Living in the Neighborhood

Holiday Security Tips

Break-ins in the Davidson area are still occurring and, although last Christmas was relatively quiet, it was a peak time for thieves two years ago. If you plan on traveling over the holidays, there are several things you and your neighbors can do to ensure the security and safety of your home and property while you are away:

• Ask neighbors to keep an eye on your residence.
• Lock all doors, windows and screens.
• Do not stop newspaper delivery. Have a neighbor collect it for you.
• Put lights and radios on timers.
• Leave a phone number with a neighbor where you can be reached in case of an emergency.
• If you have an alarm, use it.
• Keep a close eye on strangers in the neighborhood.
• Report unauthorized door-to-door solicitation to the Police Department.

The Davidson Police Department encourages you to go on-line and utilize their “Home Security Check” service. By completing the simple checklist and submitting the request between 12 and 24 hours ahead of your travel, the Police Department will pay particular attention to your home in your absence. Although the Police Department cannot guarantee the protection of your property with this request, Jeanne Miller, Davidson Chief of Police, is proud to report that there have been no break-ins among homes under this security check. Visit http://www.ci.davidson.nc.us/units/police/ and click on “Home Security Checks.”

Have a safe and happy holiday.

Winter Holiday Decorations Contest

The Landscape and Grounds Committee invites all residents (single-family and townhomes) to participate in the New Neighborhood’s first annual Winter Holiday Decorating Contest. The contest will be judged in two separate categories:

• Best Overall for Single-Family Homes
• Best Overall for Townhomes

The Yard-of-the-Month Committee will judge all entries. Judging will take place at night between 6:00 and 8:00 P.M. on December 10 and 11, 2006. Entries will be evaluated on creativity, originality, thematic elements and overall design quality, and not just on quantity of lights. Winners will be awarded a blue ribbon and photographed for the newsletter and website.

All participants will be asked to remove decorations no later than the third Sunday in January, 2007.

Landscaping Requests

In the last couple of months, requests to make changes to landscaping have come in overwhelming numbers, both among single-family homeowners and among townhome residents. The Landscape & Grounds Committee in coordination with the Architectural Review Committee have asked for your patience and understanding with this situation.

Several things are happening among townhomes. A proposal to re-landscape many of the original townhome units (Caldwell Lane and Twain Avenue) is under review by Contemporary Landscapes, our Association contractor. Some shrubs and trees originally planted in these areas were inappropriate for the setting and are now too big to maintain and function. This project may very well become a similar one to the current painting projects in that some landscaping will be redone each year for five or six years.

The other problem among townhomes is that many residents want a complete rework now. The requests are variable and there is little consistency. The first priority this year has been to replace dead and dying bushes and shrubs. Beyond that, it is not desirable to make all units look the same, but the Landscape & Grounds Committee is attempting to develop a list of appropriate (and inappropriate) materials for consideration. Since these areas are maintained as part of the Peer Group budget, the committee wants to ensure that we do not create future problems, but, at the same time, give homeowners a reasonably individual look.

Single-family homeowners have a slightly different problem. The Association landscape contractor does not maintain these yards. However, the approval process is important to ensure the visual integrity of the neighborhood while also meeting restrictions set by neighborhood Covenants and Canons of Conduct. Again, the growth rate and gardening history of evergreen shrubs and trees needs to be carefully reviewed to avoid towering evergreens which will eventually cause problems and possible removal at some later date. A recent newspaper article highlighted the best way to provide a screen. While it may be tempting to plant a line of the same kind of evergreens, a mixture is far better in the neighborhood. Red-tipped photinias and Leyland cypress are both considered inappropriate in close communities and are prone to problems. Two of the better suggestions as attractive plants are Nellie Stevens holly and Camellia sasanqua. The two committees are both trying to develop guidelines and a list of particularly unacceptable plants to give owners a better idea of where to start.

In conclusion, the Landscape & Grounds Committee and the Architectural Review Committee have put a hold on all approvals until better direction can be developed and communicated. On a positive note, The ARC appreciates the fact that homeowners have submitted requests and recognize the need for an approval process. The number of requests has been unexpected and the committee wants to give careful consideration to each one. Homeowners who do not follow the approval process or who proceed with unapproved work are subject to fines and the possibility of removing changes.

Snakes on a Plane . . . Or Where?

Several residents in New Neighborhood have recently expressed concern that there have been a number of sightings of small snakes, reported as “baby copperheads.” Although residents in all parts of the neighborhood, townhomes and single-family homes, have reported seeing these small snakes, concerns seem focused on the wetland (storm run-off) areas and dense underbrush along the pipeline. So far there has not been a report of a full grown copperhead.

This is not an uncommon occurrence for the early-fall. However, the chances of these snakes being “baby copperheads” are slim. The best way for neighbors to put rumors to rest is to allow others to see these snakes, dead or alive, and help with identification. In most cases, these will likely turn out to be a variety of full grown, but harmless, ground (or brown) snakes. Please let Dave Smith or other Council of Steward members know of the whereabouts of these snakes. A call to view a dead one is sufficient. I would not suggest capture or preservation. Until we can get a definite idea of the extent of the problem, it is difficult to take further action, if necessary at all.

Although, identification is not my strength, I was recently shown one of the alleged “baby copperheads” on Faulkner Way. The snake was definitely NOT a copperhead. Its markings were brown above (with some pattern) and white below. Size was approximately 8 to 10 inches. It did not have identical markings to adult copperheads, the head was not triangular in shape, the tail was not yellow, the eyes were perfectly round, and the size was smaller than a two or three month old copperhead. Identification from several sources indicated a variety of the ground snake family. These snakes are common and harmless.

The unusual number of recent sightings is likely the result of the gas company clearing a small path through pipeline growth in September or October.

In order to put this issue in perspective and keep everyone well informed, here are a few facts about copperheads:

• Although Copperheads are found in this area, their habitat will generally be rather remote and often near water and abandoned woodpiles or homes.
• Mating season for copperheads is February to April and August through October. However, fertilization in late-fall is often delayed until spring.
• These snakes generally go into a state of hibernation from November through February and are seldom seen during this period.
• Newborn and young copperheads have exactly the same markings as an adult, a brown hour-glass pattern and triangular head. The only real difference in newborn or young copperheads is that the head will likely be a little redder and the tail will be yellow. The rate of offspring survival is not good.
• Copperhead snakes are not aggressive and seldom strike except in extreme cases of forced defense. They prefer to be where humans are not.
• Adult copperheads vary in length from 24 to 36 inches, with the largest reported size over four feet! The body is generally described as chunky but definitely not slim. Newborns gain in size quickly.

The Landscape & Grounds Committee will discuss possible actions by the landscape contractor to keep pipeline and non-wetland areas better trimmed in season. There is really not much that can be done to the storm run-off basins as these areas are vital to water control and are protected under certain state laws. However, parents should caution children NOT to play in the storm water basins at any time. This is not only because of a concern for snakes, but rather because these areas were never designed as playgrounds and may contain standing water and thick mud. It is important to keep these areas in good condition and free of debris.

Wildlife is not uncommon in New Neighborhood. Deer have been sighted more than once in Faulkner Square and both raccoons and skunks have frequented the area. Squirrels have been creating problems in the work units on Caldwell Lane. Animal control officials will be contacted in problem cases. Again, parents should warn children NOT to approach wildlife of any kind and to report dead animals immediately. This is important because of the high incidence of rabies in this part of North Carolina.

Some Thoughts about Stewardship and Global Warming
(Installment 4)

Heating and Air Conditioning

This is the fourth in a series of articles about saving energy, saving money, and reducing global warming. This month we will look at heating and air conditioning.
Heating and air conditioning costs depend on a number of things: the size and shape of our home, how well it is insulated, the number of windows and doors, the efficiency of the heating and air conditioning systems, the local energy costs, and the difference in temperature between the inside and the outside of your home. In our neighborhood, the homes are new. The size, shape, insulation, number of windows and doors, efficiency of the systems, and local energy costs are already determined. The main thing we can control is the thermostat setting.

With a thermostat setting of 72 degrees year round, we have to run the air conditioning from April to October to remove heat from the house. The amount to be removed is the difference between the outside temperature and the thermostat setting, shown as the “A/C Load” in the chart. We have to run the furnace from October to April to add heat to the house. The amount to be added is again the difference between the outside temperature and the thermostat setting, shown as the “Heat Load” in the chart.

To save energy and money, we set the thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer and 65 degrees in the winter.

We turn the heat off in March and do not turn the air conditioning on until May. We turn the air conditioning off in September and do not turn the heat on until November. This gives us around four free months without either heat or air conditioning. Also note in the chart that the “A/C Load” is much smaller and the “Heat Load” is much smaller. How much smaller? This strategy saves us about 45% in our air conditioning costs and 50% in our heating costs. That is a $490 saving in air conditioning and a $650 saving in heat each year with corresponding savings in energy consumption and green house gas production.

This analysis based on maximum daily temperature illustrates the point, but there is more to it. Temperatures typically vary 20 degrees from low to high during the day in this area. A programmable thermostat that reduces temperatures at night and raises them again during the day can also save big money. Air conditioners are far more efficient when it is cooler outside, so chilling the house at night and allowing the temperatures to rise during the day can save a lot. In the winter, turning the heat off at night when it is coldest outside decreases the temperature difference between inside and outside and reduces the heat loss. We do this by adjusting the thermostats manually at night and again in the morning, but are looking at the programmable thermostats to cover those increasingly frequent lapses of memory.

Is it comfortable? Actually, more comfortable after we got used to it and learned to dress appropriately. Because the inside temperature is closer to the outside temperature, we are not as inclined to notice when it is hot or cold outside, so we spend more time outside. There is no thermal shock when we go outside or come back in. We feel more like we are living in our environment rather than being isolated from it - which is a good thing.

Is it healthy? We think so. We are less affected by sinus problems and dry skin caused by excessive dry heat in the winter and less likely to get summer colds from excessively cold air conditioning in the summer - also a good thing.

Comfort, good health, money in the bank, a better future for everyone - a good deal all around!

Mike Stenhouse
Concerned Resident of New Neighborhood

Newsletter Delivery Volunteers

Many thanks are due our newsletter delivery volunteers.

October volunteers included Adria & Woody Appleby & Brandon Burrows, Barbara Doster, Tom Fischer, Norm Reid, Dave Smith, and John & Marcia Williamson.