Thursday, August 7
ARB 7:00 PM

Wednesday, August 13
Access Control 6:00 PM

Thursday, August 14
Common Property 6:30 PM

Thursday, August 21
Covenant Enforcement 6PM

Thursday, August 21
Finance 7:00 PM

Saturday, August 28
Board 7:00 PM

SOCIAL EVENTS

Wednesday, August 6
Bunco Game Night

August 6-7
PACE Volunteers Needed

Monday, August 18
Literary Circle 10:00 AM

Thursday, August 28
Bunco 10:00 AM

The Joys of Deercreek Living!

C'mon, share your story!

Have something interesting to share about life in Deercreek?

Please send in your thoughts, anecdotes and experiences for use in 'The Joys of Deercreek Living'

column. Submit your contributions to the editor at dccliving@gmail.com .

Message From Deercreek Security

Deercreek has had some security issues in recent months. Security has been called several times about garage doors being left open at all hours of the day and night. There are service personnel in and out of Deercreek everyday as well as other visitors. It is imperative that garage doors be kept closed and front doors locked. It is understandable to have these open and unlocked when working in the yard or playing outside. However, in all other instances, these doors should remain closed and locked.

When contracting with outside vendors, residents need to hire reputable individuals. It is not the responsibility of our security team at the gatehouse to screen outside vendors. Hiring licensed contractors will be beneficial to the job as well as keeping Deercreek safe. Please contact Capt. JP or Officer Kirby when a contractor is coming to your residence. Supplying a full name for the contractor or the company name will make for a pleasant experience for everyone.

From the Access Control Committee

By Tommy Walter

Some points to note:

- School is starting. Be watchful for children walking and biking to school busses.

- Watch for school busses.

- At Home: keep all garage doors and home doors shut and locked at all times.

- Keep all vehicles locked and windows up at all times. Do not leave valuables in plain sight in vehicles.

As always, safety is the watchword!

Bargain Avenue

More new items for sale>>

Want to sell an item?

Deercreek residents can advertise items for sale on Bargain Avenue on the Deercreek website. Click on the Bargain Ave link on the site for more details.

Welcome New Residents

Shahid & Robina Gill

8216 Wallingford Hills Lane

Rajesh & Vandana Srinivas

7909 McLaurin Road North

Shamsur & Rezwana Chowdhury

7921 McLaurin Road North

Brian & Mary Woodring

8249 Bay Tree Lane

We Say Goodbye

Jody & Carol Barry

Melvyne Cooper

Warren & Jackie Rosander

CJ and Denise Smith

Support our Sponsors!

2014 Southeast CPAC Meeting Dates

Meetings are held at 6: 30 p.m. in the St. Vincent's Southside Hospital

4201 Belfort Road, Main Hospital, Auditorium C, Jacksonville, FL 32216 on:

Monday, August 25, 2014

Monday, Sep. 22, 2014

Monday, Oct. 27, 2014

Monday, November 24, 2014

December 2014, Date and Location to be Determined

If you have any questions please contact Rosemary Wesolowski, Neighborhood Coordinator at 255-8261 or Rosemary@coj.net

Business Advertising

Advertising on the Deercreek web site www.deercreekcc.com is available through December 2014 for $295.

This includes your business logo on the Deercreek home page as well as a link to your individual advertising page and web site.

Please review the ad rate sheet on our web site for details.

Literary Circle

By Pat Gross

Pat Boger will be hosting Deercreek's Literary Circle meeting on August 18 and Connie Davis will be facilitating the novel, A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki.

Ozeki describes sixteen-year-old Nao who has decided there's only one escape from her aching loneliness and her classmates' bullying. But before she ends it all, Nao first plans to document the life of her great grandmother, a Buddhist nun who has lived more than a century. A diary is Nao's only solace and will touch lives in ways she can scarcely imagine.

Across the Pacific, we meet Ruth, a novelist living on a remote island who discovers a collection of artifacts washed ashore in a Hello Kitty lunchbox, possibly debris from the devastating 2011 tsunami. As the mystery of its contents unfolds, Ruth is pulled into the past, into Nao's drama and her unknown fate, and forward into her own future.

A Tale for the Time Being is an inventive, beguiling story of our shared humanity and the search for home.

______________________

Interested in joining the Literary Circle?
Contact Pat Gross pgro9@aol.com

Deercreek:
We Care

By Patty Tomka

"Our" Marines have returned safely from their post in Afghanistan and have moved on to their next duty stations. They sent us an official certificate thanking us for our support and we are so proud of it that it is now framed and hanging in the Club. On July 3rd, those of us in town met to have a photo taken with it to show it off. And we met to regroup.

When our Marines came home early, we were left with money still in the account and a group that wants to continue helping. We met in April to discuss how best to do that. We looked at 3 options that support veterans in different ways. Fisher House www.fisherhouse.org , K9s For Warriors www.K9sforwarriors.org and Veteran's Farm www.veteransfarm.org. All of these are worthy projects and get a lot of funding from across America. But our initial vision was to support the troops directly and make it a hometown group effort. It is VERY expensive to ship CARE boxes to Afghanistan but we don't want to just make a donation to a good cause.

So we went to option #4. We asked Mary Tabor to find us another deployed group that we could help and let them know that folks back home have not forgotten them. And she did! At our July meeting we were introduced to the NATO Role 3 Hospital Team in Kandahar, Afghanistan. They not only take care of injuries to our armed forces but they treat NATO forces also. They sent us a link to an article about a day in their lives so that we could see what they are doing. CLICK HERE to read the article.

This has come at a good time because, extra services for this unit are being shut down and their relaxation center now has only a coffee shop, an ice cream shop and a hot dog stand. Capt. Taylor is the XO and Plastic/general Surgeon and he is our contact there. When asked what they most desire, the unanimous answer was homemade cookies! Many of them are working out and dieting, such would also like healthy snacks. The Pharmacist has requested some small candies that he can give out to people picking up prescriptions so we are looking into mini Tootsie Rolls and hard candies that will travel well. If you would be willing to bake 3 dozen cookies (or brownies or bar cookies or anything that is sturdy) please let us know (dtermin@aol.com or dccliving@gmail.com).

We are sending out our first shipment on July 24 but will be sending them monthly after that. We know this is appreciated - just look at our beautiful thank you certificate in the Parlor! We would be grateful for any help you can provide - postage costs, packing supplies, snacks, baking or sending notes of encouragement. And we know it will make a difference to these people who are in harm's way and need to know that We Care.

Real Estate News

By B. J. Weyer, Watson Realty Corp. REALTORS�

The Deercreek community continues to be active in the number of homes sold. According to the NEFAR MLS, as of 7/2/14, there were 18 homes on the market, with 2 of those under contract. The list price for the homes on the market, not under contract, range from $349,900 - $579,900 with an average price of $445,000.

Home sales in Deercreek have increased since the beginning of 2014. In the first quarter of 2014, there were 3 homes sold and closed with prices ranging from $313,425 - $645,000 with an average square foot price of $134.20. In the second quarter of 2014, there were 11 homes sold. The homes sold ranged in price from $306,000 - $570,000 and had an average square foot price of $132.63. While the average square foot price was down slightly from the 1st quarter, a portion of the decrease can be attributed to the sale of one home, which sold for just $95.95 per square foot. The highest price per square foot was $156.75 for the second quarter compared to $140.14 in the first quarter as the graph shows.

aug graph 2014

CLICK HERE to view larger.

Storm water drains are part of our Homeowners Association liabilities

[Insert drainpic.jpg]

As could be noted in the picture, this drain is covered with pine needles/ debris. Unfortunately this debris gets into the drainage system, clogs the drain, often causing the drain to back up into the street when it rains. There are numerous drains around the community that look like this.

Unfortunately when the drains are impacted, the Homeowners Association pays the bill for getting this fixed; it is not the city's responsibility. It is very costly for our community to eventually clean out the entire drains from years of debris build-up (from grass clippings, leaves, bottles etc). We have over ten miles of roads and accompanying drainage system. In addition, whatever goes into the drains ends up in the lakes - this includes Lawn maintenance / Yard service workers who blow grass clippings into the lake.

With that in mind please help us; if there is a drain located on or near your home / property, please check that it is clear at all times. Don't let it build it up like the picture above. Please advise your Lawn maintenance / Yard service professionals not to blow grass clippings or leaves down the drains. This is your community, please take pride in ownership and help maintain the pristine look of the community.

Highlights from the Board Meeting

The DCCOA Board of Directors assembled at Deercreek Country Club at 7 pm on June 26, for a regularly scheduled meeting. A quorum was established with the presence of Doug Klippel, Margie Blake, Bill Beitz, Danny Becton, Doug Matthews, Jim Lowell, and George Partin. Absent: Aaron West and Nick Simonic.
Representing MAY Management: Cathy Cox

Property Manager's Report

Guard House - State Farm Insurance (the insurance company for the driver who hit the gate) has requested photos and two repair proposals. Both have been sent and waiting for a response. Cathy Cox requested approval to proceed with Stonebridge's proposal of $1,525 once approval is received from the insurance company. A motion was made to approve Stonebridge Construction's proposal of $1,525 for Guard House Repairs and unanimously approved.

Security RFP - As per the request of the Access Control Chairman, an RFP for Security Management services has been sent to the following security companies: Sizemore, Wackenhut and Wieser.

More info in full minutes...

Finance Report

Danny Becton

The Board reviewed and discussed the May Treasurer's Report.
Income was $461,015 based on a budget amount of $459,856.
Expenses were $295,067 based on a budget amount of $301,816.
More info in full minutes...

Common Property

All About Tree Care is willing to credit $450 on invoice #14-166, bringing the final bill to $825 for mistakenly cutting down the wrong tree at the playground. A motion to approve accepting the $450 credit was made and unanimously approved
More info in full minutes...

To read more about the Meeting CLICK HERE to view the full minutes.

Golden Acorn Winners

Mary Louise and Jim Selzer

Thank Ma Bell for bringing them to Jacksonville.

Mary Louise and Jim Selzer came to Deercreek in 1995 when Jim was transferred by ATT to head its innovative Universal credit card start-up headquartered in Jacksonville. They had been living in Atlanta, following several moves as Jim moved up in the company.

They are children of the heartland. Mary Louise was born in St. Louis, and Jim in Toledo. Jim was a scholar-athlete, graduating from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, where his basketball team earned the NAIA championship in 1964. After earning his MA in Political Science from the University of Missouri, he joined the staff of St. Louis University as Assistant basketball Coach and lecturer in History.

Mary Louise earned her B.S. in Nursing from St. Louis University, and they met when friends introduced them. Two years after her graduation they were married and moved to Kansas City with ATT, where their three daughters were born.

Jim says that Mary Louise has always organized groups, from baby-sitting co-ops to book clubs wherever they have been. It is no different here. Mary Louise was a founder of Deercreek Literary Society, and remains active today. Along with Gerry Ceravolo, she worked on the original team that brought us the Tree Program, and chaired the Appreciation Lunch for 3 years. During the years when Deercreek celebrated the holidays with luminaries, she served as a Luminary Captain, and her street always participated 100%.

For the last four years, Mary Louise has chaired the Programs Committee for Deercreek Home and Garden Club. As Program Chair, she led a highly effective committee that provided significant speakers, interesting field trips, and innovative experimental programs like "Out to Lunch Bunch." No detail was left to chance. Mary Louise not only conferred with Deercreek Club staff to choose the menus for our lunches, but often supplied her own recipes, and sometimes made the salad dressings to be sure that our meals would be delicious and healthy. To keep costs down, she has been known to personally make desserts for the Deercreek Club staff to serve.

When the Selzers moved to Jacksonville, their youngest daughter, Jennie, was still living at home. She attended Episcopal High, and Jim became involved in coaching the basketball team. He says that one way or another he has played or coached basketball for 50 years.

In 2000, after retirement, Jim took on the responsibility of Executive Director of the Guardian Schools, a pair of inner city schools originally supported by their parishes, which could no longer survive without outside funding. The schools offer an educational opportunity to area children without regard to their religious beliefs. The graduates have an excellent record of high school graduation and further education. He continues to serve on that Board, raise funds, and work with volunteers who make breakfast for the students.

The View

By Connie Davis and Rita Allen

Dr. Ricardo and Teresita Silva
10135 Bishop Lake Road West

Landscape Awards Aug 2014

When Ricardo and Teresita Silva moved to Deercreek in 1999, they established good basic foundation plantings which have survived well with careful trimming. Several years ago, they purchased two oak trees through the Tree Program sponsored by Deercreek Home and Garden Club, which now frame their property with lacey shade. Each oak is encircled with a large bed, recently planted with Asiatic jasmine in the foreground, with higher variegated grasses behind.

Dr. and Mrs. Silva have echoed the strong black of their roof with black lamps on the pillars at each side of their front door, above tall black planters. Precisely trimmed topiaries separate the garage doors on the left, with a larger topiary standing to the right of the house front. A lush bed of caladiums in the foundation planting adds a splash of color to the restrained color palette of their landscape.

The healthy, neatly trimmed plants, pleasing symmetry, and serene, shady atmosphere make this landscape a summertime winner.

The Joys of Deercreek Living

Block Party at Vineyard Lake Lane

By Brenda Edwards

The residents of Vineyard Lake Lane know how to live it up in the summer! In June, Danny & Brenda Edwards decided to host a cook-out for their neighborhood, to celebrate their high school graduates and welcome the new families that just moved in. "It was a lot of fun," they said, and we are pleased to have them share that beautiful memory with the rest of the community.

Here's a picture of the residents in their cul-de-sac here in Deercreek as they celebrated the block party.

Common Property Update

By: Joseph Cernigliaro

As some of you may have noticed, the common property committee has been quite busy this year. The monies for common property enhancement approved by the Board are being used to add to the greenery of Deercreek. By the front entrance sign we have replaced some of the dead plants with Liriope and Lantana. We are attempting to rejuvenate the front patio Ligustrum in order to save money; however, this may require replacement. Along the South side of the entryway we have planted Cast-iron plants, Coontie, Holly Fern, Asiatic Jasmine and various grasses. These types of plants were chosen due to their shade tolerance and Florida friendly nature. We have added several beds of knockout roses. In front of the welcome to Deercreek sign, the small plants you see are Mondo grass. On the North side of the entryway philodendron, knockout roses and Schilling's Holly have been planted.

Barring any significant weather events requiring significant repair, we intend to continue to implement the common property landscape master plan in the center median from Southside Boulevard toward the gatehouse this fall.

Here are some before pictures:
after

And here are some after pictures:
after

The healthy, neatly trimmed plants, pleasing symmetry, and serene, shady atmosphere make this landscape a summertime winner.

Deercreek Women's Alliance

Save the Dates

By: Natalie Jackson

Your Deercreek Women's Alliance board has been busy planning some exciting events and fundraisers. Please mark your calendars with the following dates so that you don't miss enjoying these events with neighbors, family and friends:

Bunco Game Night

Wednesday, August 6

PACE Clothes Closet Volunteers Needed

August 6-7

Books- A-Go Go Book Drive

September 1 -14

Halloween Costume Drive for Ronald McDonald House

October 1- 14

DWA Fashion Show

Thursday, November 6

Bunco Game Night

All current DWA members and prospective members are invited to an exciting night of Bunco on Wednesday, August 6. The event will be held in the DCC Clubhouse's main dining room.
The evening will begin with Happy Hour at 6:00 with complimentary hors d'oeuvres provided by the DWA. The Bunco games will start at 6:30 and will end with prizes given to the winners. Even if you've never played this simple game before, you will not want to miss the fun and camaraderie of Bunco Game Night! You can make your reservations by calling DCC at 363-1604.

Spotlight on Charity: Books-A-Go Go

BOOKS-A-GO GO is a 501c3 international nonprofit organization that collects used and new children's books and gives them to children from low-income families. These books are distributed through schools and organizations that support these children. Since its inception in 2007 by Deercreek resident, Betty Metz, BOOKS-A-GO GO has given out over 700,000 books to needy children in the US and abroad.

Books are necessary in the home for children to improve their literacy, to develop a love of reading and to experience the world through books. BOOKS-A-GO GO is run by volunteers and operates out of the Duval County Teacher Supply Depot, so 100% of all donations are used directly for the purchase of books and their distribution. Thousands of books are given out each month, so any book donated is welcomed and needed. The DWA will have a children's book drive for BOOKS-A-GO GO from September 1 - 14. The focus is on books for PreK through 5th grade. For this drive, you can also include books for older children, activity books, kid's magazines, and even half used coloring books. All are needed and much appreciated!

For further information on BOOKS-A-GO GO, please contact Natalie Jackson at 519-5802.

DWA Ongoing Charity Drives

Clothing: The PACE School for Girls is open all summer to assist at-risk young ladies by providing a well-rounded, structured environment that helps them through education, counseling, training and advocacy. Every female knows that when you look good, you feel good! The PACE students can earn PACE BUCKS to purchase donated clothing to help them look and feel like the beautiful young women that they are. Donated items can be dropped off at Vicki Khan's house at 10148 Deercreek Club Road. To volunteer to help at the PACE Clothes Closet on the mornings of August 6 or 7 from 9:00 to 11:30, call Vicki at 519-7722.

Pets

Pet Supplies: Let's not forget our animal friends. Currently, the Jacksonville Humane Society is in desperate need of bags of dried food for cats and for dogs. Many families move during the summer months and for various reason cannot take their pets with them. The Jacksonville Humane Society is often overwhelmed during this time of year and is in critical need of supplies. Along with bags of dog and cat food, the JHS can use blankets, towels, pet toys, bowls, flee killing soap, pet beds, rakes and shovels. Donations may be dropped at 10042 Chester Lake Road East, the home of Pam Overbay (363-6483).

Food: On behalf of the Mandarin Food Bank, the DWA would like thank our generous Deercreek community for your remarkable support of the recent peanut butter and jelly drive! There were 203 jars of peanut butter and 84 jars of jelly donated! Outstanding, Deercreek!
Summer is a time when many local charities are in great need of supplies due to school being out for children who receive free or reduced breakfast and lunches at school. Several local grocery stores offer BOGOs, Buy One Get One free, on non-perishable food items. BOGO also stands for please Buy One and Give the free One to help stock the Mandarin Food Bank's shelves for those in need. BOGO items and any other non-perishables can be dropped off at Carmen Kelly's home at 10139 Bishop Lake Road West. Carmen's phone number is 519-0622.

DWA Membership

Your Deercreek Women's Alliance is open to all ladies who reside in the Deercreek neighborhood. You do not have to be a member of the Deercreek Country Club to enjoy a membership with the DWA. If you are not yet a "part of the heart of Deercreek" and would like to join the DWA, please contact membership chairperson Mary Stelbrink at 363-2360. Membership is $20 a year.

The Geese

By Margie Blake

In recent years Deercreek has seen an influx of Canadian geese. These large birds have become a nuisance. They dig up bulbs, tear up lawns, and eat grass seed heads, leave feces all over driveways, grass, golf course and other areas. The geese are grazers and their teeth are razor sharp which facilitates their destruction of our lawns and foraging of the plants. Unfortunately, the abundantly beautiful landscaping in our neighborhood attracts the geese and keeps them returning every year. These geese have their territories mapped out in Deercreek . They stay close to waterways and the small island areas where they nest.

geese

The Canadian geese can detect predators and are capable of feeding themselves. It is viable to their existence that humans do not interfere with this. Feeding the geese makes them dependent on humans and befriending them will confuse them. Other humans in other places in the world may not be as friendly to them if the geese come to them freely.

For the sake of the geese and the health of humans, please do not feed these geese. This encourages bad behavior, which could be detrimental to the geese.

From Deercreek Rules and Regulations

Did you know?

Air Conditioning Units: Window or Wall Air conditioning units are not permitted. Compressors and other exterior air conditioning components must be screened from public view and insulated to minimize noise, by appropriate shrubbery, fences, or other means approved by the ARB.

Animals: All pets must be kept under the direct control of their owners so as not to be a nuisance to other persons. Animals may be kept solely as pets and not for purposes of breeding or other commercial or business purposes.

When a pet is taken beyond the owner's property, it must be secured on a leash. Owners are responsible for cleaning up the pet droppings. If, in the opinion of the Association, any pet is deemed a nuisance to other residents, destructive of property or dangerous to persons or animals, such pet may be barred from the Deercreek Country Club community.

Vandalism at an all-time high

You may have received prior correspondence from the club regarding the vandalism that took place at the end of May 2014. While property may be repaired or replaced, one thing that can't be replaced is damage to property values and the reputation of the community. While we have experienced end of the year pranks by school children, this has been the worst and most extensive damage to club property ever.

The following is an excerpt from an email sent to the community explaining the incident by Nicola Fulford, General Manager for the Deercreek Country Club.

"The Club experienced a great deal of vandalism over the weekend. The granite tee marker on hole 16 was pushed over on its side. The safety mirror on hole 12 was shattered. Flags from hole 14, 15 and 16 were stolen. The vandals also broke into the snack shack at the pool by kicking a hole in the wall of the men's room and then ransacking the interior of the snack shack. The police have been contacted and a full report has been made. Additionally, CSI has come out and finger printed the pool area. So far, we know that the vandals were a small group of boys. All of the incidents happened on Friday night. If you are not sure where your child was or what they were doing on Friday night please take a moment to discuss this with them. The level of vandalism occurring this year in the community has reached an all time high. We all need to work together to catch the boys that are destroying the property. Please always be aware of your surroundings and call the police or the guard gate if you suspect suspicious activity. Let's keep Deercreek a safe neighborhood."

Please be aware, alert and vigilant in watching and caring for our community.