THE KINGSPOINT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION NEWS
The many joys and perils of summer challenge us, once again, as June slips into July. With our children home from school, and the pool now open, we are all more mindful when driving around the community. We have more walkers and bikers than any other time of year. A neighbor has asked that we use special caution when entering Kingspoint Drive from Northpoint Drive and Crownpoint Road. Though no sign is posted, many of us stop and look before pulling out into this busy intersection.
Two local universities are currently engaged in tick studies in our area. Old Dominion University is tracking two new species of ticks; one spreading down from the north, and
the other migrating from the south; both of which are moving into Virginia. Dr. Holly Gaff, who has run the study since 2012, says the unnamed species of tick migrating from the south frequently carries Lyme Disease. Researchers on the East Coast expect these newly invasive species to meet in Virginia.
Researchers at William and Mary are looking at the special problems of ticks in residential areas, like ours, with lots of trees and natural areas between homes. Other bacterial infections, in addition to Lyme Disease, are transmitted by ticks, causing lasting health issues for those infected; and cases increase each year.
The CDC reports that between 240,000 and 440,000 new cases ofLyme disease occur each year:
(http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/humancases.ht ml). Our neighbor, Dr. Oliver Kerscher, is involved in a W&M collaboration to determine the incidence of ticks that carry another tick- borne bacterial pathogen that causes
ehrlichiosis all across the Virginia Peninsula.
A grant from the Commonwealth Center for Energy and the Environment allows these W&M researchers to enlist ‘citizen scientists’ to collect ticks for them to study (you may contact Dr. Kerscher for a free tick collection kit at opkers@wm.edu – a limited supply is still available) Find information on prevention of bites, tick removal, and medical treatment for bites at http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html
Long time Kingspoint residents know firsthand how easily ticks latch onto hair, skin and clothing, especially in overgrown areas frequented by deer and squirrels. Keeping weeds and tall grasses cut back helps eliminate habitat for ticks. Eliminating standing water around our homes helps to control mosquitoes, whose bites can also transmit disease. These
simple, neighborly actions improve life for all of us living in Kingspoint.
We’ve had a very stormy start of summer this year, and we’ll likely weather more over the coming months. You will find our ‘Severe Storm Preparation Guides’ on the Neighborhood Association’s website, filled with suggestions to prepare our families for the hazards summer storms can bring. A special thank you to everyone who called in our power outage on Saturday to Dominion Power, which helped speed up Dominion’s response time in getting our power restored.
Looking out for and helping our neighbors keeps our community strong. Please reach out to new neighbors and help them to feel welcome. Remember to speak with Peggy Manning, at 784-0142, when someone moves in or out near you, so we can keep our Kingspoint Directory up to date.
June Directory Revisions: Please Add:
Bill and Catherine Duning 111 Northpoint
Drive 272-2199
Have you joined the Nextdoor Kingspoint website? This private and free site allows us to communicate with one another, and with others in nearby communities, on any topic of interest. Nextdoor is a nationwide program, sponsored here by the JCC police, to help build stronger, more connected neighborhoods. Any member can post a message to an individual, a group, or to the entire neighborhood membership without first having others’ individual email addresses. Some of our new residents have been joining Nextdoor Kingspoint as a way to reach out to the community. To join, visit Nextdoor.com/join/TEMWRE
Another good way to network and learn more about our community is to attend the JCC Neighborhood Forum meetings held every other month at the Rec center on Longhill
Road. Police Chief Brad Rinehimer will be the featured speaker at the next meeting on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 6:30 PM. Outreach Coordinator Latara Branch always reports news and information about county programs, offers refreshments and interesting ‘give-aways’ and invites county staff to speak on topics of current interest. A representative from the JCC police presents information on safety issues. This is a good place to meet members of the Board of Supervisors and to speak with members of our county’s administrative staff.
We appreciate the dedicated efforts of our Neighborhood Association volunteers who take care of our front entrance. Board member Harvey Manning works closely with Steve Houff, Benson Dexter, Chris Bonday and Tom Mahone to keep this area looking its best. This is by far the largest annual expense for your Kingspoint Neighborhood Association.
We are already planning for a major renovation in the coming years, and have begun saving for the expense of replacing much of the current planting. We greatly appreciate the professional services of landscape architect Gordon Chappell, who will re-design this area and guide the renovation.
Your membership dues and contributions fund all of the work of the Neighborhood Association. Our Kingspoint Neighborhood Association serves all residents of Kingspoint. If you’ve not yet joined, please contact our Treasurer, Kirsten Kellogg for more information at kakellogg23185@gmail.com or 565-0368.
We all appreciate the efforts of each and every neighbor who has made their own little corner of our neighborhood more beautiful. We know that it takes a little more effort and expense, after 50 years of living, to keep up appearances!
Neighbors are happy to see renovations to older homes, fresh paint, new plantings and mulch, and cleaned up yards. Small things, like keeping the grass trimmed and picking up trash when we see it, make a big difference in our neighborhood’s appearance.
If you need help with yard work or home maintenance, you’ll find neighbors ready to assist. We have several very capable and knowledgeable neighbors who advertise each month in the Crier. They can help with home repairs, yard maintenance and construction, or put you in touch with someone who can.
Visit our Neighborhood Association website for news and useful community links. Our webmistress, Anneliese Brei, regularly updates the website with new information.
Elizabeth McCoy e.mccoy105@gmail.com
for the Kingspoint Neighborhood Association Board
JCC police non-emergency number 253- 1800.
VDOT 1-800-367-7623
Zoning Codes Compliance and Enforcement
253-6671
JCC Citizen Services
Local crime reports
Dominion Power Outage Line: 1-888-667- 3000
The Kingspoint Neighborhood Association 