E-mail Edition Web site: www.balconeswoods.org
May 2003 E-mail: newsletter@balconeswoods.org
Balcones Woods Club, Inc.
11204 Alhambra Drive
Austin, TX 78759
Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, the Post Office got us last month on our printed version. Bulk mail is not tracked by them but their Consumer Affairs office guessed our batch was sent to Dallas first then routed back home. Sorry about the delay for those of you who receive the printed version.
This is probably a good reason to tell your neighbors to get the e-mail edition!
May 4 Weekend Playgroup (story below)
May 10 Deadline to get in the BWC Directory deadline (story below)
May 13 Balcones Woods Board of Directors meeting
May 14 Balcones Woods Operating Committee meeting
May 15 Women’s Club Dinner
May 18 Weekend Playgroup
May 25 Weekend Playgroup
The Blue Wave Swim Team is off and running, (or should I say swimming?). Practices are currently underway after school each day. Please remember that the pool is not open for recreational swimming during swim team time. This includes the baby pool. For information on the stroke clinics to be held May 10 and May 17, contact Coach David. Time trials will be held May 19 and our pep rally and ice cream social is May 21. The first meet is Saturday, May 24 against Travis Country! Go, Blue Wave!
Swim Team Dates
May 24 Meet vs. Travis Country (home)
May 31 Meet vs. Great Hills/Jester (away)
June 7 Meet vs. Shady Hollow (away)
June 14 Meet vs. Granada Hills/Western Oaks (home)
June 21 Meet vs. Westover (home)
June 28 Championship at UT
A Big THANK YOU !!!
On April 12, we had a very successful cleanup day at the BWC commons area and pool. Volunteers showed up to give their time, talents, and tools to get the commons area and pool ready for summer! The play ground equipment and picnic tables were power washed, paint applied to the building, clutter and debris cleared out, and unruly limbs trimmed back - just to name a few of the many things accomplished. The area looks great now! A special thanks is owed by all to those who participated. Some of the names we captured were: Ron Gilmer, Doug and Lee Bohne, Tom Terry, Ed Weiss, Brad Shaver, Jacque, Justin, Marley, and Adam Cullers, Selma Schoffers, Kelly, Tina and Cory Folts, Christopher Grunska, Dee Dee, Larry, and Cat Biggert, Lori and Vic White, Grant Hennig, Nancy L'Amie, Bo and Craig Shepard, Therese and Stephen Larson , Shane Oldham. We certainly appreciate Mr. Larson (Stephen’s dad) for replacing the fence boards between the apartments and basketball court.
Also, a special thanks to Roger & Jane Buergner for their donation and installation of mats for the restrooms which was completed before the 12th and Nikki Zern for cleaning the restrooms on Friday the 11th.
And thanks to Sandra Marshall and Shannon Juarez and everyone who made the Easter Egg Hunt such a success!!!
Swimming Pool Hours
The pool will be opening for the season on May 3. We will be open every Saturday and Sunday (plus Memorial Day) noon to 10:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. will always be designated for adult lap swim only).
May 27th and 28th we will be open 12-4 and then beginning Friday May, 30th we will be open daily. The pool will be closed for a private party on May 29th.
We plan on opening earlier once swim team is over. It seemed to work out very well last summer! Stay tuned for that date.
Ryan Perez
Pool Manager
Welcome to the pool management and lifeguards
All their names can be found at www.balconeswoods.org with the addition of Jordan Deathe and McKenna Hatter, who missed picture day. Ryan Perez is our pool manager, Grant McClendon is the assistant manager, and Sam Bradford is our head lifeguard.
Park/Pool Parties
Park and Pool parties must be booked through the pool manager. Balcones Woods policy is one party at a time, for two hours. More time will be allowed if the pool/park is not booked. The party gets access to the pool and the park even though they might not use the pool. A deposit is required to make sure the area is picked up after the party. A signed form and deposit are required at time of booking.
For more information or to download the form, please visit the link below:
(click on >Online Forms>Common Area Reservation)
Pool Help Needed
At the workday on Saturday, the swim team requested more ready-benches.
Do we have a volunteer out there who would like to help them out? Please contact
Nikki Deathe by email at swimteam@balconeswoods.org .
Also, the Operating Committee would like a sign at the entrance to the driveway to the pool that is a covered bulletin board/wipe board like Davis Elementary School has. Please let us know if we have anyone who would like to undertake this project. We believe Davis’s board was constructed by a parent.
Cindy Gilmer poolpersonnel@balconeswoods.org
Working Parents
Looking to join a weekend playgroup for the 2003-2004 Davis Kindergarten Class? We already have May 4, 18, and 25 at 1:00 pm organized at our neighborhood playground. More information is posted at www.balconeswoods.org.
If you are interested, please contact Gail at 346-3319 or by e-mail at niczkim@msn.com
We’re open to suggestions for future dates. Thanks!
Deadline May 10
How to Get in the Directory
We are updating the Balcones Woods neighborhood directory. If you are new to the neighborhood or have information that has changed, please call Sandra Walker at 345-8416 or fill out the directory update form on our web site, www.balconeswoods.org by May 10.
National Night Out
August 5 is the 20th Annual National Night Out. This great event brings together neighbors and law enforcement in nationwide effort to prevent crime.
In our next issue, we’ll start asking neighbors to host parties. In the meantime, there’s more information at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/nno.htm
If you need more information immediately, please contact
Annette at vicepresident@balconeswoods.org or 345-9450.
Balcones Woods Babysitting Co-Op
Need a babysitter? We have plenty! Interested in a night out? Need an hour to relax? Join the Balcones Woods Babysitting Co-Op!
Our group is composed of parents in our neighborhood who baby sit for each other. For $5, members receive coupons for 25 hours of babysitting, a copy of our bylaws, and a list of parents willing to babysit. (Every time somebody sits for you, you give them a coupon. If you babysit for somebody, they give you a coupon.)
If you are interested, come to our next meeting. We meet on the last Monday of every month (except holidays) from 7:00 - 8:00 pm.
If you have questions, feel free to contact Liz Carrera via e-mail or call 231-8041.
Meetings
Your input and participation are always welcomed and appreciated.
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Operating Committee
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Meetings will be at 7:00 p.m. at 4001 Cordova. Meetings are scheduled for the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Join the Yahoo Groups email list to get email updates. |
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May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8, November 12, December 10
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Board of Directors |
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Meetings will begin at 7:30p.m., Conference Room A on the 3rd floor of Seton Northwest Hospital. Meetings are scheduled for the 2nd Tuesday of appropriate months |
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May 13, July 8, September 9, October 14, November 11, December 9
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NOTE: Meeting dates may be changed as necessitated by circumstance. Summer meeting location may be changed to the pool/common area. Meeting announcements and locations will be posted on the message board on Balcones Woods Dr. and in the newsletter whenever possible. Join the Yahoo Groups email list to get email updates. |
Balcones Woods Meal Circle
We bring food to neighbors in need of a helping hand. Maybe a neighbor has fallen ill or someone on your street has just had a baby. The Meal Circle is open to everyone!!! That includes EVERYONE who would like to cook--and we can always use new cooks. All we need is your e-mail address and you’ll get an e-mail telling you when and who needs help. If you’re interested in learning more, being on the Meal Circle e-mail list, or know of a family that could use this, visit the web site or write us at mealcircle@balconeswoods.org Thanks!
Visit the Balcones Woods web site at www.balconeswoods.org. It’s very user-friendly and full of news and updates. Please e-mail us with your suggestions, news, and comments at webmaster@balconeswoods.org.
This month, we’re starting a new feature called Kids Classified Ads. If you are under 18 and would like to post a free ad for work or a service, please e-mail us at newsletter@balconeswoods.org or mail your ad to: P. O. Box 11560, Austin, TX 78711-1560. Be sure to include an ok or permission note from your parent and a telephone number or e-mail address.
Because space is limited, we reserve the right to edit ads and will run them on a first come, first served basis. Thanks!
Here’s the first one:
Feed & walk pets
Take in mail & newspapers
Water plants
Very reliable
Call Shelby at 345-0347
Honey bees: Friend or Foe?
Honeybee colonies can often be found in wall voids, chimneys or attics. To keep bees from entering a home, seal any holes found in walls, cracks in window framing, knotholes, weep holes, or cracks between wood and brick junctures. If bees are already within a wall void, DO NOT block their entrance, this will only make them search for another way to exit and might lead the bees into the structure.
If honeybees have moved into a building, they should be removed as soon as possible. When a colony has been present over three weeks, the wall will have to be opened to remove the comb and honey. If the comb is not removed, there can be an invasion of secondary insect pests or smell of decaying bees. It is also possible for the comb to melt since the bees are no longer tending it, allowing the honey to seep into the sheetrock, which can stain the wall.
Dust or spray formulations can be used within a wall or cavity to control bees, but dusts tend to disperse better. Apply the insecticide at night through the entrance hole, or drill a hole above the nest for application (the hole should be small so bees cannot crawl through). More than one treatment may be required to eliminate all the bees. If bees are in an exposed location, they may be controlled with soapy water. Mix 1 cup of liquid soap in 1 gallon of water and apply to bees with a hand pump sprayer.
For more information, contact Wizzie Brown at 512.854.9606.
Wizzie Brown
Extension Agent-IPM (fire ant project)
Travis County
1600-B Smith Road
Austin, TX 78721
512.854.9600