Upcoming Events

Your Shadywood West Social Committee has been hard at work putting together neighborhood events and activities for the upcoming year. Back by popular demand is the Shadywood West Neighborhood Garage Sale, just in time to clean out those closets and storerooms for Spring!

To get the sale rolling at the start of the season, we scheduled April 1-2, 2011, as our sale dates to correspond with the Sherwood Sale. We’ll put an ad in the paper that says that the sale starts at 7:00 a.m. each day and closes when the last garage door goes down in the neighborhood.

We hope you can participate! If you have any questions or need additional information, just let me know. I’ll send out additional reminders as the date draws closer. In the meantime, here are some additional upcoming events for your calendar. Watch your email for more information! If you’d like to volunteer to help with any of the events, we’d love to hear from you.

Shady Lady Breakfast: Organizers are Pam and Deacon Oroke

Back by popular demand! Come join us for breakfast and some neighborly chat! When the group meets, members can determine an ongoing date for future breakfast get-togethers.

DATE: Wednesday, Mar. 30 8:30 a.m.

TIME: 8:30 a.m.

PLACE: Hy-Vee

COST: Dutch Treat

Easter Egg Hunt/Egg Toss/Family Day

Again, a well-loved event revived from the past. Come take your picture with the Easter Bunny! Volunteers needed to help on the day of the event!

DATE: Saturday, April 16; rain date April 23

TIME: 1:30 p.m.

PLACE: To be determined

COST: $3 per child, which covers the cost of eggs, candy, prizes, etc.

Neighborhood Out-To-Eat Nights: Organizers are Pam and Deacon Oroke

The last time we got together, Bridget organized dinner at McFarland’s and we all had a wonderful time. Join us as we sample a few different dining establishments—and make plans to come to our Holiday Dinner Out in December.

DATES AND PLACES:

· Friday, May 6, 6:30 p.m. at Boss Hawg’s (dinner out)

· Saturday, Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m. at Paisano’s (dinner out)

· Thursday, Dec. 1, 6:30 p.m. at Top of the Tower (dinner out)

COST: Dutch Treat

4^th of July Neighborhood Parade and Potluck Picnic

Everyone’s invited to participate! Form a Kazoo Band! Organize a Doggie Brigade! Sit out in your lawn chair! And do be creative with your decorations….Prizes given for the best parade “float”—be it a bike, a lawnmower, a car, a scooter, whatever!

DATE: 4^th of July, of course!

TIME: Parade starts at 10:00 a.m., with Potluck Picnic immediately thereafter

PLACE: Parade to organize at 34^th and Stonybrook. Picnic in the Brandywine cul de sac (unless we can find a shadier location!). Larkin pool open to adults and children who have supervision from a family member.

COST: Free! Families just need to bring table service, drinks, and meat for their family as well as a dish to share with neighbors.

Neighborhood Recycle Day: Organizer is Larry Strecker

We’ll be organized to haul away paint, motor oil, TVs and computers. We’ll also provide information for recycling common items as well as batteries, appliances, and furniture. More information on dates and locations of trucks for neighbors to load with recyclables will come shortly. Neighbors with trucks who can take away a haul on the designated day are needed! Cost is free!

Website updates

A couple of updates have been made on the website. George Webb's letter has been added as the Fall 2010 newsletter on the Newsletters & Minutes page. Also, the Contact Information page has been updated to reflect the new officers that were voted on at our annual meeting.

October 17 Meeting Minutes

The minutes for our annual meeting held October 17th, 2010 are now available to view.
Link

Burn pile update

We are going to reestablish our burns in the area by the dam. Whitney Watson has volunteered to be the burn meister. Weather permitting, he will burn whatever is in the pile on the third Saturday of the month in August, September, and October.

Please be conscientious about what you put in the pile, and remember to put wood "up" rather that "out" in relation to the pile. Finally, we will continue to notify the neighborhood when we can or cannot burn. We ceased burning for the summer, but some folks recently started still putting limbs and brush in the old spot anyway. This creates problems for us, as the water board gets concerned about potential debris in the event of flooding. So don't just toss wood at the site unless we give a green light. It's OK now, but after October, you'll need to follow our announcements.

George Webb
President, SWWHA

A few issues

Folks -- A few of issues for your knowledge:

1.A resident has expressed concern about the dam area and the possibility of dangerous wildlife that may be lurking nearby. He suggested that residents should be aware and cautious, especially with their children and small pets. He related to me that recently his large (90 lbs) dog sensed something amiss and refused to walk down this area. He couldn't tell if the dog was fearful of a coyote, cougar, or snakes, but if any of these are around, folks should be wary. I would like to hear from anyone who has information or additional observations.

2. The association has a restriction against yard signs, including political signs. However, the 2008 state legislature passed a statute (go figure!) preventing homeowners' associations from restricting political signs for a select period. Associations like ours cannot prohibit the display of political yard signs, which are less than six square feet, for a period 45 days before an election through two days after the election.

This means that for the August 3rd primary election, the first day signs are allowed in restricted neighborhoods is June 19th. For the general election on November 2, the first day for signs is September 18th. If you want to display political signs, please let's everyone use good judgment so that they don't turn into clutter. Remember that our restrictions are intended to keep SWW looking tidy and dignified.

3. Still looking for someone to step up to take the reins as association president in October. After six years (or five or seven?), I can no longer continue, per our by-laws. It would be very helpful if one of our fine residents could stand up and take this on.

Regards,
George Webb
SWWHA President

Burn Pile Update

Homeowners -- The recent newsletter stated that since Tom Ballou could no longer oversee the burn pile near the dam, we would have to cease that activity.

One of the adjacent homeowners -- Whitney Watson -- stepped up and took the reins. He has gotten trained and  "certified" by the local fire department to burn. There are several caveats. Please see his note which follows, as it describes what can and can't be done. And please, please don't drop anything off after the cutoff date.

George Webb
SWWHA President

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"George, I was notified today by the Topeka FD that my permit has been approved. I will go to the FD offices this week and sign the permit. Burning will start this week and run until May 31, but there are several conditions that must be met. Winds must be between five and 15 MPH, among other things. That being said, it is hard to say when we will be able to burn. If you want to spread the word that folks can add to the pile until they see smoke that would be great. I hate to set a date certain only to have it postponed because of the weather. Once the pile has been burned, folks need to stop using the pile because we cannot burn again until the fall (and then only if someone steps up to take care of it). Sorry I can't offer more specifics.

Regards,

Whitney E. Watson"

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Spring Association Meeting

The Spring 2010 Association meeting will be held at 7:30pm, Thursday, April 29, 2010 at the YMCA Southwest Branch, Teen Meeting Room.  Hopefully the snow will be melted by then and everyone will be able to make it.