Casey Decker adds lights to cove park wall.

Casey and Stephanie Decker were our very first taste of neighborly in Woodland Shores. It took several U-Haul trips (ten hours each way) for us to get all of our things moved up here and by the time we loaded up a truck, drove 10+ hours to get here we were hungry and tired, without a clue about where to get groceries or any food to-go. We ate a lot of salami and cheese and crackers and were grateful to have that. Then one night Casey and Stephanie showed up with fresh fried fish and all the fixin’s to go with it.

 

New solar lights (thanks Casey!) dotting the top of the cove park wall. Photo by Casey Decker.

I was still a couple of hours away, driving our van stuffed full of possessions too fragile to trust to U-Haul, when Marc called to tell me about the dinner that was waiting for me. When I pulled into the driveway he handed me a piece of that fish and I actually cried. Never in my life had I tasted something so good. Never had I known that people could be so neighborly. And that’s what I think of every time I see Casey Decker.

So it didn’t surprise me when Casey spoke up in the March community meeting to say that he had purchased some lighting for the wall in our community cove. He didn’t expect reimbursement. He just saw an opportunity to use solar accent lighting to make the park safer and more attractive at night and he did it. Because that’s the kind of neighbor he is. Checking on his neighbors, ready and willing to help when needed.

Solar lights installed on top of the park wall at the cove.

At the suggestion of those in attendance at the meeting, the WSPOA board voted to reimburse Casey for the money he spent on purchasing the lights. Patti Frazier spoke up to offer the use of funds in the Bob Frazier memorial fund (in memory of her husband) to help pay for them.

Casey said he planned to use a very strong construction adhesive to permanently affix the lights to the wall, and if anyone wants to help out with that to contact him. [Edit: it’s taken me five days to get this posted on the website, so it’s very likely that Casey has already completed the installation. But reach out to him anyway and offer to help (or simply to say “thanks”) .

 

New solar powered lights dotting the top of the cove park wall. Photo by Casey Decker.

It’s really a wonderful experience to live in a place where neighbors look out for and take care of each other. Thanks, Casey Decker and Patti Frazier for lighting up the park, and for being good neighbors to the rest of us who will most certainly enjoy the lights for years to come.