november 2011 community newsletter

20
WHAT YOUR HOA DUES DO T he Forest Heights Homeowners Association office has been quite busy this year processing change of homeownership transac- tions. Since January, 118 properties have changed hands in Forest Heights which is an average of three homes per week. With each of these transac- tions, the front office is usually asked the same two questions by new home- owners: 1.) What are the annual HOA dues? 2.) What do those dues do? We thought it would be good to remind all Forest Heights homeownersand not just our newest memberswhat your homeowners association dues are doing for you, your community and the value of your home. When you became a homeowner in Forest Heights you automatically became a member of the Forest Heights Homeowners Association (FHHOA). The association is a "Mutual Benefit Not for Profit" organization in- corporated in 1989 under the laws of the State of Oregon and is a Planned Unit Development. FHHOA is the Master Association consisting of 1,126 single family homes. In addition, there are 13 sub-associations made up of 676 townhomes and condominiums, 160 apartment units and a small retail center. In total, there are 17 unique neighborhoods located in Forest Heights. It is estimated that Forest Heights has a population of approxi- mately six thousand residents. The Forest Heights Board of Directors believes it is important that community members know how their assessments are being expensed so each member pinnacle press NEWS AT FOREST HEIGHTS COMPLIANCE CORNER Tips to help get your home prepared for cold winter weather DUES REMINDER Semi Annual Dues will be in the mail in the next few weeks FHHOA WINS AWARD The FHHOA and G2 Committee win the Urban Cooperator of the Year Award COMPOSTING Q&A SESSION Come learn how Portland’s new composting system works continued on page 2 What Your HOA Dues Do 1-3 FHHOA Wins Urban Coop- erator of the Year Award 5 From the Board President 6 Upcoming Community Events 7 Q&A Session on New Curbside Composting 9 Compliance Corner: Preparing for Winter & Garbage Can Etiquette 10-11 Pulling Together to Remove Invasives 12-13 Winter Driving in Forest Heights 14-15 Semi Annual Dues Reminder 16 New Task Force Established to Look at Off Leash Area 17 Save the Date: Annual Tree Lighting Event 17 FHHOA Calendar 20 NOVEMBER•2011 At just $48 per month, your FHHOA dues are providing more “bang for your buck” than you might realize

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Monthly newsletter for the residents of the Forest Heights Homeowners Association

TRANSCRIPT

W H A T Y O U R H O A D U E S D O

T he Forest Heights Homeowners

Association office has been quite

busy this year processing

change of homeownership transac-

tions. Since January, 118 properties

have changed hands in Forest Heights

which is an average of three homes

per week. With each of these transac-

tions, the front office is usually asked

the same two questions by new home-

owners:

1.) What are the annual HOA dues?

2.) What do those dues do?

We thought it would be good to remind

all Forest Heights homeowners—and

not just our newest members—what

your homeowners association dues

are doing for you, your community and

the value of your home.

When you became a homeowner in

Forest Heights you automatically

became a member of the Forest

Heights Homeowners Association

(FHHOA). The association is a "Mutual

Benefit Not for Profit" organization in-

corporated in 1989 under the laws of

the State of Oregon and is a Planned

Unit Development.

FHHOA is the Master Association

consisting of 1,126 single family

homes. In addition, there are 13

sub-associations made up of 676

townhomes and condominiums,

160 apartment units and a small retail

center. In total, there are 17 unique

neighborhoods located in Forest

Heights. It is estimated that Forest

Heights has a population of approxi-

mately six thousand residents.

The Forest Heights Board of Directors

believes it is important that community

members know how their assessments

are being expensed so each member

pinnacle press NEWS AT FOREST HEIGHTS

C O M P L I A N C E

C O R N E R T i p s t o h e l p

g e t y o u r h o m e

p r e p a r e d f o r

c o l d w i n t e r

w e a t h e r

D U E S

R E M I N D E R S e m i A n n u a l

D u e s w i l l b e i n

t h e m a i l i n t h e

n e x t f e w w e e k s

F H H O A W I N S

A W A R D T h e F H H O A a n d

G 2 C o m m i t t e e

w i n t h e U r b a n

C o o p e r a t o r o f

t h e Y e a r A w a r d

C O M P O S T I N G

Q & A S E S S I O N C o m e l e a r n h o w

P o r t l a n d ’ s n e w

c o m p o s t i n g

s y s t e m w o r k s

continued on page 2

What Your HOA Dues Do 1-3

FHHOA Wins Urban Coop-

erator of the Year Award

5

From the Board President 6

Upcoming Community

Events

7

Q&A Session on New

Curbside Composting

9

Compliance Corner:

Preparing for Winter &

Garbage Can Etiquette

10-11

Pulling Together to

Remove Invasives

12-13

Winter Driving in Forest

Heights

14-15

Semi Annual Dues

Reminder

16

New Task Force Established

to Look at Off Leash Area

17

Save the Date: Annual Tree

Lighting Event

17

FHHOA Calendar 20

NOVEMBER•2011

At just $48 per month, your

FHHOA dues are providing

more “bang for your buck”

than you might realize

can appreciate the continued com-

munity involvement and support of

our vision: “To create and foster ex-

cellence in community, environment

and quality of life.”

Your semi annual assessments are

divided into the following areas by

percentage of total costs:

MAINTENANCE & LANDSCAPE

Forest Heights encompasses over

600 acres. Of that, approximately

200 acres are common area. FHHOA

is responsible for maintaining the

common area including a private trail

system. The trail system consists of

27 trailheads and approximately 6

miles of gravel trails. Most of the trail

system is within common area tracts,

although there are a few sections

that lie within an easement area

granted from a sub-association.

FHHOA also maintains over 11 acres

of improved common area, Mill Pond,

Mill Pond Park and playground, 11

entrance monuments and one

community fountain.

All private streets are maintained by

the association through a private

street assessment.

MANAGEMENT/ADMINISTRATIVE

SERVICES

The association employs an on-site

General Manager and currently has

four full-time employees and two part

-time employees who administer the

affairs of the association including

but not limited to the following:

• Maintenance & landscape of

common areas

• Sub-contracted landscape

maintenance and facility repair

services throughout the common

areas

• Assessment collection and

accounting efforts

• Property transfer/change of

homeownership

• Legal support services

• Website maintenance

• Monthly community newsletter,

e-blast announcements & social

media management

• Annual meeting including the

management of voting proce-

dures

• Research, management and

implementation of capital

expense projects

• Each full-time employee is a staff

liaison to at least one committee

TRANSIT SYSTEM

Forest Heights is not serviced by

TriMet, therefore the association

contracts for the services of a private

community transportation service

(ecoShuttle). The ecoShuttle oper-

ates Monday thru Friday from 6:30

am to 9:00 pm, with a three hour

mid-day service break.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Forest Heights is rich in cultural

diversity. To aid homeowners in

creating successful relationships

amongst their neighbors, the asso-

ciation sponsors two major social

events per year; a July 4th Fireworks

Celebration and an International

Community Festival in September.

Various small events occur through-

out the year and are selected based

on community input.

Forest Heights

Homeowners Association

2033 NW Miller Road

Portland, Oregon 97229

Phone: 503.297.9400

Fax: 503.297.9408

Office Hours: Monday—Friday

9:00 am—5:00 pm

Email: [email protected]

Vision Statement

To create and foster excellence

in community, environment and

quality of life.

Board of Directors | 2011-2012

Mark Sanzone—President

Eric Butterfield—Vice President

Stuart Roberts—Secretary

Ric Barton—Treasurer

Mike Fletcher

Heather Gaitan

Devidas Gupta

Association Staff

Stephen K. Herr—General Manager

email: [email protected]

Judith Souers—Office Administrator

email: [email protected]

Molly McManus Oliver—Compliance

Coordinator

email: [email protected]

Kimberly Monaco—Marketing,

Communications & Event Coordinator

email: [email protected]

Richard Metzger—Maintenance

Supervisor

Juan Guerrero—Maintenance Team

continued from page 1

W H AT Y O U R H O A D U E S D O

Page 2

continued on page 3

Page 3

RESERVE CONTRIBUTIONS

Through careful management of

reserve contributions, the associa-

tion manages 7% of HOA dues for

future common area replacements

and/or improvements.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Professional services include the

standard and necessary items:

Legal, CPA, Audit, RS, Insurance

and Security.

COMPLIANCE & ARC

The Association enforces Cove-

nants, Conditions and Restrictions

(CC&R’s or Declaration) and Archi-

tectural Rules that were established

by the developer of the neighbor-

hood. While the association has no

responsibility for the repair and

maintenance of private property,

individual residences or vacant lots,

management stands ready to advise

private homeowners, wherever pos-

sible, in maintaining their respective

private holdings in a manner consis-

tent with the community standards

and its governing documents.

OTHER EXPENSES

Other expenses include the stan-

dard and general items associated

with most businesses including the

management of bad debt.

The community's semi-annual dues

assessments are set annually by the

Board of Directors and are billed in

January and July. Assessments are

due on the first day of each billing

period and are delinquent if not re-

ceived by the 30th day of that month.

Owners are encouraged to pay as-

sessments by ACH. Please contact

the association office for payment

options at: [email protected].

Despite the current economic

climate, Forest Heights remains

the premier residential community in

Portland. We believe that accolade

is in large part to Forest Heights

being a beautiful community in

which to live. Its beauty is main-

tained through effective organiza-

tion, careful future planning, fiscal

responsibility, diligent management

and maintenance, and the enthusi-

astic participation of all property

owners in the constant community

beautification and maintenance

process. We thank you for support-

ing the vision of Forest Heights.

~ Stephen Herr,

FHHOA General Manager ~

continued from page 2

W H AT Y O U R H O A D U E S D O

Community Relations

Reserve

Contributions

Professional

Services

Compliance

& ARC

Other

Expenses

Transit System

(ecoShuttle)

Maintenance, Landscape

Contracts & Related Costs

Management/ Administrative

Services & Contracts

32%

23%

12%

12%

7%

6%

5%

3%

FHHOA EXPENDITURES BY PERCENTAGE

Page 4

Open House

November 19th

3:00 to 5:00 pm

Page 5

Forest Heights Wins

Urban Cooperator of the Year Award

L ast month, the West

Multnomah Soil & Water

Conservation District

(WMSWCD) presented the Forest

Heights Homeowners Association

with their “Urban Cooperator of

the Year” award. This award is

given annually to districts or

neighborhoods who address and

work to solve conservation issues

in their community.

With the aid of WMSWCD, the

Forest Heights Homeowners

Association and the Go Green

Committee have tackled many

conservation projects in the past

year which include:

• Naturescaping, Native

Plantings and Vegetative

Buffers

• Invasive Species Removal

and Control

Forest Heights was nominated for

the Urban Cooperator of the Year

award by Mary Logalbo of

WMSWCD, who had this to say

about why FHHOA ought to win

this year’s award:

“The Go Green Team

Captains, Maintenance

Crews and Forest Heights

Management have all taken

a lot of time to help implement

natural resource enhance-

ments and to sit down with

WMSWCD staff to ensure that

they are working in an envi-

ronmentally sustainable way

throughout their operations

ranging from how their main-

tenance staff conducts work to

changing their recommended

plant lists for landscaping to

organizing regular volunteer

parties to enhance their natu-

ral areas.

Forest Heights is tackling an

array of issues that many parks

deal with such as dealing with

social trails and off-leash dogs

to best management options

for overall invasive species

control and stormwater man-

agement in a complex system

with a great deal of energy

(from both volunteers and

staff) as well as determination

to take a lot on at once with

the end goal of a healthier sys-

tem overall.

Just over a year ago, members

of the Go Green Committee

approached Mary Logalbo of

WMSWCD in pursuit of a grant to

initiate the first of many habitat

restoration projects in Forest

Heights. With guidance from

Mary, and FISH grant funds, we

have been able to accomplish the

following in just a year’s time:

• Two planting events have

been held at the Wetlands

Trail (our restoration site)

with close to 400 native

plants planted and another

550 going into the ground in

just a few weeks (see page

9 for information on our

November 19th planting)

• Two invasive plant removal

events were also held this

past year which cleared at

least 3,000 square feet of

blackberry in addition to the

removal of other aggressive

invasives

• The Go Green Committee

and the HOA have developed

a prioritization plan for the

removal of invasive species

that will serve as a guide for

future projects and help better

manage our 200 acres of

common area

• The Go Green Committee has

created a speaker series for

our homeowners that includes

(so far) the following topics:

Stormwater Management/

Rain Garden Development

Backyard Habitat

Certification Program

The Go Green Committee would

like to thank the Forest Heights

community and all the wonderful

volunteers (including the board,

committee members and HOA

staff) for their support in our

endeavors to create and maintain

a sustainable environment.

~ FHHOA Staff ~

Susan Weedall (left) of the Go Green Committee

accepts the Urban Cooperator of the Year Award

from Mary Logalbo of West Multnomah Soil &

Water Conservation District

P R E S I D E N T ’ S C O R N E R

Upcoming FHHOA

Board Meetings

Board Work Session

2012 Budget

Tuesday, November 1st

Time: 6:00 pm

Location: FHHOA Office

Board Meeting

Tuesday, November 8th

Time: 6:00 pm

Location: FHHOA Office

All homeowners are

welcome to attend!

F R O M Y O U R B O A R D

P R E S I D E N T

T he Village Center at Forest

Heights is an important part

of our community. In addition

to providing a convenient market,

eating establishments and many

service oriented businesses, the

Village Center is a social gathering

point for the community.

In the past several months, the HOA

office has fielded many complaints

from merchants, shoppers and resi-

dents of the condos adjacent to the

Village center regarding disruptive

behavior from a number of teenagers.

The reports include vandalism to

local business signage, graffiti,

damage to the common area gas fire

pit, drug usage, skateboarding and

loitering in the shopping center parking

lot. There have also been reports of

parked cars being damaged due to the

skateboarding. As a result, the Village

Center owners felt compelled to hire a

part time security guard to deal with the

situation.

There are a couple of thing you can

do to help. One, if you are at the

Village Center and see problems

please communicate what you see to

the HOA office. Two, if you have teens

that visit the Village Center:

1.) Ask them if they have seen

these issues

2.) Ask if any of their friends are

in need of help

3.) Discuss what they think about

this type of behavior and social

responsibility to others

While we expect the problems to

diminish as the cold and rainy weather

hits we would like to avoid going

through the same cycle again next

year. It is in all our interests to keep

a fully occupied and functioning

merchant center so please help us

address the problems if you can,

and remember to patronize our local

merchants.

~ Mark Sanzone,

FHHOA Board President ~

Forest Heights HOA will soon be launching a

new and improved website!

The Forest Heights HOA is working to bring our homeowners a new web-

site before the end of this year. Our new site will be easier to navigate and

will include features such as online compliance forms, an updated resident

directory, opt-in communication features like RSS news feeds and security

features for “homeowners only data” viewing. We’ll let you know when the

new site launches and how you can interact with the HOA via our new site. Page 6

Page 8

Composting Q & A Session

Date: Saturday, November 5th, 2011

Time: 10:00am—11:30am

Location: Forest Heights Office

Go Green Tree & Shrub Planting

Date: November 19th, 2011

Time: 9:00 am—12:00 pm

Location: Wetlands Trail

REGISTER HERE

FHHOA Office Closure

The FHHOA Office will be closed on

Thursday, November 24th and Friday

November 25th in observance of the

Thanksgiving Holiday

Holiday Tree Lighting

Date: Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

Time: 5:00pm—7:30pm

Location: FHHOA Office

If you’ve been reading this newsletter on a regular

basis, you are no doubt aware that a significant

amount of work has been conducted on the

Wetlands Trail this year. Starting last November,

the G2 Committee, SOLV, the West Multnomah

Soil and Water Conservation District and countless

volunteers have spent hundreds of hours working to

improve the conditions of the Cedar Mill Creek basin

(see article on page 5 ).

But there is still more to do and you can help!

Please consider volunteering at the last Go Green

planting event of 2011, which will be held Saturday,

November 19th. Volunteers will be planting native

trees and shrubs that over time will improve water

quality in Cedar Mill Creek, create wildlife habitat,

and store carbon to slow climate change.

When: Saturday, November 19, 2011

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Where: Wetlands Trail

Gloves, tools, snacks and coffee (courtesy of the

Forest Heights Starbucks) will be supplied for this

event.

REGISTER HERE

Help Reforest

Forest Heights!

Upcoming Community Events

Page 9

C an you really put meat and bones along with

vegetables and yard debris in the curbside

collection bin? What about discarding paper

products used for food, such as pizza boxes?

Are diapers and pet waste allowed in the new com-

posting bins? What about paper towels and nap-

kins? And won't rats and other pests become a prob-

lem? Are my garbage collection rates going up with

this new service?

Come learn the anwers to these and other questions

about Portland's new food scrap collection service at

the FHHOA Office on Saturday, November 5th. This

free Q&A session, brought to you by the Go Green

Committee, should resolve some of the lingering

questions you may have about this new service.

When: Saturday, November 5th

Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Where: FHHOA Office

Please register for this free class by emailing:

[email protected]. Seats are limited so email

today!!!

Free Q & A Session on

Portland's New Food Scrap

Composting Service

FHHOA International Fall Festival

Page 10

Outdoors

Disconnect hoses from hose bibs. Drain and

store hoses. Most hose-bibs in Forest Heights

are frost-free, meaning they

don’t need to be drained, but

depending on the age of your

home, your hose bib may need

to be shut off and drained. All

hose bibs can benefit from

freeze-proof Styrofoam covers.

Turn off the water supply to your sprinkler

system and consider having the system

professionally blown out.

Clear gutters and downspouts of debris.

Close foundation vents. Once predictions of

frost start, close the vents and leave them

sealed until spring.

Check weather stripping and caulking around

doors and windows to minimize heat loss.

Put your yard to bed. Some plants require fall

pruning; fertilize your lawn with a winter fertilizer.

Don’t forget to clean and store your yard tools.

Replace damaged or broken fence posts before

the ground freezes. Strong winter winds can

blow down unsupported fences.

Indoors

Have your furnace professionally inspected and

maintained; regularly replace furnace filters.

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, have the

chimney cleaned and inspected.

Replace batteries in smoke

detectors. Test all detectors

to make sure they are func-

tioning properly.

Install a carbon monoxide detector with battery

back-up on every level of your home.

Frigid Weather Precautions

When temperatures are below freezing, keep a

few faucets dripping. Turn both hot and cold

faucets on, as hot water lines freeze first.

Know where your water shut off is located, so

that if a pipe does burst you can turn off your

home’s water supply until the pipe can be re-

paired. This shut off is located near the water

meter, usually at the front of the house.

If you leave town during extreme weather, make

sure to leave the thermostat set at 60 degrees,

and ask a neighbor to check on your home.

I S Y O U R H O M E P R E P A R E D F O R W I N T E R ?

C O M P L I A N C E C O R N E R

Colder nights are here and it won’t be long

before winter weather arrives. Take a few

minutes now to weatherize your home before

problems occur. Simple preparations now can

help prevent problems later.

Consider using a rolling cart

provided by Walker Garbage

There are many advantages to

using carts from Walker Garbage.

For starters, the smallest cart holds

35 gallons, as opposed to the 32

gallon capacity of a typical trash

can. Lids on the garbage carts are

attached, similar to the recycling

carts. The wind may blow the lids

open, but they won’t fly

away and become big

Frisbees like a typical

trash can lid does in high

winds. Lastly, using a

Walker cart makes

for more efficient garbage

pickup, as their trucks are

equipped with hydraulic

arms to lift and dump the

carts. There is a small

monthly surcharge for the carts,

which varies by the size of cart used.

For more information, Walker Gar-

bage can be reached via their web-

site or by phone: 503-531-6330.

Bungee cord your trash

can/cart lid

Walker encourages residents to use

a bungee cord to keep lids secure

during windy weather. While Walker

takes great care to pick up loose

debris near the can, often

trash has been strewn

throughout the adjacent

landscape by the time the

haulers arrive. An added

benefit of using the rolling

cart is that you can tie one

end of the bungee cord to

the cart handle. This keeps

the cord from being

dropped or lost after the

trash has been taken from the cart.

Bag up loose or light

materials before placing

them in the can/cart

We’ve all seen it: the Styrofoam

peanuts scattered about the yard.

They are almost impossible to

completely pick up. Put items like

these in a paper bag before placing

them in the trash.

Don’t overfill your can/cart

If your trash can or cart is so full that

the lid cannot be completely closed,

you are setting yourself up for a

debris mess.

~ Molly Oliver,

FHHOA Compliance Coordinator ~

Have you ever come home to find your neighbor’s trash strewn about your landscape? Blustery

weather increases the chance that trash can lids will blow off or that whole trash cans will be

knocked over. Don’t be scattered to the four winds; with a little planning, your trash will stay in its

container. We spoke with Walker Garbage, the trash hauler for Forest Heights, about ways you can

minimize loose trash flying through the neighborhood during the winter months

Our CC&Rs (6.9) require that all garbage, recycling

and yard debris containers be stored out of view

during the week.

“Out of view” means that the containers cannot be

observed from the street. This eliminates driveways

and side yards in front of a fence as places to put

your garbage, recycling and yard debris containers.

Containers can be stored in your garage or behind

your fence. You can create a short hedge with land-

scaping or build a short fence to screen containers

as well. While these projects require Architectural

Review Committee approval before being built,

there is no fee for reviewing your screening plan.

Stumped about how to screen containers on your

Lot? Feel free to email [email protected] or call

me at 503-297-9400. I can help propose solutions

for your circumstance.

Don’t forget Forest Heights’ regulations concerning the

storage of garbage, recycling and debris containers

K E E P A L I D O N I T !

Page 11

Page 12

Pulling Together to Remove

Invasives in Forest Heights

continued from page 10 D id you know that Forest

Heights residents identified

“removal of invasive plant

species from our common spaces”

as a high priority in the latest G2

survey? In response, the G2 commit-

tee will continue to hold periodic

weeding events throughout the year

as well as provide information on

how each of us can help protect

our natural areas. In the mean time,

you can help protect, restore and

maintain Forest Heights natural

areas by removing invasive plant

species from your yards and from

the common spaces in Forest

Heights.

So, just what is an invasive plant

species? Simply put, an invasive

plant is any non-native plant. Many

of us have non-native plants in our

yards, and often for a number of rea-

sons: they grow in shady areas, our

landscaper recommended them or

they provide ground cover. However,

non-native plants in natural areas

like Forest Heights can be harmful. A

non-native plant can spread rapidly

in a natural area

outcompeting native species. They

are usually of a poor habitat and not

a food source for wildlife. Occasion-

ally, they can be damaging to the

soil and stop other plants from grow-

ing where they take root.

There are several non-native or inva-

sive plants that the G2 committee

has prioritized for removal. With the

help of a grant from the West Mult-

nomah County Soil Conservation

District, Forest Heights now has a

complete survey of invasive species

in the common spaces. The species

that are prevalent and harmful to our

common space include:

• Holly

• Ivy

• Yellow archangel

• Himalayan blackberry

• Orange hawkweed

• Garlic mustard

One way you can help control the

spread of invasive species in Forest

Heights is to participate in the G2

weeding events periodically held in

Forest Heights (see page 8). You

can see results of previous weeding

events if you walk along the Wet-

lands Trail. Look for the signs that

are posted near the area that volun-

teers have weeded. If you are inter-

ested in weeding as part of a weed

pulling party or if you want to go into

the common area and pull weeds by

yourself, contact Stephen Herr or

any member of the G2 committee.

Another way you can help is to look

around your yard and see if there

are any non-native plants that may

be leaving your property and enter-

ing common space. If you find any,

please consider removing these

plants and replacing them with na-

tive plants. For more information on

landscaping your yard with native

species, please see the Backyard

Habitat website. Please remember

to include Forest Heights’ ARC in

your landscaping plans.

In addition to attracting more birds to

your yard, landscaping with native

plants often requires less water and

maintenance. The ARC has modified

their review and approval proce-

dures and made it much easier for

continued on page 13

Have you been following the Go Green efforts to remove invasive species along

the Wetlands Trail?

F R O M T H E G 2 C O M M I T T E E

Page 13

each of us to plant more native spe-

cies.

As G2 and FHHOA continue efforts

to remove invasive plant species

from our common areas, if we iden-

tify residences that have invasives

entering the common space, we will

contact each resident and ask if they

are interested in removing invasives

from their yard.

To help you get acquainted with

what an invasive plant looks like,

we’ve outlined three of the more

common plants for your review:

Holly

English Ivy

Archangel

English holly (Ilex aquifolium) is a

broadleaf evergreen tree/shrub that

can grow from five to 18 meters

high. Reddish orange berries are

found on female trees. English holly

has escaped into forested areas

where it grows in shade or sun in

well-drained soil. It can grow from

seed (in berries) and vegetatively.

Ilex aquifolium can form dense thick-

ets that dominate the tall shrub layer

in the forest and suppress germina-

tion and growth of native tree and

shrub species on the forest floor. It is

also a notorious water hog, thus pre-

venting native plants from obtaining

sufficient water and the nutrients

contained within it.

English ivy (Hedera helix) is an ever-

green vine with waxy leaves and

inconspicuous flowers that ripen into

hard, blackish berries. English ivy is

commonly seen growing up tree

trunks and covering the forest floor

in closed-canopy forests around the

Sea to Sky. It can tolerate a wide

range of light availability, but does

particularly well in shaded areas. As

well, its evergreen nature enables it

to grow year round and smother

other plants. The other problem with

ivy is that when it climbs trees, it can

kill them by ringing them and or cre-

ating such dense heavy mats on

branches that trees can be toppled.

Yellow archangel (Lamium galeob-

dolon) is a trailing, evergreen, peren-

nial groundcover with square stems.

The heart-shaped leaves are typi-

cally variegated and slightly hairy.

For a short time, it has small upright

yellow flowers. This aggressive

groundcover spreads by vegetative

runners, growing up and over other

forest-dwelling plants and smother-

ing them.

Thanks for your efforts and support

to preserve and maintain our com-

mon spaces.

~ The Go Green Committee ~

continued from page 12

P U L L I N G T O G E T H E R T O R E M O V E I N V A S I V E S

holly ivy archangel

F R O M T H E H O A O F F I C E

O L D M A N W I N T E R I S C O M I N G . A R E Y O U P R E P A R E D ?

Page 14

Continued on page 15 →

W inter weather in the

Portland Metropolitan

region can make travel

unpredictable. The intensity of a

single snow and ice storm can

vary significantly throughout the

region because of the area's

unique weather patterns. The time

of day the snow strikes also will

influence winter travel. Even an

inch of snow can make commuting

a nightmare. Portland averages

at least one significant snowfall

annually. Because of the hilly

terrain and increased elevation

here in Forest Heights, residents

of our community need to be

prepared for winter driving condi-

tions. We encourage you to follow

the following winter driving tips.

Tip 1

Prepare Your Vehicle

Prepare and maintain your

vehicle for winter driving, and

always keep a full tank of gas.

CHAINS ARE YOUR LINK TO

SAFETY! Carry chains in your vehi-

cle and learn how to put them on.

Before driving, clear snow and

ice from windows, lights and the

hood and roof of your vehicle.

Drive with your headlights

on—day or night—at low beam.

Don't get overconfident with

four-wheel drive. It helps you get

going quicker but won't help you

stop any faster.

Maintain your tires. Tires that

are in proper working condition

and are adequately inflated

provide better traction.

Carry an emergency weather

kit. Having a well stocked emer-

gency kit in your car can help to

save your life and make you more

comfortable during breakdowns,

accidents and long waits. Your kit

should include:

Battery jumper cables

First aid kit

Shovel

Basic tools (pliers, wrench,

screwdriver and knife)

Blankets

Extra clothing (hats, socks,

boots, mittens)

Flashlight

Cellular phone

For more information on how to

prepare your vechicle for winter,

visit the Portland Emergency

Management's online resources.

Tip 2

Check Traffic Reports

Before you head out, be sure to

check the local weather and traffic

reports. The Oregon Department

of Transportation (ODOT) offers

an online tool, TripCheck and

updates this site hour by hour

during snow conditions. TripCheck

also has a link to various other

weather reports. Remember,

freeways, major arterials, and bus

routes are your best bets for winter

travel.

Tip 3

Take Transit

Plan to commute by bus in bad

weather. Forest Heights’ private

ecoShuttle service makes every

effort to run during snowy weather

but be aware that during those

times the shuttle will operate on a

“snow route” which limits the num-

ber of pick up locations on Miller

Road.

Page 15

O L D M A N W I N T E R I S C O M I N G . A R E Y O U P R E P A R E D ?

Continued from page 14

CALLING ALL SNOW EVENT VOLUNTEERS!

We are looking for volunteers who are willing to help with shoveling snow,

ride sharing, taxi service or other small jobs during a snow event.

If you are interested in fulfilling any community service hours, or just want

to help your fellow neighbors, please let us know! This is a wonderful way

to get to know your neighbors and help those in need.

If you are interested, send an email to: [email protected]

Information about public trans-

portation (bus and MAX light

rail) is available online from

TriMet or by calling their route

line at 503-238-RIDE. Remem-

ber, buses will be more

crowded than usual and not

always on schedule.

Tip 4

Delay your trip until

conditions are better

The best advice for driving in

bad winter weather is not to

drive at all, if you can avoid it.

Don't go out until the snow

plows and sanding trucks have

had a chance to do their work,

and allow yourself extra time to

reach your destination.

Tip 5

Read the Winter

Preparedness Plan

for Forest Heights

Did you know that the Forest

Heights Homeowners Associa-

tion has established a “Winter

Preparedness Plan” for our

community? This plan outlines

how the HOA will respond to

the community during a winter

weather situation—from snow

plow routes to communication,

this plan is a guide to what you

can expect from your HOA in

the event of inclement weather

in the community.

~ FHHOA Staff ~

View the

FHHOA Winter

Preparedness Plan

Page 16

S E M I A N N U A L D U E S W I L L S O O N B E I N T H E M A I L

Look for your semi-annual HOA dues assessment in your mailbox

in the next few weeks. Assessments are due January 1st and July 1st each year. Please

review your payment options below, or simply drop off your payment at the HOA office

located at 2033 NW Miller Road

OPTION 1

US MAIL

Write a check payable to Forest Heights HOA, and

mail it along with your payment coupon to the

address listed on the coupon. Important: Write your

account number on your check as it appears on your

statement. Please allow 5 to 7 business days for

check to reach SmartStreet.

OPTION 2

ONLINE PAYMENT VIA E-CHECK OR

CREDIT CARD*

Set up a one time payment using MasterCard,

American Express or Discover or eCheck. Go to

www.fhhoa.com and click on the SmartStreet logo

on the home page. When the SmartStreet web page

loads, choose one of the following options and

complete the online instructions.

NOTE: For either option, you will need to enter your

account number, which will be shown on your state-

ment.

*There is a $9.95 convenience if you pay via a credit

card. Mastercard, American Express and Discover are

accepted. VISA IS NOT ACCEPTED

OPTION 3 (PREFERRED) RECURRING AUTOMATIC DRAFT

Go to www.fhhoa.com and click on the SmartStreet

logo on the home page, choose the ‘recurring pay-

ments’ option and follow the instructions on the

screen. Your assessment will

automatically be deducted from

your account on January 20th

and July 20th.

NOTE: You will need a login

ID to set up a recurring online

payment which can be obtained

by selecting “Register Now” and completing the online

form. After your login, enter Forest Heights Home-

owners Association and follow the instructions on

the screen.

OPTION 4

YOUR BANK’S ONLINE BILL PAY

Please complete your bank’s online bill-pay set up

with the following information:

Payee

Forest Heights HOA

PO Box 105007 | Atlanta, GA 30348-5007

(888) 705-0600

Account Number: Enter as it appears on your

statement

Interested in advertising

in the Forest Heights

Community Newsletter?

When you advertise in the FHHOA Community

Newsletter, your ad will appear monthly during your

contract period. In addition to your ad, we provide links to your

website from the both the newsletter itself and the monthly email blast

that delivers the newsletter.

For ad rates, submission deadlines and general information,

please contact Kim Monaco, Marketing, Communications and Event Page 17

T he Board of Directors has agreed to

the formation of a task force to look

into the possibility of establishing an

off-leash dog area within Forest Heights.

Although no specific site has been identified,

the task force would focus on finding a space

that would provide residents

with a safe place for their

dogs to get some off-leash

exercise and to socialize with

other dogs while minimizing

any environmental impact(s)

and ensure that the concerns

of homeowners close to the

proposed area are addressed.

Resident volunteers are needed to serve on the

task force. If you are interested, please contact

Heather Gaitan at [email protected]

before November 15th.

Mark your calendars for Saturday,

December 3rd for the Village Center’s

Annual Holiday Celebration. Here’s

a highlight of festivities taking place

during this annual event:

Annual Holiday Tree Lighting

Holiday music, candy canes and the lighting of the tree.

Santa Arrives in Style

Don’t miss the arrival of old Saint Nick as he catches a

ride with firefighters from Portland Fire & Rescue. Photo

opportunities will be available with Santa in his giant

“Santa Chair”.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

The most famous reindeer of all will be helping Santa,

greeting guests and posing for photos. Don’t forget to

bring your camera!

Girl Scouts: Caroling, Bake and Craft Sale

Enjoy caroling performed by local Girl Scout troops and

shop their bake and craft sale fundraiser.

Cub Scouts: Holiday Wreaths & Centerpiece Sale

Pick up holiday wreaths and centerpieces for decorating

your home and support the Cub Scouts.

Be sure to check the December newsletter for more

information about this event, including start times for

the festivities listed above.

NEW TASK FORCE

ESTABLISHED

SANTA CLAUS IS

COMING TO TOWN!

BABYSITTING SERVICE AVAILABLE!

Hi, my name is Emilie Jackson, I'm 17 years old, and go to St. Mary's Academy. I've been

babysitting for 6 years with all ages and love it! I'm available most week nights but espe-

cially weekends and willing to book on short notice. I have lots of references upon request,

so give me a call! (503) 804-6616

NANNY/BABYSITTER My name is Ashley and I am 17 year old., experienced babysitter and Red Cross certified. I love to play games, do arts and crafts, play sports and be active. I have my drivers license and am a good driver with my own car. I am able to drive myself along with others if needed. I am available school nights,

weekends and this summer. Please call Ashley at 503-577-6951 or email [email protected].

FUN, RELIABLE, BABYSITTER AVAILABLE Responsible, caring and experienced with kids of all ages! Available on weeknights and weekends to babysit for families, during parties, etc. Call 503-291-1249 or email [email protected]

BABYSITTER Responsible 12 year old girl available for babysitting in the Forest Heights Neighborhood. I am

Red Cross-certified and love kids! Call Abby at 503-292-7744.

BABYSITTER/PET SERVICES AVAILABLE Hi my name is Haley and I am a sophomore in high school. I am offering babysitting and pet services. I am Red Cross certified for CPR. I have been a camp counselor for ages 2-12, a mother’s helper for a 1 year old, and a sitter for school age children. My parents are avail-

able to drive me anywhere in the neighborhood. I love kids and am very patient with them! I currently charge $10 per hour. My pet services are as follows: Grooming and sitting. Groom-

ing would be available at my own home where a grooming center is available. I currently charge $20 per full day/night sitting and grooming cost varies by size and coat length.

References are available. Email: [email protected] or call 503.863.6673

BABYSITTING

BABYSITTER AVAILABLE High school student, Red Cross infant and toddler CPR certified, 3 years experience.

Available to babysit Fridays and Saturdays year round. References available.

Phone #: 503-841-5989 | Rate: $6/hr

BABYSITTING SERVICE My name is Kendall and am 13 years old. I live in Forest Heights and an Red Cross CPR

certified. My parents will drive me to residences in the neighborhood. I can be reached at

503-780-1890/503-706-0348, and charge $5.00/hr.

EXPERIENCED NANNY Experienced nanny for many families in Forest Heights. Flexible availability. Reliable

transportation and perfect driving record. Many references. Part time preferable.

Phone Jocelyn at: 503-459-9443.

BABYSITTING SERVICE Hi, I’m Trudi, and I’m a senior at Lincoln High School. I am CPR certified and live in Forest

Heights. I do not have my driver’s license yet; however, I can be driven by my parents to and from babysitting jobs. I have been babysitting kids ages 1.5 to 11 years old for the past

three years. I also work with preschoolers and kindergarteners in childcare at my church. I am available most weekends including Fridays. I currently charge $9/hour. By the way, I am

allergic to dogs and cats so I am unable to babysit for pet owners. Please call me at 503-

841-5989 or email [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

BABYSITTING SERVICE Hello! My name is Jarrett Gold, I am 16, and a sophomore at Lincoln High School. I am Red Cross certified and can take care of any age group of children. I can also take care

of any pets or other things needed. I am very responsible and I have had past experience taking care of children and feel very confident in doing so. I was a counselor at outdoor school and took care of children for a week. I had a lot of fun and built leadership skills. I can also help tutor children with their schooling if needed. I can babysit children during

the week or weekends. With summer coming up, I am free anytime, and am willing to take any time slots. I enjoy children and I am eager to help take care of them.

You can contact me at 503-922-9900. Thank you!

Babysitter--Certified, Reliable, Fun!

Hi! I'm Julia Renner, a junior at St. Mary's Academy, and I have 6 years' experience

babysitting as well as working with kids at camp. I am Red Cross CPR/First Aid certified

and excellent with all ages as well as families with pets, and am also able to do

housework/chores. Flexible rates; outstanding references available upon request.

Call (503) 291-1249 or email [email protected].

BABYSITTING

Tess Pauken, babysitting, age 13, Red Cross certified, $5.00/hr., Responsible & reliable.

Contact:503-297-4007 or email: [email protected]

NANNY/SITTER/ADULT CARE Single woman, 47 years old, who raised two children, looking for work as a nanny, baby sitter or adult care in Forest Heights. Please call anytime. Qualified masseur. English is

limited. Tel: 503-367-4797 or 503-853-1851. Email: [email protected]

Halloween Fun! Despite a very chilly night, the Annual Halloween Party

at the Village Center was a big hit again this year! With

an estimated 300+ in attendance, children and parents

were out dancing to the Monster Mash and avoiding the

likes of the one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater.

Special thanks go out to the owners of the Village Center

for hosting this annual event, and also to the Village Center

merchants for handing out candy, hot chocolate and various

other treats.

We hope you enjoy these photos from this year’s Halloween

party, and if you’re in one of these pictures and would like a

copy, email [email protected].

NEED SOME EXTRA HELP? My name is Nathan VanDomelen, 16 years old. I am a trustworthy and dedicated person.

I honor all appointments and always do quality work. Here are a few things I can do: baby-sit, take care of plants, take care of pets (I am good with animals), pull weeds, and

clean cars (inside and out.) Please note that I am not limited only to the jobs specified. I am available most weekdays, but prefer weekends due to school. Please don’t hesitate to

call me (503) 206-6563. Thank you.

PET CARE Responsible 12 year old girl who loves to care for your pets. I am available to walk, play with, feed or care for while you are at work or away. All types of animals, birds or fish are

acceptable. Please call to schedule your pet care. Manoy 503-203-1787

CERTIFIED READING THERAPIST Private sessions to improve your child's reading skills. Call for information or to schedule

an evaluation. Caren 503-327-8046 or [email protected]

PET CARE / PLANT WATERING

Responsible 13 and 16 year old brothers will provide excellent nurture for your pets and

plants. In the last five years we have cared for numerous neighborhood pets, watered an

abundance of vegetation and provided many dogs a daily walk.

References available. Call Reid or Trent at: 503-203-1491

DRUM LESSONS

.Accomplished, studious high school student (junior) offering lessons in home studio;

2 drum sets for teach and follow instruction and recording equipment to monitor progress.

Qualifications: 5 years study, numerous instructors, rock & jazz emphasis. Drummer

and percussionist in 3 bands: rock, jazz and orchestra. Performance venues include

clubs, charity events & private engagements. Rate: $10/half hour; $18/hour. Email:

[email protected], 503.686.8020 www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C24mJgNyP8

FOREST HEIGHTS STORAGE UNITS FOR RENT Secure Storage/Parking Garages available in Forest Heights behind the Village Center.

Sizes and Prices Vary. Contact 503-384-0333 if you’re interested. Professionally managed

by C and R Real Estate Services, Co.

LOOKING FOR EXTRA HELP? Hi! My name is Jake Marcy and I am 16 years old. I am dedicated to my sports and school. I am a lacrosse player for Lincoln High School and love my sport. I am very motivated and willing to work as hard as you need. I can help with yard work, computer work (Facebook,

upload photos, etc.), animal watching and walking, babysitting, house sitting, lacrosse training. I am a hard worker so feel free to call me for any work you might have.

Please feel free to call me at 503-297-5921 or 503-407-0846.

My name is Nick Grout and I am an 8th grader at West Sylvan. I am willing to wash cars,

feed and bathe pets, house sit, and do yard work. I can come anytime during the week or

weekend. Please contact me at 503.292.5440 or [email protected]

FOR RENT MT HOOD SKI CHALET- One for Vacation Rental - One For SALE by Owner. Sleeps 8. Three Bedroom, 2.5Bath, 2-car Garage, Pools, Spa, Deck. Hot Tub, Trails. Offers four seasons of fun: Ski, Hike, Fish, Boat, Climb. Located Right at Government Camp - Collins Lake Resort

and Grand Lodges. Mention this FHHOA ad for FHHOA Member Rates and Book Direct with

owner. Loren P Hotchkiss [email protected] 503-291-9822

RENTALS

PIANO TEACHER/TUTORING

Excellent piano teacher and professional tutor (LA, Math, French, Study Skills). Fully certified.

Established business 6+ years in Forest Heights. Great references from your neighbors. I make

learning fun and I connect personally with my students. I travel to you! Please call Sarah at:

503.313.1216 or mail me: [email protected].

MUSIC TUTORING

PET/PLANT CARE

MISCELLANEOUS

EXPERT COLLEGE ESSAY COACH

As the acceptance rates of competitive colleges decline, it becomes essential for

applicants to craft compelling admission essays. Experienced high school English

teacher with Master’s Degree available to help plan, organize, revise, and edit admission

and scholarship essays during evenings and/or weekends. Hourly fee. References supplied

upon request. Please contact Ali at 503.867.6321 or [email protected]

BRIDGE ANYONE?

Looking for intermediate level bridge players who would like to play for fun.

Call Mike and Steph 503-244-1418

Page 19

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

STUDIO8FILMS

Have you ever wanted to create a special video to celebrate an

event or milestone in the life of a loved one, including your pet, but don't have the

time or skills to do so? Studio8Films can produce your custom video with original

videography or can utilize and edit your super 8 films, photographs, videos and audio

bytes. Why let the memorable moments fade, capture them forever! Final films provided

in a format of your choice, a DVD or web movie for upload to the internet.

Please go to: Studio8Films.net for video samples and information.

EXPERIENCED PET & PLANT SITTER

Very responsible 12 year old girl with lots of experience. I can walk, feed and play with,

clean up after and care for your pets if you are going to be gone. I have lived with cats, dogs,

hamsters, fish and snails and have taken care of guinea pigs, cats and many other animals.

I can also take care of plants, and have done for many people.

Call 503.291.1249 or email: [email protected]

Find us on

Facebook!

Look for the Forest Heights

Facebook page and “like” us!

When you become a fan of our

page, you’ll be able to see updates

from the HOA and keep up to date

on what’s happening in the

neighborhood.

SHORT TERM CHRISTMAS RENTAL Forest Heights resident looking for a furnished home/condo to rent over Christmas holidays

to house out-of-town family. Please help! Contact June: [email protected]

MATH LESSONS Math lessons: Experienced math teacher (all levels) with Bachelors degree in math.

Please contact Aya at: 971-227-0555

PET CARETAKER

Hello, my name is Emily Wu! I'm a Junior at Lincoln High School, and am extremely fond of

animals. I would love to care for your pet (or that precious hydrangea!) while you are away.

I have two dogs myself, and a lot of experiences with pets. I charge low rates, and

will shower your animal with lots of loving. You can contact me at (503-490-9543)

or email me at [email protected].

HEBREW TUTOR Hebrew lessons: Native Hebrew speaker experienced in Hebrew teaching.

Please contact Aya at: 971-227-0555

VIOLIN LESSONS

Saturday afternoon lessons available after 12:00 pm. Private or 3-4 child small group.

Instructor is professional violinist with extensive teaching experience. For more information

visit www.annchristensenviolinist.com or call 971.506.8838. class will be held at Portland

Language Arts at 10180 NW Brady Ln, Portland 97229, just outside Forest Heights. PRESCHOOL/AFTER SCHOOL/TUTORING

Morning or full day Chinese immersion preschool for ages 2 to 5. After school care up

to 12 years old. Care includes arts and crafts activities, math tutoring, music together,

Mandarin Chinese class. For information contact Lillian at 971.506.8838.

FURNITURE FOR SALE

56” round table w/leaf and four chairs $800, Sofa 84 x 38 $450, Sofa table 55 x 20, coffee

table 42 x 42 and end table 29 x 29 $300. Brown reclining chair $200. All nice condition.

Contact Nancy Quist 503.260.0923

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Safety, Streetscape and Transportation

Meeting 12:00 pm

Board of Director’s Work Session

6:00 pm

2

Go Green Committee

6:00 pm

3 4 5

Curbside Composting

Q&A Session 10:00 am

6 7 8

FHHOA Board of Directors Meeting

6:00 pm

9 10

11 12

13 14 Community Activities

Committee 5:00 pm

15

16

17 18 19

Go Green & SOLV Tree

Planting 9:00 am

20 21

Budget & Finance Committee

6:00 pm

22 23

24

Thanksgiving Holiday FHHOA Office Closed

25

Thanksgiving Holiday FHHOA Office Closed

26

27 28 29 30

NOVEMBER 2011

Here’s a snapshot of FHHOA activities and meetings

for the month of November. Print and keep this

calendar in a handy spot so you’ll have access to

what’s happening in your community.