Good Evening,
One year we hope the rain will stop and the next year we hope it will come. Welcome to North Carolina! The lack of rain has made for some beautiful days this past couple of weeks and the Memorial Day weekend promises to be warm and sunny.
May has been a busy month at the Sales Center with several properties going under contract, including another riverfront homesite, and eight homesites closing during the same period. It’s hard to believe that we have almost 130 sold and occupied homes in our community now. We recently recorded the next phase of Rosewood Landing, and the first phase of Cottage Park is not far behind. The road to the marina parking lot continues to make progress, and the next step will be Duke Power installing electrical service down the roadway for the new homesites and the marina. If you do choose to drive down to the marina, please go slow and be alert, as it is still a construction site.
Next week there be a tree service on site on Wednesday doing some work for us. If you have trees on your homesite that are dead and need to be removed or that need to be pruned, please e-mail me, and we will connect you with the tree service. Trees that are on your property are your responsibility, and it tends to be less expensive if the tree service does more than one job per visit. This dry weather has played havoc with everyone’s lawns as well, so please be sure to check your irrigation systems and ensure that they are operating correctly. Long, soaking waterings less frequently are better than watering every day. That allows the roots to go deeper, which makes for healthier grass and plantings. Speaking of which, Burrows has engaged Lara Berkely to develop a list of recommended plants for the neighborhood. It will also include the “not-so-recommended” plants as well. Lara worked with Burrows on the selection of all the plant material around the entrance to the community, the pool, and Porches.
Thanks to those of you who either removed the PVC pipes from your yard or converted to the style I referred to a couple of months ago. It does help improve the look of the neighborhood. You can obtain a “River Bluffs pipe set” from the Ace Hardware store on Kerr Avenue, just off Castle Hayne Rd. Scott, Ron, and Bob are continually advising trucks on which paths to take and also about their speed. Not everyone gets it, however. The best thing to do if you see an incident of speeding or damage by a contractor, delivery vehicle or resident is to get a description of the vehicle, the direction it was going in and the time. If you are able, call the Welcome Center (“that’s my new name for the “Greeter Shack”) at 910-675-2183 and let them know the information about what transpired. You can also e-mail them about it at Greeter@riverbluffsliving.com. Even if it is after-the-fact, our camera system can, and we can determine who was driving the vehicle. That is why the time is so important to note.
Amenities
Tis the season for enjoying the pool and its great to see so many residents enjoying it during the week as well as on the weekends. In meeting with the Resident Advisory Committee yesterday, several concerns came up about the pool. Please remember that unaccompanied minors are not permitted at the pool. This is both a safety issue and one of consideration for your neighbors.
Additionally, glass of any kind should never be inside the pool area. Thanks for your help with both of these issues. With the popularity of pickleball, we are looking at striping one of the tennis courts in such a way that it would be available for both tennis and pickleball. Additional landscaping improvements are coming to the tennis/dog park area, and we are looking at expanding the boat/RV storage area.
Neighborhood Safety
Another concern that was raised during the Resident Advisory Committee meeting was the use of golf carts by unlicensed drivers. Apparently, there has been more than one accident involving young drivers, and the Committee felt it necessary to approve a rule regarding golf cart use. Golf carts may only be driven by children fourteen years of age or older and then, only with an adult. If a minor has a driver’s license (at age sixteen), then they may drive the cart alone. My rough count is that we have about forty golf carts in the community, so now is a good time to put some sensible policies in place.
Community Activities
Neighborhood Block Party-This Sunday afternoon the community will be gathering for a great cookout and celebration. The weather is forecasted to be beautiful, so it should be a great time. Join fellow residents this Sunday from 2:00-6:00p.m. between Porches and the pool area. If you have already signed up to bring something, thank you. If not, there is a list of what people are bringing in the mail room. Please join to party and bring anything you think would fill in. Also, bring your own beverages and ice to keep it cold.
Live Music Tonight at Porches – Doug McFarland will be playing tonight at Porches and Tameka has a couple of delicious looking specials on the menu. Music started at 6:00p.m., be sure to check the River Bluffs calendar to see upcoming events.
Kayak Inspection and Safety Course – Our very own Otis White will be conducting a safety course for kayakers and doing inspections of them down at the boat ramp this Sunday from 10:00a.m. to noon. An excellent opportunity to learn some important information and make sure your kayak is in good shape.
Memorial Day Closings – The Sales Center and Porches will both be closed on Monday and subcontractors will not be able to work on new home construction. Please remember that this means that the gates will be closed so you will need to let visitors know how to reach you when they arrive. Special thanks to Bill Jayne and Ritt Schiano for volunteering to adorn our entrance with the flags for the weekend.
I hope that you all enjoy the long weekend and great weather. As you do, I ask that you remember what Memorial Day is all about and enjoy the time with friends and family while also thinking about those who gave so much for all of us. Thanks for making this special community your home and see you next week.
John Lennon