L.A. LOOKS Wildlife Corner Photo & Article By Barbara Ann Comer The Blue Jay is a familiar bird, common and widespread in the eastern United States. Blue Jays at Lake Ashton tend to be found in the more wooded areas. Often mistakenly called Bluebirds, they are a beautiful blue with striking black and white markings and sport a jaunty crest; male and female look alike. However, they aren't actually blue. The dark pigment in their feathers is melanin and scattering light on the feathers makes them appear blue. Noisy and bold, they utter a variety of vocalizations many of which don't even sound birdlike. This intelligent bird mimics the Red-shouldered Hawk's call well enough to fool even the most astute ornithologist. The common and piercing "jay, jay, jay" alarm alerts other birds that a predator may be nearby. As beautiful and widespread as this brassy songbird is, not one state has chosen it to be their state bird. LA (LW) HOA CORNER By Deanne Mayne The previous issue of the LA Times introduced new committees that were discussed at the August Directors’ meeting. One is the Welcome Committee, whose volunteers will meet with new Lake Ashton residents to help acquaint them with the CC&Rs, Design Guidelines, and ARCTracker. Two volunteers for the committee were approved at the August meeting, and several others are expected to be approved at the September meeting. The committee is chaired by Dee Mayne (sec2@lakeashtonhoa.org), who is looking forward to getting the committee up and running. 16 The Wellness Committee is chaired by Kathie McGlaughlin (secretary@lakeashtonhoa.org) and currently has one volunteer, with plans to add more at the next meeting. The goal of this committee is to provide “check-ins” with residents to promote wellbeing, social connection, neighbor-to-neighbor support, and a strong sense of community while respecting individual privacy, independence, and personal boundaries. The committee may organize appropriate wellness, social, outreach, and residentsupport activities approved by the Board of Directors. Beginning in September, the monthly Directors’ meetings will return to the Clubhouse Cardroom and will take place on the third Wednesday of each month at 3:30 pm. The ARC Office Hour will now take place on the first Wednesday of each month at 3:30 pm in the Cardroom. This change allows enough time for financial statements to be current for the previous month and gives Directors access to the TV in the Cardroom for those who cannot attend the meeting in person. ARC would like to remind residents that requests are not automatically approved. Please check your email for messages from ARC indicating that additional details may be needed, as missing information can delay approval. Some requests may require photos, specific product information, or scale drawings. Don’t forget to return to ARCTracker to indicate when your project is complete and ready for inspection. Compliance will continue to address landscaping issues caused by the February freeze. We have also noticed several lawns that may be experiencing pest infestations. These issues require professional intervention before lawn pests spread to neighboring yards. We have also received reports of outdoor lights that are more suitable for holiday use and are not permitted at other times. Please remember that landscape lights that change colors or flash with strobe-like pulses are not allowed. ARC and Compliance are still in need of volunteers. Please consider giving some of your time to help keep Lake Ashton beautiful!
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