Harmony Hills Civic Assn.

Harmony Hills Civic Association Newsletter

Jun 16, 2009

HHCA MEETING
The next Civic Association meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 1st at 7:00 PM at Scalia?’s Day Care Center. Come and meet your neighbors. Bring ideas on how you would like to make our community a better place for everyone! Dues are accepted at all meetings.


WELCOME to all of our new neighbors who recently moved in to Harmony Hills!

DUES
Dues are only $10 a year (January to December) to be a participating member and share in the pride of your community. Everyone is a part of the community and dues do not have to be paid to attend the meetings, but if you want to voice your opinion or vote during officer elections, dues must be current! A list of those residences with outstanding dues will be listed in the next newsletter.

Send your $10 dues payment to Harmony Hills Civic Association, P. O. Box 5667, Newark, DE 19714, drop them off at 207 Tamara Circle, OR contact one of the officers and they will stop by and pick them up.

ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT
The HHCA Annual Easter Egg Hunt held at Harmony Hills Park this year was a great success. There were numerous prizes won and everyone had a great time. A special THANK YOU goes out to Christine Baron who supplied the eggs for the hunt as well as to Linda Wolfe and Andrea Outten who helped to hide the eggs. Another THANK YOU goes out to State of Delaware Representative Michael Barbieri for supplying the large chocolate Easter Bunnies and to our own ?“Clown?” Sam Bailey who entertained the children with tricks and making animals, hats, & swords out of balloons.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
HHCA is looking for a volunteer for District #8 Representative to deliver the newsletters and meeting reminders to the homes on 500 and 600 block of Durso and at 105 Engle Place. Anyone interested, please contact Patti Tucker at 366-0561.

HHCA COMMUNITY YOUTH PROJECT
As a resident of Harmony Hills, are you unable to keep up with general yard work, shoveling the walks or any other minor project you may need taken care of due to an injury, medical condition, etc.? If so, HHCA may have an answer. We believe there is a need for our Youth to assist our residents-in-need from time to time during the spring, summer, fall, or winter months with small projects that may limit them from doing it themselves. HHCA is looking for Youth volunteers (ages 12 & up) for the Community Youth Project. To sign up, all that?’s needed is your name, phone number and address. When the calls come in from our residents, the first volunteer on the list will be contacted and given the person?’s address, date, time, and project they need done. Volunteers will be rotated to make sure everyone is given the chance to help out and we will make every effort to see that you are matched up with someone near your home. This is a great way to help out a neighbor in need and make new friends! Anyone interested should contact Patti Tucker at 366-0561.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS
Burglaries: Keep your cars and resident doors locked! There were a few burglaries in the community and these were due to residents leaving their car doors and entrance doors unlocked. New Castle County Police are urging everyone to always keep your car doors, entrance and back doors, sliding glass doors, and windows locked. For any non-emergency calls, dial 302-573-2800.
Speeding: County Police are monitoring vehicles speeding in the community and tickets are being issued. The Community speed limit is 25 mph!
On-Street Parking: The New Castle County Police are making random sweeps through the community and are ticketing those residents who continue to park in front of their homes against the normal flow of traffic. All vehicles are to be parked in the direction of the flow of traffic in front of homes or on either side of the street to avoid being ticketed.
Dogs: Complaints are being received regarding:
(1) Residents walking their dogs and not cleaning up after them. When walking dogs, take a plastic bag with you to clean up after them. Residents who do not own dogs should not have to clean up after yours!
(2) Dogs not on a leash in the Park. This is a County law and is enforceable. ALL dogs must be on a leash at all times especially in the Park.
Dirt bikes: The Police are aware of the dirt bikes, minibikes and motorized scooters being ridden in the Park, in the woods behind the Park and down the streets and sidewalks in the neighborhood. Parents, at no time are dirt bikes, minibikes, or motorized scooters allowed on the street, sidewalks, in the Park or in woods. This is a County violation and violators will be fined.
Skateboarding: The NCC Police are receiving complaints about children and young adults skateboarding in the street and across Tamara Circle. They are urging parents to stop this activity for the safety of the children.
Solicitations: There have been numerous independent businesses inundating the community regarding home repairs, etc. within the last few weeks. HHCA is in the process of having a NO SOLICITING sign posted at the entrance of the development. While this may not deter these businesses from going door-to-door, residents should purchase small ?“No Soliciting?” signs from any local home improvement center or make their own and post it outside the entrance door to keep the unwanted solicitor away from your home. While some solicitations may be valid, there are a few scams being run and it is the responsibility of every resident to demand identification from the person.
County Code Violations: Complaints are being received regarding non-upkeep of yards, homes and inoperable and untagged vehicles. These are County Code violations. Residents are urged to contact the County Code Enforcement Office at (302) 395-5555 if they see any violations. Calls are taken anonymously. The fine is $50 minimum per violation. We are urging all residents to comply with the County Code and clean up your yards, homes and remove all inoperable/untagged vehicles from your residences before complaints are called in and County action taken. As a reminder, it is not the responsibility of the HHCA officers to place these calls on the resident?’s behalf.

FALL COMMUNITY YARD SALE
Get ready to clear out your basement, closets, and sheds! Mark your calendars and call your family and friends! The Harmony Hills Community Fall Yard Sale will be held Saturday, September 12th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The rain date will be Saturday, September 19th same times.

The Community holds two yard sales a year - one in May and the other in September for all residents. The sales are advertised in the News Journal for three days prior to the sale as well as online and a sign is posted at the entrance to the community on Harmony Road. We are asking all residents to please refrain from holding individual yard sales and to participate in the Community sales for greater visibility. We are requesting that when you participate in the Community sale and have placed signs directing customers to your sale location that you take the signs down at the end of the day.

SIGN PLACEMENT IN HARMONY HILLS
This is a reminder that at no time should anyone place any signs in the island or attach them to the backs of the metal posted signs in the island. This includes independent yard sale signs, home remodeling, etc. Any signs found in, on or around the island other than for upcoming HHCA functions will be removed and notification will be sent. Signs depicting work being done by a reputable contractor in front of any residence should be removed upon completion of the project.

HEALTHY PET CLINIC
courtesy of Councilman David Tackett
Bring your pet to Faithful Friends Inc.?’s Healthy Pet Clinic. Rabies vaccinations $10, Distemper $10 & Microchips $20, Deworming $2 & Flea Treatment (prices listed onsite), low cost and free spay/neuter information provided as well.

When/Where: Two Saturdays a month for 2009 as follows?…

July 11: 9 a.m. ?– 11 a.m. Noon at Faithful
Inc. Animal Shelter, Wilmington
July 25: 9 a.m. ?– 11 a.m. at Boys & Girls Club,
Newark, DE
August 8: 9 a.m. ?– 11 a.m. Noon at Faithful Friends
Inc. Animal Shelter, Wilmington
August 29: 9 a.m. ?– 11 a.m. at Boys & Girls Club,
Newark, DE
September 12: 9 a.m. ?– 11 a.m. Noon at Faithful
Friends Inc. Animal Shelter, Wilmington
September 26: 9 a.m. ?– 11 a.m. at Boys & Girls
Club, Newark, DE
October 10: 10 a.m. ?– Noon at Faithful Friends
Inc. Animal Shelter, Wilmington
October 24: 10 a.m. - Noon at Boys & Girls Club,
Newark, DE
November 7: 10 a.m. ?– Noon at Faithful Friends
Inc. Animal Shelter, Wilmington
November 21: 10 a.m. ?– Noon at Boys & Girls
Club, Newark, DE
December 12: 10 a.m. ?– Noon at Faithful Friends
Inc. Animal Shelter, Wilmington

Don?’t forget! Bring your cat in a carrier and dogs on leashes. Questions? 302-427-8514 ext. 0

Faithful Friends Inc. is an animal welfare agency dedicated to bringing the national no kill movement to Delaware through advocacy, low cost spay/neuter for low income pet owners and free roaming cats, and adoption of homeless pets. We also bring therapy pets to special needs adults and children in Delaware. For Volunteer Opportunities call at 427-85414 Ext. 5

Website: www.faithfulfriends.us

WARM WEATHER SAFETY
courtesy of Councilman David Tackett
As the weather turns warm and we all are ready to spend some time outside, I would like to advise you all to be mindful and cautious at all times, no matter where you are.

During a recent meeting with Police Chief Gregory, I was briefed on how the warmer weather also increases their calls for service. The Chief showed me a report with the increases. Some people just left their windows open, the doors unlocked, and/or simply forgot to close their garage doors. I know often, and I am also guilty, we need to run a quick errand and think we will only be gone a few minutes. The robber looking to enter your home only needs a few minutes, as often these are career criminals. They know where to go and what to look for.

Another area the Chief shared with me, and I want to share with you, was that in at least two cases, teens were walking in and close to their neighborhoods when passing motorists made unsolicited offers to the kids for a ride. No one took the ride, everything was fine, and the police were notified of these incidents. I am sharing this with you only as a reference so that the next time you have the opportunity; please share this information with your children, family and friends that they always need to be aware of their surroundings.

Here are a few tips and guidelines to follow that will keep you safe:

1. Lock all doors and windows. Open garage doors, windows and unlocked doors provide easy access for any burglar. Statistically your home is most likely to be burglarized on a Monday or Friday, between late morning and late afternoon.
2. When you are not home, try to create the illusion that you are there by placing lights and TV?’s on timers.
3. Use motion sensors in and around your home. A thief likes to remain invisible.
4. Place alarm stickers on windows, even if you don?’t have an alarm.
5. Keep an eye out for solicitors. Many times a burglar will pose as a solicitor. Don?’t let anyone detain you at the front door as they may have an accomplice trying the back door.
6. Employ the buddy system. Ask neighbors to keep an eye on your house and report any suspicious activity to the police.
7. When on vacation, suspend mail and newspaper delivery. These items are an indication to a burglar that your home is vacant.
8. Always lock your car and garage door. Never leave the garage door opener in your car. Recently the County has seen some cases where the remote door opener has been removed from the car and then used to gain access to the house through the garage.

HARMONY HILLS BLOCK WATCH is always looking for new members. If you are interested in participating, contact Fred Maske at 737-3351.

HHCA NEWSLETTER
If you would like to advertise your company in the newsletter or know someone who would, please contact one of the officers. Advertisement cost: $25 per newsletter.

This newsletter partially funded by:

Jeff Craun
Diversified Technology Solutions
302-559-3593

Rob Tuschinski
MetLife Financial Advisor
302-781-1073