October events announced, Sippin' In September and 2nd Annual Dog Swim recaps, and more

October Clubhouse calendar full of social activities

October is here, and that means a whole new month of Eagle Nest activities. Here’s what on tap this month at the Clubhouse:

• Oct. 6, 7-8 p.m.: Crime Watch meeting (crime-related trivia night, Crime Watch style) 
• Oct. 11, 6-8 p.m.: The Latin Flavor food truck (new resident favorite!)
• Oct. 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Chef TLC food bus (our first food truck partner!)
• Oct. 25, 6-8 p.m.: Smokey Blue BBQ food truck (try those Thai ribs!)
• Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m.: Board meeting (all residents in good standing welcome)
• Oct. 28: Family Smores Night (time TBA)

This is the last month for our food trucks, so we encourage you to turn out and support our vendors so they finish the season on a positive note and come back next year! Click here to see what's ahead the rest of the year!

Sippin' in September whiskey tasting event a hit

More than a dozen residents turned out for our first annual(?) whiskey tasting mixer at the Clubhouse. Led by Eagle Nest residents Thomas Stephens (above, second from left) and coordinated by his wife and Social Committee Chair Brigette (third from left), the two-hour event included the basics of whiskey and bourbon production, alcohol/proof levels and a wide selection of state and national brands to sample.

The Stephens set up each resident with four tastings and a score card to record aroma, color and taste through a progressive series of tastings of wheat and rye varieties. To clear everyone’s palettes, attendees pitched in by bringing chips, mixed nuts, chocolate, cheeses and crackers, and other snacks.

It was far from a drunkfest. In fact, while the samples and bottles were plentiful, residents were equally or more so interested in meeting others from around the neighborhood. Only one or two on hand actually knew the ins and outs of whiskey. Half of those who attended moved to Eagle Nest in the past year or two, and all welcomed the opportunity to take advantage of the Clubhouse and meet others in the development. Some were surprised to learn that some of the attendees were actually their nearby neighbors! And that was the goal: Bring residents together in a space that we all share and pay to maintain.

Thanks to Thomas and Brigette Stephens for a great evening and to those who turned out. Got an idea for more adult mixers? Contact Brigette at bestephens4@gmail.com

2nd annual dog swim another splashing success

Thanks to all the residents who brought their furry friends to our 2nd annual Eagle Nest Dog Swim to mark the end of the 2022 swim season. About a half dozen dog breeds – including goldens, whippets, labs, among others – enjoyed the last swim on Labor Day, a first-time exposure to water for some and familiar territory for others. Suffice to say, the doggy paddy was a popular swim style!

Parking lot gates locked, but sports courts still open
Some of you have asked why the parking lot gates are locked during such nice weather. The answer: Safety. Now that our daily lifeguard staff is off for the season, no one is around to monitor the grounds. An unattended back parking lot can be a magnet for suspicious activity and vandals, and we don’t want to invite trouble. The good news: The sports courts are still open (at least until the first heavy frost); residents just have to walk a bit to get there. But exercise is the point of going to the courts, right?

Cleanup with care: Frequent walker leads by example

We're grateful for the neighbors who go out of their way to help each other – Mo Nuss comes to mind on Bittern Lane, mowing lawns for others and helping with childcare.

Labor Day weekend, one of our neighbors stepped up after noticing that two squirrels had met their untimely ends, their remains laying in the street in separate spots along Tanager Lane.

The city of Indianapolis offers dead animal pickup through the Mayor's Action Center (indy.gov/activity/dead-animal-removal), but on a holiday weekend that could take a moment – long enough, with passing traffic, to make a smelly mess.

So one intrepid Eagle Nester, a frequent walker around these parts, grabbed plastic bags and went to work – to which we say, 1) Thank you; and 2) Better you than me.

“I grew up in East Tennessee in a hunting family,” John Strauss told us. “But we won't be making stew with these fellas.”

John triple-bagged the victims and stashed them away for trash pickup while his wife was out on errands. “We don't have to tell my wife Martha about this, do we?” he said.

Reminder: Submit exterior lot requests for approval
A reminder to residents looking to begin external home improvements to request approval by the Board before work begins. This includes installing a shed, fence or even changing the house color, per Section 6A(i) of the Association’s Rules and Restrictions. Few projects are rejected; we just want to ensure changes conform with the neighborhood’s legally binding controlling documents. Click here to learn how to submit a request.

One more thing …
Storm drains: Now that October is here, the fall rains won’t be far behind. Do your neighbors a favor and keep the gutter drains clear of leaves and other debris so we avoid flash flooding in the streets.

On behalf of the Board,
Scott Thien, President