January 2017

HFLA Board of Directors:

Chip Whitfield, President - 706-694-2515

Les Sanders, VP and Grounds Liaison - 706-463-2416

Alan Steinle, Treasurer - 806-290-2270

Tony Jarjoura, Pool Liaison --694-9883

Zach Smith - 706-260-5160

HIGHLAND HIGHLIGHTSJanuary News from the Board We hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year!

The Highland Forest Landowner’s Association Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 24th, at 7 pm. Please join us as we discuss improvements and opportunities for 2016 and as we look forward to new projects and ways to improve for 2017.

If you have any questions please email highlandforest@yahoo.com!

HF Board of Directors

Please contact Mark Sirmans if you have neighborhood items that need to be announced on the sign next to the pool. He can be reached by text or voice at 706-463-3131 or by email at marksirmans@dalyn.com

Oh what fun! The 2016 HF Carolers had a great time singing their favorite carols with their neighbors! Special thanks to Lisa King for organizing this event and to all our volunteers for their help in making this event a success! Our kids and youth are pretty amazing!! They had smiles, joy, and lots of holiday cheer to share with families all over the neighborhood!! It was a fun and special night!! 

January 2017

Highland Forest Food Drive - 2016

The 2016 Highland Forest Food Drive was a complete success! Many thanks to everyone who helped make the food drive possible!! 

Colt Volunteers helped bring in food for our local community food pantry.  

The Varnell United Methodist Church serves approximately 250 families a month. The Highland Forest Food Drive was Saturday, December 17th from 10 am - 1 pm and is one of several food drives in the community this time of year.

Volunteers delivered flyers and bags to over 300 residents in Highland Forest, Highland Point and surrounding residents. 

On Saturday, December 17th, they set up tents and tables at the HF Pool parking lot to receive items. Following the food drive volunteers delivered all donations to the Varnell United Methodist Church Food Pantry.  

The Varnell United Methodist Church is a proud sponsor of the Colts Football Program and provides the pre-game meal for seniors and all players during football season. Church members and Food Pantry volunteers are always grateful for student efforts to re-stock the Food Pantry after Thanksgiving and before Christmas.  

Colt Volunteers from the football team (left to right) include; Michael King, Lance & Logan Watson, and Boone Creswell.  

Not Pictured representing the CCHS Marching Band is Andrew Johnston and Skylin Rose and representing the Colts Cross Country Team, Morgan King.  

All students are part of the Beta Club program at Coahulla Creek high school and without their efforts and the support from the school, Foodlion, and HF residents the Food Drive would not be possible!  

This year's food drive was a big success and many thanks go out to everyone who participated! 

A special thanks to the Colts Football Coach, Chad Murray and CCHS Beta Club Representative, Josh Millican, for encouraging football players, athletes and students to actively be involved in our community!! 

All efforts show how a little time and kindness can be a blessing to so many this time of year!! 

Wishing everyone and their families a Happy New Year!!

Lisa King 

HF- Food Drive Coordinator

January 2017

Editor’s Notes Tammy Baxter 706-694-0918 Please share your events and news with us for the Highland Highlights! The deadline for the February newsletter will be January 20th. Items can be sent by email at highlandforest@yahoo.com or by using the Contact Us link on our website www.highlandforestonline.com Please tag us in your photos on Facebook! Thanks again for all your submissions! Please call me if you have any questions or issues with the email, Facebook page or website! Our newsletter is available each month on our website and can be viewed as a photo (page by page) or as a pdf file.

I want to take a little space to thank everyone for their help during the years I have been the Highland Highlights Editor. It’s been great working with you and getting to know you! Bridgette Anderson will be taking over our newsletter and other social media for Highland Forest. Please join me in welcoming her and offering her any help she might need. I’m looking forward to seeing the new direction she will take us! Thanks again!

Tammy Baxter

Welcome New Neighbors! Bobbie Medlin - 706-264-8617bpmedlin@optilink.us

If you are new to the neighborhood please let Bobbie know when the best time is to contact you or come by. She will bring you a neighborhood directory and other useful information regarding our community!

Orchids in Our Forest If you are walking in the woods around your house be on the lookout for cranefly orchid plants, a southeast native. The leaves, which appear in the fall and disappear in the late spring, have a distinctive purple color underneath. A stem with tiny orchids appears in the summer, but you probably won't notice it unless you remember where you saw the leaves. This is an easy and fun plant to identify.

by Charles Johnson, Charolais Trail

(Special Thanks to Charles for his contributions and constant encouragement !)

January 2017

Book Club Tammy Baxter - 706-694-0918 The book club is open to all Highland Forest residents. We officially meet the first Monday of the month at 7 pm.

January 9 - Travels by Michael Crichton, Hostess: Delores Hefner, 4204 Chestnut Trail

February 6 - Lab Girl by Hope Jahren, Hostess: Trish Wright, 4411 Arbor Trail

March 6 - Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik, Hostess: Diana Baker, 4201 Country Way

April 3 - Cyber Storm by Matthew Mather, Hostess: Elaine Johnson, 4602 Loftwood

May 1 - Commonwealth by Ann Patchett, Hostess: Heather Street, 728 Tee Top

June 5 - Just Mercy: A Story of Justice by Bryan Stevenson, Hostess: Nancy Hill, 4413 Honeysuckle

July 10 - The Time Between by Karen White, Hostess: Patsy Gordon, 326 Nob North Drive

August 7 - Kitchens of the Great Midwest: A Novel by J. Ryan Stradal, Hostess: Ann Sullivan

September 11 - Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams, Hostess: Tammy Baxter 193 Old Hollow Trail

October 2 - Bettyville: A Memoir by George Hodgman, Hostess: TBA

November 8 - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, Hostess: TBA

December 4 - The Life We Bury - by Allen Eskens, Hostess: TBA

Please call Tammy Baxter at 706-694-0918 if you have children’s or young adult books you would like to donate to the Free Little Library located next to Varnell Gym at Varnell Elementary!

Garden Club Nancy Hill - 706-694-8088We will be meeting in February! Have a Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing you next month!

Reserve the pavilion by calling Nancy Rhine at 706-694-

Thank you, Nancy, for taking care of this for our neighborhood!