Whats Inside

June 2008 www.cascadesva.com Vol. XVIII No.VI Beautification Input Needed By: Martha Kaczmarskyj, PCAM, General Manager Only Rain in the Drain By: Julie Challis, Board Member At the May board meeting, the board decided that they need resident input on how to use the $65K budgeted this year for beautification of the community. As you walk around the community and see areas that need beautification, please note the location and send an email with your recommendations to the general manager at marthak@cascadesva.com. I will compile all the recommendations and present them to the Board of Directors at their June 26th board meeting. You are welcome to attend this meeting to personally provide or further discuss your suggestions and see how the board reviews all the recommendations submitted and acts on them. Over the years the beautification line item in the budget was used exclusively for landscaping enhancements. However, beautification can also include such items as installing additional paths, installing benches through out the community for walkers to rest, installing mile markers on walking paths, providing recycling bins with covers at all tot lots, basketball courts, on paths, etc. This is your time to become part of the process that keeps Cascades a beautiful and desirable community. Recommendations must be submitted by June17th to be included in the board packages as reference material for the meeting. Your input is very important to the board as decisions are made that impact the community. You elected the board members and given them the authority to act on behalf of the community. However, the board wants to include you in the process by obtaining your input. We all live in a watershed. A watershed is all the land that drains into a given body of water. This body of water can be a creek, pond, river or ocean. Generally speaking the larger the body of water, the larger the watershed. The Chesapeake Bay watershed, for example, covers 64,000 square miles and drains from six states including 60 percent of Virginia. We need water to drink, to keep clean, for recreation, transportation, fishing, and to produce goods and energy. Most of us do not think much about where the water comes from. Our water comes from the Chesapeake Bay. We usually do not think how everything we do on land affects the quality of the water in our rivers and streams. When water runs off the land, it takes fertilizers, loose soil, litter and other pollutants with it. County codes make it unlawful for any person to discharge, deposit or allow being discharged anything into the storm drains or streams other than rain water. This includes chemicals, leaves, dirt and trash. Anything that goes into a storm drain goes directly to a stream. Everyone has to work together to keep the water in our streams, ponds, and rivers clean and pollutant free. What’s Inside Green Team GM Corner Board Meeting Notes Covenants Corner Sterling Fire Department Fireworks Bulletin Board Calendar of Events Page 3 Page 3 Page 7 Page 9 Page 13 Page 17 Page 22 Page 26 Page 1 June 2008 Page 2 June 2008 GM Corner: By: Martha Kaczmarskyj, PCAM, General Manager Green Tips and Thoughts By: Cyndi Goldberg, Green Team Member Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy released its first official Environmental Performance Index, the preeminent ranking of countries’ dedication to environmental protections. The list uses a variety of metrics, including carbon and sulfur emissions, water purity and conservation practices, to calculate an overall score for each country. Although the wealthy Scandinavian countries dominate the top five, and poor African nations the bottom five, there are a number of surprises along the way. Colombia, for instance, rings in at number nine, ahead of France, Canada and Germany. The top ten are Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Costa Rica, Austria, New Zealand, Latvia, Colombia, and France. New Zealand, Canada, and United Kingdom are in the top fourteen. However, the U.S. is in the 39th place on the list of 149 countries. Why? We have not put incentives in front of our business community to pay attention to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to figure out energy efficiency strategies, to invest in alternative energies, or pursue opportunities like carbon capture and sequestration. We have not educated the people to be more environmentally responsible. Every bit helps. What have you done today to help the environment? We stress the importance of recycling and work with our trash contractors to do more recycling. For example, one contractor recycles # 1 through 7 plastic and the other contractor recycles only # 1 and 2 plastic. The plastic recycling industry provides jobs for more than 52,000 American workers. If all trash companies were required to recycle all plastic, more Americans would be employed. I attended the May 7th Loudoun County Ad-Hoc Energy Efficiency Committee meeting and requested that the county amend their recycling ordinance to include more types of items that are mandatory for recycling. Single stream recycling is very effective and makes it easier for homeowners to recycle. An example of how it works is shown in a short video on http://www. alexrecycles.org/wheretheygo.php. Recycling a 3 ft. high stack of newspapers saves 1 tree and recycling all Sunday papers saves 4 trees a year. Cascades can save more than 90,000 trees each year just from recycling newspapers. Every three months, GM Corner continued on page 5 This column is an interactive community sharing of healthful and helpful ideas. It will be monthly. Any one with a “green “ idea is invited to email the Green Team and we will post your idea in our Green Tips and Thoughts. Please , don’t be shy and keep a great tip to yourself. We will give the sender the credit or the tip can be annomyous.In. our ever changing lives having a monthly resource will make life easier plus it will be an educational and historical path of where we’ve been and where we are going together. TIP: This is the season of growing. Share your friendship and bounty. Grow a garden. Veggy or Herb. Large or small. Eat well. Take your veggy scraps , put them into a blender and bury them back into the garden. Your garden will be very happy and you’ll be eating healthy food. TIP: In the warm weather,fill your gas tank in the morning when it’s cooler. The gas is heavier and more will go into your tank. Also, don’t put the nozzle on the fastest speed. You get more gas fume and a bit less gas. TIP: We have more rain fall this year so far but… It’s not July or August. Lets continue to be mindful of how we use our water so it becomes a habit. A fun project is creating a rain barrel and using it for watering plants ,trees and or washing the car. People used to use fresh rainwater for washing their hair to make it soft!! TIP: To help cool the house and conserve energy, consider tinting windows on the south or west side of the house. TIP: Clean your dryer vent ducts . Dryer vents are the second leading causes of fires .Also birds love to make homes in them . We want the baby birds to live safely in the trees! TIP: If you want better air quality in your home. Clean your air ducts. Your air ducts are a interior system that can circulate dust pollen and mites. Please email your GREEN TIPS and THOUGHTS to windseed@aol.com. Attention Green June 2008 Page 3 Page 4 June 2008 GM Corner continued from page 3 Cascades Programs Brochures and registration forms for these programs can be picked up at the Lowes island Community Center. All classes are held at the Westlakes Community Center. Personal TrainersMelissa Eck Jessica Storm Millie Betts JazzerciseMaryann Limberis 571-437-5036 703-869-8376 703-421-4395 703-421-9465 Americans landfill enough aluminum to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet. Recycling a single aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for 3 hours. The examples used regarding recycling are from the National Recycling Coalition website. Changing the frequency of trash pick up and providing smaller trash can and a larger recycling bin will encourage residents to recycle more. Also, by changing to one trash pick up per week, the residents would save money on trash pick up and lower their carbon footprint. According to EPA, cities that changed to once a week trash pick up have shown high approval rate. For example the rate of satisfaction was 92% in Plano, Texas and 85% in Tucson, Arizona. If we all work together to become more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, we can change the Yale EPI rating for the United States, provide more jobs for American workers, provide a better future for next generations, and save money. Cascades Pool Hours Estates Pool (703) 430-9365 11am to 8pm/open at 4pm weekdays thru June 19th. Lowes Island Pool Don’t forget Father’s Day is on June 15th! (703) 444-9851 11am to 8pm Potomac Lakes Pool (703) 430-6784 11am to 8pm Quarterpath Trace Pool (703)430-9195 10am to 8pm/open 4pm weekdays thru June 19th Westlakes Pool (571) 434-9810 10am to 7pm/open 4pm weekdays thru June 19th 7pm to 9pm lap lane swimming only Lifeguards Needed!! Jazzie Pools, Spas, and Fitness L.L.C. are currently hiring for qualified lifeguards at the beautiful Cascades community. Must have current CPR, First Aid and Lifeguard certifications. Great attitude and great customer service required. For more information, please contact us at hr_dept@jazziepools.com or 800-316-5433. June 2008 Page 5 Page 6 June 2008 Board Meeting Notes By: Martha Kaczmarskyj, PCAM, General Manager The May Board of Directors meeting had four residents in attendance for the Open Forum. A resident was present to address his request for the association to sponsor his gun safety class in one of our community centers and to waive the cost of the rental fee. The motion to sponsor a gun safety class was withdrawn after discussion by the board because the insurance broker did not recommend the association sponsor such an event for liability reasons. Another resident was present to advise the board that he has resigned from the County Liaison Committee. He stated that since the board appointed him to this committee, he felt it proper to advise the board in person. The board thanked him for his hard work and dedication while on this committee. The remaining two residents were there mainly to observe how the board operates. However, one of them suggested that the board consider posting the board agenda earlier on the website to give residents more time to research issues of interest and find other residents that support their position. The board decided that a draft agenda can be posted earlier on the website and agenda items can be added to it as they are identified. The board discussed Potomac Terrace request. It was decided that the installation of two Cascades signs will not be approved at this time. It will be considered in the multi year beautification plan. Otherwise, the board approved the painting of white lines and the stenciled word “STOP” at the stop signs at the intersection of River Meadows Terrace and Stanmoor Terrace. Also, the board approved to continue working with Loudoun County to have a walking path installed on the south side of Palisades Parkway. In addition, the board approved to task staff to research possible traffic calming measures for River Meadows Terrace and provide options by the July meeting. The issue of closing off the eastern end of River Meadows Terrace was not approved and the board instructed staff to discontinue discussions with the Sheriff’s Department and Fire Marshal on this issue. As the first beautification item implemented this year, the board approved the installation of connecting paths at both corner of Cascades Parkway at Palisades Road. There are clearly established dirt paths of shortcuts created by residents. The board members decided that June 2008 the installation of the asphalt paths would provide a safer walkway and the area would look much better around the Cascades signage. This motion was passed and the asphalt paths will be connected as soon as possible. A walking path at Sandstone Square and Palisades Parkway requested by a resident for safety reasons was not approved for the following reasons. The area in question is another street in Cascades where a sidewalk was planned (there are cement handicap aprons at the curbs of both streets) but the county did not realize that they were not built during their inspection process and released the developer’s bond. Once a bond is released, the county can not require that the developer install the sidewalks. The Board of Directors has already contacted the county on this issue and requested that the county remedy these situations as appropriate. Apparently, county requirements state that every street in Cascades must have a sidewalk on one side of the street. Now the Sandstone Square area has been added to the list of seven other areas that need sidewalks. The board discussed progress made by each board member on the board goals they are spearheading. Karl Nobert is spearheading improving communications with neighboring association, dog park, and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. Tom Cooke is spearheading the Potomac Terrace resident requests. Martin Hurden is spearheading the audit process and contract, multi year beautification plan and evaluation of adequacy of number of pool umbrellas. Steve Olekszyk is spearheading the use of volunteers to help out in the community. Bob Richardson will be working with Martin Hurden on the multi year beautification plan and spearheading a multi year capital plan and review of facility rental rates. Julie Challis is spearheading the effort to make Cascades a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly community. John Lane is spearheading a water conservation plan for Cascades. Gordon Turner is spearheading better communications and interaction with the sub-associations. In other business, the board reviewed the towing regulations and the current towing company performance. Also, the board reviewed and discussed the pipestem escrow accounts. Martin Hurden (Board Meeting Notes continued on page 10) Page 7 Page 8 June 2008 Covenants Corner By: Nikki Perrin, Accounts/Covenants Manager Nikki@Cascadesva.com On Our Mind Tom Cooke, Board Vice President The busiest time of year has arrived for us all! With that being said, I wanted to remind our residents of how important it is that each and every one of you do your part in keeping our community one of the most desireable in the county. First, I am thankful that we are finally no longer in a drought...now if we could just get the rain to stop! The winter season allows us to be able to put away our lawnmowers and garden tools but that time is officially over. The number of lawn maintenance violations we’ve sent out in the past two months is overwhelming. We need everyone’s help to keep your property maintained, especially in this market. Your home helps determine your neighborhoods worth. Also, with people becoming more active outdoors, please check to make sure the lightpost in your front yard is working properly. It must be on from dusk until dawn. This is very important in helping keep the sidewalks and streets well lit and is very important for everyone’s safety. The past couple of weeks we have been victims of vandalization. We’ve had several of our tunnels vandalized by being “spray painted” with profanities. We are working with the Sheriff’s Office to try and identify these people. If you happen to notice anyone going into these tunnels with spray cans, please notify the police as soon as possible so the association doesn’t continue spending time and money to repair the damage. Now I would like to just point out a few things that some residents don’t seem aware of. One very important thing that everyone should know is that there is NO RESERVED PARKING in Cascades, except for Morningside Terrace or designated Handicap Spots. There seems to be alot of neighborly disputes over this and it must be clarified. All parking spaces are first come first served at all times. GOLF CARTS: Golf Carts are not to be driven on the streets of Cascades at any time. Golf Carts are to be driven on designated paths only. It is very dangerous for them to be in the streets with a 35 mile per hour speed limit. Lastly, If you notice a neighbor’s property or common area property that is in need of maintenance, please call or email Teresa Campbell, Covenants Assistant at Teresa@Cascadesva.com. June 2008 The pools are open and the kids are almost out of school. It’s that time of year when we take a good look around the house to see what sort of “projects” are on the “Honey Do” list—or those we can assign our teenagers that would help build character. Maybe the lawn needs to be mowed, the garden weeded or the garage door painted… Where am I going with this? We all need to take advantage of the great spring and early summer weather to help maintain the health of our homes. As your Board Liaison to the Covenants Committee I have the opportunity to see the various infractions that come to our attention, and it becomes readily apparent that almost NONE of them need to get to the point where we have to take action. In April alone we addressed 145 various infractions ranging from high grass to minor painting requirements to a burned-out light bulb. Yep, that’s correct: a burned-out bulb. Most of the infractions are minor and require little effort to correct. I ask all of us to take a few moments in the next few days to refresh ourselves with the Architectural Design Standards(it’s probably in the hall closet next to your 2004 phone books) and then make a quick inspection of our homes to ensure we’re still in compliance. If you can’t find your copy, it’s online at www.cascadesva.com. Our management staff performs a magnificent job of ensuring our community maintains a very high standard. But with over 5,000 homes in Cascades we simply do not have the resources to be the “Covenants Police”, and neither do we want them to be. They don’t seek out violations but respond quickly and appropriately to those of which they are made aware by either (1) identifying violations during a home inspection as part of sale, (2) seeing an infraction during the normal course of business while traveling through the community, or (3) fellow homeowner input. While I’m on the subject, the Architectural Design Standards are living document. Our Covenants Committee periodically reviews them to ensure continued relevance, and they intend to perform a similar review this year. They don’t want to do this in a vacuum and are VERY interested in your input. As Pogo once said, “They is us”. We’re all homeowners; if you see something in the document that you believe should be (On our mind continued on page 10) Page 9 (Board Meeting Notes continued from page 7) presented the Treasurer’s report and assured the board that the April higher delinquency rate is due to the usual increase seen every first month of the quarter. Otherwise the month has been uneventful he stated and the association is in a strong financial position. The board also reviewed and discussed the management report and action item tracking. (On our mind continued from page 9) re-written, clarified, added or removed, LET US KNOW! Contact the Management Staff with your suggestions. I guarantee your input will be considered in any modifications to the Guidelines. Also, if you are planning a home modification requiring approval, please ensure your documentation is as complete as possible and submitted BEFORE you perform the work. Remember, the Covenants Committee is comprised of volunteers from our community. They don’t WANT to cite their neighbors for violations, so let’s help them out by taking care of these little “projects” you’ve been meaning to get to but was waiting for the weather to clear, or for the kids to get out of school, or for the Nationals to have a winning season… Page 10 June 2008 Children’s Safety By: Martha Kaczmarskyj, PCAM, General Manager Set hot water at 120 degrees. Equip faucets with anti-scald valves. Install ground fault circuit interrupter outlets in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room and outside. Inspect appliance and extension cords for worn spots. Replace electrical appliances that are not Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approved. Teach your child NO-GO-TELL. If a stranger offers something or asks for help, say NO, GO away quickly, and TELL a trusted adult what happened. Always have your child tell you where he/she is going and when he/ she is expected back. Teach your child to cross streets only at corners, to use crosswalks, and to obey traffic signals. Supervise all children under age 10 when crossing a street. Your child needs to know to obey traffic, signs, and signals when on a scooter, skates, skateboard or bike and to beware of cars at alleys and driveways. Proper safety gear is a must. When playing softball and baseball and when riding a bicycle, the child needs to wear a helmet. When using a skateboard or skating, the child needs to wear a helmet, elbow pads, wrist guards, gloves, and knee pads. When riding a scooter, the child needs to wear a helmet, wrist guards, knee and elbow pads. Use a rear facing seat for infants until 1 year old and 20 lbs and a forward facing toddler seat for those over 1 year old and weighing 20 to 40 lbs. After these stages, a child weighing less than 80 lbs. and under 4’9” can use belt-positioning booster seat. Have children under age 12 ride in the back seat and wear a seat belt with the shoulder strap across the chest. Never leave a child alone in the car. Fence your pool area so that your child can get to it only with your help. Never leave your child alone near a pool or hot tub. Empty the wading pool when not in use. Place a lockable cover over your hot tub. Lock unloaded guns in a cabinet, box or safe. Store ammunition separately. Use trigger locks to make guns inoperative. Tell your child that if he/she sees a gun, he/she must stop, don’t touch, leave the area, and tell an adult. Store medicines, alcoholic beverages, household cleaners, cosmetics and toiletries out of your child’s reach. Place houseplants on high shelves. Warn your child about toxic plants in your yard. Install carbon monoxide detectors near bedrooms. Test you home for radar. Keep your children away from the stove when you cook. Do not store food in lead crystal, open cans, old copper cookware, pottery or ceramic dishes. Turn pan handles inward. Set hot food and beverages away from edges. Unplug appliances when not in use. June 2008 Ten Steps to Fire Safety 1. Keep matches and lighters hidden. 2. If you smoke, use non tipping ashtrays and never smoke in bed. 3. Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and in every bedroom. Test monthly and replace batteries twice a year, or as needed. 4. Keep fully charged fire extinguishers on each floor of your home and in the vicinity of the kitchen, garage, laundry room and fireplace. 5. Set up and practice a family fire escape plan. 6. Review fire safety tips with your child, and what to do in case of fire: crawl low under smoke, get out fast and stay out. 7. Teach your child not to be afraid of firefighters in safety gear. 8. Inspect extension and appliance cords and replace worn ones. 9. Store and use cleaning products, aerosol cans and flammable liquids away from heat. 10. Place space heaters at least 3 feet away from curtains, walls, furniture, and other flammables. Americans use enough office paper each year to build a 12 foot high wall of paper from New York to Seattle. Does your office recycle office paper? Page 11 Page 12 June 2008 Thank you to all of those who volunteered and participated in our 6th annual 10K Firechase and 911 Fun Run! THANK YOU MAJOR 10K DONORS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Outback Steakhouse Invisible Towers Jazzie Pools Target Robeks Starbucks Potomac River Running Store Everyware Incorporated Legum & Norman Fox Chase Tavern Animal Medical Center Sprint Kolb Electric K Fitness June 2008 Page 13 Page 14 June 2008 June 2008 Page 15 Page 16 June 2008 Gas Prices rising, what’s the County Doing ? By: Julie Challis, Board Member HAPPY & SAFE 4th OF JULY By Mary L. McQuire, Department of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management In a world of ever increasing gas prices, and concern over greenhouse gases, it’s reassuring to know that our county is taking the initiative to tackle energy efficiency. Earlier this year, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors established an Ad-Hoc Energy Efficiency Committee to proactively address the growing concern over rising fuel costs and national debate on energy and the impacts on national security, the US economy and the environment. The key focus is to become more energy efficient and reduce fuel cost for the Loudoun County taxpayers. The committee goals include: Performing energy audits on government buildings and vehicle fleets. Based on the results, create a strategic plan to upgrade existing county structures and vehicle fleets to increase energy efficiency. Researching building standards for new buildings and incorporating these into the county’s decision making process on making new buildings. Researching current and pending technology advances in transportation and incorporating this information in the county’s decision making on vehicle fleets. Engage and cooperate with regional, state and federal efforts to increase energy efficiency. Identify and track performance metrics of energy efficiency and translate these metrics into tax dollars saved. Engage Loudoun County businesses and residents in efforts to increase energy efficiency throughout the county. Beginning in June, various retail merchants, mainly housed in roadside stands or tents, will begin selling “permissible” fireworks throughout Loudoun County. These are fireworks that, according to state and local regulations, do not explode, do not rise into the air, do not travel laterally on the ground or do not fire projectiles into the air. These permissible fireworks include sparklers, fountains, cones and snakes. They are distinguished from other fireworks such as firecrackers, Roman candles, missiles, bottle rockets and shells, which are not allowed in Loudoun County without a permit. In March, the Northern Virginia fire marshals conduct a regional test of these permissible fireworks to ensure they meet or exceed the safety criteria allowed for public use. “We have forged a good relationship with the fireworks industry and our testing provides a mutual benefit to them and to the public,” states Brower. A list of tested and approved fireworks is listed on www.loudoun.gov/firemarshal. “People are just asking for trouble when they bring illegal fireworks into Loudoun County. Many of these items are considered explosives and are illegal, according to federal law, to transport across state lines. Locally, use of illegal fireworks is a violation of the Loudoun County Fire Prevention Code, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor, meaning a person could receive jail time of up to 1 year and a fine of up to $2,500.00.” Brower encourages the public to attend one of the many public fireworks displays that will be held throughout the county during the July 4th week. “We are meeting with the dozen or so sponsors of these public events to ensure their permit requirements are in order. This allows us to detect and correct possible safety deficiencies related to a location or to the venues’ fireworks shooters well ahead of the holiday events. Mary L. Maguire is with the Department of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management and may be reached at 703-777-0333. June 2008 Page 17 Page 18 June 2008 Lowes Island Elementary Between field trips, spelling bees, class musicals and general classroom activities, the Lowes Island Elementary School has had a very busy and exciting year. We are especially grateful to celebrate the arrival of a new playground this month! Thanks to the generosity of our families, community businesses, the school and our Student Council Association, the Parent Teacher Organization raised enough money for a new deck-and-post style playground at the back of the school. We are very excited about this wonderful addition to our community! The PTO began raising money last spring at a Peddle-a-thon, Dollar Days, Movie Night and Chuck E. Cheese Night. The bulk of the funds, however, came from a Silent Auction & Dinner held at the Sterling Park Safety Center in Cascades last fall. Attendees dined on a delicious Italian buffet from Cantina D’Italia in Herndon and danced to music by DJ Bobby, parent Bobby Caudill. Insty Prints of Chantilly helped us create a beautiful program that listed all the auction items and our many donors. Raffle winners won a beautiful blue topaz and diamond ring donated by Adeler Jewelers in Great Falls, One Night at the Lansdowne Resort or a gift certificate to Morton’s Steakhouse. The Live Auction saw lively bidding for “Chef for a Night” with up-and-coming caterer Sean McCann, two separate weeks at “Linger A While” in Corolla, NC, owned by Bill & Mary Krueger, or a reserved parking space at the school. The favorite silent auction items of the night were those donated by our wonderful teachers and staff - Suzanne Apwisch, Alaina Beck, Wendy Begle, Kay Boonmee, Angela Broadwell, Matthew Brodie, Elizabeth Colby, Sara DiPasquale, Brenda Jochems, Hollie Jones, Patty Kelly, Laura Klein, Michelle Lacaria, Mary Lentine, Jessica Mach, Robin McInnis, Kelly Miller, LeAnne Poindexter, Marhea Ruzanic, Bruce Shafferman, Karen Shields and Cindy Vander Molen. Next month, we look forward to acknowledging more of our silent auction donors. In the meantime, please visit our school website (http://cmsweb2.loudoun.k12.va.us/lowesisland/site/default.asp) for details about our ribbon cutting ceremony. Our Learning Leopards wish you a safe and fun summer. And, when school’s out, please stop by and see the new playground! June 2008 Page 19 50 Plus Club By: Estela Bock Bear Brigade. We stuff and decorate small fabric bears for the pediatric patients in seven facilities of Loudoun Hospital. Call Charlotte Kirchner, 703450-6292, for more information. Bears meet on the 4the Wednesday of themonth at 9:30 a.m. Golf Group. Call Bernie Halprin at 703-430-1648, or Dick Cole at 703-421-0454, for information. Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. Bowling Group. Bowling is now on the fall schedule. Tennis Group. Contact Harold Herman, 703-4044542 if you are interested in joining this group. Weather permitting, Mondays and Wednesdays at 9 a.m. at the Quarterpath Trace courts. Wine Tasting Group. Please call Dick Cole, 703421-4542, for information about this group. Tour Group. Call Mary Ann Muphy at 703-404-8677 for information. These activities are open to members of the Cascades 50 Plus Club. Membership is open to anyone 50 years young and up who resides in the Cascades Commmunity. For more information about the club, please call Al Kirchner, 703-450-6292. Our club is not part of the new Senior Center at Cascades. Page 20 June 2008 Weight Loss? I Can’t Stay Motivated By: Millie Betts “I start out on a weight loss plan, do great for a while, and then it all seems to fall apart.” “I lose a little weight, then something happens and I quit. Then it all comes back….and then some!” “I have the best intentions when it comes to losing weight, but I can’t seem to stick to with a weight loss plan” “I’m just not disciplined enough to stick with anything for any length of time” “Forget it. I just don’t have any willpower!” Any of this sound familiar? Does embarking on a weight loss plan/program seem like a futile endeavor to you? If so, you’re not alone. Americans are losing the battle with the bulge in a big way (no pun intended!) But why is that? It’s not that we don’t want to lose weight. We do. And it’s not that we don’t try. We do! So why is it that we’re caught up in this vicious cycle of starting and stopping? Why do we stay on this crazy rollercoaster of losing weight and gaining it back? It’s certainly not our intention. But it is just as certainly what happens to most weight loss efforts the majority of the time. The problem is twofold. First, we take on weight loss by “going on a diet” or “starting an exercise program”. This mentality is a fundamental problem. Both “going on a diet” and “starting an exercise program” have direct implications of being “on” something. When we go “on” something, there is an inherent going “off” that follows. Or, that we have somehow imagined that there is an end point when we “arrive” at our goal and don’t have to “do it” anymore. The answer is that we need to stop going “on” anything and make the decision to adopt healthier patterns in our eating and activity….and not just for a period of time, but forever. I’m not implying that this is easy. It’s not. You’re talking about changing a lifetime of habits that created the results you now have. Those habits will not change overnight. But they can be changed. Not by going “on” anything, but by making a commitment to get healthy and fit, by understanding that the effort is lifelong, and by learning what it takes to make that happen. Secondly, we make the mistake of believing that willpower and discipline are necessary to make the necessary changes “stick” in our life. This is just not true. But believing that it is true becomes a selfJune 2008 fulfilling prophesy. I continually tell people that I don’t have any willpower and, when it comes to food, I don’t have any discipline either. My husband will tell you there are many things I ask him not to bring into our home because if they’re there, I eat them! No willpower. And I’m not “disciplined” enough to resist certain foods that I enjoy. What I have done, however, is spent many years learning new skills (like environmental/stimulus control) and continually working to keep those new skills from allowing the older, bad habits from surfacing and taking over. So, if what I’m saying is true, how does someone go about getting on the right foot to lose weight? First, you make the decision to make change…permanent change. Then you find the right people or program (professionals) to help you learn how to build the skills you need (healthy eating and exercise/activity skills)…forever! And lastly, you get a support network (professionals, friends, co-workers, family) in place to help encourage you when you encounter tough situations and to support you when you stumble in your efforts. Remember, this is tough stuff. No doubt. But it is very attainable with the right attitude and the proper tools. And now, there is a program, here in your community for Cascades residents. This program is research based, providing materials that teach, guide and support the healthiest and best proven skills and strategies in weight management as we know them today. It is a classroom style program that meets one time per week with the goal of assisting participants in healthy, long-term weight loss. The program emphasizes the importance of exercise and includes exercise instruction but not training (i.e. exercise will not be performed as a part of this program). For more information, or to register for the program, contact Millie Betts at 703.421.4395 or milliebetts@ aol.com. For more information on Millie, see www. milliebetts.com. Making paper from recycled paper reduces contribution to air pollution by 95% . Do you buy recycled paper? Does your office? Page 21 The paid ad deadline is the 1st of the month for the following month. Advertisements are available on a first-come, first-served basis and must be in a PDF format. Payment is due upon submission with checks payable to the Cascades Community Association. Please send your ads or questions on the newsletter by email to Nikki@cascadesva.com. Ad Size Dimensions Cost Per Issue Half Page 7.5 x 4.25 $ 225.00 Quarter Page 3.5 x 4.25 $ 125.00 Eigth Page Business Card Size 2 x 3.5 $ 75.00 Full Page 7.5 x 9.5 (only 2 full pages available) $ 425.00 Listings in the Bulletin Board (Cascades residents only) must be 25 words or less. Residents may place 3 ads per issue. Ads must be submitted to the Lowes Island Community Center by the 15th of the month preceding publication. You may fax your ad to 703-4060819, or email it to Maria@cascadesva.com. There is no charge. In-home business ads and ads of a political nature are not accepted. Cascades Current (circulation 5,300) is the monthly newsletter for the Cascades Community. Cascades Community Bulletin Board FOR SALE Pet-friendly OBX Beach House, 6 bedrooms, 4 bath, lakeside in Corolla , easy walk to beach, hot tub, large heated pool. Aug. 10-17 @ 3825, Aug. 31-Sept. 3 @ 1825. Fall weeks 1125-1575. Details@ www.villagerealtyobx.com under house name: “Southern Paws”. 703-450-7789. Vacations Worldwide - select the destination & enjoy the comfort of a beautifully furnished timeshare anywhere in the world. Great rates! 703-404-3919. Virginia Beach/Williamsburg - enjoy a week in the summer sun at one of our all-inclusive timeshare resorts. 703-4043919. Kettler - Kettcar - pedal Go-cart $15. 703430-8264. Train table w/lots of train pieces $40. 703430-8264. Kid’s Craftsman Play Toolbench w/lots of tools $15; Many other kids toys - come see!!! 703-430-8264. Custom curtains (fits 1 or 2 close together windows) and matching queen size bedspread. Beige, dark green, little peach. Excellent condition. Original cost $1300; $200/obo. Comforter, canopy & 2 window treatments in soft blue & pink (original price $446). 703-444-4247. Bowling shoes, Brunswick size 5. Excellent condition - white (men’s or women’s). Black & Decker coffee pot (mounted or counter top w/timer - off white) excellent condition. Mirror for bathroom vanity 35 X 23, excellent condition. 703-444-4247. Pair of Queen Anne chairs in a green/ yellow striped tweed w/oak legs & arms ($75) & a dark brown leather chair ($50). 703-433-9477. Large Ceramic Floor Vase-stands 36” tall x 15” wide, creme color glaze w/brown clay to give a swirl appearance. Purchased from Mayflowers $235 - asking $125. 703-421-4014. Discount Spa Packages: availability. 703-966-3361. Limited Crib, Twin bed for sale: Simmons natural wood crib w/navy accents for sale; excellent condition, mattress & original paperwork included $100. Natural wood twin bed (headboard) w/box spring/mattress also for sale $200. Both are in pristine condition & perfect for your little ones! 703-406-7579. For sale: 20” Panasonic TV, good condition $50. Also, a Werner 8 fy. aluminum step ladder $40. 703-444-0553. For rent in Cascades - spacious, clean townhouse - 3 bdr, 2.5 bath, hadwod fl. mn level, 2 frpl’s., fnd ba sement, patio, deck. Curtains in windows. Near Horizon School & Algonkian Park. No smoking, $2100/month. 707-999-5954. Sanyo microwave new $50. Krups coffeemaker $20. Phonemate answering machine like new $15. Dell 17” monitor $50. All perfect for kids leaving home! 703391-1969. Snowboard, bindings, boots men’s size 10 1/2 $80. Bauer-in-line skates women’s size 7, excellent condition $40. 703-391-1969. Emerson VCR $20; Good for kid’s playroom. Umbrella stroller new $25. Whirlpool A/C window unit $75. 703-3911969. Peg perego infant car seat - exc. cond., $80. Chico high chair - gently used $40. White Glider/Ottoman combo w/blue fabric - exc. cond., $89. Ikea white dresser - gently used $30. Pottery Barn white crib - exc. cond., $180 (original value $500). Baby Bjorn carrier (black)-gently used $30. 571-332-2517. Cicco Baby Bouncer (blue w/moons & stars) - gently used, asking $20. 571-3322517. Twin Box Spring and Mattress, “Mattress Discounters Royal Comfort Collection, Firm”, used 9 months, exc. cond., $200. 703-450-1443. 20” color Zenith TV. Good condition w/ remote. Asking $20. 703-421-6483. Natural color Bonavita crib w/storage drawer $50. Changing table custion & cover $10. Navy Play Pen $15. PegPerego Carseat $30. Booster $7. All in good condition w/all parts included. 703-9011413. INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE: 1/4 size violin, perfect condition $250; 1/2 size violin, very good condition $250; wood clarinet & two cases, very good condition, excellent sound $350. 703-444-3698. Bunk Beds - This End Up brand dark oak twin bunk bed set w/mattresses $350/obo. 703-444-3698. Kenmore Washer. Heavy Duty/Super capacity 3 yr. old washer w/3 speed motor, 4 speed combinations. Both good condition $200/obo. 703-444-4950. Harvard Air Hockey table, just over 1 yr. old, 4 ft.W &7 ft. L $100. 703-433-1596. Restored Victorian 6 ft. Couch upright desk, rollaway bed - youth desk + Capt. chair, Victorian headboard single, lawn edger. Battery charger, Kenwood turn table LP’s + receiver. 703-444-2671. 27” Sony Trinitron Color TV. It is in excellent condition & has a remote control & owners manual. This is a great TV for playing video games. Asking $29. 703421-6483. Used Black Sharp Carousel II microwave, 22”W X 15”H X 15”D. Clean & works great. Asking $25. 703-421-6483. Canaan Valley, WV pet-friendly vacation house on 5+ wooded acres in gated Timberline community, sleeps 6, hot tub, large deck, minutes from State Parks. Details www.canaanrealty.com, unit #37; house name “K9 Valley”- K9Valley@ gmail.com or 703-421-7349. Ping Pong table, used but in good condition, folds for storage, FREE. 703-450-0907. Cascades Current Page 22 WANTED Let’s form a Dog sitting co-op in Cascades. If you own a small non-shedding dog, then let’s take care of each other’s pets. Avoid kennel fees while you are on vacation and spend the savings on souvenirs for you and your pet. Vacation guilt free because your beloved pet will be the house guest of another family who will spoil your pet in your absence. 703-444-4247. Mother’s Helper/Babysitter Wanted: Lowes Island mom is looking for a mother’s helper/babysitter for the summer months to assist w/the care of her children, a six yr. old & a 1 yr. old. Duties would include accompanying the family to the pool, accompanying the family when r unning errands & playing outside w/ the kids. Position to start once school is out (late June) days & times are flexible. 703-444-1654. WANTED used in good condition hand held Leapster for my 5 yr. old son. He got one for his birthday & lost it a week later. 571-434-0459. Sitter Wanted: Seeking a mature, high school student to be a sitter/companion for 10 yr, old boy for approximately 5-6 weeks this summer in my Cascades home. Dates & hours flexible. Must love dogs. 703-406-7579. June 2008 Page 23 7 Secrets to a New Body By Jessica Storm, Certified Master Personal Trainer & Nutritionist. www.stormfitness.com As a certified personal trainer and nutritionist I often get asked what are the best ways to become healthy and fit? Are there any shortcuts, magic pills or secrets? Well, unfortunately there are no short cuts, only long hard work, and there are no magic pills nor do I believe there ever will be. There are however some secrets. I am going to share with you the 7 secrets for getting yourself healthy and bringing wellness back into your life! I will be spacing these secrets out over the course of 7 separate articles appearing each month so that I can go into greater detail regarding each of these secrets. You will have a full month to implement each of these secrets into your life before receiving the next one. Within 7 months the goal is to have implemented each of these “7 Secrets” into your life and be on the road to health and wellness! Secret #1: The Secret of Food: Eat Organic! If you don’t currently eat organic you might want to reconsider. Many people think that organic is all hype but the truth of the matter is that it’s not. Organic foods, such as an organic tomato, have a qualitative value which a commercial tomato could not match. The organically-grown tomato has not had any pesticides used to keep its natural enemies away from them. Typically, organic farmers use a natural pesticide that is safe and does not diminish the quality of the tomato. However, a commercially-grown tomato has lost a great deal of its nutrition because of the pesticides used to keep it safe from its natural enemies. Some conventionally grown foods are treated with more pesticides than others and some retain more of the pesticides. Here is a list of the top 10 foods containing the most pesticides. Strawberries, Spinach, Cherries, Peaches, Mexican Cantaloupe, Celery, Apples, Apricots, Green Beans. Another reason to eat an organic tomato (or any organic foods for that matter) is that organic food is picked when it is ripe versus the commercial tomato. Since organic food is picked when it is ripe, the food has had the ability to absorb all the trace vitamins and minerals which is sadly lacking in most commercial foods. Keep in mind that local farmers markets and grocery stores like trader Joe’s and Whole Foods are good places to shop organic. You can also find organic foods in the organic produce section of your local grocery store. Most importantly, always read labels of anything you buy. If you don’t know what an ingredient is chances are good that you shouldn’t be consuming it. Eat Lot’s of Different Colors: Each different color signifies the presence of a different carotenoid, Cascades Current a type of phytochemical. Each carotenoid brings its own unique benefits. We all know that fruits and vegetables are good for us, but here’s a list of what the different colors mean for your health: Reds such as strawberries, red grapes, beets, and tomatoes. The payoff: Improves blood flow to the heart, protects against Alzheimer’s disease. Whites like bananas, pears, onions, and mushrooms. The payoff: Helps to maintain heart health and healthy cholesterol levels.Greens like kiwi, pears, broccoli, and peas. The payoff: Helps build strong bones and teeth and protects your vision. Yellows/Oranges like mangos, pineapple, carrots, and pumpkin. The payoff: Boosts your immune system, protects the health of your heart and eyes. Blues/ Purples like figs, blueberries, eggplant, and cabbage. The payoff: Protects your memory, helps your urinary tract stay healthy. Limit Processed Foods: Many processed foods are made with trans fats, saturated fats, and large amounts of sodium and sugar. These types of foods should be avoided, or at least eaten sparingly. Processed foods that may not be as healthy as fresh foods include: canned foods with lots of sodium; white breads and pastas made with refined white flour, which are not as healthy as those made with whole grains; packaged high-calorie snack foods, like chips and cheese snacks; high-fat convenience foods, like cans of ravioli; frozen fish sticks and frozen dinners; packaged cakes and cookies; boxed meal mixes; sugary breakfast cereals; processed meats. These processed foods and prepackaged meals are very convenient and popular. If you do shop for these foods, be sure to look for products that are made with whole grains, low in sodium and calories, and free of trans fats. Make sure you pay attention to serving size, too, and balance out the processed foods you eat with a delicious fresh salad and some whole grain bread. Graze Not Gorge: Make sure to eat 4-6 small meals a day to control your blood sugar. The main theory around this eating habit is that smaller meals can help one lose weight and absorb nutrients more efficiently. Experts believe that the body can only handle so much at one serving without eliminating or storing excess nutrients. Eating the same calories spread out over smaller meals four to six times during the day has been shown to raise the body’s thermic effect, resulting in 10% more calories being burned. Furthermore, nibbling throughout the day prevents long stretches of starvation. Going from noon to 6:00pm without eating usually ends with an enormous supper. This is a very bad eating habit seeing as our metabolism can only handle a certain amount of calories, carbs, fat, and protein in one sitting. Page 24 June 2008 Page 25 June 2008 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Finance Committee 7PM LICC 16 10 11 15 Father’s Day 22 17 50 Plus Club 7PM SFCC 18 Covenants Committee 7PM LICC 25 12 County Liaison Committee 6:30 LICC 19 13 14 Flag Day 20 21 Summer Begins! 23 24 26 Board Meeting 6:30 LICC 27 28 29 30 LICC – Lowes Island Community Center QTCC – Quarterpath Trace Community Center SFCC – Stephen Frazier Community Center WLCC – Westlakes Community Center Cascades Current Page 26 June 2008 Page 27 Cascades CommunityAssociation Offices 47620 Saulty Dr., Potomac Falls, VA 20165 Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Phone 703-406-0820 Fax 703-406-0819 After Hours Emergency Phone: 703-600-6000 www.cascadesva.com Board of Directors BoardofDirectors@cascadesva.com Karl Nobert, President Tom Cooke, Vice President Bob Robinson, Secretary Martin Hurden, Treasurer Julie Challis Steve Olekszyk David Tamayo Gordon Turner John Lane Staff Martha Kaczmarskyj, PCAM, General Manager, 703-406-0456, marthak@cascadesva.com Josh Harber, Assistant General Manager, 703-406-0820, extension 103 Nikki Perrin, Accounts/Covenants Manager, 703-406-0820, extension 104 Teresa Campbell, Covenants Assistant, 703-406-0820, extension 106 JoAnne Criss, Maintenance Manager, 703-406-0820, extension 102 Damian Suc, Maintenance Assistant Maria Alyskewycz, Administrative Assistant, 703-406-0820, extension 105 Lindsay Perrin, Member Services Assistant, 703-406-0820, x101 Cascades Current Page 28