Spring Trails - May 2021 by Peel, Inc.

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE SPRING TRAILS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION VOL 3

ISSUE 05

Spring Trails is excited to announce a new amenity to our community…Little Free Libraries! Located in Heron Park, in front of the pool house, are 3 new Little Free Lending Libraries: one for Kids, one for Teens, and one for Adults. The idea behind the libraries is simple…take a book or share a book. Lending libraries function on the honor system. You do not need to share a book to take one. If you take a book from a little library, try to bring one to share when you can. You may have seen similar lending libraries in other communities, schools or parks. What you may not know is Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that builds community, inspires readers, and expands book access through a global network of volunteer-led little libraries. Millions of books are exchanged each year, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds (https://littlefreelibrary.org/). And even more inspiring is the young Spring Trails resident who brought Little Free Libraries to our community. Eighteen-year old, Ashley Reel, a senior at Oak Ridge High School, approached the Board of Directors last fall with a proposal to implement a little library program in Spring Trails. With the Board’s consent Ashley set out immediately collecting donations and working with Little Free Libraries to bring her vision to life. In April her hard was revealed to the community. Ashley expressed her excitement about bringing the libraries to Spring Trails. “I grew up in Spring Trails when I was learning how to read and visits to the library were a part of my family’s weekly outings. As I am graduating, I wanted to bring my family’s love of books and reading, right into my neighborhood. Not every family has the time to make weekly trips or access to reading material. I am so excited to be able to make access to reading material for kids, teens and adults, as easy as a walk to the front of the neighborhood!” Ashley is no stranger to providing for others. When Ashley was fourteen years old, she founded, “Ashley’s Cinderella Closet”, a 501(c)3 non-profit that started out providing formal wear to teens in need so they would be able to attend homecoming and prom. Throughout the years, Ashley’s Cinderella Closet has grown to provide clothes, shoes, hygiene products, and other necessities to families in need, foster kids, and girls and women rescued from human trafficking. She also works with Matthew’s Birthday Wish providing Christmas presents, Valentines, Easter Baskets, and other items to families in need within the Conroe Independent School District. This is her first set of Little Free Lending Libraries and she is thrilled at the positive feedback she has already received. Once again Spring Trails has been blessed by the generosity and community spirit of our residents. If you are interested in donating books for the libraries or learning more about Little Free Libraries, contact Ashley at thereels@gmail.com. For more information on Ashley’s Cinderella Closet, visit www.ashleyscinderellacloset.com. Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Spring Trails - May 2021

Community Contact Information INFRAMARK (Spring Trails Property Management)....................281-870-0585 SPRING TRAILS HOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Request Manager through www.springtrails.com CEDRIC CLOUD LEANNE KESSLER ROGER OLSEN JERRY RUESCHHOFF MARK ZIMMERHANZEL ALL EMERGENCIES – 911 NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES Law Enforcement (Sheriff or Constable).. 936-760-5800 & press 3 Fire (South Montgomery Fire Department)..............281-363-3473 EMS (Montgomery County Hospital District)..........936-523-5000 SCHOOLS Sue Park Broadway Elementary.............................281-367-4677 Cox Intermediate School.......................................281-465-3200 York Junior High School.......................................832-592-8600

May 1st – Community Clean Up at the Riley Fuzzel sound wall May 4th – MUD 94 Board Meeting May 5th – Recycle Pick Up May 14th – Heavy Trash Day May 15th – Document Shred Event May 19th – Recycle Pick Up May 2 0 t h – HOA B oard M eeting *New Date* May 22nd – Movie in the Park May 26-27 – Conroe ISD has early release and no class

Oak Ridge High School........................................832-592-5300

May 31st – Conroe ISD Holiday

Grand Oaks High School......................................281-939-0000

June 1st – MUD 94 Board Meeting

Conroe I.S.D. Administration...............................936-709-7752 MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUD 94

June 2nd – Recycle Pick Up

MUD 94/Board of Directors......................... www.mcmud94.com

June 11th – Heavy Trash Day

MUD 94 / H2O Innovations (water and sewer)......281-355-1312

June 12th – Family Fun Day

MUD 94/Republic Services (trash & recycle pickup).713-726-7300 MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Montgomery County............................................936-756-0571 Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack.................936-539-7817 Sheriff Rand Henderson........................................936-760-5871 Constable Ryan Gable...........................................281-364-4211 VISIT THE SPRING TRAILS WEBSITE FOR LINKS TO THESE AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS

Advertising Information

June 16th – Recycle Pick Up Ju ne 1 7 t h – HOA Board M eeting *New Date*

Find details for these and other upcoming activities on the Spring Trails website Calendar.

PUBLISHER Peel, Inc.............................www.PEELinc.com, 512-263-9181 Advertising.....................................advertising@PEELinc.com

Newsletter Information Please support the advertisers that make Spring Trails newsletter 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. Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Spring Trails - May 2021

Frequently Asked Questions Many homeowners within Spring Trails are planning updates and/or modifications to their homes or properties this year. Maybe it’s time to replace that roof. Or maybe the recent freeze convinced you to install a generator. And how’s that fence holding up? Whatever your plans are, don’t forget to submit an Application to Modify Home or Property before you start construction. In accordance with Article VI of the Association’s Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs), Architectural Standards and Restrictions, no construction of exterior improvements or alteration shall commence unless and until plans, specifications and related data have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Association’s Architectural Review Committee (ARC). At the April Board of Directors meeting, a new more instructive Application to Modify Home or Property was approved. The new application provides guidance to homeowners on what documentation is required, what projects require deposits, and who to contact with questions and submit your application. Go to the Documents menu on the Spring Trails website and click Architectural Review Committee to find the new Application to Modify Home or Property, Architectural Guidelines and other resources associated with home improvements.

How Does Your Garden Grow? Contributed by Roger Olsen

Summer Gardens - Hopefully most, if not all, of your flower gardens have recovered from the freeze. If you need some additions, consider using some xeriscaping (zeri-scaping) plants in your gardens. Xeriscaping means plants that do well in the Houston heat and water stress conditions. But before you think you have to change your garden area into a West Texas look-alike environment, take a look at the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension website and search for Xeriscape: Landscape Water Conservation. Texas A&M Agrilife Extension offers a great guide on how to do xeriscaping more easily, save water and still have beautiful plants to admire. Included in the guide are a number of good candidates for your garden. Remember that xeriscaping works better in some areas than others. A plant that grows well in West Texas, the Hill Country or other locations may not do as well in Spring Trails due to the heavy, moisture laden clay that is just a few inches below the surface. Use the chart by Texas A&M Agrilife Extension to identify just the right plants for our environment. And speaking of gardens, last year I wrote an article about the rejuvenation of the community’s pollinator garden. The garden itself started out as an Eagle Scout project and through the efforts of the Beautification Committee, has morphed into a wonderful stop along the Turtle Creek walking trail. The garden’s main purposes are to attract pollinators and provide a restful place to watch Mother Nature at work. Original plants for the garden were grown and donated by resident Eagle Scout Christian Hansen. New plants were introduced last year from resident gardens and through partnership with local nursery Plants for All Seasons. And if that weren’t enough to brag about, the garden and Spring Trails residents were recently graced with a pair of beautiful meditation benches, donated by the family of Morris Ruggerio. The benches were custom-made by Statue Makers Garden Statuary of Houston in remembrance of Morris and are a tribute to the kindness, strength, and grace of this good man who was appreciated and loved by all who knew him. The family invites you to sit awhile in the garden and enjoy a Walt Whitman quote that exemplifies his life: “Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you.” Sincere thanks and recognition to the Spring Trails Beautification Committee volunteers for their ongoing commitment and service to our beautiful commuity: Fernando Guirola, Roger Olsen, Jackie Robinson, Matthew Romero, Marcia Rueschhoff, Michael Ruggerio, Stanley Ruggerio and Jim Schwartz.

Happy and successful gardening! 4

Spring Trails - May 2021

SPRING TRAILS

Spring Trails - May 2021

SPRING TRAILS May 31st We ask a lot of those who wear our uniform. We ask sacrifice of their lives. They are dedicated. They are them to leave their loved ones, to travel great distances, honorable. They represent the best of our country, and to risk injury, even to be prepared to make the ultimate we are grateful.

Do you have a student graduating high school this year? Celebrate their achievement with a special announcement in the June Spring Trails Newsletter. Submit his/her name, high school, future plans, and/or photo, by May 10th, through the Spring Trails Request Manager, www. springtrails.com and click “Contact the HOA Board”. Enter “2021 Graduate” in the subject line and your graduate’s information in the Details field. A photo can be attached if desired.

Golf Carts Golf carts are a popular and convenient alternative to cars when driving back and forth between neighborhood attractions and homes. And like cars, golf carts are allowed only on the streets of Spring Trails. To ensure the safety of residents and properties, golf carts are not allowed on community sidewalks, walking trails, parks or other common properties. Further it is important to know, Section 521.021 of the Transportation Code “prohibits a person, unless expressly exempted, from operating a motor vehicle on a publicly maintained way, any part of which is open to the public for vehicular travel, unless the person holds a driver’s license.” Deputies with the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office remind drivers that Sections 551.403 and 551.404 of the Code, which authorize a person to operate a golf cart in certain locations, do not exempt such persons from the driver’s license-holding requirement of section 521.021. If you’re considering purchasing a golf cart for local commuting, check out Chapter 551 of the Texas Transportation Code for applicable rules and regulations. Keep Spring Trails safe for everyone. 6

Spring Trails - May 2021

It’s a Shred Event ! Don’t forget…Montgomery County MUD 94 and Republic Services are sponsoring a free document shred event for residents of Spring Trails. Load up those old unwanted documents and bring it to the Spring Trails Visitor Center parking lot, Saturday, May 15th, 9:00 am-Noon. Republic Services will take your boxes/bags of paper, empty it into the Shred-It Truck, and return your boxes/bags to your car. Residents are asked to remain in their cars. Please no walk ups. Acceptable items: notebook paper, magazines, tax documents, newspapers, paper folders, etc. Residents are not required to remove staples, paper clips, thin metal brads, or other metal that can be easily bent with your fingers. Unacceptable Items: NO 3-ring binders or binder clips, wet paper, hard drives, CD’s, disks, video tapes/film reels, ink cartridges, batteries, electrical items, cardboard, syringes or plastics will be accepted. Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

SPRING TRAILS

Pool News

Keeping Spring Trails Clean and Green Thank you to those residents who volunteered their time April 10th to pick up trash around Spring Trails Bend. Your community spirit is contagious and Spring Trails is better because you care.

The community pool opens May 1st, weekends only. And beginning May 31, the pool will be open daily, Tuesday-Sunday. New color-coded wristbands and active amenity access cards will be required to enter and use the pool facility. Get your family’s wristbands at the Visitor Center office any Tuesday between the hours of 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. As a reminder, • Pool hours: 8:00 am-8:00pm • The pool will be available for “swim-at-your-own- risk”(SAYOR) for two hours 8:00am-10:00am, on open days. Lifeguards will not be present during this time. • Lifeguards with American Pool are returning to ensure safe and responsible use of the pool and facility. • 90-minute swim intervals will continue as last year. Starting at 10:00am daily, the pool will be cleared every 90 minutes to allow lifeguards time to clean the facility, check pool conditions and take their mandatory safety break. • Face masks will not be required. • Social distancing among unrelated parties will be maintained. • Pool furniture will be available for swimmers to use and the interior restrooms will be open. • No food at the pool facility. Grab your suits, sunscreen and towels…and don’t forget your wristbands. We’ll see you at the pool! Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Spring Trails - May 2021

SPRING TRAILS

Be Informed Stay up-to-date on community news by registering with the Spring Trails website at www.springtrails.com. There you can review the Community's governing documents, preview and RSVP to upcoming community events, contact property management and the Board of Directors, request amenity access, sign up for text and email announcements, read about community initiatives, and much more.

Spring Trails - May 2021

SPRING TRAILS

Spring Trails - May 2021

SPRING TRAILS

Spring Trails - May 2021

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Spring Trails - May 2021