Message from the President

Dear Mews Owners and Residents,

Ah May, when one’s fancy turns to thoughts of BUDGET?!?! At least that's where the Mews Board of Directors’ thoughts are right now.

The board, along with the finance committee, has had one informational meeting on the budget, and plans on another before the monthly board meeting May 24. We would like to invite all of you to the May 24 (Tuesday) meeting, held at the Fairlington Community Center at 7:00 p.m. where we will discuss the budget and make final changes. That final draft will be presented to all of you at the annual meeting June 28^th when you will vote on it. Your input is important, so please come to both the May 24^th and the June 28^th meeting.

Also, at the annual meeting on June 28^th, we will elect three co-owners to the board. There are two three-year terms, and one one-year term. You will receive a mailing explaining the process you need to follow in order to run for any of these board positions. We encourage you to think about volunteering.

You should have received the forms for the pool passes and landscape requests via US Mail. If you haven’t please let Legum and Norman know immediately. Renters need to submit their own applications for a recreation pass. The pool passes and landscape requests need to be completed as soon as possible and returned to Ann Timmons and Anne Wilhelmsen respectively. This helps make those two volunteers’ jobs much easier.

Last but definitely not least, the Mews board would like to thank Sher Opal for all the work she has done on behalf of the Mews. She is leaving us to manage a newly-formed community which will give her an exciting challenge. She has acted not only as our manager, but also as our historian, and we will miss that. We wish her well in her new position.

Our new manager is Steve Navar. His introduction and information is included elsewhere in this issue. Please welcome him as you have contact with him.

See you at the pool!

Gretchen Martin

703.933.1368

News

to Muse

Mews Condominium Association Annual Meeting - June 28

The Mews Condominium Association will hold its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 28. The main business at the meeting will include an election for Board members and the presentation of the FY 2006 Budget.

An election will be held for three Board positions which expire this year. The incumbents for the three vacancies are Gretchen Martin, Ben Marglin, and Ann Noonan. Interested candidates are encouraged to complete candidate’s statements which will be mailed out to all residents in May. These forms must be returned by June 1st.

Legum & Norman Assigns New Community Manager to Mews

The Mews Condominium Association Board and Legum and Norman have announced that our Community Manager Sher Opal has accepted a position in another community. Steve Navar (see background/experience below) has been named by L&N as Sher’s replacement in both the Mews and the Green Condominium Association.

Sher has served as our management representative for 16 years. Sher has written a farewell letter to Mews residents (see below).

Treasurer’s Report

By Seth Low, Treasurer

While no decision has been made by the Board, projections for the upcoming FY 2006 budget indicate that there will be an increase in the monthly assessment fees. One of the drivers of the increase is the higher anticipated cost for water and sewer utilities.

Historically, water and sewer utilities are the highest of all the Mews expenses and, as noted above, will cost even more under the FY 2006 budget. Should you have any leaking faucets or running toilets, why not plan to get them repaired now. The water you save is not only the environmentally right thing to do, but makes good business sense as well.

So what else can you do to hold down the costs of maintaining Fairlington Mews? The short answer is to be active in the community. You are the eyes and ears of the Board and we need your help. For example, if you see a condition in the Mews that you think is a hazard, such as broken pavement that someone might trip on, report such conditions so that they may be taken care of as soon as possible.

So what do you say? Please join the challenge and help us to make the Mews the best, most cost effective condo association of all the Fairlington associations.

Arlington County Cuts The Real Estate Tax, Approves Homeowner’s Grant Program And Increases Income And Asset Limits For Tax Relief For The Elderly

The Arlington County Board has cut the real estate tax rate by 8 cents, reducing real estate taxes from 95.8 cents to 87.8 cents per hundred dollars of assessed value. The tax rate change became official April 15, 2005 and June 2005 real estate tax payments will reflect the lower rate. The new rate is the lowest tax rate in 12 years and the largest rate reduction in 15 years.

Homeowner’s Grant Program

The Board approved a Homeowner’s Grant Program to help those in greatest need: low and moderate income homeowners. The Homeowner's Grant Program:

Effectively reduces or freezes tax bills for thousands of Arlington households by providing $500 to any household in Arlington with an income of $72,000 per year or less and who have assets within the limit and providing an additional $50 for each dependent in a qualifying household.

Expanded Tax Relief for Elderly and Persons with Disabilities

The Board increased the income and asset limits - to the maximum permitted by State law – for the County’s tax relief program for the elderly and persons with disabilities. The expanded tax relief program: raises the income limit from $62,000 to $72,000; raises the asset cap from $240,000 to $340,000; and provides tax exemptions of 100 percent, 50 percent or 25 percent for households that qualify. Any balance can be deferred for as long as the person owns the home.

Additional information on these tax relief programs can be found at:

http://www.co.arlington.va.us/Portals/Topics/TopicsTaxReliefAfford.aspx

- Submitted by Ann Noonan, At Large Board Member

Current Status of Trash Franchising by Arlington County

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. (Check Here for Full Text of HB 2168)

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

News Tidbits

Spraying Notifications

The signs posted for recent spraying applications read “pesticide”. No pesticide was sprayed; rather a safe pre-emergent for weed control was applied. This sign, a warning to residents to keep off the turf, is the same sign used throughout Fairlington by grounds contractors.

Posting of the notification indicates an application will be applied and warns residents to keep off the grass. Once the application is applied, a date is added to the back of the sign. A calendar of grounds activities was published in the January, 2005 newsletter for the year and indicated pre-emergent spraying and fertilization for mid-April, the time the recent signs were posted.

According to the grounds contractor, even during the actual spraying process many residents continued to walk on and to have pets on the areas being sprayed.

Common Area Trash Cans

In a March 30^th email from Manager Sher Opal, the cleaning crew that maintains the “stairwell” buildings is now emptying the common area trash cans on Tuesdays and Fridays as part of their Mews duties.

“Free Newspaper” as Litter

Many residents have been receiving the free paper, “The Examiner”, without actually subscribing to it. Apparently the only way to end the paper is to call the number given and “unsubscribe”. Many of the unwanted papers are ending up as litter in the shrubs near stoops. Please properly dispose of the paper and call the paper to unsubscribe if you do not want the subscription to continue.

Pet Reminders

With the return of warm weather, we thought it a good idea to remind neighbors about Mews and county pet regulations as there have been increasing concerns related to dogs and dog walkers.

Dog owners must pick up after their pets and properly dispose of solid wastes. Fairlington Mews has beautiful open spaces within our community, and some dog owners think that it is OK not to clean up dog feces in these areas. This is not the case. Cleaning up after dogs is an Arlington County ordinance.

Arlington County requires that all pets be on a leash when on common areas or the sidewalks. In the neighboring Meadows association, a resident was recently bitten by an unleashed dog.

Please be careful to see that your dogs do not walk in or relieve themselves in the common beds throughout the Mews or in those beds being maintained by gardeners. It is not an uncommon sight to find a dog owner busily talking on a cell phone while his/ her dog tramples the plants and shrubs in the common beds.

Another problem from dogs is urine burns on the lawns. Please be considerate of where you let your pet relieve itself. The Mews has a dog exercise area located at the corner of 34^th and 36^th Streets. Arlington County maintains a dog park at Utah Field. Mews tennis courts should never be used as dog runs.

Roaming cats are also a problem. Roaming creates opportunities for disease and also risks from predators, such as foxes in the area. Roaming cats diminish the already declining bird population. Cat feces in common beds create a health hazard.

As the days get longer and the evenings warmer, please consider the needs of your neighbors and keep noise to a minimum after dark. Please don't whistle after your dog late at night (and no tennis or basketball after dark, please!!!).

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

The Mews Landscape Committee held regular monthly meetings on March 14 and April 11 at the South Fairlington Community Center. Residents are reminded that the committee generally meets on the second Monday of the month, but those interested in attending should call the co-chairs to confirm the meeting date and location.

Environmental Enhancements completed spring planting during the week of April 25. Summer annuals at the two common beds (Courts 1 and 8) and at the pool house entrance will be planted in May. Residents are asked to monitor all plantings (especially ones installed in fall, 2004 and spring, 2005) near their homes for watering needs. Plant warranties are “null and void” when residents do not water.

Ron Rubin of Thrive (tree health specialists) fertilized and sprayed trees identified last winter as having special health needs. Elm tree injections to prevent Dutch elm disease will occur in June.

Reminders for Residents

· Beds with reflectors were not mulched during the spring clean up. Those who maintain their own beds (reflector beds) need to mulch with premium double shredded hardwood mulch so their beds maintain the uniform appearance of all common areas.

· A “flower bed waiver form” must be submitted annually for all residents who maintain their own beds.

· Only red brick borders described in the Mews Handbook are permitted as edging. All other border types require a variance.

· Planting any tree or shrub in the common area requires approval after submitting a “Landscape Modification” request form. Please understand that some plants, roses and hydrangeas for example, are high maintenance items and should not be planted in the common areas.

· Creating or enlarging any bed in the common areas where none existed before requires approval after submitting a “Landscape Modification” request form.

· The Mews Board of Directors reserves the right to remove any plant materials or borders improperly installed or maintained.

Residents with specific landscape needs must submit their requests for fall planting by July 15. All submitted items will be considered. Please use the form mailed to all owners in April, 2005; you may also download a copy of the form from the Mews website at www.fairlington.org.

Environmental Enhancements tries to mow (weather permitting) on Thursdays or Fridays. Please do not stack your trash so that the mowers have to move it in order to mow. Handbook rules state that properly bagged trash is to be placed on your stoop or front sidewalk by 7:00 AM on the morning of pick up.

Mary Pierce, Julie Taylor, and Tony Ruth of Arlington County Parks and Recreation have been working with the Landscape Committee to address some of the needs of the street trees that border Mews property. When work is to be done, the county posts “no parking” signs; please be diligent and obey the dates and times given for tree work. In some instances, residents have removed the signs.

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

The 2005 Fairlington Mews Pool Season begins May 28^th! Please submit your pool recreation pass application to Ann Timmons (4638 South 34^th Street) ASAP in order to get your pass on opening weekend. You may pick it up at the pool.

Renters, call Ann at 703-820-9589 to get an application (if your owner has not passed one on to you).

Passes may take up to 10 days to process, so get yours in before the fun starts. Remember that you can download it from our website at: http://www.fairlington.org/MewsRecreationPage2005.htm.

Also, be sure to read the 2005 Mews Pool rules as they will be enforced by our lifeguards. This year we welcome back the Casey family (Jenny, Meaghan and Heather)to staff our pool. They will be joined once again by the Mews= own Taylor Beaumont!.

Don=t forget our other summer recreation/social events: the family potluck on July 4^th, at 12:30 (fun and games for the whole family!) and Labor Day (time To Be Determined).

The 2005 Mews Pool Season will close with our Third Annual Dog Swim (more specifics to follow at a later date - watch for notices posted at the pool). Also, watch for impromptu Friday evening gatherings at the picnic table Aon the green,@ beginning about 6:00p.m. These al frescos, bring-what-you-can cocktail parties are a wonderfully informal way to get to know your neighbors, and occur with great regularity anytime the weather is good!

Fairlington FINS returns to MEWS!

Fairlington FINS (Friends Interested in Neighborhood Swimming) is a fun and instructional swim program for children ages 5-14. FINS runs for 4 weeks in July, with afternoon practices and a Friday evening meet.

The Mews has agreed to host FINS again this year from July 11^th to July 15^th. FINS will utilize two lanes of the pool Monday – Thursday (July 11^th – July 14^th) from 3:30 to 5:20 pm. On Friday, we will have our swim meet starting at 6:00 and ending around 7:30. Come join us to cheer on our Mews swimmers and have some fun! Applications for FINS are still available; contact Sue Shapiro 703-671-4098 or dsha@netscape.com.

See you at the pool!

Ann Timmons

Tennis Update

Later this spring our tennis courts on 36^th Street will receive some needed maintenance and repair. The cracks will be filled, new nets are going in, and a fiberglass backboard will be installed—a great tool for fine tuning your ground strokes or just getting some hitting and exercise in without having to find a partner.

Please note that players using the backboard must yield the court to those wishing to play tennis. The single court by the pool will also receive a new net.

It was disappointing to discover that someone recently vandalized the poolside tennis court’s lock, abrading the number dials with a rock so that the lock no longer operates. We will replace the lock, but the misconduct points to a lack of respect for our community’s resources, for the volunteers who work to make the Mews an attractive place to live, and for the democratic process we use to make collective decisions about running our community.

Please do not use the poolside court for anything except tennis. The court surface and the net can be damaged by other activities, creating unnecessary costs for all of us.

Tennis Tips

Serve Basics

Hitting a decent serve can be elusive for the casual player who hasn’t had a lot of lessons. Here are a few tips on form to get that ball in with a little zip on it.

For the basic flat serve, hold the racket with a continental grip—right in between a forehand and a backhand grip. Your shoulders should be sideways to the net as you begin your serve. Toss the ball so that, if let fall, it bounces a foot inside the court, in front of you and just a little to the right. A lot depends on a good toss, so practice your toss without hitting it—just let it drop and see if it’s coming down where it should.

For the actual serve, once you have tossed the ball, leave that arm up in the air until you swing your racket. The idea is to begin with the shoulder of your tossing arm high and racket shoulder low (with the racket held behind your head/upper back), then see-saw your shoulders as you swing, with your racket arm and shoulder coming up to meet the ball and the other arm coming down.

Your racket and arm should be extended straight out, with that shoulder as high as it can be as you make contact with the ball. With that motion you can get all the power you need without having to muscle the ball or expend a lot of arm strength. This will also help avoid injury to your shoulder.

Good luck!

Roger Taylor

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 22, 2005

· January Board Meeting Minutes approved

· President’s report – Secretary position filled until Annual Meeting in June. At that point all Board positions will be revisited. Also, property management firm still needs to find replacement manager and will revisit this issue in the next few weeks.

· Treasurer’s report – Surplus of $20,416 reported. Draft FY 2004 audit received – will be reviewed and comments sent back to auditor to hopefully review and approve a final version at the next Board Meeting.

· Landscape Committee – Two new landscape forms will be sent out with new pool application. Also, as a result of comments by resident, a pruning notice was sent out explaining the pruning process to residents.

· Recreation Committee – Pool application being reviewed again. Also, need to be sure that pool contract includes post season pro-rated rate language.

· Recreation Committee – Board discussed the idea of having a Community Day this spring. No specific actions were taken.

· Recreation Committee – Board discussed options for and approved a motion for tennis court repairs.

· Newsletter Committee – Deadline of 3/4/05 for submission for next newsletter.

· Finance Committee – Committee has met to discuss projected reserve expenditures. Will work with property management to provide recommendations for FY 2006 budget.

· Monthly Financial Management – Property Management to check on utility late fee payments.

· Monthly Financial Management – The Board discussed the ongoing sewer relining project.

· Old Business – The Board approved a motion to purchase a community bulletin board.

· Old Business – The Board rejected two resident claims (for a disputed plumbing bill and a sewer backup furniture repair bill) for payment/reimbursement by the Mews Association.

Timely Tips

By Sher Opal

Management Agent

Representative

Your Association Funds at Work

We still 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 snavar@legumnorman.com.

Continuing Maintenance Projects

· Masonry Repairs: These repairs started in the fall were completed in Courts 1 thru 7. In the spring, Courts 8 thru 15 will be completed. Look for notices in the spring from Seal Engineering, who is working with the contractor on this project. We ask that you keep your windows closed during these repair, because there will be mortar dust in the air.

· Exterior Painting - Courts 12-15 scheduled for June 2005.

· Sewer Relining Project: Out of the 43 Association maintained main sewer lines, there are 30 more lines in need of relining. We have completed year 2 of a 10 year contract to reline the terracotta sewer l

Highlights

Inside

Homeowner’s Grant Program

Expanded Tax Relief for Elderly and Persons with Disabilities