block captains/neighborhood watch · 2019. 10. 6. · committee. contact sandi tinsley at...

Fall 2019 of 4

City of Lawrence—317-823-8959 www.cityoflawrence.org

Lawrence Police Department 317-545-7575 (Non-emergency)

Lawrence Animal Control 317-549-4814 or 317-341-2683

Trash Collection http://www.cityoflawrence.org/trash-collection

Indianapolis Power & Light 888-261-8222—www.iplpower.com

Citizens Energy Group 317-924-3311—www.citizensenergygroup.com/

WEB: NORTHWOODSATGEIST.COM EMAIL: [email protected] PHONE: 708-634-8159 FIND US ON NEXTDOOR.COM

WELCOME BACK TO OUR QUARTERLY HOA NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER!

We’re excited to bring back the North Woods at Geist quarterly HOA neighborhood newsletter. This first newsletter in the “reboot” is long but informative, and we hope you find it helpful in better knowing the neighborhood you call home!

Newsletters will be delivered quarterly (timed with the seasons) by the NWAG Communication Committee ([email protected] ), and we welcome suggestions and submissions. We’ll do our best to be consistent communicators with each new newsletter. Toward that goal, we will keep to a “column” format, with the following columns in each newsletter:

Calendar: Dates for community happenings such as yard sales, block parties, community-wide celebrations, and other events.

Shout Outs! Special notes of appreciation to individuals or groups that have gone above and beyond to make our neighborhood a better place to live.

Friendly Reminders: Reminders about neighborhood rules and responsibilities.

Good Neighbor Tips: Reminders about neighborhood responsibilities that keep our home values high and our neighbors happy.

Board Update: Links to the minutes from monthly board meetings and updates to ongoing projects and initiatives.

Committees Corner: Looking to get involved with your neighbors but not yet ready to run for a seat on our HOA board? We’re building committees to continue making our neighborhood one of the most desirable around! Is there a place for you on one of the following teams:

o Welcome Committee (creating and distributing welcome packets for new neighbors)

o Events Committee (planning and organizing yard sales, block parties, National Night Out, etc.)

o Block Captains/Neighborhood Watch (supporting neighbors with a strong presence on our streets)

o Angel Committee (supporting those struggling with illness, loss, or traumatic life events)

o Clean-Up Crew (helping clear and maintain common areas for the benefit of all)

o Decorating Committee (decorating neighborhood entrances for various holidays)

Resources: Kind of like classifieds but more oriented toward who does what in the neighborhood. Neighbors supporting neighbors.

Miscellaneous: In this issue, we’re including follow-ups from our May meeting and Indiana Yard and Garden calendars from Purdue’s Extension Office.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Q: When is the monthly HOA Board meeting?

The monthly meeting takes place on the 3rd Wednesday of each month as announced on the website and NextDoor.com.

Q: How do I get my fence or deck approved?

Submit a Request for Architectural Control Approval (RACA) form (on our website) to the Board and receive approval before outside improvements are started.

Q: How do I reach the Board?

You can email the Board at [email protected] or call 708-634-8159

http://www.cityoflawrence.org/


http://www.cityoflawrence.org/trash-collection


http://www.iplpower.com/


http://www.citizensenergygroup.com/


mailto:northwoodsatgeist.com

mailto:northwoodsatgeist.com

mailto:[email protected]




Fall 2019 of 4







CALENDAR Mark your calendars for the following meetings or events

- Clean-Up Day: 9/4 @ 6pm (curb painting and entrance power

washing). Meet at Cherry Bark Dr. Entrance

- HOA Board Meeting: 9/18, 10/16, 11/20 & 12/18 7pm at Servants of Christ Lutheran Church

- Fall Neighborhood Garage Sale 9/27 & 9/28 8am-3pm

SHOUT OUTS! Thanks to Mike Rumple of Mike’s Discount Mowing

for trimming the tree at the exit from Cherrybark Dr. so we can drive (and walk) under it.

Thanks to everyone who has paid their HOA annual dues. If you did not get an invoice, please email us at [email protected]. Payments should be mailed to North Woods at Geist, P.O. Box 361061, Indianapolis, IN 46236. Please list your lot number on your check or money order.

Thanks to everyone coming to our monthly board meetings. See the note in the newsletter about monthly board meetings for more details.

FRIENDLY REMINDERS The HOA board would like to remind homeowners and/or residents of the following covenants or by-laws:

Architectural Improvements (Article 5.4) Homeowners are required to submit a Request for Architectural Control Approval Application (RACA) along with a plot plan showing the location of the improvement to the board for approval. The RACA form must be turned in for playgrounds, decks, fences and all other exterior improvements. No improvements may be started until you have written approval. The form is available on our website.

Motor Vehicle Repair (Article 5.5) The repair or storage of inoperative motor vehicles or material alteration of motor vehicles shall not be permitted on any Lot, unless entirely within a garage permitted to be constructed by these covenants, conditions, and restrictions.

Vehicle Storage (Article 5.6) No camper, motor home, semi-truck or cab, trailer, recreational vehicle or boat of any kind may be stored on any Lot in open public view.

Weeds and Vegetation (Article 5.10) Lot owners shall not permit the growth of weeds and shall keep their Lots reasonably clear from unsightly weeds and growth at all times.

Tree (Article 5.23) Each owner of a Lot shall maintain at least one tree of a two and one-half (2 ½) inch caliper on their Lot at all times.

Lighting (Article 5.25): Each Owner of a Lot shall maintain in operating condition a dusk to dawn light at all times.

Are you in compliance? Don’t delay! The board will be surveying the neighborhood for compliance with these covenants and violation notices will be issued thereafter.

GOOD NEIGHBOR TIPS Here are some good neighbor tips as we near the tail-end of summer and prepare for fall.

Mow the outside of your fence (if the fence isn’t directly on your property line).

Trim any branches overhanging the sidewalks and streets. Branches should be trimmed to 8 feet over sidewalks and streets.

Pets must be on a leash at ALL times and pet owners are required to “Scoop the Poop.” Not only is it neighborly, it’s the law!

Keep sidewalks clear of vehicles and shrubbery. Pedestrians have the right of way in the eyes of the law and should always be able to walk freely on our sidewalks.

Are you ready for winter? The fall is a great time to prepare your home and car for the cold weather. Home Depot offers some tips on weatherizing your home at www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-weatherize-your-home-for-winter/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90842b413a.

AAA offers winter preparedness tips for your car at www.hoosier.aaa.com/news/news-releases/aaa-provides-winter-car-care-checklist

BOARD UPDATE We are so excited to serve our community! The board members include Michele French (President), Angie DeFord (Vice President), Penny Alexander (Treasurer), and Jenn O’Neill (Secretary).

We are happy to encourage homeowners to attend our monthly meeting. Meetings will be regularly held on the third Wednesday of each month. Meeting announcements will be available on NextDoor and on our website. We kindly remind the community that although our meetings have been made open for homeowners to attend, this is not an open forum for addressing the board. We will follow an agenda in conducting business and maintaining decorum. All who attend are expected to demonstrate behavior that is polite, respectful, and appropriate. Anyone unable to conduct themselves in this manner will be asked to leave. If you have concerns, suggestions, comments or would like to be added to an agenda to present a topic to the board, please send your request via email to [email protected].

These are exciting times for our community! We are looking forward to all of the initiatives that will help keep everyone informed and involved, while building stronger relationships with each other.







http://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-weatherize-your-home-for-winter/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90842b413a






http://www.hoosier.aaa.com/news/news-releases/aaa-provides-winter-car-care-checklist






Fall 2019 of 4







COMMITTEES CORNER Looking to get involved with your neighbors? We’re looking for people to join and lead a neighborhood committee. Please contact a board member to volunteer for a committee at [email protected] or message a board member on NextDoor.

Welcome Committee (creating and distributing welcome packets for new neighbors)

Events Committee (planning and organizing yard sales, block parties, National Night Out, etc.)

Block Captains/Neighborhood Watch (supporting neighbors with a strong presence on our streets)

Angel Committee (supporting those struggling with illness, loss, or traumatic life events)

Clean-Up Crew (helping clear and maintain common areas for the benefit of all)

Decorating Committee (If you enjoy decorating for the holidays, consider joining the NWAG Decorating Committee. Contact Sandi Tinsley at [email protected] or message her on NextDoor. If you’re not into decorating but like the idea of making our entrances festive, consider donating some money to purchase holiday decorations. Most funds for decorating will be via donation and frugal shopping.)

RESOURCES We’re looking to include local resources such as

Babysitting

Dog walking

Meal prep help

General contractor help

Local reading, craft, or hobby groups, including book clubs and knitting, quilting, and woodworking teams.

Progressive dinner parties (people move from house to house for different courses and get to know their neighbors!)

If you provide a service, are in need of a service, or are looking to start or join a neighborhood club, email your information (or ad) to [email protected]. Ads are free of charge but subject to approval.

FOLLOW-UPS FROM MAY 2019 ANNUAL MEETING:

Speed Bumps on Bitternut and Cherrybark

A request was made for the board to install speed bumps on Bitternut. Homeowners in attendance were unanimously supportive of the idea, and the board is researching how to make this happen. It’s a much more complicated issue than might appear on the surface and requires the collaboration of multiple Lawrence departments as well as legal and insurance recommendations on HOA liability. In the meantime, the city may install additional speed limit and radar signs.

Trees in the Common Areas

Our priority is always to remove trees from our common areas that endanger lives or property. If you know of a tree that has the potential to cause harm, please notify the board immediately. If the dead tree or trees do not pose a threat, we’ll leave them to decompose naturally in our wild (untended/unmown) common areas, thereby savings thousands of dollars. As the trees decay naturally, they provide benefit to wildlife and the future trees that will take their place.

HOA Budget

Any questions about the budget should be sent to [email protected]. Spending reports will be shared at the board meetings.

Drainage

The board met with and toured the neighborhood with Lawrence council members. There is no immediate action, but we are pushing forward to get the drainage issues fixed. We will update HOA members as regularly as possible regarding this major neighborhood issue.

Covenants and By-laws Update

The board will meet with the HOA attorney to review and update the Covenants and By-laws. Once completed, the board will share the changes and call a Special Meeting for HOA members to vote on the amendments.

PURDUE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION OFFICE INDIANA YARD AND GARDEN CALENDARS We have received permission to reprint the Purdue University Extension Office’s Yard & Garden calendars for this and future newsletters. We are including only the Yard sections for the next three months. For those interested in email updates from the Extension office, please sign up for In The Grow newsletters at https://ag.purdue.edu/stories/columns/in-the-grow/

HOAs improve property values by 5-6%*, despite what you might read in comments sections on the internet. How can we keep improving our

neighborhood and property values? *George Mason University https://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/regulation/2005/9/v28n3-2.pdf)











https://ag.purdue.edu/stories/columns/in-the-grow/




https://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/regulation/2005/9/v28n3-2.pdf



Fall 2019 of 4







SEPTEMBER:

YARD (Lawns, woody ornamentals and fruits)

Fall is a good time to plant many container-grown or balled-and-burlapped nursery stock. Prepare a good-size hole, plant at the same depth it grew in the nursery and water thoroughly.

Do not be alarmed if your evergreens, particularly white pine and arborvitae, drop some older needles. All evergreens shed needles at some time, but not all at once as deciduous plants do.

Harvest apples, pears, grapes, and everbearing strawberries and raspberries. For most fruits, flavor is the best indicator of ripeness, although color change also can be a good indicator. However, pears are best ripened off the tree, and grapes change color long before they are fully flavored, so sample the fruit to be sure.

Remove raspberry canes after they bear fruit.

Clean up fallen fruits, twigs and leaves around apple (including crabapple) and other fruit trees to reduce disease and insect carryover.

To promote the lawn’s recovery from summer stress, apply high-nitrogen fertilizer at the rate of 0.5 to 1 pound actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. More information on lawn fertilization is available at https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/item.asp?item_number=AY-22-W

Reseed bare spots or new lawns using a good-quality seed mixture. Seeding in late summer allows the turf to maximize its establishment and rooting prior to the next summer’s heat and drought. For more information, see http://purdueturftips.blogspot.com/2014/08/start-seeding-cool-season-turf-now.html

September and October are good months to apply broadleaf weed killers. Be sure to follow all label directions, and choose a calm day to prevent spray drift.

OCTOBER


Keep plants, especially newly planted stock, well-watered until ground freezes.

Have soil ready to mound roses for winter protection. Do not mound or cover roses until after leaves drop and soil is near freezing, usually late November or early December.

Strawberry plants need protection from winter’s extremes, but applying winter mulch too early may cause crowns to rot. Apply winter protection when plants are dormant but before temperatures drop below 20 F, usually late November or early December.

Rake or shred large, fallen tree leaves, such as maple, to prevent them from matting down and smothering grass. Raking smaller leaves, such as honey locust, is optional.

September and October are good months to apply broadleaf weed killers if needed. Be sure to follow all label directions, and choose a calm day to prevent spray drift.

Continue mowing lawn as needed.

NOVEMBER


Prevent bark splitting of young and thin-barked trees, such as fruit and maple trees. Wrap trunks with tree wrap, or paint them with white latex (not oil-based) paint, particularly on the south- and southwest-facing sides.

Protect shrubs such as junipers and arborvitae from extensive snow loads by tying their stems together with twine. Carefully remove heavy snow loads with a broom to prevent limb breakage.

Protect broadleaves, evergreens or other tender landscape plants from excessive drying (desiccation) by winter sun and wind. Canvas, burlap or polyethylene plastic screens to the south and west protect the plants. Similarly, shield plants from salt spray on the street side.

Provide winter protection for roses by mounding soil approximately 12 inches high to insulate the graft union after plants are dormant and temperatures are cold. Additional organic mulch such as straw compost or chopped leaves can be placed on top.

1. NEIGHBORS’ RECOMMENDATIONS & TIPS (AKA HACKS) ON HOME SECURITY 2. NEIGHBORS’ HOME WINTERIZING HACKS 3. NEIGHBORS’ HOLIDAY DECORATING HACKS 4. NEIGHBORS’ HOLIDAY MEAL TIPS & TRICKS 5. LOCAL CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS NEEDING VOLUNTEERS & GOODS/SERVICES 6. OTHER

EMAIL US AT [email protected] TO VOTE FOR YOUR TOPIC OF CHOICE OR SHARE YOUR HACKS.

TELL US WHAT YOU’D LIKE TO READ IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER





https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/item.asp?item_number=AY-22-W




http://purdueturftips.blogspot.com/2014/08/start-seeding-cool-season-turf-now.html






block captains/neighborhood watch · 2019. 10. 6. · committee. contact sandi tinsley at...

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