BVSCA Newsletter September 2001
Contents:September 25 Meeting Agenda
Please refer to the newsletter for a summary of agenda items.
7:00 pm Executive Committee Meeting
7:30 pm Full Membership Meeting
BVSCA dues paying members may participate as observers in meetings of the BVSCA Executive Committee. On September 25, we will be meeting in the community room of the Ballston Park Condominiums at 1050 N. Stuart St. behind The Nature Conservancy. We are grateful to Ballston Park Condominiums for offering space for BVSCA meetings. However, please be advised that there is limited on-street parking available. Paid parking is available at the garage adjacent to the Rio Grande restaurant, on N. Taylor St.
BVSCA Membership Meetings are held on the last Tuesday of alternate months from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. The BVSCA newsletter is published six times per year in advance of the monthly meeting. Our candidate's night is Wednesday, October 17, and our next membership meeting is Tuesday, November 27, both at 7:30 pm.
Of Some Use?
There are a number of minor use permits and site plan applications that will be discussed at the September 25 Executive Committee meeting, including new exterior signage for E*TradeBank on the Ballston Tower, self defense classes at Aikido at 1305 N. Jackson St., operations of the Japanese Auto Clinic at 4530 N. Washington Blvd., and modifications of the streetscape design at Ballston Point. BVSCA positions will be taken for subsequent input to the County. Your views are welcome.
Loose Change
Many of us have been curious about future plans for the vacant space in Ballston Mall, formerly occupied by J.C. Penney. At the September 25 meeting, members will hear a presentation on behalf of Ballston Common Associates, L.P. regarding their intended use of this space. A site plan application has been filed to convert the first floor to retail/restaurant use and the second two floors to Hecht Furniture Galleries for retail and administrative use. Join us to learn more.
GMU Update
During a recess session of the July County Board meeting, the rezoning application and site plan application for the Phase II GMU Foundation building were approved by Board Members contingent upon a number of site plan conditions. BVSCA members, notably Kate Wilson and Lew Gulick, were instrumental in ensuring that lower density zoning, pedestrian access, and provisions for an annual parking/traffic review were reflected in these conditions. Dr. Stanley Taylor, GMU, will attend the September 25 BVSCA meeting to update members on recent developments and plans for the Phase II GMU expansion.
A Prime Candidate
Please mark your calendars. On Wednesday, October 16, BVSCA will host a Candidate's Night at 7:30 pm at the Central Library on N. Quincy Street. As a result of the 2001 Virginia General Assembly's redistricting plan, BVSCA is part of the 47th House District. Voting will take place on November 6, and the following offices are being contested: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, House of Delegates, County Board representative, and School Board representative. We hope to have a good turnout, so please make an effort to attend.
Miscellaneous News Items
Five Alive. Join the Arlington Street People's Assistance Network (A-SPAN) in celebrating its 10th Anniversary at a 5% Day at Fresh Fields (2700 Wilson Blvd.) on Wednesday, September 26, 2001. Proceeds from the 5% Day will benefit A-SPAN's programs and services for the homeless in Arlington. For more info on A-SPAN, visit www.a-span.org , or call (703) 820-4357 x17.
All Fired Up. The Arlington County Fire Dept. is having an Open House on Saturday, October 13 from 10 am to 2 pm at Fire Station #2, 4805 Wilson Blvd. featuring Sparky the fire Dog, educational presentations, giveaways, and more. For more info call 703-228-4659.
This Old House. A Remodeled House Tour to benefit the Arlington Historical Society will be held on Sunday, October 14, 2001 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Five recently remodeled homes will be shown. Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased from the Lemon Twist and Chiffon at 4518 Lee Hwy. and the Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 S. Arlington Ridge Rd. For advance tickets send a self-addressed stamped envelope to AHS House Tour, 6307 N. 35th Street, Arlington, VA 22213 by October 8 or call 703-536-8270.
Around Town. Arlington County's Sheriff's Office is having a town meeting on Tuesday, October 16 at 7:30 pm at Thomas Jefferson Middle School Theatre. For more info call Dianna Dix at 703-228-4457.
Listserv. BVSCA members are invited to subscribe to the BVSCA listserv to receive periodic updates on issues of neighborhood interest, as well as the monthly newsletter. How? Send an email message to bvsca@hotmail.com advising that you would like to join. Include your name and post office address in your message along with the email address(es) from which you will be sending messages. When you are added to the list, you will receive a "Welcome" message with details regarding how to use the listserv. Remember that a message sent by a BVSCA listserv member to BVSCA-L@rootsweb.com will be relayed automatically to all listserv members. To prevent senders of unsolicited commercial email from using our list for unauthorized purposes, only listserv members may send messages to the mailing list from a subscribed address.
Editor's Prerogative
In the somber aftermath of the events of September 11, much has been written and much has been said in a struggle to cope with the grief and the loss we all feel. Despite the pain, we can take pride in our collective response, our strength of community. I will share a personal story that illustrates in a small way the fiber of our own neighborhood. In a spirit of solidarity and unity last week, I hung a flag from the roof of my house. It was a large military flag, one brought to me by my father, a veteran of the Korean War. Last Saturday night my flag was stolen. On Sunday, I called the police to report the theft and mentioned that there was a boisterous party in the neighborhood the previous night. Perhaps a guest had taken the flag after one too many drinks? Beer bottles strewn in the street fueled my suspicions. The police officer who responded checked with the neighbors who'd hosted the party and asked them to contact their guests to inquire about the flag. Despite these efforts, I held little hope I'd recover the flag. Two nights later, there was a knock on my door. At the door stood one of the neighbors with a flag in her hand. It wasn't my father's flag. It was a new flag. The neighbor said that they'd contacted their friends to no avail, but if in any way their party had contributed to the theft of my flag, they wanted to make amends. I was truly touched and grateful for this generous response. Out of my loss, albeit a very minor one, came a personal reassurance that the good among us will prevail upon the evil. Our neighborhood, our community, our nation has much to be proud of. My country, 'tis of thee...
DeAndra Beck
Newsletter Editor
Ben Axleroad, President
3800 North Fairfax Dr., #205, Arlington, VA 22203
703-525-3083
Dennis Burr, Vice President
David Ryan, Secretary
DeAndra Beck, Treasurer
1301 N. Taylor St., Arlington, VA 22201
Theresa Smith, NCAC Representative
Ken Hughes
Jeffrey Green
Kate Wilson
How to Join the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association or Renew Your Membership
All individual persons who are residents of the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association's area or who in their individual capacity own residential property located therein, shall be eligible for membership in the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association. For the purposes of this organization, the boundaries of the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association are Kirkwood Road on the east, Glebe Road on the west, Wilson Boulevard on the south, and the I-66 right of way on the north.
If interested in joining the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association, please complete the BVSCA Membership Application Form below and send your application and dues to Jeffrey Green, Treasurer, Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association, at the address below.
Dues are payable when first joining and are renewable each year on or before the annual anniversary of that date. New members and members who have not paid their dues within the three preceding Association years must pay their dues 30 days before they receive voting privileges. Former members who have been members in good standing within any of the three immediately preceding Association years may be reinstated as voting members by paying their dues for that year.
All members of the Association are volunteers. Dues are used to help fund the Association's activities and sponsored events. Please join the Association today, or renew your dues paid membership. Visit us at (http://www.bvsca.org)
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Mail to: DeAndra Beck
BVSCA Treasurer
1301 N. Taylor St.
Arlington, VA 22201
Please make checks payable to BVSCA.