Terrance & Chantal Logton
  

Todd & Summer Kirchhoff
 

Ryan and Ashley McNear

Congratulations to all!  Start planning your theme for next year!

City Manager Eddy and Asst. City Manager Drake were quite surprised when we turned into Blue Stem. So many had decorated their homes for Christmas!  It was evident as we began driving through the neighborhood, the number of individual households that had put a lot of thought behind their decorations and had also spent quite a bit of time putting the decorations up.  It took these gentlemen a little over one hour to pick their winners.  The decision was certainly not an easy one, as there were more than 4 homes that had done a great job!

(DRUM ROLL!!!!!!!!)

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE:

FIRST PLACE-   1712 SW 31ST – JOHN & DONNA F. 
SECOND PLACE-  1600 SW 31ST TERRANCE & CHANTAL L. 
THIRD PLACE-   3217 CAREY PLACE – TODD & SUMMER K. 
FOURTH PLACE-  640 SW 33RD – RYAN & ASHLEY M. 

A video and some photos of not only the winners, but a number of Blue Stem decorated homes, will be featured on the Blue Stem website in a couple weeks: www.bluestemridge.org  "Our Neighborhood" page 

I want to thank the judges for the time they took from their busy schedule to help with our very first Christmas Yard of the Month.  I
encourage you to drive around our neighborhood one evening with your families to enjoy the lights.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

JL. Hall

This is the first year for Yard of the Month in Blue Stem Ridge, so we will "blow it out" during the month of December.  

There will be 4 winners chosen by a special panel of judges. Moore City Manager, Steve Eddy and Moore Asst City Manager Stan Drake, will choose the winners. They will be looking at themes, overall cohesiveness in the decorations and promoting the holiday spirit in Blue Stem Ridge.  (Winners will need to be current on their dues, and in good standing with the HOA. Unfortunately, if you have already won Yard of the Month in 2008 you will not be eligible.)

The prizes are as follows:
First Place: An evening at the Warren Theatre which includes dinner for 4 and a movie with balcony seating. Note there is an age restriction of 21 years of age placed on these tickets by the Warren.  ($130. value.)

Second Place: A $50 gift certificate from the Warren Theater and a $40
gift certificate from our neighborhood Alfredo’s Mexican Cafe.

Third Place: Dinner or lunch of your choice for 2 from McAlister’s
across from Kolhs. Additionally, for those days when it is too cold to
wash your cars, a $25 gift certificate from Moore’s best car wash…
all done from the comfort of your car on Telephone Road across from
Home Depot.

Fourth Place: A night out at Chili’s with a $20 gift certificate
and 1 lb of Starbucks coffee contributed by Starbucks on Western.

Note:  for the month of December, all but the Warren tickets
have been contributed to our neighborhood by local merchants. Prizes
given prior to December’s gifts were also for the most part given to
me by local merchants. Therefore, I ask and encourage you to
patronize their businesses as they have supported our neighborhood in
our Yard of the Month activities.

Sonic;  Lowes;  Marcums Nursery;  Earl’s Ribs;  McAlister’s Deli;
Chili’s;  $3 Car Wash of Moore;  Alfredo’s Mexican Cafe;  Carl’s Junior;
Starbucks on Western; 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Judy L. Hall
Yard of the Month Chair

Did you see Blue Stem Ridge’s largest turkey?  The proud owners of this big bird and this month’s winner for Yard of the Month are Jason and Lori Blair.  The Blairs will receive 2 dinners of the their choice donated by our local McAlister’s Restaurant across from Kohls and a $20 gift certificate donated by the new Carl’s Jr across from Home Depot.  Congratulations to the Blairs!

J.L. Hall, YOM Chair

Each family had a number of votes that could be cast. Each child had (1) vote and each parental couple had (1) vote. Once I received all the ballots back and began going through them, it was confirmed once again that we all see the world thru different eyes.

The winner for the Best Halloween Decorations are Lowana and Dave McCurley! Congratulations!

Lowana and Dave will receive a $25. gift certificate from our local Sonic across from Walmart and a $40. gift certificate from Earl’s Ribs on Moore’s River Walk. They will also have the honor of our neighborhood’s Yard of the Month sign in their yard. Please drive by and enjoy their decorations on Blue Stem Blvd as we get ready for the neighborhood Halloween Party.

Judy L. Hall
YOTM Chair

From now through Monday October 27th, a number of families in the neighborhood with small children will be selecting this month’s Yard of the Month winner.  The criteria is as follows:

1. Each child will have one vote to determine the home they feel is
the scariest, the coolest, or should we say the best Halloween decor
from a child’s perspective.

2. The parents will have 1 vote as a couple to determine which home
in Bluestem has been decorated in the most tasteful and unique fashion
as to enhance the Halloween spirit in our neighborhood.

After previewing the neighborhood, I know that we have decorations that are best viewed in the day and some that are better suited for night viewing.  The judges will take this into consideration and view all decorated homes appropriately.

The winner for October’s Halloween theme will receive 2 prizes.
The first donation comes from Sonic across from Walmart.  They have
gifted the winning family with a $25 gift certificate. The second part
of the winning family prize is the donation of a $40 gift certificate to dine at Earl’s for barbecue. They are located on Moore’s River Walk close to Kohls.

Good luck to everyone and thank you for your participation!

Judy L. Hall
Yard of the Month Chair

Congratulations to Frank and Nancy Pickel for winning July’s Yard of the Month!  They live on the west side of 32nd St.  Their hard work earned them a $100 gift certificate from Marcum’s Nursery. 

The following was written by Judy L. Hall, YOM Chair.

"Grass to die for ! All of this time I thought the Pickel’s grass was
Tiff…was I ever wrong! Their grass is Bermuda just like the grass
in my yard. I was dying to ask them "what was I doing wrong". You
will know what I mean when you drive down 32nd Street and look at the
Pickel’s beautifully manicured lawn. Yes, it is Bermuda, but it is
mowed with a mower which is called a "reel blade" mower. I understand
from Nancy that because the mower is so heavy all the mowing is left
to Frank. The Pickel’s have incorporated a variety of shrubs and
flowering plants into their beds that provide color and interest
during all 4 seasons. Frank has balanced the beds with the
architecture of their house with the use of 2 groupings of hanging
baskets filled with seasonal plantings.

The judges this month, Lowana & Dave McCurley, along with Juanita
Garrison, had so many nice yards to choose from. I think that they had
the toughest decision yet of any group of judges because of the ever
increasing number of Bluestem resident’s interest in the curb appeal of their
homes and also the maturity of plantings.

This month concludes Yard of the Month judging based upon plantings
and lawn care. There will be 3 more judging events in the months of October,
November and December all based upon holiday decorations. October’s judges will be looking at Halloween decor, followed by November’s judging for best "Fall Theme" and finally the year will conclude with judging for the best "Holiday-Christmas Theme." 

Monthly prize awards for these 3 months will include but are not limited to restaurant and movie gift certificates.  If you wish to donate 30-60 minutes of your time to be a judge for one of these times, or have an idea for a prize to award future winners, please let me know. It is a great way to get to know some of your neighbors.  My personal contact info is listed on the Yahoo News group or contact me thru this website.  JLH

Thanks to judges, Sandy Swanner, Claire Ewing & Judy Hall. If you’d like to volunteer for judging, contact YOM Chair, Judy L. Hall, dogcruzr@yahoo.com

Thanks to judges: Charlie Beavers, Jamie Swanner and Shayna Franklin. If you would like to volunteer for judging, contact YOM Chair, Judy L. Hall, dogcruzr@yahoo.com.