Cypress Landing - Winter 2022

the landing

Volume 25 No. 4 WINTER 2022

The Official Newsletter of the Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Association

The President’s Message By: Dave Schmi , President, CLMHOA Happy New Year!

The beginning of a new year brings with it opportuni es for each of us to make a new start and establish new goals.

The same is true for your Board of Directors.

During this coming year, the Board will be embarking on several ini a ves to improve the economy, efficiency, and effec veness of our HOA opera ons and ac vi es. Specifically, the Board plans to (1) work with a private consultant to perform a thorough opera onal review of the structure, func ons, roles, and responsibili es of the HOA and our commi ees; (2) review and revise, as necessary, the HOA covenants, bylaws, and charters for each of our 15 standing commi ees; (3) iden fy and implement addi onal synergis c opportuni es for common func ons between the HOA and the golf course; and (4) iden fy and implement cost-effec ve computer so ware applica ons to improve the efficiency of some of our HOA func ons. Each of these ini a ves is discussed in more detail below.

As I reported in my December President’s monthly update, the HOA has signed a contract with Tom Willis of Associa on Bridge, LLC to perform an opera onal review of how the HOA is organized, how we are accomplishing the work of the HOA, and how assigned roles and responsibili es are aligned. The Board is working with Mr. Willis to schedule a start date, preferably some me in February or March. We envision the results of this opera onal review will include recommenda ons aimed at improving

WINTER 2022

economy, efficiency, and effec veness, repriori zing the du es and func ons of the HOA, and realigning the roles and responsibili es among our staff and volunteers.

In conjunc on with this opera onal review, the Board plans to lead a review and update of the HOA covenants, bylaws, and charters for each of our 15 standing commi ees. The covenants and bylaws have not been updated to reflect the HOA’s assump on of the golf course opera ons and other changes over the years.

Similarly, many of our commi ees’ charters have not been updated for many years. Some of our commi ees have recently taken the ini a ve to review and, as needed, update their charters.

Other commi ees will be encouraged to do the same. Any revisions to our commi ees’ charters will need to be approved by the Board.

As I have previously reported, the HOA and golf course have achieved considerable savings over the past year by consolida ng costs of liability insurance policies, end-of-year financial audits, and several service contracts for the two en es. Over this next year, the Board will spearhead ini a ves to iden fy and implement addi onal synergis c opportuni es. Just recently, for example, the Board and Golf Course Commi ee formed a working group comprised of HOA staff and volunteers and golf course staff and volunteers to work together to iden fy opportuni es to improve the coordina on between the HOA and the golf course in several specific areas, including social func ons, food and beverage services, marke ng, maintenance, environmental considera ons, and strategic ini a ves.

© Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Associa on, 2022. All rights reserved.

PAGE 1

Beaufort County Community College (BCCC) Update By: David R. Loope, Ed.D. BCCC President Beaufort County Community College is very pleased to be Cypress Landing’s community college! And, as a proud resident of Cypress Landing and the college’s president, let me extend my sincerest gra tude to the many of you who have chosen to donate generously to the College’s Founda on over the years. We serve some of the poorest coun es in North Carolina (Beaufort, Hyde, Washington, and Tyrrell), and we work very hard to find ways for students who may not otherwise a end college to find a way to join us on campus. Certainly, the Cypress Landing Endowment and Scholarship program has made a tremendous difference in the lives of over 30 students in recent years, and I am happy to report that the Endowment now amounts to approximately $114,000. So, thank you so very much for your support!

a common good s ll survive in our region, even as they fray in larger metropolitan and suburban areas. I believe Beaufort County Community College can play an important role in stemming the exodus of young people that threatens our survival as a unique region and can cul vate the influx of new residents, such as new neighbors in Cypress Landing. We need to make the cost of community college tui on and fees as close to $0 as possible. BCCC is currently using federal dollars to do this, and our enrollment has skyrocketed by over 25%. Prospec ve students are staying close to home, ensuring they are much more likely to take jobs close to home. (And, the well-paying jobs are here. The boat building industry in our region is just one example. We just need people to fill the jobs).

So, giving to the College’s Founda on is a good way to help preserve the way of life and culture that are such endearing features of our home.

Of course, it’s o en easy for those of us who live middle- and upper-middle class lives to forget that so many of our neighbors experience vastly different circumstances: food insecurity, housing insecurity, childcare expenses, and health care expenses that combine to create a cycle of poverty throughout Eastern North Carolina. At BCCC, we believe the way out of this cycle of poverty is through postsecondary educa on which leads to sustainable employment with a living wage. We must find a way to recruit and enroll local, prospec ve students and retain them once they enroll. One way to do this is to help ease the financial burden of paying for addi onal credits towards a degree or creden al at the College. Every scholarship from the Cypress Landing Scholarship and other like scholarships for tui on, fees, and books is money students can use to take addi onal credits towards gradua on instead of spending that same money outof-pocket for general living expenses. This means they can complete workforce creden als sooner and obtain be er employment sooner.

Also, keeping our economy strong will improve the overall quality of life for Beaufort County and our neighboring coun es, which will induce more people to consider Cypress Landing and Washington as places in which they want to live, thereby enhancing the already incredible diversity of talented individuals who relocate to our region.

I believe in the future of Beaufort County and the future of Eastern North Carolina, despite the fact demographic data shows the four coun es in the College’s service region are losing popula on. The commitment to civility, strong community iden ty, and social bonds formed between neighbors towards WINTER 2022

Of course, I cannot finish my ar cle without encouraging all of you to check out the wide array of personal enrichment courses available through the College’s Division of Con nuing Educa on. Here’s the link to our Spring 2022 course schedule, hard copies of which are available in loca ons throughout the region: h ps://www.beaufortccc.edu/assets/documents/ coned/schedules/course-schedule-spring-2022-online. pdf There are many courses in cooking, cra s (including pain ng and ceramics), music, dance (the ever-popular line-dancing and shag classes), Tai Chi, and handgun safety, just to name a few. I encourage you to check our selec on online and enjoy the great ac vi es we offer!

Our slogan at BCCC is “You Belong Here!” And, that includes everyone from Cypress Landing!

Best wishes for a wonderful 2022!

© Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Associa on, 2022. All rights reserved.

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Chocowinitudes 13

Pyromania Blows: A Childhood Retrospective By: Tom McCluskey

T

hanks to our recent rains and the subsequent li ing of the statewide No Burn Rule, a number of our neighbors across the countryside have resumed burning underbrush, forest ground beneath stately longleaf pines, or (in the case of one of our beach neighbors), anything that doesn’t fit in his plas c trash can, i.e. construc on waste, Bud Lite boxes (his favorite) and whatever else is regularly heaped onto his backyard campfire ring. This con nues un l the wind off the ocean is just right for blowing the smoke into our condo resort. Then out come the gas can and a lit cigare e bu .

Now, I am no stranger to the smell of trash being burned. During my year served in Iraq, every day smelled like this. Growing up as the oldest child and only son in a family of six, one of my primary weekly responsibili es was taking care of the trash. Most homes in southern Lower Michigan (including ours) had a 55-gallon burn barrel behind its garage. During the winter, I actually looked forward to this chore because it was just me, and my family’s mostly flammable refuse. The combus on alone provided light and warmth and the regular appearance of my elderly pyromaniac next door neighbor, Mr. Clark Kemp. Yes, Mr. Kemp’s long deceased parents had a sense of humor and named him a er Superman.

“Superman” had flown Sopwith Camels over France during WWI—a truly impressive fact, but one he inevitably reinforced every me he spied the telltale warm orange glow from behind our garage. He constantly misconstrued this as an invita on to join me fireside to regale me with the same stories I’d heard me and again.

In the spirit of full disclosure, it may have been I who displayed certain pyromaniac tendencies since I liked to experiment with whatever materials and liquids from our garage that I deemed useful in promo ng a robust and efficient trashcan fire. For example, I learned that any aerosol containing a flammable accelerant, or even an orange peel squeezed into a match, could produce a flame that would delight the average 11-year-old boy.

Cau onary note!

Parents please don’t tell your kids. Kids, please don’t ever admit to having read this column.

On one cold winter night, I had the great idea to pair my mother’s can of Aqua Net hairspray with a well-placed

match. It worked well as a flamethrower to instantly set an en re week’s waste paper ablaze. Then I wondered what would happen if, a er the conflagra on was sufficiently underway, I were to toss the whole can of hairspray into the burn barrel. And so, on that evening, with a simple underhand flip of the wrist… I did.

Note for readers under 40: What I didn’t know then is that Aqua Net hairspray was invented by scien sts in the 1950’s to destroy the ozone layer and dispense carcinogens such as vinyl chloride and phthalates (yielding liver cancer and man parts dysfunc on) onto one’s hair using propane and butane. It also made my mom’s hair crunchy and poofy.

Now as luck would have it, Mr. Kemp’s back door creaked open and slammed closed. In retrospect, that should have been my cue to simply cut and run. But there I stood, transfixed; staring, trance-like into the flames, lured by my curiosity of what could or might come next.

On cue, Mr. Kemp shuffled up to the hissing barrel beside his severely overweight dachshund Suzy. Suzy was morbidly obese because neither Mr. nor Mrs. Kemp could remember when they had last fed her, so they each just fed her again. On a good day, Suzy could generally only manage to place three paws on the ground at the same me owing to the prodigious size of her belly, which for be er or worse always remained in contact with the ground.

Due to the cold, and the fact that Mr. Kemp, “the pyro’s” hands were gloveless, he approached the burn barrel and held his fingers directly over the licking flames as if they were hot dogs. His pants, perilously close to the barrel, started to steam. By this me, something deep within the fire began to hiss “Mr. Kemp, why don’t you finish telling your story over here with us?” I dragged Suzy’s furless belly across the hard-packed, rapidly mel ng snow into the shadows out of harm’s way. To my relief, Kemp took a couple of steps backwards and con nued his story.

As he rambled on, he inched closer to the fire while the hissing turned into a steady whistle. I no longer heard his words, partly because I was busy deba ng whether or not to “out” myself and tell him I had thrown a can of ConƟnued on next page

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© Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Associa on, 2022. All rights reserved.

PAGE 3

Chocowinitudes, conƟnued from previous page Aqua Net into the fire and that we should both run for it. But I was mostly mesmerized because the whistle had grown in strength and volume mimicking that of a riverboat.

“Mr. Kemp!” I shouted from my safe distance in a moment of what I thought was a sheer inspira onal genius a empt to lure Mr. Kemp away from the fire.

“Come here, I think something (beyond her morbid obesity) might be wrong with Suzy!” To my relief, Mr. Kemp made his way over to me and Suzy.

“I know what’s wrong with you,” Mr. Kemp said as he slowly picked Suzy up. “You’re too cold. Come with me to the burn barrel and warm up.”

By this me, the sides of the hot drum seemed to literally breathe--expanding and contrac ng like a cartoon steam engine. Suzy, sensing something ominous was about to happen, managed to wriggle out of Mr. Kemp’s arms and onto the ground. Like a beached platypus, she propelled herself away from the now heaving, hissing, whistling barrel, and disappeared penguin-like over a nearby snowbank.

And then it happened...WHOOOOSH!

A

fiery mushroom cloud shot flaming ash, and one Aqua Net hairspray can, which now resembled a black peeled banana, into the sky. The remains of a flaming Kleenex box along with glowing wads of paper and ssues wa ed back to the ground nearby. A er diving for cover, I pa ed out the Kleenex fire with one snowy, wet glove and looked up at Mr. Kemp. His eyebrows were gone, his face slightly blackened, his singed hair stood up straight underneath a crown of crispy curls.

Incredibly, Mr. Kemp never broke stride and con nued another five minutes or so before he finished his story.

“Sorry about the explosion,” I said when he finally finished. “Are you all right?”

“Yup,” he said, “Somebody probably threw a can of Aqua Net or something into the trash. See ‘ya next me.”

“See ‘ya next me,” I said.

Sadly, Mr. Kemp died a couple years later a er suffering a heart a ack while carrying Suzy back to his house to escape an approaching summer storm.

So, I end this column with a word of advice. HOA rules prohibit use of burn barrels behind our garages. Do not violate this rule. You never know who might shuffle up to your fire and start telling stories.

WINTER 2022

By: Jackie Douglas Fall 2021 Well A ended HOA Sponsored Events CL Talent Show: It was a double feature and both shows were full. There is so much talent here in Cypress Landing. A big shout out to Bill Havanki and Jim McPherson for organizing this talent show and producing an incredible show.

Trim-A-Tree for New Residents: Invitations were sent to 57 new residents resulting in a great Trim-A-Tree showing!

Family introductions began outdoors with plenty of Christmas music, cookies and cider followed by an ornament hunt indoors. A big thank you to Tom McCluskey as our Master of Ceremonies and to the entire Welcome Committee for planning this fun-filled social!

A Children’s Christmas Train Event: Over a dozen children enjoyed the Christmas train event in early December! A Christmas train story was read by teen Kensey Caporossi, followed by fun treats and then a march out to the garage to watch Bob Stouffer’s huge train display. A big thank you to Bob Stouffer!! Thank you to Jen Tillman for coming up with the idea and hos ng it for the children and grandchildren of Cypress Landing!

New Year’s Eve Party: On December 31st we rang in the new year with a New Year’s Eve Decades party at the Bay Club.

The tables were decorated as the chosen decade, roaring 20’s, 60’s, etc. There was lots of dancing and socializing, tasty food, and champagne at midnight. A good me was had by all.

Red Solo Cup Party: January 15, 2022 proved to be great fun when about 120 residents raised their red solo cups and celebrated the new year with entertainment by Never2Late, dancing, food, and drinks.

Current or Upcoming Events Movie Night at the Bay Club: (Please be prompt to get your beverage before the movie starts).

January 16, 2022, 7PM – Romancing the Stone Save-the-Dates for future Movie Nights: February 27, March 20, April 24, and May 15, 2022 Potluck Supper at the Bay Club: (The Iris Lounge opens at 5 p.m. and buffet starts at 6:30 p.m.)

DATES: January 14, March 11, April 8, September 9, and October 14, 2022 Upcoming HOA Social Commi ee Events:  February 13 – Valen ne’s Wine Event  April 16 – Easter Egg Hunt  April 30 – Murder Mystery Party Please remember to read the Escapades that you receive in your email every week. All events, movies, mee ngs, seminars, and other informa on are posted in that weekly email.

© Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Associa on, 2022. All rights reserved.

PAGE 4

State of Beaufort County Going into 2022 By: Beaufort County Commissioner John Rebholz

Beaufort County’s future con nues to look bright despite all that is going on.

First, an update on Covid. We con nue to fare be er than the state or na on. This virus is a moving target. A hot spot today becomes a non-event as it moves around. There was some up ck following Thanksgiving and another following Christmas but not much in Beaufort County. We have only registered 36 Omicron cases through December 20th – those were the last specimens tested. Understand a CoV-2 test does not tell the variant. That is accomplished by sending a sample of the posi ve tests to ECU/Vidant for sequencing.

Here is the current data from the CDC at the end of 2021 Daily rate per 100,000 people for latest 7 days Area Beaufort County North Carolina USA

Cases 26.1 52.3 95.3

Deaths 0.0 .06 .332

[Editor’s Comment: For up-to-date informa on on COVID in Beaufort County, visit the website www.bchd.net]

The Health Department con nues to offer vaccines for Covid and the Flu Monday-Friday. Please call 252-940-6150 for an appointment at the drive thru loca on.

The 2020-21 Audit showed no excep ons or discrepancies for the third year in a row. Last year revenue exceeded expenditures by $9 million. This was caused by several unknown factors when the budget was passed. They are:  Increased sales tax revenue  Higher property and personal tax revenue driven by higher than an cipated evalua ons  Receipt of Covid relief funds not in the budget The Convenience site plans include:  New signage viewable from the road  Signs on inside to s pulate acceptable material and where they go  Installing security cameras at all sites WINTER 2022



Installing traffic counters to obtain real data on

usage Working with engineering firm to make safety upgrades  Planned Mega sites. One on each side of the river to consolidate bulk and yard waste.  Inves gate the feasibility and cost of recycling 

Broadband expansion has proven to be more complicated than expected. Several Federal and State programs were implemented – but they are incongruous. In addi on, some of the rules for these programs have not been released yet. Right now, we are interviewing the providers to determine who can become the best partner to implement the expansion in the shortest amount of me. This is cri cal to support economic growth, telemedicine, and distance learning.

Impacts of the 2021-23 State budget on Beaufort County  $20 mil going to Washington Warren Airport to support economic growth. The expansion includes expanding runways, taxiways, hangars, an instrument landing system, land purchase and u lity installa on. If all works out, it will result in projects that will bring 600 jobs and $45 mil in private investment to the County.  $2.5 mil for a BCCC satellite facility in Aurora to serve the ci zens of Richlands Township and our largest taxpayer – Nutrien.  $5 mil to fix the City of Bath’s sewer system, which is maxed out and s fling growth  $350,000 to Chocowinity for a new ambulance and police car  $215 mil to build a new facility for Brody School of Medicine and increase the number of students.  A stair step to reduce personal income tax to 3.99%  Raises for teachers. This is a complicated formula based on years of service; es mates range from 2.0% to 5.5% overall.

A lot of this money comes from the work of your State Representa ve Keith Kidwell.

Please send me sugges ons or comments by emailing me at john.rebholz@co.beaufort.nc.us or call me at 252-402-7617.

© Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Associa on, 2022. All rights reserved.

PAGE 5

Deer Resistant Perennial Plants Submi ed by: Beaufort County Extension Office Master Gardeners If you have ever walked through your garden on an early spring morning to see buds munched and leaves gnawed to the nubs, you know the heartbreak of deer damage. Arm yourself with the facts (informa on below) to build your garden with deer-resistant plants. No plant is completely deer-proof because deer will eat anything if they are hungry enough.

However, deer tend to pass on the distasteful plants listed below.

Bee Balm (Monarda didyma, Zones 4-10) This hardy 2-4 foot-tall perennial lights up the garden from midsummer through early fall with its lavender, red, white or fuchsia flowers. Plant seeds or divisions in full sun to dappled shade in the middle or back of an informal garden bed and you will see vivid color when other plants are fading. Deer disdain the hairy undersides of its leaves, but bees and hummingbirds love the flowers.

Boxwood (Buxus spp., Zones 4-9) Deer turn their noses up at the smell of boxwood, a slow-growing evergreen. The dy shrub likes sun to par al shade and withstands regular clipping. However, be sure to choose the correct mature size for its space as boxwood does not like constant harsh pruning.

Daffodil (Narcissus spp., Zones 3-9) Daffodils are the most deer resistant plant on earth. If these get nibbled, you will know your deer are famished. The unpleasant flavor and tendency to upset the stomach keep deer at bay. If your deer are not too hungry or aggressive, a border of daffodils might help keep them out of the flower bed, but starving deer will happily trample your daffodils on their way to tas er fare.

Hellebore (Helleborus spp., Zones 4-9, depending on species) Hellebore’s latewinter to early spring blossoms are poisonous to deer and people alike, so deer tend to stay clear. Most of these evergreens grow 10-12 inches tall, displaying delicate, cup-shaped flowers in chartreuse, yellow, pink and jewel-toned purples. Plant in moist soil in shade to par al shade.

Lambs’ ears (Stachys byzanƟne, Zones 4-8) This perennial’s lusciously so coat that temps people to caress it, is the first thing that turns deer in the other direc on.

The minty taste of the leaves also repels deer. Plant these wooly, silver-green to gray-green beau es in sun or dappled shade with normal to dry, well-drained soil.

Lambs’ ears are gorgeous in the rock garden or as a ground cover, and bees love the columnar lavender booms in late summer. Deadhead the flowers before they set seed so your plant does not get out of control, and trim wet, dying leaves to avoid ro ng in the center.

WINTER 2022

© Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Associa on, 2022. All rights reserved.

PAGE 6

Lavender (Lavandula spp., Zones 5-10, depending on species) Lavender’s relaxing scent has another advantage: Deer detest it. Gardeners in Eastern NC can grow swaths of lavender hedges, as long as it is not too damp. Root rot is one of lavender’s only enemies. Plant lavender in full sun with well-drained soil and allow room between plants so air can circulate. Other herbs that deer dislike are mint, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme.

Peony (Paeonia spp., Zones 3-8) What luck that the roman c peony exudes aromas that deer dislike. Peonies are loved for their fragrance, bold blooms and their nostalgic look. However, deer generally stay away from peonies. Older varie es are o en the most fragrant. Plant peonies in full sun with moist, well drained soil.

Siberian iris (iris sibirica, Zones 3-8) Though deer avoid irises in general, Siberian iris is especially safe from deer nibbling. This late-spring bloomer stands tall even a er it has blossomed, and seed pods create striking accents in fall and winter. Plant in full sun to par al shade in neutral to acidic soil. Once established, these beau es are one of the most maintenance-free and disease resistant plants you will find.

Spo ed deadne le (lLamium maculatum, Zones 4-8) This low-growing jewel of the shade garden brightens any dark site. White, pink or mauve flowers bloom in late spring and early summer, backed by variegated green and silver-white foliage. As a member of the mint family, spo ed deadne le has fragrant leaves that protect it from most deer. Other deer resistant choices for shade include: coral bells (Heuchera spp.), bishop’s weed (Aegopodium podagraria), bugleweed (Ajuga spp.), and lady’s mantle (Alchemilla spp.).

What You Should Know About Deer ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Deer will nibble ANY plant if they are hungry enough.

Deer love new, tender leaves of anything – be extra vigilant in spring.

Deer are creatures of habit and will eat more frequently along their rou ne traffic paths.

Deer are determined. In areas with heavy deer ac vity, spray with a strong repellent or put up a fence that is at least 7 feet tall. ❖ Deer that are hungry will take a few bites of anything, even if it is toxic. ❖ Deer are curious about anything novel in the garden. Spray all new plants with deer repellent right a er plan ng. ❖ Deer can develop a taste for almost anything. Before plan ng, talk to neighbors to see what varie es seem to be safe in your area. (February 2010 Gardening How-To)

The Four “S’s” of Deer Control Spicy, scented, so , spiky – these are four traits in plants that deer do not like. As you consider plants to use in your garden/landscape, choose plants with one or more of these characteris cs. From peppery nastur ums and pungent rosemary to hairy speedwell and spiky fescue, the op ons will delight you but deter the deer. It is important to understand that this system isn’t completely foolproof, but it’s an easy way to remember what usually keeps deer away.

(Excerpted from Gardening How-To, February 2010) WINTER 2022

© Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Associa on, 2022. All rights reserved.

PAGE 7

Environmental Commi ee

Butterfly Habitat Winter Update 2021-2022 By: Judy Keohane “LEAVE THE LEAVES”!!! Help support local bird popula ons, pollinators, and other wildlife.

Leaves have tumbled from our deciduous trees by late December. When trees drop their leaves, it is their own natural way of trying to mulch themselves for the upcoming colder weather. This is also the perfect me of year for fantas c bird watching ac vi es in your own yard or when visi ng the Habitat. Many people feel the need to rake up all these leaves or have their landscape service haul them away. Instead, find an out of the way loca on to pile some leaves and top with some branches to stop the wind from undoing nature’s gi to wildlife. A dy yard and garden are what many people strive to achieve. This diness may look nice to us, but it is like a desert for all the small creatures that live in and around our proper es. If you really feel you need to remove the leaves, then rake or blow them under shrubs to provide mulch during winter. Migra ng and nes ng birds need our help!! It would benefit all these creatures to delay yard cleanup un l once the spring temperatures are above 50 degrees for a few days.

This past summer the habitat volunteers asked CL residents to consider bringing their bagged leaves to the habitat for use instead of hauling to the landfill. These will be used to improve the habitat soil, as mulch around plants and trees, or added to the compos ng bins. Several CL neighbors helped with this effort. The B&G Commi ee arranged with Landscaping Unlimited to also bring leaves they collected from the CL common areas and unload these in the habitat wooded area for con nued use in the habitat. These efforts will help the habitat and local vertebrates and invertebrates ALL YEAR! Fallen leaves provide winter habitat for the small creatures and local ground feeding birds (cardinals, flickers, doves, juncos, thrashers, and more) in addi on to grubs, ants, bu erfly and moth larvae, fireflies, and many other beneficial insects that keep our yards and gardens healthy.

For example, in Spring, chickadees will need approximately 9,000 caterpillars and spiders to feed just one clutch of their young. Ants are valuable to our ecosystem. Like some bees and humans, ants lead “social” lives and represent almost 50% of ALL insect popula ons worldwide!

Ant nests loosen the soil, and that increases soil water infiltra on and soil aera on. Simply blowing and raking leaves is all that is needed. There is no need to chop these or use a mower. Many bu erfly and moth species roll themselves up in dead leaves to protect themselves during winter and await spring to emerge. Fireflies need leaf WINTER 2022

li er to complete their life cycle. Box turtles use leaf li er all year to burrow into (slugs are their main food source).

Leaves feed soil organisms (especially earthworms) plus other insects. Where leaves are in contact with soil, great numbers of earthworms are present. Earthworms enhance our clay soils by improving drainage as they break down the leaves and improve the soil structure. Microbes gradually break down fallen leaves into a valuable humus for our soil.

All of this acts as FREE mulch. You don’t need to pay for hauling away or bagging them or buying mulch, since your trees have provided all that is needed.

In summary, the benefits of “LEAVE THE LEAVES”: • FREE organic mulch for your trees and shrubs that is derived from something that was once living and decomposes over me.

• A 2” layer of leaves shields the topsoil and helps prevent erosion by wind and rain. It also moderates extreme soil temperatures, effec vely protec ng the roots and crowns of plants.

• Leaves return nutrients to the soil and help plants to thrive.

• Leaf mulch retains moisture. Fall of 2021 was one of the driest seasons on record.

• Leaf mulch organically inhibits weeds - no chemicals!

A layer of leaves blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds that are always present in the soil. Weed seeds need sunlight to ini ate germina on year-round.

• Keeping leaves out of the landfill helps extend the landfill’s life.

• Raking is great exercise and eliminates the noise and air pollu on of gas blowers.

• Encourages wonderful winter birding in your own yards.

• Consider “lifecycles” and what areas can be le “natural” in your own yards.

Some final words: Leaves are NOT “li er”. Consider them food, shelter, and natural, free mulch.

Ecological garden and yard prac ces are NOT neglect, but inten onal prac ces that priori ze the dynamics among plants, wildlife, and soil.

© Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Associa on, 2022. All rights reserved.

PAGE 8

By: Debbie Mitchell Building and Grounds Commi ee The Fall saw the Buildings and Grounds (B&G) Commi ee involved in several major community update projects, along with ongoing maintenance to keep our community in good shape.

Side by side with the Pool Commi ee, B&G con nued work to complete paving of a new pool deck extension at the Fitness Center pool. Because we want you to be comfortable as you relax on this new deck extension in the Spring and Summer of 2022, B&G helped the Pool Commi ee install a pergola to shade this new pool deck extension. If you haven’t seen it, you should take a look but may want to wait un l the Fitness Center parking lot repaving is done, which, by the way, B&G is also spearheading.

A er breaking up and disposing of the deteriora ng asphalt of the Fitness Center parking lot, the contractor spent many hours digging un l solid ground was reached, filling in with truckloads of dirt and stone, installing a protec ve barrier, and compression tes ng before installing curbs and the new asphalt. By the me you’re reading this, the Fitness Center parking lot should be finished. B&G maintained a constant interface with the contractor, checking on the project progress daily and helping to resolve problems encountered. B&G also installed a temporary

ramp to facilitate access to the Fitness Center during the repaving project.

December 31st not only marked the end of the year, but also marked the end of our current CL HOA landscaping contract. B&G worked with the Community Associa on Manager (CAM) to evaluate and recommend a contractor from those who bid on a solicita on for a landscaping contract for 2022 for the CLMHOA.

Those who play golf might have no ced there was erosion around a drainpipe located near golf course hole number 4. B&G filled in this area with stone and then built a stone retaining wall to fix the problem. B&G also helped the Greens Commi ee to fix the problem with the bridge around golf course hole number 9. Now we can safely ride across this bridge again on our golf carts instead of taking a detour.

B&G built a stone wall, like other walls throughout the community, to mount the sign for the Bu erfly Habitat. They smoothed out the access road to the golf club maintenance yard. They purchased and replaced several failing plants around the Bay Club.

That about sums it up for the 4th quarter 2021 “FROM THE GROUND UP” B&G update.

WINTER 2022

© Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Associa on, 2022. All rights reserved.

PAGE 9

GREEN COM MITTEE

These names are alphabe cal, so I inserted Cindy Batson alphabe cally.

Quarterly Newsle er – January 2022 The weather during the last quarter of 2021 was great, and our golf course received increased play. Stanley and his winter crew of four have spent most of their me mulching/blowing leaves, mowing/rolling the greens, weeding, and cu ng down trees as the condi ons permi ed. In this report, we will let you know what to expect from January through March.

GREENS Our greens have held up very well this past year. Because of the mild weather this fall/early winter, the greens were s ll being cut at the end of November. The root structure remains strong which will give the greens protec on this spring against those pesky nematodes (which gave us problems in the past). Since our MiniVerde grass is sensi ve to extremely cold weather, we will con nue to cover them if the temperature falls below 25 degrees for mul ple days (25 degrees or lower at night and it doesn’t warm up above 34 the next day before dropping back down to 25 degrees or lower). The covers are deployed around the holes and ready to be used when needed.

While the greens are dormant, it is very important the roots are kept moist so that they don’t get bri le. That is why, during the winter, you will see the greens being watered. The greens will con nue to be rolled during the winter to ensure the speed is maintained and the roll is true. During the end of February, Stanley will begin applying fungicide and con nue un l the summer. Ver cu ng and top dressing will not start un l May.

CO-EDITORS Dave Grahek & Bill Staton CHAIR Fran Monaco CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Helen Sommerkamp COPY EDITING & PROOFING Ellen Angus, Cindy Batson, Colleen Bucher, Barbara Cadwallader, Kelly Hemmings, Amy Jackson, Eileen Lettick, Fran Monaco, & Rita Rodabaugh ADVERTISING Barbara Cadwallader, Carole Lawler, & Maja Weaver CIRCULATION Laura Staton

FAIRWAYS With the drier weather during November & December, we did not have many Cart-Path-Only (CPO) days which added to increase play. January brings a different story. We will see a lot more CPO days because the grass is dormant, and the roots do not soak up moisture – keeping the course wet. While playing this winter, con nue to fill and repair your divots. As an alterna ve to playing on a wet course, try the Par 3 course on the front 9.

This will allow you to enjoy golfing when the weather is nice, but the course is not player friendly.

E-mail all articles and pictures to the editors at : Editor.TheLanding@CypressLanding.com.

Standing HOA committees have ¿UVW SULRULW\ WR SULQW WKHLU DUWLFOHV and pictures. We also invite other Cypress Landing groups and individuals to contribute. Submitted material may be altered by the editorial staff who is charged with publishing a community newsletter ¿QDQFHG E\ RXU DGYHUWLVHUV DQG shared with potential residents.

OTHER TOPICS • • • • •

•

Cart path repair will con nue through the winter as weather permits.

Bunker edging will con nue un l completed.

New rakes are in the bunkers, so a er you rake, please leave the rake toward the center of the bunker.

Blue bird houses have been cleaned to prepare for new fledglings.

The bulkhead on the bridge between the white and gold tees at hole #9 was repaired by the cart path repair group – they did a great job!

Distressed boards on all bridges will con nue to be replaced as needed.

Volunteers from the Green Commi ee will con nue to support Stanley (our maintenance supervisor) and his team by working on various projects. If you would like to help, please contact Jeff Northup at 585-752-8941.

Printed issues of The Landing are published in winter, summer, spring, and fall. Issues can also be read online by visiting our website at www.cypresslandingnc.com.

The Landing LV WKH RI¿FLDO QHZVOHWWHU RI &\SUHVV Landing Master Homeowners Association.

We hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season and are looking forward to a great year on our beau ful golf course!

WINTER 2022

© Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Associa on, 2022. All rights reserved.

PAGE 10

The Marke ng Commi ee Wants YOU By: Tim Fulcher If you love Cypress Landing and all it has to offer, then the Marke ng Commi ee wants YOU to help spread the word about our wonderful community! We need photographers, writers, social media enthusiasts – any crea ve people with great ideas! We welcome you to join our commi ee which meets on the third Thursday of each month, or to support us on an “as needed” basis.

Most importantly, if you have friends or family members looking for a friendly community with “all you can ask for”, please direct them to our website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel. For more informa on on how you can help or if you would like to be part of this exci ng commi ee, please contact commi ee chair, Tim Fulcher, at mfulcher@verizon.net.

According to the charter established by our HOA, the purpose of the Marke ng Commi ee is “to promote the lifestyle and ameni es of Cypress Landing as an a rac ve place to live to all who may be interested in the community”. In this digital age, we believe one of our best tools for achieving this goal is our marke ng website, www.cypresslanding.com. We launched an updated website in January 2021 and, based on feedback, we are now upda ng it to focus more on our stated purpose and less on real estate sales. Social media is a rapidly growing aspect of our marke ng efforts, and we rely on our media partner, Deep Fried Crea ve in Washington, to guide us in both areas.

In the Fall of 2021, the commi ee produced a new promo onal video to highlight many of the ameni es, ac vi es, and people that make Cypress Landing special.

That video was so well-received we engaged our vendor, Kelcom Media Services, to produce several addi onal short videos to capture the magic of the Holidays in our community. These will eventually be available from our updated website, but, in the mean me, you can find and share videos of the annual Trim-a-Tree party, the Angel Tree campaign, the Never 2 Late Holiday Extravaganza, and other Holiday events on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Real estate sales in our community have been very strong for the past two years, with well over 100 homes and over 35 lots being sold. It is always interes ng to discover how people first learned about Cypress Landing.

So, within the coming months, we plan to conduct a survey of our newer residents to find out what led them here and what convinced them to stay. This feedback will help us ensure we are effec vely inves ng our marke ng budget. So, if you have bought a home or lot in Cypress Landing in the past two years, please be on the lookout for more informa on on this important survey!

WINTER 2022

Angel Tree 2021 By: Linda Smith

The WCCL 2021 Angel Tree outreach program provided some cheer for Chocowinity families!

The generous support of the residents of Cypress Landing made Christmas magical for 33 children from 14 families of Chocowinity Primary School. Gi s of toys, shoes, clothing, and bikes brought delight to many young faces this Christmas.

Leslea Jones, Guidance Counselor at Chocowinity Primary School, worked relessly with teachers and office staff to iden fy, review, and select the Angel Tree par cipants. Children’s wish lists were collected and shared with the Angel Tree commi ee members.

The Cypress Landing community responded generously to our program this year with $12,810 in dona ons! The “Angels” got to work shopping, wrapping, and checking the wish lists twice before delivering the gi s on December 13th. The Edward Jones office in Chocowinity kindly provided the drop off site for the gi s, and parents came to pick them up later that a ernoon.

Once the children’s gi s were purchased, there were enough funds to purchase $200 food gi cards for our 14 families and thirty-five addi onal $100 food gi cards. The WCCL worked with Laurel Miller, Beaufort County Schools Mental Health Coordinator, to iden fy 35 addi onal school families to receive food gi cer ficates.

Our hear elt thank you to all the Cypress Landing residents that helped make this program a wonderful success! May the spirit of the season make your holiday bright, just as you have for others!

2021 Angel Tree Commi ee: Linda Smith (Chair), Kathy Napoli, Kelly Hasslinger, Judy Peede, Donna Jones, Sharon Collins, Barb Harrison, Mara Graves, Bea Pilcher, Louise Bonadies, Sharon Miller, Brenda Berkland, Mary Webb, Lee Maxwell, Trisha Burke, and Betsy Coles.

© Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Associa on, 2022. All rights reserved.

PAGE 11

BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE

PAID CHOCOWINITY, NC PERMIT NO. 10

100 Marina Drive Chocowinity, NC 27817 (252) 975-3255

CYPRESS LANDING REAL ESTATE SCOREBOARD

WINTER 2022

Year

Homes Sold

Lots Sold

Build Permits

2015

49

3

1

2016

31

4

0

2017

41

10

3

2018

56

15

10

2019

54

24

13

2020

65

20

7

2021

59

25

15

© Cypress Landing Master Homeowners Associa on, 2022. All rights reserved.

PAGE 12