Tips to keep in mind for the summer’s heat…

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after activities. Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages because they will not truly satisfy your thirst and can cause dehydration.

Stay cool and avoid the mid-day heat. Limit activities in the hot sun to 15-20 minutes at a time to help protect against heat exhaustion. Avoid prolonged sun exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest.

Lather up and wear sunscreen! Be sure to use SPF 30 or higher and reapply it every two hours. Ideally, I ounce of sunscreen (about a palmful) should be used to cover at least arms, legs, neck, and face for the average adult.

Dress for the heat. Wear loose-fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible. Lightweight, light-colored clothing that reflects heat and sunlight and helps maintain normal body temperature. Protect your face and head with a wide-brimmed hat.

Eat for the heat. Eat small meals more often. Avoid foods that are high in protein because they increase metabolic heat. Avoid using salt tablets, unless directed to do so by a physician.

Protect your windows. Hang shades, draperies, awnings, or louvers on windows that receive morning or afternoon sun. Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat entering the house by as much as 80%.

Conserve electricity. During periods of extreme heat, people tend to use a lot more power for air conditioning which can lead to a power shortage or outage. Vacuum air conditioner filters weekly during periods of high use.

Keep lights turned down or off.
Avoid using the oven.
Learn the symptoms of heat disorders and know how to give first aid.

Let’s not forget about our pets…

STAY PROTECTED… STAY COOL… AND HAVE A SAFE FATHER’S DAY! 

What a great CLEANUP event we had on the 14th of May. It was a warm day, but not as hot as it could be. Hopefully we have a lot more room in our garages/homes thanks to our Ranch Homeowners (and Renters) Association (RHOA) “Cleanup Dumpster Day.” We managed to fill several large roll-off dumpsters in approximately four hours with yard trimmings, household and garage waste.

We hope some of you also took advantage of the Great Exchange Friday to pass on for FREE some still good but not needed items. We all appreciate those of you who took the time to help clean up and beautify our wonderful Ranch neighborhood.

The “Cleanup/Dumpster Day” program, sponsored by your Ranch Homeowners and Renters Association (RHOA) for all paid up members (annual dues only $25), is usually

conducted each fall and spring and is always a fun day to get out into the sun, clean up areas we may have been neglecting, and meet and perhaps help some of our neighbors while either volunteering or dropping off some household waste or old treasures not needed anymore.

SPECIAL THANK YOUs for Cleanup Event

First, to all the Volunteers, including the following, for their help with the dumpsters: Shirley Lindsey, Jeff Glass, Peggy Evans, Bill Borning, Leroy and Mackayla Wong, Linda Wallace, Reena Bhargava, Janice Robinson and Jeri Carey.
Second, to Jeff Moon of Hanu Reddy Realty for providing refreshments for our volunteers. That really helped us start the day.
Third, to all of you who helped clean up our Ranch neighborhood. As I was going from location to location to make sure all went well, I was so pleased at how many folks I saw who took time while they were unloading to help someone else with their load, even many times before finishing their own load. That’s what makes Irvine neighbors special, and if you were one of those special folks I tip my hat to you.  As I have said before … Nicely done.
And Fourth, to those of you who helped your neighbor unload their cars and trucks or provided other help at the dumpsters (e.g., conversation and refreshments). Some of those who helped during the event include Jeff Moon, Gaurav Bhargava and Earl and Donna Harwell.

For next time…

 Very Large Items such as sofas, mattresses, etc. – We may restrict these items to allow use by more residents. Please call Waste Mgmt. for a free pick up – info below.

If you missed out on the last “Dumpster Day” and cannot wait until the Fall event, here are some helpful and/or close by options:

1. Take it to Waste Management’s local reclamation center at 16122 Construction Circle near the District. They will take most items, except hazardous waste, material for a fee. This one-time use fee is usually higher than our annual membership, so it pays to be sure to pay your membership.
2. Call Waste Management for a free pickup. Irvine residences are entitled to two free pickups a year at home for larger items such as mattresses, furniture, appliances and other items that will not fit into your trash containers. Contact WM customer service at 949-642-1191 or online at www.wmorangecounty.com. Also, if one of your trash or recycling containers is damaged, call that number for a free replacement.
3. Drop off hazardous waste (such as paint, solvents, pesticides, gasoline, pool chemicals, motor oil, or batteries) at the nearby Irvine Regional HHW Center (Household Hazardous Waste) located 6411 Oak Canyon Ave. right next to the Animal Care Center and Bark Park. The last posted hours were 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday.

We hope you found this information helpful.

PLEASE S-L-O-W DOWN WHILE DRIVING IN THE RANCH!

Did you notice our SLOW signs at the Dumpster locations? It is dangerous for all of us to have someone drive fast in our neighborhood, especially when there are kids around, people getting in and out of cars or people in or near the street as there are when people are using the dumpsters. This is happening a lot more than we want.

Please remind your family or neighbors who drive to do so very cautiously in the Ranch. It is better to remind ourselves regularly than to have that one accident that injures someone forever. Thank you.

Article by Larry Hugo – District 12 Director