H! Neighbour",The Annual General Meeting was held on July 24 and a new board is now in place. Just to remind you, one of the LMCC by laws in-dicates that a new board must be selected each year. This is done with the hope of bringing new vision and ultimately driving new energy into the team. A board member is expected to serve at least two years. This year five new members were elected. We wish them all the best in the year ahead.

As we look forward to greater improvements in LMCC, we con-tinue to be faced with challenges. In order minimize the challenges, we need to revisit the whole operation of LMCC. The ‘growth’ of the community in the last eight years and the “service delivery” required for the club members, forces a new business approach which should cater to the needs of the residents. Significant im-provement is required as it relates to the overall aesthetic, securi-ty, maintenance, compliance and general operation of the manage-ment o!ce. As such Vision 2016 (five-year plan) is being designed to address these issues.

The 2016 plan for LMCC should examine the management struc-ture, the revenue streams, the buildings maintenance (painting etc.), and legal framework to deal with compliance, strata manage-ment, landscaping, health and safety among other issues. We do hope that we could form a committee to develop and ensure that this plan is implemented.

One critical challenge is compliance with the management of pets. We expect residents to secure their pets so that they don’t inter-fere with their neighbours as it relates to noise, litter and scent. The proliferation of stray dogs and cats is also of concern and the Property O!ce is pushing to have this addressed.

We continue to look forward to each and everyone’s support as we make LMCC the best community to live.

Stephen DawkinsChairman

L M C CC O M M I T T E E S

Residents are encouraged to get involved in the a!airs of LMCC by becoming

members of the various committees. Below is a list of committees and their

Chairpersons.

Landscape & Beautifcation Harold Morgan

Safety & Security Derrick Tulloch, J.P.

Building & Repairs Mark Walters

FinanceEdward Harper

PR & CommunicationsAndrea Adams

Youth Development & Civic A!airs Maurice HenryAndrea Parker

Legal & Governance Evadney Ramdial, J.P.

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Chairman’s Message

LATE AND NON PAYMENTS Residents are again being reminded to settle any arrears with their maintenance. The names of delinquents, owing more than three months maintenance, will be published in the next issue of the ezine. Residents are welcomed to visit the Property O"ce to get a state-ment and settle any arrears.

PAYMENTSResidents can pay their maintenance fees at the Property O"ce from Monday to Friday during o"ce hours. This is due on first of each month and can be made using Credit/Debit card or Cheque. Residents can also visit any branch of Paymaster or use NCB online. Please note that cash payments will not be accepted at the Property O"ce, as previously stated in the last issue.

#nanc$ Committe$ Repor%

Delinquenc& Repor%

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Long Mountain News

by Edward Harper (Chairman)

Entrance Gate:

The board of directors has decided to discontinue the ser-vices of Telicon Limited and has hired Hawkeye Limited to be the sole service provider of the entrance gate. With this in mind, a full re-installation of the gate has been commis-sioned. The barrier beam for the visitors’ gate has also been acquired and will be installed before the end of September. We do recognize the inconvenience that all residents have been undergoing and ask that you continue bear with us until all is in place.

Titles:

Twenty-two land titles have been transferred in the name of Long Mountain Country Club Limited. What this means is that all open spaces, green spaces and roads now belong to the club members of LMCC. Titles that were also to have buildings (homes) have also been transferred to LMCC, namely lots 74 and 75 in Phase 6.

Lot 526 Proposed building of Single Family Home:

The directors of Selective Homes Limited have made an out-of-court settlement with Roosevelt Thompson who was the contracted surveyor for the design of LMCC. The settlement involves the transferred lot 526 to Mr. Thompson. A single

family home is slated to be built in the vicinity. The home el-evation will see the roof level not passing the ground level of the townhouses within the vicinity. Advice is being sought to determine the legality of such transfer of title and proposed construction. Any concerns must be lodged in writing to the LMCC Ltd. Board no later than October 15, 2011.

Collection:

Lawyers are being retained to collect maintenance fees due 12 months and over. Legal fees will be recovered from resi-dents. Please contact the o"ce with any concerns.

Property Manager:

Paul Thompson is no longer the Property Manager of LMCC and the board of directors is currently reviewing applicants with a view to fill the post with the best candidate no later than November 1, 2011. A temporary employee has being hired to assist with administrative a!airs. His name is Kevin Rowe, who is in the o"ce to make calls and assist where nec-essary.

News From The Property Office

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Long Mountain News

he Security committee and the Board are cognizant that the security of our residents is of paramount importance. We recently held meetings with our Se-

curity providers to review and enhance the safety of our community.

Some initiatives under consideration include:

Increased patrol of our property by our security team

Exit gate to be installed as required

Meeting with the police and increased patrols

Ensuring that all street lights are working properly

We thank you for your support while we work to upgrade the entrance of the property and install the entrance gates.

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Safety and Security Committee

Long Mountain News

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by Derrick A. Tulloch, J.P. (Chairman)

Please be vigilant of your

surroundings and report

any problems that you

may detect to our

Security Team at

946-8816

and to the

Property O!ce at

946-8823.

Air FilterWhen your air filter is clogged, it makes it harder to get air into the combustion chambers, which drives up your gas expenses. Try to change your air filter every 15,000 miles and get regular cleanings with a vacuum or soap and water between changes.

BrakesImagine being unable to stop your car in an emergency. Not a pret-ty picture. Always check for signs that your brakes might be worn out - a flashing brake warning light, squealing or grinding noises, a shaky steering wheel or if your car takes longer to stop or pulls to one side when you stop. Check your mechanic immediately if you notice any of these signs. If you are not able to identify these signs yourself, come by our garage and we’ll show you some simple techniques to recognize potential problems with your braking sys-tem.

Drive BeltThe drive belt basically runs your engine, powering the alterna-tor, water pump, power steering pump, A/C compressor and air pump. Check that the tension is right and always replace on time, because a broken drive belt can permanently damage your car.

Oil ChangesYou need a good lubricant to prevent the engine parts from rub-bing together and wearing out. Check your oil level every few hun-dred miles. Park the car on a level surface, remove the oil dipstick, wipe it on a clean cloth, then reinsert it. Remove it again, and check the oil level. We recommend you do this weekly, preferably in the mornings. Also note the colour of the oil. Please also remember to check your transmission oil levels and colour. If you are unable to identify these or di!erentiate them, call or visit our service centre.

Power-Steering FluidPower-steering components are expensive, so replacing the pow-er-steering fluid can help to prolong the life components such as the pump and the rack. Check your mechanic immediately if you hear a whining or moaning noise when you turn the steering wheel and always ensure that you keep the fluid topped up.

Spark PlugIf you want your car to start up and run smoothly, get rid of old spark plugs. They will cause your engine to misfire and run poorly. Not all sparks plugs are the same and performance varies accord-ing to brand and type.

Timing Belt/ChainThis helps your car to get started, transferring power from the crank shaft to the cam shaft. Cracks, shredding, excessive slack or oil leaks from the adjacent seals can damage the belt and slow down your car.

TyresYou have to get your tyre pressure just right: Too high pressure causes your car to bounce around and too low pressure causes excessive wear and tread separation. Rotate your tyres regularly so that they wear more evenly.

Transmission LeaksIf you notice a puddle of red or brown liquid beneath your car, chances are you have a transmission fluid leak. Transmission mal-function will cause your vehicle to stop running properly, so deal with it as soon as possible, whether the leak is minor or major.

The ABCs of Auto Maintenance

8

Auto Care

Scenes from the Annual General Meeting

9

Long Mountain News

he Long Mountain Country Club (LMCC) has added its support to the communities expressing disapproval of a planned housing development in the area. LMCC

believes that the proposed apartment complex, which is planned for the Long Mountain area including parts of Mona, Papine Estates and Goldsmith Villa by the government-owned Housing Agency of Jamaica Limited (HAJL), could have sig-nificant negative e!ects on an already sensitive environment.

In a letter to the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the LMCC noted that the proposed development would increase the possibility of flooding and earthquakes within the area, because of the inevitable stress on the drain-age system, the removal of trees and pressure on the fault lines that lie below the area. “The site falls within the land use zone private or public open space that serves to prevent en-croachment on the National Water Commission’s (NWC’s) Mona Reservoir and the Mona Water Treatment Plant... De-

velopment of a site for residential purposes normally leads to a 1.5 to two-fold increase in storm water runo! caused by increase in pavement structures such as paved roads, drive-ways and sidewalks, as well as runo! from roofs of houses,” the letter said, citing findings from an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which highlighted the negative impacts the project could have on the environment.

Many of these e!ects were also highlighted at a public meet-ing in July by Jamaica Environment Trust ( JET) and the Beverly Hills Citizens’ Association, which also voiced its disapproval of the expected 54-lot subdivision occupying 29.2 acres of land in Mona Estates. Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKen-zie has said that the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) will not approve any new construction in the Long Mountain area, citing the importance of preventing construc-tion in areas not suitable for development. NEPA is expected to make a decision on the issue soon.

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LMCC Raises Concerns About Proposed Housing Development

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Cover Story

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Cover Story

HERE ARE THE MAIN CONCERNS:

1. There will be greater surface flows due to an increase in paved surfaces with the potential e!ect of the flooding of areas down gra-dient of the site similar to that being experienced by the residents in and around Glenview Terrace at the north northeastern foot of Beverly Hills, below Beverly Drive. (EIA – page 46).

2. Geological faults traverse the project area and its environs, generally constituting a seismically active area of the Wagwater Belt. Disruptions to the natural environment from site preparation and construction works may result in rock movement and instabil-ity near the proposed development. Opening of sealed fissures on the floor of the reservoir can result in vast and uncontrollable leak-ages. (EIA – page 80)

3. Cumulative reduction in recharge amounts resulting from the proposed and prior developments will impact long-term yields of production wells that tap the local aquifer. These include the Bev-erly Hills, Long Mountain, Hampstead Road and Rennock Lodge wells. These wells are currently used for domestic water supply by the National Water Commission (NWC). It is expected that in excess of five million gallons per day is already abstracted from these wells with a proposed increase from the Hampstead source well for augmentation of supply to served areas. (EIA – page 94).

4. At Long Mountain, the area of the proposed project, the eco-system services identified are: (1) the area potentially acts as a carbon sink (anything that absorbs more carbon than it releases); (2) It is a habitat for primarily endemic species; (3) groundwater recharge area for the underground aquifer; (4) It has a role in maintaining biological diversity; (5) in its natural state it does not contribute to flooding of adjacent areas; (6) as an open space area it provides non-use values.

5. While performing the role of a groundwater recharge, the area e!ectively prevents the flooding of adjacent properties including Mona Reservoir and Mona Water Treatment Plant. The construc-tion activities that would result in an increase in paved surfaces and a reduction in surfaces for percolation will contribute to flood-ing. (EIA – page 108)

6. Possible flooding of the Mona Water Treatment plant as per NWC’s letter included in the EIA.

CSEC Top Scholars Looking Towards the Future

hat started out as a sedate interview session with three of Long Mountain’s top achievers in the Ca-ribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC)

exams soon got a little intense as the subject of which school is the best was – mischievously – introduced. Pretty soon, voices rose in passion and wisecracks flew about the room as Stefan Ramdial, 17, past student of Jamaica College took on Tahj Atkinson, 17, of Campion College. Observing the battle from the sidelines was Rochelle Watson, also 17, of St. Andrew High School, who found the arguments quite amus-ing. In between barbs, we managed to find out their goals and ambitions, plans for the future and, of course, what they loved most about their schools.

Rochell$ Watso' – ($ Scientis%his future doctor received five distinctions and three credits. Surprisingly, Spanish was her favourite subject up until the latter part of the school year when she discov-

ered a greater love for biology.

Rochelle is currently in lower sixth form and continuing her science studies in order to fulfill her dream of a medical ca-reer. She has one eye on the University of the West Indies, Mona, which would allow her to stay close to her family, but she also wants to get a taste of life abroad. “I always wanted to travel and [study] abroad, but I’m not really sure. I’m just going to see how things work out,” she said.

“I enjoy doing the sciences. I like studying the body and be-ing able to analyse someone else and be able to help them. I consider myself a people person, so I want a job where I can interact with people on a regular basis and doing something that I enjoy makes sense.”

Future plans aside, Rochelle has had a quiet summer, part of which was spent overseas. She also had a celebratory din-ner with her family when her results were announced. She is now enjoying being back with her friends at school, where she has many fond memories. If only she could tell us a really good one! “My memory is really bad,” she laughed, casting about for one that stands out. Not even graduation? “We did crazy things but I cannot remember - I’m always the one to say, ‘Oh yeah, I remember that’, but I can’t recall the ac-tual things. Graduation was really good though and no tears, surprisingly.”

Rochelle is looking forward to participating in new extra-curricular activities in sixth form, along with the science club, where she will be getting a leadership position soon. She was also involved in Inter-School Christian Fellowship (ISCF) and choir, where she mainly sings soprano.

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Feature

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T

Tah) Atkinso' : ($ Ant!-bookwor*ahj got seven distinctions and one credit, but it’s the latter that stands out simply because he hadn’t ex-pected to even pass the subject due to a less-than-

stellar School Based Assessment (SBA) project and missing the last question on the exam.

“P.O.B. (Principles of Business) doesn’t interest me at all. I don’t even know why I did it. I needed an eighth subject, and in the future, I think it probably might help me even a little bit,” he shrugged. Indeed it might, considering he doesn’t want to spend all his adult life wearing the ‘employee’ tag.

Like Rochelle, he favoured the sciences, but he’s not yet de-cided on a career. “I might go to UWI, but I also want to go abroad because I think I’ll have more opportunities there. I have it in my head that I want to be a doctor, but that can change anytime,” he said. If he does get the chance to go overseas, Tahj sees himself at the University of Califor-nia, Los Angeles, where he will be close to family. For now though, he is focused on getting through sixth form at, as he said, “the best school ever.”

“People always think that Campion is just full of nerds and uptown people, but it’s really not like that. You have uptown people, you have downtown people, nerds, wastemen, you have that cultural mix so you learn more than what’s in the textbook. And it’s fun,” he declared. The ‘best school de-bate’ would rage on, but Tahj adamantly stood by his argu-ment. He has many great memories, but one of his favou-rites is the last day prank where the boys and girls swapped uniforms. Just imagine the sight of the boys wearing skirts! Naturally, the principal was not amused.

Tahj is looking forward to continuing his academic track record in sixth form and hopes to get a sports scholarship from either water polo or football. He is currently playing in the corporate area Manning Cup league.

Stefa' Ramdia+ :($ Artis%he most soft-spoken in the bunch, Stefan went toe-to-toe with Tahj in the ‘best school debate’, even pausing mid-interview to throw back a barb or two in support of his

alma mater, Jamaica College. Interestingly, he had started his high school career at St. George’s College, but found a better fit at the Hope Road institution and graduated with seven subjects.

“There were a few down times when I thought school was just not for me, but in the end, my mother said, ‘Stefan, it’s your choice’,” he shared. After this pep talk, he decided to focus on the arts, even though he was heading into fourth form and had never done art before. “I pushed myself, a whole lot of sleepless nights.”

Burning the midnight oil paid o! as he was accepted to the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, where he will spend the next four years majoring in graphics and pursuing a mi-nor in music. “My future goal is to be a graphic artist, whether it be commercial or anime. My degree, and then two years after for my masters and that’s it for me,” he said. He is more drawn to anime, where you can be realistic or be as fanciful as you please. “It’s just for you as the artist to know how you want to express yourself and how you want it to come across.”

Stefan decided to skip sixth form and go straight to college be-cause he couldn’t find a pre-college programme that focused on art the way he wanted. “The only sixth form around that really has anything to do with art is [St. Andrew High] and unfortunately, they don’t have my dress size,” he quipped. “I figured, why waste two years in sixth form when I can do four years and get my de-gree then two more years for my Masters in Fine Arts (MFA). Also the fact that I was tired of the man face!” he laughed.

After Edna, Stefan has his heart set on the Royal School of Arts in London for his MFA. He is undecided as to what area of graphics he wants to pursue as a career, but he remains excited to become a graphic artist.

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Feature

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he summer is over, the new school term has o"cially started and your kids are excited to reunite with their friends and enter a new chapter in their lives, full of

fresh experiences and new lessons to learn. However, after the novelty of the first few days wears o!, the challenge as a parent is to keep your kids focused throughout the year and maintain the best environment for learning. Here are some tips that should have your kids on the track to success this school year:

1) Creat$ , Routin$ an- Stic. t/ i%It might be a bit di"cult for them to move from the freedom of summer to being stuck in a routine, but it is important that kids make a successful transition and have clear limitations on play time, bed time and wake up time. Sleep is very important to the learning process, so ensure that your child goes to bed at a reasonable hour.

2) Weekend" are'’% al+ 0' an- game"Get your child into the frame of mind to also use the week-end for school. This is a perfect time to complete assign-ments, read over notes and get a head start for the coming week. Make some time for play as well, since it is important that your child also spends time relaxing.

3) Ge% your chil- organ1e-Get your child organized by purchasing a dry erase board (or a suitable alternative) and Post-its, so that he/ she can list upcoming assignments, due dates, progress made and also note upcoming tests. This will ensure that every assignment is completed on time.

4) Homewor. mus% b$ don$ a% hom$This might seem obvious but students sometimes forget to do homework then rush to complete it at school. This is a definite no-no. Ensure that your child has a scheduled time for home work when he/she gets home from school. Home-work gives the teacher an idea of where your child is, so stress the importance of homework and monitor the process to ensure that it is done properly.

5) Atten- meeting" a% schoo+It’s quite likely that your child will take a greater interest in school and see the importance of doing well, if he/she sees that you also take learning seriously. Try to be present for as many parent-teacher meetings as possible, and take the time to follow up with your child’s teachers to see the progress being made and what needs to be done to get your child per-forming at his/her best.

FiveWays to Keep Your Child FocusedAll School Year

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Family

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amaican homeowners received a respite in May when the government adjusted stamp duty charges from three per cent of transaction value to J$100 for the transfer of mortgages that are being refinanced for equal amounts

or less. This move has caused the major players in the island’s building society industry to also drop their rates in order to lure more customers, which is another boon for homeowners as they can now shop around and take advantage of the lower rates.

So far, Scotia Jamaica Building Society (SJBS) has cut mortgage rates from 14 per cent to 10.75 per cent; Victoria Mutual Build-ing Society (VMBS) has reduced its rates on new residential loans for owner-occupied properties to 10.40 per cent for savers and 11.99 per cent for non-savers; and Jamaica National Building Soci-ety ( JNBS) has made the biggest cut, dropping rates from 13 per cent to a range of 11.49 to 9.8 per cent.

According to Paulette Newby, Mortgage Sales Manager at JNBS, mortgagers have been shopping around not because of the re-duced transfer tax but due to the overall poor economic outlook. “Many of our customers come in and say they’re looking at their options. However, they must carefully consider the hassles in-volved in refinancing and think long term,” she said. Indeed, there are several factors to consider when considering refinancing your property. For instance, you might not want to refinance if:

You already have a reasonable rateIt might be tempting to go for an even lower rate than you’re currently paying, but note that there are additional costs involved

with refinancing, plus you’ll have to start your repayment term over as well. “It’s best to consider refinancing if you’ve already paid o! all the interest on your first mortgage. Unless there is a significant di!erence between your original interest rate and the one you’re looking at, it could end up costing you,” Newby stated.

Your mortgage is nearly paid offIf you are nearing the end of your term, it might be best to stick with your current lender. Refinancing could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan, even at a much lower rate. One option is to refinance to a shorter term.

However, if you do decide to refinance, be certain to get quotes from at least three lenders.

According to US-based mortgage resource Refinancing Right, studies have shown that most people don’t actually shop around for the best mortgage or compare mortgage quotes. Shopping around can help you save thousands of dollars. With at least five players in the local industry, you should be able to find a loan that meets your needs. There is not much to separate the rates of-fered locally, according to Newby, but she advised that lenders are looking for a solid track record of financial discipline, and you must be up to date on your current mortgage payments.

What You Need to Know About

Mortgage Refinancing

15

Personal Finance

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