Thanks to all the neighbors who participated in giving our road some attention this weekend. Lots of trash pick-up, some tree trimming and brush collecting have made a big difference.
Note: If you trimmed branches along the roadside, please collect them and take them to the dump on your next dump run. Dry tree limbs and branches left on the ground do present a fire hazard, especially during these dry and windy days.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Summer Solstice Road Clean-Up This Saturday
Just a reminder that the annual road clean-up is this Saturday. Please try to find an hour or so out of your busy weekend to collect trash, load up brush for the dump and trim out overgrowth along our road's edges. Thanks in advance to everyone who is participating in keeping our community clean and safe!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Bear visitation on Cresta Pequena
Dawn C. at 39 CP reports she nearly bumped into a bear this morning in her yard about 5:15 AM (it was gone by the time she got her camera), and her neighbor Trish T. told her their garbage cans had been knocked over and ransacked. Guess it's that time of year again; remember to secure your trash and compost bins and pay attention to early-morning dog barking. Here's NM Game & Fish info:
www.wildlife.state.nm.us/education/wildlife_notes/documents/NoteBlBearSm.pdf
www.wildlife.state.nm.us/publications/documents/BearsAlive.pdf
And finally, "If you see a bear and consider it a safety threat, please contact your local Department of Game and Fish conservation officer, police or sheriff's office. You also can call the Department office in Santa Fe at (505) 476-8000, or area offices in Albuquerque, Raton, Roswell and Las Cruces, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday."
www.wildlife.state.nm.us/education/wildlife_notes/documents/NoteBlBearSm.pdf
www.wildlife.state.nm.us/publications/documents/BearsAlive.pdf
And finally, "If you see a bear and consider it a safety threat, please contact your local Department of Game and Fish conservation officer, police or sheriff's office. You also can call the Department office in Santa Fe at (505) 476-8000, or area offices in Albuquerque, Raton, Roswell and Las Cruces, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday."
New Neighbors...!
Renee Lynn photographed these pups from her sunroom on Sunday. If you look closely at the top photo you can discern an adult watching from the shadows.
Three adults and three puppies came around the bird feeder, checked out the gopher holes and took a drink at the fountain while Lizzy was napping in the window.
Renee
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Neighbors Make It Happen
Just a note to say that it's really gratifying to see the residents move forward to follow up with issues that concern them...and all of us. LPS resident Booth Gallett is working with County Commissioner Kathy Holian to petition the NM DOT to reduce the speed limit on OLVH above Apache Ridge Road, instead of below it. Numerous near-misses at our intersection make this a no-brainer. The board is preparing a resolution to send to Commissioner Holian so that she can work "within the system" if possible to make this happen.
The burglary at #47 confirmed many neighbors' worst fears: a very long delay in response time from the Sheriff's Dept. ... the deputy was sent to Apache Plume instead of Apache Ridge and took over an hour to arrive at the house...even with the homeowner giving direct step by step directions. Follow-up: Wilowa resident David Kice sent an email to both Cpl Pacheco and Sgt Coleman, who are referenced in previous posts as being involved in neighborhood relations, discussing this long lag time and asking for ways it can be improved. At least we can start by getting our neighborhood on their radar!
Finally, LPS resident Casey Ryan has offered his assistance in working with the board and other interested residents to move forward with title guy Steve Riemann, who spoke at our meeting last week, to sort through 30 years of legal documentation on the road easement, with the goal of getting more voluntary compliance on contributing to the road maintenance fund.
Candelora had visited with the Santa Fe County Attorney last fall to discuss all this documentation, with the goal of sorting it out and clarifying neighborhood rights and responsibilities...the only way to make this happen is with the assistance of a few committed individuals who will stick with the process.
It's gratifying to see how many residents are willing to step up and move forward. Thank you, to everyone.
The burglary at #47 confirmed many neighbors' worst fears: a very long delay in response time from the Sheriff's Dept. ... the deputy was sent to Apache Plume instead of Apache Ridge and took over an hour to arrive at the house...even with the homeowner giving direct step by step directions. Follow-up: Wilowa resident David Kice sent an email to both Cpl Pacheco and Sgt Coleman, who are referenced in previous posts as being involved in neighborhood relations, discussing this long lag time and asking for ways it can be improved. At least we can start by getting our neighborhood on their radar!
Finally, LPS resident Casey Ryan has offered his assistance in working with the board and other interested residents to move forward with title guy Steve Riemann, who spoke at our meeting last week, to sort through 30 years of legal documentation on the road easement, with the goal of getting more voluntary compliance on contributing to the road maintenance fund.
Candelora had visited with the Santa Fe County Attorney last fall to discuss all this documentation, with the goal of sorting it out and clarifying neighborhood rights and responsibilities...the only way to make this happen is with the assistance of a few committed individuals who will stick with the process.
It's gratifying to see how many residents are willing to step up and move forward. Thank you, to everyone.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Additional Security Info
With the news that, in addition to the break-in, another resident "lost" a log-splitter from his yard yesterday, it's understandable that folks are edgy. I'm getting a lot of emails offering sympathy to the burglary victims yesterday, some notes on suspicious vehicle activity and some suggestions for better security similar to what's been posted.
Commissioner Kathy Holian sent me information just a couple weeks ago about rising crime in her neighborhood (Glorieta Heights) and notes from a talk her community had, also at Hondo 2, with Sgt. Clifton Coleman from the Sheriff's Dept. (986-2467).
Among his advice was the following: There is no such thing as a nosy neighbor. Know what your immediate neighbors look like and what they drive. Have meetings and share stories. He also encouraged residents to call or email him DIRECTLY rather than go thru dispatch for fast response. You can also email him photos of suspicious vehicles.
According to Sgt Coleman, the average age of the bad guys is 27; they scope out neighborhoods between 9:00 and 11:00 AM. If you see something suspicious at or near your home, push your car alarm button, use your car horn, take a photo with your cell phone of the license plate or the driver, or use a whistle.
On the other hand, Cpl Pacheco, who spoke to our community last week, said there's a lot you can do to slow down the bad guys but that doesn't mean you won't get broken into just the same. The main thing to consider is that they want to move quickly before someone comes home; if you make it hard for them to get in—and make it hard for them to find your valuables once they're in the house—you might have a better chance of deterring them.
If anyone remembers seeing anything or anyone out of the ordinary yesterday morning between 9:30 and 12:30 on the first half-mile of the road, be sure to let us know; we can pass it along to the folks at #47 and their detectives.
Thanks!
UPDATE ON THE LOG-SPLITTER: the residents found what look like ATV tracks.
Commissioner Kathy Holian sent me information just a couple weeks ago about rising crime in her neighborhood (Glorieta Heights) and notes from a talk her community had, also at Hondo 2, with Sgt. Clifton Coleman from the Sheriff's Dept. (986-2467).
Among his advice was the following: There is no such thing as a nosy neighbor. Know what your immediate neighbors look like and what they drive. Have meetings and share stories. He also encouraged residents to call or email him DIRECTLY rather than go thru dispatch for fast response. You can also email him photos of suspicious vehicles.
According to Sgt Coleman, the average age of the bad guys is 27; they scope out neighborhoods between 9:00 and 11:00 AM. If you see something suspicious at or near your home, push your car alarm button, use your car horn, take a photo with your cell phone of the license plate or the driver, or use a whistle.
On the other hand, Cpl Pacheco, who spoke to our community last week, said there's a lot you can do to slow down the bad guys but that doesn't mean you won't get broken into just the same. The main thing to consider is that they want to move quickly before someone comes home; if you make it hard for them to get in—and make it hard for them to find your valuables once they're in the house—you might have a better chance of deterring them.
If anyone remembers seeing anything or anyone out of the ordinary yesterday morning between 9:30 and 12:30 on the first half-mile of the road, be sure to let us know; we can pass it along to the folks at #47 and their detectives.
Thanks!
UPDATE ON THE LOG-SPLITTER: the residents found what look like ATV tracks.
Monday, June 14, 2010
BURGLARY TODAY 47 ARR
Bad scene at #47, near Paintball Curve; big dogs inside the house beaten, lots of stuff taken. Burglary between 9:30-12:30 today. Anyone who saw ANYTHING on the road today, please let us know!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Community Meeting Re-cap
We had a busy night at the Hondo 2 station on June 10. Here are the highlights of the meeting; if anyone wants further details, please email the Board.
First up was Chief Tom Chilton of Hondo 2, who spoke about our already very active wildfire season. He told us about the equipment he has (an impressive array for such a small community--but very necessary because of the "urban/wilderness" interface we inhabit) and specifically about what would come up Apache Ridge Road in event of a wildfire. That would be 2 smallish 4WD trucks with about 300 gallons of water each and lots of a foam additive that makes the water "wetter" and thus more effective for putting out structure fires, or protecting nearby structures. Chief Chilton can be reached at 690-7423...and would love to have more volunteers for the Hondo dept. or just to have drop-in visitors at their weekly meetings Saturday mornings at the Hondo 1 station in Seton Village.
LPS resident Casey Ryan added to the discussion by noting that he is starting a business providing this same foam additive for homeowner use; he has a compelling tale to share about using it in his driveway on his own spontaneously combusting vehicle; more info at www.swfirefightingfoam.com.
And remember, if you want the Fire Prevention team from the SF County Fire Dept to come out and walk your property with you to point out "hazardous fuels," you can call Greg Gallegos at 995-6527.
Next we heard from SF County Commissioner Kathy Holian (995-9979) who spoke briefly about the county's new Sustainable Development plan. This replaces the Growth Management plan and reflects the county's desire to essentially attempt to rein in sprawl and patchwork development and instead sustain the traditional communities, agricultural history and open spaces we love. Info about the plan can be found on the county website, www.santafecounty.org.
She also spoke about the RENEW program, which is starting up later this year. Homeowners can receive upfront cash to install green energy (solar panels, solar hot water heaters, geothermal systems and wind power) which will then be paid back over 20 years at a fixed rate attached to the property taxes of your home. If you move, the assessment stays with the property (as does the improvements, of course). More info at the county website.
And Kathy has her own email list to share detailed information about the backstory behind county decisions...get on her list if you want to follow things like the ongoing drama over dump fees, Joe Miller's trailer development on 285 and the new wastewater system going in on OLVH for benefit of Harry's Roadhouse and El Gancho.
Cpl. William Pacheco of the Sheriff's Office, invited to share security tips, spoke about the importance of Neighborhood Watch programs. His dept. is Community Support Services; he can be reached at wpacheco@santafecounty.org. We're proud of the ad-hoc neighborhood watch we've already established, as it pretty much mirrors what Cp. Pacheco recommended: get to know your neighbors at least well enough so that you can watch out for one another in the event of suspicious activity, and establish a phone or email list to share information regarding strange vehicles and break-ins. If you're not on our email list, send us your address so we can keep you in the loop.
He also reminded the neighbors to not make it any easier for determined burglars: lock your doors and windows (home, vehicles, outbuildings) when you are not home; notify a neighbor if you are going out of town; leave a radio, tv or lights on in the house; etc. He also recommended investing in a home alarm system with monitoring; a deputy WILL come to the house when they get the signal and will stay there until you get home. Most systems are well under $1000 to install and some $20 a month for the monitoring.
AND be sure to call in (911) whatever you see or hear that makes you uncomfortable or suspicious. They WILL respond, they do NOT feel as though you are bothering them, the DO want to hear from you with as much information as possible. If you can get vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers or photos, all the better.
Finally, we heard from the very patient and well-rehearsed Steve Riemann of Fidelity National Title Group (989-2427) to speak about basic rights and responsibilities of property easements. Steve brought along copies of the road easement agreement (which we also have) and explained to neighbors about who is responsible for maintenance of property that is "easemented," who can or can't put up fences and gates, etc.
His best word of advice: if you have an easement with a neighbor, it's best to work out any details or questions while you have a good relationship with that neighbor, rather than waiting until you have a problem or if the neighboring property is sold and you acquire a new problem. Check your title documents carefully so you understand your own easements and rights. Steve teaches realtors about easements and has access to Santa Fe's largest library of property data; he was very friendly and accessible and if you want further information about your property, give him a call and he'll direct you to the appropriate solutions.
Last but not least, please note that our May 31 bank balance was a little over $2200. Let's hope we don't get a destructive monsoon season, because we really need to build up our road maintenance fund.
If you want to volunteer to visit with your neighbors and have a friendly conversation about how important it is to get more residents contributing to the road fund, by all means get in touch with the Board.
Thanks to all who are participating!
First up was Chief Tom Chilton of Hondo 2, who spoke about our already very active wildfire season. He told us about the equipment he has (an impressive array for such a small community--but very necessary because of the "urban/wilderness" interface we inhabit) and specifically about what would come up Apache Ridge Road in event of a wildfire. That would be 2 smallish 4WD trucks with about 300 gallons of water each and lots of a foam additive that makes the water "wetter" and thus more effective for putting out structure fires, or protecting nearby structures. Chief Chilton can be reached at 690-7423...and would love to have more volunteers for the Hondo dept. or just to have drop-in visitors at their weekly meetings Saturday mornings at the Hondo 1 station in Seton Village.
LPS resident Casey Ryan added to the discussion by noting that he is starting a business providing this same foam additive for homeowner use; he has a compelling tale to share about using it in his driveway on his own spontaneously combusting vehicle; more info at www.swfirefightingfoam.com.
And remember, if you want the Fire Prevention team from the SF County Fire Dept to come out and walk your property with you to point out "hazardous fuels," you can call Greg Gallegos at 995-6527.
Next we heard from SF County Commissioner Kathy Holian (995-9979) who spoke briefly about the county's new Sustainable Development plan. This replaces the Growth Management plan and reflects the county's desire to essentially attempt to rein in sprawl and patchwork development and instead sustain the traditional communities, agricultural history and open spaces we love. Info about the plan can be found on the county website, www.santafecounty.org.
She also spoke about the RENEW program, which is starting up later this year. Homeowners can receive upfront cash to install green energy (solar panels, solar hot water heaters, geothermal systems and wind power) which will then be paid back over 20 years at a fixed rate attached to the property taxes of your home. If you move, the assessment stays with the property (as does the improvements, of course). More info at the county website.
And Kathy has her own email list to share detailed information about the backstory behind county decisions...get on her list if you want to follow things like the ongoing drama over dump fees, Joe Miller's trailer development on 285 and the new wastewater system going in on OLVH for benefit of Harry's Roadhouse and El Gancho.
Cpl. William Pacheco of the Sheriff's Office, invited to share security tips, spoke about the importance of Neighborhood Watch programs. His dept. is Community Support Services; he can be reached at wpacheco@santafecounty.org. We're proud of the ad-hoc neighborhood watch we've already established, as it pretty much mirrors what Cp. Pacheco recommended: get to know your neighbors at least well enough so that you can watch out for one another in the event of suspicious activity, and establish a phone or email list to share information regarding strange vehicles and break-ins. If you're not on our email list, send us your address so we can keep you in the loop.
He also reminded the neighbors to not make it any easier for determined burglars: lock your doors and windows (home, vehicles, outbuildings) when you are not home; notify a neighbor if you are going out of town; leave a radio, tv or lights on in the house; etc. He also recommended investing in a home alarm system with monitoring; a deputy WILL come to the house when they get the signal and will stay there until you get home. Most systems are well under $1000 to install and some $20 a month for the monitoring.
AND be sure to call in (911) whatever you see or hear that makes you uncomfortable or suspicious. They WILL respond, they do NOT feel as though you are bothering them, the DO want to hear from you with as much information as possible. If you can get vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers or photos, all the better.
Finally, we heard from the very patient and well-rehearsed Steve Riemann of Fidelity National Title Group (989-2427) to speak about basic rights and responsibilities of property easements. Steve brought along copies of the road easement agreement (which we also have) and explained to neighbors about who is responsible for maintenance of property that is "easemented," who can or can't put up fences and gates, etc.
His best word of advice: if you have an easement with a neighbor, it's best to work out any details or questions while you have a good relationship with that neighbor, rather than waiting until you have a problem or if the neighboring property is sold and you acquire a new problem. Check your title documents carefully so you understand your own easements and rights. Steve teaches realtors about easements and has access to Santa Fe's largest library of property data; he was very friendly and accessible and if you want further information about your property, give him a call and he'll direct you to the appropriate solutions.
Last but not least, please note that our May 31 bank balance was a little over $2200. Let's hope we don't get a destructive monsoon season, because we really need to build up our road maintenance fund.
If you want to volunteer to visit with your neighbors and have a friendly conversation about how important it is to get more residents contributing to the road fund, by all means get in touch with the Board.
Thanks to all who are participating!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
COMMUNITY MEETING JUNE 10
Hi, neighbors...the June newsletter has gone out by email and post, so hopefully by now everyone has one stuck to their refrigerator with a magnet. Please be sure to join us at the Hondo 2 fire station for the community meeting on Thursday, June 10, 7-8:30 pm for some useful information and discussion regarding easement rights, neighborhood security and wildfire safety.
County Commissioner Kathy Holian will also share information regarding the county's new solar initiative; if you've ever wanted to add solar power to your house, the county now has a way to make it affordable.
And we'd like to urge everyone to spend an hour or so on Saturday June 19th to get out onto our road to pick up trash, trim out overgrowth and clear out brush along the roadway. Everyone's efforts are needed and appreciated; the road belongs to all of us, and it's up to all of us to take care of it for safe and comfortable driving. (And as soon as we get some moisture, we should be able to take care of all that washboard!!)
County Commissioner Kathy Holian will also share information regarding the county's new solar initiative; if you've ever wanted to add solar power to your house, the county now has a way to make it affordable.
And we'd like to urge everyone to spend an hour or so on Saturday June 19th to get out onto our road to pick up trash, trim out overgrowth and clear out brush along the roadway. Everyone's efforts are needed and appreciated; the road belongs to all of us, and it's up to all of us to take care of it for safe and comfortable driving. (And as soon as we get some moisture, we should be able to take care of all that washboard!!)
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