The Wood Box (President’s Article)

<= /b>

<= /b>

        =

        &= nbsp;        Newsletter=

        =             &nb= sp;      April 2007

=

Board of Directors:

   President    &nb= sp;            =       Leroy Pipersburgh

   Vice President        &= nbsp;       Carol Haye= s

   Treasurer &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Anita= Klein

   Secretary  = ;            &n= bsp;          Charles Ko= rtlang

   Member at Large = ;            Kevin Kene= aly



How to Re= ach the MWHOA Board:

   Address:             =            Post Office= Box 2645

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;      Laurel, MD. 20709

   Voice Mail:            =         (301)362-2353       =

   E-mail:                  &= nbsp;       mwhoa@hotmail.com

   Website            =                www.mwhoa.com

   Newsletter Editor            Carol= Hayes

MWHOA does not necessarily endorse advertisers’

   products and services.

        Look Inside For:

*    = President’s Article

*    = Financial Update

*    = Messages from the Board

*    = MWHOA Meet & Greet

*    = Home Security

*      Bulky Trash Collection

*      New Neighb= ors

*      Liquor Control Board

Hearing

=

Montpelie= r Woods

Homeowners Association

Post Office Box 2645

Laurel, Maryland 20709

Watch for Our Flyer!

MWHOA

“Meet and Greet”

    =

Sunday, May 2= 0 from 3:00-5:00 p.m.

        =           (Rain Date: May 27)

        =            =

Don’t miss this opportunity to get to know your neighbors.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Free snacks and drinks will be pro= vided.

In My Own Words… (President’s Article)

The Montpelier Woods Homeowners Association’= ;s Board of Directors has undergone a significant change since publication of = the last newsletter. First, I am humbled that, upon Dale Good’s decision to step down as Board Preside= nt, I was elected by the remaining Board members to serve the remaining term as= the Association’s President.

We express our heartfelt appreciation for the selfless service Dale provided to our community for many years. As President, he worked diligently= to bring together Board members who shared a genuine concern for our community. Dale made safety a= nd the overall welfare of our community a priority and his hard work and many hour= s of service contributed to low crime rates and a neighborhood that is well maintained, thus increasing home values.&n= bsp; Once again, Dale, thank you.= We owe you a huge debt of gratitud= e and look forward to your continued support as we forge a clear path to achieve = our 2007 goals.

Another significant cha= nge to the Board is the addition of Kevin Kenealy. Kevin received many of your votes = during the annual election last November. Dale’s resignation opened the opportunity for Kevin to join the Board as a member-at-large. W= e are grateful that he agreed, and his willingness to serve has already made a positive impact. Kevin also w= ill chair the new Architectural Control Committee. He will be joined by other homeown= ers who have volunteered their services. = This committee is responsible for maintaining the architectural harm= ony that exists in our community while facilitating homeowners’ needs to improve their properties. Your requests for home improvements/additions, et= c. will be handled by this committee.

I would be remiss if I did not thank Carol Hayes, our Vice President, Anita Klein, = our Treasurer, and Charles Kortlang, our Secretary, for their hard work and continued service to the MWHOA and for helping me learn my role.=

Recognizing Volunteers – I hope this will become a regular segment in future newsletters. The first group of volunteers I wa= nt to recognize is the homeowners who stepped forward to serve as members of our = new Architectural Committee: Bonnie Kidd, Joyce Matthews Pitts, Gordon Rabe and Fred Vasco. I also want to recognize Warren Cooley who has graciously volunteered his time and talents= to serve as the MWHOA webmaster. Please visit and bookmark our community’s website: http://www.mwhoa.com.

We are always looking for volunteers. If you wish to serve our community in any way, please contact us via e-mail at mwhoa@hotmail.com or leave a voice message at 301-362-2353.<= /o:p>

The following are the 2007 goals that have been established for the MWHOA Board= of Directors:

Publish a well-d= efined budget. (I am grateful to Anita Klein for all of the hard work she has put into accomplishing th= is goal. Please contact her= for answers to any financial questions or concerns you may have).

Continue our com= munity beautification plan.

Establish and st= aff an Architectural Control Committee.

Establish and staff a Nominating Committee.=

Rework and finalize the Montpelier Woods Homeowners Association Covenants.

Hold at least one Community “Meet and Greet” event.

Expand the use of our website.

You may expect progress reports on these goals in future newsletters.

Thank you all for your support of the Board of Directors as we work to maintain t= he harmony of our community.

        =             &nb= sp;         Leroy Pipersburgh

MWHOA FINANCIAL UPDDATE

  &nb= sp;         =           Balance Sheet

        =              As of 2/28/07

            =             &nb= sp;

Assets

Bank, Savings & Investment Accounts

      Checking A= cct. – Bnk of Amer.         $ 14,811.32

      Reserves A= ccount        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;             0.00<= /span>

      Money Mark= et - Chevy Chase           =      4,609.47

      Money Mark= et * E-Trade        =             &nb= sp;   8,889,37

      CDs account – E*Trade        =             &nb= sp;    16,353.13

Other Assets

    Assessments Receivable=         =             &nb= sp; $     &nbs= p; 829.58

    Late Fees Receivable        =             &nb= sp;           =       225.00

    Legal Fee Receivable        =             &nb= sp;            =      940.00

    Liened Amt. Receivable pre-2005        =      1,461.24

    Certified Mailing/NSF Receivable        =          143.51

    Lien costs receivable = - 2005 Dues        =          947.6= 5

    Lien costs receivable – 2006 Dues        =         426.60



        =      Total Assets        =             &nb= sp;            =       $49,636.87

        =

Liabilities & Owners Equity

      Funds=

        =     Reserve Fund    =             &nb= sp;                  $        =     0.00

      Other Liabilities

        =      Prepaid Owner Assessments        =             &nb= sp; 32.33

       Loan= s               =             &nb= sp;            =               =             &nb= sp;  0.00

        Owners Equity    = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;         =        49,604.54

       Total Liabilities & Owners Equity      $49,636.87=

-   Anita Klein,Treasurer

<= o:p>

MWHOA MEET & GREET

Our community is what we make of it. It sounds simple, but sometimes it’s hard to focus on that truism in our busy daily lives. You may or = may not be aware of the following attributes of our neighborhood.=

Do you know our community is rich in that there are many interesting people who came to live here from both around and outside the U.S.?

Do you know the = Board invariably respects and enjoys the people we get the chance to meet in= our community?

Do you know a nu= mber of your neighbors have volunteered to serve this neighborhood, sometim= es for years, by being on the MWHOA Board or a Committee established by t= he Board?

Now for the flip side= of the coin.

Do we want to li= ve in a community where people don’t recognize anyone but their next-d= oor neighbors?

Do you know that= kind of community is weaker both because of the lack of friendly faces but = also because it can more easily fall victim to outsiders with bad intentions? <= /span>

Do you know that neighbors who have never met one another are less likely to look out f= or one another, and more likely to disregard their neighbors’ inter= ests when taking action that could affect them?

The Board has previously heard from homeowners, and we concur, that we need to strengthen our community by getting to know one another.   To that end, starting May 20= th from 3:00 to 5:00 pm (weather permitting), the Homeowners Association will = host some informal get-togethers – just to provide a chance for us to meet= one another. This first gathering= will be held within our neighborhood at the common area – the grassy clearing just off Basswood = close to where it intersects Sno= wden Road. (May 27th will be the rain d= ate.) Bring blankets and chairs if you want.   We will provide d= rinks and a snack free of charge. T= he entire Board will be there to meet you, but we promise we won’t bore = you by talking Association business that day.&= nbsp;

For this to work, however, each family= in our community needs to make it a priority to attend. If the first gathering has a good attendance, we’ll continue planning these on a regular basis. We can get to know even more neigh= bors over time. The Board will cir= culate flyers to everyone shortly before the May date, so there’s no excuse = for forgetting. We look forward to seeing a= ll of you there!



        = HEARINGS FOR J’S SPORTS CAFÉ

MWHOA Board members attended the March 14^th “show cause” hearing of the Prince George’s Liquor Control Board relating to J’s Sports Café (located at R= oute 197 and Muirkirk, two doors up from the post office). As you may be aware, a number of v= iolent incidents, including three fatal shootings within the past three years, have occurred in the parking lot among the patrons of that establishment. In late February, the MWHOA Board filed a letter with the Liquor Control Board indicating our opposition to the continuation or renewal of the liquor license. (Our letter is poste= d on our website.)   We are pl= eased to report that our letter was specifically mentioned by Senator Douglas J.J. Peters who, along with Councilman Tom Dernoga, Delegate Gerron Levi and the Acting Commander, District 6 of the local police, gave testimony supporting= the Board’s position. Other= local politicians attended or sent letters doing the same.

The outcome of the hearing was that the Liquor Control Board fined the owner of= the liquor license $10,000 and revoked its right to have live entertainment. The Board considered suspending the liquor license, but did not. = (The establishment is not currently open because it is missing a use and occupan= cy permit.) A “renewal pro= test hearing” to consider whether the liquor license should be renewed has been scheduled for May 2^nd at 7:00 p.m. This hearing with the Li= quor Control Board allows for regular citizens to be heard. MWHOA Board members plan to attend= , but it would be best if as many people as possible from the community also atte= nd. The location of that hearing is th= e County Service Building, Room 200,= 5012 Rhode Island Avenue, = Hyattsville, MD = 20781. Please plan to attend and let your= voice and opinion be heard.

        =              SAFETY & SECURITY=

Within the last few months, there have been reports of attempted break-ins and an = act of deliberate vandalism to private property in our neighborhood.   The vandalism and property d= amage occurred on Blackwood Cour= t during a week night. The rear window of the homeowner’s vehicle, which was parked in the driveway, = was completely broken out by an object hurled through it.

Additionally, another missile was thrown at, and completely shattered, a front window of = the residence

While the potential existed for serious bodily injury, fortunately, no one was hurt.   The homeowners, however, were understandably distraught.   The Board is very concerned = about this incident and urges homeowners to please be vigilant about activity and security in and around your homes and be observant of unusual and/or suspic= ious behavior in the neighborhood. We further encourage everyone to look out for your neighbors and to immediately report any and all suspicious persons or activity to police.   We want to keep our community safe for ourselves and our families.<= /span>



    SPEED LIMIT: 25 MPH

=

Please follow the speed limit in Montpelier Wood= s when driving your vehicles. We don’t know of any individual who wants to injure a child or adult wal= king in our neighborhood. Yet, car= s and motorcycles are frequently speeding well above the posted 25-mph limit on a= ll of our streets. Please: take a breath, relax and drive under the speed limit. Take the time to enjoy the scenery= and avoid an adult or child suddenly walking in the path of your car. If the speeding does not abate, we= will be consulting local police about other options.

   DOG PATROL =

The Board has received complaints about pet owners who allow their animals (including some aggressive and/or vicious ones) off leash, sometimes to run= at will. Now that Spring is here= , more residents will be out enjoying the warm weather -- from joggers and walkers to childr= en out for a stroll. They have the r= ight not to be threatened by your animal. All dogs in the neighborhood need to be on a leash and under your control at all times, or contained in fenced yards.   Not only is it the considera= te thing to do as a responsible dog owner, it’s also the law.

=

HOMEOWNER TO SPEAK AT M= EETING

=

Debra Roy of Montpelier Woods has volunteered to speak at our regular monthly Boa= rd meeting in May. Ms. Roy will be givin= g the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s talk about the state of the Bay, lawn care and ways in which we can help save the Bay. The Board meeting is at 7:30 p.m. = on Monday, May 21^st at Deerfield Run = Community Center. Please join us!

= HOME SECURITY

One of the current buzzwords is Homeland Security, but security must begin clos= e to home. Though living under a s= iege mentality leaves quite a bit to be desired, a savvy homeowner can minimize = risk and exposure to criminals.

One of the first things you can do to safeguard your home is never to leave your doors unlocked. If you have a concern regarding the level of protection your door locks afford, contact a reputable locksmith for an upgrade. Contractor-grade locks are not very secure. At the same time, check the locks = on your windows and sliding door. Explore additional protection for them also.

Never leave an open garage door unattended. It is certainly an invitation for someone to “borrow” an item from your garage or gain entry to your home. Just ask a few of our neighbors who have “lost” items while they just stepped away for a moment. While we are talking about the gar= age, consider unplugging your garage door opener when you go on a trip, or insta= ll a switch to turn off the power to the opener. Keep the interior door to your gar= age locked at all times.

Do you keep your ladders outdoors, and not locked to a fence or tree? Why give someone the tool they nee= d to get into a second floor window? (On this point, never leave any tool outside for someone to steal.) Also, keep your second floor windo= ws locked when you are not at home. Yes, they are reachable.

When going away, even for just a day, be sure to stop your mail service and paper delivery. Ask neighbors to ke= ep an eye on your home and retrieve any packages or other items that signal you a= re away.

Your automobile is a prime target for anyone who wants it. Never leave house keys in your vehicle(s), and never leave an idling vehicle unattended. Remote garage door openers should = be kept hidden, not on a visor or in a glove box. Better yet, don’t leave it i= n the car at all.

Always keep alert for any suspicious activity around your home. That includes activity around your neighbor’s home and your street as well. If you feel something is not right= , call the police immediately. It is better to be safe and call, than to regret not calling. Observant citizens are the first l= ine of security defense.   Stay Safe!

        =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;           =     - Charles Kortlang

                =

    STREET NAMES IN MONTPELIER= WOODS

= I know people can find these on a map, but when I am looking at the crime lis= ting in the Laurel Leader, news stories, or the houses sold section of the newsp= aper, I sometimes wonder if it is regarding a street in our neighborhood. This is particularly true if it is= a "wood" street name. So, for reference, here are the names of the streets in our community listed alphabetically:

Amblewood Drive

Aspenwood Lane

Balsamwood Court

Balsamwood Drive

Balsamwood Terrace

Basswood Court

Basswood Drive

Basswood Terrace

Blackwood Court

Bignonia Court

Bignonia Drive

Bignonia Terrence

Bristolwood Court

Bristolwood Terrace

Madronawood Drive

Snowden Road (= beginning at house number 10101)

        =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;     - Kevin Kenealy   =

        =             &nb= sp;

FUTU= RE

MWHOA MEETING DATES

=

Board Meetings will be held at:

Dee= rfield Run= Community Center

130= 00 Laurel Bowie Road

April 16^th

May 21^st

June 18^th

Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. and are normally on = the third Monday

of each month

Homeowners are welcome to attend!

= BULKY TRASH COLLECTION

Recently, we’ve had instances where bulky trash has remained curbside for days = and, sometimes, weeks on end. Not = only is this an eyesore which affects property values when these items remain, b= ut in many cases, they are hazardous, especially to children and animals. We therefore would like to remind = you that, per the county, bulky trash collection is provided by appointment only. To schedule an appointm= ent, homeowners should call 301-952-7600 Monday through Friday, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Appointments ma= y also be scheduled electronically at Bu= lkyTrash@co.pg.md.us with the following information: name, address, telephone numbers and a list= of the specific items to be collected. Appointments are scheduled for normal County workdays on a first-com= e, first-served basis.

If the County fails to make the scheduled collection date due to inclement weather, the collection will be rescheduled for the next day. If the homeowner fails to place the items at the curb by 7:30 a.m. on the scheduled collection day and the items are not picked up, the homeowner has to reschedule for the next available d= ate AND the items must be removed from the curb until the next scheduled pick-up. Homeowners must not = leave bulky trash items at the curb or outside their homes past the pick-up date.

Acceptable materials include:

-= Furniture and refrigerators

&= nbsp; (Remove refrigerator doors for safety.)

- Washing machines and dryers

- Hot water heaters and lawn mowers<= o:p>

   (Remove gas tank and drain oil fro= m lawn mowers.)

- Other large household materials = not picked up by refuse collection

Unacceptable materials include: (see website for complete list.)

- Construction and demolition debris=

- Stumps/logs/skid/pallets

-   Liquids, including paint, se= wage and septic waste

-   Compressed cylinders of any = size

- Riding lawnmowers

- Shingles, roofing materials

- Console televisions

- Drums, tanks, kegs, barrels greater than 55 gallons

   unless sides are removed and vessel flattened

&= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;          - Kevin Kenealy

    =

Welcome To

       &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;      Our New Neighbors!

We haven’t welcomed our newest neighbors in a while. So, here’s a heartfelt hel= lo to the newest, and not so newest, homeowners in our neighborhood!=

v      Miles Jacobs & Lynnita Parrish<= /span>

= 10103 Balsamwood Drive=

v      Lucas & Comfort Owolabi<= /p>
      10105 Balsamwood Drive=

v      Marjorie Young

       10105 Madronawood Drive

v      Alexander= & Castellanos & Jacqueline Sorto

       &nbs= p;     10108 Balsamwood = Drive

v      William &= amp; Veronica Cruz

       &nbs= p;      10109 Madronawood= Drive

v      Kevin &am= p; Nicole Pinnick

       &nbs= p;     10116 Bristolwood= Court

v      Stephanie & Alfredo Llinas & Maria Per= cy

       &nbs= p;     10206 Balsamwood = Drive

v      Dennis & Jennifer Snelson

       &nbs= p;     10208 Balsamwood = Drive

v      Martha & Alexander Cruz<= /p>
       &nbs= p;     10301 Bristolwood= Court

v   = Amelia Ordonez & Alexis Salvador

              10304 Balsamwood Drive=

v   = Jose Lara & Flora Navarrete

       &nbs= p;      10306 Snowden Roa= d

v      Jessimay Salita, Louie Llaneta & Jesus Sal= ita

       &nbs= p;      10311 Balsamwood = Drive

v        Morena Cruz

       10314Balsamwood Court

v      Verno= n & Grace Bacud

       &nbs= p;      10400 Balsamwood = Court

v      Benjamin Supnik & Lori Newman

       &nbs= p;     10401 Balsamwood = Court

v      James Brown Sr. & Janice Brown<= /span>

       &nbs= p;     11706 Balsamwood Terrace

v      Vivian & Henry Botchway<= /p>
       &nbs= p;      11714 Balsamwood Terrace

v     &nbs= p;   Delana Co= yle & Ivan Ross

       &nbs= p;      11801 Bristolwood Terrace

v      Reina & Rafael Gutierrez=

       11908 Blackwood Court<= /st1:Street>

v      Jose Santos Rosales

       &nbs= p;     12100 Amblewood D= rive

v      Richard &= amp; Wendy Olson

<= st1:address w:st=3D"on">12202 Amblewood Drive

        =             &nb= sp;   ******************

=

Laurel Jam Session

1^st & 3^rd Wednesdays

7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Phelps Senior Citizen Center

Under the coordination of = local musician Bob Bowman, interested experienced and novice musicians are invite= d to sit in for an open jam. Music= genres include folk, bluegrass, Celtic, jazz, ragtime polka & traditional. Socialize; share your experience a= nd love of music with others as you grow as a musician. Children must be supervised.

=

Lakefest 2007

Saturday, May 5

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Granville Gude Park & Lakehouse

Games, food, entertainers, hayrides, moon bounce, dance demos, fire & rescue trucks and guest cost= ume characters round out the day. Rain Date: Saturday, May 12.

Fishing Derby

Saturday, June 2

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Granville Gude Park & Lakehouse

Children ages 3-15 and the= ir parents can cast their lines and hope to reel in the “big one” = at the “everyone’s a winner” fishing derby. Prizes are awarded for all age gro= ups in many categories. Bring your o= wn pole; bait is supplied. Call = in registration appreciated. (301-725-7800) No fee.

“Splashdown” 2007

Saturday, June 23

Laurel Municipal Pool

1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Fun, food, games, contests, aerobic demos, entertainment and concession specials. Freebies and prizes round out the = day. Use your pool pass or pay a daily admission fee. Open to all ag= es.

Flick & Float Movie

Saturday, July 14 and Saturday, August 4

8:30 p.m.

Laurel Municipal Pool

Free to pass holders; $1.00 for all others

Bring rafts and floats to = lounge on, in the pool or on the deck while watching a summer favorite.

Laurel Communit= y Center Games Club

Each Thursday of the month

6:00 – 9:30 p.m.

Laurel Community Center

Innovative, challenging ga= mes for children, teens and adults. G= ames of all types such as: Blokus, Carcassonne, Mencala, Lost Cities and more. Share your favorite or learn a new one. Call 301-776-2280 for information.

Doggie Dip Day

Saturday, September 8

12 noon – 3:00 p.m.

Laurel Municipal Pool

You can bring your canine = and enjoy a refreshing swim at the end of the “Dog Days of Summer.” Main & wad= ing pools only will be open for pet/owner swimming. Owners must be able to restrain pe= t. $5.00 per dog. Free to owners.

FRIDAY FAMILY FUN

On alternating Friday nigh= ts throughout the summer, enjoy a movie or concert for the whole family at the Granville Gude Park Stage. Bring a blanket or a chair, pack a picnic or grab something from the concession stand and relax for some great lakeside entertainment.

Call 301-490-3530 or 301-4= 99-NEWS for movie and concert schedule/confirmation.

Friday Flicks – Outdoor Movies<= o:p>

Fridays, 8:30 p.m. (Dusk)

Movies are free and subjec= t to change prior to viewing dates. Children under 13 not admitted without a parent or guardian.

June 29^th – Barnyard (PG)

July 13^th – Over The Hedge (PG)

July 27^th – Happy Feet (PG)

August 10^th – Hoot (PG)

Concerts in the Park
Fridays, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Enjoy a live band performi= ng on the newly covered stage. A va= riety of music styles will be represented. Visit www.laurel.md.us or c= all 301-325-7800 for updates dates and upcoming bands.

June 22: Oracle Band (Popular band playing today’s hits)

July 20^: Cosine (A mix of Latin,= Jazz & R & B)

August 3: Damon Foreman (Funk, Rock and Smooth Jazz)

August 17: Moonlighters (Oldies and Motown)<= /o:p>

&= nbsp;

        =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =             - Carol Hayes

Reprint from “Recreation in Laurel” – Laurel Department of Parks & Recreati= on.

# # # # # #<= /span>

A final thought…<= /b>

“You can either complain tha= t rose bushes have thorns – or rejoice that thorn bushes have roses.”<= o:p>

        =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            = - Unknown