neighborhood Archives - Other CMS

How to Be a Good Neighbor in a Manufactured Home Community

CENTRESTAGEFILMS — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 22:19:45 +0000

Being a good neighbor contributes to the success of any community, whether it takes the form of keeping your yard neat and tidy or simply not breaking the law. That said, good neighbors are even more important in manufactured home communities, given that units are situated closer together than in traditional housing developments. One messy yard, one unleashed dog can have a tremendously negative impact on dozens of residents.

Given that, it’s important that manufactured homeowners take the initiative in getting to know their neighbors and support the community’s overall well-being. Here are a few simple steps you can take to ensure you are contributing in a meaningful way to your community’s quality of life.

Offer More Than ‘Welcome’: Got a new neighbor? While a welcome basket is always, you know, welcome, take it a step further by including a “need-to-know” checklist. This can include information regarding trash day and suggestions on the nearest grocery stores, restaurants and parks. Include business cards and sample products from favorite businesses and provide contact information for that great babysitter or handyman. And deliver the basket in person to make that first contact even more valuable.

Follow the Rules: Manufactured home communities generally have established rules in place designed to enhance the quality of life for all residents. Take time to study these regulations regarding such topics as parking restrictions, unit maintenance and quiet hours so that you are fully aware of what’s required and won’t be caught by surprise. There’s no better way to avoid future conflict with your neighbors.Maintain Your Curb Appeal: Decades of research confirms the negative impact one unkempt home can have on property values. Suffice it to say, you do not want to be that homeowner, so it is vitally important to keep your place shipshape by replanting flower beds, clearing gutters, power washing your unit and just generally doing all you can to contribute to the community’s visual appeal.

Pause Before You Party: You might be a party animal, and that’s fine as long as you don’t intrude or impose on your neighbors. An occasional late-night blast might be forgiven, but all-night parties every weekend can make you a rude neighbor. Also be respectful by ensuring your guests aren’t blocking any neighbors’ driveways, making excessive noise or engaging in any other action you yourself would not want to be a victim of.

Handle Conflict Peacefully: If an issue does arise, handling conflicts in a peaceful manner is crucial to maintaining a good relationship with neighbors. Your best bet is to meet face to face and discuss the issue in person — it’s easy for messages to get misinterpreted when trying to resolve a question through text or email. In fact, that can make a simple problem become a much bigger one.

At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post How to Be a Good Neighbor in a Manufactured Home Community appeared first on Other CMS.

Make the Most of National Night Out

CENTRESTAGEFILMS — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 18:05:52 +0000

National Night Out is an annual event designed to promote positive police-resident partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie with the goal of strengthening overall public safety. Held on the first Tuesday in August, these community celebrations have an important role to play in bringing people together in an era when a range of societal factors — including swiftly advancing technology and increased political polarization — make forging such personal connections that much more difficult.

With National Night Out 2022 set for August 2, now is the time to take the steps to ensure your neighborhood’s event draws a sizable crowd and maximizes its impact on public safety. Here’s how to make sure your neighbors turn out for National Night Out.

It’s All in the Planning: Suffice it to say, the earlier you can start planning the better. Canvass your neighbors to determine who would like to serve on an organizing committee and schedule regular meetings to move the process forward. The amount of lead time needed to ensure a successful event will depend on a variety of factors, not the least of which is how ambitious your plans become.

Contact the Authorities: With public safety as a prime theme, it’s tremendously helpful to have a peace officer speak at your event. Given the size of your city and number of gatherings, such appearances are probably at a premium. The solution is to contact your local police department or sheriff’s office sooner rather than later to see what steps need to be taken to arrange an officer’s presence. Also consider contacting your city council member or county supervisor to see if they are available to attend.

Get the Word Out: The importance of alerting your neighbors regarding what you have planned for August 2 cannot be overstated. Whether it be via social media, notices pinned to telephone poles or simply going door-to-door, it’s essential National Night Out organizers prioritize getting the word out about the event. This will go a long way toward maximizing turnout and, with it, the event’s ability to positively impact public safety.

Let’s Have Some Fun: Serious themes underlie National Night Out but it should also be a fun social occasion that neighbors will enjoy. To that end, consider getting the barbecue going, brining in some live music and providing special activities for the kids. Keep in mind the goal is to bring neighbors together at an event through which they can bond and begin to develop friendships for the betterment of the entire community.

Collective Action: National Night Out in addition presents an ideal opportunity to bring people together to support a good cause. You could, for instance, announce on your invites and posts that the event will be collecting canned goods for the local food bank. And because it’s in the neighborhood, if people forget, they can always run home and grab something. Set a goal and see how much your event can raise.

At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful

The post Make the Most of National Night Out appeared first on Other CMS.