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Category: Lilac Park News
News specific to Lilac Park.
Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee
Spring 2013 Edition of the ALPHA Treetop Times
The latest edition of the ALPHA Treetop Times has been published and is ready for you to download and view.
To view the newsletter, please click HERE.
(requires FREE Adobe Reader, available here)
For questions and comments, please send them to info@arnoldlilacparkhoa.org.
Reminder: ALPHA Assessments Due
ALPHA Homeowners – Just a reminder tha 2013 assessments are due and payable now, but late fees do not apply until after April 30.
You can send a check to PO Box 722 Arnold, CA 95223 or you can use your credit card by clicking the following link. (if you need the password, please drop us a note)
http://payments.arnoldlilacparkhoa.org
If you have questions concerning your 2013 assessment, please drop us a line. If you have already made your 2013 payment, please disregard.
Public Awareness Statement: Possible Phone Scam
This post is from the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office web site.
MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: Sgt Chris Hewitt
Release Date: 12/12/12
Release Number: 1
Public Awareness Statement: Possible Phone Scam
(San Andreas, CA) On 12/12/12 the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a possible phone/internet scam. According to the information provided to the sheriff’s office, a person with heavily accented English places phone calls to potential victims and identifies him/herself as being from a company by the name of Microsoft: VTech Solutions. This person then tells you that they have received information from your computer that there is a problem with your computer’s Microsoft programs. They then ask for personal information to access your computer.
This and any similar phone calls are a scam. The caller’s likely intent is to either obtain personal identifying information from you or gain remote access to your computer’s hard drive in order to steal your information. Legitimate companies, such as Microsoft, will not call and solicit information from you. If you should receive any similar phone calls you should tell the caller to remove your number from their database, and then hang up.
How to Protect Yourself:
1. Never provide personal identifying or financial information, including your Social Security Number, birth date, and account numbers or passwords over the internet or phone in communication that you did not initiate.
2. Never click on any link provided in an email you believe to be suspect.
3. If you believe the communication might be legitimate, contact the institution or business yourself using only the phone numbers or internet address found on your account statements.
4. Do not be intimidated by an email or caller who suggests dire consequences if you do not provide or verify financial or personal information.
What to Do if You Fall Victim:
1. If you have disclosed sensitive information in a phishing scheme you should contact your financial institutions immediately and notify them of the situation.
2. You should also contact the fraud division of the three major credit bureaus and place a fraud alert on your file. Equifax 800-525-6285; Esperian 888-307-3742; and TransUnion 800-680-7289.
3. Report the incident to your local law enforcement agency and/or the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT.
Address/Location
Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office
891 Mountain Ranch Rd
San Andreas, CA 95249
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 209-754-6500
Drainage in Lilac Park
We have received a few calls from homeowners who have expressed concern about the drainage (or lack thereof) in Lilac Park. The “gutters” that parallel most streets in our community have become filled with pine needles and debris causing rain runoff to overflow and run across homeowner properties. Ordinarily, this isn’t a big deal, but with the significant amount of wet weather we’ve had recently, some homeowners have had substantial amounts of water running across their property.
The roads in Lilac Park and these gutters next to them are maintained by the Calaveras County Public Works Department.
With government budgets as tight as they are, it’s likely the county won’t have us on any kind of a cleaning schedule but once every so often, if at all. It is our responsibility to let the county know that these drainages need some attention.
Please take a moment and call the Calaveras County Public Works Department between the hours of 8a – 5p Monday – Friday to let them know that the drainage gutters along our streets need to be cleaned up. If they receive enough calls for service, hopefully they’ll get some crews out there before the next big storm comes in.
Their phone number is 209.754.6402
Fire fees for rural homeowners made permanent
By Dana M. Nichols
From the The Stockton Record
From the The Stockton Record
SAN ANDREAS — The California Board of Forestry on Wednesday made permanent the widely disliked “fire prevention fee” that forces the owners of more than 800,000 rural homes in California to pay a $115 to $150 annual tax.
Representatives from several rural counties, including Calaveras County Supervisor Darren Spellman, were on hand to remind the board that they oppose the tax.
“I would ask that you do not force rural citizens to pay for mistakes that have been made in the past,” Spellman said. “This is reprehensible.”
The state board members largely ignored such objections, except to say their hands were tied by state law.
Gov. Jerry Brown and the state Legislature came up with the fee in 2011 as a way to help balance the budget. Assembly Bill X129 ordered the Board of Forestry to enact an emergency measure to allow it to collect the tax in 2012.
Such an emergency measure is only good for a year. The law also requires the Board of Forestry to enact a permanent fire prevention fee in time to collect the tax in 2013. That’s what the board did Wednesday.
In Calaveras County, property owners began receiving the first year’s bills in September. The bills went to the owners of 23,244 Calaveras properties.
The fee is assessed only on properties in “state responsibility areas,” where the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is responsible for firefighting. Most of Calaveras County is in a state responsibility area, while San Joaquin County has only a sliver of its eastern edge and a small area in the hills near Tracy in a state responsibility area.
In reality, many rural residents are also served by local fire districts for which they already pay taxes. Property owners with a local fire district get $35 knocked off their fire tax bill, reducing it to $115.
Les Baugh, an elected supervisor for Shasta County, spoke Wednesday on behalf of the Regional Council of Rural Counties, a statewide organization whose members include Calaveras, Shasta and dozens of others.
Baugh said the RCRC opposes the fire tax. He said the tax has had a variety of negative impacts already, including making it more difficult for local fire agencies to ask voters to increase local taxes, undermining the willingness of local fire agencies to respond on a mutual aid basis, and a large number of incorrect bills, with many homeowners double or triple billed.
“The billing and implementation process is already causing substantial confusion,” Baugh said. “This fee is no longer worth the expense of administering it.”
Several Board of Forestry members said they would like to modify the fire tax rules to give homeowners more than 30 days to protest an incorrect bill.
Dean Cromwell, executive director of the Board of Forestry, said staff would look for ways to extend the protest period but might have few options.
“The law says 30 days,” he said of the bill.
Several efforts to overturn that law are under way. In October, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association filed a class-action lawsuit that alleges the law is an illegal tax rather than a fee. Also, state Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, on Monday put forth his first act of the new legislative session: the introduction of a bill to overturn the fee.
Gaines introduced a similar measure last summer that went nowhere.
Our take on this:
It is estimated that almost one-half of Cal-Fire’s annual suppression and prevention budget is used for such activities in the more populated areas of Southern California. In short, Calaveras county and other homeowners in our area are being charged a “fire prevention fee” (it’s a tax) to pay for services that are largely being funneled down south.
As part of our property taxes, most Calaveras County residents already pay to fund and maintain the new fire station on Blagen Road that houses Ebbett’s Pass Fire District. In the event of a fire in our neighborhood, EPFD would be the first responders.
While the ALPHA Board of Directors has no official position on this fee, most board members are against it.
Rest in Peace, Frank.
Photo courtesy of G. Neurath.
On Sunday, November 25, 2012, Frank Samuelson passed away in his sleep after a long battle with complications resulting from a fall at his home in Lilac Park in September 2011. He was 86.
With his service to the Lilac Park Homeowners Association dating back in terms of decades, Frank Samuelson has been one of ALPHA’s longest serving volunteers. For more than 25 years, Frank contributed his time, experience, leadership, and friendship to help make Lilac Park a great place to live.
Frank’s family is planning a memorial in Arnold sometime before Christmas, but no details are available yet. More information to follow.
We’ll miss you Frank. Rest in peace.
Getting ready for winter driving
Even though last winter was mild in terms of precipitation, record snow fall over the winter of 2010/2011 brought a lot of grief to those who travel in the Sierras. One way you can get to your mountain destination safely is to plan your trip, know the conditions, and be prepared. The first step in being prepared is to make sure your vehicle is ready for the hard winter conditions ahead.
AAA recommends the following to help get ready for winter:
Winter Car Care Checklist
Battery and Charging System– Have the battery and charging system tested by a trained technician. A fully charged battery in good condition is required to start an engine in cold weather. AAA members can request a visit from an AAA Mobile Battery Service technician who will test their battery and replace it on-site, if necessary. AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities can also test and replace weak batteries.
Battery Cables and Terminals– Check the condition of the battery cables and terminals. Make sure all connections are secure and remove any corrosion from the terminals and posts.
Drive Belts– Inspect belts for cracks or fraying. Don’t just look at the smooth top surface of the belt, but turn it over and check the grooved underside where most belt wear occurs.
Engine Hoses–Visually inspect the cooling system hoses for leaks, cracks or loose clamps. Also, squeeze the hoses to check for any that may be brittle or excessively spongy feeling and in need of replacement.
Tire Type and Tread– In areas with heavy winter weather, changing to snow tires on all four wheels will provide the best winter traction. All-season tires will work well in light to moderate snow conditions, providing they have adequate tread depth. If any tire has less than 3/32-inches of tread, it should be replaced. Uneven wear on the tires can indicate alignment, suspension or wheel balance problems that should be addressed to prevent further damage to the tires.
Tire Pressure– Check tire pressure more frequently during winter months. As the temperature drops, so will the pressures in the tires — typically 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The proper tire pressure levels can be found on a sticker located on the driver’s side door jamb. And, don’t forget to check the spare.
Air Filter– Check the engine’s air filter by holding it up to a 60-watt light bulb. If light can be seen through much of the filter, it is still clean enough to work effectively. However, if the light is blocked by most of the filter, replace it.
Coolant Levels– Check the coolant level when the engine is cold. If the coolant level is low, add a 50/50 solution of coolant and water to maintain the necessary antifreeze capability. The level of antifreeze protection can be checked with an inexpensive tester available at any auto parts store.
Lights– Check the operation of all headlights, taillights, emergency flashers, turn signals, brake lights and back-up lights. Replace any burnt out bulbs.
Wiper Blades – Blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe.
Replace blades that leave streaks or miss spots. In areas with snowy conditions, consider installing winter wiper blades that wrap the blade in a rubber boot to prevent ice and snow buildup that can prevent good contact between the rubber blade and the glass.
Washer Fluid– Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a cleaning solution that has antifreeze components for cold weather use.
Brakes– Have brakes inspected by a certified technician to ensure all components are in good working order.
Transmission, Brake and Power Steering Fluids– Check all fluids to ensure they are at or above the minimum safe levels.
Emergency Road Kit – Update the car’s emergency kit for winter weather. The kit should include:
– Bag of abrasive material (sand, salt, cat litter) or traction mats
– Snow shovel
– Snow brush
– Flashlight with extra batteries
– Window washer solvent
– Ice scraper
– Cloth or roll of paper towels
– Jumper cables
– Gloves, hats and blankets
– Warning devices (flares or triangles)
– Drinking water
– Non-perishable snacks (energy or granola bars)
– Extra clothes
– First-aid kit
– Basic toolkit (screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench)
– Mobile phone and car charger with important numbers programmed in it, including a roadside assistance provider
Reminder: Annual Meeting This Weekend & Extended Pool Season
Annual Meeting this Sunday
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.