February 2010

February 2010

Volume 10, Issue 02

Oak Hollow Park PEBBLES

From the President:

It has been said many times – if you do not like the weather

in Texas…….just wait. The 2-year drought, the 60 days of

100 degrees, then sudden cold into the teens and now the rain.

While not ever predictable, it does give us something to talk

about.

I did notice that the Brush collection, which was very early

this year on the first of February, was not lacking for donations. There was a LOT

of dead wood and shrubs that hit the curb, thanks to the prolonged dry heat. Ku-

dos to those who braved the cold and got the clean up done in time for the pickup.

Many thanks to Elaine and Al Older for cleaning up the flower beds at the

Thousand Oaks entrance, and to Kathy Babb and Mike Glynn for their efforts in

cleaning up our drainage ditch between Pebble Breeze and Thousand Oaks. These

generous efforts are much appreciated by your neighbors, and help to make our

neighborhood look a little more polished.

That brings me to the next group to be mentioned this month – your street

Reps. These folks are your nearby contacts and conduits for data to and from your neighborhood association.

Most recently, they delivered the new 2010 directories to all paid up members. They also are the handiest

first point of contact if you have any questions around the neighborhood. Please get to know your local street

Rep, and remember that communication is a 2-way street.

The memory of the fire at 2602 Pebble Breeze on Thursday, 10 December, has barely started to fade and

already there has been a second fire. This fire struck about 12:30 AM at 2666 Pebble Dawn. Luckily, once

again, no one was hurt – but there was serious damage to the home. This fire also occurred in the upper area

of the Chimney / Fireplace. Fortunately a driver on Thousand Oaks noticed the smoke on the back of the

house and warned the occupants just before the fire blossomed. Our neighborhood and homes are close to

30 years old. The wood is dry. Chimneys that have not been cleaned or well maintained are subject to prob-

lems, just like our furnace and air conditioner, they all need inspections and proper maintenance. Please get

your systems checked, make sure there are smoke detectors with good batteries and see the “letter to the edi-

tor” from our neighbor at 2602 Pebble Breeze on his thoughts about first meeting your neighbors in your

socks ! Even though we are just 2 blocks from the Fire Station, we don’t need no more stinkin’ fires !! A

thief can steal some things, but a fire can take it ALL.

Beat the crowds to the Valentine’s Day cards and make your special people

happy, then start on those Taxes. Spring is coming and so is 15 April! Happy

Valentine’s Day.

Pebbles

Ron Van KirkRon Van KirkRon Van KirkRon Van Kirk

Inside This Issue:

Letter to Editor ............... 2 Association Membership — Why?........................... 2 OHPNA Scholarships..... 2 Street Rep Listing .......... 3 2010 Census Starting .... 3 C.O.P. Classes................ 3

Printed Through: Post & Parcel Copy & Fax; 490-5263

postparcel@sbcglobal.net

Neighborhood Directory Delivered Each year we conduct our membership campaign in the Fall. We completed the membership drive effective 31 December. The information collected was used to generate the 2010 Neighborhood di-rectory for all members of the Oak Hollow Park Neighborhood Association. If you have not yet joined, Please contact Sharon Harley. She can provide the needed form, collect your “annual” $30 dues, and get you a copy of the 2010 directory.

February 2010

DEADLINE For the next

PEBBLES is 1 MAR 2010

Send to: ronvankirk@aol.com

Next Board Meeting

1 March

at Nancy Glenn’s Home

Pebbles Volume 10, Issue 02 Page 2

Letter to the editor

I wanted to introduce myself, I'm the recent owner of 2602 Pebble Breeze. I appreciate all the kindness re-ceived from my neighbors when my house burnt on De-cember 10th - I met most of them that day, standing in the street in my socks. My insurance company, USAA, has been great from the start and will rebuild the house like new, and the rough estimate at this point is 6 months. I was lucky my 2 children were not in the house yet - they arrived the 19th from Seattle and stayed only 6 days - at my rental in Hollywood Park. I did get out just in time and wanted to warn the rest of the neighborhood (if you'd like to publish this, please do so) with a few very important, life-saving tips: 1. Replace your smoke detector batteries! Every year. This is such a small cost. The only reason I am still alive is that a smoke detector (with a good battery luckily - I hadn't yet checked them) went off and woke me. 2. Put a smoke detector in your attic. The cause analy-sis inspector from USAA said the fire was likely burning up to 70 minutes in the walls and attic before smoke came down into one of the bedrooms and set off a de-tector. I got out just in time. Remember: Smoke goes up. Smoke detectors are under $10. 3. If you haven't used your fireplace or furnace (heat) in a long time, or just moved in to a new place, get it in-spected. It's worth it. 4. If you hear a smoke detector go off, take it seri-ously. They are a life saver. Thank you and sorry I didn't have a better introduction to the neighborhood. I'm glad I bought there and am looking forward to the day the house is done.

Michael Foster

OHPNA Scholarships Applicants should be a High School Senior with plans for continuing their education and an understanding of the importance of community service. Volunteerism and OHPNA membership and completed applications are requirements for receiving the scholarship. If you are interested in applying, please e-mail your request to ohp_news@hotmail.com the subject line should read scholarship request. Information and application will be sent to you within one week of the request. January or February are the months to get this done, as the pace for college picks up by March !!

Association Membership – Why?

Why join the OHPNA ? Why support the organi-zation? What’s in it for “Me”? As it so happens with human nature, we take a lot for granted. For instance we are all now used to having computers – everyone has at least one. Can’t remember NOT having one. Well before a little ole San Antonio company called Datapoint introduced the video console in 1968 – it was all IBM punch-card batch processing. How quickly we forget. The current OHPNA dues are still just $30 – per YEAR. That is cheap by any standard. Yet our little group of 296 homes spread over 19 streets, puts out a monthly newsletter to all 296 homes, does Perimeter Landscape and Maintenance, publishes the annual Resident’s Phone Directory for the members, has an annual Membership drive, Christ-mas Lighting contest, National Night Out Activities, Neighborhood Garage Sale, and we are building a new and improved neighborhood website. Oh yes, the masonry fence around the perimeter – that was a product of your Association membership in the recent past. For the present, we were a vocal critic of the initial plans for the Jones-Maltsberger expan-sion artwork, which ultimately altered the final plans to be much more neighbor-friendly. Consider being part of a force for the common GOOD. That annual $30 investment is actually a pretty good value.

February 2010

Pebbles Volume 10, Issue 02 Page 3

2010 C.O.P. classes The next scheduled class will be on Monday, 1 March. Weekday classes are from 6 PM – 10 PM, while Saturday classes are held from 9 AM – 1 PM. Classes are held at SAPD Substation. You are requested to email or call with name and phone number to confirm attendance to: Officer J. Dave McDonald Mobile: 210-394-0626 Office: 210-207-6086 Email: jmcdonald@sanantonio.gov

Street Rep Phone Street (Range) Marge Beitzel 496-5857 Forest Land, Forest Mist, Forest Pebble Nancy Glynn 490-5682 Forest Pebble Dot Cowper 495-9599 Forest Spur Robin Hoyer 490-6682 Pebble Bow (2602-2635) Karen Holliday 545-2986 Pebble Bow (2638-2666) Sarah-Jane Swezey 403-2885 Pebble Breeze (2600-2634) Carolyn Thacker 481-5854 Pebble Breeze (2635-2667) Laura Pulido 481-7263 Pebble Breeze (2710-2742) Patricia Pape 495-2534 Pebble Cove Nanette Gordon 491-3486 Pebble Dawn (2600-2647) Betty Vacek 545-3386 Pebble Dawn (2650-2698) Jim Adamak 545-7624 Pebble Dew Rita Robinson 499-0603 Pebble Falls Kathie Kreger 490-3360 Pebble Forest Cheri Groom 494-4255 Pebble Height Bob Rue 491-0176 Pebble Park Magda Earls 403-0545 Pebble Path Sarah-Jane Swezey 403-2885 Pebble Peak Bob Rue 491-0176 Pebble Sound Patricia Pape 495-2534 Pebble Valley (Odd #’s) (Rep needed) Pebble Valley (Even #’s)

2010 Census process beginning

(republished from Councilman John Clamp’s newsletter.)

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Busi-

ness Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but

cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity

theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way

as workers have begun verifying the addresses of house-

holds across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000

U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United

States and will gather information about every person liv-

ing at each address including name, age, gender, race, and

other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference

between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB

offers the following advice: If a U.S. Census worker

knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a Census Bu-

reau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to

see their identification and their badge before answer-

ing their questions. However, you should never invite any-

one you don't know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to

verify address information. Do not give your Social Se-

curity number, credit card or banking information to

anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S.

Census.

REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU

REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM HOW MANY PEO-

PLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.

Fire

Security

Ron Van Kirk Residential Sales Representative

ADT Security Services 140 Heimer Rd Suite 100 San Antonio, TX 78232

Cell: 210 861 8661 Fax: 210 491 3279 rvankirk@adt.com A Tyco International Company

Fire

Security

February 2010

OHPNA P.O. Box 700474 San Antonio, TX

78270-0474

Publication Title: Pebbles Issue Date: 02/05/2010 Issue Number: 10-02 Organization: Oak Hollow Park

Oak Hollow Park Pebbles

PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING • LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE

• LIFE INSURANCE

• IRA FUNDING

HAROLD (DOC) KREGER OAK HOLLOW RESIDENT

Office: 210-321-1428 Home: 210-490-3360

INCOME TAX PREPARATIONINDIVIDUAL and BUSINESS

MICHAEL J. SCOTT, CPAOak Hollow Park resident since 1983

2626 Pebble Dawn Office 496-6911

P.O. Box 700443 Cell 508-1914

San Antonio, TX 78270 Fax 495-9670