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!

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!

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?

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

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.

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.

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.