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LODGE LOG Blue Lake Springs Homeowners’ Association October 2015
Holiday Brunch
Sunday
November 29, 2015
11:00—11:30 a.m. Mimosas & Bloody Marys - 11:30 a.m. Brunch
Menu Eggs Benedict
Scrambled Eggs with Cheese Prime Rib
Roasted Red Potatoes with Peppers and Onions Waffles with Syrup
Bacon - Sausage Links Spinach Salad - Fresh Fruit Salad
Parker House Rolls Orange and Cranberry Juice - Coffee and Tea
Adults: $22.00 Children: 6-10 Years: $11.00 Children 5 and under FREE
Tax and Tip included
Goody bags for Children 10 Years and younger. Raffle for a free dinner coupon at Snowflake Lodge.
Hosts: Ed & Michele Stahlberg
Payment is due at the time of reservation and members will be charged the full amount for cancellations after November 25 or no shows.
For reservations call 209-795-2357
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2015 Calendar of Events
Tuesday Evening Bridge Every Tuesday at 7 p.m. Bruce Utter 890-7643
Thursday Morning Duplicate Bridge Second Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. Bev Vasquez 795-1356
Friday Morning Bridge Every Friday at 9:30 a.m. Bobbie Neely 795-7815 Debbie Kushnir 795-0600
(Please note for all bridge groups,
please call ahead to save a spot)
Potluck Second Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. (September 2015 through May 2016) Maureen Dinnocenzo 795-3226 or
890-3369
Mahjong Every Wednesday at 10 a.m. (May 2015 through October 2015)
Sandy Stowe 810-9692
Mahjong First and Third Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
Leni Salayko 795-7166
Texas Hold’em: Second Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. (September 2015 through May 2016) Cathy Fitzpatrick 795-4806
Louise Cooke 795-4657
Murder Mystery Dinner Saturday, October 17
Holiday Brunch Sunday, November 29
New Year’s Eve Party Thursday, December 31
.
If there is any member
who knows of someone
who may need a get well
card or sympathy card,
please call the Sunshine Lady,
Joan Shawver at 209-795-5619.
Doggy Poop
Yes I said Poop. Here
at the office we have
been receiving com-
plaints on the amount
of dog poop along the
roads and dogs poop-
ing on their property.
Please be courteous and pick up after your
dog and dispose of it. No one likes step-
ping in it.
October 1, 2015 It’s RAINING IN ARNOLD
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From the General Managers Desk
I’m sure many of you have read President Andel’s article concerning the Butte fire. If you have not I urge you to please read it. As Kevin stated in his article we are all very thankful for the firefighters and all involved in the efforts to bring the fire under control. Our staff over the next month will be reassessing its evacuation plan to in-sure that we are handling emergencies as effective and efficiently as possible. We have also taken steps to insure that information to the membership is sent with the least amount of lag time as possible, and that the information is updated efficiently.
Staff has now been preparing the grounds at both the Lodge facilities and Fly – In Lake for the winter season. You will notice that all the tables and chairs have been stored for the winter and the pool has been shut down and winterized. As I write this article we just received our first substantial amount of rain in a long time. It is an added welcome to the dry conditions that we have had. Hopefully this is a start to a wetter winter season.
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Hello fellow Blue Lake Springs Members,
With the Butte fire still burning as I write this month’s message, I want
to start my comments with a huge thank you to the 4,000 plus firefight-
ers for their heroic efforts in containing the devastating destruction. We
all know things could have been much worse. As of now the fire is 95%
contained with nearly 71,000 acres burned. We truly dodged a bullet
with this fire. I know I can speak on behalf of your Board members and say our thoughts and
prayers go out to all of those that have lost homes and property. And our deepest sorrow
goes especially to the families of the two people that lost their lives.
I want to commend our BLS management team for their conduct throughout the period of
days the town was under advisory evacuations. Most people I have spoken to found the over-
all communications throughout the community confusing at times. In this time of social media
there was a lot of information going around, some helpful, but not all of it always accurate.
We, Blue Lake Springs HOA, took the position of only sharing information from local and/or
Federal agencies. We were able to make information available on our website and through
email blasts. I have personally been given positive feedback on our approach from members.
The Lodge was safely secured and the staff was released to go home and to ensure their
families and homes were also safe and secure. I appreciate each of our managers checking
in with their employees during our closure. Our staff is extremely important to us and their
wellbeing is a top priority. As in any emergency of this nature we want to see where we could
have done better. I am asking our GM, Tony, to set up a ‘debrief’ meeting to review our pro-
cesses. Our goal is to be as prepared as possible to handle any type of future emergency in
the best manner possible. Taking a close look at how we handled this emergency will allow
us to discover any gaps we experienced and to correct or improve those gaps before the next
emergency.
We got back to normal business at the September meeting with the board approving a plan
to remodel the bathrooms at Fly in Lake. You will notice the work has already started. My
thanks to the Long Range Planning Committee, led by Mike McAtee, for their many hours of
work and effort to come up with a solution that will not only give you, our members, a clean
and safe area to use, but one that was thoughtfully planned out to use our Reserve monies in
the most effective way.
Continue on next page
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I also want to speak about the dead trees (31 as of last count) on our HOA property, all as a
result of the bark beetle, and the fact we now have another unanticipated expense for their
removal. This will be costly and serves as another example of why we need to maintain an
adequate amount of money in our Reserve account. The Finance Committee is working on
completing the 2016 budget and to determine the cost to run HOA operations and plan for
future asset maintenance and replacement. You will receive the 2016 budget before Decem-
ber.
Can we all give Pete Padelford a big thank you for his tireless work in keeping our communi-
ty fire safe (be sure to read his column!) If we ever received a wakeup notice it was from the
Butte fire. We are close to seeing work started from the recently acquired grant called the
“Shaded Fuel Fire Break”. And another thank you to Doug Nunes and Louise Cooke for their
efforts to keep our designation as a “Firewise” community.
There were many positive activities before the fire. The Labor Day weekend was very busy
and it was so nice to see our pool and Lodge Lake full of people enjoying themselves.
Downtown traffic made me feel a little like I was back in the Bay Area…but just a little. :o)
Here’s to all of you enjoying the Fall weather and outdoor activities before all of that predict-
ed rain arrives. I am so grateful to live in this wonderful community with so many fine people.
And I’m VERY thankful all of it still exists.
Kevin Andel, President
IMPORTANT!
In case of emergency it is important
that BLS be able to get a hold of
members. If you have a new phone
number or you are unsure if we have
your phone number, please email
your current phone number to us at
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POTLUCK
Welcome back everyone to our September-May Pot-
lucks at the Blue Lake Springs Lodge. On September
9 we had 55 members & 6 guests attending. Total
attendance 61. September theme was red, white &
blue. Many dressed in patriotic colors & even some of
our dishes were in red, white & blue.
Thank you to our potluck callers, Linda Penney, Kathy
Enea, Kaaren Babb, Anne Friborg-Evans, Michelle
Stahlberg, & Mary Peterson. Special thanks to our
Kitchen Committee: Chris & Tom Gosswiller, Dotie &
Brian Raley, Mary Rippetoe & Bob Doten & Pauline
Kramer.
Our Bingo callers John Vasquez & Harry Tittle kept
the evening lively with entertaining anecdotes. Luann
Baugher was terrific selling raffle tickets & bingo
cards-thank you!
Winners of the evening were:
50/50 Raffle-Larry Haskell; Bingo- Frank Miyanaga, Mike McAtee, David Johns, Luanne Baugher
Black Out Bingo was shared by Kaaren Babb, & Cathy Fitzpatrick.
Winner of the Dessert Gift Certificate at BLS Lodge was Frank Flores.
If you would like to join our monthly potlucks held on the second Wednesday of each month Sep-
tember-May (except December), please contact Maureen Dinnocenzo 795-3226 to have your name
added to our calling list.
Next month, October, our theme is Halloween! How about wearing your favorite costume on October 14? You may win a PRIZE!
Maureen
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VOLUNTEERS IN PREVENTION (VIP)
VIP Coordinator Report
We dodged a very big bullet with the Butte Fire thanks to
a change in the weather and some very brave hard
working Fire Fighters. Some of our Fire Fighters lost
their homes in this fire while they were out fighting the
fire. The report from CAL FIRE as of Sept. 22, 7:25 am
– 545 residences destroyed, 356 outbuildings destroyed,
42 structure damaged and 2 civilian fatalities. The fire is 80% contained as of now
I do hope that those who feel they want to cheat on the clearing of their properties to at
the least the CAL FIRE PRC4291 rules or not do it at all, got a wakeup call with this fire.
Please don’t ask me why you have to do the cleaning of your property when I come to visit
you, you should get it by now.
A very positive thing came out of this Fire. We now have a very wide Fire break on the
Northwest side of Highway 4 behind all the subdivisions along the Hwy 4 corridor, all the
way from below Murphy’s to Dorrington at about Summit Level Road. We have already
started contact with Government people about setting money aside for a program to main-
tain this Fire Break as is needed so it will not become over grown again. We would have
never been able to get the money to build this large of a Fire Break, we need to keep it.
Again – the Bark Beetle is just crushing us with dead trees. Many home owners are fac-
ing horrible costs to get these trees down and taken away. PG&E crews were in BLS taking
trees down but got pulled away to help in the fire areas. No cutting down of trees is happen-
ing right now except our private contractors and trees are still dying. We need several cold
wet (or snow) winters very bad. Please do not wait till you get a letter about your dead
trees. If you find them on your property call PG&E first at 1-800-743-5000. Any they do not
mark for take down you are responsible to remove along with the ones PG&E take down.
This is captivating some of my time right now.
Doug Nunes and Louise Cooke are getting close to the finish line with getting our other
Subdivisions in the Ebbetts Pass area Firewise Designated. Louise took care of renewing
our Firewise Status as we have to do each year.
Continue on next page
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I am still working on the preparation before the work starts on our Shaded Fuel Fire
Break, (SFFB, SRA Grant), around the BLS Subdivision. We hope to start the project by No-
vember. We plan to have a place on the BLS web site where you can go and get information
on the progress of this work and some kind of a time table when the work will be in your ar-
ea. The project people over me say that we have had a very exceptional positive response
with those properties outside our BLS boundary. I have right now just over 90% of these
property owners that have signed and turned in the agreements to do the SFFB, on their
property. When we, Big Trees State Park, U S Forest Service and SPI complete our work
we will then have some interior SFFB’s along with the perimeter SFFB. This work will give us
the Fire Break on the Northeast side of our Subdivision. We were given a big boost in reach-
ing our goal to complete a SFFB around the whole Ebbetts Pass Area with the work done on
the North East side of Highway 4.
This SFFB project is taking a huge amount of my time and some things in the VIP
Program have had to suffer because of it. I could use some help from a qualified person to
do re-inspections of failed Inspection Notices. The fires we have been having in the North
part of our state, (especially the Local one’s) have drained our resource’s for CAL FIRE en-
forcement and Education but we need to continue on with our part of the VIP Program in
hopes they can get back to work with us soon. CAL FIRE works all year around in Enforce-
ment and Education, SO DO I. We will eventually catch up and be visiting those of you who
have not complied with PRC4291 rules. We are not fully ready for a Wild Land Fire to hit us
YET. We are not too far from the Finish Line but we must get the rest of the work done and
that includes those home owners who are not on board with the Fire Prevention Program as
good as they could be or at all.
As always I am available to go over with you at your property what needs to be
done, please take advantage of that. I will find the time for you.
Your CAL FIRE BLS VIP Coordinator, Pete Padelford [email protected]
Thank you fire fighters,
volunteer’s and police
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Come in and join us for dinner Friday and Saturday! . Looking for something
more casual? Try our Bar Menu, which offers appetizers and a lighter faire
(no reservation required)! Or make a reservation to join us in the dining room,
where you can enjoy dinner prepared by Lodge Chef Marc Kirby and his staff.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
For Dinner reservations please call 209-795-2357. Walk-ins will be accommodated as
space allows.
SNOWFLAKE LODGE
HOURS
FRIDAY/ SATURDAY 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
(year round)
WELCOME NEW OWNERS
David & Sara Branstetter Unit 5
Brian Wajdowicz & Julie Haas-Wajdowicz Unit 5
Bradley & Darla Hardison Unit 8
Charles & Faith Velschow Unit 8
Marvin & Dolores Bunton Unit 8
Bradley & Darla Hardison Unit 8
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Texas Hold’em Poker
Location: Snowflake Lodge
Date: 2nd Thursday of the Month - Tips and Strategies lessons:
12:30 pm
Check in for Regular game is 1:30 pm
Play Time: 2:00 pm–4:30 pm Come join the fun!
Reservations required for seating, email: Louise Cooke, @[email protected]
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Administration
General Manager,
Tony Abila
Assistant General Manager,
Marsha Hampton
Snowflake Lodge Restaurant
Lodge Operations Manager,
Amber Meyer
Snowflake Lodge Chef,
Marc Kirby
Facilities
Facilities Manager, Mark Owens
Summer Recreation
Summer Recreation Director,
Judith Anderson
Assistant Recreation Director
Nicole Conner
Security
Vernon Nicholson
The Lodge Log is published by the Blue Lake Springs Homeowners’ Association in accordance with the By-Laws of
the Association. Manager: Tony Abila Production: Blue Lake Springs HOA Staff
Blue Lake Springs Homeowners’ Association
Office Hours
Tuesday-Saturday ~ 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Office Phone: (209) 795-2357 ~ Fax: (209) 795-4438
Email: [email protected]
Post Office Box 712, Arnold, CA 95223
Web Site: www.blsha.com
Snowflake Lodge Restaurant
Friday and Saturday 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Please Call for Reservation (209) 795-2357
Summer Recreation (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Email: [email protected]
Board of Directors Meetings
Third Saturday, 9:00 a.m.
Your Association welcomes letters from members and well
publish them in the Lodge Log on a space available basis.
If necessary they will be edited for style and shortened to
200 words. Letters will not be returned to author. Formal
policy is on file at the Association office. Members should
request a copy of the policy If they are considering submit-
Board of Directors
President, Kevin Andel Vice President, Michele Stahlberg Treasurer, Mike McAtee Secretary, Linda Penney Director, Jimmy Cooke Director, Christine Gosswiller Director, Robert Podesta
Blue Lake Springs Mutual Water Company
Board Meetings: Second Saturday, 9 a.m.
Office Phone: 209-795-7025 Emergency: 209-795-7030
Post Office Box 6015, Arnold , 95223
Office is located next to the Arnold Post
Office at 1011 Blagen Road
