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BartonView

Barton View

A Newsletter for Barton Hills

Where Are We Going? By Connie Ripley

August 2009, Volume 3, Issue 8

Your Home’s Air Conditioning Efficiency Submitted by Robert Lee

Docks in Cypress Creek vied for the last drops of water. They all lost! Anchor barrels lie beside docks they used to hold in place. The last public access to Lake Travis, Mansfield Park Ramp, will close around Aug. 15. Are you worried about the lake economy? You should be! These low lake levels are costing the lake businesses millions! Should you be worried about getting water from your kitchen faucet? Maybe…depending on where you are and how low we go! Wells are filling with air. Coves are dry. It’s time to ask how low your water provider has their intake, if it is in Lake Travis. Could this drought be worse than the worst drought LCRA has experienced--in 1951? In July, 1950, Lake Travis was at 643.88. In July, 1951, Lake Travis was at 615.29! In July, 2009, Lake Travis is around 641 and falling. See a pattern? Is LCRA preparing for worse than it has ever seen? Mark Jordan, LCRA River Management, explains he would be unsurprised to see us surpass the drought of the 1950’s. “This drought is significant and it’s serious,” he said. Mark Rose, LCRA meteorologist, suggests “near normal to slightly below normal rainfall” for late summer and fall. This forecast will not save our lakes—or our economy. LCRA explains that it has enough water for critical needs. According to LCRA, no more water will be released in a critical drought than was released back in 1951, regardless of the population. Maybe you will have some water from your kitchen faucet, if your supplier’s intake is deep enough. Will you pay higher water rates for the supplier to lower their intake? LCRA should learn from Lakes Powell and Mead on the other Colorado River. Their (Continued on Page 3) Copyright © 2009 Peel, Inc.

Over the previous six months there has been more discussion on Air Conditioning efficiency and home efficiency than any other time in recent years! Since manufacturers, local utilities and the Federal Government are offering rebates people have a better understanding of SEER and EER (efficiency ratings) of air conditioners. Overall this is a good thing, but it only addresses half of the problem! The air distribution system (air ducts) are the other half of the equation and have nothing to do with the published SEER or EER ratings! The only way to know if your system is even close to running at capacity is to test it after it is installed so that the entire system, including the ductwork, is tested. Have you spent good money on a new system but still have hot spots, cold spots or uncomfortable rooms; or maybe you haven’t seen your energy bills reduced? Are you thinking about taking advantage of the Federal Rebate by purchasing new high efficient equipment? If your answer is yes to any of these questions then please think about the whole system! Efficient new equipment on old, inefficient ducts is a recipe for discomfort, or worse, failure! Call to have a certified professional test your entire system today; stop throwing money away every month and have a more comfortable, and efficient, home.

Barton View - August 2009 

Barton View welcome

The Barton View

A Newsletter for Barton Hills Residents by Barton Hills Residents

Residents are able to include personal classifieds for FREE. The Teenage Job Seeker section is FREE for Barton Hills teens.

Barton View is a monthly newsletter mailed to all Barton Hills residents. Residents, community groups, churches, etc. are welcome to include information about their organizations in the newsletter. If you are involved with a school group, play group, boy scouts, girl scouts, sports activity, social group, etc. and would like to submit an article for Barton View you can do so by emailing it to [email protected]. Personal news for the Stork Report, Teenage Job Seekers, recipes, special celebrations, birthday announcements and military service are also welcome.

advertising info Please support the advertisers that make Barton View possible. If you would like to support the newsletter by advertising, please contact our sales office at 512-263-9181 or [email protected]. The advertising deadline is the 10th of the month prior to the issue.

Newsletter Info Publisher Peel, Inc........................ www.PEELinc.com, 512-263-9181 [email protected], 512-263-9181 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 - August 2009

Our goal is to keep you informed!

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Barton View Where Are We Going?- (Continued from Cover Page) plight is irreversible. We have time to reverse our problems. LCRA should have been able to learn from others, but here we go again! How did LCRA let this happen again? They had a lot of help from little to no rainfall and drastically hot temperatures. The rice farmers are taking most of the water. Lakes Travis and Buchanan were slightly above the LCRA possible irrigation curtailment level in January, so LCRA is supplying the rice farmers with 300,000 acre feet this year—twice the entire municipal usage per year out of Lake Travis. Something needs to change. Too late for this year! (Rice farmers plant their second crop in July and harvest in October. With our current weather pattern, lake levels will continue to drop rapidly.) Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock (Williamson County cities in the Brazos River Basin), who have formed Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA), want more cheap water from Lake Travis. In spite of public protests from DELTA (Don’t Empty Lake Travis Association), the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) funded $181 million of your money on July 7 for BCRUA to begin their enormous project. DELTA’s common sense could not combat the Legislative pressures on TWDB State employees and Board members to dump your money that the Senate gave them. Without factSheet_ad_half.pdf 6/25/2009 2:24:33 PM meaningful conservation or reuse, these cities will dump Lake Travis

into Brushy Creek that feeds the Brazos River. LCRA’s “must sell to anyone that asks” Board Policy and their loose “straddling basins” interpretation of a one-liner in the 1997 Senate Bill 1 has our basin now providing Williamson County with water. The 3 cities are going deeper into an over-promised, drought-prone supply that everybody uses instead of going to a second source of water in the prolific, virtually untapped Simsboro Aquifer in their own basin. (The Simsboro has 8 times the water in all the reservoirs in the state combined!) LCRA can require additional conservation measures to all the entities it services. If LCRA will not, or cannot, tighten its standards, you need to step in. Put pressure on your water provider to use Graduated Block Rate Pricing. The top water users pay more per gallon for their water. This in turn provides additional money for a low-flush toilet rebate program, low use shower heads, outdoor irrigation audits, etc. (An acre of toilets uses more water per year than an acre of lawn.) Cheap water could mean little to no water in your immediate future. Finding and fixing water leaks is a must. What is your water provider’s water loss? Hope it is around 10% to 12%. Think how much of Lake Travis that a crack in a huge water line underground (Continued on page 4)

For more information, check out our website at

www.colinshope.org Increasing water safety awareness and standards

DROWNING CAN STILL OCCUR EVEN IF YOU KNOW HOW TO SWIM

FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DROWNING C

DROWNING WILL AFFECT YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW

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Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in children ages 1-4

NO ONE is “drown proof” – no matter their level of swimming ability.

Falls, entrapments, and injuries lead to drowning regardless of swimming level.

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Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of unintentional injury-related death ages 1-14.

A majority of people overestimate their own and their child’s ability to swim, especially in a panic event.

DROWNING IS QUICK AND SILENT 2min

Drowning occurs in as little as 2 minutes.

4min

Irreversible brain damage occurs in as little as 4 minutes.

5min

Most children are out of sight or missing for less than 5 minutes and usually in the presence of 1 or both parents.

6min

Most children die who are submerged for as little as 6-10 minutes.

Children who drown do not scream, splash, or struggle. They silently slip beneath the water, even with adults & lifeguards present.

Copyright © 2009 Peel, Inc.

Barton View - August 2009 

Barton View Where Are We Going?- (Continued from Page 3) loses. Do you have a running commode or a dripping faucet? Each drip is Lake Travis going down. YOU are responsible for cutting your water usage. Water your lawn ¼ to ½ inch every 5 days. More will just water the rocks under your soil. Plant drought-tolerant grasses and plants. Water only from 7 p.m. till 10 a.m. Sidewalks do not grow. Set your sprinklers for your grass, not your driveway. Do not water in the wind—water evaporates! Your car can be a little dirty. When you have to wash it, use only carwashes that provide recycled water. Inside your home, take quick showers rather than baths. Install low-flush commodes (even if your water provider refuses to support a rebate program). Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and wash your hands. Wash only full loads in the washer and dishwasher—better yet, install a low use washer and dryer. Almost all our electricity generation requires water to cool the power plants. Set your thermostats as high as you can stand. Use ceiling fans for the room you are in. Turn off lights when you leave a room. Keep windows covered especially those facing the west. Unplug appliances when not in use. Air conditioner condensate is an excellent source of pure water—get creative! Nothing can be done about the rice farmers getting their water this

WWW.ATFCU.ORG

year. You can do nothing about Mother Nature. Our only hope for keeping water in the lake is to lower our own usage. Every drop of water you use comes out of Lake Travis! According to Jordan, lakes could reach 900,000 acre feet by August. LCRA will ask their firm water customers to implement their mandatory water restrictions under their drought contingency plans and not all are equal. What will your water provider do? At 600,000 acre feet in Lakes Travis and Buchanan combined, LCRA will do the curtailing reducing usage on a pro-rata share. Let’s stop the drain! Things need to change before we reach the “point of no return”. Save Water. Save Lake Travis! For more information, go to www.drainingLakeTravis.org.

Newsletter Article Submissions

Interested in submitting an article? You can do so by emailing [email protected] or by going to http://www.peelinc.com/ articleSubmit.php. All news must be received by the 9th of the month prior to the issue. So if you are involved with a school group, scouts, sports etc – please submit your articles for the Barton View. Personal news for the Stork Report, Teenage Job Seekers, special celebrations and military service are also welcome.

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Barton View - August 2009

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Barton View August Events at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Sign up for the Fall Session of Go Native U Learn about garden design, plant selection, installation, maintenance and pest management starting in September. For information and registration, check www.wildflower.org The Origami Diva - Through October 4 Joan Son’s intricate installation of origami, “Natural Rhythm”  features birds and plants.  In the McDermott Learning Center Held over—Texas Society of Sculptors Exhibit  - Through August 31 This popular exhibit features additional sculptures in the gardens. August is Butterfly Month! - Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2 A 15 percent discount on butterfly books, gift or apparel. Pre-Fall Seed Sale - Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16 Save 20 percent on all wildflower seed purchases this weekend in the store. Sales Tax Free Days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 21 through 23 At the store--no tax on apparel purchases up to $100. 

We recommend an even higher level of protection this summer. Great Hills Baptist Church

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Barton View Travel Tips

Submitted by Marina Byrum If you plan to travel this year, you should be able to take advantage of the many bargains that are available.  With the stock market wavering and the economy slowing, most cruise lines, tour operators and hoteliers are feeling the pinch as travelers cut back on vacation spending.   The good news is that this is a great time to travel, as prices for almost everything are being slashed by as much as 75% off normal pricing.   Many sevennight cruises are available for about $1,000.00 per couple, based on an inside cabin (no window or porthole). Hotels are cutting their rates also; with some offering 4th and 5th nights free;  or discounts as high as 60% off the normal rack rates.   Whereas cruise lines have always offered discounts to those who book six months or more ahead; now they are

discounting even more.  Carnival Cruise Lines, for example, now offers an Early Saver Fare that offers about a 45% discount; with the caveat that your deposit is non-refundable.  They also offer an optional insurance policy that would recover your deposit if you need to cancel for any covered reason; i.e., accident, illness or death in the immediate family.   Planning a vacation has never been easier; and it’s doubtful we will ever see it cheaper.  That is, unless the economy continues to slide.  As we enter the month of July, there is still plenty of availability for the rest of the summer;  something that has not been true in summers past.   So take advantage of the deep discounts if you can; and remember that no matter where you go, just take care to enjoy the journey.  Have a fun, safe summer.



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2510 Onion Creek Parkway * Austin, TX 78747 * Phone: 512.282-2150 * Fax: 512.292.7128 * www.onioncreekclub.com



Barton View - August 2009

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Barton View A Sensible Plan for College Funding Submitted by Rich Keith

As a parent, you may feel a moral obligation to fund your children’s education, but you don’t want to sacrifice your current lifestyle or rob your future retirement in order to fund education costs.  Well, to make funding both their education and your retirement a non-issue, you must consider how to:

earn to pay for college is a good deal more because you must first pay the IRS…before you pay the college. How old will you be when your last child graduates from college?  Assume that you are 45 years old and you plan to retire in 20 years and that a public college costs $60,000 for 4 years.  You take the - Maximize your cash flow so that you can invest money out of your retirement savings today. The money you give to funds in education and retirement accounts. a public college for four years will cost your retirement fund about This includes both reducing debt and lowering $280,000 at an 8% return. Elite colleges cost more, but there is a hidden benefit which we will get to later. And remember, these expenses. numbers are for just one child’s college education. - Utilize the numerous education tax incentives Clearly this presents a funding dilemma shared by parents provided by the IRS to reduce taxes and produce everywhere: how to fund college and retirement?  Experts agree there so-called “tax scholarships” for your family. are two methods to make this work:  - Qualify for merit and need-based financial aid The first method is by using your money through: (A) paying out of offered by colleges your current income, (B) paying with withdrawals from your savings If you can maximize the benefits produced by the above strategies, accounts, or (C) borrowing. Most people use some combination of all you may not have to compromise your education and retirement three.  The second method is to use money from others.  This comes in goals. Historically, we see that college costs have risen at 2 to 3 times the following forms: (A) financial aid, (B) by using special education tax the inflation rate of the Consumer Price Index. And college really strategies, (C) gifts from relatives, or (D) your child’s resources (his/her costs you more than you think because it is paid with after-tax dollars.  income and assets).  We will explore this topic in future columns, how Depending on which tax bracket you are in, the amount you must to make a sensible, methodical plan for funding college expenses.

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