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Avery Park Summer Newsletter
July – September 2010

And the heat is on! After our coldest winter in quite some time we may be heading into one of the warmest summers. Ah, Sliding Rock is a short drive away and will certainly be refreshing…go early to beat the crowds.

The local wildlife is out and about. Bear, deer, fox, rabbit, coyote, snakes and turtles have all been observed in Avery Park.

Adult bears along with numerous cubs have been visiting various areas of our community. Bear cubs are cute and look like “teddy bears” but the female can be very fierce and protective. Please give them a wide berth. Secure trash cans in garages and remove bird feeders at night. Pet bowls should also be removed from outside areas or kept well clean.

Fawns are starting to appear and I’ll say again, DO NOT APPROACH a fawn. The doe may not be visible but she is very close. If you approach a fawn the possibility exists for the doe to reject the fawn which will mean certain death.

Road repairs to Smokemont have been completed which encompassed numerous sections repaired and then asphalt reapplied with split seal (tar and gravel) on top. The gravel will be loose for quite sometime so it would be prudent to allow greater following distance behind vehicles to preclude windshield cracks/stars. In several weeks the speed bumps will be repainted and white stop bars painted at the four way intersection.

At the June meeting, the BOD voted 2 to 1 not to re-install the rubber speed bump on Smokemont near Boundary Tree Pass. This is on a trial basis based on residents’ comments. The speed bump required vehicles to slow down to provide a safety margin for the three homes adjacent to that area; residents entering/departing Boundary Tree; and residents along Smokemont as one is exiting. This section of Smokemont is on a crest which creates limited visibility. Even if you find the speed bump a discomfort, consider the fact if you lived in that area and were subject to speeding vehicles in a limited sight area. Safety of residents, children, pets and wildlife are my primary concerns. Comments may be submitted to any BOD member. The BOD next meeting will be August 18, 3:30 at the office of IPM.

Several days of very heavy rain created numerous areas of erosion in Avery Park. We have solicited repair estimates for 11 areas of concern.

We recently had the exit loop moved closer to the right hand side as one is exiting. This precludes entering vehicles from tripping it and opening the exit gate when not needed and also forces exiting vehicles to stay closer to the right side of the road. If the exit gate does not open, back up and move your vehicle closer to the right shoulder of the road.

At the request of our insurance company, two signs have been installed at the pond that state “No Swimming, No Boating, No Ice Skating”. One sign is on the walkway gazebo and the other is on the far side of the pond facing Smokemont. Fishing is allowed preferably with a barbless hook. Thanks to Tom Weaver for installing the signs.

Due to the warm weather the pool has been getting a lot of use. Just a few reminders:

·        If you take it to the pool, take it home: toys, shoes, towels etc.
·        Trash: take all food and drink trash home including diapers. The cabana is only cleaned twice a month…need I say more.
·        Turn off lights and lock the doors. We all have to pay the electric bill.
·        Lower sun umbrellas even if you didn’t raise it. This prevents damage in the event of a pop up afternoon thunderstorm.
·        If children play in the playground, please rinse their feet with the hose by the men’s room prior to allowing them back in the pool.
·        Lost and found. If you find something you may either leave it in the main cabana or contact me at mjklug@bellsouth.net and I will send out a “Lost and Found” e-mail.
·        Treat the common facilities as if they were your own because they are. We all share the expense of maintaining, repairing and replacing these items.

Upcoming Community Events: Flyers will be provided at a later date.
          Aug 10: 7:30 “National Night Out”. Meet your neighbors at the 4 way stop and enjoy a one mile walk up Blue Mist Way to Stoney Stream and then Smokemont. Fresh Fruit and water provided. Kids on bikes and dogs on leashes are welcome. Walk at your own pace. In the event of inclement weather this will be cancelled.
          Sep 18: 5:00 – 9:00 Oktoberfest. Social hour 5:00 until 6:00 followed by grilled bratwurst, hotdogs and sauerkraut along with community side dishes.
          Sep 24: Pool closes for the season

NC Wildlife Resources Commission dates of interest:
Jul 2 Wild blackberries ripen
Jul 4 Independence Day
Jul 17 Peak breeding for black bears
Jul 21 Check dogs for fleas and ticks
Jul 24 Turk’s cap lily bloom peaks
Aug 7 Check firearms for rust
Aug 28 Late squirrel litters born
Aug 29 Deer antler growth complete
Sep 3 Local doves migrate south
Sep 6 Labor Day
Sep 8/9 Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah
Sep 10 Mountain State Fair begins
Sep 11 Wild muscadine grapes ripen/ Patriot Day
Sep 12 Grandparents Day
Sep 17/18 Yom Kippur. POW/MIA Recognition Day.
Sep 19 Mountain State Fair ends
Sep 23 Autumnal Equinox
Sep 24 Native American Day
Sep 25 National Hunting and Fishing Day
Sep 27 Fawns have lost their spots
Sep 30 Last day to keep fish caught in delayed harvest trout waters

Enjoy the summer, welcome or meet your neighbors, pick up some trash and be part of our community. As always, please drive slowly in our community.

For the Board: MJ Klug, President, 687-9732, mjklug@bellsouth.net

Avery Park Spring Newsletter April – June 2010

Welcome Spring! Our severe cold winter and record snow amounts are just a memory. It’s great to see the trees and flowers budding out, birds singing and wildlife active. Coyotes have been observed and the bears will start moving around soon. Don’t be too aggressive in planting as we can have frost and freezing temperatures into early May.

The harsh winter took a toll on our roads with several pot holes appearing and additional cracking of the asphalt. The Board has accepted a bid to repair the potholes and have solicited bids from several contractors for repairs to Smokemont from the entrance to the 4 way intersection. We hope to have the repair work performed in April.

Our first event of the 2009 season will be our community Spring Clean Up on April 24th (average high temperature 69). Please meet at the pool parking lot with gloves at 10:00 AM. Trash bags will be provided and water to drink. The turn out of residents will determine how much of our community we can cover.

Additional Avery Park Calendar events:

May 8 Pool Opens
June 5 Summer Cook out

Lots of our local wildlife will be giving birth soon, so please use caution and observe the speed limit as numerous wildlife welcome new off-spring. The bears will be out soon and prowling the neighborhood for easy treats. Clean the area around your grill and the grill as soon after use as possible. Keep trash contained until trash day and use a bungee cord if you place your trash out the night before pick up. The bears can really make a mess of a trash container and Waste Pro will not pick up your trash.

A warm welcome to new residents:
Scott and Christy McDade, 744 Streamside Dr.
Denis and Lisanne Dion, 640 Blue Mist Way.

Dates of interest from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission Calendar notes (lots of wildlife activity)
April 1 Peak births for gray fox and beaver
April 3 Hatchery supported trout waters open at 7:00 AM; Deer begin new antler growth
April 4 Easter Sunday
April 7 Red tail hawks begin to nest
April 10 Redbud blooms peak
April 11 Snakes begin to appear
April 12 Wild turkeys begin to nest
April 16 Quail begin nesting
April 17 Hawks begin nesting; Mountain apple blossoms peak
April 20 Mountain ramps in season
April 22 Earth Day
April 30 National Arbor Day
May 3 Last freeze in the mountains; honeysuckle bloom peaks
May 4 Raccoon births peak
May 8 Dove nesting peaks
May 9 Mother’s Day
May 13 Wild strawberries ripen
May 15 Armed Forces Day
May 27 Peak hatch for wild turkey
May 31 Memorial Day
June 5 Delayed harvest trout waters change to hatchery supported trout regulations
June 10 Peak bloom for mountain laurel and rhododendron
June 14 Flag Day
June 18 Peak fawn births in the mountains
June 20 Father’s Day
June 21 Summer Solstice
June 28 Make a shallow watering hole for butterflies

For the board,
Mary Jane (MJ) Klug
President

If you do not desire to receive this electronically please e-mail and I will remove your name from the distribution list. Additionally, if you would like to receive this, please provide me with your e-mail address at mjklug@bellsouth.net.