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Suspicious Activity Alert

The following surveillance video consists of two youngsters on bicycles in Academy Heights - the community association to our southeast across Route 40 & Johnnycake Road. The kids appeared to case a home for a few minutes, then one stood lookout while the other approached the home. Thankfully, a vigilant neighbor ran off the youngsters.

Please call the police if you have any information about this suspicious activity. You can also email us at crime@westviewpark.org to let us know so that we can pass the information along to the Academy Heights Community Association leadership.

Remember that we all need your help to keep crime low in Westview Park and surrounding communities like Academy Heights. Get involved with Citizens on Patrol by calling Jackie Lynam at 410.788.8969.

Let's keep our community safe!

We thought you should know about a burglary technique that threats your family and property.

Click here to learn more about lock bumping.

Code Enforcement Community Sweep

Baltimore County Code Enforcement will schedule inspections of our community within the next few months. The community board requested a Community Sweep to protect homeowner values and community habitability. Westview Park is not a covenant-controlled community. We rely on existing Baltimore County codes and zoning laws to preserve home values. We realize that most homes far exceed standards. Our request for the Community Sweep should help eliminate several problem areas that continue to affect the safety and appearance of our neighborhood.

County authorities conduct inspections from public property (streets) and issue correction notices for code violations. Notices describe the problem and offer residents ample time to fix discrepancies. The County, not the community association, cites and fines those who fail to fix problems. Call 410.887.8099 to report any code violations and call our new Zoning Chairperson, Jodene Bosset, at 410.747.8323. Also, visit www.westviewpark.org for more information.

Jodene Bosset has volunteered to help community residents on zoning issues. Contact Jodene at 410.747.8323 to report community eyesores. She will also help the community monitor development and land use issues in the area. Jodene is very active in her church and the community – we are so very fortunate to have great neighbors like her!

Mary Breland is once again coordinating this important event! Dumpsters will be at Johnnycake Elementary on July 26^th between 8AM and 12PM (noon). Drop off unwanted items taking up space in your home or on your property. This will be your opportunity to help clean the community and dispose of bulk trash without taking that long drive on the Baltimore Beltway to the nearest county refuse facility. We will also have a Goodwill truck on-site to take your reusable items – get a tax-deductible receipt on the spot! Mary could use volunteers that day – call her at 410.788.8602.

107’ Telecommunications Tower

T-Mobile has approached the Crosby Crossing Swim Club to erect a cell phone tower on the northeast portion of the parcel (near Crosby Road and the I-695 outer loop). A cell phone tower would increase the availability and reliability of cellular telephone service for the region, and provide funds to enhance swim club facilities and help them remain in our community for the next 30 years. The club's leaders have invited Westview Park community leaders to participate in the process and review all proposals.

T-Mobile conducted a drive test recently and discovered they only need to erect a pole to 107’ – not 130’ as originally proposed. Their next plan of action is to approach the county and submit a petition to erect the tower in our area.

We recently received documents that outlined the visual impact of a tower. Photos depict what the tower would look like from various streets near the swim club. The telecommunications company formally requested the county to consider its request in December 2007.

The company's letter to our community follows:

Tuesday, November 17, 2007, 12:19pm

 

From: Elizabeth West

To: Westview Park Community Residents

 

Subject: Proposed T-Mobile Tower at the Crosby Crossing Swim Club

 

Dear Residents:

 

T-Mobile has filed for Tower Review Committee to begin the zoning process. The meeting is scheduled for December 19, 2007 at 9:30 am. I few weeks back I sent out an electronic copy of the drawings to show what we are proposing for this site. The monopole is proposed at 130 feet. After the presentation to TRC the application will be sent to zoning division for a formal Special Exception with the County. After that it will go to Development Review Committee (DRC) and finally to permit if it is approved. I mention this because there are several opportunities for public review and comment, not just the December 13 meeting.

 

In the last email from Mr. Whisler, he inquired about the balloon test. Unfortunately we did the balloon test about a year ago when we did the drive test – a test we do with a large crane to make sure the site will work for us. I have included those photo simulations in this email. For those of you who are not familiar with this process a photo simulation involves flying a big, red balloon at the proposed height of the tower (130’) and photographing the site from many different angles and local locations. Then, a computer program like photo-shop is used to replace the balloon with a cell tower for a visual affect.

 

As you can see from these photo-sims, the proposed monopole will not be visible from many areas. If the residents would like to witness a balloon test we can fly a balloon on a Saturday morning for a few hours and people can see for themselves whether or not they will be impacted. As it takes some coordination with a balloon/flyer and graphics company we will need to schedule this as soon as possible.

 

Please let me know if I can answer any questions or concerns for you.

 

Liz West

Agent for T-Mobile

12050 Baltimore Ave

Beltsville, MD 21230

(c) 443-995-3498

Shop and Raise Funds for Area Schools

Giant Food Grocery Store Purchases

Giant Food donates a portion of just about every item you buy for your family. Some items in the store marked as 'Extra Credit' earn even more! School accounts are credited every month and school principals decide where to best apply the funds.

Johnnycake ES             01574

Don't have a Giant Food BonusCard? Click here to enroll free.

Target Department Store Purchases

Target will donate 1% of your total RedCard purchases at Target or Target.com and .5% of your purchases with a Target Visa Card. Checks are sent directly to school principals twice each year in March and September.

Click this link to designate an area school for your Target RedCard or Visa.

Johnnycake ES              57684

2007 Maryland State Assessment (MSA) Results

A recent, euphemistic story in the Baltimore Sun suggested our public schools are doing well. The story simply did not mesh with what our community president, Steve Whisler, perceives as one of our region's most serious challenges. It was refreshing to see some good news out of George Washington Elementary School in Baltimore City; however, the report failed to highlight the fact that a great majority of Baltimore City and County schools scored lower than statewide averages.

Your community association researched the state's MSA data and developed a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for your review.

Click here to view the Excel spreadsheet. Column "D" of the spreadsheet conveys the percentage of students that passed MSA standards.

If your computer does not have Microsoft Excel, visit the following website to download a free viewer - the program is easy and safe to install; just click the "Download" button:

http://microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c8378bf4-996c-4569-b547-75edbd03aaf0&displaylang=EN

In Baltimore County elementary schools, 83% of students passed MSA standards; compared to 81% of students statewide. Unfortunately, half of the 20 elementary schools in the SW Baltimore County region performed lower than the statewide average. In addition, six of our elementary schools scored lower than Baltimore City where just 67% of students passed standards.

The results were more disturbing for our middle schools.

In Baltimore County middle schools, 65% of students passed MSA standards; compared to 67% statewide. Five of the six middle schools in SW Baltimore County performed lower than the statewide average. Although none of our schools scored lower than Baltimore City, only about 46% of students at four of six schools passed MSA standards. Only ten of Baltimore County's 27 middle schools managed to exceed the statewide average.

Included in the Excel spreadsheet are averages for surrounding counties and Baltimore City that will offer a perspective on how well our county compares to others in Central Maryland. Neighboring counties are out-performing Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and Prince George's County.

HSA, high school assessment, data is not yet available on the state's website.

Your community association will develop a similar spreadsheet for high schools when the data is available.

Westview Park participates with the Coalition for the Preservation of Southwest Baltimore County. The Coalition will discuss ways to help educators, parents, and community leaders manage the challenges facing our region. The SW Coalition typically meets the first Monday of each month at 7pm in room 127 of the Bloomsbury Recreation Center, which is located at 106 Bloomsbury Avenue in Catonsville, MD 21228.

Residents Eligible for Credit Union Membership!

Because our community is one of the largest in the Baltimore metropolitan area, Tower Federal Credit Union (TFCU) has accepted our request to extend membership benefits to residents of Westview Park. A credit union is a unique financial institution where members share a common bond of employment, residence, or community. A credit union is a not-for-profit financial institution with no stockholders to pay. Earnings are returned to members in the form of higher rates on savings and lower rates on loans.

Click here to fill out a membership application online

Insert Westview Park Improvement & Civic Association in the form's first block labeled Employer Name.

Owned entirely by members and operated for the benefit of all who belong, TFCU was founded in 1953 and serves over 111,000 members worldwide. Tower has assets in excess of $1.5 billion dollars and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) federally insures all shares up to $100,000.

TFCU has a myriad of products and services including free online banking, checking, savings, individual retirement accounts, credit card services, consumer loans, mortgage loans, and home equity loans. Another service offered is Members FOLIO Investing – a unique online brokerage that lets you build a diversified portfolio of up to 50 stocks in one transaction, without minimums or high trading costs.

The closest TFCU branch is about three miles west of our community on US Route 40 in the Normandy Shopping Center at 8450 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21043. Other branches are located in Columbia, Fort Meade, Laurel, Gambrills, Millersville, and Pasadena. The hours for the Ellicott City / Normandy Shopping Center branch are provided below.

Land Development and Zoning Issues Update

Rolling Road & Johnnycake Parcel Considered for Courthouse Relocation

Westview Park leaders are monitoring negotiations that may ultimately relocate the district courthouse just off Wilkins Avenue near UMBC to a parcel east of the Rolling Crossroads business park near Rolling Road and Johnnycake Road. State law requires the courthouse to remain in the 21228 zip code and the parcel within our community’s boundaries is the ideal location, according to district court leaders. There is no idea when a potential move might occur because the state has not yet allocated funds to purchase a suitable 21228 parcel, develop building plans, and move the entire operations away from their current site.

Whalen Properties has assured our community leaders that he intends to associate comprehensive restrictive covenants with any sale to the state. Mr. Whalen is extremely sensitive to property owner concerns. He also has a long history of working with our community leaders to formulate restrictive covenants for the Rolling Crossroads business park and New Life Apartments plan. We will keep you posted on any future news.

Community Board Endorses New Life Apartments Plan for North Rolling Road

The Community Board endorsed, with conditions, the most recent plan offered by Enterprise Homes Incorporated (EHI) to construct a 3-story, 83-unit affordable senior housing apartment building between the New Life Presbyterian Church and Manor Care on North Rolling Road. The condition is that a signed restricted covenants agreement between the community association and EHI be associated with the County Council Resolution 19-07, which will be enacted this Spring.

A committee of homeowners who live immediately adjacent to the parcel negotiated with EHI to develop meaningful and comprehensive restrictive covenants that will help preserve open space on a large portion of the parcel. EHI originally proposed a 3-story, 120-unit facility close to homes on Copeland Road and Appold Lane last year; however, the community board formally rejected the plan based on the committee’s recommendation. The current site plan will preserve the existing forest buffer and eliminate water runoff that affects residents on Appold Lane.

The Community Board sincerely thanks the individuals listed below for their tireless efforts and service on the committee. These individuals always considered and represented the interests of their neighbors on Rolling Road, Appold Lane, and Copeland Road. They invested dozens of hours to help preserve homeowner values and our quality of life. THANKS SO MUCH!

Pete Doyle (Chairman)
Ron Lepson (Vice Chairman)

Doris Cerreta

Nat Stephenson

Gerry Balmert, Sr.

Gerry Balmert, Jr.

John & Dot Ridgely

Theresa Kent

       Woodbridge Elementary School is the proud sponsor of Market Day Fundraisers in our neighborhood. Market Day is a monthly sale that occurs throughout the entire school year. Parents and neighbors buy restaurant-quality food products at great prices, and Market Day donates a portion of the proceeds to our neighborhood through Woodbridge Elementary. Market Day products are competitively priced and carry a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Some of the most popular items include chicken steaks, French toast sticks, hamburgers, desserts, pies, pizzas, and fresh frozen vegetables. Check out hundreds of items and free incentives at www.marketday.com.

       Serving as a primary fundraiser for over 5,000 schools in 16 states, Market Day was introduced 30 years ago and has raised over $330 million for education since 1975. Market Day orders by people like you have helped raise nearly $21,000 to help educate kids in our neighborhoods. These funds have helped meet expenses with computers, fine arts programs, field trips, books, and school equipment.

       It is very easy to enroll in the Market Day program and support kids in our community. Simply log onto the website at www.marketday.com, or call Woodbridge Elementary School’s Market Day Chairperson, Laura Goble, at 410.869.7795. Don’t worry; you don’t need to have a student attending Woodbridge Valley Elementary to take advantage of great food and support our area schools. When you enroll online, please request to be inserted on the mailing list so that you can receive an order form each month.

The Baltimore County Code Enforcement Division has about 30 inspectors on the street any given day.  These officials respond to complaints that are called, mailed, or even e-mailed in.  Inspectors will have Baltimore County ID cards and always identify themselves.  If residents want to remain anonymous, they can write an anonymous letter or levy complaints thru their community association.

Code Enforcement handled 1000 complaints in 2003 and over 3000 in 2004!  In the past, citations issued by Code Enforcement were handled by the District Court typically up to 1 1/2 years; however, the system now has its own Hearing Officer, Raymond Wisnom, who hears and renders findings on citations within 45 days.

A frequently reported issue to Code Enforcement deals with Kennel Operations, particularly in regards to "dog fights."  Residents who complain must prove over three dogs are involved, not including puppies, and they must be within 200 feet of anyone's property.  These violations are hard to investigate/substantiate in dense residential areas and residents who wish to lodge a complaint should take pictures for the authorities.

Another frequent complaint is over-grown yards.  Grass must be over 12 inches tall.  Inspectors will post a correction notice to the violator which must be corrected in seven days.  If not cut within seven days, the inspectors contact a private contractor to cut it.  The bill is the used to place a lien against the property.  Once the county is required to cut the grass, the address is placed into a computer that queues it for automatic re-inspection every three months.  No warnings are given if the grass is over-grown again.  Trash and debris issues are handled in much the same way.

Types of Violations

Residential zoning violations

Unlicensed motor vehicles

Inoperable motor vehicles

Junkyard conditions

Open dumping conditions

Service garages

Kennel operations

Contractors equipment storage yard

Accessory structure placement

Recreation vehicle parking

Rooming house

Home occupations

Commercial vehicle parking

Housing Code Owner-Occupied Violations

Unsafe or unsanitary premises

Rubbish & garbage not in trash cans

Exterior dwelling not structurally sound

Defective roof, steps, chimney, windows, doors & fences

Peeling & flaking paint

Building Code Violations

Vacant open to the general public

Rental property with broken windows, holes in roof, missing porch, etc.

Permits required to construct, enlarge, alter or demolish

Deck, Shed, Garage, Additions

Construction site safety & sanitary

Livability Rental Code Violations

Unsanitary conditions

High grass & weeds

Improper disposal of bulk items

No trash & garbage containers

Defective roofs, windows, stairs, porches & handrails

Rodent & insect control

Defective exterior paint, walls & foundation

How to lodge a complaint with Code Enforcement

-- In person at Permits & Development Management; County Office Building Room 119 at 111 West Chesapeake Avenue in Towson, MD 21204

-- By letter to: Timothy M. Kotroco; Director, Department of PDM Management; County Office Building Room 111 at 111 West Chesapeake Avenue in Towson, MD 21204

-- By calling (410) 887-3352 or 8099

-- By faxing (410) 887-2824

-- By e-mail to pdmenforce@baltimorecountymd.gov

-- By your computer online by visiting http://baltimorecountymd.gov/Contact/codecomplaint

-- By contacting one of your Westview Park Community Association leaders at (410) 788-3232 or (410) 747-4336.

-- By contacting our county councilman at (410) 887-0896

How to request a SWEEP of any violations in your neighborhood

1) The Community Association must notify the entire community in writing of the pending sweep 45 days in advance.

2) The sweep must be requested in writing on Association letterhead and addressed to Timothy Kotroco; Director, Department of PDM Management; County Office Building Room 111 at 111 West Chesapeake Avenue in Towson, MD 21204

3) The President and Board of Directors of the Association must sign the letter.

4) A copy of the request must be sent to the 1st District County Councilman, Sam Moxley.

All numbers can be reached by dialing 410-887-xxxx unless otherwise specified below -- Please refrain from calling 911 or Community Outreach for these issues

To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-447-3543). For questions regarding eligibility, call 1-800-272-2048. Donors must be in generally good health, be at least 17 (16 with written parental consent), and weigh no less than 110 pounds. Those NOT eligible to donate include anyone who has received a tattoo within the past year, and persons who have donated blood in the past 56 days.

Feel free to visit www.my-redcross.org for more information.

Did you know that over 75% of all people will require blood at some point in their lives?  The shelf life of blood is only 42 days, so there is always a need for blood.  Your donated blood can benefit three needs: red blood cells, plasma, and platelets.  To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-447-3543).  For questions regarding eligibility, call 1-800-272-2048.  Donors must be in generally good health, be at least 17 (16 if with written parental consent), and weigh no less than 110 pounds.  Those NOT eligible to donate include anyone who has received a tattoo within the past year, and persons who have donated blood in the past 56 days.

So you say there is a pot hole on your street and nobody does anything about it -- well you can!  You can report pot holes from you computer online by visiting http://www.baltmorecountymd.gov/Contact/highways and fill out the information.  We tried it and the holes were filled the next day!  Those who don't have a computer can simply call (410) 887-3560 for fast service.

You can also visit the website or call that phone number for listed above for street sweeping, grass mowing, roadside litter, snow and ice control, and flooding.  Did you know that you can also report crime online anonymously by visiting http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/police/reportcrime.html?

Lastly, call 911 to report abandoned or untitled/untagged vehicles to the police.  We thought that dialing 911 to report these vehicles didn't make sense, but that is the process.  A police officer will tag the vehicle to give the owner two weeks notice to remove or lawfully register/tag the vehicle; otherwise, the county will tow the vehicle.  Untitled and/or untagged vehicles can remain in driveways as long as they do not present environmental problems; however, they cannot be parked on streets.

Please take action to report issues outlined above before you call us.  In the unlikely event the county or police doesn't respond to your calls, then call a WPICA Officer or Board Member and we'll get results for you.