Laurel Creek - March 2017

LAUREL CREEK March 2017

Official Newsletter of the Residents of Laurel Creek

LAUREL CREEK

Volume 4, Issue 3

ACC Applications Spring is almost here and many residents will be making home improvements. Please remember that a lot of outside projects require that approval be obtained in advance from the Architectural Control Committee. These include, but are not limited to, the following: • • • • • • •

Roofs Fences Outside painting Removal of trees in front yard Patio covers, pergolas and other backyard structures Swimming pools Any alterations of house or existing structures

An ACC application can be downloaded from the Crest Management Website. You may also contact Sheila Gonzales, who is our new assistant manager at Crest, with any questions or to request an application. Her e-mail is: Sheila.Gonzales@ Crest-Management.com, and her phone number is 281-945-4623

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LAUREL CREEK COMMUNITY CONTACTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ann Murphree......................................................... President Nathan Overstreet............................................ Vice President Heather Flynn Mace................................................. Secretary Greg Magness........................................................... Treasurer Valerie Phelps............................................................ Director

NEWSLETTER INFO NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER Peel, Inc............................888.687.6444, www.PEELinc.com Advertising.................................... advertising@PEELinc.com

IMPORTANT NUMBERS Crest Management.................... www.crest-management.com .........................................................................281.579.0761 Association Manager Jennifer Petras...........jennifer.petras@crest-management.com Assistant Manager Victoria Schoon........Victoria.schoon@crest-managemen.com .........................................................................281.945.4623 Call Before You Dig ...................................................................1.800.344.8377 Street Light Outage www.centerpointenergy.com (Have light number) ......................................................................713.207.2222 Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Service ............................................. http://records.txdps.state.tx.us Police Information If you witness a crime or suspicious activity call Pct. 4 Constable

......................................................... 281.376.3472 or 911 Police Emergency..............................................................911 Constable's Office Precinct 4.............................281.376.3472 ......................... Laurel Creek has a contract for faster response Cy Fair Volunteer Dept. (Ambulance) ........................................ (Non-emergency) 713.466.6151 Harris County Alarm (Permit) ..................................................................... 713-755-4660 TOPS (Water Issues) ......................................................................281.807.9500 Poison Center ...................................................................1.800.222.1222

Please remember: We do not live in the City of Houston but in Harris County.

Inform the emergency operator of this to assure a more prompt response.

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Laurel Creek - March 2017

Join Nextdoor Nextdoor is the private social network for you, your neighbors and your community. It is the easiest way for you and your neighbors to communicate online. Nextdoor is a place to share helpful information with your neighbors.

People are using Nextdoor to: • • • • • • • • •

Quickly get the word out about a break-in Track down a trustworthy babysitter Find out who does the best paint job in town Ask for help keeping an eye out for a lost dog Sell or give away an outgrown bike Discuss community issues Organize a Neighborhood Watch Group Spread the word about local events Provide support to neighbors in need

The service is free. To sign up for Nextdoor, you will need to provide your full name and address. You can join via the web by visiting nextdoor.com.

NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE

BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS Classified Ads: Business classifieds (offering a service or product line for profit) are $50, limit 40 words, please contact Peel, Inc. Sales Office at 1-888-687-6444 or advertising@PEELinc.com.

PERSONAL CLASSIFIEDS Personal Ads: Personal classifieds (offering a one-time item for sale) are free to Laurel Creek residents, limit 30 words, please contact Peel, Inc. Sales Office at 1-888-687-6444 or advertising@ PEELinc.com.

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LAUREL CREEK

Daylight Saving Time

Special Thanks

Spring has already sprung upon us, and this year’s March equinox falls on March 20, 2017. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward one hour started by Benjamin Franklin as a means conserve energy. The practice was likely perpetuated by golfers wanting to play after work and before the sun went down. Whatever the reason for its continuation, daylight saving time will start Sunday, March 12, 2017 at 2:00 a.m. You can use the change in time twice to remind you to check the batteries in your smoke alarm.

At the January board meeting, a discussion was held about the need to obtain quotes to repair the basketball goal. Scot Lacy and Tom Tamborello were at the meeting and took it upon themselves to repair the goal. The repair required that they remove the old rim and purchase a new rim and net. This may sound simple, but the old bolts were frozen and had to be cut and replaced. As part of the repair, they removed the metal backboard and gave it a fresh coat of paint. It is now back in service and being enthusiastically used by neighborhood children.

A week later Scot and Tom decided to give the gazebo a much needed power washing.

The board of directors would like to thank Scot and Tom for voluntarily taking on these tasks. The exact amount is not known, but they definitely saved the HOA over $500.00.

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$200 Rebate on James Hardie Insulated Siding (10 squares or more) 24 month financing with no interest 1st and oldest Hardplank company in Houston

281.859.9000 HoustonSiding.com See store for details.

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LAUREL CREEK

TENNIS TIPS

By USPTA/PTR Master Professional Director of Special Events - Polo Tennis and Athletic Club

How to execute The Two Handed Backhand Lob

In previous newsletters, I offered tips on how to hit the forehand groundstroke, the two-handed backhand, the one-handed backhand, the forehand volley, the two-handed backhand volley, the serve, the forehand half-volley, the onehanded backhand volley, the overhead “smash”, the forehand service return, the backhand service return, the forehand high volley approach shot, the two-handed high volley approach shot. the one-handed high volley approach shot, and the forehand lob.

In this issue, I will offer instructions on how to execute the Two Handed Backhand Lob. This shot is used when a player is forced to retrieve a ball that is hit deep to the backhand side of the player, and the opponent is either charging to the net or staying far back. The player hitting the lob is looking for “air time” to regain balance and court space. This ball should be hit high enough so the players at the net cannot reach and “slam” the ball down, or force the opponent at the base line to retrieve back. In the illustrations, Roxanne Cossette, a Member of the Polo Tennis and Athletic Club, shows the proper technique to execute this stroke.

Step 1: The Back Swing: When Roxanne is forced deep into the backhand side and realizes that she must hit a defensive lob, 4

Laurel Creek - March 2017

she pivots to the left and gets her racket back early. Notice that the head of the racket is low and her left hand is on the handle of the racket. Her eyes are focused on the path of the ball and her weight is on her left foot.

Step 2: The Point of Contact: Roxanne is now ready to hit the ball. Her eyes are now focused on the point of contact and the face of the racket is tilted at a 45-degree angle to create height and depth on her lob. Her goal is to keep her head still and not start looking up to her opponent or to the other side of the court.

Step 3: The Follow Through: The success of a deep lob is the follow through. Roxanne’s left wrist is still “laid back” and her shoulder is lifting the racket above her head. Her right hand is holding the racket slightly, but still in control of the racket.

Step 4: The Shuffle Back: Once Roxanne finishes the stroke, her goal is to either move forward toward the net top to hit an overhead, or to shuffle back to the middle of the court to drive the next ball back to the opponent. In this caption, she moved back to the center of the court waiting for the opponent’s shot to come back.

Look in the next Newsletter for: How to execute “The One-Handed Backhand Lob” Copyright © 2017 Peel, Inc.

LAUREL CREEK

Red Imported Fire Ants

I was making dinner the other night and my kiddo was outside playing. He came rushing in panicked. He discovered the fire ants of the season. While I knew it was inevitable, I was hoping that it would occur a bit later in the year. But, it’s true. Fire ants have begun to yet again, dot the landscape with their mounds.

Spring time is usually when people see fire ants swarming (although it can also happen in the fall). Swarming is a reproductive process that usually occurs on warm days after a rain event. Winged males and females leave the mound and fly into the air to mate. After mating, they fall to the ground where males Fire ant queen without wings. die and females break off their wings and search for a location to establish a new colony. Mated females dig a small chamber in soil, lay a few eggs and rear those young by themselves until the young become mature worker ants. At that point workers take

over colony functions and the queen continues to expand the population of the colony by laying more eggs.

While searching for a new colony location, many mated fire ant queens are killed by lizards, birds, spiders, other ants, and often my shoe stomping on them. Queens that survive can be managed by broadcasting fire ant bait over your entire property. New colonies are usually very small and may not have substantial mounds for locating easily for individual treatment. When worker ants forage for food, they would have the opportunity to locate, pick up, and carry fire ant bait back to the colony to share with other ants including the queen.

For more information or help with identification, contact Wizzie Brown, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist at 512.854.9600. Check out my blog at www.urban-ipm.blogspot.com The information given herein is for educational purposes only.

Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service or the Texas A&M AgriLife Research is implied.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides equal access in its programs, activities, education and employment, without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Reaching youR neighboRs • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Atascocita CIA Blackhorse Ranch Briar Hills Bridgeland Canyon Gate at Northpointe Cardiff Ranch Cypress Creek Lakes Cypress Mill Cypress Park Eagle Springs Fairfield Grand Lake Estates Lakeshore Lakes of Fairhaven Lakes of Rosehill Lakes on Eldridge Lakes on Eldridge North Laurel Creek Legends Ranch Meyerland Normandy Forest

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

and many others...

North Lake Forest Park Creek Park Lakes Riata Ranch Shadow Creek Ranch Silverlake Steeplechase Sterling Lakes Stone Forest Summerwood Towne Lakes Village Creek Villages of Decker Oaks Villages of NorthPointe Walden on Lake Houston Willowbridge Willow Pointe Winchester Country Windermere Lakes Woodwind Lakes Wortham Villages

contact us today foR adveRtising infoRmation

1-888-687-6444 www.PEELinc.com advertising@PEELinc.com

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At no time will any source be allowed to use Laurel Creek'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 Laurel Creek is exclusively for the private use of the Laurel Creek HOA and Peel, Inc.

Crossword Puzzle

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.

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Sudoku 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

LAUREL CREEK

Sudoku

© 2007.

The goal is to fill in the grid so that every row,Feature everyExchange column, and 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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LAUREL CREEK

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Color the drawing below and mail the finished artwork to us at: Peel, Inc. - Kids Club 308 Meadowlark St Lakeway, TX 78734-4717 We will select the top few and post their artwork on our Facebook Page - Facebook.com/PeelInc. DUE: March 31st

Be sure to include the following so we can let you know!

Name: _______________________________ (first name, last initial)

Age:________________

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