jessica – Page 12

Recycling Update

You have asked me so many times when we will be getting the automated recycling with the rolling bin, like our trash containers. I spoke to Marilyn Leday, who has been the right hand of Ed Chin for many years. They are the ones at the city that we worked with when recycling started. She told me that the neighborhoods are chosen because they can be added with the greatest efficiency – either because they are next to another neighborhood that is receiving automated recycling or because it’s the right size to be added to a route, or some other circumstance really out of our hands. However, it is my belief that if we had a greater percentage of people recycling regularly, we would be in a better position to ask the city to consider us. Think about it, if we have more recycling and more households participating, we would be a more efficient neighborhood to add to the list.

Please, also, fold, cut up or in some way flatten your cardboard when you put it out. It’s really hard for those guys to deal with whole boxes – especially when there is stuff inside. Also, remember that if you need another green bin, you may call 311 and request one. And, if you need any info, I will be glad to do research if I don’t know the answer.

Also, you might watch out at HEB and at Lowe’s for “Houston Mulch” which is processed at Living Earth and comes from our tree waste here in Houston!! Let me know if you buy some – give me a report to put in the next article!

May Security Update

Security

Citizens on Patrol Hours Logged

February 2011 – 48.75
March 2011 – 56

I appreciate the continued support of our patrollers.We are looking for more volunteers to join our Citizens on Patrol program to help do our part to protect ourselves and our neighbors. If you are interested please send an email to security@lazybrook.org to learn more.

Crime in the Neighborhood

3/14 – Robbery, 1800 block of Willowmoss, mid morning
3/20 – Theft, 2400 block of Lazybrook, from driveway early morning
3/31 – Burglary, 1800 Tattenhall, home break-in mid afternoon
4/6 – Burglary, 1800 Seaspray, home break-in mid afternoon
4/18 – Burglary, 1800 Millcreek, home break-in mid afternoon
4/19 – Theft, 2100 Lazybrook, vehicle break-in overnight
4/19 – Theft, 1800 Nauts, vehicle break-in overnight
4/24 – Vandalism, 1800 Millwood, car window broken overnight

Lazybrook has had several home break-ins that are occurring during the middle of the day, HPD has been notified on all of these cases and reports have filed. I have heard that an arrest has been made in relation to some of these cases but I know that HPD is still looking for more suspects in the other cases. HPD is working to increase Officer presence and patrol in our area, but they are facing budget shortfalls, along with the rest of the government agencies. I encourage all of our neighbors to join the Citizens of Patrol and help keep an eye out for each other.

Please call HPD to report all crimes and get a case number, this is how we are assigned manpower from HPD. HPD Dispatch 713-884-3131.

Crime Statistics
The latest crime statistics are posted on the web at: http://mycity.houstontx.gov/crime/ or spotcrime.com.

Citizens on Patrol
I am proud to announce that our neighborhood has a new Citizens on Patrol Coordinator, HPD Officer, Steve Duffy. Officer Duffy has served for several years at the Heights Storefront and has been a great asset to our community. He is reviewing the current Citizens on Patrol records and has plans to coordinate a new patroller training class as well as a recertification for current patrollers. I will send an email to notify you of the training class once a time and date has been set.

The COP training class is normally about an hour-long class that covers the basic rules and safety regulations for Citizens on Patrol certification. Since we are experiencing a rise in criminal activity, we are in need of more neighbors actively patrolling our streets to help curb this trend. Just a few minutes a week can really make a big difference in keeping Lazybrook safe.

Patrolling is as easy as driving a car or riding a bike through the neighborhood with a cell phone and calling in any suspicious persons or activities. We will train you, the hours are flexible to fit any schedule, and you are reimbursed for the cost of gas. Please email security@lazybrook.org to let me know if you are interested.

Lazybrook Email Network
We have over 370 neighbors signed up to receive email updates. If you are not currently receiving the email you can join by emailing: security@lazybrook.org
If you change your email address please drop me a line so I can make the change and keep the list current.

March PIP Meeting – Recap
Houston Police Department holds several meetings every year through their Positive Interaction Program. The March meeting had guest speaker Marc Decatur, with Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission, explain the history and basic duties of TACB. He gave a speech that included interesting and humorous stories of prohibition era “speak speakeasies,” current enforcement, and future legislation that is currently up for legislative debate. I encourage everyone to attend these meetings for a great chance to speak with HPD officers that work in our area and hear speakers from across the state.

Clean Up After Your Pets
I have received email over the past month with complaints that people are walking their dogs and either not picking up their poop or they are bagging it up and leaving it somebody else’s driveway. Please be respectful of your neighbor’s property and kindly pick up after your pets and dispose of it properly.

Yard of the Month – May 2011

Yard of the Month

Congratulations go to Jim and Mary Gorab at 2102 Millwood for receiving May Yard of the month. Jim stated he spends many afternoons working on the yard to keep it beautiful for our main road through Lazybrook on Millwood. I spent some time in his yard last evening and was amazed at the volume of blooming annuals. Jim planted white petunias, red geraniums, pink and white begonias. The front pole light is covered in blooming star jasmine which stands out with the gardenias across the yard at the front door. His tropicals off to the right side of the yard in the shade are doing wonderfully as well. Jim has finished off his bed edges with stone and added new mulched for that professional look. Great Job Jim and Mary. Your love of gardening shows well for our neighborhood!

May 2011 – by Shane Davis

Yard of the Month – April 2011

Yard of the Month

For the month of April 2011 Lazybrook had many yards from which to select the yard of the month. Many yards were filled with beautiful color. We selected the home of Tom and Nancy Duncan at 2023 Willowmoss Court. This home was purchased by Tom and Nancy in April 2010 when they undertook an extensive remodeling and updating of the home. Almost everything is new, roof, soffits, windows, floors, cabinets, counter tops, a new stamped concrete sidewalk and front porch and then finally the landscaping.

Nancy with the help of her yard man Pedro designed the new landscape with gracefully curved beds and Nancy bought the plants at local nurseries. Tom completely updated the sprinkler system.

The result is a spectacular array of wonderful plants. There are too many different kinds of plants to describe them all. The only original plants are two large clumps of Formosa Azaleas on the side of the house and a row of trimmed boxwoods across the front porch and the four huge and beautiful Red Oak trees along the side of the house.

Near the front door are clumps of Flax Lily with miniature pink and purple Pentas in front of them. To the left of the porch along the front of the house are several Loropetalum plants and a Varigated Ginger as well as a Virburnum near the corner of the house. White Encore Azaleas are planted in front of the other plants and pink Begonias are planted across the very front of the bed. On the other side of the front the Duncan’s have planted Indian Hawthorne with dwarf purple and white Lantana at the front. Further down on the right we found some blue Plumbago, some walking Iris and some more white Encore Azaleas. A very large rust colored Cache pot stands to the right of the sidewalk with an Asparagus Fern falling gracefully from the top. There are many other beautiful plants and planters that are too numerous to list.

5th Friday Social – April 29th

Events

Come and say hello to your neighbors. Each month containing 5 Fridays we host a meet and greet at our home for all Lazybrook residents on the 5th Friday of the month.

In the 1960’s when our neighborhood began, impromptu social gatherings were the norm. Families got together for no reason other than saying hey and catching up. The Hooper House driveway was active most Fridays. 50 years later we are in a fast paced world and we have to actively seek our neighbor’s company. The Hooper House is now our home and we too love to visit with our neighbors. This past gatherings have been full and fun. We have some very colorful folks in Lazybrook. If you aren’t coming you are missed. Come help us get to know the new neighbors, visit with the original neighbors and hear about what’s up on the different blocks.

Who: Lazybrook Residents and families
What: Dinner by Richard Cade & Shane Davis
(Bring a small dessert or bottle of wine and
your TO GO bags for the many desserts left over)
When: April 29, 5:00PM – 8:00PM
Where: Melissa and Mark Cougle’s home
2110 Millwood Drive
Why: Why live in a neighborhood where you don’t
know you neighbors? Come say hello!

No unattended minors. No pets. No RSVP required. Melissa’s cell: 713-371-6467 Marc’s cell: 713-444-3351

Letter from the President

Letters from the President

Hello Lazybrookers! What a winter….I keep trying to see my garden as half full but my heart aches at the lovely plants that once again didn’t make it through the freeze. Why oh why do I keep planting delicate plants? Is it the thrill of a neighbor asking what is that planted in your side yard and where can I get it? I think it is more that I like to dig in the dirt, visit Joshua’s and Buchanan’ nurseries several times each spring for replacement plants and the ultimate thrill of conquering Mother Nature’s winter whims. Our 1st Lady Richard Cade is a diehard advocate for survival of the fittest. Oh what do we do? So out the door Richard and I went with the few extra sheets we own. Were we successful? Well not exactly….. but I am thoroughly committed to snooping around my neighbor’s yards this month to see what survived. Please Lord, don’t let me see something delicately blooming at the nurseries and make me throw caution to the wind yet again in my Spring plantings.

About our Club – 5th Friday Social will be relocated to 2110 Millwood at Melissa and Mark Cougle’s home for Friday April 29th. Handouts for the Social will be given out at the LCC meeting March 22nd at Lazybrook Baptist Church. Our March 22nd Lazybrook Civic Club meeting will have a guest speaker on the 290 Corridor expansion which is starting this year. Come hear the details 7PM .

I want to give a special THANK YOU to the Lazybrook Block Captains who stepped up to the plate and agreed to take on more responsibilities for the LCC and Ilya Martinalbo who now chairs this new committee.

Questions on the LCC Deed Restrictions? – our Gregg Kalba has organized this team with the dedicated people who have volunteered for years.

Check out Lazybrook.org it has the email addresses for all your needs associated with the LCC. We owe a thank you to our Webmaster Greg Frommert for organizing us online and you can now PAY YOUR DUES ONLINE with PayPal – thanks Greg! Greg is a real behind the scenes hero!

See you all around the neighborhood this Spring,
Shane Davis LCC President and Richard Cade our 1st Lady.