GRIT Newsletter

October 2019

Cheryl Iverson, the SHHA Treasurer, has announced an increase in membership fees (from $8 to $8.50) and tram tickets (from $6 to $7) effective from January 1, 2020, due to increased operational costs, marking the first increase since 2012. The SHHA is led by President Woody Farber, Vice President Em...

September 2019

Emily Rudin, Vice President and Chair of the Nominating Committee for SHHA, notes a shortage of nominations for the Board of Directors, threatening SHHA's future with the upcoming expiry of several Board members' terms. The Board is necessary for managing the association, operations, and finances wh...

August 2019

The SHHA Board of Directors is seeking to fill soon to expire terms and requires candidates to be SHHA members, property owners, and capable of upholding bylaws. Alongside opportunities to influence initiatives, the board hosts monthly meetings and an annual photo contest, with the winner's photo to...

July 2019

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, led by Capt. Broderick Sharp and Lt. Vance Lunsford, has initiated strategies to combat burglary in the Sandia Heights region, including the application of high resolution video security systems, getting familiar with neighbors, and promptly reporting suspicio...

June 2019

The annual meeting of SHHA discussed potential enhancements to W.L. Jackson Park, including more shade, extra picnic tables and a splash pad. The Parks and Recreation Department plans to plant more shade trees, but a splash pad was deemed too expensive. In 2019, SHHA held a Fire Risk Management Semi...

May 2019

At the SHHA Annual Meeting held on February 9, 2019, President Woody Farber discussed a successful goatscaping test project which used goats to clear dense vegetation and reduce fire risk in an eco friendly way. The project, funded by the Board with $1500, was flagged as a feasible method for homeow...

April 2019

During SHHA's Annual Meeting, accessibility to recreational trails through arroyos in Sandia Heights was discussed, amid concerns of trespassing on private properties. The parks and safety committee advised getting explicit permission from homeowners or using public routes. The CSC emphasised yard a...

March 2019

President Woody Farber highlighted key 2018 achievements including security enhancements, the establishment of written procedures for GRIT articles, and policy revisions. Farber also managed day to day staff operations. Vice President Hugh Prather advocated for SHHA strategic planning and achieved a...

February 2019

The Sandia Heights area, monitored by the Bernalillo County Sheriff Office and Sandia Heights Security, encourages residents to establish strong neighbor relationships for safety. Important contacts for residents include 911 for emergencies, the Sheriff and Fire Departments at 798 7000, and Sandia H...

January 2019

The 2018 annual meeting of the SHHA introduced a new, interactive approach where members voiced interests and concerns. SHHA proposed initiatives including a community survey to identify priorities, reestablishment of the Community Service & Membership Committee, and certification of the SHHA office...

December 2018

The 2019 SHHA Annual Meeting is set for February 9th, with doors opening at 8:30 am and refreshments from O’Beans Coffee. The SHHA informs residents to contact the County for snow removal on public roads. Notable members of the SHHA include President Woody Faber, Treasurer Cheryl Iverson, and commit...

November 2018

Several Board of Director terms for the Sandia Heights Homeowners' Association (SHHA) are due to expire in 2019 and replacement members are being sought, specifically from the newer, younger families in the community. SHHA is launching a wildfire prevention project in October using goats to clear ov...

October 2018

The Sandia Homeowners Association (SHHA) is promoting community cohesion and resilience through new initiatives and reminders for members: SHHA now offers a voter registration service, facilitated by Betsy Rodriguez and Jessica Seeley, to increase convenience for members. The Covenant Support Commit...

September 2018

The mid term election takes place November 6; voter registration can be done online or in person at various locations until 28 days before the election with more details available at NMVote.org. Early voting is available from October 20 to November 3. Homeowners are advised to hire licensed and insu...

August 2018

As children return to school, the Parks and Safety Committee suggests maintaining safety norms across different modes of transportation like walking, biking, and taking the bus. To avoid injuries, kids should use ergonomically designed backpacks not exceeding 20% of their body weight, play in soft s...

July 2018

On May 15, 2018, the High Desert community evaded a significant wildfire that originated in an underpopulated drainage filled with grass, shrubs, and trees. Occurring under warm, dry and windy conditions, it threatened residences, damaged communication lines, and prompted a discussion regarding emer...

June 2018

From April 1st to October 31st, 2018, Bernalillo County enforced water restriction regulations prohibiting the use of sprinkler irrigation from 11am 7pm, excluding methods like drip irrigation or hand watering. These regulations were to prevent water wastage, which, if violated, could be reported to...

May 2018

The SHHA's new executive team, led by President Woody Farber, is elaborating on the past achievements and has outlined a Strategic Planning process that prioritizes serving the Sandia Heights residents' ever changing needs. Key initiatives include: Community Service & Membership Committee, chaired b...

April 2018

Forming a Neighborhood Watch program can enhance security in any geographically structured area. The program starts with a resident hosting a meeting and contacting the local Neighborhood Coordination Specialist. Half of the homes on the block must participate to qualify for sign placement and the b...

March 2018

Joe Pappe concluded his service of 8 years on the SHHA Board of Directors and introduced new leadership, including Woody Farber as President and Hugh Prather as Vice President. During his term, Pappe spearheaded SHHA office security upgrades, revisions of office staff titles and job descriptions, am...