The Beacon
Volume 4, Issue 4
April 2013
Return of Free Home Weatherization
Dial A Trailer Spring cleaning time is here! Your Board of Directors has scheduled a Dial-A-Trailer through the city to be available for free bulk trash collection on May 4th. The truck/trailer is free and will be placed at the park from 8am-1pm. Collected Items: appliances, furniture, lumber mattresses, shrub, tree limbs - water heaters, vehicle tires (limit 4) The city recycles clean brush, metals, and tires. Participants are encouraged to separate brush from bulky items. Items Not Collected: bricks, chemicals, concrete, commercial and industrial waste, demolition/remodeling materials (e.g., sheetrock and roofing shingles), liquids, soil, pesticides, soil, sod. Other Recycling Alternatives Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the two brush and one bulky-item collections provided annually by the city. If residents require curbside pickup between these collection cycles, they can request an out-of-cycle collection available for a fee based on the size of the load collected. Residents can also dispose of unwanted materials by bringing them to a Free Landfill Day event held on four Saturdays throughout the year, approximately three months apart.
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CPS Energy's Casa Verde program enables low-income families to reduce their energy bills by making their home more energy efficient and is available to qualifying low-income CPS Energy customers in Atascosa, Bexar, Bandera, Comal, Kendall, Medina and Wilson counties. Home owners and renters must meet specific program guidelines, which include a questionnaire on income for all members of the household and a home evaluation. Funding for Casa Verde is provided by CPS Energy's Save for Tomorrow Energy Plan (STEP) in an effort to reduce energy demand. Weatherization improvements include attic insulation, wall insulation, weather-stripping, replacement of incandescent light bulbs, solar screens and duct seals. Eligible customers who apply this week and are approved will likely receive improvements before the hot weather of late spring arrives. If you are interested in participating, you can speak to a Casa Verde representative at the Westside Customer Service Center, 803 Castroville Road, Ste. 406 on Mondays from 10 a.m. - Noon and 1 - 4 p.m. For more information about Casa Verde, visit cpsenergy. com or call 353-CASA (2272).
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The Beacon
Spring Cleaning For The Body Submitted by Greg Sedbrook
Bexar County River Mist HOA Community Garage Sale Saturday, April 27th 8:00am – 2:00pm Now is the time to get rid of all that clutter! The Bexar County River Mist Homeowners Association, Inc., will be hosting a community wide garage sale on Saturday, April 27th. All residents are welcome to participate. Purchase a permit and join in the fun. If you don’t have much to sell, team up with a neighbor or two and consolidate your items. You can buy garage sale permits/all permits in San Antonio on-line http://www.sanantonio.gov/dsd You need to be registered on the website. Once you have registered you are able to apply for the permit. At the end of the application it tells you it has been done successfully. At the bottom it says “to view your application click here” Your application is the permit!!! The process is very easy and it is only $16.00 The Board looks forward to your participation in the upcoming Garage Sale on April the 27th. Please email us at
[email protected] if you have any questions. Regards, Bexar County River Mist Homeowners Association
Everyone knows the importance of exercise; it’s difficult not to see some sort of media touting the next new fitness program or diet fad. Most people, however, don’t have the time to go to the gym for an hour or two to exercise. Fortunately, it’s not about exercise so much as it is about physical activity. This can include just about anything, such as playing with the kids, walking the dog, or even spring cleaning. No matter what you’re doing, the key is to do something. By doing so you’ll improve circulation, reduce stress, and keep your heart and body strong. The annual ritual of spring cleaning can be a legitimate form of “exercise”. You’d be surprised to find out just how many calories you can burn! You’ll never look at that old broom the same way again. If you’re like most of us, you’ve put on a few pounds from the festive holidays. Not to fear, this spring you have access to the most accessible workout program in town, and you won’t find it at your local health club or gym. The spring cleaning you’re doing or planning on doing can be an excellent outlet for physical activity. For example, while you are out in the garden raking the piles of leaves, you’re giving your back and arms a little workout. You can do some serious calorie burning this way and get moving on that New Year’s Resolution you made again this year. Not convinced? Keep in mind that when you’re working out at the gym or to one of the numerous exercise videos, all that is basically happening is that an individual’s heart rate is becoming elevated and their muscles are making contractions. On many levels, the spring-cleaning routine is even better than a traditional workout. Why? Most people when they work out do so in a very fixed, linear pattern. When was the last time in your daily life that everything was that balanced, stable, and stationary? So when you’re raking, digging, or trimming the bushes, your whole body is moving in addition to your biceps contracting. You’re actually challenging your body more and usually burning more calories. Never thought of it like that before, have you? The key with this, as in any fitness program, is the duration, intensity, and consistency. You can burn a good amount of calories digging, but if you only do it for five minutes, the impact will still be minimal. Use a variety of chores to increase the time that you are active. You can make other activities more effective as a workout by picking up the pace a little. Hustle a bit more when you’re washing the car; you’ll not only make it a more effective workout, but you’ll get more work done. Move from one chore to the next and take some breaks in between. If you are going to plan on cleaning as part of your physical activity program, you’ll need to work out more than just a one-time thing every spring. Get a routine down, such as every Saturday you’ll wash the car, on Wednesday you’ll pull the weeds, that sort of thing. You’ll (Continued on Page 3)
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The Beacon - April 2013
Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc
The Beacon (Continued from Page 2) start to see a real difference not only in your body and energy levels, but also around your home. Follow the above advice and this year’s spring cleaning will do more than make your home sparkle, it will start a lifetime of fitness that can improve every area of your life. One final thing to mention; don’t forget to treat yourself this spring to a massage or day at the spa. You might just need it after all the cleaning that spring time always seems to bring. Until next month, be safe…be healthy!
Sign up for email alerts by registering at www.Spectrumam.com Our management website is a treasure trove of information regarding neighborhood policies, community events, community safety and other helpful items. You can pay your assessment fee online and can also sign up to receive email updates/alerts that are sent out by the Board of Directors and site managers. If you need help registering or need to have your password reset, call our site manager, Jason Green at (210) 494-0659. Your Board of Directors
Private Tutoring *Improve grades, test scores and self confidence *$25/per hour *Grades 3-8 all subjects *Tutor is a Texas certified teacher and has a Masters of Education Degree
[email protected] Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc.
IRS Unclaimed Refunds WASHINGTON — Refunds totaling just over $917 million may be waiting for an estimated 984,400 taxpayers who did not file a federal income tax return for 2009, the Internal Revenue Service announced today. However, to collect the money, a return for 2009 must be filed with the IRS no later than Monday, April 15, 2013. The IRS estimates that half the potential refunds for 2009 are more than $500. Some people may not have filed because they had too little income to require filing a tax return even though they had taxes withheld from their wages or made quarterly estimated payments. In cases where a return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund. If no return is filed to claim a refund within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury. For 2009 returns, the window closes on April 15, 2013. The law requires that the return be properly addressed, mailed and postmarked by that date. There is no penalty for filing a late return qualifying for a refund. The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2009 refund that their checks may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2010 and 2011. In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS or their state tax agency, and may be used to offset unpaid child support or past due federal debts such as student loans. By failing to file a return, people stand to lose more than refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2009. In addition, many low-and-moderate income workers may not have claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For 2009, the credit is worth as much as $5,657. The EITC helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain thresholds. The thresholds for 2009 were: $43,279 ($48,279 if married filing jointly) for those with three or more qualifying children, $40,295 ($45,295 if married filing jointly) for people with two qualifying children, $35,463 ($40,463 if married filing jointly) for those with one qualifying child, and $13,440 ($18,440 if married filing jointly) for people without qualifying children. For more information, visit the EITC Home Page. Current and prior year tax forms and instructions are available on the Forms and Publications page of IRS.gov or by calling toll-free 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for 2009, 2010 or 2011 should request copies from their employer, bank or other payer. If these efforts are unsuccessful, taxpayers can get a free transcript showing information from these year-end documents by filing Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, with the IRS or by calling 800-829-1040. The Beacon - April 2013
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The Beacon Come see what your neighbors are talking about. Join Nextdoor Rivermisthoa, the private website for your neighborhood.
To join, visit: rivermisthoa.nextdoor.com/join Your neighbor, Charles Hasberry, invited you to join.
Nextdoor Rivermisthoa
Charles (Rivera Cv) writes: "We are coming together online as a community. Join us on Nextdoor. This will help us share crime/safety info as well as help us get to know each other. " To accept your invitation, visit:
rivermisthoa.nextdoor.com/join Your flyer code: XEIGAR
Nextdoor Rivermisthoa
Get to know your neighbors • Share local recommendations • Lend, borrow and give away • Keep the neighborhood safe • Stay informed
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The Beacon - April 2013
Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc
The Beacon Dear Homeowner,
Pro Tree Care r o b r A
Ross Hosea, Owner ISA Certified Arborist #TX-3811A Texas Oak Wilt Certified San Antonio native with more than 20 years experience Trimming ● Removal ● Planting Free Estimates
Here at Spectrum we strive to make the transition to our company as seamless and problem free as possible. This article is just a reminder on the different ways you can pay your homeowner association dues. The most traditional method of coming to our office to pay is available. Our address is 17319 San Pedro, Suite 318, San Antonio, TX 78232. You can also register at www.spectrumam. com and login to pay your dues by e-check or credit card. We accept payment from Mastercard, Discover and American Express. On this site you can also setup recurring payments, view current reports of any ACC requests, Violations, governing documents, upcoming events and other information. For your security, we do not take credit card payments over the phone. If you ever have questions on how to register or how to review something on the website, please feel free to contact us. Our policy is to return all calls and emails the same day. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. Regards, Jason M. Green Community Manager Office: 210.494.0659 www.spectrumam.com
(210) 912-4869 or
[email protected]
Check us out on the web at www.rivermisthoa.org Our community website is a treasure trove of information regarding community events, community safety and other helpful items. Sincerely, Your Board of Directors
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