neighbors Archives - Other CMS

With Fall Football Upon Us, Here’s How to Make the Most of Tailgating

CENTRESTAGEFILMS — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 21:25:55 +0000

With September’s arrival comes the first indicators of fall – days growing shorter, kids back in school, leaves beginning to turn. Happy to say, the month also brings with it the return of football and the great American tradition of tailgating.

Whether your destination is a massive NFL parking lot or the comparatively subdued surroundings of college football, smart tailgating can substantially enhance the experience, no matter whether which team wins. Here are a few suggestions to make the most of your pre-game party this fall.

Do the Prep Work: Like any other party, lots of planning goes into a successful tailgate. The first step is to create a master checklist with all the items you think you will need – food, beverages, equipment, utensils, paper goods, clean-up materials, etc. Check them off as you gather them and include on the bottom of the list additional tasks you will need to perform, such as washing your vehicle or picking up team merchandise. The more you plan ahead, the easier things will go on game day.

Food and Drink: No matter what you plan to serve, there is still plenty of prep work to be done before you head out to the stadium, such as marinating meat, cutting vegetables, creating skewers or forming burger patties. Likewise, if you plan serving cocktails to your crowd, consider mixing up a sizable quantity beforehand so that all you have to do at the site is stir and pour.

Don’t Forget the Necessities: Avid tailgaters might forgive you given all the other hubbub for overlooking the essentials, but you don’t want to be that host. Make sure to bring enough comfortable chairs for everyone, plenty of water and soft drinks, and always take a long an extra cooler just for storing ice, particularly if you are headed to a game in the warmer, early part in the season.

Go Disposable: Tailgating is a lot more fun for the host when you make sure to bring plenty of plastic spoons, forks and knives, along with a large selection of paper products like napkins and paper towels. You should also pack a supply of aluminum foil bordering on the ridiculous. Simply put, foil is a tailgater’s secret weapon, one that can be sued to keep food warm, scrape a dirty grill and store leftovers for the ride home. Also do not forget the plastic tablecloths and cups.

Be a Good Neighbor: It’s a no-brainer, to be sure, but bears repeating nonetheless – watch your manners out there. For instance, if it is your first time at a particular venue, make sure you are not taking a regular tailgater’s spot by asking, “Is this taken?” Bring heavy-duty trash bags for your garbage and make sure you dispose of it properly. Grilling? Dispose of your charcoal safely and never leave hot coals on the asphalt.Head for the Exits: While the vast majority of your planning and prep goes into getting the party started, that doesn’t mean you should ignore the end of the game. Be sure to plan how most effectively to break down your tailgate, stash your items, clean up after yourself and proceed out of the parking area.

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.

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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.

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Ways to Help Your Neighbors During These Challenging Times

CENTRESTAGEFILMS — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 20:46:24 +0000

One of the benefits of living in a manufactured housing community is the sense of connection that it provides. With the coronavirus pandemic leaving so many people separated from friends and family, this sense of belonging to a community becomes all the more important.

As members of a community, we can help ensure our neighbors are safe and know they are cared for – especially our senior neighbors. Seniors are at higher risk for contracting coronavirus and having complications from the disease and therefore must be particularly careful when it comes to engaging with the outside world.

While it’s important to follow CDC guidelines with regards to proximity to others who live outside your household, there are plenty of ways to show your neighbors that you care while maintaining a safe distance. Here are just a few:

1. Check in with your neighbor regularly by phone or text.

Seniors and others who live alone can have an especially hard time with the isolation the Covid-19 pandemic has caused. Send them a quick text or make a quick call to check in on them and let them know someone cares.

2. Give your neighbor permission to share your contact information with their distant family members.

Offer to let your neighbor share your telephone number with their distant family members, so that you can be a point of contact should an emergency arise. With so many families unable to travel and see their loved ones, it can be reassuring to know there is someone close by who is looking out for the safety and wellbeing of the ones we love.

3. Offer to pick up grocery staples.

Many seniors fear going out in public, as it increases their risk of exposure. When you know you’ll be venturing out, offer to pick up a few grocery items for them. You can leave it on their doorstep for “contactless delivery.”

4. Ask them what they need.

Your neighbor may be unaccustomed to asking for help. Don’t wait for them to ask; instead, ask them what they need. Whether it’s an errand at the post office or returning books to the library, something small may not take much time out of your day but mean a lot to your neighbor in need.

5. Help them navigate the internet.

Virtual doctor visits, online shopping, and ordering prescription refills online are a convenience many of us take for granted. For seniors who are unaccustomed to purchasing items online, the thought of providing personal information over the internet can be scary. Offer to walk them through such tasks via FaceTime, Zoom, or over the phone.

Many in our country are suffering silently as the pandemic keeps us homebound and isolated. Make sure your neighbor knows that he or she has not been forgotten with these simple ways to show you care.

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