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Windows 10 Health Check (May 2020)

 

Technology Tips – Published May 2020 in the Guide and Digest

By Don Trauger – Kennett

 

Give Your Windows 10 PC a Health Check

In these trying times it’s important to keep your computer in good working condition. You may  never know when it might be needed to provide vital support for you.

Before proceeding with the following information close all open windows and programs. 

The first attempt to revive a balky computer is to do a Restart, not a Shutdown. Click the white 4 pane Windows icon at the lower left corner of the screen then click the “Power” icon just above that icon then click “Restart”. This operation will refresh the memory in the computer and may fix the problem you were experiencing. In fact you should do this every few days or so to remove unneeded bits of memory that are not being released and no longer serve any purpose. After a Restart wait a few minutes for the computer to initialize then shut it down if you are done.

Windows 10 can provide many diagnostic tools to check the health of your computer. Type “windows security” (no quotes) in the “Type here to search” box. At the top of the pop-up window click on “Windows Security”. You should see green checks on all the icons except for “Device Performance & Health” and “Family Options”. Click “Device Performance & Health”. Under “Health Report” you should see about 3 or 4 items and they should have green checks. If an item has a  yellow triangle mark, click it to learn more. Further down the page you can watch a short video on this subject by clicking “Learn more about Device performance & health”.

Another good tool is “Reliability History”. It scores your computer on a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being the best score. Type “reliability history” in the “Type here to search” box and click it at the top of the page. You can view technical details under the “Action” column for any days that have red or yellow indications of problems. The more days that have problems, the lower the score as shown by the graph line at the top.

Windows 10 also has 23 fix-it tools to correct specific problems. Type “control panel” in the “Type here to search” box then click it at the top of the window. In the next window you will see various categories. In the upper right portion of the window look for “View by:” and click the little down arrow to select the view “Large icons”. Next click “Troubleshooting”. Select the main category rather than the sub categories that most closely relates to your problem. All 23 fix-it tools can be viewed by clicking “View all” at  the upper left in the main Troubleshooting window.

Other tools that can be invoked are commands to check and repair corrupted files and Windows system problems. Right click the Windows 4 pane icon then click either Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). Type “chkdsk c: /f” (No quotes) and press the Enter key. Answer with a “Y” press Enter and restart the computer. A “/r” instead of “/f” provides a more in depth check of the drive. Another command to use is “sfc /scannow” to repair Windows system issues. If the sfc command fails to fix all of the issues use the following command: “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” (no quotes).

All of these tools are safe to run so you won’t damage your system. The last 2 commands can be very effective in the event the previous information didn’t work. I’ll cover this information at our May PC Club meeting if the Community Center has been opened. We meet on the 3rd Tuesday at 7 PM.

Hard Drive Health

By Don Trauger, Kennett

            The hard drive in a computer is where all of your data, programs, and the Windows operating system are stored. This electromechanical device is critical to the operation of a computer. You have all heard the term backup. This means to store copies of your data files in another safe place besides the hard drive in your computer. These devices do fail and without remote access to your data then all could be lost.

 

            Hard drives can relate to phonograph players and records. Substitute the tone arm for a magnetic pick-up head and the turntable for a motor that spins a disc with magnetic properties. The disc has magnetic tracks instead of grooves as on a phonograph record. Each track is divided into sectors where your data is stored. Hard drive manufacturers document all of the hard drive’s operating conditions in a table called S.M.A.R.T.             which stands for Self Monitoring and Analysis Reporting Technology. Don’t let that scare you away from continuing to read this because I’m recommending a program that makes this technical jargon easy to understand.

 

            We all get medical tests to find out if we are in good health or need follow-up with a medical problem. We don’t understand the technical aspects of how medical tests are accomplished but we do understand the results. It’s the same with analyzing the health of your hard drive. The name of the program to monitor the health of your disk drive is called Crystal Disk Info. To download this free program go to http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskInfo/index-e.html. You can copy this address into your browser. At the CrystalDiskInfo web site, click a blue image with the number 5 on the left side to download the installer file. The current version is 5.0.5 but that may change by the time you read this. Choose your Desktop as a save location. After it is downloaded double click the new CrystalDiskInfo icon to start the installation. Follow the screen prompts and remember not to install ANY other software (toolbars, etc.) that may be piggybacked on the installer. Uncheck or decline any options to install additional software.

 

            After the program is installed you may delete the installer file that was downloaded. Double click the CrystalDiskInfo program icon (not the installer icon) and immediately you will see the health of your disk drive on the left side of the window under Health Status. Shaded in blue, it should say “Good”. If there are problems with the drive it will be shaded in yellow and it will say “Caution”. If it’s red, you are in trouble!

 

            Since this program only monitors and does not correct problems what else should you do if you see “Caution”? Basically there is only one utility that can be run to fix hard drive problems. Click the Start button on your Desktop and to the right you should see “Run”. Click Run and type “chkdsk c: /r” (no quotes) and OK the window. When a black DOS window opens answer the question with a Y and press the Enter key. Reboot and this utility will run and analyze your hard drive for errors and make repairs if it can. It may take 2 hours or more to do this. After running the utility your hard drive will have be repaired if necessary. This will not change the reading from CrystalDiskInfo even if repairs were done. The reason is that once data is entered into the S.M.A.R.T. table it can’t be changed. To gain further insight into the using CrystalDiskInfo and interpreting the results of the chkdsk utility please attend our PC Club meeting. A decision to replace a hard drive can easily be made once you understand the reported results.        

 

            Our PC Computer Club is open to all residents. There is no formal membership or experience required. Your questions and problems will be addressed at the meeting. We meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM upstairs in the Ardmore room of the Community Center.

Windows 10 – The Future of the PC

Tech Tips

The Future of the PC – Windows 10

By Don Trauger – Kennett

Microsoft is going to get it’s operating system right this time. Consumers liked Windows XP and Windows 7. They hated Windows Vista and Windows 8 although Windows 8.1 is somewhere in the neutral zone. Microsoft has made Windows 10 (W10) available for free to test and send feedback to Microsoft. The feedback system seems to be working with users who communicate their likes and dislikes. In the meantime Microsoft is continually updating W10  with new features. W10 will remain in a test phase for the next 6-8 months before the final version is released on new PC’s. This is the first time Microsoft has bent over backwards to communicate and listen to users about a new operating system.

Now for the real good news. Microsoft has decided to make W10 available to current users of Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 for FREE when it’s released. The free upgrade will last for a year after the release date. The only concern I have is whether your programs installed on your current system will remain intact after the upgrade. Your files and other data should be no problem.

Let’s take a look at some of the new features of W10.

W10 atones for one of Windows 8’s greatest sins by returning the Start menu to its rightful spot in the lower left-hand corner of the desktop. But rather than focusing on desktop apps alone, the Windows 10 Start Menu mixes in a dash of the tile screen’s functionality, sprinkling Live Tiles of Windows 8-style apps next to shortcuts of the more traditional PC software. These tiles (apps) can be turned off and make the Desktop screen appear like Windows 7 or you can have something in between. The choice is yours.

In Windows 10, launching a Live Tile app on your PC opens it in a desktop window, rather than dumping you into a full-screen app. Previously users got “lost” in the full-screen mode wondering what to click. The windowed apps have a mouse-friendly toolbar of options across the top, and even alter their interface to best fit the size of the window.

W10 includes a handy “Continuum” feature that dynamically switches the interface between the PC-friendly desktop and a Windows 8-like mode that’s better suited for fingers, depending on how you’re using the device. In other words W10 will adjust itself automatically if you are using a touchscreen or a mouse-friendly mode.

The Action Center, shown as a white flag icon near the clock in Windows 8 (8.1), will be expanded and become more useful in W10.

Cortana, Microsoft’s clever voice controlled digital assistant, will be introduced in W10 where she assumes control of the operating system’s search functions. Cortana will want to access your personal info, then use that info along with her Bing-powered cloud smarts to intelligently locate information you’re searching and perform other helpful tasks. Cortana can help you call a friend, schedule a reminder, set an alarm, check your calendar, compare stocks, and more, all via natural language queries you ask using text or voice commands.

One of the odder design decisions within Windows 8 was the separation of Settings into two buckets, one each for the Desktop and the tile interfaces. With W10, that goes away. Now, there is one Settings menu, available from the Start button. The annoying Charms menu has vanished.

I’ve highlighted a few of the new features of W10. There will be more coming as Microsoft works toward the final build-out of W10.


See the newest build of W10 at the March PC Club meeting. We meet on the second Tuesday of every month at 7 PM, upstairs in the Ardmore room of the Community Center. We will also try to answer any problems that you may be experiencing with your current PC.

PDF help

PDF General info

Documents on the internet are frequently in portable document format (PDF) and most people have the software to read these already installed on the computer. If you don’t have it you can download it for free. It is called Adobe Reader and is totally free to you. However it is a large file and will be a long download if you have a slow connection. Be sure you get the free Adobe Reader since there are other options on the download page. The Adobe page will open in a new window if you click here for the ADOBE site.

Foxit Reader is a good alternative PDF reader. I used it when my old computer wouldn’t run ADOBE. It is also a free download and a fraction of the size of Adobe Reader (and faster PC magazine says). If you’d like to try it, visit Foxit Software.

Re-sizing the document

One of the nice things about the pdf reader is the user has an easy way to change the size of the print. There is a simple setting where you can change the size of the document as you are looking at it. On the residents and houses map, I find it easy to read numbers at 200% but then you only see a few houses. At 50% I see the whole village but the numbers are tiny.

Keep in mind that your reader may not be exactly the same as mine. In mine the size setting is about the middle of the bar directly above the document. There is a drop-down menu next to the percentage figure which allows you to change the size. You can also use the + and – figures near the percentage.

Or hold down the control key and tap + or – on your keyboard. See https://hersheysmill.org/help/print-size-adjustment/ if you need a bit more details on this.

Buying a New Computer (Feb 2020)

Technology Tips – Published February 2020 in the Guide and Digest

By Don Trauger – Kennett

The last time I wrote about buying a new computer was for the August 2016 Guide & Digest issue. Since then a number of changes have taken place. Desktop computers with a monitor are still viable and are often slightly less expensive than laptops with equal specifications. What can be confusing when shopping for a computer is the terminology and the technical specifications. Although space doesn’t allow for a complete primer on the subject, I’ll tell you what you need to know.

First, decide whether you want a laptop or a desktop. Laptops offer certain advantages over a desktop. You get portability with plenty of processing power. However there are disadvantages too. A somewhat smaller screen may strain your eyes over a period of time. A smaller keyboard makes for cramped typing. Glossy screens are great for sharpness and contrast but don’t sit with a sunny window behind you. The glossy screen acts as a mirror reflecting the light from the window thus making the screen harder to see. Another item to consider is the touchpad. A touchpad allows you to mimic the mouse. Some people have trouble using the touchpad and prefer to connect a real mouse to the laptop. That’s fine if that’s your preference.

My minimum hardware recommendations for both laptops and desktops require that they have 4 core processors. Four cores refers to 4 computer processors in one package. Names like i5 and i7 made by Intel are best. AMD, an Intel competitor, is also an excellent choice. AMD Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors are the best choices within the AMD brand. Computers with Intel i3 processors can serve for everyday computing single task needs such as Internet surfing, email, and word processing but are limited in processing power and don’t offer much to offset higher demands now or in the future. An i5 processor can handle almost all demands put on the processor. An i7 processor is the fastest and most expensive processor and is aimed toward serious gamers and multitasking. When buying a new computer choose a computer whose processor has 4 cores and 8 threads. Threads provide additional performance to the 4 cores. The speed rating of the processor also is important. The higher it is the faster your computer will run. A good choice would be a 3GHz or higher speed processor. Keep in mind that processors have a low idle speed that extends battery life when there are no programs running. An idle speed rating around 1.5GHz is normal. When a demand is executed the speed will increase to nearly the full rated speed. The higher the speed the faster the computer will run Apps (programs). 

Here’s how to find a processor that meets my recommendations. After making a choice on a new computer note the model number of the computer. Your choice may come from an in-store or online visit. Don’t buy on your first visit to a store. Google the computer model number online and look for the specifications. It’s best to choose the specifications from the manufacturer’s website. To keep up with technology the right processor and a SSD drive will add years to the usability of the computer. 

My recommendation for an Internet, email, word processing, photo editing and light gaming computer would have a 3 GHz or higher speed 4 core 8 thread Intel i5 processor, 8 GB’s or more of RAM, and a 256 GB or higher solid state drive such as a Dell 15 3000 model 3593. There are many other options available for computers that help personalize it for your needs and of course add to the cost. A DVD drive is now an option on some laptops but unavailable on most. What I’ve outlined here would be suitable for most HM residents. Other things to consider are the number of ports (USB & HDMI) for your needs.

WARNING: STORE CONFIGURATIONS FOR ANY MODEL COMPUTER CAN VARY FROM THE MANUFACTURER’S WEB SITE OFFERING. THE DELL 3593 IS NO EXCEPTION!

Both laptops and desktops feature the Windows 10 operating system. Shop for popular brands such as HP, Dell, and others. I favor Dell because of good reliability, easy online ordering and less junkware installed compared to other brands. Before going to a store become familiar with a manufacturer’s line of computers by visiting their web sites. HP can be found at www.hp.com, Dell is at www.dell.com. Avoid the low cost ($300-$400) computers or computers that have Celeron or Pentium processors. They can be annoyingly slow if speed is a priority for your needs. A higher priced computer also offers future proofing which means the computer will operate at nearly the same speed in future years as it does now. 

More help in purchasing a Windows 10 computer can be obtained by attending the PC Club meeting on the 3rd Tuesday at 7 PM of each month at the Community Center.

Windows 10 Personalization (Dec 2015)

Technology Tips – published December 2015 in the Guide and Digest

by Don Trauger – Kennett

 

Personalize Windows 10

 

When you have purchased a new Windows 10 computer or you have chosen to upgrade your Windows 7 or 8 computer you may want to Personalize it . This something to consider after you have configured more important things like your email and home page of your browser.

 

Personalizing your computer is easy. Click the white icon in the lower left corner of the screen then click Settings just above it. When the Settings window opens click Personalization. When it opens you can select a background picture from either Microsoft’s selections or a picture of yours from the Pictures folder. Below, under Choose a fit, “Fill” is probably your best choice.

 

Next, click Colors. I suggest that you turn off “Show color on Start, Taskbar, and Action Center”. The other 2 selections should be turned on.

 

The Lock screen can display either Windows Spotlight, a Picture, or a Slide Show. It’s a screen that will pop up before the login screen. Windows Spotlight allows you to provide feedback about the screen. I saw no effect with the Windows Spotlight setting. Click “on” for fun facts, tips, and tricks although I have seen little if any notifications. Under “Choose an app for detailed status” and “Choose Apps to show quick status” you will supposedly place icons for your selected apps on the Lock screen when you boot. I found that this did not work. It looks like Microsoft has some work to do in the above areas. Scrolling down you will see “Screen timeout settings” and “Screen saver settings”. Click “Screen timeout settings” and choose 5 minutes for battery operation and 10 minutes plugged in. A screen saver setting should not be used for modern computers. I see no purpose to the Lock screen. You can turn it off by going into the Control Panel, click Power Options, click “Choose what the power button does”, then click “Change settings that are currently unavailable”. Scroll down and uncheck Lock and click Save changes.

 

Click Themes then Theme settings and choose one of the Windows default themes or stay with the existing theme in the My Themes space. Avoid the High Contrast Themes.

 

Click Start and I recommend the following to be turned on. “Occasionally show suggestions in Start”, “Show most used apps”, Show recently added apps”, “Show recently opened items in jump lists on Start or the Taskbar”. “Use Start full screen” should be turned off.

 

The last item to personalize is to click on “Choose which folders appear on Start”. These are folders you may frequently use and can be made accessible in the Start Menu. Recommendations are File Explorer (file manager program), Settings, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, and possibly others of your choice.

 

One last tweak or Personalization is to bypass the need to log in to your computer. You created a login when you created a Microsoft account. It serves no security purpose other than to keep other family members from using your computer without your knowledge.

To bypass the need to log in, right click the white icon in the lower left corner of the screen then left click Run. Type “netplwiz” (no quotes). Uncheck “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer”. Click Apply then fill in your password in both fields.

Click OK, then click OK again.

 

The PC Club meetings are open to all regardless of computer experience. If you have questions that need to be answered, be sure to attend on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7 PM, upstairs in the Community Center. We’ll cover Windows 10 Personalization on Dec. 15.

Pickleball Covid-19 Singles

Maintaining Social Distancing on the Pickleball Courts

Here is one suggestion from Larry A. that will allow singles play
while still Only needing to cover half court!

Village Council Meeting – July 21, 2022

In Attendance:  Jay Harter, Margaret Callahan, Bob Gottschall, Bill Shipley and Janet Burgess.  Also Dominic Aleardi and Diane Carlin of the Architectural Committee joined at 9:00 AM.

Paul and Jackie Welle joined at 9:30 AM.

Jay Harter left at 10:00 AM.

Not Attending:  Mike Pincus

Meeting called to order at 8:48 AM by Margaret Callahan.

June 15, 2022 Meeting minutes were already approved and distributed.

Financial:  Jay Harter reported the budget has currently been overspent by $15,000 due to Landscaping rejuvenation.  Jay said we will be able to cover the overage without an assessment.

He also suggested investing the $600,000 in cash in 3% CDs for 4 years offered by Franklin Mint where we already have accounts.  There is $135,000 invested in a CD that matures in2024. After discussing possible options, the recommendation was to invest $400,000 in the Franklin Mint CDs leaving $200,000 in cash available for immediate use.

Committee Updates:

Architectural: The following is a summary provide by Margaret Callahan.

Dom Aleardi and Diane Carlin attended the July 21, 2022 Council meeting to discuss the Architectural Committee’s decision to deny approval of the request for an Enclosed Patio at 548 Franklin. They explained that the Franklin Village rules/guidelines, as written, do not support the following proposed items:

  • Sliding windows vs. Franklin Village casement window.
  • Matching window color to the siding (lighter clay color that frames the window) vs. Franklin Village brown.
  • There was a difference of opinion about whether the structure is semi-permanent or permanent.

All parties agreed the Paradigm brand is acceptable. Council acknowledges the sliding window (Paradigm Series 8) does not have the desire ‘flat’ frame similar to our current casement windows.

Paul and Jackie Welle appealed the decision to Council, in order to get a better understanding of the denial, and to present a case for an update of the FV rules/guidelines based on current building materials, costs, quality, and warranty.

As a result of the discussion with both parties, Council requests the full Architectural Committee consider the following changes to the Architectural rules/guidelines.

  1. Eliminate distinguishing between permanent and semi-permanent structure in order to streamline the different rules for both.
  2. Allow vinyl windows as an additional option to metal wood clad.
  3. Allow window color to match siding clay color (the lighter of the clay colors). This would only apply to windows on an Addition, not windows on the main house.
  4. Allow sliding windows as an option. This would only apply to windows on an Addition, not windows on the main house.

The Architectural Committee is challenged with making decisions that are consistent, best for the majority, and current.  Council appreciates the time and energy spent by the Architectural Committee to keep requests on a ‘level playing field’ so we don’t have glaring inconsistencies from house to house.

Council recognizes that we currently have many houses with variation to our rules/guidelines, and for that reason, did not find this specific request to be out of line within the Village.  Therefore, the Council approves the Architectural request appeal for 548 Franklin Way, including the sliding windows and window color to match the siding.  We approve as a Case Study, and request a follow up visit to 548 from Council, after completion, in order to have an opportunity to observe the color and window choices, and their effect on the architectural appearance within our village.

Council will send a letter of approval to the Welle’s.

Thank you to the entire Architectural Committee for your cooperation and participation.

 

Landscaping:  Bob Gottschall related how the committee had produced a very detailed list of landscaping needs and had been doing a great job.

Welcome Committee:  The Satterfields were welcomed.

Pool Committee:  The pool has been having Calcium Hardness and chlorine issues which are being addressed.  Janet Burgess will check the status having the electricity supply connected. An electrician has been chosen.

Documents Committee:  No update due to Mike Pincus being absent.

Communications: All communications requested have been sent.

Garage & Street Lights:  Dominic Aleardi gave Kevin Callahan the supply of light bulbs he had. If homeowners notice any light burned out they should contact Kevin Callahan.

Maintenance: Dominic Aleardi told of the garage door jams being sprayed with Critter Ridder and that some needed to be fixed and painted. Dominic Aleardi stated that many deck posts need to be painted and that he has paint sticks of the correct color (Dark Brown). Margaret Callahan asked about mail box numbers as several are missing.

Old Business: There was a discussion of the drain line problem that may be causing sink holes. Janet Burgess reported that Softdig was the company that was going to check the drain lines.  Bill Shipley stated that Softdig had been in his cul-de-sac examining the storm drain.  Janet Burgess will check with Softdig.  They had requested a map of the drain lines which Janet asked Ed McFalls for.  She felt the map was not that helpful.  Dominic Aleardi said he had a map of the drain lines that he will have copies made for Janet Burgess so she can provide it to Softdig. There have been several issues (leaks) with the piping under our roads in the past few years. This is occurring in other villages as well. Council agreed we need to stay vigilant and proactive on the issues, as these tend to be high-cost repairs.

New Business: Bob Gottschall brought possible changes to the election procedure. The possibility of mail-in ballots using a secrecy envelope was discussed. Janet Burgess thought it would add costs and would be difficult to administer. The idea of 2 people helping Janet to count votes was suggested, and agreed upon. Currently all ballots and tally sheets are kept for one year.

There was a recommendation that future letters about garage doors being left open should take a gentler approach, and will start with a reminder from Council (vs. CSK) to the Resident, reminding them that our rules state that garage doors should be kept closed.

Janet Burgess explained that individual homeowner files were not transferred over from the previous management company, Midatlantic, when CSK took over in 2017.

The next council meeting will be held on Thursday September 22, 2022 at 9:00am

Meeting was adjourned at 11:07 am.

Respectfully submitted by Bill Shipley

Village Council Meeting – May 3, 2023

In Attendance:  Mike Pincus, Jay Harter, Margaret Callahan, Bob Gottschall, Bill Shipley and Janet Burgess.

Meeting called to order at 8:59 AM by Mike Pincus.

March 16, 2023 Meeting minutes were approved.

Financial:  Jay Harter reported that we are about $20,000 under budget for the year.

Reserves for roof replacement options look good.

Jay attended a meeting of village treasurers. Reverse mortgages were discussed; there was no concern about them.  Some villages have had to take out loans for roof replacement. None of the other villages did a financial reserves study as Franklin did 10 years ago. The study helped Jay keep Franklin’s reserves on tract to pay for most if not all of the roof replacement.  Jefferson will be doing roof replacements in June.

Hershey’s Mill Landscaping will be coming out in May or June with a proposal for a 4 year contract renewal.  Mike said Ed McFalls said the contract would include a substantial increase over the past contract.

Committee Updates:

Architectural: There was an Architectural Committee meeting on April 29 for the committee members and residents interested in joining the committee. Dom Aleardi has announced that he will be resigning from the committee and the chair position as of May 15, 2023. Several other members also have decided to resign from the committee. The committee will be reorganized as soon as the new volunteers are found. Several residents have already volunteered.  A sub-committee will be reviewing the Architectural Guideline and Rules.

A request from Maryann DiNunzio for an addition was approved by council.

Landscaping: No updates on landscaping.  Council would again like to thank Michelle Cohen and her Committee for all their work.

Welcome Committee:  The committee has contacted our newest resident, Judith Melick, who purchased 566.  The sale of 606 is pending.  There are 2 more house that may be going up for sale this year.

Pool Committee:  The concrete contractor has provided an estimate for fixing part of the concrete apron around the pool.

CSK received the contract for 2023 from Rich Frey of Giuliani Pools. Council approved the contract and CSK signed the contract with Giuliani Pools.

The pool will be opening Memorial Day weekend.

Communications: All communications requested have been sent.

Garage & Street Lights:  Kevin Callahan is being contacted by residents to replace lights.

Maintenance: No response from the request for volunteers so far.

Document Committee: Documents are still being collected but most have already been catalogued.

A review of Architectural Guidelines and Rules will be taking place soon

Old Business: Paul Welle reviewed the information from Pipeview and came up with detailed advice and recommendations. Thanks Paul! Mike Pincus will continue to work with Ed McFalls concerning the drainage issues.

Roofing contractors Bachmann Roofing and Lemus Construction presented their proposals at our council meeting. After the presentations council voted to accept the proposal from Bachman Roofing.

Bachman was chosen because of their extensive references from other Hershey’s Mill villages, best price for the project, and recommendations from CSK. There was a discussion of replacing gutters when we replace the roofs. A quote will be requested from Bachman.

There will be a presentation by Bachman Roofing concerning roof replacement at the annual meeting on May 24th.

The change to the Franklin Village Declarations about the deductible amount for insurance was discussed.  Since the $7500 deductible that is stated in our Declarations will no longer be offered, the $7500 specification will be removed from the Declarations in order to have flexibility when changes to the deductible amount occur.

New Business: None.

The Franklin Village Annual meeting and council election will be held on Wednesday May 24, 2023.

Meeting was adjourned at 12:27 pm.

Respectfully submitted by Bill Shipley

Be Ready for Power Outages

I am sure that most of us can remember the severity of the weather that we experienced last winter…and the resulting power outages. Though winter is not scheduled to officially arrive until December, the following information will help you prepare for any instance where you may lose power…regardless of the season.

From time to time, usually during inclement weather, Hershey’s Mill villages and the surrounding community may lose electricity. While most outages last two or three hours, a few have lasted for more than 24 hours. During power outages lasting any length of time, the Security Department receives dozens of phone calls from residents who find themselves in inconvenient, or even emergency, situations that could be prevented with some advance planning. Listed below are a few suggestions that can better prepare people for a power outage:

  • 1. When the power is out, your automatic garage door opener will not operate. For those residents with detached garages, be sure you know how to operate your emergency door release.
  • 2. Keep plenty of flashlights around the house, and keep extra batteries handy.
  • 3. Keep a charged cell phone somewhere in your house. Providing that phone and cable service have not gone out along with the electricity, Verizon customers will continue to receive phone service; and Comcast Phone customers should have phone service for 6-8 hours before the backup battery in the modem expires.
  • 4. If you are dependent on any life-saving electrical devices (oxygen pumps, medical monitors….et), please contact your medical supply company to discuss options for a backup power supply.
  • 5. Turn off any appliances that you were using when the power went off. When the power goes out unexpectedly, a person may have been using their stove, heating pad, or other device that requires monitoring. A person might leave the house and forget that these items were left running. If the person is not home when the power is restored, then the stove, heating pad….etc may begin operating again without any supervision…causing a fire hazard.

Please call PECO at 1-800-494-4000 to report that your power is out and for all outage-related questions, as PECO requires account holders to report their problem directly and does not provide the Security Department with any more information than they give to residents. When the Security Department is inundated with calls regarding a power outage, the phone line is then tied up; and residents who are calling with security-related issues or emergencies cannot get through.