Spring Trails - October 2021 by Peel, Inc.

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE SPRING TRAILS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION VOL 3

ISSUE 10

Arts, crafts, jewelry, home décor, beauty products, food, and much more. Spring Trails brings the shopping to you while showcasing local unique, crafty, culinary and skilled talent. Enjoy the park with your neighbors while browsing the large selection of goods and services offered by our very own Spring Trails residents. And bring the kids along for some early-bird trick or treating. Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Spring Trails - October 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 Grand Oaks High School...................................... 281.939.0000 Conroe I.S.D. Administration............................... 936.709.7752 MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUD 94 MUD 94/Board of Directors......................... www.mcmud94.com MUD 94 / H2O Innovations (water and sewer)...... 281.355.1312 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

October 5th – National Night Out October 5th – MUD 94 Board Meeting October 8th – Heavy Trash Day October 8th – Conroe ISD Staff Development (no students) October 11th – Conroe ISD Holiday October 13th – Recycle Pick Up October 16th – Community Clean Up October 21st – HOA Board Meeting / Election Candidate Meet & Greet October 27th – Recycle Pick Up October 30th – Market Day November 2nd – MUD 94 Board Meeting November 6th – Community Clean Up (Riley Fuzzel sound wall) November 10th – Recycle Pick Up

Constable Ryan Gable........................................... 281.364.4211

November 12th – Heavy Trash Day

VISIT THE SPRING TRAILS WEBSITE FOR LINKS TO THESE AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS

November 18th – Annual Meeting of the Members and Election

Advertising Information 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.

November 24th – Recycle Pick Up November 22-26th – Conroe ISD Holiday Find details for these and other upcoming activities on the Spring Trails website Calendar. Spring Trails - October 2021

SPRING TRAILS

HOA UPDATES The Board of Directors approved formal Landscaping Guidelines during the August 2021 HOA Board meeting. The intent of these guidelines is to establish a minimum standard for functional and aesthetic landscape treatment within Spring Trails. This treatment of the landscape

SPRING TRAILS ELECTION

This November Spring Trails will elect 1 director to the HOA Board of Directors. The Homeowners Association (HOA) Board of Directors consists of 5 directors, responsible for the management of the community (amenities and common areas) and enforcing the HOA’s policies and regulations. HOA Board directors serve 3-year terms. There are no age or residency qualifications to serve as a HOA Board director. What Happens Next? Spring Trails will host a meet and greet for election candidates October 21st outside the community Visitor’s Center. Candidates for the Board of Directors will appear on the Association’s November election ballot. Ballots will be available to Spring Trails homeowners (1 each property) online, by mail, or in person at the Annual Meeting of the Members, November 18th. Mark your calendars with these important events. Details of the meet and greet as well as election updates will be included in upcoming community announcements.

is composed of natural and unnatural elements, which properly and effectively combined, greatly enhance the total environment. The guidelines were modeled off the original “builder” landscaping guidelines and updated to clarify relevant topics including: • Plant Beds • Edging • Front yard Trees • Shrub/Ground Cover • Lawn • Annual/Perennials • Lawn Ornamentation/Decoration • Lawn Maintenance Similar to exterior architectural changes to your property or home, changes to front yard landscaping require prior approval from the Association’s Architectural Review Committee. Proposed changes can be submitted via the existing Application to Modify Home or Property. Instructions are listed under the Landscaping section of the application. The newly adopted Landscaping Guidelines can be found on the Spring Trails website under Documents\Spring Trails Official Documents or Documents\Architectural Review Committee. contact Inframark Customer Service at 281-870-0585 with questions regarding landscaping and/or architectural guidelines or the architectural review process.

Spring Trails - October 2021

SPRING TRAILS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT!

YOU ARE INVITED!

The Spring Trails Board of Directors invites you to join the Spring Trails Annual National Night Out Picnic, Tuesday, October 5th at Cardinal Park. National Night Out is the perfect opportunity to meet your neighbors, to generate neighborhood spirit, and to strengthen police-community partnerships. Bring the kids and spend a couple hours with local law enforcement and neighbors. Hot dogs and chips will be served starting at 5:30 pm while supplies last.

Take a bite out of hunger At this year's National Night Out event, Spring Trails will be hosting a food drive in support of the Montgomery County Food Bank. All residents are encouraged to bring non-perishable, unopened food items and leave them in drop off bins stationed throughout the park for the duration of the event. Most needed items include: • Canned tuna, salmon or chicken • Canned or dry beans • Peanut butter • Rice, pasta or macaroni & cheese • Hot and cold cereals • Individually packaged snacks: raisins, granola bars, etc. • Canned vegetables and fruit • Bottled juice or juice boxes Friendly reminder: Check the Sell/Best By Dates for dates no sooner than December, 2021. This event is sponsored by the Spring Trails Community Association exclusively for Spring Trails residents. Service will be on a first come, first served basis. 2021 community wristbands required (white with green lettering adults and lime green kids).

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Hopefully your lawn has survived the brown patch attack so common during September. I managed to fight it off for the most part, I lost some battles even with good chemicals and practices. While it may not seem like it, with the Farmer’s Almanac predicting a cold winter (hopefully no more pipe busting weather) it’s time to think about preparing our lawns for winter dormancy and Spring success. It’s October and not yet too late for applying these practices but don’t wait much longer! Fertilizer: Fall fertilizing is done to give your lawn a head start in Spring, NOT to keep it green now through Spring. Texas A&M and other experts recommend getting your winter fertilizer down at least 6 weeks before the location’s typical first frost so NOW would be a good time to put down a fertilizer listed as a winterizing type. A couple of the major brands offer fall / winter feeding blends and sometimes have added weed killers so those irksome winter weeds that somehow keep growing don’t get a grip in your lawn. Watering: Fall is when you should put an end to automated irrigation. Your lawn will need very little water as it nears dormancy. You will be able to tell: A week after your last mowing it still looks pretty good. That means it is still alive but getting ready for a “winter’s nap”. Plan on starting your irrigation again in April. If your system waters your garden also, consider stopping all lawn zones and watering your garden only once per week. If you do your watering manually, again, plan on slowing your watering regimen to once a week or not at all as your lawn heads into Fall. Weeds: Fall is when many of our winter weeds such as lawn burweed or annual bluegrass start to emerge. You can take preventive action by making a Fall pre-emergent herbicide application. Again, do that NOW while the soil is still “warm”. Select an herbicide SPECIFICALLY listed for lawns as a pre-emergent. This will prevent weeds that try to come back next Spring. Most Fall fertilizers don’t come with pre-emergence control. Preen and Scott’s Halts are two of the more common brands of specific pre-emergent products. You already know this but ALWAYS read the labels of your products- you will save yourself time and anguish over a ruined lawn/garden. If you were able to control your lawn weeds, a pre-emergent may not be needed. Disease: As temperatures begin to drop in the Fall, turfgrass diseases become more active as you may have already seen. As mentioned above, don’t water if your lawn looks fine and consider turning off your automated irrigation, watering manually if the grass wilts from dry soil. Check the forecast for rain and defer irrigating if rain is certain. Shade, poor drainage, cutting grass too short (keep it at 2.5 to 3.5 inches) can stress your lawn and encourage diseases. Next month I’ll again discuss suggested species, when and how to plant trees. November to February planting is the best time for our area here in Spring Trails. Happy Gardening! Spring Trails - October 2021

SPRING TRAILS October is National Fire Prevention Month. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that fires kill over 4,000 Americans each year and injures around 20,000 more. Of the nearly 2 million fires reported each year, three-quarters of them occur in residences. This month, take steps to protect your home and family from a fire. Here are 10 simple tips to help you avoid fires and reduce the risk of injury should one occur: • Smoke Alarms – These are still a very important addition to your home. Smoke alarms are widely available and inexpensive. Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and test it monthly. • Prevent Electrical Fires – Don’t overload circuits or extension cords. Cords and wires should never be placed under rugs or in high traffic areas. Avoid loose electrical connections by checking the fit of the plug in the wall outlet. If the plug loosely fits, inspect the outlet right away. A poor connection between the plug and the outlet can cause overheating and can start a fire in minutes. • Keep Plugs Safe – Unplug all appliances when not in use. Follow the manufacturer’s safety precautions and use your senses

Spring Trails - October 2021

to spot any potential disasters. If a plug is overheating, smells strange, shorts out or sparks – the appliance should be shut off immediately, then replaced or repaired. • Alternate Heaters – Make sure there is ample space around any portable heating unit. Anything that could catch fire should be at least three feet away. Inspect your chimney annually and use fire screens to help keep any fires in the fireplace. • Fire Safety Sprinklers – When combined with working smoke alarms, home fire sprinklers greatly increase your chance of surviving a fire. Sprinklers are affordable and they can increase property value and lower insurance rates. • Create An Escape Route – Create and practice your escape plan with your family from every room in the house. Practice staying low to the floor and checking for hot doors using the back of your hand. It’s just like a routine school fire drill – but in your home. • Position Appliances Carefully – Try to keep TV sets, kitchen and other appliances away from windows with curtains. If there is a wiring problem, curtains can spread a fire quickly. Additionally, keeping your appliances away from water sources (like rain coming in from windows) can help prevent wiring damage which can lead to a fire. • Clean Dryer Vents – Clothes dryers often start fires in residential areas. Clean the lint filter every time you start a load of clothes to dry or after the drying cycle is complete. Make sure your exhaust duct is made of metal tubing and not plastic or foil. Clean the exhaust duct with a good quality dryer vent brush to prevent blockage & check for lint build up behind the dryer at least twice a year. • Be Careful during the Holidays – If you fill your home with lights during the holiday season, keep them away from anything that can easily catch fire. Check all of your lights prior to stringing them up and dispose of anything with frayed or exposed wires. • Conduct Regular Inspections – Check all of your electronic equipment and wiring at least once a month. Taking a little time to do this each month can really pay off. Following these simple tips could potentially save your life or the life of a loved one. Pass this list on to your friends and family and make this fire prevention month count! Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

SPRING TRAILS

Spring Trails - October 2021

SPRING TRAILS

Thank you to this month’s Newsletter Contributors: Roger Olsen. Residents interested in submitting stories or articles for inclusion in the newsletter can do so online at https://peelinc.com/index.php/submit-an-article/. Articles are due by the 10th day of the preceding month.

Add some festive Fall fun to your village this month by creating and displaying a scarecrow. Silly, serious, big or small, frightening or friendly… it’s all about having fun and celebrating Fall. So gather up some old clothes, broom handles, pillow cases, buttons and patches and bring your scarecrow to life. S c a r e c r ow s c a n b e displayed in front yards the entire month of October, but remember to take them down no later than October 31. Just a couple things to remember: • Family-friendly please. No political or overly violent scarecrows. • Scarecrows must be able to withstand outdoor weather conditions. Ornamentation, accessories, finishings must be securely attached so as to avoid unwanted litter scattered about. • Erect your scarecrow in a location that does not block access or view of pedestrian or motorists, house numbers, or poses a safety risk. Share photos of your family’s scarecrow through Request Manager on the Spring Trails website. Click Contact the HOA Board, attach your photo and include your family name if you desire. Photos will be uploaded to the website for everyone to enjoy. 8

Spring Trails - October 2021

General household trash collection occurs every Tuesday and Friday throughout Spring Trails. Recycling collection occurs ever y other Wednesday. Follow these simple steps to ensure you don’t miss a pick up. • Place trash or recycling carts at the curb the evening before collection. Carts should be as close to the curb as possible and no further than 3 feet away from the curb edge. • Ensure your cart is easily accessible by an automated side load garbage trucks. • Carts must be placed at least three feet from obstacles such as utility poles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, trees and parked cars. • Make sure the container handle faces away from the street toward your home. • Place the containers in the same location each week for collection. • Carts blocked by cars parked in the street will not be emptied. Contact Republic Service at 713-726-7300 if you have questions regarding trash or recycling, or if you require a replacement cart. Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Spring Trails - October 2021

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Spring Trails - October 2021