The Bluffs Apartments
May 2010
1st Rent Due
1st May Day
7th Mother's Day Gift Basket Drawing
9th Mother’s Day
15th Armed Forces Day
19th Pest Control Buildings A, C, D, F, G, H, I, J, L
31st Memorial Day – Closed





Crystal
Property Manager

Mary Ellen
Leasing Consultant

Tony
Maintenance

Justin
Maintenance


From the Manager's Desk...

Spring and summer brings about several severe thunderstorms, which can often lead to tornadoes.  I know this situation all too well; two years ago my 15 year old brother survived the Little Sioux Boy Scout Camp Tornado.  Since then, I make sure that I am prepared as the scouts were and want to share that importance with all our residents who make their home with us. 

Tornadoes can sometimes occur without warning and cause large amounts of damage. At their worst, tornadoes can attain speeds of more than 300 mph. According to the National Weather Service, people who reside in apartments should have a storm plan laid out to avoid injury.

Tornado Safety: Best Location in an Apartment
Tornadoes are very quick and usually come without much notice, having your plan in place will protect you and the items in your apartment. First and foremost, once you hear that there is a possible tornado near your apartment, or that the conditions are right for a tornado, move to shelter immediately.
If you live in an apartment that is on an upper floor, get to the lowest level of the building that you can immediately. This could be a neighbor’s first floor apartment.  A closet, bathroom or interior hall without windows is the safest spot in your apartment during a tornado.

Once you have relocated to your safe place, lie down on the floor and cover yourself up with pillows, blankets and even mattresses for protection from falling objects and debris. If your apartment’s safe place has a heavy piece of furniture, such as a large table, get under that for extra protection from flying debris.

It is also a great idea to keep an evacuation kit handy. This kit should include a portable radio, flashlight with extra batteries, credit card and cash, first aid kit, spare set of keys, personal identification and anything else of importance or of value to you. Having all of this together near the safe place will save you time and worry during a tornado threat.

Tornado Safety: After the Tornado
If a tornado does come near your apartment, please use extreme caution when exiting your home. Watch out for fallen utility lines and tree limbs that may not have fallen yet. Make sure that everyone is alright and provide assistance to your neighbors that may need attention.

Hope these safety tips are of help; they may not be “news” to you but may just serve as that little reminder to you that a plan needs to be made.  Don’t wait, why not do it now?

Welcome Home all Residents, New and Renewed!  We are glad you have chosen The Bluffs as your Home Sweet Home.

Sincerley,

Crystal Cushman

Fun Fact: The largest man-made lake in the U.S. is Lake Mead, created by Hoover Dam.

Thanks for visiting! 
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The Bluffs Apartments
2065 Nash Blvd
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
(712) 325-6566
bluffs@midlandmgmt.com
Office Hours
Summer
Monday-Friday:  9 am - 6 pm
Saturday:  10 am - 2 pm
Winter
Monday-Friday:  8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Saturday:  10 am - 2 pm
Keep Your Refrigerator Working Properly

Regular cleaning of your refrigerator will keep it working properly and safely.  The following are guidelines for taking care of your refrigerator.

  • Clean the interior shelves, shell and gaskets every 3 months.
  • Once a year, clean the coils on the back or underneath and make sure temperatures are set correctly.

May Events at The Qwest Center Omaha
25th Nickelback 6:30 pm

May Events at Mid-America Center Council Bluffs
20th Miranda Lambert Concert 7:30 pm

Coming Soon in May to Star Cinema Theater
7th Babies
Iron Man 2
14th Just Wright
Letters to Juliet
Robin Hood
21st Shrek Forever After
Macgruber
Solitary Man
28th Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Sex and the City 2






Tangy Pork Nachos
Ingredients
2 cups baked corn chips
1 cup slow-cooked orange pulled pork
1 cup corn and black bean salsa
1 cup shredded Cheddar
1/2 cup sour cream, optional

Directions
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.  In an oven-proof baking dish add half of the corn chips in a single layer. Cover with half the pork, half the salsa, and then half the cheese. Continue layering with remaining ingredients ending with the cheese. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted, bubbling and lightly browned. Top with sour cream, if desired, and serve hot.



Courtesy of FoodNetwork.com
Preventing Pests at Home (courtesy of US EPA)
Is your family bugged by pests like ants, spiders, cockroaches, termites, or mice? You’re not alone. You can effectively control or kill pests when you take action to starve them out, dry them out, and keep them out. Like humans, pests need three critical elements to survive: food, water, and shelter. By following three simple and effective steps, you can protect your family’s health and safety while controlling annoying pests.


Starve Them Out!
Pests will eat just about anything, but they might leave you alone if they don’t have easy access to food:
• Seal up boxes and bags of food. Roaches love cardboard boxes and can climb into these items with ease.
• Store open food in plastic bags or containers,
such as cereal, flour, or sugar.
• Immediately clean up spills and leftover crumbs.
Pests love free food left out in the open.
• Don’t walk around the house while eating. Meals and snacks should be eaten at a table.
• Clean dirty dishes right away. Pests want whatever is left of your meals.
• Keep a tight lid on trash, and empty it often. It may be trash to you, but pests see it as dinner. Place trash cans far away from a back door entrance.
• Don’t leave pet food out overnight. Food can stir up
pests’ appetites.
Dry Them Out!
Although roaches can live up to one month without food, without water roaches can die in a week’s time:
• Always drain dish water from a sink. Because roaches can swim, a sink full of water might become the site of a roach pool party.
  • Wipe water and other spilled liquids off the counter as soon as you first see it. Puddles are roach magnets.
• Fix or report leaky faucets, radiators, dishwashers, and washing machines to a building manager.
• Empty excess water in flower pots and plant stands. A drop of water can be all a roach needs to feel satisfied.

Keep Them Out!
By keeping roaches and rodents out of your home, you can prevent them from ever becoming a problem. Rodents spend most of their lives hiding. They love cracks, and can squeeze just about anywhere. Think smart, and they can’t move in on you:
• Seal cracks and openings along baseboards, behind sinks, and around pipes and windows.
• Repair holes in door and window screens to prevent insects and other pests from entering a home.
• Check boxes and bags for roaches before bringing them into a home.
• Clean up clutter, including stacks of newspapers, paper bags, and cardboard boxes. These make good hiding places for pests.
• Set traps to control rats and mice. If you use baits, make sure they are in a tamper-resistant bait station made of durable plastic or metal, and place in an area where children and pets cannot touch them.