Barbara Bush Library News – March 2014

6718 Cypress Wood Drive, Spring, TX 77379 (281) 376-4610

Tax Preparation Assistance – Saturdays 10 am to 4 pm - & Mondays 1 to 8 pm. First come, first served.
Kindle E-book Demo – Tues., March 11th (2nd Tues.), 11 am – 2nd floor BBL Friends Lab – Registration required. Did you purchase a Kindle recently? If you have a Kindle, Kindle Fire, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Touch or Kindle Paperwhite you can download e-books from the HCPL’s Digital Media Catalog. Bring your Kindle, plus all cables & passwords. Library card needed to borrow digital books.
Genealogy Research Database Demo – Fri., March 7th, 11 am – 2nd floor BBL Friends Computer Lab. Registration required. Thinking of climbing that family tree & doing some family history research? Need to consult the U.S. Census for past years? Come see how to use Heritage Quest & Ancestry.com at our presentation.
Genealogical Research is now offered one Friday a month at 11 am – date varies – registration opens 30 days prior to the class, call Margaret Davis for the schedule.
Special Computer Class – Kindle eReader – Wed. March 12th, 10 am – BBL Friends Computer Lab – Stand-alone class – Kindle: We will examine the features, download &
read books, access email & the Internet. Bring your Kindle, all cables & passwords plus Amazon account. You will need your HCPL card to borrow books from the digital catalog. Registration required & limited to 12 students.
Computer Classes – Computer Basics, Intro. to Internet, Email, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint & Publisher. Dave Smith also teaches 3 additional classes that are one session only per month – Social Media, the Kindle & Digital Photography.
Each class meets for 1, two hour session. Registration is limited to 12 – first come, first served – (281) 376-4610.
Senior Classic Movie Morning – (2nd & 3rd Fridays) at 10 am in the Earl Elliott Room.
March 14th – Movie from 1939 starring James Stewart & Marlena Dietrich.
March 21st – Movie from 1942 starring Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan & Jimmy Durante.
Adult/Senior Games – Wednesdays, 10:00 am – Noon in the Earl Elliott Room on the 1st floor. Play dominos, traditional & Chicken Foot, or Rummikub with others. Meet new friends or bring a friend.
Seniors (60+) Computer Help - 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 10 am – Noon in the BBL Computer Lab – Are you 60+ and having trouble getting started with a computer? Drop in to the Senior Help Session & let our volunteer, Patsy, give you some assistance. Meet other seniors & share your computer experiences. No registration necessary.
Yoga for Stress Relief – Thursdays, Noon – 1 pm in the Earl Elliott Room. No registration is necessary.
Linda Popinski, certified yoga instructor, member of Yoga Association of Houston, has been practicing yoga 16 years. Free class will include breathing, meditation techniques, a relaxing form of yoga to relieve stress, create flexibility & calm mind & body. Please bring your own Yoga mat & beach towel. 
Yoga with Rosa – Fridays, 2:30 to 4 pm – Please bring your own Yoga mat. No registration is necessary.
Beginning French Classes - Fridays – Noon – 1:30 pm - Marie Soulard, our volunteer French instructor, continues beginning French classes on Fridays. These are beginning conversational classes, so no previous knowledge of French is required. Come learn a new language & make new friends. No registration is necessary, just drop in.
Advanced French Classes - Wednesdays, 1 – 2:30 pm - Leila, a volunteer French instructor, has resumed her advanced French classes on Wednesdays. These are advanced conversational classes, so some knowledge of French is necessary. Come learn a new language & make new friends. No registration is necessary, just drop in.
Workforce Solutions Job Search Seminars – 1:30 – 3:30 pm (2nd & 4th Thurs.) Robin Bush Activity Room. Learn how to search for a job more effectively & make the most of your skills. Just drop in, no registration necessary.
March 13th – Rebranding Your Skills
March 27th – Evaluating Your Skills & Making A Plan
Journaling at the Library – Monday, March 17, 3:30 pm - Need motivation to write your life story? Join this beginner’s group. There is no right or wrong way. You can jot down ideas & write from those, or just come & listen.

Book Clubs at Barbara Bush

Evening Book Club – March 11th, 7 pm (2nd Tues.) will discuss The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. All are welcome, bring a friend. April’s selection is a movie based
on a book by Frances Mayes.
Afternoon Book Club – March 27th, 1:30 pm – Will discuss The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. The program will be repeated Friday, March 28th at 2:30 pm. Please feel free to attend either session. April’s selection is The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani.
The Great Books Discussion Group – March 17th, 7 - 8:45 pm in the WCR Conference Room – Will discuss On Dreams by Sigmund Freud Call Ed Boran for more
information at (281) 353-1450.

Spring is here! Fix Up & Clean Out

Although there are probably a few more cold fronts to endure, Spring has officially arrived. Some subtle signs are unmistakable: tulip magnolias are bursting into bloom, some trees are budding out, the rose bushes are sending out new growth &, unfortunately, clover & other weeds are growing like, well, weeds.
! Spring’s new growth usually inspires a burst of working outside in the yard. Now is the time to do it while the weather is still cool & bearable. Trim those bushes, spread the weed & feed on the lawn, replace the grass & plants that died during last summer’s drought. Local nurseries are getting fresh plants in daily & sales abound.
Upgrading the curb appeal of your property is an easy way to increase its value plus make it aesthetically pleasing to you & your neighbors. 
While out in the yard, take stock of your fences, paint on the house, condition of the roof, garage door, windows & screens. Does your sidewalk or driveway need repair?
Spring is the traditional time to clean out, refurbish & repair. Garages & the stuff in them are an area sorely in need of attention in Fountainhead. While we have nice weather it is time to clear out unwanted items stored in the garage & take them to Goodwill, Northwest Assistance Ministries or the Salvation Army. Get a tax break while helping others & gain space for parking your car in the garage. The number of garage sales usually increases in the Spring as the “Spring Cleaning” bug takes hold.! Safety experts & mechanics encourage parking vehicles in garages for several reasons. Mechanics verify that  garaged vehicles are less likely to break down or need body work due to exposure from being parked outside in the elements. Hail storms are common in the Spring. The safety experts note that criminals can track your comings & goings more effectively if you leave your vehicles parked in the driveway or street. If you park them in the garage they don’t know if you are home or not. Also, vehicles parked outside are often broken into or vandalized. 
Renewal has a contagious effect in a subdivision. One house on a block cleans up the yard & plants a tree. Another repaints in a fresh color (with advance ACC approval). Yet another replaces a worn roof. Another replaces rotting siding while still another trims low tree limbs & overgrown bushes. In the end we all benefit as a community. Hopefully, the nice weather will inspire us all.

Champions ESD Fire Cautions

! In 2013 CESD responded to 840 calls for service: 182 fires, rescues, & other hazards, plus 414 EMS calls. This is an increase from 792 calls in 2012. Average response time
was 5:37.
There were eight major events in 2013 including three residential fires: 1 in Champions Creek, 1 in Greenwood Forest, & 1 in Fountainhead, plus an apartment fire on Wunderlich Rd. CESD responded to the same commercial property in the 4700 block of FM 1960 West 3 times. CESD also responded to a large fire in an abandoned commercial property on Shiloh Church Road near FM 1960 West. 
In addition to responding to emergencies, CESD also interacted with over 3,000 children & 200 adults, while conducting fire prevention activities, station tours, scout programs, & CERT training.
Please remember to change your smoke detector battery when you move your clocks ahead on March 9th.

Facebook.com/ChampionsESD
Twitter: @ChampionsESD

Cub Scout Pack 440

Thank you, Fountainhead residents, for participating in the Luminary/Santa Ride/Food  drive in December! Your gracious donations allowed Cub Scout Pack 440 to donate 515 lbs. of food pantry items to the Northwest Assistance Ministries. We look to exceed that number this year!!
Scout Fair Coupon Books – with over $600 in savings are here & available for $10. The book includes local retailers such as Kroger, Fuddrucker’s, Luby’s, Sonic, Beck’s Prime, Mister Carwash, Pilgrim Cleaners, Willie’s Ice House, Schlitterbahn, Sea World, Bass Pro Shops, Arandas Bakery & more! Contact Charlotte Sziy at (832) 971-1971 or sziy@sbcglobal.net to purchase coupon books or for more information about scouting.

Unpaid R&M Assessments Delinquent

The 2014 Fountainhead R&M Assessments were mailed out during December 2013. The full $250 assessment was due by midnight on January 31, 2014. Any accounts not paid in full will now be assessed a $25 per month penalty until it is paid in full (including any penalty additions).
For any questions call the R&M office (281) 893-4820 & leave a message including your name, Fountainhead address & phone number plus the reason for your call. A R&M Board member will return your call. Please speak slowly & distinctly so that we can hear the information.

Vehicle Vandalism in the News

News reports in recent weeks have brought instances of isolated, but significant damage to personal vehicles in the Houston Metropolitan Area. The pellet gun destruction of 75-100 vehicle windows in one area on a single night was especially concerning. All that it took was one person (or group of persons) with a pellet gun, transportation & no regard for another person’s property. The problems caused were immense & expensive.
I once had a personal auto policy that only had a $50 deductible for glass breakage. It came in handy one time when I was driving down FM 1960 West past Champions Golf Club. One moment everything was fine on a sunny, beautiful day, then WHACK! The shattered windshield looked like someone had hit it with a bat. I went to the clubhouse & was told, “If you can find the person who hit the ball…”! Fortunately, I was only out $50 plus time & aggravation. The windshield replacement company did come to my workplace to do the replacement. Still, it wasn’t a fun experience.
My present policy has the same deductible on glass breakage as it does for a collision. Many people carry policies with $250, $500 or higher deductibles. Others carry only liability insurance which does not pay for any damage to your own vehicle. Now this same scenario
would be much more expensive.
The last time I had a road rock break my windshield (thanks to the person in the 4X4 pickup with mud tires), I ended up paying for the full cost due to the deductible being so high.
Now, try to imagine what it was like for all of those people who walked outside that morning to go to school or work & found their windows shattered. Hopefully, it didn’t rain & make the situation worse.
This brings me back to one of my favorite pet peeves – why were these cars in the driveway or parked on the street? In Fountainhead each house must have two garage spaces. This will protect two vehicles from vandals, hail & storms. If your vehicles are not in a garage then you could find yourself facing a costly situation such as this. Is the “stuff in your garage” that valuable? Think about it. Spring cleaning is just around the corner.
Another point is to keep an eye out for your property & that of your neighbors. If you observe something happen or see suspicious things – then report them immediately!

CUB Scout Pack 440

http://bsa-pack440.org

Congratulations to all the Webelos that will be crossing over to Boy Scouts this month! Pack 440 is in its 38th year of providing a positive place where boys can enjoy safe, wholesome activities, focus on building character & develop a spirit of community service. Pack 440 welcomes all boys in 1st through 5th grades to join the fun!
Please visit our website or contact Char Sziy at (832) 971-1971 or Gil Martinez at (936) 494-9554 for more information.

Champions ESD Fire Cautions

When a fire or other emergency breaks out in a crowded place, everyone runs to the entrance. People panic & start pushing. Some fall down. Some even die. When you walk into a public place, plan an exit strategy. Keep in mind, the best way out may not be the way you came in. Look for the marked emergency exits. 
Having an exit strategy should include your favorite local shopping places, malls, restaurants & theaters, too. Schools practice this every year. This strategy will help in any situation where you need to leave a building quickly during an emergency – tornadoes, robberies, hostage, etc.
Example: On February 20, 2003 at The Station nightclub in Rhode Island, 100 club goers died needlessly when the band’s stage pyrotechnics ignited nearby walls & ceilings. Immediately, more than 2/3 of the 400+ people started for the main entrance, but the quick spread & intensity of the smoke & flames caused the crowd to panic & surge toward the entrance. People fell, causing others to fall & in less than 90 seconds, the front door was hopelessly blocked.
Visit www.haveanexitstrategy.com for more information.

Barbara Bush Library News – February 2014

African American Read-In – Sat. February 8th – Noon to 3 pm – Cypress Creek Christian Community Center – The Forum – 6823 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, Texas 77379 – (281) 376-4610
Over a million readers of all ages are expected to participate in the 24th Annual African American Read-In. The Barbara Bush Branch Library & the E.B.O.N.Y. Organization will sponsor this event locally. The goal is to make the celebration of African American literacy a traditional part of Black History Month activities.
Activities are planned for adults, teens & children. Authors Ronald Goodwin, Jennifer Hayes, Bonnie Hopkins, Gwen Richardson, Charlotte Stallings & Pamela Jarmon-Wade are some of the featured guests. There will be a panel discussion of “How to get a book published” & a reception following with the authors selling & autographing their books.
Kindle E-book Demo - Tues., February 11th (2nd Tues.), 11 am – 2nd floor BBL Friends Lab – Registration required. Did you purchase a Kindle recently? If you have a Kindle, Kindle Fire, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Touch or Kindle Paperwhite you can download e-books from the HCPL’s Digital Media Catalog. Bring your Kindle, plus all cables & passwords. Library card needed to borrow digital books.
Genealogy Research Database Demo - Fri., February 7th, 11 am – 2nd floor BBL Friends Computer Lab. Registration required. Thinking of climbing that family tree & doing some family history research? Need to consult the U.S. Census for past years? Come see how to use Heritage Quest & Ancestry.com at our presentation.
Genealogical Research is now offered one Friday a month at 11 am – date varies – registration opens 30 days prior to the class, call Margaret Davis for the schedule.
Special Computer Class – Digital Photography - Thur. February 6th, 10 am – BBL Friends Computer Lab - Standalone class – Digital Photography – Bring your digital camera (optional) & attend this beginner class on digital cameras. Learn the basics of exposure & key features to look for when purchasing one. You will also learn how to insert images into a Word document or email. Registration required & limited to 12 students.
Computer Classes - Computer Basics, Intro. to Internet, Email, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint & Publisher. Dave Smith also teaches 3 additional classes that are 1 session only per month – Social Media, the Kindle & Digital Photography.
Each class meets for 1, two hour session. Registration is limited to 12 – first come, first served – (281) 376-4610.  
Senior Classic Movie Morning  - February 14th & 21st (2nd & 3rd Fridays) at 10 am in the Earl Elliott Room.
February 14th - Movie from 1940 starring James Stewart & Margaret Sullivan.
February 21st - Movie from 1938 starring Irene Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, Ann Miller & James Stewart.
Adult/Senior Games - Wednesdays, 10:00 am – Noon in the Earl Elliott Room on the 1st floor. Play dominos, traditional & Chicken Foot, or Rummikub with others. Meet new friends or bring a friend.
Seniors (60+) Computer Help - 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 10 am – Noon in the BBL Computer Lab – Are you 60+ and having trouble getting started with a computer? Drop in to the Senior Help Session & let our volunteer, Patsy, give you some assistance. Meet other seniors & share your computer experiences. No registration necessary.
Yoga Class for Stress Relief - Thursdays, Noon – 1 pm in the Earl Elliott Room. No registration is necessary.
Linda Popinski, certified yoga instructor, member of Yoga Association of Houston, has been practicing yoga 16 years. Free class will include breathing, meditation techniques, a relaxing form of yoga to relieve stress, create flexibility & calm mind & body. Please bring your own Yoga mat & beach towel.
Beginning French Classes - Fridays – Noon – 1:30 pm – Marie Soulard, our volunteer French instructor, continues beginning French classes on Fridays. These are beginning conversational classes, so no previous knowledge of French is required. Come learn a new language & make new friends. No registration is necessary, just drop in.
Advanced French Classes - Wednesdays, 1 – 2:30 pm – Leila, a volunteer French instructor, has resumed her advanced French classes on Wednesdays. These are advanced conversational classes, so some knowledge of French is necessary. Come learn a new language & make new friends. No registration is necessary, just drop in.
Workforce Solutions Job Search Seminars - 1:30 – 3:30 pm (2nd & 4th Thurs.) Robin Bush Activity Room. Learn how to search for a job more effectively & make the most of your skills. Just drop in, no registration necessary. 
February 13th - Making Connections
February 27th - Interviewing

Book Clubs at Barbara Bush

Evening Book Club - February 11th, 7 pm (2nd Tues.) will discuss The Healing by Jonathan Odell. March’s selection is The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline.
Afternoon Book Club - February 27th, 1:30 pm – Will discuss Dear Life by Alice Munro. The program will be repeated Friday, February 28th at 2:30 pm. Please feel free to attend either session. March’s selection is The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.
The Great Books Discussion Group - February 13th, 7 – 8:45 pm in the WCR Conference Room – Will discuss Oedipus the King. Call Ed Boran for more information at (281) 353-1450.

 

 

Welcome 2014 – A New Year!!!

Ah, the smell & feel of a fresh New Year! The holidays are over, gifts have been opened & returned, in some cases. The fireworks have been fired (Not in Fountainhead, of course!) & cleaned up. New Year’s Resolutions have been made. Plans have been made to take down the seasonal decorations inside & out. The house guests have departed & everyone is getting ready to return to school or work.
We wish everyone a safe, healthy & prosperous 2014!

 
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