Wood Glen - July 2015 by Peel, Inc.

Wood Glen

Official Publication of the Wood Glen Property Owners Association

July 2015 - Volume 9, Issue 7

PRESIDENT'S LETTER The Wood Glen board of directors held its June meeting at my home on Becca Teal on the 16th. The board approved a xeriscape rule which has now been filed with the county. This document has been in the works off and on (mostly off) for quite some time so it’s good to finally have it put to rest. Remember, you need approval for any landscape modifications even with this rule in place. When in doubt, always submit a request to the modifications committee just to be safe. The board once again discussed security at the amenity center and tennis court. Early in June we experienced another vandalism incident. This time it was a shattered sink in the women’s bathroom. We have surveillance footage of some teenagers at the pool after hours the night before the damage was discovered. The photos are of poor quality but they were posted on nextdoor.com in hopes that someone might recognize any of them. The kids were not observed to be doing anything destructive in the footage but we can’t rule that out because the cameras as positioned have huge blind spots. One measure we took after this most recent incident was to reposition one of the cameras so that it can see activity along the back wall of the amenity center. As it was previously positioned we have no idea if the kids in question even entered the bathrooms. We also set the tennis court lights to stay on all night while we are in the process of strengthening the gate. In its current condition it can be opened with a firm tug. Kids have been observed misusing the courts and there has been damage to the net and poles over the past year. If you see anyone in the tennis court who is obviously not there to play tennis, please ask them to leave. As of this printing we will no longer have a free newsletter provided by Peel, Inc. The recent postage increases combined with limited advertising revenues mean that Kelly loses money with each issue. The mailing expenses are around $250 per month and if necessary we can pay that but I have also had Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc.

some homeowners express interest in self-publishing. We will explore our options but I would prefer to preserve a printed communication as it goes to every home whether owner- or renter-occupied and, at least according to my personal experience, is more likely to be read than an electronic version, which is another option. I have received quite a few complaints about street parking. From my personal experience and through contact with board members over the years I know that this is consistently the number one concern. I’ve kept the names of those who have contacted me about this issue and will be approaching them personally to see if there is interest in forming a committee to assess the extent of the problem and perhaps focus on correcting one or two locations where it is particularly a nuisance. We do have rules governing street parking and they take the form of requiring each of us to keep our garages clear and to utilize them solely for parking of motor vehicles. We are allowed to park on the street and driveway but street parking is limited to 48 hours in a 7 consecutive day period whereas driveway parking has no time limit. The net effect is that you should only street-park after you have fully utilized your garage and driveway. If we all did this, there would be considerably fewer cars on the streets. Not only are they unsightly but they pose a safety hazard to pedestrians. I’ll be working to revive the lawn-of-the-month program and hopefully will have our first winners in July. I want to do this by section this time rather than neighborhood-wide so that there is a realistic chance for homeowners to win and be recognized for their hard work and sense of pride. With that I think I’ll sign out. Hopefully we’ll have another communication vehicle in place shortly. If you haven’t already, please sign up on NextDoor.com or WoodGlen.org to receive periodic updates. Enjoy your summer and be safe!

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Wood Glen BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Wayne Solum..................wsolum.wgpoa@gmail.com Vice President: David Schell........................ dschell@gmail.com Treasurer: Tim Thornton............... tim.thornton@ziprealty.com Secretary: Lela Solum..........................lelasolum@austin.rr.com Section 1: David Schell................................ dschell@gmail.com Section 2: Prashant "Nat" Nadkarni.... nadkarnipb@yahoo.com Section 3: Julie Cowan.......................... juliercowan@gmail.com Section 4: Roy Wiederkehr..............rww20_77346@yahoo.com Section 5: Lisa Hassel.............................. lhassel@cbunited.com Section 6: Tim Thornton............... tim.thornton@ziprealty.com Section 7: Wayne Solum.............................. wsolum@juno.com

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Modifications: Margaret Schell....................................... mlschell@gmail.com Pool/Amenity Center: Julie Cowan.......................................juliercowan@gmail.com Landscaping / Greenbelt: Karen Fischer...............................................kfischer4@att.net Social Events: Anna Warren........................... anna@upwardspiralliving.com Communications: David Schell............................................. dschell@gmail.com Ant Bait Control Program: Wizzie Brown....................................... ebrown@ag.tamu.edu Welcome Committee: David & Elaine Lloyd.............................Lloyd1111@aol.com

MANAGEMENT CO. Certified Management of Austin (CMA) 9600 Great Hills Trail, Suite 100E Austin, TX 78759, Tel: (512) 339-6962 Fax: (512) 339-1317, Email: frontdesk@cmaaustin.com Contact: Jennifer English

NEWSLETTER INFO Editor David Schell..........................................dschell@gmail.com Publisher Peel, Inc........................ www.PEELinc.com, 512-263-9181 Advertising........advertising@PEELinc.com, 512-263-9181 2 Wood Glen Property Owners Association Newsletter - July 2015

MAINTENANCE CALENDAR FRONT DOORS

Many of our homes in Wood Glen have hard-wood doors with cut-glass inserts. These need periodic maintenance in the form of sanding, staining and the application of spar-urethane. When properly cared for these doors are stunningly beautiful. Steel doors need periodic painting due to oxidation.

LAWNS

Water restrictions are in effect but you still have an obligation to maintain a green and healthy lawn. Each homeowner is required to have an operational sprinkler system in their front yards which require periodic maintenance to operate efficiently. Please check your sprinkler heads and ensure they are not broken or pointing in a direction that wastes water. There are hints online on watering schedules to minimize water usage and maximize effect. If you start seeing brown patches, you need to make some adjustments.

BUSHES AND TREES

Some bushes in the neighborhood have never been trimmed. Once they get too large they cannot be trimmed back into a bush. However, removing the lower branches and shaping the canopies make a surprisingly attractive ornamental. If you have one of these monsters, please give it a little TLC. We also have numerous trees with branches hanging down into the sidewalk. The clearance must be 8 feet in these locations. Trees CAN be trimmed in the summer months as long as the equipment is sterilized and the wounds immediately treated. Please fix these nuisance areas or you will receive a notice.

GARAGES

Yes, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sounding like a broken record. Please make any and all efforts to clear your garages and utilize them for parking as required by the CC&Rs.

Wood Glen

news items trees and Thin Lawns As our trees mature the canopies become inpenetrable to sunlight causing your lawn to become thin, leading to bare patches. One solution is to have your trees trimmed and thinned out. This encourages better growth of both the tree and the lawn. My yard has improved considerably since having this done last fall.

real-estate signage The board has asked that all real-estate signage be placed in the yard between the sidewalk and the house and not in the area between the curb and sidewalk. Have your agent place your sign in the proper location or move it yourself if necessary.

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 dschell@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.

Speeding The speed limit is 30 miles per hour in residential areas. Please do not exceed this. It would be tragic for a child to be injured or worse because of a little impatience on your part.

Street parking Cars on the street pose a safety hazard for children and street parking should only be done if absolutely necessary. The order of preference for parking is the garage first, the driveway second and lastly the street. At no time should any vehicle parked on the driveway block the sidewalk.

Pool Safety As school lets out for the summer there will be increased activity at the amenity center. Remember that we do not provide a lifeguard and it is up to you to watch your children and make sure they are safe.

tennis Court If you see kids in the tennis court who are not playing tennis, please ask them to leave.

Mike Cuming (512) Cuming 671-7526 Mike

MBA

Financial Advisor 512-671-PLAN (7526) Mike Cuming is a Financial Services Representative of MetLife. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10166. Securities products and investment advisory services offered through MetLife Securities, Inc, a broker/dealer (Member FINRA/SIPC). Both are MetLife companies. Chisholm Trail Financial Group is not affiliated with MetLife Securities, Inc. Branch office: 109 S. Harris Street, Suite 220,Round Rock, TX 78664 (512) 671-7526 L1214404026[exp1215][TX]

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Wood Glen

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

NATUREWATCH

by Jim and Lynne Weber For many of us, the outdoor magic and mystery of summer chance it will find a mate. In order to rise to the challenge of nights was best embodied by the blink of fireflies or 'lightning producing offspring with artificial light around, fireflies must bugs', which are neither flies nor bugs, but beetles. With increase the intensity of the flashes they produce in order to over 170 species of fireflies in North America, and about 36 be seen. This increased light emission decreases the stored of those species in Texas, fireflies fall into three main genera: energy supply in the firefly that would normally be used directly the Photuris, Photinus, and the Pyractomena. The most for reproduction. Artificial light also exposes the fireflies to common species in Texas is the Pennsylvania Firefly (Photuris nighttime predators, even when they are not blinking. This pennsylvanicus), which ranges from the eastern U.S. to Kansas combination of effects from artificial light directly decreases the chance that fireflies will survive and mate. and into Texas. Flashes of light can be emitted by both male and female fireflies, Most likely to be spotted at night in fields and near wooded areas, the adult Pennsylvania Firefly's elytra (hardened and can also be used for purposes other than mating. One additional use is to forewings that form lure prey to them; a protective covering in fact, females from over flight wings) the Photuris genus are dark brown with will often mimic the yellowish margins and flashes of a female slanted stripes. The Photinus firefly, and head is yellow around a male Photinus that the sides and red in falls for it will quickly the middle, and their be devoured! Not overall length is about all female fireflies half an inch. After are capable of flight, mating, the female however, as some lays tiny, spherical species are wingless eggs singly or in small and bear a strong groups in damp soil, resemblance to larvae around grass or moss, rather than to adult and they hatch in males of the same about 4 weeks. The species. Often, these larvae feed in the types of fireflies grass on slugs, snails, are referred to as earthworms, and cutworms, and in this immature phase their light isn't visible 'glowworms'. The abundance of fireflies has been decreasing over the unless they are turned over. They overwinter as larvae in small chambers within the ground, waiting for the spring months years, greatly challenged by both the increasing presence of when they pupate and emerge in early summer as adult fireflies, artificial light and the rapid development of our open fields and forests. As human light pollution and development continues giving them an average lifespan of approximately two years. Firefly mating is dependent on the female seeing the distinct to spread, fireflies just might disappear altogether, in a blink flashes of a mate-seeking male, and each must find the exact of an eye! right blinking pattern in order to mate successfully. Males Send your nature-related questions to naturewatch@austin. begin flying after dark, emitting yellow or yellow-green rr.com and we’ll do our best to answer them. Check out our blog at flashes, some flying above the tree canopy. Interestingly, naturewatchaustin.blogspot.com if you enjoy reading these articles! ambient light around a firefly's natural habitat decreases the

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Hosting an Exchange Student Did you ever wonder what hosting a foreign exchange student is about? Well here it is in a nutshell…. Hosting an exchange student is a great way to learn about another country and culture without leaving your home town. It provides a cultural exchange experience for the entire family while providing a student from another country with a slice of American life. Hosting an exchange student is like adding an international branch to your family tree. Many host families develop lifelong friendships with their exchange students and keep in regular touch with them. Some even visit them in their home countries, or invite them back for weddings and graduations Hosting an exchange student provides your family, your high school and your community with a direct window into another country and culture, providing an opportunity for

life-long learning. Families of all shapes and sizes can host an international exchange student. We’ve had host families with young children, no children, high school aged children – as well as empty nesters and single parent households. Ayusa is a non-profit based in San Francisco that promotes global learning and leadership through foreign exchange and study abroad programs for high school students from around the world. For more information about hosting a high school foreign exchange student, please contact your local representative Vicki Odom at 832.455.7881 or vodom@ ayusa.org or Ayusa at 1.888.552.9872 or by visiting the website at www.ayusa.org.

WELL ROUNDED REALTOR N K I G A H R A

I have helped hundreds of families in our neighborhood experience the joys of home ownership. I want to help you too! Whether you are considering buying, selling, building, or investing in real estate, I am ready to answer all of your questions and lead you through the process of finding your dream home.

E AT

.751.4834 F IC

E IS

IN D E

PENDENTLY OWN

ND ED A

Wood Glen Property Owners Association Newsletter - July 2015 5

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CICADAS (egg laying structure). Eggs hatch after about 6 weeks and small nymphs drop to the ground where they burrow into the soil. Nymphs feed on sap of tree roots with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. After becoming fully developed, nymphs emerge from the ground at night and climb onto nearby objects such as tree trunk, plants, fences, etc. Adult cicadas emerge from the last nymphal stage leaving behind the exuviae (cast skin). Adults can live 5-6 weeks. Male cicadas are well known for their “song”. They rest on a tree and produce a whining sound to attract females. The sound is produced by two vibrating membranes on the side of the abdomen. Females do not “sing”. Adults feed on juices from tender twigs, but usually do not cause lasting harm to the plant from feeding. For more information or help with identification, contact Wizzie Brown, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist at 512.854.9600. Check out my blog at www.urban-ipm.blogspot.com Cicadas are fairly large insects but can vary in size with some growing over 1 ½ inches. Color may also vary depending upon species, but many are brown or green. All cicadas have bulging eyes and, on adults, wings that are held roof-like over the body. The wings are semi-transparent with thick wing veins. The majority of their life cycle is spent underground. Cicadas have 2-5 year life cycles and appear in Texas in mid to late summer. Females insert egg clusters into branches of trees using their saw-like ovipositor

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. At no time will any source be allowed to use The Wood Glen Newsletter's 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 Wood Glen Newsletter is exclusively for the private use of the Wood Glen HOA and Peel, Inc.

NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE

6 Wood Glen Property Owners Association Newsletter - July 2015

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. Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc.

Wood Glen

Color the drawing below and mail the finished artwork to us at: Peel, Inc. - Kids Club, 308 Meadowlark St, Lakeway, TX 78734-4717 We will select the top few and post their artwork on our Facebook Page - Facebook.com/PeelInc. DUE: July 30th

Be sure to include the following so we can let you know!

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Wood Glen Property Owners Association Newsletter - July 2015 7

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PEEL, INC.

NOBODY IS DROWNPROOF WATCH & KEEP KIDS IN ARM’S REACH www.colinshope.org

COLIN HOLST

THESE TIPS CAN SAVE LIVES CONSTANT VISUAL SUPERVISION

LEARN TO SWIM

WEAR LIFE JACKETS

MULTIPLE BARRIERS AROUND WATER

KEEP YOUR HOME SAFER

CHECK WATER SOURCES FIRST

PRACTICE DRAIN SAFETY

BE SAFER IN OPEN WATER

LEARN CPR

LEARN MORE: www.colinshope.org/RESOURCES DROWNING IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE, AND A LEADING CAUSE FOR CHILDREN AGES 1 - 14.

Children under the age of five are often at highest risk.

24 Texas children have already lost their lives to drowning in 2015

DROWNING IS PREVENTABLE

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