From Nellie Gail Ranch to SMU

Stacy Yokum with Player

Nellie Gail Ranch resident and Laguna Hills High School senior, Stacy Yokum, will be leaving her parents, Tom and Bev, as empty nesters this summer to attend Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas. Congratulations, Stacy! Stacy will be missed at the barn where she can be found riding and jumping and her horse, Player.

SMU is home of the Mustangs. So it is not surprising that she would choose to attend.

Go Stangs!

Now we are sure to see more of Tom and Bev at the barn with Player though they would like to find Player a good home. If interested, email: nelliegailranchers@gmail.com.

Earth Day - Every Day

With the proliferation of electronic commerce and media, we seem to be moving towards a paperless society. In some ways this is evidenced by the decline in readership and revenues at all of the major newspapers. I am not sure how great that really is for the environment. Biodegradable paper from renewable resources (trees) seems far superior than toxic electronic waste from non-renewable resources.

CR&R Waste Services, our local waste collection company has long provided pick-up containers for recyclables: paper; plastic; aluminium; and glass. They also will pick-up your electronic waste and other bulky items. Electronic waste (E-waste) is an item such as a computer monitor, television, cell phone or other like materials. Due to the high amounts of lead and chemicals found in E-waste, they are not allowed into local landfills. Refrigerators contain Freon and other chemicals which require special handling as well. CR&R will collect these items from your curbside for free.

Items that cannot fit in your automated containers, such as a chair or a couch, are considered "bulky items." A bulky item is an object that can be handled by a two-person crew and may include washers, dryers, sofas or other large materials. To make arrangements for a bulky item pick-up on your regular refuse collection day.

Contact the local office 24 hours prior to collection day (877-278-0446) to schedule pick-up of E-waste or Bulky Items. Each household is entitled to two free pick-ups per year without charge.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Information
It is illegal to dispose of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) through the automated residential collection program. HHW must be disposed of at a certified hazardous waste collection center. For the nearest collection center can be found by clicking here.

Household Hazardous Waste includes, but is not limited to:

Used Motor Oil
Solvents
Batteries
Cleaning Products
Wood Preservative
Old Paint
Pesticides
Pool Chemicals
Printer Cartridges
Old Road Flares
Fluorescent Lights

Thanks to CR&R, we can help make every day an Earth Day!

Gypsy's Colt

Gypsy and her colt were moved from the pipe stall on the hill to inside the barn to insure no coyotes would make a meal of the little guy. It's only been a week since birth and he is running around like a champion. He has a name now as well, thanks to the Yoder's 8 year old grandaughter, Erica, who has named him "Coco Bean".

NELLIE GAIL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN

It is important that Nellie Gail Ranch residents be prepared for possible disasters or other emergencies which can strike suddenly and at any time. Cities are mandated to prepare disaster emergency plans to allocate and dispatch emergency services such a fire, police, rescue services etc. However, in the case of major emergencies there is little that government and other agencies, such as the Red Cross, can do during the first 24-72 hours because of disruptions in communications and transportation. Most help will come at the community level where neighbors will help neighbors provided they are prepared to give that help. Neighbors Helping Neighbors has developed a 5 step preparedness plan and a meeting agenda form so people can implement the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Program in their neighborhood. One form of a Neighbors Helping Neighbors Program also was displayed in the last two issues of the “Pony Express” and an article about this program was also featured recently in the Orange County Register.

Given the importance of early emergency preparedness the Board of Directors adopted in a general way the Neighbors Helping Neighbors approach at its March Board Meeting with encouragement of individual home owners to “be a neighborhood instigator” in their own neighborhood. As a “how to” aid to homeowners and to facilitate communication, the Board of Directors has authorized the creation of a “Homeowners Emergency Preparedness Committee” to be Chaired by Dr. Bryant Rossiter, a long-time resident of Nellie Gail. Please direct inquiries to him at 643-2015 or bwr@ni.net.

Rose Garden Tour

Rose Society Members Elizabeth Smith with Trudy and Erwin Berg

Saturday's Rose Garden Tour hosted by the Rose Society of Saddleback Mountain was an undeniable success with ideal weather and about 360 tickets sold (up from 300 last year). The turnout for this event was incredible with parked cars lining the streets around the tour houses and the gardens bustling with rose enthusiasts. It is difficult to imagine another plant that could draw such a crowd. Then again, it could have been the beautiful estates and gardens themselves that drew the multitude of admirers. Though I am quite sure that a cauliflower tour would not cause so many people to spend their Saturday touring gardens.


Those interested in joining the Rose Society of Saddleback Mountain or learning more about their monthly meetings with knowledgeable guest speakers, refreshments and raffles; their monthly newsletter, "The Saddleback Rose"; and their special summer and winter social events should contact Marty Hammond (949-830-3478 or blooms365@cox.net) or Rose Olivares (714-531-8186 or roa-mew@pacbell.net). Thanks to all those who participated in this event.

The Llamas are here to serve and protect

Nellie Gail Ranch is not only an equestrian community but seems to be a fine llama community as well. The llama family living in the back of the Brockmiller's home can be easily viewed from Nellie Gail Road near Oso Parkway. They seem to have adapted quite well to the hills of Laguna from their native Andes Mountains. These furry four-legged relatives of the camel are here for a reason . . . They are guard llamas and they are here to protect the Brockmiller's goats from the coyotes that roam these parts. Those are some lucky goats!

US Olympic Dressage Trials

US Olympic Dressage Trials, Dressage Festival of Champions on the Road to Hong Kong, are being held June 20-22 and June 27-29 at the Oaks Blenheim/Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano. This event will feature some of the world's top horses and riders as they compete to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics being held in Beijing and co-host city, Hong Kong.

The USEF Selection Trials for Dressage will also feature the National Championships for Intermediaire I, Young Adult "Brentina Cup," Young Rider, and Junior divisions.

Those interested tickets and further information click here.