Summer 2013

Warm weather is early this year giving us a taste of what to expect for the next four months. Record highs make one wonder if we are gonna get hit harder this year after the milder summers of the past few years. Most of the snowbirds have gone home, there's lots of parking everywhere and the kids are finishing up the school year and dreaming of that wonderfully imminent summer vacation. Speaking of which, things really do slow down when schools close for the summer. Vacations 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 a quote I've cited previously "If the Devil finds a man idle, he'll set him at work - J. Kelly - Scottish Proverbs 1721. or how about the old one about idle hands and the devils workshop ... anyway, you get the point. Don't be a victim - Keep Alert -watch out for strange or new activity not only at your home but your neighbor's too! ... and keep your garage door(s) closed or at least only open enough so that no one can get under it, especially a small unattended child. Anyone can slip out of a car, into a garage and snag golf clubs or something else of value, sling it into the back of a truck and be gone in less than 10 seconds ... and this includes a purse while you carry the groceries into the house. Many people think keeping the garage door open at the bottom relieves the garage of some of the heat while their car cools ... 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 ... or even opening the side door to the backyard if the backyard gate is locked. 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 ... plus, many homes have landscapers that set the timers when they scalp and/or re-seed and never change them again. You should investigate this for yourself. Water is a precious commodity. You might also consider a smart irrigation controller from CVWD. The best thing you can do for yourself is to stay hydrated. It's a good habit always but especially important in the summer. When you wake up, have a glass of water. Do you best to continue with water throughout the day. If you drink coffee, soda or energy drinks, you should drink a glass of water for each cup of coffee or can of soda you ingest. Lastly, if you start feeling the effects of the sun, get inside immediately, keep Pedialite or Vitamin Water in the house or car, get some cold water or even just cold compresses on the hot spots (head, wrists, carotid artery and feet), run through the sprinklers with the kids, take a shower if you can or just jump in the pool. Don't have a pool? make friends with your neighbor who has one ... a 5 minute dunk will lower your body temperature and take the teeth out of the hottest day even if your in no danger of heat stroke. As always ... keep the faith !!!

Inactivity

I do apologize for the lack of recent postings, my other life has kept me busy. I vow to get back up to speed in the very near future. Next topic is "Speeders in the Development"

The unknown development ...

What good is a name if it doesn't immediately tell someone something? Who you are? or where you're from? or what your like? ... Do you know what I mean? We live in Desert Pride. What does that mean to most people? ... not a lot ... It's certainly a name that is recognized by quite a few Realtors because they are given the name in the Multiple Listing Service however not even all of them can get it right because many of the homes listed for sale have the development shown as Marbella, La Quinta Del Rey, La Quinta Highlands or even the old I don't really know - "Not in a development'. Have you ever had difficulty describing where Desert Pride is? Did you know that even the police/sheriffs call us '4OC1' or Four-Oh-Charlie-One. Have you ever had anyone tell you that you are wrong and that it is called Marbella 2? This has happened to me by residents here in the development and I've asked them why. The typical answer is that they saw it on the Builders paperwork. Many of the homes here were constructed by the same developer that built the development across from us on Miles called "Marbella". It was started and completed before ours and thus the misnomer was born "Marbella 2". One of the reasons we don't have signage on the entry walls at the three entrances to the development is that there were three developers that built most of the homes and no one chose to foot the bill for the signs. We could change this and it could be done so very easily. It's just a matter of getting three competetive bids, chosing one and dividing the cost by the 295 homes in the development. Even a wild guess says we might do this as reasonably as $20.00 a home +/-. One of our fellow neighbors suggested that it would be a great time to change the name to "La Quinta Pride". Whether it the current name or a new name voted on and chosen ... What are your thoughts about giving ourselves an identity and the possibility of signage to let people know we exist and what a great development this is to live in? Your comments will be most welcome ... Desert Pride Neighborhood Watch

Is there a neighborhood directory for services?

I am frequently asked if there are any electricians, contractors, landscapers, pool companies reqpresneted by our property owners. Any interesting thought would be to set up something for our neighbors and maybe a discount program ... Just a side thought, some owners share a lawn meaning that there is no discernable line where the properties end/begin. It's kind of up to the landscaper to decide what they cut and what they don't. At the end of the day, by speaking to your landscapers (especially if one is much better/cheaper/more reliable that the other) your property(ies) might look better, you might save a few bucks if a guy does two properties instead of one (and maybe even more) especially since gas prices hover around $4/gallon. The same could be said for pool companies ... with numerous accounts in one subdivision, the same factors could apply ... better/cheaper/more reliable. Your comments will be most welcome ... Desert Pride Neighborhood Watch

Trailers, R/V's, Boats, Oh my !!!

Like Lions and Tigers and Bears ... some folks feel these vehicles are like wild animals in our development ... Some people just don't think they belong because of their perception of what their presence does to the property values of a residential community -vs- storage lot. Well, City code allows vehicles to be parked on the street or in public view for 72 consecutive hours. Vehicles must be licensed and operational. Inoperable vehicles on private or public property must be parked out of public view and on an improved surface. The City has a little twist for Recreational Vehicles: STREET PARKING: No RV shall be parked or stored for more than 72 consecutive hours or for a combined total exceeding 72 hours during any seven day period, at any public street location or combination of public street locations within the City. Lots of folks have them because it's how they travel to stay at what may be a second/vacaton home in Desert Pride; or travel is a hobby; or outdoor sports may be a hobby; or it could be work related. Other vehichle information: Parking in yards – Vehicles may not be parked on the lawn or dirt. Vehicles can be parked in your driveway if they are licensed and operational. RC ZONE: RVs may be parked in the front, side or rear yards of residential properties provided the area in which it is parked is an improved surface that must extend to the width and length of the RV. RVL, RL, AND RM ZONES: RVS may be stored or parked in a side or rear yard provided that a lawfully installed and permanently maintained solid wall or fence six feet in height screens such RV from abutting property and public view on an improved surface that must extend to the width and length of the RV. Your comments will be most welcome ... Desert Pride Neighborhood Watch

My neighbor's garbage cans are always out ...

Every Friday is trash pick-up day in Desert Pride, unless there is a holiday during the week and then pickup will occur one day later - Saturday. We've understood that that trash cans are not allowed to be moved to the street for pick up until 12 hourse prior to scheduled pickup; and that trash cans need to be removed from the street and stored out of public view within 12 hours of the collection period; however, Code Enforecment actually says: Trash containers shall be stored out of public view in a side or rear yard or an enclosed garage except on pickup day. On occasion, we may have all been guilty from time to time of putting the cans out early if something came up; and maybe moreso for leaving the cans out after pickup because of a scheduling/travel conflict. According to the City, failure to do so may result in a citation from Code Enforcement. The problem described to me from numerous people is that some neighbors just move them off the curb and not out of Public View as required by Code ... and here's some questions I've received: Are their side yards full? or garages full? Are they just lazy? Don't they care about how unsightly they are? Don't they care about what this does to the overall public perception and corresponding property values here in Desert Pride? Do you have any change in your pocket? how about giving your 'Two Cents' worth' of opinion on this topic ... Your comments will be most welcome ... Desert Pride Neighborhood Watch

Street Lights would make our development safer ...

This is a statment that I have heard from numerous neighbors. Some might say it another way: The stars are especially bright in La Quinta because of the city’s limited use of street lights, so enjoy looking up at a clear view of hard-to-find constellations. My thoughts are that criminals are going to find a way to complete their nefarious acts whether we have street lights or not. We still must protect ourselves. When you speak to the City's finest, they say that motion-sensored lighting is the best avenue. for safety and security. If the light is not on, there is noone there; however, if the light is on you may want to check what made it come on ... There are other thoughts that a modicum of solar lighting, such as in our little park, would be nice; and a nice alternative to not having to rip up the streets to install lighting. The cost factor is at the center of this dicussion, of course. Your comments will be most welcome ... Desert Pride Neighborhood Watch