The Social Committee plans and leads community events, including the after holiday party, community yard sale, 4th of July parade, and Fall Festival.  They are looking for 2-3 additional members.

The Architecture Review Committee (ARC) helps ensure the community’s architectural standards are maintained by guiding residents making improvements to their properties.  The ARC is seeking 3 additional members.

We are also seeking volunteers to help establish a Grounds Committee.  This committee will help identify areas in need of maintenance and prioritize improvements for our grounds contractor.  We need 3-5 residents to help get this committee running.

Finally, three Board of Directors positions will be up for election at the association’s annual meeting in September.  These positions are either two or three year terms.  Specific billets are determined internally by the Board members following the election.

For more information on any of these openings or to volunteer, please contact the Board (boa...@highlandsca.com).

Congratulations to our winners:

Colonial Christmas

            Connie and Jim Engle, 8722 Braystone Drive

            Shirley Michael, 7936 Dunnottar Court

Spirit of Christmas

            Steve Parkhurst, 11125 Sterling Cove Drive

            Michelle and Joseph Kirby, 11107 Isadora Drive

Over The Top Lights:

            Patrick Wheeler, 8303 Regalia Court

            Cheryl and Thomas Payne, 7901 Dunnottar Court

Each of the winners will be receiving a $50 gift card.

The current ARC Guidelines for our community were approved and published in December 2006.  Our ARC has done a tremendous job and has developed a recommended update to the Guidelines.  Both the current and proposed guidelines are published on the website (http://highlandsca.com/arc-guildelines/) for homeowner review and comment.

Feedback can be submitted by emailing the Board (board@highlandsca.com).  The deadline for providing comments will be Friday, January 6th, 2012.  Responses will then be considered before finalizing and publishing the completed update.

Additionally, the ARC is staffed by a number of neighbor volunteers.  The ARC is soliciting applications for additional community member volunteers to be part of the committee.  If interested, send an email to Mike Bogan (bogan329@gmail.com) with your name, address, and a brief statement describing your experience and how you would benefit the community if selected.  Questions may also be submitted to the Board using the email address listed above.

The annual HCA Christmas Yard Contest is underway!  This year there are three categories for entrants:

-          A Colonial Christmas (think Williamsburg)

-          Most Over-The-Top Light Display EVER!

-          The Spirit Of Christmas

Flyers with all of the details have been provided to the all of the neighborhood block captains for distribution.  A copy of the flyer is also attached to the website calendar page.

Nominations are due by December 16th so don’t delay!

Please send all nominations to Elaine Minge, 12107 Lammermoor Drive or email to eminga@comcast.net.

Congratulations go to our winners:
        Scariest Halloween Yard:
                1st — 12700 Erinton Terrace
                2nd — 8201 Ravenna Terrace
        Fall Harvest:
                1st — 10912 Isadora Drive
                2nd — 10613 MacAndrew Lane

Each of the four winners will receive a $50 gift card.

NOTE:  You must be a registered user, logged in to access the attached forms.

- Scariest Halloween Yard

- Most Festive Harvest Display

Each winner will receive a $50 gift certificate.  The nomination deadline is October 24th, and judging will take place on the 29th. 

Please see the form attached on the Events Calendar for additional details, including nomination specifics.  Registered site users can also us the following link to directly access the event page:  http://highlandsca.com/forum/index.php?topic=87.0.

The Social Committee is always looking for volunteers.  If you are interested, please contact Sarah Martin.

Regards,
The Highlands Community Association Team

July 2, 2011

Happy July 4^th weekend.  I hope you all have a safe and happy time with friends and family.  Things are moving on through the summer quite well with all the summer only groups started up and enjoying out door activities.

This group of happy folks is celebrating the end of school.  The larger folks are the dedicated mentors at Harrowgate School.  The smaller folk are the lucky recipients of their dedication.  You too could be part of this group for the 2011-2012 school year by contacting Jean Sinclair at 717-5494.

There are many opportunities to participate in Nifty Fifty activities as an officer on your board or as a chair person of a group now in existence or one you feel we should add.  It will not be long before it is time to elect a new board and finalize the committees for the year 2012.  Any member may serve on the board or chair a committee.  Both experiences are very rewarding.  We will be forming a nominating committee in the near future to select candidates for next year’s board.  Please consider serving in this capacity.  It is always good to have new blood and new ideas in any organization.  If you have any questions about what this service entails, please do not hesitate to contact me or any board member.

The following are the reports sent in by your dedicated chairpersons, including a report sent from Alaska and Florida:

Tennis

We’ve had one neighborhood round robin this spring.  We are planning the next one middle of July.  Sorry this is so vague, but I’m sending this email from Anchorage.

Mary Ossowski 748-7165

Hand & Foot Update

Hand & Foot is going strong.  We have on average 16 to 20 players monthly.  Playing at the clubhouse makes it easy and comfortable for those involved. We do a special holiday Hand & Foot in December at someone’s house.  We exchange gifts and enjoy dinner supplied by each lady attending. Come join us in a fun night of cards.

Jane Herman 717-2046

Foyer Groups

The spring rotation continues.  Notices will go out in Aug. about the fall rotation and new groups will be formed by September.  Anyone that is interested but not currently involved, please email your information to:  fer...@comcast.net so that we can make sure you get the notice in August.

Book Club

The next book club meeting is scheduled for Wed, July 6, at the club at 10:30am.  The book we are currently reading and will be discussing is: When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin.  Anyone interested in getting the Book Club notices please email your contact info to: fer...@comcast.net.

John and Aileen Ferrua from sunny Florida

Massey Classic

The Golf Classic is scheduled for September 22 with the dinner and auction on the preceding evening.  Carrie Hillman and I will once again head up the volunteer efforts for these events.  We are counting on continued support from those who have volunteered in the past and anyone who would like to join us for the first time is more than welcome.  Contact Carrie Hillman 748-7525 or Lacy Gray 748-7720 to sign-up, it’s a lot of fun while supporting the Massey Cancer Center.

Fine Arts & Theater Group

On July 23rd, we are going to see the laugh out loud comedy – DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS!  This play is based on the classic film by the same name, and the lead part is being played by Jeff McCarthy.  Jeff has a number of professional Broadway and TV performances to his credit.  Also starring is Richmond’s favorite Scott Wichmann.  This will be a good way to enjoy a fun summer evening!!

Barksdale has offered us a terrific group rate of $32.00/ticket!!  (Single senior rates are $43.00/ticket, and the normal group rates are $40.00/person).  An optional dinner before the 8 p.m. performance at The Empire Theater will be available.  Convenient parking is available for $6.00/car.

To sign up to go, or for additional information, contact Pat Johnson at 748-0887 or lonn...@comcast.net.

Men’s Lunch Bunch

The Lunch Bunch will meet Wednesday, July 6, at 11:30am at the Sales Center.  We will be going to Buzz and Ned’s BBQ, which was featured on the TV Food Network by Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives.  Please let me know by July 4, with your plans to attend.  Buzz and Ned’s is located near the Diamond.

John Ross 365-0122

Investment Club

Over the past two months we have lost 4 members and are now down to 7 members.  The club turned 10 years old in May and the only original member is Rick Kerlin.  For the first time we had a financial planner present a talk on ETFs, and we learned a lot about that new different type of mutual fund.  We are still doing well financially and all members who left made about 15% profit.  Much better than the bank.  We meet every month at 6:30pm in the old club house on the second Tuesday of the each month.

Pat Serrill 706-1101

Swim Finners

We met on June 1st and have averaged about 10 members so far in attendance.  We are all getting lots of exercise for both our bodies and our mouths.  We are all looking forward to continuing the program and invite anyone who is a pool member and a nifty fifty member to come any Monday, Wednesday, or Saturday at 11:00am to join in the festivities.

Pat Serrill 706-1101

Bridge

We continue to meet the first Thursday and the 4th Thursday each month at 1:00pm and 10:00am in the Castleberry Room of the new clubhouse.  We average about 4 tables of bridge.  This is not a formal group.  We are there to have fun and I hope that each month we have a different winner.

Pat Serrill 706-1101

Garden Club

The garden club has been busy, as usual, in their gardens and having great meetings.  Most recently Pat Padgett, Master Gardener, presented Water Conservation for our yards, answering a lot of questions for us.

We took a trip to purchase organic herbs at Lavender Fields accompanied with a delicious lunch.

The Garden Club is taking the summer off, but will resume in September when Jane and Lee Hesler will provide us with a discussion based on courses they have recently completed.  In October, Patty Watts will lead a hands-on demo on flower arranging, where each participant will bring fresh flowers, a pot and floral foam and will make an arrangement to take home.  Carol Wellman is heading up the Christmas Decorations Committee for Magnolia Grange this year.  More information on each of these activities will be coming.  Don’t forget to check your email.

At our last meeting, the members decided that the meetings for the remainder of the year will begin a 1:00 PM on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from September onward.

If you are interested in joining or have any questions, please contact Pat Genco 748-8793 or Patty Watts 768-0616.

Monthly Game Night

Our 3rd FRIDAY GAME NIGHTS remain well attended and a lot of fun.  Game nights are hosted by different volunteers each month.  We meet at the Country Club at 6:30 pm for some refreshment and visiting with each other.  The monthly hosts decide what to play and write up the announcement.  Members respond to the hosts, so they can make arrangements with the club for refreshments.  NEW FACES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!

Jack and Terry Eng  j.e...@comcast.net 768-2495

Ladies Lunch Bunch

3rd THURSDAY EACH MONTH is hosted by MAGGIE WILSON and TERRY ENG.  The group is small, but our outings are always fun.  It is a way to discover some new places to eat and get to know each other more intimately.  We try to find activities to go with our lunch destination when possible.  If you can attend each month, or just join us occasionally, you are always welcome.

Maggie Wilson mw3...@verizon.net 748-9621

Terry Eng j.e...@comcast.net 768-2495

Bocce Ball

Bocce Ball is scheduled for Sunday, July 24th, 1:00 pm-Pot Luck.  Hosts are Terry and Jack Eng, Joanne & Vic Bouril, and Terry and Sherry Troxell.  RSVP to will...@comcast.net.

Also the Swim Team Registration Forms many of you have been looking for are online.  You can find this form at the top of the 2011 Swim Team Information page also to the left under resources.