YARD WORK SAFETY
The sunshine is a welcome change. When working outdoors, don’t forget safety precautions. Preparing will protect your health and well-being.
- Bring water: Take it with you when you head out. Water is easy to forget when you’re busy. Having it close on hand makes it easier to stay hydrated.
- Alternative drinks: Sports drinks are also recommended during or after exertion. They restore salt to the body that is lost from sweating.
- Sunscreen: 50 SPF is ideal, but at least 30 is recommended. Besides protecting one’s skin in the long term, sparing the discomfort of a sunburn is worth the hassle.
- Safety gear: Pulling some weeds? Don’t forget gloves to protect from thorns and splinters. Doing some mowing? Wear eyewear, long sleeves, pants, and appropriate footwear. Sandals are never advisable for mowing.
- Take breaks: Check in with your body and rehydrate regularly. If time tends to slip away from you, consider setting a timer. Portable egg or kitchen timers are cheap and easy to find.
- Overheated: If you do overheat, try soaking a sheet, wrap in it, and blow a fan on yourself. Don’t forget to drink plenty.
Most people don’t feel as old as their body. As one ages, it becomes more important to take things slowly and safely. When one risks their health, the repercussions become much greater than they used to be. Protect your health. Stay safe.
VEHICLE REPAIRS
Community rules prohibit repairing your vehicle in the community. Why? This avoids the trashy appearance of deteriorated or dismantled vehicles. All vehicles in the community need to be operable, registered, and insured at all times.
What is not allowed?
Repairs like changing your oil or fluids other than water, dismantling parts of the vehicle such as brakes, locks, or the ignition, or putting a vehicle on jacks or blocks is not permitted.
What is allowed?
If a vehicle has a flat tire in the community, tire changes should be made within one or at most two days. Small replacements like for a windshield wiper or headlight are also permissible.
DON’T BE SCAMMED
Scammers seem to be working overtime, and seniors are a favored target. We don’t want you to fall victim, so here are some reminders:
If you receive an unexpected call about free services, an account closing, or anything that requires you to act immediately, slow down. If you think the call is legitimate, get the caller’s personal name and what agency they work for. Look up the phone number of the agency on your own (such as from an account statement) and call them back to verify the information.
Beware false caller ID. Scammers can change what appears on Caller ID so it seems to be from an agency you trust. Verifying the number and calling the agency yourself protects you.
Do not give out personal information to cold callers (someone who calls you who you did not expect). This includes your name, birth date, card information, Medicare ID, address, or any account information.
Social Security, Medicare, and most government agencies will send you a letter in the mail, not call you. If you receive a letter you are uncertain about, show the letter to people you trust to help determine if it is authentic.
If the caller wants immediate action, either to pay something or supply information, it’s probably a scam. Don’t let them rush you. It’s okay to hang up.
Ask yourself:
- Am I afraid of what will happen if I don’t give them what they ask for?
- Do they want me to act immediately?
If yes, then hit the brakes. Do not give them anything. Legitimate agencies will give you plenty of time to investigate a problem and get aid.
Another common scam is for a long-lost relative to call saying they are in legal trouble (sometimes in another country) and need money immediately. They might call in the middle of the night when you are foggy from sleep. Anyone asking for money orders, wire transfers, or similar untraceable funds that they need right now should put you on alert.
What if a family member actually does need help? One tactic to protect you and your family from AI impersonators is to have a family password. A family member can give you the password so you know it’s an authentic request.
One of the great things about our community is how our neighbors look out for each other. If you don’t have family, a neighbor you trust may be willing to offer a second opinion regarding a suspicious contact. Alternatively, you can contact the management office. Everyone needs help sometimes, and that is what a community is for.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
1) Guests and Caretakers: If you have anyone staying in your home for more than two weeks during a year (even if it’s not all at once), notify management. For example, if someone stays with you five days every other month, they need to be approved by management. This applies to caretakers and family too, even if they plan on staying a “little while” that is undetermined.
2) Recycling: Items disposed of in the recycling bin should be loose or in paper bags. Do not use plastic bags. No plastic bags should go in the recycling bin, even to bundle recyclables.
3) Watering: No one area should be watered for more than 15 minutes. Our soil doesn’t absorb it, and we appreciate your efforts in sparing our pond levels. Management can provide you with a hose timer upon request.
4) Paint & Repair Notices will be going out again this year to homes that need to be washed, painted, the gutters repaired, or similar. A big thank you to everyone who worked so hard on your homes last year. Our whole community got a noticeable facelift.
Manager’s Sticky Note:
Due to the time it takes to design and print this Newsy, events listed on this calendar are frequently out of date. You can view an up-to-date calendar of events on our website here: https://ForestHillsOR.com/ lifestyle. The calendar is toward the bottom of the page.
Our next catered event will be late June or early July. We are planning another ice cream party, since everyone seemed to enjoy last year’s, and it makes a nice change. We will also be serving proper food, so even if ice cream doesn’t fit your diet, you are still welcome to attend and enjoy.
The community potluck will be on May 29th. The main dish will be hamburgers and hot dogs. Side dish ideas are baked beans, potato salad, chips, salad, or dessert. Bring a dish and a hungry tummy.
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May Trivia
1) What famous holiday honoring mothers is celebrated in May?
2) Which U.S. holiday honors fallen military members and is observed on the last Monday of May?
3) May is named after Maia, the Roman goddess of what?
4) What popular flower is strongly associated with May and Mother’s Day?
5) Which famous horse race, known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” takes place in early May?
6) In what year did the first Kentucky Derby take place?
7) What is the birthstone for May?
8) Which classic 1960s band had a hit with “Here Comes the Sun,” often associated with spring?
9) What famous TV show finale aired in May 1983 and became one of the most-watched broadcasts ever?
10) Which U.S. President established Memorial Day (originally Decoration Day)?
11) What zodiac signs fall in the month of May?
12) May 1st is celebrated as May Day—traditionally involving dancing around what decorated object?
13) What famous space mission launched in May 1961, making Alan Shepard the first American in space?
14) Which beloved actress known for “I Love Lucy” was born in May?
15) What popular gardening phrase begins with “April showers bring…”?
MAY 2026 CALENDAR
TRIVIA ANSWERS:
1) Mother’s Day; 2) Memorial Day; 3) Growth (or springtime/fertility); 4) Carnation; 5) Kentucky Derby; 6) 1875; 7) Emerald; 8) The Beatles; 9) MAS*H; 10) Ulysses S. Grant (recognized as formalizing it nationally; originally proclaimed by General John A. Logan); 11) Taurus and Gemini; 12) Maypole; 13) Freedom 7; 14) Lucille Ball; 15) May flowers