Warming Poses Threats To Chesapeake, Group Says
By David A. Fahrenthold
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 20, 2007; Page B01
Climate change has already begun to alter the Chesapeake Bay, warming and raising its waters in a way that could unbalance delicate ecosystems and doom low-lying islands, according to a report released yesterday by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
The report, citing scientific research from around the bay, sketched a prognosis that was troubling even by the standards of the Chesapeake -- a beautiful but polluted estuary that environmentalists have spent decades trying to save.
Bail-Out Deadlines by E-Mail
By Elizabeth Razzi
Sunday, July 15, 2007; Page F05
Buying a condominium? A house in a neighborhood run by a homeowners association? You had better stay on top of your e-mail.
A very large and extremely important document could be coming your way. Its arrival starts the clock ticking on a short period during which you can cancel the deal, should you desire to back out of your purchase contract.
New laws that took effect in Virginia on July 1 change the process for distributing the extensive disclosure packages that must be given to anyone buying a home that is part of a condo or homeowners association. While the law directly affects Virginians, buyers in the District and Maryland, where the disclosure requirements are not as detailed as they are in the Old Dominion, may find the effects spilling over as management companies that do business in all three jurisdictions adopt new practices.
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley's endorsement of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) for president apparently held little sway with fellow Democrats participating in an online poll sponsored by the Maryland Democratic Party.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was the top vote getter, capturing 25.7 percent of the 4,117 online ballots cast in the poll, which ended Tuesday. He was followed by former vice president Al Gore, who is not currently running, with 21.3 percent.
Clinton finished third, with 18.4 percent. She was followed by former North Carolina senator John Edwards, with 14.4 percent. Edwards has been called the most electable Democrat by state Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert).
No other Democratic hopeful received more than 10 percent of the vote.
-- John Wagner
Leveling the Private Playing Field
Sports Facility Construction Booming at Area High Schools
By Josh Barr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 16, 2007; Page E01
Entrenched as the most prominent athletic powerhouse among Washington area high schools, DeMatha finally plans to catch up with some of its peers when it comes to sports facilities. The Hyattsville Catholic school hopes to break ground next year on a $9 million convocation center that includes a gymnasium and is in discussions to have artificial turf practice and game fields installed at off-campus sites.
The improvements merely will keep DeMatha in step with many of the region's private schools, which are in the midst of a spending spree to build top-flight athletic facilities that would be the envy of many colleges.
Condos Feel the Mortgage Crunch
Behind on Payments, Many Owners Forgo Association Dues
By Nancy Trejos
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, April 7, 2007; Page D01
At Glen Waye Gardens Condominiums in Silver Spring, 21 owners are more than 30 days behind on their monthly condo fees. Two other owners have not paid since they bought their units, one in April 2005 and the other in September 2006. Both properties went into foreclosure.
The lost fees, which make up 5 percent of the association's annual budget of $1.3 million, have pushed the condo board to dip into its reserve funds to fix the roof and replace a water heater.
Vicki Vergagni, board president of Glen Waye Gardens Condominiums in Silver Spring, where 21 owners are at least a month behind on fees, said:
Vicki Vergagni, board president of Glen Waye Gardens Condominiums in Silver Spring, where 21 owners are at least a month behind on fees, said: "We've had to use way too much of our reserves." (By Susan Biddle -- The Washington Post)
"When those things go bad, you have to spend on them. You have no choice," said Vicki Vergagni, president of the 214-unit community's board. "We've had to use way too much of our reserves."
Here is another funny thing about this in Maryland. With no financial disclosure on Townhouse and Single family Associations sales someone could move in and not know the community is bankrupt. Or what the status of the physical assets of the overall community
I also like the WashPost only showing the lien and foreclosure remedy for getting deliquient dues paid...Since I was one of the founder of an alternative method that does not result and lawyers getting rich and communities actually getting paid. One would think they could dig a bit deeper and find www.CommunityCollections.com
Good luck if your buying a home in Maryland because you will need it. Seeing how there is no law to help or one coming anytime soon.
Technorati Tags: Condo, HOA, Assessments, Foreclosure
Homeowner Groups' Funds Missing in N.Va.
Employee of Fairfax Management Company May Have Embezzled $800,000, State Officials Say
By Bill Turque
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 21, 2007; Page B01
At least $800,000 from homeowner associations in Northern Virginia may be missing and was probably embezzled by an employee of the Fairfax company hired to manage the money, state officials charge in court documents.
Koger Management Group Inc., which handles funds for more than 300 homeowner groups with approximately 70,000 members, was placed under a court-ordered monitor Feb. 26 while a forensic accountant appointed by the Virginia Real Estate Board investigates the disappearance of the money.
Technorati Tags: Homeowners Associations, MD, Lack of Disclosure, HOA Act,
So what happened? Well for those that already read this post ya know the first part--But like many things in life there may be a happy ending with the start of the new week. Seeing how I have now heard for the Senators office and it seems to be function very well.
Which just goes to show ya everyone has a bad day. Now if we can just do something about the State of Communities
Md. Officials Aim To Halt Harvest Of Prized Terrapins
By Lisa Rein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 6, 2007; Page B01
Deep in the tidal marshes of the Chesapeake Bay, demand for a five-inch reptile is helping to narrow the U.S. trade deficit with China.
The diamondback terrapin is under siege from global turtle traders in East Asia, who are feeding South China's newfound appetite for expensive turtle soup. With markets in Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia depleted, China's booming economy and expatriates and immigrants in New York City are vacuuming up the terrapins of Maryland, one of just four states that allow commercial harvests.
The diamondback terrapin, Maryland's state reptile, is considered key to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
The diamondback terrapin, Maryland's state reptile, is considered key to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. (By James M. Thresher -- The Washington Post)
Now, after five years of studies and a false start (GEE THANK THAT PAST GOVERNOR FOR THE CARE OF THE TERRIPANs) that further decimated the population, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and Maryland lawmakers are on course to stop commercial harvesting of the beloved state reptile.
"It's an international devouring of natural resources," O'Malley said in an interview. "History has unfortunately shown that we are equally capable of destroying the planet as we are of preserving it."
The Department of Natural Resources is expected next week to propose a moratorium on terrapin harvests that would take effect in May. If the terrapins make a comeback, harvests could be reinstated. Two bills pending in the General Assembly take a harder line, proposing to stop harvesting permanently.
"We're saying, 'Enough is enough,' " said Del. Virginia P. Clagett (D-Anne Arundel), who sponsored the House bill. "Closure is the thing we want. The Chinese palate is really in for turtles. We're just losing them."
Sen. Roy P. Dyson (D-St. Mary's) has sponsored a companion measure.
Maryland Gore
A group of scientists and conservationists have been participating in an effort to encourage the Maryland State Government to impose a moratorium on the commercial fishing of diamondback terrapins. Terrapin populations have declined significantly along the MD shore due to habitat loss, deaths associated with commercial seafood harvesting (such as entrapment in crab pots), and collection for sale in Asian seafood markets, primarily outside the state. Terrapins normally take 8-13 years to reach reproductive maturity, and the species cannot reproduce quickly enough to sustain such significant losses. Other states, including Virginia, and North and South Carolina have already banned the fishing of diamondback terrapins.
Please help conserve this wonderful species by signing the Chesapeake Terrapin Alliance's petition in support of a moratorium on terrapin fishing at:
