Shelley
-
The Basics
-
Shelley on Patch
-
More Stuff
Comments
-
On the article Where are the Worst Roads and Intersections in Alexandria?
-
On the article Where are the Worst Roads and Intersections in Alexandria?
Shelley
3:41 pm on Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Agreed also...Although living on S. Henry, I can't stand those that FLY down S. Henry to beat the Rt. 1 traffic, so I don't know how I would feel about Patent folks cutting through to do the same. My biggest complaint though is how very dangerous the left hand turn from Rt. 1 onto Gibbon to get into the NW Quadrant. Southbound commuters using Rt. 1 are constantly running that red light becuase they just want to get on the Beltway. Meanwhile, anyone turning left has to wait and guess if they will stop then run a redlight themselves in order to avoid an accident. There are constant accidents there and Alexandria does nothing. They won't put a green arrow there because they say that it will distrupt rush hour too much (In other words, our residents safety isn't that important) and they don't even run the the redlight cameras that are installed there and have proven to greatly deter red light runners.
-
On the article Officer Peter Laboy in Critical Condition After Shooting
Shelley
9:07 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
ReplyJust driving to work today with a neighbor discussing how lucky and grateful we are to have such exceptional police officers in our little city. Prayers and thoughts going out to Officer Laboy and his family. Thank you Alexandria Police Department for all you do to protect and serve our city.
-
On the article Arcadia: Proposing a Restaurant at Woodlawn Plantation?
Shelley
5:30 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013
@ Mary, first your accusations were..."Aren't they the same people who tried to create a huge quazi-controversial stink regarding a possible brew pub on the property years ago?" and "since when has the Save Woodlawn Stables clan" always felt we can work and partner with Arcadia"... Now you are changing your words saying you were implying that I have been "posting nasty things about them in the Mount Vernon Patch for many many months." Which is it?
The Shelley you quoted is indeed me, I posted this when a reader pointed out that they had found statements from Arcadia saying they were actively persuing trying to take over the lease that Woodlawn Stables has held for 30 yrs. I'm not sure your point, but I still stand by my statement 100% I do find these actions dishearting and honestly, I think most people would. And so that everyone can read my full statement in context I will link to it. http://mountvernon.patch.com/blog_posts/will-richmond-highway-traffic-get-a-mulligan-ffe270e4
As you noted, it's been almost a yr. Since that time we have dealt with the road issue and turned our focus on working with the Trust on ways that an equestrian facility can be better modeled to benefit them financially and coexist with Arcadia. Seems to me that you are trying to turn this into something that it's not.
-
On the article Arcadia: Proposing a Restaurant at Woodlawn Plantation?
Shelley
8:49 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
ReplyMary, you must be thinking of some other group…We only formed Save Woodlawn Stables in April of 2012 when we found out that there had been no public meetings to inform the community that the plans to widen Rt. 1 had changed to a bypass proposal cutting through Woodlawn Stables. We have never advocated what you are accusing us of. To make it clear, we have been working closely with the Trust to develop several equestrian models that could possibly work within their future plans to find a more sustainable house museum model for Woodlawn. We have always advocated for ways this could be done so as to preserve Woodlawn’s equestrian history and intended setting, benefit the Trust’s financial needs and coexist with, if not, enhance Arcadia’s concepts. In this highly public fight to save and protect the equestrian property, we have shared that information very publically. I’d be more than happy to give you one of my cold beers, it sounds like you may need it.
Shelley Castle
Co-Founder Save Woodlawn Stables -
On the article Arcadia: Proposing a Restaurant at Woodlawn Plantation?
Shelley
7:32 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Reply@John, please see the PDF that is attached to the article. It outlines Babin's plans for the stables side of the property. It includes a cafe, conf. centers, greenhouses, etc.. While I agree that Arcadia's stated mission seems admirable, I can't say this plan is…Especially for a National Historic Landmark. I want to address some assumptions you have made. The Trust’s problems have nothing to do with them not being able to make “enough money” from the stables. The stable owners have run a highly successful business and rent only one-fifth of the of the entire 128 acre Woodlawn museum & estate...Woodlawn is one of 28 historic sites the Trust owns. Respectfully, your blame on the tenet for a national organization’s financial problems is sorely misplaced. FYI: The Trust has negotiated multiple leases with the stables for over 30 yrs and at any time could have raised the rent accordingly if this was the problem. Please give their many DC lawyers a little bit of credit for their negotiating skills. Also, terms of the lease agreement were negotiated to greatly to benefit the Trust so that they would not have to bear the huge financial burden of the care and maintenance of the historic buildings and land on stables property; WS has done a wonderful job at doing that. Also, FYI, the Trust was deeded Woodlawn to keep and preserve its history as one of our national treasures…As part of that deed, they can’t “sell it to developers” or anyone else.
-
On the Blog Post Save Woodlawn Stables: The Blog: Tally Ho!
Shelley
11:19 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
ReplyOh Dave, why don't you read the article to find out what makes it so special...Or ask the over 3000 folks that have signed the SWS petiion...or ask the over 500 citizens that attened the last public meeting on this issue...or the over 250 people that took the time to write and send Fairfax County and the FHWA their comments in support of Woodlawn Stables not being affected by the Rt. 1 widening...Or ask the hundreds of kids and students that ride there every week and love the 45 horses that reside there...Or ask all the local elected officials that have written and expressed their support for the stables and need for this type of facility in our community. Seems to me, you are about the only one in the community that hasn't figured it out and has to ask this question.
-
On the Blog Post Save Woodlawn Stables: The Blog: Tally Ho!
Shelley
11:19 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
ReplyOh Dave, why don't you read the article to find out what makes it so special...Or ask the over 3000 folks that have signed the SWS petiion...or ask the over 500 citizens that attened the last public meeting on this issue...or the over 250 people that took the time to write and send Fairfax County and the FHWA their comments in support of Woodlawn Stables not being affected by the Rt. 1 widening...Or ask the hundreds of kids and students that ride there every week and love the 45 horses that reside there...Or ask all the local elected officials that have written and expressed their support for the stables and need for this type of facility in our community. Seems to me, you are about the only one in the community that hasn't figured it out and have to ask this question.
-
On the article Federal Highway Administration Offers Alternative Route 1 Widening Option
Shelley
10:58 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
ReplyAnyone wanting current information on the new proposal, our new petiition, and the future of Woodlawn Stables. Please see our latest update on our website: http://www.savewoodlawnstables.org/call-to-action
Thank you to all of you in the communtiy for your overwhelming support and ongoing help in this chance to save Woodlawn Stables. We hope the Trust will renew the lease so that the stables can continue it's legacy in the Mount Vernon area; we look forward to the possibilities of a renewed relationship benefiting Woodlawn Plantation, the stables and the community as a whole.Shelley Castle
Save Woodlawn Stables -
On the article Federal Highway Administration Offers Alternative Route 1 Widening Option
Shelley
10:57 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
ReplyAnyone wanting current information on the new proposal, our new petiition, and the future of Woodlawn Stables. Please see our latest update on our website: http://www.savewoodlawnstables.org/call-to-action
Thank you to all of you in the communtiy for your overwhelming support and ongoing help in this chance to save Woodlawn Stables. We hope the Trust will renew the lease so that the stables can continue it's legacy in the Mount Vernon area; we look forward to the possibilities of a successful relationship benefiting Woodlawn Plantation, the stables and the community as a whole.Shelley Castle
Save Woodlawn Stables
Shelley
3:52 pm on Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The light isn't annoying...It's nothing more than a glorified stop sign....What is annoying is the ridiculous amount of people that don't realize that you can legally turn left on red there (as long as there are no pedestrians present) becuase it is one way street. And for those that don't know their driving right of ways...It even says so on the sign, but nobody reads it and they just sit there the whole light cycle holding everyone hostage. That's usually how I can tell which people are from Alexandria and who are just commuters cutting through the neighborhood.