Happy New Year to Everyone. Welcome to January and the Weather in the Neighborhood:
Many of us were hoping to be done with the fall rain, then the December cold and snow for various reasons. It looks like Mother Nature had other plans for 2022. Some of you may like or even love the the snow for different reasons, however, for those that have to drive in it daily it can add time to the commute and even routine tasks that need to be done. Also, if someone has an accident the added stress and financial car repairs add up, plus the 2-3 month wait just to get a car repaired due to staffing and ordering parts with delayed product inventory at this time. Then there are the frozen pipes, and/or possible heat sources of a furnace failing during the frigid cold days at the worst possible time. With this stress alone of any or all of these things happening comes the additional headaches to deal with. Worse yet, for some neighbors are trying to contact a repair person to remedy the problem and the lack of available repair folks to assist in a timely manner.
With this in mind, for the next newsletter several neighbors are interested in having a list of referrals to call in the future that neighbors have had a good response and testimonial from. The sadder part is many neighbors sometimes can’t even get someone to return calls or they can’t come for weeks. In addition, Judy Hamner with Elite Property Management has a list of contacts as well, but she even at times with her great networking with companies finds herself in the same situation. For those interested in sharing information, please send information to post in the next newsletter or even sooner possibly as no one plans ahead to know when they need someone ASAP for an unexpected problem to happen. Please send information, no later than January 15, 2022.
Reminders Again on Next Steps for Regarding Speeding and Parking on Grass Boulevards:
It is important for neighbors to know that not everyone reads the newsletter. Some individuals don’t have an email address or a computer, and some don’t care to read updates, and some even ignore rules for whatever reason.
Two important rules are the 15mph speed limit in the neighborhood and also NOT parking on the boulevard grass. The next steps in a few months will be placing signage throughout the neighborhood so everyone will see the signs. The signs will be ordered and placed in the neighborhood on Castlerock Drive and Ashbury Court. Please, for the time being inform all drivers in your household, your landscapers/vendors, and guests coming to visit to park in your driveway or the paved pullouts and keep all tires off the grass at all times. This is so important right now with the snow melting and the wet grass boulevards accumulating moisture and tire marks. Plus, it is and added extra expense to the HOA budget when we do not know who caused it for fining purposes.
One other major reminder is that homeowners need to plan ahead for any landscaping changes now and in the spring/summer and submit plans ahead of time. The normal review of a plan can take up to 30 days and sometimes even more if the BOD requires more information or even changes that need to be made. Work can not start before a submitted plan has been reviewed and approved by the BOD as fines can be assessed. Homeowners can’t just assume they can proceed ahead with plans without board approval. If in doubt at any time read the CC & R’s. Also, to cause damage and ruin the grass boulevards may come with fines and while the BOD does not like to fine homeowners the board members have to act in the best interest of the entire HOA when complaints are submitted and rules are clearly broken.
Fall Winner Photo Contest for the 2020-2021 Photos Announced & More Photos Please:
Kevin Cavanaugh and myself (both board members) held a drawing of names of all the neighbors that submitted photographs to brighten up the newsletter a month ago. The name drawn out of hat was Mary Jo McCoy. Mary and Bob McCoy lived in the neighborhood for about 16 years and moved this past summer to Florida, the sunshine state. Mary Jo over the years had captured many beautiful scenes during the seasons and while she is not living here anymore, she still won the contest of a donated Starbucks card for $25 that was mailed to her.
Also, since we know many neighbors took lots of snow photos, send your best photo if you are interested for the February newsletter. Kevin and I will meet again to pick a winner by drawing a name out of the hat again for a donated gift card. Remember, we have many neighbors that are snowbirds (not living her now) and are in the sunshine states for the winter and would love to see the neighborhood snow photos from afar. Thanks to a few neighbors for their beautiful photos for the January newsletter to brighten the text in reading the information.
Loomis Trail Annual Meeting is on Saturday January 22, 2022 at 11:00am at the Loomis Trail Golf Course Clubhouse so Mark Your Calendars Now:
Everyone watch your mail for a packet regarding the yearly annual HOA meeting coming in a few days. The packet is being mailed from Judy Hamner from Elite Association Property Management. Everyone is welcome to and encouraged to attend. All individuals are asked to wear a mask to the meeting. For new homeowners, this is a meeting that is held once a year. Normally there are 20-30 people in attendance and the board members would like to see a higher attendance. This is a chance for neighbors to be introduced and meet others. As a reminder, there are also four scheduled Board of Directors meetings a year too; although when the Covid-19 period mandates were in place the board was not meeting face to face (doing online special meetings instead) and only began meeting again for the past two BOD meetings in August and November 2021. On behalf of all the Board of Directors we hope to see as many homeowners in attendance for this meeting. Let’s hope the weather cooperates too.
Main Gate Will Remain Open For a Few More Days Due to Safety & WRS Snow Plowing:
With the overnight snowfall and anywhere from 4-8 inches yet again after the proceeding snow fall (depending on how the snow falls and drifts around the neighborhood), the main entry gates will remain open for a few more days for safety issues. This prevents possible homeowner vehicles, and delivery trucks such as USPS, UPS and Fed Ex from spinning out if they have to stop at the gate and are less likely to slide and hit the exit gate as well. This has been done for years and for those new to the neighborhood hitting the gate and causing damage is no fun for anyone’s vehicle and the additional cost to have the gate repaired too by the HOA.
Also, a big thanks to the WRS crew for their efforts in snow plowing through out the neighborhood with their huge workload during the snow storms. A big thank you to everyone for keeping the boulevards clear too. Now, let’s hope the snow goes away so we all can get back to walking safely in the neighborhood besides driving too.
Stay safe and healthy this winter. Please submit photographs, vendor referrals, and any news stories no later than January 15th to [email protected].
Submitted by,
Kathy Barnes
BOD Secretary and Newsletter Volunteer
[email protected]
(360) 305-5508 or text
[Cover photo: Laura Howell]