It’s Dues Time!by Tim Louque, Membership Committee

Our 2013 annual Timbergrove Manor Civic Club (TMCC) Membership Drive kicks off this month! Over the last few years, we have seen the number of residents paying dues has declined. During 2012, only 44% of Timbergrove residents paid their dues. It is easy to understand that many of us are still feeling the need to tighten our spending because of our troubled economy. So we thought now would be a good time to remind you how your dues and contributions are uti l ized in our neighborhood each year as you consider your spending budget for 2013.

The ne ighborhood ac t iv i t i e s organized by our volunteer staff certainly do depend on the membership dues we collect. Even though nearly all of our organizing and staffing needs is done by volunteers and terrific sponsors for certain events do help, we have additional expenses as we carry out the activities and projects sponsored by the TMCC.

One of our major expenses is The Timbergram newsletter we publish and distribute to every home six times a year.

The newsletter keeps us all informed of activities, news and other important information of the neighborhood.

Additionally, the TMCC organizes an annual Easter Egg Hunt, a Fourth of July Ice Cream Social, Movie Nights in Jaycee Park, the Annual Rummage Sale, a volunteer appreciation event and Winter Festival. These events host hundreds of Timbergrove residents. Costs incurred with these events include publicity, supplies, signage, printing, etc.

TMCC helps to maintain property values by enforcing deed restrictions and money collected from membership dues p r o v i d e l a n d s c a p i n g f o r t h e neighborhood esplanades.

And finally, Our Citizens on Patrol group helps keep our neighborhood safer and more secure and helps keep our crime rate down. These various activities and the hard work of the TMCC make Timbergrove Manor one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city.

We ask for only $30 for your annual membership dues. That is a real bargain compared to other subdivisions in the

city. Some charge high maintenance fees, monthly home owners’ association dues and, sometimes, paid security officers. And if you decide that you would like to have two voting members represent your household at our quarterly General Meetings, it would be $60. That is still a bargain for a one year membership for two people.

Now that you have read all that we can do together, please consider how far the membership dues really do go in helping conduct the business of Timbergrove Manor and send in your dues today in the enclosed envelope with the membership form on the inside of the last page of this publication. If you can, include a little extra to help out with all the great events organized by the TMCC. Or you can p a y y o u r d u e s o n l i n e a t www.timbergrove.org.

Only with your monetary support is it possible for our Timbergrove Manor Civic Club to continue with these events and services which benefit all of us. Thank you!

JANUARY 2013 TIMBERGROVE MANOR CIVIC CLUB ○ PO BOX 70977 ○ HOUSTON, TX 77270-0977 WWW.TIMBERGROVE.ORG

General MeetingTuesday, January 8, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.

Sinclair Elementary School

Snow Day brought hundreds of residents to Jaycee Park for a winter festival

West 11th Street Park ReplantingFollowing the removal of many, many trees killed by the 2010 drought, a plan for revitalization is sprouting and your help is needed

INSIDE THIS

ISSUE

Our speaker will be

Lee MashburnMagnet Coordinator for Sinclair

Elementary School

Mr. Mashburn will explain the HISD magnet school concept with a focus on Sinclair Elementary’s communications magnet program. Learn about the expertise of school teachers and how the skills cultivated in students in the magnet program carry over into both school work and real life experience.

With more than 20 years of teaching experience and academic credentials including a Masters in Counseling and soon-to-be-completed Masters of Education, Mashburn sees a solid education as an essential part of professional, financial and emotional happiness.

Come early!

Pizza at 6:30

The Timbergram

Annual Winter Festival Draws Hundreds To

Jaycee Parkby Idalia Morfey, Activities Committee

On December 8th, Jaycee Park was filled with festive sounds as hundreds of friends and neighbors turned out for the annual Timbergrove Manor Civic Club Winter Festival.

This year’s event – with 26,000 pounds of snow, 100 dozen donut holes, 10 dozen kolaches, one great sponsor, five gallons of coffee and orange juice, two bouncy houses, a balloon artist, a face painter, a train, and Santa was perfect in every way. Although the weather was warm, the snow managed not to melt too quickly.

The event continues to grow exponentially every year due, in no small part, to the following sponsors for their tireless support of the event and our neighborhood: Timbergrove Manor Civic Club and Carolyn Bryant from Hartman & Associates. There is no doubt the event is what it is today thanks to their generosity. Friends of Jaycee Park also lent a significant hand (and collected more than $1,300 in donations and proceeds from brick paver sales for the park’s maintenance fund).

Each year, a number of committed volunteers help make our neighborhood Winter Wonderland come to life. My gratitude to Carolyn Bryant, Darlene and Jeff Wayt, Bill Morfey, Pete D a v i e s , T i m L o u q u e , G a r y Nordstrom, Debbie Stephenson, Bryan and Stefani Cillessen, and Gary Garcia.

Forecast: Sunny with SnowAround TimbergroveLeadership Chat with Denny Fegan

New TMCC Officer Denny Fegan was recently appointed by the Board of Directors to fulfill a position expiring in 2013. And, while Fegan’s participation with the civic club is new, his appreciation for Timbergrove Manor reaches back 13 years when he, his wife and family of six c h i l d r e n fi r s t m o v e d i n t o t h e neighborhood.

Now Fegan is proud to say that he is the grandfather of 12 plus one great grand child. It’s no wonder the family man ranks Snow Day as his favorite annual TMCC event.

While Fegan has retired from his full-time post as a mechanical engineer, he still consults. However, more time off means more time for his favorite hobby: sailing. It also gives him more time to enjoy neighborhood establishments like Java Java on 11th Street.

As a TMCC Officer, Fegan hopes to see more participation in the civic club by fellow residents. He notes that great neighbors and a safe environment help make Timbergrove Manor a wonderful place to live, and encourages all residents to get involved with TMCC to help protect their investment in their homes.

Hippity Hop! Save the Date for the Easter Egg Hunt

The annual TMCC Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for Saturday,

March 23 at 9 a.m. at Sinclair Elementary

School. Each year, d o z e n s o f Timbergrove tots pour ac ro s s the green in search of eggs left behind by

the Easter Bunny ( a n d a t e a m o f

volunteers.) Available to help make the morning

m a g i c a l ? S e n d a n o t e t o emailactivities@timbergrovemanor.org to volunteer.

Photo credit: Jeff Wayt

by Lorraine Cherry, Friends of West 11th Street ParkFriends of West 11th Street Park announces the launch of a fundraising drive to restore trees to the west and south sides of the ball field,

offering shaded seating for parents and bringing back the bucolic appearance that traditionally made this little ball field so attractive. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so all donations are tax deductible.

Support Needed to Replace Drought-Stricken Trees at West 11th Street Park

March 2000

In 2000, the ball field on the southwest corner of West 11th Street Park was protected by a stand of tall Loblolly Pine trees. Parents and friends who came out to watch their kids play ball received welcome shade as they sat on benches underneath these 100-year old trees. These trees and those to the south of the playing field also provided an attractive forested setting for the park

March 2012

As a result of the historic drought of 2011, the trees shading the ball field died. Those who come now to watch their kids play ball sit on hot benches unprotected from the sun. What used to be a lovely shaded area protected from the sun is now a bare field with a couple of isolated benches.

Looking Forward

We will be purchasing trees. In addition, we will need to contract with Trees for Houston to water the new trees on a regular basis for the first two years to make sure that they survive and grow.

We need your contributions to assist us in restoring the ball field and making it, once again, a beautiful place for kids to come and learn to play America’s favorite game.

FRIENDS OF WEST 11TH STREET PARKP.O. BOX 7679

HOUSTON TX 77270-7679

Five 30-gallon trees, smaller trees as available.

Five 30-gallon trees, smaller trees as available.

Reforested area150 - 200 small trees

benc

hes

picnic table

batter’s cage

by Bill Morfey, TMCC PresidentHappy New Year! I am honored to be serving as your

TMCC president for 2013. To start off this year’s president’s corner, I thought I would update you on two topics of community interest.

Anyone that has lived in Timbergrove Manor for long has probably experienced the odors emanating from the Chemical Feed Station at Bryce and 11th Street (either because you drive by the area, the wind carries the odor to you, or both). Over the past couple of years, the City of Houston has taken measures to try and reduce the smell, but so far nothing has seemed to work. In fact, the problem may have gotten worse in recent weeks, since some of the water equipment at the station has malfunctioned (it is being repaired).

This past week, we were informed by Council member Ellen Cohen’s office that the City has budgeted funds to expand the station’s air-handling unit. The design of the new air-handling unit is scheduled to be completed by the end of September, with construction to begin sometime prior to the end of the year. The current projection is that construction will take approximately 12 months to complete.

Although no one from the City has yet gone so far as to guarantee that the smell will go away after the project is finished,

the significant upgrades being planned certainly seem to be reason for optimism. After so many years of the problem, some of our more pessimistic residents may rightfully caution the neighborhood not to hold its breath. But hey, we have been doing that as we pass the station anyway, haven’t we?

The second topic of interest is the status of Timbergrove Manor’s receipt of single-stream recycling containers (where each house would receive a large recycling container that can be used for glass and other recycling products that are currently not allowed to be placed in the smaller green bins we already have). Unfortunately, although the program is still scheduled to roll out an additional 30,000+ containers this year, the City’s Solid Waste Management division is not able to make a commitment to provide Timbergrove Manor with the containers. We will just have to wait and see, along with other neighborhoods. However, discussions are being held regarding the possibility of the entire City moving towards a mandatory fee-based recycling effort. It is too early to be able to report any details about such a program, but TMCC will keep its ear to the ground and pass along any information it obtains.

Have a great 2013!

BOOT CAMP IN TIMBERGROVE AT JAYCEE PARK

Mon, Wed, & Fri: 5:30 AM

Get in shape and have FUN!

Exercise with your neighbors

Open to all fitness levels

Non-intimidating atmosphere Your first class is complimentary

John Neundorfer Certified Personal Trainer Timbergrove Resident

(713) 553-7653 jneundorfer@yahoo.com

President’s Corner

Committee News BriefRummage Sale Success

More than 150 shoppers turned out for the annua l Timberg rove Manor Rummage Sale in November to hunt for treasures offered up by neighborhood residents. Twenty-five booths boasted wares including home goods, clothing and appliances in the parking lot of Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church. Thanks to Angie Greak McKinney and Patrick Valentz for not only organizing the event, but coordinating the donation of can goods for the church’s food pantry.

Trading Post

The 2012 Rummage Sale was apparently such a success that there were no Trading Post submissions for this edition of The Timbergram. However, submissions will be accepted for the March publication. E m a i l y o u r l i s t i n g t o timbergram@timbregrovemanor.org.

Design Review Update

According to Dana Whitney, chair of the Design Review Committee, during N o v e m b e r t h e D e s i g n R e v i e w Committee reviewed and approved plans for additions to a one-story house on Grovewood Lane in Section 8.

Bold New Color for the Holidays

Beautification Committee Chair Leslie Hillendahl has been hard at work coordinating new flowers and festive holiday decor along the medians in the neighborhood.

Before the Meeting

Come early to the next TMCC General Meeting on Tuesday, January 8 to grab a slice of pizza and socialize with your neighbors. Pizza and drinks will be served at 6:30 p.m. at Sinclair Elementary.

Single-Stream Recycling: What is it? When will we get it?by by Lorraine Cherry, Environmental Affairs Committee

A lot of you will have been wonder ing abou t S ing l e -S t ream Recycling: What exactly is it? Why don’t we have it? Will it cost anything? Council Member Ellen Cohen touched on this issue several months ago when she spoke at the TMCC general meeting. Traci Elsner from CM Cohen’s office provided me with this detailed update.

What is Single-Stream Recycling?

Single-Stream Recycling, as opposed to Curbside Recycling, is the system in which a citizen can place all their recyclables in a single, 96-gallon green bin for collection on a bi-weekly basis. Single-Stream Recycling is superior to Curbside Recycling in several ways:

• you don’t have to separate your recyclables by type

• the bin is much larger, is wheeled for easier transportation to the curb, and has a lid to keep the contents from getting wet

• you can recycle glass, which is not an option with Curbside Recycling

Who has it now and who doesn’t? Who decides which neighborhoods get it, using which criteria?

• Currently, approximately 1/3 of the homes in the city have Single-Stream Recyc l ing, 1/3 have Curbs ide Recycling, and 1/3 do not have any recycling programs. Solid Waste Management (SWM) has maps showing which neighborhoods fall into which category: www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/schedule.html

• The Director of SWM, Harry Hayes, is the sole person who makes the final determination of which neighborhoods are included in each expansion. There are several factors that he takes in to account, including: whether their adjacent neighborhoods currently have it (for efficiency in expanding the truck routes), level of participation in the Curbside program, and the number of homes in the neighborhood.

What are the cost issues involved?

The largest cost associated with expansion is the investment in the new

trucks. Since they’re very tech-heavy, they’re very expensive, about $150,000 per truck. The new large containers cost about $50 apiece. Additionally, there are costs associated with updating Waste Management facilities to accommodate the special trucks.

Has there been any further discussion about charging a special fee for this?   Would the fee be permanent, or would it be phased out after the new equipment is in place?

The City of Houston is one of the only major cities in America that does not collect a fee for solid waste management services. Funding for SWM comes instead from the General Fund, but because marginal funding from year to year is precarious, SWM can only currently afford to expand Single-Stream Recycling at a very slow pace.

Implementation of a fee for these services is under discussion. At this point, questions on how much the fee would be and whether it would be permanent are still being debated. It has been suggested that if each household was charged $3.74 per month, which could be added to the water bill, SWM would be able to bring Single-Stream Recycling to the entire city in a more timely manner.

Any idea at all about when we might see Single-Stream Recycling in Timbergrove Manor?

SWM was allocated the funding for an expansion of the Single-Stream Recycling program for an additional 30,000 homes this fiscal year. They are targeting sometime around February to announce which neighborhoods have been selected.

Each time CM Cohen and/or her assistants visit a civic club, they try to take the temperature of that neighborhood to see how they’d feel about paying a fee for Single-Stream Recycling. They would love to receive any feedback Timbergrove has to give them on the subject, or to answer any further questions you may have. You can contact them by e-mail at districtc@houstontx.gov or by phone at 832-393-3004.

Is there someone out there watching you? Statistics show that one in five burglaries are committed by offenders against people they already know! Burglars target your home while you are out, and can empty your house of valuable stereo equipment, jewelry, TV’s, cash, and personal items in a matter of minutes.

Who are these criminals preying on homeowners? In 80 percent of cases, they are young male adults between the ages of 18 and 25; juveniles represent about 20 percent of these crimes. They may be casual acquaintances, or someone who passes by your home and looks into your windows or garage.

How can you prevent burglary in your home? In, 1972, the National Neighborhood Watch Program was established by the National Sheriff ’s Association. They have developed guidelines to help educate homeowners on burglary prevention. Here’s a simple checklist you can use to protect your home.

Make Your Home The Least Likely Target.

• Keep garage doors closed. They are a means of entry to your home, offering a burglar opportunity to steal autos, tools, bicycles, and other property.

• Prune large trees. Low limbs can provide second story access to your home.

• Maintain tidy lawns and landscaping. This tells them you are home.

• Accept deliveries only at your front door. Never let people into your home to make telephone calls or use the bathroom!

• Timers on indoor lights, radios, and TV’s give an appearance you’re home.

• Never give your address or phone number to strangers over the phone.

Delay A Burglar. The longer it takes to force a door or window open, the greater the risk of detection. Use adequate locks on all windows and doors.

• Gates and fences can offer potential concealment to criminals, but can also be used to deter the removal of large items.

• Use solid-core doors in major access points, and install dead bolts with a minimum 1-inch throw bolt. If hinges are on the outside of the door, use a non-removable hinge pin.

• Screens or storm windows offer added protection to the homeowner.

Maximize Detection – Don’t Make It Easy! If you can force a burglar to work where he can be observed, chances are he will go elsewhere.

• Trim shrubs. Deny intruders a hiding place to work. Your neighbors and police can see if someone is trying to burglarize your home.

• Use a residential burglar alarm to delay or even prevent entry. Simple systems can be obtained from your local hardware store, or leased or purchased from alarm companies. Consult your law enforcement agency when installing an alarm.

• Use motion-sensitive lights at all door entries and around critical areas of the home where potential burglars would approach your home.

• Keep walks and driveways free from offering concealment to intruders and other criminals.

Timbergrove has a Neighborhood Watch Program to learn more contact your block captain, civic club President or attend a neighborhood civic club meeting. Neighborhood awareness and neighbor to neighbor contact is your very best defenses against crime. For more information on how you can protect yourself, visit www.usaonwatch.org.

Is Your Home a Prime Target for Burglary?

Special Feature for Timbergram readers by Pamela Efferson Properties

Bryce Street: A 25-Year-Old Problem Looking for a Solutionby Lorraine Cherry

If you frequently drive through the intersection of West 11th Street and T.C. Jester, you know that the smell emanating from the chemical treatment plant located at Bryce and West 11th Street is a continuing and noxious problem in our neighborhood. The Timbergrove Manor Civic Club and the board of directors of Super Neighborhood 14 are both working with the city to find a solution to this problem.

At a recent Super Neighborhood 14 meeting, David Bonem from Council

Member Ellen Cohen’s office encouraged residents of Timbergrove to use the 311 service request line to keep this issue in front of our city officials. “When you smell the plant, complain to 311,” he said. “Multiple complaints about a single issue really do get attention.” He recommended that complaints come from as many addresses as possible. “If a lot of complaints list the same address, they may be coded as repeats and not receive individual service request (SR) numbers.”

So, if you smell the plant, call 311 and complain, or better yet, register your complaint at the Houston 311 website (http://hfdapp.houstontx.gov/311/index.php). When you get a SR number, follow up on it. The next time you smell the plant (and the next time after that), contact them again and tell them the smell is still there. Be persistent. David also asks that you send the SR number to C M C o h e n ’ s o f fi c e a t districtc@houstontx.gov.

Deed Restrictions 101by Joe Parks, Deed Restrictions Enforcement Committee

Real estate restrictions are restrictions generally contained in a document filed with the county deed records and referred to in the deed to property that place limitations on the use of the property. Restrictive covenants are an example of deed restrictions. Deed restrictions are usually initiated by the developers. Deed restrictions such as restrictive covenants are often put in place to maintain a desired look in a neighborhood. To that end, deed restrictions may prevent owners from building more than a pre-established number of homes on one lot. Deed restrictions can also specify what materials or style a building may or may not be constructed of, and how close to the street it can be. Deed restrictions can even specify the minimum size that a house on the lot may be! The restrictions usually s p e c i f y t h a t a n y n e w b u i l d i n g , improvements to an existing building or remodeling thereof be first submitted to and approved by a committee usually called the Architectural Committee.

Deed Restrictions may also be used to govern the manner of use of the property. These kinds of restrictions usually mean that there are certain things that are not allowed. Some examples for a community consisting of single family dwellings might be: no vans/trucks with writing on them,

garbage cans cannot be left out over night, houses must be of a certain color, animals can only be so large or you can only have so many or none at all, no boat in the yard.

Deed Restrictions usually contain additional restrictions pertaining to what an owner can put on a property. When you are in a community that has "deed restrictions", that means that there are rules governing the community which prohibit the homeowners from doing certain things to the detriment of the community. Our community, the Timbergrove Manor Civic Club, consists of Section 5 through 14 of Timbergrove Manor. Each Section has its own set deed restrictions.

If you received a copy of “deed restrictions” from your title company, be sure to compare that copy with what is posted on the TMCC website. There is a bogus copy of deed restrictions on file with the county that purport to be deed restrictions for Timbergrove Manor. You can tell if you have a copy of the bogus deed restrictions by looking at the first page: if there is no reference to what section the restrictions apply to, then you are looking at an inaccurate document. You can find a copy of your deed restrictions posted on the TMCC website: www.timbergrove.org. If you have any questions, please contact TMCC.

West 11th Street Park WorkdayNearly two dozen volunteers joined forces at West 11th Street Park in mid-December to spread mulch as part of annual park upkeep. Thanks to all who put their backs into the effort, especially Boy Scout Troop 604.

Phot

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New Shade Canopies for Jaycee Park to be Installed

Timbergrove Manor residents and guests enjoyed hula hooping in Jaycee Park prior to the Movie Night fundraiser.

Tech SavvyThe Easy Way to Dial 311

The City of Houston’s 311 help line is the best way to make non-emergency service request lines to the city. But did you know that, in addition to the City’s

o f fi c i a l 3 1 1 w e b s i t e a t www.houston311.org, there is an easy to use mobile app that lets you make reports, upload photos and pin point service requests right from your smart phone? See Click Fix provides apps for the City of Houston with these easy to use features. Sign up for an account through the app ( ava i l ab le fo r iPhone, Android and Blackberry) then follow the intuitive

steps to register a new service request or vote to have an existing petition addressed. Download the free app at seeclickfix.com/apps.

Bird Watching

With the abundance of bird watching available throughout Timbergrove Manor, especially at West 11th Street Park, it can be a trick for novice outdoorsmen and women to identify the abundance of feathery friends. For a little guidance, look no further than Audubon Birds - a comprehensive app available for iOS, Android, Kindle and more from the Audubon Society. See the f u l l s u i t e o f n a t u r e g u i d e s a t www.audubonguides.com/field-guides/mobile-apps.html.

Home Maintenance

Is it time to change the a/c filter? When did I last do a visual inspection of the foundation? Is the water heater still under warranty and where did I put the receipt? As a home owner, maintaining your investment is essential, but it’s so easy to let things slip. This is where the Home Maintenance app for iOS from POJO Software can help. Set a custom schedule of maintenance reminders, track your maintenance history with photos and scan receipts for quick reference when you need it. To learn more, visit www.pojosoft.com.

Movie Night, Fundraising Efforts

Help Friends of Jaycee Shade Playground

by Darlene Wayt, Friends of Jaycee ParkThanks to many donors, volunteers

and enthusiastic attendees of Movie Night, Friends of Jaycee Park reached its $12,000 fundraising goal to secure and install much needed shade canopies in the park. After the final two trees shading the popular playground were killed by drought, the Timbergrove Manor community came together.

Special thanks to Air Liquide USA, Goodman Manufacturing, Yol Art Framing (Yolanta Thompson), t h e E x x o n M o b i l Fo u n d a t i o n Volunteer Involvement Program (Sylvia Landry & Craig Bolden), L a z y b r o o k B a p t i s t C h u r c h , Deborah & Ed Love, Kristy & John Demeritt, Sara & Chris Mayeu, Suzanne Driskill, Kirk Guy & Jennifer Vickers, Sara Helm, Jay Harvey, D.K. & Ming Lu, Alverta

Look, Suzanne Clevenger, Anne Palony, Rebecca Werner and Jeff Wayt. Patrick Valentz, thank you for your help with fundraising.

M i c h e l l e G a l i n d o d i d a n outstanding job organizing Movie Night, a safe, smoothly run, fun event for all attendees. Michelle Ray ensured Movie Night was a success for the benefit of the shade canopies so thank you Michelle Ray Properties, Old Republic Title, Envoy Mortgage and Pacific Dental Services.

Gift baskets and i tems were generously donated by Cristina de la Isla , Gaye Hablinski , Marcia Moore, Cindy Hernandez, Sylvia Landry, John Neundorfer, the Wayts, Francesca’s Collections, Hairsay on W. 18th St., Spec’s, Corkscrew, Vintner’s Own, Happy Belly Studios, Wabash Antiques & Feed Store, Menchies, Pink Polka Dot, Discover Gymnastics and Origins in the Village. Thank you, winning bidders!

Photo credit: Jeff Wayt

Movie Night, start to finish, thanks goes to Lamar HS NHS, Sam Dijk, Ben Crabb, Tim Louque, Gary Nordstrom, Robert Mock, Kenneth and Sean Bonte, Judy Dyk and Jeff Wayt. Mandy Eichenlaub did a great job at the silent auction tables. Kudos to Michelle Galindo’s bake sale donors.

For Movie Night publicity, thank you Michelle Ray and Krystal Saavedra, Denise Little, Flori Meeks of the Houston Chronicle, Lucy Dukate of The Leader, Lazybrook Baptist Church, Terisa Billingsley, Cheryl Erickson, Carolyn Bryant, the Timbergrove and Lazybrook Block Captains and the pavement pounders who delivered flyers.

The shade canopies were ordered in early December. When Installation dates for the pavers and the shade canopies are provided by Houston Parks Board, we will post on Facebook and in Jaycee Park email updates.

Of course, the purchase of brick pavers to be installed at the park, also helped to underwrite this important fundraising effort. Installation of the new pavers should occur soon. Watch your inboxes for updates. Not on the Friends of Jaycee Park email list? Send a message to dwayt@comcast.net to be added.

Splash pad

Scouts, church youth, high school NHS or CAS student(s), or a family with youth needing community service hours, consider adopting our splash pad for a calendar or school year or semester. Maintenance is periodic sweeping and rinsing. Contact Cristina de la Isla at cristina.delaisla@gmail.com.

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Santa had his hands full before the Lorax movie began at Jaycee Park

National Honor Society volunteers from Lamar High School manned

the concession stand

Pizza and snacks sold at Movie Night helped raise funds for shade canopies

for the Jaycee Park playground

by Coach Vogler, Sinclair ElementaryOn Nov 17 boys and girls from Sinclair Elementary got off the

couch, put away the donuts and came to school to exercise and have a great time. They participated in Tri-Turkeylon, an off shoot of a triathlon. In this event children ran, biked and roller skated for 10 minutes each. Why you ask?  Simply because they wish to make the right choice in life and stay healthy. During Tri-Turkeylon, Sinclair students ran, rode and rolled over 1784 laps.

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News from Sinclair

by Lee Mashburn, Sinclair ElementaryMr. Mashburn, Mrs. Amos and a group of 5th grade students

from Sinclair took part in an annual field trip to KPRC Click2Houston.  Students had an opportunity to see the studio, news desks, editing room and production room.  They spoke with professionals involved in communications field and were able to make a connection between the work they do at Sinclair, A Communications Magnet School,  and the real world.

Photo credit: Sinclair Elementary

Photo credit: Jeff Wayt

Congrats to the TMCC Yard of the Month winners on their inspirational, attractive and well-groomed yards!

November

6210 Hurst – Kenneth Macmahon6526 Kury – Holly & Glen Bell6306 Wynnwood – Idalia & Bill Morfey2530 Willowby – Conrad Fertitta

December

6627 Grovewood – Brett Williams1015 Shelterwood – Mary & Sam Mandola2310 Tannehill – Eugene Sutterwhite, Jr.6110 Waltway – Becky Pickens

To win Yard of the Month you must be a current dues-paying TMCC member and cannot have won a YOTM award within the past two years. 

Timbergrove Manor Civic Club LeadershipOFFICERS AND DIRECTORSOFFICERS AND DIRECTORSOFFICERS AND DIRECTORSOFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

President Bill Morfey 832-651-0112 tmcpres@timbergrovemanor.org

VP Leslie Hillendahl 713-862-8632 tmccvp@timbergrovemanor.org

Secretary Peter Davies 713-861-1550 secretary@timbergrovemanor.org

Treasurer Chris Favre treasurer@timbergrovemanor.org

Director Michael Thompson mthompson@timbergrovemanor.org

Director Denny Fegan sdennisf@aol.com

Director Michelle Dundee mdundee@timbergrovemanor.org

Director Allen White awhite@timbergrovemanor.org

Director Patrick Valenz pvalenz@timbergrovemanor.org

Past Pres Angie McKinney 713-894-2317 pastpastpres@timbergrovemanor.org

Yard of the Month

CHAIRPERSONS - TMCC COMMITTEESCHAIRPERSONS - TMCC COMMITTEESCHAIRPERSONS - TMCC COMMITTEESCHAIRPERSONS - TMCC COMMITTEES

Activities Idalia ValdezJessica Nute

713-256-8079 activities@timbergrovemanor.org

Beautification Leslie Hillendahl 713-862-6832 beautification@timbergrovemanor.org

Block Captains Carolyn Bryant 281-723-9810 blockcaptains@timbergrovemanor.org

Citizens Patrol Lillian Jolliffee 713-869-1079 citizenspatrol@timbergrovemanor.org

Deed Restrictions Enforcement

Joe Parks 713-868-4576 deedrestrictions@timbergrovemanor.org

Design Review Dana Whitney drc@timbergrovemanor.org

Environmental Affairs

Lorraine Cherry 713-869-4445 environmentalaffairs@timbergrovemanor.org

Membership Tim LouqueGary NordstromTim LouqueGary Nordstrom

membership@timbergrovemanor.org

Timbergram Jennifer Vickers timbergram@timbergrovemanor.org

Timbergreeters Carolyn Bryant 281-723-9810 timbergreeters@timbergrovemanor.org

Web Site Idalia Valdez 713-256-8079 webmaster@timbergrovemanor.org

Yard of the Month

Leslie Hillendahl yardofmonth@timbergrovemanor.org

Just Due It!Dues Submission Form

Help us ensure Timbergrove Manor West continues as a safe, vital and highly desirable neighborhood by joining the TMCC. Mail your check, payable to TMCC, with the form below in the enclosed envelope. Or, log onto www.timbergrove.org, sign in (or register), and click ‘Pay Dues Online or Donate’ on the right end of the banner below the photo.

Resident 1:

Resident 2:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

Payment BreakdownDues (Member 1) $ 30.00

Dues (Member 2)* $ 30.00

Additional Contribution

TOTAL

* optional for second member vote

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Timbergram Advertising

Timbergrove Manor residents are lighting up the neighborhood with fantastic holiday displays on every street. This year a team appointed by the Beautification Committee filled their thermoses and toured TMCC to recognize a few homeowner s whose decorations were outstanding. Winners and runners up (selected from TMCC member residences) are listed below by category.

Best Original Theme

6314 Grovewood 2302 Tannehill

Best Show of Lights

6302 Wynwood 6518 Lindyann

Most Religious

1323 Seaspray 6306 Waltway

Most Traditional

6115 Hurst1723 Droxford

E2 = Excellent Eatsby Lorraine Cherry

Bellissimo Serves up Truly Lovely Italian

If this picture was in color, you would see day-glo lime green accented with strawberry pink. And you might have serious doubts about eating at Bellissimo, located as it is on N. Main Street in what some realtors optimistically call the Heights “area.”

Well, put aside your doubts and come on up to what is rapidly becoming the darling of the Houston foodie community. Bellissimo is owned and run by Javier Machuca, who spent 10 years working the stoves at La Strada and 13 years as head chef at Mia Bella downtown before striking out on his own. His sons man the small (VERY small) dining room, while he is back in the kitchen cooking up some truly amazing Italian food, often with a pronounced Latin touch.

Like crusty fried artichoke hearts served on a bed of poblano cream sauce. Like jalapeño pasta tossed with grilled chicken, smoked sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, and more jalapeños. Or like some of the pure Italian dishes that are done superbly here: melt-in-your-mouth meatballs; stuffed grilled shrimp crusted with parmesan, served over crispy pieces of fried eggplant; seafood cappellini that is actually more seafood than cappellini.

One of the things we have enjoyed most is Bellissimo’s “Build Your Own Pasta” menu, where you choose a pasta, a sauce/pesto, a protein, and a vegetable. On one occasion, I was delighted to dig into angel hair pasta dressed with an avocado pesto (Yes! Avocado!) tossed with juicy grilled chicken chunks and fresh

spinach. Oh my! (By the way, you can also build your own pizza.)

I have been told that they have equally wonderful desserts, including what some have called the best tiramisu and key lime pie in the city, but we have always been too full to investigate.

And the real kicker? All of this world-class food will not dig a deep hole in your pocket. When we went there on my birthday, the price for the artichoke appetizer, a salad, and two entrées (one large enough to bring a lunch home for the next day) was an amazingly modest $35. (This was not including wine. They were BYOB at the time, although they have been working on acquiring a liquor license).

I'm not sure when the good folks at Bellissimo find time to shop or sleep, as they are open every day (including Sunday) from 11 am until 11 pm. They’re located at 6500 N. Main, a few blocks north of the dreadful intersection where Studewood, 20th, Cavalcade, and N. Main all come together. Look for the small lime green and strawberry building on your right. As I mentioned, the dining room is small and Bellissimo is getting a lot of buzz. Try and go before 11:30 for lunch or before 6:00 for dinner. In the m e a n t i m e , c h e c k t h e m o u t a t www.bellissimohouston.com.

Mark your calendar for the new City of Houston waste pick up dates. Now all TMCC residents will have heavy trash service on the third Wednesday of each month.:

Tree Waste:

Wednesday, January 16 and Wednesday, March 20

Junk Waste/Heavy Trash:

Wednesday, February 20 and Wednesday, April 17

Recycling - every other Thursday:

Jan 3, Jan 17, Jan 31, Feb 14, Feb 28

Holiday Lights Shine Bright

Solid Waste Collection

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