Saturday, November 29, 2008

Steve Campbell appointed to Urban Forestry Commission


Steve Campbell, who lead the recent Fort Myer Heights Park improvement, has been appointed to the Arlington County Urban Forestry Commission. From 1973 to 1997, the Arlington County acreage with heavy tree cover has fallen 36% to 21%.[*] The Urban Forestry Commission works with residents to provide information about Arlington trees and the tree canopy, to maintain existing trees, and to encourage planting of new trees.

Arlington still has some spectacular trees. Among the Specimen Trees in Arlington are
  • the largest Post Oak in Virginia (this tree has been growing from the mid to late 1700s)
  • the largest and second largest Virginia Pines in Virginia
  • the second and fourth largest Scarlet Oaks in Virginia
  • the third largest Chestnut Oak in Virginia
Have a huge, beautiful tree in your yard? Then stop complaining about having to rake leaves and nominate your green wonder as an Arlington Notable Tree. Perhaps it might even triumph as a Champion Tree!

The trees pictured above are the Scarlet Oak in Chestnut Hills Park, the Post Oak in front of 5845 11th St. N, and the Scarlet Oak on the grounds of the Lee Community Center.

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[*] See Arlington County Urban Forest Master Plan, p. 26.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Tacchino Cyclocross Race

At Ida Lee Park in Leesburg this past Sunday, many brave cyclists challenged a tough cyclocross course in the Tacchino Cyclocross Race. Squadra Coppi, a local bike racing team, sponsored the race. More hearty action than NASCAR.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

November Westmoreland Terrace Condo board meeting

The November Westmoreland Terrace Condo Board meeting was on Monday, Nov. 24, at 7 pm in the condo office. Issues discussed:
  1. Cars are cutting through the 1301 building's parking lot at high speed to go between Fort Myer and N. Ode St. This creates a hazardous situation for residents. The Board approved closing one entrance to the 1301 parking lot. The Board will investigate the need for Arlington County approval, the cost of closing the entrance, and the possibility of replacing the entrance with additional parking spaces.
  2. According to Vicki Russell, the residents of 1301 strongly favor installing a courtyard and charcoal grill on the Ode St. side of 1301. The distance to the grills at Fort Myer Heights Park is greatest for 1301 residents. The distance deters their use of those grills. In addition, 1301 lacks a front or back yard. A courtyard and grill would provide community space for those residents, and would be open to other Westmoreland residents as well. The Board will think about the proposal and consider possibilities and costs.
  3. Dead tree limbs are reportedly a hazard around the buildings. Keep an eye out for dead tree limbs that might fall in windy conditions, and report threatening dead tree limbs to Phil, the site manager.
  4. Vicki Russell, a long-time resident who has been active in the condo landscaping, reported dissatisfaction with the work of Lancaster, our current landscaping contractor. She said that they are taking us for granted, only half-stepping, and not giving us the work that we paid for. At last month's Board meeting we renewed the yearly contract, so the option of changing landscaping firms is at least a year away. Nonetheless, failure to meet specific obligations under the landscaping contract should be reported to Board.
  5. The lights that are not turning off, as reported to the Board last month, still haven't been fixed. Phil will be asked again to address this problem.
  6. Greenscaping roofs with dirt and plantings can potentially improve temperature stability and help the environment. The Board will investigate possibilities and costs.
  7. The roof on 1301 is now 17 years old. All but one unit on the top floor have experienced water leaks from the roof. Vicki urged that the roof be replaced promptly. The Board was not aware of ongoing problems with leakage. The problem will be considered further. Leaks should be reported to the Board so that they can properly plan roof maintenance.
  8. The Board discussed required Arlington County permits for condo renovations. Residents should refer to Arlington County's information on when a permit is required and seek appropriate permits when necessary.
Board members Jose Calvo, Valerie Corda, Clayton Taylor, and Emil Tabakov attended the meeting. So did residents Joe Ruland, Vicki Russell, and Douglas Galbi. Residents who missed the meeting missed fun discussion and fine residential camaraderie. Property Manager Dennis Freeman was out sick.

Note: There is no December Condo Board meeting. The next meeting is Jan. 26 at 7 pm in the condo office.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Virginia State Senator Whipple discusses legislative issues

Virginia State Senator Mary Margaret Whipple spoke about recent legislative issues at the RAFOM meeting on November 17 at Prospect House. Video of her talking about all the issues except for the first are available at the links below and on YouTube. Issues she addressed:
  1. Discussed inability to get a new transportation bill. The 2007 legislative session passed a billed establishing a regional transportation authority for Northern Virginia, but it was declared unconstitutional because the members of the authority were only elected officials, but not officials elected specifically to the authority. The Senate passed a new bill, but the House of Delgates rejected it.
  2. Discussed bills banning smoking in public places, bars and restaurants, or other slight variations. These bills have passed the Senate, but are being killed in sub-committee in the House of Delegates.
  3. Discussed new pay-day lending regulations. Some forms of pay-day lending have been misused. The new regulation attempts to ensure that pay-day lending occurs in proper circumstances and for sound reasons.
  4. Discussed new common-interest community, e.g. condo association, regulations. The criminal activity that occurred with condo associations funds that the Koger Management Group managed (including some River Place Condo funds) stimulated this legislation. More information about the regulations is available from the Common Interest Community Board of the VA Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.
  5. Discussed the response to Virginia's state budget revenue shortfall. It now appears that there will be a $2.5-3 billion state budget revenue shortfall over the next two years. Some noticable cuts will have to be made in the next fiscal year's budget.
Meeting attendees were grateful that Senator Whipple extended her long day to address RAFOM.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

December begins with Artful Weekend

The Arlington Artists Alliance’s “Artful Weekend” takes place December 5-7 at the historic Hendry House in the beautiful Fort C. F. Smith park in Arlington. The opening reception is December 5, 6-8 pm. The show and sale continues December 6, 10am - 5pm, and December 7, 12 noon - 4pm. The show and sale will feature thirty-nine 2- and 3-d artists working in oil, pastel, water media, collage, ceramics, wood, and glass with work priced for every budget and suitable as gifts or for home and business. I've gone to this show in previous years and enjoyed the wide array of artwork.

The Artful Weekend includes a free performance by the Stardust Dance Band on December 7, 1 - 3pm.

finding the perfect birthday present

Revolution Cycles just a few blocks east of the Clarendon metro stop holds some great possibilities for birthday presents. Recently a friend and I went there looking for a birthday present...

Monday, November 17, 2008

more than books


Arlington Central Library features some great art. On the second floor, a window looking north features Jeff Wilson's Lids: Variation on Blue with White. This artwork is on permanent exhibition. The library also has rotating exhibits by community artists. Zelalem T. Wakoya currently has an amazing set of paintings on display. The paintings range from abstract to allegorical to portraits drawing on Mr. Wakoya's Ethiopian heritage. Some of his color schemes remind me of stained-glass windows, but the compositions are more dynamic than a lot of glasswork.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

about those metal containers

The metal containers in the back parking lot of the Virginian Suites contain furniture for an internal remodeling of the building. The containers will be removed by the end of January.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

airplane noise

Airplane noise has troubled some Rosslyn residents. For security reasons, airplanes take off from Reagan National Airport using full thrust. When planes head north along the Potomac, they can create a noise problem in Rosslyn.

Older planes have been outfitted with hush-kits to suppress noise. Because hush-kits have not sufficiently reduced noise, hush-kitted planes are no longer permitted to take off and land in National.

Airplane noise monitoring stations have been set up around National, including at least one in Rosslyn. You can complain about airplane noise by calling the Noise Complaint Telephone Center at National. The number is 703-417-8020. As Congressman Jim Moran explained at last month's candidates' debate, the noise monitoring equipment will allow the noise associated with your complaint to be measured and attributed to a specific plane. That's important data for designing better noise abatement policies.


Saturday, November 8, 2008

Rosslyn survey

Help make Rosslyn a better place to live and work by completing the Rosslyn Business Improvement District's online survey. The survey takes only about three minutes to complete. As an added incentive, survey respondents have a chance to win some nice prizes. The survey closes on Nov. 15.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Rosslyn voting going smoothly

At the Wilson and Rosslyn voting precincts in Rosslyn this morning, voting was going smoothly. I arrived at 7:25am, and got in a long line. But the line moved quickly and I voted at 8:05am.

The voting was well organized. Many paper and electronic voting stations were in use. For the first time, voting registration was checked with flatpad computers, rather than large paper registration books. Overall, an impressive operation of democracy.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

styling antenna ornament

A styling, pioneering antenna ornament has been spotted on a car parked on Fort Myer Dr. across from Westmoreland Terrace. This could be huge. Stay alert and tuned to the Ode Street Tribune for information on a possible new trend.

beautiful gardens

Simpson Park off E. Monroe Ave. in Alexandria includes gardens that are worth a leisurely trip. The Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia maintain the gardens, which include a water-conserving garden, a flagstone garden, a tufa (plants on stone) garden, a scented garden, and a butterfly garden. The Master Gardeners explain:
By most display garden standards, the Butterfly Garden may, at times, appear full of weeds and somewhat unkempt. However, many plants that we consider weeds in other parts of the garden are important host plants for butterflies. Keeping a butterfly garden too clean may result in destruction of eggs, larvae and pupae.
OK, kids, try explaining that to your parents next time they ask you to do yard work.