The General Meeting came to order on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 10 am and was a great start to another great year for Forest Chase!

The minutes from the meeting are posted on Yahoo and Facebook. If you’d like a copy please email: FCHOAinfo@gmail.com

The current Board Members had served a long and challenging term, accomplishing so much and will likely enjoy their semi-retirement. Most of them generously committed to help acclimate their successors. We thank them for their years of service and for the hand holding over the next couple of months!

Our 2013 Board of Directors:

Cindi Williams- President;

Roseanne Guerra- Vice President;

Aida Alicehajic- Assistant to VP;

Missy Greco- Pool Director;

Ginger Pearson- Treasurer;

Sode Del Risco- Secretary

We are excited to lead the neighborhood and act in its interest in the coming year. We also look forward to your service and support in these efforts!

Going Green! Happy NEW Year

Rid Paper= Save $, Save resources! First order of 2013, election

of new Board of Directors

Home is not where you live but where they understand you. ~Christian Morgenstern

In an effort to GO Green, Forest Chase will publish the quarterly newsletter in a pdf format.

The newsletter will be posted on BOTH of our social media platforms (yahoo & facebook) and it will be e-mailed to the FCHOA membership in addition to all residents that have requested it.

Hard copies of the newsletter will ONLY be placed in mailboxes of paying members that have submitted an e-mail request to do so. Requests can be sent to: FCHOAinfo@gmail.com

Forest ChaseA wonderful place to call home

Newsletter, Volume 1WINTER 2013

January-March

Envy Irrigation770-565-4158

Who's protecting your dreams?

Michelle M Ralston AgencyBus: (770) 250-7775Alt: (866) 203-9046

http://www.mralstonagency.commralston@amfam.com

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Besides being a nuisance, uncollected dog waste is a serious problem for our neighborhood. Next time you’re tempted to leave your dog’s droppings on the lawn, please remember these facts:

1. The appearance and quality of the common areas are known to affect home sales—not just whether and for how much they sell, but how quickly.

4. The more residents complain about dog waste, the more time the HOA must spend on friendly enforcement rather than serving the association.

5.Uncollected dog waste spreads disease and attracts rodents

who feed on pet waste.

Top 10 reasons you should pick up your dogs poop.

1. Tapeworms

2. Roundworms

3. Cryptosporidium

4.Salmonellosis

5. Giardia

6. E. Coli

7. Parvovirus

8. The smell

9. Poop on shoes

10. The flies (which could bring with them: Shigellosis, Polio & Eye Diseases)

source: http://dogs.thefuntimesguide.com/

Homeowner Advice

Why Scoop the Poop?Top 10 Reasons

Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man. - Benjamin Franklin

Humor

Sometimes the law is silly.*In Marietta though it is illegal to spit from a car or bus, citizens may spit from a truck.

*Kennesaw passed a law requiring all citizens to own a rake. To poke fun at this law, Acworth passed this law.

*Goldfish may not be given away to entice someone to enter a game of bingo.

*Donkeys may not be kept in bathtubs.

*No one may carry an ice cream cone in their back pocket if it is Sunday.

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In the event that the tree is found to be dangerous by the registered forester or certified arborist, the property owner shall be responsible for 50 percent of the cost of such registered forester or certified arborist.

ParkingVehicles must be parked along the curb, facing in the direction of traffic flow, have a valid tag and be operational. Vehicles may not be parked in designated No Parking areas (look for signs), where they block access to private driveways or where they restrict the safe flow of traffic.

There are no county restrictions on the length of time a vehicle may be parked on a residential street. Vehicles may not be parked in the grass or unimproved surface between the roadway and the home’s front setback.

In Forest Chase, parking allows only one vehicle, one boat, and one recreational vehicle (or any combination of such totaling three) in the rear or side yard on a hardened surface.

Serious Items to consider

Any person who violates any provisions of articles I –V of Chapter 134, after conviction upon a citation issued to Magistrate Court of Cobb County, in accordance

with O.C.G.A. 36-1-20, may be incarcerated for a period not to exceed 60 days and/or shall be fined up to $1000 for violations within any 12 month period.

Are you breaking the law?

GuidelinesThe following are county guidelines. More detailed information is available in the county code or online at www.cobbcounty.org on the County Clerk’s Web page or by calling the Code Enforcement Office.

Dead Trees

Dead trees shall not be allowed to exist or to bemaintained on any premises which are hazardous to persons on adjacent property. A finding by a registered forester or certified arborist (as contracted by a person on adjacent property) shall constitute prima facie evidence that a tree is in danger of falling upon adjacent lots or public streets due to the death of the tree.

Yard SalesEstate sales, yard sales, bakery sales, garage sales, bazaars and the like are limited to three weekends per year and cannot exceed three days per sale.

Leash LawAnimals are required to be on a leash when outside unless contained by a fence. Pet owners are responsible for collecting animal waste and disposing of it properly. Contact Cobb County Animal Control at

(770) 499-4136 to report violations.

Source of Information

http://comdev.cobbcountyga.gov/documents/ZoningBroch_v10_Apr2012.pdf

Next issue will have...-Exterior Attachments

-Door-to-Door Solicitations

-Grass and Weeds

-Home Business Restrictions

http://comdev.cobbcountyga.gov/code.htm

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Information posted in this newsletter is intended to provide general knowledge that may be of interest to Forest Chase Homeowners. Forest Chase HOA does not warrant the accuracy of the information as posted on this website. Forest Chase HOA reserves the right to accept or reject any advertisement submitted for publication. The appearance of advertising on the Forest Chase HOA website in no way implies endorsement or approval by the HOA of any advertising claims or of the advertiser, its product, or services. Forest Chase HOA disclaims any liability whatsoever in connection with advertising appearing in this newsletter.

Communication Information

Facebook Group

www.facebook.com/groups/FCHOAA neighbor only private group on Facebook. Photos, files, news, events, and discussion forum.

FCHOA Website

sites.google.com/site/forestchasehoaPay dues, general information, and helpful links.

Yahoo Group

groups.yahoo.com/group/forestchase

A neighbor only private group on yahoogroups.

Contact information

FCHOAinfo@gmail.com

Forest Chase Homeowners Association P.O. Box 670403, Marietta, GA 30066

Community Ambassors NEEDED

How to stay connected... pick one or all!

Help sell our space!Advertising in FC News

3.5 x 3 inch space$30 per issue or $90 yr

FCHOAinfo@gmail.comor call 1-352-598-0271

The Board of Directors, as well as neighbors, have set a goal this year to get to know each other better. Please start a conversation with someone new this week, ask them where they live, are they a member of the HOA? If not, get their e-mail and we’ll help them get connected!

Be sure to submit their name/e-mail to: FCHOAinfo@gmail.com

Goals for 2013

Welcome Team to greet homeowners in their area. Deliver newsletters or collateral to homes, greet new homeowners or renters.

Police 20 homes in your immediate area for Cobb County Code infractions. Give warnings, follow up, then report to the authorities.

Newsletter development. Find paid advertisers for upcoming issues. Article submissions of interest. Be a neighborhood reporter on current events.

Pool Team for upkeep and management of the pool area. Report items of concern to Pool Director, help with cleaning and enforcing rules.

Green Thumb Team. Help with annual plantings at entrances and give advice on landscaping areas. Organize a yearly cleanup of pool grounds.

Party Team. Organize our 2 annual events for the HOA members. May & October.

SEND an e-mail expressing which team you are best suited for! FCHOAinfo@gmail.com

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Nature Notes by Roseanne Guerra

Sweat Mountain Creek in Forest Chase

• Did you know that you can toss your inner tube in our creek and float to the Gulf of Mexico? Our creek is at the eastern edge of the Etowah Watershed in Georgia. Our creek drains eventually into Rube’s Creek (near Sweat Mountain Park), then Mill Creek in Holly Springs, then Lake Allatoona, and through the Allatoona Dam into the Etowah River. The Etowah drains into the Coosa River at Rome, GA and the Coosa drains into the Gulf of Mexico at Mobile Bay.

• Sweat Mountain marks the edge of two great watersheds: the folks on the other side of the mountain are in the Chattahoochee Watershed.

• I have “adopted” our creek through the Cobb County Adopt-a-Stream program and check bacteria levels and chemical properties on a regular basis. Our creek is very clean and healthy. Bacteria levels are slightly higher this time of year because of rotting leaf litter in the slower parts of the creek.

• The storm drains in Forest Chase drain DIRECTLY into our creek. Never dump anything into our storm drains thinking it is going to a water treatment plant.

• Be aware: a lot of our creek is on private property, and is not just a neutral border between properties.

• Our creek is home to a wide variety of wildlife: rainbow shiner minnows, creek chub, and sunfish. Nonvenomous Northern water snakes eat almost only fish. Raccoons, possums and great blue herons also hunt fish and crawfish in the creek. Coyotes and foxes use our creek as a highway at night.

• We do NOT have water moccasins in our creek. Water moccasins have not been reported in Cobb County, and

moccasins don’t live in cold, fast-moving rivers.

• To keep our creek healthy, read and follow all instructions when fertilizing or weed-treating your yard, including checking the weather. All those chemicals washing into the creek while they are still potent hurts our creek AND means your lawn didn’t get treated to boot.

• Sewer overflows should be reported at 770-419-6201. Other problems can be reported to Adopt-A-Stream at 770-528-1482.

• Thanks for reading, I hope everyone takes a moment to enjoy one of the things that makes Forest Chase great: our beautiful creek!

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As temperatures fall outside, the com-fort and warmth of a home is one of win-ter’s true pleasures. But where there’s heat, there’s also the potential for carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal and is referred to as a “silent killer” because it’s nearly impossible to detect without a proper monitor. Ac-cording to the Consumer Product Safety Commis-sion (CPSC), more than 200 people die from car-bon monoxide poisoning each year; thousands of others are treated at hospital emergency rooms.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that is created when fos-sil fuels (such as gasoline, liquid petroleum or LP gas, wood, coal, charcoal, propane, natu-ral gas, oil and methane) burn incompletely.

Sources of carbon monoxide in your home include oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, wood and gas fireplaces, gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space heaters and wood stoves.

It’s important to be aware of the potential haz-ards in using these household appliances and the safety measures you can take to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. The following infor-mation was compiled from three experts in the field: the CPSC, the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

How to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:9 Have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune up central heating systems annually. Repair any leaks promptly. 9 Keep vent hoods and pipes securely in place and in good condition. 9 Choose properly sized wood stoves that are certified to meet the EPA emission standards. Make sure doors on all wood stoves fit tightly.

9 Keep gas appliances properly adjusted. 9 Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters. 9 Do not idle your car in the garage. 9 Install a carbon monoxide detector; the CPSC recommends one that meets the requirements of the current Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standard 2034. If you install only one carbon monoxide detector, the CPSC recommends locating it near a sleeping area, where it can wake you if you are asleep. 9 Test your carbon monoxide detector on a regular basis.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: 9 Low levels of carbon monoxide can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea and mild headaches. 9 Moderate levels of carbon monoxide can cause severe headaches, dizziness, mental confusion and possibly fainting. If these levels continue or grow, the results may be fatal.

What to do if you suspect you have carbon monoxide poisoning:

9 Get fresh air immediately and see a doctor. In addition, have a qualified technician inspect your fuel-burning appliances and chimneys to make sure they are operating correctly and/or to find the source of carbon monoxide.

Michelle has been with American Family Insurance since 1999. Her office is located at 3750 Palladian Village Dr., across from Las-siter High School. Michelle can be contacted at (770) 250-7775.

Winter heating poses carbon monoxide hazardsHomeowner Awareness by Michelle Ralston

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It’s hard to avoid the “not so attractive” parts of our neighborhood, HOWEVER there are some P.E.R.K.S. happening in the community as well.

Jamerson Rd. Entrance Area Sprinkler system with a “rain/freeze gauge” was installed by Envy Irrigation (an advertising sponsor) to help the newly planted landscape flourish for years to come! The stone and metal sign was built and lights installed to be easily spotted from the road. All the sod was refreshed

and pine needles added to beautify the entrance.

Jims Rd. Entrance AreaThose pesky overgrown trees were trimmed back for the safety of the drivers. Eventually they will need to be removed and the area replanted along with some source of irrigation. We need more membership to make this goal happen. Talk to your neighbor, ask them to support the FCHOA.

Pool AreaThe pool had some code issues that needed to brought up to date. Drains were added. The fencing was

Improvements to Forest Chase

P.E.R.K.S. People Emproving Residential Kurb appeal Super! (don’t say a thing about spelling!)

upgraded in the years past. Did you know that when the key-code was added we saved money by not having to purchase keys for each pool members household? The pool house was painted, cleaned and maintained all season!

Williams’ home“We purchased our F.C. home in June and boy oh boy it lacked some serious curb appeal! We have removed dangerous and sick trees, pressured washed almost every surface on the property. Trash thrown in the back woods has been removed. Painting our mailbox, replacing burnt out security lights, and trimming trees away from the sidewalk were done! It’s ongoing and we have BIG plans for our property. Thanks for waving when you drive by and I’m out sweating in the yard!”

-Cindi Williams (2693 Forest Way)

Retaining Wall at the Common AreaThe retaining wall had significant rot and was an eye sore not to mention a danger for the parked cars. This wall was removed and rebuilt.

What P.E.R.K.S. do you see?Submit your PERKS to FCHOAinfo@gmail.com

commercial - portrait - product - headshots

www.cindi-withaneye.com 352.598.0271

photographyCindi with an eye

20% off one time visit for Forest Chase residents! Bring in a copy of this ad.

11255 Woodstock RoadRoswell, GA 30075

770-587-4474www.phishphood.com

Chef Dave Fast

Phish Phood offers catering & event services in addition to fresh made to order food in the cafe. Owners Chef Dave and his wife Terry have over 50 years experience in the food/hospitality industry. They are FCHOA members and residents of our great community!

Neighborhood NEWSFriday, February 15 Student Holiday/Teacher Furlough Day

Monday, February 18 President’s Day Holiday

SCHOOL CLOSED

Feb. 3 Family Day at the Marietta/Cobb Art Museum. Free admission and fun activities for the whole family. 1-4pm, except when museum is closed. Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art, 30 Atlanta Street, Marietta. Free. More info: 770-528-1444 or http://www.mariettacobbartmuseum.org

Feb.5 IHOP is giving away free pancakes to anyone and everyone on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 to celebrate National Pancake Day. On this day, the family-friendly restaurant chain is aiming to raise $3 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in celebration of the organization’s 30th anniversary. Located at 3130 Johnson Ferry Rd., IHOP is open for business from 7:00 a.m.–10 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday and 7:00 a.m.-12:00 midnight on Friday-Saturday.

Do you want to have an event listed? E-mail FCHOAinfo@gmail.com

Forest Chase HOA reserves the right to accept or reject any advertisement submitted for publication.

EVENTS

Our house is for sale. 2820 Forest Wood Dr. It is the first “new” house on the left up the hill on Forest Wood Dr. We have lived here since we bought it new in 1994 and hate to leave Forest Chase! It is a beautiful house if you know anyone that would be interested. Here is the web address to the listing with a description and pictures:

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2820-Forest-Wood-Dr-NE-Marietta-GA-30066/14233931_zpid/

-Russ and Tricia Everett

FOR SALE

The East Cobb Braves are selling North Atlanta Coupon Books for $20 each. Over 60 pages of terrific discounts - Dining, Golf, Shopping, Braves tickets - that don’t expire until the end of 2013. E-mail cindi13@gmail.com with your address to have one delivered to your home.

FUND RAISER