MASON HILL NEWSLETTER

April, 2006 Vol. 06 , No. 1

MASON HILL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

7:30 PM, Wednesday, April 19, 2006 (7:15 PM Refreshments)

Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church, Mansion House

Update on Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church Expansion Plans

Gregory Kottemann, Mt. Vernon Police, Public Safety Officer

Election of Officers, 2006-2007

At the April 19 general membership meeting of the Association, a speaker from the Mt Vernon Unitarian Church will give the community an update on the church’s expansion plans. The congregation voted in February to proceed. The expansion includes an expanded Commons, a new entrance and entry hall, upgrading of the kitchen and restrooms, a new nursery, and two large rooms on the new lower level. The full plan, to be completed in the second phase, would add offices, two more classrooms, and a large Gathering Room. A possible third phase would provide several more classrooms in a completed lower level. In addition, a plan for landscaping and controlling runoff is included. Formal public notification and processes should begin this summer. Also, Officer Gregory Kottemann, the Public Safety Officer at the Mt. Vernon Police Station, will speak on issues regarding increasing safety and reducing crime. The Citizens Association and Vice-President for Safety, Susan Pentecost worked closely with Officer Kottemann during the recent spate of crimes known as “car hoppings” which occurred frequently in Mason Hill and in the Mt. Vernon area.

SLATE OF OFFICERS. MASON HILL BOARD.

The following nominees have agreed to serve the community for 2006-2007. We thank Susan Pentecost for her exemplary service on the past Board and are accepting nominations for VP for Safety. Please contact Judy Branting to help out in this position which involves calls to governmental bodies and utilities on occasional Mason Hill safety, transportation, and power issues. Nominations will also be taken from the floor.

President: Judy Branting, Mason Hill

Executive VP: Tom Frank, Mason Hill

VPs for Grounds: Todd and Nina Lockhart, Rippon Road

VP for Safety: Vacant

VP for Programming/Hospitality: Greg Doherty, Windmill Court

Secretary: Don Minnis, Windmill Court

Treasurer: Nancy deMoraes, Mason Hill

Member At-Large: Rochelle Glaser, Hollinwood Drive

2006 DUES: Please either mail or drop off a check of $25 made out to MHCA to Nancy de Moraes at 1915 Mason Hill Dr.  A check of $50 will cover your dues through the end of 2007 and overcome the feeling that “didn’t I just pay”. You can email Nancy at paudearara@aol.com if you are not sure of your status in regard to dues. These minimal dues allow the Association to maintain the entrance, send newsletter and emails, hold the annual social and the annual membership meeting, pay our dues as a member of the Mt. Vernon Council of Citizens Associations, and represent the community in Fairfax County governmental processes.

FAIRFAX COUNTY EMERGENCIES.

One way to prepare for an emergency or severe weather event is to sign up for Fairfax County’s Community Emergency Alert Network, CEAN, a free service of the county’s Office of Emergency Management. Depending on what services you select, alerts may cover severe weather, severe traffic disruptions, disaster notification such as terrorist attacks, and county government closing/schedule changes. Messages will be delivered to your designated choice of email, cell phones, text pagers, etc. To sign up, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cean. Fairfax County is also looking for medical and non-medical personnel to serve in its Fairfax Medical Reserve to help respond to large scale emergencies, such as an act of bioterrorism or naturally occurring epidemic. Training provided. Online at www.fairfaxmrc.org.

Mt. VERNON COUNCIL OF CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS.

The Mount Vernon Council of Citizens' Associations, Inc., commonly referred to as MVCCA, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of citizens' associations in the Mount Vernon Magisterial District. The Council takes positions on issues of concern to its members, which it presents to Mount Vernon's elected representatives and government entities including the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, School Board, and Planning Commission as well as the Virginia General Assembly and the Virginia Department of Transportation. Committees are Budget and Finance (real estate taxes, auto decal, county budget), Consumer Affairs, Education (quality and cost of public schools), Environment and Recreation, Health and Human Services, Planning and Zoning, Public Safety, Transportation (traffic, maintenance), Special Committee on Affordable Housing. Each of these committees meets once a month. The recommendations of these committees frequently affect public policy in the county. Contact Judy Branting at the number below so you can be designated the representative and voting member from Mason Hill.

MASON HILL ENTRANCE. With the coming of Spring, the Association will be tending to the entrance to our community at the intersection of Ft. Hunt and Mason Hill Drive. Vice President for Grounds Todd Lockhart reports that a fresh layer of mulch will be added to the beds and some of the plants replaced. Soil enhancements will be made to the gassy areas to help promote a thicker turf and discourage pesky weeds. Additionally, we will be cutting the ivy that is climbing the trees along the Mason Hill Drive entryway to prolong the health and lushness of the canopy of trees lining the street. With the cost and care in maintaining the entrance, the Association Board discourages posting of signs and balloons. Finally, we ask that all help to maintain the beauty of our community entrance by kindly picking up debris and other litter that gathers on both sides of the street.

MASON HILL BOOK CLUB: Next meeting will be Monday, April 25, 7:30 PM, at 1713 Hollinwood Hill Drive. The book for that date is Dancing With The Witch Doctor by Kelly James. The following meeting is Monday, May 22 , at 1909 Mason Hill Drive-- Will in the World:How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare, Stephen Greenblatt.. All welcome. For further information, call Kris Fredrickson at 703-765-8069.

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Questions or remarks to Association President, Judy Branting, JBranting@aol.com, 703-765-6690