Steiner Ranch - November 2021

VOLUME 15 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2021

SCAN AND REGISTER TODAY

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Ranch Record - November 2021

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Facebook.com/SteinerRanchHOAEvents

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Ranch Record - November 2021

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COMMUNITY INFO STEINER RANCH

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS OFFICE 12550 Country Trails Lane Austin, Texas 78732 512-266-7553 – Telephone

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

EMERGENCY...........................................................................911 Fire...........................................................................................911

Ambulance...........................................................................911 Sheriff – Non-Emergency........................512-974-0845 Travis County ESD No.6/Lake Travis Fire Rescue

Administration Office.............................512-266-2533

Travis County Animal Control.................512-974-2000

512-266-9312 – Facsimile

STEINER RANCH CONTACTS

www.steinerranchhoa.org

Office........................................................................................512-266-7553

OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday (Closed from 12-1:00pm).9:00am - 5:00pm Saturday & Sunday ........................................................................... CLOSED

STAFF General Manager Joseph Ristuccia............................................... steiner@ciramail.com

Steiner Ranch Community Association

SCHOOLS

Leander ISD....................................................512-570-0000 Vandegrift High School.............................512-570-2300

Canyon Ridge Middle School..................512-570-3500

Laura Welch Bush Elementary.................512-570-6100 Steiner Ranch Elementary........................512-570-5700

River Ridge Elementary..............................512-570-7300

UTILITIES

Travis County WCID # 17...............................512-266-1111

City of Austin Electric.................................512-494-9400 Texas Gas Service

Operations Manager

Custom Service....................................1-800-700-2443

Sarah Dunlap....................................................... steiner@ciramail.com

Call Before You Dig.............................1-800-344-8377

Lifestyle and Communication Manager Desirre Ghebremicael.................................... steiner@ciramail.com

Emergencies...............................................512-370-8609 AT&T

New Service...........................................1-800-464-7928 Repair......................................................1-800-246-8464 Billing.......................................................1-800-858-7928

Architectural and Community Standards Coordinator

Time Warner Cable

Samantha Dominguez.................................. steiner@ciramail.com

Repairs.........................................................512-485-5080

Front Desk Coordinator Kayla Rutt................................................................ steiner@ciramail.com

Compliance...................................................... steiner@ciramail.com

COMPLIANCE, ARCHITECTURAL Compliance/ACC Coordinator............... steiner@ciramail.com

Customer Service....................................512-485-5555

TDS (Trash & Recycle).................................512-329-1752 Austin/Travis County Hazardous Waste

............................................................................512-974-4343

OTHER NUMBERS

Lake Travis Postal Office...........................512-263-2458

Coyote Sightings.................................................................311 Five Star Commercial Community Management

Balcones Canyonlands Preserve.......................................

.................https://www.traviscountytx.gov/tnr/nr/bcp

SRMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER

Email the SRMA BOD.........................board@steinerranchhoa.org

Advertising.............................advertising@peelinc.com

Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Peel, Inc..............................................................512-263-9181

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FROM THE ASSOCIATION OFFICE 5 Lake Club Perimeter Enhancement Update 6 November Steiner Ranch Firewise Focus 6 Fall Tree Planting 10 Thanksgiving Week Trash Pick-Up Schedule 10 Fall Green Waste Pick-Up & Bulky Waste

Pick-Up Information STEINER ACTIVITIES & EVENTS 8 Steiner Ranch Fire Memorial Unveiling 9 Steiner Ranch Friends & Family Turkey Trot 9 Santa Mailbox at the Steiner Ranch HOA

Office 10 Santa Claus is Coming to Steiner Ranch 11 Enter the Steiner Ranch HOA Holiday House

Decorating Contest!

10 Free Residents Classes

(Tai Chi & High Fitness) 11 Steiner Ranch Mountain Bike Team is Ready

to Ride for the 2022 Season!

12 Leave the Leaves for Fireflies 14 Time for Tennis 15 Steiner Ranch Multicultural Festival 17 Young at Heart is BACK! 17 Houseboat Steiner Ranch: A Men's Monthly

Gathering IN EVERY ISSUE 4 Cover Photo 9 Classifieds 18 Teen Job Seekers

UPCOMING STEINER RANCH HOA EVENTS 11/25 12/04 12/09 12/01 – 12/17 12/14-12/23

Turkey Trot Santa visits Steiner Ranch Volunteers’ dinner Santa Mailbox Annual Holiday House Decorating Contest

Events are tentative & subject to change or cancel at any time.

Events are planned by the Steiner Ranch Event Planning Committee, and are for Steiner Ranch residents in good standing with the association and their guests only. Final approval to participate in any Steiner Ranch program or event is dependent upon HOA approval. For more information, please contact Desirre Ghebremicael at: steiner@ciramail.com. For the most up to date information, follow us at: Facebook.com/ SteinerRanchHOAevents or visit the Steiner Ranch HOA website at: www.steinerranchhoa.org 4

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Steiner Ranch Master Association Board of Directors Meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm at Towne Square.

Steiner Ranch Residential Owners Board of Directors Meets on the last Thursday of each month at 6:00pm at Towne Square.

Trail Committee Meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm. The committee also holds monthly trail work days. To learn more visit the Steiner Ranch Trail Committee Facebook page for the most up to date information and join their newsletter by subscribing at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/steinertrails Event Planning Committee Meets once a month. To join the committee and for more info, please send an email to desirre.ghebremicael@grandmanors.com

COVER PHOTO

This month’s cover photo were taken at past years Steiner Ranch Turkey Trot events. This popular community event will be back this year and will take place on Thanksgiving morning at 7:30am. We hope you’ll join your neighbors, bring your family, and your friends, to what is sure to be a great start to Thanksgiving Day. To register for the event, see page 11.

Have a photo you would like to see published in the next Ranch Record? For consideration, send pictures to communications@steinerranchhoa.org no later than the 8th of the month prior to publication. Your photo might just be next month’s cover!

By submitting your photo you agree to allow your photo to be published in future issues of the Ranch Record and/or other Steiner Ranch communications.

Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Lake Club Perimeter Enhancement Update

Dear Steiner Ranch Residents, We are pleased to announce that the Lake Club perimeter enhancement is almost complete. The drainage system and surface has been improved and new lighting has been installed. Cameras will be installed later this Fall.

The vehicular gates can be accessed by Texas Tag and EZ Tag. Guests of residents with a confirmed reservation at the Lake Club Pavilion will be given a keypad access code for to enter the vehicular gate closest to the Pavilion. The pedestrian gates can be accessed by key fob.

Access to the Lake Club parking and pavilion will be granted to Steiner Ranch residents only who have registered their Texas Toll Tags with the HOA. Please visit the link below to apply for Vehicular Gate access: https://forms.gle/DMMXQCzLE81bQQ6k9 If you do not have a Texas Toll Tag already, please visit: https://www.txtag.org/txtagstorefront/en/registration To be approved, you must be registered on the Ciranet Resident Portal (if you are a homeowner) or submitted all the tenant paperwork (if you are a tenant) and be a resident of the HOA in good standing.

Once approved you will receive an email confirming that your Texas Toll Tag is registered in the system granting you access to the Lake Club Parking lots.

A special Thank You goes to our GrandManors staff, Truetelligent Contractors, Urban Dirt, Access Controls, Cothrons Security and Stats Technologies that made the successful completion of this renovation project possible. For any questions, please do not hesitate to send us an email at steiner@ciramail.com, we encourage all homeowners to attend the monthly meetings and register and/ or log into the Resident/Ciranet portal by visiting the Association homepage at www.steinerranchhoa.org. Here residents can review monthly Board meeting minutes, financials, and much more.

Best Regards The Steiner Ranch Master Association Board of Directors All Volunteer run board, for more information about the SRMA Board, Vision, Projects, Communications, please visit http:// steinerranchhoa.org/ Lake Club Vehicular Gate access FAQs: 1. Will my Texas Toll Tag get charged every time I parked at the Lake Club?

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No, your Texas Toll Tag will not get charged. The tag readers at the Lake Club are only used to read the number to allow access through the vehicular gates.

2. I do not have a TX Tag; can I still have access to the parking at the Lake Club?

Please contact the HOA at 512-266-7553 for additional information.

3. What do I do when I have a reservation for a private party at the Lake Club and I have guests coming and in need of accessing the parking space?

The lower parking lot next to the Lake Club pavilion has a keypad entry. You will be provided with a code at time of reservation that you can share with your guest 4. I do not have a TX Tag but an EZ Tag, can I still have access to the parking lot?

Yes, the toll tag readers read TXtag and EZ Tag. 5. I do not have a Texas Toll Tag but PayViam, can I still have access to the parking lot?

No, the readers will not read PayViam. Please contact the HOA at 512-266-7553 for additional information.

6. What happens if I have a rental car and not my car with the TX Tag I have registered?

All vehicles must be registered to Steiner Ranch residents for access to be granted.

7. I have multiple cars with multiple Texas Toll Tag. Can I register all of them?

Yes, provided that the vehicles are in your name.

8. My TX Tag has expired, and I do not want to get a new one.

Can I still have access to the Lake Club parking space?

Your expired tag will work because the readers are only looking for the numbers displayed on your tag.

9. I do not want to get a TX Tag. What do I do to access the parking lots?

Please contact the HOA office at 512-266-7553.

10. Is Texas Toll Tag now able to track my movements in my own neighborhood?

No, the Texas Toll Tag numbers will be read to activate the gates to open only.

11. With the new parking spaces and designs, there is no way that I can park my boat trailer. Where can I park now?

Designs and construction were approved after it was verified that a standard sized boat trailer can fit through the gates and be safely parked.

12. Why are you requiring Texas Toll Tag? Why don’t you use RAIN RFID tags?

Texas Toll Tag was chosen because most people in the neighborhood already have them, and they are easily acquired.

13. I am a tenant; I cannot register on Ciranet. Can I still apply for Lake Club Vehicular Access?

Absolutely, all you need to do is to register with the HOA as a tenant and be in good standing.

14. When will the system be fully operational?

We anticipate for the system to be fully implemented by midDecember, and we will keep residents informed via email.

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November Steiner Ranch Firewise Focus Wood Privacy Fencing Fire Risk

by Brian Tarr, SR Firewise Committee Volunteer

Fall Tree Planting November Residential Landscaping

by Josh Armstrong

Fire Traveled along this Wood Fence & Ignited the Home

Painted Cement Board Fire-Proof Buffer Next to Home

There is a powerful reason why wood (usually cedar) privacy fences are a Firewise concern.

A combustible fence or gate attached to a home is an obvious threat if it catches on fire, since fire will move along the combustible wood fence to the home; see picture below left. Wood fences are a common feature of many homes in Steiner Ranch, which increases the likelihood of those homes being lost when the next serious wildfire impacts Steiner Ranch.

This wildfire risk is increased if the top of the wood privacy fence is close to the eaves of the home, which is the case for many single-story homes in Steiner Ranch.

Windblown wildfire embers can ignite flammable debris (e.g. leaves, trash, etc.) collected along the bottom of wood fences. Since the bottom of many wooden fence boards are in contact with soil, they will eventually decay, making the bottom of the fence easier to ignite. Also, due to the expense of building a fence, the boards used are relatively thin and spaced out with a small gap between them. These vertical gaps allow blowing embers to lodge between the fence boards and ignite them directly, especially if very thin wood fence boards were used.

Wood Privacy Fence Wildfire Risk Mitigation 1. Routinely remove any combustible debris accumulations adjacent to wood fences.

2. Install a non-combustible section or gate, at least 6ft long, next to the home.

Note that the Steiner Ranch Architectural Committee is currently investigating acceptable fire-proof privacy fencing options for creating a fire-proof buffer adjacent to vulnerable homes. Potential candidates include Hardie Board, metal, and fire-resistant hardwoods such as ipe.

A Firewise conscious neighbor recently built a fire-proof buffer in his wood fence for less than $100 in materials using painted Hardie Board trim; see picture above right.

As always, for more information or to schedule a free home ignition zone evaluation, please contact your Steiner Ranch Firewise committee volunteers at SRFirewise@gmail.com.

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Many of you lost trees during the winter storm URI in February of this year. For those of you who are going to replace your trees, October and November is a good time to plant new trees in Texas. Fall planting allows the tree to root into the surrounding soil during the winter for better survival during the heat of the following summer.

The first step in this process is to select a good quality tree. I recommend you locate a 2 ½ - 3 ½ inch trunk diameter tree. The diameter should be measured 6 inches off the ground.

The diameter is the width of the trunk. These trees should be 12’ – 16’ in height and 4’ – 6’ in width. Trees should be well-branched. The branches should be evenly spaced. Avoid trees with a double leader (two equal branches in the middle of the tree). The first branches should start at a height of 5’ – 7’. A tree to fit these guidelines will be a 65-gallon to 100-gallon container and should not be root bound. B & B trees (balled and burlapped) should have a root ball width of 28 to 38 inches and a depth of 24 to 30 inches.

Step two is to plant the tree correctly. For most of you, I suggest hiring a professional to plant your tree. They plant trees every day and have all the equipment to handle the tree and plant the tree correctly. Whether you plant or have a professional to plant, the tree should be planted 2” to 4” higher than the existing soil line so when the tree settles, it will be even with the existing soil line. Stake the tree in 3 directions to prevent tree from blowing over in the wind until establishment. Stakes should be removed to prevent girdling after the tree has properly rooted and can thrive without the help of supports.

Step three is critical for your new tree. Water the tree thoroughly after planting and then water the plant once or twice a week. Do not over water these trees. The tree company that plants your tree can provide watering information for the soils in your yard.

Step four is proper fertilization of your tree. Fertilize after planting and at least 3 times per year for the first three years. After three years, fertilize your trees once or twice per year. Use a fertilizer that has a high first number (nitrogen) on the fertilizer bag and read to make sure it is slowrelease. Apply ¼ - ½ pounds of fertilizer per inch trunk diameter. Spread the fertilizer evenly from the trunk of the tree to 2 feet past the drip line of the tree. Water the fertilizer in with a water hose. Yes, you can use tree stakes to fertilize. Follow the label instructions for your size of tree.

Trees can be mulched after planting but do not get carried away with too much mulch. Mulch should be kept away from the trunk and I prefer a mulch depth of 2 inches.

Container Tree

B&B Tree

Correct Tree Planting Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

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Steiner Ranch Fire Memorial Unveiling

The Steiner Ranch Fire Memorial was unveiled on the 10th anniversary of the Labor Day weekend Fires of 2011, on Saturday, September 25, 2021, at the John Simpson Park.

The Steiner Ranch memorial features an information kiosk, a bronze fireman placard, a concrete memorial bench in honor of Corporal Kevin Aigner, and a walkway of bricks. The project was the brainchild of Eagle Scout Tyler Buchner and was made possible by the SRROA Board of Directors and Community Sponsors.

In attendance were Steiner Ranch residents, the family of Corporal Kevin Aigner, Texas District 47 Representative Vikki Goodwin, Travis County Constable Office Pct. 2, Lake Travis Fire Rescue Fire Chief Robert B. Abbott, Travis County ESD No. 6 Board President Paula S. Barr (Lake Travis Fire Rescue), Assistant Fire Chief Glenn Trubee, Steiner Firewise and Trails Committees, Travis County Fire Education, and Eagle Scout Tyler Buchner.

The event began with the Honor Guard presenting the colors, followed by a minute of silence in honor of Corporal Kevin Aigner. Lake Travis Fire Rescue representatives spoke about the 2011 Fires that destroyed 23 homes and claimed the life of Travis County Constable Cpl. Kevin Aigner who collapsed and died from a stroke while helping to guard homes damaged in the wildfire. Steiner Ranch Firewise also talked about the risk of local fire, the efforts, and steps that have been taken since to reduce wildfire risks, how to increase the ignition resistance of residents’ homes and community, and offered attendees the opportunity to sign up for a free Home Ignition Zone Evaluation.

Travis County Pct. 2 Constables expressed their gratitude to the Steiner Ranch Community and Eagle Scout Tyler Buchner for visualizing and planning the Steiner Ranch Fire Memorial and remembering their own Corporal Kevin L. Aigner.

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Steiner Ranch Friends & Family Turkey Trot A Great Way To Start Thanksgiving!

The Steiner Ranch HOA Event Planning Committee invites residents, their friends, and family to Steiner’s 2021 Turkey Trot! The event will begin at 7:30am on Thanksgiving Day at Towne Square, and will feature a 5K Run at 8:00am and Kids Fun Run at 7:45am.

Register by visiting the HOA Events Facebook page, the HOA website at steinerranchhoa.org or by scanning the QR here.

Your registration will support a great cause – all of the registration fees collected will be donated to Community First! Village; a 51-acre master planned community that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. A development of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, this transformative residential program exists to love and serve our neighbors who have been living on the streets, while also empowering the surrounding community into a lifestyle of service with the homeless.

Adult registration is $15 online only and children under 10 are free.

Please note that this there will not be onsite registration this year.

Much thanks to Austin Christian Fellowship for graciously co-sponsoring this neighborhood event with the Steiner Ranch HOA! Thank you to all the other sponsors that make the event a success.

BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS LEARN GUITAR…In-Home Guitar Lessons. Great teacher, fun environment. B.A. in Music, Berklee College of Music.

Steiner resident. Over 24 years of teaching experience. All ages, styles and skill levels welcome. Proudly serving Steiner Ranch for years. For more info call Charles Couch at 646.704.3092 or visit http://www.charlescouch.com/ | www.charlescouch.com.

ALLSTATE INSURANCE - Ed Mena Agency Inc. – We are competitive without cutting corners. Call for all your insurance needs and to save money. Save even more by bundling your policies. Steiner Ranch Resident. edmena@allstate.com or call 512-459-5363.

HAYDEN AQUILON – FIREWOOD FOR SALE! –

We have four types of seasoned firewood: post oak, live oak, mesquite, and pecan. Ideal for BBQ and home fireplace.

Don’t wait until the next freeze! Call or text Jordon - 512560-2966 - www.kingsfirewood.com

Classified Ads

Business classifieds (offering a service or product line for profit) are $65, limit 40 words, please contact Peel, Inc. Sales Office @ 512263-9181 or advertising@PEELinc.com.

We hope you’ll join your neighbors, bring your family, and your friends, to what is sure to be a great start to Thanksgiving Day!

Santa Mailbox at the Steiner Ranch HOA Office As Christmas is fast approaching, many kids are already writing letters to Santa and making a list of what they would like to receive from the North Pole!

If your children want to write directly to Santa and his elves, we encourage them to drop off their note in the Red Santa Mailbox located at the HOA Office located at Towne Square (1255o Country Trails Lanes, Austin, Texas, 78732), Monday to Friday, December 1st through December 17th between 9am and 5pm.

We will be sure it gets to the North Pole with your requests. Plus, if you include your mailing address on the letter, your child will receive a response from Santa’s Elves.

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Many Steiner Ranch residents share the spirit of the season by decorating their homes for the Holiday Season with lights, Santa’s, snowflakes, Christmas Volcanos, Santa’s workshop underwater, Christmas Dog Wonderland and much more…

Residents will vote online for their favorite in each category:

Santa in his sleigh with his reindeers and helpers in a parade, make their return to Steiner Ranch on Saturday, December 4th, 2021. The parade will start at Towne Square at 10am and end at Cups & Cones by 11am. Santa’s Workshop will be set up at Cups and Cones from 11am to 12pm, where everyone is invited to a free cup of hot chocolate and candy canes. Don’t forget your Santa’s letter to drop off in the mailbox at the workshop for Santa and his Elves to take back to the North Pole.

Make it unique and a memorable way to kick off the holiday season by cheering Santa along the parade route, walk to the nearest viewing point along the route and make some jolly noise and wave hello!

To help residents find these fabulous decked out homes and cast their vote for their favorite, please register your home at the link below: https://forms.gle/NRKsZYsdY5oq6H6T6 ***Deadline to enter the contest is December 12th*** Get out your decorations and start planning your festive holiday display today! Voting will take place December 14 through December 23.

Winners will be announced on December 24.

Winners will receive a yard display and a themed basket for their efforts and will be announced on the Ranch Record and the HOA Facebook Page.

Free Residents Classes

Tai Chi Group Practice

When: Monday - Friday 8:15 am - 9 am Where: Bella Mar Basketball Court 12401 Bella Mar Trail, Austin, TX 78732 Come learn the Basic Forms of Chen Style Tai Chi Yi Lu 83 movements Benefits of Tai Chi: • Relieve Stress on the body and mind • Improve Health and Physical Fitness • Enhance Self Defense capability Questions: send an email to Ivan Hong at ivanhoeparry4@icloud.com

High Fitness Class Scan QR code below for the map of the Parade Route:

When: Tuesday, 7:45am to 8:45am Where: Towne Square Basketball Court 12550 Country Trails Lane, Austin, Texas, 78732 High Fitness brings old school aerobics back in a fun and modern way. Easy-tofollow fitness choreography set to current music will motivate you and make your work out so enjoyable you'll forget it's exercise. Interval training moves (squats, burpees, jacks, etc) given with options for any fitness level make High Fitness something everyone can succeed at. One class and you'll be hooked! High Fitness will leave you energized and ready to conquer your day!

Instagram @highfitness.steinerranch *Offered activities are for adults only.

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Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Steiner Ranch Activities & Events Holiday Decorations

As you plan your outside decor for the upcoming holidays, please observe the following Steiner Ranch rule regarding holiday decorations on the exterior of your property: Holiday decorations (excluding Christmas) may be put out up to fourteen (14) days in advance of the holiday in question. Decorations must be removed no later than seven (7) days after the holiday.

Christmas decorations may be put out beginning November 1st and must be removed by January 15th.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Thanksgiving Week Trash Pick-Up Schedule

Trash & recycling pick-up during the week of Thanksgiving will be as follows: If your regular trash pick-up day is on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday then your service will remain unchanged.

If your regular trash pick-up day is, Thursday and Friday then your pick-up day will be moved to the following day: Thursday pick-up will shift to Friday and Friday pick-up will shift to Saturday.

Fall Green Waste Pick-Up & Bulky Waste Pick-Up Information

Green Waste Pick-Up: Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) will provide Steiner Ranch residents with a fall green waste collection pick-up (bagged leaves, brush, limbs and other yard waste) during the week of December 6th to December 10th, 2021.

To participate, residents may place up to 20 thirty gallon paper bags of green waste at their curb on their designated trash pick-up day during the week of green waste pick-up.

NOTE: Green Waste materials are composted and therefore must be bagged in paper bags. Plastic bags will not be picked up.

Bulky Waste & Bundle Pick-Ups: Residents may schedule free bulky waste and/or bundle pick-ups twice per year by calling TDS. Bundle pick-ups may include tree, shrub, and brush trimmings; newspapers or magazines securely tied together, not exceeding 4 feet in length or 40 pounds. Bulky waste pick-ups consist of large pick-up items such as sofas, refrigerators, water tanks, etc. Call TDS at 512-329-1752 to schedule individual pick-ups.

Reminder: Aside from scheduled green waste pick-ups and individually scheduled bulky waste/bundle pick-ups, TDS will not pick up items/ bags left outside of trash containers, unless bags are tagged with TDS trash tags. Tags are available for purchase, by check, at the HOA office for $2.50 per bag. Additional trash/recycle carts may also be ordered directly from TDS.

Steiner Ranch Mountain Bike Team is Ready to Ride for the 2022 Season!

The Steiner Ranch Composite Mountain Biking Team (SRMTB) is set to begin the 2021-2022 season with the first practice scheduled for November 6!

Serving students in grades 6-12, the SRMTB Team officially participates in five races as sanctioned by the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) and the Interscholastic Texas Mountain Bike League. The race competitions are held on trails throughout Texas from January through April. While racing is not a requirement to participate on the SRMTB team, the race weekends are fun-filled events with a mixture of healthy competition and time together as a team.

The weekend begins with the team pre-riding the course on Saturday, followed by a team dinner and campfire; culminating with races kicking off on Sunday morning.

While the team provides an outlet for those students who are highly competitive with the sport, it is primarily focused on fostering an environment for kids of all levels to develop as riders and garner a love for mountain biking as a lifelong sport.

Continued on Page 12

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Continued from Page 11 The overriding goal of the team is to encourage #MoreKidsOnBikes!

Lead by a volunteer coaching staff certified by NICA, the team conducts structured practices 3 times each week, primarily utilizing the 20+ miles of trails in Steiner Ranch and occasionally nearby trails in the Austin area. Steiner Ranch practices begin and end at John Simpson Park.

Training is comprised of various skill level groups designed to promote individual development without regard to age or gender. For example, the entry-level group includes students with zero to minimal mountain biking experience. In this group, instruction is focused on building foundational techniques and skills with a goal of fostering confidence and speed. The most advanced group consists primarily of high school students who follow a more rigorous training program designed to optimize their individual performance while preparing them for competitive racing. All groups have at least two certified coaches to ensure safety while providing instruction.

The team is open to any student-athlete grades 6-12 in our area!

Registration for riders is open and can be accessed at www.srmtb.org.

More information about the team, practices and the coaching staff can also be found on the website. Further questions can be sent via email to Team Director Rob Lowe at rob@srmtb.org.

Leave the Leaves for Fireflies

by Johanna Arendt and Jeremy Hull, Travis County Balcones Canyonlands Preserve

One of the most magical sights of summer is the warm glow of fireflies blinking across the landscape. Many of us have fond memories of catching them and putting them in jars to create living lanterns for the evening.

Unfortunately, over the years, they have become more and more scarce. But the good news is we can help bring them back.

Firefly on a leaf of grass; Here are some tips to attract fireflies to photo by Radim Schreiber your yard. Not only will you get to see their beautiful lights on early summer evenings, but they can actually help your gardens. They eat many pests like snails, slugs, and smaller insects.

You can also save time and money by reducing the need to rake leaves, buy mulch, and use fertilizer: - Leave the leaves: Fireflies spend 95% of their lives as larvae in leaf litter and soil, so it’s important not to remove all the fallen leaves. You can set aside part of your property to leave looking natural, leaving the leaves where they fall. According to the Xerces Society, research has

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shown that lawns actually benefit from a thin layer of leaves, and the rest of the leaves can be spread around trees, shrubs, and perennial plants.

Avoid shredding the leaves, since this can harm the firefly larvae.

- Use leaves as mulch on garden beds: Leaves suppress weeds and retain moisture like shredded wood mulch does, and they add nutrients back to the soil. They also have the added benefit of being a free resource, which you then don’t need to bag up and drag to the curb.

- While it’s best to leave the leaves permanently to break down into soil, if you want to clean up the garden and remove leaves in the spring, try to wait as long as possible before doing so. The longer the leaves stay, the more benefits they provide.

- Don’t use pesticides or herbicides (weed killers), since these can kill fireflies and the insects they eat.

- Plant native trees and native grasses in your landscape. Firefly.org has a list of native Texas plants that are good for fireflies, from asters to oaks.

- Keep non-essential lights off at night, including spotlights on trees. Light pollution is a major factor in the decline of fireflies because it disrupts their mating rituals that rely on females Fireflies on a summer evening.

Photo courtesy of Firefly.org seeing the flashing light patterns of nearby males.

For necessary lights, use dark-sky friendly fixtures that focus the light only where it is needed.

- Include water features in your landscape. Fireflies eat the small insects, grubs, and snails that live in ponds and streams (but not chlorinated pools).

- Be patient, and repeat these steps each year. While fireflies may show up the first year you start, it can sometimes take up to five years.

In addition to helping fireflies, leaving the leaves is essential for important pollinators that help keep our entire ecosystem going. The majority of butterflies and moths overwinter in the landscape as eggs, caterpillars, chrysalides, or adults, and leaves provide important cover for them.

They also provide a layer of protection for native bees that overwinter in solitary burrows just an inch or two underground.

Rather than being something to rake or blow away, leaves are a valuable resource that will help build soil in your garden and support wildlife, including the magical glowing firefly. Fireflies are also a good indicator of the health of the environment, so seeing their little lights is a sign that your yard is in good shape.

If you’d like to learn more about gardening for fireflies, there are lots of great tips at https://www.firefly.org/. For more on the benefits of leaving the leaves, check out the Xerces Society’s website: https://xerces.org/blog/ leave-the-leaves. And for information about the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, visit our website at https://www.traviscountytx.gov/tnr/nr/.

Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Time for Tennis

It’s not artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, or 5G that will keep you active and healthy. It’s women's competitive and social tennis leagues here in Steiner Ranch! Do you like tennis? Do you want to start playing tennis? Do you want to join a team? If you answered “Yes” then come join Steiner’s social and competitive leagues.

For over 15 years, Steiner women have dominated the usage of tennis courts for competitive leagues during weekday mornings - one is Women’s Team Tennis of Austin (WTTA) and another league is USTA Texas. Steiner Ranch had more than 10 WTTA plus three USTA teams. This is a GOOD problem to have!

Prior to COVID, families with older children and seasoned players who were empty nesters moved out and some returned back to the workforce.

For this reason, the women's competitive league has declined to four teams for WTTA and two for USTA leagues.

The community has evolved and more young families have moved into the community within the past six years. All three community centers have 2-4 tennis courts, highly maintained and in fantastic condition unlike many master-plan communities in the Austin area. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time for tennis ladies! Come join one of the teams or sign up to play socially.

If you LOVE to learn and play tennis, contact HOA’s office and we’ll connect you with Steiner League Coordinators: WTTA - Rebekka Handings <rhanding@msn.com> and USTA - Chanda Lor <chanda.b.lor@gmail.com>

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Steiner Ranch Multicultural Festival Each month a Steiner family or group of families share their unique culture and heritage on the Ranch Record. We hope you will join us in this exciting journey, and you will contribute to the festival. To participate, please contact us via email at communications@steinerranchhoa.org

November highlight the canova family

By Christine Canova

(From left to right: Francesca, Anthony, Christine and Christopher)

We are the Canova family; Christopher, Christine, Anthony, and Francesca. We are very excited to be part of the Steiner Ranch Multicultural Festival and share our family traditions with you.

My husband Christopher and I moved our family to Austin from the Bay Area in California and have been living in Steiner Ranch since November 2017. We made a big decision four years ago to move away from extended family in hopes of finding a better quality of life for our children and ourselves. We took a big risk moving to Austin, and we have never regretted our decision. Steiner Ranch is such a beautiful community that we’ve been glad to call home these past four years. The fantastic location nestled between Lake Austin and Lake Travis, the rolling Hill Country landscape, and all the beautiful trails and amenities. Another reason for choosing Steiner Ranch was for the excellent schools, and we feel very fortunate to live right next to such great schools. Everyone in Steiner Ranch has been nice and neighborly. Our kids love to play outside and ride their bikes on the trails and to their school. Our kids are thriving in this environment. We could not have asked for a better neighborhood to raise our family in.

Our family is multicultural. Christopher was born and raised in Walnut Creek, California; however, his family is of Spanish Basque heritage, and his parents were both born and raised in the Philippines, in Cebu & Manila. We met in San Jose, California, where we graduated from San Jose State University and married in 2008. I was born and raised in Damascus, Syria.

Damascus is the capital of Syria and is the oldest continuously inhabited capital in the world. Syria is located on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and Arabic is its official language.

Damascus historically is known for its mention in the bible: for example, (Syrian Flag) the mention of Straight Street. St Paul stayed in a house on Straight Street, a street I used to walk to go to school as a child.

(Syria Map) 14

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I grew up Christian Catholic. Many of the traditions celebrated in my family were Christian-based, such as Palm Sunday, Easter, and Christmas. But we would also join in on the celebrations of our Muslim neighbors and friends, like Ramadan. We would go to Suhur, their pre-dawn meal before fasting.

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Continued from Page 14 One of the Syrian traditions celebrated during December is the feast day of Saint Barbara on the 4th. We usually prepare a traditional dish of boiled wheat grains in a bowl with Pomegranate seeds, raisins, anise, sugar, shaved coconut and small hard candies.

We also celebrate Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we attend Mass at our church in the evening, and then we have dinner at home with family.

Growing up, our Christmas meal (Icon of Saint Barbara of would be roasted Turkey and Buche de Heliopolis in Syria) Noel for dessert. During the holidays, it’s tradition in Syria that each family visits one another at their homes, even if it means visiting multiple families all in one night. During the visit, guests would receive Jordan almonds and chocolates. The adults would have liquor and Turkish coffee. The holidays are mostly about visiting with (Special treat eaten on the day of one another and enjoying each other’s Saint Barbara Feast) company.

Since our family is far away, we always call them or video chat with them.

Sometimes my mother will come and visit us during the holidays from Syria as well as one of our siblings, usually with their families.

During the holidays, when my mom visits, she makes traditional Arabic dishes, such as Kibbeh (a croquette of ground beef or lamb combined with bulgur wheat, pine nuts, and warm spices like cinnamon and allspice), Grape Leaves (grape leaves filled with rice, ground beef, sautéed onion, fresh cilantro, basil, cumin, salt and pepper steamed in water with a hint of lemon), and Tabbouleh (fresh herb and bulgur salad, with parsley, diced cucumber and tomato, dressed with olive oil and lemon juice) and Anise Cookies.

(Featured above: Kibbeh, Grape Leaves and Tabbouleh)

Anise cookies are the kids’ favorite; they call them “Teta Cookies.” (Teta is Grandmother in Arabic) and the delicious sweet aroma they spread while baking in the oven conjures up sweet memories of my childhood.

Hopefully this year like every other year Teta will visit and bake lots of Teta Cookies to share with friends and neighbors. Thank you for this opportunity to share a piece of my heart and we wish the community a healthy and happy Holiday Season.

(Turkish Coffee and Jordan almond chocolates)

(Teta Baking Anise cookies with Anthony)

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Continued from Page 15

Ingredients:

• 3 cups flour • 1 TBSP Anise seeds • 1 TSP Mahlab

by Craig Buchner

(you can find in international markets)

• ¼ cup sugar • 1 stick melted unsalted butter • ¼ cup olive oil • ½ cup warm milk • ½ TSP Baking Powder

Preparation:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.

• In a mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients first and mix together.

• Then add the wet ingredients and mix it all by hand.

• Once the dough is formed, take a small Ping-Pong sized ball and roll it by between your hands to form a an inch thick roll; then put one end on top of the other forming a circular shape (see picture for reference) • Insert in the oven on a cooking sheet and bake for about 18 minutes. Then change the heat to broil for about 2 minutes.

This should make about 24 cookies. Enjoy!

Want an opportunity to meet a lot of the guys in Steiner? Come to Houseboat! Houseboat is a monthly men's gathering in Steiner that has been going on for over 5 years and happens the last Tuesday of each month. Guys show up around 6pm, eat FREE food around 7:15pm, and then we all circle up to share what's been going on in life good or bad. It's an authentic environment you won't find anywhere else.

Why? Guys naturally live-in isolation. Mix isolation with COVID19 and the stresses of life, and you get increases in domestic violence, depression, parenting issues. Manhood done as a team sport means you're never alone and can get through anything!

How to get on the email list: email craigbuchner@yahoo.com How did Houseboat start?

About 15+ years ago, several guys from the Lake Travis area went to a Wild at Heart boot camp. They came back and started meeting on a guy’s houseboat routinely to enjoy a good meal and get real about life.

It’s grown a bit since then and saved many marriages and helped guys get through some really hard times. The number of Houseboat locations has greatly increased in the past few years. Steiner Ranch Houseboat was launched In June 2017.

(YAH women group at one of their recent meetings)

Young at Heart is an active senior social group open to Steiner Ranch residents ages 55+. We are purely a social organization wanting to share fun times. Joining us is a great way to make new friends and to get to know people your own age and with common interests. Our activities are planned to give everyone a chance to get know each other in casual social settings. Many friendships have been formed while participating in our various interest groups. If you live in Steiner Ranch, you are invited to join us. To become a member, send your name(s), address, phone number and e-mail address to steinerranchYAH@gmail.com.

Planned activities include: Book Club, Ladies’ Social Bridge (limited), Canasta (day and evening), Euchre (limited), Exploring Austin, MahJongg, Mexican Train, Technology Classes, BUNCO and Biking.

In addition, we have several other social groups that give us an opportunity to meet and visit with those in Young at Heart but are not in any of the other groups. These activities include: Ladies’ Lunching Out, Happy Hours, Wine Socials, as well as the popular ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) and SWEET (Single Women Enjoying Eating Together). New groups are added when there is interest.

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ATTENTION TEENAGE JOB SEEKERS

TEENAGE JOB SEEKERS

Baby Pet House Yard Name Age Sit Sit Sit Work Phone Alexis Atencio..........................16.............•.............•...........•...................512-924-2976 Bonner, Allen..........................15.............•.............•...........•.............•.....206-484-0504 Sarah-Kaye Thurston*^...........17.............•.............•................................512-820-4010 Gabriella Sevieri......................15...........................•...........•...................505-263-2689 Emily Schulz...........................14.............•.............•................................512-266-6306 Nathaniel Proffitt....................12...........................•................................512-695-7795 Karla Trujillo...........................17.............•.............•...........•...................737-932-1128 Nicole Freer*+^.......................14.............•.............•...........•...................737-256-1352 Kendra Stephens*+^................16.............•.............•................................903-217-9230 Nathan Nichols*+^.................21.............•.............•...........•...................512-660-0556 Leanne Nichols*+^..................15.............•.............•...........•...................512-660-0556 Kody Hicks.................................. mother's helper.•................................512-217-3158 Eesha Patel...............................14.............•..........................•...................631-560-7307 Kiersten Dyke+.......................15.............•.............•................................512-266-8090 McKenna McDaniel*+............13.............•.............•................................512-608-2135 Nicole Greenberg*+................14.............•.............•................................512-497-0902 Sarah Conner..........................15...........................•................................512-507-6000 Rachael Klein*+.......................19.............•.............•...........•...................512-810-9003 Isabela Carson*+......................15.............•..........................•...................509-308-8601 Kassidy Gailey.........................15.............•.............•...........•...................864-238-0020 Campbell Fernandez...............13.............•.............•...........•...................808-783-0780 Lilly Nguyen...........................17.............•..........................•...................512-694-5568 Naymal Siddiqui+...................14.............•..........................•...................512-968-5993 Cameron Romero*^................13.............•.............•................................713-210-9042 Megan Schmitt........................14.............•.............•...........•...................512-713-5343 Kaitlyn Schmitt.......................13.............•.............•...........•...................512-663-6543 Grace Jackson..........................14.............•...............................................512-565-0963

Please submit your information to communications@steinerranchhoa.org if you would like to be added to the list.

Baby Pet House Yard Name

Age Sit Sit Sit Work Phone

McKayla Bagnal*+^................15.............•.............•...........•................. 512-695-1981 Grace Jackson..........................14.............•............................................. 512-565-0963 Leila Mahmud.........................16.............•..........................•................. 512-657 7718 Abbey Wilson..........................16.............•............................................. 310-343-2286 Henri Renel.............................12............. ..............•...........•.......... •..... 512-660-9542 Johnson, Jade...........................15............ •.............•.............................. 970-787-0740

Kassidy Gailey.....................14............•............•...........•................ 864-238-0020 Brittany Ryley......................18............•............•...........•................ 512-501-0482 Nina Porter*+......................16............•............•...........•................ 512-589-0165 Camille Gutierrez+..............13............•............•............................ 512-762-8507 Zachary Davis.....................11............•............•............................ 512-965-1644 Melanie Wisenbaker*+^......16............•............•...........•................ 512-659-1602 Jacob Villegas.......................16............•............•...........•..........•..... 512-608-7087 Kaylee Russell......................18............•............•...........•................ 512-689-1553 Ariel Wood..........................18............•............•...........•................ 417-207-9305 Michael Craft......................13.........................•............................ 832-589-6939 Riley Bryarsi+......................15............•............•............................ 512-788-2014 Makinna Pritchard*+^........14............•......................................... 512-922-3121 Eva Pacak*...........................15............•............•............................ 512-655-9491 Kathryn Russell*.................16............•............•...........•................ 512-375-8887 Carly Christensen+*............13.........................•...........•................ 512-565-5588 Jacqueline Hines+*..............13.........................•...........•................ 512-565-5588 Alexa Gray...........................15............•............•...........•................ 425-753-3950 Michael Hildner..................................•............•...........•..........•..... 512-507-5937 Eesha Patel+.........................14............•........................•................ 631-560-7307 Benton Ballengee*^.............17............•............•...........•..........•..... 512-992-3138 Grace Ballengee*+^.............17............•............•...........•..........•..... 512-992-3138 Luke Ballengee....................15.........................•...........•..........•..... 512-992-3138 Jennifer Walker*+^..............17............•............•...........................-512-409-8590 Annika Olson*^..................15............•............•...........•................ 650-291-3633 Marie Seybal+......................15............•......................................... 512-851-7995 Brooke Moore+...................14............•............•...........•................ 512-788-3373 Meghan Gary......................11.........................•............................ 512-979-7169 Claire Cussimanio...............14............•............•...........•................ 512-839-1669 White, Katherine+..............16............•............•...........•................ 737-346-2847 Roberto Guarda..................15.........................•...........•..........•..... 713-858-4934 Kate Richmond*+^.............14............•......................................... 512 484-1088 Vanessa Rubio*+^...............15............•............•...........•................ 512-987-7473 Bridget O'Brien...................14............•............•...........•..........•..... 512-777-2675 Rikhil Vatcher.....................14.........................•...........•..........•..... 432-269-8646 Nate Wilson........................16............•............•............................ 310-343-9139 Corinna Crawford...............14............•............•...........•................ 512-944-3001 Kaleb Gailey........................13............•............•...........•................ 864-238-0030 Isabella Sanchez...................16........... •............•...........•................ 512-552-4939 Henri Renel.........................12.........................•...........•..........•..... 512-660-9542 Valeria Euran*.....................15............ •...........•...........•.......... ...... 737-230-2005 Haley Judd..........................16............ •...........•...........•.......... ...... 330-310-9073 Jaden Judd ..........................13............ ............•...................... ...... 330-310-9073 Veda Montgomery.................. 11......... ...•..MH. •............ ....................512-592-1186 Siena Hannabery*^................ 14......... ...•..MH. •............ .................... 512-608-2750 Huey, Haley............................ 12.......... ...•..MH............... ....................214-649-0015 * CPR Training + Red Cross Certified ^ First Aid Please contact us via email at steiner@ciramail.com to have your information updated if outdated.

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PO Box 1148 Round Rock, Texas 78680

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