Fox Point Update: April 2024 Edition
- On April 2, 2024
President’s Letter
By Bill Graff | Email
Happy Spring, it is official -that is what the calendar says! While the air is still crisp, the board is working hard toward having our assets ready for the warm weather so we can all have a great summer! Projects that are being worked on by the board include the opening of our pool, continued activity at our clean and well-stocked lake, and those tennis courts will be bustling soon! Common grounds are getting a bit of a refresh, and the social chair is working on gaining more volunteers for all the activities to commence as the summer is upon us soon! All of this action takes a lot of work, and I’m pleased to share that we have had a fine group of committees helping us with both the pool and the lake. Adding more hands to these projects helps to keep everyone invested and care even more for our neighborhood and its assets. Our social committee still needs a few chairs for some of our projects, so please consider helping with those – they do not occur without HELP! Enjoy the Easter holiday, hope spring break was fun, and now to the end of the school year rush. I can feel it and the spirit that comes with this time of the year!
Secretary’s Report
By Lindsay Keenan | Email
Spring is here and soon we will be updating the Fox Point Directory. Please send an email to secretary@foxpoint.org if your contact information has changed, needs to be corrected, or if you have recently moved to Fox Point and you would like to be included in the 2024 directory.
Thank you!
Social
By Jeana Garms | Email
Fox Point Easter Egg Hunt Recap
With a picture-perfect morning, we welcomed 119 children from 61 Fox Point families for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Thank you to everyone for your participation!
A huge thank you to Jenny Kloss, Missy Everitt, Lindsay Keenan, and Kristi Salter for planning this year’s egg hunt and to Jack Postma for playing the part of the Easter Bunny.
Social Committee Sign-up
Do you and your family enjoy the various events that make Fox Point the community we know and love? Then we need you!
In order for the continuation of the events we have come to expect, we need volunteers to take part in committees responsible for planning and executing each event. Committees will work with the Fox Point Social chair who will provide an event planning template and guidance throughout the process.
Grab your favorite neighbors and sign-up for one of the planning committees today! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949AEA92AA3F4C43-48184908-foxpoint
NOTE: We are especially in need of individuals to commit to the Fox Point Golf Outing due to the timeline needed to make that happen in September.
2024 activities in need of planning committees:
- Summer Movie Nights
- 4th of July Games
- Summer Camp Out
- Fox Point Golf Outing
- Progressive Dinner – 2 out of 3 spots filled
- Holiday Luminaries – filled
- Fox Point Santa Visits
Have an idea for an event or activity? Email social@foxpoint.org.
Civics
By Lisa Brooks | Email
The Cicadas are coming! Starting in mid-May, the 17-year cicadas will be emerging. They may be loud and annoying, but they are harmless to people, pets, and garden flowers. The individual adult life cycle is just a few weeks, but their emergence will be staggered, so there will be about four to six weeks of cicadas. The best way to protect young trees is to wrap their branches in fine-mesh netting before early May. Please see here for information from the Morton Arboretum on how to protect your new and young plantings.
Another natural phenomenon happening this year is on Monday, April 8th with the total solar eclipse. Although we are not directly on the path of total equality, we should see about 90% of the sun being obscured by the moon. Please see here for the timing and path – you can set by zip code. It is very important you do not look directly at the sun – be sure to protect your eyes with special eclipse glasses. Ordinary sunglasses are not safe for looking at the eclipse. Enjoy the show!
Common Grounds
By Jason Elhert | Email
We are officially into spring which means the Common Grounds Department is in full swing. I am excited to announce board approval for landscaping renovation. We are looking to improve areas around the pool and some cul-de-sacs. This year the Fox Hunt Trail and Oxbow cul-de-sacs will have old landscaping removed and replaced with turf. We also will install all new mulch throughout the neighborhood common spaces in the upcoming weeks.
Within the next few months, the goal is to start finalizing the Lake Cook Rd fence replacement project. Please be on the lookout for additional information regarding this. Thanks!
Architecture Report
By Andrew Schwarz | Email
Enclosed is some guidance on tree care and branch removal, as well as an update on the seawall project.
Our area seems to be experiencing storms of increased intensity, many of which have caused damage to trees or limbs. This trend is expected to continue, so please ensure you are taking sufficient care of your trees – occasionally significant pruning or chemical treatments are necessary to prevent more significant damage during severe drought or storms. When weather events cause widespread tree damage, the Village typically does a round with their “chipper”, however, that has not been the case yet this year. If homeowners seek to move downed tree limbs to the curb, please ensure arrangements are in place for those limbs to be removed within one week. Tree limbs should not remain at curbs longer than that amount of time. The next scheduled date for the Barrington “chipper” will be in early May.
Additionally, the goal remains to install a permanent steel seawall at the shore of the Boat Landings in 2024. Conversations with our vendor have resumed and are focusing on the appropriate relevant of the seawall to prevent future flooding in that area. Over the next several weeks we expect to get underway with more formal engineering and permitting plans.
Safety & Welfare
By Greg Salter | Email
As part of the Village of Barrington’s ongoing road improvements, the section of Lake Shore Drive North between North Valley and Oxbow will be repaved this year, likely starting in mid-April. The Village will communicate more detailed timing in one of its bi-weekly email blasts. Residents that live on LSDN within this area will receive a letter from the Village with further details approximately one week before construction commences.
With the weather improving and spring approaching, children and adults that are walking, biking, jogging, and playing will be out in full force so let’s all remember to drive slowly and cautiously! I would also like to remind everyone that the Village requires that pets are always leashed or secured by an electric fence. Along with the legal requirement, please make sure to help your neighbors feel safe and comfortable outdoors.
Lake Report
By Steven Kipferl | Email
Spring on the lake is here! If you have not renewed your boat rack storage permit, please do so as soon as possible by contacting lake@foxpoint.org with your slip number, last name, contact information and address. Stickers will be distributed at the end of April to anyone looking to keep their boat on the boat rack. Boats without stickers will be removed. There is a list of folks who would like to obtain a spot on the rack, so please, if you are no longer interested in keeping your boat or rack spot, kindly contact lake@foxpoint.org. As a reminder, the yearly fee is $100 and funding will help with future rack repairs and maintenance.
Fish stocking will occur this year at the small pond on the south side of the neighborhood. The stock will consist mainly of panfish such as bluegill, sunfish, small bass and other similar fish pending final availability.
Our carp barrier is in the final design stages and will be going out for bid shortly. We are excited to have a tentative partnership with the county on carp removal pending installation of the barrier. The committee is working on an additional 50-50 grant cost share with the county on the project as well. These are the types of grants with the village and the county that we should and will continue to pursue.
Lake committee continues to meet on the second Monday of the month at 8pm. If you are interested in attending the virtual meetings we would love to have you. Contact lake@foxpoint.org for meeting links and details
Pool Report
By Chris Chang | Email
Preparations for the 2024 pool season continue. The water has been turned on at the pool house and checks on all mechanicals are underway. The various programs we host from swim team to swim lessons to master’s swim are in the preseason planning process. For more information on Swim Team registration, please see this link 2024 Swim Team Announcement
Our new pool management company, Chicagoland Pool, is taking applications for lifeguards. Their signs are posted in the neighborhood. Fox Point residents and non-residents are welcome to apply. If you know anyone interested in working to help keep our pool safe and clean this summer, please contact Laura Clark at 630-689-9999 or email laura.clark@chicagoland-pmg.com or go direct to https://www.chicagoland-pmg.com/lifeguard-jobs.
Tennis Report
By Taylor Shanfeld | Email
Exciting news! The tennis courts are set to reopen this month! I will keep everyone posted on NextDoor once the nets and windscreens are up. Plus, we are adding two new pickleball nets. Also, we are teaming up with the Barrington Area Tennis Association (BATA) to offer kids tennis lessons on Mondays and Wednesdays, aligning with swim meet schedules. Get ready for a summer of fun on the courts!
Mondays June 10-July 22 (no class July 1)
Ages 11-14 2-3pm https://playtennis.usta.com/barringtonareatennisassociation/Coaching/Book/2d7f36f9-6779-41fb-abf4-9fbe3761a15f
Ages 5-10 3-4 pm https://playtennis.usta.com/barringtonareatennisassociation/BookCourse/28564c7b-55cf-479b-8f92-3f871f68a5a6
Wednesdays, June 12-July 24 (no class July 3)
Ages 11-14 2-3 pm https://playtennis.usta.com/barringtonareatennisassociation/Coaching/Book/56afa46b-4327-4b27-9c4f-e5bf1896ef96
Ages 5-10 3-4 pm https://playtennis.usta.com/barringtonareatennisassociation/Coaching/Book/78843c49-df5c-45fe-90bc-2aee166c2556
We are working on offering some adult tennis lessons as well as pickleball lessons again this summer.
If you would like to help with planning some social tennis events this summer, please contact tennis@foxpoint.org.