Get Involved!
|
F |
or many of us, our homes represent the largest single investment that we will make in our lifetimes. We would no sooner invest in stocks, bonds, or mutual funds without monitoring and managing them, yet, a majority of our Co-Owners do just that with their investment in Fairlington Commons. Ownership of a detached house demands that you manage roof repairs, painting, grounds maintenance, trash and snow removal, bill paying, and many other responsibilities. Ownership of your Fairlington Commons home is no different – except instead of one building on a quarter acre, it’s 54 buildings on 22 acres. Here’s a challenge. Step up. Make a difference. Take part in the management of your community.
Breaking News - Jim Sharp has volunteered as Tennis
Court Manager! We’ll feature an article
about Jim in our next Newsletter!
|
Fairlington
Commons Board of Directors |
||
|
Acting President |
John Sinks E-mail jsinks@comcast.net |
931-2660 |
|
Vice President |
John Rigoli E-Mail jcrigoli@hotmail.com |
933-2757 |
|
Treasurer |
Patti Burke E-mail pattisburke@msn.com |
931-2897 |
|
Secretary |
Bernie Weaver E-mail WeaverBW@comcast.net |
671-7024 |
|
At Large |
Dennis Maridueña E-mail dmariduena@gmail.com |
Unlisted |
So Long, Wayne!
|
T |
he March issue of this newsletter announced the impending departure of Board President Wayne Winterling, who has now officially resigned to concentrate on selling his unit and moving to his new home. Wayne served on our Board for over five years, and was a guiding force in many community initiatives. Thank you Wayne for your service and for bringing fresh perspectives to our Board and Community. Your presence will be missed!
Board Members Needed
|
T |
he Board of Directors will soon be searching for resident Co-Owners interested in serving as members of the Board. Bernie Weaver has agreed to fill the balance of Wayne’s term, but depending on a potential move, a Board position may become available late this summer, and several positions are up for election this fall. Board members serve for a three-year term. Interested Co-Owners should contact any Board member for additional information. Volunteers are always needed to support community activities, and volunteering can provide prospective board candidates with valuable insight into the management of our community.
Community Liaison Wanted
|
T |
he
Commons is seeking a Co-Owner interested in devoting between 10 to 20 compensated
hours per month monitoring, coordinating, and managing the myriad of efforts
necessary to maintain our buildings and grounds in the superb condition that we
have all come to expect. This article
ran in our last newsletter. If no
Commons Co-Owners express interest by April 30th, this position will
be opened to the greater Fairlington Community
Pool Schedule
|
T |
he
Fairlington Commons Swimming Facility will open for the summer swimming season
on Saturday, May 27th of the Memorial Day Weekend. The pool will be open daily, including
Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays, from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., except on
school days between Memorial Day and June 23rd inclusive, when pool
hours will be 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The
pool will close for the season at 6:00 p.m. on Labor Day Monday, September 4th. The
pool season may be extended at the discretion of the Board of Directors,
contingent on weather and budget.
Spring Cleaning Manpower Available
|
N |
eed
assistance weeding the patio, cleaning the attic, lugging that neglected
treadmill out of the basement, or more?
One possible source is our pool’s lifeguards, who are often looking for
additional work. While they are willing
to assist residents on a time permitting basis throughout the summer, they are
particularly interested in additional work between Memorial Day and the June 23rd
closure of Arlington County Schools, when many pools operate only part
time. Some help may also be available
between now and pool opening as lifeguards have already started arriving for
the summer. Residents would be responsible
for negotiating appropriate payment with the individuals hired. If you’re interested, please contact Pool
Manager Bernie Weaver (703-671-7024), or, once the pool opens; talk with the
lifeguards!
Paint Cans
|
R |
ecently,
a member of our Board of Directors discovered four empty paint cans in front of
his family’s unit. These cans had
apparently been placed there by a resident who was angry that AAA Rainbow
hadn’t picked them up with the trash, and wanted to send a message to the Board
of Directors.
While
at first this action may seem a sure-fire way to communicate with the Board, it
is actually totally misguided and illegal and could result in serious criminal
charges for littering and hazardous materials violations being filed against
the offending Co-Owner if they can be identified.
So
there is no misunderstanding regarding the appropriate disposition of paint
cans, here are the pertinent facts:
AAA Rainbow does not accept paint cans for disposal!
Not
as recycling, and not as trash. It
doesn’t matter if the can is empty, the paint dried, etc. They don’t take them. They won’t take them. Don’t put them out. If you’ve hired a contractor to paint your
unit, you are responsible for ensuring that your contractor doesn’t put them
out either. Task the contractor to
dispose of them properly.
Arlington County will
accept paint cans at the Household Hazardous Materials Facility.
The facility is located at
3155 South Fern Street, at the intersection of South Fern Street and South
Glebe Road. Arlington County also
provides for the appropriate disposition of other forms of hazardous or
environmentally damaging materials.
Please visit the Arlington County Web Site (http://www.co.arlington.va.us) for more details.
Again, you will have to take the cans to the facility.
Arlington County
Website and AAA Rainbow Provide Conflicting Direction!
The Arlington County
Website talks about placing paint cans out for trash collection. DON’T
DO IT! Arlington County does
pick up the cans, but only where they pick up trash. Arlington County does not pick up our trash,
AAA Rainbow does, and they will not pick up paint cans!
Dispose of Hazmat
Properly!
Placing empty paint cans in front of Board members homes, or in front of the pool, or throwing them in the woods is unacceptable and illegal. Anyone observed engaging in this behavior will be prosecuted. Anyone observing a resident engaging in this behavior is asked by Arlington County to call the Arlington County Police at the non-emergency number (703-558-2222) to file a report.
Construction Updates
|
B |
ob Turley, our concrete
contractor, is again at work in The Commons.
Bob has replaced sidewalks at 3337-3339, 3341-3343, 3357 & 3358 S.
Wakefield Street, is working on the Upper Utah Parking Lot sidewalk, and will
soon start drainage work at 3304 & 3305 S. Wakefield Street.
Grounds
|
O |
ver
the winter months, Commons Board Member Dennis Mariduena spearheaded an effort
by the Board to meet with concerned residents and Grounds Contractor
Bladerunners to address concerns voiced at the Annual Meeting regarding
fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, grounds maintenance techniques, and
equipment. This effort culminated in a
meeting between the Board of Directors and Bladerunners President Eric Storck
at which the development of a comprehensive plan that addresses Co-Owner
concerns and ensures the continued viability of our grounds was completed.
In
developing the plan, the Board was faced with two somewhat opposing goals -
maintenance and improvement of our grounds, and achieving that goal while
minimizing the use of chemical (herbicides and pesticide) treatments. The challenge was to determine the absolute
minimum level of chemicals necessary to maintain our grounds without loosing
control of weeds and pests. We believe
that our plan will attain those goals, and will continue to monitor and
evaluate as the growing season evolves.
Highlights
of the plan include:
Grass
Height. Grass will be mowed to a length of between 2
¾ inches and 3 inches. Increasing grass
height encourages a deeper root system and minimizes scalping of uneven lawn
areas by mowing equipment. Emphasis will
also be placed on utilization of proper mowing equipment for the specific
terrain. Grass height may exceed 3
inches during periods of rainy weather when conditions prevent mowing and when
the grass is growing rapidly.
Herbicides. Where necessary, herbicides will be used
sparingly to control weeds and crabgrass.
It is hoped that the taller grass and healthier root system will provide
an element of natural protection against encroachment by weeds or other
undesirable plants.
Pesticides. While it is impossible to completely
eliminate the need for pesticides, they will be applied only on an as-required
basis to prevent the rapid and cataclysmic destruction of grass, bushes,
plantings, and trees by pests.
Fertilizer
and Seeding. Second only to adequate
sunlight, rain, and rich soil, fertilizer is essential to the nutrition of our
grass cover. Turf that is well
fertilized with quality fertilizer and seeded on an annual basis has the best
chance of maintaining a healthy condition.
This year, the Board has approved reseeding of bare areas and the use of
high-grade organic fertilizer for the property.
Natural Products. This year, we will begin a pilot study of the effectiveness of Corn Gluten in lieu of artificial herbicide in the area between the lower South Utah Street Parking Lot and Utah Field. Corn Gluten is a natural herbicide better tolerated by chemically sensitive individuals, however, it takes longer to become effective and may not be as effective long-term as artificial products. The results of this pilot study will be used to determine the applicability of Corn Gluten to the balance of The Commons.
Equipment
and Noise. While Uncle Harry may still mow his lawn with
the mower he bought in 1964, equipment used in The Commons is constantly
upgraded and replaced as new and more efficient technology becomes available. Smokey two-cycle mowers that burned a mixture
of gasoline and oil have been replaced by four-cycle mowers (like your car
engine) that significantly reduce emissions.
Lawn and leaf blowers have been replaced with
models that reduce noise by 50%, and mowers are now equipped with Hydrostatic
transmissions for smoother and more efficient operation.
Done!
|
F |
ollowing
is a summary of work accomplished in the Commons since our last
newsletter. Please advise the Board if
additional follow-up is required.
|
Address |
Work Requested |
Completed |
|
3359
Wakefield |
Repair Back Fence |
In Process |
|
3329
Wakefield |
Check
for Animals in Attic |
In Process |
|
3348
Wakefield |
Post
Lights Out |
3/10/06 |
|
3345
Wakefield |
Remove
Stump |
In Process |
|
3332
Wakefield |
Gutter
Overflowing |
3/24/06 |
|
3311
Wakefield |
Seed
Lawn in Front of Unit |
In Process |
|
3332
Wakefield |
Repair
Common Entry Door |
In Process |
|
3320
Wakefield |
Multiple
Items Associated with Resale of Unit |
In Process |
|
3369
Wakefield |
Gutter
Paint Peeling |
In Process |
|
4645 S. 34th |
Remove
Two Bushes |
In Process |
|
3238 S. Utah |
Restore
Landscaping |
In Process |
Who Ya Gonna Call?
They
aren’t Ghostbusters – but they get the job done. Following is a list of Commons-preferred contractors. Prior Board approval is required for any Commons paid work. Plumbing emergencies should be immediately
directed to Mr. Anderson for resolution and a determination regarding payment
responsibility.
Painting, Brick Work, and Gutter Cleaning
John Healy 301-888-1041
Carpentry and General Repair
Patrick McCloskey 410-798-6350
Patrick Healy 202-497-2997
Plumbing
William Anderson 703-836-4716
Common Lights & Smoke Detectors
“Harry” Hue Tran 703-207-3446
Grounds Issues
BladeRunners 703-273-8873
Trash
AAA/Rainbow Waste 703-818-8222