Spring Ridge Online - Newsletter

Residents are reminded to clean up after their pets and not let their children leave garbage or toys in the street.

The Spring Ridge Website will be updated, including a residents-only section.

The Board approved the repair of the vinyl fencing along Ridgefield Drive. This fencing was damaged by sled riders and is being replaced at a cost $800.00.

Parents are asked to not let their children dig in the grass of the common area. We are attempting to landscape these areas. The vegetation does not stand a chance against the toy earth moving equipment, plus it creates an unsafe situation with the children being exposed to traffic.

The new pool management company is requiring ALL children to be retested for the “swim bands.”

Please find a copy of the 2007 Pool Rules on the website at www.springridgeonline.com or stop by the Visitor Center for a hard copy. Also, posters listing the acceptable swim aids for children will be posted at the pool when pool season starts.

Happy Memorial Day

The Visitor Center and PMP, Inc. will be closed on Monday, May 28th in observance of Memorial Day. PMP, Inc. and the Spring Ridge Conservancy Board of Directors wish everyone a safe and fun Memorial Day Weekend. Offices will re-open on Tuesday, May 29th for normal business.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Spring Ridge Moms!

Recent Crime in Spring Ridge

The Community has recently been made aware of numerous crimes that took place on April 21, 2007. Phase 2 of Spring Ridge (north side of I-70 overpass) was hit hard with numerous vehicles vandalized, several vehicles broken into, and there was even a vehicle theft. It appears that these crimes occurred late Saturday evening into early Sunday morning. The crimes ranged all over Phase 2 from Briarcliff Lane/Way to Spring Forest Road to even Bellevue Court/Place. Although dispersed across a wide area, it is conceivable that one person or group could be responsible for the majority of these incidents. Please keep an eye out for suspicious activity, and report it to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office when the activity is occurring. No amount of suspicious activity is too small to “bother” the Sheriff’s Office with, they would much rather be able to prevent a crime from occurring than take a report on one the next day. All of the vehicles that were broken into had unlocked doors. Please lock your doors, don’t leave valuable items sitting in plain view, close your garage doors at night, and whenever possible, leave your front lights on during the nighttime hours. The Board is also receiving numerous complaints about young people and their behavior. The types of crime that occurred the other night are normally associated with pre-teen/teenager activity. Parents, lets ensure that we are doing our jobs. None of our residents should be concerned about bringing their small child to a community playground because our older children are “hanging out” there using foul language and lewd behavior. Right and Wrong are basic principles that the Sheriff’s Office should not have to reinforce in our children, that is our responsibility as parents and members of the Spring Ridge Community. If anyone in the community saw suspicious activity on the evening of April 21, 2007, please contact the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office at 301-600-1046, the case number is 07-28821. Thank you.

Only one (1) Free Pool Guest Pass for ten (10) visits will be distributed to each residence.

Only persons 18 years of age or older will be allowed to obtain/sign for Pool Guest Passes.

If you use up your first 10 visits or lose your Pool Guest Pass, you may purchase additional Pool Guest Passes good for 10 visits each, at the amount of $20.00 per Pool Guest Pass. You may also pay $2.50 for each Guest at the Pool Gate. A maximum of 8 guests per day at the pool is allowed.

Management will verify that persons obtaining the Pool Guest Pass actually live in Spring Ridge before allowing the residents to get a Pool Guest Pass or sign for it.

For New Owners: Please bring a copy of your settlement sheet as proof that you own your property in Spring Ridge before obtaining a Pool Pass or Pool Guest Pass.

For Renters: You must have a letter addressed to Spring Ridge Conservancy, from the owner of your unit, stating that they, the owner, relinquish their pool privileges to you, the renter, for the 2007 season. 2006's letter will not be accepted. The letter must list all renters living at the address, including children (with dates of birth). If you or the owner of your unit cannot provide the pool privilege relinquishment letter, you will not receive Pool Passes or the Pool Guest Pass.

Residents may pick up the 2007 Pool Guest Pass at the Visitor Center on the dates below, beginning in May:

Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (Regular Hours)

Tuesday, May 22nd, 5pm-7pm (Special Hours)

Wednesday, May 23rd, 5pm-7pm (Special Hours)

Thursday, May 24th, 5pm-7pm (Special Hours)

Calendar of Events

May 4 ~ 4pm ACC Application Deadline

May 7 ~ 7:30pm - Recreation Committee Meeting at VC

May 8 ~ 7pm - Pool Committee Meeting at VC

May 9 ~ 7pm - ACC Meeting at VC

May 10 ~ 7pm - Hampton Court II Condo Annual Meeting at VC

May 13 ~ MOTHER’S DAY

May 15 ~ 7pm - Conservancy BOD Meeting at VC

May 16 ~ 7pm - FAN Club Social at VC

May 19 ~ 8am to 2pm - Community Yard Sale

May 20 ~ RAIN DATE: 8am to 2pm - Community Yard Sale

May 22 ~ 5pm to 7pm - Pick Up Pool Guest Pass

May 23 ~ 5pm to 7pm - Pick Up Pool Guest Pass

May 24 ~ 5pm to 7pm - Pick Up Pool Guest Pass

May 26 ~ 10:30am - Pools Open For Season

May 28 ~ MEMORIAL DAY - Visitor Center Closed

Attention Boys and Girls Currently in Grades 2-5

Slam. Dunk. Read. Basketball and Reading Camp.

July 16-20, 2007 at the Spring Ridge Elementary Gym, Cost $100.00.

This camp is designed with two central focuses: help youngsters become better basketball players and participate in lifelong reading book clubs.

Brochure is available online at http://schools.fcps.org/sres

Questions? Call Karen Craney at 240-236-1535. Registration is currently taking place.

Classifieds

For Sale: Recliner. Beige, Approximately 27 inches wide, In good shape, Free to good home. Call 240-285-4935 after 6pm.

Solicitors

Spring Ridge has a NO SOLICITATION POLICY. There are “No Solicitation” signs at all entrances to the community.

Solicitors who go to homes door to door sometimes state they have a permit to solicit on the property. THIS INFORMATION IS FALSE. Permits are not issued for solicitation in Spring Ridge because the community is considered private property.

From Monday-Friday, if a solicitor comes to your door, please state there is No Soliciting in Spring Ridge. Call the Visitor Center at 301-620-0782 and Management will do their best to track down the solicitors and demand that they leave the property. If Management is not available, call the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office at 301-694-1046. On Saturday and Sunday, call the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office at 301-694-1046. In an emergency, always call 911.

A former swimmer shares her “Top Ten Reasons to join the Spring Ridge Sharks Swim Team:

#10 Swimming in the summer heat!
#9 Picture and pizza night!
#8 Get faster and better at swimming!
#7 Make new friends!
#6 Awards Banquet!
#5 Hang out with friends and family!
#4 Tye-dying shirts!
#3 Overnight at the pool and late night swim!
#2 Ribbons!
#1 Spring Ridge Sharks Rock!

Our team is focused on having fun. Making every practice and swim meet is NOT required. Come and enjoy the summer swim season with us.

We open registration on Sunday, May 6th from 1pm-4pm at the Spring Ridge Visitor Center. Stop in to register, to get more information, to meet some of our committee members, or just to show your support for the team. You may also download Registration Forms on our website listed below or you can pick up a hard copy of the Registration Forms at the Visitor Center during their normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm)

Dates to Remember:
May 5th: T-Ball
May 7th: Recreation Committee Meeting, 7:30pm at VC
May 12th: T-Ball (RAIN DATE ONLY)
May 19th: Spring Yard Sale, 8am-2pm
May 20th: (RAIN DATE ONLY) – Spring Yard Sale, 8am-2pm
June 2nd – Frederick Keys Game, 6:30pm

The Community Yard Sale is Saturday, May 19th from 8am-2pm (RAIN DATE: Sunday, May 20th from 8am-2pm). When you drop off your registration form along with $1.00 to the Visitor Center, please pick up a blue and white balloon to display on your mailbox. Townhomes and condominiums can tie them to their sale table. The maps are going to be available for pick up at the Visitor Center the day before the yard sale during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm). You can still pick up a map on the day of the yard sale. The $1.00 fee is to cover the cost of advertising in the Gazette and The Frederick News Post. The registration form is below. Any questions, call Tina Gamble at 301-228-3676.

Thanks to all who came out for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. We had 155 children register. A great big thank you to Eric Ondo, Jordan Ondo, Madison Ondo, Dawn Strayton, Kim Shull, Katelyn Shull, Nancy Moreau, Al Moreau, Brian Chase, Steven Chase, and Kristen Rowe, our resident Easter Bunny. Without the help of everyone who volunteered their time, this event could not have taken place. We especially want to thank Angie Ondo for all of her hard work organizing the Easter Egg Hunt.

Thanks to volunteers, Steve Winkler and Clay Townshend, the Summer Concert Series will take place again this year. The concerts will return to the Spring Ridge Soccer Field due to the recent installment of electricity. There is a possibility that 1 or 2 concerts may take place at the pool again this year, but the majority of them will be at the Soccer Field. More information to follow in future newsletters.

Attention T-Ball Participants: For $6.00 you can purchase a hat to match your t-shirts. Contact Tracey Miller at 301-682-6532 if interested.

Although the weather has been on the chilly side, the Pool Committee has been busy planning for the summer of 2007. At the April Board of Director’s Meeting, the Board reviewed and approved the June pool calendar with July-September calendars set as tentative until the June Board Meeting. The Pool Committee voted to move up the Teen Party to Friday, June 22nd for the end of the school year. More details regarding the Teen Party will follow in the June newsletter. Float night and volleyball were also approved for June. Time and dates are mentioned below. Look for more details on volleyball in the June newsletter.

Float Nights: Tuesday, June 19th, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Saturday, June 30th, 6:30pm-8:30pm

Volleyball (in the Lap Pool): Saturday, June 16th, 1:00pm-2:30pm
Saturday, June 23rd, 1:00pm-2:30pm
Saturday, June 30th, 1:00pm-2:30pm

Most of our pool patrons are probably aware that we will have a new pool management company for the 2007 pool season. Welcome aboard High Sierra!

Once again, regretfully, the Pool Committee said farewell to another member, Dan Gudat. We extend our thanks to Dan for his service.

And then there were three….We have seen our numbers dwindle over the past year and this brings up a very important appeal to our community. We need you! Spring Ridge is home to one of the finest aquatic complexes in the county and we have the potential to offer many fun filled events to our residents during the course of the pool season. But we cannot do it without volunteers. Are you an organizer? Do you like to plan parties, work on projects? Then you are who we are looking for!! You don’t have to be a swimmer, or even know the difference between chlorine and sunscreen. Our scope has changed to strictly that of party planners-and it takes people to make those parties happen. We know our patrons have enjoyed the parties that we have offered in the past. So let’s keep a good thing going!! See you at the pool.

The next Pool Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 8th at 7:00pm in the Visitor Center

New Officers for the FAN Club 2007-2008 were announced at the start of April’s program. They will be installed at the May banquet:

President – Nancy Platek Publicity Secretary – Jean Wright

Vice President – Julie Biglari Treasurer – Jo Ann Lindgren
Recording Secretary – Jonette Stupke Historian – Rita O’Neil

The loyal, hard-working, and creative past performances of all of the above should indicate that we are guaranteed to continue with a stellar new season. We should all give them our support.

The Visitor Center looked like an upscale bookstore on April 18th when the FAN’s Book Group sponsored the Used Book Sale benefiting the Literacy Council of Frederick County. The amount raised for this worthwhile organization was $365.

Adding to the ‘happy reading’ night was when Linda Alexander, local author, was presented. Her published books were on hand to purchase, and she graciously signed all the ones that were sold. Weekends in New England made a hit that night.

We found Linda to be an admirable and inspiring person who believes in following your passion. Writing, to her is almost like breathing. “We all are a part of history and we each have a fascinating story,” she said. She maintains that our stories should be documented in some way for future generations and it would be sad not to do so. When asked what her motivation was to write a biography of Robert Taylor, (her newest book entitled, Reluctant Witness: Robert Taylor, Hollywood and Communism) she shared with us that her father looked like him and she saw as many of his performances as she could. She was and is a FAN. She loves to write about celebrities of years gone by. She also enjoys writing fiction. We were glad to hear that Linda Alexander moved to Frederick from Montgomery County.

We would like to thank the following for making April 18th a huge success: To all those who donated and purchased books (especially those at the Spring Ridge Senior Apartments). We appreciate the FAN Club Board and FAN members for all their labor, enthusiasm and support. It was a huge project requiring set-up, publicity, categorizing, refreshments, cashiering, etc. We are grateful to the Visitor Center staff for their help and flexibility. Anna Walters made the entire event possible. She coordinated the entire project, and we’re proud of her endeavors.

On April 22nd, Residents with colored vests were out and about in Spring Ridge collecting trash from Spring Ridge Parkway. We are proud of the community pride they showed for this worthy cause.

May 16th will the Annual Year-End Gala and Installation Banquet by reservation at the Visitor Center at 7:00pm. Dempsey’s will cater this affair, which will have an Italian theme, $25 per person. All are welcome. Please call Lynn Schumacher at 301-694-0829 or Ann Mamula at 301-620-8895 for more details.