Fellow Residents. We got through another tough winter with a lot of snow. The non-member residents should thank their dues paying neighbors for plowing the streets so you could get out. The city does not plow our neighborhood streets. Dues for 2007 are due. Ask your neighbors if they have paid theirs. We need everyone’s help to keep the dues reasonable for everyone. Sincerely, Steve

The Hill Valley Homeowners Association is pleased to continue its program of Beautification Awards for our Members, complementing our Christmas Decorations Contest, as a way to continue promoting the beautification of our neighborhoods. We hope to make this an annual event.

Early Spring – The focus will be on bulb flowers and early-blooming shrubs and trees, along with your evergreens. Judging will be in early to mid April. We will take photographs if permitted.

Late Spring/Early Summer – The focus will be on annuals, early perennials and shrubs. Judging will be the third week of May.

Summer – The focus will be on long-lasting annuals and midsummer perennials, shrubs and trees. Judging will be late June or early July..

Board members will act as judges and will be looking for overall "eye appeal" for each season so any Member’s landscape can win. Call a Board member if you want to recommend one of your neighbors. All suggestions are welcome.

First, second and third prizes will be awarded for East and West Hill Valley for each of the three seasons. Winners will be publicized on the web site and receive trophies and gift certificates.

The Valentine’s Day present of over 8 inches of snow and thick ice was challenging to our snow removal teams. In spite of broken blades and equipment because of the buried ice, most of our streets were cleared within 24 hours and many residents expressed their appreciation. But some were not so lucky, especially in West Hill Valley. In spite of our agreement with the street division, rogue contractor trucks were spotted sitting idle or plowing a single path down the middle of a street. It is difficult to get identification on them because of the snow and grime. One of our teams broke their equipment and failed to tell their supervisor. We were able to get replacement crews to clear the missed courts and streets but not until the third day. We apologize to those members who got caught in the squeeze of time and equipment failures.

Some residents complained about the snow piled up in front of mailboxes and driveways. The crews do not have time or equipment to do the streets and then come back to dig out individual locations. We now have identified individuals who will dig you out after the crews leave for a small fee.

Board Members and your Crime Watch Coordinator attended an excellent program presented to Crime Watch leadership across the city ON March 27, 2007.

• We were briefed on the new leash laws being proposed to better protect us from loose dogs. There will also be more stringent rules about tethering pets.
• To help fix potholes and badly cracked streets, they suggested that any contractors living in Hill Valley who have trucks with "short loads" might consider using the material to help their neighbors.
• When a tornado or other disaster hits, the local phone lines become totally jammed and no one can check on their neighbors or call their family. They suggest that each of us make a long distance call to a family member or friend to notify them of our condition in the disaster. Those lines are seldom used in emergencies. Others can then call that person to find out how you are.
• Smoke alarms should be positioned at least 4 inches from any wall if ceiling-mounted and 4 to 12 inches below the ceiling, if wall mounted.
• Each household should identify two escape routes in the event of fire, one for each end of the house.
• There will be a crackdown on illegal dumping anywhere in a 8 mile radius of the city.

Crime Watch Coordinator, Steve Fites, is organizing a meeting of Block Captains and anyone interested in Crime Watch for May 8^th at Frieden’s Church, 6:30 PM. One of the presenters at the meeting, Leslie Fatum of Homeland Security will be the speaker, including information on CERT training.

For criminal incidents please contact your Crime Watch Coordinator or a Board Member if you do not have a Coordinator. Please be aware that there have been acts of very destructive vandalism and theft of holiday decorations in both East and West Hill Valley as well as continuing "yard jobs" by nighttime vandals. The Metropolitan Police are providing extra patrols as we alert them but we have no leads on whether these are residents or rowdies passing through. Any information would be helpful. Please call the Metropolitan Police on ALL incidents, 327-3811, so we can keep up the extra patrols

For other situations we have an ALERT section on our web site. Please call or e-mail the webmaster, Don Smith, 865-7761 or info@hillvalley.org about any situation that you believe needs to be shared with your neighbors. For example:

• Everyone who has had a telephone, cell or land line, for the last three years can file for a refund of at least $30 through their federal tax return for 2006.
• If you are over 65 and have an income, not including Social Security or Tier 1 Railroad Retirement, of less than $2,500 you can receive a special refund from the State of Indiana on your tax return or a Form SC-40. Couples over 65 must have an income of less than $5,000, excluding the above items.
• Medical records are now being sold in the identity theft market so that persons can have expensive medical treatments or surgeries performed in your name against your insurance. They are acquired from discarded explanation of benefits documents and fraudulent requests for information from doctors and insurers. Read every document from your health insurer to make sure such procedures are not being billed to you and do not discard any document with your information in it without shredding. Each year request a "history of disclosure" from your insurer and doctor’s office.
• A new scheme is stealing the identity of recently deceased persons. Do not include the day and month of birth in any public obituaries. Cancel driver’s licenses and credit cards immediately. Mail copies of the death certificate to all three credit bureaus and request a credit report on the deceased person.
• A few professional persons in Indiana have been faced with a "hit man" extortion scheme via e-mail. They appear to originate from overseas and are not a real threat. However, the FBI requests that you file a notice of the incident with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. That site also has updated alerts about internet scams.

Thanks to all of you who have already joined the Hill Valley Homeowners Association for the 2007 membership year which started on January 1^st. Stapled to this Newsletter is your mailbox sticker identifying you as a Member. It should not fade or weather. If you have not yet joined, there is an insert in your Newsletter for you to use to join. Welcome aboard!

2007 EVENTS CALENDAR

Newsletters will be sent out during first or second week of January, April, July, and October. Any news must be submitted before the end of previous month. All "news" is welcome.

Garage Sales: Thursday through Saturday, June 7-9 and again August 16-18. Saturday Only on July 28.
Annual Summer Social: Friday, August 10, 5:00 p.m.

The Board meets the 3rd Monday of every month (except December) generally at St. Barnabas church at 7:30 p.m. The first 20 minutes are devoted to input from visitors before the business meeting continues. Please be prepared, as there is limited time. Dates for 2007 are as follows:

Jan 22, Feb 19, Mar 19, Apr 16, May 21, Jun 18, Jul 16, Aug 20, Sep 17, Oct 15, Nov 19

Those of you who want to participate in the June Garage Sale can have your location identified on a map of Hill Valley Estates that will be made available to the shoppers at the entrances to the neighborhood. Contact Joan Smith, HVHA Treasurer, before Tuesday, June 5, at 865-7761 or joansss@comcast.net to list your address on the map. There will be no cost to you. Hopefully you’ll have increased sales.

INFORMATION FOR NEW RESIDENTS OF HILL VALLEY

There are 1100 homes in Hill Valley. We have grown together over the many years to support a Homeowners Association with a Board of Directors. Joining is only $25. per year and that covers the cost of snow plowing and a quarterly Newsletter to inform everyone what is coming up next, including zoning bulletins. We have an annual picnic for all members of the Hill Valley Homeowners Assn. and includes a full meal, recreation for the children, and dancing for everybody. We have a website, www.hillvalley.org, where you can find our mission statement, a map of the whole neighborhood, a list of all board members, a monthly calendar, special events and announcements, past Newsletters, and important area phone numbers.

Indianapolis will soon provide each household with a new 96-gallon trash container that will be used starting the week of April 30. Bag all trash going into the container, put it with the arrow pointed toward the street within 3 feet of the curb and five feet away from any obstruction, like a mailbox or hydrant. The day and time will not change. The city hopes this will improve neighborhood looks, reduce illegal dumping and make trash pickup easier for both residents and crews.

We would like to see our quarterly publication become more of a neighborhood newsletter, but we need your help. We would welcome suggestions, comments and other newsworthy items that you feel would be of interest to your neighbors. The HVHA does reserve the right to edit such submittals for clarity and conciseness. Please submit your articles to any HVHA board member and we will try to publish it as submitted. If we have questions or concerns we will contact the author as necessary.

Steve Scheidler President S. Pennsylvania 881-1558

Don Smith Vice-President E Hill Valley Dr. 865-7761

Ernestine Nicholson Secretary Lockwood Lane 865-0787

Joan Smith Treasurer E. Hill Valley Dr. 865-7761

John Renault Member Parish Lane 888-9607

Frank Hogan Member W. Valley View 888-6540

Patti Goelz Member W. Hill Valley Dr 882-6037

Paulette Clay Member Meadowridge Lane 889-3506

8342 Parish Lane

Indianapolis, IN 46217

If you have a specialty or talent that you would want your neighborhood to know about, we will be glad to list your name, address, contact information and a description in 12 words or less of your business or craft. There will be no charge but no special wording or art treatment. This is information, not advertising, and a service to all members.

John H. Renault - French tutoring and teaching. French/English and English/French translations. 8342 Parish Lane; phone: 317-888-9607; renaultjohn@sbcglobal.net

Martha J. Smart - For Buying or Selling a Home Make the SMART Choice... Call Martha at

F.C. Tucker Company, Inc Direct: 317-319-8083 Home: 317-889-8496

Lori Probasco - Babysitting. Took YMCA Safe Sitter course. References available. Age 14, Contact Lori at 317-887-6626

Donald A. Smith, Enrolled Agent - Tax preparation and small business services. Enrolled to represent taxpayers before the IRS. Contact Don or Joan Smith, 317-889-0771 or donsmith9@comcast.net

Greg Huntley Enterprises - Full service General Contractor. Free estimates, prompt and courteous. ghe1@comcast.net. 317-445-7817 or 317-859-9026
Randy Ezell - For all your insurance needs, auto, home, business, life. Randy at Farmers Insurance, 8415 S Delaware St. 317-884-1777. rezell@farmersagent.com

Carl J. Strohm - For all your automotive repairs using certified technicians. 5824 S Harding St, 317-787-0822

Luke Edwards - Lawn mowing, leaf raking, general yard cleanup. Reasonable rates, flexible hours.

317-883-2795

Holly Wyss - Aerobic and fitness water classes with instructor. Warm indoor pool. Contact 317-887-0553 or hwyss@aol.com

Michelle Butts - First time buyers, empty nesters, investors "No BUTTS about it" Contact Century 21 317-243-3666 or www.michellebutts.com

David H Olmstead - For all your life and health insurance needs, annuities and health savings accounts. Contact 317-888-5270, 317-627-3018(cell) or visit kiosk at Wal-Mart on US 31

Cecilia Tolan - custom-made appliance covers, basket liners, etc. 865-9518

Terry Snyder - Fencing, all types, installed 339-8145

Jerry Brown – Carpentry – kitchens, baths, windows, doors, repairs. 30 years experience. 881-0585

DeAnne Milliken – Creative memories. I organize pictures into photo safe albums for long term preservation. Call 881-2444 or e-mail demilliken@yahoo.com

Chris & Elly Kreutzer - Karaoke 4Fun DJ services and bounce tent for event needs. Contact 888-2384 or e-mail ckreutzer@comcast.net

Luz Pena-Price - Mary Kay cosmetics, independent sales director. Contact 435-2955 or e-mail penaprice@hotmail.com or use Internet www.marykay.com/penaprice

Gene Lilley, Jr - Driveway snow removal. Contact 888-8494.

Linda Mershon - Hair stylist at Contagious Salon. Contact 883-2145 for appointment.

Nora Brown – Cooking lessons – group or individual, any age. My home or yours. 881-0585