Arlington began three centuries ago as the farm section of Alexandria County and emerged in the 1900s as a vibrant suburb of the nation's capital. Global notice came after the creation and expansion of Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon and Fort Myer, site of history's first airplane casualty--September 17, 1908. Add in some modern marquee employers--PBS, WETA, Nestlé, the Foreign Service Institute and Amazon--and it's a recipe for accelerating change. Unsurprisingly, residents are increasingly at odds over rising housing costs and demolitions of long-valued homes and businesses. A key to preserving Arlington's character is a deeper knowledge of history. Local journalist and author Charlie Clark provides a compendium of gone-but-not-forgotten institutions, businesses, homes and amusements.

Arlington County, for two centuries a center for government institutions, is a vibrant part of the Washington, D.C., community. Many notable figures made their home in the area, like Supreme Court chief justice Warren Burger, General George "Blood 'n' Guts" Patton and a beauty queen who almost married crooner Dean Martin. The drama of Virginia's first school integration unfolded in Arlington beginning in the late 1950s. In the 1960s, two motorcycle gangs clashed in public at a suburban shopping center. Local author, historian and "Our Man in Arlington" Charlie Clark uncovers the vivid, and hidden, history of a capital community.

Halls Hill was more than a neighborhood. The residents established organizations and institutions that are still in existence today, Halls Hill residents had a determined mindset. Gratitude. Faith. Hard work. Because of that mindset this neighborhood became a part of the movement.

For over two centuries, Arlington County has been a steadfast center for government institutions and a vibrant part of the Washington, D.C., community. Many notable figures made their home in the area, like Supreme Court chief justice Warren Burger, General George Blood 'n' Guts Patton and a beauty queen who almost married crooner Dean Martin. The drama of Virginia's first school integration unfolded in Arlington beginning in the late 1950s. In the 1960s, two motorcycle gangs clashed in public at a suburban shopping center. Local author, historian and Our Man in Arlington Charlie Clark uncovers the vivid, and hidden, history of a capital community.

Ask children where food comes from, and they’ll probably answer: “the supermarket.” Ask most adults, and their replies may not be much different. Where our foods are raised and what happens to them between farm and supermarket shelf have become mysteries. How did we become so disconnected from the sources of our breads, beef, cheeses, cereal, apples, and countless other foods that nourish us every day? Ann Vileisis’s answer is a sensory-rich journey through the history of making dinner. Kitchen Literacy takes us from an eighteenth-century garden to today’s sleek supermarket aisles, and eventually to farmer’s markets that are now enjoying a resurgence. Vileisis chronicles profound changes in how American cooks have considered their foods over two centuries and delivers a powerful statement: what we don’t know could hurt us. As the distance between farm and table grew, we went from knowing particular places and specific stories behind our foods’ origins to instead relying on advertisers’ claims. The woman who raised, plucked, and cooked her own chicken knew its entire life history while today most of us have no idea whether hormones were fed to our poultry. Industrialized eating is undeniably convenient, but it has also created health and environmental problems, including food-borne pathogens, toxic pesticides, and pollution from factory farms. Though the hidden costs of modern meals can be high, Vileisis shows that greater understanding can lead consumers to healthier and more sustainable choices. Revealing how knowledge of our food has been lost and how it might now be regained, Kitchen Literacy promises to make us think differently about what we eat.

Arlington County, Virginia's oldest African American community, the Nauck community, which dates back to 1844, is rich in history and abundant with bridge builders, both past and present, who have made local and national contributions while fighting for their right to experience a good quality of life. Bridge Builders of Nauck/Green Valley: Past and Present is a compilation of the stories, interviews, and biographies of these extraordinary African Americans who pursued and found success, despite the laws at the time that limited their access to everything from home loans to education. The perseverance of the pioneers of Nauck is alive through their accomplishments, triumphs, and achievements. Whether in their own words, the words of their loved ones, or through history books, Taylor's labor of love seeks to memorialize the important work these African Americans have achieved and the legacy they leave for future generations. Said Taylor, "Ordinary Nauck/Green Valley residents surviving Jim Crow Laws, lacking financial backing, becoming economically independent, educating themselves and their children, fighting for freedom, and remembering from whence they came should be an inspiration to all to celebrate and continue sharing future, ordinary resident's accomplishments." About the Author Dr. Alfred O. Taylor Jr. was born and raised in Arlington County, Virginia. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Technical Teacher Training, a Master of Arts in Administration and Supervision of Adult Education, and a Doctorate of Education from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Administration of Higher Education. Taylor served as Assistant Dean for the College of Professional Studies (and was later named Acting Dean). Taylor retired from the University of the District of Columbia after thirty-one years of service. Taylor is still active in his community and religious community, serving as President of the Nauck Civic Association and as Chairman of the Deacon's Ministry at the Macedonia Baptist Church, among many others. Taylor and his wife, Delores, a retired D.C. Public Schools teacher, have two children, three grandsons, and two great-granddaughters. He hopes that Nauck/Green Valley: Past and Present will become a living document that will be continuously supplemented as future generations of "Nauckians" make their contributions to society.