Bylaws To Be Discussed At Thursday's Meeting

The TTUNA Bylaws committee invites neighbors to see the revised bylaws next week at the July meeting. 

These bylaws will be voted on during the September Meeting.  The meeting will be Thursday at 5:30 at Forest Heights United Methodist Church.

Reminders

Tonight, weather permitting, the South Plais Astronomy Club will host their monthly Third Friday Stargazing in Tech Terrace Park.

Also, Movies in the Park is this Saturday and the last performance of the Westwinds Brass Bands is scheduled for Sunday night.  Wagner Park hosts both of these fine events.

Mosquitos!

The recent rains cooled the temperatures and greened up our yards but they have also ushered in a wave of the pesky mosquito.  Here are some tips to minimize this pest.

Tips For The Home

Personal protection
During peak biting times (dawn, dusk, and early evening)

• Try to stay inside.
• Wear loose light colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants when you go out.
• Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin. An effective repellent will contain 35% DEET.
• When using repellents always read and follow directions for use as printed on the product 

What you can do to help

• Throw out old tires
• Empty, buckets, pails or any water holding containers.
• Fill in or drain any low places (puddles, ruts) in yard.
• Keep drains, ditches, and culverts clean of weeds and trash, so water will drain properly.
• Cover trash containers to keep out rainwater
• Repair leaky pipes and outdoor faucets
• Empty plastic wading pools at least once a week or store in a position that water will drain.
• Make sure your backyard pool is maintained properly.
• Change water in bird baths and plant pots or drip trays at least once a week.
• Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well trimmed around the house, so adult mosquitoes will not hide there.
• Keep gutters clean and free of debris and leaves.

I have found that the yard sprays available at Home Depot and Lowes that hook to your garden hose work pretty good. 

If the mosquitos are out of hand call  the City's Vector Control at 806-775-3110

http://healthdept.ci.lubbock.tx.us/vectorControl.aspx

We could use some bats. 

Movies In The Park This Saturday

Due to the rainy weather last week Movies in the Park is scheduled for this Saturday.  Games will begin at 8:15 with the feature presentation, Avatar,  starting after sundown (around 9:00).  Bring your friends, family, picnic, blanket and mosquito repellent.

Don't Let Your Guard Down

The following was shared with UNIT News by Dennis- a neighbor in the 2600 block of 21st Street.

Hi all,

My name is Dennis, and most of the time i just read the emails that are sent and rarely do i comment on anything. Although I keep track if most of the neighborhood decisions and meetings since I work for the city, I try to just listen and not get involved, but I care greatly about this neighborhood, this is where I went to school, and now where I reside with my wife on 2621 21st St. Just wanted to let everyone know to be careful. About 3 hrs ago, we heard a noise in the backyard that I didn't go check out. Sounded like tapping on the windows, and fell back asleep. We woke up to a brick through our back bedroom/office.... Someone tried to break in. Because of the repaving of 21st St and around the Boston area, we parked our car at a different location, and I guess someone thought my wife and I were not home. The police came by and tried to see if they could fngerprint anything laying around, but could not because of the rain. I wonder how long they had been looking at our house, since this was the only time we did not have our car parked in the driveway. All, please be careful. As of tomorrow morning, more security lights and an alarm system will be installed.  We hope this keeps burglars away.

Dennis

So Lets Keep These Tips in Mind:

• Keep all doors and windows closed and securely fastened. An open window or door is an open invitation for burglars. Thieves are also quick to spot weak locks that may be easily forced open. Doors should have deadbolt locks with a one inch throw and reinforced strike plate with three inch screws. All windows should have window locks
• Secure sliding glass doors. Place a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track and install vertical bolts. These will help prevent burglars from forcing the door open or lifting it off the track.
• Always lock the door to an attached garage. Don't rely on your automatic garage door opener for security.
• Create the illusion that you are home by using timers on lights, radios and TV's. Making your residence appear occupied, even when no one is home, will deter criminals.
• Keep the perimeter of your home well lighted. Installing low voltage outdoor lighting is a cost-effective way to discourage intruders, as well as highlight a house.
• Never leave clues that you are away on a trip. Have a trusted neighbor collect mail and newspapers while you are away so delivered items do not accumulate. You can also ask a neighbor to park in your driveway or parking place to make it appear that you are present.
• Keep some shades and blinds up and curtains open to maintain a normal, everyday appearance in your residence.
• Never leave a message on your telephone answering machine telling people that you are away from home. A message that you will return at a certain time leaves your home vulnerable in the interim.
• Be careful what you post on the Facebook- criminals use the computers they have stolen
• Keep shrubbery trimmed away from entrances and walkways. While large, ornate hedges may be beautiful, they also provide a hiding place for burglars who need only a minute to break in through a window or door.
• Organize a community watch program to protect your neighborhood. An alert community is a safe community.

Most petty thieves are lazy, a well lighted house with large loud dog is not is an inviting target.

Lawn Mower Brigade Mixes It Up

The Tech Terrace UNIT Lawn Mower Brigade mixed it up this year and performed a synchronized swimming routine.  The weather was perfect for it.  Great job guys!  Special thanks to Jeff Lee for sharing these images on the Facebook.

July Yards Of The Month

Congratulations to the Tech Terrace/UNIT July Yard Of The Month Winners!

Lowe's Corner Market

2615 21st Street

Chris and Debra Fischenich

2801 21st Street

Jerry Matthews

Soggy Weather

July is off to a wet start.  A neighbor shared the following pic of Tech Terrace Park in action.  Tai Kreidler shot this picture at midnight on July 4.

Holle Humphries:  The odd color palette of the photo is an anomaly of photoediting.

By this a.m., dawn, the flood control systems instituted in the late 1940s/early 1950s had done their job, and all the water had drained down and out, presumably east to Buffalo Springs Lake.