Raintree Community President’s Message December 4, 2023
Season’s Greetings to all Raintree residents. The year 2023 feels like it flew by so quickly. I’d like to provide you with a brief recap of events and activities that happened at Raintree this year.
The Raintree Golf Course had a very successful year with many residents and their guests enjoying our beautiful 9-hole executive course. Our team of golf rangers led, by Andy the golf course manager, kept the course in top shape. There were several golf tournaments and outings held over the season, including a ladies golf outing that was a huge success. The course is now closed for the winter season but can still be played by residents on a nice weather day using the winter greens that were set up. The golf course will officially be reopening in mid-March.
The Raintree Pool had an amazing summer this year with crystal clear perfect water every day. The Pool was open from mid-June through late September, with 7-days a week openings in July and August. Our pool manager, Jill, did an amazing job in keeping the pool staffed with lifeguards and gate guards. She also organized numerous fun pool activities which included swim lessons for children, pool aerobics, and pool yoga. We also had music and internet at the pool for the enjoyment of residents and guests. This season, we also did some significant repairs and upgrades to the pool infrastructure which included new piping in the pump room, re-grouting of the pool tile, repainting the pool lanes and steps, and sealing all of the cracks in the poolside concrete. The Raintree Pool will reopen in the late spring of 2024.
The Tennis and PickleBall Courts received extensive use by residents this season and will remain open all winter on a winter schedule, opening 7am and closing 5:30 pm. The Work-Out Room is available to all residents 18 years old and over, in the Sam Bakal clubhouse opening 7am and closing 9 pm. Access to the tennis courts or the Sam Bakal Clubhouse requires a valid adult amenity card. Children under 18 years of age are allowed if accompanied by an adult. This year, Raintree installed Swings for children on the front lawn of the Sam Bakal Clubhouse. We are delighted to see them in use almost every day. The Basketball Courts were re-installed when a safety defect was discovered and repaired. They, too, get used regularly by our residents.
Finally, we had our Second Annual Halloween Trunk or Treat Event in late October in the Sam Bakal parking lot. Hundreds of residents and their guests turned out for a day of candy and ice cream, pizza, more candy and lots of fun. It was a great event and a special THANK YOU to Steve “Goomba”, who organized the wonderful fun-filled day.
Several renovations and upgrades were made this year to the buildings and grounds. The Sam Bakal Clubhouse had all of the windows upgraded and replaced with new vinyl windows. The original windows were rotting, damaged, leaking and in dire need of replacement. The work-out room door was also replaced and upgraded. The Board plans to do further renovations and upgrades in the building in 2024, including new bathrooms, lighting, furnishings, and painting the interior and exterior of the building. Likewise, the Security Gatehouse had a new window, door and shades installed with the plan to do additional renovations and upgrades in 2024. Additional upgrades include all new LED lighting in the Sam Bakal parking lot, all new LED lighting on the main vehicle entrance island from Wemrock Road to the Gate House, new shades on the skylights in the Molly Pitcher sunroom, additional landscaping, lighting, and a new bench at Rosalina Park (near the back gate).
Raintree also completed the next phase of vehicle security upgrades. We switched over from the failing “clicker” system to open the vehicle gates to using vehicle tags. The new system tracks and verifies that only authorized vehicles can automatically enter our community unless they use the visitor gate. Also, the security camera system was upgraded and has already proven its value in detecting problem situations. Sometime in the next couple of weeks, the vehicle tag database will be updated which means that only tags on vehicles with current leases or belonging to current owners will work. If your vehicle tag does not operate, please contact the management office and ask for Dena at extension 8. She will work to remedy the problem. If you get a new car in exchange for an older car, please contact Dena to schedule tagging of your new car. We will deactivate the tag on the old car.
Two additional projects planned for early in 2024 include upgrading the gatehouse visitor software and the re-design and re-paving of the Raintree main vehicle entrance and exit. The new software will allow residents to directly add or delete names from their visitor list using either a smartphone or a computer browser. This should largely eliminate the need to call the gate house and will expedite the process of getting visitor’s access to Raintree. The redesign and repaving of the main entrance should streamline the entry and exit to and from the community by car. Also, we will be investigating electronic speed surveillance systems that can be installed in Raintree to catch and fine the chronic violators of the 25 MPH speed limit.
Finally, I want to thank the Raintree Board Members for their volunteer service on our Board and an extra thank you to both Denise and Dena who work endless hours in the Management Office keeping things running. We could not have made the progress we made without their help and dedicated support. As a reminder, our website has a wealth of information about Raintree facilities, rules, and hours, at: https://raintreeassociation.com
I want to wish all of our residents a wonderful happy holiday and a happy new year. Stay warm and please stay safe!
With best regards,
Jack L. Zatz
Raintree Community Association
Board President
Dear Raintree Community Pool Members,
As the summer season ends, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful memories and experiences we shared at our community pool this summer. It has been a joyous and refreshing summer, filled with laughter, splashes, and the warm sun. I would like to express my gratitude to each one of you for being a part of our pool community. Your enthusiasm, support, and cooperation have made this summer truly special. Whether you were a regular visitor, a new member, or a dedicated staff member, your presence contributed to the vibrant atmosphere we have enjoyed.
Throughout the summer, we witnessed countless moments of joy and friendship. Families having fun together, our pool has been a hub of activity and connection. From children learning to swim, listening to music, getting some exercise in the pool, and having local entertainment. It was amazing! I would also like to extend my appreciation to our dedicated lifeguards, gate guards and maintenance staff for creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone to relax and enjoy. Their hard work and commitment ensured that our pool was always clean, well-maintained, and most importantly, a secure environment for all. Their professionalism and kindness have not gone unnoticed, and I am grateful for their efforts.
Finally, I would like to express my excitement for the upcoming seasons and the future of our community pool. The Raintree Pool staff is constantly striving to improve. We welcome any suggestions or feedback you may have, as your input is invaluable to us. Thank you once again for being a part of our community pool family. We hope you had a memorable summer and look forward to creating more cherished memories together in the years to come.
Warm regards,
Jill Magioncalda
Raintree Pool Supervisor 2023
[email protected]
URGENT MESSAGE to RAINTREE RESIDENTS that have NOT YET RECEIVED THEIR NEW VEHICLE TAGS
If you have not yet received your new vehicle tags, THURSDAY JUNE 15 is the deadline.
Thursday June 15 is the LAST DAY that the vehicle tagging office will be open in the Sam Bakal Clubhouse. After that date, new vehicle tags will not be available until some time in JULY. Whether or not you have already submitted your application for new tags, the final tagging days will be:from Monday June 12 to Thursday June 15 from 12:30pm to 8pm. .Please go during those hours with your documents to get your tags. DO NOT DELAY!
If you do not have a car tag after June 15, you will have to enter the Raintree community through the visitor gate because the clickers will NO LONGER WORK AFTER JUNE 15.
The good news is that 90% of our community has successfully received their tags, but there are still over 100 households that have not received tags and these are the final days to get them unless you want to wait until July. Raintree will not be issuing vehicle tags during the last 2 weeks of June so do NOT delay!
WARNING! GATE CLICKERS WILL NO LONGER WORK AFTER JUNE 15 at BOTH GATES.
Note that you will eventually be able to enter at the resident front gate with a Raintree Amenity card starting in July.
GET YOUR TAGS at the Sam Bakal Clubhouse before JUNE 15.
UPDATE ON RAINTREE VEHICLE TAGS April 4, 2023
Raintree Residents and Owners:
So far, about half of the Raintree’s residents have submitted their paperwork for the new vehicle tags.
If you have not yet submitted your paperwork, I have good news! You can now submit your application online and upload scanned copies of the needed documents. This will save time and reduce errors and paperwork. Click on the following link and simply follow the instructions to submit your vehicle tag application:
www.raintreeamenities.com
DO NOT RESUBMIT your paperwork if you already sent in the paper application. Instead, you can stop by the Sam Bakal Clubhouse during the following hours to get your tags applied to your vehicle. Be sure to bring your active Raintree Amenities Card if you have one.
If there is a problem with your application, you can bring any missing paperwork with you and hopefully get it resolved in real time.
Car Tagging Hours:
Every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Noon to 7:15 PM
Saturday, April 15, 12 Noon to 6:15 PM
Thursday, April 20, 12 Noon to 7:15 PM
Saturday, April 22, 12 Noon to 6:15 PM
Where: Sam Bakal Clubhouse. (Do NOT go to the Molly Pitcher clubhouse unless you are just dropping off a paper application for the car tags)
Thank you for your cooperation!
Raintree Management
Raintree Community President’s Message February 8, 2023
Greetings to all Raintree residents:
The New Year is here and Raintree’s improvements and updates continue to roll out. My focus in today’s message is on two topics; (1) the new vehicle tag system being installed and (2) communication from management and the Board to our residents at Raintree.
The new vehicle tag system being installed
The project to upgrade our security gate and camera systems continues to progress. The additional sensor systems, cameras, and software to eventually switch over to the new car tag system are in the process of being installed. The new gate system at both the back gates and the main gates will continue to work with the existing “clickers” until the new car tags are distributed to residents. Car tags will be available to vehicles belonging to Raintree residents and property owners. Residents need to register their vehicles and provide a copy of each vehicle’s registration to get a tag.
All of the details on the new system are provided in the four-page instructions along with a copy of the form that needs to be completed. PDF printable copies are available on the Raintree website at https://raintreeassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1209/2023/02/2023-Raintree-Vehicle-Gate-Entry-Access-Control-Rules-and-Regulations.pdf
Paper copies are available in the blue cabinet on the front porch of the Molly Pitcher Clubhouse. Completed applications can be either dropped off in paper in the mailbox on the Molly Pitcher Clubhouse porch or can be scanned into PDF and emailed to [email protected] Residents will be contacted when their tags are ready.
In summary, the following changes will take place with the new gate system:
● The current gate “clickers” will be decommissioned and replaced with new sticker sensor tags attached to vehicles that belong to Raintree residents. The new sensor tags will automatically open the resident vehicle gates at the main entrance and at the back gate when the vehicle approaches.
● The new sensor tag system will be phased in over a period of several months, during which time both the sensor tags and the “clickers” will work to open the resident gates. At the end of the phase-in period, the gate “clickers” will no longer work at Raintree gates and the fob “clickers” can be disposed of.
● Each household in Raintree should complete ONE application form to receive their new sensor tags for their vehicles. A copy of each vehicle registration document must be provided with the application showing that the vehicle is owned or leased by a Raintree resident in order to receive the new sensor tags. Leased vehicles will require proof of lease to resident.
● The option of purchasing one portable transponder sensor tag per household will be available for a $100 fee payable by credit/debit card and can be used by residents or non-residents that need to visit Raintree regularly.
● Residents with a valid Raintree Amenity card will be able to open and access the resident vehicle gate with their amenity card at the main front gate if they are entering the community in a vehicle that does not have a sensor tag. This option will not be available at the back gate.
● The visitor gate access with the security guard will continue to operate under the same rules and guidelines that exist today.
The new system will operate with two authentication tag options:
● Permanent Sticker Sensor Tag: All Raintree residents that register their vehicles will receive one of these tags for each vehicle. The sticker tag, which is a small clear cellophane strip, will be adhered on the vehicle’s left headlamp or bumper. It is a clear material that contains the transmitter and antenna. Removal of this tag will render the device inoperative. These tags will ONLY be attached to vehicles that belong to Raintree residents.
● Portable Transponder Sensor Tag: This device is a portable plastic card in a sleeve with a suction cup on one side, allowing it to be used inside the windshield of a car and is portable so that it can be moved and used in different cars. A limit of one of these portable sensor tags will be optionally available to each household for a fee of $100.
Many residents have already submitted their paperwork for the new vehicle tags. However, a number of good questions have been raised about this new system and process which I will attempt to answer in the following “FAQs”.
Q: Why are we changing over from the existing “clicker” system? My clicker is working fine.
A: There are multiple problems and issues with the existing “clicker” system. It operates on an obsolete “Windows NT” based operating system which is 30 years old and we are unable to add any additional “clickers” to the system. We spent many $thousands last year to keep it up and running and some of you may recall there were several days where the gates simply did not operate because of system crashes. It’s just a matter of time until we have a major system failure and the gate system stops operating and is irreparable.
Q: What are these “Sticker Tags” and what happens if mine comes off in the car wash?
A: The Sticker Tags are a durable cellophane material with an antenna in it attached to the front of your car that reflects the tag serial number when it is read at the gate. The database identifies the vehicle tag as valid in a few milliseconds and then opens the gate automatically. The manufacturer suggests attaching the tags to the clear headlight (on the left) or the bumper of the car. It can be peeled off without damage to the vehicle, but if removed, it will not be re-usable. The manufacturer also tells us that normal washing and car washes will not damage or make the tag come off. If the tag happens to fall off or get damaged at no fault of the resident, Raintree management will replace it at no charge.
Q: What happens if I have a leased vehicle or a company car and the registration does not show my name or address as a Raintree resident?
A: In cases where a Raintree resident uses a vehicle for everyday driving but does not have it registered in their name personally, the resident will need to provide documentation that the vehicle is for their regular use and garaged at a Raintree address. Leased vehicle users can provide a copy of the lease agreement or insurance certificate with their name on it. Company car users can provide documentation showing that the vehicle is assigned to them for their use. Any reasonable documentation showing that the vehicle is used full time by a Raintree resident will be accepted. If there is private information on the document you are submitting (such as a social security number), we ask that you mask it with a black marker before sending a copy.
Q: My car that I drive is owned by my son/daughter/mother/father and their name and address is on the registration which is not in Raintree, can I still get a sticker tag for the car?
A: If a resident wants to register a vehicle NOT in their name but claims it is their primary vehicle for driving, then a copy of the vehicle’s insurance policy declaration naming the Raintree resident as the primary (50% or more) operator of the vehicle needs to be provided. Sticker tags will not be issued to vehicles belonging to friends and family that are not residents of Raintree.
Q: What if I drive a commercial vehicle or a vehicle that is not registered in my name that I need to bring into Raintree on a regular basis; can I get a sticker tag?
A: Unfortunately, Sticker tags are not available to commercial vehicles (commercial plates or commercial printing on the vehicle body) or to vehicles that are not registered or insured for full time use by Raintree Residents. However, every household has the option to purchase ONE Portable Transponder Tag for $100 and can use that tag in a commercial vehicle and in vehicles not registered to Raintree residents. Portable Tags are portable and can be moved between different vehicles. Remember that although a commercial vehicle can use a Portable Tag to get access into Raintree, most Raintree villages do NOT allow commercial vehicles to be parked there overnight.
Q: Why does the Portable Transponder Tag cost $100? Seems like a lot of money.
A: The Portable Tags along with the tag holders cost Raintree close to $100 for the parts and labor involved in providing and processing them, so Raintree wants to be sure it’s costs for this option are covered by the beneficiary.
Q: It seems that this whole gate and tag system was not well thought through and is more trouble than it’s worth.
A: Whereas some residents would like to completely eliminate the gate systems and open up Raintree streets to the public, the vast majority of residents still strongly support a “gated community” system like we have today. The current system is flawed which is why we are making these changes. Those of you that have given gate “clickers” to friends and family that do not live here will have to inform them that the clickers will be shut off in the late spring. Also many past residents that no longer live here have clickers but have no business entering our community. Our Board members and management team have consulted many experts on the right way to go about making this upgrade and Raintree will have the “state-of-the-art” approach when the implementation is completed. We are also looking into improvements in the visitor gate/security guard operation to make that more efficient and reduce problems and errors. No system is perfect however the plan we are implementing has been very well thought out and includes consideration from hundreds of residents that have given us their ideas and input.
Q: Why are there any fees on any of the tags?
A: The fees somewhat reflect the cost to Raintree. A typical household with two cars will receive their two sticker tags on their two cars and the fee is ZERO. Households with more than two cars will have to pay a fee for the additional sticker tags. It costs Raintree money to purchase the tags and administer them so it’s only fair that the households with three or more cars pay for the added cost. Each Landlord that owns one or more residences in Raintree can also purchase one tag for their car for a $50 fee. They are charged because Raintree is first obligated to provide the tags to residents that live here, but if the landlord desires a tag as well, it is available for a fee.
Q: We were allowed 2 clickers previously. We should be afforded the same amenity with the new system without paying for it.
A: The original system was implemented many years ago with the technology available at the time. The intent has always been and still is to give access to residents through the resident gates and access to visitors via the visitor gate. Over time, residents purchased additional clickers and gave them out to non-residents which have defeated the purpose of the system. If you do own two cars you can get two sticker tags for your cars at no cost. The option of purchasing a Portable Tag is available and like the current clickers, that tag can be used by the resident or whomever the resident opts to give it to. The approach we are implementing has been tried and tested in hundreds of gated communities and is the best available approach today.
Q: What other benefits will residents have with this new system?
A: The biggest benefit is that it is a new system that is not falling apart and will be far less expensive to maintain in the long term. Also, with no more clickers available, we cannot provide replacements for new residents or broken clickers on the current system. The new system will allow an unlimited ability to add new and additional vehicle tags as needed. Also, when a resident household moves out of Raintree, their vehicle tags will be deactivated and will no longer work (unlike today’s clickers). Residents can also use a valid Raintree Amenity card to open the resident front gate by waiving their card in front of the stanchion card reader. Furthermore, the new system is designed to work with emergency fire, police, and EMT systems so that the gates will automatically open when one of these emergency vehicles approach. This new feature should expedite emergency response time in Raintree.
Q: What if I have a unique situation that was not covered by the new rules and regulations and want to appeal to the management and Raintree Board with regard to getting the vehicle tags?
A: We can’t think of everything so if you feel you have a unique situation that requires an exception consideration, then please document your request/appeal in detail along with any needed documentation and return it to the management office or email it to [email protected] . The Board will try to make every reasonable accommodation.
Q: Do I have to purchase a portable tag for $100?
A: No, the purchase of a portable tag is an option open to all residents in good standing. Vehicles belonging to residents will receive sticker tags (no charge for the first two tags per household) and they will work fine to access all resident gates. The Portable Tag is an option that makes sense if you have a family member or a health aide or nurse or companion that visits you multiple times a week and wants to avoid using the visitor’s gate each time. It gives the non-resident the same access privileges that residents with sticker tags will have, as long as they are in possession of the portable tag.
Q: I am a single resident in Raintree and live alone. Why can’t I get two tags?
A: The tags are being issued per vehicle per household, irrespective of the number of residents in that household. If a household has two vehicles, whether you are one person living there or four people living there, both cars will be issued sticker tags. Number of residents is not a factor in determining the number of the vehicle tags issued per household.
Communication from management and the Board to our residents at Raintree
Raintree uses the Frontsteps system to broadcast announcements via email to residents. Every resident in Raintree that is a property owner has been emailed and invited to register in Frontsteps and receive these announcements (which includes this letter). In some cases, residents have not responded. In other cases, the management may have an incorrect email address, or the email went to the junk/spam email box. And in others, the resident may be a tenant that never received the invite to register at all.
This approach using Frontsteps still remains the most efficient way for us to get broadcast messages out to residents in real time at a low cost. Paper mailings would be prohibitively expensive. If you feel you have not been receiving these emails, the first thing to do is double check your email and spam/junk email as well. All messages sent come from “Raintree Community [email protected]” so you can search your email for this sender address. If you still do not see any messages, then contact the management office and they will resend you an invite that you need to respond to in order to receive the regular email broadcasts. We realize that there are a small percentage of residents that do not have or use email and we encourage their neighbors and family members that do have email to make an effort to keep them posted on urgent announcements. Residents can always pick up a paper copy at the office as well upon request.
Alternatively, residents can use the Raintree website www.raintreeassociation.com where all of the relevant email broadcasts and messages are posted. Finally, there are the monthly Raintree Open Board meetings that are open to all residents in our community (including tenants). The meeting dates are posted on the calendar on the website and are held at the Sam Bakal Clubhouse.
With your patience and cooperation, we will be able to roll out the new gate access system and the better email communications approach for all residents in Raintree. I want to wish all of our residents a wonderful happy new year and stay warm and please stay safe!
With best regards,
Jack L. Zatz
Raintree Community Association
Board President
Raintree Community President’s Message December 13, 2022
Greetings to all Raintree residents:
2022 went by so fast and now we are in the “Holiday Season” already! I love seeing all of the lights and seasonal decorations that our Raintree residents are putting on their homes. Also, with the seasonal change, Raintree operations have switched from “landscape maintenance” mode to “snow removal” mode. Our new pool cover finally arrived and the pool has been winterized and covered. We look forward to re-opening the pool in the late spring of 2023. By the way, we are already accepting resumes for candidate pool gate guards and life guards for next summer. If you or any of your children or grandchildren are 16 year or older and are interested in a summer job, please let the management office know.
The Raintree Golf Course is officially closed for the season, but those diehard golfers can still use the course on a day when the weather allows, operating under the golf “Winter Rules” – once your ball is within the white circle around each temporary green, you are afforded a 2-stroke maximum. The regular greens on the course are closed and should not be walked on or used. So please make sure when playing during the winter months, to keep all play off of the permanent greens during this timeframe, in order to avoid damage and ensure that they are in playable condition in the spring. Golf rangers are not on regular duty during the winter months; however, the course will still be patrolled part-time to assure that players are Raintree residents and are following the winter rules. Players play at their own risk and are expected to be respectful of the course, as always. The Tennis courts will remain open all winter but with reduced winter hours (7am to 5:30pm, seven days a week). A valid Raintree amenity card is required to get access to play on the tennis courts.
The Raintree Drive renovation repaving project is near completion. The road has been re-paved and new striping lines have been added, including a bicycle lane. All of the storm drains along Raintree Drive have been repaired and upgraded to bring them up to code. There are still a few items that need completing on this project but we expect it to be finished within the next two weeks, weather permitting. Once again, the speed limit is 25 MPH and we ask that all drivers abide by the speed limit to avoid getting a ticket or a fine, and to avoid causing a horrible accident.
The project to upgrade our security gate and camera systems is only partially completed. I’m sure you have all seen the new light-up gates that glow in red until they open and then turn green. We are now adding the additional sensor systems, cameras, and software to eventually switch over to the new car tag system. The new gate system at both the back gates and the main gates will continue to work with the existing “clickers” until the new car tags are distributed. Car tags will only be available to vehicles belonging to Raintree residents and property owners. Residents will be required to register their vehicle and provide a copy of the vehicle’s registration to get a tag.
In summary, the following changes will take place with the new gate system:
● The current gate “clickers” will be decommissioned and replaced with new “e-z-pass” like sensor tags attached to vehicles that belong to Raintree residents. The new sensor tags will automatically open the resident vehicle gates at the main entrance and at the back gate when the vehicle approaches.
● The new sensor tag system will be phased in over a period of several months, during which time both the sensor tags and the “clickers” will work to open the resident gates. At the end of the phase-in period, the gate “clickers” will no longer work at Raintree gates and the fob “clickers” can be disposed of.
● Each household in Raintree will be required to complete an application form to receive the new sensor tags for their vehicles. A copy of each vehicle registration document must be provided with the application showing that the vehicle is owned or leased by a Raintree resident in order to receive the new sensor tag.
● The option of purchasing one “visitor” portable transponder sensor tag per household will be available for a fee. This portable tag can be used on any vehicle of your choosing, whether it belongs to a resident of Raintree or not.
● When a Raintree resident household moves out of Raintree, all of the tags registered to that household will be deactivated. Renters must make sure that the management office has an up to date copy of their lease to avoid having their tags deactivated.
● Residents with a valid Raintree Amenity card will be able to open and access the resident vehicle gate with their amenity card at the main front gate if they are entering the community in a vehicle that does not have a sensor tag. This option will not be available at the back gate.
● The visitor gate access with the security guard will continue to operate under the same rules and guidelines that exist today.
The new system will operate with two authentication tag options:
● Permanent Sticker Sensor Tag: All Raintree residents that register their vehicles will receive one of these tags for each vehicle. The sticker tag, which is a small clear cellophane strip, will be adhered on the vehicle’s left headlamp. It is a clear material that contains the transmitter and antenna. Removal of this tag will render the device inoperative. These tags will ONLY be attached to vehicles that belong to Raintree residents.
● Portable Transponder Sensor Tag: This device is a portable plastic card in a sleeve with a suction cup on one side, allowing it to be used inside the windshield of a car and is portable so that it can be moved and used in different cars. A limit of one of these portable sensor tags will be optionally available to each household for a fee.
More details on the new sensor tag system will be made available to all residents in the next few weeks.
As explained in my last letter, each Raintree village has its own contract for trash pickup and hauling services. Details on each trash pick-up company can be found on the Raintree website www.raintreeassociation.com, where many of your questions can be answered. Again, as a reminder, the dumpster in the Sam Bakal parking lot is NOT for resident use. Violators have been caught and have been fined for leaving garbage in this dumpster. Most large items will be picked up by your village trash company if you call them in advance and request a special pick up of the items. The Freehold Township Recycling Center at 66 Jackson Mills Road (10 minutes away) is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and is available to residents at no charge for dropping off almost any kind of bulk items, tires, furniture, batteries, appliances, electronics, etc.
As a reminder, the Sam Bakal Clubhouse is available for rental to residents for private party events. Details on clubhouse rental rules and fees can be found on the “forms” page on the Raintree website www.raintreeassociation.com along with a lot of other details about the community. The Molly Pitcher Clubhouse is currently NOT available for private party rentals.
The Raintree Board of Trustees works diligently to try to stay on top of improvements and updates needed in the community. I encourage all residents to use the website www.raintreeassociation.com as a resource to get information and answers to your questions about our community. Your ideas and input are always welcome and can be sent to the management office via email to [email protected] or you can attend the Open Session Board Meetings. Please refer to the calendar tab on the website for the exact dates and schedule.
I want to wish all of our residents a wonderful happy and healthy holiday season and please stay safe!
With best regards,
Jack L. Zatz
Raintree Community Association
Board President
Raintree Community President’s Message October 18, 2022
Greetings to all Raintree residents:
Autumn has arrived with some beautiful cool weather and sunny days. Happy Rosh Hashanah New Year. In a couple of weeks, it will be Halloween and the trees will change color and the leaves will fall to the ground where our landscapers will be busy cleaning them up.
Our Pool officially closed for the season in late September. The furniture has been cleaned, stacked, and shrink-wrapped for winter storage. The tile coping around the pool was repaired and re-secured to avoid damage during the winter freeze. The pool has not been covered yet because we recently discovered that the vinyl cover is damaged. We are hoping it can be repaired and patched because the cost of a replacement cover is quite expensive. In the spring, we plan to drain the pool to do some minor repairs and to re-paint the blue lines on the floor of the pool and the steps.
The Golf Course will remain open until mid-November at which time the course will close until March 2023. We have had a very busy season this year with many residents and guests playing golf. As noted in my last letter, there are trees that need to be trimmed or removed, and some new ones that we would like to plant. Based on the budget, some of this work will be done this fall and some next year. If you are interested in participating or volunteering to help out with the next golf tournament, please contact Andy Magioncalda at [email protected].
Major construction on the re-paving of Raintree Drive, which is the ring road that goes all the way around Raintree, has begun. We are planning for the actual re-paving to be completed within the next week. Soon thereafter, the line-painters will be adding a double yellow line in the center and a bicycle lane will be added next to the inner curb on the road. Cross walks will be added and some of the signage will be upgraded. Again, please DRIVE SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY during the construction and obey the temporary detours.
The security gate systems will also be replaced in the coming weeks. The new gate system at both the back gates and the main gates will continue to work with the existing “clickers” until the new car tags are distributed. Car tags will only be available to vehicles belonging to Raintree residents and property owners. Residents will be required to register their vehicle and provide a copy of the vehicle’s registration to get a tag. More details will be provided in the near future on the process.
This year for Halloween, Raintree will be hosting its first Halloween TRUNK-OR-TREAT gathering for Raintree residents and their children. What exactly is trunk-or-treat? Participants bring their cars to a central location, usually a parking lot. The drivers and their families decorate their cars for Halloween, sometimes creating elaborate scenes out of their trunks.
This fun event was planned and organized by a group of volunteer Raintree residents for the benefit of the children living in our community. The event will be on Halloween day, Monday October 31, 2022, starting at 5 PM until 7:30 PM at the Sam Bakal Clubhouse Parking Lot. This event is FOR RAINTREE RESIDENTS and their families and guests. All participants bringing their vehicle to the event MUST fill out a vehicle registration form (see the Raintree Website) and must be a Raintree resident. Email the completed form to Stephen at [email protected]. If you do not wish to decorate and bring your car, Raintree residents can still walk over and participate and hand out candy if you would like. The event will have an ice cream truck, DJ, games, and LOTS OF CANDY! Registration ends Wednesday October 19, 2022. There will be no accommodation for parking your car at the event if you are not pre-registered. We would like to thank the Raintree resident volunteers for making this happen! We look forward to seeing everyone there.
This time of the year, the Raintree Board and our Management Company are busy lining up contract renewals for the services that the community will require in 2023. As you can imagine, there were some dramatic price increases in the bids that we have received. The good news is that thanks to our EPM Management team, we have been able to negotiate somewhat reasonable terms in pricing for the upcoming years for our security services, golf course maintenance services, landscape services, holiday decoration services, and others. As always, our goal is to provide outstanding service and improvements to the Raintree Community at a cost as minimal as possible.
Another major concern that frequently comes up with residents is improved lighting on the main road and walkways at night. Unfortunately, the Raintree Board has limited control over these improvements because they are the ultimate responsibility of Freehold Township Engineering together with JCP&L, our electricity service provider. We have discussed with them a 3-pronged approach to improve the nighttime lighting on Raintree Drive; (1) replace the old “cobra-style” lighting heads with new LED bright lights that would both reduce electrical cost and provide far superior lighting to the road, (2) add additional light poles where needed, and (3) trimming of the trees along the ring road to allow the projected light to gain better coverage. Our lighting improvement committee has been working with township and JCP&L officials on the first two items and the Raintree Board has been working to get more trees trimmed back to allow the light to give better coverage. The question of additional lighting fixtures along the sidewalks has been raised by residents but is simply not a practical and economic solution. It would cost millions of dollars to add sidewalk path lighting at this point along the entire ring road. Residents have to understand that at night time it is dark out and that if you are out walking with a dog or on your own, it is wise to carry a flashlight for the areas that remain very dark. We are hopeful that the eventual improved street lighting will also improve visibility on the walkways at night as well.
Regarding trash pick-up, each village has its own contract with trash pickup and hauling services. Details on each trash company can be found on the website www.raintreeassociation.com where many of your questions can be answered. Again, as a reminder, the dumpster in the Sam Bakal parking lot is NOT for resident use. Violators have been caught and have been fined for leaving garbage in this dumpster. Most large items will be picked up by your village trash company if you call them in advance and request a special pick up of the items. The Freehold Township Recycling Center at 66 Jackson Mills Road (10 minutes away) is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and is available to residents at no charge for dropping off almost any kind of bulk items, tires, furniture, batteries, appliances, electronics, etc.
The Board is beginning to review the budget for 2023 and is making every effort to keep increases to a minimum. Remember, we live here too and have to pay the monthly maintenance fees as well. The majority of the budget is allocated for regular monthly operating costs, and a small portion goes into reserves for capital improvements such as new roofs and major renovations of the common area, buildings and grounds.
As a reminder, the Sam Bakal Clubhouse is available for rental to residents for private party events. Details on clubhouse rental rules and fees can be found on the “forms” page on the Raintree website www.raintreeassociation.com along with a lot of other details about the community. The Molly Pitcher Clubhouse is currently NOT available for private party rentals.
The Raintree Board of Trustees works diligently to try to stay on top of improvements and updates needed in the community. I encourage all residents to use the website www.raintreeassociation.com as a resource to get information and answers to your questions about our community. Your ideas and input are always welcome and can be sent to the management office via email to [email protected] or you can attend the Open Session Board Meetings. Please refer to the calendar tab on the website for the exact dates and schedule.
I look forward to seeing you here in our beautiful community.
With best regards,
Jack L. Zatz
Raintree Community Association
Board President
Raintree Community President’s Message August 29, 2022
Greetings to all Raintree residents:
So the summer seems to have flown by so fast! It’s almost Labor Day and temperatures are finally cooling down just a bit since the scorching summer weeks we had with many days in the nineties. It’s been a challenge to keep the lawns green, even with daily watering. But even with daily watering, the grass will turn brown in intense heat. Fortunately, many of the lawns have begun to turn green again but the lack of rain still makes it a challenge.
Our Pool has been open daily since mid-June and we have had some large turnouts on the hot days. We had several days with more than 150 residents visiting our pool to cool off. The water has been crystal clear and I am delighted to see so many residents coming out to enjoy our beautiful pool area. All of the renovations at the pool house and golf pro shop have finally been completed with new siding, new windows, new lighting, new interiors, newly furnished bathrooms, and a classy “Raintree” sign on the building. The Pool will continue to be open daily through Labor Day. During September, the Pool will only be open for three weekends, including September 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25, of course weather permitting. In past years we have had some perfect September weather so hopefully the September weekends will be warm and pleasant to enjoy the pool.
As a reminder, we are currently operating without full time lifeguards on duty so residents need to understand that it is “Swim at Your Own Risk”. The pool area has free Wi-Fi available in the area closer to the pool house. The password to access the Wi-Fi is “SamBakal”. Don’t forget to bring your Raintree Amenity Card to access the pool. ALL residents MUST have an active amenity card to gain access – no exceptions. Guests cost $5 for the day (credit cards only), same fee for children and adults.
The Golf Course has been a challenge in this hot weather to keep in tip-top shape. Some areas unfortunately have brown grass, but our golf course maintenance crew continues to do a great job keeping the greens green. Also we are working with some tree experts to recommend some further improvements in the tree plantings on and around the course. This will mean the removal of dying or oversized trees as well as planting new trees where appropriate. New signs have been installed on the golf course with the list of rules included, giving our golf course a more professional appearance. We are planning to have additional golf tournaments this season. If you are interested in participating or volunteering to help out with the next golf tournament, please contact Andy Magioncalda at [email protected].
Major construction on the re-paving of Raintree Drive, which is the ring road that goes all the way around Raintree, will begin at the end of September. Some new features will be added with the road reconstruction to help with getting drivers to SLOW DOWN. We are planning to have bicycle lanes painted on the new pavement as well as additional crosswalks for pedestrians. Around the same time, we will also be upgrading the gate system at both the main gate entrance at Wemrock Road as well as the back entrance at the Raintree Shopping Center. Email notices will be sent to residents regarding the construction and road closures inside Raintree. Please be patient and cautious during the construction. You may be detoured to get to your destination, but this is a temporary necessity to complete this project.
We have made some additional improvements to make the entrance area and common areas look better including new mulch and stone in the landscape beds and power washing the walkways and buildings to make everything look fresh and clean. We also had many of the overgrown trees around the ring road trimmed back to allow more light to get through. The Raintree Board is making every effort to manage these projects as cost effectively as possible without cutting corners to make our community beautiful. Keep in mind that improvements and upgrades inside your village are managed by each individual village Board and not the Raintree Board.
The Sam Bakal Clubhouse along with the workout room continue to be available as another recreation option for residents. “Meet and greet” gatherings open to all Raintree residents are welcome to meet in the clubhouse. There is a pool table, ping-pong table, foosball table, television, and a small library with books available to residents in the Clubhouse. The Clubhouse can be rented by residents for private party events. Details on clubhouse rental rules and fees can be found on the “forms” page on the Raintree website www.raintreeassociation.com along with a lot of other details about the community. You will find the recycle pick-up dates on the calendar page as well as the dates of upcoming Board meetings that are open to residents.
I regularly hear about complaints and frustrations that residents have with folks that are “bad actors”. Unfortunately, there are those that think it is ok to drive 45 mph on the roads in Raintree, or to not pick up their own dog’s poop and properly dispose of it, or to steal their neighbor’s bicycle, or to park in a “no parking” zone, or to throw trash and empty bottles in the street. I can go on and on. Sadly, these individuals don’t realize that they are de-grading their own community by acting this way. Raintree does not have a police force or cameras in every corner so it becomes near impossible to monitor and stop many of these occurrences. The security guard that sits in the gate house cannot leave the gate house. Raintree used to pay to have a private security person patrol in a car but aside from costing a lot of money (the car, salary, gas, insurance, etc.) it virtually accomplished nothing as a deterrent. We have to rely on residents being “good citizens” and respecting our common community so that we can all safely enjoy living here. Of course if you observe a resident criminally violating the law, you should call 911 immediately and report it. Likewise, if you observe that someone is violating a Raintree rule or by-law, you should report it to the management office with the details of the incident as best as you can, including time, date, details of incident, location, individual(s) involved, and if possible, video or photos as proof of the incident. We have had incidents where violators were caught and they were fined and/or had their community amenities suspended. The good news is that 99% of our 3000 residents are “good actors” that enjoy and respect our community and help keep Raintree a great place to live.
The Raintree Board of Trustees works diligently to try to stay on top of improvements and updates needed in the community. I encourage all residents to use the website www.raintreeassociation.com as a resource to get information and answers to your questions about our community. Your ideas and input are always welcome and can be sent to the management office via email to [email protected] or you can attend the Open Session Board Meetings. Please refer to the calendar tab on the website for the exact dates and schedule.
Enjoy the rest of the summer and I look forward to seeing you here in our beautiful community.
With best regards,
Jack L. Zatz
Raintree Community Association
Board President
Raintree Community President’s Message June 13, 2022
Hello to all Raintree residents:
Summer is arriving and the weather is heating up. With all the landscaping and flowers in bloom, Raintree is looking very fine! Still, operating a community of 3000+ residents has its challenges with our nine villages and our beautiful Pool Club, Executive Golf Course, Professional Tennis-Pickle Ball Courts, Basketball Courts, two Clubhouses and our Workout room/gym.
Our Pool did open one weekend late but ended up being a huge success with a very large turnout and great weather. The water is crystal clear and at the perfect temperature to go in for a quick dip or a nice swim. We had originally hired a professional pool company many months ago whose job was to prepare the pool for opening day and supply lifeguards. They did not deliver as promised, leaving the Raintree Management and Board members scrambling to get the job done at the very last minute. The Raintree Board thanks our EPM Property Management Company for making many calls over the Memorial Day weekend and “jumping through hoops” to help us line up the resources to make the needed repairs and clean the pool in time to open the weekend after Memorial Day. We are currently operating without full time lifeguards on duty so residents need to understand that it is “Swim At Your Own Risk” until we can get lifeguards hired. Board Members and residents have also volunteered to help with “gate-guard” duty until the needed staff can get hired. Beginning June 18th, the pool will be open 7 days a week from 11 am to 7 pm. As noted in last month’s message, the pool bathrooms have been totally renovated and rebuilt with all new dividers and fixtures and fresh new colors and lighting. A few minor details still need to be completed but everything is operational.
Starting this week, the exterior of the pool house and pro-shop building will be refurbished. Some of the details will not be completed until early July, but the work on the building should not interfere with pool or golf operations. The pool also has Wi-Fi available in the area closer to the pool house. The password to access the Wi-Fi is “SamBakal”. Don’t forget to bring your Raintree Amenity Card to access the pool. ALL residents MUST have an active amenity card to gain access – no exceptions. Guests cost $5 for the day, same fee for children and adults.
If you are aware of individuals (age 16+) interested in working as a pool gate-guard or as a lifeguard (requires certification) here at Raintree, please contact the management office at 732-780-1728. These are hourly contractor PAID positions, so hours worked are paid and a 1099 tax form will be issued at the end of the year.
The Golf Course is in great shape and continues to be quite busy! Our new signage will be arriving in a couple of weeks and will give our course an even more professional look! If you are interested in participating or volunteering to help out with the next golf tournament, please contact Andy Magioncalda at [email protected]. Special thanks to John Maine (our Spring Tournament Winner with a round of 62) who has organized a Halloween Golf Tournament (with hay bales and pumpkins on the greens) for Sunday November 6th.
Regarding Golf Course Rules and Regulations, please remember:
- Residents must have a valid Raintree amenity card to play the course
- A Resident may bring up to 3 guests for the day at a price of $15 per golfer
- All Golfers must wear proper golf attire. No sandals, flip-flops, bathing suits, or collarless t-shirts
- Golfers should fix all divots made on the tee-box and in the fairway
- Fix all ball marks on the greens – even the ones you find that are not your own!
As noted last month, we will begin major construction late in the summer on re-paving Raintree Drive, which is the ring road that goes all the way around Raintree. The contractor has been selected and final plans are being completed. The number one goal in this project is the safety of our residents and guests. Too many drivers drive recklessly and too fast on this road. We have many pedestrians with baby carriages and walking dogs. We have already had our share of horrible accidents because of careless drivers running stop signs and going way too fast. The newly designed roadway will have features that should help to get folks to “slow down”. We will also be implementing additional enforcement features using the latest technology with the cooperation of the Freehold Township Police Department. Again, I ask all residents to PLEASE abide by the 25 MPH speed limit and STOP when you see a STOP sign.
There are no new updates on the upgrading of the security gate access system. The project is moving forward and I will keep you posted once we have more definitive details on the timing. The “$40 buy-back for gate-fobs” program is still in effect.
As many of you have already noticed, the new “RAINTREE” signs at the community’s main entrance were installed a few weeks ago and they look great! We still have some additional improvements to make in the entrance area, including repairs to the irrigation, landscaping, and the lighting. Please understand that these projects are complex and the Raintree Board is making every effort to manage these projects as cost effectively as possible without cutting corners to make our community beautiful.
The tennis-pickle-ball court renovations have finally been completed last week and have re-opened to residents. All of the cracks were repaired and damaged surfaces restored. If you are not familiar with the process, it is a complex effort and took the crew almost a full week to complete. But the good news is that courts are now in great shape, so get your rackets and get out there and enjoy! You will need a valid adult Raintree Amenity card to get access to the courts.
I have heard residents ask if we have “social events” planned and sponsored at Raintree. Years ago, some volunteer resident committees organized several social events and activities – things like regular card games in the club house and “Coffee Klotch” groups that met to chit chat and meet their neighbors. Sadly, none of these committees are still around. HOWEVER, we can bring these and other kinds of activities back to Raintree. But residents have to volunteer to help plan and organize them. The Raintree Board would cheerfully support any reasonable efforts that are well planned and put forth. I would be happy to offer the Raintree email blast system to send out invites to residents on such events if properly planned and approved by the Raintree Board of Trustees. We could also offer the Sam Bakal Clubhouse to host such events. If you have ideas you want to share with me and the Board, please email a brief outline of what you have in mind to [email protected] and I will personally review and help you get it going if it’s a reasonable and popular idea.
The Raintree Board of Trustees works diligently to try to stay on top of improvements and updates needed in the community. I encourage all residents to use the website www.raintreeassociation.com as a resource to get information and answers to your questions about our community. Your ideas and input are always welcome and can be sent to the management office via email to [email protected] or you can come to the Open Session Board Meetings which are usually held monthly at 7:30 pm. Please refer to the calendar tab on the website for the exact dates and schedule.
Enjoy the summer and I look forward to seeing you here in our beautiful community
With best regards,
Jack L. Zatz
Raintree Community Association
Board President
Presidents Message 5/12/2022
Hello to all Raintree residents:
Back when the Raintree Community Association published a quarterly paper news flyer, we always included a “President’s Message” to provide residents with an update on the latest events and plans going on at Raintree. It appears that this regular messaging is missed by many residents, so it will now be provided via email and posted to the Raintree website, http://raintreeassociation.com
So spring is here and the weather is finally warming up. The landscapers are out mowing and cleaning up from the winter and the perennials are starting to bloom. As a reminder, each village has its own Board that is responsible for overseeing the landscaping and maintenance in that village. The Raintree Board is responsible for the common areas that include Raintree Drive, the pool, golf course, tennis courts, club houses, basketball courts, and other grounds that are not part of the nine Raintree Villages.
Our Pool will be opening on Memorial Day weekend and will be open weekends only until June 18, at which time it will be open 7 days a week. Pool hours are still being negotiated with our pool maintenance vendor and are dependent on the availability of life guards, so please check the website for the latest hours. We have purchased 25 additional new pool lounges, so now we should have plenty of chairs and lounges for our pool guests. Also, the pool bathrooms have been totally renovated and rebuilt with all new dividers and fixtures and fresh new colors and lighting.
Don’t forget to bring your Raintree Amenity Card to access the pool. ALL residents MUST have an active amenity card to gain access – no exceptions. Guests cost $5 for the day (credit card only), same fee for children and adults.
The Golf Course has been open and operating since the early spring and is quite busy! We already had our first golf tournament just 2 weeks ago. Stay tuned for the announcement for the next tournament coming soon. Don’t forget to bring your Raintree Amenity Card to access the golf course. ALL residents MUST have an active amenity card to gain access – no exceptions. Guests cost $15 for the day (credit card only).
We just finished construction on the new roof for the Molly Pitcher Clubhouse. The building is about 100 years old and was in dire need of a new roof, facia, soffits, gutters, and other repairs which have now been completed.
This summer, we will begin major construction on re-paving Raintree Drive, which is the ring road that goes all the way around Raintree. The road will be repaved and striped with a double-yellow line in the center. We are also planning to add bicycle lanes and crosswalks where needed. The Raintree board is working with a road engineer on the design and planning of the details. We expect construction to begin sometime during the summer. There will be notices in advance of any possible temporary road closures or detours. Stay tuned in the next letter for more details.
Also this summer we will be upgrading the security gate access system. These are the gate arms at both the main gate off of Wemrock Road and the back gate that accesses the shopping center. The entire system will be replaced and upgraded with a newer system that will be more reliable. The gate fobs, or “clickers” will be replaced with a system that uses a sensor in your car that operates with RF signals like the E-Z Pass toll system used on the Garden State Parkway. When your vehicle approaches the Raintree gate, the sensor in your car will trigger a receiver to open the gate automatically. All vehicles registered by Raintree residents will be able to get a sensor that allows automatic access. Our engineers are still working on the details and implementation plans for this new system, which we expect to be implemented some time during the summer or early fall.
Also in the works is the beautification of our main entrance. The two large brick stanchions with the “Raintree” signage are being upgraded. All of the brick has been power washed, the black lanterns have been restored and repainted and upgraded with new LED bulbs, the black fences have been repainted, and the signs themselves will be replaced in the next few weeks. We also plan to upgrade the landscaping around the signs.
The tennis courts will be repaired in late May and all of the golf course signage will be replaced and upgraded this spring. The Pool house side that faces the pool will also get a full facelift this spring with new siding and some nice upgrades to the appearance.
The Raintree Board of Trustees works diligently to try to stay on top of improvements and updates needed in the community. Your ideas and inputs are always welcome and can be sent to the management office via email to [email protected] or you can come to the Open Session Board Meetings which are usually held at 7 pm in the evening monthly. Please refer to the calendar tab on the website for the exact dates and schedule.
That’s all for now. Stay safe and enjoy the improving weather and we look forward to seeing you all enjoying our beautiful community.
With best regards,
Jack L. Zatz
Raintree Community Association
Board President