Travis Country West

Volume 11, Number 7

July 2016

TCW Neighborhood News Official Publication of Travis Country West Community 2016 Annual Meeting DRAFT Minutes of the TRAVIS COUNTRY WEST OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. NEXT MEETING IS AUGUST 3rd at 6PM at the POOL Date: Time: Location: TX 78735

Monday, May 16, 2016 7:00 pm Austin Pizza Garden, 6266 W. Hwy. 290, Austin,

Melissa Yehl read the Proof of Notice dated April 15, 2016. Cindy Gangstad moved to approve the minutes of 2015 Annual Meeting as presented; Federico Mendoza seconded; motion carried. Julie Saft presented an HOA year in review report The pool deck was resurfaced in February Trail benches were added in July High speed wireless internet is now available at the pool New landscape contract was awarded to Priority Landscapes. They have been pro-active. Solar lights were installed at the East monument where no electricity is available. Melissa Yehl provided a financial report which included a comparison of May 2015 to May 2016 bank account and delinquent account balances. The 2016 budgeted expense projection was presented in pie chart format. Election of two (2) Directors Julie Saft has submitted her nomination request. Julie Saft then opened the floor to nominations. Mark Chavana nominated Mary Swanson; David Jones seconded; motion carried. Jason Svatek nominated himself; Michael Tarsha seconded; motion carried. Each candidate gave a nomination speech (Mark Chavana as

representative for Mary Swanson who was not able to attend). Ballots were collected. Committee Reports Social – Jason Svatek reported on the upcoming pool season kickoff party featuring a food truck sponosored by David Chastain and Ryan Leahy; music by Michael Tarsha’s band The Clutch Kings Band, and Kona Ice. A July 3party is also planned. Jason also reported on bids he is collecting for a shade structure of the play scape, and the feasibility of adding swings. Fall zone limitations are making the project difficult. ACC – Cindy Gangstad talked about submitting thorough projects, and what kinds of projects need to be submitted. Communications – the committee is in need of a chairman. Primary duties include gathering and organizing submitted newsletter articles to the publisher. Unfinished Business - Tim Shelhamer reported on the Los Indios Ventures commercial building project adjacent to the neighborhood on Southwest Parkway. The HOA has $30,000 being held in an escrow account, to be used within 3 years, for traffic mitigation. Federico Mendoza has agreed to help, given his expertise in the field. New Business - There was discussion of granite and rock wash out along the walking trail. Long-term solutions can be achieved, but the budget is tight. The Board continues to seek affordable solutions. There was a query about adding more dog stations along the interior sidewalk areas. Frustration over owners not picking up after their dogs was expressed. Residents asked about no soliciting deterrents. One resident expressed they have had good luck with a large no soliciting plaque at their front door. Election Results - Newly elected Directors are Julie Saft and Jason Svatek. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8pm.

Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - July 2016

Present: Julie Saft, Tim Shelhamer, Gary Jones, David Chastain, Paul and Melissa of Ascension Property Management Noting the presence of a quorum, Julie Saft called the meeting to order at 7pm, and introduced the Board Members and the property managers.

Travis Country West 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 Homeowners Association Newsletter - July 2016

Summer Burglary Prevention Summer is here. During the summer months there tends to be an increase in property crimes such as burglary of vehicles and burglary of residences. Most residential burglaries occur during the daytime, as a majority of people work during daytime hours which leaves no one at home. In addition, during summer, many people go on vacation for extended periods of time, leaving their home unwatched. These are a few things you can do to help lessen the chance of being a victim of crime. Auto Burglary Prevention: • Always lock your vehicle and take your keys—even in your own driveway. • Never leave your car running and unattended. • Park in a well-lit area. • Take valuables with you—if you must leave valuables in your car, keep them out of sight. Home Burglary Prevention: • Keep your doors and windows locked when you are away. • Do not post vacation plans or photos indicating you are on vacation on social media. • Burglars search for homes that appear to be unoccupied. A car in the driveway, motion sensitive lights, interior lights and radios and TVs on timers all give the impression that someone is in the home. • Notify a trusted neighbor to watch your home while you are away. • If you see suspicious activity, call 911 immediately. Austin Police Department Stephen Woytkewicz #5385 Senior Police Officer Region 4 District Representative http://www.austintexas.gov/page/district-representatives-region-4 1(512)974-4281 Stephen.Woytkewicz@austintexas.gov

Travis Country West

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Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - July 2016

Travis Country West Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning By Mario Vittone In many child drownings, adults are nearby but have no idea the mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as victim is dying. Here’s what to look for. their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water. The new captain jumped from the deck, fully dressed, and sprinted • Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively through the water. A former lifeguard, he kept his eyes on his victim as forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the he headed straight for the couple swimming between their anchored water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water permits sportfisher and the beach. “I think he thinks you’re drowning,” the drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their husband said to his wife. They had been splashing each other and mouths out of the water to breathe. she had screamed but now they were just standing, neck-deep on the • Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people sand bar. “We’re fine; what is he doing?” she asked, a little annoyed. cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, “We’re fine!” the husband yelled, waving him off, but his captain drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water kept swimming hard. ”Move!” he barked as he sprinted between cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as the stunned owners. Directly behind them, not 10 feet away, their waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a 9-year-old daughter was drowning. Safely above the surface in the piece of rescue equipment. arms of the captain, she burst into tears, “Daddy!” • From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response How did this captain know—from 50 feet away—what the people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of father couldn’t recognize from just 10? Drowning is not the violent, a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these splashing call for help that most people expect. The captain was drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water trained to recognize drowning by experts and years of experience. from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.” The father, on the other hand, had learned what drowning looks This doesn’t mean that a person that is yelling for help and like by watching television. If you spend time on or near the water thrashing isn’t in real trouble—they are experiencing aquatic distress. (hint: that’s all of us) then you should make sure that you and your Not always present before the Instinctive Drowning Response, crew know what to look for whenever people enter the water. Until aquatic distress doesn’t last long—but unlike true drowning, these she cried a tearful, “Daddy,” she hadn’t made a sound. As a former victims can still assist in their own rescue. They can grab lifelines, Coast Guard rescue swimmer, I wasn’t surprised at all by this story. throw rings, etc. Drowning is almost always a deceptively quiet event. The waving, Look for these other signs of drowning when persons are in the splashing, and yelling that dramatic conditioning (television) prepares water: us to look for is rarely seen in real life. • Head low in the water, mouth at water level The Instinctive Drowning Response—so named by Francesco A. • Head tilted back with mouth open Pia, Ph.D., is what people do to avoid actual or perceived suffocation • Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus in the water. And it does not look like most people expect. There • Eyes closed is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help • Hair over forehead or eyes of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from • Not using legs—vertical the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the No. 2 cause of • Hyperventilating or gasping accidental death in children, ages 15 and under (just behind vehicle • Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway accidents)—of the approximately 750 children who will drown • Trying to roll over on the back next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent • Appear to be climbing an invisible ladder or other adult. In some of those drownings, the adult will actually So if a crew member falls overboard and everything looks OK— watch the child do it, having no idea it is happening.* Drowning don’t be too sure. Sometimes the most common indication that does not look like drowning—Dr. Pia, in an article in the Coast someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. Guard’s On Scene magazine, described the Instinctive Drowning They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at Response like this: the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them, “Are you all right?” If they • “Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically can answer at all—they probably are. If they return a blank stare, you unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for may have less than 30 seconds to get to them. And parents—children breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to must be fulfilled before speech occurs. them and find out why. • Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear (See a video of the Instinctive Drowning Response.) above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people This article is reprinted from Mario Vittone’s blog. Join him on are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to Facebook. exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s (Continued on Page 5) 4

Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - July 2016

Travis Country West (Continued from Page 4) Correction, June 5, 2013: This article originally cited a CDC statistic in referring to the number of child drownings in which a nearby adult watches the child with no idea a drowning is occurring. According to the CDC's Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, no CDC studies have measured the number of such occurrences. The reference has been removed. (Return to the corrected sentence.)

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NOBODY IS DROWNPROOF WATCH KIDS AROUND WATER

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37 Texas children have already fatally drowned in 2016 DROWNING IS PREVENTABLE THESE WATER SAFETY TIPS CAN SAVE LIVES

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MULTIPLE BARRIERS AROUND WATER

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BE SAFER IN OPEN WATER

LEARN CPR

BECOME a Water Guardian for your child

Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - July 2016

Travis Country West

Emerald ash borer found in Texas Emerald ash borer, often referred to as EAB, is an exotic pest from Asia. This beetle is a serious threat to ash trees. Emerald ash borer was accidentally introduced into the United States and was found in Michigan in 2002. Four beetles were found in a trap located in NE Texas (Harrison County) in late April 2016. There are currently no confirmed cases of ash trees that are infested. The beetles will continue to be monitored throughout the state. Larvae bore into trees under the bark and cut off the water and nutrient conducting vessels. Larvae are creamy white, legless with a flattened body. Larvae are 1- 1 Â˝ inches in length when fully developed. As an adult, the beetle is elongated and cylindrical with the pronotum (a part of the thorax) extended back as a lobe towards the abdomen. Most notably, these beetles are bright, metallic green with reddish hues. Adults are about 1/2 inch in size. If the wings are removed or lifted, the upper side of the abdomen is bright coppery-red which can help differentiate this beetle from closely related species in Texas. In infested trees, canopy die back is often seen in the top one third of the canopy and then moves down until the tree is bare. Epicormic shoots (leafy shoots coming off the trunk of the tree) may also be seen. Vertical fissures may appear on the bark and galleries may be able to be seen through openings. If bark is peeled off, serpentine galleries packed with frass (excrement) may be seen. Adult beetles produce a d-shaped exit hole (1/8 inch diameter). Woodpeckers may cause damage to tees infested with EAB. Look for flaking bark and uneven holes caused by the woodpeckers feeding on larvae and pupae. If EAB activity is confirmed for ash trees within an area, it is recommended that a systemic insecticide treatment is given to ash trees of high value. If more than 50% of an infested ash tree crown

Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - July 2016

remains, then treatment with a systemic insecticide may slow the attack. If less than 50% of an infested ash tree crown remains, the tree should be removed. For great information on emerald ash borer within Texas see the following site: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/eab/ This information is to have you watch for this beetle on ash trees in your area. Only 4 beetles have been found currently and only in NE Texas. No trees have yet been confirmed to be infested. 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.urbanipm.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 A&M AgriLife Extension Service or the Texas A&M AgriLife Research is implied. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides equal access in its programs, activities, education and employment, without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity.

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Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - July 2016

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Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - July 2016