Urgent Help Needed for E. Herbert

Update: The campaign to reinstate Eddie was successful!  Channel 7 run a story on how Inverness Forest residents were able to get Eddie back his job.  Lots of footage of our townhouses too.  Here is the link to the TV segment:

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0210/710307_video.html?ref=newsstory

Adele Gravitz has started a campaign to have the Washington Post newspaper deliverer, Eddie Herbert, reinstated after his superior fired him for, it is alleged, not delivering newspapers during the blizzard. Adele writes:

Dear Inverness Forest Community,

Eddie just knocked at my door to say good-bye explaining that he was fired from his job of delivering our Washington Post newspapers for "not showing up to work for 10 days" during the blizzard!  This is the man who never missed a day since 1974!   This is the man who finds lost things and returns them to us.  This is the man who shoveled my walk during the blizzard.  Did he shovel yours?  This is the man who silently cares for our community hours before any one of us is awake.

We must help him and here is how:

I propose we rally behind him in the voice of ONE solid community  and tell the distributor that if he does not hire Eddie  back, immediately, and with back lost wages, we--the entire Inverness Forest Community --- will cancel our Washington Post home delivery subscriptions.

This action  should get the attention of the distributor who fired him. 

I hope you will support this idea.  Please send me an email saying that unless Edward Herbert is rehired to deliver his entire former route,  the household at INSERT YOUR ADDRESS will suspend home delivery of the Washington Post.

Let's all remember that the Federal Government shut down, metro took days to be up and running, and sidewalks are still blocked.  If Eddie could not get here-- there was a darn good reason.

We must help him.

Sincerely,

Adele

Adele Gravitz, ASLA
StudioCattail
Landscape Architecture
8121 Inverness Ridge Road
Potomac, Maryland 20854

email: ahgravitz@aol.com

Adele added the following thought: 

I left a message for Steve telling him I plan to rally the entire community to stop their home delivery of the Post until Edward Herbert gets his job back, including any lost wages.

If you want to contact Eddie's boss:

Steve Curtin
1-301-604-6233
agent2104@washpost.com  

If you have any comments you'd like to share on this issue with the rest of the community, please click the word "Comment" below.


Harvey

iftblog@gmail.com
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Information on Ice Dams

Earlier I emailed everyone some information on ice dams from Board President Sharlene Shugarman.  I have received two more emails containing additional information.  This is a popular topic so I'm turning it into a blog post so that everyone with information can share it with the rest of us.

We now have almost 300 people on the email list for Inverness Forest Today.  So I have decided to make it easier to use the "Comment" link below.  I'm bypassing the "anti-spam" squiggly letters to make it easier to leave a comment.  Please use the Name/URL radio button (URL is optional)  See the first two comments for example.  Part of the value of a blog like this is that your comments make IFT better for everyone.

Here is Sharlene Shugarman's email on ice dams:

With the winter mega storm of 1996, we had to repair our living room ceiling due to ice dams on our roof.  It actually started a few days after the storm ended when the snow in the gutters started to melt.  I believe that by not having an opening at the bottom of the downspouts, at the ground level, cleared of snow and ice, the melted snow in the gutters backed up behind the roof shingles and the water then ran down the walls and settled onto our living room ceiling.  It was a mess and I remember others in this area having the same problem. 

So, I would suggest that those homeowners who do have roof gutters and downspouts clear a pathway for the melted snow. 

Please see the comments below for additional information.  Please use the link below (it says something like "3 comments" if you wish to view or leave comments.


Harvey
ifatreasurer@mac.com

Coping with the Today's Snow Storm

Several board members have contributed advice and information on coping with the next wave of snow expected today and tomorrow.  First we have a message from Board President Sharlene Shugarman:

Dear Inverness Residents:

We’re expecting to receive another big punch from Mother Nature. For Potomac, this afternoon, we may get 1 inch more snow, tonight, up to 8 inches and by tomorrow night 12-16 inches. I have some thoughts I want to share.

First, where is Emerald going to put all the new snow? This situation is going to be the most challenging I have ever seen here. We may have more trees falling on our cars and homes, water/ice damages to roofs and homes, residents becoming more anxious, loosing some civility with their neighbors about where to put the new snow and how and where cars are parked.

For any damages to your homes, such as community trees falling onto your personal property, please contact your own insurance agent to process any claims. This is what our HOA insurance agent has advised.

When it comes to parking and snow removal we all need to be Patient, Compassionate and Considerate where ever we can, not only for Emerald to do their work, but for ourselves and neighbors. There may be major inconveniences for the next few days but we’ll get through it.

Thank you,

Sharlene Shugarman

IFA President

---

The board wanted me to tell everyone how to remain calm and keep a positive and helpful attitude during the upcoming storm and its aftermath.  Unfortunately, no one told me what to say.  Telling you to remain calm is unlikely to be of much value when you're frustrated and annoyed.  So, here are some ideas, off the top of my head, on keeping calm:

1. Take a deep breath.  (I know that this sounds lame, but it really does help)
2. Take advantage of the enforced time at home to do something different.  One suggestion I heard was to write a poem.  Perhaps you can start with a line from one of Shelley's poems,  "If winter comes, can spring be far behind?"  There's no "if" about winter coming, but it might be calming to think about "can spring be far behind?"
3. Don't do unpleasant chores that you've been putting off, such as cleaning out a closet or doing your taxes.  You'll only get more frustrated.  Of course, if you like doing your taxes, then jump right in.
4. When you've done your own shoveling, help your neighbors, especially those who are older or not able to do much themselves.  Not only will you be doing a good deed, with a positive result for others and for you too, but you'll work off some frustration and it will be hard to be upset or angry when you're so very tired.  If you like this idea, I could use some help... (note that I crossed out that thought in case someone takes me seriously)
5. Seriously, if there are other people (or pets) in your house, realize that they too are upset and frustrated.  Instead of snapping at them and giving vent to your own frustration, try to be extra nice and find something positive to do together.

---

Sabine Dohrn is the board member in charge of snow removal. Sabine has some practical advice for what to do and not do:

SNOW REFLECTIONS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

We would like to draw your attention to a situation that impacts all homeowners/residents in Inverness Village.

In two of our cul-de-sacs on the Inverness side several residents piled snow back on the roads after they had been plowed and cleared by Emerald.  While cleaning off their cars, they dumped the snow in the middle of the road probably expecting Emerald to come again to take care of it. 

Needless to say, this is very counterproductive and will drive the already very high cost of snow removal up even further.  Most residents did go the extra few steps to carry the snow out of the way.  We appeal to all residents to do the neighborly thing and do likewise; otherwise everybody has to pay for this extra service for a few. 

Thank you for your understanding.  We realize that it is a lot of hard work to shovel these amounts of snow and recommend to make use of the kids (and adults) who offer their services against modest fees.  You can also check out the website to find help with shoveling. Harvey kindly provided contact numbers for people who are willing to shovel.


Thank you for your cooperation
Stay dry and warm!
Sabine Dohrn, IFA Board, Snow Removal

---

Board Secretary Elliot Postow wanted me to remind everyone that the pickup of recycling has been cancelled for the entire week.  So if your bucket is outside, please bring it in before it is covered with an additional 10 - 20 inches of snow.  Emerald won't be able to shovel the sidewalks if there are recycling buckets in the way.

---

Please leave a comment below or send me an email if you have any additional suggestions.

Harvey
ifatreasurer@mac.com

A Warning and a Request for Shovelers

Warning:  The very heavy snow is causing trees in our community to come crashing down!  


Be very careful when walking under a tree!  Residents have reported hearing cracking noises from the trees overhead.  Be careful!

Please be careful when going out of your home in the next couple of days.  We have had a number of fallen tree limbs due to the heavy weight of the snow and it has become very Dangerous.  Also, please report any major tree limbs that have fallen onto our streets or sidewalks so we can have them removed. 

I was just watching a road crew on Bells Mill Rd. using a chain saw to cut up a tree that was blocking the road.  Please be careful near trees.

---

I've created an online spreadsheet to connect people who need help shoveling with people who are willing to pay for such help.  The link to this spreadsheet is below.  
We still need more people willing to shovel!  If you can help, please let me know (email address is below) and I'll be happy to pair you with someone who needs help.  If you need help, please send me an email and I'll put you on the list.
I will keep this information updated.  Here is the link to the online spreadsheet of snow shoveling connections:


http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tcnMIRt45Qad0kQblPW7NOg&output=html


If any of this information is not correct, please send me an update.
When things settle down, I'd like to get some feedback from the people who participated so we can decide if this network is valuable to the community.



Harvey
ifatreasurer@mac.com

Another Blizzard Coming? Need Help?

The forecast for the next two days is for 12 to 20 inches of snow.  It sounds like a repeat of the Dec. 19, 2009 storm, which can be seen in the picture above.

Two people have offered to help residents who can't manage snow removal themselves.  If you are not physically able to handle the demands of a big storm, please let me know (email below) and I'll try to connect you with someone who is willing to help.  One person will shovel snow for anyone for a pre-determined price. Another will volunteer their time and effort to help someone who is truly needy as a community service.

If you would like to shovel snow for other residents (or have children who would like to do so) please let me know. Tell me if you are volunteering your time or wish to be paid.

Be safe!

Harvey
ifatreasurer@mac.com

Email from Amanda Kraiger

Amanda Kraiger, daughter of the late board president Art Glazer, has written an email describing an event to raise money to fight Kidney Cancer, the disease that caused her father's death. Here is Amanda's email:

Dear Friends -

As you know, my dad passed away from Kidney Cancer this December, so I organized something in his honor that brings people together and helps a good cause.

Please join me on Monday, March 1, 2010, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Science Club in Washington, D.C. to raise a glass in memory of Arthur Glazer and to raise money for the Kidney Cancer Association, a non-profit whose mission supports education, advocacy, and research.

Visit my Web page for more details on the event: https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/kca/campaign.jsp?campaign=317&team=58&fundraiser=127759

If you cannot attend the fundraiser, please consider a donation through my Web page:https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/kca/donation.jsp?campaign=317&team=58&fundraiser=127759

Please email me if you have any questions or to tell me whether you plan to attend.

Thank you for all of your support.

Sincerely,
Amanda Kraiger


* The Science Club is located at 1136 19th St NW (between M St NW & L St NW). Nearest Metro is Farragut North (Red line) or Farragut West (Blue, Orange lines).

Harvey
ifatreasurer@mac.com