March 2000
Click here to download
the newsletter in Microsoft
Word format.
From The Chair...
Spring is finally upon us as I notice families and especially children out and about enjoying our unseasonably warm weather. Change is everywhere during this time of year, and with the seasonal change, our community is also undergoing change. We now have a new Advisory Board in place, and after two meetings to date, there seems to an abundant amount of enthusiasm and ideas.
First things first, I would personally like to thank Norb Hintz, our past Chairman for all his efforts and support to the Homeowners Association. Many of our community do not see the work "behind the scenes" that the Advisory Board accomplishes, and I can attest the Norb has often been tireless in doing for our community. Please take a moment the next time you see him about to thank him for all his efforts.
As in the past, things are going full speed ahead with the Advisory Board, (Rich Falciatano, Kent Hendrick, Robin Robu, Darin Scheidly, Jeff Sammond and Lynne Waldrop) as we continue to implement the stream-lining of our committees and their respective functions. Last year, the Board acknowledged that some changes were in order to help make things function better and established three committees in which we would operate. Each committee will have two Board Liaisons, and a Chairperson to help facilitate the operation of the committee. The committees are then broken down into specific sections, the idea of which is to enable more of the community to become involved by taking on a single specific task.
You will notice in the organization chart (Advisory Board), you can become involved in many different ways. The only way our community can function, to a degree in which others wish to become part of it, is for you to become involved. This will not only increase our property values, but also create a community which we all can take pride in being a apart of. Our goal is simple, with many people; each doing a little, a lot of work can be accomplished. Quite honestly, this is our greatest shortcoming. As with any volunteer effort, it is easy to believe others will step up and take on a task, I challenge each of you to get involved in a committee. Contact one of the
committee liaisons or chairs and ask how you can help.
Now that my sales pitch is concluded, I can get on to some lighter issues. First, our Activities Committee has been busy finalizing our pool contract for the upcoming year, and you will be pleased to know that they were able to negotiate more hours at a lesser cost, and even negotiating a not-to-exceed second year to help hold down our costs. They also have negotiated the purchase of some new chairs and tables so there should be plenty for all this season.
The ACC also is getting some new ideas up and running, one of which will be a yard-of-the-month program, which will target a yard on either side of Ashmore Bridge. So get busy sprucing up those lawns, the ACC has some great ideas and perks for the winners. Look in next months newsletter for more details.
Finally, the Advisory Board is looking at coming into the 21st century by establishing a web site for the Planter's Row Homeowners Association. We will be looking at some of our youthful talent at helping to develop and maintain the site. We'll keep you posted when we get on-line. Have a great Spring!
Activities Committee 
The facility committee has been working really hard this spring. February 24 we held our first committee meeting of the new year. We have been working hard to create new goals for this year's committee. Our main goal is to obtain more PRHA members to join our committee and make Planter's Row a better community. Don't be surprised if we knock on your door this year.
Although it seems far off we have already began focusing on the 2000 pool season. We have already placed an order for new pool furniture, which includes lounge chairs, tabletops, and some much needed umbrellas. If you haven't been up to the pool area, the cabana has been painted and repaired. The pool is scheduled to open on Saturday May 13th. Please examine this year's schedule located on page 6. Some changes have been made from last year. This year we will also have late night swimming for PRHA members on the 2nd and 4th Friday for the month of June, July, and August.
New ID Pool Procedure
There is a new procedure implemented for the Year 2000. New homeowners to Planter's Row should contact WM Goldsmith to obtain the required form to obtain your ID. The time needed to process your ID or validation request, will require approximately 7 to 14 days. You may also fax your form to Cathy Bell at (864) 297-6207.
If you had an ID last season, are current on your dues, and have not received your validation stickers by April 23rd please contact WM Goldsmith so that we can resolve the problem.
In order to obtain your ID/Validation Sticker you must be current on your homeowners associates dues.
Pool ID distribution will be announced in our next newsletter.
When entering the pool area all Planter's Row Association Members will be required to sign the log book and present a valid 2000 ID to the lifeguard on duty. You will not be required to leave your ID at the gate as in past years.
A $5.00 replacement fee is required for any member requesting a new ID. Please send a check payable to Planter's Row Homeowner's Association. ID's requested without the $5.00 replacement fee will be delayed until the fee is received.
Swimming Lessons - Upstate Pool Management will be offering swimming lessons this summer season. The sessions are scheduled to begin on Monday, June 5th. Please contact a lifeguard for more details.
Please contact a committee member with any ideas or suggestions you may have. Our committee meets on the third Thursday of each month. Any one interested in becoming a committee member, please contact a current committee member to find out more.
Architectural Committee
This year the ACC would like to accomplish the following goals. However our attendance is dwindling. To be effective we will need the support of the community.
Currently our main goals for 2000 are:
Respond to submittals in a timely fashion
Issue revised guidelines
Begin a more formalized auditing
Start yard of the month program
Develop direct submittal to bypass Goldsmith
Begin a homeowner volunteer maintenance program for the athletic field
Take over some if not all responsibility for the common grounds
If any one is interested please call David Wage or Lynne Waldrop. We could use your input and help.
The Green Thumb
(The Green Thumb column is intended to stimulate your interest and provide some help in keeping our properties looking good - and property values high. It only scratches the surface of things to do to keep your landscape areas beautiful. There are of course an endless number of more detailed sources including, publications, local nurseries and neighbors. Please let us know if you have information to share)
If you are like me, you're ready to get on with spring. The good news is that we can return to the "enjoyment" of some outdoor exercise (trimming, watering, planting, mowing,... the list goes on). The bad news is that it's also time to start throwing money into the ground again. However, unlike tossing money into a boat-like sinkhole, with a little knowledge and some cooperation from Mother Nature, the money you put into the ground can "bear fruit."
If the idea of growing fruit is not a turn-on, how about the prospect of having the best looking yard in the neighborhood! As noted elsewhere in the Grapevine, twelve residents will be rewarded for their outside efforts this year with a Yard of the Month sign and hopefully some other rewards as well.
Enough jabber ...... it's time to have the pH of your soil checked and many local nurseries will test your sample free. When the results come back, don't be surprised if an application of lime is recommended, as most of the soil in our area is naturally acidic (pH 4.5-6.0). Plants grow better and grass is better able to absorb applied fertilizer when the pH is to its liking.
There may also be time to apply a pre-emergent crabgrass preventer - especially if you had crabgrass problems last year. However, if you plan to reseed this spring, DO NOT use
crabgrass preventer, as it will also prevent your grass seed from sprouting. If you have warm season (fescue) grass, as most of us do, at least at the sides and rear of our yards, the preventer can be combined with a slow release fertilizer. Warm season grasses (Bermuda) do not need fertilizing until after they have greened.
This is a good time to fertilize trees using either granular fertilizer or tree spikes. But, DO NOT use "weed and feed" type fertilizer around trees. Summer flowering trees, shrubs and vines, like Crape Myrtle, Hydrangea and Clematis should be pruned now while they are still dormant. In addition to shaping them, this will force heavy growth on which the summer's flowers are set.
Spring flowering shrubs like Azalea, Spirasa and Viburnum should not be pruned or fertilized until after they bloom. You won't go to jail if you do, but their blooms will be more showy if you wait.
Some general pruning guidance: cut suckers from the bases of trees or single-trunked shrubs. Also remove water sprouts - those unattractive vertical shoots that spring up from some branches. Limbs, which are diseased or dead, rub together or grow inward, should also be removed. Although many of us have acquired the habit of painting pruning wounds with a special compound, studies have shown that to be unnecessary. If you must do something, some light colored leftover latex house paint will do and it save you some money. There are many other ways to put the money back into the ground .....or your boat.
THINK YARD OF THE MONTH
As much as we hate to think about yard work and getting out the mowers again, that time is drawing near. The good news is that our community is noted for the good looks of our homes and yards. That's something for which we are all individually responsible and in which we all take pride.
To make your efforts even more rewarding, the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) is implementing a Yard of the Month program this year. It will take place during the months of May, June, July, August, September and December. A yard on each side of Ashmore Bridge road will be selected each month and no yard may be selected more than twice during the season.
In addition to displaying a Yard of the Month sign for the given month, we hope to be able to reward each winner with a gift certificate to a local business. More information will follow in subsequent issues of the Grapevine.
HELP - The ACC needs volunteers to do the judging. We would like to have individuals who will be available for the entire season. If you are interested, please contact Jim Sawhook at 213-9979.
Communications Committee
As with all other committees, the communications committee has an abundance of work ahead of us this year. We are looking for volunteers to help aid in making PRHA a better place to live. We are looking for individuals to run the welcoming sub group along with participation in a neighborhood watch program. A reserve study will be conducted to prepare us for the up coming years when we take over from Liberty. Susan Thomas will be heading this unit.
If any one is interested in helping out please contact Rich Falciatano at 297-8843.
FYI
Questions and Answers
If you have a question regarding an issue that affects all of us as homeowners, please submit it to William Goldsmith Co., by the 15th of the month. We will try to have an answer by the following issue.
Last year's tennis tourney has grown by leaps and bounds with
13 participants.
The matches were extremely competitive with
many marathon matches. Thanks to all that participated
and congratulations to our 1999 Tennis Champion Joe Satterfield
who defeated Claude Leitzsey in the final.
Back to top.