OCTOBER 2004 NEWSLETTER ARTICLE

Despite the rains this has been a very busy summer for the staff. Significant road patching and utility repairs have taken place. Three major road pipes have been replaced and the two under the entryway section of Washington Drive are scheduled to be replaced as you read this article. Additionally, the yellow caution light outside the entry gate should be up and running. Please observe the speed limit at the gate, as it's essential to be able to identify the vehicles entering. This is for your security.

Metro Earthworks is putting the finishing touches on the wetlands trade off project at the end of Delaware Drive. The intent is to turn this into a primitive wetlands park complete with a canoe launch ramp. Significant work by volunteers is making the Briar Patch Park fields much more playable. Additional work is planned to include new football, lacrosse and soccer goals. In the near future we will build a parking lot next to the new play field on Dewey Drive. This should alleviate what's becoming a major parking problem. A new play set is in the planning stages to replace the old wooden set at Aquia Park. The intent is to relocate it to the left to allow room for another practice field. Our youth athletic programs have grown so that we are having scheduling problems.

Work on the Harbour Inn warming kitchen is nearing completion. Kudos are due to Dave Richardson for all his assistance. The new tables and chairs are in place at the country club and certainly add a touch of class, as do the new window treatments. The new number one golf green has been completed and should be ready for play in the spring. Our staff paid close attention to the work by the contractor and learned enough that we may undertake the rebuild of the number nine green next year in-house.

It's been mentioned many times but is well worth repeating the fact that we're faced with major rebuild/replacement of several major facilities and amenities. Please stop by the Business Office and pick up a copy of the recent Reserve Study. You'll find it quite an eye opener. At this point the board of directors is looking to hire a Community Planner to put together a comprehensive "Community Plan." Everyone needs to get informed as what's done in the near future will shape the community for years to come.

The board is currently reviewing the contiguous lot policy to bring it into line with the times and the needs of the community. Bingo is currently on hold. There appears to be some confusion about our eligibility due to some issues with the Internal Revenue. The issues are being worked but in the mean time bingo must wait. The weekend of October 23-24th we will participate in Operation Community Pride. In conjunction with this we will have dumpsters at the small lot on Washington Drive near the tennis courts. This is a good time to clean the yard, garage or basement. Please no hazardous waste, car batteries or flammable liquids.

Chris Russo, one of our police officers, has volunteered to ride a bicycle in the Police Unity Tour from Virginia Beach to Washington, DC May 10-12th 2005. The police department is accepting donations toward a bicycle and expenses.

As reminder mark your calendar for the Annual Meeting October 16th 10:30 a.m. at the Harbour Inn Community Center. If you can't make it please vote by mail or at the Business Office. We must have a quorum or we'll be forced to reschedule the meeting with all the attendant costs.