From the Board

Happy Holidays! I’m not sure what happened to the Fall weather - it seems like we just jumped from Fall to Winter! Historically, the pace for the board is slower during this time of year. But not this year…we’ve got many things we are actively working for our community.

Thank you to Carrie Morrison, Steve Mahoney, and the Finance Committee for developing the 2019 Annual budget. They left no stone unturned to ensure every penny spent is accounted for and benefits our community!

We also released a mailbox survey to gather feedback on what type/color of mailboxes you’d like to see in the Townhome sections. While we apologize for the glitches in the survey, we can still collect your inputs through Cindy ( communitymanager@islandcreek.org) through December 7 ^th . 

The main item we are focused on is our new management company contract with Barkan Management Company, Inc. We are finalizing the details of the contract and we know Barkan and its team of professionals will be able to help us provide a better service to the residents. Their innovative way of communication, team atmosphere and advanced technology will better serve the community. 

With that being said, I would be remiss in thanking Sequioa Management for it’s support of Island Creek over the last 17 years. We appreciate all they have done for our community and wish them the best in the future. Thanks to Angela Barnedo, Craig Courtney, and Vince Hughes for your support. 

During this transition period, you will see information come out from Barkan. They will send an introduction letter with important financial information that is critical for you to read, understand and take action on.

 

Starting up in January, we will have social event policy to review and approve, as well as reviewing the 2019 operational calendar. 

We have moved our board meetings officially to the 3 ^rd Thursday (not Wednesday) of the month, so the upcoming meetings are: Thurs, December 13 ^th  and Thurs, January 17th. Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

 

Karen Patrick

IC HOA President 

2019 Budget

The Island Creek Community Association Board of Directors recently passed the 2019 budget for our community. The 2019 annual budget is $962,783, which is an increase of $20,568, or 2.2%, over the 2018 budget. The cost of operating the community is funded primarily from assessments paid by our homeowners, with expenses allocated across our community of 1,041 homes.

 

Highlights from the budget include:

 

While it is the Board of Directors’ intent to minimize homeowner’s expenses, we believe the increases to TH and SFH are necessary and we have mitigated them with reductions wherever possible. The overall changes to HOA dues are as follows:

Quarterly Assessment

2019 Social Event Requests

We are working on our 2019 policy for social events which will be distributed soon via email and posted on the Island Creek website, but once it’s released, individuals can submit their nominations for events through 10 Jan 2019. Please note- this doesn’t mean you can request to host an event after that date. Once the event is approved by the board at the January board meeting, the on-site manager will reserve the clubhouse for the event. If an event is requested later in the year, it’s approval will be dependent on the availability of funds and of the clubhouse. 

Be on the lookout for the event submission email and form!

Secure Your Trash!

One of the most common complaints we get is individuals not securing their trash. If you choose to put it out in a regular trash bag or grocery store bags, you are inviting animals and rodents to come feast every Monday and Thursday nights.

PLEASE place your trash in trash cans. If you still select not to choose that option, then place the trash in front of your own house and not your neighbors. You can receive a violation notice from the on-site community manager if you are found to violate this policy.

Online Community Calendar

Important Numbers

Police non-emergency no.: 703-691-2131

Cox Communication: 703-480-7885

Dominion Virginia Power: 866-366-4357

Fairfax County Water: 703-698-5800

Washington Gas: 703-750-1000

Verizon: http://www22.verizon.com/

Holiday Wishes!

We wish you and yours a Joyous Holiday season...regardless of whether you celebrate Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season’s Greetings, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza or something else! We look forward to serving you in 2019!

Holiday Decorating Contest – Judges wanted!

We are once again having our Holiday decorating contest in a couple of weeks!! 

We need volunteers (adults and school age children) to help judge our annual holiday decorations contest.

We will be judging both the day and night appearance; so we will have to evaluate each house twice.

As in the past we will be awarding 1 ^st , 2 ^nd , 3 ^rd Places and a Children’s Choice.

Please signup before Sunday the 9 ^th by sending an email to our Community Manager ( communitymanager@islandcreek.org ) with ‘Decoration Judge’ in the subject line. Include your name and contact information (email and phone).

Instructions will be sent out to the volunteers soon afterwards.We will meet up on the evening of the 16 ^th for treats and to tally our votes.

Thanks,

Steve Mahoney

Downtown Holiday Market (Washington DC)

http://downtownholidaymarket.com/

We are pleased to announce the 2018 Downtown Holiday Market. Celebrating its fourteenth year, this event boasts one of the most spectacular outdoor shopping environments in the region. This year the Downtown Holiday Market (DHM) will operate for 31 consecutive days and will have 4 weekend dates. It will open Friday, November 23, and will run continuously through  Sunday, December 23.  Hours will be from Noon to 8 pm each day.

 

Consistently ranked among America’s best Holiday Markets, and anyone who’s visited will testify as to why. Located on Washington’s F Street between 7th & 9th streets NW, outside the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum, it features a rotating selection of exhibitors and artisans offering fine art, crafts, jewellery, pottery, clothing, and specialty food items. The market takes place every day from mid-November all the way through to Christmas Eve. WHEN 25 November-23 December WHERE The sidewalk of F Street, NW between 7th and 9th Streets, in front of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery OPENING HOURS Noon-8pm Daily

 

 The 14th Annual Downtown Holiday Market is located on the F Street sidewalk in front of the Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery between 7th & 9th Streets, NW. Bringing a unique and festive shopping “village” to the heart of Downtown DC, the market features more than 150 regional artisans, crafters and boutique businesses of ethnically produced goods.

Hundreds of diverse gift items, such as jewelry, pottery, paintings, and textiles will be offered by 60 exhibitors each day. Check back as the exhibitors rotate and the selection of goods will vary daily. You’re sure to find something special for everyone on your list.

Message from Lee District Supervisor McKay -

Around the Towne

Fairfax County is the safest jurisdiction of its size in the country thanks largely to the hard-working, professional, and well-trained men and women of the Fairfax County Police Department. These officers protect us every day and do so through a model of community policing that both serves and engages residents. our residents have great appreciation and respect for our police, and we must keep it that way. In an effort to continually review, improve, and modernize police work in the county, the board of supervisors and Police Department established the Ad hoc Police Practices Commission in 2015. That group, comprised of officers, citizens, and other community leaders, ultimately made approximately 200 recommendations to us about improvements that should be taken. At our October 16 Board meeting, we received a status report of that work. In all, it revealed significant progress by the department—a nearly 90% completion rate of all recommendations. For our police department to continue to be the best in the country, we must always look at ways to advance.

Report from Richmond Mark Sickles, Delegate, 43rd District

On November 1, the departments of social services and others began signing up Virginia’s poorest citizens for health care coverage in accordance with the action the General Assembly took earlier this year by enacting a two-year budget accepting our own federal tax dollars back for this purpose. starting January 1, if you are a single person with an income under 138% of poverty, you will be able to get routine, preventative health care.  As a senior member on the Appropriations’ health and human resources subcommittee, I worked on this complicated measure almost daily during last winter’s session and into the special session still technically underway. It was the most interesting and most rewarding work I have contributed to over the fifteen years that I have been honored to represent the citizens of the 43rd District. finally, we are breaking new ground by looking at the individual in a comprehensive way. by addressing chronic health problems, like mental illness, people will be able to hold a job. we have many workforce needs, but it is difficult to sustain meaningful employment if you are sick.

Report From Lee District School Board Member

 

The next meeting is Wednesday, December 12, 9:30-11:30 A.m., at Grounded Coffee, 6919 Telegraph road. The representative is Derenak Kaufax, 571-423-1081; tdkaufax@fcps.edu. If you would like to hear what’s happening in our schools, or want to meet other parents in the community, attending one of my Kaufax Koffee’s is a great way to do just that.

Classifieds Ads & Clubs

The board has built a robust network of individuals that help provide activities and information that we disseminate to you. As you know, many of your neighbors have children that often collect canned food or clothes to donate to local charities.

Another good source of information is the Beulah Corridor. You can find activities, articles from our neighboring community and also services for hire which may be useful to you. Can you use the link http://mpublishing.net/images/1218bc.pdf to find the latest newsletter. 

 

You can check out the current classifieds on the community website here . 

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