HOA MAILING/DUES UPDATE

12-21-2025 dawn from the end of Staymon Rd (click to enlarge)

By this time, you would have received the year's end update along with lot dues for 2026.  That IS being mailed out this week, but the lengthy delay was due to an absence of an electronic data base of lot owners that was never provided, even after repeated requests.  The new board had to recreate a digital copy from a lone paper form of lot owners, a time-consuming effort done by David Stiles with Keith Patton's help.  At least from here forward, ACAHOA will have digital files that are easily transferrable for the future.  David has done a yeoman's job not only of creating the database but digging through Haywood GIS and sketching out properties and related information, which will be added into database files.  It's been a slog, but an appreciated (and needed) slog.

In the update, you will see the adjusted lot dues has been lowered back to $300 per lot, down from the $500 adjustment in 2024 for Hurricane Helene's damage to ACA roads.  For a second year in a row, paving has not been performed due to the remaining backlog of post-Helene paving on the part of our paving company.  With $39,000 already ear-marked for 2026, our backlogged paving work will be completed.  Should winter weather decide to dump on us this season, our coffers will sustain us, with the weather pattern continuing to be, well, strange.  As I type it's 11 degrees at home, but the cold dissipates after 24-36 hours this go-round.  This, after our very mild "Christmas at the Coast" temperatures last week.

We (the new board) ask you to please update your dues form with any address, name, phone, email, etc. changes you may have, so that we can put the final touches on our digital files. It would be greatly appreciated.  :-)

This blog is for my longer informational posts, be it ACA concerns or more in-depth weather 'heads up' notices, etc .  Our Facebook page is for timely, quick communications, especially with respect to road conditions or other real-time concerns.  You can go HERE to link to it.

Cheers in advance to the new year ahead...even if it becomes Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

Bob

WIND AND A WEE BIT OF SNOW TONIGHT

 I've debated posting anything about this nuisance event tonight, as any snow accumulation should be very light.  Maybe a dusting down low, maybe an inch up top, but I'm not anticipating travel issues.  The wind and cold temps are more the story...tomorrow should be perfectly uncomfortable, but only for one day.  For now.

ACA is only under a Hazardous Weather Outlook, and it only details potentially strong winds, with no mention of snow.  This is a NW event, so the closer you get to the TN border the more snow might accumulate.  WLOS, and the Euro/GFS models do put down light accumulations here, but, again, I'm not anticipating any travel troubles in ACA in the morning.

Bob

The snow has been falling since around 4am, and only until now has my driveway gotten white here at the end of Staymon.  We are not under any sort of advisory or warning, just a "Hazardous Weather Outlook".  Snow was expected, but unless I sense a travel issue, I don't post anything.

With that said, the temp is sitting right around 32 degrees, so the snow, however light, will be slushy and slippery, so drive carefully.  The precip will not continue much longer, and anything frozen will be melting soon enough as the day progresses.

Enjoy the look of winter as the holidays zoom in upon us.  We may have another nuisance hit the end of this week...more on that later.

Bob

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY

This is a nuisance system coming in overnight, but the reason to take heed is the icy component of the wintry mix to fall overnight.  This isn't so much about quantity...it could well be 2" of snow falls, but sleet, freezing rain, and rain will ultimately be mixing in, cutting accumulations. Too, the bulk of precipitation will be done by daybreak, so I'll know pretty quickly if we have troubles on the mountain.

It goes without saying that ice is the "great equalizer" as no vehicle can negotiate it, and we have some pretty relatively steep portions on Apple Creek Road.  None of us need for our cars to turn into lead sleds.

The WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY (click link) goes from 7pm this evening through 10am Friday, for elevations above 3,500', what I call the upper half of Apple Creek.  Should there be accumulating icy mix on the roads, ultimately temps warm above freezing and any early AM problems we might have should dispel as the day wears on Friday.  This is one system where we let nature take it's course as any salting, etc, would be futile and a waste of $$.

Haywood County has been on the fringe of this advisory all along, as temps are borderline to having any ice accumulate at all.  High pressure to the northeast will be pushing in the cold air, and models have been trending to slightly colder temps for us.  The two major models are the EURO and the GFS...for several runs they were far apart, but the stingy and often correct Euro has since come over to the colder and 'mixier' side of potential accumulations/conditions.

I'll update if I see appreciable changes this evening, and if not, I'll report early Friday morning before I need to drive down from 3800' as the DMV never closes for weather.  Yay...

Bob

INTERESTING READING, NON-HOA

 Waking up to 36 degrees was a wonderful gift.  My driveway is okay, and I'm pretty sure our roads are safe for travel, with no black ice.  From here on out for a while we have nice, warming temps.  I'll take it.

Some of you know that I make wooden Native American style flutes, and have for 22 years.  If you live close by you've heard 'em.  :-)  I work mainly online anymore, but the one store I worked with, for almost 20 years, was "Featherheads".  When I add that the store was in Chimney Rock, you can imagine the devastation that hit Featherheads hard.

With Helene's year anniversary now behind that fateful devastation, you might like to read about an incredibly unusual situation I got to be a part of.  What happens to flutes buried in flood water muds for weeks?  I'll leave it at that...I have a special dedicated page to those flutes salvaged from the store on my website, so if you want to read about a truly one of a kind situation, click HERE.

Bob

BRRRRR.....

The ACA Facebook page is the go-to for real time information on road conditions, etc. (Thanks, David, et tal!).

 I have yet to even attack my driveway after 2+" of snow.  Salt truck has already been on site, and the sun still has a high enough angle to help out naturally, too.  I got down to 11 degrees this morning, now 22 in the shade.  The gradual warm up will continue this week, so just be careful and watch for re-freeze tonight.

HERE is an interactive link to storm reports made to the NWS from this storm.  Kudos for the overworked, unpaid, and understaffed NWS employees for keeping up these services, with the help of automated systems.

Bob

MONDAY AM UPDATE

 No change to my prior post...my driveway has turned white, it's 21 degrees, and intermittent snow showers will continue through midnight or so. Only about 0.25" here at the moment.

No idea about Apple Creek Road, but I'm assuming it is okay for now.  Your best bet for any updates/comments is to click HERE for the ACA Facebook page.  It's very difficult for me to post from the DMV.

Ah, the first snow...

Bob