Local Storm Damage – Pictures
Lola Lauri
The truth is, we were lucky. The power is still out for some of our neighbors, but the flooding and damage could have been a whole lot worse. The power companies can’t tell us when service will be back, but the Community Center is open for those needing a shower or something warm to drink. Mr. Z’s has limited power, but they are open. The gas station has no power to the pumps, but their quick mart is open. Still, to the person whose tree fell, or to the child whose play house was crushed, this storm was serious business. To those without power, it could be a cold miserable night.
Staying Safe Throughout the Storm
EMERGENCY INFORMATION FOR HURRICANE SANDY
The following are useful links for information and assistance during the storm.
This website has a number of free publications and information for preparing and surviving during natural disasters, including information on how to prepare an emergency kit, how to protect your home, and how to prepare food without electricity: http://www.ready.gov/
Receive alerts for Monroe county on your phone or through your email account: https://monroe.alertpa.org/index.php?CCheck=1
“Party House” Major Focus of Board Meeting
October 27th Open Board of Directors Meeting
“Party House” Major Focus of Board Meeting
By Buz Whelan
Although the discussion didn’t begin until over an hour into the meeting, the grievances over a short-term rental house on West Emerald Lake produced the most passionate remarks during the October meeting. Beginning with Mark Davis’ opening statement, which was comprehensive, residents from the general area of the house spoke, one after the other, on the rental’s damaging effect on quality of life. Speaker after speaker cited littering, garbage dumping, loud parties, fireworks far into the night, and a septic system that is overtaxed and sure to fail at some point in the near future. The discussion went on for about 45 minutes and showed evidence of the strain on affected members’ nerves. Board President Al Leslie assured the distressed group that the association attorney is working to resolve the situation, but it was unclear what form that resolution would take.
Halloween Fun in ELA – Funhouse Pictures
Stefania Johnson
What an amazing production at the Funhouse (aka Community Center)! Four days of scary turns and twists that sent some running out the door even before the end of the tour!
She looks harmless, right?
Brave participants were greeted by The Evil Gypsy Fortune Teller, and then led past the friendly but tortured soul who just wanted new friends she could make look like her or her hollow-eyed doll. At every corner the scary clowns and mimes warned all to play fairly. They said they just wanted to be friends, but woe to those who said no, for they would suffer terrible consequences! All around was evidence of what happened to those who did not please them. Victims were jailed, tortured, beaten, stabbed by the Ring Master. There was Jack who didn’t stay in his “box” but instead came after visitors with his Chainsaw trying to chop up his the next meal! Through it all, there was a crazy Jester who would pop up in places that you would never imagine. The final stop on this terrible tour was the play room, where sadistic clowns were waiting for each group, trying to lock them in, making them beg for mercy before they were released, except for one young soul. She absolutely never left! We’ll see next year where she is found…or NOT.
Who We are NOT
Opinion
Lola Lauri
We got a letter this weekend, from the ELA Inc. board, and we have decided to just give them what they want, so they can sleep better at night and stop wasting money on this “non-problem”. But what are they so worried about? Here’s my take on what happened:
Since the ELA board just won’t play nice
They shelled out your cash for legal advice
On how to shut down the EL Free Press
That seeks to shed light on their ongoing mess.
It seems the lawyer said don’t overreach
We live in a land that values free speech.
The best you can do is send them a note,
And try to scare them. So they took a vote.
Then GM Roth got a paper and pen,
And asked us to say that we’re us and not them.
But just to be clearer, right on this spot
We’re gonna say ALL of the things that we’re not:
Public Notice – Variance Hearing in Emerald Lakes
OWNER FILES FOR VARIANCE TO BUILD ON 5720 CLOVER ROAD
The Tunkhannock Township Zoning Hearing Board will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. at the Township Municipal Building located at 1557 Long Pond Road, Long Pond, PA. The purpose of the hearing is to consider a variance from Township Zoning Ordinance 2012-127, Article XII, 1207(A) for unique physical circumstances or conditions. The property is in R-1 zoning district of the Township and is located at 5720 Clover Road, PIN#20634404613114, Tax ID# 20/C/1/432.The property is owned by Christian Charity Foundation.
Violence in HOA’s
Opinion
Lola Lauri
From an article in the Seattle Times:
Who would want to subject themselves to such friction by being part of a homeowners’ board? Some are genuinely drawn by the opportunity to volunteer, McKenzie said. But others relish the chance to wield influence over the neighborhood.
“Associations are seen as the bad guys,” Feingold said. “They’ve got a rap for being overreaching and overbearing. In America, we have `My home is my castle.’ You’re really challenging that proposition.”
Read the whole article here. Also, another HOA tragedy, here
We have had members threaten violence at the annual meeting, and at the monthly open meetings. Most times they are simply asked to leave and escorted out. I have often expressed my concerns over our Association not taking these things seriously enough. Let’s not wait for a tragedy here before we take action when someone threatens violence in our community.
Ten Things that are Just Okay
Here is a list of 10 things that are Just Okay.
1. Mashed potatoes
2. Pedicures
3. Jimmy Fallon
4. Sunday newspaper magazines
5. Canned vegetables
6. Garden apartments
7. Four door sedans
8. Fast food
9. Peddle boats
10. Audiobooks
11. Walmart
ELA Haunted Funhouse
Stefania Johnson
The gypsy knows your fate!
Are they laughs of joy and fun or demented laughs of terror? Come find out at this year’s ELA Haunted Funhouse where our clowns have gone mad, our Ringmaster has lost control and the misfits were left behind to rot! Will you dare come through to see what is left? Are you afraid of being forced beyond your will to stay? Will the Gypsy Fortune Teller guide give you insight into your immediate future of whether you will stay or go? Dare us!! Better yet, dare yourself!
Watch out for this fellow.
The annual Emerald Lakes Haunted House October 17, 18, 19 – 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. October 20 – 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Community Center. $6 for Adults and $4 for children under 10.
The ELA Road Plan Explained
Lola Lauri
The following information is based on the plan in place last year. If there have been any changes since then, I do not have them.
The board agreed to a 5-year plan presented by Gil Werner and the Maintenance committee, including Bob Lauri and Joe Miller. The plan begins with dedicating $200k per year to the roads.
First, Bob Lauri, our staff, GM, and the maintenance committee surveyed the roads and assessed the damage by designating roads as primary, secondary and tertiary. Then specific pieces of each road were rated based on the extent of the damage and the need for drainage fixes. Areas slated for repair were chosen using this data which, presumably, will be updated each year as situations change.
The first priority in repairing the roads is to prevent water damage. This happens by fixing the grading along the sides of the major roads and replacing damaged drainage pipes that run underneath them. It makes little sense to repair or repave roads when there is not proper drainage. The freeze/thaw cycle on roads with poor drainage is the main cause of the “alligator cracks” that are the beginning of road deterioration. Of course, there will always be routine maintenance that must be continued along with this drainage project.
With proper drainage, and with the work guarantees that were negotiated with contractors, paving should last longer in the future, and this frees up some of the $200k for more repairs to secondary roads. As we catch up with the drainage and repaving, hopefully, this will at some point allow for paving of those unpaved roads.
However, all of this is dependent on the board continuing to fund the project, and barring any major disasters that require immediate repair. Should we be lucky enough to have another mild winter or two, the project could be accelerated, but major storms and a lot of freeze/thaw fluctuations could set it back. So, with all these variables, it is hard to say exactly how long this might take.
There is a plan, or at least there was, but plans in our community are always dependent upon the whims of the current board, so it is important to let each board know what your priorities are, and to select candidates who will continue programs that you think are important. Even if you choose not to attend meetings, you might want to put a note on your calendar, as a “back to school” item, to write a letter to the board each September, reminding them of the things you believe are important in our community.
Emerald Lakes Free Press 