Wildhorse - October 2013 by Peel, Inc.

WILDHORSE

WILD October 2013

Messenger

HORSE

www.WildhorseCommunity.com

9-1-1!

Volume V, Issue 10

Official Publication of the Wildhorse Homeowners Association

C A L L

The Board of Directors would like to stress that we cannot get involved in matters of crime or disputes between neighbors due to liability. According to the law and our community’s bylaws, the Association is responsible for maintaining and enhancing property values, especially the “common areas” (e.g., pools, basketball courts, playground). If you see crimes being committed or have an emergency, CALL 911! For matters involving disputes between neighbors or other non-emergency issues (i.e., barking dogs, illegally parked vehicle, etc.) call the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) non-emergency phone number at (210) 335-6000. We have recently discussed some cases where the HOA was contacted regarding resolution of issues out of scope for the board with Officer Ino Badillo (Deputy, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office) and he sent us the following email: “It is very important that residents understand that they need to call 911 Bexar County Sheriff's Office immediately. It does us no good if we find out after the fact. In this case, the sheriff's office will only be able to make an incident report. We need to catch them in the act. Please stress that we are their first immediate call, not the HOA or its management company. We get so many calls from board members and management companies after the fact or the following Monday.” Remember that if you see something suspicious, call it in to the non-emergency number as soon as possible. Do not wait until the next business day as this limits the actions BCSO is able to take regarding the incident. You and your neighbors are the first line of defense against crime in our neighborhood. For crimes that could damage property or may result in a loss of life, CALL 9-1-1 immediately! Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc.

2013 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS October 5th (Time TBA) National Night Out at Sports Park Sponsored by Safety Committee October 19th, 7am Neighborhood Bulk Waste Pick-up Curb-side home pickup Sponsored by Public Works October 26th, 6pm-8pm Halloween Celebration Trunk or Treat at Sports Park Sponsored by Social Committee November 2nd, 7pm Movie Night at Sports Park Sponsored by Recreation Committee November 9th (Time TBA) 5K & Kids Run at Sports Park Sponsored by Recreation Committee November 30th (Time TBA) Adult Holiday Party at Two Step Restaurant Sponsored by Social Committee December 7th (Time TBA) Morning with Santa (at TBA) Sponsored by Social Committee December 11th, 7pm 4th Quarter Board Mtg (at TBA) Sponsored by Board of Directors *Schedule subject to change Wildhorse Messenger - October 2013

WILDHORSE HOA Board

Emergency Numbers

Ginger Johnson........................................................ President Brian O'Mullan.................................................Vice President OPEN.......................................................................Treasurer Jason McClure..........................................................Secretary Chris Winnier.............................................. Member at Large

Bexar County Non-Emergency.........................210.335.6000

To contact the board, email: board@wildhorsecommunity.com Ellen Lounsberry........................................... Newsletter Editor OPEN...............................Communications Committee Chair communication@wildhorsecommunity.com Amy McEwen & Amanda Reynolds..........Pool Committee Chairs pools@wildhorsecommunity.com Jessica Morgan......................... Public Works Committee Chair publicworks@wildhorsecommunity.com Hilda Black................................. Recreation Committee Chair recreation@wildhorsecommunity.com OPEN.................................................Safety Committee Chair www.wildhorsecommunity.com Suzanne Patrick & Courtney Hanes.......... Social Committee Chairs social@wildhorsecommunity.com

Bexar County Animal Control..........................210.737.1442

Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office...................210.335.0300 Bexar County Environmental Issues / Public Works................ ......................................................................210.335.6700

Bexar County Dispute Resolution.....................210.335.2128 Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Liaison Deputy I. Badillo #217..................................210.335.6155 ..............................................................ibadillo@bexar.org

Important Numbers Bexar Co. Public Works.....................................210.465.4528 ...................................................... (shredding, graffiti, etc.) Bexar Co. Sign Dept.........................................210.465.0536 ........................................... (report damaged/missing signs) CPS...................................................................210.353.4357 ................................................... (report street light outage) Sheriff - Non-Emergency...................................210.335.6000 Spectrum Mgmt. Association............................210.494.0659

Newsletter Information Publisher Peel, Inc........................ www.PEELinc.com, 512-263-9181 Article Submission..... communication@wildhorsecommunity.com Advertising................................ advertising@PEELinc.com

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS Interested in submitting an article? You can do so by emailing communication@wildhorsecommunity.com or by going to: http://www.peelinc.com/articleSubmit.php. All news must be received by the 9th of the month prior to the issue.

Wildhorse Messenger - October 2013

CALLING ALL WILDHORSE RESIDENTS! The Board listened to the community and launched a new community website. The website was designed by our very own homeowner volunteer, Corinne McClure. The site features information on the committees, a new improved calendar, a slideshow that highlights Wildhorse, and other community resources. More information will be added to the website in the coming weeks, and will be the page to visit for homeowners to learn about community related events and happenings within Wildhorse. So be sure to check out the page at www. wildhorsecommunity.com, and ensure you register for the email alerts while you are there so you can be sure to be informed about our community! Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc.

WILDHORSE

The Wildhorse Halloween Celebration and Trunk or Treat is Coming… The Wildhorse Social Committee will host the annual Halloween Celebration and Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 26th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Sports Park. This popular event was attended by about 500 people last year and we hope to have an amazing turn out again this year. The event will include various stations including food and treats, cupcake walk, photo area, bean bag toss, pumpkin decorating, haunted area, and the famous Trunk or Treat. There will also be a costume contest, and the best boy and best girl costume winners will receive a prize! We are excited in planning this event that was enjoyed by many neighbors last year. This entire event cannot go smoothly without the help of our amazing volunteers. We are once again soliciting neighbors to help with 30-minute shifts for the following event stations; cupcake walk, set up or take down for the events, or simply participate in decorating your vehicle for the Trunk or Treat. We need at least 10-11 vehicles to make this event a success. Last year the decorations were awesome and the winning vehicle won a Lowe’s gift card! Remember that the candy will be provided by the social committee so just provide your creativity in decorating your vehicle. This year we are going to ask that participants bring a pool card or picture ID that shows their address so we can verify their Wildhorse residency to enter the event. We are also requesting for some neighbors to donate cupcakes for the cupcake walk station. To volunteer for this community event, please email social@ wildhorsecommunity. com. We look forward to hearing from you. Let us make this event a huge success this year!

NEIGHBORHOOD BULK WASTE PICK UP The Public Works Committee is happy to announce that on Saturday, October 19th at 7:00 a.m., Tiger Sanitation will provide our neighborhood complimentary bulk wastes pick up! We realize this is early in the morning but Tiger needs to start early in order to resolve any unforeseen issues, and to make it to the landfill by closing time. If you plan to dispose of brush, we recommend you do your yard work the week prior to the pickup and keep it in your back yard or garage until collection day. This complimentary bulk wastes pick up is open to all residents of Wildhorse whether you are a Tiger customer or not. (In exchange for this complimentary pick up, Tiger has been granted permission to distribute fliers in the community during this event). Have your items curbside prior to 7:00 a.m. to ensure your items are picked up! ACCEPTABLE ITEMS

• Appliances • Furniture • Extra bagged yard waste and other large items • Brush and limbs should be cut in 4’ foot lengths and tied in bundles not exceeding 35 lbs. each • Small amounts of remodeling debris as long as it is no longer than 4 feet in length, tied in bundles or in bags or trash cans UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS

• Large amounts of loose brush and construction/demolition debris • Paint, used oil, antifreeze, batteries, household chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and all other hazardous materials and liquids • Tires are also not accepted at the landfills **Failure to follow the guidelines may result in items not being picked up**

Wildhorse Messenger - October 2013

WILDHORSE Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District Water Conservation Audit The sweltering days of summer persist and with temperatures still in the 90s, we continue to face increasing pressure on our aquifers to meet water demands. Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District (TGRGCD) would like to ask for your help in reducing that demand on groundwater. We offer a free on-site consultation to identify problems areas that could be resulting in higher water usage to home or business owners residing within our District. Following the visit, we offer recommendations to help reduce water usage both inside and outside the home and a “goody” bag full of conservation-related items, including a hose timer, moisture meter, and low-flow showerhead. We would love to work with you on conserving our water resources and helping potentially reduce your water bill as well! To schedule a visit, give us a call at 210-698-1155! To learn more about Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District, please visit us at www.trinityglenrose.com.

ACC Approval It’s the time of year when homeowners are making improvements to the outside of their homes. These improvements are important and highly encouraged. It helps to keep the neighborhood fresh, pretty and inviting. Please remember that your improvements must maintain the harmony and integrity of our community. Please submit all improvement requests to the ACC committee. The forms can found at www.spectrumam.com. For those of you planning to stain your fences, below is a list of the HOA approved fence stains. • Behr semi-transparent natural cedar, • Wood Defender Sierra semi-transparent, • Olympic Desert Sand semi-transparent, • Olympic Caramel semi-transparent, • Olympic Cedar Natural tone semi-transparent, • Olympic Sierra semi-transparent and some semitransparent redwood stains • Kwal lost luggage (the color along Wildhorse Parkway) 4

Wildhorse Messenger - October 2013

Movie Under the Stars Come and join us Saturday, November 2nd at 7:00pm for a free showing of Paranorman* at the Sports Park. Please bring your own chairs and blankets while enjoying a movie under the stars with your neighbors. Refreshments will be served from 6:30pm to 7:00pm or while supplies last. Please bring a photo ID or your Wildhorse pool card for admission. This event is sponsored by the Wildhorse Recreation Committee.Volunteers to help staff this event are needed, please contact recreation@ wildhorsecommunity.com for more information. In the event of rain, the movie will be cancelled. *Movie is subject to change. Please see website for details.

Wildhorse 1K/5K Run/Walk

Saturday, Nov. 9th, 2013 Registration for the 5th annual Wildhorse Stampede Fun Run/Walk begins soon. The run will take place here in the community and for the first time online. The race is available to participants of all ages and fitness levels. Entry fee provides for a t-shirt, water bottle, and goody bag to all participants. The entry fees are as follows: Adults: $10.00 Children: $5.00 The dates for registration at the Sports Park are: Wednesday, October 30th 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 6th 5:30-6:30 p.m. Please make checks payable to: Wildhorse HOA and write 2013 Run/Walk Registration in the memo section of your check. The entry form and race map are available on our website at www.wildhorsecommunity.com. T-shirts may be picked up on Friday, November 8th at the Sports Park from 6:008:00 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help during registration days and the day of the race. We also need volunteers to host water stations along the route. Please e-mail recreation@ wildhorsecommunity.com if you are able to help. We hope to see you there! Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc.

WILDHORSE

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Wildhorse Messenger - October 2013 5 9/6/13 4:31 PM

WILDHORSE

Protecting Your Kids Online (reprinted with permission from: http://www.securingthehuman.org/newsletters/ouch/issues/OUCH-201304_en.pdf)

We all want the best for our children, including the ability to leverage technology. However, with technology come risks, risks that our children are often not aware of or prepared to deal with. As parents, it is our responsibility to ensure our children understand these risks and how to protect themselves. But this can be challenging, as we ourselves did not grow up in the same environment. In this newsletter, we explain the top three online threats to your children and how you can help them stay safe. TOP THREE THREATS

To protect your children, you have to first understand the dangers they face online. 1. Strangers: This is one of the most common threats parents think of when wanting to protect their kids online. In this context, strangers are individuals (usually adults) who establish online relationships with your children in order to take advantage of them, such as sexual predators. Often, these individuals pretend to be children themselves. 2. Friends: These are people your children already know, and are often other kids at school. Friends can pose a serious threat as online bullies. Remember that bullying no longer means just physical confrontation. In fact, the Internet amplifies the issue, as bullies can post harassing messages to the entire world or hijack your child’s identity online. In addition, bullies can launch these attacks anonymously, making them harder to track down and stop. Finally, anonymity makes it easier for someone to become a bully, since there is less chance of retribution. 3. Themselves: In today’s world of social networking, children can be their own worst enemy. Anything they post is accessible not only to the entire world, but once posted may also be difficult or even impossible to remove. Your children may not realize how these postings can impact their future. It is becoming a standard practice for universities and employers to review peoples’ social networking activities and Internet presence. Anything embarrassing or illegal posted by or about your children can negatively impact their future. In addition, highly personal information can be used by strangers-- or even by friends --to target or harm them or your family. PROTECTING YOUR CHILDREN

Now that you understand the key risks, here are steps you can take to defend against them: • Education: The most important step you can take is education. Make sure your children understand these threats and 6

Wildhorse Messenger - October 2013

that you are always talking to them about their online activities, staying current with what they are doing. In addition, create an environment where your children feel comfortable coming to you with questions or problems they may have online. • Dedicated Computer: Have a separate computer just for your children. This helps ensure that if they do accidentally infect their computer, your own accounts, such as online banking, are not affected or compromised. In addition, keep the children’s computer in an open area in your home so that you can monitor their online activities. Finally, make sure each child has and uses their own, non-administrative account on their computer. This will make it possible for you to track and enforce what each child is doing on the computer. • Mobile Devices: Mobile devices can be more challenging. For mobile devices, consider setting time limits when your kids can use them; at all other times they have to turn in their devices to you (perhaps create a central family re-charging station). Also consider taking your kids' mobile devices at night so they are not tempted go online when they should be sleeping. • Social Networking: Track what your children are doing online by creating your own accounts on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and then have your children invite you so you can follow what they publish. • Rules: Create a document that identifies the rules you expect your children to follow when online. Rules can include when they can use technology, for how long, what games or apps they can and cannot play and what information they can or cannot post online. Also, consider posting how the rules will be enforced, and possible consequences for violating the rules. Review the document with your kids and then post it by their computer so that your children will know and understand your expectations. • Technology: Finally, there are technologies you can use that help filter and monitor your children’s online activities. Most operating systems come with parental controls, and there are additional free and commercial tools you can use, such as OpenDNS. Security technologies are useful for younger children; however, as children grow older, technology becomes less effective. Not only do older children need greater Internet access for school or work, but they will also be using devices you do not control at libraries, at a friend’s or relative’s house, or at school. In addition, some mobile devices lack strong parental control software, such as iPads or iPhones. This is why education and the rules you create are far more effective than depending on technology alone. Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc.

WILDHORSE At no time will any source be allowed to use the Wildhorse Messenger 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 Wildhorse Messenger is exclusively for the private use of the Wildhorse HOA and 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.

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Wildhorse Messenger - October 2013

WILDHORSE

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Relax...

Selling your home doesn’t have to stress you out.

SOLD in 67 Days and 98% of list price If these stats sound good to you, call me. I have sold many homes in Wildhorse and would love the opportunity to use my experience and knowledge to work for you.

Patti Bennett

Realtor®, ABR, GRI, SRES

210-386-3424

Patti@ForSaleByPatti.com

I am a Wildhorse homeowner and have proven experience selling homes in this neighborhood since 2008. If your property is listed with a real estate broker please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully.

Wildhorse Messenger - October 2013