Image Up Advertising & Design

| Four Seasons Hemet Herald | February 2016 | 4 Gary Rosenberger served our Community Association as its first (homeowner) Board Vice President. He concluded his term of office during the Annual General Meeting in 2006. Gary passed away in 2010, but I have been motivated over the years by the many thoughts my friend shared with me about his time in Four Seasons. For purposes of this writing, I reflect on a particular comment when Gary said, "My house is my home, and the rest of the community is my back yard, and I hope that all future Board Members will work towards taking good care of it." It is to his credo that your current board has subscribed, during our watch. In this regard, we respectfully offer the following thoughts to those well intentioned folks who stand on the sidelines and criticize, and or use social media to do so. While this is an inherent right, please know that we view the evolution of our community administration, its grounds and facilities as a work in progress, (with change being a frequent occurrence). We also view our role as a Board of Directors to be a great deal more than just stewards of our HOA. Equipped with the best information available to us, we continuously try, try and try again to preserve, enhance and protect our community, on everyone's behalf, where and when we can. Moving on, everyone should know that recently the Riverside County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted General Plan 960. This represents the culmination of a very long effort by Canyon residents to protect against high density developments. Your Board's support of this effort, in coordination with our Community Awareness Committee, our residents and the folks living in Reinhardt Canyon, played a major role in influencing this outcome. Going forward, its passage will have a positive impact on our lifestyle. We would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the leadership roles and tenacity of Board Liaison, Gene Hikel and Chairman Allan Jaffe during this effort. You should know that leaders from the City of Hemet have readily accepted our invitations to participate in a number of town hall meetings. At these meetings, they have shared information about important issues in Hemet and the San Jacinto Valley. We have heard from the Mayor, Fire Chief, Police Chief and other City representatives. Our invitations to these leaders has sent a powerful message of our interest and influence on the local scene. You should know that during the first part of January we parted company with our long time landscaping contractor (O'Connell). Towards the end of 2015, our Landscape Committee recommended putting the contract out to bid. A detailed Scope of Work document was carefully crafted, and reviewed by five contractors. Three of these (including O'Connell) submitted bids. After a thorough analysis of all bids, the Landscape Committee recommended the proposal offered by Artistic Maintenance, Inc. The Board accepted the recommendation, and awarded the contract accordingly for a period of one year. You should know that this process involved substantial time, thought and deliberation on the part of the Committee. It also received invaluable assistance from its Board Liaison, Greg Rockvam. For their efforts we offer our sincere thanks. You should also know that the change represented a considerable reduction in Association costs for this service. This reduction concerned the Landscape Committee and the Board, so, to ensure our standards are met, the members have committed to closely monitor the quality and level of services yet to be performed. We wish our new landscape contractor great success. You should know that another contract recently awarded went to Sunbelt Limited Construction Co. Inc. to build a structure over and around the Lodge patio barbeque area. As with the landscape contract, this one was also sent out to bid and had three responders. This project will replace the former open lattice wooden structure topped with shade cloth. In its place will be a steel reinforced shade structure with a solid, tile covered roof. It has been designed to last a very long time and will add greatly to the ambiance and usability of the area. Again, we would be remiss not to recognize Board Vice President, Tony Criscenti, for his help in structuring the details of this effort. Thanks, Tony. So, what does all of this mean? It means that your Board, in cooperation with the operating committees, constantly strives to provide the best for our community and its sphere of influence. In doing so, we fully understand that these efforts will not please all of the people all of the time, and attempting to do so often results in failing all of the people, all of the time. We try to provide the most good for the most people. To this end, we regularly find that most folks realize this fact, and we appreciate their support so very much. In conclusion, you should know, and you are hereby reminded, that 2016 is an election year for four seats on your Board of Directors. Thank you! Message From the Board of Directors Sincerely, and on behalf of your Board, Tony, Greg, Ken, Russ, Jim & Gene Hal Townend, President Hal Townend, President

• Cover