Fox Point Update: May 2023 Edition
- On May 1, 2023
President’s Letter
By Abe Ryder | Email
Greetings Fox Point Neighbors,
As I am writing this note, I have come back from the soccer field watching my kiddos play after a weekend dressed in my winter coat with hat and gloves. A cup of hot chocolate and a fire is in order to warm up. Hard to believe that May and the pool season are around the corner. Then again, there were flashes of summer in April with an 80-degree day, so there is some hope the weather will turn soon.
Speaking of summer, May is the time that the pool opens! This is one of the best times of the year at Fox Point! Our Pool Chair, Criss Chang, has already had the pool re-painted for the season and the pool looks incredible. It is as if we have a brand-new pool! As we emerge from spring/winter, Taylor Shanfield, our Tennis Chair, has also been actively preparing for the upcoming tennis and pickleball season, getting the trees around the tennis court trimmed to prevent sap from getting on the court and having the windscreens installed! Stay tuned for more information on tennis and swim lessons from our respective Chairs. Summer fun in Fox Point is around the corner!
I had the privilege to attend the first-ever Flint Creek/Spring Creek Watersheds Conference in late April for a half day at the Barrington White House. At this conference, many private consulting and government groups presented on the health of the watershed and ways to get grants to fund improvement projects. Fox Point was well represented, as Bob Lee and Tom Slager were in attendance along with me. Fox Point was also mentioned as a key partner and Fox Pointers should be proud that we are the only homeowner association that was called out for our leadership in this area. Jeff Dahnke, who has played a role behind the scenes, led the effort to secure grant funding for our creek restoration project that was completed last year. The overall objective for our neighborhood’s involvement is to improve the health of Lake Louise and make it more enjoyable and draw more neighbors to the lake. Thank you, Bob, Tom, and Jeff for your service and leadership to our neighborhood and community.
As we look to update our digital presence, as well as, how the Board works better together with our new Google Workspace platform, one item that came to our attention last Board meeting was not having a comprehensive list of contact information for neighbors including email addresses. Many of you have reached out wanting to update the directory information, being included on social emails, wanting to be a part of this newsletter, or getting access to the Omnify system with the pool. Lindsay Keenan, our Secretary has started to gather this information. If there are any changes to your contact information, please email the information to secretary@foxpoint.org.
This month’s Board reports are packed full of useful information and some calls to action as we turn our attention to summer (see Bill Graf’s Safety report on lighting and Mark Villalovos’ Civics report on dog waste disposal – yuck!). Please read each individual Board report. As you will see, the Board has been hard at work planning many upcoming activities for Fox Pointers!
Our next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 15, 2023, at 7 PM at the Village Church. As always, we welcome ideas, suggestions, and feedback as we all have a vested interest in this community we call home.
Treasurer Report
By Kyle Powal | Email
With the pool season approaching, your Homeowner’s Association Board is thrilled to break ground on the BBQ Grill project! We will build a pad off the north end of the pool house and install two grills which will be available for residents’ use. The grills will be natural gas and equipped with timers for safety. All gates will remain locked during normal pool hours, so the grills can be accessed through the pool house. Rules will be posted near the new patio, and anyone interested in using the grill will need to supply their own grilling tools. We also ask that you dispose of garbage in the bins nearby and clean up the grill once you’re done so your neighbor can get right to grilling. We are also in discussions of how we might sell food at our Dolphin swim meets, which will help offset the cost and maintenance of the grills. If you are interested in helping with this project, please contact Kyle Powal (312-450-4790).
Architecture
By Andrew Shwarz | Email
BOAT LANDING UPGRADE
The HOA Board continues to move forward together in redesigning the future of the Boat Landings area on Lake Louise.
We have begun finalizing plans to permanently stabilize and level the shoreline, via a steel seawall, on our Association land abutting the spillway. Doing so will provide the necessary foundation upon which to explore additional uses and amenities in that under-utilized area. Be on the lookout for a survey and/or in-person forum to discuss ideas.
Thanks to the several homeowners who have followed HOA rules by submitting all exterior alterations for review and approval by the Board. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Safety & Welfare
By Bill Graff | Email
LIGHT YOUR LAMPS!
Happy Spring, again it’s still 36’ just like my last report, ugh! Well, let’s still try to embrace the season and get our to-do lists complete. That said, I have only ONE item to discuss, your ELECTRIC or GAS LAMPS must be maintained… please. I have included several times in the past the preferred vendor that many of us have used for this task. The firm is Grove Products, and their number is 847-639-2544. Please get this done as it is helpful to all in our neighborhood to keep FP safe and well-lit! And just think, now that sundown is later, you have more time to get this done!
Tennis Report
By Taylor Shanfeld| Email
First and foremost, kids’ tennis lesson sign-ups are now OPEN! Sign-up links are below!
Lessons are taught by the staff of the Barrington Area Tennis Association (BATA), a community not-for-profit association created to promote the development of tennis as a means of healthful recreation and fitness for Barrington area residents. BATA is a member organization of the United States Tennis Association and follows the USTA guidelines for youth instruction.
Lessons are $100 for 6 one-hour lessons with the option of Monday or Wednesday afternoons. You are welcome to sign up for one or both days of the week. Players will be divided by skill level.
Mondays | Ages 5-10 | 2-3 pm | Beginner/Advanced Beginner | REGISTER |
Wednesdays | Ages 5-10 | 2-3 pm | Beginner/Advanced Beginner | REGISTER |
Mondays | Ages 11-14 | 3-4 pm | Beginner/Advanced Beginner | REGISTER |
Wednesdays | Ages 11-14 | 3-4 pm | Beginner/Advanced Beginner | REGISTER |
Tennis: The tennis nets and windscreens were installed a few weeks ago and the trees around the courts were trimmed last weekend to help minimize their debris. The courts will be power washed in the coming weeks and I will make sure to notify everyone of the date and time they will be cleaned via NextDoor and Fox Point’s Instagram.
Once they are looking like new, get excited about a Fox Point Super Team tennis league! Details and sign up coming soon. All levels are encouraged to play. Thank you to Christine Mickey and Tiffany Seely-Brown for leading this fun opportunity!
Pickleball: A big thank you to the Powal Family who has graciously donated a Pickleball net to the Fox Point courts. Please kindly place the net to the side of the fence when you are done playing. I hope to have more info next month regarding Pickleball classes and I also plan to establish standard weekly open play times in which anyone is welcome to show up and play!
Lastly, my hope is to have all of the lessons and open play times located online as well as a digital option for reserving a court. Stay tuned!
Please reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. Hope to see you at the courts!
Social
By Melissa Pohl | Email
SENIOR CAR PARADE
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The annual Senior Car Parade is taking place on June 1st, at 7:30 pm! Additional details such as the parade starting point and route will be shared SOON! If you’re home, be sure to wait outside with bells and whistles to congratulate our Fox Point High School Seniors! E-mail Laurie at morchfam4@aol.com for more information!
SUMMER WELLNESS SERIES
We have three amazing powerhouse women who have dedicated their time to Fox Point to get us in SHAPE! Please review the Sign-Up Genius to enroll ASAP for their classes. ALL instructors have a 5-6 participant minimum to host the class. Our first class is scheduled for May 4th! Want to know more about the instructors? Check out our social media!
YETI SWAG IS BACK!
Purchase your NEW and exclusive Fox Point engraved YETI gear for the summer! The order form is here!
SWIM TEAM
We are starting so soon! REGISTRATION IS CLOSING ON 5/1! Be sure to register your dolphin ASAP and volunteer if you’re able and interested in leading the dive or polo team! Thank you, Andrea Clementi, Lindsay Keenan, Brooke Kipferl, Melissa Mickey, and Valerie Chang for organizing! Go Dolphins!
TRIATHLON
July 16th so SAVE THE DATE! It is a HIT! Thank you, Valerie Chang and the committee for organizing this amazing event. Details and registration will be announced soon!
FOX POINT FOOD TRUCK AND MUSIC SUMMER SERIES
SAVE THE DATE: July 7th! 5-8 pm, Fox Point’s Food Truck and Music Summer Series (Thank you, Brian Vasquez and Tom Kloss, for taking this on!). Please sign-up to participate in our all-you-can-eat taco truck! Each adult ticket price is $26 and covers food plus the cost of our musician on the pool patio, and each child ticket is $6!
UPCOMING EVENTS: Swag shop, flix and floats, late nights, and our progressive dinner!
As always, please stay “in the know” for more information as detailed in our social media posts. Facebook: Fox Point Homeowners Association; Instagram: Fox Point Barrington; Nextdoor: Fox Point and opt-in for our social emails!
Civic Affairs
By Mark Villalovos | Email
The weather is turning beautiful again and as I write this the trees are resplendent with stunning blossoms, the frog song is rhythmic in Cuba Marsh out back, and those icy cold temps are soon to be a distant memory. Time to get to know your neighbors and even meet new ones! One of the things our family loved about moving to Fox Point back in 2017 was the welcoming nature of this community. Being from California, we weren’t used to simple things like being stopped by neighbors for chats when you’re walking your dog, being invited to Friday after-work drinks in the driveway, and even people waving to you as you drive by. But these are all things that made us instantly fall in love with the Midwest and especially Fox Point. Spring is the perfect time to renew those neighborly friendships, pause, and get caught up with all that went on over the Winter.
One NOT-SO-NEIGHBORLY sight which is becoming more prevalent is dog poop bags scattered throughout Fox Point. Reports of 4 – 6 bags tossed into the dirt along our monument wall, and 3 – 4 bags near the entrance to our Pool House are alarming and shameful. I’m asking all dog owners to be responsible and hold onto their poop bags and dispose of them in a garbage bin or at their home and keep Fox Point Beautiful.
So, what to do now that it’s so beautiful out? Besides all the cool activities in Melissa’s update, here are a few goings on in town:
Wine Walk – a Barrington fan favorite happening Saturday, May 13, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm. This popular event provides a unique opportunity to enjoy fine wines from local suppliers while exploring distinctive shops and restaurants.
Barrington Art Festival – Mark your calendar! May 27 and 28, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. 120 Juried Artists, Kid’s Activities, Live Music, & More!
Metra Lot Concert: Radio Gaga! – Featuring music by Queen and Lady Gaga June 9, 7:00 – 9:00 pm Who’s ready for Summer Concerts? *raises hand*. I got my tickets – will I see you there?
I hope to see you as I’m out walking or running and hopefully share a small wave or chat.
Pool
By Criss Chang | Email
We are getting close to Fox Point’s Opening Day, on Saturday, May 27th, Memorial Day weekend. Preparations have been underway for the past several months. And just completed in mid-April, the main pool got a fresh new look with a new epoxy paint coating to help protect the pool and preserve the necessary lane and stair markings.
Member updates are being entered into the Omnify resident member list by our membership administrator. Omnify is our digital pool check-in system. Updates involve adding new residents and removing those that have moved away. This review process ensures the safety, security, and use of the pool by authorized members and guests. All attendees will be tracked at check-in using the Omnify system, so please go to https://foxpoint.getomnify.com to verify your profile. There, you can add your family members (i.e. children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, and nannies.)
Please see this summer’s swim programs and activities in detail below.
- Swim Team – registration and schedule details were distributed but can be found at this link
- Swim Lessons – classes for children aged 3-7 will follow the swim team on weekdays and a Saturday class is planned. A link to register will be sent out during the first week of May
- Awning Rentals – following the completion of the resident review in Omnify, the reservation system for awnings to host parties will open, also expected during the first week of May
- Barrington Masters Swim – Begins May 30 open to Fox Point residents, no registration is needed, just show up, schedule is: Tue/Thu/Sat 6 am-7:30 am and Mon/Wed 8 pm-9 pm.
- Lap Swim – as always, 2 lanes are dedicated to lap swim during all general open swim times
- Kids Triathlon – Back for another year. Join in on the fun – volunteer and cheer on the Fox Point kids as they swim, bike, and run their way through the neighborhood. As mentioned in the Social Report, the event date is Sunday, July 16.
Please send your questions, comments, and feedback to pool@foxpoint.org.
Common Grounds
By Jay Roberts | Email
Happy Spring Everyone!
I’m excited to announce that the monument wall project is officially complete! I know you might be tired of this update but here you go one last time. The new landscaping was put in by our vendors. They are all new plantings. Some are full-size, and some will grow over the coming years. The mix of plants will be grasses, shrubs, and small ornamental trees. They will add color, be drought tolerant, and not overcrowd the space. To preserve the walls, the plantings need to be moderate in size and easy to maintain. I’m hoping we get some timely rain over the next several weeks to help jumpstart growth. If not, we will have our vendor supply watering with a water truck according to need and how much rain we have received.
In the coming weeks, our landscaping crew will be out to complete our annual spring cleanup to prepare the pool and tennis areas for the upcoming summer season. This will include mowing, removal of weeds, and new mulch. Look for that to happen right before the pool opens.
Hope to see you out and about enjoying all our neighborhood has to offer!
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments!
Lake Report
By Steven Kipferl | Email
Though it’s hard to say what season it is lately, we are in full-blown spring on Lake Louise. The aeration pumps are up and running in the point, the fountain is up in the pond, and the Eutrosorb filter bags have been swapped out at the inlet of the pond as well. Last month the Fox Point board approved a renewal with EAM for the annual lake maintenance contracts, meaning water treatment will continue through 2024.
Overall water quality has improved dramatically in the past 3 years. Looking at sediment parts per million the rates have plummeted between 2022 and 2023. Clarity has increased, plant life and aquatic vegetation (our natural filters) are rebounding nicely. We are all looking forward to more natural vegetation and wildlife on the lake this year.
Fish stocking has been approved and funded with delivery coming any day now. The delivery date is dependent on the weather but this year we are putting in 300 lbs. of 5–7-inch big largemouth bass, 350 lbs of 3–5-inch black crappie, and 200 lbs. 8-10 inch channel catfish. We have a plentiful supply of small shad, and this continued bass stocking effort should help control the bait fish population and rebuild the game fish population.
This spring I encourage neighbors to consider the use of pet, wildlife, and environmentally friendly lawn care products. Runoff from all properties eventually ends up in our lake. Most of our storm drains empty from the street to the lake on the north side and from the road to the stream on the south. Lawn chemicals high in phosphorus and other organic compounds help the algae feed in the lake and eventually contribute to our summer algae blooms.
Boat landing renovations are currently in the planning stage with more information to come soon as well. We will have a community gathering -with a final date TBA- to discuss the boat rack and the dock area renovations.
Looking to volunteer? Have an idea? To get involved with the lake committee, please reach out to lake@foxpointorg to be added to our communication list.
See you on the water!