Happy New Year. We hope everyone had a nice Christmas.
More information in this newsletter than most. We hope you will read it. There are additional Reston Assn. approvals, etc in this newsletter.
Welcome to new owner and residents Rose Pawlowicz and Joseph Cappuccitti at 2139 Colts Neck Court.
Also welcome to Chao Cao and Xiaojing Wu, the new tenants at 11854 South Lakes Court.
Congratulations to Greg Copeland and Titi Lawani of 2119 Colts Neck Court who got married on December 18th in the Dominican Republic.
We recently said goodbye to Lisa Powell (2139 Colts Neck Court) and Jimmy Lutz, Michelle Huang & Denver Lutz (2135 Colts Neck Court as well as Paige & Keith Hall and their children who were tenants at 2111 Colts Neck Court.
In December we also lost Bernie Woodard at 2115 Colts Neck Court and Claude Krijgelmans at 2125 Colts Neck Court. See the end for tributes to these gentlemen as well as a special request from a close friend of Bernie's.
Christmas Tree collection: Patriot Disposal has advised that Christmas trees can be put out for pick-up the first two Saturdays in January – the 7th and 14th. All tinsel and decorations must be removed. The trees should not be placed in plastic bags as they will be composted. Any trees not put out on those two days will need for you to take them to the landfill. They cannot be thrown in the woods.
Snow: There are some new people this year to learn of the snow policy. For some this is merely a reminder.
The snow contract only covers the parking lots, and for liability reasons, they do not get very close to the cars.
It is your responsibility to shovel your walk and the main cluster walk in front of your house.
Keep a path in front of the mailboxes!
Help your neighbors who may have difficulty shoveling their own walks. Some of our neighbors are not as young as others! We need to all look out for each other and generally do a good job of that.
When shoveling out your vehicle, do not put your snow in the path of another car, in a neighbor's unoccupied space, or on the sidewalks.
If the snowplow has not been through, you can put a limited amount in the drive, but it must not impede the plow or other vehicles. Otherwise you must push it to the curb - or on the island on Colts Neck – no fun!
Help the parking lots to drain faster by removing leaves from the gutter pans in front of your cars.
On South Lakes Court, one spot per house is reserved. It is permissible to park in any unmarked spot, but when there is snow, be considerate of your neighbors. If they have taken the time and shoveled out one of the extra spots, leave it for them until all spaces are open again. Two cars on South Lakes will always have to move when it snows as the end cars will be blocked in by the snow plow. The snowplow will push snow to the ends of the parking lots, so some normally reserved spots may not be available while the snow blocks them. If you plan to have guests, you may need to shovel out another space or park on Old Crafts Street, the side street up South Lakes Court or on Golf Course Drive across the golf course, both of which have on street parking.
Some residents on Colts Neck Court, who are not regularly using their second spot, may be agreeable to providing that space to neighbors who have extra cars or who will be blocked by the pushed snow to give more clearance for the snowplows. If you would like to volunteer, please contact your neighbors. The forecast for this winter is all over the place, from 6 inches to 2 feet. One local station suggests one big storm and a couple of other smaller ones. Keep in mind that volunteering a spot could mean the loss of that spot for an extended period.
Last winter we had three storms which required plowing the parking lots in the first two weeks of January, then did not make the 2" cutoff for others although there were some more smaller snows.
Sand is available in the "sand containers" for traction. There is a container located on each side of the cluster. Please do not use it on the walks - it tracks badly into people's homes. Kitty litter is also great for traction under cars, but it tracks even worse into homes if put on the walks. Any product used on the main walks should be one that will not damage the concrete, so please check the labels. A lot of our sidewalks were replaced this year. Please clear the walks and do not use heavy amounts of salt or products that can eat through the walks. Sweep or blow off extra amounts.
Those who can help others shovel, please do so. We have several residents not as young as some of the others! Snow and ice is hazardous and we don't want anyone falling ho was unable to shovel their own walk.
Our snow contractor only comes when we have 2" of snow on the ground. We pay one price for the first 5" of snow and then per inch afterwards. The contract is based on snow measured at Dulles which sometimes is to their advantage and sometimes to ours.
Trash: if you have not signed up for the unmonitored e-mail account, please do so. That is how we will alert you if we find out that trash pickup is being suspended due to weather conditions. On these days there is no makeup day. The safety of the crews and others on the road is the priority and winter conditions could affect the trash pickup. Let's hope for little snow on trash days and no ice.
Please secure your recyclables on windy days. A number of residents have gone to recycling bins they purchased which have lids on them. Not all of those who ordered the bigger bins from Haulin' Trash never received them as they had run out. Some on Colts Neck Court did receive those larger rolling bins. Although those bins are still owned by Haulin' Trash and could end up having to be returned should a Trustee in Bankruptcy require that, at the moment we have not heard this will happen. Please write your house numbers on your trash cans or preferably use mailbox stickers and if you will not be home to retrieve them, ask a neighbor to help take them back. Remember no trash should go out prior to dark the night before pickup. This lets you put out trash earlier for a few months.
Yard Waste: Yard waste season is suspended until March 4th. During this "non-yard waste season," you may put out leaves and other brush with the regular trash on Thursdays. They need to be in compostable paper yard bags. Plastic bags will no longer be accepted regardless of whether they say biodegradable or not. The trash company may pick up leaves set out with Christmas trees, but they did not confirm that in this year's welcome packet. You can put leaves and yard debris in trash cans if the trash can is marked “yard debris.” They should not exceed a reasonable weight- 35 pounds for regular trash and recycling and 50 pounds for yard debris (per our contract). Bundled yard debris must be in bags or tied in lengths no longer than 4’ and no branch larger than 3" in diameter. Unbundled yard debris is not taken.
Treasurer's report: Dues will remain $330 per quarter for 2023. Another year where we had
no late fees collected. Let's keep that up. We appreciate everyone paying on time. It makes the Treasurer's life a little easier. Additional year-end financial information is included for owners. See more information further down on the added expenses not anticipated for 2023.
Directory update: Included with this mailing is information for the upcoming cluster directory. Please check your information carefully and return to Debbie Carroll by the end of January to save board members from having to go door to door to collect the responses. If no changes, check that box and return.
Cluster tree work: As usual Northern Virginia Tree Experts will do our annual work in January or February. If you have personal tree work on your property, you may want to contact John Holtzapfel there to schedule your own work at the same time as prices are better when they are here.
2022 was a year like no other. We began the year with snow and ice. We moved on to planning for and accomplishing the parking lot redo and replacement of a lot of sidewalk slabs which had been put on hold for two years due to covid. Sidewalk ramps were added in several places. The entrance to Colts Neck Court was regraded to the delight of residents on that side. During this same time we negotiated a new trash contract with Haulin' Trash who had great on line reviews. The membership had requested we leave American Disposal when the contract was up due to the poor service. Right after our new contract began the county once gain got involved with American Disposal who had begun picking up trash once a week and not adjusting costs.
After our budget was prepared and sent out to owners for the annual meeting, our landscape contractor cancelled our three year contract at the end of year one. There was a line in the contract that permitted that, but we were told when they offered the 3 year contract last year that they only cancelled for lack of payment or if we reduced services. They wanted an 89% increase to continue. We had to secure another landscaping contractor and the price was naturally higher. Some bids were way above what we had been paying.
In September we had to pay emergency tree removal prices for a tree on cluster property behind the short row on South Lakes Court and on the other side of the path which was uprooting and leaning toward a home. It was taken down the day prior to a large wind storm.
During the fall, the bank used by the Cluster left Reston. At the moment we are still banking with Primis Bank who has a courier service to pick up deposits and handle other banking needs.
On December 1st Haulin' Trash went out of business affecting not only us, but thousands throughout Northern Virginia. That involved calls to a number of trash contractors who 1) we had rejected earlier in the year and 2) who had people from all over calling. Luckily we only missed 2 pick-up days. However, the increase in the cost is about 50% above our previous contract.
Our snow contractor is the same we have had for the past 20 years, however, due to increased diesel fuel and help, the price went up 10% this winter.
The Board decided not to raise dues for 2023. We will cut back on some special things we had planned for 2023. We may need to take funds from the sinking fund and begin building it back next year. In 2023 we also need to do a complete new reserve study for our capital components. This is required every 5 years and every year we need to confirm we are on track and adjust if dues are not paid. We did not want to call a special meeting in December to discuss raising dues.
The good news of 2022 was Supervisor Alcorn said no to changing the Comprehensive Plan which covered the Reston National Golf Course. This happened due to the many e-mails of all here who opposed losing the open space which is home to so much wildlife and is one area not completely built up. Supervisor Alcorn promised when elected he would listen to the residents around the golf course. We and other clusters voted overwhelmingly not to have more development in that area. It will continue to be a fight against the developer owners who overpaid for the golf course as they hoped to redevelop it even after the prior owner lost such a battle in court.
Reston Association approvals:
In April we asked Reston Association to approve some Sherwin Williams comparable paints as our members could get a discount on paints from Sherwin Williams. The discount code for our members is 1474-1805-7. Due to the extensive work of the Board prior to the parking lot re-pavement it was not noticed right away that when doing a composite of the colors, Reston Association had missed some colors previously approved and had not shown that rear decks could be left to weather naturally. When this was observed in September, we requested this be fixed. We had to file a new application and again it was not right on their approval. On a timely appeal, the colors missing which had been approved in prior years were included after we were required to attend a DRB meeting. A copy of the approval by Reston Association is attached as it is extensive now that they are putting it all in a composite listing.
We found out in October that Reston Association had begun to cite sellers for a violation due to their house numbers. In 1996 we had been advised that house numbers would no longer be regulated. Reston Association had not cited anyone in the 26 years since, but was doing that this year. They claimed due to "better training", a statement not bought by the Board. However members were being cited for violations so we needed to address this matter. There were only a very few of the original ones left. We filed an application asking to go back to what we had for the past 26 years – no regulation. We even provided our newsletter from 1996 showing this was the situation at that time we were advised of this by our Reston Assn counselor back then. The Covenants Department rejected our application, but advised they would approve broad regulations and provided some language. We edited that wording and submitted an application which should cover every house number in the cluster. This was approved on December 13, 2022. The new standard for house numbers is as follows:
Plaques no more than 12" x 24" with individual number size no taller than 6"; individually installed numbers with size no taller than 6"; blue square plaque (original from 1974 approved as was existing prior to the 1996 verbal communication); any weather safe material is permitted (e.g. metal, wood, glass, acrylic, vinyl, ceramic, composite, etc.) so long as the numbers do not degrade when posted outdoors; font must be legible from at least 16' away; color of plaque and numbers must be distinguishable and contrast from the background color of the installation surface (either plaque or wall surface); letter orientation may be in horizontal, vertical (top down), or diagonal (from top left to bottom right) orientation; letters must be oriented on a front facing wall of the house and that any illuminated numbers (not front house lights) require an application prior to installation.
The old original small blue plaques were never liked by emergency personnel as hard to determine the exact house with the tiny small numbers (2 or 3) at the top and a bit larger number underneath for the last 2 digits of the house number. Delivery personnel these days which were not that prevalent in 1996 also have trouble with the old house numbers. For those of you with the smaller numbers we encourage you to think about changing to another design. This current written approval gives you latitude and you will see various different numbers throughout the cluster.
New cluster officers: Colin Barthel was re-elected to a 3 year term at the annual meeting in October. Jimmy Lutz resigned effective that day due to his plans to move by the end of the month. Those at the annual meeting requested the Board to see who would serve and to appoint a fifth person to fill the vacant three year term. George Petree from South Lakes Court who was out of town for a personal event, but who had attended other annual meetings agreed to serve. The 2023 officers are President Colin Barthel (2109 Colts Neck Court); Vice President George Petree (11866 Colts Neck Court Colts Neck Court), Secretary Caroline Fitzpierce (11850 South Lakes Court), Treasurer Debbie Carroll (11856 South Lakes Court. Board member at Large Nancy Streiff (2129 Colts Neck Court).
The first four officers can sign applications for Reston Association when you request a modification or something new. We do ask that you provide us with a copy of your application at the time we are requested to sign. You generally need an officer's signature as well as an adjoining neighbor and that of another neighbor who can see your project. The DRB application is available on Reston Association's website. There are some projects that may not need Reston Association approval, but we highly recommend that you check with our counselor, currently Erin Gable, erin@reston.org; (703) 435-6521. Our advisors seem to change a lot so you may need to check the website for the current assignments. The cluster outreach person is Meagan Micozzi mmicozzi@reston.org. Get it in writing (e-mail) that your project does not require an approval. Keep these for later as different advisors have been known to have a different opinion down the road.
Upcoming board meetings: 7:00 p.m.
January 18 – 11856 South Lakes Court
February 15 – 11850 South Lakes Court
March 15 – TBD
Generally the Board meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month and moves from house to house of the Board members. If you would like to attend ask a board member for the date and location as the they can change due to work schedules, vacations, etc.
Emergency contact and medical information: As mentioned earlier we lost two members of our cluster in December. We have been asked by a friend of Bernie's to share some of the circumstances surrounding his death in an effort for people to give others contact information for in case of an emergency. Friends of Bernie's had not heard from him in a number of days and an out of state friend called in a wellness check which did not end well. Police and emergency personnel came to the cluster and after finding Bernie had passed away asked us for contact information which we did not have. Bernie had never married, had no children nor siblings, and his parents had predeceased him. Debbie only knew the first name of a close friend. That friend was the one who had contacted the police so from Debbie's information they knew the person who had called for the wellness check was actually a close friend.
For those that live alone in light of this situation we would like to encourage you to give neighbors contact information or if you would prefer to the board members who will only use it if needed. Those living alone on South Lakes Court have already shared contact information with neighbors. Others may want to do something similar. A good suggestion if you would prefer not to give your information to neighbors or the Board is to purchase one of the magnetic medical information folders you can place on your refrigerator. Include in that folder medical information and contact information for family or close friends. There are also forms online you can download, fill out and post on your refrigerator with magnets. Emergency personnel are trained to look there for this kind of information.
Tributes:
Bernie Woodard moved here in 1979 and was our 2nd longest owner and resident. Bernie was 75 years old at the time of his unexpected death. He served on the board for 10 years as Vice-President from 2003 through 2013. Bernie was the person who took care of our sand buckets which contain sand for traction should your car get stuck in the snow. Just prior to his death Bernie had purchased a new sand bucket for Colts Neck Court to replace the one which was falling apart and had advised the board early this year he would not only purchase it, but would find one suitable to his standards for the mixture of sand and salt which he used to keep the sand from freezing and would donate it to the cluster. Not only did he purchase this container at over $100, but also thought to purchase a scoop for it.
Claude Krijgelmans, husband of Judith at 2125 Colts Neck, passed away Dec. 5, in his sleep after a long struggle with complications of failing health. He was 88, Judith was at his side; his two sons from Belgium, and his stepdaughter Rekha and step-grandson Jon-Mingus joined soon after. Claude and former diplomat Judith were together since meeting in Brussels in 1996 as she was returning to the States from Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo); they wed in 1998. Claude left the world still in the vanguard of postmodern Flemish/Dutch authors, publishing over 15 books. He never got over the uniqueness of American culture, quite a pursuit to take on late in life. Using English was just one such example. But, whether near the Grand Palace or at Judith's grand table, he loved good food and good conversation. Saturday night at the Silver Diner kept him going! The family held a private service on Dec. 9. Plans to celebrate Claude's life in Belgium are taking place.
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