Newsletter of the Rose Hill Civic Association
February 2010
President
Carl Sell
703.971.4716
Vice President
Linda Nichols
703.971.0755
Secretary
Beth Kohm
703.338.4876
Treasurer
Carolyn Slenska
703.922.4135
Editor, The Rambler
Richard Downey
703.625.7046
Neighborhood Watch
Woody Betts
703.971.0520
Webmaster
Jim Sapp
303.816.0944
RHCA, P.O. Box 10891, Alexandria, VA 22310
President’s Message
After seven years, Marty Williams is stepping down as editor of The Rambler. Her first edition was in advance of the March 2003 Rose Hill Civic Association meeting. She replaced Elizabeth Lambertson, who had served since 2000. Richard Downey, who grew up in Rose Hill, is taking over as Editor.
Marty and Richard both will be on hand at the RHCA meeting on Tuesday, February 23 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the John Marshall Library. Plan to attend and thank Marty for her service to the community and welcome Richard as the new Editor.
For the last few years, Marty has edited The Rambler although she no longer lives in Rose Hill. She now lives at Belmont Bay overlooking the Occoquan River, Belmont Bay and the Potomac River in nearby Prince William County. She recently became a grandmother and is planning a fall wedding (her own).
There is no formal program for the meeting, although issues have a way of popping up between publication of The Rambler and the meeting date. We will update the County budget process (see item below).
Refreshments will be served, including Girl Scout cookies if the weather cooperates with the delivery schedule. The temperature will dictate Vice President Linda Nichols’ menu. Whatever she selects will be good, so don’t miss the meeting!
Budget Deficit
As we heard from Susan Datta, Director of Fairfax County’s Office of Management and Budget at our January meeting, this is going to be another tough year budget-wise. The deficit is approaching $500 million, $170 million of which is attributable to schools, which consumes 54 percent of the County’s total revenues. Don’t be fooled by the School Superintendent’s proposed budget in which he details cuts. The schools are asking for more money than they received last year while other County agencies are facing drastic cuts. While schools are extremely important, I don’t believe they can get by this year without curtailing expenditures. I don’t condone cutting support in the classroom, but I do believe there is room for other reductions in school expenditures. Frankly, the school superintendent is playing the same old game, proposing potential cuts which affect the kids while not taking a realistic look at administrative and other costs. That dog won’t hunt this time, as far as I’m concerned. At our January meeting, members overwhelmingly supported public safety as their No. 1 priority. Everyone agreed that schools were extremely important, but not at the cost of public safety. The County Executive’s proposed budget will be released on February 23, the same day as our RHCA meeting. We’ll discuss his proposed budget in depth at our March meeting. A couple of things to remember: a penny on the tax rate equates to approximately $20 million. In the Rose Hill Planning District, more than 70 percent of households DO NOT have kids in County schools. Our real estate assessments will be arriving soon and are expected to fall again. It will take a massive tax increase by itself to wipe out the deficit. Expect to see a combination of increased taxes, fees and drastic budget cuts in order to balance the budget.
RHCA Membership
Although the Rose Hill Civic Association depends mainly on volunteers, your support is extremely important if we are to continue several programs. The cost of printing The Rambler is our biggest budget item. Dues pay for the Rose Hill Beauty program, our post office box and contributions to several worthy community serving organizations. Contributions underwrite the cost of maintaining the landscaping at our entrance sign at Rose Hill Drive and Franconia Road and the cost of refreshments at our meetings. A list of those who have joined so far in 2010 is printed on page 3. If your name isn’t there, make sure it’s included in the March Rambler. Remember, only RHCA members are eligible to receive Rose Hill Beauty signs or have their business endeavors included in the business directory. Special thanks to those who contribute to the general fund above and beyond the $10 membership fee. Clip out the form on page 3 and send it, along with your check, to RHCA, P.O. Box 10891, Alexandria, VA. 22310.
Edison Mulch Sale
Spring can’t be too far off! Edison High School’s annual mulch sale to benefit the all-night graduation party in June at Lee District Park Rec Center is in full swing. A 3 cubic foot bag costs $4.25. The cost per square foot is competitive with the garden centers at the large chains. Orders must be placed by March 10. The pickup day is March 20 at Mark Twain Middle School (the pickup site has changed because of the construction at Edison). Delivery is available for orders within the Edison area for a fee of $5. An order form is available at myrosehill.com. If you have questions, e-mail Lisa MicKey at ehsclassof2010@hotmail.com. Mail orders to Edison High School, 5801 Franconia Road, Franconia, VA 22310. Attention ANGP Mulch.
Another Civil War Tour
The Franconia Museum is sponsoring the Both Sides Tour III on Saturday, May 1 to the battlefields in the Fredericksburg area. First stop is Chancellorsville, where General Robert E. Lee scored his greatest victory but lost the invaluable General Stonewall Jackson. Then it’s on to Spotsylvania and a explanation of the connection between the battle and Franconia. After a buffet lunch at the Golden Corral, the tour visits Chatham Manor, the house overlooking Fredericksburg where Lee courted his future bride, Mary Custis, and President Abraham Lincoln plotted strategy with his generals. The final stop is the famous site of the stone wall at Fredericksburg where a Union attack much like the Confederate’s “Pickett’s Charge” at Gettysburg seven months later, was repulsed. The tour leaves from the Franconia Governmental Center at 8:15 a.m. for a full day of tours at some of our most important nearby Civil War sites. Information and vignettes will be provided at each site by Civil War enthusiasts Don Hakeson, Gregg Dudding and Carl Sell. Full information is available at myrosehill.com or franconiamuseum.org. Previous tours to the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA and the Gettysburg Visitors Center and Battlefield were well received. References provided upon request.
Carl Sell
Snow Thoughts (Again)
The triple whammy of snowstorms so far this winter produced some thoughts and comments on just how homeowners, the county and the state coped with the weather. First, a reminder that a selection of excellent pictures has been preserved on myrosehill.com. We can all laugh about them in July. Thanks to all those who took the time to send in pictures. We used all of them!
THUMBS UP to the Virginia Department of Transportation and its contractors who did an overall excellent job in clearing the snow from the streets in Rose Hill despite two back-to-back whoppers. Yeah, there were some misfires (two plows on one street and none on another) but by and large a good job.
THUMBS DOWN to whoever ordered the Federal Government back to work on Friday, Feb. 11, and those who left cars blocking streets or parked in such a way that the snow plows couldn’t get through. In too many cases, people left cars parked blocking the streets. They weren’t snowed in, they just parked in the street so they could get out easier. As a result, the streets didn’t get plowed until they left. And many main streets were narrowed by a lane making the term ‘rush hour’ even more ludicrous.
THUMBS UP to all those who were able who cleared their sidewalks, making it less hazardous to walk to the shopping center for milk, bread and toilet paper! A special thanks to those who cleared the sidewalks of their neighbors who were unable to do so.
THUMBS DOWN to those who were able to shovel but didn’t make the effort to lessen the impact on the entire community.
THUMBS UP to the emergency personnel who answered several calls for help in our community at the height of the storm. We are indeed fortunate to have such dedicated public servants.
THUMBS UP to the Fairfax Water crew who dug up and repaired a broken water main on Cottonwood Drive in record time.
Finally, THUMBS UP to all of you who persevered during the record snowfall. Lets hope we don’t have to go through it again anytime soon! As for me, I’ll be looking for a snow blower on sale this summer.
5th Annual Special Education Conference Coming to Robert E. Lee High School
Keynote Speaker: Jonathan MooneySaturday, March 20, 2010, the 5th Annual Special Education Conference will be held at Robert E. Lee High School. Featuring keynote speaker Jonathan Mooney, the Conference is geared toward families and educator of students who receive special education services in Fairfax County Public Schools. The Conference runs from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and is broken down into 3 sessions with multiple workshops in each session. Workshop topics to include:
Assistive Technology
Help with Homework
Reading
Writing in Content Areas
Behavior Management
Preschool Transition
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Services for Language Learners with Disabilities
Other highlighted presenters include Cathi Cohen, founder of In Step, a comprehensive mental health practice. She has worked with children, adolescents and adults in a clinical setting since 1984. Cathi is a leading expert in the field of social skills training with children.
Also presenting will be Behavioral Scientist Kirk Martin, founder of Celebrate Calm which has equipped over 75,000 parents and teachers with practical tools to create a calm home; eliminate defiance and disrespect; create stress-free morning routines, homework time and bedtime; improve behavior, focus and attention in school; and much more.
Parents can sign up online or by phone at 703-204-3941. FCPS Educators can sign up through MyPLT.
More information including detailed descriptions of each workshop and presenter bios can be found at:
Rose Hill Civic Association Members as of February 13, 2010
Wilmer & Nancy Anderson
4500 Appletree Drive
Rebecca Bagdasian
6214 Driftwood Drive
Frank & Rayma Bale
6315 Willowood Land
P.G. Bauserman
4531 Round Hill Road
Daniel & Ingrid Bearth
6417 Rose Hill Drive
Connie Beatty
6428 Rose Hill Drive
Sandra Benarick
6270 Rose Hill Drive
Philip & Carol Bishop
6310 Climbhill Road
Jeannette Bottomley
5003 Eastchester Circle
Gary J. Bravy
6214 Climbhill Road
Bob Brown
4526 Apple Tree Drive
Mark Broxterman
6424 Haystack Road
Tracy Campbell
6402 Cottonwood Drive
Maureen & Jason Cardone
6418 Willowood Lane
Ralph & Pauline Carrico
6112 Leewood Drive
Jon & Penn Cashmire
4907 Silo Road
Roger & Carol Christiensen
6409 Maryview Street
Bob Ciccotelli
6511 Haystack Road
Helen Coffer
6218 Saddle Tree Drive
Sally Coler
6401 Hayfield Place
Jane & Margo Cunniffe
4609 Mayor Place
Matthew & Cynthia Dailey
5009 Eastchester Circle
Matt Downey
6516 Telegraph Road
Betty Elliott
6411 Maryview Street
Bernice Evans
6411 Willowood Lane
Susan Feagley
4705 Split Rock Road
Anna Fish
6301 Cottonwood Drive
Trigg Flannagan
6514 Haystack Road
Rati Friend/Michael Smith
6111 Leewood Drive
Rosemarie & Mike Field
4426 Roundhill Road
Larry & Connie Fulk
6410 Cottonwood Drive
Barry & Zoe-Ann Freitag
6303 May Boulevard
Janice Gable
6404 Willowood Lane
Mike & Bonnie Greek
6330 Willowood Lane
Joanna Guccione
6013 Leewood Drive
Chris & Susie Guinto
6515 Haystack Road
Carole, Sal & Joanna Guzzetta
6407 May Boulevard
Theresa Harper
6506 Carriage Drive
Robert & Shirley Herr
6103 Leewood Drive
L. Hestvik
4515 Sturbridge Place
Don & Lynn Hoffman
5002 Treetop Lane
Alice Holloman
4518 Sturbridge Place
Emily Hood
5012 Treetop Lane
D. J. Jamison
4707 Split Rock Road
F. Jencks
6416 Willowood Lane
Marvin & Fran Justice
6402 Rose Hill Drive
Jean & Davood Kalkhoran
6112 Clovergrass Drive
Audrey Kick
4517 Sturbridge Place
Cedric Lack
6330 Rose Hill Drive
Mildred Lane
6410 May Boulevard
Craig & Jessica Llewellyn
6011 Leewood Drive
Edward & Anna Lewis
6117 Leewood Drive
James Lockwood
6114 Clovergrass Drive
Jamey & David Lord
6208 Redwood Lane
Wellington & Ann Machmer
6200 Willowood Lane
Raymond & Evelyn Market
4608 Mayor Place
Mary Mayo
61221 Leewood Drive
Mike & Jo Ann McLean
6433 Carriage Drive
Dolores McKinney
6303 Cottonwood Drive
George & Susan McKittrick
6113 Clovergrass Drive
Donald & Nancy McMinn
4804 Apple Tree Drive
Marion Messinger
6603 Cottonwood Drive
Mimi Minarik
6518 Telegraph Road
Edna Mitchell
6305 May Boulevard
J. Niedermeyer
6500 Haystack Road
Herbert & Grace Newman
4910 Silo Road
But The Nguyen
6512 Rose Hill Drive
Dave & Linda Nichols
6416 Rose Hill Drive
Conrad & Haydee Oroc
4703 Split Rock Road
William & Janelle Parker
6417 Willowood Lane
Jo Ann Ponce
6203 Willowood Lane
Monica Reed
6422 Rose Hill Drive
Adam & Rita Rice
6431 Carriage Drive
James & Nancy Richey
4402 Roundhill Road
David & Nancy Ridgway
4609 Cottonwood Place
G. Miller, L. Seiss
6415 Willowood Lane
Carl & Marti Sell
6601 Cottonwood Drive
James & Marie Sherfey
6415 Rose Hill Drive
Marlene Hass Smith
6304 Cottonwood Drive
William & Jean Stemple
6306 Cottonwood Drive
Ray Stone
4528 Roundhill Road
Thomas Strah
6421 Rose Hill Drive
Mary C. Stinnette
4520 Apple Tree Drive
Terence Stone
4522 Apple Tree Drive
Tinker & Don Szamborski
4615 Winston Place
Judy Taylor
6503 Rose Hill Drive
Linda & Rex Taylor
6505 Haystack Road
Joanne Thompson, Jean Thomson
6302 Cottonwood Drive
James W. Troy
5004 Eastchester Circle
Paul Turner
4414 Roundhill Road
Angie & Derek Vereen
6222 Thornwood Drive
Linda and Lauck Walton
4900 Silo Road
Don & Nina Weber
6120 Dew Grass Drive
Louise Westgate & Rick
6708 Greendale Road
Karen Wheeless
6709 Greendale Road
Jeffrey Williams
6121 Dew Grass Drive
Jamie & Pam Yereb
4617 Winston Place
Advertising in the Rambler
We have recently received several inquiries concerning advertising in the Rambler. While a listing in the Business Directory is free to Rose Hill residents who own their business, placing an actual advertisement is open to all with rates as follows per month:
Business Card size
3 1/2" x 2"
$10
Quarter page size
3 1/2" x 4 3/4"
$25
Half page size
7 1/2" x 4 3/4"
$50
Full page size
7 1/2" x 9 3/4"
$100
Ads may be bought for either one month only, month-to-month, or as many months in advance as desired. Our newsletter is published nine times a year, excluding July, August and December.
Advertising in the Rambler is an excellent way to reach the 700+ homes in our community. In addition, the ads each month are placed on our website www.MyRoseHill.com for the world to see.
Anyone interested in placing an ad may call the editor (me) at 703.910.6316. I will need the artwork sent to me either electronically in a .tiff or .jpg format or as a hard copy through the mail. Checks made out to RHCA may be included with ads mailed to me, or sent to our PO Box 10891 for quick access to the treasurer.
Marty Williams
