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From a press release The Arlington community is invited to a series of forums on the FY 2011 Arlington Public Schools budget. The forums will be held at the Education Center Board Room (1426 N. Quincy St.) on Saturday Nov. 14, 9a.m. APS Superintendent Dr. Patrick K. Murphy recently reported that the school division is facing a budget shortfall this year of $11.1 million and that additional budget savings of $47.4 million will need to be realized in the next budget. Murphy announced last week that APS is instituting a hiring freeze for all non-classroom positions. He also directed that training courses at venues outside the county be curtailed, and that only courses where APS has a compelling business reason to attend will be approved. Overtime is also being reduced, and is permitted only to address emergencies outside of normal business hours. Murphy has indicated that any personnel reductions this year would take place through attrition, and in a memo to the APS staff, he indicated...
Opinion The Arlington Public Schools Board is going to have to put real thought into two options for easing capacity: build new schools or switch to a year-round schedule. We just do not have a enough space to continue on as we are, says a 98-page report by MGT of America Inc., a consultant the school board hired. Although the report does not suggest any option as a favored one, under all of their plans, the projected capacity of schools just looks bad. Given how stinking expensive schools are to build, I think the county really needs to give a close look at year-round schooling. In terms of capacity issues, it might just be the silver bullet. Which brings me to my first major aside: Why did MGT not show a chart of capacities if Arlington pursued year-round schooling? In their report, they basically went through a number of different models for eleviating crowding—the 6/7ths model, the programming model, etc., and then they showed the effect of each model on capacity per...
Ballston Comedy Sportz in the Ballston Commons Mall should have its use permit OKed by the county board at tomorrow’s meeting. In their report, county staff said the comedy venue has operated in compliance with county regulations. County staff has added one condition onto the club’s use permit: renewal of the the use permit applies only to Comedy Sportz; if they leave, the use permit does not transfer to the next organization to take the space. Newcomers must apply for a new permit. The county has been adding that as a new stipulation to all live entertainment venues. The permit comes under review in another five years. Selected "boring but important" recommendations that the county board will consider... County staff is asking the board to shuffle money in the county’s affordable housing budget. County staff is asking that money in the Housing Reserve Fund and in the “Loan Repayments” lines of the budget to be put into the Affordable...
During its regular hearing Saturday, the Arlington County Board will vote on the general location of the Mosaic Park and its elements. The park, located between N. Quincy and N. Pollard streets in Ashton Heights is part of the Founders Square redevelopment. That development, across N. Randolph Street from the Ballston Commons Mall, will place high-rise mixed-use buildings on Wilson Blvd. between N. Randolph and N. Quincy streets. The county will sell the higher density needed for the Founders Square buildings to Shooshan Companies, the developers, in order to fund the first phase of park construction, about $4.5 million. “The major elements of the master plan [of the park] include an interactive water feature, children’s play area, multi-purpose court, flexible use lawn area, half-court basketball area, large flexible urban plaza, centrally located casual plaza, rain garden, walkways and sidewalks, site furnishings and landscaping. A major feature of the park design will be to incorporate sustainable practices and features including use of wind and solar power as well as innovative stormwater management techniques.” The Ashton Heights Civic Association, the Ballston/Virginia Square Civic Association, other groups and commissions, as well as the Mosaic Park Planning Team, a group of community stakeholders, all wrote letters of support for the park. However, Ashton Heights was a little more nuanced in their acceptance, as the buildings with three additional storeys are growing taller than the civic association would like. Completion of the first phase is expected in about five years. The estimated $2.3 million second phase, shown inside the dotted red line on the image, is yet unfunded, but is planned to continue after 2014. Related stories... I started this web site about three-and-a-half years ago, and now it may be time to end it, for good. Maybe. I’m going to take some of the next four or six months to figure it out, and in that time, I will not be writing news for it. I’m tired, to be fully honest. This past semester at Montgomery College—my full-time job as a composition and journalism professor—was a long one. I had to steal small pieces of time from many other parts of my life to write the HeraldTrib, this semester especially, and it showed in spotty, lackluster coverage, I thought. The blog started as a way to get a sabbatical from my teaching job. The technology was new, and free, and Buckingham was not covered by the local papers, and the local papers were neither easily nor freely delivered to Buckingham, so I started a news site just for us. I wanted it to be a chance, too, for me to try to tell news in a different way, more creatively. And in the process, I was...
Make your holiday shopping easy...skip the malls, the crowds, and enjoy free parking! Shop fair trade and help support other important non-profit organizations. Jewelry, clothing, Christmas ornaments, crafts, handcrafted toys, coffee, art and more! Sunday Nov. 15, 2009. 9:30a.m. to 1p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Arlington
This supports: Ten Thousand Villages; Heifer Project International; Just Coffee; Salvation Army; Angel Tree; Woodmont Weavers; Coalition for Courage; Amani Ya Ju; Educate the Girls; Make Peace; Pueblo a Pueblo; Dress a Bear or Doll; and more! 
County traffic planner says that drivers need to change attitudes toward pedestrians. Samara Weinstein has never wanted to be an activist for safer streets. But after witnessing a jogger struck at the intersection of N. George Mason and N. Park drives, “I guess I’ve become one,” she said recently. She is quick to add that she is an activist only for that intersection. The accident Oct. 1, occurred at 9 in the morning after the kids, including Ms. Weinstein’s daughter, had already settled into classes at K.W. Barrett Elementary School, which sits on the southwest corner of that intersection. A jogger waited on the median for a for a break in the southbound traffic on George Mason Drive. When the car in the lane nearest the jogger stopped to allow the jogger to pass, Ms. Weinstein said, the jogger crossed the street and was struck, breaking a leg, by the car that did not stop in the other lane. “She [the jogger] is very lucky,” Ms. Weinstein said. When she...
News and opinion about potential redevelopment along Glebe, gentrifying Arlington, and the calendar Owners of “West Ballston” are still talking… I stayed at the Arlington County Planning Commission meeting until 12:15a.m. (that’s midnight, plus 15 minutes, whew), to hear this line from commissioner Steve Cole: “The three, parcel owners are talking to one another and are working…to move forward.” The parcels are the land in the 500 and 600 blocks of N. Glebe Road on the west side—the land filled with the Harris Teeter, the American Service Center body shop, and the Goodyear Tire and Auto store. I reported in July that the planning commission was speaking with the owners of those three parcels (collectively being called “West Ballston”) who apparently are looking to redevelop all along that site. Those early plans would move or expand the businesses, creating underground or garage parking, retail space and apartments, commissioner...
B'ham, Ashton Heights, Arlington Forest, and Bluemont all get time at the county board meeting tomorrow…
Ashton Heights, Bluemont and Ballston:
Arlington Planner Peter Schulz said recently the review is a regular occurrence. When establishments are given the “boiler plate” live entertainment permit once, they often go under review after a year to address concerns, especially with neighbors. Noise is the concern of Bluemont Neighborhood residents, who live on N. Tazewell Street about a block from the mall. Bluemont borders Buckingham’s northern boundary along N. Carlin Springs Road. Terry Serie who lives on N. Tazewell said the restaurant has been responsive to the community’s concerns. Union Jack’s made news in July when they attempted to enlarge the outdoor seating arrangement on the sidewalk in front of the pub. They made last minute changes to their plan and avoided a board vote on the subject.
The county manager’s office is recommending in its report to the board that the restaurant’s license be renewed, but with new a total of nine new and existing conditions. They include: the community will be able call an on-site liaison who will address problems as they are occurring; the external windows and doors will remain closed during live entertainment that is amplified (everything from trivia contests to DJs to mechanical bull riding, if they have that); unamplified outdoor activities and games are allowed, but must end by 10p.m.; outdoor speakers will be used for background music only and will be turned off at 10p.m.; notices will be placed on outdoor tables asking patrons to be respectful of the neighbors; Union Jack’s will sweep up outside daily.
The county manager’s report asks that the county board approve the site plan amendment with the caveat that “the applicant [Westwood College] would disseminate information to students regarding transit opportunities, and would discourage students from parking on nearby residential streets.” The methods of dissemination include:
The building is zoned for educational uses under a special exemption. The report states, “the site is located within walking distance of the Ballston Metro Station, and contains enough parking resources for the number of students and faculty/staff proposed.” The county manager’s office suggests a review in six months and one year. Buckingham:
Arlington Forest:
The federal money is managed through the state’s HSIP program and, if awarded, will improve pedestrian crossings and transit stops near “at-grade” intersections along Arlington Blvd., including Henderson Road, Park Drive, and Edison Street. Arlington Blvd. carries 60,000 vehicles daily, and “is inhospitable for pedestrians and cyclists,” the manager's report states. Virginia will match 10 percent of the federal funds. The manager’s request says that some transit stops may be consolidated if sidewalks are improved enough.
Ashton Heights:
These notes are compiled from Arlington County Police Department crime reports. They cover the reports in and around the Buckingham, Arlington Forest and Ashton Heights neighborhoods. Remember: this is the time of year for robberies, burglaries and auto break-ins. Hide, store and lock-up your stuff! A couple of the crimes below were burglaries of unlocked houses!–ST Nov. 16: Grand Larceny Auto, Possession, Assault on Police and others (Arrest), 300 block of N. Kensington St. At 7:45p.m. police responded for a suspicious person. The suspect was found under the influence of narcotics and unclothed in a stolen vehicle. He assaulted officers at the scene before being arrested. Duy Nguyen, 32, was charged with Grand Larceny of an Automobile, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Driving While Revoked, Indecent Exposure, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Assault and Battery on Law Enforcement. He was held without bond. Nov. 17: Stolen Auto , 3700 block of S....
Quick Review Yuja Wang, the 22-year-old impresaria pianist, played the world premier of Jennifer Higdon’s Piano Concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center last night. It was the second of three compositions, with Rimsky-Korsakov's suite from "The Snow Maiden" and Tchaikovsky's "Winter Daydreams" rounding out the evening. Before the performance of Higdon's piece, because it is rare that orchestras “get to touch a living, breathing composer,” guest conductor Andrew Litton brought Ms. Higdon to the stage and asked a few questions. He said technology allowed him to ask how many notes were in the piano part of the concerto. 19,861. I love the piano, and I was hoping for a delight. Honestly, as fun as it was to watch Ms. Wang’s hands dance over the keyboard, and she hit all of those notes, it did not thrill me. A technical marvel at that many notes in 30 minutes, I felt that Ms. Wang’s hands were performing in a new...
Steve Thurston, Sept. 30, 2009 NEWS ESSAY Patricia Gaitan runs through her presentation but is stuck on the term “displacement.” She says that she is not totally sure what it means or why it’s important, and therefore she is having a hard time putting it into the recommendation that she will present to the Arlington County Housing Commission the following day. Her group, the Buckingham Youth Brigade, is meeting in a second floor classroom of the Lubber Run Community Center. These high school and college students have one last night, just a couple hours in the spartan classroom, to finish the presentation, a culmination of nearly a year's work. While others work on a large papier-mâché mannequin, Patricia, 17, and the BYB coordinator, Mimi Oziel, talk through Patricia's presentation. Patricia says that she was forced to move from her own Gates of Ballston apartment once. “They relocated you,” Ms. Oziel explains. It was not technically displacement since her family was allowed back into a renovated apartment. “Sometimes what happens is they say, ‘You have to move because we’re going to renovate.'” There’s a pause while Patricia considers this. “Oh, just like move away,” she replies. “Yeah, yeah,” Ms. Oziel says. “Or they sell the building and they’re going to knock it down.” “But sometimes that happens,” the HB Woodlawn Secondary Program senior says with a fatalistic tone in her voice. She adds a moment later, “But they tell you ahead of time.” “Some people, A, just don’t have anywhere to go, right?” Ms. Oziel says, adding, “Sometimes what happens is [building owners say], ‘Here is a 120 day notice.’ So, you’re like, ‘OK, I have to find a new place to live.’ So I go to the different apartment complexes and I look for a place to live. And they say, ‘Yeah, I’ll take you’—” Rosemery Mazariegos, a senior at Wakefield High School, interrupts: “It takes time, and, like they also make you pay a deposit. What about if you have to pay a deposit?” “Right,” Ms. Oziel says. “And also you might have to pay the first month’s rent at one place, but you still are paying rent [at the old place].” The effort and money required for a relocation eventually make it into Patricia’s section of the presentation, which covers housing. She tucks it in after the story of her mother, an El Salvadoran immigrant, whose housing costs have risen about 80 percent in 16 years. “It should be more for us, but she’s in this [controlled rent] thing,” Patricia said at last week’s meeting. “Her wages haven’t increased that much, and that’s the real issue.” The recommendations the BYB will present to the housing commission stem from their 12-page report written from demographic and historical research as well as about 50 long-form interviews and shorter questionnairs they conducted last winter and spring with friends, family, teachers and random people on the street. Planning, researching, interviewing and writing the report, which they finished in May, took the better part of a school year. The report targeted natives and immigrants and tries to answer the question, “Who Are Arlington’s Immigrants?” Ms. Oziel has helped them draft and refine the text of their presentations, at times referring back to discussions she has had with her bosses at BU-GATA, the Buckingham Villages and Gates of Ballston tenants association. Money from BU-GATA and other sources, such as Community Development Block Grants, fund the BYB and Ms. Oziel’s position. It feels, at times this evening, that the BYB members are representing their own views, based on the interviews and research, but massaged by BU-GATA, whose members may have an even larger interest in seeing some of the recommendations make it to the county board. And it is in here, after about an hour of my third meeting with the BYB, that I realize I am witnessing a small battle in Joe Wilson’s war. He is the South Carolina Republican representative who yelled, “You lie,” when President Obama told the joint session of Congress that his health care plans would not cover illegal immigrants. The call reignited the political fire surrounding immigration, and these students, whether they intended to or not, have written a report that seems to respond to that statement—a deeper analysis than a two-second TV sound bite. The BYB students and Ms. Oziel joked and laughed at last week’s meeting when they explained that the students locked Ms. Oziel and her BU-GATA colleague Saul Reyes out of the room so that the group could decide on their own what recommendations they drew from their report. They said they came to the recommendations by putting together all their interview notes, looking at what they had and then coming up with recommendations they thought made sense. “We wanted to figure out what we could think up before they would lead us into something else,” said one of the students during the interview. They all laughed when Ms. Oziel said, “I notice if sometimes I’m there, it’s easy just to listen to me talk.” Their research turned up some common struggles and common benefits for immigrants, but also pointed out differences between immigrant communities, and issues immigrant parents face as compared to their children who were born in the United States. Many immigrants find economic, housing, transportation and language challenges, yet find the United States to be safer and more stable than their countries of origin. As well, the immigrants felt there were better economic and academic opportunities for their children, the report states. "Many Vietnamese, Ethiopian and Somali immigrants...came to the United States as refugees which entitled them to certain benefits, including work permits and financial and material support to help them resettle in America. However, many Latino immigrants...fled their countries to escape political unrest, economic devastation and violence but did not have residency status," their report says. From these findings and others, the BYB developed three broad recommendations: the county must improve access to services, offer more affordable housing for current residents, and prevent racism and promote understanding wherever possible. Three BYB members at an interview before their official meeting a week earlier—Patricia, Rubi Novillo, 17, and Rubi’s brother Juan Novillo, 14—were polite and knowledgable, friendly and willing to answer questions, but what animated them the most was the housing survey that Ms. Oziel brought with her; people at BU-GATA had pointed it out to her, she said. Found only on-line and in English, the survey will be used in the county’s long-term, comprehensive plan for housing. “How do they expect to get a fair demographic?” asked Rubi, an HB Woodlawn senior. She added, “And how are they advertising for it in the first place? “They should make this more accessible….With this they’re only going for…a small group of people. This is people who can afford a computer, who can work a computer, who know English very well.” Patricia added, “I don’t see how they’re going to get the great response like they wanted if it’s just only online.” A week later, they have added another recommendation to their findings: expand the reach of the “Survey on Housing and Community Development Needs” by translating it into many languages and having a print version which can be put in libraries, apartment lobbies and community centers. The night of the housing commission, the five presenters are ready. Nervous, but ready. They have notecards that they read over before the meeting, but Ms. Oziel is late—she has called to report she is looking for parking—and the teens decide to enter the conference room as adults, that is, without her. They walk in carrying Ekeko, the newly-completed, papier-mâché Andean god of abundance. Like other avatars of Ekeko, this larger-than-life mannequin is covered in the hopes and wishes of a brighter future. He holds a house in his papier-mâché hand to show the need for affordable housing; in the other hand he holds a Sun Gazette newspaper with a handwritten notice of an important meeting to show the need for better communication of services; a “no discrimination” sign is pinned to his shirt along with Matchbox cars and a mortar board, showing the hope for better transportation education options. The twelve-minute presentation which covers their four major recommendations and some detailed analysis of each ends with questions and comments from the commissioners who are clearly impressed with the work. Commissioners ask, since they have experts in the room, how the students thought the commission could reach apartment dwellers along Columbia Pike, and how they could reach volunteers. They are happy to hear that the research connected stable housing to better grades in schools. But what impresses the commission most are the recommendations. A couple members tell the students many people only bring problems. Solutions are rare. “The fact that you did [bring solutions] is really, really, really helpful to us,” says commissioner Pam Ray. In the end, the Housing Commission decides to move two recommendations directly to the county board: expand the eligibility of the housing grant program to individuals so that they, like families, pay at most 40 percent of their income toward housing. Also, they will ask the board to improve the “Survey on Housing and Community Development Needs” so that it reaches people most affected by those decisions. The BYB recommendation to expand county-wide the Tenant Assistance Fund which helps low-income renters in Buckingham relocate, and the recommendation that more affordable, family-sized units be made available will go in front of various housing sub-committees for analysis. 
Today was a beautiful fall day for a walk and a prayer service under the trees, as hundreds of St. Thomas More Cathedral School students, faculty, staff and families walked from the school on N. Thomas Street in Buckingham to the Lubber Run Amphitheatre to draw awareness to the plight of the homeless. "It's really for the children," said Principal Eleanor McCormack. "You kind of get used to living with what you have, and kind of forget sometimes to remember that there are others that don't have as much," she said. "And it's just taking the time to remember others." The amphitheatre turned blue as the students donning the school's "Royals" T-shirts filled the seats. A group prayer was held and the children's choir sang. It's a ritual that the school has carried on for over a decade (long enough that a couple upper staff members could not recall exactly when it began). "The power in prayer in group is emphasized," the principal said. It's not about the money, although the school raises...
News and Opinion about Dogs, Dog Parks and a Church Really, Jay? Your Dog?... I must have shifted into the role of curmudgeon without realizing it, but getting the postcard from Jay Fisette’s dogs annoyed me more than anything. Mr. Fisette is the incumbent county board member who is facing John Reeder from the Green Party in the election tomorrow. I am probably being way too critical, but if I never see another campaign that uses pets or children as “spokespersons,” I will be OK. They are usually not funny, though they hope to be. And they are usually those photos, especially with the pets, that the owners find cute, but often are not. (They follow the general "my kids" rule that we all follow to some extent: mine are cute, yours aren't; mine are kind and loving, yours aren't, etc.) More than that, I wish Mr. Fisette did not feel so comfortable in his position that he could get away with this level of dumbing-down the process. I am not against Mr. Fisette.&...
News and opinion about the BCCA, parks and money, and a NEW advertiser (thanks!): The BCCA holds elections Monday night... The Buckingham Community Civic Association will hold its bi-monthly meeting Monday Nov. 16 at 7p.m. at the Arlington Oaks Community Center, 4490 N. Pershing Drive.- right across from Culpepper Garden. The main topic of the night is the election of a president for the group. Rumor has it that Bernie Berne will step up to take the position to keep the group running. For the past few months, Buckinghamsters who follow this have known that Patrick Hope, the current president, would step down if he won the 47th seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, which he did in a landslide on Nov. 3. No one has shown an intense interest in the job of BCCA president. I'm feeling a little irritated, and it is late as I type this, but I cannot help but think "typical Buckingham." For years I have watched people care, but not enough to get off the couch. I used...
Well, as you can tell, I have moved the HeraldTrib to its new home. I was going to wait and roll out the new site completed and looking pretty, but it would never happen, and then I’d be left paying GoDaddy for a site that I wasn’t using. I am still getting used to the site, so action is slow and feels a bit odd. I am hopeful, though, that the site will be a much better fit with the information I post and the people who read it.
Surf around a bit—notice how you can sign up to post events (with an easy mapping feature, too!). Click what links are there (few at this point), surf around a bit. Enjoy. And then tell me what’s wrong. Or what’s right. As always, I love the comments. For those of you who follow along via RSS feed, this site should be readable, but please let me know if you can’t get it. Thanks, Steve Thurston 
News and Opinion about Swine Flu, the Elections, Carlyle Lights, and Moon Bounces (click the headline to read it all). H1N1 flu shots arrive… About 120 Kindergarten and first grade K.W. Barrett Elementary School students lined up in the hallway then proceeded to the school’s gym for first wave of H1N1 flu vaccines. They received either nasal or injection vaccines. Principal Terry Bratt said they were ahead of schedule at about 10:30a.m. “Only a few little tears here and there but otherwise, everything was fine,” she said All of the students in those grades whose parents signed the immunization release forms were vaccinated, Mrs. Bratt said. According to the information sent home earlier in the week, government health officials were recommending that the vaccination be given to the youngest students, first. Another round of vaccines should be arriving soon for the older students. Buckingham’s own Pat Hope goes to the statehouse... Not surprising, Democrat Patrick...
“How you doin’ sugar? Happy Thanksgiving!” Associate Pastor Lynn Carter said as Diana Dean fixed a plate of leftovers from the buffet to take with her. “You keeping out of trouble?” she joked. “Yep,” replied Ms. Dean. “Did you get enough to eat?” “Yes,” Ms. Dean said yesterday, bundled up in a blue LL Bean jacket and baseball cap, her Safeway bag full of a mix of items, and now the food. She said, “I come at five o’clock everyday.” Thirteen turkeys cooked, pounds of canned green beans, trays and trays of mashed potatoes and stuffing with quarts of gravy. Diners served themselves or were served by others at the long buffet table, then sat at the tables that held about 150 people. For the people who organized and ran the Thanksgiving meal yesterday at the Arlington Assembly of God church at 4501 N. Pershing Dr., the 20-year tradition is “a special day” but for the past six years has been but one...
AHC, Inc. adds national win to last year's state award. In 2008, the Gates of Ballston won "Best Project Virginia" from the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers, and this year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation gave the redeveloped, affordable housing complex its Board of Advisors' Award, one of 16 "honor awards" for a project that "most exemplifies values we care about," said Valecia Crisafulli, the National Trust's director of the Center of Preservation Leadership. The values include preservation of historic spaces, along with maintaining affordable housing and diversity. "It's easy for an area to say, 'We want to tear this down for more density,'" Ms. Crisafulli said. But by working together with private investors, the county, and the community, AHC, Inc., which owns and manages the property, was able to keep the property affordable. "That's what really resonated," Ms. Crisafulli said. AHC, Inc. bought the 464-unit apartment complex, with help from the county, in 2002. ...
Steve,
News and Analysis Tomorrow’s Arlington County Board Meeting Item #36 deals with not just affordable housing but garden-style apartments. If you’re a faithful reader of the HeraldTrib, you know that Buckingham is nothing if not downright slathered in affordable housing and garden-style apartments; you can’t swing a cat by the tail without hitting garden-style apartments in B’ham (not that I've tried). What’s more, Item #36 deals with the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board. Although The Item deals with zoning, it also is keeping just a bit of power from the HALRB. (If you don’t think the HALRB has power, think again, and read here: Shopping Center Dies in HALRB Hands; and here: My Take on the Shopping Center; click then scroll down to see the story.) I’m guessing that those on the HALRB won’t really see it that way, but The Item will speed up the process of approval for developers who want to revamp garden-style apartments so long they include...
One Tuesday in late September Rick Blacksten sat in a chair and pointed to the computer screen where he was creating a new Microsoft Word file and a folder to save it to. Juan Sejas and Abraham Gonzalez watched over his shoulder as he tried to explain the steps in his most basic English. It worked, but was slow going, as the two students were not exactly sure when they were to watch and listen, and when they were to try it themselves. A member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Mr. Blacksten has started helping people with computing skills at the Buckingham Community Outreach Center on N. 4th Street. The center has about a dozen computers for residents to use, and even maintains a Spanish-language blog. Computer training is one of the many connections the church has made with the county-run center and the center's clients. "My vision is...that I'll have a packet of materials,...modules of computer literacy," Mr. Blacksten said that evening, admitting that the modules will...
A broken light post that leans against the Lubber Run Amphitheatre walls, along with its still-standing cousin, will be removed by the county for safety reasons. “Within the next month they should be out…because they’re in such bad condition,” said Kurt Louis parks service area manager for the county. These are light posts that illuminate the stage during events. When the capital improvement budget lost $3 million of its $3.2 million in a recent round of cuts, many places in the county such as the amphitheatre lost any hope of being brought back to their full complement. “It’s the sign of the times, right now,” Mr. Louis said. Facilities that are a danger will receive improvements to make them safe, but that is all, officials have said. “We don’t have the money to make it operable,” wrote Susan Kalish in a recent email. “It’s not like we’re having to get it ready for a show, sadly enough.” The budget...
News and opinion about parks and park budgets Lubber Run Amphitheatre has a programming budget for next summer… The good news is that the Lubber Run Amphitheatre has a $10,000 programming budget for next summer. The bad news is, the amphitheatre has no stage lights (they were removed earlier this year, the county fearing that they would fall on someone), and the stage itself is a bit squishy. The cost to repair those, for which there is no budget, is somewhere between $60,000 and $200,000, said Susan Kalish, the public relations and marketing manager for the county’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources. In an email, she wrote the county cannot tighten the cost estimate because there are “too many what ifs” in the renovation or redevelopment prospects. Just about anything from simple repairs to a total rebuild might be required, she wrote, adding that DPRCR is examining the stage. The capital improvements budget that would have covered repairs...
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