Craig Ranch Telegram October 2023

13 Locations around the DFW Area including Craig Ranch. Book a tour today!

C RAIG R ANCH

C OMMUNITY A SSOCIATION , I NC.

7850 Collin McKinney Parkway, Suite 103, McKinney Texas 75070

Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Ph: (972) 548-9191

website: www.craigranchliving.com

CMA Customer Care: (972) 943-2828

B OARD O F D IRECTORS

President Stephanie Miller

Vice President John Palmer

Treasurer Connie Baker

Secretary Tim Stephens

S TAFF

Director of Operations

David Meyer | dbmeyer@cmamanagement.com

Operations Manager

Brandy Hotchkiss | bhotchkiss@cmamanagement.com

Common Area Manager

Roxanne Webb | rwebb@cmamanagement.com

Maintenance Director

Randy Cain | rcain@cmamanagement.com

Lead Administrative Assistant

Kris Sims | ksims@cmamanagement.com

Operations Support Assistant

Lu Ann Patton | lpatton@cmamanagement.com

Lifestyle Coordinator

Melody Krill | mkrill@cmamanagement.com

Communications Coordinator

Cathy Dreyer | cdreyer@cmamanagement.com

Community Service Coordinator

Tamra Collins | tcollins@cmamanagement.com

Design Review/Modifications Coordinator

Melba Siebel | msiebel@cmamanagement.com

Compliance Coordinators

Avery Baril | abaril@cmamanagement.com

Jennifer Peterson | jpeterson@cmamanagement.com

Maintenance Technicians

Monte Cepeda

Jim Merritt | jmerritt@cmamanagement.com

P UBLISHER

To place an advertisement, please contact: Community Matters, Inc., PO Box 5900, Frisco, TX 75035 Ph: (972) 370-1778 website: www.communitymattersinc.com

Craig Ranch Telegram is the only authorized publication of the Craig Ranch Community Association, Inc. It is published on behalf of residents for informational purposes only. The Association does not guarantee any work or claims made by advertisers herein and claims no responsibility or liability for statements made in the publication. The Association does not support or take responsibility for services, whether paid or volunteer, mentioned herein, nor for statements published in articles or letters herein which are not endorsed by group decision of the Board of Directors.

r an C h T

Manager’s Message: Holiday Decor Updates!!

The arrival of October brings the anticipation of cooler temperatures, signaling the time to store our summer belongings and turn our attention toward all things fall and winter. For many of us, that means decorations! Please remember that we are a very diverse community, and many holidays are celebrated, including, but not limited to Halloween, Diwali, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and more!! We look forward to seeing all the decorations coming soon for the year-end holiday season.

As Craig Ranch is a master-planned community, there are some guidelines and restrictions for holiday decorations. However, we are also excited to announce that there have been some changes to the start dates for decorations:

• Halloween decorations may be installed on October 1st and should be removed 5 days after October 31st

• Holiday lights/décor may be installed on November 1st and must be removed by January 5th.

Restrictions are as follows:

• Outdoor music will not be permitted after 10:00 PM Sunday through Thursday, and after 11:30 PM Friday and Saturday in accordance with the City of McKinney Noise Ordinance.

• Please be careful not to over-decorate.

For single-day and religious events beyond January 5th, decorations can be put up 14 days in advance of the holiday and must be removed 5 days after.

You can reach out to cradmin@cmamanagement. com or 972-548-9191 with any questions or concerns.

In addition to leaving the hot summer behind, many would agree we are entering the most wonderful time of the year. The decorations we see as we drive through Craig Ranch contribute to the joyous holiday spirit we feel during this time of year.

Make a note on your calendar for the following upcoming holiday events:

• Halloween Carnival to be held on Saturday, October 14th at Millie Cooper Park from 4 PM to 6 PM.

• Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony to be held on Saturday, December 2nd at Millie Cooper Park from 4 PM to 7 PM.

All residents are invited to attend these annual events! Look for registration information for these (and other events) on the Craig Ranch Living website (www.craigranchliving.com) and in the weekly email that is sent every Friday afternoon from the website. ◀

Leasing Your Home in Craig Ranch: What You Need To Know

Craig Ranch has a leasing policy in place, clearly outlining the guidelines and expectations for the duration in which the home is leased*. First and foremost, a house must be OWNER OCCUPIED for 2 years (24 months) before being eligible to lease.

The following provides some basics on how to acquire and maintain a lease without incurring a violation:

STEP ONE: HOW DO I GET APPROVED TO LEASE?

• 24 months have passed since the date of closing.

• Fill out “Exhibit A” in the leasing policy which is the permit application.

• Your service area must have a leasing capacity of less than 25%. If over 25%, you will be added to a waiting list.

STEP TWO: I’M APPROVED, NOW WHAT?

• Once approved, you have 90 days to find a tenant.

• Provide CRCA office with a copy of the Current Lease- make sure it’s not expired!

• Have tenant fill out “Exhibit B” from the leasing policy which is the Tenant Receipt. This states that your tenant understands they are held to the same policies and guidelines as a homeowner.

STEP THREE: HOW DO I STAY COMPLIANT?

• If there is a tenant change, make sure a new lease and new Tenant Receipt (Exhibit B) is signed and given to CRCA office.

• If tenants remain the same, ensure you always have a current lease on file. As you start to near the expiration date, a lease extension will be required. ◀

* Craig Ranch does NOT allow month-to-month leasing. The minimum term for a lease is 6 months.

This is the majestic and magnificent Zoltar. He is a 17-year-old tabby. He adores drinking from the faucet, chasing foil balls, climbing Christmas trees, chewing plastic, and playing endlessly with his sparkle toys. According to his owners, “Zoltar can’t get enough of his sparkle toys, and we can’t get enough of him, for he is the sparkle in our lives.”

Halloween Decoration Contest

The Craig Ranch Community Association (CRCA) will once again host a Halloween Decoration Contest this year. It’s time to get out those Halloween decorations and spook up your neighborhood! Once your house is decorated, snap a photo and submit it for a chance to win a Target gift card!

CONTEST:

The photos must be of the outside of your house. Decorations can be placed on your door, front porch, and/ or yard as early as October 1st.

PHOTOS:

When you submit your photos, you are giving CRCA permission to share the photo on our communication platforms such as Facebook, Community News, and the Telegram. A link to submit your photo will be included in an upcoming weekly Community News email. The link will also be posted on Facebook and Instagram. Your photo must be submitted no later than Thursday, October 26th.

VOTING:

The voting link will be sent out in the weekly Community News email on Friday, October 27th and will also be posted on Facebook and Instagram. Voting will close on Monday, October 30th.

WINNERS:

The first-place winner will receive a $50 Target Gift card, and the second-place winner will receive a $25 Target Gift card. Winners will be announced via Facebook, Instagram and email the afternoon of Tuesday, October 31st. ◀

Yard of the Month

• Candle Making Workshop: Monday, October 2, 6:00 pm. Cost: $20 at the door (cash or credit card). Scents include jasmine, eucalyptus, lavender, or sandalwood. Coffee bar and snacks available for attendees.

• Evening Bingo: Monday, October 2, 7:00 pm. Free, but registration is required.

• National Night Out: Tuesday, October 3, 6:00 pm –7:30 pm at the Compass Event Center. Free for all residents.

• Shred Fest: Thursday, October 5, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the Compass Event Center. This event is free for all residents. No registration necessary. There is a 5-box maximum for shredding.

• Yard Sale: Saturday, October 7, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. Register on the Yard Sale page of craigranchliving.com. You must also apply for a Garage Sale Permit on the City of McKinney website.

• Halloween Carnival: Saturday, October 14, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm at Millie Cooper Park. Wear your costume and come join the fun. There will be carnival games and trick-or-treating.. Free for all residents.

• Movie Night – Hocus Pocus: Friday, October 20, 7:00 pm at the Compass Event Center. The movie will be shown outside under the covered breezeway on the large blowup screen.

Registration is required for all events unless specified otherwise. Registration links are available on the Lifestyle calendar on the Craig Ranch Living website (www.craigranchliving.com) and in the weekly community newsletter that is sent via email every Friday afternoon. If you are not receiving emails, please sign up for an account at www.craigranchliving.com.

Tips for Halloween Safety

The most “spooktacular” time of the year is fast approaching! Halloween is one of the most exciting nights of the year for children, allowing kids of all ages the opportunity to transform into their favorite characters and go door-todoor for heaps of treats.

While Halloween is all about having fun, it is important to keep safety in mind when celebrating this spooky holiday. On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

Below are some safety tips that can help ensure a safe and enjoyable Halloween night for all children:

• Children under 12 should be supervised at all times.

• Plan a route of safe houses that include clear walking paths and sidewalks.

• Trick-or-treat early before the sun goes down to maximize visibility.

• Walk with a large group with plenty of adults who can keep track of the children.

• While trick-or-treating, remind your child of traffic safety rules: Look both ways before crossing, use traffic signals and crosswalks, and make eye contact with drivers.

• Don't walk while looking down at your phone, even though you might be compelled to capture every “trick-or-treat!” moment.

• Make sure your child’s costume includes a top layer of lighter, more visible colors. Have fun finding creative ways to incorporate reflective stickers on your child's costume.

• Have your child carry a candy bucket with built-in lights or attach a glow stick onto their treat bucket or bag. They’ll love taking stock of their growing stash, and you can rest assured that they can be seen by drivers.

Save These Dates

As we move into the busy holiday season, please “save the date” for the following events planned for December. More information will be announced in the weekly newsletter and the Telegram.

Diwali: Thursday, November 16th, 6:30 – 8:30 PM

Compass Event Center

Tree Lighting: Saturday, December 2nd, 4 - 7 PM

Millie Cooper Park ~ Tree lighting to begin at dusk.

Breakfast with Santa: Saturday, December 9th, 10 AM - 1 PM

Compass Event Center

CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS MONTH

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, dedicated to educating and informing people about the various threats that exist in the digital world. More than eight out of 10 people reportedly used the internet for shopping, banking, and ordering in 2022. Banks worldwide are now facing a loss of more than $1 trillion each year due to the rising rate of cybercrimes.

Below are some tips for reducing your risk of becoming a victim of a cybercrime:

• Use strong passwords and a password manager: Strong passwords should be long, random, unique, and include all four-character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols). Password managers can help you create strong passwords, and they make storing passwords and user IDs easy.

• Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA): MFA, also known as “two-factor authentication” adds a second layer of protection from hackers. Enable multifactor authentication on all your online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media, and financial accounts.

• Always use virus protection software on your computer or laptop. Every day, over 350,00 new pieces of malware and other online threats emerge. Most malware targets the Windows operating system.

• Use Only Secure Public Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee shops, airports, hotels, etc., are convenient, but are often not secure. New hacking tools make it easy for a hacker to hijack your session and log in as you, giving them access to your personal information. Use your mobile data, if possible, in public places.

• Recognize & report phishing: Phishing emails, texts, and calls are the number one way data gets compromised. Be cautious of unsolicited emails, texts or calls asking for personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive information or credentials over the phone or email unless necessary and don’t click on links or open attachments sent from unknown sources. Verify the authenticity of requests by contacting the individual or organization through a trusted channel. ◀

RETIRE IN STYLE

Retire in style. Whether it’s fine dining, exciting events or personalized care you’re seeking, our senior living community allows you to thrive.

This is HarborChase. Come celebrate with us.

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