As of today, Sunday, September 16, the ALPHA swimming pool is closed for the season.
Air temperatures at night have been dropping into the 40’s and the solar panels are only getting about 3 hours of sun in the mid-afternoon. At last check, the pool temperature was only 67 degrees … chilly.
This year saw a big jump in pool use. Almost 80 lot owners used the pool an average of 7 times each resulting in just shy of 1350 bathers this season. We’re not sure because earlier records aren’t that accurate, but several people seem to think that the pool saw record use this year.
We look forward to next year and hope to see you at the pool!
The Summer / Fall 2012 edition of the Treetop Times, ALPHA’s newsletter, has been published to the web site. Click ‘Newsletter’ on the menu bar above then select the Summer / Fall 2012 edition.
The Treetop Times is published in Adobe PDF format, which requires the Adobe Reader. Get the Adobe Reader free by clicking here.
Paper copies of the Tree Top Times went out on Friday to homeowners who don’t receive email.
The State Responsibility Area (SRA) Fire Prevention Benefit Fee was enacted following the signing of Assembly Bill X1 29 in July 2011. The law approved the new annual Fire Prevention Fee to pay for fire prevention services within the SRA. The fee is applied to all habitable structures within the SRA.
Lilac Park falls within the SRA and lot owners are subject to this fee. At present, Lilac Park does not have a form opinion about this fee, though the consensus among homeowners is that the fee was unfairly levied against those in rural areas. Several groups and associations have filed lawsuits to overturn this fee, but none have gone to trial as yet. Lilac Park Homeowners Association will monitor these cases and keep ALPHA residents up to speed as information becomes available.
The fee, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last year, is intended to raise an estimated $84 million in its first year for fire-prevention efforts. The annual charge can run as high as $150 for property owners with a single occupied dwelling, although there is a $35 discount for those who already pay a local tax for fire protection.
A documentary film about California state parks made by an Arnold couple, will soon air across the nation on prime time television. Calaveras County residents can watch it on KVIE at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, and at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 19.
Many Calaveras County residents were first introduced to David Vassar and Sally Kaplan at the premiere of their latest film “California Forever” held at Jack Knight Hall at Calaveras Big Trees State Park last February.
The opening and closing scenes in the film were shot in Big Trees State Park, and the couple thought it was apropos to hold the first Calaveras County premiere there. All the proceeds raised from the premiere were donated to the Calaveras Big Trees Association.
When the 75-minute film concluded, thunderous applause shook the rustic rafters of the hall as the entire audience showed appreciation for the beauty, drama and fascinating history of California’s state parks.
“It’s really nice to have a community this small that is this engaged,” said Vassar, who is an Emmy award-nominated director. “I think it’s a testament to people caring about parks.
“People need to be reminded of the sacrifice people made to create these parks and why they were set aside – to preserve the heritage of our culture and the natural heritage of the generations to come.”
Main sections in the film, which took 61 days to shoot in 47 different parks, focus on Yosemite, coastal parks, deserts and the Sierra Nevada.
While shooting the film, Vassar said he and Kaplan realized they had and abundance of high quality content that couldn’t possibly fit into one film.
“In the scouting and filming, we found that there was an embarrassment of riches,” Kaplan, who produced the film, said with a smile.
After putting their heads together with those funding the project, a decision was made to lengthen the first film and make a second film called “California Forever: Parks for the future.”
It will focus on the idea that California led the nation in the “park idea” and it will also have to lead the nation in facing the challenges that will face parks in the future, Vassar said.
“I think people have forgotten the legacy of California State Parks, and they’ve forgotten the sacrifices people made to set these places aside and they’ve forgotten what an incredible treasure they are, and they need to be reminded.”
Just a reminder that the Annual Meeting of the Homeowners is this coming Sunday, September 2, 2012.
If your last name begins with A through M: please bring a side dish. If your last name begins with N through Z: please bring a desert.
Homeowner’s Meeting from 4p to 5p, however all Lilac Park tenants and residents in good standing are welcome to attend the BBQ which begins at 5pm.
If you haven’t seen them already, signs are (or soon will be) posted around Lilac Park, which contain details of the event.
Extended ALPHA Pool Season Trial
The ALPHA Pool will remain open on a weekend-to-weekend basis through the end of September provided we continue to have hot weather and usage remains above 20 visitors per weekend.
Weekend hours will remain 12:00 noon to 6:00pm, Saturday and Sunday. The first extra days are Saturday, September 8 and Sunday, September 9.
Join us for all day long fee live solar powered music event in Hermit Valley which we affectionately refer to as Hermitfest. There will be booths, food, activities for kids and plenty of great music from 11 until 6….stick around a little longer and enjoy the musicians jamming together around the campfire. There will be concurrent celebrations in Markleeville including our popular fish plant at the Carson River Resort. The drawing for our beautiful byway quilt will be held at Hermit Valley. Raffle tickets are available now at select locations and events including the Calaveras Visitors Bureau in Angels Camp.
Vendors and musicians interested in participating in this year’s event should e-mail us at info@scenic4.org. Camping is available in the area but spots go quickly so plan to come up a day early and stay through Sunday to give yourselves a chance to play on the pass or enjoy a drive over the hill. Lodging is available in Murphys, Arnold, Bear Valley and Markleeville for those folks who prefer indoor accommodations.
More details, click the graphic above or click HERE!
The Arnold Lilac Park Homeowners Association (ALPHA) board of directors believes in shopping local. Therefore, the board unanimously agreed to support the Greater Arnold Business Association by becoming a member.
We recognize that the Arnold community has taken some shots on its economic chin over the last few years and if you’ve been in Arnold within the last 12 months, you’ve undoubtedly been witness to the numerous changes in the local business climate. Many long-time companies have closed their doors and others are working hard to keep theirs open.
The new leadership at GABA has done some great things to invigorate the local economy and generate enthusiasm in helping to keep businesses going in our community.
More than 60% of Lilac Park lot-owners live full time somewhere else. So when you live outside of Arnold full-time, what does “shopping local” mean? Simply put, when you’re planning to come to Arnold, if you can buy it here … do it. Your local patronage will help to keep the local economy growing. After all, if there is no business in Arnold … there really is no Arnold.
The ALPHA board of directors is proud that our homeowners association can be a part of this organization.
WHEN: Sunday, September 2, 2012 Homeowners Meeting: 4p to 5p Potluck BBQ: 5p to ?
The Association is providing plenty of Tri-tip but is asking homeowners who are planning to attend to bring a side-dish or desert, as has been done in years past.
If your last name begins with A through M: please bring a side dish. If your last name begins with N through Z: please bring a desert.
WHAT: This is our annual event where Lilac Park Homeowners get to come and get a feel for what the board has been up to for the last 12 months and find out what’s coming in the next 12. The board has approved the budget for 2013 and it is ready to be distributed to the Association for review.
WHERE: ALPHA Pool
WHO: All ALPHA Homeowners and their guests are invited. The Potluck BBQ is open to ALL Lilac Park residents, not just homeowners.
08/15/2012 @ 2225 The InciWeb incident information system web site provides up-to-date information regarding all incidents under management by the USFS.
08/15/2012 @ 0900 (ongoing information provided by Lynn Glocker. Thanks Lynn.)
Today fire crews will continue with fire line construction on all parts of the fire perimeter. Firefighters are challenged with steep terrain, limited access with extreme heat and winds. The fire continues to move slowly to the east. Helicopters, air tankers, and dozers will continue to support fire crews working on line construction today. The fire has burned along the south side of State Highway 4 and occasionally spotted along the north side of the Highway. Fire crews will continue to monitor and check the north side of the highway and extinguish any spot fires.
The Ramsey Fire started on Saturday August 11, 2012 from an escaped campfire near the North Fork of the Stanislaus River. People traveling on Highway 4 should expect extended delays and partial closures due the fire crews, fire and heavy smoke across the road.
South Central Sierra Inter-agency Incident Management Team is assigned to Ramsey Fire. An Incident Base Camp has been established at the Bear Valley Ski Area.
A temporary fire information line has been established about the Ramsey Fire at 209-988-8311. Please leave a message and a fire information officer will return your call.
08/14/2012 @ 2300 (content provided by Lynn Glocker, click photo for slideshow)
The Ramsey Fire progression was slowed today by morning retardant drops by a DC-10. Heavy-weight helicopters will be operating out of Bear Valley at a portable retardant plant tomorrow.
All spot fires on the north side of Hwy 4 have been contained. Management hopes to construct direct control lines on the east side of the fire in addition to the existing retardant there. The south side by the River and north side by structures remain controlled and holding strong. The southwest side (Division A) has heavy concentrations fuels and potential for rolling debris. Today’s weather calls for thunderstorms and winds that may cause problems. Predicted weather remains dry and hot, but with normal winds. The main concerns are spotting onto very receptive fuels and rolling fuels on steep slopes.
The arriving Type II Interagency Incident Management Team will set up an Incident Command post at Cottage Springs, with some parking challenges. Command will be coordinating with CHP & CalTrans on road closures as needed and appropriate signs. Stanislaus National Forest offices in the fire vicinity may also be used by the Command staff for computer access.
The above is from the Greater Arnold Business Association (GABA) Facebook page.
08/14/2012 @ 2100
Local reports state that smoke and ash are not significant problems in Lilac Park / Arnold through the day. However, as winds shift and settle in the late afternoon and evening, smoke and light ash increase considerably thereby decreasing air quality. Still no report of any direct threat to Lilac Park. All cabins in Gann Meadow were saved through firefighter efforts.
If you suffer from any respiratory ailments that are exacerbated by poor air quality, it is suggested that you avoid the mountains until the situation improves.
Please keep the safety and well-being of the fire crews in your thoughts and prayers.
08/14/12 @ 1815
Due to heavy smoke and fire management operations, State Route 4 is closed past Cottage Springs. KCRA is reporting that this fire has burned 800 acres and is only 10% contained.
Thepinetree.net was down earlier at 6:10pm (database error), but they have detailed information. Check back often. Also check KCRA and the USFS web site for more information. Incident command for this fire is by the USFS and not Cal-Fire so there is only limited information on the Cal-Fire web site.
While this fire is NOT an immediate threat to Lilac Park or Arnold, we encourage that you monitor the situation before planning a trip into the mountains. The heavy smoke may cause respiratory issues for those with asthma or other pulmonary conditions.
We will provide you more information as it becomes available.
Between June 1 and August 11 of this year, sixty-five (65) different lots and 965 bathers have used the ALPHA swimming pool. Even with the swim season winding down, the pool will easily see over 1,000 swimmers this year. While we don’t have accurate records for years past, many feel that this may be a record turn out. Thanks to new methods of recording pool usage, we’re now going to be able to track this information for future reference.
Because September’s high temperatures often feel like those in August, the board decided to try something a little different. The pool is going to stay open a little later this year.
Because of the increased use of the pool this summer, instead of closing on Labor Day, which is the traditional end of the ALPHA swim season, the board is going to run a trial of keeping the pool open on WEEKENDS-ONLY until the end of September.
There’s a catch however… because the board doesn’t want to waste money in keeping the pool open if no one is using it, the pool will close for the year following any weekend in which the pool doesn’t see at least twenty (20) visitors. Not counting the Independence Day BBQ weekend, the average number of pool users over each weekend this summer was twenty-nine (29), so twenty (20) isn’t a big number comparatively.
At any point, if the weather turns and it cools off, the pool will close until next year. If the 20-visitors-per-weekend goal is not met, the pool will close for the season.
So there’s the potential for 4 extra weekends of swimming: 9/08, 9/15, 9/22, and finally 9/29. The solar system will continue to run, and provided the air temperatures remain as they have, we hope to enjoy the 76 to 80 degree pool water as we have for most of this season. The hours it’s open may be changed slightly to adjust for earlier sunsets, we’re not sure yet.
The pool will definitely close for the year on Sunday, September 30, 2012.
It boils down to you, the Association, whether or not the pool remains open over these additional weekends. If you want to swim on weekends during a potentially warm September, we encourage you to use the pool as often as you can.
WHEN: Sunday, September 2, 2012