News on the Email NewsJanuary 2002 Email News Update
News on the Email News
This month's issue is a bit late due to the holidays - I just hope everyone had as pleasant a holiday period as our family did.
Walden Woods is certainly in the 21st century. All but 13 homes in Walden Woods are online receiving these newsletters / notices or checking the web, and frequently I hear positive comments about them. Give special thanks to Chris McAfee for administrating our website.
What about the homeowners that don't have email? Well, first of all, any legally required or official communication will still go out via US mail. Second, the Walden Woods Board decided that this unofficial newsletter has enough value that they are trying to make it available to the other homes. Each month we'll try to print up a few paper copies and get them out to the other homes. Unfortunately it will lag a few days for printing etc (and it will be in black and white) and I used the word "try" deliberately - we'll likely not achieve this every month.
Neighbor to Neighbor
This section is for broadcasts by homeowners offering something to their neighbors or asking a question. This is not a debate or discussion forum (which we actually have on our Walden Woods Web site - click here.) All items submitted for this newsletter are subject to my arbitrary discretion for inclusion and editing.
If you send me an item, tell me if you want your email address or phone number included (one or the other or both please.)
*** Nothing this month ***
Vandalism
After my last note, the vandalism continued to include dislodging of the main foot bridge on Center Trail. However with the help of volunteers the bridges have been repaired and placed back into their places.
Talk with your families about the impact caused by vandalism. If you discover any vandalism taking place, please report it to the board.
The volunteers work hard to keep the common area valuable for all. Our entire neighborhood benefits from this help. And again, when you meet one of the common area volunteers, given them your thanks and support! This includes Bill Furnas, Jay Maltz, Chris McAfee, Nathan Baker and John Whitmer.
Annual Meeting Minutes:
We had a good turn out for the WWHO Annual Meeting. For those that missed it, the 2001 Walden Woods Annual Meeting Minutes have been posted on-line at the Walden Woods Web site.
Care and Feeding of Oak Trees:
During the last annual meeting, an Arborist, Kevin Kemper, talked about the care and feeding of oak trees. Here is some useful information extracted from the annual meeting minutes. We live in an oak tree forest. Key to its success is studying what these trees need. Their environment above and below ground is important. Of these two, most Oak abuse comes from what happens underground.
Arborists look at foliage size, condition and color as well as dead wood and the like. The environment we place around these trees is their largest cause of disease-shortened lifespan. Their lifespan is hundred's of years when properly cared for … often when left alone in nature (for instance, Folsom Lake State Park). Key to success is mimicking that natural environment as much as possible. Examples for improved care are: don't compact soils if possible, don't cut roots and don't over irrigate.
Placing river rock around the base of an oak isn't good for trees in WW where decomposed granite is our dirt composition. It prevents oxygen availability to the root system. Don't block oxygen availability to the soil.
Abuse or damage can take years to kill a tree. If we want to see their preferred environment walk through the park and replicate that.
A good thing is porous soil for good growth (don't allow compaction). Consider using a rototiller to loosen up compacted soil but don't trash the root zone in the process.
Use native plants around these trees so that plant care for unnatural plants doesn't force a tree to try surviving in an unhealthy environment. Toyon, Coffeeberry, Ceanothus, Manzanita are good native plants.
Make sure people that prune your trees don't use spurs that dig into tree bark and cut out healthy wood.
A 50' high tree can have a root base of 75'. Keep this in mind.
Don't cover the soil with anything, including a compacted decomposed granite crust. What's natural are twigs, leaf matter, grasses. Minimize concrete or asphalt over the roots.
Cut mistletoe out of trees. Best is to cut the infected branch (if possible). Mistletoe spreads in proportion to the amount of it so keep it to a minimum. Good to keep ivy in check. It can overtake a tree, competing with tree foliage for nutrient.
Dead wood need not be cut out to save a tree but it will fall out eventually and could hurt someone. Make sure we don't cut live tissue, cut only dead tissue.
NEVER, NEVER use "weed-n-feed" fertilizer on lawns … it's very detrimental to trees.
Drip irrigation is better than sprinkler systems since they place water just where the plants need it. Over watering is a common cause of tree death. Reason, water displaces oxygen in the ground causing a tree to drown. Trees need a balance of both … again, see the trees natural environment to determine how much water is appropriate. Daily watering is far different from the trees intended environment so avoid this.
Categorically speaking, Kevin is opposed to lawns … they're bad for our trees. So, given the desire for beauty, balance is required. He suggests water less frequently forcing plants and lawn to adapt. Also, use more native plants. As soon as water runs off turn off the water. Instead considering watering more often but for a smaller amount of time each during each watering period.
Safety
Committee Chairperson Sought
The board is still seeking someone who would like to lead up a Walden Woods Safety committee. This committee would address various issues relating to the safety of the neighborhood including speed and fire issues. If you're interested in improving the safety of the families, please contact Denese Holden at 652-0865.
Junior Board of Directors
The Board has been interested in creating a junior board of directors for our community. This would be an opportunity for our young people to participate in the community where they live by addressing issues in our neighborhood that may concern their age group. This would provide a valuable experience in leadership and community involvement for any youth. The elected board would solicit and value the junior boards' opinion on different issues such as common area involvement, safety issues, and social events etc. We are also be looking for an adult advisor for the group.
If you have a young person in your household (perhaps 12-18 years of age) that you think might enjoy such a challenge, please discuss this with them. If you would consider being an advisor for the junior board please contact Denise.
Denise has received some real interest in the the junior board and anticipates forming this junior board shortly, so please ask your young people about this challenge as soon as possible and let her know. She is at home most evenings after 6:30 pm (652-0856)
Folsom Lake Mutual Water Company Annual Meeting - Nov 13th
Alan, reports that the FLMWC water use is back down to normal. As a result of everyone's savings, our rates can be held to their current level.
However, some homes are still watering their yard in the rain. Please check out your sprinkler controllers. They are often reset on power failures.
Distribution
of the WWHO Directory
All the holiday activities delayed the delivery of the new Walden Woods Directory. The final assembly and distribution to the homes is done by volunteers, in this case Denise and Brian Holden, on their own time so thank them for helping the rest of us.
What information is included in the directory?
- Names, addresses of owners listing their lot number, fax and normal phone numbers, and e-mail address(es).
- General information about the association including board members and phone numbers, property improvement forms.
- Map of the common area showing trails and suggested walks.
- A list of kids interested in baby-sitting, pet-sitting, house-sitting, yard work, and tutoring.
If you find something incorrect in the directory, send me a note. While we won't be able to re-print the directories until next Nov, we'll let as many as possible know via e-mail about the correction. Each household will have to make changes by hand.
New Stations on DirectTV
New stations for those of us using DirecTV satellite television. The following are now available as the local channels via DirecTV.
NBC KCRA 3 921 PBS KVIE 6 922 ABC KXTV 10 923 CBS KOVR 13 924 Uni KUVS 19 925 UPN KMAX 31 926 Fox KTXL 40 927 WB KQCA 58 928
Also, if you've been considering getting a Tivo with your unit, definitely go for it. I've been using Tivo for several months and it was the best money I spent relating to TV for over a decade. If you have any questions about my experience with Tivo, drop me a note.
Common Area:
Moguls: The WWHO Board met with local teens to discuss moguls in the common area and why we can't allow them (safety, liability.) The Board also committed to send out a letter to all homeowners on common area use and restrictions.
Take a walk in our private wooded park. The Center Trail Bridge now has a small waterfall under it. Check it out in person or the photos - Bridge1, Bridge2.
Improvements: More work went into preparing the ground for additional wildflower seeds. However, much of the volunteer effort went into repair and restoring the vandalized bridges.
Start the new year off right and pitch in a hand - the next Common Area Improvement Volunteer days are Saturday, Jan 5th, Jan 19th, Feb 2nd. Show up at Bill Furnas' house (8345 Walden Woods Way) at 9AM.
Wine News - a personal
note from Guy
I discovered that the De Loach winery in Sonoma is selling wine made from the grapes grown in our vineyard for $28/bottle. Pretty good achievement for a Zinfandel! If you're in the Santa Rosa / Sonoma area, stop by De Loach winery and ask for the Doe Mill Ranch Zin!
News Updates:
If you have something you would like to include in the WW News Update, drop me a note.
Do you know ...
Q: What's a nice and local way to exercise to get rid of the holiday pounds?
A: Walk or jog in our own forest, the Walden Woods Common Area. There are several wonderful paths that combine for distances of a couple miles. On the web we have a version of the Common Area map with distances shown. Check out: Common Area Trail Distances (900KB jpg file) or look at the map section.
This distribution is going out to people on the Walden Woods email information update list. If you would like to be dropped from this list, reply back indicating so and Guy Hall will personally remove your name from this list. If you know someone who would like to add their name to this distribution list, forward this message to them and have send their information to directory@waldenwoods.org.
