Niguel Shores Community Association

How to Report a Crime within Niguel Shores

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:42:00 +0000

Over the last few weeks, I have had several requests to provide information to the Community as to how to report vandalism or other incidents that occur within Niguel Shores. First thing you should do is call the Police! If a crime is not reported, nothing will be done. After you call the police, contact the Mariner Gate to have a patrol officer come to your residence and complete an incident report. (Please understand that the Association has a patrol officer between 7am and 11pm.) A copy of the incident report will be provided to the office and kept in your file. The Association office is always interested in hearing from the residents what has happened, but the only contact that can investigate the crime is the Police.

To provide channels of communication for Niguel Shores Residents, a link to Dana Point Police Services is provided on the website. You can also click on the link to the Dana Point Police blotter or go to http://ws.ocsd.org/Blotter/BlotterSearch.aspx for the most updated area information. Residents are welcome to post their comments on the website for the community to read.

The gates do provide access control, but does not make the community as secure as Fort Knox. Remember to lock your house when you leave, lock your car doors when its parked in the driveway or in the street and be alert to what is going on around you.

To help provide good safety tips and information, the Association will invite the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to a Board Meeting to speak to the residents. Watch the website and Seashore News for the date and time.

- Debbie Baker, NSCA General Manager

Master Landscape Update – February 17, 2012

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:37:44 +0000

The Board of Directors and management have re-evaluated our priorities for Master Landscape expenditures in 2012 and 2013. We now expect to renovate the Nauticus and Cabrillo slopes in that period and will not make any landscape changes to Sunset Park in the near future. Both slope projects will take two years to complete and efforts will be made to minimize the amount of visible bare slope during renovation. Some of the plants we are installing, such as acacia, are slow growing, and ordinarily would leave the slope looking fairly bare when first planted. Working in smaller plots over time, rather than removing all vegetation from the slope, should minimize visible empty soil.

We will have an open Board meeting with our landscape architect, Silverwood Group and our landscape contractor, Harvest Landscape at the Clubhouse on February 24^th at 3 PM to finalize plan concepts, make plant selections and determine probable cost. Our hope is that after bidding these projects, there will be funds available to begin an incremental refurbishment of the Mariner Drive entrance.

- Steve Stewart, NSCA Board President

Calendar for March 2012

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:02:16 +0000

Interested in learning more about our new General Manager?

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:00:04 +0000

If you are curious to learn more about Deborah Baker, our new GM, and her plans for our community, be sure to read the feature article in this month’s Seashore News. It gives some insights into her past professional experiences, as well as her goals for Niguel Shores.

- Patti Staudenbaur, Communication Committee

Recreation – February 2012

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:53:12 +0000

Niguel Shores Recreation committee is planning year 2012 for everyone to enjoy.

Happy Hour around our fireplace on Wednesdays is a great place to see and visit with others in the neighborhood.

St. Patrick’s Day: March 17 on the patio. Come and enjoy a St. Patrick’s Day celebration with green beer and regular beer. Snacks will be provided. 4:00-7:00 p.m. for only $5 with kids under 12 free (water or sodas available). Tickets will be in the office. Let’s sing those happy Irish songs together.

Cooking classes are scheduled for 3rd Thursdays of the month (February 16). Details will be in the office.

Potluck will be February 19. Look for details in this newsletter and again, a night to enjoy with Niguel Shores friends.

Mark your calendar also for May 5th Cinco Dey Mayo.

Yes, the taco carts are coming back for us to celebrate and there will be some music. Look for details in a future newsletter.

We are also having In-N-Out again, June 9.

You see, the Committee is planning many food fun times including a food truck night July 28.

What a community we have to all have fun and enjoy food together.

—Carol Yocom

Garden Club – February 2012

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:37:12 +0000

The guest speaker at our January meeting held the attendees transfixed as he described the inorganic farm he has created at a golf course, selling fresh veggies to the Montage, Chapman University, the Claremont Colleges, and individual customers.

It’s Officer Election Time: The Garden Club’s next meeting will be held at noon on Monday, February 20 in the Shores ClubHouse. Nominations and election for the offices of president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary and membership chair will be held. All Club members are urged to attend. In addition, a Garden Workshop will take place during which members will exchange gardening tips and ideas, and do’s and don’ts.

Field Trip: Lastly members, can sign up for a tour to Descanso Gardens. The cost for the bus and tour is expected to be in the $25-$30 range. Lunch is available on the grounds. Developed by E. Manchester Boddy, publisher of the one-time LA News, as his family rancho, including a 22 room mansion, the 150 acre botanical park is now operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. Descanso Gardens boasts the nation’s largest collection of camellia plants, receiving an award of Excellence by the International Camellia Society. If you enjoy Japanese gardens, Descanso’s five acre garden will sooth your senses. If roses are your thing, Descanso has more than 3,000 of them. Other beautiful sections include the Lilac Garden, the Iris Garden, and hundreds of huge coastal live oaks.

Need Help? How are you pruning roses and fruit trees? Armstrong Garden Centers offer free Saturday morning classes on how to do it correctly. No pre-registration is required. Find out particulars at www.armstronggarden.com. There are two stores in our area: in San Juan Capistrano on Del Obispo, and in Laguna Niguel on Golden Lantern.

Glossary of Gardening Terms:

Seed Packet: An expensive envelope with a pretty picture containing 99.9% air.

Vigorous Grower: A plant with a demented compulsion to take over the neighborhood.

Hoeing: A manual method of severing roots from stems of newly planted flowers and vegetables.

“You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt.” – Anon

-Morry Meadow

Landscape – February

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:51:43 +0000

January’s Landscape Committee Meeting was our chance to meet and welcome Harvest’s landscape personnel. They are very familiar with our Hydro Points Weathertrak Satellite System and give it a top rating. This irrigation system with new connections for pressure with different elevations, re-piping, new breaker boxes, etc. has been taking a lot of their time. We agreed with Harvest, “No new planting until all the irrigation is adequate.”

The lacing of shrubs and trees is being done. Thank you for your patience.

The mulching of shrubs, trees etc. is being done, adding nutrients and preserving moisture. This beautiful mulch Harvest provides, and makes at their own nursery, saves us a large expense.

Previous emergency maintenance is being handled, so we can expect Harvest to be back on schedule, within the next three months.

PS: If I may add a personal note: As Jerry & I were driving toward PCH on Selva from an early doctor’s appointment, (where I have learned the true meaning of grateful): “The view of our Niguel Shores Community from that vantage point on a clear day….So Grateful!”

—Linda Koppang, Villas Landscape Representative

Maintenance – February 2012

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:28:55 +0000

Dave Smith was recently certified as an Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) by the National Certification Board (NCB) and National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The AFO examination is administered by NRPA, the Aquatic Facility Operator Certification Committee (AFOC) and the NCB. AFO Certifications are valid for a period of five years. The National Recreation and Park Association is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 20,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources. To become AFO-certified, individuals must pass a nationally-administered examination, which tests knowledge in the following areas: mechanical concepts involved in the functioning of a swimming pool; familiarity with all systems, equipment and peripherals that are required to contain, circulate and filter, and heat and treat swimming pool water; ability to perform preventative maintenance and basic repairs; competence in all areas of water chemistry pertaining to pools; and, knowledge of risk management practices. Dave is NSCA Lead Maintenance man. He has been employed for five years and responsible for the pool and spa for the past three years. The many compliments from pool users on our healthy, clean and well maintained pool are due to Dave’s work under the direction of George Cooley who has also been certified as an Aquatic Facility Operator.

-Jack Christiansen, Maintenance Committee Chair

Men’s Golf – February 2012

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:11:41 +0000

The Men’s Golf group started 2012 on January 10 at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club. It was a summer type day with warm temps, light breeze and great golf. The “Combine Net Foursome” was game for the day. First Place was the team of Dennis Rosene, Morry Dohner, Boyd Van Ness, and John Monson. Second Place went to the team of Bob Gutknecht, Woody Woodward, Jack Sweeney, and Blair McDonald. Third Place went to the team of Bob Borland, Allen Brase, Tom McNicholas, and Roy Dohner. Closest-to-the-Pin on #4 was Roy Dohner and on # 13 Barry Daniel . Next up on January 24 will be Talega Golf Club.

Golf Dictionary: Ace—A hole in one. Like an ace in a deck of cards, though not quite so common. Completion of a hole in a single stroke. The odds against this happening are about 45,000 to 1—somewhat worse than the odds of finding a brand-new ball lost in the rough (27,000 to 1) but considerably better than the odds of hitting a perfect drive off a crowded first tee (1,195,000 to 1).

—Bob Russell

Oreo Cookie Book Club – February 2012

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:00:27 +0000

The Really Serious Oreo Cookie Book Club, hereinafter referred to as the RSOCBC, met at the home of Janet MacKaig to review a biography of Lawrence of Arabia. After a period of adjustment for hearing aids, eyeglasses and orthopedic appliances, a roundabout discussion was led by Sally Lee Howd that not only reviewed the historical events of the early 20th century, but dissected the personality traits of war leaders and peace advocates. The discussion lines formed between Sunni vs. Shite advocates or detractors and between French vs. English division of the Mid East deserts. The ambiguity and misdirection of this last sentence was a reflection of the discussion. A halt was called to the meeting when the subject under discussion degenerated to whether cutting throats was more civilized than using drones to kill people. The list of books for the next six month period was announced, but the list is being kept secret from the Seashore News for unannounced and mysterious reasons.

- Norton Schwartz