Quaker Hill Quill

FEBRUARY 2008

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FEBRUARY 2008

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FEBRUARY 2008

Annual Meeting—A Recap of 2007The 18th annual meeting of the Quaker Hill Community Association was held December 6, 2007. A quorum was present by proxy or in person. Lieutenant Gaunt, our police liaison officer, and the landscape and covenants committee chairpersons gave reports, and Board President Susan Thomas reviewed 2007 accomplishments. They include:

P Completing the Condition Assessment and Reserve Fund Plan.

P Approving new contracts for snow removal, landscape maintenance, pool and lifeguard services, and pond maintenance.

P Pruning and removing dead trees and shrubs throughout the community.

P Adding plantings and hardscape to the trickle stream.

P Improving the association website, forming a newsletter committee, and purchasing new sign boards.

P Working with Clover-College Park Civic Association and the City to improve safety and security.

P Drafting and distributing request for proposal to contractors to submit bids for pond dredging.

P Drafting and approving 2008 budget.

P Hiring contractors to address several items cited in the Condition Assessment and Reserve Fund Plan, such as repairing the retaining wall and fixing pool-related items.

Lieutenant Gaunt reported that there were 29 larcenies in our area in 2007, up two from the 2006 total. He reminded us that our area (Sector 3) includes the shopping center and part of the surrounding area near Quaker Hill. Lieutenant Gaunt also discussed the signed agreement between our association and the City that allows the police department to enforce trespassing and parking violations.

Open forum discussions focused on the new landscape contract, trash can viola-tions, tot lot concerns, and pond dredging. The Board noted that feedback and input from the community is valued and appreciated.

Board candidates were introduced and the elections were held. Ed Lacy, Susan Thomas and Rose Gillespie were re-elected to the Board.

Tot Lot RemovalBecause of continued complaints, the Board voted unanimously to close the tot lot. Prior to making this difficult decision, the Board kept the community apprised of the issues related to the tot lot through the newsletter, posting notices on both the community and tot lot bulletin boards, and open discussions at monthly Board meetings. The annual meeting notification letter specifi-cally mentioned the tot lot closure as a discussion item. The Board received considerable input from the community at the annual meeting, for which it was grateful. The Board is now looking into selling, donating, or reusing some of the equipment.

Landscape Committee Chair NeededA Chairperson is needed for the Landscape Committee to oversee the work of the committee and its volun-teers. The Landscape Committee has played a vital role in the landscaping needs of the community, often initi-ating projects and keeping the Board apprised of specific landscape needs. If you are interested, please contact a member of the Board or Northern Virginia Management (NVM).

Former Landscape Committee Chair, Becky Kilgore, has graciously agreed to maintain the flower boxes at the pool.

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TMPEver wonder what the Transportation Management Program (TMP) is? As a condition of approval for a multifam-ily development project, the City of Alexandria requires most communities to participate in a city-wide program that promotes the use of mass transit. Part of our monthly assessment fee funds this program. As a bonafide resident of Quaker Hill, you are eligible to purchase certain mass transit media at a reduced price. The type of media, the pricing and how to obtain them are published in this newsletter. It is an excellent benefit of living in this beautiful community!

Transit media are available for half-price through the Quaker Hill TMP. The Program offers:

ITEM COST TO YOU

$20.00 Metrorail farecards $10.00 (limit 3 per household per week) Metrobus tokens (20) $13.50 Alexandria DASH pass (1 month unlimited rides) $15.00

You can place an order for these items in one of the following ways:

1. Call Northern Virginia Management at (703) 941-9002

2. Email Northern Virginia Management — NVManagement@erols.com

3. Send your order by mail to: Northern Virginia Management 4306 Evergreen Lane, Suite 101 Annandale, VA 22003

Northern Virginia Management will send out your media, along with an invoice and stamped, return addressed envelope. Northern Virginia Management will honor resident’s requests to mail media on a scheduled basis. For example, if a resident uses the Metrorail passes on a regular basis, then we can arrange to send the passes each week or every other week. Please note that all orders must be paid before subsequent orders an be processed.

Board of DirectorsSam Hayes, PresidentSusan Thomas, Vice PresidentMarjorie Stein, SecretaryRose Gillespie, Treasurer

Ed Lacy, Director

Committee ChairpersonsCovenants: Sharon Crosby Landscape: Vacant Newsletter/Web site: Rose Gillespie

Clubhouse Telephone(703) 823-1911/1912

Northern Virginia Management(703) 941-9002 NVManagement@erols.com 4306 Evergreen Lane, Suite 101 Annandale, Virginia 22003 Effective March 1, 2006

The Quaker Hill Community Association Board of Directors meets at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of every month at the Quaker Hill clubhouse. Association members who wish to bring an issue before the Board should write to the Board in advance c/o NVM, 4306 Evergreen Lane, Suite 101, Annandale, Virginia 22003, or call any Board member. Meeting date changes will be posted on the clubhouse bulletin board.

Community AssociationPeople You Should Know

Trash DisposalResidents of single-family detached homes and townhomes are reminded that trash containers may not be placed outside earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the evening before collection and must be returned to storage not later than 7:00 p.m. on the day of collec-tion. Please put your trash can out of view on non-pick up days.

The regular trash collection day is Tuesday. During a week when Monday or Tuesday is a holiday, you may call the City’s Office of Solid Waste at (703) 751-5872 or check the city of Alexandria Web site at http://ci.alexandria.va.us for infor-mation on trash collection.

www.QHCA.org

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Paint Color SpecificationsSpring is just around the corner, and many Quaker Hill homeowners will be repainting and repairing their homes. Here’s information that will help in planning your work.

Approved paint colors are from McCormick’s Colo-nial Color Collection. Paint from other manufacturers should be matched exactly to the original color used on the house. Residents who use paint colors originally approved for their unit do not need to seek approval through NVM. Requests to change the original exterior paint color, including trim, shutters and front doors, must be approved through the community application process. Homeowners should submit applications to NVM according to guidance provided in the Quaker Hill covenants.

Original Background Trim Colors:

McCormick #108—Wheat: Homes on Ellsworth, Yale and Quaker Hill Court

McCormick #101—Amber White: Homes on Quaker Hill Drive, Dartmouth Road, Dartmouth Court, and Princeton

Original Paint Colors Used on Shutters, Front Doors, Roofing, and Other Appurtenant Structures:

McCormick #111—Tavern Beige; #117—Fawn; #215—Cobblestone Grey; #220—Georgetown Green; #224—Deep Forest Brown; #225—Old Colonial Red; #470—Smokey Pewter; and #479—Cape Blue

Decks and Patios

Approval must be obtained for all deck and patio designs and construction materials. Additionally, approval is needed to paint or stain a deck. No approval is needed to treat a deck with a clear wood sealer.

Metrobus Fare Increase A pack of 20 Metrobus tokens now costs $13.50. Tokens and other transit media are available through the Quaker Hill Trans-portation Management Program. See page 2 of the newsletter for more details.

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Pond Dredging The Board is reviewing bid proposals for the pond dredging contract. Residents interested in receiving a copy of the bids should call or email NVM.

Prior to awarding the contract, the Board and/or NVM will visit dredging projects completed by bidding contrac-tors and also invite contractors to make a presentation. A community information meeting will be held prior to the dredging start date. Depending on the length and com-plexity of the permitting process, the pond dredging may be completed before opening the pool on the Memorial Day weekend.

New Landscape Maintenance Contract ApprovedProfessional Grounds won the bid for common area and town home front-lawn maintenance. The contract provides that mowing shall be done on a 7-10 day cycle, weather permitting, from approximately late March to November. Additionally, edging shall be done every other mowing during the growing season, and mulching shall be done in the spring. Please be aware that front yard plants and shrubs are not covered by the front-lawn maintenance con-tract and must be maintained by the homeowner.

Retaining Wall RepairsProfessional Grounds was awarded the contract to re-pair the retaining wall located behind the town homes at 1249-1251 Quaker Hill Drive. According to the Reserve Study, the retaining wall is badly “deflected and appears to be about eight inches out of plumb in some areas.”

Report Suspicious ActivitiesA Quaker Hill Court neighbor recently reported hit and run damage to her car. Please report any suspicious activity to the nonemergency number of the Alexandria police, 703-838-4444.

Keep Our Community Attractive—Don’t Litter As Quaker Hill homeowners, we all care about keeping our community attractive and property values high. With side-walks and our beautifully landscaped pond, Quaker Hill is an attractive community that provides a pleasant venue for walking. However, no community is attractive when candy and gum wrappers, plastic bottles, fast food wrappers, and cigarette stubs, often known by that ugly word “litter,” are carelessly thrown on the ground and in the streets. Please help keep our community attractive by disposing of such items in the community trash receptacles, which are available at both ends of the pond, on Yale Drive, and on Quaker Hill Drive by the playground, and by reminding your children that they should do the same.

Label Your Trash CansPlease put your address on your trash cans and recycle bins. All too often, strong winds blow the trash cans away, or they are misplaced by the pick-up crews, making it dif-ficult to return them to their rightful owners. Several trash cans and recycle bins were returned to the City after they were found on the street more than a week after trash day. Please help your neighbors by putting your address on your bins!

Board Minutes AvailableQuaker Hill Community homeowners may obtain a copy of monthly Board minutes by contacting NVM. The sensitive nature of some Board discussion items precludes posting the minutes on the Quaker Hill Web site (www.QHCA.org).

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Spring Clean-Up Day—April 26The City of Alexandria will pick up discarded materials in the Quaker Hill area on April 26. This free service is offered to all residents who use city refuse collection. Residents who use private contractors for refuse collection are not eligible for this free service. To participate, residents should:

• Placeyourmaterialsatthecurb(noalleypick-up)before7a.m.onApril26.

• Materialsshouldbeplacedincontainers,andallbrushandlumbermustbetiedinbundlesnomorethanfourfeetlongandnot more than 75 pounds.

Examples of acceptable materials: Appliances, steel pipe, furniture, mattresses, lumber, brush, and tires that are off the rim.

Examples of unacceptable materials: Concrete, hazardous waste, unbundled lumber or brush, loose yard waste, and building materials (such as drywall). The City will not accept building materials left by private contractors.

Vehicle Oil Change and RepairPlease remember that vehicle oil change and repair are not permitted anywhere in open view on residential lots or common areas within the boundary of the Quaker Hill community property (Policy resolution Number 7, amend-ed March 10, 1997).

New Officers Elected

The Board elected new officers at its January meeting. They are:

President: Sam Hayes

Vice President: Susan Thomas

Secretary: Marjorie Stein

Treasurer: Rose Gillespie

Want to view past issues of our newsletter? You can find them on our Web site www.QHCA.org.

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Quaker Hill Community Association c/o Northern Virginia Management 4306 Evergreen Lane, Suite 101 Annandale, Virginia 22003

AdieuIn late November, a wildlife rehabilitator transferred our resident Muscovy duck to the Blue Ridge Rescue Center for eventual transport to a warmer clime. According to the Alex-andria Animal Rescue League, the Muscovy was stressed by the cold weather and wasn’t doing well. As reported in an earlier newsletter, Muscovies are native to South America and Mexico. They were brought to Florida and Texas to help keep down the mosquito and bug population. Needless to say we’ll miss him.