Trick or Treat - October 30th

Please note that we will follow the city and county's lead. As of yesterday dates changed and Riverbend Plantation will now be celebrating Halloween with the rest of Houston County on Saturday October 30th from 5:30-8:30.

Please leave your porch light on if you would like a visit from the neighborhood ghouls and goblins.

Happy Halloween - Oct 30th 5:30-8:30

Riverbend Plantation will be celebrating Halloween with the rest of Houston County Unincorporated areas on Saturday October 30th from 5:30-8:30.

If you would like to welcome trick-or-treater to your home, be sure to leave your front porch light on, if not, leave it off. Have fun and be safe!

Trick or treating safety tips:(http://childcare.about.com/od/childsafet1/a/trickortreat.htm)

· Have each child carry or wear something lit, such as a flashlight, glow bracelet or necklace, or flashing attire for visibility. Light-up shoes are also practical, and ever-so-noticeable on a dark Halloween night.

· Adults should plan out a route in advance and check it during the daylight for such obstacles as broken sidewalks (or no sidewalks), construction timber, or other obstacles that could trip up trick or trickers. Trick or treat in familiar neighborhoods or areas.

· Require well-fitting shoes to be worn; preferably sneakers. While adorable in the store as a costume accessory, kids planning to go trick or treat should wear sturdy shoes and not the princess high-heel, too-large boots, or other types of shoes often shown with costumes. Save those types of shoes for costume parties and not when a child is going trick or treat. Their feet--and most likely you who may end up carrying either the shoes or the child--will be thankful.

· Avoid costumes that drag on the ground. While cute initially, costumes that drag can trip up little feet, get caught on bushes, and create a tussle that sometimes results in the child wanting to remove the costume. Remember, kids who trick or treat want to be costumed AND comfortable.

· With the thought of comfort, pick costumes that are bathroom-friendly as well. On this same subject, parents should pre-plan a bathroom stop along the way (a friends' house will do and is a good time for a water break as well), or at a public facility if driving.

· Be sure a child's mask allows full visibility and breathing. Spiderman masks, for example, sometimes only have small eye slits and nothing for the nose or mouth. Parents should try on masks for size and not hesitate to cut out larger openings for a trick or treater's comfort. If possible, find a mask that "breathes" and is easy to put on and off. The types of mask that easily can slide up on the head and then pulled down are best.

· Trick or treaters should walk, not run, and should never cut across lawns or driveways. Obstacles could exist that aren't readily visible in the evening.

· Only carry flexible props, such as knives, swords, ninja items, etc., that can't cause injury if a kid accidentally falls. No play prop should resemble the real item; and consider leaving play weapons at home and not part of trick or treat night. Remember, some individuals are offended by seeing small children carry these items; and trick or treating should be a fun and positive experience for everyone.

· Only trick or treat at houses that are lit. Residents who do not wish to be bothered by trick or treaters often leave off their lights as a sign; respect their preference by only going to houses that are lit.

· Be sure kids don't get over-heated and keep hydrated. Plan costumes according to weather; don't have your child dress in an adorable lions costume with heavy fur and hood if you live in Southern states where temperatures could still be in the 80s in the evening; by the same token, a fairy costume might be impractical for a cold northern evening. Be one of those creative parents who accessorizes jackets or thinks "cool comfort" for their kids.

· Think "practical" over "cute" when picking a trick or treat goody bag or container. Some of seemingly-fun ones sold in stores are heavy--before any treats are added; others are too long and will drag the ground or have sharp edges that could scrape against tender skin. One of the best and simplest suggestions is have kids utilize a backpack to keep their hands free except for perhaps a flashlight.

Saturday Workouts

Don't miss out on the fun! Come join us every Saturday at 8am at the Riverbend clubhouse for a workout! Join "garage girl fitness" on Facebook for updates and more information (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Garage-Girl-Fitness/162439853782379).

Keeping Riverbend Plantation Safe

In these times of economic distress, many people are concerned about the threat of rising crime in their communities. Although our Riverbend community is safe and secure, one can never be too careful. Fortunately, there are ways to help protect your home and our neighborhood from crime. From simple steps like keeping your home and car doors locked to starting a Neighborhood Watch program, there are plenty of things we can do to prevent crime.


Work with your neighbors to keep your neighborhood clean and orderly. Keep spare keys with a trusted neighbor or nearby shopkeeper, not under a doormat or planter, on a ledge, or in the mailbox. Set timers on lights when you're away from home or your business is closed, so they appear to be occupied. Illuminate or eliminate places an intruder might hide: the spaces between trees or shrubs, stairwells, alleys, hallways, and entry ways. With many law enforcement agencies cutting costs, it has never been more important for citizens to work together to prevent crime.

Following these simple steps can ensure we keep our Riverbend community safe and secure.

On-going Saturday Workouts

The first workout session was a success. Don't miss out on the fun, come join your neighbors this Saturday, October 9th at 7am at the clubhouse park for a cardio workout.

Our own resident personal trainer extraordinaire, Yvette Coddington, will treat us all to 45-60 minutes of cardio fun. Dress in workout gear and bring some water.

For more information, or to keep up with workout dates and times, please join 'Garage Girl Fitness' on Facebook.

Should it rain, the workout session will be held at 1026 Chattahoochee.
Please spread the word and encourage your neighbors to come, the more the better!