Leewood Homeowners Association

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March Annual Meeting Raging Success (by Al Sanford)

Three former members of the board are now free to go fishing, sailing or doing whatever else that they would like do with the time that otherwise they would have put into the board. Their new found freedom is well deserved. Julie King was acknowledged with a plant and a statement of appreciation for her two years as secretary; Champ Buck was acknowledged with a $75.00 gift certificate at Merrifield Gardens for his five years on the board. Champ decided not to serve out the final year of his present term because he and Pat are no longer Leewood property owners. We will miss them . Judy Currier whose last stint as board president lasted for nine years was acknowledged with a statement of appreciation and a Waterford crystal bowl given to her by her friends at Leewood.

There were the usual reports from each officer and reports from the standing committees. The reports in general reflect that Leewood is "in good health"; a quality place to live and to own property. There were the usual pitches for volunteerism made. The architectural review committee especially has a lot of work ahead of it this year and could benefit from more manpower. There are other committees that are not even manned, like community affairs and the finance committee. Mary Ann Wilson who was considering retirement, thankfully, agreed to stay on as our consumer affairs representative. A very helpful role in our community. If you are looking for a reputable contractor, see the list that Mary Ann has put together and keeps up.

That three homeowners are being assessed penalties for not remedying architectural violations was acknowledged. This is new territory for us as an Association. It was also pointed out by Pam Stover, Chairperson of the Architectural Review Committee, that in the last year there have been widespread and dramatic efforts made to bring our units up to standard and it shows not only aesthetically but also in terms of market value. GOOD GOING LEEWOOD!

Upon the adjournment of the meeting there was a rush to the food tables to finish off the shrimp and other delicacies that somehow survived the "first wave". Our 2001 annual meeting was a huge success. Many thanks are due to those that prepared for the meeting and to those who attended. Don't forget to visit our Leewood Association web page. A lot of time and effort by Judy Currier and William Wilkins has gone into this page @ www.communitypath.com. It has "everything"

President's Notes (by Leona Taylor)

Leona Taylor, President

Someone with a more than full time paying job as a CPA who (by default) will be the President. I served on the board previously as your Treasurer. I will now take off my Treasurer's hat to Mohammed Umar. I cannot expect to (and hope you will realize that I cannot) fill the void that Judy will be leaving. Judy spent many hours on association business. I will devote time as necessary, but I just do not have as much available time. Please be patient!! I generally get around to all issues brought to me, but not always as quickly as Judy might.
 

Al Sanford, Secretary

Al served on the board previously as the "roving" board member who took on special projects. His special project for the past few years has been as chairman of the grounds and maintenance committee. Al will help out with grounds and maintenance but will move over to make sure that our affairs are documented and minutes are duly recorded.
 

Mohammed Umar, Treasurer

Mohammed is new to the board and brings a financial background to the board. Mohammed already has plans for the association, including whether assessments can be paid electronically. He will take over the monthly accounting and other Treasurer duties from me after tax season as I transition to the President's position. Mohammed has been a member of the Leewood community for about 10 years.
 

Ron Filadelfo, Vice President

Ron has been on the board previously as Vice President and Treasurer. He brings prior board experience which will be invaluable. After time away from the board, Ron felt he was ready for another term, and we are certainly glad to have him serve.
 

Chris Taylor, Board Member

Although Chris does not get an officer title, he hopes to take on and try to address homeowners complaints. He believes that working and talking with people is one of his best skills. And he walked away from the special board election meeting with a few complaints to address. Chris is a relatively new member to the community and a first time board volunteer.
We hope that you will be patient as the board transitions to its new members and positions. There is a lot to be done to take the work that Judy did for the association and divide it up among the rest of the board. However, as we work towards setting up procedures and responsibilities for the regular association business, we will continue to move forward on our other priorities -architectural review (yes, it's about time for the annual spring walk-through) and addressing the issues from the homeowner survey conducted this winter. Please do not hesitate to contact any one of us with questions or issues that you may have. Our telephone and e-mail information is listed on the front of the newsletter. We hope to serve you proud. 

Spring Cleaning (by Pam Stover)

It's that time again - the weather will be getting better and it's time to take a look around your home and yard to pick up all the loose papers, bottle caps, q-tips, etc. that have fallen out of garbage bags and been blown around and landed in your bushes and around your yard. It's a good time to get out the rake and just clean these items up in time for the spring flowers. It takes just a few minutes and makes such a difference. You can even chat with your neighbor in the process!!

Sales update, July 2000 through March, 2001  (by Pam Stover)

Under contract
5269 Bradgen Ct. $199,900
 

Prices are continuing to rise and hold their value. The neighborhood looks great and is attracting buyers quickly. We are all benefitting from our efforts to keep the community looking great. Give yourself a pat on the back!!

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Did you know? (by Judy Currier)

• Animal waste left on the lawn or common areas will run off the surface, ending up in the drain. Storm drains are not, and do not lead to, waste-water treatment facilities. Anything going into the storm drain ends up polluting our streams, river, and the Bay.
• Our Covenants prevent the assigning of two reserved parking places per unit.
• It is illegal to turn left from Leebrad onto Backlick, or left from Backlick onto Leebrad.
• The police recommend we leave our front and back porch lights on all night to increase security in the neighborhood.
• You may be assessed penalties if you put your trash out before dusk falls the day before trash day. 

"Give Blood, Get Cookies & Coffee & Juice, Oh Boy!"

As you all probably know, there is a blood shortage in our area. Donations have continually dropped and the need for blood and blood products has not. The reasons for the shortage have been explained as: 1) the aging of our population, 2) the busy schedules of ourselves and our neighbors and 3) a complacency which needs to be shattered.

Do you have an hour to spare? Just one hour? Would you like to save some lives by spending an hour donating blood for your neighbors? Did you know that one blood donation can save three lives? If you are seventeen or older, you qualify as a blood donor. There is no upper age limit

Better still, would you like to become a super donor? You can by donating platelets, which are a lifesaving component of your blood given to cancer patients. Just ask the staff for a Platelet leaflet to see if you qualify. If you are interested, just call (See below) INOVA Blood Donor Services, at 3289 Woodburn Road, Suite 10, next to Fairfax Hospital off Gallows Road. Holidays are an especially needy time for blood and platelet donations.

One of the nice things about the INOVA Program, is the fact that you will be invited to come back and donate on a schedule of your choosing, and you can build up a "Blood" credit for yourself and your family each time you donate.

In the past, one of the frustrating things that I encountered as a blood donor was the fact that once I had made my donation and was thanked for coming in, I was not invited back, and so, my donations were at best sporadic. At INOVA, when you finish donating, you are invited back. It's so easy.

INOVA's hours are 6:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, blood donations are from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Platelet donations are from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. If you have any questions about donating, just call me at 703/941-4457. Act now, make that toll free call @ 866-256-6372 for an appointment to donate blood , or call MONA @ 703-207-7559 to schedule a platelet donation. For more information, visit their website @ www.inova.org/donateblood. Please don't put your good intentions on hold. 
 

Be a good neighbor. Bob Sweeney

Fairfax Adds House Sales List (by Tony Mc sorley)

Fairfax property assessments this year have risen approximately 11.5% while the rate $1.23 per hundred has stayed the same. This works out to about a $200 increase in your property tax this year. To check your assessment see web site WWW.CO.FAIRFAX.VA/DTA/RE/PROPADD.ASP.

( Fairfax keeps changing their website address so the link was removed. The information is still there if you go to the website and check out real estate taxes)

Understanding Tree Roots (From Conservation Currents)

Tree roots serve many purposes. Tree roots anchor the tree in the soil, keeping it straight and stable, and absorb water from the soil. Tree roots also take nutrients and chemicals out of the soil and use them to produce what they need for the tree's growth, development, and repair.

Taproots do not form on trees planted in our urban landscapes. Eighty percent of all roots occur in the top 12-36 inches of the soil. In sandy, well drained soils some trees such as oaks and pines develop deep roots, directly beneath the trunk. These are commonly called taproots but are actually deeper roots that help anchor the tree. Most trees never develop taproots, especially when the water table is close to the surface or when the soil is compacted.

Damaging roots on one side of a tree may cause branch die back on that side only OR at random places throughout the crown. Damaging the roots of a tree causes damage to the tree branches. In some tree species, roots on one side of a tree supply the same side of the crown with water and nutrients absorbed through the roots. If roots on one side of such a tree are injured, branches on that side often will drop leaves. In other tree species, damage on one side of the root system may cause branch death anywhere in the crown of the tree.

Pruning can be harmful to a newly planted tree's health. Pruning branches on trees not yet planted does not help a tree grow better or establish a balance between the roots and the canopy. When trees are dug up from the nursery for transplanting, many of the tree's roots are left in the soil. A newly planted tree needs all the leaves it has to help support the growth of new roots. Pruning trees before planting removes the food-producing factory of a tree, which hurts the tree's ability to become established.

Symptoms of drought and over watering are the same. Tree roots need moisture, air, and a favorable temperature regime to function and grow. Tree roots need to be deep enough to avoid sunlight and to stay moist but should be shallow enough to absorb adequate oxygen. When trees are over watered, their roots do not receive enough oxygen to function. As a result, tree leaves wilt, die, and fall off. During drought periods, tree roots do not receive enough water to function. As a result, the tree leaves wilt, die, and fall off. Slowly and deeply apply five to eight gallons of water to newly planted and young trees once a week during hot, dry periods.

Leewood Nursing Home Update

Architectural Inspections (By Pam Stover)

The neighborhood inspections will be coming up again this April. I wanted to give you a heads up on some of the items we will be looking for. This may not touch on everything - but should cover the most common items that show up as violations in the neighborhood. So here's a peek at what we look for - you can do your own inspection and fix things before we get there to avoid a violation letter.

Roof /gutters - should be in good condition, gutters should be attached securely and be in good condition.

Wood trim - all wood trim on house around windows, doors, and along the roof line (rake boards) both front and back of the home will be inspected. All trim should be in good condition, free of rot, and the paint should not be peeling or flaking. If any of these conditions exist, replace wood, sand and/or repaint.

Shutters - should all be the same style and made of the same material on front and sides of home (if side shutters are on home). Shutters should not be rotting, broken or have peeling paint. If they do they should be repaired/replaced, sanded and repainted. Broken shutters should be replaced. New vinyl shutters should be of the same color as those you are replacing. If not, have your new color approved by ARC before you install them to be sure they will be approved. 

Paint - all paint should be in good condition, not peeling or blistering. If you are repainting your home the exact same color you do not need to get permission to paint. If you are changing the color you must submit a color change application to the ARC committee. (These are included in the back of your Leewood ARC Standards booklet.) All trim should match all over the house. The wood numberplate should be the same color as the trim. No two homes that are right next to each other can have the same paint colors, and no more that two homes in a row can have the same color. 

Windows - windows should all have the proper window pane configuration and not have peeling or blistering paint on the trim. Any window replacement should have the same window pane configuration as originally installed. Screens should be in good repair and free of tears.

Front door - front doors should not be rusted or have peeling paint. If there is warping of the windowpane trim or moldings, they should be replaced with wood, which will not warp with the sun. Paint should be in good condition. Storm doors should be in good condition, an approved style and not rusted anywhere.

Railings - all railings should be in installed correctly, in good condition and not rusting. If they are rusting they should be scraped/sanded and repainted. If the railing is leaning or broken, it should be repaired or replaced with the same style railing as the original railing. All homes should have the same railing configuration as when the home was originally built. Empty containers should not be hanging on the railing. 

Porch - slate should be in good condition and the mortar should be holding well. Slates should not be loose or broken. Bricks should be solid and mortar should not be cracked or missing. Steps should be in good condition. Nothing should be stored on the porch, include recycle bins, empty crates, containers, auto parts, bricks, landscaping items, chairs, or debris. Time to remove the old snow shovel, sleds, etc. 

Plantings - all bushes should be trimmed and kept looking neat. Clean out area around bushes of any loose papers or debris. Nothing should be hidden behind bushes like recycle bins, garbage cans, crates, bikes, toys, etc. It is a good time to install new mulch. No unused landscaping concrete edging, extra bricks, etc. should be stored in the front or rear (outside the fence) of the home. Remove dead plants and bushes and replace when necessary. 

Fence - fences should be in good condition, all slats in good repair and gate closed properly. It should not be leaning or broken. If replacing, the new guideline requires that the fence have the good side out or be double sided. All fences must be double sided on the sides between neighbor's yards as originally installed. 

Back yard - Nothing should be stored behind the back fence, remove all unused concrete landscaping materials, step stones, flower pots, etc. 

If you have anything that looks questionable and is not covered here, please check your Leewood Architectural Standards booklet that describes in detail the ARC requirements. 

ARC Extensions (By Pam Stover)

If you got a letter about a ARC violation and asked for more time to complete the work and were given an "extension" in the fall, your home will be inspected this Spring to see if you completed the work. If you have not done the work and it was your second notice, you will receive a hearing notice to come before the board. Better get busy, as we will be around in April to take a look again. See you then.