VoiceVol. 7 No. 4 Spring 2013

Stroudsburg, PA18360

PERMIT NO. 42

PAID

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

Birchwood Lakes Community Association212 Aspen RoadDingmans Ferry PA 18328

President’s MessageBy Clare Bennett, President By the time you read this, hopefully, winter will be a distant memory as we prepare for the warmth of spring. The last several months have been hectic. We were down three staff members, battled through Hurricane Sandy and a cold snowy winter and continued to move the projects and activities along! First of all, I want to acknowledge and express my profound thanks to Birchwood Employees - Sherri, Linda, Debbie, William and Jimmy, and Marcella Livingston, our Treasurer. During Hurricane Sandy we were down three employees (two office and one maintenance) and running on a small generator at the office, but the dedication and commitment by the above staff to the Members and the Association enabled us to contin-ue to function and provide services, health and welfare visits, and food and water to our Members and Marcella and I opened the Clubhouse to Members in need of heat and a hot “cuppa” for three days and evenings once power there was restored. I also acknowledge and thank Delaware Township for obtaining water and meals for the area Communities and for keeping us updated under difficult conditions. I am pleased to say that we at full staff again. We have a new Community Manager, Bonnie Sipley; a new Administrative Assistant, Kim Carrozza; and a new Maintenance Employee, James Kowalski. They bring with them experience, enthusiasm and a great team spirit. Feel free to say hello to Bonnie and Kim when you visit the office, and James when you see him throughout the Community. You will hear more about them later in this newsletter. With the advent of spring, our Members will be out enjoying the nice weather and longer days. Drivers, please watch your speed. Children and adults are again walking and cycling on our roads. Please refresh your memory on our Rules and Regulations and also inform your children about them as I humbly ask everyone to observe them and respect property. We are seeing increased vandalism with graffiti, property damage and damage caused by ATV’s. This vandalism is a cost to all of us. Badges must be worn by all Mem-bers and their guests any time in Common Areas. Public Safety is directed to check badges and issue citations for non-compliance – same for loitering. School Bus parents – please observe parking rules. They are in place not to inconvenience you but to make every effort to keep your children safe. Again, citations will be issued if Public Safety finds you in non-compliance and/or other Members file written complaints with the office. Our Recreation Committee and Beautification Committee are in desperate need of vol-unteers. The amount of work involved in the summer recreation activities and the planting and maintaining of our flower beds at the entrances and clubhouse is too much for one or two people. If we do not get more volunteers, the Board will have to discontinue these activities, which would be such a shame. If you can and are willing to give a small portion of your time to help with these, or any other committees, please contact the office. Please consider participating in our activities either as a volunteer or as an attendee at our events. We want to continue putting on our programs, and even add to them, but, as I said above, if we don’t get enough Members to attend events as a guest and/or volunteer we will have to discontinue the activities. Bring your children to arts and crafts and bingo, come party with us at our pool parties, enjoy an adults only night at our adult dinner or luau. Our recreation calendar will be posted in our next newsletter and on the website in a couple of months so stay tuned! I want to finish by saying that I have had the opportunity these past few months to meet so many of our Members. Because we frequently receive negative nasty blogs and emails from one or two members, it is sometimes easy to forget that most of our Members appreciate and respect the work the Birchwood Staff and Board of Directors do on behalf of the Association and they enjoy living in Birchwood. We have great people living in Birchwood and I have been pleased and honored to meet you and talk to many of you. I am not at the office all the time so I look forward to seeing you out and about in Birch-wood this spring and summer. Come say hello.

Hurricane Sandy Took Her Toll!

Spring 2013Birchwood VOICE2

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The official publication of the Birchwood Lakes Community Association

Voice

Activities UpdateBy Clare Bennett, President Below is an update on some of our activities. If you have any questions about any of these projects or any other activity in Birchwood please do not hesitate to call the office. 739 Entrance – Discussions with PENNDOT continue in the effort to mitigate costs in relation to the permitting of the 739 Entrance. They indicated that they are open to us reducing traffic by limiting access during the timeframe Monday through Friday, 4pm to 6:30pm. In a letter enclosed with the last Membership mailing in December we explained the challenges facing us with regard to the 739 Entrance and asked for volunteers to use the other entrances during the days and times indicated, but we did not receive any re-sponses. The Board is reviewing options including limiting access to delinquent accounts, reassigning access during the timeframe in question based on lot/block/section, and add-ing an additional guest call box at one of the other entrances. If you use the 739 Entrance during the time periods referenced above and you would like to volunteer to use another entrance please call the office as soon as possible. Pool – If you have been by the pool this past week you will see that the contractors have begun demolishing the pool and decking concrete. Work will continue as weather permits and it is anticipated that renovations will be completed early May. Salt Issue - Monthly field and quarterly lab testing continues and these results are being closely monitored by our hydro-geologist. Two properties have been identified as a possible location for the communal well and exploratory wells are being drilled and tested for suitability this week. Modification of the existing maintenance well should also begin this week. A meeting was held last week with the Association Attorney, and Brian Oram, our expert Hydro-geologist, to discuss the development of a claims process in response to requests for reimbursement. Meetings were held in November to update the Membership and I anticipate another meeting will be held around April with an update on recent activi-ties. PADEP have been kept informed of all recent activities and we will continue to work

closely with them as we try to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. Budget – The 2013/2014 Budget Passed as did the By-Laws changes. We thank the Budget Committee and By-Laws Committee for all their hard work and the Membership for voting it through. We understand and empathize with these hard economic times. How-ever, we have to be able to maintain our existing services and amenities as well as build up our reserves for capital projects. Again, thank you. Upper Birchwood Lake Dam Permit – The permit application was submitted in Sep-tember but it was not approved by PADEP. They have requested additional information including surveys and deed information on all the properties surrounding our dam. The Board approved an estimate from a surveyor at the last Board Meeting and letters will be going out to those lakeside members to gain permission to enter onto their properties for surveying purposes. We continue to research financial options to secure the $50,000 bond the PADEP requires of us. Lake Dredging Project – Several years ago a study was conducted to remove sedi-ment and peat from our lakes, in particular Middle Lake. It was determined that the cost to complete the task is prohibitive. We were close to a solution when one vendor agreed to take the peat and use the funds from the sale of the peat to cover the cost of the project, but the vendor backed out last minute. The Board agreed that we would not submit permit applications for a dredging project at this time. We are researching the potential use of a sediment removal system called Dino Six, which will not require a permit as it falls under maintenance of the lakes. Roads - The Bid Packets are going out shortly for the drainage work to be done at the top of Butternut and Basswood. Cornerstone Engineering has submitted the permit appli-cation for the drainage work for Old Oak Court. The Roads Committee will identify roads for tar and chip and/or other road repairs once the weather improves. Delinquent Accounts – Collections efforts continue. We continue to seek judgments on delinquent accounts and we are following through on liens and sheriff sales where necessary. If you are in arrears and wish to make payment arrangements please contact the office as soon as possible to avoid legal action. Office Building – We are obtaining estimates to repair the existing office building, in-cluding foundation, roof, windows, doors and siding. The well pump was replaced recent-ly and the well drainage modified to change water flow towards the lake and away from the building. If the building proves reparable and if the Board agrees to continue using the space for the BLCA office, interior modifications will be considered at a later date. Conference Room – We continue to research permanent and temporary structures to convert the Conference Room into office space if we are unable to save the existing office building. Rules and Regulations – Please take the time to review and refresh your memory as it relates to Birchwood’s Rules and Regulations. As we enter the spring we often see an increase in breaching our Rules and Regulations, especially with school bus stop parking, ATV’s, vandalism and loitering, vehicular violations, untidy properties, and trespassing. Please be advised that Public Safety is instructed to cite anyone found in violation of any of our Rules and Regulations – no warnings will be given. Landlords/Tenants – New By-Laws and Rules and Regulations are in place relating to rental properties. Please review and observe these if you have not already done so. Again, citations will be issued if found in violation. Badges – All Members are reminded to wear their badges when using any of the common areas, and when attending meetings and/or recreational events. Anyone without a badge will be asked to leave the common area or will not be admitted to meetings or events. Please be advised that it is not permitted for Members to provide badges to Mem-bers not in Good Standing.

Our Birchwood Pool in demolition phase. Renova-tions should be completed by May 3, 2013 - in time for Memorial Day Weekend

Birchwood VOICESpring 2013 3

Focus on Rules and RegulationsSection 98 - 20 - 12 School Bus & Bus StopA. It is illegal for any motor vehicle operator to pass a stopped school bus with flashing red lightsB. All motor vehicles shall stop at least 100ft from the stopped school bus.C. Any vehicle that intends to wait for the school bus for purposes of dropping off or picking up a child who rides the school bus, must park in the designated parking lots and remain there until all children have been loaded or unloaded from the bus and the bus has left the BLCA. No vehicle shall pull out of the parking lot to load or unload children into or from the BLCA roadway. All roadways must be kept open for through traffic or emergency vehicles and shall not be blocked by vehicles that drop off or pick up any child/children from a school bus.D. The fine for violation of Section 98 - 20 - 12: A shall be $200.00 and suspension of membership privileges for a period of sixty (60) days. The fine for violation of Section 98 - 20 - 12: B & C shall be $100.00.

Notes from the Community Manager By Bonnie Sipley I would like to thank the Birchwood Board of Directors again for this opportunity of becoming the new Community Manager of Birchwood Lakes Community. I am very excited and look forward to a long future here at Birchwood and enduring all its challeng-es. I hope to create a trusting relationship with each and every member and continue to work together on keeping Birchwood Lakes a community where members are proud to be a part of. I would like members to feel free to come to the Birchwood Lakes office so I can have the opportunity of introducing myself to each member in person. The Birchwood Lakes Community has also hired Kim Carrozza as our new Administrative Assistant, and we invite members to come down to the Birchwood office to also meet Kim in person. An additional Welcome goes out to James Kowalski as our new addition to the maintenance department. WELCOME SPRING …We are looking forward to putting away the plows and shov-els to prep for the Spring/Summer season. As the warm weather arrives and the recreational areas begin to open, there will be more members, guest’s and children out enjoying outdoor activities, so please practice safety and adhere to all posted traffic speed signs and stop signs. Public Safety will be focusing on enforcing all traffic, Rules & Regulations so remem-ber to have badges available when utilizing all common areas. Also as a reminder, Public Safety is here to monitor common areas and enforce the Rules & Regulations of Birch-wood. Public Safety DOES NOT respond to “House Alarm” calls so if you have provided an alternative number to your alarm company please make sure it’s the direct number to the State Police and not the number of Legion Security, Birchwood’s Public Safety com-pany. Weight Restrictions will be put in place as under the parameters of the Planned Community Act to protect roadways and will be scheduled accordingly. Please watch for weight restriction signs to be posted. Weight restrictions will be lifted as conditions permit and you may contact the BLCA office to find out the lifted determination. Please notify any and all contractors you may have or plan to schedule. Reminder: ATVs and all “Off Road” recreational vehicles are NOT permitted on the roadways and or on the common areas of B.L.C.A. There have been many incidences this winter of ATV’s being driven throughout the community. Please be advised anyone vio-lating the Birchwood Rules & Regulations will be fined according to the B.L.C.A. Rules

& Regulations. A “Catch and Release” program been adopted by the Board of Directors to the Birchwood Rules & Regulations and is now in effect. Many members take a lot of pride in the curb appeal of their homes keeping it tidy, clean and beautifully landscaped. Some neighboring properties have neglected to uphold the same respect. Please remember to help maintain your property values and that of your neighbors and to avoid any future fines for non-compliance with the Birchwood Rules & Regulations. Reminder of “Annual Dues” that will be due by May 1, 2013. Members who wish to request a payment plan must submit a request in writing indicating the reason along with a $25 application fee no later than April 15, 2013 to avoid penalty charges for late payment plan request. Options for payment plans can be obtained by contacting the BLCA office. Applications are now being accepted for “Lifeguards”. Interested applicants may ob-tain an application at the BLCA office. *Become involved or just receive knowledge of what is going on in your community by attending monthly board meetings. We welcome members and encourage your atten-dance.

Spring 2013Birchwood VOICE4

Board Meeting Minutes(These minutes are brief highlights. Complete minutes are available on our website or at the office)

Minutes of November 9, 2012 Motion to approve the total write-offs of $10,346.99. Motion Passed. Collections - Motion to approve filing at County Court vs. Magistrate Court. Motion Passed. Upper Birchwood Lake Dam Permit Application signed and mailed to DEP. Application submit-ted without proof of financial responsibility. Board agreed that Treasurer Livingston and President Bennett meet with financial institutions to discuss options and report back to the Board. Public Safety Report: Thirty-one citations were issued during the month of October. New site supervisor from Legion Security is Tom Maslin. Capital Projects: President Bennett indicated that the committee reviewed bids for the pool project, recommending to the Board that RJR Engineering be contracted for the job. (Note: This was completed via an Action Without a Meeting dated October 23, 2012) Roads Recommendations –Motion made to approve Cornerstone for work on Old Oak Court not to exceed $2,750. Motion Passed. Budget Transfers - Motion made to approve five budget transfers. Motion Passed. Request for Payment Plan – 092-005/014-1200 – Meeting to be scheduled with homeowner. Bingo Proceeds - Motion made to approve beginning with the 2013 season of Bingo that Birch-wood take in 10% of the monies that come into the door up to $125. After that amount, Birchwood would take $25 as has been past practice. Motion Passed. 2012/2013 Repository Lot Sale - Motion made to bid on 13 repository sale lots at $134 each, inclusive of all costs. Motion Passed. Office Move - President Bennett indicated we are having difficulty finding a company for the temporary partitions. Director Glamann offered to supply the name of a company that did work in the Township. Delaware Township Fire Dept. Donation – Motion made to approve donating $25 to Delaware Township Fire Dept. All Directors voted in Favor. Motion Passed. Request for Corporate Records - Motion made to approve Request for Corporate Records. Mo-tion Passed. President Bennett indicated he will receive the Annual Lakes Report from EcoSolutions. Lot Surveys (well) - Motion made to approve Addio Surveying to provide surveys for the four lots at $400 per lot. Motion Passed. Salt Issue - There is a homeowners meeting on November 10th. President Bennett updated the Board on recent activities. Moyer Well Driller is on site this week and next week laying piping, lining and limestone for the 72 hour pump test; static water level testing will commence; maintenance well modifications going forward; rebedding of green sand filter for clubhouse going forward; camera surveys going forward. We also just received the quarterly lab results which Brian Oram is reviewing. A member indicated he never got a response as to what the Board decision was on his well pump. President Bennett stated that she will draft a release letter so that the homeowner agrees that the Board can take ownership of the pump. Once this letter is signed, she will send the pump to the manufacturer to determine the reason for the pump’s failure. Richelderfer correspondence – Motion to recalculate Proof of Insurance violation since proof of homeowners insurance existed since 2008. All other fines upheld. Motion Passed. 0270-04-0400 – Balance due $5718.18, 4 years dues outstanding. Homeowner is asking the Board to hold off until Jan/Feb when his social security hearing is scheduled to be decided. The Board decided to go forward with filing the judgment and hold off on exercising it until Jan/Feb. 034-01-405 –Board asked that he attend a meeting with Director Livingston and the bookkeep-er to discuss his offer.

Minutes of December 8, 2012 Motion made to approve five (5) Actions Without a Meeting. Motion Passed.Write-offs – Motion made to approve seven (7) Write-Offs totaling $9,269.14. Motion Passed. Sweetfern – A Member brought a drainage issue in front of his driveway to the Board’s atten-tion. In reviewing the photos it appeared that the driveway dipped. The homeowner indicated he does fill his driveway with modified but it washes away. Director Ritson stated that Sweetfern was not indicated as having a drainage problem on the drainage study. President Bennett told the homeowner that when our engineer was on-site again we would have them review Sweetfern. Collections - Director Livingston summarized 18 civil complaints filed, 2 certified judgments, and that payment plans are being reviewed. She indicated that they had met with one individual and a meeting with another member is scheduled. She noted that 8 delinquent property owners were contacted but only two responded. Additional contact calls will be made. We received a letter from PADEP that the application for Upper Lake Dam permit was denied. President Bennett will follow up with Chuck Givler on Monday as to why. 739 Entrance - The Board suggested President Bennett write a letter to include in the upcoming membership mailing updating Members on the 739 Entrance issue and asking for volunteers. Pres-ident Bennett informed the Board that in discussion with our engineer she was informed that the highway occupancy permit, once obtained, would be contingent upon some other minor upgrades and/or repairs at several of the entrances. Director McConnon spoke on the recycling center denial and information Birchwood gathered to present to the Zoning Board, voicing appreciation for defending our position on this. Proposed Government and Regulatory Advisory Committee - The Board reviewed the narrative from Director Glamann. Director White felt the wording was adequate to respond to information we need. President Bennett felt that attendance at these community type meetings should be part of this committee’s mission and will refer it back to Director Glamann for revision.

Warning to all Members Delaware Township distributed a notice this past week that it has come to their at-tention that there are individuals in the Pike County Area reportedly going door to door identifying themselves as Met-Ed and asking to see customers’ electric bills. In one case with an elderly resident they claimed they were checking to see if the resident was receiving all the discounts for seniors. The Township cannot confirm that the individuals tried to gain entrance to homes. Area residents are advised of the following: 1. Met-Ed does not go door to door. 2. Met-Ed does not ask for entry into a home (unless the meter is located inside). 3. Met-Ed employees, contractors and any representative of the company carry a photo I.D. Insist on seeing it. 4. Met-Ed vehicles are clearly marked. 5. If you are uncertain or suspicious, do not hesitate to close and lock your door and call 1-800-545-7741 to verify if Met-Ed are working in your area, or call 911 to report suspicious activity.

Child Safety Warning Birchwood received a report Saturday, March 9, 2013, of a man approaching a child, following her and trying to bribe her with candy near the Main Street/Doolan Road area. The incident was reported to State Police who responded to the incident. However, the man could not be located. He appeared to be following on foot. We cannot know if he lives in Birchwood or walked in from outside the community. We will follow-up with the State Police. In the meantime, we ask all residents to be cau-tious and report any suspicious activity to the State Police immediately.

• Teach your child(ren) to run away if approached by a stranger. Make a plan with your child telling her where she should run to.

• They should never talk to strangers. One of the ways strangers get close enough to grab a child is by engaging her in conversation. Let your child know that an adult never needs help from a child. If an adult is asking for help or offering treats, do not talk to him.

• Another way to help ensure your child’s safety is to practice a buddy system when he is not with you. Your child should practice the buddy system while he is play-ing outside, riding bikes, or doing any activity outside of your supervision. A child should always be in the company of a friend or trusted adult.

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Lake Management Recommendati ons - Moti on made to impose a $100 per fi sh eff ecti ve Janu-ary 1st as part of our Catch and Release Program. Moti on Passed. Moti on made to purchase 10 signs advising of the violati on fi ne of $100 imposed under the Catch and Release Program with a cap not to exceed $250, purchase the GooseStopper for $504.40, and purchase the fi sh carp and obtain the permit for approximately $550; not to exceed total expenditure of $1,300. Moti on Passed. Proposed By-Laws Changes for Community Vote - Moti on made to include the proposed By-Laws changes in the upcoming mailing for Membership vote. Moti on Passed. Clarifi cati on of Rules and Regulati ons Change - Moti on made to amend Rules and Regulati ons providing for changes to Secti on 98-20-3 adding D and E, restricti ng commercial ten ton trucks during the 8 week spring thaw with a $1,000 fi ne for violati on. Moti on Passed. Moti on made to approve budget transfer, transferring $1,570 from account #6110-003 Rec/payroll to account #7020-003 Rec/R&M buildings. Moti on Passed. Budget - Budget was approved by Board and will go out in the membership mailing later this week. There will be a $75 increase in dues. Salt Update - President Bennett updated the Board, noti ng that the stati c water testi ng and 72 hr. pump test were completed. We now wait for results to come back from Brian Oram. As for the modifi cati on of the Maintenance Yard well, President Bennett is seeking Board approval for a step test before we begin the proposed modifi cati on, to determine if the existi ng depth is adequate. We are going to do a step test, and run a one day test to determine the yield at the existi ng depth. If it is a good yield, we will put packers in and leave it as is. Depending on the outcome, we will know whether we should dig deeper, or can we do what we want to do at the existi ng depth. Moti on made to approve the step test on the existi ng maintenance well for $750, as long as this amount encompasses all costs for discharging well water. Moti on Passed. Moti on made to approve $1,281.36 for HAWK Mtn Labs Inc. for testi ng of the material to allow soil removal to commence. Moti on Passed. Request for Payment Plan - 074-012-09 - It was decided this individual needs to come to the offi ce and meet with staff to support fi nancial inability of meeti ng payment plan. Request for Payment Plan 102-002-14 - Board agreed to payment terms. KML Law Group Correspondence – Moti on made to accept KML Law Group sett lement off er of $5,341.13. Moti on Passed. 088-003-1200 Correspondence – Moti on made to approve member’s request that he can install a new pump at his cost during the camera survey of his well. Birchwood will cover the cost of pulling up the pump and returning the pump as we would have for the camera survey anyway. Any fees/costs associated with the replacement beyond what we would have paid for the camera survey will be the responsibility of the homeowner. Moti on Passed. 034-014-0500 Correspondence - This individual asked to pay off his past dues in labor. Resident has general knowledge of home maintenance and repair, constructi on work from driveway repair to sheetrock. Discussion resulted in a request that this resident be advised that we no longer pro-vide this opti on. 082-002-1000 Correspondence - Moti on to deny request for repair bill based on lack of sup-porti ng data indicati ng that salt contaminati on created the problem. Moti on Passed. Rules & Regulati ons - Moti on to amend Secti on 1 on Appeals to add clarifi cati on that should a resident be represented by an att orney, the BLCA att orney will be required to att end said appeal hearing. Moti on Passed. Weaver – Moti on to $1,000 for domesti cati ng the judgments on the property in NJ. Moti on Passed. Moti on to retain NJ att orney Cohen on a conti ngency basis with 30% collecti on fee subject to his response as to whether there are other mortgages. Moti on Passed. Moti on by Director Livingston, Seconded by Director McInerney to permit access cards be issued to this resident while we await a recorded deed. All Directors Voted in Favor. Moti on Passed. Costs and payment requested by Sequoia for removal of trees on West Shore discussed. Pres-ident Bennett summarized our work order: Sequoia was to remove 3 trees on West Shore, 2 were lying on member’s house, and one was across wires over another member’s house. She received an invoice for removal of about 10 trees for over $16,000. She contacted Sequoia indicati ng the problem and removal of trees outside scope of work. They are reviewing the bill and will re-submit. Voti ng Results of January 26, 2013: President Bennett announced the results of the Budget and By-Law Amendments, both of which passed. 203 Total Votes Cast 104 Yes Votes 96 No votes Amendment No. 1 156 Yes 42 No Amendment No. 2 167 Yes 33 No Amendment No. 3 131 Yes 63 No Amendment No. 4 130 Yes 71 No Amendment No. 5 154 Yes 35 No Amendment No. 6 158 Yes 37 No Judges of Electi on: Pat Collins, Darrell Hayes, Nancy Halliday, Carolyn Todino & Janet Flaherty.

Minutes of January 12, 2013 President Bennett welcomed the new Community Manager, Bonnie Sipley. Moti on to approve fi ve (5) Acti ons without a Meeti ng made by Director McInerney, seconded by Director Marti n. Moti on Passed. Moti on made to rescind the above Acti on Without a Meeti ng dated December 21, 2012 Direc-tor Marti n, as it was later determined the invoice was not in relati on to the Upper Birchwood Lake Dam Permit. Moti on Passed. Moti on to approve the transfer of $500 from A/C #7430-006 Lakes/Environmental Services to

A/C# 7640-004 Security/Postage. Moti on Passed. Moti on to approve the transfer of $420 from A/C #6210-003 Recreati on/Payroll to A/C #7240-003 Recreati on/Telephone. Moti on Passed. Moti on to approve the transfer of $900 from A/C #7620-003 Recreati on/Supplies to A/C #7210-003 Recreati on/Heati ng Fuel. Moti on Passed. Moti on to approve the transfer of $300 from A/C#7880-002 Maintenance/Tool Rental to A/C #7210-002 Maintenance/Heati ng Fuel. Moti on Passed. Collecti ons - Final Noti ce lett ers were sent to 14 homeowners. Ten civil complaints were fi led and several court dates were coming up. Judgments have been received on 8 accounts. Moti on to approve sending eight delinquent accounts each over $12,000 to County Court. Moti on Passed. Recreati on – President Bennett stated that we may have to review recreati on acti viti es if att en-dance and volunteers conti nue to be poor. She noted that it takes a great deal of ti me and eff ort to put together and work these events and if we do not have enough volunteers we cannot keep putti ng on these events. Vice President McInerney stated that she will get the recreati on calendar from the offi ce and begin work on the calendar for the upcoming year. Proposed Government and Regulatory Advisory Committ ee – Director Glamann said that he did not believe we would get volunteers to serve on this committ ee if they had to att end meeti ngs. President Bennett suggested that if members of the committ ee are not willing to att end meeti ngs such as Township or AOCA meeti ngs and report back on those meeti ngs then she did not see the value of such a committ ee. Moti on to approve the transfer of $600 from A/C #7620-007 Offi ce/Supplies to A/C #7020-007 Offi ce/R&M for payment towards Williams Well Drilling for offi ce well pump replacement and other well work, invoice total $1,689.65. Moti on Passed. Moti on to approve the transfer of $412 from A/C #7980-007 Conti ngency to A/C #7370-001 Admin/Dam Inspecti ons for payment to Chuck Givler for dam inspecti ons, invoice total $1,104. Moti on Passed. Salt Update - Moyer Well Drilling will dig 2 exploratory wells; permits have been received from the Township. A step test will also be performed on the existi ng maintenance well. Work is expected to start end of January. Quarterly Lab Testi ng conducted December 17-18 by Brian Oram, Hydro-geologist; we should receive those results in a few weeks. We are waiti ng for the results of the 72 Hour Pump Test. Camera Surveys are also expected to be done on two wells end of January.

(Minutes conti nued on next page...)

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Spring 2013Birchwood VOICE6

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Community Shredding Day - Community Manager Sipley will develop flyers for mail boxes and notice boards to advertise a date in February for shredding. A fee will be charged per box. A Mem-ber suggested we burn the office papers at an off-site location rather than pay several hundred dollars. The Board agreed that if they did not receive Member feedback they would review this offer. It was noted that should we decide to avail of the offer to burn the materials the Community Manager and/or a Board Member should be in attendance to monitor the burning. Judges of Elections - Motion to approve Judges of Elections: Pat Collins, Janet Flaherty, Nancy Halliday, Darrell Hayes and Carolyn Todino for the vote count on January 25, 2013. Motion passed. BLCA Transfer of Ownership (094-052-1200) - The Member has decided not to sign his well pump over to Birchwood so that we can send it out to be examined so as to determine why it failed. The homeowner has indicated he will send it to be examined himself. The Board requests that he provide a copy of the examination report to the Association once he receives it. Upper Birchwood Lake Dam Permit Application – The Association has been informed that PADEP/Dam Safety is requiring communities to obtain surveys of properties surrounding dams under application. In our case we have to obtain surveys of 40 plus properties around the Upper Birchwood Lake Dam. We will obtain estimates and discuss further at the next Board Meeting. Foreclosures – Motion made to approve the acceptance of Sheriff Sale Documents or other legal documents as proof of new property ownership. These documents must specify the name of the new owner. The new owner must still notify the office of any third party access required or third party access will be denied by the Office. Motion Passed. Sequoia Invoice - Motion made to approve payment of $6,500 but no more than $8,000 in full settlement of the Sequoia Tree. Motion Passed. Catch & Release Program – Motion made to approve the new Catch & Release Program in the Rules and Regulations under Section 98-60-37. Effective January 1, 2013, Birchwood Lakes Commu-nity Association, Inc., has instituted a Catch and Release Fishing Program in all four of our lakes. A. Includes all fish species, no exceptions. B. Applies to all four lakes (Upper, Lower, Middle and East) C. The fine for this violation shall be $100 per fish. Motion Passed. BLCA Fee Schedule – Collections Fees (pg 18) - Motion to approve the following additional wording: A COLLECTION FEE of $300.00 will be charged to each member’s account that is processed for collection action. If the complaint amount is paid in full prior to a court hearing, half the fee, $150.00 will be credited to the account. If a payment plan is initiated and successfully completed with or without a civil complaint being filed, half the fee, $150.00 will be credited to the account. (The rest of the paragraph remains the same.) Motion Passed. Review of Winter Roads Materials - Motion to rescind buying our anti-skid from D&S and having Community Manager Sipley write a letter notifying them of the reason for decision. Motion Passed. Motion to approve Dingmans Ferry Stone as our vendor for anti-skid for $75 a yard picked up at their salt storage shed on Route 739 as needed. Motion Passed. Office Renovation - President Bennett directed Community Manager Sipley to get estimates for the foundation, roof, windows and siding to repair the office building. She also directed Community Manager Sipley to continue the search for vendors for modulars and temporary walls at the Confer-ence Room. Once all these estimates are received the Board can decide how to move forward. 051-005-0700 Correspondence – Community Manager Sipley to meet with Public Safety to discuss concerns. 101-002-1400 Correspondence – Referred to Association Attorney 013-002-02 Correspondence – Motion to approve lump sum payment of $900 and monthly payments of $200. Motion Passed. Rosemary Brown Letter dated 1/7/13 – Motion to approve State Representative Rosemary Brown’s requests in her letter dated January 7, 2013. Motion Passed.

Meet Our New Employees Bonnie Grainer-Sipley is our new Community Manager. Original-ly from Newton, NJ, she moved to Pennsylvania in 2001 and currently resides in Bushkill, PA. Bonnie came to us after serving as manager at another community for five years, managing the day-to-day opera-tions of a 1065 homes/1465 lot community. Her previous property management experience was with Wilkins & Associates and Pocono Preferred Property Management for four years. She also has pursued a career in Real Estate for about 2 years. Bonnie received a “Certificate of Achievement” award in property management in 2006, and has attended and completed continuing education classes for managers receiving additional management skilled credits. Bonnie is a mother of one son, who is now 23. She enjoys home time with her family and has a hobby in ceramics. She also enjoys outings and interacting with people. Bonnie says “I take a lot of pride in my career. I very much look forward to the future with Birchwood Lakes Community and getting to know the people and activities.”

Kim Carrozza, our new Assistant, will be the first person many of the Members will see when they go into the office. Kim is originally from Queens, NY, and moved to Pennsylvania 18 years ago. Kim has strong customer service and administrative skills and previous to coming to Birchwood she worked for a local company for 9 years. Kim resides in Marcel Lake Estates with her husband, 3 children and their bull dog. In Kim’s words, “Most of my immediate family lives in the Delaware area. I volunteer for the Delaware Valley Warrior Wrestling

Booster Club, currently placing top 8 in the state. I am looking forward to my future with Birchwood Lakes Community Association, and thank you for this opportunity!” James Kowalski is our new Maintenance Employee. James is originally from Maine where his father was in the Air Force. They later moved to Long Island, NY, and he and his wife, Joanie, relocat-ed to Pennsylvania 12 years ago. James and Joanie have a mischie-vous 7 month old black Labrador puppy, Misty. James has extensive experience working maintenance in com-munity associations the last 12 years. His experience includes heavy equipment operator, drainage and road construction, plumbing, carpentry, electrical and automotive repairs to name but a few of his skills. James enjoys photography, softball, and Nascar racing....in fact, he loves all sports. James’ states “I enjoy hard work and I simply want to make a difference to the quality of community living for the residents of Birchwood.”

The Lily PadIssues and activities on our lakes and in our environmentThe Board of Directors has recently voted to implement a Catch & Release Program, effective January 1, 2013.

The program will be in effect on all four Birchwood lakes and will include all fish species. Fines of $100 per fish have also been approved. Signs for the program have been erected at all boat launches and will be supplemented by flyers this spring at beaches and dams. Why did the Board take this step? First and foremost, our Lake Management Commit-tee has held discussions with the professional lake manager at EcoSolutions and with PA Fish & Boat. Both parties stressed that small lakes in Northeast PA cannot sustain their warm water fisheries unless restrictions are placed on daily creel limits and/or fish stock-ing programs are implemented. Second, many lake communities in Northeast PA, such as Hemlock Farms, have successfully initiated such programs to protect and sustain their resources. And third, interviews with BLCA fishermen have indicated a sharp decline in bass, pickerel, yellow perch, and crappie over the last few years. One example of why the Board has acted is the current daily creel or take limit for panfish. The state allows for up to 50 sunfish, yellow perch, and/or crappie to be kept per person each day. While some members may say so what, these fish are the foundation of our recreational fishing program and their off-spring are what sustains our bass and pick-erel fisheries. Clearly, our lakes cannot continue to sustain themselves under these limits. EcoSolutions and Fish & Boat also suggest that we verify the effectiveness of this pro-gram thru periodic fish surveys and through fishermen interviews each year. Contact the office if you have questions or join the Lake Management Committee to become active.

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Birchwood VOICESpring 2013 7

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Burger Mixture 1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef 1 large onion, chopped (1 cup) 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 oz)

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 12 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray.• In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stir-

ring frequently, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Cool 5 minutes; stir in Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt and cheese.

• In medium bowl, stir baking mixture ingredients with whisk or fork until blended. Spoon 1 tablespoon baking mixture into each muffin cup. Top with 1/4 cup burger mixture. Spoon 1 tablespoon baking mixture onto burger mixture in each cup.

• Bake about 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, and muffin tops are golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. With thin knife, loosen sides of muffins from pan; remove and place top side up on cooling rack. Cool 10 minutes longer and serve with garnishes (mini dill

Recipes

Annual Spring Clean UpSaturday, April 13, 10amMeet at the Guard Shed (Rt. 739) - Rain or Shine Last year was VERY disappointing - five people showed up. Sad isn’t it? So let’s make this year a banner turnout. We supply the tools, good company, and refreshments and all you need to do is SHOW UP and give a few hours of your time to the community. Kids are very welcomed to help!

Veteran’s News According to an article recently released in the Pike County Courier, Pennsylva-nians can display their support for military veterans with a new specialized license plate authorized by a state law enacted last year. The “Honoring Our Veterans” plate costs $35, and nearly half that amount will go to a trust fund run by the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The money will fund grants to service organizations for veterans and other charities. The new plates are illustrated with a bald eagle and an American flag. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation began selling them last month. Show our veteran’s your support – consider purchasing this newly released license plate.

Annual Golf OutingSaturday, July 6 - 1pm shotgun; 6:30pm dinner Come join the fun! If you don’t golf, come to dinner. Lots of laughs, good food and door prizes! It’s never too early to reserve your spot. Call (570) 828-8202. We would love to have you come and be a part of our annual get together and feel the community spirit!

Welcome New Members Birchwood Lakes welcomes the following new members into our community: Labato, Hilltop Homes, LLC, Nekich, Baker, Serebrenik, Groyzburg, Cameron, Stoveken, Raser, Klein, Sheeler, Bower, VP Diamond Homes, LLC, Meyers, Wilton, French, Asset Based Lending, LLC, Kornitzer, Bruveris

Motorcycle Access It has come to our attention that mo-torcyclists are circumventing the entrance gates to gain access into the community. The purpose of the gated entrances is to prevent illegal entry by people who are not residents or the guests of residents. Please help keep community safety a priority. Members are required to use their gate cards at the entrances and we request that your motorcyclist guests are instructed to use the guest callbox.

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IMPORTANT NOTES Payment Plan Requests: If you plan on requesting a payment plan for your dues, you will need to write a letter requesting it and stating a simple rea-son why you need to go on one. You also need to include a check for $25 to cover the administrative cost. If you do not enclose a check for $25, and/or a reason why, a payment plan will not be provided.

Outstanding Account Balances: Any outstanding balance as of March 31st will incur the Annual Late Fee of $50 as per the Rules & Regulations.

Improved Lots: Members who fail to pay the full balance on their account by April 30 of any budget/fiscal year, will maintain their Lot Combination/Improvement (fees reduction) status, but will be charged the appropriate late fees and other charges as outlined in BLCA Rules, Regulations & Fines, includ-ing an additional $50 surcharge per adjoining lot within the parcel.

Spring 2013Birchwood VOICE8

A Little Piece of Birchwood History Did you know there is a graveyard here in our community? Well, I didn’t, so with that I decided to try and find some information to share with you. What I found from different records is that this cemetery is known as the Meakin-Judd Family (Mekins, Meekins) and contains several family members buried together. George Meakin came to Pike County sometime around 1845 to 1850 from NYC where he was a gunsmith producing single shot pistols. After arriving in Pike County, he pro-duced Full and Long Stock late PA type Percussion Rifles and Fowling pieces. Records indicate that also buried in this cemetery is Catherine Minter Meakin, born 1812 died June 7th, 1850, George Meakin, born 1806, died March 6, 1872, Mary I. Meakin, born in 1860 (some background on Mary showed she existed in 1850 when a census showed her to be 3 years old at the time; a later census in 1860 did not show her so it was assumed she died), Joseph Meakin, born 1852, died July 5,1877. Joseph was killed by lightning and a girl child of Phillip T. and Susan Meakins Judd, born 1882 died August 5, 1887 was also killed by lighting. Old records reflect the follow-ing on their deaths: Joseph’s death was reported in the Jeffersonian Newspaper out of Stroudsburg PA dated July 12th, 1877 and reads…. “Killed by Lighting in Milford, PA: July 5, 1877 – A severe thunderstorm passed over this section between 6 and 7 o’clock Tuesday evening. The thunder was terrific and at times the rain fell ferociously. During the storm a sad accident occurred. A young man named Joseph Meekins aged 24 and a near neighbor of his named AJ Doty, came to Mil-ford with a load of bark. Having sold and unloaded it at the Tannery of AD Brown (The Old Sherman) on the VanderMark, they started for a store downtown to do some trading. Meekins was driving his team, being a valuable team of mules, which only a short time before cost him $500. Mr. Doty was on the same seat to his left. They were ascending a small hill leading from the tannery to Broad St. and were within a short distance of the resident of Mr. Henry Bean, when Meekins and both mules were struck by lighting and all

were instantly killed. Doty suffered but little from the effects of the shock. Meekins never moved after he was struck. The body was taken in charge by an undertaker and the sad message conveyed to his family. Meekins was a young man highly respected by the community in which he lived, and he was about the only one to whom an aged mother looked to for support.” As I mentioned, Philip and Susan Judd also had a daughter supposedly killed by lightning. An article found in the Undertaker’s Ledger of Mott, Horton and Wood of Port Jervis, NY indicated that on August 26, 1887, Philip Judd bought a casket and outside case for a child for $15. It is believed this child is buried with other family members here. The Dingmans News, NJ dated August 31, 1887 reported: Philip Judd, lost a child on Thursday last. During the terrible thunder storms of Wednesday afternoon there occurred a fearful crash of thunder near Mr. Judd’s house, and the little one screamed violently and from that moment on began to sink until death ensued the next day. Previous to the shock the child was unusually well and about five years old.

Swim Team Sign-upMemorial Weekend, May 25-27, 12-4pm at the Pool Not around that weekend to sign up? No need to worry. Call (570) 828-8202, and we will send out the paperwork to you and answer all your questions. Meet new people, have fun and enjoy the community spirit! All levels of swimming ability are welcome. Kids 3-18 may join. You will not only get better at a forever sport but you are guaranteed to make long lasting friendships as well. So don’t be shy, give it a try! Practices will be three days a week. They start when school lets out for summer. Swim meets are Saturday mornings at local communities starting in July. Don’t worry, you won’t waste your whole day; we are typically back home by 11 or 11:30 am. Swim team ends the second weekend in August. August 10 is Championships and August 11 is Finals and Swim Team Championship Dinner is August 11 at 7pm.

Lakes Seminar, October 2012

President Clare Bennett (left) with new Community Manager Bonnie Sipley

Clearing snow from the lake for a game of ice hockey.

A beautiful fall lake

A black bear takes a stroll along Wisperwood

Birchwood VOICESpring 2013 9

Safety Tips for Seniors this Spring(Reprinted with permission from e-How) In order to stay safe, senior citizens need to stay vigilant for certain types of situations year-round. By following some simple home and outdoor safety tips, the spring season can be enjoyed safely by seniors without the fear of accidents or mishaps. Outdoors: Outdoor steps can often be risky for senior citizens, whose coordination and balance may not be what it used to be. Ensure that steps are even and balanced, not crumbling and not too high. Similarly, check that the threshold is low enough for easy ac-cess. If the home has a yard, check it regularly for concealed holes or unsafe areas. Install heavy-duty deadbolts and any other desired locks on the door. In the Kitchen: First, evaluate the floor. Make sure it isn’t slippery and that it doesn’t conceal clear liquid that can cause a fall. Move all items in cabinets down to the lowest possible level. If the items are still too high, consider moving them to other easily reach-able locations. Another option is to invest in a sturdy step stool. Finally, keep a close eye on appliances: Do they need repair or maintenance? In the Living Room: Arrange furniture so there is a clear, unobstructed path to walk safely and easily. Check for overloaded power strips, particularly around an entertainment system, to prevent fire. Remove any and all objects from the floor. Electrical cords can cause an elderly person trip and fall. In the Bathroom: Unplug hair dryers, electric razors and curling irons and place them in a cabinet or drawer. Place anti-slip mats in and immediately outside the shower and bath. Install grab bars along the wall and keep the floor free of trip hazards, such as plants and knickknacks. In the Bedroom: Plug in nightlights to prevent nighttime injury and place an easily reachable lamp beside the bed. Make sure there is a phone and a list of important numbers in reach as well as all prescription medications and any walking aids. Keep the path to the door completely unobstructed. Check Smoke Detectors: When the time changes in the spring, it’s also time to replace batteries in smoke detectors. The smoke alarm also should be tested to make sure it works. It is also a good idea to vacuum the smoke alarm so that dust or cobwebs aren’t an impediment to proper functioning. Another good springtime tip is to check your fire extinguisher at the same time you change smoke alarm batteries so that functional fire extinguishers are present and easily located.

Public Safety Commendation Last October, Public Safety Officer Tom Maslin respond-ed to a dispatch call in one of our common areas where he administered CPR on an individual who did not appear to be breathing. 911 were contacted and an ambulance responded, taking control of the situation at that time. Officer Maslin is assigned to our community as the Site Supervisor. The Board of Directors notified Legion Security Company, commending Office Maslin for his fast response and action which may have saved the life of one of our residents. We asked Legion to commend Tom for his actions, and we appre-ciate having him as our Site Supervisor. Thank You Tom!

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Spring 2013Birchwood VOICE10

Birchwood Lakes Community Association Board of Directors President .................Clare Bennett Vice President ........Joanne McInerney Secretary .................Linda White Treasurer .................Marcella Livingston Carl Fredrickson Leonard Glamann Carolyn Martin Thomas McConnon Charles Ritson

Standing Committees

BLCA Property Development Chairperson Carl Fredrickson Co-Chair open

By-Laws Chairperson Joanne McInerney Co-Chair Carolyn Martin

Capital Projects Chairperson Clare Bennett Co-Chair Charles Ritson

Finance, Budget, Contracts Chairperson Marcella Livingston Co-Chair Charles Ritson

Roads Maintenance & Construction Chairperson Leonard Glamann Co-Chair Louis Freeman

Rules & Regulations Chairperson Carolyn Martin Co-Chair Joanne McInerney

Voting & Elections Chairperson Linda White Co-Chair Carolyn Martin

Appointed Committees

BLCA Property Beautification Chairperson Carl Fredrickson Co-Chair Linda White

Community Affairs Chairperson Linda White Co-Chair Clare Bennett

Community Safety Chairperson Thomas McConnon Co-Chair Chas Ritson

Lake Management Chairperson Charles Ritson Co-Chair Thomas McConnon

Recreation Chairperson Joanne McInerney Co-Chair Adrianna Freeman

Contact Information

BLCA Office: 570-828-2111

Public Safety: 570-828-6009800-916-7501 (Dispatch)

Website: www.birchwoodlakes.net

BLCA Board of Directors Email:blboard@ptd.net

Birchwood Voice Editor Email:editor@birchwoodlakes.net

Police, Fire, Ambulance: 9-1-1

When a call comes in for emergency assistance (ambulance, fire, police), it is difficult for the Association to offer assis-tance in leading the emergency volunteers to your home if it isn’t clearly marked with a 911 address. Make sure your sign is visible from the road. If you need infor-mation on your 911 address, contact the BLCA Office 570-828-2111

Upcoming Board MeetingsMarch 12, 2013 @ 7:00pmApril 12, 2013 @ 7:00pmMay 10, 2013 @ 7:00pmJune 14, 2013 @ 7:00pmJuly 9, 2013 @ 7:00pmAugust 13, 2013 @ 7:00pm

ANNUAL MEETING:August 24, 2013 @ 9:00am

2013 Dates to NoteDue to lack of volunteers, we will NOT be having an Easter Party.

DUES DEADLINES: Dues Mailing - early March Early Payment - March 31 Payment Plan Request - April 15 Dues Payment - May 1

Volunteers are always needed to join our committees. By joining you will get a better understanding of how your community works. Consider volunteering your time to help Birchwood move forward. The form for volunteering can be found on our website at www.birchwoodlakes.net or is available at the BLCA Office.

www.birchwoodlakes.netCheck out our community website for updates and information

BLCA Volunteer Recognition Birchwood Lakes Community Association, Inc. relies on its volunteers to help us meet our mission and our goals. These volunteers work each year on setting budgets, reviewing and, when necessary, making recommendations to change our By-Laws and Rules and Regulations, reviewing community safety, maintaining a recreation program, beautifica-tion, communications, and so on. Our volunteers provide their time, dedication, skills and knowledge, sometimes serving on several committees at a time and over many years. The BLCA Volunteer Recognition Program has been developed so that we can recog-nize and honor our volunteers. Each year one volunteer will be chosen for our Volunteer of the Year Award which will be presented at the Annual Meeting in August.

Procedure• The Membership will be notified of the Volunteer Recognition Program through The

Birchwood Voice and the BLCA Website.• Nomination Forms will be made available on the BLCA Website and at the Office.• Nominations will be accepted at the BLCA Office from September 1st thru the last

Friday in June the following year. At the July Regular Board Meeting, the Board will review all nominations and by majority vote will select one award recipient.

• A congratulations letter will be sent to the chosen award recipient, notifying them they will be presented with an award at the upcoming Annual Membership Meeting.

• Award to be presented to the Recipient by the President of the Board of DirectorsNomination Guidelines

• Self-nominations will not be accepted.• A nominee must be a Member in Good Standing.• Only Members in Good Standing can submit a nomination.• A nominee must have participated on one or more committees or community activities.• The achievements, accomplishments or service on which nominations are based must

have been performed on a volunteer basis, without pay.• The achievements, accomplishments or service on which the nominations are based

represents the person who best epitomizes the selfless dedication and commitment to community service that helps to make BLCA a great place to live.

• There is no entry fee for nominations; however, a separate nomination form must accompany each entry.

• The BLCA Volunteer Recognition Awards recognize the achievements of individuals during the fiscal year or for lifetime achievement.

• The deadline for submission of nominations will be the last Friday in June by 4:30pm at the BLCA Office.

• Incomplete or unsigned nomination forms will not be considered eligible for review.• Entries, photos and any documentation will not be returned.Nominations will be accepted at the BLCA Office from September 1st thru the last Friday in June the following year. A copy of these guidelines and nomination form can be downloaded from the BLCA website or obtained from the Office.

Do you have a question about living

in or visiting Birchwood Lakes?

Go to www.birchwoodlakes.net or call the office at 570-828-2111

BLCA Boat Registration ReminderA note to boat owners, especially our lakefront owners: Many of you may not have applied for or registered your boat(s). It is important to do so! All boats in the community must be registered and decals applied, including pad-dle boats. This season may be close to an end, but the BLCA will be addressing lack of compliance with registration of boats as part of its regular enforcement program. If you need more information, contact the office for details.

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Birchwood VOICESpring 2013 11

We’re Going Green The Birchwood Voice is published in print, electronically at our website at www.birchwoodlakes.net, or in pdf format via email. We have recently had to revamp our mailing and email lists for the newsletter in response to member com-plaints that they had not received recent edition(s) by mail or email. We are asking all members to complete the form below, indicating your mailing preference and return the completed form to the Office. It can be mailed to Birchwood Lakes Community Association, 212 Aspen Road, Dingmans Ferry PA 18328 or it can be returned in person to the office. Alternatively, we have made the form available on our website at www.birch-woodlakes.net. You can complete the form electron-ically and email to editor@birchwoodlakes.net. Unless by submission of this form you indicate otherwise, a hardcopy newsletter will be mailed to the address we have for you on file at the office. Members with tenants, please advise your tenants that if they would like a copy of “The Birchwood Voice” they can pick one up at the Office or obtain it from the BLCA website. Your email address will be added to our database. Please be assured that it will be used only by BLCA to distribute the newsletter and any pertinent Associa-tion information.

PLEASE CUT OUT AND MAIL OR DROP IT OFF TO THE OFFICE

Name: ___________________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________________

Lot ________ Block _________ Section ________

Mailing Address: ___________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Email:____________________________________________________________

___I prefer to receive a hard copy of The Birchwood Voice in the mail.

___I prefer to receive The Birchwood Voice in pdf format to my email address.

___I prefer to read The Birchwood Voice on the Birchwood Lakes Website at www.birchwoodlakes.net.

Note: If you change your email address from one listed above, please remember to notify the office.

Building PermitsBLCA Rules and Regulations (Section 98-50-19), in accordance with the Association’s Covenants and Restrictions, require members to obtain a BLCA per-mit prior to moving to, constructing, or erecting any structure or building within the community. There is no fee for obtaining the permit. Additionally, permits are needed for septic repairs and tree removals. For more information, contact the BLCA Office at 570-828-2111.

BLCA CurfewBLCA has a curfew of 10:00p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11:00p.m. Friday and Saturday. As a courtesy to other members, please observe the curfew hours.

Right of Way NoticeAll property owners are hereby put on notice that the Association has a right of way on each roadway. Any personal property placed in the right of way is not the Association’s responsibility and will not be held responsible for any damages incurred to said prop-erty. All property owners are to refrain from placing personal property within the Association’s right of way. The Association does not permit encroachment of any Association property, which includes roads or right of ways, common area or any other location, which is BLCA property.

Notices

PA House Aims to Tackle Key Legislative Goals in 2013-14By Rosemary Brown, State Representative 189th District (Monroe/Pike Counties) I am pleased to be included for the first time in your commu-nity newsletter and I look forward to helping you stay informed. As your state representative I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or concerns regarding our district or state government. The Pennsylvania House achieved many important legislative goals last session however, the state still faces many challenges and some of the most pressing financial issues remain unresolved. Although there are many issues, I will remain committed to the most important issues facing residents of Monroe and Pike counties-especially skyrock-eting school property taxes, the state public school funding distribution formula and local school district fiscal responsibility. The current school distribution funding formula, which is the amount of money our local schools receive from the state, is unfair to many schools, children and taxpayers. Changing this formula is not an easy task as many districts benefit from the current funding formula and legislators of those districts do not support this mea-sure. However, I will continue to fight for this change for our area. I am also signing onto legislation aimed at eliminating the majority of school property taxes by switching the way we fund schools. Rather than using our current system of real estate values to deter-mine school taxes, this proposal increases and expands sales tax and personal income tax to fund schools. Both of these measures are extremely difficult at the state level however; they will remain my focus along with several other measures to help make our school taxes more fair and affordable. I will also continue pushing for legislation that improves Pennsylvania’s business climate by reforming the regulatory and permitting process for businesses. Last summer, I brought the House Majority Policy Committee and several of our state legislators to Shawnee to hear from our local business owners. One of the major concerns expressed at

the meeting was the complicated, expensive and lengthy periods of time it takes to obtain permits to build, expand or start up a business. This reiterates the old phrase that time is money and we could possibly be hindering business development. Because it is our duty to make Pennsylvania a desirable location to start a business and create jobs, it is unac-ceptable to have these burdens. Since state revenues are not growing as much as we would like, the state will face another tough budget in 2013. Some of the issues include regulatory reform, pension reform, transportation funding and liquor privatization. Due to the underfunded pension obligation, the House Majority Leadership team recently formed a Pension Reform Task Force to help gather information and put forth suggested solutions concerning pension reform. This group’s goal is to develop responsible and workable pension solutions and report back to all member s of the House with its findings. Any proposed solution must protect individuals who have earned their pensions-a requirement spelled out in our state’s Constitution-but also make meaningful reforms to the system so that it is sustainable and protects the state going forward. Prioritizing money for education has been a top priority, and the recent budget pro-posal invests millions in additional funds to basic education across Pennsylvania. This proposal also fights against higher education tuition hikes by flat funding public colleges and universities in exchange for a promise to keep tuition increases low. I was also pleased that the proposal invests more funding into our human services programs so that we are able to provide the services to some of our most vulnerable citizens. The $28.4 billion proposed state budget for the upcoming fiscal year practices the con-cept of living within our means and balances state spending with state revenue. By virtue of the last two budgets, the days of overspending and over borrowing are gone, and this new proposal reflects that Pennsylvania is not willing to return to our recent past. As always, the budget is another step in getting our state’s fiscal house in order and respecting your taxpayer dollars. I look forward to being a part of the budget hearing pro-cess over these next couple of months. I am honored to have been chosen to serve the residents of the 189th Legislative District and I look forward to hearing from you and the residents of your community. For more information or to sign up for my weekly email newsletter please visit my website at RepBrown.com or follow my legislative Facebook at Facebook.com/RepBrown.

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