Lake Doster Homeowner’s Association Newsletter
April 2005

Listen, can you hear it?  Spring's sweet cantata.  The strains of grass pushing through the snow.  The song of buds swelling on the vine.  The tender timpani of a baby robin's heart. Spring. 
 
Diane Frolov and Andre Schneider, Northern Exposure, Wake Up Call, 1992

The Annual Easter Egg Hunt (originally scheduled for March 20) had to be postponed due to the thick snow and soggy ground in Brusselman’s Park.  The date has been changed to Saturday, March 26 at 3pm (the day before Easter Sunday).  Please call Kevin Koch at 664-6096 or Diane Burrows at 664-3593 if you have any questions.

Calendar of Events:
•	Next LDHA Board Meeting: April 11, 2005, 7:30pm, Lake Doster Clubhouse.
•	Lake Doster Lake Association monthly meetings (lake acquisition and management) - fourth Wednesday of each month; 7:30pm; at the Lake Doster Clubhouse.
•	Next Social Event (rescheduled): Easter Egg Hunt, March 26, 2005 at 3pm, Brusselmans Park
•	Second Annual Lake Doster Community Garage Sale:  Saturday, June 18, 2005 – contact Ed Giffels at 664-5205 for information.
•	Recycling: 2nd Wednesday of each month, Gun Plain Township only.
•	E-mail comments to:  ldha@charter.net
•	LDHA Website: ldha.homestead.com
•	Webmaster e-mail: dfortune@chartermi.net
•	Newsletter Editor e-mail:  jana_edwards@ charter.net

 2004-2005 LDHA Board of Directors          Phone

President:      Brian Mullally (2005) 	          685-1913 
	E-mail: bmullally@charter.net	
Vice-Pres.:      Dave Hurwitz (2007) 	          664-5364
	E-mail: davehurwitz@earthlink.net
Co-Sec:	         Michael Hills (2005) 	          664-3482
	E-mail: mhills@ameritech.net
         Jana Edwards (2006)            664-3122
	E-mail: jana_edwards@charter.net
Treasurer:       (Position open)
Maintenance:  Ray Dertz (2006) 	          685-2776
	E-mail: RED@kalnet.net
Safety:             Suzanne DeYoung (2007)    685-8829
	E-mail: ptrainersmr@yahoo.com
Social:             Diane Burrows (2005)	          664-3593
         Kevin Koch (2006)    	          664-6096
	E-mail: cbkoch@hotmail.com
Newcomers:   Marilyn Brainerd (2007)        664-3388
	E-mail: lovebirdz@charter.net
Membership:  Nancy Watson (2006)           685-5768
	E-mail: nanawatson8@charter.net
Water Quality: Dave Fortune (2007)	         685-1066	
		E-mail: dfortune@chartermi.net   
Gun Plain Township:  Casey Jones             664-5362
	E-mail: jcjones@accn.org

LDHA BOARD MEETING of March 14, 2005:
Board members present:  Ray Dertz, Suzanne De Young, Kevin Koch & Casey Jones.  There were 5 guests attending.  Due to the lack of a quorum no official business was conducted by the Board.  The following items were addressed in a general discussion: 

Safety:  Suzanne said the presence of police cars enforcing the speed limits in the community seems to be slowing down traffic.  There was a general discussion on traffic issues in the community.

Social:  The annual Easter Egg Hunt had been scheduled for March 20th.  Due to the snow on the ground Kevin suggested that the date be changed to March 26th, the Saturday before Easter.  Kevin also requested that the sign used to advertise the event be replaced due to disrepair at a cost of approximately $60.  It was agreed the sign should be replaced and the need for expedience justified that Kevin should order the sign.

Maintenance:  Lake friendly fertilizer prices were obtained from the supplier.  A 50 lb. Bag covers 14,000 sq. ft.  There are three basic formulas: 
	General Lawn Feeding @ 28 - 0 - 7.  Cost = $23.60 / bag
	Dandelion, Crab grass & weeds @ 18 - 0 - 6, Cost = $29.70 per bag
	Weed & Feed, Broadleaf + general + 24 various weeds Cost = $28.30 per bag.
Ray indicated that last years fertilizer (General Lawn Feeding type) was $14.00 per 50 lb. Bag. The formulation was 16 - 0 - 8 and was offered to the Members @ $11.00 per bag.  Ray will get competitive quotes for full Board consideration and action at the next meeting.

Gun Plain Township:  Casey handed out flyers explaining the Gun Plain Township Wellhead Protection Program.  The goal of the program is to have all unused water wells (due to water mains installation) identified and capped.  This will protect the ground water table from possible contaminants from foreign substances.  The Grant money for the Program has not yet been firmed up as of this date but confirmation is expected soon.

Casey discussed the results of a current study of the commercial occupancy of the City of Plainwell.  The results show that 96.5% of the available commercial occupancy is occupied.  Keep an eye out for new openings in the old feed mill on the east side of town.  There is current activity related to specialty shops and restaurants.  Also watch for action at the old Plainwell Paper Mill area.  Procedures for the transfer of the property to the City of Plainwell are in the near final stages and the future planning for this area is in lock step with timing of the transfer.

Casey also discussed the current actions of the Board of Commissioners related to providing a new Jail and Juvenile detention facility and associated operating cost in the Allegan County Service Center Area.   The Tax Millage request will be 1.9 mils.  One mil of your current tax load is expiring (for the 911 service improvements) leaving only a 0.9 mills increase.  Casey indicated that the current jail and detention facilities are filled to the maximum and current conditions need drastic improvements.  Casey offered to take anyone through the facilities to examine current conditions.  

Community Wide Garage Sale:  Ed Giffels indicated that the date for the 2005 community-wide Lake Doster Garage Sale will be Saturday, June 18, 2005.  That is only 96 days away, so everyone should start getting all of those White Elephant things ready for sale.

LDLA:  The current status of the Lake Doster Lake Association was discussed in general.  The primary concern was lack of dissemination of information to the community.  Items such as past spending, current budget, access to the lake, future costs, set-up of subdivision groups for more input from the community and the future role of the Lake Doster Homeowner’s Association in the LDLA.    			Respectfully submitted, Ray Dertz

Board Notice:  There are openings on the LDHA Board for the upcoming year.  If you would be interested in contributing to the community, please join the board!  The new entity – the Lake Doster Lake Association will handle the management and enforcement issues on the lake, so the LDHA will return to the mainly social aspects.  There is an immediate need for a Treasurer.  In June, other positions will also be open including the Newsletter Editor.  Please contact Brian Mullally at bmullally@charter.net or call at 685-1913.

For Sale/Wanted
Save your empty pop cans and printer cartridges!: I am going on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic this summer and am raising all the money myself to go.  I am collecting empty pop cans and used printer cartridges to help fund my trip.  If you have any of these items, I am willing to come to your home to pick them up, whenever it is convenient for you – just call Jenna at 664-5810.  Thanks so much!

Creative Memories:  Scrapbook supplies conveniently located in your neighborhood.  Home-based business offers personal shopping, crops and home demonstrations.  Call for new catalog, crop dates, personal shopping appointment, or home demonstration.  Call Sharon at 664-4883 or email: bnsschmidt@worldnet.att.net  Memory keeping at its best!

Girl Scout Cookies are on still on sale!  Orders will be delivered beginning April 12th.  Available flavors are Thin Mints, Trefoils, Tagalongs, Samoas, Do-si-dos, All Abouts, Lemon Coolers and Double Dutch.  The cost is $3.50/box.  Contact: 664-4040.

For Sale:  1999 25-foot Majestic Pontoon with 25-inch pontoons and 40 hp Honda engine, less than 20 hours use; 27-foot boat lift (that lifts 3800 lbs) and canopy cover.  $11,900.  Call Wayne Davis at 664-4169.

Tax Preparation for individuals, businesses, estates, and trust, etc.  Offering FREE pickup and delivery service to Lake Doster Residents. Call Steven M. Hamacher, CPA, for an appointment today at 269- 492-2137.
Spring Break (4/2-4/9) get-away:  Hilton Head, SC – 2-bedroom cottage condo in the Shipyards, on the golf course.  Great for golfers and non-golfers.  First $1,200 gets the week.  Call 685-5032.
Invitation Imagination – Unique invitations, announcements and stationery.  Home-based business offering personalized service.  Large selection of photo cards and boxed greeting cards Call Leslie Jo Hurwitz at 664-5364 for appointment.
No time to get out to the gym?  Certified personal trainer available for home training on Tuesdays & Thursdays.  If interested – or for more details, call Suzanne at 685-8829.
Piano and Voice Lessons:  Janet Richards KAMTA, 275A Fairway Ct, 664-5380
For Sale:  Silk arrangements for all occasions: oriental, nautical, etc: centerpieces and gift items.  Call Mary Jane at 685-8287.
Neighborhood Handyman available (landscaping, tile work, shelving, etc.). Call Chuck Gregory on Horseshoe Court at 685-5032 or cell phone #501-7706.  
Work Wanted—Yard work, odd jobs, animal sitting and walking, etc.  Please call Tom Richmond at 664-3277
Neighborhood Services
Baby Sitters:
Emily Burley (4/2/90)* 		664-6969
Erin Cool (1/2/88) 		664-3613
Helen Dolley (1/13/93)*		664-5658
Ariel Gray (10/27/89)* 		664-5195
Michael Haas (7/26/92)		664-5417
Abby Murray (3/14/88) 		664-6643
Sarah Myles 			664-3059
Jenna Sheets (5/10/90)		664-5810
Branden Stewart (10/11/88)	664-3613
Sarah Skocelas (5/25/89)* 	664-4181
Katy Whited (5/10/90)           	664-5500
    *Red Cross Certified

Pet Sitting:
Erin Cool (1/21/88)		664-3613
Helen Dolley (1/13/93)		664-5658
Ariel Gray (10/27/89) 		685-5195
Gena Haas (9/1/90)		664-5417
Jenna Sheets (5/10/90) 		664-5810
Sarah Skocelas (5/15/89)	664-4181
Abby Murray (3/14/88)		664-6643
Zach Saar (6/22/93)		664-4778
Branden Stewart (10/11/88)	664-3613

Yard Work:
Michael Haas (7/26/92)		664-5417
Zach Saar (6/22/93)		664-4778

Advertisements and personal notices should be submitted by the second Wednesday of the month.  Anyone submitting an ad or notice must be a member of LDHA.  Include your name, address, phone number and birthday (children only).  Please be brief—two or three lines.  Unless you specify otherwise, ads or notices will run for two months.
To submit and ad or notice, contact Jana Edwards by phone at 664-3122 or by e-mail at:  jana_edwards@charter.net 
The Lake Doster Home Owners Association Directory of the membership will be updated in April 2005.  If you have any changes to the information in the directory, please cut (or copy) and fill out the following form and send it to Carole Kellogg at 89 South Lake Doster Drive, Plainwell, MI 49080.   Changes are due by April 15th, 2005.

Phone Directory Information and Changes for 2005:

Name:____________________________	Place of Employment:______________________

Name:____________________________	Place of Employment:______________________

Phone:____________________________  	E-mail Address:____________________________

Children (living at home)			Date of Birth		College/University

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