Neighbors Scorn Those Who Don't Clean Up After Pets

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Living in LoCo is Erica Garman's blog devoted to all things interesting in Loudoun County. You can find it athttp://www.loudounextra.com. This column of highlights from the blog appears in this space every Sunday.

One complaint often brought up by residents in planned communities is the unwillingness of some homeowners to clean up after their pets.

It's not such a big deal when the poop is in the offender's yard, but the public outcry comes when random bombs are left in public pathways, neighbors' yards or common areas where children play.

My family experienced the effects of irresponsible pet-owner behavior last summer while enjoying a pleasant evening on the deck. We smelled the offensive odor -- which in the heat is oh-so-distinctive -- yet we could not find the source. Perhaps it was under the deck or wafting over from a neighbor's yard. After we avoided the deck for a few days, the stink finally went away.

Some communities, such as Broadlands, have gone to the expense of posting Mutt Mitt stations along pathways -- plastic bag dispensers and special trash containers. But the occasional mess still appears on sidewalks and playgrounds, even when the baggie/trash station is a few yards away.

David D'Onofrio, president of the Spring Lakes HOA in Leesburg, said his neighborhood can do only so much when it comes to owners who don't clean up after their pets. Spring Lakes has installed signs and trash barrels to make it easy. "We do all we can," D'Onofrio said. "My advice to residents is to contact Animal Control directly if they have an issue."

In Loudoun County, not cleaning up after your pet is a Class Four misdemeanor, which carries a fine of up to $200. The problem with enforcing that law, said Laura Rizer, spokeswoman for Loudoun's Animal Care and Control Department, is that the offender must be caught "in the act." Rizer reminds dog owners to always carry a plastic bag and take the time to clean up after a pet. "Bag it up. Tie it Up. Throw it away," she said. "In the garbage."

Environmentalists say not to throw dog waste into storm drains, creeks or lakes because the fecal matter contains harmful pathogens that can affect wildlife and, eww, our drinking water.

A Local Tribute to Tim Russert

Justin Mass of Ashburn, like the rest of America, is mourning the passing of longtime "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert.

"I always looked forward to his show," said Mass, 31, who attended graduate school at the University at Buffalo, in Russert's home town. "He's one of those special guys who you really don't appreciate until he's gone."

Mass, a huge hip-hop fan, decided to honor Russert in the way that the hip-hop community memorializes fallen musicians.

"When an artist passes prematurely in hip-hop, it's usually just a few days before someone designs a tribute T-shirt," he said.

Mass had never designed a T-shirt. By day, he works at a Reston law firm. But after hearing of Russert's death and watching the news coverage until midnight June 13, he felt inspired to honor the man.

The tribute shirts cost $20 each, and all profits will be donated in Russert's memory to an organization that the broadcaster was actively involved with: the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington.

Mass linked to his T-shirt design from a Russert Facebook page Monday, and by the next morning, he had received 20 orders, he said.

"At first, I just told people to send me a check when ordering," he said. He has since set up a PayPal account to meet the demand.

Going Green All the Way

If a tree could hug a family, it would wrap its branches around the Stewart family of Paeonian Springs.

The family of four embraces sustainable living. So much so that a WUSA (Channel 9) reporter recently interviewed Will Stewart at his home for a segment that aired last week titled "Living Off the Land."

In the segment, Stewart talks about how he and his family grow their own fruits and vegetables, harness much of their own energy and conserve wherever possible -- even milling their own flour!

"We buy a 50-pound sack of wheat for eight dollars, and we can make about 50 loaves of bread from that," he said.

Of course, the direct benefit of all this effort and efficient living is the cost saving.

With solar panels on the roof, supplemented by a high-efficiency wood stove insert and energy-efficient appliances, the family's monthly winter utility bill runs about $25. In spring and fall, when the weather is more temperate, Stewart says they generally pay only the monthly electric connection fee, which runs about $20. Summer months are the most expensive -- about $55 a month to cool the 2,400-square-foot home.

Stewart plans on installing a solar water heater this year, which will further reduce his bills.

The family also owns a hybrid car, which Stewart uses to commute to his job in Tysons Corner three days a week (he telecommutes the other two). Gas cost? About $10 a week, he estimates.

Stewart has always had an interest in saving energy, he said. He recalls a paper he wrote as an engineering student in the early 1980s, based on the future decline of energy resources; in other words, Stewart was thinking "peak oil" before the term became popular.

Check out Sustainable Loudoun, at http://www.lccss.org, to find out more about eco-friendly living and conservation in the county and to get a great start on learning how to reduce your household's energy consumption and save money.

There's also a newly formed group called Green Enterprise and Beer that meets once a month to discuss and explore ways to grow the green economy here in Loudoun. The next get-together is 6 p.m. Friday at the Old Dominion Brew Pub in Ashburn.

Spreading Sounds of Music

If you're looking for outdoor music fun this summer, you don't have to leave Loudoun anymore to catch some great acts.

When I first moved to the county, the Bluemont Summer Concert Series was the only outdoor music series in Loudoun. Since 1976, this organization has been bringing musical entertainment and more to Leesburg and other small communities in Virginia.

Grab a picnic basket and your lawn chairs -- Bluemont's first concert in Loudoun, featuring John McCutcheon, kicks off at 7 p.m. today on the courthouse lawn in Leesburg. Alcohol, smoking and pets are prohibited. Tickets are $5, $2 for children younger than 12 and $4 for Bluemont Friends.

Lansdowne Resort hosts a summer jazz concert every Friday this summer from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Cost? Free. Light food and beverages are available for purchase. Not a lot for the kids -- my husband and I got a babysitter one night last summer and attended the concert with friends. After the show, head inside the resort to Stonewalls Tavern to play billiards or darts.

Since its inaugural year in 2004, the Loudoun Summer Music Fest has been bringing big-name acts to the lawn at Belmont Country Club in Ashburn. Before the series arrived, you'd have to drive to Wolf Trap or Nissan Pavilion to see bands such as Blues Traveler, Travis Tritt and REO Speedwagon.

Great for families, the series not only features music but has become a Loudoun socializing event. Set up camp toward the rear of the venue if you've got little ones -- the concerts can be loud for young ears. As a bonus, free moon bounces are set up in the back. No food or drinks may be brought in -- security made me throw out my bottled water -- but the Web site says to e-mail organizers if you have special needs.

General admission tickets start at $15 depending on the act, and children younger than 6 are free. Golden Circle tickets are available at some concerts for $30 or $35 -- these get you up front, preferential seating during the show.

Tarara Winery in Leesburg is hosting a concert series Saturday evenings starting July 5. A variety of artists will perform throughout the season, which features pop, blues, rock and acoustic music. The gates open at 5 p.m. for picnickers and, of course, wine will be available for purchase. Advance tickets can be bought online -- a season pass for all 11 concerts is $90 ($165 if purchased at the gate), and one concert costs $10 ($15 at the gate). Children younger than 6 get in free.

Want to save gas and walk to a concert?

Some planned communities in Loudoun, such as Brambleton, Broadlands and South Riding, sponsor free concerts for residents throughout the summer, so check with your HOA for outdoor music in your own neighborhood.