HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From our snow removal contractor late this afternoon:  "... we will be mobilizing our snow/ice management team for the impending winter weather event.  Forecasts are conflicting right now so I am not sure exactly how much precipitation we will get and in what form it will be in.  Regardless we are ready for whatever mother nature happens to throw our way and will make sure that Hickory Cluster is in good shape. ... "  From the NOAA National Weather Service for Reston as of 3:04 p.m. today:  "Tonight:  Rain and snow likely before 8:00 p.m., then snow between 8:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., then snow and sleet after 2:00 a.m.  The snow could be heavy at times.  Low around 30F.  Southeast wind 10-16 m.p.h. becoming Northeast after midnight.  Winds could gust as high as 24 m.p.h.   Chance of precipitation is 100%.  Total nighttime snow and sleet accumulation of 2-4 inches possible.  Tuesday:  Snow, mainly before 2:00 p.m., then a chance of snow showers after 2:00 p.m.  The snow could be heavy at times.  High near 35F.  North wind 14-17 m.p.h., with gusts as high as 26 m.p.h.  Chance of precipitation is 100%.  New snow accumulation of 1-3 inches possible.  Tuesday Night:  A chance of snow showers, mainly before 2:00 a.m.  Cloudy, with a low around 22F.  Northwest wind 15-17 m.p.h., with gusts as high as 25 m.p.h.  Chance of precipitation is 50%.  Wednesday:  A slight chance of snow showers.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29F.  Blustery, with a Northwest wind 16-24 m.p.h., with gusts as high as 38 m.p.h. Chance of precipitation is 20%."

HCA STREAM RESTORATION EVENT @ MAR 11

HCA will celebrate substantial completion of the Stream Restoration project and footbridge replacement with a gathering at the Blocks 1-2 stream pond footbridge on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.  RA Lake Anne / Tall Oaks Director Sherri Hebert, RA CEO Cate Fulkerson, RA Watershed Manager Nicki Bellezza, Wetland Studies Project Manager Frank Graziano, and the HCA Board of Directors will participate.  All HCA residents are invited to attend. 

UPDATE ... With Members, Directors, and guests braving sub-freezing temperatures on an otherwise beautiful sunny day, HCA presented a surprise framed letter of thanks to the Wetland Studies team for the exceptional leadership, knowledge, and experience they provided to transform an eroding streambed from an environmental liability to a community asset.  In another surprise, HCA presented former multiple-term Director and Member architect-in-residence Ralph P. Youngren, FAIA with a laser-etched stainless steel plaque dedicating to him the replacement pond footpath bridge he designed ... now to be known as the Youngren Bridge.  The event concluded with a champagne toast to everyone who helped bring this decade-long project to successful completion.

HCA SPRING CLEAN-UP @ MAR 1-31

The HCA grounds maintenance contractor will begin their Spring 2017 flowerbed/planter mulching and clean-up next week, March 6-10, in preparation for seasonal weekly mowing and related tasks.  And our tree maintenance contractor will begin removing HCA-approved high risk trees from now through about March 10.  In addition, HCA Spring 2017 Cluster Clean-Up will be held during the entire month of March 2017.  During this period, HCA encourages Members to remove vines from tree trunks and branches, remove debris behind rear row houses and carriage houses, stack fallen tree debris near the central RA footpath or HCA streets for April contractor removal, and remove personal property stored on nearby Common Areas.  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.