Lakeport News
News from Outside Lakeport
Helpful Information
By Stephen Sapp
And it is Lakeport’s residents who make all of this happen, from the selfless service of our dedicated Board, to the committee chairs, to the volunteers who plant plants and water them, to those who participate in various workdays and in many other ways contribute to making Lakeport Lakeport. A hearty thanks to all!
On top of all this, we have the natural beauty that surrounds us, especially at this time of year. Please take time to enjoy the photos throughout this issue of our glorious spring in Lakeport!
If you have comments about this Spring issue of Ripples and/or would like to submit an item for our Summer issue, you are welcome to email me at ssapp@miami.edu.
By Chuck Foster
A couple of weeks ago, I got a call from a resident who lives near the common dock. She said there were “thirty teenagers on the common dock making loud noise and throwing rocks and each other into the water.” I assumed the caller was asking me to do something about it so I said I would check it out. While on my way to the dock, I remembered reading that the mental health of our nation’s teenagers is not good. A disturbingly high percentage are experiencing depression, hopelessness, and loneliness. I thought I should keep that in mind as I approached the animated crowd. I also recalled that, several years ago, I saw a large group of teenagers gathered in Triangle Park and there was quite a bit of trash left on the ground under and around the benches. I tried raising my voice to express my displeasure and some of the kids briefly protested, a few picked up the litter, and the rest scattered. I concluded my approach was not very effective.
This time, as I approached the kids, I asked them in a whispered tone to meet with me. Amazingly, they all gathered around to find out why this old man was whispering. I told them they were welcome to be on the dock but please don’t throw rocks or each other into the lake. I spoke respectfully and they listened respectfully. Within twenty minutes, they were gone.
Several days later, I got an interesting email from Kathy Babbitt, which I followed up with a phone call. She discovered four young ladies looking for something in her backyard bushes. She said, “What are you looking for?” One of them replied, “a long stick.” Kathy said they were very focused on their task. It turned out that they were trying to retrieve one of the rarest creatures to be found in the lake . . . a Safeway shopping cart. Kathy asked, “Who do you think put the cart in the lake?” The reply was simply, “teenagers.”
With the assistance of a rope and Kathy’s friend Larry Hamblett, the young rescue crew lifted the cart from its watery grave. They then described a plan to clean up the cart and return it to Safeway. We owe these young ladies a debt of gratitude for their dedicated service to the community. Many thanks to these little heroes, Mary Strickland, Mary Coogan, Bonnie Coogan, and Purva Bhosale!
By Paul Renard
And Now . . . New Street Signs!
You may have noticed that our bent, rusted, and often redundant metal street signs and posts have been replaced with pristine new signs. We have installed eight composite signs made of 18-pound HDU plastic with a plywood backing for added stability, mounted on pressure treated 4”x4” wooden posts that should last about 30 years (see photos below). When a metal sign is damaged, nothing can be done about it other than replace it or live with the damage. Our new signs are somewhat repairable (a feature that will not be needed, we hope) and can be repainted in the future if they start to show wear.
We have been fortunate to work on this project with Clay Downing (clay@signsbyclaydowning.com), one of the very few local fabricators of this type of signs and one of the most responsive vendors we have encountered (hint: if you need an HDU sign or any other signage project, Clay is the man to call). With Clay’s help, we designed the replacements, obtained DRB approval, weathered delays caused by COVID and other illnesses, avoided seemingly endless Saturday rain, and finally had the signs installed on May 21.
Part of this project involved removing eight repetitive signs that had popped up at some point in the past and served no purpose; in fact, they had turned into eyesores. We hope that everyone is as happy about this improvement in our community as we on the Maintenance Committee are. Thanks to the Board for approving and supporting this project!
Signs as you enter Lakeport:
Other signs: two Stop signs, two pet signs, and a “Private Property” sign as people enter Lakeport from South Lakes Village
By Mary Sapp
Landscape Enhancements
Entrance plants that died last year have been replaced with colorful heucheras. The photo above shows landscaping next to the entrance lane on the west side (the five golden heucheras on the right plus the three pink ones on the left are new; the rest are existing). The second photo shows landscaping next to the exit lane on the east side (the five golden heucheras in the center are new, and the rest are existing).
In addition, several new plants have been added near the dock. Owner Carol Leos graciously offered to plant three red rose bushes to brighten the landscaped area next to the short leg of the dock, and seven new junipers have been planted to reduce erosion next to the long leg of the dock. In addition, owner Clarence Delaine kindly offered to pay for one of the new azaleas that will be planted in June to shield the view of a transformer under the cherry tree a little uphill from the new rose bushes.
Residents will also notice some additions along Lakespray Way. The row of liriope on the Lakespray hill has been filled in, which will help even more to combat erosion. In addition, a new hedge of seven viburnums will be installed in the gap to the right of the Lakespray mailboxes to help screen South Lakes Drive, and the walk along the dirt path to the access road to the back Safeway parking lot will be more pleasant thanks to the addition of 26 large steppingstones to avoid the mud when it rains. At the south end of Lakeport Way, we arranged to replace one of the holly bushes that had died, and another generous owner, Gil Blankespoor, planted two additional bushes to replace two that were failing. Rounding out the new replacement plants are five ferns that have been helping to slow down stormwater next to 1952 Lakeport Way, and a holly tree at the top of the hill behind 1938 Lakeport Way (some of the ferns and the holly tree were under warranty). See photos below.
Because all of these plants are new, they will need watering through the summer to get them established, but thanks to volunteers Marilyn Bursch, Clarence Delaine, Henryk Gorski, Pete Hatfield, Carol Leos, Paul Renard, Mary and Stephen Sapp, and Rosemary Welch, we won’t have to spend your assessment fees to pay for commercial watering to keep these new plants alive. Instead that money can be used in the fall to add some trees in wooded areas behind homes or near streets and perhaps other landscaping.
Tree Work
Unfortunately, we continue to have to do major tree work, including the removal of three live trees this year. Most obvious is the huge willow oak as you exit Lakeport on the RA path leading to the South Lakes Village dock. Although we tried to prolong the life of this oak by injecting it with a growth regulator, two certified arborists told us that a fungus that appeared on the roots means it was dying and posed a danger to nearby homes. It was removed Friday morning, shortly before the storm and tornado warnings (see photos of that impressive process below).
In addition, a black cherry in the wooded area next to 11121 Lakespray Way is leaning toward that home, also posing a risk. The cryptomeria in front of 1907 Lakeport Way—although not a risk—will be removed for esthetic reasons since it is almost dead.
While the tree contractors are here, they will also remove a dead double-stem hemlock across from 1913 Lakeport Way and trim branches on three black locusts next to the path to the RA pool near Sunrise Valley Drive, in addition to a willow oak encroaching on the roof at 1930 Lakeport Way.
Fall Workday
Thanks to Rich Shelton, a dead trunk next to the lake has been removed and branches that were hanging too low over Lakeport Way have been trimmed so trucks can pass without hitting them. A half-dozen other dead trees have been identified for Rich to remove in the fall, but we’ll need volunteers to haul the debris into a pile for Blade Runners to haul away (part of our maintenance contract). Therefore, we are scheduling Lakeport’s Fall Workday for the morning of Saturday, September 10 (coffee and bagels will be provided to volunteers). Please mark your calendars to join us to further beautify Lakeport.
Stormwater Mitigation
As we all know, Lakeport’s hills create stormwater runoff that causes mud and erosion on owner and common property and dirty runoff into Lake Thoreau. To try to protect the quality of Virginia waters, the Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) offers grants to help HOAs and individual homeowners fund projects to deal with this problem. Lakeport received grants in 2020 to install our rain garden and conservation landscaping between 1952 and 1954 Lakeport Way, which have successfully captured runoff from the roofs of three nearby homes (see photo to right).
Unfortunately, surface-level runoff is still causing erosion between 11110 and 11112 Lakespray and mud between 1952 and 1954 Lakeport (even after those owners paid to install rock steps so they could safely reach their back patios). Based on advice from Dan Schwartz, whose job at the NoVA SWCD is to provide advice on dealing with stormwater, and contractor Adele Kuo, who is certified by the Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Certification program for “stormwater best practices,” the Board has decided to mitigate this second source of runoff by installing 1) two catch basins to help prevent ongoing erosion between 11110 and 11112 Lakespray from groundwater flowing from near Lakespray Way, and 2) two biologs (similar to those installed in 2019 along the shore) to reduce water flowing down to 1952 and 1954 Lakeport Way. We are happy to announce that our proposal for a $3,500 grant was recently approved by the NoVA SWCD. Installation is contingent on approval by RA’s Design Review Board.
Note that if you have stormwater issues, you might want to investigate applying for your own grant from NoVA SWCD to fund one of their best practices (e.g., a rain barrel, conservation landscaping, or a dry well). See https://vaswcd.org/vcap for more details and links to eligible practices.
Photos of removal of large willow oak at the south end of Lakeport Way on Friday, May 27
Early Friday morning, cars were moved from near the willow oak before the trucks from Riverbend Landscape and Tree Service arrived at 7:40 a.m. After setting up, the work crew started removing large limbs at 8:00 and putting them in their chipper.
In these photos, the top half of the tree is 1) being lifted up and 2) then lowered so smaller branches could be cut off to 3) go into the chipper.
Here the bottom of the trunk is being 1) removed and 2) lowered (notice the size of the trunk relative to the crew member below it; it was 5’ in diameter); then 3) the crew loaded the five main sections of the trunk into a truck and cleaned up the debris (all by 9:30 a.m.!).
Photos of new plants (more will be installed in June):
Easter Egg Hunt
This year’s Easter Egg Hunt was enjoyed by both young and old. Despite competition from sports practices, participation was good, motivated hunters were aplenty, and lots of candy and some very cool prizes were taken home. The primary “Bunny Marshalls” were Brian Dryzga, Tanya Coogan, and Ashley Strickland. With some additional help from Deputy Bunny Marshalls Bonnie and Mary Coogan and Mary Frank Strickland, something like 100 eggs were loaded the night before with candy or coupons for prizes that were claimed at Triangle Park after the hunt. At 9:00 a.m., Ashley and Chuck Foster hid the eggs, and the hunters gathered in Triangle Park for the 10:00 a.m. start.
Ashley attempted to give a head start to anyone 5 or younger, but the one hunter who took advantage of the opportunity appeared unsure of where to go. A moment later, Ashley unleashed the hounds, with kids sprinting in all directions. The speed at which the hunters worked was quite amazing. One observer noted that the first round of the hunt lasted 14 minutes flat. The kids were super-efficient! It was a great community event and we look forward to next year’s hunt!
Many thanks to James Pan, Rich Shelton, Rich and Linda Rosenberg, Tanya and Robert Coogan, Brian Dryzga, Ashley Strickland, and Chuck Foster for donations of candy and prizes.
Concert for Ukraine
A little more than a month after Russia invaded Ukraine, cluster residents gathered at the south end of Lakeport Way to express solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Despite periodic bouts of rain and snow, low temperatures, and a relentless March wind, many attended and stayed to contemplate and discuss the plight and courage of the Ukrainian people. Many thanks to the volunteers who made this event possible: Chuck Foster’s band for three hours of classic pop and rock music; Joerg Dronia and Jeanette Malin-Berdel for tables; Rich Rosenberg for a list of options for charitable donations; Bobby Chan for a recycling bin; Kathy Babbitt for help with the setup and drinks for the band; Shelby Friedel for organizing the volunteers and providing drinks; and Liz Blankespoor for face painting for children and adults.
IMPORTANT: Please remember that both Reston Association and Lakeport Cluster have strict design standards for the exterior of your home. To avoid expensive repairs to unapproved changes, be sure to read the standards carefully before making any changes and ensure your contractor follows them. If you have any questions, please ask a Board member.
By James Pan
POLICE ASK FOR HELP FROM RESTON RESIDENTS
Police contact numbers are 703-691-2131 (non-emergency) and 911 (text or voice) for emergencies.
BE AWARE OF TEXT PHISHING (SMISHING)
link that indicates a USPS delivery requires a response from you? If you never signed up for a USPS tracking request for a specific package, then don’t click the link! This type of text message is a scam called smishing.
Smishing is a form of phishing that involves a text message or phone number. Victims will typically receive a deceptive text message that is intended to lure the recipient into providing their personal or financial information. These scammers often attempt to disguise themselves as a government agency, bank, or other company to lend legitimacy to their claims.
The criminals want to receive personally identifiable information (PII) about the victim such as account usernames and passwords, Social Security number, date of birth, credit and debit card numbers, personal identification numbers (PINs), or other sensitive information. This information is used to carry out other crimes, such as financial fraud.
The Postal Service offers tools to track specific packages, but customers are required either to register online or to initiate a text message and provide a tracking number. USPS will not send customers text messages or e-mails unless a customer first requests the service with a tracking number, and it will NOT contain a link. So if you did not initiate the tracking request for a specific package directly from USPS and the message you receive contains a link, do not click the link!
By Barbara Khan, Coordinator
The June meeting will be a “pick-your-own-book” gathering. Participants are asked to read whatever they want and then share a report on that book at the June meeting for consideration as a future assigned book for the group to read and discuss.
Landscape Projects
Social
Maintenance
Other
Source: Reston Association
Construction is planned to take 12 months following mobilization so, assuming construction begins soon, a reopening early in the 2023 swim season is still likely. However, ongoing supply chain disruptions, labor shortages caused by COVID-19, or severe weather disruptions may affect this schedule. Multiple steps are being taken to anticipate and minimize these impacts whenever possible.
Thank you for your continued interest in this project. If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints leading up to or during the project, please contact the RA Capital Projects Department at capitalprojects@reston.org or call 703-435-6556.
Here is a link to the summer pool schedule if you wish to enjoy an alternative location this summer: https://www.reston.org/aquatics.
Homes in Lakeport Cluster, all of which are more than 30 years old and some over 40, are unique in several ways. This checklist is designed with Lakeport homes in mind. Your help in keeping this list current and relevant is essential. Please send suggestions to Board@LakeportCluster.org.
Outdoor Checklist (these items will also help you prepare for annual inspections)
Indoor Checklist
Maintenance Resources: Be sure to review the Preventive Maintenance Checklist for Spring in this issue for smaller maintenance projects that could save you major expenses and headaches in the future. And remember that RA has arranged with Sherwin-Williams for a discount of 30% to 40% off paints and stains (exterior and interior) and 15% off paint supplies at Sherwin-Williams store #3385, located at 495A Elden Street in Herndon (703-471-1484). If you want to take advantage of the discount, the code is 2214-8496-7.
Washington Consumer Checkbook is a publication, now available online (www.checkbook.org), that offers a huge user-friendly database of reviews of many types of local service providers, along with high-quality advice about how to approach selecting and working with them.
You Must Replace Any Tree You Remove: If you recently removed a tree (dead or alive) on your property, remember that Reston Association requires that you replace it with another tree. RA has several resources for finding a replacement tree: See the lists of recommended small trees at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a1epMYHN4gx8EB7l_K68ewk8bZnXnh1-/view
Party Walls: Although sometimes counterintuitive, the RA Deeds make the repair of any architectural element that falls on the property line between two houses (e.g., wall, trim, fence) a joint responsibility. If you aren’t sure whose responsibility it is to pay for the repair or replacement of a shared wall or trim, please see https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxSpjzCTaI6Jd0xnbEZEcEhLT3NiWjRKODNlZDBtTWdRdTBJ/view for information relating to party walls.
Improve Lighting in Lakeport: Even though it is staying light later and becoming light earlier, please leave your outdoor lights on at night. 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 end 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 is 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.
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. 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.
Macadamia coconut cacao nib brittle—it's a mouthful to say, but it’s delicious to eat. It’s crunchy, nutty, and chocolatey—and made with only seven ingredients, with cacao nibs the star. They're less refined versions of the cocoa used in most chocolate, so more of their nutrients are retained, including antioxidants shown to improve cognitive function, reduce the risk of heart disease, and increase longevity. They're available in healthier food stores.
Ingredients
Instructions
