February VOMCA Meeting

Wednesday, February 7, 2007, 7:00 p.m.

Old Mill High School, Guidance Office 
   Conference Room

Agenda: County Police will show new 
   surveillance camera 

President’s Message

 I would like to start off by introducing myself. My name is Tom Stag and I live in the Gartelmill Community of Olde Mill with my wife Lori and daughter Kaitlyn. I was your Vice President of VOMCA for the year 2006.

 I would like to thank Sarah Hakulin for her accomplishments for the 2006 year as President. I would also like to thank all the Board Members who served for the 2006 year and have completed their terms and welcome all the new Officers and Board members for the 2007 year.

 We had 18 members present at the January 3 meeting at the Old Mill High School. Three main topics came up during the meeting.

 The Open Space Areas in Olde Mill:

 It has been reported that all the areas titled “Open Space” in the county are currently in a trust to Anne Arundel County. It has been reported that the county is looking to deed these spaces back to the community associations in which these open spaces are located. There is a chance that VOMCA could end up with 21 open space areas in the Olde Mill area. If this occurs this could have an effect on VOMCA financially paying more for taxes, property maintenance, and insurance. There has been no official word from the new county administration on this. VOMCA will keep you posted as information comes in regarding the open spaces.

 Loitering and Damage at Barlowe Field:

 It was brought to our attention that there has been a problem with trash cans knocked over and individuals getting into the swim area at the Olde Mill Swim Club. If anyone sees anything out of the ordinary in this area, please call 911 and report this information to police.

 Village Crier Publication/Distribution:

 As of this time there has been no change on how the Village Crier will be distributed. We are hoping that the Crier will be distributed to each home as currently done and also placed on the VOMCA web site, www.vomca.org. At the January meeting ideas were presented and valid points were brought up pertaining to individuals that may not have internet access to obtain the Crier on-line. We are still receiving questionnaires from the community on what they feel the best process would be. To date, most responses from you have been to find a business location in the community that would allow us to place the Crier there and allow those in the community to get their Crier from that location. This could eventually take the place of the current home delivery method in place now.

 VOMCA received a letter of thanks from the North County Emergency Outreach Network (NCEON). The letter was to the communities in the Olde Mill area thanking all of you for your food and monetary donations. I’d also like to thank Hair Expressions and the Glen Burnie Volunteer Fire Department for their involvement with this program.

 As of January 3, we had about 65 members renew their VOMCA membership for 2007. There are about 1300 homes in the Olde Mill community. Remember VOMCA is there to try to assist in the needs of each neighborhood. A prime example of what VOMCA does for us is the “Sidewalk Grant” that VOMCA volunteers have made happen in the past. Former President Sarah Hakulin was instrumental in getting VOMCA about $100,000 for the sidewalk repair program in 2006. This assisted homeowners in the Olde Mill area who needed their sidewalks fixed. Remember that we the homeowners are responsible for the maintenance and repair of the sidewalks in front of our property. I know that volunteering in this day and age is rough due to family and work requirements. However, you could help VOMCA in a big way by joining and allowing us to have a large membership that can tackle issues that pertain to our community. Without each of you it’s much harder to accomplish our goals.

 I would just like to end by saying that if anyone has concerns, questions, or ideas, please email them to board@vomca.org or to myself at tstag@highstream.net Please leave your name and at least an email address so we can report back to you.

 VOMCA President Tom Stag 

Contest Winners Invited to Next Meeting for Awards

 The winners of the Christmas Lighting Contest this past December are asked to attend the next meeting of VOMCA on February 7 at 7:00 p.m. to pick up their prizes. The addresses that won are as follows:

 1st – 531 Old Mill Rd., $25.00

 2nd – 8231 Victoria Rd. $15.00

 3rd – 524 Chalet West, $10.00

 4th – 401 Chalet Drive, free 2007 membership to VOMCA

 Thank you all for participating and thanks to all of Olde Mill for lighting up the holiday.

 Sarah Hakulin 

Police Get Surveillance Camera

 Capt. Pamela Davis of the county police Eastern District will be at the February 7 meeting to thank us for our donation to their fundraiser to purchase surveillance cameras for this jurisdiction. She will also bring a camera to show us what our donation bought.

 The January 20 Maryland Gazette carried the story and picture of the presentation of the check at the December VOMCA meeting. 

Minutes of January 3, 2007, VOMCA General Meeting

 The meeting was called to order at 7:08 p.m. by outgoing President Sarah Hakulin, who turned the meeting over to incoming President Tom Stag. The transition was smooth and current issues were discussed.

 Membership: There are approximately 65 families at the close of 2006. All cards issued and books are current. There are approximately 1,300 families in Olde Mill.

 Pool: The account switchover has not been done. There was some vandalism at the pool.

 Old Business: There are 22 open spaces in Olde Mill. The county was contacted to find out what is the status of the open areas. The land is in a trust; no one claims ownership. If the open space is given to the community association the requirements to maintain the area will be maintenance, taxes, upkeep, etc. In the open area of Brandon, Chalet West, and Kenora there are reports of a buried, junked bus causing sinkholes. A resident at 8255 maintains upkeep of that open space. At Chalet and Ahearn Drive there are sinkholes in the open space that were filled but continue to sink.

 To get more insight and hopefully a resolution VOMCA, other community associations, and homeowners need to unite and go  
to Anne Arundel County meetings, and send correspondence voicing their opinions.

 New Business:

 • Tracy Fernholz, an Old Mill High School Booster Club representative, stated that the Booster Club has taken on a $300,000 project to build a Field House. They are looking for groups or individuals to donate money. If $500.00 is donated the name of the donor or organization will be on a plaque.

 • A resident’s wooden barn was broken into in December.

 • Residents can purchase a silent chime and install it on your door, garage, shed, etc. The chime will be heard in your house. The chime can be purchased at your local hardware store.

 • Teenagers are congregating [at Barlowe Field], knocking over trash cans; if anyone sees such action call the police.

 • Invite the Anne Arundel Police Chief to a VOMCA meeting to voice our concerns.

 • Crier is not being delivered to every home. An option would be to have locations to pick up the Crier, if the Crier goes online.

 • VOMCA is accepting articles to be in the Crier that may be of interest to the community. Everyone is invited to submit an article.

 • The Crier was distributed to 180 families last year, 1300 homes; some were not members. VOMCA serves all in the community and would like for the non-member to join. It was suggested that the Crier be delivered to only VOMCA members and other residents read the Crier via the internet. The options are still being discussed.

 Department of Recreation and Parks is investigating the open space. No one has applied for the open space. Taxes would be a problem. Barlowe Field’s 8.426 acres was deeded back for $5.00 to VOMCA.

 There was discussion about finding a Treasurer to serve for the 2007 year.

 Meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. 

Scouts Collect Food March 3

 Troop 975 will be conducting the Scouting for Food collection in Olde Mill on Saturday, March 3, 2007. We normally put out bags on the afternoon of the Thursday before the collection day. Please try to have your bags out in the 9-10 a.m. time frame for pick-up. In the event you miss the pick-up, please contact Sandy or Jim Sacra at 410-987-5736 to arrange an alternate pick-up, if possible. 

OMHS Boosters Seek  
To Build Field House

 The Old Mill Patriots Athletic Boosters have taken on their biggest project to date—a new field house for Golliday Stadium. Since 1976, the Athletic Department has spent over $30,000 for rentals of porta-pots at the stadium, athletes have no place to meet or take cover from bad weather, and the current concession stand does not have hot water and is inadequate to meet the needs of large crowds.

 The new, 3,900-sq.-ft. building will consist of a bigger, more efficient concession area, home & visitor team rooms, and indoor rest- room facilities. The approximate cost of this project is $300,000 and the Boosters have endeavored to raise the funds without putting the organization into debt for years. We have secured matching funds from the state of Maryland and now need to raise our $150,000 portion in time to meet our anticipated May 15, 2007, groundbreaking.

 The fundraising has been fast and furious, but there is still much to do in the next couple of months. Individual and corporate donations are needed and any donation of $500 or more will be listed on a permanent dedication plaque to be installed on the new field house.

 If you would like to support this important project, please contact Booster Presidents  
Tim & Mary McMullen (410-987-5976) or Athletic Director Bruce Lawton (410-969-9010). If a straight monetary donation is not feasible for you, maybe you can help by participating in our Dining for Dollars fundraiser with Glory Days Grill. Simply save your receipts from the Pasadena Glory Days (Fridays & Saturdays excluded) and either drop them off at the high school office or mail them to Robin Noel, 1410 Evergreen Rd., Severn, MD 21144. Once a month, Robin will sit down with Glory Days to review receipts and Glory Days will cut a check to the Boosters for 10% of the monthly total (alco-hol excluded). Your support is greatly appreciated and we take pride in the generosity  
Old Mill High has received from the surrounding community.    Tracy Fernholz 

Lawn Advice in March

 Cory Stephens, owner of Anne Arundel County Farm, Lawn, & Garden Center, will be our guest speaker for the March 7 VOMCA meeting. He will discuss and answer questions about lawn and garden care. Cory has 25 years of experience and has become an expert in the field. Warmer weather and spring will be just around the corner—time to start thinking about how to improve your lawn. Cory can help you with the questions of what to use and when to use it to improve your lawn’s health.