July 1998 Newsletter

PINERY PEDAL AND PICNIC
Saturday, August 22 (Rain date August 23)

     The Eighth Annual Pinery Pedal and Picnic approaches, promising to be another festive outdoor event for the whole family! Walkers, roller bladers, and riders will start at the Pinery Park and choose from four courses that wind through the scenic Pinery and beyond, then return to the park for a neighborhood BBQ catered by Sweet Lorraine's Deli and Catering. Five-mile, 15 mile, 20 mile, and an off-road course will be featured. Residents of all ages and their friends are invited to participate. On the following pages, refer to the Events Schedule for times and a map for course outlines.

     Events at the park will include the colorful Pinery Beach, featuring sand, wading pools, sprinklers, and teenaged "lifeguards" to monitor young children. Christine Rucks will be nearby to offer Face Painting. The Bicycle Safety Rodeo, sponsored by State Farm Insurance, will return this year after a two-year respite. Children will receive bike safety checks, demonstrate skills on the "rodeo" course, and then be photographed for an official Safety License. For older participants, the ever-popular Dunk Tank will refresh riders returning from the roads. Destinations will feature demo bikes, including tandems, available to responsible riders. Volleyball will be organized on the grass for those with energy to spare, while adults with aching muscles can visit the Sports Massage tent, where Kathy Prinz will soothe the knots and kinks. Visit the PHA Booth for neighborhood updates and the latest Pinery fashions, and The Watering Hole for lemonade. Don't miss a visit to the Fire Truck for an inside view of the action. Jeff Rucks will supervise First Aid in the park, and the Parker Fire Department will provide mobile first aid for the off-road course.

     After lunch, our traditional drawing will be held, with tickets costing $1 per chance. Two generous businesses have donated major items in the past and continue to support the Pinery Pedal and Picnic again this year. Destinations Cyclery, will donate a new mountain bike, just as it has every year since the PPP's inception. And, as always, their energetic staff will offer tech support to all riders. Their long-standing involvement in our neighborhood event is greatly appreciated! Also greatly appreciated are Sharon Anderson and Diane Ward of Remax Achievers, who have supported us for several years. This year, their "Get-away" donation for two includes a two-night stay in Durango, including breakfasts and two round-trip tickets on the popular Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Train. And First Community Bank is again offering a $50 Savings Bond.

     So gear up to come and meet your neighbors on August 22! We look forward to seeing you at the Park!

TREES, TREES, & TREES

     As you drive west on Pinery Parkway and approach the Lakeview Drive intersection, cast a quick glance to the right at the ten new pine trees planted recently. These new trees were planted to replace others that were removed to facilitate the "line of sight" project at the entrance to Northeast Elementary.

     Through the generosity of the Pinery Water District, a water tap was installed and these trees are watered through a drip system every day. U.S. West paid for these trees since telephone lines were under the original trees. In a few months, a Song Bird Habitat will also be placed close to these trees to provide shelter for the birds during the winter months. This project will bring beauty and another "natural" place for the birds and wildlife to live in our community.

NEW REGIONAL PARK IN PLANNING STAGE

     The Douglas County Division of Parks and Trails invites you to submit your written comments on thoughts for the new Bayou Gulch Regional Park that is currently in the planning stage. The new 205-acre County Park will be located directly east of High Prairie Farms Equestrian Center and north of Bayou Gulch Road. Please address your comments to: Douglas County Public Works, P.O. Box 1390, Castle Rock, CO 80104. Comments must be received by July 30th . For more information, call Ron Benson, 660-7490.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

     The Pinery Country Club has extended a helping hand to the Pinery Homeowners'Association and this help is truly appreciated. Through the kindness of Manager Mike Montague and Doug Dutton, of the Pinery Country Club, PHA has been allowed to use maintenance equipment for various chores and activities. This donation has truly helped the PHA get some projects "Done" that would have been impossible in the past. The PHA is very pleased with its relationship with The Pinery Country Club and thank both Mike and Doug for their very kind assistance.

 REPLACING YOUR DRIVEWAY?

     If you need to replace your driveway and will be getting rid of concrete chunks, we have a suggestion that may save you both time and money! Concrete is needed as fill in a Pinery location. Please call PHA if you have concrete to recycle.

THE "STEALH MOWERS" ARE BACK!

     If you haven't noticed, the stealth mowers have returned. These unsung heroes have unleashed the power of their lawnmowers and have returned to the roadsides and medians of our parkways to rid our community of the weeds that follow the spring rains.

     The names of these dedicated volunteers are not always known, but their efforts are always appreciated. Through the parkway mowers the spirit and concern for our community's appearance is shown each year. It is also a sign that Pinery residents care enough to help keep our community tidy. OUR HATS OFF TO THE "STEALTH MOWERS"!

TIRED OF SPEEDING CARS?
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

     The Douglas County Sheriffs Office has established a "voluntary" traffic radar program for the Pinery residents and the PHA needs volunteers to implement the program. The Sheriff's Office will provide the PHA with a traffic radar system that will be operated by Pinery volunteers. Speeders will be measured with the radar system and the registered owners of the vehicles will be notified of the infractions observed with a copy of the notice also being sent to the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, Traffic Unit Commander. The program has been designed to "educate" the owners of the vehicles involved in speeding incidents of the severity of the violations and the need to slow down in residential and school ground areas.

     Volunteers are needed to serve on "teams" of residents who will be trained to operate the equipment and to assist in the mailing of violation notices. Depending on the time of year, this outside duty may be uncomfortable, but the results of this program can be dramatic. The safety of our family members and the streets of our community can be made much safer with a little time volunteered and effort applied to this speeding problem. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has selected The Pinery over many residential areas to initiate this advisory program. We need your help to make it a success. If you can help, contact the PHA office by calling 841-8572 and signing up for a team.

SONGBIRD HABITAT COMING THIS FALL!
VISIT OUR BOOTH AT THE PINERY PEDAL

     The songbird habitat by Northeast Elementary will become a reality, thanks to the enthusiasm of several of our neighbors who have volunteered their time and expertise! We hope to see you at the Pinery Pedal (August 22nd), where we will have a booth where you may sign up to donate time, materials or money. If you cannot make it to the Pedal, please call the PHA office at 841-8572 to find out how you can help. We know not everyone has time to help out, but we hope you can make a donation if that is the case. We have a complete list of plants that will attract the chirpers to this area! A lot of them are overproducing in your backyard right now! Thank you!!

BIG ITEM DROP-OFF A SUCCESS!

     The PHA Large Item Drop-Off was held Saturday, June 20th, and was a great success. Our hats go off to the many volunteers who took time off to help run this annual program and to the Parker Fire Department who provided a safe place to bring hazardous auto waste for recycling. Over one hundred vehicle trips were made to the drop off area and ten huge dumpsters were hauled away at day's end. Four hundred gallons of motor oil also made its way from Pinery garages to a proper place for recycling. We expect that next year will be, even more successful so mark on your calendars that June is the month for the 1999 Pinery Big Item Drop Off. We will look for you next year and we will continue to provide a safe way to rid yourself of those items that fill your garage and storage area to the rafters.

     Keep in mind that this is a safe, legal and convenient way to get rid of almost everything.

REMINDER TO PET OWNERS

     We've been asked by residents on Beckwourth Court as well as other neighborhoods to remind dog owners that dogs are not to be running loose, getting into trash and defecating on lawns.

NEWS FROM THE WATER BOARD
David Eyre, Director, Civil Engineer, P.E.

     The Denver Southeast Suburban Water and Sanitation District (District) Board of Directors earlier this year entered into a lease with the Pinery Homeowner Association (PHA) to manage and utilize the surface area and grounds of Bingham Lake. This was done to ensure that the residents of The Pinery and the area supported by the Water District could still have access to, and the use of, this valuable resource of the community. As part of the arrangement, we need to ask the members of the District to help self-police and maintain the facility and grounds. The PHA has posted the area with use rules and restrictions. These rules are driven by the liability that both the PHA and the Water District have to address to allow use of the area as a recreational facility. We need the assistance of all users and members of the District to ensure that they are followed and that other people using the area also follow the posted use rules.

     To support the programs and the maintenance of the area, the PHA asks for a nominal use fee for boating and fishing at the lake. You can stop by the PHA Office and obtain a permit. You will also be provided with a copy of the rules and be asked to sign a liability release form. This helps in maintaining the grounds and the fishing program, as well as keeping both of our insurance companies very happy. When we abuse this program, we all pay for the extra repairs caused by vandalism. The Douglas County Sheriff has agreed to enforce these rules and will do so as needed, but we would prefer self-policing, with use of the Sheriff's office only as needed.

     The Board of Directors of the District highly encourages all members of the District to attend our monthly regular meetings, held the second Tuesday of each month, at 7 p.m., at the District Offices of the Water District (located to the East of the North Pinery entrance). If you need directions or have other concerns, please contact the Secretary of the Water Board, at 841-2797.

BINGHAM LAKE NEWS

     PHA has obtained management responsibilities for the recreational use of Bingham Lake in The Pinery. Permits for fishing and boating on the lake must be obtained from the PHA office. Family permits, available only to members of the Pinery water District, are $10 for the year and can be used by one guest. Proceeds are used to stock the lake and make improvements to the facility. Work parties are being formed to help in extending the boat launching ramp on the west side of the lake, build additional parking space on the dam, and plant trees around the picnic area. If you can help with any of these, please call the PHA office, 841-8572. Let's all work to make this community amenity even better. Observe the posted rules and regulations.

KIDS FISHING DERBY

     The Kids Fishing Derby was great fun! Fish were biting and the weather cooperated. At least four first-time young fishers had the thrill of catching a fish. Each child received a good luck Eagle Claw fishing hook and 1998 Eagle Claw fishing booklet upon registering. At the end of the derby, prizes were awarded for the longest fish caught by species. Then a door prize drawing was held, providing each entrant with Eagle Claw hooks and a chance to win two rods and reels. A generous donation of hooks, plus two rods and reels, were received from Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle Company. Donations also were made by The Pinery Homeowners'Association, John Plog and Bill Hames.

PARKS IN THE PINERY

     We are fortunate to have two neighborhood parks within The Pinery. North Park is located at the corner of Ponderosa Way and Sunridge Hollow Road. Lakeshore Park is located where Lakeshore Drive, Thunderhill Road and Irish Pat Murphy Drive meet. These parks have play equipment for young children and picnic facilities. PHA took over maintenance of the parks by request of the former Pinery developer. Routine maintenance is done by a local landscaping firm, but it has been helpful to have residents who live near the park oversee them to make sure that there are no problems with either maintenance or equipment. Our sincere thanks to these generous people!

VOLUNTEERS CORNER

     On a beautiful Saturday morning in May, a small group of faithful volunteers spent two very productive hours cleaning up the front entryway, Bingham Lake, Betts Ranch Road, and Lakeview Drive. Oh, that these areas could be kept as they were after that effort! We can't thank these wonderful Pinery residents enough. We hope that they will be joined by more generous people when the Fall Cleanup rolls around!

Thunderhill Heights / Thunderbird Road Cut Through

     Please be aware that the existing path from Thunderhill Heights / Thunderbird Road to Selly Road is on PRIVATE property. There is no public access or easement to Selly Road. Please be considerate of your neighbors and refrain from cutting through their property without permission. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

TODDLER PLAYGROUP

     If you have a child between 14 and 20 months old and want to meet other stay-at-home moms in the area, there is a playgroup that is tailored to your needs. Call for information..

DAMAGE AT BINGHAM LAKE

     The Fourth of July is a day for celebration but a few people believe that the holiday atmosphere gives them the right to act irresponsibly. This was evident over the Fourth of July weekend at Bingham Lake. Someone used the boat dock as a fireworks launching pad and burned the decking. The same party "borrowed" three fire extinguishers, discharged them and discarded and the chemicals they contained into the lake.
     It would appear that whoever was responsible has very little respect for property or the rules established for this park. The park is posted as being closed from sundown to sunrise, and it is doubtful that anyone shot of fireworks during daylight hours. An investigation is underway and it is hoped that the person or persons who took part in this incident will be identified. The PHA asks all residents to watch over our lake and parks to protect them for all residents who have a right to use them lawfully.

THE PINERY NEEDS ALL RESIDENTS' SUPPORT

     The Pinery is located in unincorporated Douglas County. Your property taxes pay for roads, schools, fire protection, law enforcement and other basic services. The County is not responsible for such things as maintaining our entryway, neighborhood parks, community owned greenbeits or Bingham Lake, nor do they sponsor community events or represent our interests in development issues. The Pinery Homeowners'Association has taken on these functions over the years as the original Pinery developer withdrew. This is a voluntary association and depends on contributions from residents to fund these activities. We are pleased to report that more than two-thirds of you have joined the association and paid dues which are used to fund these programs. If you are not already a dues-paying member of PHA we ask you to take a few minutes to fill out and mail in the following application so that you too will be contributing to the ongoing health and viability of our great community!