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Pleasant Ridge Estates Homeowners Association

Newsletter

PREHA NEWS

FINAL EDITION MAY 20, 2007

 

GATES

FIRST THE GOOD NEWS - NEW GATES AND A HYDRAULIC OPERATING SYSTEM WERE INSTALLED ON THE PRIMROSE ENTRANCE IN MARCH. YOU CAN NOW USE THE SAME BUTTON ON THE GATE OPENER TO OPEN BOTH THE MAIN GATES AND THE PRIMROSE GATES.  NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS - AFTER ONLY TWO MONTHS IN SERVICE ONE OF THE GATES WAS STRUCK BY AN INATTENTIVE DRIVER.  The GATE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE AND WILL PROBABLY NEED REPLACEMENT.  HOWEVER THERE IS A SILVER LINING, THE INCIDENT WAS CAUGHT ON OUR STATE OF THE ART VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM AND THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS IDENTIFIED.  THE DRIVER'S LIABILITY INSURER COVER THE COST OF REPLACING THE GATES.

 

NEW TRAFFIC SIGNS

NEW SPEED LIMIT TRAFFIC SIGNS AND “SLOW CHILDREN AT PLAY” TRAFFIC SIGNS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.  HOPEFULLY THIS WILL SLOW DOWN SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS AND GUESTS.  PLEASE FOLLOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT.  REMEMBER THAT SCHOOL IS OUT AND THERE WILL BE MORE CHILDREN AT PLAY. 

 

SPEED BUMPS 

SPEED BUMPS WILL BE INSTALLED AT BOTH ENTRANCES TO PLEASANT RIDGE IN AN EFFORT TO SLOW DOWN THE SPEED OF ENTERING VEHICLES.

 

DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS

PREHA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE PLAQUEMINES PARISH GOVERNMENT THAT DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE NORTHSIDE OF PLEASANT RIDGE ESTATES WILL BEGIN BY THE END OF MAY.  THE LOTS AFFECTED ARE LOTS NUMBERS 32 THRU 41.  IF YOU OWN ONE OF THESE LOTS AND YOU HAVE FENCING, STRUCTURES OR LANDSCAPING WHICH EXTEND INTO THE PARISH SERVITUDE, YOU MUST REMOVE THOSE ITEMS FROM THE SERVITUDE; OTHERWISE THE PARISH WILL REMOVE THEM AND DISPOSE OF THEM. 

 

STREET REPAIRS

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS IN THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING CURB AND STREET SECTIONS IN NEED OF REPAIR.  BIDS FOR REPAIRS WILL BE OBTAINED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. 

 

COVENANTS

PREHA’S COVENANTS CAN NOW BE VIEWED ON PREHA’S WEB SITE PREHA-LA.COM.  PLEASE REMEMBER TO CONSULT THE COVENANTS BEFORE UNDERTAKING ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION, REPAIRS, REMODELING, INSTALLATION OF OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT, LANDSCAPING, ETC. SINCE JANUARY 2007 TWENTY FIVE COVENANT VIOLATIONS HAVE BEEN NOTICED. THE BOARD DOES NOT TAKE PLEASURE IN HAVING TO ISSUE COVENANT VIOLATIONS, AND THANKS EVERYONE FOR THEIR PROMPT COOPERATION.

 

PREHA DIRECTORY

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THE DIRECTORY.  IN THE NEAR FUTURE YOU WILL RECEIVE A FORM TO FILL OUT FOR THE DIRECTORY.  PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO COMPLETE THE FORM AND RETURN IT WHERE INDICATED.  MAKE SURE TO PROVIDE US WITH AT LEAST ONE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU CHECK REGULARLY.  ALSO PROVIDE US WITH CURRENT CELL PHONE NUMBERS WHERE YOU CAN BE CONTACTED IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

 

LANDSCAPING

THE MAIN ENTRANCE WAS REFURBISHED WITH NEW PLANT MATERIAL AND MULCH GIVING OUR ENTRANCE A MUCH NEEDED UPDATING. A WORK DAY WAS HELD ON APRIL 21 TO WEED AND MULCH THE FRONT SHRUBBERIES. MANY THANKS TO ALICE & GENE IVY, RENE DEROJAS AND SONS, BAILEY FRIDGE, MARK MIRE, JOSETTE SEIFERT NICK SKANSI, AND MATTHEW TAULTON.

 

OUR LAWN MAINTENANCE WILL NOW BE DONE BY FISCHTZIUR’S LAWN & LANDSCAPING.

 

SUNSHINE COMMITTEE

THIS YEAR’S PREHA’S EASTER FESTIVITIES WERE CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER. PLEASE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT EVENT - NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME - TO TAKE PLACE IN EARLY AUGUST.  THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO MEET NEW NEIGHBORS AND GET REACQUAINTED WITH OLD ONES!

 

GARDEN OF THE MONTH FOR 2007

JANUARY – RUSTY & CHRISTINE KLINE

FEBRUARY – CLARENCE & CHARLINE  GUIDRY

MARCH – JERRY & MARY BETH  LOBRANO

APRIL – TOBY & CATHY WATTIGNEY

MAY – RENNY & SHARON JASPRIZA

JUNE -- BRUCE & SHERRIE RABY

JULY -- MIKE & REBA CONEFRY

 

PREHA’S WEB SITE

IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW PREHA HAS A WEB SITE WHICH CONTAINS ALL SORTS OF USEFULL INFORMATION AND WEB LINKS. THE WEB SITE ADDRESS IS PREHA-LA.COM.  PREHA NEWS IS POSTED REGULARLY.  IN THE FUTURE PLEASE CHECK THE WEB SITE FOR IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS FROM THE ASSOCIATION. PREHA NEWSLETTERS WILL NO LONGER BE PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED.  YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT THE BOARD VIA THE WEB SITE.  WE URGE YOU TO CONTACT THE BOARD IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WISH TO REPORT ANY PROBLEMS.

 

PREHA’S HURRICANE PLAN

PREHA’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS WORKING ON A PLAN OF ACTION TO PUT INTO EFFECT IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE. AS SOON AS THE PLAN IS COMPLETED IT WILL BE POSTED ON OUR WEB SITE AT PREHA-LA.COM.

 

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAMERA VIEWING

YOU CAN NOW ACCESS THE ENTRANCE AND EXIT SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS FROM ANYWHERE WITH ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.  CAMS CAN BE SEEN AS FOLLOWS:

1.         OPEN THE WEB BROWSER (INERNET EXPLORER)

2.         ON THE ADDRESS LINE TYPE 24.248.15.242

       OR GO TO IMPORTANT LINKS TAB ON PREHA’S WEBSITE

       AND CLICK ON SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

3.         CLICK “LIVE” BUTTON

4.         ON BOTTOM LEFT CHOOSE VIEW (SINGLE BOX, QUAD BOX, 9 BOXES, ETC)

5.         CHOOSE CAMERA NUMBER (1-12)

 

WELCOME TO ALL NEW PREHA MEMBERS

 

KATHLEEN & ALLEN KETNOR LOT #83

DRS. GILDA AND IVOR TREMONT LOT #73

JENNY AND THOMAS R. WHITTED LOT #67

 

 

 

PREHA News

October 2006

 

President’s Message

I don’t want to jinx us, but we are now four months into that season and still not a stiff wind, so keep doing whatever it is you are doing. I read the other day that we are now moving past the peak of the season, at least statistically, so maybe we will continue to have a quiet year.

There are a few things to cover, so let’s get started.

The PREHA Annual Meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 23, 2006 at 7:00 pm in the Belle Chasse Auditorium. This meeting will include the election of Board Members for 2007, the presentation of the 2007 operating budget, a guest speaker, and a discussion of any issues or business matters currently pending. All property owners are invited to attend.

With respect to the election of Board Members, at the present time, there are only seven candidates who have expressed an interest in running for a position on the Board. Since the Board is comprised of seven members, the declared candidates will be elected by acclamation unless additional owners declare their intention to run. If you are interested in running for a Board position, you have until 6:00 pm on Monday, October 9, 2006 to notify me of your intent to run. There is no formal filing procedure; you need only contact me at 394-7319. After that time and date, nominations will be closed.

Perhaps you have noticed some work that has occurred at the entrance gates to improve the security system for the subdivision. We have installed new digital cameras and recording equipment at both entrances that will document anyone entering or exiting the subdivision. This is an advanced system that will not only identify vehicles entering and exiting the subdivision, but will also video record the operators of the vehicles and the license plates of the vehicles. Although the system has not yet been fully turned over to us, when that occurs, the video images will also be accessible by residents using a personal computer with a wireless connection. When that is fully operative, we will provide you with instructions for access.

If you look carefully, you will also notice that two of the pillars that anchor the front perimeter fence have been repaired after being damaged in last year’s storm. We need to complete some painting, but the structural repairs have been completed.

 Along with the new video system, we are also striving to resolve the operating issues with the gates. While the Pleasant Ridge Drive gate has been functioning pretty well, we still have a few unresolved problems with the Primrose Drive service gate. We have completed some wiring repairs, but there are still a few bugs to be worked out. I should probably mention that there seems to be some degree of correlation between instances where the gate mechanisms are circumvented and the gates are propped open and in incidences of problems with the gates. To minimize this, if you need to have the gates opened for some special event, please contact me and I will take care of opening and closing the entrances.

 It has been a few months since I have discussed Covenant violations, but there a few complaints that need to be addressed. Here are some of the issues that have arisen:

 Pets.     All pets, and in particular, all dogs must be secured at all times within your residence, in a securely fenced back yard, or on a secure leash under your direct control. There are two general problems that have arisen. The first involves instances where owners are allowing their dogs to run loose in front yards, generally when the owner is present, but nevertheless in direct violation of the Covenants. The second involves the use of retractable leashes that allow the dog to stray beyond the secure control of the owner, by as much as 15 to 25 feet, albeit while still technically on a leash. These leashes present a safety risk to other persons in the subdivision and are not acceptable to secure the animal. Acceptable leashes are generally leather or nylon and should not exceed a length of 72 inches. Leashes exceeding 72 inches are not acceptable.

Also, if you walk your dog in the neighborhood, PLEASE CLEAN UP YOUR MESS!

Boats, Trailers, and Commercial Vehicles. This seems to be a recurring issue that will just not go away. The rules are simple. Boats, trailers, and commercial vehicles are prohibited from being parked in the subdivision unless they are stored within an enclosed garage or within a privacy fence enclosed back or side yard out of site. The only exceptions are for vehicles temporarily parked for “use preparation” and service and delivery vehicles parked during daylight working hours for as long as is necessary to complete the service or delivery. If you can drive by your home and can see your boat, trailer, or commercial vehicle from the street, you are in violation of the Covenants. This also includes any vehicles parked anywhere other than on your own residential property so if you park your boat on your neighbor’s vacant lot, you are in violation      

Fences.    After the storms last summer, a great number of fences in the subdivision had suffered damage and were in need of repair or replacement. Most of those repairs have been completed, but there are still several fences with missing sections and broken posts. In most instances, these broken fences are adjacent to shared property lines, so this problem not only affects the appearance of the fence owners’ properties, but the adjacent properties as well. If you had an ARC approved fence on your property prior to Katrina, it must be fully repaired or restored to its pre-storm condition or better. After 13 months, it’s time to complete those repairs.

 Landscaping.      Although I personally am not a fanatic about landscaping, there is, at a minimum, a need to make sure that lawns are regularly mowed, trimmed, and edged and that landscaped areas are reasonably well maintained. If someone mows your lawn, make sure they trim and edge and, if you do it yourself … well, you know what to do. Please try to keep the properties neat.

Contractor Work Hours.   Construction activities must be performed between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday through Saturday. No work may be performed at any other time, including Sunday and the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Mardi Gras, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. Notify your contractors of this rule.

Any day I do not have to notify someone about a violation is a good day for me, so if you are violating one of these rules, please save me some time and take the necessary corrective action.

Although I do not have the details, PREHA will be having a Halloween Party on Saturday, October 28th. (Before you look, LSU does not play that weekend!) Times and other details will be distributed to everyone when everything is set.

How ‘bout them Saints!

Lee Taulton

 

Don’t forget “PREHA Annual Meeting”

Monday, October 23, 2006

Belle Chasse Auditorium

8398 Hwy 23, Belle Chasse

 


 

Lawn Care Slowing Down, But Don’t Forget Proper Care For Grass During Fall

By Dan Gill
LSU AgCenter Horticulturist

Lawn care definitely changes as the weather begins to cool, and by October the growth of warm-season grasses like St. Augustine, centipede, bermuda and zoysia begins to slow down.

As a result, now is not a good time to do anything that would disrupt or damage the turf – such as filling, aerification or dethatching. Although we won’t have to mow as often, continue to mow regularly to maintain proper height and make sure your mower blades are still sharp.

By mid- to late November or December, most warm-season grasses will be completely or partially dormant – although St. Augustine may not go completely dormant during mild South Louisiana winters. This dormancy is important to their ability to survive potentially severe freezes during winter.

Applying any fertilizers high in nitrogen (the first number in the three numbers that appear on the package, such as 27-3-3) now would stimulate lush fall growth and make the grass more susceptible to cold injury this winter. In the case of St. Augustine, it also would make the grass more susceptible to attack from the fungus disease called brown patch during mild fall weather.

Although you don’t want to use fertilizers high in nitrogen, lawns may, however, be fertilized with winterizers that contain a high percentage of potassium at this time. The first number in the analysis of these fertilizers, which represents the percentage of nitrogen, should be zero or very small. The third number, which is the percentage of potash in the fertilizer, should be the highest – as in 0-0-20 for instance.

You may see winterizers available with substantial amounts of nitrogen in them. Do not purchase and use these! They are not suitable for our area.

Of course, unless your soil is very low in potassium, the use of winterizers generally is optional anyway.

Another thing you may want to get a jump on this time of year are the weeds. Cool-season weeds can be a nuisance in lawns. In most cases, mowing a few times during the winter and early spring tends to keep many weeds under control without the use of herbicides.

But for those of you who are more particular about the way the lawn looks – or if you have had especially bad weed problems in past winter and spring seasons – now is the time to start control efforts. The application of a preemergence herbicide (weed preventer) now will kill the germinating weed seeds before they come up. These herbicides prevent weed growth for several months and usually last through spring.

Just remember not to use these materials if you plan to overseed your lawn with rye.

Lawn weed killers may be sprayed on the lawn to control late-summer broadleaf weeds actively growing in the lawn now. There are many suitable formulations available which kill a wide range of weeds with a single product. Read the label directions carefully and make sure that the product you choose is appropriate to use on the type of lawn grass you have.

And since it’s too late to fertilize, the use of weed-and-feed herbicide and fertilizer combinations is not recommended.

Insect and disease problems also occur to lawns this time of year. Brown patch is the disease most common later as the weather cools, especially on St. Augustine. This fungus generally is most active in October, November and even early December in South Louisiana, especially during rainy periods.

Areas of grass affected by brown patch can have a yellowish or orange cast that then turns tan or brown. Spread can be rapid. Fortunately, the grass often recovers in the spring, but the disease also can kill the grass. If you decide to treat, fungicides labeled to control lawn diseases are available at your local nursery.

Another pest currently active, especially when hot, dry weather lingers into late September and October, is the chinch bug. These ant-sized insects feed by sucking the sap from the grass, causing it to dry out and die. Look closely at the blades of grass in the affected dead areas and see if they look rolled up lengthwise. Since chinch bugs kill the grass, prompt treatment is important to minimize the damage. A variety of lawn insecticides labeled to control chinch bugs are available wherever garden pesticides are sold.

If you are planning to lay new sod, do so as soon as possible. You need to have the newly laid sod down in time for it to grow roots and become established before the weather cools off too much.

Rye can be used to overseed existing lawns in October or November to extend the green color of the lawn through the winter. Remember that this also extends your lawn mowing. Annual rye or perennial rye are available, as well as blends containing perennial rye with bluegrasses and fescues. Annual rye is most commonly available and is suitable for most situations. Perennial rye and blends produce the higher-quality turf, but the seed is more expensive. Both types die when the weather gets hot and must be replanted every year.

As the weather cools down and we don’t have to mow so often, we will all be happy. But don’t let that change prevent you from paying attention to other things that your lawn may need over the next few months.

 

Here is a tasty snack for your next Halloween party!

Bat Wings with Swamp Dip

 

                                                20 chicken wings (3-1/2 pounds)
                                                1/2 cup soy sauce
                                                2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
                                                1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
                                                1 teaspoon five spice powder
                                                2 cloves garlic, minced
                                                Swamp Dip (recipe follows)

Place wings in a plastic bag set in a shallow dish. In a small bowl stir together soy sauce, ginger, crushed red pepper, five spice powder and garlic. Pour over wings. Close bag and toss to coat. Chill in refrigerator several hours or overnight, turning bag occasionally. Remove wings from bag, reserving marinade.

Place wings on a foil-lined 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Bake, uncovered, in a 450 degree F oven for 10 minutes. Brush with reserved marinade (discard remaining marinade). Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until chicken is tender and no longer pink. Serve with Swamp Dip.

Makes 20 appetizers.

Swamp Dip: In a small bowl stir together a 8-ounce container of dairy sour cream and 3 tablespoons coarse ground mustard. Garnish with fresh whole chives. Serve with bat wings.

 

PREHA ”Gardens of the Month”

 

Garden of the Month honors go to:

 

            August          Melvin & April Landry                   

                                    119 Primrose Drive

            September   Lewis & Sarah Fernandez          

                                    237 Lilly Bank Drive

 

Thank you for your efforts to bring beauty to the neighborhood.

This award is selected on the first Monday of each month by a independent, non-resident judge. Winners display the PREHA “Garden of the Month” sign in their yard for the entire month.

 

Three Jokes!!!

 A blonde, wanting to earn some money, decided to hire herself out as a handyman-type and started canvassing a wealthy neighborhood. She went to the front door of the first house and asked the owner if he had any jobs for her to do.

"Well, you can paint my porch. How much will you charge?"

The blonde said, "How about 50 dollars?"

The man agreed and told her that the paint and ladders that she might need were in the garage. The man's wife, inside the house, heard the conversation and said to her husband, "Does she realize that the porch goes all the way around the house?"

The man replied, "She should. She was standing on the porch."

A short time later, the blonde came to the door to collect her money.

"You're finished already?" he asked. "Yes," the blonde answered, "and I had paint left over, so I gave it two coats.”Impressed, the man reached in his pocket for the $50. "And by the way," the blonde added, "that's not a Porch, it's a Ferrari."

* * * * * * * * * *

 

The Pope dies and, naturally, goes to heaven. He's met by the reception committee and, after a whirlwind tour is told that he can enjoy any of the myriad recreations available.

He decides that he wants to read all of the ancient original text of the Holy Scriptures, and spends the next eon or so learning the languages. After becoming a linguistics master, he sits down in the library and begins to pore over every version of the Bible, working back from the most recent "Easy Reading" to the original script.

All of a sudden there is a scream in the library. The angels come running to him, only to find the Pope huddled in a chair, crying to himself, and muttering, "An 'R'! They left out the 'R'”.

God takes him aside, offering comfort and asks him what the problem is. After collecting his wits, the Pope sobs again, "It's the letter 'R'... the word was supposed to be CELEBRATE."

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

There was this guy at a bar, just looking at his drink. He stays like that for half of an hour.

Then, this big trouble-making truck driver steps next to him, takes the drink from the guy, and just drinks it all down. The poor man starts crying. The truck driver says, "Come on man, I was just joking. Here, I'll buy you another drink. I just can't stand to see a man cry."

"No, it's not that. This day is the worst of my life. First, I fall asleep, and I go late to my office. My boss, outrageous, fires me. When I leave the building, to go to my car, I found out it was stolen. The police said that they can do nothing. I get a cab to return home, and when I leave it, I remember I left my wallet and credit cards in the cab. The cab driver just drives away."

"I go home, and when I get there, I find my wife in bed with the gardener. I leave home, and come to this bar. And just when I was thinking about putting an end to my life, you show up and drink my poison."

 

July 2006

President’s Message


  I have been a little lazy this summer and have procrastinated in putting together a newsletter as long as I could, but we have a few things going on and I just have to sit down at my keyboard to begin writing. I hope everyone’s summer is going well … we are already two months into that season without even a stiff wind, so keep doing whatever it is you are doing. My summer is just flying by … it’s only two weeks until our son returns to school and only three weeks for our daughter.

 

 The biggest upcoming event is scheduled for next Tuesday, August 1st when we will again participate in the National Night Out Against Crime with a Block Party at the intersection of Pleasant Ridge and Primrose Drives. By now you should have received a flyer from our Sunshine Committee about this event asking that everyone join us by bringing food (Odd numbered houses bring salads or appetizers, even numbered houses bring desserts) for everyone to enjoy. There will be games for the kids and music for everyone. I expect that we may also receive a visit from our Sheriff, I.F. “Jiff” Hingle (since we are having the party practically in his backyard) and his deputies. Although the flyer indicates that the event will begin at 6:00 PM, there has been a slight change of plans. WDSU Television plans to do a live broadcast from our Block Party on both the 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM newscasts on Tuesday evening, so if you can, please plan to come early. And don’t forget to set your VCR so you can see yourself on television!

 

 This year’s Night Out Against Crime is particularly important because of several recent incidents in Pleasant Ridge Estates. I am aware of at least one home that was burglarized, three vehicles that were vandalized and property inside the vehicles was stolen, and one incident in which property was stolen from a house under construction. This is quite a bit of crime for a small subdivision, particularly when we all probably feel pretty safe in our cozy little community. We have fences and gates and security cameras and nearly every house is equipped with a security system, but probably the most important security devices we all have are our eyes and ears. You can do more to ensure the security of our neighborhood by keeping your eyes and ears open to what is going on around you than you can ever do with a gate or a security camera. An important aspect of knowing what is going on around you is getting to know your neighbors so you can recognize when there are unfamiliar people or vehicles in the neighborhood. The Night Out Against Crime Block Party is a perfect opportunity to get to know your neighbors and neighbors keeping alert eyes on each others’ properties will do a great deal to prevent neighborhood crime. I look forward to seeing all of you on Tuesday evening.

 

 We are once again approaching election of our Board of Directors for 2007. The election will be held at the Annual Meeting of PREHA in October (date and location not yet determined) so I am asking that anyone interested in running for a position on the Board to notify me of their intent. All seven Board positions are open and although some or all of the present Board members may run for reelection, there will be at least one position that needs to be filled due to the fact that Cindy Enright moved out of the subdivision several months ago. A year ago, I wrote a lengthy discourse in this newsletter on why I believe the Board elections are important, and I won’t rehash the issues at this time, but the Board elections are very important!

 

 If you look around the neighborhood, you see gates that work sporadically, outdated security camera systems, street lights that need to be replaced, missing signs, cracked streets, broken curbs, and any number of other items that need attention. These are normal signs of an aging subdivision and are not the result of inattention on the part of the current Board members or Officers because, given sufficient resources, there is no Board member or Officer who would not act to solve the problems. But the money is not always available and the people who sit on the Board are the people who are going to decide how to spend the available money and whether more money needs to be generated. You can participate in the process or not, but, believe me, the Board elections are very important!                                                              

 

 Karen Dugan has graciously offered to be responsible for maintaining the landscaping of the Cul De Sac “island” on Pleasant Ridge Drive, but she would like some help. The job basically involves trimming and maintaining the landscape plants, weeding the beds, and planting color. If you have a green thumb and are interested in helping out, please give Karen a call at 433-4134.

 

 We are in the process of changing our website. Although I do not believe it is fully activated, the new site will be www.preha-la.com. The webmaster assures me that the transfer of information from the old site will be completed soon, so take a look.

 

 I will see you on Tuesday evening. Don’t forget to set your VCR!

 

 Lee Taulton

 

 * * * * * * 

Here is a great nibble for your next backyard cookout!

 

Grilled Buffalo Wings

 

                                    18 Chicken Wings, split, discard tips

                                    8 Tbsp. (I Stick) Butter, cut into 1 “ pieces

                                    2 Cloves Garlic, chopped

                                    2 Tbsp. Tomato Paste

                                    1/2 Cup White Wine

                                    2 Tbsp. Distilled White Vinegar

                                   1/4 to 1/2 Cup Tabasco Sauce (depending on your     

                                    tolerance  for   heat)

 

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant but not brown, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add the wine and the vinegar and bring to a boil, whisking to dissolve the tomato paste. Add the Tabasco sauce and the remaining butter and simmer for 2 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Place the wings in a large plastic bag and add the sauce. Seal the bag and allow the wings to marinate at least 1 hour in a refrigerator.

Place the wings on a medium high grill and cook until the meat is done, basting the wings with the marinade. Turn the wings frequently so they do not burn and stop basting during the last minute or so that marinade is cooked and the skin is crisp.

Serve with blue cheese or ranch salad dressing and celery sticks.

 

* * * * * *

Dry Weather Makes Proper Watering Even More Important


Dry weather has been common around the state since last summer, and most of us have received less than the typical amount of rain this year.

Who knows how much rain will fall this summer? But one thing is fairly certain – we will need to water our landscapes during periods of hot, dry weather.

How often we need to water our landscapes varies depending on such factors as temperature, rainfall, humidity, season, plant material and light intensity. Plants need to be irrigated more frequently when the temperature is high, the plants are growing in full sun and there is a lot of root competition for the water in the soil (when a tree is nearby, for instance, or in a thickly planted bed).

Proper watering is a function of applying the right amount of water at the appropriate times.

Many gardeners tend to water lightly every day during dry weather, and the water does not penetrate deeply into the soil. Since roots only grow where there is adequate moisture, this results in a shallow root system. Shallow-rooted plants are unable to tap reserves of water deeper in the soil and are prone to drought stress in even brief dry periods.

In essence, when you water lightly every day your plants become dependent on you to water them constantly. Watering every day also increases the chances of foliar diseases and root or crown rots.

As relaxing as hand watering is to the gardener, it is not an effective way for most gardeners to irrigate plants growing in the ground. When we water by hand, we tend to apply water rapidly for a short period and then move on. To irrigate properly, water needs to be applied slowly over a sufficient period of time to allow the water to soak deep into the soil.

Enough water should be applied to penetrate into the soil about 6 inches to 8 inches to irrigate thoroughly. Applying about an inch of water to medium-textured soils generally will accomplish this. A thorough watering should not be necessary for established landscape plants more than once week.

Early morning is the preferred time to irrigate. This provides plants adequate moisture going into the hottest time of the day when they need it most, and sunlight helps the foliage dry rapidly – reducing the possibility of foliar disease problems. Despite what you may have heard, wetting the foliage of plants while the sun is shining on them will not burn the leaves. If sprinklers are used, watering in the early morning when it is cooler and humidity is high also reduces the amount of irrigation water lost to evaporation.

You can use a variety of methods to irrigate your landscape. These include soaker hoses, common hoses and sprinklers or even underground irrigation systems. You may even use different methods in different areas.

Soaker hoses are made of a material that oozes water slowly. They are ideal for irrigating flower beds, vegetable gardens and shrub plantings. These hoses apply water very efficiently, do not wet foliage – reducing potential disease problems – and can be left in place or moved easily.

Just remember, though, that soaker hoses must be laid fairly close to the plants to be effective, so snake them throughout a bed around the plants. When using soaker hoses, it may be helpful to pin the soaker hose in place with U-shaped pieces of wire to make the hose stay where you want it. Also, you can cover the soaker hoses over with mulch, so they are not noticeable.

The most common and popular method of landscape irrigation is sprinklers, which are also the only practical way to water lawns and large trees. Installed underground systems and hose-end sprinklers are the two basic types.

Underground systems are effective and convenient but expensive to purchase and generally must be installed professionally. Professional landscape irrigation system installers must be licensed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Ask to see a copy of the installer’s license to make sure the company or individual that installs your system is reputable and knows what they are doing.

Most home gardeners use hose-end sprinklers. They are less expensive and do not require professional installation. But they are inconvenient to use since they must be moved around to cover large areas and generally must be picked up after use.

No matter which method you’re using, you need to apply the appropriate amount of water.

To figure out how long to leave your sprinkler on to apply 1 inch of water, place several empty cans in the spray pattern of the sprinkler. Then turn on the sprinkler and check the time. When about an inch of water has accumulated in most of the cans, check the time again. The intervening time frame is how long it takes your sprinkler to apply an inch of water, so that’s about how long you should leave it on to thoroughly irrigate an area.

The best check of how thoroughly an area has been watered is to go back about 15 minutes after watering and dig into the soil with a trowel. Did the water penetrate 6 inches to 8 inches? Check several places. This procedure works to calibrate an installed irrigation system or hose-end sprinklers. It also can be used to determine how long to run your soaker hose if you dig and check within a few inches of the hose.

In some situations, such as on slopes and in heavy clay soils, the water may need to be added even more slowly to reduce runoff. It takes water longer to penetrate heavy clay soils than light sandy soils. In these case, you may need to run the sprinkler in cycles – 10 minutes to 15 minutes and then off for 15 to 20 minutes – until an inch of water is applied.

Finally, don’t forget to keep your landscape beds and vegetable gardens well mulched. A layer of mulch covering the soil surface cuts down on evaporation, conserves soil moisture and reduces the frequency of watering.

  

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PREHA ”Gardens of the Month”

 Garden of the Month honors go to:

 

            April               Don & Phyllis Easley                     

                                    148 Pleasant Ridge Drive

            May                Joseph & Sandra Giardina         

                                    136 Pleasant Ridge drive

            June               Bob & Rita White                           

                                    101 Pleasant Ridge Drive

            July                Patrick & Karen Dugan                

                                    180 Pleasant Ridge Drive

Thank you for your efforts to bring beauty to the neighborhood.   This award is selected on the first Monday of each month by a independent, non-resident judge. Winners display the PREHA “Garden of the Month” sign in their yard for the entire month.

 

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Don’t forget “National Neighborhood Night Out Against Crime”

Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Intersection of Pleasant Ridge & Primrose Drives

On “Live TV” WDSU at 5:00 PM

Food, Beverages, Music, & Games

 

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Two Jokes!!

One afternoon, a wealthy lawyer was riding in the back of his limousine when he saw two men eating grass by the road side. He ordered his driver to stop and he got out to investigate.

"Why are you eating grass?" he asked one man.
"We don't have any money for food." the poor man replied.
"Oh, come along with me then."
"But sir, I have a wife with two children!"
"Bring them along! And you, come with us too!", he said to the other man.
"But sir, I have a wife with six children!" the second man answered.
"Bring them as well!"

They all climbed into the car, which was no easy task, even for a car as large as the limo. Once underway, one of the poor fellows says, "Sir, you are too kind. Thank you for taking all of us with you."

The lawyer replied, "No problem, the grass at my home is about two feet tall!"

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 After getting nailed by a Daisy Cutter, Osama Bin Laden made his way to the pearly gates. There, he is greeted by George Washington.

"How dare you attack the nation I helped conceive!" Washington, slapping Osama in the face.

Patrick Henry comes up from behind. "You wanted to end the Americans' liberty, so they gave you death!" Henry punches Osama on the nose.

James Madison comes up next, and says "This is why I allowed the Federal government to provide for the common defense!" He drops a large weight on Osama's knee.

Osama is subject to similar beatings from James Monroe, and 67 other people who have the same love for liberty and America. As he writhes on the ground, Thomas Jefferson picks him up to hurl him back toward the gate where he is to be judged.

As Osama awaits his journey to his final very hot destination, he screams - "this is not what I was promised!"

An angel replies "I told you there would be 72 Virginians waiting for you… What the hell did you think I said?