Fairlington Glen Newsletter
October, 2000

The Board met on September 26th and reconvened on October 3rd to continue its deliberations. Significant decisions were as follows.

ROOF REPLACEMENT. The Board approved a bid from Walls Contracting for the replacement of two roofs at 3601/3609 South Taylor Street and 4323-4343 South 36th Street at a cost of $71,695 plus the replacement of chimney caps in Courts 8 and 10 at an estimated cost of $6,480.

GLEN BUDGET FOR 2001. The Board approved a proposed Glen budget for 2001 which will be presented to the Community at the Annual Meeting. The proposed budget includes a modest two percent increase in fees.

FALL PLANTINGS. The Board approved a proposal from Living Colour for Fall plantings at a cost of $5,800.

COURT ENTRANCE PLANTINGS. The Board approved a proposal from Living Colour for Court entrance plantings at a cost of $5,440.

FALL TREE WORK. The Board approved a proposal from Davey Tree for Fall tree work (pruning and removals) at a cost not to exceed $2,170.

COURT 4 FENCE. The Board approved a proposal from Solis to replace the Court 4 fence at a cost of $3,559. The replacement fence will have round posts and rails similar to what currently exists.

ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting will be held on November 14th in the Fairlington Community Center. If you don't already have it, you should receive your meeting package shortly. The package includes a proxy form which should be returned as soon as possible, whether or not you plan on attending, to ensure the necessary quorum to conduct business. Proxies must be sent to Legum & Norman by October 31st or given to your Court Representative, Ricky, or a Board member before the meeting. Please follow the instructions for completing the proxy since failure to do so will disqualify it. Your proxy is important, so please return it promptly.

CONGRATULATIONS!

The Board extends its sincere thanks to the Pool Committee consisting of Kari Doyle (Chair), Arturo Lopez, Melinda Patrician, Karen Keyes, Anne Pickett, Katie McGrath, Paula Mathews, and Claudia Milbourne for a wonderful pool season. Their dedicated efforts in finding a new pool contractor, acquiring items such as the basketball hoop and ping pong table, ensuring the quality of pool activities throughout the season, and arranging for the great pool parties and other events is to be commended.

THANK YOU!

The Board thanks Kristin Thompson and Alison Burns for their leadership of the Landscape Subcommittee. Co-chairs of the Subcommittee since August 1998, they recently notified the Board of their resignations. Both Kristin and Alison quickly became familiar with the Glen landscape -- every tree and shrub! They could be seen regularly walking the Glen, looking for damaged or diseased trees, shrub pests, and areas needing watering or beautification. They developed a deep interest in the Glen and are responsible for major efforts to keep it attractive. Both worked well with Subcommittee members (a tireless group of volunteers), the Buildings and Grounds Committee, the Pool Committee, the Board, and our landscaping contractor and arborists, as well as Ricky, Michelle, and the County. Hats off to them for a job well done and a sincere Thank You.

LANDSCAPE CHAIRPERSON NEEDED

The Landscape Subcommittee needs a new chairperson. If you are interested, please notify Marge Angelo, Buildings and Grounds Committee Chair, at 998-5988. She can discuss the position and put you in touch with Kristin or Alison for details. This is a very important position in the Glen since our landscaping is such an asset to our community.

POOL NEWS
(Kari Doyle ... Pool Committee Chairperson)

LABOR DAY PARTY. The party was a great success with wonderful food, super music, and good friends. Thanks to everyone for their contributions in making it happen.

PING PONG TOURNAMENT. We've got winners!

• Youngsters: 1st Daniel Lopez, 2nd P.J. Corcoran, 3rd Neil Fennerty
• Teens: 1st Grady McGonagle, 2nd Ryan Fennerty, 3rd Johnathan Guerroro
• Adults: 1st Bob Vance followed by Arturo Lopez, Steve Spitz, and Doug Pickett

POOL FUN!. With the addition of the Ping Pong Table and the Basketball Hoop there was lots of fun to be had at the pool this summer. We have a great new addition for the 2001 season ... Ana Aiscorbe has donated a Fooseball Table. Thank you Ana.

STILL WANT TO PLAY?. With the beautiful fall weather it seems a shame there's no Ping Pong. We'll be happy to "pull out the table" for you. Just have the head of household call Kari Doyle (703-845-4904) or Arturo Lopez (703-379-0736) and we will be happy to move the table outside the pool entrance for you. Any damage outside of normal wear and tear will be the responsibility of the household making the request.

THANKS AND A FINAL REQUEST. It was a great year at the pool. Thanks to everyone on and off the Pool Committee for helping make it happen. Did you notice things you liked about the pool this year or have ideas for changes and improvements for next year? Please feel free to contact Kari Doyle with your thoughts and any of the other members of the Pool Committee with your complaints. We're looking forward to next year!

STATISTICS ON BURGLARIES
(Bob Patrician, former Security Committee Chair)

I recently encountered the following statistics with regard to household burglaries. Please consider them in light of each resident's participation in our efforts to keep Fairlington Glen a safe and secure place to live.

Where Burglars Enter a House...
One survey in Pennsylvania showed that:

• 81 percent of residential intrusions occur through the first floor;
• 34 percent of burglars entered through the front door;
• 23 percent through a first-floor window;
• 22 percent through the back door;
• 9 percent through the garage;
• 4 percent through a basement;
• 4 percent through an unlocked entrance;
• 2 percent through a storage area;
• and only 2 percent entered anywhere on the second floor

A study in Connecticut showed that 12 percent of burglaries occurred through an UNLOCKED door and that in 41 percent of alarmed homes that were burglarized, the security system was not turned on. (source: Simon Hakim, Temple University)

Let me also note that we need someone to take over as chair of the Security Committee. The Glen remains in touch with the County Police Department regularly; however, without a person committed to making that contact an active one, as well as to continue the effort to raise awareness among residents, our community will not be as safe as it could be. Please consider making this your volunteer commitment to the Glen.

PREVENTING WATER DAMAGE

Recent surveys by USI/Morgan & Cheeves have identified the major source of property and insurance loss as water-related and occurring "behind the door" - inside the owners' units.

Individual units contain several potential sources for leaks including washing machine hoses, ice maker lines, HVAC units, and dishwashers. Residents should check periodically for signs of potential water problems. Inspect all exposed pipes for leaks and check all faucets for leaks or corrosion. Equip showers, sinks, and tubs with drain screens to catch the debris, hair, and bits of soap that can cause clogs and back-ups.

Inspect the rubber connecting hoses for dishwashers and washing machines. Contrary to what some believe, such hoses do not last forever. Because these hoses wear from the inside out, a visual inspection will usually not reveal any worn spots. Some higher quality machines will have longer lasting hoses, but for the most part these hoses should be replaced every three to five years, or sooner if evidence of rot appears.

PERSONNEL INJURIES

For the second time in six months, an employee of our trash service has suffered a serious injury from broken glass placed in a plastic trash bag. Both injuries required hospital visits and multiple stitches. Please place broken glass and other sharp objects in the appropriate recycling bin or at least wrap it up securely so that it will not break through the plastic bags. Thank you.

AN EVENING WITH CATHERINE D. FELLOWS

An occasion of interest to all Fairlington residents. Please see the flyer on the back of the newsletter.

RICKY'S CORNER

• The crew is currently conducting preventive maintenance on all sewer lines including snaking and putting root destroyer in each cleanout.
• Once sewer preventive maintenance is completed, around mid-October, the crew will be cleaning leaves out of the gutters. Please note that this may necessitate the use of ladders in your patio areas.
• Please do not call Ricky regarding exterior rodent and pest control. The Glen has a contract with Triple "S" for these problems. If you see mouse or rat droppings or have actually seen the rodents, call 703-352-7738 and ask to speak to P.J. Gilmer. Interior problems are a co-owner responsibility.
• Please let Ricky know if you see any Court lights that are not functioning. These lights are essential to safety and security in the Glen and the crew may not be aware of problems since they are not around at night.
• Storage of items in B-Unit hallways and basements is generally prohibited and are subject to removal by the crew (more on this later in the Newsletter).

REMINDERS

DOG OWNERS. Please remember to scoop your poop and bag it! There are trash receptacles throughout the Glen where the bagged goodies can be deposited.

SEWER LINES. Sewer backups are an unpleasant occurrence and Ricky and his crew do everything possible to ensure they are an infrequent one. However, we need to support his efforts by keeping items that contribute to sewer blockages and backups out of the sewer system so that neither you nor your neighbors have to experience a backup. Please be considerate by not putting sanitary napkins, dental floss, baby wipes, paper towels, condoms, tampons, or diapers down the commode. In addition, please inform your guests, house sitters, babysitters, etc. that our sewer lines are fragile and must be treated accordingly.

INSURANCE. If you experience a sewer backup, the Glen's insurance policy only covers the cleanup of this mess. Any damage caused by this unfortunate incident is the residents' responsibility. It is therefore important for residents to have their own insurance to cover these types of disasters. Please check your policies to make sure that you will be covered for the replacement value of items if such an emergency occurs.

ILLEGAL PARKING. Towing is only allowed from your assigned parking space. You must have a towing code (call Barbara Walsh at 703-848-4332). Cars parked on the grass, double parked, parked in the entrances to the courts, or impeding the flow of traffic in the courts can only be towed by a Board member or an agent of Legum and Norman. Note that parking in front of the handicapped ramps to the sidewalks could result in a ticket from the Arlington Police, so play it safe and don't park there.

B-UNIT FRONT DOORS. The common front door of the B-Units may not be left open. This is a violation of the Arlington County Fire Code and has the potential for attracting rodents.

B-UNIT STORAGE. Bicycles and tricycles may be stored in the common hallways and basements of B-Units if all residents in the building agree and they do not block access to exits (some limit on the number may be imposed). No other items may be stored in the hallways or basements. In addition, nothing is to be affixed to hallway walls and plantings, furniture, etc. in the hallways is prohibited.

REPORTING PROBLEMS. If you have a problem or concern, you can contact the Ricky and the chairperson of the Pool Committee by calling 703-820-9567. You can leave a message by pressing "2" for the Pool Committee and "9" for Ricky. Please be courteous and don't call these people at home ... they will take care of your concerns as soon as possible. If you have an emergency maintenance problem and can not reach Ricky, please call the Legum & Norman 24-hour emergency repair number ... 703-734-0900

HANDBOOK. All residents and co-owners should have a copy of the Fairlington Glen Handbook dated November 1999. Please review it occasionally since it provides essential information to ensure that you and your neighbors enjoy the wonderful experience of living in the Glen. It is essential that you check the handbook before making major changes to your unit or altering the patio or common areas to determine if these changes are prohibited or require a variance request. Click HERE for the Handbook on the web.

MEETINGS

All Glen meetings are held in the Fairlington Community Center at 3308 South Stafford Street. All residents are welcome.

• Board of Directors, 7:15pm: November 14th (after Annual Meeting), December 13th, and thereafter the 1st Tuesday of the month
• Building and Grounds Committee, 7:30pm, 2nd Tuesday of the month
• Landscape Subcommittee, 7:30pm, last Wednesday of the month

ON THE INTERNET

Visit "http://www.fairlington.org/Communit.htm#FairlingtonGlen" for draft Board minutes (any corrections to drafts appear the following month), newsletters, and the Handbook. Please contact Kennan Garvey if you have comments on Fairlington Glen information on this site.

The Fairlington Glen Newsletter is a communication channel by which the Board of Directors disseminates information to Glen residents and co-owners. Please provide any comments or recommendations to the Board Secretary, John Fuller, at fairlingtonglen@aol.com, or to any other Board member, prior to the monthly Board of Directors meeting.

Posted on October 15, 2000