The Rancher
Summer 2004
A Home Security Checklist
It’s extremely difficult to make a house truly burglar-proof, however, there are several things you can do, some of them
quite simple and inexpensive, to help deter would-be robbers.
Practice CPTED
Your home is much less likely to be broken into if you practice Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).
This simply means that you use the physical environment in and around your home to make it look less inviting to a would-be
thief.
Outdoor lighting is one of the most important elements of successful CPTED. Criminals value their privacy even more than
you do. Make sure your home’s entry areas (doors, windows, garage area) are properly lit with dependable, indirect outdoor
lighting.
A Neighborhood Watch Program can really spoil a burglar’s night out by making him unwelcome within your neighborhood. This
program also brings neighbors together and tends to enhance the quality of life in your neighborhood. To start up a Neighborhood Watch Program:
Define your neighborhood geographically. Start small (20 to 25 homes) so you and your neighbors can get to know everyone.
Talk to your neighbors. Do they know that a Neighborhood Watch Program is fun? What are their issues? What nights are
they available for a meeting?
Call Carrie Abts directly at (480) 312-2342 or call Citizen & Neighborhood Resources at (480) 312-3111 for Neighborhood
Watch and other Revitalization issues, and schedule a mutually agreeable date for the first meeting.
It’s easier for police to locate a home in a hurry if the house numbers are large and well lit.
Make burglars think somebody is home by investing in a few electronic timers that go on and off at various times during a
24-hour period. Use at least one switch on a radio or stereo. If you’re going to be away for quite some time, stop all
regular deliveries and leave shades and drapes in their normal positions.
Alarm systems are most effective when combined with the other deterrents of CPTED. Be sure to place your alarm stickers
prominently on a window for would-be burglars to see.
Although heavy landscaping can be eye-appealing, make sure it doesn’t also provide attractive hiding places for a burglar.
Trim overgrown bushes, hedges or trees away from doors and windows and at least two feet up from the ground.
Operation I.D. helps you reduce chances of losing valuable or hard-to-replace possessions. Marked property is harder for a
thief to sell and easier for police to recover. Stickers announcing that your property is engraved can be put right
alongside an alarm sticker. As your identifying mark, use your driver’s license number prefaced by the two letter
abbreviation of your state and ending with “DL” for driver’s license.
Sliding glass doors or windows can be made more secure by placing a dowel in the lower track and flathead screws in the
upper track to prevent a thief from sliding or lifting the door open. Removable pins in the frames will hold the door in
place.
Lastly, keep your garage securely locked. Thieves will have to resort to a more difficult means of entry and, therefore,
will be easier to deter.
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Property Owners are Responsible for their Renters
When a violation of the Declaration of Restrictions occurs, the Association is legally bound to send a Violation Notice to
the “property owner of record”.
If the property is rented by the “property owner of record”, it is the property owner’s responsibility to resolve the
violation issue with his/her renter.
Failure on the part of the property owner to so act can and will result in legal action being taken by the Association
against the property owner to resolve the violation.
The Association has virtually no formal way of knowing whether or not a dwelling unit is occupied by a renter. A copy of
any violation notice sent to the “property owner of record” will be mailed to the residential address in violation, if, in
fact, the Association is made aware of the fact that the residence is indeed being rented.
This procedure will not, however, absolve the property owner of responsibility.
The objective of this procedure is to hasten the correction of the violation in those cases when property owners are lax
in so informing their renters.
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Scottsdale Road Construction Update
By the time this reaches your hands, the majority of the roadway reconstruction at McCormick Parkway and Scottsdale Road
will be completed. Needless to say, the project has been both long and arduous but the Association is satisfied with the
final outcome.
During the construction process, the Association rebuilt the shoreline around Camelback Lake that had eroded over the past
30 years.
Once the City has painted the bridge, reconnected both electrical and water lines to POA property and removed the overhead
power lines, the Board of Directors will take a hard look at enhancing the major entryway to McCormick Ranch.
Funding for both the lake work and enhancing the front end will be taken from the Contingency Fund thereby eliminating any
need for any sort of Special Assessment.
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From our mailbag...
Our office received the following email from a concerned resident...
“I know that I’ve been writing to you about overnight parking on the street and I know other areas on the Ranch are having
the same problem… Perhaps a reminder in The Rancher would be timely...”
Editor’s Note: Thanks for the suggestion. See “Parking” of our Rules and Regs.
And this one from Sylvia Mousseux, with the Traffic Engineering Division of the City of Scottsdale...
“This is a friendly reminder that all overgrown trees or vegetation needs to be trimmed or cut when blocking sight distance
for: vehicles exiting a roadway, blocking the visibility of the various traffic control signs for approaching vehicles
(such as speed limit, warning signs, etc).
“Please inform the residents if it is occurring on their private property so that they can take care of it.
“We also have an online tool available here to report areas of
concern, such
as potholes, street maintenance, etc. Please feel free to share this web address with your residents.
“Thank you for helping us keep Scottsdale a safe neighborhood, and for helping improve the quality of life for our
community!”
Letters, notes, comments, suggestions, etc. can be sent to the staff at 9248 N. 94th St.,
Scottsdale, AZ 85258, or emailed to karenbenson@mccormickranchpoa.com.
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A Unique Support Network for McCormick Ranch Moms
While becoming a new parent is a challenge of its own, finding a support network of other moms going through the same
issues at the same time is a resource that most busy mothers have little time to seek out.
The Scottsdale Parenting Group (SPG) is a nonprofit organization that offers a variety of activities for the new mom, or
not so new mom, to take part in. It is an especially invaluable resource for newcomers to the McCormick Ranch area who are
looking to meet people and become connected to the community. What sets SPG apart from the typical “mommy” group is that
it provides parenting guidance in a classroom setting that is facilitated by a qualified instructor. Each SPG member is
assigned a class that includes other moms with children of similar age. Classes meet every other week for two and a half
hours. It’s a great opportunity to share ideas, questions, and overall stress in an adult-only setting. An on-site
nursery is available to parents who need it. On alternating weeks when classes do not meet, members of each class take
turns organizing playgroups, which offer a terrific opportunity for the children to spend time interacting and building
social skills with others in their same age range. The moms, as well, get the chance to socialize and develop friendships
that could last a lifetime.
Other fun events that SPG organizes each year include a Halloween party, family picnic, and a Spring brunch. Additionally,
once a month a mom’s night out is held at a local restaurant giving opportunity for everyone to get to know each other
better over some food and drinks while unwinding from a busy day of parenting and/or work.
A Board of Directors is chosen annually to handle each of the aspects necessary to ensure the organization and its many
facets run smoothly. SPG also can be a great outlet for moms to contribute their professional skills in serving on the
Board or assisting some of its members with their important functions.
SPG meets at 11735 N. Scottsdale Rd. every other Thursday from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m., September through May. Registration is
going on now and space in the nursery is currently still available. For more information and to register,
call (480) 518-2211.
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New POA Director Appointed
Peter F. Winter, M.D. has been appointed as a Director of the McCormick Ranch Property Owners’ Association by the POA
Board to fill the unexpired term of Joetta Downs, who resigned.
Peter Winter has resided with his wife, Christa, in the Camello Vista subdivision of McCormick Ranch since 1997. He has
served as a Board Member of the Camello Vista Homeowners’ Association and also as the Chairman of their Architectural
Control Committee.
Peter is a radiologist certified by the American Board of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. After his training at Boston
City Hospital, he practiced diagnostic radiology in New York, NY, Boston, MA, Peoria, IL, and Phoenix, AZ. He always held
a concomitant academic position and was involved in teaching students and residents. He also served on various
departmental and hospital committees. He is semi-retired since spring 2003 and now works part-time in the Greater Phoenix
Area and in Southern Arizona. In addition to his clinical work, he is freelancing as a translator and editor of radiologic
textbooks and scientific papers.
For relaxation, Peter regularly rides his recumbent bike in the valley and often hikes in the mountains around the
valley. These outdoor activities never fail to renew his appreciation of the Arizona lifestyle and confirms his choice
to live in Arizona.
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Returned Check Fee
Just a reminder to all property owners who have checks returned to the POA office for insufficient funds, bank accounts
closed, or any other reason, a $15.00 Returned Check Fee will be charged to your account.
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