Villages of Decker Oaks - July 2016

VILLAGE OF DECKER OAKS

JULY 2016

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 7

UPCOMING BOARD MEETING DATES Monday July 11, 2016 August 23, 2016 September 19, 2016 October 17, 2016 Meetings start after executive session at 7pm.

Please note the signs will no longer be used and will be posted in the newsletter and online.

Please go to SCSGO for official community news as the newsletter will not be the official posting space as information may change after production.

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Village of Decker Oaks Community Newsletter - July 2016

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VILLAGE OF DECKER OAKS IMPORTANT NUMBERS ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT CO.: SCS Management Services, Inc. Phone:.............................................................. 281-463-1777 Fax:................................................................. 281-463-0050 ...................................................... 7170 Cherry Park Drive ............................................................Houston, TX 77095 Website:..........................................................www.scsgo.com Association Manager Jessica Smith..................................................... 281-500-7129 Service Manager Jessica Riggs..................................................... 281-500-7111 Deed Restriction Coordinator Susan Spratley ................................................. 281-500-7118 FIRE DEPARTMENT: Cy Fair VFD.................................................... 281-550-6663 HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF Sheriff Dispatch............................................... 713-221-6000 SCHOOL DISTRICT: Cy Fair ISD...................................................... 281-897-4000 WATER DISTRICT MUD 10.......................................................... 832-467-1599 HEALTH DEPARTMENT Harris County.................................................. 713-274-6300 CYPRESS POINT RECREATION ROOM RENTAL Voicemail......................................................... 281-256-1579 ELECTRIC COMPANY/ OUTAGES Centerpoint...................................................... 713-207-2222 http://www.centerpointenergy.com/en-us/residential/in-yourcommunity/electric-outage-center/report-streetlight-outages GARBAGE SERVICE Best Trash ........................................................ 281-313-2378 (Service is contracted through the MUD and trash pickup is on Wednesday and Saturday) HELPFUL NUMBERS Montgomery County Constables .................... 281-356-3883 WCA .............................................................. 281-766-1914 Enviro Waste Systems..................................... 936-264-3001 Hughes Natural Gas....................................... 281-356-8241 Quadvest ........................................................ 281-356-5347

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

by Barbara Ballard, HOA Treasurer The days are longer. The sun is shining bright. Kids are enjoying their break from school. I think it is safe to say, summer is in full swing. With summer comes Independence Day and nothing says Independence Day like family get-togethers, barbeques, and fireworks. While fireworks can be loads of fun, there are a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to popping these colorful light displays.

Do be courteous to your neighbors and community. Not everyone is on summer vacation. Many people have to wake up early for daycare or work, so please aim to pop fireworks during reasonable times, especially during the days leading up to Independence Day. Do give veterans a heads up. In the past, I have seen signs around the neighborhood saying “Combat Veteran Lives Here, Please Be Courteous with Fireworks.” Fireworks may seem like a blasting good time to some, but for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, fireworks can sound like gunfire or explosives. Our veterans are the reason we are able to celebrate our freedom on July 4, so please be courteous if you see one of these signs. If planning on popping fireworks, especially on days other than Independence Day, please give veterans a heads up.

Don’t litter. After an evening of popping fireworks, please respect your community area and clean up the popped fireworks. A road full of firework remnants affects the whole street. It is considered littering and makes the roads look untidy. Wind often carries trash to other homes leaving those residents to have to clean up the mess and if it rains, the trash goes down the drainage pipes before ending up in the retention pond. Trash in the retention pond area can cause a clog in the pump and risks damaging the pump.

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Village of Decker Oaks Community Newsletter - July 2016

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VILLAGE OF DECKER OAKS (Continued from Page 2) I would like to conclude my article with a list of recommended safety tips from the National Council on Fireworks Safety. May you all have a safe and happy Independence Day!

RECOMMENDED SAFETY TIPS by the National Council on Fireworks Safety: • Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks.

• Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.

• A responsible adult SHOULD supervise all firework activities.

Never give fireworks to children.

• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show.

• Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.

• Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.

• Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a clear area; away from buildings and vehicles.

• Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.

• Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.

• Never carry fireworks in your POCKET or shoot them into

METAL or GLASS containers.

• Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.

• Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.

• FAA regulations PROHIBIT the possession and transportation of fireworks in your checked baggage or carry-on luggage.

• Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fire or police department.

Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/01/health/ptsd-vets-andfireworks-irpt/index.html, http://www.fireworkssafety.org/safety-tips

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Village of Decker Oaks Community Newsletter - July 2016

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VILLAGE OF DECKER OAKS

Your Neighborhood Needs YOU

by Barbara Ballard, HOA Treasurer The directors are trying to make some changes in the neighborhood and we really could use some help from you.

We are looking for volunteers to help us with some upcoming committees: Event, Welcoming, Yard of the Month, and Newsletter. We have not decided all the particulars, but here is a general description of the committees.

Event Committee

We hope to bring more events to the community. Our last event, the Spring Eggstravaganza, was quite a success. It gave residents an opportunity to come together and have some fun.

Committee members would help coordinate future events including, but not limited to, advertising for the event, planning a menu, ordering/gathering food, planning activities, set up and clean up. If you have a knack for party planning or if you just want to help bring some fun to the neighborhood, this is the committee for you!

the newsletter from a very general and impersonal circular to a relevant, community bulletin. If you enjoy writing and want to help keep your community well-informed, please do not hesitate to sign up for the Newsletter committee. The more the merrier!

Also, please note that you can still submit articles without being on the committee. You would just submit the article to me at barbaram.ww@gmail.com.

All we are asking for is your time and your input. All approved expenses for these committees will be paid for by the association, so please do not feel like you have to put in any of your personal money. I truly hope that many of you will help us make the community better. Winston Churchill was spot on when he said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Welcoming Committee

Do you like meeting new people? Are you a people person? If so, then this committee is for you! What better way to say “Welcome to Our Neighborhood” than with a small gift basket?! We are hoping to begin giving a small gift along with a community information packet to new homeowners. Committee members would help decide what gift to give and gather all material to include in the information packet. Members would also be responsible for delivering the welcome package to each new homeowner.

Yard of the Month

In an attempt to keep yards tidy and well-kept, we will begin having a Yard of the Month contest. We hope that the positive reinforcement, along with the prospect of a nice gift card, will help improve the look of our community. Committee members would drive (or walk) around each street of the neighborhood and judge each yard by cleanliness, visual appeal, and overall appearance. They would then vote on which yard they deem best suited for the Yard of the Month and present that homeowner with a gift card. If you have an eye for beauty and design, the Yard of the Month committee is for you!

Newsletter Committee

While I enjoy being the voice for the community newsletter, I really could use lots of help here. I would love for the newsletter to be more well-rounded with different views. Committee members would write articles for the newsletter thus transforming 4

Village of Decker Oaks Community Newsletter - July 2016

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VILLAGE OF DECKER OAKS

IN AND AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD…

by Barbara Ballard, HOA Treasurer Here is a list of some events in and around our neighborhood for the month of July 2016.

Village of Decker Oaks • HOA Board Meeting, July 11, 7:00pm See more at https://villageofdeckeroaks.nabrnetwork.com/index.php Tomball ISD • TISD Board Meeting, July 12, 5:30pm See more at http://www.tomballisd.net City of Tomball • 5th Annual July 4th Celebration & Street Party presented

by Allied Siding & Windows, July 4, 5:00 PM @ Business Highway 249 north of FM 2920 in Tomball.

An evening of fun celebrating American Independence. Live music from Bayou Roux and the Bottle Rockers, the giant Kroger Kids Zone, food and beverages, and a spectacular fireworks display at dark…it's the second largest July 4th celebration in Harris County!

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• Second Saturday at the Depot - Christmas in July, July 9, 6:00 PM @ Tomball's historic downtown Depot A monthly fun family event for the whole family that includes games, crafts and a free movie on the giant screen all under the stars at Tomball's historic downtown depot. In the event of rain, Second Saturday is moved into the Tomball Community Center at 221 Market Street. Visit with and Santa! This month's film: Polar Express.

See more at http://www.ci.tomball.tx.us Tomball Community Library at Lonestar College (Harris County Public Library) Many free events, clubs, and programs for all ages. Please see more at http://www.hcpl.net If you know of any other events that are coming up, please feel free to email me at barbaram.ww@gmail.com. The deadline for newsletter submission is the 10th of the prior month.

Village of Decker Oaks Community Newsletter - July 2016

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VILLAGE OF DECKER OAKS

Texting and Cell Phone Use during Driving By the National Highway Safety Administration (edited for space) In 2014, 3,179 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver. One of the most alarming and widespread forms of distracted driving is cell phone usage. According to a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds, the equivalent of driving blind at 55mph for the length of an entire football field. And a 2014 special article in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the risk of a crash or near-crash among novice drivers increased with the performance of many secondary tasks, including texting and dialing cell phones.

Text messaging is of heightened concern because it combines three types of distraction – visual, manual and cognitive. In other words, texting involves taking your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, and your mind off the task of driving.

NHTSA’s message is simple – “One Text or Call Could Wreck it All.” Legislation is being passed across the nation to

discourage distracted driving. We hope drivers get the message loud and clear.

So the next time you are pressed for time, and it seems like multitasking in the car is the best decision, remember those 3,179 lives that were taken because someone decided they could do two things at once. A text or call is not worth your life, or anyone else’s.

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Village of Decker Oaks Community Newsletter - July 2016

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VILLAGE OF DECKER OAKS

Summer Sun Safety Tips 1oz. of sunscreen should be applied to entire body Only broad-spectrum SPF 15+ should be used Limit your time in the sun from 10am-4pm You still need sunscreen on a cloudy day

At no time will any source be allowed to use the Village of Decker Oaks Newsletter 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 the Village of Decker Oaks Homeowners Association and Peel Inc. The information in the Village of Decker Oaks Newsletter is exclusively for the private use of Village of Decker Oaks residents only.

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.

NOBODY IS DROWNPROOF WATCH KIDS AROUND WATER

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37 Texas children have already fatally drowned in 2016 DROWNING IS PREVENTABLE THESE WATER SAFETY TIPS CAN SAVE LIVES

WATCH KIDS & KEEP IN ARM’S REACH

LEARN TO SWIM

WEAR LIFE JACKETS

MULTIPLE BARRIERS AROUND WATER

KEEP YOUR HOME SAFER

CHECK WATER SOURCES FIRST

PRACTICE DRAIN SAFETY

BE SAFER IN OPEN WATER

LEARN CPR

BECOME a Water Guardian for your child

TAKE the Water Safety Quiz PREVENT drowning www.colinshope.org/quiz LEARN more at www.colinshope.org Copyright Š 2016 Peel, Inc.

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Village of Decker Oaks Community Newsletter - July 2016

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