Mark your calendar for our next neighborhood event...  

 

 

May HOA Board Meeting Highlights

• The treasurer’s report stated that the cash balance in checking as of 4-30-13 was $13,343.94 and the business saving account balance as of 4-30-13 was $2,203.04.  We received no payments in April.  April expenses were a $30.00 Corporation Fee, $20.00 Corporation Tax, and $58.28 to GA power, $285.00 Maloney’s Landscaping, $50.00 Irrigation Fees, and $225.00 Lighting Maintenance.
• Liens were placed on two properties for non payment of homeowners dues.
• Members of the Board met with our HOA Attorney about matters concerning our covenants and how to better serve our community and proceed with violations.
• The new directory will be complete by Friday, May 31st.
• The county extension service will be coming out to check the health of the trees in "The Park" area.
• We will be purchasing 4-5 signs for the front entrance for announcements of events.
• Our next social event will be on June 29th.  We will be having a 4th of July Parade and Ice Cream Social.  Time will be announced at a later time.

Being a Great Neighbor

Don't we all want to be the best neighbor and have the best neighbors?  Well, I am always looking for ways to be a better neighbor and ideas to make our neighborhood even better than it is today.  Recently, I ran across an article that had some wonderful ideas on helping bring neighbors in a small community closer together.  As you know, the board is working hard on planning events to get more people involved and trying to provide information to keep everyone informed.  I thought that after reading this article I would share some of the ideas with you. Even though most of them are common sense, it never hurts to be reminded that some of the most simplistic ideas are still the most effective in being a GREAT neighbor.

How can you be a courteous and great neighbor?

• Pick up after you pet while walking them in our neighborhood especially when they need to relieve themselves in a neighbors yard.
• Keep your dog on a leash if it has a tendency to run off.
• Drive slowly through our neighborhood and watch for children playing.
• Promptly remove trash bins from the curb on your designated trash day.
• Keep barking dogs inside especially at night.
• Have visitors park in your driveway or in front of your home instead of your neighbors home unless your have asked prior to their visit.
• Don’t run machinery early in the morning or late at night.
• Don’t play loud music.
• Inform your neighbors when you’re planning a party. If they know what to expect, they will tolerate it better. What time will it start? When will it end? Adhere to this schedule for your neighbors’ sake.
• Keep your yard tidy, grass cut, house pressure washed, etc.
• Speak to your neighbors and build a rapport
• Expressing an interest in something he or she values, a prize rose or a weed-free lawn, for example, or comment on the good manners their children use when they come over to retrieve their soccer ball from your yard. 
• Inviting a neighbor over for ice tea one warm afternoon or plan a neighborhood gathering for everyone on your block.
• Take a bouquet of flowers from your garden to a neighbor who has just moved in or who needs cheering up.
• When you see a neighbor struggling with a project, offer them the help. Just last evening, in our neighborhood, a boy was walking up the street pushing his bicycle. A neighbor asked why he wasn’t riding it and he explained that something was broken. The neighbor took a look at the bike, was able to fix it and the boy rode off with a big smile on his face.
• If you see suspicious activity around a neighbor’s property, tell him about it.
• Offer to watch your neighbors’ homes when they’re away.

How can you connect with neighbors?

• Neighborhood Watch is a good place to start. Many cities have volunteers who work with neighborhood leaders in setting up these programs.
• Create a neighborhood directory for each resident. (which should be ready in a couple of weeks) =)
• Discuss emergency measures with your immediate neighbors.
• Be aware of elderly or disabled neighbors who might need special attention in case of emergency.
• Visit new neighbors and give them your phone number in case they need help with anything or want information about community services.

Good Morning Everyone,
I am now following a group on Facebook that has a lot of great local information and earlier in the weekend they posted some important information about a break in next door at The Settlement East.  I have included the information below.  If your are interested, you can "like" their page and get the updates too.   The link is https://www.facebook.com/WilmingtonIslandGA or you can follow them on Twitter at https://twitter.com/WilmingtonIs_GA

Have a great day and let's keep an eye out for each other's property.
Thanks,
Wendy

 

From the WilmingtonIslandGA Facebook Page...
Heads up Islanders: Wilmington Island Peeps: We had a burglary in our neighborhood (Settlement East) yesterday afternoon in broad daylight. Front door of the house was pried open. Electronics and jewelry stolen. Be on the lookout for an ivory or cream-colored vehicle, possibly a Buick Enclave or a Ford Escape. Keep your doors locked and set your alarms. If you see unfamiliar vehicles parked in driveways, please notify the homeowner and/or the police.

Mosquito Control Update - 9 May 2013

From Jean Soucy

The County Mosquito Control Tech came by today and walked “The Ditch”. All seemed very healthy and clean with no man made debris in the ditch. There is lot of natural decaying going on and that is good. We do have a couple of areas that fallen trees need to be pushed around to allow water flow and for fish to better thrive. I will work on doing that before the Tech returns.  There are of course a lot of mosquito eggs, although I have not seen any adult mosquitos this season. The Tech put some pellets down to retard mosquito growth. There are fish still thriving in the water but “B” plans to return Monday, May 12 with a couple of gallons of newly hatched fish and continue to come once a month to monitor the Mosquito population. We get excellent support from the Chatham County Mosquito Control people.

Hello neighbors,
This Saturday, May 11,  postal workers will participate in the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive to benefit local food pantries. We hope that everyone will make an effort to help with this worthy cause by placing a few cans of food in a bag and hanging it by the mail box before our letter carrier arrives.

Thanks in advance for demonstrating that The Settlement is a caring community.