BartonView
Barton View
A Newsletter for Barton Hills
July 2008, Volume 2, Issue 7
July Landscaping
Sunday, June 8 was the official “Ice cream kickoff” for the 1st annual “Locks of Love” campaign, the brainchild of Sandra Bennett. Locks of Love is a not-for-profit organization that provides free hairpieces to children 18 years and younger in the US and Canada suffering from any type of medical hair loss. The exceptionally well attended event was hosted by Rick and Kristi Nordin, at Cups and Cones in Steiner Ranch, Chandi Wagner, an executive with the Girl Scouts of America and other business sponsors. The 69 girls, women and “Moms” who recently signed up to shed their locks for this worthy cause were treated to fancy “nails” & “toes” administered by local Girl Scouts, ice cream cones, fun games and more. Each participant was provided a beautiful headband to embellish and wear to all the coming events. “Jewels”, puffy paints and glue were supplied at the craft table. Most participants were photographed by Liz Humphrey. The girls will be treated to a “Back to School Measurement Party” in October. On December 7, 2008, the girls will be photographed again with their sleek new look. Girls ranging in age from 3 years old to “Moms” have signed up to donate their luxurious locks to kids who cannot grow their own hair. Moms and daughters have joined together to support this great cause. Girls from all over Austin, including Georgetown, Round Rock, South Austin, Steiner Ranch, Grand View Hills, River Place and Leander are participating. Many local Girl Scout Troops (including one entire Troop) and their leaders are also among the participants. Each contributing Girl Scout will earn a Merit Badge. It’s not too late to donate your long tresses to this most deserving group of kids. Hair must be ten inches long at time of cut and can be colored, but not highlighted or permed. The next event created for these great girls is a fabulous “Girls Night Out”. There will be more fun activities in store for the donors over the next 6 months. Mom and Daughter teams are encouraged to join in on the merriment. ...all in the name of fun, fun fun! Local businesses have come together to support and help implement Sandra’s idea. For more information, contact Sandra Bennett at 512-372-3500.
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Submitted by Ron Kerwin July heat will take its toll on our lawns, and everything in our lawns if we fail to use water properly. Water less frequently and deeper with each application. Our lawns need one inch of water per week. Do not water so much per application that it runs off into the street curbs, but do water as much as possible per each application. Put any straight-sided container out in the lawn, water for a specific period of time, and then simply measure the amount of water you caught in the container for that period of time. You now can figure an easy formula for the goal of 1 inch per week. Your lawn turf roots will seek a deeper soil level if you water longer with each application. Deeper roots will be healthier and less drought susceptible. If your lawn turf is getting sparse under your trees, you might take at look at the following as a possible solution. Dead or damaged limbs in your trees are very visible right now. Remove them for a healthier and better looking tree. Raising the tree canopy will allow more sunlight to reach the lawn turf underneath. Raising the canopy means you simply remove the lower limbs from the tree trunk base upward to a point. This height varies with tree variety and it is basically up to your desires. After working on the canopy, you can work at thinning the tree. This involves removing the small diameter growths from each branch starting at the bottom limbs and working upward. Depending on the overall tree size you can remove these small growths out about 1/3 of the limb length from the main trunk. Removing all this will allow more light to get through to your soil. It also allows for an increase in air circulation through the tree, which is also a benefit to the tree. Another option would be to construct a bed and plant ground cover (Asian Jasmine or English Ivy) as examples of shade loving plants. This is a good month to remove rose bush branches that are sickly or dead. A light pruning now will increase your fall flower production. Get a good thick layer of mulch down in all your beds to help your flowers and shrubs survive the heat we all know is coming. It is easy to figure your needs. Most mulch comes in 2 cubic foot bags. Take the length of your bed times it width, multiply by .17 (2 inch depth of mulch), or by .25 (3 inch depth of mulch), and divide by 2 cubic feet per bag. The result is how many bags you need to buy. Your shrubs bases take up some space so you can subtract one or two bags and still get by fine. Example- your bed is 5 feet by 25 feet. 5x25x.17/2=10.6 bags, buy 10 and you’ll be just fine. Barton View - July 2008
Barton View Newsletter Information
Publisher Peel, Inc.......................... www.PEELinc.com, 512-989-8905 Article Submission.....................
[email protected] Advertising..................................advertising@PEELinc.com 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.
Barton View - July 2008
Teenage Job Seekers
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Age
Baby Sit
Pet House Yard Sit Sit Work
Not Available Online
Phone
Linn, Katie.................... 13..........•..................................512-447-5991
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Attention Teenagers
The Teenage Job Seekers listing service is offered free of charge to all Barton Hills teenagers seeking work. Submit your name and information to
[email protected] by the 9th of the month!
Business Classifieds WHITESIDE MOTORS - Cars, Vans, Motorcycles, Buy, Sell, Trade. Contact Robin or William 1400 W. Koenig Lane, Austin, Texas 78756, 512-458-5631. Visit our website at: whitesidemotors.com
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Barton View Easy Ways To Eat More Fruits And Vegetables (NAPSA)-From orange peppers and green spinach to purple plums and red watermelon, eating colorful foods could leave you as a picture of health. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that everyone consume more fruits and vegetables. One reason is that eating a variety of colorful produce on a regular basis provides a great source of vitamins, minerals and other natural substances to help protect against chronic diseases. The good news is that in addition to being healthful and nutritious, fruits and vegetables can be easy to add to almost any diet. Try these tips: • Add vegetables such as bell peppers, mushrooms or tomatoes to your omelet. • Top toasted whole-grain bread with peanut butter and sliced bananas. • Ask for more vegetable toppings and less
Healthy Idea-There are ways to make produce stay fresh longer. cheese on your pizza. • Add lettuce, tomato, onion and cucumber to sandwiches. • Snack on vegetables such as bell pepper strips and broccoli with a low-fat ranch dip. • Top a cup of low-fat yogurt with sliced fresh fruit.
Saving Green On Your Greens Of course, if you plan to eat more fruits and veggies, it could pay to also find ways to keep them fresh. Still, Americans throw away 27 billion pounds of produce annually because it has spoiled. That translates into about $250 worth of wasted produce per person. One solution is to use a product such as Produce Saver from Rubbermaid. The food containers can help consumers reduce food waste, save money and live healthier lives by keeping produce fresh up to 33 percent longer than traditional containers. The line is designed with a vented lid that allows produce to breathe and a tray that elevates food out of moisture. Available at local retailers and grocery stores, it can be a smart and affordable way to incorporate more colorful fruits and vegetables into your diet.
Let us make sure your biggest investment is structurally sound. TUCKER ENGINEERING
595 Round Rock West Drive, Suite 103 Round Rock, TX 78681 Phone (512) 255-7477 Fax (512) 244-3366 www.tuckerengineering.net
Serving Central Texas Since 1979
SPECIALIZING IN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL STRUCTURAL INSPECTIONS Copyright © 2008 Peel, Inc.
STRUCTURAL REPORTS Structural reports can be furnished in any of the following areas: • Structural design of houses and apartments including superstructure, foundation and drainage. • Structural inspections of houses and apartments including drainage, foundation, superstructure, as well as decks, pools and other structures. • Identification of problems • Recommended Solutions • Estimated Costs • Inspection and Certification for structural repairs Our reports are concise, easy to read. We keep your information confidential. Fees for services are based on the type of structure to be inspected and where it is located Jeffrey L. Tucker, P.E., a registered professional engineer in Texas, has been involved in structural design, inspection and repair of houses and apartments since 1965. He is uniquely qualified to perform structural analyses of wood frame structures and slab foundations; to inspect and offer assurance of structural integrity and/or repair recommendations and details. Barton View - July 2008
Barton View
Bottled Water vs. Tap By Louise Bell
A few facts about each, then you decide.
Water that comes from your faucet costs about $0.002 per gallon. Bottled water is about $9.00 per gallon. Cost is only one factor. Many people choose bottled water over what comes from the faucet because they say they like the convenience, taste, and purity. Actually, one quarter to 40% of bottled water is municipal tap water re-packaged, possibly with additional treatment. The FDA regulates bottled water; however, standards are weaker than EPA standards for tap water. For instance, E. coli is allowed in bottled water, but not in tap water. The EPA requires water testing 100+ times per month, FDA requires testing once a month. In addition, the 60-70% of bottled water that does not cross state lines is exempt from any FDA standards! The nonprofit National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) tested samples of 103 brands of bottled water and found that a fourth were just tap water---sometimes further treated, sometimes not. The group stated that there was no reason to assume that bottled water was superior to tap water or had fewer microbial or chemical contaminants. The plastic bottle itself may leach phthalate (regulated by EPA) into the water, for which there is no bottled water standard. As Americans, we are entitled to drink safe, clean water. If you are concerned about drinking tap water, perhaps a
purification system will erase your fears. You can make sure that your water has additional treatment by reverse osmosis distillation, UV radiation or the use of absolute l micron filtration to eliminate smaller or resistant disease-causing organisms. Filter your own water and carry it in a stainless steel thermos. Bottled water is sold in cheap, convenient PET (polyethylene terephthalate) containers, an easily recyclable form of plastic, but recycling rates for plastic bottles are less than 25%. Most head for a landfill! Plastic is light and floats and is blown about in the wind. All rivers lead to the sea; the Houston Ship Channel is a frightening repository of plastic of all types, probably washed down storm drains. Each year, more than 4 billion pounds of plastic bottles end up in landfills or as litter in the U.S. Think about this: THE TOTAL ENERGY NEEDED TO MAKE, TRANSPORT AND DISPOSE OF ONE BOTTLE OF WATER IS EQUIVALENT TO FILLING THE SAME BOTTLE ONE-QUARTER FULL OF OIL! Plastic has been around for about 50 years. It is made from oil; it takes 1.5 million barrels to manufacture a year’s worth of those handy bottles. It can photo-degrade, meaning sunlight will cause (Continued on Page 5) r ad fo n this vice io t n r Me off se $100 0 or more 0 0 of $1
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Barton View - July 2008
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Barton View Bottled Water - (Continued from Page 4) it to become brittle and crumble, but it does not decompose. No microbes have yet evolved to eat it—break it down into its building blocks. It can break into smaller and smaller bits, but will remain a man-made polymer, and it can possibly hang around in the environment for 1000 years! We have a steady, reliable, and cheap source of clean, freshwater for drinking, available at few other times in world history and few other places in the world. But many people are choosing to forsake ordinary tap water for the convenience and perceived benefits of bottled water, in favor of a product that is the same or lesser quality, higher price, uncertain safety, packaged to be discarded and not degrade for 1000 years. We are very wealthy, indeed, to be so heedless. The convenience and perceived benefits of bottled water seem dubious when we consider the added costs for transportation and packaging and, most important, the cost to the environment. What would a person who cares about the future of our environment drink? You decide.
Sources:
FDA Consumer Magazine, July-August, 2002 FDA, Federal Register, 21, Part 165, 2005 EPA, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, 2007 Think Outside the Bottle, Beverage Marketing Corp., Natural Resources Defense Council
Do You Have Reason to Celebrate?
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REMEMBER, PLEASE: Austin leash laws require all dogs to be on a leash when off the owner’s premises. Classified Ads
Personal classifieds (one time sell items, such as a used bike...) run at no charge to Barton Hills residents, limit 30 words, please e-mail
[email protected] Business classifieds (offering a service or product line for profit) are $50, limit 40 words, please contact Peel, Inc. Sales Office @ 512-989-8905 or
[email protected]. The Barton View is a private publication published by Peel, Inc. It is not sanctioned by any homeowners association or organization, nor is it subject to the approval of any homeowners association or organization, nor is it intended, nor implied to replace any publication that may be published by or on behalf of any homeowners association or organization. At no time will any source be allowed to use the Barton View contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, email, 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 newsletter is exclusively for the private use of Peel, Inc.
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Do you have a picture of an event that you would like to run in the Barton View? Send it to us and we will publish it in the next issue. Email the picture to bartonview@ peelinc.com 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.
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Barton View - July 2008
Barton View
Recipe for the Summer
Popscicles
1 - 3 oz. package jello 1 package Kool-Aid 1 cup sugar 2 cups boiling water 2 cups cold water
Dissolve jello, sugar and Kool-Aid in boiling water. Add cold water. Pour into molds and freeze.
If you would like to submit YOUR recipe, email it to
[email protected].
Teen Drivers: Accidents Waiting For A Place to Happen? Submitted by Victor Thompson
“Mom, where are the car keys?” Your teen can’t wait to start driving. But I know how worried you must be about your child getting behind the wheel of a car. Although the number of auto-accident injuries and fatalities among drivers between ages 15 and 20 is falling, accidents are still the leading cause of death for that age group. The good news: You can take steps to help keep your young driver safer: • Limit night driving. Most fatal accidents involving young drivers occur between 9 p.m. and midnight. Night driving requires more skill than driving in daylight, and young drivers may be more prone to distraction, carelessness or fatigue when driving after dark. Let your teen get plenty of daytime-driving experience before you allow nighttime driving.
• Restrict the number of passengers. Nearly two-thirds of teen passenger deaths occur when the driver is also a teen. Teen friends in the car may distract a novice driver. And sometimes peer passengers encourage recklessness in a normally safe young driver. Limit the number of passengers your teen may have in the car. • Choose safer wheels. That flashy red sports car or cool SUV may be your teen’s dream machine, but think “safety” when shopping for a vehicle, and look for one with protective features. For example, midsize cars typically withstand crashes better than small ones, and many newer models hold up better in crashes than older ones. Newer cars also offer improved safety features such as airbags and antilock brakes.
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Barton View - July 2008
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[email protected]. The advertising deadline is the 10th of each month for the following month's newsletter.
Stork Report Barton Hills Submit your information on the arrival of your little one to
[email protected]
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Barton View - July 2008
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