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Leewood.us Archive of
Articles
- 2008 Archived Articles -
Reagan & BWI Make Top 3 In List of On-Time
Departures – Dulles at the Bottom
Loudoun County Foreclosure Rate 2nd Highest
in Virginia
Leewood Times Automotive Tips
Homeowner Association Questionnaires
Fairfax County Changes Recycling Program Requirements
Left Turn Lane At Backlick? - Your Opinion
Needed
Leewood Times Guide to Volunteering
Identity Theft - America's Fastest Growing Problem
Expansion Brings 15 New Gates to Dulles
Local Farmers Markets Open for 2008 Season
Virginia Aquarium Team to Release 3 Sea Turtles
Virginia is Cracking Down on Drunken Driving
Virginia Institutes Stricter DUI Penalties for
Underage Drivers
New Speed System Helping to Slow Drivers
A Sampling of New Virginia Laws
Fairfax County Leads the Region in Job Growth
Everything You need to Know About Pumpkins
- But was afraid to ask!
Leewood's 2nd Annual Night Out - A Huge Success!
Leewood
Times Guide to Fall Festivals
Leewood Times Guide to Seasonal Allergies and
Pollen
NOTICE: Concrete Sidewalk Replacement July
24th, 25th, & 28th
New Report highlights Virginia's strengths in technology
Internet Mapping and Information Application Unveiled
Global Rice Shortage – Cause for Concern?
Leewood Times Guide to Spring Cleaning
Leewood Clean-Up Day - A Huge Success
Energy Saving Tips that Lower Your Energy Costs
- Winter Version
Metro to Dulles Derailed
Proceeds From the Sale of "A Taste of
Leewood" Cookbooks Provides a Nutritious Lunch for 450 Men,
Women and Children.
Leewood Annual Meeting 2008 - Tuesday,
March 11th, 8:00 p.m.
Special Board Meeting - Monday April 21st
at 7 pm at 7040 Bradwood Court
Kaine Asks Lawmakers to Consider Raising Car
Sales Tax
Leewood Times Guide to Winter 2008
Leewood Times Guide to New Year Resolutions
Trash Pick-up Holiday Schedule & Christmas
Tree Recycling
Change a Light, Change the World – and Save
Money
Be Alert For Deer This Season
Mixed Messages About The Region's Environmental
Credentials
Leewood Times Guide to Holiday Entertaining
Reagan & BWI Make Top 3 In List of On-Time
Departures – Dulles at the
Bottom
With the summer travel season in high gear, lots of people are
heading to the local airports. If you want to get off the ground
and in the air quickly, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
has the third best record in the country for on-time departures,
according to Department of Transportation statistics. Flights leave
on time 81 percent of the time.
Salt Lake City, Utah, and Portland, Ore., hold the No. 1 and No.
2 spots for on-time departures for the period from Jan. 1 to June
30.
If you are trying get on the ground fast, Baltimore Washington
International Thurgood Marshall Airport ranks third in the nation
with 79 percent of flights landing on time.
Coming in in the No. 1 and No. 2 on-time arrival spots are Salt
Lake City, Utah, and Phoenix, Ariz., respectively. Dulles is near
the bottom of the pack in both categories. It ranked 25th out of
32 airports in both categories.
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Loudoun County Foreclosure Rate 2nd Highest
in Virginia
Loudoun homeowners are still struggling to keep their homes off
the auction block.
Despite reports of an upturn in homes sales this summer, Loudoun
in July saw a 54 percent increase in foreclosure filings from the
same month in 2007.The county had the second highest rate of foreclosure
filings in Virginia last month. Foreclosure paperwork was filed
against one out of every 169 homes in Loudoun in July, a rate second
in the state only to Prince William County, which saw a rate of
one out of every 103 homes. A filing does not necessarily mean a
home was lost to foreclosure. It can be a default notice, auction
sale notice or bank repossession.
In July, 581 homes in Loudoun were in some stage of foreclosure,
compared to 378 a year earlier. Meanwhile, Virginia was 10th in
the country in July with 5,745 foreclosure filings. The number of
homes sold in Loudoun rose 7 percent during the second quarter of
2008 from the same period last year. The average sale price, however,
was down 20 percent.
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AUTOMOTIVE TIPS - Save
gas, save money
With gasoline at such a premium, locking gas caps have become very
popular these days. With gas prices higher than ever, fuel economy
has become a very hot topic, and everyone is looking for a way to
squeeze the most miles out of every fill-up.
For every common-sense solution you hear, there seems to be two
wonder products that claim to produce miraculous mileage figures.
To date there is nothing to help your seven-passenger SUV achieve
economy car like mileage numbers. The editors of the Leewood Times
have put together a list of a few
tips to help you squeeze more miles out of every gallon. Give
them a try and we bet you'll see a difference. More
>
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Homeowner Association Questionnaires
The Board member responsible for filling out Homeowner Association
Questionnaires in reference to either refinancing a home or purchasing
a home is Melinda Ford. Ms. Ford can be reached at poaa@leewood.us.
Your mortgage or loan company should be advised that we will make
an effort to respond within 48 hours so they should plan accordingly.
We may not be able to satisfy last minute or rush requests.
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Fairfax County Changes Recycling Program
Requirements
Owners of all existing multi-family dwelling units (apartments
and condominiums) must provide a system for their residents
to recycle cardboard and mixed paper. In addition, all businesses
must recycle paper. The changes that were made to the recycling
program requirements did not affect Leewood and residents should
continue to recycle as usual with pick ups every Tuesday morning.
For
more information about trash and recycling in Leewood click here.
Click
here for the official Fairfax County recycling program requirements.
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Left Turn Lane At Backlick? - Your
Opinion Needed
Your LHOA Board wants your opinion about a left turn lane on Backlick
Road turning into Backlick & Leestone Streets. Please send an
email to Rose Weber, secretary to voice your concerns. She can be
reached at secretary@leewood.us. More
>
In the body of your email please indicate:
1. "RIGHT TURN" - You think the existing right turn
lane from Backlick Road onto Leestone Street is necessary and more
important to smooth traffic flow and safety than a left turn lane
would be. You vote to leave things as they are; keep the right turn
lane, and not proceed to try and have a left turn lane installed.
2. "LEFT TURN" - You want a left turn lane from Backlick
Road onto Leestone Street and feel a left turn lane is necessary
and more important to smooth traffic flow and safety than the right
turn lane and would have no problem with losing the right turn lane.
You vote to change the way things are; get rid of the right turn
lane and proceed to try and have a left turn lane installed.
Click here for more information, and
the results of the poll.
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Guide To Volunteering
Throughout the history of the United States, Americans have valued
an ethic of service. As Alexis de Tocqueville wrote over a century
and a half ago, this ethic of service “prompts [Americans]
to assist one another and inclines them willingly to sacrifice a
portion of their time and property to the welfare of the state.”
Today, the ethic remains strong. Across our country, Americans
of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities are donating their time
and talents to schools, churches, hospitals, and local nonprofits
in an effort to improve their communities and serve a purpose greater
than themselves.
The editors of The Leewood
Times have created a guide
to volunteering in our area with helpful information and links
to organizations to get your started or to continue in your volunteering
efforts. More >
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Identity Theft - America's
Fastest Growing Problem
Last year alone, more than 9.9 million Americans were victims of
identity theft, a crime that cost them roughly $5 billion dollars.
The number of ID theft victims and their total losses are probably
much higher. ID Theft can involve credit card fraud, Internet fraud,
or mail theft, among other crimes. It is important for our members
to be educated on this problem and steps that can be taken to prevent
this from happening to anyone in Leewood. More
>
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Expansion Brings 15 New Gates to Dulles
Dulles International Airport will become a bit larger Tuesday,
January 15th, with the scheduled opening of the extension to Concourse
B. The addition of 15 gates cost $137 million. The gates will be
used by domestic carriers, including AirTran, JetBlue and Virgin
America. Delta and American Airlines are expected to take up residence
later this year.
The number of flights at Dulles won't immediately change, but officials
expect the number of flights will increase as the airport continues
to expand.
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Local Farmers Markets Open for 2008 Season
The 2008 season of the Fairfax County Farmers' Market kicks off
May 1st and continues until November 19th. There are 11 markets
located across the county, open different days throughout the week.
The markets are well-known for top quality local foods. All farmers
and producers come no further than 125 miles from Fairfax County.
The editors of the Lewood Times have put together a guide to over
16 markets in our area. Your guide has information on hours of opertation,
directions ect. More>
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Virginia Aquarium Team to Release 3 Sea
Turtles
A Virginia aquarium team will release three Kemp's ridley sea turtles
on the Eastern Shore. Aquarium officials say Snap, Crackle and Pop
were rescued last month from the cooling water intake canal of a
nuclear generator station by the Marine Mammal Stranding Center
in Brigantine, New Jersey. They came to Virginia Beach in mid-July.
We wish good luck to Snap, Crackle and Pop.
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Virginia is Cracking Down on Drunken Driving
Governor Tim Kaine, Virginia State Police and local law enforcement
have launched the 2008 Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign. The campaign
will focus on drunken drivers on rural roads.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Highway Safety Office
says more than one-third of traffic fatalities in Virginia last
year were alcohol-related.
The campaign this year will use DUI checkpoints and an advertising
blitz directed at young drivers. It is the seventh year for the
initiative.
According to the latest figures available, Virginia saw an increase
in the number of alcohol-related fatalities in 2006 from 2005, from
322 in 2005 to 374 in 2006. That followed declines for the previous
three years.
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Virginia Institutes Stricter DUI Penalties
for Underage Drivers
Under a new Virginia law, underage drivers under the influence
of alcohol now will lose their licenses for a year, instead of six
months, and a $500 fine is now the minimum rather than the maximum.
They also may be sentenced to 50 hours of community service instead
of the fine, and a judge could also opt to send offenders to jail
for up to a year.
While the legal driving limit for adults is a blood alcohol concentration
of .08, anyone younger than 21 with a BAC of .02 and above can be
charged with drunk driving because it is illegal for them to be
drinking in the first place.
Teens with a learner's permit must drive 45 hours instead of 40
before getting their licenses, and 15 of those hours must be after
sunset. All hours must be certified on a form provided by the DMV.
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New Speed System Helping to Slow Drivers
A brand new speed limit system near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge is
doing what it's supposed to do: lower speeds. The system, known
as Variable Speed Limit (VSL), is reducing drivers speeds by as
much as 10 miles per hour when it's turned on.
VSL is being used on the Beltway near Telegraph Road as drivers
approach the Wilson Bridge. The Virginia Department of Transportation
has only been using the system during overnight construction projects,
but increased success could lead to VSL being turned on full-time
around the bridge.
The system relies on a number of sensors and cameras to monitor
traffic speeds, which then alert an operator to raise or lower the
posted speed limit. The idea isn't to slow drivers down, but to
maintain a constant speed so every driver can get through a tight
squeeze -- like a construction zone -- in an orderly fashion.
The posted speed limit with VSL can fluctuate from 55 mph to 35
mph when the system is activated. Virginia State Police have also
beefed up their presence in the area and are currently handing out
warnings to drivers who do not slow down for the posted speed. Eventually,
the grace period will end and warnings will be replaced by fines
when VSL is running.
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A Sampling of New Virginia Laws
Virginians are now free to drink sangria and dessert wine in restaurants,
but they can no longer use the Department of Motor Vehicles driving
test as a substitute for behind-the-wheel driving classes.
Here is a small sampling of the dozens of new state laws that went
into effect Tuesday, from alcohol to zoning.
Alcohol
- Restaurants with mixed beverage licenses may now sell sangria
and other beverages that mix liquor with wine or beer.
- Restaurants with limited mixed beverage licenses may sell dessert
wine.
Animal fighting
- The fighting of any animals, except dogs, is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Dog fighting is a felony. Officers investigating animal fighting
allegations may now conduct searches at night.
Driving
- Anyone who fails the DMV drivers test three times must attend
driving school before attempting to take the test again.
- The penalty for second and subsequent violations of the child
restraint law is now up to $500.
Mental health
- The standard for involuntarily committing someone to mental health
treatment is lower. The person must have a significant risk of harming
himself or others.
- Anyone who has been declared to be mentally incompetent or who
has been involuntarily committed to psychiatric treatment is prohibited
from purchasing a gun.
Miscellaneous
- Anyone who knowingly buys or receives stolen goods is also culpable
for the theft.
- Anyone who is fired from a job for failing a drug test is ineligible
for unemployment compensation.
- The term “mentally retarded” has been replaced with
“intellectually disabled” in state code.
Sex offenses
- Legislators removed a loophole in state law that allowed men
to escape prosecution by marrying girls 14 and older whom they were
accused of attacking.
- Sex offenders who are prohibited from having contact with children
may not go within 100 feet of a playground, athletic field/facility
or gymnasium. Violation is a Class 6 felony.
- It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for someone 18 or older to tongue
kiss a child 13 or younger. Anyone found guilty must register as
a sex offender.
Zoning
- Localities may carry over zoning violations when a property is
sold, an effort to prevent illegal boardinghouses from re-emerging.
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Fairfax County Leads the Region in Job
Growth
During the second quarter of 2008, the Fairfax County Economic
Development Authority (FCEDA) provided services and resources to
23 businesses that will create 826 jobs in Fairfax County. Combined
with totals from the first quarter, the FCEDA has worked this year
with nearly 40 companies that will add almost 1,100 jobs to what
is one of the country’s most vibrant economies.
According to the latest five-year review of the region's economy
by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Fairfax County
led the region in labor force growth with a gain of 51,959 jobs
and led the region in 2007 in new commercial development, with nearly
6.6 million square feet of projects. Time magazine called Fairfax
County, “one of the great economic success stories of our
time.” Business growth helps our county fund public services
such as a top-ranked public school system and other public services
that improve the quality of life. More
>
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Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Pumpkins
But Was Afraid To Ask!
- Pumpkins are fruits. A pumpkin is a type of squash and is a member
of the gourd family (Cucurbitacae), which also includes squash,
cucumbers, gherkins, and melons.
- The largest pumpkin pie ever baked was in 2005 and weighed 2,020
pounds.
- Pumpkins have been grown in North America for five thousand years.
They are indigenous to the western hemisphere.
- In 1584, after French explorer Jacques Cartier explored the St.
Lawrence region of North America, he reported finding "gros
melons." The name was translated into English as "pompions,"
which has since evolved into the modern "pumpkin."
- Pumpkins are low in calories, fat, and sodium and high in fiber.
They are good sources of Vitamin A, Vitamin B, potassium, protein,
and iron.
- The largest pumpkin ever grown was 1,689 pounds. It was grown
by Joe Jutras of North Scituate, Rhode Island.
- Pumpkin seeds should be planted between the last week of May and
the middle of June. They take between 90 and 120 days to grow and
are picked in October when they are bright orange in color. Their
seeds can be saved to grow new pumpkins the next year.
History Of The Jack-O'Lantern
Pumpkin carving is a popular part of modern America's Halloween
celebration. Come October, pumpkins can be found everywhere in the
country from doorsteps to dinner tables. Despite the widespread
carving that goes on in this country every autumn, few Americans
really know why or when the jack o'lantern tradition began. Read
on to find out!
People have been making jack o'lanterns at Halloween for centuries.
The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed
"Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited
the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack
didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn
himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once
the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into
his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from
changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the
Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one
year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The
next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree
to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved
a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could
not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for
ten more years.
Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such
an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack
had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would
not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with
only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out
turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish
began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern,"
and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern."
In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions
of Jack's lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes
and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy
Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are
used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o'lantern
tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon
found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack
o'lanterns.
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Leewood’s 2nd Annual National Night
Out - A Great Time!
Leewood again participated in The National Night Out on August
5, 2008. Festivities started at 7:30 p.m. in the common area between
7026 and 7018 Leebrad Street. Over 50 residents attended along with
four Fairfax County police officers who handed out helpful information
and fun items for the children in attendance. 25 burgers and 50
hot dogs were prepared and served along with chips and soft drinks.
Many "door prizes" were given away highlighted by a pair
of tickets to a Washington Redskins game. Many thanks go out to
all of our residents who made this year's National Night Out a huge
success. Plans were made and your LHOA looks forward to many Leewood
gatherings to come. More >
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Guide To Fall Festivals 2008
Fall is such a wonderful time of year in our area. The cooler weather,
the foliage, and the outdoor festivals make our region a great place
to live. The editors of the Leewood Times have created a guide to
all the festivals within a short drive from our home. Click
here for the complete list with helpful links to the event pages.
More >
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Guide to Seasonal Allergies and Pollen
If you or someone you know are among the more than 26 million Americans
who suffer from seasonal allergies, you know that annual bouts with
pollen aren’t just uncomfortable, they also take a toll on
mental well-being. The bad news is that your allergies are probably
going to get worse before they get better and you can blame the
tree pollen now blanketing our area. Unfortunately, the pollen isn't
going anywhere. In fact, allergy sufferers won't see much relief
in the weeks ahead. The good news is that there are a few minor
lifestyle changes that can go a long way toward keeping symptoms
under control. The editors of the Leewood
Times have created a complete
guide about seasonal allergies with tips and natural remedies
for you to use. It is a must read for those of you who endure seasonal
allergies. More>
Click
Here for the Local Pollen Count from Pollen.com
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NOTICE: Concrete Sidewalk Replacement July
24th, 25th, & 28th
Brothers Paving and Concrete will be performing concrete sidewalk
replacement for our association. These specified locations are clearly
marked in orange paint.
TO PREVENT YOUR CAR FROM BEING TOWED, IT IS NECESSARY THAT VEHICLES
PARKED AT MINIMUM 75-100 FEET FROM THE MARKED AREAS BE REMOVED BETWEEN
THE HOURS OF 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM OF THE DATES NOTED BELOW.
Vehicles must be cleared for full and safe access to each location
that is to be repaired.
If there is an orange mark on the sidewalk within 75 feet of your
parking space, please move your car to a spot that is not near one.
Please remember not to park in your neighbor's reserved spot.
Here is the schedule of the streets that the sidewalks will be
repaired.
Thursday & Friday July 24th and 25th:
LEEBRAD STREET
BRADGEN COURT
BRADWOOD COURT
Friday July 24th & Monday July 28th:
LEESTONE STREET
LEESTONE COURT
ALL VEHICLES THAT ARE IN THE WAY OF THIS WORK WILL BE TOWED.
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New Report highlights Virginia's strengths
in technology
Fairfax County leads the state in concentration of high-tech employers,
jobs and capital investment. The American Electronics Association
(AeA), the nation’s largest technology trade association,
released its 11th annual Cyberstates report detailing national and
state trends in high-tech employment, wages and other key economic
factors. According to the report, Virginia's tech industry grew
by four percent, adding 9,800 jobs for a total of 270,800 in 2006,
the most recent year available. Fairfax County is home to more than
5,400 technology companies and can lay claim to 135,000 technology
jobs, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. This is the
third consecutive year Virginia ranks among the top five states
for tech job growth. That growth helps solidify Virginia's placement
as the state with the highest concentration of technology workers,
with 9.1 percent of its private sector workforce in the tech industry.
These jobs pay nearly twice as much as the average private sector
job in Virginia.
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Internet Mapping and Information Application
Unveiled
The public can now research and access current information about
incidents reported to Fairfax County Police with a new tool called
the “Police Incident Viewer.” The tool is an add-on
to Fairfax County's online mapping application called “My
Neighborhood.” The information provided on this site reflects
actual calls for police service received by the Department of Public
Safety Communications (911 call center) and entered into the computer-aided
dispatch system.
The Police Incident information displayed on these pages is originally
entered into the County's computer aided dispatch system and then
processed into a format that allows the information to be shown
on a map. Generally incident information is available for viewing
within 48 hours of the time an incident is reported.
A particular address or police district can be entered into the
application and statistical data reveals the number of events for
queried categories. A user can search for incidents against persons,
property crimes and quality of life incidents. Once calculated,
a map appears with a legend indicating what event occurred and the
location to the nearest hundred block.
To access the “My Neighborhood” application, please
visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police
Click on incident mapping under "Quick Links."
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Global Rice Shortage –
Cause for Concern?
While it is true that there is a rice shortage and inflation has
doubled and even tripled rice prices in some places, “There
is no rice shortage in the US," said David Coia, a spokesman
for the USA Rice Federation. Brazil has announced that it would
temporarily halt rice exports to ensure domestic supply as global
prices rise, and other nations such as such as India and Vietnam,
have banned foreign sales to control prices at home. Adding to the
increase in rice prices, six long years of drought in Australia
have taken a toll, reducing its rice crop by 98 percent. All these
factors and investors seeing it as a lucrative investment have made
countries that buy rice on the global market vulnerable to extreme
price swings.
This has spurred panicked hoarding in Hong Kong and the Philippines,
and set off protests in countries including Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia,
Haiti, Indonesia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, the Philippines,
Thailand, Uzbekistan and Yemen. Companies such as Sam’s Club
and Costco have limited the sale of rice in its stores. Both companies
insist that they have plenty of rice but say the steps were necessary
to ensure there was enough for all of their clients. "This
temporary cap is intended to ensure there is plenty of rice for
all our members," said a spokesman for Sam's Club, which has
600 stores across the United States, adding that the measure did
not apply to smaller bags of rice.
In the United States, the rice crop is actually expected to be
5% larger this year over 2007, said the National Farmers Union,
and our rice production provides 88 percent of our domestic consumption,
while imports from countries such as Thailand and Vietnam make up
the rest.
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Guide to Spring Cleaning
The flowers are blooming, the birds are serenading, and our house
still feels like it's stuck with winter blues. Spring cleaning is
a tradition that allows us to freshen up our homes and get a head
start on the hectic seasons of spring and summer. The editors of
the Leewood Times have put together
a helpful guide with
everything you need to help you with your spring cleaning and organization.
More >
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Leewood Clean-Up Day - A Huge
Success
Leewood held a successful clean-up day on Saturday, April 5. The
bad weather held off long enough for us to complete the project.
16 homeowners participated.
Two pick-up truckloads of trash and debris were taken to the dump.
Eight azaleas were planted in the common area, one Rose of Sharon
and lots of hostas, daylilies and liriope. Hopefully in future years,
these plantings will grow and add to the beauty of Leewood in the
spring. The shrubs and flowers were donated through the kind generosity
of several homeowners.
Thanks to all those who participated. We look forward to an even
larger turnout on our next clean-up day
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Energy Saving Tips that Lower Your Energy
Costs - Winter Version
As we head toward winter, there are some simple steps that you
can take around your home that can save you money while you keep
yourself and your family warm and toasty. As you adjust your thermostat,
remember that increased power consumption results in higher electric
bills. Using energy efficiently makes good sense year-round, but
it can really pay off this time of year.
Rising fuel costs have made energy conservation even more important.
Heating your home can account for half of your winter power use,
so cutting back here is a good way to save. Remember, you can reduce
your energy consumption without sacrificing comfort. More
>
Click
here for some energy saving tips
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Metro to Dulles Derailed
The Federal Transit Administration rejected funding for the Metro
to Dulles project. The news sent shock waves through the region's
political and business establishments, which have been promoting
the need for a rail connection between the nation's capital and
its major international airport since the 1960s. The line was expected
to ease congestion through Virginia's biggest jobs corridor and
also help it grow by stimulating a transformation of suburban Tysons
Corner into a thriving downtown. In a letter sent to Governor Kaine,
FTA head James S. Simpson formally rejected funding citing many
reasons. More >
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Proceeds From the Sale of "A Taste
of Leewood" Cookbooks
Provides a Nutritious Lunch for 450 Men, Women and Children.
A special thank you to the many volunteers and contributors who
have made “A Taste of Leewood” cookbook a wonderful
expression of community. Thanks to all of the residents that contributed
and purchased cookbooks, we have raised enough money to provide
a nutritious lunch for 450 men, women and children, and we can't
stop there!
The first ever “A Taste of Leewood” Cookbook is on
sale now. The cookbook is a collection over 70 recipes that include
appetizers, beverages, soups, sandwiches, salads, entrées
and desserts, along with holiday specialties, and pet friendly homemade
treats. Also included are helpful entertaining tips and cooking
guides with common measurements and meat temperatures.
“A Taste of Leewood” offers easy-to-prepare dishes
that will delight regular family meals or add a special culinary
joy to any festive occasion. For this cookbook, recipes were collected
from residents, their families, and the editors' favorites.
The cookbook costs $18 with all proceeds benefiting SOME
– So Others Might Eat. “A Taste of Leewood”
is a dignified way to raise money for an interfaith, community-based
organization that exists to help the poor and homeless of our nation's
capital. They meet the immediate daily needs of the people they
serve with food, clothing, and health care. They also help break
the cycle of homelessness by offering services, such as affordable
housing, job training, addiction treatment, and counseling, to the
poor, the elderly and individuals with mental illness. Each day,
S.O.M.E. is restoring
hope and dignity one person at a time.
For more information about S.O.M.E.
check out www.some.org.
Click here for more information
on how to order and the payment options.
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Leewood Annual Meeting 2008 -
Tuesday, March 11th, 8:00 p.m.
The Leewood Homeowners Association annual meeting will be held
on March 11, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. in Room 412 (Student Union) of the
Immanuel Bible Church located on the southeast corner of Backlick
and Braddock Roads. Each homeowner will be receiving the meeting
package in the mail. All homeowners are encouraged to attend.
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Special Board Meeting -
Monday April 21st at 7 pm at 7040 Bradwood Court
The Board will meet in executive session to discuss a legal case.
No other business will be conducted.
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Kaine Asks Lawmakers to Consider Raising
Car Sales Tax
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said he would like legislators to consider
increasing the tax on automobile sales to generate more money for
highway maintenance and end the controversial fees on bad drivers.
Kaine has been pushing for the increase since taking office, stressed
that such a tax increase would need a bipartisan consensus before
it could take place. People who buy new cars pay a 3 percent sales
tax even though Virginia's sales tax is 5 percent.
Last week, all 21 Democrats in the Senate held a news conference
to say they are considering a range of options for raising money
to address transportation. Some proposals call for an increase in
the state's 17.5 cent-a-gallon gas tax, which hasn't been raised
since 1986. Kaine said he's open to an increase in the gas tax,
but called the sales tax on cars "straightforward and rational."
"There are a lot of different people talking about a lot of
different proposals, let's see if they reach consensus on them,"
Kaine said.
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Winter Guide 2008
The mention of winter evokes images of sparkling snowflakes and
skaters gracefully gliding across the ice, though heavy snowfall
and extreme cold can immobilize an entire region. Even areas that
normally experience mild winters can be hit with a major snowstorm
or extreme cold. Winter storms can result in flooding, storm surge,
closed highways, blocked roads, downed power lines and hypothermia.
The editors of the Leewood Times have put together a guide to help
you have a healthy and happy winter. Helpful
household tips can help you save on energy costs this season,
and the section on driving
in the snow can help you and your family be safe. More
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Guide to New Year Resolutions
"If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't,
you're right." - Henry Ford
A New Year's Resolution is a commitment that an individual makes
to a project or a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally
interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these
commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain
until the set goal has been achieved. The editors of the Leewood
Times have created a
helpful guide on New Year Resolutions with tips and tricks on
how to achieve your goals. More
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Trash Pick-up Holiday Schedule & Christmas
Tree Recycling
There will be NO trash pickup on 12/25/07 and 1/1/08. Trash
will be picked up on the next regularly scheduled day which will
be 12/28/07 and 1/4/08.
Since recycling is also picked up on 12/25/07 and 1/1/08, ADS will
do a special pickup on Saturday 12/29/07. This is a one-time
Saturday pickup only for recycling, not for regular trash.
Recycling should be placed out no later than 6 a.m. on 12/29/07,
since the trucks will come early. Christmas trees will be picked
up on yard debris collection days (Fridays) through 1/11/08.
Trees put out after 1/11/08 can be placed with regular household
trash on Fridays. Trees must be placed out without tinsel or decorations
on them and should NOT be placed in plastic bags.
In inclement weather, ADS will cancel collection when ADS deems
roads to be unsafe. Trash will again be picked up on next regularly
scheduled trash day.
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Change a Light, Change the World
– and Save Money
Leewood residents can save $3.00 toward the the purchase of an
energy-efficient light bulb at Office Depot simply by pledging to
change out an incandescent light bulb with an energy-efficient compact
florescent light. We encourage everyone to join the ENERGY
STAR Change a Light, Change the World campaign, a national call-to-action
that promotes the small step of changing a light bulb as a means
of protecting the environment and preserving energy resources. From
Oct. 3 to Nov. 30
After pledging, residents will receive a $3 discount coupon toward
an energy-efficient light bulb purchase at Office Depot. According
to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing a 100-watt incandescent
light bulb with a 32-watt compact fluorescent lamp will save at
least $30 in energy costs over the life of just that one bulb and
give the same brightness.
If every American home replaced one light with an energy efficient
one, every year we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes
and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more
than 800,000 cars! More
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Be Alert For Deer This Season
Be extra vigilant for deer while driving. To avoid a dangerous
and often costly collision with deer this please take the following
driving tips:
- Always wear your seat belt to reduce the possibility of injury
in case of a collision.
- Be alert for deer; drive cautiously —especially if you
see a deer crossing sign. Be especially attentive at dusk and dawn
during deer breeding season from mid-October to January. (Peak
deer movement in the fall coincides with the time change back to
standard time. This shifts rush hour into darkness hindering a driver's
ability to see deer.)
- When you spot a deer near the roadway, slow down and be ready
for the animal to dart into the road. Honk your horn to try to scare
the deer away. Deer often travel in groups, so if you see one deer
near the roadway, be cautious for others.
- When you see a deer on a roadway, flash your headlights from
bright to dim and honk the horn to encourage it to move away from
the road. Drive with lights on during overcast days and use high
beams at night whenever possible. (Though headlights can confuse
deer, the reflecting light from their eyes will help you to see
them.) Warn drivers following you of the presence of deer by
tapping on your brakes.
- If a deer runs into the roadway, try to slow down or brake without
swerving. Losing control of your car and crashing into another car
or a stationary object can be more dangerous than hitting the deer.
If you cannot avoid hitting a deer, slow down and grasp the steering
wheel firmly with both hands. Take your foot off the brake at the
time of impact so the front end of your vehicle will lift up and
enable the deer to go under the car, rather than over it (reducing
the danger of it crashing through the windshield or windows). If
the animal is injured or killed, report the collision through the
non-emergency line at (703) 691-2131.
In 2006 there were 129 reportable crashes between vehicles and
deer in Fairfax County with 14 resulting in injuries to people.
However, the actual number of collisions is likely between 3,000
and 5,000. If motorists remain alert and slow down to allow more
reaction time, it is possible that some of these crashes could be
avoided or result in less damage.
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Mixed Messages About The Region's Environmental
Credentials
There were mixed messages at a 2007 conference on the region's
environmental credentials, portraying Washington as a place with
sterling intentions for the Earth but having significant trouble
keeping the air and water clean.
On the plus side, Washington area residents bought 223 hybrid cars
for every 100,000 residents last year, which ranks them ahead of
such famously Earth-friendly cities as Boston and Chicago. Our area
also has one of the highest numbers of buildings registered or certified
by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Program, a
leading arbiter of green construction.
However, It was also reported that our area has 23 days of elevated
air pollution a year, which was more than seven times Boston's total.
Residents spent an average of 33 minutes commuting -- even longer
than Los Angeles commuters -- and many of them spend it in
pollution-spewing cars. And the Potomac River, the Anacostia River
and the Chesapeake Bay are all plagued by pollution.
For these reasons and others, many outside experts have ranked
the Washington area behind such places as Chicago, New York, Seattle
and San Francisco on lists of green regions. These lists often look
at such factors as the number of parks, use of public transit, air
pollution and plans for tackling climate change.
Both Virginia Govenor Timothy M. Kaine and District Mayor Adrian
M. Fenty, Kaine spoke at the conference about their plans for closing
the gap. Kaine said Virginia was paying millions more to clean up
the Chesapeake, looking for cleaner energy sources and researching
plans to store carbon dioxide -- a major greenhouse gas -- in old
coal mines. Fenty talked about a push for greener buildings in the
District, including environmental design elements at the new Washington
Nationals baseball park in Southeast.
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Guide To Holiday Entertaining
If your home will be the central gathering place this year, it's
time to make your lists and check them over twice. There are several
things you can do to make the visit pleasurable for you and your
guests. The editors of the Leewood
Times have created a special Holiday
Entertaining Guide for you to use. Whether you're planning to
throw your first dinner party, or you've been hosting gatherings
for years, this primer will remind you of all the little details
that add up to a spectacular occasion. More
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