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Vote for the VAT Home of the Holidays!

Have you noticed an especially charming holiday home in the neighborhood? Passed by a winter wonderland while walking the dog? Mention that address you’re loving in the comments below! Inspire your neighbors to take a look! Then vote for it! Voting will take place December 16-20. The grand-prize winner will be announced December 21! Everyone take a stroll or a drive through our winter-wonderful neighborhood anytime between December 16 and 20 to search for your favorite home. Make a note of the address YOU think should win best Home of the Holidays. Then you can cast your vote by paper in the ballot box at the front door of the gate house, or you can vote by email to [email protected]. One vote per household, please and thank you!

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Neighborhood Safety

With shorter daylight hours and the holidays fast approaching it is important to make sure that homeowners are staying up on their safety routines. Below are some good reminders on home and community safety:

 

  • Check and change your batteries – Smoke detectors aren’t the only item in your home that need batteries changed. Outdoor cameras/doorbells, thermostats, and other devices should be checked and have their batteries changed if needed.

 

  • Lights on – Leaving outdoor lights on serves as an important deterrent of crime, consider leaving porch and garage lights on at night. Other lights that can be useful include motion-activated lights for sides and rears of home. Many times these items can be set on timers to not be a nuisance.

 

  • Garages – When possible leave vehicles in a garage and leave garage doors closed. Open garages are ripe for crimes of opportunity, ensure when you enter your home your garage door is closed behind you.

 

  • Use your locks  – The simplest methods are often the most effective. Make sure that vehicles are locked at night as well as doors and windows.

 

  • Remove packages from porches – With the holiday shopping season upon us more residents will be having home deliveries. Be aware of when items are delivering and try to make arrangements to have these items removed from porches as soon as possible. Many drivers will try to obscure deliveries by placing them behind pillars or decor on your porch so be aware when packages are delivered they may not always be placed where you expect.

 

  • Keep your pets safe – Recently our community has had several pets get loose in the evening. Make sure you have a current photo of your pet and that they wear tags with up to date homeowner information or are microchipped for a quick reunion. Another option is an LED collar (like this) which can be easily put on your pet before letting them out in the evenings.

 

  • Park vehicles carefully – Please ensure any vehicles parked along streets are parked facing the roadway appropriately. Also any vehicles parked in driveways should not block access to sidewalks.

    Thanks to all our neighbors for helping keep our community safe.

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VAT turns 30 – Lawn Care

Many lawns within our community (as well as our community park) were badly affected by the sudden armyworm infestation two years ago. Lawns that were once lush and green, quickly turned brown and had dead spots.

While this is an example of a sudden problem it is easy for issues such as weeds/clover, thin lawns and dead spots to expand and turn excellent turf into an unsightly one quickly.

Common issues seen in our community are:

1. Lawn thinning  – Typically due to lack of water or turf maintenance issues
2. Crabgrass & weeds – Dandelion and clover are the most common
3. Lack of grass – Generally this appears in areas of dense shade or where drainage is an issue

The good news is there are great resources out there to help homeowners. Repairing issues could be as easy as making sure to use a dense shade grass seed variety instead of a sun and shade mix to get the grass underneath large trees growing again.

Moving into a different set of lawn treatments or making sure to
have your lawn aerated or dethatched periodically can all help provide a strong root system and improve overall lawn appearance over time.

Lawn Treatment and Fertilizing
Seeing progress on lawn treatment can be a multi-year process so it is important to start early each season and stay on top of applications. Many homeowners in our community use local services to provide lawn application/treatments however there are now several options for fertilizer and weed prevention on your lawn turf. These include mailing services that will evaluate your lawn and mail the appropriate products, with an application schedule, to make lawn maintenance an easy task.

For neighbors concerned about using chemical fertilizer for weed prevention several organic options are available as well yard tools to make removing weeds in your turf much easier.

We highly suggest speaking with the professionals at your preferred lawn and garden center for advice on these products.

Here are some great articles to learn more about turf maintenance:

https://www.oasisturf.com/blog/perfect-ohio-lawn-care-schedule-what-to-do-when

https://www.pennington.com/all-products/grass-seed/resources/your-first-lawn-start-here

https://scotts.com/en-us/how-to/how-to-aerate-dethatch-your-lawn.html

Finally a reminder that all leaves should be bagged and stored until the next scheduled recycling/yard waste pickup. Our community’s upcoming recycling/yard waste pickup dates are:

Monday, November 13th
Monday, November 27th

We hope our neighbors find this information helpful. As always the Community Handbook should be reference for all home improvement projects.

Please note: The articles referenced above do not constitute an endorsement. All home decisions should be made with the guidance of lawn or garden center professionals familiar with your lawn concerns as well as products being suggested or used. As always please do your own research and due diligence on any vendors or products prior to hiring or using.

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Beggars Night 2023

Halloween is almost upon us and we want our community Beggar’s night to be spooktacular!

Please take note of the following to keep all our community kiddos safe on Beggars Night.

 

Beggars Night – Tuesday, October 31st 6-8PM

 

  • Clear sidewalks – Ohio weather is always unpredictable and rain can often be part of a Beggars Night forecast. Please help keep sidewalks, ramps, and gutters/drains clear from fallen leaves to keep our walking paths safe.
  • Lights On (or off!) – Most families know a lit porch light often means homeowners are participating in Beggars Night. If you want a quiet evening, please keep your porch light off or place a note on your door indicating you are not participating.
  • Slow down – If you find yourself driving in the community between 6-8PM, please keep your speed down and watch for excited children who may be crossing the roadways.
  • Safety First – Make sure costumes are easy to walk and see in. Flashlights and reflective tape are useful too to ensure that people are easier to see at night.
  • VAT Social Committee  – Some VAT Social Committee members will be handing out information or have signs up on how to donate to our Social Committee fund. Please consider a donation to this group. These funds will help secure a Santa visit as well as help fund additional events like the Egg Hunt, food trucks, and National Night Out within our community.

Wishing everyone a happy Halloween!

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Leaf Cleanup

Reminder: Leaf Cleanup

Cool mornings are upon us and all our beautiful neighborhood trees are starting to change colors and drop their leaves. A few reminders when it comes to leaf cleanup:

 

  • The city of Columbus does not vacuum up leaves from the curb or clear any street gutters. Please take some time to remove leaves from sidewalks/street gutters. Wet leaves can create dangerously slick sidewalks. Also the gutter drains get blocked not allowing water runoff from rain or ice melt to make it to sewers as we move into the winter months.

 

  • Please do not leave blown leaves in the street or blow them down the street to other homes. This creates additional work for homeowners who are already battling leaves of their own.

 

  • Don’t forget to check gutters and downspouts for leaves. Backups of leaves trap water and eventually ice in the colder months. This causes gutters to separate from homes and could cause blockages and backups in the sewer systems.

All leaves should be bagged and stored until the next scheduled recycling/yard waste pickup. Our community’s upcoming recycling/yard waste pickup dates are:

Monday, October 30th
Monday, November 13th
Monday, November 27th

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Tree Updates – Fall 2023

Happy Friday!

It appears the city of Columbus forestry team has done another review and marked additional street trees within our community for review or removal.

A reminder on street trees: These trees fall under City of Columbus ordinance and are subject to specific city code. In our conversations with the Forestry section, they explained that trees marked with a blue dot indicates that the City is keeping that tree under review for possible future removal. Trees marked with a blue “X” are scheduled for removal. Exact timing is unknown. Please keep this in mind as you walk around the community as their may also be coinciding sidewalk repairs as determined by the city.

Should a tree on your property be marked for removal and you would like a replacement you will need to contact the city of Columbus 311 (614 645 3111 or Columbus 311) to arrange.

Finally, if you have a tree in need of pruning due to low branches over sidewalks or a tree that is creating a hazard that needs to be removed, please contact the City of Columbus 311 (614 645 3111 or Columbus 311) to report – phone hours are M-F 8:00AM – 5:00PM. This is especially important with Trick or Treat coming up in a few weeks where more community members will be walking our sidewalks at night and the tree branches will be more difficult to see. 

 

For more information about street trees please visit: https://www.columbus.gov/street-tree-faqs/

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Park Closed Until Monday 10/2

Just a reminder that the work at the community park will be starting later today.

Please refrain from using the park surface and grounds during this time to allow the surface time to cure and dry.

Once completed the park will be closed until Monday 10/2. All caution tape will be removed at that time.

Thank you and have a wonderful weekend.

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VAT Social Committee Needs Your Help

Hello neighbors,

We hope everyone is having a great beginning of fall and looking forward to the fun that the change of weather brings. the VAT Social Committee is reaching out today to ask for your help.The Social Committee is funded solely by donations from homeowners. Last year community children hosted a popsicle/water sale during the annual garage sale and the Social Committee sold water at National Night Out to raise funds and solicit donations. Annual Assessments (ie Dues) are NOT allocated to the Social Committee. This is a committee of your neighbors and volunteers who work together to host events for our community.

Recently we hosted Kona Ice at the VAT Park for our 2023 block party. As is the standard with food trucks a minimum sales threshold must be met – if not, the host of the truck will be responsible for the difference. Last year, we had a great turn out and easily surpassed this threshold and were even able to secure a donation back to the Social Committee. However this year we were not able to meet this threshold and as a result the limited Social Committee funds we had were depleted and our Board Members personally paid for the remaining difference.


We kindly ask – would your household be willing to donate $5 (or more if you are willing/able) to help rebuild the Social Committee funds? 
 

These funds are necessary to secure services like a North Pole representative, Easter supplies, and food trucks for community events. We have some supplies that we reuse year to year but there are still needs beyond this.

Neighbors have requested we host MORE events/food trucks however, without the generosity and participation of our neighbors this simply isn’t possible. Bookings of food trucks carry risk as the minimum sales requirements of these trucks can vary (starting at $500 and going up) and there is no guarantee of participation from the community. We have 275 households in our community, yet our social committee is between 5-10 people and often they are the ones donating to make these events possible.


Please, if you are able, consider a $5 donation to the VAT Social Committee. These funds are held completely apart from Board finances and managed directly. If you are able to donate, please reach out to the Board who will pass along your information to the Social Committee.

Thank you everyone for your time.
VAT Social Committee
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Upcoming Park Closure

Please note that the VAT community park will be closed for a minimum of 48 hours later this week due to the sealing of the park playground surface. The exact date and timing is still to be determined as it is weather dependent. Caution tape and signage will be up to indicate the closure and residents should stay away from the grounds and treated surface while the sealing coat cures and dries.

Residents may resume using the park and grounds once all signage and caution tape has been removed.

Thank you for keeping our community and its park beautiful.

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VAT Turns 30 – Landscaping

The warm weather and sunny days bring lots of outdoor fun but also a lot of outdoor work. Specifically weed pulling, planting and pruning, lawn mowing and other lawn and landscape maintenance.

This week we are sharing information about the VAT landscaping requirements.

Many folks may not be aware but in our handbook are very specific instructions as related to the plantings required within front beds. These instructions go as far as indicating what size shrubs and other greenery are expected when landscaping changes are in the works.

Why are we so specific? Good question!

When our community was established the guidelines indicated by the developer established a certain look for our community. So much like our home colors, our landscaping is ruled by a similar set of expectations. With our community now being over 30 years old many homeowners find themselves with plants that have grown quite large and are no longer confined to their beds or are naturally starting to reach their end of life.

As these plants are replaced and in some cases new landscaping bed plans are being created it is worth noting the following requirements for all landscaping.

Landscape Requirements

This information can be found on Page 28 of the Handbook.

  1. Front elevation landscaping shall consist of a minimum of 9 mature foundational plantings of live trees or shrubs. These do NOT include annuals or perennials. A five gallon shrub would be our recommendation for a mature planting.
  2. The use of artificial plant material is prohibited.
  3. Trees or shrubs on the sides of the home, provided that they are fully visible from the central front elevation, may be counted towards the nine plantings.

Please also consider the timing of your plantings. If you are planning on removing in the spring but planting in the fall, you are not in compliance with the handbook. The only exception to this policy is with prior Board approval.

Landscape Maintenance

This information can be found on Page 28 of the Handbook.

  1. Homeowners are expected to maintain landscaping and lawn areas in an attractive appearance to enhance the home’s year-round curb appeal. It must be maintained free from insects, diseases, and weeds.
  2. Homeowner shall remove dead trees and plants within 30 days after 75% or more of the tree or plant appears dead.
  3. Mulch and/or ground cover shall be replenished routinely in order to provide a well-maintained appearance.

Please note that bulk mulch deliveries are expected to be removed within 30 days of the date of delivery.

We hope this information is useful as the cooler months approach and homeowners continue to update their exterior projects.

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