NEW BEGINNINGS!!!!

The Unofficial Chastain Blog is beginning a campaign to get more people involved to help Chastain residents.  We want people to be able to speak their minds about problems the community is facing and give ideas and solutions to help solve these problems.  In addition, it will be great to get ideas of various services that are available to the community.  Either services people already know about or services they may want to start when they know people can hear about it.

We feel it has been extremely difficult for the average homeowner to be heard over these past few years.  We tried to help solve this by two of us working to get the Chastain Newsletter out quarterly last year and we felt we were blocked more than we were helped.  So we finally just ran out of steam by bumping heads.   This isn't bad blood speaking but it should be said that two people worked very, very hard to get an informative newsletter out with new ideas for the community (like the community yard sale) and it was a lot harder than it should have been.  So, we are all hoping this will become a way to bring the community together and talking to each other.

Community Watch Meeting

There will be a community watch meeting held at the Barwell Road Community Center on Saturday, March 7th from 10am-12pm. Officer Lisa Weber with the Raleigh PD, SE District will be there. Refreshments will be served.

YEARLY MEETING COMING UP!!

You should have received your notice of the upcoming yearly Chastain HOA meeting. Look it over and remember, if you want change then you need to show up at the meeting or send someone with your proxy and/or questions! Look over the budget and last year's minutes and be prepared with questions/suggestions.

Election time is coming.

Election day will be here soon. Do you know about the local candidates? I found a couple of places that provide the information we need to see how our representatives have voted for us.

USElections.com
and
OnTheIssues.org

Please use the information at these two sites to make your decision, and then VOTE!

Not registered yet? Register to vote here. Remember, you can't complain if you don't vote.

Signs

New signs are up!  Let's hope these are 'pretty' enough to be left up.  So, read what has been posted and post your own replies or thoughts.  Or, start a new topic.  Feel free to express your feelings or ideas for the community.  We all just want to make Chastain the best place to live.

Hurricane Hanna

Hope everybody had a good Labor Day. Now that it is over, it is time to prepare for Hurricane Hanna which may be here by Friday!

Make sure you have the following items to prepare for the hurricane:

Three-day supply kit

Start with an easy to carry, watertight container – a large, plastic trash can will do, or you can line a sturdy cardboard box with a couple of trash bags. Next, gather the following items and place them in your kit:

• Water: 1 gallon per person per day. Fill plastic containers, such as soft-drink bottles.
• Water purification kit or bleach (use eight drops of regular bleach per gallon of water.
• Essential medications
• First-aid book and kit that includes:

• 20 emergency bandages of various sizes
• One 5 x 9 sterile dressing
• One roll of self-adhering elastic bandage
• Four various-sized sterile gauze pads
• One roll of 3-inch cohesive bandage
• Waterless alcohol-based sanitizer and wipes
• Medical grade non-latex gloves
• Adhesive tape, 2-inch width
• Anti-bacterial ointment
• Cold pack
• Small scissors
• Tweezers
• CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield
• Non-prescription drugs (e.g., aspirin or non-aspirin pain relievers)

• Ready-to-eat, non-perishable foods, such as canned meats, granola bars, instant soup and cereals, fruits and vegetables, canned or box juices, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, bread and any special dietary items you and your family need.
• Manual can opener
• Baby supplies: formula, bottle, pacifier, soap, baby powder, clothing, blankets, baby wipes, disposable diapers, canned food and juices
• Food, water, leash and carrier for pets (If you plan to go to a shelter, remember that most do not allow pets. Make other plans for your pets.)

• Sanitary Items:
  • Large, plastic trash bags for waste and to use as tarps and rain ponchos
  • Large trash cans
  • Towelettes
  • Bar soap and liquid detergent
  • Shampoo
  • Toothpaste and toothbrushes
  • Feminine hygiene supplies
  • Toilet paper
  • Household bleach for cleaning
  • Rubber gloves

• Blanket or sleeping bag per person
• Battery-powered, portable radio or portable TV and plenty of extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Extra pair of eyeglasses
• Extra house and car keys
• Fire extinguisher (ABC-type)
• Cash and change
• Seasonal change of clothing, including sturdy shoes

14-Day Supply Kit

The experiences of Hurricanes Hugo, Bertha and Fran have taught North Carolinians to be prepared to live without utilities and basic services for two weeks or more. In addition to the three-day supply kit, these supplies will be good to have if you find your self going 14 days without electricity or running water:

• Disposable plates, cups, utensils
• Plastic garbage bags
• Mosquito repellent
• Cooler
• Ice
• Toiletries
• Detergent for dishes and clothes
• Clothesline and clothespins
• Games, such as cards, and quiet toys
• Duct and masking tape
• Rolls of plastic
• Lantern and fuel (not candles)
• Gloves and goggles
• Small tools
• Cleaning supplies
• Brooms and mops
• Pails and buckets
• Ladders
• Plywood and nails
• Rakes and shovels
• Chain saw, gas and oil
• Wheelbarrow
• Battery-operated clock
• Butane lighter or matches
• Axes, hatchets, pruners
• Rope

Removing the Board

It appears that the board didn't like our third sign being displayed, so they removed it again. The covenants don't say that we can't post our signs on the common area, so it seems like theft to me. Looks like it's time to get a new board in place.

Section 3.6 of the bylaws states the following:


So, we don't need a certain number of people from the community to show up to the annual meeting to make this happen. We just need the majority of the people who attend, to vote these people out. Their egos are too big and they need to be dropped down a peg or two.