The Beacon The Official Newsletter of the Rivermist HOA Issue 2, Volume 3
March 2011
Dear Neighbors,
RIVERMIST COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE ON APRIL 2ND!! Now is the time to get rid of all that clutter! 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
Saturday, April 2nd 8:00 AM Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
We have had trouble keeping our basketball goal in use. It has been vandalized multiple times and every time the HOA has to replace the backboard it cost you, the homeowners, money. Please help us fight this problem by reporting suspicious behavior to the HOA. You may email us at
[email protected] or you may call AMS at (210) 829-7202. As a reminder, the park is for the use of Bexar County Rivermist residents and their invited guests. If you believe there are people using the park who are not from our neighborhood, write down the days/times you see them there and the HOA can try to contact them. We have typically allowed the other Rivermist communities (The Hills and the Arbors) to use our park but if their residents do not abide by the rules, we may have to revise that policy. We want to give our residents a place to relax but do not wish to continue paying to replace equipment. We do not know who the vandals are or where they live. If you or your children know who the vandals are, please pass that information along to the HOA. If this does not stop, we may have to consider removing the basketball goal permanently. Your Rivermist Board of Directors
Plant a tree!!
One of our members has donated a few trees to be planted in our community. He is a member of the Arbor Day Foundation and simply asked that we spread the word about this foundation. The mission statement of the Arbor Day Foundation is: “We inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.” The Arbor Day Foundation is a a 501(c)3 nonprofit conservation and education organization. Founded in 1972, the centennial of the first Arbor Day observance in the 19th century, the Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with over one million members, supporters, and valued partners. You may find more information at http://www.arborday.org/ The Beacon - March 2011
The Beacon community info
advertising info
Rivermist
Please support the advertisers that make the The Beacon possible. If you would like to support the newsletter by advertising, please contact our sales office at 1-888-687-6444 or
[email protected]. The advertising deadline is the 20th of the month prior to the issue.
8223 Rock Mist San Antonio, Texas 78249 www.rivermistsa.com
HOA Board members President ........................................... Rudy Cervera (2nd term) Vice-President............................................... Nancie Drullinger Secretary........................................................................... Open Treasurer............................................................... Debora Estes Advisory..........................................................Charles Hasberry
important numbers Sheriff’s Department (NON-EMERGENCY)..... 210.335.6000 EMERGENCIES:................................................................ 911
article info The Beacon is mailed monthly to all Rivermist residents. Residents, community groups, churches, etc. are welcome to include information about their organizations in the newsletter. Personal news for the Stork Report, Teenage Job Seekers, recipes, special celebrations, and birthday announcements are also welcome. To submit an article for the Rivermist please email it to
[email protected]. The deadline is the 20th of the month prior to the issue.
CPS...................................................................210.353.4357 ................................................... (report street light outage) Bexar Co. Public Works.....................................210.465.4528 ...................................................... (shredding, graffiti, etc.) Bexar Co. Sign Dept.........................................210.465.0536 ........................................... (report damaged/missing signs) SAWS................................................................210.704.7297
Newsletter Publisher
NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE
Editor....................................................charles@rivermistsa.com Peel, Inc...............................................................512-263-9181 Advertising...........................................advertising@peelinc.com
mission statement The Beacon, for Rivermist Residents The mission of The Beacon is to provide the Rivermist Community with one source of local news content that is written by Rivermist residents. Our goal is to help build the community by connecting local businesses with residents and residents with relevant neighborhood information.
"Be the community."
Go Green, Go Paperless
Check us out on the web at www.rivermistsa.com Our community website is a treasure trove of information regarding community events. Regular updates are posted regarding useful information. You can also sign up to receive email updates/alerts that are sent out by our talented webmaster. Sincerely, Your Board of Directors
Sign up to receive The Beacon in your inbox. Visit PEELinc.com for details.
The Beacon - March 2011
Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc
The Beacon Tips for Mastering the Farmers’ Market By Melanie Dragger, M.Com.
Many people are taking steps to improve their health and the environment by eating organically grown and raised foods. While some people are selecting organic items at their local grocery store, farmers’ markets are becoming increasingly popular. Over the past year, according to the Department of Agriculture, the number of farmers’ markets in the U.S. increased by 858, or 16 percent, from 5,274 in 2009 to 6,132 in 2010. When the USDA first began tracking farmers’ markets in 1994, there were only 1,755 markets. Outside of growing your own produce and raising your own livestock, shopping at a farmers’ market is the best way to obtain fresh, local, and seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs, as well as farm-fresh eggs, meat, poultry, and dairy products. Many farmers’ markets also offer artisan breads, honey, and seasonal jams, jellies, and preserves. Below are tips to help you master your local farmers’ market: 1. Do Your Research – Before heading to the market, research what produce is in season in your area. Since all products sold at a farmer’s market may not be organic, and some organic products sold may not be certified, familiarize yourself with the organic certification process and product labeling. Information on the USDA’s National Organic Program can be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. 2. Bring Your Own Containers – While some
vendors have bags and boxes available for customers, bringing your own containers is the best way to ensure you will be able to transport and protect your purchases properly. Additionally, recycling containers helps the environment by reducing the number of natural resources used to produce new ones. 3. Bring Cash – Swing by your bank or ATM before hitting the farmers’ market. Most vendors do not accept checks or credit cards. Bring small bills, since it may be difficult for some vendors to make change. 4. Go Early or Go Late – The best items usually go first, so try to get to the market early. However, before making a purchase, take a quick trip down the aisles, since prices can vary greatly among vendors. If you can’t make it to the market when it first opens, go at the end of the market day to catch deals from vendors trying to unload their remaining products. 5. Speak with Vendors – Shopping at a farmers’ market allows you an opportunity to speak directly with growers and farmers. Not familiar with Swiss chard? Looking for a new way to prepare eggplant? Most vendors love to share their knowledge, including discussing their production methods, providing storage and transportation advice, and sharing recipes and cooking tips. Buying organic products at your local farmers’ market offers numerous benefits, including boosting the local economy, reducing the amount
of toxic chemicals that enter your body and the environment, and decreasing the amount of fossil fuels used to transport products to consumers. However, organic products can be more expensive than conventionally grown and raised products, and some organic products may be difficult to find in some areas. If going 100% organic is not feasible, use the following list as a guide. According to the 2010 report of the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization specializing in research and advocacy related to public health and the environment, these 12 fruits and vegetables consistently contained the highest amount of pesticides when conventionally grown, and should be consumed in organic form when possible: 1. Celery 2. Peaches 3. Strawberries 4. Apples 5. Blueberries (domestic) 6. Nectarines 7. Sweet Bell Peppers 8. Spinach 9. Cherries 10. Kale/Collard Greens 11. Potatoes 12. Grapes (imported) The EWG’s annual ranking of produce pesticide contamination is based on its analysis of tests conducted by the USDA and the federal Food and Drug Administration. More information on the EWG, as well as the full list of fruits and vegetables ranked, can be found at http://www.ewg.org.
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO YOUR NEIGHBORS 6XSSRUW
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How to Set a List Price for Your Home If you set the price too high, your house won’t be picked for viewing, even though it may be much nicer than other homes on the street. Compared to other houses for sale, your home simply looks too expensive to be considered. If you price too low, your house will sell promptly, yes, but you may make less on the sale than if you had set a higher price and waited for a buyer who was willing to pay it.
So what do you do? Call me. As an experienced professional I will sit down with you and help you set your list price based on: x x x x x
pricing considerations comparable sales market conditions offering incentives estimated net proceeds
Patti Bennett, Realtor®, ABR, GRI, SRES One number any time:
210-386-3424
[email protected] If your property is listed with a real estate broker please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully.
The Beacon - March 2011
Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc
