Greetings everyone! I am honored to be the President of the Somerset Community Association (SCA). As a Somerset resident for over 33 years I am committed to preserving and enhancing our surroundings in Somerset. Last year we remodeled three of the four entries to Somerset as part of the 2007 Neighborhood Enhancement Project (NEP) updating the look of our community.  

This year the Foresthill entry at Forest Drive will get new landscaping, adding a granite rock displaying SOMERSET to identify it as community entry point and new landscape materials in the median and on either side of the entry as part of the Forest Drive Streetscape program. Somerset will be eligible in 2010 for other NEP projects to enhance the community.

Two potential projects have been initially identified; first, the addition of playground equipment for Somerset Elementary School, suggested by the PTSA, and second, the addition of low/no maintenance landscape materials for those areas in Somerset owned by the City but not maintained by the City, i.e. retention ponds and green belts, to improve the appearance of those areas along the street. The City will be sending out information to start the NEP process in April, there will be an NEP workshop in August and balloting/voting will be completed in September/October. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate in this process so the community gets the best ideas put forward and we all benefit from the results. We hope you will support your community association both with your ideas and help whenever possible.

Somerset provides us with quick and easy access to employment, entertainment, recreation, and other activities and organizations. We also benefit from having nationally recognized schools for our children and we pay some of the lowest property taxes compared to other cities in the area. These all combine to make Somerset an extremely attractive place to live but we can still improve our appearance in several areas with your help. Our theme this year is, "Pride in Somerset's Appearance." Ever since the trash and recycling containers were changed to the Totes, eliminating dumping recycling bins by hand, we get litter on our streets each pick up day. Let's all look around and pick up those unattractive pieces of litter on the street before stowing the Totes. When our streets are kept clean it discourages people from throwing beverage cans and fast food trash out of their cars littering the street. Our covenants also require "all trash containers (Totes) be screened so as not to be visible from any street or adjacent properties or residences." The vast majority of homeowners comply with this covenant but there are a few homeowners who are not, perhaps because they are not aware of the covenant. Trash containers left out in view are unattractive to neighbors and other homeowners. This year we will be making an effort to make everyone aware of this covenant and ask all homeowners and renters make a reasonable effort to hide their containers from view. I want to recognize our out-going Board members who have devoted so much time and energy to the SCA over the past three years.

Allison Wallin, our Secretary and webmaster, provided indispensible advice and valuable local knowledge to the Board. In addition, Allison helped with every major social activity, created comprehensive Board Notebooks for each board member, and hosted a Retreat to get to know new Board members after Annual Membership Meetings. Special recognition also goes to Steve O'Donnell, our out-going Vice President, Communications and SUN Newsletter chair. Steve not only did a fantastic job improving the quality of the SUN Newsletter but he also played a key role in the construction of the new NEP entries and Fourth of July Parade and Picnic. Although Steve's term was up in 2009 he has graciously agreed to stay on in 2010 to again head up Communications and SUN Newsletter. Although the terms of Jeff Richter, CRC, and Debbie Lin, Social, were cut short as both of them had to leave the area we want to thank them for their contributions and service to the community while here. Bravo to all!

Gary Albert, President 2010