Summer 2005                  Volume 11   Issue 2     

Big Rocky Forest

Annual Meeting

Sunday, November 13, 2005

 7 pm

      The HOA bylaws require us to have our annual meeting at least 45 days prior to the end of the fiscal year.   Therefore this year’s meeting will be on November 13 at 7 pm at 4903 Fox Creek Court.  Homeowners are encouraged to attend. The main subjects of the meeting will be the budget, common areas, social events and board elections.

      Four board of directors positions are open this year.  Participating on the board is a great way to serve your neighbors and strengthen the HOA.  Terms are 3 years and the time commitment is minimal.  Board meetings take place 2-3 times per year and officer positions require only modest effort outside of the meetings.  If you are interested in running for the board, please contact Len Rice by October 17, 2005.

     Prior to the meeting, candidate descriptions, proxies and the 2005 proposed budget will be mailed out. Please send in your proxy prior to the meeting if you will not be attending.

HOA Website

      Check out our new website at bigrockyforesthoa.com.  Thanks to David Rice for setting it up!  Let us know what else you'd like to see on it.

Pipestem & Discount Driveway Sealcoating

      Pipestem seal coating and repairs will be taking place in the 2 weeks following September 21, 2005.  They will be done by ASAP paving company.  Funds from the pipestem accounts will be used for this work.  Based on the condition of the pipestems and the remaining pipestem funds, the 2006 pipestem fee will be adjusted (probably downward) to reflect projected maintenance costs.  If there are any concerns, please call Len Rice. (703-222-5121)

      Since ASAP will be in the neighborhood, they've offered to coat homeowner driveways at $0.13 per square foot (the normal price is $0.18 psf). If you are interested, please call them directly to set up the work (Mike at 571-220-4891).

Spring Community Clean-up

      Many thanks to the adults and teens who helped in cleaning up our common areas and local paths and stream beds this past April. Your efforts are noticed and appreciated by not only our homeowners, but by those in adjacent communities who use the pedestrian paths.

Directory Update

     2005-6 Directories are in the works and will be distributed soon.  Thanks to Clare Loxtercamp for putting this together!

Summer Picnic

     Everyone enjoyed the summer picnic held June 26, 2005 at the Bare Island Drive cul-de- sac.  Thanks to all who helped, especially Lisa Katzman, Eileen Baker, Jan Bayer, Julie Thompson, Carol Kalinowski, Gina Lee, Janice Cairns, Wendy Wilson, Clare Loxtercamp, Donna Waybright, and Mindy Cooper

Parkland Stewardship

      It has been brought to our attention that several homeowners along the bike path make a habit of dumping their grass clippings in the dry pond drainage area beyond our common area adjacent to the bike path.      

      Regarding the disposal of brush, yard waste, and grass clippings in the woods or on any other park property, the current "Urban Trees"  brochure cites "dumping on park land is a class four misdemeanor that carries a fine of up to $250.  Not only is it illegal, but the abnormal buildup of waste matter over a tree's root system can kill the tree." 

      To report a tree hazard or ask a question about what you can and cannot do with trees on parkland, call 703-324-8594.   One resource for tree planting includes Fairfax Releaf which has volunteer tree planting available 703-324-1409.  Some other organizations concerned with tree preservation, care, and planting include:  Department of Environmental Management Urban Forestry Branch 703-324-1770; Fairfax Tree Commission 703-324-1770; and the Virginia State Forestry Department 703-324-1489.  

Fairfax Prepares

      Cable Channel 16 will air a special one-hour program, "Fairfax County Prepares," during September, which is National Preparedness Month. The program will feature county agencies and staff discussing the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The Channel 16 schedule page (www.fairfaxcounty. gov/cable/channel16/schedule.htm) has exact broadcast times.

      National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort held each September to encourage the public to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. At its Sept. 12 meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors also is expected to proclaim September as "Fairfax Prepares Month" in the county.

      During an emergency, residents can access information on the emergency information hotline at 703-817-7771, TTY 711, county Web site, and Channel 16. Residents also are encouraged to register for the Community Emergency Alert Network, or CEAN, to receive important emergency alerts, notifications and updates via e-mail, cell phone or pager. For more information on the CEAN or to register, visit www.fairfaxcounty. gov/cean.

 

 Katrina Causes Concern for Gasoline Availability

and Prices

      Because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and the resulting high gas prices, residents may want to consider ways to reduce their costs of commuting, including:

-- Carpool or ride-share with other residents.
-- Telework when possible.

-- Use public transit, such as Fairfax Connector or Metro.

      According to the Web site fueleconomy.gov, there also are numerous ways to save gas when you do drive:

-- Avoid aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking). It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by five percent around town.

-- Observe the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.
-- Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to two percent.

-- Avoid excessive idling. Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with
smaller engines.

-- You can also improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 PSI drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are also safer and last longer.
-- Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a
longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Trip planning ensures that traveling is done when the engine is warmed-up and efficient.

-- If you can stagger your work hours to avoid peak rush hours, you'll spend less time sitting in traffic and consume less fuel.

Swim Class

Volunteers Needed

      The Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services is looking for adults and high school students in Northern Virginia to volunteer to help teach swim classes for individuals with developmental disabilities, ages 5-21. If you can spare two hours on a Saturday morning, the department can use your support.

      The group, led by a professional instructor, will participate in an instructional class on swim skills and water safety in and around the pool. Volunteers will be paired with a participant in the program to assist him/her during the class. High school students can earn hours toward their community service requirements. Volunteers must complete training prior to becoming an instructor for the program.
      Individuals may volunteer for one or all three of the following sessions, scheduled for Saturdays: Oct. 22 through Nov. 19; Dec. 10
through Jan. 21; Feb. 11 through March 11. Programs are held at Fairfax County Park Authority RECenters. The cost of a lifeguard certification class will be covered by the Joey Pizzano Memorial Fund for individuals
who volunteer for all five Saturdays in a session. For details, call Sandi Dallhoff at 703-324-5716, TTY 703-222-9693 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rec and go to Volunteer Opportunities, Joey Pizzano Swim Program.

Senior Navigator

 Your "Day or Night" Connection to Health, Disability and Aging Resources

      Whether you're caring for a family member who is elderly or has a disability, helping a loved one who lives across the state, or searching for resources for yourself, check out SeniorNavigator.org. The county is partnering with this Web-based statewide information service that provides up-to-date health and aging information and resources for seniors, adults with disabilities, and caregivers in Virginia. Access SeniorNavigator directly at www.seniornavigator.org or through the county's Web site at www.fairfaxcounty. gov/seniors.
      Features include online access to nearly 19,000 public and private services in Virginia; timely articles on health and aging; and an "Ask the Expert" feature that provides confidential answers to your questions. The Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, of the county's Department of Family Services, provides ongoing coordination with SeniorNavigator.
An added benefit: SeniorNavigator centers
(www.fairfaxcounty.gov/seniors/sncenters.htm)have been set up at libraries, community centers, and senior centers across the county.
There, trained staff will help residents without computer access use the SeniorNavigator site. 

      Questions? Call Senior Navigator toll-free at 1-866-393-0957, TTY 711.

Free Credit Reports

      Beginning Sept. 1, residents of Virginia are able to request a free credit report once every year.

       If you request your credit report online at www.annualcreditreport.com, you should be able to access it immediately. If you order your report by calling toll free 1-877-322-8228, you should receive it within 15 days.

  Be sure to check your credit report for many pieces of data, including the accuracy of your score and the accounts being reported.