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STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS AUGUST 2016
Vol. 4, Issue 8
Contents 7
IN EVERY ISSUE 5
From the President
10
by Jon Dell’Antonia
7
This Month’s Feature
10
Compliance Tips
12
Inside the Ranch
16
Community Calendar
25
Around the Ranch
26
Social Scene
SPECIAL SECTIONS 18
Pet Page
19
Resident Interest
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Stonebridge Ranch News © 2016 is published by Moonlight Graphics. All rights reserved. It is produced at no cost to the association and mailed to all Stonebridge Ranch residents free of charge. Moonlight Graphics, P.O. Box 132, Allen, TX 75013, 972.727.4569, fax 972.396.0807. Visit www.allenimage.com.
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from the presIdent STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS
publisher/editor Barbara Peavy
office administrator Carrie McCormick
contributing writers Jon Dell’Antonia Erica Lee
cover photo Erica Lee Two sisters enjoy the beach sand during the Memorial Day 2016 festivities.
Board Meeting, June 16
The board meeting of June 16 was called to order at 1 p.m. All board members were present. The meeting began with a Homeowners Open Forum. One homeowner appeared to discuss providing stickers with the Stonebridge Ranch logo to homeowners as a way to identify themselves as residents of Stonebridge Ranch. The stickers could be placed on automobiles or other areas at the homeowner’s option. Three homeowners appeared to discuss modifications to a home in their neighborhood. The next item of business was to ratify the minutes of the previous board meeting and all decisions made since the last board meeting.
Old Business
The board received an update on the status of the Community room expansion project. It is finally complete! If you have not seen it, stop by and view the expansion. We still have new furniture to be delivered but are working through some details on that. We also received updates on the redesign plans for enhancing the Custer Road entrance project and the Civic Plaza project. Construction proposals have been received on the Custer Road project and are being evaluated. Construction continues on schedule for the Civic Plaza and is scheduled for completion in late summer. The board voted to rename the Civic Plaza as the Stonebridge Plaza. On a regular schedule of reviewing board governing documents, we reviewed and updated record storage and retention policies and the Social Committee charter. We also approved an engineering proposal to inspect and evaluate repair options for two Wellington Point ponds.
New Business
We reviewed insurance requirements for the vendors we work with for potential changes. Our director of operations will be meeting with our insurance agent to determine our risks/liability on different types of projects and events so we can make appropriate changes. We also reviewed the responses to the recent homeowner’s survey. We discussed some potential improvements to the Beach Club. Several ideas were presented. No action was taken. We discussed and approved a change to our design guidelines to allow residents to locate a displayed flag on flagpoles in common areas owned or maintained by the association during patriotic holidays with prior approval from the association.
Executive Session
We reviewed two violations presented to the board for review and made appropriate decisions—one for fence maintenance and repairs, and one for extensive unapproved modifications. Two other potential violations were reviewed but require additional information. We updated the modification application form to include a place to identify if a property is a zero lot line property or a patio home.
Association Reports For information or to place an advertisement, please contact: Moonlight Graphics, P.O. Box 132, Allen, TX 75013, or call 972.727.4569.
The board reviewed monthly updates to our Strategic Plan. Board liaisons presented updates on committee activities reflected in Committee minutes. The meeting adjourned at 6 p.m. Jon Dell’Antonia President Stonebridge Ranch News x August 2016
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Stonebridge Ranch Community Association Professionally managed by Community Management Associates (CMA) 6201 Virginia Parkway, McKinney, TX 75071 214.733.5800 • fax 214.778.0595 Courtesy Patrol 214.794.4945
Association Office Hours Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Association Staff Scott Albert—Director of Operations Angie Beené—Compliance Coordinator Michael Cawley—Maintenance Supervisor Tamra Collins—Community Services Coordinator Sandra Gillespie—Compliance Coordinator Erica Lee—Communications Coordinator Joyce Martin—M.A.R.C. Compliance Coordinator Rony Peterson—Executive Assistant Michelle Pryor—Compliance Coordinator Lynette Rowell—Administrative Assistant Nate Russell—Senior Compliance Coordinator Jeff Torres—Maintenance Assistant David Wiest—Lifestyle Director
Board of Directors Jon Dell’Antonia—President Ron Ferris—Vice-President Norm Counts—Treasurer Michael Yon—Secretary Tom George—Director Bill Campbell—Director Donald Hanson—Director Stonebridge Ranch News is the only authorized and official monthly publication for the residents of the Stonebridge Ranch community, with news and calendar of community events endorsed by the Stonebridge Ranch Association and its members. Stonebridge Ranch News is published for the residents of Stonebridge Ranch for informational purposes only. The Stonebridge Ranch Association does not guarantee any work or claims made by the advertisers and claims no responsibility or liability for statements made in the publication. Stonebridge Ranch does not in any way endorse or support, nor does it take any credit or responsibility for the services, paid or volunteer, nor statements made in articles or letters published herein not endorsed by the Association or the group decision of the Board of Directors.
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thIs month’ s feature New Landscaping Initiatives Begin to Show Their True Colors
Known as ”Bird of Paradise,” the yellow flowers at the Cascades entrance glow in the afternoon sun. Continually through the years, Stonebridge Ranch resident surveys have revealed that homeowners in our community rate the quality of landscaping to be of high importance to them. Director Tom George, board member and liaison to the
Landscape & Grounds Committee, understands this sentiment very well. When he and his wife were searching for a new home seven years ago, one of the first things that impressed them on their initial visit to Stonebridge Ranch was the widespread
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thIs month’ s feature
Turk’s Cap is a native Texas plant which is resistant to drought. Used in recently planted perennial test beds in Stonebridge Ranch, the red flowers draw ruby-throated hummingbirds and several species of butterflies. canopy of large trees, the landscaping at village entrances and in medians and other common areas, and the hardscaping (the stone walls and markers) throughout the community. When asked how important the landscaping here is, Tom says emphatically, “It is very important. It’s the first thing people notice when they come into our community. It was the first thing I noticed.”
These Cone flowers were planted at the Quail Creek entrance last year as part of the perennial test project. In June 2016, they were in full bloom, flaunting their fuchsia petals. Naturally, because landscaping is so noticeable, and because it means so much to so many residents, homeowners express a wide variety of opinions regarding landscaping in the resident surveys. These varied opinions are important to the Landscaping & Grounds Committee and are carefully reviewed. Along with often conflicting resident feedback, the Landscaping & Grounds Committee faces a variety of challenges in order to maintain and upgrade the landscaping and hardscaping in over 500 acres of common area. First, the association must wisely allocate funds in a phased approach to update and refresh different areas of the community while meeting the needs of the association’s annual
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thIs month’ s feature
Tom George, board director and liaison to the Landscape & Grounds Committee, poses under an impressive canopy of live oaks along the eastern Virginia Parkway entrance to Stonebridge Ranch. The flowers at his feet are a combination of perennials and seasonal color. The perennials were planted in 2015 to aid in water conservation and are part of the major facelift for this high-traffic entrance to Stonebridge Ranch. budget. On the ground, landscaping faces threats posed by hungry rabbits and other animals. Our complex irrigation system requires ongoing maintenance and upgrading, and our watering schedule is affected by city restrictions. Further, any new landscaping initiative needs time to show its true colors. Sometimes the full dramatic effect of new plantings won’t be felt for a full year; this is because the different plants have been chosen to rotate their color throughout the seasons. It also can take months for new plantings to become fully established and provide complete ground cover or grow to noticeable height. Recently, the Landscaping and Grounds Committee has made important strides in bringing perennial plants to Stonebridge Ranch. Not only do perennials require less human oversight than annuals once they are established, but they can be chosen for the beauty they will provide throughout autumn as well as spring and summer. Many perennials can be trimmed at least once or twice in order to facilitate multiple phases of blooming throughout the year. Further, perennials pair well with drip irrigation, which the association has installed in the last several years to aid our local environment and to comply with city watering restrictions during times of drought. A number of villages in Stonebridge Ranch are just now beginning to feel the first effects of new landscaping completed in the last year; these include the Cascades, Quail Creek and Stanford Meadow to name a few. The association encourages residents to stay tuned as landscaping initiatives continue to reach their fullness and as others are put into action! F Stonebridge Ranch News x August 2016
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complIa nce tI p s Compliance Tips to Follow When Getting Your Flag Off the Ground Among the association’s guidelines and policies, those related to flags may tug at some of our resident’s deepest emotions. Understandably, people choose to display flags for a variety of intensely personal reasons. If you wish to fly a flag from your home or install a flagpole in your yard, please read the requirements under “Flagpoles/Flags” on page 21 of the association Design Guidelines. Below are a few basics to consider before you get started. 1. Residents can fly the U.S. flag, the Texas state flag, or the flag of any branch of the U.S. armed forces. Displays of these flags must meet the criteria outlined in the Design Guidelines, as well as display regulations outlined by federal and
This flagpole utilizes an internal halyard system to minimize noise.
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complIance tI ps state government (see 4 U.S. C Sections 5-10 and Chapter 3100 of the Texas Government Code). 2. Take pride in the safety of your family and neighbors, as well as the subject of your flag. Whether attached to your home or freestanding, all flag mountings and poles must be constructed of professional, permanent materials and must be maintained to be structurally safe. Freestanding permanent poles must be installed in concrete, and fading or frayed flags must be replaced. 3. Keep your flag close to your heart, as well as your home. Your freestanding flagpole must be located within 15 feet of your home. It may not exceed 20 feet in height. The flag size should be in proportion to the height of the pole and may not exceed 3 feet x 5 feet. 4. Prevent the incessant clank of the halyard. Association requirements regarding halyards are designed to protect the peace and quiet that your neighbors love. To prevent halyard noise, the association prefers that you install an internal halyard system. (Alternatively, swivel snap hooks may be covered or ”quiet halyard” flag snaps installed.) 5. Make sure your lighting isn’t a nuisance. Check with your neighbors to make sure your nighttime lighting isn’t bothersome. If it is, you will be required to either replace or shield your flag lighting, or you can remove
the lighting and lower the flag each night (see federal and state regulations). 6. Pick one. You may fly either one house-mounted flag or install a free-standing flag pole. Your housemounted flag must not exceed 3 feet x 5 feet. 7. Freestanding = Site Plan. If your flag is not housemounted, you need to submit a site plan along with complete documentation regarding your installation. This includes outlining your proposed location, flag size and type, the parts and materials you will use, illumination devices, etc. 8. Without prior permission from the association, residents may not locate flags or flagpoles in any common areas owned or maintained by the association. This requirement includes medians, village entrances, amenities and landscaping areas maintained by the association. 9. Above all, thank you. The association thanks you for your courtesy to your neighbors as you consider your next modification project. We also appreciate your attention to the Design Guidelines and federal and state regulations. Our compliance team looks forward to working with you regarding your next modification, whether it be a flagpole installation or another exciting exterior project! F
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InsId e the ranch Orchid Grower of Over 50 Years Offers a Peek into His Private Greenhouse
In his fragrant backyard greenhouse, Stonebridge Ranch resident Walt Dow* grows one thing: plants of the family orchidaceae. But “we are not gardeners,” Walt says of himself and his wife of 55 years, Regina. He pauses and flashes a charming smile. “We,” he proclaims, “are in the business of orchids.” Though he uses the word “business,” Walt’s amateur pastime has nothing to do with the selling of orchids. Instead, he uses the phrase to indicate the seriousness of his hobby. To be a cultivator of orchids, one must be long-suffering, meticulous, and perhaps above all, a seeker of surprises. Indeed, Regina claims that this hobby, which keeps him “learning all the time,” is one that appeals only to a certain personality type. “A lot of orchid-growers are doctors,” she says. “You have to love working toward a future result, and you have to love taking care of things.” Walt is not a doctor, but he has been an orchid enthusiast for over 50 years. He spent his career working as a traveling salesman of what Regina jokingly calls “dirty hardware.” When asked to list the types of things he sold, *For the sake of privacy, names in this story have been changed.
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InsIde the ranch
Though Walt used to grow only hanging orchids, today his greenhouse is full of a variety of plants which produce blooms of all shapes, sizes, and colors. the couple supplies the words in a charming back-andforth fashion: “Nuts and bolts!” “Paint removers.” “Steel wool.” “Caulking.” “Weather stripping!” “Oh… And dowels.” Regina finishes the list on the word, “Springs,” and then smiles, affirming that the juxtaposition of Walt’s career and hobby provide quite the contrast. Though, seemingly, the selling of nuts and bolts could not be further removed from the gentle and stubborn enterprise that is orchid gardening, Walt says the travel provided a great way for him to grow his collection. He
visited nurseries in every direction along his sales route, from Memphis to New Orleans to Florida. He’d often drive to Houston from Dallas for trade shows. “I’d get in on Wednesday and set up the show,” he says. “Then I’d have a few hours that evening to do something on my own. And I’d go to the local orchid nurseries.” He recalls Bob Betts, a Houston orchid enthusiast and legend in the orchid-growing community who grew the flowers from seed and created his own hybrids. Walt recalls, “Bob could talk for hours about
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InsId e the ranch
orchids, and he’d worked for a very famous orchid grower. When I’d pick up a new [specimen] from him, he’d say, ‘Now keep those things growing, Walt.’ And when I came back the next time, he’d ask me how ’our plants’ were doing.” Given the special care it takes to raise these delicate plants, Walt couldn’t always report that the orchids had survived. “Oh, I’ve killed hundreds of orchids through the years,” Walt admits. “I can tell you every one I’ve bought over 50 years, how long it lasted, how much I paid for it.” He points to his home office and says, “Really, I’ve got the list in there.” He falls silent for a moment and then muses, “You know, there has got to be a language for it, losing an orchid…” His voice trails off. For Walt, growing orchids isn’t just about the mechanics of care, but the art of it. “Yes, you’ve got to use the right fertilizer, the right growing medium, the right lighting, the right temperature,” he says. “But the art is in the watering. If you don’t water correctly, you’ll lose [the orchid].” He describes how every morning he visits his greenhouse to check his “controls.” These are flowerless pots of growing medium, which he waters alongside his plants. He feels these each morning with his fingers to determine which orchids need to be watered that day. Their need for water is affected by many variables that he must take into account, including the temperature outside and the amount of sunshine. “For example,” he says, “I came out this morning and it was foggy and overcast, and I thought, ‘You’d better not water today!’” He also waters his orchids on a strict schedule, noting that orchids should be watered at the same time during each day. “If you water them at 10 a.m., you’d better always water them at 10 a.m.,” he says.
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This, then, is the reason most people do not grow orchids. They are simply difficult to keep alive and even more difficult to cultivate to the point of blooming. They are also extremely delicate. If a human merely touches an orchid’s bloom, the striations of the skin on the pads of our fingers can actually tear what Walt calls the “skin” of the flower. And if the skin is torn, it can mean the flower’s death since microorganisms can then take advantage of the broken barrier. Orchids are also prone to rot and death by fungus. “If you water an orchid improperly, and a drop of water sits in the bloom overnight, a fungus will take over and wipe it out—overnight!” he says. Further, orchids that consistently do not receive the correct amount of water are likely to lose their roots, a failure that will not reveal itself for years. “The tops will still look good,” Walt says, “but it won’t have roots. And if it doesn’t have roots, it will never flower.” For Walt, the glorious surprise that is the blooming of the orchid is what it’s all about. When an orchid is grown from seed, it takes at least seven years for the plant to reach full maturity and to finally bloom. Walt describes the wait. “This plant has sat here for six years on a rock,” he says, pointing to an orchid on the wall of his greenhouse, “and if it flowers, that is the reward.” Depending on the species, the plant’s rare blossoms may not last long. If they do appear, some species last only a single day (though others can last up to several weeks or months). “If they bloom, frankly, you’ve won the battle,” Walt says. Regina chimes in quickly, saying to him, “You really don’t care what the plants look like.” He agrees. It’s all about cherishing the potential, dedicating oneself to the
InsIde the ranch plant’s possibilities through the long years when it certainly doesn’t look remarkable. The surprise of an orchid blooming is actually what hooked Walt on the hobby in the first place. He describes himself as a young man traveling back and forth for work, coming home on the weekends, caught up in the metronome of his career. “I was feeling ‘is this what it’s all about?’” That’s when he and a neighbor began collecting rare plants. One of them was an orchid, which bloomed, surprising them both. “We said, ‘What’s going on with that plant?’” recalls Walt with a laugh. Today, Walt’s greenhouse is full of a wide variety of orchids in various states of growth. Most of them are not in bloom, but a dozen or so are, providing a delightful riot of color. There are blooms of yellow, pink, burgundy and white. The blooms vary in size and shape. One plant has blooms that are so small, they are no bigger than the tip of a grown man’s finger. But Walt says that some orchids produce blossoms that “are huge!” He gestures with his large, wizened hands, creating a shape the size of an adult human heart. “Most people don’t know how to care for orchids,” says Walt. “And then they die, which is sad.” He describes the rarefied jungle world where the plants evolved. Like humans, orchids need “air at all times. You can’t grow them without a lot of air circulating. Wild orchids grow up in the tops of trees, in the canopy.” There, says Walt, they receive a lot of sunlight and are nourished by the droppings of passing birds, “some of which eat fish, some of which eat only berries.” Given these exotic origins, when an orchid Walt has raised from seedling blooms, it’s clear that the mystical, verdant world of the orchid also blooms here, in his mind. “That’s the goofy thing,” he laughs. “I do all this for a once-a-year bloom? But that’s what I like about it. If I do all this, and do it right, I can look forward to this result.” He shares a picture of c. Dowiana, an orchid Walt says is deemed by some to be the “most beautiful flower in the world.” Pointing, he says, “See here? The yellow is so pure. The petals are the frilliest.” Though the ”most beautiful” designation was bestowed by a gardening society, for Walt, the beauty of the orchid flower in a world of nuts and bolts and sprockets and springs is worthy of such high praise. “The most beautiful flower in the world…” he says again. Regina laughs warmly, nodding her head as he points to her and says with a smile, “We’re a little biased.” F Do you know of a remarkable Stonebridge Ranch resident who has a unique story to share? Please email elee@ cmamamangement.com with human interest story ideas similar to the unusual tale of this dedicated orchid grower. The key factor: we are looking for stories about our own residents. Thank you!
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Walking Club, 8 a.m. (BTC)
8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 4:30-6:25 pm—Soccer Sparks (NHP)
Walking Club, 8 a.m. (BTC) Beach Club Pool Party, 6 p.m. (BTC) Book Club, 7 p.m. (CR) 8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 4:30-6:25 pm—Soccer Sparks (NHP)
Coffee Talk, 8:30 8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Barre (BTC)
Modifications Meeting, 6 p.m. (BR) Bingo 7 p.m. (CR) 8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)
Travel Club, 9 a.m. (CR)
Visit www.StonebridgeRanch.com for event details.
8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Barre (BTC)
8 am-2 pm—Junior Ten Select Tennis Academ 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller
Coffee Talk, 8:30
Social Committe noon (BR)
8 am-2 pm—Junior Ten Select Tennis Academ 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller
Coffee Talk Spea (CR)
Walking Club, 8 a.m. (BTC) 8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 4:30-6:25 pm—Soccer Sparks (NHP)
Coffee Talk, 8:30
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Barre (BTC)
Walking Club, 8 a.m. (BTC)
8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 4:30-6:25 pm—Soccer Sparks (NHP)
8 am-2 pm—Junior Te Select Tennis Acade 9:30-10:30 am—Strolle
8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Barre (BTC)
8 am-2 pm—Junior Ten Select Tennis Academ 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller
Walking Club, 8 a.m. (BTC)
Modifications Meeting, 6 p.m. (BR)
Coffee Talk, 8:30
8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 4:30-6:25 pm—Soccer Sparks (NHP)
8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)
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9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Barre (BTC)
8 am-2 pm—Junior Te Select Tennis Acade 9:30-10:30 am—Strolle
0 a.m. (CR)
ennis Classes, emy (BTC) er Strides (BTC)
0 a.m. (CR)
nnis Classes, my (BTC) r Strides (BTC)
Playdate in the Park, 9 a.m. (BTC) 8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)
Kids Splash Hop, 8:30 p.m. (AC) 8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)
0 a.m. (CR)
ee Meeting,
nnis Classes, my (BTC) Strides (BTC)
aker, 8:30 a.m.
nnis Classes, my (BTC) Strides (BTC)
0 a.m. (CR)
ennis Classes, emy (BTC) er Strides (BTC)
8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)
Board of Directors Meeting, 1 p.m. (BR) 8 am-2 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)
august 5 august 8 august 8 august 9 august 11 august 20 august 20
TGIF Coffee, 1-2 p.m. (CR) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)
TGIF Coffee, 1-2 p.m. (CR)
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)
TGIF Coffee, 1-2 p.m. (CR)
Coffee, Cars & Conversation 8:30 a.m. (BTC)
9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)
Playdate in the Park, 9 a.m. (BTC)
TGIF Coffee, 1-2 p.m. (CR) 9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)
playdate in the park 9 a.m. (btc) beach club pool party 6 p.m. (BTC) book club 7 p.m. (cr) bingo night 7 p.m. (btc) kids splash hop 8:30 pm (ac) coffee, cars & conversation 8:30 a.m. (BTC) playdate in the park 9 a.m. (btc)
Stonebridge StonebridgeRanch RanchNews Newsx xAugust August2016 2016
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”Rainbow” Meet Rainbow, a 6-month-old, 52 lb., female pit bull mix. She’s colorful like a rainbow—her coat is a beautiful fawn and blue color. She can sometimes be picky about her canine friends, so if you currently have a pet at home, bring him by for a “meet and greet” with her so you can see how they get along. Because of her age and activity level, she might be a little too rough for a small dog. Rainbow is always in a good mood and loves the company of humans.
She’s also a smart cookie—she knows several commands including sit, come, down, off and watch me. She is pretty much totally housebroken and crate-trained, though she might need a little refresher after being in the shelter. She has a lot of energy, so she’d be a great dog for someone active. Rainbow has been spayed, microchipped and has received all age-appropriate vaccinations. She has a lot of love to give someone special. #144899
”Leonardo” Meet Leonardo, a 1-year-old, 9 lb., male Domestic Shorthair mix cat with a beautiful, black fur coat. He has an energetic personality, loves attention and is friendly with everyone. He’s curious and enjoys playing— especially with water. Despite his energy, he can still be a couch potato at times. He loves to snuggle and sleep with his humans at night. He’s lived with a wide variety of people, including children and seniors, and gotten along well with everyone. He is fond of other cats and they like him as well. He has been neutered, tested for FIV/FeLV (he’s negative), microchipped and has received age-appropriate vaccinations. Your house will be such fun with him around! #146533 Rainbow and Leonardo are waiting for you at the SPCA of Texas’ Russell H. Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney at 8411 Stacy Road. Call 214-742-SPCA (7722) or visit today.
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resIdent Interest Take Me Home: Stonebridge Ranch Mother Volunteers on Behalf of Residents with Special Needs between 2009 and 2011, 91% of the total U.S. deaths “If you see a small child lost in a store crying and reported in children diagnosed with ASD were due to asking for his mommy, what do you do?” asks drowning during wandering Stonebridge Ranch resident Kelly episodes.* Not only do many Orsini. “Well, your heart goes out children on the autism spectrum to him. You take his hand and lack a healthy fear of drowning, help him find his mother. Instinct but they may also be attracted to kicks in because you know the water because they find it calming child is lost, afraid and in need of in a world of sensory overload. help.” She pauses and then asks, They may like the sensation of “But what do you do when you water against their skin, the see a lost special needs child? pressure against their bodies What if that child is flapping his when they are immersed, the hands and making vocalizations?” gentle rippling sound, or the Her eyes glisten with emotion. uniform appearance of the “Most people don’t know what to water ’s surface. do,” she says, “so they may do This is true for Luca. He is nothing, or they may call the immediately attracted to water police.” As the mother of a special when he sees it. Recently, one of needs child (whose own son has Kelly’s neighbors installed a pool wandered, leading to a police in her backyard and invited Kelly call), Kelly understands the and her family to swim in it. “I situation all too well. “I’ve been told her ‘Thank you so much!’” there,” she says, “and it’s says Kelly. “‘But I don’t even want terrifying.” Luca to know that you have a Kelly’s 13-year-old son, Luca, pool.’” Though Luca has taken was diagnosed with Autism swimming lessons for children Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and with special needs at the local developmental delay when he was YMCA, if he wandered and found 2-1/2 years old. He is considered Kelly illustrates the multiple systems she has in place non-verbal and has wandered at her front door to keep Luca safe. The high lock at the water, he would still be at risk. “Luca would climb a fence from his caregivers three times in top of the door is just beyond her own reach and will without shoes on to get into a his life, the first time when he was likely need to be moved higher as Luca grows. Kelly pool,” Kelly says. She was only two. But the stories the must keep watch in case Luca learns to access the lock grateful when her neighbor Orsini family can tell about Luca by standing on a chair. wandering are not unusual in the ASD community. In fact, they are common. The National Autism Association (NAA) reports that similar to seniors with Alzheimer ’s or dementia, 49% of all children diagnosed with ASD wander away from caregivers and safety, and many do so multiple times. For some children, wandering events are most likely triggered by stress; for others, they simply lack the fear needed to safeguard their own behavior. Though wandering is known by many names in the community (including ”elopement,” ”bolting” and ”running”), for children diagnosed with ASD it can lead to serious risk, even death. The NAA reports that Stonebridge Ranch News x August 2016
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resId ent I n terest immediately installed a lock on her pool’s gate as an extra safety measure because Luca lives nearby. Kelly has never spoken of the pool to her son or taken him there to swim. For people who do not parent a child with special needs, wandering statistics may be difficult to understand. But hearing Kelly describe Luca’s wandering episode when he was age 8, it is clear that keeping a child with special needs safe can be a monumental task. All of Kelly’s doors and windows are fitted with multiple systems to keep Luca safe. The front door, for example, has a high safety bolt out of his arm’s reach; a bright red stop sign at Luca’s eye level to serve as a visual cue; a chime which sounds when the door is opened; and a doorknob safety cover which makes turning the knob difficult. However, all of these systems could not prevent Luca from wandering when a family friend, her hands full as she entered, neglected to make sure the front door had latched securely behind her. “I was in the kitchen cooking,” Kelly says. “And all of a sudden, I couldn’t hear him. My mommy radar is always on, and I knew immediately something wasn’t right.” She holds up two fingers and separates them by mere millimeters. “I saw this much light in the crack at the front door. And I knew he was gone,” she says.
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Kelly bolted from her home and ran down the street looking for her son. Then she jumped in her car and drove to the nearest park. It is one of Luca’s favorite spots, and it features playground equipment and a pond. When Kelly arrived, she found her son in only his underwear, climbing at the top of the equipment, completely unaware of any danger. A couple walking nearby had spotted Luca and had already called the police department. As a tearful Kelly ran to her son, ecstatic to have found him uninjured, she noticed the couple nearby. “I could see the looks on their faces,” she says. Though she was grateful they’d called for help, she voices the question she saw in their eyes, “What kind of mother are you? How could you let your child out of your sight?” Many parents of children diagnosed with ASD utilize advanced technologies and techniques to try and keep their children safe. They must do so because, quite simply, it is impossible for any parent to keep his or her eyes on a child 100% of the time. Parents can alert neighbors and friends to the special needs of the child and notify them of the safety devices in place. They can identify the triggers that might inspire a wandering event and aid their child with devices such as noisecanceling headphones to help the child remain calm. Parents can install security cameras and video monitors,
resIdent Interest
The park where Luca wandered when he was 8, which lead to a call to the city police. and they can install every manner of lock and door safety device. Caregivers can choose from numerous options for wearable identification devices, which they can attach to clothing, shoelaces or jewelry. They can also download locating apps on all devices the child might carry, such as a tablet or smart phone. But, as Kelly has learned, no combination of systems can guarantee safety. “Wandering is most assuredly not about parents not watching their kids,” she says. “Children who wander are not just out for a walk.” She notes that when Luca has wandered, he has not taken the time to put on his shoes. “When he wanders,” she says, “he does not look back. He doesn’t have a sense of fear or danger. Those feelings do not exist in his mind.” Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors and social, cognitive and/or communicative impairment. Over forty percent of children diagnosed with autism are considered non-verbal, and more than a third of those who wander are not able to communicate their name, address or phone number. Today, autism is estimated to affect one in 88 children born in the United States. Because incidences of the disorder are on the rise, incidences of non-verbal individuals wandering may rise, too. And in particular, when a non-verbal child wanders from caregivers, it can be very difficult for strangers who find the child to know how to react. Kelly wants to educate people who do not know someone with special needs. “When you find someone alone who is non-verbal, you may not know what to do. But it’s okay to help,” she says emphatically. “You don’t have to help, but it is okay to help.” She calls on human compassion. “If it were your child in this situation, how grateful would you be if someone saw that something was out of place and took the time to make a call? It could save someone’s life.” Kelly is also thankful to live here in Stonebridge Ranch. In part, this is because the City of McKinney Stonebridge Ranch News x August 2016
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resId ent I n terest caregivers to Police upload a current Department is photo of their one of a loved one and to growing answer vital number to offer questions which a program officers can use to called Take Me interact more Home. The effectively once program was they identify originally someone who is developed in lost. Caretakers Pensacola, list their loved Florida, to aid one’s favorite residents with locations or autism, but the attractions; City of atypical behaviors McKinney has or characteristics expanded it so which may attract that city attention; favorite residents may toys, objects, register all music or topics of loved ones who Kelly instructs Luca at the back door. When he asks to go out, she turns the visual cue ”STOP” discussion; might need sign around to show a green ”GO” sign. As seen here, Luca is rarely without his tablet. methods of special preferred communication (such as speech, sign language, assistance if found alone or in an emergency. The pictures, written words or songs); identifying attributes registration form (see www.mckinneytexas.org) asks such as unique jewelry or ID tags; and tracking information for location devices attached to clothing. The police department also encourages participants to update their loved one’s photo as they age. Not only has Kelly registered Luca in the database, but she also volunteers with the McKinney Police Department teaching officers ways to help non-verbal individuals with autism who are lost or hurt. “What should you do if you have an over-stimulated, nonverbal individual at your station?” she asks. She understands the situation can be difficult and believes training can increase safety for both the child and the officer. In her class, Kelly advises police personnel to create as calm an atmosphere as possible. This can include turning off fluorescent lights (which emit an audible humming sound that may be agitating), wrapping the individual in a blanket or a coat, and giving the individual a tablet to play with. “Many kids with autism love technology,” she says, noting that although her son doesn’t react to his name, he does react to devices and is rarely without his iPad. Officers can also practice “pairing” by sitting next to the child. This can be less stressful to the child than sitting across and trying to make eye contact directly. It can also be a way to facilitate gathering information from the child, or to aid in calming until their caregiver arrives. “This is not about being the child’s best friend for
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resIdent Interest life,” she says. “It’s just about making sure he gets home safely.” Further, Kelly advises officers to speak slowly in simple phrases. “The brain of a child with autism goes 60 miles per hour. For Luca, it can take him 3-5 seconds just to process the question, ‘What is your name?’” She adds, “Officers don’t know what they will encounter, or if an individual may have aggressive tendencies or not. They are trained to arrive on scene and take charge, not to speak slowly or softly.” In order to aid people like Luca, Kelly advises officers to repeatedly practice this valuable skill. When she teaches a new class, she begins with Luca out of the room, relating her own frightening experiences when her son has wandered. Then she invites Luca into the room to interact with the officers, allowing them to practice calm speech with him. It does not always come naturally. “I have just advised them to speak slowly,” she says, but her voice speeds up as she mimics the officers talking to her son. “Hey, what are you watching on your iPad? Are you lost? Where do you live?” She then smiles. “It’s a learning process,” she says. “These officers may have no previous experience with this before.” Officer Terry Qualls, Crisis Intervention Coordinator for the McKinney Police Department (and the father of a daughter who is on the autism spectrum), has been
working with Kelly for almost a year. “Every time I talk to her, she has a new idea to help families,” he says. “This is her passion and she knows so much because it’s her life.” The knowledge Kelly provides is part of the Crisis Intervention Training which Terry oversees for all new McKinney police officers. “I can talk about these types of [wandering] scenarios all day, but when officers actually have the chance to interact with Luca, it really helps. They learn to take their time and to call him by name.” The Take Me Home program has been in effect in McKinney for almost two years and is available for anyone with special needs, including seniors with Alzheimer ’s, but so far, the McKinney database has only 25 participants. Speculating at the current small number, Terry understands that some caregivers may feel nervous to put personal information about their loved one into a police database. But Terry stresses that the information is not used to track or bring charges against people, only to help individuals who are lost from their caregivers. Further, he notes that the information is held in a secure police database which only active officers can access. Terry hopes more families in McKinney will take advantage of this free program, including families with seniors who may wander. “Once a person with
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resId ent I n terest Alzheimer ’s is gone from home, they are lost,” he says. “They may not remember their name or address, and even if they do give us information, it may not be current.” He adds, “The database really helps us because it allows us to build rapport with someone who is lost. A child with autism may be afraid to talk to police, but when we call him by name, it may help calm him down.” If a lost individual with special needs has been registered in the Take Me Home database, and if that person is verbal and knows his or her own name, officers need only to put that name into the database through the computers in their patrol cars. “Once we have the name, all the information about that person pulls up, so we know his likes and dislikes. We know who his emergency contact is.” If the lost person is non-verbal, the responding officer will call police dispatch and give a description, including age range, height, and hair, skin and eye color. The team at dispatch will then be able to send the officer all records that match that description, including the photos they need to make an identification. Because the program has so much potential to help lost individuals as well as the police, Terry urges all McKinney residents to register their loved ones with special needs. Kelly agrees. “This isn’t about just helping people with autism. This program can help everybody.” Terry also hopes that residents in other cities which
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don’t utilize the Take Me Home program will inform their police departments about it. “I hope it keeps growing,” he says. The greatest goal of the program is that people with special needs will experience less fear while in the care of police and that officers can return them home to their loved ones more quickly. Of course, Kelly hopes that Luca’s record in the database will never need to be used. But she continually updates his photo, knowing that it may be needed and that it is one of many tactics to help keep her son safe. “We’ve been there, before this program. When my son wandered, it was terrifying.” She shakes her head and smiles, “I’m so glad this program is now in place.” Questions regarding Take Me Home can be directed to Officer Terry Qualls by calling the non-emergency police phone line at 972.547.2700. F Do you know of a remarkable Stonebridge Ranch resident like Kelly Orsini who has a unique story to share? Please email elee@cmamamangement.com with human interest story ideas. The key factor: we are looking for stories about our own residents. Thank you! *Ages 14 and younger. All statistics/data reported in this story are cited from the National Autism website at www. nationalautismassociation.org.
around the ranch
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socIal scene
Playdate in the Park
Kids, join us for a morning of fun on Friday, August 5. We are meeting at 9 a.m. at the Beach and Tennis Club playground to play and giggle together. Parents, this is a
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socIal scene great place to meet neighbors who also have children. Please check www.stonebridgeranch.com for any lastminute changes due to the weather.
Family Beach Party at the Beach & Tennis Club
In June, our Family Beach Party was a huge hit and drew 468 people. Our August Family Beach Party is Monday, August 8 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Disc jockey Uptown Sound will play all your favorite tunes (just text requests to 214.491.8283). We’ll also be serving yummy hot dogs until supplies run out (one per person). Feel free to bring your picnic baskets and coolers, but remember: leave your glass containers outside the gates. Stonebridge Ranch residents with a valid ID get in for free; guests pay $5 (no guest passes may be used). Because this is a swimming event, children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Enjoy the warm summer night with your neighbors and kin!
Bingo Night We love seeing old friends and new faces, and we are happy that our core group of Bingo players is growing! Come on out for an adults-only evening of bingo and prizes on Tuesday, August 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. We’ll meet in the Community Room at 6201 Virginia Parkway, and light snacks and refreshments (no alcoholic beverages) will be provided. Seating is limited to the first 50 who sign up at http:// whoozin.com/6HY-U3N- XPJT. Stonebridge Ranch residents get in free and guests pay a $5 fee.
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socIal scene Kid’s Splash Hop at the Aquatic Center Calling all 10-, 11- and 12-year-olds! What is more fun on a hot summer night than a neighborhood pool party just for you? Join us on Thursday, August 11, from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Aquatic Center (ages 10-12 only). Stonebridge Ranch residents with a valid ID get in for free; guests pay a $5 fee. Hot dogs will be served and a DJ will be on hand to play your favorite tunes. Parents, why not drop off your kids and enjoy a date night? There will be plenty of security with a pool manager and lifeguards in attendance. The front gate will also be monitored throughout the event by the McKinney Police Department. Children will not be allowed outside the gates once they are checked in, so parents, plan on picking up your children INSIDE the gate at 10:30 p.m.
Coffee, Cars & Conversation + Playdate in the Park
On Saturday, August 20, the association is hosting Coffee, Cars & Conversation in conjunction with Playdate in the Park. These two family-friendly events pair perfectly together. Parents, feel free to bring your kids up to the circular drive to see fancy and classic cars belonging to your neighbors, and then amble on down to the playground at the tennis courts. The car show lasts from 8:30 to 10 a.m., and hot coffee, warm donuts, and water will be served until supplies run out. The playdate begins at 9 a.m. Both events are open to Stonebridge residents only.
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socIal scene Stonebridge Ranch Triathlon
Are you an avid runner, swimmer, or cyclist? Join us September 24-25 for two of the most athletic days in Stonebridge Ranch! With our partner PlayTri, we’re hosting a triathlon open to all ages and abilities at our Beach & Tennis Club. Seasoned vets will enjoy the Olympic distance, while those looking for a shorter event will have a blast at the Super Sprint distance. There is even a Kids Triathalon for youth ages 6-15! Check out all the details at www.playtri.com/sbr or email info@playtri.com. We’ll begin Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and on Sunday at 7 a.m.
Weekly Meet-Ups Walking Club meets every Monday at 8 a.m. in the upper parking lot near the Beach Club. Coffee Talk meets every Wednesday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the Community Room (6201 Virginia Parkway). TGIF Coffee meets from 1 to 2 p.m. every Friday in the Community Room.
Monthly Meet-Ups
Book Club In August, we are exploring new authors through an Open Read month. Please join us at the Community Room (6201 Virginia Parkway) on Monday, August 8 at 7 p.m. We are eager to hear which books and authors you have discovered on your own. Please tell us why they belong on our upcoming reading list!
Travel Group For the past three years, the Stonebridge Travel Group Stonebridge Ranch News x August 2016
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socIal scene has been doing a lot of moving to all sorts of places! In 2015, residents traveled together on an Alaskan cruise, and in September 2016, they will cruise together to New England and Canada. Future cruises are planned to the Panama Canal and perhaps through Europe. Closer to home, the Travel Group hosts many fun journeys to such places as Dinosaur Productions in Allen, the Stockyards in Ft. Worth, the Eisenhower birthplace in Dennison, Homestead Heritage Center in Waco, Mitas Hill Vineyard of McKinney, and blueberry picking in Edom, Texas. One of our group’s favorite activities is simply “traveling” to tasty venues in the area, such as Prairie House in Crossroads and Jordon’s Barbeque in Farmersville. Regardless of the distance of the trip, traveling with Stonebridge Travel Group is sure to fill your life with memories and good times! The Stonebridge Travel Group meets every third Tuesday in the Community Room at 6201 Virginia Parkway. Be sure to check the community calendar each month to confirm the meeting date as it does sometimes change. F
Upcoming September Events 2 Playdate in the Park
5 Labor Day at the Beach Club 9 Evening on the Veranda 12 Book Club
13 Evening Bingo
16 Jazz Concert on the Circle
17 Coffee, Cars & Conversation & Book
Exchange
17 Playdate in the Park
17 New Stonebridge Plaza Family Grand Opening Party
20 Travel Club
24 Kid’s Triathlon 24 Luau Party
25 Adult Triathlon Walking Club – Mondays Coffee Talk – Wednesdays TGIF - Fridays
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