Kleinwood - June 2013 by Peel, Inc.

KLEINWOOD

K leinwood Krier Official Publication of the Kleinwood Homeowners Association

June 2013

Volume 3, Issue 6

Shared by one of our neighbors… On Monday April 29, 2013 we placed 5 envelopes with 5 checks to pay some bills in our mail box and raised the flag. On Tuesday April 30, 2013 we received a telephone call from an alert Chase Bank associate in Bellaire that a female was in her bank trying to cash a check from our account for $925.00. The associate reported that the signature on the check was suspect and looked as though it was maybe “traced”. While on the phone we quickly looked in our check register and determined that the check carried a number that we had not yet used. The Chase branch declined the check and the person was reported to have said she would just take it to her own bank and deposit it. The Chase associate told us they recognized the person and she had previously attempted similar actions with (apparently fraudulent) checks from other individuals. We promptly went to our local Chase Bank and spoke with an officer. Our old account was immediately closed and a new account number assigned. The 5 outstanding checks were listed as okay to accept by the bank. Within the next few days we contacted all the payees on the five checks and determined that one week later none had received the payments that we thought we mailed. On the 8th day, today, we concluded from the evidence that the checks were stolen from our mail box and quickly copied and/or “washed” by someone for the purpose of cleaning out our bank account. We stopped payment on the 5 checks and resubmitted the payments from the new checking account Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc.

or by other methods. Meanwhile we went through the process of assigning our new account number to various entities so online payments could continue to be processed automatically and funds received from income sources. What a time consuming pain. Due to the quick thinking of the Chase associates, who stated that they consider this activity somewhat “routine”, we suffered only the major inconvenience of “redoing” our basic home financial structure. To the best of our knowledge no funds were fraudulently obtained by the crook(s). Our purpose of writing this report is to reinforce the specific precautionary information previously disseminated by our neighbor Bernie Bryl. We would also request of our Kleinwood HOA and Management Company regular “News”, maybe on the website or in the Krier, of known current illegal activities within our community. We appreciated the proactive articles the Deputy Constable used to write as well. Maybe keep the Neighborhood Safety Suggestions updated and near the top of the News list. All of this type of information helps keep us reminded to remain vigilant and aware of our surroundings. Since the Chase Fraud Department is involved we don’t know if a formal report to the Post Office or Constable is appropriate but we’re sending copies of this transmittal to both.

The Kleinwood Krier - June 2013

KLEINWOOD IMPORTANT NUMBERS KLEINWOOD MAINTENANCE BOARD Larry Chamberlin, President............................ 281-580-2222 Ronnie Brod, Vice President............................. 281-370-9200 Tom Houser, Secretary..................................... 281-379-6517 Jeff Gobbell, Treasurer...................................... 281-251-7767 Kelly Smith, Director at Large.......................... 281-370-9735 KLEINWOOD MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT Robert Ehmann, President............................... 281-251-8621 Sherry Allard, Vice President............................ 281-923-8603 Joe Fratangelo, Secretary/Treasurer................... 281-251-3189 Bernie Bryl, Assis. V. P. & Asst. Sec.................. 281-251-2688 Mike Morgan, Assis. Sec.& Investment Off...... 281-376-6607 MANAGEMENT COMPANY Chaparral Management.................................... 281-537-0957 POOL MANAGEMENT COMPANY Southwest Pool Management........................... 281-370-2474 MUD FACILITY MANAGER & BUILDING RENTALS Roger Schuett................................................... 281-685-1275 NEIGHBORHOOD COORDINATORS Message Board Coordinator.........................................OPEN Jeff Gobbell, Pool Liaison................................. 281-251-7767 Mona Currey, Newsletter Editor............. mona@aegis-web.com Ronnie Brod, Tennis Liaison............................ 281-370-9200 John Bush, Signs..................................................................... Head Block Captain.....................................................OPEN SCHOOLS Mittelstadt Elementary..................................... 832-484-6711 Kleb Middle School......................................... 832-249-5500 Klein High School............................................ 832-484-4000 COMMUNITY SERVICES Emergency........................................................................911 Harris County Constable................................. 281-376-3472 C.C.E.M.S....................................................... 281-440-4300 St. Lukes Vintage Hospital............................... 832-534-5000 Methodist Willowbrook Hospital..................... 281-737-1000 Poison Control Center..................................... 281-654-1701 Waste Management.......................................... 713-686-6666 Klein VFD Business Office............................... 281-376-4449 Water/Sewer Repairs (24/7).............................. 832-467-1599 Water/Sewer Billing Questions......................... 832-467-1599 Reliant Energy/HL&P..................................... 713-207-7777 Centerpoint (report streetlight outings)............ 713-207-2222 Harris County Library, Barbara Bush Branch... 281-376-4610 Harris County, Precinct 4................................. 281-353-8424 Harris County Animal Control........................ 281-999-3191 Aircraft Noise Complaints................................ 281-233-3900 Environmental Development Partners.............. 832-467-1599 NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER PEEL Inc.................................................... www.peelinc.com Advertising....................................................... 888-687-6444 2

The Kleinwood Krier - June 2013

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KLEINWOOD 2013 Texas Stallions Relays Huge Success! The 2nd Annual Texas Stallions Relays, Presented by Texas Stallions Track Club, was a huge success! It was an amazing day with great weather, fantastic participation and stellar competition by all. The Texas Stallions Track Club hosted a Community Track and Field Meet on Saturday, April 6, 2013. The meet was held at Klein Collins High School in Spring for boys and girls 6-18 years of age from across the Texas Gulf Coast and featured competitions in the 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter dash, 800 meter, 1500 meter, 3000 meter run, 1500 meter race walk, 4 x 100 meter, 4 x 400 meter, and 4 x 800 meter relay and the long jump, shot put, turbo javelin and high jump. Thousands gathered to support approximately 800 youth that registered to participate in this exciting event, which was highlighted on the 9:00 Fox 26 news. Meet results are posted on the Texas Stallions Relays website at www.texasstallionsrelays.com. A special thanks to event sponsors, clubs, and donors who without their generous support this event would not have been possible. Many community organizations and supporters volunteered their time to oversee this wonderful community wide track and field meet. Thank You to All Our 2013 Meet Sponsors: • Pancho & Lefty BBQ • Neal’s Restaurant • Sweet Ride Houston • All-U-Wish-4 Embroidery & Promotion • Connect 2 Health Wellness • Kwik Kopy Business Center #117 • Luke’s Locker • Road ID

Cypress-Tomball Democrats Meeting Features Harris County Chairman The next Cypress-Tomball Democrats monthly meeting will be on Tuesday, June 18th, 2013. It will be held at Rudy’s Grill & Cantina, 11760 Grant Rd., Cypress, TX 77429, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. June’s guest speaker will be Lane Lewis, who is the chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party. He will discuss “Engage 365” which is the Harris County Democratic Party’s new non-election season, civic engagement program, designed to keep Democrats active and engaged in the community by taking part in civic-oriented, community service projects in communities and neighborhoods. All are welcome to attend and to join this growing club, which meets on the third Tuesday of every month. For more information, visit the website at www.cytomdems.com or contact Glenn Etienne at cytomdems@yahoo.com.

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6640 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, Texas, 77379 (1/4 Mile East Of Stuebner Airline Rd) The Kleinwood Krier - June 2013

Sudoku KLEINWOOD The challenge is to fill every row across, every column down, and every 3x3 box with the digits 1 through 9. Each 1 through 9 digit must appear only once in each row across, each column down, and each 3x3 box.

SUDOKU

View answers online at www.peelinc.com DOWN ACROSS 1. Incline 1. Tack 2. Change 5. Giant 3. Small particle 9. Philippine dish with marinated 4. Compass point chicken or pork 5. Night bird 11. Journalist's question 6. Body snatcher 12. Tiny insects 7. Cultivate 13. Cut of beef 8. Volcano 14. School group 10. Change into bone 15. South 16. Musical productions 17. United States 18. Canadian prov. 18. Bottle need 19. Palladium (abbr.) 20. Upset 20. Many 22. Cow's chow 21. Perfect 23. Year (abbr.) 22. Captain (abbr.) 24. Computer makers 24. Institution (abbr.) 27. Brews 25. Swain 29. Sleep disorder 26. African country 31. Parent teacher groups 28. Fast plane 32. Strong rope fiber 30. Pastry 33. Bend 34. Decorative needle case © 2006. Feature Exchange

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Sudoku

2006. every Feature column, Exchange and The goal is to fill in the grid so that every©row, every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. Each digit may appear only once in each row, each column, and each 3x3 box.

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5 years ago this month, Colin Holst tragically and silently drowned at the age of 4. 10 Texas children have already drowned this year. Be a Water Guardian and help prevent children from drowning. Ongoing: Volunteers needed to stuff and distribute water safey packets info@colinshope.org Ongoing: Colin's Hope Athlete Ambassadors needed! http://www.tinych.org/signup Now-June 18: Discount Schlitterbahn Tickets for sale. http://www.tinych.org/tickets June 18: World’s Largest Swim Lesson at Schlitterbahn Waterpark New Braunfels © 2006. Feature Exchange July 1: Colin’s Hope Got2Swim Lake Austin 4 Miler (solo or relay) http://www.tinych.org/got2swim4 July 21: Colin’s Hope Kids Got2Swim Pure Austin Quarry Lake http://www.tinych.org/got2swimkids

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The Kleinwood Krier - June 2013

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KLEINWOOD Grass Roots Residents 12-Year Volunteer Effort Successful in Remapping Cypress Creek Watershed Flood Hazard Areas Residents and business owners who own land in high flood hazard areas often obtain insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) These at-risk areas are identified by FEMA and the Harris County Flood Control District using computer modeling that factor in all aspects of water flow in the 22 Harris County watershed areas. Once prepared and approved, the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are used to determine NFIP insurance premium rates, land use regulation and urban planning. The Hurricane Allison flooding disaster in 2001 triggered a 2-year, $30+ million government project to upgrade existing flood maps for all 22 watersheds. The cornerstone of this project to model “Current Conditions” topography and storm water runoff as of 2001 was the use of technology and modeling more advanced and with greater accuracy than what had previously been used for existing flood maps. However, review of this upgraded mapping in the Cypress Creek Watershed by technical engineering experts paid by the Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition (CCFCC) identified significant inaccuracies such that the FIRMs were deemed unsuitable for the purposes intended. Based on these findings, independent appeals seeking corrective action were filed by CCFCC, the Sierra Club and Houston Voters Against Flooding. All were denied by FEMA. A CCFCC decision to quickly request the Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) Planning Department to work together with CCFCC to determine and correct the inaccuracies of the FEMA computer modeling was successful. Identified inaccuracies included (1) major omission of properties existing within the floodplains, (2) significant discrepancy in calculated runoff rates, and, (3) peak flood elevations being under-calculated by as much as 4-feet less than what was actually occurring in the upper watershed during major storms. In a separate action, the Sierra Club filed litigation in federal court seeking to stop the forthcoming FEMA adoption of the flawed floodplain modeling / maps. However the government proceeded to do so, thereby putting them into use for determination of risk-based flood insurance premiums and regulation of permit applications filed for new land development. The HCFCD / CCFCC team successfully identified the causes / corrective actions required to resolve the computer modeling issues and then submitted these to FEMA which approved the modeling “fixes” and resulting accuracy corrections and released the revised mapping for public review / comment. However new appeals / comments during this 2nd public review phase

were submitted by several respondents, including one seeking to prevent FEMA adoption which, if successful, would result in continued use of the inaccurate models and maps. Although FEMA denied this appeal, the respondent was given the opportunity last year to request and obtain review of their claim by a Scientific Resolution Pane (SRP) of national engineering and scientific experts. The SRP review completed in December 2012 concluded with the decision / recommendation that the inaccurate computer models and flood maps adopted by FEMA on June 8, 2007 be revised to reflect the improvements made by the HCFCD / CCFCC project team. FEMA has now accepted the panel’s findings and on April 16th issued what is called the “Letter of Final Determination” notification to Harris County Judge Emmett and the City of Houston requiring adoption of these changes in their floodplain management mapping and related regulatory actions. Visit http://www. floodsrp.org/panels/ for more information on this SRP review and decision. As a result of this latest development the action taken by Harris County Commissioners Court in August 2008 at CCFCC request requiring this “Best Available Data” be used for purposes of new land development permits from that time forward is now official and the current incorrect maps will be replaced effective October 16, 2013. This has been a prolonged 12-year process during which the CCFCC progress was heavily dependent upon their expenses being paid thru volunteer donations of their grass roots members. The resulting benefits to the community will include: • Improved accuracy in identification of flood hazard locations, • Greater safety in new home / road elevations, • Creation of “Current Conditions” computer models which are essential as a baseline for research into “Future Conditions” impact of full urban development, and, • A much needed greater understanding of the Cypress Creek overflow into and its resulting risk impact upon the adjoining Addicks Reservoir watershed. Look Upstream articles are written and/or provided by the Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition (CCFCC) as a public service. Also visit web site, www.ccfcc.org or for more information on flood protection, environmental preservation, flood insurance and membership or e-mail floodalliance@ccfcc.org.

The Kleinwood Krier - June 2013

KLEINWOOD

Travel the World

without Leaving Your Hometown by Hosting a Foreign Exchange Student By Heather Wells

NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE

Who hasn’t dreamed about walking among the Egyptian pyramids, or soaking in the sun on a beach in Spain, or wandering along the Great Wall of China? Every parent wants to give their children a taste of the world, but the economic reality of international air travel for a family, not to mention hotels, passports and food, makes it tough for most of us to consider except in our daydreams. There is a way to give your children the world – without leaving your living room. How? Host a foreign exchange student from a country you’ve always admired! Fascinated by France? Curious about China? Intrigued by India? By welcoming an international student from one of these countries into your home, you instantly open a portal to a far off land. “My husband and I have been hosting for the past three years and have enjoyed every minute of it!” said Vicki Odom, an Ayusa host mom from Pearland, Texas. “The various students we’ve had in (Continued on Page 7) Brilliant Energy Texas OUC #10140

At no time will any source be allowed to use The Kleinwood Krier'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 Kleinwood Krier is exclusively for the private use of the Kleinwood 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. 6

The Kleinwood Krier - June 2013

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KLEINWOOD Travel The World (Continued from Page 6)

our home have taught us a great deal about their home countries. The students also love learning about life in Texas and participate in a good deal on community service. Their latest service projects was volunteering to be Super Scoopers at the San Antonio Battle of Flowers Parade.” Foreign exchange students come from all over the world. Ayusa matches host families with students from more than 60 different countries including Argentina, China, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Japan, Lebanon, Norway, Pakistan, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia and Turkey. All high school foreign exchange students are fully insured, bring their own spending money, and are proficient in English – and all high school exchange programs are regulated by the U.S. Department of State. “We welcome host families of all shapes and sizes – families with young children, families with no children, empty nesters whose children have left home, single parents and non-traditional families,” says Connie Coutu, Regional Manager of Ayusa, a non-profit that promoting global learning and leadership through foreign exchange and study abroad opportunities for high school students. “The key requirements for a host family are to provide a safe and nurturing home environment, genuinely love children, and have a desire to learn more about a different culture.”

Volunteer host families provide foreign exchange students a nurturing environment, three meals a day and a bedroom (either private or shared with a host sibling of the same gender). Each host family and student is supported by a professionally trained community representative who works with the family and student for the entire program. All interested host families must pass a criminal background check and a home visit by an exchange organization. Interested host families are required to fill out an application, pass a background check and interview with a local exchange program representative in their homes. Once accepted to a program, host families can view profiles of students to find the right match for their family. “Hosting an exchange student is a life-changing experience – for the student, the host family, and the host community,” says Coutu. “There is no better way to teach your children about the world around them than through welcoming an international high school student into your home.” Ayusa is currently accepting applications for families to host an exchange student for the 2012 – 2013 school year. For more information about hosting a high school foreign exchange student, please contact Ayusa at 1.888.552.9872 or by visiting the website at www.ayusa.org.

The Kleinwood Krier - June 2013

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The Kleinwood Krier - June 2013