Announcements and Activities

LOHA Annual General Membership Meetings are held the first or second Tuesday of February in Classroom # 200 of Langely High School. The next AGM is scheduled for :

Tue 7 Feb 2012 at 7:30 pm

Three-Way Stop Signs: For years homeowners have complained that some vehicles travel Ridge Drive at speeds in excess of the posted 25 MPH limit. In an effort to break traffic momentum, the Board contacted the County in Dec 2011 requesting a study to determine if traffic passing thru the Ridge on Ridge intersection meets eligibility criteria to install a three-way stop sign.  Please contact any Board member with your comments.

Santa Alert:   On 12 Dec 2011 Santa was seen by many Langely Oaks residents.  He came through riding on the back of an antique fire engine with lights flashing and sirens chirping.  Santa was warmly greeted by dozens of neighbors.

Airplane Noise:  On 8 Nov 2011 Board members Speicher and Swaak attended a meeting jointly sponsored by the MCA and Congressman Wolf to discuss airport noise issues with FAA officials. The presentation concerned a GPS-related improvement that pilots could voluntarily use to keep departing aircraft over the Potomac River and thus reduce neighborhood noise. However, virtually all Langley Oaks noise issues concern landing flights passing directly over our homes instead of keeping directly above the Potomac. The FAA said such deviations were legal and normal because pilots have discretion in their approach paths to National.

Buck Alert:  On or about 6 Nov 2011 several neighbors observed at least one large male deer with several point antlers in the vicinity of Briar Hill Court, Heather Brook Court and Georgetown Pike.  Neighbors should be aware that these animals can be particularly bold and even aggressive during the current mating season and should not be approached.  Residents who witness similar sightings may wish to report the details to the Fairfax County Animal Control Division 703-830-1100 during normal hours or to the FC Police Department non-emergency number 703-631-2131 after hours.

Proposed Land Swap:    On 13 2011 Oct Board members Speicher and Swaak attended a public hearing regarding a possible land swap between the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) and the National Park Service (NPS). The FCPA would swap its undeveloped parkland located immediately north and east of Langley Oaks for the NPS-owned and partially-developed Langley Fork Park located on Georgetown Pike across from Clemyjontri Park. In order for any swap to take place, an environmental study and a revised master plan for Langley Fork are required. As part of the master plan revision process, citizen input is being solicited. If approved, the swap could take place in late 2012. A Park Ranger told the Board members present that the NPS has no plans to change the current passive recreational land status of the parkland it would acquire as a result of this land swap.

Halloween Parade:   On 30 Oct 2011 the McLean VFD Antique Fire Engine led a parade of  approximaotely 125 costumed gremlins, goblins and grownups from Ursline Court around the Ridge Drive loop to Briar Hill Court cul de sac.   Live band music, grilled hot dogs, cookies and other refreshments were provided.

Back to School ~ Ice Cream Social: On 5 Sep 2011 (ie Labor Day), the Langley Oaks Homeowners Association hosted an ice cream social in the Ursline Court cul de sac.  Participanting residents (old and new) were able to reconnect with classmates and friends and to meet the new folks who had moved into the Oaks over the summer.

Paving Ridge Drive:  On 17 Aug 2011, VDOT finished repaving and restriping Ridge Drive.  Repaving the Oaks was last done circa 1990.  Several years later the roads needed work again and the Board started contacting VDOT in 1996.  They responded circa 2004 with a slurry-like top dressing which began to delaminate almost immediately especially along the more heavily used sections of Ridge Drive.  The Board had been hounding VDOT since 2007 for a proper repaving, but was continually told there was a state-wide budget shortfall for repaving neighborhoods.  In the fall of 2010 long-time neighbor and ex-State Delegate Margi Vanderhye came to our assistance and worked with VDOT in conjunction with the Board to expedite the process.