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Oktoberfest 2011.  October 22, 2011.

Mark your calendar to attend the Oktoberfest at Lake Anna Winery. Your donation of $35.00 per person will provide needed funds to support the Louisa County Habitat for Humanity.  Entertainment will be provided by Mike Wheelahan for your listening and dancing pleasure.  The meal will be traditional German fair catered by Meg Anderson of “In Good Taste Catering”.  Wine tasting and a Lake Anna Winery glass are included in your donation.  A Silent Auction of approximately 60 items will highlight the evening’s fundraising. 

TWPOA News

Next Board Meeting

The next Board meeting will be on Sunday, August 14^th at 1 pm at the TWPOA pavilion.  All members are welcome to attend.   The agenda for the meeting is on the association’s website.   The Board is especially seeking your input on a number of issues – and would welcome your thoughts, either before or at the meeting:

1.       There is a proposal to have a (Tara Woods) community  yard sale.  Would you participate?  Could you help to organize it?

2.       There is also a proposal to have canoe/kayak racks or storage in the community area.  Would this be useful to you? Would you likely use the racks if available?  Would you be willing to pay a nominal usage fee to store your small boats?

3.       Do you have ideas for other activities that would build (more of) a sense of community in Tara Woods?  Would you participate in a community pot luck?  Would your kids or grand-kids participate in supervised arts-and-crafts?  Would you be willing to pay a nominal amount for an instructor/supplies for such activities?

Boat Slip Auction

There will be a boat slip auction of 5 boat slips following the Board meeting on August 14^th at the TWPOA pavilion.  See the BSMC Notice of Auction on the website for more details or contact any member of the Boat Slip Management Committee  (Larry Katz at lwkatz@earthlink.com; Dick Lear at rblear1@gmail.com; or Scott Perkins at csperkins@ft.newyorklife.com).

Treasurer’s Report

As of 5/6/11, receipts totaled $26,514.88 and disbursements were $6,083.25 for this year.  There is one property owner who is behind on both 2010 and 2011dues.  The Operating Fund balance is $40,203.73 and the Capital/Reserve Fund is $79,127.15.  For more details, please visit the Tara Woods website.

Property Manager’s Report

·         Entrance gate. The gate remains an issue.  I have replaced the battery three times.  I had the Ark gate folks look at the charging system and they said it was working.  However, the batteries were failing.  The third battery was a deep cycle and the hope was that it would do well with our charging system.  It failed too.

·         Mowing is still a problem on some lots.  Keep in mind that, if Tara Woods has to mow the property, the cost is $150.00.  When the grass gets between 8 and 12 inches, the association will mow the lot after notifying the property owner.

·         I have contacted a contractor to replace a post at the docks and straighten up others.  He will also give us a plan and estimate to redo the entrance features at our intersections.

·         Lastly, we had a report that a property owner had a very loud party during a recent holiday.  Additionally, party-goers were throwing trash in the water.  Both of these problems are police matters; Louisa has a noise ordinance and littering is illegal.  If you see this kind of behavior, report it to the local authorities.  If you are the one doing this, please be a good neighbor.

Calendar of Events: TWPOA Board of Directors Meeting

·         Board Meeting                                  Sunday, August 14, 2011 at TWPOA Pavilion at 1 pm

·         Board Meeting                                  Sunday, October 16, 2011 at TWPOA Pavilion at 1:00 pm

·         Board Meeting                                  Sunday, January 8, 2012 at Rouzie’s Chapel at 1:00 pm

·         Board Meeting                                  Sunday, March 4, 2012 at Rouzie’s Chapel at 1:00 pm

·         Board meeting                                  Sunday, April 15, 2012 at TWPOA Pavilion at 1:00 pm

·        Annual Membership Meeting    Saturday, May 19, 2012 at TWPOA Pavilion at 10:00 am

Communications

E-mail Addresses.  In an effort to reduce the cost of mailing and ensure you receive community information in a timely manner, the Board relies mostly on the use of e-mail to send newsletters, meeting announcements, special events, etc.  Please keep your e-mail address current with the TWPOA Secretary Dave Bolden at drb4168@msn.com. 

Newsletter.  Laura Shrestha (LShrestha@cox.net) has taken over as editor of the association's newsletter, and is seeking your contributions.  Please forward article contributions, photographs, or just your ideas.  What’s new or newsworthy at Tara Woods?  Would you like to share a photo of your family swimming or jet skiing?  Also, a special thanks to Anne Fernandez, the outgoing newsletter editor – both for her years of service, as well as her helpfulness to Laura in helping with this transition.

Lake Living

Virginia Boating Safety Education Requirement

In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly enacted a law to establish a boating safety education compliance requirement. This requirement is being phased in over the next several years and by 2016, all operators of PWCs (Personal Watercraft, such as jet skis, Sea Doos, Wave Runners) and operators of Motorboats with a 10 hp or greater motor, will be required to have a boating safety education course completion card on board when operating a PWC or Motorboat.

The remainder of the implementation schedule is:

• All personal watercraft operators, regardless of age, and motorboat operators 30 years of age or younger by July 1, 2012
• Motorboat operators 40 years of age or younger by July 1, 2013
• Motorboat operators 45 years of age or younger by July 1, 2014
• Motorboat operators 50 years of age or younger by July 1, 2015
• All motorboat operators, regardless of age, by July 1, 2016

There are a couple of different ways to do this. The first is to complete and pass a boating safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). A course that is NASBLA-approved will have course content that meets the National Boating Education Standards; a classroom-based course that is NASBLA-approved will require 6-8 hours of time. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries course called Boat Virginia (currently offered at no cost) is NASBLA-approved, as are classroom courses offered by the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U. S. Power Squadrons. Also available are internet-based courses that are NASBLA approved. You should check the VDGIF Web site for information about classroom and approved distance learning options.   Also check out www.boatus.com for online training and test for certification.

 (Note: submitted by Dave Bolden; extracted in part from the VDGIF website).

 Septic System Maintenance

How does your septic system work? 

The septic tank holds wastewater from the home until solid debris settles at the bottom of the tank (the sludge layer) and the lighter waste, such as oil, rises to the top to form the scum layer.  Between the two layers lies clarified liquid that flows into an outlet pipe and is gradually dissipated through a drain field.  Bacteria in the septic tank naturally break down organic waste matter and slow the accumulation of the sludge layer.  

How can insufficient bacteria be a cause of septic system failure? 

When overused, some common household chemicals like antibacterial soaps and bleach, can kill off the beneficial bacteria that populate your septic tank.  Additionally, excessive amounts of water going down the drain will flush out a large portion of the beneficial bacteria growing in your septic tank.  In such a weakened system the sewage can build up more quickly eventually blocking the outlet pipe or possibly clogging your drain field.  When that happens, a backup can occur, requiring emergency pumping and possible drain field replacement. 

Maintaining your Septic System

1.       Use Septic System Treatment Monthly – You can use a product like RID-X Septic System Treatment or you can save money by just adding 3-4 tablespoons of yeast to your system on a monthly basis.  Using yeast is cheaper and replaces bacteria in your system and helps to keep you system running smoothly.

2.       Have your septic system inspected and pumped regularly - Sludge in large quantities can be eliminated by only a professional pumper. You should have a pumper inspect your system to determine if the accumulation of solid waste is too high and needs to be removed. You should not inspect the tank yourself since the gasses that accumulate in the tank can be lethal.  The State of Virginia requires septic systems to be pumped every 5 years.  The State is now requiring that Counties monitor compliance with these requirements.  Louisa County is in the process of establishing a monitoring program and may be contacting home owners soon to show proof of compliance with the State law. 

3.       Watch what you pour done the drains - The eco-system of the septic tank is very delicate. Some household chemicals like bleach and anti-bacterial soaps can kill beneficial bacteria, so you should avoid flushing them down your drains. Finally, make sure that you monitor how much water enters your septic system each day.

Failure to maintain your septic system may result in its failure.  If you do not have a reserve area to install a new drain field your may have to put in an alternate system that could cost as much as $30,000.00 to $40,000.00.  According to Doug’s Septic Service full time residence should add septic system treatment monthly.  However, if you are only here on the weekends you might be able to get by with treating your system quarterly.  Next time you are at the store pick up some yeast or get so RID-X or other septic system treatment.     (Contributed by Dick Lear).

Laura Shrestha, TWPOA Editor, July 23, 2011.

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