PAD
NOTE FOR YOUR
WINTER 2014
Stay Cozy and Safe with These 6 Tips! 1.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Leave the heat on in your home 24 hours a day at a temperature setting no lower than 62 degrees.
2. If you have an outdoor spigot, disconnect all water hoses from outdoor connections and drain them thoroughly. Use a spigot cover for additional insulation. 2. Keep all windows and doors closed tightly. 3. If the temperature is forecast to drop below 20 degrees be sure to allow indoor faucets and showerheads to drip, and leave cabinet doors under sinks open. This will help to prevent pipes from freezing. 5. Notify us immediately if you notice any water running from a building or from under your walls. 6. In cold, wet weather, our maintenance staff will attempt to clear ice from exposed stairs and steep drives as soon as possible; however, conditions may prevent our team from reporting to work, or their efforts may not be able to successfully keep up with the weather. Please err on the side of safety and assume that all outdoor surfaces will be slippery and be very careful to avoid possible injury in icy conditions.
Watch for signs like these to remind you to take cold weather precautions this winter.
DEC Trail Cleanup
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DEC
Garden Workday at NCA
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Want to grow your own food at North Creekside apartments? Meet at the pavilion by the playground mid-day. A tractor will be coming through to plow sometime between noon and 1pm, then afterward, we’ll be picking up rocks and roots and getting the garden ready for spring planting. Feel free to bring kids who might like to watch the tractor at work!
JAN
Community Meal Over the holidays, there is an outpouring of donations to those in need. In January, giving drops off, but need remains. Please consider volunteering to help prepare and serve a free meal for our neighbors! See all the details on page 2.
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North Creekside Apartments photo courtesy Alicia Morales
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Pitch in to help our trail! Meet in the North Creekside parking lot near the trail at Sycamore St. at 2pm. We’ll provide bags, please bring your favorite gloves. We’ll head north along the creek and stop for an afternoon treat at Stone Mill Bread Company.
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COLD WEATHER AND OUR PETS
Winter is the best time to snuggle up with our furry friends. Here are some cold weather reminders from the ASPCA. BANG ON YOUR CAR HOOD Cats often seek shelter in the warmth of a car. A quick tap on your hood or loudly closing your car door will give any stowaways good warning to get out before you start your car.
KEEP DOGS ON LEASH Dogs rely on their sense of smell— which can be hindered in ice and snow—and can more easily become lost. It’s a good time to make sure that your pet’s ID tag is up to date. KEEP CATS INSIDE Outdoors, felines can freeze, be lost, injured, or killed. Outside cats can be exposed to diseases from wildlife.
Join Us in Serving a Free Community Meal 100 PEOPLE RELY ON SUNDAY MEAL EACH WEEK Each Sunday, volunteers from around the community gather to prepare and serve a free community meal at Trinity United Methodist Church at the intersection of Garland and Sycamore in Fayetteville. Around 100 people come to eat this nutritious, warm meal. Last January, the Specialized team volunteered to serve a Sunday meal. We enjoyed it so much that we’d like to invite you to help! Prep work—washing and chopping veggies and baking— takes place on Saturday, while most of the cooking will happen on Sunday. A team of volunteers will transport the food to Trinity United Methodist, while others will help to serve and wash dishes. Please consider helping out with this important project—we know you’ll enjoy it as much as we do. If you’d like to sign up, or if you’d like to know more, contact your friendly management staff.
WIPE DOWN PAWS Salt, antifreeze, and other chemicals can be ingested when dogs lick their paws. We use only pet-safe ice melt products at Specialized Real Estate Group properties, but cleaning those paws, legs, and bellies after a walk is still a good idea. Consider those sillylooking, but practical dog booties to protect paws from ice and chemicals. NEVER LEAVE PETS IN CARS Cars can hold cold air like a refrigerator, and a parked car is no place for pets on a cold day. KEEP AN EYE ON DECORATIONS Thousands of pets take scary (and expensive!) trips to the vet each year after ingesting holiday decorations and seasonal treats. Watch out for hazards, and be sure that wastebaskets are covered. PAGE 2
Specialized Vice President Corey Runnells, at right, and his wife Sheryl prepare broccoli for roasting at last January’s community meal.
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“One kind word can warm three winter months.” — Japanese Proverb
ON THE INTERWEBS
Our friends at Tri-Cycle Farms have designed a courtyard garden to be located near the pavilion at North Creekside Apartments. The plan includes shared vegetable beds and a few beds for experienced gardeners who would like to tend their own separate gardens.
North Creekside Community Garden on Track for Spring A group of thirteen North Creekside Apartments neighbors gathered last month with facilitators from Tri-Cycle Farms to share their dreams for fresh veggies and flowers next summer. Work is underway to prepare the garden for spring planting. Soon, a tractor will till the area, and volunteers are needed to pick out rocks and roots and lay out the beds for the garden. If you’d like to grow your own food and meet your neighbors, please join us for an upcoming workday. See Page 1 for more information on upcoming events, or stop by the North Creekside office for details!
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15 N. Church Avenue, Suite 103 Fayetteville, AR 72701
Warm Winter Wishes! While winter winds are howling at the door, we hope you will curl up with a steaming mug and enjoy this issue of the NotePad. Inside, find tips to keep your home and pets cozy and safe, learn about some great opportunities to help our neighbors this winter, and take a sneak peek at the North Creekside community garden design.
OUR FAMILY OF COMMUNITIES In Fayetteville: 219 Meadow Willow Park Apartments ECO Modern Flats North Creekside Apartments In Rogers: Plantation Laura
Eco Modern Flats photo courtesy Scott Penman