May 2017 Newsletter

[ 0 ] May 9, 2017 | AHCA

[View the printed-format newsletter here]

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, May 10 at 7 p.m.

Aurora Hills Community Center

Come Join Us In Our Newly Renovated Space!

Aurora Highlands Civic Association Newsletter – May 2017

Meeting Agenda

Update on Nelly Custis Park Planning. David Litman, AHCA’s rep for Neighborhood Conservation, will give us an update. If you are interested in participating in the design working group and haven’t already volunteered, please come to the meeting.
South Park Planning. Department of Parks & Rec staff will give a short overview of the planning for South Park, a property adjacent to Four Mile Run, between Route 1 and Potomac Avenue. We will hear about opportunities for the public to weigh in on a final concept plan.
Alfonso Lopez, three-term Delegate to the Virginia House of Representatives for the 49th District, will come talk about his legislative priorities and answer your questions. Possible topics: airport noise, name change for Jefferson Davis Highway, the defunct Dominion site at 18th and Ives, transportation and Metro, plans for encouraging business growth, impact of I-395 express lanes.
Traffic Study of S. Eads and S. Fern. Transportation engineer Dan Nabors will come talk about the County’s traffic study of these streets, preliminary results, and possible mitigation measures.

Community Updates

AHCA Community Social, Tuesday, May 23. Join neighbors for a pint or a bite to eat at the Crystal City Sports Pub. Second floor, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Aurora Hills Community & Senior Center Open House, Thursday, May 11, 5–7 p.m. Join us for tea and cookies and tour the beautifully renovated Aurora Hills Community & Senior Center. Programs in the Center resume on May 15.
Oakridge Spring Fling, Sunday, May 21. Oakridge Elementary School is holding its annual Spring Fling carnival and silent auction fundraiser, 2–6 p.m. Come for the cool all-ages rides; a traditional cake walk and book sale; food from Hard Times Café; a raffle for an Instamatic camera; and a silent auction featuring a custom chef’s table dinner for 4 at Occidental worth $1000, a garden package with a new lawnmower, and a night at the Ritz-Carlton. Your AHCA dues have helped support this great event for years.
Upcoming Caucuses and Primaries May 9, 11, and 13. The Arlington County Democratic Committee (ACDC) will hold a caucus to determine the Democratic nominees for the County Board and the School Board on the Nov. 7 ballot. Voting is easy. Pick which date and location are most convenient, arrive any time during the specified voting period, register, sign a pledge stating that you intend to support the Democratic candidate, mark your ballot, and leave. Democratic and Republican primaries for state offices will be held on June 13. For information on candidates and on locations and hours for voting visit https://vote.arlingtonva.us/elections/.
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, Saturday, May 13. The National Association of Letter Carriers aims to collect 80 million pounds of food door-to-door and bring greater awareness nationwide to the issue of hunger. Please leave non-perishable food donations in a bag next to your mailboxes by 9 AM. Donations will be delivered to Arlington Food Assistance Center. AFAC supplies over 2,400 families with fresh and healthy supplemental groceries, freeing up tightly stretched funds for child and health care, rent, and other financial demands.
Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 19. Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association invite you to celebrate bicycling as a clean, fun, and healthy way to get to work. Be one of the first 16,000 to register and attend a pit stop in DC, MD, or VA to receive a free T-shirt, refreshments, and be entered into a raffle for a new bike. Register at http://www.biketoworkmetrodc.org/.
Aurora Hills Book Club Starting for Tweens. This monthly interactive book club for kids 8 – 12 will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month. It will include a book discussion, crafts, and team projects. Join in on May 23 for an hour of fun devoted to Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Book 1). Participants are encouraged to sign up at http://arlingtonva.libcal.com/event/3258395.
Long Bridge Park Aquatics Center. There is finally movement toward building the Long Bridge Park aquatics center. The County will review design concepts submitted by contractors and select three or four firms to participate in a design competition. By taking this “design/build” route the County will avoid the cost overruns that plagued the initial plans because the chosen contractor must meet a budget chosen at the outset. In November, the public will be able to review the concepts and the County Board will select the final design. Construction is expected to begin late next year.
Home Energy Rebates Available through June. Warm weather is coming! Arlington’s Home Energy Rebates, worth up to $575, can help you cut your energy bills. Upgrade your air conditioner or heat pump, add insulation or seal air leaks, or replace your furnace, boiler, or water heater. Go to https://environment.arlingtonva.us/energy/rebates/. Download and submit the application by the end of June to guarantee that rebate money is available.