March 2009

Well, I finally got my wish.  I've been saying that we ought to have at least one good snow storm each winter.   It was fun.  I got to take a hike in the snow covered fields of Quiet Waters Park.  I'm satisfied now and ready for Spring! 

One of the signs of Spring in Hillsmere is Come And Get It Day.  We got our day in this year before the snow storm.  This time, it was at the Key School.  Using the library has been problematic because you have to get there on the first Monday in October and get your reservation in the book before anyone else does.  We were a little late and all the dates were taken.  We spent a lot of time talking about the best way to get people there and how the room should be set up for the best flow.  It turned out very well.  We put out bright yellow signs to direct residents to the right location.  It seemed to have worked since there was a line in the hallway at 10 am when we opened the doors.  Once inside, everything went pretty smoothly.  At times there was a backup, but most people got processed with little waiting.  I enjoyed my role as the "greeter".  My job was to make sure people knew where to go and were waiting in the right line.  It's fun because I get to talk to a lot of the residents.  I also got to hand out a few donuts to some of the kids who came with their parents.  None of the adult volunteers were taking the pink and green donuts covered in sprinkles.  The kids loved them!  We had a great group of volunteers.    There were several board members and a few of their spouses.  A number of other people helped out as well.  It's a grueling day with little chance for a break.  Beside HSIA functions, there was a table for the Hillsmere Pool Association, the Hillsmere Garden Club, and one with information about the HSIA Stormwater Committee's efforts to address run‑off issues in our community.  As usual, Jean Somers, our Administrator, did a terrific job of getting everything organized.

I was afraid that the change to use the Key School would cause many people to miss the event.  It didn't turn out that way.  We had a record number of memberships, over 300 people joined HSIA.  At $15 per year, it's a great way to support your community.  There are some things we do that we can't use Special Tax money for.  Dues from members account for most of the money we raise for the General Fund.  If you didn't join yet, please consider doing so by mail.  The applications are in the Sea Breeze or on our web site.  With one membership you will get the right to vote in elections and other important decisions.  But most important, you get to support your neighbors and be a part of your home owner's association.

At its last meeting, the HSIA Board voted to approve a contract with a new security company.  Although we have not formally signed the contract yet, starting May 1st  we will have security patrols provided by Blueguard Security, Inc.  A representative of Blueguard attended our meeting and answered questions about the services they will provide.  There will be a minimum of 30 hours per week of patrols all year round.  They will patrol in a marked security car with roof mounted amber lights.  Previously, all our patrols have been in the evening and nighttime hours.  This year, some of the patrols will be during the daytime as well.  We will still have our off‑duty Anne Arundel County police officers patrolling as before.  Right now we have two officers working part time.  We hope to get Randy back this summer as our beach and marina security guard on weekends and holidays.  We are optimistic that this company will not have the problems we have seen in the past.  It is a family owned business that seems to be very interested in providing excellent customer service.

It's always great to see residents come forward to volunteer their time for the community.  Nuala O'Leary has offered to compile a Hillsmere Resident Resource Guide.  This guide will list residents of Hillsmere who offer services such as plumbing, massage, pet sitting, or anything else that people might need.  The resource guide will be available by email or on our web site at no charge.  Please see Nuala's article elsewhere in this Sea Breeze. 

Another resident who has volunteered her time is Julie Crudele.  She will be writing a history of Hillsmere Shores.  There are a lot of people in our community who have been here since the beginning.  Julie would love to hear their stories and recollections.  If you have any documents or stories to share, please contact her at historian@hillsmereshores.net.  Phil Jones has already donated an original copy of the brochure advertising home sites in Hillsmere Shores for as little as $850.  Don't you wish you had bought a few as an investment!

As you may know, we have a Good Neighbors program in Hillsmere that helps residents with simple tasks like changing a light bulb or helping with yard work.  It’s designed to help residents who can’t do it themselves.  They may be elderly, handicapped, or a single mom with on one else to ask for help.  Beckey Lund started and managed the Good Neighbors program.  She, and the numerous volunteers, have been a lifesaver to several of our residents.  Unfortunately, Beckey is moving away this Spring and needs someone else to take over managing the program.  She says that it’s not time consuming, you can  do  it almost  entirely by  email,  and it’s fun!  If  you  would  be  willing  to  manage  this  important program, please send an email to admin@hillsmereshores.net and we’ll put you in touch with Beckey so she can explain exactly what’s involved.  We will miss Beckey.  She has been a wonderful example of how someone can, by donating a few hours a month, make such a difference to her neighbors and to her community.

As our active year is beginning, please remember that all residents who volunteer for more than eight hours in the year will receive a free Hillsmere volunteer tee shirt.  It's the volunteers, from board members to historians, who really make this a great place to live.  If you feel like you get a lot from your community then please consider giving something back.  You'll get a thank you from all 2,000 plus residents who will benefit from your efforts.