Friday News

This week's photo submission is from: Karen Parker

Public Safety Updates:

Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You

The importance of having working smoke alarms in homes was the focus of Fire Prevention Week 2024. Approximately 3 out of 5 fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and located in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of your home. It is best for the alarms to be interconnected, so that when one sounds they all will. Please follow the link below to our website to access a very short video on smoke alarm basics.

Smoke Alarms - Fire Prevention Week 2024

AC Updates

Fred McLam will be out of the office until Wednesday 10/23/24. As a reminder, he is normally available to meet with at the Admin Office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00AM - 12:00PM. Fred can now also be reached via email at compliance@bent-tree.com.

Architectural Request forms can be obtained and submitted at the Admin Office Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00AM - 4:00PM. They are also accessible from the Governance / Community Documents section of the Bent Tree website.

Administration & Board Updates:

Proposed CC&R Amendments

You should have received an electronic ballot from Votegrity on Friday concerning proposed CC&R amendments that have been discussed in Town Halls several times this year and have been the subject of two echo articles. You will also be receiving a paper ballot via the US Mail, and you can vote electronically or by mail.

In case you need to be refreshed an explanation of the proposed changes is on the Board of Directors page under Current Board Initiatives. Also, on that page you will find the video of a recent Town Hall that discussed these amendments and the presentation that was used during that town hall. An explanation of the changes can be accessed here.

Amendments to the CC&R’s require a high bar, both on the number of voters and on the level of approval (2/3^rd of votes cast) so please review the data and VOTE. Voting ends of November 8^th so please vote as soon as possible.

For those of you who did not attend the Annual Meeting yesterday, below is an excerpt from the President’s Report in the Annual Report in reference to the proposed CC&R changes.

CC&R

Objective –

To bring the CC&R changes recommended by the Documents Committee and the Board of Directors to a community vote.

Result –

A ballot for consideration of changes is in process. Residents will be asked to vote on a number of issues including.

· A proposal for a Resort Fee that would be charged on short term (less than 30 day) rentals in Bent Tree. This fee could produce as much as $90.000 per year based on current occupancy estimates.

· A proposal to allow the Board of Directors the authority to reallocate revenues from the Capital Maintenance and Replacement Assessment to better address the community’s needs in any given year.

· A proposal to define what kind of business can be conducted in homes in Bent Tree. This amendment is needed as more and more of our residents are employed and the trend of working from home increases

Thank you.

Buddy Creef

President, Bent Tree Community, Inc.

713/623-3444

buddycreef@bent-tree.com

News From the Courts Pro

Please mark your calendars and join us for this “spooktacular” gathering! It’ll be a night of great food, fun, and fellowship…and some hilarious costumes. Hope to see you there.

Now is the time to learn tennis…Our Red Ball Challenge is for the beginner players, regardless of age. A smaller/shorter racket and “Red ball” makes learning easier. The smaller court is less intimidating for newer athletes. Classes are held this Saturday. October 5th at 11am -12:15p, and 12:30p-1:15p. Space is limited, so please RSVP with Coach Bob at 770-877-0884 to claim your spot. We supply all equipment needed. Please wear court shoes for safety purposes.

Congratulations to the Team of Jay Biddle/Pete Ashley/Steve Sewell/John DiPaolo representing the University of Tennessee who won the Lee Wilson Collegiate Classic Championship this weekend! After a tight day on Saturday, they came back and battled through a tough day to finish with tied 2^nd Team score for the day and enough to pip the University of Colorado by 1 shot!

Closest to the pin honors: Steve Crain & Shaun Leecock.

Thanks to everyone for participating and making it a fun event!

Next events:

* Oct 26^th Couples Club Championship– Saturday October 26^th starting at 12:00pm

Entry Fee: $50 per couple

Front 9: Scramble, Back 9: Best Ball

* Nov 2^nd MGA Foley Cup Finals.

Bob Potts – Shot is age 86 on 10/11/24 and Bested his age with an 85 on 10/12/24

🎃 Mark Your Calendars for Halloween at the Tavern! 🎃

Halloween is just around the corner, and we’re planning a full day of spooky fun for everyone at the Tavern!

Trunk or Treat for Kids:
Join us from 4:30-6 PM as we partner with BTAC for Trunk or Treat! We’ll be serving Mummy Dogs and popcorn to fuel all the little ghouls and goblins as they collect treats around the parking lot (at no cost thanks to BTAC).
Halloween Bash for All:
From 6-10 PM, we’ll kick off a Halloween Bash! Dress up and enjoy a special spooky menu and Halloween-themed cocktails. And get ready for a big surprise—the Pavilion is being transformed into a Haunted Fun House!
- Kid-Friendly Haunted Fun House during Trunk or Treat
- Adult Fun with bar service, dancing, and a transformed spooky Pavilion atmosphere from 6 PM onward

Wait until you see what we have up our sleeves—it's going to be a hauntingly good time!

Please Note:
The regular menu will not be available on Halloween night.

Reminder: Our New Hours

Sunday: 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM (Brunch until 2:00 PM, Bar Menu from 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM)
Monday: Closed
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM (Kitchen closes at 9:00 PM)
Wednesday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Bar Menu available 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM)
Saturday: 7:30 AM - 10:00 PM (Kitchen closes at 9:00 PM)

We look forward to seeing you at the Tavern!

Below you can see a sneak peak of one of Michele's past set ups... you won't want to miss this party!

Prepare for a night of howling tunes, haunting laughter, and killer fun!

Join us for SCARE-AOKE and show off your spookiest attire in our Costume Competition—costumes encouraged but not required. Fill up on food and drinks to keep your screams echoing all night! There will be a special, spooky menu.

We can’t wait to see your spooky-kooky selves enter the room! 👻🎃👿

Reservations are recommended. Call (770) 893-2621.

Hosted by:
Jan & Jack Davis, Karaoke Hosts 🎶🎤

News From Bent Tree Realty

NEW PRICE

20 Little Hendricks Peak

3892 sq. ft.

3 bedrooms

2.5 baths

Bonus room and loft

$569,000

News from Lake & Wildlife

Lake Tamarack, nature and greenspace are highly valued by residents ( 2023 Vision Survey ) . ‘The Beautiful Scenic and Natural Environment’ is a top community strength identified in the 2024 Bent Tree Vision. What are the best practices that prove we value our mountain setting? A comprehensive Habitat Conservation Plan was developed which lays out actions to maintain our natural environment. It is currently under review by the Board of Directors and BTCI Administration.

Wondering what is in it?

Lake & Wildlife Partners Program

Saturday Nov 2 at 9:30

Lower Level of Club Tamarack

Feeling a bit batty these days?

Bats are often associated with Halloween because they are most active at night in the fall and sometimes live in underground caves. The world’s only flying mammal, bats are very important for pest control and pollination. As with much wildlife, their numbers are declining. To promote local populations, a bat house is being installed on the back side of the dam. Built by a Bent Tree carpenter, this two chamber rocket box follows the design from Bat Conservation International. The loose bark of snags is a great place for bats also. The prep work has been completed and the house will be raised next week. Many thanks to Travis Bryant and his BTCI crew for their support in getting it in place.

An Echo article will share more information about this project. Hopefully by next spring we’ll have a colony take up residence and we can enjoy watching their arial acrobatics!

News from the Activities Committee

Fall Festival

TOMORROW!!
October 19th. Doors open @ 3:00

Club Tamarack. The largest event of the year and only fundraiser!

· Silent Auction

· Baked Goodies

· Games

· Chili/Soup Cook-off

· Scarecrow Contest

· Football Watch Party

For more information email: benttreeactivities@gmail.com

UNTOLD LEGENDS OF BENT TREE

On Sunday, October 27^th (weather permitting)

Cider and cookies provided at end of walk.

Select 6:30pm, 7:30pm or 8:30pm

Spaces are limited - 3 walks - 15 people per walk

$5 donation Cash or Venmo

WHEN PAYING BY VENMO:

SELECT 6:30, 7:30 OR 8:30 PRINT “WALK” AND PHONE # on the memo line.

WHEN PAYING AT ADMIN:

SELECT 6:30, 7:30 OR 8:30 on the sign in sheet with your payment to “btac”

AUTUMN HOEDOWN - Friday, October 25th

Meet in the lower level of Club Tamarack.

Socializing starts at 6pm with dance instruction beginning shortly thereafter. Dance is open to ages 8 - 108. NO PARTNER or EXPERIENCE is required.

Sandy Tolar will lead instruction of your favorite line dances. You will learn the joy and simplicity

of some traditional circle dances, longways sets, and contra dances.

Bring an appetizer or dessert to share, and a beverage for yourself. Paper goods and bottled water will be provided.

The cost is $3.00 per person.

Reserve your spot by registering at admin or

by scanning the QR code to register online.

For questions, text or call MaryAda Kidd @ 386.212.4277.

Trunk or Treat

Inaguaral Halloween Happening!

First ever Trunk or Treat on Halloween DAY - October 31st!!!

In the Tavern parking lot.

Still needed: Volunteers to decorate your trunk or golf cart to hand out Halloween treats. Come make Halloween special for our Bent Tree children.

Free hot dogs for the kids courtesy of the Tavern!

Contact Kim Stahlman to sign up: 678-858-5073/KimberlyNicoleStahlman@gmail.com

Community Directory

The updates for the 2025 Bent Tree Community Directory have begun. Every resident who has provided an email address to BTCI should have received an email on September 12th from btacdirectory@gmail.com with a link to the directory website for your submission or updates. If you did not receive an email, please check your spam or junk mail to see if it was delivered there. Questions: email Sandra Stewart at btacdirectory@gmail.com account.

For more information about events and all things BTAC visit our committee page on the Bent-Tree website. View Upcoming and Ongoing Events!

Click to view

News from the Animal Shelter

Who has lost this little baby?
He/she is about 4 weeks old , very friendly , eating kitten food and used to being handled by people. Either he/ she got out of her/ his home or some person dumped this baby  on Little Hendricks Mountain Road where  found! This is not a feral kitten.
Dumping animals has become an epidemic everywhere . People are not being responsible with spay/ neuter, next their animal gets pregnant , babies are born and shelters say they are full so animals are dumped. One nearby county just had 2 litters of puppies left in plastic tubs on the side of the road.
Please spay / neuter and if you see someone dumping get their tag number , turn it in to law enforcement and save the dog or cat -  please!
Remember we have sweet Mia who needs a new home , she is being fostered by a shelter volunteer. And we have lots of great cats that need adopting.
Please call or text LuAnn at 678-414-1047 for info, donations, or to set up a visit