Prairie On The Creek - December 2013 by Peel, Inc.

THE HORIZON December 2013 Volume 2, Issue 12

The Official Newsletter for the residents of Prairie On The Creek

Prairie On The Creek - December 2013

THE HORIZON IMPORTANT NUMBERS EMERGENCY NUMBERS

EMERGENCY.................................................................911 FIRE.................................................................................911 Kyle Police Dept. (non-emergency).........512-268-3232 (24 hrs.) Kyle Animal Control...................................... 512-268-8800 Seton Medical Center Hays............................ 512-504-5000 SCHOOLS - HAYS CISD

Susie Fuentes Elementary School................... 512-268-7827 Chapa Middle School..................................... 512-268-8500 Lehman High School...................................... 512-268-8454 Hays CISD...................................................... 512-268-2141 UTILITIES

City of Kyle (water, sewer, refuse).................. 512-262-1010 CenterPoint Energy (gas)............................1-800-427-7142 To report gas leaks........................................1-888-876-5786 Pedernales Electric Cooperative..................1-888-554-4732 OTHER NUMBERS

Kyle Library.................................................... 512-268-7411 Kyle Post Office.............................................. 512-268-5541 Kyle Municipal Court..................................... 512-262-3994 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tawana Henderson................................................. President Amy Hunter.....................................................Vice President Beatrice Vela.............................................................Secretary Rey Sigala.................................................................Treasurer John Nice.................................................................Alternate

IMPORTANT DATES December 21, 2013 Winter begins December 25, 2013 Christmas Day

CITY OF KYLE EVENTS December 3, 2013 Kyle City Council Meeting December 4, 2013 Santa’s Arrival, School Choir & Tree Lighting Ceremony (City Square Park & Historic Kyle City Hall) December 12, 2013 Kyle Public Library Board Meeting December 17, 2013 Kyle City Council Meeting December 18, 2013 Special Called Kyle City Council Meeting

SAVE THE DATES January 1, 2014 Polar Bear Splash January 14, 2014 POTC HOA Regular Meeting

COMMITTEES

OPEN.............................................. Social Committee Chair Kevin Covington.. Architectural Review Committee member Carolyn Harkins... Architectural Review Committee member HOA MANAGEMENT

Alliance Association Management 512-328-6100 www.allianceonline.net Jessica Hamilton........................................Property Manager For questions or concerns in your neighborhood contact our Property Manager at info@allianceonline.net. NEWSLETTER INFORMATION Editor..........................................prairieonthecreek@peelinc.com Publisher, Peel, Inc........................................... 512-263-9181 Advertising.................................... advertising@PEELinc.com 2

Prairie On The Creek - December 2013

THE HORIZON

COOK’S CORNER Savory Chicken Pot Pie

INGREDIENTS: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

½ - 1 lb. cooked chicken breast, cubed or shredded 1 cup carrots, sliced 1 cup potato, diced 1 cup peas, frozen ½ cup celery, sliced 1/3 cup butter 1/3 cup onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 cup all-purpose flour ¼ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. black pepper ¼ tsp. poultry seasoning 2 cups chicken broth ¾ cup milk 2, 9-inch unbaked pie crusts

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Melt butter in a saucepan; add in onion, garlic and all veggies except frozen peas. Cook on medium heat for 10-15 minutes to soften vegetables. Add flour, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and cook about one minute to combine. Stir in chicken broth and milk; simmer until mixture thickens. Add frozen peas and cooked chicken, stir and remove from heat. Bake pie crust for 5 minutes to prevent a soggy bottom crust or, preheat a pizza stone. Pour chicken mixture into pie crust. Cover with top crust, making sure to seal edges, and cut away any excess dough. Make several small slits in top crust to allow steam to escape. Place pie directly on pizza stone and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until top crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool about 10 minutes before serving. NOTES: Mini Pot Pies can be made by using frozen, store-bought mini pastry shells and using refrigerated dough for top crust; bake about 8-10 minutes. For a beautiful, golden crust, brush egg over top crust before baking.

CREDIT OR DEBIT Do you press “CREDIT” over “DEBIT” when you swipe your debit card? When you are standing in front of the cashier and you swipe your debit card, when it prompts you to select “Debit” or “Credit” which do you normally do? Though the end result for either option is the funds to pay for your purchase are directly withdrawn from your checking account, there are some advantages for selecting “Credit” when using your debit card. • You don’t have to worry about remembering your PIN • You sign for your purchases, which helps against fraud • You are typically provided your signed receipt for your own records • There are “Chargeback” protections that can help ensure you get your money back if there is a dispute with the merchant • You have access to more stores since three times as many stores accept signature-based debit purchases than those that accept PIN-based purchases • The “Credit” option actually helps some credit union keep the cost of their debit card program down. These savings benefit the membership as a whole because it allows the credit union to continue to direct the funds saved towards maintaining better rates and lower, as well as fewer, fees. If you do not see a “Credit” option on the card reader, either ask the clerk to enable the “Credit” option or press “Cancel,” which will often bring you to the “Credit” option. Note: Any time you wish to withdraw cash you will need to use the “PIN” option, but for all other purchases, selecting “Credit” is a great, secure and convenient way to go!

Prairie On The Creek - December 2013

THE HORIZON

santa's arrival & tree lighting ceremony Si n c e 2 0 0 0 , Ky l e h a s invited Santa to take part in the Tree Lighting event in downtown. The Wednesday after Thanksgiving, December 4, 2013, the City of Kyle welcomes Santa to town. Join us at City Square Park for the official Kyle Kick off to the Holidays. Santa will be available to take pictures (you must bring your own camera; we will not have a photographer available). School choirs from local elementary, middle and high schools will be performing holiday songs; there will be free activities for the children, and food vendors to satisfy your hunger or thirst. It’s always a great time. So come out and help us ring in the holiday season. Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2013 Time: 4:30 pm – 9:00 pm Location: City Square Park / Historic Kyle City Hall (pictures with Santa) Schedule of Events 3:00 pm – Santa tours Kyle with Kyle Fire Department 4:30 pm – Santa arrives at Historic Kyle City Hall 4:40 pm – Pictures with Santa begins. (Bring your own camera; there will not be a photographer available to take pictures for you) 6:00 pm – Santa helps the Mayor flip the switch on the City Tree located at City Square Park 6:10 pm – School choir performances continue -Santa gets a 10 minute break 8:30 pm – Pictures with Santa concludes -Final choir performance begins 9:00 pm – Events concludes

Prairie On The Creek - December 2013

Water Saving Tips

Is my toilet leaking? You may not see or hear a leaky toilet, but it can waste more than 200 gallons of water per day, which could be very costly!! Here’s an easy way to find out if your toilet is leaking. 1. Remove the lid from the back of the toilet. 2. Place a drop of food coloring in the tank. 3. Wait 15 minutes without flushing. 4. If the color shows up in the toilet bowl, you have a leak.

-PRIME, Your neighborhood property manager

THE HORIZON

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Prairie On The Creek - December 2013

THE HORIZON CROSSWORD PUZZLE Crossword Puzzle

Crossword Puzzle Crossword Puzzle TRAVELING WITH YOUR PET OVER THE HOLIDAYS? Here are some tips that will help make your drive smooth sailing. Submitted by Kristen West, Owner of Gusto Dogs LLC. 1. Take your pet on short trips prior to the big day to let him get used to traveling by car. 2. Keep your pet safe in a secured, well-ventilated crate or carrier. It should be large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around. Letting him have free range in the car not only puts him at risk, but it also poses a risk to your family if you were to stop suddenly. 3. Never let your dog travel in the bed of a truck. Even if he is secured on a short line to prevent him falling or jumping out, your pet can experience discomfort from the weather and wind or sustain injury from debris. 4. Feed your pet three or four hours prior to departure and avoid giving him any food or treats in the car. 5. Never leave your pet in a parked vehicle, which can quickly become a furnace and cause heatstroke, even with open windows. In cold weather, the car holds the temperature like a refrigerator. 6. Your pet’s microchip should be up-to-date and he should be wearing a flat collar and ID at all times. 7. Bring a bowl and extra water in case you get stuck in the inevitable holiday traffic jam! 8. Take lots of breaks to let your pet stretch his legs and relieve himself. It’s a great excuse to do some sight-seeing or pick up a fun treat for yourself!

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View answers online at www.peelinc.com 6

Prairie On The Creek - December 2013

THE HORIZON

- Kids Stuff-

Section for Kids with news, puzzles, games and more!

Eleven-year-old Cait was trying to fall asleep when her 8-year-old brother, Doug, came into her room. He looked around a bit, but seemed really out of it. Then Doug went back into the hallway and stood there staring up at the hall light. Little brothers can be weird, but this was really strange. Cait didn’t know what to do. Just then, Cait’s father appeared and explained that Doug was sleepwalking. WHAT IS SLEEPWALKING? Not all sleep is the same every night. We experience some deep, quiet sleep and some active sleep, which is when dreams happen. You might think sleepwalking would happen during active sleep, but a person isn’t physically active during active sleep. Sleepwalking usually happens in the first few hours of sleep in the stage called slow-wave or deep sleep. Not all sleepwalkers actually walk. Some simply sit up or stand in bed or act like they’re awake (but dazed) when, in fact, they’re asleep! Most, however, do get up and move around for a few seconds or for as long as half an hour. Sleepwalkers’ eyes are open, but they don’t see the same way they do when they’re awake and often think they’re in different rooms of the house or different places altogether. Sleepwalkers tend to go back to bed on their own and they won’t remember it in the morning. Researchers estimate that up to 15% of kids sleepwalk regularly. Sleepwalking may run in families and sometimes occurs when a person is sick, has a fever, is not getting enough sleep, or is stressed. IS SLEEPWALKING A SERIOUS PROBLEM? If sleepwalking occurs frequently, every night or so, it’s a good idea for your mom or dad to take you to see your doctor. But occasional sleepwalking generally isn’t something to worry about, although it may look funny or even scary for the people who see a sleepwalker in action. Although occasional sleepwalking isn’t a big deal, it’s important, of course, that the person is kept safe. Precautions

should be taken so the person is less likely to fall down, run into something, or walk out the front door while sleepwalking. WHAT WILL THE DOCTOR DO? There’s no cure for sleepwalking, but the doctor can talk to you about what’s happening and try to find ways to help you sleep more soundly. Most kids just grow out of sleepwalking. For kids who sleepwalk often, doctors may recommend a treatment called scheduled awakening. This disrupts the sleep cycle enough to help stop sleepwalking. In rare cases, a doctor may prescribe medication to help someone sleep. HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP PREVENT SLEEPWALKING: • Relax at bedtime by listening to soft music or relaxation tapes. • Have a regular sleep schedule and stick to it. • Keep noise and lights to a minimum while you’re trying to sleep. • Avoid drinking a lot in the evening and be sure to go to the bathroom before going to bed. (A full bladder can contribute to sleepwalking.) HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF A SLEEPWALKER? One thing you can do to help is to clear rooms and hallways of furniture or obstacles a sleepwalker might encounter during the night. If there are stairs or dangerous areas, a grown-up should close doors and windows or install safety gates. You also might have heard that sleepwalkers can get confused and scared if you startle them into being awake. That’s true, so what do you do if you see someone sleepwalking? You should call for a grown-up who can gently steer the person back to bed. And once the sleepwalker is tucked back in bed, it’s time for you to get some shut-eye, too! Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD Date reviewed: February 2008 Originally reviewed by: Michael H. Goodman, MD

This information was provided by KidsHealth, one of the largest resources online for medically reviewed health information written for parents, kids, and teens. For more articles like this one, visit www.KidsHealth.org or www.TeensHealth.org.  ©1995-2006. The Nemours Foundation

Prairie On The Creek - December 2013

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Prairie On The Creek - December 2013