from ARLINGTON HEIGHTS CIVIC ASSOCIATION
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Elections were held at our Annual Meeting in January, resulting in some changes to the composition of the Executive Committee. I wish to thank the membership for their willingness to place confidence in a new group of officers, as well as those of us who continue. Thank you also to long serving Executive Committee members Carole Lieber and Kimberly Sumner. For those of you who do not know, Kimberly Sumner took over the care of the plantings at our neighborhood signs years ago, and she has pledged to continue. Carole Lieber, a past president, also continues to serve as a Civic Federation delegate. Thank you, Kimberly and Carole. Special thanks should also go to Jim Gill for his outstanding and long term service to the neighborhood, encompassing decades.
As your new civic association president, I have three major goals this year. My first goal is to continue to sponsor and organize neighborhood social events. We held our first event on March 12, Community Night at the Drafthouse. Thank you to Santya Lanman of the Patrick Henry PTA and the Drafthouse, which offered the moviehouse for free and provided entertainment free of charge. This year we are also planning a Spring Fling block party, scheduled for May 10, which is Neighborhood Day, in addition to the Halloween Parade which was such a hit last year. My second goal is to continue to move forward improvement projects, consistent with the needs and desires of the neighborhood. My third goal is to ensure that the neighborhood’s voice is heard regarding any proposed major capital improvement projects.
Many projects in the neighborhood are either under way or likely to begin over the course of the next year. On February 26, Arlington Heights had a big night at the County Board. The Board took three positive actions impacting our neighborhood by: (1) funding our Garfield St. Neighborhood Conservation Project (Curb, gutter, sidewalk, streetlights between Arlington Blvd. and 2nd St. S.); (2) funding our $9,000 Small Parks Grant Application for the new green space at Irving and 2nd St., to install two benches, an urban style kiosk and a new water meter and spigot (AHCA is contributing another $2,000 raised last summer); and (3) adopting our updated Neighborhood Conservation Plan. This came on the heels of the County Board contract award on January 29, 2008 for the pedestrian bridge rehabilitation project (Jackson St. bridge). Additionally, I understand the Fenwick Center mosaic is slated for installation in May. I want to thank everyone who helped get these projects moving.
I look forward to a great year, and hope to see you around the neighborhood.
All the best,
Juliet Hiznay
SPRING AHCA MEETING
Please join the civic association at its spring meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 7 pm at Patrick Henry Elementary School Library. Expected agenda items are: Election of First Vice-President; Discussion of 2008 Arlington County Fair; Vote on Neighborhood Policy for Missing Links Sidewalk Projects; Vote on County Accessory Dwelling Unit proposal; Update on Career Center BLPC; Update on Pedestrian Bridge Project
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Arlington Home Show & Expo, Sat., April 12, 2008, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For the second year, CPRO is partnering with Arlington County's Housing Division to bring more than 50 exhibitors to the Walter Reed Community Center at 2909 S. 16th St. The show is an opportunity for homeowners to gather ideas, see products, and talk to professionals about a wide variety of home improvements. Admission is FREE to the public.
E-Care Recycling, Sat., April 19, 2008, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thomas Jefferson Middle School (west parking lot), 125 S. Old Glebe Rd.
Recycle your household hazardous waste, including computer and electronics equipment, and durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, crutches. Bring your id to prove county residency. Further details about accepted items are available at http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/EnvironmentalServices/EnvironmentalServicesEnvex.aspx.
Spring Fling Party, Sat. May 10, 2008 (Neighborhood Day), 4-7 pm, location TBA
Join the civic association for Spring Party. A moonbounce will be rented. Further details will be announced on the Yahoo group. Please contact RJ Thacher to volunteer, at rj.thacher@verizon.net. Also in recognition of Neighborhood Day, again this year, Arlington Heights is participating in the Tree Giveaway program. Yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), a large canopy tree and Allegheny serviceberry (Amenlanchier laevis), a small flowering tree are this year’s two selections. The trees will be approximately three to five feet in height and potted in one or two-gallon plastic containers. Please contact Mike Sobola for additional information at sobolas@verizon.net.
AHCA Annual Garden Tour, June 7, 2008, 8:30 a.m.
The Mashaws once again will graciously host this wonderful annual event. The Garden Tour is an excellent opportunity to collect gardening ideas and enjoy lovely neighborhood gardens. The Tour will begin at their home at 2908 Fifth St. South (access from Walter Reed or from Fenwick St. or the two paths from Sixth St. via Garfield). If you would like to have your garden on the tour, or if you have any questions, you can reach Rebecca Mashaw at 703-892-0162 or at rmashaw@comcast.net.
AHCA Summer Meeting, Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 7 p.m., Thomas Jefferson Middle School (room tba)
Arlington County Fair, August 6-10, 2008, TJ Community Center and Grounds
AHCA Fall Meeting, Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 7 p.m., Patrick Henry Elementary School Library
AHCA Annual Meeting, Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 7 p.m. -- Patrick Henry Elementary School Library
PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR CIVIC ASSOCIATION – JOIN FOR 2008
THERE IS A VACANCY FOR FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED OR WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE SOMEONE, PLEASE CONTACT JAY JACOB WIND AT (703) 920-5193 OR jay.wind@att.net
What’s With Those Piles of Dirt?
If you are wondering what the piles of dirt on the permitted field at TJ is about, it is a project to install a pedestrian ramp onto the field that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The project has been ordered by the Department of Justice. So, why a ramp to a field in disrepair? The plan is to upgrade the permitted field with buffalo sod grass and irrigation. The permit field upgrade is scheduled to begin this spring. I also just learned that irrigation will be installed for the blue stone field to allow for more frequent wetting of the surface. A big thank you to our area Park Manager, Kurt Louis of the Arlington County Parks Dept. and Patrick Wegeng of the Landscaping Team for all their work to improve the TJ grounds in the past year.
Resident Jay Jacob Wind To Be Inducted into Arlington Sports Hall of Fame
Congratulations to Arlington Heights neighbor Jay Jacob Wind, who will be inducted into Arlington Sports Hall of Fame at their 52nd annual awards banquet on Wednesday evening, May 28, at Knights of Columbus Hall, 5115 Little Falls Road.
Since its establishment in 1958, only 28 people have been inducted. They include Olympic swimmers Shelley Mann and Tom Dolan, Olympic rowing coach Charlie Butt Jr., and tennis star Donna Floyd Fales.
Wind's credentials for the Arlington Sports Hall of Fame include many overall and age-group awards at marathons and distance races around the country, including Army Ten Miler and Marine Corps Marathon; 20 years of coaching youth track and directing track meets at Thomas Jefferson Community Center; chairmanship of bond issues for parks and recreation every two years since 1992; and a weekly column in Arlington Sun Gazette. Wind served as AHCA president for four years.
Arlington Sports Hall of Fame's web site is http://mysite.verizon.net/arlsportshof1958 and tickets for the awards banquet will be available soon.
Career Center BLPC
The Executive Committee voted unanimously in early March to send the following letter to the School Board regarding concerns about the Career Center Building Level Planning Committee (BLPC). Betty Siegel, our representative on the Career Center BLPC also recognized the need to send the letter, and supported it.
March 3, 2008 Chairman Ed Fendley Arlington County School Board 1426 N. Quincy St. Arlington, VA 22207 Dear Chairman Fendley and School Board Members: I write on behalf of the Arlington Heights Civic Association (AHCA). The AHCA Executive Committee is very concerned about APS staff proposals that were presented last week to the Career Center Building Level Planning Committee. Although the School Board has decided that Wakefield High School is its next capital funding priority, it seems that staff is giving serious consideration to building a large new building on S. Highland St. that would accomodate both High School Continuation (now at Arlington Mill) and administrative offices (now at Clarendon), and possibly STEM as well. We have grave concerns about the content and the timing of this plan. We oppose diverting any design, planning, or construction funds away from Wakefield High School or Thomas Jefferson Middle School to the Career Center. The available funds are precious. Given the funding environment that APS now faces, and prior direction from the School Board, it was shocking to learn from our BLPC representative that funds continue to be spent on architectural plans for new construction at the Career Center. We understand that the Career Center may have some immediate maintenance needs that cannot be deferred. However, in our view, it would be irresponsible to spend on capital improvement plans that have no hope of bond funding for a decade or more. Further, ad hoc or phased construction of the type under consideration would be highly disadvantageous to the neighborhood and to Patrick Henry Elementary School. It is the wrong approach to take at this site. When the time comes, the community looks forward to an opportunity to transform the Career Center property into a community friendly site through a comprehensive plan. We urge you to take whatever action is necessary to ensure that no additional funds are diverted from Wakefield High School or Thomas Jefferson Middle School to support planning, design or construction for new construction at the Career Center. Sincerely yours, Juliet Hiznay President Arlington Heights Civic Association 101 S. Hudson St. Arlington, VA 22204 (703) 685-2596 cc: Robert Smith, Superintendent of Schools
The following designs were presented to the BLPC at its February 4 meeting:
 CONCEPT 1 - RENOVATE + EXPAND |
 CONCEPT 2 - ACADEMIC PAVILIONS |
 CONCEPT 3 - URBAN CAMPUS |
 CONCEPT 4 - EDUCATION PATHWAYS |
Designs by MTFA Architecture and Arlington County Public Schools
Arlington Heights Civic Association - 2008 Officers
- President: Juliet Hiznay, 703-685-2596 strangefruitblues@yahoo.com
- 1st Vice-President: Martin Chadzynski MChadzynski@yahoo.com
- 2nd Vice-President: Richard Bullington-McGuire (703-979-4380) rbulling@obscure.org
- Secretary: Mike Sobola sobolas@verizon.net
- Treasurer: Jason Torchinsky (703-351-9069) jbtorc@aol.com
- Neighborhood Conservation Representatives:
- Juliet Hiznay, 703-685-2596 strangefruitblues@yahoo.com
- Tony Halloin (alternate), 703-979-1612 ahalloin@yahoo.com
- Richard Bullington-McGuire (alternate) (703-979-4380) rbulling@obscure.org
- Newsletter Editor: Megan Booth, 703-553-9712 jjmegan@verizon.net
- Newsletter Distribution:
- Adrian Wood, 703-685-4303
- Advertising Manager (Newsletter & Web): Jay Jacob Wind (703-505-3567) jay.wind@att.net
- Web site: Richard Bullington-McGuire (703-979-4380) rbulling@obscure.org
- Email list: Jay Jacob Wind (703-505-3567) jay.wind@att.net
- Civic Federation delegation:
- Delegates
- Adam Croswell
- Carole Lieber
- Jay Wind
- vacant
- Alternates
- Jim Gill
- Juliet Hiznay
- Bob Dannemiller
- Rich Bolczak
- Delegates