Photo credit for all images goes to Lee Moody By Bob Tagert We have been writing Road Trip articles for at least 30 of the almost 36 years we’ve been in publication. They began as a story about a destination near Alexandria. Then we got into Day Tripping when I had my 1974 Fiat Spider which was perfect for a day’s excursion. As our publication grew, we expanded our focus and ventured farther out. Most of these involved an overnight stay near the destination and in fact, sometimes the destination was the place we stayed. However, occasionally our trips are local like last month’s Road Trip to the Museum of the United States Army. A number of years ago we decided to write about our beautiful Old Town Alexandria every December as this is a time to stay home with family and friends…Welcome Home. It is also a good time for those who reside between the Bay and the Blue Ridge to plan a Road Trip to Old Town Alexandria. I will start with a brief history of what it was like when I arrived in 1977. Old Town was approximately six blocks long. It was King Street from the Potomac River to Washington Street. There were a few restaurants on the other side of Washington Street but only a few…the concentration was near the water in the old seaport town which was founded in 1749. Old Town, as we know it today, was in its infancy. The town’s daring merchants transformed a neglected area and gave it a heartbeat. When I arrived, there was live music in almost every restaurant, mostly local folks playing their own music while covering favorite songs for their dedicated customers. Parking was plentiful and pedestrian traffic was minimal…but what a good time! Today,…
By Lisa Velenovsky Hayashi It’s the holiday season, and everyone is searching for that perfect gift! And what could be more perfect than a snuggly puppy for a child or a feline animal companion for a lonely parent? It does make for a heartwarming picture — but is it a good idea? Experts are divided, and it turns out the answer is not a simple “yes” or “no.” Many animal rescues, shelters and advocacy groups such as PETA believe strongly that it’s a bad idea to gift a pet. This is based on legitimate concerns about the animal’s welfare, such as whether the recipient wants a pet, is ready for the responsibility of caring for a pet, can afford the financial commitment that comes with a pet, and even if a recipient will love a gifted pet as much as one they chose themselves. Gifting a pet to a child brings its own special challenges. “Pets require a lot of responsibility. It’s not feasible to think that children can take care of a puppy or kitten – they will need adult supervision at all times,” Stacey DiNuzzo, the communications director at Pasado’s Safe Haven, told People Magazine about why families shouldn’t rush to give pets as gifts. This is true for any pet gifted to a child. There are anecdotal stories of shelters being flooded with unwanted gifted pets as they are abandoned by their new owners. DiNuzzo lists her rescue among those that receive surrendered animal’s post-holidays, after the recipient’s initial enthusiasm for their new animal has waned. However, no numbers or statistics were provided. There appears to be little hard data to determine how widespread the problem may be. At the same time, other animal advocates point to research that suggests that the gifting of pets is not in and of itself detrimental to…
By Erin Shackleford Adoptable Rango is a male, 5-year-old bearded dragon who is looking for a place to lounge permanently (if you don’t have a pink chaise lounge, he said that’s OK). Rango is docile and friendly. He also doesn’t mind being handled. You will often find him perched on a log in his enclosure curiously looking out, tilting his head back and forth, awaiting new visitors. With the proper equipment and food, bearded dragons are easy to care for! Bearded dragons are known for their “smiles,” which is actually a way for them to stay cool. Besides his beardie food, he likes to munch on leafy veggies and insects, like mealworms. Bearded dragons can make excellent, entertaining, easy-to-care-for pets. Their average lifespan is 8-10 years. Simon is a male English Spot bunny who is as cute as he is curious. English Spot rabbits are known for being gentle, affectionate, and well-mannered. Simon embodies all of these characteristics! He loves to receive attention and be pet. Simon is also very curious and loves to explore and check out the world around him. Some of his favorite snacks include hay, apple sticks, and veggies. If you’re looking for a snuggly rabbit companion to love, Simon is your guy! Leroy is a 8-year-old sweet senior gentleman who is looking for a retirement home. Leroy is very calm and easygoing with a loving, patient demeanor. His big brown eyes and frosty face are heart melting. Leroy has gotten along with other dogs, even small ones, here at the AWLA. Leroy walks a little slower, but he still enjoys a leisurely, short stroll. But above all, he LOVES a fluffy, cozy bed to snooze the day away in. Leroy very much prefers to stick close to the humans he loves. They say with age comes wisdom, and Leroy has plenty of that….
By Lori Welch Brown I don’t care if you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, lighting the Menorah, hunkering down for Kwanzaa, or gearing up for the Chinese New Year—December truly is the most wonderful time of year. “Awww, bah humbug, Lori—Christmas is for kids! Clearly you haven’t tried to park at Costco recently or gone near a Macy’s. People would rather run you over than lose a parking spot within a mile of a mall.” Okay—true about the parking situation, but not true about Christmas being for kids. I mean, sure. There’s nothing like seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child on Christmas morning, but I know many adults who are nothing short of giddy this time of year. “Giddy? What is there to be giddy about? Have you seen the news recently? The world is at war, we have a geriatric president who will likely be ousted by a felon, new strains of COVID are popping up daily, and AI is about to replace all our jobs while it’s stealing our identities.” True—there is a lot of bad stuff happening in the world right now which makes it even more important to embrace the holiday season with glee and spread the message of hope, peace, and joy. “You sound like a walking Hallmark movie.” Thank you. “What if I don’t have anything to be joyous about? Have you seen the price of eggs?” Joy is everywhere—you just have to look for it. Perhaps you should switch off the news and put on a Hallmark movie. “Hallmark shmallmark. Who has time for those indulgences when there are presents to be bought, gifts to be wrapped, pies to be baked…” Sounds like someone is gearing up for the holidays… “Well, it is a BUSY time of year; I’ll give you…
Longtime friend and fan and subscriber of the Old Town Crier, Linda Plant Allin took her copy of the OTC on her trek up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain – the highest point on Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park. Linda and her husband Dave took a road trip up the east coast in early September after a stay in Old Town Alexandria before returning to their home in Grand Junction, Colorado. Pictured poolside at their hacienda aka the Hot Oak Ridge Boys, longtime Alexandria residents Jimmy Rosenburg (left) and Mark Barrett relocated to the desert near Las Vegas in Nevada about 7 years ago. They haven’t missed a beat since they subscribe to the OTC and get it delivered each month. Many of you may recognize Mark from behind the bar and the former Chez Andre and later at RT’s restaurant. If you would like to see your photo featured in this space, take a couple of shots with a copy of the OTC in hand and send it to office@oldtowncrier.com along with information for the caption. Be sure to include your mailing address if you want a hard copy sent to you.
By Steve Chaconas Shopping for anglers is frustrating; but for people on the receiving end there’s a guaranteed stint in return lines! Choose gifts for on and off the water! Quality, comfort, and durability in a variety of enhanced materials make for long lasting gifts. Since 1980, Simms anglers have perfected innovative fishing clothing, utilizing cutting edge materials with on the water testing. Simms Rogue Softshell Pants are perfect for cold weather. Wind-blocking, breathable, and DWR treated soft shell contains a non-bulky soft fleece interior for warmth. Secure riveted pockets are warm. Stow phone, pliers, or keys in a right thigh zippered pocket. Articulated knee panels are darted for mobility and back cuffs are reinforced. simmsfishing.com In 1897 people were tough and clothes tougher. Filson became legendary to outdoor enthusiasts. Sewn in the USA Filson Rail Splitter jeans are ready for work. Tightly-woven denim with 100% cotton yarn provides natural durability and comfort. Rear pockets are double-layer reinforced. Leg holes fit over most boots. Heavy-duty zippered fly and metal wreath-button waist closure ensure longevity. Bar-tacked belt loops are sturdy. Filson’s tough clothing legacy withstands the tests of time and hard use. filson.com Balanced for all-purpose Grundens Ballast Jacket is built with Primaloft Black insulation engineered to stay warm when wet. Light and thin, Primaloft Black offers best in class warmth. Cozy inside, tough outside, the Ballast has a rugged shell fabric with professional grade abrasion resistance 100% Nylon oxford full dull 400D coated with Durable Water Resistant (DWR) finish. Plenty of pockets: dual zippered chest, two hand warming, interior security. Interior knit cuffs beneath adjustable snap cuffs. Adjustable hood. Triple stitch seams. grundens.com Fishouflage Waters Edge performance interlock fleece ½ zip jacket in several species specific Fishouflage camo patterns create unique performance casualwear gifts. Fishouflage’s soft brushed interior features advanced…
By Melinda Myers The holiday season has arrived. That means you will be on the giving or receiving end of a poinsettia, Christmas cactus, cyclamen, amaryllis or other holiday plant. Extend the beauty and longevity of these holiday beauties with proper care. And that starts the minute you leave the florist or garden center. Always protect your gift plants from the harsh outdoors. Professional florists and garden center staff will provide a care tag and wrap your plants in a plastic or paper sleeve. Remove the wrap as soon as you arrive home. This is especially important when caring for poinsettias. The upturned leaves emit ethylene, a ripening hormone, that can shorten the longevity of your poinsettia’s colorful display. Rewrap your holiday plant anytime you move it outdoors and never leave it sitting in a cold car while running errands. A chilled plant looks fine until it thaws. By the next day the plant turns grayish-green, wilts and may die. Not such a nice gift after all. Once your plant arrives home, place it in a cool, brightly lit location. The cool temperatures and indirect light help the blooms last longer. Avoid drafts of hot and cold air. These can dry or chill the plant, resulting in leaf and blossom drop. Fold down the foil wrap to allow sunlight to reach all the leaves. Keep the soil moist, like a damp sponge, but not wet. A quick touch of the top inch or two of soil will let you know when it is time to water. Water thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil are crumbly and just slightly moist. Pour out any water that collects in the foil, basket, decorative pot or saucer. Or place pebbles in the bottom of the container or saucer to elevate the plant…
By Carl Trevison and Stephen Bearce A dividend is a portion of a company’s profit that’s paid to shareholders. That means dividend-paying stocks may provide a source of income. But they can also carry some degree of risk. So, what do investors need to consider when it comes to dividend-paying stocks? In this Q&A, Austin Pickle, senior wealth investment solutions analyst with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, provides important information for investors to keep in mind. What are the potential benefits of dividend-paying stocks? “One of the big benefits is that these stocks may provide a more reliable income stream compared to some other investment options,” Pickle says. Companies tend to issue dividends on a routine basis, such as quarterly or semi-annually, which may create a dependable income stream. Another benefit? The stocks can yield some favorable tax treatment. “It’s going to depend on your tax situation,” Pickle says, “but in general, you may have a relatively lower tax rate for dividends compared to income gained by selling investments.” As long as the dividend-paying stock meets IRS requirements for a qualified dividend, the dividend is taxed at the lower long-term capital gains tax rate instead of being taxed as regular capital gains income. “So an investor could receive income from a dividend-paying stock without selling the stock and have a lower tax bill compared to that of a non-dividend-paying stock, which must be sold to receive income,” he says. Who should include dividend-paying stocks in their portfolio? Many types of investors have the potential to benefit from dividend-paying stocks. “But these stocks may be more valuable for investors who are a bit older — maybe those in retirement or close to retirement who really value a more reliable income stream,” Pickle says. “I think they’re typically beneficial from a diversification perspective,…
By Carl Trevison and Stephen Bearce When the stock market is on the rise, investors can fall into the trap of believing the good times will never end. But in all probability, market volatility will return, and chances are it’ll be when it’s least expected. Rather than waiting for it to happen and risking the possibility of panicking and making costly investment decisions, you may want to think about volatility during those good times. That way, you can be strategic rather than emotional about dealing with it, which may lead to better outcomes. What type of investor are you? What you should be considering now depends on which of these describes your current situation: You have an investment plan. You don’t have an investment plan. Let’s begin by addressing type two investors. Quite simply, if you don’t have an investment plan, you should think about creating one, and here’s why: A well-thought-out plan is built around what you’re investing for (goals), how long you have until you need to tap into your investments (time horizon), and, most important for this topic, the amount of market volatility you’re comfortable with (risk tolerance). Taking these factors into consideration, your plan should include a strategic asset allocation, which is how your portfolio is divvied up between different types of investments — primarily stocks, bonds, and cash alternatives. You may be the type of investor who takes market volatility in stride. In that case, you likely have a relatively high risk tolerance. On the other hand, volatility may make it hard for you to sleep and cause you to panic, which would mean your risk tolerance is probably rather low. If you’re the second type of investor, a larger portion of your asset allocation would likely be in bonds, which historically have been more…
By Steve Chaconas Halls of fame require a high level of performance and the ability to generate revenue and fan growth. Excelling in all areas is Michael Iaconelli. Ike, as he is known, is a kid from Jersey who break dances and fished for bass when fishing wasn’t cool, worked his way into the pro bass fishing circuit, won the world championship, and then was elected to the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. Young Iaconelli contrasted with good old boy bass anglers, breaking the mold of heavy set, tobacco chewing, aw shucks fishermen. Michael, soon to known as Ike, set himself apart from pros who were either reluctant or incapable of representing themselves or a sponsor’s product. Unwilling to reveal secret lures, pros were soon upstaged by Ike. When asked about his lure of success, Ike produced Mann’s Bait Company’s Stone Jig from his pocket detailing features that put this lure above the rest. Studying advertising and public relations, and graduating summa cum laude from Rowan University, Ike understood marketing and how athletes become celebrities while elevating their sports. Working at Dick’s Sporting Goods, he learned how to communicate fishing knowledge to help anglers catch more fish. This early customer service experience prepared him for positive fan relations. Maybe he dreamed these fishing fans would become Ike fans. On the water, he doesn’t sit or lean on a seat, but runs around the boat deck to gain advantage over bass with better casting angles or landing opportunities. With his bait always in the water, Ike fishes fast but slowly in fish spots, shouting when he catches a bass. It’s not an act but became his act. After the emotional BASSMASTER Classic win, we went fishing on the Potomac. It didn’t take him long to hook up and in inimitable Ike fashion, he…
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