Two good deeds

Jerry Gordon passes along this announcement on behalf of the Troy Lions Club, which claims him, John and Susan Milliren and Terry Page as members.

Here's how you can do two good deeds at once, and it won't cost you a penny.

1. As a fundraiser, the Troy Lions Club is collecting empty inkjet and laser toner cartridges.

The money we get for these will fund our ongoing efforts to help the visually- and hearing-impaired and other needy folks in our community. I'd appreciate it if you'd save your empties for me. Just call or e-mail me and I'll get them from you.

2. When you give us your cartridges, not only will you be helping the Lions help others, but you'll also be helping the environment by keeping them (the cartridges) out of the landfills. In return, I can tell you how you can save money by buying remanufactured (not just refilled) cartridges. Let me know if you're interested.

Thanks,

Jerry & Maryanne Gordon, #15
235-8232
jerrygordon@juno.com

(We also collect used eyeglasses and hearing aids.)

Board meeting set

The Terrace at Highpointe Homeowners Association board will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at the home of President Bill Dowd.

If you have anything you want called to the attention of the Board, let Bill or any of the other officers know. They are:

1st Vice President, John Milliren
2nd Vice President, Betsy Murphy
Treasurer, Kathy Wade
Secretary, Pat Whitman

Members are stepping up

Tom Chichester (No. 34) and Jerry Gordon (No. 15) are the latest volunteers for standing Association committees.

Both have volunteered to serve on the Architectural Review Committee with Bill Dowd. Bill has been on the committee since its inception a decade ago, and Tom is a past chairman and member. That will give us plenty of institutional memory, which is good for continuity. Jerry's service will give us a fresh set of eyes, which is good for the future.

As previously mentioned, Harvey Bailey (No. 22) volunteered to head the Grounds Committee (snow removal/lawn care), and Tom also volunteered for that committee. The third member will be appointed from among Association board members.

We do need volunteers for the Beautification Committee, which handles seasonal decorations at the mailbox gazebo, coordinates volunteers for spring flower planting, etc. Ginny Chichester has headed that committee for eight years and would like to give someone else the opportunity to show their creativity. Any interested parties may call Bill Dowd.

Your 2006 committees & contacts

Two standing committees have been established for 2006.

Grounds Committee (lawn care/snow removal): Harvey Bailey (No. 22) has agreed to head the committee, aided by Past President Tom Chichester (No. 34) who is very well versed in working with groundskeepers.

Architectural Review Committee: Bill Dowd, who has been part of this committee since its inception years ago, will continue our practice of having the Association president head the committee. Tom Chichester has volunteered to be on this committee as well, one he chaired when he was association president. However, we still need one more volunteer. Please call Bill if interested.

Other committees will be established as needed. We have been extremely fortunate in having energetic volunteers handle all sorts of chores that improve the ambiance of the community -- decorations, flower planting, event planning, and so on. We're looking for volunteers to assist in these worthwhile activities.

In 2005, the Association instituted something different to channel and respond to members' inquiries and complaints when it became the duty of the 1st Vice President to handle such inquiries and move them to the proper people. John Milliren is our 1st VP for 2006 and may be contacted at 238-0445.

Inside other homeowners' associations

We are not alone.

As some Terrace residents who belong to other homeowners associations know, the experience varies greatly from location to location. Some communities, such as ours, are self managed. That puts a lot of strain on volunteer officers and workers, but saves everyone a lot of money. Other communities hire management firms to handle their business dealings for them, but pay handsomely for the privilege.

Issues, decisions and attitudes vary greatly from place to place as well, often dependong on whether residents primarily are fulltimers, seasonal residents or absentee owners who rent out their properties.

To offer you a look inside some other organizations, national homeowner groups, etc., The Terrace Times has culled these links to Web sites offering you some insights:

• Community Associations Institute (national)
• Community Associations Institute (Hudson Valley chapter)
• American Homeowners Resource Center
• Foundation for Community Association Research

1st snow of 2006

A view from the mailbox gazebo displays a seasonal flag against the backdrop of snow-coated trees, a result of the New Year's Eve snowfall that lasted well into the first morning of 2006.

Nadine Thompson tried to get her house to "smile" for the camera when she ventured out on New Year's Day afternoon to try her new toy.

Wet snow weighed down the branches of many of the Terrace's thick pines. This view between Nos. 6 and 7 is typical of the aftermath.

Dues increase In 2006

Please don't forget, the quarterly dues assessment for the Homeowners' Association has increased this year.

The payments due on Jan. 1, April 1, July 1 and Oct. 1 are $320 each, and must be in the hands of Treasurer Kathy Wade by those dates. Under our bylaws, the Board can assess a 15% late penalty for any dues 12 or more days in arrears.

There is a practical matter for that penalty. Because our association is self-funded, late dues payments adversely affect interest paid on the Association's bank account. In other words, paying late ends up costing everyone.

A Terrace tip

As Terrace residents contribute them, we'll post do-it-yourself tips here. Check back from time to time to see what's new.

• Dryer Vent Safety -- Accumulated lint in clothes dryer vent pipes poses three problems: (1.) It reduces the efficiency of the dryer, which means the appliance has to work harder and wears out sooner; (2.) Drying longer takes more power, which costs you money, and (3.) it poses a fire hazard because the lint is flammable.

Rich Polsinello suggests looking into an extendable cleaning brush (he got his through Brookstone) that can be used both from the dryer end and from the exterior vent end to thoroughly clean the pipe.

For more information on dryer safety and efficiency, just click here. You'll be linked with the Web site for Underwriters Laboratories Inc., the organization that does the major testing of appliances and devices found in homes and offices. There is a wide range of safety test notes on other products included on the site.