· Message from the President
· News to Muse
· Ben Marglin - Newest Board Member
· Click Here Dude - Mews Web Site Resources
· Volunteers at Work - Neighborly Reminders
· Board Minutes Highlights
· Timely Tips
· July Gardening Tips
· Shaping Up Your Tennis Game
· Featured Mews Resident
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The Newsletter for Fairlington Mews Residents Volume 2004 Issue 3 July 2004 |
MewsNEWS
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Message from the President
Dear Mews Owners and Residents,
On June 22, 2004 some
of us gathered together to attend the annual meeting of the Mews. Unfortunately
we did not have a quorum so the meeting will continue at the July 29th board
meeting. For those of you unable to attend, you missed an opportunity to see a
community in action. It reminded me a little of the New England town meetings,
where residents come together for mutual good.
Two members of the
board were elected - Seth Low will be returning to the board for a three-year
term and Ben Marglin was elected to finish the term of Rob Stewart. Ben is a
new resident of the Mews and we welcome him to the board.
One of the important
issues came out during the treasurer's report, which showed the reserve fund
diminishing due to certain necessary capital expenditures. Some residents were
concerned, so an ad hoc committee was formed to look at the long-term goals and
improvements and give input to the board as to the best way to finance them.
More information may be found elsewhere in the newsletter.
A quick reminder about
recycling: The Mews has a recycling program on Tuesdays, when the trash company
will pick up plastic and glass bottles, and metal cans. The items need to be in
separate bags from your regular garbage. On Wednesdays, newspapers are recycled
and should be placed in paper bags (no plastic bags) or tied with string .
Having a voice in the
way the Mews is run is one of the perks of living in a small community such as
ours. All are welcome to attend board meetings, call or e-mail board members,
or just talk to us when you see us. Enjoy the summer!
Gretchen Martin
703.933.1368
News
to
Muse
Formation
of Mews Finance Committee
At the association’s annual meeting, the council of co-owners unanimously
approved the formation of a Mews Finance Committee which will review existing
reserve funds and provide input to the Board of Directors regarding the funding
of and expenditures from replacement reserves.
Residents who volunteered to serve on this committee are Bob Hyde (non-resident
owner in Court 15), a resident in Court 8, Vail Mosier (9), Rosalind Singer (4),
Norma and Dick Taliaferro (12), Don Taylor (1), and Seth Low (Board liaison).
The first meeting is being facilitated by the Court 8 resident and Don Taylor. The committee welcomes residents’ input
regarding our reserves and replacement reserves and the need for long-range
planning of infrastructure needs. Look
for a report from this committee in the September newsletter.
Ben
Marglin - Newest Board Member
Recently
elected Board member Ben Marglin moved into Fairlington Mews (Court 2) in
September, 2003, and has lived in the Washington, DC area off and on for over
five years. Ben grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and received his B.A. from
Colby College in Waterville, Maine in 1993.
Ben spent three years
working on Capitol Hill for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and then returned to
school to get a Master's in Public Policy at Duke University in Durham, North
Carolina in 1999. Since leaving Duke, he has spent about five years working in
management consulting, first with American Management Systems (AMS) and now
with Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH).
During his time
with AMS, Ben focused on state and local government human services agencies,
working in the areas of child support enforcement, TANF (welfare), and child
welfare services, and traveled to many state capitals, mostly in Ohio and
Louisiana. Now at BAH, he focuses mainly on the healthcare market, but has
worked with several cabinet-level federal agencies, including Health and Human
Services, Veterans Affairs, Labor, and Homeland Security. Ben has enjoyed
living in the Mews and is excited to have an active role in the community
through his participation on the Board. He hopes to leverage some of his public
sector management experience to continue to make the Mews a great place to
live.
.
Click Here, Dude!
Fairlington
Web Site Resources
Many of you already
have visited and made good use of this Community web site - www.fairlington.org. Here are some helpful links:
·
Mews Handbook http://www.fairlington.org/mewshand.htm
·
Board Minutes/Newsletters
http://www.fairlington.org/mewsindex.htm
·
Virginia Condominium Act http://www.chadwickwashington.com/community/va.pdf
Volunteers
At
Work
Landscape Committee
Many thanks to all residents who have planted and
maintained flowers near their units and to those residents who have helped
water new plantings. Your efforts are
appreciated by the entire community.
Environmental Enhancements, our grounds contractor, has
been very responsive in addressing residents’ concerns regarding pruning and
general grounds maintenance requests.
Perhaps you have noticed that the crews have been on Mews grounds both
Thursday and Friday this year to see that our community is well
maintained. We have received many
positive comments this year about the overall improved appearance of the property.
The Landscape Committee will be meeting soon to consider
pruning and planting needs in preparing the grounds budget proposal for the
September board meeting. Residents with particular requests for
pruning needs, plant installation, or plant removal should put such requests in
writing to the committee. All requests will be considered. Major plantings are done in the fall and
spring.
Residents are again reminded that the installation or
removal of trees or shrubs in the common areas requires board approval (See
Chapter 8, Rules, Section 2 of Mews Handbook).
Unfortunately, this year management has had to request that residents
remove some plantings that were inappropriate or improperly placed. You may
request a recommended plant list from the committee.
The Landscape Committee meets regularly on the second
Monday of each month. Contact Tom Corbin
(tomrcor@aol.com) or Lori Olivas (lorolivas@comcast.net) for further
information and include “Mews Landscape” in the subject box.
Recreation Committee
Greetings from the
Recreation Committee: Ann Timmons and Joanne Herman (pool coordinators)
Shannon Watson (social coordinator), Roger Taylor (tennis coordinator)!
We are very happy to have World Pool back again. Jenny Casey is our pool
manager. We have issued a record 400+ Recreation passes this year! They are available for pick-up at the pool
(the colored file card box). Please remember to bring the pass (or keep it at
the pool) and sign in whenever you come.
Also, for legal reasons, we ask that you not 'lend' your pass to non-residents.
You are welcome to bring guests, but must accompany them and sign them in.
Also, please note that the combination for the tennis court locks is on the
back of your pass.
We have purchased a picnic table that is getting heavy usage in the common
area, as well as a new croquet set that is stored in the pool office and can be
used in the grassy area in the pool or in the common area.
We also were the lucky recipients of a donated gas grill that is just inside
the pool enclosure. All are welcome to take it out to the common area to use.
Just be sure to clean it off and return it (cooled down) inside the pool before
it closes!
Remember the July 4th pool party
with games for the kids and potluck picnic at noon (see details on page 7) - and the Labor Day picnic on Sunday September
5th at 4:00.
Questions? Problems? Please
address any questions to the Recreation Committee, in care of Ann Timmons,
e-mail MewsRec@biette.com, or telephone
703-820-9589. The Committee will refer issues to the board of directors as
necessary.
Neighborly
Reminders
Healthy Drains
As residents should be aware, the Mews has been involved
in a drain relining project to help eliminate costly sewer line repairs. Residents are reminded that they, too, play
a part in maintaining the “health” of the drains and sewers.
For complete information and resident liability for
drains see Chapter 5, (Utilities and Appliances), section F (Drains and Sewers)
in the Mews Handbook, March 1999.
Mosquito-Proof Your
Home
With the advent of summer’s heat and humidity, we face
the problem of mosquitoes’ breeding in our patio and commons areas. There are
some simple steps to help make your home “mosquito unfriendly”.
1. When outside, apply insect repellent
containing DEET. Don’t apply repellent
containing permethrin directly to skin.
Do not spray repellent containing DEET on the skin under clothing. Always read and follow any repellent’s
directions.
2. Drain all standing water. Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water, and
even the smallest amount is a potential mosquito breeding ground! Limit the
number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by emptying water
from flower pots, saucers and any other outside containers which hold water. Even tarps covering bikes or furniture can be
potential breeding places. Check gutter
downspouts for standing water. Also
drain and replace water in birdbaths weekly.
(The product “mosquito dunks” in birdbaths prevents breeding.)
3. Report dead birds to local authorities. Dead birds may be a sign that West Nile virus
is circulating between birds and mosquitoes in an area.
Complete information regarding this is at the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention web site http://www.cdc.gov
Tips for Home Fire
Safety
Shhhh….Quiet
Please!
Cool summer nights invite some residents to sleep with
windows open. Residents are asked to be mindful about inappropriate noise
(patio parties, whistling to call after dogs late at night, loud conversations
in parking lots, etc). No, it’s not the
movies, but quiet please!
Trash Reminders
Jeffrey’s Trash Service picks up trash every day except
Sundays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Regular trash is put out by 7:00AM the morning of pick up. Large Item Pick Up is the first Saturday of
each month. If you have a question about large item pick up, call management
(703-848-4339) or Jeffrey’s Trash (703-591-9550). Place trash on your stoop.
Please, please, please do not put trash out after regular pick up, on
Saturday afternoons, or anytime on Sunday.
Board
Minutes
Highlights
Complete, detailed Mews Board Minutes can be found on the
Fairlington Web Site at the Mews Home Page:
www.fairlington.org/mewsindex.htm
April 27, 2004
·
Gretchen
Martin, acting president, recognized the volunteers who do work for the
community.
·
The
Landscape Committee presented a proposal to enlarge and remake the common beds
in Court 1 at Wakefield and 36th Street South, and in Court 8 at 34th Street
South and 36th Street South. The board voted to approve the expenditure of
$1,800 from the Landscape Committee budget for this work, and to have the
$3,500 from the former landscaping contract reverted to this fiscal year’s
landscape budget.
·
Sher
Opal reported that the picnic table had arrived and would be put out in the
common area outside the pool. She said that the pool deck needed replacing and
that she would solicit bids for replacing it.
·
The
Newsletter Committee suggested that a separate line item be set up in the
budget for copying of the newsletter. There was a comment that eight pages was
sometimes too long for people to read, and a query about whether people
actually read the whole newsletter.
·
Sign
Committee. Gretchen Martin read from the Arlington County Code pertaining to
parking lot signs. New designs were presented for the replacement parking lot
signs.
·
Sher
Opal explained that painting and slate roof replacement work for two fiscal
years would be in this year’s budget. The acting president suggested that the
board look over the long-term schedule for repairs of common elements.
·
Management
reported on a new technology for the sewer relining that could save money on
the relining contract.
·
The
board unanimously approved the revised satellite dish resolution
·
Language
for Roles and Responsibilities of committees and court reps was discussed.
·
Management
reported that Seal Engineering had begun their inspection of damaged masonry in
the Mews.
·
The
board unanimously approved a request for a variance by 4634A 36th Street South
to install an exhaust fan, provided that it match the brickwork in color.
·
Proposals
to replace the slate on some of the roofs were discussed; the board had a preference
for 100-year slate instead of 75-year slate but deferred a final decision until
the May meeting. The board agreed that the first roofs to be done would be
those that needed it most, and requested that management communicate with
residents affected by re-roofing at all steps of the process to avoid
disruptions.
May 25, 2004
·
The
board suggested that all residents be given a copy of the roles and
responsibilities of residents and committees with welcome packets.
·
The
Landscape Committee asked that residents remove weeds from patios because they
reseed and self-plant elsewhere. The committee recommended that management and
the board walk around the Mews to see work that needs to be done. The committee
also expressed concern about the planting of inappropriate trees (particularly
trees that are meant for other climates) and the planting of trees and bushes
in inappropriate places. The board approved the expenditure of $700 from the
Landscape committee budget for watering certain new plantings during the hot
weather.
·
David
Biette reported that the pool would be opening on time and that new umbrellas
and stands would be purchased.
·
The
Newsletter committee asked for input and material from the board for the July
(and future) newsletters.
·
The
contract for new parking lot signs was approved.
·
Roles
and responsibilities for the Landscape, and Communication committees was
approved, as was the document on management tasks.
·
Roof
replacement was approved for $71,448 for the next two buildings on the roof
replacement schedule, with black-gray slate, copper flashing, and snow guards
the length of the roof.
·
The
board discussed the need for concrete and asphalt repairs throughout the Mews
and the need to look at how redoing all the parking lots might be done.
Concrete repairs in the amount of $15,535 were approved for sidewalks. Asphalt
repairs were postponed until a walk-through could be done, needs assessed with
money available for repairs.
·
The
board agreed to raise the deductible on the insurance policy.
· The treasurer presented the budget for the next fiscal year, with a 6% increase in condo fees. Because of lower market rates, interest income would be down $5,000. Insurance costs are going up. There was discussion about the possibility of doing more on-line and electronic communication. Utilities projections were stable and there were no other increases. Recreation committee budget was held constant which might mean reducing the hours the pool is open. The final budget, with a $2667 surplus, was approved to send on to the Council of Co-Owners at the annual meeting in June. Seth Low stressed the need to maintain the levels of the various reserve and replacement reserve funds.
Timely Tips
By Sher Opal
Management
Agent
Representative
Mews Board of Directors meets July
27, 2004 with no meeting scheduled for August. Tentative dates for fall meetings: September
28, October 26, and November 30.
Masonry Repairs
The inspection and bidding
process for these repairs is always time consuming, hence the delay in getting
the work started. The Board of Directors
will discuss masonry repair bids at the July meeting, and it appears that the
cost of the work will be more than originally anticipated. Reserve funds will be carefully evaluated and
used in funding this project.
Exterior Painting
Painting of Courts 7 through 11
began June 28 and will continue for six weeks. Residents in these courts
received notification regarding the project and their responsibilities,
especially those involving door painting.
The contractor will give 72 hour notice before beginning work at each
unit. Please address questions and concerns to management.
Upcoming Projects
Q & A
What
items are not covered by condominium fees? What items are the owner’s
responsibility?
The following items are the
owner’s responsibility:
(Check Special Q & A Regarding Sears Preferred Buyer’s Program
for Mews Residents - Page 8)
What
is the owner’s responsibility regarding patio maintenance?
backyard Maintenance
Responsibility: Rules & Regulations of the Association of Fairlington Mews:
6.
Grounds. F. Patios “Patios are limited common areas, set aside for the
exclusive use of the co-owner.
Structures may be no greater than the fence height, and patios must be
relatively neat and clear of impediments.
All vegetation within the fence is the responsibility of the co-owner.
Trees and bushes must be trimmed and may not obstruct common areas or
neighboring yards, and in general may be permitted to grow no higher than 20
feet. Climbing plants, such as ivy, are
prohibited on building walls and fences. Co-owners are liable for damage to
common property, including neighboring exteriors, caused by the plantings
within their patios. The Board may enforce the rule prohibiting trees to grow
above the fence line, particularly if their root structures are judged to
threaten building walls or to rub abrasively against walls or roof tiles, if
they disturb a neighbor’s enjoyment of his/her patio. ….” (Mews Handbook, 1999)
Month of July Gardening Tips
If you have been careful in your planning and diligent in
your care, your garden now rewards you with abundant blooms and growth! There are still “chores”, however, to keep
the garden going through the hot months so that it will be spectacular in the
fall.
Container Plants
Nutrients in the soil of container plants leech out with
frequent waterings. Regularly apply a
weak, liquid fertilizer (such as Peter’s or Miracle Grow) to keep containers
flourishing. A container in full sun needs daily watering. Recently the “trend”
in container gardening has been to mass a single plant in containers rather
than planting a variety in a single container.
The “mass” of one variety provides major impact.
If squirrels decimate your container gardens, apply a few
tablespoons of blood meal to the surface of the soil.
Pinching (Ouch!)
“Pinching” plants keeps them from becoming leggy. Simply snip off the growing tip where a leaf
and stem intersect. The plant will
branch at this point providing you with fullness rather than height. If you have been pinching your
chrysanthemums, they should be bushy now and ready to set buds as daylength
shortens. Cutting back leggy annuals (impatiens, begonias, lantana, salvias,
verbena, etc.) by a third and applying some fertilizer will revive them, and
they will reward you with more blooms. They may look ragged for a day or two
after such pruning, but they will revive.
Regular “deadheading” keeps plants neat and pushes their energy into
more blossoms rather than setting seeds. Pinch the blooms off of basil and
coleus to maintain a vigorous plant. Remember you can always fill in the vacant
“spots” with that healthy plant from the nursery.
Azaleas
Be sure not to
prune spring flowering shrubs (such as azaleas) as they are setting buds
for next spring’s blooms. Azaleas benefit now from the application of a
time-released fertilizer. Azaleas also will perform much better next spring if
not stressed now by excessive dryness. (Azaleas are very shallow-rooted.) Iris
and daylilies can be divided to provide you with new plantings. Plants setting
berries, such as hollies and pyracanthas, benefit from extra water.
Watering
Newly planted trees
and shrubs need regular waterings to get them established.
Apply a gently running hose to the plant’s base for about 20 minutes two
or three times a week when there is less than an inch of rainfall. If a hose is
not available, gently pour 5/ 10 gallons of water at the base of the tree or
shrub two or three times a week. Don’t
worry about the grass during dry times as it will go dormant and revive with
the next substantial rainfall.
Featured Website
Check out http://eat-it.com
, the website for “edible landscaping” located in Afton, VA. Their on-line
catalogue has some interesting exotics which can be grown in this area.
Shaping Up Your Tennis Game
Now that summer has arrived, how’s your tennis game
shaping up?
If you’re having trouble keeping the ball inside the
lines, try a stroke that puts topspin on the ball. Topspin brings the ball back down to the
ground by creating increased air pressure on top of the ball and reduced
pressure underneath it. Topspin allows
you to hit solidly and still keep the ball in play.
To hit topspin, begin your stroke with racquet low and
back, then swing up and through, ending with your racquet hand touching your
opposite shoulder. Keep the racquet head
parallel to the net (vertical) or the ball will rocket to the stars! Hit the ball out in front of you, and imagine
you are brushing up on the ball as you hit through it. Give it a try!
The Mews board is looking into repair costs for cracks on
the 36th Street courts. In
addition, three residents have expressed an interest in converting at least one
of the two courts into a multi-use hard surface for children’s use, perhaps to
include a basketball hoop. If you would
like to express your views on the future of these courts, please contact your
court representative, a board member or the tennis coordinator. If there is interest in alternative uses, the
board may consider taking a survey of residents to see which uses are most in
demand.
Tennis goers will have noticed we are once again locking
the courts. The locks are intended to
discourage children from using the courts for non-tennis recreation. Court surfaces and nets are easily damaged,
and repairs are costly. The lock combination
is on the back of your recreation pass.
Roger Taylor, Tennis
Coordinator - 703-820-8113
Featured Mews Residents
By Shirley and John
Lafferty
4664-B
S. 36th Street
back in the mid-1970's my single women
friends were starting to invest in properties of their own rather than continue
the renting we all had been doing since college. My cousin Sharon was one
of those people, and she bought a Clarendon here in Fairlington after carefully
researching the area. Once I saw her place, I knew that I did not need to
look any further.
In May 1977, I settled on one of the last units available for purchase in South
Fairlington. It is still home for me and became so for my husband, John, in
1992. One of our next door neighbors, Lori Olivas, also moved to Court 5
in May of 1977. Together we have watched the neighborhood mature and
improve.
Of course we all wanted to make improvements
immediately. Among the items to come first were pull down stairs to the
attic, screens, storm doors and storm windows, and landscaping the back patio.
Not being a gardener, I hired someone to develop a plan and make the
plantings. Little did I realize that the "three little trees"
included in my plantings would one day be as tall as the house and require
removal. Not everything grew up as nicely as so many of the wonderful trees and
shrubs which now adorn the village and provide a barrier to many of the sights
and sounds of King Street.
As time has passed, one of the great pleasures of living in Fairlington is
taking a Sunday afternoon walk. Getting good exercise in a safe
environment is just one of the benefits. Where else could one find all the
decorating ideas one needs simply by stopping at a few open houses along the
way. At no expense, you learn when it is time to paint the basement
white, replace the hot water heater, pull up that old brown carpet and refinish
the beautiful wood floors, raise the kitchen ceiling and get rid of the
"mustard-colored" appliances, replace the cloudy windows and who
knows what else.
Just when I think spring and summer are my
favorite times to enjoy the neighborhood, we get to the beautiful colors of
fall. Even winter has gotten better in Fairlington Mews with reserved parking
places. When it snows and you dig out your space, you know it will be yours
when you return. Not so in earlier days.
I would be remiss not to say thank you to the many residents of the Mews who
have given of their time and talents over the years to make this a place that
gets better and better. For all of the volunteers in the condo association, you
are assets of the community and make us want to continue living here.
