February 2016 Newsletter

Original PDF: https://aurorahighlands.org/wp-content/uploads/Februrary-2016-Newsletter-AHCA.pdf

All Aurora Highlands residents are invited and encouraged to come to our monthly meetings where we meet neighbors, discuss topics of interest, and share information. MEETING – Wednesday, February 10 at 7 p.m. Aurora Hills Library, Back Room **Note Change In Venue!** Come early for refreshments and socializing! Doors open at 6:30.

Aurora Highlands Civic Association Newsletter – February 2016

Meeting Agenda

• Introductions
• Community Updates
  • Recent Civic Federation vote on Parkland Acquisition resolution
  • Next AHCA social event
• For Discussion
  • Planning for School CapacitySchool Board Member Emma Violand-Sanchez will speak at 7:15; come with your questions.By 2025, Oakridge Elementary is estimated to have 50% more students than it was built for.  One way the school board is likely to address this issue is through boundary changes.  Another potential way is through building new schools or expanding others.  Our area needs to make our voices heard about how we want the school board to address these capacity issues.  Right now, the school board is in the process of formulating its Capital Improvement Plan, which is the process by which it decides where in Arlington it will spend money for construction and building improvements for the next 10 years.  Without more community involvement, we will lose our voice in the decision-making process.  We need to advocate now for money to be spent in our area for 2025 and beyond.If these issues are important to you, please Come to the AHCA meeting on Wednesday andcontact Rob Sidman at recordingsecretary@aurorahighlands.org to join the AHCA Schools Committee and learn more about what you can do to help.  We are putting together a group to strategize with our sister civic associations in 22202 about the most effective advocacy.
  • Proposal for a New Vision of Virginia Highlands ParkFunding is already in place for design replacement of the west side of VHP, with construction anticipated in 2017–2018. The County is expected to allocate funds to redo the two softball fields along Joyce St. With so much of VHP dedicated to recreational fields and courts, now is the time to consider whether the west side should be redeveloped so that it benefits all residents.An AHCA subcommittee has drafted a proposal to restore balance to VHP by transforming the west side into a vibrant public park with creatively designed open green space. The vision is a park that would accommodate the broad constituency represented in our diverse and rapidly growing population, and would benefit the neighborhood and the County in a multitude of ways.This is not a proposal for a specific park design. It is to replace the exclusive softball fields on the west side with a different sort of community park. To see the proposal, including suggestions and images of what might be included, please go to https://aurorahighlands.org/news/vhp-proposal/ .The AHCA will be voting on this proposal at its Feb. 10 meeting. If you want to vote, please make sure your membership dues are paid up. You can pay with PayPal at our website www.aurorahighlands.org or bring your check to the meeting.If the AHCA membership supports the proposal, then AHCA would reach out to our sister civic associations, other interested groups, the Parks Department, and the County Board to build support for it.

AHCA Social, February 25, 7–9 p.m. – We hope to see you there. 

Join your neighbors at the Siné Irish Pub at Pentagon Row, which has generously offered to host us in their fireplace room. Siné is located in Pentagon Row at the back end of the ice rink.

A Belated Thanks

Special thanks to these local businesses, who donated truly awesome prizes for our annual AHCA Holiday Potluck Party: Cafe Italia, Crystal City Sports Pub, C.A Salon, Top Thai, Color Touch Salon, AHCA. Thanks also to The Children’s Garden, Laura Holman’s licensed Family Day Home Program, and to our former president, Joel Nelson, for providing all the drinks. And finally, many thanks to the volunteers who made the potluck a big success.

Important Websites

AHCA Bank Account Balance (required by by-laws): $8975.85 as of February 3, 2015

Please sign up with the Aurora Highlands group on Nextdoor to stay informed about happenings in the hood, including AHCA-related issues. We also encourage people to use Nextdoor as a way to spread the word about events or other items of interest to the whole 22202 community.

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