1 STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 125 LAWRENCEBURG. IN 47025 CARING. RETURN SERVICE LISTENING. ECHOES REQUESTED PROTECTING. HVL POA Every Step of the Way. HIDDENVALLEYLAKEINDIANA.COM OCTOBER 2020 VOL.46 ISSUE NO. 10 INSIDE RETIREMENT MESSAGE TO BRUCE See Page 2A HV RIDERS See Page 6A GARDEN CLUB MINUTES See Page 6B HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, 19303 Schmarr Dr., Hidden Valley Lake, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 812- 537-3091; HVL Deputies 812-537-9400; Maintenance, (812) 537-3300 Equal Opportunity Lender NMLS#454283 812-667-5101 friendshipstatebank.com FRIENDSHIP | VERSAILLES | DILLSBORO | BATESVILLE | RISING SUN | MADISON |LAWRENCEBURG | VEVAY 2 2A OCTOBER 2020 My, How You Have Grown! BRUCE KELLER At the time of our 1972 incorporation as So, what makes HVL so unique? You to get involved with committees and task COMMUNITY MANAGER the HVL Property Owners Association, do! Since the year we were established, forces. there were only 38 homes. As of this volunteers have come forward with a As many of you may know, I live in a writing, there are 1,871 homes (already willingness to serve to build a commu- It has been my privilege to serve as private community in Union, Kentucky. built or approved to be built) and three nity that people are reluctant to leave. your community manager for the past 14 I recently spoke with the board president more are in the pipeline to be approved. These people serve with integrity and years. As I prepare to leave, I ask that of my community and was told they are My educated guess is that HVL will max thick skins. Both are necessary in you always remember the efforts of the looking to start up some committees out with 2,100 homes with over 90% of our complicated and ever contentious volunteers who work so hard to improve -- i.e., Finance, Parks, etc. Talk about residents being year-round. world where even volunteers are end- this community and that you consider timing! With my pending retirement and In the early 1970s, private communi- lessly second-guessed and criticized on joining them. Fresh blood and new ideas hand-off to David Wismann, I have been ties like ours were popping up all over the social media and no good deed goes un- will help us improve and move forward. reviewing and updating our community’s nation. David Wismann, board members, punished. Their only reward is a beauti- Change can be a good thing! historical documents. I have a fresh committee members, and I have visited a ful, functioning community that they are HVL has grown into one of the most understanding as to how Hidden Valley fair number of these communities. For proud to call home. desirable communities in the Tristate area, Lake (HVL) evolved and wonder how the most part, the majority of them are Volunteering is increasing in HVL. and with what I see you will grow even much of our progress could be reapplied still weekend and seasonal communities Perhaps driven by COVID and the re- more desirable in the future. I pray that, in other communities. and have only developed a small portion newed emphasis on, and importance of, as in the past, you will do so methodically HVL has been in existence since 1972. of their buildable lots. home more residents are taking the time and with the utmost of integrity. nurtured a culture that en- In his last Manager’s Re- couraged and valued volun- port, Bruce stated that it teerism. This volunteerism was a privilege to be our has enabled us to build a community manager. It is community that is resident- us – the Board of Directors, driven and that delivers high all volunteers, employees, value for the dollars spent. and residents -- who have been privileged to have Thus far, we have only him. But it was not only a talked about Bruce at a privilege, it was a pleasure, macro level. This does him and we on the board will al- a disservice, as he has truly ways treasure working with shone in his one-on-one in- him. Hidden Valley Lake teractions with volunteers is better for having had him and residents. Guided by as community manager and his strong faith and the we are better for having second of the great com- known him. mandments, he treated indi- It is truly hard to believe desirable, highly thought of The number of homes has viduals as he wished to be Bruce, please accept that Bruce Keller’s tenure as community in the Tri-State. increased significantly and treated -- with honesty and our best wishes for a long, community manager is com- He correctly notes this but, those homes have been respect. Contentious issues happy, and healthy retire- ing to an end. with characteristic modesty, maintained to higher stan- with and among residents ment. he does not speak to the role dards. We have added many were always a challenge In his last Manager’s Re- he has played in our success. amenities to our portfolio, but it was a challenge that For the Board of Directors, port in this issue of Echoes, including the golf course, Bruce embraced and he al- he speaks of the tremendous Bruce joined us in 2006. which would have been ways sought solutions that Patricia Hawkins growth Hidden Valley Lake Since that time we have un- difficult to do without his were equitable. has had and its status as a dergone tremendous change. leadership and oversight. He 3 OCTOBER 2020 deputy’s corner 3A Kayaking in Hidden Valley Lake (HVL) HVL Marina, 5:58 am for today’s breakfast, a family of foxes enjoying a private I have now travelled both fingers as well as the major I slip my kayak into the calm and warm waters at the moment of fun, or even otters playing among the shore- inlets and turn to the south to enjoy the paddle back to the marina. I check my water bottle, turn on my bow lead, line rocks .It is still dark, but now a barely perceived journey’s beginning. It has by now grown light, but the and flop into the cocoon of my Hurricane Santee kayak. lightening of the sky above the eastern tree line is quietly sun has not yet shown its majesty over the eastern tree Heading out with a smooth stroke to help limber up the hinting at the coming of a new day. line. The crimson glow, however, foreshadows its arrival. morning stiff arms/shoulders/back, I turn for the western Today is a bit breezy out of the north, sending an army As I glide back into the marina, I have had great exercise, shoreline, keeping well outside the marker buoys. It is of small ripples to my bow. On other mornings the air is have enjoyed the serenity and magic of the water, and am still very dark and the buoys slip up to, then past me calm, the surface like a sheet of glass placed gently by ready to start the rest of my day. Being on the water to -- elusive ghostly figures. Once across, I turn north and some unseen hand to smoothly guide me. At these times, start the day has restored me, has helped to once again drop into an easy, metronomic stroke, not too deep in the it seems that my wake is the sole force disturbing the total remind me that there is majesty in the most simple of water, that will move me and my boat at a pleasant and calm of the lake. Some days the disparity in temperature things. A Power has placed them there for us to revel in, energy efficient 3 to 3 ½ mph pace. Even though it is still between air and water brings in the ghostly tentacles of for us to be astounded and humbled by. dark, the shoreline is easy to follow. There are always a fog, which at times develops so quickly that I can barely I have just surpassed 300 miles since early spring on few low level shore and dock lights interspersed among see beyond the bow of my kayak. Equally as mysterious the lake, at this, my last trip on these waters. Tomor- the houses. Occasionally, a home will glow with early and welcome as a bright, calm morning, the enchantment row we become non-residents of HVL, heading out for morning lights inside -- another resident up and complet- of briefly living in one’s own shrouded envelope can al- a new home, new adventures, and new lifestyles. Time ing whatever activity helps them to start the day most create an otherworldly experience. Times like these on these waters will be etched into the fabric of a collage I pause and listen to the silence, for it speaks clearly are truly magical moments, times that in themselves are that defines the multitude of experiences that make up the in its own voice. I drift and hear the soft pop of a turtle so insignificant as to be unnoticed, forgotten in moments person that I am. ducking back below the surface, or the dainty splash of a forward. They are, at the same time, the things that re- So, how was it? The photo says it all. small fish breaking the water. On occasion, I see a fam- mind us that it’s OK to be still, OK to just drift, OK to just ily of deer grazing near the waterline, a coyote searching enjoy the moment. 4 4A OCTOBER 2020 Here’s how the remainder of their FC Cincinnati schedule shapes up for the season: The MLS and FC Cincinnati made a Week 2: @ Cleveland Browns return in late August after nearly a month (Sep 17, 8:20pm ET) off of soccer.