Columbia Heights Neighborhood
Membership Meeting
Monday, February 12, 2018 – 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Walter Reed Community Center
Walter Reed Drive & 16th Street South

We regret that we were forced to cancel our January meeting due to inclement weather. It is anticipated that the last two weeks of January may also be pretty messy, so we are rescheduling our next meeting for February 12.

The Columbia Heights Civic Association meeting will focus on plans for a new Neighborhood Plan. Our guest speaker will be Tim McIntosh from the Arlington County Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee (NCAC), who will give us guidance on creating a new neighborhood plan using a charette process. NCAC is the program that funds infrastructure projects based on priorities that neighborhoods have identified in their plans. To date, we have received well over a million dollars’ worth of projects. These have included: the fencing and gateways into the Walter Reed Community Center; new street lights in Arlington Village; a new sidewalk and street light on S. 11th Street; and the historic display case in the Walter Reed Center. This Spring the NCAC will begin construction on the east side of Columbia Heights, with improved sidewalks and safe school bus stop at 12th and S. Courthouse.

We want everyone’s input into the new plan, which is expected to include a new park on S. Cleveland Street. The plan will also address other issues of concern, including street calming (to address cut-through traffic), the construction of a new emergency road along the west side of the Army-Navy Country Club, and so much more.

We look forward to seeing you next month!

Columbia Heights Neighborhood

Membership Meeting
Monday, January 8, 2018 – 7 pm to 9 pm
Walter Reed Community Center
Walter Reed Drive & 16th Street South

The Columbia Heights Civic Association meeting in January will focus on plans for a new Neighborhood Plan. Our guest speakers will be staff from the Arlington County Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee (NCAC), who will give us guidance on creating a new neighborhood plan using a charette process. NCAC is the program that funds infrastructure projects based on priorities that neighborhoods have identified in their plans. To date, we have received well over a million dollars’ worth of projects. These have included: the fencing and gateways into the Walter Reed Community Center; new street lights in Arlington Village; a new sidewalk and street light on S. 11th Street; and the historic display case in the Walter Reed Center. This Spring the NCAC will begin construction on the east side of Columbia Heights, with improved sidewalks and safe school bus stops at 12th and S. Courthouse.

We want everyone’s input into the new plan, which is expected to include a new park on S. Cleveland Street. The plan will also address other issues of concern, including street calming (to address cut-through traffic), the construction of a new emergency road along the west side of the Army-Navy Country Club, and so much more.

We look forward to seeing you next week!

Sarah McKinley

President

Columbia Heights Civic Association

Columbia Heights Neighborhood
Holiday Neighborhood Get-Together
Monday, December 11, 2017
Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant
2500 Columbia Pike
7:30 – 9:00 pm

The Columbia Heights Civic Association will host an informal holiday celebration next Monday evening at the Celtic House on Columbia Pike. We will have a short business meeting between 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. with a social hour between 8:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Our focus of this meeting is planning for the coming year.

January meeting – our meeting in January is scheduled for January 8. Our guest speakers will be Arlington County staff from the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee, who will give us guidance on creating a new neighborhood plan using a charette process.

We look forward to seeing you next week!

Sarah McKinley
President
Columbia Heights Civic Association

Civic Association Public Meeting
Monday, July 10th 2017, 7 pm
Walter Reed Community Center
2909 16th St S, Arlington, VA 22204

AGENDA for the 7/10/2017 meeting
6:45 Open Doors
7:00 Welcome and Introductions
7:00 Neighborhood News updates and upcoming issues (45 min)
– Parking / Towing – Next Steps
– Traffic Calming and Neighborhood cut-through traffic
– S. Cleveland Str. Development
– Rappahannock site Development
– Columbia Pike pedestrian light crossing timing
– Public Schools updates
– New Business
7:40 Civic Federation Updates and Appointments
7:45 End-of-Summer, Early Fall Activities
– Presence at the Farmers Market (proposal to have a table one Sunday in July, August and September
– Proposal: “Last Grasp of Summer” Columbia Heights Community Party:
o Form an organizing committee
o Approve an initial budget
o Proposed Dates: Sat. 9/23, 9/30, 10/7. 1pm – 6pm
o Potential Locations: TBD
– Host a County Board Candidates Forum in collaboration with the Pike Presidents Group in October.
8: 30 Adjournment

To:  CHCA

Our apologies for last Monday’s June 12th monthly meeting notice.  Takis Karantonis is out of the country on a family emergency and the meeting was canceled.  But we will reschedule next month.

Thanks so much!

CHCA Board

Civic Association Public Meeting
Monday, May 8th, 2017,  7 pm
Walter Reed Community Center
2909 16th St S, Arlington, VA 22204

-­ Meet your Elected Officials –­

AGENDA

6:45          Open Doors
7:00          Welcome and Introductions
7:05          Remarks by Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-­‐49th)
7:15          Q&A (20min)
7:35          Remarks by the Hon. Katie Cristol, Vice Chair of the Arl. County Board
7:45          Q&A (30min)
8:15          Neighborhood News updates and upcoming issues (45 min)

•    Parking / Towing
•    S. Cleveland Str. Development
•    Rappahannock site & New Wellington Building developments
•    Presbyterian Church development
•    Columbia Pike pedestrian light crossing timing
•    Business & Retail: Brick Haus opening May 1st
•    New Business

9:00          Adjournment

Next Meeting: June 12, 2017, 7 pm at the Walter Reed Community Center
Proposed Theme: Columbia Pike Farmers Market

Columbia Heights Civic Association
P.O. Box 41501
Arlington, Virginia 22204

The new Patrick Henry Elementary school building is scheduled to open in September 2019 and will be located next to Thomas Jefferson Middle School (125 S. Old Glebe Rd.). The existing faculty and staff will move to the new school building. The current school building (701 S. Highland) will then be occupied by the Montessori Program currently at Drew Model School.

APS has formed a Naming Committee to recommend a name for the new elementary school to be built at the Thomas Jefferson site. The committee will submit its naming recommendation for the new school in spring 2017. First, the Naming Committee will be collecting input from the community to help inform the naming process. A Community Feedback Form will be distributed in March 2017.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Who is on the Naming Committee?

• The naming committee includes the following representatives:
• From Patrick Henry:
• Andrea Turner, Principal
• Twila Glick, Teacher Rep
• Michelle Gentry, Parent Rep
• From Thomas Jefferson:
• Christine Brittle, Parent Rep
• Catrina Tangchittsumran, Teacher Rep
• From the Neighborhoods that comprise the Patrick Henry Community:
• Mahender Dudani, Arlington Heights CA
• Andrew Greenwood, Penrose CA
• Jennifer Everling, Douglas Park CA
• Sarah Kessler, Columbia Heights CA
• Community Member-at-Large/SAWG Rep: Monique O’Grady
• Staff Liaison (non-voting): Linda Erdos

2. Will the name of the school definitely change when the staff and students move into the new building?

Not necessarily. It is policy that each new school building go through a naming process. APS could decide to keep the name–transfer the name “Patrick Henry Elementary School” from the current school building to the new school building. (The Montessori community will go through its own naming process and is not required to keep the “Patrick Henry Elementary School” name when it moves into the building in 2019.)

3. If the name changes, what happens to the awards and recognitions, like National Blue Ribbon award?

Patrick Henry Elementary School has received numerous awards and recognitions. Most recently, we were named a Title I Distinguished School for raising the academic achievement of economically disadvantaged students and a National Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education based on our overall academic excellence. These are not connected to the building and would transfer with us to the new location and name.

4. Will the boundaries change when the staff and students move to the new building in 2019?

We don’t know. There will be a separate, independent process in 2018 that will look at boundaries and then decisions about boundary adjustments will be made. These are two separate issues and processes. The Patrick Henry PTA will continue to advocate for, and encourage our community to advocate for, APS keeping our entire school community together when we move to the new school building.

5. Who was Patrick Henry?

Patrick Henry was Virginia’s first and sixth governor, a U.S. Founding Father who is remembered for his “Give me liberty, or give me death!” speech. He was a plantation owner and a slave owner. Records indicate he purchased up to 78 slaves. More information can be found at:

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/15/131444425/-lion-of-liberty-patrick-henry-s-fiery-life

http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Henry_Patrick_1736-1799

http://www.nytimes.com/1860/07/09/news/the-slave-trade-an-original-letter-from-patrick-henry.html

6. What is the school’s history and why was it named Patrick Henry Elementary School?

Patrick Henry Elementary School was established in 1925, replacing the Columbia School, Arlington’s first public school. In 1959, it became Arlington’s first integrated elementary school. We asked the Center for Local History at the Arlington Central Library this question and there does not seem to be any “Arlington related” reasoning for naming the school Patrick Henry beyond the fact that he was the 1st and 6th Governor of VA. They looked through several biographies and could not find any connection between Patrick Henry and Arlington.

Click here for some cool old photos and some history of our school.

7. What’s Patrick Henry Elementary School’s student population like?

Patrick Henry Elementary School is a wonderfully diverse public elementary school, educating 629 students in PreK through 5th grades. Nearly 38 percent of our students qualify for free and reduced priced meals based on their parents’ income. Our students’ families represent more than 20 different nationalities and speak more than 30 different languages. One fourth of our students speak English as their second language. Approximately 16 percent of our students receive special education services.

8. Will the new school building have a design or theme, like Discovery Elementary?

The new building is being designed to highlight the environmental diversity of our world, as a nod to the rich diversity of our student body. The ocean, land, air and even layers of earth below ground will be represented, as well as the animals that live in each biosphere.

9. What is the Community Feedback Form?

The Community Feedback Form is a tool to collect information from our community that will help inform the direction of the Naming Committee in its job to make a name recommendation to APS. It will be available in English, Spanish, Mongolian, Amharic, and Arabic. Each Naming Committee member will distribute the Form and encourage his/her community to fill it out.

10. I have a great idea about a name. How do I submit it?

Great! Please complete the Community Feedback Form and include your idea.

11. I have opinions. How do I participate in this process?

Please, please fill out the Community Feedback Form.

Columbia Heights Civic Association has been concerned about predatory towing in Arlington. The County Board will be considering changes to the rules in November 2016. Attached is a letter with recommendations. We have attached an updated letter to the county board dated Dec 12th 2016 about these recommendations. We propose the following rule changes to protect consumer interests and support small businesses:

1)Require two signatures before a vehicle is towed, with only one signature provided by the towing company, regardless of their contracts with property owners.
2)Require the towing company to call in information about a vehicle to the police PRIOR to hooking up the vehicle for towing.
3)Require the towing company to photograph the vehicle from all four sides before securely hooking up the vehicle for towing.

If you support these changes, please sign our on-line petition