COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER TALL OAKS CROSSING
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
Volume 4, Issue 4
DECEMBER 2006
At it's November meeting, the Board voted to hold eight (8) meetings a year. It was agreed upon to not have meetings in December and January; or July and August. This time period is hard to obtain a quorum due to members preparing for the holidays (December and January) and vacationing (July and August). If any important business or community interest came up in this time period, a meeting would be held. The next meeting will be held February 2007.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION RESULTS
Rebecca Ligon-Lewis- President Deborah Stafford-Vice President Rene Buckmon- Secretary Mildred Tyler
Pamela McKenzie
Marie R. Greene Editor
IMPORTANT NUMBERS 301390 2100-Police Dept. 301249 6525-Fire Dept. 301262 6200-Bowie City Hall 301429 2424-Poison Control 301953 1955-Bader Mgt. (John Sheehy: ext. 11)
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WOODSON LANDIN,G HOA ANNEXATION QUESTIONAIRE
The Tall Twelve Oaks Development has a new name and there will be 15 homes built. Bader Management Company prepared a questionnaire
that was sent to all homeowners providing information on this project, soliciting your comments and opinion on this annexa-
tion. Also included was a post card to be returned, acknowledging receipt of the letter. As most of you know, this project will be attached to Tall Oaks Crossing at the end of Peppertree Drive. We will keep the community abreast as this
project unfolds.
WELCOME NEW TALL OAKS HOMEOWNERS'
Please take a moment to introduce yourselves to your new neighbors, if you haven't done so yet. We're delighted to have you join our Tall Oaks family, and hope you'll be very happy here!
Phyllis Williams 11/06 Funmilayo Shonibarger 9/06
The Walls Family - 6/06
Mary Pressley 7/06
Kenneth Kimberly Anderson 8/06
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT
The Tall Oaks Community Affairs Committee conducted a Love My Yard Beautification Contest on October 14th. The prizes were a $24 gift certificate from HomesteadGardens. The winners and categories of the Contest are:
LandscapeGarden Category: 15009 Puffin Court
15201 Plane Tree Court
Flower Garden Category 15001 Puffm Court 15401 Pine Tree Court
Judge: Denise Taylor Laguer, Master Gardener
The Committee is having a Christmas House Decoration Contest. Houses will be judged in the following categories:
Best use of Characters or Animation, Best Traditional Elegance, Best use of Lights and Best Door. Two Winners will be selected in each category. Houses need to be decorated by December 15th• The judging will take place December 16 and 17th•
A Community Cookout, "A Cultural Affair" is planned for April 2007. Volunteers are needed to plan this affair. First planning meeting for this exciting community event is December 28th (place and time TBA). If you would like to volunteer, please call Rene Buckmon 301 3908143. Teens are also welcomed to be part of this planning committee.
RECOGNITION CORNER
We will use this comer to welcome new homeowners, extend congratulations to new parents, graduates and also offer condolences. If you know of a new resident or a birth of a child contact your block captain.
IN MY OPINION
Please send items for this feature to our editor, Marie Greene,
marie .
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ALERT
Please be sure to visit our website at and look under the Police Beat link. This link allows you to view criminal activities in our neighborhood. Remember, Neighborhood Watch works best when each resident does their part to help keep our community safe.
YOUR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS
Please consider joining
Committees actively plan activities to involve residents in community life, and remind residents of their obligations to maintain its architectural integrity and aesthetic beauty as its original developer intended, to uphold the character and qualities that attracted its residents to make Tall Oaks their home.
GROUNDS LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE
Acting Chairman, Garland Green
BLOCK CAPTAINS,
Velvenia Minor Chairperson
WELCOME COMMITTEE Velvenia Minor, Chairperson
The Block Captains has a meeting on November 7, 2006 at Glory Days Grill Restaurant, 15505 Annapolis Road, Bowie, MD. This was their first meeting this year. The Block Captains are usually the first point of contact for new residents of Tall Oaks Crossing. The Block Captains welcome new comers, stay connected with neighbors and are simulators of information by staying abreast of efforts of the Board of Directors. Glory Days Grill Restaurant sponsored the dinner for the Block Captain's meeting as goodwill for members of a Bowie Committee. We hope members of our Community will also support them.
Please call Velvenia if you would like to volunteer as a Block Captain. We have three openings at this time, Peartree Court, Peachtree Lane (1700-1716) and Peregrine Court. Review our website for a complete list of captains.
ADVERTISE WITH US Resident rates:
Business card size: $15.00
(2 in H x 3.5 W); Quarter Page: $25.00 (4X6); Half-page $45.00
Full-page: $70.00
NON-RESIDENT ADD $10.00 TO RESIDENT RATE
Kids advertise free. Call Marie Greene 301 2497160 to place an ad by the first week of March, June, September and December.
DISCLAIMER: Advertisements posted to this newsletter does not constitute endorsement of such product by the Tall Oaks Crossing HOA
Tall Oaks Real Estate Spotlight
Courtesy of Dee Cameron, Long Foster Real Estate, Inc
Welcome one and all to the 2006 holiday season! In what I hope will become an annual tradition, I offer to you a small gift of my own ... some all-important, but often forgotten safety reminders. I would also like to offer a few gift ideas that just might make you more popular than Santa!
Business first, let's take a look at the activity within your Tall Oaks community. Since June 1, 2006, 13 homes were listed in Tall Oaks. Ofthese, 4 were withdrawn, 1 expired, 5 are currently under contract, and 3 are currently active with list prices ranging from $545,000 to $550,000. There were no purchase settlements during this time period. Now is the time to start preparing if you are considering the sale of your home in 2007. Feel free to call me with any questions, or for helpful advice to aid you in the preparation process.
While hunting down that perfect gift (or parking space), keep these tips in mind:
Safety- you can never be too safe
- Turn on outside lights before leaving home in the morning
- Try to park close to lights or security/police call boxes when shopping, and note your parking location and the facility entrance you used
- Be aware of people and surroundings when approaching/exiting your vehicle; survey area around your vehicle and look inside before entering/exiting- if you feel unsafe, request the accompaniment of a security officer. Most are very willing to oblige
- Try to keep the gas tank at least l6 full and refuel during daylight hours when possible, or at well-lit stations at night
- NotifY other persons of your travel/shopping plans and check in periodically or if there is a change; it is also recommended that you devise a furm of notification (i.e., unassuming phrase, or key word(s» fur use in case of danger or emergency
- When possible, position your car/house keys, 1 between each finger of your dominant hand, prior to approaching/exiting your vehicle or home for use in self-defense
- When possible, carry all forms of currency on your physical person instead of in a purse or bag; also keep your receipts on your person, not in the bags with your purchases
- Do not sit in your vehicle and go through your purchases
- If expecting deliveries, look outside before opening the door; it's not a bad idea to have a phone in hand especially if you're home alone
- Make sure children know where to go in any facility in case of separation. Be sure they know the name of the accompanying adult(s) for use in paging
- Ifpossible, eat prior to shopping so your focus can remain on your purchases, children and surroundings
As always, I hope these tips will prove useful, but unnecessary during your travel and shopping excursions. Please pass this information along to family and friends as well.
Let's move on to the fun stuff. Once again, it is that special time afyear when the focus turns to "Others". Though you have a list a mile long of wonderful, thoughtful, and exciting gifts, it still seems to fall short ofthe number of "Others" on your recipient list. Here are a few ideas to consider:
- Take personalization to a new level with photo stamps. A photo of the family, your home, the dog, or whatever scene you want, and send it to A sheet of20 $0.39 stamps costs $17.99 .
- Try this boredom-buster for post-dinner entertainment. Dog-Opoly and Photo-Opoly are fun, unique board games that are kid-friendly to boot. Each available at or 1-866-625-3386.
- A few gifts that keep on giving are: 1) the 3-month cookie-of-the-month gifts from Grandma Frieda Solomon's Gourmet Cookies (starting $48.95). Or 1-888-384-8575; 2) Assorted individual cakes delivered in gold boxes with personalized messages ($19.99-39.99 + S/H). 5% of the online sales of these sweet treats goes to the Make-A- Wish foundation. or 1-
888-987-9474; 3) Chocoholic Alert! The RockyMountainChocolateFactoryConfectionTower is here! Chocolate-covered gummy bears, cashews, raisins, peanuts, nonpareils, creams, turtles, and toffee ($60/basket). Chocolate not your thing, they lots of other delectable delights to choose from. A portion of every sale goes to the American Cancer Society. 1-866-748-1200; 4) The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and its partners present Pink ribbon gifts, such as the Waterford crystal bowl with pink ribbons throughout ($60). The purchase of this bowl, or one of many other gift choices, is made even more special with a contribution of up to 80% of the cost toward breast cancer research.
- Know someone who could use a break from cooking this year? Give them the gift of enjoying a delicious meal they didn't have to lift a finger to fix. Private Chefs, Inc represents chefs worldwide who can't wait to make a special meal for that special someone, in their own kitchen. Privatechefsinc.com also offers the alternative of contacting your local cooking school to arrange a special dinner. You could also check out or 1-888-944-9794 for dinners for two delivered.
- For the photo-keepsake enthusiasts, you can't go wrong with this magnetic Fridge Frame ($6.95-19.95). 1-866-628-4538.
- Come home to the light with Light on Demand. You can turn on your lights with a phone call and they'll stay on for up to 5 hours. ($29.99)
Mall crowds and long lines not for you, don't forget the wonder and convenience of online shopping. Sites such as amazon. com, waImart.com, ebay.com, and a whole host of others are at your beck and call, line and hassle-free 2417. Many offer shipping savings with the purchase of multiple items. Your favorite department or mall store could have a shopping-enable website for your perusal as well. Some have the option of purchasing online, and having the item(s) delivered to the closest store. Cnet.com offers the opportunity to research and compare all the latest consumer electronics and the like for the "Techie" in your circle. Just think, Black Friday and other mall-related headaches could be a thing of the past. I hope these tidbits prove useful and entertaining.
As always, I am happily available to address any of your Real Estate questions and/or needs. I am easily reached by phone (301-233-4078) or email (). You can also view my website ( where you will find helpful home search tools and information.
I leave you with this charge: Joy is a precious commodity, so spread as much as you can! Take care until our next issue, and have a Happy New Year!
Dee Cameron-Brown, Realtor Long Foster Real Estate, Inc