It’s that time of year again when the children in our community are heading back to school. Below are a couple of tips we hope you’ll remember:

• Slow Down.  Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks at the bus stop area.  Watch for children playing or congregating near bus stops.
• Be Alert.  Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic. Watch out for young people who may be thinking about getting to school, but may not be thinking about getting there safely.  Also, as a reminder, the red flashing lights on the bus indicate that the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off of the bus.  Motorists approaching from either direction must wait until the red lights stop flashing before proceeding.

Whether children walk, ride their bicycle or take the bus to school, it is vitally important that they – and the motorists around them – take proper safety precautions.

Walkers

• Walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk and you must walk in the street, walk facing traffic
• Before crossing the street, stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming
• Never dart out in front of a parked car
• Parents: Practice walking to school with your child, crossing streets at crosswalks when available
• Never walk while texting or talking on the phone
• Do not walk while using headphones

Bike Riders

• Always wear a helmet that is fitted and secured properly
• Children need to know the rules of the road: Ride single file on the right side of the road, come to a complete stop before crossing the street and walk the bike across
• Watch for opening car doors and other hazards
• Use hand signals when turning
• Wear bright-colored clothing

Bus Riders

• Teach children the proper way to get on and off the bus
• Line up 6 feet away from the curb as the bus approaches
• If seat belts are available, buckle up
• Wait for the bus to stop completely before standing
• Do not cross in front of the bus if possible, or walk at least 10 feet ahead until you can see the other drivers

Drivers, Share the Road

• Don't block crosswalks
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, and take extra care in school zones
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians
• Never pass a bus loading or unloading children
• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them to safely enter and exit the bus

Read more tips at www.nsc.org/home-safety/seasonal-safety/back-to-school

Please be reminded that homeowners are not allowed to use the curb/on street parking as a permanent place to park their vehicles. On street parking is a covenant violation, as well as a traffic hazard, and also makes the neighborhood look cluttered and un-kept. The Community Guidelines state the following: “All vehicles shall be parked only in garages, driveways; and in exceptional cases one vehicle may be parked on the city street preferably in front of the resident home. Residents must maximize use of Garages and Driveways before using on-street parking.

The Emergency Notification System; commonly referred to as "reverse 9-1-1", is a tool used by 9-1-1 that can make rapid telephone, text, email and fax notifications to specific geographic areas. It is used to alert you of emergency situations that are a threat to life or property, or situations deemed dangerous by public safety officials. This may include, but is certainly not limited to: man-made disasters, hazardous materials incidents, missing persons, crime, or neighborhood/business evacuation notifications.

You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, cell phone, business phones, email address, text messages and more.

It is important to note that during an emergency you should use as  many forms of communication as possible to stay informed. Stay tuned to news broadcasts, radio stations, social media websites, weather radios, etc. Do not put your safety at risk waiting for a phone call or notification to be told what to do. If at any time you feel that you are in danger you should take whatever action you feel is necessary to get yourself to safety.

Visit http://www.elpasoteller911.org/ for all the details and to sign up.

Do you have a new phone number or email address? Don’t forget to update your contact information with Pine Creek Village. You can updated the contact information in the Homeowner Portal at portal.ehammersmith.com