Photos of holiday cheer needed

Christmas cheer is alive at Palermo Palm Springs. About 10 homes have outside lights up, about 14 have wreaths up, and you can see countless Christmas trees twinkling in the windows. One home has set up a Christmas village and has kindly left open the curtains for all to see. Please send photos of your or your neighbor's lights and decorations to publish here. The e-mail is welovepalermo@yahoo.com.. Miss Penny Lane says: Palermo has lit up her life once again.

Problems with the hot water heaters?

Positively Palermo received this e-mail: "Ms. Penny, We are having a problem with our water heater not staying lit which seems to be a regular problem with AO Smith water heaters. Is this something homeowners at Palermo are dealing with and have they figured out how to resolve the problem. The AO Smith water heaters that Enterprise put into each unit seems to get awful reviews and has the problems we are experiencing (there are hundreds of postings on the web describing the problem). Furthermore, AO Smith apparently has horrible customer service. Thanks for checking this out for us." Can anyone help? Miss Penny Lane says: Thinking about hot water, makes her think she might just sneak off to take a spa this evening. Say "hi" to her.

Resident reports problems with clubhouse security

Disturbing news to interrupt the holiday mood at Palermo Palm Springs. This was posted on Positively Palermo and also e-mailed to us. It reads in part: "Dear Palermo Residents, This evening while exiting the gym I came across something very disheartening for all the residents of this great community. The double doors closest to the gym exit were slightly propped open with a piece of paper shoved in the locking holes located on the ground. This made the door seem closed but in fact could be open with ease. Maybe it's the recent GOP debate but I believe we need a state of public awareness. Our lovely clubhouse would have likely been broken into this evening had I not dislodged the paper. It would be foolish to believe that these thieves wanted nothing more than a chance to take our 60 inch TV. The most disheartening fact about our safety is this is an inside job. Someone with a key has decided to steal from its own community or has tipped off the degenerates of this society. It may be time to reassess who still has access to the clubhouse? Is each persons key individualized as in we know who scans the door and when? Is there a way we can permanently lock the double doors closest to the gym exit? ..." Miss Penny Lane says: Thank you for your concern.

More from Memory Lane

Miss Penny Lane says:  Light up my life.

Christmases past at Palermo Palm Springs

More pictures from Christmas 2010. Miss Penny Lane says: Palermo's residents light up her life.

Happy Thanksgiving, Palermo Palm Springs

Positively Palermo is thankful for all the neighbors who make Palermo the special warm and welcoming place it is. Miss Penny Lane says: She's having a terrific holiday because this year she has some to call her pumpkin.

Memory Lane: Christmas Twenty-Ten

More remembrances of Christmases past at Palermo Palm Springs. Above, pictures from 2010. Miss Penny Lane says: Her mix tape of holiday tunes already is in heavy rotation at the Lane household.

Decked out at Palermo

Christmas decorations are going up at Palermo Palm Springs. Over the next few days, we will re-post some pictures of decorations from last year as inspiration. Above is a nice light display on Melody Lane from 2010. Miss Penny Lane says: Cheers to the holidays, Palermo style.

Heat is on

The Palermo newsletter that arrived in mailboxes had plenty of news. One item noted that the heat has been turned back on for the main pool Both spas also are heated. It looks like the back pool won't be heated. Miss Penny Lane says: Seeing some of local hotties at the pool when she drives into Palermo always warms her up.

Clubhouse cleaning

Continuing our review of this week's HOA board meeting, the HOA moved to address complaints about the clubhouse's janitorial service. It was said at the meeting the present service billed the HOA for $700 to clean the floor when it wasn't approved and DRM says didn't report the problems in the gym with the electric sockets and the equipment. The HOA pays about $1,000 a month for cleaning of the clubhouse and pool areas once week. Miss Penny Lane says: She has found it hard to find a good cleaning service in the desert so she sometimes brings in her younger sister Cindy.

Military jets over Palm Springs

The paper had a story about the loud military jets that have been flying over Palm Springs in increased numbers. It says: "Complaints about the military jet noise out of Palm Springs International Airport have grown so loud that city officials may ask federal officials to intervene. The Palm Springs City Council is expected to appoint two members to a subcommittee today to bolster efforts to help reduce noise at the airport. The council action comes after months of complaints by residents about the dramatic increase in military flights, many of them training missions, out of the small airport." Miss Penny Lane says: This weather has forced her to wear ear muffs so a little noise doesn't bother her.

Bye-bye curb-side trash service at Palermo

Positively Palermo has received a bunch of emails with news from the HOA meeting or questions about what happened. We will be posting all of them over the week. One report says that the HOA decided to do away with curbside trash and recycling service. Instead, the HOA will add two more community trash bins, along with recycling bins, in new enclosures. The cost of these enclosures supposedly would be paid for in the first year because the dumpster-only service is so much cheaper than the combined cost of current curb-side service for 117 units and the two community dumpsters already here. It was reported at the meeting at on some days not even 40 units are putting out cans on trash day. The following years the HOA would be saving $20,000 a year because of the change, it was said by Brandi Scott of DRM. It is still not known where these new community trash bins would be going. Miss Penny Lane says: Her neighbors will no longer get to see her rush out in the morning in her night gown when putting out her cans before the trash truck arrives.

A good dog walker? Please help with suggestions

Positively Palermo received this e-mail: "Hello Miss Penny, I was wondering if you could post a question for me on your blog. I'm looking for someone to walk my dogs twice a day when I'm at work. It would only be 3 or so times a week. Does anyone know of a reliable dog walker? Thanks!" Miss Penny Lane says: She would do it but the last she walked a puppy it seems liked the dog was walking her and she ended up chipping a nail.

HOA budget front and center at Monday's meeting

The Palermo HOA is meeting onMonday, with raising the $268 a month dues on the agenda. This is from an earlier posting but is timely again: Where do your HOA dues go, or where are supposed to go? Here's a look at the expenses, not including reserve payments, that your HOA dues are supposed to pay for every month per unit if the 2011 budget was followed (figures are rounded up to the nearest dollar):

1. Landscaping, $28
2. Electricity, $21
3. Gas, $20
4. Trash, $19
5. Management and extras, $19
6. Insurance, $12
7. Fire sprinklers, $11
8. Janitorial service/supplies, $10
9. Water, $9
10. Pools, $9
11. Bad debt, $8
12. Security, $7
13. Minor repairs, $6
14. Lighting maintenance and extras, $6
15. Legal, $4
16. Postage and printing, $3
17. Pest control, $2
18. Telephone, $2
19. Audit, $1
20. Cable, $1
21. Taxes, permits, reserver study, $1

Please remember the above figures were rounded up to the nearest dollar just for ease of discussion. In terms of broad categories, the actual 2011 budgeted expenses breakdown per month as follows: Utilities, $69.59; administrative, $45.04; Grounds maintenance, repairs and janitorial, $38.63; Landscaping, $27.42; and Pools, $8.02, for a total of $188.70 per month per unit. Then $79.30 of your $268 in monthly dues is supposed to go to reserves. But it is not because so many of other expenses listed above actually are over budget and in many cases you are paying more per month than what is listed above. To a lesser degree, some money isn't going into reserves because of some past-due accounts but bad-debt expenses listed above helps take care of some of this. The biggest reason for the non-funding of reserves is spending above what was budgeted. Miss Penny Lane says: She last balanced her own check book in 2001.

Phonebooks at the front doors

Positively Palermo received this e-mail: "Hi Miss Penney, Please spread the word that the phone company has put phone books in front of the doors. There will stay out for months in the front of owners that use Palermo as vacation second homes. Be a good neighbor and take in your neighbors so people don't know it is vacant." Miss Penny Lane says: She tripped over the book when leaving her house and landed right in a lantana.

Go vote today

It's Election Day. For citizens of Palermo Palm Springs, you go to vote at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center at 480 W. Tramview Road, according to the elections office. To get there, go up Indian Canyon Drive and take a left. Miss Penny Lane says: She likes to exercise her right to vote and does it just as much as she gets on a treadmill.

Wasp inspection

The Palermo HOA newsletter says there will be inspection of the common areas and back yards for wasps nests today. Miss Penny Lane says: She loves learning the Palermo buzz.

Julian Market still closed

An update that Julian Market still closed. Word is that the county closed it for a problem with the building. Does anyone know more? Miss Penny Lane says: She can relate as sometimes she, too, has structural problems.

An extra hour at Palermo - how wonderful

Did you remember to turn back your clocks? Miss Penny Lane says: She loves it when she gets an extra hour at Palermo.

New pool keys?

Positively Palermo received this e-mail: "Penny, I missed getting new pool key today in the clubhouse. Does anyone know how to get a new one now - go to DRM?" Miss Penny Lane says: She may end up in the spa tonight after a long day of cleaning.

Trees outside the Palermo models are trimmed, some are removed

After complaints here, the trees near the models that hadn't been trimmed and had branches touching the top of cars when they went down the road have been trimmed. It looks like some of trees also have been taken out. It is unknown if the city approved this, as Palermo's landscape plan is still under the city's planning department control in terms of multiple removal of plants without replacements, as it goes against the city-approved landscaping plan. Above, the before and after. Miss Penny Lane says: She didn't mind the long branches because they scrapped the dirt off her car.

High-end Enterprise Cos. condo project in Chicago facing foreclosure

The Chicago Journal publication reports that another Ron Shipka/Enterprise Cos. — the developer that built Palermo — is facing foreclosure. The article says: "Bank of America may soon foreclose on Museum Park West, a 298-unit condo building in which the developer Central Station Development Corp. has sold just 65, or 22 percent, of the units since the building opened in early 2010. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, Central Station Development Corp. owes Bank of America $125 million, making it the most costly Chicago foreclosure case since the housing bubble burst in 2007. According to Crain’s, the developers testified at a civil trial last month that the building would likely enter foreclosure. Multiple calls to Central Station Development Corp. were not returned. The corporation is a joint venture between Fogelson Properties, headed by Gerald Fogelson; Enterprise Companies, headed by Ronald Shipka Sr.; and Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises. Spearheaded by Fogelson, Central Station Development Corp. has been active in South Loop condo construction since 1989. But the developers kept building after the housing bubble burst — the Museum Park West project was rolled out in October 2007, after the foreclosure crisis was well under way. If Museum Park West does enter foreclosure, Bank of America or the new property owner could follow the recent trend of converting vacant South Loop condos into rental units. “I think it will turn rental very soon,” said Bob O’Neill, executive director of Grant Park Conservancy, who has monitored how the real estate boom impacted the lakefront. Central Station Development Corp. also took out loans from Bank of America on 1600 Museum Park, the 275-unit condo building at 1629 S. Prairie Ave. and the 288-unit condo high-rise, 1901 Museum Park South, at 1901 S. State St." Miss Penny Lane says: Thanks for the information.

Water woes in the undeveloped Phase 2?

Positively Palermo received this picture and e-mail: "Penny, What is going with the Back 40, the undeveloped part of Palermo. All sorts of water problems lately with water running and even a lake being created." Miss Penny Lane says: She likes to watch the birds take advantage of Lake Palermo.