Rambler April 2010

President’s Message

Take a few moments from your busy schedule and meet your neighbors in Rose Hill at the April 27 Civic Association meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the community room of the John Marshall Library. No formal program is planned, but there will be time to share concerns and suggestions about our community. An update on the County budget will be provided, giving all an idea how much they will pay in local taxes this year.

We have invited Supervisor Jeff McKay to a subsequent meeting to discuss issues that effect Fairfax County and Rose Hill. We hope to have Virginia Delegate Mark Sickles at a meeting so to update us on statewide issues. Supervisor McKay is tied up this month with the budget deliberations, which are schedule to end on the day we meet.

If you have been to the last few meetings, you know that the refreshments are worth the visit. Vice President Linda Nichols and her refreshment aide will come up with a spread that will make your presence worthwhile. And, it will be good for your health! Don’t bring anything except yourself.

Help us plan future agendas for RHCA meetings. Share your ideas as to how we can make Rose Hill and even better place in which to live. Nominate your property or that of a neighbor for the coveted Rose Hill Beauty designation. The judges are making their rounds and could use your help. Winners will be announced in the May Rambler.

Represent Your Community

RHCA needs a volunteer to represent the Association at the Lee District Association of Civic Associations monthly meeting. Supervisor McKay attends the meetings, held in the community room at the Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road on the fourth Wednesday of each month. There usually are representatives of various County agencies on hand to update the group on various activities. If you would like to help, get in touch with President Carl Sell. The only perk involved is two tickets to the annual banquet in December, paid for by RHCA. It is very important that we be represented on a District-wide level. You’ll learn about issues in other communities to pass on to your neighbors and RHCA members.

Remembering Maxine Jones

Maxine and Russell Jones moved to Rose Hill fifty-one years ago this July. Russell passed away in 2001 and Maxine died on March 30, 2010 at the age of 88. They lived at the corner of Willowood Lane and Bee Street. The Jones moved to the area from Elmira, N.Y. because Russell got a job as a carpenter and machinist at Reagan National Airport for the Federal Aviation Agency. He retired in the late 1980s. Maxine was a neighborhood fixture as an avid walker and cyclist. She also watched over neighborhood children after school until their parents came home from work. The Jones had three children, Raymond (Rick), Patricia and Pamela. Rick graduated from Lee High School. He and his wife Elaine live in Stoneybrooke. They have three children. Patricia went one year to Rose Hill Elementary, then Mark Twain and graduated from Edison High School. She and her husband Bob Davison live in Tennessee. They also have three children. Pamela (Pam) and her husband Gary Thomas live in Virginia Hills. They have two children. In addition to the eight grandchildren, there are 16 great-grandchildren. Russell Jones spent his retirement years hunting, fishing and enjoying his family. He and Maxine were active at Cameron Methodist Church and later Virginia Hills Baptist, located just down the Willowood Hill on Telegraph Road. The family enjoyed Highland Park Swim Club. The Jones were among the many Rose Hill Originals who made this community special. They loved their family, home and neighbors.

At the Last Meeting…

RHCA voted to let the County know the members were opposed to a budget that would raise our taxes much above the amount we paid last year. The members suggested that the County retain the School Resource officers who are so effective in protecting our schools and communities against gangs, increase the budget for parks and libraries and maintain our level of public safety. We suggested that those items be funded rather than a school carryover. Given these tough economic times, we did not feel any unappropriated funds are warranted In other items, RHCA voted to support the KinderCare Special Exception on May Boulevard as long as the hours of operation are limited to 6 a. m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday with others hours being allowed for special events. The Lee District Land Use Advisory Committee endorsed those conditions in recommending approval at its April 12 meeting. The president, vice president and treasurer were elected for another term. Refreshments were enjoyed by all.

Membership List Snafu

If you had previously paid your RHCA membership your name was not listed in the April Rambler, it was in error. And, we can’t blame it on the computer. The wrong list was provided to the editor and published. It wasn’t his fault! Hopefully, all is up to date in this edition of the Rambler. The membership campaign ends this month, but we still have a few more opening! The membership form is printed on page 5 or you can access one online at MyRoseHill.com. We are below our number of members of last year, so we’d appreciate your joining the team. Our strength is in numbers and we need your support.

Reminder to Newcomers

The Rose Hill Civic Association is serious about the appearance of our neighborhood. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated by your neighbors. We remind you that an accumulation of trash, parking on lawns, certain business operations and overcrowding all are violations of the zoning ordinance. Inoperable or unlicensed vehicles are not permitted on residential lots if they can be seen from any property line. There are ordinances against excessive noise and barking dogs. It is illegal to park on the grass strip between the sidewalk and the road along Rose Hill Drive. The latter could result in a ticket. Please obey the law and help keep Rose Hill a pleasant place in which to live. Our property values as well as yours depend on it. RHCA’s policy is to pass on reports of violations to the proper authorities for investigation.

Congestion Indigestion

While congestion on our roads continues to worsen, there are special interests that push for higher residential density near Metro in the name of Smart Growth. For example, it recently was announced that the tallest building in the Metropolitan area is planned near the Eisenhower Avenue Metro station in Alexandria. The assumption is that all the new residents will ride the Metro. R.I.G.H.T!

In Lee District, we recently beat back proposals to add a residential mix to a planned office development at Van Dorn Street and the Beltway and an 18-story apartment building at North Kings Highway on the Shoppers Food Warehouse shopping center site. Additional residential density is to be added around Springfield Mall. Because new office space currently is not needed, landowners and developers are trying to switch to condos and apartments. And the Smart Growth crowd is falling for it. One wonders what they will do when Metro is just as congested as our roads. As your Land Use Advisory Committee representative, I continue to question and oppose increased residential density. We need to solve our current traffic problems before we put more cars on the road. I’m not convinced that everyone will ride Metro, even if it is next door. Consider what is happening in Tysons Corner, western Fairfax, the Dulles Corridor and eastern Loudoun County. Because of the Metro expansion from West Falls Church to Dulles and beyond, the developers and their backers think more density is warranted. The size of Tysons already has been doubled. But the Orange Line from Vienna to D.C. already is overcrowded. Those who ride it call it the ‘Orange Crush’ during rush hours. Imagine what it will be like when the Silver Line to Dulles opens.

As an aside, I believe it is long overdue to plan a transit system that will connect areas of Fairfax County. A good start would be to construct a dedicated right-of-way system from Huntington to Fort Belvoir and then on to Springfield Metro via the abandoned Fort Belvoir railroad right of way that connects with CSX at Newington and on to Springfield-Franconia Metro.

People continually ask what is being done to solve some of our local problems. According to Delegate Mark Sickles, plans and funding are afoot to extend the right turn lane northbound on Telegraph Road at South Kings Highway to help alleviate that backup. More needs to be done at the intersections of Telegraph, South King’s and South Van Dorn and Telegraph as traffic grows because of the expansion at Fort Belvoir.

Plans are being finalized for an overpass at the intersection of Franconia Road and South Van Dorn Street. However there is no money for construction. We need to move that project up on the priority list. At the most recent public hearing on the subject, some residents of the townhouse communities at the intersection came out to oppose the interchange. The rest of us can’t afford to let that happen. Right of way for the interchange was set aside years ago when those communities were built. As a result, only one house on the south side of Franconia will be demolished to accommodate the interchange and that was identified years ago. It belongs to the Kingstowne developer.

Keeping up with land use and transportation planning is extremely important. We can’t allow developers or single-issue advocates to undermine the public good. The thoughts and proposals above are just a few about what it being planned. Your comments are always welcome.

A Letter from Marty Williams

Dear Members and Residents,

As the former editor of The Rambler, I just want to thank you for your generosity, kindness, and well wishes last month at the meeting. It was a wonderful send-off and a very generous gift from the Association. The BJs gift card was well used on supplies and necessities and was greatly appreciated. Your thoughts and wishes are appreciated as well. Please know I miss being in the neighborhood on a daily basis but doing the newsletter kept me in touch at arm’s length. To this day, I utilize the services of the merchants in the area and the cut-through of Cottonwood Drive (just like the commuters but not on such a regular basis). Of course, driving on Cottonwood, where I used to live, allows me the opportunity to see how the old ‘hood is standing up and, possibly, stop and chat with the neighbors and friends when I see them. And know, if I see you, I’ll stop. If I don’t see you, I’ll email or call. If I don’t, you’ve got mine. Please keep in touch (marty@fabrications.us or 703.910.6316).

Thanks for the memories,

Marty

Nouri & Suham Abbou, 6115 Rose Hill Drive	Judy & Marty Kowalik, 6115 Leewood Drive
Wilmer & Nancy Anderson, 4500 Appletree Drive	Cedric Lack, 6330 Rose Hill Drive
Polly Anderson & Gary Wheeler, 6404 Wayside Place	Mildred Lane, 6410 May Boulevard
Leonida Antonio, 6406 May Boulevard	Ronald & Kathereine Lender, 6406 Rose Hill Drive
Rebecca Bagdasian, 6214 Driftwood Drive	Jayne K. Letsche, 6502 Cottonwood Drive
Frank & Rayma Bale, 6315 Willowood Land	Craig & Jessica Llewellyn, 6011 Leewood Drive
P.G. Bauserman, 4531 Round Hill Road	Edward & Anna Lewis, 6117 Leewood Drive
M. Beach, 4429 Roundhill Road	James Lockwood, 6114 Clovergrass Drive
Daniel & Ingrid Bearth, 6417 Rose Hill Drive	Charles B. Long. 4602 Apple Tree Drive
Vikki Beaty, 4415 Roundhill road	Jamey & David Lord, 6208 Redwood Lane
Connie Beatty, 6428 Rose Hill Drive	Wellington & Ann Machmer, 6200 Willowood Lane
Sandra Benarick, 6270 Rose Hill Drive	John & Jane Madaris, 4422 Roundhill Road
Shirley Bennington, 6405 May Boulevard	Raymond & Evelyn Market, 4608 Mayor Place
William & Tammie Betts, 6306 Saddle Tree Drive	Paulette & Stanley Martin, 4517 Lark Lane
Philip & Carol Bishop, 6310 Climbhill Road	Mary Mayo, 61221 Leewood Drive
Margaret & Carl Bon, 5001 Eastchester Circle	Mike & Jo Ann McLean, 6433 Carriage Drive
Jeannette Bottomley, 5003 Eastchester Circle	Dolores McKinney, 6303 Cottonwood Drive
Bill Braswell, 6307 Climbhill Road	George & Susan McKittrick, 6113 Clovergrass Drive
Gary J. Bravy, 6214 Climbhill Road	Donald & Nancy McMinn, 4804 Apple Tree Drive
Bob Brown, 4526 Apple Tree Drive	Marion Messinger, 6603 Cottonwood Drive
Mark Broxterman, 6424 Haystack Road	D. M. Miller, 6703 Greendale Road
Ron & Nancy Buzlansky	Mimi Minarik, 6518 Telegraph Road
Tracy Campbell, 6402 Cottonwood Drive	Edna Mitchell, 6305 May Boulevard
Maureen & Jason Cardone, 6418 Willowood Lane	Harold Murray, 5003 Treetop Lane
Ralph & Pauline Carrico, 6112 Leewood Drive	Kimbinh Nguyen, 6711 Greendale Road
Jon & Penn Cashmire, 4907 Silo Road	J. Niedermeyer, 6500 Haystack Road
Raul & Kelly Castillo, 6413 Willowood Lane	Herbert & Grace Newman, 4910 Silo Road
Roger & Carol Christiansen, 6409 Maryview Street	But The Nguyen, 6512 Rose Hill Drive
Bob Ciccotelli, 6511 Haystack Road	Dave & Linda Nichols, 6416 Rose Hill Drive
Helen Coffer, 6218 Saddle Tree Drive	Jack & Kathy O’Connor, 6519 Haystack Road
Sally Coler, 6401 Hayfield Place	Conrad & Haydee Oroc, 4703 Split Rock Road
Craig & Jo Collins, 6110 Leewood Drive	Thakor & Prasanna Ptel, 6401 Maryview Street
Alexander & Natalie Cook, 6111 Clovergrass Drive	William & Janelle Parker, 6417 Willowood Lane
Lois Corbin, 6221 Blossom Lane	Charles & Jeska Pfefferle, 6503 Haystack Road
Steve Corbin, 4901 Split Rock Road	Stephen & Brenda Phillips, 6408 Maryview Street
Jane & Margo Cunniffe, 4609 Mayor Place	Bob & Ginny Pinkham, 6514 Carriage Drive
Matthew & Cynthia Dailey, 5009 Eastchester Circle	C. Roy & Susan Poff, 6328 Maryview Street
Virginia Dahlgren, 6611 Cottonwood Drive	Jo Ann Ponce, 6203 Willowood Lane
Sally & Bill Dankers and Marjorie Parkyn, 6511 Carriage Drive	Monica Reed, 6422 Rose Hill Drive
Lee & Carole Davis, 6314 Climbhill Road	Adam & Rita Rice, 6431 Carriage Drive
E&K Davidson, 4607 Roundhill Road	James & Nancy Richey, 4402 Roundhill Road
B. Digman, 6217 Blossom Lane	James M Ridgell, 6513 Cottonwood Drive
Ron & Donna Dillon, 4618 Winston Place	David & Nancy Ridgway, 4609 Cottonwood Place
Robin & David Dodson, 6400 Wayside Place	Renee Roberts & Evelyn Torres, 4901 Silo Road
Matt Downey, 6516 Telegraph Road	Joe & Joyce Ruggero, 6310 Saddle Tree Drive
Dennis Dzeirzawski, 6210 Thornwood Drive	Frank Schoenle, 6302 Climbhill Road
Betty Elliott, 6411 Maryview Street	G. Miller, L. Seiss, 6415 Willowood Lane
Bernice Evans, 6411 Willowood Lane	Carl & Marti Sell, 6601 Cottonwood Drive
Susan Feagley, 4705 Split Rock Road	James & Marie Sherfey, 6415 Rose Hill Drive
Tom Felleisen, 6406 Hayfield Place	George & Joan Simms, 6434 Carriage Drive
Anna Fish, 6301 Cottonwood Drive	Lori Scheibe, 5010 Treetop Lane
Joseph Finnegan, 6409 Hayfield Place	Martin & Diana Shupack, 6419 Haystack Road
Trigg Flannagan, 6514 Haystack Road	Burt & Debbie Slack, 4803 Apple Tree Drive
Rati Friend/Michael Smith, 6111 Leewood Drive	Carolyn Slenska, 6308 Climbhill Road
Rosemarie & Mike Field, 4426 Roundhill Road	Marlene Hass Smith, 6304 Cottonwood Drive
Jane Flower, 6320 Maryview Street	William & Jean Stemple, 6306 Cottonwood Drive
Larry & Connie Fulk, 6410 Cottonwood Drive	Ray Stone, 4528 Roundhill Road
Barry & Zoe-Ann Freitag, 6303 May Boulevard	Thomas Strah, 6421 Rose Hill Drive
Janice Gable, 6404 Willowood Lane	Mary C. Stinnette, 4520 Apple Tree Drive
Ed & Shirley Gailliott, 4801 Apple Tree Drive	Terence Stone, 4522 Apple Tree Drive
Bill & Christie Gerke, 4905 Apple Tree Drive	Debbie Sullivan, 4614 Roundhill Road
John & Erica Good, 4604 Roundhill Road	Tinker & Don Szamborski, 4615 Winston Place
B. Goulet, 6313 Saddle Tree Drive	Barbara Taylor, 4433 Roundhill Road
Mike & Bonnie Greek, 6330 Willowood Lane	Judy Taylor, 6503 Rose Hill Drive
Joanna Guccione, 6013 Leewood Drive	Linda & Rex Taylor, 6505 Haystack Road
Chris & Susie Guinto, 6515 Haystack Road	A.J. Taylor, 6308 Cottonwood Drive
Carole, Sal & Joanna Guzzetta, 6407 May Boulevard	Joanne Thompson
Joe & Lorraine Hatcher, 6102 Leewood Drive	Jean Thomson, 6302 Cottonwood Drive
Theresa Harper, 6506 Carriage Drive	Nina Tisara, 6408 Hayfield Place
Mo & Alice Haupt, 6208 Thornwood Drive	James W. Troy, 5004 Eastchester Circle
Ingrid & Robert Heislup, 6321 Cottonwood Drive	Paul Turner, 4414 Roundhill Road
Robert & Shirley Herr, 6103 Leewood Drive	Stien Van Egmond, 6508 Cottonwood Drive
Lucio Herrara, 4525 Apple Tree Drive	H.E. Varney, 4520Rounhdill Roada
L. Hestvik, 4515 Sturbridge Place	Angie & Derek Vereen, 6222 Thornwood Drive
Don & Lynn Hoffman, 5002 Treetop Lane	Wanda Violette, 6408 May Boulevard
Alice Holloman, 4518 Sturbridge Place	Linda and Lauck Walton, 4900 Silo Road
Sharon & Thomas Holliday, 6613 Cottonwood Drive	Fran Watts, 6508 Haystack Road
Emilie Hood, 5012 Treetop Lane	Don & Nina Weber, 6120 Dew Grass Drive
Yancey & Patty Hull, 6113 Leewood Drive	Jonathon Welch, 4516 Sturbridge Place
Christian & Meredith Hunter, 6410 Maryview Street	Louise Westgate & Rick, 6708 Greendale Road
Frank & Linda Jackson, 6500 Cottonwood Drive	Karen Wheeless, 6709 Greendale Road
Clifford & Barbara James, 6412 May Boulevard	Kenneth & Crystal White, 6422 Haystack Road
D. J. Jamison, 4707 Split Rock Road	Jeff & Katie Whitney, 6705 Greendale Road
F. Jencks, 6416 Willowood Lane	Jeffrey Williams, 6121 Dew Grass Drive
Marvin & Fran Justice, 6402 Rose Hill Drive	Charles & Eleanor Wimberly, 6506 Haystack Road
Jim & Lynda Kandul, 6218 Blossom Lane	Charlie & Sandy Worley, 4513 Roundhill Road
Jean & Davood Kalkhoran, 6112 Clovergrass Drive	Jamie & Pam Yereb, 4617 Winston Place
Audrey Kick, 4517 Sturbridge Place	Stephanie Young & Darren Springer, 6403 Willowood Lane
Ann & Charles Kimberley, 6504 Cottonwood Drive	Walter Zalatoris & Nour Barakat, 6609 Cottonwood Drive
Susan Kirby, 6313 Willowood Lane

*RHCA Officers and Volunteers*
President	Carl Sell	703.971.4716	sellcarl@aol.com
Vice President	Linda Nichols	703.971.0755	dovefellow@aol.com
Secretary	Beth Kohm	703.338.4876	beth.kohm@gmail.com
Treasurer	Carolyn Slenska	703.922.4135	carolyn.slenska@lycos.com
Editor, The Rambler	Richard Downey	703.625.7046	richtdowney@gmail.com
Neighborhood Watch	Woody Betts	703.971.0520	rosehillwatch@aol.com
Webmaster	Jim Sapp	303.816.0944	jimsapp7@msn.com
RHCA, P.O. Box 10891, Alexandria, VA 22310
www.MyRoseHill.com

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