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Editorials Etc.

If you've got something to say, this is where it goes. We're lucky to have some disparate points of view in Aquia Harbour. Make sure that yours is included.

October 2004

Good Friends and Good Block Parties! - Ben Blankenship

Quickly now, without looking at Aquia Harbour's street map that most resembles a plate of spaghetti, locate Crow's Nest. No, not the historic Crow's Nest that preservationists are trying to keep out of developers' hands downstream, but the Crow's Nest Cove where some of our neighbors live.

And to all appearances, where they are indeed neighborly. Fact is, unbeknownst to your know-it-all correspondent before Sept. 11 this year, residents of Crow's Nest Cove and its immediate conduit, Wave Drive in the second section, have been holding annual block parties at this time of year for some two decades. Who'd a thunk it?

Well, mindful that I had repeatedly crowed about the nifty annual block party in my son's neighborhood on the Labor Day weekend--they once even passed out Raft Cove Wrecking Crew T-shirts to participants, and I've got mine--I felt duty bound to respond to a recent invitation by Sherry Campbell (of garden club renown) to the block party in? her neighborhood.

Besides, she and husband Mike and their neighbors Paul and Lou-Ann Hadlock (plus two other families nearby) had helped run theirs for years before most lots on Raft Cove ever got cleared.? The grabber, though, was the name they have attached to their fall get-together: The David Ansell Memorial Block Party.

Believe me, it was a such a privilege to have known Dave. An AHPOA board member in its earlier days and a World War II decorated soldier (who led the infantry charge over the infamous Bridge at Remagen), David Ansell was a tireless volunteer in Stafford County for worthy causes and a treasured friend and fellow member of our local ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) breakfast group.

So on this beautiful Sept. 11 evening, after participating in the commemorative service at Aquia's Memorial Garden in the morning, my wife and I journeyed to the nether regions of the second section and located a congenial enclave indeed.

The Campbells and the Hadlocks were on hand to make us feel at home. For, as well as the fine food, we had many experiences and acquaintances to share, for we had all survived the Harbour's ups and downs for over two decades here.

Their block party was more of an outdoor potluck supper, a congenial get-together featuring barbecue grills where participants cooked their meats and shared tables. Children and dogs were harmonious.

In contrast, the Raft Cove affairs were barn burners. Kids were tearing around all over the place. And the annual, genuine pig roast was something to behold, thanks to chefs Bob and Sharon? Printzenhoff. Festivities that often included a moon bounce and horseshoes began at mid-afternoon.

Different strokes for different folks, all within the same community, and surely these Harbour? block parties aren't the only ones, right?

Safety Security and Common Sense! - Gene Stahl

Here's some Excedrin items I need to vent over. I guarantee you, I'll get blasted for these; and I expect to: either from the folks who complain all the time, but do nothing; or from the folks who are mad because I'm hitting too close to home...

First issue: regarding the number of AH Police traffic stops, but lack of tickets handed out by the AHPD: From what I can gather from numerous sources... the bottom line of course, is MONEY! It seems the Board of Directors doesn't want to upset anyone by making them bother with tickets, or pay fines, or laws, andwhat have you. Letting our Police Department do its jobs seems to be an annoyance to the Board, even though dozens of residents CONSTANTLY AND CONSISTENTLY complain about, comment on, and/or recommend things.

I would guess that the majority of the folks who NEED to get ticketed are the "But Officer, do you KNOW who I am?" residents (or their bored, spoiled, attention starved KIDS). These are the folks who "discuss" issues with the Board of Director at meetings and events (outside official channels) that the average Harbour resident will never attend.

I would also bet that a good number of them aren't even Harbour residents, but friends or guests who come into the Harbour to spend $$ at our amenities. Goodness knows we can't upset those folks; because then they'd never come back and spend $$ in the Harbour again (oh darn...) or they'll beseige the Business Office with complaint calls (so what's new).

Both situations have solutions... #1) They don't come back, SO WHAT! I guarantee you someone else will fill in the vacany. And in a VERY SHORT time. #2) They call and bitch to everyone and anyone about how they're getting singled out, profiled, picked on, blah, blah, blah. WAHHH ! Stop breaking the d--- law, and the tickets and fines will stop (duh..)

Stop handcuffing our Police Department (oohhh, irony) and let them do their job. That way, the residents will have slightly less to complain about, and maybe - just maybe - things will start to improve at a faster pace.

Second Issue: Non-residents with access stickers. After some research, I've discovered that there are literally HUNDREDS of non-residents that have access stickers on their vehicles (and many of them have MORE than one). They run around the Harbour like "preferred guests" with total disregard to any of the on-going issues and obligations that the Harbour residents have. We raise the fees for THEIR amenities, and all hell breaks loose. They threaten to never come back (again and again...), and the Board of DIrectors rolls over for them.

My simple remedy...Call their bluff. If you have an AHPOA access sticker on any of your vehicles, you pay the SAME ANNUAL DUES that residents have...plus you get to pay the well-known and much appreciated 'Initiation Fee' (watch this one get OBLITERATED by the Board of Directors; only because it makes too much sense...)

Third Issue: Resident Apathy. I've lived in the Harbour for a little more than a year. I've seen and heard it ALL. Folks complain, then disappear. They whine, but offer no valid, lucid solutions or recommendations...FOR ANYTHING. The only thing folks have plenty of is: time to come up with excuses. PERIOD.

In our last election, we had, what, less than half of the residents bother to vote on issues affecting EVERYONE. Pretty pathetic. But that didn't stop the folks from complaining. Good thing about not voting though... You don't have to take a solid stance on anything, but you still get to complain about whatever bothers you today.

Let someone else take care of things. Send one letter or make one phone call, but don't follow up. Simply be reactive, not proactive. That way you can whine about being ignored, moan about things you didn't understand, or complain that votes didn't go your way......please.

Simple remedy. Residents need to empty their "pity-filter", strap on a helmet, and step up to the plate. If they don't, they'll probably be ignored. And they should be....because they're spectators!

The residents in Aquia Harbour are about to take a $300,000- $400,000 kick to the groin (thanks to pitiful, elitist, money management), and no one will do anything about it until 35 of us VOTE the issues for the rest of you.

Take Care of One another
Gene Stahl