March 2003 Newsletter

Homeowner
Published by The Pinery Homeowners’ Association, Inc.
 Volume 27; Issue 2

The Results are in…

   A successful election of new Directors for your 2003 Pinery Homeowners’ Association Board highlighted the January General Meeting. When the ballots were tallied, incumbents Ron Henkel, Don Reschke, and Fred Slick, were all re-elected.

  Dale Sherman was also elected to the Board. Congratulations, Dale!

  All Board members will serve two-year, staggered terms.

  A  positive response to the online voting option offered from the website at www.pinery.org, underscores the need to continue this service in the future.

  The Board would like to recognize the contributions of Lilly Ben, who served on the board for the last three years. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication Lilly!

 The officers of the 2003 Pinery HOA Board are as follows:

Spray Your Pines?

  The recent drought has weakened many of our pines, resulting in an attack by killer pine beetles. There are several different species of beetles: Mountain Pine Beetle, Turpentine Beetle, Ips Beetle and Pityophthorus Beetles. Some of these beetles may attack more than one species of tree.   There are different varieties of Ips Beetle that attack spruce, Piñon and Ponderosa Pines.
  Most of these beetles emerge from trees that were infected and killed by "blue stain" fungus. These beetles are the vector that carry this fungus to healthy trees. Once infected, the fungus rapidly spreads through the vascular system stopping the flow of nutrients and water. Currently, there is no cure for the fungus. The only hope is to stop the beetles from making a successful attack on the tree. Usually only stressed trees are susceptible to attack.
The control is always threefold:

1. Remove all dead and dying trees prior to the spring flight of adult beetles.
2. Keep all trees healthy by avoiding root/trunk damage, deep water when dry.
3. Spray valuable or stressed trees.

  Preventative spraying will help control the beetles on all types of trees. The spray must be applied to the trunk and major limbs prior to attack This hopefully, kills the insects before they can eat through the bark introducing the blue stain fungus into the tree.
  Due to the large numbers of Ips beetles (which have more than one generation per year) we recommend that all trees be sprayed twice per summer season. Call your professional arborist to spray your tall, hard to reach trees. Thorough coverage of the trunk is of prime importance.

Sid Wolf, Davey-Denver Tree Specialists
303.750.3434 

Volunteers’ Corner

A Fond Farewell to Ruth Miller

Our Pinery Homeowner has been shorter lately, without the History articles by Ruth Miller. The following is reprinted with permission from the February 12th News Press. We will miss Ruth but will hold her dear in our hearts always.

News-Press history columnist dies—Ruth L. Miller, a Colorado historian, author and News Press columnist, died Thursday. She reportedly did not want services or a long obituary or any major commemorations. We at the News-Press want to respect her wishes but also offer our condolences to her husband, Whit, and family and friends. Her column was a joy to read, and we are grateful she wrote for us for so long. Miller wrote more than 300 "Time Traveler" columns, each of them about local, regional or state history. She also wrote a book about Parker that was published by the Parker Area Historical Society. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, an older sister, two adult children and two great-grandchildren. Miller was 77.

Spring Community Cleanup

Yes it is that time of year. Spring Clean up is here! Come out and join us April 19th as we pick up trash along Betts Ranch Road and the Pinery Parkway. We would love to do more of the Pinery but we need your assistance. Even if you only have 15 minutes, we would love to see you. As stated in the prior newsletter, spring is when we have the most trash – so come out and help.

3rd Annual Pinery Art Show

  Mark your calendars for June 6th through the 8th . Artists - set up your easels and get ready to show your colors to the community!

1st annual Pinery spring bedding flower sale

 This May, the PHA will be sponsoring a Spring Flower sale to raise money for Pinery beautification projects. 

 The Pinery HOA is working with resident Coldwell Banker realtors, Carole Fluhart and Barb Buzako to conduct this unique activity: a great way to beautify your yard and help fund community projects such as the Pinery Bird Sanctuary as well.

 Residents are invited to order flats of annual bedding flowers and individual plants. All net proceeds will support Pinery Community improvement programs. Flowers will be provided by one of the area’s  largest wholesale nurseries. Flats of 4” flowers will be priced at a considerable savings. Flowers will be delivered to the Pinery on Saturday, June 7 for morning pick-up. An order form listing all the kinds of flowers available will be included in the May Pinery newsletter.

 We thank you for your support of this soon to be annual fund raising event.

Storage Lot Electrical Information

 In the east storage lot, the spaces with electricity available have recently experienced problems with power outages. Please be aware that these spaces have a maximum capacity of 20 amps. RVs attempting to draw a higher power level from their outlet will cause an outage. Thanks for your help in this matter. 

Community Corner...

   The PHA invites the Homeowners’ Associations of the greater Pinery area to submit information and insertions for publication in our newsletter.
   Your contributions are warmly welcomed!

PINERY 8B HOMEOWNERS NEWS
 

  The Pinery 8B Homeowners Association (HOA) has been working since last spring on acquiring a grant to update the playground in Alden Park. We have been awarded a grant for $15,000 to update the playground in our neighborhood. The PHA has graciously agreed to contribute $5,000 to our cause, since many Pinery 8A residents utulize the park as well. The Pinery 8B HOA has assessed its residents $100 per household to match the grant (which was part of the grant requirement). Some homeowners in the Pinery 8A have mentioned they would not mind contributing to our cause since their children use the park. If you would like to help us either monitarily or by helping shovel wood chips into the park, please let us know. Any checks can be sent to:

Pinery 8B HOA
P.O. Box 175
Parker, CO 80134

  Please include your name, address, and phone number in case we have any questions and for our records. If you would like more information, please call our Vice President, Shelly Olson at (303) 840-0219. Work on the playground should begin this spring.
  Just a reminder. If you walk your pet in Alden Park, please remember to pick up any pet waste that may be left by your animal. We are checking into the cost of putting animal waste bags in the park. Until then you will have to bring your own. The trash cans are there for your convenience.
Thanks.
Jeanne Ducote, Secretary/Treasurer

New Possibilities Will Give
Direction to Bird Sanctuary

Another Eagle Scout project has been proposed for the Bird Sanctuary - a path inside our perimeter plantings. Such a path has been on the drawing board for years, and it's exciting that it may become a reality! Not only would it make a walk through the area more pleasurable, but it will help us define cultivated vs. non-cultivated areas for volunteers and visitors. More updates will appear in this space!

  Wildflower seed has been planted in front of our sign. Many thanks to Four Seasons for removing the mulch from that area, and tilling it in preparation for the seed. Please do not drive on this area!!  We will use some of our donation from Mr. Bill Hames, Pinery resident philanthropist, to ensure those seeds sprout and get established. Thank you, Mr. Hames! Spring blizzard season is almost here (we hope!), so you can bet a workday is in our future. Look for a notice on either of the PHA  entryway marquees.

Enjoy the rest of your winter!!
Deb Dieter

We Will Miss Johanna and Don Jacobsen

Anyone who has called or visited the PHA office has had the pleasure of working with Johanna Jacobsen. Johanna, with the help of Denise Smith (our ACC administrator) has kept the PHA office running smoothly and efficiently for the past four years and we will miss her greatly when she leaves us.

Since she began working at the PHA, Johanna has been the focal point of the Pinery, serving the community on the phone and in person. Johanna has also produced the bi-monthly Pinery Homeowner newsletter.

Johanna has coordinated or participated in every Pinery activity, including the Pinery Art Show, RV Storage Lot Facility, PHA Trash & Recycling, Pinery Garage Sale, Large Item Drop-Off, the Pinery Adopt-a-Road and Cleanup, the Kids Fishing Derby, the Pinery Pedal & Picnic, and numerous special projects with our partners in the Water District, the Fire Department, DC Commissioners, DC Parks & Trails, and the DC Sheriff’s Office.

As PHA’s Sr. Office Administrator, she has coordinated the PHA board meetings (2nd Thursday of each month) and the quarterly neighborhood “PHA General Meetings” that all are invited to attend. The board sincerely appreciate all that she does for us.

Johanna and Don plan to move to Victoria, British Columbia after their son, Danny, graduates from Ponderosa High School. Please stop by the office to say goodbye to Johanna.

Impact of Pinery
Security Coalition

  From June 2001 through February 2002, the Pinery HOA  received thirty-five reports of vandalism, some with a very considerable price tag attached.  The community leaders felt it was time for a proactive approach to stop the vandalism and held formed the Pinery Security Coalition comprised of the Pinery HOA, Pinery Water and Wastewater District, High Prairie Farms, The Timbers Development Company, and Douglas County Parks and Open Space. 

  The Pinery Security Coalition’s effort to curtail crime and vandalism throughout the greater Pinery area began March 1, 2002 and was accomplished through the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff ‘s Department agreed to provide off-duty deputies to patrol the area during the times when most of the crimes had occurred.

  Since implementing  these extra patrols, the Pinery HOA office has received only thirteen reports of vandalism and miscellaneous crimes. Sheriff’s Department officials feel that this program has been a huge success. The number of calls for service, to the Sheriff’s Department, during the times of the extra patrols has dropped to almost zero in the Pinery area.

  The Sheriff’s Department also reports that numerous arrests have been made for offenses of juvenile alcohol possession, trespassing, drug offenses and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

 Any questions or comments may be sent to:

Lt. T. Moore, PIO
4000 Justice Way
Castle Rock Co. 80104

NEWS FROM THE WATER BOARD:
March / April 2003

Everyone has probably heard quite a bit lately about the conservation measures planned or implemented by various water providers this year. We in the Pinery are no different in the need to have such a plan, but our difference is, based upon the success of last year, we should again be able to meet our water conservation goals through a voluntary plan. This is a good thing, although if conditions worsen during the summer, we will reevaluate the situation and adjust accordingly. In order to help us set our goals and to obtain input from the members of the District, we will hold a water conservation planning meeting with all the large water users, as well as the homeowners’ associations and any concerned citizens of the District, some time in April 2003. If you are interested in participating, please contact our District Manager, Mr. Charlie Krogh, or our receptionist, to obtain more information.

  In order to help members of the District ensure that they are making the most efficient use of water, we have water conservation kits available for you to identify and/or work to minimize high water use fixtures. The kits consist of a low-flow shower head, toilet tank displacement bag, 1.5 gpm bathroom faucet aerator, kitchen faucet aerator, home water audit booklet, flow gauge bag and two toilet leak detection dye tablets. If you are interested in receiving a kit, please call 303-841-2797, ext 0 and leave your name with the receptionist. Please provide your address as well so that we can deliver one to you as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your participation in helping us to conserve this valuable resource.

  As always, you are cordially invited to attend any of our monthly meetings. These are held monthly, at the District Offices on the second Tuesday of every month, at 7 p.m. 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.
Director


David Eyre will be deployed with his Reserve unit soon.
We wish him Godspeed, and anxiously await his safe return.
 

Drought Response Meeting

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2003
7:00 p.m.

Sagewood Middle School

Presented by: The Pinery Water Wastewater District

Open to all residents.

COVENANT CORNER
The Pinery Architectural Control Committee

Stash those Cans!

You may be unaware that covenants in the Pinery require trash containers be stored at the rear of the residence, out of view of the frontage road (except for trash service day of course). If you currently store your containers in view of the street, please make other arrangements.

Pinery Architectural Control Committee  2002

We are happy to report that your Pinery Architectural Control Committee is alive and well and working to maintain the standard of quality and beauty we all appreciate here in the Pinery.

The Pinery ACC is comprised of six members elected for alternate two-year terms. Election for three board positions is held each April. The ACC meets in the Community Room of the Pinery Fire Station on the first Tuesday of every month (unless otherwise announced via this newsletter) at 6:30 p.m. The Pinery ACC has covenant enforcement responsibility for Pinery Filings 1 through 8A, Fairway Ridge and Pinery Estates, just over 2000 homes.

The board serves without compensation, but does employ a part-time office administrator. Office hours are Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To address homeowner issues as efficiently as possible at meetings, homeowner submittals are reviewed from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. with builder submittals beginning at 7:30 p.m. Submittals received by noon on the Friday before receive priority handling at the meeting.

The July 10, 2002 hailstorm had a tremendous impact on the Pinery. In meetings following the storm, 285 roof replacement requests were reviewed. In 2001, 10 roof replacements were reviewed for the entire year. While roofing saw the highest increase in activity, the number of color and siding change submittals were significantly higher as well.

Following is a summary of 2002 activity by the ACC:

Homeowner Submittals Reviewed:

Violations Acted on:

As we approach the busy, warmer months of 2003, we thank Pinery residents for their pride in the community by complying with Covenants intended to maintain the unique qualities that led us all to select our Pinery homes. Please call the ACC at 303-841-5305 with questions, or attend any of our open meetings. 

2003 ACC Election

The election announced in the January 2003 PHA newsletter will be held Tuesday, April 8, 2003 beginning at 6:30 p.m. as part of the monthly Architectural Control Committee board meeting held in lower level of the Pinery Fire Station. A good response to the call for candidates has been received and you, the community, are encouraged to respond by participating in the election process. The election is being held to fill three expiring terms on the six-member board. All property owners in Pinery filings 1-8 (excluding 8B, Pinery South HOA), filing 21 and Pinery Estates are eligible to vote (one vote per household). Property owners who are unable to attend the meeting may also vote early during PHA office hours (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) on Monday and Tuesday, April 8, 2003 in the location or through our website www.pinery.org on Monday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please note that with website voting, submittal of your name and address is critical so that we may verify voter eligibility. 

Effective with this election, the terms of three board members expire. We wish to sincerely thank Jean Bouquet for his contribution to the community.

Talkin’ Trash
by Tom Kimball , Pinery Homeowners’ Association

Recycle

BFI recycles in the Pinery every other week. If you would like to start recycling, please call the Pinery Homeowners’ Association office at 303-841-8572 to get started.
 

 BFI recycles the following items:

Nothing needs to be separated except the newspapers from everything else. The newspapers can be bundled to the side or put in a separate container or bag. Everything else can go in the one bin.

Thank you
  BFI would like to take this opportunity to thank the Pinery and the participating residents for their business over these last years. Thank you to everyone who has been supportive. We look forward to continuing this relationship.

“Resolutions”
  We at BFI are always working towards improving our service and ourselves throughout the year. If you have feedback (positive or negative) please let us know. Without customers and superior customer service to help meet their needs, a company of our size and reputation could never retain its leadership position in the marketplace.

Please Keep Litter in its Place
  Please secure your trash so that it doesn’t blow around on windy days. We appreciate your cooperation.

We acknowledge with thanks that this article was contributed by Elizabeth Philpy of Browning Ferris Industries.

The Pinery Preserve 2002

The Pinery Preserve is approximately 40 acres of Douglas County Open Space straddling Lt. William Clark Road just east of Irish Pat Murphy Drive. This small piece of park land was given to the county circa 1987 and is used mostly by mule deer, coyotes, foxes, rabbits, Great Horned owls, Flickers and other wildlife. A few humans even walk through and some walk their dogs.

Last year the Parker Fire Protection District began a wild fire mitigation project in May. This continued off and on all summer with the help of a contractor to complete this large undertaking.

 Misuse of this area included yard debris dumping, hunting, off road motor vehicles, camping, dogs chasing deer, firearms use, and use as a golf driving range.

Because the Pinery Preserve and other open space needs to be protected for all to enjoy, The Douglas County Park, Trails, and Open Space recently adopted rules and regulations that can be viewed on its web site at www.douglas.co.us/DC/Recreation.htm. These rules are enforced by three Park Rangers. They can be contacted at 303-660-7500.

To volunteer with Park, Trails and Open Space please see the above web site or call Jackie Sanderson, Open Space Specialist at 303-663-7652.

Submitted by Pinery Resident and Open Space Volunteer
Dewey Hill