New Year's Eve in Sacramento

Get the December 31st evening's event schedule here.

Volunteers Make GCTE Neighborhood a Great Place to Live!

Volunteers like June make our neighborhood a great place to live.  Not only serving on the Neighborhood Association board, acting as a sector leader for Neighborhood Watch block captains, keeping an eye on Harkness School, among many other things, June has been the guiding force behind our Yard of the Month program.  From spring to fall, June selects two yards from our neighborhood that show pride of ownership, beautiful flower beds, and overall lovely landscaping.  Since August 2012, yards selected have been located on 53rd, 59th, 60th (2) Avenues, Amherst Street (4), Demaret Drive, Golf View Drive, Hogan Drive,  Middlecoff Way (2), Monifieth Way, Wilshire Circle (3), Vardon Avenue, and Harkness Elementary School.  One thing that will disqualify a yard says June, "garbage containers left in public view."  Not only are they unsightly but they violate City ordinance when left out.  Criminals have been known to use them to get over fences and into backyards and homes quickly.  So let's get them behind enclosures.  June is looking for a neighbor to help here select Yards of the Month beginning in March 2014 when spring comes to Golf Course Terrace Estates.   In the future, we plan to get new yard signs, tokens of appreciation for each winning household, and an online slide show of all past winners.  If you'd like to participate. Contact us at gctena@gmail.com.

This was one of the homes selected as Yard of the Month in October 2013. This beautiful yard with its emerald green lawn is now all decked out for the holidays!

Behind the Scenes with Secret Santa

Ornament won during a fun holiday game, a variation of which is described here.

Every year Secret Santa and Mrs. Claus host a party for their Christmas elves. When not working to surprise three families, these elves (including family members) volunteer as Golf Course Terrace Estates board members and Neighborhood Watch block captains.  The families get enough groceries for several days and a gift for each child.  On at least one Christmas Eve, Secret Santa answered the letter of a child who spotted him delivering holiday bounty in the neighborhood.  Who could resist the sincere wish for winter gloves, etc., which Santa delivered later that afternoon.  Thanks to all who support Santa's good works.  Merry Christmas to all!

Nextdoor - Happy Tails!

Nextdoor is the place to keep up with what's going on in our neighborhood.  There are quite a few posts about crime and safety but recently two lost dogs were found.  Bella was returned to her family somewhat worse for wear and in need of lots of TLC. The gray puppy found a good home a week after he was found.  Happy endings are possible with the help of good neighbors. 

Bella found!

This pup found a good home!

More Pictures: John Morse Community Garden

At our November 21st meeting, Principal Susan Higgins of John Morse Therapeutic Center described the array of fruit trees (lemon, orange, grapefruit, cherry, plum, peach, apricot) and other plantings that will thrive with cooperation of the school and the Golf Course Terrace Estates neighborhood. Plots are available for the community. View additional photos by clicking on dates: 

November 9th

November 22nd

Nextdoor Credited for Crime Rate Decline

Wow. Sacramento Police attribute crime rate decline to adoption of @Nextdoor neighborhood network http://t.co/Ha7j9EF7op
— Rich Barton (@Rich_Barton) November 22, 2013

Nextdoor on Twitter

This year we're giving thanks for our neighbors. What are you giving thanks for? http://t.co/OcXobsh8hi
— Nextdoor (@Nextdoor) November 27, 2013

Good Neighbors!

At our final meeting of 2013, we celebrated our good neighbors! We elected an enthusiastic slate of new and renewing board members, heard from neighborhood school Principals Higgins (John Morse) and Simmons (Harkness), our District 5 Councilmember Jay Schenirer, and you are neighbors! Much appreciation to the Gilbert family who picked the persimmons provided.

You can still contribute to our Secret Santa project; mail tax deductible checks to: GCTENA, PO Box 231576, Sacramento 95823. 

Remember our holiday lights judge Tim Mendonsa will choose the top three winners sometime in December. Everyone get ready to sparkle, sparkle, twinkle, twinkle!

Elizabeth and Joyce shared stories of the special neighbors in their lives.

SPD Goal Reached: 10,000 on Nextdoor

Sacramento police reach goal of getting 10,000 households signed up on Nextdoor || http://t.co/niSLpWVxBV via @Kim_Minugh & @sacbee_news
— Nextdoor (@Nextdoor) November 21, 2013

November 2013 Newsletter Delivered Door-to-Door This Weekend

Just in time for next week's final quarterly meeting of 2013. 
Get a PDF copy of the newsletter to read and share right here.

Honoring Veterans

Link to CalVet Resource Book here.

California Veteran Resource Centers - click here for links to information about jobs, small business opportunities, housing, etc.

John Morse Community Garden Now Open!

Several varieties of fruit trees (apple, citrus, plum, cherry, apricot) and winter vegetables and herbs in raised-bed redwood containers have been planted.  Space is available for neighbors to use.

Principal Susan Higgins will provide more information at our

next quarterly meeting on Thursday, November 21, 2013, 7:00pm,

Harkness Elementary School.

John Morse Community Garden Open House - Saturday, November 9th

Located at 1901 60th Avenue, the John Morse Therapeutic Center has undergone renovation including a beautiful community garden at the corner of 60th Avenue and 20th Street.  The garden is a great addition to the Golf Course Terrace Estates neighborhood.

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins!

A Harkness pre-schooler from Diane Franco's class showing his appreciation for the pumpkin patch.

Thanks to Jim Durst of Durst Organic Growers for supplying this fall bounty

to the students of Harkness Elementary School.

A Harkness Pumpkin Patch



 

In October, early grade classes studied the pumpkin life cycle culminating in a field trip to the Keema Family Pumpkin Farm in Hood, California last Friday. When the young ones returned to campus with pumpkins in hand, other students were disappointed not to have their own pumpkins. But, thanks to the swift work of Harkness PTO President Tommy Greer, volunteers Bruce Brummett (GCTENA board member), and Rudy Smith, a portion of the Harkness playground was converted into a pumpkin patch, complete with scarecrows and hay bales. On October 28th - 29th, every scholar took home one of the 450 pumpkins generously donated by Jim Durst of Durst Organic Growers.  Much appreciation to everyone involved.  Thanks to Principal Tiffany Smith-Simmons for the photos and the information included in this post.


Useful Links

From time to time we add a Tab Page to this site.  Check out Useful Links to find easy access to all kinds of local, state, and federal information.

Annual GCTENA Board Election - Thursday, November 21st

Paula's picture from the October 9th Board Meeting
shows members engaged in the issues.

Each November the membership of the Neighborhood Association elect eight of the sixteen-member board of directors for a two-year term.  The board meets the second Wednesday of each month at the Sacramento Executive Airport to conduct association business and address ongoing community issues.  The Board consists of four standing committees that:

• Support our neighborhood resources and institutions 
• Publish and deliver the quarterly newsletter 
• Organize Neighborhood Watch
• Address blight nuisance, health, and safety concerns 
• Choose monthly “Yards of the Month” and annual “Holiday Lights” winners 
• Welcome new neighbors 
• Advocate for neighborhood interests at public policy meetings among many other things. 

Consider working with the Board and/or joining a committee (Community Services, Fund Raising, Neighborhood Concerns, Nuisance Abatement/ Neighborhood Watch).  You can also get complete details on our About Us page at the tab above. 

#NPLD20 - Chorley Park - Pictures

For more pictures click here.

 

 

A Perfect Morning in Chorley Park



Here's an impressionistic look at Chorley Park during our fall clean-up last Saturday, September 28th. With the energetic volunteers, we finished early so we had time to chat, enjoy the blissful sunshine, and savor our accomplishments. Well done everyone!

See You Saturday, September 28th!

Another Beautiful Yard of the Month!

Here's our neighborhood's other Yard of the Month for September 2013.  This home is on Monifieth Way.

Yard of the Month - September 2013

Looks like a beautiful spring day but it's actually the beginning of fall in our GCTE neighborhood.  This lovely home and yard on 60th Avenue is one of two selected in September and among several selected since our Yard of the Month project resumed. Thanks, June, for your keen and persistent eye.


September 28th Chorley Park Clean-up

Chorley Park Clean-up: #NPLD20

Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 28, 2013 by volunteering for the Chorley Park adopt-a-park event, 9am - 12noon.  Our event is nationally recognized.  Check us out here at the #NPLD20 site.

Tools will be supplied; refreshments provided.  Our last event was a lot of fun.  Don't miss this opportunity to volunteer with your neighbors - 9:00am to 12noon.


Check out the Chorley Park Volunteers tumblr here. 

September 17th - Celebrate Constitution Day!

Click here for National Constitution Day Resources.

Download a printable copy of the US Constitution here. 

Mosquitos Remain A Problem - West Nile Virus Is Still A Threat

Although Labor Day has come and gone, we still need to fight the bite.  The threat of West Nile Virus remains.  See recent press release here. 

Other award winning 2013 fight the bite contest winners are here.
This illustration was drawn by Damion Saechao of Elder Creek Elementary School.

Recent Statistics:

Sacramento County: 3 humans, 135 dead birds and 311 mosquito samples, 3 horses, 3 chickens have tested positive for West Nile virus to date.
Yolo County: 3 humans, 75 dead birds, 216 mosquito samples, 6 chickens have tested positive for West Nile virus to date

Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District reminds us to:

Practice the District D’s of Mosquito Prevention:
DRAIN standing water that may produce mosquitoes.
DAWN and DUSK are times to avoid being outdoors.
DRESS appropriately be wearing long sleeves and pants when outside.
DEFEND yourself by using an effective insect repellent. Make sure to follow label directions!
DOOR and window screens should be in good working condition.
DISTRICT personnel are also available to address any mosquito problems. Call us at 800-429-1022 or visit www.FIGHTtheBITE.net

Last Week's General Membership Meeting

On Thursday, August 29, 2013, our general membership meeting covered a lot of ground.  We heard a welcome from new Harkness Elementary School Principal Tiffany Smith-Simmons.  We heard from our city councilmember Jay Schenirer who addressed a recent letter from Member-At-Large Ernie Lehr.  The letter asked about ongoing neighborhood code  enforcement issues regarding two blighted properties specifically and how to deal with the problem in general.  Jay discussed projects he was sponsoring involving student leadership and took questions from the audience.  Sign-up to get Jay's monthly district 5 newsletter and view archive editions by clicking here.

Board Member Glora recognized the thirty newsletter volunteers who edit, coordinate, and distribute our quarterly publication.  More about this will be under the Newsletter Tab Page.

We also heard from Nextdoor Field Organizer Zoe Kipping about the social networking site. 

And, we honored our Yard-of the-Month winners and heard neighbors's views on crime, safety, solid waste pick-up, traffic calming, and mosquito abatement.  Get the meeting's agenda here.


Save the date - Thursday, November 21, 2013 for our final general meeting of the year.



 

An hour before the meeting, parents and students were introduced to community services and programs by teachers and volunteers. Also, everyone enjoyed ice cream.

Board Member Graciela distributes free clothing and passes out California Poppy seeds.

 

 

Are you using Nextdoor?

 

Several Golf Course Terrace Estates neighbors have started to use the Nextdoor social media site to connect with each other.  You may receive an invitation via email in the near future but if you don't you can sign up by accessing this link.  Just follow directions.  You must live in the neighborhood to participate.  Communication is secure and you can choose how to participate.  Here's information from the official Nextdoor website that details what it's all about:
 

What is Nextdoor

 

Please note: Nextdoor Golf Course Terrace is a private website created by you and your neighbors, and supported by our company, Nextdoor, Inc. Learn more about Nextdoor, Inc. below.

 

Nextdoor is the private social network for you, your neighbors and your community. It's the easiest way for you and your neighbors to talk online and make all of your lives better in the real world. And it's free.

 

Thousands of neighborhoods are already using Nextdoor to build happier, safer places to call home.

People are using Nextdoor to:

• Quickly get the word out about a break-in
• Organize a Neighborhood Watch Group
• Track down a trustworthy babysitter
• Find out who does the best paint job in town
• Ask for help keeping an eye out for a lost dog
• Find a new home for an outgrown bike
• Finally call that nice man down the street by his first name

Nextdoor's mission is to bring back a sense of community to the neighborhood, one of the most important communities in each of our lives.

 

August 2013 GCTENA Newsletter

Look for your quarterly newsletter for August 2013 to be delivered to your door soon. You can also download a copy here. We thank the dozens of neighborhood volunteers who make each issue possible - from our editor Joyce Abel to our contributors and those who deliver door-to-door!  For past issues, click here. 

 

Recycle Schedule Changes

As of July 1, 2013, the City of Sacramento's blue recycle bin pick-up schedule has changed. Our Golf Course Terrace Estates neighborhood is designated as "A" so if you put out your bin on "B" week it will be left there.  It's taking awhile to get used to the new schedule but we will there before you know it.  You can get a text or email reminder from the City and a calendar for solid waste pick-up including recycling by clicking here.

Annual Ice Cream Social & Neighborhood Meeting - August 29th, 7pm

You're invited to our annual Ice Cream Social and General Meeting.  We will welcome new Harkness Principal Tiffany Smith-Simmons; find out more about the social media site called Nextdoor; celebrate newsletter volunteers, and much more.  Meet your neighbors at Harkness Elementary School, 54th Avenue and Hogan Drive at 7:00pm.

 

National Night Out in Golf Course Terrace Estates Neighborhood

Tuesday, August 6, 2013 was the 30th Anniversary of National Night Out; the Lehrs hosted their neighbors for ice cream, cupcakes, and homegrown peaches - Delish!  What a great neighborhood.
 

Get your Free Water Wise House Call

After our May 2013 General Meeting, several GCTE neighbors scheduled house calls; they were happy with the results and would recommend the service to everyone.

Call or email 311 or phone 916 264 5011 to schedule.  

A Trained Water Conservation Specialist will visit your home or business to identify potential water savings.

• Indoors, they'll check appliances and plumbing fixtures for water leaks and measure the flow rate of faucets and showerheads.

• Outdoors, they'll test the irrigation system and look for leaks or broken sprinkler heads, discuss how much water your landscape really needs to be healthy, and help set your irrigation timer.

Get spare the water tips here.

Click here to find out more about the free water wise services from the City of Sacramento.

New Ways, New Days for Sacramento's Solid Waste Management



District 5 Message from Councilmember Jay Schenirer–  

Click here for the solid waste recycling website.

Dear District Five Resident,

Beginning July 1, 2013 there will be several changes to residential waste collection in the City of Sacramento. As a result of these changes there will be no rates increase for recycling and solid waste services through June 2015.

·        Every Other Week Recycling - all residential customers will be either on an A or B week schedule for recycling collection. You can “Find Your Service Day” and download the free Sac311 App to get text or email alert reminders for your recycle week at www.sacrecycle.org.

 

·        Service Day Changes – collection days in parts of District 5 will be changing. A notice confirming your recycle week and service day was sent at the end of May. You can also use our “Find Your Service Day” tool at www.sacrecycle.org or call 311 to confirm your collection day.

 

·        Maps of District 5 with Recycle Week and Service Day changes are available here.

 

·        Containerized Yard Waste – all residential customers will be required to use a container for weekly yard waste collection. Containers will automatically be delivered in June to those who don’t have one yet and weekly service will begin the week of July 1. Your service day will be the same as your garbage day. The city will no longer collect loose yard waste piles in the street except during leaf season. For former year-round loose-in-the-street customers the last week street collection will be June 24, 2013.

 

·        Leaf Season - Citywide loose-in-the-street collection of leaf piles will occur November through January. Customers will be able to use their yard waste container for weekly pickup as well as place extra material out in a pile on the street in front of their residence during leaf season.

 

·        Appointment Based Neighborhood Clean-Up Returns - all residential customers will be able to make one appointment a year for the pickup of any bulky items including excessive yard waste. Program details are available at sacrecycle.org. Residents can call 311 or visit www.sac311.org to request an appointment.

 

·        Free Dump Coupon – in July, residents will be able to call 311 to request one free dump coupon to self-haul a load of waste to the Sacramento Recycling and Transfer Station.

 

·        More information on all these changes is available at www.sacrecycle.org