February 2010

In the last Sea Breeze I said "Don't put your shovels away just yet.  This may be a very snowy winter".  Wow.. could I have been more right?  I know most of you are tired of the snow.  It may be a big pain, especially if you had to get to work everyday.  But you have to admit that it's really beautiful outside.  I still like the snow, although after shoveling my driveway at least six times, my back respectfully disagrees!

The double storms that dumped, by my direct measurement, a total of 31 inches of snow, certainly challenged our community.   We all had significant hurdles to get over, from shoveling snow to getting to the supermarket.  However, despite all the adversity, many of our residents stepped up to help their neighbors.  When I sent an email asking for volunteers to assist elderly and handicapped residents, numerous people responded.  When I asked for volunteers with 4‑wheel drive vehicles to help people get to the store, over twenty people offered to help.  This was a wonderful response even though no one ended up asking for help getting to the store.  A great example of how wonderful our community is came when we received an email asking for us to help an eighty year old gentleman on Edgemere Drive.  He had no power and no heat.  He was fine using his fireplace, but couldn't get to the wood in his shed.  A friend who lived on the other side of the community and was completely snowed in asked us to help him get to his firewood.  As Kate Penn, HSIA board member and chairperson of the Beach Committee, started rounding up volunteers, I drove over to see what we were up against.  What I found was that one of his neighbors had already brought him a generator and firewood.  I'm sure there were many examples of neighbors helping each other get through these storms.  We got one other request for help.  A 93 year old woman on Hillsmere Drive was unable to get out of her house.  Her son‑in‑law, who lives in the neighborhood, usually takes care of her snow but he had a torn rotator cuff and couldn't do anything to help.  We got a group of four volunteers and shoveled a path wide enough for her walker.  I heard many stories of people plowing streets with tractors, trucks with snow plows, and even snow blowers.  I saw one resident shoveling her street.  This snow fall was extraordinary.  I think the county did an excellent job of clearing our streets.  After the first storm, I received a few emails about streets that were still impassable.  I went out and drove the neighborhood and compiled a list.  I understand that a small cul‑de‑sac might be missed but I couldn't understand why Edgemere Drive was completely un‑plowed.  It turned out that it was listed in the county database as a dead‑end/cul‑de‑sac street.  I believe it was because it changes name, to Poplar Lane, as it curves back to join Locust Lane.  I then called the County Executive's office to see what could be done.  As it turned out, Mr. Leopold had ordered his staff to prepare a list of streets that were not plowed and send it to the Department of Public Works (DPW).  I gave them the list and then sent an email to the community with the list of streets I had submitted.  I knew that would get a reaction!  I immediately got a bunch of emails about several other streets that needed plowing.  I called and added them to the list.  About 30 minutes later I received a call from a DPW supervisor who went over the list with me and promised that they would do what they could to get them plowed.  Within an hour after I sent the email, there was a large front end loader working on Edgemere Drive.  All the streets were cleared that night.   I think our community's response to the storms was wonderful.  I want to thank everyone who volunteered or just went and helped a neighbor.  You are what makes this community so great.

Speaking of volunteers, Tracy Stanley is one of our new HSIA board members.  She is very excited about serving our community.  For starters she is taking over as our Volunteer Coordinator.  In that role she will work to find people willing to help in many different ways.   This can range from coming out for a beach workday to serving on a committee.  Of course, it will also cover volunteers in times of crisis like we just went through with the snow storms.  If you are interested in helping out, even if it's for only a couple of hours, please let her know.  You can reach her at volunteer@hillsmereshores.net or 443‑517‑9820.

Tracy is also going to take over as chairperson of the Bylaws Committee.  This committee worked very hard a few years ago to update the HSIA Bylaws.  The work was 80% done when other issues pushed it to the back burner.  We are going to resurrect the committee and try to have a new set of bylaws ready for community approval this summer (I know it doesn't feel like it now, but there will be a summer this year!).  A lot of people confuse the bylaws with the covenants.  The bylaws determine how HSIA functions.  They cover things like budgets, elections, and officers.  The covenants cover things like property setbacks and community rules.  Changing the covenants is a very big effort since it requires a majority of the property owners to approve any changes.  For now, we are just going to get the bylaws updated.

Another committee change is that Kevin Green is taking over as the chairperson of the Environmental Committee.  As you probably know, Kevin just left the HSIA board to take a position as a member of the South River Federation Board of Directors.  Congratulations Kevin, and thanks for continuing to serve our community.

Come And Get It Day is Saturday, February 27th from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm.  This is your opportunity to join HSIA, get your stickers, boat ramp keys, etc.  Just like last year, it will be held at the Key School.   It only costs $15 per year to join HSIA.  Surprisingly, less than half of our residents join.  Especially during the storms we just experienced, I received many emails thanking HSIA for the work we do to help the community.   I fully understand that many of you don't have the time available to volunteer.  However, I urge everyone to show your appreciation for everything we do by joining HSIA.  If you can't come to Come And Get It Day then just mail in the application in this Sea Breeze.  If you would like to volunteer to help out at Come And Get It Day then contact Jean Somers at admin@hillsmereshores.net or leave a message at 410‑263‑4456 (24 hour voice mail).

Well, this has been an interesting month.  It's been a time of adversity and beauty.  The outpouring of community spirit has been heartwarming.  As a community, we rose to the occasion and met the challenges of the severe storms.  We should all be very proud of what we did and how we helped our neighbors.  We have proved again what a great community we live in.

-Bill Shuman
 President, Hillsmere Shores Improvement Association