Sunday, December 18, 2011

Package Stolen

Our neighbor Jeff posted on Facebook about a FedEx package (Christmas gifts) being stolen off his front porch. He wanted to be sure the community knew about it.

If you see anyone snooping around, please dial 911.

If you head out of town for the holidays, let a neighbor know you'll be away.

Scott is continuing to work with the county to establish a neighborhood watch program. In the meantime, just continue to keep your eyes open!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

December Meeting Notes and Voting Results

Meeting notes, voting results, and billing notices for 2012 dues will be mailed to homeowners soon.

About the voting... we didn't have enough "yes" votes for any of the amendments to pass. The board has been talking about mailing ballots to those who didn't vote, or possibly revisiting some of these issues next year.

I've been out of town and have been getting myself caught up during the last few days. I don't have any solid numbers to share yet (sorry!).

New Board Member

The HOA board recently voted to remove an inactive member, opening up a position for a homeowner. At our last meeting, the community elected Tim Garber to fill the vacant board position. His term will be effective as of January 1, 2012. Congratulations, Tim!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Christmas Lights Contest

Who's up for a contest? Our streets are all lit up for the holidays. Let's all vote on our favorites! Here are the categories:

1. Most Traditional - Which home belongs in a Norman Rockwell painting?

2. Most Colorful - Which home has the most colorful display?

3. The North Pole - If Santa lived in Grand Firs, which home would be his?

4. The Clark Griswold - Who really went all out with the decor (and will have the electric bill to prove it)?

5. Family Favorite - This one doesn't have to be the biggest or the fanciest. Which home does your family like the best?

The rules: Walk/drive through the neighborhood with your family and friends, and write down the addresses of the homes that best fit the above categories. If you feel your own home fits best, it's okay to vote for yourself! Please email me (grandfirs@hotmail.com) with your list no later than Tuesday, December 20. Winners will be announced the next day.

Kids in Construction Areas

A neighbor wrote and expressed some concern over kids playing in and around construction areas. Please let your kids know that while these areas look like fun places to explore, they're not safe. Thank you!

Free Christmas Trees for Military

From Orlando:

If you are in need of a Christmas tree and are E-6 and below, head over and snag a tree while supplies last, no coupon needed. The trees can be picked up on North Ft Lewis side:

- Exit 120
- After going through gate, hang right at first light
- Next immediate right
- Follow road around to Northwest Adventure Center (pull around back to maintenance yard)

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Been Busy!

A personal note from me (Mandy): I've been really busy lately with family, various illnesses (yay for having little kids!), HOA responsibilities and the approaching holidays. For the past couple years I've checked my email daily, but lately it's been more like 2-3 days. So if it takes me a little longer to acknowledge your email, that's why :)

I do my best to make gate inquiries a top prioroty, however.

Thanks for your understanding!

Local Military Family in Need

From our neighbor Orlando... an Air Force family recently lost everything in a house fire (mid-October). This family doesn't reside in Grand Firs but Orlando thought it would be worth passing this along to our community:

As many of you may have already heard, SSgt Jonathan Abel's home on base was destroyed in a fire on Monday evening. SSgt Abel's wife and three sons, ages 7, 4 and 2, were there when the fire broke out but thankfully they made it out safely and no one was injured. While there are a few items from the house that may be salvageable, almost everything they owned is a total loss. The family is currently living in a temporary house on base while they assess what they need to replace.

As an Air Force family of 600+ people, we can step up and demonstrate exactly what it means to take care of one of our own. The family is pretty much in need of everything that it takes to start a household, (i.e. Clothes, pots, pans, plates, toys, linens, etc...) In lieu of specific items an account has been set up at Harborstone Credit Union for anyone that would like to make a monetary donation, allowing the family the opportunity to purchase more specific items that they need.

You can donate through the Harborstone Credit Union on base or in Spanaway and Puyallup but you must have his name (SSgt Jonathan Abel) to make a deposit.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Burglaries in the Graham Area

Please read the following email that was sent to me from our neighbor Orlando:

Last night at about 0300 a burglar attempted to rob my house in Winterwood, Graham (co-located in the South Hill area, Puyallup). My dog alerted me, I rushed downstairs, checked inside and out, but did not see anything out of the ordinary at the time. I just figured the dog may have had a nightmare, or simply heard something that I did not. We went back to sleep.

This morning my wife called me and said that the living room sliding window was open about a half an inch behind the blinds. When she further inspected outside she noticed the screen was completely gone. The screen was found in my neighbor's yard (over the fence). I told my wife to have the cops come by and file a report.

The police officer told my wife that there have been string of burglaries (18+) in our area and the South Hill region in general. The 3 streets (in our new development alone) had all been hit last night between 0100 and 0400. I believe the officer said that they had at least 4-6 other related burglary calls. The officer went on to say that these people are very good and bold. The police have reports that burglars are bold enough to even hit rooms with occupants sleeping.

We were fortunate that our dog alerted me last night (I owe him a T-bone). We could have lost some valuable items. I share this obviously to create awareness for anyone who lives in this area and also to help remind people, not to get complacent when it comes to home security. Be aware where you keep valuables and high dollar items.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Pampered Chef Party - Nov 9

The following is from our neighbor Ashley:

What: Pampered Chef Party
Where: Grand Firs - 8317 228th Steet Ct E
When: Wed, Nov 9th 6:30-8:30p

Want to meet some of your neighbors?
Come check out the NEW Pampered Chef products while learning how to make a quick and easy meal! It will be fun, food, drinks, shopping and hanging with the girls...what a way to break up the week!
If you can't come but would like to order, you can go to the following website and place your order and it will be sent to you. The website is:

www.pamperedchef.biz/shelleyciolek
-click shop online in bottom left
-Option #1 enter Ashley Jones as the host

FREE, FREE, FREE: If you spend $60 or more you get to choose 1 cookbook or bamboo kitchen towel. Or choose 1 cookbook, bamboo kitchen towel, easy read measuring cups or smooth edge can opener if you spend $100.00!

Just think of all the Christmas gifts you could buy and then get a little something free for yourself :)

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Hayride Tonight

Join your neighbors for the first ever Grand Firs Halloween Hayride! Show up at the Phase 1 park between 6-7pm tonight and ride around the streets on a hay-filled flatbed trailer (put together by Scott and Jay). The HOA has provided treat bags for the kids and our neighbor Laura is bringing cupcakes. See you there!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

South Gate Damage

Sometime overnight, extensive damage was done to the south gate and common area grass near that gate.

Someone apparently rammed the gate (which is now bent) with their vehicle and broke the arm. And there are three sections of common area grass with severe tire damage.

JC Higgins has been notified and our neighbor Orlando is filing a police report on behalf of the HOA. We will notify the insurance company and have our landscaper check the irrigation system for damage.

If anyone knows anything, please let us know.

Until the gate can be repaired, it will have to remain open. With the one arm being broken, there is a chance it will swing back and forth if we have any wind. Orlando said he will try to secure it with a rock, but please still use caution when entering and exiting!

Thank you for all your help, Orlando!

Neighborhood Watch Meeting Reminder

Reminder from Scott:

Neighborhood Watch Meeting
Friday, October 21 Graham Library 7:00 pm

Topic: Setting up the Watch with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.
Judi Holley from the Sheriff's office will give her presentation

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Suspicious Vehicle in Phase 1

Received the following email from a neighbor:

Suspicious activity: Grand Firs residents, I just wanted to report a suspicious vehicle in the neighborhood this morning around 0700. It was a green Ford Expedition with WA License Plates 079-TSE with two young male occupants. They were parked in the front of my house with the engine running and the occupant out. When I came out the passenger got in the vehicle and they drove off. Didn't see what they were doing although a week ago somebody attempted to remove a license plate from one of my vehicles.

NHW Meeting - Oct 21

Here's a letter from Scott, our NHW coordinator. This is not an HOA meeting, and the only topic discussed will be related to the neighborhood watch. In order for our watch to be effective, we need as many participants as possible. Please try to attend!

Neighborhood Watch Meeting Notice
DATE: Friday, October 21st,
TIME: 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Graham Library, 224th St - Meeting Room
DURATION: approx 1 hour

Grand Firs Neighbors,

We will be having a meeting in conjunction with the Pierce County Sheriff representative to discuss our watch program. Judi Holley from the Sheriff’s office will give a short presentation on how a Neighborhood Watch works in Pierce County.

Some of the Highlights will include but not limited to:

• Phone List Usage
• Reporting Suspicious Activities
• Watch Signs
• Neighborhood Patrols

I encourage everyone to attend this meeting as it is an important step to enhancing safety and security in our neighborhood. If we want signs and the endorsement of the Sheriff’s office we need to have a strong showing for Ms. Holley. It has been difficult to arrange schedules with her as she is responsible for every watch program in Pierce County.

If you plan to attend and have any questions or comments during the meeting please keep them on the topic of the Neighborhood Watch.

Sincerely,
Scott Mokos
8407 230th St Ct E.
253-655-5740

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Neighborhood Watch - Save the Date

Scott, our neighborhood watch coordinator, has scheduled a meeting for Friday, October 21 at 7pm. It will be held at the Graham Library. Judi Holley, who oversees neighborhood watch programs in Pierce County, will be there to help us get set up.

In order for a neighborhood watch program to be successful, we've got to have involvement. It would be great to have a large turnout at this meeting! (It should last an hour or less.) Scott is working on a letter with more information, which I'll post here.

Revised GNP

The revised Good Neighbor Policy (with updated wording related to parking and basketball hoops) has been sent out. Enforcement will begin Oct 21. If you haven't received a copy please email Lindsey :)

Monday, September 12, 2011

Street Parking

After much discussion, the HOA and ACC boards have decided to start enforcing our street parking rule again, as spelled out in our Good Neighbor Policy.

In a nutshell, street parking by homeowners is not allowed. Guests may park in the street for periods up to 24 hours (longer with ACC approval... just shoot Lindsey a quick email). Sometimes street parking can't be avoided.. if you're cleaning the garage or resurfacing the driveway for instance.. again, just email Lindsey. The ACC will definitely approve temporary street parking in certain cases.

The streets look wide when no one is parked on them. But when vehicles line both sides of the streets, it's difficult for traffic to flow. Garbage trucks and emergency vehicles can't easily pass through. And it's difficult to watch for kids and pets that may run into the street.

The HOA and ACC relaxed on parking enforcement during the summer months, but it's starting to become a problem again and we're receiving complaints. Please, do your part and park in your driveway or garage. Letters and fines will start going out for those who don't comply. (And I don't like that part!!) Thanks for your cooperation :)

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Two Men Harassing Pre-Teen

From a neighbor:

This afternoon at 4:30 my daughter was jogging with my wife. They went through the neighborhood and then out the gate and headed down to the stop light at 224th. My daughter turned back to jog home as my wife headed onto Safeway. Just around the start of the fence outside our neighborhood an older Blue beater convertible slowed down and cat called her all the way into our entry. She is only 12 and looks 12. She said the MEN were both in there late 30's and were looking at her very creepy. Please keep your eyes out and if you see a car fitting that description try and get a license plate.

Please email grandfirs@hotmail.com with ANY information. Thanks.

Phase 3 Street Light Update

The Phase 3 lights should be up and running this evening. We recently discovered that one of our power bills was not being sent to JCH, so no one was aware that a portion of our bill was not being paid. As soon as this came to our attention, Lindsey jumped on it and sent payment. However, Tacoma Power apparently didn't take note and shut the power off.

Starting tonight, all should be good!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Movie Night #3

Our third and final movie night will be taking place this Saturday (Sept 3) in the Phase 1 park. We'll be showing Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.

Our start time will be a little earlier: cartoons will begin at 8pm and the movie will start at 8:30.

As always, bring chairs, blankets, snacks and bug spray.

It's a holiday weekend so our turnout might not be as high as our last movie. Feel free to invite friends and family! We have plenty of room for all.

Phase 3 Street Lights

The good news: the broken street light way in the back of Phase 3 has been fixed.

The bad news: none of the Phase 3 street lights are working.

I have no idea if these issues are related to each other, but MCE was alerted yesterday and is going to look into it. I'm hoping it's a very simple (and quick) fix!

Suspicious Vehicle Near South Gate

Received the following from a neighbor in Phase 3:

Suspicious vehicle seen on a handful of occasions near the south gate. The vehicle pulls up to the call box but leaves when another vehicle approaches. It's an old model compact car, late 90's early 2000's, probably a Chevy or Ford. It's dark purple color and limo tint.

It could be nothing, but this neighbor wanted me to spread the word just in case. Thank you!

Found Military ID

Received the following email from Will:

Can you put the word out to the community that I found a military ID card near the front gate? Anyone looking for the card is welcome to call me.

I didn't want to put his number on the blog. Email me and I can put you in touch. Thanks!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Another Great Movie Night

Thanks to all who came out and watched Rio with us last night! Our attendance increased by 25... we had 75 people show up! Can we get to 100? We'll show one more movie before school starts. We'll announce the date soon!

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Movie Night #2

Our next movie night will be held Saturday, August 13. Same thing as last time, Phase 1 park, Mickey Mouse cartoons at 8:30 and the movie (How To Train Your Dragon) will begin at 9pm.

I have 20 hot dogs and buns left over from National Night Out. I'll prepare them and they'll be set out at 8:30 to whoever would like one. I'll have condiments as well.

Like last time, we'd appreciate that kids be supervised by an adult. Remember to bring your blankets, chairs, and snacks! We also learned that bug spray would be nice to have as well :)

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

National Night Out - Another Fun Night!

Our party was lots of fun! We had a great turnout and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
The bounce house showed up a few minutes late, but the delivery man let us keep it an extra hour. It was full of kids the entire time and I saw a lot of exhausted faces at the end of the evening. Despite being called to a brush fire, Graham Fire still managed to send a truck over. They showed up with lights and sirens and let the kids climb on the truck. They even brought out the hose for a little water entertainment :) Jim came armed with Coast Guard coloring books and whistles for the kids. The noise level increased slightly when the kids received their whistles!
Chris did the grilling from our house and I ran burgers and hot dogs to the park as quickly as I could. Neighbors did a fantastic job with the food: we had a huge assortment of side dishes, chips, desserts, and drinks. I don't think there was much left over.
Thank you to all who participated and brought food. And huge thanks to Paul and Brandi for allowing us to use their electricity, to Wendy for being my "go-to" girl to make sure things ran smoothly, and to Jodi for working with me during the planning process. We'll definitely do it again next year!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

National Night Out Update

Another reminder that our National Night Out party is coming up. So far neighbors have volunteered to bring pasta salad, deviled eggs, chips, desserts, and soda/juice. If you haven't let me know what you're bringing, please let me know (on here, Facebook, or email). Things we could probably use the most: a couple more side dishes (salads, fruit/veggies), some more things to drink, and a few more bags of chips.

For food planning purposes, the latest numbers are as follows: approximately 24 adults and 28 kids ("kids" includes babies through teenagers). I'm sure the number will continue to grow.

Thanks all!

First Movie Night - Success!

Thank you to all who attended our first movie in the park last night! My mom was there and she counted at least 50 people, which was more than I'd expected. People brought their chairs, blankets, wagons, and lots of popcorn.

Karen and Tori ran an extension cord from their house so we could have power. Thank you very much!

We'll do it again soon!

Need a Babysitter?

Need a babysitter? I am a ninth-grader at Frontier Junior High and will babysit anytime for a reasonable rate. If interested, call Jessica Nuse @ 253-302-6613.

Free Dog To Loving Home

Received the following from a neighbor...

FREE - Ranger is a 8-month old yellow lab. He's housebroken, crate trained, doesn't chew on anything but his toys, and he loves kids. He does need work on manners, as he is a very energetic puppy. He's such a good dog, but my husband has a severe allergy that doesn't allow us to keep him. He deserves a good home with a loving family. If interested, please contact Tonie @ 253-301-9463. He comes with toys, food and water dishes and a crate. We also have a leash, walking collar and brush that will go with him.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

GPS Returned

Following up from the post about the lost GPS unit:

I wanted to let everyone know that my daughter's GPS and case were returned yesterday by two boys in the neighborhood, Cameron and Colby. We thanked them for their honesty and rewarded them appropriately. Please post to the blog our heartfelt gratitude.

Christine and Sharon


Cameron and Colby, you guys are awesome! Thank you!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Movie Night

Our first movie night will be held this Friday, July 29 in the Phase 1 park. The movie (Gnomeo and Juliet) will begin at 9pm and we'll show a few cartoons beforehand as people are showing up.

The HOA would like this to be a family event, so please plan to attend with your children (or arrange for them to attend with an adult neighbor). Unsupervised kids will be asked to go home. Also, as a courtesy to those who live near the park, we're asking that people leave as soon as the movie is over.

Bring blankets, chairs, snacks and a flashlight! Even if you don't have kids, we'd love to see you there :)

Bees in Mailboxes

A message from our neighbor Mike, who is a postal employee:

Just a reminder, this is the time of year that bees like making nests in mailboxes.

Major issue if you have kids picking up your mail!

If you see bees around your mailbox, don't wait on the Post Office; get some bee spray and do your box yourself.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Lost GPS Unit

I received the following email about a lost GPS unit. If you have it, please contact me and I'll put you in touch with the owner. Thanks!

A GPS was lost yesterday June, 18th on 230th St. I believe it flew off the top of the car along with some running shoes, my insurance card for my car, and the top of a shoe box with some magazine clippings. I found the shoes down the road and am obviously not worried about everything else but would like to know if someone has found the Garmin GPS. I believe it is a Nuvi 255.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Notes from June 22 Meeting

As promised, here are the notes from our last meeting. I've also included a list of homeowner questions from our open discussion.

Grand Firs HOA Meeting – Graham Fire Station
June 22, 2011 – Board Members: Mark, Rob & Mandy
JC Higgins: Lindsey

Agenda:
Progress Update
ACC Discussion
Neighborhood Watch
Community Challenges
Street Parking
Upcoming Plans and Events
Open Discussion

Progress Update:
-Recap of Grand Firs’ history (no HOA for 2 years and related challenges)
-HOA now in place for 1 year – caught up with bills, now have regular landscaping, gates functioning, street lights repaired, entrance light installed in April, working on landscape rocks for 86th
-Recent Easter egg hunt was a success

ACC Discussion:
-Established recently, consists of Adam, Lee and Mandy (one board member must serve on the ACC)
-Board possibly interested in adding two more positions with homeowners from Phases 2 and 3
-Receiving several ACC requests per week
-ACC works via email to approve/deny requests as quickly as possible
-Obtaining ACC approval can protect the homeowner down the road
-ACC has had to ask a couple of homeowners to re-do a few things
-Requests don’t have to be fancy; we just a simple description, sketch and materials list
-Any questions, email Lindsey (Lindsey@jc-higgins.com)

Neighborhood Watch (by Grand Firs homeowner Scott):
-Brief history of the Neighborhood Watch Program
-Putting a phone list together to help neighbors communicate
-Looking for volunteers to serve as Block Watch Captains and those with law enforcement or medical training
-Will pick signs and decide on sign placement
-Will organize a meeting this summer with Pierce Co Sheriff to help us get started
-Hope to have the program in place by this fall
-Contact Scott at grandfirsnhw@gmail.com with questions, comments, or volunteer inquiries

Community challenges:
-Someone continually breaking the fence along 86th (NE corner of Grand Firs), repaired several times
-Graffiti in Phase 3 park
-BBQ grill stolen from Phase 3 park
-Real estate signs broken several times (doesn’t look attractive to potential buyers and costly for agents)
-Teen party recently busted by police in vacant Reich home, 2 taken into custody

Street parking:
-Board is receiving complaints about the number of vehicles parking in the street, people wondering why we’ve let it get out of control
-CCRs and the Good Neighbor Policy state that homeowners are to park in garages or driveways, which are considered “approved areas”. Visitors may park in the street for periods no longer than 24 hours. If visitors are staying longer or if a homeowner needs to park an RV for a couple days, just email Lindsey or a board member to get an OK
-Emergency vehicles and garbage trucks have difficulty maneuvering around parked cars
-Cars parked in the street make it difficult to see kids or animals that may dart out into the street
-Letters will start going out to homeowners who regularly park in the street

Upcoming Plans and Events:
-Would like to create an actual website. The blog (grandfirs.blogspot.com) works the now but we’d like to put something up that’s more professional-looking
-Movie nights in the park, received the OK from neighbors who live near the parks
-Summer BBQ (Jim suggested bringing the fire department out, will look into that)
-National Night Out gathering

Open Discussion:
Q: Is the HOA going to stain the fence? Can homeowners who border common areas stain the fence?
A: Board will get a bid. Will be expensive but we can look into it.

Q: Can we install speed bumps along 231st?
A: The neighborhood voted no, but we can ask again. The board had voted yes on speed bumps.

Q: Can we put a light in at the park:
A: Need to see if that would disturb those who live around the park. Maybe a motion light?

Q: Can we create a skate park or other area for teenagers?
A: We can look at suggestions. Would need to consider the liability risk.

Q: Why are there so many real estate signs? Where are signs permitted?
A: Board has gone back and forth with sellers many times on this. Freestone did remove their banners along 86th. We can ask them again to tone it down. We understand they are trying to sell homes but several residents think our entrance looks like a “circus”.

Q: Can sellers use the south gate so the north gate can be closed 24 hours?
A: We’ve tried, but we haven’t been successful.

Q: Are off-road vehicles allowed?
A: No. It’s very difficult to enforce but we try to contact people about it when we see them. If you see someone riding one and you know where they live, contact Lindsey and she will deal with it.

Q: Is there a timeline on when back yards need to be installed?
A: CCRs don’t specify, but we ask that they be done within 8 months. If that’s not possible, we ask that homeowners at least keep the weeds under control.

Q: What about weeds in the vacant lots?
A: The banks have cut the weeds down before. We can ask that they do it again. Lindsey will call.

Q: Who is responsible for Tract J in Phase 3?
A: Not sure, Lindsey will look into it.

Q: What are the current gate hours?
A: North gate hours are M-F 11:30am-6pm and S-S 9am-6pm. South gate hours are M-F 5:45am-6pm and closed on weekends. The agents recently agreed to let us shorten the “open” hours for the north gate.

Q: Why aren’t all home programmed into both gates?
A: The motors that were installed aren’t adequate for a 400-home development and it’s expensive to replace the motors. There is also a lot of bottle-necking at the north gate in the morning, and splitting the homes will help spread the traffic out.

Q: The retention ponds look like they need to be cleared. Can we look into that?
A: Yes, we will get a bid from the landscaper.

Q: What is the status of the broken street light in Phase 3?
A: The contractor who broke it is paying. The part has been ordered and takes 6-8 weeks to arrive.

Q: Can we replace missing street signs in Phase 3?
A: Yes, we are looking into that.

Closing:
-Good turnout, thank you for a good discussion
-If homeowners want to be involved with the community, the board will find jobs for people
-Always contact us with any questions, concerns, ideas, etc. Our goal is to make this a great community

National Night Out


This year's National Night Out is Tuesday, August 2. For information on the history of this nationwide event, check out their website: http://www.natw.org/nno/index.html

The HOA will be holding an event in honor of National Night Out. We're still in the planning process but we have some very fun ideas. In the meantime, here are a few tentative details...

The event will run from 4-8pm (or later if people want to hang out) in one of our parks. The HOA will supply burgers and we're asking for neighbors to help contribute food and drink items. We'll need the following: side dishes, chips, desserts, and stuff to drink.

We'll need a few tables for the food and volunteers to help with set-up and clean-up.

If you'd like to help with anything listed above, please email me or leave a comment!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Volunteers Needed!

I need volunteers! I'm trying to get movie nights on the calendar (July 15 and 29 and 1-2 more in August) and need a few people around to help get people settled beforehand and make sure the park is cleared out afterward. I also am working on something for National Night Out (Aug 2) and would like to put a planning committee together. Please email grandfirs@hotmail.com

Thanks!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Found Bicycle

A neighbor mentioned that there's a blue bicycle that's been abandoned at various locations throughout Phase 3. Kids have been seen riding it but it seems to have no owner. Does anyone know who it belongs to?

Found Mailbox Keys

Tricia found a mailbox key on 230th (at the eastern of the two mailboxes on that street). If it's yours, please email me so I can put you in touch.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Lost Dog

Is anyone in GrandFirs missing thier white/tan male Shitzu mix? He has long hair, doesnt seem to be groomed too recently, and is extremely friendly. If you know who this dog might belong to, please email the community email address immediately so we can get this dog to its family. I dont know how long before this little guy has to be turned over to the humane society, so hopefully they could help in locating his home.


Thanks.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Recent Meeting

Thank you to all who attended our meeting on Wednesday. We know it's hard to catch people once school gets out, but we were happy to see that roughly 35 homeowners were able to make it. We had some very good discussions and were able to answer several questions (I hope).

Notes from the meeting will be available soon. Thanks again, everyone :)

Gate Code Clean-Up

On July 1 (next Friday) I will be erasing a couple of old gate utility codes. This is something I do from time to time for security reasons. So if you find that a "key-key" code isn't working, that's why. Not trying to lock anyone out! :)

If you've forgotten your 6-digit gate code, please email me and I'll look it up for you. Also remember that dialing your 3-digit lot number will call your phone (if you have one programmed), and pressing 9 will open the gate.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Next HOA Meeting

We've got an HOA meeting coming up on Wednesday, June 22 at 7pm. The location is the same... Graham Fire Station on 70th. A letter with agenda topics and neighborhood watch information is in the mail.

As always, I'd love to have a couple of volunteers bring some goodies to share. If you can help, let me know!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Backflow Irrigation Testing 2011

For the past two years, a good friend of mine has been performing backflow irrigation tests for several Grand Firs residents (usually at a discount since so many of us hire him). He'll be coming to the neighborhood again in a few weeks.

Our water company requires a backflow test every year for homes with irrigation systems. If you're due for a test and would like to hire Brad, give him a call at 253-854-0714. You don't need to be home for him to do the work.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Help With Lawns

I've been mowing the front lawns at 6 of the 7 vacant Reich homes. They are in transition: Jim Selden has pulled them off the market and they won't be in the possession of the bank until June 17. Jim said the bank has indicated that they will begin maintaining the lawns but not until June 17.

In the meantime, I don't mind continuing with the mowing and Mark has been applying weed killer. But I wonder if anyone is able to help with edging? Nothing fancy... just enough to clean things up a little.

Also, I haven't had a chance to mow the vacant lot on 230th at all. It's pretty bad. Does anyone want to help with that?

Let me know what you can do! Thank you :)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Update: Neighborhood Watch

Our Neighborhood Watch coordinators will be meeting with members of our HOA board this weekend. This is something we've been trying to put together for some time, and we've got a couple of volunteers who are very eager to get started. I'll post more about the program as soon as I have more details!

Homes Under Construction

I received an email from a concerned neighbor regarding kids playing in homes that are under construction. The neighbor asked that I put out a reminder that construction areas can be dangerous and probably aren't the best place for our kids to play. Be careful! :)

Advertising

If you're a student looking for potential odd jobs, here is a free way to advertise yourself. The following is from Wayne Cooke:

Are there strong and capable young people in Grand Firs looking for a summer job, or even odd jobs? Please let Wayne Cooke know who you are and what you can do so we can get your name into The Mountain News…a free service. Please call 847-4614, and leave your name, age, any special skills, and your phone on the message if no one answers.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Attempted Break-In

Two nights ago, someone attempted to break into a homeowner's garage. The homeowner lives on 77th Ave E in Phase 3, and the incident occurred between 10:30pm-7:00am. A report was filed with Pierce County Sheriff.

The HOA is setting up a meeting with two homeowners who have volunteered to set up our Neighborhood Watch Program. I will pass along more information about this as I receive it.

In the meantime, keep your eyes open for suspicious activity and don't hesitate to call 911 for anything in progress. Turn your porch lights on and make it well-known that your home. Occupied burglaries are very rare.

Park Equipment

We know this might not be a popular idea, but the HOA has decided to have the picnic table at the Phase 1 park permanently removed. Also, from here on out, we don't plan on repairing equipment that is intentionally destroyed. It will be removed and not replaced. Of course, the HOA will see that the equipment is maintained, and normal wear-and-tear items will be taken care of.

For the past 4+ years, several community members have donated hours of their time fixing equipment that has been broken, just to have it damaged again within days. It's a cycle that the HOA is tired of dealing with. It's very unfortunate and we're sad to see that it's come to this.

We're really hoping that this will be an incentive for the kids to take care of their equipment! We're lucky to have all these great parks.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Bus Stop Behavior

This morning, a few of our fellow Grand Firs neighbors might have received a prank call from the gate call box this morning. As I was driving out the gate I spotted 5 or so ELEMENTARY-aged children banging on the buttons and calling people (I'm assuming by scrolling down the directory). As I pulled out the gate, I asked that they "knock it off". Unless we want to start getting early morning prank calls from the kids waiting for their bus in the morning, we should probably inform our kids that playing with anything that involves the call box and gate is never okay. And if you happen to be a parent waiting at the bus stop, and you see this type of behavior, please don't look the other way. I'm well aware that having to correct other people's children is never pleasant, but you could potentially be stopping any future vandalism and unnecessary nuisances in the neighborhood.

If you know your kids ride the bus, it might be a good idea to just remind them of what type of behavior they should be displaying at our bus stop.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Facebook Page

I set up a Grand Firs HOA page on Facebook today. I have no idea if people will be interested, but figured it was worth trying. You can find the page here

Monday, April 25, 2011

Egg Hunt Success

Our Easter Egg Hunt was a big success. I didn't count, but my guess is that we had around 25 kids show up to hunt for over 500 eggs. The weather cooperated and we managed to stay dry.

Huge thanks go to Wendy for surprising us with a bunch of extra eggs, and Mark's daughter Sydney for playing the Easter bunny.

The older kids were very courteous when it came to leaving the "easy" eggs for the little ones. I know it's pretty tempting to grab them when they're laying in plain sight :)

Thank you to all who showed up! We'll definitely do it again next year!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Community Garage Sale

Based on votes, we'll have our community garage sale on May 21-22. I'll post an ad on Craigslist. Does anyone want to help with signs?

Friday, April 8, 2011

Anonymous Comments

I've received a couple of anonymous blog comments and I'm interested in talking to the person who left them. It sounds like you have some legitimate concerns and I'd love to hear from you. I don't bite, I promise :) Please email me at grandfirs@hotmail.com so we can talk!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Looking For a Play Date!

From a new neighbor... Hi this is Sara Thompson. I just moved into phase 3. I'm a stay-at-home mom and just wanted to know if there are any other moms in Grand Firs that want to get together and have a play date. I have a 2y/o and 4y/o but all age kids are welcome. I feel bad for keeping them trapped up in the house all day because of the rain. Even if you don't have kids, we can do coffee or something. If you're interested email me at Sara.Thompson01@gmail.com

Yards

It's that time of year... yard work! I wanted to put out a reminder about landscaping. The following is from the Good Neighbor Policy:

1. Residents will maintain landscaping. This includes maintaining a weed-controlled grass no higher than three inches, and lawns should be watered regularly to maintain a green appearance (unless water restrictions are imposed by the local municipal, county or state government).

2. Flower or shrubbery beds shall be maintained so as to stay weed-free.

3. Trees should be trimmed so as to not encroach upon neighboring properties or streets.


Spring is the best time to apply moss killer to lawns, and de-thatch and aerate. This is also a great time to pull weeds before they have a chance to drop their seeds. Clover seemed to be a real problem in our neighborhood last year. If not controlled, it will take over a lawn in no time.

Remember to put in an ACC request if you plan on making any permanent improvements to your home. You can get the form by emailing lindsey@jc-higgins.com

Easter Egg Hunt

The HOA is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt in the park (phase 1) on Sunday, April 24 at 1pm. If you'd like to bring your kids, we'll be meeting on 229th Street in front of the vacant lot. At 1pm, we'll have the group head to the park and watch the kids search for over 400 candy-filled eggs. Rain or shine, we'll be there either way!

The Easter Bunny will be there, so bring your camera!

Parents of older kids: Lots of eggs will be placed in plain view (on the grass) for the babies/toddlers to find. It would be great if you could talk to your kids ahead of time and ask them to leave those for the little ones. We asked this at our last hunt, and the older kids were very respectful :)

Please leave a comment if you plan on attending. We'd like to have a general idea of how many to expect. Thanks :)

Monday, March 28, 2011

Real Estate Signs

As many of us know, we've had some problems in the past with real estate signs being trashed in our neighborhood. The signs have been replaced several times, and I thought this problem was behind us. However, a few of the signs have been damaged again. Please, let's all remember that these homes are for sale. Vandalism may turn potential buyers away.

"About Boating Safely" Class

If you (or anyone you know) is interested, Jim will be teaching a boating safety class. He sent me the following..

Coast Guard Auxiliary Offering Boating Class on Saturday, April 9th at the Graham Fire House on 70th Ave. The “About Boating Safely” course meets the requirements for the boater education law of the State of Washington. For the 2011 boating season, all boaters, age 35 and under, who wish to operate boats and personal watercraft are required to have a Boater Safety Education Card. Other age groups will be phased in until everyone has a card.

"About Boating Safely" is designed to teach safe and enjoyable boating. It presents information to help boaters avoid problems on the water. You will feel more comfortable and confident about your boating activities after completion of the course. The topics include pre-launch activities, navigation rules and markers, required federal & state equipment, boating emergencies and safe water sports. The cost is $25 for the textbook and other materials.

Class is from 8:30am to 5pm. Please pre-register at graham.safe.boating@gmail.com Contact Jim Ehnborn @ 206-658-7887 for additional information or www.auxnorthwest.com or www.parks.wa.gov/boating

Attempted Vehicle Break-In

The following email was sent from Cynthia, who lives on 230th...

I witnessed an individual trying to break into a vehicle in our neighborhood this morning. As I left my house about 5:10 am, I happen to glance over towards my neighbor’s vehicle and saw an individual squatting by the front passenger side tire. I stood and watched for a few seconds as I was not sure if it was my neighbor. It was hard to tell as the individual was wearing a dark hoodie and there was little lighting. When I said, "Hey" The individual looked over at me and then took off running towards the front gate entrance holding something in his/her hand. I immediately got into my vehicle and drove out the front gate in the hopes of getting a better look at the individual. It was too late as individual was gone. I believe the individual was on foot as I did not see any vehicles parked outside the gate for the individual to get into.

I called my neighbors to inform them that I saw someone messing with the tire but was not sure if the individual actually broke into the vehicle as I did not see any glass around the vehicle as I drove by. As it turned out, the vehicle had been tampered with. Many of the folks in the neighborhood do not turn their porch lights on at night. Since this incident, I have decided to try and make sure to turn our porch lights on at night, if for no other reason than to help deter criminals from breaking into the vehicles in our neighborhood.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Entrance Lighting

I'm excited to share something that we've all been waiting for...

The HOA has hired MCE to install a light post at our entrance. The parts have been ordered and will arrive in a couple of months. It will be so nice to have a well-lit entrance!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Dog Waste

A neighbor emailed about the amount of dog poop that is taking over our common areas and parks. Dog owners, please remember to take bags with you and clean up after your dogs.

There also seems to be a number of non-residents bringing their dogs to Grand Firs and using our space as a dog park. I would imagine they are partially responsible for dog waste. Technically, they're trespassing but that's difficult to enforce.

I've asked the board to consider having a few signs made to remind people to clean up. No one likes stepping in poo! :)

Thursday, February 24, 2011

South Gate

I noticed that one arm on the south gate isn't working. It might be weather-related. Chris will take a look tomorrow and get it fixed as soon as possible.

I also saw that someone has been joyriding in the grass along 86th and near the south entrance (both inside and outside the gate). If you notice anyone doing this, please call 911 with a vehicle description. It's unlikely that the cops will respond, but it's still good to get it on record. Thanks!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Mountain News

Wayne Cooke, creator of the wonderful newsletter "86th Avenue Community News" sent me an email telling me about a new blog put together by a local gentleman named Bruce Smith. It's got all kinds of information about community events, workshops, stories about residents, etc. Wayne even helps contribute to the blog (which is great, since he's "retired" from the 86th Ave newsletter). Check it out when you have some time. I'll also post a link on the sidebar.

http://themountainnewswa.wordpress.com

Letter From Our VP

Good afternoon neighbors,

I wanted to take a second to remind everyone that the CCRs are in full enforcement. The Association did grant a generous grace period after sending the Good Neighbor Policy letter out months ago. Because we were just starting to legally run our HOA and enforce the rules we offered a 60-day period to comply with the CCRs we all signed. A few homes then received a formal letter about specific violations they are liable for. Another reminder has recently been issued to a few homes that still had violations warning of the fines and/or liens that would be issued if not resolved by a certain date. Although most have addressed the issues, some still have not.

Many homeowners have recently inquired about why these few violations remain and what the Association is doing about them? We've had to follow our Association's process and timelines. The timelines are now at the fine and lien stage. This week we started distributing the fines and liens.

I hope this answers your questions about the violations and serves as a reminder to any violators to complete any actions you were asked to take.

Thanks,
Rob Ihrig
Grand Firs HOA Vice-President

Friday, February 18, 2011

Feb 19 Work Party Cancelled

Juan and Jen fixed the big toy a few days ago. Thank you! The damaged table is probably beyond repair. So there's no need for a work party. Thank you to those who planned to attend! We received emails from several people who were volunteering time, tools, even electricity :)

Let's all try to work together to make sure the damage to our parks comes to an end. I've spoken with a few other parents and we think that a little more adult presence at the park is a good place to start.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Work Party - Feb 19

***UPDATE: WORK PARTY CANCELLED***

There will be a work party on Saturday, Feb 19 (thanks Michelle for noticing my typo) at 10am to make repairs at the Phase 1 park. It looks like the lumber is in good shape and can be re-used. We just need some man-power to get things in working order. Bring your tools! (If you can make it, please leave a comment or email me.)

I met with Mark and Rob last night and we discussed the latest park vandalism. Within the past few weeks, there has been extensive damage to the big toy and a table. Volunteers have repaired these items several times already but kids keep destroying them. Therefore, the HOA may be forced to remove these items permanently if the vandalism doesn't stop. This will be the last time we repair items in the park.

If you know who is responsible, talk to someone on the HOA board. And parents, please understand that if your children are caught causing damage, you will be held financially responsible for the repairs.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Nuisance Barking...

We got an e-mail from a frustrated neighbor yesterday, asking us to post something about barking dogs. Dogs bark...thats just what they do, right? But please, be courteous to your neighbors by being aware of how much noise your animals make during the day. If you leave your pets outside all day...ask your neighbors what they hear while you are away. I find that open dialogue about any problem is the quickest way to solve it!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Good Neighbor Policy Reminders

Based on some emails and phone calls I've received from neighbors recently, I figured I would post a few friendly reminders :)

Per the Grand Firs Good Neighbor Policy:

Basketball hoops must be stored out of view when not in use—they may not be left on the sidewalk or next to the street.

Seasonal decorations shall be placed no more than thirty (30) days prior to the Holiday and shall be removed no later than thirty (30) days after the Holiday.

Garbage and recycle containers are to be stored in the garage or out of view from the street.

Members will be financially responsible for any damage done to the common areas by household members, tenants, guests and pets.


If you don't have a copy of the Good Neighbor Policy that was mailed out last fall, please email lindsey@jc-higgins.com and request one.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Childcare in Grand Firs

Tammy recently moved into Grand Firs and is a childcare provider! She sent me the following information:

~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆

CURRENT AVAILABILITY
Immediate openings for daytime, evening, and overnight care.
All openings are for children age 1 month and up only.

~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆

THE CHILDCARE PROVIDER
I am a licensed childcare home through the state of Washington with 13 years childcare experience.
I have a CDA and a Bachelors in Early Learning.
I am working on my Masters in Early Learning.
I would love to care for your little ones while you are at work or school.

~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆

THE CHILDCARE HOME
I have large indoor area for the child to play and learn.
I have a fully fenced backyard with play sets, riding toys, and a sand & water table.

~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆

THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM
I use a literature-based pre-k home school curriculum with the children
along with the Creative Curriculum for Family Child Care.
A nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snack are provided.

~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆

RATES
Affordable RATES and HOURS
Naccrra Assistance to Military Families
I give receipts, year end statements, and tax ID number so you can claim the tuition on your taxes

~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆

LOCATION
I am located right off 224th Ave I am 1 minute from Meridian Ave.


~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆~⋆★⋆

CONTACT
Please contact me at childrensdaydream@hotmail.com or 253-271-7485 for more information on my daycare or to set up an interview.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Pampered Chef

From Kristin Nutt:

I am hosting a Soup & Slippers Cooking Show by Pampered Chef. I have hosted one previously with Kristine and she is an awesome Consultant. They have lots of new items and the recipes are always easy to prepare and yummy to eat. It would be nice to get to know some of our neighbors better, so I encourage anyone to stop by. It will be Friday, January 28th at 5:30 PM and usually lasts 2-3 hours. If anyone “needs” anything from Pampered Chef, here is a link to the party and they can order on line, or they can stop by before the show and browse through the catalog.

www.pamperedchef.biz/cookinwithpc?page=host-search-results&showId=2926842

Monday, January 17, 2011

Babysitting

From Cynthia:

Are any of the adults in the neighborhood available to babysit our 1-year-old on occasion either at their house or ours? Our daycare is closed every last Friday of the month so we are looking for someone who would be available from approximately 8:30-3:30 on occasion. Please let us know if anyone knows someone that babysits on occasion or runs a daycare in the Grand Firs area so we can talk further. Thanks.

Cynthia Davis
253-846-8464

Friday, January 14, 2011

Lights

Quick note: a couple of neighbors have let me know about street lights that are still out. Please keep passing those along to me (leave a comment or email me) so I can let Lindsey know. If you could include the nearest house address, that would be great. Thank you!

Welcome New Neighbors

Lina Beltran, the agent working for Freestone, has the following message:

Freestone Homes would like to wish everyone at Grand Firs a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Freestone Homes sold 20 homes in Phase 3 and closed 13 of them in 2010. We are proud to introduce and welcome the following families into the neighborhood: Garcia, Wolfe, Crispin, Ford, King, Christensen, Rocha, Kirk, Stanfield, Fleenor, Juarez, Heller, and Kirk.

Also, congratulations to Garcia who brought in a new neighbor, Juarez to Freestone Homes and Grand Firs. They both received $500 from Freestone Homes for the referral. This is a great referral program and a great way to be in a community where your neighbors are your friends or family.