Electrical Disaster

I'm not a golfer any more so I enjoy seeing all the ducks by our ponds.  Maybe golfers have different feelings but the ducks are a joy to watch.

These widgeon ducks have returned from their summer migration.  They seem to like it here these days.

Photo by Tom Gottfried

Palm Creek has certainly had more than its share of bad luck when it comes to keeping our ponds as clean and clear as we normally like to see.  

After hearing conflicting stories about the water issue, Don and I had a meeting with Mark Kenner and asked for information to share with the residents.

The first issue is the problem with the pumps, fountains and water system.  Everything was working fine until October 22 when the transformer right next to the main pump station blew up due to a huge surge of electricity.  Our equipment didn't survive.

It fried two of our VFDs which are the computers in the pumps that regulate when we need more water.  It also blew out the control panel to the fountains.  When we pulled the fountains onto dry land, it was discovered that their motors were also fried.  The surge also knocked out the recirculation pumps so there is no water flowing back to hole #7 pond.  Lots of expensive electrical damage in a split second!!  Our crews have been working on this ever since but the delivery and supply problems haven't helped.

Pulling out the fountain:

Progress:  We have managed to get the back-nine creek and waterfall flowing again.  This problem came about because of a defective valve that turned out to be buried under a patio behind a home on the north side of the park.  The valve was 10 feet down and locked open.  We were forced to close that valve because when it stays open, it lets the water go out through a pipe that drains on Cottonwood Ave.  (That pipe is there in case we ever need to drain the lake.)  The valve was stuck open and there was a leak in the 'drain to cottonwood' pipe and it was leaking under the home with the patio.    We had to shut down the creek until Aquaflow could come and change out the valve.  That valve is 10 feet down!  Of course, the usual delivery and supply problems still abound.

The crack is still in that drain pipe but we don't need it right now and plan to repair it next summer when the work will not disturb so many of our residents.  Expensive repair!

We're still waiting for the fountain motors to arrive which hopefully will happen in the next two weeks.  Then we will be able to get the fountains up and running.  The new circulation pump is also on order.  It will be nice to have those pretty fountains up and running once again.

In the meantime, algicide is being fed into the lake to try to inhibit algae growth.

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 Saw this on Nextdoor.  What a great idea!!  

In the meantime while we wait for the multitude of repairs, relax and enjoy our beautiful blue sky and warm temps.  Those folks back home are envious!  I received this photo from Fred Darin this week.  Brrrr.

Mail Room

 We discovered a new treat for the cats and they LOVE it.  It's called Squeeze Up by Hartz.  You can feed by hand or squeeze it into a bowl or use it as a topper over their dry food.  Guaranteed a winner!

It's most fun to feed by hand!

Sorry the video is a bit sideways but our hands were busy.

Jim and Kathleen Koch have hosted their grandchildren for holidays for quite a few years.  The kids have always left a seasonal chalk greeting on the driveway.  Now the girls are getting more mature and the quality of their work shows.  It makes me smile every time I drive by.

Tuesday morning coffee and donuts.  We got an update from Peter regarding upcoming events for the pro shop.  (FREE golf on Christmas Day as the pro shop will be closed.)  Don't cut in though.  Always start on 1 or 10 please.

Back home the doves are enjoying their morning fountain drink.

Merope Ozdener is obviously an early riser as she caught this colorful sunrise this morning.  Thank you for sharing, Merope.

Son, Anton, made a cherry pie for us.  Can you tell we're all cat lovers?

We had a cute peach pie for Thanksgiving.

I saw Peggy Fetzer busily tucking pink slips into mail boxes.  I was amazed to see so many pink slips just for our station so I went up to the mailroom today to learn more.

Our mailroom services over 1300 open mailboxes and they expect by the time full season is here there will be over 1800.  We're in record breaking numbers as we are already 500 over last year (Covid year) but still over 100 more than in the previous year.  Palm Creek is growing!

I asked Donna Cox (our mailroom supervisor) for more information.  Two of our staff members leave for the city post office around 10:00.  First they pick up any outgoing mail that is dropped in our in-park drop boxes and then off to the post office to pick up the incoming mail.

Yikes!  It's a good thing we have that white van mail truck as it gets filled every day! 

Now the hand sorting process begins.  Packages go one way where pink cards have to be written up.  Regular letters get put into the "pigeon hole" boxes by site number, "flats" or oversized items go to another set of pigeon holes.  Then all are gathered and the team finally goes out to one of the three satellite mail stations where it gets put in your box number.  

That's a LOT of work not mentioning that Donna has to monitor who is arriving soon and who is leaving so boxes get open or closed.  Sales are frequent so the mail room has to keep up with new owners as well.  Then there is all the mail that has to be forwarded.  

What can we as residents do to help with the flood of mail?  Make sure you always include your site number!!  If you are ordering something, always be sure to put your site number on a second line of an address.  If you enter 1110 N Henness Rd, Site #1707........that is a long address line.  The sender will have that typed onto a mailing label and it may get truncated.  That means the last few numbers may be cut off thus making a delivery to a wrong site.  It may go to site 17 or site 170 instead of 1707.

The busiest time of day for the mail room is between 11:00 to 1:00 when the truck arrives and sorting begins.  Try to stay away during those hours.  Chances are that the sorting isn't done yet and they won't have your package ready anyway.

Bring back those pink slips!!  That saves time from having to create more.  Tell the kids back home to not send to "Grandma or Grandpa" as we have a lot of them here.  😉

I'll have more photos to post tomorrow.

P.S.  After our interview, Donna asked me to be sure to sing praises for her staff as they are a GREAT hard working team.

BULLETIN BOARD REMINDER

If you have an item to buy sell or trade, you can always post it on Nextdoor BUT don't forget to check the small bulletin board in the hall near the mail room.  Lots of ticket sales or rentals get posted there.

Pickleball plus more (and cats)

 Wow!  This has been an awesome autumn season of warm temps and sunny sky.  I keep looking for outdoor activities so I don't miss the sun's rays.

The big AAP (American Pickleball Professionals) tournament was held here at Palm Creek this week so the place was busy and active.  The crowds were 5-7 deep around the courts during the champion games.   Our local pickleball club keeps a great website so you can go there for more photos and information.

https://palmcreekpickleballclub.com/

I just took a couple casual photos to try to show the crowds of people in attendance.

Tom was super busy gathering action shots with that big camera of his.

Our new pavilion got a good workout.

All the volunteers who worked on the project can take great pride.

Thursday, December 9, 7:00 p.m.

We have a couple events coming up in the next week or so starting with a Christmas sing along sponsored by our Palm Creek chorus.  Admission is a non-perishable food item for our Casa Grande Food Bank donation.  The program line up is a combo of chorus numbers and audience participation.  Come to the ballroom  Thursday night, December 9. No ticket necessary. Just bring that food item as your donation.

Patio Sale on Saturday, December 18

Starting at 8:00 a.m. Saturday (the 18th) the park will be bustling with busy shoppers as we scurry from one patio sale to another. Pick up a map from Activities after 1:00 that Friday. I know I will be stopping by Russ's house at site 1819 on Oasis to get some of his awesome home made soft peanut brittle.

If you would like some now Call or text: Russ at 216 235-5900. Site #1819 (on Oasis). Just $5 per half pound.

The events and activities teams are busy with upcoming dances and shows. You can check the schedule in the December happenings. Here is a link to the on-line copy:

https://palmcreek.com/newsletter/

...and don't forget about our fun softball teams that play on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Come cheer for your favorite players and have a sandwich at the sports grill.

See their website at: Palm Creek Softball

HELP THE CASA GRANDE FOOD BANK

 

The Casa Grande RC Flyers will be holding a charity event for the Casa Grande Food Bank on Saturday December 11, 2021 between 9 AM and Noon at their club airfield located at 2725 S Isom Road in Casa Grande. At the event they will have a drawing with the first prize to include dinner for two at any Texas Roadhouse, 18 holes of golf for two including a cart at the Robson Ranch Golf Course and TWO gift certificates from Superstition Hobbies which can be used for anything they sell including RC aircraft, RC cars and parts or supplies.

 

Two food services will be on hand serving both breakfast and lunch items and the club will offer FREE RC Flying lessons (everything provided) and FREE first person view airplane rides. The food bank will be at the entrance accepting donations of any non-perishable food items, however nothing is required to enter. This is a FREE event event and everyone is welcome.

 

Directions to the field can be found on the club's web site at: http://casagrandercflyers.com/fieldlocation.html

I spotted this cute golf cart up by the clubhouse today.

The plate says: "Finally.....my 57 Chevy!"

There are always a few cat pictures to share and I hear they are favorites among you readers.

Don was going to warm up the oven for the evening meal but Kat had to check it out first.

No......the heat was not yet turned on.

Mouse on the other hand is camera shy and likes to sleep face down.

Charming Kat accidentally knocked over my glass of water a few weeks ago and it killed the keyboard of my computer.  Don agreed to buy me a new one.  It arrived in a box....much to the cat's delight.

Buy a cat they said.  It would be fun they said.

Bistro Review & Sports Grill

 Don and I went to the Bistro for lunch today.  I'd like to write a great review for them as we had a great lunch and a pleasant time.

Whoops....got a shadow on the picture when we tried to capture the menu.

All new decor.  The furniture has a simplistic basic flair.

Decorative baskets add a nice touch.

I kind of miss the big bulletin board that listed the menu so we could make our choice before we got to the counter.

We popped in on the kitchen area where meals are prepared.

I ordered a taco salad which was delicious.  I hear it is one of the top sellers and I understand why.  Don's BLT came on a toasted bun which he said was good and made it easier to eat.  Both meals get an A+ from us.

We hear that Bridgett's home-made cinnamon rolls will be coming soon along with the good clam chowder on Fridays.  Maybe sometime in December we hope.

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The Sports Grill  at the softball field is up and running.  Today the new kitchen arrived which I believe will replace the current Sports Grill.  It is a complete kitchen built into an Airstream RV.  It's in the set up process now.  It took time to extend propane lines to its location.

Custom serving window.