Group Think - Thought of in a New Way

May 28, 2026 - I remember learning the term 'group think' in college and appreciating how pervasive a phenomenon it was in daily life. If it's not fresh in your mind, the term refers to a psychological phenomenon whereby members of a group suppress their own and other's alternatives for consensus over critical thinking.

Get Curious, Get Involved

May 6, 2026 - The month of May is an especially beautiful time in University Heights. Flowers are in bloom, grass has become green again, and the warmer temperatures have neighbors outside planting, weeding, fixing, and enjoying walks or runs. Some people with pools already have them open and are braving the chilly water temperatures for the sheer joy of not being cooped up indoors.

Progress Not Perfection - Easy Ways to Be Green

April 8, 2026 - Happy Spring Neighbors! Last month's public policy blog covered strategies for being "Green&" and focused on recycling plus the City's Yard Ethic Program. At our March UHNA Board meeting, Loring Bullard of the James River Basin partnership reiterated some of the strategies I wrote about and shared an idea about environmentally-conscious yard care that got me thinking. Bullard encouraged homeowners to make backyards the focal point of their eco-preservation efforts, aiming for progress, not perfection.

Spring is Nearly Here!

March 5, 2026 - Spring arrives March 20th and now is a perfect time for UH residents to get involved in creating an even healthier, more beautiful neighborhood! Here are some ways to get involved

Much Ado About Something

February 11, 2026 - It's good to know what your values are when big changes are happening. Values give us immediate sound bites when asked our opinion and are a compass for choosing. Springfield is undergoing a lot of big changes that impact University Heights, and as we move forward, our choices not only will impact various public policies and alterations in our physical environment but will reflect back to us our and our neighbors' values.

Every Day Joe

January 17, 2026 - Happy New Year neighbors! Hope it's off to a good start, or at the least, no worse than last year's. If it is, here's hoping it will improve soon, with brighter skies on the horizon.

Christmas Miracles

December 9, 2025 - Happy Holidays Neighbors! Here's hoping you're finding joy this season and enjoying good health; if not, and if any of us can help, please reach out. I promise one of us will show up and lighten your burden. The neighborhood that plays together and slays dragons together stays together, right?!

A Season of Thanksgiving and Celebration

November 12, 2025 - I told myself in 2025 this Public Policy Blog would not focus on our seemingly endless zoning issue, yet it has. I suppose that may have been inevitable, given the importance of the matter and this blog being a reliable place for neighbors to get facts. This month, however, is different. It embraces the season, which is about gratitude and celebration. In that spirit, here are ten things University Heights residents are grateful for.

When Your Plate is Too Full

October 8, 2025 - Monday, October 6th, at 6:30pm, University Heights residents gave speeches before City Council to avert spot zoning and a catalyst that intends to topple homes all along Sunshine and National. Speakers presented insight and winning arguments, bringing to light nuances not previously presented in public hearings. Soon, City Council's vote will influence what happens next.

Rezoning Opposition

September 9, 2025 - This Thursday, September 11, University Heights (UH) neighborhood will stand before the Planning and Zoning Commission to again defend itself in a zoning battle with the BK&M corporation. This time, BK&M aims to gain a zoning change but now flip its eight historic properties, selling them to whatever company will pay the most for a chance at commercial profit.

UHNA Blog