Fall 2013 Newsletter

Fall 2013
Hillcrest Connection
Join the Hillcrest HOA group
on Facebook for all the latest
up-to-date information
End of Summer Pool Party
Don’t miss out on the fun! We’ll be
having our end of the summer pool
party on Sunday, October 6th from
1pm-3pm. Join us for pizza, sides,
The Neighborhood Watch
The pool will be open only
on weekends and will be
closing for the winter on
October 29th.
cookies, and drinks. For a special
Program will have some
information available. This is the
important program that allows some
homeowners to post the
treat we will have a balloon twister
We will be collecting funds for the
Neighborhood Watch signs in their
who makes amazing balloon
family that was devastated by the
yards to deter criminals in our
creations! We will also have a
horrible house fire on Desco Drive
neighborhood. Please sign up to be a
resident doing face paintings for the
on August 25th. Please bring some cash
part of this important program to
kiddos. The kids will be sure to love
or a gift card to donate to Gail’s family.
keep Hillcrest safe! The city of
these great activities! This is a great
Even your spare change will help!
Austin offers classes for the trainers
time to get to know your fellow
and participants of the program.
neighbors!
In This Issue
2
• Drought Information and Water Conservation Tips
3
• Yard of the Month • Traffic Minders • Pool Close Date • Basketball Survey
• December Neighborhood Hayride • Hillcrest HOA Facebook Group
4
• Pumpkin Patch Coupon • Native South Food Trailer Park Grand Opening
• Free Fun in Austin email blast information • Kids Eat Free • Board Members
Management Company
Pioneer Real Estate Services
611 S Congress Ave #510
Austin, TX 78704
Hillcrest HOA Manager
Kimball Dempsey
[email protected]
(512) 447-4496
www.pioneeraustin.com
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Hillcrest
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9 Tips to Conserve Water:
1. Only run the dishwasher or washing
machine with a full load. If it is time to
replace either of these appliances, check
in with your utility company about
rebates for water-conserving versions
and purchase those instead. As an added
measure, try running these late at night,
then you can save energy too!
2. Catch the condensation from your AC
unit and use it in your yard. Depending
on how your air conditioner is
programmed, it can produce gallons of
water per day. Catch that water in a
bucket and put it on your garden, shrubs
and trees.
3. Turn the water off when you brush
your teeth. This simple step can save up
to 8 gallons per day!
4. Leaky faucets can waste up to 7
gallons of water a day. To check for leaks
at home, read your water meter and
avoid using water for 2 hours. Read the
meter again after this period. If the
amount is different you have a leak!
5. Running toilets can waste a lot of
water! Fix these leaks as soon as you find
them. Check with the manufacturer of
your toilet for the proper replacement
“flapper” to ensure maximum efficiency.
6. Inspect your irrigation system. Have
your system inspected by your water
utility or a certified irrigator to make sure
it is operating correctly, identify any
problems, and help you set it to run
more efficiently. Many cities offer free
inspections.
7. Install faucet aerators and low-flow
showerheads. These water saving devices
are cheap and easy to install. Many utility
companies give them away to their
customers.
8. Install a high efficiency toilet. Toilets
account for about 25% of water used in
the home. Depending on the age of your
toilet, you can save up to 5 gallons per
flush by replacing older models. Check
with your city for possible rebates. If you
can’t get a low-flow right away, put a
water bottle in the tank until you can.
Be Drought Savvy
A drought is an extended period
when a region notes a deficiency in
its water, whether on the surface or
underground. A drought can last for
months or years or may even be
declared after as few as 15 days.
Although a drought can persist for
several years, even a short intense
drought can cause significant
damage and harm to the local
economy.
trees in this manner is exempt from
the watering schedule
The Austin and Central Texas areas
are experiencing one of the worst
droughts in history! Currently Lakes
Travis and Buchanan, the region’s
major water reservoirs, are only
33% full. Let’s do our part to
conserve water.
• Fountains with either a fall or
spray of water greater than four
inches are prohibited; unless
necessary to preserve aquatic life.
The following are guidelines to keep
in consideration:
• Drip irrigation is exempt from the
schedule, due to increased
efficiency.
• To water trees, soaker hoses may
be used under the drip-line of the
tree canopy or you may use your
automatic tree bubblers. Irrigating
• Watering a vegetable garden with
a soaker hose is exempt from the
watering schedule.
• Washing vehicles at home is
prohibited. If you need to wash a
vehicle, you may do so at a
commercial carwash facility.
• Consider adding a rain-water
collection bin to your back yard.
• Consider reducing the amount of
grass in your yard and use
Xeriscaping with native Texas
plants, cactus, other natural items
and rocks. Be sure to get approval
from the Architectural Committee
first, through our Pioneer
Management Company!
Visit www.lcra.org/water/drought/ for the most
up-to-date information concerning the drought.
9. Water your lawn on the right day of the week. For residential customers
using a Hose-End Sprinkler even addresses are allowed to water on Sundays.
While odd addresses are allowed to water on Saturdays. And for residents
with automatic irrigation the even addresses are allowed to water on
Thursdays, and the odd addresses on Wednesday. Water on the correct day to
save water and to avoid a costly fine! Hose-end irrigation may take place
between midnight and 10 a.m. and between 7 p.m. and midnight on your
assigned watering day. Automatic irrigation systems may operate between
midnight and 5 a.m. and between 7 p.m. and midnight on your assigned
watering day.
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Hillcrest Connection
Yard of the Month
September: The September 2013 Yard of the Month award went to the
homeowners at 11229 Crest Meadow. Their yard was well groomed with green
grass and nice edging. Congratulations!
August (as seen below): Congratulations Darian, Lori, Averey and Anthony
Jellich at 11420 Midbury! You are the August 2013 winners for Yard of the
Month! This is a healthy lawn, with neat shrubbery and grass, which is nicely
maintained and trimmed. It is understated, but with attractive architectural
accents that add to the curb appeal. The family has done a great job and really
added to the appeal of our neighborhood.
In an effort to make up for the missed YOTM awards this year we will
be awarding 2 homeowners per month, for the next 6 months!
Residents, please remember to clean up after your pets.
The October Yards of the Month
awards will be based on which
homeowner has the best Halloween
decorations in their front yard. The
award will be a $100 Gift Card to
Home Depot!
The December awards also have a $100
prize and are based on front yard
Holiday decorations.
You must be up to date on your
homeowner dues/fines to qualify for
any Yard of the Month award. Good
luck and may the best yard win!
We will soon have a large sign that will
display the speed limit as well as how
fast you’re driving. This information
will be given to the APD. Depending
on the data we receive we may qualify
for speed bumps or other traffic
calming measures that will keep our
children and pets safe as the
neighborhood traffic continues to
increase. Please slow down and
watch for children, pedestrians,
and bicyclists. Please do not
text and drive. It can wait.
Next month the Ravenscroft
Commercial Development will finally
start building! They are zoned for 11K
square feet of retail shopping area, a
gas/convenience store, and medical
office buildings.
In the near future every homeowner will receive a survey in the mail
regarding portable basketball goals. This will determine if we have enough
support to leave the portable goals outside for long periods of time. The
current CC&R’s suggest placing these out of sight when not in use. If we
have around 60% approval we will pursue a special voting session to amend
this permanently at the annual meeting in January.
The annual hayride through Hillcrest is
tentatively scheduled for Dec 6th or 7th. Hot
cocoa, caroling, and fun will abound! If you
have hay or a trailer you could donate please
email Paula Wood at [email protected]. Stay
posted on Facebook for the official date and
time. We will post signs as well.
Hillcrest HOA Facebook group
Join the conversation! The group is quickly sneaking up on 100
members. HOA board members and homeowners alike are posting
useful information regularly. To join, you can either scan the QR code
on the front page of this newsletter or search “Hillcrest HOA” in
Facebook then select the “Join Group” option. Once your home
ownership has been verified you will be added to the group.
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Spring 2016, Issue 44
Elgin CHRISTmas Tree Farm
Pumpkin Sales
October 5th-31st
Open daily for farm activities
and pumpkin sales
Mon-Thurs: 10-2
Fri & Sat: 10-5:30
Sundays: Noon-5:30
Price of admission:
$6 (2 years to 99) EXCEPT
on Festival Days
Pumpkin Festival Weekends
October 12th-13th and October 19th-20th
Admission:
0-1 year- FREE
2-12 years- $6
Adults- $8
Native South Food Park
located at 10106 Manchaca
Rd (near Moontower
Saloon) will be celebrating
their Grand Opening on
Saturday, October 26th!
They will be providing
beverages and food
sampling all day. There will
also be live music, Truck or
Treating and a costume
party for both young and
the younger alike!
Live music, scenic
hayride, lots of animals, pumpkin painting
(with purchase), photo ops, mazes, face
painting, mini train, rubber duck races, new
commercial playscape.
Free Fun in Austin
Kids Eat Free
Parents are you looking for low cost or free fun things to do with your kids? Then check out the Free fun in Austin
website (www.freefuninaustin.com). You can sign up to get a daily e-mail that will provide you great ideas for different
activities to do with your kids! These are written by different mom bloggers. My family has found numerous things to do
on this website, and have found 2 of our favorite summer swimming holes/locations on it.
Monday: Freebirds, Tres Amigos, Gattiland & Gattitown,
Austin Java, Which Wich*, Jim’s Restaurant, Dickey’s BBQ Pit
(Sunset Valley), El Rincon (& Kiwi the Clown)
Tuesday: Freebirds, Kerbey Lane, La Posada, Marie
Callender’s, Plucker’s (S. Lamar & The Original),
Texadelphia*, Austin Java, Which Wich*, Central Market
North, Firehouse Subs, Jim’s Restaurant, Dickey’s BBQ Pit
(Sunset Valley)
Wednesday: Gattitown & Gattiland, Luby’s*, Texadelphia*,
Austin Java, Central Market Westgate, EZ’s Brick Oven &
Grill, Jim’s Restaurant, Dickey’s BBQ Pit (Sunset Valley)
Thursday: Texadelphia*, Jim’s Restaurant
Friday: Texadelphia*, Dickey’s BBQ Pit (Sunset Valley)
Saturday: Luby’s*, Marie Callender’s, Steak & Shake,
Texadelphia*, Jim’s Restaurant
Sunday: Baby Acapulco, Mama Fu’s, Steak & Shake,
Texadelphia*, Dickey’s BBQ Pit (Sunset Valley), Freebirds
(after 3pm), Z’Tejas
Please confirm details with restaurant
*locations vary
Board Members
Board of Directors
President
VP
Secretary
Treasurer
At Large
Roberto Talamas
Karen Lorch
Paula Wood
Dina Hillier
Nelly Blakely
Committees
Architectural Control
Deed Restrictions
Pool
Yard of the Month
Newsletter
Social
Web Communications
Traffic
Neighborhood Watch
Roberto Talamas
Roberto Talamas
Roberto Talamas
Karen Lorch
Paula Wood
Paula Wood
Dina Hillier
Dina Hillier
Nelly Blakely
© Copyright Reserved HillCrest HOA
A Texas Non-Profit Corporation