Rivermist - March 2012

The Beacon

Volume 3, Issue 3

March 2012

IN THIS ISSUE: Dear Homeowner.......................... 2

EASTER EGG HUNT April 7th, 2012 10:00 am.

The Board of Directors is tentatively planning an Easter Egg Hunt to be held at the neighborhood park on April 7th, 2012 at 10 am. Stay tuned to the Spectrum Website and the Rivermist Facebook page for more information.

Neighborhood Garage Sale............ 2 Meet Your Board of Directors........ 3 Check us out on the web............... 3 Be Aware of Impostors.................. 4 Sign up for Email Alerts................ 4 Student Success............................. 4 Debt Relief Strategies.................... 5 Yard of the Month......................... 7 FREE Topsoil Giveaway................ 7 Want a Green Thick Lawn?........... 8 Re-Sodding VS. Repairing............. 9 SAWS Spring Bloom..................... 9

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Copyright Š 2012 Peel, Inc.

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The Beacon Dear Homeowner,

Here at Spectrum we strive to make the transition to our company as seamless and problem free as possible.

This article is just a reminder on the different ways you can pay your homeowner association dues. The most traditional method of coming to our office to pay is available. Our address is 17319 San Pedro, Suite 318, San Antonio, TX 78232. You can also register at www.spectrumam. com and login to pay your dues by e-check or credit card. We accept payment from Mastercard, Discover and American Express. On this site you can also setup recurring payments, view current reports of any ACC requests, Violations, governing documents, upcoming events and other information. For your security, we do not take credit card payments over the phone. If you ever have questions on how to register or how to review something on the website, please feel free to contact us. Our policy is to return all calls and emails the same day. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and once again, feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Regards,

Neighborhood Garage Sale

The Board of Directors is tentatively planning a neighborhood garage sale on the 21st of April. The Board of Directors will have ads placed in the local paper and on Craigslist to advertise the event. Stay tuned to the Spectrum Management Website and the Rivermist Facebook page for more information.

Pro Tree Care r o b r A

Ross Hosea, Owner Jason M. Green Community Manager Office: 210.494.0659 www.spectrumam.com

ISA Certified Arborist #TX-3811A Texas Oak Wilt Certified

San Antonio native with more than 20 years experience Trimming ● Removal ● Planting Free Estimates

(210) 912-4869 or rosshosea@hotmail.com 2

The Beacon - March 2012

Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc

MEET YOUR

The Beacon

Board of Directors

Over the next few months, The Beacon will feature brief biographies introducing your Board.

If you see us in the community let us know your concerns.

CHARLES HASBERRY JR.

RUDY CERVERA JR.

MICHAEL SOUTHWORTH

Charles Hasberry Jr. is the President of the Bexar County Rivermist Board of Directors.

Charles is an Air Force officer with almost eighteen years of active duty service. He currently serves as a disability attorney assigned to the Formal Physical Evaluation Boards at Lackland Air Force Base. He is married to Abby and has three children, Evan (16), Maya (9) and Leah (5). His family moved into Rivermist in 2006 and he has served on the Board for approximately five years.

Rudy Cervera Jr. is one of two Vice Presidents on the Board of Directors. Rudy has lived in the Rivermist Subdivision for 6 years and has served on the Board for about 4 years.

He is employed with HEB as a Payroll Specialist. He is married to Marissa and has three children, Rodolfo (7), Liliana (4) and Araceli (1).).

Michael Southworth is the Board Treasurer and has lived in the Rivermist subdivision for 5 years. He has been on the board for 1 year and really enjoys knowing that we are doing our best to keep the property values up. Michael works for Educational Testing Service, which is a nonprofit Research and Testing company. He is an Assessment Development Manager for a large state testing program. He’s married to a wonderful woman and has a beautiful 5 year old daughter. Michael’s goal as a board member is to increase the values of the homes in our neighborhood. He believes that we have a great location and have the potential to increase the value of our investment with planning and pride in our neighborhood.

Check us out on the web at www.rivermistsa.com Our community website is a treasure trove of information regarding community events, community safety and other helpful items. You can sign up to receive email updates/alerts that are sent out by our talented webmaster.

Sincerely, Your Board of Directors Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc.

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The Beacon

Be Aware of Impostors

SAWS, CPS Energy and the San Antonio Police Department are urging residents to be on guard against individuals who may pose as utility or city workers to gain access to homes.

When SAWS employees call on customers in the field, there are clear procedures they follow: • All SAWS employees wear an ID badge with the employee’s photo and SAWS logo on it.

• Most field employees wear a blue uniform or shirt clearly marked with our logo.

• Most SAWS vehicles are white with a SAWS logo on the doors.

• SAWS personnel never request access to your home unless you’ve specifically requested a SAWS employee to visit you, such as a water conservation check-up.

• Water testing can be conducted at an outdoor faucet, if and when necessary.

• If the person at your door claims to be a SAWS employee and you have any doubt about their identity, please call 704-SAWS for verification. Of course, if you feel you’re in immediate danger, always call 911.

Sign up for email alerts by registering at www.Spectrumam.com

Student Success Get Organized Michael Southworth M.Ed. education_coach@yahoo.com

The hardest and most important thing to teach a child is organization. The reason it’s so hard to teach organization is because it’s a learned behavior that takes consistent reinforcement on the part of parents and teachers.

Organization is one of the important keys to a child’s success in school. I can’t count the number of students I’ve taught that just simply lose their class work. They develop bad habits like stuffing all their papers into their desk (the black hole,) or they file all their papers in textbooks and nine times out of ten, the papers fall out and get lost.

The best way to solve this organizational nightmare is to use a binder. The binder should have two pocket folders dividing the subjects. One side of each folder should be used for homework and the other side should be used for work that needs to be turned into the teacher.

Another organizational tool that should be added to the binder is a school planner. Most schools have these planners available for students for 3rd grade and above. The problem with the planner is that student’s don’t know how to use them correctly. Students should write all the daily assignments in the planner at the beginning of the day. At the end of the day students should highlight work they need to finish at home. The planner is another great way to communicate with parents to let them know what is being taught in the classroom. If your student says they don’t have homework, check the planner. Ask to see the work that was completed in class.

It’s very rare for a teacher to ask students to turn in an assignment on the same day it’s assigned.

Students should also have completed assignments filed correctly in their binder. Ask to see the work they did that day. This is also a great opportunity to go over or reinforce skills taught in the classroom.

Reinforcement is the key! Check their planner and binder every day. Make sure all papers and assignments are filed properly.

If you have any comments or questions about this article feel free to email me. If you have any topics you would liked written for a future articles please send suggestions to education_coach@ yahoo.com.

Our management website is a treasure trove of information regarding neighborhood policies, community events, community safety and other helpful items. You can pay your assessment fee online and can also sign up to receive email updates/alerts that are sent out by the Board of Directors and site managers. If you need help registering or need to have your password reset, call our site manager, Jason Green at (210) 705-1121.

Your Board of Directors 4

The Beacon - March 2012

Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc

The Beacon

Debt Relief Strategies

Researching Debt Relief Companies

If you decide to pay a company to negotiate your debt, do some research.

Consider other people’s experiences. One way to do that is to enter the company name with the word “complaints” into a search engine. Read what others have said. You are making a big decision that involves spending a lot of your money that could go toward paying down your debt.

PROTECT YOURSELF Be wary of any debt relief organization that: • charges any fees before it settles your debts • pressures you to make “voluntary contributions,” another name for fees • touts a “new government program” to bail out personal credit card debt • guarantees it can make your unsecured debt go away • tells you to stop communicating with your creditors • tells you it can stop all debt collection calls and lawsuits • guarantees that your unsecured debts can be paid off for just pennies on the dollar • won’t send you free information about the services it provides without requiring Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc.

you to provide personal financial information, such as credit card account numbers, and balances • tries to enroll you in a debt relief program without spending time reviewing your financial situation.

• offers to enroll you in a DMP without teaching you budgeting and money management skills.

• demands that you make payments into a DMP before your creditors have accepted you into the program.

DEBT CONSOLIDATION You may be able to lower your cost of credit by consolidating your debt through a second mortgage or a home equity line of credit. Remember that these loans require you to put up your home as collateral. If you can’t make the payments — or if your payments are late — you could lose your home.

What’s more, the costs of consolidation loans can add up. In addition to interest on the loans, you may have to pay “points,” with one point equal to one percent of the amount you borrow. Still, these loans may provide certain tax advantages that are not available with other kinds of credit.

BANKRUPTCY Personal bankruptcy generally is considered the debt management option of last resort because the results are long-lasting and far reaching. People who follow the bankruptcy rules receive a discharge — a court order that says they don’t have to repay certain debts.

However, bankruptcy information (both the date of your filing and the later date of discharge) stay on your credit report for 10 years, and can make it difficult to obtain credit, buy a home, get life insurance, or sometimes get a job. Still, bankruptcy is a legal procedure that offers a fresh start for people who have gotten into financial difficulty and can’t satisfy their debts.

There are two primary types of personal bankruptcy: Chapter 13 and Chapter 7.

Each must be filed in federal bankruptcy court. Filing fees are several hundred dollars.

For more information visit www.uscourts. gov/bankruptcycourts/fees.html. Attorney fees are additional and can vary.

Chapter 13 allows people with a steady income to keep property, like a mortgaged house or a car, that they might otherwise lose through the bankruptcy process. In Chapter 13, the court approves a repayment plan that allows you to use your future income to pay off your debts during a three-to-five-year period, rather than surrender any property.

After you have made all the payments under the plan, you receive a discharge of your debts.

Chapter 7 is known as straight bankruptcy, and involves liquidation of all assets that are not exempt. Exempt property may include automobiles, work-related tools, and basic household furnishings. Some of your property may be sold by a court-appointed official — a trustee — or turned over to your creditors. You must wait 8 years after receiving a discharge in Chapter 7 before you can file again under that chapter. The Chapter 13 waiting period is much shorter and can be as little as two years between filings.

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The Beacon Debt Relief Strategies- (Continued from Page 5) Both types of bankruptcy may get rid of unsecured debts and stop foreclosures, repossessions, garnishments and utility shut-offs, and debt collection activities. Both also provide exemptions that allow people to keep certain assets, although exemption amounts vary by state. Note that personal bankruptcy usually does not erase child support, alimony, fines, taxes, and some student loan obligations.

And, unless you have an acceptable plan to catch up on your debt under Chapter 13, bankruptcy usually does not allow you to keep property when your creditor has an unpaid mortgage or security lien on it.

You must get credit counseling from a government-approved organization within six months before you file for any bankruptcy relief. You can find a state-by-state list of government-approved organizations at www.usdoj.gov/ust. That is the website of the U.S. Trustee Program, the organization within the U.S. Department of Justice that supervises bankruptcy cases and trustees. Also, before you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, you must satisfy a “means test.”

This test requires you to confirm that your income does not exceed a certain amount. The amount varies by state and is publicized by the U.S. Trustee Program at www.usdoj.gov/ust .

DAMAGE CONTROL Turning to a business that offers help in solving debt problems may seem like a reasonable solution when your bills become unmanageable. But before you do business with any company, check it out with your state Attorney General, local consumer protection agency, and the Better Business Bureau. They can tell you if any consumer complaints are on file about the firm you’re considering doing business with. Ask your state Attorney General if the company is required to be licensed to work in your state and, if so, whether it is.

Some businesses that offer to help you with your debt problems may charge high fees and fail to follow through on the services they sell. Others may misrepresent the terms of a debt consolidation loan, failing to explain certain costs or mention that you’re signing over your home as collateral. Businesses advertising voluntary debt reorganization plans may not explain that the plan is a bankruptcy filing, tell you everything that’s involved, or help you through what can be a long and complex process.

In addition, some companies guarantee you a loan if you pay a fee in advance. The fee may range from $100 to several hundred dollars. Resist the temptation to follow up on these advance-fee loan guarantees. They may be illegal. It is true that many legitimate creditors offer extensions of credit through telemarketing and require an application or appraisal fee in advance. But legitimate creditors never guarantee that the consumer will get the loan — or even represent that a loan is likely. Under the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule, a seller or telemarketer who guarantees or represents a high likelihood of your getting a loan or some other extension of credit may not ask for or accept payment until you’ve received the loan.

You should be cautious of claims from so-called credit repair clinics. Many companies appeal to consumers with poor credit histories, promising to clean up credit reports for a fee. But you already have the right to have any inaccurate information in your file corrected. And a credit repair clinic cannot have accurate information removed from your credit report, despite their promises.

You also should know that federal and some state laws prohibit these companies from charging you for their services until the services are fully performed. Only time and a conscientious effort to repay your debts will improve your credit report.

If you’re thinking about getting help to stabilize your financial situation, do some homework first. Find out what services a business provides and what it costs, and don’t rely on verbal promises. Get everything in writing, and read your contracts carefully.

FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about dealing with debt, visit www.ftc.gov/ MoneyMatters .

The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call tollfree, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.

Watch a video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

1 FREE Nail Trim* 6

The Beacon - March 2012

Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc

The Beacon Yard of the Month

Program Overhaul

Spring is here and your Board of Directors wants to encourage you to get out and work on those yards!! We will be revamping the Yard of the Month program and starting in May will periodically award winners with $25 gift certificates they can use to treat themselves or to add more beauty to their homes. We will also feature the winners in the newsletter and will place a sign in their yard (at their discretion) proclaiming their landscaping and horticultural victories to the world!!

We currently plan to select a winner from each of the three phases in the neighborhood. Prizes will only go out every 2-3 months but in between those months we will recognize other homeowners in the e-newsletter. We hope to eventually expand the competition to “best street,” so get out there and use those green thumbs!! (please submit ACA request for any major landscaping changes… You may do so online at www.spectrumam.com )

SAVE 30%

all weed control products!

Includes all pre and post emergent, selective and non selective weed controls. Exclusively for River Mist Residents only! Must have coupon at time of purchase. Kid to pull your weeds not included in offer!!

The Garden Center 10682 Bandera Road • San Antonio, TX 78250 210-647-7900 Ex. 3/31/12

Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc.

Free

TOPSOIL GIVEAWAY IN MARCH/ APRIL!!!

For those interested in arranging a large purchase of topsoil, the Board of Directors is willing to help facilitate and partially subsidize group purchases to be delivered to the neighborhood.

If you are interested in participating in a group topsoil purchase, please email Board President, Charles Hasberry Jr. at hoa.bod@rivermistsa.com In an effort to jump-start Spring yard beautification, your Board of Directors has also voted to provide current residents with a small amount of topsoil to get you started with the process of redeveloping your lawns.

We recognize that the recent drought conditions and water restrictions made it difficult to maintain goodlooking grass. Pickups will take place at the neighborhood park and will be announced via email blast and Facebook posting so you need to get registered on the Spectrum Management website to ensure you receive the information. You may also call our site manager Jason Green to receive the information. Quantities will be limited and will be first-come, first-served. You will be required to have a current ID with a Rivermist address or a current utility bill.

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The Beacon

Want a Green, Thick Lawn the Easy Way? Michael Southworth M.Ed. education_coach@yahoo.com

When the St. Augustine sod was laid on the lots in the Rivermist subdivision, very little nutrient rich soil was put down before the sod was laid. To have a thick green lawn there must be plenty of nutrient rich soil for the roots to grow down deep. When the roots don’t have enough soil to grow down deep, there are many things that can destroy your lawn.

SUN When your yard has very little soil for the roots can’t grow deep into ground and they grow on the surface. When the summer sun is bright and hot the roots get burned and the grass dies.

LACK OF WATER Think of soil as a sponge that holds water to feed the grass. Because the roots are so shallow in the soil the heat evaporates the (sponge) water very quickly. In the summer, it seems you need to water you grass every day to keep it living. The reason is because there is no grass to protect the soil which holds the water. The sun immediately dries up the water that that’s on the surface. Since there is no soil for the water to soak up, the grass does not have water to grow.

SOLUTION One of the only ways to get a thick lawn in our subdivision is to increase the amount of soil. The only way to increase the amount of soil is to add topsoil. The topsoil must be nutrient rich and be applied at least once a year for 3 or 4 years. By adding topsoil you will need to water less and have fewer weeds. If your grass is dead and you only have weeds you may need to re-sod your yard or add seed to your yards and then add topsoil.

Important points*: Before adding top soil remove all weeds. You may also want to throw out some seed before the top soil is laid out.

If you decide to add seed to your topsoil addition, you will need to water in the seeds until the new grass seed starts to grow. In the spring you also want to add fertilizer, organic preferably.

HELP IS ON THE WAY! The Rivermist HOA will be providing FREE topsoil for all Rivermist households this spring. There will be more information to come.

WEEDS One of the main ways to stop weeds in your yard is to have a thick lawn. Weeds must have plenty of sun light to grow. If your lawn is thick, when weed seeds land in your thick lawn the grass will shade the seed and it will not be able to grow. A thick lawn is a great way to prevent weeds.

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The Beacon - March 2012

Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc

The Beacon SAWS

Re-Sodding VS. Repairing

By Brian Hubbell Rivermist resident and lawn care enthusiast Available to assist you with landscaping, yard maintenance, and basic handiwork If the need to sod your lawn immediately arises due to an impending home sale or move (many valid reasons exist), please know that it is a viable option but is a bit more expensive than other alternatives.

I am not opposed to re-sodding, however due to the necessity for sod to be laid down meticulously (attention must be paid to yard conditions, laying procedures, etc. etc.) it can become monetarily inefficient to do so, especially if it dies before becoming established. For instance, the conditions this past year were very extreme and many if not all of the yards sodded at the beginning of 2011 did not survive the drought and water restrictions.

I propose another option if re-sodding is not a viable option for you due to cost or maintenance requirements. (The use of this process assumes that you have not replaced the St. Augustine grass provided by Centex) 1) With a steel rake, pull all the dead grass back. This grass chokes the ground and prevents proper growth 2) Apply strong fertilizer (I personally prefer to use Vigoro or Scott’s Turfbuilder ) and fresh dirt (such as the topsoil mentioned throughout this issue of the newsletter) Be sure to water the topsoil in to help prevent erosion.

3) The healthy grass left after the raking (assuming a healthy root system) will grow and spread quickly under the right conditions (sufficient rainfall or watering/fertilization) I offer this information for your use and I believe that February-April is the right time to work on yard maintenance. Getting started now and performing slight maintenance over the following 4-8 weeks will keep your yard on the path to proper development and will hopefully lead to you having a yard you are proud of and enjoy.

I typically offer the yard repair service for approximately $200-$300 (depending on yard size, condition, etc.) I supply the fertilizer and the primary additional expense for you would be any topsoil/seed you choose to purchase. I live in the community and have a vested interest in helping other Rivermist residents bring their yards back from the recent harsh conditions. I can provide you with examples of my work upon request. If you are interested in having work done for you or have any questions, please feel free to call me at (210) 459-8456. * The Rivermist HOA Board of Directors does not endorse any of the business entities or residents that provide information/articles in the Rivermist Beacon. Exercise due diligence when hiring anyone to perform work at your residence.

Copyright Š 2012 Peel, Inc.

Spring Bloom

When: Saturday, March 10 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Where: SAWS Headquarters, 2800 US Hwy. 281 N. (at Mulberry Ave.) Before long, the weather will turn warm, flowers will be flourishing and the front parking lot of SAWS Headquarters will transform into a gardener's paradise.

Spring Bloom happens from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, March 10 at SAWS Headquarters, 2800 U.S. Hwy 281 North.

This fun, free event is your opportunity to learn about gardening, landscape care, and so much more! SAWS and other participants will offer great tips to help spruce up your yard while still saving water, and your favorite local gardening and landscape experts will be speaking throughout the day. And, get handson help with toilet maintenance and checking for leaks.

Plus, there will be plants for sale at the event, courtesy of Bexar County Master Gardeners, Gardening Volunteers of South Texas, San Antonio Botanical Society, and the San Antonio Herb Society.

The first 1,500 guests will receive a free drought-tolerant herb plant, while supplies last.

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND SPEAKERS 9:15 - 9:50 a.m. - Dr. Calvin Finch Lawn Care in Tough Times 9:50 - 10:30 a.m. - David McCary National Leaders in Recycling 10:30 - 11:10 a.m. - Bexar County Master Gardeners Let Your Garden Grow 11:10 - 11:45 a.m. - Paul Cox Paul's Picks for Hardy Landscape Plants 11:45 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. - TBD 12:20 - 1:00 p.m. - Bob Webster Plant Health Even in Multiple Year Droughts

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