Stone Canyon - November 2011 by Peel, Inc.

Stone Canyon Neighborhood Newsletter www.stonecanyonoa.org

November 2011

Volume 6, Issue 11

Official Publication of Stone Canyon Homeowners Association

Letter from the PRESIDENT JESSICA STEMPKO

Hello neighbors. We learned on Friday, October 7th that we must comply with emergency stage 3 water restrictions. Hopefully by the November newsletter they will have been lifted. If not, please disregard the request to water twice a week until we return to stage 2 restrictions. Many of our yards have suffered because of the drought. Some residents have had to replace and repair sod and some still need to do so. There are several things you can do to properly maintain existing landscape and to prepare your property’s lawn surfaces for future plantings. Prevent weeds from overtaking your property. Keep weeds mowed and lawns edged, even if the majority of your yard space has died. Weed and seeds will be hard to remove in several months causing any reseeding or resodding of grass to be more difficult. As we all know, weeds spread via the wind, shoes and animals to neighboring lawns. Preventing weeds in your yard will benefit the entire community and make lawn maintenance easier for everyone. Spread and water-in a recommended pre-emergent weed killer this fall to stop a new crop of weeds come spring. Applying a preemergent at this time will save you many hours of labor in the future. Spread or spray pest control products to prevent ants, grubs, etc. from taking hold in your soil. Many of the bare spots in yards throughout the community have been caused by pest infestations. Any replanting will not be successful if these areas are not rid of the pests that caused the bare spots. Water, at least minimally, to keep shrubs and trees alive. It is very expensive to replace a mature tree. Current water restrictions allow all residents to water twice a week. This should be more than adequate time to save shrubs and trees. Remove any dead shrubbery or trees in your yard, especially near your house. As we have seen in Central Texas, dead grass, trees and shrubs are a FIRE HAZARD to your home, as well as to your neighbor’s property. It’s far better to remove dead material now than to risk it becoming kindling in the future. Lightening striking dead brush has been blamed for causing the recent wildfire near Hamilton Pool. If you are new to the Central Texas area, landscaping in our area can be a challenge. You may w to consult a landscape company or specialist to learn about the unique challenges of our part of Texas. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS December 3rd.........................adult Holiday Party at FBCC December 10th.....................................Breakfast with Santa ................................................... 9:00am til 11:30am FBCC Saturday December 17................ tentative date for Hayride ..................................caroling and collection of canned food ... .............................items for the Round Rock Serving Center If you would like to volunteer, or get involved with any of these events, please contact: Laura Kouns at 733-1659, rlkouns@sbcglobal.net thanks a bunch

Happy Holidays!

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA The holidays are around the corner and Breakfast with Santa will be on Saturday, December 10th from 9:00 to 11:30am at the Fern Bluff Mud Community Center. Come enjoy doughnut holes, juice and coffee as the kids visit with Santa. Choirs from Fern Bluff elementary, Chisholm Trail middle school and Round Rock high school will be performing for us. (A small group of band members from the Chisholm Trail band may also join in on the fun this year.) Donations for Brown Santa; the nearby Nursing Home; and our Adopt a Family program are greatly appreciated. Brown Santa and the Nursing Home are in need of food items as well as socks and other toiletry items. There are 7 families in total that we are trying to help out his year. Five of these families have kids that are currently at Fern Bluff Elementary. One family, had a special needs grandchild at Fern Bluff two years ago, and one family who lost everything that they owned in the Bastrop fire. Since the Gift Card donations worked out so well last year, we hope to focus on assisting in that way again this year. (Walmart, HEB and Target are great for food and clothing items) Fern Bluff Elementary (Continued on Page 3) Stone Canyon Homeowner's Association Newsletter - November 2011

StoneSTONE Canyon CANYON Owners & Association Management Teams www.stonecanyonoa.org

STONE CANYON OWNERS ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS: President/Recreation/Landscape Jessica Stempko................................board@stonecanyonoa.org Vice President/Capital Improvement/Maintenance Dwip Shah.......................................board@stonecanyonoa.org Treasurer/ACC/Publicity Director Greg Martinez..................................board@stonecanyonoa.org Parliamentarian/Neighborhood Watch/YOM/Website Vicky Lockwood..............................board@stonecanyonoa.org Secretary/Pool/Newsletter Rich Horton.....................................board@stonecanyonoa.org COMMITTEE CHAIRS ACC Richard Horton...........................board@stonecanyonoa.org Recreation Laura Kouns......................................rlkouns@sbcglobal.net Swimming Pool Greg Martinez...............................pool@stonecanyonoa.org Yard of the Month Joanie Brown & Amelia Dansby....... amdansby@gmail.com Maintenance Al Maus............................maintenance@stonecanyonoa.org Landscape Cathy Soukup.................................. csoukup@austin.rr.com Neighborhood Watch..........................................Joanie Brown Newsletter Judith Horton ................................. judy@richandjudy.com Good Neighbor Laura Kouns .................................... rlkouns@sbcglobal.net Webmaster Ron Kellam......................... webmaster@stonecanyonoa.org

KEY CONTACTS In an attempt to make things easier to find, we have provided some key contact information for various organizations that you might need to contact.  If you have a suggestion for information to add, please contact the web committee. HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION: Bob Nardo - Goodwin Management............... 512-852-7965 ................... 11149 Research Blvd Suite 100, Austin, TX 78759 http://stc.goodwintx.com/ Payment Address: Stone Canyon c/o Goodwin Management PO Box 4785 Houston, TX 77210-4785 Governmental Agencies: Fern Bluff Mud..............................................512-238-0606 ................ 7320 Wyoming Springs, Round Rock, TX 78681 City of Round Rock......................................512-218-5400 ............................... 221 East Main Street, Round Rock, TX Williamson County Commissioners Office....512-248-3238 ............ 400 W. Main St., Ste. 216, Round Rock, TX 78664 Williamson County Constable (Robert Chody) 512-248-3239 ....................211 Commerce Cove, Round Rock, TX 78664 Williamson County Sheriff’s Office (Non-Emergency)..........................................512-943-1300 Williamson County EMS (Non-Emergency)..........................................512-943-1264 Round Rock ISD.......................... (512) 464-5000 ext 1311 .....................Round Rock Avenue, Round Rock, TX 78681 Misc. Services: Gas Line Malfunction..... (Business Hours) 1-800-460-3030 .............................................(After Hours) 1-800-817-8090 Street Light Repair - TU Electric................1-800-242-9113 Texas Utilities (TXU).................................1-800-368-1398 Southwestern Bell.......................................1-888-294-8433 Time Warner Cable.......................................512-485-5555 Williamson County Road and Bridge............512-943-3330

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Stone Canyon Homeowner's Association Newsletter - November 2011

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Stone Canyon Breakfast with Santa - (Continued from Cover Page) will be help to support our adopted families as well. Gifts and/or donations can be dropped off at the Fern Bluff Community Center or at the Park Valley Health Care Center during working hours up to December 13th. If you need additional information please call Laura Kouns at 7331659 or email rlkouns@sbcglobal.net. All residents are invited to join in on the fun! We have already heard from several of you who wish to volunteer, but many more wonderful volunteers are still needed on the day of the event: Setup for Breakfast with Santa at 8:00 am During Breakfast with Santa from 9:00 thru 11:30am Clean up after Breakfast with Santa at 11:30am Wrap and sort gift items from 11:300am -1:00pm Delivery of all donations

I do have a few special request items from one of our families: FAMILY #1 (FERN BLUFF ELEMENTARY)

Household items needed: toaster, bath towels, iron, pots and pans set, silverware, drinking glasses, king sized bed spread Specific toys the children would like: toys that make music, puzzles for an 8 and 6 year old, Cars toys, a tricycle, assorted balls, Nintendo DS game for 6 year old boy Sizes of clothing for boys: Boys size 8, size 6, size 5, and size 3 Sizes of shoes for boys: Size 2, size 12, size 11, and size 9 Could also use jackets for each boy Mom size small, size 5 Dad size large, 32x 30

CROSSING GUARD NEEDED! Fern Bluff Elementary is in need of a crossing guard. If you are interested, please contact the office at 428-2100 http://schools.roundrockisd.org/fernbluff/

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Stone Canyon Homeowner's Association Newsletter - November 2011

Stone Canyon

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH by Joanie Brown

We’re continuing to work on re-building Stone Canyon’s Neighborhood Watch network. Our previous “shout out” resulted in 5 very welcome volunteers; but we require each street to be represented in order for our program to work. Stone Canyon consists of 1101 homes, spread out along approximately 42 streets—many long enough to require 2 or 3 people to share sections. In an emergency situation, word needs to get out as quickly as possible. If we don’t have enough street reps, each with their own list of e-mail addresses and phone #s gathered for their neighbors, we’ll be extremely limited in passing vital info to those who need it. What will take the most time is initially touching base with the residents on your street, letting them know you’re their Neighborhood Watch rep, and asking their permission to collect their contact info to use only for Neighborhood Watch purposes. You may wish to assure them all info will be kept confidential. The list you compile for your street will be for your use only; no need to share with any committee or Board member. When either a Board member or the N.Watch committee chairperson receives a safety bulletin from law enforcement, that

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message will be forwarded to you as your street’s rep; and you will be requested to pass it on to your contact list. Neighborhood Watch is a major weapon we residents can use against anyone who enters our neighborhoods with wrong intentions. It’s our way of being aware and looking out for each other and our families. Please help by volunteering for this important program. Thank you, Joanie Brown paulandjoaniebrown@hotmail.com hm: 733-2913; cell: 784-3512

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PEEL, INC. community newsletters 4

Stone Canyon Homeowner's Association Newsletter - November 2011

Stone Canyon At no time will any source be allowed to use the Stone Canyon HOA Newsletter contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from the Meadows of Brushy Creek Homeowner's Association and Peel, Inc. The information in the newsletter is exclusively for the private use of Meadows of Brushy Creek Homeowner's Association residents only.

NEIGHBORS NIGHT OUT

Our annual Neighbors Night Out was a huge success: wonderful weather, terrific family turnout, Bouncy fun for our youngsters, tons of food provided by both Rudy’s BBQ and Teji’s Indian Restaurant. Music by Brian Byrne and the Borrowed Time Band rounded out another great Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and evening at Brightwater Park. Most of all, many, many, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by many thanks to our Board of Directors, along with other others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content friends and neighbors who gave so generously of their with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising time setting up, serving and replenishing food, cleaning content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content up afterwards, as well as picking up from and returning should be taken up with the advertiser. * The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints the tables to the Community Center. Last but not or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of least, thanks to our MUD for loaning us the tables for such advertising. the night. It may not actually “take the entire Village” * Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the to get our OA-sponsored socials “off the ground,” but it publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the definitely takes a committed group of “Village” volunteers case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. to make things happen. We’ll do this again, next year; * Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or so when the call for volunteers goes out, please consider consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other joining up—it’s fun! liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, as limited7.5 to liabilities Prmrs_66435 _- Rdns Gen Ad #1802 THIS AD CAN NOT BE except EDITEDx 5 stated above.

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Stone Canyon Homeowner's Association Newsletter - November 2011

9/2/11 2:27 PM

Stone Canyon

Fire-safe Landscaping Can Save Your Home WWW.USFA.FEMA.GOV

NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE

Wildland fires destroy hundreds of homes and acres of land every year across the country. Fire-safe landscaping is an effective tool that creates an area of defensible space between your home and flammable vegetation that protects against devastating fires. The U. S. Fire Administration (USFA) encourages you to keep fire safety at the forefront by learning how to landscape and maintain your property to minimize possible fire damage and slow fires if they start. Remember, fire safety is your personal responsibility… Fire Stops With You! DEFENSIBLE SPACE WORKS

During the 2003 raging California fires, a number of homes were saved as a result of the owners’ careful pruning and landscaping techniques that protected their homes. In a fire situation, the dead trees and shrubs surrounding your home act as fuel for fire. Removing flammable vegetation reduces the threat of fire. Follow these basic rules to create defensible space that works. • Remove all dead plants, trees and shrubs from the site. • Reduce excess leaves, plant parts and low-hanging branches. • Replace dense flammable plants with fire-resistant plants. • The choice of plants, spacing and maintenance are crucial elements in any defensible space landscaping plan. TIPS FOR A FIRE-SAFE LANDSCAPE • Create a defensible space perimeter by thinning trees and brush within 30 feet around your home. • Beyond 30 feet, remove dead wood, debris and low tree branches. • Eliminate small trees and plants growing under trees. They allow ground fires to jump into tree crowns. • Space trees 30 feet apart and prune to a height of 8 to 10 feet. • Place shrubs at least 20 feet from any structures and prune regularly. • Plant the most drought-tolerant vegetation within three feet of your home and adjacent to structures to prevent ignition. • Provide at least a 10 to 15 foot separation between islands of shrubs and plant groups to effectively breakup continuity of vegetation. • Landscape your property with fire-resistant plants and vegetation to prevent fire from spreading quickly.

DECEMBER 11

Stone Canyon Homeowner's Association Newsletter - November 2011

CHOOSE FIRE RESISTANT MATERIALS • Check your local nursery or county extension service for advice on fire resistant plants that are suited for your environment. • Create fire-safe zones with stone walls, patios, swimming pools, decks and roadways. • Use rock, mulch, flower beds and gardens as ground cover for bare spaces and as effective firebreaks. • There are no “fire-proof ” plants. Select high moisture plants that grow close to the ground and have a low sap or resin content. (Continued on page 7) Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.

Stone Canyon

Fire-safe Landscaping...- (Continued from Page 6) • Choose plant species that resist ignition such as rockrose, iceplant and aloe. • Fire-resistant shrubs include hedging roses, bush honeysuckles, currant, cotoneaster, sumac and shrub apples. • Plant hardwood, maple, poplar and cherry trees that are less flammable than pine, fir and other conifers. MAINTAIN YOUR HOME & SURROUNDING PROPERTY

• Maintain a well-pruned and watered landscape to serve as a green belt and protection against fire. • Keep plants green during the dry season and use supplemental irrigation, if necessary. • Trim grass on a regular basis up to 100 feet surrounding your home. • Stack firewood at least 30 feet from your home. • Store flammable materials, liquids and solvents in metal containers outside the home at least 30 feet away from structures and wooden fences. • No matter where you live, always install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Consider installing the new long-life smoke alarms.

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YARD OF THE MONTH by Joanie Brown and Amelia Dansby

October was our final YOM monthly recognition for 2011. The Committee Members thank everyone for making our monthly drives throughout our neighborhoods such a pleasure. You’ve provided beautiful and creative “eye candy” as well as given each one of us ideas for our own yards. Special Congratulations and Appreciation go out to October’s winners: 1ST PLACE................................... 8616 SEA ASH CIRCLE 2D PLACE.........7205 WEST MAGIC MOUNTAIN LANE 3D PLACE.........7411 WEST MAGIC MOUNTAIN LANE

Honorable Mention: 8007 Magic Mountain Cove; 8400 Lofty Lane; 8204 Sunburst Parkway; 7000 High Bluff Trail; and 8202 Miller Falls Drive (Note: Unfortunately, one of our 5 Honorable Mention signs is still missing, so we were unable to deliver the 5th one to 8202 Miller Falls Drive.However, HOA’s Board and the Yard of the Month Committee wish to recognize the consistently attractive curb appeal of this home). Also, if anyone comes across our disappearing yard sign, please call Joanie @ 733-2913. Reminder that the committee’s members will be out and about for Stone Canyon’s annual Holiday Lights and Decorations recognition—voting will take place, beginning Thursday evening, December 15th, ending on Wednesday evening, December 21st. Though no money is awarded, Special Recognition yard signs will be delivered to the winning homeowners before Christmas Eve.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Epiphany Lutheran Church and School is giving thanks for the chance to play an important role in providing needy children with a simple gift this Christmas season. Last year was Epiphany’s first time participating in Operation Christmas Child, a ministry devoted to providing needy children shoe boxes full of toys, hygiene items, school supplies, candy, etc. The congregation collected over 80 boxes to send overseas. “We were strongly moved by this particular ministry” commented one member. The church members felt that the increased visibility of the new location this year made it a prime spot to become a “drop-off” location for OCC. This means that during “Collection Week” (Nov. 14th-21st) they will be accepting shoe box donations from the general public. «We are so excited to serve our community in this way. What a wonderful beginning to the Christmas season.» remarks Lauren Thom, an Epiphany Member and OCC volunteer. For more information about Operation Christmas Child and where you can donate your items go to http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/. Stone Canyon Homeowner's Association Newsletter - November 2011

Stone Canyon

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Stone Canyon Homeowner's Association Newsletter - November 2011