Archive for From the Office
Everyone here at the Pine Cove Water District would like to wish all the mom’s out there a very happy Mother’s Day on Sunday May 11, 2014. Being a mom is the hardest job in the world!
Posted in: From the Office
Leave a Comment (0) →There must have been a lot of yard work and gardening going on over the weekend because when we arrived this morning, both piles were depleted! This means Pine Covers are amending their soil so it retains moisture better and putting down wood chips to keep the moisture in the soil. We are working on getting more compost as well as wood chips, so if you didn’t get yours, do not worry. I will post here on the blog as soon as our supplies are replenished. We are so happy to be able to provide these items to Pine Cove Water District customers free of charge.
Remember, if you need a large amount of either item to check in with us at the office first, as we want to be sure there is enough for everyone. Now is the time to be outside cleaning up your yard, doing your fire abatement, amending your soil and adding a layer of woodchips to keep moisture in. These are all very necessary chores that need done, so get them done now so you can enjoy the summer with peace of mind knowing you are doing all you can to keep your mountain home safe and that you are helping to conserve water.
The weekend storm came and went as Old Man Winter gave it one last shot. It was quite chilly out over the weekend, but it seems to be warming up a bit today. The weather station up at the Rocky Point tank site says it is 54 degrees out at 10 a.m., so we are getting back to normal. Hopefully this will be the last cold & snow storm of the season. While moisture is always welcome, it is getting late in the year to have snow and freezing temperatures. Let’s hope for lots of nice rain for the rest of the spring and some summer monsoonal moisture this summer.
Here is the forecast for the coming week. Looks like temperatures are going up but we are going to get some wind.
Time for another Frugal Friday tip. I have talked a lot about raised bed and container gardens. But there is one other way to grow a few veggies or some flowers. Window boxes. Window boxes are a great way to grow cherry tomatoes, lettuces and other small or mini varieties of vegetables. They are also perfect for flowers and ivy and add a charm to your home that not much else can. They are also excellent for making an herb garden. What could be better than the smell of mint or basil or rosemary wafting through your kitchen window from a window box full of herbs. Plus your cooking will improve as you will be able to just walk outside and snip fresh herbs to add to your dishes.
Window boxes are very easy to make and you can use scrap wood you have laying around or can find cheaply. Old fence boards, plywood and other things like dresser drawers, can all be used to make window boxes. They can be as plain or as fancy as you like. Add trim or appliques for a shabby chic look or leave them plain for a more rustic approach. You can even buy them pre-made and just hang them. There are as many styles as there are budgets. Let your imagination run wild and just remember to design them so that they will co-ordinate with your home’s décor. Here are a few examples:
This example is from the blog My Shabby Streamside Studio and was made from scrap wood. An applique was added and then the whole thing was painted shabby chic white. Plastic window boxes tucked down inside the wooden box, hold a variety of plants and can be changed out from season to season.
Here is an example of a rustic wooden window box that was hung on brackets.
Adorable cottage style window boxes on a shed give it charm.
How’s this for creativity? Old dresser drawers make perfect window boxes!
I am sure if you do a quick search online, you can come up with many more ideas, especially on sites like Pinterest. So why not go out and rummage around in your garage or at the local thrift store and see what scrap wood you can come up with to create some lovely and useful window boxes for your cabin, cottage or castle and then get planting!
A spring storm is on it’s way to Pine Cove! Or at least that is what the weather man says. Here is the forecast for the next few days.
So this won’t be a very big storm and temperatures will be back up in the 60’s by Monday. But if you are heading up to Pine Cove this weekend, you will want to be aware of the possibility that there might be snow. It will be a cold weekend for sure!
The Environmental Protection Agency, aka the EPA, has some great tips for saving water on their website. Here is the link to their website where there are many more links to other websites.
http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/ConserveWater.htm
There are lots of tips on saving water for both inside the house as well as out in the garden. It is definitely worth reading.
The April bills were mailed out yesterday and should arrive in your mailbox within the next day or two. Please be sure to read the colored inserts we have included with your bill. There is pertinent information on the conservation stages, water prices, rebates and water saving tips. We try very hard not to bombard you with junk and to only include information we think our customers will find interesting and helpful. If you ever have any questions on any of the information we include with your bill, you can always contact us for further information.
The Pine Cove Water District office is located at 24917 Marion Ridge Road and we are right next to the fire station. Our phone number is 951-659-2675 and we are open from 9 am until 4 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Our mailing address is PO Box 2296, Idyllwild, CA 92549. We can also be reached by email. You can send your email to Jerry, Becky or Vicki at pcwd.org. Jerry Holldber is the District Manager, Becky is the Office Manager and Vicki is the Office Assistant. Any one of us would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the district, it’s policies and conservation.
In addition, you can visit our website www.pcwd.org and our blog at www.pcwd.org/blog 24/7 and find all sorts of helpful information. We encourage everyone to keep up with what is going on at the water district. We also have a monthly board meeting and the public is invited to attend. It is held the second Wednesday of each month and starts at 10 a.m. sharp. We would look forward to seeing your there and hearing your suggestions.
A storm moved through Pine Cove late yesterday and left a little covering of snow. Maybe an inch. However, it is still very cold outside. It is currently 38 degrees and there is some ice on the roads. The sun is out and shining and so the ice should start melting off, but it would still be best to be careful if driving around up here this morning. There is black ice on some roads which can take a driver by surprise if they aren’t used to driving in it. We were hoping for more snow than we got, but Mother Nature is in control, not us. It should be back up in the high 50’s by Sunday.
The sun is shining this morning, however, it is still very cold. It is currently 36 chilly degrees at 9:30 am. The weather forecast is calling for temperatures to rise tomorrow, but there is another chance for rain or snow coming on Saturday evening. The boys will be out and about reading meters today and tomorrow, so let’s hope the weather holds out for them. April’s bills will go out next week.
Remember, water bills are due by the 25th of the billing month. If they are not paid by the 10th of the following month, a $15 late fee will be incurred. If you are having problems paying your water bill, please call Becky at 951-659-2675 during regular business hours. She will work with you on a solution. Doing nothing or ignoring your bill will only lead to more problems down the line. Communication is key!
We bill every other month on the even months. Your water bill is for 2 months of water usage. You may pay your bill via check, money order, cash, or with your online banking. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards for credit card payments and these can be made in person or over the phone.
Our billing system is not “online” and we cannot do any type of check by phone or auto billing. We do not retain credit card numbers either. Once paid, all credit card information is shredded. Our current management team feels this is the safest way to protect your personal information and privacy.
Be sure to check out the inserts with your April bill. There is important information regarding our move into a Stage I Water Emergency. There is information on what each stage entails as well as the tiered water rates for each stage. We have also included information on our rebate program for water saving appliances as well as 50 Tips to Save Water both indoors and out. There is lots of good information and you won’t want to miss it.
There is a small storm coming our way. No significant snow fall accumulation is expected, but temperatures will be dropping. Here is the forecast:
This afternoon, sunny, with a high near 54. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
So, not a big event, but any chance of moisture is a good thing. Looks like it is going to be cold and windy though, so be prepared for that. By Friday, we will be back up in the 50’s.
