Living in the Neighborhood
Annual Termite Inspection Underway
If you live in a townhome unit, it is time for the annual termite inspection. The Association carries insurance for damage from termites and has contracted with Termitech South #31 of Charlotte for this service. Once a year, an inspection is required to maintain this policy. Inspections of external areas of each townhome block were checked in early-October. Termitech now needs to inspect first floor interior walls, patio areas, and garages.
All townhome residents received a flyer in early-October explaining this requirement. The inspections began on Monday, October 7. Please call Rick “Da Bug Man” at 704.902.0172 (cell phone) to make an appointment for inspection of interior walls and garages and patios that are not accessible. Termitech hopes to complete all units by the end of November. The inspection does not involve any actual spraying for pests. It is a termite inspection service only. However, since the neighborhood does have this contract, Termitech offers a $45 special to townhome owners for interior pest (ants, spiders, roaches, etc.) control. If interested in receiving this additional service at owner expense, please contact Termitech at the number above.
Townhome owners may take this service lightly since termites have not been detected in the past. However, this year for the first time since the development was complete, a termite infestation and evidence of minor damage was seen in a townhome on Harper Lee Street. Signs of termite activity include mud tubes by drain pipes under sinks, near washing machines, and at the water tank. These signs may also include small holes in walls and baseboard paint starting to bubble-up. Make sure that you stay protected and call for an inspection appointment if you have not already done so. This is an important service covered by your assessment fees. Thank you for your cooperation.
If you have further questions, please feel free to call the Termitech office in Charlotte at 704.528.8037
Second Annual OktoberFest Party — A Huge Success!
For all those neighbors who came to the second annual OktoberFest on October 25 on Faulkner Square, you already know that the event was a big success and a fun time was had by all! The weather was a little chilly, but the day stayed dry and made a perfect setting for an October party.
Many volunteers helped with this event. Hopefully we will not forget someone:
Chairperson: Melissa
Graham
An outstanding job!
Help with Children’s Activities: Lynn Palmer
. . . and a special thank you for the bubbles!
Sign-in Table: Jen
Walters & Debbie Lauder
Everyone wanted a chance at a door prize!
Cooks: Rodney Graham, Paul
Sanchez, Dave
Smith
The burgers and dogs were great, but where did those giant BBQ chicken breasts
come from?
Set-up: Lesley Swartz & Emma Mahoney
A perfect layout & plenty of space for the kids!
Live D.J.: DJ
AVL
He’s young, but good! If interested in having him for a future party,
contact him at 704.824.3087 or e-mail at djavl4@yahoo.com.
Advertising Help: John Marshall Custom Homes
Gift Certificates and Door
Prizes:
Ben & Jerry’s Campania
Cafe
Davidson
Chiropractic Lollipop
Decor
MJ’s
Sugar Shack The
Soda Shop
Soft Drinks and Sodas: Pepsi & Lesley Swartz
(They come through every year and we appreciate that help!)
These local merchants and businesses were good to us. Please consider giving them your business in the future!
Clean-up: Many of our neighbors – Thank you all!
Special
Thanks: St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
Paul Sanchez helped with the church BBQ on Saturday and was able to bring
the church BBQ cooker for the chicken and the rented tractor and wagon for
hay rides for the kids. The kids probably had the best time ever. A donation
will be made on behalf of the Association to St. Alban’s Church.
An event like this does not happen without willing and dedicated volunteers. It is a pleasure to see that our neighborhood is blessed with such people – your neighbors. Please express your thanks personally to the people on this list.
Melissa took a number of pictures during OktoberFest with her cell phone. As soon as these can be downloaded and formatted, they will be put on the website for all to see.
This may seem early, but please consider volunteering now for the Neighborhood party in 2010!
Waterproofing Repairs to Start on Caldwell Lane
Heavy rains have highlighted some serious water-proofing problems in some of the townhomes on Caldwell Lane. There are a total of eleven townhomes with basements on Caldwell and Twain. Obviously, waterproofing is a major concern for these residents.
Three of the townhome units have immediate problems and work is expected to start on repairs during the first week of November. Due to the extensive trenching required, coordination between the landscape contractor and the waterproofing contractor are needed. The landscaping work to remove existing plants could begin as early as Wednesday, November 4. Work by Queen City Waterproofing Company could then start on Monday, November 9. These dates are subject to weather conditions and may be moved.
When exact dates are known, members of the Building Maintenance Committee will inform residents. It is important for all residents of the neighborhood to be aware this work is underway in order to take care when driving on Caldwell Lane during construction activity. In order to provide maximum access by contractor vehicles and protect personal vehicles from being damaged, it is advisable that no one park in front of the Caldwell townhomes during this work.
Other waterproofing issues and/or drainage problems will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Quotes are being obtained for work already requested for patio drainage problems on Caldwell and Twain.
Fairview Lane Safety — Follow-up on Issues
Julie Robinson and the residents of Fairview Lane have been busy with analysis of the safety issues on their street. Doug Wright, Public Works Director for the Town of Davidson, completed a Traffic Study Report following the neighbor’s meeting in September. Julie and several other residents along Fairview attended the Council of Stewards Meeting on October 28 and presented the report findings.
The report statistics were divided between weekdays and weekends. Although traffic flow decreased over the weekend, the percentage of speeding cars was roughly the same. Over 50% of all vehicles traveling on Fairview Lane drive in excess of the neighborhood posting of 20 mph. Between 12% and 15% of all vehicles travel in excess of 30 mph. One vehicle was reported to be speeding at 50 mph! In addition to data gathered by devices in the road, the Davidson Police Department also patrolled periodically to watch behavior at the STOP signs. There were many violations due to failure to STOP. To date, reported violations have all been residents of either New Neighborhood or McConnell Neighborhood. As a deterrent, police will continue to set up checks throughout the neighborhood.
The Traffic Safety Report also listed a number of traffic calming measures and the speed change impact of these measures. In light of the report, the Council of Stewards appointed an Ad Hoc Safety Committee to be chaired by Julie Robinson (Nancy Lingle, COS representative). It was requested that the committee include residents from Conroy Avenue and Wolfe Street as similar problems exist along those roads. The committee is also expected to seek input from McConnell Neighborhood.
The charge for the committee is to further evaluate the report and to make a recommendation of two or three of the traffic calming techniques. These items include, but are not limited to, speed humps and “street chokers.” The committee is expected to report back to the COS at the December meeting. The recommendations will then be presented to the town for evaluation and cost. Meanwhile, New Neighborhood is scheduled to have road markings repainted, including all STOP bars. Additional wording STOP AHEAD may be added to the Fairview Lane intersections to further bring attention to all STOP signs. Trees will be trimmed around the signs in December.
Although the results of the Traffic Study Report were not found to be unusual by Town officials, residents of New Neighborhood obviously want to take action to resolve the problem before something tragic occurs. Speeding in residential neighborhoods represents the single greatest complaint issue to city representatives throughout the U.S. It is also a fact that the death rate per million miles driven on residential streets is almost 3 times higher than the death rate on highways. Thank you to Julie Robinson and her committee for seeking action.
Slow Down and Watch for Children Playing!
Winter Holiday Decorations Contest
The Landscape and Grounds Committee invites all residents (single-family and townhomes) to participate in the New Neighborhood Fourth 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 14 and 15. 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, 2010.
Begin planning now. Everyone is invited to participate and we encourage all
to get in the spirit!!
Newsletter Delivery Volunteers
Thanks go to all of our delivery volunteers! Our October squad included Adria & Woody Appleby, Harold & Paula Bell, Barbara & Tom Doster, Tom Fischer, Bob & Jo Herman, Anne Jerands, Sherman & Nancy Kahn, Norman Richards, and Dave Smith. New volunteers are always welcome! Cooler delivery months are finally here!
If you wish to volunteer, please call Dave Smith at 704.987.1472 (e-mail davidbsmith@bellsouth.net).
Information on Gas Logs
Our gas logs failed to light last fall. We bemoaned the loss of a warming fire all winter. When they failed to light again this year, we started looking at new logs. Ouch! Then we called Carmen, a log maintenance man recommended to us by other neighbors. He worked for the company that originally installed the logs and is now on his own. He knows a lot about gas logs in general.
Our logs are quality mid-range logs, not “contractor grade” as I suspected. Our operational problems are the result of lack of maintenance, not inferior quality. When properly set up, the front face of the main log will glow red, a realistic effect we had never seen because it requires precise placement of the main log.
The logs were made by Vermont Castings. The model number for our 24-inch logs is UVL24RN. For the 18-inch logs, it is UVL18RN. Vermont Castings subsequently sold their gas log business to Majestic Products, a division of Monessen Hearth Systems Co. I was able to locate an owner’s manual on the internet. Google “Majestic_UVL_Owners_Manual.pdf” to get one.
Gas logs require regular maintenance, particularly the vent free ones like ours. Combustion generates moisture. Circulating air brings in a lot of dust. The moisture and dust will eventually clog the openings and orifices in the burner system and shut the logs down if they are not regularly maintained. Annually is best, but every two years at least.
There are two types of gas logs – cement and fiber. The cement ones are heavy. The fiber ones, which we have, are very light. The fiber logs give off an odor similar to burning paint, which we always thought was coming from heating the underside of the mantle. It isn’t. The odor is caused by the burning off of chemicals used in the production of the fiber logs. To fully burn the chemicals off and reduce or eliminate the odor, the logs should be run on high for six continuous hours. If you have not already done this, you should. Open windows downstairs and upstairs during this process to vent the heat and odor. And of course be home to monitor the process. We did it. It really helps.
If you would like to have Carmen maintain your logs, he can be reached at: Carmen Hockersmith, Gas Log Services (home phone: 704.525.0557; or cell phone: 704.858.1016).
This morning, we warmed our feet by the fire while we read the paper and enjoyed our coffee. Nice! Even better, we saved a bundle. We were looking at new logs for all the wrong reasons – because they didn’t work, stunk, and were cheap – none of which turned out to be true. New logs are $800 or more. Maintenance was less than $100. And that is a warm glow.
Mike Stenhouse
Thanks go to Mike Stenhouse (Caldwell Lane) for another
helpful and safety-oriented article. We welcome human interest and informative
articles from all of our neighbors. Take a literary moment!
