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Note from the Editors

Message from Supervisor McKay

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Note From the Editors

We would like to hear from you!
Please email or call the editors with your thoughts and suggestions, as well as any news items you’d like to include. Sentinel editors are Carrie Wehling Michaud and Jessica Kaplan. You can email us at (Jessica) and (Carrie), call us at 703-765-9448 (Jessica) and 703-768-9723 (Carrie), or drop us a note at 6823 Stoneybrooke Lane (Jessica) and 6820 Lamp Post Lane (Carrie).

Message from Supervisor Jeff McKay

The intersection of South Kings Highway and Harrison Lane has long bottlenecked traffic in our area and so I am pleased to tell you that we are about to start construction on a $3 million intersection improvement project that will greatly improve the flow of traffic.

The project is scheduled to begin in early July and be completed in spring 2010. (Of course, weather conditions can affect the progress of any construction project.) The project includes widening and reconstructing South Kings Highway from Benson Drive to Memorial Street in order to provide a dedicated left turn lane from west/southbound South Kings Highway to Harrison Lane and a new right turn lane from east/northbound South Kings Highway to Harrison Lane. A new traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of South Kings and Harrison Lane and a new 12” water main will be constructed along the south side of south Kings Highway from Benson Drive to Memorial Street. The project also includes new curb and gutter, sidewalks, and an asphalt trail.

Progress is often messy and inconvenient so please be advised that during construction there will be additional traffic congestion and delays as lanes will be closed at different times as construction necessitates. However, no lanes will be blocked or closed during the morning or evening rush hours and closures are restricted to between the hours of 9:30 am to 3 pm on weekdays. There will be no lane closures a half day before or after a major holiday. During the first phase of construction (clearing and grubbing, demolition, new water main and new storm drainage systems) most of the work will be done outside of the existing traffic lanes, so the impact to traffic will be sporadic, consisting of the temporary closure of one lane with flag men to direct and control traffic during these times.

There will most likely also be a short period of time when paving operations are done at night; the additional noise will pay off in a shorter total construction time.

Please call or email by office if you have any questions about this project. Our phone number is (703) 971-6262 and our email is .

News From Neighborhood Watch

Vacation Home Security Preparation

Below are some options to increase your home’s security level before leaving town.

• Make your home look as though you are there. If you have lights on in certain rooms when you are home, at certain times of the day, set up timers for those lights.
• Set timers on your television or radios to go on and off at different times.
• Make sure the locks on your home are of good quality and are functioning properly.
• Lock all doors and windows prior to leaving.
• Do Not leave a key hidden outside your home.
• Do Not leave outdoor lights on twenty four hours a day. You don’t do this when you are home, so doing it when you are gone is a dead giveaway that no one is home.
• Make sure your outside lights are functional.
• Let a trusted friend or neighbor know that you are leaving and have them keep an eye on your home. If you have pets, ask if your neighbor/friends can look after them at your home instead of boarding them. A person coming and going from your home is a deterrent, and adds to the appearance that you are home.
• Make sure to leave emergency contact numbers with your caretaker, just in case.
• If you have an alarm system, make sure your caretaker knows how to use the alarm, and how to communicate with the alarm company. Does your service know to call your caretaker, or do they have your vacation contact number so they can call you directly for instructions? Is your alarm system functioning properly? Temporary passwords can be worked out ahead of time, and can be changed when you return.
• Have a free Home Security Inspection performed by your Crime Prevention Officer, MPO Clift at the Mount Vernon District Station. Phone number is 703-360-8400 ext 2259 or E-mail

From your Neighborhood Watch Coordinator: Don Faxon phone: 571-437-7696 email: