HOA & COA News

East Village Candidate Statements

by the East Village Board of Directors

The following statements have been submitted for candidates for the East Village Homes Corporation Board of Directors.

Bryan Frates
After moving to East Village one year ago, my wife and two kids have finally settled into our neighborhood. I have always been somebody who enjoys giving back to my community and I believe that being a part of the board of directors will maximize the impact I can have here in Montgomery Village.

Although I have not served on a board in the capacity of a director, I have worked for non-profit organizations the majority of my professional career. In my past careers as a teacher and a coordinator of a lacrosse organization it has always been my mission to help my respective communities thrive and reach their goals.

If elected to the board, I would love to help the organization bring the community together on a more regular basis. As well as being a Financial Advisor, I am also a professional musician and have organized large events in the past. We have some great community activities throughout the year, and I know I can add value to making them even bigger than the year before. With that said, I am open to help in any capacity that is needed, and I look forward to getting to know my community.

Kevin Linck
After serving another 3-year term as your East Village Board President, I am pleased to re-submit my name for another 3-year term. I ask for your vote in the upcoming election. My plan is to continue to provide my knowledge and experiences to the EVHC Board concerning the many issues facing our community. As you are aware, we all face new and challenging problems for EVHC Board and our community members, including the Public Safety Training Academy (PTSA), the Montgomery County Multi Agency Service Park, the Webb Tract, M-83, and upgrading of our local streets. An issue confronting many of our communities today is that we have a number of crime related activities. I am pleased to have been your leader to establish the new RING neighborhood HOA program for all our residents to purchase Ring cameral security systems for everyone’s front door or outside camera capabilities. We are currently positioned for continued financial success and proper maintenance for our community.

I am privileged to have served EVHC in the past and look forward to serving once again. As a past chair and past member of the Upcounty Citizens Advisory Board (UCAB). I am pleased to continue to support our requirements for expanding growth and insight in to the county for needed resources and infrastructure. I am happy to assist in these new endeavors for increasing the betterment of our community.

East Village Echo: for residents of The Downs, The Reach, The Estates, Essex Place II, Candle Ridge, Gablefield, Glenbrooke, Meadowgate, Ashford, Holly Pointe and Wethersfield.

Eastgate Homes Corporation Candidate Statements

by the Eastgate Board of Directors

The following statements have been submitted for candidates for the Eastgate Homes Corporation Board of Directors.

Jeffrey Amtmann
I would like to remain on the East Gate Homes Corp. Board of Directors for another three-year term. I have been a board member since 2000, and enjoy volunteering to improve the quality of our neighborhood.

I moved to East Gate in April 1999, and like the quality of life in Montgomery Village. There is always room for improvement, so I want to continue to serve my community and neighborhood faithfully. I derive satisfaction from being involved in maintaining our neighborhood by participating in our board meetings to represent Hickory Grove and Wood Edge homes. I have learned a lot about what it takes to keep our HOA functioning properly during my 20 years of service.

I am a proud graduate of NC State class of 1987, with a degree in horticulture and landscape architecture. This has allowed me to help our board develop programs for tree maintenance, entrance sign improvements, seasonal flower rotations, and offering recommendation to our board about best value. My knowledge is valuable for quality control since our landscape maintenance and other construction tasks are performed by contractors not affiliated with MVF.

I have spent my entire professional career as a project manager for a Gaithersburg based site work contractor. Therefore, I am knowledgeable about asphalt paving, concrete sidewalks, and general maintenance. Currently, I have 7 years’ service employment at Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection as a construction representative. I am now also knowledgeable about storm water management, algae control, streams, and associated watershed concerns.

I also have a personal interest in keeping our neighborhood beautiful and visually attractive. I am aware of concerns about crime, dog waste, and litter issues. I would like to be granted the opportunity to serve on our board for another term so I may assist in properly managing dues by careful spending, and wise management of existing infrastructure. I look forward to volunteering on our board for my 7th term. Thank you for your vote and continued support.

Kayla Jones
My name is Kayla Jones and I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I have been a resident of Montgomery Village since 2004 and have worked as a Financial Program Analyst for over 13 years and currently work for the Federal Government. I served on the Eastgate Board for the past year and feel that my knowledge and experience has served to benefit the Eastgate Community. I moved into Eastgate in 2012 and part of my selection for this community was the beauty, quietness and how well family oriented the neighborhood seem to be. Since becoming a member of Eastgate Board it has allowed me to have a better understanding of all the minor day-to-day involvement in being able to keep our community great while addressing valid issues and concerns which made us want to be a resident. I would like the opportunity to serve again in the upcoming term and help make our community a great place to live. Thank you.

Eric Olson
I would like to remain on the Eastgate Homes Corporation Board of Directors for an additional term. I joined the board in 2013, have been a resident for 13 years, and have been an active neighborhood watch block captain for 5 years. I am a software analyst with attention to detail and wish to continue serving.

Board membership has allowed me to directly participate in addressing concerns regarding security, maintenance, litter, general complaints, and beautification of Eastgate. Before joining, I found myself periodically sending a variety of reports to EGHC on such matters as security, maintenance, and litter issues. It was at that point the board encouraged me to become more directly involved, given my active participation.

Spring is right around the corner!

by the Maryland Place Board of Directors

An issue that continues to be a problem, and the board receives constant complaints from residents about, is trash. Residents are seen placing plastic bags of trash, recycling bins, paper leaf bags, furniture, appliances, etc. on community property daily! Not only is this unsightly and unsanitary, it’s also against Montgomery County law and the Maryland Place by-laws.

All trash and recycling is to be stored on your property in a sealed rat/vermin-proof container at all times. Trash or recycling should never be placed on community property. As a result of all the plastic bags of trash left on community property, we now have a major rat problem. We are providing them with a buffet of food, in easy to chew through plastic bags.

The board has contracted Orkin to place rat bait stations throughout the neighborhood. These stations are child and pet proof. This service is not cheap, and the board will monitor it to see if it is helping with the rat problem.

As a reminder, all trash is to be placed in a rat/vermin-proof container for collection on Sunday and Wednesday nights, after dark, at the rear of your property. Trash is picked up on Monday and Thursday mornings. Recycling is to be placed in the front of your property on Wednesday night after dark, for collection on Thursday morning. At no time should trash or recycling ever be placed on community property.

Maryland Place Messages: for residents of Maryland Place.

Annual Meeting and Call for Candidates

by the Middle Village Board of Directors

This serves as a Notice and Call for Candidates for the Middle Village Homes Corporation Annual Meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28.

Board membership is an important way to serve the community. The Middle Village board is responsible for adopting the annual association budget, which is the basis for the association fees. Additionally, the board is responsible for enforcing the community's covenants and rules and for ensuring that common areas are properly maintained.

There are three director positions open with expiring terms this year, each for a three-year term. If you are interested in serving on the board and accept fiduciary responsibility for the community, contact Comsource to obtain a Candidate Résumé Form. The completed form should be returned to the Comsource Office no later than Tuesday, March 31. Completed forms can be e-mailed to ekweti@comsource.com, faxed to 301-924-7340 or mailed to Middle Village HOA, c/o Comsource, 3414 Morningwood Drive, Olney, MD 20832.

Your résumé will be included (as submitted) with the official annual meeting notice to all homeowners. The official notice will confirm the time, date and location of the meeting, and will include a proxy statement with the name of any candidates. Members can also be nominated from the floor the night of the annual meeting.

Motorcycles
There have been numerous complaints regarding parking and storage of motorcycles on Middle Village property. Storing of all unlicensed motor vehicles, including motorcycles, is not allowed in accordance with the Middle Village Parking Policy: “The operation, parking, or storing of unlicensed motor vehicles (including "off-road" vehicles as defined in Article 27, Sec. 578 of the Maryland Code) is prohibited on the community-owned private streets or parking areas within Middle Village. The operation of motor vehicles by unlicensed drivers is likewise prohibited within Middle Village. An unlicensed vehicle is one with no tags or one without current registration stickers. Unlicensed vehicles are subject to towing in accordance with state and county law, which permits towing within 72 hours after notice of violation is placed on the vehicle.”

Covered motorcycles must be parked in the vehicle owner’s reserved parking space, or they are subject to immediate towing: “Covered vehicles can only be parked in the vehicle owner’s reserved parking space. Covered vehicles parked in open spaces are subject to immediate towing.”

Towing
The current Middle Village Parking policy states:

"All vehicles parked overnight in the community are required to display a MVHC parking tag/permit or they are subject to immediate towing. For purposes of these Rules, overnight is defined as parking a vehicle in MV anytime between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m."

"Parking tag/permit must be clearly/properly displayed, on the driver’s side, facing the front windshield, on vehicles parked in a reserved parking space, or parked in the community overnight. Tags/permits can be hung from the rearview mirror or taped to the driver’s side dashboard or front windshield, front side facing toward the windshield."

"Failure to properly display the current year’s parking tag/permit will lead to immediate towing – even if vehicle is parked in the appropriate reserved parking space. No warnings or notifications will be issued."

“No commercial vehicles or trailers of any type, campers, or recreational vehicles shall be permitted to remain overnight on either the property of a private dwelling unit or on the community-owned property within Middle Village. For purposes of these rules, overnight is defined as parking a vehicle between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.”

“Commercial vehicles include vehicles with any type of writing or printing (letters, words, pictures, insignia, etc.) identifying a firm, organization, service, product, etc., of any kind, type or description. All vehicles carrying ladders, pipes, ladder racks, truck-loaded tools or truck-loaded tool boxes, etc., will be considered commercial. Vans used for delivering, storing or transporting goods or cargo are also considered to be commercial vehicles and are prohibited from remaining overnight in the community. Police vehicles are exempted.”

“No commercial vehicles (including commercial pickup trucks) shall be permitted to remain overnight in the community. Pickup trucks must not have ladder racks, truck-loaded tools or truck-loaded toolboxes. Further, pickup trucks may not park overnight in the community with any cargo, items or material of any kind in the truck bed (landscaping debris, tools, boxes, trash, equipment, etc.) that exceeds the height of the truck bed sides or that extends beyond the tailgate. Pickup trucks with cargo that meet this description will be considered commercial vehicles and are not permitted to park in the community overnight. Violations are subject to immediate towing.”

Did you know...
There’s a pooper scooper law: Animal Defecation (Montgomery County Code, Sec. 5-203(a)(2)). An owner must not allow an animal to damage or defecate on property outside of the owner’s property. An animal may defecate on public property or the common area of property in which the owner shares an interest if the owner immediately removes and disposes of the feces by a sanitary method approved by the director. Feces may be picked up in a plastic bag. If this bag is placed inside another plastic bag, it may be put out for disposal in your normal household trash. Penalty for Violation – $100.

Assessments
We live in a community that requires every homeowner to pay assessment fees. Assessments are used to pay contractors for landscaping, snow removal, trash collection, collection of illegally dumped trash, lighting, repairs on community property, etc. If you are a homeowner, you were provided with this information during closing.

Reminder: Assessments are due to be paid monthly. Your payment must be received by ComSource on or before the 15th of the month to avoid late charges. Your regular payments allow us to continue providing services to our community.

Homeowners who are delinquent with their assessment payments must pay their past due balance in full or make arrangements to pay them. The first step to making payment arrangements is contacting Edna Kweti at 301-924-7355 or e-mail ekweti@comsource.com.

Important Contact Phone Numbers
Security on Demand: 877-241-1265
Big Tow: 301-424-4869
Potomac Disposal: 301-294-9700
Montgomery County Police Non-emergency: 301-279-8000
Emergency: 911
ComSource: 301-924-7355

Contacting ComSource
ComSource is our management company. If you have a comment or complaint, please include your name, address, phone number, location of issue/problem and specific details in your correspondence or when you are leaving a phone message for the property manager.

Contact ComSource at 301-924-7355 or e-mail ekweti@comsource.com or sumali@comsource.com.

Board Meeting Schedule
The next Middle Village Homes Corporation board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28 in the Thomas Choice Clubhouse, 19401 Brassie Place.

Middle Village Voice: for residents of Thomas Choice West and Clubside.

2019 Financial highlights

by Tom Wills, Treasurer, North Village Homes Corporation

Our pre-audited financial statements for 2019 have just been completed, and our audit is underway. Our financial picture for the year ended December 31, 2019 as reported at our Annual Meeting February 20, 2020 is as follows.

2019 turned out to be a difficult year for us, with unexpected expenses leading to an operating deficit that we were not able to offset in other areas. Unlike private industry, we are not able to adjust our income to offset these unexpected expenses, and we ended 2019 with a pre-audit loss a tad over $33,000. In 2018, we had a net income of $34,000 for comparison purposes.

Income
We are fortunate that the overall investment economy had another strong year, which enabled us to see unbudgeted interest income above last year. We also saw contributions from the roadway reimbursement program and bad debt recovery. These categories can’t be budgeted, but the cash inflow from them is a net positive for our investment accounts and goes straight into the capital reserves.

Maintenance Expenditures                                 
2019 maintenance expenditures were budgeted at $216,605, which was $14,000 more than 2018. Yet we still ended up exceeding the maintenance budget by $35,412. Much like all of us as individual homeowners, some maintenance expenditures have to occur regardless of whether you want them to or not. We faced the same situation in this category in 2019.

Attending to the landscape was the largest contributor to our deficit. Despite budgeting $4,000 more than last year, our tree removal costs exceeded our budget by $19,130 Our greenspace repair also exceeded budget by $3,626, and storm damage earlier in 2019 was not budgeted or anticipated, leading to a $4,125 deficit expenditure in this category as well. Tack on spending $7,322 over budget in onsite maintenance. The slight savings in fence repair and fertilizer costs were not enough to avoid that $35,412 maintenance deficit.

Trash and Security
These contracts are operating relatively smoothly. If you don’t see security often, be aware that they devote more time to areas that seem to need it than to others. We did see a slight increase in the security contract, primarily related to the contractors’ need to increase costs to meet new employee requirements enacted via the Montgomery County government. Overall, the two areas cost us 3% more than in 2018.

Administrative (Non-Maintenance) Expenditures
In looking at this category of expenses, we actually saved over $2,644, spending only $153,584 compared to the $156,229 in the budgeted items. We saved $2,614 in electrical costs compared to the budget and another $2,670 in legal costs versus the budget. These two could not completely offset the incursion of $7,478 in costs on a $5,000 budget for private property maintenance category, but at least there was an overall savings in this particular category as a whole. As our community ages, there are more violations of basic exterior home maintenance policy that need to be reported to homeowners and specific needs for repairs.

Contribution to Reserves and Capital Expenditures
We added more than $195,903 to our capital reserves during 2019, including $141,500 from assessments, plus $47,754 from interest on our investments and $6,649 received from the county’s roadway reimbursement program. At the end of 2019, we had over $2,000,000 invested for replacement reserves. These reserves are consistent with our reserve study and keep us in a position to address planned capital improvements.

The Year Ahead
As of February 6, we are still waiting to finalize the first month of 2020 financials, but we hope that some of the extra tree removals required in 2019 will be offset this year with some savings. True to our requirements, the budget doesn’t exceed the allowable increases in the assessments. We will see the completion of the pathway lighting project in early 2020 as one of the capital expenditures that we are financially responsible for. The board also looks forward to having a positive financial position to end 2020.

If you have questions, contact Community Manager April Steward at 240-243-2327, or e-mail asteward@mvf.org. The next meeting of the North Village Homes Corporation is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 16 in the North Creek Board Room, 20125 Arrowhead Road.

North Village View: for residents of Essex Place, Highland Hall, McRory, Perry Place, Picton, Pleasant Ridge and Salem’s Grant.

Please get your ballots mailed

by the Northgate Board of Directors

If you have not sent your Northgate ballot in, please do so. A quorum of ballots is required or we have to go to the expense of an additional mailing. Your assistance is appreciated.

At the January meeting, the board approved funds for new Apple Ridge tot lot equipment, which will replace the original from 1995. The $21,781.30 will come from the tot lot reserve fund.

We want to remind residents to please call the police at 911 for emergencies and 301-279-8000 for non-emergency situations. In general, you should always call 911 when someone's life, safety, health or property is in immediate danger.

Residents often raise concerns about disturbing the peace. Disturbing the peace, also known as breach of the peace, is a criminal offense that occurs when a person engages in some form of unruly public behavior, such as fighting or causing excessively loud noise. Please call the police when you witness such disturbances. They are the ones equipped to deal with these situations.

Northgate News: for residents of Apple Ridge, Dorsey's Regard, McKendree I & II, Overlea, The Points, Shadow Oak and Williams Range.

Patton Ridge election results

by the Patton Ridge Board of Directors

The Patton Ridge by-laws require that we hold an annual meeting, at which time we announce the election results for the board of directors by the members of the community. This year’s annual meeting was held on February 25 and achieved a quorum with 10.9% of the possible 1,072 ballots that can be submitted. Prior to the meeting, long-time board president William Evans resigned his position and the board would like to express our deep thanks to him for his many years of dedicated service to the community. Ralph Bally, Brandon Coffee-Borden and Brian Post were elected to board terms. The board voted to approve Allison Ewing as president, Ralph Bally as vice president and Brian Post as treasurer.

Doolittle Retaining Wall
The Patton Ridge Board of Directors reported previously that we will be replacing the failing, wooden retaining wall along the path behind Doolittle Street. Recently, the contractor that will complete the project finished the project plan and the board voted to approve it. This will be perhaps the largest and most expensive project ever initiated by Patton Ridge. We do not yet have firm start or completion dates for the construction because there are still final planning steps and permitting to be completed before construction begins. In the interim, barrels, tape and signage has been placed around the wall area to discourage residents from traveling in that area.

Greentee II Mill and Overlay Project
Previously the board of directors reported that Greentee II is scheduled to have a curb and mill overlay project completed during spring 2020. The anticipated completion date for this work is early April. Once the schedule is finalized, all residents that will be impacted by the work will be notified.

Spring is Coming
The board continues its commitment to maintain the appearance of our community grounds. The board recently approved a proposal for flowers to be installed at all community entrances, to install trees and top dressing on Billings Court, and to install screening trees along Greenside Terrace.

Pet Waste
A new pet waste station has been installed in the common area near 9755 Duffer Way. Please encourage your neighbors to use the pet waste stations that have been placed throughout our community. Remember that county law requires pet owners to clean up pet waste and doing so maintains the cleanliness and good appearance of our community.

Patton Ridge Report: for residents of Arrowhead, Fairway Islands, Fairidge, Greentee I & II, Highfield and Partridge Place I & II.

Parking permit distribtution postponed

by the South Village Board of Directors

Parking pass distribution for South Village Homes Corporation has been postponed until further notice. You will get a notice in the mail with information in the future regarding this project. Please continue to visit www.montgomeryvillgae.com to stay informed.

La distribución de pase de estacionamiento para South Village Homes Corporation se ha pospuesto hasta nuevo aviso. Recibirá un aviso por correo con información en el futuro sobre este proyecto. Favor segue visitando www.montgomeryvillgae.com para mantenerse informado.

South Village Scenes: for residents of Center Stage, Dockside, Grover's Forge, Hamptons, Millrace, Nathan's Hill and Walker's Choice.

Parking update

by the Stedwick Board of Directors

Our current immobilization due to COVID-19 has become the paramount feature in our lives. But this situation will eventually end. As normality returns, parking in the Stedwick community will continue to be a significant problem. Each month the board hears from residents with complaints about the parking “situation” in our neighborhoods. Accidents due to improperly (and illegally) parked cars have occurred. In some of our neighborhoods, parking issues have risen to confrontational or other situations requiring police intervention.

Our security service continues to be aggressive with the marking of stored vehicles, and there has been an increase in the number of vehicles towed from our streets for several types of violations. In addition, the maintenance staff is removing traffic cones and other items being used to improperly or illegally reserve parking spaces. Please refer to the Stedwick Policies available in the "Community Documents" section of the Stedwick website, www.stedwickhc.com, for additional information on parking and general vehicular guidelines.

Given the increasingly difficult parking situation, the Stedwick board is considering more aggressive parking policies. These might include distribution of parking permits (restricting each unit to a maximum allocation of permits); denying parking permits to households in arrears on assessments; towing vehicles failing to display a permit; charging a substantial payment for the replacement of "lost" permits; etc.

We will also be reviewing policies that have been implemented in other areas of Montgomery Village. Other associations have recently adopted parking rules mandating assigned/permitted spaces for individual units and requiring residents in good financial standing to apply for and display stickers or tags in their vehicles. Permits are assigned to individual units based on garage, driveway (1 car and 1 visitor) or blacktop only (2 cars and 1 visitor) status. Overnight parking (11 p.m. to 5 a.m.) for vehicles is limited to those displaying approved identification. Infractions such as driveway or lane blockage, illegal fire lane parking, outstanding violations and reserved space violations are subject to immediate towing.

Do we have your attention?
The board is aware that several of the revised or additional policy alternatives and restrictions under consideration would likely result in additional administrative coordination and costs. Aware that there may be inconvenience or distress for some residents, the board will balance the possible options carefully.

It is the intention of the board to keep the Stedwick community informed, and we continue to request your active participation by speaking with us during residents time at the beginning of our monthly meetings (on the third Wednesday of each month), or by residents attending and participating in a future community forum on the parking issue.

The Stedwick board invites your comments—in writing or by speaking—during the residents time portion at the beginning of every monthly Stedwick board meeting. Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Stedwick Community Center, 10401 Stedwick Road. As of this writing, all Village community centers have been closed to the public, and all classes, programs and board meetings are cancelled or postponed. If you have suggestions, questions or concerns, please contact our Stedwick Homes Corporation community management team at 240-243-2326; e-mail stedwickhc@mvf.org; or consult our community website, www.stedwickhc.com.

Stedwick Signals: for residents of Club Hill, Clusters of Stedwick I, II, III, Forest Brooke, Frenchton Place, Ridges of Stedwick and The Heights.

Happy New Year!

by the Thomas Choice Condominium Board of Directors

Happy New Year, Thomas Choice Condominium!

Along with welcoming the new year, it is the hope of the board of directors and management that all residents take the time this year to become well informed and intentionally aware of the many moving parts of the community. You are invited and encouraged to attend all of the 2020 board of directors meetings, starting with our upcoming meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13 in the North Creek Board Room, 20125 Arrowhead Road. You will find all of the meeting dates posted online at www.montgomeryvillage.com or in the Village News.

Questions may be submitted to Community Manager Liana Roberts at lroberts@mvf.org by 5 p.m. the day before each meeting. Feel free to forward questions in advance of the meetings so that management can provide you with the most accurate information. Communitywide understanding of the cost to operate, maintain reserves and maintain the community is imperative in the efforts and strides to keep Thomas Choice Condominium a wonderful place to call home.

Lastly, please note Thomas Choice Condominium is not reissuing parking passes for 2020. Please make sure to carefully read any and all correspondence received and ensure that the community name is Thomas Choice Condominium and not another community within Montgomery Village.

Thank you, and best wishes for the new year!

Looking back at 2019…and forward

by William R. Ott

Another year has gone by. Should we care? Certainly nothing is more important today than the worldwide pandemic and its effect on our lives and families. But I think we can still come together to be grateful for our board members who are devoting part of their schedules to maintaining the quality of our community.

As scheduled, the March 12 annual meeting of the Whetstone Board of Directors was held at the North Creek Community Center. Whetstone Board President Debby Vermillion, and our new Treasurer John Nicolletos, summarized some of the highlights of calendar year 2019:

• a new dock was built on Lake Whetstone to replace the original dock that had been removed in 2015 due to deterioration of its moorings and safety considerations ($58K);
• many large trees were removed, either because they had died or had become a threat to nearby homes, and 11 new trees were planted to replace the trees removed from conspicuous locations ($30K);
• the streets and bike paths were assessed for their condition and their need for repair evaluated;
• asphalt paving and concrete curb repairs were undertaken for those street and bike path surfaces that were completely deteriorated or deemed a safety hazard, a major project ($80K) covering more than 30 areas and 2,000 square yards;
• six storm drains were repaired, also a relatively major project ($20K) when you consider that the inside of our storm drains are brick walls that deteriorate over time;
• asphalt millings were spread along portions of the lakeshore path where rain and erosion were leaving muddy areas;
• a new, long-term reserve study was completed, identifying the 30-year maintenance needs of the community and their cost;
• a covenant amendment to prohibit short-term (less than 30 days) rental of private properties in Whetstone was approved and registered in the county;
• the 2018 community vote to raise the Whetstone part of the assessment was put into effect in 2020, the first such increase in about 10 years—the increase is about $7/month/household; and
• the 2019 financial audit was positive, indicating a healthy balance of cash-on-hand and about $2.3M of conservative investments, mostly in CDs, that are restricted for funding major repair/replacement of community property.

Do you know your block captain?

Now a word about the future. Will you consider volunteering to be a block captain, a critical point of contact for uniting the 447 households of Whetstone? My wife and I have been block captains for about 20 years. Each block captain is the contact point for about 10 of their neighboring households…not too hard a task, actually.

About 10 years ago Joe and Della Maher of Goshenside reenergized the block captain system to serve as basic support for the Neighborhood Watch program that was formed at that time. What does a block captain do? As little or as much as you want! At the minimum, the block captain, when called upon, serves to alert his/her neighbors of security issues in the community; and vice-versa, to alert the Whetstone board or the community manager about security concerns in their local area. You do this usually by text, e-mail or telephone. These situations don’t happen very often, but when they do, it is important for everyone to know about it.

What else can a block captain do? If you want, you can get your 10 neighbors to agree to watch each other’s homes while they are away (a neighborhood watch priority); or alert your 10 neighbors about Whetstone voting deadlines and monthly meetings; or inform them about other important issues, like the professional center redevelopment, or whatever you think your neighbors would be interested in.

Three years ago we had 49 block captains in Whetstone. Today we have about nine, mostly board members. The others have either moved, or can no longer serve for various reasons.

If you are willing to be a block captain, e-mail your name, address, e-mail and phone number to Karen Kodjanian, our acting community manager, at kkodjanian@mvf.org. If you’re thinking, “I could do this,” then call now! Without block captains, we don’t really have a Neighborhood Watch system.

In an effort to communicate more effectively with our residents, the WHC board would like to update our board e-mail list. This allows you to receive meeting notices, agendas, emergency information, etc. This is not a neighborhood discussion forum. If you are not on the current list or have changed your provider, just send an e-mail to vermillion.whc@gmail.com.

Whetstone Watch: for residents of The Courts, Goshenside, Lakeside and the Ridges of Whetstone.