Come and join the discussion! All are welcome to participate in the cultivation of our great neighborhood.
Door Prizes will be available!
Mayor Parker Orders Mandatory Water Conservation Measures
Mayor Parker Orders Mandatory Water Conservation Measures
Due to persistent drought conditions and continuously decreasing water levels in Lake Houston, as of Monday, August 15, 2011, Mayor Annise Parker has mandated the implementation of the City of Houston Stage Two Water Conservation Measures in accordance with the procedures outlined in Chapter 47 in the Code of Ordinances.
During Stage Two of the conservation plan, customers are required to:
- Repair all detectable leaks within 72 hours of discovery and
- Limit outdoor irrigation to the hours between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. on NO more than two days per week according to the following schedule:
- Sundays and Thursdays for customers with even-numbered street addresses
- Saturdays and Wednesdays for customers with odd-numbered street addresses
Failure to follow requirements may result in fines. For questions or to report a violation, please call 3-1-1.
While these restrictions are mandatory, the City of Houston will begin with warnings and an informational campaign because the goal is voluntary compliance. For those who insist on not being good neighbors, citations will follow.
The City itself will also take internal water conservation measures, such as:
- Suspension of any scheduled window washing
- Suspension of any scheduled power washing of buildings, sidewalks and parking areas
- Discontinue washing city vehicles or equipment except for health, safety or critical maintenance reasons
- Order an audit of all irrigation systems for leaks to ensure proper operation of timers and sprinkler heads.
The Public Works Department website has a Daily Water Supply Monitor and continues to encourage residents to use water wisely, which will reduce the large demand on the City’s water system. Using water wisely can not only save water, but also reduce water bills.
Ways to conserve water:
- Keep showers under five minutes
- Turn water off while brushing your teeth
- Wash only full loads of dishes or clothes
- Replace older model showerheads and faucet aerators with new low-flow models and install low water use toilets
- Inspect toilets for silent leaks by putting food coloring in the toilet tank. If colored water leaks into the toilet bowl before flushing, water is being lost due to a worn flapper
- Refrain from washing any vehicle or motorbike unless the dirt poses a driving hazard
- Refrain from washing down any sidewalk, walkway, driveway, parking lot or any other hard-surfaced area
- Refrain from filling, refilling or adding water to any indoor or outdoor swimming pool, spa or whirlpool.
http://www.publicworks.houstontx.gov/utilities/conservation.html
Watering Trees and Shrubbery
Tree watering is ongoing. Because of advice from the Houston Parks Department and Trees for Houston, the watering has been increased from once a week to twice a week for the new trees. Also, some of the four-year-old trees on 18th Street are being heavily watered occasionally. Thanks to all of you who have donated to the beautification fund. The expenses have been increased due to our continuing drought.
Plans are being made for a new project planned for next November. This will be to plant trees in homeowner’s own yards at very low cost. Labor will be provided. This project is being co-sponsored by Trees for Houston. They will probably be at our September meeting to explain all this. Thanks to Ralph and Mary Ann Bullard for this great idea. We lost trees during Ike and this is a good chance to replace them or to get new trees where there are none. Both large growing and smaller trees will be available.
Please consider watering your trees and shrubbery if you are not doing this already. Damage may not become apparent until a year or two later and you know that landscaping is very expensive. We would like to see Lazybrook stay green. Also. watering around your home will protect your foundation and keep your walls from cracking.
Strengthening and Walk Class
(Don’t let the name fool you. It’s not for sissies.)
– By Birgitt Haderlein Owner of To Fit You, Wellness coach/Fitness Consultant
Wow! What a hot summer it has been. Well since my last article which talked about importance of exercise and plenty of research to support that exercise is medicine. I hope all of you are taking this to heart and taking care of your health. Having said that, I started a “strengthening and walk” fitness class for the neighborhood. The class is going on its fourth week and we are having a great time.
It is Wednesday mornings at 6 am for 6 weeks and I want to share with you how the residents in our neighborhood have been improving their health and well being one step at a time. I had quite a few calls and most of the questions and comments were well I know how to walk will this be challenging enough for me. After listening to several people it came to me to ask; well maybe it’s not the know how but are they actually walking regularly as part of their fitness plan.
That is when it got interesting. 75% were not consistent with walking and the other 25% were not walking at all. So why are your neighbors gearing up at 6 in the morning to sweat and miss out on some extra shut eye? Because they are having a great time meeting one another getting fitness tips, lifestyle coaching tips and learning how to improve their posture, strength and stamina. Last but not least we are touring our cozy streets of Lazybrook which is a great way to let burglars know we are watching our neighborhood.
So here are some personal comments from class participants that they want to share with you. The importance of accountability is what people need help most to keep them motivated. There is power in participating in groups and having people around to learn from. So sit tight and read what your neighbors are getting out of this class:
“Thank you so much for offering this class. I am really enjoying it and it is the perfect time of day. “ – Long-time Lazybrooker
“I signed up for the walking class thinking what an odd idea, a class on walking, but felt it would be fun to meet the neighbors and rejuvenate my weight loss efforts. I’ve been walking around the neighborhood, on my treadmill, at school tracks off and on for years. How hard is it to walk? Well neighbors I am at the back of the pack of neighbors zipping about the neighborhood with fast pace, interval walking (slow and fast pace), pre walk stretching exercises, post walk exercises, life coach tips of the week, water consumption advice, answers to why what part hurts while I am walking, down 5 pounds and the best change – MORE ENERGY. Sign me up for the next one. This is a blast!” – From Anonymous (I don’t want anyone to know how unfit I am)
“The class has been a great way to meet neighbors and exercise with a fun and supportive group.” – Jenny Sulak
“I have really enjoyed the strength/walking class! It has helped me increase my walking pace and stamina. As an extra bonus, my weight has gone down!” – Sherri Oldham
“Birgitt’s class has been a great jumpstart for us to get back into walking regularly and rethinking our daily fitness habits. It’s also a powerful reminder of how motivating and fun it is to exercise with a group. And having such an enthusiastic and knowledgeable coach as Birgitt is a real bonus! What a great way to get energized on Wednesday mornings!” – Lynn & Herb
So for those of you thinking wow I wish I would have done the class! No worries starting Wednesday September 14 @ 6:00 will be the next class. If you want to have fun meet your neighbors or increase you strength and stamina this is the class for you. I am on a quest to get Lazybrook on the road to healthier and happier community. The next class starts September 14, 2011 and February 8, 2012. Hope to see some of you there.
Keep moving all year round with these strengthening and walk classes. They keep you consistent with exercise and fit all year round. For those of you repeating the class you will receive a $30.00 discount.
The class lasts 6 weeks starting Wednesday’s at 6am outside 2222 Lazybrook Dr. Registration and more information can be found at www.tofityou.com or call 713.410.3376
Gift certificates available and more information can be found at www.tofityou.com
Jaycee Park Update- The playground is done!!
The playground is done!! Thanks to the contributions from so many of you in the community we now have a BIG new playground in the neighborhood to go along with our beautiful splash pad. It features 3 seesaws, a tire swing, an 8’ climbing wall and a large main play structure.
Jaycee Park has been transformed into a park that brings builds community and brings pride to those in the area. It is no longer a park that is under utilized and a magnet for vagrants up to no good. A typical day now has people walking the one-half mile loop, neighborhood families playing at the splashpad while chatting with neighbors and kids playing on a great playground.
If you enjoy the park and would like to see it continue to be a really nice place to bring your kids, please, please pitch in and help to keep it looking good.
Why Do We Need to Do So Much to Maintain a City Park?
This is our community park and is up to us to keep it looking great. Unfortunately, the Parks Department does not have the time or money to devote to maintaining a park beyond basic trash pick up and mowing. If you have enjoyed the changes at Jaycee Park and would like to pitch in, please consider volunteering in some capacity to help keep it a park that will look great far into the future.
Some very Quick, Big Impact Ways You Can Help
- Pick up litter (even litter that isn’t yours) every time you visit. You could even use one of the plastic bags from the doggie poop station as a trash bag while you are picking up litter.
- Scoop leaves and sticks out of splash pad while you are watching your kids. Again, you could use plastic bag from doggie poop station to help.
Help Us Keep the Splash Pad Clean! We are looking for people that could come spray down the splash pad occasionally. It takes about 45minutes and works best with 2-3 people, 1 to spray and 1-2 to use a push broom to brush out all the leaves. It is a good project for 1 or 2 families (or even a playgroup) to do and is actually kind of fun and gratifying especially when you stand back and see how clean it looks when you are done. We have the kit to clean it (sprayer, irrigation attachment, hose and, if you need it, a push broom). We can meet you the first time to show you how it works.
Movie Night Planners Needed!
Everyone has enjoyed Movie Night at Jaycee Park for the past 2 years and we have had many requests to bring it back again this fall. Cheryl Erickson and I are really hoping that there are a couple of people out there that will chair the event this year and to help it to become a tradition in our area. It is really not a very hard event to coordinate and we have written out how we did it and what/who we used to make it happen. You can make it as simple or elaborate as you like. The event is not a huge fundraiser for the park, but it still brings in something through the sale of pizza, cookies, hot chocolate and lemonade, which will help with park maintenance. Please let us know if this is something you would like to host this year (it is fun to do it with a co-chair). Cheryl and I will be available for questions if you need help during the planning and execution of Movie Night.
Contact Ileana Desalos at 713-922-6742 or friendsofjayceepark@yahoo.com. You can also see more information at the Houston Parks Board website under ‘Projects’ where you can find Jaycee Park www.houstonparksboard.org .
PIP Meeting on July 27th
Houston Police Department Central Division Positive Interaction Program
GUEST SPEAKER:
Officer Charles P. Garmond
Crisis Intervention Team for Mental Health & Crime Prevention Specialist
About PIP
The Houston Police Department has had a Community Service Division since the Seventies. When a group of citizens requested a presentation on a crime prevention topic, they would send one of their officers to the group and advise them what they could do to keep from becoming crime victims again. This is proactive policing. In 1982, out of the patrol division came the idea that citizens also need to know more about their police department before a crime occurred in their neighborhood. From this idea came the concept of the Positive Interaction Program, “PIP.”