December 2013 Grapevine

December 2013

THE GRAPEVINE Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

Pest Control

Volume 209, Issue 45

Monthly Reminders: 

Pest Elimination We all know that cockroaches have lived among us since the dawn of man, but nowhere is it written that we must accept cockroaches as a fact of life. If your apartment has roaches it’s going to require some serious work and elbow grease, however, with your help this can be accomplished.

Roaches like an environment that pro vides temperatures in the same range that humans requires. Typically temper-  atures found in working kitchens are just right. They also like and seek all sorts of foods. Here is where we differ a bit. Roaches are perfectly fine with a glob of grease that has dripped off the side of the stove and has become stuck between the cabinet and stove. This glob might not be appealing to us, but it certainly has all the nutrients the roach requires.

Lastly, we like having our favorite books, pictures and pillows and tons of other stuff around us to make us feel comfortable. Same for cockroaches, our clutter is their home. Do you have grocery bags beside your refrigerator? Roaches love the crease on the bottom of paper bags where the glue holds the bag together. Same for cardboard boxes, it is a great food source.

Neighborhood Watch/Resident Council Meetings: Kippax Place— December 3 2013 5:30 pm Davisville/Bland Court— December 14, 2013 1:00 pm Piper Square—December 18, 2013 1:00 pm Thomas Rolfe—December 19, 2013 1:00 pm Langston Park—December 17 , 2013 1:00 pm Laos Outreach Karate Program every Tuesday and Thursday.

Rental payments are due on the 1st of each month and must be paid at SunTrust Bank by 5:00 p.m. Any payment received after 5:00 p.m. is considered next day and a late fee will be assessed.

Inside this issue: HRHA Grievance Procedure

2

HRHA Employee Spotlight

2

So, if you have had it with finding roaches in your apartment, it’s time to get cracking:

Management Policy

3

1. Call your housing manager for extermination

Pest Control Cont.

3

Race to GED

3

Elk Hill Community Day

4

3. After extermination, it is imperative that you sweep/vacuum up dead roaches and place them in a bag and dispose in the trash receptacle outside of your apartment. Vacuuming your floors suck up roach eggs and droppings, discouraging new infestations.

BOA Student Leaders

4

Langston Park Update

5

4. Most important - Keep your apartment clean

Rotary Club of Hopewell

5

Parent Education Classes

5

2. You MUST prepare your unit for extermination, this includes cleaning out your cabinets and any other spaces/areas that you see roaches

HRHA Grievance Procedure HRHA has a Grievance Procedure that seeks to assure just and unbiased treatment of all residents and to provide procedures which are not unduly time consuming or complicated. The Authority will take required actions to ensure all grievants with special needs are accommodated to provide access to this Grievance Procedure.

Should it become necessary for you to file a grievance, present your grievance personally, either orally or in writing, to the Authority’s Central Management Office or the Management Office where you reside within seven days, after the occurrence giving rise to the grievance.

The oral or written presentation should state:

1. That the complaint is being pursued in accordance with the Grievance Procedure.

2. The actual basis of the grievance.

The action of relief.

A copy of the Grievance Procedure can be found at the Community’s Management Office and at the Authority’s Central Management Office. If you are not satisfied with the resolution of your complaint, you may contact your HRHA Chairmen of the Board of Commissioners at 804-720-2581.

HRHA Employee Spotlight

Mary Koonce is a native of Dinwiddie County and now resides in Hopewell. She is a graduate from Dinwiddie High School.

Mary came to HRHA in 2004 as a maintenance aide after being employed with Southside Regional Medical Center for 11 years. She also has worked at the John Randolph Medical Center for the past 14 years. She enjoys talking to the residents and ensuring that all of their work is taken care of in their home.

In her spare time she enjoys reading, fishing and traveling. Her favorite place to visit is Williamsburg.

Mary stated she has learned a lot from her coworkers and that she enjoys taking advantage of positive opportunities and learning various job skills.

“The most important thing is family and serving God,” said Mary.

2

Management Policy HRHA does not discriminate on the basis of disability status in the admission or access to housing or employment in its federally assisted programs and activities. Mrs. Madelyn Madison-Hyde has been designated to coordinate compliance with nondiscrimination requirements contained in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) regulations implementing (Section 504 CFR Part 8, dated June 2, 1988) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. You may contact her at: P.O. Box 1361 Hopewell, VA 23860 (804) 458-5160

Pest Control Cont.

Prevention Rather than handle pest problems each time they arise, the better strategy is prevention. By adopting clean lifestyle habits, you can help keep unwanted roaches and other rodents out of your apartment for good.

Here’s what you can do: Pull out the refrigerator and stove and clean all sides including the underside. Remove all accumulated grease. Don’t forget to clean the rubber door gasket on the refrigerator Wipe out cabinets, shelves and wall and sides of cabinet Clean your kitchen after every meal. Roaches are attracted to food which is why the kitchen and cabinets are prime locations for these pest Sweep your floors. Make sure all traces of food and other debris are swept off the floor and follow by mopping Get rid of garbage. If roaches done have anything to eat they will go away. Never keep garbage in your home.

As soon as garbage accumulates, get it out of your apartment and put a fresh trash bag in your garbage can As you can see, keeping pests away from your apartment doesn’t require a certain expertise or even a serious time commitment. If you’re proactive and consistent, you should be able to enjoy your apartment for years without the annoyance of a pest problem. Also, since these tips require you to adopt a clean and organized lifestyle, you’ll feel healthier and happier too.

Race to GED The race to obtain your GED is coming to an end. As of January 2014, GED testing and rules will change in addition to the price. Those whom have started and need to take only portions of the test have until the end of the year before having to retake the entire test.

In order to maintain its value, the new GED test has been changed to reflect what a high school graduate would have to accomplish. Those wishing to complete the test before the alterations taking place in 2014 should register and complete testing this month.

Applicants must register by December 2, 2013 to receive a local test date. You can register and get more information by calling the Southside Programs for Adult Continuing Education at 804-733-2670 or 1-800-321 -6081. You can also contact Petersburg High School at 804-862-7022.

3

Elk Hill Community Day

Elk Hill hosted a free “Community Day,� on Saturday, November 9th in the Davisville/Bland Court community.

Elk Hill is a nonprofit organization that has been in existence for over forty years, beginning initially as a place for homeless boys to go. Elk Hill provides and facilitates healthy environments where young people and their families can feel safe to make positive changes.

Children enjoyed games, prizes and food during the event. The day ended with a game of kickball, bringing everyone to one activity for a fun end to the event.

HRHA works closely with its community partners to bring programs and activities such as these that will benefit HRHA residents and the Hopewell community. We encourage you to attend activities offered through Resident Services and take advantage of many services being offered through our various partners. Resident participation is a critical component of maintaining relationships with community partners to continuously bring outside services into HRHA communities.

Bank of America’s Student Leaders Program

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation is accepting applications for its 2014 Student Leaders program.

Since its inception in 2004, the Bank of America Student Leaders Program has recognized more than 2,000 exemplary high school juniors and seniors who have a passion for improving their communities. The program helps students gain a greater understanding of how nonprofits create impact in the community and helps develop them as the next generation of community leaders through two components: Students accepted into the program will receive an eight week paid summer internship with a nonprofit organization selected by the bank. This internship is designed to provide opportunities for the students to develop and apply leadership skills through hands-on work experience, while raising their awareness of community issues addressed by their host organization.

Students will also attend a week long, all expense paid Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. from July 13-18, 2014. Conducted in partnership with the Close Up Foundation, the Summit introduces students to aspects of civic, social and business leadership and provides them with knowledge and skills they will use throughout their life to create positive community change.

Students can apply for the program by going to www.bankofamerica.com/studentleaders. Please note the application opens on October 28, 2013 with a deadline of January 31, 2014.

For more information on the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/ foundation.

4

Langston Park Redevelopment Update On November 6, 2013 a meeting was held for Langston Park residents to answer questions and voice concerns regarding the redevelopment of the property. The projected goal to begin demolition is January 2014 and residents were made aware of their right to relocation assistance as listed in the “The Uniform Act,” which Community Housing Partners (CHP) is responsible for. These rights include comparable housing replacement which is decent, safe, and sanitary as well as relocating residents who will be temporarily displaced. If you qualify as a displaced resident, moving related expenses and movers will be provided at no cost. CHP understands residents may have questions and concerns regarding the redevelopment project and has asked for patience during this process.

The new apartments will be updated with energy efficient appliances and amenities such as central heat/air, energy star appliances, earth craft certified flooring, and energy efficient windows. The property will have a new community room, a centrally located laundry facility, two playgrounds, and six handicapped ground level units, including two designed with accommodations for individuals with visual or hearing impairments. Residents were excited as they viewed the new spacious floor plans.

CHP will be onsite and contacting families individually as an attempt to accommodate special requests if possible. As a reminder, residents will be required to have utilities turned on in their names.

Rotary Club of Hopewell The Rotary Club of Hopewell will be donating $500 to assist HRHA families for the Holidays. Five families will receive a $100 gift card after meeting specific criteria. Applications are available in the Thomas Rolfe and Piper Square management offices.

All applications must be turned into a manager’s office by 5:00pm on December 13th. Shopping appointments can be made the week of December 16th-20th, and all shopping must be completed by Friday, December 20th.

For more information call Kathryn Thompson at 804-541-0392 ext. 4 or Terence Barber at 804-452-1880 ext. 4.

Parent Education Classes

Come and participate in order to learn useful and effective techniques for parenting in a class hosted by the Parent Education Consortium. This is an exciting, fast moving eight week course (16 hours) designed to inform and motivate each participant to increase their parenting skills. These sessions are for parents, expectant parents, grandparents, childcare providers, and others who are interested in enhancing their childrearing abilities.

The sessions are free to the community, but you must register. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays starting January 21 and ending on March 11, 2014 at the Appomattox Regional Library in Hopewell from 6:00 – 8:00pm.

Register by January 13, 2014 by calling the 6th District CSU at 804-541-2265. Residents needing community service hours may take this as an opportunity to meet required hours necessary to meet lease require5 ments.

Public Housing Staff Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

Madelyn Madison-Hyde, Public Housing Director – (804) 458-5160

P.O. Box 1361 350 E. Poythress Street Hopewell, VA 23860

Lillian Quintana, Administrative Assistant to the Public Housing Director – (804) 458-5160

Phone (804) 458-5160 Fax (804) 458-3364

Tina Raatz, Housing Manager – (804) 452-1880 ext. 3 Thomas Rolfe Court/Extension & Davisville/Bland Court

Website www.hopewellrha.org

Julie Derr, Assistant Housing Manager – (804) 452-1880 ext. 2 Thomas Rolfe Court/Extension & Davisville/Bland Court

Like our Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/ Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

Greg Pe’ay, Housing Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 3 Piper Square, Kippax Place & Langston Park Lafonia Thornton, Assistant Housing Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 2 Piper Square, Kippax Place & Langston Park Kathryn Thompson, Resident Services Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 4 Terence Barber, Resident Services Specialist – (804) 452-1880 ext. 4 Jennifer Campbell, FSS Program Intern — (804) 855-7065 Emergency After Hours – (804) 640-9337

6