Highlights

Message from the President

Dear Mews Owners and Residents,

On Saturday after a busy afternoon of doing "errands" in terrible traffic along the Route 7 corridor, I took a left into north Fairlington and entered the relative quiet of our community.

As I approached a stop sign, I happened to look up at the sky and saw what appeared to be a bald eagle. I kept peering at the bird as it was flying away and almost rolled into a young woman who was trying to pass in front of me at the intersection. As an explanation of the almost homicide, I told her I thought I had just seen a bald eagle. Instead of yelling at me, which she every right to do, she smiled and said she had also been watching it, thereby confirming my sighting.

So why the story?To begin with, I thought seeing a bald eagle within five miles of our nation's capital was pretty impressive. And the fact that two strangers could share that moment with a smile spoke to me about the friendliness of Fairlington. Then in Sunday's paper there was an article about early signs of spring, one of which is the return of osprey "often mistaken for bald eagles when seen in the distance." So much for the young woman's and my eyesight!

Whether bald eagle or osprey, there are signs of spring changes in Fairlington.Daffodils are waiting for the first warm day to pop, the grass is getting greener, and tree buds are filling out. Some changes have taken place with the Mews board of directors.

Ben Margin has agreed to take over as secretary. Sher Opal, the Legum and Norman property manager, has announced she is taking on a new project and will no longer be managing the Mews and Fairlington Green. The Mews board

iswaiting for more information from Legum and Norman as to her replacement. We have been assured there will be a smooth transition, with Ms. Opal helping the new manager for a few months.

Some of you may have heard that Arlington was considering taking over the management of commercial trash collection which would include Fairlington Mews. On Tuesday, March 1, I attended a meeting concerning this possibility. The latest update is elsewhere in this newsletter as well as on the Fairlington web site.

Recently I received an email from a Fairlington Glen resident complimenting the Mews News. She said she uses it as an example of how a newsletter should look. Tom Corbin and Ron Patterson are the people responsible for the Mews News; Ron also keeps the Mews web site (along with many others) up and running and Tom is Co-Chair of our Landscape Committee. Thanks to both of you for a job well done.

Lastly, this is an early reminder of the June 28 annual meeting. There will be three vacancies on the board, two 3-year terms and one 1-year term, so please think about running. More information will be in the next newsletter.

Gretchen Martin

703.933.1368

News

to Muse

Arlington County Alters Plans Regarding Trash Collection Takeover

Arlington County is in the process of revising its plans in the County’s consideration of study recommendations regarding the franchising of trash collection in the county, especially as it impacts on multi-family communities such as Fairlington.

The current situation regarding the trash franchising proposal can be summarized as follows:

· The County Board consideration of trash franchising will not take place at the March 12 Board meeting as earlier planned.

· The public hearing tentatively scheduled for the May 7 County Board meeting will not take place.

· A feasibility study regarding trash franchising will be undertaken by the County and this study will begin this year and be completed by the end of this year.

· Any public hearings prior to the issuance by the County of a "five-year notice of intent to implement solid waste franchising" will not be scheduled at this time.

· Decisions regarding the issuance of the five-year notice may be dependent on pending legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly and currently residing on the desk of the Governor. This legislation will go into effect on July 1, 2005 if signed by the Governor and will require the County to meet specific criteria prior to issuing the notice.

Here is a summary of the recently passed bill (Full text at: www.fairlington.org/ArlingtonSWMP.htm):

· Displacement of private waste companies. Adds requirements to the procedures localities must follow before displacing private companies providing garbage, trash, or refuse collection services. Such requirements include making a written finding of at least one of the following:

· (i) privately-owned refuse collection and disposal services are not available;

· (ii) the use of privately-owned and operated services has substantially endangered the public health or created a public nuisance;

· (iii) privately-owned services, although available, are not able to provide needed services in a reasonable and cost-efficient manner;

· (iv) or displacement is necessary to provide for the development or operation of a regional system of refuse collection or disposal for two or more localities.

For more details, please read the news release (Overview of Solid Waste Management Plan) from the County along with the complete "Solid Waste Management Plan" (SWMP) and updates on this issue provided on the website at:

www.fairlington.org/ArlingtonSWMP.htm

Citizen Forum on Permit Parking
Scheduled On March 14

Arlington County has conducted over a year of community outreach related to the Residential Permit Parking Program and now is proposing changes related to who is eligible to participate in zoned parking, what areas may be zoned, how the program is managed and enforced, visitor passes and hours that zoned parking is in effect.

Before bringing these changes to the County Board for review and approval, County staff is seeking public input on their proposed recommendations.

The County has scheduled the following "Citizen Forum" on this topic in Fairlington (other meetings are scheduled throughout the County - for more information, check the Fairlington web site at:

www.fairlington.org/parkingletter.htm):

March 14 - 7-9 pm
Evening Community Meeting
Fairlington Community Center
3308 South Stafford Street

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 www.fairlington.org/mewshand.htm

· Board Minutes/Newsletters www.fairlington.org/mewsindex.htm

· Condominium Resources Site www.fairlington.org/condoresourcepage.htm

· Emergency Preparedness Page www.fairlington.org/emergencypreparedness.htm

Volunteers

Work

Landscape Committee

Members of the Mews Landscape Committee held their regular monthly meeting on January 18, with the gardening seminar on February 16, “Gardening in Small Spaces”, substituting for its February meeting. Residents are reminded that any Mews co-owner may become a member of our committee. Please contact Lori or Tom to confirm the exact meeting dates and time.

Committee members and grounds personnel conducted commons area “walk arounds” on February 7 and 9 to determine the spring/ summer landscape needs. Residents who submitted requests by February 15 (as announced in the last newsletter) or who had made requests last fall will receive attention during the spring work. A proposal for spring work will be presented to the Board of Directors on March 29. Residents with special requests for future landscape removals, replacements, or additions should submit their needs to the committee by July 15 for attention during the fall season. Installation is dependent on available funds.

Plant materials installed in the fall that did not survive the winter will be replaced during the spring months. Please remember to water any new landscape additions when there is insufficient rain.

Residents will receive copies of the 2005 Flower Bed Waiver form and a Landscape Modification form with materials to be mailed by management for 2005 recreation/ pool passes. These forms will also be available to download from the Fairlington Mews community page at www.fairlington.org. Flower Bed Waiver forms need to be completed and filed annually.

The King Street Photinia hedge row was cleaned in early February by grounds personnel. We have been carefully monitoring the health of the plants there and hope for some renewal this spring. Fairlington Villages’ Photinia has been attacked by the same fungus as ours, and they are planning to remove and install hollies to replace the diseased Photinia. This may be a future, necessary step for the Mews hedge buffering the 36^th Street residences along King Street.

Residents are advised that the recent “reduction/ rejuvenation” pruning on euonymus, spirea, Japanese hollies, and yews was announced in the January newsletter. Crape Myrtles were deadheaded and shaped. This is part of an ongoing program to renew the shrubs without replacing them. This year many overgrown shrubs were lowered below window sills; they will respond with new, vigorous growth in the spring growing season. Yews will be the slowest to rejuvenate. Next year the shrubs will be “pocket pruned” and shaped to eliminate the “sheared” appearance which characterizes our shrubs

Tree work, to include spring fertilization and disease suppression treatment, will be performed by Thrive (tree specialists) under the direction of Ron Rubin at the proper times this spring.

In this issue we are including a description of board, committee, and resident responsibilities relating to the common areas.

Contact Tom Corbin (tomrcor@aol.com) or Lori Olivas (lorolivas@comcast.net) for more information and include “Mews Landscape” in the subject box.

Recreation Committee

As the snow is melting and flowers are struggling toward the springtime sunshine, our thoughts naturally turn to those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.

You will be happy to know that the Mews Recreation Committee is hard at work updating the Recreation Pass form, and working with World Pool (who will be returning to the Mews for their fourth summer) to open the pool on Memorial Day weekend.

Watch your mail slot: we expect the Recreation Pass forms will be mailed out in early April, possibly with the Flower Bed Waiver form. If you are a renter these forms will come to your owner; if you are a non-resident owner, please make copies of forms and get them to your renters.

You can also get a form from Ann Timmons, Recreation Committee Chair - just e-mail ann@anntimmons.com or call 703-820-9589 and leave a message. We also hope to have a downloadable form available on the Mews web site in April.

To ensure that you get your actual Pool Pass in a timely fashion, the Recreation Committee requests you get the form to us by May 9th, 2005.

Please remember that the Recreation Committee is made up of fellow Mews volunteers who cheerfully process these passes in order to keep your costs - and monthly fees - down. Other condo communities in Fairlington pay their management company to have this done, which the Mews Recreation Committee will consider this year if too many applications come in after the deadline. See you at the pool!

Ann Timmons

Neighborly Reminders

Storage of Items in Common Areas

With the recent reduction in size and height of shrubs, many items formerly hidden behind them have been revealed! These are unsightly! Please remember that Mews Rules and Regulations prohibit the storage of personal items in common areas; this includes the mulched beds surrounding units as well as the stairwells. Please remove and store or trash such items.

Soffits and Facias (All You Want to Know!)

The roof’s overhang where it transitions to the siding is prone to leakage, particularly as a result of winter damage. The “soffit” (just behind the gutter) and the “facia” board (underneath the gutter) suffer when gutters back up and leak into the wood causing rot. Check these areas on your unit, and report any potential problems to management.

Tell tale signs of leakage are

1. Appearance of brown-tinged stains through the paint

2. Peeling and “bubbling” paint

3. Buckling of the wood beneath the gutter

4. Leaking gutters particularly at seams or from clogs that cause water to back against the facia board instead of draining out the downspout

Trash Update

Residents may have noticed that Jeffrey’s Trash appears early one day and late the next. Reported “sightings” have been as early as 8:00 AM and then again late into the afternoon. Trash regulations call for trash to be placed on the stoop or front sidewalk by 7:00 AM. Following this regulation ensures the pick up of your daily trash.

Trash pickup is scheduled for Monday – Saturday (except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day) and should not be put out except at the prescribed times so it does not attract squirrels, crows, and other rodents – e.g., rats. Trash, when spread by rodents or the elements, presents tripping and health hazards. On an aesthetic note, residents don’t like the appearance of trash left out for extended periods of time.

Large item pick up occurs the first Saturday of the month unless that Saturday is one of the trash pick up “exempt” days. Remember, a good neighbor picks up any loose trash on the street or in the courtyards!

Summer Mowings

Grass cutting is to begin April 1. Residents are reminded that grounds personnel will mow on Thursdays or Fridays, weather permitting. Please put your trash on your stoop or the sidewalk adjacent to your unit so the lawn crew does not have to relocate trash to mow the lawns.

Pet Rules and Regulations

Several residents’ have expressed concerns about the increase of animal waste on common areas and of unleashed animals in the Mews common areas. No matter how friendly your dog is, he/ she may become “spooked” by another animal, a vehicle, or a walker which could result in injury to the animal or a resident.

Remember Arlington County Law requires that all animals be on a leash when outside. Dog owners are also required by law to pick up and properly to dispose of all pet wastes.

Cats, for their safety and health, need to be kept inside. Cat feces in common beds can spread disease and attract rodents. Free roaming cats are also detrimental to the decreasing bird population.

Arlington County Animal Control may be reached at 703-931-9241.

Circuit Breakers

Perhaps you have lost power to a portion of your unit and were uncertain about the cause. Most likely it is a problem with a “tripped” circuit breaker. Residents should know the location of their breaker boxes; in townhouses and two-level apartments, it is located in the basement. To reset your breaker, find the one out of alignment with the others (all breakers should either be in the “on” or “off” position). Turn it off and then reset it on.

Continuing problems with a breaker may mean you have an overloaded or weak circuit. First, try reducing the load on the circuit. If that doesn’t work, call a licensed electrician as there may be a short in the line or a bad breaker. (Information courtesy “North Fairlington News”, February, 2005, p. 3)

Proposed Mews Community Day

Mews President (acting) Gretchen Martin has suggested a Mews Community Day to be held in May near the time of the opening of the pool. This day would be set aside for clean up in the commons areas (such as picking up loose trash, debris, etc.), planting annuals at the pool house; and sprucing up the community in general. Refreshments at the pool house area would end the day.

Gretchen’s thinking is that this would be a good opportunity to foster community involvement and meeting neighbors. The catch? We need someone to coordinate the day and to organize and plan the event. Those who are interested should contact Gretchen Martin at 703-933-1368. Details would be given in the May/June newsletter.

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

January 25, 2005

· Gretchen Martin welcomed Ann Noonan to the board; Ann is filling out the term of Gedeon Werner who resigned in the fall.

· Minutes were approved for July 27, 2004; October 26, 2004; and November 30, 2004.

· Gretchen Martin mentioned the new assessments by the County, which were significantly higher than last year’s; she said that tax relief is available in certain cases upon petition to the county.

· Management reported that the Mews received credit for the extra masonry work done in Court 1.

· A motion was passed 5-0 to split the extra cost on the installation of the parking lot signs with Legum & Norman.

· Tom Corbin reported that there was a deposit on the tree fertilizing program which takes place at different times for different species. He said that Environmental Enhancements had cleaned up the hedge along King Street. Gretchen and Tom discussed their efforts to determine who was actually in charge of cleaning up the area.

· The board approved two forms from the landscaping committee to be distributed in the spring with the recreation pass application.

· David Biette said that the contract for the pool was ready to be signed. Roger Taylor discussed options for repairing the tennis courts

· Seth Low requested that the line item for “common elements” needs to be broken down for specific projects so that budgeting can be better and more accurate. The board agreed to try to get a draft budget out for review in mid-April which would be presented at the May meeting, for a vote at the annual meeting in June.

· The board passed a motion 5-0 to keep the cherry tree on the north side of Court 11.

· The board passed a motion 4-1 to keep the three crape myrtles on the north side of Court 12, and not to remove one, and to trim all three

· The board approved a holiday gift of $100 for the Engelking maintenance company

· The board approved 5-0 a plumbing contract with Dwyer Plumbing for $14,400 to replace sewer lines in Court 14.

· The board approved 5-0 the installation of two new electrical circuits for kitchen work at 4637A South 36th Street.

Timely Tips

By Sher Opal

Management Agent

Representative

Your Association Funds at Work

We need contact email addresses for Court 4 (Myrta and Ricardo Alonzo), Court 12 (Victoria Lipnik), and Court 13 (Joanne Herman). Please forward an email contact address to sopal@legumnorman.com.

Continuing Maintenance Projects

· Masonry Repairs: Masonry Repairs: Work will begin soon in Courts 8 through 15 to complete necessary brick repairs. Seal Engineering, contractor, will distribute notices giving dates of work. Please clear stoops and close windows during work.

· Exterior Painting: Painting of door and trim work will be scheduled for Courts 12 through 15 beginning in June. Again, look for notices of the paint schedule.

· Concrete Repairs: An inspection of work needed in 2005 will be completed soon.

· Roof Replacements: The Board will determine which roofs are slated for replacement this season. There are still three asbestos tile roofs which need to be replaced.

· Parking Lots/ Curbing: This work has been postponed until the Finance Committee completes its study of replacement reserve schedules.

· Double Tennis Court Repairs: The Board recently approved the repair of surface cracks, the purchase of a new net, and the installation of a back board at the double courts near Mews Court 6. Work is scheduled for this spring.

· Sewer Relining: Work will continue this summer on the remaining sewer relining project.

Community Bulletin Board

The Board has approved the installation of a community bulletin board at the single tennis court near the pool which will be used to advertise notices relating to community affairs.

The Mews Association continues to improve communication to residents; the bulletin board will augment existing communication means: bimonthly newsletter, association website www.fairlington.org/mewsindex.htm, court rep contact, and direct mailings. Whereas the association makes every attempt to keep the community aware of necessary information, residents have the responsibility to read and be aware of all information communicated.

Management Q&A

Q: What resident maintenance items are not covered by my condo fee?

A: The following items are the resident’s responsibility:

1. Outside faucets servicing units with cut off valves inside the unit

2. All plumbing, electrical, cable, or telephone lines servicing a unit, whether inside the wall, outside the unit, or in the unit

3. All windows, door, and door hardware; exterior painting of doors and trims is covered by the association

4. All outside light fixtures controlled by inside switches

5. Back- to- back kitchen sink back ups – owners affected share costs

6. Water intrusion problems occurring below ground surface level

7. Patio maintenance (See Rules and Regulations 6. Grounds. F. Patios in the Mews Handbook)

8. Any trash requiring special pick up needs not covered in the Mews Handbook

Note: It is important for all residents to maintain the interiors of their units for the health and safety of the entire community. Interior electrical, structural, plumbing, or cleanliness issues may affect nearby residences.

Early Spring Gardening Tips

Do you find yourself staring longingly out the window searching for green? Are you anxious to get your hands in the soil? Are you plotting the size of the forsythia and cherry tree buds? Have you counted the daffodil buds? If so, then, indeed, you have it – Spring Fever!

Experience teaches that our weather does not “settle down” and become real spring until after Easter (always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox), so we must be patient.

Don’t be quick to put out summer material, for it will sit there or rot if planted too early. Remember summer annuals and perennials need steady night warmth to survive and grow. We all know that nurseries will have geraniums, marigolds, impatiens, etc. for sale for Easter, but hold off unless you want to replant.

Cold hardy plants – biennials such as pansies, calendula, snapdragons, sweet William can go in now as can early spring perennials which bloom with the spring bulbs. Nurseries always have tempting blooming bleeding hearts for sale, but be careful about putting these out too early as they can be zapped

Highlights

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