Author: Daral Smalligan

This year’s Princeton Estates Holiday Lights Contest will repeat last year’s attempt to get as many houses decorated as possible. Every neighbor who makes an effort to put up outdoor holiday decor will be entered into a random drawing to win one of eight – $25 gift cards to Horrocks Market. The top 10 houses who go above and beyond to “Wow” the neighbors will get an additional chance at one of two $50 gift cards. Simply fill out this Google form (link below) by Tuesday December 15th to enter to win!  Winners will be announced at a neighborhood gathering on December 18th and via Facebook.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpGqzix7OHu8LKQOR7jwAWn5T7FfI3FRS4ZG1JO4ms9r-X9w/viewform

Republic Waste is again offering discounted trash, recycling, and yard waste services for paid PEHOA members.  Rates for trash and recycling in 2026 will increase half their usual inflation adjustment:  trash: trash will go up about $2.50/quarter and recycling will go up about $1.75/quarter (there may be slight differences due to City fees).  Yard waste rates will stay the same at $88/year or $11/month from April through November. 
• WEEKLY TRASH PICK UP – $33.78/quarter
• BI-WEEKLY RECYCLE TRASH PICK UP – $23.62/quarter
• WEEKLY YARD WASTE PICK UP – $88 for the season (April – November)
• INITIAL $5 BIN DROP OFF OR PICK UP FEE WHEN CHANGING SERVICES
Referencing competing quotes from March last year, these new 2026 rates represent a $150-200 yearly savings compared to other local companies for trash and recycling and over $65 savings on yard waste (even before their typical 10-15% yearly increase).  Check your latest quarterly bill and compare!

The billing for Republic Waste will continue to come directly to your mailbox or e-mail inbox and be paid directly by each individual household.  Questions about pick up dates for holidays, one-time services like dumpsters/bulk pick up (refrigerators, couches, etc), or missed pick-ups and damaged bins can also be communicated in their app, website, or customer service line directly.   https://www.republicservices.com/customer-support

**PEHOA can also help navigate a customer service issue if your random agent is confused about the special rates for our neighborhood association.  We have a local contact that helps us iron out those issues quicker.  Send an e-mail to pehoakentwood@gmail.com **

READY TO SIGN UP?
1. First pay your $30 PEHOA dues here:  https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/pehoa-2026-dues-payment
2. If you already receive discounted services through Republic, you’re done.  You will automatically continue to get the best PEHOA rate.  If not, Call Republic Services at 877-698-7274 to set up your pickup services and be sure to tell them that you are in the Princeton Estates HOA account.  Ask for the discounted rate listed above. 
3. We recommend that you request January 1st as your start date.  Some of the competing companies have been withholding refunds for switching mid-quarter, so we recommend calling early and requesting that your other trash service be stopped on Dec 31 (end of 2025 year) before your next quarterly bill gets paid. 
4. End of December or the last week of any month is also an especially great time to request a replacement for a damaged bin!  It is more efficient for Republic to bring new bins to multiple homes at once.

It’s time to pay your association membership dues for 2026!  Your $30 annual contribution (per household) helps pay for maintenance of neighborhood entrance signs, community events (summer picnic, garage sale week, block parties, and Christmas contest), and representing Princeton Estates’ interests in city matters (park, police, and utilities). Your all-volunteer Board works hard to make this money go far by reviewing multiple quotes for contracted work and soliciting donations from local businesses and community partners.

Ways to pay your membership:

1. PREFERRED:  You can pay your $30 online before December 31 using this link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/pehoa-2026-dues-payment
   This payment service through Zeffy.com worked great for us last year.  Make sure to select “Other” in the “Keep Zeffy Free” section and put in $0 if you do not want to contribute to the website itself.  Additional donations to PEHOA beyond your membership dues not required, but appreciated!
2. You can mail checks to:  PEHOA; P.O. Box 88155; Kentwood, MI 49518 
   *Please include a note with your name, address, email, phone number, and what services (if any), you receive from our Discount Trash program through Republic Waste.

Please Note:

*If you already receive the discounted trash service through Republic, your membership dues are mandatory.  We share our updated membership list with Republic for access to these negotiated savings.  They reserve the right to suddenly bill their regular rates if membership is not verified through PEHOA. 

**Even if you do not receive trash through Republic, we encourage you to consider $30 a worthwhile investment in the beauty and community of our neighborhood. Equipment rentals, neighborhood newsletters, reimbursement for block parties, and extra raffle tickets at the picnic are some of the other perks available only to members.

In October, our association board hired Blue Square Contracting to have the old, weather-faded street signs taken down (17 signs in all). The signs had become an eyesore after new signs were installed by the city many years ago. The city of Kentwood was initially contacted to see if they would remove them, but because most of the signs stood on private property, it was determined that it was the neighborhood’s responsibility. The signs were taken down all at once, quickly and safely. Thank you to Blue Square and to homeowners who gave their consent to have the signs removed from their property. And a big thanks to Jan DeWitt and Angie Hinkle for spear-heading the project and making it happen.

During this project, PEHOA also discovered that the city had failed to install the newer street signs at two intersections in the neighborhood: Lockmere & Londonderry and at Waterbury & Pembroke. That installation was also completed recently by the city at their expense.

Mark your calendar for Monday July 21.  It’s PEHOA’s Summer Picnic from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Pinewood Park’s main pavilion.  Open to all Princeton Estates residents.  This year we are returning to a POTLUCK format, so please plan to bring a SIDE DISH or DESSERT.  And yes, PEHOA will again provide provide delicious CHICKEN WINGS from Wingsnob!  
Come meet your neighbors, city officials, police and fire departments, and other local community organizations.  This is a free, family friendly event.

Click on the link below to see the spring garage sale map, showing the locations/addresses of the homes registered for sales. Homes with red dots are also offering food or snacks. If you roll your mouse over a dot, it will list some of the items for sale at that address. There may also be homes having sales that did not register to be on the map.

https://my.atlist.com/map/40058730-cc30-41e4-8112-a1cd88289fca?share=true

The Spring Neighborhood Garage Sale is quickly approaching! Sale dates are May 14-17.

As always, there will be good advertising and a neighborhood map!! So if you’re looking to participate, and want your house identified as a sale location on the map, please send your address to mj2712@live.com with the subject PE Garage Sale. You can identify categories of the items you have (toys, children’s clothing, household items, etc.). The deadline to get on the map is April 30.

ALSO – if you plan to sell food items (exclusively or in combination with traditional garage sale inventory), please let us know!

Dates for our 2025 Neighborhood Spring Garage Sales have now been set: Wed. May 14 – Sat. May 17. Stay tuned for more information.

As you may have heard, we are transitioning to direct billing for PEHOA members who are getting their trash service through the association. Effective January 2025, Republic will take back administration of our residents’ trash services. Using the following link to pay your PEHOA annual $30 membership will ensure that we can easily notify Republic of your paid membership status, and you will be eligible for the trash discount: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/membership-16

This means that going forward, all questions, service requests, and other communications regarding your trash service through Republic will be addressed directly to them. It also means that you will start paying Republic directly for these services rather than going through PEHOA.

Republic bills every quarter, and the first bill should be out to you before the end of the month for January, February, and March. At the end of March you will be billed for April, May, and June, etc. They’ve agreed to keep our discount as it has been. Below are some links that should help if you have questions, or you can call Republic for more information. They also have an app that allows you to report damaged bins, missed pick ups, etc. The link for that is also below.

To create or log in to your account: [https://www.republicservices.com/account/login](https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/…)

To view and pay your Republic bill online: [https://www.republicservices.com/pay-bill](https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/…)

To get answers to questions, report a missed pick up, or get a replacement for a damaged bin: [https://www.republicservices.com/customer-support](https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/…)

For more information on what items can be recycled: [https://recyclingsimplified.com/](https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/…)

For any other questions or concerns, you can call them directly at 877-698-7274. Make sure to tell them you are in the Princeton Estates HOA account. Here’s the link to download the Republic app which also allows you to do many of the things listed above: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details.

Hello, it is time for renewing your PEHOA annual membership dues ($30 per household) for 2025. We have added a new payment service this year which should lower our costs (they provide free services for non-profit organizations). The more people that use this, the less cost and work for our PEHOA board. Please use this link to pay the $30 dues, regardless if you use the group rate for Republic trash services:
https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/membership-16

If you have questions, please email the PEHOA Board at PehoaKentwood@gmail.com.

Thank you,

PEHOA Board