Emerald
Hills Review
Emerald
Hills Homeowners Association Newsletter August
11, 2008
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Let the
Good Times Roll!
Come One, Come All to an Association Sponsored,
Emerald Hills Community Picnic!
Mark your
calendars and plan to join us for some great
food and good old-fashioned family
fun!
Saturday, September
13, 2008
1:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Emerald Hills Lodge & Golf Course
Come out to
enjoy an afternoon of summertime fun and with the friends, neighbors, and
families who make up our extraordinary community. We’ll have horse shoe
contests, volleyball, and golf to entertain the kids of all ages, along with a
fantastic BBQ, gourmet side dishes, and a chance to just kick back and relax.
Please let us
know if you can come to the picnic by returning the RSVP card on the back of
this newsletter. If you’d like to lend a hand and can spare an hour or two to
volunteer, please send us an email at picnic@emeraldhills.org
or call our Event Chair, Marline Underwood, at (650) 224-1214 to leave a
message and we’ll contact you. It’s going be a GREAT TIME so let’s PLAN TO
PARTY!
The EHHA Board would like to thank the Emerald Hills Lodge
& Golf Course for supporting our event and our community by offering their
wonderful facilities for this event, including use of the picnic area, horse
shoe pit & equipment, volleyball court & equipment, and for allowing
Emerald Hills residents to play golf at the discounted Elk’s member rate during
the picnic. (Please contact the Pro Shop right away to reserve your tee time at
(650) 368‑7820.)
We would also like to thank the Emerald Market for
contributing ALL THE FOOD for this event, including the old‑fashioned
BBQ, gourmet side dishes, soft drinks, water, and juice – AND for underwriting
the costs of this newsletter, volunteering their time, and supporting our
community.
EHHA Directors Participate in Successful
Board Retreat
On May 28, 2008, the Board
of Directors of the EHHA participated in an organization building retreat to
help define the mission and direction of the Association going forward.
After reviewing
comments made by Association Members at the Special Meeting held last year,
both the returning and the newly elected members of the Board felt the
Association could benefit from a professionally facilitated meeting to address
community concerns and refocus the efforts of the Association on bringing the
community together.
Because the treasury
was at an all-time low, Board members paid for the costs of the meeting and the
facilitator themselves.
Ms. Regina Neu, a
well-known expert and consultant in area of non-profit governance, was selected
to lead the discussion and assist the Board in developing a mission statement
that will form the basis for future Board actions. After revisiting the reasons why the EHHA
came into existence in the first place and taking into consideration recent
community events, the Board crafted the following statement:
"The mission of the Emerald Hills Homeowners
Association is to develop a sense of community by sponsoring events of common
interest and providing a collective voice for communication among Emerald Hills
residents with government and other organizations."
Going forward, with
this mission statement in mind, the Board has identified a number of achievable
goals for organizational improvement and community development in the months
and years ahead, including sponsorship of a community picnic (see "Let the Good Times Roll!"
page 1).
Ms. Neu concluded the
retreat with a thorough orientation on the duties and responsibilities of a
non-profit Board, which the Association adopted as part of a new Policy Book.
Board members actively
contributed to the successful outcome of the retreat, feeling it was a
worthwhile investment of time and personal resources that would help bring the
EHHA back into the forefront of healthy community involvement and
representation.
--Michael Mangini,
President, EHHA
The 2008-2009 EHHA Board of Directors
Adriana Botto [1]
Tom Brouchoud [2]
Tim Farrar 1
Joe Foraker 2
Frank Fraone 1
Michael Mangini 1
Carla Rayacich 1
Mike Sherman 2
Marline Underwood 2
When Does the EHHA Board
Meet?
The EHHA Board typically holds its monthly meetings on the second
Wednesday of each month in the conference room (lower level) of the new
Woodside Fire Station 19 at
Come Join Us!
Participate on an EHHA Committee
The 2008-2009 Board of Directors is currently seeking volunteers who
are interested in serving on various committees of the Board. If you have an interest in making Emerald
Hills an even better place to live, then we need you! Please contact Association President Michael
Mangini via email at michael.mangini@emeraldhills.org
for additional information.
Emerald Hills Community
Survey on Zoning and Design Review
An Update
Steve
Monowitz, Long Range Planning Services Manager, San Mateo County Planning and
Building Department, has stated that the long awaited results for the Zoning
and Design Review Survey should be ready for release during the first week in
August (or just as this newsletter goes to print). Once they are available, the Association will
post the results on our website and will provide an additional update in our
next newsletter. In the interim, you may
contact Steve Monowitz at (650) 363‑1855 or via email at smonowitz@co.sanmateo.ca.us.
No "No Left Turn"
The Results
In the previous "Emerald Hills Review", the
Association conducted an informal poll to determine if there was some indication of resident interest in
the lifting of the "No Left Turn" restriction during non-rush or
off-peak traffic hours from the westbound lane of
|
|
Number of
Responses |
|
I
support lifting the "No Left Turn" restriction at |
|
|
I
support keeping the "No Left Turn" restriction at |
|
|
I
have no opinion regarding this issue. |
2 |
As promised, the Association (i) has collected and tallied the results of
the poll (both in hard copy and via the web) through June 30, 2008, (ii) has
forwarded the results to Prime Sterling of the County's Department of Public
Works, and (iii) has posted the results on the EHHA website. The Association will also continue to provide
any updates from the County as they become available.
The Department of Public Works has indicated that it will consider the
poll results in its evaluation on whether or not to research the possibility of
modifying the "No Left Turn" restriction.
2008-09 Sewer Service
Charges Report
July 22, 2008 Public Hearing
An Update
Pursuant to Resolution No.
069605 approved at the July 22, 2008 meeting of the San Mateo County
Board of Supervisors, the following rates (previously set by Ordinance No.
04382 on August 7, 2007) were declared as the sewer service charges for FY
2008-09 and will be imposed on the following sewer/ sanitation districts:
District FY 08-09 Increase
Emerald
Oak Knoll SMD $600 $100
Watershed
July 22, 2008 Public Hearing
An Update
EHHA Board members Michael Mangini and Mike Sherman attended the
July 22, 2008 public hearing during which
Residents from Emerald Hills and other unincorporated areas of the
County crowded the meeting room to hear the report and voice opinions about the
recommendations.
Consensus was reached, and the Supervisors approved recommendations for
County Staff to (i) inventory and improve enforcement of the current
regulations covering watershed protection, and (ii) work with regional
authorities such as the City and County Association of Governments (CCAG) and
the Bay Area Water Quality District to identify and fill gaps in the data about
the current conditions of San Mateo County watersheds.
Responding to overwhelming opposition to the remaining recommendations
expressed by speakers in the room, the Supervisors directed Staff to rewrite
the statement of purpose for the ordinance to include the intention to treat
each of the 34 county watersheds individually and not craft a "cookie
cutter" approach to regulatory policies.
The Supervisors also withheld approval of two recommendations that would
have given Staff unlimited authority to impose restrictions on a trial basis
and to craft policy language that would codify the restrictions at a future
date. This is a great example of how the
active civic involvement of Emerald Hills residents can affect the outcome of
issues that affect us all.
Hopefully, with continued input from an informed community, County
Staff will develop a watershed protection plan that is tailored to address any
demonstrated problems in individual watersheds, AND supports a level of fairness and equity
that results in ALL property owners in San Mateo County sharing responsibility
for this regional issue (not just those who live in Emerald Hills and other
unincorporated areas). The
EHHA Board is committed to making sure this happens by keeping you informed.
Emerald Market
Ready to
Serve
For nearly 20 years, the grocery store at
the entrance to Emerald Hills stood vacant, waiting for someone to revitalize
the business center that could be an anchor for the growing community in
unincorporated
Today, the
So when you come in to shop at the Emerald
Market, take a few minutes to say "hello" to Owner Issa Aho, who has
invested so much in our community, to General Manager John Marinos, who is
working hard to make Emerald Market a "destination grocery store"
featuring quality with value, and Community Outreach Manager Liza Bouska, who
is partnering with area families and parent groups to support our local
schools.
Meet Members of the Emerald Market Team:
|
Issa Aho started his first
neighborhood grocery store 20 years ago near |
|
John Marinos, a Peninsula
native who attended |
|
Liza Bouska, a long-time
Peninsula resident and working mother of three school-aged daughters, looks
forward to working with area families to meet their needs for the highest
quality organic foods, supporting our school-based Scrip programs,
coordinating educational field trips, and providing job opportunities for
area residents. Liza believes that by
coming out with their families to eat at the outdoor dining area and tour the
Market, children can see how local businesses operate and how they can become
a vital part of an active, growing community. |
|
Store Hours: 7 am to 9 pm Daily |
Emerald Market
….Advertised Specials….
(Expires 8/31/2008)
|
Full-Service Meat/Poultry USDA Ground Chuck $2.59/lb Free-Range Rocky Jr. Legs, Wings or Drumsticks $0.99/lb |
Wine Clos Du Bois Chardonnay 750 ml $8.99 Ravenswood Chardonnay 750 ml $6.99 |
|
Fresh Produce Bananas 2 lbs./$1.00 Seedless Watermelon 3 lbs./$0.99 lb |
Grocery Western Family Big Roll Paper Towel $0.79 ea Kingsford Charcoal 9 lb. $4.99 ea |
|
Service Deli Emerald’s Take-Home Meal Includes: - Oven Roasted Chicken - 2-Liter Soda (Coke, Pepsi or - Will’s 16
oz side dish (Macaroni Salad, Old Fashion Potato Salad or Coleslaw) - King’s Hawaiian 4 pack rolls $9.99 ea |
Driving Directions: From I-280: - Take - Turn Right onto - Turn Right onto Canyon - Turn right onto Oak Knoll - Arrive at From El Camino: - Travel west on - Turn Left on - Turn right onto Oak Knoll and proceed - Arrive at |
Your Home
Create a
Landscape That Fights Fire
"A wall of flames was heading
directly for our property," recalls Rick Henson, who lives near
What the firefighter recognized at
the Hensons' was defensible space—something lacking at many other Western homes
that have burned in recent decades. The
Hensons had spent more than 2 ½ years clearing debris (sagebrush, tall grasses,
dying and broken tree limbs, pine needles) from the landscape around their
house. They had pruned trees, mowed
grasses low, and kept their greenbelt garden well irrigated. They'd stacked their firewood well away from
the house.
These steps conform to the advice of
fire experts for homes in vulnerable areas:
Along with installing fire-resistant roofing, creating a genuinely
defensible space—where vegetation around the house is reduced to keep wildfire
on the ground so it can be fought more easily—is the most important precaution
a homeowner can take. Defensible space
gives firefighters room to do their job.
In the Hensons' case, it worked:
The house was saved.
When Wildfire Approaches
Should a house be
threatened by wildfire, the occupants may be advised to evacuate by a fire or
law enforcement official. The purpose of
evacuation is to protect people from life-threatening situations. Homeowners, however, do have the right to
stay on the property if they so desire and so long as their activities do not
hinder firefighting efforts. If the
occupants are not contacted in time to evacuate or if the owners decide to stay
with their homes, the suggestions provided in the following checklist will
assist in protecting their property and the lives of their family.
· Evacuate, if possible, all family members not essential to protecting the house, as well as pets.
· Contact a friend or relative and relay your plans.
· Make sure family members are aware of the prearranged meeting place.
· Tune into a local radio station and listen for instructions.
· Place vehicles in the garage, have them pointing out, and roll up windows.
· Place valuable papers and mementos in the car.
· Close the garage door, but leave it unlocked. If applicable, disconnect the electric garage door opener so that the door can be opened manually.
· Place combustible patio furniture in the house or garage.
· Shut off propane at the tank or natural gas at the meter.
· Wear only cotton or wool clothes. Proper attire includes long pants, long sleeved shirt or jacket, and boots. Carry gloves, a handkerchief to cover face, water to drink, and goggles.
· Close all exterior vents.
· Prop a ladder against the house so firefighters have easy access to the roof.
· Make sure that all garden hoses are connected to faucets and attach a nozzle set on "spray."
· Soak rags, towels, or small rugs with water to use in beating out embers or small fires.
· Inside, fill bathtubs, sinks, and other containers with water. Outside, do the same with garbage cans and buckets. Remember that the water heater and toilet tank are available sources of water.
· Close all exterior doors and windows.
· Close all interior doors.
· Open the fire place damper, but place the screen over the hearth to prevent sparks and embers from entering the house.
· Leave a light on in each room.
· Remove lightweight and/or non-fire resistant curtains and other combustible materials from around windows.
· If available, close fire resistant drapes, shutters, or venetian blinds. Attach pre-cut plywood panels to the exterior side of windows and glass doors.
· Turn off all pilot lights.
· Move overstuffed furniture (e.g. couches, easy chairs, etc.) to the center of the room.
· Keep wood shake or shingle roofs moist by spraying water. Do not waste water. Consider placing a lawn sprinkler on the roof if water pressure is adequate. Do not turn on until burning embers begin to fall on the roof.
· Continually check the roof and attic for embers, smoke, or fire.
If a fire should occur
within the house, contact the fire department immediately. Continue to inspect your house and property
for embers and smoke.
Most importantly, STAY CALM!
------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for Your Donations
A
Message From EHHA Treasurer, Tim Farrar
The entire Board has been delighted and astonished by the remarkable response to our appeal for funds in the last newsletter. Since the May 2008 newsletter was published, the Association has received 58 donations totaling $2,645, which has restored the bank balance to just over $6,000 (prior to paying expenses for the upcoming community event). We are also hugely grateful to the Emerald Market for their sponsorship of both the food for our community event and the publishing costs for this newsletter, both of which will significantly reduce our projected outgoings and further improve the state of the Association's finances.
In order to make the your contributions go even further, the Board resolved at the June Board meeting to consider including advertising from local merchants, as appropriate, to offset newsletter printing and postage costs. We are also grateful to all of those residents who have opted to receive the Association newsletter by email, to further reduce printing and postage costs and appreciate First Republic Bank's cooperation in waiving bank charges on our account for the next 12 months. As already noted by Association President, Michael Mangini, the May 2008 Board retreat (at which we worked to develop a new mission statement) was paid for personally by the individual Board members and thus did not represent any cost to the Association.
Your donations, in response to our appeal, have already exceeded the level of contributions for the whole of last year, and the contributions so far this year have taken us nearly halfway to meeting our target of $7,000 in total donations (equivalent to $35 from each of 200 property owners) for 2008. Our budget for the remainder of 2008 assumes that we will receive a further $2,400 in donations, to pay the costs of the community event and for publishing future newsletters. However, if we can exceed this level and reach the $7,000 target that we set back in May, then the additional $1,300 represented by this target will help to put the Association on a much firmer financial footing and provide funding for additional activities, such as the tree giveaway and other community events, later in the year.
Enclosed with this newsletter you
will find a donation envelope, which you may use to send contributions to the
EHHA. If you receive the newsletter
electronically, then you may send donations to us by mail at EHHA,
Attn: Treasurer,
Did You
Know?
Firebrands are burning embers
produced by wildfire, which are lifted high into the air and carried beyond the
fire front. Firebrands are one of the major
causes of homes burned due to wildfire.
Typical firebrand materials include pine cones, bark, and if houses are
involved, wood shakes and shingles.
Depending on wind speed and size of materials, firebrands can be carried
more than ½ miles ahead of the fire front.
A shower of thousands of firebrands can be produced during a major
wildfire event. If these firebrands land
in areas with easily ignited fuels, numerous spot fires can start. Homes located blocks away from the main fire
front can be threatened.
Dear Editor,
In response to your pro speed bump article, I'd like to say a few words
against speed bumps. According to the Canada Safety Council (in "Traffic
Calming Versus Safety"), "In one minute, a fast-burning fire can
destroy a building. One minute can be the window of opportunity for a
critically injured child, heart attack victim or other emergency. A criminal
can escape the scene of a crime in less than a minute. For fire, ambulance and
police vehicles, every second counts. A delay of just one minute due to speed
humps...can mean the difference between life and death. Inefficient traffic
flow on an access route to a hospital puts lives at stake. Liability issues
associated with traffic calming are hardly ever considered." Drivers
judging how to negotiate bumps are distracted from watching out for more
serious hazards—like children. Bumps discriminate against the severely
disabled, elderly frail people, and those with serious back or neck problems.
Speed humps in the vicinity of a house will reduce its market value as
potential buyers will be put off by the associated problems. These are just a
few examples as to why speed bumps are a bad idea.
Henry Garbutt, an almost 50 year resident
Yes! I want to contribute…
r I'd like to contribute $35.
r I can spare a bit more. Here
is my donation for $50.
r I'm a resident of one of the
most desirable neighborhoods on the
--------------------------------------------
r My check is enclosed.
If you would like to donate via credit card, please visit www.emeraldhills.org/pages/donate.html
Your personal information is kept confidential.
Name
Street Address
City, State Zip
Phone # (optional)
E-mail Address (optional, but
requested)
r Please send the email
newsletter instead of print, to help preserve the environment and save the Association money.
r Please send me both the
print and email newsletter.
You can make donations online at www.emeraldhills.org/pages/donate.html
or you can mail your contributions to:
EHHA,
Please note that donations to the EHHA are not tax deductible.
I'll See You at the Picnic!
Please tell us how many plan to
attend:
____ Children (up to age 12) ____ Adults
Please RSVP by September 6, 2008
