Over the Fence
News for Neighbors
from ARLINGTON HEIGHTS CIVIC ASSOCIATION
July 2001
http://www.geocities.com/ahcawebsite

Special Meeting, July 10 - Columbia Pike

Please join us Tuesday, July 10, at 7:00 pm at Patrick Henry School to review the Phase 3 plans, including extensive drawings, for the Columbia Pike Initiative. Tim Lynch of Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization (CPRO) and County staff will meet with AHCA and our neighbors from Columbia Heights, Douglas Park, and Penrose. Phase 3 is the last step before consideration of the Master Plan by County commissions and the County Board this fall.
 

Membership Meeting Tuesday, July 17
by Jay Jacob Wind <jay.wind@att.net>

AHCA's quarterly membership meeting Tuesday, July 17 at 7:30 pm is at Patrick Henry Elementary School. We hope to see you there! The agenda includes:

Assault and Robbery on 2nd Street
by David Davis <ddavis0505@aol.com>

On Tuesday, June 26, around 11:00 pm, a woman walking on South 2nd Street near TJ was attacked from behind, pushed to the ground, and had her purse ripped from her arm. Her knees were bloodied from the fall, and she was shaken up and ran down Irving Street screaming for help. Neighbors poured out of their homes to see what the problem was and if they could help. Literally 20 people were making calls on cell phones and helping her with the police. The victim was not a native English speaker and, for good reason, she was upset. She described her attacker as a young black male, short, thin, and dressed in a tank top and shorts. He ran towards Fillmore Street after the attack. Police emergency vehicles and K9 units responded quickly to the scene.

I hate that this could happen in our neighborhood, but I was pleased with the response from our neighbors.

Arlington Police assigned the case to Detective Viet Nguyen (703-228-7402). No arrest has yet been made.

On Sunday, June 3, in the pre-dawn hours, someone spray-painted gang graffiti on two cars and a restaurant in our neighborhood and elsewhere in Arlington as well. Police have arrested suspects in this case.

On Wednesday, May 31, at about 4:30 p.m., a woman was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot of the Arlington Career Center. The assailant stole her purse and fled.

AHCA invited Police representatives to our meeting on July 17 to discuss how to reduce the risk of such incidents in our neighborhood, to advise us on personal safety, and to explain the County's efforts to control gang activity.

Arts / Jazz Festival, Saturday, July 14

Please join us Saturday, July 14, at Pike Park (in front of Eckerd Drug) for the Columbia Pike Arts Fair (2 pm) and Jazz Festival (7:30 pm) with The Nicki Gonzalez Band.
 

2001 Community Calendar

Tuesday, July 10, 7:00 pm Columbia Pike Meeting
Saturday, July 14, 2:00 pm Columbia Pike Arts Fair
                7:30 pm Nicki Gonzalez Band Concert at Pike Park
Tuesday, July 17, 7:30 pm AHCA Meeting
Thursday-Sunday, August 16-19 County Fair at TJ
Tuesday, October 16, 7:30 pm AHCA Meeting
Sunday, October 28, 2:00 pm Kids' Hallowe'en Party
Saturday, December 14, 4:30 pm Holiday Caroling
Tuesday, January 22, 2002, 7:30 pm AHCA Meeting
 

Let There Be Light! (and Construction)

At 2nd Street and South Glebe Road, Arlington County finished installing a new, long-awaited stoplight on June 8.

On Highland Street, just north of 2nd Street, the County installed a new streetlight on June 18. AHCA requested both lights.

On 6th Street, sewer-line work should be done by the mid-July, according to Carlos Contreras, construction manager for Arlington County. Mr. Contreras frequently updates AHCA on the contractors' progress and keeps neighbors informed throughout each stage. The County plans to repave 6th Street in August, once the excavation is compete. County project manager is Mark Kelani.

On 7th Street, Fischel Construction dug up two sidewalk panels for access boxes to the buried fiber optic tube. We asked them to notify neighbors before future digs.

Virginia Department of Transportation is currently re-paving Route 50 between Glebe Road and Washington Boulevard.

At 6th Street and South Garfield, Arlington County Public Works and Traffic Engineering painted the controversial crosswalk after an inspection under the Safe Routes to Schools Program.

See our web site for records of all written correspondence.
 

Neighborhood Day -- A Success!
by Joan Gill, Social Chair

For making our flotilla in Arlington's Neighborhood Day parade a success on May 12, I want to thank my great crew:

That same day, neighbors volunteered their time at the Columbia Pike Blues Festival. Thanks to: David Davis, Carole Lieber, Kimberly Sumner, Jay Vennett, and Jay Wind. Great job, neighbors!

Beginning Friday, June 8, Channel 31 airs coverage of the 2001 Arlington Neighborhood Day events. Watch for one of the best entries in the Neighborhood Day parade -- our own Arlington Heights float, cars, and neighbors!
 

Neighbors Make Money and Friends
by Amy Vennett, Yard Sale Organizer

On Saturday, May 19, six households got together in the Arlington Heights Park at the corner of South Irving and South 9th Streets for a great yard sale. The event got off to a slow start, due to a much-needed rain. However, sales were brisk; great items were traded between neighbors; and new friends were made. Be on the lookout for another sale, possibly in October.

Welcome to the Neighborhood!


Volunteer Opportunities

AHCA needs a Neighborhood Conservation Program representative to work with Jim Gill (703-685-1760, jgill@erols.com).

Contact Karen Laake <klaake@qualcomm.com> or Kenneth Nagle <enneth.nagle@ey.com> to help to write the Small Parks Program grant application, due September 30, for a neighborhood park at Garfield and Route 50.
 

Arlington County Fair
by Joan Gill, Social Chair

The Arlington County Fair is August 16-19 at Thomas Jefferson Community Center. Again, this year, AHCA has a table at the Fair. We encourage as many neighbors as possible to spend an hour or two meeting fair-goers and telling them about the Arlington Heights neighborhood. To volunteer to represent our neighborhood, please contact Joan Gill (703-685-1760, jgill@erols.com).
 

Membership Update
by Bob Dannemiller, Treasurer

We currently have 58 individuals/families and two businesses who are paid members. This is well short of our goals for the year. Please consider joining AHCA! A membership form appears in this issue of Over the Fence.

Send your $10 dues with your name and address to AHCA, c/o Bob Dannemiller, 215 South Ivy Street, Arlington VA 22204.
 

AHCA Officers for 2001

President Jay Jacob Wind (703-920-5193)
1st Vice President James (Jay) Vennett (703-920-1832)
2nd Vice President Pat Rosensteel (703-979-4555)
Treasurer Bob Dannemiller (703-685-3795)
Secretary Betty Siegel (703-892-1959)
Civic Federation delegates Carole Lieber (703-892-0362), David Davis, Keith Whyte, Jay Wind; alternates Rich Bolczak, Alessio Evangelista, Bob Giovanni, Stacey Whyte
Neighborhood Conservation Jim Gill (703-685-1760)
Newsletter Shannon Rudisill (703-521-4957)
Newsletter Distribution Bahar Hess (703-521-8528)
Pedestrian Safety Sharon Kinsman (703-892-1472), Jon Hansen, Kimberly Sumner, Jay Vennett
Social Joan Gill (703-685-1760)
Social Action Lydia Nuñez (703-979-7499)
Traffic Mike Braton, Tim Dickson, Jon Hansen, Doug Norton, Doris Murray, Karl Schwartz, Bryan Sieling
 

Next Newsletter - September 2001:

For our September edition, e-mail articles by August 31 to Shannon Rudisill (jmg_slr@hotmail.com) or call 703-521-4957.
 

Neighborhood Conservation News
by Jim Gill <jgill@erols.com>

At its June 14 meeting, Arlington's Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee (NCAC) voted to recommend to the County Board to fund our request for curbs, gutters, sidewalk, and Carlyle lights on South Highland Street between 2nd and 6th Streets. This project awaits County Board approval.

AHCA has eight more projects awaiting NCAC review:

County staff also announced plans to use Missing Link funds to complete smaller sidewalk projects: This summer, AHCA completes its revised NC plan. The revised draft plan is now on our web site. We review the draft at our meeting on July 17. To have an updated NC plan means additional points for our projects and improved likelihood for their approval. Please review the draft before our meeting so we can approve it on July 17.

County Board Defers Naming Pike Park
by Jay Jacob Wind <jay.wind@att.net>

On Saturday, June 30, Arlington County Board deferred the naming of Pike Park.

Board member Charles Monroe asked that a naming in honor of the late Lutrell Parker, be considered.

AHCA discusses this name on July 17. Lutrell Parker was one of the names on the ballot last July 21. The name received only a couple of votes. The most popular name was Pike Park.
 

Cats and Dogs
by Jay Jacob Wind

In May, Freddie the Cat disappeared from Leslie Winik's house on South Ivy Street. Leslie used our e-mail list, door-to-door posters, and signpost trying to find Freddie. Eventually, after six days, he came home on his own, dirty and hungry, but sweet as ever.

In June, a very affectionate and hungry, full-grown, tiger-striped cat followed another neighbor home on June 19. If it's your cat, or if you lose or find an animal, or in case of a dead animal, contact Arlington Animal Welfare League (703-931-9241).

Every cat and dog should wear an identification collar. I think outdoor cats should also to wear bells on their collars to warn potential prey. Who should bell the cat? You should!
 

Let's Beautify Our Neighborhood
by Jay Jacob Wind

I want our neighborhood to look beautiful all year long. We have some beautiful yards and gardens, but we also have some unsightly yards. Backyards count, too. Overgrown grass and weeds are Arlington County code violations, but more important, they're not neighborly. Please keep grass to less than one foot high.

Our neighborhood's code inspector is Wilfredo Saavedra (703-228-3232). Other code violations include peeling paint, broken windows, falling eaves or shutters, and unlicensed or unregistered vehicles.

For large trash pick-ups, call Arlington County Solid Waste(703-228-6570) any Thursday before 4 pm for a pickup on Friday. Every other Friday, the County brush truck picks up branches and brush. Brush pick-up is free, but you must call by the day before. For appliances like air conditioners or washing machines, County charges $30 for a special pick-up. The County appliance disposal truck picks up on the other Fridays. Please don't leave large wastes or other trash in front of your house before 5 pm on Thursdays.

To discuss neighborhood concerns, find lost cats, announce births, sell couches, or ask questions, join our e-mail list.. Send a message to AHCA-SUBSCRIBE@YAHOOGROUPS.COM


A Beautiful Garden Tour
by Joan Gill <jgill@erols.com>

Wow! I am still marveling over the gardens shown on Arlington Heights Garden tour on Saturday, June 23. No doubt these gardens are among the prettiest spots in Arlington County!

I thank everyone who participated in a somewhat soggy, although rain-free, morning stroll through the neighborhood, and I am sure you picked up some wonderful ideas. I especially want to thank our neighbors who welcomed us to their gardens:

I wish that all Arlington Heights residents could have been with us to meet our gardeners and to see some of these beautiful places in our neighborhood. Make a note to join us for the 6th Annual Arlington Heights Garden Tour, coming the summer of 2002! Happy Gardening!
  Arlington Heights and Penrose Real Estate Listings and Sales as of June 1, 2001
compiled by Casey O'Neal, RE/MAX Horizons <casey@caseyoneal.com> © 2000 Metropolitan Regional Information Systems Inc. Information is believed to be accurate, but should not be relied upon without verification. 1