lake forest shores
Condo Living in the City of Lake Forest
Holiday Shopping and more...
December 7, 2021
What happened to 2021? Christmas is right around the corner, so make sure to get your shopping done early this year. I know there is a lot of talk about empty shelves or low inventory due to the supply chain crisis. Personally, I haven't seen anything to worry about; except that my Walmart location has been out of cream cheese for the last couple weeks, but that seems to be the norm with Walmart trying to keep certain products in stock. I'm sure Albertsons next door or any of the other grocery stores have plenty in stock. Anyways, order now if you're doing your shopping online because it's always a matter of timing to make sure your gifts get delivered by Christmas.
Anyways, let's hope I'm right about the not having to worry about low inventory at the stores. I do know that there is no shortage of high gas prices. If you're looking to save a few bucks with gas, I would suggest going to Costco. Did you know Costco gas stations open @ 6:00am on the weekends? I just found out and the best part, no lines during the early morning hours.
As for the higher prices on goods, I don't know if there is anything that can be done. Ummm... maybe shop for sales???
HOA Fees:
Speaking of higher prices, the Beach & Tennis Club decided to add fuel to the fire by raising its HOA fee to $147/month...Ugh! Supposedly, it is primarily due to the $5.00 increase in minimum wage over the last few years. Well, I believe they've already used that excuse before to increase their HOA fee prior to the pandemic. So with everyone's generous contribution, that's a total revenue of $244,944 that the Beach & Tennis Club will gain from this HOA increase. How much are these people making? Sign me up...
All kidding aside, I did notice the Beach & Tennis Club's general manager trying to justify the reasons for the increases on page 7 of the monthly LFCA newsletter. I'm not sure if it makes it any better, but at least they addressed the reason; possibly from complaints or maybe the anticipation of receiving pushback. Either way, let's move to a few items within our Lake Forest Shores community. Starting with the good news, our Board decided to not increase the HOA fees this year...Woohoo!!! With inflation kicking into high gear, that's really good news to not get stuck with a double whammy. A little saved is helpful; so I'm glad for that decision.
Eventually, it would be good for the Board to meet with the Beach & Tennis Club management team concerning our montly HOA fees. These assessment increases are mostly for the benefit of the homes located outside of Lake Forest Shores. If I'm wrong, please let me know. We do have our own HOA that takes care of everything within our community. The use of the Beach & Tennis Club is a great amenity, but at $147/month???
Green Organics Cart:
Also, I'm sure you have all noticed that CR&R unexpectedly delivered Green Organics Carts/Containers a few weeks ago. It was part of a new program to collect food scraps and yard waste to be converted into compost. It was surprising to see and I didn't see any advanced notice that this was going to happen. Most of all, I was trying to figure out where to store this new container with limited space in the garage.
Shortly after, CR&R came back to pick up those Green Organics Carts, as if they had been delivered by mistake. Unfortunately, some were not picked up due to having been stored in garages on the day of pick-up. It was early morning on a Saturday, so most people were still sleeping and unaware this was happening. To this day, there are still a few left behind that remain placed outside during the week. I'm not sure who does the scheduling for picking up these carts, but for the meantime all waste containers should be placed in garages to avoid possible penalties for violation of the CC&R.
If you're not interested in keeping the Green Organics Cart, then please contact CR&R to schedule a pick-up or the property manager, Melissa Sanchez, via email: msanchez@ch-pm.com or telephone: (949) 367-9430 ext. 238, to get direction / assistance. Based on my experience with Crummack Huseby, their property managers have always been quick to respond to inquiries. Unfortunately, I'm going to put them on "blast" for what could be considered a "conflict of interest" regarding parking. This is an issue that was brought to my attention and after months of observation to confirm the allegations, it seems that either Crummack Huseby is turning a blind eye / making special accommodations or Courtesy Patrol is not doing their job. Hmmmm... I'll probably elaborate more on this topic at a later time.
Barking:
Moving forward, I've received a few complaints regarding "barking" nuissances on the premises. It's nice that pets are welcomed at Lake Forest Shores; they're adorable and a great addition to the family. If I had the time to take care of these lovable fur balls, I'd have one (maybe two). But having pets comes with responsibilities, such as cleaning, training, exercise, etc.
I've been living at Lake Forest Shores for 10+ years. Personally, I wouldn't consider any of the barking throughout the community to be excessive. Let's be honest, it is slightly bothersome at times. I have witnessed dog owners allowing their pets to continually bark for a couple minutes at the most without any type of intervention; failure to exercise control which reinforces the dog's barking. Sometimes they (the owner) smiles thinking it's cute and/or funny, but that might not be the case with the people being annoyed.
Remember that Lake Forest Shores is generally a quiet place and therefore, the sounds can be amplified. That is something to take into consideration when you're walking your dog(s) in the early morning or late night hours. Everyone is on a different sleeping schedule due to their work or for some other reason(s). Your pet is a direct extension of you and how you will be perceived by your neighbors. What may seem acceptable to you, could be considered an annoyance by others.
For those who feel the barking is ongoing and excessive, it would be a matter of letting the HOA know and/or calling animal control due to a possible code violation. In my opinion, it is probably best to inform your neighbor to avoid / minimize any type of neighbor-to-neighbor hostility. A lot of times, if the barking happens indoors while the owner is away, they may be unaware that this is happening throughout the day. Communication is key!
Lake Forest Shores is a great little community. Based on my observations, it seems to only be a handful of dog owners that are oblivious or ignorant to their dog(s) barking. The good news is it only lasts a few minutes at the most. Believe me, if there is anything to complain about it would be the Albertsons during their scheduled deliveries on certain days...Ugh!
If you're a cat owner, you can breathe a sigh of relief. No one has complained about loud meows or excessive purring... ^.^
Beach & Tennis Club:
For those of you who do take advantage of the amenties at the clubhouse, the winter hours of operation are:
Monday - Saturday (7:00am - 10:00pm)
Sunday (7:00am - 6:00pm)
The holiday hours at the clubhouse will be:
Christmas Eve - (Dec. 24th @ 7:00am - 12:00pm)
Christmas Day - (Dec. 25th @ CLOSED)
New Year's Eve - (Dec. 31st @ 7:00am - 12:00pm)
New Year's Day - (Jan. 1st @ CLOSED)
The holiday boat rides for those interested in seeing the beautiful Christmas light decorations around the lake are Wed, Dec. 15th & Thurs, Dec. 16th @ 6:00pm - 8:15pm. You must reserve your spot ahead of time by signing up at the front desk of the clubhouse. Donations are required.
The Lakeview Lounge will continue with Monday Night Football. The lounge opens at 5:00pm with dinner served @ $8 a plate (cash only).
Dec. 13th - Rams vs. Cardinals
Dec. 20th - Vikings vs. Bears
Dec. 27th - Dolphins vs. Saints
Jan. 03rd - Browns vs. Steelers
Must be 21 years of age or older. No outside alcoholic beverages are permitted. $5 fee per guest.
Karaoke Nights are back, so grab some friends and enjoy yourselves. The next big nights is Friday, Dec. 10th (7:00pm - 10:00pm). Must be 21 years of age or older. $5 per guest. No outside alcoholic beverages. Cash bar only.
Lastly, each year the Beach & Tennis Club puts up a beautiful Christmas tree and decorations. It is a great place to go relax and enjoy the holiday season for those who weren't able to put up Christmas decorations this year.
That's it for right now. Until next time... ^.^
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