Blendon Woods Civic Association

Our Info: Newsletters > The Blendon Bulletin-September 2010- Volume 9 Issue 3

The Blendon Bulletin-September 2010- Volume 9 Issue 3

Snow Plowing Is A Fine Balancing Act – Part 3

By Steve Thompson, Treasurer

This is the third and final article in the series.

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There was a civic association meeting convened on July 26, 2010. Some of the area representatives and quite a few residents were in attendance. There were several issues discussed – one of which was snow plowing.

There was a lengthy discussion on how to deal with snow plowing this season and it was decided that we will continue with the current snow plow contractor at the same level of service. Automatically plowing the streets at 2-3” of snow on the streets.

It was also decided to change the dues structure. We will continue to collect $20.00 in annual membership dues, but $15.00 will go towards snow plowing and $5.00 will go towards the running of the civic association. Due to keeping costs down, there was a surplus in the civic association account. However, we will keep an eye on the financial situation and may have to change again for next year.

We also discussed how to deal with snow plowing in the courts. We decided that any alternative was too expensive and to continue with our current strategy. Which is, try to plow as much snow as possible to keeps the courts passable.

This year’s Farmer’s Almanac calls for a mild winter season - not much cold or snow. Hopefully, this will be true and we can build a surplus in the snow plowing account to deal with harsher winters in the future.

Also, I am stepping down as Snow Plow Czar this year. I am looking for someone in the civic association interested in filling this position. If you are interested, please send me an email at sthomp7890@aol.com and I will explain the duties in detail.

RESIDENTS WANT TO HELP NEIGHBORS THAT SUFFERED FIRE DAMAGE

Residents in our civic association suffered damage from a fire this month. They have to temporarily move from their home and hope to have it rebuilt soon. Neighbors have asked how they can help.

Recovering from a fire can be a physically and mentally draining process. When fire strikes, lives are suddenly turned around. If you would like to help we have set up contact persons in our neighborhood that will collect gift cards to help the family. It would be helpful to donate gift cards to stores that carry food, clothing, household goods; such as Meijer, Target, Wal Mart, etc.

Please contact Joyce Barber at 337-1687 or Diane Omlor at 337-1628 and they will pass your donations to the family.

* With Fire Prevention Week coming up in October, we should all remember to check our smoke alarms!

Smoke alarms save lives. But you need to make sure they are working. Test your smoke alarms every month.

You should also have a home escape plan. You and your family should develop and practice a home fire escape plan. Practice your escape at least twice a year!

Make a map of your home. Mark a door and a window that can be used to get out of every room.
Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where everyone can meet once they’ve escaped.
Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department on your escape plan.
Sound the smoke alarm and practice your escape plan with everyone living in your home.

* "Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2010 NFPA."

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE TO START OCTOBER 10TH

We have 325 households and only 25 people showed up for the meeting in July. All meetings are open to residents. We need more residents to share and be a part of the community! We did meet lots of new residents and want to thank everyone who came to the meeting.

Discussions about the budget, snow plowing, membership dues, how to increase membership, recent crime in area, and upcoming development. A motion was made to keep dues at $20 with $5 going to general fund and $15 going to snow plow fund for one year, to see if this helps the budget. It was decided that raising the dues to $30, would be held off for this year in hopes that adjusting the funds will help to pay for the rising snow removal costs.

The minutes were posted on the BWCA web site, which is listed at the bottom of the newsletter on the front page. Our website is a great tool for our community, and we hope that you have visited the Calendar, Discussions, Pages & Links.

Our web site is not just an information source, but also a place for all neighbors to be connected on the Internet. Want to tell people about an upcoming meeting, garage sale, or lost pet? Then post a notice in the "Community Calendar". Want your own personal Web page? Then create one in the "Meet Your Neighbors" section - tell people about yourself, your family, your hobbies, or your interests. Concerned about a neighborhood issue? Talk to your neighbors - solicit new viewpoints. Go to the "Talk About It" section and create a new discussion. We also have a group page on Facebook and hope to use the site as a way of updating our way of communicating meetings, etc.

If you don’t want to come to the association meetings and share your concerns and add to our discussion, then at least send your $20 dues for your membership and help show that you care about Blendon Woods Civic Association. New membership forms will be distributed in October by your Area Representatives. If we miss you when we are canvassing the neighborhood, please mail your dues to Tracy!

$20.00 dues helps pay for:

Snow removal
Newsletters
Telephone Directory
Membership to Northland Community Council
Pumpkin Drop
July 4th Event
Community Garage Sale

CHAIRPERSON:

TRACY STOCKER

4192 BOULDER DAM

EMAIL: tastocker@wowway.com

PHONE: 337-6162

BEGGAR'S NIGHT

The city of Columbus follows the guidelines adopted in a resolution by the board members (comprised of the mayor's or their representatives from the cities in the Central Ohio area) of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission in determining Beggar's Night. The resolution states that if Oct. 31 falls on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, then Beggar's Night will be on Oct. 31. If, however, Oct. 31 falls on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, then Beggar's Night will be held on the Thursday prior to Oct. 31. Thus, the calendar for the next couple of years is as follows:

2010 - Thurs., Oct. 28

2011 - Mon., Oct. 31

2012 - Wed., Oct. 31

2013 - Thurs., Oct. 31

2014 - Thurs., Oct. 30

The resolution was intended to be a guiding tool as each community maintains the right to make the final determination as to when Beggar's Night takes place in their city. Within the city of Columbus, that determination falls under the direction of the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department.

ANNUAL PUMPKIN DROP

Our annual Pumpkin Drop is held every year by the Ginty family on Beartooth Court. They enjoy decorating their yard every year and sharing in the festivities of the fall season.

The pumpkins are provided by the Blendon Woods Civic Association for dues paying members. One free pumpkin per household. Doran’s Farm Market delivers the pumpkins every year. Refreshments are also provided, usually cookies and drinks. Face painting is also available to the kids.

CHAIRPERSONS: Mark & Bronwyn Ginty

PLACE: BEARTOOTH COURT

DATE: Sunday Oct. 24th TIME: 1-3 P.M.

BRING: COLLECTING CANNED GOODS & NON-PERISHABLE DONATIONS

THIS EVENT CONCLUDES OUR MEMBERHIP DRIVE

MEMBERSHIP FORMS AVAILABLE –BRING DUES!

Fire Prevention Week is in October and the Fire Department usually comes by to talk about smoke detectors and how to check them. The kids get to climb in the cab of the fire rescue or truck. The Columbus Fire Department wants you to be safe, and hope to be at our event as long as they aren’t called out on a fire emergency.

See you at our Annual Pumpkin Drop!

CURBSIDE RECYCLING 2012

Curbside recycling will be available to all single family residents by the year 2012. More than 4,000 responses from a survey, have flooded into City Hall from across the community.

In summary, the survey revealed the following:

The majority of residents (50 percent online/48 percent paper) feel favorably towards the Mayor’s proposal to establish every other week collection of recycling.
The majority (44 percent online/44 percent paper) also agrees that every-other week pick up, either seasonally or year round, is preferable to weekly collection of yard waste.
When asked what style container residents would like to use for recycling collection, the majority (75 percent online/73 percent paper) preferred a wheeled cart as opposed to a tote, like what is offered with the current subscription program.