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APRIL 2009
Long Branch
Hit by Brazen Mid-Day Break-in
There is much news to cover in this long-delayed edition of the Long
Branch News, but first, let’s look at a significant safety issue about
which we all need to be aware.
One of our neighbors’ homes, on
Mignonette Drive, was burglarized during the
middle of the day in March
 .
The thieves broke a window in the rear of the house and they backed a
truck right into the driveway and loaded a number of items. Neighbors
who saw the truck assumed that work was being done on the house.
Here are some safety tips from the Neighborhood Watch Coordinator:
With the downturn in the economy, we are hearing more frequent stories
about thefts from cars, keys to home and wallets being stolen from
lockers at the Audrey Moore
Recreation
Center, vandalism and suspicious behavior in
our neighborhood and those close by. This is a reminder to consider the
security features of your home and to consider crime prevention outside
the home. The Fairfax
County Police Department has some information and resources online that
may be of use to you (see
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/).
Note that one of the services available for free is for a police
officer to visit your home to do a security assessment and to make
recommendations on how to improve your own home's security.
If you notice suspicious behavior in the neighborhood, please call the Fairfax county police non-emergency number:
703 691 2131.Thanks to the 45 families who volunteered this year to help
out with the Neighborhood Watch!
The 2009 Watch calendar is now full and we are grateful to all of
you for the efforts you make to help keep Long Branch safe.
If you have questions about Neighborhood Watch, please e-mail Sharon
Hrynkow at s.hrynkow@verizon.net.
Easter Egg Hunt to Take
Place
on Sunday, April 12, at 3 p.m.
Please join us for the annual Long Branch Easter Egg Hunt on
Easter Sunday at the community pool.
Bring a plate of treats to share, such as cookies, brownies,
chips or drinks. If you can
help with preparing for this event, please contact Mark or Julie Wiggins
at (703) 425-1986.
Community Meeting April 28
Neighborhood Traditions
Need New Sponsors
Long Branch
will hold a community meeting at
7 p.m.
on Tuesday, April 28, in the
Canterbury
Woods
Elementary School library.
The school is at
4910 Willet Drive.
Primary among the goals of this meeting are recruiting a new group of
volunteers who are willing to take over management of our neighborhood’s
valued holiday traditions.
Remember, a community association is only as strong as its members! The
recent election of David Cook, the president of the Kings Park Community
Association, as our new Braddock supervisor, shows that community
activism pays off!
We hope you will take pride in your community and give of your time to
keep our community strong.
If you are a newcomer, or if you have lived here for years but have yet
to get involved, or if you are a retiree that knows the value of giving
back to your community, we need you!
Please consider our request to take on one of these fun
activities that the neighborhood and especially young children have come
to expect and enjoy. We
have found over the years that the best and most efficient way of
running these events is by bringing together the residents of a street
or cul-de-sac to share the tasks.
Loosestrife, Colt and Mignonette have done a great job!
Come on Tabard, King Solomon, King David and the rest!!
It would be optimal to establish a structure in which residents give of
their time for a year or two, and then move on and leave the fun to
others! Following is a list
of each annual celebration, and who to contact to volunteer now, before
the community meeting.
Volunteers Needed to Run
Long Branch Annual Celebrations
Easter Egg Hunt
This event was originally started by Jayne Carmona, who lives on Loosestrife Court.
Her Loosestrife neighbors,
 including
(but not limited to) Barb Mink, Kathleen Browning and BeaAnn
Phillips-Brown, lent a hand to expand the event.
It was so popular that about two years ago, the Easter Egg Hunt
was turned into a community-wide event, and now takes place at the pool.
Handling this event consists of collecting or buying wrapped candy (the
civic association’s treasurer will reimburse you with receipts), and
arranging a stuffing party in someone’s garage, during which adults and
kids stuff the eggs with the candy.
Then on the day of the hunt, the coordinator oversees the hiding
of the eggs (by volunteers) near the pool.
The Easter Bunny usually kicks off the hunt and stays around to
greet the kids. It is
tradition to take some folding tables up to the pool parking lot and
stock them with baked goods or other treats that neighbors are asked to
share.
Please contact Mark or Julie Wiggins if you will take this over next
year.
Halloween at the Pool
This fun and entertaining event has been handled by the able and
generous residents of Colt
Lane
for many years. The two
primary coordinators have been Karla Gill and Patty Edmunds.
It is past time to turn this over to new and able hands.
As you will see by the article featured later in the newsletter, this
event includes lots of games for the young set, and a scary haunted
forest (or this year a haunted locker room) for the older, braver set.
Of course, no event would be complete without the table full of
treats that young and old enjoy.
The event will almost run itself, as Patty Edmunds has all the
materials, signs and directions needed to set it up. From painting scary
fingernails, to toss-the-beanbag-in-the-plastic pumpkin, to the
fortune-teller, to the find-a-toy-in-a-haystack, the event is a
fun-filled visit for any child.
Last year, our teens did an amazing job with the haunted (forced
inside by rain) locker room.
We are looking for a group of families to take over management of this
event. Those who have
arranged it for many years in the past have the management of this event
down to a science, and will be happy to share the instructions and
materials for whomever takes over.
To volunteer, please contact Patty Edmonds at
edmondsp@greystoneglobal.com
Luminary and Santa Visit
 For
the past two years, Mignonette’s Julie Roberts has done the organizing
for this important annual holiday tradition.
Before that, Jeff and Ruthanne Stoll spearheaded this for years.
It’s always a fun (but usually cold) Saturday morning when the
community gathers to stuff the paper shopping bags with a paper with the
directions, loose stone, votive candles, and white sandwich bags.
It’s quite an organizational undertaking, but with hot chocolate
or coffee often provided, and donuts, bagels or other treats
contributed, the work is easy and fun.
The goal is to put together enough ready-to-assemble luminary
kits to stock each house in the neighborhood.
For the kids, their favorite part is riding in the back of cars
and dropping off the “kits” at each house.
And finally, on the chosen Sunday night, hopefully every resident
will put out their luminary bags and the neighborhood will be aglow with
the holiday spirit.
In the past, another aspect to this event was having Santa appear at the
pool that same night. In
recent years, Santa has been too busy to stop by, but that could change
with the right folks in charge!
If you and your neighbors can take over this worthy event, please
contact Julie Roberts. It
is time for someone new to have the honors!
Homes Tour
After many years of no home tour, in 2006, the Long Branch Homes Tour
was re-launched. Melinda
Malico coordinated the tour, with help from many neighbors.
The event, which with your help could take place next fall,
provides neighbors with great ideas on ways to renovate or add to their
homes. Handling this event
consists of finding neighbors to show their homes, gathering
descriptions of the work done and the outcomes achieved, and putting
those descriptions into a brochure (we have a template).
Then, on the day of the event, someone sets up at the pool and
sells tickets (we only charged $5 last time) and anyone with a ticket is
admitted to the homes during the three- or four-hour home tour.
The oohs and ahhs are enough of a payback for those who agree to
open their homes. If you
would like to plan and coordinate this event, please contact Melinda
Malico via e-mail at
m.malico@verizon.net
So please consider doing one of these jobs so the traditions can
continue!
Read on below to find out how many of these events went last year:
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL HOLIDAY
LUMINARY!!
 The
streets of Long Branch looked absolutely gorgeous the
night of December 21st with the seemingly endless lines of candles
celebrating the holiday season. Many thanks to all of the
volunteers who came out on the morning of the 20th to help assemble and
deliver the luminary bags. It was
great to work together as a community and to have fun at the same time!!
If you missed it -- there's always next year.
A special thanks to Trader Joe's on
Main Street for donating the brown bags
(those handles sure made things easier!); to Don Saunders of Saunders
Landscaping for picking up and delivering the rocks without charging us
for his time and gas; to Trish Schrade and Blue Kamen Benefits for
copying the instruction sheets for us at no charge; and to the
Fruchterman family for allowing us to take over their yard and driveway.
--Julie Roberts
Long Branch
Neighborhood Halloween Fest Provided Scary and Sweet Treats for All
 Last
October,
Long Branch
residents came together to celebrate Halloween at the annual gathering
that took place at the Long Branch Pool.
Some came in costume to try their hands at the games, others came
to enjoy the refreshments and say hello to old friends.
Because of a soaking rain the preceded the celebration, the Spooky
Forest
had to be modified. Thus,
the new hit of the gathering was the Spooky Locker Room, pulled together
by an astute group of young volunteers. This is a wonderful community
holiday tradition. We hope that everyone enjoyed it!
Thanks to the volunteers (many of whom live on
Colt Lane) who worked hard to make this event
scarilicious! Thanks to
Karla Gill, Patty Edmonds, Dave Everett, Sharon Hrynkow, Ruthanne Stoll,
Megan Bondy, Melinda Malico.
These volunteers wish to thank everyone for making this event fun, year
and year. Next year, we
will turn this over to another group or street to sponsor.
Please contact Patty Edmonds if you can lead this effort next
year.
Fall
Membership Drive
Enrolls 65 Percent in Civic Association
A fall membership drive collected more than $6,000 and paved the way for
the new directory that is in the works.
Several resident volunteered to help with neighborhood watch
(nearly 50), and a few others signed up to help in other ways. This year
we tried a new approach for the membership drive, which asked residents
to simply mail the membership form with a check for $25 back to the
treasurer. Unfortunately,
many of our residents did not do so, despite being reminded with a
follow-up mailing. During
the directory update, many residents received e-mails to give them one
last chance to join. If you
know of someone who did not join and wants to, please tell them to
contact the community treasurer, Michele Johnson, by e-mailing her at
maejohnson@deloitte.com.
President’s Pen
As we enter spring and get warmer weather, I have a few things to
update. We will host a Community meeting at Canterbury Woods
on Tuesday, April 28 at
7 pm.
At this meeting we will ask for people to volunteer for the open board
positions of secretary, membership/welcoming and directory/database.
Additional volunteers are needed in order to support the various
activities for the community. We will also discuss whether to repair the
peeling curb numbers or have a company use traditional paint for each
home address number. The social calendar will be laid out and we look
forward to volunteers helping to run those events. We will also need to
schedule the annual Long Branch Yard Sale.
I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Melinda Malico
who has kindly prepared our newsletter for the last four years.
Melinda will be taking a well-deserved break in the action and we are so
happy to inform you that Susan Betts has generously agreed to author the
newsletter going forward. Thanks again, Melinda for your great
work.
In closing, 2009 will be an eventful year for
Long Branch
and we look forward to supporting the Community with your help.
Those wanting to volunteer please contact me or any board member.
Mark
Wiggins, President
teamwiggins@msn.com
(703) 425-1986
Useful Numbers
 Other
numbers that might be useful to you are: If you notice burned out street
lights, please call Virginia Power at 703 359 3300.
To report downed or damaged street signs, call
Fairfax
County office at
703-934-2840.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is using a new tracking system
for customer service. Any
inquiries related to the VDOT, including maintenance issues, snow
removal and signal problems, can be called in 24 hours a day, seven days
a week, at (703) 383-VDOT (8368) or e-mail concerns to
NOVAinfo@VDOT.Virginia.gov.
This system allows VDOT to track issues more effectively and to
maintain a more complete database of issues for funding purposes.
Digital TV Conversation (DTV) postponed until June
2009
This change from analog broadcasting was federally mandated for several
reasons, including freeing up frequency space for emergency personnel
and first responders. If
you receive television signals through an antenna and do not have
television with a digital tuner your reception will be affected by the
transition. Options for
viewers include purchasing a newer television, subscribing to cable or
satellite service, or purchasing and installing a converter box for each
TV. The federal government
is offering a $40 coupon to help with the cost of the box, which can
range from $40-$70 each.
For information on this program, go to
https://www.dtv2009.gov/ or calls
1-888-DTV-2009.
HOT Lanes Under Construction
You can’t miss the massive construction and deforestation on the Beltway
between Springfield
and McLean.
Virginia has contracted with two private companies to construct
four new carpool lanes—two in each direction between the Springfield
interchange and Old Dominion Drive—to be used by carpoolers, buses and
those who pass a toll. In
addition to increasing capacity, the project will upgrades interchanges
and add, improve or replace bridges, overpasses and sound walls.
Extensive work is underway for the bridges that carry Braddock Road and Little River Turnpike
over the Beltway. The
project is scheduled to be complete by 2012.
More information is available at
www.virginiahotlanes.com.
Swim Team Had a Banner Year!
It’s almost time for this year’s swim team season to begin, but don’t
forget that last summer was a big year for the Swim Team!
We had the most swimmers ever with 128 participating!
The Long Branch Dolphins went 4-1
in
Division 13, which was amazing since we moved up from Division 15 last
year. The Dolphins sent a
team to the All-Star Relay Carnival, and six individuals went to
All-Stars.
Here are the details:
-
Long Branch
Meet Record - 4 wins 1 loss - 2nd place in our Division (#13). Very
impressive results after moving up 2 Divisions from the year
before.)
-
Long Branch
had over 70 families signed up on the team and over 120 swimmers.
-
New this year, the Long Branch Dolphins held an Intersquad Meet (on 7/22/08) where parents
and swimmers participated in an assortment of relays and fun events
-
Team Rep - Kathleen Browning Coach - Ali Porter
-
All Star Relays - Our 8&U Boys Medley Relay Team (Tommy
Brown, Matthew Fruchterman, Nicholas Margraf and Hunter
Browning) participated in the All Star Relay Carnival at Springboard
Pool, held on 7/16. The boys were
seeded 18th going into the meet, and came in 12th.
-
Individual All Stars – In this Meet, held at Little Rocky Run on
8/2/08, the top 18 swimmers in each event (across the entire NVSL)
competed. This year, we had 6 Dolphin swimmers qualify for
Individual All-Stars; Emily Wiggins (8 & U girls Breast stroke),
Matthew Fruchterman (8 & U boys Breast stroke), Nicholas Margraf (8
& U boys Freestyle and Backstroke),
Christopher Margraf ({Alternate} 9-10 boys Freestyle), Ryan McQuade
(13-14 boys Butterfly), and Peter Slattery (15-18 boys Breast
stroke)
-
In addition, several of our Dolphins broke many Long Branch pool records (some were as
old as 1980).
--Thanks to Denise Margraf for providing much of this information.
Long Branch Swim and Racquet….
Still a Good Summertime Investment
 The
2009 Summer Pool Season is just around the corner. Where better to spend
your time on those long summer nights and weekends than at the pool? We
are currently taking membership applications.
Mark your calendar with these upcoming Events:
Spring Break Pool Clean-up Dates:
April 18
April 26
May 2
May 17
Cleanup Hours: 8AM - 11AM
Kids get your community service hours.
Polar Bear Swim
Friday, May 22, 2009
Pool Official Opening Day
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Visit the Long Branch Swim and Racquet website for all the details!
http://www.longbranchpool.com/
Your Pool Board
Byron Browning,
Treasurer
Todd Hartung,
Board member
Vicki Santaniello,
Membership
Julie Roberts,
Secretary
Heather Hartung,
Social
Tom Schrade,
Maintenance
Julie Wiggins,
Swim Team Rep
Lifeguards Needed
With the pool season rolling around,
Long Branch is looking for lifeguard applicants.
This job is open to all teens 15 and older. It is a great first job and
requires no prior work experience. The only preparation needed is a
Lifeguarding and CPR course. If interested, please contact Lisa Lockerby
at sportiegirl44@yahoo.com for more information or to receive an
application.
Long Branch Officers
President
Mark Wiggins,
teamwiggins@msn.com or
703-425-1986.
Vice President/Social
............... Karla Gill, (703) 764-4919
Treasurer
................................. Michele Johnson,
maejohnson@deloitte.com
Secretary.................................
vacant
Membership and Welcoming .....
vacant
Newsletter................................
Susan Betts, susan@itprojectmanagers.com
Web site..................................
Melinda Malico,
m.malico@verizon.net and Steve Alvo
Neighborhood Watch.................
Sharon Hrynkow, s.hrynkow@verizon.net
Database and Directory.............
vacant
Street Representatives
Alyssum..................................
9218 Joe Fidd................
703-323-7841
Bradfield & Burnetta..................
9201 Katzer...................
703-978-2352
Bramble...................................
9106 Heather Hartung.....
703-978-1524
Cascus....................................
9113 Emily Wiggins........
703-978-1355
Claytonia..................................
9206 Elliott....................
703-978-2654
Colt.........................................
9117 Jodi Kalantgis........
703-764-9669
Gloxinia...................................
4910 MaryEllen Slattery..
703-425-0671
King David (4900–5015).............
4926 Cheri Jacobs..........
703-425-0529
King David (5017–5031).............
5024 Kathy Moore
......... 703-764-9485
King David (5032–5126).............
5124 Linda Leonard........
703-503-8441
King Solomon (4800–4816)........
4815 Bruce....................
703-323-9211
King Solomon (4817–4838)........
4821 Rabadan
............... 703-425-8927
King Solomon (4900–4920)........
4918 Burns
................... 703-503-5756
King Solomon (4921–5008)........
5002 Wright
.................. 703-425-8155
Loosestrife...............................
4910 Letellier.................
703-425-0664
Meadow Rue............................
9111 Herrick..................
703-978-4004
Mignonette...............................
5002 Banks
.................. 703-764-0548
Sabra/ Windflower (9100–9123)..
4949 Ellis......................
703-978-1182
Windflower (9000–9026).............
9009 Alvo.......................
703-323-5336
Steeplebush.............................
9112 Maritza Taylor........
703-503-0438
Tabard (4800–4817)...................
4803 Lisa Spero.............
703-426-5590
Tabard (4819–4838)...................
4835 Susan Roden ........
703-425-9886
Stay Informed!
Don’t forget to check the Long Branch Web site at
www.longbranchcommunity.net for updates and all our community
information! And don’t
forget to give us information for the Web site!
Please add
longbranchcommunity@verizon.net
to the “safe list” in your address book.
Also, send any change of address to the same address.
The newsletter editor will be unable to deliver the newsletter if
the e-mail does not go through.
Thank you!
Classified Ads
Spring Studio Show
Spring Studio show on May 2 & 3, Sat and Sun 10-6 pm 10%
off EVERYTHING in STOCK!!!
New “fun”- ctional and decorative pottery.
Lots of new designs and colors for today's interiors.
Great gifts for moms, grads & brides too.
Come sign up for summer pottery classes! Have an artful summer in
Susan's Long Branch Pottery studio!
New programs for Girl scouts, Boy and Cub Scouts too!
Susan Fox Hirschmann Art Pottery
artpottery@earthlink.net
703-978-1480
Tiny Steps Day Care
Mother of three in Long Branch
has opened her home to care for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old on
a full-time or part-time basis. The Fairfax County
licensed family home day care offers a happy, caring, and fun
environment that fosters individual growth and learning through hands-on
activities, developmentally appropriate toys,
arts and crafts projects, music and
movement, and storytime. Visit
http://www.tinystepscare.zoomshare.com to learn more
or call Nicole at (703) 425-1288.
Convenient location on same street as
Long Branch pool.
HOUSE/PET SITTING NEEDED?
LOCAL
LONG BRANCH NURSING
STUDENT
FOR HIRE!
DEPENDABLE, CONVENIENT, and
AFFORDABLE
Contact Billie Leigh @ (703)
424-6274
References available
Velasquez Painters
If you need a painter, hire a reputable one who has worked for many Long Branch families.
Mr. Velasquez specializes in interior and exterior painting.
From drywall, wallpaper removal, expert surface preparation, to
door replacement, new moldings & power washing, Mr. Velasquez and his
crews do it all. Please call for a free estimate:
Mr. Velasquez at 571-245-9026.
Community Info
Sharon Bulova won the race for Chairman of Fairfax County Board. She can
be reached at
Chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov
. Our new supervisor is David Cook.
To contact his office, call
703-425-9300.
Deadlines for
Submissions
Please send any newsletter submissions to
susan@itprojectmanagers.com
in Word or PowerPoint (not
PDF files).
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