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In Asheville, amid the WNC Mountains - August, 2016 August Activities at Crowfields Clubhouse

Tuesday 2 Exec. Comm. meets 4:30 pm Wednesdays 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Simple Suppers 6:30 pm

Friday 5 First Friday Social 5:30 – 7:30 pm Friday 19 No 3rd Fri. ’covered dish’ in August - Tourist’s game is on!

Friday 19 2nd Annual AVL Tourists game 7:05 pm Monday 8 Movie Nights: “Bridge of Spies” 7:00 pm 29 “Margin Call” 7:00 pm

Tuesday 26 Book Gp. “1776” by David. McCullough 7:00 pm Tuesday 26 Exec. Comm. Work Session 4:30 pm

For more info on August Notices and Activities, see page 4

A peek at part of our Community Gardens – go visit & look around! - Photo by Dean Cox

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REMEMBER TO USE THE NEW OFFICE EMAIL ADDRESS: CCA@crowfieldsoffice.com Crowfields Public Website: crowfieldsasheville.com

The 2016 Crowfields Residents Directory, Committees, current Chatter & more, is now available, online on password-protected, members only website.

Comments from our Executive Committee President, Bob Ray

" If you attended the board meeting last week you are aware of how our city of Asheville has increased our city services

costs. City services are: water, sewer, storm water, & trash pick-up. Clearly since the city did not increase our taxes they

intend to make up the shortfall on the other services they provide for city residents. To make a long story short I am

asking everyone to conserve water wherever possible to lower our usage and thereby help with the cost we pay. As an

example, if you want to wash your car please use a car wash facility. See Katherine’s article below for more ideas. These

are small steps I know but pennies saved will make dollars earned. I want to also commend Katherine Soderquist and the

finance committee with their diligence in watching our budget expenses and managing our finances.

On a lighter note, I want to praise the team that has been putting together our 3rd

Friday potluck dinners. Those of you

that have not attended have missed partaking of some wonderful food & fellowship. You don't need to be a great cook,

just bring something from one of the local markets to share and come to enjoy! (Next one hopefully will be Sept. 16th.)

IMPORTANT NOTICES & OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION:

We are always delighted when our neighbors at Crowfields remodel and update their units. It is a win/win for all owners and potential owners to see our values increase. One of the difficulties in living in a condominium community is we must do our remodeling with our neighbors in mind. Toward that end, our by-laws and rules/regulations spell out a few of thesteps necessary to keep all parties content. Some of the specifics are: An Owner is responsible for the conduct and activity of any contractor engaged to perform work by such Owner. Approval must be obtained before any interior structural work or exterior architectural changes begin. These agreements and policies are both on our website as well as at the office. All requests go to the Architectural Review Committee for approval before being sent on to the Executive Committee. The EC meets once a month on the first Tuesday, plan accordingly. Working hours for contractors are Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. No work will be allowed on Sundays or Crowfields’ specified holidays (as listed on the cover of the Directory of Residents.) Parking of dumpsters or equipment trailers must have approval from the Management Office and the applicable Cluster. Contractors and their workers, staff and subcontractors may only use the two spaces reserved for the Owner of the Unit they are renovating. All other vehicles of the Unit Owner, occupant, contractor and its staff or subcontractors must be parked at the clubhouse during the day (but shall not be permitted to remain parked at the clubhouse overnight.) Failure to comply with these policies and/ or neighbor complaints may be taken up by the executive committee in a special hearing where you will be allowed to be heard and present evidence. At that time a fine not to exceed $100.00 per day for violations could be imposed in addition to a fine for non-compliance to the bylaws and rules. We take our community rules very seriously in order to maintain the peaceful and beautiful environment in which we live. We thank you for adhering to Crowfields common guiding principles. The Architectural Review Committee

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Free Water? Water is one of the things that we take for granted. You turn on the faucet Sand you are assured that fresh, clean water will appear. Crowfields is billed every other month by the city for a variety of services including water, sewer, trash pick-up, storm water runoff, and fire hydrant lines. The cost of these services increases with every bill. City service is the second largest line item in the Crowfields budget and difficult to predict. Here are some statistics. Water usage is measured by CFF. A CFF is 748 gallons. The cost of a CFF is $3.32 ($3.37 in July). From April 22 to June 21 of this year Crowfields metered 1886 CFFs or 1,410,728 gallons of water in a 2-month period. The average usage over the last 10 billing cycles is 1638 CFFs. The billing for sewer is linked to the water usage (4.39 per CCF in July). There is a saving for each of us by having Crowfields billed as a community rather than each unit being separately metered. Because the city services bill is included in our monthly community fee and we don’t pay an individual monthly bill to the water department, it is easy to assume that water is free, but it is not. We all need to make an effort to conserve water. Please take a minute and check your faucets for a regular drip or your toilets for that constant running or your hose bibs for dripping. Call the office and a capable staff person will fix the drips for a nominal fee. Also if you are leaving town, even for a weekend, turn your water off. Turn off the water when you brush. Check water levels in the washer. Run the dishwasher only when full.

Shorten showers. Be conscious of how much you water your plants. Let’s work together to try to reduce our water usage. It’s good for the environment and will save us money.

For questions or comments contact Katherine Soderquist, Treasurer katsoderquist@msn.com

In response to resident inquiries, the HR committee is providing an updated statement regarding Crowfields Employees working after hours on their own time for those who live here: Residents may contact individual members of the Crowfields staff for work that is not during employees' Crowfields' work. The staff is not obligated to accept any work offered to them. All contracts are personal between the resident and the employee. Crowfields Condominium Association cannot assume responsibility for the employee, the work to be done or liability for the personnel or property of the employer. The staff members have the right to negotiate all rates for work. These negotiated projects would be entirely between owner and staff members. As a convenience, the Management Office will forward request for services to the appropriate staff member.

Ed. I have been asked to remind folks that the Emergency Assistance contacts – see a bear, or get locked out of home, etc. are Mike Herzoff at 505-3325, and Legette Zorn at 505-4587. It is also strongly suggested that you provide a house key to a trusted neighbor. Legette Zorn is also the storage keeper of the Home Health Aides which are available to residents. He has recently had requests for wheelchairs and shower/bath seats & would welcome any loans or donations of those & other items to be available for a medical need. Remember also for secure mailing, the locked mail box at the clubhouse entrance has contents picked up daily by the USPA mail person. Other box at entrance is secure for Crowfields office mail/papers.

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More than 50 residents have signed on to join Nextdoor.com, the casual free neighborhood communication network. Nextdoor Crowfields should allow residents to communicate on things to buy / sell; recommended services; advisories on concerns like recent burgleries in our area, bear sightings, & more. Check out https://nextdoor.com/about us, and to sign up: http://nextdoor.com. You will find directions there. Do join up! More residents = more effective interaction.

Captions invited: We’ll print them. (Easier to see online & in color)

IT’S AUGUST! See what ACTIVITIES are planned:

FIRST FRIDAY, August 5, 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Bring your preferred drink, a snack to share

SIMPLE SUPPERS for August: 3: Zoe’s Kitchen; 10: Cici’s Kitchen; 17: Iannucci’s; 24: 67 Biltmore;

31: 12 Bones. Menus, Sign-up sheets are in lobby & via email. Open from 6:00, Serving at 6:30 pm.

MONDAY MOVIE NIGHTS at 7: August 8 “Bridge of Spies” historical legal thriller w. Tom Hanks. August 29: “Margin Call”; Investment firm faces financial crisis. (tea & lemonade)

● Friday, August 19th NO COMMUNITY POTLUCK this month, as a crowd of boisterous Crowfielders go to McCormick Field to cheer the Asheville Tourists’ on versus the Rome Braves! CR group of 25 seats is sold out, & lucky attendees who signed up (via David Herbert) can look forward to Dollar Hot Dogs & Fireworks! Carol Schmidt won T-shirt

BOOK GROUP - Tues., Aug. 23: “1776”, fateful year described by David McCullough, discussion w. Gene Presley.

Ongoing Activities in August: Men's Coffee & Conversation . All welcome. Mondays 10:00 – 11:00+ am

Crafts and Conversation Mondays (Bring what you’re working on or chat) 1:00 + pm

Water Aerobics (fee): Mondays at 3:30 pm and Wednesdays at 11:30 am.

Senior Exercise Class (fee) led by Liz Ridley – meets Mon. & Thurs. at 2 pm

“Hand & Foot” card game, Fridays at 1 pm

Bocce, the popular ball/boule sport, Thursdays at 5:30, on field below clubhouse.

Looking ahead at possible activities: To follow up on ideas below, contact Helen Eill at 505-2336. Sept.: Grill Masters Needed. How about a Community Cookout on Sunday, Sept. 11 (Patriot’s Day)?

Before we can collect grills or plan for meats & veggies, we need to know if there are grillers willing & able to tend the grills late that Sunday afternoon. Helen can also be reached at hkeill@yahoo.com October: Volunteer for the Crowfields House Tour. Willing to show off new and/or creative things you’ve done to your condo for CR residents to see & be inspired! Contact you-know-whom, Helen Eill!

November on: We have so much talent & a multitude of creative interests among our residents, let’s get together in November to show off our art, crafts, special knowledge, skills & our enthusiasms! Yes, H. E.

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Dear Neighbors:

I’ve enjoyed every minute living in Crowfields, especially the courteous help of staff

members who make it possible to be able to enjoy living here longer. Now, however, it’s time for

me to be closer to family. I depart Sunday, July 30th to begin this new chapter of my life.

My new address is: F. Schelly, Marquette Place,

1314 Marquette Ave., Apt. 1106, Minneapolis, MN 55403

My cell phone number is: 828-98-5386. In time, I will change the first three numbers.

I wish all my friends and neighbors the best of what Crowfields and Asheville has to offer.

Sincerely, - Frankie

In Memoriam Dr. Joseph Edward Roberts – Joe, 85 - passed away at his home, 610 Lane, on Saturday, July 23rd. Joe was brought up in Mississippi, trained and practiced as a General Practitioner and Internist before advancing to psychiatry and having a private practice in Mississippi, then in Asheville from which he only retired in 2011. He was researching and working on his book focusing on the neuronal structure in the brain called dendrites and their connection to emotional and psychological development when he died. A man of many talents and interests, Joe was passionate about music, loved to sing, played several instruments, and loved to play golf and tennis until rheumatoid arthritis severely hobbled him. “Joe was incredibly courageous, funny, fiercely independent, curious, loving, generous, interested in and up to date on everything going on in the world. He had a memory that defied belief, and enjoyed every day of his life.”(Cit.-Times obit, July 29) Joe leaves an extended family, but was especially delighted when family members Biyan, Kari, Will & young twins, Ethan and Ireland moved back home to Asheville a year ago. His former wife, Maiy Biyan Roberts, who also lives in Crowfields, was his beloved companion and daily helpmate over the past eleven years. He will be missed! A Memorial Service will be held in the Chapel of Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Ave. at 2:00 pm, Sat. August 6.

There are an abundance of DVD’s and jigsaw puzzles waiting for you to pick up & enjoy in the conference room.

and don’t forget to check out the library’s selection of books – and remember to donate non-perishable foods to the MANNA basket – food for our neighbors is needed year round!

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Talking of MANNA, Helen Eill has recently taken 10 pounds of fresh produce, as well as the donated cans & containers from the lobby container to MANNA, off Swannanoa River Rd.

Another resident who has come to appreciate the bounteous array of veggies found in our community gardens is a fat and happy

groundhog! This scamp has devoured beans, peas, a row of eggplant and more, climbs over the fencing, and really appreciates our hospitality!

After more than a dozen years of appeals, SIDEWALKS have finally come to Hendersonville Road!

The work crews have done a great job, working at night, putting in scaffolding, and making curved walkways around and over the creeks. Now, the

Parkway entrance is being addressed. Thank you, NCDOT & city officials!

Photos by David Herbert

Have a fine careful-watering, not-too-hot August; stop to enjoy the flowers, and please keep information, articles and pics coming this way. Do look at the Chatter

online to see these pictures in full color. Thank you!

Jocelyn Baumgarten, Ed. By Dean Cox, photographer par excellence!

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