Thank you!

Thank you to all who voted in the officer election, and to all who came to the Fall Membership Meeting. We had a decent turnout, and announced the results of the election.

Ron Louch and Judy Tolle were reelected unopposed, and several write-in votes made the vice-president race interesting. Cathie Moore was the winner. She was attending a wedding, so was not present for the news. Judy will let her know of her new role in CCHA.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the Kids' Halloween Costume Contest and the Hayride. We can't pull off these events without YOU!

Don't forget to Vote

Remember that you have several ways to vote: Email your vote to Judy Tolle or Marsha Ward (see their email addresses on the ballot), phone it in to Judy Tolle, mail the ballot (probably too late for that), or bring it to the Fall Membership Meeting on Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Fire Station.

See you Saturday!

Fall Meeting, Halloween Party next week

We're looking forward to an exciting Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, October 23, at 9:00 a.m. in the Fire Station meeting room. The officers who will serve for the next two years will be announced. How great would it be if the meeting attendance exceeded that of the Spring Meeting?

The community's children and grandchildren are invited to the Kids' Halloween Costume Party and Hayride on the afternoon of the 23rd. All the fun begins at 4:00 p.m. at the Fire Station. The costume contest, for children under 12 years of age, starts at 4:30 p.m. The Hayride follows, and everyone in Christopher Creek enjoys the Trick-or-Treaters.

There's a new route this year: Tall Pines Market is the jumping-off place. First stop is the ERA office, then down South Christopher to Ashby Apple, where the children will unload at Ellie's C-Canyon RV Park. They will continue on foot to the homes in the area, then cross the bridge to collect treats from those living near the car wash. Back on the wagon once more, the children will travel down Columbine, and end at Creekside for hot chocolate.

If you don't live on this route, you may hand out your treats at the Tall Pines Market. We encourage those who bring their children from other communities to contribute treats. If you can't be here that day, please get your donations to Judy Tolle, and volunteers will hand out the candy.

To donate a bag or two of candy or to volunteer to help out, please contact Judy at 478-0508.

Newsletter in the mail

The October issue of Ripples, the newsletter of CCHA, is in the mail. If you have elected to receive the emailed version, it's in your inbox right now.

Vote!

Please take a moment and vote for officers for the next two years.

Thank you!

Potluck a Success

An estimated 100 people attended the Community Potluck sponsored by Christopher Creek Homeowners Association today. Good food abounded, brought by neighbors, friends, and acquaintances looking to build community enjoyment and solidarity.

Even though a dark cloud hung over the event as it began at 2:00 p.m., rain held off, and neighbors ate, laughed, and raced ducks down the creek.

Association President Ron Louch providently chose the winning duck, but a total of eight persons, young and old, split the cash prizes.

Community Potluck

Don't miss the Community Potluck next Saturday, June 12. See all the details on the Calendar page (click the Calendar tab at the top of the page).

Look for the next issue of Ripples in your mailbox (or email box) next week.

Memorial Day Weekend Events

While you're in Christopher Creek, be sure to check out all the yard sales that are going on in the community. Besides the sale on Saturday beside Tall Pines Market, there will be individual sales on Columbine and Ashby Apple Drive, too.

If you're in the mood for food, go up to the fire station first thing in the morning on Saturday. The Fire Belles always have something wonderful to eat at a low price.

Over in Tonto Village, the Fireflies’ Memorial Weekend Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. The date is Saturday, May 29 at the Tonto Village Fire Station on Mathews Lane. For $5 your plate will have sausage, biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, juice and coffee. Kids plates will be $3 if they are 10 years or under. What a deal! Chorizo burros will also be served for $2 extra. The burros are made every year by Firefly Lori Mulvey. Lori will also have her great salsa. A giant garage sale will also be going on.

If you grow hungry at dinnertime, the LDS Church at the west end of Ashby Apple Lane in Christopher Creek has a FREE barbecue on Saturday, beginning at 5 p.m. The meat is provided. Bring a salad or dessert to share. The church is also accessible via a road down from the Loop, just west of the fire station.

Spring Meeting held today

The officers were very gratified at the number of members who came to the meeting today. Thank you all for making time in your busy schedules to come.

President Ron Louch and Secretary/Treasurer Judy Tolle went through the usual reports and roster review; announced the new, better ISO rating the Fire Department recently received; and announced the upcoming calendar of events (see the Calendar Page for details) and election of officers. Is it your turn to become involved in your Rim Country community by serving as an officer in the CCHA? Don't miss out! Contact Judy to put your name in nomination.

Judy reminded everyone of the address change for the Association (which also reminds us all who receive mail here that the old HC addresses will no longer be honored after July 1, 2010).

In case it's your time to pay dues, be sure to send them ($20 per year) to CCHA, 591 W. Columbine Rd., Payson AZ 85541. Donations are gratefully accepted, as well.

Ripples editor Marsha Ward mentioned the blog/website for CCHA, which she's expanded with new pages. You may elect to receive your newsletters by email.

Ron explained the need for the new speed limit signs the Association purchased for safety and dust control, asked those who want to put up a sign near their property to come up after the meeting and get one, and reminded everyone of the Arizona traffic laws that apply in the community: quads and carts need to be licensed, have insurance, and be driven only by licensed drivers ages 16 and up. The sheriff's deputies may confiscate these small vehicles driven not only too fast, but by those who don't have the proper authorization to be driving. If you want to go fast, do it in the forest!

A further attempt to improve the car wash crossing will have to wait until the water flow abates. Right now, the hole-patch is holding, but without the curbing that washed away, it isn't protected from the force of the water.

Ron proposed that the Association purchase street name signs with the proper directional designations on them. The county didn't place signage on all of the roads in Christopher Creek, and those signs that were put up lack the North, South, East and West directions that help folks know where they are. Especially folks like emergency services. A motion to spend up to $250 on the signs was carried by a vote of the members.

For more information on the meeting, watch for the next issue of Ripples.

"Ripples"

I've finished the May issue of our newsletter, Ripples, and it will be mailed out to CCHA members early next week.

~Marsha Ward, Ripples Editor

Come to the Membership Meeting

Breaking tradition, the Spring Membership Meeting will be held on Saturday, May 22, 2010, at 9:00 A.M. at the upstairs meeting room of Christopher Kohl's Fire Station #51. Yes, we know. It's not Memorial Day Weekend. We're thinking this will make it possible to be able to hear everything happening in the meeting without the noise of constant traffic passing on the Loop.

The weather is beautiful now--the high today was a lovely 74.5 degrees--so we really hope you will come. We have lots of information to pass along, including the Calendar for the rest of the year, the opportunity to sign up for a speed limit sign near your property, and much more.

See you on the 22nd!