September  2000 Newsletter

PHA  HOMEOWNER

PUBLISHED BY THE PINERY HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION

Bikes, Balloon Rides, and Barbecue
Served Up at the Pinery Pedal

Over 330 Pinery residents attended this year’s Pinery Pedal and Picnic, Saturday, August 12th. We all celebrated on the grassy field at Pinery Park, near the fire station. Cloud cover kept the temperature in the eighties all day, and there was no rain.

   Jeff Benegar charted and discretely marked the 26.2, 13.1, and 5 mi. road courses this year. Nice job—all comments received about the tours were very positive . The long and medium routes wound through new areas of High Prairie Farms, the South Pinery, and the Timbers, as well as the new Pinery Parkway loop. Riders were presented with many and various new homes in the newest sections and with spectacular views of the mountains and the lake along the way.

Helping Jeff were friends Eamon and James McCann, Ryan Gardner, Kevin Krogh, Jon Martin, Jo and Luke Miller, Andrew Prevot, Jeff Ruane, Derick Schauer, Nate Sharkey, Brittany Raab, and Renee Young. Thanks to Charlie Krogh for providing the marshals with 2-way radios to keep them in touch during the rides.

Destinations Cyclery was a primary sponsor again this year. The Hans and Catie Wigand family laid out the off-road course, which took off into the woods starting at Pinery Parkway and Ponderosa Way. The Wigands tuned and repaired bikes prior to the rides and offered tandem and demo bikes for interested riders. Every year the Wigand’s volleyball court is a highlight at the picnic. Thank you, Catie, Hans, Per, and Stephan for your tremendous support.

Re-Max’s Hot-Air Balloon Rides

Pinery residents Sharon Anderson and Diane Ward (Re-Max Achievers) outdid themselves this year by bringing the Re-Max hot air balloon to the Picnic!! Pat and Judy Bygott, Carolyn Williamson, and other Pinery residents helped Ken Tadolini, the balloon pilot, to give tethered balloon rides early in the morning. We’ll definitely invite them back again next year.

Kids donned official fire slickers and hosed-down a mock burning building with a real fire hose as part of the Fire Station’s Open House, hosted by Cheryl Poague and the fire chief. Tours of all the big red trucks and the fire station itself delighted many kids and their families.

Pinery Beach, which they set up next to the new kid’s playground at the west end of the Park. The kids went nuts on the play equipment but wisely waited for the sun to come out before trying the swimming pools.

Many thanks to Bess and Jerry Minor, Charles Rosmorduc and his big cart, Doug Stephenson, Don Jacobsen, Ann and Alison Depperman, Alan Sharkey, Jim Miller, and especially Dave Kristick for setup and takedown. We had more to move and did it in far less time than ever before!

Sweet Lorraine’s fed the community very well, doling out lunches of delicious grilled chicken, brats, hot dogs, hamburgers, veggies, and cookies. Barb Kimball, Jane McPeters, Bobbi Walter, and Cyn Benegar helped coordinate the lunch.

Allison Kimball, Kelly Pittman, Meghan Benegar, Annie McPeters, and Corina Kinnear served lemonade from their stand, raising over $90 for the Dixey Youth Fund.

Homeowners learned about the improvements coming to Bingham Lake next June—very interesting indeed. In addition to spiffing up our most valuable resource, we’ll have a chance to see modern civil engineering in action. All volunteers will be welcomed to bring rakes, hoes, and shovels to distribute the chunks of “instant concrete” just before they’re crushed, watered, and smoothed into a permanent path around the lake. The path, and many other improvements are eagerly anticipated for next summer.

PHA board members Sonia Eyre, Dave Kristick, Ron Henkel, Fred Slick, Don Reschke and Will Mechem, as well as Johanna Jacobsen, PHA administrative assistant, and Denise Smith, ACC administrative assistant, sported their blue Pinery shirts and chatted with neighbors throughout the day about the new Reata development and prospects for continued world peace.

Amy Miller coordinated registration again this year, handling registrants’ lunch, ride, T-shirt, and volunteer information. Elaine Jamison, Jim Miller, and Jerry LePre kept the registration running smoothly.

Brett Barber coordinated the production and distribution of three new T-shirt color choices this year, with Peter Kimball, who designed the logo this year. Amy Miller loved the variety and has asked for even more choices next year. We’ll see...

Randy Thompson has generously donated his time to the PHA web page for the past four years. This year he helped the PP&P by posting the colored T-shirt designs, registration form, and event schedule for all to surf. Thanks Randy!

• Destinations Cyclery; a Haro Aluminum BMX Bike won by Luke Miller.
• ABC Balloon Safari; Linda Johnston won a Balloon Safari for two.
• All About Windows and Siding; RJ Stoyle & Megan Duvall won Larsen Storm Doors.
• Pinery Country Club Foursome donated by the Pinery Country Club; won by Bobbi Walter.
• Jackalope Pottery; Luanne Unks won a Chiminea.
• Colorado Community First Bank; Joe Cotter won a $50 Savings Bond.
• Parker Dance; Keith Christiansen, Victoria Crowder, and Thomas Snow each won a month of dance lessons.
• Pinery Homeowners Assn.; Penny Haag, David McPeters, and Roby Brost won Pinery Jackets, and Keith Christiansen, as well as two others won caps.
• McGruff, the Crime Dog, was won by Penny Haag.

I had a great time myself and look forward to your comments on this year’s Picnic and new ideas for next. Thanks for making this year’s the best ever!

Tom Kimball, PP&P Coordinator 303- 841-1846

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FALL CLEAN UP!

The Pinery needs you! It’s time to pick up all the litter left over from the long hot summer, so please put aside a little time on Saturday morning, October 7th, to get together with other community minded Pinery residents to help out!

For details, call the Pinery Homeowners’ Office at 303-841-8572.

PINERY COMMUNITY ART SHOW!

All of you artists in the community, get ready for the first annual Pinery Art Show, coming March 23rd thru 25th, 2001! So get out your paints, pastels, and creative juices and watch this Newsletter for further details!

Volunteers’ Corner - MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Please take a moment to mark June 2, 2001 as a day for you to help your community. On this date, the Pinery residents will have a chance to contribute to their community in a way that will enhance the recreational facilities available to their families. This will be a “Quality of life” project! Watch this Newsletter for more information in the months ahead. And remember—mark your calendars for June 2, 2001!

HALLOWEEN…

Is just around the corner, and once again the PHA is offering reflective Trick-or-Treat Bags for all your little ghosts and goblins. Please drop by the office in the lower level of the Fire Station on N. Pinery Parkway weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to get yours!

Kid’s Fishing Derby

The annual Kid’s Fishing Derby drew over eighty children to Bingham Lake on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, July 15, 2000. The children and parents consumed 140 cans of soda and bottled water.

Each child got a prize with those who caught the longest fish in each species winning a rod and reel. Winners included Jarid Autrey for his 22” Wiper, Mark Agboyani for his 7” Blue Gill, Van Rice for his 10” Crappie, Nate Beller for his 13 ¾ Large Mouth Bass, Karina Eyre for her 24” Carp and Robert Agboyani for his 8” Perch.

The event was organized by dedicated volunteers who worked the registration desk, took pictures, set everything up and took it down again, and used their cell phones to relay the length of the fish caught and the fisherman’s name to “headquarters.”

A big thank you to the volunteers and a special thank you to Eagle Claw and John and Karla Kopasz who made a significant cash contribution!

Bird Sanctuary Has Great
Summer, Despite Drought

We are so pleased to report that of our seventy-four new bushes only three have not sprung to life! Everything else looks wonderful, despite the drought and thanks to hand watering by a group of dedicated volunteers headed by Barb Westerdale and Mary Wiedemann. We had a successful July workday, during which half of our bushes got some major TLC. We’ll baby the other half in August! Thank you to all who helped with watering, weekly maintenance, as well as the workdays.

Thanks, too, to all who responded to the call for birdhouses. We hope to have some ready and installed this spring to attract bluebirds. It was nice to see all of you at the Pedal - we certainly appreciate your donations.

I was the last person to leave on the last workday, and as I pulled away from our site, a robin swept down to one of our new bushes and started plucking off fruit. We’ll probably always battle drought and knapweed, but it's already working!! Call me, Deb Dieter (303-840-4360), if you want to help us out! Thanks again!!

Seniors' Day 2000
Living Well, Aging Well

What: A Douglas County and South Metro Denver event that brings together senior adults and their families, with the businesses and organizations that provide resources and services to these growing population groups.

When: Saturday, Sept. 30, 2000 9:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.

Where: Cherry Hills Community Church 3900 E. Grace Blvd., Highlands Ranch (southwest of the University-Highlands Ranch Parkway intersection).

There is no cost to the public to participate in the event.

Activities include information exhibitors, computer demonstrations, workshops and presentations, wellness screenings such as blood pressure, prize drawings, etc. There will be three workshop "tracks" including a computer track, a just for fun track and a track on general interest items.

Pinery Parks Update

A committee of community volunteers has been working on the renovation of our two neighborhood (pocket) parks, Lakeshore and North Park.  Both are in need of updating to meet today’s safety standards.  We have received bids for new equipment and its installation.  Budgeting for the project is ongoing. 

The Pinery, as a community, is not eligible to apply for a Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) mini-grant, but Douglas County is.  The Douglas County Division of Parks and Trails has offered to sponsor the park projects for a GOCO mini-grant.  The grant process is very competitive with many applications and limited dollars.  We will know by mid-December if our application is awarded grant money.  Many, many thanks to Ron Benson and Randy Burkhardt for assisting The Pinery on this GOCO grant application and their continued support for our community.  

Though obtaining the grant would ease a significant financial expenditure, the PHA is committed to updating the parks with or without a grant award if necessary.  

A Letter to the Editor

Dear Pinery HOA:

Over the past several years, neighbors on my street have received anonymous letters over various issues (pets, lawns, teenage drivers, etc.). I've always felt that while anonymous letters might get the message across, they also serve to polarize neighborhoods and ultimately, make neighborhoods and individual streets less friendly.

In the last neighborhood I lived in, my next-door neighbor received an anonymous note about not "keeping her lawn up." She was a single mother with three children (one with a serious problem), trying to hold down a full-time job. She was very upset to receive the note. When she told us about the note, my husband and I went over there and helped her with her lawn.

Although talking to someone in person about a problem may take more courage, I feel it is ultimately better than writing anonymous notes.

Barbara J. Adams
Pinery Resident

COVENANT CORNER

The Pinery Architectural Control Committee

From the Architectural Standards …

As we told you in the last newsletter, as directed by Protective Covenants, the ACC has developed standards for reviewing plans submitted by homeowners for approval. A complete copy of these standards is available at the ACC office, please stop by or call 303-841-5305, give us your address and we’ll be happy to mail you the complete package.

For this and future newsletters, we plan to publish excerpts from the standards for your information. Following is the first in this series.

Any exterior additions to an originally approved dwelling or other improvements must be approved by the Pinery Architectural Control Committee (PACC) prior to commencement of any construction or modifications. Any exterior additions or modifications to any dwelling or other improvements should be constructed of like materials and colors of the dwelling. These include, but are not limited to, siding, roofing, or trim materials. Any additions or modifications shall be within the approved building area as prescribed by the Pinery Protective Covenants for the address in question.

Submittal for architectural review should include at minimum:

• Plot plan for property showing

  • Location of existing dwelling
  • Location of property lines and easements
  • Location of proposed addition location
  • Measurements between all of the above.

• A drawing of proposed addition showing all finished elevations (front, back and sides) with materials and colors indicated or supplied.
• Photos of current structure and the location of the addition.
• Signatures of affected neighbors to indicate that they are aware of the proposed addition, the meeting date, and time the plan will be presented to the ACC.

NEWS FROM THE WATER BOARD

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who took us up on our offer of Bio-solids from the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Sorry that we ran out, but Kevin, the WWTP Manager, has promised that more will be available by the time this article is published. If you are still in need of some for your fall planting activities, please contact the folks at the WWTP and they can make arrangements for you to pick them up.

It is with great pride that I also announce that the District WWTP was recently selected for the annual Rocky Mountain Region Plant Performance Award. This award is given each year to one WWTP in the Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming Region. The District has many hard working and dedicated employees who are some of the best in their profession, and this award shows how much pride they take in their work. Kevin and the members of the WWTP staff - thank you for your efforts.

The District has recently been approached by the owners of the property known as “Reata South” for consideration of inclusion into the District. Many of you may know this property as the old “Betts Ranch”. It is located between the north boundary of the Pinery and the Butterfield/Crestview developments and the south boundary of Parker. The developer presented a sketch plan of their concept (169 home sites, an 18-hole golf course, riding stables and other related facilities) at the Pinery Pedal and it appeared to have been well received. There are many engineering and operational pluses if this land is eventually incorporated into the District and we will be examining these over the next couple of board meetings as we consider this request for inclusion. No final decisions have been made and input from the members of the District and Homeowner Associations is being sought in helping the members of the District Board reach the right decision for this area. Your input, pro or con, will be greatly appreciated

If you or any other member of the District have questions or concerns about any water or sanitary sewer issues, please feel free to contact us at 303- 841-2797. If you wish to meet with us in person, we encourage you to attend the regularly scheduled board meetings, held 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. Someone is always available to meet with you and discuss your concerns.

David C. Eyre, Civil Engineer, P.E.
Director

Anonymous Message

Imagine taking a message:

“The trash pickup in my area has gotten really bad, drivers are rude, they scatter trash cans and trash everywhere and are a detriment to the neighborhood. If this doesn’t improve, I’m going to cancel my service!”
  - no name, phone number, or address…
      Or,
“There’s a pile of limbs that’s been sitting at the house at the end of the street; could someone please ask the owner to remove it? It’s really a fire hazard!”
  - no name, phone number, or address…

The problem in both these instances is that no action can be taken without further information. Please understand that identities of those reporting problems are kept strictly confidential.

Also, as a reminder, please be considerate and bag your trash in the cans. On windy days, even the most careful handling will result in scattering of unsecured trash.

PHA Membership

If you are not in the Pinery Trash Program, please consider contributing to the health and vitality of the community by supporting the Pinery Homeowners’ Association. The PHA maintains Pinery neighborhood parks, greenbelts, and the north entry, and promotes community spirit through the Pinery Pedal & Picnic, the Community Garage Sale, the Kids Fishing Derby, Community Cleanups, etc., and by putting you in touch with developments that may impact you as residents. More than 1,260 have already provided support through participation in the Pinery/Waste Management Trash Program. Thanks for your consideration!