Pemberton Heights - June 2014

Copyright © 2014 Peel, Inc. The Pemberton Journal - June 2014 1

The Pemberton Journal

Official PublicatiOn Of PembertOn HeigHts neigHbOrHOOd assOciatiOn June 2014, VOl V, issue Vi

The Pemberton JournalPEERING BEHIND THE GATE OF 6

PEMBERTON GARDENSThere truly is no ugly in Pemberton. The best part of our

annual garden tour is getting to glimpse the beauty that cannot be seen from the street. The front yard of Chandler Ford’s home on Wathen is an explosion of flowers in a kaleidoscope of colors and heights, but wander the path to her back garden and you are transported to an alternative world of green in various forms and textures. It is pure tranquility. It is no wonder that the Ford garden was filmed for an episode of Central Texas Gardener.

Unbeknownst to most of the neighborhood, Richard Craig has a secret garden behind his garage on Preston Ave. Richard has a good eye for dramatic planting arrangements and an air-conditioned, mosquito-free garden room from which he can enjoy the picturesque arrays. From there I walked over to Jeff Weinberger’s green paradise on Claire. I’m told Jeff does most of his own landscaping and uses no pesticides. Around the corner

Chandler Ford, Wathan Jeff Weinberger, Claire

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2 The Pemberton Journal - June 2014 Copyright © 2014 Peel, Inc.


NEWSLETTER INFONEWSLETTER EDITOR

Tina [email protected]

PUBLISHER

Peel, Inc. .....................www.PEELinc.com, 512-263-9181 Advertising............................... [email protected]

PHNA CONTACT LISTSecurity, Traffic, MoPAC, Zoning and Permits, Governmental Liason, Neighborhood Social Events, Triangle Fundraising and Improvements

PresidentCarla Hatler [email protected]

Vice PresidentFrank Hartmann [email protected]

SecretaryAlly Kirk ........................... [email protected]

TreasurerJane Hayman [email protected]

Treasurer-ElectKimberly Comstock [email protected]

Traffic & Safety & SecurityCraig Duewall ....................... [email protected]

TrianglesFrank Hartmann ....... [email protected]

SocialKimberly Comstock [email protected]

WebmasterEric Venditti [email protected]

BylawsBeverly Sutton ...................................... [email protected]

Policies & ProceduresJane Hayman ................... [email protected]

Government AffairsBetty Trent .................................. [email protected]

COMMITTEE CHAIRS:

(Continued from Cover Page)

on Gaston Ave I spent a few serene minutes sitting in Beverly and Eldon Sutton’s teahouse next to a multi-level fish pond guarded by a Xi’an terra cotta warrior. Beverly says that when she hears the traffic from Lamar Blvd., she imagines it’s the sound of the ocean; relaxing in her Zen-like backyard I, too, heard the waves.

Sometimes I have to beg a neighbor to open their garden for the tour. Maybe they think their garden is not special enough or it’s too much trouble. Yet, everyone who volunteered their garden quickly discovered the pleasure of sharing their personal passion with their neighbors. That’s only one reward. Another is no more procrastinating on that outdoor project. Michelle Kinney on Harris Blvd was happy she said yes, and so were other Pemberton-dwellers:

Beverly & Eldon Sutton, Tea House and Ponds, Gaston

Michelle Kinney, Harris




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(Continued from Page 2)

Betty Trent, Wooldridge

she was inspired to freshen up her lovely, tidy, garden for the next backyard party, and the rest of us got to enjoy her handiwork. Betty Trent on Wooldridge Dr has opened her garden gate for two years and each year there have been new plantings and new décor. Betty has fiber optic lighting embedded into the outer rim of her pool that twinkles like stars in the dark. Her husband Jeff has a green thumb also and they grow delectable flora (yes, they’re edible!) in distressed metal raised beds beside the pool. Gorgeous to look at, and fit for Whole Foods.

They came on foot, by bicycle, by stroller, and by car, and all got a rare and charming peak behind their neighbors’ garden gates said it was a fun day not only for the beautiful landscapes, but for making a new friend or finding an old one. If you missed it, don’t worry: you’re early for next year’s incredibly popular tour! Sign up now for Spring 2015. Please don’t make me beg! Volunteer your garden for the next:

BEHIND THEGARDEN GATE


The Pemberton JournalPemberton Heights Neighborhood

Association Treasurers Report April 30, 2014

submitted by Jane Hayman PHNA Treasurer

April Revenue:...........................................................$2,400.00 Membership Dues:.....................................................$150.00 Security Donations:.................................................$1,550.00 Stark After Dark.........................................................$700.00April Expenses:..........................................................$2,184.81 Security Patrol:........................................................$2,056.75 Bookkeeping:.......................................................................$0 Paypal Fees:..................................................................$46.90 Stark after Dark...................................................................$0 Water for Gails Triangle:.............................................. $31.16Balances at 4/30/14 Operating Fund:....................................................$10,677.46 Security Fund:......................................................$13,035.12 Triangles Fund:....................................................$21,506.76* *Triangle funds include Keep Austin Beautiful..........................................$14,943.00 Gail’s Triangle........................................................$4,208.76 Other Triangles......................................................$2,355.00

A CAR IS BROKEN INTO EVERY 30 SECONDS

HIDE YOUR THINGSCriminals rarely break into a car when there are no visible

valuables. Instead, they look in cars and break in the ones where they see some potential reward for their risk. Entering autos is almost always a crime of opportunity. Most of the time, thieves are just looking for a quick buck and if they see something they like, they'll smash and grab. Put anything that looks like it could contain something valuable, such as a box or briefcase, in the trunk.

LOCK YOUR CARAlmost ¼ of thefts from vehicles are from unlocked cars.

Don't make the thief 's job any easier by handing him an open door. If the thief looks inside a locked car and sees something he really wants, he will go ahead and break your window. If the car is unlocked, he’ll go in even if he wasn’t especially eager to anyway. And make sure to keep your windows rolled up. Your car may get hot, but at least it won't get emptied.

ALARM YOURSELFIf you don’t want to invest in a car alarm, buy a little blinking

light at automotive stores that you affix to your dashboard with Velcro – they’re like little fake car alarms, and they work. If it looks like a car alarm and blinks like a car alarm, then thieves will pass on your car.

LIGHT UPIf your car is parked in your driveway at night, install motion

sensor lights on your home—but hang them high enough so that a 6-ft-tall burglar can’t reach them and simply unscrew the bulb.

Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Watch is a free crime-prevention program that brings neighbors together to reduce property crime by sticking together and looking out for each other! It’s non-confrontational, non-violent, and amazingly effective! Come join us and be a part of a safe community! For more info, call Tina Weinberger, (512) 680-9697, [email protected]

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The Pemberton JournalHow to Fight Your 2013 Tax Appraisal

By: Tina Weinberger, Realtor Keller Williams Realty

When homeowners received their annual “Notice of Appraised Value” from the Travis County Appraisal District this spring, many were shocked at the rise in TCAD’s assessment of their home’s value. Even those who in the past have been reticent to challenge the County’s appraisal are now determined to do so. If you believe the value of your home has been wrongly assessed, do not hesitate to take up the fight for a lower value. A successful argument requires 3 things: information, evidence, and preparation.

Austin is currently experiencing a seller’s market caused by low inventory and a rapid influx of people moving into the city. Prices have risen significantly in the last 6 months alone. The appraiser might be looking at homes sold when the market was already rising. You look instead at homes that sold when the market was relatively weak.

The first piece of information you need is the rationale used by the county to arrive at the value they assigned to your property. When you send in the form indicating your intention to challenge the appraisal, request 2 items: a Field Card, which is a data sheet for your property, and an Evidence Packet, which will tell you the arguments the County used to arrive at the figure it assigned to your property. When you know the basis for their determination, you can pick their argument apart by pointing out mistakes in their assessment. Mistakes are

common because the appraiser never actually steps foot inside the houses he compares, and rarely looks behind it. Your job is to show him differences between your house and the other houses with which it is being compared. Your home has a cracked slab (take a picture). A “comparable” house has a deck out back that your house lacks, and




PEMBERTON HEIGHTS YOUTH ADMITTED TO

HARVARD LAW SCHOOL

PAUL VANMIDDLESWORTH

Paul VanMiddlesworth, son of Diane Umstead and Rex VanMiddlesworth of 1201 Claire Ave., has been accepted at Harvard Law School, where he will begin classes this fall as a member of the Class of 2017. Paul received his degree in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology from Harvard in 2013. In the summer of 2012, he did his senior thesis conducting a common garden experiment to look at the genetic basis of morphological differences between introduced Anolis cristatellus populations in Miami and their sources in Puerto Rico. Paul was also accepted at Columbia University, NYU, and the University of Texas schools of law.

Journal readers may remember Paul’s childhood friend, “Slithers,” a ball python who reflected Paul’s interest in reptiles and evolutionary biology and was a Pemberton Pet of the Month. Slithers was molting when this issue went to press and could not be reached for comment, but we know he is extremely proud.

50 Years Ago in Pemberton Heights (part one)

The Hilltown News, June 19, 1963Editor: Barbara Ann McIntyre, 1410 Gaston Ave. Gr 2-5932

! ! ! DOG SHOW TODAY ! ! !

The Pemberton Heights Dog Show starts today at 1:00 at 1410 Gaston. Blue ribbons will be given to the BEST TRICKS, the HOMLIEST, FUNNIEST, SMALLEST, PRETTIEST, the ONE WITH THE LONGEST HAIR, and the BIGGEST. The judges are Mrs. McIntyre and Mrs. Womack. Falvored dog biscuits will be given also. Dogs should be on leashes. Nickel entry fee. Refreshments will be served.

Past Weather: Very wet; a good soaker.TRAVELERS – MORE AND MORE Mrs. John Rudd, Sr., came from Dallas to visit the Rudds. Mrs. Rudd,

Jr., is going to a musical in Dallas. Lucy Price is visiting her cousins, the Prices.The Ritters went to Houston to visit their grandmother.Mr. & Mrs. Reynolds are going to Mexico. Hank Hanna went to New York to see his parents off to Europe.Mrs. Morgan has a fourteen year old girl cousin from Rockport

visiting.Mrs. Edward’s daughter, Mary, is visiting her.The Hoppe’s granddaughter, Rebecca, who is ten, is visiting. She is

from Cuero.The people of 1109 Gaston went to Hawaii.The Terrys are going to Gallup, New Mexico, and also, they are going

to Fort Worth.The Millers are going to visit Katherine at Camp Waldemar.PRICE NEWS: The Prices ordered some peupels honey from Florida.

One of the jars opened on the way to their house and spilled all over the mailman’s truck.

NUTTY NEWS: Melissa Leech found a petrified nut.PEOPLE IN A PICKLE: Janet Bauchman is making some pickles

out of squash.HOUSE NEWS: The Max Brooks are building a house below the

Doughertys on the lower edge of the hill near the Hike n’ Bike. . .The Shoops are redecorating their house, and Mrs. Shoop has gone without a kitchen for two days. Robert Shoop is working for Capitol Casket Co.

BIRTHDAY NEWS: Junior Shoop had a birthday on the 15th of June. He’s a cat!

Barbara McIntyre will have a birthday, June 22.STITCHES DONE AND UNDONEGretchen Neff had her stitches out of her leg a few days ago.Barbara McIntyre is stitching up a dress, and Barbara Simon who

stitches a lot is helping her.SAILING LESSONS: Mrs. Leech is taking sailing lessons from

Chrys Williams.SUMMER SCHOOLS: New Bible School members are Melissa

Leech, Melissa Womack, Stacy Perlitz and Carla Stewart. . . .The McIntyre girls are going to the Natural Science Center, July 8-19


The Pemberton JournalAt no time will any source be allowed to use The Pemberton Journal's contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from Peel, Inc. The information in the Pemberton Journal is exclusively for the private use of the Pemberton Heights HOA and Peel, Inc.

DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser.* The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising.* Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction.* Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above.

sits on a quieter street. Another house he compared to yours has an updated kitchen, while your kitchen still has avocado cabinets and formica countertops.

Gather a set of your own “comps”: find houses valued lower than yours that are more similar than those valued higher. How to find such comps? Ask a real estate agent to do a Comparative Market Analysis to locate which houses are more similar to yours than the higher-valued ones found by the appraiser. It’s easy enough to find an agent who will do it for free: every other person living in Pemberton is either a Realtor themselves or has a sister, cousin, uncle, best friend, or pet lizard who is a Realtor. You are surrounded by individuals with easy access to all sorts of information about the houses around you. If you prefer to research on your own, look for A Neighborhood Detail Value Report, which is available at TCAD.

Remember that appraisers know far less about your house, your street, and your neighborhood than you do, so your task is to educate the board about every factor that reduces your home’s value. Arm yourself with pictures, professional estimates of repair costs, and spreadsheets that make your points for you. Be organized, pleasant, and able to present your case in 5 minutes. If you are well-prepared, you will have a good chance of persuading the board to lower your home’s appraised value, and save you thousands of dollars in the process.

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[email protected]

DAVID McCALL GRI, SRES

INFORMATIONANALYSISGUIDANCEThoughtful Planning and Expert Execution of Your Family’s Goals When Buying or Selling Residential Real Estate.



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