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.

Jessica's Law Passes and Easley Signs It!

Yay! We finally have Jessica's Law in North Carolina!

Useful forms for the Chastain community.

The following are links to the HOA Management company (Omega). There, you can find the following forms:

• Architectural Request Form
• Articles of Incorporation
• Auto Draft Form
• Bylaws
• Declaration of Covenants
• Fence Guidelines
• Ist Amendment to Declaration of Covenants

If for some reason those links break, this one will take you to the Omega HOA Web Site.

Gee, wouldn't it be nice if we could talk to the board at our leisure and not have to go through Omega?

Stolen Signage

Somebody didn't like our signs with the URL displayed out front. They were taken down along with the "official yard sale" signs. Don't worry, more were put up, but we still need your help getting the word out about this blog.

Chastain Board

We'd like to know people's opinions about how our Board has been these past couple of years.  Almost no one shows up to the yearly meeting and no one ever runs against them come election time so does that mean everyone is happy with what they've done with the community over the past couple of years?  I'd love to hear some varied opinions on the subject.  Thanks.  Please click the comment link at the bottom of this post to voice your feelings.  You will need to create a google account to protect against spammers.

Sexual Predators In The Community

You'd be surprised how many sexual predators are in our neighborhood! We need to take action and get Jessica's Law passed to protect our young. For a listing of the predators, visit Family Watchdog. At the center-top of the page, search for the following criteria as the image to the left shows:
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Zip Code: 27610

A North Carolina based Jessica's Law web site.

What is Jessica's Law? "Named in memory of Jessica Lunsford, who was abducted and sexually assaulted before being brutally murdered, "Jessica's Law" refers to the Jessica Lunsford Act passed in Florida which mandates a minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum of life in prison for first-time child sex offenders."

Raleigh Crime

Here is a link that shows recent crimes in the area. Click the link and then push the red "Go" button to show the map if it does not automatically display.
Raleigh Crime Map

We are near the lower right corner. You may want to search for "berkely lake, raleigh, nc" once the map shows up to get a better view of our neighborhood.

Greetings

Welcome to the Unofficial Chastain of Raleigh Blog. Why "unofficial"? Because the board is afraid of spammers, etc. However, newsletters only come out once a quarter and there is only one meeting a year for the community. The hope of this blog is to rally together the community to keep them apprised of events, and to get the community's feedback.