The September 2024 newsletter is linked below. If you have any comments or questions, email editor@ashtonheights.org.
Juggling Challenges and Opportunities
By Scott Sklar, President, AHCA
We start fall coming through a summer drought and Arlington is full of beautiful flowers and wildlife. I am seeing more and more walkers, joggers, and bicyclers throughout our community. Ashton Heights residents are working in their yards and children are playing on lawns and at our many local parks. How lucky we are, living here in Ashton Heights.
This fall we have many issues we’re pursuing.
Christina Schultz, chair of the AHCA Security and Safety Committee is talking with Arlington County Police on two events here in our area – an attack on a morning jogger in Columbia Gardens cemetery and a recent home break-in on North Jackson Street. We will be reporting back on both in our newsletter and at our September AHCA meeting.
Jack Spilsbury and Alexander Tuneski, co-chairs of our AHCA Development Committee are juggling an overview of many projects – mostly zoning approvals on four large buildings on our borders with Clarendon. Patrick Lueb, chair of the AHCA Transportation Committee always monitoring street safety, speeding issues, and County benchmarks on parking spaces in new buildings. Brooke Alexander, the AHCA lead for tree canopy and native plants, has put messaging out for care for our trees in drought, and planting of trees.
Christine Lewicki, the AHCA water management lead has been active in county efforts on the Spout Run watershed. Chris Horvath, chair of the Open Spaces, Parks, Playgrounds and liaison with Arlington’s Neighborhood Conservation program talks with the county about sidewalk, road and park improvements. Our other committees are also assessing issues and inputs. Please contact any of these gracious volunteers with your ideas (contact info on page 2).
Hats off to Amy Miller, our newsletter editor, and Julie Mangis and Bea Camp our newsletter delivery coordinators on the great work they do. Finally, I want to express my thanks to Glynis Lough, who has taken over as AHCA’s listserv moderator, while our longtime moderator Betsey Lyon is taking some leave. Glynis, welcome aboard and thank you for your willingness to step in.
The listserv is the most important glue for the AHCA where residents can discuss issues, interact with each other, and build consensus. Keeping the conversation civil and appropriate within the bounds of our charter is paramount to make the listserv work. Betsey has done an amazing and important job to keep this facet of our association functioning, even with contentious issues like the gun shop, Missing Middle and sidewalks on Oakland Street.
Our monthly AHCA meetings at the Clarendon United Methodist Church, our committee meetings and conference calls, and our association events round out the activities.
It truly takes a village and thank you for giving time for your community while juggling work, family, errands, property upkeep, and more. Best to all of you in Ashton Heights as we enter fall 2024!