Rambler March 2010

President’s Message

Election, Kindercare, Budget on March 23 RHCA Agenda

The Rose Hill Civic Association will elect officers for 2010, discuss proposed hours of operation for the Kindercare on May Boulevard and finalize its position on the Fairfax County budget at its monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 23. The meeting will be held starting at 6:30 p.m. in the community room of the John Marshall Library. Also on the agenda is a presentation by the Friends of John Marshall Library.

The Board of Supervisors will set the tax rate for this year sometime in late April. More information is available in a later article. Bring your questions and opinions with you Tuesday night. Refreshments will be served.

The Kindercare facility on May Boulevard has asked the County for a Special Exception to continue its current operation. The approval previously in place allowed operations to be conducted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At its January meeting, RHCA asked that the hours be limited to those currently observed by Kindercare. The owner of the property previously had indicated he did not want to give up the 24/7 approval. However, things have changed and we expect to be presented with an agreement on hours and days more in line with our concerns. RHCA has voiced no objections to continuing the operation as long as the hours are consistent with the current practice.

The election is mandated by our bylaws. Nominations will be accepted from the floor. Only members are eligible to vote. If your name is not listed in this month’s Rambler and you wish to vote, fill out a membership form and bring it, along with your check, to the meeting. The current officers will stand for reelection.

Budget, Tax Update

On Monday, March 8, the Board of Supervisors voted to advertise a tax rate for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2010 that would raise the 2009 rate ($1.04) by eight cents to $1.12 per $100 of assessed real estate property value. The County Executive earlier had presented a budget with a $1.09 per hundred tax rate but proposed the Board advertise an eight cent increase in order to maintain flexibility in changes to the budget. Of course, the County Executive’s proposed cuts set off a firestorm of protest from special interests that no doubt will he heard at the public hearings on the budget April 6, 7 and 8. What does all this mean to the taxpayer? Real estate assessments have declined approximately six (6) percent. If the eight-cent increase were to be adopted, that means the average taxpayer’s bill would increase by approximately $81. If the five-cent increase is adopted, the average bill would decrease approximately $49.00. In addition, the proposed budget includes a $33 ‘sticker’ fee for each vehicle and a 77-cent increase in the sewer service fee per 1,000 gallons from $4.50 to $5.27. The personal property rate will remain at $4.57 per $100 of assessed value.

On two occasions, the Rose Hill Civic Association has voiced its preference to maintain the total tax bills the same as last year, realizing that although their property values would fall, tax bills would not. The Association preferred NOT to cut funds necessary for public safety and noted that while schools accounted for 54 percent of the total budget, other agencies were being asked to bear the brunt of reductions.

We will finalize our community position on the budget at the March 23 meeting. This is our chance for homeowners to be heard by the Board of Supervisors who will be overwhelmed by special interests at the upcoming hearings. Please join us and participate in this important debate.

Last Call for Membership

Or membership drive for 2010 ends this month, although we’ll accept new members at any time! It is important that we end the first quarter with enough memberships and donations to continue our work through the rest of the year. We don’t EVER get enough memberships to pay all the bills, so we depend on the added support of those who join. Remember, there will be NO Rambler if we don’t have enough members to pay the bills. We operate on a shoestring with volunteer labor. Out fixed costs are the printing of the Rambler, post office box, and Virginia corporation fee. We support the Rose Hill Beauty programs (signs for members only) and several local organizations. The funds for the plantings and maintenance of the entrance sign come from donations (THANK YOU). It has been suggested that we raise our dues to pay for all that we do. It would take an amendment to our bylaws to raise the dues, so that isn’t coming anytime soon. Most people I talk to think they are members of RHCA even if they haven’t joined. Please support the organization that supports your community. All we ask is $10 plus whatever donation you feel appropriate. The membership form is on page 4 OR, you can print one online at myrosehill.com.

Beauties and Beasts

We’ll be looking for Rose Hill Beauties starting in late April. Properties that are well maintained and owned or occupied by members will receive the coveted Rose Hill Beauty sign. All properties selected will be listed in the Rambler. If you earn a sign, make sure you are a member. At the same time we are looking for beauties, we’ll be looking for problem properties. Violations of County ordinances will be reported to the proper agency. If you have trash or an inoperable vehicle on your property, please make sure it is removed this spring. If you don’t cut the grass, the County will do it for you and send you a large bill. We also will be looking for overcrowding in violation of the occupancy rules. Rose Hill is zoned R-3 which is described as a single-family community. Subdivision of houses for separate multi occupancy is illegal. Please help maintain the value of all our homes by keeping your property looking good.

A Hidden Treasure

The Washington Examiner featured Rose Hill on the first page of its Real Estate section on Thursday, March 4, 2010. If you missed the article, go to myrosehill.com and click on the electronic version listed under Rose Hill news. The article was very well done and was a huge plus for our community. Those of us at RHCA like to think our collective efforts help make our community a ‘hidden treasure’. It’s nice to be recognized. We also are thrilled to have Connie Beatty as our spokesperson. And, no, I didn’t ask her for that wonderful plug (where do I send the check, Connie?). You’d be surprised at the number of inquiries we get about Rose Hill from persons who are interested in buying a home here. The word has gotten around that Rose Hill is a great and convenient place to live. We are serious about keeping it that way. Make sure you support our efforts by joining RHCA in 2010.

Beware of Spring Scams

Both RHCA and the police remind you that spring brings out the scammers who want to trim your trees, resurface your driveway, repair your roof, etc., etc. Reputable business people aren’t out knocking on doors as they obtain work by advertising and word of mouth about a job well come. If someone does come to your door, ask to see their Fairfax County solicitor’s license. If they don’t have one, call the police non emergency number at 703.691.2131. If you can get a license number of their vehicle, so much the better. The police have a long list of horror stories about work being paid for and not being completed or being substandard. If you need work done, ask your neighbors or business professional group for references. We have a number of excellent businesses here in Rose Hill that stand ready to assist their neighbors at a fair price.

Crime Statistics

The Fairfax County Police report that overall crime decreased by 4.5 percent in 2009. There were almost 1,000 fewer incidents than 2008. The only category that increased was for rape, which went from 95 cases in 2008 to 105 in 2009. There were 14 murders as compared with 22 the previous year. Robbery decreased from 450 to 386, aggravated assault from 386 to 309, burglary from 1,438 to 1,385, larceny from 16,244 to 15,645 and car thefts from 1,288 to 1,096. The police attribute the overall decline to a focus on repeat offenders, who historically commit a high percentage of crimes. Colonel David Rohrer, Chief of the Fairfax County Police Department, said he was particularly pleased with the 15 percent decrease in violent crime. Here in Rose Hill, we thank our diligent members of Neighborhood Watch who help keep us safe. If you would like to join the watchers, give me a call. The more we have, the less chance there is that a crime will occur.

The Tax Man Cometh

Just as sure as we were that the snow would finally melt we knew this day would come. April 15. Be sure your tax returns or extensions are postmarked by midnight April 15, 2010.

Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs - the musical presented by Rose Hill Elementary School

All our old friends, plus a few new ones, are here in this marvelous musical adaptation. We’ll meet the captivating Princess Snow White, the prince, the evil queen and, of course, the seven mischievous dwarfs—Sarge, Gabby, Gloomy Gus, Ticklish, Spritely, Snore, and Slowpoke. There’s also a hilarious palace cat and an enchanted vixen—a fox, you could say! Following the traditional storyline, the fairy tale is brought to life with an eclectic score of toe-tapping tunes.

This is a full-scale, musical production performed by K-6th graders with beautiful sets and costumes. The show is suitable for all ages.

When: Friday, April 9, 2010 at 7:00 pm & Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 7:00 pm

Where: Hayfield Secondary School (7630 Telegraph Rd., Alexandria, VA)

Tickets: available at the door (Adults $5; Children $3. Concessions available for purchase.)

Making Sense of the Census

It’s hard to believe another decade is in the books! As a requirement of The United States Constitution, every household in America and Puerto Rico will receive a Census form. When you receive yours, just answer the 10 short questions and then mail the form back in the postage-paid envelope provided.

Why answer the Census? The Census, conducted every 10 years per the Constitution, affects the numbers of seats your state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives. And people from many walks of life use census data to advocate for causes, rescue disaster victims, prevent diseases, research markets, locate pools of skilled workers and more. Better infrastructure. More services. A brighter tomorrow for everyone. In fact, the information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion dollars of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services like:

Hospitals
Job training centers
Schools
Senior centers
Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects
Emergency services

If you haven’t received your Census package yet, look for it in the coming weeks.

Nouri & Suham Abbou	6115 Rose Hill Drive
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 & 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

*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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