Attempted burglaries in Potomac

Update:  The meeting will be held on October 17 at 7:30 PM at Bells Mill ES.


Also, there is a Yahoo Group where local residents can post crime information.  The link to the group is PotomacCommunityAwareness@yahoogroups.com

There have been reports of attempted burglaries in nearby communities recently. I would like to thank Renzo and Jessica Bejarano for keeping me informed about these developments. Representatives of affected communities are arranging a meeting with the police and our Montgomery County Council Member, Roger Berliner. It appears the date of this meeting will be October 17, but no other details are available at this time.

Here is the email forwarded by Renzo and Jessica:

From: Worland HOA [mailto:worlandhoa@gmail.com]

Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 9:36 AM

Subject: Another break in

All,

I received this today from the President of the Fox Hills Community HOA. He is coordinating a four neighborhood meeting where police and county councilmember Berliner want to alert residents to the county response to the recent attempted burglaries along gainsborough in your area. They want to hold the meeting at cabin john or bells mill schools but it may even be at potomac community center. I will keep you posted. Below is the latest report:

There was another attempted break-in on Tyler Terrace, just off Gainsborough Road between Bells Mill and Democracy, Friday night, September 23, approx 10:50 pm. Someone was attempting to jimmy the front door open. Homeowner called police but the people ran off and they didn't find anything. Dogs in neighboring house were going crazy. This is the same place where the Blue Mustang was parked LAST weekend--just out of view from the main road.

Keep lights on and lock up in the evening. If you are away, leave lights on timers. Speak to your immediate neighbors on both sides and behind to ensure that we are all working together. I noticed a lot of homes with no exterior lights on this week in our neighborhood. Please help spread the word about the security issues in our area.

Regards,

Dawn

Harvey

iftblog@gmail.com

Earthquake in Inverness

An earthquake hit the Washington area (and far beyond) about an hour ago (around 1:50 pm).  I've walked around our community during the past 30 minutes and no one has reported any significant damage.  No one has reported any damage by email either.  

The earthquake was centered in Mineral, VA and was of magnitude 5.9; Mineral is between Richmond and Charlottesville.  Many buildings were evacuated, but people are now being told they can go back inside.

There is a possibility of aftershocks.  If you feel one, it is safer to be outside than inside.

If you commute by Metro trains, expect a slow commute because Metro personnel will be checking out the condition of the tracks.

Harvey

iftblog@gmail.com

A String of Car Burglaries Last Night

Cybel Wigle sent me the following email about a string of car break-ins that occurred last night in her cul-de-sac.  Someone from another cul-de-sac also reported a string of burglaries from cars.

Hello neighbors,

This morning I found my car opened and burglarized. It wasn't only us, but another 4 neighbors in our cul-de-sac. The police took samples of the finger prints in all cars. Thankfully, I had nothing of value taken but a $50 REI gift card.

Please stay vigilant and do not leave any items of value in your cars.

Have a great day!

Cybel W.

8151 IRR

Please follow Cybel's advice and do not leave anything valuable in your car in plain sight.  In past years we have had reports of similar incidents.  Here is a link to an Inverness Forest Today blog post I did a few years ago on the same subject:

http://invernessforest.blogspot.com/2008/08/opportunist-burglary-attempt-in.html


Harvey


Harvey Levine
iftblog@gmail.com

Another Warning About Hiring Itinerant Workmen

Someone knocked on my door this evening and told me that "they" were doing some window installation work in the neighborhood and would like to give everyone who signed up a group discount.

I remembered the horror stories that we heard two years ago concerning residents being scammed in our community.  I wrote a blog post on the subject here on Inverness Forest Today (April 19, 2009 -- see link below)

I was particularly suspicious because the "sales rep" didn't have any business cards, or glossy brochures with pictures of satisfied customers admiring their work.  I asked the "rep" the name of the company a few times without getting an answer.  Instead he told me that their company was on the "Approved List of the Homeowners Association".

I imagine most readers of Inverness Forest Today know that I've been on the board of directors of our homeowners association (Inverness Forest Association) for many years -- in fact almost seven years.  I can assure you that there is no such thing as an Approved List of the Homeowners Association.  Your board of directors does not endorse any company or contractor.

I again asked the "rep" the name of his company and this time he said, "Home Fix It".  I told him he was lying through his teeth, that I'm on the board of directors, and that we do not endorse any company.  He quickly turned and left.

I don't know if this "rep" is a scam artist or not, but I do know he's a liar.

Please be very careful about giving money and signing contracts with itinerant workman who knock on your door and give you a sales pitch.  It you decide to consider hiring the contractor, at least take a few common sense precautions:

• Ask for the name and address of people in our community for whom they did work.  Go to those references and ask about the quality of the work performed by the contractor -- and did they, if fact, do any work.
• Ask for a written estimate, on company letterhead. If you decide to go ahead, make sure you have a written contract (again on company letterhead) with the nature of the work spelled out and the complete cost specified.
• Make sure the contract specifies a small deposit up front and not all or most of the agreed cost up front.  The remainder should be due upon the satisfactory completion of the work, or, for a big job, in increments as the work progresses.
• Make sure the workmen are "bonded" by getting a copy of the insurance company's certificate for that contractor.  This is very important!  If you hire someone who is not bonded and they get injured while working on your property, you could be sued for hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more).  

---

Please read the IFT blog post of April 19, 2009 at the link below.  I covered many of these issues at that time and there were some excellent comments and stories about scam artists and shoddy workers in our community.

Here is a link to the Inverness Forest Today Post of April 19, 2009:


http://invernessforest.blogspot.com/2009/04/warning-on-itinerant-roof-repair.html


One more thought: the Contractor List (link in the sidebar) provides information from residents who have hired contractors and rated their performance.  Read the Contractor List to see if there are recommendations for the kind of work you need performed.  Fill out the Contractor Form (also in the sidebar) telling about your experience with your contractor -- good or bad.


Harvey

Report Tree Damage!

The Inverness Forest Association is surveying the damage to common area trees that was caused by the storm this past Sunday.  Please send me an email describing any situation that might pose a danger to residents.  Be as specific as possible about the location of the tree.

I will collect all the email I receive from the community and forward them to the people doing the survey.  We are requesting bids from tree companies we've used in the past.

Please send your email reporting tree damage to me at:

iftblog@gmail.com

Thanks,

Harvey

Harvey Levine

IFA Treasurer

More Info on Water Restrictions

Water restrictions are now lifted as of July 6, 2010

WSSC Lifts Mandatory Water Restrictions
Section of 96-inch Pipe is Successfully Replaced
Customers Can Return to Normal Usage

(Laurel, MD, July 6, 2010) General Manager Jerry N. Johnson has announced the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) is lifting the Mandatory Water Use Restrictions, effective immediately. WSSC serves customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

“Our pipe is back in service. I want to thank our customers who were unavoidably inconvenienced by these water restrictions,” said Johnson. “We made the right decision and took the proper precautions when we decided to immediately repair the pipe. The restrictions were unfortunate, but necessary. We needed to be proactive to prevent what could have been a very serious situation.”

In addition, WSSC continued the restrictions through Tuesday to make certain that the water meets state water quality standards and ensure the health and safety of our customers. WSSC has never had a drinking water violation in 92 years of operation. Tests confirmed this morning that those standards have been met. The pipe was put back in service and now the water use restrictions have been lifted.

---

July 2, 2010 - 2:00 PM Update:

Water pressure within the county remains at acceptable levels, however, residents continue to use more water during daylight hours than the system is producing.  For this reason, Montgomery County would like to continue to remind citizens serviced by WSSC to abide by the WSSC Water use restrictions

Repairs will continue around the clock until complete. Until that time it is imperative that all business and residential customers:



·         Stop all outside water use – no watering lawns, no washing cars, no topping off swimming pools

·         Use water only as necessary – i.e., shorter showers and turn off faucets after washing hands

·         Limit flushing toilets (do not flush after every use)

·         Limit using washing machines and dishwashers (wash full loads only)

---

In response to yesterday's post about a damaged water pipe that is effecting 1.8 million residents in Montgomery and Price George's county, Inverness Forest resident Robert de Sugny has forwarded the following information from "Alert Montgomery".

The pictures are from a set I took this morning and submitted to the Potomac Almanac for publication.

Mandatory Water Restrictions In Effect for WSSC Customers


For the next few days while the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) repairs a major water main in Montgomery County, water supplies will be reduced by about 30 percent.  There will be enough water for most indoor water uses  However, it is essential that WSSC customers conserve water whenever possible so that fire and rescue services, hospitals and other emergency services will be unaffected. Until the restrictions are lifted, here’s what you need to know:

Outdoor Water Use is Banned

Lawn watering
Homeowner car washing
Filling or topping off private pools
Washing outdoor paved surfaces

Conserve Water Indoors

Use dishwashers and washing machines with full loads only.
Decrease shower time.
Turn off the water while shaving or brushing teeth.
Take this opportunity to check all faucets, pipes and toilets for leaks and repair them.  Leaks can waste 10 percent of a household’s water use.
Install a low-flow shower head if you don’t already have one to save water and energy.


Here are the answers to some questions you might have:


If the problem is in Potomac, why do all customers need to conserve? The 96-inch main is a major transmission main within WSSC’s distribution system. If customers do not conserve, some users could experience a drop in water pressure.


Will the quality of my water be affected? No.  WSSC will continue to supply safe, clean drinking water while repairs are made.

Could this affect fire protection? Yes, if people don’t conserve and water pressure drops.  WSSC is in contact with local fire departments so they can take appropriate measures.


Are swimming pools affected? Yes.  All pools are included in the restrictions; public, private and commercial should not be topping off and should refrain from any non-essential use of water.


Are car washes affected?  Car washes are NOT affected if they recycle their water.


How do I report a violation of the restrictions? In Montgomery County, call 311. Your call will then be referred to the appropriate enforcement agency for follow up. Violators could receive a $500 ticket.


Where can I get more information?

1) Sign up for Alert Montgomery at https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov   2) Check www.montgomerycountymd.gov  for updates (remember to refresh your browser) or call the WSSC Emergency Call Center at 301-206-4002; Toll free: 1-800-828-6439; TTY:  301-206-8345.

Sent to All users (E-mail accounts) through Alert Montgomery
... powered by the Roam Secure Alert Network
----
- You received this message because you are registered on Alert Montgomery or on one of the local municipalities' alerting systems.
- If you are registered on Alert Montgomery you can update your account or authenticate this alert by going to https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov/myalertlog.php?s_alert_id=5300
- Tell others about Alert Montgomery! Have them sign-up for this free county service at https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov=

Huge Water Pipe in Danger of Bursting

Board member Elliot Postow has alerted the board to a breaking story.  Elliot says, "There is a big problem with a  96" water main at Tuckerman and Gainsborough.  This is the largest in the WSSC system, the River Rd main was 66".  Elliot has provided a link to the online Washington Post story.  Here is an excerpt:

The WSSC is advising customers to stop all outside water use and to limit flushing toilets and use of washing machines and dishwashers.
The agency issued the restrictions after an inspection found a failing 96-inch water main near the corner of Tuckerman Lane and Gainsborough Road in Potomac. Repairs are underway to ensure that fire departments in Montgomery and Prince George's counties have adequate pressure to fight fires.
The 96-inch concrete pipe -- the biggest in WSSC's system -- was installed in 1969 and was last inspected three years ago, WSSC spokesman Jim Neustadt said. After that inspection, crews left behind fiber-optic equipment to detect the "ping" sounds created when the reinforcing steel wires snap from corrosion after groundwater seeps through the pipe's decaying concrete walls.
It was a relative flurry of "ping" sounds -- one detected Tuesday afternoon and seven more within a half-hour just after midnight Wednesday -- that triggered an alarm warning that the pipe was in danger of bursting, Neustadt said.  

Please follow this advise on water usage (from the Post article) for the next several days so that the fire departments in Montgomery and Price George's Counties will have adequate water pressure to fight fires.

About 1.8 million people in Montgomery and Prince George's counties have been ordered to stop watering their lawns and washing their cars and limit their use of toilets, dishwashers and washing machines through the Fourth of July weekend after officials shut down a huge water main in Potomac on Thursday.

 Here is the link to the Washington Post Article:

Washington Post story on a possible bursting water pipe

Cars and Robbers

I've received a some reports in the past few weeks of some late-night attempts to remove items from parked cars.  Generally the attempts were unsuccessful because the cars were locked, someone observed the nefarious activities and called the police, or because there was nothing of value to steal.  There have been some small, portable items (like iPods and portable GPS devices) taken.

There seems to be a pattern to these attempted robberies.  The vandals work individually or in small groups.  They walk along a row of cars searching for unlocked doors.  When they find a car with an unlocked door they make a quick search for small, portable valuables to grab.  They run away when someone notices them and yells or calls the police.

I have not had any reports of these robbers trying to force the locks of locked cars.  I suppose the time it takes and noise it makes to break into a car makes it more likely that the potential robbers will be spotted and the police called. 

To thwart these potential robbers some obvious steps should be taken.  Please lock all car doors when leaving your vehicle.  Even if you think you might be returning to your car shortly, lock the doors.  Often plans change and the car is left unlocked overnight.   Also, don't leave small, valuable, electronic devices or other obviously valuable items in plain sight in your car.  Hide them out of sight or even better, bring them inside.

As always, your comments are welcome.  Please click on the word "comment(s)" below.


Harvey Levine
Inverness Today Blog
iftblog@gmail.com

Raccoon Attack

Last night a raccoon attacked a dog walker along Deborah Drive.  The animal’s aggressive behavior left open the possibility that the raccoon might be rabid.  In addition another resident, also walking his dog, witnessed the incident.

Igor Kleyner described his encounter with the raccoon in an email to me as follows:

I had a very unpleasant incident this evening (May 24 - HL).  About 8:30 pm, as I was walking with [my dog] Doctor on Deborah Drive, we were attacked by a raccoon.  Here is a "play-by-play"...

- we are walking toward South on the pool side of Deborah, approaching Kirkwall

- a raccoon comes out from the woods between 107XX houses and Deborah, crosses Deborah about 50 feet in front of us, as we stop and pause, and climbs a tree in the front yard of the house on the north-west corner of Deborah and Kirkwall.

- we walk past the raccoon and cross Kirkwall

- as we reach the southwest corner of Deborah and Kirkwall, the beast starts making barking sounds while looking at us, then climbs down from the tree and charges us

- I yell at it with no apparent effect, then run across Deborah to our side of the road, dragging Doctor along

- the coon pauses, then charges again, this time more aggressively; instinctively, I kick the damn beast in its face, grab Doctor and run across Deborah again back to the side where it all started

- the coon does not chase us anymore - it goes into the woods,  ...

- I called MC animal control emergency number when I got home - they were surprisingly uninterested and told me that since I can't tell them where the coon is right now, they will not do anything.  ... I am going to call their non-emergency number tomorrow morning, hoping for a more intelligent and receptive person on the other end of the line.

Carolyn Hayes, whose husband witnessed the raccoon attack, emailed me the following description:

Hi Harvey,

I just wanted to communicate an experience my husband had last night while walking one of our dogs.  The only reason this raccoon may not have been rabid was because the incident happened after dark-when racoons are out normally in nature.

He said he heard a man scream, and he went to the location where he heard it.  It was in the center "island" area between our houses.  [The man] who has a small black dog, had to kick a hissing raccoon that got too close to him and his pet.  The animal then ran back into the woods.  I don’t know if they got to close to the wooded area at that time of night and was too close to where the raccoon was for comfort, but it was worth me emailing you about so that other residents can be aware.  I would hate to see someone's pet or child have an accident with one.

Carolyn

So, please be alert when you are walking your dog after dark.  I think I’ll look for a small stick to carry.


Please see Igor's and Carolyn's comments below (If they are not visible, click on the word "comments"). 

Harvey,

Harvey Levine
iftblog@gmail.com

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

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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

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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.

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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

Raccoon

The following article appears as an addendum to the May 2009 board minutes.  The board wanted to make sure this information was widely disseminated.

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Stay Away from Raccoons and DON’T FEED THEM!!

As we are all aware, our neighborhood backs on to woods with all the wildlife benefits and nuisances that it brings. Unfortunately, if we don't all follow sound advice from experts, our interaction with wildlife can be a hazard to them and us. In general, we should appreciate wildlife from a distance. Please review the information below and follow the instructions so you can keep yourself and the rest of the community safe.

 

1 - Raccoons are a "disease vector" – they are the #1 carrier of rabies in the State of Maryland and a quarter of all cases occur in Montgomery County. Raccoons carry a number of other diseases as well.

• If a human is bitten by a raccoon, they must undergo an expensive and painful series of shots. If you wait until symptoms appear, it is too late and the disease is fatal.
• Inverness Forest has already had one canine death from a tick-borne illness that only transmitted by a tick that has been on an infected raccoon.
• Raccoons have already established "latrines" at three homes
• Many people think that they are safe around raccoons if they don't act rabid. The fact is that the virus incubates for two to six months, during which time they are contagious, but not symptomatic.

 

2. Feeding raccoons (or any wildlife) encourages a larger-than-natural size population which puts the entire animal community at risk for disease.

• Raccoons have a natural aversion to human contact. Feeding them and socializing them removes this fear so that they will be more likely to be where they shouldn't. Raccoons are wild - they cannot be tamed or domesticated.
• Feeding wildlife also makes them dependent on that food source and reduces the dietary variety that they need.

 

3. Raccoons can be very disruptive to our living spaces and adversely impact our quality of life:

• When nesting, they can invade attic spaces which causes a great deal of damage to our homes, increases potential for exposure to their diseases, and incurs a substantial cost to remove them.
• Pets who make contact with raccoons will be quarantined – 45 days if rabies shots are current; six months if not. This means your animal cannot leave your property or have contact with any other animal for this period of time (or you will face a $500 fine).

 

Wild raccoons generally do not pose a problem to humans because they only come out at night and usually will run away when humans approach. Unfortunately, we currently have a fairly large (10-15) population of socialized raccoons near 10801 through 10851 Deborah Dr. As mentioned above, we've had one canine death, one canine quarantine and 3 latrines established so far. To reduce the negative impact of this socialized community of raccoons, we need to observe diligently the following guidelines until the raccoons return to their natural wild state:

1. Do not approach a raccoon if you can avoid it - they can be vicious and you do not want to risk injury that would require you to undergo rabies shots; it is suggested that you try to scare them away by banging on pots or pans or squirting water at them from a hose.
2. Do not feed raccoons (raccoons are omnivorous). Keep all pet food inside at night; even leaving bird-food out overnight can attract them. Do not feed the squirrels either.
3. Do not leave garbage outside in containers that are not raccoon-proof (raccoons have opposable thumbs and are extremely smart).

 

Our options for reducing the current nuisance population are not pleasant (and the lack of good options is why one expert termed feeding and socializing raccoons a "death sentence"). There are humane traps that can be used (so that if a cat or squirrel is accidentally caught, it can be safely released), but it is difficult to rehabilitate raccoons and they will find their way back. By law, if we hire a commercial trapper to remove the animals, the animals will be euthanized. It is illegal to poison them - with good reason: pets, particularly cats who roam, and innocent wildlife can ingest the poison. Even if the poison is swallowed by a raccoon that poison is in the environment and can adversely affect carrion animals.

 

For additional information, see the following links:

 

http://www.cdc.gov/RABIES/

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/baylisascaris/factsht_baylisascaris.htm

http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/urban_wildlife_our_wild_neighbors/solving_problems/species/solving_problems_with_raccoons.html

http://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/feedingwildlife.asp

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Harvey
ifatreasurer@mac.com

Warning on Itinerant Roof Repair Workers

I received an email from Inverness resident Beth Dromerick warning of the dangers of hiring a pair of itinerant workers who say they will repair minor damage to roofs inexpensively. Beth warns that this is a scam. Here is her email:

Thought you might want to alert IFA homeowners that there are a couple of older men who come around periodically to clean gutters. They drive a station wagon well stocked with spray paint. Upon "inspecting" the roof they usually recommend minor roof repairs. Homeowners should be forewarned that their "repair job" is generally an expensive spray painting job. They do not actually fix anything but only make things look "good" from the curbside. We had our roof replaced a few months after they spray painted pipes, caulked and nailed down loose shingles. The roofing company confirmed it was just topical treatment poorly done. The men also spray painted our neighbor's trim that was peeling and painted right over the peeling paint without ever scraping and preparing the area. In addition, walking on an old roof can cause more damage and nailing old shingles causes more splitting. I was sorry to see more homeowners being taken advantage of last month and wanted to alert the community.
Thought this may be of interest to the Inverness Forest Today blog.
Beth Dromerick

I have my own warning to residents about hiring itinerant workers to do repairs to their houses. Any repairman you hire should be bonded and have insurance against liability that might arise should the repairman be injured when working on your house. If one of the repairmen that Beth mentioned should fall off the roof, the homeowner might be sued for huge damages. It is very unlikely that the repairmen in this instance have liability insurance. Ask them to show you a certificate of liability insurance before you hire them. At least get a recommendation from other residents before engaging workmen who knock on your door.

The community's website has a message board that residents can use to communicate with the community. One topic on this message board is set up to let homeowners pass on their experience and recommendations about local repair companies. Take a look at this topic and perhaps you will find a recommendation for a service you plan to use. A link to the website can be found in the column on the right.



Harvey
ifatreasurer@mac.com

(See Comments below for residents responses)