Recently in HOA News Category

If you did ... you get a second chance before the recycle bin police come after you! ;-)

On Thursday, June 19th, Con-Serv Industries delivered new 48 gallon recycling containers to all residents in Raspberry Falls. We distributed notification asking that residents leave out their smaller containers that morning for pickup. Several residents did not leave their small containers out so we are asking that if you still have the smaller bins, please place those recycling bins curbside this Thursday, June 26th by 6:00a.m. A truck will be by to pick up the old containers. Please use these new containers for the single-stream recycling program.

Calling all Volunteers!!! The Raspberry Falls HOA is in need of volunteers to serve on the following Resident  Committees: 

On Thursday, June 19th, CSI will be delivering a single 48 gallon container for all recycle material. Please have your smaller containers curbside by 6:00 am and leave the containers out for pick up by CSI. The larger containers will be delivered the same day.

There are many of us (maybe all of us)  that only received one recycle bin from our new contractor (CSI). After waiting patiently for an answer from the HOA, I called CSI to get the straight scoop. Here it is:

They didn't have enough on hand to provide two to each homeowner. More bins are on order and will be delivered as soon as they are received by CSI. In the meantime, I will improvise (save those boxes from COSTCO!).

The homeowners elected Kathy Haberman to the HOA Board of Directors at the annual meeting tonight. Kathy is a 14 year Leesburg resident and a Raspberry resident since 2004. She currently is serving on the Landscape and Budget committee with Scott Lutz, Matt Elliott and Greg Branic. She is looking forward to serving the community as a Board member and preserving the Raspberry character and quality of life we all enjoy. Kathy is now the second homeowner on the Board as we prepare for the long anticipated HOA turnover to the residents from Van Metre.

Congratulations Kathy!

Con-Serv Industries (CSI) becomes our new trash pickup contractor effective March 1st . The last pickup by Potomac Disposal Service (PDS)  will be February 28th. Pickup days will remain the same; Monday and Thursday. Containers need to be curbside by 7:00 am on collection days. PDS will pickup their containers and recycling bins on February 28th and 29th. CSI will begin delivering containers beginning February 27th. Additional details follow:

Schedule:

• All containers to curbside by 7:00 am on pickup days
• Trash pickup days: Monday and Thursday
• Recycling pickup: Thursday
• Yard waste pickup: Monday
• Bulk waste pickup: Thursday
• Christmas tree pickup: First two weeks in January

About Recycling:

• CSI uses a "Single-Stream" recycling process.
• Please see the attachment to the announcement mailed to all residents.

Containers:

• # of trash containers: One (1) per address (95 gallon tote)
• Extra containers: $75 (purchased by resident - contact CSI directly to order)
• # of recycling bins: 2

Holiday Schedule:

• Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years: No pickup
• Pickup after these holidays will be on the next scheduled pickup day (NOT the day after)

Reminders:

• Trash containers must be kept out of sight at all times except on pickup days.
• Containers may be placed curbside after sundown the day before pickup but must be removed before sundown the day of pickup.

CSI contact: 703-444-3181

Residents who are selling their homes can advertise them on this site for free. Your ad will randomly appear on the home page (@Home in Raspberry Falls) with a full page on Homes for Sale. Simply email the Website Administrator (see bottom of page) and we will provide instructions. Our Website enjoys a high Google ranking and prospective buyers will find us when searching for Raspberry Falls. Restricted to residents. Not for real estate agents.

Letters were sent to all homeowners yesterday (February 11th) announcing the official launch of @Home in Raspberry Falls. What is important is that the letter contains your permanent registration authorization code and  registration instructions to gain access to the private areas of the site.

Questions or comments about the new site or the registration process can be directed to

admin at raspberryfalls dot org.

We are actively seeking volunteers to help manage the site. These include:

• News contributors
• Writers
• Content editors
• Publishing management
• Assistant webmaster

The site is built on the Movable Type publishing platform and is very easy to administer. Our goal is to create and promote the most professional, high content and interactive HOA site in the region and beyond. If you are interested in participating, direct your email to the address shown above.

Loudoun County property assessments were mailed last week. The assessor  indicates that the average property assessment is down 8% from last year with the eastern part of the county down even more. The west shows more modest decreases with some areas increasing slightly.

Kirby Bowers, the county Administrator, has proposed a 25.6 cent increase in the tax rate to fund what he says is the most "lean" budget in years. The proposed tax rate would be a 26.6% increase over the 96 cent 2007 rate. So lets do the math assuming your assessment is down 8% on a $1,000,000 home in Raspberry Falls:

1997: $1,000,000 assessed value at 96 cents per $100 = $9,600 property tax bill.
1998: $920,000 assessed value at $1.216 per $100 = $11,190 property tax bill.

The result is equal to a 17% increase. But, if your assessment is like mine which went up slightly, we are going to be paying a bit more than the stated 26.6% increase due to the proposed tax rate.

So, I say watch your assessment. The last time I checked, Raspberry homes sold in  2007 were selling for much less than what they sold for in 2006.

The County Supervisors will no doubt pare the proposed budget by some amount but the result will still be a hefty increase.

The LCSA is proposing the management combination of multiple community infrastructures as opposed to stand alone as we now have in Raspberry. This means rates could change. LCSA held a meeting for homeowners at the RFG&HC clubhouse on February 20th.

Representatives of LCSA made the following presentation: LCSA Proposed Rate Increase Presentation - Raspberry Falls.ppt. The following FAQ's were distributed: LCSA FAQs Proposed Rate Increase - Raspberry Falls.doc

Also, here is an Excel file to assist in estimation the new rate for you: LCSA Bill Estimator For Raspberry Falls.xls. Residents can add their information in the highlighted area. The rest of the spreadsheet is formula driven.

A recent email from Scott Lutz to the Raspberry Falls community:

Raspberry Falls Resident -
 
As some in the community may know, there are two applications for three cell phone towers across from Raspberry Falls.  I have attached my letter in response to these applications (the letter summarizes my comments I made at the Public Hearing on Tuesday, January 8th).  At the Public Hearing the Board of Supervisors referred the applications to the Land Use Committee who met on Tuesday, January 29th.  Instead of looking at any individual applications, the Land Use Committee took a step back and discussed whether the towers were needed and the wireless coverage areas across the County.  The Committee asked for additional maps and coverage information across the County.  I see this as a positive step.  The Committee is going to meet again on this issue at the end of the month. 
 
Recently, I was contacted by the Supervisor's Kurtz Office (our local Supervisor).  Four of the six cell phone tower applications across the County are in the Catoctin District (more cell phone tower applications are coming through the pipeline).  I was asked to reach out to our community to see what we thought of our wireless coverage. 
 
As for me, I have a Treo for my personal phone/internet (Verizon) and I have a BlackBerry for my business phone/internet (Cingular).  I never had a problem with either my Treo or BlackBerry within Raspberry Falls community or the Route 15 corridor.
 
What cellular services do you have and have you ever experienced problems?  Feel free to respond to this e-mail (and I will pass the information to Sally Kurtz's office) or you can forward your feedback directly to Sally Kurtz at skurtz@loudoun.gov   Also, feel free to forward this e-mail to your neighbors in the community.

Here's a copy of the letter delivered to the Board of Supervisors: 

Nextel Silo and CWS Whites Ferry Applications - Letter to Transportation and Land Use Committee.pdf

  
Thanks,
 
Scott
(571) 278-9389 

From a letter dated January 3, 2008 to Raspberry Falls homeowners:

The Board of Directors for your association would like to add another homeowner Board member to the Board of Directors. Application for Candicancy must be returned to Armstrong Mangement by January 21, 2008.

The letter included the appropriate application form. Those interested should complete the application and return to Armstrong Management as soon as possible and before the deadline.

 

The letter also annonced that the Moorlands Homeowners Association (AKA Raspberry Falls HOA) meeting will be on March 13, 2008. This is being billed as the Annual Meeting and a further notice will be forthcoming.

 

Questions can be directed to the HOA manager. See contact info at the bottom of this page.

In a letter to homeowners dated December 27, 2007 the HOA declares that the Board of Directors has not yet adopted the 2008 operating budget. Assessments remain the same for January and February of 2008. The delay is due to "research into community landscaping and other items and prefer to have answers to questions regarding these items" before establishing a new assessment level.

Questions should be directed to Customer Service or at (703) 385-1133. 

Raspberry Falls is unique being the first community in the county to be developed using the hamlet design ... we continue by being among the first community homeowner associations to deploy social media technology for the benefit of its members and the public.

The new @Home in Raspberry Falls website sponsored by the HOA is now firmly embracing this technology allowing our residents to "connect" on a social level as well as being kept informed about the events and issues that we share.

Date:  Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Time: 5:00 pm

Place:

Hampton Inn and Suites
117 Fort Evans Road N.E.
Leesburg, VA 20176

A letter of notice was mailed to all homeowners and dated October 4, 2007.

Raspberry Falls @Home is transitioning from a privately sponsored site to HOA ownership. "Residents Only" features will be added including:

Public features will include:

• The existing Forum with public access to community news. The Forum will be upgraded to include opt-in email alerts when new information is posted.
• Marketing and sales information from Van Metre and Marquis.
• Ability to advertise homes for sale in the community.
• News from the Raspberry Falls Golf and Hunt Club.

Want to auto pay HOA dues each month?
Get the HOA Automated Payment Service Authorization Form here:

Selling your Raspberry Falls Home? By law (the Virginia Property Owners Association Act) you must supply the potential purchaser a resale package for review when you ratify a purchase contract and prior to settlement. The resale package can be ordered via the internet at Armstrong's Resale Package Request Website.