Get to know the dynamic duo
Jeff Harrington is the one with stylsh hair (left in the above photo) and Kenny Norman wears a goatee (usually) and is often seen cruising around Sea Pines in the “buggy.” Sometimes confused with one another by residents but always good-humored about it, Jeff and Kenny have been seeing to our community’s maintenance needs for a collective total of 49 years. From installing a sand deflection fence on the beach, addressing a frozen water main, and letting in locked-out residents to rescuing cats from attics and retrieving mallard ducks from chimneys, these two familiar faces greet every task with a smile. We are grateful that they have chosen to dedicate such a large part of their working lives to the Sea Pines community through their employment as on-site representatives of Mercantile Property Management. Jeff and Kenny are jacks-of-all-trades, coordinating the day-to-day activities that keep things humming along at Sea Pines. And no one understands the place better, inside and out, than they do.
Jeff Harrington settled in Yarmouthport after growing up in landlocked towns in Eastern Massachusetts. He can’t imagine living anywhere else now, knowing that he’ll wake up to seagulls and see the ocean nearly every day. When not following local sports, hitting the golf links, or enjoying the occasional vacation in Florida, Jeff and his girlfriend Judy entertain extended family and friends at their home near the beach. After 30 years at Sea Pines, Jeff has gotten to know several generations of homeowners and says he enjoys seeing more children around than in the early days of the development. In addition to his deep knowledge of Sea Pines, Jeff holds an unrestricted construction supervisor license as well as a Massachusetts home improvement license. Claiming that he is not a “foodie,” Jeff does admit a weakness for the pizza at Brewster Pizza at Foster Square.
Kenny Norman is a lifelong Cape Codder who has worked at Sea Pines for 19 years. He and his wife Suzanne, sons Kenny and Nicholas, and grandsons Logan and Tommy live nearby. Kenny is an avid adult league ice hockey player and although not a “biker” guy, enjoys outings on his Harley Davidson. He also manages to find time for fishing, camping and an annual trip to visit family in Naples, Florida. He still feels guilty about the year his Florida visit coincided with one of the Cape’s worst series of snowstorms and Jeff had to manage snow removal on his own. (“Not a big deal,” said Jeff.) Kenny views Sea Pines as his extended family and says he feels privileged to be part of our community. He is a fan of fish but likes nothing better than a hot apple pie from Ferretti’s.
Jeff and Kenny would like to remind residents that all maintenance requests should be submitted to Mercantile and not directly to them. This is important for task tracking and prioritization and ultimately, better service to Sea Pines residents.
Important -- Winter is coming!
To prevent potential costly disasters from frozen pipes, it is essential that all homeowners turn off the water in their unit when it is not occupied and set the thermostat to a minimum of 55 degrees. If you’ve forgotten or are unable to do this during the winter months, submit a maintenance request through Mercantile Properties.
Homeowner insurance reminder
As mandated in the condominium bylaws, the Sea Pines Homeowners Association obtains a master insurance policy which covers not only the common areas but homeowner units as well. It is important to understand, however, the limitations of this master policy as it applies to each unit. First, there is a $25,000 deductible per incident for which the homeowner is responsible. In addition, the policy does not cover personal property, unit contents, or improvements made to the unit. The policy will pay for the restoration of the unit to its original (date of building construction) level of finish and layout. For example, the master policy would pay only for replacement laminate countertops vs. granite countertops installed by the homeowner. Sea Pines homeowners must therefore obtain their own insurance policies with adequate coverage for the master policy deductible, replacement of contents, and any improvements made to the unit. Consult your insurance carrier for assistance in obtaining this necessary coverage.
Drainage system repairs yield unexpected upsides
The handsome retaining wall shown in the photograph above is a result of ongoing repairs to our storm drainage system. As many of you may know, after every heavy rain a large, deep pond collected at the base of Sea Pines Drive. Over time, the size of the pond increased as the drains became progressively more clogged with debris. New drainage system components in this location required installation of a retaining wall. Another bonus resulting from drainage work will be the addition of two new parking spots on Sea Pines Drive. The project is scheduled for completion by year-end.
The Sea Pines website provides additional valuable information
for homeowners. Visit www.seapinesbrewster.com.
Questions or comments about this e-newsletter should be directed to
Lynn Smiledge [Email
] |
