Plum Creek - September 2021 by Peel, Inc.

PLUM CREEK POST

POST The Official Newsletter of the Plum Creek Homeowner Association September 2021 Volume 12, Issue 09

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 16th when Plum Creek presents Hootenanny on the Hill from 12PM to 4PM. Join us for a day filled with fun for the whole family with races, live music, games, and more. Our festival begins in the wee hours with the Hootenanny Races 10k/ 5K/3K/1K at 7am. Races will start and finish at the Dog Park. https://www.athleteguild.com/running/kyle-tx/2021-hootenanny-onthe-hill-10k5k3k1k Visit https://www.athleteguild.com/ for more race info! For more information about schedule of events and updates check out our website at www.hootenannyonthehill.com

National Night Out Texas is- Tuesday, October 5th National Night Out is designed to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community relations. Meeting your neighbors helps build community. This year the Safety Committee will host a contest to meet your neighbors. A form will be supplied with 10 slots on the form. Create a contact list for you or your street. The first 10 groups that fil lout the form and submit it will receive a gift card. Stay tuned for more information in an upcoming Association eNews.

It’s Back to school for Hays CISD students on Thursday, August 19th . Plum Creek students will continue to attend Negley Elementary, Barton Middle School and Hays High School for the 2021-2022 school year. Check the campus websites for back to school nights. Please call the Central Administration Office, 512-268-2141, for further information if your child is new to the district. You can log onto the Hays CISD website for further information: www.hayscisd.net Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Abundant throughout the central and eastern United States, as well as portions of Canada, the blue jay is a common sight. Once solely a resident of oak and pine forests, blue jays now inhabit wooded suburban areas and parks as well. Like other members of the corvid family (such as black crows and ravens), blue jays tend to have a bold and mischievous temperament. A varied vocalist, blue jays can create both piercing calls as well as more subdued, almost musical notes. The blue jay also employs some mimicry, reproducing the screeches of the red-shouldered hawk to deter other birds from its territory. Their diet consists of insects, acorns, fruits, seeds, and the eggs of other birds which it robs from the nests. Blue jays are blue above with a collapsible blue crest, a white face and black "necklace" around their white neck, with a whitish-gray breast. The wings and tail are striped blue and black, with several bars of white on each wing. In Texas, the blue jay is found in the northern and eastern regions of the state, including the Edwards Plateau and portions of South Texas. Parks such as Palo Duro Canyon State Park in the Panhandle and Bastrop State Park in Bastrop, offer year-round viewing opportunities. Kerrville-Schreiner State Park holds potential for winter observation. Most regions of the country have their resident "blue jay," but cristata is the species officially designated by that name. It ranges through Canada and the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and is the only jay species in much of that area. Several other blue-colored jays occur in the West, but only one, Steller's jay, shares the blue jay's handsome crest.

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PLUM CREEK POST Committee Contacts

PLUM CREEK HOA MANAGER Adriane Carbajal................. plumcreekmanager@goodwintx.com PLUM CREEK POST AND WEEKLY ENEWS Jessica Morris.......................................pcoffice@goodwintx.com COMMUNITY CENTER RESERVATION QUESTIONS Jessica Morris.......................................pcoffice@goodwintx.com DOG PARK COMMITTEE Chris Clement................................ dogpark@plumcreektxhoa.com LAKE/PARK COMMITTEE Linda Campbell .......................................................................... ............................................................. lake@plumcreektxhoa.com GARDEN COMMITTEE Sandra Gonzalez............................... garden@plumcreektxhoa.com POOL COMMITTEE Noah Johnson.................................... pool@plumcreektxhoa.com RECREATION COMMITTEE Jennifer Crosby............................................................................ .....................................................recreation@plumcreektxhoa.com SAFETY COMMITTEE Brad Growt........................................safety@plumcreektxhoa.com WELCOME COMMITTEE Arcelia & Gary Gibbs.................................................................. ................................................... welcome@plumcreektxhoa.com YARD SPIRIT COMMITTEE Kevin Foley................................yardspirit@plumcreektxhoa.com HOA OFFICE PHONE......................................... 512.262.1140 PLUM CREEK HOA WEBSITE:............ www.plumcreektxhoa.com

Important Numbers

STREET LIGHTS, ROAD REPAIRS, STREET SIGNS

City of Kyle Public Works Dept........................... 512.262.3024 ......................................................................pw@cityofkyle.com TRI SHIELD SECURITY.........................................512-486-9955 ANIMAL CONTROL

City of Kyle Animal Control ............................... 512.268.8800 SOLID WASTE TDS Customer Care Dept ................................ 1.800.375.8375 POWER OUTAGES PEC .................................................................. 1.888.883.3379 SCHOOLS Hays CISD .......................................................... 512.268.2141 Negley Elementary ..............................................512-268.8501 Barton Middle School ......................................... 512.268.1472 Hays High School ............................................... 512.268.2911 YOU SHOULD RECIEVE THE PLUM CREEK POST EACH MONTH ON OR BEFORE THE 10TH. 2

Plum Creek Post - September 2021

Continued from Cover In Texas, the blue jay ranges through the northern and eastern portions of the state and the Panhandle, occurring westward to the Edwards Plateau and south to about Victoria. It may also wander farther south and west in the winter. White patches and black-and-white barring ornament the blue jay's blue wings and tail, while a black necklace crosses the whitish breast. Washington Irving described it as "That noisy coxcomb, in his gay light blue coat and white underclothes," while 19th century ornithologist Charles Bendire was more fascinated by its ever-changing personality: "Cunning, inquisitive, an admirable mimic, full of mischief; in some localities extremely shy, in others exactly the reverse, it is difficult to paint him in his true colors. Blue jays roam woodlands, parks and towns in search of a variety of foods. One study found their summer diet to contain 30 percent insects and other invertebrates, as well as some small vertebrates; the other 70 percent was made up of acorns, fruits and seeds. Jays are also notorious nest-robbers and will devour small birds and suck the eggs of other species. The blue jay's nest is a bowl of twigs and dry leaves high in a tree; the three to five eggs are blue or greenish spotted with brown. They hatch after 16 to 18 days of incubation by the female and the young fledge in 17 to 21 days more. It has a piercing call...jay, jay, jay...once described by Thoreau as the "unrelenting steel-cold scream of the jay, unmelted, that never flows into a song, a sort of wintry trumpet..." Blue jays are one of seven jay species that range in Texas. Blue jays are around 10 inches in length. Males and females basically look the same. They are very curious and intelligent birds. Blue jays are noisy and aggressive, and have been known to attacks cats and humans. Look for blue jays in parks, woodlands and suburbs. A garden is a good thing to have in your home. This will not only give you the feeling of relaxation and peace, but also it will give an avenue for you to be one with nature, even if you are in the middle of the city. Your garden will have a more natural feel if you can be able to attract birds such as blue jays in your garden. Birds have this certain effect on people that creates calmness in them. Give them what they need and they may even setup their own nests if they like your place. Here are some ways to attract blue jays to your garden. •Give the blue jays what they love. You can ask for information from local pet stores on what blue jays love to eat, what kind of environment they love to dwell in, and how they want to be treated. You can also search for this information on the internet or your encyclopedia at home. •You will find out that blue jays are mostly vegetarians. They like to eat peanuts, cherries, acorns and anything that they can get their beaks on. But they also include insects in their diet sometimes as a source of protein. •Attract what attracts them. Since blue jays like to eat insects at times, you may also want attract some insects into your garden. Choose insects that love to munch on plants, not wood. This will protect the wooden parts of the house from being subject to insect infestation. Your plants, grasses and vines are especially attractive to these kinds of insects and will make blue jays enjoy your garden too. Continued on Page 4 Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc

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•You may plant sunflowers in your garden as well since blue jays love to eat their seeds. •You may also plant an oak tree in your garden, whether a young one, or a full sized tree. But it is recommended to plant a younger one since it still has young roots. You also have to provide a large space for the tree to grow. Blue jays love oak trees since they produce nuts and attract insects too. These are also used as nesting areas when breeding season comes for these cute birds. •Be sure also that you will be able to provide the birds some sort of nesting ground when the breeding season comes. You can leave a pile of thatch or grass so that they will be able to use it as part of their nests. •Be sure that you have an adequate supply of water. You can place a pond in your garden where your birds can drink. But it is better to install a shallow water fountain so that these birds and other birds will be able to bathe as well. Installing a fountain will also add aesthetic value on your beautiful garden. Be sure that you know how to install one, or better yet, hire a professional who knows how to properly install a water fountain. Attracting birds such as blue jays does not necessarily require much work. You just have to be sensitive to what they need.

TEENAGE JOB SEEKERS Rachel Grover............13...........B,PS,DW...........................512-395-4174 Camryn Jamison........14...........B........................................512-845-2226 Cameron Opiela.........14...........PS, HS.............. .................512-457-9660 Cannon Jamison........12...........Y....................... .................512-845-2226 Kaitlyn Cowan...........12...........C, SB, DW.........................512-657-4332 Austin Holtz...............12...........BB, C, DW, T....................346-233-5903 Dylan McGehee.........12...........PS, BR, HS, DW...............512-971-3540 Zachary McGehee......14...........Y, PS..................................512-216-5350

* - CPR Training + - First Aid Training (B) - Baby Sitting (Y) - Yardwork (PS) - Pet Sitting (PI) - Piano Instruction (C) - Car Washing (GL) - Guitar Lessons (T) - Tutoring

(H) - House Cleaning (CS) - Computer Services ( B R ) - Mi n o r Bi k e Repairs (BB) - Basketball Lesons (SB) - Softball Lessons (DW) - Dog Walking (HS) - House Sitting (PW) - Power Washing

ATTENTION TEENAGERS The Teenage Job Seekers listing service is offered free of charge to all Plum Creek teenagers seeking work. Submit your name and information to advertising@PEELinc.com by the 8th of the month! 4

Plum Creek Post - September 2021

Trees are one of the many things that make Plum Creek such a wonderful place to live. The street trees and yard trees planted throughout Plum Creek reduce home cooling costs by providing shade. They cool the ambient air temperature by providing shade to the sidewalks and streets, which absorb sunlight and continue to radiate heat during the night. Trees reduce storm water runoff, store carbon, and improve air quality by releasing oxygen and filtering the air. Additionally, the trees make walking in Plum Creek cooler and safer by creating a physical barrier between pedestrians and cars and improve our quality of life. However, these wonderful trees with all of their benefits need our regular attention and care. Many of the trees need to be trimmed to prevent damage to persons or vehicles that traverse the sidewalks and streets. Please prune any and all of the trees in the planting strip or yard that are encroaching on these areas. It is requested that these trees be trimmed up to allow seven (7) feet of clearance over the sidewalk and fourteen (14) feet over the street. Remove dead trees and limbs on a regular basis. Unmaintained trees and limbs can lead to a deed restriction violation which may result in a $25 fine until the violation is corrected. With everyone taking care of their trees, Plum Creek will continue to be a place where people want to call it home. Thanks so much!

Fire ants have been described as both a blessing and a curse. After all, they eat ticks, chiggers, termites, boll weevils, flies, fleas, cockroaches, and many other troublesome pests. However, they don’t stop there. They eat almost any young plant, baby animal, or beneficial insect or reptile, and they cause significant amounts of electrical damage by chewing through wires and invading electrical boxes. Not to mention, they seem strangely attracted to my toes… Fortunately, they have some natural controls, including lizards, birds, and beneficial nematodes, the worm-like microscopic organisms in our soil that eat white grubs, fleas, and the larvae of fire ants. Unfortunately, these natural controls don’t always keep the fire ants in check, and thus, we spend our summers battling the bugs. To start, treat the individual mounds. Drench each mound in boiling water, vinegar, soapy water, or a compost tea mixture called Garrett Juice from Garden-Ville. Alone, three gallons of boiling water eliminate them by almost 60 percent. However, you must be careful with the vinegar, soapy water, and boiling water, as they can all damage and burn your nearby plants and lawn. Thus, Garrett Juice proves the best tool. The mixture controls fire ants, and it nourishes your lawn and garden, too. You can purchase Garrett Juice at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, and many local nurseries, or you can make your own Garrett Juice by combining 1 cup of compost tea, 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses, 1 tablespoon of liquid seaweed, and 1 tablespoon of natural apple cider vinegar per gallon of water. If you want to add an extra punch to your Garrett Juice, add 2 ounces of citrus oil to each gallon of water. Never use citrus oil alone, as it burns plants by itself. Always mix it with a compost tea, molasses, or another organic substance. For more information check out www.dirtdoctor.com for more great tips for your lawn and garden. Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc

PLUM CREEK POST Use the QR Code to schedule an appointment with the Plum Creek HOA office. It’s a smaller office and we can help one guest at a time in the lobby. Find the link to the appointment calendar on the Plum Creek HOA website: www. plumcreektxhoa.com Select: By Appointment Scoop Your Puppies Poop Remember to take a doggy baggy with you on your walks through the neighborhood. There are about 40 dog waste stations around the community. This helps keep the parks and trials clean for all the enjoy. Remember to trim those trees! 14 Feet over the street and alley for vehicle traffic 7 feet over the sidewalk for pedestrian traffic

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!!!

Walking is a great mode of exercise because it requires no equipment, it is low-impact, and something that many people can do regardless of their fitness level or experience. Benefits of Walking Any movement is good movement and the same is true for walking. Like other forms of exercise, walking can help you improve cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, control weight, improve mood, decrease stress, and it also provides numerous other health benefits. Here are some tips to turning your walk into a workout. Get the Goods Proper footwear is essential for any kind of exercise. It is important to select shoes with good arch support and soles that absorb shock and provide cushioning. If you are unsure about fit, Austin has several local shoe stores that will personally fit you to a new pair of sneakers. Choose clothing that is comfortable to move in and that you feel good wearing. Dress in layers if the weather is cool so that you can adjust as needed during your workout. And take a bottle of water along so that you can hydrate along the way. You may find that taking an IPod along will help keep you motivated. Walking for Fitness: Proper Speed and Technique Although the act of walking is simple, walking for fitness takes more effort, attention to speed, and technique. In order to get the most out of your walking workout, the speed should be brisk and above your “stroll in the park” comfort level. Also, your heart rate should be elevated. A good estimate: 10 - 15 heartbeats in a 6-second pulse count. (Multiply that number by 10 to get heartbeats per minute.) Strike the ground with the heel and drive off from heelto-toe in order to effectively engage the muscles of your lower-body. A few minutes after starting your walking workout, take a moment to stretch the calves, quadriceps, and hamstrings. Hold stretches for several seconds (with no bouncing) on each side. After your workout, reward your muscles and improve flexibility by taking a few minutes to stretch. Hold stretches longer here because muscles are warm and can make gains in flexibility at this point. Just Getting Started? If you are new to exercise, it is important to check with your doctor before starting an exercise program. Start slowly and gain confidence before adding distance. For example, you might try walking 10 minutes in one direction and 10 minutes back. Slowly build up to 15 minutes in one direction and 15 minutes back. Over time, build up to 2-3 miles or 40-60 minutes of walking at a brisk pace most days of the week. A Seasoned Walker? If you have been walking for quite some time, you may be looking for something new to add to your walking workout. With a few quick additions, you can further challenge and tone muscles and increase the intensity of your workouts. • Add speed. Turn your walk into a speed walk. Engage the arms and the core muscles. • Incorporate intervals. Walk for five minutes. Do an interval for two minutes. Repeat. Intervals can include things like walking lunges, moving side squats, push-ups, and jogging. • Hit the hills. Adding an incline will increase intensity in a hurry! • Ad d re s i s t a n c e . Us e a w e i g h t e d b a c k p a c k o r v e s t . Continued on Page 6

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Or push your child in the stroller. I did not realize just how much weight I was pushing when I exercise with my son until I did the math recently. He is 25 pounds, and the stroller is 15. That extra 40 pounds adds great intensity (and a whole lot of cuteness) to my workouts! If this is the year that you have devoted to improving health, walking is a great way to start! Remember… “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Plum Creek Post - September 2021

Each association has a set of governing documents. Each homeowner buying into a community acknowledges that they’ve read and agree to abide by their community documents. Understanding how HOAs operate is an important part of choosing to live in a homeowner’s association. When there is no issue with an enforceable rule, an HOA will likely not actively enforce a rule; however, this doesn’t change the nature of the rule. When a covenant or rule becomes an issue, an association may elect to give more attention to it. An HOA board of directors is the decision-making body for the association they represent, and they make the decisions they deem best for their community. As the decision-making body, HOA boards also select the vendors they work with to perform specific duties, as requested. The HOA manager is selected to perform compliance inspections in the community. This process is outlined in the Violation Fines and Remedies Resolution. The Plum Creek HOA governing documents were filed in the Hays County Records in 1999 and are part of the official public records. Section 5.10 of the Declaration provides the Association with the authority to issue fines.

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Plum Creek Post - September 2021