Hi neighbors, here are some good guidelines on watering from the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority. The chart shows watering recommendations for plant types by season. More information can be found at https://www.505outside.com/

Thank you to our friends at Ladera Heights Neighborhood Association for the following information:

Vehicles have been broken into in the NW Area Command Community. Some of the reports are coming from the Next- Door web site, Emails and phone calls.  APD is getting videos from the residents that have cameras.  The video shows the individuals breaking into cars. This information is given to the officers. Some of the videos show the individual opening the doors and taking the valuables. Please lock your vehicle’s doors and take your valuables inside your home.  Auto burglary is a crime of opportunity; vehicles are easy targets and often contain property that is attractive to thieves.  Large parking lots and neighborhoods with a lot of on-street parking can be prime targets for theft. Use the easy, inexpensive tips below to reduce your risk.

Precautions – remove these items and leave nothing in plain-view inside your vehicle:

Park in visible, well-lit areas.

Roll up windows and lock doors.

Place items in your trunk before reaching your destination.

Secure the trunk, hatches, bed-mounting tool boxes and canopies.

Garage door openers

Electronic items (laptops, cell phones)

Luggage/bags

Cash

Firearms

Mail

Wallets/Purses

Thanks to our friends at Ladera Heights Neighborhood Association for the following information:

In anticipation of July 4^th, the Albuquerque Fire Marshall’s Office has put together a flyer which they are distributing to all vendors who sell fireworks within Albuquerque city limits specifying the types of fireworks they are allowed to sell and penalties for selling illegal fireworks. That flyer is below.

The Fire Marshall’s Office has asked that you, as neighbors, also be vigilant about what types of fireworks you might buy, and if you observe any illegal fireworks around the City, please report them immediately using the ABQ311 web app at: https://www.cabq.gov/311/abq311/311-web-app.  You can also download the ABQ311 app to your smartphone and report illegal fireworks in that manner. NOTE: when reporting illegal fireworks, remember to enter the address where the illegal fireworks are being used and not your own address.

With the current public health order still restricting large gatherings, the City will not be hosting the annual Freedom 4^th event at Balloon Fiesta Park this year, and it might be tempting to buy your own fireworks to use at home. But please also remember that many of them are illegal, as clarified on the attached flyer, and that setting off fireworks can not only be dangerous to you and your family, but can also cause extreme stress for those with post-traumatic stress, and also for pets and animals in your vicinity. As well, remember that we live in the desert and that drought conditions are always a consideration when using fireworks, so be sensible and use common sense.

A couple of weeks into the Corona Virus crisis, I received an email from membership chairman, Elmer Jackson. He said this is a wonderful neighborhood. Eight neighbors concerned for him, at his age, had offered to get supplies for him. The City of Albuquerque, Office of Neighborhood Coordination gives us ideas on ways we can help our seniors in the Neighborhood Weekly E-news Tuesday, March 9th, 2020.

“Do you have a neighbor who is elderly? Why not check on them and ask if there is anything you can do to help them out? Many senior citizens have difficulties with grocery shopping, taking out trash and recycle bins, pulling weeds or simply driving. You can help by taking out and putting back trash bins, delivering groceries, organizing other neighbors to help pull their weeds, and driving them to appointments.”

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ATMs are to modern people, as watering holes are to animals in the Serengeti. These are convenient places for predators to wait and attach. In the March 2020 The Communicator, the monthly newsletter from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office we learn how to carefully approach our ATMs.

“Because of the variety of ATMs, the unique characteristics of each installation, and crime considerations at each location, no single formula can guarantee the security of ATMs.  Therefore, it is necessary for ATM customers to consider the environment around each ATM and various procedures for remaining safe when using an ATM.

Criminals select their victims and targets, focusing on the unaware or unprepared.  Criminals are also drawn to environmental conditions that enhance the opportunity to successfully  complete their crime. The attitude and demeanor you convey can have a tremendous effect on potential assailants. There are a number of things you can do to increase your personal             security and reduce your risk of becoming an ATM crime victim.

THE FOLLOWING CRIME PREVENTION TIPS CAN HELP MAKE THE USE OF ATM’S SAFER FOR EVERYONE:

WALK  purposefully and with confidence. Give the appearance that you are totally aware of your surroundings.

BE AWARE  of your environment and what is going on around you. Criminals tend to avoid people who have this type of demeanor.

PERFORM  mental exercises and plan out what you would do in different crime or personal security situations.

FOLLOW  your instincts. If you feel you are in danger, respond immediately. Remember that your personal safety is the top priority.

ATM SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS:

Whenever possible, select an ATM that is monitored or patrolled by a security officer.

Always watch for suspicious persons or activity around an ATM. Be aware of anyone sitting in a parked car in close proximity to or at a distance from the ATM location.

If you notice anything strange, leave and return some other time. Even if you have already started a transaction, cancel it and leave.

Maintain a small supply of deposit envelopes at home, in your car or office. Prepare all transaction paperwork prior to your arrival at the ATM site. This will minimize the amount of time spent at the ATM.

Maintain an awareness of your surroundings throughout the entire transaction. Do not become so involved with your transaction that you are not aware of changing conditions in the area.

Do not wear expensive jewelry or take other valuables to the ATM. This is an added incentive to an assailant.

If you get cash – put it away immediately. Do not stand at the ATM and count it.

Never accept offers of assistance with the ATM from strangers; ask the bank for help.

Never lend your ATM card to anyone; treat it as if it were cash or a credit card.

If you use a drive-up ATM, ensure your vehicle doors and windows are locked.

During evening hours consider taking a companion along, park close to the ATM in a well-lighted area and lock your car. If the lights around the ATM are not working properly, do not use it.

When leaving an ATM location make sure you are not being followed.  If you are being followed, drive immediately to a police, sheriff or fire station, crowded area, well-lighted location or open business. Flash your lights and sound your horn to bring attention to your situation and call 911.

If you are involved in a confrontation and the attacker is armed with a weapon and demands your money or valuables, GIVE IT TO THE SUSPECT. Do not resist, property may be recovered later or replaced.”

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The Water Authority can help you plan and plant a beautiful yard. There website gives list of landscaping tips and well-adapted plants. Part of a beautiful yard is watering. Types of irrigation are also described on this website at http://www.505outside.com/ . The March 6^th, 2020 Monthly Landscaping Newsletter, 505Outside, told us about rebates for new irrigation projects. The rebate forms are available on the website.

“Having a healthy and functional (and desert friendly) landscape is about making smart horticultural and irrigation decisions. Burqueños know that water conservation is a way of life — and an important responsibility in this beautiful high-desert region. By working together, we can continue to ensure a reliable water supply and keep Albuquerque landscapes colorful and beautiful.

Watering your yard efficiently is one of the best and easiest ways to conserve water. More importantly, proper watering will keep your plants healthy throughout the year. The trick is to give your plants enough water – but not too much. Fortunately, improvements in irrigation system technology are making it easier to do just that – and the Water Authority is rolling out new rebates in April to help you add the latest in irrigation tech:

WaterSense-labeled controllers allow watering schedules to better match plants’ water needs.

A WaterSense labeled controller can automatically or manually reduce watering times or the number of days when the system operates. That means less water is delivered to the plants during cooler months or when it has rained recently. As outdoor temperatures increase or rainfall decreases, WaterSense labeled controllers increase irrigation systems’ watering run times or schedule to compensate. Some of these controllers are equipped with smartphone friendly irrigation technology that allows the user to set watering times remotely. Replacing a standard irrigation timer with a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller can save up to 30% in outdoor watering. Customers can choose from a list of pre-qualified controllers.

Irrigation flow sensors measure the speed at which water travels through an irrigation system and sends that information to the Smart Irrigation Controller. This helps detect issues and conserves water. For example, if water is flowing at an unusually high rate (because of a line break or broken sprinkler), a flow sensor works with the controller to take corrective action. Such action could include stopping the water flow or sending alert messages to your device. Additionally, some flow sensors can quantify how much water is used in a landscape, making it easier to stick to a landscape water budget.

Pressure regulation devices increase the efficiency and performance of your sprinkler and drip system by reducing the water pressure to a set, optimal rate. This is important to improve water distribution uniformity and avoid underwatering or overwatering. The three most common pressure regulating devices are pressure reducing valves, flow control valves and pressure sustaining valves.

These devices provide pressure regulation at each individual spray head. The sprinkler body is the exterior shell that connects to the irrigation system piping and houses the spray nozzle that applies water on the landscape. WaterSense labeled spray sprinkler bodies with internal pressure regulation can reduce water waste by providing a consistent flow at the sprinkler nozzle. When the sprinkler body maintains pressure near its optimal operating pressure, the connected nozzle is better able to generate the right amount of water spray and coverage for more uniform distribution of water across the landscape. Customers can choose from a list of pre-qualified spray sprinkler bodies.”

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The end of a relationship could trigger unwanted behaviors, like cyber harassment. On Monday, October 24^th, 2019, Albuquerque’s Office of Neighborhood Coordination gave us some safety suggestions for this kind of harassment in the Neighborhood Weekly E-news. As usual, please forward this blog to your family and friends that will find it useful.

“Breaking up is hard to do, as well all know, but can be dangerous for survivors of abusive relationships. Even if you’re able to physically leave the relationship, the abusive ex-partner can still cause harm online and using social media. As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, here are some safety suggestions for avoiding and dealing with digital abuse:

Clearly tell your ex to stop harassing you, if you feel safe doing so. If you send a text message or an e-mail telling them to stop harassing you, keep a copy of your electronic communication and DO NOT respond to any messages they might send you afterward.

Save all electronic communications. You might want to delete them, but it’s better to save them somewhere safe online, either in another e-mail folder, or by keeping screenshots of text messages. Make sure the date and time are included in the saved messages.

Increase your online privacy. Set your social media profiles to the maximum privacy settings, change passwords, block or “unfriend” your ex, and don’t provide details of your social plans or whereabouts, such as checking in on Facebook or using apps like Foursquare.

If your ex is harassing you via e-mail, create a separate e-mail account with a difficult-to-guess password and only use it with people you trust.

Let people in your support system know you’re being harassed, and ask them to help by not “tagging” you on social media or otherwise mentioning your location online.

You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 and you can visit:  http://www.thehotline.org/help/tech-social-media-safety-2/ for more ideas about online safety.”

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When it comes to scams research and time are our best friends. The City of Albuquerque, Office of Neighborhood Coordination’s Neighborhood Weekly E-news Tuesday, March 9th, 2020 gave us strategies to protect our finances.

“Don’t send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request, whether it comes as a text, a phone call or an e-mail.

Google a product name or company with words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam” if you receive a financial request.

Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see aren’t always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up, or verify with family and friends.

Someone might call and ask you to pay in advance or send a fee for things like credit and loan offers, prizes or a job. Just hang up immediately. Don’t engage.

Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might threaten you and play on your fear. Slow down, check out the story, do an online search, talk to someone who might know. Before you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you trust.

Consider how you pay for something. Credit cards are safest. Wiring money through Western Union or MoneyGram or using a reloadable or gift card is risky because it’s nearly impossible to get your money back. Using your debit card is the riskiest so avoid if possible.

If you answer the phone and hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up. These calls are illegal, and often the products are bogus.

Some companies use free trials to sign you up for products and bill you every month until you cancel. Before you agree to a free trial, research the company and read the cancellation policy.

For more information on consumer protection and avoiding scams, contact Karen Meyers, Director of the City’s Consumer financial Protection Initiative, at: kmeyers@cabq.gov .”

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Are you getting the exercise you need to stay healthy? Have our social distancing orders kept you from your regular exercise routines? My mother-in-law recently told me that her neighbor runs an hour a day without leaving the backyard. Even with social distancing, that sounds extreme on several levels. But, exercise is an important part of our lives. On Tuesday, February 4^th, the City of Albuquerque, Office of Neighborhood Coordination’s Neighborhood Weekly E-news gave us ideas to keep us moving.

“Like many people, you may have a fairly sedentary job sitting behind a desk and staring a computer screen most of the time, or you may just sit a lot at home! Because sitting requires less energy than standing or moving, sitting for long periods of time can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol levels and back pain. Try these tips for being more active at work or home:

• Set a timer/reminder every 30 minutes to take a break from sitting
• Stand or pace as you talk on the phone
• Take the stairs if possible
• At your office, take a short walk after you eat lunch and try not to eat at your desk too often
• Park far away from your office or from the store and walk
• Stand and stretch when sitting for long periods at your computer
• Schedule walking meetings with colleagues instead of the traditional conference table meeting
• Get up to refill your water bottle every hour
• Try to stand for a minimum of two hours per day and four hours for optimal health.”

And, for a chuckle: when I was organizing my office, we had to frequently contact another department by phone. We knew we were going to have an hour’s wait. So, my employee, Hank, would volunteer. Then, he would stand with his headset on and dance to the music. That’s a good memory for me. That music was horrible. He made lemonade from the lemons.

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