Breckenridge Estates Update Archives

***Trash pickup will take place TOMORROW, Friday, because of the weather the trucks were not out on Tuesday and the pickup schedule is now a day behind***

The general meeting that was held on February 7, 2008 was a great success and well attended despite cold weather. We hope to continue to hold meetings there as the parking is ample and the space is sufficient.

Officer Leonard attended the meeting with some great tips on home safety - Debbie typed up a great synopsis of those tips and I am posting those on the Neighborhood Watch page.

Bob Clinard was in attendance and told us about his signs and many residents are taking advantage of his generous discount. As you see more and more signs go up in the neighborhood, if you decide that you would like one as well, simply contact Bob at 451-2023 and he will get you all set up!

We also showed some examples of some possible signs we could place to denote the neighborhood. Because of the layout of the neighborhood and its many entrances, we cannot put out a classic neighborhood entrance sign. But as part of the beautification of the area, we are looking into the possibility of signs much like the Hikes Point Business Association flags and the like. A possible size was shown as well as some "art" that would be on the flag, specifically our logo and the name "Breckenridge Estates Neighborhood Association" and most were intrigued by the idea. This is still very much in the investigative phase, determining cost, ability for placement (we can only place them where there are existing poles to hang them on), etc. but we will keep you up to date on the possibilities.

Meghann's house (the president of the association) has been under contract once, which fell through, and is under contract again. If the sale goes through as planned currently, the move will take place the end of March. David DiSalvo is ready and excited about taking over the president position and continuing to lead the fantastic board that serves the neighborhood so well. Eventually, elections will need to be held to replace the VP position...thoughtfully consider this position and if you are interested in serving, contact David and talk to him about your interest.

General meeting is tonight, February 7, 2008 from 6:30-8pm and will be held at Midlane Park Baptist Church at 6500 Six Mile Lane!

Bob Clinard will attend to show us his signs, Officer Leonard from LMPD will be speaking as well as other important announcements! Hope to see you tonight!

Happy New Year! All of us with BENA hope that you have had a very safe and Happy Holiday season! JCPS goes back to school today so I suppose the vacation is officially over for most! A few important points of interest and watch your doors for the next issue of the BENA newsletter that will be out by the end of the month!

The holidays are always a time for increased petty crime but we want to make sure we remain vigilant and aware of some recent more serious crime. There have been two home break ins with sexual assault in the last 3 months on Radiance Road. While that is not in our neighborhood, it is not that far away from us and we want to be sure so keep our residents safe. Make sure your homes and garages are always locked, as well as all windows. Keep a light on at all entrances and keep hedges and trees trimmed back away from the house so that no one can use them to hide. Motion sensor lights are very inexpensive and very effective. According the WHAS 11 news, another very effective measure to avoid home invasion is the family dog...intruders shy away from any home where they hear a barking dog.

The next board meeting for BENA is this coming Thursday and as part of that meeting, we will be goal setting for 2008. If you have something on your mind that you would like to see BENA try to achieve in the coming year, please contact one of the board members before Thursday and let us know! Board meeting minutes from the last several meetings have been updated on the Board Meeting Minutes Page...I apologize for them not being there until now, Susan has always submitted them the day after the meeting, I have just failed to post them. I will do better!

Happy Holidays! Happy Hannukah! Happy Kwanzaa! Merry Christmas! This is a magical (and very busy!) time of year! We would like to wish you a very happy holidays and announce the winner of the 2007 Annual Door Decorating Contest! Congratulations to the Monroe family at 4025 Landside Drive for winning this year's contest! For all the details and pictures of all the entries, check out the activities page!

There were only four official entries this year, though in driving around the neighborhood, maybe that was a blessing...it was hard enough to decide and there are many beautifully decorated entryways that were not entered!

This one was chosen for its beauty and great detail that can really only be seen up close...there are hanging beads, ribbons, stars, lights, greenery and more!

Here are photos of the other entries...please excuse the poor photo quality. Pile in the car with your family and drive around the neighborhood after dark, there are many beautiful homes to behold!

The holidays are quickly rolling in and it is time for the BENA annual door decorating contest! Decorate your front door(s) with some festive decorations for Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or just wintertime fun and help make the neighborhood look festive! Judging will be held the weekend of December 15th, please notify Meghann Frederick you plan to participate in the contest no later than December 13th! There is a small prize as well as great bragging rights, so get creative and start decorating today! E-mail Meghann of your planned participation at meghann5@hotmail.com no later than December 13th! A list of the participating homes will be posted after the judging is held so that neighbors can get out and see all the homes who participated!

THe neighborhood wide picnic is scheduled for September 9, 2006 and we need to get to planning all the what, where and how's! If you are interested in helping with the planning of the picnic, please contact meghann frederick at 499-1648 or meghann5@hotmail.com. Meghann has chaired this committee in the past but is unable to do so this year - we need a leader! We had a great time last year and want to make it even better every year so get some thoughts together and lets get this picnic planned!

Believe it or not, school is right around the corner, which means September is not far behind! Is it time to clean out the garage, the basement, the closets, anywhere in your house that may hold someone else's idea of treasure? Start planning now to participate in the BENA Neighborhood Wide Yard Sale scheduled for Saturday, September 30. The sale will be widely advertised and is a great opportunity to make a yard sale worth your while as the foot traffic is increased the more people who participate! More details will be posted as the date comes closer!

Despite a cold night and the threat of no heat at the meeting place, we did have a very nice and successful annual meeting for BENA last night! The highlight of the evening of course was recognizing and thanking all of those who have served the association in the past and electing/re-electing those who plan to serve for the coming year. Thank you to all of you who mailed in your absentee ballots, this allowed us to reach a respectable number of votes for the candidates and the elections were held without opposition. Most notably, the changes include David DiSalvo will now serve as Vice President and we have a couple of new at large members, John Blackford in Area 1 and Eric Woodland in Area 6. We are excited about the changes and additions and look forward to using their ideas and inspiration in the year to come!

Reminders given: The door decorating contest is around the corner, please be sure to call or e-mail Meghann (499-1648 or meghann5@hotmail.com) to sign up to participate in judging by Dec. 12. Judging will take place after dark Saturday Dec. 15th so be sure you have your decorations ready to go that evening!

The next general meeting will be held Feb. 7, 2008 and will be held at Buechel Fire Station. We seem to have settled into around 50 people at each meeting and we feel that the fire station can accomodate that number. If we grow in attendance again, we can always go back to the facility at St. Michael.

PLEASE BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS! Crime has picked up city wide and unfortunately we are no exception (though we are by far not the worst). Keep your eyes out for youths out during the day when they should be in school...call the schools, they will come and pick them up or you can call dispatch at 574-2111 and when they can, they will come and get them. Watch for unfamiliar cars parked at the street, especially if individuals are just sitting in them or if the tags are expired or if you simply get the feeling something is not quite right. If your gut tells you something is amiss, call 574-2111 and ask for a neighborhood drive through.

BENA would like to wish you a belated Happy Halloween! There were a lot of kids out last night in fabulous costumes, we hope that everyone had a safe, fun evening!

First, the Annual Membership Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 15, 2007 from 6:30-8pm at St. Michael Orthodox Church. This is a very important meeting as elections will be held and dues for the 2008 calendar year are due at this meeting. You should have received by now the quarterly newsletter as well as a yellow flyer with the membership join/renew form and an absentee ballot on the reverse of that form. If you are unable to attend the November 15th meeting, please be sure to fill out the membership form and the absentee ballot and mail them in with the self-addressed envelope provided along with your check for $25 for your dues as soon as possible. We need to be able to count those absentee ballots so that our election process will be complete at the November 15th meeting.

Next, the holidays are fast approaching us and that means it is time for the holiday door decorating contest! The deadline for entry is December 12, 2007 and we already have folks calling to sign up so that is exciting! Get together as a family and choose a holiday or winter theme and decorate your front door/stoop and earn the honor of Best Holiday Door! The winner will receive a trophy as well as a sign in their yard to proclaim they are this year's winner! This is a great, fun way to get in the spirit of the season and make our neighborhood look great!

Unfortunately, along with the fun that comes with the holidays, also seems to come an increase in crime. Please be sure to be mindful of your surroundings, keep all your belongings safely under lock and key at all times and be sure to report any suspicious behavior right away to LMPD.

We announced in the newsletter that we are compiling several lists and we want to be sure you know about them, and get your name on them if applicable....

1) We have service on our minds and want to help connect those with the ability to serve with those in need of service. If you need help or have a talent to lend to help a neighbor, please contact David DiSalvo and he is going to compile a list of needs with a list of talents to lend and get neighbors in contact with one another. If we all help each other, we will be a stronger community!

2) Several people are asking about whether we have met the threshold necessary for recycling. We continue to be told by ID that the list is not nearly long enough yet and we want to be sure that we get that list long enough and to them as soon as possible so that recycling can be an option for those who are interested in Breckenridge Estates. If you are interested in recycling and you use the group discount with ID, please contact Debbie McKnight so that she can compile a list and get that service as soon as possible.

Junk Pick Up for those who use the group discount with ID is THIS THURSDAY October 4, 2007. If you are not part of the group discount with ID, they will not pick up your junk. Please be considerate of how much they have to pick up and be patient...if it is not all gone by the end of the day Thursday, they always come back the next day and finish it up.

The next board meeting to plan the November meeting, as well as set meeting dates moving forward is scheduled for Thursday, October 11, 2007 from 6:30-8pm at Midlane Baptist Church. If you have any interest in serving on the board for BENA as an at large member or in running for one of the two officer positions up for election at the November meeting (Vice President and Secretary), please plan to attend this board meeting.

Congratulations are in order for Cheryl Wofford and the beautification committee, they applied for and received a grant from Operation Brightside! Stay tuned for the exciting projects planned with that grant money!

Please accept my apologies for the confusion...there was a mistake printed on the fliers that went door to door...the Annual BENA Meeting where dues for the coming year are due and elections will be held is scheduled for November 15, 2007 at St. Michael Orthodox Church. Please make note in your calendar and plan to attend this important meeting!

Picnic RSVP: We must now turn in a count for the chicken and can no longer take RSVPs for the chicken for the picnic. We are ordering a certain amount extra to try to be sure to feed everyone, but if you have not RSVPd, you may not be able to eat chicken at the picnic. As always, we ask you to bring a side dish to share and there is always a TON of FABULOUS food, so please bring a dish and come even if you do not choose to partake in the chicken! We are really looking forward to seeing everyone Saturday!

Are you ready for some good fun, good eats and great games?!!! Make plans now to attend the BENA Annual Picnic, this Saturday, September 22, 2007 at Hunsinger Lane Baptist Church from 4-7pm!!! There will be game booths, inflatable bouncies, the LG&E Mini City, a Fire Truck, Buddy Bat, live music and more...this list goes on and on! We are really looking forward to this fabulous event and hope to see everyone there!

Several neighbors have been experiencing service issues with ID lately i.e. missed pickups or having to call to get trash picked up. We have contacted ID regarding this issue and they have promised to rectify the situation. We apologize for the inconvenience and please rest assured we are not content with the service issues and neither is our contact at ID and the situation will get resolved. Update: We heard back from our contact with ID and they have had some personnel health issues as of late that have caused our service issues. Our normal driver has been out for several weeks and the replacement driver actually had to be removed from his truck this week by ambulance for heat related illness. We are now being serviced by a third driver who of course is not yet familiar with the route, but ID is assuring us they know of our issues and are doing everything they can to resolve them. One thing we have figured out that could be causing an issue is that we are one of the few (maybe the only) that is allowed to use the same blue cans for yard waste as for regular waste so a driver unfamiliar with the route may skip your yard waste if it is in an unmarked blue can thinking it is regular waste. Please be sure to use tape or the like to mark "YW" on the can that you use for yard waste if you are using the blue ID issued cans. Hopefully this will help to clear up some of the issues.

The RSVPS for the picnic are starting to come in and we really appreciate your doing so. Please forgive me for being unable to deliver on the promise of an easy click and send RSVP form, the program we use for the website is very user friendly but because of that does not allow some of the more complex web design operations. We are also beginning to get people/companies to sign up for sponsorship of a game booth, but there is plenty more space available! Contact Meghann at 499-1648 or meghann5@hotmail.com if you are interested in sponsoring a game booth.

The Regional Neighborhood Network Conference is coming up the end of September and is a great opportunity to learn about all aspects of neighborhood relations. For more info., check out www.rnnclouisville.com. The registration fee is $100 for the three days but it includes many fantastic meals and more that make it an incredible value.

Lastly, please check on elderly neighbors on these days that are so hot, the heat can take its toll very quickly. And please don't forget your four legged friends and family members - these days when heat indexes top 100 make it impossible for them to cool off, no matter how much shade and water you provide. If at all possible, bring them inside in a safe area such as a basement or bathroom where they can stay cool.

You should have received on your door the next edition of the BENA newsletter. In it is lots of important information and we hope that you will take the time to read through it. There are some items mentioned in the newsletter that I had not yet posted on the website that I wanted to be sure to mention, but first a friendly reminder.

The next general membership meeting for BENA is set for August 9, 2007 at St. Michael Orthodox Church. Please make note of the location so that you do not go to the fire house out of habit and find no one there! The meeting will begin with refreshments at 6:30 and the body of the meeting will begin promptly at 7pm. We will have important trash rate information at that meeting. Officer Leonard will be in attendance to speak briefly and then take plenty of time for your questions and concerns.

The annual Fall Yard Sale is scheduled for September 29, 2007 (one week after this year's picnic). An ad will be placed in the newspaper and signs will be placed at busy corners but please feel free to place your own ad/signage to draw people to your sale. It will be advertised as rain or shine.

We are experiencing some problems with youth vandalizing cars in the early hours of the morning. They are brazenly walking up driveways and breaking into vehicles. If you see teens out together and they are acting at all suspicious, please call the police. Remember, if they are not causing any trouble, they will barely notice the officer driving by but if they are up to no good, they need to know we are watching.

A beautification grant is being applied for from Operation Brightside and we need your help! One of the criteria is that there be ample volunteers for the project. A meeting has been set at the home of Cheryl Wofford for July 30, 2007 at 7pm, please bring a lawn chair for yourself. For more information on the project, to sign up to help and to get details regarding the meeting, please contact Cheryl at cwoff36642@aol.com.

The annual picnic has been set for September 22, 2007 from 4-7pm and will be held at Hunsinger Lane Baptist Church. We will be using their grounds and we will have access to their youth building as well (in the back of the church) which will allow us access to restrooms, a kitchen and a small area for people to cool off in the event the day is quite warm! We chose this date, even though it is a little later then the date in years past, in hopes of boosting attendance as everyone will be in the swing of back to school by then and it does not conflict with any major football games (that we are aware of!). The association will be providing fried chicken, iced tea and lemonade, ice and all paper products and attendees are asked to bring a potluck style side dish or dessert to share. There will be two inflatable bouncies (one designated for children 6 and under only and the other for all those over 6!), corn hole, bocce and more! We are sooo excited to announce as well that we will have the LG&E mini city at the picnic! The mini-city display emphasizes safety in a variety of scenarios. For instance, it highlights the dangers of flying a kite or operating farm machinery near power lines. The mini-city also covers unlikely, but potentially dangerous situations, including a guy wire becoming energized. Thee mini-city is truly a treat as they usually only set it up for much larger events. We are really looking forward to this event, it should be a great deal of fun! As well, we are encouraging those with businesses to sponsor a game booth for the picnic. You will be allotted a 10 x 10 foot area where you can set up a game as well as advertisement for your business! You will also receive a free 1/8 page ad in an upcoming newsletter for sponsoring a game booth. If you are interested in sponsoring a game booth, please contact Meghann Frederick at 499-1648 or meghann5@hotmail.com.

The next annual meeting for BENA is set for August 9, 2007 from 6:30-8pm at St. Michael Orthodox Church on Hikes Lane. Refreshments will be served from 6:30-7 and the body of the meeting will begin promptly at 7pm. We will have a representative from the Louisville Metro Police Department there to speak briefly and mainly take questions. We felt this was needed as at the last meeting, many people were lined up to speak to LMPD and ran out of time to do so. More picnic details will be announced at that meeting as well as details regarding elections that will come up in November. The November annual meeting will be held on November 15th instead of November 8 due to conflicting events on the 8th. All meetings until otherwise announced, will be held at St. Michael Orthodox Church.

Summer is pressing on and we are continuing to experience some of the usual issues with teenagers out causing problems. The concerns over gang activity were reported to LMPD and they have stated that they have seen no signs of gang activities in our area. Please make sure your garage doors are closed as we are continuing to have small items such as bikes, lawn mowers, etc. taken from garages that are left open. Please be aware of any groups of teens on foot or on bike and report any suspicious activities as they have been seen perpetrating some of the problems. As well, there was an article recently regarding some individuals posing as police officers going door to door scamming people (especially the elderly) out of money. Please be aware of these people as well.

Hope you are continuing to have a safe and happy summer! JCPS returns in less than a month!

We are going to hold the next general meeting at St. Michael Orthodox Church on Hikes Lane. This is a very nice facility that will allow for ample seating and parking. The meeting will run as usual but in this new location. Stay tuned to the newsletter and this site for more details regarding the August 9, 2007 general meeting after the board meets on July 12, 2007.

The activities committee has met and is working hard on planning this year's picnic. We will announce a date as soon as we have one...we are working on a bigger and better picnic this year and the location may help to determine the date. We are seeking a location where we can have access to restrooms and electricity and are checking out several possibilities. We looking into making it an actual block party and closing off a street in the neighborhood but the logistics on planning as well as of getting people in the neighborhood there (parking, etc.) became too much. We will have more updates on the picnic after the next board meeting.

Just in case you have noticed, or notice in the next several weeks, several board members (including Treasurer Roger Crum and President Meghann Frederick) are or will be moving in the near future. Rest assured that all BENA business is continuing to be handled as aptly as usual and will continue to do so in the future. As these transitions near, we are seeking individuals who will be interested in working in these positions on the BENA board. If you have any interest in serving in these positions, please contact Meghann Frederick at 499-1648 or meghann5@hotmail.com.

There have been several incidents involving youth out after curfew (the city mandated curfew, not their parent's curfew!) as well as youth in groups committing violent and vandalism acts. Please keep an eye out for youths out after 11pm as well as those traveling in groups, either on foot or on bikes that are acting suspicious. The police have been notified specifically of some youth claiming to be part of a gang residing in the apartments at Breckenridge Lane and Landside Drive. Please be vigilant in reporting any and all suspicious behavior...some residents have expressed distaste in the idea of calling for a policeman to run through the neighborhood and check out behavior they feel as suspicious as they do not want to be accusatory of innocent people. Please keep in mind, those who are not doing anything wrong will not be bothered by and most likely will welcome police presence and those who do not want it, will take note it is increasing.

Happy Belated Father's Day to all you fathers out there! I have been running myself ragged in my personal life and have not updated on several things that need to be updated... so I will now!

First, please check out the Neighborhood Watch page as A LOT of information is being added to it today.

Second, shortly after I posted the notice regarding the possibility of a surcharge on your next ID bill, ID sent out notices to all HOA accounts that there would be a $2.00+ raise in the monthly rates...THIS WAS A MISTAKE FOR US! They accidentally sent the notice out to all accounts without realizing we are still under agreement with them. If you have received a bill from ID with this rate increase, please just give them a kind phone call at 638-9000 and they will take care of the issue immediately. There is however still going to be a small fuel surcharge (along the line of 50 cents or so) per our agreement to help them cover the ever rising fuel costs everyone is experiencing.

The activities committee will be meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, July 19, 2007 at 7pm at 4401 Mannergate Court. If you are interested in helping in anyway with the upcoming summer picnic, please plan to attend.

We are currently working on a different place than Buechel Fire Station for the general meeting in August - Please be sure to check back and to pay attention in the upcoming newsletter to where that meeting will be held.

Important Notice: Per our agreement with Industrial Disposal, when gas prices go above $3.00/gallon and stay there a reasonable period of time (they have been for several weeks now and only show signs of continuing to rise), ID reserves the right to add a fuel surcharge to the bill. If you see a surcharge on your next ID bill, they are only covering their increasing fuel costs per our agreement. ID has not yet stated they will be adding this surcharge, but we wanted to be sure to inform/remind you of this provision in our agreement so that any new charges on upcoming bills are not a surprise!

I could start by apologizing for the time that has lapsed...but I am sure the apologies are getting old and I know that everyone is very understanding of all that I have on my plate, so I will simply move forward!

The neighborhood association is really moving along well thanks to all of the hard work that so many of your fellow neighbors are doing for the effort. The general meeting held in May was lightly attended (we assumed it was because it was a beautiful day outside, most people chose not to come indoors!) but some great information was shared. Graham Honaker attended on behalf of Councilman Kevin Kramer and fielded questions as well as shared upcoming events in the metro area. I receive (and you can, too, if you just let them know you want to be on the e-mail list) updates from the Councilman and several other Metro offices and plan to try to pass along as much of that information as I have time to cut and paste on a new "Metro News You Can Use" page here on the site, be sure to check that out. We also got information that will help us to approach the owner of the shopping center right here at Breckenridge and Six Mile about renovating the facade and generally cleaning up that shopping center. The board will take on that project in the coming weeks.

Councilman Kramer has launched a new website to help keep District 11 constituents informed. The website is www.connect2kramer.com. Be sure to check that out!

The yard sale several weeks ago seemed to be a success, a little bit fewer taking advantage of the day than there were in the fall, but since it was Thunder Saturday, that could have played a large role in the number of participants. Thanks to all those who did hold yard sales that day, we hope they were a great success for you.

The welcoming committee is now up and running and they need your help to keep them informed of property turn over near you. If you see a home up for sale or have a new neighbor move in, please inform the welcoming committee so we can be sure to welcome them to the neighborhood.

School is almost out, only a few more days to go and as exciting as that is for most, for some it brings on a little bit of anxiety as the neighborhood experiences higher petty crimes at the hands of bored teens in the summer time. We now have a fabulously running neighborhood watch and we will be very vigilant about reporting crimes as well as keeping neighbors informed of what to watch out for. We will also work to pass along information about opportunities for area youth to put the summer time to good use through constructive fun and money earning possibilities. (See the Metro News You Can Use page) We want to all have a safe, fun and crime free summer!

The activities committee is planning a meeting for June 19 to begin planning the annual picnic. We are looking for ideas as well as for volunteers to help make this the biggest and best picnic to date. If you are interested in serving on the committee, please plan to attend this meeting and RSVP to Meghann Frederick at meghann5@hotmail.com. If you do not wish to serve on the committee, but are willing to volunteer the day of the picnic, please also contact Meghann with that information! We hope to make this a picnic to remember!

We are still working with LG&E on the next phase of lighting. We have been told that LG&E is just way behind and they have several large "orders" in the works, ours being one. We will continue working to get the next 8 lights up as soon as possible.

Please check out the Neighborhood Watch Page for some recent updates and to check if you have any information regarding a recent hit and run incident in the neighborhood.

A spring flyer supplement should have been delivered to you by now...I know that some areas did not receive their flyers until late this weekend, after the mentioned neighborhood clean up day that took place this past Saturday morning. We apologize for any inconvenience, all the while we want to give great thanks to those who came out Saturday morning and worked to clean up the neighborhood! Thanks to Cheryl Wofford and the beautification committee for putting that together! Also thanks to Cheryl for your leadership...Cheryl has decided to step down from leading the beautification committee and we are in need of someone to step up into that place. There is an opportunity to work with Councilman Kramer's office and Brightside to clean up the railroad overpass on Six Mile, much like was done with the overpass on Taylorsville Road in Jeffersontown, but to be able to take on that project, we need a fully working beautification committee. If this is something you are interested in helping with, please contact Meghann Frederick at 499-1648 and she will get you in contact with the beautification committee members.

If you have not received a post card from ID and are using the group discount and would like yard waste pick up, please be sure to contact ID at 638-9000 as yard waste removal begins this week.

As the weather warms up and more and more people are out enjoying it, please be mindful of a few things...

Hopefully within the last couple of days, you have received a flyer highlighting some details to pass along for the spring. In case you have not, here are a few things to note...

This Saturday, March 31, 2007, the beautification committee is sponsoring a clean up day with Brightside. Brightside will be providing gloves, trash bags and t-shirts (Cheryl Wofford, the current chairperson for the committee will bring them to the meeting site at 8:30am) and neighbors are encouraged to get together with other neighbors and clean up the neighborhood! Many people have complained about trash/debris especially in the drainage ditches behind many homes. Please get together a "crew", come get your supplies in the Mannergate Drive/Eastside Drive court at 8:30 Saturday morning and go clean up an area near your home!

The spring junk pick up day for those utilizing the ID group discount has been scheduled for pick up day April 26, 2007. Please note, this ONLY applies to those utilizing the group discount with ID...if you have ID but do not have the group discount rate, this pick up date will not apply to you, they will not take your junk! A list has been submitted to ID with those members who are still delinquent in dues - if you have not paid your dues, please be prepared for your rate to reflect the lack of discount (currently it is approx. $14/month for solid waste alone without the discount...$9.75/month with!). As well, you should have received a post card from ID if you are using the group discount with the offer for Yard waste disposal - that begins next week, be sure to get your payment in so you can take full advantage of this service at only $4.25/month payable in advance for the season (a total of a little over $38 - amazing savings!).

A suggested Yard Sale date is set for April 21, 2007. We realize this is Thunder Saturday but there really is no perfect spring Saturday in Kentuckiana! Signs will be placed around the neighborhood beginning the week before but NO NEWSPAPER AD WILL BE PLACED. Please place your own ad if you plan to hold a sale/post your own signs to denote that your home will be holding a sale.

I am working on getting the website completely updated with all the new information for contacts, committees, etc. Please be patient as I only get a few minutes here and there to work on this - I promise it will be done soon. Many things have already been updated, take a minute to look around!

ID was updated with the current membership list a few weeks ago so if you have not paid your dues and were using the group discount with ID, be prepared to no longer see that group discount reflected on your next bill. Be sure to pay your dues now so you can continue to take advantage of these great savings!

We have TENTATIVELY (I will update the site when we get it set for certain) the spring junk pick up for April 26, 2007. Many people have said that they would prefer to do a yard sale in the spring versus the fall...the neighborhood association is not yet going to make that change but as a test to see if it is worthwhile, consider holding a yard sale on Saturday, April 21, 2007 (the Saturday before the junk pick up day). We as an assoc. will not be running any ads but if enough people run their own and it appears to be a successful yard sale date, we may consider changing the annual yard sale to the spring.

There have been some violent crimes in the area in the last several weeks. Most of them fall outside the boundaries of BENA, but only by a street or two. Please be sure to keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior and report it! Several people have been mugged and beaten either with a stick or a piece of pipe - if you see people walking with these items, please report them to the police.

The lighting committee is meeting and deciding on the next phase of lighting. If you are currently paying for a street light and would like for BENA to consider taking over paying for that light, please contact Tom Higdon or a member of the lighting committee ASAP! As well, if you live in an are of the neighborhood that seems dark and would like a street light, please contact a member of the lighting committee. We still continue to have very low membership numbers in some areas of the neighborhood and while we know they need lighting, we cannot pay for lights that neighbors are not willing to join and pay for. TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS!

First, please let me apologize for the length of time it has taken me to get an update posted – I had some computer trouble and my husband had to completely redo my computer so between that and family obligations, I have not had time to sit down and get this done!

Hopefully you are finding the newsletters very informative. We work very hard to make sure they are full of helpful information, not just ink on paper for the sake of having a newsletter. It has come to our attention that many people do not so much as look at the outside pages of the newsletter (evidenced by people stating they do not know where to find a membership form – it has been on the back page of every newsletter we have published!) much less taken the time to read what is inside. We may at some point consider only giving newsletters to those who are interested in them, rather than everyone as they do carry some expense, but we hesitate to do that as they are the best way to keep everyone informed of what is going on in the neighborhood (many neighbors do not have internet access).

We had a great turnout at the general meeting on February 15 and elections were successfully held along with a VERY helpful presentation by Matt Vanderpool with the Louisville/Jefferson County Health Department regarding rats. We posted some general information regarding rats several weeks ago, but the information that Matt shared is much more user friendly and we want to be sure to pass that information along to you. That information can be found by clicking here.

Elections were held and the newly elected board includes all of the past members, along with a couple of new faces. We would like to welcome Clancy DeCuir to the board as well as Albert Hampton and Charlie Ferville. We are excited to have some new faces and fresh ideas to add to the board! As of the end of the meeting, we were without representation in area 7 and had only one member in several other areas, however after the meeting three people came up and expressed they had decided that they would like to join the effort. These three will be voted in at the next board meeting, unless someone raises an objection between now and then and they are: Michelle Gay, Caroline Rosenthal (both in Area 7) and Kathleen Barker in Area 8.

Also exciting, there are several new committees forming to continue efforts in the area. We are pleased to announce that Cheryl Wofford has stepped forward to chair the beautification committee and the welcoming committee is going to get going in the coming weeks as well. Please note the contact information for these chair committees on the committees page if you are interested in helping in any way.

The Neighborhood Watch is working well and growing stronger by the day, which is in everyone’s interests. Debbie along with all the area captains are working hard to keep neighbors informed and it is helping!

There were several issues raised during the open forum time that we would like to share. I have worked on some of these issues and gotten answers to them so I am including those updates in blue.

One issue brought up was in regards to an announcement made by Councilman Kramer in a recent newsletter that speed humps may be a possibility on main thoroughfares such as Mannerdale and Hunsinger. Some expressed great interest in this, other expressed distaste for the idea. I have followed up with Councilman Kramer’s office on this issue. There are no plans to place speed humps in the area in the foreseeable future as they are still doing studies as to their effectiveness and there is no funding to place them at this time.

Several issues were raised that are in regards to the efforts being started by the beautification committee. Many neighbors have concerns about the drainage ditches that run behind their property, property that falls between fences and property that is at such a pitch that mowing it becomes difficult if not impossible, especially for some elderly residents. There are several sides to this that need to be addressed, not only from a beautification standpoint, but also safety and rat abatement. Areas that become greatly overgrown provide shelter for all sorts of wildlife, including rats and these areas need to be addressed. There are some concerns that people raised that are simply a matter of a homeowner not having the physical ability to handle to grade of their property – this is not something that say MSD or other government entities will handle, we need to come together as a community to help those homeowners who are physically unable to clear/cut these areas and do these tasks for them. The beautification committee is beginning to meet and when I receive information on their progress with regards to these issues, I will update this site.

A big issue raised at the meeting is the intersection of Mannerdale and Hunsinger Lane where the turn lane has been added for the new patio homes. The turn lane is there for the patio homes and ends before the intersection at Mannerdale and Hunsinger, however people think that it continues and dangerous situations are now occurring at this intersection on a daily basis. I have been in contact with Councilman Kramer’s office since the meeting who has forwarded the issues to Public Works. Public Works’ response was that they will repaint the lines to make it more clear that the lane is not there to be used as a turn lane for turning onto Hunsinger Lane from Mannerdale – this is not the answer we were seeking, as painted lines will not discourage people from using the extra width as a turn lane. We are going to continue to pursue this issue.

Another concern raised at the meeting effects mostly those property owners that live on corners. We live in a busy part of Metro Louisville and our streets see a significant amount of traffic. Much of this traffic fails to take turns at the proper depth, tearing up the yards of those living on those corners. One neighbor wanted to know if a sign, be it a speed limit sign or whatever could be placed at the corner in front of his home to force drivers to pay attention and take the turn at the correct depth. Better yet, it was suggested that we need curbs installed around corners, to further encourage people to take the turns at the correct depth. I have been in contact with Councilman Kramer’s office regarding this issue as well who forwarded the issue to the Public Works Dept. Councilman Kramer’s office is going to be in contact with a Rick Storm regarding curbing, however Public Works suggested that Traffic Operations has in the past painted “Hazard Markers” (a thin yellow sign with black strips) around curves to encourage proper turning, but it does not always work. We will continue working on this issue with Public Works and Councilman Kramer’s office. Please note if you are not already aware – the concrete cones used by many homeowners in the area are against city ordinance and if someone were to have an accident involving those cones (even if it is the driver’s fault), the driver can sue you against your homeowners insurance policy for the damage. This is a complaint based offense meaning as long as there is not a complaint filed against you for having the cones, no one will force you to remove them, however if a neighbor calls and complains or if you or a neighbor within plain sight of your home has an issue with theirs, the city will ask you to remove them or you will face fines.

In the interest of time, I going to do a quick update in bullet point format. I hope to get a more lengthy post done soon, but the newsletter may come out first.

Please keep checking the Neighborhood Watch Page for recent updates - we are having several issues in the neighborhood.

IMPORTANT - IF YOU SEE A RAT (OR RATS) OR HAVE EVIDENCE OF THEM ON YOUR PROPERTY (DROPPINGS, ETC.) PLEASE CALL 311 AND REPORT IT. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL COME OUT AND BAIT AND SET TRAPS FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE HELP US ERADICATE THIS PROBLEM AND CALL 311 AT THE FIRST SIGN OF RATS!

We are starting to experience a serious problem with rats, especially along Woodgate Lane. We have received several complaints from people wanting the association to do something about the problem. While there is nothing to association can do persay, we can pass along information on how homeowners can help themselves. They are beginning to be sighted in numbers even in daylight hours which means a large infestation is present. Please read the following article and do all you can to keep from making our neighborhood a nice home for them!

Integrated Pest Management Manual

Rats

Rats have caused more economic loss and more human suffering than any other vertebrate pest. From plague epidemics (the "Black Death" of Europe) to rat bites of inner- city children, from gnawing electrical wires in an attic to feeding on stored food in a warehouse, rats are a critical pest of humankind.

Rats have adapted well to living around people. So well, in fact, that rats are commonly called "domestic" rodents. They live and breed inside buildings and granaries, in city sewers and attics, in agricultural fields and warehouses, in ships and under concrete slabs. Although adapted to people, however, rats are wary. Hundreds can be living in, under, and around a complex of buildings with few people in the area aware of their existence.

Successful management of pest rats is not easy. It requires an integrated approach based on a good understanding of the biology and habits of pest rats, that combines effective inspection and monitoring with intelligent use of control tactics.

IDENTIFICATION AND BIOLOGY OF RATS

Major Pest Species of Rats
When we speak of rats, we are speaking of many different species, some pests, some not. In the United States, the two most important pest rats are the Norway rat and the roof rat. The two species look similar but are noticeably different both in appearance and in habits.

Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout). The most common pest rat in the United States, the Norway rat is also called the brown rat, sewer rat, or wharf rat. The adult is a large, stocky rat, from 12"-18" from the nose to the tip of the tail, weighing 12-16 ounces. In contrast to the roof rat, the Norway rat's tail is shorter than its head plus its body, its ears are small (cannot be pulled down to reach its eyes) and covered with hairs, and its nose is blunt.

Roof rat (Rattus (L)). A common rat of coastal areas, the roof rat is also called the black rat or the ship rat. The adult has a slender body, weighs 5-9 ounces, and measures 13"-18" from the nose to the tip of the tail. In contrast to the Norway rat, its tail is longer than its head plus its body, its ears are large (can be pulled down to reach its eyes) and nearly hairless, and its nose is pointed.

Geographic Distribution
Norway rat. Found in every state in the United States and common throughout much of populated North America, Norway rats absent from sparsely-inhabited areas, particularly in the western states.

Roof rat. Roof rats occur mainly in coastal areas, including California, Oregon, Washington, the Gulf states, and the Southeast and mid-Atlantic states.

Life Cycle
Rats are born hairless, with eyes and ears closed. They don't become furry and "rat-like" until they're about two weeks old. They begin eating solid food at three weeks and imitate their mother to learn to forage, escape, and watch for danger. They are weaned at four or five weeks. Rats become independent of their mother and ready to start families of their own, at three months.

Norway rat. Norway rats breed at any time during the year, but more frequently in warm months. Gestation lasts 22-24 days. The size of the litter is usually 8-10 pups. There are 3-4 litters per year. Lifespan in the wild is usually about 6 months.

Roof rat. Root rats may breed throughout the year, but more commonly in warm months. Gestation lasts 20-22 days. The size of the litter usually 4-8 pups. A female may breed at 2-5 months of age and have an average of 5.4 litters per year. Life span in the wild is usually 9-12 months.

Seasonal Abundance
Outdoor rat populations tend to peak in summer to early fall. They tend to be at their lowest levels in late winter to early spring. Indoors, rat populations may remain at the same levels throughout the year, limited only by periodic shortages of food, water, or nesting sites.

Nests
Rats are social. They live together in colonies with well-defined territories and a social hierarchy or "pecking order." Norway rats and roof rats prefer different types of nest sites.

Norway rat. Outdoors, Norway rats usually dig shallow burrows in the ground. The burrows are generally less than 18" deep and 3'long, with a central nest. The main burrow opening is 2"-4" in diameter. Hidden "bolt holes" are used for emergency escapes. Indoors, Norway rats will nest inside walls, underneath equipment, in cluttered storage areas, and similar sites, usually on the lower floors of a building.

Roof rat. The roof rat commonly nests above ground in trees, vine-covered fences, stacked lumber and woodpiles, and overgrown landscaping. Roof rats will sometimes nest in burrows if above-ground sites are limited. Indoors, roof rats prefer to nest in the upper levels of buildings in attics and ceiling and attic voids near the roof line. This species seems to be less dependent on man than the Norway rat and may live in forests far from human habitation, especially in warm areas.

Both species also nest in sewers and storm drains.

Range
Rats commonly travel 100'-150' from their nests looking for food and water and patrolling their territory. They may have several "hotel" nest sites in an area and will move from home base to spend several days in one of these secondary nest sites.

Responses to Environmental Factors
Rat abundance is dependent on availability of food, water, and shelter. They need about an ounce of food and 1/2 fluid ounce of water daily, although the roof rat can get by on less. Both prefer to nest where water is easily available.

While the Norway rat prefers to feed on protein foods like meat, fish, insects, and pet food, the roof rat prefers a more vegetarian diet. It feeds on fruits, nuts, seeds, berries, vegetables, and tree bark. But the roof rat will also feed on garbage, pet food, and meat if it is readily available. Rats often cache or hoard food in hidden areas for use when food supplies run short.

Rats are wary of anything new that appears in their territory. This fear of new objects can make baiting and trapping difficult since rats will at first avoid baits, bait stations, and traps, and may come to associate them with danger as a management program proceeds.

When Norway and roof rats are found together, Norway rats will usually, but not always, displace roof rats.

Medical Importance
Rats have always been of medical importance due to their transmission of human diseases.

Direct effects. Rat bites, particularly in urban areas, may be a serious health problem. An estimated 14,000-24,000 bites to humans occur each year. Infants and helpless adults (unconscious, invalid, and elderly) are subject to attack by rats. A small percentage of those bitten develop rat-bite fever, a bacterial disease carried in the teeth and gums of many rats. All rat bites should receive medical attention.

Rats can spread Salmonella food poisoning, Weils disease (leptospirosis), trichinosis, and other diseases directly through contamination of food and water with their urine and feces.

Indirect effects. Rats may indirectly spread a number of serious human diseases by way of fleas and mites, most notably plague and murine (scrub) typhus fever. (See Pratt et al. [1986] for a complete discussion of rat-borne diseases).

Outbreaks of rat-associated diseases. Some of the diseases listed above can be fatal to humans. If disease transmission is suspected in your areas, contact your National Park Service Public Health Service representative.

Rabies. Rats have never been found to be infected with rabies in nature, and rabies transmission has never been documented in the United States. The United States Public Health Service recommends against anti-rabies treatment in the case of rat bite.

MONITORING AND THRESHOLDS FOR RATS

Periodic surveys of buildings and grounds can reveal the existence of rat infestation. Inspection visits should be made every other week and increased or decreased according to the severity of the problem. Evening inspection using a powerful flashlight is the best way to see rats, but there are many signs of rat infestation besides the animals themselves. Rat sounds, droppings, burrows, urine stains, smudge marks, runways, tracks, gnawing damage, nests, food caches, pet excitement, and rat odors are all signs of rat activity.

Sounds. Squeaks, gnawing sounds, clawing, and scrambling in walls are typical sounds of a rat infestation.

Droppings. A single rat may produce 50 droppings daily. Norway rat droppings are larger (3/4") than roof rat droppings (1/2"). Determine if an area is currently infested by sweeping up old droppings, then reinspect after a week. Fresh droppings have a putty- like texture; old droppings crumble easily.

Burrows. Estimates of relative abundance in a limited area can be made by counting, mapping, and loosely plugging burrow entrances on a weekly basis. Burrows which are reopened the following week are active.

Nests. Roof rat nests are often visible in attics, or they may be found when vegetation is trimmed.

Urine Stains. Under ultraviolet light (blacklight), rat urine will glow blue-white.

Runways. Rats regularly travel the same routes. Outdoor runways appear as beaten paths in the ground. Grass will be worn down.

Smudge Marks. Oil and grease that rub off a rat's fur build up on well-used runways.

Tracks. An adult rat's footprint is about 3/4" long. Rats may also leave a drag line (from their tail) in the middle of their tracks. A "tracking patch" can help determine the location and extent of rat activity. Place a light dusting of clay, unscented baby powder, or powdered limestone in suspected runways and near rat signs. Typical patch sizes range from 12"x4" to 6"x18". Examine the patch for tracks at regular intervals.

Gnawings. Rats constantly gnaw on hard surfaces. Gnawed holes may be 2" or more in diameter.

Food Caches. Rats may store surprisingly large quantities of food in protected areas.

Pet excitement. Cats and dogs often probe an area of floor or wall where rats are active, particularly if the rats only recently invaded.

Odor. Heavy infestations have a distinctive odor. Experienced pest managers can smell the difference between a rat and a mouse infestation.

Learn to differentiate between fresh rat sign and old sign which may indicate old (non- active) infestation.

Evaluation of population size. Rat signs may be interpreted visually as follows.

Rat-free area or low rat population: no sign of rat presence.

Medium population: old droppings and gnawing common, one or more rats seen by flashlight at night, none during the day. Each rat seen at night usually indicates 10 or more elsewhere.

High population: fresh droppings, tracks, gnawing evident, three or more rats seen at night, one or more in daylight.

Estimates of rats present can also be made by placing premeasured, ground, nontoxic cereal bait in various locations to determined how much is eaten each night. Double the amount each night until the amount taken in one night levels off. Divide the amount by 1/2 oz. This will provide a very rough estimate of the minimum number of rats present.

In most circumstances the injury (threshold) level is one rat as determined by rat sighting or sign. The action level is one rat for population reduction programs and zero rats for prevention programs.

NON-CHEMICAL CONTROL OF RATS

Successful rat management programs use a combination of tools, procedures, and strategies. Some are lethal to the rat, some are not. Lethal procedures include the use of rodenticides, snap traps, and glue boards to quickly reduce a population. Nonlethal procedures include improving sanitation, reducing harborage, and rat-proofing buildings. Long- term, the most important tactics for reducing rat problems are in this second, nonlethal category, because the procedures reduce the environment's capacity to support rats or block the rats' access to buildings.

Before a park manager can decide what combination of strategies would be best for a particular situation, he or she needs to determine where the rats are nesting and feeding, locate their travel routes, and determine the extent of the infestation. This information is obtained through inspection and regular monitoring.

Improved Sanitation
Rats are attracted by food spills, open garbage, and food stored in accessible sites. Baiting and trapping programs often fail because the bait can't compete with the rats' regular food. Reducing the rats' food will reduce the rat-carrying capacity of the site, as well as making lethal control programs more effective.

In urban settings, rats feed largely on garbage. Regular trash pickups at the end of each day, rather then storing trash overnight, and the use of rat-proof trash containers are relatively simple methods of reducing rat food sources. Damaged dumpsters and containers should be repaired or replaced and should always be kept closed overnight.

Pet food dishes and water dishes should not be left full overnight. Bird seed is a favorite rat food. Bird feeders should be equipped with seed catchers, or the dropped seed should be cleaned up every evening.

Food in warehouse-style storage should be rotated properly-first in, first out. Food should be stored on pallets, not on the ground, and there should be about 2' of space between pallets and the side walls to permit inspection.

Harborage Reduction
Landscaping should not include thick hedges or bushes which obscure the ground. Ground covers such as ivy, which provide cover or runs for rats, should not be planted adjacent to buildings. High grass, weeds, wood piles, and construction debris should not be permitted near foundation walls. Dumpsters and outside garbage containers should sit on a paved or concrete pad. Indoors, reduce clutter in rarely-used rooms and organize storage areas.

Rat-Proofing
Building rats out of a structure, and keeping them out, is called rat-proofing.

Block openings around water and sewer pipes, utility lines, and air vents.
Install metal kick plates or sweeps on doors and metal jambs on windows and doors.
Screen air vents.
Seal any cracks or holes in foundations (above-and below-grade) and exterior walls.
Repair damaged roof soffits and seal any openings to the roof.
Repair any gnaw holes after stuffing them with steel or copper wool.
Equip floor drains with sturdy metal grates.

Trapping
The snap trap is an effective method of killing rats when used correctly. Traps are especially useful when you wish to avoid the use of poisons, to eliminate bait shy or bait resistant rats, to avoid odors from dead rats in inaccessible places, or to collect live rats for ectoparasite or resistance screening. The best traps are those with expanded triggers (treadles) set for a light touch. Set the traps along runways with the trigger towards the wall, or tie the traps to pipes or rafters or wherever droppings, gnawing, grease marks, and other evidence of activity is found. The number one mistake in using traps is not using enough. (See Environmental Protection Agency [1991] for information on trapping).

Another way to trap rats is with glue boards. Glue boards are used much like snap traps. Secure the glue board with a nail or wire so it can't be dragged away. Be aware that some people may protest the use of glue boards as inhumane, since the rat may struggle for some time.

Natural Enemies

Rats may be preyed upon by many other animals including dogs, cats, weasels, snakes, and owls. Rats are susceptible to a variety of diseases and parasites. Some natural enemies ranging from ferrets to bacterial toxins have been used in the past with varying degrees of success in rat control programs.

In abnormally crowded conditions or other stress situations, rats may display aggressive behavior toward each other, including cannibalism and abandonment of young.

CHEMICAL CONTROL OF RATS

Rodenticides are commonly used to provide rapid reduction of rat populations. There are three major formulations of rodenticide: toxic baits, water baits, and tracking powders. Fumigants are also used occasionally to fumigate burrow systems.

Toxic baits. These combine a poison with a food bait attractive to rats. Today, most baits are obtained ready-made as extruded pellets, or in a dry meal, or molded into paraffin blocks for wet sites. Some baits kill rats in a single feeding, some require that a rat feed a number of times. Some are anticoagulants (causing rats to bleed to death), some affect respiration, and others work by entirely different modes of action. They range in toxicity to people from very toxic to slightly toxic. Be sure to read the label and supporting information that comes with each product to ensure safe use.

Every rodenticide has a warning on the label to place the bait "in locations not accessible to children, pets, wildlife, and domestic animals, or in tamper-proof bait boxes." What qualifies as a safe, inaccessible area needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

If you believe there is a risk to children or nontarget animals, the bait should be placed inside a tamper-proof bait box. A bait box is tamper-proof if a child or a pet cannot get to the bait inside. It is usually made of metal or heavy plastic. But a bait box is not truly tamper-proof unless it can be secured to the floor, wall, or ground.

In parks, there is the additional problem that there may be nontarget rodents that can find their way into bait stations (or traps, for that matter). Be sure to survey for these and adapt your management tactics to avoid harming them.

Water baits. These specially-formulated rodenticides are mixed with water and dispensed from "chick-founts," or custom toxic-water dispensers. Since rats drink daily, water baits are effective when free water is in short supply. Water baits are less effective against roof rats. Be sure to only use water baits where no other animals or children can get to them.

Tracking powders. These are rodenticides mixed with a talc or powdery clay and applied into areas where rats live and travel. The powder sticks to the rats' feet and fur and is swallowed when the rats groom themselves. Tracking powders are effective even where food and water are plentiful.

The rodenticide in tracking powders is 5 to 40 times more concentrated than in baits. Avoid applying tracking powder where the powder could become airborne and drift into nontarget areas, or where other nontarget animals may come in contact with it.

Fumigants. Several fumigants are available for burrow fumigation. Most are extremely hazardous and should only be used by experienced professionals. National Park Service policy for rat management emphasizes rodent-proofing rather than the use of rodenticides. Consult your regional Integrated Pest Management coordinator when considering their use.

DUES FOR EACH CALENDAR YEAR ARE DUE THE NOVEMBER BEFORE SO DUES FOR 2007 ARE NOW DUE! PLEASE FORWARD YOUR $25 DUES TO THE ASSOCIATION AT:

YOU WILL NOT BE RECEIVING ANY SORT OF STATEMENT OR THE LIKE IN THE MAIL TO SAVE COSTS TO THE ASSOCIATION SO WE CAN CONTINUE PUTTING YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS TO THE BEST USE! PLEASE SEND IN YOUR DUES TODAY! CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO BRECKENRIDGE ESTATES.

The general meeting that was scheduled for and held on November 2, 2006 at the Buechel Fire Station failed to achieve a quorum (2/3 the membership in attendance) so elections were unable to be held. Nominations, however, have been held and a vote will be taken at the next general meeting on January 18, 2007 to officially elect those nominated. The board was nominated in essence as it has been the last 18 months (including Meghann Frederick, nominated to continue running as president) with the addition of Clancy DeCuir in Area 6, a neighbor who lives on Crawfordshire Drive. No positions have any opposition in running at this point, however there is still time since elections have not been held for additional nominations to be made for the elections when they are held in January. Topics discussed at the meeting included the block watch, the ongoing issue with the gentleman who is going door to door asking for money (see below), the possibility of snow removal as well as of signs to designate the neighborhood.

As reported in the newsletter, there is a man in the neighborhood approaching people asking for $11 for gas for his truck supposedly parked a street over. This man knocked on the door of a home on Woodgate at 3am last night with the same story. The police were called but he fled and was not found. Please call the police as inconspicuously as you can if you see or are approached by him. He is a white male, appears to be in his early 30s with brown hair and is in foot or has been seen on bicycle.

It is past time for an update! Please know that we have not forgotten about this website, simply had some obligations that have made it difficult to get in here and update!

On a personal note, because so many neighbors have been so kind and have been quietly watching and waiting to hear or have dropped by with gifts and food...Meghann had the twins on September 20, 2006. We are all home now, though very long story short, little Isaiah has a very rare heart defect that will require open heart surgery in the coming months. He was in the NICU at Kosair for two weeks, while little Sadie came home with momma on September 23, 2006. This is the reason (along with simply the incredible challenge of adjusting to taking care of two infants and recovering from the c-section) that this site has been so neglected. We appreciate all who have been so thoughtful, all the kind wishes and prayers do not go unnoticed!

The annexation of Crawfordshire Drive has been completed! Please join us in welcoming our new neighbors into the association, we look forward to meeting and getting to know all of you, as well as to your support of the association!

The picnic was a great success (see the pictures page), thank you to all who came out to participate. The neighborhood yard sale seemed only lightly participated in...should we change the date? Does anyone have any thoughts on that topic? Please share those thoughts at the upcoming general meeting or if you are unable to attend that meeting, contact your area representative.

Speaking of the upcoming meeting, the next general membership meeting is November 2, 2006 at the Buechel Fire Station from 6:30 to 8pm and this is the most important meeting of the year. This is the annual meeting where elections are held for board positions. The Officer positions of President and Treasurer are up for election, as are all at large member positions. Please plan to attend this very important meeting.

There have been quite a few issues lately in the neighborhood that the neighborhood watch has been made aware of and we need to pass that information along to you for your safety. Please take a moment to look at the Neighborhood Watch page.

Wow, I knew it had been a while since a new update had posted, with all that has gone on, I had no idea it had been this long! Please accept heartfelt apologies for the amount of time that has gone by, the amount of things that have happened since the last update. My updates will still happen and I will do my best to make them timely but at this point in my life, I am going to have to beg for a little patience! So that you are aware, Meghann Frederick (who does these updates and maintains this website) is scheduled for a c-section delivery of the twins tomorrow, September 20, 2006. Meghann stepped down effectively as president at the general meeting in August and Dow has been working to fill any necessary duties she left behind until elections are held at the November general meeting. Meghann has still been receiving some phone calls regarding neighborhood association business and while this is not necessarily a problem, her ability to return those phone calls will be diminishing to next to zero for the next several months beginning tomorrow. Please direct all your questions and concerns regarding association business to other board members...see the contact page for that information.

The general meeting went really well, albeit very hot in the room! We heard from Brightside regarding planting materials for our area and the programs that they offer. We heard from Walter Munday, our Neighborhood Liaison with the Department of Neighborhoods and we had a surprise visit by Councilman Kevin Kramer and Graham Honaker. Councilman Kramer was so gracious and kind to recognize Meghann's work on the association with a beautiful plaque and it is an evening she will never forget. The plaque really though belongs to the many of you who have been working right alongside Meghann the whole way - we have gotten where we are as an association as a team and you all deserve the "kudos" as well.

The Annual neighborhood wide picnic seemed to be a big success for those who were able to make it out. Check out the pictures on the pictures page - thank you Larry Gonterman for getting those submitted so that all could enjoy them. We would like to express a sincere thank you to Larry Gonterman, Christy Lauano, Mary Vise, David DiSalvo and all those who helped to make the picnic possible. We would also like to thank the Buechel Fire Department for coming out, the children always love to see the big red trucks up close! The picnic is a lot of fun each year and we hope that attendance will only continue to grow.

The Annual Neighborhood Wide Yard Sale is right around the corner, it is scheduled for Saturday September 30, 2006, have you started cleaning out your treasures yet? Signs will be placed all around the area and an ad will be placed in the paper, each individual homeowner will decide whether or not to participate. Just as last year, please help us to enforce parking on only the even side of the street to allow for traffic flow.

For those who are taking part in the group rate through ID, the Fall Junk Pick Up Day has been set to correspond with the yard sale and will happen on Monday, October 2, 2006. Whatever you do not sell on Saturday, try to have a charity pick up or if that is not possible, you can set it out for the trash on Monday morning. Again, this is ONLY for those neighbors who have signed up with ID through the group discount program. Please be patient this day as well as there will be so much to be removed from the neighborhood, it may take ID into Tuesday morning to complete. For a list of those items ID WILL NOT pick up, please contact ID directly at 638-9000.

There have been several important alerts to pass along through the neighborhood watch, please be sure to visit the neighborhood watch page.

Keep up the great work BENA, together we are making a real difference in our area!

The next general meeting for the neighborhood association is this Thursday, August 3, 2006 from 6:30-8pm at Midlane Park Baptist Church at 6500 Six Mile Lane. Please note the change of location, Buechel Fire Station was unavailable. We will have Matt Nally with Operation Brightside in attendance to speak on planting materials as well as our Neighborhood Liaison, Walter Munday, to answer any questions regarding the Department of Neighborhoods and the programs they offer.

Also be reminded that tonight, August 1, 2006, is the Neighborhood Watch night, neighbors are encouraged to sit on their porches with the front porch light on in a show of solidarity that we are watching our neighborhood!

As was printed in the most recent newsletter (which you should have already received), here is the list of Phase 2 lights:

A board meeting was held last night and there were MANY items discussed and handled at the meeting we would like to update neighbors on. There are so many items, that I will not go into great detail on each one, look for more details in the newsletter that will hit your doors in approximately 2 weeks. If you have any questions regarding an item listed here, however, feel free to contact a board member and we will be happy to explain in further detail. For ease of reading, I am posting these items in outline format.

I. Lighting - Phase 1 of the lighting project as well as now Phase II have been completed! There have been a few issues with billing with Phase I, but we think they have all been worked out (if your light has been taken over by BENA and you are still being billed, please contact Treasurer Roger Crum). I will post a list of the Phase II lights soon.

II. Activities - The board voted to make the activities the association has the last quarter of the year on recurring dates so that neighbors can more easily plan for them. The neighborhood wide picnic will be the second Saturday in September each year (which makes it September 9th this year) and the Neighborhood Wide Yard Sale will be held the last Saturday in September each year (which makes it September 30 this year). We will schedule with ID for those who use the group rate trash pickup for our fall Junk Day to fall the Monday after the Yard Sale, which this year will be October 2. The activities committee needs your help! We need those who would enjoy helping to plan the Neighborhood Wide picnic to please come forward as soon as possible, we need to schedule a meeting and get going on plans for the picnic. PLEASE contact Meghann Frederick at 499-1648 or meghann5@hotmail.com as soon as possible if you are interested in helping with the picnic. See the activities page for more information.

III. Signage - The board voted to purchase 50 signs that will be approximately the size of those you see for real estate the be used to announce upcoming meetings for the association. This will allow for approximately 5 signs in each area to be posted the week before meetings and taken down promptly after the meeting, as well as help with advertising the Neighborhood Yard Sale, etc. If you have a high visibility property and would not mind the association placing signs out as early as the Friday before a Thursday meeting and picking them up when the meeting is over, please contact Joe Gillette.

IV. The board voted to sell space in the quarterly newsletter for advertising to help cover the cost of the newsletter itself and costs associated with advertising other neighborhood events. An 1/8 page ad in the newsletter will sell for $10 in each issue. If you have a business or even attend a church you would like to advertise in the next newsletter, please contact Meghann Frederick or David Disalvo NO LATER THAN JULY 15th. We can accept any Microsoft format file (i.e. Word, Publisher, etc.), any .jpg or .gif file via e-mail or we can take paper copy and scan it in to get it placed in the newsletter. This is a great opportunity for businesses in the area to get inexpensive, targeted advertising to those who live in the area.

V. The next general meeting is scheduled for August 3, 2006 from 6:30-8pm. We will have a speaker from Operation Brightside in attendance to talk and take questions about the best plantings for our area and make suggestions for projects/plantings we could do along Breckenridge Lane to spruce up and delineate Breckenridge Estates. More details will be available in the newsletter.

VI. After the August 3, 2006 General Membership meeting, Meghann Frederick, President of the association will be stepping down from her post. Dow Buford, the Vice President, will cover all her duties until elections are held in November. All that will be left to handle at that point are a couple of board meetings and leading the General meeting with elections on November 2nd. All at large board member positions as well as the President and Treasurer positions will be up for election in November. Per the bylaws, all at large members can be re-elected and serve an unlimited number of terms. Officer positions (President and Treasurer) can serve two consecutive terms and their positions are two year terms. Meghann will not be running for re-election as President of the association as she will be having twins sometime in September or early October. Please consider serving your neighborhood either as an at large member or as an officer.

VII. The Neighborhood Watch Development is coming right along, there is another meeting scheduled for July 20 at Buechel Fire Station. Sticker decals that can be placed in home windows that show you are participating in the Neighborhood Watch and say something to the effect if "We are watching you and we will call the police" will be available for all homeowners at the general membership meeting on August 3, 2006. Along with LMPD and the Department of Neighborhoods, all are encouraged to take part in the Neighborhood Night Out on August 1, 2006. District 6 police department will have a cookout that evening and all neighbors are encouraged to turn on their porch lights and sit on their porches this evening in a showing of support for Neighborhood Watches.

VIII. Several pages on this site have been updated including meeting dates, activities and contact information. Be sure to check out the updated information.

Unfortunately, we are experiencing some thefts in the area that we want to be sure that neighbors are aware of so that they can keep a watch on their own belongings as well as for anyone acting suspicious in the neighborhood.

On June 23, 2006, sometime between 12:30pm and 4pm, a new Toro lawnmower was stolen from behind the home of 4200 Mannerdale. The lawnmower was not locked up, but was behind the home.

On June 28, 2006 at about 4:45pm, a child's red wagon was stolen off the back porch of 4008 Landside Drive.

Both of these thefts occurred in broad daylight, behind people's homes. The homeowners at 4008 Landside Drive were even home at the time, they just unfortunately, did not see someone taking the wagon. If you have any information regarding these thefts or if either pieces of property show up in your property, please contact LMPD at 574-LMPD.

Announcement: The board meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 6, 2006 from 7 - 8:30pm at the Buechel Fire Station. Please make a note of it and let all your neighbors know - many do not have internet access! Thank you!

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: The board meeting that was scheduled to take place this evening, 6/15/06 at 7pm at the Buechel Fire Station, is being postponed due to lack of ability by board members to attend. We are working on rescheduling that meeting and will post the new date and time as soon as it is done. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Some updates have been made to the BENA webpage and we hope that you will take a moment to check them out!

The next board meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, June 15, 2006 at the Buechel Fire Station from 7pm-8:30pm. Topics of discussion will include: Lighting - following up on some residents who are continuing to receive bills from LG&E that the association took over (please be patient with this - LG&E is making some mistakes but as soon as we call them on the mistakes, they are fixing it) as well as further discussion regarding Phase 2 of the lighting project; Neighborhood Watch meeting update/progress/plans; filling out paperwork for the grant from Councilman Kramer's office as our 501c4 application has been approved; possible dates/venues for the summer picnic; planning the next general meeting to be held in August (Brightside is to come and speak); updates from all currently working committees - review and discussion of any committees that may need to be formed; planning and development of plan to incorporate Crawfordshire Drive into the association (we are currently in the process of changing the bylaws); discussions and planning for the contingency of Dow taking over as President in the event Meghann is put on bed rest (for those who are not aware, the president of the association, Meghann Frederick, is expecting twins!); discussing possibility of having signs made to announce all general meetings; discussion of offering advertising space in newsletters. As you can see this meeting will be very productive and we will post results of all these items shortly thereafter.

Summer is beginning to kick into full swing and we have several properties for sale or that have sold in recent weeks...we want to be sure we express our fondest wishes to those leaving the neighborhood as well as to welcome the new neighbors moving in. If you notice a property for sale near you, please advise either your area representative or a welcoming committee member so that we can extend them a proper welcome into the neighborhood!

The Neighborhood Watch Development committee held a meeting and the results of that meeting as well as a great survey for homeowners to take regarding Home Security is being posted on their page on this site, please check that out!

Have you ever been sitting at home and had one of those light bulb moments regarding something the association could work on to improve the community? Make sure your share those light bulb moments with one of the members of the board, we are here to serve you!

Our apologies for the length of time between updates...as many already know Insight caused prblems for most of its customers city wide while they were processing their upgrades and that is whythe site was down for nearly 2 weeks! But we are back up and running and have news to share!

The most recent general membership meeting was held last night at the Buechel Fire Station and we appreciate all who came out in spite of the weather! On the top of the list was the vote to annex Crawfordshire which was approved by the vote unanimously! We will begin working with the Department of Neighborhoods immediately to change the bylaws to include Crawfordshire and extend our welcome to them into Breckenridge Estates! Phase 1 of the lighting project has been completed and the lighting committee is working hard on Phase 2. Many wanted to know what lights are part of Phase 2 and the reason we have not published that list as of yet is we are still working with LG&E on placement issues - there are a few we want one place that cannot go there for various reasons. As soon as we work out the "kinks" of the lighting placement, we will publish the addresses where those lights will go up. Residents we reminded, if they have not seen lights go up in their area or do not within the next couple of months, it is because there is not yet enough membership to support paying for the light in their area. Residents are encouraged to talk to neighbors and help us in the membership effort so that we can help residents with safety and put up lights. John Ford with Inspections, Permits and Licenses came to speak about property maintenance issues and how that entity helps to resolve them. He was full of a lot of great information and many resident questions were asked and answered. We will work to put much of those details together into a coherent format and get that information out. The open forum time was short as it appeared everyone was happy with how the board is handling neighborhood issues, no new issues were brought up.

The next general meeting is scheduled for August 3, 2006. The speaker at that meeting will be a representative from Brightside to talk about how we can beautify the neighborhood, be it from a neighborhood wide planting project to information for the individual homeowner on what is the best plant materials for our area of the country. We will also have our annual picnic, though the date for that event has not yet been set. We are still in need of volunteers for the activities committee, if you are interested in helping on this committee, please contact one of the activities committee chairs.

Good wishes to all as the school year comes to an end, we hope to have a wonderful, safe summer in Breckenridge Estates. Please continue to check the website for updates, we will continue to post any information we feel is important for residents to know!

BENA held a board meeting last evening, April 20, 2006 at the Buechel Fire Station. The meeting went well and much was accomplished, but the most important item is The general membership meeting scheduled for May 11 has now been changed! Due to scheduling conflicts, the general membership meeting will now be held Thursday, May 18, 2006 at Buechel Fire Station. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes, it was beyond our control. You will receive a one page reminder flyer on your door closer to the date of the meeting. We are looking into having a representative from Operation Brightside come and talk about their organization and about specific plants and landscaping plans that work best in our area. More information on this will follow as the details are firmed up.

Don't forget - the junk pick up day for those neighbors using the group deal with ID is THIS MONDAY April 24, 2006.

The first Neighborhood Watch meeting has been scheduled for June 1, 2006 at the Buechel Fire Station at 7pm. If you have any interest in the watch, from simply learning about how the Watch works to interest in serving as a block captain, please attend this meeting.

We are so excited to see almost all of the Phase 1 lights burning bright at night and are pleased to announce the board voted on Phase 2 and voted to move ahead with Phase 2 immediately! There are some areas of the neighborhood (especially areas 6, 8 and 9) that are lagging behind on membership percentages and the amount of lighting going up in those areas reflect that fact. Please consider joining soon if you have not already. The association is not just about lighting, we are not just about trash, we are not just about activities, we are not just about safety...the association is about all of these things and more. Anything that will improve the standard of living for residents of Breckenridge Estates, that is what we are striving to accomplish. Join today and see the light.....and the savings.....and the safety.....and so much more. Visit the Join page and send in your $25 dues now!

For all you members of the association who have signed up with Industrial Disposal under the group rate, there will be a junk pick up day on Monday, April 24th! This is the day when you can set out more than just the one bulk item you are allowed each week. There are a few restrictions on what you can set out and they ask if you plan to set out any single item weighing over 50 lbs., that you contact them so they can be sure to have the "back power" on the truck to get the item picked up. The restrictions include, but are not limited to (for a full list of what is not allowed, please contact ID directly):

Anything with refrigerant in it or has ever had refrigerant in it i.e. refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.

Yard waste - Yard waste pick up does begin in April but it has a separate pick up day and cost. If you have not already received a yellow postcard outlining how to sign up for yard waste pickup, please contact ID directly.

ID can be reached during regular business hours at 638-9000. Again, this pick up day is only offered to current members of BENA who have signed up with ID, they will not pick up from any house that is not on their list!

The lighting committee for BENA is very excited to announce that the first phase of street lighting to be paid for by th