The City of Alexandria Office of the Arts and the Alexandria Transit Company have joined forces to host a poetry contest “DASHing Words in Motion”.   The poetry contest is to encourage quality writing by writers and poets 16 years or older, who live, work or study in the City of Alexandria.  The deadline for submitting entries is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1, 2017. Winners will have their poems published inside the Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH buses and Trolleys in April 2017 in celebration of National Poetry Month through May.

The poetry contest’s primary goal is to encourage a broad range of ideas and subject matter.  Possible inspirational ideas might stem from the Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH buses motto which is “Keep Alexandria Moving,” or bus stops, neighborhoods, roads, or other modes of transportation within the City of Alexandria, VA. The contest will bring recognition to writers, promote an appreciation of poetry as an art form, and provide inspiration to individuals using the Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH buses and trolleys.

Additional information including submission guidelines and frequently asked questions about the contest can be found on the Office of the Arts’ website at www.alexandriava.gov/Arts, email at [email protected], or by phone at 703.746.5565.

“DASHing Words in Motion” is a project of the Office of the Arts, a division of the City of Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities along with the following collaborating partners: Alexandria Transit Company (DASH); Wendi R. Kaplan, the City of Alexandria Poet Laureate; Alexandria Commission for the Arts; and the Alexandria City Public Schools.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Cheryl Anne Colton, Office of the Arts, at 703.746.5565 (VA Relay 711) or e-mail [email protected].

Today, Living Legends of Alexandria announces its selections for the newly inducted 2017 Living Legends. The 2017 Living Legends were selected from public nominations received throughout the year. These community leaders were chosen through one of two criteria: They led the creation or redevelopment of something that improves the quality of life in the City of Alexandria or, improved the quality of life in the City of Alexandria through many years of service.

Kerry Donley, for his continual effort to expand the economic and business development of the City of Alexandria.

Bill Euille, for his commitment to civic engagement and improving the quality of life for many City of Alexandria residents.

Carter Flemming, for her countless hours of service to over twenty Alexandria organizations.

Sandy Modell, for her dedication and effort in connecting the citizens of Alexandria through the city’s mass transit system.

Gwen Mullen, for her care and commitment to develop the City of Alexandria’s youth and access to better education.

Jen Walker, for her continued support in developing the community of Del Ray.

Mary Anne Weber, for her continued effort to bring affordable health care and mental health awareness to the citizens of Alexandria.

Ethel Underwood, for her leadership and activism on Alexandria’s Commission on Aging, Women in Voluntary Service to America Memorial, Inova Alexandria Hospital, Hopkins House, the Executive Committee of the NAACP and several other Alexandria organizations.

We invite everyone to meet the new Legends at our Meet the Legends Reception on March 16. This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the Living Legends of Alexandria organization. LLA is an on-going, not-for-profit photo-documentary project that identifies, honors and chronicles people making current history in Alexandria. The Office of Historic Alexandria archives this documentation so it can be remembered for years to come.

We salute these distinguished Living Legends recipients. Thank you for your work and service to our great city!

This month, two board members are moving on to other things and we thank them. Thank you to Mary Ann Weber who helped Living Legends become a reality and who ensured we met a high editorial standard in our communications and our documentation, and our internal records. She has truly set a precedent and instilled in our culture an eye for perfection and accuracy.

I hope we can live up to her standards. And, thank you to Rodger Stevens who organized our accounting system, checked the PO box and was on-sight at every event with his head down working a computer. We will miss both of them. People make us strong. We will be welcoming  four new board members in July, and hope many others will continue to support us through committee work.