Ashton Heights Civic Association Newsletter - February 2019 - Page 1 - www.ashtonheights.org A Great Forum and Opportunities to Connect with Arlington and Your Neighbors By Scott Sklar, President, Ashton Heights Civic Association This past meeting in January we had Christian Dorsey, who is the new Chair of the Arlington County Board, give us some views and answer some questions from issues ranging from community input and “the Arlington Way” to effects of Amazon moving into Arlington. At the same meeting Anne Guillette and staff of the Arlington County Watershed project discuss moves to address roadway and park plans to capture water runoff here in two Ashton Heights projects. And finally Jennifer Toussaint of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington talked about their thousands of calls on runaway pets, wildlife encroachment, and other fascinating animal and wildlife issues around the County. In our November 2018 meeting Ed Grabowsky who heads Arlington’s recycling program, discussed the issues, costs and specifics of recycling and some guidelines of what to do and not to do. AHCA’s Brooke Alexander presented the tree canopy and native plants operating principles, which were approved. In October 2018, Emma Miller discussed beekeeping and bee environment here in Arlington, with some guidelines and how to sustain populations and attract them to our lawns. And David Phillips and Jack Spillsbury presented both the new AHCA Development Principles and also the Development Operating Guidelines to our members which were approved. And finally at our September 2018 meeting, we hosted Arlington County Economic Development Director Victor Hoskins on economic issues in Arlington, as well as neighbor Kris Brown of the Brady Campaign on gun safety. The point of this list is to show how we are trying to bring key players and programs within Arlington County FEBRUARY 2019 AHCA Monthly Meeting Wednesday, Feb 20, 2019 7 - 9 PM 7:00 Refreshments and mingling 7:30 Community & committee updates 8:00 Charles Head, OneVirginia2021 8:30 Harris Teeter Development (tentative) 9:00 Conclusion Meeting Location is the Clarendon United Methodist Church at N Ivy St & Sixth St N - Accessible entry is on Ivy St, take stairs or elevator down to the ramp leading to the social hall. Cars must enter the lot from Ivy St. government to hear about their programs and ideas, as well as allow Ashton Heights members to ask questions and address concerns. We also try to bring various experts on issues effecting life in Arlington to give us a window into issues that impact our community. Our VP of Programs Julia Tanner does a solid job in pulling together these programs with AHCA member input, and new ideas and suggestions are always welcome. And AHCA members Deborah Chin and Colleen Kennedy bring us an assortment of food beginning at 7:00 PM in the Clarendon Methodist Church Social Hall so we can all mingle and meet our neighbors before the AHCA meeting starts sharply at 7:30 PM. Our goal is to be as relevant as possible to the pressures, concerns, and interests in Ashton Heights. I urge you all to come to our monthly AHCA membership meetings on the third Wednesday of the month, as well as input into our programs, and ask questions. This is our association, and it provides the way to make our community even better. We are very blessed to live in a great County and live in Ashton Heights -- but it is up to all of us to protect, preserve, enhance, and appreciate this special place. Happy Winter and hope to see you at future meetings.
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Ashton Heights Civic Association Newsletter - February 2019 - Page 1 - www.ashtonheights.org
A Great Forum and Opportunities to Connectwith Arlington and Your Neighbors
By Scott Sklar, President, Ashton Heights Civic Association
This past meeting in January we had Christian Dorsey,who is the new Chair of the Arlington County Board, giveus some views and answer some questions from issuesranging from community input and “the Arlington Way” toeffects of Amazon moving into Arlington. At the samemeeting Anne Guillette and staff of the Arlington CountyWatershed project discuss moves to address roadway andpark plans to capture water runoff here in two AshtonHeights projects. And finally Jennifer Toussaint of theAnimal Welfare League of Arlington talked about theirthousands of calls on runaway pets, wildlifeencroachment, and other fascinating animal and wildlifeissues around the County.
In our November 2018 meeting Ed Grabowsky who headsArlington’s recycling program, discussed the issues, costsand specifics of recycling and some guidelines of what todo and not to do. AHCA’s Brooke Alexander presented thetree canopy and native plants operating principles, whichwere approved.
In October 2018, Emma Miller discussed beekeeping andbee environment here in Arlington, with some guidelinesand how to sustain populations and attract them to ourlawns. And David Phillips and Jack Spillsbury presentedboth the new AHCA Development Principles and also theDevelopment Operating Guidelines to our members whichwere approved.
And finally at our September 2018 meeting, we hostedArlington County Economic Development Director VictorHoskins on economic issues in Arlington, as well asneighbor Kris Brown of the Brady Campaign on gun safety.
The point of this list is to show how we are trying to bringkey players and programs within Arlington County
FEBRUARY 2019
AHCA Monthly MeetingWednesday, Feb 20, 2019 7 - 9 PM
7:00 Refreshments and mingling7:30 Community & committee updates8:00 Charles Head, OneVirginia20218:30 Harris Teeter Development (tentative)9:00 Conclusion
Meeting Location is the Clarendon United MethodistChurch at N Ivy St & Sixth St N - Accessible entry is onIvy St, take stairs or elevator down to the ramp leadingto the social hall. Cars must enter the lot from Ivy St.
government to hear about their programs and ideas, aswell as allow Ashton Heights members to ask questionsand address concerns. We also try to bring variousexperts on issues effecting life in Arlington to give us awindow into issues that impact our community.
Our VP of Programs Julia Tanner does a solid job inpulling together these programs with AHCA memberinput, and new ideas and suggestions are alwayswelcome. And AHCA members Deborah Chin andColleen Kennedy bring us an assortment of foodbeginning at 7:00 PM in the Clarendon Methodist ChurchSocial Hall so we can all mingle and meet our neighborsbefore the AHCA meeting starts sharply at 7:30 PM.
Our goal is to be as relevant as possible to the pressures,concerns, and interests in Ashton Heights. I urge you allto come to our monthly AHCA membership meetings onthe third Wednesday of the month, as well as input intoour programs, and ask questions. This is our association,and it provides the way to make our community evenbetter.
We are very blessed to live in a great County and live inAshton Heights -- but it is up to all of us to protect,preserve, enhance, and appreciate this special place.Happy Winter and hope to see you at future meetings.
Ashton Heights Civic Association Newsletter - February 2019 - Page 2 - www.ashtonheights.org
Ashton Heights Civic Association VolunteersCivic Association MissionAHCA’s mission is to promote the welfare and interaction of AshtonHeights and Arlington. Meetings, usually held the third Wednesdayfrom September to May, are open to all residents, although only paidmembers can vote. Active participation is welcome. AHCA keeps youinformed through meetings, this newsletter, and the website:www.ashtonheights.org. You can volunteer by contacting theExecutive Committee.
Advertise with us!The Ashton Heights News is distributed to 1,200 householdsSeptember – May. Our readers like to do business locally.
2018/19 Ad Rates:• Business Card: $60 • 1/4 Page: $85• 1/2 Page: $145 • Full Page: $245• Full Back Page: $295 • One page insert $325
Handy NumbersABANDONED VEHICLES AND BICYCLESVehicle on a county street: 703-228-4144Bicycle: 703-228-4057 (Give exact location, description, and how long it’s been there)
ANIMAL REMOVALFor dead animals reporting and to request removal, call the AnimalWelfare League of Arlington at 703-931-9241.
For live animalswww.animalcontrolsolutions.com/virginia/arlington- wildlife-removal.html
ARLINGTON APP and EMERGENCIESUse the Arlington Virginia app on your mobile device for manyservices: search apps for “ArlingtonVA”
Sign up for Arlington Alert – A great way to stay informed andreceive timely information during emergencies. Get more info atwww.arlingtonalert.com.
STREET LIGHT OUTAGE & POTHOLES Street light outage: 703-228-6570 Give exact location and pole number)For filling street pot holes, call 703-228-6570) or file on web site https://topics.arlingtonva.us/reportproblem
Ashton Heights Civic Association Newsletter - February 2019 - Page 5 - www.ashtonheights.org
Whether Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of an early spring is true or not, there are still at least a few moredays of cold weather ahead. Turning on heating systems and warming up cars in enclosed garages raisespotential exposure to carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that cancause sudden illness, permanent neurological damage, or even death if inhaled. It is produced by the burningof fuel in furnaces, fireplaces, gas ranges, stoves, grills and lanterns, as well as cars, trucks, and small engines.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection, unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning causesover 20,000 visits to the emergency room and kills over 400 people in the United States annually. Victims areusually caught off guard, especially when they are asleep. Even regular ventilation may not be enough. Whileinfants, the elderly, people with chronic heart disease, anemia, or breathing problems are especially affected,anyone can be at risk without proper precautions. A few simple safeguards can prevent carbon monoxidepoisoning in your home, keeping you, your family and pets safe.
Community Safety and Security CornerHome Safety in Cold Weather
By: Christina Schultz
Tips to Prevent Carbon Monoxide (CO) Emergencies
● Install a CO detector on every level of your home where you can hear them. Keep them at least 15feet away from fuel-burning appliances. Check batteries on a CO detector twice per year.
● Make sure your gas appliances are properly vented.
● Never burn anything in a fireplace or stove that is not properly vented.
● Have your heating system, water heater, and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances servicedregularly.
● Never use portable flameless chemical heaters or portable gas camp stoves, or burn charcoal indoors.
● Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home.
● Never use a generator inside your home, basement, or garage or less than 20 feet from any window,door, or vent.
● Never leave a vehicle’s engine running inside a garage even with the door open; remove it from thegarage while it warms up.
● Be aware of the symptoms of CO poisoning. These include headache, dizziness, upset stomach, vomit-ing, weakness, chest pain, and confusion.
Ashton Heights Civic Association Newsletter - February 2019 - Page 6 - www.ashtonheights.org
Brooke Alexander ([email protected])Ashton Heights Canopy Tree and Native Plant coordinator
Replenish our tree canopy! Save our birds and butterflies!Contribute, one small lot at a time, to the healthy ecologyof our neighborhood, county and state? See the TreeCanopy and Native Plants principles approved at theJanuary 2019 Ashton Heights Civic Association meeting.
Look at the Principles online www.ashtonheights.org andsee the 7 principles which were approved. These principlescenter around supporting retention, expansion, andresident education on the benefits of our native treecanopy; in addition to trees, the benefits of native shrubs,and perennials; and the rationale for discouraging non-native plants. (Note that these principles are guidelines forAshton Heights' residents: there is no requirement)
Also included in this online document are:
a. benefits of our Urban Forest by Vincent Verweij,Arlington Urban Forester
b. Arlington's Urban Tree Canopy Assessment (Dec 2017)
c. Arlington's Champion, Notable and Specimen Treeprograms
d. the ecological advantages of planting native plants....andinfo on specific native trees, shrubs, perennials
e. info on two County programs which supply free trees toresidents
f. List of 73 invasive, non-native plant species in Arlington,with sources for more information
g. info regarding minimizing conflict between DominionEnergy and our canopy trees
Ashton Heights Tree Canopy andNative Plants Principles
Ashton Heights Civic Association Newsletter - February 2019 - Page 7 - www.ashtonheights.org
AHCA MEMBERSHIP SIGN-UPAND DUES PAYMENT FORM
Ashton Heights Civic Association annual dues are $15 per house-hold or $10 per individual member or $25 per household for twoyears. Anyone residing or owning property in Ashton Heights whois at least 18 may join and then vote at AHCA meetings.Send this form and a check payable to AHCA to Jim O’Brien, 643 N.Kenmore St. 22201, or bring it to this month’s meeting.
PAY DUES ONLINE at www.ashtonheights.org/join-ahca
Welcome New Trees!Brooke Alexander([email protected])Canopy Tree and Native Plant coordinator forAshton Heights
Look for 15 new native canopy trees in AshtonHeights this spring. Arlington County has grantedtrees to 15 residents of Ashton Heights under theirTree Canopy Fund program. Trees will be plantedby the county contractor, Davey Trees. They are 2inch caliper, and 6-8 feet tall. These trees are freeunder this program!
If interested in a free native canopy tree for youryard in the future, contact Ashton Heights TreeCanopy Fund coordinator, Brooke Alexander, at theemail above. The next application timeframe isunknown at this time. But let's get ready!
Ashton Heights Civic Association Newsletter - February 2019 - Page 8 - www.ashtonheights.org