TLHCA

Winter 2008 Newsletter

TARA Winter 2008 Newsletter

CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING — MONDAY MARCH 21

–Last review of old Westover library site plans (1hour)
–Arlington would like to discuss a bio-retention effort in our
civic association. Ms. Jolicoeur will provide a presentation on the
subject. (30 minutes)
–Does the civic association wish to nominate its Micro project
funding for the old Westover library site and/or the Reed
Westover site? If not, what? Deadline for projects (limit $5,000)
April 1. (10 minutes)
–Status update on the Beer Garden and Westover Market (15
minutes)
–TLHCA Communications Policy (30 minutes)
–Missing Links (5 minutes)
–Tree Canopy Fund (10 minutes)
–Edge Development (10 minutes)
–Nominating committee provide a status report. Any resident who
would consider being a member of the Board would be welcome to
ask any questions (5 minutes)

FREE TREES — ARLINGTON’S TREE CANOPY FUND

Any private endeavor from an individual, a church or organization can request free trees. The deadline for this years request is April 8, 2010. For details see —– http://www.arlingtonenvironment.org/treecanopyfund.htm

Household Hazardous Materials Collection (E-CARE)

The 2011 spring E-CARE event will be held Saturday, April 9, 2011.
The Arlington Environmental Collection and Recycling Event (E-CARE)
gives residents a chance to safely get rid of hazardous materials like
paint, solvents and garden chemicals and to recycle electronics, bikes,small metal items, shoes, eyeglasses, and durable medical equipment.

E-CARE will take place on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at Thomas Jefferson Middle School located at 125 S. Old Glebe Rd. The collection site will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. E-CARE is open to Arlington residents only. Commercial or business waste will not be accepted. For more information about E-CARE including details about acceptable items visit the E-CARE Web page
; or call 703.228.6832 or contact Laura Richards at 703.228.6596 (office) and 703.853.7289 (cell) and (email) lrichards@arlingtonva.us

Join the Arlington County Auxiliary Police Unit

The Arlington County Police Department is offering a unique opportunity to serve your community: become a sworn auxiliary police officer. The Auxiliary Police Unit is made up entirely of volunteers who support the full-time Arlington police officers by:
• Patrolling county roads and bike paths.
• Handling accidents and other traffic incidents.
• Assisting at DUI checkpoints.
• Conducting child safety-seat inspections and installations.
• Providing security and crowd control at special events, such as the Marine Corps Marathon, July 4th celebration, parades, festivals, and neighborhood 5K and 10K races.
• Promoting bike safety.
• Patrolling malls during the holidays.
• Providing other law enforcement support.

Whether you are thinking about a career in law enforcement or seeking a different and interesting way to contribute to your community, joining the Auxiliary Police Unit offers an exciting chance to learn new skills and serve a critical need. You will receive extensive training, all required equipment and uniforms, and opportunities to perform a wide range of police functions. To apply, you must:
• Be at least 21 years old.
• Have at least 60 college credit hours.
• Possess a good driving record and no criminal record.
• Be able to pass a background investigation, polygraph test, and medical exam.
• Commit to at least 180 hours of police duty a year.

To learn more, call the Auxiliary Police Unit at (703) 228-4057 or visit its website at www.arlingtonva.us/police (click on Auxiliary Police). Or, if you see auxiliary officers on patrol or on duty at an event (recognizable by their shoulder patch), ask them about the program.

DON’T DISAPPEAR IN A POTHOLE

You notice a pothole. Arlington has the fix —- if you report it!! That includes street maintenance. Here is the secret. Go on the Arlington website —- ArlingtonVA.US. Type pothole in the search block. At the bottom of the page, is a form to complete.

If you want to get attention for a street requiring lots of maintenance in part because it is reaching the end of its 15 year (Arlington standard) useful life send in these requests for street maintenance issues for every crack, pothole, poorly completed “dig and fill” work and crumbling street. AND GET YOUR NEIGHBORS TO ALSO SEND IN REQUESTS. This may or may not get the street repaved. However, it will get the attention of the repaving staff.

For the next two years there is more money in the paving budget than for many past years. If your street needs repaving or a street you often travel —- send it in. It is up to you.

PUT THE BRAKES ON BIKE LARCENIES

In 2010, 390 bikes using cables or chains as locks were stolen. The cables can quickly be cut with a rechargeable cutting tool and the padlocks are easily broken. To prevent your bike from being stolen:
• USE A U-LOCK. Properly secured this offers the best protection against theft. Secure the frame of your bike to a solid object, preferably one weighing more than the bike. And if you have a releasable wheel, it too should be secured with the frame.
• ALWAYS LOCK YOUR BIKE. No matter what its value.
• REGISTER YOUR BIKE with the Police Department. Bike registration is easy and free and you can do it online at www.arlingtonva.us. Go to Online Services and click on Register your Bike. You must use the serial number engraved on your bicycle, not from a receipt. You will receive an ACPD decal in the mail within 7 days to place on your bicycle which, when visible, is a definite deterrent to theft.
IF YOU DO BECOME A VICTIM: File a report on line immediately. Go to www.arlingtonva.us/police and click on Report a Crime. Include brand, model, color and serial number.
REMEMBER — AN ABANDONED BIKE MAY BE A STOLEN BIKE Call 703-228-4057. Report it immediately. Leave your phone number and a description and location of the bicycle.

WESTOVER BEER GARDEN

Please plan to attend a community forum to discuss the Westover Beer Garden on March 8 at 7pm in the Westover Library. The Beer Garden is working with the county government to resolve the various issues associated with continuing this much-loved Westover institution. Once its plans are in place, it will go before the county board for final approval, probably in April or May. The idea of the forum is for all members of the community to come together to agree on common positions regarding the beer garden. One issue we have discussed is how the noise from the garden affects the immediate neighbors. The forum will seek to find compromise solutions to all issues so that hopefully the four civic associations surrounding it can present a united front of community support to the county board, based on consensus agreement, to keep the beer garden going while ensuring that it maintains good relations with its immediate neighbors.

MONTHLY CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING — FEBRUARY 14 AT 7PM AT WESTOVER LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM

Improvement of old Westover library site. Presentation by Arlington staff and and its landscape architect. This will offer surrounding residents an opportunity to comment on the preliminary plans. The County will provide its 90% plans in March. Include discussion on use of Micro Project funds. Surrounding three civic associations invited. (1 hour).
Citizens present who wish to raise issues which are not on the agenda (5-10 minutes)
Treasurer’s report (5 minutes)
Outline of developments surrounding the Westover beer garden and the proposed farmers market at Westover. (15 minutes)
Civic Association officers and members for 2011/12 term; how to proceed. (5 minutes)
Guidelines for posting on website (15 minutes)

Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Begins in March

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is about the importance of being prepared for and able to respond to all kinds of emergencies. This eight-session course, sponsored by the Arlington County Citizen Corps Council, Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Fire Department (ACFD), covers disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology, fire suppression and terrorism. It follows a FEMA/DHS curriculum being used around the globe.

Over 480 individuals have completed CERT training in Arlington County. It is open to Arlington residents – and those who work in the County but reside elsewhere — who are at least 18 years of age (16 if accompanied by at least one parent) and able to participate in all aspects of the training, some of which requires lifting and carrying. The training is free, but participants are expected to acquire certain supplies themselves, many of which you probably already have on-hand. All classes meet at the Arlington County Fire Department (ACFD) Training Academy in Shirlington and are taught by ACFD and OEM staff and CERT members.

Some complete this training simply to be safer in their own homes and workplaces. Others choose to complete additional requirements necessary to become active members of neighborhood teams trained to assist in major disasters. All training helps to make Arlington County a safer place for individuals, their families and their neighbors to live, work and play!

Spring CERT classes are scheduled to begin on March 16 and 22 and there are seats available in both that will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance registration is required. If you’d like additional information or would like to sign up, please contact the program’s volunteer coordinator, Cynthia Kellams, at ArlingtonCERT@aol.com.