Fox Point Update: October 2023 Edition
- On October 2, 2023
President’s Letter
By Abe Ryder | Email
Greetings Fox Point neighbors! October is here, meaning we are in the thick of fall, children’s activities and school are settling into a routine and Halloween in Fox Point (gear up parents!) is on the horizon. This also means that the 2024 budget season and beyond for the Board is underway. The Board has and will continue to utilize the reserve study conducted last summer to guide our actions on capital spending for our asset replacements and improvements. This is in addition to expenditures required for our normal operations, such as common ground maintenance and pool operations. This also means the Board will make hard choices given our set of priorities. We strive for financial stability and take a long-term approach so that Fox Point has adequate reserves and assets for the next generation of homeowners. A few of the capital projects on the horizon will be the replacement of the wooden fence along Lake Cook Road, the boat launch shoreline stabilization, and the replacement of the 30+-year-old playground by the pool. As one can imagine, it takes a tremendous amount of time and energy for our Board members and those at large homeowner volunteers around the planning, coordination, and ultimately the execution of these projects. A BIG thank you to our Board members and volunteers.
After several years, Social is once again bringing back one of the time-honored traditions of Fox Point – the progressive dinner! The date is set for October 7th. For those of you attending, this is a wonderful evening to get to know your neighbors in a relaxed setting and a chance to get to see what changes people have made to homes over the years. If you are lucky enough to have dinner at a home that is of your model, you may get some thought starters for your next home project. Once again, thank you to those who volunteered to plan this event and the multiple home hosts for appetizers, dinner, and dessert. For those of you who did not get the chance to sign up in September, there is always next year!
Our next Board Meeting will be in person on Monday, October 16th @ 7 pm at the Village Church. 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.
All the best.
Safety & Welfare
By Bill Graff | Email
Grab a cup of coffee with Barrington’s Finest! A great way to introduce yourself and your children to those who protect and serve us. Wednesday, 10/4 8 am – 10 am, Starbucks on Main St.
As winter approaches, it is essential for seniors to prepare their cars for safe driving in winter conditions. The Barrington Police Department is partnering with Marquardt of Barrington, B.A.C.O.A., and Fisher Federated Auto Parts to offer a complimentary vehicle safety inspection for seniors.
Tennis Report
By Taylor Shanfeld| Email
Please continue to enjoy the tennis and pickleball courts this fall! The nets will stay up until late October/early November depending on the weather. I will notify everyone via Nextdoor and Fox Point’s Instagram the day they will be taken down.
Social
By Melissa Pohl | Email
Happy Fall, Y’all! We look forward to seeing all those who signed up for the Progressive Dinner on Saturday, October 7th! Sign-ups are now closed (with just about 100 participants!), but we may need last-minute stand-ins so shoot us an e-mail at Social@Foxpoint.org if you’d like to be on the waitlist!
While there is no “formal” social event for Halloween, if you are new around here, this is your PSA to grab a PSL on the way home from work and STOCK UP on candy!! Fox Point is a very active “trick or treating” neighborhood. Halloween is a great time to walk around & get to know your neighbors, and enjoy all the costumes and festivities!
Last but not least, this is my “informal request” to ask for volunteers to join my social chair committee. In my short time here, I realize more than ever that 2 heads is better than one, and 4 are better than 2…you get the idea. I would love a “standing committee” that is able to bounce ideas back and forth, brainstorm ideas, offer suggestions, and take on minor tasks with events to help continue to make Fox Point Fun! If you have any interest, please reach out to me directly social@foxpoint.org.
See you around, neighbors!
Civic Affairs
By Mark Villalovos | Email
An October to Remember: From School Bells to Autumn Spells
Hey there, Fox Point neighbors!
Can you feel it? The crisp air, the warm hues, the aroma of pumpkin spice lattes filling the air? Yep, it’s October in Fox Point, a time as magical as Grandma’s secret apple crisp recipe. Let’s dig into what makes this month so special and offer some neighborly tips along the way.
The Leaves: A Symphony in Nature
Now, onto Mother Nature’s October recital—the leaves. Ah, those vibrant yellows, reds, and oranges. It’s like the trees are giving us a high five before hibernating. But remember, what goes up must come down. This leads me to my next point…
The Sound of Silence (Before 8:00 a.m.)
Let’s talk leaf blowers. Sure, they’re handy, but they aren’t what anyone wants to wake up to on a Saturday. So, in the spirit of being good neighbors, how about we agree to save the leaf-blowing serenade for after 8:00 a.m., eh? See “Fox Point: A 50-year Tradition of Good Neighbors” for more information.
Keeping It Flowing
And while we’re on the topic of leaves, let’s keep ’em out of the drains. With the rainy season coming, we want water flowing like a good conversation, not backing up like a traffic jam. A little leaf management goes a long way to prevent flooding. Please help by clearing away any drain blockages you see as you walk into our wonderful neighborhood.
Hauntingly Good Homes
October also means Halloween’s just around the corner. Don’t be a ghoul; get those decorations up! String those spider webs, set out those pumpkins, and maybe even toss a skeleton on the porch. Let’s make Fox Point the go-to spot for trick-or-treaters again this year!
Light Up the Night
Finally, let’s talk about safety. The sun’s clocking out early these days, so if you’re out and about, light yourself up. Reflective vests are the new black, I hear, and a little flashlight action wouldn’t hurt either.
So, there you have it, folks—your guide to October in our lovely slice of the Midwest. Let’s make it an October to remember, for all the right reasons.
Till next time!
Architecture
By Andrew Shwarz | Email
This newsletter update includes an update on the seawall as well as a summary of results from the August boat landing survey.
The only aspect of the Boat Landings revamp project that has been budgeted and approved is the installation of a steel seawall to stabilize the shoreline. We are working with the Village to sort through the final details of the project, including the final elevation of the wall and land behind it.
In August, we launched a survey to residents to understand general perceptions and preferences regarding the Boat Landing revamp project. Please CLICK HERE for a summary of the results from this survey, all of which were shared in person in the September Board Meeting.
The Board aims to publish an intended direction for this project by the end of 2023, following 2024 budget discussions and further consideration of project data. Final decisions and Board approvals on future improvements will likely occur during Board meetings occurring in early 2024.
Pool
By Criss Chang | Email
By CRISS CHANG
We received over 150 responses to the Pool survey that was posted after Labor Day. With this neighborhood feedback, in which over half of the respondents included comments, we can help shape the future of pool management and other pool-related decisions, using input from pool attendees. Some suggestions and interests that were common in the survey involved the following topics; glass restrictions, video surveillance, facility cleanliness, more secure check-in, more pool access for babies and toddlers, and most commonly, attendee and lifeguard behavior. All of these topics will be addressed by a newly formed Pool committee with the first order of business, the selection of a new pool management provider. Pool Watch will not be returning as our pool management service in 2024.
Thank you all for your patience and your comments, in light of the abrupt end to our 2023 pool season, and please have confidence that we are focused on improving the pool experience with each new year.
Lake Report
By Steven Kipferl | Email
Thank you to everybody who has reached out in regards to their boats on the boat rack. 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.
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! Fish type is still based on availability. Check back in November for an update.
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.
Common Grounds
By Jay Roberts | Email
Greetings Neighbors!
As we head into the fall and winter seasons, common grounds will be wrapping up the season due to the weather.
However, we will have our annual mums planted at the pool house and main entrances during the first week of October. Typically, these show very well and bring a lot of color to those areas as we get ready for winter.
Also, just a reminder about the snow removal policy for the winter. Our vendor will address the parking lot at the pool, the boat dock drive, the sidewalks along Lake Cook Road, and the school path on the south side. They will come out if there is snowfall greater than 0.5”. The hope is that they can get out as soon as possible, but that doesn’t always happen. Rest assured they will be out ASAP. For ice, we call that in as a special request. If we can predict bad weather with heavy ice, then we will call the night before to prepare. However, please feel free to reach out if this has been missed. You may email, call, or text. I travel for work so I need as many eyes as possible!