HIGHLAND CREEK NEWS September / October
POOL AREA: Although the swimming pool is closed for the season, the pool area is still available to sit around until mid-October.
DRYER VENT CLEAN-OUT: Dryer vent clean-out will take place Oct. 8. The cost is $60. Please see the attached sheet for all of the details, and if interested, sign up in the clubhouse by Oct. 4. This is an optional, but very much encouraged, safety event.
NOTICE: We have in storage a few wheelchairs, walkers, and canes that people have donated through the years. If anyone is interested in using them, contact any board member.
THANK YOU! A special thank you from the HCCA Board to our clubhouse chairperson for her many years of constant care of the clubhouse including watering the ferns, emptying waste baskets, taking care of the library, washing windows, and more. She has also managed the clubhouse rentals and delivered HCCA newsletters to those without email. The Board is very appreciative of all she does!
SPEED: Please observe the 14 mph speed limit!
DATES AND PLACEMENT FOR UPCOMING HOLIDAY DECORATIONS
- Halloween decorations: Oct. 24 – Nov. 7
- Thanksgiving decorations: Nov. 20 – Dec. 4
- Christmas decorations: Nov. 20, 2025 – January 14, 2026
Holiday decorations are permitted to be placed inside these areas: a) the unit owner’s limited common elements, b) in the mulch/stones adjacent to one’s unit, and c) within the unit’s main entrance area including the door. They are also permitted on building exteriors, provided the decorations do not damage the limited common elements, building, gutters, or siding.
With the exception of doors where a wreath or spray may be placed at any time, no decoration should be hung on the exterior of the buildings unless it is during one of the established holiday time periods and is a holiday decoration.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: The annual Holiday Open House for residents is scheduled for Saturday, December 13, from 2-4 p.m. at the clubhouse.
HCCA REGULATIONS: Please occasionally review your copies of the Declaration and Bylaws and the Handbook of Policies and Guidelines (Rev. 2023).
REMINDERS ON ALLOWED EXTERIOR ITEMS
- Flower/plant pots and hanging baskets should contain live flowers/plants, not artificial ones.
- Except for holiday decorations during the established time periods, only wreaths or sprays should be hung on the front door.
- From Sept.15 to Nov. 30, unembellished (undecorated) off-the-vine pumpkins are permitted in the limited common elements and in the common elements around the perimeter of the unit. (Pumpkins that are decorated/carved for Halloween are permitted during the dates for the Halloween holiday decorations; that is, from Oct. 24-Nov. 7.)
- Birdfeeders—a maximum of two and should be hung at least 5 feet off the ground.
END OF SEASON TASKS
While there is still some beautiful weather to enjoy over the next few weeks, we need to prepare for end of season tasks. Please remember:
1) The maintenance of all personally planted flowers and the removal of them at the end of the season are the responsibility of the homeowner.
2) Store empty flower/plant pots and shepherd hooks inside the garage.
3) Maintain and clean any bird feeder(s).
GAMES AND CARDS:
Mondays & Tuesdays: Game nights, 6:30 p.m. New players are welcome!
Thursdays: Euchre, 6:30 p.m. New players are welcome!
OCTOBER EVENTS:
OCT. 15: THIRD WED., BOOKCLUB, CLUBHOUSE, 3 p.m. All are welcome!
OCT. 16: THIRD THURSDAY, LADIES’ LUNCH BUNCH, NOON, TBA.
OCT. 23: MONTHLY BOARD MEETING, CLUBHOUSE, 4 p.m.
OCT. 24: FOURTH FRIDAY, MORNING SOCIAL, CLUBHOUSE, 9:30 a.m.
CLUBHOUSE RENTAL: The clubhouse is open to residents for rentals. For 25 or fewer guests, the price to rent is $25. For 26-50 guests, the price is $50.
WATER CONSERVATION: Because the association pays the water bills, it’s easy to fall into the thinking that we don’t need to worry about how much water we use! However, with the rising charges from the Salem Utilities Department, it would benefit us all if we could conserve water when possible. That way the money provided by our monthly assessments could be stretched more effectively. Everyone is pretty much aware of how to conserve water, and a list of how to do so is not needed. Here is a reminder though of an area that has been a big problem in the past—the leaky toilet. If you hear the sound of your toilet filling up, even though you didn’t flush it, it could be you have a defect in one of two places. 1) There is a red rubber seal at the bottom of your tank. It frequently turns black over time and allows water to leak out of your tank and into the bowl. 2) Some toilets do not have the float adjusted properly in relation to the overflow tube.
HOW TO TEST FOR A LEAK: Not sure if you have a leak? Lift the lid to the tank and drop in enough food coloring (6-10 DROPS) so that you can see the color in the tank’s water. Wait 30 minutes and check the water in the bowl. If you see color in the bowl, you have a leak.
EMAILS: Please be sure that the board secretary has your current email address. Also, be sure to add to your list of contacts these two email addresses so that our emails are delivered to your INBOX:
1) highlandcreeksalem@yahoo.com (board) and
2) highlandcreek44460@yahoo.com (newsletter).