New Blog Photo

Our new header photo provided courtesy of Stephen L. Tabone Photography

Thanks, Steve!

Trash Collection Schedule Today AND During the Holidays

Due to the inclement weather, the MPOA trash and recycling pickup schedule has been modified.  American Disposal Services will only pick up trash on streets that are reasonably and safely passable.  If your trash is not picked up on Monday, December 21, 2009, please leave trash at the curb and American Disposal will attempt removal prior to the next scheduled pick up day.  If recycling is not picked up on Monday, Dec. 21, please remove all recycling from the curb until the next recycling pickup day, Monday, Dec. 28, 2009.

If you have any questions regarding trash and recycling removal, please contact American Disposal Services, (703) 368-0500.

Weather permitting, there will be normal trash collection on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Federal Agencies CLOSED Monday, 12/21

The DC Federal Agencies are closed tomorrow.  To verify and for clarification, employees may check the website for additional information.  http://www.opm.gov/status/

Enjoy!!!

Snow Recovery Effort THANK YOU!

Kudos and appreciation to President Cecilia Carroll and the IHA Board for quickly and efficiently securing a back-up contractor for snow removal on The Island streets.

Thanks to Scott Doke, owner of J.D. & Associates (540-379-8634)  and  General Contractor, Jeff Rhodes (703-657-9241), for clearing The Island streets so expeditiously.

Appreciation goes to MPOA President Cathy Kudrick and MPOA's Jennifer Hughes for all of their assistance to President Carroll and the IHA Board.

Many thanks to all volunteers that went out of their way to help neighbors clear drive ways and adjacent street areas, as well as assist in moving stranded vehicles from the roadway.

Great job everyone!  Well done!

Snow Removal Update for Montclair, Including The Island

I spoke with Jennifer Hughes at MPOA.  Due to the blizzard conditions and equipment, including trucks getting stuck,  they have suspended plowing until Sunday.  It is anticipated that the snow will stop by then, enabling the MPOA maintenance crew time to plow throughout Montclair, to include IHA.

Patience is requested from all homeowners.  If they have any questions or concerns, they may contact me directly on my cell at 571-237-5232, or via email to the carrollcmiha@gmail.com address.  If someone you knows does not have email, please advise them of the conditions.

Please check on your neighbors, especially those that are alone and elderly.  Thank you all for your support.

Cecilia Carroll

IHA President

Snow Day

Snow removal on Montclair streets (including The Island) is being completed as quickly as possible by the MPOA staff.  The heavy snow fall and subsequent depth of accumulation is making it difficult for the snow removal operators to function quickly.

The National Weather Service has advised that residents stay off the roads at least until tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon.

If you have an emergency, please call 911.  Emergency vehicles are equipped to travel in these weather and road conditions.

If you are unable to move your vehicle or if it becomes stranded on our streets, please contact a local towing company immediately.  Snow plows will need full access to Island streets in order to complete snow removal in the most expeditious and thorough fashion.

Local towing companies include:

Henrys Wrecker Service‎

15009 Jefferson Davis Highway, Woodbridge, VA‎

 (703) 492-9987‎

Ward's Truck Center‎

15512 Neabsco Mills Road, Woodbridge, VA‎ 

(703) 221-3000‎

Nowell's Towing Service‎ 

2640 Hanco Center Drive, Woodbridge, VA‎ 

(703) 670-0400

DailyThoughts 12/18/2009

http://www.dailythoughts.org/index.asp?d=20091218

'Twas Was The Night Before Christmas

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the town,
no noses were frozen, no snow fluttered down,
no children in flannels were tucked into bed,
they all wore shorty pajamas instead.


To find wreaths of holly, t'was not very hard,
for holly trees grew in every back yard.
In front of the houses, Dads and Moms were
adorning the bushes and coconut palms.


The sleeping kiddies were dreaming in glee,
hoping to find water skis under the tree.
They all knew that Santa was well on his way,
in a Mercedes-Benz, instead of a sleigh.


And soon he arrived and started to work,
he hadn't a second to linger or shirk.
He whizzed up the highways and zoomed up the road,
in a S-L 300, delivering his loads.


The tropical moon gave the city a glow,
and lighted the way for old Santa below.
As he jumped from the auto he gave a wee chuckle,
he was dressed in Bermudas with an Ivy league buckle,


There weren't any chimneys, but that caused no gloom,
for Santa came in through the Florida room.
He stopped at each house....stayed only a minute,
emptying his sack of stuff that was in it.


Before he departed, he treated himself
to a glass of papaya juice upon the shelf.
He turned with a jerk and bounced to the car,
remembering he still had to go very far.


He shifted the gears and stepped on the gas
and up Highway 436 he went like a flash.
And I heard him exclaim as he went on his way,
"Merry Christmas Y'all, I wish I could stay!"

Snack Recipe: Fast & Easy

1 (10 oz.) package dried fruit blend (blueberries, cherries, cranberries, raisins, etc.)
2 1/2 cups miniature pretzels
1 1/2 cup M&M's Dark Chocolate candies
1 cup roasted, salted almonds
1/4 cup coarsely chopped crystalized ginger

Combine mixture.  Store in airtight container for up to one week.

Makes approximately 7 1/2 cups.  Hands on time:  5 minutes

All ingredients are available at Target.

Blog Address Confusion

I've received several emails inquiring about the status of The Island Blog ( http://TheIslandTimes.blogspot.com ).  The Island Blog, as you know it, is still up and running.  It will continue to be published with information relevant to our area and specifically The Island.

All Island homeowners are welcome to post comments at their leisure.  The Island blog is typically read by Island homeowners, often including IHA board members.  Your thoughts, comments and concerns are welcome.  Posts regarding IHA board issues will continue to be brought to the attention of President Cecilia Carroll.  The privacy, of all those posting, will be respected.

The attachment to the flyer that went out yesterday (Friday, 12/11) references a blog that will be started by Pat Hall.  There is no connection between these two internet sites, and one does not replace the other.

Thanks so much for your interest!

Enjoy a great weekend!

Warm regards,

Dale Little

Publisher, The Island Blog

Today's Meditation from Daily Om

The notion of humility as a virtue brings numerous images to mind. We tend to envision those rare individuals who humbly bear life’s struggles while downplaying their own strengths. Yet humility is also associated with people whose insecurities compel them to judge themselves unfavorably as a matter of course. The true definition of humility, however, does not correspond precisely with either of these images. Humility is not passivity. Rather, it is an utter lack of self-importance. The individuals who embody the concept of humility appreciate that each human being on the planet occupies a unique place on an infinite spectrum of development. Though they can take pride in their own accomplishments, they also understand that the people they interact with each day are as valuable and have as much to offer the world as they themselves do.

To be humble is to accept that while there will always be individuals more and less advanced than yourself, those on all parts of the spectrum of development can provide you with insights that further your personal evolution. Recognizing these insights is a matter of opening yourself to the fact that not only do others think and feel differently than you, but their life experiences have shaped them in a very different way than yours have shaped you. This means that while you may have a greater understanding in some areas, others will always be able to teach you something. When you cultivate a genuine yearning to know what skills and talents those you encounter have been blessed with, you cannot help but learn humility. You instinctively understand that emotions like envy breed resistance that prevents you from growing, and that being flexible in your interactions with others will help you connect with unexpected mentors.

When you practice humility, you want to become as accomplished and evolved as you can possibly be, yet you are willing to submit to the expertise of others to do so. You understand the scope of your aptitudes yet you choose to eradicate arrogance from your attitude, and you can distinguish the value you possess as an individual while still acting in the interests of your fellow human beings. Humility, simply put, is a form of balance in which you can celebrate your own worth while sincerely believing that every other person on the planet is just as worthy as you.

Island Blog Decorum

This blog is intended for the use of all Island homeowners.  However, it is not a venue for disparaging or aggressive comments.  Posts & comments of this nature will be rejected by the blog publisher.

All comments and posts, written within the protocol guidelines of The Island Blog, will be printed.  It is not necessary that those commenting or requesting posts, sign their name to the post.  Sadly, in our society, the messenger is often the target  of harrassment rather than a welcome conveyance of news and information.  I accept this, and respect the privacy of those that request anonymity.

Additional IHA Parking Concerns

Anonymous said...

Dear Island Homeowners,
I was so pleased to learn that others on the Island had some of the same concerns that I have. I am one who has been "targeted" and quite frankly harrassed by the Board. Yesterday the Prince William County Police came to my door because someone in the "community" (and I use that term loosely) determined that a car in the visitors lot belonged to me or a member of my family and felt that the car had been there too long. The car does not belong to me or anyone in my family. The harrassment has been constant from the time we moved to the Island. The fact is, my family has been targeted for the past four years. This last attempt has only confirmed for that there are folks on the Island who are just hateful and prejudiced. I have never experience anything that comes close to this type of harrassment in my 25 years of homeownership. It needs to stop!
V/R
Disgusted Homeowner


Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for your post!  I have forwarded your concerns to President Cecilia Carroll.  Please feel free to contact her personally...  by email at CarrollCMIHA@gmail.com or by phone at 571-237-5232. Mrs. Carroll is respectful of all homeowners and makes every effort to handle homeowner concerns discreetly and without bias.  Thank you again for sharing your concerns!
--
Dale Little -  Publisher, The Island Blog

Gardening Tip for the End of the Season

• Rinse garden tools thoroughly to remove all dirt and garden chemicals.

• Apply a thin coat of mineral oil or clean motor oil to the wooden handles, then store tools in a dry place until Spring.

Remember:  American Disposal will remove leaf filled trash bags every Monday and Thursday.  Do not dump, blow or rake leaves into Lake Montclair.  This disturbs the natural chemical balance of the lake water.

Also, per Prince William County's adoption of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act in 1990, wooded areas of The Island are Resource Protection Areas.  Leaves and vegetation should not be removed.  These areas are to be left natural and undisturbed.  For additional information and guidelines, contact Marc Aveni at PWC Watershed Management:  703-792-7070

"Brain Power" Tips

As written in Better Homes and Gardens, November 2009


Boost your brain power with puzzles and word games.  Carry the daily crossword or a pocket size Sudoku or Word-Find with you to fill the time while waiting in line, on the train, or during a quiet time of your day.

Spend 20 minutes each day navigating/surfing (that's the key) the web.  This engages centers of decision-making and complex reasoning.

And, one outside tip:  Get moving!  20 minutes of exercise every day promotes oxygen and blood flow to the brain.

President Carroll to Speak at MPOA Board Meeting

IHA President Cecilia Carroll has been asked to address the MPOA Board of Directors during Speaker's Time at the regularly scheduled meeting on December 9.  The meeting will be held in the MPOA Conference Room.  Executive Session will begin at 7:00 p.m. with the Open Session beginning at approximately 7:30 p.m.


President Carroll will present a summary of the opinions of IHA homeowners regarding the annual lowering of Lake Montclair.  Mrs. Carroll is interested in learning all IHA members' opinions and would like to hear from each IHA homeowner prior to the December 9 meeting.  President Carroll may be contacted by email at CarrollCMIHA@gmail.com or by phone at 571-237-5232. 


All IHA homeowners are encouraged to attend the MPOA Board of Director's meeting.

Green Scene: "The Modern Gardener's Glossary"

As written in The Washington Post


By Joel M. Lerner
Saturday, November 28, 2009


Landscaping jargon often leaves homeowners and part-time gardeners perplexed, and it's no wonder. In the garden, commonplace words can take on different meanings. For example, "exfoliate" is not a spa treatment, "pools" aren't always for swimming, "beds" are not a place to sleep, "percolate" doesn't refer to brewing coffee and "suckers" aren't lollipops.


So, to help cut through some of that confusion, I've put together the following glossary of terms that are frequently used in landscaping and gardening. Keep it for future reference. A few entries are slang or abbreviations and may not be found in landscape and garden texts:  Read More...

Seeking Download Information

Anonymous said...

Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!

November 19, 2009 9:21 PM 

Lake Management - Additional Information

Our BOD President, Cathy Kudrick, told me the BOD will be discussing the lake lowering issue at its 9 December meeting, and has invited me to address the board at Speaker's Time.  I enourage anyone interested in this issue, pro or con, to attend this meeting.

-- Nelson Pacheco

Trash Collection Schedule During the Holidays

Lake Management Meeting Results

Thanks, everyone, for helping to bring the issue of annual lake lowering to the attention of the LMC, the BOD, and Amrstrong.  I attended last Monday's LMC meeting and presented the attached petition.  The LMC listened attentively, along with Heather MacDonald,  Armstrong general manager, and Ned Greene, Precinct 3 BOD representative.  I believe we made a strong case to change the policy of annual scheduled lake lowering in favor of one that lowers the lake only for hazardous conditions or critical maintenance,

The LMC responded to several of the points I raised, and raised important condiderations and corrections that will help refine a better policy.  Besides the question of scheduled lake lowering, the question of how much it needs to be lowered was discussed.  As we see, Armstrong was able to accomplish this week's maintenance without further lowering, since the lake was already down one to two feet.  Hopefully, future lowerings, when needed, will also be done to the minimal amount necessary, rather than an automatic three or four feet.

Thanks again for your help, and thanks to the LMC and BOD for listening, and to Armstrong maintenance for all of the work they do to care for our lake.

Nelson Pacheco

Lake Management Concerns

nspacheco@aol.com  writes:

Sent: Fri, Nov 13, 2009 6:40 pm
Subject: Help: Lowering our lake is a bad idea

I’m using this email list from last summer’s lake flood communications to request your assistance in petitioning the Lake Management Committee (LMC), Armstrong, and the Board of Directors (BOD) to rethink their plan to re-lower our lake this coming week.  The BOD authorized our lake to be lowered at the beginning of November.  Whether we think this was a good or a bad idea, Armstrong apparently did not take advantage of the lowered lake level during a dry spell when the lake was first lowered, and now wants to relower it next week without BOD approval.  I believe this is an illegal action, and should require community input and another LMC recommendation and BOD approval beforehand.

The LMC is meeting this Monday night, and I plan to be there to make my voice heard.  But I am just an individual.  Due to the time pressure, I ask that if you agree that another lake lowering is a bad idea, you respond to my email stating so.  I will add your name to a petition to the LMC asking them to cease and desist from lowering the lake for anything other than specific and mandatory maintenance, and only to the minimum level needed for such maintenance.

As you know, we were advised in the Montclarion that our lake would be lowered several feet at the beginning of November for maintenance actions.  The lake was indeed lowered 3 to 4 feet, and the recent rains have brought it back up a couple of feet.  I took my boat out on the lake twice when the lake was at its low spot, and saw the following:

-          Several boats teetering on the edges of docks, or having floated under the docks, at risk for damage when the lake level rises.
-          An ugly and stinky exposed shoreline.
-          No maintenance being done by our management company, or by individuals, except for one owner constructing a new dock.
-          Lost habitat around the exposed shoreline, including fish and turtle beds.

By good fortune we received enough rain this week to raise the lake a couple of feet.  However, we just received an email stating that Armstrong will once again lower the lake this coming Monday.  This makes no sense to me, so I called Armstrong and spoke with Heather, the manager, and with Ned Greene, Precinct 3 rep and Lake Management Committee liaison, to ask why this is being done.

Heather told me that they need to install electronic monitoring equipment by the dam to measure the lake level (why didn't they do this when they first lowered the lake?), and Ned added that this is for lakefront owners to clean up their shoreline.  I asked Heather how low they need the lake to be to install the equipment, and she said a foot or so.  I told her the lake is already at least that low, and requested they check the level to see if they can install the equipment at the current level before lowering it further (she said they would).  However, both Heather and Ned referred to the Board having approved this lake lowering as an annual event.  I believe that this annual lake lowering is a bad idea that was approved without much community input.  I believe it is a bad idea for the following reasons:


   1. It can dry out the top part of our dam, which is a dirt dam that is supposed to remain wet, thus risking weakening its structure.
   2. It causes damage to boats as the lake level goes up and down.  Even if we are warned through email, we can’t always judge just how much line to let out, and we can’t adjust lines in the middle of the night when rains come to raise the lake.
   3. Aesthetically, it makes for an ugly and stinky shoreline until we receive enough rain to raise it.  As a rule of thumb it takes one inch of rain to raise the level one foot, and we may not receive the required three or four inches of rain for months during a dry spell (this year may be an exception).
   4. It makes for an ugly lake precisely at, arguably, the most beautiful time of the season, when the leaves are turning color and we can enjoy the lake’s beauty with our family and friends.
   5. It damages wildlife habitats.  Fish and turtle use the shallows along the shoreline to nest and lay eggs.  When this dries out, any habitats along the shoreline are destroyed.
   6. It is not necessary for shoreline maintenance, with the possible exception of at most a handful of lakefront owners who might walk out into the mud to retrieve trash.  For the average lakefront owner, walking into that mud is dangerous not only because it is slippery, but it may harbor unhealthy bacteria.
   7. Our community prospered with a beautiful lake for over 35 years without it being lowered except for flood situations.  Either we did it wrong for those 35 years, or we are doing it wrong now.  If our maintenance company needs to do maintenance along the dam, that maintenance can either be done by divers, or by lowering the lake at most one foot to clear out the screens that collect trash.  If they need to do more extensive maintenance, which should be a rare event, they can request specific permission to lower it to a specified level rather than an automatic yearly lake lowering of three to four feet.

Today's Quote

"To know that even one life has breathed easier because you lived, this is to have succeeded."

 -- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

When we consider the many foolish things that go on around us... these words are a nice reminder of what the focus should be.

IHA Landscaping Meeting TODAY

An IHA Landscape committee meeting will be held at the common area drive island located between Timber Ridge Drive and Royal Crescent Court  Saturday, November 14 beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Discussion Items:

1. location and composition of proposed hardscape
2. location and style of proposed bench
3. planting locations for purchased and planned plants
4. recommendations for additional new plant types and installation locations

Following the on-site review, the meeting will be continued at the residence of Chuck Hall located at 4711 Timber Ridge.

Island Homeowners Association board and committee meetings are open to the public.  All Island Homeowners are encouraged to participate.

Lake Montclair To Be Lowered, Again.

This from MPOA:

Attention Lake Montclair Waterfront Property Owners:

The rain is finally ending and the gate of the dam has been closed.  Homeowners will notice the Lake rise over the next day or two due to runoff. However, the gate will be opened again on Monday November 16, 2009 for Lake maintenance, which will result in a lowering of the Lake to the three foot level. Please take precautions for the fluctuation of levels over the next three days. Please contact the office with any questions at 703-670-6187.

Island Meeting

Tuesday, November 10

MPOA Conference Room

7:00 p.m.

The Island is your home and the Board members have been elected to represent each of you. You are encouraged to attend, and participate, in the Island Board meeting.

Won't be able to attend, but have ideas or concerns you'd like to share? Contact President Cecilia Carroll at CarrollcmIHA@gmail.com

From "Thinking In Ink"

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.

- Thomas Paine

Island Parking Concerns

Anonymous said...
We are concerned with the neighbors who park their cars and trucks on Timber Ridge on a regular basis despite having driveways and garages. These neigbors seem to care more about their own convenience than safety and appearance of the Island.

Timber Ridge is narrow and certain neighbors have helped turn what is supposed to be a two way street into a one way street. It is dangerous to have to navigate between oncoming traffic and large cars and trucks parked all along Timber Ridge. We also don't have sidewalks, so pedestrians and bicyclists take their chances on what's left of the street. The board has concentrated on speed humps and speed limits, which is great but how about the dangers created by thoughtless neighbors restricting traffic to a narrow lane?

November 6, 2009 7:19 AM


Anonymous said...
The streets on the Island are privately owned - our annual dues are high because the Island is responsible for maintaining and paving our roads. We all paid a very expensive special assessment fee a couple of years ago in order to have our roads repaved and to add speed humps. Since we all pay for these roads we should expect that rules to ensure safety are established by the Board.

The Board needs to come up with reasonable parking rules for the Island's section of Timber Ridge just as it has come up with rules for the visitor's parking area. Homeowners should not be allowed to park their cars and trucks on a long term basis on Timber Ridge just like cars are not allowed to park in the visitor's parking area on a long term basis. We all see the same cars and trucks day after day parked on Timber Ridge for hours at time. Yes they move sometimes, but the these vehicles wind up being parked on the road for a good portion of the year. If that does not qualify as "long term parking" what does?

I realize that some of the people who park their cars and trucks on Timber Ridge are former and current board members and for that reason it might not be popular to come up with rules for parking on Timber Ridge. Let's please remember that THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE for all drivers on the Island. Creating a safer driving and walking environment trumps the personal convenience of some individual neighbors even if they are or were on the Board.

This comment is anonymous because like the first writer alluded to, the Board is very clickish and some neighbors who don't agree with them are "targeted for harassment." This is a very real problem and is why many neighbors do not respect the Board.

Anyway, I hope that the problem of Timber Ridge parking can be looked at objectively and fairly and that some rules can be established. Please do not have double standards and create strict parking in the visitors parking area and totally ignore the dangerous driving situation on Timber Ridge.

November 7, 2009

Crime Solvers Alert from PWC Police

On 10-31-09, at approximately 9:10 p.m., the police were called to investigate the alleged abduction and sexual assault of three teenage girls.

The victims had been trick-or-treating and were walking in the area of Glendale Plaza in the 4300 block of Dale Boulevard in Dale City. The victims were approached by the suspect who forced them into the woods behind the plaza at gun point. The suspect ordered the victims to lie on the ground then allegedly raped two of the girls aged 16 and 17. The other 16 year old girl was not assaulted. The victims were treated at a local hospital. All three victims reside in Dale City.

The suspect is described as an adult black male, between 5’6” and 5’8” tall; medium built, and was wearing a gray sweatshirt, dark colored sneakers and his face was possibly covered with a hoodie of his sweatshirt and a ski mask. He was last seen leaving the area on foot.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Prince William County Crime Solvers at 703-670-3700 or

1-866-411-TIPS. You don't have to give your name just the information. You could earn up to a $1,000 cash reward.

Marcia

Officer Marcia H. Whaley

Prince William County Police

Western District Station

Crime Prevention Unit

8900 Freedom Center Blvd

Manassas VA 20110

(O) 703-792-4412

(F) 703-792-7269

(Unit) 703-792-7270

Email: mwhaley@pwcgov.org

Today's Meditation

October 27, 2009

Considering Others - Reaffirming Our Integrity

Every thought we think and every action we take has an effect on the world around us. To be aware of this is to be conscious of our impact on the people in our lives. Sometimes we just want to do what we want to do, but considering the full ramifications of our actions can be an important part of our spiritual growth and awareness. At first, being more conscious requires effort, but once we have made it a habit, it becomes second nature. The more we practice this awareness of others, the more we find ourselves in easy alignment with our integrity.

Our thoughts are an important place to begin this practice because our thoughts are the seeds of our actions. It is not necessary or beneficial to obsessively monitor all our thoughts, but we can perhaps choose one thought or action per day and simply notice if we are in alignment with this experience of integrity. For example, we may find ourselves replaying a negative encounter with someone in our minds. We may think that this doesn’t affect the person about whom we are thinking, but the laws of energy tell us that it does. When we hold someone negatively in our minds, we risk trapping them in negativity. If we were this person, we might wish for forgiveness and release. We can offer this by simply letting go of the negative thought and replacing it with a wish for healing on that person’s behalf.

With regard to our actions, we may have something difficult to express to someone. Taking the time to consider how we would feel if we were in his or her shoes will enable us to communicate more sensitively than we would if we just expressed ourselves from our own perspective. When we modify our approach by taking someone else’s feelings into account, we bring benefit to that person and ourselves equally. The more we do this, the more we reaffirm our integrity and the integrity of our relationship to the world.

Prepare Your Boat: Lake Montclair to be Lowered

Beginning the first week in November, Lake Montclair’s water level will be lowered three feet to allow

for dock and shoreline maintenance. After work is completed, the sluice gate will be closed, allowing

the water level to naturally return to 188 feet above mean sea level (Powells Creek flow and rainfall

will determine how long this takes).

For more information: See page 13 http://www.montclairva.com/files/Oct09_2.pdf Or, call MPOA at 703.670.6187

Cash For Carpooling

Pool Rewards: Cash for Carpools

Commuters who currently drive alone to work through one of three specific corridors in the Washington region may be eligible for financial rewards when they agree to start or join a new carpool!

Looking for more commuter information? Check out: http://www.mwcog.org/commuter2/index.html

A timely reminder

Courtesy of DailyThoughts.org

Jenn Lathrop Online Usborne Books & More Show!

I recently attended a book show for Usborne Books and was very impressed. These books are super educational and surprisingly inexpensive. You really should take a couple of minutes and check out the site below. This link will bring you to my online book show. I decided to have an online book show because I know how busy everyone is and you can look and order online when it is convenient to you. These books aren’t just for toddlers or very young children. From Infants to graduating high school. Think of all the children in your life- Nieces, Nephews, God Children and your friends’ children. These books make beautiful, inexpensive gifts that will last for years. Online ordering is simple and there are some great internet specials! The online show will be open until midnight on Sunday, October 29th. Thanks for supporting my online show!

You’re invited to Visit Jenn Lathrop Online Usborne Books & More Show!

Visit http://www.ubah.com/HOS156035 To see the books & place an order!

I am also hosting a book fair at my house on Wed. October 21st from 6:00-8:30pm.

RSVP to our home number: 703-763-3005

Online ordering is easy and books will arrive on your doorsteps 5-6 days after ordering. Stock up for gifts or winter reading! There’s definitely something for everyone! Plus there are fantastic online specials available on top of already fabulous prices!

Now through midnight on Sunday, October 29, 2009 (anytime...24 hrs a day!) 80% of titles are less than $10!

Questions? Need recommendations? Contact my consultant Cher Carr (carrcl4books@gmail.com or 703-586-2629) or her sponsor Kristin Dias (diaspuzzle@verizon.net or 703-675-5728) for advice! She has seen just about every book! Believe me, there’s something for children and adults of all ages!

--

Jenn Facini Lathrop

www.lifestylemeals.net

New Woodbridge Restaurant - WORTH Trying!

Hi Everyone,

We thought we'd pass along a great find. Last night we dined at the new Indian restaurant in Woodbridge- named Masala Magic. The family run place's decor, music, service & cleanliness were outstanding! As far as the food, I've never heard of Indian Fusion, it was amazing! Naan was perfect- not too greasy. The tandoori chicken and lamb dishes were succulent, and perfectly prepared. For those who aren't crazy about spicy food, any dish can be prepared according to spice preference. We ordered all mild, so we could share with Addie, and it still held its great flavor. I know it sounds strange to rave and forward this on, but Justin and I have been struggling since we moved here to find good food in our area. We've only found a few gems, and we thought we'd pass this one on. Also, we want to make sure this new place gets enough business to get going, so we can continue to enjoy it. Check out their website www.masalamagicinc.com. Also, there are some great coupons (buy one, get one free) in the new clipper magazine.

Happy Eating,

Jenn Lathrop

--

Jenn Facini Lathrop

www.lifestylemeals.net

PWC Police Alert: Check Scam

To help ease your minds, an arrest has been made regarding the recent crime alerts for the burglaries that happened in the Brittany, Ashland and Swans Creek communities.

Thank you to all of you for your continued efforts in helping to make your communities safer.

Officer Marcia H. Whaley

Prince William County Police

Crime Prevention Unit

8900 Freedom Center Blvd

Manassas VA 20110

Direct Line: 703-792-4412

Crime Prevention: 703-792-7270

Email: mwhaley@pwcgov.org

Fall Harvest Menu -- LifestyleMeals.net

It's amazing how quickly Summer has passed!

Now it's time to enjoy the cool evenings & wonderful fall produce.

Can't wait to shop the Dale City & Occoquan Farmer's Markets!

Allow me to do the shopping, cooking & cleaning for you while you enjoy more

time with your family & friends.

Whether you need lunch, dinner, a few meals or an entire week of food, we have you covered.

Lifestyle Meals is pleased to announce our

Fall Harvest Menu

www.LifestyleMeals.net

We are now taking orders for this Sunday's delivery, September 20th.

Big Band Concert - Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7:00 p.m.

If you enjoy live music, in particular "Big Band" music, you will enjoy this concert.

"Music by Moonlight" is a 7 to 9 PM. free concert on Saturday, Sept 12th (In the event the weather doesn't cooperate, the rain date for this concert is Saturday, September 26th.) sponsored by the Fredericksburg Big Band in conjunction with The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary.

Donations are used to send needy children in Fredericksburg and surrounding counties to a summer camp.

Food, cookies, popcorn, and drinks are available for sale at the concert. ​

If you google "Hurkamp. Park", it will come up. Once on the site, you will see an "events" link. The concert is listed on that site along with directions to the park!

Bring a blanket, lawn chairs and refreshments if you like!

IHA Meeting TONIGHT at MPOA Beginning at 7:00

Island Homeowner’s Association

Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting

September 10, 2009

6:30 p.m.

MPOA Building

Agenda

Executive Session (Closed)

Call to Order

Guest Speaker: Kyung Lee, PNC Bank

Opening Remarks

Approval of Minutes

April 13 Meeting – Revised

June 11 Meeting

June 18 Meeting

Speaker’s Time: Each homeowner may have 2 minutes for remarks

Reports

Treasurer

Road

Architectural Covenants Committee

*Replacement Exterior Pole Light & Cluster home Garage Doors

Landscaping

Neighborhood Watch & Safety

Old Business

Paving Crack Repairs

Common Area Décor Violations and MPOA Decisions

New Business

Lighting/Reflectors at speed humps

Community Association Statutes

Communication – IHA Times and Island BLOG

Distribution of Information by Members

ACC / Island Board PIR Review Schedule – MPOA Requirements

Announcements

Next IHA Board Meeting: TBD @ 7:00 PM

Adjourn

Mulch Volcanoes: No Eruptions, But Plenty of Tree Disruptions

By Adrian Higgins
Thursday, September 10, 2009 (The Washington Post)

Ah, fall is in the air, along with the stench of shredded hardwood mulch newly laid on top of soil. Mulch volcanoes won't be far behind.

Soon, landscapes across the fair metropolis will be marked by the mounds of mulch at the foot of hapless trees. They will rise 9, 12, even 18 inches above the base of each trunk. Some call these hills volcanoes, cones, even turtle mounds. I think of the tree as a fat candle stuck in a cupcake. Whatever you name them, the experts have been railing against mulch volcanoes for decades. They stress and kill trees in so many ways. Still they come.

"Monkey see, monkey do," said Frank Gouin, a retired professor of horticulture, explaining why they persist. He first raised the alarm about mulch volcanoes and America's addiction to excessive mulching as far back as the mid-1970s, when he announced that "over-mulching is a national disease."

It has certainly become a big part of the green industry. We lay an estimated 40 million cubic yards of mulch per year, either through the landscape maintenance companies that residential and commercial customers rely on, or ourselves. That's almost enough to encircle the globe.

Mulch has its value, but when it is misapplied, plants suffer and die. The tree volcanoes are the most egregious example of this. Gouin, formerly of the University of Maryland, finds the mounds to be "hideous." I have tried to understand the aesthetics behind this practice. When the drainpipe on your sink goes into the wall, it is surrounded by a metal flange, which gives the junction of pipe and wall a finished look. Could the same ambition be at work here?

The problem, of course, is that homeowners see landscaping companies fashioning the volcanoes in apartment grounds and commercial parks and think if that's how the "pros" do it, they must ape it.

Whether or not it works visually, the practice ignores the needs of the tree.

Mulch is supposed to achieve these main goals: retain soil moisture, suppress weeds and moderate soil temperatures. The root zone of an established tree extends beyond its drip line, so mounding the mulch against the trunk does little for the roots, except to cause the roots immediately around the trunk, especially in young trees, to grow into the volcano. Also, the piled mulch softens the bark of young trees and trees with smooth bark, such as maples, beeches and crape myrtles, and invites insects, rodents and diseases to invade. The lower trunk, unlike the roots, cannot survive long-term with the constant moisture trapped by the collar of mulch. It is the equivalent of planting a tree too deeply.

The roots of a tree or shrub find their own level in an attempt to balance their needs for water and air. If you pile mulch too thickly above the roots, the existing surface roots are suffocated and new ones grow into the mulch. Not only does that leave them at risk of drying and dying when the mulch decays, but the roots "grow across the stem, potentially strangling the tree to death," research scientist Jeff Gillman writes in his new book, "How Trees Die" (Westholme, 2009).

Gouin points out that certain shrubs are especially keen to grow roots in mulch, including azaleas, boxwoods and Japanese hollies. He rails against the notion that a garden needs mulching every spring or, even worse, every spring and fall. This essentially covers the whole garden in a mulch volcano, with the same drawbacks.

There is another potentially disastrous effect from over-mulching with a popular form of mulch called hardwood bark mulch. As it decays, it releases the metallic element manganese into the soil, where it stays put. If you repeatedly lay this mulch, the levels of manganese build to such a point that plants become robbed of the iron they need. This results in smaller leaves, leaf yellowing and branch dieback.

"It takes seven to eight years of repeated applications of hardwood mulch to get manganese levels above 200 pounds an acre, and that's when you start getting symptoms" of iron deficiency, said Gouin. Because you can't reduce the levels at that point, the only cure is to replace or heavily amend the soil.

How should we mulch? Gouin said that a thin layer of mulch is necessary only every two or three years, and that tired-looking mulch can be revived by scratching it with a cultivator. If you have a mulch volcano, push the mulch away from the base of the tree and excavate until you can see the point where the trunk flares into the roots.

I occasionally get calls from readers who are aware of the absurdity of mulch volcanoes but who live in garden apartment condos whose landscapers routinely practice the art form. Their efforts to get the condo board to fix it are often met with comments such as, "It looks so nice." This is all part of the mythology of mulch that crusaders such as Gouin have been unable to change.

When he lived in College Park and cycled to work, he came across a fellow spreading mulch at the base of a dead pine tree. "He said, 'This is great stuff; it will revitalize it.' "

From PWC: Residential Burglaries in Brittany

Prince William County Police Department

Crime Prevention Unit

Prince William, Virginia

CRIME ALERT

Emergency Dial 9-1-1

Non-Emergency Dial (703) 792-6500

September 4, 2009

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

There have been recent reports of burglary activity and attempted burglary activity in the Brittany Community between 8/28/09 and 8/31/09.

Entry was gained in one incident was by forcing a kitchen window open.

In the other incident entry was gained into the garage with no signs of forced entry. Vehicles were also a target in one incident where the doors to the vehicles were left unlocked in the garage and items stolen.

The attempted incidents have had either a rear screen door that had been tampered with; the breaking of a rear patio door handle; a screen on a rear deck cut; and a door to a sunroom found open. Items of interest were two GPS units, a power cord and a woman's purse with cash.

Possible suspect information in one of the incidents:

* Unknown Male

* 15-20 yrs old

* Approximately 5'9, thin build wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt and dark pants. A leatherman type of tool was recovered.

Tips for vacationers:

* If possible keep a car parked in your driveway.

* Have your home looking "lived in" while you are away. This can be done with the use of timers on lights inside the home.

* Have a trusted neighbor/friend/relative pick up your mail and newspapers daily and remove all flyers, circulars, doorknob hangers and packages that may have been left at your door. Ask this person to conduct a periodic inspection of the perimeter of your home.

* Leave a contact number with this trusted neighbor/friend/relative should they need to call you while you are out

of town.

Remember:

* Keep all doors and windows locked, even if at home.

* Keep your front and rear porch lights on, use motion sensors.

* If you hear something, do not investigate. Go to a safe room in your home, call the police (911) and stay on the line.

* Be on the lookout for suspicious persons or activity during the day as well as during evening hours.

* REPORT all suspicious persons or activity to the police.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Emergency: 9-1-1 Non-Emergency: 703-792-6500

Anyone with any information concerning these or other crimes should call

Prince William County Crime Solvers at (703) 670-3700 or toll-free at

1-866-411-TIPS.

You don't have to give your name, just the information.

You could earn up to a $1,000 cash reward.

http://www.pwcgov.org/police

Officer Marcia H. Whaley

Prince William County Police

Crime Prevention Unit

8900 Freedom Center Blvd

Manassas VA 20110

Direct Line: 703-792-4412

Crime Prevention: 703-792-7270

Email: mwhaley@pwcgov.org

The Island's Night Out!!!

Please join your neighbors and bring your friends to Georgio's for food and wine!!!

When? Thursday, August 20... 6 p.m. til ??????

Please RSVP to Marsha at 703.878.6873 or Sue at 703.590.4443... (By this Wednesday please) Let us know if you are coming so we can tell Arthur... Hope to see you there!!!!

Marsha and Sue

Volunteers Needed for Disaster Drill at Rippon VRE

Saturday, September 26, 2009

What?: Disaster Drill

Where?: Rippon Virginia Rail Express (VRE) Station (15511 Farm Creek Dr., Woodbridge, Virginia 22191)

Time?: 6:00AM – 2PM

The Prince William County Office of Emergency Management and partner agencies will be conducting a Disaster Drill on Saturday, September 26, 2009 simulating an emergency event at the Rippon VRE station. Volunteer Prince William has been asked to recruit volunteers to play victims at the site. Lunch will be provided! Actors will meet prior to the drill (location to be determined) for moulage (application of make-up to make you appear injured!) and an “Actors Briefing”. All volunteers must be 18 or over or 13 and accompanied by a parent. A photo ID is required and all volunteers will be asked to sign a liability waiver. More details will follow as they become available.

Please Contact Bonnie Nahas at 703-369-5292 X202 or BNahas@VolunteerPrinceWilliam.org to register.

I need to know who plans to participate by September 11, 2009 at the latest.

Thanks!

Kennedy Center Needs Volunteers

The Friends of the Kennedy Center volunteer program is in need of volunteers to assist with the Annual Kennedy Center Open House Arts Festival and Multi-Cultural Children’s Book Festival from10am -7:00 pm on Saturday, September 12, 2009.

The festival features free performances and activities to the public. For those interested in helping there are volunteer positions for everyone! They range from less strenuous and mostly sitting, to those that require muscle and strength. Volunteers will need to attend an orientation session and work either a 4-hour shift or for the entire day.

Benefits include the opportunity to work with artists from all over the country, undying appreciation from Kennedy Center staff, the chance to witness 30,000 patrons excited to experience the arts and see stunning performances plus a special Open House t-shirt, parking discounts on Open House, and a special thank you gift for your efforts.

To download an application:

http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.kennedy-center.org/support/volunteers/friends_openhouseapp.pdf

or call the Friends Volunteer Hotline at (202) 416-8301.

Help Wanted: 15 hr/wk Communications Director

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, in Woodbridge, is accepting applications from candidates for its new Communications Director position.

This 15 hr/wk position shall be responsible for advertising and inter-ministry communications. This new staff person will also serve as the liaison to IT ministry. Applicants should be proficient in all Microsoft Office programs and have experience in communications, marketing, and/or IT.

To submit a resume and schedule an interview, please contact Pastor Justin Lathrop at PastorJustin.GSLC@gmail.com

Gardening Tip of the Week from Washington Post

Check conifers for bagworms, needle-feeding caterpillars that encase themselves in bags of dead needles. The cocoons resemble cones and are hard to spot, but severe infestations can kill trees. The insects are drawn in particular to cedars, junipers, Leyland cypresses, pines and arborvitaes. Use a glove and drop bags in a bleach solution. Bagworms in upper branches can be sprayed with an insecticide labeled for this pest, although the cocoons make pesticides less effective at this stage.

Landscaping Around Windows, etc.

Maximum-Security Landscaping

From The Washington Post, By Joel M. Lerner
Saturday, August 1, 2009

Personal security is always on our minds, especially at home. We double-lock our doors, arm our homes with security systems and motion-sensor lights, and even install bars on our windows. But not many of us think about landscape design as a way to protect our homes from intruders.

The right plants, in fact, can provide an effective additional layer of security. Planting and maintaining our gardens for security can enhance an attractive landscape by opening clear sight lines across the property or by screening areas that we don't want exposed for all to see.

Shoring up your property's defenses does require some planning, time and, yes, money. Here are some guidelines that I use when developing a landscape design with security in mind.

One of the most reliable ways to secure your landscape is to plant thorny thicket hedges, which can create impenetrable barriers. They provide security at the edge of properties or in dark corners close to the house where a prowler could enter. If you don't require a tall barrier, keep shrubs pruned to three feet or lower for good visibility. Elevate tree limbs at least eight feet above the ground so you won't walk into low-hanging branches and poke yourself in the eye.

Shrubs provide privacy, but they can also give cover to unlawful activity if they get too big, and you might have to remove or cut them to keep areas secure. Foundation plantings should be kept low. Use dwarf conifers, such as bird's nest spruces; low growing shrubs, such as English yews and globose blue spruces (Picea pungens), also known as "Glauca Globosa"; or thorny plants that stay small, about three to four feet high and wide. One shrub that people aren't likely to hide behind, with its tight mass of thorny leaves, is Rotunda Chinese holly.

Shrubs should not cover windows, as that can allow an intruder to enter your home unseen. A common mistake is covering windows from the outside so that others can't see into the house. In fact, this creates a security risk because you can't see out, and intruders can stand between shrubs and windows, peering in without being seen from the street.

If you're designing shrubs as hedges, or accents in flowering borders, there are several types that are likely to wound intruders, including hardy oranges (Poncirus trifoliata), pyracanthas and devil's walking stick (Aralia spinosa). Don't plant these where children play, climb or dig with their hands. These shrubs can draw blood. Thorny plants tend to collect trash and leaves, so make sure you wear gloves when removing debris that gets caught in the branches.

Always ascertain a plant's growth habit, or size at full maturity, before buying it, making sure it is in scale with your house. Some homes can make do with a single row of hardy oranges, which can reach 10 feet in height. For others, more extensive planting might be required, such as an entire grove of devil's walking sticks. As with all plants, growth depends on sun and type of soil.

Pruning these thorny shrubs, of course, poses a special challenge. Be sure to wear thick gloves, long sleeves, long pants and sturdy shoes. Remember that selective pruning yields the best results. Cut one-third of the oldest wood out, leaving the lower, younger growth. It can be time-consuming to prune a hedge this way, but it is without a doubt the best method. Low plants, such as Rotunda Chinese hollies and Virginia rose (R. virginiana) might never need pruning if planted four feet apart.

The following are several other ways to secure your property.

-- Fences or walls. Think about security when erecting walls and fences in your garden. It might dictate where they are installed and how high they should be. Securing an area requires complete enclosure and possibly a structure eight to 10 feet high. Most local building codes allow only six to seven feet, unless you obtain a variance. Vines on walls can help discourage graffiti.

To minimize the possibility that your barriers will conceal intruders, consider picket fences, lattice with large openings, walls with open patterns or another see-through design, such as chain link.

Chain-link fence isn't ornamental, but it works quite well to secure an area and is more affordable. It keeps children and pets in and can keep troublemakers out. It comes in different-colored plastic coatings that can match your landscape and keep the fence looking good. Black blends with gardens and woodland, brown against a deck or other wooden structure, and green goes with a lawn. Blend chain link into the landscape by planting vines and shrubs around it, but keep in mind that doing so can undermine security by creating hiding places behind the plants.

If chain link doesn't suit your taste, a solid iron picket is a handsome alternative that is ornamental on its own but can be more expensive.

-- Gates and seating. Avoid having a gate or entry from a deserted alley or pathway. Seating can be strategically placed for relaxation but also in a way that allows you to see passersby.

-- Open lines of sight. Where the intersection of your path or driveway reaches a street, be sure you have visibility. Don't place large shrubs or tall walls in the line of vision where you want to see pedestrians on a sidewalk or cars approaching. When you enter a street from your driveway, keep a clear line of vision for several hundred feet.

-- Lighting. Ornamental landscape lighting can be used for aesthetics and as a means of keeping your property visible at night. A technique called "moonlighting" -- hanging fixtures aiming down from trees, flooding the yard with a soft glow -- is both practical and beautiful.

Supplemental security lighting is also popular. When installing either ornamental or bright security lighting, be sure each is on its own circuit. Bright floodlights should be wired through a separate circuit that runs to a dimmer switch so that you are able to keep bright lights low to serve as accent lighting. Equip them with motion sensors and timers, which will make your residence look occupied, even when you're away. Bright, high-wattage floodlights will have no aesthetic value and should be turned off except when needed for security purposes.

Services of the PWC Virginia Cooperative Extension

The Environment and Natural Resources program provides research based information to help citizens improve their lawns and landscapes without negatively impacting the environment.

Our main programs include:

* Free lectures to the public at local libraries

* Education for businesses and non-profit organizations in the management of stormwater runoff

* Training for interested citizens who wish to become Master Gardener volunteers

* Low maintenance gardening techniques demonstrated at the Teaching Garden.

* Plant a Row for the Hungry collections at local Farmer’s Markets

* Horticulture Help Desk and plant clinics to answer questions about insect, disease, or gardening problems

For more information call 703-792-7747 or go to www.pwcgov.org/vce/enr

Knowledge for the Commonwealth

By: Judy Haeske, Master Gardener Volunteer

VCE-Prince William

Prince William Cooperative Extension is a little-known resource that provides a rich base of information and education for the citizens of Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park. The local Extension Office, housed in Manassas, is organized under Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia Tech and Virginia State University.

The Extension Office offers educational programs that enable families to better manage resources; help youth become self-directing, contributing and productive members of society; and improve the impact of urban horticulture on the environment. This includes nutrition information, financial education programs, parenting classes, 4-H, and research based information to help citizens improve their lawns and landscapes in an environmentally friendly manner.

These Programs include:

Financial Education Program. This Program teaches management of personal finances and preparation for home ownership. One-time personal financial assessments are available, as well as programs on how to avoid financial trouble; home buying seminars; responsible renters workshops; and mortgage default counseling. For more information, call 703-792-6289.

Parent Education Program. Educational programs are available that provide parents with skills and tools to nurture children and strengthen family relationships. Programs are available for parents of young children, school age, or teens; parents facing divorce, separation or custody issues; whose children are at risk of court involvement; and children dealing with anger issues in the home. For more information, call 703-792-6288.

Nutrition Education Program. This Program provides education about making healthy food choices; how to plan nutritious meals and snacks that fit the family budget, using food labels to choose the best buys, and food safety and storage. Such programs include: Smart Choices Nutrition Education Program; Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program; the Childhood Obesity Initiative; Dining with Diabetes, and training for the Serve Safe food handler certification. For more information, call 703-792-4764.

4-H Youth Development Program. Staff and trained volunteers help youth develop practical skills for living and leadership. The 4-H Program provides community clubs for youth aged 5-18; camping opportunities; teen leadership programs; and special interest programs. For more information, please call 703-792-6286.

Environment and Natural Resources. This program addresses the needs of the public by offering options for attractive, problem free lawns and gardens in an environmentally friendly manner. Staff and Master Gardener volunteers provide the following services: free lawn and landscape seminars held at local libraries throughout the year; a teaching garden open to the public; an annual lawn and garden show; verification of champion and historic trees throughout the county; plant and insect questions answered at clinics across the county; and consultation on storm water issues. Have a gardening question?

Call the Extension Horticultural Help Desk and speak with a Master Gardener. 703-792-7747. Or email master_gardener@pwcgov.org

Have a love for gardening and want to know how to do it right? Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the community with garden, landscaping, and water quality needs. Students go through 60 hours of class work and at least 50 hours of volunteer work in their first year before they become certified. If you think you'd like to become a Master Gardener, call 703-792-7747.

For more information on any of the programs offered by the Prince William Cooperative Extension, visit our web sites: www.pwcgov.org/vce or go to the state website at www.ext.vt.edu.