Contact MargaretIs Your Pet Licensed?
August 14th, 2012 Categories: Crofton News
License Costs: - $4 for one year
- $10 for three years
- No charge if you are 60 years or older. Although there is no fee for licensing, you must still obtain a license.
NOT spayed or neutered
- $15 for one year
- $40 for three year
- $8 for one year if you are 60 or older.
- $20 for three years if you are 60 or older.
Proof of eligibility for discounts must also be submitted. For example proof of spay or neuter and senior discount. Documentation from your veterinarian will show proof of spay or neuter. A copy of your driver’s license will show proof of age. (Again, copies only. Originals will not be returned.)
Your pet’s license must be kept up to date along with its rabies vaccinations. Once your pet is licensed, you will get a reminder in the mail when the license needs to be renewed.
Benefits of Licensing:Licensing your pet is a simple process and less expensive than it is to NOTregister. Fines for not registering your cat or dog can range from $50.00 to $500.00.
If you have any questions on how to license your pet, call the shelter at 410.222.8900 or submit your question to P98894@aacounty.org
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CROFTON REAL ESTATE MARKET GLOWS IN JULY
August 13th, 2012 Categories: Market Updates
The Crofton MD real estate market showed improvement in nearly every category last month, when we look at a 5–year comparison of sales statistics:
- Fewer homes for sale
- Fewer new listings
- More new contracts
- Faster sales
- Higher sold vs. list price
There’s no denying that Crofton home prices trended down from July 2008 to 2011, but we did see a turnaround in July 2012 with a 10% increase in the average price over 2011 and a 12% improvement in the median sold price in 2012 over 2011.
Based on this glowing market report, Crofton residents have good reason to feel very optimistic about the real estate market!
For more specific information – about your own neighborhood or type of home (detached or townhome) - contact me any time. No obligation, of course.
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Crofton Golf Course Update
August 8th, 2012 Categories: Crofton News
Crofton Country Club General Manager Ryan Doerr recently updated members on progress of the golf course renovation, and he authorized me to share his letter with other Crofton residents. Thank you, Ryan.
Golf Course Fairway Project Update
Who would have thought that we would have experienced three back to back years of record breaking heat and humidity. This last stretch over the past 6-8 weeks has been a tough one. This year not only did we have long stretches of high heat (25 of 31 days above 95 degrees in July alone), but we also had drought conditions in the beginning of our hot summer. The good news is, each year we have gotten better and better at managing the record breaking heat and strengthening our turf. We can see a few reminders in our fairways as to why we are changing our turf from bent to Zeon. There are some areas where the bent has died and you can see the Zeon has either filled in completely or you can see it growing in.
We are about halfway through our fairway conversion, 65 days have passed since we started the project and the Zeon Zoysia sprigs are between 45-60% depending on the areas. Our goal was to be about 90% at 90 days (end of August) and for the large majority of the course we are right on schedule. There are two holes that have a few thin areas that the sprigs did not take as well. This can happen for a variety of reasons and is typical when you do a project of this magnitude. Beginning Monday, August 6, we are scheduled to re-sprig the fairway on 11 and spot sprig some areas on 10, 13 and 16 as well as sod the landing area at the top of the hill on 10.
Greens Health
For the second consecutive summer, our greens have shown great health through the tough summer stress. The heavy rains in the middle of July led to some breakthrough of Pythium on the Putting Green and #16, as well as, some small areas to a handful of other greens. We caught and treated it quickly. Pythium has the ability to take out healthy greens in a single night and our minor damage will heal in the next few weeks.
The wet weather also slowed our greens’ speed in July. We use less aggressive cutting units for July and early August which make it tough to get speeds back up. The good news is our greens are healthy enough to be groomed back to normal conditions as soon as the high temperatures break in early August. We will be able to use our aggressive rollers and verticut units to increase green speed by mid-August, barring a late season heat wave. Assuming the forecast stays true, we will begin tightening them up sometime in the next week or so.
Roughs and Green Surrounds
The weed control has been much improved which is expected since we are now in our 5th season of heavy pre-emergent controls which get better with time. Although it is better than past years, we did experience some goose grass outbreak in certain areas and we continue to pull it as we see it pop up .
We did catch some disease in 5 or 6 of the green surrounds. We do have a lot of work to do to get the rough to recover from the summer heat; however, we will not be spending any time this year seeding fairways which is key. Our seed order has been placed, along with the starter fertilizer. We will be ready to start over seeding the roughs and surrounds in late August. We have purchased a very high quality grass seed for the roughs and surrounds. This variety is more draught tolerant, should similar conditions return (which in Maryland is almost a certainty).
We are currently fertilizing the rough we have now too beef it up. In addition to the fairway conversion, the strengthening of our roughs and surrounds are also being improved though aggressive over seeding, improved fertility, and reallocation of resources now available with our new fairways.
We continue to make progress in delivering a more consistent and quality golf experience. Although the peak heat torture of June and July has stressed our course, we are in far better position for recovery than ever before and in better condition than several other clubs in the area. When you look at our greens, and fairways compared to past years, and consider that this was the hottest summer on record, it is great to see that our plan is working. We continue to stay committed to this massive undertaking and look forward to see the evolution of the greens, fairways and roughs over the next weeks and months.
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If you don’t belong to Crofton Country Club, why not?
A social membership is only $186 per quarter for access to the pool and clubhouse, after a minimal initiation fee. Attending the free monthly member mixer and appreciation event is a great way to get to know your neighbors. There’s never been a better chef at Crofton Country Club, and the food is excellent – whether you’re ordering dinner for two in the Dorsey Room, stopping for a cold drink on the way home from work, or enjoying a special event on New Year’s Eve, Valentine Day, Mother’s Day, Easter, etc.
If you’re interested in more information, contact Traci Denhart at Crofton Country Club, and tell her I’m your sponsoring member. 410–721–3111.
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Patuxent Manor Home for Sale
July 20th, 2012 Categories: Crofton Real Estate
Davidsonville, Maryland, is not your typical suburbia, in spite of it’s proximity to Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington, D.C. It’s a community with agricultural roots that maintains its character with expansive views of rolling hills and fields dotted with occasional homes and neighborhoods.The only major retail establishment is Homestead Gardens, a world-class plant nursery and growing center; yet residents have many options for shopping and dining in nearby Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, and Edgewater – less than 15 minutes away.
Parks
Davidsonville Park, located on Patuxent River Road about a mile from this home, offers lighted fields for organized sports, picnic areas, pavilion, paved trail for runners and walkers, playground, concessions stands, restrooms, and access to the Patuxent River for fishing or launching your car-top boat.
Riverwood Park may be the best kept secret in Anne Arundel County. It’s located within the Patuxent Manor subdivision, off Patuxent Manor Road at the end of Morgan Road. With its playground, tennis courts, basketball court, biking trail, and walking/jogging path, it’s a popular destination for many residents of the Patuxent Manor neighborhood.
Schools
Neighborhood children attend Davidsonville Elementary,Central Middle, and South River High. These schools are among the best of the best in a state where public education received its fourth straight number one ranking this year from Education Week, College Board and Newsweek. In fact, South River H.S., has achieved a Maryland.Blue Ribbon School designation!
Homes
“Upscale” would describe most of the neighborhoods and homes in Davidsonville, where the lot size for most homes is 2-10 acres and prices often approach or exceed a million dollars. There’s just one exception to this in the 21035 zip code:
Patuxent Manor is a community of about 275 homes where lot sizes tend to be 1/3 – 1/2 acre and homes sell for less than $300,000. It’s a stable neighborhood with little turnover, so you’ll feel like you’ve just won the lottery if you’re the lucky buyer of this new listing:
1529 Manor View Road
This 3 bedroom home on 1/3 acre is priced at $364,900. Arched doorways in the main living area add architectural interest and custom plantation shutters dress the bow window. There are hardwood floors in the living room, dining room, hallway, and small bedroom… and the look is continued to other areas with laminate flooring. Walls throughout the main level have been freshly painted in neutral colors, and there are many recent updates, including the roof, furnace, water softener, washer, dryer, main electric box, main level electric outlets, and recessed lights.In addition to the 2-car garage with a large extension in the back, there is a garage-size storage shed in the back yard – a contractor’s dream! Since this outbuilding has electricity, the possibilities for its use are endless.
Patuxent Manor is located on Central Avenue (Rt. 214), just inside Anne Arundel County and a straight shot to I-495 (The D.C. Beltway). This is the time of year when military personnel are relocating, so let me mention that It’s only about 15 minutes to Andrews AFB and the U.S. Naval Academy, and 30 minutes to Fort Meade/NSA.
For more information or an appointment to see this home, call me at 301-346-2923.
Originally posted at Activerain.com
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Military Retirees Face Deadline for Health Care Option
July 17th, 2012 Categories: Crofton News
Many military retirees live in the greater Crofton area, so I think it’s important to make sure they’re aware of imminent changes to healthcare options. If you know any military retirees, please share this information with them as soon as possible, while they can still make an informed decision about their medical future.
The Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan is currently a TRICARE Prime option for military beneficiaries of all ages. Recent changes to the Department of Defense budget has resulted in legislation to change this, however. The effective date is August 20, 2012.
“Anyone whose application for enrollment in US Family Health Plan is received after August 20 of this year will be required to exit the plan when they turn 65,” according to the USFHP Johns Hopkins website.
“This means beneficiaries would not have the choice of US Family Health Plan when they turn 65. Current members and those who apply for enrollment prior to August 20, 2012 will be grandfathered and allowed to remain regardless of age. However, beneficiaries who enroll after the new rules take affect will be forced to leave the plan when they turn 65.”
You can view a 7–minute video on the Johns Hopkins/USFHP website for more information.
My husband is one of several Crofton residents who have the privilege of presenting healthcare options to military personnel and retirees at various installations throughout the region, so I guess you could say I have the “inside scoop” on this topic. This is what Larry tells me:
1. If you are over 65 now, you can still enroll in USFHP before August 20, 2012.
2. If you are currently under 65, you can enroll now and when you turn 65 you would be able to stay in the plan since you enrolled before the policy change.
3. If you are currently a USFHP member, you do not need to change or do anything because you will be grandfathered in and allowed to remain a member for life!
If you know anyone who is retired military, the eligible surviving spouse of a military retiree, or the spouse of a current active duty member, please encourage them to visit the Johns Hopkins/USFHP website for more information. If they have trouble getting through on the phone, and have questions, call me for contact information of three Crofton residents who can help them. (They don’t work on commission, they just provide information.)
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