Disgruntled Firefighter Disrupts Happy Home

Did you miss this story in the Metro Section of the Washington Post?

The Gainesville District Volunteer Department has been dissolved and is now staffed with County Career Firefighters.

Fire Chief Bird of the Gainesville Volunteer Fire Department is now without a job and a home.

Seems that a couple of the Firefighters were "let go" who, in turn, brought to the County's attention the Chief's "unorthodox housing arrangement."

Chief Bird has been at the Firehouse some thirty years and apparently at some point during those years, moved his family in to make the Firehouse their home. His wife and daughter, who is 19 now, lived there with him.

A four month audit followed. The findings were records and paperwork in disarray. They also reported the Firehouse to be an operation that appeared to disregard county staffing and safety requirements, according to the Washington Post story.

Management of the Firehouse was transferred to the county and is now staffed with Career firefighters in both stations without interruption.

Police Call to Virginia Oaks

Good communication within our community is important.

There is so much going on that we should be aware to keep our Community safe.
Word of mouth doesn't do the job.

January 1, 2009 the Police and Fire Department responded to answer a call.

Complaint "Disorderly Conduct" at lakeside off Montour Heights Drive.

Apparently a New Years Eve Party went awry~
The shouting of foul language alerted home owners and a bonfire could be seen. When the Police arrived the "kids" were gone, abandoming the bonfire which was very much alive.
The Fire Department was called.

What a mess down there~ trash all over grounds and in the lake.

NO ONE is allowed to TRESPASS and be on the golf course unless they are playing golf. There are exceptions for the homeowners who may walk the course BEFORE 7 AM and AFTER the golf course is closed for the day.

Let us all be watchful to keep our community safe.
A woods fire could endanger many homes.

January Senior Party

Check you E-Mail~

Fun night on the horizon~
Private information concerning our January Event was sent via email. Call me if you have any questions.

We are so looking forward to seeing you~ our Christmas Party seems a long time ago, doesn't it?

This event we have decided on Pizza Night and more hot games of Trivia.

Maybe Mike will bring his Dirty Santa Gift ...remember? ....the one he couldn't give away at the Christmas party...that could possible be the prize for the losing team...as far as I know, not even the Salvation Army will take it.

As you might remember,
everyone is really good at Trivia~ why? Everyone selects "Geography." Being world travelers, we KNOW that subject. I remember who I want on my team, do you?

OUR FEBRUARY EVENT will be a Chili Cook-off. All the guys are to make and bring one recipe of your very own chili (the girls may help). Start looking for your recipe. A neat prize will be awarded to the winning recipe.

Eleanor plans to begin phoning for the January Event on Monday. June

Who knew ~ Coffee Filters 101 Uses and Counting

COFFEE FILTERS Coffee filters ..who knew!
This is from Joe and blogable (new word).

You can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint- free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. Soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
OH YEAH, THEY ARE GREAT TO USE AS FILTERS IN YOUR COFFEE POT TOO.

High Entertainment ~ American Idol ~

The new season of American Idol began last evening and didn't disappoint. For sure, next to America's Got Talent, is one of the most entertaining programs to be found on our televisions.

Another TV program breaking ground to educate the general public is The Doctors which is on each afternoon. Nice to record all these so
you can buzz to the parts which appeal to us. The panel of Doctors talk about everything and most interesting is all the latest breakthroughs in the medical world.
Of course, I take notes and take them to my doctor when I see him. Thus far, he agrees with everything.

The Doctors recommend Omega 3 suppliment as it will increase blood flow, especially to the brain.
WOW..that sounds good.
Of course, I bought a quart size bottle at Costco and took it with me for my Doctor's appointment.
My first question was
with the Fish Oil in the Omega 3, would they send my cholesterol sky high?
He told me that actually it would help lower cholesterol.
His recommended... "Take two each day."

I didn't know that. Did you?

Redmond Community Management Sold

Sources have revealed to us that Kelly Redmond has sold Redmond Community Management to someone from Maryland as of Friday, January 9th.

This news came as a total surprise to our HOA as they received absolutely no notice of the sale.

Seems our Board President has no reaction to this announcement. He apparently expects business as usual. What if they are a disappointment?
Legally, a 90 written notice is all required to give to a Management Company should they fail to meet our expectations.

WE NEED MORE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. Kindly attend the JANUARY 26 MEETING at the Club. Usual 7 PM.

I understand a Representative of the new Management Company will attend our meeting.

We wish Kelly the very best. She worked very hard for our Community and was appreciated.

While The Cat Is Away, The Mice Will Play

Police were called to investigate an Illegal Entry to a Virginia Oaks Residence on January 1, 2009. Seems a little private party took place in a home while owners were away.

Interestingly, a neighbor received a phone call saying a party had taken place at the residence. According to my sources, entry was made through basement window after screen was cut and window opened.

Since nothing was taken and only the cabinet of alcoholic beverages had been disturbed, youngsters in the neighborhood were questioned. Apparently a small party had taken place as residue from potato chips were found on the downstairs game room floor. No evidence that anyone even went upstairs.

Owners were surprised the window had been unlocked. Easy to clean and forget to re lock or even the children could open the window for some reason.

Observe simple precautions before leaving your home for a few days and always.

Please re-check your windows and doors of your home.

Forward your home phone to your cell phone. When calling, no one can tell you are not answering from your home.

Place timers on lamps to come on and go off at the time you usually have them on.

Purchase a sensor light for your back door. The light will come on as it begins to get dark.

Anyone looking for an easy target will think that someone might be in the house, and go to the next house.

Don't advertise to service people, hairdressers and house cleaners that you plan to be away. To suspend their services until you return, explain you are having house guests and need to reschedule their services.

Have newspapers and mail suspended.

Advise your neighbors that you will be gone and if family will be coming by for any reason.
Neighbors are the best to watch out for each other.

If at all possible, have a security system with connection to Police and Fire Department installed. BRINKS seem to be the least expensive.
One deterred break-in could save the loss property than would pay for the system for years.