Summer 2008 CWHOA Newsletter
CWHOA Annual Meeting Review:
Last summer, the roadways were repaired, and many concrete aprons around driveways and garages were re-poured. Our roads are in excellent condition. The sprinkler system was finally turned on. Street drains were flushed out. Dumpster days were held in April -- not exactly infrastructure maintenance but more keeping our infrastructure clear of debris. And what debris we had accumulated!!
Our web site was updated and improved -- www.cloisterswest.org -- here you will find all the information you ever wanted regarding our community. Three cheers and a round of applause for Max Ramirez -- our stalwart web master!!
Our community newsletter is now scheduled to be mailed quarterly.
The Student Welcome Picnic, Halloween Party, and Winter Holiday Celebration were all a success over the last year. Thanks to all who volunteered!
The CWHOA participates in the Community Association of Georgetown (CAG) security program which pays off-duty Metro police to cruise Georgetown in police cars and also contracts with Securitas to patrol our neighborhood. So we have two layers of extra protection. The face behind this program is Bev Casserly who is also a block captain in the CAG security program and has established a block captain program in the Cloisters. Additionally, she sends crime e-mail alerts to our community -- nearly 80 of our homes participate. A round of applause!
The CWHOA Board Members shall remain the same for 2008-2009.
SPRINKLERS & LIGHTS:
A few neighbors were trying to make sense of the Sprinkler Schedule and the Light Schedule here at the Cloisters West. The answer to the puzzle:
1) Time for lights on the entry columns at 36th and 37th Street entrances and on every third column along Reservoir Road: 7:00pm -- 6:30am daily.
2) Time for sprinklers: 4:30am for 20 minutes on Mon, Wed, Fri. and Sun.
Mark the calendar:
2nd annual Cloisters West Halloween Party!
Friday, Oct.31st Winfield Lane (Weather Permitting)
Management Report:
Be safe and go green at the same time!
Recently your community has experienced the typical rash of minor thefts of items left outside. This of course points to the obvious issues of being vigilant and cautious in not leaving items of value outside your locked home. However, safety and security can also be enhanced though proper lighting of the exterior of your home.
Many Cloisters houses are quite dark on the front steps and walkways which invites security concerns as well as trips and falls. If you are doing any work around your home integrate some lighting into the plan. Moreover, put this lighting on a sun sensor so that you do not have to remember to turn it on. If you already have a light fixture on the front you may be able to screw a sun sensor into the light fixture and then a bulb into the sensor providing you an instant and cheap automatic light. This would depend upon the size of your light fixture and whether it is mostly glass which would allow the sensor to work properly. If this does not work, an electrician can retrofit your fixture fairly easily. Also consider replacing your exterior lights that run for long durations with appropriate compact fluorescents with a 2700Kelvin rating. This type of fluorescent approximates incandescent quality of light. The same fluorescent can also be used on interior fixtures that are in use many hours a day. They even come in 3-way bulbs and some are even dimmable, although these are not as effective as incandescent dimmed bulbs.
If you are rewiring your garden or front incorporate several fixtures on steps and walks and use really low wattage compact fluorescents. I use 2 watt bulbs in my garden in several fixtures and get great lighting. So you can get better lighting in and around your home and reduce electrical consumption at the same time. Being safe and green -- It's a good thing! ROGER TILTON
STUDENT WELCOME PICNIC: REVISED DATE/PLACE
The university students who join our community each fall make living in Georgetown more dynamic. We would like to welcome students living in The Cloisters West to attend our annual Student Welcome Picnic this year at 36th & Winfield. One key component to living in harmony is communication. We will be sharing good food and useful information. We will also raffle off REDSKINS Football Tickets: (plus parking) to one lucky student!
DATE/TIME: Oct 9th, 6pm
COMMUNICATION:
The Board has set up the Cloisters West Group on the Google web site. It will function as a bulletin board/chat room for the neighbors who wish to communicate with each other about vendors, services, housecleaners, and any other subject; it will replace the email list established and maintained by our neighbor Carole Anderson. (Three cheers for Carole for this work.) Those neighbors on the email list will be invited to join the CWHOA group by the Google Group system; when you receive this invitation, just click in the email and follow the instructions. For those neighbors who wish to join the Google Group but are not on the email list established by Carole Anderson, please contact Max Ramirez, our webmaster at: max@ramirezdearellano.com who will insure that an invitation from Google Group is issued. We hope you will take advantage of this easy and fun way to communicate with your neighbors about, well, anything!
MASTER PLAN UPDATE:
The Master Plan Committee is responsible for planning general improvements to The Cloisters West. They are currently dealing with the entry at 37th Street (columns, signage, lighting and landscaping), mailboxes, and speed bumps. The following notes are a result of a recent summer meeting:
The following members of the committee were in attendance: Francis Spencer, John Doolittle, Sonia Crow.
We reviewed the scope of the project from landscaping to entry ways to construction. Paul Davis, landscape architect, will prepare a proposal and provide us with a design fee. If acceptable we will proceed as follows:
a. Develop a few concepts.
b. Meet with the Master Plan Committee and review the concepts.
c. Refine the concepts and develop a budget.
d. Hold a CWHOA town meeting to receive additional input.
e. Meet with the committee for final review.
f. Proceed to the board for final approval.
g. Paul Davis, in coordination with Roger Tilton, or property manager, will prepare a RFP so the job can be bid out.
Additionally we discussed with Mr. Davis if he could provide input on sign posts, sign frames and speed bumps so that they coordinate with the Master Plan Committee's work to Sandy Rich and his committee as discussed and agreed upon at the last board meeting. FYI -- he has experience with permanent speed bumps and gave a few suggestions.
Ed Gershon
301-943-2829
What's for Dinner?
Have you heard about the conveniently located Epicurean and Co. eatery located on the Georgetown University campus just beside the Cloisters West?
Well, let me fill you in so they can fill you up!
It's like two restaurants in one: one side is a seated dinner hibachi place, the other is a grab and go pay by weight spot with huge salad bars, hot entrees, pizza, sandwiches, etc.
The restaurant is open seven days a week, from 6:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m., serving breakfast for $5.99 per pound and lunch and dinner both for $7.49 per pound. Additional options of sushi, hibachi and deli feature individually priced dishes on menus. Epicurean has a seating capacity of 297 customers, and the space can be rented out for private parties. (Located on the ground floor of Darnall Hall.)
PEACH SANGRIA:This is a recipe that is worth trying! What could be better than a fresh glass of peach sangria on a warm day?
MIX:
White Wine
Lemon/Lime Soda
Dash of Pineapple Juice
Splash of Peach Schnapps
Add fruit. Serve over ice.
Enjoy in good company!
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Please send your questions/concerns to: