Bentwood Farms - Mallard Pond Homeowners Association

December, 2002

Jan 08, 2003

Sheriff Dave Phalen to Address December Homeowners Meeting:
Responding to comments and concerns voiced by homeowners in Bentwood Farms/Mallard Pond, Sheriff Dave Phalen has been asked to address the monthly Homeowner?’s meeting on Monday, December 2, at 7 p.m.
As in most communities, our neighborhood is experiencing growing pains, including speeding, vandalism and petty theft, raising concern over the safety and security of our children, homes and property.
Is there more that we can do than just reporting speeders, keeping our exterior lights on at night and being sure that our garage and house doors are locked? We need everyone possible to be at the December 2 meeting to hear Sheriff Phalen and, more importantly, to ask questions and express the importance of increased visibility by his deputies.

Annual Meeting
Everyone is encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 12 at 2p.m., as well as all monthly Association meetings, to be held at the Violet Township Offices, 12970 Rustic Dr. Rustic Drive is the first left off of Stonecreek Drive which intersects Route 256 at USBank across from the Turnberry Golf Club. The Township building is the first building on the right once you turn on to Rustic Drive. Use the far left side door to access the meeting room. A schedule of monthly meetings can be found on Page 4.

Santa?’s Visit
Santa will visit us on Sunday, 12/22 from 11 a.m. to 6 pm. Using the enclosed flyer, please RSVP by Sunday, 12/15. You may request, or be assigned, a 2 to 3 hour window for Santa?’s visit. He will assign you a block of time and his helper will call you prior to his visit. Please note preferences, 11-2, 2-4, 4-6, on the RSVP. Questions? Call Tony Pahls, 864-9596 or Sharon Lach, 861-0325.


Winter Warning
With winter?’s ice and snow covered roads just around the corner, it?’s time to remind everyone that parking on Violet Township streets, including all the streets in Bentwood Farms/Mallard Pond, is illegal during any ?“snow emergency.?” During any storm requiring the services of snow removal equipment, plows may refuse to plow your street if your or any other vehicle is parked, regardless of the hour. This
is especially true if you live on a cul-de-sac where the plow cannot readily maneuver around the obstruction. Cars illegally parked not only risk getting a ticket but, also, the equally inconvenient certainty of being ?“plowed in.?” Please, be a good neighbor and park in your garage and driveway.

Your Newsletter?’s New Look
This issue inaugurates a new look and a fresh emphasis on communications in an effort to more effectively reach you. The look is new, the type is easier to read, there are new features and it is being mailed rather than hung on your mailbox avoiding the appearance of ?“plastic bag advertising.?” But, don?’t automatically toss those plastic bags; occasionally we will notify you of special events by way of the bag. Let us know what you think! E-mail your comments to: www.chuckbev@iwaynet.net
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Notes from the President
By Jim McGrath
How do you like the new look of your newsletter? With much effort from Chuck Zurhorst, we are updating not only the newsletter, but trying to improve the way in which we communicate with our neighborhood.
We have many things to discuss at our next Association meeting, and we would like your input before making decisions. One of the items is to change the ?“Bentwood Farms?” name to ?“Mallard Pond?” only, so that our whole subdivision has one common name. The street names wouldn?’t change, but our Legal name and the entrance sign on Refugee Road would. We will also be talking about the budget, and some of the items that we want to spend money on next year.
We have been exploring the placement of stop signs along Bentwood Farms Drive and Steeplechase, to slow down those that speed. The township has put up some additional orange caution signs, but we haven?’t gotten anywhere with the township in regard to stop signs. I?’ve also requested a cross walk to be painted on the street at Bentwood Farms and Steeplechase. The Township has basically come back to us and said: ?“It?’s your own people that are speeding in there, you need to educate them.?” If you speed, please slow down! You probably only save 10 seconds by traveling 35 instead of 25 ?– and that is going the whole length of Bentwood Farms Drive. If a child is hit, even though it is an accident, how could you live with that? Please ask everyone you know to slow down within our neighborhood. The Sheriff has been asked to be more visible and write tickets instead of warnings!
If you have any questions about what is going on with your Association, and can?’t make it to a meeting, please feel free to email me or call a Trustee, we are willing to help in any way we can. Sometimes our hands are tied, like when a homeowner?’s dog barks all day or night (call the Sheriff), but many times we can help.
Bundle-up, winter is coming!
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A Child?’s Black Jacket was left at the Halloween Party. Please call Andrea Turner at 614-577-9311 to claim.
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Social Committee News
By Andrea Turner
I hope everyone had a good Halloween. The party was wonderful and all the children had a good time. Several volunteers were needed to make the party possible and I would like to thank them for all their hard work. The social committee members include Sharon Lach, Denise Denunzio, Donna Breitinger, Beth Boyd, Debbie Segbers, Stephania Wilson and Beverly Zurhorst. The following Board members also helped with the party: Craig Turner, Chuck Zurhorst and Janel Peterson. The neighbor-hood and other volunteers were Jacque Bailey, Kent and Susan Turner, Kaylin (Zurhorst) Harker, Ryan (Zurhorst) Homoelle, Kori and Lisa Brady, Christina Stokes and Tammy Dierksheide. Several local businesses also helped make the event a big success. Thanks to Krogers, Graeters, Skyline Chili, Catalfino?’s Pizza, McDonalds, Subway, Taco Bell, Domino?’s Pizza, Pickerington Athletic Boosters Club and Stephanie Charache?’s Mother?’s Club. Thank you, again, to all the volunteers and I hope to see many of you again at our future events.

Secretary?’s Report
By Janel Peterson
I volunteered to fill this position when I attended my first Homeowner?’s Association meeting in July. My family and I are new to Ohio as of this year (from Wisconsin) and I thought ?“what better way to acquaint myself with a community ?– get involved!?”
In addition to my duties of taking minutes at the monthly Association meetings, I distribute information via email to all those in our neighborhood who have the capability. I am presently working on my community email list. If you are interested in receiving neighborhood information via email, please contact me at www.rpeters4@insight.rr.com .
Issues that have been addressed at recent monthly Association meetings are: Pending lawsuits, Communication to all homeowners, Speeding cars, Enforcement of Deed Restrictions, Enhancing the pond area, Barking dogs and Homeowner involvement.


Architectural Control Committee
By Craig Turner
The outdoor project season has come to a close and the Architectural Control Committee wants to thank all our neighbors who have complied with the requirements to submit your outside project plans as required by the Declarations of Covenants / Deed Restrictions. We also thank the homeowners that had to be contacted for starting unapproved projects who did eventually submit their plans for our review and records per our request.
As a reminder for future projects, the ACC requires a copy of your plot plan that shows where the work is located on your property, a cover letter that gives a brief description of the work to be done along with your name and address, copies of plans/prints if available and any product data that is applicable for the type of material and/or color that will be used. This includes painting of the exterior of your home. Submissions will be kept for our records. We try to get an approval letter issued within a week or two. Please allow for this time when scheduling your project. Submissions can be mailed to me or dropped off and placed in the bottom box on my mailbox at 9408 Winners Circle.
As per the deed restrictions, Boats, landscape trailers, campers, etc. cannot be stored on your driveways or in your yard. The ACC allows the aforementioned items to be placed on your property for only the day before and the day after its intended use.
Mike Lyman has volunteered to be our third ACC member. The Board and I are pleased to have him on the committee and thank him for volunteering his time for our neighborhood.
Again, the ACC would like to thank everyone who submitted plans for review and thanks all our neighbors who help in keeping our neighborhood looking great.
If you have any questions about the deed restrictions or submissions, please feel free to contact me or any of the other ACC members.
(Remember, the purpose of the ACC is to help maintain the appearance, beauty and value of our neighborhood.)

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Point of View
By Chuck Zurhorst
Thanksgiving is fast approaching and, in the spirit of the Holiday, a time for reflection and some sentiment. Like so many Americans, I give Thanks at this time of year, and daily, for the obvious: Our nation; the freedoms that we enjoy and take for granted; my wife, who is my best friend, staunchest supporter and most avid critic, our children and grandchildren; my mother, who at 88 is still in remarkable health; my many friends; home; good health and relative success.
This year, I am quick to add to that list of Thanksgivings two remarkable ladies who, thank God, are friends and neighbors in Bentwood Farms/Mallard Pond and without whom our community would be just another subdivision in Violet Township and Pickerington. For all the work, effort, time and wonderful events that they devote themselves to for our community, they receive little thanks. For the activities that they spend hours planning and coordinating only to have a disappointing few respond, they alone bear the disappointment.
These two extraordinary ladies and benefactors of our community are Sharon Lach and Andrea Turner. A very special ?“Happy Thanksgiving?” to each.
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The Pickerington Garden Club Meets Every Third Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Pickerington Public Library. New Members are Welcomed. Call Beverly Zurhorst at 864-6012 for more information.
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The Violet Township Noise Control Ordinance is now law. In short it reads ?“It is unlawful for a person to generate, or permit to be generated, unreasonable noise or loud sound which is likely to cause inconvenience or annoyance to persons of ordinary sensibilities.?” We are advised by Township officials that the wording, although not specific, does include car stereos, whether in a driveway of the teenager down the street or just cruising and, barking dogs in the middle of the night or at any time of the day. Yes neighbors, there is a Santa Claus!

Communications Committee, Etc.
By Sharon Lach
The Communication Committee was established in an effort to improve the lines of communications between the Board of Trustees and the homeowners within our community. Thanks to Carla Searfoss, Billy Kelly, Lori Goddard, Terry Egan, Colette Goddard, Stephania Wilson and Beverly Zurhorst for volunteering to distribute the various flyers, newsletters and directories. We have seven walkers and two ladies (thank you Megan Snare) for folding flyers and stuffing bags. One more helper is needed in this area. Maps, baby sitting list and directory updating are ongoing. If you find an error, please call. Hooks are also being installed on all mailboxes to help keep any plastic bag from falling to the ground.
Please excuse the error in the last issue of The Duck and Pony Show regarding the yards we put our signs in. The two families are the Burkes and Billys.

GROUNDS: Thanks to Curt Anderson, John Lach, Doug Jaskari and son Michael for their time and equipment and the Turos family for much of the wood, the bridge connecting Thouroughbred Drive to the pond is now complete.

WELCOME WAGON: If you have new neighbors or didn?’t receive a Welcome Folder when you moved in, please call Sharon Lach.

Directory
Trustees:
President ?– Jim McGrath, Email: JMVETT@aol.com
Vice President ?– Chuck Zurhorst, 864-6012
Treasurer ?– Curt Anderson, 861-1206
ACC ?– Craig Turner, 577-9311
Secretary ?– Janel Peterson, 861-3558
Communications/Grounds/
Welcome Wagon ?– Sharon Lach, 861-0325
Special Projects ?– Wayne Whitehead,
Email: wpje@excite.com
Committees:
Social Committee ?– Andrea Turner, 577-9311
Architectural Control Committee (ACC) ?–
Craig Turner, 577-9311
Mike Lyman, 751-9614
Chuck Zurhorst, 864-6012

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Calendar of Meetings
Unless otherwise posted, all meetings take place on the first Monday of the month at the Violet Township Offices at 7 p.m.
Dec. 2, 2002 ?– +Sheriff Dave Phalen
+2003 Budget Discussion
+Name Change to Mallard Pond Only

Jan.12, 2003 ?– ANNUAL MEETING,
Sunday at 2 p.m.
Feb. 3, 2003 ?– +ACC Guidelines
+Deed Restrictions
+Spring Projects


Would you like to advertise in The Duck & Pony Show newsletter? Rates are reasonable and you will receive a longer term posting on our website, too. Contact Jim McGrath at JMVETT@aol.com for rates and more information.


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