HCA FALL CLUSTER CLEAN-UP @ NOV-DEC

HCA Fall Cluster Clean-Up will run from the remaining days of November 2016 through the third of three planned leaf removals in mid-December.  During the Clean-Up, we encourage Members to remove vines from tree trunks and branches, remove debris behind rear row houses and carriage houses, stack fallen tree debris near footpaths, and remove personal property stored on nearby Common Areas.  The HCA grounds maintenance contractor will remove the stacked debris in mid-December as part of the final leaf removal.  However, Members should not otherwise remove invasive species English Ivy from HCA Common Areas because it provides inexpensive ground cover that controls soil erosion.  Be careful to avoid Poison Ivy and similar plants.  Contact individual Directors to coordinate special projects.

HCA HOLIDAY TRASH + RECYCLE SCHEDULE 2016-17

The Republic Services website advises local residential customers in their updated Northern Virginia holiday schedule, as follows:
THANKSGIVING DAY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016
- No trash pick-up on Thursday, November 24
- Service resumes on next normal pick-up day, Monday, November 28
CHRISTMAS OBSERVED, MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016
- Normal Monday morning trash and recycling service provided
NEW YEAR OBSERVED, MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017
- Normal Monday morning trash and recycling service provided
CHRISTMAS TREE / YARD WASTE PICK-UP
- Wednesday mornings, January 4 and 11, 2017
To prevent local raccoons and other animals from opening curbside bags and spreading trash on Common Areas, and to help maintain the appearance of the cluster, please place trash out for pick-up no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the evening before scheduled pick-up.

HCA LEAF REMOVAL STARTS @ MON NOV 14

Perfect Landscapes advised HCA that the first of three HCA Fall removals will start on Monday, November 14.  The second removal will be just before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and the third removal before the Christmas holiday weekend, weather permitting.  Based on RA guidelines, the contractor plans to blow and then remove leaves from HCA meadows, planters, flowerbeds, and plazas  rather than relocate them into the streambeds.  HCA will post more information here when available. 

HCA TREE RISK ASSESSMENT UPDATE

The HCA Board of Directors recently engaged a certified Independent Consulting Arborist with more than 40 years of experience who assessed and documented the failure likelihood, target impact, and risk rating of all high risk trees he identified first hand during site walks throughout 18 acres of Hickory Cluster Common Area, including several trees reported by Members.  Trees on private property were not included and are the responsibility of individual homeowner Members.  The Arborist marked with rings of yellow/green tape those trees that require the most immediate deadwood trimming, structural support cabling, or complete removal.  PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THE MARKING TAPE.  It will be used by bidding contractors to identify, estimate, and perform work on those trees during January-March 2017 to take advantage of Winter reduced pricing.  Once the Arborist completes his report, the Board of Directors will review the recommendations, approve work subject to available funding, and obtain RA DRB approvals as necessary.  UPDATES ... The Independent Consulting Arborist assessment report, assessment summary, and assessment map, including Group 1 trees approved and funded for action by HCA Directors on December 21, 2016, are now available for public reference.  RA DRB approved removal of 16 live Group 1 trees on March 7, 2017, in addition to 14 dead or invasive species trees that did not require RA approval.  HCA also approved and funded immediate trimming of eight additional Group 2 trees on March 15, 2017.  Work on 17 Group 3 trees is pending HCA cable or remove decisions and funding for late 2017 or early 2018 action.  Contact project lead HCA Secretary Michael Poss for more information.