HCA HERO RESCUES POND ICE BREAK CHILD AND PARENT

At about 1:45 p.m. today, a parent foolishly allowed their child to walk out onto the ice-covered Hickory Cluster pond near the Youngren Bridge, despite recent RA lake ice safety guidance.  

As could be reasonably expected, the way-too-thin ice broke and the child fell into the ice cold water.  The parent also went into the water in an unsuccessful attempt to save their child.

Fortunately for everyone, Kelvin Ikhide, a long-time HCA resident, software entrepreneur, and photographer, was out on his Block 3 rear patio and heard shouts for help.  While his wife Genell Parker called 911, Kelvin raced down to the pond, and heroically pulled both the child and parent from the frigid water using the foam life preserver installed there by the 2017 HCA Board of Directors as an addition to the Stream Restoration project.

Other HCA residents heard shouts for help and arrived to assist, including recent Block 1 resident Max Goodman with a blanket to warm the child, and Block 2 resident and 2010-19 HCA Director Michael Poss with a 20 ft. long pole to reach out onto the ice if needed.

Multiple Fairfax County Fire and EMS vehicles and first responders also arrived on North Shore Drive to treat the child and parent after they were back on snowy land, and to take them to a medical care facility if necessary, despite an attempt by the parent to leave the area beforehand with the child.  HCA residents insisted that the child and parent remain there until they were treated and talked with first responders.

Bottom line:  

1.  Kelvin Ikhide is a genuine local hero who put his own life in danger to save others from harm.  He deserves community recognition for his selfless act.

2.  2017 Board of Directors' foresight paid off.  The life preserver they installed helped save at least two lives today.  But according to Kelvin, it needs a long rope to pull victims back to shore.  The current HCA Board should provide such a rope immediately to, if needed, help save others in the future.

HCA INFORMAL FALL 2023 CLEAN-UP ... TREE DEBRIS

Original rendered visions, actual construction drawings, and as-built photographs show designed, managed, park-like modern landscape that extends modern Hickory Cluster building architecture.  However, long-time residents indicate that, due to budget limitations, HCA abandoned efforts in the mid-1970s to maintain cluster Common Areas according to the original modern landscape visions of Simon, Goodman and others.  For a more detailed discussion, see the Goodman Site Landscape page on this website.

As a result of this 1970s abandonment, and until about 2013 when a new HCA Board of Directors addressed it, lots of HCA Common Area trees and bushes dropped lots of HCA dead branches every year within our 18 acres due to storms, winds, drought, insects, or just old age.  And this debris was allowed to accumulate year after year, turning HCA into an unsightly and overloaded dead wood graveyard, and mega-food source for HCA Common Area-based termites that then also attack and feed on Hickory Cluster home wood components, costing HCA Members thousands of dollars in otherwise unnecessary pest control treatment expense.

HCA is responsible for maintaining HCA Common Area, including HCA trees and bushes, and fallen and trimmed HCA Common Area tree and bush branches, including the time and expense of packaging and removing resulting debris.  It is not HCA Member homeowner responsibility to either trim HCA Common Area trees or bushes, or to package and remove fallen or trimmed HCA Common Area tree and bush debris.

However, when HCA formally neglects to do so, HCA Member homeowners may sometimes informally trim HCA Common Area adjacent trees or bushes when they grow too big and impact their homes or other HCA Common Area infrastructure.  Even then, it is not HCA Member homeowner responsibility to use their own time or money to package and remove fallen or trimmed HCA Common Area tree and bush debris.

Since about 2013, and during formal or informal semi-annual Spring and/or Fall clean-ups, HCA Members collected fallen and trimmed tree debris at certain points within the cluster, locations easily accessible for removal to respective streets by grounds crew trucks, that then HCA removed following the clean-ups, sometimes as part of annual Fall leaf removal, and typically before the first snow and/or the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  

Most tree and bush debris collection occurs after Summer when daytime temperatures drop into the 50-60F range, when it is cool enough to wear and work in protective long pants and long sleeve shirts, and when seasonal ground cover and mosquitos have receded.   

A recent example of a homeowner having to step in is the overgrown HCA Common Area Block 2 bush between 11557-61 Maple Ridge Rd.  It grows like a weed and onto the adjacent concrete stairs railing, creating possible accessibility and hazard issues on its West side, and home invasion ant paths on its East side.  After hearing that some neighbors still preferred to use the tree-impacted railing, rather than the completely clear railing on the other side of the stairs, an adjacent Member homeowner again trimmed the offending branches away from the impacted railing as he has done so in years past.

The following are several, but not all, typical HCA Common Area tree and bush debris collection site examples:

BLOCK 1 ... On the woods side of the footpath parallel and adjacent to the Maple Ridge Rd. guest parking between Blocks 1-2.

BLOCK 2 ... On the woods side of the footpath immediately behind 11557 Maple Ridge Rd. between Blocks 2-3.

BLOCK 3 ... On the woods side of the footpath and fire hydrant behind 11534 Hickory Cluster between Blocks 2-3.  

Have fun, and get some fresh air and good exercise!

HCA GOOD DOGS, NOT-SO-GOOD DOG WALKERS

$10 REWARD ... FOR NAMES OF INCONSIDERATE DOG WALKERS        PICTURED IN THE HALL OF SHAME

Doggies are fun, friendly, loyal, and lovable.  And they trust their owners and walkers.  So in many if not most cases, good doggies doing bad things are not the dogs' fault.  Their inconsiderate walkers specifically ALLOW good dogs to do bad things.  

As a result, Hickory Cluster has become a defacto dog park and/or dog relief station where dozens of resident and non-resident dog owners and others walk their dogs, and ... inevitably ... pee and poop night and day on rear patio walls expensive and time-consuming to repaint, light pole bases expensive to replace, grassy areas that take lots of time to regrow, or otherwise immediately around HCA Member homes and cars.

If the dog walkers just allowed THEIR dogs to do THEIR business right around THEIR own homes or cars, so only THEY would be impacted, it would be a non-issue.  

But no, the dog walkers insist on spreading the joy everywhere else so their neighbors can also share pee-bleached now-dead greenery, or even worse, walk through the never-100%-complete picked-up dog poop on the way into or out of their front doors, rear patio gates, or cars.

And HCA Member dog walkers insist on doing this DESPITE at least one long-standing HCA rule against it.  More specifically, HCA Governing Documents General Resolution 2:  Code of Conduct Rules and Regulations, page 2, paragraph 10 states:  "Please walk dogs in the wooded areas, not in planters or on common grassy areas, nor on traffic islands or where children play."  It's a shame that we even have such rules, but unfortunately we do because some people are so inherently thoughtless.

One example ... and what inspired this post:  This morning at about 9:00 a.m., an HCA Block 2 Member homeowner observed another Block 2 homeowner walking her big loveable dog along an HCA footpath behind a neighboring home.  After several minutes of stopping and intensely watching her dog find the right time and place, she then clearly allowed the dog to squat directly near the neighbor's rear patio wall, and within the clearly expected walking path from the rear patio gates to the rear footpath of TWO Goodman Houses.  So now every time her two neighbors come out of their gates they can unknowingly enjoy her dog poop remnants, possibly infectious e.coli. bacteria, and distinctive stink on their shoes, then possibly track it all into their own kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, or wherever.

Another example:  Yesterday morning an HCA Block 2 Member homeowner observed a non-resident and his cute medium-size dog walk right up to the front entry door planter of another Member's Goodman House.  He specifically stopped there and clearly watched his dog pee on obviously otherwise well-maintained Liriope plants only a foot away from the door.  When asked about 30 seconds later why he did that, the dog walker blatantly lied:  "Oh, sorry, I didn't notice."  

Really?

Is this your idea of "community?"

YOU cannot control YOUR dog?  And if it's not a problem, then why don't YOU do it around YOUR own house?

Do YOU want to step into what's left of YOUR big dog's massive pile of poop right outside YOUR home or rear patio?  

Do YOU want to smell dog pee right outside YOUR home as more dogs sniff and repeat in the same place?

Do YOU want to always see previous greenery, now dead and pee-bleached yellow, outside of YOUR home?

Please do your part to address this inconsiderate dog walker behavior.

HCA TREES WRECK ROOFS, RELAC, AND MORE ...

We love our Hickory Cluster trees.  All 18 acres of them.  They are big.  And beautiful. 

BUT ... a big tree growing bigger too near a Goodman House, or growing in a critical unintended location, is a maintenance nightmare.  And a VERY expensive nightmare at that.

BLOCK 1

Recently, roots of a noxious overgrown HCA Block 1 Common Area Sweetgum tree seriously damaged a carriage house RELAC chilled water service pipe.  Extensive RELAC efforts to isolate and repair the leak resulted in a temporary and unavoidable loss of air-conditioning water to other Block 1 homes.  And now the individual homeowner is unfairly faced with paying more than $5,000 in RELAC repairs caused by this overgrown Common Area tree that HCA should never have allowed to grow so big and so close to any house.  

To repeat, and contrary to misinformation from other sources:  the recent Block 1 RELAC shutdown problem was caused by an HCA tree, NOT by any failure of the RELAC system.

In addition, four inch diameter roots are running under the house possibly impacting its foundation and other infrastructure.  

The same overgrown Sweetgum tree is also lifting a carport apron slab and creating a serious trip hazard to an immediately adjacent carriage house.

Up through about 2010, at least one HCA Board President considered Common Area tree damage to be unavoidable "acts of God."  However, a September 2007 Virginia Supreme Court case decision made noxious nuisance tree OWNERS directly responsible for material damages caused by THEIR trees, and for knowing about and preventing such damage.  Ironically, a Sweetgum tree with typical highly-invasive roots was also the subject of the court case.

As in the 2007 court case, HCA should be fully responsible for payment of damages to the property caused by this and other too-close and too-big HCA Common Area trees.  Especially since HCA pays professional arborists to advise it of similar potential tree damage and liability.

During a 2017 rain storm, another overgrown HCA Block 1 Common Area Sweetgum tree dropped sharp jagged branches that pierced the waterproof roof membrane of the Goodman House over which it had grown.  

The Block 1 homeowner suffered extensive exterior roof and interior ceiling water damage, and former HCA Board President Michael Poss worked closely with the homeowner, other Directors, and RA to immediately remove the tree and avoid additional damage.  

Yet another overgrown HCA Block 1 Common Area Sweetgum tree continues to tower over a nearby Goodman House, threatening similar roof-piercing dropped branches and possible foundation and infrastructure damage, despite homeowner pleas to remove it. It is also causing adjacent Common Area retaining walls to bulge outward.  This tree should be removed immediately at HCA expense, not homeowner expense, BEFORE it causes predictable homeowner damages.

BLOCK 2

Over a period of years, HCA Common Area large water-seeking tree roots cracked the non-sanitary drain pipe behind a 3-story Goodman House causing blocked interior sink drains and $200 or more in 60+ feet of motorized drain snake repairs every year or two.  This problem was completely unknown to the current homeowner decades ago when they purchased their Goodman House and has continued without critical HCA Common Area maintenance.  

Other HCA Common Area problems also caused deterioration of and almost $10,000 in repairs to the rear patio wall of the same home several years ago.  HCA refused to pay for the damage.

BLOCK 3

Early published photos clearly show a paved HCA Common Area storm water feeder trench system constructed at the rear of all Block 3 carriage and same-side Goodman Houses.  

Sadly, HCA has never properly managed the now-large volunteer trees when they were smaller, easier, and cheaper to remove.  And HCA continues to allow homeowners to store and plant on what was the critical runoff trench, creating more diversion.  Now, the trees have completely blocked the original trenches and destroyed their ability to direct storm water to fully available and functional Fairfax County storm drains.  Instead, the runoff floods into other HCA Block 3 Common Areas and Goodman House rear patios, often increasing deterioration of rear patio concrete block walls.  

The situation was made worse by misguided efforts of at least one Block 3 homeowner to remove legacy HCA Common Area English Ivy, although invasive, resulting in increased soil erosion and uncontrolled runoff.  Adding to the problem, the homeowner did not replant any groundcover to replace what they removed without HCA permission.

On the positive side, former HCA Board President Michael Poss started the Block 3 storm water system study and repair process by collaborating with Fairfax County as they inspected and maintained their storm drains, and by coordinating a related remediation proposal from environmental engineering and stream restoration experts Wetland Studies.  However, subsequent HCA Boards failed to act further, and the problems persist.

BOTTOM LINE

HCA must focus on funding and maintaining original design-intent cluster elements we already have, not installing new elements that require even more maintenance.  And HCA should definitely not continue paying for expensive attorneys trying to remake Hickory Cluster governing documents into those of other less historic and less significant communities.

HCA COMMON AREA ... DOGGIE DUTY

ISSUE:  Dog pee, poop, and odors on trafficked HCA Common Areas and near other neighbors' homes, no matter how hard you try to pick it all up.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many if not most Members and their families are now at home working or in class full-time every day of the week.  Children now have more opportunities to play outdoors on HCA Common Areas, and our four-legged friends now have more opportunities for more outdoor walks.  

SOLUTION:  To keep HCA Common Area play areas healthy for children, to avoid killing Common Area grass and plantings, to avoid rotting-out light pole bases, and to keep Common Areas immediately surrounding your neighbors' Goodman Houses and parked cars free from unhealthy pee, poop, and related odors, please follow related HCA Governing Documents 1993 General Resolution 2, Code of Conduct Rules and Regulations, including paragraph 10: " ... walk dogs in the wooded areas, not in planters or on common grassy areas, not on traffic islands or where children play. ... "  Yes, it's a politely-stated enforceable rule.  Related HCA and Fairfax County rules are provided in the May 1, 2017 HCA Common Area Pet Walking community notice.

COUNTY GLASS BIN COLLECTION RESUMES @ MON MAY 11

Since October 2019, Fairfax County has asked residents to discontinue placing used glass in curbside recycling collections, and instead either place glass in their trash, or take glass to a county purple bin location.  In March 2020, the county temporarily suspended purple bin collections due to coronavirus pandemic concerns.  However, as of Monday, May 11, the County resumed purple bin collection at the Reston Parkway Park and Ride lot, the Great Falls Library parking lot, and in Herndon, Vienna, McLean and elsewhere throughout Fairfax County.  For more information, see related HCA website posts and Fairfax County website posts.

HCA BLOCK 2 FOOTPATH ... CAT FOUND @ TUE APR 21

A Hickory Cluster resident found this fluffy, sandy-colored, blue-eyed, and ever-so-affectionate Ragdoll breed female on the footpath behind 11553-57 Maple Ridge Rd. in Block 2 yesterday evening at about dusk, uninjured but disoriented and distressed.  She had not been seen there before and had no ID tag.  To keep her safe from local foxes and other predators, freezing weather, and mowing crews, she is temporarily staying in a nearby cat-loving home with fresh food, water, and litterbox, and lots of attention.  To return this sweetheart to her real home, call or text 703 405 9946 and describe her collar.  UPDATE ... April 24:  A happy ending.  Her name is Luna, her relieved Coleson Cluster owner called and stopped by yesterday, and Luna is now back home with her family, hopefully never to be lost again.

HCA TRASH SERVICE CHANGES @ MON APR 6+

Effective Monday, April 6, to protect the health and safety of employees and customers during the coronavirus pandemic, in response to a recent surge in residential waste, and to align with new Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program collection requirements, HCA curbside trash and recycling contractor Republic Services will temporarily modify the services it provides to HCA and other residential customers, as follows:
(1)  For customers with carts, RS will accept cart contents only, and crews will not pick up waste outside of the cart
(2)  For customers who do not have carted service, RS will accept waste placed in bags only, and bags cannot exceed 50 pounds
(3)  Yard and bulk waste programs will be suspended
For additional information on related Fairfax County operational changes effective March 30, 2020, including those driving the RS temporary service modifications, visit the corresponding County webpage.

COUNTY RECYCLE SERVICE CHANGES @ MON MAR 30+

According to the NVRC Northern Virginia Waste Management Board, only about 10% of glass food and beverage containers are actually recycled in Virginia.  Broken glass contaminates other more valuable recycled items such as cardboard and metals, abrasive broken glass damages processing machinery, and heavy glass increases transportation costs.  To encourage and support more beneficial recycling, the Virginia Senate passed SB 218 during the 2018 General Assembly session to improve recycled materials reliability and supply during the next 10 years.

In response, and effective October 1, 2019, Fairfax County asked residents to discontinue including used glass containers in curbside recycling collections. Instead, the County asked residents to deposit used glass in 21 purple bins throughout the County, including at the Reston South Park and Ride parking lot, 2531 Reston Parkway at Fox Mill Rd, or to throw glass items into their trash.  The County took purple bin glass to a regional Lorton, VA glass processing plant where it was crushed for use in pipe bedding and filler material.  Glass items not accepted for County recycling include lamps, light bulbs, ceramics, porcelain, mirrors, windows, and sheet glass. 

However, effective Monday, March 30, 2020, and in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Fairfax County removed all purple collection bins and suspended corresponding glass collection countywide until further notice.  The County now asks residents to throw used glass containers into their trash, or bring glass to the I-66 transfer station or I-95 landfill complex.  Regardless, residents should discontinue placing used glass in curbside recycling collections.  In addition, the County closed the I-95 landfill complex for household hazardous waste and e-waste collection, but these services remain open at the I-66 transfer station.  Secure document shredding events are also postponed until further notice.

Similarly, and according to a November 10, 2019 Washington Post article, residents should also discontinue placing plastic shopping and produce bags in curbside recycling because they tangle recycling equipment.  Instead, plastic wrap washed to remove raw meat or other contamination, dry cleaning bags, shopping bags, zip-lock bags, and newspaper bags should be recycled in bins typically found outside most grocery stores.  For more information, see the American Chemistry Council recycling webpage.

HCA ENTRANCE SIGNS REVIEW MEETING @ WED FEB 26

The HCA Board of Directors invites all Members to join them for a review and discussion of proposed new entrance signage designs and placement at the Lake Anne Reston Museum on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.  This meeting follows ongoing monthly meeting discussions and a September 16, 2019 request for design suggestions from Members.

HCA PAVERS AVAILABLE @ BLOCK 2

As part of his rear patio re-design, a Block 2 HCA Member graciously made available several former Block 3 Common Area garage deck stone-surface concrete pavers for re-use by other HCA Members free of charge.  They are currently stacked at the Block 2 dead end of Maple Ridge Rd. on the rowhouse side.  Note:  Individual pavers are heavy and awkward, and may require a handcart or vehicle to move more than a few dozen feet. 

HCA ENTRANCE SIGN DESIGN DEADLINE @ SAT OCT 19

As described in the official announcement posted at right and mailed September 13, 2019, the HCA Board of Directors is inviting residents and Member homeowners to submit proposed designs for Maple Ridge Rd. and Hickory Cluster entrance signs.  HCA Block 3 Member Ann Youngren suggested entrance sign design clusterwide participation at the 2018 HCA Annual Meeting.

Although RA has DRB Design Guidelines for Cluster Common Area Signs, HCA previously considered unique non-DRB-compliant designs as part of the 1998 Hickory Cluster Common Area Improvement Project, but the signage portion of the project was not completed and the Maple Ridge south side sign location proposed in 1998 is now an overly active bus stop.  More recently, HCA reserved sign space on north corners of each entrance during 2016-17 landscape projects. 

Also noteworthy are sign designs for other Goodman residential communities in DC, Maryland, and Virginia including Hammond Wood, Hollin Hills, River Park, and Rock Creek Woods. 

Proposed designs should include detailed information such as dimensions, materials, finishes, supports, and whatever else is necessary to explain concepts.  Submission deadline is October 19, 2019 for hardcopy or email to:
HCA VP Matt Collins at 11522 Maple Ridge or mattcollins@hickorycluster.org
HCA Director Sylvia Merrill at 11541 Hickory Cluster or sylviamerrill@hickorycluster.org.

HCA TRASH + RECYCLE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE @ 2019

As noted on the current Republic Services schedule:
LABOR DAY ... Monday Sep 2 no change
THANKSGIVING WEEK ... Monday Nov 25 no change, Thursday holiday pick-up delayed to Friday
CHRISTMAS WEEK ... Monday Dec 23 no change, Thursday after holiday pick-up delayed to Friday
As always, and to comply with Fairfax County, RA, and HCA rules, trash and recycling materials should be placed curbside no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before pick-up.

HCA THURSDAY TRASH SERVICE DELAYS UPDATE

During the past few months, HCA Members have noticed several instances of delayed or no trash collection service contractually scheduled for Thursdays.  This has allowed curbside trash containers and bags clusterwide to be publicly visible and vulnerable to scattering by local critters for a day or more longer than expected, and in one case until the next Monday morning.  In response, TWC forwarded to HCA the following Thursday, July 25 update from the Republic Services contractor Account Manager:  I have been advised of a delay on the route that services the trash in the communities below (including Hickory Cluster).  I reached out to the (Republic Services) field supervisor for an update and he assured me that service would be completed today.  I wanted to make you aware in case homeowners begin calling during the day.  In the event that the team is not able to complete the route, we will return tomorrow, Friday, July 26th to service.  Please advise homeowners accordingly."  HCA Members should report trash/recycling service concerns to TWC at (703) 437-5800.

HCA TREE DOWNED BY TORNADO WINDS @ FRI APR 19

According to a NOAA National Weather Service damage estimate revised upward yesterday by the local forecaster, a tornado with up to 75 mph. winds damaged Reston homes and trees at about 8:55 p.m. Friday night, April 19 along a four mile, 100 yd. wide, radar-tracked path between Fairfax County and Reston Parkways.

 

Strong associated inflow winds also downed a 33 in. diameter Red Oak tree in Hickory Cluster ... No. 17 within the 2016 HCA Tree Risk Assessment summary and map ... just northwest of HCA Block 1 Group 5 Goodman Houses.  The tree was evaluated by the HCA Consulting Arborist in 2016 to have High combined failure probability and target impact risk ratings due to trunk decay indicated by initial sounding tests, and was pending further arborist testing and recommendations.  Fortunately, the tree caused no reported property damage or injuries and did not block Maple Ridge Rd.  HCA will remove the downed tree at a future date.  Similar winds also downed a large nearby treetop along Fairway Dr. at Hook Rd.

HCA HICKORY POND DUCKS RETURN

As seen from the Youngren Bridge, the dabbling Mallard duck couple has returned for another season in the HCA pond and stream basins with yet another sign of ongoing HCA watershed health, and validation of major stream restoration and RA pond dredging projects completed in 2017.

HCA TRASH + RECYCLE SERVICE UPDATE @ JAN 14-19

TWC forwarded the following Republic Services information to HCA this morning:  "Operations has made a decision to close today (Monday) January 14^th due to the current road conditions across Northern VA.  
TRASH ... If your community has twice a week trash, the next trash service will be on the community’s next trash service day (Thursday, January 17). ...
RECYCLING ... If your community has recycling pickup today (Monday, January 14), the recycling will be serviced on Wednesday January 16^th, 2019.  ... 
TREES ... If your community has Christmas tree pickup normally on Wednesday (January 16), the Christmas trees will be serviced on Saturday January 19^th, 2019.  
We apologize for the inconvenience and we appreciate your patience."  Italics and underlines added for posting purposes.

HCA TRASH + RECYCLE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 2018-19

Republic Services holiday schedule for Fall 2018 through Fall 2019 is available online and includes trash and recycling schedule information for:
THANKSGIVING DAY, Thu, Nov 22, 2018 ... no service, resumes next week
CHRISTMAS DAY, Tue, Dec 25, 2018 ... not a regular service day
NEW YEARS DAY, Tue, Jan 1, 2019 ... Thu service this week delayed to Fri
UPDATE ... January 15: Republic did not post Christmas tree recycling schedule information on their public website and they are not otherwise pro-actively notifying customers.  However, a customer service representative located non-public information and advised today that trees are scheduled to be picked-up on Wednesdays January 9 and 16.

HCA LANDSCAPE REPAIRS + PERIMETER CLEARING

Following Fall planting season arrival and unexpected weather delays, the HCA grounds maintenance contractor replaced several warranted Dogwood and Schip Laurel plantings at both Blocks 1 and 3 entrances at no charge to HCA on October 16.  The contractor will also provide watering services up through the Winter dormancy period on an as-needed basis to ensure survival of the new plants, and install on November 7-8 almost 100 new Big Blue Liriope plants damaged or destroyed during 2017-18 HCA street repaving, VDOT, Dominion Energy, and Comcast projects.  In addition, Directors approved a contract to "Clear brush from behind (Blocks 1/2/3) town homes where it is not walkable.  In these areas a space of approximately 10-15 ft. in width will be cleared.  This does not include the removal of trees other than saplings.  All resulting debris will be removed from property for disposal." as generally indicated on this site map.  HCA encourages residents to remove unauthorized personal property stored or planted within these Common Areas before the work.  UPDATES November 3:  The contractor requested scope clarification before proceeding, and tentatively plans to walk the Common Area perimeter with a Director next week.  A new perimeter clearing date is now pending.  November 6:  Due to weather delays, the contractor has tentatively rescheduled Liriope replanting for Friday, November 9, and perimeter clearing for Friday, November 16, following a planned Saturday, November 10 site walk.  November 14:  Perimeter clearing has been rescheduled for Monday, November 19 due to the November 15 storm.

RESTON HURRICANE FLORENCE IMPACTS

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declared a State of Emergency as the storm strengthened and the possible path was extended up from the Carolinas into Virginia and the DC area, as reported Sunday in the Washington Post.  Past storms have followed similar clockwise paths.  NOAA images updated as noted.

Based on NOAA predictions, inland areas may experience prolonged heavy rain and tropical storm force winds of 39-73 mph. depending on distance from the storm center.  Experience in New York during 2012 Hurricane Sandy indicated that all standing trees risk falling in 70 mph. winds.