Travis Country West - December 2015 by Peel, Inc.

Travis Country West

Volume 10, Number 12

December 2015

TCW Neighborhood News Official Publication of Travis Country West Community

November 3rd Board Meeting Highlights

The 2016 Budget Is Set. Slight Dues Increase

Your Board of Directors met on November 3rd. Actions taken in the meeting include:

The Board wishes to thank the Travis Country West Finance Committee for their dedication and work on the 2016 budget. A lot of effort went in to preparing a budget that is sensitive to caring for the financial obligations of our community coupled while trying to keep dues at a minimum. To that end, a 2016 budget was passed, and can be viewed on the neighborhood website (www.travis countrywest.org). The dues for 2016 will increase $35, representing an 8.05% increase. Dues for 2016 will be $470. Please watch for your dues statement to arrive in late November/ early December. Contact Ascension Property Management if you have any questions, or if your statement doesn’t arrive by December 10th.

• The 2016 budget was set. • Dues will increase by $35 in 2016. • The Board of Directors will notify the developer of the commercial development at the NW corner of the neighborhood that there will be no changes to the initial agreement. • Forward movement is being made to have a street light installed at the mailbox cluster on Big Timber. • Drip irrigation in the pool and entry beds will be re-visited in 2016.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Join the neighbors in celebrating holiday cheer by voting for the merriest Christmas decorations in all of Travis Country West! For some, it may be the most lights. For others, it may be the most creative. It is up to you to decide which one will give Santa Clause and his reindeer the warmest welcome! Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be awarded! Voting will be open through midnight on December 20, 2015. One vote per household, please. To vote online, visit http://goo.gl/forms/fGznYTCjQc To vote by email, send to TCWevents@outlook.com. To vote by ballot, drop off a note on the front porch of 5204 Fort Benton Drive. Thank you for your participation. Have a VERY, VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc.

Social Chair Needed Thank you, Dusty Olson, for the fabulous job you have done to bring social events to Travis Country West this year. Unfortunately, Dusty needs to step down from the chair position. Now the social committee is in great need for a new chair in order to keep social events a part of our Travis Country West community. Please let Ascension Property Management know of your interest.

Travis Country West Homeowner's Association Newsletter - December 2015

Travis Country West Phorid or Humpbacked Flies Humpbacked flies, also known as Phorid flies, are small gnat-like flies that do not bite. They often are yellowish to black in color. They get their name from the way their back is humped when viewed from the side. Sometimes they are called scuttle flies from their habit of running around in an erratic manner. Phorid flies vary widely with some being pests while some species are beneficial and attack and kill red imported fire ants. Pest species that are found indoors are often associated with moist, decaying organic matter. These flies can become a problem in homes because they can mechanically transmit bacteria to food and food prep areas. Common sites where larvae develop (and areas you would need to locate a.k.a. “the source”) can include the organic matter built up on the inside of drain pipes; on aging fruits, vegetables or other food matter; the bottom of garbage cans, dumpsters or recycling bins; in broken sewage pipes; or under broken floor tiles. Develop a sanitation plan. Locate “the source” where larvae are living and clean it thoroughly. If drains are accessible, clean with

a stiff brush and flush with boiling water. Food should not be left out for long periods of time and trash/ recyclables should be removed on a regular basis. Repair any plumbing leaks. Spot treatments with properly labeled insecticides and fly lights can help reduce adult populations. 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 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 AgriLife Extension Service or the Texas AgriLife Research is implied. Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.

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Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - December 2015

Travis Country West “HOW CAN I GET IN SKI-SHAPE?” Dr. Cunningham spent 15 years as a traveling doctor for the men’s Olympic downhill team, accompanying the athletes throughout the US, Canada and Europe on the World Cup tour. He was able to pick up tips from some of the world’s finest altitude athletes and their trainers. Ski conditioning begins about 6 weeks prior to travel, and involves three phases: 1. Muscle training 2. Stamina 3. Agility Muscle training for the skier or boarder utilizes stretching, closed & open-chain strengthening exercises, and emphasizing the core muscle groups of the spine, hips, quadriceps & hamstrings. For most recreational athletes, low-weight/highrepetition sets will be best. Another option may be a personal trainer or workout club pro to help you design a program to strengthen your core without over-stressing your joints. Join pain is a common skier injury so muscle training will aid in prevention. Stamina is crucial for a recreational athlete, especially at altitude. (That’s another discussion for later!) Cardio conditioning can be as simple as running, jumping on a bike or elliptical, preferably using “interval” periods to increase your heart rate. Sports like tennis, swimming, and basketball have built-in interval training as part of the sport. Speaking of spor ts, these are great for honing the athletic agility that helps prevent ski injury, especially at the end of a long, fatiguing ski or snowboarding day. These are “ski-adaptive” sports. “Ski-specific” training involves side-toside training tools that focus on the specific ski muscles and coordination. Slide boards, closed-chain waist belt regimens, in or out of ski boots, are popular. The goal is to decrease fatigue-related injury but also to increase your enjoyment, help you relax, and enjoy the sport! If you have a history of joint pain or arthritis (DJD), consider your options before you head to the slopes– perhaps 3 to 4 weeks before your trip, you might want to explore PRP or stem cell injectable treatments in Austin as a autologous, potentially regenerative medicine alternative to steroids to ensure that you get the most out of your trip. By Kelly Cunningham, MD, Sports Medicine specialist and Founder. Austin OrthoBiologics. Austin,Texas, resident Kelly Cunningham, MD is board certified by the American College of Orthopedic Surgeons, and an active member of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Cartilage Repair Society. Learn more about preventing and treating sports injuries at:

IMPORTANT NUMBERS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY Ascension Property Management Paul & Melissa Yehl admin@ascensionpm.com www.ascensionpm.com Ph: 512-255-1671 Fax: 512-777-4905 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President.....................................................................Julie Saft Vice-President......................................................... Gary Jones Secretary........................................................... Tim Shelhamer Treasurer.................................................... Jonathan Gallmeier Member At Large...............................................Dave Chastain Email........................................ Board@traviscountrywest.com

CITY OF AUSTIN CONTACT NUMBERS Dead Animal Pick up................................................ 947-9400 Abandoned Vehicle.................................................... 280-0075 Pothole Repair........................................................... 974-8750 Street Light Outage................................................... 505-7617

NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER Peel, Inc.............................www.PEELinc.com, 512-263-9181 Editor - Pat Muntz................................. patmuntz@gmail.com Advertising..............advertising@PEELinc.com, 512-263-9181

ADVERTISING INFO Please support the businesses that advertise in the Travis Country West Community Newsletter. Their advertising dollars make it possible for all Travis Country West 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 512-2639181 or advertising@PEELinc.com. The advertising deadline is the 8th of each month for the following month's newsletter.

Travis Country West Homeowner's Association Newsletter - December 2015

Travis Country West

A FEW HOLIDAY THOUGHTS... It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty founder was a child Himself. Charles Dickens There are two ways to live your live. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. Albert Einstein The way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much. Henry David Thoreau

Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - December 2015

Sudoku

Travis Country West

The challenge is to fill every row across, every column down, and every 3x3 box with the digits 1 through 9. Each 1 through 9 digit must appear only once in each row across, each column down, and each 3x3 box.

Crossword Puzzle

Winter Holiday Safety The National Fire Protection Association recommends following a few simple tips to help ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday.

- Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant. - Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn. Two out of five home decoration fires are started by candles. Remember to blow out lit candles when leaving the room or going to bed. - Some lights are for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. - Replace any strings of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturers’ instructions for the number of light strands to connect. - Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords will not get damaged. - Keep decorations away from windows and doors. - Test your smoke alarms and make sure your family has a home fire escape plan. - Keep children and pets away from lit candles. - Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet. - Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop. - Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children to not touch them. - Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding. Please visit www.nfpa.org/education for more information about fire safety all year.

View answers online at www.peelinc.com DOWN ACROSS 1. Incline 1. Tack 2. Change 5. Giant 3. Small particle 9. Philippine dish with marinated 4. Compass point chicken or pork 5. Night bird 11. Journalist's question 6. Body snatcher 12. Tiny insects 7. Cultivate 13. Cut of beef 8. Volcano 14. School group 10. Change into bone 15. South 16. Musical productions 17. United States 18. Canadian prov. 18. Bottle need 19. Palladium (abbr.) 20. Upset 20. Many 22. Cow's chow 21. Perfect 23. Year (abbr.) 22. Captain (abbr.) 24. Computer makers 24. Institution (abbr.) 27. Brews 25. Swain 29. Sleep disorder 26. African country 31. Parent teacher groups 28. Fast plane 32. Strong rope fiber 30. Pastry 33. Bend 34. Decorative needle case © 2006. Feature Exchange

SUDOKU

Sudoku

2007. every Feature column, Exchange and The goal is to fill in the grid so that every©row, every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. Each digit may appear only once in each row, each column, and each 3x3 box.

DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THE MAIL View Travis Country West online at: www.PEELinc.com.

Travis Country West Homeowner's Association Newsletter - December 2015

Travis Country West At no time will any source be allowed to use TCW Neighborhood 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 TCW Neighborhood News is exclusively for the private use of the Travis Country West 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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Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - December 2015

Travis Country West

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: December 31st

Be sure to include the following so we can let you know! Name: _________________________________________ (first name, last initial)

Age:__________

Travis Country West Homeowner's Association Newsletter - December 2015

Travis Country West 308 Meadowlark St. Lakeway, TX 78734-4717

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Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - December 2015