Living in the Neighborhood
Change in ARC Meeting Schedule
As noted on the committee schedule on the cover page, the Architectural Review Committee (Luann Christine, chairperson) has changed its regular meeting time to the third Wednesday of every month. Please make this note on the Association Calendar printed in the January-February newsletter issue.
Dog Attacks in Neighborhood Still an Issue
At the Annual Meeting in September of 2011, a key issue of discussion was the increased number of dog attacks in New Neighborhood. These incidents included attacks on other pets and on residents. The Davidson Police Department left a clear message with our community in a special presentation.
Unfortunately, there has been yet another serious incident in which a dog attacked a family cat on the family’s own front porch! The dog was not under proper control since the child walking the dog was too young and unable to restrain the dog from getting loose and attacking the cat. The incident resulted in expensive vet bills to repair injuries to the cat.
In addition, incidents of aggressive and uncontrolled behavior are still being reported around the off-leash dog park. Rules regarding use of the park have been changed and are posted at the park. If you are a regular user of this facility, please take time to review these restrictions. It is also imperative that all dogs be under complete owner control when moving from parked vehicles to the park entrance. The Town of Davidson requires that all dogs using the off-leash park be registered and tagged by the town.
Ordinances regarding dogs in the Town of Davidson are clear. All dogs must be controlled on leash or in a fenced yard at all times. The control of the dog is always the responsibility of the owner. By law, anyone handling a dog on a leash must be 18 years of age or older. Small children walking a dog are not considered to have the pet “under control.” Any incident regarding a dog, on leash or off leash, should be reported to the DPD. By law, all dog bites must be reported to the police. If a dog is spotted in the neighborhood off leash, residents are encouraged to call 911 or the Davidson Police Department. Repeat incidents of an aggressive dog or the inability of an owner to control his/her animal can result in the dog being taken from the owner.
Our neighborhood has had more incidents involving dog attacks than any other neighborhood in Davidson. The Council of Stewards is dismayed by this negative distinction and wishes to see it reversed. Again, this will happen only if all incidents are reported and with the cooperation of all dog owners. Pet owners should understand that there is a huge liability involved in cases of non-compliance.
Yard-of-the-Month, May, 2012
The Landscape & Grounds Committee congratulates Mike & Nancy Kota of 112 Caldwell Lane as the May 2012 winner of the “Yard-of-the-Month.” This is the first winner of the 2012 season, but comes as no surprise as the Kota’s were also the first winners of the 2010 season! As a repeat winner, they will join the New Neighborhood Yard of Fame Club. Caldwell Lane continues to be a frequent location for the Star of Excellence. These homes almost appear to be in competition with each other.
The yard has changed significantly since 2010. Lovely rhododendron still accent the entire front yard. However, the lush green grass has been replaced with bright green ground cover. This adds an unusual, but attractive, difference to other yards. A neat stone wall and planter lines the side of the driveway while stone pavers lead the way to an amazing back yard treatment. A beautiful Japanese maple has been planted along the side and will only get more attractive as it grows. The side hedges are well trimmed. The Kota’s benefit from two maple trees in the front, providing shade for an inviting front porch that includes a rocking chair and lamp for late summer night reading. Although much of the work was initially done by a professional landscaper, the Kota’s themselves spend much time working in their award winning yard.
A good view was difficult due to yard debris at the curb and construction across the street.
However, you must see this in person to capture the picture!
Congratulations to Mike & Nancy Kota!
Each month from May through October, a yard will be selected among single-family homes. If you have questions or suggestions regarding this plan, please call Judy McLean at 704.895.0940.
Note: Since the newsletter is now delivered every two months, the June winner will be included with the July winner in the July issue.
Annual HVAC Maintenance
The summer heat is here and it seems unlikely that any resident of New Neighborhood would not already be using that mainstay of the Old South – Air Conditioning. However, as some residents have discovered, a little annual maintenance will save big dollars in repair bills. For those homes with gas heat and electric air, the season often starts before a complete check of the system is completed. It is always wise to have a trained HVAC company check the system completely at the start of each season. The best time for this is in April or early-May when you may not be using heat or A/C.
There is one item that should be checked several times during the hot weather months. A/C units in the townhomes have an outdoor unit with compressor and fan, but the central air flow unit (fan and coils) is located in the attic space. To create low-humidity, cool air, these interior units create a lot of condensate. All units are equipped with both a primary and back-up drain. It is extremely important to insure that this line is open and passing condensate when the A/C unit is in operation. Usually a quick check of the line outside will provide evidence of good flow. Although there is a back-up line for most systems, these drains can also fail due to build-up of mold and algae. Wasps and other insects also will sometimes build nests just inside these open lines. A good maintenance tip is to flush the line at the start of each season with a Clorox® and water mix. There is usually a removable cap on the drain line at the condenser unit in the attic. This quick operation at the start of each season and periodic visual checks of good flow outside will prevent costly repairs from water damage and possible damage to the unit itself.
It is a good idea to also check these drain lines during the winter. The trap arrangement will often retain water into cold winter months. This water can freeze and result in cracked or broken condensate lines. A good annual maintenance check before starting the unit will catch this problem before water leaks into attic spaces.
Sewer Line Repairs Scheduled for August
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Department of Public Works has recently announced that during a recent inspection, massive areas of crumbling concrete and large cracks were found in sanitary sewer lines throughout the neighborhood. William B. Johns, Charlotte Public Works Manager, stated that he has never seen this situation before, but it must be repaired as soon as possible to avoid future blockages.
This work cannot be done under normal operating conditions. It will require a shutdown of the entire sanitary sewer system for a maximum of two weeks. Although this will present tremendous inconvenience to residents, it must be done. As of this week, the work is scheduled for the first two weeks of August and will require residents not to use any water during this period. This obviously includes potable water, showers, baths, and toilets.
To accommodate residents during these two weeks, facilities will be erected in Faulkner Square to provide at least minimal service for users. Water trucks will be stationed at each end of Faulkner Square for drinking water. There will be a total of six portable showers installed at the east end. Water connection to neighborhood common area supplies will be used to provide water to these systems. However, it is expected that the water will be only warm at best.
One dozen Porta-Johns are being provided free of charge to the city for use during the repair period. The Porta-John Corporation of Harpoon, Maine, expects to showcase one of their newest units during the outage. They will be providing two dual seat units appropriately named “Luv Pots.” These units represent the latest in technology, including on-site chemical waste treatment and the new “sani-flush” system.
It is recognized that this will be a hard two weeks, but with the cooperation and patience of all residents, the outcome will provide a long trouble free future for our sanitary sewer system.
Although the logistics of this project and an exact schedule are under consideration, please call the toll free number to get more details: 1-555-MAY-POPP.
Note: Beware of the fool! He needs not the month of April to cast his magic bag of tricks. Are we too old to forget the first day of May when, as kids, we smacked the top of a friend’s head and yelled, “May Pop!”
Respect Our Shrubs!
Maintenance and upkeep of the landscaping throughout New Neighborhood is a never-ending process. Our landscape contractor puts in many hours to maintain the appearance we have all come to expect. However, many townhome and park shrubs are showing dead patches where dogs have been allowed to repeatedly relieve themselves. Please respect the bushes in front of townhomes when walking your pet. Encourage Fido to find a more favorite location for relief.
The Association realizes that the problem is not entirely due to careless neighborhood residents. Our streets and sidewalks are attractive areas to the entire community and many of these folks have big pooches! Nevertheless, please be considerate of the appearance of our townhome shrubs and request your dog to kindly use a light pole or fire hydrant.
This is especially true in the hot summer months when a heavy “nitrogen spray” can cause severe plant burns. Compliance with this request can save you and the Association big $$$$ in landscape replacement costs!
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.Go Green! – Receive Your Newsletter via E-Mail!Please consider receiving the newsletter by e-mail and save on Association costs and delivery times. If interested, e-mail Dave Smith at davidbsmith@bellsouth.net and give your name, street address, and e-mail. Your newsletter will be delivered earlier and in color! Don’t delay. Sign-up today! |
Newsletter Delivery Volunteers
A special “Thank You” is always due our delivery volunteers! Although summer is almost here and delivery becomes easier, you can make their job even easier by having your newsletter delivered by e-mail. The January-February team included: Adria & Woody Appleby, Bob & Deb Cameron, Barbara Dillman, Anne Jerands, Nancy & Sherman Kahn, Eileen Mason, and Dave Smith. New volunteers are always welcome.
If you wish to help, call Dave Smith at 704.987.1472 or e-mail at davidbsmith@bellsouth.net.
