Southgate - January 2012

SOUTHGATE

Official Publication of the Southgate Homeowners Association

The

Southgate G

January 2012

HOMEOWNER ASSESSMENT FOR 2012 The statements for the year 2012 homeowner assessments have been mailed to your home. Payments are due by December 31, 2011 and will begin accruing late fees if not received by January 31, 2012. Our annual dues are $200 and pay for lawn maintenance of the area surrounding our neighborhood and around the retention pond. They pay the management company for billing and collecting dues, twice monthly drive through to note deed violations, send letters to violators to remedy problems and letters to homeowners who have not paid their dues. They also pay for lighting and water at the two entrances on CR 59, for landscaping and lighting improvements to those two entrances, paid for the new sidewalk from Harris to connect to the sidewalk to the Town Center, new plants and watering system at the two CR 59 entrances, new lighting at the CR 59 entrances, repaired erosion at the retention pond, and pay for legal fees required when homeowners don’t live up to their commitment to maintain their home and pay their fees. The $200 per year equates to only $16.67 per month, per homeowner. You can go to our community site www.sgatehoa.org and pay online with a credit card. There is a $14.95 fee for this service, but some homeowners prefer to use this form of payment. Please pay the $200 no later than January 31st to avoid late fees. Payments received on February 1st or later will incur the late fees.

Homeowners Needed with Texas Notary Commission A committee of homeowners has completed working on revisions to the Deed Restrictions.

In order to pass the revisions we will need approval of 67% of the homeowners and their signature must be notarized. The document will be available on the web site www.sgatehoa. org and will be mailed to homeowners. Teams of homeowners will be visiting homes to gather the signatures. Each team will need a notary with them to notarize the signatures.

If you are a Texas Notary, and would be willing to help with this project, please email the board at southgatehoaboard@gmail.com .

Advertisers Needed!!

Our community newsletter is printed at no charge by Peel, Inc. However, the size of our newsletter, and number of articles is dictated by the number of businesses who advertise.

You have probably noticed that the last few months it has only been about four pages. If you know anyone who would benefit, please encourage them to advertise in our newsletter.

The rates are reasonable and reach 442 homes immediately. Have them contact the sales office of Peel Inc at 512-263-9181, or email them advertising@PEELinc.com . Tell them thanks for supporting our community and we will support their business! The advertising deadline is the 8th of the month prior to the issue.

Copyright Š 2011 Peel, Inc.

azette Volume 2, Issue 1

Board Of Directors Meetings The Southgate HOA Board of Directors meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month at the Cervelle model home in Southfork from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

All homeowners are welcome to attend.

Contact the board at southgatehoaboard@gmail.com Check out our website at http:// sgatehoa.org and get your own login to your personal account.

Yard of the Month During the month of December we award two homeowners for their home and yard decorating. The first is for Most Creative and the second is for Holiday Home. Each homeowner was awarded a $25 Gift Certificate. The winners were not chosen until the week of December 12th, and the January newsletter deadline was December 8th.

The winners will be in the February newsletter, but we hope you saw the signs in their yard during December.

We do not choose Yard of the Month winners for January-March, and will resume in April.

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SOUTHGATE IMPORTANT NUMBERS EMERGENCY Emergency........................................................................911 Poison Control................................................. 800-764-7661 Pearland Police................................................. 291-997-4100 SCHOOLS Laura Ingalls Wilder......................................... 281-245-3090 Mary Marek..................................................... 281-245-3232 Manvel Junior High......................................... 281-331-1416 Alvin Senior High............................................ 281-331-8151 Manvel High.................................................... 281-245-2235 Alvin ISD......................................................... 281-338-1130 UTILITIES Reliant Energy.................................................. 713-207-7777 Center Point..................................................... 713-207-2222 Trash Removal ................................................. 281-652-1600 CITY OF PEARLAND City Hall.......................................................... 281-652-1600 Water Dept Billing........................................... 281-652-1603 Animal Control................................................ 281-652-1100 Post Office........................................................ 281-485-2132 SOUTHGATE INFORMATION Articles.....................................peelinc.com/articlesubmit.php Board..................................... southgatehoaboard@gmail.com Web.......................................................... http://sgatehoa.org LPI Mgmt Company........ 281-412-2580 or jcook@lpidev.net Publisher - Peel Inc...................................... www.peelinc.com Advertising....................................................1-888-687-6444

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS Interested in submitting an article? You can do so by emailing southgatehoaboard@gmail.com or by going to http://www.peelinc.com/articleSubmit.php. All news must be received by the 8th of the month prior to the issue. So if you are involved with a school group, scouts, sports etc – please submit your articles for The Southgate Gazette. Personal news for the Stork Report, Teenage Job Seekers, special celebrations and military service are also welcome.

ADVERTISING INFO Please support the advertisers that make The Southgate Gazette possible. If you would like to support the newsletter by advertising, please contact our sales office at 512-263-9181 or advertising@PEELinc.com. The advertising deadline is the 8th of the month prior to the issue.

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The Southgate Gazette - January 2012

Identity Theft The Federal Trade Commission (federal government website is http://ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsite/idtheft) provides great information on protecting your identity.

Also, be sure to take advantage of a federal law that allows you to get a free copy of your credit report from each of the 3 credit reporting companies. You may request a report once every 12 months. The credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) have set up a simple website for more information (https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp).

Remember, the credit reporting companies are not required to provide you a credit score, if you want your credit score you will have to pay for it.

If you want to exclude your name from nationwide consumer credit reporting company lists for unsolicited credit offers call 1-888-567-8688.

Remember, protect your identity!

Bashans Painting & Home Repair Commercial/Residential Free Estimates

281-347-6702 281-731-3383cell • Interior & Exterior Painting • Garage Floor Epoxy • Hardi Plank Installation

• Custom Staining

• Wood Replacement

• Roofing

• Sheetrock Repair

• Gutter Repair/Replacement

• Interior Carpentry

• Faux Painting

• Cabinet Painting

• Door Refinishing

• Wallpaper Removal and Texturizing

• Window Installation

• Pressure Washing

• Ceiling Fan/Light Fixtures

• Fence Repair/Replacement

• Trash Removal

References Available • Fully Insured NO PAYMENT UNTIL COMPLETION bashanspainting@earthlink.net Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.

SOUTHGATE Being Neighborly How well do you get along with your neighbors? Here are some tips for building a better relationship that will last for years to come.

How well do you know the folks next door?

If your acquaintance is limited to a nod and a wave, you may want to think about building a better relationship for getting on better footing.

Neighbors play an important role in our lives. Their lifestyle, friends, and social habits can have a strong impact on our lives. It is a good idea to get to know the people next door or across the street to develop an interlocking community of support and security. You never know when a neighbor will spot a burglar creeping around your house or alert you to a creeping mildew that is affecting neighborhood roses. Or you may want to leave an extra key at their house in case someone in your family gets locked out.

There are plenty of reasons to work on a positive relationship with your neighbors.

HERE’S HOW:

1. Go over and introduce yourselves. Proper greetings can put everyone on a first-name basis and pave the way for more meaningful future encounters. Don’t stay too long, though, or you’ll wear out your welcome!

2. Lend a helping hand. If your neighbor is raking leaves, chopping wood, or building a deck, offer a few hours of assistance. There’s no better way to build a community.

Besides, you never know when the favor might be returned.

3. Offer support. If you hear that someone close by is ill, has had an accident, or is laid off from work, take over a hot meal or a fresh dessert. Your thoughtfulness will add a special touch during a difficult time, and one that will be remembered.

4. Meet a need. When you hear of a special need that you can meet, do it, such as sitting with a sick child while your neighbor goes to work or taking an elderly parent to a doctor’s appointment when their car won’t start. That’s what the story of the Good Samaritan is all about. Helping others is one of the best things we can do for each other.

5. Share information. Alert your neighbor to news of new developments that may impact everyone in your area, such as new sewer lines, sidewalks, housing developments, or weather threats. Keeping everyone in the loop ensures that you will learn of impending events as well.

6. Exchange holiday cards, gifts, or traditions. Invite your neighbors over for cocoa and carols in December or an Easter egg hunt in spring. A backyard barbecue can be a great way to share food and fun. Don’t forget about graduations, weddings, and baby showers. If they’ve watched your kids grow up or been aware of your family events, they may want to share these special occasions.

Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.

7. Plan a block party or yard sale. Invite everyone on the block to participate. Planning and carrying out the activity helps everyone to get acquainted and create a newfound sense of community, as well a happy successful, love connected community.

Even if your neighbors (or their dog) annoy you at times, grin and bear it. We never know what they are experiencing in their lives at the time. A smile makes all the difference in the world on our face and to the ones we smile at. They are like family in many ways since you’ll have to live with them, or near them, for a long time.

Appreciate their strengths and overlook the weaknesses and everyone will get along just fine!

At no time will any source be allowed to use The Southgate Gazette's contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from Peel, Inc. The information in The Village Gazette is exclusively for the private use of the Village Creek HOA and Peel, Inc. DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees.

Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser. * The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising. * Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. * Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above.

STREET LIGHTS OUT?

If you notice a street light out please report it to Centerpoint Energy. Follow these steps. • Dial (713) 207-2222 • Choose a language preference • Select option for street light outages. • Provide the 6 digit number painted about 5 feet up on the pole, the street name, and closest address.

POWER OUT

AT YOUR HOME? We have had many power outages in our neighborhood lately.

Every homeowner should call CenterPoint Energy at 713-2072222 to report these outages. They will usually respond quickly to multiple reports from the same area.

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The Southgate Gazette - January 2012

Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.