Fox Point Update: September 2023 Edition
- On September 5, 2023
President’s Letter
By Abe Ryder | Email
Greetings Fox Point Neighbors,
By the time you are reading this, the school has been back in session for nearly two weeks already. Wow, did the summer go by fast?
It is unfortunate that our pool season ended abruptly and early this year, especially during a heat wave where temperatures soared to nearly 100+ degrees. As has been previously communicated via the Omnify pool email distribution list and social media channels, the cost/benefit and timing of reopening at the end of the season was not prudent and therefore, the Board made the difficult decision to close the pool for the remainder of the year. While the Board is working on preventative measures to ensure this type of pool season-ending incident does not happen again, we ask that homeowners at the pool in the upcoming season continue to check their own behaviors and monitor the behaviors of their guests to ensure that all pool rules are followed. There is a reason why we have them. We also ask homeowners to continue to read through this month’s newsletter and participate in the survey that Criss Chang, our Pool Chair, has prepared in order to garner your feedback. Regardless, a personal THANK YOU to Criss Chang for his dedication to our pool and neighborhood. Secondly, a thank you to our vendor Pool Watch, Seth Gering, Pool Watch’s Aquatic Director, and the lifeguards for their work involved in operating our pool and ensuring that we keep our homeowners and guests safe.
Back-to-school season means back-to-budget season for 2024. As the next couple of months unfold, your Treasurer, Kyle Powal, and the Board will be submitting and discussing budget needs for next year and beyond with publication at the end of the year and approval in January 2024.
The beginning of fall is also the time of the year when we start to recruit volunteers for the Fox Point Homeowners Association Board. We have 4 seats to fill starting in 2024 and are seeking homeowners to apply for a Board position. Taylor Shanfeld, Tennis Chair, has been appointed as the Nominating Committee Chair and will be serving along with Jennifer Kloss, Jordan Linville, Rena Slovick, and Bruce Wahlborg to help recruit candidates for next year. Please reach out to any of these individuals or myself should you be interested in running for a Board position.
Our next Board Meeting will be in person on Monday, September 18th @ 7 p.m. at the Village Church. We have recently had a great deal of homeowners come out to learn what the Board is doing – thank you! If you do come to participate, please ensure that you ask your questions and provide comments at the beginning of the meeting which is held for public comment, so as not to interrupt the Board doing its discussion and work during the Board reports and motions. As always, we encourage homeowners to attend our monthly Board Meetings. We welcome ideas, suggestions, and feedback as we all have a vested interest in this community we call home.
Continue to read on to get more information on exciting upcoming events and our Board reports to ensure that you are up-to-date on what is happening in Fox Point!
Safety & Welfare
By Bill Graff | Email
Seeing the first few leaves fall from our trees is a clear reminder FALL IS HERE! College football, pumpkins, and all our kids’ activities now reign supreme! With all those traditions come many reminders for our neighborhood’s safety, so here are the facts I need to share…
FIRST, 25 MPH is the rule of the road, no clearer can I state this. PLEASE remind the drivers in your household that this is the rule that we MUST follow it every day!
SECOND, the school path! While the BPD is on the case watching that the rules of the path are being obeyed, we did have an incident when someone used the path as a road, which is NOT its intention. Since I reported that to our Village officials, I learned that a path barrier will be installed to prohibit that from happening again. That new barrier will be installed at the school side of the path. If anyone ever sees this happen again, I need as much info as possible. Thanks to the neighbors who alerted me about this issue last week. We should not have this problem in the future once the path barrier is erected.
THIRD, REMEMBER to wear reflective clothing, or at least turn on your phone’s flashlight when walking in the neighborhood. Again, I still get calls about this weekly. I always suggest to those who call me to simply stop and kindly and respectfully, remind your fellow neighbors that it is very dangerous to not be seen on our roads. Here are a few suggestions on how you might tactfully share your concerns with your neighbors:
- “Excuse me, neighbor. It’s a bit hard to see you in this lighting. Would you mind using your phone’s flashlight to make yourself more visible? Stay safe!”
- “Hey there, just a friendly heads-up. It’s getting dark and drivers might have a hard time seeing you. Mind turning on your phone flashlight for safety’s sake?”
- “Hi, how’s it going? It’s pretty dark out, and I almost didn’t see you. For your safety, it’d be great if you could use a flashlight or your phone’s light.”
- “Hello! Just wanted to let you know it’s a little tough to see you in this light. Using your phone’s flashlight could really help drivers spot you. Better safe than sorry!”
- “Good evening. I noticed it’s getting dark and visibility isn’t the best. Would you consider using your phone’s flashlight? It makes a big difference for drivers like me.”
This is one rule I need everyone’s help with, it affects ALL OF US!
LASTLY, on an upbeat note, the playground bridge has been fixed, and VERY early! A big thanks to the following folks who helped me with this project. As many of you know DIY and Bill Graff are not mutually exclusive! The Great help came from Adam, Marco, Luca Clementi, Tom Kloss, and Kyle Powal. And a final THANK YOU to the mysterious neighbor who finished the task while we were at work, amazing. Again, kindness in FP abounds, and this project helped showcase that great trait of our community!
Have a great month, enjoy the fall, root for your favorite teams, and be safe out there!
Tennis Report
By Taylor Shanfeld| Email
Pickleball
Coach Neal is offering another month of Pickleball lessons starting 9/19. Tuesdays (beginners) and Thursdays (advanced beginners) from 8 am-9:30 am. Each class is limited to 8 players. Feel free to reach out to Neal with any questions: Neal@picklecoach.com.
Beginner: Tuesdays 9/19-10/10 8a-9:30a (4 weeks) : Sign Up
Advanced Beginner: Thursdays 9/21-10/12 8a-9:30a (4 weeks): Sign Up
Tennis
Join the ladies of FP for an end-of-season round of Corks on the Court on Saturday, September 16th at 4 pm. Timed doubles matches will begin at 4:30. BYOB and a snack to share if you’d like! Please sign up below.
Social
By Melissa Pohl | Email
Hi All! Here is the social line-up for September (how is it September already?):
SUMMER SOCIAL: Join us this weekend, Sunday, 9/3 from 1:30-6 for free fun outside the pool house. We will have a dunk tank, music provided by some neighbors, and Primo Pizza serving all-you-can-eat pizza from 3-5. BYOB, snag a chair or a picnic blanket, & come “hang” out! All are welcome!
GOLF OUTING: 9/30 at Foxford Hills, with a 12:30 SHOTGUN start. SIGN-UP HERE!
PROGRESSIVE DINNER: Join us for a wonderful evening with neighbors for mixing and mingling at the annual Fox Point Progressive Dinner! Save the date! Saturday, October 7. The night begins with appetizers at one Fox Point home, followed by dinner at various homes in smaller groups. The event concludes with dessert and an after-party with the larger group at a single home. Kindly RSVP by September 16. We hope you can make it! SIGN-UP HERE!
Civic Affairs
By Mark Villalovos | Email
Hey Fox Point Neighbors – it’s YARD SALE time!!
As we bid adieu to the sultry days of summer and welcome the crisp air of autumn, what better way to celebrate than with our Neighborhood Garage Sale on Saturday, September 16th! With over 400 homes in our lovely enclave, this is more than just a sale—it’s a block party with a mission.
Making New Friends, One Bargain at a Time
Sure, yard sales are about snagging great deals, but let’s not overlook the social benefits. Whether you’re new to the neighborhood or an established resident, this event offers the perfect setting to strike up conversations, forge new friendships, and build a stronger sense of community.
Need a Sitter? Look No Further!
Garage sales are a goldmine for community networking. While browsing through pre-loved treasures, you might stumble upon your next babysitter, pet sitter, or house sitter. After all, wouldn’t you feel more at ease entrusting Fluffy or your home to a neighbor you’ve chatted with over antique vases and retro video games?
The Garage Cleanout: A Fall Tradition
For those with garages and basements resembling archaeological digs, seize this chance to declutter! Transform your “one-day-I-might-need-this” items into someone else’s must-haves while enjoying newfound space and tranquility.
Life Lessons 101: Young Entrepreneurs in the Making
Last but certainly not least, this event can serve as a valuable learning experience for our young ones. Encourage your children to participate by helping with pricing, negotiating, or even selling their old toys. It’s never too early to teach them about entrepreneurship, money management, and the satisfaction of a job well done.
So mark your calendars and get ready to mix, mingle, and maybe make a few bucks (or save them) at this year’s Fox Point Neighborhood Garage Sale. See you there!
Interested in participating? Sign up using THIS LINK and let’s make this an incredible, neighborhood event.
Architecture
By Andrew Shwarz | Email
Neighbors, please take a few moments to read up and better understand the Board’s activities regarding the Boat Landings improvement project.
At this point, the only work that has been approved and budgeted by the Board is the installation of a permanent, steel sea wall to reinforce the shoreline. Final discussions prior to contracting are taking place with the Village as well as our contractor; we are hopeful this work will be completed by Spring, much of which is dependent on the expediency of the permitting process (which is expected to include the Village, IL DNR, and the Army Corps of Engineers).
Beyond the seawall, the Board is still actively trying to understand how our residents envision the area being best utilized and the feasibility of those improvements from both a cost and practicality standpoint. Helpful in that effort were the over 80 individuals who participated in the Boat Landings Improvement survey linked in the August FP Newsletter – thank you! The results of this survey will be shared in the September Board meeting.
The objective of this project is to enhance the Boat Landings through improving its usability and general aesthetic. What form that takes will be actively communicated in this newsletter and at Board meetings, but no additional direction (beyond the seawall) has been established at this point. We are targeting the end of this year, in conjunction with our annual budgeting process, for the Board to align to the best path forward.
Please reach out with questions, both on this Boat Landings initiative, as well on any permanent exterior alteration project to your home which must be reviewed/approved by the Board. Thanks!
Pool
By Criss Chang | Email
By CRISS CHANG
With the unfortunate event on August 12th that forced an early end to the pool season, the Board is working hard to see how we can try to prevent this from happening in the future. We are also evaluating ways to improve the pool experience. Please share your feedback in a very brief survey, link here.
The total revenue from guest and rental fees this year was over $7,500, which is the largest amount in over 4 years, even despite the abbreviated season. That comes to over 50 awnings rented, and over 250 paid guests in addition to fees collected from the Barrington Swim Club, which was in desperate need of a pool as the high school pool was closed this summer. The use of Omnify has streamlined the reservation and payment process. And the increase in collections is one sign that the system is working.
As previously mentioned last month, our pool hosted the Swim Team, Water Polo Team, Swim Lessons, Master’s lap swim, the Barrington Swim Club, and a triathlon; all on top of the general open swim hours. We are always looking for ways to make the most of this neighborhood’s favorite summer amenity while keeping safety and a sense of community at the forefront. Please take 2 minutes to give your input to help shape the future of our pool. Survey link here
Secretary Report
By Lindsay Keenan | Email
Happy September! As you know, the 2023 directories have been completed and distributed. They were initially made available inside the pool house and are now located in a plastic box near the entrance. I will also make them available at the next few Board meetings if you prefer to pick them up then. Additionally, please reach out to me at secretary@foxpoint.org if you have any questions or need to update your contact information for 2024.
Lake Report
By Steven Kipferl | Email
Thank you to everybody who has reached out in regard to their boats on the boat rack. In September, we will verify and reach out to homeowners to reserve their slips for next year. If you currently do not have a slip and would like a slip please let me know. As a reminder: Rack fees are $100 per slip limited to one slip per home.
I’m happy to report that the fountains have been placed in the small pond finally and the aerators continue to be serviced as needed. Our lake has been in fantastic condition throughout the summer. We have not had any toxic algae blooms this year for the first time in recent memory. In addition, spot treatments were not needed as frequently this year.
Our amazing Fox Point neighbors have raised fish stocking donations of $3,500 this year for a second fall stocking!!! Hats off to Zoran and Jeff and the rest of the lake committee who coordinated the efforts, and a huge thank you to all the neighbors who donated!
If you are interested in stepping up on the lake committee or have any ideas about lake improvements or suggestions, I encourage you to drop me an email at lake@foxpoint.org! See you on the water.
Treasurer Report
By Kyle Powal | Email
As Fall approaches, that means budget season is upon us. I will be working closely with all current members of the board to build a comprehensive budget. We will be reviewing past expenses, future estimates, and the reserve analysis conducted last year as our roadmap. As always, we will partner with the finance committee to ensure we are in line with the HOA’s short and long-term goals. A few long-term capital expenditures, which have been previously accounted for, include the wooden fence along Lake Cook Rd as well as a playground refresh. The budget process stretches over a number of months and I will keep everyone updated throughout the development.
Common Grounds
By Jay Roberts | Email
Greetings neighbors!
Hope everyone had a smooth transition back to school!
I do have a couple of updates for this month as we head into the end of the year. As some of you may have noticed, our landscaping crew is not mowing the strip of grass on the south side along Lake Cook Road. Part of that reason was due to rain and that area being soft. However, for some reason, it now seems to be a habit. I have let our crew know that it has been missed on occasion, so moving forward, unless we have a lot of rain, that area should be getting mowed on a weekly basis.
For the remainder of the year, I will be researching and looking into our wood fences that run along Lake Cook Road on both sides. More information will be coming out in future reports but those are in need of replacement at some point. If you are a resident who has a wood fence along your property, a letter will be mailed out to you in the coming weeks. It will highlight the potential scope of work, give a timeline, and list board vs. homeowner responsibilities. In the meantime, if at all possible, please try to trim back any of your landscape that may be overhanging. Right now, there are a lot of trees and plants that are crowding the fences. At some point, this will need to be addressed as we move forward with this project. Again, a letter will be sent out shortly that will start this conversation and hopefully answer any questions.
Thank you!