Snow removal update 12/5/13

Update from Birch Lawn: 

"Overnight and early this morning our crews are finishing up our plowing and shoveling.  This storm brought in quite a mixture of precipitation and steadily falling temperatures with it, and now some extreme wind and dangerous wind[chills]. 

With the very high moisture content of the snow, mixed in with sleet and rain and now the cold temps the snow packed down to form a compacted snow/ice layer.  No matter how we plowed the snow it still left a layer on top of the driveway, sidewalks, and street.  Please be aware that some icy conditions do exist and caution residents to be very careful.  If your property needs to be salted or sanded, please contact our office and we will get it scheduled to be treated."

Residents with questions or specific needs should contact: 

Jennifer Campbell - (763) 225-6462  jcampbell@developcommunity.com

Snow Removal Update 12/4/13

Winter is here!
Our new snow removal provider, Birch Lawn Maintenance, is on it.

Here's an update they sent to our Jennifer Campbell, our Community Manager:

"We have dispatched our crews to do open ups and will transition to full plowing and shoveling upon cessation of a majority  of the snowfall.  During open ups, our goal is to open up the roads and driveways to allow vehicles to access their garages with the intent to return and to complete the plowing."

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Campbell - (763) 225-6462 - jcampbell@developcommunity.com

Family Evening Out at Flips Gymnastics

Do your kids need to burn off some energy after being cooped in the house with this cold weather?   Please join us for an afternoon of fun at Flips Gymnastics in White Bear Lake.

Sunday, Dec 29th from 3:30-5:00

It is FREE!!!  But you NEED to RSVP by Mon, Dec 9th!

There will be a bounce house, obstacle course, and all of the gymnastics equipment.  Coaches will be on-hand to help the kids and keep them safe.

Please RSVP to Lisa at:

john3995@umn.edu or 

call/ text 651-353-2619

RSVP no later than Dec 9th!  I need total number of kids and their ages.  

Sorry parents... you cannot go on the equipment.

Each child needs a waiver.  Waivers can be found at: flipsgym.com under events.

Victor Gardens Adult Holiday Get Together

What: Victor Gardens Adult Holiday Get Together

When: December 6^th at 7pm.  Blue Heron  - Bar Area. 

*Complimentary Appetizer

If possible please RSVP to Kelly at:

Kelly_Farrell@comcast.net
or call/ text 651-238-6660

SFV boulevard trees may be at risk

As winter approaches, the vendor hired by our Victor Gardens Community Association has expressed concern about low hanging limbs on many boulevard trees in front of our Single Family Village homes.  Snow removal equipment requires at least a 7 foot vertical clearance from the sidewalk.  Many SFV boulevard trees currently don't meet that clearance.  If the equipment doesn't have sufficient room to operate, your tree(s) are at risk of damage.  These low-clearance trees also pose a risk to the snow removal equipment and personnel.

Your boulevard tree(s) are your responsibility, not the association's or the city's.  If your tree is damaged or becomes diseased as a result of branch damage, you, as a homeowner are responsible to replace the tree:

According to Victor Garden's SFV Covenants 10.2.2:

The Owners or Occupants shall mow and otherwise maintain the boulevards adjacent to their Units, including but not limited to maintaining, trimming and replacing trees located in the boulevard adjacent to their respective Units. Any tree located in a Unit or in the boulevard adjacent to a Unit that dies or becomes diseased shall be replaced by the Owner of the Unit with a tree of the same species and of a reasonable size.

This concern is shared by the City of Hugo, and we've posted about this on our Victor Gardens News website and notified residents via email few times.  In fact, last year the City requested a higher clearance (12-15'), but was OK with residents limbing their trees up in a phased, yearly approach.  It's a subject discussed at length here:(see the previous posts)

For the coming winter season, please ensure that there's at least 7' clearance down to the sidewalk on your boulevard trees.  This type of pruning is easy do-it-yourself work requiring little knowledge or tools.  Of course, hiring a professional landscape maintenance company or certified arborist would be another good option.

Victor Gardens is a beautiful neighborhood with healthy boulevard trees.  Let's keep it that way. Now is a good time to prune your trees are heading into their winter dormancy. 

Attention SFV Residents!

The Victor Gardens Single Family Village Board meeting will be on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 7:00pm at the existing Colfax model home across from the tennis courts/Val Jean Park. As always, SFV are encouraged to attend.  

Lawn Care - $50 Sprinkler Blow Out & Winterization

Shawn Herman, of Classic Lawnscape Inc., is again offering discounted services for VG residents.  Shawn offers a Victor Gardens resident discount to perform seasonal blowing out and shut-down of individual sprinkler systems. Shawn's offered this service for the last few years.

Shawn's price for blowing-out sprinklers is again $50.00 per home. He plans on performing the work on Saturday, October 19 and possibly Sunday, October 20.

If you'd like to sign-up for this service, please contact Shawn Herman directly at (612) 366-6088 or shawn@classiclawnscape.com

*Disclosure

Master Board Meeting Oct. 9

Victor Gardens Community Association's Board of Directors will meet Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6:00pm at Victor Garden's Neighborhood Activity Center.

Guys Golf Night

Thursday, Oct 3rd at Tanners Brook Golf Course in Forest Lake.  Tee-times starting around 4:45.  Drinks and dinner to follow if you wish.  Contact Steve at: 651-262-7813 or steven_c_farrell@ml.com.  RSVP needed by Sunday! 

Lawn Care - $40 Core Aeration Service

Jeff Ambrose has offered his aeration services to Victor Gardens residents for a number of years and does a very professional job. He's offering a Victor Gardens discount rate of $40/per lawn regardless of size. That's less than what most others charge for this service. For do-it-yourselfers, this is a pretty good deal considering the cost of renting the machine, time and effort involved, plus the cost of gas. Jeff did a great job on our lawn over the last seven years, and I would recommend his service.

Core Aeration Promotes Healthy Grass

Call Jeff Ambrose directly at (651) 274-1535. He's currently coordinating a schedule of Victor Gardens appointments.

If you're unfamiliar with core aeration, the U of M Extension Service describes it pretty well, "Core aeration is the best method of dealing with the problem of compaction in the lawn. Aeration promotes moisture and air penetration into soils, resulting in deeper and healthier root systems on the grass plants. ... The best time of year to aerate the lawn is late August to early October. Aeration can be done in the spring but will lead to additional weed seeds being brought to the surface where they may germinate. In fall, weed seeds will also be brought to the surface, but they will not sprout."

* Disclosure

"Brave" Fall Movie Night- Friday!

Friday, Sep 13th join us for an evening of fun at Valjean Park.

Come as early as you like to get a good spot on the lawn.  Stay for the playground, games, and perhaps a picnic dinner.  

Root beer floats will be served around 7:30.  The "Brave" the movie will start at dark (around 7:45 or 8:00).  Snacks will be served during the movie.  

Come enjoy this fun tradition!

Guys Golf Night

RSVP needed!  Thursday, Oct 3rd at Tanners Brook Golf Course in Forest Lake.  Tee-times starting around 4:45.  Drinks and dinner to follow if you wish.  Contact Steve at: 651-262-7813 or steven_c_farrell@ml.com