Ballston - Virginia Square Civic Association Newsletter

July 29 Meeting Agenda

Topics:

NCAC: Hayes Park

Parking Issues and Strategy

When: Tuesday, July 29 at 7:30pm

Where: BVSCA’s community room located on N. Utah Street between Gaffney’s Restaurant and the Windsor Plaza condominiums.

Inside this Newsletter

2 Cherrydale Firehouse

3 Hayes Park

3 13th Street Park

4 Parking symposium

4 WL High School feasibility study

4 Arlington County news releases

4 County’s blight abatement initiative

6 WL High School ranked in the top 30

7 Summerquest reading incentive program

7 ALRI registration begins

7 Taste of Cultures Day

7 The Arlington County Fair

8 Arlington County Civic Federation

8 Cable Channel 31

8 West Nile virus reaches Arlington

9 Arlington County Community Alert System

9 Thank you DeAndra Beck

9 BVSCA Newsletter wants your articles

9 Calendar of meetings

10 BVSCA officers, volunteers

13 Join BVSCA - Why and how

13 Membership Application

New BVSCA Officers

First and foremost, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our 2002-2003 Executive Committee members who volunteered their time. They tirelessly and admirably represented the residents of Ballston - Virginia Square on many issues that residents may not even have known about, but that would have personally, aesthetically or financially affected the neighborhood and its residents. They are: Ben Axleroad, Kate Wilson, David Ryan, Pat Horoschak, Ed Parks, Theresa Smith, Dennis Burr, James Webster, and Mike Ford.

Subsequently, I welcome the newly selected 2003-2004 Executive Committee members: Ed Parks, President; Dennis Burr, Vice President; David Ryan, Secretary; DeAndra Beck, Treasurer; James Webster, Kate Wilson and Constance McAdam, At Large Executive Committee Members; Sharon Clayborne, NCAC Representative; Albert Lewis, Alternate NCAC Representative; Ben Axleroad, David Ryan, Ed Parks and David Perlmutter, BVSCA Delegates to the Arlington Civic Federation, and Albert Lewis, Rohan Samaaraweera and Jim Webster, Alternate BVSCA Delegates to the Arlington Civic Federation.

This diverse group of civic activists and representatives will continue to bring new ideas, goals and solutions to neighborhood issues.

SPC Site Eliminated from Firehouse Relocation List (Again)

By Jim Rosen

On June 25, the Cherrydale Firehouse Relocation Task Force voted 14-2 against a motion to put the SPC (bowling alley) property back on the list of potential sites for the relocated firehouse.

The June vote confirmed the unanimous decision taken by the task force in April to strike the site from consideration.

The resounding "no" vote came after a persuasive presentation by deputy fire chief Kelley. He stated unambiguously that the site was unsuitable, principally because it would leaves the northern reaches of Arlington with suboptimal fire and rescue coverage.

In addition, BVSCA's representative on the Task Force, Ed Parks delivered a petition signed by over 3 dozen citizens living near the SPC site, expressing their opposition to the idea of relocating the firehouse there.

Between 10 and 15 BVSCA neighbors also attended the task force meeting, held at the Cherrydale Firehouse.

If anyone is interested in learning more about the relocation of Cherrydale’s historic firehouse they can go to the following websites for more information: http://www.cherrydale.net/?text=FS3 Pages/index http://www.co.arlington.va.us/cphd/planning/cherrydale

Hayes Park Reconstruction

By Marguerite Farrell

Association members have been working with County Officials including a County Landscape Architect on a Masterplan for the Reconstruction of Hayes Park on N. Lincoln/N. Monroe Street. Civic Association member Theresa Smith worked on getting the initial Phase I grant for $75,000 several years ago. Theresa assembled a group of residents who use the park to work on a masterplan for reconstruction. After planning got underway delays occurred with County Staff turnover and the group reconvened about 8 months ago to finalize planning. The group found the initial grant to be insufficient to upgrade the park equipment to current safety standards, to install better fencing and a gate to protect small children from running into the parking lot and adjacent street, and to bring the park into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

NCAC staff who worked with the community resident planning committee encouraged the group to pursue Phase II Funds from the NCAC Board to be able to ensure these elements in the park's renovation. Marguerite Farrell and Theresa Smith worked with the Civic Association to make this project a priority. A $250,000 grant was received in the recent NCAC funding round.

The newly constructed park will include upgraded and safer play equipment, safer surfacing materials underneath the play equipment, fencing and a gate for safety and will comply with ADA guidelines. Paved pathways are also planned to direct pedestrian traffic and to mitigate against the existing erosion and damage to tree roots. An exciting new water element
is also planned that will spray jets of water during the summer season and will feature a planetary theme. Groundbreaking is planned within the year.

The Committee would like to thank the Civic Association members for their support, and the County staff who have worked on the master plan throughout the planning process. The plan will be presented to the Civic Association at the next meeting.

13th Street Park Update

NCAC approved $30,000 in funds to upgrade the small park on 13th Street in June of 2002. The County Board approved the project in September 2002. Despite the passage of 12 months, the park upgrade has yet to come to fruition. The Arlington County Parks, Recreation and Community Resources (PRCR) has informed BVSCA that the delay is a result of limited staff resources and that it plans to hire another Landscape Architect in July/August 2003. It is their estimate that the new Architect will be available to begin working on this project in September 2003.

Meanwhile, an appropriate name needs to be discussed for this park. Two separate people have suggested that it be named after Deem Gilmore. Deem, who passed away a few years ago, was born in the house across from the park. Apparently, there are some great stories about him. Please send any other suggestions for names to Denise Parks at dparks@covad.net or call me at 703-522-4312.

Arlington County Parking Issues Workshop

On June 21, 2003 Arlington County held a workshop to discuss parking issues. There were many staff members present and a few Arlington County residents. Ed Parks, Rohan Samaraweera and Lewis Gulick attended the meeting for BVSCA. Apparently, there is a County policy of limiting the amount of parking in and around the metro corridor (for both commuters and residents) to encourage use of public transportation. The “preliminary” meeting appeared to be more of a strategy meeting to plan for the upcoming Fall Parking Symposium and to convert participants to the County’s view. There were a few in attendance who shared the concerns raised by BVSCA’s representatives, but there also were many true believers. Not surprisingly, many of these true believers do not live in the area affected by the policy they endorse.

The parking symposium is supposed to be held in the Fall. BVSCA and others attempted to be a part of the planning process but there was a lot of resistance to that idea from the Transportation Commission. Ed Parks made it blatantly clear that Arlington residents likely to be affected by the proposal should be a part of the design process. To date, that request has been ignored but we still hold out hope. Also, through Benjamin Axleroad and Ed Parks, BVSCA is pursuing this issue through the Civic Federation.

Washington Lee High School Feasibility Study Scheduled

Funding to renew W-L High School was included in the recent Bond referendum. As a result a committee was formed to discuss the feasibility of creating a new school building on Quincy Park versus renovating the current site. Obviously, this is of great concern to the community and raises a host of issues. BVSCA member Sharon Goudie is a member of the committee and will keep us informed.

Get Daily New Releases and Crime Reports

Arlington County has a mail-serve for residents for news releases, crime reports and a host of other important information via e-mail. BVSCA members should consider adding their e-mail addresses to the mail list to keep abreast of many of the issues affecting the County and it’s residents. To add you e-mail address go to http://www.co.arlington.va.us/subscriptions/subscribe.htm and choose what information you would like to receive.

County Releases a List of 90 Properties as part of it’s new blight abatement program

On July 16th, County Board members met to identify properties considered to be “chronic problem properties” for its Chronic Problem Properties Initiative. This initiative originated in January 2003. Its purpose is to identify 50 of the most severely neglected, abandoned and dilapidated properties in the County.

On July 16th the County released a list of 90 identified properties. A new blight abatement ordinance has been proposed to the County code that will give the County additional options in addressing chronic problem properties. The ordinance would identify specific criterion to be considered in determining if a property is blighted, offer a method to bring the property into compliance without reliance on the court system, and provide ample opportunities for property owners to bring their properties up to code. It would also allow the County to use eminent domain to address a problem property when the owner fails to appropriately respond. The County Board will hear a proposal to advertise the amendment at its July 19 meeting.

Since several of the properties are located in the BVSCA area, the list is included in this newsletter to alert BVSCA members who might be affected by this County initiative.

List of Chronic Problem Properties:

- 102 S. Lexington Street
- 314 N. Garfield Street
- 314 S. Veitch Street
- 620 S. 20th Street
- 628 N. Lincoln Street
- 636 S. 22nd Street
- 641 S. 22nd Street
- 705 N. Daniel Street
- 805 S. 31st Street
- 811 S. Barton Street
- 814 S. Highland Street
- 936 S. 18th Street
- 1105 S. Edgewood Street
- 1122 N. Jackson Street
- 1211 N. Taylor Street
- 1506 N. Scott Street
- 1526 S. 11th Street
- 1554 S. 12th Street
- 1563 S. 11th Street
- 1600 S. 11th Street
- 1600 S. 13th Street
- 1601 N. Colonial Terrace
- 1625 S. 11th Street
- 1631 S. 13th Street
- 1702 N. Cameron Street
- 1705 N. Pollard Street
- 1708 N. Cameron Street
- 1717 N. Barton Street
- 1720 N. 22nd Street
- 1729 S. Fillmore Street
- 1807 N. Bryan Street
- 1817 N. Glebe Road
- 1900 N. 16th Street
- 1901 N. 15th Street
- 1906 N. 16th Street
- 1910 N. 16th Street
- 1911 N. 15th Street
- 1914 N. 16th Street
- 1915 N. 15th Street
- 1921 S. Glebe Road
- 1942 N. Emerson Street
- 2000 6th Street, South
- 2001 15th Street, N.
- 2012 N. Lexington Street
- 2018 S. Glebe Road
- 2042 S. Shirlington Road
- 2105 S. Fillmore Street
- 2112 S. Shirlington Road
- 2206 S. Grant Street
- 2249 S. Shirlington Road
- 2300 S. Dinwiddie Street
- 2313 N. Madison Street
- 2411 Shirlington Road
- 2424 S. Shirlington Road
- 2513 S. Kenwood Street
- 2521 S. Oxford Street
- 2523 S. Oxford Street
- 2604 N. 12th Street
- 2604 S. 18th Street
- 2700 Shirley Highway [Rosenthal]
- 2712 S. Arlington Ridge Road
- 2712 S. Arlington Boulevard
- 2821 S. 16th Street
- 2915 Key Boulevard
- 3007 S. 20th Street
- 3018 S. 12th Street
- 3114 S. 19th Street
- 3115 S. 19th Street
- 3117 S. 13th Road
- 3140 S. 17th Street

- 3237 S. 6thStreet
- 3421 N. 17th Street
- 3600 S. Kemper Road
- 3724 S. Kemper Road
- 3808 N. 17th Street
- 3816 S. 22nd Street
- 3836 N. Oakland Street
- 4029 Columbia Pike
- 4131 23rd Street North
- 4313 Lee Highway
- 4317 Lee Highway
- 4321 Lee Highway
- 4335 Lee Highway
- 4339 Lee Highway
- 4389 Old Dominion Drive
- 4391 Old Dominion Drive
- 5004 N. 19th Street
- 5007 Chesterfield Road
- 5011 Chesterfield Road
- 5623 S. 7th Place

Washington-Lee High School listed in Top 30 of Newsweek's “100 Top Schools in America”

Washington Lee High School ranked 28th out of this Country’s 14,000 high schools. H-B Woodlawn’s Secondary Program ranked 9th and Yorktown ranked 23rd according to the June 2 issue of Newsweek magazine. Wakefield High School ranked 289th. Thereby placing all four Arlington public high schools in the top 2% percent in the nation. To read more about this go to: http://www.arlington.k12.va.us/about/press_releases/0203/060503_top100schools.html

Summerquest

Summerquest is a summer reading incentive program for children ages 5 through 12. Children receive awards for reading a set number of books. Special programs such as puppet shows, craft and science programs and story times are held throughout the summer at Arlington County libraries. You can get more information at Central Library or any branch library.

Arlington Learning in Retirement Institute Registration Begins August 15th.

ALRI is a volunteer membership organization for Arlington residents over the age of 50. The institute offers a wide array of non-credit, college-level courses. Fall 2003 course catalog will be sent to members in July. Anyone interested in ALRI can contact them at Adult education/ALRI, 2801 Clarendon Blvd, #306, Arlington, VA or by e-mail at alri@gmu.edu .

A Taste of Cultures Day

ECDC, the Ethiopian Community Development Council is sponsoring A Taste of Cultures Day. This event will take place on Saturday, July 26th from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the Ballston Common Mall. This event celebrates diversity in Arlington County. There will be music and dancing from Sudan, Latin America, Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, and Indian cultures and face painting for the children. Vendors will be selling multicultural food, artwork and jewelry. For more information you can call Hanan Bedri at 703-685-0510 ext. 227 or email Hanan at hanan.bedri@ecdcinternational.org .

The Arlington County Fair

The 27th Annual Arlington County Fair will be held from Thursday, August 21st until Sunday, August 24th at 10:00 p.m. at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center located at 3501 South Second Street, Arlington, VA 22204. This years fair theme is: The Many Faces of Arlington.

Admission to the fair is free. There will be a free shuttle bus running every 30 minutes from the I-66 Parking Deck (Next to Washington-Lee High School at the corner of North Quincy Street & North 15th Street). and a shuttle every 45 minutes near the Ballston Metro (Metro side of North Stafford Street across from the International House of Pancakes (IHOP)). You can go to http://www.arlingtoncountyfair.org for more information.

Every Arlington resident is eligible to enter the open Competitive Exhibits. There are over 500 subject matter classes and four age divisions. (Division K: child - 6 and under, Division Y: Youth - 7-12 years, Division T: Teen 13-18 Years and Division G: Adult - 19 and over). Examples of some of the categories include baked goods, honey, flowers, fruit and vegetables, fine art, needlework and photography.

For those of you wishing to enter an exhibit. You can pick up a guide for entering competitive exhibits near the door of Central Library or you can contact the Arlington County Fair Board at (703) 920-4556 or at info@arlingtoncountyfair.org .

It would be great to see some of our own BVS residents competitive exhibits. It’s easy to do and lots of fun.

Arlington County Civic Federation

BVSCA is a member of the Arlington County Civic Federation. According to the Federation bylaws “the object of the Federation shall be to promote the general welfare of Arlington County and vicinity in a non-partisan, non-sectarian, non-sectional, and non-political manner.” The Federation has many committees such as: The Airport Issues Committee, Community Relations Committee, Environmental Affairs Committee, Legislation Committee, Parks and Recreation Committee, Public Services Committee, Scholarship Committee, Special Events Committee, Bylaws Committee, Cultural Affairs Committee, Housing Committee, Membership Committee, Planning and Zoning Committee, Revenues and Expenditures Committee, Schools Committee and Transportation Committee. Any member of BVSCA may join any of these Federation committees. If you would like to be a member of any committees, or just want to be informed on issues the different committees are discussing, you can sign up by going to www.civfed.org/egroups.htm . Go to www.civfed.org for more information about the Federation .

Cable Channel 31

Channel 31 is Arlington County, Virginia's government access cable channel. The County programs channel 31 for the purpose of providing the public with pertinent information about Arlington County's programs, people, services, and events. Channel 31 is 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Go to http://www.co.arlington.va.us/chan31/ for more information and a schedule of programs. 

West Nile Virus Has Reached Arlington

Mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Virus were found in County traps located in the Donaldson Run area. The County plans to increase its larviciding efforts in that area. The following tips from the Virginia Department of Health will help reduce the chance of being bitten by an infected mosquito and will help reduce the mosquito population.

To reduce exposure to mosquitoes:

- Wear long, loose and light-colored clothing.
- If possible, stay indoors when mosquitoes are biting.
- Check window and door screens to ensure that mosquitoes do not enter the home.
- Use insect repellent products with no more than 35 percent DEET for adults and less than 10 percent for children. Adults should apply repellent on children.

Follow instructions when using insect repents.

- Spray repellent on your hands and then apply to your face and only apply it to exposed skin and clothing. Do not use repellent under clothing.
- Do not apply repellent over cuts, wounds, sunburns, or irritated skin.
- Wash repellent off daily and reapply as needed.

To control mosquitoes from breeding:

- Turn over or remove containers in yards where rainwater collects, such as old tires, potted plant trays, boats, buckets and toys.
- Clean out birdbaths and wading pools once a week.
- Clean roof gutters and downspout screens regularly.
- Eliminate standing water on tarps and flat roofs.
- Do not leave garbage can lids upside down or allow water to collect in garbage cans.

Arlington County Community Alert System

Arlington County’s Community Alert system allows people who live or work in Arlington to receive real-time text messaging regarding emergency and public safety alerts to cell phone, pagers, personal digital assistants and email accounts.

To get more information or to register free of charge go to http://www.arlingtonalert.com/

Thanks DeAndra!

As many of you may know DeAndra Beck has been the BVSCA’s Newsletter Editor for the past 4 years. Due to time restraints, she has decided to step down as Newsletter Editor. She has done an incredible job as Editor and her articles will be missed.

DeAndra Beck, a very active BVSCA member since 1994, will continue in her new role as BVSCA Treasurer.

The Ballston Virginia Square Newsletter

Send in your articles to be published!

The Ballston Virginia Square newsletter is published six times a year in advance of bimonthly meetings. Its purpose is to inform residents of issues concerning their community and to encourage them to participate. Anyone wishing to contribute short, informative articles of civic interest or neighborhood events please send them to Denise Parks, 1249 North Utah Street, dparks@covad.net

BVSCA 2003-2004 Calendar of Meetings

*unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at the BVSCA’s community room located on N. Utah Street between Gaffney’s Restaurant and the Windsor Plaza condominiums on the last Tuesday of alternate months. BVSCA Executive meetings begin at 7:00 p.m.. Full Membership meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. Meetings adjourn at 9:00pm.

Tuesday, May 27, 2003

Annual meeting - No executive committee meeting

Tues., July 29, 2003

Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2003

Tuesday, November 25, 2003

Tuesday, January 27, 2003

Tuesday, March 30, 2003

BVSCA Officers and Representatives

President

Ed Parks

202-637-6587

ebparks@hhlaw.com

Vice President

Dennis Burr

Treasurer

DeAndra Beck

703-528-5126

Secretary

David Ryan

At Large Executive Committee

James Webster

Kate Wilson

Constance McAdam

Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee

Representative

Sharon Clayborne Goudie

Alternate

Albert Lewis

Arlington County Civic Federation

Delegates

Ben Axleroad

David Perlmutter

David Ryan

Ed Parks

Alternates

Albert Lewis

Rohan Samaraweera

Jim Webster

Denise Parks

Ballston Partnership

Representative

Jim Webster

The following positions are not appointed positions but rather volunteer positions. They are listed here so that BVSCA members know who they can go to for information on a specific issue. Please inform Denise Parks of any changes or additions to this list.

Newsletter Editor

Denise Parks

703-527-0122

dparks@covad.net

Committee Chairs

Cherrydale Relocation Task Force:

BVSCA Member

Ed Parks

Community Preparedness:

David Perlmutter

District 2 Police Committee:

Albert Lewis

Clarendon Task Force & Virginia Square East End:

Dennis Burr

Albert Lewis

Sector Plan Oversight:

Lew Gulick

Dennis Burr

Virginia Square Oversight Group

Connie McAdam

Al Lewis

John Buckley

Condominium Project 10th & Monroe St.

John Buckley

FDIC

Kate Wilson

Hayes Park:

Theresa Smith

Maggie Farrell

13th Street Park:

Denise Parks

703-527-0122

dparks@covad.net

Building Level Planning Committee:

(Washington-Lee School Project)

BVSCA Representative

Sharon Clayborne Goudie

Join BVSCA Today!

One BVSCA goal for this year is to increase membership and encourage BVSCA residents to participate in their Civic Association. This includes new members just learning about BVSCA and all previous members who have lost touch. There are several of you on my street alone - you know who you are. BVSCA needs you back. Your experience, knowledge and voice are invaluable to the Association.

The purpose of BVSCA is “to take action to protect and promote the welfare and livability of the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association’s neighborhoods in particular, and in Arlington, in general”. (By-laws of BVSCA) Only with a large, active and vocal membership can BVSCA be effective in its dealings with County officials.

Residents can join by filling out the membership application and paying membership dues. Both of which can be done either by 1) coming to a BVSCA meeting, or 2) by mail.

The membership application is on BVSCA’s web page and on the back of this newsletter. Dues are $10 per person. Dues are payable when first joining and are renewable each year on or before the anniversary of that date. New members and members who have not paid their dues in the last three years must wait 30 days after paying their dues before receiving voting privileges.

Dues are used to help fund the Association’s activities and sponsored events.

Join the BVSCA today

BVSCA Annual Dues Payment and Membership Application

Date: _____________________Dues: $10 per year

Name:_____________________________________

Street:_____________________________________

City: _______________________

Zip:_____________

Email:_____________________________________

Send my newsletter via: _____ email or _____ mail.

Phone (optional):_____________________________

I'm interested in volunteering to help: ___ yes ____ no

Mail to: DeAndra Beck
BVSCA Treasurer

1301 North Taylor Street

Arlington, VA 22201

Please make checks payable to BVSCA.

Return to BVSCA Home Page at www.bvsca.org