St. Elmo's to Host Living Legends Exhibition

St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub, 2300 Mount Vernon Avenue, will host an exhibition of Living Legends of Alexandria:  African American Activists for Black History Month. The exhibition features 13 African Americans who have been chronicled as part of the Living Legends of Alexandria project from 2007-2013: Ferdinand Day, Lillie Finklea, Carlton Funn Sr., Eula Miller, Melvin Miller, Bert Ransom, Nelson Greene Sr., Lynnwood Campbell, Lillian Patterson, Gwen Menefee-Smith, Dorothy Turner, Willie Bailey Sr. and Rosa Byrd.  St. Elmo’s is offering free coffee for the opening of the exhibition on Saturday, February 1st from 3-4 p.m.  Living Legends of Alexandria (www.AlexandriaLegends.com) is an ongoing, not-for-profit photo-documentary project to identify, honor and chronicle the people making current history in Alexandria.  For information about the exhibition, contact Legends@AlexandriaLegends.com.

 

Living Legends in King Street Gardens Park

In time for the holidays, the Living Legends vein of bricks was installed yesterday in King Street Gardens Park.  Hope you will make time to stop by and see them (maybe if you’re in town for First Night...).

The new vein represents a lot of work and coordination on the part of Rodger Digilio, chair, and Marlin Lord, treasurer,  of the King Street Gardens Park Foundation.  Marlin is pictured at left, above, overseeing the installation. Thank you, Rodger and Marlin.

Photos are by Steven Halperson, Tisara Photography, who came over when called, to get the shots.  Thank you, Steven.

Warmest wishes for a joy-filled holiday,

Meet the 2014 Living Legend of Alexandria Nominees

Reception Canceled
In view of time constraints for proper planning, the Board reluctantly decided not to try to reschedule a separate reception for introducing the 2014 Living Legend nominees. We sincerely regret the circumstances that caused us to reach this decision.

The Legends of 2014 will be announced in early January. All nominees and Legends will be introduced at the Meet The Legends reception at the Patent & Trademark Office on March 20. We hope you will plan to attend.

Meet the 2014 Nominees:

Mike Anderson’s philanthropic contributions to the community date back to the 1980s when his Shooter McGee’s “Alexandria Autumn 10K” raised more than $50,000 for Special Olympics. Today, in an innovative partnership with ACT for Alexandria, Anderson gives back to more than 75 local nonprofits by donating 25 cents for every burger sold at Holy Cow restaurant.

Char McCargo Bah has a passion for African American history and genealogy, most particularly in Alexandria. She had a pivotal role in the publication of African Americans of Alexandria, Virginia – Beacons of Light in the Twentieth Century, which she co-authored with four other volunteers.

Rose Enevoldsen Berler served on the board of directors of the Alexandria Hospital Corporation from 1978-86 continuing her affiliation from 1986-97 with what became the Alexandria Health Services Corporation. The first woman appointed to the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority she served as vice chair from 1974-79 and as chair from 1979-83.

As a result of Glenn Eugster's efforts, Fort Ward Park is a better and more esthetically attractive site. The maintenance and horticulture facilities are gone, more than 60 unmarked graves and numerous cultural artifacts have been identified and a formalized commitment to a park management process is in place.  

One of his many philanthropic activities, Lee Fifer joined the board of the Carpenter’s Shelter in 1994 when it was on the verge of going out of business. His first assignment was to lead a fundraising effort where with the help of many others, he raised $600,000 in six months. He chaired the board for ten years and still serves to this day.

At the same time that he was building his own business, the Snack Bar Restaurant, Charles “Tony” Gee was encouraging other local businesses to get started and to grow. While at his King Street location, he helped organize 84 Alexandria business owners and became the founding president of the Old Town Business Association.

Richard (Rick) Glassco has served as treasurer of ALIVE! (Alexandrians Involved Ecumenically) for 23 years. Since its founding in 1969, ALIVE! has grown from an all-volunteer organization to one with volunteers from 40 faith communities, approximately 14 employees and a 1.3 million dollar budget.

Gila S. Harris’s volunteer work swung into high gear the year she retired in 1994 when the City Council appointed her to the Equal Opportunity Commission, Alexandria's official anti-poverty agency. Harris is the longest serving member having been there 19 years. At the same time she became a significant fundraiser for the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria.

For over thirty years, Ramona K. Hatten has been involved in community service in Alexandria. She was an Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority commissioner from 1982 to 1990 and instrumental in the formation of the Alexandria Resident Council (ARC) to assure public housing resident input into ARHA decisions effecting them.

Wayne Hulehan has been active in civic affairs since moving to Alexandria in 1971, receiving the Tommy Thompson Award for lifetime service to Boy Scouts of the National Capital Area. Many of his charitable causes are related to the fight to cure cancer.

A member of the Alexandria Commission for Women from 1997 to 2013, Susan B. Kellom now serves on the board of the Friends of the Alexandria Commission for Women. She served on the Alexandria Youth Policy Commission from 1997 to 2003 and as a member of the Alexandria Human Rights Commission from 1985 to 1997, including two terms as chair.

As Music Director of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra for 25 years, Kim Allen Kluge contributes to the rich cultural fabric of Alexandria through his outstanding artistic leadership and a strong connection to the local community. Passionate about music education, in 2003 he founded the Children’s Arts Festival.

Perhaps best known for her tenure on the Alexandria school board during 2002-03 and 2003-06 (when she became the first minority women to serve as vice chair), Gwendolyn Hubbard Lewis was widely admired for her ability to steer the board through critical educational and personnel issues.

A passionate “boater,” Lorraine Lloyd wanted to showcase Alexandria’s waterfront and seaport history. In 2000 she volunteered to create and organize Alexandria’s first “Parade of Lights” boat parade.Today’s Parade of Lights is one of Alexandria’s holiday hallmarks and has attracted regional and national media.  

Gregory L. (Gregg) Murphy led the merger of Alexandria Hospital into the INOVA Healthcare System. This merger gave Alexandria Hospital the financial stability to fund a new cancer center, a cardiac rehabilitation facility, and an $80 million expansion of the out-patient surgery center and the Emergency Department which now serves nearly double the 50,000 patients it accommodated annually in the 1990s.

Since thirty-two years ago when Gary Oelze opened The Birchmere in Arlandria, it has been at the center of business activity in the area. For the past 11 years Oelze and the Birchmere have hosted the Carpenter Shelter Cook Off.

Frederic “Fred” Parker was ahead of his time when he and his brother, Jim, founded the Hard Times Café in 1980 on upper King Street. It now serves as an anchor for what has become a very vibrant area of Old Town and draws chili lovers nationally and internationally. 

Known best for revitalizing the Del Ray business community with her business partner Scott Mitchell, through the establishment of St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub, Nora Partlow is often thought of as the "Mayor" of Del Ray. Besides making St. Elmo’s a community gathering place, Partlow mentors her young employees and showcases and promotes local artists and musicians.

James S. (Jim) Roberts has been an indefatigable advocate for children’s literacy since 1996 when he joined with other members of Alexandria’s faith-based communities to create the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium. Roberts was instrumental in seeing that children who struggled to master basic reading skills were matched with caring, competent volunteer tutors. He has served as treasurer and president of the board, a position he still holds.

For over 30 years, Tricia Rodgers has been a volunteer with programs that help to improve the lives of Alexandrians. For the past three years, Rodgers has served as co-chair, and now chair, of the Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network (A-COAN), a group whose mission is to reduce the number of Alexandria children who are overweight and obese.

James B. (Jim) Singerling’s civic involvement in Alexandria has included serving on the board of the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association and two terms on the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce board. He’s served on the board of First Night Alexandria and held all officers’ chairs on the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra Board where he is now a trustee emeritus.

Jodie Smolik, director of the Winkler Preserve, helped save the 44.5-acre sanctuary and living classroom from destruction.Working around the Thanksgiving holiday Smolik rallied the school community, parents and children, to come out in force against city council’s plan to approve a proposed ramp off I-395 which would have destroyed a third of the preserve.

Shirley N. Tyler worked to bring about what became the Four Mile Run Flood Control Project by the US Army Corp of Engineers. She was appointed to the Alexandria School Board in 1973 and from 1980 to 1982 served as the first African American female chairperson. She was instrumental in creating racial harmony during the redistricting of Alexandria City Public Schools.

Converse (Connie) West successfully completed certification courses offered at the Alexandria Police Academy and now regularly gives eight hours a week. He has logged over 5,200 volunteer hours of service with the Alexandria Police Department, the equivalent of nearly three full-time years.

A veteran of World War II and a 34-year career with the CIA, William (Bill) Willis began volunteering at Carpenter's Shelter in 1981 and continues to do so today at age 90. In 1981, he also began volunteer service with ALIVE!, and served as its president in 1984-85.

Donnan (Donnie) Chancellor Wintermute’s philanthropic achievements have had a major impact on the quality of life in Alexandria. Along with currently serving as vice president of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra board of trustees, she was the 2013 honorary chair for The Historic Alexandria Homes Tour sponsored by Twig, the Junior Auxiliary of Inova Alexandria Hospital. 

 

 

Holiday Concert/Introduction of 2014 Living Legend Nominees

For Immediate Release

December 2, 2013

NOVA-Alexandria music ensembles to play Holiday concert

Living Legends of Alexandria nominees celebrated

What:

Celebrate the holiday season listening to much-beloved favorites such as “Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells” at this year’s Holiday Concert on the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.

The musical event will feature the NOVA Community Chorus, the NOVA Alexandria Jazz Ensemble and the Alexandria Band. Other songs to be performed include “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Selections from Franz Joseph Haydn's “Mass in Time of War” will also be performed and the evening will be capped by an audience sing-along.

Attendees will also be introduced to the 2014 Living Legends of Alexandria nominees during the evening. The initiative is an on-going not-for-profit photo-documentary project to identify, honor, and chronicle the people making current history in Alexandria. The 2014 Legends will be selected later this month and honored early next year at the annual Meet the Legend Reception.

When:

The concert will take place Tuesday, Dec. 10. A reception to greet the Living Legends nominees begins at 6:30 p.m. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m.

Where:

Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus, Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, 3001 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311

Cost:

The concert is free and open to the public. Free garage parking will also be available. The garage is closed from Campus Drive, but accessible from the Beauregard Street entrance.

Concert Contact:

Lisa C. Eckstein, music instructor and band director at NOVA-Alexandria, 703.845.6252 or leckstein@nvcc.edu 

Media Contact: Jennifer Gonzalez | 703.425.5839 | jgonzalez@nvcc.edu

Northern Virginia Community College is the largest institution of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of America’s largest community colleges. NOVA enrolls more than 75,000 students at its six campuses in Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas, Springfield and Woodbridge, and through the Extended Learning Institute. For more information about NOVA and its programs or services, call 703-323-3000 or visit the College’s website, www.nvcc.edu.

 

 

NOVA Winter Concert/Introduction of 2014 Legend Nominees

Come and meet the 2014 Legend nominees at Northern Virginia Community College's Winter Concert in the Schlesinger Center, Tuesday, December 10, 2013.  The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. The community is warmly invited to attend the FREE reception and concert. (Info: 703-625-8191).  Note there is a fee for parking.
 

The 2014 nominees are: Mike Anderson, Char McCargo Bah, Rose Berler, J. Glenn Eugster, Lee Fifer, Charles (Tony) Gee, Richard Glassco, Gila S. Harris, Ramona K. Hatten, Wayne Hulehan, Susan B. Kellom, Kim Allen Kluge, Gwendolyn "Gwen" Hubbard Lewis, Lorraine Lloyd, Gregory Murphy,Gary H. Oelze, Fred Parker, Nora Partlow, James S. (Jim) Roberts, Tricia Rodgers, Jim Singerling, Jodie Smolik, Shirley Tyler, Converse "Connie" West, William Willis, and Donnan Chancellor Wintermute.

 

 

The 2014 Legends will be selected in December and honored at the annual Meet the Legend Reception, Thursday, March 20, at Alexandria's

Patent & Trademark Office.

Tax Saving Advice from Renner & Company, CPA, P.C.

Reprinted by permission of Renner & Company, CPA, P.C.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended the qualified charitable distribution provisions for 2013. This allows donors to donate directly from their IRAs to qualified charities. If you have donors who are age 70 ½, they are probably eligible for tax savings by donating to your charity directly from their IRAs.
How To Use This Information for Your Charity
Proactive Charities will want to get this information to their donor base and potential donors as soon as possible. The provision currently expires December 31, 2013, so don’t delay.

• Review the information below and determine if you have contributors or potential contributors who are age 70 ½.
• Educate your donors and potential donors about this tax benefit. Include it in your next appeal letter. Suggest that they consult with their individual tax advisors regarding the tax benefit that may be available to them by making their contributions to your organization directly from their IRAs.
• Encourage your donors and potential donors who wish to do so, to contact their IRA trustees and provide transfer instructions as described below.

The Basics: IRA Required Minimum Distribution
The IRS will not allow taxpayers to maintain retirement funds indefinitely. Once taxpayers reach age 70 ½ they must take required minimum distributions from their IRAs. You may have donors that do not need these distributions, and do not want to increase their tax by taking them. There is no way around taking the distribution, but there is a way to avoid the tax. Taxpayers who donate their distribution directly to a qualified charity may exclude the distribution from their income.
How Donors Benefit from Qualified Charitable Distributions

1. The IRA distribution contributed to charity never hits taxable income. Required minimum distributions usually increase adjusted gross income, affecting taxable income in a number of ways. Higher income increases limits on itemized deductions. Higher income also raises the amount of social security benefits subject to tax. IRA distributions donated directly to charity are excluded from income. This results in a lower adjusted gross income, and possibly lower taxable social security benefits, and lower tax.
2. The charitable donation income limits do not apply. Taxpayers are usually only allowed to deduct up to 50% of their adjusted gross income in charitable contributions. Donors who take taxable IRA distributions and then choose to make charitable contributions have to consider that those contributions are only deductible up to 50% of adjusted gross income. Donors who make their charitable contributions directly from their IRAs exclude the entire contribution from tax.
3. There’s no need to itemize deductions to benefit. Taxpayers can only receive a benefit from charitable contributions if they itemize their deductions on Schedule A of their individual returns. However, an amount donated directly from an IRA can be excluded from adjusted gross income. In this case, if the donor does not have enough deductions to qualify for itemized deductions, they still get a benefit without having to itemize.
4. If an individual has an inherited IRA and they have reached age 70 ½ then they can still take qualified charitable distributions from the inherited IRA.

How Donors Can Maximize Contributions
A donor is allowed to exclude from gross income up to $100,000 for qualified charitable distributions made each year. Spouses may each contribute up to $100,000 for qualified charitable distributions from an IRA. Therefore on a joint tax return there could be a total of $200,000 excluded from adjusted gross income. If donors also contribute additional amounts besides those distributed from their IRA, those additional amounts may be included on Schedule A of the 1040 as charitable contributions. The additional contributions may not exceed 50% of their adjusted gross income without considering the $100,000 allowed for IRA distributions. Therefore, on a joint return an individual may exclude $100,000 for each spouse from their adjusted gross income for IRA distributions and then also contribute to charity up to 50% of their adjusted gross income.
How to Donate
Donors should contact their IRA trustee and have them transfer the money directly to the charity. The trustee can issue a check in the name of the charity and allow the donor to deliver it to the charity. The distribution cannot be made payable to the individual, it must go directly from the IRA trustee to the charity.
Tax Reporting
Donors will receive a Form 1099-R from their IRA trustee for distributions made in 2013. Qualified Charitable Distributions will be included in total distributions but will be excluded from taxable distributions. “QCD” should be listed next to the taxable amount so that the IRS is aware there are amounts that were excluded from tax as a result of a charitable distribution deduction.
Taxpayers will report total IRA distributions on the first page of their individual returns where it says IRA distributions (line 15a for the 2012 tax return) and the taxable portion will be listed on the next line. The taxable portion is the total amount of IRA distributions that were not donated to charity.
The charity should provide a receipt to the donor. The donor must keep this receipt with his or her records to support the contribution.
Summary
If you have donors who are age 70 ½ they may be receiving required minimum distributions from an IRA. If they’re already contributing to your charity, it’s likely that you can save them some tax by suggesting that they make their donations directly from their IRA accounts. Proactive charities will want to get this information to their donor base and potential donors as soon as possible. Your donors will appreciate the information. The provision currently expires December 31, 2013, so don’t delay.
© 2013 Renner and Company, CPA, P.C. All Rights Reserved.

2014 Nominees

The nominations are in...

   The 2014 nominees are:  Mike Anderson, nominated by Bill Reagan; Char McCargo Bah, nominated by Audrey P. Davis; Rose Berler, nominated by Arlene Hewitt; J. Glenn Eugster, nominated by Richard E. Merritt; Lee Fifer, nominated by Joe Shumard; Charles (Tony) Gee, nominated by Joe Shumard; Richard Glassco, nominated by Mike Oliver; Gila S. Harris, nominated by Mel Bergheim; Ramona K. Hatten, nominated by Alice Morgan; Wayne Hulehan, nominated by Donna Walker James; Susan B. Kellom, nominated by Mary S. Lyman; Kim Allen Kluge, nominated by Jessica Wisser; Gwendolyn "Gwen" Hubbard Lewis, nominated by Allison Silberberg; Lorraine Lloyd, nominated by Gayle R. Anderson; Gregory Murphy, nominated by Vola Lawson; Gary H. Oelze, nominated by Charles W. Ballou; Fred Parker, nominated by David Martin; Nora Partlow, nominated by David Martin; James S. (Jim) Roberts, nominated by the Board of Trustees and the Executive Director of the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium; Tricia Rodgers, nominated by Allen Lomax; Jodie Smolik, individual nominations by Carole Augustine, Marjorie Conner, Susan Miranda & Debbie Halla, Carol Mitchell, Clinton Page, Tracy Taylor and Amy Zang; Shirley N. Tyler, individual nominations by Lynnwood Campbell and George Lambert; Converse "Connie" West, nominated by Sherry Wilson Brown; William Willis, nominated by Liz Salter; and Donnan Chancellor Wintermute, nominated by Kathie Truitt.

 

   Acceptance is pending on two additional nominations.

  The nominees will be introduced at Northern Virginia Community College's Winter Concert in the Schlesinger Center, Tuesday, December 10, 2013. There will be an opportunity to meet and congratulate the nominees at a reception beginning at 6:30 p.m. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. The community is warmly invited to attend the free reception and concert.  (Info:  703-625-8191).
  
  The 2014 Legends will be selected later in the month and honored at the annual Meet the Legend Reception, Thursday, March 20, at Alexandria's Patent & Trademark Office.