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Past Issues April 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004		Spring Ridge Review Newsletter May 2005 Letter From The Board President Greetings Everyone, hope this finds you enjoying the beautiful Spring weather and the blossoming sights all around Spring Ridge. Unfortunately, in the midst of all this beauty there are a number of troubling things going on within the community that require the complete attention of each and every one of us. Within the past few months there have been escalating incidents of vandalism particularly, with a few areas being very hard hit. Tire slashings in the double digits occurred a few weeks back, affecting more than a dozen residents. BB guns have been fired at at least two homes in the Newport area; a windshield was smashed with a rock, and the same car had a few weeks prior had a headlight smashed. Potted plants have been destroyed and homes broken into. Strange individuals have been reported raoming about in the early morning hours, in broad daylight, and at night. Some have been stopped by PMP and identified as solicitors, but others seem like odd phantoms who leave a trail of fear and worry. Video taping of some houses has been observed, and as a result of this Spring Ridge is on high patrol and police surveillance for the next 30 days. The few worrisome individuals aside - some of whom may actually be private investigators in domestic issues - it is the vandalism that I wish to focus on here. The police officer that I spoke to feels that this is the work of "bored, unsupervised kids with no parental restraint and no conscience." The acts are random, yet occur mostly in a specific section of the community, occur at night, and usually on weekends. It is believed that a handful of teens who live here are responsible. While leads are being investigated, victims are installing cameras and security systems, and police reports files, this is all after the fact. There are a number of things that we as a community can do right now to prevent more acts of vandalism. The first thing is to be alert. There is no need to live in fear, but rather in a state of prudent caution and awareness. If you notice anything even the slightest bit suspicious, call the police. If you see a group of kids roaming about at very late hours, call the police. if you are a victim of anything, call the police. Law enforcement officials are already here, patroling and investigating their own leads, and response will be speedy. If you know who is responsible - call the police! You can be anonymous and you can make a difference. I read an article about an out-of-control parent in another state who knew their child was committing such acts, and turned them in themselves. In this way, the child was able to get the help he needed and the parent avoided the confrontation that she was unable to handle. As far as safety measures, simply turning on all exterior lights at night is a great deterrent. Install motion-activated lights at dark corners and under decks. If you have a security system, use it. Lock your doors and close your garages at night. Lock your car doors, and park them as close to your home - or better yet, in the garage - at night. One resident hit with tire slashing has installed a video camera on her street-parked car! In other words, make it less easy and less likely that your property will be hit by illuminating it, and being alert. If you wake in the middle of the night for a bathroom trip or a baby's feeding, take a second to look out the window. Call and report anything suspect. Daytime solicitors? Call PMP at 301.620.0782. This community has a STRICT policy of no solicitation! Finally, parents PLEASE take control of your teenage children! I have two teens myself - I know where they are, curfews are strict, early, and enforced, I speak to other parents to confirm rides and visits, and otherwise embarass my children regularly by checking up, being surveillant, and asking questions. It's not always easy, but what is the alternative and at what price? Remember that if your teens are caught committing acts of vandalism, they will have a police record that will follow them for the rest of their lives, and impact job and college acceptance. And YOU will be financially responsible for the damages they incur. Twenty-some slashed tires, for example, is very pricey. Let's all band together and pay attention. Spring Ridge is a beautiful, well-rounded, awesome community - and also, Spring Ridge is our home. It takes a group effort and common sense measures to keep it that way. Sincerely, Susan Gargon-Centineo Board of Director’s Corner Meeting: May 17th at 7pm - Visitor Center 1. The Board appreciates the community involvement as demonstrated by your attendance at April’s Board Meeting. The Board will use the website as a means to post agenda items and topics for upcoming meetings and display the approved minutes from past meetings. Much more on this topic to follow in the next few months. 2. The pool will open Saturday, May 28th at 10:30am, residents must be current with their homeowner dues for admittance. The Sharks Swim Team will be hosting a home meet in June, please look for that date on the pool calendar. 3. The Board will be assembling an ad hoc committee to draft the “Request for Proposals” for operation of a pool side snack concession stand. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact Richard Gemmell at 301-620-0782 or richard.ag@pmpbiz.com. 4. The Board will be working with Mr. Beshers and his engineers and attorneys to address the annexation issues brought up during the April Board Meeting. Happy Memorial Day The Visitor Center will be closed on Monday, May 30th in observance of Memorial Day. PMP, Inc. and your Board of Director’s wish you a safe and fun Memorial Day Weekend. Seeking Candidates For An ad hoc Committee The Board of Director’s is seeking a specific group of members for a one-time special assignment. Now that the Board has decided to seriously consider a food concession stand for the pool for the summer of 2006, the details must be determined so that the concession stand will best serve the community. The ad hoc committee will help determine the RFP’s (request for proposal) for both the construction of the food stand and the proposal to solicit bids for food vendors. Additionally, the committee will help determine the food vendor agreement that will best serve the community of Spring Ridge. This will be a very interesting committee to serve on but it shouldn’t take up too much of your time as a volunteer. If your are interested and experienced with the RFP process or if you are simply interested in volunteering for your community, please contact Richard A. Gemmell, Community Manager at 301-620-0782. Thank you. ACC Deadline Dates Are Firm! Due to the increasing amount of late entries submitted, the ACC has decided not to accept any applications after the deadline date. Any applications submitted after 4:00 p.m. the Friday before the meeting will not be reviewed until the following month. The committee meets the second Wednesday of every month, and applications are due the Friday before that. This deadline is firm and NO exceptions will be made. Minutes And Agenda To Be placed On Website The Board of Directors has decided to implement a few changes to assist in greater communication with the members of Spring Ridge. The approved Minutes from Board of Directors regular meetings will be on the website in an encrypted format. It will most likely be a .pdf file which everyone should be able to access. Additionally, Management will post the next meeting’s agenda on the website. This way you can decide to attend one of the meetings should one or more of the topics interest you. Neighborhood Watch News Our next meeting will be Monday, May 23rd at the Visitor Center at 7pm. Come on out and let us know what your concerns are! We will also have some valuable info on Teen driving tips, summer safety and travel tips! Or how about just stopping by and signing onto our email alert list? We want to keep you informed about what is happening within our community! We have had some concerns lately with tire slashings and vandalizing of mailboxes and personal property. Please call the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office directly at 301-694-2071 with any occurrences like these happenings; don’t think someone else might call, call yourself! Also be aware that we have a known sex offender(s) who lives in the community...Have you talked to your kids about street common sense and crime prevention? Please take the time too! We all want our children to be safe wherever they are! Spring Ridge isn’t any different than any other community! Frederick is growing and so is our community, we all need to be aware and watch out for our neighbors! If you have concerns, forward your email address to Lise O’Connell oconnell@xecu.net or Debbie Smith smith2u4u@msn.com to get connected to the Neighborhood Watch Committee! Your support will keep this community thriving and aware of what is going on! Come on out on May 23rd! We would love to see you there!! Gov. Thomas Johnson High School Youth Summer Soccer Camp The Gov. Thomas Johnson High School Youth Soccer Camp is a fun and challenging camp for boys and girls ages five (5) to fourteen (14). Camp will be in session from June 20-23 (Monday-Thursday) from 8:30am to Noon at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School. Registration forms are available at the Visitor Center. Calendar of Events May 6 ~ 4pm - ACC Application Submission Deadline May 8 ~ Mother’s Day May 9 ~ 7pm - Recreation Committee Mtg. at VC May 10 ~ 7pm - Pool Committee Meeting at VC May 11 ~ 7pm - ACC Meeting at VC May 12 ~ 7pm - Hampton Court II Condo Annual Meeting at VC May 15 ~ 1pm to 4pm - Sharks Swim Team Registration at VC May 17 ~ 7pm - Conservancy BOD Meeting at VC May 18 ~ 7pm - FAN Club Social at VC May 21 ~ 8am to 1pm - Spring Ridge Community Yard Sale May 23 ~ 7pm - Neighborhood Watch Mtg. at VC May 28 ~ 10:30 am - Spring Ridge Pools Open May 30 ~ Memorial Day - Visitor Center Closed 6pm - Summer Music Concert Series at Soccer Field Look for Swim Lesson Information in June’s Newsletter! Sharks News Spring Ridge SHARKS Swim Team It’s that time again! Sunday, May 15th, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Spring Ridge Visitor’s Center is the first day for registering with the Spring Ridge SHARKS Swim Team. The new coaches will be there for you to meet and the team swim suits will be available for you to be fitted (team suit is optional). We can’t wait to see the returning SHARKS and welcome some new teammates! The SHARKS won the regular season Division II as well as the Division II Championship last year. As a result, we have moved up to FSSL Division I for 2005. We have a great schedule and many extra events planned, including the Pancake Breakfast and Tie-dye T-shirts! Back by popular demand this season - the SHARKS sleep-over at the pool. Our season consists of eight weeks. Home meets are: June 25th and Divisionals on July 23rd. Away meets are July 2nd, July 9th and July 16th. All home meets have a rain date of Sunday, the next day. To be eligible to join, you must be between the ages of 5 and 18 and able to swim one length of the pool without touching or stopping. Together with your parents, you must be able to commit to swimming in at least two regular meets to be eligible for the Divisionals. Your parents must be able to volunteer with the running of meets and also help out with the special functions we have planned for you this season! The Sharks is an all volunteer organization that counts on volunteer support to make each season for each swimmer a successful one. Time trials will be run just like a standard meet on Saturday, June 18th from 8-10 a.m. This allows us to give our new swimmers times for events and/or for our seasoned swimmers who move up in age. There will be a brief mandatory parent meeting 15 minutes prior to the start of the time trials. We will need volunteers such as timers, clerk of course, runners, etc. for the time trials to help record and get ready for our first home meet on June 25th. So please stop by and register on Sunday, May 15th and join in on the fun this summer! Registration will be open from May 15th through June 10th only. We cannot accept registrations once the registration period closes on June 10th! If you can’t make it on Sunday, May 15th, please use the forms available at the Visitor’s Center, or in this newsletter. Return completed forms, including payment, in a sealed envelope addressed to “SHARKS Registration” and place in the drop box at the front door of the Visitor’s Center. Incomplete registrations will be returned. The cost for registration is $65 per swimmer. For the 2005 season, the insurance for the FSSL (Frederick Summer Swim League) that we are a part of has once again increased. Questions? Email SCARRGO2@aol.com. Thanks, Johannes Gross and Gary Roeder, Co- Chairs of The SHARKS Swim Team Committee FAN Club Spa Night! Everyone needs a little pampering, so be sure to attend the May 18 th FAN Club Social at 7pm at the Visitor Center, when we welcome Yvette Shirey, owner of The Golden Orchid Spa, and esthetician Theresa Thompson, who will speak about the 3 “P”s of Aging Skin: Prevention, Protection, and Pampering! There will be a drawing for a complimentary skin analysis and Customized Relaxation Facial with Theresa. All attendees will receive a menu of services and spa coupons. The Golden Orchid Spa is Frederick's Premiere Day Spa offering a multitude of spa treatments and has been nationally recognized by spa enthusiasts. The spa and shop is located at 313 East Street, behind Shab Row. Be sure to check out their website at www.goldenorchidspa.com. Pool Committee News It's finally a reality! Water Aerobics has been approved by the Board for the 2005 pool season. Please see the attached Registration Flyer/Form for all specifics relating to the program. A Release Agreement which is attached as well, must be signed and sent in with payment and the registration form to Amy Weinstein by May 25 th . Class participation is on a limited basis, so please send in your payment and forms as quickly as possible. Please look for the calendar of pool events and the Sharks practice schedule in the June newsletter. REMEMBER - Pool opening day is Saturday, May 28 th on Memorial Day weekend. Let's have a great season! Sharkey's Tips and Etiquette: Be helpful and tolerant at the pools. Please join us for the next Pool Committee Meeting on Tuesday, May 10 th at 7pm at the Visitor Center. Recreation Committee News The Community Yard Sale is Saturday, May 21 st from 8am-1pm . Note Change: When you drop off your registration slip along with $1.00 at the Visitor Center, please pick up a blue and white balloon to display on your mailbox. Townhomes and Condos can tie them or their sale table. This is a new idea that the Rec. Committee would like to try. The maps are still going to be available for pick up at the Visitor Center, the day of the yard sale. The $1.00 is to cover the cost of advertising in the Gazette and The Frederick News Post. The registration form is below. Any questions, please call Christine Clark at 301-624-5489 or Tina Gamble at 301-228-3676. The Music Concert Series begins with Freddie Long playing at the soccer field on Monday, May 30 th from6-8pm . Gather up your neighbors, bring your blanket and picnic and stroll on down to the field for an evening of entertainment, Spring Ridge style. Concessions will be available. If you would like to volunteer to help at this event or have questions, please call Kelly Crispell at 301-631-8177. The Recreation Committee will meet Monday, May 9 th at 7pm at the Visitor Center. ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND! Any questions, call Kim Shull at 301-663-7818.
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