Olde Mill Village Crier

Volume 40,  Number  3  / MARCH 2010

President’s Message

   There will be a VOMCA meeting on March 3 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be located at Old Mill Senior High, Room A271. Please try to attend so that we may finalize the budget for 2010. If this does not happen, then VOMCA will be required to enact the emergency procedures listed in the bylaws to conduct business.

   The biggest news in the community was the two snowstorms that hit the county Feb. 5-6 and Feb. 9-10. I would like to thank those of you who volunteered to assist in removing snow, shoveling sidewalks and even some streets by hand. And then there was Tim Kean who earned a commendation from County Executive Leopold for his work with a piece of heavy equipment in removing snow on some of the streets in the Moncton Court neighborhood; see the article below.

   There is still some snow and ice around, so please watch out for pedestrians and proceed with caution on the roads. Many of the street corners are obstructed by piles of snow that obstruct the view of traffic. Many of the sidewalks are still covered with snow, so again please watch for school students who are walkers or waiting at their bus stops.

    I also thank all the folks who emailed me regarding the snow removal and problems that were encountered. Mr. Leopold asked me to submit a list of streets to his office. After the second storm ended, there were trucks and front-end loaders going through the community. I know that streets were not plowed to bare pavement; however they were made passable for driving. Many in the community commented positively on the job that the County did to get Olde Mill up and running after the second storm.

   The sign for the Olde Mill Swim Club will be repaired and placed back up on the hill next to 7-11. The sign was taken down because of graffiti and damage. As soon as the weather breaks, we will be working on getting this taken care of.

   On Monday, March 8, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Mr. Leopold and members of his Cabinet will be at the Old Mill High School Cafeteria. Residents will have their chance to discuss solutions for community problems, on a first-come first-served basis. If you have any questions or need special accommodations, please contact his aide Brenda Reiber at 410-222-2222 or through Maryland Relay 711 at least seven days in advance.

―Tom Stag, President

This mountain of snow on Mimico South may be around for a while.

County Neighborhood Clean-Up Program

   The large county dumpster for Olde Mill will be at Barlowe Field again this year. The county has scheduled delivery of the dumpster for 12 noon on Friday, March 5 and pick-up of the dumpster by 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 6. The short time frame is due to the landfills not being open on Sundays yet. All dates have been assigned to various communities for this program, therefore we could not ask for a different date.

   Items that cannot be accepted are: junk autos, trailers, gas and propane tanks, tree trunks, oil drums or tanks, hazardous waste, boats, tires, logs, paint, and refrigerators or air conditioners.

Annual Easter Egg Event on March 27

   Once again the Easter Bunny will visit Olde Mill for the 9th Annual Easter Egg Event at Barlowe Field on Saturday, March 27, at 1:00 p.m. The Easter Bunny, an egg hunt, and prizes are all in store for a fun afternoon. Rain date is Sunday, March 28.

   We are looking for donations of candy for stuffing the Easter eggs. If you can donate, contact Sarah Hakulin, 410-987-1239. We are also looking for a volunteer to coordinate and chair the Easter Egg Event this year. If you are able to volunteer, please contact Sarah Hakulin at 410-987-1239 or email board@vomca.org.

A “Snow Angel” Appears In Olde Mill

   Residents from Kenora Drive to Chalet Drive, Ahearn Road, Moncton Ct., Brandon Dr., and Mimico Ct. benefited from the generous donation of resident Tim Kean’s time and his modified forklift, as he removed snow from our clogged streets on February 12. He oufitted his forklift with half of a dumpster which he chained to the front end, and then moved tons of snow in minutes without a word!

   A neighbor called County Executive John Leopold’s office and told them about the good deed. Mr. Leopold came out personally and awarded Kean a “Snow Angel” citation, which Leopold has instituted to thank “citizens who have gone over and above the call of duty to help their neighbors.” The County Exec added, “I think their service should be recognized.”

   Kean spent at least 15 hours that weekend plowing the neighborhood and commented that the appreciation was nice. “It’s pretty cool. I was shocked…. It was a surprise…and exciting,” he said.

   An article in the February 13 Maryland Gazette highlighted the Olde Mill story along with similar tales of “Snow Angels” helping in other neighborhoods.

   We all thank Tim Kean for his selflessness and outstanding neighborliness. Everyone who commented could not believe the time and service he gave to our community.

―Sarah Hakulin

Verizon Fundraiser for FOOM

   Friends of Olde Mill (FOOM) is still working with the Verizon Velocity program to raise money for our playground improvements. In December we sent out a flyer with the below information about how we can earn money when you order Verizon services. It is a winning proposition for everyone, especially the children.

   If you are planning to purchase any of the listed services or products, Verizon makes a donation to Friends of Olde Mill for the playground fund. Check out the information below and sign up today.

   FOOM thanks everyone for their support in making donations to all our fundraising efforts.

­―Michael Hakulin, Jr., President, FOOM

FOOM will receive donations when our supporters in MD, DC, and VA order new residential Verizon services. We can receive up to a $65 donation from one Verizon Triple Freedom order (that’s TV, Internet, and phone). And you’ll receive the currently advertised promotions too!

If you have been thinking about ordering new Verizon services, please be sure to place your order by calling 1-888-695-5299 (Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat 9:30am-6pm) so our organization can benefit. You must also provide our organization’s code 13525 when you order.

One-time donations are paid on the following residential new product orders:
$25 Donation – For a new Verizon Internet purchase
$20 Donation – For a new Verizon TV purchase
$10 Donation – For a new Verizon Freedom^SM calling plan, and/or Verizon long distance
$10 Donation – For a new Additional Line purchase

If you already have all the Verizon products you need, please let other friends and family know about our fundraising efforts. FOOM could really benefit from this program and your support. Thank you.

P.S. IMPORTANT: Donations are only paid on new orders placed by calling the special Velocity Sales Office 1-888-695-5299 and providing our code 13525. Orders placed any other way (online or by ordering services through another Verizon sales number) will not apply.

   Participation in the Verizon Velocity program does not indicate acceptance or endorsement by Verizon of participants’ views or statements. Donations are only paid on new qualifying residential orders placed by calling 1-888-695-5299 and providing our code. Orders placed online or through another phone number will not apply. Donations are paid on new residential product orders that remain with Verizon a minimum of 30 days from order date. Changes, renewals, and upgrades within product categories do not constitute a new order. Term commitment may apply. Product availability varies. Visit www.verizon.com/velocity for details.

Discounted Trees from DNR for Common Areas

   Is the common area around your home in need of some native trees or shrubs? The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering their spring sale of native trees, such as redbud, white oak, dogwood, inkberry, and plenty more at prices from $18 to $32, depending on variety. The size of most trees is 5 to 6 feet and the shrubs are from 1½ to 4 feet. These trees are for planting on public or community-use property only.

   This is an affordable and easy way to help improve the water quality in our community creek, provide food and habitat for our local birds and insects, and possibly provide you with a tax deduction too. More importantly, these trees will take up some of the excess nutrients that otherwise would eventually reach the Chesapeake Bay. Visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/forests/tmorderform.pdf for more information and the ordering form.

   Important―call Miss Utility before you dig a hole! Make sure the plant site you have chosen really is in a common area and not on your or your neighbor’s property. Lastly, it would be helpful if those who do plant trees would send an email to Stacy Epperson at tryswim@comcast.net with the particulars (site, type, and number of trees) so that data can be collected on any watershed improvements that Olde Mill residents have completed.

―Stacy Epperson

Chairs For Sale:  2 computer chairs, black, very good condition, swivel and adjustable. $30 each. Call 410-987-1239.

Identity Theft Bill Introduced

February 19, 2010
TO:  THE CITIZENS OF LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 32
IDENTITY THIEVES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY RESTITUTION TO THEIR VICTIMS

   Identity theft remains the fastest growing white collar crime in the United States. In 2007, while Maryland residents reported 4,821 instances of identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission received 258,427 identify theft complaints. The number of reports Maryland received during that time ranked Maryland 10th in the Nation for identity theft. In 2008, nearly 10 million people were reported to be victims of identity fraud, a 22% increase from the prior year.
   For the past few years, legislation has been introduced in Maryland to provide for forfeiture of an identity thief’s illegal profits. While the legislation had been overwhelmingly approved by the Senate, it died in the House committee. As a result of the deficiency in Maryland law, identity thieves remain free to continue to use the illegal profits they obtained from their victim(s) as a result of the crime for their benefit.
   In an attempt to rectify the situation and provide justice to identity theft victims, this year Senate Bill 211 was introduced. This legislation will expand the authority of Maryland courts to enter a judgment of restitution against identity theft criminals for victims of identity theft. The identity thief could be required to pay the victim for reasonable expenses incurred by the victim as a result of the identity theft, along with lost wages and reasonable monetary value of time spent due to the victim’s efforts to restore financial accounts and remediate the victim’s credit report.
   Currently, 25 states and the District of Columbia have laws that require victim restitution for identity theft. In addition, the 2008 Federal Identity Theft and Enforcement Restitution Act allows an identity theft victim of a federal offense, to recover the value of the time they spent attempting to make themselves financially whole, including rectifying credit reports and resolving fraudulent accounts with creditors.
   It cannot be emphasized enough that one security breach can expose millions of people to identity fraud. In 2005, the FTC reported that 130 reported security breaches exposed 55 million Americans to identity fraud. I am hopeful that the 2010 Assembly will approve legislation to provide restitution for identity theft victims.
   Please do not hesitate to contact me at (410) 841-3593 regarding this or any other legislative issue of concern to you. As always, I encourage and welcome your input.
Sincerely,
District 32 State Sen. James E. DeGrange, Sr.

Membership Level In VOMCA Is Stagnant

   Olde Mill now has 95 families who have paid their membership dues for 2010. We have almost 1,300 families in Olde Mill who are eligible to join. This represents only 7% of the residents of this community.

   During the recent winter storms there were issues regarding snow removal and the ability of the county to get to the roads in Olde Mill. Some people wanted a plow to be on retainer for such snow events, but as a community we do not have the money to hire a private contractor for snow removal.

   If we had more participation from the residents such as paying dues, volunteering to hold positions on the Board, and coming to meetings so that business can be conducted, we might be able to afford such things as private snow removal, or open-space fallen tree removal. We need 11 members for a quorum in order to conduct business. We have not had this minimum level of attendance at a meeting for almost 6 months. We still need to vote on the 2010 budget, hold elections, and vote on bylaw changes.

   Mandatory homeowner associations can afford some of these things and add others since the residents do not have a choice in paying their dues. Dues in these communities can run into the hundreds of dollars and even higher. As a volunteer organization, our VOMCA bylaws ask for a minimal amount to help maintain our community and pay our taxes.

   Please take a moment and send your dues of $15 to VOMCA, Box 366, Millersville, MD 21108 or go to www.vomca.org and join by using PayPal. We need your voice and your vote added to our community association.

  
 ________________________________________________________________________________________

Village of Olde Mill Community Association

2010 Membership Renewal

Please join your community association today. To join, complete this form, or visit the website www.vomca.org and join using PayPal. Please print the names of all members of your household who are 18 years of age or older, and mail it with one check for $15.00, payable to “Village of Olde Mill Community Association” to VOMCA, P.O. Box 366, Millersville, MD 21108. Membership card(s) will be mailed to you. 
   Association meetings are the 1st Wednesday of each month at Old Mill High School (June-Sept. meetings at the community pool at Barlowe Field).

Names of Adults in Household:         ____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Street Address: _______________________________________________________________

Phone Number:_______________ (Unlisted?____)   Village Crier* Sign-up   Yes___  No___

Email: ___________________________   Occasional Volunteering:  Yes____No_____

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*Note:  Our community newsletter, The Village Crier, is published online. You will be signed up automatically, via the  email address you provide, unless you indicate that you do not wish to receive the publication. You can also read it by going to the VOMCA website at www.vomca.org.

   VOMCA has made it possible to secure grants from the State and County for projects like the repair of sidewalks, repaving our  pool road, installing speed humps, and other community improvements. If we did not have an association and volunteers, we could not secure many of these benefits or services.
 

• We sponsor an Easter Egg Hunt, Santa Visit, Community Carnival, and Community Yard Sale. With more members and volunteers, we could do even more.

• We’ve been keeping up with what’s happening concerning the new development on the Wade property at Old Mill and Oakwood Roads. Learn more, come to a meeting. 

• We work with local government concerning issues that affect our community. 

• Elections are held in October for members of the Board of Directors. In order to vote, or to run, membership dues must be mailed and postmarked by September 1.

 
   Occasional one-time projects at the pool and Barlowe Field come up. If you can volunteer please email board at vomca dot org or call 410-987-0316.
   Thank you,
   The Village of Olde Mill Community Association