We Are A Neighborhood

from a recent posting on our ListServ - a great reminder of the fabric of Pine Brook...



Hello neighbors,

And I say that in a positive way lest we forget we are a neighborhood. There's always going to be good and bad...but in the event we are forgetting, let me remind you of some of the good we are overlooking from our neighbors.

I know a week or so ago, myself as well as many others benefitted from (one neighbor) kindly sharing many of his plants that he dug out and split for the taking. (Other neighbors) have had an open door policy on their house allowing many of us to enjoy the miracle of 10 little puppies, which some of us might not otherwise get to experience. There's always someone to call to enjoy a walk around the neighborhood and appreciate the landscaping in the parks that our neighbors have donated their time and efforts to beautify. I've seen more kids and parents getting together to enjoy each others company or a quick pick up game in the park. When we were unable to even see the parks for the huge amounts of snow....our neighbor with a snow blower kindly plowed us out and I know many others went along the street to help out those who might have had a hard time shoveling. I think the list is endless...

Yes, we will always have animals running around and hopefully a reminder every once in awhile will help us be more conscientious of our responsibilites...And let's face it, kids are kids, they are going to run around and be kids and isn't it nice for those of us that have kids to think we have a great neighborhood where they can do that. I'm sure for every negative we could find two positives about Pine Brook and wouldn't it be nice to see those examples on the listserv more often.

Thanks

A Monster Called Mulch

It was a dark and stormy night and a monster lurked in the street.............well, actually it was 4:30 pm and the sky was only cloudy.......but there was a monster.......a monster pile of 20 cubic yards of tanbark that had to be put away!!


And by 6:15 pm, everything was calm and peaceful once again as the crack team of Pine Brook residents dropped their shovels and headed for the cookies which were their reward for slaying the terrible tanbark. (OK, enough of that)

I would like to give a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to the folks who showed up today despite the possibility of rain.......and we just made it with 20 minutes to spare before the rain hit.

The folks who helped were:  Karl Smith, Bill Wall, Dan Schuckers, Louis Waddell, Terry Wright, Billy Fish, Guy Brunt, Floyd Sollenberger, Joe Dippel, Wayne Kessler and Mike Anderson. With this many helpers - that 20 yards of tanbark didn't stand a chance.

The park looks great, so please go check out Hidden Park and have some fun. For parents with strollers.....the pathway into the park will be a little hard to navigate until the tanbark gets settled down a bit....so be ready for that.

Thanks again for everyone who came out to help. It could not have been done as quickly and easily without you.

Talk to later,

Dave Fish
 
Postscript - thanks to Dave Fish for once again coordinating this effort.  These things don't get done without someone taking the lead and "making it happen".  Almost forgot - Dave the lemonade and cookies were appreciated.

Neighbors at Work

Let's Go Play in the Mulch......

Hidden Park Mulching Party - Friday 4/16/10 - 5:00 pm - bring shovels, wheelbarrows, good humor and strong backs - come and enjoy the camaraderie with your neighbors....

Spreading Color Throughout the Neighborhood

Many thanks to my neighbors who agreed to become foster parents for many of the perennials from my backyard. I hope you enjoy them as much as we have. I'll be looking for some fresh colors throughout the neighborhood as I take my bike rides. Here's a sampling of what left my yard today......

Neighborhood Connections

Share the Harvest - Great Idea!

Neighbors Helping Neighbors.......

It Is A Great Neighborhood...

Over the last week or so there have been many expressions of gratitude on our ListServ for the wonderful neighbors in Pine Brook.  The following posting by one of our neighbors sums up the feeling of many...me included:

"Dear Neighbors,


What a wonderful community Pine Brook is! During the two snow storms and the aftermath, we have witnessed and personally felt such generosity of spirit and help given to us and others. The storms were remarkable...but you, our wonderful neighbors are even more remarkable.

Thank you is such a small phrase...but it is deeply felt and comes from our hearts to each of yours! We so proud to live among such terrific people!"

Thank you fellow Pine Brookers.

A Snapshot of the "Hood"....

You Guys Put the "Neighbor" in "Neighborhood"

What a neighborhood! Sometimes adversity and snowstorms can bring out the best in people. I witnessed and experienced how great neighbors can be as we all pitched in - helping each other dig out this weekend. I also tip my hat to fellow Pine Brook'ers offering assistance to those of us temporarily without water. Thanks neighbors - for everything.

Tis the Season....No, Not That One Yet

I find Fall to be a unique time in and about our neighborhood. We all suddenly emerge from our backyards or out from in front of the football game on TV and congregate along the streets for the annual ritual of the "Raking of the Leaves". It's actually kind of fun. I've seen and met more neighbors in the last week than I have probably all summer - and I'm out and about a lot.

The 2nd Fall event that seems to bring Pine Brookers together is the "Gathering at the Polls". It's always fun to catch up with neighbors when we go to cast our ballots. It's especially great to see the number of Pine Brookers who volunteer their time at the polls - keeping the democratic process alive..

I guess the next opportunity for large turnout of neighbors will be the first big snow - and as much as I enjoy catching up with the neighbors I hope Mother Nature chooses to keep the flakes to herself this year.

A Request On Behalf of Your Taller Than Average Neighbors

I was reminded tonite as I took our dog, Kelsey, for a walk that I have to be careful in certain areas where neighbors haven't trimmed their tree branches over the sidewalk up high enough. When there are leaves on the trees you can see to dodge the branches. But when the leaves are off and it's dark out, it gets hazardous.

I know the township has regulations, but all I ask is that we show our neighbors the courtesy of trimming high enough to avoid any potential eye damage to us walkers.

If you have a neighbor that doesn't have the tools or the ability to trim theirs, please offer to help. The last thing we want in the neighborhood is an accident that can be avoided.

On behalf of us taller sidewalk walkers - "thanks".