The Beacon
Volume 3, Issue 6
June 2012
Suburban Gardening I have a passion for gardening. I would like to start a garden club for Rivermist and use this newsletter to help share what I’ve learned and continue to learn. I would like to discuss how we can grow our own flowers, vegetables, fruits, peas, and nuts in the limited space of our backyards. As an individual I’ve never touched soil, dirt, or clay until I was 35 yrs old. I didn’t have any knowledge of gardening or eco systems until I started gardening 2-3 years ago when I was living in an apartment on medical drive. Over a period of time I learned a lot (still learning now…) on gardening. I do grow lots of veggies, trees and fruits in our backyard which was set up for under $900. My hopes would be to start a Rivermist garden club to have a forum for the community to share the joys and benefits of gardening. Three years ago, I was offering free yoga class at my medical drive apartment. I always encouraged students to live on good foods. I prepared and provide healthy breakfast to my students and one of my student’s was impressed and gave me a curry leaf seedling and holy basil plant. This kicked off my gardening journey. I learned a tremendous amount from my first seedling and plant. As I poured water onto the curry plant all the water was draining out and I was puzzled. Trying to be eco-friendly and vowing to never let water go to waste, I didn’t understand why water always Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc.
needed to be drained for any plants or trees. I learned quickly that if the water is not drained from the plant, unfriendly bacteria’s and fungus would start to build. I killed my holy basil since I kept inside my apartment due to lack of sunlight and the plant sat in water because the plant did not have proper drainage. The lessons learned were plants needed adequate sunlight and water to grow but water needs to get drained. The Curry plant came out pretty good and my wife used it couple of times in our cooking, but I was not impressed that much. But the inner fire for growing veggies was starting to become a passion of mine. The next year, I planted tomatoes, hibiscus, thyme, parsley, basil and jasmine in my apartment. The third year I planted Egg plant, Jalapeno, Tomatoes, Fenucreek, Bottle Gourd, Snake Gourd, Bitter Gourd, Strawberry, Cucumber, Yellow Squash, Summer Squash, Brussel Sprouts, Asparagus, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Radishes, Tomatillos, Broccoli, Okra, Indian Spinach, Corn , Parsley, Cilantro, Neem plants, Mango plant etc., to name a few. After spending nearly a thousand dollar I would say that my investment is rewarding me back with a garden of fresh veggies which are unmatched with any super market. In future newsletters I will share some tips and tricks that I learned along the way. If you are interested in the Rivermist Garden Club please email me at
[email protected]. The Beacon - May 2012
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Hyperactive Students By: Michael Southworth
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If you could be an elementary teacher for a day, how would you set-up your dream classroom? Can you see yourself in front of your class teaching? As you look out over your classroom, you see 22 pair of eyes looking back at you. Your student’s are all sitting in their desks quietly hanging on every word you say. Every instruction you give is done exactly as you expect, quietly and enthusiastically. All teachers dream of a classroom like this, but we know the challenges teachers face every day. In reality the classroom is full of energy and distractions with students whom have different personalities and learning styles that can test the teaching skills of the best teachers. There is one particular type of student that can be very misunderstood, the hyperactive student. Some people see this as a negative label, but these students can be exceptionally bright. I taught Gifted and Talented students for 2 years and 75% of these students were labeled hyperactive. A hyperactive student has a difficult time in a traditional classroom because they have a difficult time sitting in their desk quietly focused on one task longer than 30 minutes. If this energy can be channeled or focused into learning, these students can thrive. Below are 3 ways that has helped me teach hyperactive students. 1. Flexibility: A classroom is full of different learning styles. I had to learn to be very flexible my first day in the classroom. I also found that learning can occur without sitting in a desk. I always let students sit or stand at their desk as long as they were not a distraction to other students. Most of the time hyperactive students decide to stand and of course they would wiggle around, but as long as it was not distracting other students this worked fine. By letting students sit or stand it gave them the option and they can get out their energy while focusing on their work.
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2. Give Clear and Concise Directions: Sometimes the attention span of a hyperactive student can be very short. When directions are given, they need to be short and to the point. If a task has many steps, I would always write all the steps on the board for the students. In today’s society the attention span of most people are decreasing while the use of high speed technologies are increasing. Teaching needs to adapt to this ever changing world. 3. Give the students the flexibility: It can be difficult for students to focus on one task for more than 30 minutes. I taught all my lessons in the morning and then the students would have the rest of the day working on practice assignments. This gave the students the ability to choose the order of the assignments they completed first as long as they completed them all. They had the choice on which order they worked on the assignments. This teaching technique had dual purposes. I never gave homework and I gave assignments that could be finished in the same day it was assigned. If students stayed focused they never had homework. If the student brought homework to finish, the parents/guardians would know their student was not focused that day. There is always an exception to this rule. A student should not be punished for being hyperactive as long as it’s channeled or focused in a positive manner. There are many teaching techniques that can be used to channel the energy. As society increases the use of fast technologies, the challenge for the teacher will always be to adapt to the different learning styles. Michael Southworth M.Ed. has been in the education field for 14 years. He started his career as a classroom teacher and is currently works for a nonprofit educational assessment and research company. He also has a tutoring company. If your student needs educational assistants please contact him at
[email protected].
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The Beacon Dear Homeowner,
Arbor
Pro Tree Care
Ross Hosea, Owner
Regards,
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.
Jason M. Green Community Manager Office: 210.494.0659 www.spectrumam.com
(210) 912-4869 or
[email protected]
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Rainy Days Welcomed, but Drought Restrictions Remain (5/11/12) http://www.saws.org/latest_news/NewsDrill.cfm?news_id=835
San Antonio has enjoyed some much-needed rain this week, but that doesn't mean drought restrictions are over. According to the city's Aquifer Management Plan ordinance, the level must stay above 650 feet for 30 days to end Stage Two. "While the Edwards Aquifer quickly responds to rain, it can also drop quite quickly. So the ordinance allows for 30 days to avoid confusing, rapid changes in restrictions," said Greg Flores, SAWS vice president of Public Affairs. "We hope the current trend of rain will continue and aquifer levels continue to rise. "In the meantime, we are asking people to continue to be diligent and follow the Stage Two drought rules to help us avoid further restrictions. Plus, with all the rain we've received, most shouldn't need to water anyway." Demands on the Edwards Aquifer are especially high in the beginning of summer when heavy watering by farmers to the west can represent 2 1/2 times the use of San Antonio. This use can trigger aquifer level drops more than a foot a day. "Once we get closer to July 4, the corn crop is wrapping up, and we see aquifer levels stabilize," continued Flores. "But it's especially important in this first part of the year to follow the drought restrictions while agricultural use is high." In Stage Two, watering with a sprinkler, soaker hose or irrigation system is allowed only during the hours of 3-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m. on your designated day, as determined by the last number of your street address.
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Neighborhood Safety Dear Neighbors, Here are a few safety tips that we hope will help keep you safe and our neighborhood crime free. Personal Safety Tips for Home and Neighborhood - Don’t allow strangers into your home, even if they are hurt or say they need help. Keep the door locked and call the police for them. - Don’t advertise that you live alone. - Don’t be afraid to call law enforcement to investigate suspicious circumstances, unusual people, or strange noises. It’s better to be safe than sorry. - Keep outdoor lights on at night. - If you arrive home and your door is open or things appear to be out of place, don’t go in. Leave and call 911. - Be a visibly nosy neighbor. Let anyone walking the neighborhood or sitting in a parked car see you watching them. - Make a note of car license plates and if anyone behaves suspiciously or stays in their car for an unusually lengthy period, call the police. - Tell close neighbors that you trust if you plan to be away or expect any deliveries. - If you are going away, cancel newspapers and put a hold on your mail deliveries or have a neighbor collect any mail or packages from the doorstep. - Having a dog is a HUGE deterrent. Ironically burglars are far more likely to avoid a house with a small dog than a big one – small dogs tend to be nervous and less easy to trick into calming down. They’re less trustful and bark louder and longer. - Take a walk around your home to figure out where the weakest link in your security might be – like leaving a window open in a secluded spot. - Be wary of who you allow into your home and how much information you give about your belongings and schedule (If an HOA board member comes by they will have identification and you can call Spectrum Management to find out if there is a scheduled community outreach going on). - Avoid creating temptation. Don’t leave things like lawn mowers and bikes unattended outside; lock them up. - Don’t leave valuable items in your vehicles overnight - Don’t hide a key outside. Home burglary crooks know all those “secret” places. San Antonio Police Dept. Contact Information: For emergencies CALL 911! For Non-Emergency, call (210) 207-7273 Please report anything suspicious to the police.
(210) 478-2144
[email protected]
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The Beacon Summer Activities and Stretching Courtesy of Greg Sedbrook – Author Unknown
With the summer weather, inevitably comes the summer yard work. Gardening, raking, clipping and mowing, it all has to get done, right? Injuries while doing yard work are probably more common than you think. Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy. * Before doing anything — even any pre-garden stretches — take a walk around your yard a few times to loosen up. Or, take a brief bike ride around the block to help you limber up. * Be cautious about the amount of strain placed on your lower back. Let your arms and legs do the work when pulling a rake or pushing a hoe or shovel. When weeding or planting, sit on the ground or kneel on a foam pad. * Do easier tasks first. As you progress, periodically switch to other jobs to avoid overusing one muscle group. You should also alternate difficult tasks with less taxing ones. * Instead of bending at the waist to pick up a bag of mulch, pull it up on your thigh close to your body and then stand up. Your thighs can take more strain than your back. * Assume a scissors stance while raking by placing your right foot forward and left foot back. After a few minutes, reverse this position, putting your left foot forward and your right foot back. Periodically reverse the position of your hands on the rake.
* Pace yourself. Work for 15 to 30 minutes and take a stretching break. If you tend to lose track of time while gardening, try taking your kitchen timer with you to remind you to take a break. * Keep hydrated. Water should be consumed every 30 minutes, and on warm days, every 15 minutes. * Don’t try to do everything all in one day. Break long sessions into 2 or 3 hour time periods and allow yourself several days for larger projects. Remember the Stretches Twenty to thirty minutes of stretching should be done every morning to start your day. Make it a routine part of your schedule. Yes I know, with our hectic, fast-paced lives, it is sometimes hard to add an extra thirty minutes in there somehow. But trust me; in a manner of just a week or so, you will be able to feel the difference in how much better you feel each day and before you know it, stretching as become a standard part of your morning routine, just like brushing your teeth! Next time I will include some basic, simple stretches that should be a part of every ones stretching regimen. And remember; simple, basic stretching is all you need. Just remember to stretch ALL the major muscle groups. Even though Yoga and the like are fantastic, they are not required.
Spring is in the Air!!! Many of our fellow Rivermist residents have been hard at work sprucing up their yards. Thank you to everyone for making Rivermist a beautiful place to live!! Please enjoy the photos of many of our members wonderful yards!
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) 705-1121. Your Board of Directors
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Check us out on the web at www.rivermistsa.com Our community website is a treasure trove of information regarding community events, community safety and other helpful items. You can sign up to receive email updates/alerts that are sent out by our talented webmaster. Sincerely, Your Board of Directors 8
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