A Note from the Leasing Desk
We are so happy to have you all as such wonderful residents in our community! I have really enjoyed my regular walks and looking at all the decorations no matter how simple or elaborate they are. You can always check out our community Instagram page to see some of the fun things I’ve found. Equally, if you are an instagrammer and take pictures of your inside decorations of your home or things going on in our community, feel free to tag us in your posts! Follow us at Forest.Hills.Kalamazoo on Instagram.
A Note from the Manager
We have enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you. We generally enjoy keeping things lighthearted and fun, but no one likes being sent to the principal’s office. We like to post notices and reminders to our families when we notice a trend or foresee changes coming.
We recently posted doors with a request from the maintenance team, as they will be completing a majority of snow cleanup. We sent out a reminder to all residents that vehicles cannot be parked over the sidewalks in order to have sufficient room for the snowblowers and shovels to clear the snow efficiently and without damage to your vehicles. In the event that you park over the sidewalks, you may receive a reminder sticker on your vehicle.
We also commonly see families walking their dogs without cleaning up their waste. As a general reminder, you are ALWAYS responsible for cleaning up after your dog and making sure your dog is always on a leash. This even applies when the ground is snow covered. We love knowing our community is pet friendly and we hope to be able to contribute to the enjoyment of all families by making sure the waste is always cleaned up. No one wants to step in doggy-doo whether it is big or small. For those of you who always pick up after your dog, we thank you!
A Note from Maintenance
Please report maintenance concerns as soon as you notice a problem. A small leak under your sink today could create a significant problem without proper attention. Feel free to call, email, drop a note in our drop box or visit our office with your maintenance issues.
If we recently inspected your home and discovered things that need to be repaired, a general work order was created. If the issue is high priority we entered a service request right away and the issue has been addressed or will be addressed very soon. If it is a non-emergency, your issue will be resolved in the order in which homes were inspected.
Is your dishwasher always backing up? We frequently receive calls that sinks and dishwashers are backed up. The common repair is to clean out the dishwasher. A way to prevent this common problem is making sure the dishes are rinsed prior to loading them in your dishwasher.
Pet Corner
With cold winter months coming, some of these tips may be helpful reminders for care of your pet.
1. Know your pet’s limits and tolerance to cold and adjust your pet’s outside time accordingly
2. Wipe your pet’s paws as they come inside. Chemicals used to melt snow, even though created to be pet friendly, can cause irritation to your pet.
3. Clean up your pet waste even in the snow. It solidifies with the freezing temps but melts when the snow thaws and leaves a mess with the melting slush.
4. Do not leave your pets in a cold car.
5. If you are leaving your home for the holidays please make sure you have someone who is willing to pet sit.
Kid Corner
We know it has been such a difficult year in navigating the question of “what am I going to do with my children?” We adore seeing the happy faces of the children outside. With many schools being currently virtual and the future of the school year still uncertain, it is important to have a plan. Please make sure your children are not being left home alone without supervision if they are young. The period of time they can be left alone can increase with age and maturity. The State of Michigan does not specifically provide an age at which it is okay to leave your child home alone. As a general rule of thumb, a child ten years and younger is not responsible enough to be left home alone.
It is also important to make sure that your children are up and moving throughout the day. There are amazing online resources for getting your children up and moving. A quick google search will result in many youtube videos that demonstrate exercise and movement activities for children of all ages.
Holiday Recipe
HOLIDAY SALSA
Ingredients:
1 pkg (12 oz) fresh or frozen cranberries 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 cup sugar 1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
6 green onions, chopped Assorted crackers or tortilla chips
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
Directions:
Pulse cranberries and sugar in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Stir together with onions, cilantro and jalapeno. Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight.
To serve, place cream cheese on a serving plate. Drain salsa; spoon over cream cheese. Serve with crackers or chips.