To the editor:
I am very pleased to announce that the tree lights on King Street will remain on this time of year next year if we can match the contingency that city council — led by City Councilor Del Pepper — set aside for this purpose.
They set aside $13,500. We must match half of that by early March to keep the lights on through June 2014. That is only $6,750. I have pledged that I will help raise that money, and we have come up with several ways to do it.
The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce has agreed to keep the money in a fund, and the Old Town Business and Professional Association has endorsed this campaign. The entire city is hoping that we can do this.
I have several verbal commitments already from people like Frank Fannon; Juan Remirez, Hilton’s director of revenue management; George Seghers from the George Washington Masonic Memorial; Ann Dorman; Andrew Palmerie; and Lynn Hampton. Others who are expecting this letter have already given me positive acknowledgements as well.
Please make your check out to the Alexandria Chamber Foundation Inc. and mark it for spring tree lights 2014. I will keep track of all the money as it comes in so I can make a public statement through the Alexandria Times, as it has agreed to print the results of this fund drive.
Send your checks to me, care of Gold Works Inc., 1400 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314. I will see that they are deposited with the chamber immediately. If this is not raised, the lights will be turned off — as they are now — March 31, 2014. Let us add your name to this growing list.
– David Martin
Owner, Goldworks
