Be Safe: When an Armadillo Sees its Shadow, is it Boating ...… · Take your aluminum, tin, steel,...
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Copyright © 2008 Peel, Inc. Ranch Review - April 2008 THE RANCH REVIEW News for the Residents of Avery Ranch April 2008 Volume I1, Issue IV Be Safe: When an Armadillo Sees its Shadow, is it Boating Season in Texas? Submitted by LCRA The time of year known nationally as the official boating season is about as relevant to Texans as Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow on Groundhog Day in Pennsylvania. Our climate does not limit water recreation to three months out of the year as in may other states across the country. Many a Texas Christmas photo shows family members sporting shorts. On Feb. 25, Austin’s 92-degree high was one of the warmest on record for that date. With warm, sunny days today, boaters and swimmers are not waiting until May to enjoy water recreation. And with LCRA’s meteorologist Bob Rose forecasting a trend of warmer temperatures, we can expect to see the numbers of lake visitors on the rise well before the official first day of spring. What we don’t want to see, however, is more lake accidents occurring earlier as well. Unfortunately, the first two Highland Lakes drownings already occurred in February. They were both at Lake Travis and both victims were Austin-area residents. This is the earliest in a year that a lake fatality has occurred on Lake Travis in at least eight years. So just as our mild Texas winters don’t limit use of the lakes, actions and precautions that make lake visits safer should not be limited to Memorial Day through Labor Day. That doesn’t mean folks won’t hear plenty about National Safe Boating Week when it takes place May 17-23; it just means we want the safety reminders to be heard now when tit’s already warm enough to enjoy the lakes. Plenty of water in the Highland Lakes and warm temperatures provide a great opportunity for people to enjoy the water by boat or from the shoreline. And lake visitors of all types can benefit from following a few easy water safety tips such as swimming or boating with a friend, wearing a life jacket, drinking responsibly and taking time to learn about risks such as water-related illnesses that are associated with any lake. For the third year, LCRA will promote safe enjoyment of the lakes through its Nobody’s Waterproof™ campaign. See www.nobodyswaterproof.com for dates and locations of these interactive lake events as well as tips to make sure your lake visit is fun and safe from start to finish. FIVE TO STAY ALIVE HAVE FUN THIS SUMMER BUT REMEMBER: NOBODY'S WATERPROOF.
Transcript of Be Safe: When an Armadillo Sees its Shadow, is it Boating ...… · Take your aluminum, tin, steel,...
Copyright © 2008 Peel, Inc. Ranch Review - April 2008 �
The Ranch Review
news for the Residents of avery Ranchapril 2008 volume i1, issue iv
Be Safe: When an Armadillo Sees its Shadow,is it Boating Season in Texas?
Submitted by LCRA
The time of year known nationally as theofficial boating season is about as relevant toTexansasPunxsutawneyPhilseeinghisshadowonGroundhogDayinPennsylvania.Ourclimatedoesnotlimitwaterrecreationtothreemonthsoutoftheyearasinmayotherstatesacrossthecountry.ManyaTexasChristmasphotoshowsfamilymemberssportingshorts.OnFeb.25,Austin’s92-degreehighwasoneofthewarmestonrecordforthatdate.Withwarm,sunnydaystoday,boatersandswimmersarenotwaitinguntilMaytoenjoywaterrecreation. And with LCRA’s meteorologist Bob Roseforecastingatrendofwarmertemperatures,wecanexpecttoseethenumbersoflakevisitorsonthe
rise well before the official first day of spring. What we don’t want to see, however, is morelakeaccidentsoccurringearlieraswell. Unfortunately, the first two Highland Lakes drownings already occurred in February. TheywerebothatLakeTravisandbothvictimswereAustin-arearesidents.ThisistheearliestinayearthatalakefatalityhasoccurredonLakeTravisinatleasteightyears. SojustasourmildTexaswintersdon’tlimituseofthelakes,actionsandprecautionsthatmakelakevisitssafershouldnotbelimitedtoMemorialDaythroughLaborDay.Thatdoesn’tmeanfolkswon’thearplentyaboutNationalSafeBoatingWeekwhenittakesplaceMay17-23;itjustmeanswewantthesafetyreminderstobeheardnowwhentit’salreadywarmenoughtoenjoythelakes. Plenty of water in the Highland Lakes and warm temperatures provide a great opportunityforpeopletoenjoythewaterbyboatorfromtheshoreline.Andlakevisitorsof all types can benefit from following a few easy water safety tips such as swimming orboatingwithafriend,wearingalifejacket,drinkingresponsiblyandtakingtimetolearnaboutriskssuchaswater-relatedillnessesthatareassociatedwithanylake. For the third year, LCRA will promote safe enjoyment of the lakes through itsNobody’sWaterproof™campaign.Seewww.nobodyswaterproof.comfordatesandlocationsoftheseinteractivelakeeventsaswellastipstomakesureyourlakevisitisfun and safe from start to finish.
Five to stay alive
Have fun tHis summer but remember:nobody's Waterproof.
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The Ranch ReviewCarbon Dioxide and You
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main greenhouse gas causingGlobalWarming.Usingfossilfuelslikeoil,gas,andcoalsendsCO2intotheatmosphere,andthistrapsheat. Calculate Your Carbon Impact How much CO2 your lifestyle creates is called your “carbon footprint.” Home energy use, cars, and airplanes are how we producecarbon.Curiousaboutyourpersonalcarbonimpactonthe planet? Go to this website and find out.http://green.yahoo.com/calculator/
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Save the Planet (for FREE) Take your aluminum, tin,steel, plastic, fiberboard (cereal, cracker, cake boxes), old cellphones, inkjet cartridges,fluorescent light bulbs, andautomotive products to theCityofRoundRockRecyclingCenter 310 Deepwood Drive(off 620 across from MickiKrebsbachPool)
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Cedar Park Swim ClubSubmitted by Rob Alspaugh, VP-Cedar Park Swimming, 512-733-2490
TheCedarParkSwimclubrecentlycompletedtheirShortCourseseasonwith theSTAGS (SouthTexasAgeGroup)Championshipmeet, February 15-17. The following swimmers made finals in multipleevents:
Girls 11-Years old Girls 11-12-Years old RelayAbbyArtman EmilySweetAmandaWu KristinaBeallSheenaWang
Boys 10 & Under Boys 12-Years oldConnorLorson CodySimsJoshArtman ChrisFlynnAdamTolerTravisBeall
Boys 11-12-Year old Relay Boys 14-Years oldSteveGerken BrentAaronsRobertWang
Also,congratulationstoswimclubmemberMeganZiemannwhofinished second in the State Competition (for Vista Ridge HS) in the 200-Freeand7thinthe500-Free. Cedar Park Swimming is a year-round swim club sanctionedbyUSA Swimming and SouthTexas Swimming.The team hasnowservedthecityofCedarParkandthenorthAustinareaforoveradecade,buildingtheprogramtoamembershiptotalofover150athletes,ages6-22. Please visit our web site for more information: http://www.cedarparkswimming.org/
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Growingupinfostercareisnotsomethingchildren should have to do. Imagine notbeing able to hang out with your friendsasoftenas theotherkids,attendslumberpartiesoralwaysworryingaboutmoving.Children in foster care worry every dayabouttheirfutureandwheretheywillbe.Theyareofteninsurvivalmode,feelingthattheymustlookoutforthemselvesbecausewhoelseis?Whilethereisanentiresystemworking very hard to find permanency for these children, it can never replace thefeelings of loneliness and isolation thesechildrenfeel.Who is there toguide themovertheirlifetime,toteachthemthelittlethingsinlifewetakeforgranted. MeetJackie,abeautifulspiritedgirlwithaheartofgold.Yes,sheisateenager.Yes,sheisafraidforherfuture.Yes,herdefensesare up. She is like so many others.Thesparkinhereyeisthehope–thehopethatsomeonewillwanther;someonewillclaimherunconditionallyashis/herchild. Jackie, a beautiful and loving girl whoenjoysdancing,willbe15inJune.Sheison the volleyball team and pep squad at
school. She describes herself as “funny and thoughtful”.Likemostteenagegirls,sheloves to shop and talk on the phone. Her favoritesubjectinschoolisMathandsheisworkinghardtopulluphergrades.Jackiehopesforasinglemothertoadoptherandshewouldn’tmindbeingtheonlychild. Jackie looks forward to going tothemovies,goingouttoeatandattendingchurchwithhernewfamily.Sheisexcitedabout getting a family to call her ownand spending holidays together. Jackiewoulddowellwith a familywho couldalsoactasamentortohelpguideherintoadulthood. Everyoneneedssomeone. If you are interested in learning moreabout the adoption process, contact [email protected] (512-301-2825).If you are interested in learning moreabout Jackie, please [email protected] or(512)692-2540.
Meet Jackie
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Round Rock Artisan Stroll TheRoundRockArtisanStrollisheldthesecondSundayofeverymonthfrom11a.m.to5p.m.inhistoricdowntownRoundRock.TheArtisanStrollisafree,family-friendlyeventthatpromiseslocalartisans,plentyoffood,funandshoppingforeveryoneeachmonth,all inhistoricdowntownRoundRock.Talentedartists,musiciansandperformersparticipateeachmonth,displayingtheirwaresandentertainingstrollers. Visitthecharmingshops,tastefoodfromlocaleateries,andenjoytherichsoundsofavarietyofmusicalstylesasyoustrollthroughthebeautifuldowntownarea.
Business ClassifiedSTAY AT hoME:Wanttoworkfromhome?Sellsilverjewelryasan independentRepresentativeandyoucan!Setyourownschedule.Maketimeforyourfamilyandfriendswhileearning30%onyoursales,freejewelryandrewardtrips.Call512-636-4394toaskhow.
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Teenage Job Seekers Baby Pet house YardName Age Sit Sit Sit Work PhoneHarrison, Tyler............. 14...............................•.......... •..... 692-7467Prindle,Meagan........... 13.........•......... •............................ 341-3554Thym,Margaret*+....... 16.........•......... •............................ 218-8657
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Move Up!And discover the value of Builtto OrderTM at Silverado Ranch.
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©2008 KB Home (KBH). See Built to Order ™ options and upgrades of fered at KB Home Studio. All options/upgradesrequire additional charges,may require ordering at predetermined stages of construction and are subject tochange/discontinuation anytime by KB Home. KB Home is not a custom homebuilder and Built to Order only appliesto appliances/options available at KB Home Studio. Plans, pricing, financing, terms, availability and specif icationssubject to change/prior sale without notice and may vary by neighborhood, lot location and home series. Additionalcharges apply for lot premiums,options/upgrades. Buyer responsible for all taxes, insurance and other fees. Exterior
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Spring Clean-Up Week will be April 19-25. A Hazardous Household Waste Collection will be Saturday, April 19.Bulktrashpick-upwilloccurfromMonday,April21, through Friday,April 25. During bulk
trashpick-up,residentsmayplace large bulky items
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metal, lumber, furniture,mattressesandappliancesthatdonotcontainFreon.Place materials neatly atthecurb.
SudokuThe challenge is to fill every row across, every column down, and every3x3 box with the digits 1 through 9. Each 1 through 9 digit must appearonly once in each row across, each column down, and each 3x3 box.
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Spring is here. . . head for the ParksSubmitted by LCRA
Spring break and Easter have come andgone,soyouknowwhatthatmeansinCentralTexas:It’stimetoheadfortheparkstocamp,fish or just take a long day to play in the warmingweather. Thebusiestweekendsof2008recreationseasonareuponusasoutdoorloversbythethousandspullouttheirstored-awaycampingequipmenttogiveitacheckanduncovertheboattomakesureitstillrunsandissafe.
Then they head for outside adventures,including flocking to LCRA’s 40 parks and recreation areas that are located from theHighland Lakes down the Colorado River to MatagordaBay. Because of the drought-breaking floods last summer, the Highland Lakes are full and offer plentyofwaterforrecreationofalltypes. DependingonwhatMotherNaturedoeswith the weather ─ remember this is Texas andspringcanmeanrainyandcoldorperfect70s or higher ─ some people will even jumpinthecoldriverorlakesforanearlyspringtimedip.Ormaybewaterski.Ifyoudothis,considerthesesafetytips:Don’tstayinthewatertoolongandswimwithabuddy. Back on land, it’s a little early forwildflowers. Some trees will start to bud and the prime wildflower season is just around the corner.This is also a good time to watch birdsmigrating north, such as hummingbirds,
robinsandpurplemartins. If the weather is right, early spring canprovidesomeofthebesttentcampingoftheyear.RVcampingisgoodevenifit’srainingandchillybecauseyoucanbesnuginyourcamperanywhere. Word to the wise: Campgrounds andparticularlycabinsandRVspotsgetreservedearly.Infact,reservationscanbemade333days out. For instance, some reservationswere made last fall for Memorial Day. Sothe sooner you call the Texas Parks andWildlifeDepartmentReservationCenterat(512)389-8900,thebetterchanceyouhavetogetthespotyouwantwhenyouwantit.Planahead. Special discounts may still be availableduringthespringatsomeLCRAparks.Calltheindividualparkstocheck. It’sagoodpracticetocheckoncountyburnbansbeforeyougo.
The unseasonably warm weather just might bring out the wildflowers, creating a wonderful opportunity for photos.
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Mixmayonnaise,sugar,salt,vinegar,&celeryseed.(Maywanttoadjusttotaste.) Shredcabbage.Mixwithdressing. Isbettermakeseveralhoursahead.
It’s My Park – April 12th, 9 am The annual “It’s My Park” Day is sponsored by the Austin Parks Foundation, which is a non-profit organization not affiliated with theCityofAustin(www.austinparks.org).Thisyearyoucangototheir website at www.austinparks.org, type in your zip code, and find activitiesaroundyourhousewhereyoucanhelpbeautifyapark.
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You may not have known exactly how to pronounce it, butchemicals called phthalates (“thah-lates”) have sparked concerned conversationsamongmanymomsanddadsofyoungtotsinrecentyears. Parents and scientists alike wonder whether and how kidsmightbeaffectedbyexposuretothesemodernmanmadechemicals—usedineverythingfromcosmeticstohouseholdproducts,fromtoys to pacifiers, from PVC pipes to plastic food containers. Now, a new study suggests that some common baby productsmanyparents regularlyuse—and trust as safe—could containthesechemicalsthatmaybetoxictoinfants’developingendocrineandreproductivesystems. Researcherstestedtheurineof163babies(2to28monthsold)to find out how much, if any, phthalates infants may be absorbing throughtheirskinfromcommonbabyproducts.Whattheirresearchrevealed:Allofthebabieshadatleastonetypeofphthalateintheirurine at “measurable levels,” and 80% had “measurable amounts” of at leastseventypesofphthalates(whichareusedtoproducefragrancesandsoftenplasticsandrubber). Usingbabylotions,shampoos,andpowderwithinthepast24hourssignificantly upped infants’ levels of certain phthalates — especially inbabiesunder8monthsold,whoareatincreasedriskbecausetheirbodysystemsarestilldeveloping.Andyoungsterswhosemomssaidtheyusedbabyproductsmoreoftenalsohadhigherlevels. The researchers acknowledge that children may be exposed tophthalates fromawidevarietyofsources.Andalthough theysayabsorbing the chemicals through the skin could be “a major route ofexposure,”thescientistspointoutthatbabiesandtoddlersalsocouldcomeintocontactwithphthalatesthroughtheairanddusttheybreathe (as they crawl around on the floor) and by what they put in theirmouths(fromfoodproductsthatcouldleachthechemicals,totoysandteetherstheymightsuckorchewon). However, the researchers found that some things did not seem to havemucheffectonbabies’phthalatelevels:diapercreams,babywipes, and how often babies used plastic toys and pacifiers that could containphthalates. What This Means to You Althoughit’sunclearwhetherorhowthephthalatesintheproductsusedinthisstudyarecausingharm,parentsmaywanttoavoidusingbabycareproductsuntil scientists can say, for sure, that theyaresafe. Thefactremainsthatlimitedstudieshavebeendoneontheeffectsofphthalatesonyoungchildren.That’swhytheresearchersinthisstudy admit that they don’t know if or how, exactly, childhoodexposuretophthalatesaffectsdevelopmentlater.
Whatpreviousstudieshavesuggestedisthatphthalatesmay:betoxictothedevelopmentofthereproductiveorgansofanimals—andpossiblymalefetusesaffectgrownmen'sreproductivefunctionchangehormonelevelsinunbornandbreastfedbabies
So, some health officials are taking measures to limit young children'sexposuretophthalates.Forinstance,theEuropeanUnionbannedtheuseofsixphthalatesoftenersusedtomakecertaintoysandchild-careproductsthatbabiesandyoungkidsmightputintheirmouths.AndCaliforniaisbanningphthalatesusedinthesamekindsofkid-useditems. Butwhat'sapuzzledparenttodowhenshoppinginthebabyaislesatthegrocerystoreorpharmacy?Unfortunately,youcan'tjustpickup a product to find out if it contains phthalates by looking at the label—manufacturersintheUnitedStatesaren'trequiredtodisclosephthalatecontentsonproductpackaging. Still,herearesomewaystoreduceexposuretotheseandsomeotherpotentiallytoxicchemicalsinyourhome:
Limit theuseof lotions andpowderswithbabies andyoungchildren—onlyusethemwhenthedoctorsaysit'snecessary.Trytochooseproductsthatare"phthalate-free"(althoughthestudypointsoutthat"thesafetyofthesealternativeshasyettobeestablished").Skip the fancy-smelling stuff. Buy unscented (or "fragrance-free")itemsinstead,especiallyforinfants.Don'tbatheyourbabyeveryday—twoorthreetimesaweekwill suffice (bathing more often can dry infants' skin). And mild soap,mildshampoo,andwaterwilldothetrick.Try to use glass and/or stainless steel instead of plastic foodcontainersandplastickids'cups.Youcanoptfortemperedglass,whichwon'tbreakaseasily.
If you have questions or concerns about any products you'reusing (or haveused) at home, talk to your doctor for advice andrecommendationsonhowtogetmoreinfo. Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD Date reviewed: February 2008 Source: "Baby Care Products: Possible Sources of Infant Phthalate Exposure," Pediatrics, February 2008.
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This information was provided by KidsHealth, one of the largest resourcesonlineformedicallyreviewedhealthinformationwrittenforparents,kids,andteens.Formorearticleslikethisone,visitwww.KidsHealth.org or www.TeensHealth.org. ©1995-2006. The NemoursFoundation
The Scoop on Baby Products and
Possible Toxins
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