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Franklin Farm News
Last updated: April 30, 2008

Special Announcements

Mandatory Swim Tests: All pool members age 13 and under must take a swim test prior to the pool opening. Click on "Pool" under "Activities" for test times.

 


Tennis Is Back: FirstServe Tennis will be offering lessons and camps in FF this year. Get info by calling 571-217-1684 or e-mailing gregg@tenniseveryone.com.

 


 

 

Local News:
Vaccinate Your Pets Against Rabies
A Word About Rodents
Neighborhood Watch Helps Prevent Crime
Franklin Farm Tennis Is Back!
You and Open Space
How to Address Neighborhood Concerns
Three Ways to Pay Your Assessment

 

 

Vaccinate Your Pets Against Rabies

 

The Fairfax County Police Department has notified the Foundation that recently there has been a potential rabies exposure to a person or pet from wildlife that lives within the boundaries of Franklin Farm. The animal, a skunk, came into contact with a person or pet, was captured by Animal Control, and subsequently tested positive for rabies.


The Police Department’s Animal Control Divison reminds the residents in our community that all cats and dogs 4 months of age or older are required to be vaccinated against rabies. Also, all dogs 4 months of age or older are required to have a current Fairfax County dog license.


For more information about rabies in Fairfax County and the rabies virus, please call 703-324-2483. For details on how to obtain a dog license, please visit www.co.fairfax.va.us/dta/pdf_files/pddogapp.pdf.


 

A Word About Rodents

 

Several residents have reported seeing mice or rats on or near their property this year. This is, of course, very disturbing. An inspector from the Fairfax County Health Department has visited the Farm and is currently assessing the problem here and issuing citations to residents who need to take steps to remedy situations that draw rodents.


Rats and mice are especially drawn to the following food sources:

• Trash and garbage in plastic bags
• Spilled or discarded food
• Kitchen scraps
• Pet food
• Pet feces
• Flower bulbs and seeds
• Bird seed spilled on the ground
• Food from low-hanging feeders

According to information distributed by the Health Department, to control rodents, you MUST remove their food, shelter, and entry points to your home or other buildings.

 

Clean Up — Eliminate Food Sources


Remove all rodent food. Trash and garbage should be stored in a rodent-proof container, such as a trash can with a tight-locking lid. Trash cans and dumpsters should be cleaned regularly and their doors and/or lids should close tightly. Prevent bird seed from falling to the ground. Piles of wood, furniture, and other yard debris should be removed. Grass should be cut low to the ground. Plants, bushes, and branches should be trimmed away from the home or building. Pet waste should always be picked up and disposed properly.

 

Rodent Proof Your Home and Buildings


Holes larger than a dime and cracks larger than the diameter of a pencil should be sealed to prevent mice and rats from entering your home or other buildings. The gaps around pipe and wire chases should also be sealed. All doors, including the garage door, should have weather stripping. Tight-fitting crawl space doors and vent covers should be in good repair. Check periodically around your home and other buildings to correct problem areas.

 

 

Neighborhood Watch Helps Prevent Crime in our Community

Like so many suburban areas, Fairfax County enjoys a low incidence of crime — one of the primary reasons most families choose to live in the suburbs rather than in urban areas, where crime rates are often markedly higher. And we are fortunate that Franklin Farm and its surrounding area have some of the lowest crime rates in Fairfax County. Of the crimes in our district, significantly more are property crimes — larceny, theft, and burglary — than personal, violent offenses, according to Fairfax County Police Department. So, we take comfort in the fact that our community is a secure, comfortable place in which to live and raise our children.


We don’t want to become complacent about our safety, though. We need to continue to remain vigilant about crimes that can, and do, threaten our property and loved ones. Otherwise, we could allow a fertile environment for crime to take root and grow.


This is the concept behind Neighborhood Watch programs, which are referred to by the National Crime Prevention Council as “one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the country, bringing citizens together with law en-forcement to deter crime and make communities safer.”


Joining the Watch – No Time Commitment Required


Unlike many Neighborhood Watch groups, the Franklin Farm Neighborhood Watch does not physically patrol the community. It is, instead, made up of residents who are trained to watch for, and report, unusual or suspicious activity that could signal or lead to crimes — and they do this during their normal daily routine.


We encourage as many residents as possible to become involved by taking the short, one-and-a-half hour training session. No additional time commitment is required, only a willingness to become more aware of your surroundings and report suspicious events. By having more neighbors involved, we increase the number of eyes and ears that are watching for, and preventing, crimes in our neighborhood. If you or a household member is interested in participating in the training, please contact the Franklin Farm Neighborhood Watch at FF.NeighborhoodWatch@gmail.com.


Recent Crime Trends in Our Area


The following are some crime trends in our district that we should all be watching for. If you have specific information about, or witness, similar events, call the police non-emergency line at (703) 691-2131.

• A number of reports have been made of vehicle windows being shot out, possibly by a BB gun. Vehicles were parked on several streets within Franklin Farm, and incidents occurred mostly in the late evening.


• There has been a rise in vehicle tampering and theft from vehicles in the past few months. Incidents are occurring in early evening and late night hours. Police have increased patrols but encourage residents to “make their cars boring” by not leaving items of interest visible and removing equipment like GPS systems. And, above all, make sure doors are locked!


• Residents have witnessed individuals traveling door-to-door during the daytime, turning doorknobs to check for open doors. Some of these individuals were also leaving advertising flyers in the doors as they went.


• As spring and summer approach, be increasingly aware of theft from open garages. Thieves steal equipment and even the contents of garage refrigerators. Be diligent about closing your garage when you are not nearby to keep an eye on your property.

Please try to be extra alert in watching out, not only for your own property, but for your neighbors’ as well. Look out your windows more often. If you hear your dog barking, find out why. If you see a vehicle that doesn’t belong, let the police investigate. Help us all prevent crime and keep our community safe.


— The Neighborhood Watch

 

 

Franklin Farm Tennis Is Back!

Welcome to the 2008 tennis season at Franklin Farm. This season Franklin Farm Foundation is working with FirstServe Tennis (FSTA) to offer tennis programming from ages 4–adult. FirstServe Tennis is Northern Virginia’s leading outdoor tennis management company dedicated to offering high-quality tennis programs in a fun, friendly and supportive environment featuring small class size.


FSTA teaches at a 4:1 ratio for adults and Little Shots (ages 4–6) and a 6:1 ratio for children/youths (7–18). FSTA classes are small in size to enable its coaches to pro-vide differentiated instruction to each student. FSTA does not teach “seminar-style” group lessons; each student in the group receives individual feedback, which, in turn, fosters mutual learning.


Signup for spring and summer programs is already under way. In the spring, classes meet one day per week, and classes begin May 3.


Six camp weeks are scheduled for the summer. Each camp meets Monday–Thursday. Friday is a rain makeup/option-play day. Camp weeks are June 23–27, July 7–11, July 14–18, July 21–25, July 28–August 1, and August 4–8.


Children may participate in one or more camp but cannot sign up for a partial camp one week and the remainder another week. For more information on programs or to sign up, contact Gregg Deinhart, Managing Partner of FirstServe Tennis, directly:

 

Gregg Deinhart, USPTA
E-mail: gregg@tenniseveryone.net
Phone: 571-217-1684
Internet: www.tenniseveryone.net

 

 

You and Open Space

Periodically, issues are brought to the Open Space Committee regarding the improper use of open space by residents. We hope this article will provide a frame of reference for the use of open space, so it can be enjoyed by everyone.


There are 182 acres of open space or common ground in Franklin Farm. This area belongs collectively to the owners of the 1,777 homes in the Farm. Some of these areas are mowed on a regular basis, while others are intentionally left in a naturalized state for those interested in plants and wildlife.


The preservation of these lands depends primarily on the cooperation of each Foundation member. In many areas throughout the Farm, the common ground borders private homes. In some cases, the owners of those homes extend the care of their own lawns to include open space. Unfortunately, there are some homeowners who use the common ground as a depository for their yard clippings, firewood, or other personal items. These practices detract from the beauty of our open space.


Please be aware of the following standards. Any plants or flowers planted in open space become the property of the Foundation. The appropriate process for donating plantings to the Foundation is detailed in the Architectural Standards & Guidelines. Use of common ground for storage of firewood, furniture, or other items, is considered an encroachment of open space. Additionally, lawn debris dumped in open space is in violation of Foundation policy.


If and when these instances are brought to the attention of the Open Space Committee, homeowners will be required to remove those items and restore the common ground to its original condition.
If you are encroaching on open space, please correct the situation and help preserve the full beauty of our common grounds for all the residents of Franklin Farm.

How to Address Neighborhood Concerns

 

Nuisance Issues — loud noise, toys left in your yard, overgrown grass/bushes

• Speak with the neighbor (at least twice is recommended).

• Notify the Foundation office either by e-mail (foundation@franklinfarm.org) or phone, 703-620-6230.

• If noise issues are causing a disturbance, call the non-emergency number for the police, 703-691-2131.

 


Health Code Issues — pet droppings not picked up in yard, excessive garbage pileups, and rodent infestation

• Speak with the neighbor and request item(s) be properly discarded.

• Call the Fairfax County Health Department at 703-246-2300.

• Notify the Foundation office either by e-mail or phone.

 


Criminal Activity (non-emergency) — substance abuse, vandalism, graffiti

• Contact the non-emergency number for the police, 703-691-2131. This may need to be done repeatedly to establish a case, and all neighbors who are affected should call individually.

• Document the activity (notes, pictures, video). This may need to be done repeatedly to establish a case. The more neighbors involved, the better.

• Contact 911 when you witness criminal activities (burglary, breaking and entering, domestic violence) in progress.

 


Abandoned Cars — outdated inspection stickers and/or license plates or inoperable vehicles

• Notify the Foundation of the vehicle, including type, license plate number, location, how long it has been there, and owner/suspected owner (if known).

 

 

Three Ways to Pay Your Assessments

The Franklin Farm Foundation has changed banks. The Foundation’s new bank is Community Association Banc (CAB) headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. This change was undertaken because of excessive fees charged the Foundation by its previous bank for services to handle assessment payments and the Foundation’s other financial transactions. CAB is a division of First National Bank of Arizona and was established to serve the needs of organizations like the Franklin Farm Foundation. We anticipate savings of over $7,000 per year with the change to CAB. The change to CAB will affect your payment of quarterly assessments in several different ways which are explained in detail below.

Please note the new mailing address, effective as of January 1, 2006:

Franklin Farm Foundation

P.O. Box 61388

Phoenix, AZ 85082-1388

 

QUARTERLY STATEMENTS

You will still receive quarterly assessment statements; however, your payments will now be mailed to CAB in Arizona. There is a change from the prior payment procedure in that you now will be asked to tear off a coupon from the statement to be sent to CAB along with your check.

If an account is in arrears, the Foundation will adhere to the collection procedure detailed in Policy Resolution 9G, Procedures Relative to Collections and the owner will receive late fee notices from the Foundation.

Quarterly assessments are payable and due on the first day of January, April, July and October. Please allow sufficient time for your payment to reach the lockbox in Arizona in a timely manner to avoid a late fee charge. The back page of the “Almanac” provides you with the quarterly assessment schedule. It is necessary to continue whatever process you currently use to pay your assessment for the December 15, 2005 assessment billing. If you are mailing your check, please tear off the payment stub and mail it with the check to the Arizona lockbox, using the pre-addressed envelope. This assessment is due January 1, 2006
 
ELECTRONIC DEBIT

Electronic debit began April 1, 2006. Those wishing to participate can pick up a form at the Foundation office or online on our Web site. With the submittal of the completed authorization and voided check to the Foundation, an owner is enrolled for the automatic withdrawal that will be made for the quarterly assessment payment due immediately following enrollment and for all future assessments.

Future Electronic Debit Enrollment: The Foundation must be in receipt of the authorization form and voided check thirty (30) days before the assessment is due to ensure ELECTRONIC DEBIT enrollment for the upcoming quarterly assessment. Please contact the Foundation Office to sign-up now for the convenient electronic debit or to answer your questions.

Electronic Debit and a Future Assessment Change: Any variance in the quarterly debited amount adjusts automatically with the approved yearly budget. Annually, this information is published in the August Almanac.
 
CREDIT CARD OPTION

The change to CAB as the Foundation’s Bank also allows you make your assessment payment by credit card. Please be aware that CAB will charge you a fee of an additional 8% of the assessment to use this service. Credit card payment of assessments can be accomplished by accessing CAB’s Website at www.cabanc.com and following instructions there. Credit card payment may be useful to avoid late fees if you have forgotten to pay your assessment to avoid the Foundation’s imposition of the $35 late fee.
 

 

 

 

 

 

The Franklin Farm Foundation - 12700 Franklin Farm Rd - Oak Hill, VA  20171
Phone:  703-620-6230     Fax:  703-620-9021     E-Mail:  foundation@franklinfarm.org
Map of Franklin Farm      Map of the foundation office

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