Water rates are rising just when use is maximized .....

There is no time like the present to start training yourself to conserve water and save some money. Water is the lifeblood of the desert and brown lawns aren't the worst of a prolonged drought or rationing. We all need to take an active part in the custodianship of our natural resources. Step one: WATER

Now is the time to establish some basic water conservation measures to not only help save water, but also to cut down on the associated costs. A drought can occur at any time, although in many areas, the effects are greatest in the summer. It's estimated that every household could easily save 100-150 gallons of water each day if the following suggestions were implemented:


Don’t let faucets run continuously. Letting the water run when shaving, brushing teeth or rinsing the dishes is common practice, but an open faucet can allow 5 gallons to pass in as little as 2 minutes;

Use water-saving showerheads and faucets. High-flow showerheads can provide a water flow of 5 or more gallons a minute. Flow restriction devices can cut flow in half or more without reducing the water pressure;

Water your lawn and plants early in the day. Using a deep watering technique once a day will train your lawn and plants to be drought-resistant. Watering your lawn 5 or 6 times a day, even if it's for just a few minutes, is a waste in the long run. You might as well water the driveway. A deep-watering technique will reduce the loss of water due to evaporation; and late watering is also effective in reducing evaporation. If you don't already, water your plants slowly and infrequently, especially in the summer. Consider drip irrigation for garden areas to add water just where it is needed;

Check for drips and leaks. A dripping faucet can allow up to two gallons per hour to be wasted. Toilets are also prime suspects. To check a toilet, simply drop some food coloring into the tank (not the bowl) and wait 15 minutes before flushing. If colored water shows up in the bowl, you have a leak from the tank to the bowl;

Replace your old toilet. If your home was built before 1992 and the toilet has never been replaced, then it is very likely that you do not have a water-efficient 1.6 gallon per flush toilet. You can check the age of your toilets by looking at the date stamp inside the tank. Lift the lid and look at the back of the tank cover for the manufacturer's imprint of the make, model and date of manufacture. Old toilets are the largest water users in many homes, typically using 3 or more gallons per flush. In addition, you might want to consider a two-button toilet; and

Finally, replace old clothes washers. Next to old toilets, an old washing machine generally is the next largest water user in a home. New Energy Star™ rated washers use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load. You’ll have an upfront cost but a modern, energy efficient unit saves money on both water and energy bills. Be sure to use the manufacturer's recommended detergent to ensure proper operation.

Stay tuned and........ Keep the faith!

Summertime and the living is easy ......

The snowbirds have gone home, the lines at Costco and Walmart are shorter, there's parking nearly everywhere (but little shade), the kids are out of school and ..... Did I mention there's little shade anywhere?

Things can be fairly peaceful when schools close for the summer. Vacations can start, kids go to camp or the beach, etc.; however... not everyone can get away. Boredom can set in quickly when there's little to do and no money to do it with ..... which reminds me of this quote "If the Devil finds a man idle, he'll set him at work - J. Kelly - Scottish Proverbs 1721.

Don't be a victim - Keep Alert !!! and keep your garage door closed or at least only open enough so that no one can get under it, especially a small unattended child. Considering that heat rises, there may be no significant benefit anyway. You'd be better off installing a vent high above the existing vent(s) in your garage to allow a flow of air, getting an attic fan or whole house fan.

Watering tip to save money, save water and make your landscape drought resistant: Water once in the morning, a good soak so the water goes deep and the roots will follow. Watering 3-5 times a day, might make you think you're being nice to your landscape but a lot of water hits the sidewalk and gutter 3-5 times a day taking your money with it. There's 3-5 times as much evaporation - wasted water and money; and finally, the roots remain close to the surface where they are subject to higher temperatures and if subjected to severe conditions or a REAL drought came, they have no chance. Additionally, consider a smart irrigation controller from CVWD.

Stay tuned for more coming soon and .......... Keep the faith!

SUMMER IS NEARING and that means .........

Kids will be getting out of school and have a lot of time on their hands. I don't mean that the kids in our area are going to be running rampant but kids in general will have a lot of time on their hands. Long, hot summer days with not a lot to do can bring out the worst in some so Neighborhood Watch is even more important these days.....along with taking better precaution ourselves.

Keep an eye and an ear out for the neighbor's dog and don't just shrug it off. Look out the window or over the fence. Hear something breaking....Check it out. It's hot and a lot of people crack their garage doors but kids can squeeze into the smallest of spaces so if you do crack your garage door....remember that it doesn't need to be over an inch or two to be effective. At that, you should keep out unwanted visitors, including a roadrunner but I make no promises on crickets, etc....

Keep the faith!!!

Solicitors get the green light - well maybe

In the past a comment or two has been made about what to do when a solicitor comes to the door...

1) Without opening the door...Tell them to go away !!! and if you consider opening the door......
2) Look out through a window first... determine the safety factor in opening the door
3) Ask them to show their permit from the City of La Quinta allowing them to solicit door to door....

WELL... that's changed now...

You still must be very careful whenever you open the door, however, the City of La Quinta is not currently enforcing the code to require solicitors to acquire a permit, which used to include going through a background/fingerprint check. In the past, only religious organizations were exempt from this code. The City has indicated that said permits will not be required meaning that anyone can come to your door now unless you have a 'No Solicitors' sign on your door (Sure, they could have come in the past but would have been required to go through the process that is no longer required). So, go to Lowe's, Ace, Home Depot or your computer and get/make a sign for your peace of mind and security.

Keep the faith!

More security tips for 2010

Being involved with a Neighborhood Watch is one of the best ways of staying on top of what's happening in the neighborhood. They say that the one with the most information usually wins. Here's your chance to be a winner. There is no prize. There is no test. If we each challenge ourselves to be a better neighbor....we all win.

When leaving or returning home, occasionally take a slow tour of an extra street or two to keep an eye out for suspicious activity in the neighborhood. When we all do this, there will be many eyes watching out for us all. Remember, we are not police officers or licensed security officers. OBSERVE (suspicious activity) – AVOID (confrontation) - REPORT (to law enforcement). Our safety is the priority. Our safety is the only priority.

Report all suspicious activity to law enforcement. In an emergency, dial 911. The non-emergency number is (760) 836-3215 Extension #5. If in doubt, call 911. When calling in to the non-emergency number, you can make your call anonymous but if you would like a report of the outcome, give the operator all the information asked for. Be prepared to describe what you saw....What...Where...WHen...Who....What they looked like...Where they went...How did they leave... In the near future, you'll be receiving a notebook with the following information to keep next to the phone for just such an emergency...

Desert Pride Neighborhood Watch
Police: Non-Emergency (760) 836-3215 #5
http://DesertPrideNeighborhoodWatch.blogspot.com
http://home.rr.com/desertpride
email: desertpride@dc.rr.com

Keep the faith!

La Quinta's finest keep on giving.....

Recently I was asked to obtain statistics relevant to nefarious activities in our quiet, little development '4OC1' (Four Oh Charlie One) also known as Desert Pride to many. I contacted La Quinta's finest and ... Presto! Here it is...

Burglary -- Includes residential, open/unlocked garage and/or any other structure on the property.
2008 -- 3
2009 -- 10

Burglary Vehicle -- Reminder, if a vehicle is unlocked and/or a window is left down the incident is reported as a theft and not a burglary.
2008 -- 10
2009 -- 2

Obviously, the total number is nearly the same for 2008 -vs- 2009, however, running through the glovebox and console for CD's and loose change is a little different from ransacking a home. The economy has likely played a part in the reversal of fortune which means we need to stick together even more so. Use those eyes and ears, write down what you see/saw and then use those phones.

Keep the faith!

LA Police Dept. writes excellent article

La Quinta Police Department Flyer and information in La Quinta GEM (Feb 2010)

OPEN GARAGE DOORS AN OPEN INVITATION TO CRIME

Your open garage door, perhaps more than any other feature of your home, is perceived by a criminal as an open invitation to commit a crime. An open garage door not only serves to facilitate a crime, but actually encourages it. The simple reason is ease of access. What could be easier than unhindered access to a darkened garage to “help yourself” to whatever you find or to gain immediate access to the interior of your home?

So what can you do to protect yourself?

• First and foremost—CLOSE YOUR GARAGE DOOR! Develop the habit of keeping your garage door closed. Teach and train every family member to do the same.
• Get to know your neighbors and once a trust is developed, consider asking them to close your garage door if you forget.
• Install a deadbolt on all doors that lead from the garage to the interior of the residence. Keep all doors locked even if the garage door is closed.
• Deactivate your automatic garage door opener and manually lock your garage door anytime you are going to be away overnight.
• Remove the key and lock the doors of a vehicle parked in the garage even if the garage door is closed.

These are simple yet effective steps you can take to minimize the potential that you will become the victim of a crime. Remember, criminals are looking for an easy crime. When you leave your garage door open you are making it even easier for them.

If you have any further questions please call Officer Fowler at 760-777-7376.

Keep the faith!