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!

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.

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

		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

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!

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

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!