazette He also noted that EPG was Nathaniel Wilson, chairman, Mount tive started in early 2001. “Un- originally to have been the site Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce, in der this program, we are build- for BRAC 133 as well as the introducing Lauritzen for his final ing communities — not just NGA, but traffic concerns non-military public appearance. He homes,” he said. Nathaniel Wilson, chairman, Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber changed that decision, accord- will be retiring from the Army after “I have had to keep in mind of Commerce, presented a plaque of appreciation to Ft. ing to Lauritzen. “The Corps 26 years of service following the July how to accomplish BRAC and Belvoir Installation Commander Col. Brian Lauritzen of Engineers will make the fi- 2 change of command at Belvoir. not interfere with the primary following Lauritzen’s final community briefing on BRAC nal decision as to WHS’s ulti “I don’t usually find myself in a mission of the Post,” he said developments during a joint breakfast of three cham- room filled with people who are opti- in assessing one of the great- bers of commerce at the Springfield Hilton Hotel. See Farewell, Page 4 clipsed Food Drive Highlights Growing Demand Arts ❖ Entertainment ❖ Leisure One day drive nets 4,000 pounds of food, not even a week’s worth. By Chuck Hagee to needy families. UCM is presently distrib- Fitzsimmons, and aide to Hyland and orga- Gazette uting an estimated 35,000 pounds of food nizer of last Saturday’s drive. per month, nearly 9,000 pounds per week. Food items were collected by volunteers nited Community Ministries “The demand for food has grown tremen- and brought to the Mount Vernon Govern- U (UCM) was the beneficiary of dously. We are now feeding about 400 fami- ment Center on Parker’s Lane where it was 4,000 pounds of non-perishable lies a week. Three years ago that total was loaded onto a UCM truck and taken to the food items and $165 in cash donations as a only 250 families,” said Joseph Camy, presi- charity’s food pantry on Fordson Road. result of a food drive conducted by the of- dent, UCM Board of Directors, working as There were also pledges of additional cash fice of Mount Vernon District Supervisor a volunteer. donations but they have not yet been col- Trolley Troubles Gerald Hyland last Saturday. “But, this has been a united effort by a lected, according to UCM. The City plans to add audio information about Old Town in the coming months. However, that amount of food will cover lot of individuals, businesses and organiza- Outdoors,Markets, Page 37 only about one half of a week’s distribution tions throughout the area today,” said Ron See Food Drive, Page 4 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ July 3-9, 2008 ❖ 1E www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ July 3-9, 2008 ❖ 1 LONG & FOSTER ALEXANDRIA • MT. VERNON Your local professionals with a world of experience 6725 Harrison Lane TO COME Alexandria $939,000 Mason Neck 389,950 Alexandria $280,000 SOUGHT AFTER MASON HILL RIVER VIEW GREAT LOCATION Five bedrooms, 3.5 baths, main level bedroom/full bath, Beautiful three quarter acre building lot on the Two level detached home with fabulous flat half gorgeous renovations throughout including baths, Gunston Peninsula. Gentle slope, mature trees, water view – it may be perfect. Very private but not acre. Close to Metro, Old Town, and D.C. Well- kitchen/FR addition. Formal LR & DR, 3 fireplaces, mud secluded. Actually comprised of 11 individual lots so kept home, updated kitchen and bathroom, base- room, 2 dens, wet bar, hot tub, finished LL, patio & deck. 2 homes may be possible. Community beach. Dream ment is unfinished and has space for extra rooms. On cul-de-sac & just off GW Parkway. lot for a dream home. Manfredy Lopez 571-277-0601 Val Klotz 703-303-9744 Paul 703-960-8900 Alexandria/South $449,900 Alex/Virginia Hills $411,000 Alex/Wessynton $649,000 A MUST SEE PICTURE PERFECT! GRACIOUS INFORMALITY Wonderful home – shows pride of ownership. Freshly Two level remodeled rambler with front porch. Serene surroundings, spacious contemporary in his- painted, hardwood floors on main level. New wall-to-wall Four bedrooms, 2 full updated baths, updated toric one-of-a-kind community. Four bedrooms, 3 full carpet lower level. Fully updated kitchen with GE stainless kitchen with granite & Pergo, new carpet & fresh baths, 2 fireplaces, on quiet cul-de-sac. Gleaming appliances, silestone counters. Baths updated. ADT secu- paint. Great fenced backyard with amazing hardwoods, new appliances. Professionally land- rity. One third acre lot, 2-car detached garage. Flagstone shed/workshop on one third acre lot. Minutes to scaped gardens. Community pool, boat ramp, tennis, steps at entry. Home Buyer Warranty. Metro & shopping. trails. Come see… Ann Wynne 703-402-7265 Pat Grant 703-919-5838 Elfie Biankini 703-593-2634 Alexandria $695,803 Alexandria $799,000 Alexandria $975,000 ALL 7 TV’S CONVEY!! SERENE SURROUNDINGS Renovated three level colonial offers 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2- COUNTRY LIVING IN THE CITY Look no further. This beautiful four bedroom, three story foyer, beautiful hardwood floors, crown molding, recessed Spacious custom-built 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home and a half bath, stately colonial home boasts a fin- lighting & 9’ ceilings. Gourmet kitchen with center island & wine on half acre lot in established community. Luxury ished walk-out lower level to a landscaped garden rack, all bedrooms with Berber carpet & organizer closets, media first floor MBR suite. 8x60’ porches front and rear, with patio. Great kitchen with granite counters and room with 60” TV & two more 32” TV’s enclosed in custom enter- workshop and huge two car garage. Very close to stainless steel appliances. Oversized garage. Must tainment center. One-car garage, circular driveway, backs to Ft. Belvoir. Owner/Agent. parkland & minutes to major routes, shopping & Old Town. see! Walid Ashoor 703-585-6224 Trina Williams 703-395-2122 Nanci Sale 703-960-8900 x 256 703-960-8900 Paul Petefish 5845 Richmond Highway Branch Manager www.longandfoster.com Alexandria VA 22303 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ July 3-9, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette Editor Mary Anne Weber News 703-917-6431 or [email protected] Mount Vernon This Week Funds Found For Woodlawn Road Replacement Lee District Supervisor Jeffrey McKay announced Monday that the long awaited funding to make the new “Mulligan Road” a four lane reality had been achieved by expending $12 million of Fairfax County’s commercial and industrial (C&I) tax revenues. Mulligan Road is the connector byway to replace Woodlawn Road that was closed as a Fort Belvoir security measure following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.