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newsletter
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11/14/10- MCJH
Dance, Movie
Night, Flags |
12/5/10- Movie
Night, Nutria, Hospital |
|
9/22/10- Movie
Night, Missing dog |
10/29/10- Movie
Night, Pet Brigade, WFD |
|
6/27/10- July 4th,
WLVFD |
6/11/10- Pool Tags,
Easter, Facebook |
|
5/24/10- Pool Tags,
Easter, Facebook |
4/29/10- NUD
Elections Tags,
Recycling |
|
4/11/10- Pool Tags,
Easter, Facebook |
4/1/10- Easter, Pool |
|
1/24/10-
MUD 238, , Security, Lights |
2/22/10- Water
leak, Dates |
|
2009 News |
2008 News |
2007 News |
|
2006 News |
2005 News |
2004 News |
|
2003 News |
2002 News |
2001 News |
Movie Night – Christmas Style
We are pleased to announce our first annual Christmas Movie Night, which will is
scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 20, at the tennis courts. The movie
to be shown is “Elf” with Will Farrell.
We’re holding this event at the tennis courts, but with one very important
caveat. The tennis courts are not really designed for this type of event, and
the surface of the court is very sensitive to abrasions. If you bring a lawn
chair for seating, then you must bring a towel or blanket to place under the
chair. Our preference is for you just to bring an old blanket and pillows – more
like a slumber party (if you remember those ..)
Should it rain, we will reschedule for December 22, depending on the
availability of the projector/unit.
Westlake Volunteer Fire Department Candy Toss
The much awaited pre-visit by Santa Claus to our neighborhood, compliments of
the Westlake Volunteer Fire Department, is scheduled for December 16, between
6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
For new residents, this is an annual event, where the WFVD provides Santa access
to its ladder trucks, riding through each street in Barkers Ridge to throw candy
to the kids, who typically wait on the curb. We understand from the Fire
Department that Santa uses this event to map out his toy delivery schedule on
Christmas Eve.
Should it rain that night, there is a make up day on December 18.
MCJH 8th Grade Dance Celebration Meeting
The next meeting for the MCJH 8th Grade Dance Celebration is on December 9 at
7:00 p.m. at the Mayde Creek Junior High Library.
Lost Dog Alert
We have a lost dog in Barkers Ridge Village, found around Morton Road and
Prairie Creek on Thanksgiving Day.
The dog is a Danish Farm Dog, a young white female with black markings. A
neighbor said she had been hanging around Canyon River Lane the day before
Thanksgiving. She is very sweet and is someone's pet: she is clean and well
taken care of.
Call 281-513-6109 if this is your dog, or you wish to adopt.
By the way, we have some super residents who have taken it upon themselves to
help care for dogs lost in the neighborhood. We use Facebook and
www.barkersridge.org to get the word out: these residents are also going to put
up signs at the marquee on Morton Road. If you lose your dog, check the marquee
area first.
Nutria Update
We had a fair amount of discussion after the posting about the nutria and other
wildlife at MUD 238’s detention pond. As it turns out, the nutria are very
invasive creatures, negatively affecting the environment for the other wildlife
in the area – and are responsible for not one, but 2, dams that have caused the
backup of water and new vegetation.
The MUD tells me that the nutria will be relocated, and that this will happen
sooner than later. The MUD is also looking at ways to restore the natural flow
of the detention ponds after the nutria have been removed. Comments and
recommendations are most welcome.
Texas Children's Hospital West Campus Outpatient Services Open
Texas Children's Hospital West Campus Outpatient Services is now complete and
open for business. Inpatient, emergency, and sedated diagnostic services will
open in the Spring of 2011.
Pets & Holidays – A Must Read for Pet-Owners & the Rest of Us
‘Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts—but also for possible
distress for our animal companions. Pets won’t be so thankful if they munch on
undercooked turkey or poultry bones or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or
if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.
Pets can become nervous when the doorbell rings, or strangers come over. Remove
your pet to a place where it will feel safe. This could be inside a crate with a
favorite toy or treat, or inside a familiar room with the door closed. This will
make your pet feel safer and calmer.
A tired dog is a good dog. Try and give your dog a good energetic walk in the
morning, something that's mentally and physically stimulating. That way he'll be
more inclined to sleep or at least lie quietly while you are preparing and
eating your Christmas feast.
In fact, it’s best to keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.
However; if you decide to feed your pet a little treat, stick to his favorite
pet treat(s). Do not feed your pets chocolate and anything sweetened with
xylitol. Do you know the lengths to which an enterprising four legged fur kid
will go to chomp on something yummy? Make sure to keep your pets away from the
table and unattended plates of food, and be sure to secure the lids on garbage
cans.
Christmas decorations, while pleasing to our eyes, may be dangerous for our four
footed friends. The twinkling lights, glass ornaments, combined with
tinsel/icicles can become deadly if ingested or produce severe lacerations, if
broken. Keep an eye on your pet, as, much like our children the decorations are
just waiting to be touched/played with by our pets. Closely monitor them and
separate them if necessary. Keep wires, batteries and glass or plastic ornaments
out of paws’ reach. A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock and
a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus, while shards of
breakable ornaments can damage your pet’s mouth.
Don’t leave lighted candles unattended. Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire
if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders, placed on
a stable surface. If you leave the room, put the candle out!
As you count down to the New Year, please remember that confetti can get lodged
in a pet’s intestines, perhaps requiring surgery. Noisy poppers can terrify pets
and cause possible damage to sensitive ears.
Holiday plants can also be toxic. For a more complete list visit
peteducation.com.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! – from Harris County Public
Health & Environmental Services (PHES)
11/14/10
A chilly day this peaceful Sunday: I hope you all had a good weekend as we make
the final push toward the Thanksgiving holiday. Please find updates below:
MCJH 8th Grade Celebration Dance
A meeting to plan the 8th Grade Celebration Dance for the end of the year
has be rescheduled for Thursday this week, November 18 at 7 p.m. in the MCJH
cafeteria. If you have an 8th grader, or are just interested in volunteering for
a great event, please mark this date for you to attend.
Vacation Watch
As the holidays approach, and if you are scheduled to be out of town, be
sure to fax in a "Vacation Watch" to the Constables Office. For those of you new
to the neighborhood, this is a service by our dedicated constable to drive by
your house each day that you are gone, and make sure that all is well. The form
can be downloaded from www.barkersridge.org, and will ask you to describe what
is "normal" for your home whilst you are away.
Movie Night - Christmas Edition
We had a pretty good response to the "market survey" for a Christmas Movie
Night. My favorite is "Miracle on 34th Street" with Natalie Wood - but I am
probably one of the minority. Tell me what would be your family's favorite so we
get it right. The plan is to have the movie at the tennis court (bring your own
chairs or blankets) the week before Christmas Day.
American Flags
The MCHS Choir is responsible for those beautiful flags that adorned our
streets just before Veterans' Day - and, of course, those that participate in
the fundraiser each year are the real heroes in this great display. If you want
to join (the flags are set out & picked up by the students six times a year),
contact Mayde Creek High School's Choir Department.
You Mean, We Pay for Trash Service?
Not a ridiculous question: it seems BFI/Allied Waste/Republic Waste hadn't
updated its serviced population inventory for at least 2 years. Last week, they
left notes on lots of doors to pay up or lose the service you have come to know
and love. So, to clarify if you are new, the HOA does not pay for this service,
nor does the MUD. The HOA signs the contract with the vendor to provide service,
but each resident pays for his/her own trash collection. (By the way, if your
neighbor is combining his/her trash with yours, beware!)
What I Want for Christmas ...
I am disappointed to report that there have been a couple of burglary
attempts in and around Bsrkers Ridge this past month (yes, one broken up by my
husband!). While we all wish criminal activity did not exist, the realists in us
know that it does - and that it can affect us. Don't be a victim. As reported in
the Spring newsletter, burglaries target homes that are the easiest to enter -
and have been looking for access through the back of the house. Look at your
home and see where entry might be possible. Why not put a double deadbolt lock
on YOUR Christmas list this season?
Who Needs the Government if We Can Regulate Ourselves?
How I love the burgeoning wildlife in and around the detention pond area at
the trail! This morning, I saw the family of nutrias at the small pool of water,
near the large drain on the east side of the detention pond south of Ashley
Road. Unfortunately, there was a lot of debris/trash that had come through the
sewer systems to vastly diminish the natural beauty of the area (yes, the MUD
has made the detention ponds beautiful). We'll get with Larry Biediger/MUD 238
to see how we can help clean up the area - but there's no reason we can't keep
the detention pond and street sewers clean of trash, right?
I was also made aware that kids have targeted the turtles, nutrias, ducks, and
other wildlife to be the recipient of some cruel acts. Take your phone with you
if you walk the trail: we'll make the constables aware of the problem so a call
will not fall on deaf ears. We'll also talk to the Parks Department about other
preventive measures we can take.
And have a happy, safe, and joyous Thanksgiving holiday. Be sure to share your
good fortune with others less fortunate.
What a beautiful (cold!) morning this Friday. And to top it all off, it's
National Cat Day! We have a lot of news, so bear with me though a more extended
e-mail update.
A note from Chief Mark Palmer of the Westlake Fire Department
Westlake Fire Department will continue to keep the tradition of feeding the
Houston Homeless for Thanksgiving once again this year. Last year, it is
estimated that over 300 homeless enjoyed fried turkey and all the other fixings
on Thanksgiving. If you know of anyone that would like to take part with us this
year we need help in the following areas; funding, serving & preparing the food.
We will also start collecting new or slightly used winter coats for the
homeless. Please check your closet to see if you have a coat you could spare to
someone less fortunate. If you remember last year we handed out over 500
sleeping bags to the homeless on the night of our first Houston freeze thanks to
Dr. Jeremy. This year we will focus on coats because the homeless will not
discard them if they get wet. Our goal is to be prepared before the first freeze
and hopefully hand out 2,000 plus coats. Please feel to contact me via e-mail or
call the Westlake fire station @ 281 492-0560 ext 16.
Haunted House for Halloween - 3355 Piney Forest Drive
Barkers Village residents Jim and Mary Jane Reynolds (3355 Piney Forest
Lane) have constructed a Haunted House to share with the community this weekend.
As past President of the Alice Optimist Club, Jim built a haunted house as a
fundraiser - and providing an opportunity for families to enjoy a fun and safe
night out. This year, Jim and his colleagues have built a haunted house at their
home and would like to invite everyone. There are five scenes with five actors,
and the entrance is at the garage, The Haunted House will be open on Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday night from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. Come one, come all!
Pet Brigade
Each month, there are a number of dogs who have become separated from their
owners - winding up on your street or doorstep. In the last month, a group of
concerned Barkers Ridge residents have met to develop new ideas on how to
respond to this near-term problem and, more broadly, to promote the welfare of
pet and pet ownership in our community. This would include providing low-cost
methods to microchip your pet, promoting the use of collars and tags, and
supporting organizations who rescue dogs and cats who have been abandoned.
If you have interest in joining this team of dedicated individuals, let me know
and I will connect you with them.
On November 20, the Mobile Vet Clinic will be on site to provide low-cost
vaccinations for residents who wish to use their services. We are looking at
this event to also host a "pet fair" - which would bring together lots of
informastion on dog care, plus events to showcase our wonderful pets. We will
have more on this event in the coming weeks.
Movie Night - Tell Us What You Think
We hosted our first "movie night" last month, but the attendance was lower
than might have been expected because communications were a tad late, and the
humidity/rain probably inhibited a number of residents. Still, other communities
host this type of event with success, and we like the idea immensely as a way of
sharing the cool nights of October and April (our thoughts on when we would
month-long events) with our friends and neighbors.
So, herein is a "market survey" - tell us:
1 - If you had standing dates (every weekend in October and April) that you knew
well in advance, and we showed family-oriented movies, would you be likely to
come to one or more of these events? (very likely, likely, not very likely, no
way)
2 - Would you be likely to attend a movie night at the pool in the summer
months? (yes, there are floating screens that are placed in the pool ..)? (very
likely, likely, not very likely, no way)
3 - If we scheduled a movie night during the Christmas season this year, which
could include a Christmas event (maybe a Santa Claus, maybe a toy collection for
underprivileged kids), how likely would it be for you and your family to come?
(very likely, likely, not very likely, no way)
Homeowners Dues
As a board, we went over our current and future spending requirements this
week, and our finances look sound. As such, we agreed to leave the dues
unchanged for 2011. You will be getting your notice in the mail next week. With
the holidays coming up, it's not the best time to be sending out such a
statement, but Crest outlines a couple of options to make it all less painful.
As always, we value your feedback.
Movie Night—September 24
The Barkers Ridge Social Committee is proud to announce that it will host the
first ever “Movie Night” on September 24—at the recreation area adjacent to the
Barkers Ridge pool. This event is the inspiration of resident Lindsay Maturin,
who brings the experiences of other neighborhoods who have hosted such an event.
Our “movie night” allows us yet another opportunity to enjoy our neighbors, to
build community, and to just have fun.
The event will begin at dusk, with the movie starting around 7:30 p.m. The movie
screen will be positioned on the field to the east of the tennis courts (along
Magnolia Trail) using
the berm near the parking lot as the back of the "theater". Bring a blanket or
lawn chairs for seating: you are free to bring food and non-alcoholic beverages:
also bring some plastic bags to pack out what you packed in.
What Should I Do If My Dog Turns Up Missing?
You should hang "Lost Dog" flyers in your neighborhood, pet stores, and
local veternarian offices. Give your cell phone number as a contact number. Be
sure to put a picture of the dog and his/her name on the flyers. State when the
dog went missing -- day of week, date, and approximate time. State what area of
town that you live in -- especially the subdivision. State the dog's breed. Give
a full detailed description of the dog. State whether or not the dog was wearing
a collar and tags and if the dog has a microchip. If the dog ends up at a pound,
they can scan the dog for a microchip and call the owner's contact information
on file with the microhip. Of course, it is important to keep this microchip
contact information up to date at all times.
Visit BARC, SPCA, CAPS and the Humane Society to look for the dog.
Speak to area veternarian offices. Speak to your area mail people and
constables. Post "lost" listings on various websites online, particularly your
homeowner's association website and FaceBook page. We post this information in
both places!!
State "Please contact me at ANY time if you find my dog. My cell phone is
___________."
To all kids & grownups with bicycles
We invite you to the 4th of July Bicycle Parade which, this year, will be
held on July 5th, rather than July 4th. This is because July 4 falls on a Sunday
– and Sunday morning belongs to family. On Monday, July 5, the event will start
at 10 a.m., opened by a flag ceremony conducted by Barkers Ridge’s own Boy Scout
troop 1235. The West Lake Volunteer Fire Department will bring its ladder trucks
and emergency vehicles to lead the parade. The event will culminate with a
celebration of ice cream and lemonade, coupled with a clown on hand to entertain
the kids, and a dedication to WLVD, to which we owe so much.
For those of you who live along the parade route, we respectfully ask that you
remove your vehicles from the street during 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – not only so the
ladder trucks can get by, but to protect the safety of the participants. Last
year, many of you had cars on the street, and it was a difficult journey for all
to navigate around them. I will send you a separate email to ask you and get
with you on Monday before the parade, if you forget or do not pick up this
email.
More news from WLVD
The community relations director for WLVD tells us that the property on
Saums Road between the Katy Bingo hall and Brazos Valley Credit Union has been
purchased by the HCESD#47. The ESD will be building a new fire station for
Westlake Fire Departmentt. The station will be built within the next two years.
Welcome to the dog days of summer! Please find an update to community
events/issues below:
4th of July Bicycle Parade
The Barkers Ridge HOA will sponsor its annual 4th of July Bicycle Parade again
this year – but we will be doing this on the morning of July 5 (Monday) , rather
than on Sunday morning. The event will start at 10a on Monday morning, led by
Barkers Ridge’s own Boy Scout Troop 1235, who will start the event with a flag
ceremony, and who will also be on hand to provide cool treats & lemonade after
the ride. The Westlake Volunteer Fire Department will lead the parade with their
ladder trucks and emergency vehicles – and we plan to have a clown on hand after
the parade for the kids. We will also be awarding 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prices
to the best decorated bicycle!
All are invited to join in the event: non-motorized vehicles only - but that
includes strollers, walkers & other forms of transport besides bicycles. The
parade starts at the pool, heads north on Barkers Forest Lane, west on Appletree
Hill Lane, south on Eagle Ridge Way, and east on Buffalo River Way. If you have
a home along this route, we kindly ask that you keep the street as clear of cars
as possible for the safety of the participants.
Swim Meets
The Barkers Ridge Swim Team has begun its competitive season. They will be
hosting a visiting team on June 19, from 9a to 2p, which means the pool will be
closed for that period, and there will be increased traffic & cars parked on the
street.
MUD 238
MUD 238 directors want to remind you that, if you have not paid your MUD taxes
by July 1, a 20% penalty fee will be assessed. Contact Stacey Wagner, at Wheeler
& Associates (713) 462-8906, if you have any questions or comments about your
account.
Update from Harris County Constables Pct 5
The Harris County Office of Emergency Management has also issued a list of
things that are recommended to do in the event of a hurricane:
Residents are urged to get a kit, make a plan and stay informed this hurricane
season.
Your emergency supply kit should include:
* NOAA weather radio and batteries
* Flashlight and batteries
* Extra eye glasses
* Bottled water
* Non-perishable food
* Clothing
* Bedding
* Medications
* Copies of prescriptions
* Special products for babies, elderly and medicallyfragile family members
* Cash and credit cards
* Photo ID, important documents and records
If you live in an area threatened by storm surge - an EVACUATION ZONE - discuss
evacuation plans with your family. Check with city or county officials to find
out if your home is in an evacuation zone.
Make a checklist of preparations to be made before an evacuation and go over it
with your family. Review it again when a storm is in the Gulf of Mexico.
If you plan to stay in a hotel or motel, make reservations and confirm your
reservations before you leave. If you plan to stay in a shelter, bring what you
need to be comfortable, including bedding and toys for kids.
Prepare an emergency kit for your pets and a plan for how to care for them when
you are on the road and in a shelter or motel. Do not leave your pets behind!
Please find below a summary of recent security events in & near the Barkers
Ridge community, as prepared by our Security Director, Carolyn Pharr.
I want to reiterate that our community has increased its use of off-duty
patrols, and actively supports a neighborhood watch program. Talk to your
neighbors, and agree on when and how you will watch out for each other.
We published what has been mistakenly termed security “tips” in the last
newsletter. This is a misnomer because it assumes that we are doing all that is
required to ensure our own safety, and that only some fine-tuning is required.
The reality is that these “tips” are the basic elements of your own safety and
you should implement those that make sense for you. The responsibility for your
security and that of your family ultimately belongs to you.
Another excellent report from Carolyn:
Like the rest of Houston and its surrounding suburbs, Barkers Ridge is not
immune from the increase in criminal activity that’s being seen across the
country. Home burglaries, car burglaries and vehicle thefts are all on the rise.
For Barkers Ridge, most of the home burglaries we have witnessed in recent
months were perpetrated by breaking in to the residents’ homes through the back
door or window. I spoke with Deputy Wilkerson at length this weekend to get her
perspective as to why certain areas of Barkers Ridge are being targeted.
Wilkerson advised that the homes along the trail or with a field on the
perimeter are favorable due their easy access through the back gate at the trail
or as an easy getaway if they have to flee. With the recent burglary on Piney
Forest, she explained that the back gate leading to the trail was open and the
homeowner said it was closed before leaving the house. The burglary happened
between 6:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., with access through the back door. The
burglars cut the power before entering and were able to spend enough time to
check the entire home before leaving. Wilkerson was on patrol that morning and
her first patrol upon arrival starts with the Piney Forest area and streets that
line the trail. For those of you that live along the trail with an access gate
to the trail, Deputy Wilkerson strongly advised to keep the gate padlocked when
not in use. Leaving it unlocked just makes it too easy for them.
Last Wednesday, May 19th, in the Green Trails subdivision south of I-10, a
neighbor noticed a suspicious vehicle and suspicious activity at their
neighbor’s home and called the constables. Many of you may have seen the story
on the news or read it in the Chronicle. The end result was tagged as a “good
old fashioned shoot out” leaving one suspect dead and two in custody. Green
Trails, like Barkers Ridge, does have a patrol contract with Precinct 5 and a
Neighborhood Watch program. Their contract deputy was on duty and patrolling at
the time of the burglary. We all are well aware that we cannot be in two places
at once, much less 762. Barkers Ridge has 762 homes and hiring deputies for each
home, street, or section is unreasonable. The home in Green Trails would have
become another victim to a burglary had it not been for the neighbor that
noticed them and called in the suspicious activity.
Yesterday, Sunday, May 23rd, a resident in Barkers Ridge noticed three kids
sitting in a car in front of their home on Plum Knoll Court (The Estates). The
resident called another neighbor to let them know it was there. He looked from
an upstairs window and could clearly see the kids in the vehicle. He called the
constables and a few minutes later, the car filled with smoke (not “on fire”
smoke either). Within minutes, the constable pulled up, the driver rolled down
the window and out came the handcuffs. All three were arrested and the car was
towed. Major kudos to those on Plum Knoll Court for watching and calling!!!
As unfortunate as it is, most people are not concerned with home security
measures until something happens to them or a neighbor. According to security
experts, the public's complacent attitude is the burglar's best friend and your
worst enemy. This is the sole reason for our Neighborhood Watch program. To
watch out for each other. I cannot express enough how important it is to meet
your neighbor’s, get to know them, keep an eye out for each other, and call
dispatch when you see anything unusual! Deputy Wilkerson and I agree that it is
quite apparent that these burglars are not only working in a group, but are
watching us as well. They are communicating with each other to know where
Wilkerson is when she’s patrolling, when she’s here and when she’s not, when we
usually leave our homes and how long we’re usually gone. This is their jobs –
how they spend their time and how they make a living. They are watching us. We
need to return the favor and watch for them.
Judith McGlaughlin
We hope you are enjoying the beautiful spring weather & wish it would continue
through the coming months! But alas, summer will be upon us soon. Please find a
few updates for your consideration:
MUD Elections
Early voting is now underway to fill three of the five positions on the MUD
Board. Candidates include incumbents Larry Biediger, Mike McGlaughlin, and Patty
Richardson, as well as Lake Ridge resident Joe Ellis. Voting is at 3431 Ridge
Hill Lane from the hours of 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday
through Friday, April 26 through April 30 and May 3-4, while regular voting
takes place on May 8 (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.). As we wrote in the Spring 2010
newsletter, “Democracy isn’t something we are, it’s what we do ...” Please go
out and vote.
Facebook Invitation Revisited
You can now follow us on facebook! A fun and exciting way to stay connected with
family, friends, and now your neighborhood. Receive news and updates of upcoming
events, swim team results, missing pets, and other interesting news such as
“Resident Spotlight”. Did you know we had a published author living among us?
Come see who it is on facebook. Signup is free. Only Barker’s Ridge residents
will have access to our wall, and all privacy restrictions are based on personal
user account settings.
Recycling
There was concern that our trash hauler, Republic Waste (who bought Allied
Waste) was not properly handling our recycling volumes. We checked with the
operations manager, who told us that they are using a rear loader for recycling,
rather than a recycling truck. The recycling volumes are not being mixed with
general trash and are being transported to the recycling facility.
Pool Tag Registration
Crest will be at the pool on May 1, from the hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for you
to register for your pool tags. They will be on site again on May 24 from the
hours of 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. If you registered on line, pool tags have been mailed
out: receipt of said tags from the supplier were delayed by a week or so because
of bad weather earlier in the year.
On line registration is still open: go to www.barkersridge.org and click on the
“pool” icon on the left hand side of the screen.
The pool opens on May 29.
Mobile Vet Clinic
The Mobile Vet Clinic will be on site on Friday May 21, from the hours of 4 p.m.
to 7 p.m., providing vaccinations and other services to your pet, if you do not
have him/her under the care of a local vet. The website for additional
information for this company is
http://www.themobilevetclinic.com/.
This is a good time to check your pet for tags; if they are out of date or
missing, please get a tag for your pet. There are so many times that we are
contacted about a lost dog or cat, and more times than not, they do not have
tags. If you read the Spring newsletter, you know you don’t want your pet to
join the ranks of the abandoned pet population.
Heart Screening
Westlake Fire Department is hosting a Teen Heart Screening Event on Saturday,
May 8. The cost is just $68. This is due to the fact that the Westlake Volunteer
Fire Department is raising money to help defray the costs. If you have a
teenager who is active in athletics or simply needs a heart screening, plan to
take advantage of this fantastic opportunity. If you would like to donate to
this most worthy cause, the information for donations is also below:
on May 8th from 0900 to 1600 hours and will continue to host further screenings
as long as the need is there.
It is far too common that we hear that a high school athlete dies during an
athletic event. We have researched the “Heart Screen for Teens” and feel it is a
great program that may prevent one of our own teens from sudden death.
State of the art mobile ultrasound units will screen teen’s hearts and may
detect potentially fatal conditions that cannot be identified during routine
physicals. The echocardiogram exam is simple, safe, requires no preparation and
takes only 10 to 15 minutes. A registered technologist uses an ultrasound unit,
which utilizes high frequency sound waves to create images of the heart, as well
as determines how well blood flows through the organ. The confidential results
are analyzed by a board certified cardiologist and mailed to parents.
Normally, the cost of this echocardiogram can range anywhere from $900 to $1,500
and is not usually covered by insurance. “Heart Screen for Teens”, however, is
able to provide this potentially life saving service for $68. This will be
offered to all teens from the Houston area and beyond.
Westlake Fire Department has currently raised $5,000 to assist those children in
its district that can not afford the $68. Parents in our district that can not
afford this procedure are asked to contact fire Chief Mark Palmer to discuss
financial assistance. Our goal is to prevent sudden death from occurring in one
of our teens. Westlake will continue to provide financial assistance as long as
the money is available. We are also looking for donations to exceed the current
$5,000 so that this vital procedure can be offered to more teens. Those that are
interested are encouraged to call (281) 492-0560 or contact Matt at (832)
865-7942 to set an appointment to prevent any delays.
The Board of Directors, Barkers Ridge HOA
Judith, Victor, Carolyn, Andy, and Brian
Pool Tags
We’ve received registrations for over 100 households, which is great. We
normally register about ½ of the Barkers Ridge Community, or about 400
households, by the end of the registration period. As you recall, on-line
registration is at www.barkersridge.org, and on-site registration is on May 1
and May 24.
If you are wondering where your tags are, do not worry: they should be going out
in the mail next week, once Crest receives them from the supplier. They tell us
that there were some weather problems in the vendor’s supply chain, which caused
an unexpected delay.
Easter Egg Hunt
Our thanks to Victor Treat and volunteers who held the annual Barkers Ridge
Easter Egg Hunt – which was well attended by our residents. A great time was had
by all. If you have photos you can share, please send them to
jmcglaughlin@sbcglobal.net.
Barkers Ridge on Facebook
Our new Board director, Brian Cheadle, has executed on his brilliant idea of
setting up a secure and private Facebook page for the Barkers Ridge community.
To request access, do a search for groups (versus friends) and type in Barker's
Ridge HOA. From there you will have to submit a request to be admitted.
There are a few items already posted to show what this site can do to further
build on our community network, including a Yard of the Month picture, Easter
egg hunt pictures (from 2009), and a "scheduled event" regarding the pool
opening. In the future, postings on the latest results from the Barkers Ridge
Swim Team swim meets can be posted, community news about upcoming events, Yard
of the Month winners, missing pets, security issues, or updates on trash pick-up
schedules can be posted. We may also include information on changes to deed
restrictions, or common points of confusion, so as better to manage our combined
efforts to protect property values.
Thanks to Brian for a great idea, and contribution.
Mobile Vet Clinic
The Mobile Vet Clinic will be on site on Friday May 21, from the hours of 4
p.m. to 7 p.m., providing vaccinations and other services to your pet, if you do
not have him/her under the care of a local vet. The website for additional
information for this company is
http://www.themobilevetclinic.com/.
This is a good time to check your pet for tags; if they are out of date or
missing, please get a tag for your pet. There are so many times that we are
contacted about a lost dog or cat, and more times than not, they do not have
tags. If you read the Spring newsletter, you know you don’t want your pet to
join the ranks of the abandoned pet population.
MUD Elections
MUD elections are scheduled for May 8, and will be held at 3431 Ridge Hill
Lane, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting is also being held and the dates/hours
can be found in your newsletter or www.barkersridge.org.
The Board of Directors, Barkers Ridge HOA
Judith, Victor, Carolyn, Andy, and Brian
We of course wish you all a very Happy Easter this weekend, and hope that the
Easter Bunny is good to you & yours.
To help you with that celebration, don’t forget that we will hold our Annual
Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 3 – starting at 3p. There will be (of course)
a search for candy-filled eggs, plus a petting zoo, a moonwalk, and the all-time
favorite (and new tradition for Barkers Ridge) – the burlap sack race. This is
something that you really will enjoy with your kids, or your kids’ kids. Please
come.
Also, be reminded that you can register for your pool tags online – by clicking
on “pool” and then the “online pool tag application” link shown below. There are
two days for registration at the pool – May 1 and May 24 – but you might find
registration from home a bit easier. The pool opens for the season on Memorial
Day Weekend.
Our best to you & your family,
The HOA Board of Directors
Judith, Victor, Carolyn, Andy, & Brian
We have set a few dates for 2010 that I want you to be aware of, as well as some
additional updates of interest to our Barkers Ridge neighbors:
Dates for 2010
Below are some of the key dates for this year’s key events. There are some
still in the works, but I wanted to give you a heads up as quickly as possible.
· Easter Egg Carnival – April 3: This treasured event is currently scheduled for
Saturday, April 3, at 3 p.m.
· 2009 Annual Meeting – March 24: The 2009 Annual Meeting will be held at the
Mayde Creek Junior High Cafeteria, starting at 6:30 p.m.
· Swim Team Registration - March 27 (Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.), March 28
(Sunday, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.) and March 31 (Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
· Pool Opening – May 29: The Barkers Ridge Pool opens at 11 a.m.
Easter Egg Carnival
As he has done in years past, Victor Treat will be the coordinator of this
event, and will be seeking help from all bunnies or bunny-want-to-be’s. Look for
follow up communications on this great event.
2009 Annual Meeting
The agenda is much as we have done in the past. We have also asked the
Captain (and/or his designate) of Precinct 5’s Constable Department to address
the group on recent trends in criminal activity. We will confirm his
participation within the next week.
Pool Opening
The last day of school is June 3, the opens the weekend before for that
weekend, before beginning its full time after school lets out.
As we did last year, you will be able to register for your pool tags on line.
I’d like your feedback as to whether it will be necessary to include register &
pick-up times at the pool prior to the pool’s opening. If we can eliminate or
reduce this registration option, we can save a few dollars that can be
redirected to new chairs or loungers. If this is still a valid option for you,
let me know. We are open to continuing this method if it is required.
On other matters …
Another great event to put on your calendar ..
For those of you that have adopted dogs that have been rescued (and Miles,
our beautiful Keeshond, is one of those rescues), you will understand my joy in
finding that one of our residents fosters these homeless, but wonderful animals
with the Scouts Honor Rescue group in Houston, TX. The next event will be
Saturday, March 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Heights at 1128 Heights
Boulevard.
This is a way for all of us to give back to our community in a very meaningful
way. Remember it is best to adopt a homeless pet instead of contributing to pet
overpopulation by buying a pet while homeless animals are euthanized in city
pounds just for the lack of a loving home. Check
www.ScoutsHonor.org for
more information on this great program.
Why was the water pressure down yesterday (February 20)?
From Mike McGlaughlin: “There was a big leak in Oak Ridge, caused by builder
construction, from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning. Evidently, this was not
called in until Saturday morning.” (I conveniently seem to know more about the
MUD than I ever expected.)
Finally …
A few of us were able to clean up the trash on Dulaney Road, between MCHS and
the trailhead this weekend as well as along the trail by the high school.
Coupled with the County’s replacement of the speed limit sign in the same area,
the roadway is back in shape and Ram Proud. If you have teenagers that may
contribute to the trash (there was a lot of it), talk to them about keeping the
streets clean.
This will be a lengthy e-mail, focusing mainly on the security incidents that we have experienced since the Christmas season. Before we address this issue, we have two other announcements of interest:
MUD 238 Town
Hall Meeting – January 19, 2010
The
Board of MUD 238 held an open house on January 19, providing a review of
operational issues, new payment options, and a discussion of the district’s
mandated conversion to surface water and the rate fee increase to be imposed by
the West Harris County Regional Water Authority (from $1.07/1,000-gallons in
2009 to $1.40/1,000 gallons in 2010). The presentation can be found at
www.barkersridge.org,
click on “MUD 238” on the left-hand menu, and page down to “News”.
The emergency number for Severn Trent (ST) is 281-398-8211. This number may be used for water main breaks or if you detect odors at the Wastewater Treatment Plant on Morton Road. In the latter event, call immediately so that ST can investigate before the odor dissipates.
There were not a lot of residents in attendance, but it was well worth your time to go. Thanks to Larry Biediger, and all of the Board members, for an informative presentation of the facts & district issues.
Street Lights
on Morton Road
There have been outages among the street lights at Morton Road. As of January 7,
Centerpoint was contacted, and told us that there was an underground line
problem and that it was going to take them more time than usual to fix the
problem.
If this problem persists past January 31 or for any street light outage, please contact http://www.centerpointenergy.com/services/electricity/residential/reportastreetlightoutage/. You will need to know the 6-digit number that is posted to the street light.
Security
Issues
On
December 23, we issued a security alert to all Barkers Ridge residents of
several burglaries of motor vehicles and criminal mischief activities that
occurred throughout December 2009. The HOA Board approved the deployment of
late night patrols to supplement our dedicated constable, and plan to continue
to do so throughout 2010. Additionally, we are also collaborating with the
security coordinators in Westlake, Silvermill, Oak Ridge, and others so we can
easily and quickly share concerns and information on incidents that affect all
of us in the area.
Through the years, our main focus for our neighborhood watch program has been to maintain a tightly-knit community, where we know who our neighbors are, and we exchange information so we can stay ahead of any problems. This is the cornerstone of any neighborhood watch program, and we are proud of the efforts & accomplishments.
However, in the past weeks we have experienced two incidents of a more invasive nature, and have received reports of suspicious incidents in Westlake and Westfield Estates. On January 14, 2010, Deputy Wilkerson notified us of a home burglary attempt on Piney Forest Drive. The resident returned home at approximately 10:00 am to find his home being burglarized by two individuals. Deputy Wilkerson was in the immediate area and spotted one individual hiding in the bushes who took off on foot over a fence into the landfill on Greenhouse Road. Deputy Wilkerson followed and called for backup. A perimeter was established in an attempt to block them in, but was unsuccessful. A third individual waiting in a white Explorer was caught and arrested.
On January 20, 2010, a second resident on Piney Forest Drive reported that they returned home shortly after 3:00 pm to find that they had been burglarized. Entry was made through a back window and the perpetrators stole TV’s, computers, game systems and jewelry. Deputy Wilkerson was on patrol that day, but was on another call on Barkers Forest Lane at the time of the burglary. The Security Coordinator from Westlake Place also advised us that they had two home burglaries during the past week (January 19, 2010).
Additionally, residents within Barkers Ridge and the surrounding areas have sent information about suspicious persons that go door to door asking for help from the residents they find at home – for example, asking for help to pay for a wrecker service or to jump start a car. In both situations, the person does not provide information on where the car is and just asks for money, to use the phone, or to use the bathroom. We are advised that these may very well be attempts to perpetrate a criminal act, and that the only response is to decline and call law enforcement officials immediately.
With the frequency of these events, we felt it critical to provide our residents with this information and with general guidelines on community and individual response.
At a community level, as noted, we have increased our use of off-duty patrols for hours not covered by our contract with the Constables Department.
At the individual level, we want you to contact the constables at 281-463-6666 whenever you see something suspicious. We have had reports that lawn service personnel and other outsiders have been seen going through trash cans on the street: call the constables immediately when you see this. If there are solicitors that come to your door, call the constables: they will interview these individuals and urge them to find another community to solicit within. Whenever you call the constable, you increase the presence of law enforcement for you and your neighbors. Safety should be your utmost concern – remember, only you know what is normal for your neighborhood, and what doesn’t look right. Call it in if it doesn’t look right to you. And, if you call in something suspicious, please let the crime watch network know by letting your block captain or Carolyn Pharr know.
If you don’t already, get to know who your neighbors are and who your block captain is. If you don’t have a block captain or know who your block captain is, contact us & we’ll make sure you and your block captain connect, or we’ll ask you to consider taking on the role.
If you would like to subscribe to our neighborhood watch yahoo group, where Security Director Carolyn Pharr provides more detailed and frequent information about security issues in Barkers Ridge, you are welcome to do so. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BarkersRidgeCrimeWatch/ and register to join this group.
The responsibility for your security and that of your family ultimately lies with you. Be alert. Be vigilant. And, always, be aware.
Judith
McGlaughlin
President, Barkers Ridge HOA
Carolyn Pharr
Security Director, Barkers Ridge HOA