the
Vista Oaks
Vista August 2011 volume 3, issue 8 vistaoaks.org
Official Publication of the Vista Oaks Owners Association
July 4th cELEBRATIONS
A few photos from the festivities!
Upcoming Events August August 21st – Last day of full time Lifeguard service August 22nd-First day of School for Leander School District August 27th, 28th Lifeguard weekend Service only
September VISTA OAKS FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT IN THE PARK – CHECK SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER FOR DATE & MOVIE September 3rd, 4th and 5th –Lifeguard weekend service only September 5th – Labor Day- Leander School Holiday September 28th – Rosh Hashanah at sundown
October October – 1 st Vista Oaks online newsletter October 7th, 8th – Yom Kippur October 10th – C olumbus Day-Leander School Holiday October 18th -21st – P roposed Leander School Testing Dates for Exit Level TAKS/ Retest
November November 11th – Veterans Day November 21 -25th – Leander School Thanksgiving Break November 24th – Thanksgiving Day November 25th – Black Friday shopping with leftover turkey sandwich Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
Vista Oaks Owner's Association Newsletter - August 2011
Vista Oaks Board of Directors President........................................................Deirdre Goggins VP......................................................................Suman Khisty Secretary................................................................Ed Medford Treasurer............................................................Suman Khisty Landscaping...................................................... David Pedroza MAL..................................................................... Doug Mink Social Committee...........................................Angela Beechum
Communication Committee Newsletter Editor..............................................Suman Khisty .......................................................
[email protected] Newsletter Publisher Peel, Inc......................................................... 512-263-9181
[email protected], 512-263-9181 VO Webmaster....................................................David Little
Not Available Online
HOA Management Southwest Management Services...........................512-266-6771 Office hours: 8:30 – 12:00 and 1:00 – 5:00 www.southwestmanagement.net
mission statement Peel, Inc. Community Newsletters Our goal is to provide the Vista Oaks community with one source of local news content that is provided by Vista Oaks residents. Our goal is to help build Vista Oaks by connecting local businesses with residents and residents with relevant neighborhood information.
"Be the Community."
article info The Vista newsletter is mailed monthly to all Vista Oaks residents. Residents, community groups, churches, etc. are welcome to submit 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. If you have an article of interest to the community please submit to
[email protected] by the 4th of the month. The newsletter can also be viewed online at www. PEELinc.com.
Vista Oaks Owner's Association Newsletter - August 2011
LANDSCAPE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS ON HOLD In light of the drought and daily heat rate of being close to or over 100 degrees, at the board has elected to place on hold all landscape improvements projects. Once we enter the fall season, we will revisit what can be done at that time and plan again for Spring 2012.
REPORT POWER OUTAGES & SURGES Several homeowners have reported brief or a “blink” power outage and surges. We are attempting to work with PEC for correction. It has been requested that homeowners report the power outage and surges for investigation. Therefore please call 1888/554-4732. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated. Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
Vista Oaks
VISTA OAKS NEWSLETTER
GOING GREEN AND OTHER LIVE COLORS Commencing in October the Vista Oaks newsletter will be delivered to you via email with a copy available on the website. This will allow Vista Oaks to enhance the look, content and size of the newsletter without restrictions. We will be able to regulate the timeliness of the publication and the 30 day advance deadline will not be in effect. Please update your email address on the Vista Oaks website. Please log in to www.vistaoaks.org and confirm your email address is listed in your Profile page. If you have not been receiving the email blasts, your email is most likely not listed. We look forward to sharing wonderful full color photos of our neighborhood, events, and community spirit. Also, if this is your first time using the Vista Oaks website, follow the login request form for an assigned user name and password.
Securtiy Report: June 2011 Steve Shanks, Security Patrol Williamson County Sheriff's Office
Bus Safety
School will be commencing soon and the board asks that parents accompany their children to the various bus stops. Although the board is restricted in publishing information on registered sex offenders, everyone needs to be aware especially during the school bus pickups and drop off time schedule. We request that you review the information posted by the Texas Department of Public Safety https:// records.txdps.state.tx.us and other on-line sites such as Megan’s Law at www.meganslaw.com. Historically the board has addressed the matter with individual letters to all residents and has posted safety tips in the Vista Oaks Newsletter. This is also a good time to have a conversation with your children regarding general safety and reporting any unknown persons hanging around the bus stops. Please report any event to the Williamson County Sheriff ’s Department or call 911. To confirm your school’s bus pick time and place, please refer to the Leander Independent School District website at www.leanderisd. org, “Quicklinks” for calendar and bus routes/transfinder. The district’s transportation department can be reached at 512/570-0700.
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Do to new computer system unable to obtain any activity report. It is unknown at this time when or if an activity report will be available. Steve Assisted with Burglary, Runaway, theft and two Disturbance calls.
222 Security Checks MUD Lift Station/ Ron
Ron patrolled area made traffic stops and assisted with alarm calls
12 Traffic stops made by security and patrol this month (stop signs, suspicious vehicles, speeding)
22 Security Checks Rec. Center/ Steve
Street Lights:
27 Resident Contacts/ Steve 21 Security Checks MUD lift Station/Steve 24 Security Checks Rec. Center/ Ron
Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
24 Residents Contacts/ Ron
#3 #4 #92 #41 #27
A Man After God ’s Own Hea rt
Sunday M orning Series
WATCH LIVE services Sunday mornings or view any time at www.ghbc.org
Sunday Morning Schedule | 10:00 Worship | 8:30 & 11:30 - Bible Life Groups (all ages)
Great Hills Baptist Church | the radiant church 10500 Jollyville Road . Austin, Texas 78759 | 512.343.7763 Vista Oaks Owner's Association Newsletter - August 2011
Vista Oaks August Gardening
Movie Night Photos!
Many of us received notice from the Vista Oaks MUD regarding voluntary watering restrictions. The Vista Oaks HOA Board agrees that we do need to conserve water however, until the MUD implements full water restrictions all homeowners are required to maintain their front yards. We ask that you continue to keep your yard in good condition to the best of your ability. As more information is made available by the MUD, the HOA will continue to support it and post new information on the web site. The board is also finalizing an addition to the CCRs to incorporate Xeriscaping for next year. The information will be made available in early 2012 prior to the planting season. Annuals: At this time, most annuals have run their course and will need to be reviewed for possible removal unless the plant is heat tolerant. For future heat tolerant plantings consider the following: Blue Daze, Dahlberg Daisy, Cosmos, Marigolds, Mexican Heather, Periwinkle, various salvias and sage. Bulbs: Great time to review catalogs for November and early December plantings. If you have any waiting to be planted that have not dried out, place them in the refrigerator or freezer in a protected freezer bag. Take out from the fridge two days prior to planting. Grass: Continue to water on a set schedule. Remember to water in the early morning verses afternoon or evening to discourage disease. Perennials: During August all successful plantings will prevail thought the remainder of the hot season. Incorporating new plants into your garden is discouraged. Soaker hoses are best for long term success. Roses: As you continue to water to maintain a moist rose bed, it is a great time to prune and fertilize late in the month for fall blooms. Extra nutrients now will encourage a wonderful array of colorful blooms in September and October. When pruning the rose bushes remove all dead cane, and twiggy growth (a piece of the cane that is smaller than a pencil). Use caution to not over prune ramblers, climbers and old garden roses. Shrubs: Like the rest of your garden, continue to water and supplement mulch. August will be your last opportunity to prune and shape prior to fall. Trees: All palm trees must be planted now in preparation for fall. Do not fertilize with quick release nitrogen for the remainder of the year. It is okay to use premium quality slow release fertilizer. Iron deficiencies can show on certain trees growing in the alkaline soils that can appear on Oak and Pine trees. Symptoms include yellow foliage in new leaves.
Vista Oaks Owner's Association Newsletter - August 2011
Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
Vista Oaks Going 100 Percent Organic Not Feasible? By Melanie Dragger, M.Comm. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization specializing in research and advocacy related to public health and the environment, has released its 2011 updated “Dirty Dozen” list of the 12 fruits and vegetables containing the most pesticides. Topping this year’s list? Apples. This begs the question, “Can eating an apple a day really keep the doctor away?” The answer may lie in where you get your apples. Although the EWG’s ranking was cited as an overestimate of the risk by the Alliance for Food & Farming, a non-profit organization with the stated mission of providing a voice for farmers to communicate their commitment to food safety, consuming organically grown products can reduce the amount of pesticides that enter your body. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), long-term exposure to pesticides can lead to death or serious illness, including developmental and reproductive disorders, impaired nervous system function, and certain cancers. Further, the WHO has found children to be at higher risk from exposure than adults. However, organically grown products are typically more expensive than conventionally grown products, and some organic products may be difficult to find in some areas. If growing your own fruits and vegetables is not an option, and purchasing 100 percent of your produce in organic form is monetarily unfeasible, the EWG’s list offers a good starting point for consumers. According to the EWG’s 2011 report, which is based on its analysis of tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the following 12 fruits and vegetables (the “Dirty Dozen”) consistently contained the highest amount of pesticides when conventionally grown, and should be consumed in organic form when possible: 1. Apples 7. Grapes (imported) 2. Celery 8. Sweet bell peppers 3. Strawberries 9. Potatoes 4. Peaches 10. Blueberries (domestic) 5. Spinach 11. Lettuce 6. Nectarines (imported) 12. Kale/collard greens Alternatively, according to the EWG, the following 15 fruits and vegetables (the “Clean 15") consistently contained the least amount of pesticides, and by adhering to this list, individuals can get their recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables without incurring the expense of buying organic products in order to limit their exposure to pesticides: 1. Onions 6. Sweet peas 11. Cabbage 2. Sweet Corn 7. Mangoes 12. Watermelon 3. Pineapples 8. Eggplant 13. Sweet potatoes 4. Avocado 9. Cantaloupe (domestic) 14. Grapefruit 5. Asparagus 10. Kiwi 15. Mushrooms
Underscoring the importance of the consumption of fruits and vegetables was the release of MyPlate, also in June, replacing the classic food pyramid. The USDA’s new food icon is a simple, visual cue that advises individuals to “make half your plate fruits and vegetables,” graphically shrinking the role of meats and dairy products in the national diet. More information on the EWG, as well as the full list of fruits and vegetables ranked, can be found at http://www.ewg.org. More information on the Alliance for Food and Farming can be found at http://www.foodandfarming.info. To learn more about the USDA’s MyPlate, visit http://www.choosemyplate.gov, and to discover more about the WHO, visit http://www.who.int/en.
the lax farm “Growing Players with a Passion” Boys Youth Lacrosse / Fall League / Grades 1-6 Is your son looking for an alternative to the same old fall youth sports? Registration is now open for The LAX Farm’s Fall 2011 House League. The league is structured for novice players and it is organized to emphasize fun and skill development. If your son was looking for a way to enter the sport, this recreational league is an ideal way for him to test the waters. The league is designed for entry level players, but it is also for boys with some lacrosse experience who want to keep their skills honed during the off season. We offer full equipment rental packages as well. Lax
Farm
2011
Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
512-568-7597 www.thelaxfarm.com
Vista Oaks Owner's Association Newsletter - August 2011
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Vista Oaks Owner's Association Newsletter - August 2011
Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.
Vista Oaks NatureWatch by Jim and Lynne Weber
Tails of Summer
Flower blooms in summer are often visited by large, colorful butterflies in the swallowtail family. These insects are so named because of the tails on their hindwings that resemble the forked tails often found on birds in the swallow family. They are even more unique when in the caterpillar stage, because they possess a hidden structure behind their heads called an ‘osmeterium’, a fork-shaped organ that is exposed when under threat (or forced out with a gentle squeeze) and can emit a smelly and bad-tasting secretion. As such, swallowtails are distasteful to many predators in both the caterpillar and adult butterfly forms. The smallest and darkest swallowtail you will see this time of year is the Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor). Its upperside has blackish-brown forewings and hindwings that have an iridescent metallic blue sheen. The undersides of their hindwings have bright orange dots surrounded by black and blue, with subtle white markings. The Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars, which are reddish-brown with rows of fleshy red tubercles rising up from their backs, normally feed in small groups on plants in the pipevine family. It is these plants that give the insect their poisonous quality.
One of our bigger and brighter swallowtails is the Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata). Growing to over 5 inches wide, their distinctive yellow wings have black tiger-like striping, with a row of bright blue spots along the trailing edge on both sides of the hindwings. Each hindwing also has two primary black tails, giving this insect its common name. The Two-tailed Swallowtail caterpillars are carrot-orange with a pair of pale yellow eyespots on top of the head and a pale yellow band behind the head, making them resemble a small snake. In our area, these caterpillars feed on the leaves of the wafer ash or hop tree. Our largest butterfly is also a swallowtail, is aptly named the Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes), and can often have a wingspan of over 6 inches. Their wings are dark brown to black with yellow bands and a yellow spot in the center of each tail on the hindwings. Their young caterpillars look like bird droppings, which are effective at deterring predators. Giant Swallowtails have distinctive flight patterns, with the females tending to beat their wings slowly but move quickly over long distances, and the males having a more rapid, jerky flight due to their slightly smaller wings.
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At times you may find an adult swallowtail butterfly missing some or all of its tails. While the true purpose of the tail-like extension on the hindwings of these butterflies is unknown, it is often believed that they trick predatory birds into biting off this expendable part of their wing, giving the swallowtail a chance to fly yet another day! Send your nature-related questions to
[email protected] and we’ll do our best to answer them. If you enjoy reading these articles, look for our book, Nature Watch Austin, to be published b y Te x a s A & M Un i ve r s i t y Pre s s , and now available for pre-order through Amazon.com. Two-tailed Swallowtail
Giant Swallowtail
Pipevine Swallowtail
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Vista Oaks Owner's Association Newsletter - August 2011
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Vista Oaks Owner's Association Newsletter - August 2011
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