West Virginia finances

With recent news stories concerning the dire straights facing most of the states, it is heartening to know that West Virginia is one of only a handful of states without a budget problem. Although our state has long been regarded as one of the "poor" states, I am proud that our leaders in Charleston have seen to it that we are on financially sound footing.

Road grading

We received shipment of IMA's new DR power grader Jan 7th. I assembled it last week, and tried it out, although the road conditions were not ideal for grading. The washboarding was noticeably reduced, although two passes will normally be required to do the job. Using this grader along with Mark Jones' rake, we should be able to keep the road in good shape for the most part, and will save us money over the long run.

Ice at Ice Mountain

With night-time temperatures around zero degrees the river is nearly frozen over,
but no known problems here. The recent power outage was caused by an auto accident,
not by the weather.The birds are eating a lot of seed at the feeders and the deer are keeping a low profile. I believe this blog can be a great asset for the Ice Mountain community. Thanks to Vic for getting this off the ground.

Howdy

OK, it looks pretty good. I had a hard time finding the button to let me post. If we can get Goodwin & Jones to post and get their opinions then we can make a decision to go with the blog and announce to the membership. I think it is a good idea, we do need some informal way to communicate to people who care. Those who care can check the blog; those who don't won't have IMA emails cluttering up their inbox.

If I can remember to do it, I will try to post local conditions (bridge, snow, etc.) on Friday mornings so the weekenders can decide whether to come out or not. It will take a while to get in the habit of doing that.

Regards to all.

The Early Days

Over the years that I have had the privilege to call Ice Mountain my home, it is always comforting to run into old and new friends almost all who greet me with a smile. The hospitality and warmth of my neighbors is something I value with cherished memories and with quiet positive anticipation of new experiences and new friends.

We purchased Lot 28 in Phase II from Riverbirch the land development company which added the roads and electrical infrastructure, along with subdividing the land into parcels. Like most people, I fell in love with the awesome beauty of the area, its rivers, brooks, mountains, and the natural wonder of Ice Mountain itself. One of my favorite activities is to walk out on clear moonless nights and just marvel at the starry heavens.

Over the past twenty years change has been wonderfully slow, and today the properties blend beautifully into the countryside, giving the impression of history even though the structures are newly built. The efforts of the Association allow us all to enjoy the West Virginia ambiance that combines history with old fashion country charm to all who visit and live in the area.

Riverbirch was wise in making the Covenants restrictive enough to maintain the existing character of the development. Naturally the interpretation of the Covenants became both a blessing and a curse as we grappled with the nuances and exceptions. Ultimately the spirit of the Covenants prevailed but not always to the letter.

I am looking forward to read all the new Posts, and comments to this Blog. Please feel free to contact me at my email address: vmcebollero@gmail.com with any ideas, questions, and/or concerns.

Over time this Blog should become a valuable resource as repository and reference vehicle for the future.

Warm Regards ... Vic Cebollero