Yard recycling to Lazybrook esplanades has stopped for the summer. Please stop dropping your grass/leaves bags at the esplanades for Nancy to empty at the trees. Summer is here and it is TOO HOT to have her continue this effort for us thru the summer. We will start back up in the late fall with the bagged leaves. If you want to put your yard waste on the esplanade plants, please feel free to do so yourselves. Place the mulched leaves/grass on top of existing areas and take your empty trash bags back to your garbage cans at your home. Thank you all in advance for your cooperation.
Newsletter Article Deadline
July 5th is the upcoming deadline for the printed newsletter. Please get your articles and any pictures to me by that time. If you cannot make the deadline, PLEASE email me to let me know so that I can save space for you in the layout.
Thanks
Crystal
June Security Update
Citizens on Patrol Hours Logged
- April 2010 – 53.75
- May 2010 – 54
I appreciate the continued support of our patrollers and the interest from new patrollers that have completed the training course. Thank you very much for keeping a watchful eye on the neighborhood.
Crime in the Neighborhood
5/4 Burglary 1800 block of Willowby
5/27 Burglary from 2 vehicles 1800 block of Widdicomb
6/12 Burglary 2200 block of Brooktree
6/13 Theft 2000 block of Millwood
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/
Burglary Prevention Tips from HPD
- Know who belongs in your neighborhood.
- Report suspicious persons immediately.
- Be alert in protecting not only your home but your neighbors as well.
- Don’t tell a stranger that your neighbor is not at home or volunteer any personal information about your neighbor.
- Never leave notes on your door that reveal that your home is not occupied.
- Join a neighborhood watch group.
- Help keep your neighborhood clean.
- Acknowledge all callers through locked doors.
- Keep doors, windows and garage doors closed and locked even when at home.
- Draw all curtains or shades at night to prevent viewing from the street.
- Never leave a house key in an obvious place such as a mailbox, under plants, or a doormat.
Citizens on Patrol
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. I urge everyone to contact me so that I can schedule a COP training class for you. Just a few minutes a week can really make a big difference in keeping Lazybrook safe. Patrolling is as easy as driving 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 lazybrook.security@gmail.com to let me know if you are interested.
Lazybrook Email Network
We have over 315 neighbors signed up to receive email updates. If you are not currently receiving the email you can join by emailing: lazybrook.security@gmail.com
If you change your email address please drop me a line so I can make the change and keep the list current.
Yard of the Month – June 2010
Joshua and Rachel Hopson at 1707 Haverhill have lived in Lazybrook for four years. For June we were hoping to find a yard with a beautiful Crepe Myrtle. When we drove by this lovely yard we saw two large beautifully shaped Crepe Myrtles. The Crepe Myrtle on the right front corner of the Hopson’s yard is a pale pink and is surrounded by a triangular bed with curved corners. The bed is outlined with moss rock and in the bed in addition to the large Crepe Myrtle we saw Irises, Society Garlic with blue blooms, Lirope and dwarf Zinnias.
Near the front of the property a beautiful Silver Maple which is about 5 years old is surrounded by a neatly trimmed bed of Asian Jasmine. Josh said the previous owners had this tree planted as part of a program sponsored by the city where homeowners could make a donation and the city would get rid of a trash tree, in their case an Ash, and plant a good tree.
On the other side of the yard near the driveway and walkway to the front door, the other Crepe Myrtle is also pink but a darker color than the first. This Crepe Myrtle is the focal point of another roughly triangular bed. Standing out in this bed right now are the brightly colored orange and red Daylilies. The bed also includes Variegated Aztec Grass, blooming Society Garlic and Giant Liriope. One edge of the bed is created by the curving sidewalk which begins at the driveway and leads to the front door. The sidewalk is made of concrete but does not appear so because of the design which includes markings that give it the appearance of stone. The sidewalk is very attractive. Behind the bed described above are some large Azaleas. They are dark green and appear very healthy.
On the other side of the sidewalk the Hopsons’s have placed a large glazed pot about 18 inches tall. In the turquoise/blue mottled pot they have planted pink Petunias and a Yellow Bulbine.
At the base of the pot the Hopson’s planted some pale pink Rain Lilies. There are many Rain Lilies and they were blooming on the first of June when we looked at the yard. This big splash of color really added quite a spectacular display and even though the blooms will not last throughout the month, they are indeed beautiful.
Across the front of the house there are several Giant Liriope and in front of them are some dark pink petunias that are now blooming. Finally, the Hopson’s have selected a beautiful glazed pot for the front porch and have planted a red Gerber Daisy which is blooming now.
Letter from the President
Hello Neighbors – I am keeping a close eye out my kitchen window at all you new walkers/runners. So far I am still just gazing out and making promises to my 1st Lady Richard that I will join you all very soon. My apologies for the removal of the tree swing. We took it to the beach house. Now let me get on to more serious matters.
I am settling into my responsibilities as club president. It is harder than it looks and again I want to thank Richard Akin and his trusty sidekick, Adina, for filling the position all these years. Our March Civic Club meeting had two major ideas come forward.
First was mowing the TC Jester wildlife area between 610 and Ella. I researched the last vote held November 18, 2008. At that meeting after mow/not mow reasons were heard. 90+ Lazybrookers attended and 73 voted for NOT mowing. The overwhelming majority voted to keep the naturescape supporting a habitat for butterflies, lizards, bees, turtles, toads, possums, birds and other animals starved for a natural habitat inside the loop. The park has 1000+ saplings reaching each year closer to the sky and the not mowers want to give them a chance to grow to maturity. We will continue to keep the edges mowed and the strips cut across to join the walking trail at the top of the hills. I will promote organized plantings of additional wild flower areas similar to the beautiful wild flower area under the power lines on TC Jester which came back beautifully again this year to appease the few wanting to mow. I dig in the dirt over there and the soil is fantastic due to the naturalized self mulching. Lazybrookers want to give this natural area a foothold for future generations.
The second major idea came up (and it has before) on why we supply newsletters to our neighbors who do not pay the voluntary $25 per year civic club dues. I was neutral on this idea until I found out it costs the Civic Club $650 a newsletter to print enough for 100% of our homes to have a copy. 50% of your neighbors pay civic club dues. I am curious how you all feel about it. Please email me at shane-davis@comcast.net or drop a note in my mailbox 2111 Lazybrook (at Nauts) to let me know if you have an opinion one way or the other. Anonymous is fine. If I get enough responses to stop supplying those who do not support the community, we will announce our intentions to vote via a newsletter article and hold a vote at a Fall 2010 meeting. If the responses are everyone should get a newsletter, I’ll announce that as well at a fall meeting. For those in Lazybrook who paid the 2010 dues – thank you very much.
I know the poorest of poor in our neighborhood. I’ve helped many and they have money for their magazines, city newspapers, special treats and yes their dues. If you truly can’t afford it, I get that, and Richard and I will gift it to the Civic Club in your name, just give me a call. For those of you who can afford it but do not pay – What’s up with that? Please drop me an email and tell me why.
I know what you’re thinking – Richard Akin is going to put his picture on a billboard on TC Jester asking “Are ya missing me yet”? ;o) I wish each of you a terrific summer with low cooling bills, backyards full of family fun and at least one neighbor you can call your good friend.
Take care. Shane Davis
Things Your Burglar Won’t Tell You
THINGS YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD BURGLAR WON’T TELL YOU:
1. Thanks for letting me come in to use the bathroom, love those flowers. That tells me you have taste … And taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.
2. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it. Keep mail box empty.
3. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.
4. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.
5. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.
6. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don’t take me up on it.)
7. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.
8. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms.
9. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me.
10. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television.
11. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.
12. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.
13. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.
14. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?
15. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.
16. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address. This is a big one, I see people do this all the time.
17. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.
18. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.
19. Always tell a friend or a neighbor to get your mail, newspapers and to watch for cars that they do not know. Most will work in teams, drop one off and come back and get them.