August 2007 Newsletter
FROM HOAP, Inc. PRES.
Well, here we are with August 1st already here, and the weather in the Park has been very dry. Only about a week ago did Alligator Park start seeing some beneficial rain to keep the grass growing. Here in Maine, we are just getting into our summer weather with temperatures in the high 80’s to mid 90’s. The water temperature in the ocean is 62 and the lakes are in the mid 70’s. It feels great!!!
Now for a little news from the Park: We are working with Bank of America to finalize the wording on our “lock forward” mortgage until 2021. Our attorney has sent back our last corrections, and it is hoped that when I arrive Aug. 15th the paperwork will be ready for signing. With the constant effort of the Park staff, we have lowered our operating costs for electricity from a monthly bill of over $3500 to about $1600.
We are very pleased with the people who have helped with our mailing of the newsletter. We are saving by e-mailing the newsletter to about 100 people in the off season.
We have experienced some vandalism this summer, and we are very sure that it is a Park resident. So to those of you who are at the Park, please keep your eyes and ears open, and call Ken Martin with any of your thoughts.
Two last items: Do not forget to get your suggestions for the name of the Lake area. That will happen this fall. The last item is for anyone who has seen the water level in the rainy season at Alligator Park. This year we have cleaned out the ditch to Jones Loop Road and brought it back to “pre-Charlie” condition to let all the excess water go away from the Park. We have high hopes this will make a big difference in our water line and sewer line breaks in the high rainy season.
Well, it is time to wish everyone all the best, and I look forward to seeing each and everyone in the fall.
Bob Fogg,
HOAP President
NEWS FROM APA PRES.
It is August and we still have no rain. It rains all around us. Florida is getting rain almost every day. Just keep the rain coming and no storms. I hear the Park is looking great with green grass, and the entrance is looking great also. Someone weeded the flower beds, and I would like to thank them.
The reunion at the Back 40 Restaurant hosted 44 Alligators. It was good to see everyone and catch up on all the news. Some drove up for the dinner and others either stayed at the motel or camped at Amishville. Those who camped had a potluck on Tuesday and went to Bearcreek for lunch and a show on Wednesday. I would like to THANK Jim and Miriam for taking over in the absence of Sam and Marilyn Berkley. The entertainment was provided by Millie Gilbert, Loren and Ruth Metzger, and three teams of three people each (Team #1: Jim and Nowell Gautheir, Pearl Magyar; Team #2: Ed Timme, Glen and Ruth Money; Team #3: Bonnie Horner, Paul and Betty Marcum). You had to be there to see what happened with Jim, Glen and Paul. They dress up very well.
On the prayer list: Virgil Zuspan, Fran Kuhn, Joe Stone, Gary Woodard, Dearl Woodard, Marv Cogan, Bev Hayek’s sister, and Bill Moorman. We hope they are all on the mend and can be with us this fall.
Miriam said that we have 40 some cabins for the cruise and that Terri will be sending information, such as $45 per person round trip for the bus trip, and insurance information. They are also trying to get a trip for our group to go to Sting Ray City.
The Park has done two cookbooks so far, and we are doing another one in the fall. We hope to have it done by the first of the year. So you can send your recipes to the Park office, and they will put them in my mailbox.
Enjoy what is left of the summer, stay healthy, and drive safely wherever you go. See you all soon.
Sharon Page
APA President
“You can’t have everything.
Where would you put it?”
HEALTH WATCH
Sharon Page is doing a great job of keeping us informed of friends who need our prayer support, so be sure to check her letter.
We have learned from May Robinson that Emma Pulit, Lot 246, has had a stroke at her Connecticut home, and is hospitalized at this time. The extent of her paralysis is not known, but is cause of great concern. I’m sure she would enjoy cards from her friends. Her home address is:
456 Grassy Hill Road
Orange, CT 06477
On August 15, Sheila Brown, Lot 160, will undergo surgery for the removal of both thyroid glands. We wish her the very best.
For those of you who do not already know, Bill Moorman, Lot 186, is being treated for throat cancer. We understand that the treatment involves nine weeks of radiation, followed by seven weeks of chemotherapy. We certainly wish him well and hope to see him here for his winter recuperation.
NOTE: May Robinson wants us to know that NO ONE appreciates the concrete in front of the multi-purpose building more than she does. She says, “No more dust, no more dirt etc.!!!”
SUMMER SOCIAL SCENE
The ladies of Alligator Park gather together for lunch at the Golden Corral on July 26. There were nine of us, and one who intended to come but was called away suddenly. Time and place for the August Luncheon will be posted in the mailroom, as usual. Be sure to sign up! It’s a nice way to keep in touch at this season of reduced activity.
We look forward to the next potluck to be held on Saturday, August 18, at 5:00 PM. Watch for the sign-up sheet, and think of something delicious that you can bring to go with Sharon and Jim’s special kind of hot dogs and hamburgers.
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF GETTING OLD:
“He who laughs last thinks slowest.”
From the Manager’s Desk:
The rains have become an almost daily occurrence, and we have settled into our normal summer weather pattern. The Park grass is a lush green, and growing so fast that the crew needs to cut whenever it isn’t raining, and sometimes when it is. Thanks to Jim Ruff for volunteering to help out with the mowing. With his help, the Park continues to look great. What has come to my attention is that some shareholders have not made arrangements to have the grass around their units trimmed or their flower beds weeded. In some cases, the untrimmed grass is over a foot tall. If this applies to you, please take this as your official notice:
OFFICIAL NOTICE: Beginning on August 20th, we will begin trimming all shareholder lots that have not been maintained and billing the owners for this service. Shareholders will be billed in ½ hour increments based on the time spent at each lot. We reserve the right to charge a fee based on a minimum time.
We will continue to trim as deemed necessary and bill the shareholder for this service. In order to avoid these charges, please have arrangements made to trim your lots as required, and follow through to make sure that it is being done.
The lake and pond are still both at quite a low level but have risen several inches over the past few weeks. We haven’t received any reports of gator sightings lately, but in this hot weather gators will stay submerged or in the reeds to stay cool.
We continue to save on our energy costs with the automatic set back thermostats for the Park buildings and shutting off the hot water heater in the Multi-Purpose Building for the overnight hours. We will be installing a gable end exhaust fan in the laundry building to remove the heat from the dryers. Look for details of the savings at the Board meetings in the fall.
Reservations for RV lot rentals continue at a good pace. Anyone who knows of people who may want to stay at Alligator Park this season should encourage them to call Marcia and make their reservations before it’s too late.
We will see you in the Fall.
Ken Martin, CAM
Following are pictures of the 10 acre site and also Wallmart construction:
