November  2001 Newsletter

PHA  HOMEOWNER

September General Meeting

Jeff Watson and Deirdre Oss of the Douglas County Planning Department presented an overview of the 2020 Comprehensive Master Plan (2020 CMP), and what it means for Pinery area development. The 2020 CMP is a “guiding document,” used in evaluating development applications. At its heart is the land use map, from which the boundaries of the primary urban areas, those areas designated to support urban level growth, the separated urban areas (SUA’s), such as The Pinery, open space, and the municipalities can be seen in relation to one another. According to Jeff, the purpose of the CMP is:

Volunteers’ Corner

The Pinery Water and Wastewater District have won several prestigious awards this year (in the world of water and wastewater treatment facilities)! Within the western six-state region (Region 8), the EPA recognized our treatment plant for Operation and Maintenance Excellence. At the national level, the EPA also awarded the first place award for exceptional Operations and Maintenance Program in the Small Advanced category. They were selected as a result of an extensive national competition based on the facility’s creative and cost-effective operations and maintenance achievements. This means to us as customers of the water district that the facility is being maintained and operated in an excellent fashion, following the stringent effluent requirements established in the Clean Water Act and state environmental requirements thus avoiding possible fines of up to $25,000 per day! The district was also recognized for Collection System Maintenance Excellence within a three-state region. Kudos to Kevin Clark! He was also recognized within a three-state region as Operator of the Year for the wastewater treatment plant. Congratulations to all who work at a job that is oft unappreciated. Keep up the great work!

Every once in a while something happens to renew our faith in the basic goodness of mankind, and that is what happened right here in the Pinery recently. Thank you very much to the Bienewicz’s, Steve & Gwen, for returning a found camera to a young area family! We are proud to call you “Neighbor!”

Don’t you just love the new trees along N. Pinery Parkway? What a great community service project and a job well done by Jeff and his cub scouts! Thanks to all of you:

• Nate Higgins
• Michael Brundton
• Chase Kroll
• Alex Gehardt
• Kyle Dougherty
• Connor Hartman
• Nathan Hellman

These difficult times bring out, for the most part, the best in Americans. Unfortunately, they also seem to bring our the worst. Flag thefts have been reported from Pinery residences. In one case, a flag hanging from a home was stolen—a flag that had draped the homeowners’ fathers casket.

We urge those responsible to return this treasured remembrance and feel certain that there will be no retribution if this occurs.

Many thanks to all those community-minded folks who spent a lovely, crisp, fall morning recently, cleaning up the Pinery entrances, N. Pinery Parkway, and Bingham Lake!

Francisco Muniz, Denise Smith, Carolyn Williamson, Ron Henkel, , Marcy Blauvelt, Mary Anne Slick, Don & Johanna Jacobsen, Jill, Dave, Meredith, and Jack Mertens, Danelle Herman—we appreciate all of you! Because of volunteers like you, the Pinery is a better place to live!

By Douglas County Ordinance, “dog owners must prevent their dogs from disturbing the peace by loud, habitual, or persistent barking, howling, yelping, or whining.” Dogs should also be physically controlled at all times, and restrained from attacking walkers and cyclists. Please... be considerate of your neighbors!

Mt. View School Construction Meeting

Parent information meeting addressing upcoming renovation plans:

Date: Monday, November 12, 2001

Time: 6:30—7:30 p.m.

Place: Mt. View Elementary School Cafeteria.

Vandalism Alert!

REMINISCING

by Ruth L. Miller

Don and Ann Andersen moved to the Pinery in August, 1973. They recalled that there was no school bus; the children were picked up in a Pinery van by early resident Pat Thomas, and taken to Northeast Elementary, the only school in the Pinery. Older children, if any, would have gone to Douglas County High School in Castle Rock; there was no middle school at that time.

The unpaved roads in the Pinery were very slippery when wet, so there was little speeding during rain or snow storms. The Andersen's had no phone service for several months after their arrival; then they had an 8-party line, which later improved to become a 4-party line. When the few residents had a get-together, everyone came. On New Year's Eve parents took children to one home and hired a baby- sitter for them all so the adults could go out to celebrate the holiday.

In July, 1974, Helen and Charlie Kendall became residents - They said the homeowners' group had no dues or office at that date. They met in the gym at Northeast Elementary, taking up a collection at each meeting to cover the cost of gym rental and incidentals.

No mail was delivered to individual houses. Mailboxes were set up at the intersection of Hillside and Hillpark Roads. Newspapers were delivered there each evening as well. About 1976, there was a grasshopper invasion. The insects ate holes in screens and devoured young spruce the homeowners had planted. Everyone organized a control program, spreading poison in their yards and in vacant lots.

It took three months to get phone service when the Kendalls moved to the Pinery, and then only part of the area had phones. To make -2- calls, the unlucky ones had to go to the Clubhouse or the Pinery Maintenance Office on the west side of Rte. 83.

Betty and John Robbins were among the earliest to select a lot in the Pinery. When they bought their lot on Lakepoint Place in 1969, there was no lake; prairie, foothills, and mountains supplied the view. Terracor, the first developer, loaned motor bikes to prospective buyers so they could ride around the dirt roads and choose a lot. When their house was finished in 1976, the Robbins moved to it from their temporary home in the townhouses on Pinery Parkway. They recalled that there was only one traffic light in Douglas County - in Castle Rock. Everyone shopped at Hills', the only grocery store in the Parker area. By the time they moved in, party phone lines were gone and private lines were available. Mailboxes in front of homes were allowed only after a street had at least six houses.

The PHA would be happy to have other early residents send their recollections so they can become a documented part of the Pinery history.

One of the amenities which creates the unique atmosphere in the Pinery is our neighborhood lighting. The Pinery was designed to be a rural neighborhood without streetlights. Each house built in the Pinery must have a yard light with a photo sensor to ensure nighttime illumination. This low level of lighting gives us security while still allowing much of the night sky to be visible. It is important however that each homeowner ensure their yard light is in working order. With darkness descending early during the winter months, please check to make sure your yard light is working!

Also, as a reminder, any addition to your exterior lighting must be approved by the ACC. This is to ensure that Covenants regarding lighting are met. Covenants require that any lighting be reflected away from adjacent residences and away from the vision of passing motorists.

ACC Opening

The Architectural Control Committee has an opening for a term that will run through April, 2003. If you are interested in being considered, please call the ACC office at 303-841-5305 and come to the next meeting, to be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2001 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the lower level of the Fire Station.

Well, look no further! The Pinery Homeowners’ Association Office is selling a selection of denim and chambray shirts, twill baseball caps, and beautiful dark green fanny packs, all tastefully embroidered with the Pinery logo.

• Baseball caps $10
• Fanny Packs $14
• Long Sleeve Denim Shirts $30
• Short Sleeve Chambray Shirts $26
• Sleeveless Chambray Blouses $24 Ladies only.

This is the perfect way to help your friends and family show their Pinery community spirit! Stop by the PHA office during regular office hours.

Avoid disappointment and shop early as sizes and quantities are limited!

With the events of the last few months, many things and conditions in the world have changed. Please be assured that we in the Water and Sanitation District have taken many steps to ensure the safety of the facilities of the District. This in particular will ensure the safe delivery of drinking water to all our customers. One thing that we can not control though is the vandalism that is a larger threat to our facilities throughout the District.

In mid-September, a recently constructed pavilion and outdoor portable restroom facility at Bingham Lake was burned by someone, most likely young adults and/or teenagers. These incidents have become more apparent in the last couple of years with young adults or teenagers attempting to gain access to various facilities and structures of the District. These may appear to some to just be “youthful” pranks, but the reality is that they endanger our ability to provide the services that all District members rely upon.

These acts of vandalism are easily to prevent, we just need to have all members of the District report any unusual or late night activities at Bingham Lake or other District Facilities to the Sheriff’s Department, (303) 660-7505. They will respond and sort out just what is occurring. In most cases, this will save everyone money and potential damage throughout the District. Only through this assistance can we ensure minimization of vandalism and unneeded outlay of funds to fix damages that may occur.

As always, you are cordially invited to attend any of our monthly meetings. These are held monthly, at the District Offices, the second Tuesday of every month, at 7 o’clock in the evenings. If this is not possible, then please stop by the District Office during the week, Monday through Friday, 8-4 daily, or give us a call at (303) 841-2797. Someone is always available to meet with you and discuss your concerns.

David C. Eyre
Civil Engineer, P.E. 

The PHA would, once again, like to thank those of you who shown you support for the Homeowners’ Association by enlisting the services of our trash program.

Although the recent transition to BFI has gone very well, from time to time a glitch does occur. When this happens and your trash does not get picked up for some reason, please call the PHA office as soon as possible. If your neighbors’ trash has been picked up but yours has not, please do not assume that the truck will be back for your trash and then wait until the next day or the next week to report this error. BFI has trucks in the area on Thursdays and Fridays and will have a carrier return to service missed pick ups on these days. Monday, however, they are on the other side of town and cannot do this. Therefore, should a missed pick up be reported on Monday or Tuesday, service will be resumed on the following Thursday.

Please use the calendar at the end of this publication to ensure trash/recycling days.

Also, we request that you submit your trash account payments in the provided envelopes addressed to our billing office in Broomfield. Sending your payment to the PHA office could delay receipt of your check and trigger late fees.

Your cooperation is very much appreciated.

Feeding Birds and Yelling at Squirrels: 
The dark side of an American Pastime

The next time you are bored and want to have some fun, drop in on your neighborhood wild bird center. There, you will find an arsenal of anti-squirrel devices that will both impress and shock you. Moreover, I am serious about shock! Several models have been engineered to deliver a slight electrical jolt to squirrels but not to birds. They are Humane society approved but nobody has asked for comment from the squirrels.

The battle between bird feeders and squirrels is heating up. Bird feeding enthusiasts are enlisting all levels of technology and creativity to keep marauding squirrels from pilfering their feeders. I have com to believe that if all the creative juices devoted to outwitting squirrels were put into space exploration, we would have colonized Mars long ago. The problem is: squirrels do not have real jobs...and so they have nothing better to do all day long than break into feeders! How can an honest, hard-working bird lover compete with that?

The most common anti-squirrel device you will find is a steel cage that surrounds your feeder. It resembles a shark cage used by scuba divers but squirrel cages require much heavier gage steel. The cage is meant to allow small songbirds access while Mr. Squirrel is nothing more than a spectator. However, those little pea-brains soon learn that they can simply climb onto the cage and get it swinging wildly and all the seed will fall to the ground.

Then there are the anti-squirrel baffles that hang over feeders like slippery lampshades. Any unsuspecting squirrel dumb enough to leap onto the feeder is supposed to slip and slide into thin air like a fur-covered ski jumper. Nice idea, but most of these are made of plastic (otherwise you can't see the birds dining on the platform) so our feeble-minded, bushy-tailed friends simply climb onto the chain tied to the tree and chew the center out of your expensive baffle until it falls to the ground.

I personally like the steel feeder that has little doors accessing the seeds. Birds can eat without mishap, but when a squirrel climbs on the perch, his weight activates a lever that closes all the doors. Really cool, and all for only $79.99!

 However, my all time favorite is the “Yankee Flipper.” This feeder looks like a harmless tube-style hanging feeder, with a ring at the bottom that serves as a perch. Birds can perch on the ring and eat to their heart’s content. When a Mr. Squirrel shows and jumps onto the ring, his weight pulls the ring down and activates the motor (hee-hee). “What does the motor do?” you ask. Well…(hee-hee)...the ring starts to spin like a pinwheel, and Mr. Squirrel is sent flying, with his little legs flailing, into the next zip code! What makes it so fun, is that the determined little thief will come back to do it again and again. If every household had one of these, our VCR’s would just sit and collect dust! The store even had a hilarious video of the “Yankee Flipper” in action. I asked if I could rent it with a bag of popcorn.

With permission,
by Jeff Rucks,
Editor of Colorado Connections,
An Environmental Education Resource Newsletter

If you live in Bear country, please do not feed birds. Bird feeders are an irresistible attraction for foraging bears and can start them down the road to becoming a serious problem for you and your neighbors. If you insist on feeding birds in bear country, at least take you feeder inside at night to avoid problems.