The Arlington Housing Commission and the Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee will hold a joint public hearing at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19, to identify the county’s housing and community development needs for fiscal year (FY) 2004, July 1, 2003-June 30, 2004. The meeting will be held at #1 Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., in County Board Room, Suite 307.
The groups, composed of County Board appointees and community organization representatives, will work with county agencies to develop Arlington’s annual Consolidated Plan. The plan outlines expenditures of more than $3 million in four federal programs that serve low- and moderate-income individuals and families in Arlington:
v Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), which funds housing, job training and employment services and neighborhood programs and facilities.
v HOME Investment Partnerships, which funds housing development, home ownership and rent assistance.
v Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG), which benefits any Arlington shelter, including those serving families and victims of violence.
v Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), which provides housing and emergency services to people with AIDS.
Identified needs are prioritized and submitted to the County Manager for integration into the county’s FY 2004 budget. Final decisions will be made by the County Board in the spring budget process.
Arlington County’s Department of Human Services (DHS) will hold a public forum on its allocation plan for distributing new federal human service funds on Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 7-9 p.m. on the seventh floor of the Warren G. Stambaugh Building at 3033 Wilson Blvd. County Manger Ron Carlee will chair the forum, during which members of the public will have the opportunity to comment on the DHS proposal for disbursing some $11 million in one-time federal funds for fiscal years 2000-2002 and $4 million annually beginning in fiscal year 2003.
Copies of the plan may be obtained from Julie Gentzel at 703-228-1792. It will also be posted on the Community Forums page of the county Web site. Visit www.co.arlington.va.us.
The Arlington Community Temporary Shelter (TACTS), with sponsor Freddie Mac and special guest, TV journalist Beverly Burke, will host its Second Annual Benefit Golf Tournament on Thursday, Sept. 19, at Pleasant Valley Golfers Club, 4715 Pleasant Valley Road in Chantilly, Va. Registration begins at 11 a.m. with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Both men and women are encouraged to play at a cost of $100 per person which includes greens fees, cart, range balls, lunch, dinner and prizes. The deadline for registration is Friday, Sept. 13. Visit www.tacts.org or call 703-522-8858.
The Northern Virginia Park Authority is seeking volunteers to don work gloves on National Public Lands Day, Saturday, Sept. 28, from 8:45 a.m.-1 p.m. at Upton Hill Regional Park, at the intersection of Patrick Henry Drive and Wilson Boulevard at 6060 Wilson Blvd., near Seven Corners. Call Joe Zilincar at the Bureau of Land Management at 703-440-1717. Complimentary beverages and lunch will be provided at the site. Volunteers are also needed to plant a butterfly garden at the Washington & Old Dominion Trail’s new western Arlington way station, between Lee Highway and Little Falls Road. Call to register in advance at 703-276-1220 or email wodtrail@erols.com.
“Paws for a Cause” will be held Sunday, Sept. 29, from 1-5 p.m. in the plaza at Pentagon Row, located at the corner of Army Navy Drive and South Joyce Street. Festivities will include a gala parade of pets, pet beauty contest, pet talent contest and more. Registration begins at 1 p.m. and judging will take place at 2 p.m. Ten percent of receipts dated 09/29/02 brought to the plaza will go toward the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. Call 703-931-9241. Visit http://www.AWLA.org.
Central Library, located at 1015 N. Quincy St., has begun a six-week renovation of its first floor Popular Library. The library holds the collection of new books and audiovisual materials. All materials will be available during construction, except for the Virginia Room, which will close for two weeks until Sept. 30. Telephone service will continue at 703-228-5966.
The renovation will result in a new look for the library. Lighting will be improved, new carpeting added and there will be additional space for patron activity. A single-service advisory desk, as well as two self-checkout units during peak circulation periods, are also planned.
For more information about the renovation, call 703-228-6339. Visit www.co.arlington.va.us/lib/.
Historic Arlington Roundtable will hold a brown-bag luncheon for anyone interested in Arlington’s history, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, from 12:15-1:15 p.m., in Room 715, at the County Building, 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Roundtables are monthly informal gatherings designed to share information with short talks by experts. The topic for October is “Rehabilitation Standards.” Call Michael Leventhal at 703-228-3813 or e-mail cwramirex@starpower.net.
The Leadership Arlington Speaker Series will present “Affordable Housing: Whose Responsibility Is It?” with the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Three housing leaders will discuss the current status of affordable housing in Arlington: Walter Webdale, 2000 president and CEO of AHC. Inc.; Douglas Peterson, 2001 executive director of Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing; and Charles Rinker, president of Arlington New Directions. The event will be held at WETA-TV, 2775 S. Quincy St. Cost is $30 for members; $40 for nonmembers. Call Betsy Frantz at 703-528-2522.
The Friends of the Arlington Public Library will hold its fall book sale at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., from Oct. 4-6. A preview sale will be held on Friday, Oct. 4, from 6-8 p.m. for Friends. Memberships and renewals will be available at the door at a cost of $10 for an individual or family, or $5 for a student. The public sale will be from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5; 1-6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6. Sunday is half-price day until 3:45 p.m. when the pack-your-own bags sale begins ($3 a bag and $5 for a box).
Books will be on sale in the upper-level garage at the library. Visitors may access the garage via the Central Library ground-floor elevators, the outdoor steps to the parking garage to the corner of the library building near the parking lots (adjacent to Quincy Park), or by entering the garage in their car and parking on lower levels.
Proceeds support the purchase of materials for the library and special programs. There is no admission. Call 703-228-5990.
The Arlington Historical Society’s Bell Ringer Campaign is seeking contributions for the Acorn Fund, which supports the society’s operations. Send a check to the Arlington Historical Museum, P. O. Box 402, Arlington, VA 22210, Attention of Sy Stiss.
Tiny Tots and Preschool Programs are available at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, 703-228-6535, and Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road, 703-228-3403 . Programs are designed for children 1 1/2 to 2 years of age and preschool children. Morning and afternoon events available. There is a $1 fee per child, payable on the day of the program. Reservations should be made by phone during the month the program is offered.