| The Westchester Wanderer – Feb 2007
PRESS FROM THE PREZ
Happy New Year to all my fellow residents of the Greater Westchester Village. This version of the Wanderer holds many updates and its our goal to ensure you start the year with all of the information you need to have a healthy and happy year as far as our neighborhood goes.
First I’d like the thank all of the departing Board Members for the past involvement to make this neighborhood what is today, especially our former president Jim Tousignant, former treasurer Carl Stone, and Secretary Bob Taylor. We appreciate all your hard work and thank you for your contributions and time.
So, what does this year have in store for us? There are a number of current things in place, which we will continue to move forward with, priorities such as: 1). Neighborhood Beautification Project, which is working on plans to address our neighborhood entry signs and ensure we have our best face forward 2). Social Calendar – the establishing of meaningful interactions among neighbors in areas that are of interest 3). Speeding and Safety Issues/concerns, which includes a potential Neighborhood Watch Program. More information on these topics is available in the newsletter below, and as always you are welcome to learn more about what we are doing by coming to our monthly meetings or perhaps visiting us on the web at www.westchestervillage.org
I want to remind everyone that the neighborhood is what we make of it. If you want a more involved association we need your help. Please speak up and volunteer if you can contribute this year.
Finally, I want to remind everyone to pay the annual association dues. Of the $50.00 yearly dues, ˝ will go to the basics (maintenance, insurance, utilities etc) and ˝ will go to the Beautification project/new entrance ways. Enclosed in this envelope is the Treasurers Report with a more complete listing, it is imperative that you take care of this ASAP. If you have any questions regarding your dues, please contact our treasurer Bill Sutherland at 249-594-3807.
I look forward to serving as the Association President and am anxious to meet more of you. See you around the neighborhood!
Rick Wiltgen
Neighborhood Beautification Project
We are working with the two developers in the neighborhood, Hunter Roberts and Wellington Chase Builders on designs for new entrance signs into our neighborhood. Their architect has provided some impressive drawings, which we will be promoting during an upcoming association meeting in the next month or so.
Speeding and Safety
Speeding - In discussions with Bloomfield Twp Traffic Officer, Mark Paquin, they are actively addressing the complaints of speeding through the neighborhood. We have purchased ‘Drive 25 keep kids alive’ street signs and would like interested neighbors to contact us if they feel their yards would be good spots for them. Please contact Dan Michelini ASAP if you are interested or have additional concerns we need to address. The cost of the signs and poles will be the Association’s responsibility and the Township Road Dept will complete installation.
Neighborhood Watch Program – Gary LaGuire and Julie Frei will be heading up a Neighborhood Watch Program. This was put in place at the Feb. BOD meeting and we are looking for volunteers to assist in this area as well.
Let’s Coexist Peacefully and Safely with Pets!
When walking your pooch please remember that it is your responsibility to clean up after him/her. If he/she needs to doodie somewhere other than your yard bring a bag with you. It has also been noticed that there are some dog/cats wandering in the subdivision. This presents a potential danger to residents but with incoming cold weather it is too cold for any animal to be outside for long periods of time. If you do not know the owner or have already attempted to contact the owner, please contact the Township Animal Control. If your dog wanders off your property, please remember that, although your immediate neighbors may know that he/she is friendly, others may not. Nothing is scarier than being rushed by a dog on the street that you do not know. Postal carriers or other delivery services may not deliver your mail/packages and lawn services may refrain from doing their services as well. Other residents and visitors traveling the subdivision may become frightened and injured in an attempt to avoid your dog.
Construction/Ordinances
If you are planning to add a deck, fence, a home addition, a tree house, pool, or play structure, please contact John Newman (248-644-4267) or Bob Taylor (248-540-4048), our Architectural Review Committee or Jeff Salz (248-645-5953) our Vice-President and Ordinance Officer. These gentlemen will assist you with what is required to obtain approval of your request.
If you are considering a play-structure for your rear yard please sure to follow these steps:
· Obtain written approval from your adjacent neighbors and our Association Committee
· Should be located in the rear yard and 16 feet from property lines; Max height is 14 feet
· Brightly colored accessories items such as canopies and slides must be removed during the winter months
· If a complaint is received by the Ordinance Department, then it will be handled case-to-case. If the homeowner is unwilling to cooperate, then the case will move to the Zoning Board of Appeals
Westchester Social Calendar
If you would like to suggest an activity or participate on a team to plan a new activity, please contact Becky at beckywiltgen1@comcast.net. Examples already suggested include an Easter Egg Hunt, 4th of July Bike Parade, Bridge Groups, a Euchre tournament, or ice cream social. Keep in mind without any participation or dues from the neighborhood; we will have limited opportunity to plan any additional events to get to know each other better.
Upcoming Scheduled Events
March: Easter Egg Hunt
June: Neighborhood Garage Sale
October: Annual Association Meeting
Volunteers Needed
- If you know a senior citizen who in need of assistance please contact Julie Frei (julie.frei@sbcglobal.net)
- Neighborhood Decoration Committee – Maintain entranceways, luminaries, holiday decorations etc
- Street Captains – we are looking to establish coordination touch points for each street to aid in the distribution and coordination of the wanderer, communications, due collection etc.
Email Notification - send us your email address today!!
We are attempting to compile a distribution list of email addresses for our association. To add or change your email on file, please send an email to Margot LaGuire. We will attempt to use this as one form of communication to send out meeting notifications, meeting minutes, the Wanderer, and any information that affects you.
Meetings are held monthly in a public setting the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings are currently held at our local Caribou Coffee from 7:30–9:00 p.m. These meetings are open to any member of the Association. If you have items that you would like added to the agenda please contact Margot LaGuire or Rick Wiltgen.
Subdivision Directory
Anyone who is in need of a subdivision directory please contact Jeff Salz. If you notice mistakes or the need for omissions or deletions, please contact Jeff as well.
New Residents
On behalf of the Association, we would like to welcome all new residence to the Neighborhood. All new residents can contact one of Board Members who will be happy to deliver a ‘Welcome Packet’ to you.
Waste Pickup
- Remember no plastic bags for yard waste, you must use paper bags or no larger than 33 gallon containers
- Attempt to use solid containers when storing or putting household waste out as this helps prevent critters from rummaging through the night
- Do not store your waste containers or garbage in the front of your residence as this is a violation of a TWP ordinance and will be enforced
- Try to keep your curbs clean as well as the debris travels to the road drains and plugs them causing street flooding
Our Dying Trees
It is apparent that we were living amongst a number of ash trees. The subdivision is slowly losing a number of trees to the Ash Bore Beetle. The Township is slowly removing the trees that are dead and in the ‘right-of-way’. If the trees are not in the right-of-way, it is the then the responsibility of the resident to have the tree removed. Please remember that none of the wood from these trees should be taken anywhere outside of the subdivision, therefore helping reduce the spread of this beetle to other trees.
Solicitations
If you approached by a solicitor that is not wearing some form of identification, then you should report these individuals to the police department and the solicitors will be asked or removed from the subdivision. Officer Pete Matejcik is our Community Liaison Officer and may be reached at 248-433-7724.
Gas Meter Readings
James Tousignant, our previous president had inquired with David Payne regarding the possibility of having an extension of the gas meter installed on the outside of the home thus preventing the need for meter readers to enter each residence. David was unaware that we had gas meters on the inside of our homes and thought it unlikely there would be an extension of the meter put in place. He did however mention new technology that will allow the meter readers to obtain readings from outside the home via radio frequency. This of course will be in addition to the already functional website and phone services.
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