TWPOA NEWS

Welcome Aboard. Sharon and Harold Veatch (Lot 10) and John Closure (Lot 31) have joined the ranks of Tara Woods Property Owners since our August meeting. Welcome to Tara Woods!

Election 2012. There are 3 positions that need to be filled this election year; each will be for three (3) year terms. The terms currently held by Donna Bobbish, Bart Cameron & Jim Holland expire this year, 2012. It is not too early to think about who you would like to fill these positions. The 2011-2012 Election Schedule will be promulgated after our Jan. 2012 Board of Directors Meeting.

Keep your E-mail Address Current with the TWPOA Secretary. 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.

Calendar of Events: TWPOA Board of Directors Meeting Schedule for Reminder of 2011-2012

· 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

*Directions to Rouzie’s Chapel: As you exit Tara Woods, turn left on Kentucky Springs Road. Go about 5 miles to the stop sign; turn left on to Bumpass Rd. Go about 3 miles to the stop sign and turn left on Green Bay Rd. Rouzie’s Chapel is 1 mile on the left.

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 and/or newsworthy at Tara Woods? Would you like to share a photo of your kids or grandkids treat-or-treating in the neighborhood or kayaking on the lake?

THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER, by Donna Bobbish

· Over the summer, the Board or individual members of the Board, have received complaints from property owners concerning the behavior of other property owners or requests to become involved in disagreements between property owners. These communications have raised the issue of the proper role of the Board in such situations. Of course, concerns or disagreements between property owners are best handled directly by the parties involved. However, if a property owner believes that an outside party is required to resolve an issue, please remember that the Board only has the authority granted to it by the Tara Woods Covenants and Bylaws. (This document is posted on the TWPOA website.) In particular, the Board has authority to enforce the Restrictions and Covenants contained in the Covenants and Bylaws. (Article VIII.A.) Consequently, if an activity or matter in dispute between property owners is not covered by the Restrictions and Covenants, the Board does not have a role. Instead, the appropriate outside party may be local law enforcement (see Jim Holland's article in this issue of the Newsletter) or other legal or community resources. Therefore, in deciding whether you should contact the Board about a disagreement with another property owner, please refer to the Covenants and Bylaws to see whether the activity you are concerned about is one over which the Board has authority. Otherwise, you may lose valuable time in resolving your concern.

· The next TWPOA Board meeting is Sunday, January 8, 2012, 1 PM, at Rouzie’s Chapel. (See TWPOA News, below). Hope to see you there. All TWPOA members are welcome!

Happenings around Lake Anna

The August 23 Earthquake and Its Aftermath, compiled by Dick Lear and Laura Shrestha.

According to the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey), a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Louisa County on August 23, 2011 at 1:51 PM. The epicenter was reported to be 5 miles SSW from Mineral, VA and 7 miles SSE from Louisa, VA. See: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/se082311a.php

Lake Anna Reactor Ranked 7th most At-Risk for Earthquake Damage (from NBC 29 News and Dominion’s web site)

· The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has ranked the earthquake damage risk at all 104 nuclear power plants in the US. The pair operated by Dominion Power at Lake Anna, come in at 7th most 'at risk'. Many of the plants with the highest statistical risk are on the east coast – because they were not designed for and built in presumed strong quake areas, and many were built before the federal government made revisions to the risks.

· North Anna 1 and 2 face an annual 1 in 22,727 chance of the core being damaged by an earthquake and exposing the public to radiation. The national average for U.S. nuclear plants is a 1 in 74,000 chance.

· According to Jim Norvelle with Dominion Power, North Anna was designed to withstand a magnitude 5.9 – 6.1 earthquake. According to Dominion, the two nuclear reactors at North Anna Power Station in Mineral, VA, which is approximately 11 miles W-SW from the epicenter, automatically shut down following the August earthquake.

· The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reported on Oct. 3rd that the North Anna staff “responded to the event in a manner that protected the public health and safety.” While the ground motion at the site during the earthquake exceeded levels for which the plant was originally licensed, the NRC team report said "safety system functions were maintained" and "reviews of the plant equipment, systems and structures did not reveal significant damage." The station has been unaffected by aftershocks that have occurred in the region.

· Another inspection team from the NRC worked at the station through Oct. 14 to determine what further measures – if any – need to be taken before the units can be restarted. Dominion officials and NRC staff members provided a report to the NRC commissioners on Oct. 21.

· Get the latest updates on North Anna’s inspections and restart status at http://dom.com/about/stations/nuclear/north-anna/update.jsp.

Louisa County schools are facing mounting quake damage costs. As reported by wtop.com (Hank Silverberg, 10/24/11), the superintendent of Louis County schools says the costs are beginning to mount up as almost half of the 4,500 students remain in temporary facilities because of damage to Thomas Jefferson Elementary and Louisa County High School, along with a number of other schools. Engineers who have examined the damage say repairs could run as high as $31 million – but the county’s insurance will barely cover the costs of the temporary trailers they are using to house some of the students. Governor Bob McDonnell has now requested federal disaster assistance to help repair the damage and the cost of cleanup by both the state and local government. FEMA has already rejected one similar request for residents whose homes were damaged by the quake. McDonnell says he’s appealing that decision.

As reported by Brian Cain (The Central Virginian, 10/27/2011), school officials are working on mid-range plans for a modular high school but questions remain unanswered about the long-term solution for the Louisa County High School and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (TJES) buildings. According to an Oct. 20 Dewberry & Davis report, repair estimates for the high school are $18.7 million (approximately 41% of the replacement cost for a new high school) and $9.5 million for TJES (or 71% of the replacement cost for a new elementary school).

KIDS PAGE

Law Enforcement on and around Lake Anna is provided by a number of agencies. These include the Virginia Conservation Police (also known as the “Game Warden” and/or “Fish and Game”) and the various county sheriffs’ departments bordering the lake. Boating laws are enforced primarily by Conservation Police Officers employed by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF). These officers have full police powers and have the right to lawfully stop and board your boat at any time to check for proper registration and required safety equipment. Unless it’s a hunting (game) issue they have no enforcement power on shore. I’m told that the Virginia Conservation Police will not respond to calls regarding enforcement ashore. On shore problems should be referred to the sheriffs’ deputies for that particular county. The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit provides watercraft and specially trained officers to patrol and respond to emergency situations on Lake Anna and Lake Louisa. Their primary objective is citizen/boater safety. They conduct safety checks and enforce all boating safety laws. Boating accidents are the primary responsibility of DGIF but sheriff’s deputies can and will assist. They will enforce DUI regulations and can cite citizens for reckless driving. Even the state police may be called to Lake Anna for major accident investigations but they do not have patrol craft. They would depend on other agencies for transportation to the accident scene. State police generally do not investigate neighborhood disturbances. These would be handled by the Sheriff’s Department.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has no law enforcement authority on Lake Anna. However, they will assist law enforcement (DGIF and Sheriffs’ Departments), and support fire and rescue during emergency situations. They also may advise boaters to discontinue doing something dangerous or illegal. Auxiliarists are trained to Coast Guard standards including operation of a boat when dealing with emergency situations.

It’s important to note that TWPOA Board Members have no jurisdiction in any violations of the law and should not be called to report loud parties, noise, disturbance of the peace, etc.

· In the event of an emergency: Call 911. State your emergency. Give your location.

· To report violations of boating laws or, to report an accident on the water (non-emergency), call the Virginia Conservation Police at 804-367-1258.

· To report violations ashore, call Louisa County Sheriff non-emergency phone number: 540 967-1234.

· With the fall hunting seasons upon us, there is much less fishing pressure on the fish. The leaves are changing into beautiful fall colors and the fish are hungry!!!!! This is my second favorite time of year to be on the lake, you can start out in sweat pants and a hoodie and end up in shorts and a t-shirt.

· BASS - You can find fish all over the lake at this time willing to take a variety of baits. Look for them to be shallow for most of the month, as long as OLD MAN WINTER doesn't show up early!!!!! Search baits will be a great starting point for you as the fish are feeding up for the winter months that will be upon us shortly. Rat L Traps, Tigershad Spinnerbaits, shallow crankbaits will be good choices to start with. I will be using a Burton Minnow on a Scrounger Head a lot this fall and winter. Top water is not out of the question either, I have caught several 5lb plus fish with the water in the low 50's on walk the dog style baits. My favorite is the Paycheck Baits Repo Man & Repo Man Late Payment!!!! You just have to slow them down and not be so aggressive with them.

· For those days when the fish are not being very aggressive, shaky head rigged plastics and wacky rigged plastics will work well. Boat docks will hold fish on very bright and sunny days, you must be able to skip the bait as far under the dock as possible. Don't get in a big hurry with the bait. PATIENCE IS THE KEY!!!

· STRIPER - The rock fish will be making their fall run to the uplake sections of the lake this month. They will be following the shad and gorging themselves on them. Look for them from the S-Turns to little Florida on the Pamunkey side and behind the bridge in Terry's Run. On the North Anna side of the lake, look for them around the mouths of Duck N Hole Creek, Goldmine Creek and around Waddy's Point. Try casting Bass Assassin Sea Shads, Sassy Shads and Broken Back Redfins to them. When the water cools back down to the mid to lower 40's they will start making a move back to the mid lake region. As far AS THE DOWNLAKE FISH ARE CONCERNED I think it's a crapshoot down there. There is no current at Dike 3 and the water temps are the same as mid lake. If they fire the reactors back up them it will be a FEED FOR ALL!!!!!!!!

· CRAPPIE - The specks are shallow and will be there for a while, until the water reaches the lower 40's. Look for them on boat docks, brush piles, lay down tree, rock piles and bridge pilings. They will be hungry and aggressive. 2" curly tail grubs and tubes will work well. Just recently I started fishing a 1/16-1/8 Scrounger head rigged with a Zoom Tiny Fluke and trust me.........IT WORKS WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Small & Med minnows rigged on a slip bobber will always work. Good luck and see you at the Lake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Source: Chris Craft, CCBASSN Lake Anna Guide Service, contributed by TWPOA member Dick Lear.