Highlands at Gann Ranch

HIGHLANDS at Gann Ranch

MAY 2016 | VOLUME 2, ISSUE 5

Important Contact Information – Stay connected! If you are not aware, there are some easy ways to get connected to neighbors in Gann Ranch. None of these are directly maintained by the HOA, which is probably best. These apps/websites are a great ways to chat, message, and connect with your neighbors! Facebook: The Highlands of Gann Ranch does have a facebook group page. It’s not highly visited or updated, but when there is an event or need to communicate it is one place where we will post things. Please “friend” us if you are on Facebook: Highlands at Gann Rann Nextdoor “app”: online or on your phone you can access this app. https://nextdoor.com/ When you join you become connected to the “neighborhood” for Gann Ranch, as well as surrounding neighborhoods if you like. Currently we have around 118 folks in the Gann Ranch group. So we are finding this to be a good way to stay connected to a larger number of you-all! If you are interested in joining please do! And of course – if you need to contact our HOA management – here is their info: HOA Management contact info: Goodwin Management Customer Service Info@goodwintx.com 512-502-7515

How do you tell the difference between good stress and bad? Feeling stressed can feel perfectly normal, especially during exam time. You might notice that sometimes being stressed-out motivates you to focus on your work, yet at other times, you feel incredibly overwhelmed and can’t concentrate on anything. While stress affects everyone in different ways, there are two major types of stress: stress that’s beneficial and motivating — good stress — and stress that causes anxiety and even health problems — bad stress. Here’s more on the benefits and side effects of stress and how to tell if you’re experiencing too much stress. Benefit of Stress According to experts, stress is a burst of energy that basically advises you on what to do. In small doses, stress has many advantages. For instance, stress can help you meet daily challenges and motivates you to reach your goals. In fact, stress can help you accomplish tasks more efficiently. It can even boost memory. Stress is also a vital warning system, producing the fight-or-flight response. When the brain perceives some kind of stress, it starts flooding the body with chemicals like epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol. This creates a variety of reactions such as an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Plus, the senses suddenly have a laserlike focus so you can avoid physically stressful situations — such as jumping away from a moving car — and be safe. In addition, there are various health benefits with a little bit of stress. Researchers believe that some stress can help to fortify the immune system. For instance, stress can improve how your heart works and protect your body from infection. In one study, individuals who experienced moderate levels of stress before surgery were able to recover faster than individuals who had low or high levels. Side Effects of Stress Stress is key for survival, but too much stress can be detrimental. Emotional stress that stays around for weeks or months can weaken the immune system and cause high blood pressure, fatigue, depression, anxiety and even heart disease. In particular, too much epinephrine can be harmful to your heart. It can change the arteries (Continued on Page 2)

Highlands at Gann Ranch - May 2016

Highlands at Gann Ranch (Continued from Cover)

IMPORTANT NUMBERS EMERGENCY NUMBERS

EMERGENCY ...................................................911 Ambulance / Fire..................................................911 SCHOOLS

Knowles Elementary............................ 512-570-6200 Running Brushy Middle School.......... 512-570-3300 Leander High...................................... 512-570-1000 OTHER

City...................................... www.cedarparktexas.gov Cedar Park Post Office ....................... 512-260-7585

and how their cells are able to regenerate. Signals of Too Much Stress It may be tough to tell when you’re experiencing good or bad stress, but there are important ways that your body lets you know that you’re struggling with too much stress. Watch out for the following warning signs: • Inability to concentrate or complete tasks • Get sick more often with colds • Body aches • Other illnesses like autoimmune diseases flare up • Headaches • Irritability • Trouble falling sleeping or staying awake • Changes in appetite • More angry or anxious than usual What You Can Do Stress is an inevitable part of life, but you can improve the way you respond to stress and avoid or change some of the situations that create negative stress. source: ULifeline.org

NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER

Peel, Inc.............................................. 512-263-9181 Article Submissions........... depivanova@bellsouth.net Advertising.......................... advertising@peelinc.com

Teenage Job Seekers Name

Baby Pet House Yard Age Sit Sit Sit Work Phone

Doe, John....................... 15..........•.......... •.........•................... 111-1111

*-CPR Training

+-First Aid Training

Attention Teenagers

The Teenage Job Seekers listing service is offered free of charge to all Highlands at Gann Ranch teenagers seeking work. Submit your name and information to depivanova@bellsouth.net by the 9th of the month!

Highlands at Gann Ranch - May 2016

Highlands at Gann Ranch Highlands or Gann Ranch – Calendar of Events! April 15 May 7 May???

Pool Opening! Neighborhood Garage Sale Neighborhood Triathlon (kids and adults events) Date TBD October 1 Fall Fest October 17 Pool Closing Christmas House Decorating Contest This month's highlighted events are our Neighboorhood Garage Sale and Triathlon. Garage Sale Leader(s) Needed!!! Hey Neighbor. Are you an experienced garage saler? Are you interested in helping the neighborhood in planning out upcoming neighborhood garage sales event? We’re looking for someone or a team of folks to take the lead on planning and executing the garage sale event. That would include helping with ideas for advertising the event as well as helping coordinate the common sales area we plan to have this year near the pool for folks with handfuls of items. Advertising could mean helping us know where to lace ads in print and online. And leveraging apps such as Next Door to ensure our neighbors who want to join get the word – and that the app helps to ensure we facilitate routing buyers to the homes participating on the day. Call for Participation in a Kids Triathlon! We are thinking through the details of having a kid’s triathlon! Would your kids participate? It would be open for neighborhood kids age 5-12. We would have 2 programs with different distances for a Bike, Run and Swim. It would take place in the area near the school / track and our community pool. The event would likely take place one weekend in May. We’re reaching out to see if folks would be interested in participating. So – PLEASE let us know. Email: depivanova@bellsouth.net The event is May 7th – so we need to get things started! Please – if you want to help – email depivanova@bellsouth.net PASTOR, DAVE JAMERSON

Watering Savings Tips and Freebees! The City of Cedar Park, and Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) – have published some great tips and freebees to look into as we come into the summer season with watering needed. During the summer months, almost half of water supplied to residents is used for lawn irrigation. One the City’s website – they have compiled some easy tips to help conserve water. Visit their website: http://waterthriftycedarpark.org/outdoor-tips/ Freebees! • FREE - LOW-FLOW RESIDENTIAL SHOWER HEADS 1.5 gpm low-flow shower heads are free and available while they last from the City. They can be picked up at the City’s Utility Billing Department. • $350 Irrigation System Rebates You may be eligible to receive up to $350 in irrigation system rebates for upgrades from the LCRA. Eligible items are the installation of rain sensors, soil moisture sensors and pressureregulating heads or nozzles. Visit the LCRA website for more info on this rebate and more offers: http://www.lcra.org/water/save-water/watersmart/Pages/ WaterSmart-Programs.aspx

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 twincreeks@peelinc.com

RENOVATE CHURCH

CONNECT. GROW. IMPACT.

Join us on Sunday nights from 6:00-7:15 p.m. at the Cedar Park Recreation Center MEANINGFUL FAITH… MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS

www.RenovateChurch.com Highlands at Gann Ranch - May 2016

Highlands at Gann Ranch May 2016 Landscape News from GT Landscapes (who manages our landscaping by the pool!) Visit their website! www.gtlandscapes.com Fact or Fiction: Tree Wells & Mulch I must add mulch to tree wells every year… Fiction: Mulch is a good product to use in tree wells of trees less than one-year-old. They help to hold in moisture at the roots (which in a newly planted tree are right below the tree canopy). BUT after one year, a tree's roots have grown out beyond the tree well. Only these feeder roots pick up moisture. In fact, lots of mulch built up around a tree trunk is BAD for the tree. So save TONS of money and stop mulching those tree wells. See the nicely UN-mulched trees illustrated. Fact or Fiction: Gator Bags I place Gator bags on my trees during the summer to water them. This keeps my trees alive, right? Fiction: Gator bags are fantastic for newly planted trees because new trees' roots are right below the canopy of the tree. The Gator bags do nothing to provide moisture to ESTABLISHED trees whose roots have moved out beyond the base of the tree. Fact or Fiction: Weeds If I have a chemical application of herbicide, it will keep all weeds out of my landscape's turf and beds. Fiction: Most chemical programs provide only the bare minimum of pre and post emergent herbicides. It is important to know that in unusual weather situations (very hot, very wet, very warm winter) basic chemical programs are not enough. Additional applications of herbicides must be applied to control weeds. Note that the NON-WINTER of 2016 in Texas has seen one of the largest crops of weeds ever. Pre emergents "pooped out' long ago and one post emergent herbicide application is not enough to control weeds, especially when maintenance visits are reduced during the winter. May To Do List • As bluebonnets go to see, leave them so that they can produce and self-spread. Do not cut them for another month or two. • If you have not done an initial irrigation audit and inspection, do it now. • Aerate your turf and top dress with compost. • Seed Bermuda seedd into bare turf spots after April 15. • Set out spring annuals in 4" pots or even 10" baskets for quick color. • You can plant Caladium tubers late in the month after the soil is completely warm. 4

Highlands at Gann Ranch - May 2016

NEAT Night – At the Highlands of Gann Ranch Playground Neighbors – if you had not heard, Lorri Massey a member of our community has started a weekly get together for some fun – outside play! NEAT night is being held each Wednesday night at 6:00 at the playground next to the pool. Lorri began this event a few weeks ago – and has been giving a weekly invite notice on the NEXTDoor app. What is it? A way to get the family outside to play and mingle with other folks from the neighborhood. Imagine that – getting the kids playing outside…un-plugged!!! She has been generously supplying/ordering some food for those who gather – usually pizza’s or something quick and fast to snack on. All ages are welcome. Her family – including her three ‘teens - are there weekly. If enough folks show – she’ll be helping to organize some volleyball, 3 flies up or even dodgeball. Thanks Lorri for taking this initiative!!!

May Recipe Long day at work, coming home to kids. Love that toddler of mine. But now I have to cook. I probably should clean up after too. What would you do? I welcome your ideas and will be happy to feature them in this space in future months. For now, here is my go-to meal for these rainy, spring days. Fettuccini Alfredo Ingredients 8 oz uncooked fettuccine (we try other pastas for fun, so I'll call this pasta) 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1/2 cup whipping cream 3/4 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black or white pepper Directions • In large sauce pot, cook pasta as directed on package. • While pasta is cooking, in 2-quart saucepan, heat butter and whipping cream over low heat, stirring constantly, until butter is melted. Stir in cheese, salt and pepper. • Drain pasta; return to sauce pot. Pour sauce over warm fettuccine; stir until fettuccine is well coated. We heat some pre-cooked, grilled chicken slices and add a side of veggies. We use paper plates and the kiddo gets "washing plates" duties. He loves having a part of the responsibilities! "Fettuccini Alfredo." Recipes & Cookbooks – Food, Cooking Recipes from BettyCrocker.Com. Betty Crocker, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

Highlands at Gann Ranch

NOBODY IS DROWNPROOF WATCH KIDS AROUND WATER

COLIN HOLST

14 Texas children have already fatally drowned in 2016

DROWNING IS PREVENTABLE THESE WATER SAFETY TIPS CAN SAVE LIVES

WATCH KIDS & KEEP IN ARM’S REACH

CHECK WATER SOURCES FIRST

LEARN TO SWIM

WEAR LIFE JACKETS

PRACTICE DRAIN SAFETY

MULTIPLE BARRIERS AROUND WATER

BE SAFER IN OPEN WATER

KEEP YOUR HOME SAFER

LEARN CPR

BECOME a Water Guardian for your child

Highlands at Gann Ranch - May 2016

Highlands at Gann Ranch At no time will any source be allowed to use Highlands at Gann Ranch 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 Peel, Inc. The information in Highlands at Gann Ranch newsletter is exclusively for the private use of the residents 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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Highlands at Gann Ranch - May 2016

Highlands at Gann Ranch

Pet of the Month This month’s featured pet is Archie - Miniature Dachshund Archie was adopted into our family in January of 2005 and celebrated his 11 birthday this year. He is a very smart, loyal, sweet, and incredibly brave dog …. behind a gate or door. If you have ever come to our door or yard while he was around you may have heard his incredibly “ferocious” squeaky bark that has caused more than one squirrel to pause and stand at attention before continuing on with his acorn hunting expedition. Those who have had the chance to meet Archie will tell you he falls more into lover not fighter category and his constant following anyone around the house led to his nickname “Underfoot.” More of a belly rubber than a lap dog, he will be happy to plop his full 9.5lb weight (if he’s just eaten) by your feet and wait for a pet or snack. If someday Archie manages to wander off and is saved by one of friendly neighbors, rest assured that you can throw any basket, towel, blanket or rag beside him and command him with the words, “Archie go to bed.” Without hesitation he will dutifully curl up, close his eyes and wait stoically for his safe return to our family - or another snack.

Spotlight Your Skills Neighbors! Are you a business owner, contractor or someone who offers other skilled professional services? Your neighbors would love to know what services you offer! At the annual HOA meeting a neighbor suggested the idea of gathering the contact information and details for the various business owners and contractors in the neighborhood so we could make some connections: Work needed? Here are your Local neighborhood skilled professionals! We’d love to start that today! If you live in Highlands of Gann Ranch and own a business or provide services – we’d love to highlight you in our newsletter as well as start to create a contact list that we can post and maintain on our Facebook page. If you are interested – please email depivanova@bellsouth.net. Copyright © 2016 Peel, Inc.

How We Can Help Our Neighbors This May May brings both Motherís Day on May 8th and Older Americans month. Many of our neighbors across Central Texas can use an extra hand..These simple acts of kindness can make the world of difference for a mom, senior or child. Find an organization that you can do good for today, such as these four local non-profits: SafePlace- This shelter for women and children who are escaping abuse can use many things you likely have hiding unused in a closet or cabinet. For example, clean our your shoes, clothing, purses, wallets, twin sheets/blankets and even dishes and flatware. You can deliver these items to 1515-A Grove Blvd. Check their website for hours: www.safeaustin.org. Any Baby Can- With a variety of programs, classes and support groups for children and families, Any Baby Can can use help with supplies, including copy paper (white and color), preschool art supplies, gently new or used nursery equipment, high chairs, educational toys and even safety gates. More information can be found at https://anybabycan.org/contact-us/. Austin Diaper Bank- This organization accepts diapers of all kinds and sizes, even opened packages, and provides them to over 45 different social service agencies across Central Texas. They also accept new packages of wipes and diaper creams. Children and seniors benefit with this gift of good health. There are several dropoff locations around the metro area: http://www.austindiapers.org/p/ drop-off-locations.html AGE of Central Texasí Health Equipment Lending Program (HELP)- Unneeded medical equipment can be transformative when it is passed on. The HELP program loans a variety of health and mobility equipment for free to seniors and those in need. Some of the most in demand items are wheelchairs, shower chairs and adult incontinence products. More information, including their hours, check their website: http://www.ageofcentraltx.org/help.php.

Leander ISD School News May 2 to May 6 and May 9 to May 12 ---Testing May 23 --- Bad Weather make-up day (contact your local school to see whether or not attendance will be required) May 30 --- Memorial Day (Student/Teacher holiday Please feel free to send in any school news information that you would like included in the HGR Newsletter! Make sure to send information at least 45 days in advance to insure that the dates get posted in time for your event.

Highlands at Gann Ranch - May 2016

Highlands at Gann Ranch 308 Meadowlark St . Lakeway , TX 78734-4717

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Highlands at Gann Ranch - May 2016