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Nighttime Treasure Hunt
Can you locate these photos on a map of KPVillas? Each one contains a hidden gem--actually, a whole crown--that you can capture in late summer with a cell phone camera. Within each photo is the constellation Corona Borealis (CrB), the Northern Crown. The brightest of the seven stars defining CrB is Alphecca, also known as Gemma, the gem star in the crown. The Northern Crown with Gemma relative to the Big Dipper; August 12, 2026 at midnight. If you can duplicate the given
2 days ago1 min read


Pond Spillover Recommendation
The KPVA retention pond has a stable southern bank over which excess water flows during heavy rain. That stream exits at one low spot, dropping a few feet to the larger St. Joseph County retention pond. Excess storm water spilling over the berm has created a head cut at the landscape edging. Over the years that occasional stream has eroded the span between ponds until the head cut—where the water drops like a mini-waterfall—has sliced across the KPVA boundary to the edge o
Aug 12 min read


RSVP for 2026 Fest
It's time to celebrate friendship, community, and Italian tradition at the KPVA Annual Fest on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Please RSVP and pay for the seated dinner at Capri Italian Restaurant by sending checks payable to KPVA along with the completed form. The event opens at 6:00 PM with an hour of cocktails, soft drinks, appetizers, and a coffee bar. Credit cards are accepted for bar purchases, with the rest included. At 7:00 PM dinner is served family style featuring thre
Jun 211 min read


New Flag Rule Adopted
The KPVA Board adopted a new Rule in which only US flags described in US Flag Code may be affixed to the front lamp post. The official text of the Rule states: A flag flown from the lamp post, while optional, shall only be the United States flag complying with the design described in Title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1, Section 1, Part 1-Design of the Flag. See https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title4&edition=prelim. Proportions of US flag, per US Flag Cod
Jun 141 min read


Power Outage Reveals Nova Site
When a summer storm knocked out power to KPVillas, the site of an upcoming nova was apparent in the dark morning sky. From the front entrance looking westward in the morning twilight mid-June, you can find Corona Borealis hovering over the guardhouse. Under the left curve of the U-shaped constellation, known as the Northern Crown, is where the "new" star will appear, being about as bright as Polaris, the North Star. Earlier in the night the constellation would have been hi
Jun 131 min read


Board Seeks Nominations
The KPVA Board seeks nominations to fill the roles of two Board members whose terms are expiring, per an email to alll homeowners from KPVA President Sandy S on June 3, 2026. The election occurs and new terms begin at the 2026 Annual Meeting on September 10. Sandy writes: I, Sandy [S] & Patti [V] will be rotating off of the board as our 3 year term will be ending at the end of September, thus leaving 2 vacancies. I am unaware at this time of anyone else who may choose to rot
Jun 72 min read


Well Done, Again
The irrigation system at Covington island is now fully functioning. KPVillas dug a new well, wired a new pump into the guardhouse panel, buried some new pipe lines, and tapped into the existing underground infrastructure to get the water flowing again. Sprinklers are operational on Covington island after new irrigation system was installed. The new system services both the island and the landscaping in front of the entrance walls. Previously the water had been purchased an
May 311 min read


Save Dates: Aug. 18 and Sept. 10
Please mark your calendars for two KPVA events, with details to follow. First, August 18, 2026, will be the annual neighborhood dinner, to be held at Capri Italian Restaurant in Granger from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. This KPVillas outing brings the community together for an informal social gathering with food, beverage, and casual conversation. Second, September 10, 2026, will be the KPVA Annual Meeting, to be held at Knollwood Country Club at 5:30 p.m. All homeowners are encoura
May 251 min read


Rare Visitors
Rare visitors have shown up in KPVillas. Among them are a green heron, turtles, hooded mergansers, and a daytime coyote. Green heron. Turtle Hooded mergansers. Coyote
May 181 min read


Signs of Spring
Spring weather brings the return of outdoor projects, including sprucing up the original signage throughout KPVillas. Between house painting jobs, Wayne McKenzie of Christopher McKenzie Painting and Staining caulked the old signs on May 14, 2026, in preparation for their giving all the signs a fresh coat.
May 181 min read


Pump Progress
A new well is in place behind the guardhouse in preparation for irrigating the Covington island. Mauer Well and Pump Service Inc. dug the well and installed the pump. Gary Boyer then started connecting the new pump to existing irrigation piping underground. Some additional new trenching and piping is required to route the water to both the entrance landscaping by the walls and Covington island itself. Some electrical work remains, but the island will soon be serviced by a
May 181 min read


Neighbors Clean KPVA Parcel
Neighbors gathered to clean debris, fallen limbs, and invasive plants from the parcel containing the KPVA retention pond. After a few laborious days of cutting, picking, and dabbing, a significant pile had accumulated. Exposed black edging and sprinkler heads around the pond perimeter confirm the parcel had been landscaped and irrigated in the past, but had since been neglected. On April 21, 2026, more neighbors joined to help carry the waste to the curb, where Miramontes
May 181 min read


April 13 Two-Way Traffic at Entrance
"Monday morning, April 13, 2026, Maurer Well Service will be installing a well on the main Island on Covington Parkway. Residents will be restricted to using the ENTRANCE side only for both incoming and outgoing vehicles," wrote KPVA President Sandy in an April 11 email to homeowners. "Please use extreme caution when leaving and entering the neighborhood." The back entrance at Adams Road gate will be open, but a large mulch pile there may require you to drive across some mul
Apr 111 min read


Sample Primary Ballots For May 5
Sample ballots for the May 5, 2026, primary election are posted online by St. Joseph County at https://www.sjcindiana.gov/2420/Sample-Ballots-for-May-Primary-Election . Left is the Democratic sample ballot; right is the Republican sample ballot. Sample ballots for primary election in St. Joseph County, IN, 2026 May 5.. The State of Indiana Voter Portal is at https://indianavoters.in.gov . Homeowners in KPVillas reside in the following election districts: STATEWIDE: INDIANA
Apr 51 min read


Clear For Well Drilling
Colored flags behind the guardhouse locate the utilities in preparation for digging a new irrigation well. The well site is close to the guardhouse because an electrical feed line to power the pump already exists there. Colored flags and paint locate buried utilities. The Covington island well will be the second new installation after the completed Huntington Lane well, with the KPVA Board anticipating additional upgrades for Candlewycke island and Bent Tree/Oak Hill island.
Apr 41 min read


Spring Clean Underway
The sounds of spring are in the air--birds chirping, gardeners whistling, and...leaf blowers buzzing.
Apr 41 min read


New Snow Equipment Debuts
New snow removal equipment debuted after over eight inches of snow were recorded January 14-15, 2026. Hand-shoveling crews showed up in the morning to clear snow from sidewalks and near garage doors; mid-day the heavier equipment descended. Snow accumulates January 14, 2026. Hand-shoveling Jan. 15, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. New BOSS Snowrator plow clears a driveway January 15, 2026, at 2:40 p.m. Two new BOSS Snowcator plows and a Bobcat with a blade clear driveways and roads. Eas
Jan 151 min read


Snowplowing Improvements
The snowplowing contractor has responded favorably and significantly to comments made by KPVillas homeowners about snow removal. With the next snowfall in 2026, residents will see new specialized equipment in force. Over the years, multiple contractors have deployed front end loaders, Bobcats, truck-mounted plows, snow blowers, small plows, and hand-shoveling to clear the snow. Invariably, all techniques have upsides and shortcomings alike. Over the years, contractors have
Jan 142 min read


New ACC Chair
"Welcome, Paul M, to our KPVA team," writes President Sandy S. in a January 4 email to all homeowners. "Paul joined our team as the new Architectural Control Committee (ACC) Chairman in November 2025. Some of us are gearing up for Spring projects that will need to be approved. As a gentle reminder, the paperwork that needs to be filled out and submitted for approvals is located on our website at knollwoodparkvillas.org ." Click to open Exterior Modification Request. In att
Jan 41 min read


Happy New Year
Wishing you well in 2026. Cheers! To 2026!
Dec 31, 20251 min read
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Disclaimer:
KPVillas.org is an independent website that does not represent the opinions or initiative of any HOA or Board. An official HOA site is at KnollwoodParkVillas.org.
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