Grand Lakes November 2021

The Official Newsletter of Grand Lakes
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November 2021
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Grand Lakes | “Bringing November Communities 2021 Together Since 1979”
1
Online | myneighborhoodnews.com

THERE’S A
BETTER APPROACH
TO CANCER CARE in West Houston & Katy
At Houston Methodist Cancer Center, we treat every aspect of your
cancer. Leading oncologists work with our specialists across disciplines
to minimize cancer’s effects on major organs. One comprehensive
team — dedicated to your individual care — uses the latest research,
treatments and technology to stop your cancer. From infusion and
clinical trials to surgery and reconstruction, our innovative care is
available in West Houston and Katy.
That’s the difference between practicing medicine and leading it.
The Woodlands
Willowbrook
West Houston-Katy
Baytown
Texas Medical Center
Clear Lake
Sugar Land
832.522.5522
houstonmethodist.org/cancer-west

HELPFUL NUMBERS FOR GRAND LAKES
www.grandlakeslife.com
Association - Principal Management Group of Houston
11000 Corporate Centre Drive, Suite 150, Houston, TX 77041
Phone: 713-329-7100 Fax: 713-329-7198
Emergencies can be reported after hours and on weekends by calling 713-
329-7100, the emergency on call manager can assist you.
Erica Morgan - emorgan@pmghouston.com / 713-239-7156
Ashley Howard - ahoward@pmghouston.com / 713-329-7122
Tiffany Perkins - TPerkins@pmghouston.com / 713-329-7127
GRAND LAKES BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jon Burns
Sid Bagalli
Dean Haefner
Richard Powell
Lijuan Wang
POLICE/FIRE
Emergency Numbers.... ***911***
Fire Department (Emergency) 281-498-2800
Fire Department (Non Emergency) 281-498-1310
Fort Bend Co. Sheriff 281-341-4665
Utilities/Post Office/FT BEND CO.
CenterPoint Energy 713-659-2111
Reliant energy 713-207-7777
email:service@reliant.com
Reliant energy light outage 713-207-2222
Municipal District Services ( MDS)
GL’s MUD # 1,2 & 4 contract with MUD Services (MDS) to
operate the GL public water and sewer utilities
24-Hr Repair Hotline -Water Leaks/Sewage Stoppages
281-290-6503
Billing/Payment/Customer Care 281-290-6507
Consolidated Comm.(west of Peek) 1-866-989-2255
AT & T (east of Peek) 1-800-464-7928
Best Trash 281-313-2378
(Pick up Mon. & Thurs.) (Thurs.-Recycle)
Street Lights - not working 713-207-2222
1-800-332-7143
or
www.centerpointenergy.com/houston>
Comcast 713-341-1000
DPS Katy 281-391-4872
Katy & Park Row Post Offices 1-800-275-8777
Dept. of Public Safety 713-465-8462
Poison Control 1/800/222-1222
Ft Bend Co. Animal Control 281-342-1512
COMMUNITY
Katy Family YMCA 281-392-5055
Fort Bend Co. Court House 281-342-3411
Katy Chamber of Commerce 281-391-5289
SCHOOLS
www.katyisd.org
KISD Administration 281-396-6000
KISD Transportation 281-396-7560
Alexander Rae Elementary 281-237-7100
Beckendorf Junior High 281-237-8800
Griffin Elementary 281-238-8700
Seven Lakes High School 281-237-2800
Miller Career Center 281-237-6300
www.katyisd.org
LIBRARIES FT. BEND CO.
Katy/Ft. Bend Mini-Branch 281-395-1311
Cinco Ranch Library 281-395-1311
George Memorial 281-342-4455
Maud Smith Marks 281-492-8592
MEDICAL
Methodist West Hospital 832-522-5522
Texas Childrens Hospital West 832-227-1000
Fort Bend Co.Health Dept. 281-342-6414
Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital 281-392-1111
Houston Methodist St. Catherine Hospital 281-599-5700
Memorial Hospital 713-932-3000
NEWSLETTER: Krenek Printing Co.
For Business Ads contact: 281-463-8649
or email ads@krenekprinting.com
Non-Profit Articles: news@krenekprinting.com
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Christy, Linda & Courtney Wade - An Award Winning Family!
Christy Wade
Sales & Marketing Specialist
REALTOR ®
832.483.0630
cwade@garygreene.com
We’re family helping families!
Linda Wade
Broker Associate
Relocation Specialist
281.728.7999
wadelrt@garygreene.com
Courtney Wade McEachern
Sales & Marketing Specialist
REALTOR ®
832.752.2670
courtney.wade@garygreene.com
Whether you’re interested in buying or selling,
you deserve a team that puts your interests first...
We’ll be there for you! We’ll listen and take the time
to find out what’s important to you and your family.
When you contact us, we’ll develop a marketing strategy that
helps you achieve the results YOU want ... a better bottom line
with the least inconvenience to you and your family.
©2012 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. A Realogy Company. All Rights Reserved. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC fully
supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. Better Homes
and Gardens, the Better Homes and Garden Real Estate logo are registered service marks owned by Meredith Corporation and licensed to Better
Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC.
Grand Lakes | November 2021 3

SUBSCRIBE TO GRAND LAKES NEWS FROM PMG
For in and all Grand Lakes news, updates and service requests
please down load TownSq at https://app.townsq.io/associa/signup.
This will allow the residents to view information for their property,
general information and news, community events from PMG.
HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
In November, we celebrate Veterans Day for those who are actively
serving, living Veterans or Veterans killed while serving. A little
history lesson about Veterans Day. Veterans Day originated as
“Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end
of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual
observance and Nov. 11th became a national holiday beginning in
1938. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American
Veterans living or dead, but especially gives thanks to living Veterans
who served their country honorably during war or peacetime. The
military men and women who serve and protect the United States
come from all walks of life; they are parents, children, grandparents,
friends, neighbors and coworkers and are an important part of their
communities. The top four most cited reasons why young men and
women join the Armed Forces is Patriotism, life style, uniform and
social status. Patriotism is the reason why young men and women
agree to serve our country so they can defend our borders and not
stand on the sidelines and just watch. The lifestyle of people in
Armed Forces is challenging, adventurous, risky and yet envious
and charming. The uniform has appealed more to the youth than
advertisements of other careers. Social status, when you see a
person in Armed Forces uniform you automatically give respect to
him/her. This respect and love from the countrymen plays a major
role in someone choosing it as a career. Every night, I sleep soundly
knowing that the young men and women of the Armed Forces are
serving our country to defend our Freedom and our Flag. Questions/
comments: email - Carla Brownlee at girls1900@aol.com.
HOA BOARD MEETINGS
*FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT THE ANNUAL HOA MEETING WILL BE
IN DECEMBER. THE DATE/TIME AND LOCATION WILL BE ANNOUCED
THROUGH TOWNSQ. THIS YER WILL ELECT TWO HOA BOARD.*
Grand Lake’s monthly
HOA Board meetings
take place every
4th Monday of
the month at 6 PM
on Zoom or in person
at Seven Lakes
Club House due to
Covid-19. Log on to
wwwgrandlakeslife.
com or Townsq for
up to date Zoom
meeting information/
invite as dates and
times are subject to
change. Please check
Grandlakeslife.com
under Upcoming Events for HOA Board Meetings. All residents of
Grand Lakes are invited to attend the HOA Board meetings each
month. Homeowners are encouraged to attend the monthly meetings
to hear important updates or projects that will occur or happen
in Grand Lakes. Homeowners can also voice their concerns to their
elected HOA Board Members about deed restrictions, community
facilities that are in need of repair or anything else you would like
to see your elected HOA Board members address or resolve.
4
TEENAGE JOB SEEKERS
DISCLAIMER: Neither the subdivision, nor Krenek Printing is responsible for those listed
on the Teenage Job Seeker List. Please ask for and check out references if you do not
personally know those listed. This is just a list of teenagers from the subdivision who
wish to find part time jobs. Responsibility for any work done by these teenagers is
between those seeking helpers and the teens and their parents.
CODE KEY: B - BABYSITTING, CPR - CPR CERT., FAC - FIRST AID CERT.,
RCC - RED CROSS CERT., SS - SAFE SITTER, SL - SWIM LESSONS, PP
- PET/PLANT SITTER, P - PET CARE ONLY, H - HOUSE CARE, L - LAWN
CARE, C- CAR CARE/DETAILING, T - TUTORING
Tori Berman - B, RCC, PP 17 832-726-6240
Anna Morales - B, PP, T (O) 17 713-201-9370
Christina Gu - B, PP, T (M K-7; E/Sc K-6) 16 832-540-8191
Diya Patel - B, SS, RCC, T (K-3 - All), CPR, FAC 17 713-334-7569
Sid Potturu - PP, H, C 16 832-487-6131
David Lu - H, T (M K-7, Sc/SS K-6, E K-5, O) 15 713-808-5981
Nora Xiao - B, PP, T (All K-8) 16 281-908-1417
Christina Cui - PP, H, T (K-6 M & E) 16 832-798-2772
Sarah Lowe - PP, H, L, T (k-8) 17 281-676-4803
Seth Thompson - B, PP, L, T (M & Baseball) 16 832-571-0997
Layke Kinney - B, RCC, PP, T (STEM) 17 832-906-0352
Grace Evans - B, P 17 281-221-7091
Rozhin Shavandi - B, SS, P, PP, T (M,S) 14 281-701-0942
Laura Briceno - B, PP 17 903-229-8570
Sofia Negrete - B, PP 16 832-622-4780
Miranda Rhodes - B, CPR, FAC, PP, H 14 936-870-6609
Reyad Elsharkawy - B, P 14 823-709-6386
Ella Beck - PP, H, T (S,M,L,O (K-8)) 16 720-539-3666
Catherine Liu - B, PP, T (S,M,L (K-10)) 16 832-931-2788
Kale Chen - T (S,M,O (K-10)) 16 832-291-9376
Aerial Chen - T (M,O (5-8)) 13 832-291-9376
Alice Bao - B, SL, PP 15 832-370-4055
Preethika Shanmugam - T (S,L,O (K-5)) 14 209-210-1054
Kara Wang - B, PP, H 15 832-465-9213
Mays Abuhantesh - B, PP, H 15 713-373-2751
Brady Johnson - PP 15 713-875-2607
Vannesa Luna - B, PP, H, C 16 346-715-0285
Bryleigh Johnston - B, PP 14 345-377-2423
Sanvi Meela - T (S,M (K-5)) 13 281-409-8823
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November 2021 | Grand Lakes

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Grand Lakes | November 2021 5

fun Things to do
AROUND TOWN...
11/6
Westheimer Lakes
Community Garage Sale
Saturday, November 6th, 7 AM-12 Noon
Near 1093 and Grand Parkway
11/7
KATY 10 MILER
Presented by Houston Methodist Orthopedics
November 7, 2021, 7 AM
Morton Ranch Junior High
2498 N. Mason Rd, Katy
10 miles, 5 miles, 5K. 3rd race in the Run TX 10 Series “Race to the
armadillow Cup” and “Ten Gallon Club Cup”. runsignup.com
Run4theChildren
Saturday, November 6th, 9 AM
11/6
The Fellowship, 22765 Westheimer Pkwy, Katy
We are back! Join us on Saturday, November 6th at
9 AM for Run4theChildren, a run/walk to raise funds
to help families adopting children. Over the past 10 years, we have
helped over 25 children find their forever families. This year, we will
have two races: 4 mile run/walk and 10 mile run/walk. Can’t make
it? You can still participate with the 4 or 10 mile virtual run/walk! To
register or get more information, visit www.run4thechildren.com.
6
11/6
11/6
Katy Sip n Stroll
November 6, 2021, 6 PM - 9 PM
(VIP entrance 5 PM)
We are celebrating the 22nd edition of Katy’s
largest wine and culinary festival benefiting The
Ballard House!!
Houston Día de los Muertos Parade
November 6, 2021, 2 PM - 10 PM
Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby St, Houston
With this heartfelt parade, it is our mission to celebrate
the living and honor our beloved. No matter
who you are, no matter where you are from, we want you to attend
the parade and festival. If there is something we all share is the love
and grief for our family and friends who left us and in this Dia de
los Muertos, we are all one.
11/6
#GivingTuesdayKaty to Launch 2021
Activities with Family-Fun Event
November 6th
#GivingTuesdayKaty activities will officially launch this year with
a festive family-fun chili cook-off event at the Westlake Volunteer
Fire Station, 19636 Saums Road, on Saturday, Nov. 6th, from 11:30
AM to 1:30 PM. Participating nonprofits will be featured at the event
along with a chili cook-off, fire safety demonstrations, Santa photos,
music, games, vendor booths, photo opportunities and other
family-fun activities and competitions.
In addition, #GivingTuesdayKaty Dine & Donate events to raise funds
for participating area nonprofit organizations will be sponsored at
numerous restaurants throughout the greater Katy area throughout
November. Activities will culminate on GivingTuesday, Nov. 30th,
the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. www.givingtuesdaykaty.org.
11/13
The Star of Destiny (Katy) Chapter
Garage Sale
Star of Destiny Chapter (Katy), National Society
Daughters of the American Revolution will hold
their annual fundraising garage sale on Saturday, November 13,
2021. The sale will be held from 8 AM to 12 PM at: Estates of Chesterfield
Swim and Tennis Club, 1707 Briarchester Dr., Katy, TX 77450.
There will be household items, fine china, furniture, toys, books
and much more! The Star of Destiny Chapter is an organization with
over 100 members so there will be plenty of items from which to
choose. The items will be reasonably priced.
This garage sale is their main source of funds for patriotic activities
with troops, schools, libraries, veterans and military families. Some
of the previous activities supported by the funds from the garage
sale include purchasing bells for Bells Across America, funding
Constitution week assemblies, purchasing books for local school
libraries, funding a Wreath Across America ceremony at a local cemetery,
providing clothing and toiletries for a military medical base
in Germany, purchasing a ceremonial bugle for Michael E DeBakey
VA Hospital, purchasing and erecting a flag pole for Antioch Church
Cemetery/Katy Community Cemetery and annually providing a new
flag for the flag pole. For over 25 years, Star of Destiny NSDAR, Katy,
has dedicated themselves to historical preservation, promotion of
education and encouragement of patriotic endeavor.
11/13-11/14
Houston Powwow
November 13th & 14th
Traders Village, 7979 N. Eldridge Pkwy
A two day Native American Powwow with colorful
tribal dance contests, and arts & crafts show, tipis,
honoring ceremonies, singing and much more! Presented by the DFW
Inter-Tribal Association. https://tradersvillage.com/houston/events/powwow/
12/6
Holiday Market Expo
December 2nd, 12-4 PM
The Hilton Rooftop, 6633 Travis St, Houston, TX
77081
Come enjoy rooftop vibes with breathtaking
panoramic views of Houston’s skyline. This event
will be filled with great networking opportunities,
shopping, great food, entertainment, resources
and some of Houston’s most dedicated community
leaders.
November 2021 | Grand Lakes

12/2-12/3
2021 James E. Taylor
Holiday Home Tour
December 2nd-3rd
Holiday cheer and décor will be plentiful during the
18th Annual James E. Taylor Holiday Home Tour. Visit
the beautifully decorated homes on December 2nd from 5-9 PM and
December 3rd from 10 AM-2 PM and 5-9 PM. Silent auction baskets
will also be available, as well as photos with Santa! Purchase tickets
online at THSProjectGrad.com or at Southern Diva’s located at 23114
Cinco Ranch Blvd. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. All
funds raised benefit Project Grad which provides Taylor’s senior class
of 2022 with a safe, fun-filled celebration night after their graduation
ceremony. For more information, visit THSProjectGrad.com (events
tab) or @THSHolidayHomeTour on facebook.
12/3
2nd Annual Pawliday Market
December 3rd, 5 PM - 9 PM
Located at Powder Keg. There will be lots of holiday
cheer, Ugly Christmas Sweater contest, shopping,
drinking and food trucks! For more information, or if
you want to register early for the Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, email
us to ggarcia@houstonpettalk.com. Take your selfies with Santa and
make sure to share on social media for a chance to see your pup in the
Jan/Feb issue of PetTalk. Ugly Sweater Contest winner will win a HUGE
Pet basket filled with goodies, gift cards and much more!
12/4
11th Annual Katy Old Fashioned
Christmas Event
December 4, 2021
185 vendos, food trucks, entertainment, beer garden,
inflatables for the kids, Santa and lots of surprises!
Our awesome local shops will all be open for your holiday shopping
too! Please take time to visit them all, support local this Christmas!
Proceeds benefit katy Christian Ministry. Please bring canned goods
for their pantry! www.katymarketday.com. Historic Downtown Katy.
12/4
Jingle All The 5K, 10K, Kids Dash
December 4th, 8 AM - 11 AM
Energy Corridor District,
777 N. Eldridge Pkwy, Houston
houstonholiday5k.com
Kick-start your holiday festivities and outpace that mischievous abominable
snowmonster with the whole family and join us!
12/4
Fairfield Christmas Market
December 4, 2021, 9 AM - 2 PM
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church
20155 Cypresswood Dr, Cypress
A variety of vendors selling an assortment of products
- perfect for Christmas shopping! Come early, as we hear many of the
vendors often run out of their goods before noon!
12/4-12/5
12/4 12/18
CFISD Country Christmas Craft Show
December 4th, 9 AM - 5 PM •
December 5th, 10 AM - 4 PM
Cy-Fair ISD Exhibit Center,
11206 Telge Road, Cypress, TX 77429
Wreaths Across America
December 18, 2021, 11 AM
Houston National Cemetery,
10410 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston
Come by and take a few minutes to honor a veteran
and see what Wreaths Across America is all about. There is no charge.
For full details visit, https://waahouston.com
12/4 12/18
International Food Festival
December 18, 2021, 12 PM - 6 PM
The Zone, 10371 Stella Link, Houston, TX 77025
The Best caterers from around the world! Live
performances, cultural music & dancing, crafts,
clothing, service vendors and more! Free entry with RSVP to www.
texasfoodfest.com. For more info contact Ms. Clara at 832-461-6729.
A.A.A.
Tree Services
& Landscaping
925 South Mason Rd. P.M.B. 239
Katy, TX 77450
281-798-5224
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• Monthly Packages
• Drainage System
Grand Lakes | November 2021 7

10 Cyber
Safety Tips for
Black Friday
& Cyber
Monday
More and more people are shopping online, avoiding lines, crowds and
interactions with others, especially in this time of COVID. This has created
the perfect environment for criminals to launch scams, phishing attacks,
and other malicious activities.
The amount of money spent over this cyber weekend is escalating year
after year, and due to the COVID pandemic, it continues to escalate to
staggering numbers. Cybercriminals follow the money, and this weekend
of crazed spending provides them with the perfect opportunity to scam
a large number of people. According to Barclays, nearly a quarter of
18-34-year-olds have fallen for a Black Friday scam in the past five years
and shoppers lose on average $910 after falling victim to such frauds.
With attacks becoming more sophisticated, shoppers need to be extra
cautious when looking for the latest bargains online.
Below are 10 Cyber Safety tips to keep you safe online this Black Friday
and Cyber Monday:
1. Watch Out for Fake Websites
This is one of the most popular ways criminals will try to trick shoppers
into falling for their Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams. The fraudsters
will clone websites to dupe consumers into thinking they are shopping on
a legitimate site. The website may appear almost identical to the real site;
however, subtle changes can indicate that all is not as it seems.
A web address that ends .com or .co may be changed to a .org, images
may be pixilated, functions on the site may not work properly and the
content will often be sub-standard. It’s always worth double- checking
the address of a site to confirm its authenticity.
8
2. Only Use Secure Sites
Before entering any information into a website, you should always check
that the site is safe and secure. The first step is to hover your mouse over
the URL and check the validity of the web address. You should look for a
padlock symbol in the address bar and check that the URL begins with a
‘https://’ or ‘shttp://’. The ‘S’ indicates the web address has been encrypted
and secured with an SSL certificate. Without HTTPS, any data passed on
the site is insecure and could be intercepted by criminal third parties.
However, this system is not totally foolproof. Within the last year, there
has been a significant increase in the number of phishing sites using SSL
certificates. Users are advised to be extra cautious and look for further
evidence that the site is secure. You should check for a website privacy
policy, use a website safety check tool such as Google Safe Browsing, or
do a WHOIS lookup to see who owns the website.
3. Use a Credit Card for Shopping Online
When possible, it’s always best to use a credit card when shopping
online as it offers additional protection over other forms of payment. If a
fraudulent purchase is made on your credit card, there’s a good chance
your bank will reimburse you straight away. However, if a criminal steals
your debit card details, they can clear out your personal account and it
can be more difficult to reclaim the money.
4. Beware of Phishing Emails
Phishing is one of the most popular ways for criminals to steal your
personal information and there is always a massive increase in these types
of scams on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The speed, convenience and
high return on investment makes phishing one of the easiest ways for
cybercriminals to steal your personal data without you even knowing.
November 2021 | Grand Lakes

As Cyber Monday approaches, be wary of any emails offering cash
prizes or last-minute deals. These emails are designed to trick
shoppers into clicking on a link which may appear to come from
a well-known retailer. Trust your gut if you think there’s something
not right about the email and delete it immediately.
5. Avoid Deals That Are Too Good to Be True
Black Friday and Cyber Monday feature lots of legitimate deals
offered by trusted and reputable retailers. However, cybercriminals
know we’ll be scouring the web for the cheapest deals and they
take advantage of this by slipping in lots of fake offers.
Be wary of any emails, pop-ups, or posts on social media promising
rock bottom prices. Clicking on the link could bring you straight to
a phishing site or you may end up downloading malware onto your
device. It can be hard to distinguish between a real bargain and a
fake so it’s best to do your research to find out if the site is credible
or go directly to a brand’s website to determine if the deal is real.
It’s always worth remembering that if an offer seems too good to
be true, it usually is!
6. Use Strong Passwords
You’ll have heard it a million times, but creating a strong password
really is one of the easiest ways you can protect yourself from being
hacked online. With so many passwords to remember, it can be
tempting to use the same password for multiple accounts, however,
this puts you at great risk of having your data stolen. If hackers
can work out just one of your passwords, whether it’s a Facebook
account or online banking details, they can potentially access every
single account you have.
It’s always best to use a unique username and password for separate
online accounts so that in the unfortunate event of being phished, the
attackers won’t have access to your other online accounts. A great way
to create a longer and more complex password is to use a passphrase.
A passphrase is a sentence like string of words that is memorable to
you but difficult for anyone else to crack. The first letter of each word
will form the basis of your password and letters can be substituted
with numbers and symbols to make it even more secure.
7. Watch Out for Social Media Scams
Social media scams are rife on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The crooks
know that people are going online to specifically look for deals, so they make
it as easy as they can for shoppers to fall for their online scams. Facebook and
Twitter tend to be the favoured choice for these malicious posts and criminals
will ask shoppers to like and share their posts, so they’re boosted to the top
of news feeds and reach a wider audience. Users tend to be more trusting on
social media and it’s often more difficult to determine if a link is malicious than
it would be on a more traditional platform.
8. Avoid Public Wi-Fi When Shopping
Using public Wi-Fi to search for the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday
deals could open you up to a range of security risks. Public Wi-Fi requires no
authentication to establish a network connection, allowing fraudsters direct
access to any unsecured devices on the same open network. This enables
hackers to steal valuable information such as login passwords, credit card info
and other personal and financial details.
Unsecured Wi-Fi networks can also be used to spread malware allowing
criminals unrestricted access to everything on your device. This information
can in turn be used to commit identity fraud, or the information can be sold on
to criminal third parties.
9. Ensure All Your Software is Up To Date
Before going online to shop about for the hottest deals, you should make sure
that all your security software is up to date. This will prevent cybercriminals
from gaining access to your computer through vulnerabilities in older and
outdated systems. The installation of anti-virus software will also help detect
threats on your computer and block unauthorised users from gaining access.
10. Monitor Bank Statements for Fraudulent Activity
It’s always worth keeping a close eye on bank statements to make sure there
are no unusual transactions on your account. Criminals know that during Black
Friday and Cyber Monday there will be lots of online activity, so they hope that
any unusual debits from your account will go undetected. Typically, the crooks
will make a few initial debits for smaller amounts then go in for a larger amount
which could clean out your bank account.
Grand Lakes | November 2021 9

French Toast
Casserole
5 cups bread cubes
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup white sugar, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon margarine,
softened
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Lightly butter an 8x8 inch baking pan. Line bottom of
pan with bread cubes. In a large bowl, beat together
eggs, milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, salt and vanilla. Pour
egg mixture over bread. Dot with margarine; let stand
for 10 minutes. -- Combine remaining 2 tablespoons
sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over
the top. Bake in preheated oven about 45 to 50
minutes, until top is golden.
Source: allrecipes.com
Quinoa Stuffed Butternut Squash
with Cranberries & Kale
2 medium butternut squash about 2 1/2 pounds each
2 teaspoons olive oil divided
3/4 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth
1 bunch kale stems removed and chopped
(about 6 lightly packed cups)
2 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus additional for roasting squash
1/2 teaspoon black pepper plus additional for roasting squash
1 can low sodium chickpeas (15 ounces), rinsed and drained
Zest of 1 orange plus 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
1/3 cup reduced sugar dried cranberries
Grated Parmesan cheese or crumbled feta cheese, optional
Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat
the oven to 425 degrees F. Halve the butternut
squash, scoop out the seeds, then arrange the halves
on a baking tray, cut sides up. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon
olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Bake
45-55 minutes, just until the squash is fork tender.
Remove from the oven and let cool. Reduce the oven
temperature to 375 degrees.
While the squash is baking, place the broth in a small
saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the quinoa, return
to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and let simmer
for 12 minutes, until most of the broth is absorbed.
Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, for 15
minutes. Fluff with a fork, then set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the remaining 1 teaspoon olive
over medium. Add the kale and cook until wilted,
about 4 minutes, then reduce the heat to medium
low. Add the garlic, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and
1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Cook 30 additional seconds,
until is fragrant. Stir in the chickpeas, orange
zest, orange juice, cooked quinoa, and cranberries.
Once the squash is cool enough to handle, scoop out
the flesh, leaving a 1/2-inch-thick border around
the sides and a 3/4-inch border along the bottom.
Reserve the flesh for another use (or if you don’t
mind a super duper stuffed squash, mix it in with the
rest of the filling). Stuff the kale quinoa filling into
the squash halves, then return the squash to the
oven. Bake at 375 degrees until hot, about 10 additional
minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and serve warm.
10
November 2021 | Grand Lakes

TOP 7 THANKSGIVING
TRAVEL TIPS AND TRICKS
1. AVOID TRAVELLING THE DAY BEFORE AND AFTER THANKS-
GIVING
You may have heard that the day before and after Thanksgiving
are among the busiest travel days of the year, but did you know
that Thanksgiving Day itself is only a bit busier than average?
Thread the needle by flying in just in time for pre-dinner drinks,
and you’ll likely dodge the worst of Thanksgiving travel.
2. BOOK AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE
Though this is true any time of year, booking your Thanksgiving
travel as early as possible will save you headaches in terms of
options, prices and agony. We’re pretty sure the film Planes,
Trains and Automobiles was inspired by some procrastinator who
decided to wing it while heading home for Thanksgiving.
3. SNACKS
No matter your mode of transport, you’re probably going to get
peckish during your journey. Forget the $12 airport tuna melt and
the dubious convenience store burrito, and pack some energy
bars instead.
4. YOU DON’T NEED THAT
You’d be surprised at how few items you need for a long weekend
away, particularly if you’re going to see your parents who probably
have three of everything anyway. Packing light will make your
journey easier.
5. ALL RESERVATIONS
In many cases, booking your travel as a package (flight, car rental,
hotel) through an all-purpose booking website will save you
money.
6. DON’T GO HOME
You know where there isn’t a Thanksgiving travel rush? Every
other country in the world. Flights to Mexico, Central America
and the Caribbean are comparable to domestic flights in terms of
flight time. Or treat yourself to a continental hop.
7. JUST BE COOL, MAN
We just checked the whole internet and confirmed that losing
your temper with a customer service agent, no matter what injustice
you may have suffered, hasn’t ended well for anyone in the
entire history of humankind.
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Source: www.rome2rio.com, Leif Pettersen
Grand Lakes | November 2021 11

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