The May 2025 newsletter is linked below. If you have any comments or questions, email editor@ashtonheights.org.
Mid-Year Callouts –Thanks to all of you!
By Scott Sklar, President, AHCA
For those of you on our AHCA listserv, I hope you saw my announcement of the new AHCA Officers and the Executive Committee that were unanimously voted in at the April AHCA monthly membership meeting.
But before that, I want to thank Jim O’Brien for his great work for over a decade as our Vice President of Membership. He was a great VP and deserves our special thanks. I also want to thank Jaya Chavern who stepped up at the last minute to become our new AHCA VP of Membership. Thank you, Jaya!
We also have two new ExCom members, long time AHCA resident Betsey Lyon, and Jennifer Sosin who brings a wealth of experience that will be valuable for our association. Thank you both for stepping up for your community. Thanks to Celia Slater who served as the AHCA Nominations Chair which made sure the AHCA elections process was open.
The names of the incoming AHCA Executive Committee beginning May 1, 2025 are on page two of this newsletter.
We have so many AHCA members providing services to the community. I hope I have included everyone.
Amy Miller has been our newsletter editor – and she has improved the newsletter and is wonderful to work with. Glynis Lough who has served as an interim listserv moderator takes over as the main AHCA listserv moderator. These two positions are the information conduit to our association, and bind us together. So, my sincere thanks to you both.
Our AHCA officers put in ongoing time every month. Dave Schutz serves as VP of Programs and pulls together our monthly meeting programs and speakers, which takes time and thought, plus rushing to fill in when speakers abruptly change plans. Doug Williams is our Treasurer, and Chris Armstrong is our Secretary. He takes care of our monthly meeting minutes and works with our website manager Rob Liford. Please thank these volunteers if you see them around the neighborhood.
Our four At-Large ExCom members round out the AHCA management team. David Phillips and Jim Richardson have previously chaired committees and our new ExCom members, Betsey Lyon and Jennifer Sosin will add some new blood and skills which is essential for our civic association.
Aside from Amy Miller, Bea Camp and Julie Mangis coordinate a whole cotillion of AHCA members to deliver our monthly newsletter door-to-door eight months a year. These coordinators and each and every one of you who personally deliver newsletters — serve as an essential communication outreach arm that makes sure we reach everyone in Ashton Heights. This is special in that we do not rely on just electronic media, so that our residents who are not computer literate, elderly, recent residents and immigrants – know and hear about what we do – and advise them about our community issues. My deepest thanks for the extra work you do for our community.
When I became your president thirteen years ago, I established a formal committee system, that assigns leads or co-leads (Committee Chairs) and Committees to address our issues. I also assign some individuals who carry out focused tracking and representation. On the latter, Christine Lewicki has been our AHCA Water Management lead and Stormwater liaison. Ken Matzkin has been the AHCA designated rep to the large group of civic associations focused on lot coverage and EHO/MMH issues.
And finally, much of the real work we do and effectiveness rests with our committee chairs & co-chairs. Our committee with the greatest time and scope is the AHCA Development Committee ably lead by Jack Spilsbury & Alexander Tuneski. They follow zoning, projects and processes which can take a huge amount of time, networking and strategizing.
Our second busiest committee is the Tree Canopy & Native Plants Committee chaired by Brooke Alexander. The committee has developed a petition with sign-ons from Ashton Heights and expanded to Lyon Park on protecting tree canopy and accelerating tree planting. Brooke speaks before many other civic association and Arlington County entities on this issue.
Our five other committees tend to be more issue focused, such as AHCA Transportation chaired by Patrick Lueb, Parks & Open Spaces chaired by Chris Horvath, Safety & Security chaired by Christina Schultz, Housing chaired by Matt Hall, and schools co-chaired by Lori Fischler & Caroline Rogus.
These are amazing community leaders representing important issues to our community. For those of you with concerns or interested in participating, please contact these folks – they will welcome your ideas and interests.
Most importantly, thanks to every AHCA resident and member for your service to the Ashton Heights community and its civic association. Our final monthly meeting before our summer recess will be on May 21 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. I hope you will join us for committee updates and featured speakers. Happy Spring and Summer!