Sunday, December 14, 2008

Seasons Greetings

Kudos to the residents of the south end of Sparkler Drive for their coordinated holiday light display!

I thought it was impressive several years back, when 4 adjacent homes had come together to decorate their garages with light. This year, I see the whole building is aglow!


December is one of my favorite months at Seabridge, a time when we once again see our neighbors who seem to have gone into hibernation. I thought this year's boat parade was especially good.

In HOA news, I believe there is still a board meeting this coming Tuesday, December 16th. Last I heard, parking rules are slated for approval. I have unfortunately been able to attend the past few, and no one else has given me news from the meetings. Hopefully I'll be able to attend this one, so I'll be back to providing highlights from the meetings.

Best wishes to all of Seabridge for very happy holidays!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Quakes and Parking

Where were you during the Big One? While we can't predict the answer to that question, most of us will be able to recall where we were at 10AM today, the time of the Great Southern California Shakeout, a simulated drill for a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the San Andreas fault.

We in Seabridge would be well-served to use this opportunity to reflect on our own preparedness. How are we with supplies on hand? Do we know how to turn off our gas? How is you insurance coverage?

Beyond that, maybe it's time to get together more as neighbors - do we know who lives near us who might need assistance? Do we know how we'd be able to work together in a recovery?

Even if you miss the drill, it's still a great opportunity to take some time to better prepare.

Also, don't forget the special meeting tonight to discuss possible changes to the parking rules. I understand it's at 6PM in the clubhouse.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Mosquitoes and Meeting

What is with the mosquitoes this week? I remember them last year in August, but it seems unusual this year - and I know of many people who have commented on them in the past week.

Also, just a reminder that there is board meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, 9/16) at 7PM. I don't know what's on the agenda, as it wasn't posted in the common area as it's supposed to be. Look, I'm not trying to be a stickler, but that's what's required, and there are good reasons for it.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Our Artist in Residence

E-mail readers, click on "Our Artist In Residence" title above for full story.

Last week I enjoyed the opportunity to attend the opening of an art show at Cypress College. I was really impressed by the new gallery space they have - it was a great place to view some thought-provoking artwork.

More important, the show is a faculty art exhibition, and features works by the "Class of '71", including our own neighbor Char Felos. This shot features Char in front of her own work.

If you're in the Cypress area, I encourage you to drop by and see the art for yourself. There's a little something for everyone. The gallery is open Monday - Thursday 10AM - 2PM and Tuesday and Wednesday 6PM - 8PM.

Return to The Bridge main page.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

CC&R Revisions

E-mail readers, click on "CC&R Revisions" title above for full story"

It's been a while since I've commented on our CC&R revision process. While I support the goal, the approach has made me tired. To be fair, I'm sure the board feels this way, too. Interested people can read my past posts on the matter here.

The board recently sent a letter to homeowners to gather input regarding another planned vote. While I welcome the idea of getting input, it's pretty late in the game. But I'll give it another go with my thoughts...

I've been consistent in saying "Define the problem, and then propose the solution". You've got me convinced with the maintenance issues. But other proposals seem to address topics that not everyone agrees are problems. And we've seen in the past that things that some people consider to be "problems", result in solutions that many in the community are not happy with (witness our entry gate modifications, now in their second year). So - if you truly care about what will make me comfortable with the revisions: tell me what each real issue in the community is, what has been done to understand that problem and confirm it affects the majority of us, and how the revisions address it.

The recent letter to the community talks about the need to revise the CC&Rs to remove developer language, get current with state laws and allow for clearer maintenance responsibilities. If the revisions stuck to those stated goals, I could support them. But if there are other goals, these should be stated as well.

Return to The Bridge home page.

Songs from a Cave and Other Selected Poems: (1995-1999)


E-mail readers, click on title above for the full story.

I have been meaning to write about this for some time. We now have another published author at Seabridge. Resident Gerald T. Olson of Tempe Drive has self-published his book of poetry, Songs from a Cave and Other Selected Poems: (1995-1999).

The book is a delight on its own, but those of you who know Jerry will benefit all the more, as you can see his personality directly in his work. This poem tells you what you're in for with the book:

Transubstantiation

A book as wafer,
This is my mind.
This is my imagination.
Take a look.
It’s a remembrance of life.

Be sure to check it out. Jerry joins other Seabridge authors like Vicki Hogue, Marti Davis, Andrea Diem, and Steve Nakamoto We are fortunate to have such talent in our community!

Return to The Bridge home page.

Board Meeting, August 19th

As you may have noticed, summer is in full swing, and I have not been posting as much as I'd like, nor have I been able to attend recent board meetings. I will try to make up for that a bit today.

In recent association news, our community manager Morgen Hardigree has left Cardinal Property Management to allow for a schedule that better fits with her family. I look forward to meeting our new manager, Jim Goldman.

There is a board meeting this coming Tuesday, August 19th. The agenda has been posted, and I find the following items of interest:

  • Landscape committee appointments

  • Dock Repairs

  • Key Fob Distribution and Entry Gate Procedures

  • Investment Requirements

  • Window Washing

I encourage everyone to attend. There are a lot of decisions to be made on behalf of the community and you should understand and have your say on how they are being made.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Board Meeting, July 15th

E-mail readers, click on "Board Meeting, July 15th" title above for full story.

We have a new board of directors, and its first meeting will be this coming Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 7PM in the clubhouse.

The board of directors makes important decisions for our community in each of its meetings. If you haven't attended, it's always helpful to sit in on one.

The agenda for the upcoming meeting is posted in the pool area. Topics slated for the Tuesday meeting include:

  • Bids on pathway lighting poles

  • Appointment of landscape committee members

  • Announcement of secret ballot results (CC&R revisions)

  • Work orders for various homeowner units

I will be unable to attend this meeting and would really appreciate a volunteer to take notes for me so that I might report them on The Bridge.

Return to The Bridge home page.

Community Garage Sale


E-mail readers, click "Community Garage Sale" title above for full story.

A community-wide garage sale is planned for Saturday, July 26th. Set up will begin at 7, with the sale opened to the public 8AM - 12PM. Please watch for further information, and begin rounding up your old treasures!

Return to The Bridge home page.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Summer is Here!


E-mail readers, click on "Summer is Here!" title above for full story.

We can hardly complain here in Huntington Beach, since nice weather stays with us virtually year-round. But it's still nice to have summer here, with all the fun activities that go with it.

The Orange County Register has a nice feature on kayaking in Huntington Harbour. Might be time to take mine out for a nice paddle!


Return to The Bridge home page.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Vote!

Remember that the Seabridge Annnual Meeting and Election is next Tuesday, June 17th. This is one of very few opportunities most of us get each year to actually vote on something that matters to us as homeowners - please take advantage of it. You should mail your ballot immediately, or be sure to drop it off at the clubhouse before the meeting to have it counted.

As you may know, I was a big proponent for not reducing the annual meeting quorum. I think that it's important to have at least 50% of the homeowners involved in the decision as to who leads our community. So however you vote, please make sure to return your proxy/ballot and have your voice counted in the quorum.

It would have been helpful had the association sent out a reminder mailing, as they did on multiple occasions with the CC&R change ballot. But in lieu of that, please make sure you and all your neighbors participate in this important process.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Meet Some of Your Candidates

E-mail readers, click "Meet Some of Your Candidates" title above for the full story.

On Sunday, May 18th, I invited all declared candidates for the board of directors to participate in The Bridge's "Meet The Candidates Forum". I received information from the following:

Homeowners who have registered on this blog may click each name above for more information above and beyond the candidate statements you received along with your ballot.

Each of these candidates took the time to respond and I believe is worthy of your vote. Because I did not receive statements from all candidates, let alone a majority, I am publishing all profiles at once. I may also exercise some additional discretion when moderating the Q&A.

Talk to people who know the candidates and/or attend meetings. Do your homework. More than anything, I encourage all homeowners to exercise their right and responsibility to vote for members of the board of directors.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

The Importance of Your Vote

E-mail readers, click on "The Importance of Your Vote" title for the full story.

The national media may have us all looking ahead to November already, but when it comes to elections, one in June may have even more impact on our day-to-day lives at Seabridge.

The Seabridge Annual Meeting and Election of Directors takes place on June 17th. You may think this is akin to a high school student council election, but you'd be wrong. The Seabridge Board of Directors manages an annual operating budget in excess of half a million dollars, as well as a reserve fund with several hundred thousand dollars. They also make important decisions affecting how you and your neighbors can use your property and our common areas. And with nine candidates vying for five positions, there is no reason each and every one of us should not cast our votes for those who will represent our interests.

Unlike in national contests, the candidates in our Seabridge race are not covered by the media 24/7. Although they are your neighbors, you may not even recognize their names and faces, let alone what positions they hold. So I'm hosting a Meet the Candidates forum and encourage you all to participate before casting your votes. The e-mail below was sent to all candidates on the ballot and describes more specifics of the forum.

If you wish to even view the discussion, you will need to register for the site. Seabridge Homeowners can do so by e-mailing me your name and the address of the unit(s) you own. I hope that you will find this to be a helpful forum and that you will exercise your right and privilege to vote.


E-mail to declared candidates:

First, I’d like to thank you for submitting an application as a candidate for the Seabridge Board of Directors. Relatively few residents take an active interest in this community, let alone take the additional step of running for the board, so it is very exciting to see a large field of candidates for the office of director.

Many of you know that I blog from time to time on matters that I think are of interest to Seabridge residents. Last month I asked my readers whether they thought it would be helpful to use “The Bridge” as a forum to learn more about our candidates for office. You can read more about it by clicking here. I was glad that the response was favorable.

So now that we know who the declared candidates are, I am inviting you to participate in this “online candidates’ forum.” Your participation is obviously optional, but I would hope that you would take advantage of the opportunity so that homeowners have a better understanding of the candidates beyond what they glean from the form that we received in the mail.

Here’s the way I envision this working:

· If you elect to participate, please submit the following additional information to me electronically (e-mail) by Thursday, May 22rd:

o Any additional candidate statement you wish to make. It will be printed as-is, though I reserve the right to format it to be consistent with other statements and the website.

o A photograph of yourself. It may be cropped and scaled to be consistent with the other photos I receive.

o Your answers to the following questions that were submitting by blog readers:

1. What do you see as successes of the board in the past year? Is there anything you believe the board should have done differently?

2. What is your understanding of the “fiduciary duty” of a director, and how does that/will that guide your actions on the board?

3. Can you give a specific example of a decision you’ve had to make when you didn’t feel you were fully knowledgeable on the topic? For current or past board members, an example related to the HOA board is preferred.

· On Friday, I will have an uninvolved party draw names from a hat, and each candidate will be featured on the blog daily, in the order they are drawn. Homeowners will have an opportunity to pose additional questions to you using the “comments” feature, and you will be able to respond in kind. I will not allow homeowners to post anonymously, and I will ensure as moderator that each question is posed respectfully before it gets posted. Aside from that, I do not plan to moderate the questions or the answers.

· Viewing of these posts will be restricted to registered homeowners, who must log in with a username/password to view that section of the blog and participate.

In this “electronic age”, I hope this will be a useful and even fun way for candidates to interact with homeowners on the topics that are important to voting homeowners. I think it’s especially relevant since no other forum, real or virtual, has been scheduled to provide this dialogue. I hope that you’ll join in it.

Thanks –
Todd

Monday, April 28, 2008

"Meet the Candidates" Concept


E-mail readers, click on "Meet the Candidates Concept" above for full story.

In recent years, California has tightened up the way elections are conducted in community associations. I think this is generally good, as people should be able to truly vote in secret, and they should make their own choices rather than turn the decision over to the association president or whoever comes knocking on their door asking for their proxy.

Some of the downsides are that I don't believe you can "recall" your ballot once you've voted, and most people have voted by the time the annual meeting comes along. It's far less likely, then, that the majority of the community will get a chance to hear the candidates speak and pose questions to them before making a decision.

So here's a thought I'd like to throw out to my readers: what would you say to a "Seabridge Candidates' Forum" here on The Bridge? The concept would be as follows:

  • Readers submit questions that they would like posed to all candidates.

  • All candidates are invited to participate and will be "featured" a few days apart, with the order determined by random drawing.

  • Each candidate who chooses to participate can provide further information to the community on why they should be elected, and will be asked to answer the submitted questions.

  • The Comments section will be a way for you to follow up with the candidate with additional questions and responses.

Weigh in with your feedback and additional suggestions on this concept in the Comments section of this post. And in the meantime, you can get the word out to your neighbors so that we have a good audience for such an event. I anticipate that this discussion will take place in the homeowners-only section of The Bridge so interested homeowners can shoot me an e-mail to gain access to that.

A Bit of Pasta Heaven on Earth

E-mail readers, click on "A Bit of Pasta Heaven on Earth" for full story

Downtown Long Beach is at the edge of Seabridge Territory, but neighbor Debby and I just had a dining experience there that was too amazing not to write about.

Pâtes Fraîches means "fresh pasta" in French - and that perfectly describes the essence of the restaurant: fresh, artisan pasta with a french flair. It's located just east of downtown Long Beach, at 1st and Elm, in an area that's seeing a lot of redevelopment. As it's situated on the corner, it has two full walls of windows that let in a lot of light. The back wall is a colorful mosaic of tiles based on a french textile. And the focal point of the restaurant is the 10-person communal table in the center. You can almost imagine that the people surrounding you are family.

But it's the food that was the highlight of the experience. The herb salad tasted like it came right from the garden, with a mix of flavors that blended perfectly. I had a whole-wheat fusilli with fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzarella, while Debby had a wonderful salmon and asparagus on top of barley cavatelle shells. All the pasta is made fresh daily by the restaurant. Neither of us could pass up dessert, so we shared the chocolate mousse and pear clafoutis. In the true French tradition, the meal satisfied without stuffing us silly, and it didn't take a big hit on the wallet, either.

I would totally recommend it for a new and different casual dining experience - and it's only 25 minutes away. Pâtes Fraîches is located at 400 East Elm in Long Beach. 562-437-2222.

Do you have any dining recommendations to share? Write about them in the comments!

Return to The Bridgehome page.

Candidate Applications Due Today

Just a reminder that if you are considering being a candidate for the board of directors - or if you know of a good candidate - the forms are due to Cardinal today. I have copies if you need one.

We all benefit when we have choices to make come election time. Last year we didn't have enough people interested in serving. I hope that this year we'll have a good group of people willing to help the community. Participating on the board of directors is a great way to have a say in what's going on around Seabridge.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Ahh, Sweet Victory!


E-mail readers, click on "Ahh, Sweet Victory!" title above for the full story.

Congratulations are in order for Seabridge resident Christa Schubert, who placed 1st in her age group in the Newport Beach Triathlon last Sunday!

The achievement was especially meaningful for Christa, whose father recently passed away. Having just returned from that very trying time in Wisconsin, she thought that her training wasn't where it should have been. Thus, she never thought she was anywhere near 1st place. Christa reports that she kept looking for other women in her age group and had a sinking feeling that she was last place. Little did she know at the time that they were all behind her! She goes on to share:

"When I was with my dad in the hospital I showed him my finishers medal from the Huntington Beach marathon in February. I don't know how much he saw or heard, but it was something I was proud of and wanted to share with him. I did this race with him in my heart, and I know he was there with me every step of the way.

Congratulations, Christa! What may have been unimaginable before is now real. To all your competitors: "Look out now!"

Editor's Note: I like to publish stories about our neighbors and their achievements and interests. So I've created a new tag "neighbors" to help identify these - click on it for past examples. And if you know of other stories to share, please send them my way.

Return to The Bridge home page.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Upcoming Meetings of Note

E-mail readers, click on "Upcoming Meetings of Note" title above for the full story.

The recent billing statement included an insert regarding some upcoming meetings. I'm repeating the information here in case you missed it, and also to underscore the importance of these sessions.

First is a Special Meeting to discuss the second revision of the Association's CC&Rs and By-Laws.

Thursday, April 24th at 6:30 PM in the Clubhouse

When this was discussed in the 4/15 board meeting, I got the impression that the board wanted to receive additional feedback from homeowners, but the notice does not specify that. If any board member wants to clarify the agenda for the meeting, feel free to do so here so homeowners know whether there are opportunities for participation, or whether it is just a session for the board to discuss next steps.

The next meeting is a Special Meeting to discuss the proposed Budget and Reserve Study.

Thursday, May 15th at 6:00 PM in the Clubhouse.

Budgeting sessions like this one provide an important opportunity to see how the board plans to spend the assessments in the coming year. If you have any suggestions or concerns, it's much better to voice those now than once the budget has been approved.

As it turns out, I am not able to attend the meeting this coming Thursday, so I would welcome a volunteer to serve as "guest blogger" and take notes for me.

Return to The Bridge home page.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Board Meeting News


As promised, news from last Tuesday's board meeting is available to registered homeowners here.

In other news, if you're looking for something to do this weekend, consider checking out the Taste of Huntington Beach.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Notes from the Regular Board Meeting of April 15th

E-mail readers, click on "Notes from the Regular Board Meeting of April 15th" for full story.

If you haven't recently attended one of the meetings of the Seabridge board, it's something I would recommend everyone do. It gives you a deeper understanding of the challenges we face as a community, and it lets you see what a group of dedicated volunteers tries to do to meet those challenges. I don't always agree with those decisions, but when things work ideally, it's really pretty cool to see community-in-action.

Last night afforded us a great example. We had a homeowner who wanted to challenge an ARC ruling. Normally these hearings are private, but she wanted it to be public. She stated her concerns with what information was provided on the violation, how there was a long history with the structure in question, and the emotional connection she had to it.

The board, and in particular the president, was very good about giving the homeowner an opportunity to speak. They were also good about representing the interests of our association as a whole and in recognizing there are tough decisions to be made in balancing out the need to maintain standards with the desire to get along as neighbors. Bob Gallucci from the ARC was exceptional in explaining the committee's reasoning in denying the ARC request after the changes had been made without approval. In the end, the best part was that there was a dialogue between the three parties, with the ARC offering to help the homeowner make modifications that were acceptable to the committee. The homeowner appeared happy for the assistance with labor and decisions, and the board doesn't need to compromise on our community standards. We don't often get to see such a process, and I appreciate the fact that all involved participated in a non-confrontational way - I think everyone is set to come out of this a winner.

There was more news coming out of the meeting, but for that you'll need to go to the homeowner-only section. I'll post a link to that article here once it's written!

Return to The Bridge home page.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Monthly Board Meeting - this coming Tuesday, April 15th

E-mail readers, click on "Monthly Board Meeting - this coming Tuesday, April 15th" for the full story.

Unless you're one of those procrastinators frantically working on taxes April 15th, you should consider attending Tuesday's board meeting. The agenda is posted in the pool area, and I see the board plans to consider a lot of items that have a direct impact on the community. Of note:

  • Counting of ballots for the vote on the governing document amendments

  • Window/Sloped roof cleaning proposals

  • Water intrusion policy

  • Public hearing for an architectural violation

At some point soon, the board will also need to approve a budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year. I didn't see it on this agenda, so I suspect there will need to be a special meeting to do so. If you have an interest in where your monthly assessment dollars go, you'll want to attend that.

Seabridge Spring Summer ?! Celebration

E-mail readers, click "Seabridge Summer Celebration" above for the full story.

Well, it was intended to be a way for folks to welcome the gentle arrival of spring, and say goodbye to the cold winter weather. But I don't think anyone expected temperatures in the high 80s!

Still, neighbors gathered today to enjoy the unexpectedly balmy weather and some great company.

Sandra Zarcone and Eve Busher organized a cool treasure hunt for the kids. (at left we see Sydney, the first to find all 5 items depicted in her photos!)

There were plenty of bubbles and food for all. We even were treated to gourmet pasta by resident chefs Alex Kuncio and Ted Rodriguez.

More pictures are available in my picasa album here.

I'm looking forward to a long summer, with plenty of parties!

Return to The Bridge home page.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

The Trader Joe's Rumor

E-mail readers, click on "The Trader Joe's Rumor" title above for more info.

Most of you know by now that Ralph's at the Huntington Harbour mall is closing. For several weeks now, I've heard rumors that Trader Joe's would come in there.

I would LOVE to see TJ's go there. I shop almost exclusively there and can't imagine what I'd do without one. How great it would be to have one in our neighborhood!

I've asked around at the Five Points location and at one near my work, and it doesn't seem that anyone at Trader Joe's can confirm their interest. So it sounds like at this point it's just wishful thinking. The OC Register tells us that Fresh 'N' Easy has looked into the space. However, I also understand that Fresh 'N' Easy isn't doing as well as anticipated. Doesn't seem like they'd continue to open new stores as quickly.

In any case, resident BarbraSue Miller makes a great suggestion - you can contact Trader Joe's if you'd like to see them open a location there. It certainly doesn't hurt to let them know that they've got people who are ready to shop there!

Other fun Trader Joe's sites:

What have you heard? Share your Trader Joe's rumors in the comments.

UPDATE 5:57PM - VickiD reports the following:

Anyway, regarding the Trader Joe's rumor, I was told by two different checkers at little Ralphs that Fresh 'n Easy is going in there, and Tom was told the same thing by a third checker. One of them said that Trader Joe's had also put in a bid for the location, but was outbid by Fresh 'n Easy.
Apparently, Ralph's lease expired and the property owner raised the rent too high for Ralph's to stay there, which is why the location became available.
So this is what I have been told--I would be ecstactic if TJ's went in there, but Fresh 'n Easy is supposed to be a good store too, sort of a mix between TJ's and Whole Food's, so I've read. My sister shops at one in the Whittier area and really likes it.

And Todd then adds:

As to Fresh & Easy, I wonder if they'll really be able to make it. I was hopeful when I heard about the concept, but my first experience didn't live up to expectations. The LA Times recently reported that I'm not alone in my impression. We shall see.

Return to The Bridge home page.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Quorum

E-mail readers, click on "Quorum" title above for full story.

quo·rum
Pronunciation: \ˈkwȯr-É™m\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, quorum of justices of the peace, from Latin, of whom, genitive plural of qui who; from the wording of the commission formerly issued to justices of the peace
Date: 1602
1 : a select group
2 : the number (as a majority) of officers or members of a body that when duly assembled is legally competent to transact business
3 : a Mormon body comprising those in the same grade of priesthood

One of my major concerns with the proposed CC&R amendments is small in actual words, but big in impact. It has to do with changing the quorum required for votes of the membership in meetings from 50% to 25%. The stated intent behind it is that it's becoming more and more difficult to get quora in other HOAs. And given the attorney's explanation, I don't dispute that.

But does anyone else find it interesting that yesterday we get a letter reminding us to vote on the CC&Rs, and in effect establish a quorum for that vote? I'm fairly confident that the association will receive at least 67 votes. And if that's the case, then the process will actually have illustrated that a little reminder can go a long way. Why lower the bar, and the opportunity to include as many voices as possible in the most important decision we have - electing a board of directors - if we can take measures like this to help avoid quorum problems?

AB 1921 is a bill recently introduced in the California legislature that proposes a rewrite of the Davis-Stirling Act, the law that governs community associations. One of the changes proposed for it is a reduction in quorum to one-third of the voting power, unless the governing documents say otherwise. I honestly don't see why we'd want to lower ours below even the proposed state standard. And I still don't think we should lower it at all until we have demonstrated a problem that occurs consistently. Even should we not make quorum one time, reducing the quorum would seem a rash decision. Seabridge is not the same as other associations, and I think we should pride ourselves in the community participation we have rather than remove incentive for it.

It's unfortunate that this change is included in the proposed governing document amendments, as I do think the core changes to clarify maintenance responsibilities would be helpful. I'll be interesting in seeing if we get a quorum for the vote, and whether the changes pass. We'll know soon.

Return to The Bridge home page.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Seabridge Beer!


E-mail readers, click on "Seabridge Beer!" title above to read the full story.

One of the great things about living in Southern California is that we have just about everything possible within reach - from Ethiopian restaurants to glow bowling, and just about everything in between.

One neat and unique place is located right here in Huntington Beach. It's Brewbakers brew-on-premises pub, where you can choose from 80 different recipes and brew a batch of your own beer in about 2 hours. 2 weeks later, it's available for you to bottle and enjoy.

A few weeks ago, a group of Seabridge neighbors decided to give it a shot, and I have to say, the results were impressive. Moreover, it provided a terrific venue for socializing and catching up with neighbors. You don't even need to brew something - they have plenty of house-brewed beers there, and fresh bread and pizza. Kids can make pretzels and rootbeer.

The process is easy: we started with a vat of heated water, and added our grain. It steeped for a while like a big teabag. We then boiled the resulting liquid and added our malts. A little while later, the hops and other flavorings went in, and finally the yeast. Then we sent it into a large keg, where it fermented for 2 weeks. As if we needed another excuse for a party, many of us returned while 2 dedicated souls bottled each of the 72 bottles as the rest of the folk enjoyed each other's company (and the beer itself!)

If you're interested in sampling the results, just let me know.

Return to The Bridge home page.

Friday, March 28, 2008

More Communication


E-mail readers, click on "More Communication" title above for full story.

Long-time readers know that one of the goals of this blog is to increase awareness of topics that affect residents and build community through communication. I was excited to learn that homeowner Fernando Scalini has created another channel of communication through a list server. As with this blog, it's not an official forum provided by the board, but more of an informal way for homeowners to share information. We truly live in a great place, and I've found that getting to know my neighbors better has created the path to some wonderful friendships. Communication helps build that community.

To get added to the list, you can begin by going to this website. It contains all the information you need to get started. Thanks Fernando!

Return to The Bridge home page.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Info from the Condo Guru

E-mail readers, click on "Info from the Condo Guru" title above for full story.

From time to time, I like to check out the website of Beth Grimm, the "California Condo Guru". There are many HOA law firms that put out newsletters on matters that might interest HOA board members and residents, but I think Beth is one of the better writers. She covers important topics in clear language that most of us can understand.

I just caught up on the past few months' worth of articles, and there are some good ones to share with you:

Clearly this is not one-stop shopping for all you need to know about community association living, and there are many different perspectives on the topics. But it's a good way to get familiar with some important topics, the associated issues, and how others have handled them.

I wasn't at the board meeting last week, but some of the reports I heard about open forum are prompting me to share my own understanding of the law with readers: Each member of the association has a right to address the board for a reasonable amount of time in each open meeting. The board is not under an obligation to engage in dialogue with you, especially if the topic you are speaking on is not covered by the agenda. But you have the right to speak on a topic whether or not it will be covered in a future meeting, and you have the right to do it, uninterrupted. I believe the general period the board has used is 3 minutes. An agenda is a tool for guiding the meeting but shouldn't provide hard stops if people wish to speak in a respectful manner.

As I've said before, I think a good way to communicate opinions is to inform the board in writing first so they are prepared, but sometimes the forum is the only opportunity residents have to speak up and hear the opinions of others. You and the board should understand what you as homeowners are entitled to - but also realize that the meeting does not provide a limitless soapbox for people to talk with the board throughout the meeting. Once open forum is over, members in the audience become spectators unless requested to speak by the board.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Special CC&R Meeting April 3rd

E-mail readers, click on "Special CC&R Meeting April 3rd" link above for full story.

I received the following information from board member BarbraSue Miller, and she asked that I share it with readers of The Bridge. Please note that the date has been shifted from the date originally announced (April 3rd instead of April 1st). I have a few thoughts to share later.

From BarbraSue:

We are having a special meeting with the Attorney present to answer questions, clarification & concerns regarding the proposed changes to the CC&R's. At the meeting, April 1st was scheduled date. I sent that off to the blog for interested readers (pending your approval; however, there was a conflict with other business.

So the meeting is scheduled for April 3, 7 PM

As previously mentioned, appropriate protocol for posting meetings is being followed. This special meeting announcement will be posted at the clubhouse and sent out to the HOA in the MAIL.

I was just trying to give the blog readers and other HOA members a heads up, so they may plan the schedules and try to come to the meeting & have their questions answered, learn more & have clarification on some of the proposed changes that are a concern for some of the home owners.

I appreciate the heads-up from BarbraSue - thanks!

Return to The Bridge home page.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Next Regular Board Meeting - Tuesday, March 18th


E-mail readers, click on "Next Regular Board Meeting" title above for the full story.

Alas, the next board meeting falls a day late of St. Patrick's Day, but we'll still keep that theme for this post.

The meeting agenda has been posted in the clubhouse area for anyone interested in the planned discussion topics. Some of the ones I found interesting include:

  • ARC Committee (there is a vacancy, and volunteers were requested in the last billing statement)

  • Streets

  • Governing Documents Proposed Changes

  • Gate upgrades

  • Removal of algae and mildew on the slanted roofs.

Seeing the agenda reminds me that I haven't taken Julian up yet on his request for suggestions regarding what to do with the roof cleaning. I share Dora's sentiments that the cleaning should be gentle, with minimal water and not high pressure, to avoid forcing any water under the metal and into homeowner units. Her point about considering this when looking at roof replacement also makes sense.

This meeting might also provide an opportunity to learn and discuss more about the proposed governing document changes. I'm sorry that I won't be able to attend this one and hope to hear news from it - does anyone want to play the role of "guest blogger" for this one? If so, let me know!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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Further Thoughts on Amended/Restated CC&Rs

E-mail readers, click on "Further Thoughts on Amended/Restated CC&Rs" title above for full story.

I'm undecided on how to vote on the CC&Rs and have shared most concerns with the board. Perhaps further information from them will help me decide one way or the other. While I generally like the revised maintenance provisions, I have a few questions regarding the impact they might have. And there are other provisions besides maintenance that I don't support.

One additional thought that has occurred to me is whether there is any foreseen cost impact that homeowners should consider in making a decision. As an example, when you think about California ballot propositions we're asked to vote on, any that could have a financial impact usually contain information from the legislative analyst regarding the anticipated fiscal impact. I'm not sure if that's the case here, but I wonder whether shifting the maintenance responsibilities has an impact on our operating budget or reserves, and whether analysis in any form, even rough, has been perfomed. That would be helpful information in understanding the impact of my "yes" or "no" vote.

Anyway, you have additional opportunity to address the board and/or hear what other homeowners might have to say in the open forum of the upcoming board meeting, Tuesday, March 18th at 7PM sharp.

Return to The Bridge home page.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Proposed Amendment and Restating of CC&Rs

E-mail readers, click on "Proposed Amendment and Restating of CC&Rs" title above to read the full post.

Today most homeowners received a big packet in the mailbox. It contains a proposal to amend & restate our CC&Rs to address several key issues that have arisen in the almost 30 years our association has been in existence (yes, we were incorporated in June of 1978!).

I believe most homeowners will agree that our CC&Rs were outdated. They were written in the early days of community-association living in California and didn't benefit from the lessons other communities learned over time. Homeowners have tried to modify the documents in the past several years, but by actually getting a proposal mailed out to homeowners for a secret ballot vote, this board has made it farther than any other group in the past, and for that they are to be commended.

If you're a homeowner, I suggest we go to the homeowner-only section of the website to hear your comments.

UPDATE 3/9/08 7:45 AM. Please be sure to read Julian's comment below, including the link to more info and an electronic copy of the CC&Rs on the Seabridge website.

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Friday, March 7, 2008

Opportunity to Speak Up

E-mail readers, click on "Opportunity to Speak Up" title for the full story.

It's buried in the comments on the homeowner-only portion of the blog, so I want to highlight an opportunity being provided by association board president, Julian Solomons.

Julian has requested feedback on how best to maintain the appearance of the sloping roofs on the backs of the "B" units (off-water Tempe, Surprise). You can provide the feedback to julian@juliansolomons.com.

Please do share your ideas with him, as it's always helpful for the board to make decisions based on a variety of opinions and options and it's good of Julian to solicit the input.

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Get To Know Your "Spinning Triangle"


E-mail readers, click "Get To Know Your Spinning Triangle" title above.

This picture isn't quite how our water meters look, but it's close enough. Your water meter is located in the front of your unit, between the street and the building. You lift up a little plate, and when you wipe off all the muck, you'll see the dial. Note the little triangle. It should not be spinning when all the water in your house is off. If it is, you've got some investigation to do...

Registered users may click here to read the full story. If you're a homeowner but not registered, feel free to contact me for access.

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Thursday, February 28, 2008

Loose Change Solutions!

E-mail readers, click on "Loose Change Solutions!" title above for full story.

This may just be for the male readership, but if you are like me, you never pay for anything with coins. Loose change finds its way into my pockets, and then into a big bowl when I empty them out. In the old days, I could go through the trouble of wrapping them, but I don't have a bank here to accept them. So, usually I wind up with an excuse to go to Vegas and play the quarter slots, but more often than not, that yields a poor return on my investment!

Supermarkets have those Coinstar counting machines, but I could never stomach the idea of them skimming almost 9% off the top of what I put in, just for the privilege of their counting the coins for me. However, I just learned that they now will count the coins for free if you get the proceeds issued as a gift card or e-certificate, good for purchases at amazon.com, iTunes and elsewhere - even Starbucks. I certainly buy enough books and music to make this worthwhile; just think, I can turn that loose change into a latte without having to give the barista 300 pennies.

The closest machine to us with this feature is Albertson's at Bolsa Chica and Heil.

This has been a public service from The Bridge.

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Drought Over?


E-mail readers, click on "Drought Over?" title above for the full story.

According to today's OC Register, we've gone from drought conditions to "abnormally dry" ones, thanks in part to the recent rains. The story also talks about the abundance of wildflowers we're seeing this year as a result - most of you have probably already witnessed the colorful hillsides.

And the rains have also given us incredibly clear skies this winter. Yesterday I was in the LA area and snapped this picture with wildflowers in the foreground. I always thought pictures like these were fakes, but I can now attest that they aren't!

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Thursday, February 21, 2008

Three Cups of Tea


E-mail readers, click on "Three Cups of Tea" title above for the full story.

I wrote a post a few weeks back regarding the HB Reads One Book program, and the chosen book, Three Cups of Tea. Now that I've actually complete the book, I can say that it's truly worth reading.

So, this is just a reminder to anyone who's interested that the author, Greg Mortenson, will be speaking at Huntington Beach High School at 7PM this evening. Even if you haven't read the book, I think you'll find the guy's story fascinating, and if you ever plan to read it, I think it would give you a great background.

And maybe I'm out of line in my expectations for the event, but if you read the story of how the event went in another community, I think we're going to see a ton of people there. I heard Tuesday night that the entire HB city council plans to attend. More background info here.

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News from the February 19th Board Meeting

E-mail readers, click on "News from the February 19th Board Meeting" for the full story.

I attended last Tuesday's board meeting and have written up some of my impressions. They aren't comprehensive, but in absence of other communication, you may find them interesting.

Registered homeowners may click here to read the details.

I'm curious what you think about the level of communication in the community. So I've set up a small poll on the right-hand side of this page and would like you to weigh in with your answer. (DON'T include "The Bridge" in considering your answer, as this is just a "bonus"!) Answers are anonymous.

Return to The Bridge home page.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Used Blankets and Towels to Help Canine Friends

E-mail readers, click on "Used Blankets and Towels to Help Canine Friends" title above for the full story.

Just received an e-mail from Seabridge neighbor BarbraSue Miller. BarbraSue is a volunteer with Retrievers and Friends of Southern California and informs us that they are conducting a drive for bedding for the dogs. If you have any old towels, t-shirts, comforters, blankets, sheets, even sweatshirts, please donate those via BarbraSue. They can also use vet and grooming tools.

If you are able to help out with a donation of these items, please contact BarbraSue directly, or via comments in this post. Thanks!

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Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Bolsa Chica in Bloom

E-mail readers, click on "Bolsa Chica in Bloom" title above for the full story

I went with a neighbor to Bolsa Chica today and was amazed that she had not spent much time in this area before. I shouldn't have been, however, as I had never set foot there myself until about a year and a half ago. We've got this great preserve literally in our backyard, but oftentimes we just zoom past it on PCH.

If you haven't been there lately, the winter rains are giving us a great display of wildflowers, and the place is literally jumping with wildlife. Go check it out! For those of you unable to make it, here are a few pictures, taken just today.

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Go Fly A Kite!


E-mail readers, click "Go Fly A Kite!" title for full story

No, that's not a direct quote from tonight's board meeting ;-) Instead, it's to inform you of an event taking place at the pier this weekend.

I first learned of the event a few weeks back on the informative Greetings From Huntington Beach blog, but was just again reminded of it when I was watching the public comments of tonight's City Council meeting.

I learned tonight that this event is actually sponsored by the Kite Connection located right on the pier, and our city will be hosting visitors from all over the world. If weather holds up, it should be a lot of fun to check out - we're lucky to have such great events right in our own backyard!

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Confirmation of Board Meeting Tonight

I have received confirmation that there is indeed a board meeting this evening at 7PM.

The agenda includes topics such as

  • Individual unit repairs

  • Governing documents revision contract

  • Landscape committee presentation

  • Gate upgrade

  • And much more...

Monday, February 18, 2008

News of the Day, 2/18/2008

E-mail readers, click on "News of the Day, 2/18/2008" title above to read the full story.

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday! A few interesting pieces of news to report today...

I believe there is a board meeting tomorrow evening, 2/19/2007 at 7PM in the clubhouse. I have not yet seen an agenda posted, so I'll contact management for confirmation. There are several important projects underway that affect us, and I believe it's important to keep current on the discussion.

These bits of news also caught my eye:

  • Interesting story from last Thursday's OC Register regarding our neighbor to the north, the Naval Weapons Station and the new Hampton Inn being constructed adjacent to it.

  • I just received the February Neighborhood Watch Newsletter from HBPD. If you haven't yet checked it out, I recommend doing so, as understanding what goes on in our neighborhood is an important component of crime reduction. I was happy to read that things remain quiet in our neighborhood.

  • Also in the Neighborhood Watch newsletter, I learned that you can now pay your water/sewer bill on-line by credit card at no additional cost. For those looking to rack up frequent flyer miles, here's another way to get you closer.

  • Thank You, Lu Mendenhall, for asking the question we've all undoubtedly asked ourselves from time to time. Good to know the answer, even if I don't like it.

Friday, February 8, 2008

This Week in HB


E-mail readers, click "This Week in HB" title above for the full story.

I've been checking the local papers regularly, hoping to point you to some stories of interest to those of us here at Seabridge. But things are pretty quiet at the moment (not that that's a bad thing!) Just a reminder, though - if YOU think something is newsworthy, send me a tip. I'm happy to blog about happenings that affect the residents of our community.

Meanwhile, I thought I'd fill the space with some photos. I have friends visiting from the wintery East next week, and I thought I'd tempt them further with this collage. All the pictures were taken locally within the past week. Enjoy!

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Thursday, January 31, 2008

News from the January 29th Board Meeting

E-mail readers, click on "News from the January 29th Board Meeting" title above for the full story.

How are we holding up with the recent rains? What's going on with the gated entry upgrade project? Is there really a buried treasure under the greenbelt? Registered homeowners may click here for news from the recent board meeting.

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Expanding The Community

E-mail readers, click on "Expanding The Community" title above to read the full story.

"The Bridge" has been around for about 7 months now, and I hope that you feel it's on its way toward meeting the goal of informing residents and creating a stronger sense of community here.

If so, this is a good time to remind you all of how you can help in that effort:

  • Let me know if you have ideas of stories to cover here. If it's even tangentially related to Seabridge, chances are good that others will find it interesting.

  • Please take a moment again right now to inform your neighbors of this blog. It's grown largely through word of mouth, and I don't have the ability to contact all residents myself. Just send them a quick e-mail with the link and a welcome on my behalf!

  • Continue to comment on features you find interesting. (Just click on the "Comments" link under each article). It lets me know that people are reading and also helps give me a better sense of what people enjoy.

  • Make sure you sign up on the right-hand side for automatic notification of any new stories. In that way, you won't miss any news or features.

Thanks a lot for your continued support.

Seabridge Reads One Book?

E-mail readers, click on "Seabridge Reads One Book?" title above for full story.

No, no, I'm not proposing a formal program for our little community*, but since we are also residents of Huntington Beach, I thought people might be interested in the "Huntington Beach Reads One Book" program. The first book chosen is Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. I had heard about it, but my interest was piqued when one of our own residents coincidentally sent out an e-mail praising the book. So I thought it might be worthwhile to give the book some additional attention. And who knows, if enough Seabridge residents decide to read it, maybe it is indeed worth getting together locally to discuss it. So, if you plan on giving it a read, let us know in the comments below.

If anyone would like to go meet the author at Huntington Beach High School on February 21st, I am happy to drive others. Should you need a copy of the book, Barnes & Noble at Bella Terra is donating a portion of proceeds from books sold this week to the HB Reads program (voucher needed).

*while I didn't set out with the idea of promoting a local book program, I was reminded that one of our residents had the idea of starting a local book club last summer. If you are interested in doing such a thing, please use the comments below to share your interest.

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Friday, January 25, 2008

Board Meeting Next Tuesday, January 29th

E-mail readers, click "Board Meeting Next Tuesday, January 29th" for complete story.

Don't forget that the January meeting has been rescheduled to this coming Tuesday, January 29th at 7PM in the clubhouse. In accordance with a new state law, the agenda is posted for all homeowners to view on the clubhouse door.

So I took a peek at what's on the agenda. Among the items featured:

  • Appointment of new ARC committee member

  • Gate upgrade

  • Governing document revision contract

Remember, if you care about any of these items, or anything else slated for discussion, you can state your views and discuss with the board in the open forum at the beginning of the meeting. For the complete agenda, you can visit the clubhouse entrance.

Return to Seabridge Journal home page.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Right Place, Right Time?



Something told me that I should go outside for a walk when that last round of showers rolled through...

Electronic Waste Recycling

E-mail readers, click "Electronic Waste Recycling" title above for complete story.

Living near the harbor as we do, we can sometimes see first-hand what happens when trash doesn't end up in the right place. It gets washed downstream to become someone else's problem.

Well, plastic bags and styrofoam are nothing compared to the chemicals and other components found in many of today's high-tech items. Toxic chemicals like mercury and arsenic can leach from the plastics, chips and batteries into our soil and groundwater; there, they can remain a problem for years. One of the challenges is that we are all busy people, and it's often just too temptingly convenient to toss these old devices in the dumpster.

Fortunately, we're just in time for a Computer/Electronics Round-up this FRIDAY and SATURDAY at the Sports Park by the HB Library. You can take your used cell phones, TVs, computers, fax machines, and many other electronic items and have them taken off your hands for free. And you'll leave knowing you've kept a lot of nasty things out of our soil and water.

If anyone plans on making a trip, please indicate so in the comments section below. Perhaps there's an opportunity to help some others out with their items. For more information, check out www.socalrecyclers.com or call 310.626.8180

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Tuesday, January 8, 2008

January Board Meeting Time Change


Please note that there has been a change in the date of the next regular board meeting, from Tuesday, January 15th to Tuesday, January 29th. Same time (7PM), same location (Clubhouse).

Many thanks to BarbraSue for providing the information in the comments to a post below. You heard it here first ;-)

Monday, January 7, 2008

The Floating Mountain

One of the great things about the recent storm is the beautiful snow left in our mountains. I'm hoping that daybreak tomorrow brings some good views. But for now, here's a pretty cool picture, taken this evening, of the nearby naval base, with the mountain seeming to "float" above the sky.

Shortcut to the Main Channel

E-mail readers, click on "Shortcut to the Main Channel" title above for full story.

I read about this back in the summer, but it took me a full four months before I finally checked it out for myself today. There is a public promenade available along the main channel right at the end of Countess:

"A sidewalk to the sea was established at Portofino Circle with a gate near the Portofino Cove condominiums this week. The gate is unlocked at sunrise and locked at dusk.

The California Coastal Conservancy has contracted with Coastkeeper to manage public access to this area. Public access was closed previously due to management issues."

You can enter on the right side of the condo building, over near the Portofino docks. The access is clearly marked, and you can walk all along the length of the channel, right up to Mother's Beach in Seabridge Park. The benches facing out to the harbour entrance are really nice - a great, and convenient, place to take in the sunset.

Rain, Rain, Go Away


E-mail readers, click on "Rain, Rain, Go Away" title above for full story.

Who even thought I'd be caught saying that in the middle of a drought? But rain is one thing, and three straight days of storms are another. This has been reported as our biggest storm in 3 years, and if you recall Winter of 04/05, it wasn't pretty

Still, we seem to have weathered it, and I'm enjoying the sunlight streaming through the windows again. Interestingly, the Register reports that we only received about 1.33 inches over the whole weekend. It seemed like a lot more to me. So, I looked for other sources of local information and came across two local weather stations:

I think it's especially cool that someone nearby runs their own real-time weather station. You can't get much more local than that. Reports from both stations seem pretty consistent, with 3-day rainfall ranging from 1.22 to 1.45 inches. Most of the rain, just over 1/2 inch, occurred on Saturday. The best news is that there's lots of snowpack now in the Sierras, one of our water sources in Southern California. Skiing, anyone?

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Saturday, January 5, 2008

9, 10, 11, 12..

I'm afraid we may just need to settle for 8 days of Christmas. Try as I might, I can't seem to come up with these higher numbers!

In other news, did you notice that it rained last night? That's enough for me for now! In this most recent storm, rainfall totals varied across the county, but according to the Register, we received just about one inch between 5PM Friday and 9:15AM today. Even better for us, the Sierras are getting a lot of snowpack.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Eight Neighbors Toasting

E-mail readers, click on "Eight Neighbors Toasting" title above for full story.

On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Eight neighbors toasting
Seven ghosts a-dancin'
Six bears a-boatin'
Five points of light
Four lighted trees,
Three crazy creatures,
Two cool dogs
And a rainbow over Seabridge.

Happy New Year!.

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