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| October 2005 |
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ANNUAL MEETING/CANDIDATE'S NIGHT REMINDER The Annual Meeting of the Stratford Landing Citizens Association, including election of officers, will be held on Thursday, October 27, 2005, at 7:00 pm at Stratford Landing Elementary School. There will be several issues of interest to be discussed at the annual meeting, including adoption of the annual budget and the proposal by the West Potomac Crew Boosters to build a boathouse at the Pumping Station, as well as the first contested SLCA presidential election in a long, long time. The Annual Meeting will be followed at 9:00 pm by our 38th Annual Candidate's Night. On the ballot this year will be all State-wide offices and our Delegate to the Virginia House of Delegates. We have invited all of the candidates to appear: so far, State Senator Russ Potts, (I), a candidate for Governor, our incumbent Delegate, Kris Amundson, (D), and both of her challengers, Gail Parker (IG), and Greg Scoma (R) have agreed to come. Please come out, enjoy the evening, and make it worth the candidates' while to respond to our invitations. Last year we had a much higher rate of participation by our candidates than we did by our members. That was embarrassing! Be sure to note the change in time from last year. We hope you can attend the annual meeting, but if you cannot, you may give a proxy to one of your neighbors by using the enclosed form. Our bylaws allow each member to present up to three proxies as well as their own vote. Please seek your neighbor's permission before dropping your proxy on them! If they have more than three, the excess may only be counted for establishing a quorum, but may not be voted. HALLOWEEN Your Citizens Association will sponsor its annual Halloween Costume Parade on Saturday, October 22, from 3 to 5 pm in Stratford Landing Park. Bring your children in costume and your neighbors to Stratford Landing Park for a "frighteningly" good time! We will have face painting, crafts, games and lots of fun after our incredible costume parade. Volunteers are needed to help with these activities. Please contact Leah Gunter at 703-799-1631 if you can work at a craft or game table. The rain date will be the following Saturday, October 29 at the same time and place. Get ready for a "spook"tacularly good time! (Leah Gunter) Halloween itself falls
on Monday, October 31. We urge you to limit Trick or Treating to
the hours between 6:30 pm and 9 pm. This should allow the grown
ups time for a quick supper before the ghoulies start coming, and
should allow the little ones time to get some goodies before their
bedtimes! Candidates for President: Tom Burgess: Tom Burgess has lived in Stratford Landing since 1990. He runs his own business, a successful communications firm, Blue Stone Communications LLC that focuses on crisis and head-of-state communications, financial and corporate communications, marketing, sales and the development of products and services for the aviation, aerospace and government sectors. Currently he is the Senior Advisor to Stuart Bowen, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. From 1991 through 2002 in Stratford Landing, Tom was a juvenile soccer coach in two 2 leagues and recently was the Vice President for Operations, Current Member, West Potomac High School Crew Boosters, Inc. He is a member of the Finance Committee for Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia and Precinct Captain for Stratford Precinct, Fairfax County Republican Committee. Formerly, he was the Marketing Chairman for the International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap, a former Member of the San Diego Press Club and served on the Board of Directors for Uplift International, a non-profit heath education group for five years up through 2000. Tom is married to the former Mary Weisz and lives here with their three children. He served in the nuclear submarine service and retired from the Naval Reserve in 1996 at the rank of commander and is an usher with Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA. (Tom Burgess) Craig Short: I am the Construction Project Manager for a Real Estate Development firm in Silver Spring and have had various jobs through my career that have somehow led me to the position that I have there now. I have a degree from WVU (no jokes please) and have various continuing education classes that are related to what I do for a living. I think it would be much too boring to get into the details of all of it, and I'm not sure that its entirely relevant. In any case, as I get older, I like to think that what I do for a living is not necessarily what defines me. I'm 35 years old, husband of Erica and father of: Nicholas - 9, Sidney - 3 and Casey - 2. That, more than anything else, is where I want to find my identity. I've been Nicholas' little league baseball coach for 5 seasons now and looking to coach the girls as soon as they get old enough in whatever it is they settle on. We do the Cub Scout projects and I help out whenever I can while trying to stay out of the way. Suffice it to say that I plan on interfering with all of their lives as much as possible over the course of the next 21 years. We moved into Stratford Landing a few years ago on an impulse because of the schools and the neighborhood and have grown to love it here. In all of the areas and developments that I work, I haven't come across a better, all round place to call home than right here: in my neighborhood, on my street. We have the best neighbors and, although we only know some of them through the casual "stop and chat" and others a little better, I have to say that there isn't one person I've met in the neighborhood that isn't likeable. As much as anyone else, I'm busy and have all of the responsibilities that go along with being a father, husband, son, brother, employee, coach, handyman, etc. Having said that, I think working on building a sense of community and keeping our neighborhood a great place to live is a pretty noble cause and wouldn't have any problem finding and spending time on it. I love where I live and am inclined to do my part in contributing to that in whatever manner presents itself. (Craig Short) Candidate for Vice President: Jane Earley: Jane Earley is an attorney who has lived in Stratford Landing since 1985 and who has served for two years together with her husband Tom, as the SLCA's representative to the MVCCA Committee on Planning and Zoning. Jane helped to initiate the Little Hunting Creek website, and has been active in promoting transparent and open community consideration of development and environmental issues. She and Tom have worked as officers and volunteers for many public school and church-related organizations. Jane is a consultant on international business and trade issues and a Director of the World Wildlife Fund's Center for Conservation Innovation. (Jane Earley) Candidate for Parliamentarian/Rules Committee Chairman: Melissa Cramer: An Alexandria, Virginia native, Melissa has been a Stratford Landing resident with her husband since 2002. Currently Melissa is full time mom to her son and works part-time as a Regional Project Manager for The Regus Group, a global real estate corporation. She has also been a Dale Carnegie Sales Coach since 2000. Presently, she serves as Stratford Landing's representative to the MVCCA Consumer Affairs Committee, and is responsible for maintaining the "Sweet List". Melissa is a volunteer for the Washington DC Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and is an active member in the Good Shepard Mothers' Support Group. (Melissa Cramer) MEMBERSHIP DRIVE If you have not yet paid your dues, please give your $10 to your block captain. Block captains, if you have not yet turned in the dues for the members on your block, please turn them in to Mary Lou Hoffman as soon as possible. If any members need Community Directories, contact Mary Lou Hoffman or Rick Edgerton. Eligibility to vote at our Annual Meeting is limited to those households who are members in good standing -- i.e. those who have paid their dues -- so please help us to help you by paying your dues promptly. Displaying your "SL" bumper stickers helps the Police to identify which vehicles belong here, and which don't. Please display them on your cars, and ask your block captain for as many as you need. The preferred place to display them is the left rear bumper. If block captains need more stickers, both Mary Lou Hoffman and Rick Edgerton have a supply available. If you would like to make your e-mail address and/or fax numbers available to the Association and your neighbors, please make that information available to Mary Lou or Rick so we can publish it in our next directory update. If you would like to make it available to us, but not to have it published, please indicate that. COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE PROGRAM With the turnover of residents in Stratford Landing, it occurs to me that many of you may not be aware of an outstanding activity that we, as a community, have been participating in for over twelve years. That is our Community Blood Drive program. A number of you have been generous and loyal blood donors, some for the entire twelve years. On behalf of the INOVA Blood Assurance Program, I want to thank you for donating through the Stratford Landing Blood Program. You have given over the years well over 1200 units of blood -- over 150 gallons! I don't need to tell you how much a blood donation means to those needing blood after a life-threatening operation, or an accident. Those of us unable to give for various reasons, but who have a need for that precious gift can't thank enough those who give regularly. You give either through Stratford Landing's program, through your church, or at your place of work. If you haven't given lately and feel you can, please step forward -- the need is great. We in Stratford Landing give on six Saturday mornings throughout the year, roughly every two months. We give at the INOVA Mount Vernon Hospital. Not only do we donate blood there, but we get to know our neighbors better, and exchange ideas and news of community interest. Aging and departures from the community have diminished our loyal group. We need your help. Please call me (703-780-4752) and let me add your name to my list to call for the next donation day, December 3, or for some future date (usually the first Saturday in even-numbered months). You'll be glad you did. (Jack Shawn) DIRECTORY ERRATA AND ADDENDA Apparently there are some errors and changes in our latest edition of the Community Directory. The following are the ones we know about so far (the correct entries follow): On pages 63-4, the listings
for Bradgate Court also include the listings for Bradgate Road (Street
numbers 8614-8711) Under SLCA Representatives to the MVCCA on page 15, Melissa Cramer's phone number should be 703-360-1687. Since the book was published, we have new representatives to the Education and Planning and Zoning Committees: Education: Craig Short, 8611 Bluedale Street, 703-799-3148 Planning & Zoning: Charles Herrmann, 2208 Cavendish Drive, 703-799-0511 Please make these changes to your Directories, and, if you know of other changes that need to be made, please inform the Membership Chairman, Mary Lou Hoffman, and they will be published in a future edition of the Newsletter. There was also an evident breakdown in communications between some of our long-time and would-be advertisers and the people selling the ads for this year's directory. We would like to recognize the advertisers who have told me that they would have liked to place an advertisement: THE GIFT STORE, 7910 Fort Hunt Road, Hollin Hall Shopping Center, Gifts for every occasion and age, 703-660-8550 (Stratford Landing Resident) THE BLOSSOM SHOP, 7906 Fort Hunt Road, Hollin Hall Shopping Center, Flowers for all occasions, 703-768-3410 WEICHERT REALTORS, Linda Sweeney, 8719 Bradgate Court, 703-360-8470 (Stratford Landing Resident) CHILDREN NATURALLY (Photographer), 2303 Creek Drive, 703-704-9120, Kassie Thweatt-Baker (Stratford Landing Resident) IN STITCHES, 2506 Duxbury Place, 703-799-7524, Ellen Meyer (Stratford Landing Resident) OTHER ORGANIZATION'S NEWS STRATFORD
WOMAN'S CLUB There are four ways to
participate: 2. Bring the item(s)
to the Yard Sale site and stay with them; MOUNT VERNON GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY The Mount Vernon Genealogical Society meets the third Tuesday of each month at 1pm at the Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road, Room 112. The October meeting will be held on October 18th, and will feature a presentation on use of US Census data by Barbara Vines Little. On November 15th, the topic will be "Local Struggles During the Civil War" by Ron Beavers. There is no meeting in December. On January 17th, the topic will be "State Censuses: What can they tell us" led by Charles S. (Chuck) Mason, Jr. On February 21st, the topic will be "Fairfax County's Inter-Library Loan System" presented by Susan Bleistein. The meetings are free and open to the public. This is a great way to learn about tracing your roots and finding out about the rest of your family tree. For additional information, e-mail Harold McClendon (haroldm@erols.com). (Harold McClendon) MENTORS
NEEDED FOR MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MentorWorks is a school-based one-to-one mentoring program that began on a small scale at Mt. Vernon High School last school year. Ther program is now in its second year and is seeking mentors who live in the community. Mentors make a difference. The mentoring relationship builds a young person's strengths and capabilities. Mentors listen and act as positive role models. They help students identify goals and build on positive things in their life. Through MentorWorks, mentors make a commitment to meet weekly for half an hour with their assigned student. Meetings can be at lunchtime or after school at the school, or possibly at the South County Government Center at other times. The time can be spent in any agreed-upon manner. Some activities and discussion topics will be provided. Possible activities include just hanging out and chatting, help with homework, a trip to the career center, walking and talking, discussion of how to get a part-time job or drivers license or set and achieve a specific goal. A single two-hour training session in September/October is required. MentorWorks information and an application can be located on-line at www.fcps.edu. (Go to the bottom left corner of the site and click on "Especially for the Community" and then click on "Mentor a Student". Mt Vernon High School Psychologist Ms. L'Heureux, (Anne.Lheureux@fcps.edu) would be happy to provide additional information, and applications can be sent to her at MVHS. Parents can also refer Mt. Vernon students for mentoring to her. (Ann L'Heureux) VALEDICTORIES To my Neighbors in Stratford Landing: This is the last Newsletter I expect to write, as well as the longest. I have enjoyed this part of the job; as Teddy Roosevelt said, this job gives you bully pulpit. In 2001 (twice), 2002, 2003, and 2004 you elected me President of our Citizens Association. It has been an honor representing you and your interests for the past five years; however, I believe that it is time for me to move on to other activities, and I am not standing for reelection this year. I have a wife, a 98-year old mother, two grown daughters, and two growing grandsons (3 and 1), and all of them need more of my time and energies than I have been able to give them. As I told you early on, I never intended to become President-for-Life. I have always tried to conduct my office to best represent the interests of our whole community; where that hasn't been possible, I have tried to represent the interests of the majority, and have inevitably stepped on the toes of some of the minority. I learned a long time ago that it isn't possible to please all of the people all of the time; the best you can do is to please most of the people most of the time. I hope I have done that. What have we accomplished in the last five years? We revised and updated our by-laws, which had been in limbo for a long time. One of the things that I insisted on while serving with the By-laws Committee, was adoption of a provision for community-wide referenda, so your Association could better determine the Community's position on controversial issues. We have conducted at least one such referendum every year since I became President, and I think the information you have provided has greatly strengthened our hand in dealing with our neighbors as well as our elected officials. We have learned from these exercises that: the community does not want more multi-way stop signs by a margin of about 2:1; that we opposed installation of speed humps on Riverside Road by a margin of about 5:1; that we thought it was time to raise our dues by a margin of 19:1; and that we did not want public access to the Creek through the Sewage Pumping Station by a margin of almost 3:1. The number of responses generated by these referenda have all greatly exceeded the number of members attending our Annual Meeting; we have only tried to have one special meeting, and that one was blown away by Hurricane Isabel. Results: there are no new multi-way stop signs in the community; there are no speed humps on Riverside Road; our dues were raised, greatly improving the financial strength of our organization; and there is no public park at the pumping station. I have been representing our community on a task force studying the issue of cut-through traffic on Schelhorn Road, Fordson Road, and Frances Drive, the first two of which are vital connections between Sherwood Hall Lane and Route One. The residents of Hybla Valley Farms were trying to restrict or eliminate our right to drive on these streets. We have been able to get VDOT's commitment to keep these streets open; whether we will have to drive over speed humps is still not settled. I have been able to achieve these things with the assistance of our Executive Committee, and particularly our Vice President, Annie McNeff, whose determination and resolve in chairing our Creek Committee has been invaluable, and Jay Spiegel, our Parliamentarian/Rules Committee Chair, who almost single-handedly solved our duck blind problem for us, and who has stepped up to represent us on the MVCCA Environmental and Recreation Committee as well as their Planning and Zoning Committee, in addition to his other duties. Thanks, Annie and Jay! For my successor, I recommend that you vote for Craig Short. I have not known Craig for very long -- he only recently became our representative to the MVCCA Education Committee -- but I think he is the kind of person who can provide the kind of leadership this organization needs. Especially if you are one of the majority who voted against access to the Creek through the Pumping Station last year, you need to come out and support your interests on that issue, both at this Annual Meeting, and possibly at future meetings as well. Your new Executive Committee needs to have your input; some of them think you really didn't mean what you said last year. Thank you for your support and the positive feedback you have given me for the last five years. Rick Edgerton, President, SLCA (2001-2005) ------------- To the Stratford Landing Community: I would like to say that it has been and honor and sometimes a challenge representing the Stratford Landing Community as Vice President. I am not standing for re-election this year. I feel it is time to step down and open the position to another public-spirited member of our community. Regardless of personal feelings regarding community issues and personalities, effective participation in an organization such as ours requires that members of the community understand that those they have elected to serve on the Executive Committee are doing their best to conscientiously represent the interests of all the members, not just a few. It has been a pleasure serving with President Rick Edgerton. He has spent innumerable hours working on issues that directly affect the safety and quality of life of the Stratford Landing community and achieved positive results on our behalf. Rick has had the fortitude and perseverance to establish and maintain the standards that today make our neighborhood such a safe and desireable place to live. We should also acknowledge the Executive Committee's Parliamentarian, Jay Spiegel, for his time and efforts required for the many contributions he has made to the community. He successfully resolved the "duck blind" issue and was instrumental in having the County pass a "no hunting" ordinance for Little Hunting Creek, along with many other pertinent issues he has handled. I'm sure many of you don't know, but pellets from a duck gun can travel more than 1,000 feet, and even further if larger shot is being used, indicating that the safe distance for a duck blind should not be less than 400 yards from any occupied building. The duck blind in the Creek last fall posed a dangerous situation in the Creek and to residents in most of our community. As a community, we have faced many issues, and I have been proud to have been asked by the SLCA President to lead the Creek Committee to deal with concerns regarding Little Hunting Creek. Particularly sensitive was the posture the community should adopt regarding public access to the Creek now and in the future. Last year, a survey form with a proposal was sent to each household in the community. It had been proposed that part of the site of the current Sewage Pumping Station at the foot of Londonderry Road be opened for passive recreational use, (a path to the Creek for kayakers, canoers, etc). A significant majority of the members who responded were strongly opposed to the proposal. Regarding the survey responses submitted by residents, 39 supported the proposal, 104 opposed the proposal, and 8 thought the issue should be studied further. Another issue involved development of lots adjoining the Creek. In this case, the SLCA and the Creek Committee supported the rights of landowners to develop their property when they follow County procedures and request variances in advance if a parcel is inadequate in some respect. At the same time, we intend to hold property owners who fudge procedures accountable, in accordance with the laws of Fairfax County and Virginia. If you are not sure about permits for building projects, call the County and avoid fines. I feel I have served the Community well, and I leave you with: I live my life by remembering the encouragement I receive and I forget the negative comments -- that way I have no enemies and count my blessings for my friends. Best regards, Annie McNeff, Vice President, SLCA ------------- To the Stratford Landing Community: The busy nature of my law practice has made it impossible for me to commit the time necessary to continue to serve on the SLCA Executive Committee. Therefore, I have informed the Executive Committee that I will complete my current term and not run for re-election. I have been honored to serve the Stratford Landing Community in this official capacity but note that I have been involved in community issues mainly involving Creek and development issues since I first purchased my property on Stockton Parkway in 1990. I have enjoyed representing Stratford Landing on the Environment and Recreation Committee of the MVCCA as well as filling in on the MVCCA Planning and Zoning Committee. As a member of the Executive Committee, I have tried my best to keep in mind the interests of the community as a whole when casting votes on the various issues that keep the Executive Committee busy while at the same time respecting the intersts of particular fractions of our community whose interests might be adversely affected by irresponsible decisions. I have always taken care to respect the decisions of our community, made in referenda, and am hopeful that the newly elected and appointed Executive Committee will do so as well. I am proud of my involvement in issues as diverse as the Little Hunting Creek No Wake Zone, the waterfowl feeding law, the Brinitzer Way street renaming, establishment of navigation in the Creek, the creation of the www.littlehuntingcreek.org website, the Creek Committee and others. I'll let others judge my record; I'm just happy to have had the opportunity to be of service to the community. The Community should thank Rick Edgerton and Annie McNeff for their lengthy and distinguished service to the community. Though they will not be serving the community in any official capacity, no doubt they will continue to be valuable community resources. Rick has served the SLCA well, both as Pete Brinitzer's Vice President but also as its distinguished President. Annie's work as Vice President and particularly as Chairman of the Creek Committee has benefited Stratford Landing greatly. Her determination in holding developers to the letter and spirit of the law has protected sensitive land areas along Little Hunting Creek. Rick and Annie are, frankly, irreplaceable. My best wishes to the new Executive Committee. Jay Spiegel, Parliamentarian and Rules Committee Chair, SLCA PERSONAL ITEMS I am looking for someone that does crewell work to finish off a picture that I have. I am willing to pay well. Please call (703-780-9189) (MB)
Have you ever had the heart wrenching experience of listening to the news and hearing of a child who is missing or who has been exploited by a sex offender? Being one of the Principal Owners of a Pre-employment Background Screening Company is rewarding, knowing we are in a position to help concerned parents and civic leaders conduct background screenings of employees and volunteers in order to better protect children, themselves and the community. Background screening is not snooping; rather, it is an investment in protecting one's children and family. Sexual predators are everywhere. Through proper detection and community education programs, we give our children the best possible chance of avoiding the life threatening dangers that sexual predators pose to our children. ChildSafeNet is a public service program to increase awareness of sex offenders and monitor their activities. Amazingly, there are currently more than 340 convicted sex offenders living throughout Fairfax County and surrounding communities. The partnership between United States Homeland Investigations and ChildSafeNet is an important step in putting public safety and the protection of our children uppermost on the County's priority list. For more information or to order a background screening, please visit our web site at www.ushii.com, the ChildSafeNet web site at www.childsafenet.org, or call 703-780-2057. SEX OFFENDERS HAVE NO BOUNDARIES! Background screening
is like buying insurance. To know who you are hiring is important
to the safety of your loved ones. (Ashley McNeff) The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, working with DPWES and VDOT, is looking for volunteers to mark storm drains and help educate their neighbors about not putting yard waste, dog waste, auto waste, and other harmful items, down the drains. This would be a good project for civic associations, scout troops, or high school students looking for public service credits. The LHC plaque, featuring Sherlock the Shad, is high-quality plastic, about 3" by 6". It attaches with weatherproof glue and should be good for 20 years. S&W plans a mailing to every house in the Little Hunting Creek watershed. Additional information will be available for volunteers, so they can answer their neighbor's questions on how to dispose of those forbidden items, and how to practice "Bay-friendly lawn care." Please call 703-765-0605 for more information. (Paul Phelps) This newsletter is published bi-monthly (normally February, April, June, September, October, and December) by the Stratford Landing Citizens Association, Inc. for the benefit and information of its member residents. Other contributions to this publication are welcome, subject to editing. All members may submit items for inclusion in the "Other News" and "Personal Items" sections by submitting them to the President or Secretary in writing by the 20th of the month preceding publication. The next issue will be circulated about December 3rd. Unless otherwise attributed, the President is responsible for the content of this Newsletter. The following are the members of the Executive Committee, which meets the first 2-digit Tuesday of each month but August in open session. Rick Edgerton (703) 360-2813
Annie McNeff (703) 780-7756 Linda Sweeney (703) 360-8470
Celia Boertlein (703) 360-3735 Mary Lou Hoffman (703)
360-7267 Jay Spiegel (703) 619-0101 Mike Avila (703) 619-0522
Leah Gunter (703) 799-1631 Jack Shawn (703) 780-4752
Alan Rubinstein (703) 360-2141 Charles Herrmann(703)
799-0511 * Indicates elected officers; all other positions are appointed. Election of Officers President Community Improvements Vice President Membership Secretary Recreation Treasurer Parliamentarian/Rules
I/we _______________________
of ____________________________ Note: This is the official ballot/proxy statement to be used at the annual meeting of the Stratford Landing Citizens Association, October 27, 2005. Please bring it with you to the meeting, or provide it to your proxy. Copies or substitutes are not acceptable.
This newsletter is published bi-monthly (normally February, April, June, September, October, and December) by the Stratford Landing Citizens Association, Inc. for the benefit and information of its member residents. All members may submit items for inclusion in the "Other News" and "Personal Items" sections by submitting them to the President or Secretary in writing by the 20th of the month preceding publication. Other contributions to this publication are welcome, subject to editing. Unless otherwise attributed, the President is responsible for the content of this Newsletter.
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