Fox Point Update: May 2022 Edition
- On May 1, 2022
President’s Letter
By Abe Ryder | Email
Greetings Fox Point Neighbors,
As of writing this month’s newsletter, the high temperature reached 80 degrees. Are we in spring or summer? Regardless, it felt wonderful to have the sun shining and not having to wear a jacket. Less than a month from now, our pool will be open with a new heater. Thank you to our Pool Chair, Criss Chang, for coordinating the necessary equipment replacement and restroom enhancements to get ready for the summer season. Tennis and yes, pickleball, will soon be up and running. Another thank you to our Tennis Chair, Mark Johnson, for all of the coordination he has done to bring these sports to Fox Point again this year.
Spring generally reminds me of…wait for it…spring cleaning (ugh), home repairs, and yard clean-up. While it can be painful, most of us can agree that it is worth the effort of having a functioning, safe, and aesthetically pleasing home that brings pride and enjoyment for years to come. In many ways, this is similar to the monument wall brick fence project and future year plans to replace the wooden fence adjacent to Lake Cook Road. We take pride in our neighborhood and must keep these fences in good repair. The reminder here is that the Fox Point Homeowners Association has a ten-foot easement on fences adjacent to Lake Cook Road to make the necessary repairs. While the Fox Point Homeowners Association will work with homeowners and may not need all ten feet, it is a good reminder for homeowners to trim up or trim back trees and shrubs to keep these fences free of such obstacles that could interfere with necessary repairs and maintenance.
For more details on this reminder, please see our governing documents. In particular, see Article Four, Paragraph Four of the Declaration Of Easements, Restrictions, and Covenants. As a reference, see the link to our governing documents.
As always, we welcome attendees at our monthly Zoom board meetings (the next one is Monday, May 16th @ 7 pm). And we welcome ideas, suggestions, and feedback as we all have a vested interest in this community we call home.
All the best.
Pool
By Criss Chang | Email
Pool season is finally here and we are busy getting the facilities ready for opening on Memorial Day weekend. There’s a lot to update you on so here we go.
Pool Maintenance
• The pool heater had a major failure at the end of last season and it was replaced.
• Electric hand dryers have been installed in the pool house, in the men’s locker room, women’s locker room and the family bathroom. The hand dryers will help keep our facility tidy and reduce waste. These upgrades were funded by last year’s party awning rental and guest fees.
Swim Programs
• Open swim will follow the same schedule as last year. 12:30pm-8pm (Mon-Thu), 12:30-9pm (Fri), 11am-9pm (Sat-Sun).
• Early morning swim with the Barrington Master’s group will begin May 31, Mon-Thu from 6 am-7:30 am, no registration is required, just show up.
• Swim Lessons for children age 3-6 will begin on June 6, 11:00 and 11:30 (Mon-Fri), 10:00, 10:30 (Sat), a registration link will be posted on the Fox Point website and on NextDoor, the first week of May.
• Swim Team for children age 5-15 will begin on June 6. Registration is open now, follow this link to register.
• Water Polo Team for children age 9-15 information has been published. For more information, please contact foxpointswimteam@gmail.com .
• Dive Team program is seeking interested participants, please contact foxpointswimteam@gmail.com for more information.
Pool Entry
For the past 2 years, Omnify has been the software that allowed us to run the COVID reservations and collect payments for fees related to swimming lessons, awning rentals, and daily guest fees. We will continue to use this platform to verify resident and guest check-ins and to collect guest fees. The Omnify system will be refreshed at the start of the season with the current list of residents per the neighborhood directory records.
• NEW for this season, Omnify user accounts will be set up by a Fox Point Board administrator. Family members, including children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, and nannies will need to be re-entered by residents.
• Go to THIS SITE to verify your profile and add your family members (i.e. children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, and nannies can be entered by residents)
• Step by step instructions on adding Family Members can be found HERE
Please direct any questions or comments to me at foxpointpool105@gmail.com
Secretary’s Report
By Tim Gall | Email
LAST CHANCE to confirm your most current contact information prior to the printing of the 2022 directory. Please look over your homeowner information in the 2021 directory (blue cover) and if you want any informational changes put in the 2022 directory (and haven’t sent in an updated contact form with your annual assessment), please reach out directly to me before the end of May.
Common Grounds
By Jay Roberts | Email
Fellow Neighbors-
Happy Spring! Hope everyone is ready to get outside, and you are all looking forward to some warm weather. It’s the best time of the year to live in Fox Point!
I am excited to announce that we are finally ready to move forward with the monument wall project. There are and will be some moving pieces as we move forward. Please be patient with us as we work through this together. However, we are ready to get started in the coming weeks.
For the middle part of the year, the refurbishment of each wall will begin. This will include the wall itself, landscaping adjustments, and the prep work for a drainage system. Each wall could take 4-6 weeks to complete. This is just an estimate, and we will know more about the timeline as the job moves forward.
After the construction, is concluded, we will move to the second phase of the project. This will include clean-up, more landscaping adjustments, and future guidance on the easements around each wall for the homeowners.
Please stay tuned for monthly updates as they occur. Again, this is a very big project, but I will do my best to keep everyone informed.
Please contact me with any questions that I can help answer. 224-315-6457
Safety & Welfare
By Bill Graff | Email
Spring has sprung, well kind of!! As we look toward the warmer months, we are reminded of the never-ending to-do list! If you are like me, mine stares at me every day, waiting for the weekend to tackle all the items on that list! As you think of cleaning gutters, or repairing your lawn after the brutal winter, please consider a few other things to be a good neighbor. They are simple but helpful!
First, please light the gas/electric lamp on your property. We have worked hard at illuminating our great neighborhood and hope everyone will take it upon themselves to do just that one simple thing, it makes a difference. I’ve had good luck with Grove Products and have worked directly with the owner Steve at 847-691-9182, he has been very helpful in the past, and does the gas light conversion to electric, as well, something to think about!
Second, and even more important, PICK UP your pet’s mess as you are giving them a walk! So many complaints about this one item, you’d be amazed at how many people don’t practice this good neighbor act! So, for the sake of ALL OF US, including your pets, pick up their waste!
Enjoy the spring and help keep FP the wonderful respectful neighborhood it is, and has been, for decades!
Tennis
By Mark Johnson| Email
Hi neighbors,
I’m sure everyone noticed the tennis nets and windscreens were installed the first week of April. As I write this letter, the forecast for today is expected to be around 80 degrees. We haven’t had much luck yet, but hopefully, we start seeing more of this weather going forward soon.
I was pleased to see the day the nets were fully installed; the neighborhood men’s group was already out in full force. I’m working with First Serve to establish the summer lesson schedule and hope to have it posted to Next Door around the first week of May. Once again, we’ll use Signup Genius for lesson enrollment.
I hope everyone is well and reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
Thanks!
Architecture
By Andrew Shwarz | Email
As the weather continues to warm, here are a few brief notes and reminders regarding our shared “Good Neighbor Guidelines”:
- Please respect your neighbors’ site/hearing lines as temporary play equipment emerges from storage for the warm months.
- RVs, boats, and trailers should be stored offsite but maybe in your driveway for up to one week per year.
- In a reasonably quick timeframe, make obvious repairs to exterior elements of your property, especially those that face the street.
- Respect the peaceful quiet of the neighborhood by not mowing or leaf blowing before 8:00 AM.
It takes a village (or in this case, a neighborhood!) to preserve the peaceful and pleasant environment we’ve created in Fox Point. Thanks for your help and please reach out with any related questions or directions on exterior renovations!
Social
By Rena Slovick | Email
Fox Point Seniors Say What?!?
Calling All Seniors! The Fox Point Car Parade will be Thursday, June 2nd – specific deets to follow. If you have a High School Senior, please fill out the following Google Doc. “Letter the Lawn” will have a “surprise” sign set up starting 6/1-6/3 by the pool house for a ‘Gram-worthy photo op.
Please reach out via email if you or your business would like to sponsor this year’s senior class with mailbox balloons – minimal cost, but lots of local exposure!
Easter Egg Hunt Recap
Huge Thank You to Amy Bushnell who helped me hide/literally throw all the eggs this year. There was snow/mud this year but it’s the Midwest, so you know it was relatively normal. Snaps to Stacy Boyum for providing us with our Bunny. I’m really glad one of your kids plays volleyball. 😉
Lake Report
By Steven Kipferl | Email
Hello Fox Point Residents!
Spring is here and so is the rain. Lake levels are rising. Please be careful around the stream and spillway this time of year, especially with little ones!
Our first lake analysis was conducted in late April and some of you may have seen the crew out for samples. This is a part of our ongoing effort to improve lake quality and monitor the success of Phoslock treatments to the lake. We are looking forward to the first results of the year! Phoslock treatment will be ongoing this year and the feasibility of filter bags is being considered and shopped out as well.
Thank you to Andrew Schwarz who was kind enough to survey the outlet of Baker’s Lake as we investigate options to work with the Village and County to clean Baker’s Lake, our lake’s headwater.
We also stocked 440 lbs. of largemouth bass. These were recommended to both controls the growing baitfish population as well as capitalize on restoring the fishery. This bigger bass can feed, grow and spawn quickly with this type of food supply. Stay tuned for photos on the website down the road.
Please direct any questions regarding boat storage at the crib to Ken at kek@alum.mit.edu He was kind enough to volunteer as the keeper of the rack.
Also, the pollinator garden at the boat dock got awesome new signage as well so head over and check out the dock!
Stay tuned for more updates to come!
Civic Affairs
By Mark Villalovos | Email
Are you a family that moved to Fox Point since April of 2020? If so, be on the lookout for an invitation to a “Lemonade on the Lawn” event Sunday, June 12. We hope you will be able to join us as we share information on both Fox Point and the beautiful communities in and around Barrington, IL. We’re excited to meet you!
Mark your calendars, THE CHIPPER IS COMING!
Have any limbs or annoying buckthorn you want gone from your property? Here are the instructions direct from Jeremie Lukowicz, Director of Public works at Village of Barrington:
- The north side of town (north of Lake Cook Road) needs to have everything at the curb by 7 am on Monday, May 2.
- The south side of town (south of Lake Cook Road) needs to have everything at the curb by 7 am on Monday, May 9.
Here is a link to the latest “Happening in Barrington this Weekend and Beyond” newsletter which includes information about…
- May 4: National Bike & Roll to School Day
- May 7: Barrington Spring Wine Walk
- Memorial Day Weekend: Barrington Art Festival
Along with the Summer Events Guide. Time to get out and enjoy the many benefits of living in beautiful Barrington, IL!