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!

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

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

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 :)

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 :)

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!