January 1998
Along with having air vents cleaned, another aspect of home maintenance that needs to be addressed by the homeowner is dryer vent cleaning. When it's running, the dryer consumes 50% of the energy used in, a household, generating- heat which needs to be dissipated, and lint which needs to be removed. This lint buildup in the dryer vent is the source of many problems to the homeowner and the renter alike. The results of improper vent maintenance range from increased energy consumption, dryer damage, and the inconvenience of longer drying time, to the worst case of excessive heat buildup and fires. Dryers, and laundry rooms in general, are one of the leading causes of residential fires in America. The numbers are very disturbing, especially considering that most of these fires could have been prevented. In 1990 alone, there were approximately 15,000 residential fires in the U.S. attributed to dryers and laundry rooms, many of which resulted in injury and death. Recognizing that clogged vents are one of the leading causes of residential fires, your Association will pay for a one-time cleaning of dryer exhaust ducts by a firm of the Association's choice . To take advantage of this opportunity, call Marysia Leu at Curtis Mgmt.
The new garage doors are in place at the building on Lemonwood. Do take a look at them. In the meantime, your directors have decided to press ahead with the installation phase. Again, those individuals who are willing to act as coordinators for their buildings are urged to contact John Marsh. He will try to schedule their buildings early in this phase. Realistically, most of the work will be done in January and February.
Have you noticed that our landscapers have a new crew chief on site? His name is Fernando. Do welcome him as you have an opportunity. Also, requested of our landscapers was a brief summary on how the work is scheduled; (1)the trimming of the ivy and shrubs is started by the dry river bed on Outlook and is continued through the green belts until Quemado is reached, (2)mowing is done weekly(Wednesdays if weather is permitting), and (3)the streets and alleys are cleaned biweekly.
We've recently had complaints of an increase in our rodent population. As a caution, don't leave animal feeding dishes out overnight. And remember that if you have a bird feeder, our feathered friends are messy eaters, that rodents are attracted as a consequence. If you're concerned, contact Marysia Leu at Curtis Management.
As a courtesy to our homeowners, Weststar Landscape has agreed to pick up discarded Christmas trees to take to the recycling center. The pick-up day will be Monday January 5, 1998. Remove all ornaments and stands. Place the tree in your garage planter -areas. NOTE: NO "FLOCKED" TREES. If you discard your tree after that date, it will be your responsibility to remove it from the site.
Each month the Landscape Committee, including a representative from Weststar Landscape and the property manager from Curtis Management, walk through the complex to identify areas that need special attention. "That looks dry, it needs an additional sprinkler head. Remove that dead bush. That area looks very wet, do we have a broken line? Looks like a path is developing across that corner, put up tape to prevent further damage." Over the year, every nook and cranny of the common area landscaping is reviewed. One sporadic problem we find is plantings and potted plants placed in the common area by individual homeowners. When we see this on a walk through, we send a letter(s), asking that the material be removed. The only places that the Board has allowed homeowners to place material in the common area is their window ledges,(of course, with a drip pan underneath to prevent wood damage), and on the cement walk blocks close to their front doors.
If a homeowner wishes a deviation from standard policy, there is a form to request a change which is submitted to the Board. One example of such a request approved by the Board are the lovely roses planted and maintained by Peggy Brooks on Pine Knoll Lane. The request form is in Appendix C(2 pages)in the Rules Manual.
A family named Hall gave a noisy Christmas party. The neighbors were so furious that they grabbed some boughs of holly and went over to deck the Halls.
Gen. George Custer opened a custard cone stand near an Indian village. He kept raising his prices. The tribal chief, Geronimo, told him how angry the Indians were, but the general did not listen. This- then was known as CUSTER'S LAST STAND.
I teach fourth grade at Westlake Elementary School in Ventura County, California. As an assignment, I gave the students a list of the beginnings of famous sayings and asked them to provide the endings. Here are a few:
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