WOODS WEBSITE NOW ONLINE

Cascadel Woods website, hosted by part time resident, Harvey Fischer, is now available at: http://www.netptc.net/cascadelwoods/index.html

Newletter items may appear online more quickly than you can receive a hardcopy issue in the mail, so check the website occasionally. If you have difficulty in accessing the website, check with Harvey at: harv@thenaturalworld.org

BOARD MEETINGS SET

The next CWPOA meeting is Wednesday, December 13 at 7PM.
The next WATER board will be Monday, December 18th at 7PM.  Any resident is welcome to attend, however any discussion of new items must be submitted in writing one week prior to meetings.

COMMUNITY BURN PILE

Jerry Scharton announces a community burn pile for garden vegetation only.  NO OTHER trash or garbage is permitted.
Please contact Jerry at 433-1676 for additional information.

DRIVEWAY SNOWPLOW PLAN

After snow falls, roadways are cleared first. Driveways may be cleared only for those who wish the service, and have a signed release form on file in the office. You may contact the office to obtain the form. If one is already on file you need not file another.

Please note that some driveways cannot be safely plowed with the Cascadel equipment, and therefore the work will be at the discretion of the driver.

SPECIAL HURRAHS

Bob Buckles created new roadsigns. They contribute to the beauty of the community and his efforts are much appreciated.

WELCOME TO NEW OWNER

Jean Richter purchased the former Funk home on Cascadel Drive. Hopefully, Jean will attend the coming Holiday Party and many may greet her.

Cascadel Mutual Water Company - President’s Report

Since our last newsletter, the CMWC has completed drilling a new well near our existing #1 well. We now have an 8-inch diameter well, 650 feet deep, producing at least 35 gallons per minute of our famous Cascadel Water. We were also able to use the remaining funds from our water project to drill the well.

The board decided to drill a new well in order to increase our existing capacity to equal usage during the summer months. For many years we have been able to rely on our spring to provide sufficient water during the summer months. For now, the spring continues to be a great source of water for our community. However the spring is located on National Forest land used by a lease arrangement that must be renewed every 10 years. Also, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has been consistently changing requirements for delivery of water and at some point in the future, we may not be able to use the spring, regardless of the purity of the water.

The other good news is regarding our yearly assessments. For the fourth year in a row, we have been able to keep our assessment at the same rate. Each year our board members struggle with the yearly budget, anticipating future needs, providing a prudent reserve for necessary repairs, and setting aside a small amount for future needs. This year, all of the board members were able to come up with creative solutions to all of these problems. I would like to thank Bob McKee, John Rex, Russell Johnson, and Keith McClure for all of their hard work this year.
 
 

County Service Area #21

For years, the members of the Cascadel Property Owners Board have worked diligently to provide the direction and services that our members have indicated are important. Since I have been a resident of Cascadel Woods (10+ years), I have been witness to many changes in how we focus our limited resources. It is certainly not always easy to find the balance between conflicting needs and requests.

What is most important in our community land? Should we focus on fire safety? How important is it to preserve the natural setting? How much recreational use do we want and what kinds? How much accessibility is desirable? These are questions that we have all tried to answer.

To further the knowledge that the board has regarding the directions that our community members believe are important, we are going to hold several public meetings to solicit your input and guidance.

On Saturday, July 8 th at 4:00 PM, we will be holding a public meeting to discuss these issues.Barbecue dinner follows. The following Wednesday, July 19th at 7 PM we will have another gathering for those who were unable to attend the July 8th meeting.

At both meetings we will have suggestions that have been obtained from local experts in Fire Safety, Forestry, Landscape Architecture, Trail Building, Habitat Preservation, and Native Species. These suggestions will help direct our discussions around issues that our residents have indicated are their top priorities. I encourage everyone in our community to attend one of these meetings. If you are unable to attend either meeting, and would like to participate in this process, please send a letter to Post Office Box 321, North Fork, CA 93643 or email to cascadelwoods@netptc.net and a member of the board will contact you.

Appreciation is extended to the callers who have requested a return of the CW newsletter. The newsletter intends to be a service to residents in order to foster fuller communication from the Boards and to promote friendliness among families Anyone who wishes to have information printed need only submit their articles or advertisements to Cindy.

Property Owners Board News

All are urged to attend the ANNUAL regular meeting on the fourth Saturday on September 23rd. Save the date please. At the request of resident Oscar Hefner, Stephen Dillahunty of the Madera County Mosquito and Vector Control District inspected the area to ascertain mosquito habitat. He explained that most of the mosquitoes in this area occur from pools of water collected in hollows of trees. Mosquito larvae cannot live if such puddles are filled with rocks and sand. It is preferable to use natural means to eliminate the possibility of mosquitoes, such as sand, or mineral oil. Spraying is not recommended as other helpful insects are also killed. Many residents have noted a reduction of mosquitoes this year.

Next winter the clubhouse will be more comfortable as a heater was installed. 

Many thanks to Debbie and Chuck Hall who donated sports equipment for the clubhouse use. Brian Curtis and Roger Tucker will install such items as a backboard for basketball, volleyball net, Four Square area and more.

A management plan for the care of vegetation and recreational use of the county service area is being discussed. A public meeting for gathering resident ideas for trail development and other possible recreation uses is scheduled for July 8. A barbecue is also set for that same date. Look for the flyer and or signs. Make your wishes known...please attend!!

 

WATER BOARD NEWS The annual meeting is set for Saturday, June 24th, 1 PM. All are urged to attend. A review of the progress and care of the springs, wells, and other water issues will be presented.
Cascadelians are fortunate to have sparkling delicious water to drink. Appreciation is given to residents for prudent use for watering during the warmer months. Conservation helps everyone

Whenever any pipe is broken or other need is expressed, Brian Curtis jumps into service. Quite often, water board members also go into action. Because of their diligent and willing service we residents may fully enjoy our paradise.

WELCOME TO NEW FAMILIES/ OWNERS

Ray & Sue Winslow purchased the Conway Home (Schwafel’s) • Bob & Caroline Buckles are now in the John & Anneliese Peele Home • Erik & Roya Jue are now in the Jock & Faith Andersson Home • Kenneth & Deana Goodman are now in the Laura & Tanny Morgan Home • Mike Ketscher are now in the Paul & Renota Rich Home • Bonnie Sease are now in the Al & Arlene Lichti’s 2nd Home.

WATCH OUT FOR TICKS

Visitors, both pets and human, need to be checked for TICKS which are prevalent at this time of year. Although local papers have had articles related to experiences with ticks and the subsequent illnesses that may follow, Roger Tucker has endured a five year saga of his own. His story, later in this news, is in response to many questions that have been asked of Roger.

NEWSBITS

• Summer always brings visitors and potential buyers of property in Cascadel. It is a pleasure to welcome these guests. However, residents need remind others of the possible danger to children who play on our roadways. Because there appears to be no traffic, sometimes walkers and bikers wander out in the middle of streets. No one wants any accidents, so please everyone, stay alert.

• Roberta Kight has begun her new business in Oakhurst, and works by appointment only. In September she will begin teaching a class in Meditation. Notice her business card elsewhere.

• Several residents of our woods showed their works of art in the recent ART IN THE GARDEN show to raise money for the NorthFork Library. Carmen Taylor and Joy Heisig showed their watercolors; Doris Kullrich, oils; Ron Smith, woodcarvings; and Heights resident, Dianne Woodward, watercolors. Lisa McKee and Rikken Hansen displayed their photography. All enjoyed perfect weather and beautiful gardens. Do please watch for next year’s ART event.

• Most Cascadel residents travel about during the summer, some going to nearby sites such as Rock Creek or Wawona, or off to Europe. Discover who these recent adventurers are and learn of their escapades. (Please call your editor so your story may be told.)

• You may wish to attend a Discussion Meeting on the Second Sunday of each month at 10 AM, in the Cascadel Woods Clubhouse, led by Rikken Hansen. All are welcome. “Every moment is known to be of infinite value...because it is the moment of communication with God..” —Paul Twitchell

• Dr. Emily Susann enjoys her newly found writing time, since sale of her bookstore, and is now teaching classes on varied topics.

• Exciting news from Sandy and Greg Sheets who are proud new grandparents of new arrival, Macy Sanquedee Sheets on June 4.

• Wishes for improved health go to these men, all recovering from surgery: Ernie Baldwin, Chuck Hall, and Jack Martin.

This is my story about a tick bite and adventure with Lyme disease. It all started with a tick bite on my shoulder in January of 1994. I had been out walking on the old logging roads surrounding Cascadel. The next morning I had a bump on my shoulder, which turned out to be an engorged deer tick. I removed it with some tweezers and didn’t give it another thought.

The next morning I felt terrible. I was pretty sure that I had finally contracted the same flu that was keeping many of my coworkers home in bed for weeks. I stayed in bed the entire day and next night. The next morning I noticed the skin around the site of the tick bite was very red and inflamed. The inflammation extended down past my elbow and was irregular in shape. Great! I have the flu and now an infection from the bite.

Flu

I called my doctor and was directed to come into the office. I felt so bad, I couldn’t drive myself in that day and instead drove over to Oakhurst the next day. In the doctor’s office, I was diagnosed with the flu and an infected tick bite. When I asked about the possibility of Lyme disease, I was told that since the rash wasn’t round and shaped like a target, it wasn’t Lyme disease. I found out much later how wrong this was.

I got over the flu and the tick bite healed, or at least mostly. It stayed pretty red and the skin over the bite was pretty thin. It was easy to scrape off and it bled easily. I also noticed that it would occasionally get re-infected, but would clear up after a couple of days.

Feet Problems

During the following year, my health was good with the exception of my feet. I started having soreness after running or walking. I also started having more bouts of the flu. I had been at the same job for seven years and rarely used sick leave. Now I was out usually two or three days a month. The podiatrist prescribed inserts for my shoes, which helped for several months. When I went back complaining of reoccurring pain, he told me that I had really high arches and I was getting old. Perhaps, he said, I should just give up running and start swimming.

Exhaustion

Over the next several years, my time spent feeling sick slowly increased. I came home from work exhausted, ate dinner, and fell asleep on the couch. My wife was overjoyed! We had many conversations about my dwindling interest in working around the house, my considerable aches and pains, the time I was spending at home sick each month. I finally started to believe that maybe something was wrong with me. Perhaps I was clinically depressed, as she had suggested. I sure didn’t seem to be myself, but I couldn’t think of any reason why I should feel so bad. If I could just get a little more sleep. I tried to exercise as I had in the past, but I would quickly tire. I had also started to put on weight, even though it didn’t seem that I was eating any more than normal.

Arthritis

It is now three years after the tick bite. I am taking 3200 mg of Motrin daily for the pain (yep, 3200 mg - not a misprint) and my stomach hurts most of the time. If I get up an hour earlier for work, I can spend 45 minutes in the bath with water so hot it hurts, and be able to walk to my office after the 50 minute drive to Fresno State. I have seen several physicians and physical therapists. They tell me that I have arthritis and there is not much that can be done. Much of my free time is spent reading or sleeping. My wife is ready to put me to sleep. Often I agree with her.

Word Loss

I am now in a kind of weird cycle. I start feeling really bad for a couple of days, almost a week. I seem to recover for several weeks and then I get sick again. One day I am doing a presentation at work. During the middle of a sentence, I lost my word. It was like looking in the drawer where all of the silverware is kept, only to find it empty. Empty even though you had just looked in it and seen all of the knives and forks sitting there.

I was able to think of another word to use. I covered up and finished the presentation, but I was really fright-ened. Was I starting to lose my mind? Was this the start of Alzheimer’s? I stayed away from presentations, but noticed that there were repeat incidents where I couldn’t find the words that I used to know.

Shortly afterwards, I was given antibiotics for a skin infection that I contracted after grinding dirt into a scrape on my knee. Within days of taking the antibiotics, much of my arthritis pain subsided. I was able to get by with only 1200 mg of Motrin daily - quite a feat, I thought.

By this time, I am convinced that there is something really, really wrong with me. Antibiotics shouldn’t make arthritis pain better! I started searching on the Internet for something that made sense.

Tinnitus

I had also been having Tinnitus or ringing in my ears. I found a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) list that mentioned Lyme disease as one cause of Tinnitus. I am starting to have a suspicion - tiny, but strong -that there may be something to do with the tick bite.

I finally went to see a Nurse Practitio-ner in Oakhurst and went through my entire history with him. After almost an hour, he agreed that it appeared that I might have Lyme disease and ordered tests. One week later I had the results - ALL TESTS NEGATIVE FOR LYME!!

This was just about the lowest point. I had thought that there was an explanation for what was going on and now I was right back where I had started. The Nurse Practitioner suggested that we go ahead with treatment and see if I got better. We went through the usual managed health care hassles, but finally got a 30-day prescription for antibiotics.

Web research

I also started doing more research. Part of this included talking with a local physician who knew quite a bit about Lyme disease. He mentioned some new tests from a laboratory in Palo Alto, IGeneX. They had several tests that were much more sensitive.

I started with the IGeneX home page on the Internet. I was shocked to find that the standard tests (the inexpensive ones) that the HMO was paying for were only sensitive for a couple of days a month. If I had been tested when I felt the worst and couldn’t get out of bed, they might have shown something. They show a 30-day life cycle of the Lyme disease bacteria, B. burgdorferi. This starts to explain why I felt better then worse.

More Tests

IGeneX also has a test called a Lyme Urine Antigen Test. It is much more sensitive than the standard ELISA tests that had already been performed. I found that the HMO wouldn’t pay for the test unless the previous tests were positive. In other words, they would pay to rule out Lyme disease to save treatment dollars, but wouldn’t help me to confirm it. I finally paid the $900 in tests myself.

Two weeks later, I had the results. On a scale where 30+ confirmed the disease I was at 60, 53, and 59. All of the other, more sensitive, tests (Western Blot) were also positive. I had a diagnosis!! I had and explanation for all of my pain and stiffness. All I needed to do was finish the antibiotics and I’d be well. I couldn’t have been more wrong!

Oral Antibiotics

I started with higher doses of oral antibiotics. We had to fight the HMO to pay for the “extra” antibiotics that we were using. Explaining to them that I was 6’3" tall and weighed 250 lbs vs. the 5’10" and 160 lbs that the dosage guidelines were written for finally worked. Then they wouldn’t pay for the blood tests to insure that the antibiotic levels were high enough to kill the bacteria. By the time we had fought all of the battles, I had been taking the antibiotic for so long, I developed an allergy to it and we had to start all over with something else.

Finally I thought we were getting somewhere. We were using some new antibiotics and using two in combination. I had developed Herxheimer reactions. This is a response that your body makes when you are killing a lot of the bacteria. I felt much worse, but I knew that it was because the antibiotics were working. After 2 months of treatment, I felt better than I had in years. I was able to start walking and the Motrin was down to 600 mg a day. Some days, I didn’t take any! I was pretty sure that I was cured or nearly so. Wrong again!! After two months without antibiotics, my symptoms had started to return. I was referred to an Infectious Disease Specialist in Fresno.

HMO Change

We started with all of the same tests, plus some new ones. I had changed my insurance from the HMO to a PPO administered by Blue Cross. They actually had guidelines for treatment of Lyme disease. If you do certain tests, have a positive result and see the appropriate specialists, they will pay for treatment.

After three months of tests, everyone was sure that I still had Lyme disease and we started Intravenous (IV) antibiotics. I was now walking around with a considerable amount of tubing connected to my arm. I gave myself the medica-tion and got pretty good at managing a PIC line. A skill that I had always hoped for… 

Hopefully Cured -Five years later

Now 5 years after the original bite and with six weeks of outrageously high doses of a new antibiotic, I really felt like I was cured. If not cured, it was the best that I had felt in five years. I had stopped taking the Motrin, I was starting to lose some weight, and I was able to exercise daily. It has now been almost six months without any Lyme symptoms. If I’m not cured, it is sufficient for today.

What I realize now is: 

1. Most Doctors and Health Care Professionals don’t know very much about Lyme disease.

2. HMO’s are not necessarily helpful when you are sick with a poorly understood disease. 

3. Any Tick bite is serious.

4. The Lyme vaccine only works about 60% of the time. 

5. It is better to take 30 days of antibiotics after any tick bite, than run a risk of contracting Lyme disease.

6. One has to take charge of their own health care and not depend on professionals to do so.

7. Thank goodness for all of the information available on the Internet. 

If you have managed to read this far, thanks for all of your time. If you have any other questions regarding my experiences, please feel free to call me at 877-4000, or e-mail at rtucker@sierratel.com

Editor Note

Over the past four years, numerous short articles and warnings have been printed regarding Ticks in the Cascadel Woods Newsletter. This is the most extensive and informative article, in an effort to respond to questions and concerns from those in our community about Lyme Disease.

THE FIRE CREW --Kathryn Miller		A fire scares people living in the mountains. At least one fire a year happens somewhere near our home in Cascadel Woods. One year the fire was so close the Sheriff cautioned us to be ready to evacuate. I had a strange assortment of things in our pickup, if I had to leave in a hurry. My great grandmothers antique table that had graced her parlor. The tin box contain-
ing our important papers.Pictures, picture albums, and the family antique jewelry. Nothing practical like food and blankets.

The dog was tied to a front porch post. The stupid cat didn’t come home when I called her. She only returned home when she decided it was her idea to do so. I was looking for her when the Sheriff drove up the driveway to say the wind had changed direction. We were no longer in danger. I unloaded the pickup, the cat came home, everything was right in my world again.

During the day most of the men were away at their work places. A man who was a retired fireman, acted as our fire chief. He asked me and my buddy Muriel, to be his daytime crew. We learned to drive the fire truck. We practiced connecting the fire hoses to the fire plugs. It took both of us to hold the hose to spray water when it was pointed at an object. We were glad when we no longer were the fire crew. Everyone else was happy too.

Muriel’s husband worked at the Mill in North Fork. Andy was part of the night crew. He was almost home one night when he saw smoke. He noted the area, then drove to the club house to pick up a portable water unit we kept for fighting small fires. He rang the alarm bell. He left to fight the fire until help came. Everyone in Cascadel woke up. The men dressed in a hurry, and drove to the club house. The fire crew started the fire truck and drove off to find the fire. The rest of the men drove after them to help fight the fire after it was located.

Andy told us later he was yelling, “Help, help, help,” as loud as he could, as he fought the fire all alone. I believe he also said other things that shall remain not printed. He could see the fire truck and all the men, driving around and around the road looking for the fire. It might have made a hilarious movie. Andy was lucky enoughto get the fire out all alone. When he returned to the club house and told them where the fire had been. The men were also lucky Andy is so good natured. All the men went back home and back to bed.

When I see an article in the paper about someone deliberately setting a fire, it makes me mad. They must be truly sick people. — Kathryn Miller c1999

Ed.note: Kathryn explains this event is true and believes it was about 1970. She wrote this story for a memoirs class, and now resides in Clovis. Andy and Muriel Encinas have been Cascadel residents since 1963 and live on Vista Way.

A New You

Crystal Therapy

Roberta Kight

Therapeutic Massage

Reiki • Deep Tissue • Stress Reduction

Holly Cicoletti

C.M.T. / Yoga Instructor

Massages in the privacy of your home

Tel. (559) 877-2907 • email cico@netptc.net