Posts by Deborah Quam
Berger and Central Pool: Two Costly Projects, Where Is the Coordinated Plan?
Where and when are all these decisions being made by the entire elected Board? Berger and Central Pool both need work. What members have not been shown is a coordinated plan for paying for and completing these two necessary projects. OVA’s October announcements give Berger considerable attention, while the pool’s worn surfaces, decking and cabana…
Read MoreLet’s Explore: Monarch Butterflies at Howarth Park!
I recently visited Howarth Park with my granddaughter to see the monarch butterfly exhibit. Like many Oakmont residents, I enjoy finding places where I can spend time outdoors with my grandchildren. Howarth is a wonderful place for a walk together, especially when there are giant butterflies to discover along the paths. Lake Ralphine offers a…
Read MoreLet’s Dance
Sometimes the best exercise does not feel like exercise at all. The music starts, our feet begin to move and, before long, people are smiling, laughing and trying to remember whether the next step goes left or right. Dancing gives us movement, music and human connection in the same hour. In Oakmont and our greater…
Read MoreBerger Has Two Price Tags: The Building and the Money
The Berger Center project is moving closer to real contracts and real costs at a time when both construction and borrowing are becoming more expensive. In his September 15 President’s Report, OVA President Steve Spanier said, “On the Berger project, we’re still on track to identify and sign contracts with a project manager, an architect,…
Read MoreOur Oakmont Community Up Close
Facts, questions and conversations about the community we share There is always a lot happening in and around Oakmont. Some subjects deserve more than a quick social media post or comment, so I’m going to try something new: Our Oakmont Community Up Close, a recurring Oakmont Observer feature taking a closer look at something that…
Read MoreSocial Media, Resident Speech and OVA Governance
A Response to the OVA President’s Message OVA President Steve Spanier’s recent President’s Message, “Social Media and Oakmont,” is ostensibly about Nextdoor. But it raises a more important question: how should OVA leadership respond when residents criticize its decisions? Spanier is certainly right that social media is imperfect. Nextdoor is not a scientific survey. Its…
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