Ranch at Brushy Creek - January 2015

RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 1

Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc.

JANUARY 2015

The Ranch at Brushy Creek HOA Newsletter - January 2015

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RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK

Your Community at Your Fingertips Download the Peel, Inc. App Available for Your iPhone and iPad

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The Ranch at Brushy Creek HOA Newsletter - January 2015

Copyright Š 2015 Peel, Inc.

RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK BOARD & MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION MANAGER

Celeste Starr Schulz.............. Celeste.Schulz@Goodwintx.com RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK HOA BOARD Chris Fields ..................................cfields@BuffingtonCapital.com Blake Contine..............................blake@pioneerdevelopment.net Candace Lambert..................................... designertexan@aol.com COMMITTEE CHAIRS:

Neighborhood Watch Committee Brian Banisik......................................brianbanasik@hotmail.com Landscape Committee LJ Miller..................................................aerodrver1@gmail.com ADVISORY BOARD

Blake Contine, Declarant.............blake@pioneerdevelopment.net Carlos Ojeda.......................................... carloshojeda@gmail.com

COVER PHOTO

On the cover, Harrison Witherow. We moved the Austin area in August 2013. My husband and I are originally from Northeast Ohio and Cleveland sports fans (sadly) :). We spent almost 9 years in Phoenix and now are enjoying Austin. Still Cleveland sports fans and Harrison is our only child - and such a blessing. When looking for a house in the Austin area we really fell in love with the neighborhood feel of RBC and put it at the top of our list.

We were fortunate to find a house under construction in a great location that became our home. -- The Witherow’s.

Do you take great photos?

Would you like to see your photo published?

We are looking for great cover photos for upcoming December issue of the Ranch at Brushy Creek Newsletter.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMISSION: Must have been taken in R@BC (some exceptions) Be of High Resolutionm (240 dpi or higher) Prefer “portrait” orientation

NEWSLETTER INFO Editor Carlos Ojeda................................. carloshojeda@gmail.com Publisher Peel, Inc........................ www.PEELinc.com, 512-263-9181 Advertising........advertising@PEELinc.com, 512-263-9181

Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc.

ADVERTISING INFO Please support the businesses that advertise in the Ranch at Brushy Creek HOA newsletter. Their advertising dollars make it possible for all Ranch at Brushy Creek residents to receive the monthly newsletter at no charge. No homeowners association funds are used to produce or mail the newsletters. If you would like to support the newsletter by advertising, please contact our sales office at 512-263-9181 or advertising@PEELinc.com. The advertising deadline is the 8th of each month for the following month's newsletter.

The Ranch at Brushy Creek HOA Newsletter - January 2015

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RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK

TRAIL OF LIGHTS On Sunday December 14 we had the RBC Trail of Lights and Hayride. Even though the weather was rainy we had close to 400 neighbors in attendance. There were 4 hayrides going at all times during the 2 hour event.

We had so many neighbors that volunteered their time and services to make this a special time for everyone. There was a wonderful photo-op for families to get that last minute Christmas photo. There were hundreds of sweet treats donated by many of the RBC cookie bakers. Roaster’s Coffee was sampling apple cider and hot chocolate. The new Indian restaurant Suvai was on-hand giving out Indian food samples and chai tea. There was a trio of musicians walking around and engaging everyone in Christmas carols. But the most popular guest was Santa himself!

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RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

The Johnson Family

SCHEDULE No playdate Jan. 2nd Friday Jan. 9th Ranch Trails Park 10-12 Friday Jan. 16 Ranch Trails Park 10-12 Friday Jan. 23 Ranch Trails Park 10-12 Friday Jan. 30 Ranch Trails Park 10-12 For more information check our facebook page https:// www.facebook.com/groups/rbcplaygroups/

Kevin Johnson, Jacquie Johnson, Audrey (7) Jesse (4) Dylan (2).

Kevin is from Bonaire, Georgia and moved here 15 years ago to work for National Instruments after Graduating from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. Jacquie is a native Texan born and raised in Del Rio, Texas. I graduated from the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio and moved here 15 years ago to work in sales. Our paths crossed while walking our dogs and the rest is history. We married in 2005 and started our beautiful family.

After having two children and a previous home we decided to build in the Ranch at Brushy Creek in 2011 and couldn’t have made a better choice for our family. Our family has grown by one since then. We love our neighbors, our friends, our community and school - Patsy Sommer Elementary. We feel blessed everyday to live here.

YOUR COMMUNITY,

YOUR VOICE

Do you have an article or story that you would like to run in this newsletter?

Send it to us and we will publish it in the next issue. Email your document to carloshojeda@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc.

The Ranch at Brushy Creek HOA Newsletter - January 2015

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RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK RBC FIRST EVER

KIDS SCAVENGER HUNT WAS A BLAST!

The RBC had its first ever kids scavenger hunt at the Ranch Trails Park on a beautiful and warm December 6th with an amazing turn out, lots of laughs and contributions! There were 25 teams overall composed of 104 kids and team guardians who explored the Ranch Trails Park to find 9 hidden stations representing various different major US holidays from New Years to Christmas and many in between. These terrific kid hunters read through several riddles and collaborated to return proof of finding each station. Guardians did a fantastic job of ensuring security and teamwork only – the kids did all the searching and finding.

This was truly a neighborhood wide effort. 2 different younger aged Girl Scout troops participated and manned tables full of delicious food and drink donated by the troops and the amazing volunteers in the neighborhood. All proceeds went to support the troops and all left over food and drink was immediately brought to the Fire Station to enjoy! A 13-year-old Girl Scout Cadets troop and a Vista Ridge Sophomore were a huge help in providing security around the perimeter of the park and by manning hunt locations that needed supervision and stamps of proof. The Thanksgiving stop required a canned good donation, which allowed us to make a generous donation to the Capitol Food Bank!

Many thanks to the entire neighborhood! The list of planners and volunteers is long like the list of participants. There was great feedback for the next event, which will be even better!

Have an unforgettable day, -- Renee Geist

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The Ranch at Brushy Creek HOA Newsletter - January 2015

Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc.

RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK

Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc.

The Ranch at Brushy Creek HOA Newsletter - January 2015

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RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK

Wintry Wonders NATUREWATCH

As temperatures cool further and autumn turns to winter, our thoughts turn to visions of ice and snow. From first frost to ice storms to snow storms, these frozen precipitation events are sporadic in Central Texas, but when they occur, they can also be spectacular!

How does frost, this sparkling layer that sometimes covers the landscape, form? When the temperature of the air reaches a point where the water vapor in it can condense out into water, it is called the dew point. The frost point is when the dew point falls below freezing, and rather than producing dew, it creates frost. Consisting of tiny, spike-like crystal structures called ‘spicules’ that grow out from a solid surface, frost generally forms on surfaces that are colder than the surrounding air. Even the size of the crystals can vary, depending upon the amount of time they took to grow, the relative changes in temperature, and the amount of water vapor available.

Cold air is denser than warm air, so quite often when night skies are clear and calm, lower areas become colder due to differences in elevation.

Known as surface temperature inversion, this phenomenon forms ‘frost pockets’ or areas where frost forms first, due to cold air trapped against the ground. On such days, there can be a 40 to 50 degree difference in air temperature between dawn and early afternoon. Getting out early can reward you with a rare and wonderful spectacle of nature when something called ‘hoar frost’ is formed.

Referring to white ice crystals that are deposited on the ground or loosely attached to exposed objects such as leaves and branches, hoar frost forms on cold, clear nights when heat radiates out to the open sky faster than it can be replaced by nearby sources such as wind. This allows objects in the landscape to cool below the frost point of the surrounding air, and well below the freezing point of water. Hoar frost can form in low-lying cold air even when the air temperature a few feet above ground is well above freezing. The name ‘hoar’ comes from an Old English adjective meaning ‘showing signs of old age’, and refers to the frost making the vegetation look like it has grown white hair. When hoar frost forms on objects above the surface, like branches and leaves, it has a feathery-like appearance and is specifically called air hoar.

Snow, on the other hand, is an entirely different matter. When a cold water droplet freezes onto a pollen or dust particle high in the sky, it creates an ice crystal. As this primary crystal falls toward the ground, more water vapor freezes on it, building new crystals that form the six characteristic arms of a snowflake. This process of crystallization builds in a symmetrical or patterned way, because it reflects the internal order of the water molecules as they arrange themselves in pre-determined spaces to form the six-sided snowflake.

The most significant factor that determines the basic shape of the ice crystal is the temperature at which it forms, and to a lesser degree humidity.

The intricate shape of a single arm of a snowflake is determined by these atmospheric conditions as the entire crystal falls. As slight changes in 8

The Ranch at Brushy Creek HOA Newsletter - January 2015

by Jim and Lynne Weber

Hoar frost on barbed wire

Snow crystal forms temperature and humidity occur minutes or even seconds later, a crystal that begin to grow in one way might then change and branch off in a new direction. Since all six arms of a snowflake experience the same changes in atmospheric conditions, they all grow identically. And since individual snowflakes encounter slightly different atmospheric conditions as they take different paths to the ground, they all tend to look unique, resembling everything from simple prisms and needles to intricately faceted plates and stellar dendrites.

On the surface, winter may seem as if nature is shutting down around us, but take the time for a second look. Aside from the visual beauty they provide, the frosts and snows of the season are just another part of the ongoing cycle of life and renewal for our native plants and animals.

Send your nature-related questions to naturewatch@austin.rr.com and we’ll do our best to answer them. Check out our blog at naturewatchaustin. blogspot.com if you enjoy reading these articles!

Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc.

RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK

FITNESS CENTER Flexibility – Often Overlooked but Highly Important

We hear about it, we know we need it, but many of us don’t spend the focused time on making sure we have it! So what is flexibility really and why do we care? Flexibility is the distance and direction your joints can move (or their range of motion) as well as the ability of your muscles move without restriction, which allows for better range of motion.

Lack of flexibility not only impedes our physical performance and increases our chance of injury in not only athletic power and strength, but also in our typical day to day functions such as reaching high or squatting low for something, picking up objects – like kids, moving quickly to avoid or get to something and much, much more. Anyone who has ever had a pulled hamstring or aggravated low back can relate to this!

Did you know that in addition supporting our fitness and daily functionality and avoiding injury, improved range of motion and mobility also reduces post exercise muscle soreness, improves posture which strengthens joints, and increases your athletic abilities by using less energy when your muscles and joints are more flexible?

As a whole, we’re a society in a rush so it’s easy to cut out the stretching, but obviously that leads to issues down the road.

A good habit to get into is to stretch for 5 to 10 minutes after every exercise session or after you are gently warmed up (never stretch when muscles are cold). Stretch all the muscles of the body holding each stretch for 30 seconds if you can - the longer the better. Stretch to where you feel tension, but not pain and breathe normally. If time pressed, a little stretching is better than none. Use the Internet or a certified trainer to help you with a stretching plan if needed!

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The Ranch at Brushy Creek HOA Newsletter - January 2015

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RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK

FRUIT FLIES Fruit flies can become a problem at any time of year because they are attracted to ripe or fermenting fruit. Fruit flies can be brought into the home from ripe fruits or vegetables picked from the garden or items purchased at the grocery store.

Adults are small (about 1/8 of an inch) and usually have red eyes. The front portion of the body is tan while the back portion is dark brown or black. If given the opportunity, females can lay up to 500 eggs. Larvae feed near the surface of fermenting foods or other organic matter.

Prevention is the best way to deal with fruit flies. Do not purchase over ripened fruit or vegetables. Fruit and vegetables should be eaten in a timely manner or stored in the refrigerator. If storage in the refrigerator is not an option because you are ripening the item, place it in a paper bag and use a

clothespin or chip clip to close the bag. All recyclables should be rinsed thoroughly before placing them into the recycling bin. The recycling bin and garbage can should be cleaned out on a regular basis to eliminate any spilled material.

To eliminate a fruit fly infestation, all sources must be located and eliminated. Insecticides will not help if sources are not eliminated. While searching and eliminating breeding sources, a trap can be constructed to capture adult flies. Create a paper funnel by rolling notebook paper and place the funnel into a jar that contains a small amount of apple cider vinegar in the bottom.

For more information or help with identification, contact Wizzie Brown, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist at 512.854.9600.

The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service or the Texas A&M AgriLife Research is implied. Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status.

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RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK

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RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK SEND US YOUR

Event Pictures!!

Do you have a picture of an event that you would like to run in this newsletter?

Send it to us and we will publish it in the next issue.

Email the picture to carloshojeda@ gmail.com. Be sure to include the text that you would like to have as the caption.

Pictures will appear in color online at www.PEELinc.com.

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• Experienced portfolio management staff has more than 100 years of collective experience and includes four Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA’s), two PhD’s, four Masters Degrees.

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RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK INPATIENT EMERGENCY PEDIATRIC

900 EAST WHITESTONE BLVD CEDAR PARK, TX 78613 512.684.4000

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RANCH AT BRUSHY CREEK At no time will any source be allowed to use the The Ranch at Brushy Creek HOA Newsletter 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 the The Ranch at Brushy Creek Home Owners Association and Peel, Inc. The information in the newsletter is exclusively for the private use of The Ranch at Brushy Creek residents only.

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.

Please remember to pick up after your pets and “scoop the poop”

* 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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