From the Board
Well, my term as President is coming to an end this month. I want to speak from my heart, to be honest, I have mixed feelings about this year. Volunteering for as many years as I have around the community (
at
Island Creek ES, with church, at Hayfield SS and within Island Creek), I should be used to ‘negative publicity’. But it’s still tough to swallow at times. So, I wanted to take a moment to write down my thoughts on the good things your board has done this year, and some things we promise to work on for next year.
This board wanted to be a board that individuals would truly be accessible. What do I mean by this? This means we took great lengths to get the word out about what’s going on in our community as well as meet with the residents. One positive way we communicated is with an email for the President of the Board,
ICHOAPresident@yahoo.com
. I often get emails from residents about concerns around the community. I’ve tried very hard to respond, often times meeting with the individual face-to-face to listen what they have to say. The board also decided to use every platform available to provide answers to the community, using the Board supported Island Creek Community – Virginia Facebook page and the Island Creek Nextdoor.com page as well as emails. I feel many of us are on these sites much more than checking emails. It’s another tool to get the word out on our events and also answer your questions. Any other websites regarding Island Creek that spread negativity hurt YOUR community property values.
This board also tried very hard to recruit volunteers. And boy did we ever get them! We have now gotten volunteers for a Grounds
C
ommittee and Welcoming
C
ommittee. We also formed a management company solicitation committee to help us with rebidding our management company contract. We have a dedicated finance committee made up of individuals that thoroughly research our budget to ensure we are in good financial standing. We also have a covenants committee that meets monthly to review your requests, but also walks this community to recommend improvements. We are going to work with these individuals to ensure or community continues to ha
ve
input from its residents, keeping up our reputation for a close-knit, well-maintained neighborhood!
This board also made several decisions that positively impacted the community. Back in May, we voted to extend the lifeguard hours at the pool until mid-September. Your board also hosted a Spring Festival which was attended by over 100 people! We have met with local law enforcement about safety. Advocated with our local Government on improving the safety of our community. We stayed on top of FCPS leadership to get a crossing guard at Thomas Grant and Morning View Lane, per the proffers of the Long Branch Community. We even have brought the lifeguards food and water while working, and also give
n
them rides home. We funded and selected new pool furniture at both the Condo and Main pool, which is enjoyed tremendously. Island Creek received a clean audit this past year, and we have a well-funded reserve account. We care about everyone in this community and try very hard to carry out the duties we were elected to do, and that includes trying to help individuals that work in the community.
Here’s also some things we are exploring for next year. We have researched new mailboxes throughout the community. I have driven around the community and identified several in need of immediate repair. While we may not be able to replace them all in the same year, we have gotten cost estimates and hope to replace the ones
that
are in the worst condition. Also, we want to make community improvements such as fixing the pool lights, possibly extending the pool hours during the summer, replacing asphalt in the roads as well as the trail paths. Repairs such as replacing the gazeebo on John Thomas will take place. Also, getting new furniture in the clubhouse is a priority. I have met with the Vice President of Heritage Landscaping to voice concerns over our grounds. There’s been a busy year for the board and while a couple of these items should have been completed this year, we promise to accomplish what we’ve set out to do. There’s a lot of issues we work on behind the scenes so at times, other items we want to do aren’t accomplished. But we want to continue to listen to you and strive to make this community the best one to live in Northern Virginia!
I’ll leave you with this thought. This board is a TEAM. If you question that or have heard differently, I implore you to come to a board meeting and see it with your own eyes, don’t take anyone’s word for it. We talk respectfully with each other. We may not always agree (we don’t), however, we discuss things rationally, calmly, and in the end, make decisions on what our heart tells us to do. While we may not always please everyone, your elected board officials vote and make decisions (often hard ones) using their heads (and hearts).
Don’t forget about the 27 October Trunk or Treat night hosted by your board! Check your emails, FB and Nextdoor.com for information!
Thank you again for a fantastic year and I hope to work with you again in the future,
Sincerely,
Karen Patrick
IC HOA President
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Like a Good Neighbor…
On one of my weekly drive arounds, I noticed a few things: One, mailboxes are property of the USPS and should not be used to lean items up against. Another reason—leaning items (like this mattress) may block the vision of someone backing out of their parking spot.
Also grass cutting…even with the rain, owners and renters are still responsible for cutting their grass. Per Policy 2005-3 Lawn Maintenance, grass may not exceed 6 inches in height. If you at any time need help with your lawn (for instance, you are sick or have an ailment that prevents you from cutting your lawn), please reach out to a fellow neighbor or the Community manager/Board for help.
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Thank you Cub Scouts from Den 7 of Pack 1076!
Cub Scouts from Den 7 of Pack 1076 picked up trash around the pond, ball courts and the Beulah path as part of their community service project. Island Creek thanks you for your service!
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Island Creek Community Safety
The board worked hard this summer to advocate for safety improvements around the community. And we’re not done yet!
President Karen Patrick contacted Superintendent McKay’s office and Fairfax County Police Department and was able to get a mobile traffic speed sign posted in front of the school, where the speed limit drops from 35 MPH to 25 MPH. We’ve also discussed striping the road and installing ‘no parking signs’ at some dangerous intersections. While the initial feedback on these items wasn’t positive, please note your board will continue to call, email and visit these representatives to improve the safety of our community.
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Halloween Trunk or Treat & Movie Night!
Save the date! Saturday, 27 October will be our annual Trunk or Treat!
While we didn’t have one last year since there were no volunteers to host, the Board agreed to sponsor this beloved event this year!
What we need: CARS! We need volunteers to use their cars (and candy) in the parking lot for the trunk or treat. We will also have a kiddie parade!
Make sure to bring your blankets and chairs, and we will set up to watch the movie in the lower parking lot. We will also provide popcorn and drinks for everyone!
From all the emails Facebook and Next door.com posts..the movie of choice was Hotel Transylvania!
We will start the trunk or treat at 5:30-6:15, then the movie will start at 6:30!
Get out your best costumes and come enjoy a great time!
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Board began
Re-compete of our Property Management Contract (PMC)
Our current PMC is with Sequoia Management Co. This does
not
involve the condominium management company contract with First Service Residential.
The board created a management company support committee to help in this process. The board's goal is to work with the committee to help define the requirements of the proposal. We additionally have hired Lincoln Cummings, who specializes in management contracts, to lead this committee and guide the board in this process. According to the Virginia POA and our by-laws, committee meetings must be open and posted to all homeowners. Due to the pace of this recompete, committee meetings will be scheduled with very short notice. To satisfy the open meeting requirements, we will be sending email notifications to all homeowners when these meetings are scheduled.
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- 9/19/18-IC Annual Board Meeting
- 9/21/18-Ladies Game Night
- 9/29/18-Fall Community Yard Sale
- 10/27/18-Halloween Trunk or Treat & Movie Night
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Classifieds Ads
Island Creek maintains a list of service providers for our community. If you are interested in advertising, please email
communitymanager@islandcreek.org
.
You can check out the current classifieds on the community website
here
.
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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
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Wednesday, September 19th
The Island Creek Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 19th at 7:00 p.m. at the Island Creek Elementary School. Pizza and drinks will be served at 6:15 p.m. and registration begins at 6:30 p.m.
In order to conduct the meeting, we need
a quorum of twenty percent (20%), or 209 owners, to be present either in person or by proxy. Please plan to attend this very important meeting so that a quorum can be achieved or turn in your proxy!
Two cash drawings will be awarded. Turn in your proxy to be eligible to win $75.00 or attend the meeting and be eligible to win $150.00.
The schedule for the meeting is as follows:
- 6:15 p.m. - Pizza
- 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.- Registration
- 7:00 p.m. - Meeting Begins
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Three Board Positions Open for Election
This year, we have three open positions on the Board of Directors and four homeowners have declared their intention to run. Click on a name to read their candidate statement below:
There are several ways to vote:
- By Electronic Vote: go to http://vtnw.com/go/IslandCreek and cast your vote using the unique Voting ID that was mailed to you or if you can't find it, email communitymanager@islandcreek.org
- paper ballot mail to: Island Creek Community Association, 7550 Thomas Grant Drive, Alexandria, VA, 22315. Your voting ID must be listed on the mail-in ballot.
- instructed proxy allows someone to cast your vote for you, but you direct them how to vote i.e. you choose the candidates.
- uninstructed proxy allows someone to cast your vote for you, but leaves how to vote to the proxy’s discretion.
- In person, at the Annual Meeting.
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Island Creek resident Jennifer Mitchell
Team member of Special Olympics USA for the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi in March of 2019
.
Island Creek resident Jennifer Mitchell has been nominated as a Team member of Special Olympics USA for the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi in March of 2019.
The Games will be the largest humanitarian and sporting event of 2019. Jennifer will compete in a 1500m open water swim, an 800m pool swim and will be part of a USA relay team. This is Jennifer’s second Special Olympics World Games. She won two bronze medals and one silver medal for swimming in the 2007 Games in Shanghai, China. Jennifer is off to a week-long training camp at the University of Delaware on September 17
th
.
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Long Branch Development at End of Thomas Grant Drive Update
As some of you may already know, construction began in August on the Long Branch Development at the end of Thomas Grant Drive in Island Creek. The 35 Townhouse development will take up to 12 months or more to finished.
Sohna and I want all our residents to be rest assured that we have fought this development for over five years but Virginia is a “Right to Build State”. In essence, something was going to be built on that ‘15 Acre Private Property’ eventually. For years now, together with our Community Manager and our Island Creek Board of Directors, we have fought to minimize the impact of any development on our community by fighting through the Lee District Land Use Committee, to the Fairfax County Planning Commission and all the way to The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Over the years, the Long Branch Development Project changed many hands and eventually ended up with Beazer Homes, an Atlanta, Georgia based Developer.
We’ve not only Battled Beazer to the finish line, but continue to stay on top of the construction to ensure our community is protected. We have a direct point of contact with Fairfax County should the need arise. And, there are a series of proffers legally in place for the benefit of Island Creek, attached to the final plans. These proffers include a multi-million dollar insurance policy on 15 perimeter homes (adjacent to the construction site) if any of those homes are adversely affected by the construction. Those 15 homeowners had to opt-in and have their respective homes photographed and inspected for inclusion in the plan. Additionally, you will notice that the current clearing and grading along the proposed Thomas Grant extension is 60 feet in width. Once the road is completed, not only will re-forestation take place to recover extra landscaping lost, but also a series of trees will be planted on either side of the extension for beautification.
Additionally, and this is important. The current Thomas Grant Cul-de-Sac will be sacrificed and be moved to the entrance of the new Beazer Homes Community. In its place, the ICCA negotiated to have replanted in the deconstructed Cul-de-Sac, 18 additional trees of our choosing. Local Nursery and Landscape Designers Campbell & Ferrara was hired by our association to assist us in landscaping the new area. Those trees will include Magnolias, Cryptomerias, Camellias and American Hollies. We believe this landscaping will provide a beautiful feel to this end of our community while also providing a buffer/shield to current homeowners properties who will see lights of vehicle moving past their homes.
With construction beginning at 7AM on most days, ICCA also negotiated a crossing guard to be placed at the intersection of Thomas Grant Drive & Morning View to protect children heading to school.
Even though construction has begun, Sohna and I have not let our guard down. Already, we have asked the County to enforce the proffers for Beazer Homes construction crews to regularly sweep and wash Thomas Grant Drive of any debris so that our homeowner’s cars and tires are not adversely affected.
And from the get-go, Fairfax County site inspectors are making surprise visits to ensure the contractors are properly adhering to final approved plans, including--NO construction crew members or contractors parking on Island Creek property or on our side of Thomas Grant Drive.
Over the past five years, Sohna and I have spent thousands of hours staying on top of this project, meeting with County officials, not backing down to any developer who did not care about the Island Creek Community and working behind the scenes to protect our beloved neighborhood. We even had the construction delayed for three weeks (after the construction crew delivered the Bulldozers and Bobcats to start, but had to take them back) in order for all the proffers protecting our properties to be properly put in place—as the developer was attempting to skirt a major provision.
But rest assured, we will stay on top of this project until the very end. And even after construction has been completed, there is a ‘Three-Year Bond’ in effect in case issues arise after the fact. In the meantime, please be careful driving on Thomas Grant Drive and PLEASE DO NOT use the construction site as a playground, it is not safe and besides, it is on PRIVATE PROPERTY. We should heed their warnings.
Finally, if anyone has any questions about the Long Branch Development we’ll be happy to answer any questions at the annual ICCA Board Meeting on September 19
th.
Thank you.
Jeffrey Saffelle
Island Creek Land Use Chair
Sohna Sallah-Saffelle
Island Creek Land Use Co-Chair
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Fall Community Yard Sale September 29th
The Fall Community Yard Sale will be held at the Island Creek clubhouse parking lot on Saturday, September 29th from 8:00 am to 12 noon with a rain date of Sunday, September 30th, from 12pm-4pm.
In order to reserve a space, send an email with “Garage Sale” in the subject line to Bernadette at
flowergirl70@cox.net
. Please include your address and contact number.
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Back to School
By Jeffrey C. McKay
The new school year has arrived! I hope you all had a restful and rejuvenating summer, preparing you for a new fall schedule and back to school in your neighborhood.
With the return of school comes the return of heavier pedestrian, vehicular, and bicycle traffic, which includes buses, parents who drive their children, and very importantly, the children who are bicycling and walking to school. All of these add to an already busy rush hour in the mornings, and create more traffic in the middle of the afternoons.
Pedestrian safety is always a top priority of mine, and we’re doing a lot to improve it here in Lee District. Just recently, we welcomed the County’s first HAWK (High-intensity Activated crossWalK) signal to improve safety in Springfield, as well as new crosswalks and refuges near Hayfield Elementary and Secondary School. The Richmond Highway Corridor has seen a number of similar pedestrian improvements made, and many more are coming.
I have also been a vocal proponent of installing cameras on the “STOP” arms of a handful of buses. I walk my two children to the bus stop every morning, and I cannot tell you how many times I see cars passing their stopped bus, endangering everyone in the area. The School Board is making headway on this request, and is working with the state to receive necessary approvals. This makes a lot of sense, and the companies that install these devices do so at no-cost to the County.
The Fairfax County Police Department always does a lot to prepare for the new school year, as well. Here is a list of the things to be aware of for everyone’s safety, and to avoid receiving citations:
- Stopped school buses - Remember to stop in both directions, unless separated by a median, for any school bus that has its lights and “STOP” arm activated.
- Pay attention to the school crossing guards, always doing as they ask.
- Speeding in school zones - be alert and aware in school zones or wherever school buses are, and be mindful of the speed limits.
- Ensure everyone in your vehicle is correctly wearing a seatbelt or in a car seat.
It’s up to us to be familiar with the laws in our communities to keep everyone safe.
Have a great school year!
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