Category Archives: Public Service Announcements

Beware of Aggressive Door-to-Door Pest Control Salespeople

Neighborhood Security, Public Service Announcements, Safety

By Luke Rambo

This time of year, we get reports from our clients about aggressive door-to-door pest control salespeople. 

There seem to be more and more companies popping up each year, hiring temporary unlicensed people to go door-to-door selling pest control services. These temporary workers are typically not trained in proper identification of insects, and they are often brought in from out of state for the summer months.

As we all know, fear can be a powerful motivator, and many times the only training these salespeople receive is on sales tactics designed to capitalize on people’s natural fear of pests. They have little to no training on our local insects and pests.

The stated goal of some of these companies is to grow the business for two years then sell to a large national chain. “No Soliciting” signs mean nothing to these people!

At our company, we choose to deal in facts and reality, not fear and doubt. The aggressive sales tactics exhibited by some of these door-to-door companies give our industry a bad reputation, and it is increasingly frustrating for us (and our local competitors who “play by the rules”) to see some of our long-term clients sign up with these poorly-run organizations.

So what can you, the client, do about it?

Do Your Research

We strongly urge you to look for online reviews and do your own research before signing up with any service company.

Report Aggressive Pest Control Salespeople

If you have one of these doorknockers come to your door, we advise you to ask for their Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Pest Control Operator (PCO) license number. If they do not provide you with that, and they proceed to mention anything about Carpenter Ants, Termites, or other wood destroying organisms, please report that person and their company to WSDA—they are breaking the law.

The WSDA Pesticide Licensing Department can be reached at 1-877-301-4555. We are active members of Washington State Pest Management Association (WSPMA), comprised of 200 pest control companies and affiliated businesses, and our association has worked directly with the WSDA from a consumer protection point of view in an attempt to combat these unprofessional and unethical organizations.

The WSDA has stated the only way they can enforce the laws against these types of activities is if consumers report them directly. For this reason, many of these companies will not leave sales literature or even a business card. We also urge you to inform your neighbors of these issues if you see or hear about the doorknockers coming to your neighborhood. We have heard some wild stories about some companies sending the same salesperson to the same house as many as 10 times, all hours of the day and night. A firm “No thank you!” may not be enough sometimes.

Pest Control Salesman - front viewPest Control Salesman - back view

 

Pest Control “Salesman” – Front & Rear Views

Covid-19 Thoughts

Public Service Announcements, Safety

Today (28 April 2020) I had to venture out, and what I saw appalled me.  Traffic was still not heavy, but it was a lot heavier than it should have been. It also seemed that I was the only one wearing a face mask. I saw people in vehicles (I know that you don’t have to wear mask as long as you stay in the vehicle, but how many of those people were carrying mask with them to wear when they reached their destination), on the street, in businesses and even waiting for buses, all without masks. To me it was an indicator that the people I was seeing did not care if they were carriers of the Covid-19 virus, and were willing to spread it to others, just so they did not have to wear a mask.

I understand the desire of people to get out of the house, see friends, do the normal things we all did before the Pandemic hit.  Unfortunately, the Pandemic is NOT OVER, and stopping the precautions prematurely, will surely backfire.  I hope I am pessimistic, but I am looking for a strong resurgence in the Covid-19 infection rates  in the near future, because of the premature stopping of the precautions.

Our Neighborhood has a large percentage of  seniors, who are more vulnerable to serious complications if they contract Covid-19. We still do not know enough about Covid-19 to deal with it as we would other diseases. We do know that it is highly infectious and easily transmitted. We know that wearing face masks helps protect others if we are unknowing carriers of the virus, by keeping the virus in our coughs and breathing from traveling far enough to infect others (hopefully).

Please do not listen to the politicians, who want to please their supporters by declaring that it is OK to stop the precautions we have been taking, even though it is these same precautions which have helped slow the spread of this disease. Listen to the scientists who are recommending caution and saying that if we are not careful Covid-19 infections will come roaring back and more will die. This is shown historically during the 1918 influenza Pandemic. Seattle and San Francisco relaxed restrictions after the Armistice that ended WWI.  That resulted in a 2nd wave of infections which destroyed many more lives.  Don’t let this happen to us.

My wife commented that resuming normal life too soon is like sending all the firefighters home as soon as the forest fire is beaten down.  Experience has shown that hidden hot spots can easily reignite the fire and unless precautions have been taken to keep firefighters on hand until it is certain that the fire is completely out you have to fight the fire a second time.

FAKE Covid-19 Testing

Neighborhood Security, Public Service Announcements, Safety

I just read a report from Kentucky about FAKE COVID-19 testing stations.  These people are charging up to $250 per test.  They set up in parking lots, often after convincing churches or similar organizations of their legitimacy. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/fake-coronavirus-testing-sites-probed-in-kentucky/ar-BB128lBH?ocid=spartandhp .

Please be aware and spread the word about these lowlifes. Their test are junk and they may give you a false sense of security if they do get back to you and say you are clear.

Help for our Neighbors in the time of Covid-19

Neighborhood Activity, Neighborhood Events, Public Service Announcements

My name is Julie Hrivnak.  My phone number is 253-279-7355, and my email address on hotmail is jewelsriv@hotmail.com.

I would like to help out the elderly in our Sunrise neighborhood.

As I am sure everyone is aware the Governor has issued a stay at home order. This is especially important for our elderly, or immuno-compromised populace. I am sure a lot of you have friends and family that will do a good job looking out for you and getting supplies that you need. I would like to offer my name , number and email for anyone in our neighborhood to reach out to me with any of your needs. Can I make a grocery run for any of you? Can I talk you through setting up online grocery delivery? Think you may be sick and don’t know what the next steps are? Anything I can do to help you stay in and away from the germs please reach out. Any interaction we have will be at a distance via phone or a porch drop off. I do work in healthcare and don’t want to expose anyone to anything. I also don’t want anyone putting themselves at risk for a little food or toilet paper. If I can help you I will.

If you are healthy and would like to offer me any help with this endeavor that would be appreciated and I can be contacted at the above number and email. Stay well.

Smash & Grab

Neighborhood Security, Public Service Announcements

Recently there have been a rash of smashed car windows within 2.5 miles of our neighborhood.  I was informed the other day of an incident which was just .30 miles from our neighborhood.  At least some of these “Smash & Grab” attacks were against cars which had visible items in them.  Others were probably designed to get personal information to use in identity theft or just to rifle the cars for anything left in the glove compartment, console, trunk, etc.

We are all guilty of leaving things in our cars. Sometimes we say to ourselves “My laptop will be alright if I just throw my coat over it.”  Unfortunately the coat may be what the thief is looking for, and the laptop will be just the cherry on top.

Be proactive in securing your car.  NEVER leave it unlocked.  Keep items out of sight.  Try to park in areas where your car is less likely to be vulnerable. Hope for the best.

2040 Proposed TIF Roadway Projects

Public Service Announcements

As a follow-up to the blog entry I posted in the e-mail below I have further information that is appropriate to post to the blog.  There is now talk of widening Military Road up the hill by us (Sunrise Terraces) to 4 lanes (initially 3 lower down the hill near SR 162 but as the road climbs widen to 4 lanes).  I pointed out this sounds like an eminent domain situation for Sunrise Terraces homes ON Military Road or some of those that back up to it due to needing room for 4 lanes.  I definitely think this should be of interest to Sunrise Terraces residents and urge them to get involved with the SR162Traffic.org group.

This map shows projects Pierce County is planning to be done by 2040 — of particular note is C-5 (Military Road up the hill by Sunrise Terraces) and D-1, D-2 and D-3 which is the new road from Tehaleh to SR 162 at 128th.  In addition C-3 is of interest since it is a continuation of the widening that was done further up Shaw Road to continue south along 122nd Ave E (3 lanes just like was done for segment of Shaw Road north of us).

Proposed Roadway Projects

This is the detailed map for C-5 (Military Road widening) – take note of projected volume up Military Road in 2015 vs what is projected by 2040 (e.g., due to Tehaleh):

C5

The SR 162 group (SR162Traffic.org) is also trying to get the County to look at extending 128th from SR 162 up the hill to intersect with 122nd Ave E at 144th St E (going at a diagonal up hill from 128th to 144th) to take some pressure off of Military Road but that isn’t in any plan as of yet.

I’ve expressed to the SR 162 group that Military Road up the hill by us is very dangerous for residents who live on Military Road and those trying to enter/exit side streets such as 133rd, 136th, 138th and will get much worse when Tehaleh opens the new 5-lane highway connecting those 9,500 residences to SR 162 at 128th since they’ll use Military Road to get to Puyallup and South Hill.  A new road up the hill from 128th wouldn’t have homes on it nor side streets off of it which would make it much more safe vs. Military Road.

 

Portable Camera Stations Graham Washington

Interesting Things, Public Service Announcements

I was recently chastised by one of our neighbors because of my post about home security cameras and how the police are depending on them more and more to help them solve crimes.  While I was communicating with Dav Eide who runs the technical side of our Neighborhood Camera Network and Blog he sent me the below information:

Ironically, when I was shopping with Peggy Ann yesterday at the Graham Fred Meyer, I captured some photographs of a portable camera station.

The checkers at the Fred Meyer said this equipment was placed due to a big increase in homeless folks in the area and shoplifting at that store.

The checkers said the cameras stations were helping. See attached images. I was thinking about posting the pictures.

So, bottom line.  I’m sorry if my mentioning Security Cameras so frequently upsets some of our neighbors, but in today’s world I think it is important that we provide the police all the help we can give them.  Home security cameras will provide some of that help.

Portable Camera Station- Graham Fred Meyer

FM-1

 

Notice about Missing or Stolen Mail

Neighborhood Security, Public Service Announcements

At the October 2019 Sunrise Terrace annual meeting neighbors expressed concern about their mail being stolen or not delivered.  To know which pieces of your mail are delivered the United States Postal Service has a free feature called Informed Delivery.  It is available in our zip codes and is working well for our neighbors who use it.

To sign up for Informed Delivery go to https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action  You will create an account, verify your identity, and then start receiving daily notifications.

Here’s how it works:

“Informed Delivery is a free and optional notification service that gives residential consumers the ability to digitally preview their letter-sized mail pieces and manage their packages scheduled to arrive soon. Informed Delivery makes mail more convenient by allowing users to view what is coming to their mailbox whenever, wherever – even while traveling – on a computer, tablet or mobile device. To automate the sortation and delivery of mail, the United States Postal Service® (USPS) digitally images the front of letter-sized mail pieces that run through automation equipment. USPS is now using those images to provide digital notifications to users in advance of the delivery of physical mail. Informed Delivery benefits the entire household, ensuring that everyone has visibility into mail and package delivery each day.”

To avoid mail being stolen after it’s delivered get a sturdy locking mailbox.  There are many options for locking mailboxes but if you aren’t sure what to get several neighbors have a brand called Fort Knox.  More information is available at https://www.fortknoxmailbox.com/product-category/products/

Just as important, do not put mail out the night before.  There have been cases in the dark early morning hours where mail has been removed from boxes in our neighborhood.

SUNRISE TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING

Neighborhood Activity, Neighborhood Security, Public Service Announcements

 

May 16:  7-8 pm

Sunrise Baptist Church

Are you concerned about traffic, road safety and our view?  Do you enter and exit 122nd and Military?  Change is coming to our neighborhood because of a new county road under construction between Tahaleh and McMillin.  Come learn what the state and county plans are for our neighborhood.  You know your ACC (Architectural Control Committee) would not organize a mid-year meeting unless we thought it was really important.

 

Guest speaker will be from the sr162traffic.org community group.

Proposed 4 Lane Highway From Tehaleh to SR 162 to Impact 122nd St E.

Neighborhood Events, Neighborhood Security, Public Service Announcements, Safety

Wayne Reibold sent me this heads-up about a project which will greatly impact our Neighborhood.

SR162/Military Road-122nd St E up hill from SR162 traffic from Tehaleh

 I wonder how many people know what’s coming.  Military Road/122nd St E is already scary to pull out onto during busy times will get much worse since will be main artery from Tehaleh to Puyallup/South Hill retail. 

I saw a billboard for the website below while driving on the SR162 down towards Orting, thought others might find it interesting. https://sr162traffic.org/ The massive Tehaleh housing development is planning a 4-lane road to connect to the SR162 at 128th Street. Imagine what this will do to the already heavy SR162 traffic and also the traffic up the hill from SR162 along Military Road/122nd St E to Puyallup. A heads up of what’s coming… There is also a Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/546488522478918/