October 2014 Volume 2, Issue 10Official Publication of Park Lakes Property Owners Association
Many moons ago in Australia, I once had an American girlfriend who was single like me at the time and try as a I might each weekend to plan a social outing together, more often than not I was jilted for her volunteering commitments. Even though I was selfishly frustrated in lacking my weekend -buddy -time, I had to admit I was respectful and impressed by my friends enthusiastic fervor to her volunteering. She had a great social life and had fun with all her like-minded friends. She wasn’t a casual volunteer; she was a ‘lifer’.
Living a busy life in a big city didn’t stoke my volunteering instincts at the time until I went traveling and lived abroad. Only then did I come to understand the rewards of volunteering. Actually, at the time it never occurred to me that I was ‘volunteering’ my time and talents. I was simply helping in what was my passion. It was meaningful and I had a connection to the cause that made me driven.
Being passionate and caring about certain things can inadvertently lead to volunteering such as abandoned or hurt animals, the struggling poor and the
elderly, war vets, politics, schools, churches, community local fairs and fundraisers, orphanages, hospitals, uniting people from diverse backgrounds, the list goes on and every day we are touched by and see a need greater than ever and always greater than our own.
Volunteering means different things to different people but the common denominator is no financial gain which means
switching out of a material mindset and devoting precious spare minutes in our hectic lives to
helping others and organizations. You can start in your own backyard, your own
community, if only in many small ways that may lead to lifelong
volunteering. You can serve on an as-needed basis. Any selfless effort big or small does make a difference and together strengthens the community.
We need only hark back to our forefather’s days before the
government social security era to remind us that they survived
and relied heavily on the charity of others, poor or rich at a community
Park Lakes Property Owners AssociationRealManage/Agent ..............................................(866) 473-2573SplashPad Texas Onsite Office .............................(281) 441-3557Recreation Center Onsite Office..........................(281) 441-9955Gate Attendant ....................................................(281) 441-1089Houston National Golf Club ..............................(281) 304-1400
Utilities Comcast (Customer Service) ...............................(713) 341-1000Electricity (TXU) ................................................(800) 368-1398Gas (Centerpoint) ...............................................(713) 659-2111Trash (Republic Waste) ........................................(281) 446-2030 Water & Sewer (EDP Water District) ..................(832) 467-1599Phone Service (Embarq) ......................................(877) 213-1053Electricity (Centerpoint–Report street light outage) .......(713) 207-2222Texas One Call System (Call Before you Dig)........................ 811
Property Tax AuthoritiesHarris County Tax...............................................(713) 368-2000Harris MUD #400 ..............................................(281) 353-9809
Public ServicesUS Post Office .....................................................(281) 540-1775Toll Road EZ Tag ................................................(281) 875-3279Voters/Auto Registration .....................................(713) 368-2000Drivers License Information ................................(281) 446-3391Humble Area Chamber .......................................(281) 446-2128
Police & FireEmergency ............................................................................ 911Constable/Precinct 4 (24-hr dispatch) .................(281) 376-3472Harris Co. Sheriff’s Dept./Prec 4, Dist 2 (24-hr) ........ (713) 221-6000Eastex Fire Department .......................................(281) 441-2244Emergency Medical Service ................................ (281) 446-7889Poison Control ....................................................(800) 222-1222Humble Animal Control .....................................(281) 446-2337Texas DPS ...........................................................(281) 446-3391
Area HospitalsRenaissance Northeast Surgery ............................(281) 446-4053 Kingwood Medical Center ..................................(281) 348-8000Northeast Medical Center Hospital .....................(281) 540-7700 Memorial Hermann Hospital (The Woodlands) .......(281) 364-2300
Public SchoolsHumble ISD .......................................................(281) 641-1000 Park Lakes Elementary (K-6) ...............................(281) 641-3200Humble Middle School (7-8) ..............................(281) 641-4000 Summer Creek High School (9-12) .....................(281) 641-5400
Private SchoolsHoly Trinity ........................................................(281) 459-4323 St. Mary Magdalene Catholic ..............................(281) 446-8535The Christian School of Kingwood .....................(281) 359-4929Humble Christian School ....................................(281) 441-1313
HELPFUL PHONE NUMBERS BOARD MEMBERSLinda Houston – Land Tejas – President (Voting Member)Thomas Mosa - Homeowner - 1st Vice President (Voting Member)……………………………………[email protected] Brende - Land Tejas – 2nd Vice President (Voting Member)Rachel Gwin - Land Tejas – Secretary (Voting Member)Raj Allada - Homeowner – Treasurer (Voting Member) ………………………………………[email protected] Smith-Tolbert- Homeowner (non-voting member) …………………………………[email protected] Cross -Homeowner (non-vo t ing member ) …………………………………[email protected] Clay-Lewis-Homeowner (non-voting member) …………………………………[email protected] Ramdass-Homeowner (non-voting member) …………………………………[email protected] Williams-Homeowner (non-voting member) …………………………………[email protected]
TO CONTACT THE BOARD:Please address the Board of Directors via your representative,
OCT. 25.......................................................Fall Festival @ Sports Pavilion 2:30PM
DEC. 13..........................................Cookies with Santa @ Club House 2:30PM
PARK LAKES EVENTCALENDAR 2014
AS A REMINDERThe EZ TAG LANE is for EZ Tag access ONLY (Registration
OF RESIDENTS is required). Residents with a Park Lakes vehicle sticker that do not have EZ Tags may enter through the covered drive lane nearest the building and stop TO REGISTER WITH THE ATTENDANT. Visitors must enter through the visitor lane nearest the building and stop for the gate attendant’s assistance. For EZ Tag registration please visit the clubhouse office or call 281-441-9955.
Important Trash Information
Please remember that unless it is trash pick up day, your trashcans (and any bags of trash) must be placed out of public view. Do not store your trashcans in front of your garage or on the side of your home - your neighbors don’t want to see your garbage either!
PARK LAKES TRASH PICK-UP SCHEDULEREPUBLIC WASTE
281-446-2030Mondays and Thursdays
Trash containers must be at curb by 7AM on Mondays and Thursdays
Note: Thursdays - Heavy pick up day
level. People rallied to help others who were strugglers themselves. Out of necessity during the mid 1800’s and The Depression saw the rise of the
mighty Salvation Army. We learn from these tireless good souls what it means to give and help freely.
The ethos “giving back to the community” should come from a desire of free will, to want to give something and not the connotation that suggests obligation. How can we ‘give back to
the community’; by saving on resources that may include supporting families and youth, beautifying the community, protecting the wildlife, health forums, helping day care centers or improving schools. There are a lot of lonely people out there who would welcome feeling needed and appreciated as volunteers or receiving the same.
Not all volunteering scenarios are positive experiences and some maybe challenging but they can be profound learning experiences that deliver great satisfaction nonetheless. I recall my volunteer experience in a Guatemalan orphanage. Emotions ran high and my heart crushed at the day’s end over the numbed children, starved of the basics in life, one meal a day, unaccustomed
to affection and playtime but finding comfort from each other during nit removal from their scalps. Was I emotionally
drained of energy? Yes. Did I scratch phantom nits afterwards? Yes. Did I achieve great satisfaction through learning child skills, formulating creative play, giving cuddles and witness the childish joy leap out of children
seemingly older than their years? Absolutely!Volunteering does have its rewards. For our kindness, we
receive in kind. It promotes self-worth and confidence, you can discover more about yourself and talents you may not have been aware of. It can take you out of the daily norm and associated stresses. There are the networking and connections aspect for your working life. New friends and a broader social life can evolve. When you give of your time and helpfulness it gives back to you a genuine gratefulness. With this ‘feel good’ feedback and quality time spent, do we need any more reasons to volunteer other than it is healthy and rewarding for all of us?
Ready to sell your house?Call Me Today for your free,
no obligation market analysis.
Nina Davis-Smith, Broker,CNEYour Park Lakes Expert!
2012 & 2013 Five Star Award Winner for Texas Certified Negotiation Expert
Specialist in Short Sale Properties
Direct: 281.658.1979 ∙ www.har.com/ninasmith Give us a call at 713-419-2653 or visit us at: www.nixonassistedliving.com. Also, visit us on Facebook.
NixoN Assisted L iv iNg of HoustoNYour Home Away From Home
If your love one can no longer independently care for themselves
and need someone to give medications, bathe and cook
we are the home for them.
OUR SEPTEMBER Yard of the Month
WINNERCongratulations are in order to Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Adams
at 9726 Lansing Meadows located in the Estates at Park Lakes!
Stay tuned for more Yard of the Month contest!
To report a street light that is not working, call Centerpoint Energy at 713-207-2222. You will need to provide them with the number located at the base of the pole and the street address.
You can also report outages on online at www.centerpointenergy.com/outage.
Please respect your neighbors’ yards and their personal space….remember that pets must be confined to a fenced backyard or within the house and must not be allowed to bark all night or cause a nuisance to your neighbors. They must also be on a leash at all times when not in a contained environment. It is also the pet owner’s responsibility to keep ALL areas of the community FREE from pet debris when walking your pets. Please remember that cats must also be confined.
NOW - NOV 14, 2014* IN QUALIFYING SYSTEMS AND UNIT COMPONENTS
ENERGY SAVINGSMAINTENANCE AGREEMENT
$139 $159 VALUE, PRICE IS PER SYSTEM,
MULTI SYSTEMS & MULTI YEAR DISCOUNTS
1-SPRING A/C CLEAN AND CHECK1-FALL HEAT CLEAN AND CHECKPLUS 10% OFF ALL FLAT REPAIRS& ADDITIONAL EQUIP. DISCOUNTS
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SPLASH PAD CABANA RENTALS
SplashPad Texas has an extended covered patio area that residents can reserve for private parties. Residents may reserve that area with or without the kitchen facility for a nominal fee during the winter season of October 1 through April 30.
SplashPad Texas is open from 10am to 5pm from October 1 until April 30. A maximum of two parties at 4 hours each is available.
Please contact Tira Lopez at the SplashPad Texas office at 281-441-3557 for further details.
PARK LAKES SPLASH PAD HOURS
Business Office (2nd Floor) PHONE: 281-441-3557
HOURS: Winter Hours (not daylight savings time)
Tuesday through Saturday - 9:00am until 5:00pm
Daylight Savings Time HoursTuesday through Saturday - 10:00am until 6:00pm
HUMBLE ISD SCHOOL HOURS
PRE- K Morning - 8-11am
Afternoon - 12:20-3:20pm
KINDERGARTEN 8am - 1:50pm
GRADE 1-58am - 3:20pm
MIDDLE SCHOOL 8:35am - 3:55pm
HIGH SCHOOL 7:25am - 2:45pm
For middle and high school students, late arrival/early release/campus bell schedules will be announced by the schools.
DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser.* The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising.* Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction.* Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above.
The Park Lakes Newsletter is a private publication published by Peel, Inc. It is not sanctioned by any homeowners association or organization, nor is it subject to the approval of any homeowners association or organization, nor is it intended, nor implied to replace any publication that may be published by or on behalf of any homeowners association or organization. At no time will any source be allowed to use The Park Lakes Newsletter contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from Peel, Inc. The information in the newsletter is exclusively for the private use of Peel, Inc.
BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS
Business classifieds (offering a service or product line for profit) are $50, limit 40 words, please contact Peel, Inc. Sales Office @ 512-263-9181 or [email protected].
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