Newsletter: July – December 2014

Santa to Visit Us at a New Location this Year

‘Tis the Season for Santa to visit Country Lakes.  Due to inclement weather and freezing temperatures resulting in low turnouts in past years, Santa will visit us at Christ Church Parish Hall on Zach Fowler Road in Chaptico this year!

Come see us from 2-4pm in the warmth of the indoors for some holiday cheer.  Your CLHA board members will be on hand with snacks and drinks. Avoid the lines and cost at the mall and bring the kids for a visit with Santa, where you are welcome to snap pictures and chat with your neighbors! We hope to see you on Sunday afternoon!

Trunk or Treat was a Howling Good Time

Thanks to everyone who came out for Trunk or Treat at the CLHA park on October 31. It was a nice evening with plenty of kids, costumes, candy, heat (from the bonfire!), and fun! Thanks to all our neighbors who dressed up, decorated trunks, and passed out candy. View our pictures from the event here.

Join our Virtual Online Neighborhood at Facebook

Have you seen the CLHA Facebook page? It’s an easy and quick way to communicate with your neighbors and board members directly. We currently have 264 followers, but our posts often go viral, extending to “friends” of those followers as well. Our most popular post in the 2nd half of 2014 reached more than 8,000 people on Facebook; It was about a lost dog in the community. Friendly Puggle Winston went viral and found his owners thanks to our Facebook page! Join now.

Reserving the Pavilion and Lighted Message Sign

DID YOU KNOW: As a resident member of CLHA, you can reserve the pavilion and post personal messages on the lighted message sign, both located in the CLHA common area at the corner of Asher Road & Cox Drive?

These are benefits provided to you as a member of the Association. The main requirement for reserving both is that your dues must be paid in full.

To request a CLHA pavilion or lighted sign reservation, select “My HOA” and then click on either “Reserve the Pavilion” or “Reserve the Sign” and follow the stated instructions. A response should follow within a few days.

Please make any pavilion or lighted sign reservation request as early as possible – no later than 2 weeks in advance! Reservations for the pavilion and lighted sign are accepted on a qualified first-come, first served basis.

Requests can also be made by leaving a voice mail message at 301-884-7297.  Please give your name, address, requested dates, and a call back number.

CLHA dues records are listed by address. If you have any questions concerning your membership dues status, please complete this form.

More About the Pavilion 

The CLHA pavilion is a great place to hold a gathering of family or friends and it’s FREE. The common area playground and ball fields are located nearby. An electrical output is available and two fixed charcoal grills near the pavilion can be used for outdoor cooking.

The CLHA pavilion can only be reserved for private, personal get-togethers such as birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, family reunions, and picnics. The pavilion cannot be reserved for organizational meetings or for any fund raising efforts.

 More About the Lighted Sign

Personal, non-commercial messages (for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, etc.,) can be posted on the CLHA lighted sign.

 The charge is $5 per day for a maximum of 5 days, payable in advance.

Neighborhood Safety

We just wanted to remind you all to be mindful of your surroundings. Get to know your neighbors. Look out for one another. If you see anything suspicious happening in Country Lakes, or witness any crime, please call the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Dept. at 301-475-8008.  If you are interested in joining our Neighborhood Watch Program, please contact Donald “Pud” Graham at 301-884-5236 or 301-717-6474.

Looking for Board Members

We always welcome you to join our board meetings and consider joining the board of directors. We are a group of residents that volunteer to help manage the maintenance and events throughout the community.  It is because of all of our (and your) dues that we are able to maintain the park and have these fun events.  We are always looking for help and volunteers, so please consider participating.  New ideas and suggestions for events and community interaction are always welcome and encouraged. Volunteer here.

Donate Old Vehicles to Charity

If you have a vehicle that you are not using, please consider donating it to a charitable cause.  Many charities may even remove the car for you and and give you a receipt for tax write-off.   Disabled vehicles are considered an eyesore to many in the neighborhood, and possibly deter people from purchasing a home here in Country Lakes.   Additionally, they could cause injury to someone playing in or around them.  Please consider donating them.

Yearly Dues Reminder

The past due dues notices have been mailed out to the delinquent residents.  We need your dues paid promptly as there are a few very expensive projects that the Country Lakes Homeowner’s Association, Inc. will be undertaking this coming year.  All of your paid dues ensures we will be operate at our fullest capacity and offer events to you for your enjoyment such as Trunk or Treat, National Night Out, Santa’s Visit, Meet and Greet,  keeping the park, ball fields, basketball court, and tennis court maintained.  Please drop your check in the mail to us today to avoid possible further action as outlined in the Declaration of Covenants and Conditions and Restrictions. To check your dues status, complete this form.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

CLHA Board Meetings

Our Board Meetings are held every four weeks on
Tuesdays at either the park pavilion (during warm months) or the Christ Church Parish Hall on Zack Fowler Rd. in Chaptico (during cold months). Upcoming meeting dates for the first quarter of 2015 are as follows (and will be at the Parish Hall): 

  • Jan 6
  • Feb 3
  • Mar 3
  • Mar 31

All meetings are at 7pm and last a maximum of 2 hours. Please bring your ideas/suggestions/complaints and we’ll try our best to address them appropriately.

Santa Visit – Sun, Dec 14

This year we’ve moved the event to Christ Church Parish Hall on Zach Fowler Rd in Chaptico. Come see Santa from 2-4pm in the warmth of the indoors!

Holiday Decorating Contest – Wed, Dec 17

The CLHA Board will be voting on the best houses in the neighborhood, so be sure to turn on your lights from 7-9pm. Three lucky winners will receive free 2015 HOA dues!