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The Great Pines Neighborhood
GENERAL COMMENTS: Please leave comments using this link: |
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The neighbors, Bob and Betty Kren, Dietrich and Ellen Schauff, Tom and Joan Sweeny, George and Betty Luby, and Kent and Julie Woodger, got together for a house tour on September 7th. It started with drinks at the Luby's, dinner at the Schauff's and ended with dessert at the Sweeny's. It was agreed that the Great Pines neighbors are a good and convivial group. Since that evening Bruce Hudson and Renata Kannler have moved into their house on the cul-de-sac (for weekends, anyway). The next house to be completed will be for Julianne and Jean Pierre Gachelin. We all look forward to having them as neighbors.
All the lots in Great Pines are sold and some work has been done on all of them. By the end of summer 2004 the cul-de-sac and Conifer Lane will be completed except for the Dorr house. The rest of Spruce Lane should be ready for the last nine houses, for which some foundation holes have already been dug. At this time (August 25, 2004) there have been five additions to the Great Pines Neighborhood: (chronologically) Bruce and Renate Hudson-Kannler, Jean Pierre and Julianne Gachelin, David and Elizabeth Seybold, Jack and Peggy Munson, Jerry and Ellie Goldthwait, and George and Genevieve Cruickshank. Now (December 29) we have five more; Ben and Phyllis Cardinale, Dick and Sue Little, Jim and Joyce Catrambone, and Sid and Becky Watt. The following pictures will show the progress on the remaining six houses. I take pictures of the progress as the mood hits me but if you have any that you would like me to add just EMAIL ME with your pictures. I will add pictures a page at a time and put the link at the bottom of this page. At some point we need a group picture. The picture of the GPOA meeting doesn't quite do it, although I like Becky's grin.
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A nice little flower bed at the entrance (it's not a gated community).
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8 November 2005
The Dorrs are finally moving in so they can enjoy the view. |
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29 October 2005
Another stroll through the neighborhood produced a few pictures and some conversations with the neighbors. There's not much to show on house progress because there are only two houses left to finish. I noticed that Ace hadn't done any of the items on the list that he promised to do. |
We met the Mulkerrons, a delightful couple, and they join the group with a long list of house problems.
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The Myers house is enclosed now the fun begins.
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The cul-de-sac is still as pretty as ever.
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The delta in front of the Harrisons is building up.
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1 October 2005
The annual meeting was held at 10:00 this morning and 17 of the 22 owners were there. Dick Little reviewed the accomplishments of the year so far and many were surprised that so much was done. Julie reviewed the finances and Sid covered our maintenance contract. Jim Catrambone was elected to take the place of retiring Bob Kren. The last item of business was a review of the "rules" of the GPOA. There's not 100% agreement on these but the wording is such that those who don't agree can live with it (for now). |
At the beginning the group was somewhat subdued. The front row was reserved for the bride and groom's parents.
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After Dick got into his talk the group got a little more unruly.
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I took a stroll around the neighborhood with Bruce Hudson and Julie in order to take a close look at the culverts and drainage ditches. Some of the culverts need work and some ditch areas need rip rap (rock the size of grapefruit) to handle spring runoff and heavy rain storms. I took a bunch of pictures for Bruce's use. Check out Ace's To-Do's for a list of what has been promised.
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It's been a while since I updated the neighborhood page so I took a walk and some pictures. At the Gray's house I asked one of the workmen, "How much longer?" He said they would be done today and the cleaners come in tomorrow. I understand the Grays plan to move in on September 15. The painters are busy at the Dorr's house but I have no idea when that will be ready. The Mulkerron house is progressing. The sheetrock is done and ready for the trim then the painters. The last house, Myers, has the foundation done.
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This is one end of the Gray living room...
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...and the other end.
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He said they would be done today.
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The cleaners will be here tomorrow.
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The end of the porch looks a little dicey...
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...from this side too.
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We'll have to name the house "The Arches."
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The arch to the porch.
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This is probably the biggest structural change in the neighborhood, the stairs to the basement are in the garage of the Myers' house. |
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During our weekly stroll through the neighborhood Julie and I stopped to chat with George Cruickshank. After I remarked how nice his yard was looking he said, "Thanks, but I wish Ace would take out the silt fences that are no longer needed." He had Peter Stanley inspect them and he agreed that where it has grown in there is no more need for the fences. Now it's up to Ace to remove them.
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This fence appears to have served its purpose.
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As has this one (or two).
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Progress is slowly appearing. The Harrisons and Dorrs have driveways. A record was set with the Dorrs' driveway, it was done before move-in. Hedi's yard is beginning to look like a yard, too bad they couldn't finish the house. The Gray's living room has a different look and more fill is needed in front of the Mulkerron's house so they can finish the porch.
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As soon as the siding is done it will improve the whole area.
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The new lawn will look terrific.
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This should cut down on the dirt.
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The porch will be cantilevered over the ditch.
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![]() Every house is the same yet different. |
It will be nice when the cul-de-sac gets cleaned up.
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The neighborhood is getting some "finishing" touches as far as landscaping goes but there is a way to go. The GPOA board met with Ace to get some idea as to when it will be finished. The Myers' house and "all" landscaping won't be done until some time next year.
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The roof is on the Mulkerron house.
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The path around the garage looks close to the edge.
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The neighborhood is nearing completion, two or three more years and it will be done. The Harrison house is "done" by one definition; they are moving in this week (if the furniture arrives). Like the rest of us they have some stories to tell. The Gray house should be next or will it be Hedi's or maybe the Robert's. The walls of the Mulkerron house are going up. They're working on the inside of the Dorr house and there's a road into the Myers' site.
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When they get the paint right this will look done.
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The outside is almost done.
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Every once in a while they work on this house (Dorr).
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The walls are going up on the Mulkerron house.
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A road has been built so clearing can be done for the Myers house. |
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The weather hasn't improved any just a lot more snow but there is some progress to be reported. It all has to do with the Harrison house as the following pictures will show.
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Digging the hole for the garage foundation. February 1, 2005
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Filling in around the foundation. February 1, 2005
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This is the last time we can see the Sweeny's house from this angle. February 1, 2005 |
Wood for the Harrison's is stored at the Dorr's. February 14, 2005
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The foundation is capped. February 17, 2005
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The walls are going up. February 21, 2005
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Starting the second floor. February 25, 2005
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The first partitions are in place. February 26, 2005
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Another view inside. February 26, 2005
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They closed up the openings so they could work inside. March 3, 2005
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Roof joists in place. March 7, 2005
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Another view on a snowy day in March. March 7, 2005
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The garage walls are up as we get more snow. March 12, 2005
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A view of the front. March 12, 2005
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The weather has been steadily below zero, particularly with the wind chill factor, for eight days now but some work has been done. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the wind. One worker said it wasn't bad down in the foundation hole but up top, particularly at the Dorrs which is at the top of the hill, it's really cold. We also received a foot of snow Saturday night. Another couple of months of this and we'll have to head south.
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Looking out my driveway I can see that a bunch of trucks have arrived at the Dorr site. The first ribbon on my driveway stake is out straight with the wind.
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The trench for utilities was dug this morning at the Harrison site.
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The hole for the garage foundation is dug for Mulkerron.
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The Gray's foundation has a blanket of snow.
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The weather during December and the first part of January has been warmer than usual and nice for building but now it has turned cold. This morning it was 0 degree with a pretty good wind. The workers are here but I don't think they want to get out of their trucks.
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Preparation for the Myers driveway has begun.
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The Harrison foundation has been sealed and it was done on a Saturday!
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Still no wood yet on the Mulkerron foundation.
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The Gray's foundation has been capped.
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No wood yet on the Mulkerron foundation.
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The foundation will be done soon for the Harrisons.
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The Roberts house is almost done.
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The Grays will be next but when is anybody's guess.
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The Mulkerron foundation is in.
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When the Dorr house is done Conifer Lane will be complete. Now for the cul de sac...
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They just started digging the Harrison foundation hole today.
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The Myers' lot has been cleared (mostly).
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