Community speaks 10/13 RECAP

A review* of the October 13, 2014 Board meeting –
15 min. Community Speaks: 20+ residents attended

• a resident requested a private hearing with the Board
• request for timely website updates – especially meeting minutes
• new tables for pool suggested to be considered in new budget
• concerns about the gazebo and Turner Square – lights out, exposed hoses, power washing, flooding and ice problems at Northeast end
• residents often don’t hear back from concerns and their questions not answered by the Board
• adult swim requested for pool
• camera update requested – how do they work, why only 1 bid, why will homeowners have to vote, what is the delay, what can the cameras see and who is monitoring
• cars speeding in the neighborhood, condition of streets and issues with residents placing garbage cans in streets
• pool’s resurfacing and digging at Turner Square completed
  *Review is a summary of neighbor concerns - this blog and its posts are independent of the HOA's Board.

Things to do - upcoming events

Fall has officially arrived in Cleveland and the weather forecast is a perfect 10. If you're looking for something to do that doesn't involve pumpkins or apples - here are some freebies & neat events close by to Mill Creek.

NEORSD Open House 2014
Saturday, September 27, 9am - 2pm
Environmental & Maintenance Services Center - 4747 E. 49th St., Cuyahoga Hts. 216-881-6600

Free plant tours (Lolly the Trolly), experiments, presentations from Cleveland Metroparks NatureTracks and Greater Cleveland Aquarium, ice cream, games & prizes. Space is limited for tours & are on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring a photo ID. Click for more info.

Coffee and a Hike
Thursdays in October (2-30), 7:30am - 9am
Garfield Park Nature Center - 216-341-3152

Take a brisk, 2-mile walk then return to the nature center for free coffee. Click for more info.

Seven Roses Polish Deli
Thursdays in October (2-30), 7:30am - 9am
6301 Fleet Ave., Cleveland - 216-641-5789

Have lunch at one of Cleveland's 12 best delis and sandwich shops.

Thee Six 5 Bistro
Friday, September 26, 7:30pm - live music with Victor Samalot, virtuoso guitarist
3662 E. 65th St., Cleveland - 216-795-5265

Click for more info on Slavic Village's newest bistro with roof top bar.

IngenuityFest
Friday, September 26, 5pm - 1am
Saturday, September 27, noon - 1am
Sunday, September 28, noon - 5pm
Dock 32 (north of First Energy Stadium) and areas in & around the Great Lakes 
Science Ctr. & Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum - 216-589-9444

Free & open to the public. Click to discover Ingenuity 2014.

42nd Woollybear Festival
(ok, this one is farther than a stone's throw, but it's an NEO legendary festival)
Sunday, Sept. 28, 9am - 5pm / parade at 1:30 pm
Downtown Vermilion - 440-967-4477

Click for more info, map & events.

Community speaks 9/15 RECAP

A review of the September 15, 2014 Board meeting – Community Speaks:

• questions were asked about the digging in front of Turner Square
• July’s GardenWalk was discussed with requests for pictures and feedback
• the pool’s resurfacing will be done at the end of the month
• brown grass now in yards and tree lawns – look for communications on remedies

MC pool's daily visitor

Now that the pool has closed for the 2014 season, many pool patrons will be missing our little, furry friend. We named the squirrel Millie (from Mill Creek), and she was a regular at the pool this year.

 
We’re not sure if she was interested in meeting neighbors, or simply that she figured out that people might mean an easy snack. Either way, Millie would greet us by climbing the fence or she would let us know she was around by shaking the trees near the deep end. We’d often see her running up the hill towards homes and within the hour, she would return with a stolen treasure from someone’s garden. Usually, it was a tomato – so if you’re tomato crops were slim, blame Millie.

Some days, she would sneak in the pool area under holes in the fence. She was also known to scale the fence and would walk the perimeter on the top of the fence seeking snacks. Millie discovered that life guards left their lunch unattended near the pump house as they guarded our pool. Peanut butter sandwiches, peanut butter crackers and (what else) but peanuts were her chosen targets.

Millie was quick to see that most pool patrons also brought snacks that included grapes, bananas, cherries, and MORE peanuts. Interestingly enough, she did not steal any of our cherry tomatoes – possibly she had had her fill from Mill Creek gardens. And like many residents, she enjoyed relaxing in the sun (on the fence).

So, if you’re on a walk on the Mill Creek trail near the pool – take a look near the deep end of the pool and you might find our friend, Millie. She was a charming reason the Mill Creek pool was nice to visit. We’ll see you next Memorial Day, Millie!

You are now cleared for takeoff...

A great tradition of Labor Day weekend is the Cleveland National Air Show at Burke Lakefront Airport.

And one of the perks of living in Mill Creek is we get to hear and even see some of the acts from our neighborhood. Last year, the Air Show was cancelled because of federal budget cuts - making the sky over our neighborhood quiet. However, this year's practice has already started - that roaring you're hearing? It's the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

Interested in a closer look? Head out to Burke Lakefront Airport this weekend. If you don't get a chance to visit the Air Show, just look out your front porch and you just might get a glance of the squadron flying overhead.

Community speaks 8/14 RECAP

A short review of the August 11, 2014 Board meeting - Community Speaks:

• new residents welcomed
• response to violation letters was noticed and appreciated
• lack of transparency concern with Board (ie. June meeting minutes not shared and answers to questions not being available in a timely manner, such as the cost of the digging at Turner Square)
• request for common area above the pool to be weeded
• request for common areas for organic landscaping
• complements on the ice-cream social and the GardenWalk
• ARC concerns: issues with timely responses, communications with committee members/Reserve/Board, and if Board is involved in the committee - then it negates an appeals process
• sidewalks and who's responsible for repair - what is considered "uneven", city code is 2", and why there are common areas not being fixed by the Board this year (Turner Sq and Mill Creek Trail) if residents are expected to make repairs
• dog walkers not being responsible and a request for no trespassing on private residence's property
• pool hours - request to change back to weekdays, 12-8pm to accommodate families and working residents
• communications requested (contractors and notices should be shared with residents, etc.)