Circle C - May 2021 by Peel, Inc.

Volume 18, Number 05

May 2021

www.circlecranch.com

News & Announcements Important Dates in May and June:

officers of the association were named and they are:

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Russ Hodes – President

International Firefighter Day

Natalie Placer-McClure – Vice President

Sunday, May 9, 2021

Michael Chu – Treasurer

Mother’s Day

Trinh Bartlett – Secretary

Friday, May 14, 2021

Jason Bram and Theresa Bastion – Board Members

Food Trailer Night

Watering Restrictions:

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Please visit your water providers website to view current watering restrictions.

Circle C HOA Board Meeting via Zoom Last scheduled day of school for AISD Monday, May 31, 2021 Memorial Day: HOA Office is closed Monday, June 14, 2021 National Flag Day Saturday, June 19, 2021 Emancipation Day: “Juneteenth” (originated in Galveston, Texas) Sunday, June 20, 2021 Father’s Day Monday, June 21, 2021 First Day of Summer Wednesday, June 30, 2021 Circle C HOA Board Meeting via Zoom Circle C Pool and Office Hours: The HOA Members voted at the March board meeting to remove the phases for opening the pool. Brody McKinley, the Circle C Aquatics Director, will now open the pools as staffing and health and safety measures allow. Please check the website for more details. https://circlecranch.com/stay-connected/news-announcements/ New Board of Directors Officers Named The CCHOA Board of Directors welcome new board members Theresa Bastian and Trinh Bartlett after the 2021 Board elections in March. New Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

City of Austin: http://www.austintexas.gov/department/wateringrestrictions Midtex: (South West Water Company): https://swwc.com/texas/ drought Irrigation After Heavy Rains: Circle C has multiple City of Austin watershed retention ponds that capture storm water and reuse that water to irrigate the surrounding landscape. Because of this, it is very common to see water being sprayed after a heavy rain or storm. Rest assured; this is not city water being wasted. Instead, it is the repurposing of rainwater spread further into the landscape to prevent stagnant water buildup in the watershed. This procedure also helps to cut down on the number of mosquitos in summer months. Easements, Greenbelts, Common Areas & City of Austin Drainage Areas If you are planning an improvement or just a spring cleaning of your backyard and you back up to an easement, greenbelt, Circle C common area or a City of Austin drainage area, please be aware that you CANNOT enter these areas from any point in order to access your backyard. These areas are vegetated per the City of Austin guidelines. Any owners accessing these areas will be responsible for all the cost to repair the damages and returning it to its original condition. Snakes and other wildlife We wanted to remind everyone that it’s that time of year when the weather is warming up and the snakes and other wildlife are beginning to appear throughout our community. Be careful and vigilant when you are out walking the trails and greenbelts. Circle C Ranch Newsletter - May 2021

Circle C Ranch Newsletter May 2021

CCHOA Easter Coloring Contest Thank you to everyone who entered the Easter Bunny Coloring Contest. Because we received so many amazing entries, it was very difficult to choose the winners in each age category; however, the prize recipients are as follows:

HOA Mgmt Office.................................info@circlecranch.info or 512-288-8663 HOA Financial Office............................. ..tgiles@mgilescpa.com or 512-451-9901 Aquatics Director...................................... director@ccswim.net or 512-288-4239 Newsletter Publisher Peel, Inc................................................... advertising@PEELinc.com or 512-263-9181 Circle C Amenities Circle C Avaña Pool........................................................................ 512-292-1518 Circle C Café.................................................................................. 512-288-6058 Circle C CDC................................................................................. 512-288-9792 Circle C Swim Center..................................................................... 512-288-6057 Circle C Community Center Pool................................................... 512-301-8259 Grey Rock Golf Course (City Owned/Operated)............................... 512-288-4297 Grey Rock Tennis Club................................................................... 512-301-8685 Circle C Grey Rock Pool................................................................. 512-291-8398

CIRCLE C GATED COMMUNITIES Enclave off Spruce Canyon Spectrum Management..................................Colleen Pritchard, 512-834-3900 Enclave off of La Crosse Relevant Management...................................................Kim Todd, 512-580-4212 Fairways Estates Spectrum Management..................................Colleen Pritchard, 512-834-3900 Park West Goodwin Management.................................. Marilyn Childress 512-502-7509 Hillside Estates Real Manage................................................. Christine Gamache, 866-473-2573

Age 5 and Under: Chelsea Rogers, Age 5 Piper Freitag - Age 3

Hillside Estates........................ Christine Gamache, HILESTAT@CiraMail.com Avana Estates Relevant Management................................................Kim Todd, 512-580-4212 Muirfield Real Management......................................... Victoria Escamilla, 866-473-2573

Russ Hodes ……........………………………….....……President Natalie Placer McClure………………………........Vice President Michael Chu ……………………………………….......Treasurer Trinh Bartlett………………………………………………Secretary Theresa Bastian and Jason Bram—Board Members Contact the Board at: directors@circlecranch.info

Age 6-9 Calleigh James - Age 9 Joshua Koppanalil - Age 9

City of Austin Solid Waste............................................... 512-974-1945 Dead Animal Collection................................................... 512-974-2000 Abandoned Vehicle........................................................... 512-974-8119 Pothole Complaints.......................................................... 512-974-8750 Stop Signs........................................................................ 512-457-4885 Street Light Maintenance..................................................................311 Schools Clayton Elementary................................................. 512-841-9200 Kiker Elementary..................................................... 512-414-2584 Mills Elementary...................................................... 512-841-2400 Bear Creek Elementary............................................. 512-414-0040 Cowan Elementary................................................... 512-841-2700 Bailey Middle........................................................... 512-414-4990 Gorzycki Middle School........................................... 512-841-8600 Bowie High School.................................................. 512-414-5247 UTILITY PROVIDERS Electric Pedernales Elec................................................... 512-219-2602 City of Austin. ................................................................ 512-494-9400 Texas Gas Service ............................................................ 800-700-2443 Water City of Austin ....................................................... 512-972-1000 MidTex Water Company.................................................. 866-654-7992 Solid Waste City of Austin .............................................. 512-974-1945 Post Office Oak Hill Station ............................................ 800-275-8777 Circle C Ranch Newsletter - May 2021

Around Circle C

Circle C Ranch Newsletter May 2021

Around Circle C

Although the Circle C Pools did get the green light to open again at the March 26, 2021 HOA Board meeting, we still have some hurdles to overcome before we can be fully operational. One of those hurdles happens to be a national shortage of lifeguards. National new reports of lifeguard shortages date back to at least 2014. For example, a June 17, 2020, KXAN headline declares, “Lifeguard Shortage May Be the Reason Your Pool Isn't Open Yet.” A May 29, 2019, AthleticBusiness. com headline warns, “Industry Grapples with Lifeguard Shortage.” A July 3, 2018, article in the Washington Post carries the headline, “Why Your Pool’s Lifeguard Is More Likely to Be a Senior Citizen.” So, will this affect us and our pools this summer in 2021? “Yes,” answers Circle C Aquatics Director Brody McKinley. “Currently all organizations in the area are short-staffed.” For this problem, we turn to our community. With 5,600 homes here in Circle C, surely, we can find some lifeguards to staff our pools? “Community members who have family members working at the pool should encourage neighbors and friends to have their family members apply. Community members encouraging their family members looking for a job to contact us would also be a great start.” What happened to all of our teenage lifeguards? “In the past, low wages have been a driving factor in lifeguard shortages. Now, with the pandemic, there are even fewer lifeguards. People don’t want their teenagers out there working if they don’t need to be. During the heavy parts of the pandemic, there were no lifeguard classes being held. It is virtually impossible to remain 6-feet apart from each other and train new lifeguards.” Would Circle C hire a lifeguard with no previous experience? The answer is “Yes” absolutely, every season, a large part of our staff is made up of first year lifeguards. We welcome any applicant with strong swimming abilities of any age, 15 to 115. “Absolutely,” declares Brody. “We have previously had older individuals as lifeguards at our facility and welcome everyone to apply.” “We offer extremely flexible hours and competitive pay for a fun work environment. In order to fully operate our seasonal schedule, we need about 145 fully trained lifeguards. Applicants do not need to be previously certified or have any previous work experience. We have Lifeguard Instructors and Lifeguard Instructor Trainers on staff, and we are able to provide certification courses.” So, c’mon down, Circle C’ers! Send your teenage kids, your parents, your grandmas and grandpas on over to the Aquatics Center at the main swim pool and meet Brody and his lovely team. And get to work this summer outside in the fresh air. We hope to see you there. Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Circle C Ranch Newsletter - May 2021

News You Can Use Wildflower Notes Here’s what’s likely to be blooming, fruiting or setting seed in Central TWildflower Notes

Here’s what’s likely to be blooming, fruiting or setting seed in Central Texas this time of year. Look for these native plants around town, at the Wildflower Center and perhaps in your own backyard! Spineless Prickly Pear (Opuntia ellisiana) Some days are pricklier than others — and so are some prickly pears! The paddles of the “spineless” species, Opuntia ellisiana, do have tiny, imperceptible glochids (which are more like slivers than spines), so don’t throw caution to the wind when handling them. But you’ll want to handle them if you’re a fan of nopalitos, a common taco filling made from tender young specimens. This plant’s beautiful, lemon-colored flowers (which sometimes become peach-toned with age) are nectar and pollen rich, providing for insects, to boot. And those blooms produce deep pink edible fruits (known as tunas) that are versatile enough for margaritas, smoothies and holiday relishes. (Search “prickly pear recipe” on wildflower.org for a variety of ways to appreciate this handsome cactus.) Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella) Flowers in the aster family, Asteraceae, can be hard to tell apart. Many have both disc and ray flowers — the combination of which makes a “composite” — and many of those combos are yellow. Firewheels are in this family but make it a bit easier with ray petals that are predominantly a deep red-orange, making these flowers pretty recognizable. In fact, an alternate common name means “red sunflower” in Spanish. A fringe of yellow decorates the ray flowers’ scalloped edges, and disc florets are typically a brownish red. Gaillardia pulchella plants tolerate hot, dry weather, which makes them perfect for Texas gardens and common along roadsides. Just one downside: They sometimes come in all yellow. There goes our cheat sheet! Find these plants at the Wildflower Center and learn more about them at wildflower.org/plants-main. Submitted by Amy McCullough, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Photography courtesy of Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Adopt These Wildflowers (& More!)

You can now symbolically adopt a wildflower from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for someone special — including yourself! Your donation to this program supports our work championing native species, and each comes with a beautiful wildflower postcard (with information about the plant and an inspiring message) to keep or give. Choose from five beloved species at wildflower.org/adopt. 6

Circle C Ranch Newsletter May 2021

Connection

– Wizzie Brown, Texas AgriLife Extension

I remember way back when I was in college and I called my mom, excited to share with her that I decided to change my major. It went a bit like this….. Me: “Mom, I decided to change my major. I’m going into entomology!” Mom: “What?” Me: “Entomology. It’s the study of insects.” Mom: “What are you going to do with that? Do you plan on spending your life spraying bugs?” Me: “I have no idea, but it will be fantastic!” While at the time, my mom could not see exactly what I was going to do with a career in entomology, fortunately, for me I found an amazing job with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension where I have the opportunity to educate people on insects. Fortunately for my parents, they now have someone to identify all their insects. So why the story? Well, you all have the same opportunity as my parents to become educated on various insects. There are a variety of ways to do this, and all are resources that I directly post or am involved with in some way. If you want to learn more about insects, you can connect with me (or my colleagues in some cases) through: Instagram: urbanipm Facebook: www.facebook.com/UrbanIPM YouTube channel: Wizzie Brown Podcasts: I am involved in two different podcasts. • Bugs by the Yard- this one covers insects in the landscape • Unwanted Guests- this one covers structural pests Insect ID requests• Email me at ebrown@ag.tamu.edu • Submit images to http://texashighplainsinsects.net/ Educational webinars on various insect topics- email me to get onto the list for sign up links 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 Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Circle C Ranch Newsletter - May 2021

Pool Safety Reminders

Summer is around the corner, and soon the Texas temperature will climb to its standard 3-digit numbers. For many Texas families, the best respite for our summer heat—other than remaining in cool air-conditioned homes or businesses—is to jump in a lake or a pool. Last summer, in 2020, the Circle C HOA Board elected to keep the pools closed due to summer surges in COVID cases and health concerns. This summer, the board has elected to open the pools as staffing and health safety measures allow. With over 5600 homes within Circle C, our four aquatic facilities (swimming pools) tend to stay very busy. Crowded pools bring inherent risks for drowning. Safety is a concern. We spoke with the Circle C Aquatics Director, Brody McKinley, about pool safety measures and drowning prevention. CROWDED POOLS: “We have heavy-use facilities that see over 80,000 entries each year,” Brody informs us. “When you are dealing with that many people, there is always a higher chance of a rescue or first aid incident.” While all aquatic environments hold risks for injuries and drownings, crowded pools increase that chance. The Circle C pools alone average 25 water rescues each year and approximately 45 first aid incidents per year, according to Brody. With crowded pools, not only does the increased activity in the pool create more of a risk for injury, but parents tend to be more distracted as well. “Children will wander away from their parents [from the splash pools] and head over to the main pool, which is deeper water,” says Brody. “We see a lot of this at the Swim Center.” Videos available online offer accurate glimpses into the challenges of trying to find a child drowning in a crowded location. For example, SpotTheDrowningChild.com has an interactive video that allows one to click on the person they think might be drowning. The video pauses when a person is clicked and reveals whether the chosen person is just playing or truly in need of help. FATAL VERSUS NONFATAL DROWNINGS: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drownings are the third leading cause of unintentional injury deaths with an average of 320,000 fatal-drowning incidents per year worldwide. According to the American Red Cross, drownings are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths (after motor vehicle crashes) in the U.S. for children 1-14 years of age. The American Red Cross also states that drowning is the leading cause of death for children and adults with autism, and that a child with autism is 160 times more likely to experience drowning than their neurotypical peers. In addition to deaths from drownings, nonfatal drownings (formerly called near drownings but renamed by the WHO in 2002) are a cause for concern. Nonfatal drownings can either be hypoxic (when the amount of oxygen in the body is lessened for some time causing injury to tissues) or anoxic (when oxygen is completely stopped for at least four minutes, thus increasing the likelihood of permanent brain injury, paralysis, and/or severe disabilities). 8

Circle C Ranch Newsletter May 2021

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that over 50% of nonfatal drowning victims treated in emergency departments require hospitalization or transfer for further care. “We have had several nonfatal drownings at our facilities and each incident is different with unique challenges,” states Brody. METHODS TO PREVENT DROWNING: On their website, the CDC lists the following methods to help prevent the risk of drowning: 1. Take Formal Swimming Lessons: Formal swimming lessons help provide water survival skills for swimmers. 2. Learn CPR: Seconds can matter in drownings. In the time it takes for help to arrive, severe damage can be done to victims of drowning. Bystanders schooled in CPR have saved many drowning victims’ lives and lessoned the severity of injuries. 3. Don’t Substitute Toys for Life-Saving Devices: Air-filled or foamfilled toys (such as noodles, arm rings or water wings, and/or inner tubes) are not life-saving devices and should never be used in place of life jackets. Brody offers his thoughts on additional methods of drowning prevention: “There are layers of protection that lower the risks of drowning and injuries: lifeguards, parent supervision, swim lessons, life jackets…etc. However, the risks are always present and must be managed.” WHO IS AT RISK FOR DROWNING: “No one is drown proof,” warns Brody. “Even strong swimmers and people on swim teams can become a drowning victim.” In 2010, U.S. Olympic swimmer Fran Crippen died while swimming in the United Arab Emirates when he was 26 years old and in prime shape. The water and outside temperature were too hot and he suffered heat stroke. Strong swimmers tend to feel confident enough in the water that they take risks. This puts them in a higher risk for drowning than if they were conservative in the water. DROWNING DOESN’T LOOK LIKE DROWNING: The image of a child splashing and flailing as they drown is misleading. Children that are splashing are the ones that have the energy to play. It’s the children in the most trouble that are the quiet ones. “Drownings in real life look nothing like in the movies,” explains Brody. “There is not typically loud splashing or calling for help. With the incidents at our facility, the child slipped under the water silently and struggled below the surface of the water.” In fact, in real life, drowning victims look quite the opposite of what one might expect: • Drowning children cannot kick their legs because they utilize any and all energy in the legs to remain afloat and in an upright position so that the nose and mouth are on top, closer to the surface. • Drowning children cannot splash or wave for help because their arms must remain lateral to keep them afloat as much as possible. • Drowning children cannot cry out for help because they instinctively use all the energy of their mouth and nose to try to capture air whenever possible if they can get above the surface again. The need for oxygen supersedes language or making sounds. •Drowning children struggle silently and with very little visible movement. Most of the struggle happens beneath the surface of the water, so the struggle is mostly unseen and unheard.

Can you help Mike and Susie?

These newlyweds are trying to fulfill their dream of living and raising a family in Circle C! A truly wonderful couple in every way. Susie works as a nurse in labor and delivery and Mike works in the tech industry. They are also godparents to two lovely children living in the neighborhood.

Ideally, they are looking for 2,000 - 3,000 sq ft, 4+ beds with room for a porch swing and a nice yard for future children and their sweet dog. They are highly qualified, fully approved buyers who are flexible on terms and incredible to work with. For my part, I work diligently to facilitate a very simple and positive experience for all parties. If you or someone you know in the neighborhood is considering putting a home on the market that might meet their needs, please contact me. We would be so grateful if you would allow us the opportunity to submit an above market offer.

Phone: (512) 294-3335 Email: AKollytx@gmail.com Circle C Ranch Newsletter - May 2021

TEENAGE JOB SEEKERS

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Baby Pet House Yard Age Sit Sit Sit Work Phone

NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE

* -- CPR Training + -- Red Cross Certified ^ -- First Aid At no time will any source be allowed to use the Circle C Ranch Newsletter's contents, or loan said contents, to others in any way, 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 Circle C Ranch Newsletter is exclusively for the private use of the Circle C 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.

Circle C Ranch Newsletter May 2021

OTHER SERVICES

Continued from Page 8 • According to SpotTheDrowningChild.com, “Drowning children can only struggle on the surface of water for an average of 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.” Brody reiterates this information with his own experiences at the Circle C pools. “With the incidents at our facility, the child slipped under the water silently and struggled below the surface of the water. There was no noise to indicate anything was wrong. Warning signs that a child is about to become a drowning victim include having their head tilted back, body in a vertical position, while they struggle to reach the side/stair/place where they can reach the bottom, struggling below the surface of the water, unable to make any forward or upward progress; a child in a lifejacket in shallower water can potentially tip face down and be unable to right themselves.” BENEFITS OF LIFEGUARDS: A few residents have asked why other neighborhoods offer “Swim at Your Own Risk” policies while Circle C chooses to require lifeguards. “We do get this question a lot,” muses Brody. “State Law requires the Swim Center and Community Center facilities to both have lifeguards.” This is because the Swim Center contains an Olympic-sized pool (the only neighborhood Olympic-sized pool in Austin) and the Community Center contains a slide. Both features greatly increase the risk of drowning. “I know that our current insurance provider requires that if we have lifeguards at some facilities, we must have them at others.” Brody and the Circle C Aquatics Team make a practice of prioritizing safety at all Circle C pools. “A lot of facilities that aren’t required to have lifeguards don’t do it because of the management, staffing, or financial requirements that are needed to start a lifeguarding program.” “We have lifeguards, we have the programs in place, we have the financial resources to do so, therefore it would be irresponsible and negligent of us not to provide this additional level of safety to all of our facilities.” Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Circle C Ranch Newsletter - May 2021

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Circle C Ranch Newsletter May 2021