Riverbend to Get Official Web Site
Last night I was invited to a meeting of with some of the members of our Board. The topic of discussion was the creation of an official Riverbend Community Web site. I suppose that I was invited because I’ve been running the unofficial site, this one, for better than a decade. I’m pleased to report to you today that a decision was taken by our Board to move the project forward.
Before you get your shorts in a twist, rest assured that our Board is taking this action for the most noble and time-honored purpose: to cut the association’s operational costs. And I think that’s something we can all get behind.
The vendor that’s presently being considered – I won’t name them here – appears to have a great deal of experience providing Web sites to homeowner’s associations across the country. Whether they’ll actually become Riverbend’s service provider remains to be seen; I’ve added to the list of questions and considerations our Board will bring to them. Project startup costs are minimal and ongoing costs seem, well, reasonable.
One important step, no matter who actually ends up providing hosting services, is the choice of a domain name. If you’re thinking that the obvious choices (like riverbend.org, for example) are taken, you’d be absolutely correct. (Believe me when I tell you that each passing week it becomes increasingly difficult to come up with a good domain name.)
You can help. Get your creative juices flowing and make some suggestions. Make as many suggestions as you like. Either add them to this article as comments or email them directly to riverbend@timeoff.org if you’re shy. (It’d be nice if you only suggest domain names that are actually available, but if you don’t know how to do that I’ll check ‘em.) I’ll be sure that the Board hears your suggestions. Of course, you could contact them in the usual way – through the EPM office – yourself! Too late! A domain name has been selected.
I’m sure you’ll be hearing more about the project in the coming days or weeks. I hope you’ll join me in supporting the Board’s efforts to drag our community into the 90s!
Riverbend Census 2010: Second Request
February 2010
SECOND REQUEST
Dear Riverbend Homeowner:
In December 2009, a letter was mailed to all homeowners enclosing the 2010 Census Form which was required to be filled out and forwarded to management.
We are now enclosing another copy of the Census Form for you to fill out and return to our management office by March 15, 2010, because to date, we have not received your form. This information will be kept on file and used for emergency purposes only.
Please complete and return this form promptly.
Very truly yours,
Board of Trustees
Riverbend Townhouse Owners Association
Enclosure: Homeowner Census Form – 2010
Bizzard of 2010 Hits Riverbend
Wednesday brought a blast of snow the likes of which Riverbend has not felt for a few years. Our snow removal contractor, Growing Concern, made a couple of passes through the community early on but after that I didn’t see any evidence of them until after sunset.
Riverbend Drive looking east. That's a Police car facing the camera and my Jeep on the right. Most cars would require lots of work to extricate, but the Jeep drove out with just a few easy minutes of effort.
By then Riverbend Drive, a designated Snow Emergency Route, was full of activity. The township plows had already made several passes by then. Some residents struggled to dig their cars out while Fire Marshals and Police looked on from their SUVs.
Residents scramble to remove their cars from Riverbend Drive.
Some residents I spoke with were uncertain about what they’d do with their cars once they were mobile. The police summoned flatbeds to remove some cars in order to clear the way for the plows to work closer to the curb line.
Police confer with flatbed driver as he prepares to remove cars parked on Riverbend Drive, a designated Snow Emergency Route.
Speaking of the revenue stream brought by the storm, one tow driver commented, “This is blood money. We don’t like doing this any more than they do.”
I’ve known of the designation and the threat of tow for some time, but this is the first time I can recall seeing anyone actually towed away.
Car being removed from Riverbend Drive west. The unlucky resident will face a fine - plus towing plus the impound fee.
Growing Concern worked into the night to make the community parking areas passable. The township doesn’t want them piling the snow on Riverbend Drive, so they resorted to making mounds alongside some residences. The next morning brought clear skies.
Mountain of plowed snow alongside residence dwarfs a full-size pickup. Some of the holly bushes alongside the structure appear to have suffered damage in the process.
Clear skies and the Fire Marshall. He made the rounds again, this time targeting the snow mountains for removal or relocation.
Fate of snow mountains marked with orange spray paint. This one is slated for removal.
By Friday afternoon most of the cleanup had been completed, leaving only a few sidewalk transitions to be cleared again.
Yeah, I know, hindsight’s 20/20. But I think that this could have been better handled by EVERYONE involved.
- Residents need to pay attention to what’s going on and take a little action on their own. When you see snow accumulating in your space, move your car and push the white stuff out where the plows can reach it. If you’ve got a two-car-wide space you share with a neighbor, coordinate with them. This lets our contractor work more efficiently.
- By now Growing Concern should know quite well what the township will and will not tolerate. When they pile the stuff up it should be set back far enough that they don’t have to move it again. In other words, do it right the first time.
- Nobody’s going to like to hear me say this, but WTF. The township needs to make it perfectly clear to residents along a designated Snow Emergency Route exactly what that designation means. Then, it needs to be enforced. Few things teach as strongly as the inconvenience – not to mention expense – of having your car towed. Whether or not the designation or the law seems fair is irrelevant. It is what it is. Live with it or work to change it. But when the application of the designation or law is spotty or inconsistent it just sends a bad message and makes people resentful.
[stepping down from my soapbox] Wow, look at the forecast. Tuesday could bring some more of the white stuff. Are you ready?
Recycling
| 7 January 2010 | ||
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| 21 January 2010 | ||
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| 4 February 2010 | ||
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| 18 February 2010 | ||
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| 4 March 2010 | ||
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| 18 March 2010 | ||
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| 1 April 2010 | ||
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| 29 April 2010 | ||
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| 13 May 2010 | ||
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| 27 May 2010 | ||
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| 24 June 2010 | ||
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There is a recycling pickup today.
The pickups of plastic, glass, newspapers, and cardboard usually occur between 8 AM and 10 AM on alternating Thursdays. See the 2010 schedule on the North Brunswick Township Web site. Riverbend is in Zone 3.
As of October 2007, North Brunswick’s recycling materials were picked up by Central Jersey Waste and Recycling, Inc. of Trenton, NJ. You can reach them at 609-656-4200.
Learn more about Middlesex County’s Solid Waste Management programs, including the schedule for Household Hazardous Waste Days.
Please be a responsible citizen and recycle!
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