June - Balcones Woods Neighborhood Association

Balcones Woods
Newsletter
Calendar
June 24 - Blue Wave party
July 4 - 4th of July celebration
July 08 - Large brush collection
Sept 3 - Operating Committee Meeting
Sept 10 - Board Meeting
Sept 28 - BWC Casino
October 1 - BWC Nation
Night
Oct 8 - Operating Committee meeting
Nov 12 - Board Meeting
Dec 10 - Board Meeting
Balcones Woods Club, Inc.
11204 Alhambra
Austin, TX 78759
Web site: www.balconeswoods.org
Balcones Woods Blue Wave
We are right in the middle of a great season with the 2013 edition of the Balcones
Woods Blue Wave Swim Team. The 2013 team is the largest team we have had in
at least the past ten years and maybe ever. This year’s team has approximately
200 members, including our pre-team from ages 4 to 18.
The team has had three swim meets and won the first two over Forest Area Fast
Frogs and the Avery Ranch Redfish. They recently lost in a super close competitive meet to longtime rivals, the Westover Wild Orcas.
We have a couple of tri-meets remaining on our schedule and our end of the season CHAMPS meet at the University of Texas Swim Center on Sunday, June 23. We
cannot believe the season will be over in three weeks. It has gone by much too
quickly.
We want to thank all of our parent volunteers who make this team “go” each and
every year. Parents spend many hours volunteering for swim meets and a ton of
behind the scene jobs throughout the spring and summer. Without the volunteers
we could not do what we do. I have had comments from presidents and coaches of other
teams calling us the “big machine”. We run
our meets like a smooth machine. This is a
tribute to all of our parents, kids and coaches
that all “make it happen”.
Thanks to the neighborhood and HOA for all
of the continued support!!!!
Go BW BLUE WAVE!!!!!!!!!
E-mail:
[email protected]
Jack Butler
Phone: 512.342.1982
Balcones Woods Club, Inc. takes no
responsibility for the content, promises made, or the quality/reliability of
the products or services offered in all
advertisements.
For ad information, please call 3421982 or e-mail
[email protected]
June 2013
Congratulations to Our Graduating Seniors
Abbey Kowal
Juliana Hall
George Anthony
Lauren L'Amie
Rebecca Pittel
Matthew Mahavier
2013 Blue Wave Swim Team Coaches
The Blue Wave has a wonderful staff of seven coaches
who enjoy teaching swimming and watching as our
kids from the neighborhood grow in size and maturity
each year. These coaches are valuable to our team and
neighborhood!
year. Coach Kerrington is from Round Rock. He attends
the University of Texas at Austin and hopes to graduate
within the next year. He is a long time year-round swimmer and swam for University of Texas Longhorns for the
past three seasons.
Our brand new Head Coach Lesley Murray has been
swimming for the Blue Wave since she was five years
old. She graduated from the University of the Incarnate
Word in San Antonio with a degree in Kinesiology in
2011. She swam for the University as a Cardinal for all
four years. Blue Wave has been the biggest contributor
to her appreciation of swimming and exercise, and she
hopes to enable all of our swimmers in the world of
movement.
Coach Zoe James grew up in Balcones Woods and swam
for the Blue Wave for thirteen years. She is currently
studying Marketing at the University of North Texas,
where she is swimming for the Mean Green. She enjoyed
every second of her days as a Blue Wave swimmer and
loves that she now has the opportunity to pass down the
skills, traditions, and love of the water that she gained
over her years on the team. This is Coach Zoe’s second
season as coach.
Coach Huddie Murray has coached Blue Wave for over
twenty years. She and her husband Kevin have had
seven children swimming on our team, and her youngest is still swimming with the team. Her first grandchild is learning to swim and will hopefully be a Blue
Wave in the next few years. Huddie made finals at the
1976 Olympic Trials in 400 Individual Medley (fifth)
and 200 Butterfly (eighth). She loves seeing improvement in our kids in both the seasonal timeframe
and over the years! She enjoys passing along a skill and
exercise that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.
Coach Hailey Kiser swam for the Blue Wave for thirteen
years and at Anderson High School for four years. This is
Coach Hailey’s first season to coach the Blue Wave. She
studies environmental science at Texas A&M University,
Corpus Christi, and is a certified scuba diver. She loved
being a Blue Wave swimmer and is happy to now coach
for the team that introduced her to the swimming world.
She hopes to pass on her passion of the water.
Coach Juli Zamora (Coach Z) has been coaching the
Blue Wave team since 2007. She is the Head Swim
Coach at Anderson High School, the high school our
neighborhood feeds into. She teaches Sophomore English at Anderson. She enjoys camping and the
outdoors, as well as swimming in her spare time. Coach
Z is a huge fan of the San Antonio SPURS!
Coach Sandy Pobst started coaching Blue Wave five
years ago. Coach Sandy enjoys working with our young
swimmers, especially the pre-team! She loves the
neighborhood and moved her family here a couple of
years ago. Her two daughters, Kelsey and Samantha, swim for the team. She has a yellow lab, Sunny,
who dreams of the day when there is a Blue Wave canine division. Sandy can usually be found digging up
one part of her yard or another when she's not busy
with Girl Scouts or other activities. She works as an
instructional designer/writer/editor in her spare time.
Coach Kerrington Hill is brand new to our team this
Jack Butler, 2013 BW Blue Wave President
June Tips for Roses
Zel Heaney
Roses are heavy drinkers, water deeply and regularly.
Roses are heavy feeders, fertilize three times in June and
July.
Treat for fungal leaf diseases (black spot and powdery
mildew) with Actinovate. Treat sucking pests (thrips
and spider mites) with spinosad products.
You may live in a neighborhood with beautiful trees, yet
you love roses and they need sun! And, you probably
don't think about roses for a shade garden. However, if
your garden doesn't quite get the 5-6 hours of full sun
recommended for roses, you may still be able to grow
select varieties. No rose thrives and blooms without
some sun, but there are roses that will do just fine with a
little shade. Try these beauties in part shade: Marmalade
Skies, Sea Foam, and Golden Showers.
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Fourth of July Parade and Celebration
Come join the fun at our annual Fourth of July parade and celebration. We’ll begin assembling for the parade in
the commons area parking lot at 7:45AM. Bikers and walkers will gather in the parking lot; motorized vehicles
will assemble along Alhambra, near the parking lot. The parade starts at 8:00AM. Parade prizes will be awarded
for the best float, car, bike, stroller, pet and costume.
After the parade, check out the Austin Fire Department fire truck and experience getting sprayed by the fire hose.
Pool Games and Celebration
The pool opens at 10:00AM and games begin at 11:00AM. Prizes will be awarded for
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Family Relay
Big Splash (8 age/gender groups)
Belly Flop (8 age/gender groups)
Water Balloon Toss (2 prizes: one girl, one boy)
Water Melon Scramble (3 Awards based upon age groups/players)
Volunteers Needed
Youth Social needs volunteers for the Fourth of July parade and celebration. Need hands to decorate, take pictures for the newsletter and judge the Parade.
If you can help please contact Jennifer Heinzke at: [email protected]
Have a story or other information to share with
your neighbors?
Send an email to: [email protected]
Volunteers Wanted
Volunteers do the work that goes into making our
neighborhood such a great place to live.
Please help out with one of our committees or become a
board member.
Contact Annette Bohne at 345-9450.
Ken Howell
Pest Control & Handyman
Services
(512) 748-3573
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Think Global, Shop Your Neighbors
The Tile Guy
Michelle Manning
We wanted to settle in this area of town ever since we lived in a loft apartment in the Balcones Woods Apartments, over twenty-two years ago! Our home on Cordova and this neighborhood are special to us, but so is that
loft apartment. That’s where we lived as newlyweds and where Kevin first pitched the idea of a flooring store to
me. I was not keen on the idea, but he knew exactly how it could and would be successful.
The store started in a storage shed rental, while Kevin did installations full time. When customers called to purchase tile, he would meet them at the storage facility, roll up the door, and start selling! We named the business
after Kevin realized what his customers said when he showed up. “Mom, the tile guy’s here.” The Tile Guy was
born.
We moved away from Balcones Woods for a while. Then we moved the store to an actual storefront on Anderson
Lane. The next year, 1997, we bought our second, and current house, at the end of Cordova Drive.
We bought our home from the original owners, who had moved to a smaller home a few years earlier. The house
had been a rental, which meant the asking price was low. It also meant the house needed remodeling. For almost
three months, we worked all day, then came home to put in several remodeling hours. Finally, it was done! Our
friends jokingly told us it was time to “fill it up” with kids, but we weren’t quite ready. Meanwhile, The Tile Guy
expanded into the next door suite, our current location.
We took a break for a year and enjoyed our five bedroom house. It was big, and so very quiet. We had an office, a
dance room, junk room, guest room, and our own room. Fifteen years and four kids later, each of those five bedrooms is someone’s bedroom, and our big house is not so quiet anymore. When it is quiet, I know trouble’s brewing.
We love it here. Our three oldest kids are on the Blue Wave swim team and tell me that they plan to be guards up
at the pool when they’re older. I’ve been the Blue Wave’s president and now the ready bench lead. The Fourth of
July is our favorite neighborhood holiday -- this year we have a bicycle built for two waiting to be decorated for
the parade.
We didn’t plan to stay in our home for 15 years (and counting), but now we can’t imagine leaving. We know that
eventually the kids will move out and the big house will be quiet again, but that’s ok. They will come back with
grandkids in tow! We’ll be ready for them with a fleet of bicycles decked out in red, white and blue.
Visit The Tile Guy online at http://www.thetileguy.com or the showroon at 1748B West Anderson Lane, (512)
467-0151.
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Herb Valliant Woodworking Treasures
Herb Valliant
I relocated from Canada to Austin in 1986 and moved to Balcones Woods in 1988. I was one of the founding partners of a company called ZLS Corp., which manufactures Gravity Meters. At ZLS I develop the software and electronics for our instruments.
My wife, Cynthia, and I have found Balcones Woods to be a true neighborhood, and we have enjoyed some wonderful friendships with other residents of the community. We are members ofboth Balcones Woods Bridge Clubs.
All my life I have enjoyed designing and making things. For example, in my younger years I made the desk that I
still use today. I designed and made my own cabinets and lighting fixtures for my house in Canada.
With the specter of retirement approaching, about a year ago I decided to dust off my woodworking skills. My first
projects involved turning objects on my lathe in wood and acrylic. Table lamps are lovingly hand turned from beautiful Red Cedar and Mesquite, finished with tung oil and
paste wax, then polished to a high luster. Ideal on a side table or a shelf.
At the last Balcones Woods Neighborhood Garage Sale I offered my creations for sale.
Because of the enthusiastic response, especially from our nearby neighbors and other
residents of Balcones Woods, I intend to offer my products for sale at future garage
sales in BW. I also have an internet presence on Etsy (www.etsy.com/shop/hdvshop)
where you can check out my work. If you find something of interest, please give me a
call (512-453-0288) directly as my cash-and-carry pricing is significantly lower than
the Etsy price. Woodworking is my hobby, ZLS is my business.
Want to know if you should sell or hold on to your investment?
Call me today for a free market analysis!
Buyers & Tenants are waiting to move into Balcones Woods!
Allison Dady, Realtor®
Sales & Leasing Consultant
(512)924-1818
[email protected]
www.allisondady.com
Balcones Woods Specialist & Resident
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Tips for Green Grass in June
June has arrived! As warm and bright as we remember, just beautiful with lots of color. As you drive
through the neighborhood you notice those beautiful lawns, green and lush. You work so hard to have
that great looking lawn, and to conserve water.
night air stays above 70 degrees. Avoid high levels of nitrogen in fast release form; it encourages
brown patch development.
Tips for St. Augustine
Mowing: Performs best when mowed between 2
to 4 inches, depending on the cultivar. Normal
The top two popular sods here are St. Augustine and
growth cultivars like Raleigh should be mowed
Bermuda. Other choices are Buffalo grass and
between 3 to 4 inches, while the semi-dwarf
Zoysia, but this article discusses St. Augustine and
growth cultivars such as Palmetto and Mercedes
Bermuda grasses.
can be mowed between 2 to 3 inches.
St. Augustine grows well when you have trees and
Fertilizing: Apply one-half to 1 pound of nitroshade . It has a thick blade and is so full and bright.
gen per 1000 square feet every 4 to 8 weeks with
You can buy it in 12”x24” pieces.
a slow release type fertilizer to St. Augustine.
Bermuda grass grows best in the full sun and has a
Slow release fertilizers reduce problems with
medium-to-fine texture blade. It is usually easy to
chinch bugs.
establish from seed. Bermuda grass is very hardy,
Watering: Irrigate when 30 to 50% of the lawn
salt tolerant and drought resistant.
shows sign of wilt. Generally, St. Augustine needs
Common Mistakes
about 1 inch of water weekly.
In general here are the most common mistakes in
Tips for Bermuda
lawn care, simple but often overlooked.
Mowing: Mow weekly during the summertime,
Mowing: Dull lawn mower blades rip and tear the
because it grows so quickly in the heat. Always
grass rather than providing a clean even cut. Torn
use a sharp mowing blade to ensure you are cutplant tissue can create a breeding ground for disting the Bermuda, rather than ripping it out from
ease and other problems. Keep lawn mower blades
its roots. Set your mower cutter at a moderate
sharp.
level, you do not want to cut it too short. Leave
Cutting grass too short can create an environment
clippings on the lawn to help the grass retain
that encourages weed growth, increases heat stress
moisture, then it requires less water.
during dry or hot periods and makes your lawn
Watering: After Bermuda grass is established, it
more susceptible to insects and disease.
can live on one-half inch of water a week. This is a
Watering: Water is essential to all life . Too little
plus since with our watering restrictions. Water
water and we die, too much water and we drown.
at dawn or dusk. If you water in the heat of the
The same is true of grass. Most people are conday, the water evaporates before it can replenish
cerned about not watering the lawn enough, the fact
the grass.
is, more lawns are damaged or destroyed by overFertilizing: Some lawns are fine with a light
watering then under watering.
feeding once or twice a season, but not Bermuda
Fertilizing: Too much fertilizer, especially with high
grass! When it comes to nitrogen and other nutrilevels of soluble nitrogen fertilizer, tends to increase
ents that keep lawns growing, Bermuda grass is
thatch problems and leaves lawns prone to insects
hungry on a monthly basis during its peak growand disease. Or, worse yet, you will literally burn
ing time. That means four or five fertilizer appliyour lawn. Do not over fertilize.
cations between May and August. While Bermuda
Brown Patch loves the hot summer. . .
can certainly survive with less lawn fertilizer, the
Brown patch is the most damaging of all turf grass
extra maintenance will help it look its finest.
diseases. It is caused by a fungus called Rhizoctonia.
The disease begins to show growth when temperaZel Heaney is a landscape designer at Countryside Nursery.
tures reach 65 degrees, but it becomes most active
when day temperatures are over 85 degrees and
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Seminar on Summer Lawn Care
Countryside Nursery will have a free seminar on
summer lawn care June 29, at 11AM. by Mike Serent.
Mike is a well respected speaker, President of the Organic Horticulture Benefits Alliance, as well as the co
-owner of San Jacinto Environmental Supplies and
the manufacturer of MicroLife. He has worked with
parks, institutes and communities to conserve water
and have beautiful lawns using safe organic fertilizers.
Countryside Nursery, 13292 Pond Springs Rd.
www.countrysideaustin.com
Stage 2 Water Restrictions
Automatic Sprinklers: before 5AM, after 7PM
Odd addresses: Wednesday
Even addresses: Thursday
Hose-End Sprinklers: before 10AM, after 7PM
Odd addresses: Saturday
Even addresses: Sunday
Note: Soaker hoses, drip irrigation and hand-held
hoses are exempt from this schedule.
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