I completely slept on this conference this year but Cindy B was good enough to offer this summary.  I’ve been to this event every year and it is always very encouraging to see all of the hardworking folks there who believe in their neighborhood and are willing to get involved….

Residents of Sumner Lake Honored at City Conference

The City of Manassas honored five neighborhoods with “Neighborhood of the Year” awards at its annual Neighborhood Conference, November 13, at the Boys & Girls Club.

Sumner Lake Homeowners Association was honored with the “Best Neighborhood Communication/Involvement” award for their response to the Sept. 23 fire that destroyed three homes, damaged five others and displaced 11 residents on Tillet Loop.  Residents turned the neighborhood’s website into a vital communications link to identify victim needs and spread the word to meet those needs.  They opened their community center to shelter fire victims and collected more than $10,000 in cash, clothes, food, household items and furniture.  Donations are still being collected through the holidays.

Point of Woods 1 & 2 and Point of Woods 3 Homeowners Associations were honored with a joint “Best Neighborhood Group Effort” Award.  They pooled resources to launch a Neighborhood Watch and host activities such as a Fall Festival to build community, despite the financial hardship of last winter’s snow removal.

Cannon Ridge Homeowners Association won the “Best Back Yard/Storage Area” award for staging a community walk-through to identify issues such as fallen trees and exposed wires, and then addressing those issues.  They also organized a creek cleanup.

Wildwood Condominium Association won the “Best Curb Appeal” award for modeling a clean community and adding a beautiful new entrance sign and playground.

Other highlights of the day-long conference included:

• Free private consultations with housing counselors from Fannie Mae and the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service for homeowners with mortgages in distress.
• Tips on how to use social networking to increase communication among neighbors.
• The opportunity for youth to explore “My Defining Moment” and create T-shirts for non-toxic bears to be donated to patients at Children’s Hospital in memory of Sey-J Landsdowne, a Boys & Girls club member who died of leukemia this past summer.

The City’s Neighborhood Conference was sponsored by KIA of Manassas, the Boys & Girls Club of Manassas, Dominion Towing, Lucky Dog Grooming, Virginia Housing Development Authority, Yard by Yard Landscaping and many other community partners.

As a follow-up to the conference, the Neighborhoods Work Group meets Tues., Nov. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center, 9700 Wellington Road in Manassas.  All City residents who what to work to improve their neighborhoods are welcome to attend.

For more information, contact Neighborhood Services Coordinator Christen Zenich at 703-257-8315.