Rivermist - October 2012

The Beacon

Volume 3, Issue 10

October 2012

Don’t Get Taken for a Joy Ride:

Know the Four Steps to Keep Safe if Your Car Breaks Down The holidays are fast approaching. Many of us will be traveling by car, anxious to get to our holiday events and seeing friends and family. We all know that cars don’t last forever and could have mechanical problems.

If you are ever in an accident or your vehicle breaks down, remember your safety is your priority.

The Insurance Information Institute recommends the following precautions when your car breaks down or you experience an accident: 1. Never get out of the vehicle to make a repair or examine the damage on a busy highway. Get the vehicle to a safe place before getting out. If you've been involved in an accident, motion the other driver to pull up to a safe spot ahead.

2. If you can’t drive the vehicle, it may be safer to stay in the vehicle and wait for help or use a cell phone to summon help. Under most circumstances standing outside the vehicle in the flow of traffic is a bad idea.

3. Carry flares or triangles to use to mark your location once you get to the side of the road. Marking your vehicle’s location to give other drivers advance warning can be critical. Remember to put on your hazard lights and lift your hood.

4. In the case of a blowout or a flat tire, move the vehicle to a safer place before attempting a repair—even if it means destroying the wheel getting there. The cost of a tire, rim or wheel is minor compared to endangering your safety.

This is a good time of year to make sure your auto insurance policy is up to date with the most current and best features.” “Allstate® Your Choice Auto Insurance product breaks the mold of products traditionally offered by many insurers by presenting consumers even more choices, innovative features and enhanced rewards for safe drivers.” To learn more about Allstate® Your Choice Auto Insurance, call Wagner and Associates at (210) 699-7100. We are 6415 Babcock, Ste 109, the corner of Babcock and Prue right behind Valero.

Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc.

The Beacon - October 2012

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The Beacon Cellular On Patrol Program

City Starts Enhanced Emergency Alert Program

The SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT sponsors a unique, exciting program, CELLULAR ON PATROL, that gives residents an opportunity to work closely with the police to make their neighborhoods safer places to live.

BACKGROUND • Members of neighborhood groups receive training at SAPD substations.

• Graduates patrol their own neighborhoods, using donated SBMS cellular phones pre-programmed with additional freedial emergency numbers.

• Funds to support the program (ID cards, logo shirts, etc.) are donated by local businesses.

The City of San Antonio is implementing an enhanced Emergency Alert Program which will let residents know about emergency events occurring near their home, work, children’s school and other places.

Called “AlertSA,” the system allows individuals that live, go to school or work in the area the opportunity to ‘opt-in’ and register their mobile device, home or work phone, to receive text messages, voice and email alerts during imminent and dangerous situations. There also is a choice to receive alerts regarding locations of interest, such as a workplace, children’s school or other areas as long as those locations are within the boundaries of San Antonio.

Public safety officials will use the system to notify residents and businesses about emergencies, such as severe flooding, significant wildfires and chemical emergencies, among others. Alerts may be sent at any time, day or night, depending on the severity of the incident.

Residents and businesses in San Antonio can ‘opt-in’ on the Internet or by phone. To receive emergency notifications or for more information, visit www.AlertSA.com and register. Residents also can register by calling 3-1-1. AlertSA is free, however, charges may occur if an individual has a per-call or per-message limit on their mobile device.

Photo (L-R): Fire Chief Charles Hood, District 5 Councilman David Medina, Police Chief William McManus, and City Emergency Manager Lawrence Treviño.

THE COP TRAINING PROGRAM The purpose of the COP Program is to prepare neighborhood residents to be the “eyes and ears” of the police and to promote closer cooperation between residents and the city agencies that exist to serve them. The training program, presented at the SAPD substations, consists of 8 hours of classroom training and the opportunity for up to 8 hours of ride-along with a district patrol officer.

During the classroom sessions volunteers are trained to recognize suspicious activities and other factors that lead to crime in their neighborhoods. Police officers and other specialists present information on how to recognize various crimes, including burglaries, thefts, robberies, gang activities, narcotics and vice activities, and other crimes that may be present in the neighborhoods the COP graduates will patrol.

COP volunteers are also given information on code violations and how to work with Code Compliance to clean up their neighborhoods, as well as how to access agency assistance for elderly and disabled residents of their neighborhoods or for victims of crime.

The ride-along experience provides COP volunteers with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with SAPD patrol procedures and to establish points of contact with both the substation and with the officers who patrol their neighborhoods. Most COP volunteers have found the ridealong to be one of the most educational and valuable parts of the COP training.

Upon completion of the training COP graduates are presented with a graduation certificate, a photo ID card and a COP T-shirt or hat.

The next class for the Prue Road Substation will be held on October 11th and 18th from 6pm to 9:30pm. Signup forms are available for download at http://www.sanantonio. gov/sapd/prue.asp . Email us at hoa.bod@rivermistsa.com for form pickup.

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The Beacon - October 2012

Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc

The Beacon

City's overall service delivery satisfaction level improves for residents San Antonio residents increased their approval rating of City services according to the results of the 2012 community-wide survey.

The City of San Antonio conducted its third community-wide survey through an independent consultant, ETC Institute, and the results indicate the City continues to move in a positive direction by increasing its overall City service delivery satisfaction level to local residents.

The percentage of residents who rated the overall quality of City services as "excellent" or "good" increased from 65 percent in 2010 to 69 percent in 2012, a 4 percent increase. The City's overall satisfaction rating is higher than several other large cities in Texas, including Dallas (61 percent), Houston (52 percent), Fort Worth (58 percent), and Austin (65 percent).

San Antonio residents were asked to rate the City on the delivery of its major City services, and their perception of the local community.

Residents were also asked for input on how budget priorities for funding of City services should change. The survey was administered in both English and Spanish to a random sample of 1,011 residents by traditional land lines and cell phone numbers.

"We are making incremental positive strides in the delivery of City services to our residents," said City Manager Sheryl Sculley.

"The survey data gathered provides City departments with resident feedback that assists in prioritizing new and existing programs. We are committed to improving our customer satisfaction levels with residents and will focus on needed areas of improvement over the next two years, as well as enhance services with high levels of satisfaction by our community."

The major services that residents felt were most important for the City to provide were police safety services, public works services, fire and emergency medical services, and health and social services.

The major categories of City services that had the highest overall levels of satisfaction were: fire and emergency medical services (90 percent satisfied or very satisfied), public library services (88 percent satisfied or very satisfied), solid waste services (79 percent satisfied or very satisfied) and the San Antonio International Airport (79 percent satisfied or very satisfied).

The City of San Antonio will continue to conduct a biennial citywide Community Survey in order to ascertain satisfaction with City services and its programs. To view the complete 2012 community survey results, visit the City's website at www.sanantonio.gov.

Residents can also view a copy at any of the City's branch libraries.

For more information, please call (210) 207-7234.

Do You Need To Rent Your Home?

Many times homeowners find themselves forced to be landlords because of conditions in the real estate market. Some homeowners purchase a home with the intent to eventually turn it into investment property. In either case hiring a professional Property Manager should provide protection for your investment.

Choosing the right property manager can be overwhelming, especially if you are down to the final weeks or days before you move. In Texas, property managers who enter into agreements to manage property for others must be licensed by the state and according to the state laws; only licensed real estate brokers can maintain escrow accounts for others. Look for a brokerage that specializes in property management as a separate department or as the only business of the firm. Sales agents who do property management on the side are, for the most part, not knowledgeable in this specialized area of real estate A property owner could find themselves with liability issues and monetary loss because of the agent’s actions or lack of action. There are many pitfalls and problems that may occur with rental property and many of these problems, but not all, can be avoided by using an experienced, educated manager for your home.

When interviewing a prospective manager for your home, do not hesitate to ask about their expertise and education in single family rental management. Ask if they belong to an professional organization which offers educational opportunities and promotes standards of excellence on a local, state, and national Copyright Š 2012 Peel, Inc. basis. Do not just look for who will be the cheapest, look for who

will be interested in YOUR property and will be someone you can communicate with easily. At a minimum your manager should be prepared to do the following: Find QUALIFIED tenants, execute the lease, inspect the property for tenant care and for maintenance needs, collect rent, handle repairs, provide written statements and funds to you on a monthly basis, and communicate with you and your tenant. No one can guarantee that there will not be any problems with a rental property. You need to ask how many times a particular manger has to go to eviction court in a year.

If they are there often, they are not using very high standards to qualify tenants.

I have been an active agent and Broker in San Antonio real estate sales, leasing and property management since 1987. I have experienced the good and the bad markets and the pitfalls of rental management. As the owner of RE/MAX Access RealtorsŠ, I know the importance of having a professional property manager.

Leslye Baumann, is our property manager. She is a licensed broker with over 30 years experience in single family residential rental management in San Antonio. Leslye is an active member of the San Antonio Board of Realtors Property Management Committee, the National Association of Rental Property Managers, and the Texas Association of Realtors Professional Standards Committee.

I invite you to contact us when you need a property manager and we will be happy to meet with you and present our procedures and policies to you. You can call me at 210-657-7500 or 210-325-6962 The Beacon - October 2012 or E-mail me at sheila@sheilamoran.com.

Sheila Moran

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The Beacon

Support the City’s New Downtown Tuesday Initiative with Free Parking, Great Deals and Live Music

In August, the City wrapped up its annual and always-popular "Movies by Moonlight" summer series. This year, the City moved the screenings from Thursday nights to Tuesday nights in order to support the City’s new Downtown Tuesday initiative, spearheaded

by District 1 City Councilman Diego Bernal. This scheduling shift combined with free parking helped bring the total attendance for the 2012 season to a record-breaking 19,595; nearly doubling last year’s count of 12,842.

"Movies by Moonlight is a great attribute to the growing Downtown Tuesday program," said Councilman Bernal. "It's about breaking down the barriers that some people may feel when considering coming Downtown. And I'm so pleased that residents from all parts of town are embracing this program."

In an effort to bring more locals Downtown, the City's Downtown Tuesday program offers free parking from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. at all Cityoperated parking garages, lots and meters. More than 70 restaurants, bars and hotels in the area have also joined in on the fun by offering exclusive specials and discounts to customers every Tuesday evening beginning at 5 p.m. Since the start of the program in February 2012, the City has seen a 24.7 percent increase in parking customers from the previous year aat City-operated garages and lots. In addition, survey data shows that customers are coming from all over the City to enjoy the program.

Since Downtown Tuesday’s inception in February of this year, the initiative has grown tremendously, expanding the number of partnering businesses, and developing a strong following on social media. The initiative’s Facebook page has reached almost 900 “likes” and is growing every day.

For more details, call 207-3677 or for a map with the free parking locations, visit www.sanantonio.gov/dtops.

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The Beacon - October 2012

Sign up for email alerts by registering at

www.Spectrumam.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

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE - HELOTES CYO NOW REGISTERING FOR BASKETBALL BOYS & GIRLS – AGES 4 -16 REGISTRATION FEE: $125.00 UNIFORM INLCUDED REGISTER ONLINE AT HTTP://WWW.OLGYOUTHATHLETICS.ORG For more information CALL (210) 617-3260 or Email: OLGRegistrar@OLGYOUTHATHLETICS.ORG Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc

The Beacon

Stretches for Headaches I had mentioned that I would provide some stretches in an article a couple of months ago, for people who suffer from various types of headaches. These include tension, stress, migraine and other types.

Headaches and neck pain are often caused by stiff muscles in the neck and shoulders. Stiff muscles in the neck and shoulders can be caused by a variety of things; poor posture, stress, sitting for long periods of time, sleeping in a bad position, bulging discs etc.

The pain from headaches and neck pain can range from bothersome to excruciating. If you are experiencing headaches or neck pain, as with other trouble symptoms our bodies give us, it is always a good idea to see a doctor to make sure that you do not have a serious condition. Stretching as well as regular massages, can help to relieve headaches and neck pain. Even if you do not have any pain, stretches can help prevent headaches and neck pain. We should always be in the pro-active mode instead of the re-active mode.

Doing these four stretches only takes a few minutes and are a great way to start out your day. A warm towel can be held around the back of the neck for extra pain relief. All of these stretches can be done from either a sitting or standing position but most neck stretches are better done in the sitting position which makes it easier to do them while at your PC or desk at work. Make sure to have straight posture when performing these stretches. Use slow and deliberate movements when doing the following stretches. And remember to breathe. A lot of people underestimate the importance of proper breathing while performing stretches or exercising.

Repeat each of the following stretches three to five times.

1) Start with your head pointed forward. Slowly turn your head

to the left and hold for a few seconds. Slowly turn your head back to the starting position and hold for a few seconds. Slowly turn your head to the right and hold for a few seconds. Bring your head back to the starting position.

2) Start with your head pointed forward. Slowly tilt your head back so that you are looking up and hold for a few seconds. Slowly bring your head back to the starting position. Tilt your head down so that you are looking down and hold for a few seconds. Bring your head back to the starting position.

3) Start with your head pointed forward. Slowly bend your head to the left side so that your left ear is pointing towards your left shoulder and hold for a few seconds. Bring your head back to the starting position. Slowly bend your head to the right side so that your right ear is pointing towards your right shoulder and hold for a few seconds. Bring your head back to the starting position.

4) Looking straight ahead and making sure to have straight posture, slowly bring your shoulders up towards your ears and hold for a few seconds. Slowly bring your shoulders back down.

These are only a few examples of stretches for the neck and shoulders that can be easily performed by anyone, anywhere.

Stretching can help loosen the fascia that binds our muscles and help prevent some trigger points. Unfortunately some trigger points and myofascial release, require more work that only a professional therapist, trained in the proper soft tissue modalities, can perform.

Until next time, be safe, enjoy the cooler weather and have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Greg Sedbrook

Grease: The Real Monster Growing Inside Your Sewer System The Adverse Impact on Your Sewer System Did you know cooking grease being poured down drains is a major cause of residential sewer main clogs resulting in unsightly, smelly and unhealthy sewer spills?

Cooking oil and grease are wastes that the city's sewer system cannot handle and should not be discarded down the drain. Grease, fat and oil will clog sewer lines (the same way bad cholesterol can clog heart arteries), causing sewage backups and flooding. Sewage back-ups can damage personal and public property.

SAWS is working to increase preventative maintenance of sewer lines and reduce overflows in response to increased scrutiny from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that is expected to result in costly, federally mandated improvements to the sewer system.

By following a few simple rules, you can help prevent costly sewer spills in the future: Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc. • Small amounts of cooking oil (this includes salad oil, frying oil and bacon fat) should be poured into an empty milk

carton, frozen juice container or other nonrecyclable package and disposed of in the garbage.

• Dishes and pots that are coated with greasy leftovers should be wiped clean with a paper towel prior to washing or being * DO NOT dump cooking oil, poultry fat and grease into the kitchen sink or the toilet bowl. * DO place cooled cooking oil, poultry and meat fats in sealed containers and discard them with your regular garbage.

The Beacon - October 2012

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The Beacon Dear Homeowner,

Pro Tree Care r o b r A

Ross Hosea, Owner ISA Certified Arborist #TX-3811A Texas Oak Wilt Certified San Antonio native with more than 20 years experience Trimming ● Removal ● Planting Free Estimates

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. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Regards, Jason M. Green Community Manager Office: 210.494.0659 www.spectrumam.com

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

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 6

The Beacon - October 2012

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