saw creek news · breast cancer awareness month and 1000 pink lights walk at saw creek october is...
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Saw Creek Estates5728 Decker RoadBushkill PA 18324White Haven PA
18661PERMIT NO. 18
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The official publication of the Saw Creek Estates Community Association October/November 2020
SAW CREEK NEWSOctober/November 2020October/November 2020
Breast Cancer Awareness Month and 1000 Pink Lights Walk at Saw Creek October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It started in 1985 with the collaboration of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Cancer Care, Inc. and various pharmaceutical companies to raise awareness and get funding to find a cure for this horrid disease E v e r y year during this month there are many cam-paigns to raise funds to help in the battle to find a drug that will cure and/or prevent this type of cancer. here s not one of us who doesn t know of someone who has su ered the uphill battle to fight for their life while enduring not only the disease but the drugs that go along with it. Chemo hurts in so many ways. The disease doesn’t know race, creed or color. It has no age or gender barriers. During this month many large corporations make sizeable donations for the cause. With that said the 1000 Pink Lights Walk at Saw Creek (Pink Walk) has chosen a completely di erent avenue or those of you who thought we were raising money for a cure, you are wrong. Let’s leave that to the large corporations that can do so. We have chosen a platform that will enable us to help not only our own Saw Creek community, but our neighbors from surrounding communities. Five years ago, the Pink Walk started and decided to work in conjunction with The Hope for Strength Breast Cancer Fund, an organization that gives back to our own. Hope for Strength works closely with the Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center. It’s all about the patients that are currently battling the illness and helping with many aspects of their lives during the trying time of treatment. The Hope for Strength Breast Cancer Fund will help an individual, if
ualified with transportation to and from the hospital for treatment rent payments, food and childcare during treatments, utilities and, most of all. the medications that may or may not be covered in full by the patient’s insurance. Basically said, the 1000 Pink Lights Walk at Saw Creek is raising money for you or your neighbors who are fighting this battle onies raised go to this phenomenal charity to help our family and friends. his year would have been the fifth year for the ink alk to raise mon-ey. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we needed to cancel our biggest fund raiser at the Big A Restaurant and, sadly, we had to cancel our walk around the lake so beautifully lit in pink lights. This was not only a means to make money, it brought our community together. The past 4 years walking with “strangers” for a cause has enabled us to meet new people in the community and surrounding areas. ut the fight for us is not over e ust had a car wash to enable us to raise funds and we are selling pink masks and other items. Keep a look out for other fund raising ideas that we will do throughout the year. Again, we are not doing this for a cure, we are doing this to help a neigh-bor in need during a crisis in their life.
Please help us if you can.
Cruising Through the Summer by Renee Hojnowski, Program and Event Coordinator
Weather impacts our daily lives in so many ways, especially for an outdoor event. Early July proved to be very cooperative as we began our our socially-distanced outdoor events with a movie night and the Fishing Derby. Our Ice Cream Social followed at the end of July with 80 of the all-time favorite summertime treats being dished out complete with multiple delicious toppings olunteers helped to scoop up and top o this yummy snack as the visitors enjoyed each mouth-watering spoonful. Thanks again to all the volunteers that helped to make this event a success.
Then came August with its inclement weather which proved to be a bit more challenging. With no indoor facilities that were accessible, there was no other choice but to postpone or cancel functions. Canceling was not an option I cared to choose. One of our movie nights had to be postponed for two days and the Concert in the Park was postponed for two weeks, with a time change as well, due to the evenings becoming darker earlier.
However, with all these changes, it was a wonderful time for all who at-tended. Byrd Pressley and his band echoed their musical talents over the
field with over in attendance hey played two hours of well known and loved songs that took us through the decades. Each song invoked memories to the audience of days gone by. The time change also gave the guests a chance to picnic their dinner while the music played on.
SEPT 12, 2020 — (l to r) Nic Yandolino; Renee Hojnowski, Program and Event Coordinator; Elijah Jones, General Manager; and Kathy Pearson
(continued on page 5)
2 | October/November 2020 | SAW CREEK NEWS
President’s Messageby Kathi Connell, Board President
Dear Saw Creek Friends and Family,I hope everyone is staying safe and had an enjoyable
summer. The conditions were not ideal this summer with some of our recreational activities canceled, as well as amenities closed or at 25%-50% capacity due to the current pandemic situation. I hope everyone was able to make the best of the circumstances. I also hope that everyone understands that the decisions that were made were done for everyone’s safety and well-being and appreciate everyone’s cooperation and support.
September is always a somber month with Patriot Day occurring on 9/11 to honor and remember all the heroes who lost their lives on September
am truly sorry if you are mourning the loss of a friend or family member who lost his/her life on that tragic day and I am sure we will all be paying tribute in our own memorable way.
I would like to take a moment to say “THANK YOU” to each of our Saw reek sta members who worked to the best of their ability to keep our
community running smoothly during these difficult times would especially like to thank ublic afety aintenance and our pool sta who unfortu-nately had to take some abuse from angry residents who did not wish to follow some of our safety rules. The Board of Directors appreciates all your hard work
September also brought us Labor Day so I would like to take a moment to say “THANK YOU” to all our frontline workers who have been working tirelessly during the past few months. Whether you are a doctor, nurse,
firefighter police officer or pretty much a hard worker in any type of business, I hope you were able to take some time to relax over the Labor Day weekend.
Next, I would like to say “THANK YOU” to all the residents of our commu-nity s a whole everyone has been understanding and cooperative of the measures Management and the Board had to take to ensure everyone’s health, safety, and well-being during these unique times. As I mentioned earlier, there were a handful of people who misdirected their anger or
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frustration toward the innocent sta members who are hired to follow the directives given to them by the Board, but we appreciate the majority who obliged. Assessments are the lifeblood of community associations and are utilized to deliver essential services to residents such as snow removal, trash pickup, association salaries, etc. as well as to provide for the upkeep and maintenance of common areas including our recreational areas, pools, recycling, and our roads e are faced with an e ceedingly difficult task this year as we are preparing our budget for the fiscal term where the budget includes substantial increases to the association’s trash removal, security, essential employee wages, cleaning supplies, insurance premiums and much more. Because of the uncertainty presented to us by COVID-19, the budget includes substantial increases to the association’s operating and capital e penses he finance committee management sta and board of directors are working diligently to minimize any increases. Thank you to everyone for understanding that, even though some of our amenities have been closed or restricted the oard is still burdened with large financial obligations due to the pandemic for the remainder of 2020 as well as into the new 2021 fiscal year and will do our best to minimi e any assessment increase The Board together with the Finance Committee will be holding an open budget session to begin the 30-day member comment period on Saturday, October 10th immediately following the monthly board meeting. A zoom link will be communicated to all members and we encourage all members to attend and comment on the proposed DRAFT budget for 2021. A copy of the DRAFT budget will be available on-line to all members prior to this meeting with communication as to when the DRAFT budget will be posted. If there are any questions regarding the 2021 proposed budget or budget process, please feel free to send an email to the Finance Committee at finance sawcreek org. The Board approved the Association’s Strategic Plan at the September Board meeting, and we will be moving forward with execution of the nine (9) Strategic Goals as outlined in that document. We would love to hear from you and would ask for your input and/or comments for moving forward with these approved goals. An updated copy of the approved Strategic Plan can be found in the Resource Center at www.sawcreek.org. Please feel free to send any comments or questions to the Board at scebod sawcreek org.
e need your input At the September Board meeting, we approved the bids for both the recycling facility on Decker Road as well as road line painting throughout the community. As part of the line painting project, we will be painting the wording at designated community intersections in an e ort to get all drivers to “STOP”, “SLOW DOWN” and obey the speed limit. We again ask all residents and guests to PLEASE ADHERE to the association rule of driving the speed limit of 25 mph. The posted speed limits are just that, the speed limit. It is not a suggestion or a request, it is the speed limit and citations are being issued. At this point all I can say is, AGAIN, PLEASE SLOW DOWN. The same goes for Stop signs. This applies to residents, guests, contractors, delivery vehicles and all association members. As in the past, all members are encouraged to attend the monthly board meetings either in person or via Zoom. Meetings are held the second Sat-urday of every month at 10:00am and welcome your comments. Always feel free to contact the Board any time at scebod sawcreek org with any questions or concerns that you may have. oping that this autumn brings health and happiness to all tay safe and well.
SAW CREEK NEWS | October/November 2020 | 3
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Manager’s Messageby Elijah Jones, CMCA, AMS, General Manager
Temperatures outside are cooling down as this South arolina native contemplates his first ennsylvanian fall
and winter. I just need a good pair of boots, but otherwise I am as ready as I will ever be for this new experience. At Saw Creek, tasks have not cooled down much at all. We continue to maintain the amenities, continue to forge ahead through the 2021 budget process and do what we can to be prepared for whatever weather events head our way in the coming months.
We have a lot of updates to report on projects throughout the community. The ski hill maintenance building is nearing completion for our upcoming ski season. The pumps that serve the snow guns on the ski slopes have been replaced and are operational.
The recycling center (at the former stables area) is underway as the Board approved the bid in August. We look forward to opening this facility and using the same area for bulk dumping as it is scheduled throughout the year. Moving bulk dumping to the recycling area will alleviate some of the congestion around the ember ervices ffice and eliminate some of the wear and tear on our existing infrastructure. The material storage building (also in the former stables area) is nearing completion as well and will serve us adequately with any winter storms we face.
Thank you for your patience maneuvering around our paving contrac-tors and line painters over the past weeks. We continue to take all possible steps to extend the life of our roads and parking areas in Saw Creek. Next year, we will be line striping everything within the community to allow for adequate markings for those vehicles traveling our roadways.
I would like to extend a very public “Thank You” for all those who volun-teered for the newly created Short-Term Rental Ad Hoc Committee. It was the first committee for which ve personally reviewed applications and was pleasantly surprised how many new residents were interested in serving in this role. We had around twenty volunteers for the seven voting member committee.
I interviewed most of the applicants by email and/or phone call, and I was impressed how many wanted to become engaged in the formation of policy within their community o thank you for your willingness to o er yourself for this service opportunity. Please keep your eyes and ears open for other opportunities if we were not able to find a place for you on this specific committee
I hope you and yours have a nice Thanksgiving – if we do not speak be-forehand
by Nic Hutta, Compliance and Project Manager hat s new at aw reek has been a difficult year with and construction shutdowns, but that has not stopped the progress of this great community’s infrastructure improvements. Your dues have been put to good use with the staining of each pavilion in Saw Creek. This project will prolong the life of the structures, protecting Saw Creek’s investments and beautifies this old tar ommunity We have also been moving forward on the Lancaster Bus Stop with a projected completion date for the end of October 2020. This long-awaited project focuses on the safety of our youth, ensuring safe and easy access to the students’ buses. he final pro ect will discuss is the highly anticipated ecycling rea Your Board of Directors has approved the bid for Augello Excavating and construction is slated for completion in December 2020. Although the de-tails of the recycling area s operations are not fully defined this pro ect will give homeowners an area in which they can recycle more fre uently and an area to easily dispose of bulk waste
Red Cross Blood DriveBy Ginni Cozzi, Public Information Committee
On August 7, 2020, the annual Red Cross Blood Drive, sponsored by the Saw Creek Women’s Club and Saw Creek Men’s Club, was held in the Creek Room at the Top of the World Complex. In
past years our collection rate was between 20-25 units of blood, but this year we took a hit with COVID-19 in our midst. This year we had only 16 people come to donate and of them were dis ualified from giving so we only collected 14 units.
Of course, we are extremely thankful for those people who came (many were from outside our gates), and we hope they will return next year along with many more to make 2021 a really great year.
Blood donations are always needed, and during this COVID-19 crisis, it is needed even more. The two clubs would strongly urge anyone who wishes to find a local blood drive and give much needed blood e hope to see a lot more of you next year.
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The Safety Spotby Frank DenDulk and the Safety Committee
When TWISTERS Threaten: Tornado Warnings t s a fun movie ost of us have seen it ctors ill a ton and Helen Hunt chase tornadoes in the farmlands of the Midwestern plains ess known is that these fictional storm chasers re ect attempts of real-life research meteorologist to learn more about the severe storms we call Twisters or Tornadoes. Here in the Poconos, recently on a beautiful summer day, my smartphone screamed its “Red Alert”. I chose that signal for stormy weather alerts from
ode had been issued for my neighborhood ikes isions of ying cows uprooted trees and buildings being sucked apart ran through my head hat should do hat would you do et s di erentiate a from a he latter re uires imme-diate action.
Tornado Watch: ake aution ornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Be ready to act quickly if you suspect a tornado is approaching. Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur. The watch area is typically large covering numerous counties.
Tornado Warning: ake ction tornado has been sighted or indicat-ed by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property.
arnings are issued by your local forecast office encompassing a much smaller area that may be impacted by a tornado identified by a forecaster on radar or by a trained spotter/law enforcement who is watching the storm.
ornadoes can destroy buildings ip cars and create deadly ying debris They are columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm to the ground while rotating violently. Tornadoes can happen anytime and anywhere. They bring intense winds (over 200 MPH) and look like funnels. IF A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, FIND
If at home, get to the basement. If the house doesn’t have a basement, move to an interior room or closet on the lowest oor et into a secure area, like underneath the stairway. Avoid windows, doors, and outside walls.
specially stay away from glass Often, before a tornado strike, rain will be heavy. Then hail. Hailstones get bigger with the increasing threat. In the sky, you may see the rotating funnel or an approaching cloud of debris. Loud roars are common, similar to noises made by passing freight trains. hen tornadoes strike watch out for ying debris t can cause in ury or death. Huddle down. Take additional cover by shielding your head and
neck with your arms and putting materials such as furniture and blankets around you. If in a vehicle or outdoors, move to the closest substantial shelter to protect yourself. If you can safely get to a sturdy building, do so immediately. If you are in a car or outdoors and cannot get to a building, cover your head and neck with your arms and cover your body with a coat or blanket, if possible. Do not try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle. Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You’re safer in a low at location If you are trapped, cover your mouth with a cloth or mask to avoid breathing dust. Try to send a text, bang on a pipe or wall, or use a whistle instead of shouting. Stay clear of fallen power lines or broken utility lines. Do not enter
OwnerLink™ Web Portal ur wner ink eb ortal is here he wner ink is a self ser-viceportaldesigned to make connecting and getting things done nearly e ortlessly wner ink provides secure online access to your Saw Creek Estates account as well as a host of features that put community communication and convenience right at your fingertips Please accept our invitation to enroll by following the four-step di-rections below or by downloading our Quick Reference PDF Guide.
1. lick here to get started https://infotrackeronelink.com/scec2. Fill out the form of information requested.3. ook for a confirmation email with a link to continue and a
temporary password.4. Follow the rest of the prompts; be sure to select a secure
password.urrently is o ering online payments from our website with a
direct link to get started oint your browser tohttps://sawcreek.org/pay-dues-online/ and you can pay with your credit card or aypal account
d a m a g e d b u i l d i n g s unt i l you are told that t h e y a r e safe. Save your phone c a l l s f o r emer gen -cies. Phone systems are often down or busy after a disaster. Use text messaging or social media to communicate with family and friends. On a personal note, my experience validates the recommendations giv-en above. Nearly thirty years ago, my family was vacationing in the hills of Tennessee when a tornado struck. First came rain, then hail pellets, then baseball-sized hailstones. We heard the “freight train”. In a house with no basement, I herded the kids into an inner closet. Then the grandparents followed. Finally, I huddled in the closet doorway as the tornado raged outside. In a matter of minutes, the storm ended as quickly as it came. With hail
ung hori ontally not a window in the house withstood the impact hat-tered glass was everywhere My car looked as if it had been pelted all over with a hammer. The old rusty fender didn t survive t was no longer there lthough the windshield cracked, other safety glass prevailed. Thanks be to God, nobody was physically injured. However, PTSD is still an issue for some of us. We survived because we sheltered in place. What would have happened had we tried to run? In summary, chasing tornadoes may be a good idea for adventure movies, but for the sake of your safety it s something you want to avoid NOTE: Some of the content herein was resourced from the Federal Emer-gency Management Association (FEMA, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Additional information is available here:
• https www ready gov sites default files tornado infor-mation-sheet.pdf
• https www ready gov sites default files taking shelterbuilding-a-safe-room.pdf
• https://www.noaa.gov/stories/noaa-tornado-scientists-inspired-twister-creators-20-years-ago
SAW CREEK NEWS | October/November 2020 | 5
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The acceptance of advertising in Saw Creek News does not consti-tute endorsement by the Saw Creek Estates Community Assoc., the oard of irectors the volunteers and sta who help put the paper together, or the publisher. Position of advertisements is not guaranteed. All advertising is subject to acceptance by the pub-lisher. The publisher is not responsible for errors in ads or claims made by advertisers. The Saw Creek Estates Board of Directors reserves the right to prohibit any content or advertisement which, in its sole discretion, is contrary to the mission, goals or purposes of the Association.
fficial publication of the aw reek states ommunity ssoc5728 Decker Road, Bushkill PA 18324
SAW CREEK NEWS
The Doggie Dip was an exciting start to the day for our community’s beloved fur babies as they took to the VIP pool for an afternoon swim and playful games. Dave Henon, Saw Creek’s very own dog trainer, en-tertained them big and small alike. There were 41 dogs in attendance who brought their parents with them to swim and participate in all the fun ulligan was our first little dog to ump into the waters of the baby pool and rody was our first larger dog who showed o his swimming skills in the bigger pool. Dave played a sitting game with them in the grassed area where we had a tie score between Bella and Mulligan. Way to go our furry friends
The Limbo followed where everyone just had a blast trying to get their dogs to go under the limbo stick with them, resulting in a good time with lots of laughter. As always thanks to everyone who participated, volunteered, or worked these events. There is more excitement just around the corner as we enter the fall. Please watch for events such as our “Pumpkin Painting in the Field” and “Howl-O-Ween Trick or Treating.”
Cruising Through the Summer
(continued from page 1)
6 | October/November 2020 | SAW CREEK NEWS
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by Debra J. Wulff, SCE Board SecretaryAugust 8, 2020
• The Board approved a $500 donation to Jo’s Pantry as an expression of appreciation for their service to the community during the crisis.
• The Board approved an additional $17,460 to cover the additional costs to alleviate drainage issue at the Lancaster Bus Stop.
• The Board gave approval for the General Manager to move forward with the creation of an STR Ad Hoc Committee.
• The Board approved the draft of the Management Audit Letter and the financials
September 12, 2020• The Board approved the revision to the Letter to the Editor policy
regarding the endorsement of Candidates. The policy now states that any letters endorsing/opposing candidates shall be allowed only in the Special Election issue and not in the general issues.
• The Board approved electric motors for kayaks and canoes be al-lowed on Mill Pond because they do not make waves and run quietly. Gas and Diesel engines remain prohibited.
• The Board approved the recommended seven members as put forth by the General Manager for the newly formed STR Ad-Hoc Commit-tee. It was noted that 21 community members had applied.
• he oard approved recommendations from the ompliance ffi-cer as to the size of docks to be allowed on Mill Pond and permits needed for them. The Saw Creek Estates Architectural Guide will be updated with specific re uirements
• The Board approved revised Public Information Committee job de-scription as submitted by the General Manager.
• The Board approved the Recycling Bid from Angelo Excavating for $105,870 and the Road Paving bid from Alpha Space for $12,737.90 for line painting.
BOARD ACTIONSAugust and September 2020 -
It is Not Goodbye, But Until Next Time...by Darcie Ackerman, Aquatics and Fitness Supervisor
A long-time employee of Saw Creek is moving to Georgia to be closer to her dad. She leaves behind countless memories. She has been caretaker to many of aw reek s youth first as an attendant at the and most recently as Saw Creek’s Camp Director. She has also worked as part of the
ecreation epartment s event sta A smile and cheerful words were always shared with all. She is on record
with most as being the best hugger. I don’t think there is a corner in Saw reek that her spirit hasn t infiltrated he has worked numerous events
in the Creek, always bringing her sunshine attitude to share with all. Her name is Kathy Pearson, and if you know her, a piece of your heart will now be in Georgia.
Public Notice for Utilitiesby Elijah Jones, General Manager
On Wednesday, September 15, 2020, the Board authorized the execution of a 36-month PA Electric Energy Agreement between SCECA and Engie Resources, LLC. This agreement controls the price of generating power charged to SCECA.
SAW CREEK NEWS | October/November 2020 | 7
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OPINIONLetters to the Editor -Members in good standing may write a Letter to the Editor. Letters of 300 words or less, in MSWord format must include name, lot and section number. Lot and section numbers are used for verification of member status only and are not printed. Before submitting a Letter to the Editor, please review the Letter to the Editor Policy in the Saw Creek website Resource Center, in the folder named Important Information. The Public Information Committee makes every effort to see that facts are printed as available space permits. Send your letter to the Public Information Committee at [email protected].
Appreciates the Saw Creek NewsDear Editor: Living 120 miles from Saw Creek, I look forward to delivery of the “Saw Creek News.” In the July/August 2018 issue I saw photos of my grandchildren and my children and I wrote expressing my surprise. My letter was published in the September/October 2019 issue. A year later my son called and asked me to check out the Saw Creek website, but he wouldn’t tell me why. The site was advertising the “Family Camp Fire” on August 17 – to include a photo of three children roasting marshmallows. hose children were my son ike s children of our grandchildren felt compelled to write another letter and it was published in the October/November 2019 issue. As the heading to that article states – “Who Says Lightning Doesn’t Strike Twice?” While my wife and I struggle for decades to carry the cost of two homes, these little moments make it so much less painful to write the checks the grandchildren smiles make it all worthwhile I am now reading the current issue of the Saw Creek News and here we go again for the third time. The centerfold contains a collage of photos touting the recent fishing derby and guess whose family appears in two of the photos mine again In the center at the bottom of the centerfold we see my son Mike and his wife Diana, smiling for the camera with their children – appropriately masked - enjoying another Saw Creek event. Of course, I had to write to convey my thanks and to, yet again, ex-press my gratitude to my “other family” at Saw Creek for, unknowingly, justifying the struggles of my wife and me for 32 years to hang onto our other home in Saw Creek.
Joe & Vivian Conway
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8 | October/November 2020 | SAW CREEK NEWS
COMMUNITY LIVINGKnow the Rules -Gate Cards by MJ Stigliano, Rules Committee Chairperson In order to access our beautiful commu-nity, Saw Creek homeowners are issued up to two gate cards at no charge, but if more are needed, the cost is $20.00 per card with a six-card limit. Gate cards are for use by immediate family members or caregivers, or tenants residing at the property. If your card(s) is lost or stolen, the card(s) can be replaced at a charge of $20.00 and the previous card(s) will be deactivated. But, to ensure the safety and security of all residents, please be aware of some restrictions on the use of gate cards. As noted in the rules document, Sec-tion ommunity dentification rocedures ule ate ate ard ees & Rules, page 7:
“Property owners, tenants and guests shall not relinquish or otherwise transfer their gate pass to anyone other than a member of the same household. With the exception of household members, transferring a gate pass to another person and use of such pass by a person other
than the one to whom the pass was original-ly issued (tailgating/piggybacking) consti-tutes a violation of the Rules and Regula-tions and is a Tier 2 Offense.”
After you’ve swiped your gate card and pro-ceed through the gate, be alert to drivers behind you who may try to “piggyback” entrance into Saw Creek from your gate card credentials. Not only is this a dangerous practice, but as noted in the rule above, it’s illegal. If you notice this happening, please report the vehicle type and license number to public safety immediately if you are able to do so. Always consult the current Rules and Regu-lations document for the wording of rules and citation amounts; the current document is dated September 2020. You may also view the Rules and Regulations document on the Saw Creek website, in the Resource Center, in the folder named Governing Documents. f you re interested in finding out more about the Rules Committee activities or volunteering for the committee, please consider joining us at one of our meetings. We meet the third Thurs-day of every month at 4PM in the Mountain Room. Or if you have any questions about a rule, please reach out to us at rulesandregulationssawcreek.org.
Beginning July 23, the Finance Committee has been meeting every other week to work on the 2021 operational and capital/reserve budgets. The
eneral anager kicks o the process by bringing the committee a first draft of a proposed budget.
fter the first budget pro-posal is presented, the com-mittee divides the budget into the various departments within Saw Creek Estates and they hear from the directors of those departments. The meetings with the directors can be quite lengthy as the Finance Committee members go line by line through the budget to under-stand each expense as well as the background on changes from the current fiscal year to the ne t anagement sta members present their needs both on the operational and capital/reserve budgets and the committee questions the priorities of all requests.
Once each meeting is concluded, the General Manager creates a new draft of the proposed budgets to present at the next meeting (held two weeks later s the process continues the ommittee hears from the specific departments and after that presentation, the latest draft of the budget proposal is considered again, going through changes that have been made from the last meeting as a result of the department budget presentations.
This cycle of meetings and work continues until October 1, when the By-Laws state that the Finance Committee must submit a preliminary budget to the Board with the Committee’s recommendations. On or about the time you receive this issue of Saw Creek News, the preliminary budget has been submitted to the Board.
The By-Laws also state that when the preliminary budget is submitted to the Board, that same budget is also posted online and in the MSO for a thirty-day public comment period. This allows all the members to review the budget proposals, understand and propose changes in the assessments as well as what projects or replacements are being contemplated in the capital/reserve budget. In addition, all members are given the opportunity to submit their comments on the budget in its current form.
After the comment period has closed and typically during its regular meeting in November, the Board approves the 2021 budget and sets the
annual assessments for operations and replacement reserves. Mailings are then compiled and sent out to all members with the 2021 billing invoice as well as all pertinent information on fee changes that will be e ective on January 1, 2021. At the end of the day, the budget process is very deliberate since plans to spend members’ money is a major responsibility of Management, the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors. We take this task very seri-ously and do all we can to make the proper decisions to be wise stewards of the hard-earned money you contribute to this Community.
The Workings Behind the Budget Curtain
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Lehman Township Amends Short Term Rental Ordinance Againby MJ Stigliano, Public Information Committee
Lehman Township’s short term rental (STR) or-dinance was first adopted in ctober , which affected not only aw reek states but five other homeowner associations (HOAs) in Lehman Township as well as homes in residential zoned areas that aren’t located in an HOA.
he first amendment to the ordinance was made in December 2019. At that time, the Public Information Committee (PIC) interviewed Lehman Township Supervisor Rob Rohner about the change, and our interview was published in the February/March 2020 edition of the Saw Creek News.
However, on July 23, 2020, the Township Supervisors adopted another amendment to the STR ordinance. PIC again met with Rob Rohner to discuss this most recent update.
PIC: It would be helpful to our readers to understand the history of why the ordinance was updated. As a reference point, would you provide information starting with the December 2019 update?Mr. Rohner: In early 2019, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court handed down a decision regarding STRs in residential zoned districts.1 Based in part on this decision, the Township Supervisors updated the ordinance in Decem-ber 2019. Previously, the ordinance had only one category of STRs, simply named short term rentals. Our 2019 updated ordinance re-categorized STRs into two groups:
Short term home rentals: The homeowner must live in the home at least 183 days per year. Short term transient rentals: The home was purchased for investment purposes only. There was no residency requirement for this type of rental. These types of rentals were permitted in the following zoned areas of the township, including Saw Creek Estates: Low Density Residential (LDR), Resort/Medium Density Residential (R/MDR) and Village/Commercial (VC/VCO).2
PIC: Now that we have the history of the December 2019 ordinance update as a baseline, can you explain to homeowners why the ordinance was up-dated again in July?Mr. Rohner: Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the township was re-ceiving daily phone calls about STR problems in residential neighborhoods.
nce the pandemic started to a ect ike ounty ehman ownship was mandated to follow the Governor’s COVID-19 color-coded red, yellow and green restrictions. The township’s mission has always been to protect the public health, safety and welfare of its residents and visitors, so we decid-ed another revision to the ordinance was necessary. The updated rental ordinance was adopted on July 23. Both types of rentals are still permitted in the township but with the following changes:
Short term home rentals: The homeowner must live in the home at least 183 days per year, and this type of rental is only permitted inthe zoned areas of LDR or R/MDR (see chart at end of article).Short term transient rentals: The home is purchased for investment purposes only and has no residency requirement. It can now be used as a rental only in the zoned area VC/VCO (see chart at end of article).3
PIC: We’ve also heard a lot about STR rentals that are “grandfathered.” Would you please explain that?Mr. Rohner: Homeowners who already had a Short Term Transient Rental permit prior to July 23 are “grandfathered,” meaning, they can continue to rent but are still required to abide by the entire ordinance. A homeowner who did not have this type of permit but had applied for one prior to July 23 is also grandfathered, subject to the results of the scheduled permit hearing. However, all pending applications over one year old are voided. All permits run with the land and are valid for two years, unless they expire or lapse.
PIC: We realize this interview is just a brief synopsis of the changes to the ordinance. If homeowners want more information, who should they contact?
Mr. Rohner: For the most accurate information related to STRs, please contact the townships oning fficer tan hittaker at
PIC: Thanks Mr. Rohner for taking the time to meet with us and help Saw Creek residents become more informed about the newly updated STR ordinance.
PIC note: Although this article only references Lehman Township rental policies,4 iddle mithfield ownship also has a ordinance hey can be reached at 570 223-8920, or visit their website: https://www.middlesmith-fieldtownship com oning oning permits 5 STR ordinance information for both townships is also available on Saw Creek’s website in the Resource Center, or by contacting the Member Ser-vices ffice at rentals sawcreek org
Short Term Rental Zoning District Chart for Lehman Township:
The area marked in the thick border are the zones in Saw Creek where rentals are permitted or not permitted, as indicated with the letter P or N. The zone marked VC/VCO is the only area where new Short-Term Transient Rentals are still permitted in Saw Creek or if grandfathered. This zone is located in the vicinity of the TOP Clubhouse.
1. https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-airbnb-ruling-state-supreme-court-20190501-xzxfpcbuvzhltesiapq2dwlgxy-story.html
2. http://www.lehmantownship.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Zoning_Ordinance_Amendment_12-10-2019.pdf
3. http://www.lehmantownship.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Lehman-Township-STR- Ordinance-141.pdf4. http://www.lehmantownship.com/short-term-rentals/5. https://www.middlesmithfieldtownship.com/zoning-zoning-permits/
SAW CREEK NEWS | October/November 2020 | 11
COVID-19 Did Not Stop Our Summer!by Jessica M. VanDerVliet, Director of Community Relations
Since early March, every time you turned on the TV, scrolled through your Facebook, or scanned the newspaper, all you read about was COVID, COVID, COVID. I am by no means trying to downplay the fact that this is a very serious matter and we must adhere to the procedures being implemented by our Government to stay safe and slow the spread, but I also want to highlight some of the great things that continued to transpire since the start of this summer season.
This past summer season, we were presented with a new set of challenges, very di erent than any have ever faced in my years working for our com-munity and believe me have seen some things in those years ur way of thinking and planning had to be adapted to comply with the Governor’s Orders, Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, and more, all the while taking into consideration the safety and enjoyment of our residents.
chedules were worked and reworked to add the e tra cleaning sta necessary to comply; tons of personal protective equipment (PPE) and clean-ing products were purchased to ensure that disinfection continued for our patrons enforcement put a strain on our ecreation and ublic afety ta and lastly, training and procedures were established and implemented to ensure the safety of not only individuals and families but the sta as well
Often, we focus on the things that we don’t have or haven’t done in life. I would like to point out some accomplishments we had this summer season, despite some challenging hurdles.
Here are just a few things we should be proud of:• 24,279 members and their guests enjoyed our outdoor pools this
summer• 1,411 members and their guests appreciated our boats this summer• members and their guests worked out at our fitness center
I’m also proud to say we were able to provide the following, despite some challenges:
• Curbside and Outdoor Dining with Weekly Specials at our Top of the World Restaurant
• Bulk Dumping and Recycling Services provided by developing a new method to control the lines and provide social distancing
• A multitude of services to our residents and their guests including but not limited to providing online payment options from our amaz-ing team of professionals at the ember ervices ffice
• Held our Annual meeting (both in-person and virtually) thanks to some creative thinking from our echnology fficer and anage-ment Team
• We were also able to provide the following for our members and their guests’ enjoyment during this summer season from our hard-working Recreation Team: - Movie Nights - Fishing Derby- Ice Cream Social- Coloring Contest- Building Block Contest- Doggie Dip- Concert in the Park- Multiple Exercise Classes - Board Meetings, both in person and via Zoom for all to stay in-
formed - Website, email, and social media content ommittee meetings continue creatively finding the means to
gather people safely
Despite all the obstacles, I am proud to say we kept the facilities open, sta ed and saniti ed for all our residents and their guests to en oy hile other communities around us elected not to open their facilities this summer season we made it happen his is one of the many reasons why we are the
old tar ommunity that we are am fortunate enough to work with a team of irectors anagers ta and Volunteers who brainstormed and scoured guidelines to develop a plan that provided the necessities to carry on. #SawCreekStrong
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Doggie Dip
Ice Cream Social
Building Block Contest
The annual Doggie Dip was a great success with a wide variety of K-9 swimmers. This event is held on the last day the pools are open and even the adults had a great time!
Even with social distancing the Ice Cream Social was a tasty and fun event. After all, what’s better than ice cream on a warm summer day?
Jerome Inder
Byrne Laura
Bruce Brandli
Byrne Laura
Byrne Laura
Byrne Laura
Rielly Pape
Michael Gehman
Michael Gehman
Michael Gehman
Darcie AckermanDarcie AckermanRielly Pape
Richard Ackerman
Nina Miranda-Barno Richie AckermanNina Miranda-Barno
Rielly Pape
Michael Gehman Rielly Pape
Rielly Pape
Donna Mahmood
Summer Photo Contest
John C.
Tristan and Florian T.
Hannah C. Kristin S. Jenny W.
Jonah C.
Sarvhesh I.
Vincent W.
Niklaus W. Abby C. Kandice R. Christina S. Lucas L.
Nicole M.Luc A.
Jenny W. Sarvhesh I.
The goal of the Building Block Contest was to be creative and all of our entries succeeded in hitting that goal! The winner was by Tristan and Florian T. whose construction went through the ceiling!
Our second place winners were also tallest and third place went to the use of unusual materials. All entries won a Saw Creek Estates construction helmet. Congratulations to all of our amazing kids.
Each season we run a photo contest to allow homeowners to submit their best images of Saw Creek Estates. We look for photos that capture the best of our community and once again we had a very diffi cult time picking the winners. Michael captured a wonderful long
exposure of the waterfall. Richard showed the fun of fi shing and Jerome beautifully presented some of the diversity within our community. Thank you all for submitting these great shots. On to the fall contest!Enter your photos at www.SawCreek.ORG.
Richard Ackerman
You can see all the entries on our
website www.sawcreek.ORG
SAW CREEK NEWS | October/November 2020 | 15
Fireworks and Dogs Don’t Mix by David J. Henon, Member International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants irst let me say that fireworks are illegal in our community his doesn t seem to stop folks from setting them o year round lways call ublic Safety and report it. Or you can remind them of our rules. They may not have seen all the signs we have posted and yers at the gates warning them that fireworks are not allowed lease keep in mind we know them as fireworks but can you imagine what the dogs are thinking? Perhaps our world is coming to an end. Many go into a full-blown anxiety attack. I once was pet sitting and while I was not in the home neighbors set o fireworks came back and could not find the dog anywhere. The last place I looked was in the bathtub and the poor dog was in there trembling. Please also be aware that it is not only canines that su er from the an iety of them ur military su er from and the sound can be a trigger. hat can we do to help the dogs process the sounds of fireworks when and if they go o e want to desensiti e and counter condition the dogs to fireworks suggest playing the sound of one firework from ou ube and pair it with their favorite treat. Increase each day. Be careful not to go too fast - baby steps. If they start to show stress, back up to the prior step. Comfort them with reassurance and positive reinforcement. Another suggestion is to get a Thunder Shirt at a local pet store or on-line. This shirt works on the same theory that when cattle are in line to be slaughter they are stressed; they go through a chamber that “hugs” them.
he hunder hirt is a tight fitting vest that gives them the same comfort feeling. It does not work for every dog but it is worth a try. Talk to your veterinarian about medication to give your dog around the holidays his will take the edge o and help them rela After volunteering in several animal shelters, I can tell you from experi-ence that July 4 and 5 are the busiest days. Many dogs freak out and run away. Make sure you have name tags on them. And please leave them home when you go to see fireworks oof
2nd Annual Doggie Dipby David J. Henon, Saw Creek Critters he second annual oggie ip was a huge success e had over dogs It was a beautiful day for a doggie pool party. And a handful of dogs took advantage of it and hit the water rody was the first one in e is a lab and would have done anything to get the ball including diving in to the refreshing water. His sibling is a dive dog champion, so it comes natural for him. Others were happy to chill out and enjoy the company of other dogs and humans. Many dogs found the baby pool just enough for them to enjoy. It’s a good start for them. It is always advisable not to force dogs into the water. Some folks got into the water to ease their pooches in, while holding them as you would a child learning how to swim. We played many doggie games, including musical sits where when the music stops the dogs must sit. Last one to sit is out—a play on musical chairs. We had an adorable puppy that won and Bella took second place. Both of them won a pri e from the goodie bag hen we were o to the imbo he humans and doggies enjoyed in the fun. We even played best trick where John Graham’s dog won by doing a dance that he learned from a family member who runs a dance studio. We had plenty of music to add to the atmosphere with lots of dog themed songs provided by Darcie Ackerman. Even the new general manager came out with his husband and two dogs. Betty Anne Ricci had a table to give out information about Pink Walk events scheduled in Saw Creek for October 3. Renee did an amazing job and Jessica stopped by to see the pooches. Suzanne Mark made sure every dog left with a Frisbee. All money raised went to the TNR (Trap, Neuter and Release) program for our feral cats located in Saw Creek Estates. It’s the dog’s way of helping out the cats in our community. I was afraid that we were not going to be able to have the doggie dip this year due to COVID-19. It was nice to see everyone followed the new protocol in wearing masks. I am so excited about next year. We more than doubled the amount of dogs from last year so the word is out. oof
16 | October/November 2020 | SAW CREEK NEWS
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SAW CREEK NEWS | October/November 2020 | 17
Saw Creek Estates Homeowner Survey Resultsby Glenn Zagoren, The Zagoren Collective, LLC
Recently, the Board of Directors and management distributed a survey to the homeowners of Saw Creek Estates. The purpose of this survey was to get an overview of the community’s demographics as well as homeowner input his information helps define what programs infrastructure should be considered in the trategic lan to benefit the community as a whole
This survey generated a full response rate of 18%. Adding in the partial response rate, we get a response rate of 22%. This is important since it represents only a subset of the community. The potential is that largest segments may have not responded he results could be o plus or minus This survey gives us a snapshot view of SCE but should be used in conjunc-tion with other data to define the community
For full disclosure, I was not involved in the creation of the survey and write this article only as an impartial analyst.
Key Points: The synopsis of the report shows two key data points. First, the majority of homeowners are very pleased with the community in all aspects. Second, all would like massive increases in services and ameni-ties while lowering dues. That is an interesting challenge.
The Average Saw Creek Estates Homeowner: When we take the largest percentage for each answer, the following becomes the overview of the typical Saw Creek homeowner:
• Married• White• The median income is higher than the national average with 43%
over $100,000/year• 45% between the age of 18-54• Has lived in SCE for more than 10 years• Sees SCE as a Vacation/Resort/Residential Gated Community
(almost 40% are second homes)• Believes SCE rules enhance the community• Would recommend SCE to friends and family• atisfied with the dues and what they cover• atisfied with ember ervices ublic afety aintenance an-
agement, and Recreation• Believe the community is continually improving• Says Management and BOD communication is good• Likes getting emails about what’s happening in the community• Would like to see more investment into the community• Would like to have a better restaurant with wider choices and
lower prices
SURVEY RESPONSE OVERVIEWResponse statistics
• Number of Homes in Saw Creek: 2,500• Number of complete responses: 460• Number of partial responses: 98• Percentage of community with full responses: 18%
How long have you owned• The majority over 10 years at 53%
What is your property• 38% are second homes• There are over 400 full time residents and short term rental prop-
erties that are not re ected here
Marital status• 65% married in SCE. This is 17% higher than the national average.
Ethnicity — On target with the national average.• White = 70%• Hispanic = 8%• Black = 7%
Age — This is the makeup of households in the community• 14% are Under 18• 45% are between 18-54 • 41% are 55+
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IncomeMedian income would be higher than the national average
• 43% over $100,000• 35% are between $50,000-$100,000• 22% under $50,000
Why did you buy• Gated Community 43% – This equates to security• Amenities = 38% • Location = 33%
Type of community• 68% see SCE as vacation/resort/residential. Keep in mind that
almost 40% are second homes.
Community rules• 63% feel that rules are positive • 8% feel they harm
Would recommend SCE• 83% are likely to recommend it• 8% unlikely
Return on assessments• are satisfied • dissatisfied• 17% neither
Overall satisfaction69% Overall all areas are doing well
- MSO• are satisfied • 17% neutral• dissatisfied with
Survey Results cont. - BOD• are satisfied • 38% neutral• dissatisfied
- Management• are satisfied• 24% neutral• dissatisfied
Last five years• 59% feel the community improved • 32% neutral• 10% feel it got worse
What to improveThe four options for answers were evenly split between
• Communications 55%• Common area maintenance 50%• Events and programs 50%• Safety 48%
BOD• 58% feel they are respected and informed • 42% feel disrespected or unimportant
Sharing of information• 85% are aware of community information • 13% are not aware that info is available.
How to receive info• Eblasts are #1 with 82%• Newspaper 62% • Website 60%
Websites• 88% use the website in one form or another
Communications• are satisfied versus dissatisfied
Investment in community• 74% would like to see more hiking trails• 71% see more use of the ski area in summer• 49% would invest in a new VIP Building
Top of the World• Underutilized with 91% rarely or never going• Lower prices and better menu
PIC Note: the 2019 Survey Overview Notes in PDF format are also available on the SCE website in the Resource Center in the Important Information Folder.
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SAW CREEK NEWS | October/November 2020 | 19
Real IDby Barbara Beltz, Public Information Committee
Beginning October 1, 2021 (postponed from October 1, 2020 due to COVID-19), a REAL ID driver’s license or ID card will be required for federal ID purposes.
What is a REAL ID? It is a driver’s license or ID card approved by the federal government. It provides identification re uired to board a do-mestic airline ight or to enter a federal facility or military base. It is not required to drive a car or enter a hospital post office or courthouse
Do Pennsylvania residents need a REAL ID? REAL ID is optional for PA residents. But if you don’t have one, you’ll need another form of federally acceptable identification a passport or military card to board a ight or enter a federal building re uiring identification or a military base.
Where do I get a REAL ID? You can get a READ ID at any PENNDOT Driver’s Licensing Center. See dmv.pa.gov/REALID and for a complete listing of locations.
How much does a REAL ID cost? There is a one-time fee of $30. Additionally, when you apply for your REAL ID, your current driver’s license will be renewed for another four years and you will be charged the renewal fee for your license.
How do I get a REAL ID? You will need to go to a PENNDOT Driver’s Licensing Center with the following original documents or certified copies
• roof of identity a birth certificate with raised seal or a valid passport
• Proof of Social Security – your Social Secu-rity card
• Two proofs of current address – an unex-pired driver’s license, valid PA vehicle reg-istration, or utility bill with current name and address
• Proof of legal name change – marriage certificate or divorce decree
Go to dmv.pa.gov/REALID for a complete list-ing of acceptable forms of identification
Getting a REAL ID is relatively simple and inexpensive and can save you a lot of hassle in the future. A word of caution – while it’s never fun to wait at PENNDOT, the lines will only get longer as we approach next October and people are crowding into the centers to get their REAL IDs, so I suggest going sooner rather than later to get this taken care of.
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Generator Safetyby Barbara Beltz, Public Information Committee
Winter is coming. Maybe it will be mild. Or maybe it will be cold and windy with lots of snow and ice. After all, this is 2020; anything is possible.
No matter what kind of winter weather we get, a power outage is a real possibility. A heavy wet snow can pull down a power line. Icy roads can send a car skidding into a pole to take down a transformer. Or a non-weath-er-related mechanical failure can take out the power. It can happen. And you can’t prevent it. With luck, your power will be restored in a matter of minutes or a few hours.
But what if repairs take longer and you’re in the dark and cold for many hours or even days? Or sweltering in the heat, if the outage happens in the summer. You can leave. Check into a hotel somewhere where the lights are on. But the easy answer is to power your home with a generator to keep the lights on and the refrigerator running.
Generators come in either portable or permanently installed types. But if you don’t know how to use them properly, and safely, either type can be dangerous.
If you are installing a permanent generator, it must have a transfer switch to prevent “back feed”, a danger to linemen or anyone who comes near a downed power line ualified electrician should install your generator and transfer switch and teach you how to use them.
It may be easier and less expensive to run a portable generator. www.Safeelectricity.org has the following tips for using a portable generator:
• Operate it outdoors in an area with plenty of ventilation. Never run a generator in a home or garage enerators give o deadly carbon monoxide fumes.
• Generators pose electrical risks, especially when operated in wet conditions. Protect the generator by operating it under an open canopy-like structure on a dry surface where water cannot form puddles or drain under it. Always ensure your hands are dry before
touching the generator.
• Turn the gener-ator on before plugging appli-ances into it.
• Do not plug a generator into the wall to avoid “back feed.” Use heavy-duty extension cords to connect ap-pliances to the outlets on the generator.
• Once the generator is running, turn your appliances and lights on one at a time to avoid overloading the unit. Most appliances have wattage use information on the unit. Check the wattages vs. your generator to help determine which ones can be used and which to avoid. Remember, generators are for temporary usage; prioritize your needs.
• e sure the generator is turned o and cool before fueling it ou ll want to have fuel on hand to fuel your generator when needed. Be sure to store this fuel in a safe place.
• Keep children and pets away from portable generators. Many gen-erator components are hot enough to burn you during operation.
We can hope that we’ll never need to use a generator to temporarily power our homes. But in case we do, let’s be sure we do it safely.
SAW CREEK NEWS | October/November 2020 | 21
Men’s Club Newsby Bill Montgomery, Club President Here we are in mid September and for the most part we are still a ected by ovid he en s lub has not met in many
months but remains hopeful to be able to meet in October. All our events, including our fundraisers, were cancelled for the rest of this year. I can only pray that 2021 will allow all of us to return to some sense of normalcy.
Even though our annual Golf Tournament (our largest fundraiser of the year) was cancelled in July, we were able to schedule a much smaller tourna-ment on September 14, 2020 at Pocono Hills. We had 24 Golfers and Guests and all stayed for a BBQ lunch after, on the Patio at their Restaurant, The Warehouse (socially distanced, of course). The Recreation Department is having an event on October 24, 2020 called “Halloween around the Pond”, which is replacing the” Trunk or Treat” event this year. As usual, the Men’s Club will be participating. If you would like any additional information about our club, please contact our club secretary Joe oe at Josdoe yahoo com or call him at 6858. In the meantime, stay safe, and enjoy the fall foliage season that is so beautiful here in the Poconos.
Women’s Club Newsby Ginni Cozzi, Club President The Saw Creek Women’s Club would like to welcome all of our new homeowners to our community and would like to extend
an invitation to all women to oin us on the first hursday of every month at 12:30PM for a business meeting, lunch, and friendly chatter. Our last three meetings have been held outdoors at the VIP Pavilion, and we plan to do the same for October if the weather cooperates. Otherwise we will meet in the Creek Room at the Top of the World Complex where we can easily practice social distancing. Although most of our members are “seniors”, we would be delighted to have younger women join us and bring their energy and new ideas to the group. Like most organizations, we have had to cancel most of our trips and fund raisers for our scholarship fund, but we are still going to Hidden Pastures Luxury Fiber Farm and Shop and lunch at the Carriage House in Branchville, New Jersey in October.
We will be holding our annual Holiday Cookie Sale on December 19 to benefit our scholarship fund opefully will enable us to get back to taking trips or having luncheons all year round If you would like to join us, please call Ginni at 570-588-0555 for up to date information on our meeting place and trips
Women’s Club Christmas Cookie SaleDecember 19 | Mountain Room | 10am-2pm
$12 per TrayMartial Arts Study Clubby James Hidalgo, Sah Bum Nim (Master James) The Saw Creek Martial Arts Study Club conducted a Kyu Belt test for 15 students and our yearly Black Belt test for six
students. This test was conducted at the VIP Pavilion on August 11 and 13.
Our students will be going back to the indoor tennis courts on September 15, Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 5:30PM and 7:30PM. As a reminder, our classes are free to all of residents of Saw Creek Estates. If you are interested in joining our classes, just come down during our hours of operation.
Calling All Foodies!by Ginni Cozzi, Public Information Committee
Kahlua Chocolate Cake1 package devil’s food cake mix (no pudding in the mix)4 eggs1 cup sour cream
cup ahlua or co ee avored li ueur¾ cup vegetable oil (not olive oil)6 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS:1. In large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, sour cream, Kahlua and oil.
Using an electric mixer, beat at low speed to blend, and then in-crease to med/high speed and beat for 3-5 minutes.
2. tir in the chocolate chips our batter into a greased and oured 10-inch Bundt or tube pan.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center of cake comes out clean.
4. Cool in pan on rack for 30 minutes. Loosen from pan and invert, removing pan. Cool completely on rack.
This cake is delicious served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. To dec-orate, just sift some 10x sugar over the top.
22 | October/November 2020 | SAW CREEK NEWS
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Saw Creek EstatesContact Information
BOARD OF DIRECTORS ................................... aw reek org President .................................................................................... Kathi Connell Vice-President .................................................................... Bill Montgomery Treasurer .................................................................................... Patricia Kirby Secretary ...................................................................................... ebra ul Members .............................................. James Hidalgo, Peggy Gottschau, John Graham, Art Kalpin, Jack Burchill
MANAGEMENT TEAMGeneral Manager ............................. Elijah Jones .................................. eli ah sawcreek orgDirector of Operations ................... Jim Andrews ................................... im sawcreek orgDirector of Public Safety ................ Louis Pantuso ............................. louis sawcreek orgHuman Resources Manager ......... Melanie Voiles ................................. hr sawcreek orgDir of Community Relations .......... Jessica VanDerVliet ................ essica sawcreek orgCompliance/Project Manager ......... Nicolas Hutta ..................... violations sawcreek orgRestaurant Manager ....................... David Hanf ........................ david hanf sawcreek orgDirector of Finance & Admin .......... Martha Almanza .................. martha sawcreek org
COMMITTEES & CHAIRPERSONSAppeals ................................... Norda Calder .................................... appeals sawcreek org
eautification ........................ eter c a ery ................... beautification sawcreek orgBuilding & Architectural ........ Dave Stagg .............................. maintenance sawcreek orgFinance .................................... Donna Mahmood ............................. finance sawcreek orgNominating ............................ TBD .............................................. nominating sawcreek orgPublic Information ................ TBD .............................................................. pic sawcreek orgRecreation .............................. TBD ......................................... reccommittee sawcreek orgRules & Regulations ............. M.J. Stigliano .............. rulesandregulations sawcreek orgSafety ....................................... Frank Krzeszowski .............................. safety sawcreek org
Jo’s Food Pantry Distribution in Saw Creekby Ida Mathew, Director
As you know, Jo’s Food Pantry has been actively involved in distributing food to our Saw Creek residents since March of this year as COVID 19 impact-ed all our lives. I would like to thank the Board for their generous donation of $500 to the pantry so we can continue to serve our community.
When we approached the Board for their permission to open the pantry on a regular basis, they agreed. We are open every third Wednesday of the month from 12:00PM to 2:00PM at the VIP building.
Your only requirement will be to bring a driver’s license or any proof of residence ou will be re uired to fill in an application the first time you come which has the income guidelines. Please remember this is for the families who are truly in need. A special thanks to Jessica VanDerVliet, Renee Hojnowski, Darcie Acker-man, and the Board. I appreciate all their help and support.
If you need food assistance, please contact us at 570-242-3663 or email us at osotreach gmail com ou can also visit us at www.josoutreach.org.
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