RESIDENTS PURCHASING CLUB
OUR FIRST CONTRACT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE CLUB

SECURITY MONITORING

Well, it's official. The RESIDENTS PURCHASING CLUB is now in existence and has voted to approve it's first contract.

First, let me discuss what was approved. A company called ALARM RELAY has provided Regency Residents with a terrific contract. Remember, nobody at Regency is ever forced to abide by any contract that is approved by our club. It's your decision and you can do with it as you want.

ALARM RELAY is a company that can be found on the internet (http://alarmrelay.com/)
The $8.95/month price is the lowest price that they offer any and all residential customers and that includes Regency residents. There is a $35 setup charge and our negotiations have resulted in $25 being given back to residents by check after the resident signs up for the year. They usually provide a $25 referral offer to anyone referring customers and the committee requested and got approval, that this referral fee be given back to the resident(s) who sign up.

Considering that many residents are currently paying from $15 - $23/month, the $8.95 price offers considerable savings. Please keep in mind, that this price doesn't include any problems related to the equipment in your homes. Even if you currently are using Westminster, you pay for the alarm service separate from the home wiring/equipment. Most of us haven't taken out the optional contract with Westminster dealing with the internal wiring or replacement of faulty equipment. So if your alarm fails because a keypad isn't working properly, you would have to call in an alarm company to have it fixed, whether you have Alarm Relay or Westminster.

Here are some additional services that Alarm Relay provides at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE. Keep in mind that you must have the equipment in place for them to do the monitoring and it must be hooked up to your alarm box which must have a telephone line included. Sometimes this hookup can be done by a wireless remote so no walls have to be damaged.

1. Medical Alert Monitoring - they will make the calls
2. Fire & Smoke
3. Water sensor - for monitoring any area in your home where you feel monitoring is required like your hot water heater (which flooded my other home)
4. Sump Pump sensor
5. Freezing pipe sensor
6. Every three months call Alarm Relay and ask for them to test your system
7. If you purchase a product called "SMOKE IN A CAN" you can have your fire and smoke alarms tested periodically.

I'll be checking into what can be done for someone who cuts your telephone lines prior to coming into your home. There must be some kind of product that can be used but how it works with occassional downtime from the telephone company, is to be determined.

Dealing with all these alarms and prevention type systems, I became more knowledgeable as to what products are available to consumers to prevent home disasters. For example, besides an alarm triggering that your hot water heater just sprung a leak, there is a special valve that gets put into the piping to the hot water heater that shuts down the water going to the hot water heater. You might have a 50 gallon tank but I hope that this never happens, if you migrate to Florida, 50 gallons might due a lot of damage but if the water keeps running and running, that can due considerably more damage. Most of the water however, gets channeled into one of the pipes leading to the outside of our homes. Some types of sensors even shut off the gas leading to the hot water heater when there is a leak.

At this time, I am just waiting for a legal document that is being worked on by our committee to hold harmless any member of the committee for any contract that we are recommending. Basically it will be a residents decision whether to go to a recommended company or not. You will be doing the calling and dealing with the company themselves, so we really don't need this legal document but let's say, and again I hope it never happens, that your alarm goes off and Alarm Relay doesn't respond. We would be held harmless and your recourse would be to deal with the company and not to deal with any resident(s) on the committee.

Nothing in this world is guaranteed 100% and if something goes wrong, let us know because we need this feedback to work out all the "bugs". In my next email you will be given a copy of the contract with all the paperwork that is needed. You will be able to call a special 800 # that is being set up for Regency residents only. However, make sure you mention that you are from Regency and that the $25 referral fee should be sent to you.

Next question would probably be, will someone have to come to my home to transfer my current system to Alarm Relay? The answer is NO. The $35 fee is basically to have one of their Technicians calling you and telling you what to do. You would have to be by your Alarm box when he calls. How difficult is it to do? One resident, who's contract was expiring, was told to do one simple thing and he said to me that it was as simple as 1,2,3. He isn't a very technological person and he said to me that nobody would have a problem.

Can all of our alarm systems be converted? Most likely, YES! They have identified that Ademco systems were put into Regency but that could change. If a "lockout" code was included, then you might have a problem.

Alarm Relay is a company under WATCH LIGHT. You might find many $8.95 companies on the internet but some of them are just DBA's of Watch Light. They are NOT a third party company. By this I mean, they do their own monitoring and they don't "farm" it out to another company. Many companies and I am not sure about Westminster, have companies like Alarm Relay doing their monitoring. So what we have done effectively, is to go directly to the company that does monitoring for many other companies. You might also find companies for $5.95/month but most of these use VOI and you really don't want to deal with this type of system.

I applaud the efforts of the RESIDENTS PURCHASING CLUB for providing us with a club that will effectively save us money and provide us hopefully with a better product or service. Our committee will be working on two more contracts. EXTERMINATORS and POWERWASHING for our homes. We ask that you help us in our efforts (like some of you have already have done) by providing us with names of vendors or individuals who you recommend for the various service or products. The following are the services or products that we need your recommendations for. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT AT THIS POINT THE RESIDENT PURCHASING GROUP IS JUST GATHERING NAMES AND THE COMMITTEE HAS NOT MADE ANY DECISIONS DEALING WITH ANY OF THE VENDORS BELOW.

AIR-CONDITIONING/HEATING TEMPRITE 732-946-7600
ARTIC HEATING & AC
JAFKO HEATING & AC
MCDONALD'S HEATING & AC 732-370-0363
GARDEN STATE HEATING/AC 732-462-7800
D.A.S. 732-360-9149

ALARM MONITORING
ALARM RELAY 800-762-9964

APPLIANCE REPAIR
D.A.S 732-360-9149
REDMONDS APPLIANCE REPAIR 732-821-0074

APPLIANCE SALES
REDMONDS APPLIANCE REPAIR 732-821-0074

AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORTER

CABINET MAKER
JAMES VICARI 609-397-4231

CARPENTER

CARPET CLEANING
XTREME STEAM CARPET CLEAN 800-888-4795

CARPETS
CARPET ON WHEELS 732-521-4585

CLOSETS
ALEC 732-296-1112

COMPUTER REPAIR

CONTRACTOR - MAJOR RENNOV.

CONTRACTOR - MINOR RENNOV
PAUL PAPPAS 732-406-8027

DRIVEWAY SEALING
BEST SEALERS INC. 888-744-BEST

DRYER VENT CLEANING
STEVEN BRAUN 609-668-9500
ELECTRICIAN KEVIN KLIMEK 732-521-0735
FRANK MARKS 609-395-0104
GREGG BLINOWSKI 732-553-0011
DUKE ELECTRIC LLC 866-716-6897
CORBIN ELECTRIC 732-536-0444

EXTERMINATOR CAPITOL EXTERMINATING 888-243-6151
ARROW EXTERMINATORS 800-701-2847
CAVANUGH'S EXTERMINATORS 800-362-2282
BOWCO LABORATORIES 732-636-3777

FLOORING - CERAMIC

FLOORING - HARDWOOD

GARAGE DOOR REPAIR

GARAGE FLOOR PAINTING
LUCHO'S GARAGE SOLUTIONS 732-213-8964
HANDYMAN MARK MEYERS 732-245-4842
HELPFUL HANDS ROLAND 609-395-9068
INDEPENDENT HOME REPAIR 732-605-9648
I CAN DO THAT HOWARD 609-443-8097
MIKE 732-780-0466
JOHN BARONE 917-921-9210

HEALTH AIDE
CHARLENE PIERRE CONTACT GLORIA ROTHENBERG

HOME THEATER SYSTEMS
JESSE RAMOS WWW.RAMOSINNOVATIONS.COM

KITCHEN CABINETS
MARK MEYERS 732-245-4842

LANDSCAPER
DAVID'S 732-521-2599

LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEMS
JESSE RAMOS WWW.RAMOSINNOVATIONS.COM

LIMO SERVICE
P&C LIMO SERVICE CARL 732-521-3642

PAINTING - GENERAL
ROB GIL 609-586-5989
KEN WORDEN 732-521-0899
ALEX MALATTO 908-754-4145
RAINBOW PAINTERS 732-356-9019

PAINTING - FAUX
JENNIFER RUGGIERO 732-492-6563

PAINTING WALLPAPER
CHUCK SHIREY 732-286-7610

PLUMBING
DOLAN & SONS 732-247-2763
TEMPRITE 732-946-7600

POWERWASHING
LUCHO'S GARAGE SOLUTIONS 732-213-8964

RESTORATION - REFINISHING
GREGG'S RESTORATION & REF. 732-857-5839
SECURITY SYSTEM SERVICE ONLY

SIDING - WRAPPING WOOD
PRECISION #1 ROOFING & SIDING 609-890-6103

TILE & GROUT CLEANING
SURE STEP INC MIKE DWORKIN 732-521-3809

WINDOW CLEANERS
SANTOS 856-461-3076
BOBBY & MICHAEL WINDOW CL. 732-928-5540

WINDOW TREATMENTS
CRAIG'S WINDOW FASHIONS 732-863-9243
DIANE SFERRA 609-587-9599

Again, my next email will give you all the information you need. Keep in mind that you must send the company you are currently using a letter indicating that you are opting out of the contract at the end of the term for the contract. Interesting enough, Alarm Relay, explained why many companies, including them, have a clause that says the contract is automatically renewed unless the person sends them a letter in writing. Let's say your contract ends Dec 31st, you get a letter a month before, but you ignore to pay for the service. Should the alarm company shut off your system? Alarm Relays response is that they don't shut off anyone's system and they will make several attempts to contact you for either renewing or not renewing even if it is past your contract period. Sounds logical to me.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact me. Each of the different contracts will have different members of the committee involved, so these residents would be able to then answer any of your questions (besides the company offering any assistance). All members (10 residents) would be required to vote on any and all contracts.

ONCE-A-MONTH SUNDAY BOWLING RESUMES - DEC 2ND - RSVP BY NOV 28

Allan Ellis will coordinate the Once-A-Month Bowling that takes place on the first Sunday of each month. If interested in going, contact Allan by Nov 28th.

CLICK ON LINK FOR DETAILS
http://www.adrive.com/public/5eae9d13f4020e91e96103a8264bc091ec5c465e1071ec4ff4512b68337d8c08.html

DID YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT YOUR WINDOWS?

I recently found out that ideal windows will void your warranty if you've tinted your windows and you experience vapor lock between the windows. A very obscure line about 1/16th of an inch states this on their warranty paper that supposedly everyone received in their papers after closing. It states no films are to be applied to the windows.

Since many people tint their windows in the community this is an important issue to consider. It certainly should be told verbally to every homeowner by Toll and not left to the homeowner to find out after it's too late.

A MESSAGE FROM ELAINE SCHWARTZ

I would like to thank all my friends and neighbors for all the cards, phone calls, flowers, food & balloons after my recent operation. Regency is truly a great place to live.

Elaine Schwartz

Planning Meeting--Rosie's Red Hats

December 12

Grill Room 10:30 a.m. Bagels and Coffee will be served

RSVP Elaine 732-605-7960 or Arlene 732-605-0245

Don't forget Holiday Party December 13 at Battleground. RSVP with your check made out to cash for $32 and drop off at Elaine 127 Country Club or Arlene 3 Ballybunion. Indicate your choice of Chicken Francese and Salmon! Join us wearing your Red Hat regalia!

A BRAND NEW ACTIVITY FOR REGENCY RESIDENTS

Forget golf (you hit a ball and then go find it); Forget bocce, you roll a ball and someone rolls it back to you - another name for ROLLY POLLY that kid's play; forget tennis - you hit a ball as hard as you can at someone across the net; forget shuffleboard - well let's not since I found a sport I like. So naturally the Emailer had to come up with a new sport that hopefully we could all play. Just check this out. Practice begins in January.

http://www.biertijd.com:80/mediaplayer/?itemid=4262

THE CULTURE CLUB

Cordially invites you to A Night At The Academy Awards, Saturday February 23
at 6pm in the ballroom. Join us for dinner and the film "Highlights of Oscar's Greatest Moments".Cast your ballot for your favorites in 10 Oscar categories. Presenters will announce your choices. Reservations required $40.00 per person. Checks payable to Regency Culture Club. Table requests for 8 or 10 people accepted. Vegetarian dinner available upon request with reservation. RSVP by February 1st. Seating is limited. Drop checks off to Sue Paris-25 Crenshaw, Laura Shandler -10 Hogan or Sue Miller- 19 Torrey Pines. For more information see the December issue of the Regency Reporter. Questions should be directed to Milton Paris 605-1808 or Barry Shandler 605-0090. Whether you wear denim and diamonds or black tie, walk the red carpet with us where glitz and glamour will rule the night.

MEN'S CLUB - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (RUTGERS) ON SALE

The Men's Club has a limited number of tickets remaining for the big Rutger's Women's Basketball game on Monday, Dec 3 @ 7pm against the current #3 ranked University of Maryland Terrapins, the 2006 National Champs. The Scarlet Knights, after going to the National Championship game last year, currently is ranked #6 in the country, and fresh off a 2 pt victory against #7 LSU on Sunday. Both UM and RU return most of their starters from their '06 and '07 teams. The game will likely be a sellout. Contact Steve Gelwarg @ 732 605-9774 (home) or 732 239-1112(cell) for tickets, priced at $13.

REMINDER MENS CLUB MEETING
SUNDAY DECEMBER 2ND AT 10AM

GUEST SPEAKER DR. BRIAN BERGER ON SPORTS INJURIES AND TO PREPARE.

BAGELS & COFFEE SERVED

JOHNNY MATHIS CONCERT - MEN'S CLUB - STATE THEATER
APRIL 3, 2008

CLICK ON LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.adrive.com/public/6992651d3bd7dae696683802e4744c931b28db567dab868d707459c852b84028.html

MEN'S CANASTA

Our group is looking for a few good men canasta players. This is the Men's Canasta group, We play on Monday and Wednesday evenings starting at 6:30 pm.you would be fill in players to round out our group. please contact George Steinberg at
george.steinberg@yahoo.com
George

TICKET FOR SALE

One Ticket
“Smart Talk” at the State Theater
Isabella Rosellini Jan. 29, 2008 8PM $60
Center orchestra seating amongst many Regency ladies
Contact Fran Langer
732 605-1345 home 908 216-0091 cell

WOMEN'S GROUP - FOREIGN FILM FESTIVAL - "VOLVER"

DECEMBER 18TH

Click on link for more information
http://www.adrive.com/public/7d2d831f287205bf0c46229b5e53c170ee3d73194af83725a057a14f1e3699a7.html

ANYONE HAVING BROWN WATER PROBLEMS?

A resident contacted me that he was seeing the color of the water coming out of the faucet as being brown. I received an email from someone who lives in Encore and it seems that she too is having brown water. Let me know if you are having this same problem.

Here is some information regarding BROWN WATER that was provided by our friends at Encore:

What is the sediment, and why is it a problem? The sediment is simply any solid material that is not dissolved in the water. This can be sand or other grit from a well, or any other stuff that has gotten into the municipal water mains. Many municipal water systems are not filtered so there is always a small amount of "stuff" moving through the pipes. This "stuff" settles to the bottom of the tank.

A humongous one-time blast of sediment can come into your home after the Water Company flushes out their lines. Have you ever hydroplaned a Yugo through a blast of water from a fire hydrant... with the "High Water" signs and life guard stand? This is how sediment is cleared from these main lines. If your house's plumbing connects to this main, the sediment lifted from this sudden burst of water can be enough to clog your toilet inlet valves, your faucet aerators, and deposit a goodly amount in your hot water tank. As a courtesy, most water companies try to give notice of flushing in your area, and advise residents not to run the water. If you don't heed their warning, you will grasp the deeper meaning of "hard" water!

Small accumulations of sediment are not a serious problem. However, as with the example of benign neglect mentioned in my prologue, the depth of the sediment can interfere with the functioning of the drain valve, increase the amount of dissolved minerals in the hot water, and even affect the efficiency of the lower heating element if allowed to accumulate.

Most people have at some time or another been told not to drink hot water from the tap, but are unaware of the reason why. In your hot water tank, the minerals, salts, etc. that have settled in the tank can dissolve into the water. As you know, hot water can dissolve substances that will not dissolve in cold water, and in greater quantities. Plus, the chlorine in the water has an effect on the sediment, and may produce unwanted and possibly unhealthy chemical compounds. All the more reason to keep the sediment level in the tank low.

Clearing sediment from the hot water tank:

1If you have a gas hot water heater, you may be able to do this procedure with the gas on, but turned to the lowest setting. However, you must not let the tank drain more than 3/4 empty. This is easier to gauge if you use a bucket to measure the amount of water you drain. For your first ever flushing of your tank, though, I would recommend a full flush, which requires you to turn the gas off entirely, both at the water heater and the shutoff on the gas line. You can do "touchups" later by draining a portion of the tank down, rather than a full drain.

CAUTION: Do not proceed any further if you do not know how to relight the gas pilot! We strongly suggest you have a gas professional visit your home ONCE to instruct you on the proper procedure for relighting your pilot. Not only is this valuable information for you to have for tank flushing, but at any time that the pilot may mysteriously extinguish.

2) Turn off the COLD water supply to the tank.

3) Attach a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Run the hose to a convenient drain location. Be careful if you use a real cheapy garden hose... some of these become very soft when hot water runs through them, and may leak! If you don't have a drain in the basement floor or suitable sump hole, you have my sympathies... this drain-down can take a while with a bucket! Oh... and be careful if you use a soft plastic bucket. It can also soften from the heated water so don't overfill it or burn yourself!

4) Open up the hot water side of any faucet. Open up the drain valve on the tank and allow it to empty. NOTE: If the drain valve clogs, turn on the cold water supply to the tank to use water pressure to "blast" through the clog.

5) When the tank is empty, shut off the drain valve and turn on the cold water. This will loosen up more sediment in the tank through the churning action of the cold water in the tank. Let the tank fill partially and drain it again. In fact, if you find that the sediment starts to clog the drain valve, turn on the cold water supply to the tank, which will help loosen the sediment and blast it out.

If you have extreme amounts of sediment, you may have to repeat this procedure a few more times. Look at the drain water... if it is running clear, you are done. Shut off the drain valve, open the cold water supply and allow the tank to fill. Once water comes out of the hot water faucet, the tank is full and your task is done! Now, you can turn the electricity or gas back on to heat the water.

How frequently to clean the sediment from your tank...
This depends on the source and purity of your water supply. Some pros recommend doing it annually, some every few years. I would recommend doing a partial drain down annually if you find any sediment in the tank, otherwise every couple of years.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW

RON