Archive for June, 2008

Rain Barrel Workshop

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008

The City is hosting a build-your-own rain barrel event on Saturday, July 12 from 9:30-11:30 at Francis Hammond Middle School, 4646 Seminary Drive.

Rain barrels conserve water and could lower your quarterly bill if you usually water your lawn. They help *prevent basement flooding,* reduce stormwater issues, protect the Chesapeake from pollution/runoff, and lots of other wonderful things I’m not smart enough to know about. Rainwater is also GREAT for plants (including houseplants, which thrive in the stuff). We have some *great* looking rain barrels on Nelson Ave. (which you can peek at if you stroll down the alley behind the Giant).

Registration is required. To register online, it’s $52 at arlingtonenvironment.org/barrel.htm. You can also send a check (info at the website), but your spot isn’t guaranteed until they cash it. They’re also selling ready-made barrels.

For more information about the Rain Barrel Workshops, call Jesse Maines, Office of Environmental Quality, Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, at 703.519.3400, ext. 166.

Next ADAM event June 28 — tour of New York Avenue and Potomac Yard Stations

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

Announcement:

WHAT: ADAM PRESENTS

A Bus Tour of New York Avenue Metro Station in Washington DC, and of the future site of Potomac Yard Metro Station in Alexandria

WHERE: Place of Departure To Be Determined

WHEN: Saturday June 28, 9am to 12 noon

SPEAKER AND GUIDE:

John Thomas, Director of Major Capital Projects

Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Mr. Thomas was one of the speakers at the May 27 meeting on the Feasibility of a Potomac Yard Station, hosted by ADAM, Coalition for Smarter Growth, and Del Ray Citizens Association.

Space is limited! Please reserve early by emailing info@alexmetros.org.

Reservations will be honored in the order received. A bus provided by WMATA will take attendees to both sites. Instructions on where and when to meet on June 28 will be emailed to confirmed attendees. ADAM requests a donation of $10 to enable us to continue bringing you interesting programs.

For further information, contact ADAM at info@alexmetros.org.

High Drama!

Tuesday, June 10th, 2008

OK, not real high drama but we had yet another solicitor this evening on our block. I asked to see his permit and although he claimed to have one, he was unable to produce said permit. Since he was rude to me I called Alexandria’s finest (using the non-emergency number of 703 838 4444) and they sent not one but two cars within only a few minutes. I don’t know if they caught the guy or not but I’m sure he won’t be back.

This latest miscreant claims to be a representative of a group called “Environment Virginia” – I’ll contact them tomorrow to explain how we don’t want solicitors and that the man claiming to represent them was quite rude. I took pictures of him and they’re kind of funny. Take a look:

Solicitor_01 Solicitor_02 Solicitor_03 Solicitor_04

For the record, we here at NAG maintain a list of organizations we do not like because they send solicitors and leave trash on our porches. This list is here.