MAY 2021 FFICE REO O PE NA N RI IN A G M - S U N I O J St. James Properties Marina Office FRIDAY’S 9 - 11 AM April 23 - May 28 SJP Properties Listing Team Lisa Frye Lisa Nieves Gail Lendvoyi MaryGrace Mandaro St. James Properties | (910) 253-0045 www.stjamespropertiesresales.com | [email protected] 2571 St. James Drive Unit 102A Southport, NC 28461 © 2021 St. James Properties, LLC. Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Void where prohibited by law. This product2 does not constitute an offer to sell real property in any jurisdiction where prior registration or advanced qualification is required but not completed. This is not to solicit property currently listed by another broker. CONTRIBUTORS Laurie Adams Nancy Adelis Editor's note Mary Baker CE Ami Brown FFI REO By Marilyn Rudolph O P Dave Campbell A EN Jim Carey IN I R N Out of curiosity, I looked back at the and mays? Well, maybe) include Joan Clemen A G May 2020 issue of Cat-Tales. The cover the following: dogwood trees and a Nora Dziuban was a compilation of photos related to dogwood festival; how artists approach Beth Erskine M - actions spurred by pandemic restrictions outdoor painting; and those pesky no- Dave Filios and guidelines. Photos included an see-ums that show up each spring. Kevin Hale S oversized facemask, walkers on St. James Victoria Hogan The song I previously mentioned was U golf courses, curbside pickup of takeout Jerry Iverson featured in a 1941 Disney/Mickey orders and a “just for fun” motorcade Diane Juda N Mouse short film, and coincidentally, I organized by the Regency neighborhood. Lorraine Kaufman there is a Disney-related article in this Beth A. Klahre A song, “While Strolling Through the issue. It’s not about strolling through O Vicki Hamilton Lauziere J Park,” popped into my head as I looked their parks, but the article does reveal Bett Lewis at that May 2020 cover. I started singing, how Disney World Resort controls John Muuss “While strolling through the park one mosquitoes and other insects. George O’Brien day/ In the merry, merry month of May” In addition to opening under Stuart Pike and realized at this time last year, most current pandemic guidelines, the St. Evie Pizer residents did a lot of strolling — through James Plantation Library has been Pat Powell parks, on sidewalks, at the beach and refurbished and filled with an influx Peter Riekstins on golf courses — even though last May of new books and puzzles donated Judy Rubin wasn’t exactly merry, merry. But, here St. James Properties Marina Office during the pandemic. Stuart Pike, our Marilyn Rudolph we are, a year later, and I believe this resident theater expert, took on a Diane Saullo May will be far merrier than last year. FRIDAY’S 9 - 11 AM new assignment and wrote about the Cheryl Serra Why? Because St. James residents remodeling of the library. He did a great Nancy Seyferth April 23 - May 28 stepped up to tackle the pandemic job on the article, so be sure to check it Linda Shaw during the past year and continue to do out, ha ha. Art Solomon so. Masks are on faces when needed, Flora Solomon Credit for another fun article goes to vaccines are being administered, Jean Toner all who submitted humorous quips and restrictions are easing and social activities Judy Wagner blurbs for the “Kids Say the Darndest are on the rise. Yep, that feels merrier Things” feature found in this issue. SJP Properties Listing Team than May of 2020, and I’m pleased to say Surely, chuckles and smiles will surface STAFF this issue of Cat-Tales has a few articles when reading them. Thanks to the editor that convey feel-good stories. moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas Marilyn Rudolph Recent issues of Cat-Tales included the who shared clever, cute and creative managing editor journey of Michael and Laurie Adams, remarks to validate that kids really Ami Brown Lisa Frye Lisa Nieves victims of COVID-19. In this issue, Laurie do say the darndest things, endearing photographic editor shares a rearview mirror perspective them to us all the more. John Muuss associate editors Gail Lendvoyi MaryGrace Mandaro on COVID-19, and she and Michael are Our staff would be remiss if we didn’t Bertie Belvin more than ready to move forward with acknowledge a most important May Pat Broady a positive attitude that’s filled with holiday, Mother’s Day. Thanks to Judy gratitude. Rubin, we’ve got it covered. Happy Jim Campbell Mother’s Day to moms everywhere, Bob Dziuban St. James Properties | (910) 253-0045 Articles that may have a month of Maggie Smith Roedema www.stjamespropertiesresales.com | [email protected] May feel to them in this May issue and a very merry, merry month of May to all. associate 2571 St. James Drive Unit 102A Southport, NC 28461 may (What? Did I use too many Mays photographic editor Judy Wagner © 2021 St. James Properties, LLC. Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Void where prohibited by law. This product does not constitute an offer to sell real property in any jurisdiction where prior registration or advanced qualification is required but not completed. This is not to solicit property currently listed by another broker. MAY 2021 3 Your Imagination Is Our Standard! Building Custom Homes For Over 20 Years Over 200 Homes Built in St. James Multiple Diamond Award Winner Guildmaster Award for Service Excellence Interior Designer Provided www.firettibuilders.com 910.477.6018 4 What's inside VOLUME 28 • ISSUE 5 MAY 2021 From the POA 26 Do it like Disney 6 President’s column 27 Wheels of PonDeRosa 9 St. James welcomes new 29 A special welcome for newcomers community manager 29 Saying goodbye to Dan 30 Photo-Tales For your information 11 Mayor’s column Around the area 13 SJFD 35 When life gives you lemons 37 The great blue heron stands tall Inside the community 38 Dogwood Festival 13 Red fox pups 39 Dogwood days of spring 14 Come check us out ON THE COVER: 17 Concluding thoughts of Just for now This wagon wheel was our COVID-19 journey rescued back in 1978 and 41 Better to never miss this is now part of a garden 18 Kids say the darndest things Sunday holiday on Parkridge Drive. Read more on page 27. 25 Just get outside and paint 43 No-see-ums (photo by Peter Riekstins) 45 Building your brain with games Cat-Tales is published monthly by the St. James Plantation Property Owners' FEATURE ARTICLES Association (POA) of St. James, North Carolina to communicate information of interest to its property owners. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without permission from the publisher, the POA. The views and opinions of the writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect that of the POA. Per the POA communications policy, the POA does not endorse commercial products, services, and does not 14 18 35 publish advertorial, partisan Come check us out Kids say the darndest things When life gives you lemons political or religious belief Volunteers breathe new life St. James residents did not Discover how local articles. into the St. James Plantation disappoint with their funny kid organizations have risen Library with custom wooden scenarios for Trending-Tales this above the pandemic to come shelves. month. out on top. Advertising By Stuart Pike By Judy Rubin Information: Coastal Printing & Graphics Please visit www.stjamespoanc.org to submit Photo-Tales or email [email protected] for article submissions or comments. 910-754-5929 or [email protected] MAY 2021 5 President's column Jerry Iverson / President, St. James Plantation POA While not required by North Carolina statute, your St. On the revenue side we ended the year with a James Plantation Property Owners’ Association (POA) slight positive variance of $51,028, which means we contracts with an outside agency to do an annual collected more money than planned. A small increase comprehensive audit of our finances, and we have done in residential assessments and Architectural Control so for 25 years. The fundamental purpose of the POA Committee fees were the primary reasons for the annual audit is to provide independent assurance that slight positive variance. your board has presented a “true and fair” view of the association’s financial performance and position in its financial statements. “There was a positive variance We have just received the audited results for the year 2020 in a report issued by our audit company — Earney of $324,844 in our operating & Company, L.L.P. The report stated: costs for the year, meaning we “In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the spent less than planned.” financial position of St. James Plantation Property Owners’ Association, Inc. as of December 31, 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for There was a positive variance of $324,844 in the year then ended in conformity with accounting our operating costs for the year, meaning we principles generally accepted in the United States of spent less than planned. The largest contributors America.” to this positive variance were a reduction in In other words, everything checked out. In addition, administrative costs, storm water repairs, security costs and landscape costs.