Memorial Thicket℠ October Security Newsletter
- admin
- Oct 17
- 4 min read
WELCOME!
Security Newsletter October 2025
SECURITY
Please add the Memorial Thicket℠ Security cellphone number to your contacts: (713) 501-5406. If you need assistance or suspect suspicious activity, please call them immediately. Memorial Thicket℠ continues to maintain an A+ crime grade compared to a C+ for the total 77079 zip code area. The information contained below is the August 2025 monthly breakdown of offenses for which HPD wrote police reports for zip code 77079. This report includes both incidents and arrests. Of the 127 offenses in August, one was recorded within Memorial Thicket℠.
MORE ABOUT SNAKES
I did not expect this, but last week while out of town, I received a text from my neighbor stating that the mail carrier was not able to deliver our mail because there was a snake in the mailbox! So, I thought this was another safety moment to talk about snakes during this Fall season. In the months of September through December, brumation (the natural, dormant state that reptiles enter as cooler periods approach) can occur and linger until March or April. It is hard to ignore snakes, and the cooling temperatures trigger a significant increase in their movement, particularly during daylight hours. The cold-blooded reptiles are just more comfortable with the milder weather, and this increased activity is tied to their preparation for winter and means that they are more likely to be encountered by residents enjoying a Fall day outdoors. In addition, snakes use Fall to feed heavily to store fat and otherwise improve body condition for the coming cold season and to locate to a dry, comfortable insulated spot where they will spend winter. Over the next month or so, as the temperatures continue to drop, snake encounters will decline as they settle in their winter quarters and extended sleep. FOR NOW, BEWARE AND BE ON GUARD!
PREPARING YOUR HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM FOR COOLER WEATHER
As we begin to approach cooler weather, now is a great time to prepare your heating and cooling systems. You should change or clean all air filters, test the thermostat, and inspect/clear vents and registers. It is also crucial to check your carbon monoxide detectors and clear the area around your outdoor units to ensure proper air flow. In many situations, especially when you are uncomfortable doing this maintenance yourself, you should schedule a professional inspection and tune-up to ensure safe and efficient operation throughout the heating season. As a recommendation, when the home is occupied, you should select a temperature that is efficient yet still comfortable for members of your family. For winter heating, a setting of 68 degrees is typical for maximizing the efficiency of your system while keeping the people indoors comfortable as well. Lastly, the thermostat controls the fan in your furnace or air handler and should be set to AUTO, not ON. When the fan is set to AUTO, it only cycles as the heating unit runs a heating cycle - the fan circulates warmed are through ducts and into rooms of your home. If the HVAC fan is set to ON, it will run all the time, consume more energy, and even cause your living area to feel a blast of cool air from the vents between heating cycles.
DST
With Fall officially upon us, another change is on the horizon with the end of Daylight Saving Time just around the corner. This November, when Daylight Saving Time ends for 2025, clocks will "fall back", meaning we gain an extra hour of sleep. Daylight Saving Time will end for the year at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, November 2nd. This year, the time change comes a day earlier than last year and falls on the second-earliest possible date for the time change. This is also a great time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors!
YARD OF THE MONTH HOLIDAY EDITION CONTEST
The Memorial Thicket Homeowners Association (MTHA) Yard of the Month Program was established and designed to show appreciation and recognition to the homeowners who demonstrate superior effort in maintaining their property, and who, as a result, contribute to the overall appearance of Memorial Thicket. NEW THIS YEAR, in addition to awarding out traditional Yard of the Month for landscaping for the remaining months of November and December, we will award a Yard of the Month for festive Holiday decoration. This winner will also receive special recognition on the HOA's website and the honor of displaying the official "Memorial Thicket Yard of the Month Holiday Edition" lawn sign in their yard. Everyone is invited to participate. There is no need to enter. If your home is decorated by judging time, your home will be considered. Homes will be judged on the exterior appearance of the property as viewed from the street, with overall appearance, tastefulness, creativity, decorating in the "spirit of the festive holiday (ornamental lighting and decorations)", and a visually appealing facade all considered. Judging will take place on the evening of the first Sunday of December (December 7, 2025). GOOD LUCK!
SAFETY FIRST!
October 16, 2025