Steiner Ranch - October 2022

Monday

OFFICE HOURS

General

Angela

steiner@ciramail.com

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

STEINER RANCH CONTACTS

Steiner Ranch Community Association Office........................................................................................512-266-7553

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 Custom Service....................................1-800-700-2443 Emergencies...............................................512-370-8609

Sarah Dunlap... steiner@ciramail.com

Lifestyle

Desirre Ghebremicael...

Samantha

Kayla

Compliance/ACC

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

AT&T

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

Billing.......................................................1-800-858-7928

Time Warner Cable Customer Service....................................512-485-5555

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

TDS (Trash & Recycle).................................512-329-1752

Austin/Travis County Hazardous Waste

OTHER

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

Coyote Sightings.................................................................311

Management Balcones

Five Star

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

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

Scrap-A-Thon

Young

14

16 Fall,

Lights out,

UPCOMING STEINER RANCH HOA EVENTS

10/17 – 10/27 Steiner Spook-tacular House Parade

11/04 – 11/06 Scrap-A-Thon

12/03 Santa Event

12/08 Volunteers’ dinner

12/01 – 12/16 Santa Mailbox

12/12-12/22

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

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

Have a photo you would like to see published in the next Ranch Record? For consideration, send pictures to desirre.ghebremicael@grandmanors. com 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.

HOA Living 101

Angela Thielemans, General Manager

Steiner Ranch is a vast community. There are 4,600 acres in the community and 5,719 homes.

As of the 2020 Census there are 16,713 people living in Steiner. The median household income for the community is $173,016 making Steiner the most affluent neighborhood in Austin. The median age is 35.6 years old. 76.4% of the community has a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Our Operations Manager has been working incredibly hard to get bids for dozens of projects. Bids must be obtained and presented to the Board for approval. She is dealing with staffing shortages with just about every vendor we work with.

We hope you have recognized how great the community is looking with all the new landscaping, dead tree and limb removal is taking place as we speak and thankfully with all the rain we’ve had over the last couple of weeks, grass has greened up.

The Association, over the course of the summer has been watering the park areas daily to get the soccer fields in shape for the more than 400 soccer teams that utilize these fields, as well as grassy areas throughout the community. There are over 51 zones, 1,011 nodes with approximately 35 heads per zone/mode which means about 26,150 heads. There are thousands of feet of drip irrigation as well. And they always seem to break after hours or on weekends.

Our Architectural Community Standards Coordinator has many open applications for modifications. Often, applications submitted are incomplete and must be returned for more information which slows up the process. All the design guidelines for the community are on our website: www.steinerranchhoa.org under the Architectural Guidelines tab. Submitting a complete application may just take a few days. If you are unsure of what is needed, please phone the office for more information. We owe a debt of gratitude to our hard-working Architectural Committee members who meet every week.

There are more than 20 trails that must be mulched and maintained. We want to thank our Trail Committee members who assist in maintaining those trails and do such a great job! Both Bella Mar and Town Square pools require extensive updates, and new pool furniture is needed. We are fully aware of these issues and are working to get them resolved, but they just don’t happen overnight.

In short, we appreciate those residents who let us know of issues, we sometimes must rely on the eyes and ears of our residents to help identify problems. And one final thanks to those residents who have successfully used the QR code to report issues.

I hope you see improvements in response time to emails and phone calls, and we are doing our best to serve you each and every day!

Maintenance Updates

Landscaping-

1. A total of 42 entrance monuments have been completely relandscaped.

2. The three key intersections at Steiner Ranch Blvd, University Club Dr., and Country Trails will be re-landscaped this fall.

3. Three pilot-project mailbox kiosks have been re-landscaped with the remaining 22 kiosks to come next spring.

4. Dead tree removal is taking place now and 48 new trees will be planted.

Parks- All eight of the SRMA parks have been inspected and maintenance upgrades are underway.

1. Playground equipment will be assessed and repaired/replaced as needed.

2. New Pea Gravel/Kiddie Mulch will be added at all park playgrounds.

3. Bare spots under trees will have single-grind mulch installed.

4. 23 picnic tables and 17 park benches are being refurbished.

5. New trash holders will be ordered to replace existing holders.

6. Dead trees will be removed, and tree limbs trimmed.

Lake Club-

The boulders along the road at The Lake Club have been pushed back to allow five more feet of road width, per board request. The 6 tables and 4 benches have been refurbished. The board will be looking at bids to paint/stain the pavilion and all the metal and wooden fencing, replace the roof, make dock repairs, and concrete flooring enhancements.

As the boating season comes to an end over the next couple of months, preparations will be made to close the vehicular gates. Once a date is set, we will let the community know to give everyone the opportunity to go to The Lake Club and test your tag to make sure it opens the gates. We encourage everyone to test your tag in advance of needing to use it so that issues can be corrected.

Projects the SRMA Board is Considering for All Amenities this Winter-

1. Complete painting and staining of The Lake Club, Bella Mar, and Westridge Park.

2. New pool plaster and tiles at Towne Square.

3. Upgraded filtration system for Bella Mar Pools

4. Replace coping stones around the pools at Bella Mar.

5. Rebuilding of stone columns at Bella Mar.

6. New shade structures at Bella Mar.

7. New pool furniture for Bella Mar and Towne Square.

8. Repair and repaint the pool decks at Towne Square and Bella Mar.

9. New landscaping at Bella Mar.

10. New lights for Bella Mar around the building, pool area and parking lot.

11. Design a drainage system for the Dog Park and re-do the granite pathways.

12. Sod and plant replacement along Quinlan Park Rd., and Flat Top Ranch Rd.

13. New roof for Lake Club.

Entrance

The Bluffs

Postal Kiosk

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

GREEN WASTE PICK-UP:

Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) will provide Steiner Ranch Master Association residents with a Fall and a Winter Green Waste collection (bagged leaves, brush, limbs and other yard waste) during the weeks below:

• October 24th to 28th, 2022

• December 12th to 16th, 2022

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 the above 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.

Homeowner Rights & Responsibilities

As a homeowner in our association, you have certain rights—and responsibilities.

You have the right to . . .

• A responsive and competent community association.

• Honest, fair, and respectful treatment by community leaders and managers.

• Attend meetings, serve on committees, and run for election.

• Access appropriate association records.

• Prudent financial management of fees and other assessments.

• Live in a community where the property is maintained according to established standards.

• Fair treatment regarding financial and other association obligations, including the opportunity to discuss payment plans and options before the association takes any legal action, and the right to appeal decisions.

• Receive all rules and regulations governing the community association—if not prior to purchase and settlement, then upon joining the community.

You also have the responsibility to . . .

• Maintain your property according to established standards.

• Treat association leaders with honesty and respect.

• Read and comply with rules and regulations of the community and ensure that your tenants and guest do too.

• Vote in community elections and on other issues.

• Pay association assessments and charges on time.

• Contact association leaders or managers, if necessary, to discuss financial obligations and alternative payment arrangements.

• Request reconsideration of material decisions that personally affect you.

• Provide your current contact information to the association so you receive all information from the community.

PYTHIUM ATTACKING

Following this summer’s drought, many of you are seeing brown areas in your turf. Unfortunately, this is not all drought. It can be a disease that has started to attack weakened areas in your turf due to the drought. This disease is called Pythium blight or greasy spot and if left untreated, it can kill turf areas in lawns. The diseased areas will turn dark brown and feel oily to the touch. Pythium can attack roots, crowns and foliage of turf. Disease will start in small patches on the foliage but can quickly spread to large areas in the turf if left uncontrolled. Pythium is very active after rain events and high humidity when temperatures are in 80’s or 90’s during the day and 70’s or 80’s during the night.

Disease spreads at night when turf is wet or during long periods of rain causing wet turf. To help prevent this disease, always water early in the morning hours so turf will dry out when the sun comes up. Do not water in the early evening where turf can stay wet throughout the night.

The above picture illiterates a Pythium infection in a Bermuda lawn. Be aware this disease is not limited to Bermuda turf only. It will affect all turf including St. Augustine and Zoysia lawns as well as cool season grasses such as annual bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue. In general, the vast majority of turfgrasses used in the Austin and surrounding areas can be affected.

To control Pythium, you can use Spectricide Immunox, Scotts Disease EX or Bio-Advanced

Fungus Control for Lawns. If you see this disease, treat quickly! These products are readily available at a minimal cost. Please be sure to follow the instructions on the label carefully for both care for your turf and your safety when handling.

BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS

LEARN GUITAR…IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL GUITAR LESSONS - Great teacher, fun environment.  B.A. in Music, Berklee College of Music.  Steiner resident.  Over 25 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 HYPERLINK "http:// www.charlescouch.com/"www.charlescouch.com.

PLACE HOLDER - Ique porro berias mi, ut volorunte es es andus rernation re nonseni musdanti blaut hilicium quiam rempore perfernatur? Quibus deles re dipsam, te quia quiam faccusam quossit aspernatur similias si berectem. Natur?

Home Depot

Depot

For further information or any additional questions

resource is the Aggie Turf homepage.

https://aggieturf.tamu.edu/

Depot

Classified Ads

Business classifieds (offering a service or product line for profit) are $65, limit 40 words, please contact Peel, Inc. Sales Office @ 512-263-9181 or advertising@PEELinc.com.

Top 5 Reasons your Architectural Application will be denied

Your Architectural Controls Committee has compiled the Top 5 Denials to help guide your project and get it approved quickly. We are always here to help, so feel free to call or email during business hours.

1. PAINTING STONE OR BRICK IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. The AC will not approve painting brick or stone. These are naturally durable materials with intrinsic beauty. Paint will not adhere to rough, uneven surfaces and will flake off given time, and is easily carried into the greenbelt with heavy rains. Due to our environmentally sensitive area, we strictly prohibit anything that can harm wildlife if it washes down into the greenbelt.

2. FOLLOW ALL STEINER RANCH GUIDELINES. All residences in Steiner Ranch are subject to the Architectural Guidelines AND your neighborhood guidelines. These documents were provided by your title company prior to closing, and you signed a document before purchasing in Steiner Ranch that states that you agree to adhere to all of the rules. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to read and understand the guidelines prior to applying for any exterior changes to the home. The guidelines can be found here: http://www.steinerranchhoa.org/ document_view.asp?id=129

Please know that there are some guidelines specific to certain neighborhoods or lots in those neighborhoods. For this reason, make sure to check your neighborhood documents, too. The items listed in the neighborhood documents super-cede the guidelines, so if your neighborhood prohibits sports courts or has specific rules for pool installations, you must follow these regardless. To see the neighborhood specific guidelines, use this link: http://www.steinerranchhoa.org/ document_category.asp?cat_id=20&name=Supplemental%20%20 Neighborhood%20Guidelines

3.NO STRUCTURE MAY BE IN THE SETBACKS ON YOUR LOT. The setbacks provide space between the residences and act as a firebreak in the event of a catastrophe. Building in these locations is strictly prohibited to preserve distances from the neighbors and the beauty and flow of all of the lots. Please find these setbacks in your neighborhood documents; they vary from neighborhood to neighborhood.

4. INFORMATION MISSING FROM YOUR APPLICATION. The most commonly missing information includes the following:

• Your original survey complete with lot & block numbers with setbacks and distances marked.

• Photos of your house and lot can be extremely helpful in determining the slope of your lot, the viability of your changes, and the color palette of your home.

• Please make sure that all of the application form is filled out in its entirety.

• Lastly, please provide sample photos or colors of your new changes; these are called Specifications and are required for all applications.

• To see the full set of requirements, please go to the Steiner Ranch Residential Design Guideline Manual, page 12.

5. PLEASE FOLLOW ALL HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS FOUND IN THE GUIDELINES. Outdoor kitchens and chimneys are limited to 15’ in height from the natural ground level. Pool and deck walls are limited in height to 6’ from the natural grade. These restrictions are necessary to help preserve privacy for your property and that of your neighbors. The AC considers what you would like to do as well as the impact it has on your neighbors property, and it is important to protect everyone’s property values. Remember, the AC is looking at the entire neighborhood and the impact each change has on the whole, not just your individual lot.

We strive to maintain this beautiful neighborhood in all of its splendor and glory, and we hope that this helps explain a few of the common mistakes that slows or stops your application approval.

For additional help from our dedicated staff, please contact: Architectural & Compliance Coordinator: Samantha Dominguez Phone: 512-2667553

Email: steiner@ciramail.com

Steiner Activities & Events

Get out your Halloween décor out and decorate the exterior of your property to have some neighborhood Halloween FUN!

Voting will take place October 17 through the 27.

Deadline to enter is October 12, 11:59 pm.

Categories are: Most Spooky, Most Fun, Most Creative & Community Favorite

Winners will receive a yard display and a gift card for their efforts and will be announced via email, on the Ranch Record and the HOA Facebook Page on October 29th.

As you plan your outside decor, 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’.

A map and the link for voting will be posted on the HOA Facebook page and also emailed to all residents with an email address on file by October 17, 2022. Then residents can choose their own self-guided Halloween Spooktacular House Parade Route to drive, bike or walk by and vote for their favorite decorated house.

If you plan to participate in decorating, please visit the HOA website at http://steinerranchhoa.org/ or scan the QR code below to fill out the form online:

Thanks for helping us make this fun Halloween celebration a community tradition!

Questions? Please send an email to steiner@ciramail.com

Have

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Steiner Activities & Events

News from the Trails Committee

Submitted by Sterling Gray

and Quinlin Park Road and flows northwest between Mesa North and Canyon Glen, continuing past Plateau as it drops into a deep, shaded canyon. The creek than travels west past the Headlands, before entering LCRA land and crossing under Fitz Hughes Park Road at the Jessica Hollis Memorial, where it finally reaches Lake Austin. The creek section within Steiner Ranch has three wooden bridges and three stone crossings, all constructed by the Trails Committee and local Boy Scouts.

arrived at the bridge one Sunday morning, the creek was once again full of water due to recent rain. With some quick improvisation, dam construction and channeling, the water level was lowered sufficiently for the project to continue. Thanks to all that particpated, especially those that jumped “feet first” into the creek to “git’r’done”.

Steiner Ranch is blessed with acres and acres of prime Hill Country landscapes and nature preserves, including numerous creeks. One of my favorites is Bear Creek, which typically flows year-round except during periods of drought like this past summer. The creek originates near the intersection of Steiner Ranch Boulelvard

Unfortuately, this summer a very large tree along the bank of the creek fell on the wooden bridge near the bottom of Serrulata Trail – a casualty of the great Snowpocalypse of 2021. Several Trails Committee volunteers jumped to action, removing the tree with chainsaws, but it was clear the bridge had suffered damage. With the creekbed dry due to the drought, a plan was devised to repair the bridge in late August. However when the hearty work group of seven

If you enjoy the trails as much as we do on the Trails Committee, why not join us during our monthly trail maintenance events, held the fourth Sunday of each month. Visit the Steiner Ranch Trail Committee Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/srtrailcommittee) for times, locations and more details. You can also connect with the Trails Committee via the GroupMe app at “Steiner Ranch Trails Committee”. As always, I hope to see you out on the trails soon – and hopefully at a monthly work day now that cooler weather has arrived.

Steiner Activities & Events

Scrap-A-Thon

Steiner Scrapers - You’re invited to the Fall Steiner Scrapers Scrapbooking Marathon!

When: Starting Friday, November 4th at 7:00pm

Ending Sunday, November 6th at 4:00pm

Where: Towne Square Community Center

Registration is required. Register by visiting the below link or scan the QR code HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/ e/2022-fall-steiner-ranch-scrapa-thon-tickets-405344776137

Mommy and Me Storytime & Music

When: Tuesdays – 10 am to 11 am

Where: Towne Square Community Center

Young ones and their moms are invited for a special weekly get-together with neighborhood moms and their little ones. Together, they will read, sing, dance and laugh, all while having fun. (Recommended ages: Children 1 to 5 years old). For more info, contact Lizzie Williams at lizziewilliams215@gmail.com (Please note: this is a free weekly event open to all Steiner Ranch moms and their young ones)

Free Residents Classes

Yoga, Bombay Jam, Tai Chi - Free Residents Classes! First comefirst serve, no need to pre-register.

Yoga By Lake Austin Spa Resort

Monday 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Towne Square Community Center

This is an all-level flow class that can be gentle for the novice and challenging for the seasoned yogi and yogini. Children ages 8-12 are welcome if joined by an adult, and teens 13 and over are welcome with or without a parent or guardian.

This class is taught by Laura Pastor, a Yoga and music therapy instructor at the Lake Austin Spa Resort who has spent a lifetime providing peace and encouragement to others through her gifts and passion for yoga, meditation, and music.

Community Yoga - Wednesday 7:00 to 8:00 pm at the Towne Square Community Center

This Yoga class will include Sun Salutations, postures, breathing, meditation, and relaxation. All levels are welcome to the class. Participants with any health conditions should check with their medical provider if they can practice yoga. This class is taught by resident Shailesh Basani (MS, ERYT, C-IAYT) who has been a yoga practitioner for more than thirty years. He has been trained under world-renowned gurus. As an active Yoga Bharati volunteer for over 10 years, he has taught hundreds of classes on yoga, yoga therapy, stress management, Patanjali yoga sutras in the Bay Area and beyond.

Bombay Jam - Wednesday 8:00 to 9:00 pm at the Towne Square Community Center

Bombay Jam is a dance fitness class that centers around Bollywood music and dance. It is very high energy and upbeat with movement that boosts oxygen supply to key muscles, providing great aerobic exercise and improving muscular resistance over time.

This class is taught by resident Heera Pillai, who has been practicing Bombay Jam workouts for many years now. She believes that fitness should be FUN, and welcoming to everyone and she aims to create an environment that is fun, inclusive, and supportive of all fitness levels. In addition to getting a full-body workout, Bombay jam is a great way to have fun. It feels more like a dance party than a workout.

Young at Heart News

Pictured above are Young at Heart Pickle-ball players. They play on Thursday from 9:30-11:00 A.M. at Bella Mar. Anyone in Young at Heart that is interested in playing pickle-ball whether you are experienced, or have no experience, are welcome. Toni is willing to teach you. Toni McDonnell tonimcd@austin.rr.com

Young at Heart is a group open to Steiner Ranch residents ages 55+. We are a social organization wanting to share fun times. Our activities include Book Club, Canasta, Euchre, Mah-Jongg, Mexican Train, Bunco, Biking, Ladies Lunching Out, Happy Hours, Men's Lunch and coffee gathering, and Pickle ball. For information email emb43@ sbcglobal.net JOIN US

Tai Chi - Monday through Friday 8:15 to 9:15 am at the Towne Square Community Center

Tai Chi involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing. It strengthens both the lower and upper extremities and also the core muscles of the back and abdomen. This class focuses on teaching the basic forms of Chen Style Tai Chi Yi Lu 83 movements. Benefits of Tai Chi are:

• Relieve Stress on the body and mind

• Improve Health and Physical Fitness

• Enhance Self Defense capability

This class is taught by the Steiner Ranch Tai Chi group and all levels are welcome.

QUESTIONS? Please send an email to steiner@ciramail.com.

News You Can Use Have a Safe Halloween

Halloween is a kid’s delight. It’s a blast to dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, attend parties and, most of all, eat candy.

At the same time, Halloween can be scary for parents. Costumes can be dangerous, too much candy can be sickening and walking around at night can be risky.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer these tips (in anagram form) to make sure your little ghouls and goblins have a safe Halloween:

S – Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible.

A – Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Children should walk in groups or with a trusted adult.

H – Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help see and help others see you.

A – Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it when done to avoid skin irritation.

L – Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.

L – Lower the risk for serious eye injury by avoiding decorative contact lenses.

O – Only walk on sidewalks or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.

W – Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.

E – Eat only factory-wrapped candy. Avoid eating homemade treats unless you know the cook.

If you’re hosting a party or expecting trickor-treaters:

• Provide healthy treats, such as individual packs of raisins, trail mix or pretzels. Offer fruits, vegetables and cheeses to party guests.

• Use party games and trick-or-treating as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity.

• Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could cause falls.

F

– Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see trick-or-treaters.

E – Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before they’re eaten.

E – Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult.

N – Never walk near lit candles or other open flames. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

• Keep candle-lit jack-o-lanterns and other open flames away from doorsteps, walkways, landings and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of reach of pets and small children and never leave them unattended.

• Drive safely and watch out for trick-ortreaters.

Burnout is more than just stress—it’s how your mind and your body tell you a change is needed. Do you find yourself withdrawing from work and caring less about results? Are

News You Can Use

Heading Off Burnout

you working harder, often mechanically or to the point of exhaustion? Just going through the motions?

Try a few tips for keeping burnout at bay.

Exercise at least three times a week. Running, weightlifting, bike riding—anything that gets your heart and lungs working burns off stress. Exercise releases endorphins that boost your mood and it dissipates built-up stress that otherwise leads to burnout.

Make time for a hobby. An art class, cooking, reading, sewing—anything that’s not part of the regular grind and that helps you relax will balance the things that wear you down.

Practice breathing exercises. “Just breathe!” Yes, it’s an old cliche, but there is a grain of truth behind every cliché. Deep breathing gives your body a boost of oxygen and it releases tension in your abdomen around your heart.

Get away. Take a walk at lunch, and don’t take work home. Leave the office at the office. At home, find a time and place where you can relax and unwind. Even 15 minutes of relaxation can relieve stress.

Laugh. Sometimes it helps to look at a situation and just laugh. If that fails, read the jokes that your uncle’s cousin’s best friend is e-mailing you three times a week. Pick a comedy next time you go to the movies or surf channels.

Take up yoga or tai chi. These disciplines have a restorative effect and are sure burnout busters. Burnout can creep up on you slowly. Watch for the warning signs and stay ahead of it. Your heart, family and employer will thank you.

ATTENTION

Baby Pet House Yard Name Age Sit Sit Sit Work Phone

Baby Pet House Yard Name Age Sit Sit Sit Work Phone