Grand Trees Apartments » NEWSLETTER

Grand Trees Newsletter Spring 2010 –smoking, pets, laundry

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 03:32:00 +0000

Welcome Home

We would like to welcome all of the new residents to the Grand Trees community. If you have any concerns please feel free to call our Manager Dave @ 515-243-0813.

Got a Problem ?

When you notice a leaky faucet, toilet running constantly, or a slow drain let us know right away.

If you notice a problem call our office so we can attend to it ASAP.

Utility Bills

As you know one of the perks when renting at the Grand Trees is having no utility bills. We although do have to pay the bill. Please help us conserve energy by making sure all

lights, radios, TV’s and other energy use items are turned off when not in use.

Smoke Detectors

It is your responsibility to check your smoke detector once every 30 days. It is vital to you and your neighbor’s safety that all detectors are in good working order. If your detector is not functioning properly call our office and we will fixit or replace it.

Pet Owners

Please pick up after your pet when taking them outside. Pet potty stations are set up with disposal bags for your use. We will be monitoring the situation and anyone seen not picking up after their pet will be fined $35.00.

East parking Lot

The parking we lease just east of the complex is for overnight only. Tenants may park only between 5 PM and 7:30 AM . Please try to park away from their building and remove your car by 7:30 AM… Thanks

Recycling

Remember; the recycling bins are located on the north side of the apartments. Recycled materials are generally defined as, newspaper, corrugated containers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, craft bags, bi-metal and ferrous cans, aluminum cans, clear glass containers and recyclable residential plastic: (beverage bottles, laundry detergent, water and milk jugs.

Remember the recycling containers are for recycling not trash.

Don’t Puff Here

It’s the law now. Smoking is not allowed in any of the common areas of the apartment complex.

Maintenance Emergency

If you are locked out or have a blown electrical breaker first call our office at 243-0813. If there is no answer try the following:

Cindy @ 280-7773

For an after hour emergency call:

Ron @ 868-8861

Washers and Dryers

Please do not overload the washers and dryers. Overstuffing them causes the motors to heat up and then the safety switch kicks off.

When clothes are above the water line there is no way the washer can agitate to get them clean.

Please attend to your laundry promptly and please clean the lint trap after using the dryers.

Neighborhood Watch

If you witness any strange people, cars, odors or activity in the apartment complex or in the parking area please call the police. The non-emergency Des Moines Police number is 283-4811.

RENT

Just A friendly Reminder

Rent not received by the 5th of the month will be subject to late fees.

Date

1st Grace period

2nd Grace period

3rd Grace period

4th Grace period

5th Grace period

6th Rent plus $15.00

Eviction process starts

7th Rent plus $ 20.00

8th Rent plus $ 25.00

9th Rent plus $ 30.00

10th Rent plus $35.00

11th Rent plus $40.00

Grand Trees October 2005 Halloween Newsletter

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 00:09:00 +0000

This is an ARCHIVED newsletter.
Some of the links might be dead and some of the information may no longer be correct.

Welcome to the October HALLOWEEN 2005 edition of the Grand Trees Newsletter!

Welcome friends to the Halloween 2005 edition of the Grand Trees Newsletter.

Winter will soon be upon us again and our dedicated crew have been working steadily to get everything ready for another safe and

comfortable winter so say hi to the guys the next time you see them working around the apartments. We sure do appreciate their dedication.

We certainly would like to thank everyone for all the cooperation we received while safety checking smoke detectors and radiators and we appreciate your continued cooperation as we continue to make updates and upgrades around the complex.

Rosie Is Leaving:
After 10 years as manager of the Grand Trees Apartments, Rosie has resigned. She will be leaving at the end of this October. She always had an honest smile, an honest words and a clever wit. She will be missed by both tenants and staff alike and we wish her only the best of luck in all her future endeavors.

Please welcome Judy Richards and Chris Coppola who will be taking over the office duties at the
Grand Trees Apartments.

They can be reached either by calling
515-243-0813 or by stopping by the office Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm

HELPFUL HINT:

Did you know that you can have the security door ring your cell phone instead of your line phone? This way, even if you are away from your home, you will never miss your visitors. If interested, visit Judy or Chris in the office to have this set up for you.

Looking for something to do in October in Des Moines?

13th—15th Wells Fargo is hosting a “Food Festival”

Downtown is where you will find the Farmers Market every Saturday until the 29th

On the 21st you can hear “Leap Year” playing at “Java Joes” coffee house

And on the 30th you can go to the Embassy Suites downtown for their FREE haunted hotel!

Find out more about these events and MANY others by going to the Des Moines website and clicking “calendar” at www.downtowndsm.info

3 HOT WEB TIPS:

Have something you would like to give away? Need something that someone else probably has, but doesn’t want?

Try DES MOINES FREECYCLE!

(3300 Des Moines members cant’s be wrong)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Desmoinesmetrofreecycle

Would you like to listen to all your favorite music, and discover similar music all FREE and LEGAL with no downloads, no registration and immediately? www.pandora.com (its like having your own custom radio station that only plays what you like!

Ever wish you could see your pictures and listen to your music, watch your videos or view your documents that are all stored on your pc when you are not at home? www.orb.com will let you do just that, AND from any web enabled device, cell phone, PDA, remote computer, etc. and best of all—its FREE!

Quick tips to stay safe and secure in any situation:

Have a flashlight with a supply of fresh batteries.

Have dry or canned food and a few bottles of water.

Have a charged cell phone on hand.

Put a fire extinguisher in your bedroom and kitchen.

Have a list of important numbers on hand, poison control, fire, police, relatives, friends, school, etc.

I would like to take a moment of your time to talk with you about something very important. There is a common misconception about “free utilities”. In fact, there is no such thing. Even though you, as a tenant are not required to pay utilities here at the Grand Trees, It certainly is not, as some people may think, “free”. In fact, with the extreme rise in gas prices and therefore the rise in heating bills, electric, waste disposal, repairs, etc. many apartments in the Des Moines area (and everywhere else for that matter) are finding that they must raise the rent in order cover these extra costs. This is something that we have not yet had to do here, and hopefully we will be able to avoid that this winter, but we can not do it without your help. We all need to have an understanding of what responsible energy consumption is, this will help keep our rent the lowest that it can be, will help our environment and our economy. Simple things like not letting the water run unnecessarily, keeping lights, televisions and computers off when not in use is another example. Did you know that by using your lights just 5% less will save hundreds of dollars per year. If every individual apartment here did that, that would save the management many thousands of dollars, thereby saving YOU, the tenant from possible increases in rent. Sometimes children will leave lights on, flush toilets for fun, leave televisions on in each room and never think or understand how this affects both the environment and living costs. Please help your children to understand how being conservative now, will help save everyone money. Hopefully we can ride out these higher gas prices together and with any luck, they will be back to a more reasonable price soon.

PLEASE NOTE:

Halloween is a fun time of year, lets keep it safe as well, PLEASE do not use candles in your pumpkins, if you would like to light them up, please use your left-over Christmas lights or purchase inexpensive pumpkin lights, thank you.

COOL TIP:

Did you know that most cell phones will still dial out to 911 even if they are not activated? You could buy a cell for a couple of bucks in any goodwill and keep it charged and you will always have a way to dial 911 even if the regular phone stops working. (Try it first)

DO YOU NEED INSURANCE?

The Grand Trees Apartments is insured, does this mean your personal property is covered?

No: In fact, if you have any valuable property, you should consider getting “renters insurance” to protect your belongings. While your landlord does have insurance, it only protects the building. Your belongings are not covered under this policies. A standard renters policy usually covers all of the following;

Fire & lightning, Windstorm & hail, Explosion, Riot & civil commotion, Aircraft & Vehicles, Smoke, Vandalism & malicious mischief or Theft, Damage by glass or material that is part of your building, Volcanic eruption & Falling objects, Weight of ice, snow, or sleet, Water-related damage from home utilities, Electrical surge damage.

Even though floods and earthquakes aren’t on the list, that probably will not affect us here.

One thing you will want to look at when deciding what policy and where to get it is whether the insurance company will be writing "actual cash value." (ACV) or "replacement cost coverage" for your belongings. As the name implies, ACV coverage will pay only for what your property was worth at the time it was damaged or stolen.

Replacement cost coverage, on the other hand, will pay what it actually costs to replace the items you lost, again minus the deductible.

Another great thing about renters insurance many people do not know is that If your apartment becomes uninhabitable due to a fire, burst pipes, or any other reason covered by your policy, your insurance will pay for your "additional living expenses." Generally, that means paying for you to live somewhere else.

Also you can add "Liability Insurance" to your plan for specific reasons, as an example, if you have a "waterbed liability" you will not be responsible for damages to your property or your downstairs neighbors property if your bed bursts. This is something to consider if you have a dog, large aquarium, water bed, or anything else that may have the ability to cause damages.

remember, the higher your deductible, the lower your annual payments will be. also some companies will lower your rates by simply having fire extinguishers or smoke alarms. Some companies will offer significant discounts to those over the age of 55 and many will offer discounts if you have your auto insurance on the same policy, that’s called a "multi-line policy". Check with your prospective company to see what they offer.

MOVING, NEED SOME CASH?

As much as we hate to see you go, if you are planning a move from the Grand Trees, here are some tips on how to maximize your security deposit return:

Make sure your account is clear from any delinquent rent.

Be caught up with any additional fees such as but not limited to; late fees, Air Conditioning Charges, Carport fees, locksmith charges, etc.

If you have damage in your apartment, please let us know in advance, before you move out, we will be willing to work with you to work out some suitable and fair arrangements.

Please remove ALL your belongings when you move, this includes furniture, plants, lamps, etc.

Put simply: if you clean your apartment and clear your account, you can expect a maximum deposit refund and an A+ reference from us!

Feel free and stop by the office and ask us about what type of cleaning we look for and what we chargeback if we have to do it. Also please log onto www.grandtrees.com and click “MOVING” for a pre-move checklist, moving resources and many other helpful links that may save you time and money in your move.

Have a suggestion or comment for our next newsletter?

Email it to manager@grandtrees.com

We at the Grand Trees

hope you and yours have a Safe & Fun Halloween!

Grand Trees Newsletter April 2005 –BATS

admin — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 00:12:00 +0000

This is an ARCHIVED newsletter. Some of the links might be dead and some of the information may no longer be correct.

April 2005

AIR CONDITIONING ALERT

BAT SEASON UPDATE

Info about buying, servicing, maintaining your AC Safety checklist, contact numbers, definition of terms, etc.

A reminder for all who plan to use an air conditioner to keep cool this summer. The air conditioner fee is $50 per month. This fee is assessed in full for each month or portion of each month the tenant has the unit in their apartment window. No prorated or partial air conditioner fees will be arranged. If you don’t want to pay $50, wait until the first of the month to install your unit.

Prior to installation of an air conditioner, the tenant must notify the office at 243-0813. Upon removal of an air conditioner from a window, it is the tenant’s responsibility to notify the office to stop charges to their account.

These charges will continue to accumulate until the office is officially notified.

Air conditioners must be installed properly. This includes installing the unit so moisture does not drip into the apartment or window frame and all openings must be sealed to keep pests like bees and bats outside.

Air conditioners are to be plugged only into the three-pronged outlet provided in each apartment specifically for this purpose. Failure to follow this guideline will result in electrical problems and may result in fire.

One air conditioner is allowed per apartment. Tenants are reminded that air conditioner use is optional. Tenants placing air conditioners in apartment windows are agreeing to abide by these rules.

Tenants are responsible for keeping their air conditioners in good operating condition and are expected to perform regular maintenance to ensure this. Grand Trees reserves the right to disallow the use of any sub-standard air conditioner.

When we say "BAT" we don’t mean baseball

IOWA DEPT OF HEALTH ON BATS & RABIES

THE MEDIA AND BATS IN IOWA

Want to make an ORIGAMI bat? click here!

“Bat Season” is quickly approaching.

Were reprinting some reminders from last year on how to proceed if you encounter an uninvited guest

1 Keep the front and back doors to your building closed. See that air conditioners are installed correctly b sealing all openings. If everyone follows these rules we don’t get uninvited visitors.

2. If you do find a bat in a hallway or worse yet in your apartment — DON’T TOUCH!! Bats can carry disease.

3. During regular business hours, call the Grand Trees Office. When we’re hear we’re happy to evict the bat and check the installation of your air conditioner while we’re at it to see that other bats don’t get in.

4. After hours, call Animal Control at 242-2720. Explain the situation. Their trained professionals will come out to dispose of the unwanted guest.

Remember, prevention is our best defense. If we’re all careful not to prop doors open unnecessarily or install air conditioners carelessly, bats can’t get in in the first place.

Grand Trees Newsletter Christmas Dec 7th 2004

admin — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 00:01:00 +0000

This is an ARCHIVED newsletter.
Some of the links might be dead and some of the information may no longer be correct.

Grand Trees Newsletter, created Dec 7th, 2004

Issue #1 December 7th, 2004
CONTENTS:	About this newsletter: Welcome to the FIRST issue of the Grand Tree’s Apartments NEWSLETTER We hope you will find this newsletter to be entertaining and informative not only of life here at the Grand Trees Apartments, But also of Life in Des Moines, Iowa. You can either scroll down to view the newsletter in its entirety, or you can click the contents links on the left to zoom to that section. If you have any questions or comments about this newsletter or if there is anything you would like to see in this newsletter, or if you have a submission or link, please email us! manager@grandtrees.com PRIVACY: The Grand Trees Apartments and grandtrees.com will not sell or give your name or email address or any information about you to any agency or company or private person without your explicit written permission. We take your privacy very seriously.
Important Holiday Announcement!
A note from the Post Office
What’s happening at the Grand Trees
Terri’s Terrific Christmas Recipes
Des Moines celebrates the Holidays
Humor in Iowa
NEW Christmas Games for the whole family!
NEW Holiday Poems, Stories and Songs

What’s happening at the Grand Trees

We have two great specials running now, sign up for a qualifying lease and get 1 month of rent FREE*

Move in right now for only $99! That’s right, $99 pays your entire Deposit! (save hundreds of dollars!)

To learn more about these and any other specials that may be happening, please call (515)243-0813

Des Moines celebrates the Holidays, What to do and where to do it!

Dec. 9:

College Savings Give-Away Event

Dec. 10 – Dec. 11

"A New Day/Un Nuevo Dia"

Jan. 6 – Jan. 7

The Feaste of the Epiphany

Antiques / Crafts

Dec. 18 – Dec. 19

Adventureland Arts and Crafts Show

Dec. 27 – Dec. 28

Antiques Auction

Jan. 6 – Jan. 9

Merle Hay Mall Antique Show

Animal / Livestock / Pet Shows

Dec. 10 – Dec. 11

Iowa State Pigeon Show

Art Events

Oct. 18 – Dec. 31

Jim Shrosbree Exhibition

Nov. 19 – Dec. 17

Kendall Buster Art Exhibition

Nov. 20 – Feb. 6

Contested Fields Exhibition

Auctions / Flea Markets

Dec. 11 – Dec. 12

Flea Market

Concerts

Dec. 7:

Drake Symphony Orchestra

Dec. 10:

A Very Merry Mulberry Christmas

Dec. 11:

Handel’s "Messiah," performed by the Drake Choir and Chamber Orchestra

Dec. 12:

Pride of Iowa Barbershop Quartet

Dec. 17 – Dec. 18

Cocoa and Carols, Presented by Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus

Dec. 31:

Club Swing -(pops)

Child Oriented

Dec. 14:

Dec. 18:

Dec. 21:

Dec. 28:

Exhibits / Displays

Feb. 20 – Feb. 1

Honor the Colors: Iowa’s Civil War Battle Flags

Mar. 2 – Dec. 31

Guided Tours of Terrace Hill

Sep. 25 – Jan. 30

Dino-Might

Nov. 18 – Jan. 8

Private Collections Uncovered

Holiday Events

Nov. 23 – Jan. 1

Jolly Holiday Lights

Nov. 26 – Dec. 24

Holiday Lights Tour

Dec. 4 – Dec. 31

Ankeny Holiday Lights

Dec. 9:

Windsor Wonderland

Dec. 10:

Music in the Market

Dec. 10:

Christmas with the Choral Society

Dec. 10 – Dec. 11

Lanterns and Lamp Posts: A Victorian Holiday

Dec. 12:

Dec. 12:

Dec. 12:

Dec. 31:

Lectures / Discussions

Dec. 13:

2004 First Lady Teas

Dec. 14:

Terrace Hill Lecture Series

Dec. 17:

Victorian Dinner

Live Music

Jan. 1 – Dec. 31

Dancing

Jan. 1 – Dec. 31

Square Dance Sundays

Dec. 9:

Justin Lamoureux of Midwest Dilemma will make a stop in Des

Dec. 9:

Paradox Wind Quintet

Dec. 9:

Judy Winters High School A Cappella performance

Dec. 10:

Live Music at Court Ave Brewery

Dec. 13:

Live Jazz Jam

Dec. 17:

Live Music at Court Ave Brewery

Dec. 17:

A Salisbury Holiday featuring The Salisbury Ensemble Singers

Dec. 19:

Sounds of the Season

Dec. 20:

Live Jazz Jam

Night Life

Jul. 13 – Dec. 31

Trivia Tuesday

Sports

Oct. 11 – Dec. 31

Adult Aerobics

Theater / Performing Arts

Sep. 11 – May. 14

Second Saturday

Oct. 7 – Jan. 16

Menopause the Musical

Dec. 2 – Dec. 19

"The SantaLand Diaries"

Dec. 3 – Dec. 26

Vatican II- What the Hell Happened?

Dec. 7 – Dec. 12

The Producers

Dec. 10 – Dec. 19

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Dec. 17 – Dec. 19

The Nutcracker

Trade Shows

Dec. 17 – Dec. 19

Gun Show

A note from the Post Office

The United States Postal Service along with your Letter Carrier is asking that you keep mail from accumulating in your box.

Excessive accumulation will result in your mail being collected and held at the post office and if unclaimed; your mail will be returned to the sender.

*Terri’s Terrific Christmas Recipes*
	*Terri is a resident at the Grand Tree’s Apartments and would love to hear your comments on these recipes!* *www.TerriFoss.com*
Appetizer Sausage Balls in Blankets. yields 3 dozen. These holiday treats can be made a week ahead of time, frozen, and heated when needed. Great for holiday open house or buffet table. Nice to have on hand when un-expected guests drop by for a visit!
INGREDIENTS: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons curry powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon salt 8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese 1 pound pork sausage 1/2 cup butter	DIRECTIONS: Mix in a large bowl the flour, curry, paprika, salt and cheese. With pastry blender or 2 knives used scissors fashion, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. With hands shape into a ball. Cover and refrigerate. Meanwhile, shape heaping teaspoon of sausage meat into small balls. In a large skillet, over medium heat, fry until well browned. Drain thoroughly on paper towels. Divide dough into as many pieces as sausage balls. Then shape dough evenly around balls. Wrap and freeze. At Serving Time: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place frozen sausage balls on a cookie sheet and bake 12-15 minutes until golden. Serve with toothpicks as appetizers.

Classic Gingerbread Cutouts. yields 3 dozen
"These cookies are so versatile! They are delicious, naturally low-fat, and even make terrific Christmas ornaments that keep for years. Royal Icing is best for decoration. CAUTION: These cookies have a way of disappearing!"

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup molasses
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 pound confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 egg whites

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the molasses and eggs. Combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour, baking soda, salt, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger; beat into the molasses mixture. Gradually stir in the remaining flour by hand to form a stiff dough.
Divide dough into 2 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
In a medium bowl, sift together confectioners’ sugar and cream of tartar. Blend in egg whites. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat for about 5 minutes, or until mixture is thick and stiff. Keep covered with a moist cloth until ready to frost cookies.

IMPORTANT HOLIDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS:

We hope you have a very Merry, Happy and SAFE Christmas this year. We must remind all tenants that Live Christmas Trees and or Evergreen Garlands are NOT permitted because of the potential fire risk.

PLEASE CHECK ALL SMOKE DETECTORS

One of the best ways to prevent fires is to double-check all smoke alarms.

Everyone is asked to check their’ smoke alarms to ensure they are working.

If you have any questions about your smoke alarm, or if you think it has failed to operate correctly, please call 243-0813 so we can fix or replace it.

If everyone pitches in and does their part, this will be a happy and SAFE New Year for one and all!

Christmas Poems, Stories, and Songs

Christmas Poems

Holiday Stories

Holiday Song Book Sing along.

Humor in Iowa
Strange Iowa Laws "It’s the LAW!"	Silly facts about Iowa.
Kisses may last for no more than five minutes. One-armed piano players must perform for free. A man with a moustache may never kiss a woman in public. It is a violation of the law to sell or distribute drugs or narcotics without having first obtained the appropriate Iowa drug tax stamp.	IOWA: It’s easy to spell IOWA: It’s just east of Omaha IOWA: It’s the only 4 letter state that starts with I and ends with A IOWA: If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes!
Dubuque "It’s the LAW!" Any hotel in the city limits must have a water bucket and a hitching post in front of the building.
Indianola "It’s the LAW!" The "Ice Cream Man" and his truck are banned.
Fort Madison "It’s the LAW!" The fire department is required to practice fire fighting for fifteen minutes before attending a fire.
Marshalltown "It’s the LAW!" Horses are forbidden to eat fire hydrants
Ottumwa "It’s the LAW!" Within the city limits, a man may not wink at any woman he does not know.

COMING SOON!

If you are on the mailing list you will be informed of any updates immediately.

Why not JOIN the mailing list?

Merry Christmas everyone, Here’s hoping you have a safe and happy holiday season!

Here are some hand picked, CHILD SAFE Christmas games to enjoy!
Trim-a-Tree	Christmas Jigsaw Puzzle	Super-Santa Ski Jump
Holiday Endurance	Adventure Elf	Attack of the Mutant Artificial Trees
Christmas Word Search	Holly’s Tic Tac	Christmas Match Game
Santa & Rudolph Slide Puzzle	Penguin Push	Build-a-Snowman
Below are Hanukkah games for children!
Hanukkah Jigsaw Puzzle	Dreidel Slide Puzzle	Menorah Slide Puzzle
Hanukkah Match Game	Star of David Slide Puzzle