Newsletter & Calendar
- January 2005
Happy New Year!
It's almost 2005! Can you believe it? Personally, the years seem to be flying by more and more quickly. But then, mother said that would happen. She said it had something to do with age! Most of us reading this newsletter can remember at least 15 or 20 years ago. Some 30 or forty and for others, 50 or 60 years of memories are filed away. Whatever the age, it seems that the years pass quickly and we all have more to do than we used to. New Year's is the oldest holiday and New Year's Resolutions have been around for a long time. Most of us realize that much of what happens to us in life depends on the choices we make. There are exceptions to every rule, of course, but for the most part we make decisions that send us down various roads in life, some a little bumpier than others. A new year is before us. One free of mistakes, poor choices, bad decisions or even good ones for that matter, at least so far. What will it bring? Success? Failure? Poverty? Prosperity? As we look back at 2004 to see what we should have done differently, make sure those resolutions include the positive adjustments needed to help make 2005 a better year.
Wagoner County Assessors Plan Annual Visit
Every year in January, the Assessors Office in Wagoner sets up shop with us for a few hours. This year their visit is planned for Jan 18th, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you purchased a home and moved it to Johanna Woods this year, you should make sure it is on the tax rolls in Wagoner County. If not, you could be in tax trouble in years to come. If you purchased a home that was already here, that home could be on the tax rolls at a higher price than you paid for it. If it is, you will be paying taxes at a higher rate than necessary. By showing the Assessor's Office your Bill of Sale, they might be able to make a value adjustment that will save you some tax dollars in 2005! There is also a limited Homestead Exemption available to homeowners in communities, based on age and income. If you have any questions about these topics, it's worth coming to see them on the 18th!
New Year's Cook's Corner
Maintenance Staff Changes
Cream of Potato Soup
2 Tbsp butter or margarine
1/2 cup chopped onions
3 cups peeled, diced potatoes
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 tsp. Dried thyme
1/4 tsp. Celery seed
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Black pepper
1 1/2 cups milk mixed with 2 Tbsp. all purpose flour.
Directions: In a large soup pan cook onions in butter until soft. Add potatoes, broth, parsley, thyme, celery seed, salt and pepper and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir milk/flour mixture into pan. Puree half of soup in blender and return to the pan. Heat through and serve. Serves 6.
Maintenance Staff Changes
Kevin Spicer has been the maintenance supervisor in Johanna Woods since Floyd Jackson retired early in 2003. He has accepted a different position and as of January 15th, he will no longer be with us. Bob Brady will be taking over for him and is already in training for the position. Bob brings a wealth of maintenance skill and experience to the position. He has worked in all areas of maintenance and construction and to be honest, there probably isn't too much he can't do! Some of you know Bob already, because, as a self-employed handyman, he has done work for you around your homes. Please join me in welcoming Bob to the Johanna Woods team. He will be an asset to the community. And, good luck to Kevin as he pursues a different avenue in life.
Wagoner County Changes Polling Locations
We were all fairly surprised recently to receive Voter Registration Cards in the mail that changed our polling place from the Johanna Woods clubroom to the clubroom in Camina Villa. Inquiries with the head of the Wagoner County Election Board revealed that it's all about the numbers. There has typically been very low turnout in our precinct, except for national elections. Since the law requires that there be three election officials present for every election, it was no longer cost effective to maintain all of the locations, so they consolidated some of them. Our tax dollars at work...for better or worse. There is nothing that can presently be done about it, but they did assure me that they would keep in mind the possibility of re-instating our location if future voter turn out makes that feasible.
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