THe Village gazeTTeJanuary 2010 Volume iV, issue i
news for THe residenTs of THe Villages aT wesTern oaks and legend oaks iTM
BEST-MANNERED Teacher Named
TheNationalLeagueofJuniorCotillions,AustinChapter,hasannouncedits"Best-ManneredTeachers"forthe2009-2010schoolyear.Recipientsoftheawardare:Ms.RachelHorvitz (Hill Country Middle School) and Ms. RebeccaHernandez(GorzyckiMiddleSchool).Congratulations! MarisolFoster,Co-DirectorofthelocalJuniorCotillion,says,"Thestudentsinourprogramwereexcitedaboutoutbeingpartof the selectionprocess tohonor those teacherswhoexemplifytheetiquetteandgoodmannerstaughtinourprogram." This annual award is a result of nominations by JuniorCotillionsstudentswhohavetakenthetimetowriteabouta well-mannered teacher in their school. The criteria forselectionincludedapositiveattitude,courtesyandrespectforstudents,andbeinganoverallgoodrolemodel.AccordingtoCourtneyDuncan,Co-Director,"Therecognizedteachersarethosewhotreatthestudentswithrespectandhaveinstilledaloveoflearningwhichwillcontinuetohaveapositiveeffectonthestudent'sperformancethroughouttheirschoolyears." TheNationalLeagueofJuniorCotillionsisanetiquette,lifeskills,collegeprepandsocialdancetrainingprogramthatinvolves thousandsof youngpeoplenationwide. Studentslearnthecustomsandcourtesies thatwill servethemforalifetime. Topics covered include dining and internationaletiquette, proper correspondence and interviewing skills,in addition to the many other social skills that make lifemorepleasantforthemandforthosearoundthem. Mostimportantly, the students learn to feelconfident invarioussocialsituations. For more information regarding the National League ofJuniorCotillions,AustinChapter,call512.369.8302.
How To AvoiD iNjuRiES
Playing Tennis in Cold WeatherSubmitted by Fernando Velasco
Tennisisasportthatcanbeplayedunderthemostchallengingconditions, except for rain. Mild wind and reasonable coldtemperaturearenotfactorsfornotplaying.Someleaguematcheswillnotbeplayedifthetemperatureisbelow40degreeswithawindchillfactorof35degrees.Otherwise,ifnotraining,playerswillbedeterminedtoget“theirfix”ofplayingtennis.
Unfortunately, if players are not well prepared to play under“challengingcold”conditions,injuriesmayoccur.Herearesometipsonhowtoavoidgettinghurt:
othER NUMBERSOakHillPostalStation............................1-800-275-8777CityofAustinDeadAnimalCollection...........................512-494-9000Abandoned/DisabledVehicles..................512-974-8119StopSignMissing/Damaged....................512-974-2000StreetLightOutage(reportpole#)............512-505-7617
1.Do you know a reliable and trustworthy serviceprofessional(residential,commercial,healthandbeauty,trades, or event planning) who places their customer’sneedsfirst?
2.Would you refer them to your friends and or familymemberswithouthesitation?
referral organization that admits only one high qualityindividualorcompanyperprofessionalcategorytoshareideas,contactsandmostimportantlyreferrals.Curious?Doyouwanttolearnhowtobuildyourbusiness
Recentlythefederalgovernmentboostedfinancialaidforhighereducation, including various tax breaks. An expanded version ofthe Hope Scholarship tax credit appeared called the AmericanOpportunitytaxcredit.Thenewcreditcansavetaxpayersasmuchas$2,500intax,or$5,000fortwocollegians,andarefundof$1,000,ifyousatisfycertainrules.
downthevalueofmanyfolks’529accounts.Peoplewithyoungerchildrencankeepcontributingandlooktoarebound.Parentsofcollege and pre-college students, though, may have few optionsotherthanusing529planwithdrawalstopayforhighereducation.Havingsaidthat,itmaybebettertopayforcollegefromcashfloworfromcashreserves.Thisdelaysliquidationof529assetsaslongaspossible,allowingforarecovery.Remembertoreimburseyourselffromyour529planbeforetheendofthecalendaryearinwhichtheexpenseswereincurred.
Ifthemarketdoesnotcomebackintimeforyourneeds,youstillhaveoptions.Ifyouhaveotherfundsthatcancovercollegebillswithoutdisruptingyourfinancialplan,keepthemoneyinthe529aslongasfeasible,inhopesoffuturetax-freegrowth.Ofcourse,ifachildisfinishingschoolandthereisnoyoungersiblingwhocouldusethefundsinthefuture,thenyoushouldspenddownyour529funds.Taxtip:parentsofcollege-boundchildrenshouldrealizenetlossesintheirtaxableaccountstolockintaxbenefits.Theproceedscanbe reinvested in529 accounts so that any future gains fromtoday’slowlevelscanbewithdrawn,tax-free,topayforcollegelateron;perhapsingraduateschool.Checkwithyourfinancialcoachandtaxadvisorforfulldetails.-Rich keith
512-301-BITE (2483) www.CIRCLECDENTAL .com9600 Escarpment Blvd. Ste 770 | Austin | Texas 78749 Conveniently located near Slaughter & MoPac
You can have STRAIGHT TEETHby your NEXT CLEANING
At Circle C Dental, we now offer 6 month smiles cosmetic braces in addition to the many other services we offer including same visit tooth colored crowns, CariFree cavity risk assessment and more! By your next cleaning, you can have the beautiful and straight teeth that you have always wanted! Please give us a call at 512-301-2483 (BITE) for a free consultation regarding 6 month braces or any other dental question.
Q: How can teeth be straightened in only six months?
A: As an adult, your back teeth are in a stable and comfortable position: you bite and chew without problems right? So, why spend 2-3 years moving the back teeth around, when we can just focus on your front teeth and provide you with a great smile in 6 months!
Q: Six months sounds good, but will I still have a mouth full of metal for the whole time?
A: No! This is nothing like the metal-mouth braces that you imagine! Using clear brackets and a tooth colored wire, the braces are almost invisible.
For more information, please visit our exclusive website: www.Austin6MonthSmiles.com
“Don’tJudgeABookByItsCover,NoMatter“Witch”OneYouChoose” I came across Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia andMargaretStohlontheAmazonEditor’sPicksofthetop100booksof2009…withwhatappearedtobeanintriguingplotandagorgeousbookcover,IthoughtIcouldn’tgowrong.
I was wrong.This young adult book is about a small townanda teenageboy,Ethan,who is stuck in it.The town isprettystereotypical—nothing changes, people are narrow minded andeveryoneknowseveryoneelse’sbusiness.
Itseemsthateversincehismom’sdeath,Ethan’sdreamsarefilledwithastrangegirlwhomheistryingtosavebutisunsuccessful.In comes Lena, the girl whom Ethan has been dreaming aboutandwhoisasupernaturalbeing,alongwithherhermituncleandbizarrefamily.
Even with curses, sci-fi details and an introduction to thevocabularyofthesupernatural(Caster,Natural,Witches,Spells…),thebookisfulloffluffandisacompletedisappointment.Thisbookdoesn’tevencomparetotheTwilightseries.
Learn from her life long research that has benefited nearly 10,000 singers of all genres, including:
Country Recording Artist, Clint BlackAmerican Idol’s, Kimberly CaldwellAmericana’s Country Recording Artist, Pam Tillis Contemporary Christian Band, Caedmon’s Call
••••
www.beinhornvocals.com1.512.644.0448 or 1.800.245.SING (7464)
Debbie Beinhorn of Beinhorn Vocals
World Renowned Vocal Coach & Vocal Producer
Workshops and Private Lessons Available
NATuRE wATcH - Dabblers and Divers
WintertimeistheperfecttimetolookforducksinCentralTexas.Severalspeciesthatbreedfarnorthofourstate’sborderreturntoTexasinthecoldermonthstofeedinourunfrozenfreshwater lakesandrivers.FromtheOldEnglish‘duce’,thewordduckisaderivativeoftheverbmeaningtoduckordive,orbenddownlowasiftogetundersomething.Itbestdescribesthewaymanyducksfeed,byupendingordivingunderthewaterinsearchofawidevarietyoffoodsources,suchassmallaquaticplants,grasses,fish,insects,amphibians,wormsandmollusks.Mostducksfallintoeitherthedabblerordivercategory.Dabblersfeedonthesurfaceofthewater,andsometimesonland,whilediversdisappear completelybeaneath the surface and foragedeepunderwater.Ingeneral,diversareheavierthandabblers,whichgivesthemtheabilitytosubmergemoreeasily,buttheyoftenpaythepricebyhavingmoredifficultywhentakingofftofly.
ThemostdistinctivedabblingduckistheNorthernShoveler(Anasclypeada).Truetoitsname,itpossessesatwoandahalfinchlongbill,which is spoon-shaped andhas a comb-like structure calledapectenattheedgeofitsbeak.Thepectenisusedtofilterfoodfromthewaterandtoaidinpreeningitsfeathers.Amedium-sizedduck,theadultmale(ordrake)hasaniridescentgreenhead,rustysides,andawhitechest. Whenflushed fromhernest, theadultfemale(orhen)willoftendefecateontheeggs,presumablytodeterpredatorsfromeatingthem.Thisspeciesofduckismonogamous,andstaystogetherlongerthananyotherknownpairsofdabblingduckspecies.
Usually found on smaller, calmer bodies of water like ponds,Ring-neckedducks(Aythyacollaris)aremorereadilyidentifiedbytheboldwhiteringaroundtheirbillthatthesubtlepurplishbandaroundtheirnecksforwhichtheyarenamed.Amedium-sizeddivingduck,theyalsohaveasmallbumporpeakonthebackoftheirblackheads,withthemalehavingablackchest,back,andrearend,withgreysidesandawhitestripeuptheshoulder.
3.89%*PlUS NO ClOSING COSTS!** NEW, USED OR REFINANCE
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT1
6 MONTHS
12 MONTHS
24 MONTHS
1.51%****
1.81%****
2.17%****
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT2
1MINIMUM DEPOSIT OF $1000 IS REqUIRED 2MINIMUM DEPOSIT OF $95000 IS REqUIRED
6 MONTHS
12 MONTHS
24 MONTHS
1.61%****
1.91%****
2.27%****
COMM. REAL ESTATE LOANS5 YEAR FIXED
10 YEAR FIXED
15 YEAR FIXED
5.65%***
5.85%***
6.10%***
MONEY MARKET$25,000
TO $74,999
$75,000 TO $124,999
$125,000AND ABOVE
1.26%****
1.36%****
1.51%****20 YEAR AMORTIzATION/ NO PRE-PMT. PENAlTY MINIMUM DAIlY BAlANCE OF $2000 REqUIRED
*ANNUAl PERCENTAGE RATE. All RATES ARE EXPRESSED “AS lOW AS”. ACTUAl RATE MAY VARY DEPENDING ON CREDIT qUAlIFICATIONS. **AUSTIN TElCO WIll PAY All STANDARD ClOSING COSTS ON HOME EqUITY lOANS BElOW $100k. ADDITIONAl NON-STANDARD FEESWIll BE THE RESPONSIBIlITY OF THE MEMBER. ***RATE APPlIES TO 1ST lIEN COMMERCIAl REAl ESTATE lOANS WITH A lOAN TO VAlUE OFCONSTRUCTION/DEVElOPMENT lOAN RATES/TERMS MAY BE DIFFERENT. NO PRE-PAYMENT PENAlTY. ****ANNUAl PERCENTAGE YIElD. PENAlTIES FOR EARlY WITHDRAWAl MAY APPlY. All APRS, APYS AND TERMS ARE SUBjECT TOCHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. PlEASE CAll FOR DETAIlS. THIS CREDIT UNION IS FEDERAllY INSURED TO AT lEAST$250,000 PER MEMBER BY THE NATIONAl CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION.
15 AUSTIN METRO LOCATIONS
fREE ChECkINg 250+ fREE ATMS
Hours:M-F 9-9Sat 9-6
Sun 11-5
Great ClipsEscarpment Village9600 Escarpment Blvdat Slaughter Lane(Next to Starbucks)512-288-2444
$699 haircutHurry! Offer expires 2/15/10
Valid only at Great Clips at Escarpment Village
Not valid with any other offers. Limit onecoupon per customer. At participating salons.
TiME: 11:00 AM Social - 12 Noon luncheonDATE: january 20, 2010
(Reservations required by Thursday, january 14th)locATioN: Green Pastures Restaurant811 w. live oak Street, Austin, 78704luNcHEoN coST: $20 per personfoR MoRE iNfoRMATioN viSiT
www.austinnewcomers.com or call 512-314-5100jANuARy PRoGRAM: wild women of the old west
MarthaMcLainwill tellus the storiesofthesewomen.Marti’sfamily hasranched in Sutton Country,Texas for over 100 years.SheisagraduateoftheUniversityofTexas,didhergraduateworkinAmerican Studies at the University ofTexas Permian Basin,andstudiedSpanishandarcheologyinMexicoCityandGuadalajara.ShehasheldvariousofficesintheDaughtersoftheRepublicofTexasandwasnamedaHonoraryRegentforLifeintheDaughtersoftheAmericanRevolution.SheistheauthorofLoveLetteroftheOldWestandApril1,1902,acolumnist,playdirector(wonBestDirectionofaDramaaward),andspeaker.
Oak Hill United Methodist Church is located on Hwy. 290, just west of the Hwy. 290/Hwy. 71 split (“the Y”) in Oak Hill. We are directly across from the
ACC Pinnacle Building.
Join us SUNDAYS for Vibrant Worship with Inspiring Music
and aPositive Message!
Please call the church office at 288-3836 or visit our website at www.oakhillunitedmethodistchurch.org
for additional information.
8:45 a.m. Blended Worship Service & Sunday School
10:00 a.m. Pathways Contemporary Praise Worship Service & Sunday School
11:15 a.m. Traditional Worship Service & Sunday School
(Sunday School includes classes for Children and Adults.)
Oak Hill United Methodist Church7815 Highway 290 West, Austin, Texas 78736
“Open heartsOpen minds Open doors”
Meet LisaSubmitted by Tracy Eilers, Executive Director, Adoption Coalition of Texas
Lisaisa13-year-oldgirlygirl.Shelovestobepamperedandisapeopleperson. She is veryoutgoing, energetic, loving, andkind. She countssinginganddancingamongherfavoritethingsandlovestokeepbusy.Lisalookstolearnfromallherexperiencesandmoveforwardwithherlife.Sheisajoytobearound,isfunny,sweet,andgratefulforallthatshe’sbeengiven.
She’shopingtherewillbemorethingstobethankfulfor, likebeingadopted into a loving family.More than anything, she’s ready to stophopingforafamilyandtostartlovingone.Formoreinformationaboutadoption,pleasecallAdoptionCoalitionofTexasat512-301-2825.FormoreinformationaboutLisa,[email protected]
The Adoption Coalition of Texas is a nonprofit organization (operating under the Austin Community Foundation), created in 2003 to focus on finding forever families for children languishing in the foster care system. Adoption Coalition of Texas partner agencies include Arrow Child and Family Ministries, Child Protective Services, Lutheran Social Services of the South, Marywood Children and Family Services, and Pathways Youth and Family Services.
Yard Of The Month Doyouknowaneighborwhotakesexcellentcareoftheirpropertyoraneighborwhohasaddedsomethingnewtotheiryard? Nominate them by emailing theaddress to [email protected]. Please include aphotoifpossible.
Congrats Neighbor!
The Village Gazette
Stork Report
Congratulations!Let us help celebrate...email info on the arrivalof your little one [email protected].
“Becausestudieshaveyettoidentifythecauseofnighttimebedwetting, no one treatment is guaranteed to work for everyone.Nevertheless, the course of action with which the child is mostcomfortabletendstoproducethebestoutcome,”saidDr.EdmondT.Gonzales,Jr.,professorofurologyatBCM.“Withparents’support,givingchildrenanactiveroleintreatmentbuildsconfidence.”
More commonly, doctors suggest parents limit the amount ofliquidschildrendrinkintheeveningandscheduleabathroombreakbeforebed.Gonzalessaidfamilydoctorscanhelpruleoutanymajorhealthproblemsthatcouldbecontributingtobedwettingbeforediscussingthemanyoptions.
phonesinapublicplace,you’renotalone.Accordingtoanexpertat Baylor College of Medicine, public cell phone use may showdisrespectandimpedesocialinteraction.
Romerosuggests talkingquitely ifyoumustuse thephone,orexcusingyourself to takea call andmaking itbrief.She suggestsnot acceptingnon-urgent calls. It’s important tobemindful andrespectfulofothersaroundyou, saidRomero.If someonearoundyouisdisturbingyouwiththeircellphoneconversation,Romerosuggestsgentlyapproachingthemandaskingthemtoreducetheirvolume. It’s important to convey that you arenot angry. If theyrefuse,removeyourselffromthesituation.
Business ClassifiedswEBSTER HANDyMAN SERvicE.SmalltoMediumsizejobsaroundthehomeoroffice.Iwillperformgeneralrepair projects that you don’t have time to do. Minorplumbing, Minor Electrical, Ceiling Fan installation,Garage Door Openers, Small Sheetrock repair, PressureWashing, Arbor/Gazebo/Trellis Kits, Storage Bldg. Kits,CedarShutters.Interior&ExteriorminorCarpentry,Misc.Oddjobs.YourCircleCNeighbor.CallRalphafter5pm@845-9104or291-6566.
ClAssified AdsPersonalclassifieds(onetimesellitems,suchasausedbike...)runatnochargetoVillageatWesternOakandLegendOakresidents, limit 30 words, please [email protected] classifieds (offering a serviceorproduct line forprofit)are$50,limit40words,pleasecontactPeel,Inc.SalesOffice@[email protected].
have You Googled lately?Submitted by Laurie Scott
Google is best known ofcourse for its search engine(with 65% of the marketno one is even close), andperhapsyou’realsoauserofgmail, Google’s free emailservice,butdidyouknowthatGooglealsoofferseverything
fromphotoeditiingtotelephoneservicesforfree?The list is too long to cover everything here, but here are a few highlights you might be interested in:
PICASA-Thisisaveryeasytousephotoeditingprogramthatcandoeverythingfromcorrectingcolor,contrastandsaturationwithasingleclicktoautomaticallyfindingthe“red”inthered-eyeinyourphotos.GMAIL -With gigabytes of free storage that grows everyday,gmail isagreatemailalternative. Withanexcellent junkmailfilterandsuperfastsearchesofallyourmessages,itisworthtakingalookat.GOOGLEDOCS -Looking for a free alternative to a locallyinstalledofficeproductivitysuite,GoogleDocsofferswhatmostpeopleneedthroughyourwebbrowser,includingawordprocessor,spreadsheetandpresentationmanager.GOOG-411-Hatepayingadollarormorejusttodial411fromyourcellphone?Nexttimedial1-800-GOOG-411(800-466-4411)andforgetthosehighcell-phonefees.CALENDAR-GoogleCalendarmakes it easy to sync all yourcalendarstogetherandshareeventswithyourfriends.Itcanworkaloneorwithmostmailclientsonyourcomputerandcellphones.GOOGLEVOICE-Howaboutonephonenumberfortherestofyourlife?WithGoogleVoiceyoucangetafreephonenumberthatwhencalled,willringoneorseveralphonesofyourchoiceatthesametime,takemessagesandthenforwardatranscriptviaSMStoyourcellphone.Youcanlistentoyourmessagesontheweb,andevenplacecallsfromyourbrowser.Youcanalsohavecustomizedvoicemailgreetingsdependingonwhoiscallingyou.Blogging-Havesomethingtosayandwantyourownplacetosayit,thenyouwantBlogger.Ifit’sinterestingtoyou,thenpublishyourselffornothingmorethanthetimeittakesyoutowrite.GOOGLEHEALTH-Storeyourfamily’smedicalrecordssecurelyonline,makingiteasytosharewithyourdoctororotherphysicianwhennecessaryGOOGLEEARTH-Takealookattheneighborhoodwhereyougrewup,ormaybethehomewherefriendsoverseaslive.WithGoogleEarthyoucantourtheworldfromyourcomputer.
Effective Advertising, Done Right.Call today to Reserve your space.
Advertise YOUR businessto YOUR neighbors forless than 4¢ per home.
Vw
DISCLAIMER:Articlesandads in thisnewsletterexpress theopinionsof theirauthorsanddonotnecessarilyreflecttheopinionsofPeel,Inc.oritsemployees.Peel,Inc.isnotresponsiblefortheaccuracyofanyfactsstatedinarticlessubmittedbyothers.Thepublisheralsoassumesnoresponsibilityfortheadvertisingcontentwiththispublication.Allwarrantiesandrepresentationsmadeintheadvertisingcontentaresolelythatoftheadvertiserandanysuchclaimsregardingitscontentshouldbetakenupwiththeadvertiser.*Thepublisherassumesnoliabilitywithregardtoitsadvertisersformisprintsorfailure toplaceadvertising in thispublicationexcept for theactual costof suchadvertising.*Althougheveryeffortistakentoavoidmistakesand/ormisprints,thepublisherassumesnoresponsibilityforanyerrorsofinformationortypographicalmistakes,except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case ofmisinformation,aprintedretraction/correction.* Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental orconsequentialdamages, inconvenience, lossofbusinessor services,or anyotherliabilities fromfailuretopublish,orfromfailuretopublishinatimelymanner,exceptaslimitedtoliabilitiesstatedabove.
SudokuThe challenge is to fill every row across, every column down, and every3x3 box with the digits 1 through 9. Each 1 through 9 digit must appearonly once in each row across, each column down, and each 3x3 box.
Color the drawing below and mail the finished artwork to us atPeel, Inc. - Kids Club
311 Ranch Road 620 S, Suite 200Lakeway, TX 78734
Attention KIDS: Send Us Your Masterpiece!
Be sure to include the following so we can let you know!Name: ________________________________________ Email Address: __________________________________ Age:_______
(first name, last initial [This information will only be used to notify you or your parents if your artwork was selected.]
We will select the top few and post their artwork online at www.PEELinc.com. DUE: January 31st
