Leewood Homeowners  Association

Editor Steps Down by Larry Westberg

This newsletter will be my last one as the editor. It is a volunteer position that I have enjoyed for a very long time ... so long that I am not even sure when exactly I started doing it ... but trust me ... a very long time. It is a position that has given me a number of rewarding experiences and I would highly recommend the position (as well as other volunteer activities with our great Association). I have met and talked to many great people, read lots of great articles (and maybe a few tough editorials) and enjoyed many great monthly walks, with my partner Rose, through our neighborhood. Well, maybe we didn't always enjoy those walks in the yellow snow month of February, but the rest of time was really very nice.

I have not heard what the Board has decided to do with the future of the newsletter. I suggested that the Board might want to take this opportunity to do away with the print newsletter and process our community news electronically through the web and email distribution. There are many advantages and cost efficiencies to this approach. Our community already has a well established web site with a wealth of valuable information. I encourage everyone to visit the web site as often as possible.

Website by Judy Currier

Those of you who have been following our website have been updated as it happens on the developments concerning Granberry Estates. Also, as last month's newsletter sparked some interest in the brochure that the association has been developing, a web version of that brochure has been posted for all interested. It is my understanding that the board plans on distributing it to our homeowners and residents also, so when the hard copy becomes available everyone will have one.

The story that had been running as the feature on the site showed a lovely backyard oriental garden. I am looking for more stories along this vein. I have also been promised one on remodeling bathrooms by our esteemed newsletter editor! The web is such a wonderful media for this type of article, as with colored pictures you can really get an idea of what is going on, so please think of it when you do a really nifty upgrade of your home or garden.

There is a new feature posted about the ever exciting question of whether all puddles breed mosquitoes and therefore are a source for West Nile. (The answer is no). The backyard garden article was moved down to a link under "And More" on the right side of the page. We keep all these articles around and there are a number of ways to access them. For a while they are on the right hand side either under "What's New" or "And More". They can always also be accessed by going to News, Recent Web Articles. The Home/Garden Rennovation articles can also be accessed through Home Repair.

I actually got a suggestion about the trash faqs on our site -- as far as I know, this is the first suggestion we have received. It was a good one, and the faqs were changed that very day. Please keep us informed when you see something that doesn't seem as complete as it should be, and we will be able to improve the site continually.

I will try to remember to inform the people on our Leewood list when there is a major new addition to the articles on the site. The best move, though, is to check into the website from time to time and see what is going on there. Do also join our list so you can be informed (look under either community on the left or "And More" on the right) -- I promise it adds hardly anything to you email workload! The site is an ideal place for posting information that is time sensitive in nature, and for making sure that information is available to you as soon as it is to us. As I've been handling Granberry for Leewood, the updates are like a diary!

Weather Alerts by Judy Currier

When we were going through all that snow I signed up for Channel 4's weather alerts. As I don't listen to the TV or radio often, I have found it useful to get warnings about severe weather through email. For anyone interested, the page where you can sign up for this is at http://www.nbc4.com/weather/. On the right hand side you will see something about signing up for weather alerts. The alerts you get are tailored to where you live. My experience has been that it doesn't flood your inbox with emails. After the snow was over I didn't get anything for quite a while. Currently, however, I am getting a lot of flash flood warnings. I believe there are other services like this that are free also, this is just the one I bumbled into! (Talking about flash floods always reminds me of listening to NOAA radio's tornado warnings. They say jump into the nearest ditch if you see a tornado approaching but be careful the ditch doesn't flood with water. So considerate, they really worry about you drowning while you follow their advice!).

GREEN (OR EVEN NOT SO GREEN) THUMBS NEEDED! by Anne Esquivel

If you enjoy landscaping/gardening, or have an interest in improving the look of Leewood, there is a committee in need of your help! The Grounds & Maintenance committee is forming a team to obtain and review proposals from landscape contractors to "liven up" the common areas in Leewood. We want to hear your ideas about what kind of plants/tree/flowers you'd like to see in Leewood, so please consider joining! If you're interested, please e-mail me at Secretary@leewood.us or call me at 703-941-0009, so I can schedule the first team meeting. I look forward to working with you!

Fairfax Subsidized Taxi Travel by tony mc sorley

In case you missed it, Fairfax is distributing discount vouchers to help seniors, 65 and above, to get around by cab. The program is called Seniors On the Go. Senior riders pay only $10 for a coupon book worth $30 in cab fares. Maximum number of books that can be purchased are 16 for $160. Fairfaxpicks up two thirds of the cost. Seniors make their own trip arrangements directly with any of the three taxicab companies listed in the coupon book. There are no restrictions on where seniors may go. One senior, I know, uses them for trips to and from the airport.

To qualify, seniors must be county residents and have an income less than $50,000 a year, $60,000 for couples.

Applications can be requested by telephone at 703-324-1172 or at the web site www.fairfaxcounty.gov/comm/trans/seniors.htm.

Note: According to the Fairfax website, due to budget constraints the new numbers for eligibility are $40,000/$50,000.

Letters and Opinions

From: Al Carchedi

Sent: Friday, June 27, 2003 2:43 PM

To: newsletter@leewood.us 

Subject: Sidewalks

The sidewalk re-paving project within our community was outstanding. Kudos to Brian Pastoric for his perseverance through incredible difficulties with the weather. With any job of this magnitude, problems and miscommunications can arise, but were minimized with Brian on site for the entire job.

It was wonderful to see the efficient coordination of this effort. One crew broke up the old concrete, which was promptly carried off. Then the framing, gravel, and reinforcement were laid all in a leapfrog pattern while dodging the rain, rain, rain. The pouring of the concrete followed

(when available) again depending on a break in the weather. I was mesmerized by the ballet of one group spreading the concrete, another finishing, and then another cutting the joints. After drying, the frames were removed, area cleaned up, and sod replaced. It was fascinating. All of this along with the custom work for the many who took advantage of the opportunity to have their individual walk way done.

I realize that some had to wait longer than others and were not too happy, but weather was the one element that Brian could not control.

He probably was not too happy with a project that would normally take one week stretch into four, but he hung in there and got the job done, and done well. Congratulations.

Al Carchedi

Reserve Spaces "Survey" Results to Date by tony mc sorley

Note: In this article Tony is referring to a personal survey that he took by handing out survey sheets to selected residents. He has been soliciting answers for 5 months now. The survey was poorly worded in that many people reacted to the question of would you like two reserved parking places by wondering if everyone else would get two and they would be left with one and no free space available if they said "no". Others reaction was "Why not, I'd like five". There was no explanation of the ramifications of such a policy with the sheet of paper that was delivered to some residents, just the rather theoretical question in a vacuum on whether one thought it'd be nice to have two reserved parking places.

The parking survey (ed: see note) taken just before this years annual meeting resulted in fifty two responses or twenty seven percent (27%) of the owners slightly more than attended the annual meeting. The total number of Leewood houses is 195.

To the question of whether or not to allow overnight parking of marked commercial vehicles or obvious commercial vehicles, those carrying ladders, etc., the vote was an(sic) overwhelming against commercial vehicles. The exact vote was forty two against or 81% out of the 52 voting while only ten voted for them or 19%.

On the preference of TWO reserve spaces with 52 voting, 15 owners (29%) did not wish two reserve spaces while 35 owners or 67% would prefer two spaces. Two out of the 52 did not indicate any preference.

On commercial vehicles one homeowner expressed a valid exception, I think, for police vehicles. Another expressed the wish that if the commercial vehicle is the SOLE vehicle of the owner, the owner should be allowed to park in front of his house.

Editors Note: The only parking scheme I have not heard yet is to do away with all reserved spaces and let first come park where they need to park. After all a reserved spot is wasted if it is not being used by the owner. For all those worried about all the parking talk, remember the status quo can not be changed without 75% of the homeowners voting for the change (not likely). For more on the parking regulations and our bylaws refer to the Leewood Handbook. If you do not have a copy, you can access it on the web site.