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Parkfairfax FORUM e Official Newsletter of the Parkfairfax Unit Owners Association www.Parkfairfax.info November 2010 Volume 32, Issue 11 Exercise Room Renovations.............................................. Employee of the Quarter .................................................... Tree Donation Request: Residents Respond..................... Buildings and Utilities Tip of the Month.......................... Emergency Keys............................................................... 30 Years of Service to Parkfairfax..................................... Attic Level Ceilings........................................................... Building and Utilities Committee Volunteers Needed...... Trees of Parkfairfax: Shingle Oak..................................... Attic Storage...................................................................... Pet Policy Reminders......................................................... Communications Committee Volunteers Needed.............. Buildings and Utilities Committee Activities.................... Scheduled Prevenative Maintenance................................. When You Hire a Contractor ............................................. September 15, 2010 Meeting Minutes.............................. A Street Called Ravensworth Place................................... 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 8 9 In is Issue e Exercise Facility will have an Open House on Sunday, November 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. Come and see the new reno- vations and enjoy some healthy good- ies! For more information on the ren- ovations, see the article on page 3. Annual Tree Lighting Festivities Sunday, December 5th 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Spruce Island at Preston Road & Valley Drive e Holiday Season is Fast Approaching! e Activities Committee would like to invite our Parkfairfax community for an evening of exciting activities. Hot cider and cookies, Horse and carriage rides around Spruce Island, Holiday music and Santa will arrive courtesy of the Alexan- dria Fire Department and light our tree at 6:00 pm. We look forward to seeing everyone there! Please Join the Activities Committee and Your Parkfairfax Neighbors for a Wine, Cheese, and Dessert Social Saturday, November 13th 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Parkfairfax Party Room 3360 Gunston Road e Activities Committee would like to invite all Parkfairfax residents to our first ever Wine, Cheese, and Dessert Social featuring Wine and Cheese from Fern Street Gourmet and delicious desserts from Alexandria Pastry Shoppe! We will also provide soft drinks and water. e Social will feature a wine tasting by a local wine expert and door prizes. Admission is one item per person of nonperishable food to be donated to Carpenter’s Shelter in Old Town Alexandria. Please note we will require Photo ID for anyone drinking wine. Hope to see you there! Trash will NOT be picked up on anksgiving Day, November 25, 2010. Regular trash pick up will resume on Friday, November 26, 2010.

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Page 1: Parkfairfaxparkfairfax.info/content/uploads/2011/05/November-2010-Newsletter.pdfNov 05, 2011  · Alice Cave, Secretary ♦ AliceLCave@gmail.com ♦ 703-379-1521 Kathy Schramek, Treasurer

Parkfairfax FORUMThe Official Newsletter of the Parkfairfax Unit Owners Association

www.Parkfairfax.info

November 2010Volume 32, Issue 11

Exercise Room Renovations..............................................Employee of the Quarter....................................................Tree Donation Request: Residents Respond.....................Buildings and Utilities Tip of the Month..........................Emergency Keys...............................................................30 Years of Service to Parkfairfax.....................................Attic Level Ceilings...........................................................Building and Utilities Committee Volunteers Needed......Trees of Parkfairfax: Shingle Oak.....................................Attic Storage......................................................................Pet Policy Reminders.........................................................Communications Committee Volunteers Needed..............Buildings and Utilities Committee Activities....................Scheduled Prevenative Maintenance.................................When You Hire a Contractor.............................................September 15, 2010 Meeting Minutes..............................A Street Called Ravensworth Place...................................

33333444555556789

In This Issue

The Exercise Facility will have an Open House on Sunday, November 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. Come and see the new reno-vations and enjoy some healthy good-ies! For more information on the ren-ovations, see the article on page 3.

Annual Tree Lighting Festivities Sunday, December 5th 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Spruce Island at Preston Road & Valley Drive

The Holiday Season is Fast Approaching! The Activities Committee would like to invite our Parkfairfax community for anevening of exciting activities. Hot cider and cookies, Horse and carriage rides around Spruce Island, Holiday music and Santa will arrive courtesy of the Alexan-dria Fire Department and light our tree at 6:00 pm. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Please Join the Activities Committee and Your Parkfairfax Neighbors for a Wine,

Cheese, and Dessert Social

Saturday, November 13th 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Parkfairfax Party Room3360 Gunston Road

The Activities Committee would like to invite all Parkfairfax residents to our first ever Wine, Cheese, and Dessert Social featuring Wine and Cheese from Fern Street Gourmet and delicious desserts from Alexandria Pastry Shoppe! We will also provide soft drinks and water.

The Social will feature a wine tasting by a local wine expert and door prizes.

Admission is one item per person of nonperishable food to be donated to Carpenter’s Shelter in Old Town Alexandria.

Please note we will require Photo ID for anyone drinking wine.

Hope to see you there!

Trash will NOT be picked up on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2010. Regular trash pick up will resume on Friday, November 26, 2010.

Page 2: Parkfairfaxparkfairfax.info/content/uploads/2011/05/November-2010-Newsletter.pdfNov 05, 2011  · Alice Cave, Secretary ♦ AliceLCave@gmail.com ♦ 703-379-1521 Kathy Schramek, Treasurer

2 ♦ Parkfairfax Forum ♦ November 2010

Parkfairfax Condominium Unit Owners Association

3360 Gunston Road Alexandria, Virginia 22302

Phone: 703-998-6315Fax: 703-998-8764

www.Parkfairfax.info

BOARD OF DIRECTORSBarbara Turpyn, President ♦ [email protected] ♦ 703-960-5960

Margaret Cain, Vice President ♦ [email protected] ♦ 703-578-3433

Alice Cave, Secretary ♦ [email protected] ♦ 703-379-1521

Kathy Schramek, Treasurer ♦ [email protected] ♦ 703-998-5771

Jarrod Grimsley, Ward I ♦ [email protected] ♦ 202-285-7189

Kim Stenlund, Ward IV ♦ 703-578-1692

Dave Bush, At Large ♦ [email protected] ♦ 703-998-5235

Phil Saims, At Large ♦ [email protected]

Robin Woods, Ward V ♦ [email protected]

*All Board Members can be contacted by emailing [email protected]*

MAIN OFFICE:General ManagerGeorge Gardner, ext [email protected] General ManagerSarah Clark, ext [email protected] DirectorDana Cross, ext [email protected] DirectorGuy Andrew, ext [email protected] Assistant/NewsletterElaine Hussain, ext [email protected] CoordinatorMichelle Byers, ext [email protected]

HOURS: Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm2nd Saturday: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Upcoming Board Meetings: November 17, December 15, January 19, February 16Meetings begin at 7 pm at the Association Office. A residents’ forum is held at the begin-ning of each meeting. The meeting agenda is posted on the bulleting board outside of the main office. Board package material is available for residents to review at the Association Office and on the website.

MAINTENANCE OFFICE:Maintenance DirectorBrian [email protected] Maintenance DirectorTony [email protected] DirectorNeal [email protected] AssistantLoretta Samuels [email protected]

1200 W. Glebe RoadPhone: 703-578-3427Fax: 703-578-9785

After Hours Emergency Number: 1-866-370-2977

Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 3:30 pm

Community Management Corporation4840 Westfields Boulevard, Suite 300P.O. Box 10821Chantilly, VA  20153-0821Phone: 703-631-7200Fax: 703-631-9786www.cmc-management.com

The Newsletter deadline is the 10th of each month preceding publication month. Email editorial announcements, commercial and classified ads to: [email protected].

Publication of advertisements in no way implies an endorsement of the products or services by Parkfairfax Condominium Unit Owners Association or its Board. The opinions of col-umnists and letter writers are theirs and in no way reflect the opinions of Parkfairfax Condo-minium Unit Owners Association or its Board.

COMMITTEE CONTACTSActivities Committee Chair: Karen Elsbury - [email protected] and Utilities Committee Chair: Heather Rodgers - [email protected] Committee Chair: Barbara Wilmer - [email protected] Committee Chair: Rich Moha - [email protected] Committee Chair: Karla Horn - [email protected] Committee Chair: Alex Lathers - [email protected] Committee Chair: Lynn Humphries - 703-820-0543Technology Committee Chair: Rick Fletcher - [email protected] and Land Use Committee Chair: Greg Cota -703-931-0981

[email protected] Committee Chair: Susan Crawford - 703-820-2761

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Parkfairfax Forum ♦ November 2010 ♦ 3

Attention Canoe/Kayak Enthusiasts A second canoe/kayak rack has been built at the mainte-nance yard. Residents may store Canoes/Kayaks in the rack for a fee of $10 a month. Registration forms and Canoe/Kayak decals are available at the Management Office, 3360 Gunston Road.

Parkfairfax Exercise Room: New Look, New Equipment

By Mark Reilly

Recreation Committee members would like to thank Parkfairfax residents for their patience during the October closing and remod-eling of the exercise room. The work is finished and the room has re-opened with new downstairs weight equipment, new lighting, fresh paint, and the removal of several walls. An additional wall mounted mirror and coat hooks are pending. These improvements now give the facility a more open, welcoming feel and make the gym a real exercise facility.

The Recreation Committee began work on the renovation proj-ect this past winter, spending a lot of time vetting vendors and equipment, presenting, revising, and finalizing bid proposals to the Board and Management. Many thanks to Danny Gibbs and Duane Knight who worked in concert during construction. Also, many thanks to Heartline Fitness for their help at every stage and ServiceMaster for their last minute cleaning services.

The Recreation Committee invites all residents to come to 1411 Martha Custis Drive and enjoy our new exercise facility!

Employee of the Quarter: Danny Raiford

At the October 27, 2010 Employee Luncheon, Danny Raiford was named the Employee of the Quarter. Danny is the plumbing crew chief and is considered a go to person. He has a great deal of knowledge about many of the mechanical systems at Parkfairfax and he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, nor does he back away from a challenge. Danny is a dedicated worker who is respected and appreciated by his fellow employees. Often he puts in extra hours, but you’ll never hear him complain. Danny enjoys putting himself into his work, and it’s obvious that for Danny working at Parkfairfax isn’t just a job, it’s a part of life.

Tree Donations: Residents RespondThirty-three Parkfairfax residents donated money to the Park-

fairfax Tree Fund. They have given almost $1,800! Their donations were used to purchase 40 shade and ornamental saplings at the City of Alexandria’s fall tree sale that was held on October 23. The trees purchased included several species of oaks, black gum (Tupelo), red maple, London plane, crepe myrtles, dogwoods, several Japanese cherries, and redbuds. Parkfairfax landscape crew members loaded and transported the trees back to Parkfairfax for storage. Some of the trees will be planted this fall with the remainder being planted next spring.

A very special thank you goes to all of the residents who made donations, to Landscape Director Neal Howlett and the volunteers who identified tree losses and desired replacement locations which became the basis for a proposed tree replacement plan, and also thanks to the Board of Directors which approved the plan. These donations clearly demonstrate the love of trees that exists in our community.

Buildings and Utilities Monthly Tip - Safety Did you know that in the fall the week after the time changes,

there is a spike in collisions between cars and pedestrians? It appears that it takes us time to adjust to the earlier darkness.

This also applies to our activities around home. If you do your laundry after work around 5:30 pm or so, you now may be walking to the laundry room in the dark. Please take a few minutes to think about whether you can see those steps outside the door. Is the out-side light fixture is working or is the bulb burned out? And while you' re at it, check the windows in the laundry room, too. Do they close? We don’t want our heat to escape outside this winter! Please report all needed repairs to the office.

Emergency KeysHas your entry door lock been changed? Parkfairfax Condomin-

ium Bylaws (article 5 section 9) instructs unit owners to provide a working copy of their unit keys to the Association. If you have a changed lock, please be sure we’ve been provided with a set of the new keys. If emergency access has to be made and we have not been provided a working copy of the keys, the expense of repair will be the responsibility of the owner. Please don’t let this happen to you!

Page 4: Parkfairfaxparkfairfax.info/content/uploads/2011/05/November-2010-Newsletter.pdfNov 05, 2011  · Alice Cave, Secretary ♦ AliceLCave@gmail.com ♦ 703-379-1521 Kathy Schramek, Treasurer

4 ♦ Parkfairfax Forum ♦ November 2010

Norman Wright: 30 Years of Service to Parkfairfax

Norman Wright is celebrating 30 years of service to Parkfairfax. He was one of the first employees hired by the Association in late May 1978. In early November 1979, Norman had an 8 ½ month break in service, but not really – he was still working at Parkfairfax, but with Jeffrey Trash Service. During the summer of 1980, Park-fairfax began in-house trash collection and Norman was recruited on July 21 to take command of the faltering program. While the in-house trash collection was ultimately abandoned, Norman’s career with Parkfairfax had just begun.

Norman worked as a maintenance helper in Village 4 in the early “Village Chiefs” system. When Parkfairfax changed the Vil-lage Chief, jack-of-all-trades concept in February 1982 and began implementing “production teams” to utilize staff expertise, Nor-man started his team assignments as a plumber’s helper, snaking the sanitary sewers in the crawlspaces. Later he worked as a carpenter’s helper and assistant crew chief with the exterior crew. Norman be-came the Exterior Crew Chief in 1988, a position he holds today. Norman has also lived in Parkfairfax since 1986 as a member of the after hours emergency duty staff.

IMPORTANT: Read This If You Have an Attic-Level Ceiling

Over the years, a small but significant number of attic-level ceil-ings have loosened from the roof joists and bowed significantly, and in some cases have fallen. These attic-level ceilings may become unattached from the joists/ceiling structure for many different rea-sons -- roof leaks, improper storage by residents, a possible misstep of a past resident or workman in the attic that may have loosened the ceiling below from its anchors. Over time, a ceiling may finally yield to gravity. We have not been able to determine the cause of each failure. As a precaution, we ask that each resident be alert to sudden and severe cracks that may appear in their unit, particularly at an attic-level ceiling, and especially if it appears that an attic-level ceiling may be “sagging” in towards the unit. There are some things you can do to make sure your attic-level ceiling stays in good shape.

• Make certain that everything in the attic is supported by the joists (the floor beams to which the ceiling is nailed).

• Don’t place anything directly on the thermal insulation be-tween the joists. Boards (or plywood) can be set on top of the joists to provide a more uniform platform for storing items.

• Ceiling fans (or anything other ceiling mounted fixture) should be attached to the wooden joists, not just hanging from toggle bolts punched through the sheetrock ceiling.

• If walking in the attic, stay on the catwalk down the cen-ter. It is potentially dangerous to step off the catwalk onto the tops of the joists; if your foot slips, you can put weight directly onto the plaster ceiling and loosen its attachment to the joists. The ceiling might give way immediately or at some time in the future.

• Avoid jarring/construction types of activities in the attic. Do not use the attic above your unit as a work room.

• If you put flooring down, use self-tapping screws -- do not hammer on the joists. Keep in mind that wall-to-wall deck-ing might look nice, but it will also make it extremely dif ficult for maintenance staff to fully evaluate the attachment of the ceiling to the underside of the joists in the future. Decking should not interfere with the ventilation along the eaves (the daylight space along the roof/gutter line).

• Storage should not make it impossible to safely move around on the provided catwalk.

• Any significant modifications in the attic require Covenants approval.

• If you have any reason to suspect that your attic-level ceiling might be coming loose from the ceiling/roof structure, or if you would like Maintenance to inspect it as a precaution, please call 703-998-6508 to have a work order generated for this free service. Please keep in mind that excessive storage in your attic may prevent staff from performing an effective inspection.

Buildings and Utilities Committee Volunteers Needed!

The Buildings and Utilities Committee is seeking volunteers.

The primary responsibility of the Buildings and Utilities Committee is to advise and assist the Board of Directors by performing reviews and studies of those things related to the maintenance and integrity of the buildings; reviewing utility consumption and delivery; reviewing the provision of services by or on behalf of the Association; refining budgetary proce-dures and recommending cost efficient methods of usage and services.

If you have any questions about the committee, contact the committee chair, Heather Rodgers at [email protected]. The next committee meeting is November 23rd at 7:30 p.m. All residents and visitors are welcome.

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Parkfairfax Forum ♦ November 2010 ♦ 5

We Need a Few CommunicatorsThe communications committee has some interesting initia-tives, website redevelopment and a survey of the community among them. Come join us to help Parkfairfax's efforts to get information to residents!

Next meeting: Tuesday, November 9, 7 p.m. in Party Room at the management office. Call or write Barbara with ques-tions: 703.578.1252 or [email protected].

Attic StoragePlease do not overload your attics with excess storage. There

have been a number of occasions that resident storage has delayed maintenance staff from being able to thoroughly inspect for squir-rel entry points, pin point roof leaks, repair damaged gable-end louvers, or determine if attic-level ceilings are properly secured to the ceiling joists. Please maintain a clear path down the “cat walk” in your attic so that essential inspections can be quickly performed. Distribute the storage to the sides of the walkway. You can place boards across the tops of the wooden joists to support the load; they do not have to be nailed down. Do not overload the area immediately around the attic entry; in some cases it is impossible to venture beyond the opening to the attic. The maintenance staff will do what they reasonably can to maneuver through the attics, but they cannot take the time to make pathways through years of col-lecting, or take risks in attempting to crawl over the tops of boxes.

Trees of Parkfairfax: Shingle Oak

This native Oak got its name from early settlers who used its wood to make roof shingles. The tree has a range from Pennsylvania to Nebraska and south from Georgia to Arkansas, growing in rich soils and riverbanks. In old age, the tree has the usual mammoth limbs like other oaks but grows no taller than 50 feet.

Like the Willow Oak, the Shingle Oak’s oblong leaves lack teeth or lobes. The young leaves begin yellow in color and mature to smooth, glossy dark green, six inches long and 3 inches wide, much bigger than the similar willow oak leaves. Leaves droop slightly, different from the stiff Willow Oak leaves. In fall, the leaves turn yellow-brown to russet-red and last into winter. The tree’s smooth grey-brown bark becomes irregularly grooved with age. Acorns are 3/4 inch with a bowl-shaped cup which covers 1/3 to 1/2 of the acorn.

You can find a good example of the Shingle Oak on Martha Cus-tis Drive near the intersection with Ravensworth Place. There is a bus stop and newspaper dispenser under the tree.

For photos and more information Google “Shingle Oak” .

Buildings and Utilities Activities This month the Buildings and Utilities Committee discussed the

Parkfairfax Lighting Policy, the USP Program and recycling. The committee reviewed a new proposed Lighting Policy at the request of the Board. The Board and the Committee want to create an objective policy that will serve residents' needs without being ob-trusive and one that will be energy efficient.

The Committee is also providing support to a Board member who is evaluating the USP program. We discussed criteria to be used; what services are important and why; whether the service benefits the Association and if it could be easily supplied by others. Some suggestions were proposed and modified; however, because this is a work in progress, we will leave reporting on details to the Board and Association staff as they become decided.

Lastly, adding recycling to the maintenance yard is still in the “information gathering” stage. The next Buildings and Utilities Committee meeting will be the fourth Tuesday, November 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the office. All residents and visitors are welcome. We are soliciting additional members.

Pet RemindersDogs shall not be permitted on the common elements, unless

carried or restrained on a leash. Cats shall not be permitted on the common elements, unless carried or restrained on a leash. All other pets shall not be permitted on the common elements, including the limited common element, unless carried by a responsible per-son. Any pet which becomes a nuisance must be removed from the common elements immediately and the owner may be subject to all sanctions available to the Parkfairfax Unit Owners Association Covenants Committee or Board of Directors.

Pet owners are responsible for the immediate removal and prop-er disposal of the waste of their pets from the common elements, which includes the limited common elements.

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6 ♦ Parkfairfax Forum ♦ November 2010

Scheduled Preventive MaintenanceThe leaves are starting to fall and soon virtually the entire main-

tenance staff will be cleaning the buildings’ gutters. This project is exceptionally weather-sensitive, so time is of the essence. All residents are asked to be patient if a routine maintenance request is not completed as quickly as it might have been in the past. Having the gutters cleaned is top priority and the first step in effective water management of buildings and grounds. Clear gutters and down-spouts also help prevent storm water and snow melt from entering units from overflows. GutterFilter has been installed on several of our buildings which will help to speed this task along. Winterization of hose bibs/wall hydrants

Parkfairfax staff continues replacing (or converting) outside hose bibs (wall hydrants) with a “freeze-less” valve (Woodford Model 19). Once installed, this valve will not require the annual winteriza-tions that have been necessary over the past 60+ years. However, the “freeze-less” design will not prevent trapped water from freezing within the valve body, so it is still recommended that all hoses be disconnected over the winter.

This changeover creates a significant added workload for the in-house plumbing staff. Staff will valve-off all unconverted hydrants as scheduled in November. Beginning in February/March 2011 a newsletter article will announce that wall hydrants will be turned on only by resident request and that maintenance personnel will have to enter the unit to change the hydrant to a new, freezeless type. Once a work order has been made, maintenance staff will install the requested hydrants in turn.A reminder to maintain heat in your home this winter...If you are responsible for a vacant unit, or if you are going to be away from home for any period of time this winter, please:• Make sure there is adequate heat in the unit, especially in the

kitchen and bathroom.• Leave baseboard and wall heaters “on” at least at the number

“2” (low/mid) level.• Leave kitchen and bathroom doors open. • Open doors to any cabinets that house water piping or shut-off

valves.• Have a neighbor check the unit periodically.

• Make sure the Maintenance Office has an emergency key to the unit “just in case.”

A Reminder on Snow RemovalStaff is responsible for clearing all common element walks (walks

serving more than one unit). Each Parkfairfax resident is responsi-ble for clearing portions of the walkways that serve only their unit. Residents who are unable to clear their own walks due to physical impairments may complete the“Request for Snow Removal Assis-tance” form and return it to the main office. This form may be found in this newsletter, or at the main office.

A few final reminders…• Please do not use the sand barrels (found near each Laundry

Room) as trash receptacles or “dog walk” containers.• Please do not park in the intersections or crosswalks during a

storm. This stops the snow clearing equipment.• Please do not “reserve” parking spaces with lawn furniture,

cones, etc. All parking lanes will be plowed once the cars move. Please do not ask staff to dig out your car or give your car a jump-start. This delays having the walks and roads cleared for everyone’s benefit.

• When digging out your car, please do not dump snow in large piles on the streets or sidewalk; snow removal equipment can-not clear them. These piles of (now) compacted snow force someone else to shovel it a second time.

• Please be patient and travel with care. Remember, snow melt helps more than anything else to maintain ground water which helps to stabilize these buildings.

Do you occasionally or routinely use drain cleaning chemicals? Some drain chemicals are extremely caustic and others contain

high percentages of acid. Either of these materials can damage any “weak spot” in the drain piping within your unit. These stronger drain cleaners might even possibly cause a leak. Maintenance staff is aware of this risk and is careful to thoroughly check the piping whenever they use a chemical drain cleaner. Critical points are the trap or “J-bend” immediately beneath the sink (this is the most thinly walled portion of the drain piping), and at the connecting pipe where the horizontal plastic/PVC pipe enters the wall (the de

REQUEST FOR SNOW REMOVAL ASSISTANCE2010/2011

Name(s)_________________________________________________________

Building Number___________ Address_________________________________

Phone Number (H)______________________(W)________________________

Signature_______________________________________Date______________

This request must be renewed each year! All prior years requests have been destroyed! Please return this com-pleted form to: Parkfairfax Condominium at 3360 Gunston Road, Alexandria, VA 22302; or FAX to 703-998-8764.

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Parkfairfax Forum ♦ November 2010 ♦ 7

When You Hire a Contractor If the work you undertake inside or outside your unit requires

one or more permits from the City of Alexandria, please be aware that the permit will be issued in the name of the property owner and the requirements imposed under the permit(s) are the ultimate responsibility of the property owner throughout the construction project.

The first installation of a clothes washer, for example, requires three (3) city permits: an electrical permit, a plumbing permit, and a mechanical permit. A contractor may serve as the agent of the property owner and may obtain permits for the owner. However, the permit is still issued in the name of the property owner(s) and the legal responsibility for ensuring that (sub) contractors perform the work and that required inspections are obtained remains with the property owner(s).

You must have an approved Association application and the nec-essary City permits in your possession before you start work, or you may risk receiving a “Stop Work Order” (which will add costs to your fees when you belatedly apply for the permit). Property own-ers who wish to perform their own work may do so by completing a Property Owners Affidavit with the City along with the normally required permit applications. For much more information on this, check out the City website at http://www3.alexandriava.gov/city/codeenforcement/

Homeowners can also verify that contractors have pulled per-mits, via the City website, by clicking on the Permit Tracker button and typing in their address. Additionally, homeowners can check that all required inspections (i.e. close-in and/or final inspections) are performed and passed.

The Association has a separate “permitting” process regulated via Covenants applications, approvals, and inspections. When Cov-enants approval is required, you must obtain it before starting the work. For more information, check out Parkfairfax’s website at http://www.parkfairfax.info/ Protect your own best interests! If your contractor tells you that he will obtain all required permits and approvals, demand copies of the permits. Always obtain writ-ten proposals that detail every aspect of the work. If the contractor’s proposal is not comprehensive or understandable, write a separate agreement that clearly details all pertinent aspects of the work. Ask for (and make sure you receive) copies of the contractor’s insurance, business license, and all paperwork relating to permits required by the City, and also any Covenants submissions and approvals re-quired by the Association. Make sure that required inspections are performed and that you receive copies of the results and file these documents with your permanent papers.

If you hire an Association employee to work for you on the side, he is working as a Private Contractor, and all of the above applies. Association staff cannot and do not make referrals or recommen-dations for any contractor or contracted service. Our best advice is that you shop around and get competitive bids for any significant project. Do your homework! A couple of good resources are the contractor’s ads in the Parkfairfax forum and the Vendor’s Log in the Parkfairfax Management Office lobby (ask the Receptionist).

veloper did not replace the galvanized “nipple” that connects to thestack pipe -- this is also a weak point that might be in a some-what corroded condition).

A safer choice for clearing slow drains is an enzyme-based drain cleaner. These drain cleaners are much less harsh and work effec-tively on slow draining, organic clogs (grease, hair, etc.). They are not very helpful if you drop something solid in the pipe, or if the pipe is completely stopped up. Keep in mind, the less harsh the drain cleaner is, the more patient you need to be for it to work. The very strong (more potentially damaging) drain cleaners might work very quickly- but with the possibility of some pipe repairs being required afterwards.

Whichever drain cleaner you use, always completely read the instructions, particularly any safety- related messages or warnings. Use the measured amounts in the concentrations recommended, and allow the allotted time for them to work.

November USP Special

Bathroom and Hallway Light Fixtures $65 Each

Bath Room Light FixturesBasic w/ recep3 bulb, chrome bar, no recep2 bulb, w/ recep

Hallway Light FixturesBeveled glass w/ 3 bulbClear, ribbed dome, 1 bulb

Resident Reminder: If you are an owner that rents your unit or if you are a tenant, please re-member that you are required to give the As-sociation office a copy of your lease according to Article 5, Section 8 of the Parkfairfax Bylaws.

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8 ♦ Parkfairfax Forum ♦ November 2010

Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

September 15, 2010

ATTENDANCEDirectors Present: Barbara Turpyn, President (arrived at 7:05 p.m.); Mar-garet Cain, Vice President; Alice Cave, Secretary; Dave Bush (arrived at 7:12 p.m.), Jarrod Grimsley, Phillip Saims, Kathy Schramek, Kim Sten-lund and Robin Woods, DirectorsDirectors Absent: noneOthers Present: George Gardner, General Manager; Sarah Clark, Assis-tant Manager; Brian Barnard, Maintenance Director; and Vanessa Pettit, Recording Secretary, Minute-By-Minute

CALL TO ORDERVice President Cain called the September 15, 2010 meeting of the Park-fairfax Board of Directors to order at 7:02 p.m. A quorum was present.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA(R) MOVED by Ms. Cave, SECONDED by Ms. Stenlund: to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed unanimously (7-0-0).

Ms. Turpyn arrived 7:05 p.m.

POLICE REPORTOfficer Hurrin not present, no report was submitted.

RESIDENT FORUMA resident at 3343 Martha Custis expressed concerns regarding Parkfairfax digging a trough along his building. He sent a letter to Landscape Direc-tor, Neal Howlett, and did not receive a response. He was to send George a copy of the letter.

A resident at 1525 Mt. Eagle expressed concerns regarding the response to the August storm damage and felt that communication between manage-ment, staff, and residents could be improved. Specifically, the resident had an inspection and had not heard of the results.

Residents were present to hear the resolution for Building 109.

August Storm Update: The Board discussed the storm update during the resident forum. Mr. Gardner reported that in 9 buildings,16 units had incurred roof damage and 3 buildings incurred structural damage. He also reported that the insurance company authorized management to move forward with damage surveys. Meanwhile, SRG is writing engineering reports and they should be received next week. The insurance adjuster has given authorization to start work on damages, but would like each build-ing to be tracked separately. Mr. Gardener will be contacting residents further next week and will put an update on the website by Monday, September 20, 2010.

Mr. Bush arrived 7:12 p.m.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: July 21, 2010(R) MOVED by Ms. Cave, SECONDED by Ms. Cain: to approve the minutes of the July 21, 2010 meeting as amended. The motion passed unanimously (9-0-0).

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Covenants: No report was provided.Communications: The committee met with the Technology Committee on September 14, 2010. The Communications Committee meeting was cancelled.Recreation: The report was included in the Board Package.

Exercise Room Renovation(R) MOVED by Mr. Bush, SECONDED by Mr. Saims, to approve the expenditure of $22,185.72 for renovation of the exercise facility including the purchase of new exercise equipment with costs to come from GL Reserve Account 3330-0325. The motion passed (8-0-1) with Ms. Stenlund abstaining.

Tree Donation Fund(R) MOVED by Ms. Cave, SECONDED by Mr. Saims, to approve the establishment of a Tree Donation Fund for Parkfairfax with the operation of the program as proposed by the Landscape Committee in the attached Notes for the Proposal to the Board. The motion passed unanimously (9-0-0).

Activities Committee: The report was included in the Board Package. The Doggie Dip will be held September 18, 2010 and the Doggie Walk Septem-ber 19, 2010. Ms. Elsbury made bandanas for the dogs for the Doggie Walk.Landscape: The report was included in the Board Package.Woodlands: The report was included in the Board Package.Building and Utilities: No report was given.Transportation and Land Use: The report was included in the Board Package.Technology: The report was included in the Board Package.

MATTERS FOR BOARD DECISIONApproval of Reserve Expenditures

(R) MOVED by Mr. Bush, SECONDED by Ms. Cave: to approve the July and August 2010 Reserve Expenditures in the amount of $142, 714.42. The motion passed unanimously (9-0-0).

2009 Draft Audit(R) MOVED by Mr. Bush, SECONDED by Ms. Cain, to approve the Representation Letter and have it signed and sent back to the Associa-tion’s Auditor, Goldklang & Group. The motion passed unanimously (9-0-0).

Note: the Auditor will come address the Board at the October meeting.

2011/2012 Budget /Election Schedule(R) MOVED by Mr. Bush, SECONDED by Ms. Cain, to approve the proposed 2011/2012 Budget/Election Schedule. The motion passed unanimously (9-0-0).

Building 109 Restoration Contractor(R) MOVED by Mr. Bush, SECONDED by Ms. Cave, to approve a contract with Avon Construction in an amount not to exceed $365,000 for the settlement repairs to building 109 with funds to come from the GL Reserve Account 3330-0160. The motion passed unanimously (8-0-1), with Mr. Grimsley abstaining.

Insurance Contractor(R) MOVED by Ms. Cave, SECONDED by Ms. Cain, to appoint Minkoff Company, Inc. as the Restoration Contractor for the August 5, 2010 Insurance Claim Repairs. The motion passed (8-1-0), with Mr. Grimsley opposed.

Architectural Services(R) MOVED by Ms. Schramek, SECONDED by Mr. Grimsley, to hire an independent architect or company to oversee architectural ser-vices on Association grounds, regardless of insurance requirements, at an expense not to exceed $20,000. The motion passed unanimously (9-0-0).(R) MOVED by Ms. Cain, SECONDED by Ms. Woods, to delegate the responsibility of choosing an architect after reviewing additional candidates to Mr. Gardner. The motion passed (5-4-0), with Directors Saims, Schramek, Grimsley, and Bush opposed.

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Parkfairfax Forum ♦ November 2010 ♦ 9

Replacement of Pole Lights at the Coryell Lane Pool(R) MOVED by Mr. Bush, SECONDED by Ms. Cain, to approve Around the Clock Plumbing to install high pressure sodium fixtures at the Coryell Lane Pool at an expense not to exceed $9,986.55 with funds to come from GL Reserve Account 3330-0305. The motion passed (9-0-0).

MATTERS FOR BOARD DISCUSSIONAttorney- Client Meeting: Meeting scheduled for September 29, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

MATTERS FOR BOARD INFORMATIONRecycling: Board wishes to hear from Building and Utilities Committee on this matter.

EXECUTIVE SESSION(R) MOVED by Ms. Cave, SECONDED by Ms. Cain, to recess the Open Session and Convene an Executive Session at 9:45 p.m. The motion passed unanimously (9-0-0).

EXTENSIONS(R) MOVED by Mr. Bush, SECONDED by Ms. Schramek, to ex-tend the meeting until 10:30 p.m. The motion passed with Ms. Cain and Ms. Cave opposed (7-2-0).

(R) MOVED by Ms. Schramek, SECONDED by Mr. Grimsley to extend the meeting until 10:45 p.m. The motion passed with Ms. Cain opposed (8-1-0).

The Board returned to Open Session and took the following actions:(R) MOVED by Ms. Stenlund, SECONDED by Ms. Cain to waive all but one late fee and one handling charge from a homeowner’s ac-count. The motion passed unanimously (9-0-0).(R) MOVED by Ms. Stenlund, SECONDED by Mr. Saims to approve a payment plan and to waive all but one late fee and one han-dling charge and a promissory note detailing the terms of the agree-ment. The motion passed unanimously (9-0-0).(R) MOVED by Mr. Bush, SECONDED by Ms. Cain to waive legal and handling fees through December and then review the situation. The motion passed unanimously (9-0-0).(R) MOVED by Ms. Schramek, SECONDED by Ms. Cain to ap-prove to roll over the employee Union Contract for three years with the stipulation that the document will be updated. The motion passed (7-2-0) with Mr. Saims and Mr. Grimsley opposed. (R) MOVED by Mr. Bush, SECONDED by Ms. Cain to approve $1,500 as an additional increase to the Bonus Fund to reward and rec-ognize exemplary employee service. The motion passed (7-2-0) with Mr. Saims and Mr. Grimsley opposed. (R) MOVED by Mr. Bush, SECONDED by Ms. Cain to authorize management to undertake a staff reorganization and to authorize add-ing one additional position to the management staff and approve the expenditure of appropriate funds related to the reorganization. The motion passed (8-0-1) with Ms. Stenlund abstaining.

Ms. Stenlund left at 10:42 p.m.

ADJOURNMENTAll business having been completed, President Turpyn adjourned the meeting at 10:45 p.m.

A Street Called Ravensworth PlaceBy William Canis

Ravensworth. Of all the names at Parkfairfax, Ravensworth would certainly be categorized today as one of the most obscure in terms of its origins. Many residents know the significance of Gun-ston Hall or Martha Custis, because George Mason’s home and George Washington’s wife were important fixtures of the Colonial Era. What’s more, Gunston Hall still stands and Martha Custis’ memory is enshrined forever at Mount Vernon.

But poor Ravensworth is gone forever. Who would believe that, in its time, it was as much a local landmark as Tysons Corner or Old Towne are today? Who would guess that it was an estate whose owners were related to both George Washington and Robert E. Lee? How could such a place slip into near oblivion?

From the early days of this century, Ravensworth was a truly out-standing mansion. It would have been imposing nearly anywhere, but it is a fact that the Ravensworth Mansion was dwarfed by the Ravensworth Estate of nearly 22,000 acres.

This vast holding of land was located just west of present day Alexandria. If you pull out your road map, you can try and picture this estate, encompassing present day Springfield, Annandale and part of Fairfax City. Half of the length of Shirley Highway and much of the western Beltway lie within its bounds. The original mansion itself was located almost exactly at the Braddock Road interchange of the Beltway in far-off Annandale.

Today, little remains of this empire but the name. In addition to our own Ravensworth Place at Parkfairfax, a Ravensworth Road runs almost through the site of the old house. A Fairfax County shopping center and office building also carry the venerable name.

Ravensworth was purchased from Thomas, Lord Fairfax in 1694, fifty years before Alexandria was founded. The wise purchaser was William Fitzhugh, an immigrant from England, who actually set-tled on another estate near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Fitzhugh came from a wealthy British background and married into an established Virginia family after he arrived in America in 1673. The family’s baronial seat in England was named “Ravensworth.”

William Fitzhugh was an exceedingly ambitious man. He was a lawyer, but also delved heavily in the tobacco trade between the Colony and England. He was involved in both politics and the colonial military. Historians attribute his nearly insatiable appetite for land to tobacco, a crop which is notorious for rapidly depleting the soil.

As land was exhausted, a tobacco grower was forced to buy and clear more land for future years’ crops. Reserves like Ravensworth were essential to that system. To cultivate these lands, Fitzhugh de-veloped one of the first “slave operated plantations” in northern Virginia, according to one historian. William Fitzhugh was surely the prototype of the Colonial aristocrat.

Continued on Page 10

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Continued from Page 9 The Fitzhugh fortunes did not end with the death of William Fit-

zhugh. On the contrary, one historian has written that by 1750, the Fitzhughs were one of the ten wealthiest families in all of Virginia. Yet they still resided near Fredericksburg, not at Ravensworth.

After the Revolution, Fitzhugh’s interest in Ravensworth seems to have increased. A 1786 entry in George Washington’s diary refers to the Fitzhugh’s visiting Ravensworth. By 1796, construction of the new mansion had begun.

In the sparsely populated Virginia society of 1800, it was inevi-table that the wealthy landowners would know each other well and that their children would often marry. Historians observe that “his-tory is biography” and in the case of the Fitzhughs, this was certain-ly the case. Here is the sequence of a fascinating family connection:• The daughter of the builder of the Ravensworth Mansion was

Mary Lee Fitzhugh. As her middle name implies, she was a Lee. Her great-great grandmother was the sister of Robert E. Lee’s forebears.

• Mary Fitzhugh married George Washington Parke Custis, the grandson of George Washington. (Washington had no chil-dren of his own, but did adopt his widowed wife’s two chil-dren. Custis was the son of one of those adopted children.)

• George Washington Parke Custis and his young wife built Ar-lington, the mansion at Arlington Cemetery now referred to as the Custis-Lee Mansion.

• This couple, residing at Arlington, had one daughter, Mary Randolph Custis. When Mary was a child, she surely visited her grandparents at Ravensworth, then a delightful country estate.

• As if things aren’t complicated enough, it turns out that an-other youthful visitor to Ravensworth was Robert E. Lee. After all, his own young father had died when Lee was quite young and his mother had turned to the Fitzhughs – distant relatives – for her financial advice.

• In 1818, Fitzhugh loaned Mrs. Lee and her children one of his houses in Alexandria, at 607 Oronoco Street. (Popularly known as “Lee’s Boyhood Home,” this Fitzhugh property is now open to the public.)

• When Robert E. Lee decided to go to West Point for military training – a career choice that was to shape the Civil War many years later – the Fitzhughs gave him their recommendation.

• In 1831, Robert E. Lee married his Ravensworth playmate, Mary Randolph Custis. The couple spent the first days of their honeymoon at Ravensworth.

In these steps, the Washington and Lee families were united. Ac-cording to historians, during the Civil War, “under orders issued by their respective governments (i.e. the CSA and the USA) Raven-sworth was guarded and protected within their lines by the soldiers of both armies. This was because of its connection with General Washington, Light Horse Harry Lee and the Custis Family.”

Ravensworth fell into the Lee estate after the Civil War and re-mained in their hands until it mysteriously burned to the ground in 1925. The Lees sold the remaining property for a housing develop-ment over 20 years ago.

Today, no trace remains of the mansion or estate which, as Rob-ert E. Lee said, he visited “to rest in the pleasant shade and wander about the well-beloved old house.”

Ravensworth may be gone, but it played an important part in shaping American history. It is an honor to have its named used at Parkfairfax.

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12 ♦ Parkfairfax Forum ♦ November 2010

Real Estate for Rent

ServicesPet & Plant Care by Gerri, LLC. Reliable, loving care for your dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, or fish. Pet sitting, playgroups, walks, feedings, medications. Indoor/outdoor plant care. Es-tablished 1999 by 19-year Parkfairfax resident; bonded and insured. Competitive rates; flexible arrangements. Call 703-379-7719.

Fall is the Perfect Time to Plant! Let Debra Livingston turn your patio or entry into a beau-tiful space. Garden design, consultation and plant installation. 703-931-3530 or [email protected].

Computer Problem? Don’t overspend to fix it. Free estimate – evening hours – onsite service. We can handle anything computer related. In-quire about our back to school discount. 571-969-1122 – BeltwayPC.com.

Pet Care: for Parkfairfax residents only. Oc-casional or short term. Experience with pills, fluids, insulin. Owner/resident with many ref-erences. Email: [email protected] or call 703-379-9448.

Electrical Service: Increase your standard of liv-ing and the value of your unit with a modern electrical system. Upgrade with new and reposi-tioned baseboard heaters, radiant heat, exhaust fans, ceiling fans and additional receptacles. Free in-unit evaluation of your electrical system. Licensed/insured. Call ALLEGRO @ 703-314-1287 or email: [email protected]

Chelsea Paint and Paper - Professional, neat, clean, reliable, references available. Free esti-mates. Interior painting, wallpaper removal/hanging, drywall/plaster repairs. 25 years experi-ence. Licensed, bonded and insured. Call Steve Chute at 703-912-1450 or 571-216-9338.

Babysitter: Call Kay, a retired owner/resident with many references for infant and child care in your home. CPR certified. Available for occa-sional daytime care and for most evenings. Can also do back-up for Day Care or pick-ups with proper paper work and car seats. 703-379-9448 or email [email protected]

Hughes Communications: Complete installa-tion or repair of telephone, CATV, or data wir-ing and outlets. All work performed by owner/technician Al Hughes. 40 years exp, licensed and insured. All services are scheduled for a specific appointment time. All work guaranteed, with free estimate if necessary. Call 703-354-4528 with any questions or to schedule an appoint-ment.

Latworks – Carpentry and Handy Work. 28 years experience, 20 years at Parkfairfax. Experi-enced in trim, moldings, cabinets, doors, locks, attic stairs, interior and exterior repairs, and in-stallations. Free estimates. Call Lat Jones at 202-270-6854.

Landscape Work – Mulching, planting, weed-ing, pruning etc. Call Juan Oliver (h) 703-590-9294 or (c) 571-215-5152.

B&A HOUSECLEANING SERVICES. 22 years experience, excellent references in all areas, specials in Parkfairfax, reasonable prices. We provide supplies and equipment. Call for free estimate at 703-495-0781 or 703-501-9007.

M & M House and Carpet Cleaning Service - Let us make your house and carpets sparkle! We have seven years experience cleaning in Parkfair-fax. Licensed and Insured. References available. Telephone:(703) 622-9309.

Jeron Eberwein/Garden Design Beautiful planting and landscape design for that special place. ASLA phone 703-671-1516.

Real Estate for Sale

ClassifiedsNorthern Red Oak – Tall and sturdy like this to-tally renovated Madison w/a HALF BATH AD-DITION! Open kitchen, w/every bell and tweet imaginable. Plank oak hardwoods, multiple shower jets. A must see! Call The John and John Team of RE/MAX Allegiance at 703-820-9723 or check out www.Parkfairfax.com or pictures.

Southern Magnolia – This two bedroom Lin-coln is a charmer. Structurally modified kitchen has been partially opened. European appliances, very private patio, very upgraded bathroom. To see it, give The John and John Team of RE/MAX Allegiance a call at 703-820-9723 and look at the photos on www.Parkfairfax.com.

Ginko Biloba – Nothing shady here cept the patio area. Great price for a one-bedroom patio unit w/replacement windows, newer stove and refrig. Washer/dryer. Give us a call at 703-820-9723 and ask The John and John Team of RE/MAX Allegiance for a showing. You can always see photos at www.Parkfairfax.com.

American Holly – Enjoy the views from this upper level unit. Renovated kitchen with granite countertops, refridgerator w/ice maker, washer/dryer. Unit also has an updated bathroom. If you would like us to show it to you, please give The John and John Team of RE/MAX Allegiance a call at 703-820-9723. You can also see photos online at www.Parkfairfax.com.

Tupelo – This one is a honey of a deal. One bed-room with patio. Silesstone Countertops, stain-less appliances, Maytag full sized washer/dryer. This one will not last so hurry and give The John and John Team of RE/MAX Allegiance a buzz at 703-820-9723 for a viewing or point your browser to www.Parkfairfax.com for pictures.

Washington model end unit - Newly refin-ished floors throughout and a brand new granite kitchen countertop in this beautiful two-level condo with a quiet patio. Washer and dryer up-stairs and wall-to-wall closet in the master bed-room adds tons of storage! Pets welcome. $1850 per month. Call Carrie at 703-772-7068.

Virginia Pine – Beautiful one bedroom upper level unit on Fitzgerald Ln., has washer/dryer, renovated kitchen w/dishwasher. Park at your door convenience. Pets ok. $1,425 per month. Give The John and John Team of RE/MAX Al-legiance a call at 703-820-9723 to see it and/or log on to www.Parkfairfax.com for pictures.

WASHINGTON 2BD/1BTH Beautiful town-house garden condo. Amazing location. Crown molding/colonial baseboards, freshly painted, hardwood floors, energy-efficient windows/airconditioners. Cedar lined closet. Bathroom updated with carrera marble floor,new vanity/toilet/sink/fixtures. Bosch W/D upstairs. Up-dated kitchen. Built-out Attic for storage. Avail-able Nov. Rent $1,750 w/Option to Buy. Call 703-216-2073Oceanfront Myrtle Beach Condo for Rent: Enjoy breathtaking views from the balcony of a 2-bedroom, 2-bath, fully furnished 2nd-floor condo with all the amenities of home. Pool, picnic tables, and grills on-site. Award-winning golf courses, restaurants, entertainment and shopping nearby. A top vacation destination - the beach is calling you! Contact Jennifer at 703-373-7324 or [email protected] for reasonable rates/availability/pictures.

Tulip Tree – This rare beauty on Mt. Eagle Pl. will be ready for you on December 1st. 2 bed-room Washington Model with fantiastic garden space and patio area. All the goodies to include washer/dryer, dishwasher and sliding glass door. Pets considered. Price to follow. Call The John and John Team of RE/MAX Allegiance to see 703-820-9723 or go to www.Parkfairfax.com for photos.

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Parkfairfax Forum ♦ November 2010 ♦ 13

R.R. HOME IMPROVEMENT INC. Cel-ebrating over 20 year anniversary with very low rates. We do painting, drywall, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, floors and general house-hold repair. Call us at 703-495-0781 or 703-801-9151. www.rrhomeimprove.com.

Jenifer’s Gems (www.jenifersgems.com) Beauti-ful jewelry now available on-line. Buy direct or have a party. Pre-Christmas specials (party only) 20% off for Hostess. 10% off for guests. All jew-elry is locally designed/made. Email [email protected] or call 703-998-6488.

Weekly Meditation Group and instruction for Parkfairfax residents every Wednesday 7:30PM -9:30PM. Please contact Mimi at 703 820-6396 or email [email protected] for more information. Cost is $20.00 per session. To find out more about me visit www.subtle-transformations.com.

Michael Pacheco Contracting: 40 years experi-ence. No job too small. Interior renovations to include painting, finish carpentry, window sills and casings, complete kitchen and bathroom remodeling, plaster repair. We also remove wall-paper, tile grouting, linoleum kitchen and bath-room floors and wall to wall carpeting. Installa-tion of exterior doors, all types including storm doors. General household repairs. Your home left clean and neat. Old fashion quality at an affordable price. WE ARE NOW RUNNING A SPECIAL – WE WILL BEAT ANY WRIT-TEN ESTIMATE BY $200.00. Call Michael at 703-379-6725.

Paint by Knight – Serving Parkfairfax for over 15 years with 35 years experience. Free estimates on painting, plaster repairs, texture, grout work, window caulking, framing on windows and doors. Most empty units painted in 2 days. Call Duane Knight 703-405-3349.

Math Tutor – Give your child support, skills and confidence necessary for success! I am an ex-perienced elementary and middle school math teacher employed with ACPS. Sessions include math skills, homework help, enrichment, orga-nization strategies and study techniques/habits. Call Jen 703-283-6197.

Richard’s Painting and Wallpapering: Exte-rior and Interior Painting. 20 years experience. Excellent references. Carpentry, drywall repair, power washing, staining and sealing. Licensed and insured. Call for a free estimate at 703-495-0956 or 703-501-9007 (cell). www.rrhomeim-prove.com.

For Sale

MiscellaneousEveryone living in Parkfairfax is welcome at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PHATchat/ PHATchat stands for: Parkfairfax/Homeown-ers/And/Tenants. In order to register make sure you send your name & address of property.

Volunteers needed! Charles Barrett Elementary School seeks volunteers to tutor and mentor children, help with homework, and assist teach-ers as needed. If interested, please call Anna Tush and/or Jane Massant at 703-824-6960. Also, we are currently looking for businesses interested in partnering with Charles Barrett to support us financially or with time for students. We appreciate your help!

The Trees of Parkfairfax theme for this month’s John and John Team was suggested by Karen R. Thank you Karen! Our ads this month are dedi-cated to you and in memory of our lost trees. Anyone out there who has a theme suggestion please send it to [email protected].

Queen Anne style desk w/ 2 drawers - good condition - $45.00. Call Deborah (on Gun-ston) 703-535-6682 (ext 104) daytime or email: [email protected]

FOR SALE: Corner cabinet entertainment cen-ter, honey pine finish, four doors—large enough for a 32” TV and all associated video and ste-reo equipment—asking $450. Also for sale, a 5-shelve light walnut stained bookcase--$150. Items are located right here in PKFX. For ad-ditional information or to view, please call (703) 933-2378.

LA-Z-BOY Recliner - $400. LA-Z-BOY re-cliner in an olive colored microfiber. Specially treated to resist staining. Chair is 3 years old, ex-cellent condition. Orignially sold for $600. Di-mension: Seat: 19”h, 22”w, 20”d. Chair: 32”d, 38”h. Full extension: 62” +/- The back slides off for easy transport. Call David at 703-998-0970.

Mario’s Home Improvement – Interior and exterior painting. Drywall and plaster repairs. Wall paper removal. Power washing. Carpentry. Electrical. Ceramic tile. Free estimates. Refer-ences available. Over 16 years experience. Mario Zambrana 703-501-7506. [email protected].

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Pet Pawtraits©

Oil Paintings

Commissions start at $300... Order now for the Holiday!

For Information contact Artist Lynn Muth (Maurer) 703-578-3880 or 571-232-8916 www.lynnmuth.com

16 ♦ Parkfairfax Forum ♦ November 2010

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Parkfairfax Forum ♦ November 2010 ♦ 17

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

31 1 FY 2012 Budget

Planning Meeting 7:00 p.m.

2 Activities

Committee Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Landscape Committee

Meeting 7:30 p.m.

3 4 Technology Committee

Meeting 7:00 p.m.

5 6

7 Recreation

Committee Meeting 5:00 p.m.

Parents Group

Meeting 4-5:30 p.m.

8

9 Communications

Committee Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Covenants Committee

Meeting 7:00 p.m.

10 11 Transportation and

Land Use Committee

Meeting 7:30 p.m.

Veterans Day Office Closed

12 13 Office Open – Walk-ins Only

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Wine, Cheese, and

Dessert Social 5-7 p.m.

14 15 FY 2012 Budget

Planning Meeting 7:00 p.m.

16

17

Board of Directors Meeting 7:00 p.m.

18

19 20

21 22 23 Buildings and

Utilities Committee Meeting 7:30 p.m.

24

25 Thanksgiving Day

Office Closed

No Trash Pickup

26 Office Closed

27

28 29 30

1

2 Woodlands

Committee Meeting 7:30 p.m.

Technology

Committee Meeting 7:00 p.m.

2 4

5 Tree Lighting

Ceremony 5-7 p.m.

6 7 Activities

Committee Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Landscape Committee

Meeting 7:30 p.m.

8 9 10 11

Parkfairfax CondominiumUnit Owners Association3360 Gunston RoadAlexandria, VA 22302

November 2010