February 2002
An original homeowner--very much with us--has supplied your editor not only with an original publicity brochure for Villa Monterey, but with various sales materials she was given at the time she purchased her unit. The earliest listing of prices--dated 11/21/72--shows the prices of units B-E at that time. The E Unit, for instance, went for $33,900. However, revised price list, dated 5/21/73, lists the E at $36,990. There are corresponding increases for other models. Both lists note that "view" lots--canyon and pool greenbelt--required an additional $1,500 from purchasers. See '73 list below that is dated 7/25/73.
PLAN DESCRIPTION SALE
PRICESB 2 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths $32,990 C 2 bedrooms, 1 bath $28,990 D 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths $33,990 E 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, studio or den $36,990 F 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, studio or den $34,990
Your clubhouse's Christmas Decorations were put up by [] and Cathy Horton with an assist from John and Charlotte Marsh and our clubhouse manager, Joyce Bliss. They were taken down by Frank Toto, the Marshes, Bernadette, and Joyce. The many "giant" pinecones were supplied by Dorothy Paulson. Incidentally, we're always on the lookout for decorations you're willing to donate. Call Frank Toto (858/278-5050) or John Marsh (858/492-9591).
All 184 garage doors are in place. And it is time to think of some simple maintenance. Every four to six months, residents should lubricate the moving components of their overhead door track. Please do not use a petroleum-based spray or lubricant. Rather use a silicone spray. The latter is readily available and easy to use. It takes only minutes.
Also, when you notice dirt building up on the door, spray it down with water to keep it clean. This takes only a minute and can easily be done when washing your vehicle or cleaning up the area outside your garage.
What's the Difference?
Many people use the terms 'raven' and 'crow' interchangeably, but they are actually quite different. Technically, since ravens belong to the crow (corvus) family of birds, they can be called crows - but not all crows are ravens. The two differ in a variety of ways.
Size
First, and most noticeably, ravens are larger than crows. They are (on average) about the size of a hawk, where crows are approximately the size of a pigeon.
Call
If you're familiar with the call which crows make, you'd probably recognize the raven's call as being different. Crows have a more nasal, higher pitched call, where a raven's call is lower, and hoarser...almost a croaking sound. I've frequently been approached by people saying "I heard this really funny-sounding crow the other day..." and when I ask "Was it a really big crow?" the answer has almost invariably been yes. In which case, chances are pretty good that it wasn't a crow at all, but a raven.
Tail Feathers
Crows have a very fan-shaped tail, where raven's tails have more of a wedge-shape to them. This isn't very easy to tell if the bird is sitting on the ground, but when flying overhead, you can often get a good look at the shape of the tail.
Feather Shape
Raven's feathers are also a slightly different shape that crow's feathers. Crow feathers tend to be more rounded at the tip, while ravens have feathers which are slightly pointed. This is most noticeable on the breast feathers, especially when the bird fluffs itself up. The feathers on the crow's breast lie comfortably against each other and provide a nice, even, rounded covering. The feathers on a raven lie a little more jaggedly, when a raven fluffs up, its breast tends to look ragged. In fact, when a raven really fluffs up and all its feathers look like they're standing on end, the raven appears to have a short fluffy mane (called a 'ruff').
Habitat
Ravens and crows can often be found living side by side in the same areas, but where there's a choice, ravens prefer wilder areas while crows will live quite close to cities. The bigger the city, the less likely ravens will make it their home--and when they do, they tend to live in or near parks and natural spaces. Crows, on the other hand, are more likely to live near buildings, and will venture farther into human developments to compete for food.
The next monthly Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 13, 2002 at 6:00 p.m. at the clubhouse located in the community.
© Copyright 2002 Villa Monterey HOA
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