Lakeport Cluster

Winter 2023 Issue of Ripples

Lakeport News

Message from the President – Chuck Foster
Maintenance Committee – Paul Renard
Landscape Committee – Mary Sapp
Social Committee— Shelby Friedel
Book Club – Barbara Khan
Thanks to Our Volunteers

Helpful Information

Yes, I know that this is the Winter issue of Ripples, and typically this column would be accompanied by a picture of a beautiful snow-covered scene in our community instead of spring flowers, but Lakeport’s daffodils have a different idea of the seasons, and this picture (taken on Valentine’s Day!) is a clear harbinger of what we can look forward to right around the corner.

In some ways, this situation can serve as a reminder that life in general often does not follow the pattern we expect it to (or hope it will). We think X is going to come as it always has, and all of a sudden we are confronted with Y. Or we’ve counted on Y because that’s what’s happened in the past, only to find X waiting for us this time. So let’s demonstrate our flexibility and resilience by getting outside a little sooner and enjoying the early spring in beautiful Lakeport with our neighbors!

If you have comments about this issue of Ripples and/or would like to submit an item for our Spring issue, please email me at ssapp@miami.edu.

P.S. The cover picture for this issue is from the one noticeable snowfall we’ve had so far this winter, but in case you are missing the snow, below are some pictures from last winter’s issue to remind you of how lovely Lakeport can be when it snows!

Message from Lakeport President

By Chuck Foster

Believe it or not, the next election for Board members is only eight months away. And there will likely be current members who will choose not to run again, resulting in vacancies. If you wish to learn more about what is involved in being on the Board, you can contact any of the current members to receive an orientation. Serving on the Board gives you unique insight into the operations of the cluster and grants you broad authority to determine our funding, expenditures, contractual relationships, policies, rules, and amenities. And it is a great way to meet people beyond your immediate neighbors.

Last September, there were no declared candidates prior t
o or during the annual meeting. Fortunately, after the annual meeting two members of the community stepped up to serve (thank you!), which brought the Board back up to five members. I believe it is unfortunate when there are no declared candidates prior to the annual meeting. With declared candidates, community members have the opportunity to read each candidate’s statement and cast a vote for their preferred person(s). Declared candidates also send a strong public signal that members of the community are stepping forward to serve.

You may recall that, in my candidate’s statement in 2021, I wrote that I felt an obligation to run. As a member of the community, I have benefitted greatly from the hard and thoughtful work of former Board members. So I decided it was my time to make my contribution.

Is being on the Board a back-breaking responsibility? Actually, each Board member decides how much of their personal time they want to commit to the task. If you simply want to make sure the trains run on time, you can do that. Alternatively, if you want to contribute your time, energy, and creativity to improving some aspect of cluster life, you can do that, too. How many Board meetings are required over the course of a year? According to the by-laws, only four. However, the Board can hold more if the business of the cluster requires it. Each Board member brings a unique set of skills and experiences and is the sole determinant of his or her level of contribution. Some Boards accomplish a lot, others less. However, the important thing is that the residents of our community (as opposed to a professional manager) are the ones making the decisions about the train schedule, where the tracks go, and thus the quality of life in the cluster.

It’s not too soon to consider running for the Board. Give a Board member a call for insight into the responsibilities. And remember, in the grand scheme of things, it’s only a brief commitment, much less than some of the other commitments we might make in life, such as getting a tattoo, buying a boat, or having children!

Maintenance Committee

By Paul Renard

The Maintenance Committee has mostly been busy with administration over the past weeks. We have supervised the repair of the bollard lights that were burning out and made fixes to the photo cells that were keeping lights on around the clock. We still have a few street lights that need repair, and we are working on a budget to have the incandescent ballasts replaced with LEDs (cheaper to fix and longer lasting) as the ballasts stop working.

We are finishing up negotiations with Brothers Paving to have the cracks fixed that have appeared in our streets since repaving a couple of years ago. We will let you know when we have a repair date, but the sealing should not create any traffic issues.

We just received an estimate for the every-three-year resealing of the dock planking to extend its life and are planning to have that done once the lake gets a little warmer (since the workers have to be in the water to use their clever “no sealant polluting the lake” process that they invented for us last time).

Otherwise, Spring is coming – with the annual anticipated fixes to the walkway railings around the neighborhood and our annual survey of other repairs to consider.

Landscape Committee

By Mary Sapp

Winter tends to be a down time for landscaping, but we are planning for the new year and did have some tree work done in December. A nearly dead spruce behind 11122 Lakespray was removed and replaced with a Green Giant Thuja. Unfortunately, a large red oak behind 11108 Lakespray also had to be removed because two arborists deemed it a hazard to nearby homes due to disease at the top. It was replaced with a native American hornbeam (see photo to right), adding to three other native trees and a dozen native seedlings planted last year in the wooded natural area between Lakespray and Lakeport Ways.

With the encouragement of Reston Association and Fairfax County, we have been planting natives there and in other areas in Lake
port to provide screening for owners and shelter and food for birds. Last year, a rhododendron and three other native seedlings were planted between Lakespray and South Lakes Drive, and a witch hazel and six native shrubs were planted on Lakeport property between Sunrise Valley Drive and the RA path to the pool. At the request of Fairfax ReLeaf, Inc. (the source of our free seedlings), we reported native trees and shrubs planted in 2022 to https://www.plantnovatrees.org/report-your-plantings.

Last year’s native trees are in addition to others planted over the preceding few years as replacements for live trees that had to be removed: four American hollies, four Eastern redbuds, two fringe trees, two serviceberries, a sweet bay magnolia, a witch hazel, and five native shrubs. In addition, several small hollies and a redbud that showed up as “volunteers” in other locations were transplanted to our wooded areas, and native ferns, grasses, and other perennials were used exclusively in the two conservation landscaping areas and the rain garden installed for storm-water mitigation.

Let me end with a request: As you may recall, volunteers planted almost 500 liriope near the Safeway sidewalk. Unfortunately, walkers and bicyclists have cut across this area, flattening the new plants in two areas in particular and interfering with their ability to get established. We will be installing signs shortly asking people to avoid walking on plants and to use one of the paver paths through the liriope from Lakeport Way to the RA path instead. Sticking to paths and sidewalks rather than walking on planted areas here (and other areas as well) will help Lakeport landscape look more attractive. Your cooperation is appreciated. Thanks.

Social Committee

By Shelby Friedel

With a year of fun-filled activities coming up, I would love to hear your ideas. Now that we have all gotten our feet below us a bit more and the weather is warming up, please send me your feedback on the types of social events you would like to see in Lakeport. We have received some great suggestions of a s’mores night, movie nights, and a game night; so please keep them coming.

Another request I have of you all is for folks to join the Social Committee. As some of you may know, I have had to travel for work a great deal lately, but I don’t want that to hinder the parties! If you’re interested in hosting a TGIF, joining the committee, and/or helping with some of these fun events, please let me know.

Book Club

By Barbara Khan, Coordinator

Want to join some of your neighbors and talk about a good book? Lakeport has an informal book club that is always open to new members. No master’s degree in literature is required (not even a bachelor’s!), and no grades are given. Just read the assigned book and show up for a lively, lighthearted discussion. We usually meet monthly on the third Monday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 6-ish, either rotating among members’ homes or, in comfortable weather, taking advantage of our beautiful Lakeport setting to meet outside in Triangle Park.

Here are the upcoming selections for February and March:

February

Book: Us: A Novel, by David Nicholls

Date: Monday, February 20

Time: 5:00 p.m.

Where: Jeannette’s house, 1973 Lakeport Way

March

Book: Band of Sisters, by Lauren Willig
Date: Monday, March 20
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Where: Linda’s house, 1915 Lakeport Way

Note: This book is especially appropriate for Lakeport’s Book Club given the following communication from Linda Rosenberg, who is hosting the March meeting: “My cousin has been sitting on my great aunt’s letters in his attic, and he just sent them to me. She was Ruth Joslin, listed among the original Band of Sisters in the front of the book. I am in the process of reading the handwritten letters and typing them up for easier reading. Willig says all the things that happen in the book are true, but when I first read it I didn’t know what Ruth did. Now I know she was one of the drivers. I will be so happy to share what I learn.”

Thanks to Our Volunteers

Please be sure to thank your neighbors for their efforts to make Lakeport a better place for all of us to live. If you want to volunteer, let the Board or a committee chair know—it’s a great way to get to meet your neighbors and to contribute to your community.

Landscape Projects

Mary Sapp (chair), Steven Browning, Don Nagley, Elizabeth Pan, and Rosemary Welch – serving on the Landscape Committee

Social

Shelby Friedel – chairing the Social Committee
Carol Leos – welcoming new residents
Marcy Foster – hosting Lakeport cookie exchange

Maintenance

Paul Renard – chairing the Maintenance Committee

Standards

Rich Rosenberg – chairing the Standards Committee

Other

James Pan – chairing Neighborhood Watch
Barbara Khan – coordinating the Lakeport Book Club
Tom Barnett – maintaining Lakeport’s online directory and listserv for announcements and posting Ripples
Stephen Sapp – editing Ripples

Neighborhood Watch

By James Pan

Scams have probably been around as long as human beings have, but it seems that recently they have become more numerous, and scammers have certainly become more sophisticated in their techniques. We can all take certain precautions, however, to ensure that we do not become victims:

Always confirm any phone call, email, or US mail stating that you have a problem with a bill, taxes, or postage, and be sure to use a phone number you get from a verified source instead of one in an unsolicited communication. There is always a chance the problem is real, but you want to confirm the issue first by finding an independent phone number. If the problem concerns a credit or debit card, call the number on the back of the card, find a number on an old statement, or log in to the official website. If someone claims you owe postage due, verify the issue with the post office.

If the alleged problem concerns taxes, call only the number you obtain from the official government website and work your way through the phone tree (which can be its own challenge). NOTE: The IRS or any other official government agency will never send you an email or call you. If someone claiming to be from such an agency does call, hang up! Government agencies do business only via official US mail.

These precautions can take some time, but think about the alternative: Let’s say you get a notice from the IRS and you call the phone number in the letter. For the IRS to verify you, you have to give them your address, Social Security number, and date of birth. But if the IRS letter was a scam and you give the fake IRS person all your personal information, they can wreak havoc in your life by opening fraudulent accounts under your name. Again, call only numbers you have verified as authentic!

Fraudulent wires are even more potentially devastating. Suppose you are buying a home for $400,000 and you receive the wire instructions from the settlement company. If the instructions are sent via email from a scammer, your email responses are now being intercepted, and you will be given false account, routing, and phone numbers. Once you send the $400,000 to the wrong account you have no recourse, and you have lost the money. The solution once again is to call the settlement company directly using a verified phone number from its website or a previous contact. Ask the recipient of the funds to verify all routing and account information and only then send the money.

One possible tool of defense for many of these scams is to freeze your credit with the three major credit bureaus, which is explained in this article from nerdwallet:

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-freeze-credit

To recap, always confirm that the alleged problem is legitimate, being sure to use an independent phone number. Never believe the phone number on any email or even regular mail. Hackers are very clever, and they have to be right only once to devastate your savings. Taking the few extra minutes needed to discover a potential scam can save you a great deal of heartache and money.

Reminders

Maintenance of the Exterior of Your Home: As you think about maintenance and possible changes to the exterior of your home this spring, be sure to check Lakeport Standards, and if a relevant Lakeport standard doesn’t exist, you need to follow the relevant RA Guideline. Links to Lakeport and RA architectural requirements, the DRB application, discussion of RA’s counter-intuitive party-wall rules, and resources for landscaping and replacement trees (required by RA if you remove a tree) are all available in Section A at https://www.lakeportcluster.org/p/documents.html.

Improve Lighting in Lakeport: As the days continue to grow shorter, it is increasingly important to turn on your outdoor lights at night, and if they are on timers, to adjust the time they come on. A well-lit community is one of the most basic measures we can take to ensure the safety of our residents and the security of our property. One way to further the goal of safe lighting is for residents to leave their exterior lights on at night, especially those in units with post lights, which according to long-time Lakeport residents used to be standard practice. This is of course voluntary but doing this one small thing would be a gracious contribution to the overall safety and attractiveness of our community.

Lock your cars: If you park your car outside, be sure to lock it and do not leave valuables visible, especially at night. Also remind guests to do the same.

Report Suspicious Activity: If you see suspicious activity, don’t confront anybody but instead call the Fairfax County Police non-emergency number, 703-691-2131 (use this number also to report vandalism or any other crime that has already occurred). The police request that even if you just have a “gut feeling” something is wrong, please notify them with as many details as possible. It is helpful if you can also take photos unobtrusively. Police will be dispatched (or you may be able to provide a report over the phone). Also notify Lakeport’s Neighborhood Watch coordinator James Pan at jpamco@gmail.com. Please pay special attention to suspicious activity or sounds near the Lakeport dock, in the woods, or at night.

Drive Slowly: Neighborhood kids continue to be outside even as the weather turns colder, playing on sidewalks and in the streets. Please remember to drive slowly and keep your eyes out for children (and other pedestrians).

Help Keep Our Community Clean and Beautiful: Please contribute to the appearance of our community by picking up trash anywhere you see it while you’re out walking and enjoying nature in Lakeport (and elsewhere).

Composting. If you are tired of smelly garbage cans and want to reduce the amount of garbage you send to the dump, consider signing up for the compost pickup service offered by Veteran Compost DC–From Combat to Compost, which will turn your food scraps into high-quality compost. The company provides a bin, which has a sealing mechanism that is effective at trapping odors inside and is picked up and replaced once a week with a clean bin (currently on Fridays). The group rate for residents of Lakeport is $25 per month. For more information, see https://veterancompostindc.com/ or email Fritz C. Gottschalk (US Army, retired) at Fritz@veterancompost.com.

Never Again Be Late Paying Your Quarterly Assessment: If you’ve been contacted by the Board for not paying your assessment as the end of the month nears (or even if you haven’t), please consider paying your quarterly assessments by direct debit through your bank instead of mailing a check or paying on TownSq (which incurs an extra fee). Doing so means that you never have to worry about incurring late fees because you forgot to make the payment (currently $25 plus the charge from SCS for sending the letter). Alternatively, you can pay the entire assessment at the beginning of the year. Either approach means the Board doesn’t have to spend time contacting you or pay SCS for mailing quarterly statements to owners who have not set up direct debit or prepaid (the cost to Lakeport recently was around $540). A third option for avoiding late fees (but you’ll still get a quarterly statement) is to use your bank’s electronic bill-pay option to set up recurring checks. For information about any of these three options and for mailing checks, go to https://www.lakeportcluster.org/p/hoa-fee-payments-lakeport-cluster-hoa.html.

Update Your Contact Information: Please go to the Lakeport Directory https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lQmLFN8lmLdfoXajXB-j2ad5whVDsmO9/view) and check the contact information listed there for you. If a correction is needed, either 1) send an email to webmaster@lakeportcluster.org and copy along@scs-management.com or 2) fill out the form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFILfWGBoWIgWlBPSQmIKj4kIX0kPA7XsRjnsaOsNXuvVSkw/viewform. Contact the Webmaster if you do not have the password. If your home has renters, please ask them to fill out the form to be listed in the directory. Remember also that if you need to contact a neighbor or just remember someone’s name you have forgotten, you can always check this directory.

Winter Home Maintenance Checklist

This checklist is intended for homes in Lakeport Cluster, which are more than 30 years old and unique in several ways.

Important note: If you are planning to address issues with the exterior of your home, please consult the Lakeport Standards and remember that you may have to seek approval from Reston Association’s Design Review Board.

Indoor Checklist

If you don’t have disaster preparedness kits, consider assembling emergency preparedness items, including for your car in case you are stranded in a snowstorm; if do you have such kits, check expiration dates and batteries. For more information, see “Disaster Preparedness Guide” and “Items to Include in Disaster Preparedness Kits” in “Disaster Preparedness” under “Residents” on the Lakeport website: https://www.lakeportcluster.org/p/disaster-preparedness-plan.html.
Change your HVAC filters several times throughout the year to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of your HVAC equipment. The recommendation is to change filters at least twice during the summer and once during the winter. However, if you use fiberglass filters, they should be changed monthly.
Clean clogged filters on humidifiers, but if mildew, mold, or dust mites are present, the equipment should be replaced.
Replace the water filter in your refrigerator every six months (and the filter on a carafe-style water filter every month) because old filters can trap bacteria, heavy metals, and chemicals that can then be dispensed in your drinking water.
Check the pressure gauge on your fire extinguisher monthly to be sure the equipment is fully charged. If you aren’t sure your extinguisher is functional, most fire departments can inspect it to determine its status.
Replace the batteries in all your smoke detectors twice annually (i.e., at the beginning and end of Daylight Saving Time). Check the expiration date on your smoke detectors and replace them at least every decade.
Replace your carbon monoxide detector at least every five years.
Check the contents of your first aid kit annually for expiration dates on materials in the kit. Partially used tubes or bottles of topical treatment materials should be replaced to prevent using contaminated materials. The whole kit should be replaced every five years.

Outdoor Checklist

Snow and ice removal – The Lakeport Handbook states that “Residents are asked to remove snow from the sidewalks in front of their homes for safety reasons.” You should also clear your driveway and consider de-icing it and the sidewalk using pet- and environment-friendly products available at home improvement stores. Shovel decks to avoid water leakage into the house.
Ice that accumulates in gutters and downspouts can be harmful to the heat retention of the house and can allow water to enter. Where possible and when it can be accomplished safely, remove icicles from gutters and downspouts.
Remove snow before applying deicers to avoid having the deicer run off before melting the ice below. Use a deicer that is appropriate for the temperature range you are experiencing, and consider one that won’t be detrimental to the environment. After the storm, sweep up and store remaining deicers for the next storm (do not deposit it in Lakeport’s wooded common areas since that may damage plants and trees).

Lakeport Governance / Management

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chuck Foster - President and Treasurer

Rich Rosenberg - Vice President

Jeannette Malin-Berdel - Vice President

Rich Kolko - Vice President

Jen Walter - Secretary

Contact the board via email: Board@lakeportcluster.org

What Residents and Board Can Expect

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Landscape Committee – Mary Sapp

Landscape Charter

Maintenance Committee – Paul Renard

Maintenance Charter

Neighborhood Watch Committee – James Pan

Neighborhood Watch Charter

Social Committee – Shelby Friedel

Social Committee Charter

Architectural Standards Committee - Richard Rosenberg

Standards Committee Charter

OTHER VOLUNTEERS

Webmaster and Listserv Administrator – Tom Barnett

Editor for Ripples, community newsletter – Stephen Sapp

Book Club Coordinator – Barbara Khan

Fill doggie-bag stations – Kevin Burke and Steven Browning

Keep community dock clean – Paul Renard

SELECT COMMUNITY SERVICES

Portfolio Manager: Alexandra "Ali" Long

Email: along@scs-management.com

Direct: (703) 230-8725

Fax: (703) 266-2804

PO Box 221350

Chantilly, VA 20153

Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.mm, Friday 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Website: https://app.townsq.io/login

RESTON ASSOCIATION

Genesis Fonseca

Covenants Advisor

phone: 703-435-6506

genesis@reston.org

https://www.reston.org/

Fall 2022 Issue of Ripples

From the Editor – Stephen Sapp

Lakeport News

Helpful Information

Neighborhood Watch
Reminders for Fall in Lakeport
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Lakeport Governance/Management
Ripples Recipe: Eve’s Delight – Jeannette Malin-Berdel

From the Editor

By Stephen Sapp

In my last column, I mentioned that I had been heavily involved in the care of my hospitalized older brother throughout the summer. Sadly for us but a blessing for him, he died on the morning of November 12, and the next day we received word that a beloved cousin in New York had been found dead in his home by his sister. In the span of 24 hours, two people who had been fixtures of my entire life are no longer here, prompting some serious reflection on my part about values, family, and priorities.

I won’t burden you, dear readers, with the results of my musings, but I do want to share with you a central takeaway, which is my message to you this holiday season. It is not profound, and we have all heard it many times before, but this year the truth of it rings much louder to me: Life is short (even when it isn’t). People and relationships are what matter. If there are those in your life from whom you have become estranged or simply drifted away, this is a good time to reach out because if you wait, you may miss your chance.

An old poem I encountered many years ago makes the point as well as it can be made:

Around the corner I have a friend,

In this great city that has no end;

Yet days go by, and weeks rush on,

And before I know it, a year is gone,

And I never see my old friend's face,

For Life is a swift and terrible race.

He knows I like him just as well

As in the days when I rang his bell

And he rang mine. We were younger then,

And now we are busy, tired men:

Tired with playing a foolish game,

Tired with trying to make a name.

"Tomorrow," I say, "I will call on Jim,

Just to show that I'm thinking of him."

But tomorrow comes--and tomorrow goes,

And the distances between us grows and grows.

Around the corner!--yet miles away . . .

"Here's a telegram, sir . . ."

"Jim died today."

And that's what we get, and deserve in the end:

Around the corner, a vanished friend.

“Around the Corner”

By Charles Hanson Towne

If you have comments about this issue of Ripples and/or would like to submit an item for our Winter issue, please email me at ssapp@miami.edu.

From the President

By Chuck Foster

As I sit down to write this letter, I have two dominant thoughts: “Change” and “Community Spirit.”

Change

It is amazing to see the change going on around us. Consider some examples. The middle school kids are once again flocking to the shopping center after school. Rush hour traffic has returned to Sunrise Valley Drive. The Lake Thoreau pool is under renovation. The extension of the Metro Silver Line just opened. There is major new construction at the Wiehle Metro Station area. Trash trucks are entering Lakeport Cluster only one day per week. A drive-through fast-food restaurant plans to open in the old SunTrust Bank building. The South Lakes Village Center has taken on a new color scheme and is hosting a new haircut salon. High school sports returned to full schedules in crowded stadiums. For me, these changes mean progress and exciting times.

Community Spirit

I am very grateful to live in a community that comprises so many people that volunteer their time to making Lakeport a great place to live. Think of all the community-supporting committees we have: Landscaping, Maintenance, Social, Neighborhood Watch, and Standards. And our communications team publishes our quarterly newsletter and maintains our website and electronic files. Also, don’t overlook our Book Club, which attracts the literary scholars of the neighborhood (as well as folks who just enjoy reading and socializing).

Consider also that within the last two months, we enjoyed “I Love Lakeport Day,” a TGIF social, and the annual Halloween Parade (see articles about them elsewhere in this publication). In addition, we completed a major storm-water mitigation project, a significant landscaping makeover at the south end of Lakeport Way, and new trees and seedlings in natural areas. And, thankfully, some folks have stepped up to fill vacant seats on the Board of Directors. In my mind, Lakeport Cluster drips with community spirit, which has not been the case in the other places I have lived. One definition of the word “spirit” is “those qualities regarded as forming the definitive or typical elements in the character of a person,” or in our case, “of a community.” How appropriate!