Westcreek Neighborhood Westcreek Neighborhood

Westcreek Neighborhood
WestcreekNeighborhood
Neighborhood
Westcreek
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Volume 6, Issue 9
September, 2010 - Published Monthly for our Westcreek Neighbors
Log on at westcreekna.org
(Continued on Page 3)
(Continued on Page 3)
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Westcreek Neighborhood Association Newsletter - September 2010
Westcreek Neighborhood
WNA Contacts
July Yard of the Month
WNA website......................................www.westcreekna.org
Webmaster
Elaine Pozos................................ [email protected]
Write to us at: WNA; P.O. Box 91373, Austin, TX 78719-1373
For comments on this newsletter, or to submit ideas/articles:
Newsletter Editor
Karen Gregory........................... [email protected], 899-1292
President
Chris [email protected]
Vice President
Gary Bunevick............................. [email protected]
Treasurer
Jan Boswell................................ [email protected], 892-3786
Secretary
Trudy [email protected]
Member At Large, Place 1
Linda Luebs...............................................................................
Member At Large, Place 2
Chris [email protected], 436-8607
Member at Large, Place 3
Barbara [email protected], 892-3397
YOM NEC Chairperson
Barbara Huffman........................... [email protected]
YOM NEC assistants
Jennifer.....................................................jleidun@gmail.com
Hannah............................................... [email protected]
Newsletter Info
Meet our July 2010 Westcreek Yard of the Month Winners:
Michael, Kristi, Ava, and Aniello Zumpano. The Zumpano Family
has lived at 6113 Smith Oak for over two and a half years and they
love living here. Their beautifully landscaped yard is full of many
drought tolerant native and adapted plants such as Plumbago, Purple
Leaf Sage, Blackfoot Daisy, Yarrow, Lady Banksia Rose, Sedum,
Esperanza (Yellow Bells), Passion Vine, Salvia Greggi, Brazilian
Rock Rose, and a unique white Turks Cap. As you approach their
front walkway shaded by well-established Crape Myrtles, a natural
cedar trellis that is adorned with Confederate Jasmine greets you
and Star Jasmine vines. When the Zumpanos are not working in their yard or balancing
family life, they are both very busy running their business named,
“Minds in Motion Experiential Learning” (www.mimel.net), where
they use their 25 years of combined teaching experience to provide
summer camps as well as mentoring and educational programs to
children. The Zumpanos were presented with a $50 Emerald Gardens gift
certificate and a $25 Randalls gift card to recognize their efforts
in keeping Westcreek looking great. Stay tuned for next month’s
winner.
Newsletter Publisher
Peel, Inc............................................................. 512-263-9181
Advertising................................... [email protected]
WNA Member at Large
city Contact
Call 311 to report any City-related problem. It operates 24/7.
Report a non-emergency crime, barking dogs, speeding
problems, zoning violations, blocked sidewalks, etc.
Austin Police Department District Representative
Zachary LaHood..... [email protected], 974-4415
Advertising Information
Please support the businesses that advertise in the Westcreek
Newsletter. Their advertising dollars make it possible for all
residents to receive a newsletter at no charge. No homeowners
association funds are used to produce or mail the newsletters. If
you would like to support the newsletter by advertising, please
contact Peel, Inc. Sales Office at 512-263-9181 or advertising @
PEELinc.com for ad information and pricing.
Westcreek Neighborhood Association Newsletter - September 2010
Position Filled
Westcreek Neighborhood Association welcomes the newest
member to the board, Linda Luebs. Linda will be filling the Member
at Large Position #1 for the remainder of the term. Thank you, Linda,
for stepping in and helping to create a desirable neighborhood.
Vicki Phillips, who previously filled this position, will be moving
from the Westcreek area. Thank you for your service to the WNA,
Vicki.
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Westcreek Neighborhood
Get to Know Your Neighbors - (Continued from Cover Page)
Participate in Wildlife Austin - (Continued from Cover Page)
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/nno.htm. For additional
information, please contact Rosie Salinas at the Community Liaison
Office at (512) 974-4900 or by e-mail at [email protected]
as a wildlife habitat with the National Wildlife Federation and you
will help Westcreek in this year’s Wildlife Austin Challenge!
It’s surprisingly easy to create a backyard or front yard habitat. Many native plants provide a year-round food source (nuts, berries,
nectar, fruit, pollen, seeds), and setting up a fountain or bird bath or
placing shallow saucers of fresh water around the yard will provide
the water that wildlife need. Hummingbird feeders and other bird
feeders count as food sources, too, so you might already have all you
need to certify your yard. Bushes, rocks, logs, etc. provide shelter
and a place to raise young. That’s it: food, water, shelter and you’ve
got a certifiable yard!
Online certification is quick and easy. The one-time application
cost is $20, and you can also order a nice yard sign that will be
the envy of your neighbors (that is, until they get their own!). In
the past month, at least three Westcreek neighbors have certified
their yards as wildlife habitats. Join the fun by visiting www.nwf.
org/gardenforwildlife/certify.cfm for more information. Questions? Just ask me at [email protected].
And we know, everyone loves a picnic!
The Westcreek Neighborhood Association is planning the return
of the “WNA Fall Picnic” this year after a hiatus last year. It is
scheduled for Saturday, Oct 23rd at Dick Nichols Park. More
details will follow on our website, www.westcreekna.org and in our
next newsletter. Meanwhile we are looking for volunteers to assist in the
organizing and preparation of the event. This is a great opportunity
to serve your neighborhood and
have
some fun. If you are interested,
contact Chris Schexnayder at
chrisschexnayder@sbcglobal.
net with your name and
contact information and I
will be in touch.
You're Invited!
Join Labor Day
Weekend & Save
Labor Day Splash Bash!
FREE & Open to the Public
Monday, Sept. 6, 11am - 4pm
Celebrate the Grand Opening
of our Outdoor Pool, Aquatic
Playscape & Fitness Center.
48!
$
Come see
our new look
- inside & out!
Ȉ Family swimming & water games
Ȉ ”‡‡•ƒ’Ž‡”Ƥ–‡••…Žƒ••‡•‹‘—”
‡™Ž›”‡‘˜ƒ–‡†Ƥ–‡••…‡–‡”
Ȉ Free kids’ classes & activities
Ȉ Free food, drinks & prizes
Come join the fun!
www.austinymca.org
Southwest
Family YMCA
2DNFODLUH'U+Z\‡<0&$
For Youth Development, For Healthy Living, For Social Responsibility
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Westcreek Neighborhood Association Newsletter - September 2010
Westcreek Neighborhood
Austin Newcomers Club September Luncheon:
What Kind of Nonverbal Messages are You Sending?
We are sending nonverbal messages constantly and sometimes our
nonverbal messages are more important than what we actually say!
Find out what kind of messages you are sending, by attending our
September program When Dr. Jurgen Streeck from the Department
of Communication Studies and German Studies at the University
of Texas, Austin, will speak.
Dr. Streeck’s main area of expertise is the study of face-to-face
interactions with a focus on gestures. His studies have delved into
cultural differences, which has led him to conducting field research
in Germany, the Philippines, Bali and Columbia. He teaches
undergraduate classes on social interaction and visual media, intercultural communication, and hip-hop/rap. He also teaches graduate
level students on the Analysis of Human Interaction. Dr. Streeck
also serves on UT’s faculty for Foreign Language Education and
African and African-American Studies. He has conducted many
studies regarding non-verbal communication and has published
several books on the subject. Dr. Streeck was President of the International Society of Gesture
Studies, and serves on the editorial board of Gestures. He is the
author of Gesturecraft: The Manu-facture of Meaning,several books
on child communication, and has published many articles. Time: 11:00 AM Social - 12 Noon Luncheon
Date: September 15, 2010
(Reservations required by Thursday, September 9th)
For Luncheon Reservations email: .
[email protected] .
or Diane Israelson 512-467-4979
For other Newcomers information visit .
www.austinnewcomers.com or call 512-314-5100.
Austin Newcomers is a social organization dedicated to introducing
residents to the Austin Community and giving them the opportunity
to meet and make new friends. Join us at the monthly luncheon
and as well as take the opportunity to become involved in many
fun Interest groups.
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Westcreek Neighborhood Association Newsletter - September 2010
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Westcreek Neighborhood
Austin Currents
BCP Hike & Lecture Series
Looking to enjoy the wonderful fall weather with the family? How about a guided hike in some of the most pristine wildland
areas around town? The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP)
maintains several of the open spaces you see around Austin, around
27,000 acres in total. These are not parks, they are preserves. Access
is limited, and no pets or bicycles or large groups are allowed. As
you may be aware, the BCP is not just one single tract of land but a
system of preserves that exists as a multi-agency conservation effort
with Travis County under the Endangered Species Act through the
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFW).
This hike and lecture series is a partnership among several local
agencies and organizations that manage land dedicated to the BCP.
A hike is offered the 2nd Saturday of every month. The City of
Austin is supporting the partnership and this program by handling
registration for events on its website. Lectures will be posted on the
calendar but do not require registration.
Your field biologist will point out birds, animals, plants, insects
and invertebrates. And you may see the habitats of native and nonnative plants and animals and you will learn about how they impact
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the environment. You might even get lucky and see a turkey vulture,
armadillo, grey fox or some roadrunners. The best part is you can
ask your guide all the questions you want. This is great for kids
and adults too.
Here is the Hike & Lecture Series calendar for the fall:
• Sat. 9/11 9a-11:30a Birding Habitat of Westcave Preserve
(Westcave Preserve - easy)
• Sat. 9/25 1:00p-3:30p Exploring Wild Basin (Wild Basin
Wilderness Preserve- easy)
• Sat. 9/25 9:00a-11:30a Exploring Wild Basin for Kids and Families
(Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve- easy)
• Sat. 10/9 10a-1:00p Rediscover Hamilton Pool (Hamilton Pool
Preserve – easy)
• Sat. 11/13 9a-11:45a A Bird’s Eye View of Stillhouse Hollow
(Stillhouse Hollow – easy)
To Register, visit http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/wildland/
bcphikelectureseries.htm.
For more information contact [email protected] Rich Keith,
(512) 632-0162. - Submitted by Rich Keith
Westcreek Neighborhood Association Newsletter - September 2010
Westcreek Neighborhood
SSudoku
udoku
The challenge is to fill every row across, every column down, and every
3x3 box with the digits 1 through 9. Each 1 through 9 digit must appear
only once in each row across, each column down, and each 3x3 box.
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Westcreek Neighborhood Association Newsletter - September 2010
Copyright © 2010 Peel, Inc.
Westcreek Neighborhood
BACKPACK BACKACHE
How to Lighten Your Child’s Load
This fall parents are sending their children
back to school with backpacks full of books,
supplies and sack lunches. But is your child
carrying too much? A backpack that is too
heavy can cause chronic neck, shoulder and
back pain, especially if a child walks to school
or tends to carry the pack on one shoulder
instead of on both.
“A child’s backpack shouldn’t weigh more
than 15 percent of the child’s body weight,”
says Sara Woods, M.D., a pediatrician at The
Austin Diagnostic Clinic South. “Choosing
the right backpack for a child and teaching
him or her how to wear it properly can help
prevent posture problems and unnecessary
aches.”
Choosing a Backpack
Although a child’s only backpack criteria
may be whether it has his or her favorite
cartoon character or if it’s a particular brand
or color, mom and dad need to consider other
features that can help prevent back injuries:
• Size and weight. Choose the smallest and
most lightweight backpack possible for
your child. The pack should not be any
wider or longer than the child’s back.
• Adjustable shoulder straps. Make sure the
backpack has wide, padded shoulder straps
that can be adjusted to fit your child’s
frame.
• Padding. Firm padding in the back of the
pack as well as on the shoulder straps helps
keep a child comfortable and can deter
slouching.
• Waist strap. Look for a backpack with a
waist strap, which can help distribute the
weight of the pack across the back and
hips.
• Compartments. Compartments that are
evenly spaced around the pack ensure one
side doesn’t get more overloaded than the
other.
Wearing it Well
No matter how ergonomic a backpack is, it
can only prevent injury if it’s used correctly.
Teaching a child how to wear a pack safely
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can help prevent muscle aches, soreness and
shoulder pain.
“Most importantly, a backpack should
never be worn over just one shoulder, which
causes immense strain on the back” says Dr.
Woods. “A backpack is meant to be worn
over both shoulders and rest snugly against
the child’s back. The pack should not hang
more than a few inches below the child’s
waist.”
If the backpack has a waist strap, the strap
should be pulled firmly across the child’s
bellybutton and not hang low on the hips,
Dr.Woods adds.
In addition, teach your child to pack only
what he or she really needs. Encourage your
child to leave books and binders at school
if they aren’t going to be immediately used.
Athletic equipment and other after-school
materials shouldn’t be carried around during
the school day.
“When packing a backpack, heavier items
should be placed on the bottom of a pack
and nearest to the back with lighter items on
top. Items should also be evenly distributed
on the left side and right side of the pack,”
says Dr. Woods.
How Much
Weight
Can a Child
Safely Carry?
Child’s Maximum
Weight (lbs.)Backpack
Weight (lbs.)*
60
5
60-75
10
100
15
125
18
150
20
*Weight limits set by the
American Occupational Therapy
Association, American Chiropractic
Association, American Physical
Therapy Association and the
American Academy of Orthopedic
Surgeons.
Preventing and Treating
Backpack Injuries
If your child begins complaining about
back or shoulder pain, don’t ignore
it. Evaluate his or her backpack to
ensure it provides enough support. If
not, replace the pack and see if the pain
resolves itself.
“The best way to prevent backpackrelated problems is to keep an eye on your
child,” says Dr. Woods. “Look to make sure
he or she isn’t straining to carry the pack or
leaning excessively forward or backward.”
If your child still suffers from back and
shoulder aches and a backpack change doesn’t
help, it’s time to visit your family doctor. In
addition to treating any injuries caused by
backpack misuse, he or she can recommend
back strengthening exercises that can help
prevent future problems.
Westcreek Neighborhood Association Newsletter - September 2010
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estcreek
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Now in South Austin!
Family Practice Doctors at
The Austin Diagnostic Clinic
We know that timely appointments and a convenient location are important to you and
your family. The Austin Diagnostic Clinic has expanded our family practice services to
include physicians at our south location at 4315 James Casey St.
Shelley Li, M.D.
Jennette Cross, M.D.*
4315 James Casey St.
512.460.3429  adclinic.com
* Begins practice November 2010
Now whether, you live north, south or in Round Rock, there is a family
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can schedule a same day appointment. And, if you need a doctor at
night or on the weekends, check out our EasyCare services at our north
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See our website, adclinic. com, for details regarding all Family Practice
physicians.
Be sure to visit us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and health news.
Let Our Family Care for Your Family
Westcreek Neighborhood Association Newsletter - September 2010
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