2015 spring normans news
DESCRIPTION
This is the 2015 Spring edition of the newsletter for Norman Downes which is located in Duluth, GA.TRANSCRIPT
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Spring 2015
Certified Wildlife Habitat
1
The wooded area
encompassing the tennis
courts and Knox Branch
creek is now a Certified
Wildlife Habitat, certified
by the National Wildlife
Federation which has
encouraged individuals and
communities to create and
conserve wildlife habitat
2
since 1973. To become
certified, an area must
provide food sources,
water sources, cover, and
places to raise young. For
food, our area has mature
oaks, pines, and beeches,
which have nuts and seeds.
Azaleas and jewelweed
provide pollen and nectar,
3
while shrubs,
groundcovers, and fallen
logs provide cover.
Sustainable gardening is
encouraged by the NWF,
such as the use of native
plants and no or limited
use of chemicals. To find
out more, go to
www.nwf.org.
Inside this issue: Page 2 Little Free Library, Neighborhood Musings Page 3 In remembrance of a Norman Downes resident Page 4 - Save the date! Pool, Graduation Banner, Board of Director Election info, 2015 Spring
Yard Sale
Normans News The sound of lawn mowers and leaf blowers fill the air. Flowers and trees are blooming, grass is growing, and we know its a challenge to keep up with the yard work. Please remember that our homeowner covenants require yards to be maintained so dont let the grass get too high! If you need help with your yard, please reach out to one of the HOA board members. We have contacts for neighborhood teens that will mow lawns or maybe you just need to borrow a mower. Whatever we can do to help, just give us a call!
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Normans news Spring 2015
Norman Downes
newest addition:
Little Free Library
Tired of watching TV? Then head
down to the pool parking lot and
grab a free book out of the new
Little Free Library. Here you can
find a variety of books to choose
from, both fiction and nonfiction
for kids and adults. Little Free
Libraries are created by
individuals in communities across
the country, where people can
take a book for themselves or
leave a book for others to enjoy.
The Little Free Library
organization began in 2009 in
Wisconsin by two men whose
mission is to promote literacy
and the love of reading by
building free book exchanges
worldwide. You can find out
more by going to
littlefreelibrary.org, or simply
visit Norman Downes own Little
Library.
1
Its been almost 16 years since I first
moved to Norman Downes at the
urging of my godparents who were
already in the neighborhood. My
husband, Paul, and I were new parents
of very young children and the beauty
of the neighborhood struck us
immediately. People were out
walking, yards were well-kept, and
schools were outstanding. Why look
any further? While all of these
features are still true today, the
neighborhood has changed. My
godmother has passed away and my
godfather is in a nursing home. I lost a
dear neighbor to breast cancer.
Another neighbor became a US
citizen. People have moved out,
another generation of young parents
have moved in, and the neighborhood
has become culturally more
diversified. Much like our
surrounding county, Norman Downes
can celebrate the new traditions and
experiences shared by our multi-
cultural neighbors.
The strength of Norman Downes is
our vibrant community and it
2
saddened me to hear that one of our
neighbors has been harassed by an
incident that may be racially
motivated. Whether our neighbors are
renters or owners, all are welcome!
Please take a moment to wave at the
new neighbors, trade some recipes, or
chat by the mailbox. Intolerance has
no place in Norman Downes and its
up to us to make everyone feel a part
of this great neighborhood.
In the spirit of diversity, I would like
to encourage folks to try some of the
new restaurants popping up in the
area. I recently ate at Caf Raik, a
new Middle Eastern/Mediterranean
restaurant across from the Home
Depot on Old Peachtree. Named for
the owners young son, the restaurant
serves up wonderful shwarma (think
gyros), falafel, and lentil salads. The
flavors are wonderful, so stop by and
give it a try next time youre shopping
at the HD garden center. My next
update will review the new Ramen
Noodle shop behind the 5 Guys
yum!
Peggy Chandler
Neighborhood Musings
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Normans news Spring 2015
Dear Norman Downes residents,
As I come up upon marking a year and
a half since the passing of my husband,
Shawn Tyrrell, I would like to convey
to Norman Downes residents how
grateful and lucky I am to live in such a
wonderful community. For those of
you who do not know, Shawn and I
moved into Norman Downes in 2006.
Shawn was a very outgoing person and
we made a lot of friends here soon
after moving in. Shawn could often be
seen running or biking in the
neighborhood, often running with our
dog Siobhan. On July 30th, 2013, he
was out on a training run at Peachtree
Ridge High School when he suffered a
massive heart attack and could not be
revived. Shawn was 49 years old.
Because his car was not parked at the
school, and because he had no ID on
him, he was not identified until several
hours later. I was home alone at about
8:30 in the evening when I found out.
I want to let you know that due to the
wonderful friends and neighbors here
in Norman Downes, I did not have to
suffer through this alone. I have no
other family here in Georgia, but a
good network of friends. Immediately
after informing me of Shawn's passing,
police went next door to neighbors
Kelly and Jeff Aldridge (who have
since moved) and Kelly came over to
stay with me, Likewise, Susan and Rob
Welch stayed long into the night with
me to see me through. Over the next
days, neighbors such as Patrice and Jeff
Neaves, Jasmine and Ed Howdon,
Michelle and Ray King, David and
Marlene Colburn and John and Laura
Ridderhof helped me out in many
ways. I certainly couldn't have got
through the ensuing days without the
help of so many people. Jasmine has
been seeing me through and taking
care of me non-stop.
Shawn was in great physical shape; he
not only was a runner, biker and
triathlete, he often would win his age
group in many races. In 2009, he was
the overall Masters Men's champion at
the Duluth Fall Festival Race. When he
did the Peachtree Road Race, he was
always one of the sub-seeded runners,
always way ahead of the masses of
other runners far behind. What we
didn't know was that he had
undiagnosed heart disease: his
coronary arteries were between 45%
and 95% blocked. Sadly, just one week
before he died, we found out that he
had high LDL cholesterol, and he had
been on a strict diet to lower it. This
was most likely a hereditary condition.
The coroner said that he likely had
high cholesterol for many years,
likewise the blockage in his arteries
had probably begun years ago. But
because he was so fit and had
absolutely no symptoms whatsoever,
he had not been to a doctor for
a routine checkup for many, many
years.
It's been very difficult to learn to live
alone, but I have been blessed with
such a great neighborhood, and good
friends who have been kind and
generous. I am hoping that I can
continue to live in this community, but
I am not sure what future plans I may
need to make. If there are any lessons
to be learned from this experience,
they would be to please, don't ever
take your health for granted; please get
regular check ups and lead a healthy
lifestyle. And please, if you go out
even for a short run or walk, take your
ID with you. Shawn died only 2 miles
from home, but I didn't find out until
many, many hours later. And finally,
be thankful for the wonderful
community that we share here in
Norman Downes, and please lend a
helping hand to others in need. You
never know when you will be needing
the help of your neighbors.
Fran Tyrrell
2722 Kenwood Dr.
Duluth, GA 30096
In Remembrance of Norman Downes resident Shawn Tyrrell
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Normans news Spring 2015
Certified Wildlife
Habitat
The wooded area encompassing the
tennis courts and Knox Branch
creek is now a Certified Wildlife
Habitat, certified by the National
Wildlife Federation which has
encouraged individuals and
communities to create and conserve
wildlife habitat since 1973. To
become certified, an area must
provide food sources, water
sources, cover, and places to raise
young. For food, our area has
mature oaks, pines, and beeches,
which have nuts and seeds. Azaleas
and jewelweed provide pollen and
nectar, while shrubs, groundcovers,
and fallen logs provide cover.
Sustainable gardening is encouraged
by the NWF, such as the use of
native plants and no or limited use
of chemicals. To find out more, go
to www.nwf.org.
Norman Downes Board Of directors
ballots This newsletter contains the ballots for our neighbors who have expressed interest
in serving on the HOA Board of Directors. Please take a few minutes to read their
Bio and vote for the candidates. We have three positions open, so vote for the
three candidates you feel are most deserving. Our HOA consists of you, our
neighbors, governed by a board of directors consisting of nine people. Each
director serves a three year term. The directors responsibilities include attending
monthly board meetings and voting on matters brought before the board, basing
their decisions on what they determine is essentially best for the neighborhood.
If you know someone who is
graduating from high school
or college this spring, let
Susan Welch know at
[email protected], and that
persons name will be put
on a congratulations banner
at the neighborhood
entrances. A small fee not to
exceed $5.00 will apply.
Our pool will be opening on May
21st. As usual, we will have a Pool
Preview weekend on May 16th and
17th. Norman Downes is looking for
a couple motivated helpers. One to
open the pool at 8:00AM every day,
and another to close it at 10:00PM
every night, and straighten up any
pool furniture, gather any trash that
may have missed a receptacle, and
take the trash to the curb on Tuesday
nights. These are paying positions. If
interested, please contact
Yard sale!!
Youll probably agree this is short notice, but we will have our Spring garage sale on April 25, with a preview for our neighbors from 5 to 8 on April 24. If you would like to take part, please contact Rob Welch ([email protected]) to say that you will be taking part, and list a few of the more significant items you will be selling, or the categories of items, such as Childrens clothing, Golf equipment, etc.
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Norman Downes Homes Association, Inc. Proposed Budget
For Calendar Year 2015
Operating Budget
Operating Expenses
Administrative
8,698
Communications
1,150
Development
200
General Maintenance, Playground and Lake Areas 4,360
Landscape Maintenance
9,125
Pool Maintenance
32,440
Tennis Maintenance
2,535
Total Operating Expenses
$58,508
Capital Reserves Funding
10,120
$68,628
Capital Improvements Budget
Capital Improvement Expenditures Planned for 2015 $22,000 Capital Reserves to be Used for Capital Improvements $(22,000)
Total Proposed Budget
$68,628
Annual Assessment for Year 2014
$258
Proposed increase for 2015
- Proposed Annual Assessment for Year 2013 $258 For 266 Properties
$68,628
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2015 2018 Board of Director Candidate Bios:
Clifford Curtis - I have lived in Norman Downs for 31 years, since Aug 1983. I have an MBA and retired
from Boeing where I was a business analyst. I also volunteer with the AARP Tax-Aide program, where I
am the local coordinator and a tax preparer.
Judy Taylor has lived in the neighborhood since 1996. She has a grown son and stepson. For several
years she has coordinated the block captain / neighborhood watch program in Norman Downes. She is a
former elementary school teacher.
Cheryl Smith My husband Barry and I have been members of the Norman Downes community since
2004. I am a former Montessori teacher and school administrator. I am currently the CFO of the
Draftech Technology Center in Lawrenceville. I am very active in the Norman Downes community. I
published Normans News, our last neighborhood directory, and worked alongside the HOA board
organizing community events, updating the Covenants and establishing written Neighborhood Standards
and Lake Norman usage regulations as well as working on other projects.
I would like to serve as your board member help keep the focus on continuing to improve amenities, while
retaining the beauty and warm, friendly, neighborly feeling that attracts good families to Norman Downes.
The last page is the ballot itself. Please fill it out and put it in one of the suggestion boxes found at the Kensington Entrance, or at the
pool.
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Ballot
For Calendar Year 2015
FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
of the terms expiring December 31, 2014
Term Began
Term Ends
Current Board of Directors 1-Jan 31-Dec
Open
2015 2017
Open
2015 2017
Open
2015 2017
Susan Holland
2014 2016
Rob Welch
2014 2016
Peggy Chandler (1)
2014 2016
Sam Carr
2013 2015
Andrew Miller
2013 2015
Rick Austin
2013 2015
Note (1) - Peggy Chandler assumed the unexpired board position of Peter VanArsdale.
VOTE BY MARKING AN "X" WITHIN THE BOX
The following candidates will fill the positions expiring December 31, 2017
Please select THREE names from the list below:
Clifford Curtis 3323 Lancing Court
Judy Taylor 3103 Brookshire Way
Cheryl Smith 3308 Leeds Way
FOR THE 2015 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET
Approve the 2015 Proposed Budget
Disapprove the 2015 Proposed Budget
FOR THE 2015 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET
Approve the 2015 Proposed Budget
Disapprove the 2015 Proposed Budget