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++++ A Tale of Two Boards : Once upon a time there was a realty company that managed the financial and other business of the Lakeview Estates Property Owners Association. Over the course of time, we property owners allowed this company to have too much power over our money (collected as annual dues) and did not question often enough their management of it.
(Scene 2) Enter our current Board of Directors who began to question and investigate the operations of said realty company and discovered many “red flags” in the management of our money and misuse of their power. This new Board of Directors decided they could manage our funds more ethically, efficiently, and economically. And I applaud and appreciate all the time and effort they have spent doing just that over the past year.
(Moral of the story) Property owners, please do not once again get so complacent and apathetic that we do not continue to question and investigate the management of our POA and the expenditure of our dues. Let us learn from the past and become more involved in where our money is going and what it is being used for and who is making these decisions.
While our board needs to be commended for what they have accomplished thus far, the decisions in using dues beyond the scope of the By-laws which state general maintenance, preservation, repair and up keep of Lakeview Estates is a matter that should be voted upon by owners. This is your legal right; please do not give it away.
Please attend the monthly board meetings at the clubhouse , read the minutes posted on the website www.glenlakesfoley.com, attend the annual meeting on May 3rd at the Foley Civic Center, and continue to question how our POA is being managed. We have good people on our board right now but we all need to be involved and informed; we need to be proactive and not reactive, as we have been in the past.
And then, we can all live happily ever after. Kathy Menk
++++ I wanted to let all of you know about a wonderful experience I had working with Jesse Hollingsworth, owner of Turf Tech Consulting and Custom Applications. I moved into a home that had been vacant for over three years with little or no grass and mounds and mounds of fire ants. Jesse came over to consult with me about new turf installation, but he wanted the opportunity to bring my lawn back to life at a far lesser cost than installing new turf. That showed me a lot of character since he would have made more profit by installing new turf, but he did what was best for the customer. In addition to restoring my lawn, he eliminated the fire ants completely, I have not seen a single one since. In these trying economic times, it is nice to have someone in our area who takes such pride in his work and does such an outstanding job. Jesse's phone number is 251-747-5138 if you need any of his services. Thanks for the opportunity to "Sound Off".......Scott and Mary Randall
++++ I wanted to ask if you or some of the neighbors may know of rental homes available in the immediate area. We have been informed that Markalee who owns the home we are renting has passed away and her son is going to sell both homes. We are looking for a 3 bedroom / 2 bath with 2 car garage. We have no children and no pets. We have truly enjoyed Lakeview Estates and neighbors, plus living near my mom. If you know of anything available or coming available within the next 60 days, please let us know. Many thanks! Frank and Rachel Savage (Fairway Drive) -- Phone: 943-4646
++++ We had some electrical work done the other day and the electrician was so good and so very reasonable. We thought we would like to pass his name out for other Glenlakes members who don't know who to call...like I told him, his best source of advertisement is a satisfied customer. His name is Ken "Woody" Fortune. Ph. 979-0745 He lives in Elberta and worked for Helmrich Electrical for 10 years and decided to go out on his own and has been for the last 6 years. We got his name from a friend in Gulf Shores who was also very satisfied with both the work and the cost.
Thanks Bob & Carolyn Gunterman, Lakeview Dr.
++++To all of our neighbors in Glenlakes we would like to say "THANK YOU". We truly appreciate the amount of people that have came to visit us at Cahall's Deli & More. It is so wonderful to live in such a supportive neighborhood where the people are so friendly . We hope to continue serving our community as well as the rest of Baldwin County. Thank You again and your support, it is Truly appreciated. Please feel free to call us at (251) 970-3030 or e-mail us at bamadeli72@yahoo.com.
Patty Adcock (Lakeview Estates Resident)
Cahall's Deli & More, Inc.
++++ We just had a leak where the pump gauge connects to the bladder tank on our well pump. We called a plumber friend and he told us to turn off the pump and the main valve coming from the ground water. If you have a regular spicket on the pump system, leave that open once you have emptied the bladder tank. Most importently, cover the whole system, pump, pipes, and bladder tank with a heavy blanket. Also cover your brass spickets coming out of the side of your house with a heavy dish towel or something similar. And, leave a couple of inside faucets dripping hot and cold tonight. I thought everyone should know. Might save you some money and headaches. Melanie Sickel Carnoustie
++++ EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU COME ACROSS A BUSINESS THAT IS NOT ONLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO BUT ARE OUTSTANDING IN SERVICE. A GROUP OF LADIES FROM GLENLAKES FOUND THAT OUT YESTERDAY FOR LUNCH. THE NEW CAHALL'S DELI ON Hwy 59 THAT JUST OPENED IS JUST THAT KIND OF BUSINESS. THEY CARRY FRESH CUT STEAKS, BOARS HEAD PRODUCTS, AND OTHER PRODUCTS TO TAKE HOME AND HEAT FOR DINNER. THE BEST PART IS THE OUT OF THIS WORLD, GREAT PORTIONED, AND DELICIOUS SANDWICHES THEY MAKE. ALL THE HELP WAS VERY PLEASANT AND THEY WERE VERY POLITE TO OUR LARGE GROUP. I HOPE THE PEOPLE OF GLENLAKES WILL SUPPORT THIS DELI, IT'S NICE TO HAVE SUCH A QUALITY BUSINESS SO CLOSE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. (Submitted by Linda Hewitt) Cahill’s Deli located a little south of County Rd 12 on Hwy 59 , 8207 HWY. 59 PHONE 970-3030
++++ Found this ad on craigslist and we used them for all of our puppies to be groomed today. We were really pleased with their service and they did a great job on the haircuts. Also, they do in home pet sitting...might be good to let the residents of Glen Lakes know since someone is always looking for a pet sitter.
Doggie Doo's 970-3969 (Submitted by Janice Zarro- Fairway Drive)
++++ Hi Jim & Joni, We are forwarding this heartfelt thank you e-mail that we received this week from the mom of a very special classmate and friend of our daughter, Amanda. Having received this touching note amidst all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season made us stop in our tracks, and pause to reflect on what this season really should be all about.
The most endearing aspect of this recognition Amanda has received is that she truly doesn't think she's done anything deserving of special praise at all. She was just being Amanda, a friend. Sometimes we can learn greater life lessons from our children than the ones we teach them if we just stop long enough to listen and observe.
We hope all of you also have the opportunity to look beyond the packages and hectic frenzy of the season to focus on the importance of relationships you have with family and friends. Amanda has reminded us that the greatest gifts may simply be kindness and acceptance, for they can truly make a difference in someone's life. At this moment we couldn't be prouder parents. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all.
Love, Peggy and Curt
(see attached "angel" photo)
++++ Just wanted to let everyone know that I woke up about 2:45 am Saturday morning and for some reason I got up to look outside. I'm happy to report that I saw a police car driving down Fairway Drive. Its very comforting to know that the police are patrolling the neighborhood while we are (suppose to be) fast asleep.
++++ Connie Darnell has a friendly black German Shepherd staying on her front porch. It has been there since Monday, Dec. 14th. If anyone knows who the Shepherd belongs to please call Connie at 955-1771. Connie’s address is 9433 Lakeview Drive.
++++ There is a small beagle running up and down County Road 20. It also was seen in the Villas the other day. If anyone knows of the owners please let them know. It is just a matter of time before the beagle gets run over.
++++ Saw the ad for Cahall's Deli & More on our neighborhood web-site and had to comment that we're glad that it's finally open. We had been awaiting the grand opening since there aren't many good deli/sandwich shops around, but we stopped by and picked up some sourdough bread and a couple of sandwiches. Also was VERY pleased to see such a selection of prepared food as well as deli meats and cheese. We're extremely pleased to see that you can purchase the honey baked spiral cut hams without having to drive to Fairhope to get them at the Honey Baked Ham deli. This is a good shopping addition to the area that is reasonably priced with friendly people helping you. We encourage everyone to stop by and try it out.
Ed & Carol Solomon
++++ Our homeowner's insurance carrier, Farmers, is proposing to go up on our annual premium by about 40%. We have had no claims, ever, since purchasing the coverage. This increase is on the heels of a major increase last year. We moved here from Gulf Shores partly to get away from exorbitant insurance rates. Is anyone else having similar experience? Does anyone know of an alternate carrier? Thanks - Curt & Tanya Wright, 9419 Lakeview Dr., 978-0274, wright@gulftel.com
++++We would like to say a BIG thank you to Jerry DuBose, the Beautification League, Fred Brown and all helpers who have made the entrance ways into Glenlakes so beautiful. They look great!! As we all know, there are many houses for sale in the subdivision and "curb appeal" makes people want to come and look inside. Hopefully, the entrances will now attract potential buyers to come and take a look inside the subdivision.
Let's all support the contributions for the flags on County Road 20 and just keep adding to the curb appeal. Bob & Carolyn Gunterman
++++ Looking to meet families in Glen Lakes with young children. Our son Drake is 2 1/2 years old. Gets along great with older kids too (by older I mean 4-5 years olds)
We could go to the park and zoo weekly, otherwise we are playing in the back yard. If you are interested in play dates for you child or just mommy time........please contact Janice @ 251-609-7100 or by e-mail jmzarro@centurytel.net Look forward to hearing from you!
++++ We received a letter last Saturday which contained a Check for about $3500. This letter stated that my wife had expressed interest in performing home research to earn extra money. The envelope was mailed in Atlanta with no return address. It instructed her to buy $200 at Walmart, $100 at McDonalds. Then to send a Western Union telegraph for $2,700 and report on the experiences to a phone number. The rest of the money is for your time and trouble.
We were suspicious of a scam since my wife did not sign up for any consumer research program. The name of the company was " Synergistics Research" so we Googled the company and there in Bold red letters was that there was a scam circulating and under no circumstances should anyone cash the enclosed check. Our banker told us that the way the scam works is that the scammers mail thousands of these letters and checks out. Since the checks are fraudulent you are responsible for all the money you spent and the scammers receive the $2700 you sent by Western Union.
After talking to our bank we went to the Foley police. They wrote up an incident report and requested the letter and the check. They planned on sending the information on the FBI Fraud Division. Bob Boosveld-The Gardens
++++ We are going out of town September 24th -27th. Do you know anyone in the neighborhood that dog sits? We have a male Shih Tzu. Very friendly, loves kids and other dogs. I have a fenced baby gate that I keep him locked in the laundry room with, he will usually not go potty there, but will use a pee pad if its an emergency. He is not completely house trained so it makes it hard for us to take him, or find someone to watch him. So I was wondering if you knew of anyone in the neighborhood that would be willing to do so. I can bring the baby gate or his crate. Janice @ 609-5002
++++An organization fighting to reduce homeowners' insurance rates along the coast will hold a meeting in Orange Beach this month. The Homeowners' Hurricane Insurance Initiative will hold a meeting at Orange beach United Methodist Church on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. The church is located at 28751 Canal Rd.
HHII has held numerous meetings locally to address the cost of homeowner premiums since the back to back hurricane years of 2004-2005. They have also held public meetings with the Baldwin County Legislative Delegation over the insurance crisis situation and testified earlier this year before the joint House and Senate committees on Banking and Insurance.
++++ For all the Members at Glenlakes Golf Course: We have a very nice golf course. Why do most members insist upon riding down the middle of the fairway. Everyone knows that the 90 degree rule is always into play on most golf courses. I think everyone should adhere to this rule. Because the public sees the members doing this they also do it. The Marshals should have the authority to stop this lazy habit our members have gotten so used to. If they insist upon doing this at least ride the ruff until you can 90 degree to your ball.
++++Please forward this message to those who are involved in the fence issue!!!! I have read the article about the wood fence on the Sod Farm and it seems the people who have an issue with it may need to study some other types of fences before they permanently vote to deny the wood fence on Fairway Dr. I do not know the folks who put it up but it is a nice looking fence. The one we have to look at in our back yard is not.
I would invite any committee members to stop by one by one or as a group and I will take you to my back yard and show you how awful a plastic and stucco fence looks. It is full of moss in one area, mold in others and a picket is sideways and not fully attached. Not a beautiful sight to behold. Please come check it out. It was supposedly ARC approved and it is a mess. I am only commenting on this because I think it only fair the committee make an informed decision based on existing fences. Lorna and Jim Nader, 9305 Fairway Dr.,981-2901
++++ Update on Cleaning of Swimming Pool: To set the record straight, Kathy Menk had to attend a 2-day call in Mobile to become a Certified Pool Operator when she first started doing the pool in 2005. Kathy test and balance the water everyday, scrub the scum-line everyday (needs it every day thanks to all the suntan oil and lotion), cleans teh bathrooms (and decorate too). Moe Menk does the vacuuming (about 2 times a week) skimming, puts the umbrellas out, and power washes the deck about twice a season. Thankfully they do split the jobs. Job well done!
++++ I just thought maybe you should post something on the website about the pool. It looks better than it has in years. It's actually a little refreshing this year too. With the heat, it's not a bad place to be this year. Been up there the past two days, pools clean, flower beds are weeded, bathrooms look nice.
++++As a home owner in Lakeview Estates, I believe I remember our Homeowners group forking out $400 or so along with a couple other groups putting in the same amount for a nice fountain for the pond at the "Front" entrance. Can someone shed some light on what happened to said fountain, and maybe lets us know what the plan is to replace it or refund our money.
++++Neighborhood Watch: Maybe I'm jaded from 42 years of living in Mobile but I have a suggestion regarding vehicles in the neighborhood. When I lived in Mobile, if there was a car I didn't recognize parked on my street, I would take a picture of the car and it's tag number with my small pocket digital camera. Most of us have them but only carry them for special occasions. I recommend EVERYONE keeping at least a disposable camera in the glove box of your car in case you're involved in an accident. You can take your own pictures of the scene and not rely only on the officers drawings. But I digress, ladies can keep the camera in their purses. If you see a car you aren't familiar with, take a picture. If they have legitimate business in the neighborhood, they won't mind and will completely understand. Only people who don't belong or are on some illicit business will be concerned and they'll most likely leave quickly. If something comes up (like the burglary on Carnoustie Dr) YOU might have the picture of the criminal's vehicle. After a month, I simply delete the old pictures from my camera. And don't forget that if you've left your camera, most cell phones have built in cameras now.
Since I'm new to the neighborhood, if you see some strange woman taking a picture of your car, don't worry too much. I'm just doing what I know best to help out.
Cheryl Schaffer ,Caddie Circle
++++My name is Mike Copelin and my family and I live at 9600 Fairway Dr. We originally moved down here to live at the beach back in 2005, but the prices/insurance made Glen Lakes look much more attractive. We love living here, but we do still love the beach so usually in September after the crowds leave we'll rent a condo in Orange Beach or Gulf Shores through a local realty company for a few days for a mini vacation.
All that to ask, do you think there would be any Glen Lakes homeowners with condos that would be interested in renting them to nice, calm people (like us). We also have a lot of family that come down to the beach often we would be happy to send anyone's way if they are in need of the rental income. My primary interest is for my family and I to get in contact with someone, but this might be a good way for owners that need rental income to get customers without having to go through a realty company.
Mike Copelin, 251-379-0655, mcopelin@terminix.com or gulfshoresfamily@yahoo.com
++++First are we getting Neighborhood Watch Program signs put around the neighborhood?
Also an idea, to stop some of these people going door to door - we could put no soliciting signs around the neighborhood to help deter the would be thieves???
As far as night time is concerned, I have never seen a darker neighborhood in my life. I suggest getting estimates from Baldwin EMC on having street lights put up. This is the easiest subdivision to rob. It is primarily an older neighborhood, it is dark with very few lights on the streets, I came home tonight at 8:15 and it was so dark around here that you would have thought it was midnight. No one had their porch lights on, and it looked as if though everyone was in bed. I was thinking to myself while driving down the street, that if someone saw my car coming, they could easily hide in someone's landscaping and it would be almost impossible to spot them.
Just an idea for the street lights....if the place is well lit up, it could also deter people.
++++I am writing sound off about a growing problem on the course here in Glenlakes. I realize it's hard to know about twosomes and fivesomes but the past two weeks have been a constant problem of 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 hr. turn times and 5 1/2 hr. rounds. Today there was even 2 people with a child about 7 or 8 trying to teach the kid to play golf while the course was backing up worse. There was also a foursome with only 2 sets of golf clubs. Today the front 9 took 2 hrs. 35 minutes to 2 hr 45 minutes to play and EVERYONE was waiting on EVERY SHOT. By the time the marshalls start at 10:30 the course is already backed up. If the marshalls would start earlier they could help avoid these slow downs and watch for the hold ups so it wouldn't compound for the entire day. I know we hear all the time about paying customers have priority but we as members should have at least a timely round. I would think the paying customers would be upset with the course when they have to wait every shot also. Today there were the 2 men teaching the kid; fivesomes; singles; twosomes; as well as foursomes - EVERYBODY WAITED.
++++The article on the person getting a $200 dollar fine for fishing the pond on #7 is very interesting. I understand from the article it was for not having a valid fishing license. Well guess what, it is not a requirement to have a fishing license to fish a private pond. ( See:www.dcnr.state.al.us/fishing/freshwater/fag.cfm ) The only requirement is that you get the owners permission. I think if I were the person who received the "Ticket" I would be asking under what staute it was written. Trespassing, maybe, but no license is B.S
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