The Dominion - July 2012 by Peel, Inc.

THE OUTLOOK

The

JULY 2012

VOLUME IV ISSUE VII

OUTLOOK News for the Residents of The Dominion

CATCH ON TO COMPOSTING Lisa Spears, Conservation Field Technician - San Antonio Water System

Composting doesn't have to be difficult. You can feed your garden effortlessly and save money doing it. Composting also increases your soil's water-holding capacity, reduces your waste-hauling costs and repays your efforts tenfold. A good compost heap consists of: two-thirds carbon (or browns) such as newspaper, wood ash, straw, leaves, dryer lint and pet hair; and one-third nitrogen (or greens) such as grass clippings, coffee grounds, tea leaves, vegetable peels, manure and small yard trimmings. Keep in mind that too much carbon slows material breakdown, while too much nitrogen gives compost a slimy quality and unpleasant smell. to start a compost pile, work from the bottom up

• First layer is coarse and airy – Twigs or leaves help bacteria survive and break down compost material. • Next layer is brown – Straw and newspaper. • Now, switch to green – Kitchen scraps and grass clippings. • Top it off with a compost activator – Blood meal, bone meal, chicken litter or seaweed. Cover your heap with plastic (old shower curtain liners work great) to help heat it quickly so the material breaks down. And, if it rains again, it's protected. Soupy compost is never good. Beneficial organisms require oxygen to break down the materials into organic matter. Experts debate on whether turning actually speeds the process. You may turn over your compost every two-three weeks or insert a PVC pipe into the middle of it and let the material decompose on its own.

now, you're on your way to

a bright composting future!

MANAGING PESTS THE ECO-FRIENDLY WAY Anytime there is a beautiful landscape on display, there are insects lurking in the background to take advantage of opportunities for food and shelter among the plants. For some, insects are unwelcome visitors to the landscape and must be removed. For others, insects are a reflection of the natural order and balance in the environment and are welcome inhabitants. Integrated pest management, or IPM, is a way to control pests by using a wide variety of approaches that don't focus solely on pesticides, including: 1. Biological control – Using beneficial insects or organisms to control pests and develop a natural pest/predator balance. 2. Mechanical control – Physically removing the pest organism by hand or with traps and barriers. 3. Cultural practices – Selecting plants that are insect or disease resistant and/or drought-tolerant. 4. Monitoring – Checking your landscape periodically for the presence of unwelcome plants or insects instead of regular treatments; and watering only when the landscape needs it. 5. Acceptable pest levels – Focusing on control, not eradication; and understanding how many insects can be present before damage occurs to the plants, if any. 6. Responsible pesticide use – Using a pesticide only to reduce pest populations that are out of control; and following labeled directions and using only recommended amounts. With this in mind, combining a well-managed xeric landscape with IPM practices results in a beautiful array of native and drought-tolerant plants that provide color throughout the year, while maintaining a level of insect and disease resistance to satisfy even the most persnickety gardener. Nathan Riggs, Conservation Project Manager San Antonio Water System

The Outlook - July 2012

THE OUTLOOK

IMPORTANT NUMBERS EMERGENCY NUMBERS EMERGENCY................................................................911

Fire....................................................................................... 911 Ambulance........................................................................... 911 Police Dept – Non-Emergency.............................210-207-7273 Fire Dept – Non-Emergency................................210-207-7744

DOMINION SECURITY

Chief of Security..................................................210-268-9932 Main Gate................................ 210-698-2997 or 210-698-2998 North Gate............................... 210-698-7812 or 210-698-1224 South Gate...........................................................210-698-5323

CITY

City Customer Service..........................................210-207-6400 Solid Waste (Trash)..............................................210-207-6428

OTHER NUMBERS

Cedar Elm Postal Office.......................................210-641-0248

NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER

Peel, Inc...............................................................512-263-9181 Advertising............................................ dominion@peelinc.com

At no time will any source be allowed to use The Outlook 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 Peel, Inc. The information in The Outlook is exclusively for the private use of Peel, Inc. DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and 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 others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser. * The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising. * Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the 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 case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. * Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above. * The Dominion HOA does not endorse any of the advertisers contained in The Outlook.

MISSION STATEMENT The Outlook, For The Dominion The mission of The Outlook is to provide The Dominion Community with one source of local news content that is written by Dominion residents. Our goal is to help build the community by connecting local businesses with residents and residents with relevant neighborhood information.

"Be the community."

ARTICLE INFO The Outlook is mailed monthly to all Dominion residents. Residents, community groups, churches, etc. are welcome to include information about their organizations in the newsletter. Personal news for the Stork Report, Teenage Job Seekers, recipes, special celebrations, and birthday announcements are also welcome. To submit an article for The Outlook please email it to dominion@peelinc.com. The deadline is the 20th of the month prior to the issue.

The Outlook - July 2012

THE OUTLOOK The Dominion News

A Dominion HOA Publication - June 2012 DOMINION HOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING SCHEDULE 2012-2013

2012 2013 June 27 January 23 July 25 February 27 August 22 March 27 September 26 April 24 October 24 November 28 December 19 (3rd Wed.) FROM THE BOARD CHAIRMAN THE DOMINION HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION GOVERNANCE

Living in a Homeowners’ Association (HOA) such as the Dominion is similar to living in a condominium except that each resident in a HOA has separate and distinct residential property. The HOA provides a variety of services similar to those provided by a town like security, landscape and facility maintenance, architectural control and overall administration. The cost of operating and maintaining the HOA is equally distributed amongst all residents in the form of assessments. The HOA is governed by a Board of Directors much like a town is governed by a town council. The Board was formed during the initial development of the community, with the Developer appointing the first Directors. Currently the Board has nine (9) elected Directors. These Directors have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the Association’s residents. They frequently address matters related to the budget, rules, service and policy. Community Association staff manages the day-to-day operations. Over the years, the Board chartered several resident advisory committees to provide input to the Board on various issues. Committee members serve a critical role as they represent resident interests in the governing process. The Board established committees provide the Board and HOA management advice on issues impacting the HOA. These issues might be related to activities, security, covenant enforcement or financial matters. In general, these committees further integrate resident Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc.

involvement in the affairs of the Association. Each Committee’s purpose is defined and approved by the Board through resolution. Board and Committee members are not compensated and members are expected to represent the common interests of the community, while putting aside personal agendas. Committees report to the Board at regular Board meetings. The Committee submits these recommendations to the Board in an advisory capacity only. At this time the Board is seeking residents who are interested in volunteering for one of the advisory committees. If you have such an interest, please notify a current Board Director or a member of the HOA staff. FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER RESERVE STUDIES AND FUNDS

Your HOA has recently completed a Reserve Study for the Dominion. A Reserve Study is the art and science of anticipating and preparing for the repair and/or replacement of major assets such as streets, bridges, monuments, etc. Partially art, because projections are made about the future and partially science, because projections are based on research and analysis within defined methodologies. A Reserve Study is typically performed by specialists in the field and consists of two parts: the Physical Analysis and the Financial Analysis. The Physical Analysis includes information about the current condition of the association’s major assets and the cost to repair or replace those assets. The Financial Analysis evaluates the association’s Reserve Fund balance and its’ ability to cover anticipated repairs or replacements. Theoretically speaking, a Reserve Study helps the Association keep the physical and financial assets in balance. Practically speaking, a Reserve Study is a budget-planning document, which provides a list of major assets, the status of the Reserve Fund, and the recommended funding plan. The Plan’s objective is to collect funds at a stable rate to offset the predicted future major expenses. What assets are covered by Reserve Funds? Expenses charged to the Reserve are the larger, infrequent expenses requiring require

significant advance planning compared to operating expenses, which occur on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. How are the Useful Life & Remaining Useful Life established? An asset’s Useful Life is typically established through past experience with similar assets, adjusted by assumptions for quality, rate of wear, and weather exposure. Remaining Useful Life is established by evaluating an asset’s current condition, which may decrease or increase based on usage. How much should be funded? There are several issues to consider when developing a Reserve Funding Plan. The primary issue is determining the objective of the plan. Generally speaking, The Dominion HOA objective is to provide sufficient cash to perform Reserve projects on time. Based on the study, the Board typically looks to develop a plan that provides stable contributions to the Reserve Fund. This will ensure each owner pays a fair share of the deterioration in of the Association’s assets, proportionate to the amount of time they are owners. While this is a brief summary of a fairly complex subject, I hope that it provides a basic understanding of this key issue. RESIDENTS CORNER WILDLIFE IN THE DOMINION

With increasing urban development and consequently diminishing native habitat, wildlife are losing places to roam, forage and peacefully exist. People living adjacent to or in the vicinity of natural areas will commonly receive unexpected visits from wildlife seeking food, water, and/or shelter. The smaller wildlife, such as rodents, raccoons, and skunks often go unnoticed; whereas larger mammals such as Deer, Hogs or Coyotes even Buzzards often draw the attention of humans. Regardless, the presence of unwanted wildlife in urban yards is usually due to one or more factors caused by the residents themselves, in some instances knowingly (never feed deer, in doing so you are feeding other unwanted animals). (Continued on Page 4) The Outlook - July 2012

THE OUTLOOK The Dominion News- (Continued from Page 3) Wildlife is attracted to food, water, and/or shelter in urban yards; whether these sources of attraction are provided intentionally or unintentionally. Food sources may include fruit lying on the ground beneath trees; fruit and vegetable gardens without proper fencing to prevent access; compost piles; garbage; food for domestic pets being left outside on a regular basis (particularly at night); and domestic pets themselves. Water sources include pet bowls, fountains, bird baths, ponds, and swimming pools. The following measures are highly recommended to reduce the likelihood of unwanted visits by wildlife: • Fence your backyard. • Secure garbage cans. • Do not intentionally provide food or water for wildlife. • If you have fruit trees, pick ripe fruit from the tree on a regular basis, and pick up fallen fruit from the ground. • Do not leave dog or cat food outside. • Keep pets indoors, especially at night. • Clear away bushes and dense weeds near your home where coyotes find cover and smaller prey to feed on. • Eliminate water sources that may attract wildlife. • Install outdoor lights triggered by motion sensors to frighten away wildlife at night.

The Outlook - July 2012

NEIGHBORHOOD VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION

Last month we asked the Dominion community to pitch in and help staff our own election precinct at Leon Springs Elementary School - and our community responded immediately! Thanks to the generous service of the following neighbors, the 2 election days in May went off without a hitch and all of us could vote in our accustomed, convenient polling place & see friendly neighbors when we came to vote: Stevie Apple | Sol & Barry Bellingham Cyndi & Woodie Hopper | Byron Howlett Kay Hughes | Valerie Katz | Trudy Land Jackie & Tom O’Brien | Wanda & Dale Schaufel | Mavis & Rafael Vasquez They all worked very hard in a windowless room on a sunny summer day & deserve a special “Thank You” from all of us. They came on time, were friendly to everybody who came in, took time to help people unaccustomed to the voting machines, never ran out of patience, and offered a well-organized, cheerful voting experience to all of us! These neighbors are part of what makes The Dominion a very special place to live. Be sure to thank them for their service!

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF OF SECURITY SUMMER BREAK

The summer school holidays are almost upon us and many young people are looking forward to their summer break. We are encouraging residents to be cautious while driving within the development, while children may be out enjoying their day. SAFE DOMINION STREETS Speed is a killer, but it is only one of many factors that can make our streets unsafe. Driving safely means being aware of your surroundings, adjusting to weather conditions, stopping completely at stop signs and looking both ways before proceeding. It also means ensuring you get behind the wheel of a properly maintained vehicle. Unfortunately, the Dominion community has seen more than its fair share of traffic accidents. Some factors involved in these cases were speed, inattentiveness, and alcohol. The personal and financial repercussions can be significant and long lasting at best, but may be disastrous at worst. When you see a knocked over sign or a damaged brick wall do you wonder what would happen if someone had been walking there? Street safety is more than actions taken sitting when driving. Parking rules are also in place for your safety. There are many narrow (Continued on Page 6)

THE OUTLOOK

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THE OUTLOOK The Dominion News- (Continued from Page 5) The Dominion News- (Continued from Page 3)

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The Outlook - July 2012

The Dominion News- (Continued from Page 4) streets in the community. Residents must park in their driveways or garages. Guests and vendors may park on the streets, but please monitor them to ensure they are not blocking access to emergency traffic. Please see the Dominion Community Manual for more information regarding driving and parking rules. GATE STRIKES There have been instances where vehicles have been struck by the gate arms. We see vehicles with transponders go through the gates without waiting for the gate to fully lower before proceeding. Please be aware that only 1 vehicle is supposed to pass through per gate cycle. If you proceed before the gate completes its cycle, you may be putting your vehicle and the gate at risk. Soon residents will see stop signs for the transponder lane to eliminate tailgating. These signs will be temporary as we determine the best location for permanent placement. FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Starting in June, owners in The Dominion will be able to access their Association account information over the internet though the Association website. You will be able to see you payment activity and account balance and print off your own statement and will no longer need to contact the Association offices to retrieve such information. We will be mailing each resident instructions and log in information in June. Be assured owner accounts will be accessible only by the owners using ID and private passwords. Later this year, the Association will also implement the ability to pay association dues online, as well as submit work orders and submit and review Architectural Applications. If you don’t receive your password notification by July 1 2012, please contact the Association office and stay tuned for more developments to improve service to the residents of The Dominion. COMMON AREA - STREET REPAIR At the May Dominion HOA Board Meeting, the directors approved a comprehensive street repair program for 2012. This plan is part of an extensive evaluation of our streets performance by the engineering firm of Pape-Dawson who then used that information to draft a plan for the orderly and systematic repair and replacement of the streets. This includes resurfacing a good portion of the Dominion Drive and all of Ambassador Lane. The actual work will involve removing or “milling” 2 inches of existing asphalt and replacing with 2 ½ inches of new asphalt. The plan also calls for spraying several side streets with “mico-seal” slurry to help extend the useful life of these streets. The total projected cost is $917K, which is funded by the Association’s Reserve Funds. ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL - YARD CARE With the combination of last year’s drought, the abundance of recent rain, and the warm weather, no doubt you have seen copious weeds popping up everywhere! On a recent drive through The Dominion I was hard-pressed to find a yard that did not have some kind of weeds growing in the grass or beds. The weeds will very (Continued on Page 7) Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc.

THE OUTLOOK The Dominion News- (Continued from Page 5) quickly take over a yard, and if not taken care of quickly the only green that is left is weeds! It is up to each individual Dominion Homeowner to ensure their yards and beds remain as weed-free as possible. This means spraying and /or pulling weeds when they emerge, and being diligent about following up with their eradication. The Cottage Estates receives two applications of pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control annually by Native Land Design, however this may not be enough to control all the weeds. The Dominion Homeowners Association desires to maintain the aesthetic standards of The Dominion which includes beautiful landscaping. Letters will be sent out soon to homeowners whose yards have been identified as needing some kind of landscaping attention, including weed control. If you receive one of these letters, please take a close look at what can be done in your yard to spruce it up.

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As always, please let us know if we can be of assistance to you in reaching our mutual goal of a beautiful Dominion. Sincerely, Glen Glass, Chairman The Dominion Homeowners Association, Inc.

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The Outlook - July 2012

THE OUTLOOK PERSONAL CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE: Start your daughter or granddaughter on a doll collection. Have 15 pristine dolls of all nations. Some dolls are 50 years old. $200.00 or best offer. For more info call (210) 698-1487. COLLECTIBLES FOR SALE: Selling my collection of Lalique, Baccaret Erte Bronzes, Sehring Bronzes and many pieces of art work unframed. Other antique items available. If interested, please call Jackie at (210) 698-7071 CAR FOR SALE: 2009 Jaguar XF Silver with gray leather interior. Good condition. Almost, 50,000 miles for $25,000. If interested, please contact Scott at (210) 372-2893 FURNITURE FOR SALE: Louis XVI style, 19th century chairs, table, and sofa for sale. Professionally appraised. For more information, please call (210) 698-1487. PUPPY TRAINER: Looking for a qualified puppy dog trainer. Smart, lovable 4 month old Sheltie female puppy with a not so smart Mommy. I prefer for the puppy to be trained in my home at the Cottage Estates. Please call Sylvia at (210) 363-0883. ITEMS FOR SALE: 8 seat dinning set with side matching piece and chairs. Iron base solid wood top. 8x12 area rug, import from India mixture of silk and wool, brand new. For more information, please call (210) 887-5866 ITEMS FOR SALE: Vintage American Antique Armoire 45” Wide X 80” Deep $800.00 - Southwest Style Framed Artwork | 42” Wide X 53” High $450.00 | 38” Wide X 53” High $400.00 | 45” Wide X 80” High $750.00 - For more information, please contact Ed at (210) 827-1451 for appointment. MOTO HONDA FOR SALE: Almost new… Moto Honda MOD 1994 St. 1100 with 4000 miles. You won’t believe its great condition… Try it…3000.00 Call Fatima at (210) 2368106 or Estela at (210) 7451013 or (210) 698-3170. Great Opportunity.

The Outlook - July 2012

FINANCIAL FOCUS STUDENT LOANS CRUSHING COLLEGE GRADS Submitted by Rich Keith

Today’s college grads are facing the “real world” with an extra scoop of debt. Two-thirds of students graduating from college or graduate school have student loans – about $25,000 on average. That’s a 25% increase over the past 10 years. In fact, today’s twentysomething holds an average debt of $45,000, including everything from student loans to mortgages and credit cards. Unfortunately, unemployment for those aged 18-29 is 12.4%, well above the national rate of 8.2%. Don’t feel as if you have to be the savior. Six in 10 boomers report giving financial help (outside of college tuition) to a child or grandchild in the past five years. Of those, $59,000 was the average amount of aid. If this sounds like you, ask yourself: Do I really have the resources? Am I saving enough for retirement? Try to share more financial wisdom and less cash with your adult offspring. The more you save for your own future means less possibility that you’ll need their help later on. Without going into too much detail, share the family financial picture with your children once they hit the mid-teen years. They need to know the family income is X and it takes Y amount to cover the mortgage and bills. Once they see X minus Y in action they will be surprised at how much it actually costs to run a household. This may have a side benefit of limiting how much and how often your children ask you for money and gifts. Children who have a basic understanding of money, especially the corrosive effects of debt, have a better chance of becoming financially independent later in life. They will be more resistant to the credit card offers sure to come to them in their freshman year at college. And they will more ready to partner with their parents as the family manages their college finances with them. Source: Primerica; Associated Press, April 3, 2012; USA Today, April 23, 2012.

DROWNING IS PREVENTABLE

THE OUTLOOK

The Dominion News- (Continued from Page 8)

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THE OUTLOOK Salt of the Earth: Sodium & Your Health TIPS FOR REDUCING SODIUM FOR BETTER HEALTH

Sodium is everywhere—swirling in the oceans, stored in vast underground crystalline deposits—and contained in just about every food and drink imaginable. The fact is, sodium is as an essential, life-sustaining ingredient for every known plant and animal on the planet. Without sodium, our bodies would cease to function. Sodium helps our cells draw in nutrients, maintains balanced pH levels, enables nerve function and muscle contraction, helps regulate your heartbeat, and is a key component of your bones, explains Jose Mejia, M.D., a cardiologist for The Austin Diagnostic Clinic (ADC). Yet too much of this essential element can pose serious health risks in people, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and congestive heart failure. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the average person should only consume 2,300 milligrams (mg)—about one teaspoon full—or less, per day. If you are 51 or older, are black, or already have high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease, then you should limit your intake to 1,500 mg orless per day, Dr. Mejia adds.

“Unfortunately, the average American gets about 3,400 mg of sodium a day, which is far more than is recommended for good health,” Dr. Mejia says. “Keeping the amount of sodium you eat under control can be challenging, but understanding the main dietary sources of sodium is one of the best ways to start lowering your intake.” SALT BY ANY OTHER NAME One of the most troubling parts of monitoring your sodium intake is understanding how extensively the food industry uses sodium as a flavor enhancer and as a preservative in everything from bread to canned soup. And then there’s a matter of naming conventions. Common table salt, otherwise known as sodium chloride, is just one form of sodium.There are many other compounds that contain sodium, including monosodium glutamate (MSG), baking soda, baking powder, disodium phosphate, sodium alginate, and sodium nitrite (sometimes just nitrite). “Most of the sodium we eat comes from processed foods and foods prepared in restaurants. Sodium is already part of processed foods (Continued on Page 11)

The Dominion News- (Continued from Page 9)

The Outlook - July 2012

THE OUTLOOK Salt of the Earth - (Continued from Page 10) and cannot be removed. Even fresh fruits, meats, vegetables and dairy products contain sodium,” Dr. Mejia notes. “However, food manufacturers and restaurants can produce foods with far less sodium. In addition, you can select lower sodium foods when possible, and you can cook more foods yourself to better control how much sodium you eat.” SHOPPING SMART TO REDUCE SODIUM

The most practical way to reduce your sodium is by altering what you bring home from the grocery store. Many items like baked goods, breakfast cereals, soups, and lunchmeats are very high insodium. “Pay very close attention to food labels,” Dr. Mejia says. “It may add extra time to your shopping trip, but it’s important to understand just what the food industry means when it uses sodium-related terms. Portion size is just as important. Frankly, it’s the only way to make sure you are not eating too much sodium.”

Here are some of the most common terms used on food packaging. If it doesn’t have a label, your best option may be to avoid buying it.

foods with these labels may still be high in sodium because some of the ingredients may be high in sodium.

• “Sodium free” or ”Salt free.” Each serving of this product contains less than 5 mg of sodium. • “Very low sodium”- Each serving contains 35 mg of sodium or less. • “Low sodium”- Each serving contains 140 mg of sodium or less. • “Reduced” or “Less sodium”- The product contains at least 25 percent less sodium than the regular version. Check the label to see how much sodium is in a serving. • “Lite” or “Light in sodium”- The sodium content has been reduced by at least 50 percent from the regular version. • “Unsalted” or “No salt added”- Not salt is added during processing of a food that normally contains salt. However, some

A DASH OF SOMETHING ELSE The widespread use of sodium means it can be challenging to avoid, especially if you are traveling with limited food options at airports. In that case, bringing low sodium snacks is a good option. At home, consider using alternative seasonings that are sodium free. Eventually, your taste buds will adjust to the lower sodium options. “It takes some effort, but a low sodium diet can have tremendous health benefits,” Dr. Mejia says. “If you are concerned or curious, it may be a good idea with check with your physician about the amount of sodium you are eating.” Jose Mejia, M.D., Cardiologist - The Austin Diagnostic Clinic,

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The Outlook - July 2012

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The Outlook - July 2012

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This Award-Winning floor plan includes many luxury upgrades, such as marble flooring, custom built-ins and a fireplace in the beautiful family room. A chef’s kitchen shows SS GE Monogram appliances, 2 dishwashers, granite & a brkfst area. The master features walk-in closets & spa-like bath while a private study gives direct access to a peaceful courtyard with lush landscaping. MLS# 935853 Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc.