Fox Point Update: July 2023 Edition
- On July 3, 2023
President’s Letter
By Abe Ryder | Email
Greetings Fox Point neighbors,
Summer has arrived and a Happy Fourth of July to all of you! Please take some time to enjoy the holiday with family and friends and take advantage of what Fox Point and Barrington have to offer. Melissa Pohl, our Social Chair, and Mark Villalovos, our Civics Chair, mention a number of neighborhood and local events, respectively, for you to participate in and build community among neighbors – take advantage of it!
What I personally love about summer in Fox Point is the number of neighbors who are out walking and biking around the neighborhood, enjoying the social activity, having fun at the pool, and spending time at or on Lake Louise! Speaking of the lake, the Board has embarked on enhancing the overall Lake Louise experience with a Boat Landings Revamp project. The goal of the project is to first and foremost permanently stabilize the shoreline at the boat landing to prevent further sinking and erosion control. The project is also aimed at better utilizing the 2.5-acre greenspace next to Lake Louise for more enjoyment by our homeowners. See our Architecture Chair’s report by Andrew Schwarz for more information on the project and SAVE THE DATE for Saturday, July 15th from 4-6 pm @ the boat landing for an in-person discussion.
The Board will also be utilizing the Saturday, July 15th meeting to register boats at the boat landing. If you own a boat, it is imperative that you attend the meeting and/or contact Steve Kipferl (lake@foxpoint.org), our Lake Chair, directly if you cannot make it to get your boat registered! There are a number of unused/unclaimed boats taking up space for homeowners who have expressed interest in getting one of the boat slips. Currently, there is no room and it is time to assess the boat inventory and clear out unused, damaged, or unwanted boats. If you do have a boat, it is also important to label it and lock it up after use!
Continue to read on for more information on the neighborhood in each of our Board Member reports, including another shot at learning pickleball – thank you Taylor Shanfeld!
As always, we welcome attendees at our monthly Board meetings. Our next Board meeting will be held on July 17, 2023, @ 7 pm once again at the Fox Point pool – bringing the Board meeting to you! We had a great turnout at our pool June Board meeting and thank you to our homeowners who participated and provided comments. Please attend. We welcome ideas, suggestions, and feedback as we all have a vested interest in this community we call home.
Lastly, have a safe and happy Fourth of July! And if you are in the neighborhood over the holiday, make sure you check out and cheer on the Fox Point Dolphins swim team at the pool on July 6th at 4:30 PM against Lake Forest.
Safety & Welfare
By Bill Graff | Email
Happy Summer! It sure looks like things are in full swing at FP! That said, it also means safety should be at the forefront of all your plans! Here are a few tips our neighbors have shared with me about some safety hazards in the neighborhood, thanks for the user-generated content neighbors!! So, here we go…
- Yield traffic signs mean just that, YIELD, SLOW DOWN, and STOP! We have several yield access points in FP and lately, they haven’t been followed correctly! Living on the southside I see it too many times at the intersection of Old Mill and South Valley Road, so I get this concern! Please folks pay attention to the signs, they are there for a reason!!
- While walking, walk with a light at night, and always, day or night, walk against the traffic flow! Wearing all black at 9 PM is not a good idea, just saying!!
- Light the lamps on your property! Many have asked for the vendors who offer this service that your neighbors have used so here are the numbers once again!
All Safe Fred’s 847-751-0533/ Todd
Grove products 847-639-2544/ Steve
- When done with your boats PLEASE lock them back up in the slips at the boat dock. Leaving them unlocked gives easier access to the lake, and island, for shenanigans to begin! We want ALL Fox Point residents to be safe, but we must all work on this effort… together!
Those are the tips for the month, they seem simple but need to be reinforced occasionally, or at least monthly! Enjoy the rest of the summer and be safe this 4th of July holiday season!
Tennis Report
By Taylor Shanfeld| Email
I’m happy to see and hear about so many neighbors enjoying our great tennis and pickleball courts this summer! Here’s what is going on lately:
Tennis:
Thank you to Kristin Schwarz for her amazing job planning and to all of the ladies who joined us for a super fun evening of some tennis and lots of socials at Corks on the Court a few weeks ago! The weather was perfect and it was fun to meet some newer faces in the neighborhood. Look for another event later this summer!
Pickleball:
NEW: Coach Neal is offering 2 weeks of Pickleball classes in July. Now is your chance to learn to play and enhance your game if you didn’t get the opportunity to join his June classes! Limit: 8 players.
Tuesday nights 6-7:30 (Advanced Beginner), 7/18 and 7/25: https://www.relax4life.com/products/fox-point-beginner-pickleball-coaching-sessions-tuesdays/
Thursday nights 6-7:30 (Beginner), 7/20 and 7/27: https://www.relax4life.com/products/two-90-minute-pickleball-coaching-sessions-thursdays/
Open play: Monday evenings 6:30-7:30 pm, Wednesday mornings 10:30-11:30 am, and Friday mornings 9-10:30 am. Beginner to intermediate level with rotation of partners and people based on how many show up! Stay as little or as long as you want. Email your name and phone number to tennis@foxpoint.org if you would like to be added to the Pickleball text chain. Thank you so much to Becky Ostergaard for getting this going!
General Reminders:
- Bikes, scooters, skateboards, and rollerblades are NOT allowed on the tennis courts at any time.
- Courts are available on a first-in-line basis and are limited to 1 hour of play if other players are waiting to get on the courts.
- Fox Point tennis lessons and events have a priority for court time.
- Courts are in use for kids’ tennis lessons from 2-4 pm on Monday/Wednesday through July.
- Pickleball courts are in use for lessons 6-7:30 pm on Tuesday/Thursday evenings through July.
Please reach out to me tennis@foxpoint.org with any questions or concerns!
Social
By Melissa Pohl | Email
Ayyyyoooo Fox Point! Summer is in FULL SWING around here! Here is a brief summary of what is happening this month:
Tuesday, July 4th games are posted here! Try to RSVP-ish so I can plan for treats!
Friday, July 7th is our first MUSIC and FOOD TRUCKS event, and wristbands will be available at the door to partake if you haven’t snagged tickets yet! This has been a very popular event. Way to show up FP! #FoxPointStrong Thanks Brian and Tom for all your support and help!
Saturday, July 15th is the annual CARP DERBY! Fishing begins at 10 am and concludes with a weigh-in at the boat docks at 3:30. Winners will take home prizes! Good luck!
Sunday, July 16th is the Annual Triathlon! PLAN AHEAD FP! Be sure to move your vehicles off the road the night before if you live along COLD SPRING RD., SURREY LN., LAKE SHORE DR. S., NORTH VALLEY RD., & LAKE SHORE DR. N., to allow the athletes room to bike and run! Also, the COLD SPRING ENTRANCE will be blocked, so please use the N VALLEY ENTRANCE beginning at 7:30 am-10:30 am. The roads mentioned above do need to BE Cleared at this time. If you don’t have to have a child participating and want to be a part of this, consider volunteering or donating! Also, please come out to the streets and cheer for the athletes if you’re around! It’s a wonderful, feel-good event for all. A huge thank you to Valerie Chang and the committee for your efforts to make this happen!
Monday, July 31st is our second MOVIE NIGHT! So, save the date! The film is TBD and stay tuned for more info (we may tweak this event based on the feedback from June’s Movie Night).
As always, I do my absolute best to get event information out to all but please be sure to:
Read this newsletter, fully 🙂 Share it with a neighbor and remind them they can email any board member to get on the mailing list, too!
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
E-mail social@foxpoint.org to opt-in to our social contact list
Watch for posts on Nextdoor from Melissa Pohl (Social Chair)
AND LAST BUT NEVER LEAST, I’d love to plan a boat race day and volleyball tourney but need volunteers. Please complete this form if you’re interested in helping to make these events (and others) happen! Have fun, FP! And happy early 4th of July!
Civic Affairs
By Mark Villalovos | Email
As the nation prepares to commemorate its independence, Barrington and Fox Point offer the perfect backdrop to honor America’s birthday. In this brief post, let’s explore some unique and creative ideas to infuse your Fourth of July festivities with an extra touch of patriotic flair.
Patriotic Parade with a Twist:
Take your viewing of the Barrington Fourth of July parade to the next level by adding a creative twist. Gather friends, family, and neighbors to form a themed parade group, dressing up, bringing noisemakers, shouting, and supporting the passing parade participants.
Community Picnic with Local Flavor:
Organize a community picnic at the pool or along the shore of Lake Louise, inviting friends, neighbors, and newcomers alike. Encourage attendees to bring traditional dishes representing their heritage or favorite local delicacies. This potluck-style picnic will not only create a diverse culinary experience but also foster an atmosphere of cultural exchange, showcasing the melting pot of Fox Point’s residents.
Stars and Stripes Yard Decorations:
Infuse your neighborhood with a patriotic spirit by adorning your front yards with creative and eye-catching Fourth of July decorations. From colorful bunting and American flag-inspired wreaths to homemade patriotic yard signs, let your creativity shine bright as you deck out your homes. Encourage your neighbors to participate and transform the entire community into a sea of red, white, and blue.
Fireworks Viewing Party:
End the day with a bang by hosting a fireworks viewing party for friends and neighbors on July 2, at 9:30 pm. Identify a prime location with a clear view of the fireworks display and set up a gathering spot complete with blankets, lawn chairs, and delicious snacks. Enjoy the dazzling spectacle of colors in the night sky while sharing laughter, stories, and the joy of celebrating America’s independence together.
Happy July 4th everyone!
Architecture
By Andrew Shwarz | Email
This month, myself and other members of the Board will be hosting a Public Forum about the planned revitalization of the Boat Landings area.
Curious to know the long-term plan for the greenspace on the northwestern shore of Lake Louise? Have some good ideas that the Board should consider when finalizing its long-term improvement plan? Please join me and other members of the Board on Saturday, July 15th from 4-6 pm, at the Boat Landings area, to engage in a shared discussion and brainstorm on the topic. I will share some preliminary goals/plans for the area and the expected timeline for the project. Our Lake Chair, Steve Kipferl, will also be leading an effort to inspect and re-register all watercraft stored on the Boat Racks (see his report for more details).
We look forward to partnering with our neighbors on this exciting project. Additional detail can be found at the pool house entry for the remainder of the summer, and a formal survey will be sent via this newsletter in August.
Finally, thank you to the many homeowners who have partnered with the Board on their exterior renovation projects this year!
Common Grounds
By Jay Roberts | Email
Happy Summer Everyone!
As we get into the summer months, I will be riding around the neighborhood, checking to make sure our grounds are in order. A point of focus this year will be the cul-de-sacs. Typically, they can be harder to maintain and are sometimes forgotten. General maintenance will be performed on a weekly basis which includes weeding of the beds. Down the road, some of the plantings will need to be replaced once our budget allows. In the meantime, we can pull any dead plants and look at some alternatives to keep the areas looking as nice as possible. Some are in better shape than others.
Another point of interest this summer will be the bleachers by the tennis courts. A couple of years ago, we created a new space for the bleachers and want to ensure that it looks neat and free of debris. If you ever see any trash or bottles over by that area, please be a good neighbor and discard them.
During the first week of the pool opening, we will also be putting down some new mulch over by the pool, tennis courts, and cul-de-sacs. In addition, like I mentioned last week, we have also started our annual mosquito spraying for the season.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!