July 24, 2017 Newsletter

As we approach Villamay’s 60th anniversary, the Board and I would like to welcome the many new families that have moved to our neighborhood recently as well as to express our sincere appreciation for those of you who have been neighbors for a longer period of time. I, for one, feel very fortunate to be surrounded by so many friends in such an idyllic setting. My over-arching goal for the year is to ensure that – from our newest arrivals to the original owners – we continue to nurture and refresh the strong sense of community which makes this neighborhood a home to us all.

Tell us what’s on your mind

I believe strongly in open communication. If you have a question, comment, concern or suggestion, please reach out to a member of your all-volunteer Community Association Board.

2017-18 Villamay Community Association Board of Directors

President – Oliver Taft

Vice President – Hugh Carroll

Treasurer – Kathleen Flaherty

Director – Susan Blauert

Director – Terry Fuller

Director – Kristen Katherine Gayden

Director – Karen Herndon

Director – Brendon Weiss

Prior Year’s President/Welcoming – Heidi Marchand

Committee Chairs:

Lisa Aramony – Communications

Joan Baughan – MVCCA transportation/planning + zoning

Chris Herndon – Restrictive Covenants

Steve Markle – Community Park

The Board meets the first Tuesday of the first full week of the month (say that three times fast!?). If you have an issue that you would like to raise, please contact me and I would be happy to raise it for you or to have you come to discuss it with us.

Neighborhood events

Starting with the most recent celebration, thank you for helping to make Villamay’s annual 4th of July celebration such a successful event! From the drinks and children’s bike parade to the tri-colored popsicles and water balloons, we heard from many of you that this was one of the most memorable in recent years. Special thanks to David and Marjorie Spires for hosting and supplying the mimosas and Bloody Mary bar and to the Brits (Joe & Helen Fossee) for being such wonderfully good sports during the water ballooning of the British house/man.

Click here for more pictures from this year’s 4th of July decorated bike parade

As described by David Harrison in a News Flash Report:

Today witnesses observed in Villamay citizens assembling in protest and storming a British Embassy fortress with technologically advanced next-generation vehicles.  A brave British soldier from the Pentagon was seen defending the facility from specially designed hydro projectiles. The citizens declared their independence from European colonization and refused to pay taxes for tea.  Officers from the US State Department in Washington observing this event said; they expect this tradition to occur again next year.

Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.

Board-sponsored events, such as the 4th of July celebration, are a great way to connect with your friends, make new ones and welcome new neighbors. We hope that you are enjoying the summer happy hours. Looking forward, please join us for the Labor Day picnic in McCutcheon Park on September 4th, where we will once again have food, live music and entertainment for the kids. If you would like to volunteer, please reach out to me, Hugh or Kristen. In terms of other events, below, please find a calendar for the year to facilitate your planning.

Calendar for the year – please save the date!

September 4th – Labor Day Picnic

October 31st – Halloween

December 17th – Caroling

February 17th – Wine Soiree [location needed]

April 1st – Easter-Egg Hunt

April 28th – Community Yard Sale

May 17th – Annual Meeting

*Volunteers are always appreciated. Please contact me to help at an event.

In order to support these events  . . .

Please submit your community association dues – $55 to Kathleen Flaherty at 1208 Belle Vista Drive.

(Dues are typically paid at the annual dinner or in June/July. The fiscal year runs from June 1, 2017 – May 31, 2018 and is bookended by the Villamay Annual Dinner at Belle Haven Country Club the 3rd Thursday in May.)

Your relatively modest dues help support, among other things, the printing of the directory (which dues-paying members receive) and a full calendar of wonderful events like the Labor Day Picnic and Wine Soiree, as well as the occasional purchase of flowers and token gifts for neighbors returning from hospital or who have lost a family member.  Dues also go to help maintain and replace our unique and beautiful street signs. The cost of repair for a fallen street sign is around $700 (gulp!). A few are in need of repair and I would like to paint them all, if we can afford it. Dues also allow us to have street numbers painted on the curbs and I think we should try to have them done this year or next, at the latest. Please help by submitting your dues to Kathleen. If you would prefer to pay for two years, that is possible, as well. Thank you for your support.

Restrictive Covenants Affecting All Homes in Villamay

While your dues support events which build a sense of community, we also have strong covenants to help maintain the distinctive aesthetic character of Villamay.

From the outset of its development, Villamay has been an outstanding community of fine homes; it continues to be outstanding and property values are strong because of structural and aesthetic excellence, the pride of residents in their homes and the community, and continuing maintenance of the high standards established by the developer, Gene May. To a significant extent, those standards are to be found in the Restrictive Covenants which were made a part of the initial dedication of the land by its developer.

Inquiries should be sent to Chris Herndon, Covenants Committee Head at Chris.Herndon@tech-group.org

Further information can be found in your Directory and on this website.

Airplane Noise

In May 2015 with no public comment, the FAA’s implemented its NexGen program which concentrated the flight paths from DCA over Villamay and surrounding neighborhoods resulting in much-increased airplane noise. We are working to have the flight path moved down the river so planes will reach a higher altitude before turning over land which should reduce noise for all. We need your help.

You can find more complete information about how to get involved with the South Flow Alliance on their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/southflowalliance.

I strongly encourage you to submit complaints to the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) at: https://viewpoint.bksv.com/dca3. Bookmark the page for easy access the next time you need it. They count the number of complaints as well as the number of individuals submitting complaints. Your voice matters.

We are working on the airplane noise but need your help.

Traffic

GW Parkway traffic and Park Terrace

Joan Baughan, a long-time Park Terrace resident, attorney, former Board President, Dave’s much better half, and a champion for disallowing the installation of a large cell phone tower in McCutcheon Park a few years ago, has taken the lead representing Villamay on both the MVCCA Transportation committee and Planning and Zoning committee. More info at http://www.mvcca.org/.

Recent crashes at the intersection of Morningside Drive and the GW Parkway have led to discussions about how to increase safety there, which we all support. However, some specific suggestions, including disallowing a left turn onto the Parkway at that intersection would lead to Park Terrace becoming the de facto cut through for all traffic using Morningside to enter the Parkway, are much more problematic for our residents. Joan is leading the charge to make sure we promote a solution which addresses safety concerns both on the Parkway and on adjacent neighborhood streets.

Drive like our children live here. It’s easy. They do.

On the topic of traffic safety, please drive safely and slowly. Our wide, tree-lined streets may tempt us to hit the gas but, as you can see from the picture of the bike parade, we have many small children in the neighborhood and it seems somedays as if the entire neighborhood is (gloriously) out for a walk/being walked by their dog. The speed limit is 25mph. If you have teenage children, please remind them. If you are older, remind yourself.

Traditions – wave to your neighbors!

From the many association-sponsored community events and the genteel tradition of waving to your neighbors to trying, when possible, not to park on the street, Villamay has strong traditions which we must work hard to maintain. The water-ballooning of the British house shall continue! The best legacy we can leave is a strong vibrant community that both respects its traditions and evolves to promote new ones.  I love our neighborhood and am proud to serve as your President this year. I look forward to strengthening the strong bonds of community and friendship in this neighborhood that we all call home.

If you see us up on the porch on Admiral Drive, come up and say hello. We are happy and proud to have you all as neighbors.

Sincerely,

Oliver C.W. Taft

President, Villamay Community Association

VATNAC NEWS

Please click on the link to find the latest newsletter from the Villamay Air Traffic Noise Abatement Campaign.vatnac-news-161023

Air Traffic Noise Abatement Campaign Update

The Villamay Community Association is beginning a door-to-door signature drive for a “Statement of Concern” regarding the unacceptable level of air traffic noise generated by South Flow flights to and from Reagan National Airport. Villamay and surrounding neighborhoods south of Old Town Alexandria have experienced an increase in air traffic noise since the implementation of the Federal Aviation Administration’s NextGen air traffic control system. The new nationwide system of flight routing was implemented without community comment.

Below please find news from the Villamay Air Traffic Noise Abatement Campaign, including an April update from Mason Hill neighbor, Mike Rioux, regarding efforts to reduce the recent increase in aircraft noise pollution over our neighborhoods. Mike is our representative to the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority’s Airport Noise Working Group.

 

The good news is that the FAA has indicated somewhat of a willingness to review the situation. The bad news is that their proposed “simulation,” to determine if changes are necessary or appropriate, could take up to 12 to 18 months, with no guarantee of changes following this study period.

 

It is imperative that we continue to pressure for change that happens sooner, rather than later.

 

To that end, if you have not already done so, PLEASE SIGN THE STATEMENT OF CONCERN.

 

The easiest way to do so is online through this link to our change.org petition.

 

If you prefer to sign via pen and paper, please email Steve Hantzis at sjhantzis@gmail.com, or reply to this email. We will arrange for a petition to be brought to you.

VATNAC Update April 21 2016

Villamay Air Traffic Noise Campaign Statement of Concern, Background Information

2015 Fall Newsletter

President’s Corner – Susan Wiltsie

Hello wonderful neighbors.  I took over at the beginning of summer as president of our Villamay Community Association.

The rest of our Board:

Caroline Ferguson, Past President

Rick DiBella, Vice President

Kathy Flaherty, Treasurer

Karen Herndon, Secretary

Susan Blauert, Director

Terry Fuller, Director

Amy Haseltine, Director

Tracy Heinzman, Director

The following individuals have agreed to chair our principal committees:

Chris Herndon, Restrictive Covenants

Heidi Marchand, Social

Lisa Aramony, Communications

Susan Blauert, Welcoming

Steve Markle, Community Park

Sam Wood, Suzy Fitzpatrick & John Yurchak -Reps to the MVCCA

Thank you to these neighbors for volunteering their time to our community!

Directory

Hugh Carroll has undertaken the arduous task of updating our directory.   This will be out this Fall.  THANK YOU to Hugh for taking on this huge job.

This and That

• If you are new to the neighborhood and have not been officially welcomed, or if you are aware of a new neighbor who has not been welcomed, please call Susan Blauert at (703) 768 3875.
• ALWAYS pick up after your dogs.  Ick.
• Please don’t make changes to the exterior of your home or add structures to your yard without first reviewing our Restrictive Covenants and, if approval is required for your improvement, please contact Chris Herndon at (703) 768-9650 before the work begins.

Upcoming Events

 We have added “Impromptu Happy Hours” to our usual list of neighborhood events.  These happy hours take place on Fridays at 5:30 in various outdoor spots around the neighborhood.  We had one in June at the entrance to the park and one in July in LaRonde Court.   The concept is that everyone who comes brings a beverage to share and, if you want, an appetizer to share.   The neighborhood provides a table, napkins, plastic cups and trash bags.  These have been very fun and are an excellent way to meet neighbors.

Please calendar the following upcoming events (and come!):

• Labor Day Picnic – McCutcheon Park from 4:00-6:00.   We will have a band, an entertainer for the children, hamburgers and hotdogs.   If your last name begins with A-M, please bring a side dish.  If your last name begins with N-Z, please bring a dessert.
• September Impromptu Happy Hour will be on September 11 from 530-730 in Valon Court in front of the Aramony’s house, 7410 Valon Court
• October Impromptu Happy Hour will be on October 16 in Gatewood Court in front of the Handy’s house, 7411 Gatewood Court
• Villamay Community Fall Yard Sale will be Saturday, October 17, 8:00 am – 12:00 Noon.  We post it on Craig’s list and put up signs. You do the rest.
• The Halloween Party will be Saturday October 31, 5:00 pm in front of the Herndon’s house 1217 LaRonde Court.  Please come in costume with your whole family!  Pizza and sodas provided

April 2015 Newsletter

President’s Corner – Caroline Ferguson

We are all looking forward to a beautiful spring in our lovely neighborhood.

To take a respite from the blustery weather this winter, we gathered for a “White Winter Soiree” at the beautiful home of Deborah Lerner and Matthew Bieschke on February 28th. About 80 of our neighbors attended; we got the chance to socialize and we enjoyed wine and plenty of hors d’ oeuvres! It was a wonderful time and we extend our sincere thanks to Deborah and Matthew for opening their home to us.

Believe it or not, the 2013-14 Villamay Community Association (VCA) year is winding down and, in keeping with our Association by-laws, we have appointed a Nominating Committee for the 2014-15 VCA Board of Directors. Joan Baughan has kindly agreed to Chair the Nominating Committee; other members of the Committee are Susan Blauert, Tim Heck, and Stephen Marsh. The Committee will be nominating individuals for the following Board positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary (each of these positions has a 1 year term, and reelection is permitted for one consecutive term); nominations also will be made for 1 Director position (we have 4 Director positions in total, and each has a 2 year term; currently, 3 of our 4 Directors are serving their first year).

The election of our new Board will take place during our Annual Meeting, which will be held in connection with our Annual Dinner, scheduled for May 21 at the Belle Haven Country Club.

The Nominating Committee will be reporting the names of their nominees at our April VCA Board meeting, so if you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors in 2014-15, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee. Nominations for all offices and vacant directorships also may be made from the floor at our Annual Meeting on May 21. We hope to see you all there!

Mark Your Calendars!

 Villamay Annual Meeting/Dinner – Thursday, May 21st

if you can’t make the dinner and would like to submit an absentee ballot, please download the form here: ABSENTEE BALLOT 2015 Meeting

Last Call For Villamay Directory Updates — FINAL CUT OFF – 21 May 2015

We endeavor to update the Villamay Community Association Directory every 2 years. Our last Directory was printed in 2012, and many new neighbors have joined the community since that time, so it is now time to gather the data needed to prepare an updated version. If you did not provide us your update information in the fall or this winter please take the time to do so now. Contact Hugh Carroll at (202) 781-3199 or Hugh.Carroll@gmail.com. Download the Directory Update Form Here: VILLAMAY DIRECTORY UPDATE 2015

DUES SPECIAL!

June 1^st dues increase to $55/year. Beat the increase by paying 2015/16 dues prior to June 1^st at the $50/ year rate. Submit your dues check to Tim Heck at 7404 Park Terrace Drive.  Download the dues reminder form here: Dues Reminder Notice

Community Improvements

New Communication Service

Lisa Aramony has found a new service to add to our neighborhood communications, NextDoor. If you have not done so already, you can sign up at: https://nextdoor.com/invite/psbbdpbtdaptgwwbupme

Covenants

If you are considering exterior changes to your property this spring, please take a few minutes to review the Restrictive Covenants that affect all homes in Villamay. The Restrictive Covenants appear expressly or by reference in all conveyances of title to subsequent owners; they run with the land, and they are legally binding upon all owners of Villamay property. For your convenience they are reprinted in the back of the 2012 Villamay directory. If you have any questions about the Restrictive Covenants or the approval process for erecting fences, structures, or improvements on lots in Villamay, please contact the Chair of our Restrictive Covenants Committee, Dave Baughan.

Welcome New Neighbors

When you are out and about, please extend a warm welcome to our new residents:

 If you are new to the neighborhood and have not been officially welcomed, or if you are aware of a new neighbor who has not been welcomed, please call Susan Blauert at (703) 768-3875.

Cell Service – Proposed DAS Project

 Verizon is investigating installation of Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) on top of existing or replacement utility poles through their sub-contractor ExteNet. You may have noticed them around the neighborhood, along Sherwood Hall Lane, and othr locations talking surveys by extending antennas into the air near poles. These would extend cellular service without the big towers that Verizon had been interested in installing in the past. If you are interested in helping the community stay informed of Verizon’s and Fairfax County plans by attending meetings please contact Sam Wood or Caroline Ferguson.

 Stream Restoration Project Update

 The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is still planning on moving forward with the stream restoration project in Gilbert McCutcheon Park.  This project is intended to stabilize the streambed and banks of the stream that runs through the east end of Gilbert McCutcheon Park just along the boundary behind Park Terrace Drive.   The 95% plan, including a master plan, plans for demolition and tree removal, trail closure plan, planting plan, and restoration plan, has been completed.  Neighbors adjacent to that end of the park are to receive notification in advance from the county. If you have any questions, please contact Caroline Ferguson or Steve Markle.

Public Schools

VCA arranged to have Mount Vernon District School Board Representative, Dan Storck, speak and answer questions at Martha Washington Library. He spoke of the overall budgeting process, school renovations, redistricting process, and upcoming issues/events.

There was much discussion on the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) proposed boundary and program changes that would change expand the attendance boundary north along Richmond Highway and move the level IV qualified Belle View Students to a new Advanced Academic Center at Bucknell Elementary School. Belle View could be renovated to add additional capacity. Mr. Storck discussed that voters are going to be asked to vote in the fall for a bond to fund the CIP prior to decisions being made on the redistricting plans.

I encourage everyone to become informed.

March 2014 Newsletter

President’s Corner – Joan Baughan

March really came in like a lion this year – let’s hope it goes out like a lamb! We are all looking forward to a beautiful spring in our lovely neighborhood.

To take a respite from the blustery weather this winter, we gathered for a “White Winter Soiree” at the beautiful home of Virginia Iaquinta and Dan Barerra on January 25^th. About 80 of our neighbors attended; we got the chance to socialize and we enjoyed white wine and plenty of hors d’ oeuvres! It was a wonderful time and we extend our sincere thanks to Virginia and Dan for opening their home to us.

Believe it or not, the 2013-14 Villamay Community Association (VCA) year is winding down and, in keeping with our Association by-laws, we have appointed a Nominating Committee for the 2014-15 VCA Board of Directors. Susan Wiltsie has kindly agreed to Chair the Nominating Committee; other members of the Committee are Valerie Marsh, Tim Heck, and Caroline Ferguson. The Committee will be nominating individuals for the following Board positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary (each of these positions has a 1 year term, and reelection is permitted for one consecutive term); nominations also will be made for 3 Director positions (we have 4 Director positions in total, and each has a 2 year term; currently, 3 of our 4 Directors are serving their second year).

The election of our new Board will take place during our Annual Meeting, which will be held in connection with our Annual Dinner, scheduled for May 15 at the Belle Haven Country Club.

The Nominating Committee will be reporting the names of their nominees at our April VCA Board meeting, so if you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors in 2014-15, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee. Nominations for all offices and vacant directorships also may be made from the floor at our Annual Meeting on May 15. We hope to see you all there!

Community Improvements

Street Sign Repairs

The wild winter weather this year resulted in some needed neighborhood repairs. The street sign at the intersection of Tatum Drive and Park Terrace Drive was run over and completely destroyed – it was unclear how that happened, but it occurred during one of our snowstorms, so we can only guess that it was an ice-related accident. Nevertheless, it went unreported until neighbors notified the Community Association. We filed a police report and had the sign repaired. The police indicated that they will keep a close watch on traffic in our neighborhood – please slow down! We have many children in Villamay, and when the spring weather finally decides to stick around they will be spending more time outside riding bicycles and playing throughout the neighborhood.

The street sign at the corner of Villamay Boulevard and Regent Drive also has been repaired. It’s important to remember that the street signs in Villamay are not maintained by Fairfax County; rather, they are custom signs that were added to the neighborhood when it was constructed. The VCA is responsible for maintaining these signs, and the repairs come out of our annual dues. If you haven’t yet paid your dues for fiscal year 2013-14, please do so – for those of you who have forgotten, we are attaching a dues payment form to this Newsletter. Our dues pay for our community improvements, such as street sign repair, maintenance and landscaping of the sign at our neighborhood entrance, and curb painting, as well as social events such as the Winter Soiree.

Curb Painting

As mentioned in our last Newsletter, we have now contracted to have our house numbers re-painted onto the curbs throughout Villamay. This curb painting is performed periodically and is covered by your Villamay Community Association dues. The project will be done as soon as weather permits – temperatures of 50°F and rising are needed.

We note that some neighbors have had their curbs painted independently during the past year. If you do not wish to have your curb re-painted this spring, you will have the option to remove your address from the project.

McCutcheon Park – Invasive Plant Removal Day March 29

We will be joining the Wellington Heights Civic Association on Saturday, March 29, to take down saplings and cut English ivy that is climbing trees in McCutcheon Park (formerly Lamond Park). We will work from 10:00 am until noon on Saturday, March 29. We are joining with the Fairfax County Park Authority in this effort.

When English ivy climbs, it slowly kills the tree on which it is growing and creates seeds. The ivy and other non-native, invasive species are a serious threat to the quality of our natural areas. It is also a hiding place for unwanted animals. Please come out on March 29 and help us with this effort – students can earn community service hours!! Please wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves, and long pants, and bring clippers and other cutting tools. Protective gloves and bags will be provided.

Villamay Men’s Luncheon Group

The Villamay Men’s Luncheon Group meets at a nearby restaurant at 12:00 noon on the last Monday of each month. Come join us if you are available. The luncheon provides an informal opportunity each month to connect with some of your interesting Villamay neighbors and discuss topics of mutual interest. We currently meet each month at the Green Olive Restaurant on Route One. Please contact Loren Dohm (7216 Park Terrace Drive) by phone at 703-765-2507, or by email at Loren_Dohm@cox.net, if you would like any additional information.

Welcome New Neighbors

When you are out and about, please extend a warm welcome to our new residents:

Park Terrace Drive

Collin Mooney and Kyla Knudson

Roberta Fede

Villamay is a friendly community and we would love to see you at all of our Villamay activities!

If you are new to the neighborhood and have not been officially welcomed, or if you are aware of a new neighbor who has not been welcomed, please call Marjorie Spires at (703) 660-6789.

In Memoriam

As a community, we express our condolences to those who have recently lost a loved one. We ask you to pause to remember our former neighbor, Iris Arnold. 

Covenants

If you are considering exterior changes to your property this spring, please take a few minutes to review the Restrictive Covenants that affect all homes in Villamay. The Restrictive Covenants appear expressly or by reference in all conveyances of title to subsequent owners; they run with the land, and they are legally binding upon all owners of Villamay property. For your convenience they are reprinted in the back of the 2012 Villamay directory. If you have any questions about the Restrictive Covenants or the approval process for erecting fences, structures, or improvements on lots in Villamay, please contact the Chair of our Restrictive Covenants Committee, Dave Baughan.

Stream Restoration Project Update

The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is moving forward with the stream restoration project in Gilbert McCutcheon Park.  This project is intended to stabilize the streambed and banks of the stream that runs through the east end of Gilbert McCutcheon Park just along the boundary behind Park Terrace Drive. The 95% plan, including a master plan, plans for demolition and tree removal, trail closure plan, planting plan, and restoration plan, has been completed.  Construction is scheduled to begin about mid-May, with an anticipated duration of about 8 weeks (weather permitting). If you have any questions, please contact Joan Baughan or Steve Markle.

Fairfax County Online Crime Reporting System

The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is urging residents to take advantage of its updated Online Reporting System to report non-emergency crimes or incidents at any time. These can include matters such as trespassing, vandalism, suspicious persons/vehicles in the area, telephone harassment, bicycle theft, car break-ins, and other incidents. Police emphasize that no crime is too insignificant to report, and remind residents that the reporting figures often are used by crime analysts to detect trends an insert preventive measures. The direct web address for the updated Online Reporting System is: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/120413citizen reportingsystem.htm

The FCPD also has launched two new awareness tools to keep the public informed on the latest safety information. The first is a FCPD News blog, which will contain news releases on crime, traffic issues, public events, community concerns, trends, and other important safety issues. Residents are urged to subscribe to the blog at http://fcpdnews.wordpress.com.

The second is a new crime mapping tool, which offers general descriptions of incidents to which police are responding by location. Anyone who is interested in knowing the latest police-related events in a neighborhood can log on to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/policeevents#police then type the address of the location of interest, and all police-related events within a certain radius will populate the screen.

2014 Villamay Directory

It’s that time again! We endeavor to update the Villamay Community Association Directory every 2 years. Our last Directory was printed in 2012, and many new neighbors have joined the community since that time, so it is now time to gather the data needed to prepare an updated version. We will be distributing forms for your use in providing updated information for inclusion in the new Directory shortly, so please stay tuned. If you are willing to assist in preparing the new Directory, please let Joan Baughan know.

Mark Your Calendars!

• McCutcheon Park Invasive Plant Removal Day – Saturday, March 29, 10:00 am – 12:00 Noon

• Villamay Community Spring Yard Sale – Saturday, April 26, 8:00 am – 12:00 Noon

• Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday, April 19, 10:00 am

• Villamay Annual Meeting/Dinner – Thursday, May 15

January 2014 Newsletter

President’s Corner – Joan Baughan

Happy New Year! Despite the unusual weather fluctuations, Villamay has looked beautiful this holiday season. We enjoyed a great 2013 here in Villamay, and we look forward to another terrific year in 2014!

A few neighborhood improvements have been made since the time of our last Newsletter. You may have noticed that the street sign at the intersection of Villamay Boulevard and Burtonwood Drive has now been repaired and replaced. Further, most of the many street lights that have burned out throughout the community have been replaced, making our streets safer after dark. Thank you to our diligent neighbors for reporting the problem! If you notice any street lights in our neighborhood that need to be replaced, please jot down the serial number that appears on the relevant pole and report it to Dominion Power.

In keeping with preserving the beauty and safety of our streets, we are contracting to have our house numbers re-painted onto the curbs throughout Villamay this spring. This curb painting is performed periodically and is covered by your Villamay Community Association dues. We note that some neighbors have had their curbs painted independently during the past year. If you do not wish to have your curb re-painted this spring, you will have the option to remove your address from the project. We will provide additional information as the date approaches.

As for maintaining the beauty of McCutcheon Park, we owe a special thank you to Sam Markle, who organized a “clean up” effort to remove invasive species from the park on November 24^th. Thank you, Sam!

On behalf of the Villamay Community Association Board of Directors, we wish all of you a happy and healthy 2014.

Welcome New Neighbors

 When you are out and about, please extend a warm welcome to our new residents:

Park Terrace Drive

Lindy Paull (7116)

Gus Valerio and Tracey Bardorf (7108)

Villamay is a friendly community and we would love to see you at all of our Villamay activities!

If you are new to the neighborhood and have not been officially welcomed, please call Marjorie Spires at (703) 660-6789. Marjorie will bring you a Villamay directory, welcome packet, and other information about our community. If you are aware of a new neighbor that has not been welcomed, please contact Marjorie and let her know.

In Memoriam

As a community, we express our condolences to those who have lost a loved one this year. We ask you to pause to remember these neighbors and past residents

Joe Garbacz

Gordon Littig

Jean Gilligan

Carmen and Betty Rossi (former residents)

Villamay Community Events

Our Villamay Halloween Party once again was a big success! Our little ghosts and goblins enjoyed pizza in the Burtonwood Court cul de sac before trick-or-treating throughout the neighborhood. A little bit of rain didn’t stop anyone!

The Villamay Winter Soiree is back! Virginia Iaguana and Daniel Barrera at 7413 Burtonwood Drive have graciously agreed to host on January 25^th at 7:00 pm. The theme will be “Winter White,” so bring your favorite bottle of white wine to share. Please see the attached flier for additional details

Looking ahead, the dates for our annual Spring Yard Sale and our Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be announced shortly. All dues paying members of the Villamay Community are welcome – and encouraged – to attend all of the community events.

Dues Reminder

Thanks to all of you who have faithfully paid your dues over the years. Our dues pay for, among other things, the Villamay Directory, newsletters, new resident greetings, landscaping at the neighborhood entrance, dues to the Mount Vernon Community Civic Association (MVCCA), neighborhood improvements such as street sign repairs and curb painting, and social events.

Our fiscal year runs from June 1 through May 31. At this point, only about 50% of our neighbors have paid dues for fiscal year 2013/2014. If there is a dues form attached to your Newsletter, this means that, according to our records, you have not yet paid your dues. PLEASE do so now by filling out the attached form and delivering it, with your $50 check made out to the Villamay Community Association, to Tim Heck at 7407 Park Terrace Drive. Thank you for supporting the Villamay Community!

Covenants

New neighbors are attracted to Villamay by the wide, tree-lined streets and well maintained, attractive homes built by Gene May. This look has been maintained through adherence to and enforcement of the Restrictive Covenants. The Restrictive Covenants appear expressly or by reference in all conveyances of title to subsequent owners; they run with the land, and they are legally binding upon all owners of Villamay property. Covenants reviews assist Villamay in balancing individual rights with community concerns.

If you are considering exterior changes to your property, please take a few minutes to review the Restrictive Covenants. For your convenience they are reprinted in the back of the 2012 Villamay directory.

Stream Restoration Project Update

As reported in our last Newsletter, the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is developing a stream restoration project that will take place in Gilbert McCutcheon Park.  (The project is intended to stabilize the streambed and banks of the stream that runs through the east end of Gilbert McCutcheon Park just along the boundary behind Park Terrace Drive.) The final concept plan for this project has now been developed, following a walkthrough with members of the community that took place on October 29. We are in close communication with the Project Manager for this project, so if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Joan Baughan or Steve Markle.

Volunteers Needed

We are in need of volunteers to represent Villamay on the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens’ Associations (MVCCA). The MVCCA is an organization of homeowner, civic, and community associations in the Mount Vernon District, and its purpose is to represent and promote the collective interests of the member associations. The MVCCA accomplishes this by taking positions on issues of concern to the member associations and presenting these positions to our elected representatives and government entities. Standing committees composed of authorized representatives of the member associations typically meet once a month; the eight standing committees are: (1) Budget and Finance, (2) Consumer Affairs, (3) Education, (4) Environment and Recreation, (5) Health and Human Services, (6) Planning and Zoning, (7) Public Safety, and (8) Transportation. If you are interested in representing Villamay in the MVCCA, please contact Joan Baughan at (703) 768-7208.

In addition, it has been a few years since we had a volunteer to fill the Security Patrol position. The position entails coordinating volunteers in the neighborhood to patrol Villamay three times a week at random times convenient to each volunteer. The Security Patrol volunteer will be awarded the highly sought after “Villamay Security” placard and a Neighborhood Watch Resources Guide. So come on, summon your inner Barney Fife and head up this effort! If you are interested, please let Joan Baughan know.

Park Work Day – Sam Markle

My name is Sam Markle and I wanted to thank my Villamay neighbors for helping me with my Eagle Scout Project. I had a total of 58 people come out and help me on Sunday the 24th of November in Gil McCutcheon Park. Most were from my troop, but I was also lucky to have neighbors from Villamay come and help me too. Neighbors that helped were Mr. Brendan Weiss, Mr. and Mrs. Carter, Mr. and Mrs. Hinton, Mr. and Mrs. Piper, Mr. Sam Wood, Mrs. Aramony, Jonathan Tucker, Susie Aramony, Mr. Woody Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Adams and Abby and Amelia, and college student Joe Morgan. It was a cold day in the mid-twenties with the wind blowing, but the sun made it okay. We worked from 8 to about 4 in the afternoon. Most people came for about 4 hours and then left. We had hot chocolate in an electric coffee pot going all

September 2013 Newsletter

President’s Corner – Joan Baughan

Where did the summer go? Schools have started already and the weather is starting to cool off (ever so slightly)! It’s a lovely time to take a walk around the neighborhood – lawns and landscapes in the neighborhood are looking as beautiful as ever. Keep up the wonderful work, neighbors, and maybe the “Villamay beautification award elves” will visit your home.

Our Annual Dinner, held on May 15th at the Belle Haven Country Club, was a wonderful time and very well attended. Tremendous thanks to Caroline Ferguson for all of her hard work in organizing it!

During our Annual Meeting held in conjunction with the dinner, we elected our Villamay Community Association Board of Directors for 2013/14. I would like to recognize and thank the entire outgoing Villamay Community Association Board of Directors, as well as our Covenants, Social, Welcoming, and Community Park Committee members and chairs, and our representatives to the Mount Vernon Council of Civic Associations (MVCCA), for all of their hard work and dedication to the community this past year. Thank you!

Our VCA Board of Directors this year is as follows:

Joan Baughan, President
Susan Wiltsie, Vice President
Tim Heck, Treasurer
Adrienne Luscombe, Secretary
Caroline Ferguson, Director
John Driscoll, Director
Rick DiBella, Director
Valerie Marsh, Director
Chris Herndon, Past President

In addition, the following individuals have agreed to chair our principal committees:

Dave Baughan, Restrictive Covenants
Rutha Piper, Social Events
Lisa Aramony, Communications/Website
Marjorie Spires, Welcoming
Steve Markle, Community Park
Sam Wood, Rep to the MVCCA

We are grateful to these individuals for volunteering their time to our community!

It’s been a few years since we had a volunteer to fill the Security Patrol position. The position entails coordinating volunteers in the neighborhood to patrol Villamay three times a week at random times convenient to each volunteer. If someone is interested in heading up this effort, please contact me directly. In addition, if anyone is interested in serving as the Villamay Community Association Representative to the MVCCA Education Committee, please let me know. We are a volunteer organization, and your help is appreciated!

Welcome New Neighbors

When you are out and about, please extend a warm welcome to all our new residents:

Admiral Drive
Dan and Lynsey Valencia
Mark and Laurie Priest

Belle Vista Drive

Richard and Carol Lyon
Patrick and Laura Smith

Burtonwood Drive
Bob and Iris Cann

Gatewood Drive
Stanley and Leigh Wedell
Brendon and Alison Weiss
Chris and Dana Adams

Park Terrace Drive
Nathan and Lucia Stockmaster
Neeru and Rajiv Lal
John and Nan Stufflebeen
John Dalgren
Tom and Barbara Moorman
Ray and Mary Alice Chambers

Regent Drive
Heidi Marchand

Villamay Boulevard
Chris and Jennifer Goode

Villamay is a friendly community and we would love to see you at all of our Villamay activities. Our neighborhood grows stronger and more desirable when we all support the community activities and get to know our neighbors, so please participate!

IN MEMORIAM

We, as a community, want to express our condolences to those who have lost a loved one this year. We ask you to pause to remember these neighbors and past residents:

George Lindsay
Ross Eichberg

Please Drive Carefully on Our Roads

School has begun – children are walking to and waiting at bus stops during the morning commute, and traffic is a bit heavier throughout the neighborhood. Please drive slowly and carefully!

Villamay Community Events

Our 4th of July parade this year was a great time! Marjorie and David Spires again hosted a wonderful pre-parade gathering at their home with refreshments, a sing-along, and the salute to the flag before the kids paraded (that is, raced!) down Admiral Drive. The Sherwood Hall Fire Department sent over both a fire truck and an emergency vehicle for display at the end of the parade route, and we had popsicles, stickers, and patriotic temporary tattoos for the kids to enjoy. Some of the neighborhood children brought homemade chocolate chip cookies over to the Sherwood Hall Fire Department on July 5th to say thank you, and our festivities elicited a big layout in the Mount Vernon Gazette!

The Villamay Annual Labor Day Picnic also was a big success. The Doug Hepler Band did a fantastic job entertaining us again this year, as did Daisy the Clown, but happily the rain stayed away this year! A tremendous thank you to all who volunteered your time and energy setting up, cleaning up, shopping, and cooking for us, and thanks to all who came out – it was a terrific time!

All dues paying members of the Villamay Community are welcome – and encouraged – to attend all of the community events.

Mark Your Calendars

• Villamay Fall Yard Sale – Saturday, October 19, 8am-12 noon
• Halloween Party – Thursday, October 31, Time TBD
• Christmas Caroling – Information coming soon

Villamay Soiree

The Villamay Soiree is a great winter event that provides a wonderful opportunity for adults in the neighborhood to socialize with old friends and make some new ones. If there are any neighbors willing to host and share their lovely home, please contact Joan Baughan at 703.768.7208.

Dues Are Due!!

Did you know that the Villamay fiscal year runs from June 1 through May 31? It seems that many of our neighbors are not aware of the timing – if you haven’t paid your dues since June 1, your fiscal year 2013/14 dues are due! You will find a reminder form attached to this Newsletter. Our dues pay for, among other things, the Villamay Directory, newsletters, new resident greetings, landscaping at the neighborhood entrance, dues to the Mount Vernon Community Civic Association (MVCCA), neighborhood improvements, and social events. We ask that all Association members be paid in full to participate. Please submit your check for $50 made payable to the Villamay Community Association to Tim Heck at 7407 Park Terrace Drive.

Covenants

New neighbors are attracted to Villamay by the wide, tree-lined streets and well-maintained, attractive homes built by Gene May. This look has been maintained through adherence to and enforcement of the Restrictive Covenants. The Restrictive Covenants appear expressly or by reference in all conveyances of title to subsequent owners, they run with the land, and they are legally binding upon all owners of Villamay property. Covenants reviews assist Villamay in balancing individual rights with community concerns.

If you are considering exterior changes to your property, please take a few minutes to review the Restrictive Covenants. For your convenience they are reprinted in the back of the 2012 Villamay directory.

Trash Reminder

Monday is trash day in Villamay. The neighborhood standard is to wait until after 7 p.m. on Sunday evening to put out your trash (but get it out before 6 a.m. Monday morning) – this includes lawn waste. By waiting until then our streets retain the character that we all cherish, thanks for your help!! If you have boxes to dispose of, they must be flattened. Small branches and brush must be no longer than 4 feet and bound together with string. To remove large brush or bulk items, contact the Fairfax County Department of Solid Waste Removal at 703.802.3322 to schedule a pickup.

Mail Delivery

Some of our neighbors have been experiencing some problems with mail delivery, including mail being delivered very late and mail being delivered to incorrect addresses. We are told that, due to cutbacks, the Belleview Post Office is now only performing counter service and no longer handles mail delivery. Our understanding is that our mail is now being processed through the Jefferson Manor Post Office, and many of the mail carriers are now contractors. We are told that, if neighbors are experiencing problems with mail delivery, they should call the Jefferson Manor Post Office at (703) 960-7892 to report the problem.

Stream Restoration Project

The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is in the process of planning a stream restoration project that will take place in Gilbert McCutcheon Park.  (The stream runs through Gilbert McCutcheon Park just along the boundary behind Park Terrace Drive.) The Project Manager for this project has informed us that the conceptual design for the project is now complete. The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services will be holding a community meeting on at 7:00 pm on September 17th in the West Potomac High School Cafeteria to present the design and discuss it with the community. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting.

March 2013 Newsletter

President’s Corner – Chris Herndon

Spring is here! Our spring kickoff was the annual Easter Egg Hunt at McCutcheon Park on Saturday, March 23rd. The kids had a great time! We’re all now looking forward to warmer weather, and to watching our beautiful neighborhood wake up after a long winter. This is always a great time to get outdoors, do our spring yard work, fire up our grills, take walks, and reconnect with our neighbors.

Please mark your calendars for the Annual Villamay Dinner, which is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15th, at Belle Haven Country Club. You will soon be receiving an Annual Dinner flyer and a ballot for the election of a new slate of Villamay Community Association Officers and Directors. We look forward to seeing all of you at the dinner for a wonderful evening with friends and neighbors!

Cell Tower Update

In our last Newsletter, we reported that the Villamay Cell Tower Committee was continuing to follow attempts to bring Distributed Antenna System (DAS) technology to the Mount Vernon District and to add “cell tower friendly” changes

to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan. We also reported that the Fairfax County Park Authority is in the process of reviewing its policy that governs the placement of cell towers in county parkland (Policy 303 of the FCPA Policy Manual), and that the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens Associations (MVCCA) is providing input into this process. A revised policy in this regard is expected to move through the approval process over the next several months.

As part of this process, the cell tower sub-committee of the MVCCA Planning and Zoning Committee has taken on the task of developing an MVCCA resolution to provide recommendations for changing and improving the policy. Charlie Dale and John Yurchak represent Villamay on the sub-committee, and have played a leading role in drafting the resolution.

A year in the works, a draft resolution was finally agreed to by the sub-committee in February, and was sent to the Planning and Zoning Committee for approval. On Monday, March 4th, the P&Z committee overwhelmingly voted to approve the resolution and send it on to the Council for a vote.

The draft resolution includes a number of important recommendations of interest to Villamay as we try to promote better cellular service in the Mount Vernon District while, at the same time, work to safeguard our parks and mitigate the potential impacts of telecommunications facilities that might be located in the parks and surrounding residential areas:

1. The resolution establishes a priority for the use of new micro-cell technologies, such as DAS. DAS is a far less intrusive solution than cell towers and has been used in other parts of Fairfax County to improve cell service in areas where there are no suitable or acceptable sites for towers.

2. The resolution establishes the principle that not all parks are alike and that the impacts of telecommunications facilities on smaller parks, such as McCutcheon, can be magnified and disproportionate to the impacts of the same facilities in larger parks, and recommends that the FCPA take the unique character of each park into consideration when considering applications for telecom facilities.

3. Most significantly, the resolution establishes concrete standoff and other criteria to ensure that the impacts of telecommunications facilities on parks and on neighboring residential areas are minimal. For example, the resolution calls for 500 foot setbacks from bordering properties. This is a significant improvement over the existing policy which simply states that the impact on neighboring areas must be “minimal.”

We owe an enormous thank you to Charlie and John for their continuous work on this effort.

New Villamay Directory
The new Villamay directory has been distributed! The directory is a valuable resource – it not only includes helpful contact information for your neighbors (both alphabetically and by street address), but it also includes a list of emergency and convenience phone numbers, a brief history of Villamay, a list of the current officers and directors of the Villamay Community Association, a copy of the Villamay Community Association, Inc. By-Laws, and a copy of the Restrictive Covenants affecting all homes in Villamay.

If you are current on your dues, you should have received your directory. If you have not received it, please check to see that you have paid your dues – once paid, feel free to contact Joan Baughan and she will be happy to get your directories to you.

Special thanks to Talley Fulghum for pulling the updated information together for the directory!

From the Treasurer – Bryan Oakeley
Thanks to all of you who have faithfully paid your dues over the years. Dues not only pay for the social events, they also pay for the Villamay Directory, newsletters, new resident greetings, landscaping at the neighborhood entrance, neighborhood events, dues to the MVCCA and many other things.

If you haven’t already paid your dues, please do so now by filling out the reminder form that you received recently, and deliver it to Bryan Oakeley at 7415 Admiral Drive with your check for $50. If you are not sure you have paid your dues for the 2012-2013 year, you can contact Bryan at Villamay.Treasurer@gmail.com.

Welcome New Families
When you are out and about, please make sure to say hello to our new neighbors:

Richard Roesel & Dana Greene – Park Terrace

Rick and Whitney DiBella – Park Terrace

Kirk Lippold and Nicole Segura – Huntly Place

Larry Laub & Kris Bogenrief – Villamay Blvd.

Trent and Christine Duffy – Villamay Blvd.

Ryan and Patrice Bolling – Belle Vista

Paul and Brooke Michel – Admiral Dr.

Kirk and Siobhan Casey – Burtonwood Dr.

Brian and Kim Hopkins – Marine Drive

If you are new to the neighborhood and have not been officially welcomed, please call Marjorie Spires at 703-660-6789. Marjorie will bring you a Villamay directory, welcome packet and other information about our community. If you are aware of a new neighbor who has not been welcomed, please contact Marjorie and let her know!

In Memoriam
We, as a community, want to express our 
condolences to those who have lost a loved
 one in the last year. We ask you to pause to 
remember these neighbors and past residents:

Wendell Westover – Regent Drive

Richard Barrera – Park Terrace

Joe McGuinn – Admiral

Richard Egger – Park Terrace

Norman Mendelson – Park Terrace

Jim Hartman – Gatewood Drive

Dorothea Cadden – Gatewood Drive

Building? Don’t Forget to Consult the Restrictive Covenants
If you are considering making improvements to the exterior of your property, including adding fences or doing construction, please review the Restrictive Covenants in the back of your Villamay directory. The Covenants were made part of the initial dedication of the land in Villamay by its developer, Gene May. They run with the land, and appear expressly or by reference in all conveyances of title to subsequent owners. Our outstanding community of fine homes stems, in part, from the high standards reflected in the Covenants.

Our Covenants specify that, before proceeding with construction, each adjacent neighbor must be notified and an application must be submitted to the President of the Association, setting forth all pertinent details. The application process is described in Article XII of our By-Laws, which can be found in the Villamay directory. If you have any questions about the Covenants or the application process, please feel free to contact our Restrictive Covenants Chair, Dave Baughan, at (703) 768-7208 or david.baughan@verizon.net.

Villamay Needs You!
A great way to serve our community is to participate on the Board of Directors or on one of the Community’s Standing Committees (Restrictive Covenants, Social, Communications, Welcoming, and Security). If you are interested and willing to serve on the board, please contact Chris Herndon. There are several positions open, and we will vote on a new Board at our Annual meeting on Wednesday, May 15th. The Board is a fun way to get to know neighbors and be involved in caring for and nurturing the fantastic neighborhood environment to which so many have contributed already.

Neighborhood Reminders
As the weather warms and daylight grows, more people and activity are on Villamay’s streets; please remain watchful while driving and maintain a safe speed.

Please be mindful that Villamay is a residential community. Our covenants provide that no lots in Villamay shall be used for the conduct of any business.

Please be courteous and clean up after pets while walking in Villamay.

Be cautious about what you post on social media. Posting your travel plans or updating your status while away make your home an inviting target to would be thieves.

Villamay Spring Yard Sale
Start gathering all your goodies for the Villamay neighborhood spring yard sale. We have scheduled the yard sale for Saturday, April 20, from 8:00 am until 12:00 noon.

We will list the sale on Craig’s List and post signs to direct people into the neighborhood. All you need to do is gather and price your items, and put them out on the 20th. You also have the option to list specific items on Craigslist in advance (including pictures). If you need help with Craig’s List, feel free to contact Caroline Ferguson at caroline.ferguson@verizon.net.

Mark Your Calendars!
Spring Yard Sale – Saturday, April 20, 8:00 am -12:00 noon
Annual Dinner – Wednesday, May 15

April 2012 Newsletter

View the newsletter (with attached dues form) as a PDF.

View the 2012 Villamay Dinner Invitation and Response form.

View the Belle View Elementary School May 5 Car Wash Flyer.

President’s Corner – Patti Heck

Happy Spring!!  It’s been a long warm spring and it’s been fun seeing all the neighbors out and about and working in yards or walking dogs.

Looking ahead, mark your calendars for the Annual Villamay Dinner which is scheduled for Thursday, May 17^th at Belle Haven Country Club!  I look forward to seeing all of you there for a memorable evening with friends and neighbors alike.  The Annual Dinner flyer, the ballot for the Election of Officers, and the 2011/2012 dues notice are all included in this newsletter.  The nominating committee has approved the enclosed slate for next year’s Board so even if you are unable to attend the Dinner, please return the ballot so we can complete the election of the Board members.

I would like to thank the entire VCA Board of Directors, the Covenants, Social, and Cell Tower Committee members for their valuable time and effort this past year.  Each of them helped make this another terrific year in Villamay.  We are so lucky to have such an abundance of talent in our neighborhood.

Again, I look forward to seeing everyone at the Annual Dinner next month.

Cell Phone Tower Committee
In my last update regarding a cell tower at Lamond Park, I mentioned that T-Mobile had appealed a district court’s decision supporting the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (the Board) to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (the Court).  The Board had denied T-Mobile’s application to install a wireless telecommunications facility in McLean after a public hearing where nearby residents were opposed as well as other considerations.  The Court ruled in early March 2012 that the Board acted properly in denying T-Mobile’s application based on traditional zoning principles, including the preservation of neighborhood character and the avoidance of aesthetic blight.  The full opinion of the Court may be found at www.fcc.gov/document/t-mobile-v-fairfax-county-bos-no-11-1060-4th-cir.

In a similar case, AT&T appealed a district court’s decision supporting the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  The Board had denied AT&T’s application to install a wireless telecommunications facility behind the Masonic Lodge on Ft. Hunt Road based on public opposition and zoning considerations.  The Court ruled in mid-March 2012 that the Board had acted properly and cited its decision in the above case.  The full opinion of the Court may be found at http://pacer.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinion.pdf/102381.P.pdf.

While these rulings support the Fairfax County Park Authority decision to not consider AT&T’s request to erect a monopole in Lamond Park, the need for improved cell phone service within Villamay is recognized.  The Villamay Community Association will continue to engage with Fairfax County officials in an effort to find a solution.

There are several avenues the Villamay Cell Tower Committee continues to track.  In addition to the legal rulings and their impact on Villamay, we are tracking efforts to bring DAS technology to the Mt. Vernon District, closely following Fairfax County Boards attempts to add “tower friendly” changes to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan, as well as following the Fairfax County Park Authority and MVCCA in their work to amend the Policy 303.

We owe a big thank you to all those who continue to contribute their time and efforts to the Villamay Cell Tower Committee.

Welcome New Families

When you are out and about, please make sure to say hello to our new neighbors:

Peter & Tammy Durkin and family – Admiral Drive

Dan Barrera and family – Burtonwood Drive

Dan Periera and family – Gatewood Drive

Karl & Marianne Reichelt – Huntly Place John & Elizabeth O’Connell – Park Terrace Drive

Bob & Janice Vogel – Park Terrace Drive

John & Kathlyn Havranek and family – Park Terrace Drive

Willie Vereen – Park Terrace Drive

 Greetings – New Neighbors

 If you are new to the neighborhood and have not been officially welcomed, please call Marjorie Spires at 703-660-6789.   Marjorie will bring you a Villamay directory, welcome packet and other information about our community.  If you are aware of a new neighbor who has not been welcomed, please contact Marjorie and let her know!

From the Treasurer – Bryan Oakeley

Thanks to all of you who have faithfully paid your dues over the years.  At this time of year, the dues payments slow so we are including another dues payment form.  As of right now, we only have 49% participation but we hope to again have a strong show of support.   Dues not only pay for the social events, they also pay for the newsletters, new resident greetings, landscaping at the neighborhood entrance, dues to the MVCCA and many other things.

If you haven’t already paid your dues, please do so now by filling out the enclosed form and include a $50.00 check, and deliver to Bryan Oakeley at 7415 Admiral Drive.  If you are not sure you have paid your dues for the 2011-2012 year, you can contact Bryan at Villamay.Treasurer@gmail.com.

 New Villamay Directory

Thank you to everyone who returned the directory update forms.  We are working to have it completed in early June.  A big thank you to Talley Fulghum for pulling all this information together.

Building?  Contact our Covenants

Chair Lea Ekman

 If you are considering making improvements to the exterior of your property, including adding fences or doing construction, please review the covenants in the back of your directory, speak with your neighbors and call Lea Ekman at 571.277.0960, or email her at lea.ekman@ferc.gov.   Through the end of May, Lea will help guide you in the required steps to take and, if necessary, contact the board of directors on your behalf.  You must receive prior written approval and no work is to be started without first getting approval from the Villamay Community Association.

Villamay Soiree

Thank you to Deborah and Matt Lerner for hosting a fantastic Villamay Soiree.  Many neighbors dropped by the Lerner’s for delicious hors d’oeuvres and drinks.  Everyone had a good time meeting new neighbors and catching up with old neighbors.  Thank you Deborah and Matt, your home is beautiful and you made us all feel welcome!

Easter Egg Hunt

Thanks to many Easter Bunny helpers there were many, many eggs for the children of Villamay to hunt and find!  The rain held off long enough for the children to find all of the eggs and play on the playground.  It was a fun morning to catch up with neighbors and friends and watch the kids have a great time.

Mark Your Calendars!

• Annual Dinner – May 17
• Spring Yard Sale – Saturday, May 5 8a-12n
• Lamond Park Renaming Ceremony – Saturday, May 12, 1:00pm
• Annual Dinner – May 17

Lamond Park Renaming Ceremony

The Fairfax County Park Authority voted to rename Lamond Community Park to Gilbert S. McCutcheon Park to honor the former Park Authority board member who represented the Mount Vernon District from 1992-2010.  Mr. McCutcheon was instrumental in the acquisition of the 18-acre park.  Mr. McCutcheon died on December 28, 2011.  He was 95 years old.

The renaming ceremony will be at the park on Saturday, May 12 at 1:00 p.m.  It would be nice if we had a strong turnout from Villamay for the ceremony so please mark your calendar!

Recycling

Do you have old electronics you’d like to recycle but are not sure how to do it?    Fairfax County residents can recycle television, computers and peripheral devices – including keyboards, speakers, printers, external drives, etc. – and unbroken fluorescent light bulbs and tubes on Electric Sundays.  The Electric Sunday recycling program is a free service to Fairfax County residents. The next few Electric Sundays are 10a-3p on:

Apr. 29: I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030

May 20: I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030

June 24: I-95 Landfill Complex, 9850 Furnace Road, Lorton, VA 22079

July 22: I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030

August 26: I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030

Neighborhood News

Tennis Anyone?  The Hollin Hills Tennis Club will soon be open for the season and is welcoming new members of all skill levels from the surrounding communities. The club has three courts at the corner of Paul Spring Road and Fort Hunt Road and plans round robin tournaments, ladies nights, and a juniors program. Membership dues are low: $75 for a regular membership and a discounted $50 membership for those who also belong to the Hollin Hills Swim Club (which is open to the surrounding communities as well).

For information, contact Stephen Ryan at 703-867-3447.

Neighborhood Crime Prevention — Officer Greg Kotteman, our Crime Prevention contact with the police reported slight upticks in the number of property crimes in 2011 as compared to 2010 in the Mt. Vernon District.

Burglary – a 1% increase from 2010 to  2011 (178 to 180)

Auto Theft – a 6% increase from 2010 to 2011 (199 to 211)

Larceny – a 10% increase from 2010 to 2011 (1907 to 2099)

Following are some good reminders for us.

 Home Security:

Always keep home doors locked.

Use exterior lights all night.

Use timers on interior lights.

Keep garage doors closed and lock the  door from the garage into the home. Don’t leave the garage door opener in the car parked in the driveway.

If out of town, have a trusted neighbor, friend or family member to check the house and pick up mail and newspapers.

When trash time comes, do not advertise all the newest gadgets and gizmos.  Make sure to break down boxes and conceal them from view.

Report suspicious or criminal behavior immediately to the appropriate police number –

Emergency/Crime in Progress – 911

Suspicious Activity/Make a Crime Report – 703-691-2131 you can also make an online report of crimes not in progress (some restrictions do apply) https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/crs

Report street light outages immediately –http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/construction/streetlights/light_out.htm

Let’s all be vigilant in keeping an eye on our property as well as our neighbor’s.