Each year, Americans trust the U.S. Postal Service® with billions of letters and packages, and the vast majority of those arrive safely at their intended destinations. But there are always thieves who will target the mail. Postal Inspectors investigate these crimes and arrest thousands of mail and package thieves each year. Still, there are extra steps you can take to ensure your mail arrives safely at its destination.

Follow and share these tips to help protect yourself and others against mail and package theft.

• Promptly pickup mail - Try not to leave letters and packages in your mailbox or at your door for any length of time.
• Inquire about overdue mail - If you do not receive a check, credit card, or other valuable mail you’re expecting, contact the sender as soon as possible and inquire about it.
• Don't send cash - Be careful about what you send. Don’t risk sending cash in the mail.
• Arrange for prompt pickup - If you cannot be home to receive a package, make another arrangement or use the USPS Hold Mail Service.
• Use Hold for Pickup - When shipping packages, use the Hold for PickUp option, and the recipients can collect the package at their local Post Office™.
• Request signature confirmation - When mailing something important, consider requesting Signature Confirmation™ for the intended recipient.
• File a change of address - If you move, make sure you file a change of address with the Postal Service and let your financial institutions know as well.
• Learn more at https://www.uspis.gov/tips-prevention/mail-theft

Use Informed Delivery by USPS

• See Photos of Your Mail Before It Arrives, Free
• Start your mornings with a preview of your day's USPS® mail and packages with Informed Delivery®:
  • Get Daily Digest emails that preview your mail and packages scheduled to arrive soon.
  • See images of your incoming letter-sized mail (grayscale, address side only).1
  • Track and manage your packages in one convenient place.
    
• Sign up for free https://www.usps.com/manage/informed-delivery.htm

Report a Mail-related Crime
Are you a victim or have you witnessed a mail-related crime? Alert Postal Inspectors to the problem and prevent others from being victimized.  https://www.uspis.gov/report
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If you are moving out of your home but managing it as a long-term rental, be sure to inform Hammersmith and provide current contact information.  Owners are always responsible for their property and receiving timely communications regarding any problems helps all involved.

• Hammersmith is our Managing Agent - if you have ANY questions or issues, please email  [email protected]  or call  (719) 389-0700. Be sure to identify yourself as a "Pine Creek" resident to speed things along.
• Homeowner Account Online - you can view your account balance, make a payment, submit a request to Management, access Association Documents, and more at portal.ehammersmith.com.
• If you need help with your logon/password - call  (719) 389-0700.

Be sure to let your renters know about www.pcva.org and opting in to the email newsletter (https://www.pcva.org/email-newsletter.html) so they will be up to date on Pine Creek happenings too.

The Modifications Committee provided an updated paint palette based on the original palette developed by the PCVA developer back in 1998 when PCVA was being built.  The Committee has mapped the outdated Kwal colors into current Sherwin Williams colors, and it has divided up the palette by home style, and it has laid out colors for body, trim, accents, etc., by home style. 

View the paint palette at 
https://www.pcva.org/uploads/7/8/8/7/78875826/pcva_architectural_color_palettes_-_14_nov_24.pdf

Urbanization has a significant impact on the natural environment, with the increase in impervious surfaces leading to a rise in stormwater runoff. This runoff can create a range of problems, including flooding, erosion, and pollution in nearby streams and rivers. To mitigate these negative effects, the City has been constructing and maintaining Extended Detention Basins (EDBs) to manage stormwater runoff.
 
EDBs are designed to collect and treat stormwater before releasing it into receiving waters, thus reducing the amount of pollutants that enter these natural water bodies. Properly maintained EDBs have been found to be highly effective at removing certain types of pollutants and storing water during larger storm events. However, poorly functioning EDBs can lead to pond failure, which can result in unpleasant odors, insect infestations, and unsightly conditions.
 
The main causes of EDB failure include poor vegetation maintenance, clogged inlets caused by trash and debris, sediment accumulation, failed side slopes, and inadequate access for maintenance activities. Therefore, it is crucial to understand why EDBs are built in specific subdivisions and how all the components work together to reduce the chance of pond failure.
 
These particular EDBs are state regulated, and the City must obtain permits to perform maintenance activities. All of our EDBs are inspected at least once a year by State-certified and registered inspectors, and maintenance activities can vary based on the inspection of that calendar year.

     The City of Colorado Springs owns and maintains the roads(city streets) within Pine Creek (except for designated Private Roads within Carriages, La Bellezza, Reverie, Sage Hill Greens, and Wildflower neighborhoods). The City of Colorado Springs Operations & Maintenance Division is responsible for snow removal on City Streets.  City crews clear about 1,800 lane miles on main roads when snow accumulates during a storm.
     Snow removal is done by priority based on both primary/secondary roads and the snowfall depth. Main streets, or most streets with stripes (i.e. Briargate Parkway, Chapel Hills, Powers, Union), are the priority for Colorado Springs Public Works and their largest plows.  These are the streets that carry most of the city's traffic as well as emergency vehicles and public transportation.  
     The number of plows deployed and the option of pre-treating or anti-icing the streets depends on the weather conditions. When the primary and secondary routes are cleared and safe for travel, the Operations & Maintenance Division may begin plowing and applying anti-skid by grid in residential areas where snowfall has exceeded 6".  This is after the storm has passed and snowfall has ceased.
     The goal of the City of Colorado Springs Snow and Ice Control Plan is to maintain a safe flow of traffic throughout the City and ensure that each residential area is in close proximity to a plowed street.

• See the snow plow routes  https://www.coloradosprings.gov/public-works/page/snow-plow-routes
• The City contact number for snow removal questions is 719-385-5934
• Find out the snow removal situation by calling the Operations and Maintenance Division automated snow hotline, (719) 385-SNOW
• Learn all about how Colorado Springs deals with snow  https://www.coloradosprings.gov/snow