MewsNEWS - March 2004

Message from the President

“Serendipity”

Webster’s Dictionary defines Serendipity as: The gift of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for. We can all think of lottery winners or the occasional person who wins the jackpot after putting just one quarter in a random slot machine and consider this serendipitous. However, most of us never truly see these things ever happening to us. I personally never play the lottery (unless the jackpot is “really high”) because I have always believed that you had a better chance of being struck by lightening, on a golf course, while sinking a hole-in-one, on a clear day, than ever winning any real money. This may sound skeptical to you, but I prefer to think of it as historical realism. Having said this, you can imagine my surprise at the events which are currently occurring in my life.

Like many other residents of the Mews, I believe that we have the perfect home. The only thing that could make our home better than perfect would be to have just a little more space. For most, the term “more space” might mean a bigger closet or another bedroom. For me, it is all of that and another bathroom thrown in for good measure! Seeing that we live in a Dominion, this may sound a little greedy, but between five of us – we fill it up pretty well.

My wife, Teri, and I have talked many times about building out the attic or renovating the basement and even gave ourselves a deadline of this summer to decide our course of action. However, this was the furthest thing from our minds two Sunday’s ago when we were out driving along the Potomac down near Mount Vernon and we decided to drop by and visit with a friend of ours from church. We have been to this neighborhood several times before and always thought about the possibility of eventually moving there – but never seriously. While we were there we noticed an open house sign and decided to venture in out of curiosity. Within five minutes of being there, we realized that it offered everything that we needed for our expanding family. We decided that the opportunity was before us now and it might not be present by the time our summer decision deadline rolled around. The following day we put in a contact and by 9:30 that night we found out it had beat out the competition and been accepted! Our closing date has been set for early April and our lives have been trapped in a continuous whirlwind. This past weekend, our Dominion went on the market and during Sunday’s Open House, over 100 people came by to look. We expect to review contracts after only three days on the market.

So what does this have to do with Serendipity? Up until this point, nothing. However, as I sit and write this, I can see the pool out of my dining room window and I know that in just a few months it will be teaming with activity and emitting all of the comforting sounds of another summer in the Mews. I can also see the trees and shrubs all covered with buds and I know that soon the grounds will be lust and green again - the prize for enduring another Washington winter. I can also see the sadness in the faces of my neighbors, most of whom have had a front row seat for watching my kids grow up. I feel my own eyes well up as I endeavor to explain to my neighbors and fellow Board members the crazy circumstances that have taken place which have lead to this decision on such short notice. It is all of these things that bring me to the discovery that while we came to Fairlington to find a home, what we found was a community. I also know that while we now have more space for our family to grow, we will never be able to replace or duplicate the kind of community that exists here at the Mews. That is “Serendipity”.

It has been an honor to serve you as a member of the Board of Directors for the Mews.

Rob Stewart - President, Fairlington Mews

rstewart78@yahoo.com

News

Muse

Court Sign Replacement

The Mews Board of Directors has had under discussion a proposal to replace the court entrance signs due to the deteriorating condition of the current signs. Replacing the signs will eliminate the variety of sign shapes currently in place and bring a more pleasing appearance to the court entrances.

The new signs, similar in design to the existing ones, will be of cedar construction set in concrete; the colors will remain as a brown background with white lettering as exists throughout Fairlington. The white lettering will be enhanced with a reflective ingredient to improve visibility at night. Plans are to make court numbers and street addresses more prominent. In addition to the current references to “Reserved Parking” and “Towing”, the new signs will include “Private Property” and “No Solicitation”.

The design of the new signs will be presented at the March 23rd board meeting. Residents interested in commenting about this project should contact Mews Board members David Biette and Gretchen Martin (numbers given on the last page of this news letter). (Sample Sign on Page 5)

Obituary Notice

It is with sadness that we tell you that Margaret Avery, “Granny,” died peacefully in our home on December 29, 2003. She had been with us a little over eight years, and after two strokes and a broken hip, declined gradually in her physical and mental capacities. Remarkably, she remained a kind, generous, concerned person who kept her dignity and caring nature until the end. Her sense of humor never left her. Whatever anyone did for her, she always said, “Thank you.” Whatever she was eating, she always wanted to share. Some magical quality came through, engraved by the many years of her life, which even her great grandchildren felt: they adored her.

Granny was survived by her sons, Gordon and John, 12 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. She lived a full, rich and happy life as a bacteriologist, school teacher, wife, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother—of which 21 years were spent in Beirut and Tehran. She died, pleased and happy with her life, at the age of 102 years, 7 months, and 11 days. In spirit, she will never leave us.

Our love to you all.

Gordon Avery and Penny Glass

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

Work

Landscape Committee

The Mews Landscape Committee met on December 8, January 12, and February 9 at 7:00 PM at the South Fairlington Community center. Regular meetings are held on the second Monday of each month. Contact a committee member to verify exact meeting time and location.

Bartlett Tree Service completed its tree assessment in late January at a cost of $1350.00 which is applicable to services to be received. The report identifies the following needs to ensure tree health:

· Subsurface fertilization of all trees (over 300); fertilize 50/ 60 trees each year during a five year rotation cycle

· Treat identified diseases which include Wax Scale on Hemlocks; infestation of Obscure Scale on Oaks; infestation of Elm bark beetles; and Woodborer protection for Elms

· Removal of large Red Oak behind Courtyard 3 (or intermediate pruning)

· Correctional pruning of trees throughout the common areas

Total cost of all services would be over $25,000; Bartlett Tree Service and the Landscape Committee prioritized immediate needs and submitted a proposal for services at the February 25 board meeting. Services requested include:

· Disease Suppression – American Elms

· Insect Suppression – Wood Borers

· Major pruning – Red Oak – rear Court 3

· Pruning – Court 2, back 3602, American Elm; Court 11, front 3442 and 3422, Red Maples; Court 12, left 3520, American Elm; Court 11, left 3426, London Plane tree; Court 12, front 4625/ 27, Red Maples; Court 14, back 4627, Willow Oak; and Court 6, front 4686, Bradford Pear.

The Photinia hedge at the King St. boundary was diagnosed with Entomosporium, a fungal disease. To prevent future damage from this air borne leaf spot disease, the Mews board accepted a proposal from Environmental Enhancements to prune the hedge, allowing light and air penetration, and to spray with a fungicide, Cleary 3336, at 7 day intervals during the growing season as long as the disease is present. Three applications should eliminate the problem.

Environmental Enhancements also removed the trash accumulation on outside/ inside of the fence along King St. and removed three Red Cedars that had fallen behind Court 4. They also removed the ground chips from the stump removal in Court 2 and restored the turf area affected. Costs for ALL services from Environmental Enhancements totaled $3,350.00.

The Landscape Committee plans to fill in and correct some of the areas which were not planted in the fall planting. Replacement plantings resulting from the fall sewage work will occur in April in Courts 1, 5, and 9. (Residents of these courts were notified of the plantings last fall.) The committee is also considering work at the common beds at the 34^th/ 36^th Street corner and in Court 1, if funding allows. The two ‘Nellie Stevens’ hollies installed in Court 10 will be removed and two smaller growing foster hollies will be substituted. The two redbuds at Court 12 entrance (which have died) will be replaced with Kousa dogwoods or similar small trees in late March.

The spring clean up is scheduled to begin on Monday March 8, weather permitting. All beds will be edged. Beds not marked with a reflector will be mulched. Reflectors, indicating that residents do their own maintenance, must be prominently displayed in the beds to avoid confusion. The flower bed waiver must be on file. Residents maintaining their own beds must also mulch with shredded hardwood mulch.

As part of the annual spring clean up, Euonymus, Yews, and other overgrown shrubs will receive renovational pruning below window height to allow for new, more naturalistic growth. Euonymus will quickly recover from such pruning, and Yews will make progress over the growing season. These shrubs will look “bare” for a while, but this pruning will eliminate the need for shearing the shrubs in the future and will allow them to grow naturally.

Residents are advised that changing the landscape near their units requires a variance from the Mews Board of Directors. Such requests MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING to the Landscape Committee. Requests for pruning beyond what is included in the grounds contract and/ or replacement plantings must also be submitted in writing.

A calendar of grounds work for the 2004 season is included in this newsletter. The next Landscape Committee meetings are scheduled for March 8, April 12, and May 10. All residents are encouraged to become involved with the work of this committee.

Landscape Committee

Lori Olivas, 703-379-4927, and Tom Corbin, 703-931-0687

Recreation Committee

The Mews Board of Directors approved the Recreation Committees request to purchase a picnic table for the common area near the pool. The committee is also considering the purchase of some new umbrellas and tables.

This summer the Mews will once again welcome Fairlington FINS, the youth swim organization, during the second week in July. Practices will take place from 3:30 to 5:30, with a swim meet on the Friday from about 6:00 to 8:00. All Mews residents are welcome to come and cheer on our swimmers! Sign-up for FINS will be announced in the All-Fairlington bulletin.

The contract with World Pool for the 2004 pool season will be signed soon. Owners will receive 2004 recreation pass applications as we get closer to the pool season, and applications will be included in packets for new residents. For more information, contact the committee at mewspool@biette.com.

Watch for upcoming announcements of our first spring social hour. We plan to have an outdoor event in the green near the pool as soon as the weather warms up a bit!
Ann Timmons & Joanne Herman,

Recreation. Committee Co-Chairs
Shannon Watson, Chair, Department of Social Events

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.

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

February 4, 2004

Highlights

Inside