February 2023 Newsletter

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February 2023 NEWSLETTER

 

Welcome! The February newsletter online version is nearly complete. In the interim, please enjoy the complete PDF version here. Links are live!

Monthly Meeting Reminder
Wednesday, February 8, 7-9pm

** VIRTUAL EVENT **

AGENDA

7:00 pm – Call to order and approve January minutes

7:10 pm – Crime Update with Arlington Police

8:00 pm – ANC/Columbia Pike/Southgate – Dana Bres

8:20 pm – Expanded CCCRC – Mike Dowell

8:30 pm – SPRC reports –

Americana – John Whall

Crystal Towers 3 – Ben D’Avanzo

8:45 pm – Other Business

New Business/Announcements

Adjourn

The meeting will be virtual only. Please REGISTER NOW to receive a confirmation email with details about joining the meeting and the option to add a reminder to your calendar.

If you are unable to attend, but have questions you’d like raised for any agenda items, please email them to officers@aurorahighlands.org and we’ll do our best to address them during the meeting.

Note from the President

Dear Neighbors,

Arlington County Police Department will give a community update at the Aurora Highlands Civic Association meeting on Wednesday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m., virtual via Zoom. Join us to hear Corporal Kenneth Giles and Corporal Areyal Hall from the Community Outreach Unit talk about the latest trends in 22202. In my article on Page 2 I discuss what led us to invite the ACPD to meet with us.

Also on the agenda, we welcome back Dana Bres, who will update us on the Arlington National Cemetery expansion project. There will be some significant disruptions to traffic patterns on Columbia Pike and Southgate. Dana will help us know what to expect and for how long.

And finally, Mike Dowell will join us to introduce the new expanded Crystal City Citizens Review Council, which is in the process of expanding to include Pentagon City. This means we will have more delegates to represent us on this innovative community collaboration model.

We will have regular updates from our representatives on SPRCs and from our committees, as well as a budget report from our treasurer, Ben Watts.

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, there is A LOT going on in our community these days. A lot of changes are coming our way, and we’re trying to stay involved with the players in each sector so we can make sure our needs and concerns are heard and met. But it’s A LOT of work. Please consider heading or joining a committee of the AHCA that covers an area the concerns you, interests you, or is an are where you have particular knowledge or experience. Committees exist already for zoning, budget and the neighborhoods program. Our bylaws state that we should also have standing committees on Planning, Publicity and Membership. I’d also like to form a committee on neighborhood impacts of construction and development, such as noise and disruption.

-Cory Giacobbe, President, AHCA

Calendar

See aurorahighlands.org/events/

• February 4 – RIP Haley Park Invasive Plant Removal, 9-11 a.m. Register here
• February 8 – February AHCA Meeting, 7 pm, online via Zoom
• February 9 – “Freedman’s Village” Arl. Historical Society, 7 pm. Register here
• February 24 – Black History Month: Film “The Butler” at Aurora Hills Lib. 1:30 pm
• February 25 – RIP Fort Scott Invasive Plant Removal, 10 a.m. Register here
• March 3 – April 2 – Beauty and the Beast at Synetic Theater

Celebrate Black History Month in Arlington!

https://www.arlingtonva.us/About-Arlington/Black-History-Month

Black History Month Events in February

• Teaching Heritage, Reaching Community at Arlington Career Center: Sat, February 4, 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
• Black History Heroes, Soldiers and Spies at Central Library: Wednesday, February 8, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
• Author Talk: Michael W. Twitty at Central Library: Thursday, February 16, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
• Green Valley Pharmacy: A Community Gathering Place at Shirlington Library: Thursday, February 23, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
• Afternoon Tea and a Movie: “The Butler” at Aurora Hills Library: Friday, February 24, 1:30pm – 4:00pm
• Feel the Heritage Festival at Charles Drew Community Center: Sat., Feb. 25, 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Aurora Hills Community Center Events for Seniors

55+ Activities – Spring Registration Opens Feb. 15 @ 10 am!

The Spring Activity Guide is not up on the site yet, but when it is it will be here. In the meantime, get ready by registering in advance and creating an account. View activities and register! If the Winter program is any indication, there are great programs for fitness, art, music, dance, trips, hikes, parties and more!

Upcoming activities for seniors at Aurora Hills Center include Jeopardy on Feb. 6, , and Movies at Aurora Hills on Feb 10, Acoustic Hour on Feb. 17. See the full list of 55+ events here. 55+ Pass holders only. Don’t have a 55+ Pass? Learn how to get a pass here.

Souper Bowl of Caring: Food Drive For AFAC

Advent Lutheran Church (corner of S. 23rd and S. Arlington Ridge Rd.) will collect non-perishable food for 8 weeks starting Jan. 1. They hope to collect 800 items by Super Bowl Sunday on February 12. All donations will go to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). Collection boxes will be available at the front door Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 11-3 and weekends from 9 to noon.

All non-expired, non-perishable, non-glass items are welcome but ESPECIALLY needed items include: low-sodium canned tomato products, beans, soup, tuna, vegetables; low-sugar, kid-friendly cereal; and peanut butter.

Newsletters & Social Media

We have heard from residents that they really enjoy having a print newsletter. While we’ll do our best to continue it, that will depend on continued support from advertisers and volunteers to distribute it. Sign up for newsletters by email at aurorahighlands.org/join-ahca and follow us at @AuroraHighlands on Twitter, Facebook, or Insta to stay connected no matter what.

The 4D-A group list-serve is an alternative to Nextdoor for hyper-local information and to post queries to your neighbors: To subscribe, send a message to :

4DA-22202+subscribe@groups.io

for information on the group and how to join and post, visit:

https://groups.io/g/4D-A22202

Aurora Highlands Civic Association (AHCA) Dues for Calendar Year 2023

Please show your support for AHCA and the community by paying the annual dues for 2023. The cost is $20 per household and is used to support the monthly newsletter, community events, and other neighborhood building activities, and additionally, is required to be able to vote on referendums at meetings. There are two ways to pay dues, either mail a check to AHCA, P.O. Box 25201, Arlington, VA 22202, or go to www.aurorahighlands.org and click the “Donate” button to pay by PayPal.

** Paying by check saves the AHCA the PayPal transaction fee.

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FEBRUARY MEETING TOPIC: Crime Analysis

Many neighbors have expressed their concerns to the Civic Association leadership about an uptick in crime in recent months in ever-encroaching proximity to our neighborhood. Reports in the news and on NextDoor of gunshots, carjackings, and muggings well within a 2 mile radius have caused anxiety for our safety and the safety of our kids. We want to get a clear picture of the trends in amount and type of crime in 22202 over that past few months, and an analysis of whether crime is in fact increasing, and, if so, what we can do to keep our community safe. Some people feel that the constant reporting of crimes on the NextDoor app is giving a distorted accounting of the prevalence of crime, leading to an unnecessary increase in community anxiety. We have invited the Arlington Police Department to brief us at the February 8 AHCA meeting on crime trends, how to stay safe in our community, to answer our questions, and hear our concerns.

Announcements from the County

Engage Arlington: Visit this site frequently for new opportunities to give the County feedback!

New Food Security Coalition in Arlington

Arlington’s Food Security Coalition oversees the implementation of the Food Security Strategic Plan that was developed in 2022 and serves as a meeting point to coordinate, collaborate and share information about food security activities occurring in the county. It is a continuation of the work the Food Security Task Force did in 2021-22, including pursuing the mission and vision that the Task Force developed. Checkout the data dashboard and meeting documents, sign up for the FSC e-newsletter, and join the Coalition through the coalition website.

P.L.A.C.E. Grant – Applications due April 28, 2023

The County P.L.A.C.E. Grant (Promoting Local Arts and Community Equity Grant) is a competitive grant program that will support community-initiated projects related to Arlington’s history, built environment and/or cultural heritage. The grant reinforces the goals of the Arts Commission to advance cultural equity in Arlington for all and enhances Arlington County’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. This grant seeks proposals that are at the intersection of arts, culture and heritage to provide opportunities to communities that have had limited access to programming, education and other art services. Arlington’s historic communities are a critical priority for this funding. Eligible parties include: Individuals who reside in Arlington County (P.O. boxes are not eligible); Institutions, community groups and organizations serving Arlingtonians and/or utilizing historic property; A civic/citizen organization and/or homeowners association that serves Arlington County’ and A 501(c)(3) organization in Arlington County.  Visit this website for further information and instructions on how to submit a proposal.

Site Plan Review Committee Meetings

Americana (1400 Richmond Highway, building faces S. Eads)

Private Development:

GLUP Studies – In Progress

The General Land Use Plan (GLUP) is the primary policy guide for development in Arlington. Modifications to the GLUP may be requested in the form of an amendment or study. A list of current GLUP Amendments and GLUP Special Studies can be found at the Arlington County Website here.

National Landing BID

Upcoming BID-related events are listed here.

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Transportation

Yellow Line/Blue Line Disruptions Continue through April, 2023:

Plan NOW for Columbia Pike Closures (starting January 23rd)!

Bridges

Free ART Bus Rides for APS Students

Middle and high school students from Arlington Public Schools ride free anytime on Arlington Transit (ART), the County’s bus transit system, with an iRide SmarTrip card, https://bit.ly/3B3q84L

Get Onboard Oakridge Elementary School’s Walking School Bus!

22202 seniors: Ready to walk off those holiday calories and do a good deed?

22202 parents: Are you looking to simplify your kid’s morning commute at least a little bit?

The Oakridge Walking School Bus is the answer!

Known as “The Us Bus,” the Oakridge Walking School Bus matches local seniors with families who live in the one-mile walk zone of Oakridge and who want their kids to walk to school. The Us Bus operates one morning a week, but the good feelings last all week. (School doors open at 8:40 am and school starts at 9 am).

This collaboration of 55+, Arlington Commission on Aging, Virginia Safe Routes to School, WalkArlington and Oakridge Elementary is a continuation of the pilot that started last Spring. Here are links to media coverage of that pilot: locally in Patch – bit.ly/3Za0pmj, and nationally on CBS – bit.ly/3X7Zh0A

Training and background checks (from both 55+ and APS) are provided, as well as safety vests…and new friends for all.

Seniors interested in volunteering should contact Andrea Walker at tasteless@verizon.net

Families interested in having their students join the Us Bus, contact Lauren Hassel at LHA1165@yahoo.com

Advertise here and reach over 1,000 of your neighbors!

Send inquiries to newsletter@aurorahighlands.org

 

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