Last Day for School Rezoning Forms

Tomorrow (Oct. 31) is the last day to turn in your School Rezoning Input forms regarding the rezoning of our area out of the Grayson cluster into the new Archer cluster.

During the meeting last night at Holy Cross Church, the overwhelming opinion was that the neighborhoods from Hoke O’Kelly to Laurel Mist want to stay in Grayson since we have helped build the high school and are part of this community.

Other concerns were that the drive to the new high school would be 8 miles instead of the current 1.5 or so miles to Grayson High School.

Also, based on the rezoning maps our area was the closest to Grayson High and the furtherest from Archer of the neighborhoods rezoned to Archer. Other communities (like those along Sugarloaf and Wheatfields) are much closer to other high schools than Grayson but they have been zoned into Grayson.

Unfortunately, if we become part of the Grayson Cluster, our children will no longer go to Cooper and McConnell, but to the new elementary school, Tripp, and new middle school Bay Creek, which are on Cooper Rd. So, no matter how the rezoning issue is settled, our area will get a new school or schools. (Note: Any student that has completed a year at Grayson High School when Archer opens in 2009, will be able to remain at Grayson High if he/she provides his/her own transportation.)

But if you want to stay in the Grayson Cluster, you must make your voice heard, and to do that you need to fill out a Rezoning Form and deliver it to McConnell Middle School by tomorrow afternoon. On the form, where it says school, please write “McConnell” even though you may not have a student at McConnell. Go to http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-mainweb01.nsf/f3ddb603cc4489c685257301005f3fe3/a85fb6bcf692254b85257368005231a5?OpenDocument&0~QuickLinks to download the form.

You can make a difference. The school officials and board members do listen when a community speaks.

To Archer or Not to Archer???

To Archer or not to Archer? That is the question facing us as Bay Creek neighborhood residents in the latest Gwinnett County School Board's rezoning efforts. The HOA is sponsoring an informational meeting tonight (Monday, Oct. 29) at Holy Cross Anglican Church on Oak Grove Rd., 7:30 p.m., to discuss the impact the rezoning has or will have on our neighborhood.

Our neighborhoods (The Cove, the Landings I & II, and the Plantation at Bay Creek) have been rezoned out of the Grayson School Cluster into the Archer Cluster that includes the new Archer High school, McConnell Middle School and Cooper Elementary.

The meeting tonight will be to determine the general consensus among residents regarding the rezoning and informing residents how to let school officals know how they feel about the rezoning. Residents from neighborhing WillowWind and Laurel Mist subdivisions are also encouraged to attend this meeting since the rezoning impacts their school children as well.

If you have a question about the meeting, please send us an email - baycreekhoa@gmail.com

Food Drive Update

Thank you to all of the neighbors who contributed to this year’s “Spooky-to-be-Hungry" food drive. Approximately 330 bags were distributed to residents of the Plantation, Cove, and Landings I and II. A total of 53 families donated, which translates into a 16 percent giving rate. However, due to the extreme generosity of many families, we collected many more bags than the 16 percent figure suggests. In fact, the collection vehicle, a 2004 Honda Odyssey, was almost filled to capacity.

Special thanks also go out to the neighbors who donated their time distributing and collecting the donation bags. Once again, our efforts benefit the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry and the citizens it serves. Perhaps next year we can achieve a 25 percent participation rate?

Grayson's Homecoming Queen Lives Here

The 2007 Grayson High School Homecoming Queen lives right here in Bay Creek. Jenny Jennings, a senior at GHS, was crowned homecoming queen at the school's recent homecoming festivities.

Jenny, the daughter of Buddy & Jane Jennings, lives in the Plantation at Bay Creek.

She and another Bay Creek resident, Samantha Carroll, daughter of Mike & Cathy Carroll, were recently named Senior Superlatives at GHS.

Got school news you want to share? Send the Bay Creek HOA blog your news (and photos, too) to post online. Email baycreekhoa@gmail.com and watch this blog for your news.

Goodbye Strawberry Fields. Hello Strip Mall.

Crown Point Properties is asking the county to rezone the strawberry fields on Bay Creek to commercial (C-2) so that Crown can build a shopping center there. The shopping center will be similar (according to their zoning request) to the one they built on Hwy. 78 between Loganville & Snellville where the CVS & Waffle House is.

Only this "proposed" Strawberry Field Shopping Center will be 94,222 sq. feet and have 444 parking places with entrances from Bay Creek, WillowWind and Hwy. 20. (To read the zoning request and view the developer's proposal, click here.)

If you think traffic is bad now on Bay Creek, just think what it will be like with a strip shopping center with its typical type tenants - cleaners, nail parlor, restaurant, etc. This area is already plagued with vacant stores in Grayson shopping centers and in Loganville. Can this part of Gwinnett really support another shopping center? Do we really want another shopping center right here in our neighborhood?

Gwinnett is experiencing a historical drought and water crisis. And it doesn't matter at whom we point the finger, one of the major contributors to our water crisis is overdevelopment. This shopping center fiasco would be a perfect example of overdevelopment.

If you agree that now is not the time and this is not the place for a 94,222 sq. ft. shopping center and 444 parking places, please email our county commissioner and members of the zoning board. (The email addresses are at the end of this posting) AND...please turn out for the November 6 zoning board meeting, 7 p.m., at the Gwinnett County Court House in Lawrenceville.

County Commissioner - Mike Beaudreau 770.822.7003 Mike.Beaudreau@gwinnettcounty.com
Zoning Board members for our district: Chuck Warbington chuck@gwinnettvillage.com and Teresa Cantrell Teresa.Cantrell@gwinnettcounty.com

Other board members to contact:
Eric Johansen – Chairman eric.johansen@gwinnettcounty.com
Peggy Boydston – Vice Chairman peggy.boydston@gwinnettcounty.com
Jose R. Perez jperez@targetmarkettrends.com
Lynette M. Howard lynettegwinnett@comcast.net
Paul Hastings Paula.Hastings@gwinnettcounty.com
Floy Jumper Floy.Jumper@gwinnettcounty.com
Julianne Thompson Julianne.Thompson@gwinnettcounty.com

Halloween Parties -- Volunteers Needed

Landings II residents Darrell and Michelle Diamond, 3849 Hawk Tail Road, have graciously agreed to coordinate a Halloween party for their neighborhood, but they need help.

They need people to help them circulate flyers to announce the party, people to help bring tables and set up for the event, people to help cook hot dogs and people to clean up after the event. If you would like to help the Diamonds, please email them at ddiamon2004@yahoo.com .

The HOA is providing $200 per neighborhood to fund a Halloween party, but someone from each neighborhood must coordinate and organize the event. So far, we only have volunteers from two of our four neighborhoods - the Landings II and the Plantation. That means if you live in the Cove or in Landings I and want to have a neighborhood Halloween party and take advantage of the HOA's Halloween Party donation, we need volunteers from the Cove or Landings I. If you are interested, please email us at baycreekhoa@gmail.com.

Bay Creek Sports Stars

The Grayson High School varsity softball team is going to the state finals at Olympic Stadium in Columbus GA. Bay Creek's own Ashley Berger had an RBI single for GHS Rams and that single enabled her team to take the lead in a 0 to 0 final inning, game against Lassiter.

Ashley’s hit started a run that ended up with Grayson winning the game 6 to 0. In the previous game, the Lady Rams crushed Collins Hill 9 to 0 with Ashley hitting 3 for 6, and getting one walk.

Ashley, the daughter of Bruce & Ruth Berger, is the starting Right Fielder and a pitcher on the team behind senior Mandy Burns. Wish Ash Berger and the Grayson Lady Rams well going into the finals game this week. GO RAMS!

Another Bay Creek resident is making a big impact playing for the Mill Creek High School hockey team. Evan Jones, son of Cheryl & Steve Jones, is the goalie for the Mill Creek team. Evan, who graduates from high school this year, has played hockey for six years and hopes to continue to play in college next year too.

If you are a resident of the Cove, Landings I and II or the Plantation at Bay Creek and have some sports news, please email us at baycreekhoa@gmail.com and we'll post your news on our Bay Creek HOA blog.

Spring Garage Sale, Anyone?

Although spring isn't exactly around the corner, it's not too early to be thinking about a Neighborhood Garage Sale and start identifying those items that would be perfect to sell.

Just think of how quickly you could 'sell' your unwanted items if the Landings, Cove and Plantation were filled with garage sales on a bright sunny spring Saturday!

If you would be interested in participating in the Bay Creek Neighborhood Spring Garage Sale, contact the blog - baycreekhoa@gmail.com or contact Glenda Emory Glenda@chademory.com .

Remembering Our Veterans

The following is a message from Bay Creek Homeowner Bruce Berger. Please join him in rememberance of those who served for and died for our country.

In honor of the Georgia Army and Air National Guard, my family (and any friends that want to participate) will be putting flags in the ground to honor our lost veterans since 9/11, in the land I own behind my house at 545 Bay Grove Road near the lake. We will be doing this on the morning of Veterans Day and will leave it up for two days for any of you that want to come by, reflect on the moment, reflect on the sacrifices our Guard soldiers make every day.

It also can be a time for you to reflect on veterans of all conflicts great and small. This activity is just a continuation of the patriotism of our neighborhood and is not a politically based event. Our intent is simply meant to be a gesture remembering those that serve. I want my kids to understand that in the planting of these flags, regardless of the world or political beliefs of our times, that these flags are people. And our security is based on people. People, that made the ultimate sacrifice.

During this period if you want to come by and reflect or be part of our moment, or one for yourself or loved ones, come by the lake. During the day there will be some big celebrations, parades and tears all throughout the country. I just thought something honoring something close to my heart after 25 years of service and close our homes with those fallen who served our state and nation was important.

I hope to have all the flags in place by about 10:00 on Veterans Day. Thanks.

Bruce D. Berger
bruce.berger@calibresys.com

School Rezoning Meeting, Tuesday Oct. 16

When we started this blog, we promised to keep you informed of events that impacted our neighborhood. There is a public meeting scheduled at McConnell Middle School, Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 7 pm. to voice objections to the new school school rezoning plan.

As many of you know, our neighborhood is in the area that the Gwinnett School Board has recommended be rezoned out of the Grayson School district into the new Archer School District. That means that when the new Archer High School is built, students in the Cove, the Landings and Plantation at Bay Creek will go to Archer High and not to Grayson High School.

Archer is nearly 5 miles away, and Grayson High is less than 1.4 miles from our front entrance. If our area is rezoned, then our students will be spending lots of time on the bus AND will literally drive right pass Grayson High School on their way to the new Archer High.

The proposed map draws a convenient line down the middle of Ga. 20, regardless of proximity to the school. Indeed, the Esplanade neighborhood right across 20 from Grayson is zoned for Archer. To view the rezoning map, click here: http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/.

If you feel that our area should not be rezoned to the new high school, please attend Tuesday's meeting or better yet, file your objections on line at http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-mainweb01.nsf/8A72EDB546A30C5E852573680052B993/$file/NewSchoolBoundaryInputForm2007.pdf

Upcoming Neighborhood Food Drive

Howdy Neighbors! Residents of The Cove may remember finding food donation bags swinging from their front door this time last year. They’re coming again, but this time to The Plantation and The Landings, as well. The bags will reappear Saturday, October 20th in support of the second annual “Spooky-to-be-Hungry” food drive, which benefits the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry.

Volunteers are needed to deliver the bags on the aforementioned date. Pickup will occur by noon the following Saturday, and anyone that can assist with bag collection is encouraged to help. Non-perishable, unopened food and other household items are requested. A complete list and other details will accompany the donation bag.

The donated food will be delivered the same day, Saturday, October, 27, to Grayson United Methodist Church, where it will be sorted and then delivered to the ministry’s food bank.

The Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry assists needy families in Snellville, Grayson and the Gwinnett County portion of Loganville by providing food, clothing, counseling, and emergency financial aid.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, your neighborhood contacts are Kevin and Larissa Avery (kevinavery@bellsouth.net) and Diane and Lamar Bates (dianenbates@comcast.net). Thank you in advance for your help!

Need a desk or book case for FREE?

A homeowner is giving away a desk and book case. Just go to the newest addition of our blog...the Bay Creek Classifieds... to learn how you can claim the desk and/or book case.

While there, check out the other items listed on our Classifieds. Better yet...email us and we'll post your classified ad asap. Send your ad to baycreekhoa@gmail.com.

The fall meeting of the Bay Creek Homeowners Association took place Sunday, October 7, at the Association Recreation Area. Board members Lamar Bates, Pat Tewalt and LaChelle Neudorfer were on hand to update homeowners on a variety of HOA issues and activities. Topics discussed at the meeting including the following:

• Speed test and speed humps on Shannon Road
• Pool plans for 2008
• Retention ponds
• Sidewalks
• Unified garbage pickup
• Security
• School redistricting
• Architectural Committee
• Convenants
• Holiday decoration
• Landscaping
• Neighborhood parties

For a complete review of the meeting notes, go to http://baycreekhoa.googlepages.com/home to read the minutes prepared by HOA Secretary LaChelle Neudorfer or click on HOA Minutes under HOA Documents on the right hand side of the blog.

Halloween party, anyone?

The Bay Creek HOA needs volunteers from each of our neighborhoods to coordinate and plan neighborhood parties to kick off Trick or Treating on Halloween night.

The HOA has set aside $200 for each neighborhood - The Cove, Landings I, Landings II and the Plantation at Bay Creek. The money can be used to buy hot dogs and buns and/or prizes for yard decorations or children's costumes.

Ideally, each neighborhood party should take place in a cul-de-sac within the neighborhood. Volunteers will coordinate the cooking of the hot dogs, setting up for the party and publicizing the event within the neighborhood. (Putting fliers on mailboxes, etc.)

A Neighborhood Halloween Party is a great way to get to meet your neighbors, check out clever and scarey costumes and send our children off to Trick or Treat.
If you would like to volunteer, email us at baycreekhoa@gmail.com or contact Pat Tewalt, 770-554-5411.

Why a blog?

Why do the homeowners at Bay Creek need a blog? The answer is simple. We're a growing neighborhood with almost 400 homes and communicating with all those homes is often a challenge. Sending a mailing to every home every time there's a news event gets expensive and dropping a 'flyer' in every mail box can be time consuming.

So, in today's world of instant communication, a community blog is the perfect solution.

What kind of information will you find on this blog? Hopefully, you'll find information that you can use...

• News about community events - cookouts, parades, meetings.
• News that effects you - school rezonings, water restriction updates, property rezonings, covenants, HOA news, and more
• News that you add - If you have news that you want to share with your neighbors, just email us at baycreekhoa@gmail.com and we'll make sure it's posted.

The Bay Creek Blog is also the place where you can comment and engage your neighbors in conversation about issues and events. But remember, this is a community news center so please respect your neighbors. (Foul language, disparaging remarks and other socially unacceptable contributions are not only unappropriate, but also will be removed from the blog.)

Check back often for news that you can use!