Street Signs
President, Liz Reiff received three Neighborhood Watch signs from the City of Pinson. However, Heather Pointe Community has no speed signs. Three U-Channel Poles with nuts and bolts are required to hang the signs. Because these are 10 foot galvanized poles, they require special freight charges and the price is very high. The President has requested the City of Pinson install speed signs in our neighborhood. Public Safety is important to the community. If the City of Pinson installs speed signs, the Neighborhood Watch signs can be place underneath. It has been said in the past that until the roads were accepted Heather Pointe would be in limbo about the speed signs. The community has been fortunate to have received stop signs. The citizens of Heather Pointe look forward to the time that our development will finally be completed.
Heather Point Pride

*Garbage cans should be kept out of view from the street. Remove emptied receptacles from the curb on trash day as soon as possible.

*Pick up wayward debris and trash in front of and around your home. This includes sales papers, flyers, food wrappers and cups, cigar and cigarette butts, pet waste.

*Be mindful of noise levels. Constant loud music and voices can be irritating to your neighbors.

On Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 2:00 a.m., Daylight Saving Time (also known as Daylight Savings Time) ends. The U.S. time will revert to Central Standard Time (CST).

Daylight Saving Time (DST) began in the U.S. during World War I taking advantage of longer daylight hours between April and October. It would give workers in the War effort a longer work day and increase production. The federal government observed the time change again during World War II. The Uniform Time Act, was passed by Congress in 1966. It standardized the length of Daylight Saving Time..

Arizona (except some Indian Reservations), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa do not observe Daylight Saving Time. Since these areas are closer to the equator their days are more consistent in length throughout the year.

Other countries also observe Daylight Saving Time. In Europe DST is known as European Summer Time. It begins the last Sunday in March and extends until the last Sunday in October.
We will spring forward to Daylight Saving Time for the U.S. on March 13, 2011 at 2:00a.m. Enjoy your extra hour of sleep. Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-zzz

November 2010 Observances
November 2nd Vote

November 11th

Thanksgiving Day, November 25th

Lesser known November Observances

Aviation History Month
Child Safety Protection Month
International Drum Month
National Adoption Awareness Month

National Epilepsy Month
National Model Railroad Month

National Novel Writing Month
Native American Heritage Month
Peanut Butter Lovers Month

Real Jewelry Month

National Sleep Comfort Month

Pumpkin Seeds
Did you know that the seeds inside your pumpkin are edible? They make a delicious, nutritious snack. You'll wonder why you didn't save the last batch from that jack-o-lantern carving.

Ingredients

2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

2. Spread the pumpkin seeds on a medium baking sheet. Drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with salt.

3. Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until lightly toasted.

NOTE: You may need to adjust your baking time to suit your own preferences. Pumpkin seeds can be seasoned with whatever your taste dictates. Among seasonings are cinnamon, salt, sugar, popcorn seasonings.

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FAQ about Voting for Professional Management of Heather Point

Q: What do we get for the increase in dues?
A: Currently there are two issues the neighborhood is having. The first is the lack of board members for 2009 and the second is paying out bills. The management company would help with both issues. The company would take over day to day issues such as collecting dues, paying bills and enforcing covenants. This will help in recruiting board members because then the only job the board members need to do is meet to discuss items and plant the front entrance. Those who have paid their dues, do not think this is a punishment to cover the cost of those who haven’t. Metcalf is a solution to the two issues discussed earlier.

Q: The letter said something about the HOA getting a loan?
A: Metcalf, since they would be collecting the dues, would loan us the money to immediately have the lights turned back on and would then simply repay themselves from the dues collected.

Q: Why such an increase?
A: Most of the increase is due to pay Metcalf ($90). The remaining increase is to give the HOA a cushion. Increases in electricity, and water bills as well as increases in liability insurance and property taxes. This will also give the HOA a cushion to have so that if there are still stubborn neighbors who haven’t paid, the HOA will still have some money in reserve to cover those months so that we don’t have the lights turned out again

Q: If we have no money in the HOA account, how were the letters mailed?
A: Metcalf sent the letters and return envelopes for the HOA at no cost.

Q: If approved, how long of a contract do we enter into?
A: That is up to the HOA board, and right now it looks like a one year contract, in which the 2009 board can review the job Metcalf has done and see if we need to continue service with them.

Q: How many votes are needed to pass?
A: HOA can only increase dues each year by 5%. Anything above that has to have a neighborhood vote, of which 66% or 2/3 of the neighborhood need to vote yes for the increase to take place. 196 homes = 129 homes needed to vote yes

Q: We don’t have amenities that constitute such an increase.
A: No, we don’t. However similar neighborhoods built by America Builder and DR Horton just like our neighborhood are paying around $160-180. They do not have amenities either. Management companies are successful in helping neighborhoods get on their feet and either become self managed HOA, or the association will keep the services they provide.

Q. What will happen if we vote against professional management?
A. There will be no HOA. Most likely people will begin to do whatever they want, causing the community to become aesthetically displeasing and in turn property values will decline.