Westside at Buttercup Creek - September 2015

Westside at Buttercup Creek

Westside news Volume 6, Number 9

Official Newsletter of the Westside at Buttercup Creek HOA

We are excited to announce we will once again be having a National Night Out in our neighborhood!

National Night Out is a great way for residents in our community to get to know our local law enforcement officers. It will be hosted at the Kay Copyright Š 2015 Peel, Inc.

September 2015

Redden Park on October 6, 2015 at 6:00 P.M. This is a fun social event so bring out your whole family for burgers, hotdogs, and drinks! We look forward to seeing you out there!

Westside News - September 2015 1

Westside at Buttercup Creek BOARD OF DIRECTORS Walt Conlin............................................................ President Dawn Harris....................................................... V. President David Jackson..........................................................Secretary Denny James........................................................... Treasurer Dennis Domanski ....................................................Director

TENNIS TIPS

By USPTA/PTR Master Professional Fernando Velasco

HOA WEBSITE www.westsidehoa.org

MANAGEMENT INFO Celeste Starr Schulz - Property Manager Goodwin Management Office: 512-852-7922 Fax: 512-346-4873 Celeste.Schulz@Goodwintx.com

NEWSLETTER INFO EDITOR Joey Surls...................... communications@westsidehoa.org PUBLISHER Peel, Inc....................................................... 512-263-9181 Advertising............................... advertising@PEELinc.com

ADVERTISING INFO Please support the businesses that advertise in the Westside News. Their advertising dollars make it possible for all Westside at Buttercup 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.

COMMITTEES Do you want to help out in the community but don’t have a lot of time? Join one of the following Committees and help out as much or as little as you want.

Neighborhood Watch - Vacant -neighborhoodwatch@westsidehoa.org Modifications - Denney James - modifications@westsidehoa.org Social - Nancy Townsend & Janet Theriault - social@westsidehoa.org Pools - Darrell Park - pools@westsidehoa.org Fences - Chris Bardash - fences@westsidehoa.org Landscaping - Vacant - landscaping@westsidehoa.org Caves & Preserves - Darrell Park - cavesandpreserves@westsidehoa.org Lighting - Vacant - lighting@westsidehoa.org 2

Westside News - September 2015

With this issue, I will be offering tips on the fundamentals of the game of tennis. Kristen Somerholter, a Member of the Grey Rock Tennis Club shows the proper form and technique for the forehand groundstroke: Step 1: Early Anticipation: The upper body turns with the right wrist slightly “cocked” back and level with the hip. Notice the eyes focused toward the incoming ball and the balance of the left hand in front of the body.

Step 2: Point of contact: Once the racquet starts accelerating, the right wrist is still slightly “cocked” back, but will have a small snap when making contact with the ball. Optimum point of contact is in front of the opposite foot. Notice that the eyes are still focused on the tennis ball and her weight has transferred to her left foot.

Step 3: Follow Through: Once the ball has made contact with racket, the arm needs to follow through for a long period of time to allow maximum compaction of the ball and help from the strings and the frame. Notice that the body has slightly turned watching where the ball is landing. The knee has flexed to allow more flexibility and power for the ball.

Step 4: Finish: If the racket has great momentum, let it continue following through the body and finishing it around the neck. This will allow for a more powerful impact and depth on the ball. The smile on her face shows that she hit a great shot!!

Look for next Issue: The Backhand Groundstroke

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Westside at Buttercup Creek The College Search & Application Process: Some Words of Wisdom for Juniors, Seniors and their Parents

Generally speaking, most colleges and universities are interested in five key aspects of the application including: • Your high school record/transcript • Standardized test scores • Essay and/or personal statement • Letters of recommendation from teachers • Extracurricular activities: anything you devote your time to outside the classroom Although variation exists from school to school, most admissions officers agree the high school record is the single most important factor in the entire process. Schools are interested in the grades achieved in the classes you have taken, and in any trends such as an improvement in grades from freshman through senior year, or a change in the level of courses (for example, taking standard classes in the first half of high school, then switching to intermediate or honors classes). It is better to push yourself in more difficult courses, perhaps risking a lower grade, than it is to take easy classes and earn all A’s. Students and parents often find this truth difficult to believe, but I promise you, this one stands true – take (Continued on Page 5)

For many, the return to school also means embarking on (if you’re a junior), or continuing with (if you’re a senior) the often daunting, and seemingly mystifying college search and application process.

After working for many years as an admission officer at a private research university where I reviewed and evaluated thousands of applications, and as a college counselor at a small independent secondary school where I advised hundreds of students, I know well the anxiety both parents and students often associate with the entire process.

Regardless of where you are in the college search and application process, if you understand the admission process is mostly art and only a bit of science - more qualitative than quantitative – than you will already have a greater comprehension of the process and how it works. If too much information leaves you dizzy, believing the world of admission is little more than an unyielding maze, do not lose hope. The good news is that you, the applicant, have a great deal of freedom to plan your own course of action.

By understanding the general process of admissions, remaining positive, and taking one step at a time, you will feel a greater sense of confidence, and ultimately, control.

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.

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

56 Texas children have already lost their lives to drowning in 2015 DROWNING IS PREVENTABLE Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc.

Westside News - September 2015 3

Westside at Buttercup Creek

NATUREWATCH: TREE RETREATS

by Jim and Lynne Weber

One of the most common lizards in the Austin area is the Texas observer. If startled when approached closely, it will suddenly Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus). It is also one of the largest, jump from a tree trunk and flee noisily into the leaf litter below, averaging 7.5 to 11 inches in length, with the females being larger making it almost impossible to locate. Trees not only provide than the males. protection for this lizard, but they also provide for its food. Being A Texas spiny lizard is often insectivorous, it can find cicadas, hard to spot, as its dorsal pattern crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, can vary by locality, serving as ants, butterflies, and caterpillars adequate camouflage in its chosen in the leafy canopy. habitat. Typically grey in color Male Texas spiny lizards are with black, white, or reddishterritorial, often defending a brown blotches or crossbands single tree from encroachment by down its back, it blends in other males. When challenged, perfectly against the bark of the two males will have what resident trees. Its underside is appears to be a push up contest, usually uniformly light grey, and until one is intimidated enough males commonly have bright blue to give up and scurry away. patches on either side of the belly.

Active on the surface from March The scales appear particularly to November, these lizards are Texas Spiny Lizard pointed and spiny, and it has long toes and sharp claws suitable reproductively active throughout the warmer months of the year. for climbing.

Females lay up to four clutches of eggs in a shallow depression All of these features serve this lizard well, as it is diurnal and in leaf litter, with hatchlings emerging 45-60 days later. In the arboreal, spending much of its time in trees. While it prefers larger cooler months of the year, they take cover for weeks at a time tree species with a significant amount of leaf litter below, such as under rocks, logs, and in deep leaf litter, and are occasionally seen live oaks, post oaks, red oaks, pecans, hackberries, and elms, it basking in the sun on warmer, sunnier days. may also be found in brushy trees such as mesquites and junipers.

So when you’re out and about in your yard or at a park, and This lizard can also be seen climbing on man-made structures you hear something skittering in the leaf litter or retreating up a such as fence posts, walls, and telephone poles, especially when tree, it most likely is a Texas Spiny Lizard! the base of these objects is covered in brush.

Send your nature-related questions to naturewatch@austin.

Typically shy and wary, this lizard quickly retreats to the rr.com and we’ll do our best to answer them. Check out our blog at opposite side of a tree trunk in the presence of a predator or human naturewatchaustin.blogspot.com if you enjoy reading these articles!

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Westside at Buttercup Creek (Continued from Page 3) the tougher class!

After reviewing the high school transcript, different schools will place different value on the remaining components. Some will place great credence on letters of recommendation while others may be more or less interested in your standardized test scores. As for the essay or personal statement, most college admissions professionals concur, a great essay rarely makes up for a weak academic record, and a mediocre essay won’t necessarily consign your application to the deny list. But, a great essay forces the admission officer to focus on you for a critical period of time, and often, it generates increased curiosity about your candidacy. It is that quantity of time and quality of curiosity that can make the difference.

Some general words of wisdom for juniors who may be beginning the process: • Start early! Takes SATs, SAT IIs, and ACTs by the end of junior year.

• Self-reflect: Think about who you are and what is important to you. Ask yourself how, where, or if any of this will fit into finding a school that is the right match for you.

• Do your research: Read the college mail that will soon inundate you, visit schools’ Web sites, establish a relationship with your

college counselor (or whichever school official can help you with this process).

• Create a preliminary list of schools in which you may be interested.

• Schedule campus visits: Attend information session, take campus tours, and meet with admissions representatives.

• Become discerning: Begin to eliminate schools in which you may no longer have interest.

• Continue to focus on your academics. Although the college search and application process quickly takes on a life of its own, do not let your grades slip or opt out of challenging classes.

Junior year grades and course selection are of great importance.

Though junior year can be critical, don’t be overly concerned if you are a senior just beginning to think about this process. Many students complete most, if not all, of the admissions steps during the fall of their senior year. No matter where you are in the overall process, you can and will be successful. I encourage each of you to be honest, sincere and thoughtful throughout the entire college search and application process. If you stick to these core principles, you will remain true to yourself while also presenting your best self to those who will be reading and evaluating your applications. Best wishes!

NOW HIRING Advertising Sales Representative

Description: The position includes marketing our community newsletters to local and area businesses. It is a flexible position that allows you to work from home and set your own hours.

Roles: Stimulate new advertising accounts in our community newsletters. Maintain current accounts assigned to you by Sales Manager. Service your accounts by assisting them from ad design to final proof approval.

Skills: Excellent communication through email and phone, with high level presentation and relationship-building skills. Strong prospecting and business development skills are a must. Previous sales experience preferred but not required.

Benefits: Commission Based Apply by sending resume to jobs@peelinc.com Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc.

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Westside at Buttercup Creek Garden Tips for

SEPTEMBER

Prepare your lawn for Fall and Winter September and October are the perfect time to aerate and top dress or compost your lawn. Follow with foliar feeds like seaweed, Garrett Juice, or Medina Soil Activator through November. If just trying to winterize or feel lazy, spread organic pellet fertilizer by Lady Bug or Fox Farm and then drench the lawn with a foliar feed.

Control Weeds: Spread Corn Gluten Meal on your lawn between 9/1 and 10/15 to control weeds. As a natural weed & feed and common ingredient in pet food, it does not kill active weeds, but it prevents weeds from sprouting. Also, it fertilizes the lawn with 9% nitrogen.

Plant Everything!!!

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*Applies to on-ramp personal training with purchase of Northside Fitness membership

At no time will any source be allowed to use the Westside News 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 Westside News is exclusively for the private use of the Westside at Buttercup Creek 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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