Wood Glen - July 2015

Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc. Wood Glen Property Owners Association Newsletter - July 2015 1

Wood Glen

Official Publication of the Wood Glen Property Owners Association July 2015 - Volume 9, Issue 7

The Wood Glen board of directors held its June meeting at my home on Becca Teal on the 16th. The board approved a xeriscape rule which has now been filed with the county. This document has been in the works off and on (mostly off) for quite some time so it’s good to finally have it put to rest. Remember, you need approval for any landscape modifications even with this rule in place. When in doubt, always submit a request to the modifications committee just to be safe.

The board once again discussed security at the amenity center and tennis court. Early in June we experienced another vandalism incident. This time it was a shattered sink in the women’s bathroom. We have surveillance footage of some teenagers at the pool after hours the night before the damage was discovered. The photos are of poor quality but they were posted on nextdoor.com in hopes that someone might recognize any of them. The kids were not observed to be doing anything destructive in the footage but we can’t rule that out because the cameras as positioned have huge blind spots. One measure we took after this most recent incident was to reposition one of the cameras so that it can see activity along the back wall of the amenity center. As it was previously positioned we have no idea if the kids in question even entered the bathrooms.

We also set the tennis court lights to stay on all night while we are in the process of strengthening the gate. In its current condition it can be opened with a firm tug. Kids have been observed misusing the courts and there has been damage to the net and poles over the past year. If you see anyone in the tennis court who is obviously not there to play tennis, please ask them to leave.

As of this printing we will no longer have a free newsletter provided by Peel, Inc. The recent postage increases combined with limited advertising revenues mean that Kelly loses money with each issue. The mailing expenses are around $250 per month and if necessary we can pay that but I have also had

some homeowners express interest in self-publishing. We will explore our options but I would prefer to preserve a printed communication as it goes to every home whether owner- or renter-occupied and, at least according to my personal experience, is more likely to be read than an electronic version, which is another option.

I have received quite a few complaints about street parking. From my personal experience and through contact with board members over the years I know that this is consistently the number one concern. I’ve kept the names of those who have contacted me about this issue and will be approaching them personally to see if there is interest in forming a committee to assess the extent of the problem and perhaps focus on correcting one or two locations where it is particularly a nuisance.

We do have rules governing street parking and they take the form of requiring each of us to keep our garages clear and to utilize them solely for parking of motor vehicles. We are allowed to park on the street and driveway but street parking is limited to 48 hours in a 7 consecutive day period whereas driveway parking has no time limit. The net effect is that you should only street-park after you have fully utilized your garage and driveway. If we all did this, there would be considerably fewer cars on the streets. Not only are they unsightly but they pose a safety hazard to pedestrians.

I’ll be working to revive the lawn-of-the-month program and hopefully will have our first winners in July. I want to do this by section this time rather than neighborhood-wide so that there is a realistic chance for homeowners to win and be recognized for their hard work and sense of pride.

With that I think I’ll sign out. Hopefully we’ll have another communication vehicle in place shortly. If you haven’t already, please sign up on NextDoor.com or WoodGlen.org to receive periodic updates.

Enjoy your summer and be safe!

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

2 Wood Glen Property Owners Association Newsletter - July 2015 Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc.

Wood Glen

BOARD OF DIRECTORSPresident: Wayne Solum [email protected] President: David Schell ....................... [email protected]: Tim Thornton .............. [email protected]: Lela Solum [email protected] 1: David Schell [email protected] 2: Prashant "Nat" Nadkarni ... [email protected] 3: Julie Cowan ......................... [email protected] 4: Roy Wiederkehr [email protected] 5: Lisa Hassel ............................. [email protected] 6: Tim Thornton .............. [email protected] 7: Wayne Solum ............................. [email protected]

COMMITTEE CHAIRSModifications:

Margaret Schell ...................................... [email protected]/Amenity Center: Julie Cowan ......................................juliercowan@gmail.comLandscaping / Greenbelt: Karen Fischer ..............................................kfischer4@att.netSocial Events: Anna Warren .......................... [email protected]: David Schell [email protected] Bait Control Program: Wizzie Brown ...................................... [email protected] Welcome Committee: David & Elaine Lloyd [email protected]

MANAGEMENT CO.

NEWSLETTER INFOEditor David Schell [email protected] Publisher Peel, Inc. ...................... www.PEELinc.com, 512-263-9181 [email protected], 512-263-9181

Certified Management of Austin (CMA)9600 Great Hills Trail, Suite 100E

Austin, TX 78759, Tel: (512) 339-6962Fax: (512) 339-1317, Email: [email protected]

Contact: Jennifer English

FRONT DOORSMany of our homes in Wood Glen have hard-wood doors

with cut-glass inserts. These need periodic maintenance in the form of sanding, staining and the application of spar-urethane. When properly cared for these doors are stunningly beautiful. Steel doors need periodic painting due to oxidation.

LAWNS Water restrictions are in effect but you still have an

obligation to maintain a green and healthy lawn. Each homeowner is required to have an operational sprinkler system in their front yards which require periodic maintenance to operate efficiently. Please check your sprinkler heads and ensure they are not broken or pointing in a direction that wastes water. There are hints online on watering schedules to minimize water usage and maximize effect. If you start seeing brown patches, you need to make some adjustments.

BUSHES AND TREES Some bushes in the neighborhood have never been

trimmed. Once they get too large they cannot be trimmed back into a bush. However, removing the lower branches and shaping the canopies make a surprisingly attractive ornamental. If you have one of these monsters, please give it a little TLC. We also have numerous trees with branches hanging down into the sidewalk. The clearance must be 8 feet in these locations. Trees CAN be trimmed in the summer months as long as the equipment is sterilized and the wounds immediately treated. Please fix these nuisance areas or you will receive a notice.

GARAGES Yes, I’m sounding like a broken record. Please make any

and all efforts to clear your garages and utilize them for parking as required by the CC&Rs.

MAINTENANCE CALENDAR


Wood Glen

SEND US YOUR Event

Pictures!! Do you have a picture of an event that you would like to run in this newsletter? Send it to us and we will publish it in the next issue. Email the picture to [email protected]. Be sure to include the text that you would like to have as the caption. Pictures will appear in color online at www.PEELinc.com.

trees and Thin LawnsAs our trees mature the canopies become inpenetrable to

sunlight causing your lawn to become thin, leading to bare patches. One solution is to have your trees trimmed and thinned out. This encourages better growth of both the tree and the lawn. My yard has improved considerably since having this done last fall.

real-estate signageThe board has asked that all real-estate signage be placed

in the yard between the sidewalk and the house and not in the area between the curb and sidewalk. Have your agent place your sign in the proper location or move it yourself if necessary.

SpeedingThe speed limit is 30 miles per hour in residential areas.

Please do not exceed this. It would be tragic for a child to be injured or worse because of a little impatience on your part.

Street parkingCars on the street pose a safety hazard for children and

street parking should only be done if absolutely necessary. The order of preference for parking is the garage first, the driveway second and lastly the street. At no time should any vehicle parked on the driveway block the sidewalk.

Pool SafetyAs school lets out for the summer there will be increased

activity at the amenity center. Remember that we do not provide a lifeguard and it is up to you to watch your children and make sure they are safe.

tennis CourtIf you see kids in the tennis court who are not playing

tennis, please ask them to leave.

news items

Mike Cuming

(512) 671-7526

Mike Cuming is a Financial Services Representative of MetLife. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10166. Securi-

ties products and investment advisory services offered through MetLife Securities, Inc, a broker/dealer (Member FINRA/SIPC). Both are MetLife companies. Chisholm Trail Financial Group is not affiliated with MetLife Securities, Inc. Branch office: 109 S. Harris Street, Suite 220,Round Rock, TX 78664 (512) 671-7526

L1214404026[exp1215][TX]

Mike CumingMBA

Financial Advisor

512-671-PLAN (7526)


Wood Glen

NATUREWATCHby Jim and Lynne Weber

For many of us, the outdoor magic and mystery of summer nights was best embodied by the blink of fireflies or 'lightning bugs', which are neither flies nor bugs, but beetles. With over 170 species of fireflies in North America, and about 36 of those species in Texas, fireflies fall into three main genera: the Photuris, Photinus, and the Pyractomena. The most common species in Texas is the Pennsylvania Firefly (Photuris pennsylvanicus), which ranges from the eastern U.S. to Kansas and into Texas.

Most likely to be spotted at night in fields and near wooded areas, the adult Pennsylvania Firefly's elytra (hardened forewings that form a protective covering over flight wings) are dark brown with yellowish margins and slanted stripes. The head is yellow around the sides and red in the middle, and their overall length is about half an inch. After mating, the female lays tiny, spherical eggs singly or in small groups in damp soil, around grass or moss, and they hatch in about 4 weeks. The larvae feed in the grass on slugs, snails, e a r thworms , and cutworms, and in this immature phase their light isn't visible unless they are turned over. They overwinter as larvae in small chambers within the ground, waiting for the spring months when they pupate and emerge in early summer as adult fireflies, giving them an average lifespan of approximately two years.

Firefly mating is dependent on the female seeing the distinct flashes of a mate-seeking male, and each must find the exact right blinking pattern in order to mate successfully. Males begin flying after dark, emitting yellow or yellow-green flashes, some flying above the tree canopy. Interestingly, ambient light around a firefly's natural habitat decreases the

chance it will find a mate. In order to rise to the challenge of producing offspring with artificial light around, fireflies must increase the intensity of the flashes they produce in order to be seen. This increased light emission decreases the stored energy supply in the firefly that would normally be used directly for reproduction. Artificial light also exposes the fireflies to nighttime predators, even when they are not blinking. This combination of effects from artificial light directly decreases the chance that fireflies will survive and mate.

Flashes of light can be emitted by both male and female fireflies, and can also be used for purposes other than mating. One

additional use is to lure prey to them; in fact, females from the Photuris genus will often mimic the flashes of a female Photinus firefly, and a male Photinus that falls for it will quickly be devoured! Not all female fireflies are capable of flight, however, as some species are wingless and bear a strong resemblance to larvae rather than to adult males of the same species. Often, these t ype s o f f i r e f l i e s are referred to as

'glowworms'.The abundance of fireflies has been decreasing over the

years, greatly challenged by both the increasing presence of artificial light and the rapid development of our open fields and forests. As human light pollution and development continues to spread, fireflies just might disappear altogether, in a blink of an eye!

Send your nature-related questions to [email protected] and we’ll do our best to answer them. Check out our blog at naturewatchaustin.blogspot.com if you enjoy reading these articles!

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE


Wood Glen

WELL ROUNDED REALTOR®I have helped hundreds of families in our neighborhood experience the joys of home ownership. I want to help you too! Whether you are considering buying, selling, building, or investing in real estate, I am ready to answer all of your questions and lead you through the process of finding your dream home.

[email protected] TaraKnighThomes.com

TARA KNIGHT

512.751.4834EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Did you ever wonder what hosting a foreign exchange student is about? Well here it is in a nutshell….

Hosting an exchange student is a great way to learn about another country and culture without leaving your home town. It provides a cultural exchange experience for the entire family while providing a student from another country with a slice of American life.

Hosting an exchange student is like adding an international branch to your family tree. Many host families develop lifelong friendships with their exchange students and keep in regular touch with them. Some even visit them in their home countries, or invite them back for weddings and graduations

Hosting an exchange student provides your family, your high school and your community with a direct window into another country and culture, providing an opportunity for

life-long learning. Families of all shapes and sizes can host an international

exchange student. We’ve had host families with young children, no children, high school aged children – as well as empty nesters and single parent households.

Ayusa is a non-profit based in San Francisco that promotes global learning and leadership through foreign exchange and study abroad programs for high school students from around the world.

For more information about hosting a high school foreign exchange student, please contact your local representative Vicki Odom at 832.455.7881 or [email protected] or Ayusa at 1.888.552.9872 or by visiting the website at www.ayusa.org.

Hosting an Exchange Student


Wood Glen

NOT AVAILABLEONLINE

At no time will any source be allowed to use The Wood Glen Newsletter'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 Wood Glen Newsletter is exclusively for the private use of the Wood Glen 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.

Cicadas are fairly large insects but can vary in size with some growing over 1 ½ inches. Color may also vary depending upon species, but many are brown or green. All cicadas have bulging eyes and, on adults, wings that are held roof-like over the body. The wings are semi-transparent with thick wing veins. The majority of their life cycle is spent underground.

Cicadas have 2-5 year life cycles and appear in Texas in mid to late summer. Females insert egg clusters into branches of trees using their saw-like ovipositor

CICADAS

The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas A&M

AgriLife Extension Service or the Texas A&M AgriLife Research is implied. Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status.

(egg laying structure). Eggs hatch after about 6 weeks and small nymphs drop to the ground where they burrow into the soil. Nymphs feed on sap of tree roots with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. After becoming fully developed, nymphs emerge from the ground at night and climb onto nearby objects such as tree trunk, plants, fences, etc. Adult cicadas emerge from the last nymphal stage leaving behind the exuviae (cast skin). Adults can live 5-6 weeks.

Male cicadas are well known for their “song”. They rest on a tree and produce a whining sound to attract females. The sound is produced by two vibrating membranes on the side of the abdomen. Females do not “sing”. Adults feed on juices from tender twigs, but usually do not cause lasting harm to the plant from feeding.

For more information or help with identification, contact Wizzie Brown, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist at 512.854.9600. Check out my blog at www.urban-ipm.blogspot.com


Wood Glen

Color the drawing below and mail the finished artwork to us at:Peel, Inc. - Kids Club, 308 Meadowlark St, Lakeway, TX 78734-4717

We will select the top few and post their artwork on our Facebook Page - Facebook.com/PeelInc.DUE: July 30th

WG

Be sure to include the following so we can let you know!

Name: _______________________________(first name, last initial)

Age:________________


Wood Glen

WG

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPEEL, INC.

308 Meadowlark St.Lakeway, TX 78734-4717

DROWNING IS PREVENTABLE

NOBODY IS DROWNPROOFWATCH & KEEP KIDS IN ARM’S REACH

LEARN MORE: www.colinshope.org/RESOURCES

THESE TIPS CAN SAVE LIVESwww.colinshope.org COLIN

HOLST

Children under the age of�ve are often at highest risk.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

DROWNING IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE, AND A LEADING CAUSE FOR CHILDREN AGES 1 - 14.

24 Texas children have already lost their lives to drowning in 2015

CONSTANT VISUAL SUPERVISION

LEARN TO SWIM

WEAR LIFE JACKETS

MULTIPLE BARRIERS AROUND WATER

KEEP YOUR HOME SAFER

CHECK WATER SOURCES FIRST

PRACTICE DRAIN SAFETY

BE SAFER IN OPEN WATER

LEARN CPR

Wood Glen - July 2015

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