Winter 2005                     Volume11   Issue 1     

We Need You!

      Your Board of Directors has some long term members and some more recent additions.  All  make a significant contribution to the smooth running of your HOA. The time commitment is minimal and the rewards of a pleasant and neighborly community make life better for all of us. 

      We all have other commitments, though, and without new homeowners stepping forward to volunteer, the projects we'd like to take on become a larger burden for those who are active.  Please consider volunteering to serve on the board and helping out, especially with the planning of some of our social events.  Please contact Len at 703-222-5121 or LRice31@cox.net for more information.

      Just a brief word of thanks to Jeff Butzke for his nine years of outstanding service as Treasurer of the association.  Jeff was not only proficient in his office, but provided a voice of reason and thoughtfulness throughout the early years of the association when many of the formative decisions regarding our role in serving the community were made.  We all appreciated his steady presence on the board. 

Please join your neighbors in cleaning up our common areas and local paths and stream beds.  We will meet on APRIL 2 , 2005 (Rain Date April 9) on the Bare Island Drive cul de sac from 10 am -12 pm.  Just bring some work gloves and shoes. We'll provide the bags.

 

      The HOA annual meeting was held on November 21, 2004 at 4913 Fox Creek Court. In attendance were Carol Kalinowski, Len Rice, Clare Loxtercamp, and Janice Cairns. We also received eight proxies.

      Concerns were raised about defoliation of trees behind Selby Bay Court and Brewerton Court.  Carol will see if there is any permanent damage to those trees. There is also a need for protection of the tree trunks from line trimmers that the maintenance crews use.

      Replacement of the broken part of the split rail fence next to the Bare Island Drive cul-de-sac pipe stem will be investigated.

      Clare will be putting a new directory together after all the dues payments are in. 

      There were also issues raised regarding the parking of homeowners' commercial vehicles on community streets (see article below).

      Pipestem conditions will be assessed this spring to see if any maintenance is needed.  The Board encourages pipestem homeowners to contact us if there are any immediate needs.

The budget was approved as follows with the addition of $1000 to the landscaping budget from excess funds from 2004:

2005 Budget

Expenses

$6500 common area maintenance
$ 1000 additional landscaping

$ 100 attorney
$ 700 accountant
$ 800 insurance
$100 taxes
$400 communications
$1000 social

$10,600 total proposed budget

 

Revenue
$8670 ($85 dues x 102), (pipe stem fee $115)
$450    (late fees, interest and homeowners

            packets)                       

­$9120
+$1480 from 2004 surplus

$10,600 total projected revenue

Cash Reserve Goals
$5000 CD
$1000 Savings
$1000 Checking
$7000 total reserves

Actual Cash Reserves (October 31,2004)

$5,000.00        CD (due 12-2-05: 6.59%)

$2,406.50        Savings

$1,876.16        Checking

$9282.66         Total Reserves  

Pipestem Escrow

$   2749.55      Bare Island Drive (4)

$   2752.71      Brewerton Court (4)    

$   1374.25      Claybank Lane (2)

$   1595.56      Highbourne Lane (4)

$   2066.64      Yellow Poplar Drive (3)

$10,538.71      Pipestem Total

      Two Board of Directors positions were open this year.  Jeff Butzke's and Lou Casamayou's terms ended and neither will be serving a new term.  There were no other nominations for the board.

      Until the other board positions are filled, the remaining directors will be filling the officer positions as follows:  Len Rice, President; Carol Kalinowski, Vice President and Landscaping Chair; and Clare Loxtercamp, Treasurer and Social Committee Chair.

      We will be distributing a community directory in February, 2005.  Last minute updates should be sent to Clare Loxtercamp at Clare@MikeandClare.com.

      Concerns have been raised with the board of directors regarding parking of homeowner's commercial vehicles on a regular basis on roads within the community.  According to the Declaration for Big Rocky Forest (part 2 section 8.2.n): "...no trucks used for commercial purposes.....may be parked on any portion of a lot...or on any public right of way within or adjacent to the property..." (This applies to vehicles that are parked on a regular basis, not commercial vehicles that are present at your house for the day to provide service.  If you need all the details, please call Len. Otherwise, please be considerate about where you park, and take removable commercial signs off your vehicles unless you are parked in your garage.    

      The anticipation is increasing in Western Fairfax County as the first new county RECenter in 16 years is nearing the end of the construction phase. Scheduled to open in March 2005, the 65,000 square foot facility will be the Park Authority’s ninth RECenter.  Cub Run RECenter represents the next generation of recreational facilities for the Park Authority.  Cub Run’s 9,600 square foot fitness room, the largest among the agency’s RECenters will contain the latest circuit training and cardio equipment and other technological features such as the Fitlinx training system and the Cardiovision entertainment system. The swimming facilities will include two pools, a competitive pool for practices and meets with 175 person spectator area and the first in the county underwater drowning detection system. The leisure entertainment pool will have two slides and other water play activities.

      For the first time in Fairfax county history the RECenter will include a staff naturalist, offering nature programs and the full spectrum of active recreational pursuits at the same site.  This dual purpose approach is possible because of the RECenter’s proximity to Sully Woodlands, at 1,700 acres, the largest piece of “wild” land in the open space inventory protected and preserved by the agency.  Not only will the RECenter be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but with all these features and a gamut of class offerings for all ages, Cub Run offers uncounted options for active, healthy lifestyles. Check out the latest construction updates on line at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/rec/wcrec/updates.htm. For class information and registration call for your free Parktakes subscription (703)222-4664 or visit FCPA online: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks

            The Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services is looking for people age 13 or older to volunteer on Saturdays at a recreation and swim program for individuals ages 5 - 21 with developmental disabilities. Volunteers are required to attend an instructional class on swim and water safety in and around the pool. Volunteers will be paired up with a participant in the program to assist
him/her during the class. Some volunteers may qualify for the Joey Pizzano Memorial Fund to cover the cost of a lifeguard certification
class.

            Only three dates remain in the first session: Saturdays, Jan. 8, 15, and 22, 2005, at Providence and Lee District Recreation Centers from 1 - 3 p.m., and Oak Marr Recreation Center, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. A second
session is scheduled on Feb. 12 and 19 and March 5 and 12, 2005, from 1- 3 p.m. at Providence and Lee, and 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Oak Marr.

For more information and to sign up, please contact Sandi Dallholf at 703-324-5216, TTY 703-222-9693, or via e-mail at
mailto:sandi.dallholf@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

Kids and Teens