Just a reminder that your water bills should be arriving in your mail box early next week. They will be due on October 25. If you have not received your bill by the
10th of the billing month, please call the office at 951-659-2675 and Becky or Vicki will be more than happy to look up your account and let you know how much your bill amount is.
Please remember that once we mail the bills, we have no idea what becomes of them and we cannot track them. Just because your bill doesn't arrive, does not mean you are relieved of your responsibility to pay it. We use post card type bills and once in awhile they get waylaid at the post office or stuck in a magazine or some other fate befalls them prior to them arriving in your mail box.
So remember, should your water bill go missing, please call us or stop by the office and we will be happy to assist you. We now accept Visa, Mastercard and Discover if you wish to pay by credit card. We are able to take credit card payments over the phone as well, so feel free to just give us a call and we will be happy to take care of that transaction for you.
As always, we like to remind everyone to please turn your water off at your customer shut off valve anytime you leave your mountain home. Once water has gone through your meter, it is your responsibility to pay for it. Turning your water off is the best way to assure you don't come home to a disaster.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Meter Reading Today
Just a quick reminder that the boys are out and about reading meters today. Hope they don't get too wet!
Rain, rain don't go away!
This morning I heard a strange sound on my roof. What was that noise I wondered? Well I'll be, it is raining! What a refreshing way to start the day! I hope you are all enjoying this change of weather.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Board Meeting
The next board meeting will be held on October 13, 2010 at 10:00 am. Everyone is invited to attend.
Garden chores
Hopefully, autumn will soon be upon us. With that in mind it is time to get out into the garden an get going on autumn chores. Any work you do now will be less you have to do come spring. While there is a lot to be done in the fall, the cooler temps make working outside pleasureable once again.
Now is an excellent time to add compost to your soil. It helps the soil retain moisture and this in turn conserves water. If you have oak trees in your yard, you can rake up the leaves and add them to your compost pile. Don't have a compost pile? Make one. You can be very low tech and just make a pile in the corner of the yard somewhere. Pile you leaves up, wet them down and Mother Nature will quietly work to turn those leaves into compost.
Once your soil is amended with compost you will want to add a layer of mulch to help protect it. This is esepcially beneficially to plants and trees as it helps reduce water loss. Plants transpire water through their leaves and evergreens will continue to lose water this way during the winter. Moisture must then be taken up by the plants' roots. The roots will will continue to absorb moisture when it is available, but when you aren't watering, when the ground is frozen or there is a dry spell, the necessary moisture is not availabe. The plants will continue to transpire water but at this time it draws moisture from living cells. If too much water is give off from this source, the cell dies leaving brown out. Adding compost to the soil and then a layer of mulch, helps retain moisture in the soil enabling the plant to continue to absorb moisture through it's roots and give it off through it's leaves or needles. This will result in healthier, better looking plants and trees come spring.
Of course, you can take that one step further and get a compost bin and compost not only your leaves, but your kitchen scraps as well. You can get fancy composters that spin around, 3 section composters or a basic bin that you toss your thinks into. No matter how you go about it, composting is a good thing to be doing.
Now is a good time to trim up your hardwoods and plant bulbs, bare root roses, shrubs and trees. A little effort now will be rewarded come spring as everything you planted in the fall burts to life in the spring. Plus it will give you peace of mind all through the winter knowing that you prepared your garden for winter and will not be faced with a garden mess come spring.
It is also the perfect time to clean out your rain gutters or add them if you don't already have them. You can set up a rain harvesting system now as well. The more snow and rain you collect over the winter months, the less water you will have to use to irrigate your garden come summer.
Once done with your garden chores, clean off your tools, oil them or have them sharpened if necessary and put them away. It would be a good idea to dig out your snow shovels and put them where they can be easily reached. If you have a snow blower, check it over and make sure it is in good operating condition and that you have gas for it if it is gas powered. Waiting until the snow is falling fast to find your cold weather equipment is never a good idea.
Fall seems to come and go quickly some years and there is much to be done before winter settles over us. As your garden sleeps you can rest easy knowing you prepared it for it's long nap and come spring you will already be one step ahead of the gardening game.
Now is an excellent time to add compost to your soil. It helps the soil retain moisture and this in turn conserves water. If you have oak trees in your yard, you can rake up the leaves and add them to your compost pile. Don't have a compost pile? Make one. You can be very low tech and just make a pile in the corner of the yard somewhere. Pile you leaves up, wet them down and Mother Nature will quietly work to turn those leaves into compost.
Once your soil is amended with compost you will want to add a layer of mulch to help protect it. This is esepcially beneficially to plants and trees as it helps reduce water loss. Plants transpire water through their leaves and evergreens will continue to lose water this way during the winter. Moisture must then be taken up by the plants' roots. The roots will will continue to absorb moisture when it is available, but when you aren't watering, when the ground is frozen or there is a dry spell, the necessary moisture is not availabe. The plants will continue to transpire water but at this time it draws moisture from living cells. If too much water is give off from this source, the cell dies leaving brown out. Adding compost to the soil and then a layer of mulch, helps retain moisture in the soil enabling the plant to continue to absorb moisture through it's roots and give it off through it's leaves or needles. This will result in healthier, better looking plants and trees come spring.
Of course, you can take that one step further and get a compost bin and compost not only your leaves, but your kitchen scraps as well. You can get fancy composters that spin around, 3 section composters or a basic bin that you toss your thinks into. No matter how you go about it, composting is a good thing to be doing.
Now is a good time to trim up your hardwoods and plant bulbs, bare root roses, shrubs and trees. A little effort now will be rewarded come spring as everything you planted in the fall burts to life in the spring. Plus it will give you peace of mind all through the winter knowing that you prepared your garden for winter and will not be faced with a garden mess come spring.
It is also the perfect time to clean out your rain gutters or add them if you don't already have them. You can set up a rain harvesting system now as well. The more snow and rain you collect over the winter months, the less water you will have to use to irrigate your garden come summer.
Once done with your garden chores, clean off your tools, oil them or have them sharpened if necessary and put them away. It would be a good idea to dig out your snow shovels and put them where they can be easily reached. If you have a snow blower, check it over and make sure it is in good operating condition and that you have gas for it if it is gas powered. Waiting until the snow is falling fast to find your cold weather equipment is never a good idea.
Fall seems to come and go quickly some years and there is much to be done before winter settles over us. As your garden sleeps you can rest easy knowing you prepared it for it's long nap and come spring you will already be one step ahead of the gardening game.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Autumn, where are you?
Here it is, the end of September and we are having a heat wave. Anyone who knows me, knows I loath the heat or any temperature extremes. Winter and summer are both too intense for my delicate sensibilities and I could live happily with just spring and autumn year round. Maybe a week of snow around Christmas for ambiance and a week of heat in the summer for beach going. Other than that, I could do without the extreme seasons. By the end of August, I feel like a wilted flower and have had more than enough of summer. Once September arrives, I happily looking forward to the cooler days and chilly nights of fall and wait with great anticipation for the changing of the leaves.
Autumn brings even more delights as the cooler days mean I can turn my oven on again! During the dog days of summer, my kitchen seems to go on hiatus with the exception of salad, sandwich and iced tea making. The oven sits idle and even cooking something on top of the stove is avoided for fear of making the house hotter than it already is. Even with the ceiling fan running full tilt, it still seems to be too hot to do anything but open the fridge. In this hot, non cooking state, ice cream suddenly seems to be an acceptable dinner entree!
Eventually though, one does grow weary of the no cook, pick something out of the garden or eat a Popsicle diet. Even ice cream looses it's appeal once you have eaten several gallons of the stuff. I grow weary of cleaning the ice cream maker and I am tired of making a gallon of tea each and every day.
The onset of autumn is a welcome relief because it means fully cooked meals are on the menu again. Things we haven't tasted in months are suddenly appearing on our plates. Meatloaf, stews and casseroles are bubbling away in the oven. Zucchini and bananas are magically transformed into delicious breads and tomatoes are baked up into pies. Beans and other garden delights are canned and put away for later. Hot tea in the tea pot replaces the gallon pitcher in the fridge and ice remains in the freezer for more than a few hours. In the fall, the kitchen seems to suddenly spring back to life!
Cooler autumn nights mean throwing a blanket or quilt on the bed and digging out that nice fuzzy bathrobe that has been in hiding for many months. That chill in the air as you rise in the morning is invigorating. Sleep is much more comfortable and the pugs are content to snuggle up in their doggy beds with their blankets instead of walking around most of the night constantly trying to find a cool spot under the ceiling fan.
As you make your way to the kitchen, you know that first cup of hot coffee or tea is going to taste so good. It is a bit chilly and don't break into a sweat by the walking into the kitchen. Instead of cold cereal, you can actually entertain the thought of cooking something for breakfast. What could be better on a chilly autumn morning than coming down to the kitchen, turning on the oven and baking up a batch of cinnamon rolls or biscuits? The heat from my 1950's O'Keefe and Merritt oven takes the chill off the house and the smell of coffee perking in the percolator and cinnamon rolls baking in the oven permeates the air. It is on these mornings that I know why I moved to the hill and why I love autumn so much. So Autumn, where are you?
Autumn brings even more delights as the cooler days mean I can turn my oven on again! During the dog days of summer, my kitchen seems to go on hiatus with the exception of salad, sandwich and iced tea making. The oven sits idle and even cooking something on top of the stove is avoided for fear of making the house hotter than it already is. Even with the ceiling fan running full tilt, it still seems to be too hot to do anything but open the fridge. In this hot, non cooking state, ice cream suddenly seems to be an acceptable dinner entree!
Eventually though, one does grow weary of the no cook, pick something out of the garden or eat a Popsicle diet. Even ice cream looses it's appeal once you have eaten several gallons of the stuff. I grow weary of cleaning the ice cream maker and I am tired of making a gallon of tea each and every day.
The onset of autumn is a welcome relief because it means fully cooked meals are on the menu again. Things we haven't tasted in months are suddenly appearing on our plates. Meatloaf, stews and casseroles are bubbling away in the oven. Zucchini and bananas are magically transformed into delicious breads and tomatoes are baked up into pies. Beans and other garden delights are canned and put away for later. Hot tea in the tea pot replaces the gallon pitcher in the fridge and ice remains in the freezer for more than a few hours. In the fall, the kitchen seems to suddenly spring back to life!
Cooler autumn nights mean throwing a blanket or quilt on the bed and digging out that nice fuzzy bathrobe that has been in hiding for many months. That chill in the air as you rise in the morning is invigorating. Sleep is much more comfortable and the pugs are content to snuggle up in their doggy beds with their blankets instead of walking around most of the night constantly trying to find a cool spot under the ceiling fan.
As you make your way to the kitchen, you know that first cup of hot coffee or tea is going to taste so good. It is a bit chilly and don't break into a sweat by the walking into the kitchen. Instead of cold cereal, you can actually entertain the thought of cooking something for breakfast. What could be better on a chilly autumn morning than coming down to the kitchen, turning on the oven and baking up a batch of cinnamon rolls or biscuits? The heat from my 1950's O'Keefe and Merritt oven takes the chill off the house and the smell of coffee perking in the percolator and cinnamon rolls baking in the oven permeates the air. It is on these mornings that I know why I moved to the hill and why I love autumn so much. So Autumn, where are you?
Meter Reading
Well folks, it is that time again. Later this week, the boys, aka Jeremy and Jerry, will be out and about reading water meters. Remember if you don't know where your customer valve is located, now is the time to locate it. If you need help, please call the office at (951)659-2675 on Monday through Friday between 9am and 4pm. We will be happy to send someone out to help you locate your valve and show you how to turn it off. We are happy to do this while the weather is nic
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Winterizing
It is not too soon to start thinking about winterizing. Preparing now can prevent problems down the road. One thing that is very important to do now while the weather is good, is to be sure you know where your customer valve box is and that you know how to turn your water off. Turning your water off when you leave your mountain home, is the single biggest thing you can do to prevent water damage from frozen pipes. It is a good habit to get into any time you leave your mountain home, but it is especially important in the winter. Leaks can occur at any time of the year and sometimes go undetected for long periods of time. In freezing temperatures, pipes can freeze and possibly burst. If this happens while your water is on and you are away, you will have a real problem on your hands. Turning your water off at your customer valve can prevent these types of things from happening to you.
Other things you can do to prepare for winter is remove hoses from outside spigots and cover the spigots with faucet socks. These are inexpensive and easily obtainable. This is a simple solution that can help keep your pipes from freezing up. Insulate water pipes in crawl spaces and and basements. There are many different types of pipe insulation available so you should be able to find something that suits your situation and your budget. Remember the saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This is very true when it comes to your water. It is much easier to prevent a problem than it is to fix one after it has occured.
Many people are under the false impression that if they have a water leak or a pipe burs,t that they do not have to pay for the water that is lost. This is not true. Remember, you are responsible for every gallon of water that goes through your meter. Having a leak or a frozen pipe does not absolve you from this responsibility.
If you have any questions at all about how to winterize you water pipes, please feel free to give us a call at 951-659-2675, during normal business hours and we will be more than happy to give you some suggestions. If you cannot find your customer valve or do not know how to turn it off and on, call us and we will be happy to send someone out to help you, during normal business hours. It is your responsibility as the property owner to make sure you are protecting yourself as much as possible against a possible water problem. While all leaks and pipe breaks cannot be prevented, the damage from many of them could be minimized or even prevented, had the water been turned off.
Other things you can do to prepare for winter is remove hoses from outside spigots and cover the spigots with faucet socks. These are inexpensive and easily obtainable. This is a simple solution that can help keep your pipes from freezing up. Insulate water pipes in crawl spaces and and basements. There are many different types of pipe insulation available so you should be able to find something that suits your situation and your budget. Remember the saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This is very true when it comes to your water. It is much easier to prevent a problem than it is to fix one after it has occured.
Many people are under the false impression that if they have a water leak or a pipe burs,t that they do not have to pay for the water that is lost. This is not true. Remember, you are responsible for every gallon of water that goes through your meter. Having a leak or a frozen pipe does not absolve you from this responsibility.
If you have any questions at all about how to winterize you water pipes, please feel free to give us a call at 951-659-2675, during normal business hours and we will be more than happy to give you some suggestions. If you cannot find your customer valve or do not know how to turn it off and on, call us and we will be happy to send someone out to help you, during normal business hours. It is your responsibility as the property owner to make sure you are protecting yourself as much as possible against a possible water problem. While all leaks and pipe breaks cannot be prevented, the damage from many of them could be minimized or even prevented, had the water been turned off.
Autumn
Well another summer has flown by and as autumn quickly approaches, we need to start thinking about preparing for winter. Autumn is a wonderful time to add compost to you yard and garden. The single most important thing you can do to help your soil retain water, is to amend it with compost. If your soil is able to retain moisture, it will help your plants and trees and reduce the amount of water you need to use for outside watering. Amending your soil prior to winter's arrival ensures that your plants and trees will be able to absorb and retain moisture throughout the winter season, which in turn will keep them healthier and enable them to fight off disease and pests.
If you are a gardener, then you probably already realize the benefits of adding compost to the garden. Once you have your garden all cleaned out, it is the perfect time to add some compost.
Autumn is also a wonderful time to add a layer of mulch to your garden as well. Adding mulch or topping off what you have, will help to protect your plants as well as slowly decompose, adding valuable nutrients to the soil without you having to do anything at all. It will help retain moisture and prevent runoff. If you are in need of mulch, we have bark chips available for FREEto anyone who lives on the hill. Just stop by and help yourself. They are located behind the workshop/garage on Marion Ridge Rd.
If you are a gardener, then you probably already realize the benefits of adding compost to the garden. Once you have your garden all cleaned out, it is the perfect time to add some compost.
Autumn is also a wonderful time to add a layer of mulch to your garden as well. Adding mulch or topping off what you have, will help to protect your plants as well as slowly decompose, adding valuable nutrients to the soil without you having to do anything at all. It will help retain moisture and prevent runoff. If you are in need of mulch, we have bark chips available for FREEto anyone who lives on the hill. Just stop by and help yourself. They are located behind the workshop/garage on Marion Ridge Rd.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Transparency
For all those who are not aware of how the water district operates, the Pine Cove Water District is governed by a 5 member Board of Directors. The General Manager, Jerry Holldber reports to the Board of Directors. Each Board member receives a check for $50 for each meeting attended.
Our current Board consists of Tom McCullough who is our Board President. Mike Esnard is our Board Vice President. Lou Padulla serves as our Secretary/Treasurer. Joel Palmer and Dan Fandrich are Board Members. Their pictures are posted on the side bar of the blog. If you see them out and about, please do not hesitate to stop and introduce yourself or say hello to them. They are all respected members of our Pine Cove community and do a wonderful job making decisions in the best interest of the District.
Our Board meetings are open to the public and are held on the second Wednsday of each month. We look forward to seeing many of you at the meetings.
Our current Board consists of Tom McCullough who is our Board President. Mike Esnard is our Board Vice President. Lou Padulla serves as our Secretary/Treasurer. Joel Palmer and Dan Fandrich are Board Members. Their pictures are posted on the side bar of the blog. If you see them out and about, please do not hesitate to stop and introduce yourself or say hello to them. They are all respected members of our Pine Cove community and do a wonderful job making decisions in the best interest of the District.
Our Board meetings are open to the public and are held on the second Wednsday of each month. We look forward to seeing many of you at the meetings.
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