Signs of the Times

Political signs pop up all over Alexandria, then come down for Hurricane Sandy.

With 28 local candidates in Alexandria this election season, the median areas on many city streets have become muddled with campaign signs. The clusters have only gotten larger this fall with the local races coinciding for the first time with national elections. Many have bemoaned the signs since they appeared during the run up to June’s Democratic primary for City Council, which whittled the party’s field from 14 candidates (and their thousands of signs) to a slate of six. A sign was even placed on Commonwealth Avenue this past spring to protest the abundance of primary signage. And, of course, the signs don’t come without some controversy.   On Thursday night, a Del Ray Patch reader reported a group of people removing signs for …

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Friday Afternoon Update: Hurricane Sandy Tracking Toward D.C.

National Hurricane Center puts track of 'Frankenstorm' — potentially a tropical storm inside a nor'easter — a bit closer to Northern Virginia, the District and Maryland.

Update, 6:05 a.m. Saturday - Click here or the latest forecast information on Hurricane Sandy's track through Northern Virginia and Washington. ----------------   Update, 1:40 p.m. Friday As of early Friday afternoon, Hurricane Sandy had sustained winds of 80 mph — making it a Category 1 storm — as it slowly traveled north of the Bahamas. The storm is moving at just 6 mph. Saturday's weather should be cloudy with temperatures in the mid-60s. Some rain will start Saturday evening as temperatures drop into the 50s. The probability of rain increases Sunday morning (during the Marine Corps Marathon) with more wind and rain as the storm gets close Sunday afternoon.  Right now, the National Hurricane Center is predicting a greater than 40 …

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Del Ray, Rosemont Neighborhoods Weather Hurricane Irene

City crews working 12-hour shifts to remove downed trees and clear debris.

With memories of the August 2010 storm still fresh in the minds of Del Ray residents, Hurricane Irene’s entry into Northern Virginia on Saturday evening was cause for great concern. But as Saturday became Sunday, the damage to Del Ray and surrounding areas appeared much more minimal than “Stormageddon” of last year, which cost the City of Alexandria almost $500,000. A section of Leslie Avenue was blocked off Sunday morning after a utility pole came down near the intersection with E. Mt. Ida Avenue. Residents on nearby E. Del Ray Avenue said they never lost electricity. City spokesman Tony Castrilli said as of Sunday morning about 10,000 residents did not have electricity, but that number was dropping quickly. "We’re stressing to people …

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Village Sprouts

Rainy Day Adventures

With a little forethought, a rainy day can be a great adventure.

All this talk about Hurricane Irene has me thinking about indoor things to do with my family this weekend.   As a little kid in Texas, I had the opportunity to experience some pretty fantastic weather. My fascination with weather comes from my dad, who has a special knack for capturing the excitement and novelty of storms. It was fun, and I hope to pass that fascination on to my kids. So, what is there to do on a stormy day? I say go with it, make it your weekend theme.   With storms come wind. So, if there are any nice (lightning free) periods, go outside and fly a kite. Or, stay inside and make a wind chime out of string, a metal coat hangar and random clanky objects such as spoons and pie tins. For the smaller kiddos, have them scribble…

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Earthquake, Hurricane Irene Remind Residents to Update Emergency Plans

Alexandria offers online resources to create disaster plans.

Tuesday afternoon’s 5.8 magnitude earthquake and the looming threat of Hurricane Irene should make residents think about updating their personal disaster plans. Hurricane Irene is expected to pick up speed and strength Wednesday as it turns toward the East Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The latest projections indicate Virginia could see significant rain and wind over the weekend, avoiding a direct hit. Still, the 2011 hurricane season is young and, as Tuesday’s surprise trembler reminded us, disaster can strike at any time. Online Resources The City of Alexandria’s website features an emergency preparedness section with specific information for hurricanes, earthquakes and more. The site also features a brochure…

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