On August 21, much of the US will experience a total or near-total solar eclipse for the first time in 99 years.

This article on the Spacewatch website provides complete details about the how and why of a solar eclipse; map showing the areas of totality; and, precautions for viewing the eclipse.

Our area is not in the path of the total eclipse.  Instead, at the height of the eclipse here, one edge of the sun will still be visible.  Visit this page for an animation of the eclipse as seen from Richmond, VA.

For our neighborhood:

• The eclipse will start in our neighborhood at 1:18 PM, Monday, August 21.
• Near totality will occur at 2:44 PM
• The eclipse will end here at 4:03 PM.

CAUTION: PLEASE READ AND HEED THE WARNINGS ABOUT VIEWING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE — the Spacewatch article has instructions for viewing the eclipse.  Looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can cause serious damage to your eyes, even blindness.  DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT VIEWING THE ECLIPSE THROUGH BINOCULARS, A CAMERA OR A TELESCOPE.

UPDATE:  THIS IS IMPORTANT.  JULY 29

One way to safely view the eclipse directly is to use “eclipse glasses.”  These are protective glasses, mostly made of heavy-duty cardboard, with lenses specially made to greatly reduce the light coming from the sun.  However, it turns out now that fake eclipse glasses are being sold.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Now that a total solar eclipse is just one month away, NASA has issued a warning to let people know unsafe eclipse glasses are being distributed by “unscrupulous companies.”

The space agency recommends only using eclipse glasses with ISO 12312-2 printed on them that have been printed by the four following companies:

— American Paper Optics,

— Rainbow Symphony,

— Thousand Oaks Optical, and

— TSE 17.

NASA says buying your eclipse glasses on Amazon does not ensure their safety.

“Make sure to check your eclipse glasses and viewers to verify that they have the correct ISO designation and were manufactured by one of the four companies recognized by NASA as legitimate,” the agency noted.

 

 

For the past few weeks, there’s been no doubt that summer is here!!  High temperatures in and around the PBE neighborhood have been in the mid- to upper-90’s with humidity to match.  We’ve had very little rain, except for an occasional thunderstorm around sunset.

As of today — July 24 — temperatures are forecast to moderate slightly with daily highs for the coming week forecast to be in the mid-80’s with humidity ranging from 65% to over 70%; still no rain in the forecast except for the occasional late-evening thunderstorm.

For those who enjoy statistics, for the period July 1 through July 23, 2017:

• Nine days had high temperatures above 90 degrees
• Ten days had high temperatures above 85 degrees
• 18 of 24 days in the period had high humidity above 90%!!!

One of our neighbors has a personal weather station that you can view at this page on our website.

Around 8:00 AM this morning — June 22 — a convoy of vehicles and equipment from VDOT and a VDOT contractor showed up on Potomac Drive.  They are resurfacing Potomac Drive and Presley Drive; we don’t know if they will go up Newman’s Neck Road.

The resurfacing is not asphalt paving.  It’s a layer of sand, then a layer of tar, then a layer of gravel.  After the sand-tar-gravel layer is applied, a heavy roller rolls the material flat, then, the process is repeated.

Work should be completed by the end of the day.  We don’t recall when the last resurfacing was done, though it was several years ago.

The Potomac Bay Estates water system annual water quality report for 2016 has been distributed and is available online as a PDF document:     2016 Water Quality Report

This is the 2016 water quality report because it consists of measurements taken in 2016.  We take water samples monthly and send them to a state laboratory for testing.  If any problems are found, we take corrective measures immediately.

Annual meeting

Many thanks to everyone who attended the annual meeting last Saturday, June 3.  It was good to see everyone, especially our neighbors who don’t live here full-time.

We will post documents from the meeting as soon as the Board approves the minutes.

Association surveys

In other news:  The Association has set up an account with SurveyMonkey, an application that allows us to send surveys to members.  The survey also can be used for voting on matters before the Association.

Please watch your email for announcements of surveys.  When we announce a survey, we will send an email message to all members that includes a link to the survey.

Bylaws revision

Please go to this link for information on revising the Association bylaws.

 

In the course of research in preparation for starting the common area beach project, the Board determined that the PBE POA Bylaws now in effect were not in compliance with the Virginia Code, Chapter 26, the Property Owners’ Association Act, VA Code 55-508ff.

The areas of non-compliance were minor and were the result of changes in the statute since the PBE POA was formed in 1989.  The Board formed a committee that consulted with an attorney who worked with property owners’ associations.  The committee then revised the bylaws.

These revised bylaws are not in effect until they are:

1. Approved by 2/3 of the members who are eligible to vote (that is, dues and assessments are paid, not delinquent), and,
2. The revised bylaws after approval by the membership are recorded at the Clerk’s office, Northumberland County Circuit Court.

Here is a link to the revised bylaws.  The revised sections are highlighted in yellow bold italic print.

BYLAWS REVISED EDITED FOR FORMAT JUNE 1 DRAFT HEADER

In a few days, we will send a survey to all PBE POA members asking for you to review and vote on the revised bylaws.  If you wish to vote now, after reviewing the bylaws, please send your vote by email to the POA email address:  potomacbaypoa@hotmail.com

Three meetings of the Potomac Bay Estates Property Owners Association are scheduled for June 2 and June 3, 2017.

PBE POA Board of Directors Meeting

• Friday, June 2
• 10:00 AM
• Williams home, 4142 Newman’s Neck Road
• POA members are welcome to attend Board meetings.
• Agenda for this meeting is available at this link:  Agenda PBE BOARD Meeting_June 2_2017_v.01

PBE POA Annual Meeting

• Saturday, June 3
• 1:00 PM
• Hulse home, 324 Potomac Drive
• Agenda for the annual meeting is available at this link:  Agenda PBE POA-Annual 0603_2017_v.02_0526_
• Pot-luck lunch at 12:00 noon.  Association furnishes hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, condiments.  Please bring a side dish or dessert, or both.  For beer or wine, BYOB
• PLEASE RSVP to via email to potomacbaypoa@hotmail.com

PBE POA Board of Directors Meeting

• The Board will meet immediately following the annual meeting.
• Members are welcome to attend the Board meeting.
• Agenda will depend upon decisions made at the annual meeting.