As many of you are aware, COVID-19, otherwise known as Coronavirus, is rapidly gaining momentum. Countries across the globe are working hard to tackle this issue. Responses are quite vast, in how each country, state, province, etc. has decided to handle it. Pennsylvania is no different. While President Trump issued a National Emergency on COVID-19, as well as declared it a Pandemic, many states are ramping up efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as well. In fact, Governor Wolf declared that all PA Schools are to be closed through March 30th, 2020, as of today's news. That is subject to change, based on spread, increases in cases, etc.

That being said, the Delaware Township building is off use to extracurricular activities, or outside organizations. PMLE 5,6,7 utilizes those building to hold it's quarterly meetings and is affected by this news. However, in lieu of current national spread of COVID-19, the possibility of transmittal, and the age differences of our community members, we agree with this course of action and are canceling our April 18th, Quarterly BoD meeting.

While the by-laws state that the meetings must be held, I'm sure that you all can understand that under the current circumstances, we have much more pressing issues to worry about. We are willing to negotiate with the Township to try and re-schedule the meeting, once this immediate threat is contained.

We do, however, also want our members to understand the gravity of what's happening. Ensuring that they are as safe as possible, and as comfortable as possible. We are providing a few links below so that our members can stay up to date on the latest news, situations, risks, etc.  Delaware Township, has posted an article with comprehensive CDC/National response, which we'll be sharing as a link as well. We encourage you all to review it. We also encourage you all to prepare yourselves for self-quarantine (if needed/applicable), self-reliance, etc.

Immediate Basic Needs & Reminders:

1. Ensure that you have at least 2 weeks of food and water on hand. This doesn't just apply to COVID-19, but is a general rule of thumb, for any disaster that can happen in the Pocono area.
2. Ensure that you have some fuel on hand for  your machinery, generators, etc. in case of a power outage, tree clearing, etc.
3. Ensure that you have enough propane, oil or other fuel required for heating, if needed.
4. Ensure that you have all of your medications/prescriptions filled, if applicable.
5. Have, on hand, a battery powered radio, with fresh batteries, to listen to news events.
6. No school in PA, sometimes means that kids get bored and mischief ensues. This isn't always the case, but can/does happen. Ensure you lock your items up and stay vigilant. Dial 911 as needed.
7. If you have the capability, check on your neighbors.

Pertinent Links:

1. CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/
2. Delaware Township - https://delawaretownshippa.gov/
3. World Health Organization (WHO) - https://www.who.int/
4. White House Press Briefings - https://www.whitehouse.gov/
   

Sincerely,
R. Simonson
PMLE 5,6,7 Board of Directors

That we're going to have an early Spring. While this should be great news, we all know that Mother Nature, here in the Poconos, can do as she pleases. For right now, the weather is warming up, we've got some rain in the forecast, and we're gearing up for another year.

With that said, we have a Spring clean up event that we're hoping to see a lot of faces at. In previous years, we've seen relatively low numbers, but we're hoping that changes this year. Additional details will be provided on that, via our website (here) as well as at our next quarterly board meeting. Stay tuned.

Winter 2020 PMLE 5, 6, 7 Quarterly Newsletter. All in all, we had a pretty good turn out for this meeting, with some new faces and some renewed interest in our community. We hope that moving through future meetings and years, that we can keep up this pace. We were very appreciative of some previous board members being there to help with their knowledge and information.

Below is the Winter 2020 Quarterly Newsletter. If you do not have a SCRIBD account, please access the PDF version directly from our site, HERE.

As a reminder to all of our neighbors, winter can and usually does hit us hard when we least expect it. A couple of reminders while we try to wait out the cold, snow and ice.

First and foremost, your personal well being and safety are paramount. Therefore, be prepared. As seen in previous winters, the power can go out and stay out for days. If, possibly ensure you have an alternate source of heating, as the cold is the first hurdle. If you have a generator, please use it safely. Have some water and food supplies on hand.

In regards to the community we'd like to remind you that:

1. There are slick spots at any given time within the community. Please use a speed conducive to the conditions.
2. Bring your garbage cans in as soon as possible after your garbage collection day. The plow contractor has to maneuver around them, which, in turn, decreases the width of our roads due to snow build up.
3. Keep your vehicles, safely, in your drive ways. The roads are meant for traversing, not parking.
4. Before any major weather, such as snow or ice, ensure you have your trees and brush cut back from the road, so that they don't overhang and impede our contractor. This is as much for the contractor's safety as yours. The narrower the roads, the less passable our roads become.
5. If you don't think you can make it up any of the hills to get home, then please, park your car, in the mailbox parking lot, as tucked away as possible. Do not park in the middle of the parking lot, please.
6. If you need assistance, reach out to your neighbor, as many people in this community are willing to lend a hand if asked. If it is an emergency, please contact 911.
7. Last but not least, please remember that the board and the committee members that work to keep PMLE 5,6,7 running, are doing so, as volunteers. They are doing it to keep the HoA dues and fee's down, for all of our benefits, as well as keeping the HoA alive, so that we don't have to hire an HoA management company.
   

First Board of Directors Meeting of the new year!

When: Saturday, January 25th, 2020
Time: 10:00 AM EST
Where: 116 Wilson Hill Road, Dingmans Ferry, PA 18328

Fall 2019 Newsletter can be viewed below. If you require a copy to download and print, you can find our Quarterly Newsletters are stored under Useful Information on the PMLE Documents page. PMLE will be transitioning to a digital newsletter in the 2020 months, as most people have internet and printers. Those that wish to get them via postal mail, please contact any board member, or send an email to our mailbox letting us know. Thank you.

Have a safe and happy holidays!
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For those that use the website, we have some new updates. The first is that the website does contain a new page called Event Calendar, which provides our calendar of events over the course of the year. Additional changes will be posted as they are made.

PLME residents:
The PMLE 567 Board of Directors has the following vacancies that need to be filled promptly:
President, Treasurer and Member at Large.
I will be resigning as President effective immediately. It has been great serving on the board, however I need to focus my attention elsewhere at this time. I've met a lot of nice people and feel we have accomplished a lot toward moving PMLE toward a better and more efficient future.
Please consider volunteering your time to fill one of these positions. The time commitment is minimal and will assure we keep our HOA status. We need a minimum of 5 members on the board.
Please send your intent to pmle567.hoa@gmail.com.
Thank you and take care
- Becky

Poconos in the winter. Often times a beautiful sight, however, can also be harsh. That being said, with the first, official day of Winter on December 21st, there are some standard safeguards we ask all of our neighbors to adhere to, for your safety and our plow contractors, as well as cost efficiency.

• Please, do NOT park on the roads. Keep them clear so that our contractor can keep clear.
• Please, do NOT shovel, plow or snow blow your driveway snow onto our roads. If the contractor has to come back through and plow this, it's an extra charge. If we get charged for it, we'll have to assess that monies to the culprit(s). It's just easier to not do it, saving everyone aggravation.
• Please, wear light clothing and utilize a flashlight if you are out walking the dog, or just generally walking on our roads.
• If you need a hand, please reach out to a neighbor. We want everyone to be safe.
• On garbage day, please bring your cans in that afternoon, or evening. Otherwise, you take the risk of them being hit, plowed in, etc.
• Plowing needs. If you need plowing, we have some people who can be contracted for plowing your driveways:
  • John Bachetti - 845-674-6570 (Call for Price)

With Winter, there's potential for us to lose power. If anyone remembers the March 2018 storm, we had a lot going on, including the loss of power. We had terrible road conditions, in which most were stuck in their homes, trees down, power lines down, etc. We had a great group of neighbors who all chipped in, to get each other fuel, food, water, and general supplies. They also helped cut trees and clear roads. While we hope that would continue in the future, we can't rely on it. Be safe this winter and we'll see everyone after the thaw!

I am reminded that this community runs, not solely because dues are paid, but because of the fact that we rely on individuals to give their time and effort to keeping the community running, clean and safe. There are problems associated with that, which give our volunteers a bad experience, and that just shouldn't be so.

First and foremost, no volunteer in this community should be harassed by any member. Volunteers, are out there doing what you won't, whether it be because of time, other commitments, previous bad experiences or general laziness. All too often we're quick to jump on someone's back because we think we know a better way. Well, we have gaps that could be filled, to keep this community running. Help provide an opinion, positive feedback, etc.

Second, a few people can't "care" for the many. It's just not feasible. Without volunteers to get the job done, we don't exist, or have to raise dues to astronomical proportions to ensure we're getting our roadways cleaned, brush and tree work done and various other jobs. This community is your home as well. No one else moved here to clean up after you, cut your brush and trees, etc. We are a community, therefore should work together toward common goals, in our neighborhood.

This community, has seen some pretty big problems, in which, as a community we've tackled. The March storm of 2017 saw neighbors band together to gather things like fuel and groceries, cut trees to help clear roads, help plow and shovel each other out, etc. Shouldn't we strive to make this a more common occurrence for the betterment of our community?

The board of directors manages the community, but we don't oversee it. We are open to suggestions for improvements, things that you would like to see happen, be done, etc. We welcome participation, constructive criticism and advice. This is home, for all of us.

So, please, if you can spare a little time, have ideas/advice or even want to be a part of the discussion that takes place, we encourage you to sign up for our committees or our board. We need more proactive members to get us through the election cycles and our day to day problems.

As a reminder our Board of Directors Meeting will be taking place soon. All of the pertinent details are below. We hope to see you there.

Where: 116 Wilson Hill Road, Dingmans Ferry, PA 18328
Date: October 12th, 2019
Time: 10:00 AM EST

As with any community that is run and cared for by volunteers, there are gaps that should be filled. We are always looking for volunteers to step outside and help out with the day to day maintenance on committees.

However, not only does PMLE 5,6,7 need volunteers for committees, but we are always looking for board positions. PMLE 5,6,7 Board has a lot of tasks that require time. We understand that time is precious for all of us, and with more hands, some of these tasks can be knocked down, a little more efficiently.

If you are interested in volunteering for the board please submit your intent, with some information about yourself, as well as information/skills that you think would be an asset for the board. Submit this information, in writing to any board member, or via email. We need any, and all, submissions by January 5th, 2020.

If you are interested in volunteering for a committee, which I've outlined below, please reach out to any board member, or send us an email noting that you would like to sign up for any, or all, of the committees below:

1. Brush and Tree Committee
2. Clean up Committee
3. Grievance Committee
4. Lake Committee
5. Parking Lot Committee
6. Road Committee
7. Snow & Ice Committee

Fall is steadily moving into the Poconos and with cooler weather, we typically have the brush and tree volunteers out checking for trouble spots. Essentially, we are trying to avoid low limbs overhanging the roads, brush growing to the roads edge needs to be cut back a little so that the plowing contractor has some shoulder to work with, etc.

The work that goes into this community is often at the hands of volunteers. Often nameless, faceless people who do it to help keep costs low, which in turn keeps our dues down. As always, we don't get many volunteers. It's usually the same men/women volunteering year after year. It would be nice to break that cycle and get some new faces out there. If you can use a weed whacker, a pair of loppers, a chainsaw or a pole saw, and can spare a couple of hours in the fall, please contact the board to sign up.

Welcome to great weather PMLE 5,6,7! As our Summer meeting is under our belts, we are providing our digital quarterly newsletter for review/download. For all of those subscribed to our mailing list, you should be receiving your copy shortly, if you haven't already. If you'd like to subscribe, please fill out the survey in the previous blog post, here! As always, information obtained by the Board, is for the sole use of the Board. We do not share, nor sell your information.

Thank you and have a safe and enjoyable summer!

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Spring is almost here and that means Berkheimer is gearing up to send out our 2018/1019 maintenance fee bills. New bills will arrive in the last week of April. 

Any 2017/2018 maintenance fees that were not collected will be sent to Creditech, our collection agency as of April 10, 2019. You still have time to get your payments in to avoid credit collection. 

Please remit payments to:
HAB-MISC
PO Box 21450
Lehigh Valley PA 18002-1450

Well, New Year, new look, right? Just kidding. We've revamped the look of the site while revamping some necessary functionality we need, today, and going forward, which ultimately brings us a little closer to the 21st Century. As of today, all items you looked forward to on the old site, are still here. However, we did not bring the old news over, as there was no need to. Most of it was ready to be archived.