Holiday Safety

Tonight we met and discussed holiday safety, graffiti (on SRP boxes), and other blockwatch matters. It was wonderful to meet so many of the newer residents from Parcel 1 (the northwest corner of Castlegate--the new construction)! I feel blessed to have such great neighbors and look forward to getting to know them better. It was great to see the regulars, too. To those of you who were unable to make it, I really do miss you when you're not there, and hope you are doing well!

Here are some reminders about holiday safety:

While shopping, keep your purse secure on your shoulder or strapped securly into the child seatbelt on the shopping cart (still watch it, though!).

Cover the keypad with your other hand when entering your PIN number for debit card payment.

Be aware of people around you in parking lots; ask for security to walk you out if you see suspicious looking people.

Don't leave your already purchased items sitting in plain view in the car; lock them in the trunk (if you have one).

Be cautious about scams; if someone asks you to donate toys or money, make sure it's to a well known organization (like the Marine Corps or Sheriff's Office).

SAFETY TIP: Keep your car keys with "key fob" next to your bed at night; if you hear someone attempting to break into your car or house, hit the horn button on your key fob to scare them away.
SECURITY TIP: Remember to keep your porch light and coach lights on at night

TRAVEL TIP: If you are traveling during the holiday season, be sure to have a trusted neighbor keep an eye on your house; leave a phone number so they can reach you if needed.

REMINDER: Have you tested your fire/smoke detectors lately?

No Quorum for December HOA Annual Meeting

Last night as I approached the small group of people gathered outside Simonton's Multi-purpose room waiting for the karate class to finish, I quickly realized there weren't enough people there to make a quorum for the HOA Annual meeting.

Again.

This happened last December, too.

This meeting is important because it involves election of new board members (or reelection of current ones), and because no new items can be brought to the board until this Annual Meeting is properly conducted.

I know this is the holiday season and we are all busy with festivities and planning and shopping and all that good stuff, and it's hard at the end of a long day to leave the comfort and warmth of our homes to get out to an HOA meeting (or a blockwatch meeting), but in order for our community to run the way WE want it to, we have to take Nike's advice and "Just Do It."

The HOA Annual Meeting will be rescheduled for January. Please make every effort to be there, and if you cannot, please MAIL IN YOUR BALLOT; mailing in your ballot will count toward a quorum.

Thanks so much!
sandi

Link to Tribune Article on Proposed Freeway

Even if ADOT won't openly admit that we residents influenced their decision to throw out the route that would destroy our homes, I think it's obvious.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/131475

New HOA

I just found out today that our new HOA is called Oasis; our manager is Brett. The new contact phone number is: 623-241-7373.

Happy November!

Early Voting Sites

Press Release For Immediate Release

Early Voting Sites Open to Pinal County Voters
FLORENCE-

Voters who want to avoid the lines at the polls on November 4th’s General Election can place their ballot at numerous locations throughout Pinal County.

“We have our main office in Florence open for early voting as well as our satellite offices in Apache Junction and Casa Grande,” said County Recorder Laura Dean-Lytle. “These three sites are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, through the end of October.”

In addition to the three County Recorder offices, there will be regional early voting sites in various areas of the county, Dean-Lytle added.

“We are working hard to make voting a little easier for those who want to place their ballot before the general election.”

If you were mailed an early ballot, please don’t forget to vote it, sign it and send it back in to Pinal County.

Monday-Friday Early Voting Locations (8:00 am until 5:00)
Florence; Recorder’s Office (Building E) County Complex
Apache Junction; Recorder’s Satellite Office; 575 N. Idaho Road, Suite 110
Casa Grande; Recorder’s Satellite Office; 820 E. Cottonwood Lane

Regional Early Voting Locations
Maricopa; 19955 N. Wilson Avenue (JP Court); Thursday, October 16 and 23
San Tan; 968 W. Hunt Highway (Next to Johnson Utilities); Tuesday, October 14, 21 and 25 Saddlebrooke; 63701 E. Saddlebrooke Boulevard, Suite C; Wednesday, October 15 and 22 Kearny; 355 Alden Road; Saturday, October 18
Arizona City; 13970 S. Sunland Gin Road; Saturday, October 18
Gila River Indian Community; Site to be Determined; Friday, October 17 and 24

If you have any questions please call the Pinal County Citizen’s Contact Center at (520) 509-3555 or 888-431-1311.

Security Peephole

Okay folks, I didn't want to recommend a product to you until I reeeeeally knew for sure all I could know about it, so I got myself what has to be the coolest and best peephole in the Universe from the very cool, very nice guys from Security Peephole. They came to install Saturday morning, were quick and efficient, made sure I knew all I wanted to know, cleaned up, and offered to come to our next meeting (which will be soon, I promise). They will have a peephole on hand for you to see.

I'm including pictures; I promise I don't always look so bad; it was early. :o)
Click here and it should take you to their official brochure (which has much better pictures than mine!)

In the first one, you can see the size of the peephole. My thought was, "WOW, that's huge!" My second thought was, "That's the coolest thing ever!" It's so easy to see through--you don't have to put your eye up to it and squint to see a tiny little image. You can see who's there from several feet away (great for kids--my 2-year-old can even identify people through it, short people like me, people whose vision may not be great, etc.). It's like looking through a video monitor:




You can see the street in front of the house and a huge chunk of the front yard very clearly:


This is what someone looks like standing outside the door. I couldn't get my camera to focus very well; it was a lot clearer in real life, but you get the idea:

And here's how it looks on the outside of the door. If I had never seen one of these before and approached a door that had one, I would think I was on camera or something. That in itself might be enough to deter someone trying to get in:

I think this is a great product! If you would like to have one installed at your home, contact Jeremy and Scott at securitypeephole@cox.net

Pinal County plans $1.7M library in Santan area

Pinal County plans $1.7M library in Santan area
By Jason Massad, Tribune

Click here for link to article in Tribune.

Pinal County 2008-09 Budget

Press Release

For Immediate Release
Contact: Heather Murphy (520) 866-6057 or Joe Pyritz (520) 866-6226

June 18, 2008

County Supervisors Adopt Tentative 2008-2009 Budget

FLORENCE – Today the Pinal County Board of Supervisors adopted the tentative 2008-09 budget. Highlights of the proposed budget include:

A net tax decrease of 54 cents, thus establishing the lowest primary property tax rate in 31 years. The proposed primary tax rate is 86 cents less than the 2006 rate.

Establishing Superior Court Division X to handle the increased caseload stemming from the county’s rapid growth.

Ensuring public safety by providing adequate funding for the Sheriff’s Office, Detention and the Courts.

Minimizing the use of the county’s rainy day fund by making expenditure reductions across multiple departments and divisions.

The proposed budget is $24.39 million less than the prior year’s approved budget.

Maintaining the financial stability of Pinal County. In December 2007, Standard & Poor’s upgraded its debt rating for Pinal County to A. Standard & Poor’s states the upgrade was earned as a result of “continued economic growth and diversification and maintenance of a strong financial position with strong reserves.”

Expanding library services for Pinal County residents.

Construction of a replacement for the storm-damaged Schnepf Road Bridge.

Completion of Park Link Drive resurfacing. Park Link Drive is an important east-west connector.

“Significant impact for the county may come when we learn how the state plans to balance its budget,” County Manager Terry Doolittle said. The tentative budget will be under review for potential adjustments over the coming weeks. The Board of Supervisors will vote on the final budget at their July 30, 2008 meeting.

Proposed Freeway Meeting July 8

Below is an excerpt from an email I received from Lane Smith of http://www.corridor4.net/ :

A Volunteers meeting has been called. I have received over 30+ RSVPs of our friends and neighbors that are willing to step forward to help us out. We are always looking for more neighbors to help fight for our community. We can use your help.

If you are interested in attending our meeting on July 8, please visit http://www.corridor4.net/volunteers-mtg-july-08/ ,or select the link at the top of the corridor4.com website.

I will have video cameras present at our meeting and would like for each of you to take a moment and have your comments recorded. These testimonials will be added to corridor4.com and will also be sent via DVD to ADOT and to other Government representatives and decision makers. This will be one more way we can be heard ...right from our own voices.

The time to act is now, contrary to what ADOTand others feel.

Your neighbor,
Lane Smith
Volunteers Meeting Announcement:http://www.corridor4.net/volunteers-mtg-july-08/
-----------------------------------------------
Thank you for your support - http://www.corridor4.com/

Propane Tank Caution

A message from the Law Enforcement Network:

For those of you who like to grill it up during the summer, here's a safety announcement you should be aware of. Please put this information out to ALL. Even if you do not use and exchange a propane tank, send this out for those that do. This is something you definitely need to be aware of, especially in light of the recent news of "Meth-labs" in our area: "There was a meth training/workshop yesterday and there was a lot of great new information presented.

Meth cooks are getting the propane tanks from the exchanges at Wal-Mart, Kroger, etc. and emptying them of the propane. Then, they are filling them with anhydrous ammonia (which they now have a recipe for by the way). After they are finished with them, they return them to the store. They are then refilled with propane and sent back for you and me to buy.

Anhydrous ammonia is very corrosive and weakens the structure of the tank. It can be very dangerous when mixed with propane and hooked up to our grills, etc. According to our presenter, you should inspect the propane tank for any blue or greenish residue around the valve areas. If it ispresent, refuse to purchase that one."

Here's the NPGA Site for your review also. They have pictures. http://www.npga.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=529

Kids' Safety Fair

Dep. Wickstrom and Cpl. Ogaard were on hand at our Kids' Safety Fair on Saturday, May 3rd. Free bike helmets were given out to all the kids!

And moms were able to address their concerns about child safety and get answers.

Kids were fingerprinted and photographed and got to take home fun prizes!

There was lots of information for parents on everything from drug prevention to child abuse.



Because of the busy schedule of the PCSO, we didn't have all the events at the Kids' Safety Fair that we wanted to have, but that's okay...that just means we'll try again! And now that the HOA has become more supportive and active with Blockwatch, we will probably be able to provide more fun events at the next kids' fair!

Thank you, Pam, for taking pictures! You are awesome!

Vacation Tips

If you're like me, you like to get away whenever possible, even if just for a weekend camping trip to the cooler northern regions. Here are some tips to help keep your home secure while you're away.

1. If going away for more than a day or two, arrange to have a neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers. Newspapers lying in a driveway are a giveaway that you may not be home. You can also put a "vacation hold" on your mail and newspapers.

2. Do not leave cash or valuables in your house while you're away, unless you can secure them in a vault that is bolted to your floor. Take valuables to a safe deposit box at your bank.

3. Notify the sheriff's department of the dates that you will be gone and leave them with an emergency contact number. They will send a patrol car by to check on your house while you are away.

4. Arrange to have your grass cut while you're gone.

5. Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your house and call you and/or the police if they see anything suspicious.

6. Plug in light timers (available for under $10 at Home Depot, etc.) and program to turn lights on/off at appropriate times to give the appearance that someone is home.

7. Unplug all electrical appliances, including t.v.'s to prevent possible damage from storms.

8. Set your thermostat to maintain a reasonable temperature; 85 in summer and 50 in winter are good settings.

9. Turn off water to washing machine in case hose breaks to avoid flooding.

10. Turn off the ringer on your phone so it can't be heard from outside. Don't leave a message on your answering machine saying you're away!

11. Place wooden dowels in window sliders and sliding glass doors.

12. Disable automatic garage door opener.

13. Lock your door and padlock your gate.

Keeping Your Home Safe

Here are some important tips for keeping your home as safe as possible.

1. Make sure your house numbers are clear and visible from the street both day and night. This is important to police officers responding to a call. If they can't find you, they can't help you! Lost minutes can be crucial.

2. Keep shrubbery around doors and windows trimmed back--don't give a burglar a place to hide.

3. Re-key locks when you move into a new home...even a newly constructed one.

4. Don't hide keys under your doormat or around your house. Everyone knows where to look! If keys are an issue (as with kids losing them), you can purchase a keyless entry lock at Home Depot for about $100. You punch in a code which disables the lock, then open the deadbolt.

5. Keep your house, windows, garage, and cars locked at all times. If possible, always park in the garage. Use a padlock to secure your gate. A criminal is less likely to jump a gate to gain access to your backyard.

6. Use security film on windows and door glass to prevent entry if shattered. Follow link for more information: http://www.diywindowsecurity.com/ Security film is also available through most home security companies.

7. Leave your porch light and coach lights (on the front of the garage) on every night. To cut down on electricity costs, install the new compact fluorescent light bulbs (available at Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco, Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, etc.).

8. Don't answer the door for strangers! If you're expecting a repair person, ask for company identification. Don't use door chains as a substitute for a peephole or window from which you can clearly see someone at your door. Door chains can be pulled easily from the door with a forceful push.

9. If your garage door has windows along the top, install chicken wire behind them. A thief can easily break one window pane and use a wire coat hanger or other hook to grab the red release handle dangling there and instantly gain access to your garage.

10. Take photographs of all your valuable possessions and keep a log of serial numbers (to TV's, iPOD's, cameras, etc.).

11. Check smoke detectors regularly. Have an escape plan for your family and practice it regularly.

Identity Theft Prevention

Last night we met to learn about identity theft. The meeting started off with discussions about the ongoing vehicle break-ins however. Deputy Love suggested if this has been an issue for you, you can purchase an infrared deer camera for about $120 at Sportsman's Warehouse. We're getting ours this weekend! Three members of Bike Patrol (Dep. Wikki, Dep. Love, and Dep. Goode) were present at the meeting and patrolled the neighborhood after the meeting. They will also be patrolling the neighborhood more frequently in the next few weeks. We also discussed the vandalism of the lights in the parks, in particular, the park across from the school. If you have any information about this vandalism, please email me. There is an HOA meeting tonight at 7:30 at Simonton; if you have any issues that need to be addressed with the HOA, please come and let your voice be heard. If you would like to come and ask the HOA to be more supportive of Blockwatch, I would appreciate that!

Just a quick note: to those of you who regularly attend meetings, you have no idea how happy it makes me to see your faces. I appreciate your being there! I'm still putting names and faces together, so bear with me, but know that I recognize you and appreciate you!

On to identity theft: Earlier this morning I sent you an email that had been sent to me supposedly from Bank of America, but really from criminals "phishing" for my personal information. Other email scams involve supposed lottery winnings, court settlements, widows who need you to help them get their millions out of bank holdings, etc. Any money making scheme that asks you to SEND money first is fraudulent. Or if you have to first cash a check, then keep part of the money for yourself and send the rest to the "company," this is also false. That's a fake check that won't clear. Unfortunately, you won't know for up to a week, then you're stuck paying it back to the bank.

Pay your bills with a check? If so, it's best to drive the extra miles to put that check into a big blue mailbox and NOT into our neighborhood "group" mailboxes...they get broken into often. Once someone has your check, they can take your routing and account numbers and print them on blank checks with a false name and address at the top. They have a fake id with that name and address, so it's no problem for them to cash that check. The safest way to pay your bills is through your bank's online bill pay feature. This is how I pay all my bills, and I love it; it saves stamps!

Never leave your debit/credit card laying on the shelf or counter at the cashier's. Someone can grab it as they walk by. Also, if paying by debit/credit at a restaurant, make sure the receipt has all but the last four digits of your credit card number x'd out (xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-1234). If those numbers aren't x'd out, carry the receipt to the cashier or wait staff. Don't give anyone the opportunity to grab it from your table. Another way to enhance security of your debit card is to request one from your bank that DOES NOT have the Visa or Mastercard logo on it. Those WITH the symbol can be ran as a credit card (no pin entry required). Those WITHOUT the symbol require your pin number to be entered every time.

Credit card offers in the mail: Don't just throw them away or tear them up! They can easily be taken from your garbage and pieced back together. Even a regular shredder isn't always a guarantee...use a confetti shredder or burn them. If you don't want to receive them anymore, you can opt out here: https://www.optoutprescreen.com/

Be aware of people who try to come into your house to demonstrate a product...they may just be scoping out your belongings. Also, the kids who come to the door asking you to subscribe to magazines so they can go to camp or college or Disneyland...often a scheme to get your checking information.

For peace of mind and protection of your identity and credit score, you can subscribe to Life Lock. http://www.lifelock.com/ For $10/month per person, they will : (taken from their website)

Guarantee Your Good Name
Identity theft can happen anywhere to anyone. In line at the store, online at home or when you're buying your morning coffee. If your identity is stolen, you can spend hundreds of hours cleaning up your credit and struggling to get back your good name. That's because stolen identities are used up to 30 times, with most victims only discovering the theft after they've been turned down for a loan or contacted by a collection agency. You may already be a victim, many times over, and not even know it. But not with LifeLock.LifeLock, the industry leader in proactive identity theft protection, offers a proven solution that prevents your identity from being stolen before it happens. We'll protect your identity and personal information for only $10 a month - and we guarantee our service up to $1,000,000. We also offer the only identity theft child protection program available in the market, so guarantee your good name today and enroll now. (end of Life Lock quote)

Okay, that's it for the March Meeting. Our next event will be May 3rd (Saturday)...a Kids' Fair with a bike rodeo, free bike helmets for kids, car seat checks, Eddie the Eagle, and more! We MAY have an informal meeting in April for Deputy Wikki to demonstrate the deer camera for those of you who want to see how it works and how clear the pictures are, etc. I will let you know more about that soon!Thanks! And keep watching out for each other!

sandi

Welcome to the Castlegate Community Blockwatch Website!

Greetings fellow blockwatchers! I've created this blog to be a place of reference where you will be able to access information from meetings past, along with tips on crime prevention and other pertinent information related to blockwatch. You will still receive emails via our regular email list.

Thanks so much for your interest in and support of blockwatch! Keep watching out for each other--it makes a difference!

Best,
sandi