April 2012 Fort Meade, MD

From the Desk of Jodi Collins,Community Management Director

Dear Residents:

We hope you’ve enjoyed the first few weeks of springtime with the smell of fresh air, flowers and trees in bloom. Also springing into action with the trees and flowers is the grass, which will begin growing soon. As the warmer seasons approach, our landscaping team will be getting ready to provide lawn care services to all residents on post. Included in this newsletter are details on lawn care services, be sure to review them so that your lawn is ready for grooming!

At the end of February, we held our annual BINGO event where ten outstanding and unique prizes were given away to include, $300 off rent, a flat screen TV and an iPad. Picerne would like to congratulate those lucky winners and thank all residents who came out to the BINGO event.

Our next resident event is planned for May 11. All military spouses are invited to enter a drawing at their Neighborhood Office for a fun prize and enjoy treats and giveaways. In addition, be sure to keep an eye on your monthly newsletter and SoundOff! for information on all of

the other fun resident events we have planned this year. We look forward to spending time with you and your family at many of the same great events we hosted last year to include our annual Resident Picnic, National Night Out, December in the City and more!

Did you know that you can receive rewards for referring other military families, single service members, retirees and federal Department of Defense (DoD) employees to live on post? Picerne is offering a $250 referral reward to residents who refer new families to move in on post. Good friends make great neighborhoods, so tell your friends today. For more information on this program, call your Neighborhood Office or the Leasing and Relocation Center at 877-525-HOME.

Remember that we are here for you and your family. Please continue to let us know how we can improve the quality of life here on post at Fort Meade and do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or needs you may have.

Sincerely,Jodi CollinsCommunity Management Director

Palm Sunday Garbage/RecyclingBulk Trash

Lawn Care Good Friday Passover

Easter Garbage/RecyclingBulk Trash

Lawn Care

Earth Day Celebration Garbage/RecyclingBulk Trash

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Earth Day Garbage/RecyclingBulk Trash

Lawn Care Arbor Day

MayGarbage/RecyclingBulk Trash

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Lawn Care Military Spouse Appreciation day

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From the Desk of Darla Humbles, Family Services Program Coordinator

Spring has sprung! Children have been cooped up inside for the winter months, and they are ready to be free. As we recognize the month of April as the month of the military child, here are several safety tips to keep your children safe during the season.

1. Use sunscreen daily, even if it is cloudy, since most of the sun’s radiation penetrates clouds and can still cause sunburn. Deet lowers the effectiveness of sunscreens, so use a higher SPF if you are using a combination product that has both a sunscreen and an insect repellant.

2. Your child needs to wear a helmet on every bike ride, no matter how short or how close to home. Many accidents happen in driveways, on sidewalks, and on bike paths, not just on streets. Children learn best by observing you. Whenever you ride, put on your helmet.

3. Be careful when you play. Stay away from pools, canals, and other bodies of water unless you are with an adult. Don’t play near busy streets or deserted areas, and never take shortcuts unless you have your parents’ permission.

4. Prevent kids from falling out of open windows. Use window guards to protect young kids.5. Teach your child safe play habits, including sitting in the center of a swing (not off to one

side) and not twisting the swing chains, which can reduce the chain’s strength. In addition, tell your child to never walk in front of or behind moving swings.

6. Make sure your child wears shoes, which will help minimize the risk of a bee or insect sting on the feet.

7. Keep small children away from all sources of fire, including matches, lighters and hot barbecue grills. Neighborhood Manager

Jason Desjardins

Maintenance SupervisorSteve Shorter

Hours of OperationM-F 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.SAT 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Address2699 Ninninger Avenue

Websitewww.meadepicerne.com

E-Mailheritagepark@picernemh.com

Phone(410) 672-2000

Fax(410) 672-0380

Pest Control On Demand

Victory Garden Plots AvailableDo you have a green thumb? Are you looking for a place to grow your own produce? Plots are currently available for residents looking to plant and grow produce at the Victory Gardens located at the corner of Upton and Washington avenues in Heritage Park. Please join us for a Sunday “plot luck” on April 1 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Heritage Park Neighborhood Center. We will be discussing the upcoming Gardening Season. For more information on the Fort Meade Victory Gardens please contact the Heritage Park Neighborhood Center at 410-672-2000.

The gardens were dedicated in 2007 as part of Fort Meade’s 90th-anniversary celebration and to pay homage to the gardens that millions of U.S. citizens grew to ensure the country could feed the service members fighting in World War II.

Other Calendar EventsOSC Hosts Old Joe Golf Tournament April 20The fort meade officer’s spouses club is sponsoring the 7th annual “Old Joe” Golf Tournament on April 20 at the courses. Registration costs $80 and includes green fees and cart, putting contest, breakfast and lunch. Registration fee for OSC Members and spouses is $70. Proceeds Benefit scholarship and welfare programs of the Fort Meade military community. Must register by April 18. For more information please contact Dana O’Shea at danaoshea@hotmail.com or visit www.fortmeadeosc.org. ESC Hosts 4th Annual Fort Meade Clean Up!When: April 21st, 2012. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the event kicks off at 8 a.m. lasting until 10 a.m. with a raffle at each station. All supplies for the event will be provided at the station you register at.Where: There are five different locations to choose from to clean up around the post. They are the four community centers listed below and Meade Senior High School. When registering, either early or the day of, you must choose one ‘station’ in which to register at and clean around.Who: This event is open to everyone who wants to help clean up Fort Meade! As an incentive to participate we will be holding a raffle and giving away prizes.

For more information please visit www.ftmeadeesc.org or email cleanupteam@ftmeadeesc.org.

Earth dayThe entire Fort Meade community is invited to attend the installation’s Earth Day event on Tuesday, April 17 from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Burba Lake. There will be free food, games, fun and more! We look forward to seeing you there.

Yard SalesNeighborhood sales and private yard sales may be permitted at a designated location at dates and times to be determined by Property Manager. Private yard sales are limited to Saturdays. Individual sales are solely for the disposal of personal household items. The resale of new items (as in a business) is not permitted. Resident may request authorization to have a yard sale by visiting their Neighborhood Management Office who will provide instructions for locations and methods of organizing a yard sale. All signs must be removed no later than the day after completion of the yard sale.

Residents who would like to host a sale are encouraged to do so at the Post Pavilion on a date determined by the Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) office. MWR typically hosts Flea Markets at the Post Pavilion. For more information on MWR’s monthly flea market please call 301-677-3912.

Lawn Mowing Service ReminderSpring has sprung and the grass is growing! That means our lawn care providers will be starting their mowing schedules again that were suspended during the winter season. To find out the lawn care schedule for your street, please check the back of your neighborhood newsletter.

The lawn care that Picerne Military Housing provides is a basic cut and trim to keep the neighborhoods looking well-kept and make the lives of our residents a little easier.

We request that you please complete the following tasks to make certain that your yard is ready to receive the lawn mowing service.• Pets – secure your pets in your home or in a kennel. Remove all chains and/or ground anchors from the

premises. • Pet waste – please remove all pet waste prior to the morning of the scheduled mowing service on your

street.• Children’s toys – please remove all toys on the lawn prior to the morning of the scheduled mowing service

on your street.• Hoses – wrap up and remove any hoses from your yard.• Lawn furniture or decorations – store all non-fixed furniture and décor prior to the morning of the scheduled

mowing service on your street.• Decorative solar lights – please remove if possible. Most solar lights are very fragile and can be easily

damaged by weed eaters. If your solar lights are easily removable from their bases, please do so prior to the morning of the scheduled mowing service on your street. The lawn care technician may not trim around these items if they feel that to do so may damage them.

• Gates – please open gates prior to the start of the scheduled mowing service on your street.

The lawn mowing service technicians have a tight schedule in order to meet the requirements of maintaining our neighborhoods. The mowers progress through your area in three phases.

• First, the mowers come through and mow your lawn.• Second, a separate crew comes through and trims around fixed objects such as fences, drains, etc.• Third, another team comes through to do a follow-up with a blower to clean the grass clippings off of your

patio, sidewalk and driveway.

Once the third step of this process is completed, the lawn mowers move on to another street. You, as the resident, should close or make certain that your gate is closed prior to releasing your pet back into your yard. We ask for your assistance by opening and closing your gates for the lawn mowers as they go about their day. As stated earlier, the mowers proceed through the neighborhood in a three-step method and the work in your yard is not completed until they have been in your yard three separate times.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this process. The lawn mowing crews will work hard to get each job done quickly and we assure you the results will be worth it. Please call your Neighborhood Office with any questions you have regarding lawn maintenance.

Spring CleanupAs the warm weather approaches, please reference the guidelines below to keep your home looking great this spring .

Your Yard:• Parking on your lawn or grassy areas is prohibited.• Poop & Scoop is required on Fort Meade.• Basketball goals should be stored in the rear of the home.• Trampolines should be stored in the rear of the home, and must incorporate appropriate safety nets.• Trash cans and/or recycling bins must be pulled from the curb by 6p.m. on your designated trash day.

Remember to rinse out trash cans periodically to prevent attracting bugs or animals.

Your Front Porch:• Only furniture approved for outdoor use is approved on Fort Meade.• Grills should not be stored or used on your front porch. They should be stored in the rear of the home.• Bicycles and other recreational items should be neatly stored in carports, garages or the rear of the

home when not in use.• Open fires, fire pits and chimineas are prohibited at Fort Meade.

Your Patio/Deck:• Only furniture approved for outdoor use is approved on Fort Meade.• Open fires, fire pits and chimineas are prohibited at Fort Meade.

Garden Club Hosts 2012 Yard of the Year Contest

Get your gardens ready! Back by popular demand, the Fort Meade area Garden Club will host their annual “Yard of the Year” contest in July. The Yard of the Year contest is an installation-supported program dedicated to beautifying the neighborhoods on post. On July 10, the Garden Club will judge the family housing neighborhoods and choose the best yards in each of the neighborhoods. The yards will be judged on general design and layout, neatness of edging, use of space, use of annuals and perennials and trimming/pruning of evergreens and shrubs. Winners from each neighborhood will receive a gift from the Garden Club. For more information on the Yard of the Year program, check your June newsletter or please contact Rita Surber at 410-305-0291.

Annual Preventive MaintenanceWith the start of spring, Picerne will begin conducting their semi-annual preventive maintenance service to your home this month. The service program includes a 30-minute inspection of the following items:• Smoke detectors (replace batteries)• Fire extinguisher• Inspect and service bathroom vent fans• Inspect and clean dryer vent as needed• Replace HVAC filter• Check appliances • Turn on hose bibbsPlease give us the opportunity to provide you with preventive services that will ensure you and your family continue to enjoy a well-maintained home. It is quick and easy to take advantage of this service. If you already have a “Permission to Enter” form on file with us, you may call and schedule an appointment with your Neighborhood Office. For those in need of the form, you may obtain a copy at your Neighborhood Office. If you would like to meet us at your house, please call to schedule a time. If you have any questions, please contact your Neighborhood Office management team at your earliest convenience.

Gaffney Fitness Center New Hours of Operation

Gaffney Fitness Center will change weekend hours to 0700-1500. Change will take effect April 1, 2012.

Windows on Windy Days

Please close your windows on extraordinarily windy days, especially if you live in the end unit of townhomes. Windows that are not shut are prone to damage.

Our Family for Families First $5,000

grant for Military Spouses, Applications

Due May 17!Our Family for Families First, John G. Picerne’s private charitable foundation, was established to support the educational goals of children and spouses of active-duty Service Members. College grants in the amount of $5,000 are available each year for spouses of active-duty Service Members stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort Polk, Fort Bragg, Fort Meade, Fort Rucker, Fort Riley and Fort Sill. Grant applications for 2012 are available online at www.ourfamilyfoundation.org. Applications are due May 17, 2012. Please review the information located on the web site for eligibility requirements and to learn more about the Our Family for Families First Foundation.

The Foundation is committed to supporting military families in the pursuit of higher education, instituting a tradition of community service and encouraging professional career paths through education, internships, and mentoring programs and has awarded more than $3 million since 2006. It also serves to further the primary mission of Picerne Military Housing – putting military Families First®.

The Green Corner

Source: Chelsea Green Guides

We are all using more and more energy, and the energy we use in our homes comes from oil, gas or electricity. There are little things, like the way we cook, that we do every day that can produce large results. Here are some tips that will help you cook your food faster and reduce energy consumption:• Cut food into small pieces before cooking. It will

cook faster.• Put a lid on top of the pan when you can; your

meal will maintain heat that way.• Use an electric kettle to boil water for cooking.• Keep your kettle free of lime scale – it will be

more efficient. Fill it with a mixture of 2/3 water and 1/3 vinegar and leave out overnight. Rinse it out well, fill it with water, boil the water and dump it out.

• If you are cooking with a saucepan, turn down the heat when it comes to a boil. You don’t need as much heat to keep a pot boiling as you do get it to a boil, and the contents will cook just as quickly.

• If you’re cooking a meal in the oven, don’t be tempted to keep on opening the oven door to see how it’s all going, as you lose a lot of the heat doing this.

Save the Date! Resident Picnic on Friday, May 18!

Picerne Military Housing invites all residents to join our annual Resident Picnic on Friday, May 18, 2012. There will be food, prizes, games and more. Look for more information in your May newsletter or check the Soundoff!