ATTENTION DOG OWNERS:

A big thanks to all the dog owners who are doing a great job picking up after their dogs this winter. Hopefully this thaw won’t bring a ton of surprises. Please keep up the good work as we look forward to better dog walking season.

Unfortunately, the waste station volunteers once again request that whoever is using the station by the mail center to deposit their week’s work of poop collections in a larger bag to please stop. Emptying the stations is hard enough, especially this time of year with the added weight of the snow. The stations are a convenience solely intended for throwing out individual poop bags when you are walking your dog in the neighborhood.

Remember that the volunteers must throw out four stations worth of stool in their own garbage! Please be considerate and dispose of your dog’s accumulated waste in your own trash.

Thank you again for helping to keep our streets and roadsides free from pet waste so that walkers, bikers and kids playing don’t have to worry about stepping in a mess!

Craneridge Chili Cook-Off – Contestants Needed!

The Craneridge Chili Cook-Off is coming up on February 21st at 6 PM at Mystic Hills Brewing, and we are officially looking for contestants!

If you’ve ever thought, “I make a pretty great chili…” — this is your chance to prove it.

We Need Contestant Responses ASAP

We have limited space for chili entries, and we need to finalize participant numbers soon so we can properly plan the layout, tasting stations, etc.

If you plan to compete, please let us know as soon as possible.

Further event details and contestant instructions will be emailed directly to everyone who signs up.

Next BOD Meeting – Monday Feb 2, 2026 @ 6:45 pm via ZOOM

Monday, Feb 2, 2026  @ 6:45 pm

Via Zoom– This meeting will be held online via Zoom and is open to all community members. This meeting is password protected. To obtain the link and password for the online meeting, please log into the Craneridge Homeowners page: https://craneridge.org/homeowners-2/

Mission Statement: Enhance our living environment through woodlands stewardship, shared property maintenance, and community building.

Outcomes [or Intended Results] for this meeting: 

By the end of this meeting we will accomplish the following: 

  • Understand the latest developments occurring within our committees
  • Make decisions on several topics included in the agenda
Sections and TopicsLeaderTime (minutes) 
CONNECT – Check-in Andrea5
COMMENTS – Member’s Public Comments WelcomeN/AN/A
Meeting Minutes Meeting Approval for January 2025Andrea5  
Fire tragedy  Moment of silenceJen Parsons – Concord Fire CompanyVisitations Friday Feb. 6 – Smith Weismantel Funeral HomeService Saturday, Feb. 7 – St. Aloysius Church – 11 AMAndrea5
CONSENT AGENDA – Officer & Committee ReportsPresident, Vice President, Secretary, & Treasurer/Finance ReportCommittees Architecture CommunicationsEvents team LightingMaintenancePoolWelcomingWoodlands Officers & Committee Chairs 1 minute each

(~10)
CONTEXT – Share Towne Real Estate meeting information
Full management price = $27, per lot, per monthThe price is reduced depending on how many services we use. 		Andrea5
Website password issue – Cache problem. 
Any other Topics that need to be Discussed N/AN/A
CONTINUE & CONCLUDE  – Summarize, Action Plans, Next MeetingAndrea5
Next Meeting is March. 2 – Virtual Meeting

NOTES: ONC label meanings
O = Open (Talking about it for the first time & opening the discussion)
N = Narrow (Focusing on Options & narrowing down the discussion)
C = Close (Making a decision and closing the discussion) 

The Craneridge Chili Cook-Off

Get ready for an evening of bold flavors and friendly competition! The Craneridge Chili Cook-Off is set for February 21 at 6 PM at Mystic Hills, and everyone is invited.

Participants are encouraged to bring a full crockpot of their favorite chili, while attendees will sample and vote for their favorites. Prizes will be awarded to the top three chilis, but the real winner is the community coming together for a fun night out.

Whether you’re cooking or just tasting, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Please RSVP to jenparglen@gmail.com or juliedanaths@gmail.com

Remembering Richard Guild

Craneridge has lost one of its longtime and impactful residents. On Wednesday, January 7th, Richard (Dick) Guild passed suddenly and unexpectedly at home at the age of 88.

Dick and his wife, Jean, moved into Craneridge in 1976 and welcomed their daughter, Nicole, that December.

During his long tenure in Craneridge, Dick held multiple board positions, often related to his financial expertise.

Beyond the terms served, Dick will be remembered for his (usually) quiet manner and selfless willingness to help with whatever needed doing in our growing community. He had many important construction skills and was always there to lend a hand and some tools when any sort of repair or new project needed accomplishing. Dick’s life of service to Craneridge is a perfect example of how our amazing community runs on volunteerism.

There will be a visitation from 2-5 PM on Wednesday, January 14th at the Dietrich Funeral Home at 2480 Kensington Avenue in Amherst.

Please keep Jean, Nicole, their families, and all those whose lives and hearts Dick touched in your thoughts. He will be greatly missed.

Next BOD Meeting – Monday Jan 5, 2026 @ 6:45 pm via ZOOM

Monday, Jan 5, 2026  @ 6:45 pm

Via Zoom– This meeting will be held online via Zoom and is open to all community members. This meeting is password protected. To obtain the link and password for the online meeting, please log into the Craneridge Homeowners page: https://craneridge.org/homeowners-2/

Mission Statement: Enhance our living environment through woodlands stewardship, shared property maintenance, and community building.

Outcomes [or Intended Results] for this meeting: 

By the end of this meeting we will accomplish the following: 

  • Understand the latest developments occurring within our committees
  • Make decisions on several topics included in the agenda
Sections and TopicsLeaderTime (minutes) 
CONNECT – Check-in Andrea5
COMMENTS – Member’s Public Comments WelcomeN/AN/A
Meeting Minutes Meeting Approval for December 2025Andrea5  
CONVENE – Quick review of Outcomes, Agenda, and rolesAndrea5
Topic – Management company presentation        Guest: Jeremy Ballsmith from Town Housing Real EstateJeff20
CONSENT AGENDA – Officer & Committee ReportsPresident, Vice President, Secretary, & Treasurer/Finance ReportCommittees Architecture CommunicationsEvents team LightingMaintenancePoolWelcomingWoodlands Officers & Committee Chairs 1 minute each

(~10)
CONTEXT – Review Follow-up Action Plan Template ItemsAndrea5
CONTENT – with “open,” “narrow,” or ”close”
Any other Topics that need to be Discussed N/AN/A
CONTINUE & CONCLUDE  – Summarize, Action Plans, Next MeetingAndrea5
Next Meeting is Feb. 2 – Virtual Meeting

NOTES: ONC label meanings
O = Open (Talking about it for the first time & opening the discussion)
N = Narrow (Focusing on Options & narrowing down the discussion

Next BOD Meeting – Monday Dec 1, 2025 @ 6:45 pm via ZOOM

Monday, Dec 1, 2025  @ 6:45 pm

Via Zoom– This meeting will be held online via Zoom and is open to all community members. This meeting is password protected. To obtain the link and password for the online meeting, please log into the Craneridge Homeowners page: https://craneridge.org/homeowners-2/

Mission Statement: Enhance our living environment through woodlands stewardship, shared property maintenance, and community building.

Outcomes [or Intended Results] for this meeting: 

By the end of this meeting we will accomplish the following: 

  • Understand the latest developments occurring within our committees
  • Make decisions on several topics included in the agenda
Sections and TopicsLeaderTime (minutes) 
CONNECT – Check-in Andrea5
COMMENTS – Member’s Public Comments WelcomeN/AN/A
Meeting Minutes Meeting Approval for November 2025Andrea5  
CONVENE – Quick review of Outcomes, Agenda, and rolesAndrea5
CONSENT AGENDA – Officer & Committee ReportsPresident, Vice President, Secretary, & Treasurer/Finance ReportCommittees Architecture CommunicationsEvents team LightingMaintenancePoolWelcomingWoodlands Officers & Committee Chairs 1 minute each

(~10)
CONTEXT – Review Follow-up Action Plan Template ItemsAndrea5
CONTENT – with “open,” “narrow,” or ”close”
Topic – Management company updateAndrea10
Topic – Pool house fan updateAndrea5
Any other Topics that need to be Discussed N/AN/A
CONTINUE & CONCLUDE  – Summarize, Action Plans, Next MeetingAndrea5
Next Meeting is Dec. 1 – Virtual Meeting

NOTES: ONC label meanings
O = Open (Talking about it for the first time & opening the discussion)
N = Narrow (Focusing on Options & narrowing down the discussion)
C = Close (Making a decision and closing the discussion) 

Next BOD Meeting – Monday Nov 3, 2025 @ 6:45 pm via ZOOM

Monday, Nov 3, 2026  @ 6:45 pm

Via Zoom– This meeting will be held online via Zoom and is open to all community members. This meeting is password protected. To obtain the link and password for the online meeting, please log into the Craneridge Homeowners page: https://craneridge.org/homeowners-2/

Mission Statement: Enhance our living environment through woodlands stewardship, shared property maintenance, and community building.

Outcomes [or Intended Results] for this meeting: 

By the end of this meeting we will accomplish the following: 

  • Understand the latest developments occurring within our committees
  • Make decisions on several topics included in the agenda
Sections and TopicsLeaderTime (minutes) 
CONNECT – Check-in Andrea5
COMMENTS – Member’s Public Comments WelcomeN/AN/A
Meeting Minutes Meeting Approval for October 2025Andrea5  
CONVENE – Quick review of Outcomes, Agenda, and rolesAndrea5
CONSENT AGENDA – Officer & Committee ReportsPresident, Vice President, Secretary, & Treasurer/Finance ReportCommittees Architecture CommunicationsEvents team LightingMaintenancePoolWelcomingWoodlands Officers & Committee Chairs 1 minute each

(~10)
CONTEXT – Review Follow-up Action Plan Template ItemsAndrea5
CONTENT – with “open,” “narrow,” or ”close”
Topic – Management company updateAndrea10
Any other Topics that need to be Discussed N/AN/A
CONTINUE & CONCLUDE  – Summarize, Action Plans, Next MeetingAndrea5
Next Meeting is Dec. 1 – Virtual Meeting

NOTES: ONC label meanings
O = Open (Talking about it for the first time & opening the discussion)
N = Narrow (Focusing on Options & narrowing down the discussion)
C = Close (Making a decision and closing the discussion) 

🍂 FALL UPDATE: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment Begins!

Now that cooler fall temperatures have arrived, our Ecos Cooperative team will begin treating our tagged Hemlocks for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) as soon as the rain eases up and their schedule allows. Weather is always a factor, but treatments can continue until the ground freezes — likely through November.

To-date, Ecos Cooperative and volunteer neighbors have treated nearly 400 Hemlocks. Our Craneridge volunteers have already tagged 120 Hemlocks for fall treatment, with plans to tag about 50 more before the end of the season. 🌲

A heartfelt thank-you to Matt Gregory and Bill Rugg for their time and dedication — these efforts could not have been done this without them!

We’ll continue to share updates as treatment progresses. Together, we’re helping protect our beautiful Hemlocks for generations to come! 💚

Questions? Contact Gwen at gwenalegre@gmail.com.