Braeburn Valley News

October/November 2002

Published by the Braeburn Valley Homeowners Association, Inc.

This version has been edited to remove last names and addresses

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

COME VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE AT WWW.BRAEBURNVALLEY.COM

AVR Management (281) 481-8062

Security Sure—Patrol (713) 778-1233

Republic Waste (281) 446-2030

Harris County Tax Assessor

Paul Bettencourt (713) 755-5288

www.tax.co.harris.tx.us

Mayor’s Office (713) 247-2200

Council Member Goldberg (713) 247-3991

Houston Police Department (713) 222-3131

Neighborhood Protection 311

Public Works & Engineering 311

September 2002

Another summer behind us and what a great summer it was. Great activities and a lot of fun was had by many homeowners at our pool this year. Lots of new people in our area using the pool. I hope everyone has had a chance to visit our new website. If you haven’t please do. There is a lot of information on the website waiting for you to view.

Summer is a great time to have a lot of changes made to the outside of your houses, but I want to remind you once again, you must fill out an ACC form before, re-roofing or painting the outside of your home. Many people act surprised when they find out that the paint and roof colors are not approved colors for our area. If you are planning any work please submit your ACC application to AVR Management Consultants. This has been our procedure for quite a few years now. Please do not contact board members, please submit to the management company, so these can be dated, stamped and logged into the system. Thanks to all for your cooperation, it saves us all time and headaches.

This is yet another reminder to ask all homeowners to keep your garage doors down when not outside. We ask that you put your cars in your garage or driveway and out of the street. It has been brought to our attention that our residents are leaving their keys, cell phones, loose change, CD’s, purses, etc. in their unlocked cars in their driveway and in cars parked on the street. These are all problems waiting to happen. Vandalizing of cars is preventable. Please put your cars in your garage, so we can stop some of these crimes of opportunity from happening.

If any of our residents have need to call HPD, please make sure after you talk to the police that you notify our Security Patrol. Please just call Security and tell them about your problem. You do not have to have them come out if you do not choose to do so. By reporting all problems to Security, we can tell instantly if we are having a big problem in the area so that we can act on it in a timely manner.

The ground that is being cleared next to St. Albert’s Church on Gessner is the site for yet another apartment complex being built in our area. I am working with other community leaders in our area to see if we can discourage the developer from building something that is not needed at all in our community.

I hope all residents will come out and support Fun Day in The Park, October 19th, 12pm to 5pm at Marian Park; there will be food, fun, games and entertainment. Something for everyone. This fundraiser is for New Braeswood Revitalization Association to raise money to help beautify the esplanades in Fondren Southwest area.

On November 9th at Wal-Mart, the HPD Storefront Fundraiser from 11am to 3pm, come join us. We will be fingerprinting the children and many more activities; we can use your support. Please join us.

Please plan to attend our Homeowners Annual Meeting October 29th at 7pm at the Braeswood Assembly of God Church, Fondren at Creekbend.

See you there - - - Ruth

All people working or playing outdoors are still advised to use OFF repellent spray or other measures to protect themselves. A neighbor who called Harris County on October 2nd to report two dead birds was advised that several calls have been received from zip code 77071.

Your Braeburn Valley Homeowners Association has paid for seven days a week spraying for mosquitoes in August and September and will continue to do so while there is a danger to our residents.

OK, Mosquitoes… prepare to be repelled!!!

Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets… Best thing ever used in LouIsiana.. Just wipe on & go… Great for Babies

Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitamin B-1 tablet a day April through October. He said it works. He was right. The odor the tablet gives out through your skin ( YOU can not smell it) repels mosquitoes, black flies, no seeum’s and knat’s. It does not work on stinging insects. Hasn’t had a mosquito bit in 33 years. Try it. Everyone he has talked into trying it works on them. Vitamin B-1( Thiamine Hydrochloride 100mg.)

NPR reports that if you eat bananas, the mosquitoes like you, something about the banana oil your body processes it. ( Maybe they need the potassium too) Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitoes will be much less interested.

This is going to floor you, but one of the best insect repellents someone found( who is in the woods every day), is Vick’s Vaporub.

Plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off a smell that bugs do not like, so plant some in that garden also to help ward off bugs without using insecticides.

"Tough guy" Marines who spend a great deal of time "camping out" say that the very best mosquito repellant you can use is Avon’s Skin– so Soft bath oil mixed about half and half with alcohol.

One of the best natural insect repellants is made from the clear real vanilla ( not the grocery store vanilla extract which is mostly alcohol). This is the pure vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It’s cheap there if you know of someone that lives there or in the US close to the border. If not, health food stores usually carry it or can order it for you. Use half vanilla and half water and it works great for mosquitoes and ticks

When all else fails- - - - get a frog

Sunday, October 27th at 6:00pm - Leader will be NeNe Glenn— ( 713-484-7700 for information)

PLEASE COME DRESSED IN YOUR COSTUMES. A PRIZE WILL BE AWARED TO THE PERSON IN THE BEST COSTUME.

We will be having the children on the hayride judge our Fall decorating contest.

JOIN IN THE FUN WITH US!

Meets Thursday, November 7th from 7:00pm to 9:00 pm. Dinner will be provided, but you must make reservations by calling 713-484-7700. PLEASE BRING A ONE PAGE BOOK REPORT OF YOUR BOOK.

Braeburn Valley will once again have our Annual Holiday Decorating Contest. Lets make Braeburn Valley even prettier than last year. If you plan on winning first prize, have your house ready for the judging by December 15th at 6:00pm.

We will be out singing the night of the 15th of December. If you would like to join with them, or have the group stop by your house, or block party call at number 713-484-7700 Gene Yi, Social Director

By Mary Ann Waite

I would like to share with you some "Gifts in a Jar" that you can make for holiday gift giving. Cut out 8’ circles of holiday fabric, cover the top of the jar and secure with a rubber band. Tie a ribbon or raffia around the fabric then discard the rubber band. These are great to have on hand to give to friends, neighbors, teachers, or co-workers.

1– bag of candy corn

1– jar dry roasted peanuts

1– bag chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients in to a bowl and mix well. Pour into a pint or quart jars. This is an easy one for the kids to give and the mix tastes like your eating a candy bar!

1/4 cup vanilla chips

1/2 cup chopped pecans toasted* and cooled completely

1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries

1/2 cup buttermilk biscuit baking mix ( I prefer Pioneer brand )

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup buttermilk baking mix

In 1-quart wide-mouth glass jar, gently layer and pack ingredients in the order listed, beginning with the vanilla chips. If there is any space left after adding the last ingredient, add more vanilla chips or pecans to fill jar. Place lid on top.

• Attach gift tag with preparation instructions and decorate as desired.

GIFT TAG: To make White Christmas bars: Empty contents of jar into a medium bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup ( 1 stick) melted butter, 1 large egg and 1 tephpoon vanilla. Press into an 8– inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 22 minutes or until bars are light golden brown and center is almost set. Makes 16 bars. ( These are my grandson’s favorite! ) *NOTE: To toast pecans, place in a microwave—safe dish and microwave on High for 4 minutes, stirring every minute.

1 package ( 1.61 OZ.) Pioneer Regular or No– Fat Brown Gravy Mix

2 tablespoons mild red chili powder

2 tephpoons dried oregano leaves

1 tephpoon ground cumin ( optional )

1 tephpoon dried minced onion

1/2 tephpoon garlic salt

10 to 12 regular - size tortilla chips, coarsely crushed

1 to 1 1/4 cups uncooked small to medium—size pasta

( such as wheels, shells, macaroni) ( I use Texas shaped pasta by Skinner.)

Pour gravy mix into a wide mouth pint jar. In a small bowl, stir together chili powder, oregano, cumin, onion, and garlic salt. Make second layers of tortilla chips and pasta to fill jar. Seal with lid. Attach gift card ( below) and decorate jar as desired. GIFT TAG: Brown 1/2 lb. ground beef in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add contents of Jar and 7 cups of water; heat to boil. Add can (15oz). corn with red and green bell peppers and 1 can (16 oz.) chopped tomatoes. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25 – 30 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. Serve with crushed tortilla chips and shredded Monterey jack cheese, if desired. Makes 6 servings.

Our guest speakers for our October 29th Annual Meeting will have as the topic "Share the Memories". We are especially wanting everyone who has lived in Braeburn Valley for over 25 years to attend this special meeting to help share the memories. All of our guest speakers have lived here more than 40 years !! Sonny ( Cabby) Cabiness is the very first person to buy a home in Braeburn Valley– he moved in December 1959. Jeannie Pierce moved in February 1961, Foster and Mary Ann Wick moved in August 1961, and James & Ginger Yarbrough moved here in August 1962. They will all tell some wonderful and funny stories for all the newcomers ( living here less than 25 years!) There will also be pictures to look at– you won’t believe how these houses looked without any trees planted!! I hope we have a good turnout because it will be a fun meeting. We’ll have refreshments and door prizes too!

Thank you,

Mary Ann Waite

For those who want more "Gifts in a Jar" recipes, I will have a sign-up sheet at the October 29, 2002 Annual Meeting.

LAWNS STARTING FROM $20 IN BRAEBURN VALLEY. WE WILL BEAT YOUR ACTUAL PRICES!!!!

INCLUDES CUTTING, EDGING, BLOWING & BAGGING.

The following is a summary of the security report provided by Security Sure for the month of September 2002.

7 Alarms

2 Burglaries

1 Burglary of Vehicle

1 Attempted Burglary

4 Information Calls

2 Solicitors

1 Suspicious Act

1 Suspicious Person

Total = 19