Volume 8, #3, March, 2019 The Villas Newsletter

Volume 8, #3, March, 2019

The Villas Newsletter

The Newsletter by and for the residents of the Villas at Apple Creek

Production Editor - Gary Krueger

Don't You Just Love Wisconsin?!

Summer Help Needed!

We need 3 additional people to help with our pool duties.

One person would be a sub and two others would be permanent members of the crew for one day per week for approximately 45 minutes per day through 16 weeks.

Starting time would be 8AM so the pool is ready to open at 9:30AM.

If you would like to help out please contact Jim Knapstein

jknapstein@

Hey! I could use a little help

here!

March 5: Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday")

March 6: Ash Wednesday & National Oreo Day

March 8: International Women's Day.

March 10: Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 A.M. Don't

forget to "spring forward" and set your clocks ahead one

hour!

March 15: The Ides of

March. Legend surrounds this ill-fated day. Beware!

In this Issue

March 17: St. Patrick's Condo News ............... 2-3

Day.

Upcoming Events .......... 4

March 20: The vernal

equinox, the first day of

spring, also called the

Spring

Equinox,

marking the beginning of

spring in the Northern

Hemisphere, occurs on

Wednesday, March 20, at

5:58 P.M. EDT. On this

day, the sun rises due east

and sets due west.

Past Events .................... 5 Snow Birds ................... 6 Classifieds ..................... 7 Condo Info .................... 8

Villas Website

Board of Directors Meeting April 10, 2019

Clubhouse - 4:00PM

We have mentioned in our past newsletters concerns about locking doors, turning off lights, etc. at the clubhouse. Thank you, to those who have helped in these matters. Unfortunately, more concerns have risen in the last 3 months. Residents have entered the clubhouse at different times of the day to work out. The door has been unlocked at least 4 times. One morning around 5:30AM a couple was very concerned about their safety because the front door was unlocked and the men's bathroom light was on. They checked the clubhouse to make sure no one was inside because the husband needed to leave and the wife wasn't finished working out. This makes for an uneasy situation. Everything turned out fine this time, but our community really needs to make sure to lock the doors for security matters, but most importantly, from a safety perspective. So... please, turn off all lights except for the lamp on the table in the entrance and please lock the doors if you are the last person in the building at the time.

Our deepest sympathy to Rita Murphy and her family on the passing of John

Murphy last month.

Yes, it is the middle of winter but, behind the scenes, preparations are going on for a number of projects. The projects listed below are planned for this upcoming year. Jim Knapstein, a member of the Board of Directors, is heading these projects to maintain the beauty of the Villas at Apple Creek.

Sealing new and existing driveway cracks.

Repair existing bad spots on asphalt driveways.

Replace driveway asphalt and also improve drainage on Tuscany Way 2321, 2323, 2315 and 2317.

Repair the pool deck's sharp concrete edges and replace pool light per City of Appleton instruction.

Install new pool tiles.

Acid wash the pool.

Caulk windows on Phase 1 Sienna Way as budget allows.

Shutters needing paint will be noted and scheduled during the spring walk around.

Fix drainage problem on Tuscany Way, Phase 1.

Finish concrete replacement from last year and what needs to be completed for this year.

Fix brick window sills that weren't finished last year.

Villas at Apple Creek Newsletter

(This list is not all inclusive.)

March 2019

Page 2

We are reprinting an old article on smoke detectors and adding new additional information as a number of our residents recently had problems with their smoke detectors. We hope this information is helpful.

Fixing My Smoke Alarm ? How It Took Me All Day to Fix a Ten-Minute Problem

I came home to my place on Sienna Way a few weeks ago and found that the smoke alarm was beeping. I figured that the battery was running low, so I dragged out my ladder, crawled up to the ceiling, and removed the old battery. Naturally, I didn't have any new ones, so I trekked off to the hardware store to buy a few. Then, I clambered up to the ceiling again and put in the new battery. Success! Not quite... The beeping continued.

I removed and replaced the new battery a few times just to make sure it was installed properly. The beeps still sounded.

It was clear that desperate measures would be required ? I would have to read the owner's manual. I looked in the box of documents that came with the condo...no smoke alarm manual. So, I crawled up to the ceiling again and got the model number. (First Alert/BRK SC9120B) Then, using the magic of Google, I found the document on the manufacturer's web site.

I soon discovered that the alarm wasn't beeping ? it was "chirping." More than that, it was sounding three quick chirps, repeated about once a minute. The manual clearly stated: "Unit has malfunctioned. Replace immediately."

A little more Googling determined that the Ace Hardware on Northland Avenue had the same model smoke detector in stock, listed at $45. That seemed pricey so I grumbled a bit but prepared to head out to buy one.

Then, I had an inspiration. The owner's manual said that the smoke detector had a ten-year warranty and it gave an 800number for service. I had no receipt and no date of purchase but I figured that I had nothing to lose, so I gave them a call.

It was Friday night and I wasn't expecting much. A knowledgeable person at First Alert answered right away! He asked for the model number and the date code printed on the bottom of the detector and quickly determined that the unit was under warranty. It would be replaced for nothing! A new smoke alarm arrived in UPS in a few days. Thank you, First Alert!

Bottom line: If you have a First Alert SC9120B smoke detector that was installed by Apple Tree less than ten years ago and it starts chirping three times every minute, don't mess with it. Get it down off the ceiling so you can see the date code and call First Alert at 800-323-9005. They'll send you a new one for free.

Mike Bauer

Villas at Apple Creek Newsletter

March 2019

Smoke Detectors

Phefferle has several calls this week about smoke alarms needing replacement or batteries needing to be replaced. Some owners have called an electrician in the past to help them out, but Rick's services are available and will cost less than hiring an electrician. Pfefferle is offering their handyman service to help you with changing out the old smoke detector units. Rick is available for $45/ hour for interior projects. If interested, you can call or email Lori to schedule a day/time. Lori O'Neil loneiln@ 920-560-5030

If your unit is beeping and you feel you can do the replacement on your own, remove the old units and check the underside of the smoke alarm for the alarm codes to determine if it is a battery or some other problem. You can also call the contact number listed to determine if yours is covered by warranty or if it is defective. You might be elegible for a free replacement like Mike Baur

Page 3

March 26

Host Schedule (Donuts)

March

5 Ray Allar

March

12 Al Wortz

March

19 George Arno

March

26 Breakfast Outing

Tuesdays 9:00 AM Clubhouse

At the Clubhouse

5:30 Socializing 6:00 Dinner

Bring a dish to share and your own beverage to the Clubhouse.

March

14 Happy Hour

March

28 Happy Hour

(Rumor has it that Ole Professor Gizmo will be visiting a Happy Hour in May!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Villas Social Committee Mary Gloudemans, Chairperson Reggie Angela

Updates to the calendar can be found at

David Van Lysal is heading up a Men's Book Group. Interest has been indicated and the Men's Book Group will officially begin this spring after the return of the snow birds. If you are a guy who likes to read and would be interested in joining this group, please contact David Van Lysal.

davidvanlysal@ or 920 574-2695

Want to go for a bike ride?

For those of you who are dreaming about going on a bike ride (like I do!), the annual 33rd Best Friends Bike Tour has recently released information on this year's ride. July 28, 2019 is the date! Below is a link to the information for this year's event. They have a great video to help with your dreaming. Sign up early and save money.



You can also go to the website for more info. Look for the "biking turtle" and download a brochure for registration.

Villas at Apple Creek Newsletter

March 2019

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February 14, 2019

Villas at Apple Creek Newsletter

March 2019

Page 5

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