Neighborhood Update

Well after four straight days of rain last week I’d say we’ve made up for it with the beautiful weather we’ve enjoyed this week. I hope you all got to attend the Oyster Roast a couple weeks ago and I’m happy to report that as a community, you donated just under $1,000, which will be evenly split between Lump to Laughter and Operation HopeFront. Thank you all so much for your generosity and the respective payments to each charity will be delivered early next week.

The curbing along White Cliffs has been completed and the paving company is supposed to arrive here on Monday to begin paving both White Cliffs and Barnesmore. In my last update I mentioned that we would be paved by Christmas and it’s going to be close. Both streets have really turned out beautifully. While the paving company is here we will also have them add asphalt to several of the intersections in order to increase the turning radius of several of them. This will help eliminate the barren spots you see where vehicles leave the asphalt as they make a turn.

The vendor we are using to relocate the trees is still a couple of weeks out and we will keep you posted. On a somewhat related note, Burrows was on a panel of local builders/developers yesterday at an event hosted by the Cape Fear Homebuilder’s Association. There were six participants and the overwhelming concern expressed by all of them was the shortage of qualified labor and the impact that has on schedules and planning. We have certainly seen evidence of that here. This is one of the reasons we will have the utility and road crew move back over to the next phase of Rosewood Landing when they finish over by the power line easement, so we don’t have to wait for them to come back!

I know you all saw the post yesterday from the Consulting Committee to the Board and I understand the response has been very good in terms of residents signing up for the various committees. Thank you all for participating and we will be meeting with the Committee again next week to discuss budgets, HOA dues and continue the dialogue about a range of issues.

Wait for it…………………on Wednesday evening we received the permit for the completion of the riverwalk, living shoreline and marina. Receipt of the approval concludes one year of review, meetings, calls and negotiating and we are now working frantically to get the work scheduled. As you may recall, any work on the river bed or shoreline must occur prior to February 1 in order to protect spawning sturgeon. Burrows has already met with the vendors and we are lining up materials and supplies. We will keep you posted as this progresses. We should see activity start up again at the amenity center just after the first of the year and the work on the multi-use room will occur at the same time.

So all of our efforts have had such a positive impact on deterring crime within our neighborhood that now the criminals have to resort to stealing signs outside of the gates. You may have noticed that our “Turkey Crossing” and “Wildlife” signs were removed from the posts alongside Chair Road, just on the far side of the bridge. It happened sometime on Tuesday evening. Please let me know if you have any information. All of the community’s hard work really does seem to have paid off though as things have been quiet. It is in these times of inactivity that we all need to remember to be vigilant and take the simple precautions like locking our cars, garages and homes.

USS North Carolina Tours- Our neighborhood’s own, Ritt Schiano is now a certified docent for the Battleship and we are contemplating a River Bluffs tour of the museum sometime this winter. Please let Tara or I know if you have an interest in participating as it would be a great opportunity to see the “behind the scenes” sites and fellowship with your neighbors.

Farmer’s Market-Steve will be back out in front of Porches tomorrow from 10:00 am-3:00 pm and will again have some additional products from some of his farmer friends. He told me this morning that the high tunnel cover should be going up next week at the farm so keep an eye out for that.

Golf Cart Parade/Luminary-Don’t forget the 2017 River Bluffs golf cart Christmas parade next Friday. Plans are to start at 5:30 at Porches and the restaurant will have free hot chocolate and other goodies available. Word is Ronnie is even dressing up one of our carts as an entry! That same evening, Kelly Good is organizing a luminary night to light up the streets of River Bluffs. Please contact her directly healthcoach497@gmail.com if you would like to participate as this is sure to be a fun night.

Porches will be closing tomorrow at 2:00 pm for a private party but will reopen for bar service and appetizers at 6:00 pm.

Dry Cleaning Pick Up/Delivery-Nature’s Way is set up to begin pick ups and deliveries the week of January 4th. If you need an application you can get one from the sales office and send it into them directly.

Thank you all so much for a great year at River Bluffs and we are excited that 2018 will be even better. Enjoy this special time of year with your friends and family and I look forward to seeing all of you at the Parade.