Hemlock Farms Community Association

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT OWNING AND

LIVING IN HEMLOCK FARMS

Hemlock News

Hemlock News is the monthly official publication of the Hemlock Farms Community Association. Produced by volunteers, a full-time Coordinator, a part time clerk, and a part-time editor, the newspaper is mailed monthly to all members of the Association. Annual subscription to Hemlock News is $12. Members of the Hemlock Farms Community Association receive a copy as part of their annual dues. Members who wish to receive Hemlock News by first class mail may do so by paying an additional annual fee of $24. Any non-member may receive a copy by first class mail for a fee of $2 per issue.

Hemlock Happenings

Hemlock Happenings is a flyer published by the Recreation Department to advise residents of new activities and scheduled changes. The Hemlock Happenings are printed on Fridays. Copies are available at the Community Mail Room, HFCA Office, Steer Barn, Teen Center, Public Safety Building, Hemlock Farms Library, Administration Annex and online at www.hfca.com

Channel 15

Channel 15 is the Hemlock Farms Cable TV Station which carries a listing of HFCA Special Events, meeting schedules, facility hours, general information and emergency information. Also carried on this channel are group and organization special events and meetings. Tune into Channel 15 for all up-to-the-minute information on Hemlock activities. You automatically receive Channel 15 if you subscribe to the local Blue Ridge Communications Cable TV service.

Website: www.hfca.com

The website provides general information about Hemlock Farms, details of events and activities and reference material such as Board and committee meeting minutes, forms, etc.

Members are encouraged to register their friends and family in the Visitor Entry system from the website. The entire HFCA

Administrative Code, the Bylaws and the Architectural Regulations are also available as references for members.

Usage statistics kept by our hosting service reveal that www.hfca.com averages 3500 hits per day by viewers. Our new page design features Community Conservation Links, Teen Links, seasonal pictures of Hemlock Farms, screen savers using the seasonal pictures, When & Where from the Hemlock News, the Electronic Bulletin Board, Hemlock Happenings, Building Schedules, up-to-the-minute news from the Administration Office and even road conditions during the winter season. If you have suggestions for the web master, send them to webmaster@hfca.com.

HFCA OFFICE HOURS

The HFCA Office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day except Tuesday when the office is closed.

Call for Volunteers

Operating the Hemlock Farms Community requires the voluntary assistance of HFCA members in many different capacities. Activities of official HFCA Committees and the Board of Directors require a commitment of considerable time. For those with specialized, professional knowledge and experience but are unable to make a major time commitment, the Community Manager maintains a list of people who are willing to lend their expertise on a limited basis. Let the Community Manager know how you can help your Community by sending a brief description of your specialized talents.

Standing Committees

The Board of Directors appoints committee members, who meet monthly on weekends. The committees are as follows:

Appeals

Architectural

Elections

Environmental

Finance

Official Publication & Public Information Planning & Land Use

Public Health, Safety & Security

Public Works & Physical Properties

Recreation

Loss Assessment Endorsement to Homeowners' Insurance Policies

All members in Hemlock Farms are affected by a 1997 Pennsylvania law, the Uniformed Planned Community Act. One significant section of the law says:

(A) judgment for money against the association if and when entered of record against the name of the association in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, of the county where the planned community is located shall also constitute a lien against each unit for a pro rata share of the amount of the judgement, including interest thereon based on the common expense liability associated with that unit under Section 5208. (Emphasis added.)

If the Association has an uninsured or underinsured judgment entered against it, the Association might have to assess the lot owners to pay the claim. The law imposes liens on units automatically until the judgement is released or satisfied. The Association recommends strongly, therefore, that every lot owner in Hemlock Farms add a Loss Assessment Endorsement to the owner's homeowners’ insurance coverage to help manage this risk. In the event your insurance broker requests information about HFCA insurance coverage you may advise the broker that the HFCA automobile liability coverage is $1,000,000, general liability coverage is $1,000,000 per occurrence, $2,000,000 in the aggregate. In addition we carry $25,000,000 in umbrella coverage.

Snowmobiles & ATV's

Snowmobiles and ATV's are not allowed on Hemlock Farms roads. Check with State Forest Officials for nearby trails.

Dogs

All dogs three months or older, living in Pennsylvania, must be licensed no later than January 1 of each year.

Licenses may be obtained at the County Treasurer's Office, Milford and the Postal Contract Unit, Route 739, Lords Valley. Public Safety Officers serve citations for violations of the HFCA Dog Code.

The HFCA Dog Run is located on Maple Ridge Drive adjacent to the Department of Public Works for pet owners to let their dogs exercise without a leash. A brochure with more information can be picked up at the Administration Office. Please observe and follow all rules posted at the facility to ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for everyone.

For more regulations regarding dogs, please see Administrative Code, Chapter 71 - Dogs.

Hunting

There shall be no hunting or trapping in the Hemlock Farms Community without a majority vote of those Association members present at the Annual Membership Meeting as provided by the Bylaws, in the particular year in which hunting or trapping would occur.

Fire and Rescue Company

The Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company provides fire, rescue and EMS protection to the community, covering Porter Township and part of Blooming Grove and Dingmans Township. Their complement of equipment includes a Quint Ladder truck, two Engines, Light Rescue truck, one Heavy Rescue truck, one Brush truck, two Ambulances, Dive Rescue Boat and an ATV. Members are highly trained and dedicated to serving your needs in the most professional manner possible. It is a volunteer company not supported financially by your community dues. Annual contributions by every property owner are crucial to their survival. Their presence represents a substantial savings on your homeowner's insurance with an ISO rating of 6 (which is a very good rating for a rural department). The HFCA Board of Directors strongly suggests a donation of $75 payable to Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire & Rescue Co. at 1053 Hemlock Farms, Lords Valley PA 18428. If you would like to become a member of their department in any capacity, feel free to contact them at 570/775-6447, Peter Ferris at 570/775-8884 or stop at the station for an application. The department’s business meeting is held on the second Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the firehouse. For fire or medical emergencies, please dial 911. Your support is greatly needed and appreciated.

Fire Hydrants

Fire hydrants sometimes become obscured from vision by weeds or snow. For your safety and to help fire fighting, property owners are urged to help keep weeds trimmed or snow cleared to insure that firefighters have clear access to hydrants.

Burning Not Permitted

As per Chapter 111-Fires, adopted by the Board of Directors on 7/29/95, "No outdoor fires are permitted in Hemlock Farms except for: A. Barbecue Grills, whose sole purpose is for the preparation of food; B. Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company Training; C. Official functions conducted by

Cable Television

Cable television service is available throughout Hemlock Farms. For further information on installation, contact Blue Ridge Communications at (570) 421-0780, (800) 426-0606, or (570) 296-8200.

Mail Room

The HFCA Mail Room is located at the ball field by Hemlock Farms Road and Village Lane.

The annual rental fee for mailboxes is $25.00. Pay the rental at the HFCA Office. Boxes may be rented only by members for the period of time they own property in Hemlock Farms, and authorized renters.

Anyone experiencing problems with keys or the mechanics of the box must contact the Association Office.

Please read the regulations regarding mailboxes in Chapter 145 towards the end of this Handbook.

General Delivery Service is available to seasonal residents for one month ONLY by stopping by the postal window during the hours of operation as posted at the Mailroom. Building Access: 6:00am - 10 pm. (570) 775-9085

The Lords Valley contract Postal Unit is located on Rte.739. The phone number is (570) 775-9770.

Bulletin Boards (Mailroom)

The Bulletin Boards at the Mail Room are for use by the Hemlock Farms Community Association, organizations within Hemlock Farms, local advertisers and local businesses. For full rules for use of the Bulletin Board, please read Chapter 45 of the Code in the second half of this Handbook.

It is important to note that items to be posted should be brought to the HFCA Office any day (except Tuesday) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Non-business index cards are posted once a week. Business cards are posted the beginning of each month.

House Numbering System

As of January 1, 1994, all homes have been designated a street number which has been attached to your sign post. The primary purpose is to speed up and improve the location of homes by the Public Safety patrols and Fire and Rescue emergency response personnel.

An additional advantage is that residents may now better guide their search for locations as well as use of this address for UPS, Federal Express or overnight mail deliveries. See Chapter 124 later in this Handbook for regulations regarding street numbers.

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