Alexandria

The reign of the trophy kitchen is officially over. The dream kitchens of today aren't about the sexiest six-burner range or the most exotic countertop material. As cooking has returned to center stage and remodeling budgets have sobered, the kitchen island is nurturing family togetherness and reviving casual entertaining. In kitchens with a small footprint, glass tiles, quartz counters and dish drawers are adding sparkle and practicality. The kitchen of 2013 has soul. "That industrial, commercial style was looking a little cold," says...

The reasoning behind the Alexandria City Council's decision almost two weeks ago to end a funding guarantee for affordable housing resulted in a bit of a verbal tussle Saturday as council members both defended and assailed the board's action. Mayor William D. Euille (D) said the decision to end the seven-year practice of setting aside a portion of property tax revenues for housing for low- and moderate-income residents happened "accidentally" and stressed that the council could vote to restore those dollars at its June meeting.

In the contentious debate over immigration policy, three groups have dominated public and political attention: the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants seeking to become legal, the skilled foreign workers bound for high-tech jobs and relatives waiting to be reunited with their families. Then there are those who won the green card lottery. This tiny visa program, aimed at diversifying the pool of immigrants to the United States, selects 55,000 applicants at random each year.

CAIRO — Egyptian security officials say clashes between Muslims and Christians in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria left one man dead of a heart attack. Officials say the clashes in the city's el-Dekheila suburb erupted when a Coptic man allegedly sexually harassed a Muslim woman. Residents of the area fired birdshot and threw Molotov cocktails at one another during the Friday night fighting. Police say Christian resident Sherif Sedky died of a heart attack during the clashes.

For many people, the character of Alexandria is defined by its historic Old Town. Some still view Alexandria as a suburb. But as its name — City of Alexandria — affirms, it is neither a town nor suburban. Experiencing a pace and type of growth that many residents may not fully discern or appreciate, Alexandria is a place becoming ever more citylike. Nowhere is the city's accelerating urbanization more robust than in two contiguous areas of northeastern Alexandria: the newly developing Potomac Yard and the redeveloping Braddock...

The annual Antiques in Alexandria show begins tomorrow and runs through Sunday at Episcopal High School on Braddock Road in Alexandria. More than 60 antiques dealers or shops will participate. Tickets are $15. For more information, visit http://www.antiquesinalexandria.com or call 703-548-SHOW.

ALEXANDRIA This case was handled by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, which operates the city animal shelter and provides animal control services. The shelter is open from 1 to 8 p.m. weekdays, except Wednesdays, and noon to 5 p.m. weekends. For information or to report emergencies involving animals 24 hours a day, call 703-746-4774. The league's Web site is www.alexandriaanimals.org . Not-so-great outdoors for a cat: Old Dominion Blvd., 3300 block, Feb. 15. Responding to a veterinarian's report about a cat with a...

Saturday, Nov. 19 Trinity United Methodist Church is having a flea market to benefit local charities, with collectibles, trinkets, gadgets, books, toys, baked goods and more. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 2911 Cameron Mills Rd., Alexandria. 703-549-5500. The Institute for Christian Formation and Leadership is holding a discussion, "Spiritual Vitality After 70," by Lisa Kimball and Dorothy Linthicum of Virginia Theological Seminary and the Rev. John Daniels.

Sunday, July 17 Old Presbyterian Meeting House, Sunday services featuring summer worship, 10 a.m.; and evening worship, "Cultivating Our Faith," with prayers, community and songs, 6:30 p.m., through July 31, 321 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria. 703-549-6670 or www.opmh.org . Monday, July 18 Vacation Bible School, for age 4 to fifth grade; a school theme "Everyday Miracles Around Us," includes crafts, outdoor activities, songs and dinner. 4 to 7 p.m. Monday to July 22, St. John's Episcopal Church, 415 S. Lexington St.,...

religion notes Friday, Jan. 6 Feast of the Epiphany, featuring the Choral Evensong with organist Grant Hellmers performing works by Mendelssohn, Vaughan, Williams and others. 7:30 p.m., St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 228 S. Pitt St., Alexandria. Free-will offering. 703-549-3312 or www.stpaulsalexandria.com . Wednesday, Jan. 11 St. George's evening service, labyrinth, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Parish Hall; Taize service, 7:30 to 8:15 p.m., the Nave, St. George's Episcopal Church, 915 N. Oakland St., Arlington.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A former U.S. Postal Service official has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for accepting at least $40,000 in bribes to help a Maryland company receive $6 million in contracts. Forty-eight-year-old Gene Quarles of Spotsylvania pleaded guilty earlier this year in federal court in Alexandria to bribery of a public official. Prosecutors had sought a two-year sentence. Court documents show Quarles, a purchasing specialist, regularly received payments between 2010 and 2012...

Northern Virginia housing advocates are worried that an unexpected decision by the Alexandria City Council last week to end a funding guarantee for affordable housing could result in fewer options for those who need it the most. The council, with little discussion, removed the guarantee that housing and open-space funds get a certain percentage of tax revenue when it voted on the fiscal 2014 budget May 6. Alexandria, which had once set aside a penny of its $1.038 tax rate for housing, and this year...

RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Lottery says someone bought a $1 million Powerball ticket in Christiansburg. The ticket is one of more 64,000 sold in Virginia that won a prize in Wednesday night's drawing. The prize-winning tickets range from $4 to $1 million. They include two $10,000 tickets that were sold in Alexandria and Manassas. No one won the jackpot, which is now an estimated $475 million for Saturday night's drawing. Lottery officials said Thursday that...

ALEXANDRIA This case was handled by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, which operates the city animal shelter and provides animal control services. The shelter is open from 1 to 8 p.m. weekdays, except Wednesdays, and noon to 5 p.m. weekends. For information or to report emergencies involving animals 24 hours a day, call 703-746-4774. The league's Web site is www.alexandriaanimals.org . Kids to the rescue: Wolfe St., 900 block, May 5. An animal control officer was flagged down by children who found a baby...

Thursday, May 16 Seniors mah-jongg, Chinese style, 9:30 a.m., also noon Saturday, Langston-Brown Senior Center, 2121 N. Culpeper St., Arlington. Free with 55+ Pass . Registration required. 703-228-6300. English as a Second Language, drop-in sessions for all levels: 10 a.m.-noon, and 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday; for intermediate levels: 3-5 p.m. Tuesday. Charles E. Beatley Library, 5005 Duke St., Alexandria. Free. 703-746-1702, Ext. 3. "Ode to Hundertwasser," gallery artists create works inspired by...