Hello to Everyone!

It is my turn to write an article for the Grapevine. I want to thank all of you who voted for me to serve on the board. I will strive to do what is best for the home owners of Chardonnay.

First on a positive note, our community is becoming beautiful again. The trees and grass are turning green, the flowers are blooming and the birds are returning.

On April 9, 2007, members of the board, Chuck Gehardstein and the Property Manager of “Towne Properties” performed the annual spring walk. While several items need attention, we were impressed that the list was not greater. The following is a summary of things we noted:

• Many cracks in the streets will need to be sealed this spring.
• The first two steps of the concrete rock at the clubhouse are chipped.
• At 200 Sonoma, we will look into having “Kelly’s Cleaning” deep clean the tile in the entry of the building. This unit was a model and had heavy traffic.
• “Towne Properties” will let “Kelly’s Cleaning” know to pay more attention to the dusting of the banisters and railings in common hallways.
• At 200 Sonoma, the front porch light is cracked. Gary will replace it.
• All the light fixtures on porch entries need to be cleaned of bugs, etc. Gary will take care of this.
• “Towne Properties” will send a letter regarding Christmas lights on a patio.
• At 200 Sonoma, a downspout near the hillside is loose. “Towne Properties” will repair it.
• At 202 Sonoma, there is a cracked shutter on the left lower double window and upper right window. Gary will replace them.
• At 100-114 Sonoma, the siding is discolored from carpenter bees. Gary will clean the siding.
• At 300 Mendocino, the top right gutter is chipped.
• The door seals need to have a deep cleaning.
• The Landscape Committee is to address the bare spots around the property....especially near the sidewalks.
• “Towne Properties” will ask Vince to price the cutting of grass on the back hillside behind Monterey.
• “Towne Properties” will contact “The Elks Club” to discuss dead trees on their side of the property line.
• At 700/702 Monterey, the exterior lighting is chipped.
• At 912 Monterey, there is bare wood on the lower siding area near the sidewalk.
• “Towne Properties” will research an oil removal product for the driveways.

Paul Ford, Treasurer

MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation’s Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grant Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. On May 5, 1868, Logan declared in General Order No. 11 that:

The 30th of May, 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no
form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

During the first celebration of Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped decorate the graves of more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery.

This 1868 celebration was inspired by local observances of the day in several towns throughout America that has taken place in those years since the Civil War. In fact, several Northern and Southern cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, including Columbus, MS, Macon GA, Richmond, VA, Boalsburg, PA and Carbondale, IL.

In 1966, the federal government, under the direction of President Lyndon Johnson, declared Waterloo, NY, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. They chose Waterloo---which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866---because the town had made Memorial Day an annual community wide event during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

By the late 1800s many communities across the country had begun to celebrate Memorial Day and, after World War I, observances also began to honor those who had died in all of America’s wars. In 1871, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May. Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor all veterans, living and dead, is celebrated each year on November 11.

Today, Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Also, it is customary for the president or vice-president to give a speech honoring the contributions of the dead and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.

Several Southern states continue to set aside a special day for honoring the Confederate dead, which is usually called Confederate Memorial Day.

As far as I know all of the doorbell and mailbox nameplates have been updated. If you know of any that still need to be changed please notify RonCulp @ 781-6910 of the details.

BINGO

We had 17 people participate in Bingo this past month. Big winner was Nancy Trowbridge. The monthly jackpot went unclaimed, so the jackpot for May 22, will be $34.25. Please plan to attend for a fun night. Thanks to Kathy Frambes for calling the numbers.

PARKING AT CHARDONNAY

A reminder to all owners and guests of owners that parking is only permitted in designated parking areas throughout the community. Parking in the street, along a curb, is not a designated parking area. Vehicles parked and unattended will be tagged with a warning. If the warning is ignored the vehicle will be towed at the owners expense.

Our streets are not wide enough to park cars without causing other owners potential problems with using their driveways. Also, emergency vehicles would have problems using the streets as well.

It is the owner’s responsibility to inform their guests of this parking policy. Do your part to make this a better place to live.

Thanks,

Bill Frambes

CLUBHOUSE COORDINATOR

Rhoda Wheeler has returned as coordinator of the clubhouse. Thanks to Rhonda Brandt for her service during Rhoda’s absence.

DERBY DAY PARTY

Come join us on Saturday May 5TH at 4:00 pm for a fun time at our Derby Day Party at the Clubhouse. BYOB and a snack to share. We will have a split the pot and some good snacks for your enjoyment. Decorate and wear your finest Derby Hat and come root your nag down the stretch!!

ICE BUCKETS

The buckets containing the ice solvent are being collected and put into storage. If you have moved one of these buckets inside, please make it available for pickup in the next week or so for refilling and storage.

DEAR NEIGHBORS

We want to thank you for your prayers, calls, cards and many other acts of kindness during the last couple of months. It is great to have friends like you during times of illness and stress. Rhoda’s diagnosis is Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the doctors have chosen to just keep a close eye on it for the time being. If treatment is necessary in the future we know you will be there for us. It means so very much to have friends like each of you.

Bob & Rhoda Wheeler

OPERATION HUG

Thanks to all for your generosity in response to Operation Hug. This is an ongoing project and we can always use your prayers, donations and $$$ for shipping to our men and women in the military from Ft. Campbell.

Thank you.

POOL OPENING AND BRUNCH

Summer is just around the corner! We are planning a Brunch on Sat. May 26 at 10:00 AM. Bring a covered dish to share. Our official pool opening will follow at 12:00 noon. A formal dedication of “Remembrance Lane” will be held in conjunction with the pool opening. “Remembrance Lane” is composed of bricks, laid at the newly constructed patio by the pool, inscribed with the deceased Chardonnay resident’s name and date of their death. The cost of the inscription is approximately $20.00 and we welcome financial contributions from family, neighbors and friends. Any surplus of funds will be used to landscape the area with flowers and/or shrubbery.

MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE

David Trowbridge has resigned as head of the Maintenance Committee due to work schedules. Dave will continue to serve on the committee but just doesn’t have the time to serve as it’s head. Thanks Dave, for all you have done for the community in this task. If you are interested in serving as the head of the maintenance committee, please contact Bill Frambes.

MONTHLY DINNER

The monthly dinner will be held at the “Courthouse” in Independence, KY on Tues., May 1 at 6:00 PM. Please call Mary Gerhardstein at 441-8510 with your reservation. With the correct count, the restaurant can have enough places set up for us.

Thanks!!!

BRIDGE NIGHT

Bridge Night for this month has been cancelled due to Memorial Day Celebrations.

NEXT BOARD MEETING

The next Board Meeting will be held Thursday, May 17 at 7:00 PM at the clubhouse. Please plan to attend.

GRAPEVINE DUE DATE

The due date for input for June’s Grapevine will be May 27, 2007. Please e-mail the editor with any input you may have.

MAY RIDDLES

1. We were four, one was cut and we were five.
What were we?

2. The man who invented it doesn’t want it.
The man who bought it doesn’t need it.
The man who needs it doesn’t know it.
What am I?

3. The Lone Ranger rode into town on Friday.
He stayed five consecutive days and left on
Friday. How could this be?

APRIL RIDDLES ANSWERS

Congratulations to Alan Hahn for the correct answers.

1. I dig out tiny caves, and store gold and silver in them. I also build bridges of silver and make crowns of gold. They are the smallest that you could imagine. Sooner or later everyone needs my help, yet many people are afraid to let me help them. Who am I? (A DENTIST)

2. What’s the significance of the following?
The year is 1978, thirty four minutes past noon on May 6th. (THE TIME AND MONTH/DATE/ YEAR AMERICAN STYLE READ: 12:34 5/6/78)

3. Little Johnny buys 10 trees from the local nursery. How does he plant these 10 trees in 5 rows with 4 in each row? (DRAW A 5 POINTED STAR – PLANT A TREE AT EACH POINT AND 1 TREE WHERE THE SIDES INTERSECT.)

4. You throw away the outside and cook the inside. Then you eat the outside and throw away the inside. What did you eat? (CORN ON THE COB)

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

WEB SITE – www.chardonnayhome.com

BOARD

Bill Frambes, President 781-8852 wframbes1@insightbb.com
Alan Hahn, VP 781-6329 ralanhahn@insightbb.com
Marge Rauch, Secretary 442-5883 mrauch41@netzero.com
Paul Ford, Treasurer 441-3545 sunsetfords@aol.com
Ned Barnes, Member at large 441-1002 nedbett@fuse.net

FOR PROBLEMS, COMPLAINTS & VIOLATIONS, CALL

Lydia Peeno, Towne Properties 291-5858 LydiaP@tp1.com
Pat Kerner, Towne Properties 291-5858 PatK@tp1.com

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

Architect Maintenance – Dave Trowbridge 442-0244
Nanctr1400@aol.com
Co-Architect Maintenance – Ron Culp 781-8852 rculp2@insightbb.com
Finance – Bill Frambes 781-8852 wframbes1@insightbb.com
Landscape – Beth Maggard 781-9138 childbeth3@fuse.net
Pool – Barb Culp 781-6910 rculp2@insightbb.com
Social – Pat Rummel 441-1088 rprummel@peoplepe.com
Welcome – Judi Hahn 781-6329 judihahn@insightbb.com
Clubhouse Coordinator – Rhoda Wheeler 441-6185
whlrwheeler@aol.com
Clubhouse Co-Coordinator – Rhonda Brandt 866-2182
Ronda.brandt@insightbb.com
Editor – Ron Culp 781-6910 rculp2@insightbb.com

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