Think of it like data minimalism, a Marie Kondo–style approach to data and security

 

The full article, which has details on how to do each step, can be located at NY Times.

FIREWORKS
Remember when we would pack up as a family and go watch fireworks displays all over the city? We could pick from several venues. The reason we packed up to go watch fireworks is simple – it was something for the professionals and the trained. Now, you can find the same fireworks they were shooting off at local roadside tents. We were only allowed the sparklers. We have all heard stories of someone shooting off a bottle rocket and hitting a neighbor’s roof. The entire house could burn to the ground and the person (or parents of that person) is held responsible.
If we stop and think about it, there’s some real logic in letting the professionals handle fireworks. They do contain dynamite. They do not always go in the direction that you would like them to go. Even the experts always have fire trucks waiting on the sidelines. The other thing you may have noticed over the years is they never hold the fireworks. There’s always some kind of stand with a long fuse attached. The person lighting the fuse is always several yards away from the stands holding the fireworks.
It’s not as if those of us living in Cinco Ranch would discharge fireworks, we all know better. Maybe the experts have it right. We go to them, they give us a great show, we don’t get in any trouble, we don’t hurt anyone or ourselves, and we have a wonderful time. What a great way to spend a holiday! The whole point in holidays is supposed to be time with the family and celebration.

If you suspect someone of being unsafe with their fireworks please call the non-emergency sheriff's number at 281-341-4665.

 

Bicycle safety includes choosing the right bicycle and teaching your child safety rules to prevent injury. Bicycling is a common means of transportation as well as an increasingly popular source of recreation, exercise, and sport. With more than 100 million bicycle owners, the popularity of bicycling has reached an all-time high.

• Wear a properly fitted helmet.
• Check brakes and tires.
• Wear light colors to make it easier for drivers to see you.

• Stay alert.
• Put away electronic devices.
• Pay attention to lane markers.
• Don't ride between vehicles.
• Cross at intersections.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
• Never attempt to cross a multi-lane highway.

• You have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers.
• Stop at red lights and stop signs.
• Ride in a bicycle lane if present, traveling in the same direction as traffic.
• If a bicycle lane is not present, ride as close to the right side of the road as possible.
• Use a light on the front and a red reflector or light on the back of your bike at night.

• For a left turn, stretch your left arm to the left.
• For a right turn, stretch your right arm to the right.
• For a stop, hold your left elbow out, arm downward, with palm facing behind you.

 

Community Council - Bringing YOU Your Community Events

 

You’ve probably heard it before, but have no clue what it means.  So, what is the “Community Council,” you ask?  The Cinco Ranch Southwest Community Council is not affiliated or endorsed by Cinco Ranch Residential Association II, however, they are the Council that hosts all events, activities, classes, and camps within Cinco Ranch II.  In other words, your HOA does not present the community events you regularly see, as they are handled by a separate entity known as the Cinco Ranch Southwest Community Council. 

 

The Cinco Ranch Southwest Community Council is administered by a Board of Trustees and is part of the team planning and bringing you the wonderful events and various fitness and education classes held in or around the Lake House. The individuals who serve on the Council Board are not elected per the legal documents, but instead are appointed by both the Residential Association Board and the Board Trustees of the Community Council.  

Although the Council is a separate entity from the Residential Association, the Council does communicate and interact with the Residential Association Board because a very small portion of your assessment money goes to help fund community events and activities (approximately $10 per year).  In addition, the Council solicits support from our contractors and Katy area businesses in the form of in-kind or financial donations/sponsorships for events. The CRSWCC Board goal is for residents to come together and interact with one another and to foster a sense of community with community events.

 

Another role of the Council is to provide health and wellness programs to encourage fitness for all ages, and educational programs to develop skills that will help foster learning in children of all ages.  Over the last few years new classes have been added to the Lake House, including Taekwondo, Drama, and we have amped up the schedules of a few of our existing classes, to better meet your needs.  We’ve also added several new camps to the Lake House lineup and try to bring you a variety of offerings each year.

 

Giving back to the community is another role of council.  Every month a local charity is selected to support.  For instance, this past fall, we partnered with CAPs and Special Pals, located in Katy.  CAPs and Special Pals are nonprofits that provides shelter, adoptions and education for animal lovers in the Katy area. Our generous residents brought in many items requested including dog and cat food, pill pockets for medication, puppy pads, and other supplies to donate. The Community Council also provides opportunities at community events for local students needing volunteer service hours. Students can sign up to participate through their school x2Vol site.   

 

 If you have any questions about the Community Council, please contact Shannon at lifestyle@mycincoranch.com.  We look forward to seeing you at all of our community events, classes, and camps.

 

We encourage you to take our Community Events Survey to help us provide the events and classes you want to see in the community.

Do the holidays make you feel anxious?  You are not alone.  Many people experience holiday stress.  Although this time of year brings family and friends together, it can also be a major source of stress and anxiety.  Your normal routine is thrown off track..  There are usually several parties or gatherings to attend.  You may eat and drink things you don’t normally consume. Perhaps you host events. Add this up and it equals feeling overwhelmed, getting less sleep and experiencing more stress.

 

There are some simple things you can try when you feel overwhelmed, tired, or stressed.  These are not time consuming.  Practice them regularly and you may find you better enjoy the holidays.

Below are four simple, effective techniques to help you manage holiday stress.  Make it a practice do at least one of these every day.

 

Deep Breathing

 

Breathing exercises are great for lowering stress levels.  Deep breaths send the message to your nervous system to calm down. Try this now. Take a nice deep breath in, followed by a long exhale. This alone may help you relax more.  Taking four or five breaths like this only takes a few moments, and can be done anytime and anywhere. Ideally do this with your eyes closed to block out the world around you.

 

Meditation

Meditation is the action of focusing the mind on one focal point.  The breath is a great point of focus because it is always available.  Breath counting meditation is a simple technique that anybody can do. 

How to do breath counting meditation:

This meditation method helps you gain mental distance from thinking.  Practice this regularly to feel more relaxed, refreshed, and less affected by external stressors.

 

Take a Break

Taking a break during the day is a great way to reset your mind.  These simple methods can go a long way in helping to manage holiday stress:

Walking, especially in nature, is a great way to relieve holiday stress.  One, it allows you to get away from the busyness of the season.  Two, it provides gentle exercise to help relieve physical stress.  Three, walking is a great way to allow your mind to daydream. This gives you a mental break from thinking about your to-do list. Four, you get an extra bonus if you walk in nature.

 

Enjoy a coffee or tea break.

Any form of getting away from the holiday hustle and bustle helps to relieve stress and anxiety.  Take time out for yourself with a nice warm cup of coffee or tea. If you are feeling social, invite a friend.  If you need solitude, enjoy your break alone.

 

Take a bath.

The warm water of a bath relaxes your body.  The timeout relaxes your mind. Indulge yourself occasionally and you will better enjoy the holiday season.

At the November HOA Board meeting, Directors were elected to the following officer positions:
 
President and Director - Keith Lehtinen
 
Vice President and Director – Yu (Jessie) Xia
 
Secretary and Director - Whitney Smith
 
Treasurer and Director - Rhonda Runge
 
Assistant Treasurer and Director - Beige Chen
 
Director - Chester Pleasant

Director - Ron Stefani

The Cinco Ranch II Board of Directors implemented a fence maintenance program last year to prolong the lifespan of association owned fencing in the community. The objective of the program is to extend fence lifespan while protecting home values and community appearance. The program has several key components.

 

The removal of ivy on the public side and the cutbacks to create space between the fence and “green” life have been completed. As a part of that process, the Board requested residents remove all ivy from their side of the fence and cutback “green” life.

 

Presently, Texas Landscape Group is reporting ivy that has not been removed on the resident’s side of the fence. The Board will provide a “one (1) time” clean-up of the ivy visible on the public side of the fence at no cost to the resident. After the “one (1) time” clean-up process is completed, any additional removal cost on the public side, will be charged back to the resident and addressed within the Association’s deed restriction enforcement process. This protocol will be implemented January 1, 2021.

 

The Deed Restrictions prohibit plants whose existence is unsightly or of a nature that may diminish the enjoyment of the community. Additionally, the documents state that required landscaping maintenance must occur often enough to ensure that the property is maintained to the Community Wide Standard. The Association shall have the power, as provided in the Declaration of Protective Covenants, to impose sanctions for any violation of the Governing Documents.

 The Board again requests residents to remove all ivy from their side of the fence by the end of 2020.  Keep in mind, this request does not pertain to resident owned fencing. If the resident permits the ivy to grow onto the public side of the fencing, the ivy will be removed at the owners expense per the deed restrictions mentioned above.

 

We look forward to your support in maintaining the integrity of the community.  If you would like to discuss this further, please contact one of our customer service representatives at customercare@ciaservices.com or 713-981- 9000.

 

CRRA2 Board of Directors

Please be conscience of parking in your driveway and not “sticking out” onto the street, or blocking the sidewalk. Refrain from parking in front of your neighbors home. If you have multiple vehicles at your residence, you may need to allow additional time to “shuffle” them to allow another household member to leave, or work out a parking plan so that everyone knows when and where to park.

 

Though the Deed Restrictions in Cinco Ranch II do not prohibit street parking unless you are in a gated community, there are many parking situations that can be deemed illegal under Fort Bend County and state laws.  When parking near the corner of a street, you must leave at least 20 feet away from the bumper of your car to the corner; if that corner has a stop sign, the law requires a minimum of 30 feet instead of 20.  When parking near a fire hydrant, you must leave at least 15 feet from the bumper of your car to the hydrant, on either side of the hydrant.  It is also illegal to park in a manner that blocks a driveway or intersection.  Additionally, when parking in a cul-de-sac, cars should be parked parallel to the curb as they normally would on a straight curb; parking with your front or rear bumper to the curb at a cul-de-sac, as if it were a “parking spot,” is also illegal. 

 

 

When parking, you should ask yourself, have I created a hazard?  Would an emergency vehicle be able to get to someone’s home? Have I created a blind spot for motorist?  Do you want to be the reason something serious happened to your neighbor or yourself?  We are asking everyone in the neighborhood to think of these different things and protect each other before parking.