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CLHA publishes newsletters each year reviewing community events and other information about the neighborhood and its residents. What would you like to see in our newsletters? Submit a suggestion.

Newsletter: Oct – Dec 2013

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2013-14 Board Elections: Meet your executive directors for this year

We held our annual Meet & Greet and Board Elections on Tuesday, Dec 10 at the Christ Church Parish Hall in Chaptico, Maryland.  Only one member of the community, with the exception of the board, attended this event. We hope you will consider joining us for next year’s elections. It is your suggestions and involvement that is necessary to make our community a better place to live.

The Country Lakes Homeowners Association 2014 Executive Board is as follows:
President/Secretary: Elaine Green, president@clha.org
(NEW) Vice President: Mark Pullium, vicepresident@clha.org
Treasurer: James Loveless, treasurer@clha.org

A special thanks goes out to these folks, in addition to the board of directors that comprises our community HOA.  This group of volunteers manage all aspects of upkeep to the park, entrance, and events throughout the year. It is your yearly dues that allow us to maintain the community and for that we appreciate each and every one of you as well. Thanks!

2013 Christmas Decorations Winner: FREE DUES

The winners of the CLHA Christmas Decorating Contest are below. These folks receive FREE dues for 2014. Congrats neighbors!

26869 Kelli Court  •  26372 Tin Top School Road  •  37045 West Spicer Drive

If you are interested in being a part of the voting process, come join the board. It only takes a few hours of your time each month to participate.

Adopt-a-Road Clean Up

Saturday, November 2, was community clean up day. We had seven community service workers and two families from Country Lakes help out.  The wooded area at the Park was targeted, along with Asher Rd nearby.   We then moved to Tin Top School Rd. and picked up between Asher & Yowaiski Mill. The entire stretch of Yowaiski Mill Rd was also cleaned up.  Approximately 30 bags were filled and other larger debris picked up as well.  We started at 9:15 a.m. and finished by noon.

Thank you to everyone that helped out with the organization, pickup, and hauling of the bags and debri from this event. Contact us at 301-884-7297 or here if you are interested in volunteering for the next event in the Spring.

CLHA Board Meetings

Our Board Meetings are held every four weeks on Tuesdays at either the park pavilion (during warm months) or the Christ Church Parish Hall on Zack Fowler Rd. in Chaptico (during cold months). Upcoming meeting dates for the first quarter of 2014 are as follows:

  • January 7,
  • February 4, and
  • March 4.

All meetings are at 7pm and last a maximum of 2 hours. Please bring your ideas/suggestions/complaints and we’ll try our best to address them appropriately.

Event Calendar To Be Decided

The CLHA board of directors will discuss and set the dates for the 2014 community events at our first board meeting on January 7. Stay tuned for the calendar to be updated here and on Facebook as well.

Damage at the Park

There was some damage to the basketball court fence at the park on or around November 6, 2013. It appears to have come from a vehicle. If you have any information related to this incident, please e-mail president@clha.org or leave an anonymous message at 301-884-7297. View pictures of the damage.

Neighborhood Watch Program

There are currently 5 neighbors participating in our Neighborhood Watch Program, but we are always accepting newcomers. Please complete our online form or contact Donald “Pud” Graham at 301-884-5236 or 301-717-6474.

Trunk or Treat 2013

We had beautiful weather for Halloween on October 31st and many of you joined us at the park for our annual Trunk-or-Treat event. We even had a bonfire this year, so we hope you enjoyed it. See you next time.

Santa’s Visit at the Park

While the weather for Trunk-or-Treat was unseasonably warm, the weather for Santa’s visit was the opposite. It was a very cold, very icy winter day at the park on Sunday, December 8.  Unfortunately, this prevented many of you from coming to see Santa. We only had about 20 kids total, but we still had treats, plenty of hot chocolate, a craft workshop, and a special table for sending holiday cards to soldiers.  Thanks to all who participated and braved the icy, cold weather and special thanks to the board for organizing the event. View pictures.

Want to Volunteer?

Call 301-884-7297 or go here.
When calling our voice mail, your phone number must accept blocked numbers to receive a call back.

Newsletter: July-Sept 2013

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National Night Out

National Night Out was a huge success.  Many community organizations were on hand to meet us and provide fun demonstrations, including St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department, Maryland State Police, Mechanicsville Volunteer FIre Department and Rescue Squad, SMECO, and Medstar St. Mary’s Hospital. We had lots of food and games, and even some door prizes. A special thanks goes out to our volunteer board members for organizing this fun event…. and also to our community organizations for taking time out of their busy day to join us.

1st Annual Fall Community Yard Sale

Despite the gloomy weather we experienced in May for our Spring Yard Sale, we continued with resident requests to host a Fall event.  It was a wonderful idea and ended up being a beautiful day for a yard sale.
Many homes in the community were setup and several people were also set up at the parking lot.  It was a busy day for all and we are happy it turned out so well. We will certainly continue the twice-a-year tradition in the future! Thanks for your suggestions!

Remaining 2013 Community Events

CLHA Board Meetings –

Our Board Meetings are being held every four weeks on Tuesdays at either the park pavilion or the Christ Church Parish Hall on Zack Fowler Rd. in Chaptico. Upcoming meeting dates for the fourth quarter of 2013 are as follows:
October 29, November 26 (tentative), December 10 (Board Elections), and December 17 (tentative).
All meetings are at 7pm and last about 2 hours. Please bring your ideas/suggestions/complaints and we’ll try our best to address them appropriately.

Trunk or Treat

Join us at the park for this event on Thursday, October 31 at 6-8 pm. Decorate your car, yourselves, your friendly pets, your kids, and bring candy….and lots of it! This is a very popular event.

Adopt a Road Community Clean-up

Volunteer to beautify your community (or maybe just the road on which you reside) on Saturday, November 2. Meet at the pavilion at 9am if you are interested in joining us or call 301-884-7297 or webmaster@clha.org for more information.

Christmas Party with Santa

Santa will visit the CLHA park pavilion on Sunday, December 8 from 2-4pm. Bring your kids down to meet him and enjoy hot chocolate and other treats.

Special Announcements

Board Elections in December

Each year, we hold elections for the executive positions of our CLHA board. Any resident that has resided on the board for 1 full year is eligible to run for office. All residents are eligible to vote, but must do so in person at our “Meet and Greet” event on Tuesday, Dec 10 at 7pm. Please join us at Christ Church Parish hall on Zach Fowler Road in Chaptico to meet the nominees and place your vote.

Do you need a Thermal Expansion Tank?

Metcom updated our water meters this summer and found that many homes needed backflow prevention devices installed. They installed the devices and alerted homeowners of the possible need for a Thermal Expansion Tank. Please contact Dan Roys at Metcom at 301-737-7400 ext 306 with questions. You should also consult with your plumber regarding the need for a Thermal Expansion Tank. See CLHA.org for a short list of possible plumbers.

Neighborhood Watch Program

We have had our initial meeting of the community watch program. We are always accepting newcomers. If you are interested in joining this cause, please complete our online form at clha.org or contact Donald “Pud” Graham at 301-884-5236 or 301-717-6474.

Too Busy to Volunteer?
Here are some tips for making your home and property less likely to be a target for crime:
Shrubbery /Trees/Outbuildings: Planting bushes or building structures that limit the view of doors and windows may give you a feeling of privacy, but in fact, do the opposite. They prevent neighbors from noticing an intruder and provide hiding spots for criminals as well.
Outdoor Lighting: Well lit approach areas around garages and doors act as a deterrent for robbers. Motion sensor lights work well and conserve electricity as they only light when activated.
Alarms: They are effective against intrusion when properly installed and maintained. Panic alarms that can be activated by a member of your household that emit loud sirens will normally frighten away intruders when activated. A silent alarm allows law enforcement to respond without alerting the intruder.
Know Your Neighbors: If your neighbors are familiar with you and your family, vehicles, etc. they may notice suspicious activity or vehicular traffic that may give the police clues to solving crimes in the area.
Please continue to report all vandalism and crimes to the St. Mary’s County Sheriffs Department. Knowledge is key to preventing and solving future crimes.

Park Pavilion Repairs Postponed

The initial Improvements to the pavilion scheduled for September 2013 had to be postponed due to lack of funds to support the project. Stay tuned for an exact date of construction.

Adopt A Road Program

We have adopted the three entrance roads to Country Lakes in an attempt at beautifying our community. We hope that you will help in this effort to keep our roads and their shoulders free of litter. We will set up 2-3 community service days per year and may ask for your help. Have you noticed the signs on Cox Dr., Asher Rd., and Yowaiski Mill Rd.? Contact us at 301-884-7297 www.clha.org if you are interested in volunteering.

Using Facebook to Communicate

Many of your neighbors (159 as of October 28) are actively using the CLHA Facebook page to communicate about things happening in the neighborhood.  It’s a great way to know rather quickly when dogs are loose, or if you notice suspicious activity anywhere within the community. It’s even been used to located owners of lost items at the park. Feel free to use it to contact us with any questions about the HOA.  We welcome all your posts and work hard to repost and/or answer your inquiries as soon as we are able.

Want to Volunteer?

Call 301-884-7297 or Complete this form.
When calling our voice mail, your phone number must accept blocked numbers to receive a call back.

Thank you for your interest. Complete this form for details.

 

Verification

Newsletter: Apr-Jun 2013

MetCom Automatic Meter Reading Project Underway

By now, you should be well aware of the Metropolitan Commission’s activity in our neighborhood. They are undertaking a county-wide project to upgrade our meters. Country Lakes is part of the 1st route of residential sites to be upgraded, with an estimated completion date of August 2013.

In May, elaborate information about the project and how it affects your property was mailed to all residents of the community. If you did not receive this information, or if you have additional questions about the project, please contact MetCom directly at www.metcom.org or 301-737-7400.

Rainy Day for Yard Saling, but Dumpster Day was a Hit

Our community yard sale was May 18 and despite the gloomy forecast, a few folks set up shop in their yards, driveways, and garages!  We received feedback from many that they would like to see the HOA organize two of these events per year. We agree that it is a great idea to host a community sale in the Spring and the Fall months and are working diligently to decide on the perfect date. Stay tuned.

Two weeks after the yard sale was the annual Dumpster Day event on Saturday, June 1. There were three large containers for household junk and two for metal. We nearly filled all five containers that were available.
There were 43 residents that participated, but 58 actual dumps.  That’s right, a few people made multiple trips.  We allowed onsite payments of delinquent dues and appreciate those folks that paid. It is your HOA dues that help us make these events a success.

Next Up: National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug 6, 6-8pm at the park. Come meet your community organizations such as the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Dept., SMECO, MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, and more.  Food, games, and door prizes!

Upcoming Community Events (view all)

2013 CLHA Board Meetings – Now at the Park

Our Board Meetings are being held every four weeks on Tuesdays at either the park pavilion or the Christ Church Parish Hall on Zack Fowler Rd. in Chaptico. For the summer months, we are currently holding meetings at the park pavilion. We welcome you to join us! Upcoming meeting dates for the third quarter of 2013 are as follows:

  • July 9,
  • September 3.

All meetings are at 7pm and last about 2 hours. Please bring your ideas/suggestions/complaints and we’ll try our best to address them appropriately.

National Night Out

Join us at the park for this event on Tuesday, August 6 at 6-8 pm. Various community organizations will be present. Come meet the folks that help make our community a better place. We’ll have food, games and door prizes.

Special Announcements

Neighborhood Watch Program

We are in the beginning stages of organizing a community watch program. If you are interested in joining this cause, please complete our online form or contact Donald “Pud” Graham at 301-884-5236 or 301-717-6474.

Too Busy to Volunteer?
Here are some tips for making your home and property less likely to be a target for crime:

  • Shrubbery /Trees/Outbuildings: Planting bushes or building structures that limit the view of doors and windows may give you a feeling of privacy, but in fact, do the opposite. They prevent neighbors from noticing an intruder and provide hiding spots for criminals as well.
  • Outdoor Lighting: Well lit approach areas around garages and doors act as a deterrent for robbers. Motion sensor lights work well and conserve electricity as they only light when activated.
  • Alarms: They are effective against intrusion when properly installed and maintained. Panic alarms that can be activated by a member of your household that emit loud sirens will normally frighten away intruders when activated. A silent alarm allows law enforcement to respond without alerting the intruder.
  • Know Your Neighbors: If your neighbors are familiar with you and your family, vehicles, etc. they may notice suspicious activity or vehicular traffic that may give the police clues to solving crimes in the area.

Please continue to report all vandalism and crimes to the St. Mary’s County Sheriffs Department. Knowledge is key to preventing and solving future crimes.

2013-2014 Yearly Dues Reminder

Dues statements were mailed on June 3. Please be aware that payments are due by July 1 to avoid a $5 late fee. Drop your check in the mail today and avoid that fee.

Attention Sellers: Resale Packages

When selling your home, there is a resale package that should be included in your closing process. Most real estate agents will request this directly from us, but if they don’t, you should be aware that you will need to make the request. The fee for the resale package, which includes all of the covenants, articles of incorporation, and dues history for the property will be $50 as of July 1, 2013.

Upcoming Repairs to the Park Pavilion

Improvements to the pavilion will take place in September 2013. Construction will require the pavilion to be closed for at least three days. We will post a message on the lighted sign when this begins. You will also notice yellow construction tape blocking any entrance onto the concrete floor of the pavilion and surrounding areas. Stay tuned for an exact date of construction.

Cicadas and Inchworm Infestation

We didn’t see the expected hoard of 17 year cicadas in Country Lakes (thankfully), but we most definitely dealt with our fair share of inchworms this year. We posted a few useful links on our web site and Facebook page and hope that you were able to learn more about the insects and ways to minimize future infestations and damage to your trees.

Adopt A Road Program

We have adopted the three entrance roads to Country Lakes in an attempt at beautifying our community. We hope that you will help in this effort to keep our roads and their shoulders free of litter. We will set up 2-3 community service days per year and may ask for your help. Have you noticed the signs on Cox Dr., Asher Rd., and Yowaiski Mill Rd.? Contact us at 301-884-7297 or complete this form if you are interested in volunteering.

Newsletter: Jan – Mar 2013

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Neighborhood Watch Program in the Works – Join the Cause

Are you concerned with the amount of crime taking place within the Country Lakes neighborhood? Overall, we live in a safe community surrounded by law-abiding citizens. At monthly board meetings, we are alerted of the crimes that do take place (mostly break-ins of homes, vehicles, theft, and vandalism), and any progress the Sheriff’s department has made in tracking down the culprits.

We are in the beginning stages of taking our own steps toward community crime prevention! If you would like to know more about joining this cause, please contact us at 301-884-7297 and leave a message, including your name and phone number.  We can’t make a change without the help of you, our neighbors! So, please join us!

Help us Clean up the Neighborhood on April 27

We welcome Spring, the dandelions blooming, the birds chirping, the trash lining the roadways…wait, that trash is not supposed to be there! With the help of our board members, we have decided to take a step towards cleaning up our community! We have set up a “Community Clean Up” day on Saturday, April 27 (with a rain date of May 11).

Volunteers and community service workers will be on hand to help pick-up the litter on our main entryways, with heavy focus on the areas near the park. Join together with your families and neighbors to pick up the litter on your street. If we all help out, our community can become a more beautiful place, street by street.

What a good way to get some exercise and meet your neighbors. We hope you will participate (even if only on your own street) on Saturday, April 27 and work with us to continually keep our neighborhood clean!

Note: Your kids may be able to submit their community service hours for school. Check with the school to be sure!!

Upcoming 2013 Community Events

2013 CLHA Board Meetings – Join the Discussion

Our Board Meetings are being held every four weeks on Tuesdays at the Christ Church Parish Hall on Zack Fowler Rd. in Chaptico. Once the weather breaks we will move the location to the park pavilion for the summer months.

Upcoming meeting dates for the second quarter of 2013 are as follows:

  • April 16,
  • May 14, and
  • June 11.

All meetings are at 7pm and last about 2 hours. All residents of the community are welcome at these meetings.

Community Clean Up

The very 1st CLHA Community Clean Up date is set for Saturday, April 27. You can contribute by joining us near the park or picking up the trash on your own street.

Community Yard Sale

On Saturday, May 18, we are hosting the community yard sale. We will post signs in the community and on somd.com. Feel free to set up in the parking lot at the park on a first come, first served basis. You can also use your own yard. Sale time is 7am to 12 noon.

Dumpster Day

This event is scheduled for Saturday, June 1 at the parking lot. We will provide multiple dumpsters, including one for metals. Bring your leftover, non-donatable items from the Yard Sale and we’ll haul them away for you. Certain items will not be accepted, such as tires, hazardous materials, and yard debri. Your dues must be current to participate.

Special Announcements

Web Forms for Reservation Requests

Our new web site was launched in early January. We hope you are enjoying the new look and new features. We have provided you with an easy, more streamlined way to request to reserve the pavilion or lighted sign, and also to check your dues status or ask any other HOA-related questions. You can find the various forms on the website, each of which guides you through the information we need to provide a thorough response. Happy ‘Surf’ing!

Voicemail Notice from the President

The CHLA voicemail line is available to all residents for any inquiries regarding the community and HOA. We request that you please provide your name, address, and return phone number slowly and clearly in your message. PLEASE NOTE: Messages are checked on a weekly basis, so allow for a week for someone to return your call. If you want a quicker response, use the web forms.

Upcoming Repairs to the Park Pavilion

We are in the process of approving a quote to replace numerous support poles at the pavilion. Construction on the pavilion will require it to be out of commission for at least three days. We will post a message on the lighted sign when construction begins. You will also notice yellow construction tape blocking any entrance onto the cement floor of the pavilion and surrounding areas. Stay tuned.

Painting the Playground

The metal playground equipment will undergo a facelift in the next few months. We will be painting the surfaces to provide a “cooler” environment for your children during the summer months. That metal can get very hot, so we are trying to reduce that problem and give the equipment a new, fresher look as well. Enjoy!

Advertise With Us

You have always been able to advertise in our quarterly newsletters. The redesign of our web site has created another opportunity for you to advertise your business with CLHA. The newsletters are distributed electronically and only to Country Lakes residents, but the web site is a public domain accessible on a much broader level. We are offering monthly ad spots to residents (and non-residents) at a small fee of $50/month. We are working on an information page for the web site that will provide you with additional information on how to advertise. In the meantime, please contact webmaster@clha.org if you are interested.

Event Signs on Cox and Yowaiski Mill

We understand many of you don’t pass the lighted sign at the park on a daily basis, so we have started posting event signs at the entrances on Cox Drive and Yowaiski Mill Road so everyone can stay informed about upcoming events. We will post the signs about a week before any scheduled event. We hope you will come out and participate with the community!

Report ALL Crimes in the Neighborhood

If you become a victim of any crime in the neighborhood, no matter how small, please report it to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department at 301-475-8008. Some of the culprits have been proven to be responsible for mulitple crimes in the neighborhood. The more information the Sheriff’s Department knows, the better. Thanks for your help.

Newsletter: Oct – Dec 2012

Welcome to our 4th Quarter 2012 newsletter, which contains a wrap up of events occurring between October and December 2012 and a preview of upcoming events for 1st Quarter 2013.

2012 Winners of the Christmas Decorating Contest are …

36974 David Drive
26869 Kelli Court
37045 West Spicer Drive

On Dec. 12 the CLHA board judged all the decorated homes in the neighborhood and awarded the above addresses with the 2012 titles of Best Decorated Homes in Country Lakes. Each homeowner received a certificate, a sign to post in their yard, and FREE 2013 HOA dues! Thank you to everyone that participated.  It really is a joy to see all the beautifully decorated homes each holiday season!

Santa’s Visit at the Park

On Dec 9, Santa made his annual visit to the Country Lakes park pavilion. Approximately 100 kids stopped by to tell Santa what is on their list this year. They enjoyed hot cocoa, snacks, candy and small gifts.

Trunk or Treat – More Kids Than Ever

Despite the storm before Halloween, CLHA was able to hold its annual Trunk or Treat event in the parking lot at the park on Oct 31. More kids than ever before attended this year’s event, with a running tally of over 400 characters of all kinds … bumble bees, princesses, scary monsters, spider men and more! We also had a few furry friends this year, including a hot dog and a ladybug.

A special thank you to all “trunkers” who set up and handed out candy and also to the CLHA board for working together to make sure our neighborhood kids didn’t miss out on the fun of Halloween night.

Do You Have a Facebook Account?

Are you thinking of joining Facebook, but aren’t quite sure how it works?  It’s a great tool to keep in touch with friends and family and also to stay informed with what’s going on in the Country Lakes community.  And best of all, it’s FREE.

How to Join Us … 107 Neighbors Interacting

Go to www.facebook.com in your web browser.  If you don’t already have a Facebook account, you will need to create one in order to interact. Don’t worry, accounts are free and set up is easy. Once you have joined Facebook and are logged in, enter CLHOA in the search bar at the top of your page. Click on Country Lakes Homeowners Association in the search results. Doing so will direct you to our Facebook page. From there you can click the “like” button on the right side, near the top. This will add our posts and comments to your “Newsfeed” so you can stay informed of community events and information.

“Liking” our Facebook page not only allows you to see what we are posting, but it allows you to post comments on our page, interact with other neighbors on our page, view pictures of recent events, and ask us questions at anytime. We monitor the page daily and respond quickly to your questions and concerns.
We look forward to interacting with you soon at www.facebook.com/CLHOA. For additional information and help with using Facebook, visit http://www.facebook.com/help/?ref=pf

Upcoming 2013 Community Events

2013 CLHA Board Meetings – Join the Discussion

Our Board Meetings are being held every four weeks on Tuesdays at the Christ Church Parish Hall on Zack Fowler Rd. in Chaptico.

Upcoming meeting dates for the first quarter of 2013 are as follows:
January 22,
February 19, and
March 19.

We hope to change the location back to the park pavilion by the April meeting. It all depends on the weather. All meetings are at 7pm and last about 2 hours. An officer from the county Sheriff’s Department attends all meetings and provides important updates about happenings in the community. All residents of the community are welcome at these meetings. Your comments and suggestions for improving the community are always welcome, so please join us at anytime.

Community Yard Sale

It seems like a long time from now, but our next CLHA event is the Community Yard Sale on Saturday, May 18. Start organizing your items now to ensure a successful sale day in May.  Feel free to set up in the parking lot at the park on a first come, first served basis. You can also use your own yard. Sale time is 7am to 12 noon.

Dumpster Day

This event is scheduled for Saturday, June 1 at the parking lot. We will provide multiple dumpsters, including one for metals. Bring your leftover, non-donatable items from the Yard Sale and we’ll haul them away for you. Certain items will not be accepted, such as tires, hazardous materials, and yard debri. Your dues must be current to participate.

Special Announcements

HOA Dues are Increasing in 2013

We would like to announce that our CLHA dues will increase by 5% for the upcoming 2013 season, and late payment and returned check fees will be $10. We have gone a few years without increasing the rate, but feel this minimal increase is necessary to keep up with the rising expenses we have as a community, including the upkeep of the park, insurance, community events, and more. The new rate will be $40.37, only $1.92 more than the current rate.

Event Signs are Now Being Posted

We understand many of you don’t pass the lighted sign at the park on a daily basis, so we have started posting event signs at the entrances on Cox Drive and Yowaiski Mill Road so everyone can stay informed about upcoming events. We will post the signs about a week before any scheduled event. We hope you will come out and participate with the community!

Report ALL Crimes in the Neighborhood

Cars are being broken into rather frequently, and occasional property damage and home break-ins have also been reported. If you become a victim of any crime in the neighborhood, no matter how small, please report it to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department at 301-475-8008. Some of the guilty subjects have been proven to be responsible for multiple crimes in the neighborhood. The more information the Sheriff’s Department knows, the odds of neighborhood cases being solved are much better.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Holiday Season

Schedule a Vacation “Premise Check” – It’s Free

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department will do FREE premise checks for you while you are out of town. If you are going away for the holidays, call for more information: 301-475-4040.

Break Down Boxes for Trash Pick Up

Are you or the kids getting something extra special from Santa this year? Don’t forget to break down the box in which the item was enclosed before taking it out for trash pick up. You can also drop them off at the public dump, free of charge.  The nearest ones are on Rt 6 in New Market and on Horseshoe Rd in Clements. Avoid attracting the unwanted attention of thieves during the holiday season.

Watch Your Pets Around Your Holiday Plants

Poinsettias are mildly toxic, but not as worrisome as yuletide plants such as holly berries and mistletoe. These two festive decorations are toxic to dogs and cats, so be sure they are out of reach of your furry friends!

Real Christmas Tree? Keep it Watered

There are 250 Christmas tree fires and 14 related deaths each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. The combination of shorts in electrical lights and a tinder-dry tree can be deadly. So keep your tree well-watered. Not only will it stay fresh and green, but it might also keep your house from burning down.

Newsletters are published 4 times a year. View the “archives” to find past newsletters!