Tuesday, December 13, 2016

ICYMI: Rally For Rose Fundraiser tonight!


TONIGHT (Tue., Dec. 13) on the St. Elmo’s block in Del Ray on from 5pm to 9pm to remember Rose Cruz. Order special menu items at Market 2 Market Del RaySt. Elmo's Coffee PubPork Barrel BBQ and Holy Cow Del Ray. 100% of sales of special menu items will go to Rose’s young children, Alexandra and Isabella.

Share memories with neighbors, purchase charity raffle tickets for prizes from great Del Ray businesses, and offer cash donations for the children.

Del Ray businesses have donated over $5,000 in gift cards for a raffle to be held during the event. The Jen Walker team will be selling raffle tickets at Pork Barrel BBQ starting at 12pm today; tickets will also be available during the event. Raffle tickets are 1 for $10; 3 for $25; or an arm's length for $40. Cash, checks, credit cards accepted; 100% of proceeds will go to Rose's family.

Donations can also be made through the GoFundMe campaign that was set up for Rose: https://www.gofundme.com/for-rose

Rosemarie Cruz, 49, of Alexandria was the pedestrian struck during a traffic crash at the intersection of Mt. Vernon Avenue and W. Glebe Road on December 1, 2016, and later died of her injuries. 

At approximately 5:10 p.m., police responded to the area for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. Initial investigation indicates a 49-year-old woman was crossing the street when a 77-year-old woman struck her with her vehicle.
Members of the Crash Reconstruction Team are investigating the incident. The investigation is ongoing. Alexandria Police ask that witnesses or people with information regarding this incident contact Sergeant Greg Holden at 703.746.6184.
The driver involved in the crash at the intersection of Mt. Vernon Avenue and W. Glebe Road was arrested and released on summons the evening of the crash. Karin Sheire, 77, of Montana, was charged with Failed to Yield to Pedestrians.
Members of the Crash Reconstruction Team are investigating the incident and will determine any additional charges in consultation with the Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.


Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Dispense with disposables. Restore with reusables. #GivingTuesday

Dispense with disposables. Restore with reusables.


What gets dumped on our streets and parks in just a short time ends up in our streams and rivers forever...unless there's a lot of time, effort and money expended to remove it.
With just a little money, the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation hopes to pilot the promotion of bottle filler stations at Alexandria's most heavily used parks to help 'Kick the Habit'.



You contribution through Facebook today on #GivingTuesday will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1k!! 
Coupled with a seed grant from the ActionAlexandria Green Ideas Challenge and the new Alexandria Park Community Matching grant program, we are all quickly heading in on the goal. Help tap the ball in!
(And if you can't get into position right now, please help find an opening to pass it on).


About this Fundraiser
In partnership with the Alexandria Soccer Association, The Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation is working to make single-use water bottles a thing of the past at Alexandria's athletic fields. 'Kick the Habit' is our effort to reduce a significant source of waste and litter--the reliance on single-use bottled water--by installing water-bottle and jug filling stations at the City's two highest-use fields, Simpson Stadium Park and Witter Fields. Alexandria Soccer already has water jugs/coolers, and its players have reusable bottles. Help fill them.

Contributions to 'Kick the Habit' will be matched dollar-for-dollar through a Community Matching Fund grant we have been awarded through the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities. Our fundraising goal for this campaign is $3,000. With the matching funds and existing commitments, this amount will bring us to the $10,000 project budget.

In honor of #GivingTuesday, the Gates Foundation will match donations to this fundraiser up to $1,000. Facebook is waiving all fees.




Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Thanks for Giving - The Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation

Formed in 2016, following years of community efforts to foster the preservation, beautification, improvement, maintenance, and enjoyment of Four Mile Run Park, the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation already has been awarded grants that created a series of three events this Fall, engaging volunteers in conservation activities in Four Mile Run Park. Now, as they embark on a fundraising effort to help abate litter in our parks and streams, the Conservatory Foundation sends out this Thanksgiving greeting.


4MR Conservatory Thanksgiving.jpg

For the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation's first Thanksgiving, we wanted to acknowledge and thank you for helping to make our first year a success. We are especially grateful for:

  • Volunteers who contributed more than 250 hours of their time to benefit Four Mile Run Park by participating in our programs, removing invasive species, planting trees, and beautifying the park.


  • Program partners: Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities, the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market, Jack Taylor's Alexandria Toyota, Trees Alexandria, TreeStewards of Alexandria/Arlington.

  • Individual donors who support our work through Spring2Action Alexandria, Razoo Foundation's #GivingTuesday, and AmazonSmile. With generous support from our park partners, we are 70% of the way toward our $10,000 ‘Kick the Habit’ fundraising goal to help eliminate litter by promoting re-usable water bottles. With these funds, the plan is to pilot the installation of bottle and jug filling stations.

We wish you a happy Thanksgiving!

Kurt Moser
President

P.S. Don't forget to check out our latest wildlife cam photos at www.fourmilerun.org!



About the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation


The Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and volunteer organization formed in 2016 following years of community efforts to foster the preservation, beautification, improvement, maintenance, and enjoyment of Four Mile Run Park.
Our mission is to engage and educate the public, and to maintain the trail system and natural lands around lower Four Mile Run to improve Four Mile Run Park, and to foster respect and stewardship for this unique urban ecosystem and its natural, historic, and recreational resources. Our vision is a Four Mile Run Park that is fully utilized and appreciated by its neighbors and other stakeholders as an important part of community life, a resource for recreation, and a model for natural lands maintenance in an urban setting.



Monday, November 14, 2016

Four Mile Run Conservation Series: Wildlife, Thursday November 17th

The Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation hosts its final conservation series event centering on the wildlife of Four Mile Run, and they're seeking the involvement of community members interested in initiating citizen science programs to better understand the wildlife community in the park. 




Join them at 7pm on Thursday, November 17 at Jack Taylor's Alexandria Toyota for this final conservation series event  to, find out what they've learned about the wildlife of Four Mile Run Park, and how you can be involved in citizen science projects to identify and document the wildlife here.


Wildlife!

Below you'll find pictures of some of the wildlife of Four Mile Run Park, as captured by park visitors and our wildlife survey cameras. Click on any picture to enlarge it.


Conservation Series Continues

Basket making in the park
For those who have missed the Four Mile Run conservation series events so far, here is an update on activities at Four Mile Run Park. In late September, the Conservatory Foundation had an invasive vine removal and basketmaking event. Volunteers removed kudzu and porcelainberry vines, using the material to create marvelous works of art, with guidance from local artist Karen Brown on a warm and wonderful day out at the park.

Volunteers plant native trees
Then at the end of October, attention focused on trees, co-presenting on historic land cover and the forests of the Four Mile Run watershed with Alexandria Natural Resource Specialist Rod Simmons on Thursday, October 27, followed by a tree planting at the Edison Street entrance to the park on Saturday, October 29. In all, volunteers planted 24 native trees appropriate to the site. These included bitternut hickory, willow oak, pin oak, swamp white oak, sassafras, black gum, sweet gum, American hornbeam, American elm, and black walnut.

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The Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and volunteer organization formed in 2016 following years of community efforts to foster the preservation, beautification, improvement, maintenance, and enjoyment of Four Mile Run Park.

Their mission is to engage and educate the public, and to maintain the trail system and natural lands around lower Four Mile Run to improve Four Mile Run Park, and to foster respect and stewardship for this unique urban ecosystem and its natural, historic, and recreational resources. Their vision is a Four Mile Run Park that is fully utilized and appreciated by its neighbors and other stakeholders as an important part of community life, a resource for recreation, and a model for natural lands maintenance in an urban setting.

The Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation is grateful for program support in 2016 from:


Thursday, July 21, 2016

Arlandria Quality of Life Walk is this Friday, July 22nd from 9am-11am

A reminder that the Arlandria Quality of Life Walk is this. morning, Friday, July 22nd from 9am-11am. We will meet in the parking lot next to the Four Mile Run Conservatory Center, 4109 Mount Vernon Ave.





Thursday, June 23, 2016

Upcoming Meetings: Police Chief, Bikeshare, & Potomac Yard



Summer is back and so are the Alexandria Police Department Community Walks! 

Join Police Chief Earl L. Cook as he walks through your neighborhood. Chief Cook will be out with a variety of APD staff to talk with residents about any questions or concerns you have regarding your community. 

Tonight's edition hits Arlandria: gather at 6:30pm at the intersection of West Glebe Road & Mt Vernon Avenue!

.....


On Monday, June 27th at 7:30pm, the Traffic and Parking Board is holding a Public Hearing in Council Chambers, City Hall, 301 King Street. 

The agenda (see Docket Materials) includes discussion regarding the placement of a Capital Bikeshare Station in Arlandria. One potential location is on Bruce Street near Mount Vernon Avenue, next to MOM’s Organic Market, which would require the removal of one parking space. The goal is to keep the Bikeshare Station close to Mount Vernon Avenue so that it is visible and accessible to community members.


If you have questions, you can direct them to Hillary Orr, Complete Streets Program Manager or Ray Hayhurst, Complete Streets Coordinator. If you would like to speak during the Public Hearing, please complete the attached form and submit it to the Chairman prior to the meeting’s start. Speaker forms will not be accepted after 7:45 p.m.

.....

The North Potomac Yard Small Area Plan Update Advisory Group will hold its fourth meeting on June 27 at 7 p.m. at Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street. The purpose of the meeting is to review and receive community feedback on the concept options with a focus on the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station zone.

All meetings of the Advisory Group are open to the public and community members are encouraged to attend and participate.  Project materials and background information can be found on the project website.

Questions? Contact Richard Lawrence, Project Manager, 703.746.3849.


Friday, June 10, 2016

HUUUGE Book Sale for the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria SUNDAY.

Looking for a good book? We've got plenty!


We asked Alexandria for book donations and the response came in droves!! 

4MRMarket plays host to the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria Book Sale this Sunday. 

Thanks to hundreds of donations from across the city.

Come to the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market (www.4MRMarket.org) at 4109 Mt. Vernon Avenue this Sunday June 12th, 9am-1pm, to find that great read you've been looking for. 




Please note:
If you can lend a hand Sunday morning to assist in set-up, please contact Nathalie (nsimon22305@yahoo.com) and plan to arrive around 8ish. 

If you have some time in the afternoon, any leftover books need to be carted immediately following the sale at 1pm to Beatley Library for their sale. 



Friday, May 27, 2016

Four Mile Run Summer Movie Series: Minions TONIGHT

The Four Mile Run Summer Movie Series is a favorite summer tradition in the Arlandria neighborhood of Alexandria. 


Bring a blanket to Four Mile Run Park on a warm night and watch a great film on a gigantic movie screen. Films are shown on Friday nights beginning at dusk, around 8:30-9:00pm. People start to claim their spots on the lawn as early as 5pm. Movies play except in extreme weather and there are no rain days.

This month's feature: Minions.

This months premovie activities theme is bubbles. Come on out starting at 6:00 and enjoy our personal bubble station, large bubble wands and pools, and even make your OWN giant bubble wands.





There is no way to pull this off without your help. It's fun and you get a t-shirt. Signup today atvolunteer.fourmilesummermoviesseries.com

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Bike Rodeo May 15th at 4MRMarket!

Bike Rodeo May 15th at 4MRMarket!



Rescheduled because of rain for this Sunday at 4MRMarket. We’ve lost some of the volunteers who had planned to help on the original date of May 1. If anyone is available and interested in helping us with the operation of the rodeo, come on down!

Open to all children 5 to 12!!

Here’s your chance to polish and show off your biking skills – just in time for a summer of fun biking!!

• Learn more about biking safely
• Get your bike and helmet checked and adjusted
• Practice biking skills
• How to mount/dismount
• Starting and stopping
• Practice balance, steering and turning
• Ride through obstacle courses, slaloms and a street maze
• Learn biking signals and the rules of the road

Where: At the 4MRMarket, 4109 Mt. Vernon Avenue
When: Sunday, May 15, 10 am to 1 pm 
What to bring: Your bike and helmet (absolutely required)

Sponsors and Supporters
Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market 
Alexandria Police Department (COPs Unit)
Mount Vernon Community School,ACPS (Lisa Clausen)
City of Alexandria (Hillary Orr)
BPAC (Eldon Boes)

More information at: https://alexandriabpac.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/alexandriaBPAC/

Friday, May 13, 2016

4MR Restoration Ribbon Cutting Celebration Saturday, 8:30am

Celebrate the Completion of Four Mile Run Wetlands Restoration Project




The City of Alexandria and Arlington County will hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the Four Mile Run Wetlands Restoration Project on Saturday, May 14TH at 8:30 a.m. near the Four Mile Run Park soccer field, 4125 Mt. Vernon Ave. (In the event of inclement weather, the ribbon cutting will be held at the Conservatory Center, 4109 Mount Vernon Ave.)

The wetlands restoration implements recommendations from the Four Mile Run Restoration project, a joint venture with Arlington County to restore 2.3 miles of a highly degraded stream within the hardened flood control channel - or levee corridor - of Four Mile Run. Specifically, the project restored the historic 2-acre tidal wetland where the water levels fluctuate with the daily tidal cycle along Four Mile Run. The project also included a renovation of the Four Mile Run Park parking lot, which utilizes environmentally sensitive materials and design, including permeable pavers, native plantings, and rain gardens. In Summer 2016, Arlington County will begin the next phase of the implementing the Four Mile Run Restoration Master Plan through a project to restore the stream banks along Four Mile Run.

For more information, contact Dana Wedeles, Park Planner, Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, at703.746.5491 or dana.wedeles@alexandriava.gov


Tree Care at Four Mile Run


Come help maintain trees at Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria on Saturday, May 14th, immediately following the ribbon cutting for the wetland restoration project. 

A few volunteers are requested for some routine maintenance (correct some volcano mulching, remove stakes/ties where no longer needed, perform any necessary pruning), plus trimming invasive vines from trees along the channel. This is at the site where TreeStewards planted with Casey Trees several years ago, and you'll enjoy seeing how great it looks!



Thursday, April 21, 2016

Route 1 at East Reed Avenue Intersection Improvement

Route 1 at East Reed Avenue Intersection Improvement

The City of Alexandria recently awarded a contract to Finley Asphalt & Sealing, Inc. for the construction of intersection improvements along Route 1 at East Reed Avenue. The project includes a right turn lane from Route 1 southbound to westbound East Reed Avenue; sidewalk improvements, crosswalk upgrades, additional signage, and upgraded pedestrian signals on the northwest corner of the intersection.

Construction activities are expected to begin this Spring with project completion anticipated in the Fall.

To allow for a safe work area, shoulder closures and periodic lane/sidewalk closures are expected. Access to all businesses and residences will be maintained.


Proposed condition (rendering). Right lane will extend to East Reed Avenue


Existing condition. Right turn lane merges with thru traffic.  




Last night (Wednesday, April 4th), a presentation was presented at a Public Information Meeting to explain the project, the benefits and the construction impacts.

Inquiries regarding the project should be made to the City’s project manager Brian Meli at 703-746-4110 or by email at: Brian.Meli@alexandriava.gov.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

The Four Mile Run Conservatory is Springing2ACTion!!

The Four Mile Run Conservatory is Springing2ACTion!!


Formed this year following years of community efforts to foster the preservation, beautification, improvement, maintenance, and enjoyment of Four Mile Run Park, we already have been awarded our first grant to create a series of three fall-season events engaging volunteers in conservation activities in Four Mile Run Park. But we still need your help!!

  • $25 buys tools and materials required for one volunteer to remove invasive plants.
  • $100 pays to plant, stake, mulch and fit a new tree with a deer guard

    Helps us fix a park, restore a stream and build community!!
Donate today during Spring2Action at: https://spring2action.razoo.com/us/story/Four-Mile-Run-Conservatory-Foundation




The Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation is a non-profit corporation and volunteer organization formed following years of community efforts by concerned neighbors to foster the preservation, beautification, improvement, maintenance, and enjoyment of Four Mile Run Park in Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia.

Our mission is to engage and educate the public, and to maintain the trail system and natural lands around lower Four Mile Run to improve Four Mile Run Park, and to foster respect and stewardship for this unique urban ecosystem and its natural, historic, and recreational resources.

Our vision is a Four Mile Run Park that is fully utilized and appreciated by its neighbors and other stakeholders as an important part of community life, a resource for recreation, and a model for natural lands maintenance in an urban setting.


Check out our website at: http://www.fourmilerun.org/

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Science in the Hood: Sunday, April 17th, 11-1 at 4MRMarket

They are at it again!
GWU biology students and their professor will be hosting a bunch of great kids activities.
Science in the Hood: Sunday, April 17th at the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market (4109 Mt Vernon Avenue) from 11am until 1pm.
Gardening, ecology and evolution activities for kids and adults of all ages at Four Mile Run Park!


Stop by and join the fun in the neighborhood!!
Activity 1: Scavenger Hunt
Activity 2: Heads Up
Activity 3: Adaptation Flash-card game
Activity 4: Basketball recycling, understand different types of recycling
Activity 5: Ecology tag game
Activity 6: Word search puzzle, coloring pages
Activity 7: Water pollution demonstration and activity
Activity 8: Cooking demonstration using the local produce at the farmer's market
Activity 9: Trail Mix Bar
Activity 10: Plant/Sprout group

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1044267758965102/


Friday, April 08, 2016

Cleaning up Four Mile Run!



GWU Professor Tara Scully and her biology students are coming out to the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market this Sunday, April 10th from 11am to 2pm to lead community kids of all ages on a clean-up of the Four Mile Run Stream and nearby park and woodlands. 

The clean-up is part of what Tara calls "Science in the Hood". Check out this video her students shot a few months ago featuring some other nature explorations in and around Four Mile Run Park:




If you can't make it out on Sunday, another effort will  take place on Saturday April 9th, starting at 9:30am and taking off from the Conservatory Center at Four Mile Run Park (the red building at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue).

For those who are unfamiliar with this effort, it's a joint effort between Casa Chirilagua, National Community Church, and those who want to improve the neighborhood for everyone. Please take advantage of this opportunity to help shape an effort that's working to improve the neighborhood and bring everyone closer together!

This Saturday, the group will start with cleaning the park, and move up Mount Vernon Avenue. In addition to cleaning, the goal is to engage with the people in the neighborhood and try to form a more cohesive bond between neighbors; to use working in the neighborhood as a mechanism to bridge cultural divides and to build the community.

Is this weekend not going to work for you? Fear not.Volunteer for the 28th Annual Potomac Watershed Cleanup on the following Saturday, April 16th from 9 – 11am.

Alexandria's Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES), Stormwater Management Division, and Resource Recovery Division, in conjunction with the Alice Ferguson Foundation, will host a clean-up site in Four Mile Park. The clean-up will focus on a different location than Sundays: Four Mile Run Park at the end of 3700 Commonwealth Avenue.

Around the region, families, scouts, students, retirees, and thousands of other concerned residents and citizens will hit the shorelines, neighborhood parks, community streets, and schoolyards to clean local streams in the Potomac River Watershed. The Alice Ferguson Foundation created the Potomac River Watershed Cleanup in 1989 and has overseen the collection of over 5 million pounds of trash.

There are plenty of opportunities to join in. Just bring proper footwear, bring a garbage bag and gloves if you have them. But don't miss out on the fun!!

Tuesday, April 05, 2016

Alexandria Aces Seeking Host Families for 2016 Season!



Attention all Aces fans!
Your Alexandria Aces will be playing in their ninth season in Port City, this year, and are actively seeking host families for the upcoming 2016 season!
Do you have a spare bedroom with access to a washer or dryer during the upcoming months of June, July, and early August?

Do you have a son who plays baseball and you might like to have a live-in coach with your family during this summer?

Imagine, years from now, telling family and friends of an Aces player you hosted this summer who made it to a major league team. It has happened to many Aces host families in the past, and, it could happen to you in 2016!
This summer you might potentially be hosting a future major league player, such as Kyle Zimmer (University of San Francisco '12), pictured below, as an example, who played for the Aces during the summer of 2010 and was selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft, by the Kansas City Royals, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzt1sVISrsw) and is projected be in their pitching rotation some time during the summer.

We know you want to become a host family, so here's how to do it: please contact Amy Goodrich (amy_goodrich@comcast.net) for this upcoming season.

Amy will connect you with a player for you to host who will be coming to Alexandria to play 'lights out' baseball at Frank Mann Field.
As an IRS-deemed 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Alexandria community-based organization, host families are critically important to the Aces, and we sincerely thank you in advance for taking the opportunity to host a player, this summer.



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Monday, April 04, 2016

Transitway Opening Set for April 17, 2016


Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway Ribbon Cutting


Transitway Station - South Glebe Road
South Glebe Road and Route 1
ArlingtonVA
Map data ©2016 Google
Date/Time
04/17/2016
10:00 am
Contact Details
Eric Balliet

Join Arlington County officials for a celebration marking the completion of the Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway – the Washington area’s first right-of-way dedicated to premium surface transit.
The Transitway will provide faster, more reliable bus service between the Crystal City and Braddock Road Metrorail stations, with amenities designed to attract new bus riders.

About the Project

Arlington County and the City of Alexandria are building the Washington metropolitan area’s first right-of-way dedicated to premium surface transit. The new 4.5-mile Transitway between the Crystal City and Braddock Road Metrorail stations will provide faster, more reliable bus service along the congested Route 1 corridor, with amenities designed to attract new riders.
Arlington’s Transitway section includes a new all-day dedicated transit lane in Potomac Yard, a peak period transit lane in Crystal City and seven new transit stations. Separating bus service from traffic will result in corridor-wide travel time savings of 1-1/4 to 10 minutes for riders.
The Transitway will support redevelopment already underway in these neighborhoods, as well as planned development in Potomac Yard.
Metroway
Along the Transitway, WMATA’s new Metroway bus service will operate at high-frequency during peak hours and serve a consolidated number of stations. Station amenities will include real-time arrival information, higher curb for easier vehicle boarding, canopies for weather protection, seating, lighting, and wayfinding information.
Alexandria’s Transitway section opened in August 2014, which allowed the first phase of Metroway service to begin.