Grande Park

2012-01-04T14:35:00.002-05:00

ANNUAL MEETING!!!

JANUARY 12, 2012 @ 7PM

1309 Umstead Rd., 3/10 mile west of Guess Rd.

IF YOU ARE NOT ATTENDING, PLEASE SEND YOUR PROXY THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED IN THE MAIL TO ONE OF THE HOA MEMBERS!

2011-12-30T14:54:00.003-05:00

Residents can have their trees picked up from their homes with curbside pickup from Jan. 3-March 2. Simply place the tree in the area where your garbage is typically picked up. If it hasn’t disappeared within a week, residents are encouraged to call Durham One Call at 560-1200.

OR, you can bring yur tree, as well as your e-waste (electronics with a cord) to the City's Recycling Event on Jan. 14 in the Sears parking lot at Northgate Mall. This Event is organized by the city’s Solid Waste Management Department, with help from Sonoco Recycling, Shimar Recycling and Synergy Recycling.

Learn more: Call Durham One Call at 560-1200 or visit http://bit.ly/tMcYHh

Read more: The Herald-Sun - Recycling event just in time for New Year’s cleaning

2011-10-26T19:47:00.004-04:00

The County is embarking on a STRATEGIC PLAN and WE have the opportunity to participate!

Click on the flyer below, and try to attend one of the TOWN HALL MEETINGS!

2011-10-25T10:37:00.005-04:00

PICTS FROM THE GRANDE PARK FALL FESTIVAL!

THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED!!!!

2011-09-10T22:21:00.001-04:00

FALL FESTIVAL/OCTOBER FEST

OCTOBER 22

ACCURA COURT!!!

Join us for food, drinks (adult drinks too) a bounce house, crafts, games, music, take a tour of an ambulance and fire truck, and celebrate fall with your neighbors!

2011-08-08T10:18:00.001-04:00

County to Host Free E-Waste Recycling Event, August 13

Event Gives Citizens A Unique Opportunity to Responsibly

Recycle Computers And Other Electronics.

Durham, NC – North Carolina laws are becoming increasingly stringent regarding what is allowed in landfills across the state. As of July 1, televisions and computer equipment are banned from disposal in North Carolina’s landfills, as a result of a law passed last year by the General Assembly.

In response to the recent disposal ban, the Durham County General Services Department has scheduled an E-Waste Recycling Event for Durham County residents and businesses to safely dispose of electronics and confidential documents.

The event, co-sponsored with Creative Recycling Systems, Inc., will be held from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m., on Saturday, August 13, 2011, at the Durham County Memorial Stadium located at 402 Stadium Drive, Durham.

Almost all electronic devices with a cord are accepted, including:

Computers, laptops, keyboards, mouse, printers, monitors, speakers, copiers, scanners, circuit boards, hard drives, computer parts, etc.
Televisions, stereo equipment, tape players, receivers, amplifiers, and record players
Kitchen electronics, such as microwaves, mixers, blenders, choppers, etc.
Telephones, cell phones, and fax machines
Hair dryers, curling irons, alarm clocks, and vacuum cleaners
Power tools, cordless tools, etc.
Electronic toys, such as keyboards and video game systems

Residents are discouraged from bringing large appliances, refrigerators, air conditioners, or any other appliances that contain Freon to the E-Waste Recycling Event.

For more information about this electronics waste collection event contact Haynesworth at 919-560-0433 or via email at bhaynesworth@durhamcountync.gov

2011-07-27T15:55:00.000-04:00

SUMMER VANDALISM

There have been several reports of minor vandalism in the neighborhood recently. Last week, a neighbor on Mystic had their mailbox bashed right off the post. They filed a police report. Today it was reported that the vehicles at 4 houses along Mystic were egged. The HOA will be contacting Durham PD to request additional police presence in the neighborhood. However, it is summer and kids are bored and apparently up to no good. If you see any unfamiliar people in the neighborhood, please don’t hesitate to question their presence! If you think there is suspicious activity call 911!

2011-07-18T16:27:00.000-04:00

URGENT!

Master Officer Steve Hall from the Durham Police Department wants to remind you about scams:

"Just got off the phone with a concerned citizen and he stated that there were persons going door to door stating that they work for the Brinks Security Company and they are offering an upgrade for your keypad. They are well dressed, spoken and using a IPAD to seem professional. The Brinks Company has been contacted and they are NOT doing any type of promotion like this. Please be aware and if in doubt call 911."

2011-07-13T20:57:00.003-04:00

Congrats to June's Yard of the Month 1707 Mystic and

July's Yard of the Month, 101 Accura!

Winners of a $25 Lowe's gift certificate!

2011-07-11T15:21:00.001-04:00

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release Date: 07/11/11

Contact: Dawn Dudley Phone: (919) 560-0008/Fax: (919) 560-0020

E-mail: ddudley@durhamcountync.gov

Rabid Raccoon Found in Northern Durham

Northern Durham Residents Warned That Other Animals Could Be Affected.

Durham, NC – Late last week, Durham County Animal Control officials confirmed that a rabid raccoon found in Northern Durham County tested positive for rabies. The animal was located in the area of Falkirk Drive in the Heather Glenn subdivision.

The raccoon was killed by domestic dogs and submitted for rabies testing. While the animal has been removed from the community, officials from the Durham County Animal Control Office warn the public that rabies remains a present risk in the territorial boundaries of the County, particularly wildlife.

“Residents in Northern Durham should look out for other rabid animals by being aware of strange animals and protecting their domestic animals from rabies,” says Melinda Duarte, field supervisor for Durham County Animal Control.

Since the positive test, Durham County Animal Control has canvassed the neighborhood where the rabid raccoon was found. Residents in the immediate area received flyers to increase community awareness and remind animal owners about the importance of the rabies vaccination.

Animal control advises residents to protect their animals by getting the vaccination. It is recommended that dogs and cats four months of age and older are vaccinated against rabies. Durham County Animal Control provides low cost rabies vaccinations at the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays for $10.00 per animal. No appointment is necessary and citizens can bring their animals between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. and between the hours of 2-4 p.m.

Questions about the risk of rabies or wildlife in your area can be directed to the Animal Control Department at 919-560-0630 between the hours of 8:30a.m. and 5p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information about the risk of rabies or wildlife in your area, contact the Animal Control Department at 919-560-0630, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5p.m., Monday through Friday.

About Rabies

Rabies has been confirmed and does exist in Durham County. Rabies can infect any warm-blooded mammal, but is most commonly seen in raccoons, bats, foxes and skunks. In North Carolina there have been confirmed cases in bats, bobcats, cats, dogs, cows, horses, foxes, beaver, skunk and groundhog. Rabies is very rarely seen in rodents, including squirrels and rarely in opossum and rabbits. All wild animals should be treated as if they are dangerous, no matter how cute they may appear. Keep children and pets away from all wild animals. Additional information about rabies can be found on the Durham County Animal Control website.

2011-04-08T15:04:00.002-04:00

GRANDE PARK COMMUNITY YARD SALE SCHEDULED FOR

MAY 14, 2011

Start diggin through your closets, kitchens and garages for stuff to sell!

The HOA will advertise for you!!! All you have to do is get your things ready and be prepared for a lot of sales and $$$$$ !!!!

2011-04-02T12:11:00.005-04:00

9th Annual Spring Egg Hunt and Social

SUNDAY APRIL 17

at the Grande Park Playground

2 PM (weather permitting)

Grande Park kids of all ages are invited to decorate baskets, hunt for eggs, win prizes and play with the neighbors!!

You should have received a flyer in your mail slot.

If you plan on participating in the egg hunt, please drop off candy or small toys that can fit into eggs on the porch of 1715 Mystic Dr. by Thursday April 14!

Volunteers are needed to help hide eggs before the event, or provide refreshments. Please contact Karrie (e-mail at the bottom of the blog) or Carol (341-1174) if you are interested in helping! Thanks!

HAPPY SPRING!!!

2011-03-21T15:22:00.003-04:00

TIME TO CHECK FOR

POISON IVY!!!

2011-02-25T08:55:00.002-05:00

Compost Bins for Sale - $40

Durham County Department of General Services’ Building
310 S. Dillard Street
Durham, North Carolina 27701
Monday- Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sales of compost bins are open to City and County of Durham
residents.

For more information about the bins please visit

http://www.earthmachine.com/

Questions? Call (919)560-0430.

http://www.co.durham.nc.us/departments/gnsv/Documents/Recycle/CompostSalesFlyer.pdf

2011-02-21T08:36:00.002-05:00

If I established a list serv for the neighborhood, would anyone join?? The purpose would be to communicate with neighbors!!! Grande Park has this blog and is on FACEBOOK, but perhaps a list serv would facilitate conversation as well?? Thoughts??

2011-01-05T17:39:00.002-05:00

GRANDE PARK ANNUAL MEETING

THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2011

6:30 PM ALDERSGATE CHURCH!!!

YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A NOTICE AND PROXY IN THE MAIL

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE GIVE YOUR PROXY TO AN HOA BOARD MEMBER BEFORE TOMORROW NIGHT!

2010-12-20T12:57:00.002-05:00

CONGRATS TO

204 PLANTERS COURT

for the winning this years BEST DECORATED HOME

in GRANDE PARK!!!!!

DRIVE BY TO CHECK IT OUT!

ALSO, THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE

CANNED FOOD DRIVE! I HOPE TO POST PICTS SOON!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OUR GRANDE PARK RESIDENTS, PLEASE HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-12-06T19:33:00.003-05:00

GRANDE PARK HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE and

HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTEST

Please donate canned foods for our Holiday food drive. Place your bags of cans out by your mailbox before 6:30pm on Sunday, December 19th. We will come by and pick them up and donate them to the Durham Rescue Mission for families in need!

Also,.... while we collect the can goods, we will also be choosing the best Holiday-Decorated home! This year's winner gets a $25 gift card to Lowe's!

There won't be any Caroling this year- but let us know if you miss it and we will get it going for next year!

2010-10-24T12:08:00.002-04:00

The air is cool the season fall
Soon Halloween will come to all
"BOO" is a shield from witching hour
Just hang it up and watch its power
The treats will come with a crypted note
Are yours to keep, enjoy them both
The power comes when friends like you
Will copy the note and make it TWO
Then others here among our friends
Will give warm fuzzies that do not end
We'll all have smiles upon our faces
No one will know who "BOO"ed whose places
Just one short day to work your spell
Or a big ZAP will strike your tail
And don't forget a nifty treat,
Like something cute or something sweet
Please join fun, let's really hear it
And spread some "BOO"s and Halloween spirit.

2010-10-11T12:12:00.001-04:00

Thanks for all the residents that turned out for the Grande Park Fall Festival it was a lot of fun!
And a BIG BIG thanks to the Duvals and Ludwigs who hosted the event in their front yard! I hope to post picts soon! Check back!

2010-08-29T11:01:00.003-04:00

SAVE THE DATE!!!

~ GRANDE PARK ~ FALL FESTIVAL ~

OCTOBER 9, 2010

2 pm- 5pm

music, bounce house, and other activities!

Accura Court

2010-08-07T10:08:00.000-04:00

AUGUST YARD OF THE MONTH

3 TACOMA CT.

GREAT JOB! CHECK IT OUT!

2010-07-25T08:59:00.003-04:00

GRANDE PARK will be participating NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, an annual event designed to strengthen our neighborhoods though police-community partnerships. The goal is to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, build support and participation in local anti-crime programs and, most importantly, send a message to criminals that our neighborhood is organized and fighting back. It's also the perfect opportunity to get to know your neighbors even better!

GRANDE PARK's NATIONAL NIGHT OUT event will be held
TUESDAY AUGUST 3

from 6:30-7:30 pm at the GRANDE PARK PLAYGROUND!!!

Refreshments will be provided. Please plan to stop by, meet some neighbors. Learn who your block captain is and provide your contact information so that your block captain can contact you in the event of a crime event in the area.

We look forward to seeing you

at GRANDE PARK's NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENT

TUESDAY AUGUST 3

FROM 6:30-7:30

AT THE GRANDE PARK PLAYGROUND!

2010-07-15T10:12:00.002-04:00

UPCOMING EVENTS IN GRANDE PARK:

AUGUST 1 - YARD OF THE MONTH WILL BE AWARDED

AUGUST 3 - NATIONAL NIGHT OUT 6:30 @ the Playground

AUGUST 5 - NEXT HOA MEETING ~ 7pm at President's home

ALL ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL OF THESE EVENTS!

2010-07-13T21:30:00.002-04:00

JULY YARD OF THE MONTH

HAS BEEN AWARDED TO

1817 MYSTIC DR.

I promise to get picts up soon of both June and July winners!

As always, the July winner was awarded a $25 gift card and gets to show off her winnings with the Grande Park Yard of the Month sign in her yard for all of July!

2010-06-05T19:48:00.002-04:00

AND THE YARD OF THE MONTH GOES TOO......

1703 MYSTIC!!!

PICTURES TO COME SOON!

CHECK IT OUT ON GRANDE PARK'S FACEBOOK PAGE TOO!

The winner was awarded a $25 gift card to Lowes AND the prestigious YARD OF THE MONTH sign to show off for the month of June.

WILL YOU BE NEXT???

2010-05-17T09:31:00.003-04:00

YARD OF THE MONTH

This year, the Grande Park HOA is looking for 4 beautiful homes to award the coveted YARD OF THE MONTH prize to! The first winner will be chosen and notified the first week of June. Each winner gets a $25 gift card to Lowes and can show their pride by hosting the GRANDE PARK YARD OF THE MONTH SIGN in their yard for 1 month!

The Yard of the month is intended to get residents excited and motivated to make Grande Park a beautiful and desirable neighborhood to live and play in! We are all concerned about property values and this is a way to increase them!

Make your neighbor jealous by winning the Yard of the Month!

2010-05-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

SATURDAY MAY 15
GRANDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALE!

The HOA will advertise the sale in WRAL.com and other resources and post signs. Get your stuff out early to take advantage of the early bird yard sailers! Good luck, I hope you make lots of money!!!

2010-05-02T19:52:00.002-04:00

I heard there was an attempted break-in at a house in a neighboring neighborhood. Its getting to be that time of year again, everyone be safe and be sure to lock your doors!

2010-04-29T13:52:00.001-04:00

Water Usage Reminder

Did you know that the City of Durham has a Year-Round Water Efficiency Ordinance?

The mandatory schedule applies to any spray irrigation system and allows customers with addresses that end in an odd number to water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Customers with even-numbered addresses are allowed to water on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday. No watering is allowed to occur between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on these days and no customers are permitted to water on Mondays.

Temporary licenses are available for the establishment of new landscapes and hand-watering, and drip irrigations systems are not restricted by this ordinance. For more information about the City of Durham’s Year-Round Water Efficiency Ordinance, visit www.DurhamSavesWater.org.

2010-04-08T21:39:00.004-04:00

THE GRANDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOW ON FACEBOOK!

PLEASE JOIN THE GRANDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP TO INTERACT WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS, POST COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OF GRANDE PARK!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Grande-Park-neighborhood/107197289319955

2010-04-08T13:13:00.001-04:00

HOA BOARD MEETING:

THURSDAY APRIL 8, 2010

7PM

1811 MYSTIC

ALL WELCOME, PLEASE COME!

2010-03-17T14:22:00.002-04:00

The Google Fiber Project:

Google is planning to launch an opportunity that will make Internet access better and faster for everyone. The networks will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what is considered average by most Americans. The launch will make fiber-to-the-home connections over 1 gigabit per second.

There's something you can and should do to support the effort:

•Join the Facebook group (currently 2,200+ fans)
•Post to Twitter about our efforts using the hash tag #hifiberdurham
•Submit an idea on the HiFiber Durham web site or vote for an idea about how to use Google Fiber
•Nominate Durham individually for the network (perhaps the most important action you can take other than sharing this information with a friend). Just click "Get Involved" and nomiate Durham!

2010-03-15T13:07:00.002-04:00

8th Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Social

Saturday March 27

at the Grande Park Playground

11 am (weather permitting)

Grande Park kids of all ages are invited to decorate baskets, hunt for eggs, win prizes and play with the neighbors!

You should have received a flyer in your mail slot this weekend!

If you plan on attending (and hunt eggs) please drop off candy on the front porch of

1715 Mystic Dr. by Thursday March 25!

Volunteers are needed to hide eggs that morning at the Playground or bring refreshments, please contact Carol or Karrie (our e-mail addresses are at the bottom of this blog) if you are interested in helping! Thanks!

2010-03-12T15:00:00.002-05:00

Remember that Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend. On Sunday, at 2 a.m., you are reminded to set your clock ahead one hour.

While changing your clocks, this is the perfect time to complete your bi-annual check on your smoke detectors. Twice a year, batteries in smoke detectors should be evaluated and changed to ensure detectors are fully charged and ready if needed. Make special note that smoke detectors should be tested monthly and replaced at least every ten years.

2010-02-27T17:06:00.004-05:00

Non-emergency for BARKING DOGS call: 560-4600

We have had several complaints about barking dogs in the neighborhood. If you have a dog outside, please take note if he/she is barking at every squirrel, passer-by or vehicle. If you can hear him/her, then your neighbors can too! If you are annoyed by the constant barking of a dog you can do several things.

1. TALK TO THE DOG OWNER. Notify them that their dog is barking incessantly, or at unreasonable hours... they may not know!

2. Call Animal Control 560-0630. Although Animal Control does not enforce the nuisance laws in the City of Durham , they may want to come out and check the dogs environment and make sure there are no abuse issues occurring.

3. Call the City PD's non-emergency # 560-4600. This is the number to call for nuisance issues in the City of Durham. There are certain requirements for the barking to constitute a nuisance, it can't just be once in a while barking, or barking when provoked. It needs to be barking continuously for a certain time period in the night hours. Be specific of your complaint!

Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated!

2010-02-05T09:23:00.002-05:00

The HOA Board met last night for the annual change of officers. Here are your new officers:

President: Shinette Richmond
Vice Pres: Cas Duval
Secretary: Cynthia Duval
Treasurer: Karrie Comatas

We look forward to serving the community, but need the residents input to really make a difference!

We also scheduled the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, which will be held Saturday March 27 with a rain date of April 3. Mark your calendars now!

2010-01-26T12:21:00.002-05:00

THE NEXT MEETING OF THE GRANDE PARK HOA BOARD IS

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2010

7 P.M. AT 1811 MYSTIC

ALL ARE WELCOME ~ PLEASE COME!!!!

2010-01-14T08:39:00.003-05:00

Animals Unchained in Durham

• Anti-tethering ordinance became effective January 1, 2010.

Durham, N.C. – Days of chaining the dog to the fence or tree are long gone. On Friday, January 1, the new Anti-Tethering Ordinance went into effect in Durham County. The ordinance, passed by the Durham Board of County Commissioners in September 2008, prohibits dogs from being bound by a chain or any type of tethering device. The ordinance also states that a dog owner cannot leave their animal unattended.

The anti-tethering ordinance is designed to protect dogs and citizens of Durham. Dogs left tied can be at risk of accidental choking or injuries from being entangled. Improper tie outs can result in dogs breaking the tie out and becoming a nuisance or danger to neighbors and other animals, getting lost, injured or even killed. Lack of human contact when dogs are tied out can lead to loneliness for the dog and even dog aggression.

To avoid potential problems for dogs kept outside, dog owners must install an above ground or underground fence. The minimum requirements for the fence are:

• 100 square feet for a dog under 20 pounds (10 x10 pen)
• 200 square feet for a dog over 20 pounds (10 x 20 pen)

Dog owners that violate the ordinance can receive a civil fine as small as 50 dollars, up to a more serious penalty of criminal charges.
The New Year has brought new rules for Durham County. For questions or more information about the new anti-tethering ordinance, contact the Durham County Animal Control Division at 919-560-0630.

2010-01-10T15:35:00.001-05:00

All of us who are members of the Grande Park Homeowners Association Board are deeply concerned about the condition of certain mailboxes in our community. As members of the HOA Board we do our best to be good neighbors in this community. But we believe our best can always be better, and we need your help.

You can help us by maintaining your property to the best of your abilities. It is preferred that mailboxes all remain the color as installed for the uniformity of the neighborhood. The Architectural Review Board (ARB) will accept written complaints concerning maintenance of properties in the neighborhood in an effort to maintain the visual and aesthetic quality of Grande Park. These issues will be handled on a case by case basis for the interest of those involved. Our desire is to keep the value of our homes as high as possible.

As president of the Board I am soliciting your help in lieu of trying to use other methods to bring the mailboxes and posts up to standards. You are invited to e-mail, call, or write a letter concerning this issue. Many of us have been hearing a lot of talk about this subject and we would like to hear from you. We have had some responses from concerned neighbors who have replaced or repaired their mailboxes and that response is just what we are looking for.

We cannot fix this problem without full neighborhood support. If this efforts fails to get the response we hope for then other actions that are less desiring will be taken.

Don McFarland
President, HOA Board

2010-01-10T15:30:00.002-05:00

Annual Meeting update!

Only 2 people outside of the HOA Board of Directors showed up to the annual meeting! I guess that means the Board is doing a good job and there are no complaints by residents!?!

Here are the highlights from the meeting.

The Presidents annual report is pasted below.
The Yard of the month will be extended 1 month this year from June - September.
Shinnette Richmond's was extended another 2 years.
Karrie Comatas was appointed to the Board.
Mailboxes continue to be a concern since the appearance of the neighborhood is a huge factor in property values.
There continues to be a need for active Block Captains for the security of our neighborhood.

HOA Board President’s Annual Report (2009):

The year 2009 marked the 7th year for the Grande Park Homeowners Association. The Homeowners Board has continued the established programs that were in place during previous years. The HOA Board consist of 6 members.

Present members are:
Don McFarland – President
Shinnette Richmond – Vice President
Cynthia Duval – Secretary
Carol Hammett – Member
Yvonne Wright – Member
Cas Duval – Member

Morgan Property Management continued to represent Grande Park and Sheryl Morgan’s contract was renewed for another year.

Newton’s Landscaping was renewed for another year. Newton’s Landscaping has continued doing an excellent job. Everyone seems to be very satisfied.

The Social Committee, chaired by Carol Hammett and Shinnette Richmond, continued with events and programs such as the Easter Egg Hunt, the yard sale, the National Night Out and Caroling/Food collection for the Durham Rescue Mission in December. The $25.00 gift certificate was given to Amy Ludwig for the best Christmas decorations. These events were successful due to the tireless efforts put forth by these two chairpersons. Our community owes them and all the other residents who contributed, thank you on behalf of our community!!!!

The Street Representatives, established in 2004, continued to play a critical role in representing the neighborhood and making sure needed information was distributed to their respective groups. As of this time we have all nine street representative positions filled. We need others to step up and help in this endeavor. Based on the most recent statistics crimes can occur in any neighborhood.

The Grande Park Blog, maintained by Carol Hammett, continued to keep the neighborhood informed of current events. Carol has done an outstanding job.
(http://grandeparkhoa.blogspot.com/)

The Architectural Improvement Committee (ARC) continues to keep our neighborhood in compliance with the Architectural Guidelines that were established and then revised in August 2003. Cas Duval has continued to do an excellent job.

Appearance: Thanks to most of Grande Park homeowners for the way they have maintained their property’s appearance. One problem area is the way some animal owners continue to let the animals use the bathroom along Bivins and Umstead roads and have not picked up the animal’s droppings. I have also received complaints from some homeowners within the neighborhood itself. Each person is responsible for the cleanup of their animals mess. This is a continuing problem.

Stolen Property and Malicious Vandalism: Several homeowners have informed me that they have had items stolen. These incidents have happened recently and seem to be escalating. These problems and some other incidents have created the immediate need for improving the Neighborhood Watch Program. Anyone seeing someone stealing or vandalizing property should call 911 immediately. You may request that you not be identified if that is your desire.

Neighborhood Needs
1. 2 individuals to serve on the ARC
2. 2 individual to serve on the Social Committee

Thanks to each member of the board and committees during the past year. Your tireless efforts did not go unnoticed. Without your time and efforts this neighborhood would not be the fine place it is.

It has been my pleasure to serve as your HOA Board President for the past year. I appreciated your support and input.

Donald McFarland, Board President
Grande Park Homeowners Association

2010-01-06T08:40:00.002-05:00

ANNUAL MEETING

You should have received a notice of the Grande Park annual meeting in the mail by now. This is a mandatory meeting of the HOA and is a great opportunity for you to come out and voice your opinions, good or bad and bring ideas and thoughts on how we can improve Grande Park to make it an even better place to live.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
Election of open seats on Board of Directors
Reports from officers and Committees
Financial reports & presentation of the 2010 budget
Any other business deemed necessary or desired

The Board has proposed that the annual 2010 dues increase to $235 per year, an increase that does not require a homeowner vote. I will post the Presidents Message as well as an update to the annual meeting here.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

when: THURSDAY JANUARY 7, 2010 7PM

where: ALDERSGATE METHODIST CHURCH

what: GRANDE PARK ANNUAL MEETING

who : ALL GRANDE PARK RESIDENT THAT HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE WELL BEING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD ATTEND!

2009-12-20T17:30:00.002-05:00

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL CAROLING FOR CANS EVENT

Despite the weather, many families participated in the Second Annual Grande Park Caroling for Cans Event! Much thanks to the Plymires and Comatas' for caroling with me! I brought the goods to the Rescue Mission today and as usual, they were soooo appreciative!

I hope we can have another good event next year! Thanks!

2009-12-15T10:11:00.003-05:00

SAFETY FIRST! BREAK-INS REPORTED OUTSIDE OF GRANDEPARK

There have been several break-ins up and down Umstead Road recently, one as recent as Sunday night right across Umstead Rd at QueenFerry! They stole between 8-9k worth of equipment from a resident who owns his own yard work business; the merchandise was stole from his locked trailer.

To my knowledge no break-ins or attpems have been made in our neighborhood, but tis the season!!! Please keep your doors locked to our house and vehicles! Keep your garage door closed unless you are outside watching! If there is any opportunity, thieves will try them!

2009-12-03T14:06:00.002-05:00

Please join the Second Annual Grande Park Caroling for Cans event

to benefit the Durham Rescue Mission.

On Saturday, December 19, 2009, please place a donation of canned food or other needed items beside your mailbox. A group of Grande Park Carolers will be Caroling at those houses that have put a donation out. We will collect the items and bring them to the Rescue Mission for those that can really use them at this time.

We will be Caroling around sunset, so please have your cans out by 5pm that evening. If you would like to place luminaries out to light our way, please do so!

I will be sending out a flier with all this information as well as a list of needed items hopefully next week!!!

We will also be scouting out the BEST HOLIDAY DECORATED HOME again this year! A $25 gift card to Lowes will be awarded by the HOA to the home with the most spirit this holiday season!

If you would like to ‘Carol’ with us, or if you have any questions about Caroling for Cans or Holiday decoration contest, call Carol at 341-1174.

We would love to have as many people join us as possible!

Thank you and have a joyous holiday season!

Need a Mailbox Makeover?

2009-11-16T23:26:00.000-05:00

BEFORE

Is your mailbox faded, rusted, or dented? Want a new one?
For the low low cost of $35, you can get a brand new black with gold band mailbox that matches the rest of the neighborhood!
Just contact one of the HOA board members and we can order you one through our property management company. We can even help you install it! Just ask!

AFTER

2009-11-02T14:11:00.002-05:00

Fall Back One Hour , Check Smoke Detectors

Use this semi-annual event as an opportunity to check and change the batteries in home smoke detectors. A working smoke detector in the home saves lives and doubles one's chances of surviving a home fire.

2009-10-27T15:44:00.004-04:00

The air is cool the season fall
Soon Halloween will come to all
The spooks are after things to do
In fact, a spook may be looking for you
"BOO" is a shield from witching hour
Just hang it up and watch its power
On your front door is where it works
It wards off spooks and scary jerks
The treats will come with a crypted note
Are yours to keep, enjoy them both
The power comes when friends like you
Will copy the note and make it TWO
Then others here among our friends
Will give warm fuzzies that do not end
We'll all have smiles upon our faces
No one will know who "BOO"ed whose places
Just one short day to work your spell
Or a big ZAP will strike your tail
And don't forget a nifty treat,
Like something cute or something sweet
Please join fun, let's really hear it
And spread some "BOO"s and Halloween spirit.

2009-10-23T08:40:00.001-04:00

The Durham County Sheriff's Office has issued the following series of tips for children and adults regarding Halloween trick-or-treating.

The major dangers are not from witches or spirits but rather from falls and pedestrian/car crashes.

Motorist tips:
Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.

Parental tips:
Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.
Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children's companions.
Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
Teach your children to stop only at houses that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger's home.
Establish a return time.
Tell your youngsters not to eat any treat until they return home.
Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.
Pin a slip of paper with the child's name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.

Costume design tips:
Only fire-retardant materials should be used for costumes.
Costumes should be loose so warm clothes can be worn underneath.
Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard.
If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light colored materials. Strips of retro-reflective tape should be used to make children visible.

Trick-or-treating tips:
Do not enter homes without adult supervision.
Walk; do not run, from house to house. Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can present tripping hazards.
Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.
Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.
Give children an early meal before going out.
Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten.
Wash fruit and slice into small pieces.
When in doubt, throw it out.

Homeowner tips:
Keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame.
Remove obstacles from lawns, steps and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.
Keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from curtains, decorations and other combustibles that could catch fire.

Do not leave your house unattended.

2009-10-20T10:57:00.001-04:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN!

WHAT BOOK GOT YOU HOOKED??

2009-09-22T10:19:00.000-04:00

First Book is giving away 50,000 new books to children in need! The state with the most votes wins - it takes just a couple of minutes to make a difference.

Simply go to the website, Firs t Book and vote. NC is now ranked 4th! We are so close!

The Kids Connect listserv now reaches over 1200 folks - think of the impact we could make if each of us took a minute to vote!!

Please forward this email to friends, teachers, group leaders - ask them to vote and to help spread the word. It would be amazing if we could make the difference and push NC to victory!

Voting ends September 30th - and you can vote more than once! Please take a couple of minutes to help NC's children experience the joy of reading!

http://booksforkids.firstbook.org/whatbook//index.php

Looking for something to do??

2009-09-16T13:48:00.003-04:00

Check out the City's Parks and Rec site. They provide programs for the whole family. These include preschool classes, pre-teen programs, and free public programs. Some of the programs they offer are night hikes, constellation and paddle programs.

http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/parks/education.cfm

2009-09-13T13:24:00.004-04:00

FALL FESTIVAL 2009 ~ Cancelled

2009-08-26T10:28:00.002-04:00

Tips on Keeping Your Home Safe

I was coming home the other night around 10pm. There were 2 other cars on Guess Rd. You would’ve thought it was 2am! The light on the Grande Park sign was on as I drove into our neighborhood. The 2 street lights were on Mystic, glowing dimly. There was no one around and it was DARK! There were no house lights on at any of the houses I passed. I looked down one cul-de-sac and it was pitch black!

We have had numerous instances of petty theft from vehicles in Grande Park in the past few years. There have also been some more bold criminals attempting to get into the houses. I began my career 15 years ago working with juvenile delinquents and know first hand what they target. I must say that if I was a criminal, that cul-de-sac would be a lot of fun! With some dark clothes on, someone could move from house to house, checking for open car doors, back doors, or even take their time to assess whether they should attempt to get in through windows or a door.

I don’t want our neighborhood to become an easy target!!!

There are a lot of simple things you can do to help keep you, your belongings and Grande Park safe!!!! Please help!!!

One of the most important things we can do to help keep our neighborhood safe is to look out for one another. If you see anything suspicious or out of the ordinary call 911. Know your neighbors and keep an eye on one another.

Home Safety

If you were locked out of your house, would you still be able to get in? Maybe you keep an unlocked window in the back, or a hidden key in your mailbox or on top of a window ledge? You may think this is a good idea, but remember if you can break in, you make it that much easier for a burglar to break-in.

Nationally one out of six homes will be burglarized this year. For a small amount of time and money you can make your home more secure and reduce your chances of becoming a victim. Many burglars will spend no longer than 60 seconds to try and break into a home. Good locks – and good neighbors who watch out for each other – can be an effective deterrent to burglary.

Check your Locks
Did you know that in almost half of all completed residential burglaries, thieves simply walked in through unlocked doors or used unlocked windows?

• Make sure every external door has a sturdy well installed deadbolt lock. Key-in-the-knob locks are not enough.
• Sliding glass doors can offer easy access if they are not properly secured. You can secure them by installing commercially available “Charlie bars” or simply putting a piece of wood or broomstick in the track. To prevent the door from being lifted off the track drill a hole through the sliding door frame and the fixed frame. Then insert a nail in the hole.
• Lock double hung windows with key locks or “pin” windows by drilling a small hole into a 45 degree angle between the inner and outer frames, then insert a nail that can be removed. Secure basement windows with removable grills or grates.
• Instead of hiding keys around the outside of your home give an extra key to a neighbor you trust.
• When you move into a new house or apartment, re-key the locks.

Check the Doors

A lock on a flimsy door is about as effective as locking your car door and leaving the window down.

• All outside doors should be metal or solid wood.
• If your doors don’t fit tightly in their frames install weather stripping around them.
• Install a peephole or wide angle viewer in all entry doors at a height everyone in the home can use, so you can see who is outside without opening your door. Door chains break easily and won’t keep out an intruder.

Check the Outside

Look at your home from the outside. Make sure you know the following tips.

• Thieves hate bright lights. Install outside lights and keep them on overnight.
• Keep your yard clean. Prune back shrubbery so it doesn’t hide doors and windows. Cut back tree limbs that a thief could use to climb into an upper level window
• Clearly display your house number so police and emergency services can find your home quickly.
• If you travel create the illusion that you’re home by buying timers that will turn lights on and off in different areas of your home throughout the evening. Lights burning 24 hours a day signal an empty home.
• Leave shades, blinds, and curtains in normal positions. Don’t let your mail or newspapers pile-up. Have a neighbor pick them up.
• Make a list of your valuables and use an engraver so you can engrave your driver’s license number on the item.
• Ask a member of the police department to stop by and offer a free home security survey.

Consider an Alarm

Alarms can be a good but be wary of getting a false sense of security or being sold a system you don’t need.

• If you do want an alarm do business with an established company and make sure everyone in your home knows how to properly set your alarm. The City of Durham requires companies installing alarm system to be registered with the City and hold a state license.
• Alarm companies count on a police response. False alarms are a major problem for the police. They tie up resources, take officers away from other duties, and leave other areas unprotected. The City of Durham requires residents and businesses to acquire a permit to operate an alarm system after the first false alarm report and imposes civil penalties for the failure to have a permit when a second false alarm occurs.
• Other good options are sirens, strobe lights, and motion sensors with floodlights that will activate when tripped. They will attract attention and possible witnesses. Photo cell lights that turn on and off at dusk and dawn are another good option.

Burglars do more than steal

They can commit rapes, robberies, and assault if they are surprised by someone coming home or pick a home that is occupied.

• If something looks questionable – a slit screen, a broken window, or an open door – don’t go in! Leave. Immediately call 9-1-1 from a cell phone or neighbor’s phone.
• At night if you think someone is breaking in leave safely if you can and then call 9-1-1. If you can’t leave lock yourself in a room with a phone and call police. If an intruder is in your room pretend you are asleep.
• Guns are responsible for many accidental deaths in the home every year. Think carefully before buying one and keeping it in the home “for protection”. If you do want to have a gun in your home, learn how to store and use it safely. Free gunlocks are available from theThe Durham Police Department.

PLEASE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE GRANDE PARK SAFE, ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON!

2009-08-17T09:31:00.001-04:00

TOXIC FREE NC

OK, so I am not a very green person. I recycle and have a very small garden that has produced tomatoes, but not much more. However, I recently attended a conference that included a short presentation from Toxic Free NC, a non-profit organization whose mission is to fight pesticide pollution in North Carolina by advocating for common-sense alternatives that protect our health and environment.

They have some interesting information about toxins and chemicals that effect our daily lives and alternative to toxins that are easy and cheap! Thought you might be interested.

http://www.toxicfreenc.org/

2009-08-12T09:31:00.003-04:00

and the AUGUST YARD OF THE MONTH goes to.....

1807 REDDING LANE

CONGRATULATIONS!

Grande Park Yard of the Month Program!

2009-08-06T12:42:00.000-04:00

The Yard of the Month program is intended to inspire residents of the Grande Park community to take pride in the appearance and upkeep of their yards and the exterior of their homes. The Program will run each June, July and August.

A $25 gift card will be awarded to the nicest looking house/yard each month of the program. Not only will the winners win a gift card, but a specially designed “Yard of the Month” sign will be placed in their front yard until the announcement of the next month's winner!

Judging factors include the overall appearance, tidiness and neatness of the property as evidenced by:

1. Neatly mowed lawn;
2. Lawn and flowerbeds are free of leaves and grass clippings; area walks swept;
3. Sidewalks and driveways edged;
4. Very few weeds in lawn and cracks of sidewalks/driveway;
5. Mulching flowerbeds/bushes/trees;
6. Whether there are flowers, rocks or some type of display to make the yard stand out;
7. Bushes trimmed neatly;
8. Front yard clear of clutter, garbage cans, litter, etc. (most visible area from street);
9. Overall appearance of yard and house is neat and clean.
10. Homeowner is current on their monthly dues.

If you would like to nominate a home for AUGUST Yard of the Month, please contact one of the HOA board members!!!!

THE YARD OF THE MONTH WILL BE ANNOUNCED BEFORE AUGUST 10, SO GET YOUR VOTES IN NOW!

2009-08-01T09:34:00.003-04:00

TUESDAY AUGUST 4, 2009

GRANDE PARK PLAYGROUND 6:30-7:30PM

COME OUT TO MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS!!!

Hello Neighbors! GRANDE PARK will be participating NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, an annual event designed to strengthen our neighborhoods though police-community partnerships. The goal is to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, build support and participation in local anti-crime programs and, most importantly, send a message to criminals that our neighborhood is organized and fighting back. It's also the perfect opportunity to get to know your neighbors even better!

Refreshments will be provided. Please plan to stop by, meet some neighbors and get information about GRANDE PARK's NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM. Learn who your block captain is and provide your contact information so that your block captain can contact you in the event of a crime event in the area.

Also, we will have information on the Yard of the Month Program and you can vote for the August Yard of the Month, so go check out your neighbors' yards and decide who you think is worthy!
IT COULD BE YOU!

We look forward to seeing you and your family at GRANDE PARK's NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENT

TUESDAY AUGUST 5 FROM 6:30-7:30
AT THE GRANDE PARK PLAYGROUND!

2009-07-12T20:33:00.001-04:00

THE JULY YARD OF THE MONTH......

1715 MYSTIC!

2009-06-29T19:09:00.002-04:00

SECURITY ALERT!!!

~LICENSE PLATES AND STICKERS STOLEN~

PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS, AWARE AND PROACTIVE!
IF YOU SEE ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, PLEASE PLEASE CALL 911 OR THE NON-EMERGENCY POLICE NUMBER : (919) 560-4600!!!!

HERE ARE A FEW REPORTS FROM THE WEEKEND I JUST RECEIVED TODAY:

Last week my registration sticker was stolen from my car . I didn’t notice it, my husband did, only b/c the color was different than his. I spoke to the DMV about it & they have had numerous people to report stolen stickers. She stated that when updating your old sticker, it is a good idea to completely remove the previous ones, clean the plate area very well & make sure you rub on well afterwards.

Around 3 to 4 AM today (6/29) a resident heard a noise outside of her home on Accura Court. The noise was loud enough to wake her husband who is a deep sleeper. When they checked outside no one was there and they went back to bed. This afternoon she noticed her license plate was missing.

You can purchase a plastic cover with special screws . While this will not guarantee that they will not still get them but like locks it will be a little harder.

The police have been notified about these incidents.

If your plate is stolen, here is a link to DMV with instruction on what to do::
http://www.ncdot.org/DMV/vehicle_services/licenseplates/plateLostStolen.html

Alos, on Friday night (6/26) around 9pm an unidentified vehicle pulled in front of a house on the corner of Mystic and Carey. The car sat there with its lights on for about 10 minutes. When the vehicle finally drove off the man kept his face turned away from my house. However, I could see his side view from the light. On Saturday afternoon, I saw a gentleman walking up the street with a bag on his shoulder. He looked like the guy that was in the car the night before. He isn't someone I recognize from our neighborhood. Though no incident occurred to my knowledge this is suspicious activity.

It would probably be a good thing for everyone to keep an eye on their neighbor’s property, especially if you are going to be in town this weekend & they’re out of town. People are getting a little crazy & bold.

Please have a safe & happy 4th of July!

2009-06-15T09:25:00.003-04:00

AND THE YARD OF THE MONTH AWARD GOES TO....

5503 Carey Place!

Please check it out! The house looks great!

2009-05-18T08:04:00.000-04:00

Durham Adopts Year-Round Water Efficiency Ordinance

Effective June 1

Outdoor Watering to be Allowed Up to Three Days Per Week

Beginning Monday, June 1, 2009, the City will implement new year-round water efficiency measures for all Durham water customers.
The new outdoor irrigation schedule applies to all spray irrigation systems and allows customers to irrigate on the following schedule:

• Odd-numbered addresses may water once on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays either before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
• Even-numbered addresses may water once on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays either before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
• No watering will be allowed to occur between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on allowed watering days.
• No customers will be permitted to water on Mondays.
• Temporary licenses will be allowed to establish new landscapes.
• Hand-watering and drip irrigations systems are not restricted.

2009-05-14T08:52:00.000-04:00

SATURDAY MAY 16

GRANDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALE!

The HOA will advertise the sale in the newspaper, as well as WRAL.com and other free resources. Get your stuff out early to take advantage of the early bird yard sailers! Good luck, I hope you make lots of money!!!

HOA meeting rescheduled

2009-05-05T08:11:00.002-04:00

NEXT HOA MEETING will be this WEDNESDAY MAY 6, 2009 @ 7pm at the President's house 1811 Mystic.

2009-04-22T08:32:00.003-04:00

Today is Earth Day 2009! Earth Day, recognized around the globe on April 22, is designed as a time to raise awareness and appreciation for our precious environment. Visit http://www.greendurham.net/ for activities and events that celebrate this great day!

There is also a good article on tips to conserve money and energy! Here's a link!

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GlobalWarming/Story?id=7395740&page=1

2009-04-20T11:56:00.002-04:00

The 2009 Easter Egg-stravaganza was a great success, thanks to all the volunteers and families that participated! I thought the playground looked good too, with new mulch and the benches and tables relocated to be more user friendly! Check it out if you haven't lately!

Our next event is the Neighborhood Yard Sale, May 16! Mark your calendar and start cleaning out your closets and garages!

2009-03-24T09:55:00.004-04:00

IT’S TIME FOR THE….The 7th Annual Grande Park Spring “Egg”stravaganza!

WHEN: Saturday, April 11, 2009 @ 11 AM (weather permitting)

WHERE: The Grande Park Playground!

WHAT: The Grande Egg Hunt for children of all ages! There will be bags/baskets to decorate, or kids can bring their own egg baskets! The hunt will be divided up between the ages. Light snacks and refreshments will be available!

Parents: For each family who wishes to participate, please donate at least one bag of individually wrapped candy to fit in an egg by Thursday, April 9. Please label the bag(s) with the number of children participating and their ages. There will be a drop box on the porch of 106 Accura Ct.

NOTE: You do not need to provide filled eggs since we’ve saved the eggs from previous years. The social committee will stuff the eggs with the donated candy.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.If you would like to donate refreshments or for general questions, please contact Carol or Shinnette (e-mail addresses below).

Check your mailbox for the flyer and check this site for updates! THANKS!

2009-03-06T10:29:00.004-05:00

THE HOA BOARD MET LAST NIGHT for our monthly meeting. We planned a few things for the coming months so I wanted to update the Blog with the news.

1. APRIL 11 – SAVE THE DATE! The annual EGG-STRAVAGANZA will be held at the Playground again! We will have a large egg hunt with prizes and activities for the kids. VOLUNTEERS are needed! Please contact me or Shinnette if you would like to help out! We will send out a flyer closer to the date to request help and candy for the eggs! I have tons of eggs from prior years, so we should just need the candy and prizes if anyone has something cool to donate!

2. MAY 16 – SAVE THE DATE! The Annual Grande Park COMMUNITY YARD SALE. We will place ads in the Herald Sun and other media. It’s a great time for everyone to downsize and make some money! The community aspect really brings in the traffic and buyers $ $ $ !

3. JUNE-AUGUST- We are starting a YARD OF THE MONTH contest during the summer months! We will be looking for the best looking yard/house in the neighborhood! The winners each month will be awarded a $25 gift card to Lowes and the chance to place the YARD OF THE MONTH WINNER sign in their yard that month!! WOW! This should be a great way to motivate residents to look their best and outshine their neighbors! I love a little competition!

4. Playground maintenance. The Playground will be re-mulched before April 11. We are also getting quotes to have the play set cleaned and sealed, a much needed maintenance item that we have not done in a long time, if ever!

5. MAILBOXES AND POSTS! We’ve noticed, as I am sure you have, that some residents are not keeping up with the maintenance of their mailboxes. It seems like a trivial thing, but it’s actually a real eyesore driving through the neighborhood. It doesn’t take that much effort especially when Morgan Property Management is able to purchase the mailboxes at cost for $35!!!! If you are one of the residents with a mailbox in need of replacement, please contact Sheryl at Morgan Property Management (see her contact info at the bottom of the blog) and order a new one! Perhaps you just need some black spray paint and new brass bands to make your mailbox sparkle?? You can buy just the bands from Sheryl too!

Speaking of sparkling! The original wooden mailbox posts are really starting to get old and in some cases rot! We have found a PVC post that looks similar and needs little to no maintenance. We found them at Lowes for $79! Here is a picture; you don't have to attach the flower pot in the back if you don't want to.

Otherwise, a quick fresh coat of white paint does the trick! If you need assistance with mailbox maintenance, please contact one of the HOA Board members, we may be able to help !

6. New Officers. We elected the new officers last night too. They are:
President – Don McFarland
Vice President – Casmir (Caz) Duval
Secretary – Cynthia Duval
Treasurer – Carol Hammett

As always, if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or concerns or would like to post something to this blog, please call one of the HOA Board members below!

2009-03-02T20:19:00.002-05:00

SECURITY ALERT:

A woman today was robbed of her purse today at 5p at the Food Lion on Guess Rd. Thankfully, she was not personally assaulted or injured. A small (ie, Honda Civic, Mazda, Toyota Corolla) dark colored, she thinks it was two-door, drove up beside her while she was loading groceries into the front passenger seat/floorboard of her car. There were two men in the car. Her purse, including all ID, credit cards, cell phone, check book, etc was in the front passenger seat. The driver of the vehicle jumped out of his car and reached over her shouldar and grabbed her purse, jumped back into his car and drove off on Horton Rd towards Duke St. Sarah was able to obtain a portion of the vehicle's license plate #, however, the plate was literally a plate - an "unofficial" temporary, paper plate affixed to his car. A police report was filed on the scene. As the thief stole her driver's license with her address, she wanted everyone in the community to be especially vigilant of any strangers/strange vehicles in our neighborhood.

2009-01-19T09:16:00.002-05:00

~HOA Board President’s 2008 Annual Report ~

The year 2008 marked the 6th year for the Grande Park Homeowners Association. The Homeowners Board has continued the established programs that were in place during previous years. The board consist of 5 members. Morgan Property Management continued to represent Grande Park and their contract was renewed for another year.

Newton’s Landscaping contract was renewed for another year. Newton’s Landscaping has done an excellent job and based on reports received everyone seems satisfied. The Social Committee. Carol Hammett and Shinnette Richmond co-chaired the Social Committee. They continued with events and programs such as the Easter Egg Hunt, yard sale, National Night Out, and fall festival. The December Lumination was left up to each individual homeowner. Everyone enjoyed the Christmas Caroling and the donations of food for the Durham Rescue Mission was a success. The $25.00 gift certificate was given to Jill Hoffman on Carey Place for the best decorated house during Christmas. These events were successful due to the tireless efforts put forth by the Social Committee. Our community owes this committee a great deal of thanks. Ann McCracken, Amy Kujawa, Kristen Barnhill and Lenore Plymire helped in some of these events and their assistance was greatly appreciated. Thank you on behalf of our community!!!!

The Block Captains, established in 2004, continued to play a role in representing the neighborhood and making sure needed information was distributed to their respective groups. As of this time all nine Block Captains positions are filled. Some of the older Block Captains would like someone else to step up and give them a break. It is not in the best interest of Grande Park to keep the same ones without giving them a break. The Grande Park Newsletter, edited by Don McFarland, was discontinued. The reason for the stopping the newsletter was the implementation of the Grande Park Blog. This web page was set up and maintained by Carol Hammett. This Blogs offers the community an instant update on current events and other useful information. Every resident should earmark this web site on their computers because if you want to know what is happening or need help this is where you go.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome. The Architectural Improvement Committee (ARC) continues to keep our neighborhood in compliance with the Architectural Guidelines that were established and then revised in August 2003. This committee is composed of Cas Duval. Cas has done an exceptional job and our thanks go out to him. Cas can use some additional help and if you are interested in serving please give him a call.

The additional light in the playground was finally installed. This additional light was needed and provided the light necessary to make everyone feel safe. Along with the new signs pertaining to the playground rules seems to have helped decrease the late night activities.

Appearance: Thanks to each homeowner for the way they have maintained their property’s appearance. I have continued to receive complaints from some homeowners within the neighborhood itself concerning animal waste. Each person is responsible for the cleanup of their animal’s mess.

Stolen Property and Malicious Vandalism: There has been a few instances where some items were stolen from cars and garages. Most of the time the cars were unlocked. These problems and some other incidents have created the need for the Neighborhood Watch Program to be escalated. Anyone seeing someone stealing, vandalizing property or suspicious activities should call 911 immediately. You may request that you not be identified if that is your desire. Each Block Captain is requested to update their telephone tree and make the necessary contacts when the need arises.

Neighborhood Needs: The HOA Board is considering a spring cleanup of the neighborhood. Particular interest is the poor condition some of the mail boxes and mail box post are in. There is always a need for people to serve on our different committees. These committees are there to make sure that your investment in your home remains solid. I hope your desire is to have a beautiful and a safe neighborhood. Without your help it is difficult to get everything done.

Thanks to each member of the board and committees during the past year. Your tireless efforts did not go unnoticed. Without your time and efforts this neighborhood would not be the fine place it is. It has been my pleasure to serve as your HOA Board President for the past year. I appreciated your support and input.

~Donald McFarland, Board PresidentGrande Park Homeowners Association

2009-01-05T11:11:00.002-05:00

GRANDE PARK ANNUAL MEETING

Wednesday January 14, 2009

7pm @ Aldersgate Church, 2nd Floor

You should have received your annual notice and proxy (if you won't be attending the meeting) in the mail this week. Please come!!!!!

2008-12-31T08:33:00.000-05:00

Holiday Tree Collection

The City’s Department of Solid Waste Management will collect Christmas trees for recycling for all Solid Waste customers from January 5-30, 2009. Trees should be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on residents’ normal household collection day. Trees taller than six feet should be cut in half. Residents should also remove all decorations, including tinsel, lights, garland, and ornaments, as well as stands, nails, and other hardware. Residents are also asked to not place trees in bags.

Christmas trees may also be dropped off at the City’s Waste Disposal & Recycling Center at 2115 East Club Boulevard, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., at no charge until January 30. Customers are asked to arrive at least 30 minutes before closing. Trees delivered after that date will be subject to the usual disposal fees

2008-12-22T12:41:00.004-05:00

CAROLING FOR CANS ~ A GREAT SUCCESS!!!

The Caroling for Cans event was such a great success! Thank you to all the Grande Park residents that participated, both Caroling and donating! We had about 20 carolers!!!! And we collected a huge amount of donations for the Durham Rescue Mission! My mini-van was full!

Everything from canned food, diapers, hygiene items to Diabetes equipment, baby bottles and shampoo was donated! The Rescue Mission was very excited for the delivery and very appreciative! We hope to have this event annually, it really helped me, and hopefully others, get in the spirit of the holiday season! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

2008-12-08T13:41:00.007-05:00

DON'T FORGET ITS TONIGHT!!!!

GRANDE PARK CAROLING FOR CANS

Please join the Grande Park Caroling for Cans event to benefit the Durham Rescue Mission. http://www.durhamrescuemission.org/

On Sunday, December 21, 2008, please place a donation of canned food or other needed items beside your mailbox. A group of Grande Park Carolers will be Caroling at those houses that have put a donation out. We will collect the items and bring them to the Rescue Mission for those that can really use them at this time.

We will be Caroling around sunset, so please have your cans out by 5pm that evening. If you would like to place luminaries out to light our way, please do so!

We will also be scouting out the BEST HOLIDAY DECORATED HOME again this year! A $25 gift card to Lowes will be awarded by the HOA to the home with the most spirit this holiday season!

If you would like to ‘Carol’ with us, or if you have any questions about Caroling for Cans or Holiday decoration contest, call Carol at
341-1174.

We would love to have as many people join us as possible!

Thank you and have a joyous holiday season!

2008-12-01T16:49:00.003-05:00

Durham Fire Department Collects Toys In Exchange For Fire Truck Rides

This holiday season, Durham children will again have a little extra something to smile about thanks to an annual campaign by the City of Durham Fire Department (DFD).

The DFD is launching its 2008 Toys-4-Rides Campaign by giving free rides on their fire engines in exchange for new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages. On Saturday, December 13, and Sunday, December 14, citizens are asked to bring toys for children of all ages to either Fire Station #1, located at 139 E. Morgan Street, or Fire Station #2, located at 1001 Ninth Street, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Those who are unable to attend during the 2008 Toys-4-Rides Campaign, but still wish to participate, are encouraged to take toys to any local City of Durham Fire Station during business hours, from now until December 21.

The collected toys will be distributed to children in need throughout Durham County during the month of December. The DFD’s Toys-4-Rides is held in conjunction with the U.S. Marine's Toys-4-Tots Program.

For additional information on the 2008 Toys-4-Rides Campaign, contact Angelica Stroud, community relations coordinator and public information officer for the DFD, at (919) 560-4233, extension 242 or via e-mail at Angelica.Stroud@durhamnc.gov.

2008-11-19T09:30:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving would not be the same without turkeys, yet very few people take the time to learn how to handle them properly. Any poultry needs special attention when handling. Thawing a frozen turkey the proper way is important to the safety of your family. Never thaw a turkey at room temperature because this promotes the growth of dangerous bacteria.

The safest way to thaw a turkey is to thaw it in the refrigerator. You should do this with the turkey still in its' own unopened wrapper breast facing up and placed on a tray. The accepted rule of thumb for time is 1 day refrigerator thawing for every four pounds of turkey.

Start holiday cooking with a clean stove and oven. Keep the kitchen off-limits to young children and adults that are not helping with food preparations to lessen the possibility of kitchen mishaps. When cooking, do not wear clothing with loose sleeves or dangling jewelry. The clothing can catch on fire and the jewelry can catch on pot handles, causing spills and burns.

Cook on the back burners when possible and turn pot handles in so they don't extend over the edge of the stove. Never leave cooking unattended. If you must leave the kitchen while cooking, turn off the stove or have someone else watch what is being cooked.

Deep Frying Turkeys....Ah, nothing is better than turkey on Thanksgiving Day. And now, many families are choosing to deep fry their turkeys instead of cooking them the old fashioned way. There are dangers associated with using turkey fryers. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff recommend consumers who choose to fry turkeys follow the following safety guidelines: Keep fryer in FULL VIEW while burner is on. Place fryer in an open area AWAY from all walls, fences, or other structures. Never use IN, ON, or UNDER a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or any structure that can catch fire. Raise and lower food SLOWLY to reduce splatter and avoid burns. COVER bare skin when adding or removing food.

Check the oil temperature frequently. If oil begins to smoke, immediately turn gas supply OFF. If a fire occurs, immediately call 911. DO NOT attempt to extinguish fire with water.

For safest operation, the Durham County Fire Marshal’s Office recommends that consumers follow these guidelines as they prepare to use a turkey fryer:

Make sure there is at least 2 feet of space between the liquid propane tank and fryer burner.

Place the liquid propane gas tank and fryer so that any wind blows the heat of the fryer away from the gas tank.

Center the pot over the burner on the cooker.

Completely thaw (USDA says 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds) and dry turkey before cooking. Partially frozen and/or wet turkeys can produce excessive hot oil splatter when added to the oil.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions to determine the proper amount of oil to add.

If those are not available: Place turkey in pot. Fill with water until the turkey is covered by about 1/2 inch of water remove and dry turkey. Mark water level. Dump water, dry the pot, and fill with oil to the marked level.

By following the above directions, you can ensure that your family will have a happy, safe & tasty Thanksgiving holiday!For more information on safety, please contact your local Emergency Medical Service or Fire Department.

Durham County Fire Marshal/Emergency Management
Safety & Training Officer
2422 Broad St., Durham, NC 27704
919-560-0660

CodeRED Emergency Notification System

2008-11-10T11:30:00.000-05:00

Durham County Government has instituted the CodeRED® Emergency Notification System - an ultra high-speed telephone communication service for emergency notifications.

This system allows us to telephone either all subscribers or geographically-targeted areas of the County in case of an emergency situation that requires immediate action (such as a boil-water notice, missing child, or evacuation). The system is capable of dialing up to 60,000 phone numbers per hour. It then delivers a recorded message to either a live person or an answering machine, making three attempts to connect to any number.

THIS MESSAGE SYSTEM WILL ONLY BE USED FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSES

Examples of times when the CodeRED system could be utilized:

Drinking water contamination
Utility outage
Evacuation notice & route
Missing person
Fires or Floods
Bomb threat
Hostage situation
Chemical spill or Gas leak
Other emergency incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety

Residential and Business Data Update Page

Residents and business are able to input an unlisted number, cell phone number, or other secondary phone number into the system for contact during an emergency situation. To enter your number into the system, please visit the Durham Residential & Business Data Update Page.

Crime Alert

2008-10-29T21:18:00.000-04:00

The following information has been released by Deputy Paul Aiken of the Durham County Sheriff's Department regarding recent break-ins in Northern Durham County:

Be on the lookout for a BLACK/DARK GREEN 1999 MAZDA 626, license plate WYK-4095, possibly occupied by Latoya Shamika Lloyd, black female, DOB 12-16-86, and Quidia Marie Robinson, black female, DOB 5-10-87. They are possible suspects in residential break-ins in Northern Durham County. Latoya Lloyd has been arrested in the past for residential break-ins in the above mentioned area.

If you have information regarding these individuals, please contact Sgt. Davis of the Sheriff's Dept. at 560-0880. If you have questions, call Deputy Paul Aiken at 560-0624.

If you see these suspects in our area, please call 911.

This information has been confirmed by Lt. O'Neal, District 2, Durham Police.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2008-10-26T19:00:00.001-04:00

Halloween Safety Tips
for Trick-or-Treaters
• Carry a flashlight
• Walk, don't run.
• Stay on Sidewalks
• Obey traffic signals
• Stay in familiar neighborhoods
• Don't cut across yards or driveways.
• Wear a watch you can read in the dark.
• Make sure costumes don't drag on the ground.
• Shoes should fit (even if they don't go with your costume)
• Avoid wearing masks while walking from house to house.
• Carry only flexible knives, swords or other props.
• (If no sidewalk) walk on the left side of the road facing traffic
• Wear clothing with reflective markings or tape.
• Approach only houses that are lit.
• Stay away from and don't pet animals you don't know.

For Parents
• Make your child eat dinner before setting out.
• Young children should be accompanied by an adult.
• If your children go on their own, be sure they wear a watch, preferably
one that can be read in the dark.
• If you buy a costume, look for one made of flame-retardant material.
• Older children should know where to reach you and when to be home.
• You should know where they're going.
• Although tampering is rare, tell children to bring the candy home to be
inspected before consuming anything.
• Look at the wrapping carefully and toss out anything that looks
suspect.

For Homeowners
• Make sure your yard is clear of such things as ladders, hoses, dog leashes and flower pots that
can trip the young ones.
• Pets get frightened on Halloween. Put them up to protect them from cars or inadvertently biting a trick-or-treater.
• Battery powered jack o'lantern candles are preferable to a real flame.
• If you do use candles, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
• Make sure paper or cloth yard decorations won't be blown into a flaming candle.
• Healthy food alternatives for trick-or-treaters include packages of low-fat crackers with cheese or peanut butter filling, single-serve boxes of cereal, packaged fruit rolls, mini boxes of raisins and single-serve packets of low-fat popcorn that can be microwaved later.
• Non-food treats: plastic rings, pencils, stickers, erasers, coins.

More Vehicle thefts reported

2008-10-21T12:56:00.003-04:00

There were a few cars broken into at Aldersgate Church last night around 5-6 pm. The windows were smashed and valuables stolen. These incidents are too close for us to ignore. We all need to be on the look out for suspicious activity around Grande Park and take precautions to avoid being a victim!

Here are some tips from the Durham PD:
Car Theft
If you warm up your car on a cold morning, use a second key to lock the running vehicle.
Never leave your keys in the car or ignition.
Always roll up your windows and lock the car, even if it is in front of your home.
Always park in busy, well-lighted areas.
Install a mechanical device that locks to the steering wheel, column, or brake to prevent the wheel from being turned more than a few degrees.
Investigate the purchase of an auto security system if you live in a high-theft area or drive a theft-prone vehicle.
Carry your registration and insurance card with you. Don't leave personal identification documents or credit cards in your vehicle.
Copy your license plate and vehicle identification (VIN) numbers on a card and keep them with your driver's license. If your vehicle is stolen, police will need this information promptly.

Car Break-ins
Secure your vehicle at all times. Lock your doors and do not crack open your windows even in the summertime.
Do not leave valuables such as laptop computers, cellular phones and chargers, cash, loose change, radar detectors, detachable stereo covers, GPS, CDs, portable DVD players, sports equipment, and important papers and documents in your vehicle.
Do not leave packages in plain view inside your vehicle. Put them in the trunk or cover them up.
Keep a record of serial numbers for stereo equipment, amplifiers, and other personal items.
Park your vehicle in a well-lighted area.
Be aware of your surroundings and your neighbors.

Report suspicious activity to 911 immediately – when in doubt, call 911.

Please also comment on this blog about suspicious activity that you have seen. The more we communicate with each other, the better able we will be to prevent or deter criminal activity in Grande Park!

ATTEMPTED BREAK-IN

2008-10-19T11:04:00.006-04:00

On Saturday, Oct.18 between 3:30 and 5:30 pm, someone attempted to break into a home on Mystic Dr. They tried to kick in the front door, but were unsuccessful. The police responded and took a statement and were able to lift a shoe print from the front door. The officer stated that it was a shoe worn mostly by teenage boys. There have been other recent property thefts from open vehicles around the neighborhood too, including a laptop, GPS and portable DVD player from 3 different vehicles in driveways on Mystic and Darden.

Several people around the neighborhood have seen 3 teenage African American boys roaming around Grande Park. They were seen yesterday, the day of the attempted break-in. They all were wearing back-backs! If you see these boys, or any person that you don't recognize as living in Grande Park, PLEASE CALL 911 and YOUR BLOCK CAPTAIN!

As we move into the holiday season and in these uncertain economic times, we all need to take precautions against crime and thefts!

Please keep your car and house doors and windows locked, personal items inside and garage doors closed to be safe. Please report any suspicious activity to the Police and call 911 in case of an emergency! (or the non-emergency #560-4582)

WE ALL LIVE IN GRANDE PARK , LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO

MAKE IT A SAFE AND GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!

2008-10-07T11:01:00.002-04:00

GRANDE PARK FALL FESTIVAL

When: OCTOBER 18th , 3-5 pm

Where: CAREY PLACE

What: A great time to play with neighbors and usher in the Fall!

~ BOUNCE HOUSE
~ REFRESHMENTS, GAMES AND ACTIVITES
~ A VISIT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

~ SHERIFF DEPARTMENT CHILD ID CARDS

We need help to make this a successful event! If you would like to volunteer, or bring refreshments, please e-mail Carol or Shinnette (click on our names at the bottom of this site!)

More information to come, please check back to this site

and check your mailbox for the flyer!

2008-09-26T15:17:00.003-04:00

Durham Begins Free Curbside Bulky Item Pickup October 6

Disposing of old furniture and appliances is now as easy as dragging it to your curb. Effective Monday, October 6, 2008, City of Durham residents that receive curbside solid waste and recycling collection will now begin to receive free bulky item and white goods collection as well. According to Donald Long, director of the City’s Department of Solid Waste Management, the new curbside service is an expanded opportunity for residents to easily maintain the appearance of their properties.

“This new service allows our residents to get rid of bulky items and white goods at the curb with a monthly pick up,” Long said. “In the past, residents had to contact Durham One Call to schedule a bulky item pick up. Now, they will just need to sit out their bulky items and white goods on their scheduled day and we’ll handle it from there.”

Bulky items are considered common household items, such as furniture, exercise equipment, vacuums, grills, and bicycles, which do not fit inside the regular roll-out carts.

White goods are items such as refrigerators, freezers, window air conditioners, dishwashers, washers, and dryers.

Residents should place no more than five bulky items and/or white goods on the curb by 7 a.m. the day of their scheduled pick up.

The new collection schedule for Grande Park is as follows:
Bulky Item Collection – Third Monday of the month
White Goods Collection – Third Thursday of the month.

There are certain items that are prohibited from being included in this new monthly curbside service. These items include rocks, dirt, building materials, construction debris, loose leaves, large tree limbs, tree stumps, tires, propane tanks or car parts. These items should still be taken to the City’s Waste Disposal and Recycling Center at 2115 East Club Boulevard, Durham. Hazardous materials such as chemicals and paint are also prohibited with this new service and should be disposed of at the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Center, located at 1900 East Club Boulevard, Durham.

In addition to the new curbside bulky item pickup service, the City’s Department of Solid Waste Management is now also offering a new roll-off container rental service for both residents and business owners who need a large, temporary container to remove up to two tons of garbage from their properties. The 20-yard containers, which will hold 10 full-size pickup truck loads, are available for rent by the day, on weekends or up to seven days and the fee includes container delivery and removal.

2008-07-12T11:35:00.001-04:00

Hello Neighbors! GRANDE PARK will be participating in the 25th Anniversary of NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, an annual event designed to strengthen our neighborhoods though police-community partnerships. The goal is to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, build support and participation in local anti-crime programs and, most importantly, send a message to criminals that our neighborhood is organized and fighting back. It's also the perfect opportunity to get to know your neighbors even better!

GRANDE PARK's NATIONAL NIGHT OUT event will be held TUESDAY AUGUST 5TH from 7-9 pm at the GRANDE PARK PLAYGROUND!!!

Refreshments for the kids and adults will be provided. Please plan to stop by, meet some neighbors and get information about GRANDE PARK's CRIME WATCH PROGRAM. Learn who your block captain is and provide your contact information so that your block captain can contact you in the event of a crime event in the area.We look forward to seeing you and your family at

GRANDE PARK's NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENT
TUESDAY AUGUST 5 FROM 7-9PM AT THE GRANDE PARK PLAYGROUND!

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Carol Hammett at 341-1174 or
Shinnette Richmond at 471-8991

2008-07-01T03:25:00.004-04:00

Hey Neighbors!! The HOA Board will be attaching small American Flags to each mailbox to show Grande Park's Independence Day spirit and unity. We will re-collect the flags after the 4th for use in future years. If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of the Board members. Thanks!

2008-06-16T13:07:00.003-04:00

Just a reminder we're still under Stage III Water Restrictions

which include the following Mandatory Measures:
1. Customers may water lawns, grass, trees, shrubbery, flowers, golf greens or vegetable gardens on Wednesdays and Saturdays ONLY, between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. OR 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

2. Customers may only water during ONE of the allowed times each Wednesday and Saturday.
3. Do NOT wash down outside areas such as sidewalks, patios, driveways, or for other similar purposes.
4. Do NOT introduce water into wading pools or swimming pools except to the extent necessary to replenish losses due to evaporation or spillage, and maintain operation of chemical feed equipment. Special consideration may also be given for one-time draining, refilling, maintenance, and cleaning activities for both community and private pools.
5. Do NOT serve water in a restaurant or similar establishment except upon request.
6. Do NOT use water for any unnecessary purpose or intentionally waste water.
7. Do NOT wash the exterior of a motor vehicle except where a private well system is used, or where 50 percent or more of the water is recycled or where it can be demonstrated that 30 gallons of water or less are used to wash the vehicle.

Hopefully we will get some steady rain this summer, all the grass is already getting brown!

2008-05-13T14:46:00.003-04:00

Neighborhood News

You may have noticed that new mulch and flowers were planted at the entrance to main entrance on Mystic and at the playground entrance. The playground has also been covered with a new supply of playground mulch! There has also been a street light installed on the playground to illuminate the area at night. Hopefully this will deter any undesirable nightime activity up there.

We encourage comments on this blog regarding the neighborhood, so please feel free to post!! Thanks!

2008-04-30T12:03:00.000-04:00

GET READY FOR THE

Grande Park Annual
Neighborhood Yard Sale

Saturday, May 3rd, 2008

7:00am - 12:00pm

Turn that clutter into cash!

Join your neighbors and sell those forgotten treasures.
All are welcome to participate!!! Please sell items in front of your house.

The Grande Park Neighborhood Yard Sale will be advertised

with newspaper ads and signs. The annual sale generates a lot of traffic, which is great for sales, but please keep an eye on the children in the neighborhood!

2008-04-17T09:54:00.001-04:00

Early Voting Is An Option

The Primary election will take place on Tuesday, May 6. However, those who want to get an early jump start on voting have the option to visit an One-Stop No Excuse Absentee Voting site. NOW until Saturday, May 3, Durham's early voters can visit one of three locations:

Board of Elections Office,706 W. Corporation

North Regional Library, 221 Milton

North Carolina Central University's Parish Center, 1400 S. Alston (formerly the Holy Cross Catholic Church site)

Daily, locations are open 9:00a.m., until 5:30p.m. Locations will close at 1:00p.m., on May 3. Visit the Durham County Board of Elections website for more information about the early voting and the primary http://www.durhamcountync.gov/departments/elec/Documents/2008_ONE_STOP_SCHEDULE.pdf

2008-04-03T10:07:00.001-04:00

WATER RESTRICTIONS EASING

With Durham's two reservoirs now full, City Hall has eased back Stage IV water use restrictions to Stage III, just in time for residents to begin spring planting.

While customers can now turn on their garden hoses and sprinklers to water their outdoor landscapes, they can only do so once on Wednesdays and once on Saturdays between 5-8 a.m. or 5-8 p.m.

2008-03-24T11:49:00.001-04:00

The Annual Grande Park ‘Egg’Stravaganza was a great hit! The kids, at least 20-25, had a ball finding all the eggs hidden throughout the playground. There was a golden egg winner and the winner of the jellybean count. After the hunt the kids enjoyed the playground together which was really nice to see!

2008-03-10T14:57:00.006-04:00

IT’S TIME FOR THE….
The 6th Annual Grande Park Spring “Egg”stravaganza!

WHEN: Saturday, March 22, 2008 @ 11 AM

WHERE: The Grande Park Playground!

WHAT: The Grande Egg Hunt for children of all ages! There will be bags to decorate, or kids can bring their own egg baskets! The hunt will be divided up between the ages. Light snacks and refreshments will be available!

Parents: For each family who wishes to participate, please donate at least one bag of individually wrapped candy to fit in an egg by Thursday, March 20. Please label the bag(s) with the number of children participating and their ages. There will be a drop box on the porch of 106 Accura Ct.

NOTE: You do not need to provide filled eggs since we’ve saved the eggs from previous years. The social committee will stuff the eggs with the donated candy. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

If you would like to donate refreshments or for general questions, please contact Carol Hammett (341-1174).

Check your mailbox for the flyer and check this site for updates! THANKS!

2008-03-07T11:04:00.000-05:00

Daylight Saving Time is Not Only the Time to Check Your Clock

On Sunday, March 9, the world will move forward one hour for daylight saving time. Daylight saving time, beginning at 2:00a.m. in the United States, advances time so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less light. Each spring, time is moved forward. Each fall, time is moved back and an extra hour is gained.

While springing forward in time, it is also a good time to check the batteries in smoke detectors in the home. To address the important issue of fire safety, Durham County Government helps to install smoke detectors in homes across the County. “If someone does not have a smoke detector, we will have someone to go to a citizen’s home and install one [smoke detector] for free,” says Jeff Batten, fire marshal and director of Emergency Management for Durham County.

For more information about fire safety and the installation of smoke detectors, dial 560-0660.

2008-01-30T18:53:00.000-05:00

GRANDE PARK
ANNUAL HOMEOWNERS MEETING
JANUARY 22, 2008

This an overview of things discussed at our Annual Meeting held at Aldersgate Methodist Church on Tuesday January 22, 2008.

In accordance with Article V paragraph 3a the HOA Board increased the Annual Homeowners dues by 5%. This will bring the annual homeowner dues to $214.00. These dues will be billed to each homeowner bi-annually on January 1 and July 1 of each year.

Carol Hammett and Yvonne Wright were elected to fill the vacant positions on the HOA Board. These two members will serve for 3 years. There are other positions open on the different committees and everyone is urged to participate. If interested, please contact one of the Board members.

Everyone attending agreed that the Neighborhood Watch program should be more aggressive. A letter was recently sent to each Block Captain to encourage the updating of the telephone tree. This telephone tree is the key to the success of this program. The information on the telephone tree will not be shared with anyone other than the people who are on the list, and only for Watch purposes.

The Social Committee agreed to have the same programs we had last year. Anyone willing to help with these events should contact Carol Hammett or Shinnette Richmond. We are hoping that all residents of Grande Park will participate on 08’.

2008-01-28T10:29:00.000-05:00

Annual Block Captains Workshop

Hosted by the Durham Police Crime Prevention Unit
Saturday February 23, 2008
9 am to 1 pm
At Lyon Park Recreation Center
(1313 Halley St Durham, NC)
Contact Melissa Mclean to confirm your attendance:
RSVP by
Feb. 11, 2008
melissa.mclean@durhamnc.gov
or
919-560-4317
Remember to indicate that you live in Grande Park which is in Police District #2.

Annual Meeting Update

2008-01-24T19:00:00.000-05:00

Well, not many residents turned out for the Annual Grande Park HOA meeting. We were able to elect a new Board member though; Ms. Yvonne Wright was brought on as a new member! Yeah!
We talked about the past year, its successes and struggles in the neighborhood. Here are some highlights for those of you who missed the meeting:

Landscaping is finally on the right track with Newton’s Landscaping. We will be evaluating the trees growing over the sidewalks along Bivens and Umstead and trimming them back to allow a clear path for walkers.

We want to focus on the playground area this year. It’s 7 years old now, and may need some updating, repairs or whatever to insure that it’s safe and fun for our children. We had new mulch spread at the playground in late summer and will continue to do so as needed.

A street light will also be installed at the playground for safety. There has been some undesirable activity late night at the park. ‘Shedding some light’ on the issue should help to resolve it and keep our neighborhood safe.

Safety, Safety, Safety is another top priority. We want to beef up the neighborhood watch program this year. Our Block Captains are key to this effort. If you have not been contacted by your block captain, please contact them to provide them with your phone number in the event of an incident on your block!

We will keep up with the Social events this year including an Easter Egg Hunt, Neighborhood Yard Sale, 4th of July flags, NNO, Fall Festival, luminaries and the Holiday Decorating Contest. Hopefully we can get even more participation at the events.

If you are interested in helping out on one of the committees (Social or Architectural) please contact the HOA President! We need help and greatly appreciate any that you can provide! There is no long term commitment, and we are all really nice and easy to work with. : )

Copies of the President’s message and the annual budget are available anytime from the HOA President or Property Manager.

ANNUAL MEETING

2008-01-11T09:53:00.000-05:00

GRANDE PARK HOMEOWNERS ANNUAL MEETING

TUESDAY JANUARY 22, 2008

7PM @ ALEDERSGATE CHURCH - ROOM 210.

You should have received a notice in the mail about the annual meeting, along with a Proxy Form for voting if you are unable to attend. Any resident of Grande Park can be your Proxy for any vote that is taken at the Annual Meeting. If you need or want more information about the Annual Meeting, please contact one of the Board Members listed at the bottom of the blog. See you there!

Christmas Tree Recycling

2008-01-07T09:28:00.000-05:00

Why take up space in the landfill when you can donate your Christmas tree to Eno River State Park? Trees will be used for trail renovation and erosion prevention. Please bring your tree to the park office for donation between December 26 - January 14. Remember to strip the tree of all decorations and remove the stand. No artificial trees!
For further information contact the park office at 919-383-1686.

http://www.enoriver.org/

Holiday Tree Collection

2007-12-31T13:20:00.001-05:00

The City's Department of Solid Waste Management will collect holiday trees for recycling for all Solid Waste customers from January 2 - 31, 2007. Trees should be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on residents' normal household collection day.

Trees taller than six feet should be cut in half. Residents should also remove all decorations, including tinsel, lights, garland, and ornaments, as well as stands, nails, and other hardware. Residents are also asked to not place trees in bags. Trees that have been completely sprayed with fake snow ("flocked") will not be recycled, but will be removed by the City for disposal.

Holiday trees may also be dropped off at the City's Waste Disposal & Recycling Center at 2115 East Club Boulevard, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., at no charge until January 31. Trees delivered after that date will be subject to the usual disposal fees.

Reporting A Crime

2007-12-28T10:06:00.000-05:00

FYI, On Dec 19th a neighbor arrived home and ran in for a minute, leaving their car unlocked in their driveway. Someone went in the car and stole a pocketbook and a few other misc. items.

Please keep your cars locked, personal items inside and garage doors closed to be safe. Please report any suspicious activity to the Police and call 911 in case of an emergency!

From The Durham PD website:

Discovering a Crime - If you observe a crime in progress or discover one that was committed earlier, there are several basic things you can do to assist the Police Department.

If the crime is in progress, please call 911 and provide as much information as possible. Please give the location of the crime, type of crime, victim and suspect information, a suspect description if possible, and a vehicle description. Try to go to a safe place until officers arrive.

If the crime was committed earlier, do not disturb anything and call the police. Give the 911 telecommunicator as much information as possible and wait for the officer to arrive.

Reporting the Crime When the officer arrives, he or she will need certain information about the crime. The officer will ask what you observed and if there were other witnesses. The officer will need your name, address and telephone number. Try to remember as many details about the crime as possible and provide this information to the officer.