Don’t Forget….

*October 4th, Lowe’s Farm National Night Out Party 3-6pm

*October 13th, Columbus Day *October 24th, United Nations Day *October 26th, Lowe’s Farm Fall Festival Party 4-7p, *October 31st, Halloween! *November 11th, Veterans Day *November 27th, Thanksgiving Day Safety Tip Bulletin:

1. Determine an annual date to replace bat-teries in all SMOKE and/or CARBON MON-OXIDE alarms.

2. Call your local gas company IMMEDI-ATELY if you detect any gas odor(s).

3. Replace all "double-keyed" dead-bolt locks with a single key/latch dead bolt lock.

4. Have "emergency" phone numbers (i.e. fire department, police, family doctor, veteri-narian, etc) in a visible location.

5. Buy at least one A-B-C rated fire extin-guisher (and place it in an "easy-to-get-to" location).

6. WATCH ALL children around water! (pools, spas, and bathtubs) Verify that all pool and/or spa safety enclosures are in proper working order on an annual basis.

7. Close your garage door(s) when you are not working in the garage or outside (it also help prevent theft).

8. Lock all doors when leaving your home and at night before retiring for the evening.

9. Have a fire evacuation plan in place for all members of the household. Should include escape routes and meeting location(s). For multi-story homes, have escape ladders accessible for ground-level access.

10. Do not install window security bars with-out a working interior latch release.

11. Verify that all garage door infrared clo-sure detectors are no more that 6 inches above ground level.

Lowe’s Farm HOA NewsLowe’s Farm HOA News A PUBLICATION OF THE LOWE’S FARM HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

Fall 2008

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH DOUBLE LAYER CHOCOLATEFUDGE CAKE

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Lowe’s Farm annual fall Festival By Clarissa Bush, Social Committee Chair

Please join us Sunday, October 26th, 2008 for the Lowe’s Farm Annual Fall Festival. It is scheduled from 4-7pm at the Community Amenity Center. Come and enjoy some fun with your neighbors, including food and drinks, the Big Blue Choo Choo Train, bounce houses, pony carousel rides, face painting, balloon artists and a pumpkin contest.

The social committee is always looking for new members. If you would like to join please feel free to contact me, Clarissa Bush, at social@lowesfarmhoa.com.

See you in the neighborhood.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

Dear Homeowners,

My name is Meka Bowling and I have been given the wonderful opportunity to manage your great commu-nity. I am excited to be working with the Board of Direc-tors to better your community and help in any way I can.

Just a little about myself — I have over 12 years experi-ence in the property management industry ranging from multi-family apartment community management to man-aging condominium and townhome associations on the Texas Coast. My husband Mike and I recently relocated to the Ft. Worth area from Corpus Christi with our daughters Jordan, 13, and Hannah, 4.

Our family lives for football season and are excited to be living in the hometown of America’s Team. Go Cowboys! In my abundance of free time when I am not busy working, calming angry homeowners, raising a teenager, or watch-ing football, I am completing my last year of school for my Business Management degree from SAGU.

I drive your community each week to help maintain the integrity of your community and help you protect your property values. The following are a few of the things I look for when out on property: lawns that need mowing, weeds in flowerbeds, unapproved modifications to the property, and inoperable vehicles to name a few. The goal is for us to work together to make Lowe’s Farm the most desirable community in which to live. Together, we can protect your biggest investment, maintain your property values, and maintain the integrity of your community. I can be reached at 817-380-7010 or meka.bowling@premiercommunities.net.

Thank you, Meka Bowling

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Lowe’s Farm National Night Out By Robert Wilcox, Safety Committee Chair

The Safety Committee would like to invite everyone out to our National Night Out Event at the Lowe’s Farm Pool on Saturday, October 4, 2008 from 3-6pm. We will have bounce houses and games for all ages and will be giving away door prizes and other giveaways for kids and adults. There will be food, drinks, snow cones, cotton candy, kettle corn and much more. We would also like to ask everyone that attends to please say thank you to all of our sponsors that are present. Donations have been given by several local businesses to help us make this event a success.

Also, I would like to say a great thanks to the members of the Safety Com-mittee that are planning this event and making it such a success. If anyone would like to help out or knows of a company that would like to donate something please contact me. The Safety Committee will be happy to ac-cept any donations we can get.

If you are planning to attend the Lowe’s Farm National Night event, please RSVP by either by emailing or calling Robert Wilcox at safety@lowesfarmhoa.com or 817-473-0979. When making your RSVP please provide your name, address, number of adults attending and num-ber of kids attending. The Safety Committee looks forward to seeing every-one at the event and having a good time.

Yard of the month winners June 2008 Brian and Lecia McCarther 4211 Woodcrest Lane July 2008 Michael and Debbie Lancaster 4110 Orchid Lane August 2008 Colleen Sam 4211 Crestview Lane Each Yard of the Month winner receives a $50 gift certificate.

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Neighborhood Watch By Robert Wilcox, Safety Committee Chair Hello neighbors of Lowe’s Farm, I wanted to introduce myself as the New Safety Committee Chairman. I am hoping to improve communication about crime in our neighborhood and the surrounding areas. I just want to touch on a few topics of things going on in the Mansfield area and in our neighborhood. After communicating with our neighborhood officer at the Mansfield Police Department, it has been brought to my attention we have had several burglaries of vehicles in our neighborhood. Here are a few tips on preventing Burglaries of our vehicles: 1. Don't leave your vehicle unlocked when you are not attending your

vehicle. 2. Take all valuables out of the vehicle. If you have to leave them in the

vehicle then take them out of plain site. This is not only for home but when you are out shopping or away from home.

3. Whenever possible try to keep your vehicle in the garage. 4. If you have a garage door opener, do not leave it in plain site. 5. Keep the area where your vehicle is parked at night well lit with out-

side lights. The Mansfield Police Department has also made advised me that of a group of peo-ple are stealing mail out of the mailboxes in other neighborhoods. Please try to collect your mail ASAP after it has been delivered and have your mail held at the post office if you are gone several days. Also, when putting mail in the mail box to be mailed out try to wait until the morning before the mail carrier gets there to put it out. To be safe you can use a public drop box.

Now that Woodcrest has been opened to Hwy 360, we need to keep a close watch on our kids when playing outside. Make sure that they under-stand to look both ways before crossing the street, to stay on the side walk, and only cross at stop signs. If anyone observes speeding in the neighbor-hood or people hanging around for no reason, please contact the Mans-field Police Department immediately. If possible, send an Email to safety@lowesfarmhoa.com so we can keep track of the changes since Woodcrest has opened. If your home backs up to the Broadstone Apartments, please call the Prop-erty Manager (Jolita Southern, 817-477-1200) or the police if you are hav-ing any problems with the apartment residents. Please stay alert and watch out for suspicious activities to help keep our neighborhood a safe and clean neighborhood to live in. If you are interested in joining the safety committee to make a difference. please email me at safety@lowesfarmhoa.com ,we have plenty of room for more members. We are also looking for some new block Captains that want to make a difference with our community. The Lowe's Farm Safety Committee meets the 1st Tuesday of every month and meeting notices will be posted at the front entrance of our neighborhood and on www.lowesfarmhoa.com. Thanks again be safe and help us all keep the neighborhood safe and nice.

Everyone wants to have good neighbors. They make your life more enjoyable and in-crease safety and security in your community. The best way to get good neighbors is to be one.

Know your neighbors. Be friendly to your neighbors. Wave or say hello when you pass them. Be kind to neighbor children, reach out to the elderly or others who might need a helping hand, and be willing to keep an eye on your neighbors' houses or take in their mail when they are away. Knowing your neighbors will help you to develop a safety net of people to call in case of emergency, will help foster a feeling of community where you live, and will make it easier to identify wrong-doing or strangers in your neighborhood.

Watch the noise. Realize that not everyone is on your schedule. While you may up and raring to go with the leaf blower, the night nurse next door might just be bunkering down. Find out what the noise ordinances are in your community and follow them, or you could be breaking the law. Above and beyond legal restrictions, a basic rule of thumb is to keep volumes extra low before 9 a.m. and after 9 p.m., but that doesn't mean you can blare things in between. Be courte-ous, just as you would want your neighbors to be to you when your fussy baby is finally sleeping or you're trying to knock out that overdue report in your home office.

Party smartly. Pave the way for a smooth party by following a few basic recommendations. Alert your nearest neighbors a few days early as to the date and time--you may even want to invite them. That's a great way to get to know neighbors better and to build goodwill. Abide by noise ordinances during the party. Make sure your guests park legally and that they don't constrict traffic by parking on both sides--that can lead to a crisis situation if you or any of your neighbors need emergency assistance and emergency vehicles can't navi-gate the street. And finally, clean up after yourself! Pile garbage neatly on trash collec-tion day. In the unfortunate event of any damage done by you or any of your guests to neighbor property, be sure to replace, repair or pay for it.

Be responsible with pets. Get in the habit of leashing and curbing your dog, and, of course, picking up after it. Make sure your pets are up to date on inoculations, and get professional training for your dog if it growls or acts aggressive when going for a walk or if it barks excessively. Additionally, realize that a roaming cat is a menace to a neighborhood because it can soil sandboxes, attack birds and small mammals that may be welcome in your neighbors' outdoor wildlife habitats, contract rabies from nocturnal animals such as opossums and raccoons, and increase feral populations.

Okay, so now you're a great neighbor. What if everyone around you isn't? First, try talking with your neighbor--a cup of coffee or a stroll around the block. Chances are your neighbor had no idea his dogs barking was driving you crazy. If that doesn't work or if it's somehow not an option, determine if your neighbor is breaking any HOA rules or com-munity or county laws. If so, contact the ap-propriate authority. We all have to live to-gether but we don't have to put up with unlawful behavior. That's just not neighborly.

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Your Lowe’s Farm Real Estate Specialist

Do your friends or family need assistance in real estate?

A referral is the best compliment I can receive.

Call today 817-913-8861 clarissabush@charter.net

www.clarissabush.com For all your real estate needs.

5 LOWE’S FARM HOA FALL 2008

Pool Issues and Policy By Paul Blevins, President The Lowe’s Farm Pool is a shared amenity for members of the association who are in good standing to use during normal pool hours. Homeowners are allowed to invite guests to the pool, but those guests must be accompa-nied to the pool by the homeowner and be with the homeowner at all times while at the pool. Rude or offensive behavior at the pool is simply not ac-ceptable. We have had several recent incidents where minors have jumped the fence to gain access to the pool and when challenged by other homeowners at the pool. The minors were asked to leave the pool and return with their pool access card(s). In one instance, the minors left the pool area only to return with a parent who was ver-bally abusive to the resident who asked them leave to get their access card. This is not acceptable behavior and can simply be avoided by showing up to the pool with your access card or returning home to get it. Swimsuits are required to swim in the pool. Cutoff denim shorts or other “street” shorts are not allowed in the pool. If you are not wearing a swimsuit and want to swim in the pool, you will be asked to leave the pool. Likewise, small children using the kiddie pool who are not potty trained must be wearing swim diapers to avoid fecal con-tamination and the closure of the pool. Failing to do so could result in you paying a $300 charge for the pool company to decontaminate the pool. All pool furniture must remain inside the fenced in pool area and should not be taken into the pool. We have had recent incidents where pool furniture was taken out-side the pool area by a group of teenagers to sit and so-cialize in the parking lot. We have had another incident where pool furniture was taken into the kiddie pool to sit in the water by a group of teenagers. Neither instance is acceptable and can result in the suspension of your home’s pool privileges. Bottom line, if you see someone at the pool engaging in behavior that violates the pool rules, please address the issue with the violator if you feel comfortable doing so. If you do not feel comfortable, please contact a Board Member or the Pool Committee Chair and they will come to the pool and address the issue and/or contact the Po-lice to have the violator removed. Homeowners who violate the pool rules are subject to having their privileges suspended.

Woodcrest lane opens By Paul Blevins, President On Friday, August 22, 2008 the City of Mans-field informed the Lowe's Farm Board of Di-rectors that Woodcrest Lane would be opened between Lowe's Farm and the State Highway 360 Frontage Road by the follow-ing Monday. The City of Mansfield indicated that several requests/complaints had been received to open Woodcrest by the time that school resumed so that parents in the Broad-stone at Lowe's Farm apartment complex and the MISD school buses could utilize Woodcrest to reach the three MISD schools located at the Grand Prairie city limits. On Saturday, August 23, 2008 workers removed the remaining barricades on Woodcrest at the Lowe's Farm property line and Wood-crest was officially opened for traffic. The Board of Directors were surprised by this sudden and last minute announcement and made an appeal to the City Council on Au-gust 25th to reconsider this decision until Hanover Properties could provide a connec-tor road between Woodcrest and the retail developments located near the intersection of East Broad and Holland Road. City Coun-cil declined to take such action and instead unanimously agreed to send a letter to Hanover Properties reminding them of the commitment they had made to provide the connector road at the August 27, 2007 City Council meeting. The Board is hopeful that Hanover will still fulfill its non-binding promise to City Council and construct the connector road between Woodcrest and the retail development to provide tenants of the Broadstone Apart-ments with direct access to the retail develop-ment, East Broad Street, and Holland Road without having to drive thru Lowe's Farm. However, Hanover has no legal obli-gation to build this connector road and has indicated on several occasions to the City of Mansfield that they are delaying on the road's construction due to ongoing negotia-tions with several potential retailers on the site.

PREMIER COMMUNITIES MANAGEMENT COMPANY W W W . P R E M I E R C O M M U N I T I E S . N E T FAX: (214) 871-0355 Association Manager- Meka Bowling , 817-380-7010 meka.bowling@premiercommunities.net

Accounting / Billing questions- 214-389-1377 accountservices@premiercommunities.net

Amenities Questions- 214-451-5419 amenities@premiercommunities.net

Resale & Refinance Certificates- 214-451-5434 or 214-451-5422 www.premiercommunities.net/resale.html

Newsletters / Websites- Jamie Crowsey jamie.crowsey@premiercommunities.net

After hours Emergency number- 214-871-9700 ext. 350

LOWE’S FARM HOA C/O PREMIER COMMUNITIES MANAGEMENT COMPANY 2711 N. HASKELL, SUITE 2650 DALLAS, TX 75204

Preparation: Make cake layers: Preheat oven to 300°F. and grease pans. Line bottoms with rounds of wax paper and grease paper. Finely chop chocolate and in a bowl combine with hot coffee. Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Into a large bowl sift together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat eggs until thickened slightly and lemon colored (about 3 minutes with a standing mixer or 5 minutes with a hand-held mixer). Slowly add oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted chocolate mixture to eggs, beating until combined well. Add sugar mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined well. Divide batter between pans and bake in middle of oven until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes. Cool layers completely in pans on racks. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove wax paper and cool layers completely. Cake layers may be made 1 day ahead and kept, wrapped well in plastic wrap, at room temperature.

Ingredients:

For cake layers 3 ounces fine-quality semisweet chocolate such as Callebaut 1 1/2 cups hot brewed coffee 3 cups sugar 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process) 2 teaspoons baking soda 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 1/4 teaspoons salt 3 large eggs 3/4 cup vegetable oil 1 1/2 cups well-shaken buttermilk 3/4 teaspoon vanilla For ganache frosting 1 pound fine-quality semisweet chocolate such as Callebaut 1 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons light corn syrup 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter Special equipment two 10- by 2-inch round cake pans

Double-Layer Chocolate Fudge Cake

Make frosting: Finely chop chocolate. In a 1 1/2- to 2-quart saucepan bring cream, sugar, and corn syrup to a boil over moderately low heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate, whisking until chocolate is melted. Cut butter into pieces and add to frosting, whisking until smooth. Transfer frosting to a bowl and cool, stirring occasionally, until spreadable (depending on chocolate used, it may be necessary to chill frosting to spreadable consistency). Spread frosting between cake layers and over top and sides. Cake keeps, covered and chilled, 3 days. Bring cake to room temperature before serving.