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Welcome to the Leewood Homeowners Association Website

Our association is online to provide you with a wealth of information, services and opportunities and to share ideas and information. This will enable our members to receive news and announcements, access important association documents, forms and much more.

Feel free to click around to discover something new about Leewood, the association services and events offered to you by your Leewood Homeowners Association (LHOA).

We hope you'll take advantage of this service. Your input and suggestions will be appreciated.

Upcoming Street Work

The street work in Leewood will be in two phases and will begin Monday, August 30th.

Phase I - Milling and paving of Leebrad Street

- Leebrad Street will be closed at 8pm on Sunday, August 29th and will remain closed until 8pm Tuesday, August 31st.

- ALL cars from house # 7000 - 7027 MUST be moved during this time.

- Cars that are not moved will be towed at the owner's expense. see below for more information.

ENTER & EXIT

For Leestone Street and Leestone Court, use the Leestone Street entrance from Backlick Road.

For Bradgen Court & Bradwood Court and the unaffected portion of Leebrad, use the Bradwood Street entrance from Braddock Road.

Phase II - Sealcoating ALL of Leebrad Street - Thursday September 2nd.

- ALL cars must be moved from Leebrad Street by 8pm on Wednesday September 1st and reopened Friday 8pm. Towing rules from above will apply

-DURING THIS TIME CARS ON BRADGEN COURT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT. ALL BRADGEN COURT RESIDENTS SHOULD PLAN TO MOVE THIER CARS PRIOR TO THE STREET CLOSING.

All towed cars will be by Henry's. They can be reached at (703) 698-8900.

Thank You for your patience while we make these improvements to your neighborhood.

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Please Help our County by Taking the Deer Management Survey

The Fairfax County Police Department, Animal Services Division has asked that we provide the following information to members of the Leewood Homeowners Association:

“White-tailed deer are one of our most common native species. Several factors, including loss of natural predators and habitat modification, have resulted in an abundant local deer population. As the Fairfax Country Wildlife biologist, it is my responsibility to implement a deer management program each year. In an effort to develop the most effective and comprehensive deer management plan, your help is needed.

A Deer Management Survey has been designed to collect information from residents throughout the County. Survey results will be used to help develop a program that is better suited to your community’s needs. The information that is provided is confidential."

The online survey is available at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/survey/deermanagement.htm

Information about local wildlife and wildlife management is available online at:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/animals/wildlife/

Deer have been spotted in Leewood on several occasions and just recently, a deer was killed on Braddock Road as you exit Bradwood Street.

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July Edition of The Leewood Times is Now Online

The newest edition of your community newsletter is now online, along with every past edition. Viewers can access the newsletter by clicking here, and if interested, you can view the archive of articles by clicking here.

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LHOA Board Meeting Tuesday, July 13th, 7:30pm

Your LHOA board meeting is a great opportunity for our members to voice concerns and learn something new about our community. All members are invited to attend and speak in an open forum. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Philip’s School across Braddock Road. The agenda is posted online for you to view. More >

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Leewood Page on Facebook?

Your Leewood Times editor would like to know how many residents would be interested in creating a Leewood Facebook page – how many of you are already on Facebook?

Businesses, local organizations, manufacturers and a myriad of companies use their Facebook page to facilitate quick interaction with their “followers” and have had great success.

You Editor believes this would be a great tool to keep the community updated on a most consistent basis (this newsletter is only published once every 2 months) and it will provide you with a platform to voice your opinions, concerns, suggestions or simply just to stay in touch with your neighbors.

Please send your thoughts on this to LeewoodTimes@cox.net and your Editor (and the Board) will take the time to create, monitor and answer questions if the residents think it will be useful.

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Leewood Financials are Online

Leewood tracks their financial health via monthly statements that are presented at the board meetings and yearly audits by an outside accountant and are online for you to view. Click here for links to the financial statements that we have retained. All 2007-present Financials are in Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF) and can only be viewed with Adobe® Reader®. More >

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All Past Articles from 2007-Present Archived

Ever wonder what happened to the old articles from the home page? Don't worry we saved them and created a page for you to read them all over again. Click here for the archive of articles written since 2007. Keep in mind that some of them may be outdated and the links to pages outside of our website may have changed.

Archive of Articles link

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Online Index of Articles

Did you loose your printed copy? Are you looking for a past article? We have created an index of all past and present articles from the Leewood Times. All artcles are listed alphabetically with a link to the online edition. Members can view it online in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF) with Adobe Reader.

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Primary Vote: Fimian vs. Herrity

Two candidates face each other for Republican nomination June 8

Virginia’s 11th Congressional District will see its first primary contest in 18 years next month. Supervisor Patrick Herrity (R-Springfield) and businessman Keith Fimian are vying for the chance to take on U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) next fall in what could be a competitive race. Primary voters go to the polls to decide between Herrity and Fimian June 8.

In Virginia, voters do not register with a political party, so any person, regardless of political affiliation, can participate in the election to pick the Republican Party nominee.

Fimian and Herrity share many of the same opinions when it comes to general matters of public policy. Both candidates said reducing the federal deficit would be a priority should they be elected to office. Both have hammered Connolly for support of the government health care reform bill and "cap and trade" legislation, which places a ceiling on emissions over concern about the environment but is frowned on by some business groups.

Click Here for more information about the candidates.

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George Mason University Raises Tuition for the Fall

It's going to cost a lot more to attend George Mason University now that the Board of Visitors voted Thursday to raise tuition, fees and room and board for the 2010-2011 school year. In-state students will pay $950 more for a total of $16,624. Out-of-state students will fork over an extra $1,730, bringing the total to $33,338. The board says the hikes are necessary to continue existing academic programs. The decision is directly related to a cut in state aid for the public university by $4.5 million this year.

The state university, located in the city of Fairfax, had an unanticipated surge in state applications over the past year and the trend has continued for next fall. The school has more than 19,000 undergraduate students. There will also be a six percent increase in tuition for both in-state and out-of-state graduate students at GMU.

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Fairfax Draws Record-High Unemployment

Fairfax County’s unemployment figures held at a record-high level of 5.5 percent in February. The locality’s current unemployment has jumped 1.2 percent, when compared to the same month a year ago.

Fairfax County’s unemployment rate is lower than booth Virginia and the United States. Unemployment in the commonwealth is at 7.7 percent and unemployment in the country held at 9.7 percent in February.

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Fairfax To Raise Property Tax Rate, & Fees to Fund Services

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a higher real estate property tax rate, new vehicle registration fee and increase in the quarterly sewer service charges in order to avoid deep cuts to services next year.

The supervisors voted 7-3 on a final version of the budget at an April 27 board meeting.
The county spending plan will restore several programs that were initially cut by Fairfax County executive Anthony Griffin. The supervisors have added money back in to keep bathrooms open at several county parks and athletic fields for example.

The Board of Supervisors was able to avoid some of the more drastic budget reductions proposed by Griffin because Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) and the Virginia General Assembly restored $61 million in funding to Fairfax County Public Schools, according to county Chairwoman Sharon Bulova (D-At-large).

As part of the overall budget package, the Fairfax supervisors voted in favor of an increase of five cents in the local real estate property tax rate to $1.09 per $100 of assessed property value. The local stormwater service rate will also rise from one cent per $100 of assessed property value to 1.5 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

The two rate increases will be offset in a decline in home values for many Fairfax residents. The average property tax bill in the county is expected to be $26.93 less than it was last year.

As part of the budget likely to pass, Fairfax would also charge a new vehicle registration fee, $33 for most cars annually. County residents would also pay an increase on sewer service fees from $4.50 to $5.27 per 1,000 gallons used, raising the average sewer bill by $60.

According to Bulova, the increase in the sewer service charge is largely to help the county come into compliance with federal government mandates regarding clean water.

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Former TJ Employee Admits To Stealing Money

Financial technician cites need to support gambling habit, pay mortgage as reason for theft

A former employee of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology pleaded guilty May 6 to stealing more than $279,000 in funds intended to support functions like student athletics, clubs, prom and graduation parties.

Susan Thanh Litwin worked as a financial technician at Jefferson for a little over three years. She acknowledged taking money in chunks ranging from $2,500 to $35,000 from various school accounts during the period of March 1, 2008 to Jan. 25, 2010.

According to the press release, Litwin used some of the funds to support a gambling habit, pay off a mortgage on her Woodbridge home and cover extensive personal debt. Litwin said she replaced some funds she had taken from the school. The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia is holding Litwin responsible for stealing $197,965.53 from Jefferson overall, according to a plea agreement signed by a federal prosecutor, Litwin and her attorney and filed May 6. Litwin pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from an organization receiving federal funds.

She could face up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and a requirement to make full restitution to Jefferson and Fairfax County Public Schools as a result of the conviction. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 30.

After her arrest, a magistrate required Litwin to refrain from all gambling, undergo mental health testing and treatment and attend gambling anonymous meetings as a condition of her release. She was also not allowed to open a new line of credit, according to a court order signed by the magistrate on March 5.

Litwin has also forfeited a piece property she owned in Orlando, Fla. to federal officials.

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Guide To Local Farmers Markets

Farmers Markets are popular with thousands of Fairfax County residents who wish to buy locally produced food for their families. The Markets have a long, rich history with the county. The Fairfax County office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension started the first market in 1978. Eleven weekly markets at locations across Fairfax County now provide area residents the opportunity to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, eggs, dairy products, meats, honey, cut flowers and container plants. This ability to “buy local” supports sustainable agriculture in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. As a “producers only” market program all vendors and products come from within a 125 mile radius of Fairfax County. We have created a guide of Farmers Markets in Fairfax County and in the District of Columbia. Here is a daily list with links to thier websites of the Markets in Fairfax County.

- Tuesdays -

Mount Vernon Farmers Market, 8:00 am - Noon
May 4 - November 23
Details/Directions

Fairfax Farmers Market, 8:00 am - Noon
May 4 - October 26
Details/Directions

- Wednesdays -

Vienna/Oakton Farmers Market, 8:00 am - Noon
May 5 - November 17
Details/Directions

Frying Pan Farmers Market, 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
May 5 - October 27
Details/Directions

Wakefield Farmers Market, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
May 5 - October 27
Details/Directions

- Thursdays -

Herndon Farmers Market, 8:00 am - Noon
May 6 - October 27
Details/Directions

Annandale Farmers Market, 8:00 am - Noon
May 6 - November 4
Details/Directions

- Fridays -

McLean Farmers Market, 8:00 am - Noon
May 7 - November 19
Details/Directions

Kingstowne Farmers Market, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
May 7 - October 29
Details/Directions

- Saturdays -

Burke Farmers Market, 8:00 am - Noon
May 1 - November 20
Details/Directions

Reston Farmers Market, 8:00 am - Noon
May 8 - October 30
Details/Directions

- Sundays -

Lorton Farmers Market, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
May 2 - October 31
Details/Directions

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL GUIDE TO THE MARKETS IN OUR AREA & THE DISTRICT

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Guide to Safety

Facebook is the fastest growing social networking site in the world today with up to 250,000 new users being added every day. But sharing information has lots of risks including your name which can be accessed by others and your profile can be viewed. Anyone can get valuable information and private photos from your profile -- ultimately getting you in big trouble. You can keep your misfortunes down to a minimum by following these tips. We have created a guide for you to use to help keep you and your family safe when using Facebook. More >

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Multiple Road Projects Start in Tysons

Construction work related to the Dulles Rail Project will cause significant closures and detours in the Tysons Corner area for the rest of the month and into next month.
Starting at 9:30 p.m. Friday, crews will shut down sections of eastbound Route 7 between Spring Hill Road and the southbound ramp of Route 123 in order to complete paving related to the widening of Route 7. The left lane of Route 7 will be closed from 9:30 p.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Saturday. At 2 a.m., crews will then reopen the left lane and shut down the right and center lanes until 7 a.m.

More work on Route 7 will be done the first week of June. The left through lane of southbound Westpark Drive also will be closed Friday from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. to allow crews to demolish a traffic island.

Between May 20 and May 29, crews will repair portions of Galleria Drive, Tysons Boulevard and Route 123 that were damaged during previous work. The work, which is part of the Dulles Metrorail Project, will be done overnight during the weekend hours. Detours will be posted in the area.

Additionally, you should expect intermittent lane closures on the Dulles International Airport Access Highway and the Dulles Toll Road.

For helpful links and more information on our Capital Beltway, visit your Leewood Times Guide to the Capital Beltway. More >

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HOT Lanes: Designs, Financing Almost in Place for I-95

Engineering designs and financing for the High Occupancy Toll lanes project along the Interstate 95/395 corridor from Massaponax to the 14th Street Bridge could be in place in the next few weeks.
The economy and design changes stalled the long planned HOT lanes.

"We would still have to resolve the issue involving the lawsuit," says Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean T. Connaughton.

A lawsuit filed by Arlington County is making its way through the courts. The suit seeks to halt the entire project along I-95/395. Arlington believes the state's environmental study was inadequate and that low-income and minority residents along the corridor would be harmed by new air pollution. Connaughton says Virginia would like to the 14 miles of HOT lanes being built along the Capital Beltway extend into Maryland.

"In the long term, we would like to see Maryland pursue either HOT lanes or HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes on the Beltway that would simply connect right up there," Connaughton says.

He says the state could have an agreement within the next few weeks to extend the HOT lanes 1.5 miles closer to the Maryland border. The project would end at the American Legion Bridge, rather than just north of the Dulles Toll Road.

The extension would be paid for by Fluor-Transurban, the consortium of two private firms that partnered with the Virginia Department of Transportation to build the lanes. The state and civic groups would need to approve the project.

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Guide to the Capital Beltway

The editors of the Leewood Times have created a guide that gives you everything you need to know about our fine Capital Beltway I495. There is extensive information on the history of the highway, and helpful links to LIVE traffic cameras, construction updates and the Dulles Metro Project. More >

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Leewood Gets National Recognition

The November 8th, Saturday Edition of the Washington Post included an article about our community and association. The article was titled "Can-Do Spirit Keeps Leewood Looking Sharp" and was a refreshing look at townhome communities and our fine assocation members. Click Here for a link to the Washington Post article.

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LHOA Board Meeting 2010 Dates

Your LHOA board meeting is a great opportunity for our members to voice concerns and learn something new about our community. All members are invited to attend and speak in an open forum. The meetings are every second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Philip’s School across Braddock Road. Here is the 2010 Schedule:

- All Days are Tuesday -

June 15th
July 13th
August 10th
September 14th
October 12th
November 9th
December 14th

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A Call for Volunteers

The Board is looking for volunteers who can do research on various projects and prepare feasibility studies with recommendations on which the Board can make decisions. One project that comes immediately to mind is the feasibility of locking mailboxes. We would like to have the pros and cons of any individual project laid out with all of the costs surrounding the project. Anyone who is interested should contact either Rose Weber or Janet Rourke.

They can be reached at the email addresses in the Leewood Directory or at Secretary@leewood.us or President@leewood.us.

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LHOA Board Meeting Minutes Online

In an effort to keep the membership informed, The LHOA Board has posted every meeting minutes online dating back to April 2000. In addition to the minutes, association members have access to the agenda and topics discussed each and every month. Once the previous minutes are voted on and approved for the record, you can find them by using the "Administration" Tab on the top left side of your screen and following the "minutes" link or by clicking here.

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American Disposal Services Offers New 64 Gallon Container

American Disposal Service is determined to increase the amount of refuse that is recycled. Through thier Single Stream Recycling program, it is easier than ever for each person to do their part for the environment by recycling. They now offer a larger 64-gallon recycling container to make it easier to for our residents to recycle. Not only can you recycle more but you can also recycle larger items like cardboard that won’t fit into smaller bins.

They offer a reduced price for Leewood residents. The cost for the 64 Gallon wheeled container is $75.00. To order your container, please call (703) 368-0500. A $5.00 processing fee is charged for any payment over the phone, and there is no charge for payments made by mail. They accept Visa & Mastercard as well as personal checks. For more information, visit www.americandisposal.com or Click Here for thier Newsletter on Single Stream Recycling.

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Recycling & Cleaning up Broken Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Many people are unaware that a broken compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) can be hazardous. While CFLs are energy efficient and generally safe to use, be aware that, if broken, you must take special care in disposing of them. Mercury is a silvery liquid metal identified by the atomic symbol Hg. Mercury. CFL bulbs get their energy efficiency from the mercury they contain. However, you must take extreme care when cleaning up a broken bulb because mercury can be fatal if taken in large enough amounts. We have created a page with helpful information on recyling these bulbs and tips you can use in case you break one in your home. More >

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What To Recycle and What to Throw Away

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Appliance Removal Information

Special Scheduled pickup for appliances is every THURSDAY. Removal of ferrous metals/white goods such as stoves, washers, dryers, hot water tanks and other bulky metallic items need to be called in 24 hours in advance for scheduling.

There is a charge for removal of appliances. Click here for the FAQ about trash.

Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners must have refrigerants removed and tagged by a certified technician before they are collected. There is an additional charge for removal of these items.

Special pickups such as furniture, mattresses and other non-metallic household items will still be collected on Fridays. White goods are taken to a separate disposal site where they are recycled. Keep in mind recycling white goods is environmentally friendly. Recycling these items conserves energy, natural resources and reduces air and water pollution.

If you would like to schedule a white goods/appliance pickup, please contact American Disposal Services’ Customer Service Department at 703-368-0500 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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How to Navigate the Website

As you can see we have general categories on the top left hand side buttons. If you float your mouse over them you will see what sub-categories are in each of the groupings. This is by far the fastest way to explore the site.

How are things organized?

In the Administration category we have the minutes, agenda, financials, etc. Governing Docs contains all the manuals and papers distributed to you in case you have misplaced your manuals or simply want to search within the documents online. In the Architectural category you will learn about the ARC, find the forms you need and view the approved color chart for any exterior paint projects.

Articles on home improvement are linked from either the Home Repair category or under News, Recent Web Articles. Our newsletter the "Leewood Times" is indexed by both date of issue and past subject matter. Not all past newsletter articles are in the subject matter index, only those deemed to be of enduring interest. Our Leewood Links are subdivided into categories to make them easier to access.

We Have Our Own Search Engine (below)

On the bottom of this page you will see a search box. You can use this to search for articles particular to our site. If you are trying to find an article on parking, for example, enter parking into the search box and go. You can further refine your search by typing board minutes parking if you just wish to find the minutes that refer to parking. You will get less hits, but it refines the search considerably. A list of pages that contain the search terms you entered will be displayed. Just click on what interests you and off you go!

SEARCH OUR SITE

Leewood.us – The Official Website of your LHOA

The website you are viewing is the official website of the Leewood Homeowners Association. It is important to understand that all information on this website, minus the message board, can be trusted as fact and not the opinion of the writer. Our goal is to provide our members with information about Leewood and the community, not to express views.

While we value the interest in our community and our association, we in no way endorse any other website that uses our name and the opinions of their authors. Be cautious of the validity of the content that is provided elsewhere and accept no imitations.

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