All posts by Bruno

Annual Meeting: June 12 2016

Present

Anne and Victor Navasky, Joanna Dretzin, Judy Reibel, Marti Bone and Michael Rosenberg, Susan Krim

Present by Proxy

Frank Haupel, Bruno, Miri and Jenny Navasky, and Patrick Thaddeus

Absent

Charles Perrow, Deborah Meier and Jane Rose

Financial Report

Michael Rosenberg chaired the meeting and called first on Susan Krim to present a financial report.   Susan reported that as of June 12, 2016, the community had  $11,353 in the Chase checking account and $6,339 in the Chase savings account (with some large bills expected in September, such as taxes and insurance).  She also pointed out that there were two expensive projects that the Board has been considering: 1) tennis court fence and 2) major road repair. There was a discussion of the two expensive projects.

Tennis Court

Susan posited the question of how many people would use the tennis court. Michael pointed out that even if community members did not use the court themselves, a functioning tennis court would be an asset for those who contemplated renting their house in the summer months.

Road Repair

Anne described  the areas of the road which needed special attention:  the severe dip on the way to the Blackman, Dretzin , Thaddeus and Navasky houses; the flat area in front of the Reibel house; and the turnoff road that runs past the Haupel and Perrow houses.  Anne will explore hiring an engineer to make some suggestions of how to approach the repair.  Susan and Michael said they would ask Tom Shepherd to look at it and see if he could work with Carmen Barbato to make some successful permanent repairs.

Recycling

The recycling issue was brought up again.  Susan reported that she had asked Carmen Barbato to start recycling, but it was never effected.  She also suspects that although we may present him with recycling bins, that the garbage is not actually recycled on his end at his private dump. No resolution was reached.

Community Orchard

Anne presented a proposal by Eva Thaddeus and Bruno Navasky to turn a small tract of land on the far western side of the meadow south of the pond, into a small fruit orchard.  They would first designate the area, have Will Chase plow it, they would plant a cover crop for one season before planting the trees.  The community would be responsible for plowing and purchasing the trees ($50 to $100 apiece).  This proposal passed unanimously.

Farmhouse/Barn Repairs

It was decided to ask Tom Shepherd for a proposal to fix the barn. Tom also looked at the stairs in the Farmhouse leading to the basement, and said because the area is too narrow for a banister to be installed, they should be used only by workmen and not the tenants.

Board Election

Michael called for nominations for the Board.  There were no new nominations and the current board agreed to serve for the next year.  Their election was unanimous.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

The meeting was held on the morning of June 12, 2016 at the home of Judy Reibel. Minutes submitted by Anne Navasky.

 

Board Meeting Minutes: May 15, 2016

Present

Michael Rosenberg, Frank Haupel, Susan Krim, Judy Reibel, Anne Navasky and Joanna Dretzin.

Michael called the meeting to order.

Financial Report

Susan reported on the financial condition of the community, which seems to be good.   At this moment the capital fund (savings) has $ 6180 and our regular account (day to day useable funds) has a balance  of $ 11,600.  There are no arrears.  Susan warned that we shall have expenses coming up, and a discussion of the Road ensued.

Road Renovation

The road is going to need major renovation at the dip leading up to the 5 houses on the hill.   Anne volunteered to explore the possibility of having a road engineer look at the road before Carmen does any patching.  It was decided to ask the engineer to look at 3 problem areas:  1) in front of the Perrow house where water collects, 2) the dip in the road, and 3) the flat area in front of the Reibel house.

Farmhouse

There was a discussion of the farmhouse rent.  We did not increase the rent as agreed upon in 2015.    Therefore there will be a 6% increase  in July, 2016.  (This amounts to $72 per month).   The next 3% increase will be in July 2017.  Susan has asked Tom to inspect the farmhouse to make sure there are no ongoing safety issues, after Debbie mentioned problems with the stairs leading to the basement.

Geese at Pond

There was a discussion of the problem of some geese possibly settling at the pond.  Various methods of removing geese were suggested.  The Board decided to wait And see if they disappeared by themselves.

Community Orchard

There was a discussion of a suggestion made by Eva Thaddeus and Bruno Navasky to plant a small and limited fruit tree orchard in the field to the south of the pond.  The board decided that it would be a good idea and Anne was instructed to have Eva and Bruno mark the area they were interested in planting.  Community members who are interested in this will be able to see the anticipated area and make comments.  Judy Reibel requested Peach trees.  Since the earth has to be turned over first and left to air, the actual project is not imminent.

Annual Meeting

An Agenda for the coming community meeting was decided on.   It is as follows:

  • Michael will chair the meeting .
  • Susan will give a financial report and summarize what’s been accomplished this past year.  (ie. the septic installation, the removal of the old tennis court fencing).
  • Michael will call for a discussion of new fencing at the tennis court and the proposal for an orchard.
  • Michael will call for a vote of officers.  He will then adjourn the meeting.

With no further business to discuss, the current meeting was adjourned.

 

Meeting held at the home of Susan Krim; minutes submitted by Anne Navasky.

The Goshawk

I’ve spotted it twice now, once in the winter and once in the early fall (see photo below).  If the two sightings were one and the same bird, it seems we have a goshawk in the neighborhood.

goshawk
Goshawk

 

The goshawk is a large hawk, with a reputation for secretiveness, and among falconers, for its unruly nature.  It’s fast and graceful in flight (look for two wing beats: “flap, flap — glide”).  You can remember it by its light shoulder and belly, dark red eye and pronounced eye-stripe (hard to see in my photo above, but easy here), and by its appearance in the breathtaking H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald, as well as this poem by Hillsdale poet Peter Kane Dufault:

Goshawk

That harbinger of God’s hardness,
North American Goshawk —
storm-grey above, ice-grey beneath,
segment of a winter azimuth —
detached herself from this morning and
seized a black hen and caromed
thirty yards through the soft snow, wrenching
feathers and flesh out, too
blood-crazy to kill clean. . . .

Tell me
if it’s not hard how a haggard
hasn’t even the hangman’s mercy
but tears the heart out alive — that she
should have been made so;

and so, too, that when the dog
ran yapping and drove her off,
the grey crucifer levitated
in such a cold pride of windblown
lightness over the tines of the trees

you’d have forgiven her, even
if she could have torn
in that worse way there is:
with a word, never breaking the skin.

Spring Forward

Luna Moth
Luna Moth

“What leaf, this time of year, is so pale?”  —Carl Phillips

The luna moths had their week earlier this May, and that was  about all the spring we got in the mad rush from winter.  Everything sprung at once — there were fawns and fox kits in the woods, baby minks and bobolinks in the marshes and meadows.  And the stage was set for summer.

In other news, Debbie Meier has a friend visiting during the first week of August with a toddler.  If anyone knows someone who wants to pick up a little babysitting income, please contact Debbie.  And Eva Thaddeus and family are back on the east coast, and we all look forward to their increased presence in the community.

Welcome back everyone.  See you in the pond!

The Pond

The Pond
The Pond

We all love it.  It’s had highs and lows (but mostly highs since the outlet was dammed, although honestly I miss seeing all the tadpoles), but it’s beautiful all day long and the perfect antidote to a sweltering August day.

The pond has recently been stocked with friendly, voracious, vegetarian Grass Carp, in an attempt to control the filamentous algae that has been quickly taking over.  We’re all watching with bated breath to see what happens.  If the algae win, it’s gefilte fish for everyone, and back to square one.  If the fish do their jobs, we can expect a decade or so of weed-free swimming.

I’m adding a dedicated Pond Page to the website.  I’d love to include a history of its making, a schedule of changes, and notes on its various adaptations over the years, but I’ll need some help.  For starters, I’m putting up some basic facts — take a look and see if there’s anything you’d like to add.  If so you can send me a note, or if you want direct editorial access, let me know and I’ll make it so.