Upcoming 2014 Annual FEHOA Homeowners Meeting

Attention all Forest Estates Homeowners,

Just a reminder that our 2014 Annual Homeowners Meeting is coming soon!  Please join us on Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 7pm at Nativity Lutheran Church, 17707 140th Ave SE, across the street from the Albertson's shopping center in Fairwood.  Agenda items will include a review of this last year's accomplishments, proposed projects for the upcoming year, the 2014-15 budget, annual dues, and to vote in this next year's HOA Board members.

Join us!  Be informed!  This is your opportunity to have a voice in all that's going on in your neighborhood.

Annual Neighborhood Garage Sale

Have some things laying around the house that you'd like to get rid of?  You can donate those items to the local charity of your choice, and get a tax deduction; a very good and helpful thing to do.  Or, alternatively, you can make some extra money, meet some of your neighbors, and have some fun while your'e at it, by participating in our annual Forest Estates Garage Sale. Our neighborhood-wide garage sales have been very well attended, with people coming from all over the area looking for bargain items.  This year's event will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 30 and 31.  We will have fliers posted throughout the neighborhood, and beyond, to ensure good publicity and advertising.  If you choose to participate, no need to let us know.  Just have your sale items marked and available in your garage, in your driveway, or yard, and easily visible from the street on the days indicated.  

Here are a few helpful tips for preparing for a successful garage sale: 
-  At least a week in advance, go thru your house, closets, drawers, shelves, garage, etc, and set aside the items you intend to sell by moving them to your garage
- As you identify the items for sale, put prices on them immediately with a marker and tape. (Save yourself the stress later on.  You don't want to be doing this on the morning of the sale) 
- Have everything in your garage ready to set out the night before. 
- Take some time to visit some of your neighbors' sales.  Who knows; You might find that perfect whatchamacallit for an unbelievable price, and make some new friends while you're at it. 

Let's all have fun!

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Come join our annual Forest Estates Easter Egg Hunt, on Saturday, April 19, 2014.  All Forest Estates homeowners and their guests are invited to join us.  Golden Egg prizes will be awarded by age category (1 per category): Ages 0-2, 3-4, 5-7, and 8-10 years.  The festivities will begin at 10am in the small Toy Park near the cul-de-sac at 184th Street SE.  Free cookies and juice will be available for everyone after the hunt!  

Also, volunteers are needed.  If you're able and willing to help, please arrive at 9am to help set up.  

POSTPONED: February Monthly HOA Board Meeting

The Kent Schools are on Winter Break this week!  To accommodate board members' and homeowners' potential vacation schedules, the board has decided to postpone our February HOA Board meeting, originally scheduled for this Thursday, Feb 20, to the following week, Thursday, Feb 27.  We will meet at Nativity Lutheran Church on 140th.  And as always, all homeowners are welcome to attend.

2013 Forest Estates Holiday Lights Contest

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you were able to enjoy it with those who are dearest to you.  At our house as we finished our turkey dinner, we each shared the things that we were thankful for this past year, and we found that near the top of most everybody’s list was ‘each other’.  As we now officially move into the holiday season, however you are accustomed to celebrating in your particular tradition, let’s not forget to always be grateful for our family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors,…and to take advantage of every opportunity to  do what we can to help make their lives a little bit brighter and merrier. 

Here in Forest Estates, this time of year lends itself to doing precisely that.  Each year, we hold a Holiday Lights Contest, where four of the most festively lit homes will be selected and awarded a cash prize of $25 each.  The judging, done by the Forest Estates HOA Board members, will occur on the weekend of Dec 14 & 15, and the winners will be announced the following week.  (Please note that last year’s winners are not eligible to be chosen this year)  

While most homeowners will probably not be motivated to participate solely based on the dollar amount of the prize (though it might be useful in offsetting next month’s PSE bill), I hope that your choosing to participate will primarily be about bringing a sense of joy and happiness to others:  your family, friends, neighbors, and all those you might entertain throughout this holiday season. 

Happy Holidays!

December FEHOA Board Meeting this Thursday

This Thursday, December 5, is our HOA's Board of Directors Meeting.  We will be meeting at 7pm at Nativity Lutheran Church, located at 17707 140th Ave SE, across from Albertson's in Fairwood. While the purpose of the meeting is for the Board's discussion and decision-making, all Forest Estates homeowners are welcome to attend, observe, and provide comment on the issues that are important to you and our community.  We hope you'll come join us!

A Few Home Security Notes

Our Forest Estates Block Watch Patrols have been patrolling the neighborhood at night, and have reported a few safety concerns that we want to pass along to our homeowners:

Garage doors left open - This is an open invitation for a thief to walk off with your belongings, and even enter your home!  Please be sure to keep your garage doors closed at all times, unless you are outside nearby, especially after dark.

Ladders extended and leaning against the house near a window or entry -  Again, this is an easy means of access for a potential break-in.  Bad idea.

Garbage/recycle bins left on the curb - Leaving your bins on the curb for a day or two after pick-up communicates to a would-be burglar that you are not at home.  Be sure to bring your bins in off the street in a timely manner.

We will continue to post areas of concern that our patrols identify.  Of course, we are asking ALL of our homeowners to always be on patrol as you go about your routines in the neighborhood. If you notice other areas of a security concern as you walk thru the neighborhood, be sure to let us know so we can get the word out to everyone else. Thanks again for being the 'eyes and ears' for a safe community!