HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From Blade Runners earlier this morning:  "We know your property is icy.  We have successfully plowed all of the properties.  We would have liked to apply ice control but we were not able to do this.  We were forced to send the walkway crews home early because of the cold weather conditions that we deemed dangerous.  Our entire staff is resting and will return in the mid morning.  Today will be about ice control.  ... Magic Salt to Roadway will be completed this afternoon and early evening."

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From Blade Runners at 8:00 a.m. this morning:  "As you know there is going to be a significant event this afternoon and into the evening.   We plan to focus on plowing today and tonight.  It is likely that ice control applications will be needed tomorrow.  Road Plowing will begin this afternoon.  Ice Control Roadway post-treatment planned for tomorrow."

From NOAA NWS at 9:30 a.m. this morning:  Winter Storm Warning in effect until 11:00 p.m.  Wind Chill Advisory in effect from 6:00 p.m. this evening until 12:00 noon Wednesday.  Tuesday much cooler with highs around 30F, falling to around 19F this afternoon, North winds 15-20 mph.  Tuesday night colder with lows around 4F, but Northwest winds 15-20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph and wind chill values as low as -12F.  Snow accumulations of 4-8 inches.

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From Blade Runners this morning:  "We are expecting snow and ice this afternoon and evening. Temperatures are going to be below 20F degrees and will remain so during the day tomorrow. We plan to take the following course of action:  Ice Control pre-treatment of roadways in the evening, Roadway Plowing completed tomorrow if we receive more than 2 inches (of snow). ... "

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From Blade Runners late this morning:  "This event seems less severe than last Sunday. Temperatures are not supposed to fall below freezing.  In addition, Sunday brings sun and the mid-40Fs.  For these reasons we do not plan to provide any service."

HCA FALL CLUSTER CLEAN-UP DEC 14-15 POSTPONED

Due to continuing very cold, wet, and snowy weather conditions forecast for this coming weekend, December 14-15, HCA unfortunately must postpone this semi-annual event until early Spring 2014 when outdoor temperatures are warmer but not too warm, and before Common Area vegetation fills out and become less accessible.  Until then, HCA encourages Members to remove and stack tree debris near footpaths, remove vines from trees, and clear overgrown brush during other fair weather days.  New dates will be announced on this website.  Contact the HCA Director(s) for your Block for more information.

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE ... ROUND 2

From Blade Runners Monday early afternoon:  "We did not get the higher temperatures and rain as forecast.  This has created some unwanted residue on the roadway.  The treatment from last night will help to melt this off over the next 3 hours. There are likely to be small amounts of re-freezing tonight.  We would normally be performing touch-ups to these areas today but we must prepare for the storm tomorrow.   Roadway plowing:  Will begin at 2 inches tomorrow.  Ice Control:  None planned until after plowing."

NOAA NWS forecast for Fairfax County as of 12:30 p.m. today:  Monday night ... slight chance of rain, then snow, sleet likely, slight chance of rain and freezing rain after midnight.  Tuesday ... morning snow and sleet, then chance of afternoon snow, accumulation 3-5 inches.

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE ... ROUND 1

From Blade Runners midday Saturday:  " ... This storm is scheduled to drop 1-2 inches of snow in the region between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Sunday.  In the afternoon we are scheduled to have ice accumulations of up to 1/4 inch.  Roadway plowing:  None planned unless we reach 2 inches. ... "

UPDATE from Blade Runners midday Sunday:  " ... Please be advised due to the change in forecast we are planning on a Magic Salt roadway application for all communities.  Trucks will be through this afternoon and into the evening. ... No plowing is being scheduled."

See this website Emergencies page for related contact information, including contacting TWC for emergency fallen tree removal.

UPDATE Monday morning:  There is now a single-car passage space cut through the large fallen tree branch in the Block 1-2 guest parking area.  TWC was notified of the overall problem earlier this morning.  Maple Ridge Road appears to passable mushy ice.

HCA FALL CLUSTER CLEAN-UP DEC 14-15

HCA Members are encouraged to join the Board of Directors on Saturday and Sunday, December 14 and 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to remove fallen tree debris and stack it near footpaths, to cut climbing vines choking cluster trees, and to clear overgrown brush from Hickory Cluster Common Areas.  Temperatures should be cool enough to work hard in protective shirts and pants without overheating, Fall leaves have just been removed, and stacked tree debris will be removed within the following few weeks.  Weather permitting, please join us to help improve the cluster grounds and meet your neighbors.  Contact the HCA Director(s) representing your Block for more information.

HCA SEEKS DIRECTOR FOR JAN-MAY 2014 TERM

A 1993 HCA Articles of Incorporation Amendment states that "In the event of ... resignation ... of a single director, that Director's successor shall be selected by the remaining members of the Board and shall serve until the next members' meeting ... at which meeting an election shall be held to fill out the unexpired term. ... ."

Recently a member of the volunteer HCA Board of Directors resigned for personal reasons.  To give all HCA Members an equal opportunity to fill the vacant position, the Board invites prospective candidates to attend the next HCA meeting on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 and express their interest.  The Board will select the new Director at the Wednesday, January 15, 2014 monthly meeting, and will hold a clusterwide election for the two years remaining of the three-year term at the May 2014 Annual Meeting.

Serving as a Director means doing more than just attending monthly meetings and voicing opinions.  It involves many additional hours reviewing budgets, proposals, contracts, and other documents; collaborating with other Directors, neighbors, consultants, and contractors; taking hands-on responsibility for leading projects; and making difficult decisions to effectively manage a non-profit corporation.  If you have the passion, commitment, and experience, here's your chance to help maintain and enhance Hickory Cluster quality of life, architectural integrity, and property values.

HCA BLOCK 2 REPLACEMENT TREES @ DEC 5

On Thursday afternoon, December 5, an HCA contractor will plant five new trees in Block 2 parking lot peninsulas to replace five problematic Bradford Pear trees removed earlier this year after numerous resident complaints about fruit-stained cars, because they posed increasing falling debris risk, and because RA identified them as trees to avoid.  HCA selected Natchez Crape Myrtle, Lagerstroemia 'Natchez', as replacements.  To help the contractor complete his work, and to protect your property, HCA asks affected Block 2 residents to park their cars in other unassigned spaces away from the central parking peninsula planting areas.  Contact HCA Director Blake Travis for more information.