1 Kathy Rogers Keller Williams Realty Serving My Neighbors in River Crossing! Regular BOD Meeting Highlights April 17, 2014 An outside group’s efforts to possibly incorporate the 78070 zip code area were brought to the board’s attention by a fellow homeowner. The board was unaware of the movement, but agreed to look into the situation. See related article on page 22 The ACC Guidelines were updated and are set to be filed with Comal County. The group will be meeting on the sec- ond and fourth Wednesdays of each month. This change necessitated the correct information to be on record with the county as prescribed in legislation passed in 2011 regarding operations of homeowner associations. (continued on page 17 ) Congratulations to the Class of 2014 Scholarships were presented and rec- ognition of honors distinctions were bestowed upon the graduating Class of 2014 at the Senior Awards Night at Smithson Valley High School on Mon- day, May 5 th . Pictures from the evening, featuring some of our very own River Crossing recipients, are on page 7 . The future plans of the students can be found on page 5 . Competing with New Construction, page 3 Garden Club’s Visit to the Japanese Tea Gardens, page 8 FTTH and Speeds: What Consumers Should Know, pages 14-16 Television: The New Direction, pages 18-19 Around RC and Real Estate Stats, pages 20-21 Lawns, Wildlife and the Pavilion, pages 26-27 BSB Fire & EMS and CEWR Updates, pages 28-29 _______ _______ _____ ____________ ____________ ___________ ____________ MAY 2014 VOLUME 3, ISSUE II
Transcript
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Kathy Rogers Keller Williams Realty
Serving My Neighbors inRiver Crossing!
Regular BOD Meeting HighlightsApril 17, 2014
An outside group’s efforts to possiblyincorporate the 78070 zip code areawere brought to the board’s attentionby a fellow homeowner. The board wasunaware of the movement, but agreedto look into the situation. See relatedarticle on page 22 The ACC Guidelines were updated andare set to be filed with Comal County.The group will be meeting on the sec-ond and fourth Wednesdays of eachmonth. This change necessitated thecorrect information to be on record withthe county as prescribed in legislationpassed in 2011 regarding operations ofhomeowner associations.
(continued on page 17)
Congratulations to theClass of 2014
Scholarships were presented and rec-ognition of honors distinctions werebestowed upon the graduating Class of2014 at the Senior Awards Night atSmithson Valley High School on Mon-day, May 5th. Pictures from the evening,featuring some of our very own RiverCrossing recipients, are on page 7. Thefuture plans of the students can befound on page 5.
Competing with New Construction, page 3Garden Club’s Visit to the Japanese Tea Gardens, page 8FTTH and Speeds: What Consumers Should Know, pages 14-16Television: The New Direction, pages 18-19
Around RC and Real Estate Stats, pages 20-21Lawns, Wildlife and the Pavilion, pages 26-27BSB Fire & EMS and CEWR Updates, pages 28-29
Crossing the “Stream” to keep our readers more informed!Click the images for complete stories…
From our visit to the Arc de Texas,read up on the history of the famousFrench figures.
Competing with New Home ConstructionThe infrastructure development for Johnson Ranch is well under way, and
before we know it, Singing Hills will introduce its new residential section of homesas well. While most homes in Johnson Ranch are not comparable to the customhome quality in River Crossing, a gated section of homes starting at the 400’s willbe available there. This area with its luxury end of homes built by some of the samehomebuilders here in River Crossing could be attractive to new home buyers.Singing Hills also has plans for homes starting at the 400’s, but the builders of thosehomes have not been announced. If you find yourself needing to put your home onthe market, how do you compete against the alluring charm and beauty of a brandnew home? Here are some tips:1. Staging--When you walk through the model homes, how do you feel? Feels warm,inviting and perfectly decorated, correct? The same should go for your home.De-clutter and have a professional stager to help you present your home to achievethe same feeling.2. Mature Neighborhood--Established neighborhoods are a huge draw for prospec-tive buyers, and one of the major benefits tobuying resale. In new developments withnew homes, one of the least desirable fea-tures is an incomplete community. Buyingin an established and mature neighborhoodallows buyers to easily see how the neigh-borhood has maintained its value over theyears; something that has not been deter-mined in a new subdivision. Be sure topoint this out in the literature you have foryour home. (continued on page 13)
Being Environmentally Responsible
Canyon Lake Water Service Company (CLWSC)and our River Crossing Club held an informa-tional meeting about their submission to re-ceive a state permit to expand a smallwater-recycling plant in theFairways at River Crossingdevelopment.
COURTNEY LOGSDONCourtney is excited to be attending theUniversity of Texas at Austin in the falland her course of study will be archi-tectural engineering. Her parents areJeffrey and Kirstin Logsdon.
THOMAS MENDELThomas will be attending the CulinaryInstitute of America (CIA), Hyde Park,NY to major in Culinary Arts. Johnand Laura Mendel are his parents.
KYLER PATTONKyler’s plans are to attend Texas A&Mand Blinn where he will major in Busi-ness Finance. He has been activelyinvolved in FFA at Smithson ValleyHigh School, winning many topawards. He loves to hunt and wake-board and his parents are Randy andTonya Patton.
JONATHON RAUSERJonathan is still finalizing his plans,but he is currently taking EMT certifi-cation courses and is seriously con-sidering a career in the Navy.Jonathon was also recently awarded ascholarship from our BSB EMS. Jona-thon’s parents are Gary and CindyRauser.
STEPHEN RIVERAStephen has decided to attend TexasA&M University to begin his studies inthe field of engineering. Stephen hasalso achieved the prestigious honor ofbeing a Recognized National HispanicScholar and a Magna Cum Laudegraduate. His parents are Mario andDeborah Rivera.
DE’WAYNE RUBIN, JR.De’Wayne’s future aspirations are tomajor in Chemical and BiochemicalEngineering at Texas A&M–Kingsville.Dwayne and Ginger Rubin are his par-ents.
MADISEN WEAVERMadisen has selected Texas State Uni-versity as her college of choice whereshe has been accepted into the IngramSchool of Engineering. MatthewWeaver and Laurie Eggleston are herparents.
MEGAN WOODSThe University of Tennessee is Me-gan’s school of choice where sheplans to major in business. Stephenand Theresa Woods are her parents.
This was the first year that TheNews Stream has awarded a schol-
arship to outstanding students of Smith-son Valley High School. The quality andachievements of the applicants were tru-ly impressive and making a decision wasa difficult task. In the end, Megan Woodsand Stephen Rivera of River Crossing,and Savannah Weeks of MountainSprings Ranch were recognized for theiroutstanding high school and communitysuccesses. We wish them the very bestin realizing their goals. The News Stream Scholarship Recipients:
Some River Crossing scholarship recipientswere Courtney Logsdon, Kyler Patton, StephenRivera, De’Wayne Rubin, Brian Wersterfer andMegan Woods. Congratulations to them andany other RC recipients we may have over-looked.
Also, thanks to Dr. Matthew Nicola and Dr.Stephen Vreeke of Smithson Valley FamilyMedicine for presenting a scholarship. Asmany of you know, Dr. Nicola is a long-timeresident of River Crossing. Their support ofour younger generation is greatly appreciated!
We received this idea recently about an exchange with suggestions, recommenda-tions, help, connections and other topics regarding our kiddos in college or headedoff to college. To most easily employ this forum and allow neighbors to post directly,a category, or group, has been created on Nextdoor. As always, any member candraft a message to share with River Crossing residents, and you don’t even need tohave a son or daughter in college; it can be past experiences, too. Check it out here:https://rivercrossingtx.nextdoor.com/login, and read the posting about College forAll Texans to see how your college graduate may qualify for the $1,000 Tuition Rebate!
A Visit to the Japanese Tea GardensThe Japanese Tea Gardens offers its visitors
breathtaking experiences for indulgence of their sens-es of sight, smell and taste, along with grand culturalhistory and educational opportunities, and GardenClub members discovered all these elements duringour April visit. On the surface, the gardens display lushyear-round foliage and floral landscaping with shadedwalkways, stone bridges, a 60-foot waterfall, and Koiponds. A pavilion featuring gorgeous stone columnsand shady thatched roofing provides a stunning viewof the Tea Garden's lily ponds and waterfall. One’ssense of taste can be satisfied with the food and teaofferings at the Jingu House Café. Herbal and blackteas are prepared fresh daily, and on the day of ourvisit, we sampled two preparations; an apricot andpeach blend and a strawberry hibiscus combination.As our guide, Ginger Burkholder, led us through thewinding trails and rock steps, she pointed out thevarious native and non-native plants. She also educat-ed members about long ago values of some of theplants and how they were utilized by early settlers.Interestingly, some of those methods are now being
employed in today’s world as a better alternative to man-made items. For instance,debate over the safety of red dyein some food products has longbeen a concern of consumers.Those health fears over artificialfood additives, however, have re-newed the popularity of cochi-neal dyes. How are those dyesderived? A native insect, the co-chineal, is a minute bug fromwhich the crimson-colored natu-ral dye carmine is obtained. Thisinsect lives on cacti feeding onplant moisture and nutrients. Theincreased demand has made cul-tivation of the insect profitableagain.
(More of the meeting recap andphotos on the next two pages!)
However, Ginger explained that a greater beauty exists than what naturallyappears to the naked eye at these wonderful gardens. In the history of the gardens,there lies a splendor in the spirit of the people who envisioned a great place ofmagnificent landscaping and solitude and how they worked together to create thatfor others to enjoy. Also, in the course of development of the Tea Gardens, an uglyside of history appears, but again, courageous individuals discovered in their kindhearts and generous souls, the ability to reconcile those mistakes and to restore aninnocent family’s honor. These stories begin in 1899 when the San Antonio WaterWorks Company, through its president, George W. Brackenridge, donated 199 acresto the city of San Antonio for a public park. City Parks Commissioner, Ray Lambert,came up with the idea of a lily pond that eventually became the Japanese TeaGarden. From July 1917 to May 1918, Lambert and many selfless volunteers shapedthe quarry into a complex that included walkways, stone arch bridges, an island anda Japanese pagoda. In 1926, at the city's invitation, Kimi Eizo Jingu, a local Japa-nese-American tea importer, moved to the garden and opened the Bamboo Room,where light lunches and tea were served. After Mr. Jingu's death in the late 1930s, hisfamily continued to operate the tea garden until 1942 when they were unjustly evicteddue to anti-Japanese sentiment during World War II. Without reason or trial, aprejudice was cast upon these people by our country’s leaders. From there, aChinese-American family operated the facility until the early 1960s, and with theremaining unfavorable political and social environment still surrounding JapaneseAmericans, it was renamed to the Chinese Sunken Garden. Rising above themistakes and misjudgments of prior leaders, in 1984, under the direction of MayorHenry Cisneros, the city restored the original “Japanese Tea Garden” designation ina ceremony attended by Jingu's children and representatives of the Japanesegovernment. The tranquility of the Japanese Tea Gardens is a treasure for the SanAntonio area created by a dedicated group of volunteers. Also, the inspiring lesserknown story of triumph over ignorance is a lesson for all that individuals shouldremember to embrace and incorporate into our daily lives.
Above left: Chinese Tori Gate constructed by renowned faux-wood artist Dionicio Rodriguez.Above right: One of the Koi ponds
The Garden Club has an open invitation to anyone wishing toattend any of our events. To see what other exciting and ed-ucational activities are planned, visit ww.rcgardenclub.comfor the entire year’s descriptions of scheduled events,along with maps and RSVP forms!
Above left: Lunch at Boardwalk Bistro after the tourAbove right: Remainder of the group enjoying lunch
Left: Pagoda-themed pavilion with downtown San Anto-nio in the background
Thanks to some special groups forspending their time at Fiesta. RiverCrossing appreciates their willingness to let us knowmore about how they serve us in the community, andhow others connect with like-minded hobbyist. Thosegroups are the Bulverde Spring Branch Fire and EMS,Bulverde Area Humane Society and our very own carenthusiasts residents!
Spring Gardening and Your PetSpring is the season for being outdoors. Formany that may mean slipping on their gloves,grabbing their shovel, and planting seeds in thehope of an ample garden in the near future.While preparing your plot, it's important to takesteps to ensure that it's safe for your pets toenjoy as well. When planting your garden it isimportant to note that there are numeroushouse and garden plants which can be toxic toanimals. Some include brunfelsia, oleander,and even lilies. Brunfelsia, also known as the "yesterday, today & tomorrow" plant,causes convulsive seizures in dogs, while cycads, low growing palm trees usedindoors and outdoors, are toxic to the liver of dogs and they trend to chew on theroots. While brunfelsia and cycads have not been known to cause problems in cats,lilies are especially harmful to them. Once ingested, the cat must be treated by aveterinarian, preferably within 24 hours and not later than 48 hours. The garden plantoleander contains digoxin-like compounds can be toxic to all animals, includingdogs and cats, if ingested. Spring is a great time to enjoy the outdoors. Taking thetime to make sure that everything you put in your yard is safe for your pet will ensurethis time is special for the entire family. Source: Texas A&M Pet Talk
Competing with New Construction (continued from page 3)
3. Work with Strength--This is where your local realtor will play a key role. Whatmakes your home different from the new construction? Is it larger, located moreideally to shopping and services, served by better ranking schools? Highlight thefact that your house is READY and you can close quickly.4. Mortgage Sheet--Create a monthly mortgage payment sheet and place this insideyour home. Let buyers know that with a resale, they will be able to lock in their rateimmediately and this will eliminate the anxiety of an unknown interest rate the buyerfaces in waiting for completion of a new home.5. Invest in your home-In order to gain something, you have to invest in it. Youcannot simply put your slightly older home in the market place and expect tocompete against shiny new construction. Sometimes simple changes like updatinglight fixtures or a fresh coat of paint and new carpet can make a huge impact on yourhome. Article Courtesy: Kathy Rogers, Associate Broker, Keller Williams Realty
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Perfect Brown Rice–Resident Tested and True!
Cooking brown rice, or at least cooking it well, is tricky. The goal is to soften thetexture of each grain's fibrous bran coating, a process that takes longer than thatcalled for in the cooking of white rice, without causing the rice to become mushy.Unfortunately, the labels on most packaged brown rice recommend an ineffectivemethod that suggests boiling water and rice in a two-to-one ratio, then allowing themixture to simmer for 40 minutes or more, until all the liquid is absorbed. As mostof us have experienced, following those directionsyields quite the unsatisfying batch of rice, or is itcardboard? What works is that brown rice looks andtastes the best when it has been boiled and drained likepasta. This foolproof method allows the grains to retaintheir integrity and come out light and fluffy.
RECIPE (makes 2 cups)INGREDIENTS1 cup short, medium, or long-grain brown riceKosher salt, to taste
INSTRUCTIONS1. Rinse rice in a strainer under cold running water for30 seconds. Bring 12 cups water to a boil in a large pot with a tight-fitting lid overhigh heat. Add the rice, stir it once, and boil, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Pour therice into a strainer over the sink.
2. Let the rice drain for 10 seconds, then return it to the pot, off the heat. Cover thepot and set it aside to allow the rice to steam for 10 minutes. Uncover the rice, fluffwith a fork, and season with salt. Source: Saveur
Crews pulling the new fiber cablesalong the right-of-ways. Residentswill need to set appointments for tech-nicians to bring the fiber from thestreet to their home’s Network Inter-face Device (NID). Installation willtake around two hours, unless moreinvolved wiring is required.
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GVTC Fiber Presentation RecapApril 17, 2014
GVTC representatives provided maps of the two phases of the project and thepricing for the two bundle package offerings for customers. Basically, phase oneinstallation covers the area from Long Meadow northward and is expected to be upand running by the end of the summer, weather permitting. The remaining sections ofRiver Crossing will be completed by the end of the year, or by the first part of 2015.At this time, GVTC is only focusing on 40 Mbps and 80 Mbps speed plans with aninclusive list of services; telephone, internet and television. The special introductorypackages start at $144.95 and $199.95, respectively, for a one year contract. Taxes,government fees and other associated costs are not taken into account in thoseamounts, and after the initial year, the special package prices will more than likelyincrease. Associated costs could include items such as monthly DVR fees andpremium channels. Other possible requirements and charges that could be incurredin bringing fiber from the street to the home of which homeowners should be awareare:
●110 power outlet needs to be near the homeowner’s Network Interface Device box(NID) on the outside of the home.●Two CAT 5 ports in the NID●Possible updated or additional interior wiring requirements (an exact wiringdiagram can be found on www.gvtc.com)
Customers not requiring all of the services and speeds listed above will need tocontact the GVTC customer service department at a later date to inquire about thepricing for limited service, and at this time, GVTC has no special pricing incentives forthose plans. Information about speeds for different tasks can be found on the nextpage. Also, if homeowners wish, they can remain on their current DSL or broadbandover copper. Ironically, customers remaining on copper broadband could possiblysee slightly improved performance as the competition for bandwidth is lessened asothers move onto the fiber connection. Residents should realize that once the currentwiring is replaced with fiber, they cannot revert back.
A question and answer session followed with residents expressing their desiresfor more reliable connections, better television picture quality and services that reflectthe real future direction of communications and technology. River Crossing residentswere very impressive with their knowledge of speeds and other specific details relatedto fiber. While GVTC affirmed they are bringing the future to River Crossing, residentsexpressed that land lines and the television offerings may not be in tune with theinnovative technologies which are quickly becoming a part of our world. Customerswant to drop their land lines in favor of cell phones and some have discovered theimpressive reliability of on-demand wireless streaming television boxes and theirnext-to-nothing pricing for the device with an unbelievable number of programmingchannel options. At the end of the presentation, some very lucky neighbors won cashgift cards, an iPad and the large screen television.
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What Speed Do I Really Need?In order to get the best service at the best value, consumers firstneed to understand what broadband speed they need for theapplications they want to run. Additionally, consumers need torecognize that several other factors not related to the serviceprovider can slow down their Internet speed. Among those poten-tial issues are an old and slow router, an outdated computer, usingthe internet at peak times, using high-bandwidth applications or
sites, or having several household members online at once.MINIMUM SPEED REQUIREMENTS FOR VARIOUS TASKS
Basic Functions■Surfing can be done over any speed of networking, including very slow dial-up
Internet.■E-mail, downloads of attachments, photos, etc, again, can be done over very
slow connections. The improvement is seen in the time it takes to perform thetask; minutes for dial-up compared to seconds with even just 1.5 Mbps.
Video Streaming■Hulu Plus
A download speed of at least 3 Mbps for High Definition videos and 1.5 Mbpsfor Standard Definition videos
■ Netflix For watching low-definition video on a laptop, a minimum speed of 1 Mbps To watch that same low-definition video on a television, at least 2 Mbps For 720p* high-definition video, no matter what it’s viewed on, a minimum of 4Mbps For 1080p* high-definition video, the requirement bumps up to at least 5 Mbps
■ Apple TV 2.5-Mbps or faster for standard-definition content 6-Mbps or faster for 720p* content 8-Mbps or faster for 1080p* high-definition movies and TV shows
■ Roku Streaming Device For the best viewing results, Roku recommends a minimum of 1.5 Mbps forstandard definition and 3.0 Mbps for HD content.
*pixel displayOnline Gaming
■ Requires more than a dial-up connection, but speeds of 1.5 Mbps should beadequate. One other consideration is paying attention to the server being used.Make sure that it is within close proximity to where you are playing to avoidlatency issues.
Sources: Federal Communications Commission, Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV and Roku
BOD Meeting Highlights (continued from front cover)
● LRPC Update–Construction of pavilion came in under budget at $73,000.Final items, such as grading and minimal landscaping, are being ad-dressed. See pictures on page 27
●Wildlife Committee Summary of Trapping–page 27
●A motion was made to fund $10,000 from the reserve funds for repairs tothe dips in River Crossing Boulevard. It was approved unanimously.
●Ongoing problems with the proprietary system and replacement partsfor the mailbox lighting has prompted the board to seek other options soa motion was made and passed to allocate $1,000 to possibly findanother solution to the lighting.
● The board had one electronic vote between meetings regarding theGroup Usage of RCPOA Parks document.
●A resident voiced a concern about the $10,000 being assigned for roadrepairs as being too low. From personal experience, the homeownerstated quotes were anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000 for repair of only onearea.
● The board adjourned into an undefined Executive Session.
Television: The New DirectionWho remembers the availability of only three channels and how excited we
were when that number was increased by two with the introduction of UHF chan-nels? Wow, what variety we had in our viewing choices, we thought. From thatpoint, television changed from offering a handful of broadcast channels to receivingdozens of channels using the first primitive cable boxes. Today, we have movedfrom dozens of channels to a near infinite amount of on-demand content availablewith the development of streaming devices. Just as dazzling as the increase inchannels with UHF way back when was to a generation, the latest television viewingadvancements today are simply unbelievable!
Watching television via a streaming box is the wave of the future, and fromcomments at the GVTC presentation, residents are longing for quality, affordabilityand options which are more tailored to their viewing habits. In a nutshell, theseboxes, such as Apple TV, Google Chromecast or Roku, meet those requirements.They allow consumers the ability to access their favorite entertainment instantly andon demand directly from the Internet. The evolution of how we watch television isquickly changing and it's clear that IP delivery is the end game. A host of businessesare jumping on board to develop their own devices with the latest being Amazon andits Fire TV. Additionally, Sony announced their plans to test a cloud-based servicethat will include live television channels, on-demand TV shows, and digital videorecorder capabilities. The service will deliver hundreds of live linear channels,including sports and episodic television to customers, no matter where they live.
What Makes a Box So Great:● One-time purchase cost at, or below, $100● Free channels or subscription channels around
$8/month with choice of viewing is inexhaustible● Arsenal of movies; not limited-time pay-per-view● Movie rentals can be free with subscription; others
priced at $3.99 or $4.99 for new releases and lessfor older movies
● Purchased movies and shows are stored for 30 days or you can purchaseoutright like owning the DVD.
● User friendly; never log-in again after initial set up● Effortless–recalls episode, resumes from stopping point and queues up
next in the series● Wireless internet connection● Compact design● No commercials!● Watch a series uninterrupted and in bulk● Perfect picture and sound quality● Personalized experience. It is what you want, when you want, how you
want, and you don’t have to settle for what is pre-selected for you.(continued on page 19)
The most significant benefit to these new technologies is the cutting of the cordwith those hefty cable or satellite bills. At this time, until Sony, or another entity,enters the market, streaming devices do not offer the local network channels or theability to record, so one cannot dismiss cable or satellite entirely, if you like thoseofferings. However, downgrading to a package, often less than $20 per month, willallow you to watch local networks, and a few more channels, with recordingcapabilities. Consumers who do not care about recording shows could even go tothe extreme of a simple indoor antenna to enjoy local networks. A next to nothingbill* is very easily achieved with these new technologies.
Since these boxes are in their early stages of development, there is onedrawback, and that falls in access to live sporting events. However, there isprogress and ways around this small flaw. Many sporting events are broadcast viaour local networks, and satellite companies offer special sports packages, so all isnot lost. Also, according to experts, streaming access to live events will soonramp up. This increase is due to consumers who are eager to watch events from avariety of connected and mobile devices.
How could being entertained or educated improve anymore? Without adoubt, streaming players are becoming synonymous with amazing choice, controland value in the television viewing arena.
*EDITOR’S NOTE: Making the change to astreaming box and basic satellite servicereduced our bill by 71%.
Around River CrossingCVS–The Planning and Zoning Commission recommend-ed to the Bulverde City Council that they approve thevariance to allow a deviation from the 35-foot landscapebuffer requirement for 19995 Hwy 46 as requested by FiveStar Development in constructing a proposed CVS Pharma-cy. Council voted to accept that recommendation at theirApril 8th meeting. The Exxon has since closed and it lookslike CVS is moving ahead!
Post Office–The Post Office Real Estate Specialist, San-dra A. Rybicki, had posted notice that the United StatesPostal Service was seeking an existing building or a suitable site upon which tolocate a new main post office in Spring Branch. The deadline for submissions wasMay 6th. They will now review any submissions and will notice the public for input onthose sites.
Singing Hills–The official groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 10th. Thedevelopers for the project, Comal County and Bulverde city officials, and Wal-Martrepresentatives all participated in that ceremony which celebrated the start of con-struction. The latest news and a plat can be found on their website:
singinghillstx.com
US Highway 281 Plans–The US 281 Corri-dor Project would span approximately 8miles, add additional travel lanes, and in-clude four non-toll direct connector rampsthat comprise the northern half of the US281 interchange with Loop 1604. The DraftPreferred Alternative Schematic Plans areavailable for review at the 411 on 281 web-site address:http://www.411on281.com/us281eis/index.cfm/about/resources-history/draft-preferred-alternative-schematic-plans/An Open House is scheduled for Thursday,May 8th at the Summit Christian Center onMarshall Road. The meeting will begin at5:30 pm.
There are three homes undercontract. The average listprice is $501,267.00 with anaverage of 43 days on market.
To receive a monthly reportvia e-mail, click here to sendthat request to Betty andSteve Giannone
Input Needed for ElectricCo-op
Pedernales Electric Co-op mem-bers are being asked this year tovote on the election methodolo-gy they prefer for future PECBoard elections. That choice isbetween the current at-largesystem or a single-member dis-trict system.
WHY IS GOVERNANCE SO IMPORTANT TO RC?AN IMMEDIATE INTEREST:Back in 2003 when the RCPOA was formed, leaders became aware of a situationresulting from the commercial strip of properties along Highway 46 which were inthe Bulverde city limits and created a half-mile Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ)imposed by the city into River Crossing. Reaching a population of 5,000 in 2004,Bulverde’s ETJ extended one-mile into our neighborhood. Facing a great manyconcerns over the possibility of annexation by Bulverde, a group of passionateRiver Crossing residents formed a Governance Committee and set out to determinethe direction in which residents desired to be governed. This team of volunteers,consisting of many of the first notable leaders in River Crossing, worked tirelesslyon educating themselves and their neighbors about the different governing optionswhile also monitoring activities of surrounding political entities. In May of 2007, dueto some unexpected twists from the Bulverde City Council, River Crossing’s Gover-nance Committee presented a request to Council for a twenty year annexationmoratorium, better known as the In Lieu of Annexation Agreement, rather than arequest to be released from the ETJ. That agreement created more independenceand control over our way of life and relief from taxation by Bulverde as waspreferred by property owners. The contract has yielded significant benefits toresidents, including tax savings of anywhere from $12K to $20K and a status ofremaining one, undivided community.
2014:It comes as no surprise, then, that some residents are aware of an effort by anoutside group, The Neighbors of Spring Branch (NOSB), who are advancing the ideaof incorporation of the Spring Branch (78070) area. Some River Crossing residentshave concerns, once again, and expressed that to the board at the April meeting.Briefly, the NOSB feels that incorporation is the ideal means to solicit and attractbusinesses which are a nice fit for the community and discourage businesses whichare controversial or simply do not appeal to the Hill Country environment, such asthe Tex-Mix Batch Plant they are currently battling. Interestingly, in a very recentcolumn by Bulverde’s Mayor, Bill Krawietz, he explains how citizens groupedtogether back in the mid-1990s and determined that incorporation was the correctmove for them because of the threat of a cement plant wishing to establish itself inthe area, along with San Antonio’s plans to extend their city limits northward. Lackof population density was a complicating factor inBulverde’s road to incorporation, just as it appears tobe in the case for Spring Branch. However, Bulverdediscovered a solution to their dilemma by creatingthree, smaller cities. In becoming a city and definingits ETJ, Bulverde offers an excellent example of keep-ing out the “giants,” while also retaining the right toannex those areas for their taxation value in the future.
WHY SHOULD RIVER CROSSING CARE?As residents may see it, River Crossing is nestled in thesurroundings of the Club and Elbel’s ranch and safe from anypossible negative impact. However, are residents payingenough attention to the Highway 281 corridor of propertieswhich runs parallel to our community, is a backyard neighborto the Club, and in some locations, quite cozy to some RiverCrossing lots? What would we do if one, or several, undesirable businesses wouldchoose to locate close to the heart of our neighborhood? The Neighbors of SpringBranch group believes that by allowing the Tex-Mix plant, the floodgates to Highway281 becoming an unattractive and hazardous industrial corridor will burst open. Isthe solution to avoiding that possibility to try to find a means to incorporate? MayorKrawietz referred to Bulverde’s incorporation as a “necessary evil.” Why? To begin,someone must pay the bills, and as we have seen, most River Crossing propertyowners do not want that extra layer of government and taxation. Unfortunately,while we may wish to lock the door to outsiders to preserve our tranquil Hill Countrylifestyle, we cannot ignore that the 78070 area continues to develop at a rapid pace,and efforts to grow strategically will remain a strong point of debate in regards to themost effective means in preserving the Hill Country way of life which brought all ofus here.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO, IF ANYTHING?Growth and change seem to be inevitable for Spring Branch, and protecting ourhome values and way of life remain a priority. Staying informed is important. Fromour conversation with Paula Stakes, Vice Chairman #1 and Treasurer at the Bul-verde-Spring Branch Economic Development Foundation (BSBEDF), we found thatshe and other business leaders see a definite need for Spring Branch to establish avoice at the heart of our area to be able to manage growth properly. However, theability to meet the requirements to incorporate appears to not be feasible. Is thereanother answer to shielding property owners from less than desirable businessesopening up shop nearby? One alternative being discussed is for the city of Bulverdeto begin annexing parts of the 281 corridor northward. With the acquisition of theSinging Hills water treatment plant, the city will have more to offer and they wouldbe able to manage this area in a more positive fashion. No one can predict what thefuture will bring, but if you have a strong opinion on governance, consider express-ing that. Comments and input from the members of the River Crossing communityare important and greatly valued.
Thanks to Paula Stakes for sitting down with us. The website for the BSBEDF ishttp://www.bsbedf.com. To learn more about the Neighbors of Spring Branch orga-nization, visit www.neighborsofspringbranch.com
Paris Arrives in TexasThe interesting structure on the road to Johnson City is actually a luxury
vacation property named the Arc de Texas and The News Stream editors wereinvited to an exclusive tour. Inspired by the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Paris,owners Eric and Kathy Meyertons wanted to add a unique structure with “casualelegance” to the Hill Country, but with a Texas flair as materials used in constructionare from the natural elements of the area. Sitting atop one of the higher points inBlanco County, each of the four suites offers amazing views of the surroundingcountryside. The first floor consists of the lobby area, a stone portico and bar/winetasting room. The portico is 21 feet tall, just like the portico in Paris, and is coveredwith red bricks that provide a warm ambiance for the outdoor seating.
Keeping with the French theme, the rooms on the second and third floors havebeen given a French-based moniker; Marquis de Lafayette, Napoleon, Joan of Arcand Louis XIV. Each of these famous French dignitaries was a key military figure inthe history of France. Interestingly, or fittingly, the Napoleon room has the shortestceilings and is in the center of everything. The Louis XIV suite occupies the entirethird floor, has four bedrooms and a complete kitchen, while the other suites havekitchenettes. See our Across the Streams feature on page three to read a shortbiography on each of the French figures. (More on next page…)
Top Left: Fourth “floor” deckTop Right: Complete kitchen in Louis XIV suiteBottom Left: Pool and hot tubBottom Right: Wine Tasting Room
The fourth “floor” balcony is themost impressive and breathtaking fea-ture of the Arc de Texas. The milesand miles of rolling hills and the exqui-site design of this special area is as-tonishing, to say the least. Guests areprovided a panoramic view of the HillCountry, including many of the 2001acres on which the Arc de Texas sits.A detail we won’t divulge is the cuteaddition one will discover in the bot-tom of the pool. A hot tub and largefire pit enhance the pool area for aneven more relaxing time with friends orfamily.
After our visit, we must say thatthe Arc de Texas is a truly remarkableblend of France and the Texas HillCountry! Finally, any stay at the Light-house Hill Ranch includes access tothe other amenities on the expansiveproperty. Have you heard the song, “Stars on the Water?” Guests can experiencethat phenomenon if they decide to take a dip at night at the Big Rock Dam Lakesituated on the banks of Miller Creek. Prefer a daytime experience? The adjacentwaterfall grotto might be more to your liking. The Ranch definitely offers someof the most unique luxuries and the perfect getaway for a stress-free stay-cationin our own backyard! For more details, visit www.lighthousehillranch.com
Additional Guest AmenitiesTop: Waterfall GrottoLeft: Hot tub at Miller Creekwater area
What’s better than a year ‘roundgreen lawn? How about enjoying aperfectly manicured lawn without theneed to irrigate, fertilize, mow or trim.Have pets? There are even specialturf applications that wear better thannatural grass and make it easier toclean up behind Rover. One solution(right) is a synthetic putting greencomplete with fringe and longer turf.This installation also includes a rectan-gular driving matt for hitting into the netat front right, when extended as wellas chipping back onto the green.
Synthetic turf lawns are environmentally green, too. This installation will reduce total water consumption by over 40% based upon
historical usage at this ~ 1700-1800 sq. ft. location. Of course, where irrigationis a larger part of total water usage, water savings would be larger.
Use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides are virtually eliminated ifpreviously used.
Lawn mower usage is eliminated. If agasoline mower was used, emissionsare reduced.
When it comes to synthetic turf, the tech-nology and diversity of options has grown fromAstro Turf, so named for its installation in theHouston Astrodome in 1966. Turf usage rapid-lyincreased in athletic facilities and then intoresidential and commercial landscaping begin-ning in the 1990’s. The durability and quality ofinstallations rapidly improved during this time.Today, the spectrum of synthetic turf applica-tions has grown in urban, suburban and evenrural installations. A number of airports arereplacing grass areas around runways andtaxiways with synthetic turf, reducing mainte-nance cost and wildlife hazards.
Yes, synthetic turf solutions are green inmany ways. Why not replace the hours anddollar$ spent taking care of your lawn with timeenjoying that year ‘round green lawn?
High Quality Turf Grasses • Top Soil • Weed-FreeSoil • Garden Soil • Decomposed Granite • PatioFlagstone • Retaining Wall Blocks • Building and
Chopped Stone • Decorative Landscape Rock• Sand and Gravel • and more
Wildlife Committee End of Trapping Season SummaryThe Wildlife Committee began its trapping efforts in January and completed
them on March 31st as required by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Duringthat time, James Bonds, our contracted trapper, captured 20 white-tail deer and 7 axisdeer. Those familiar with the program will recognize the white-tail deer total is wellbelow expectations as a season’s goal is one of at least 50 deer. The results for thisyear were disappointing, and not one single reason, but a multitude of reasons canbe supplied as an explanation. Some of those are a late acorn drop which provideda better food choice for the deer, and the weather came into play with such factors asbeing too wet or exceptionally windy. The committee also feels the need to re-evaluate the current trapping sites to determine if the sites have been exhausted ofpotential trappings.
Maintaining an appropriate carrying capacity of deer to habitat is vital becausethat quality habitat provides a nutritional foundation for deer that ensures reproduc-tive success, herd health, and antler production. The Wildlife Committee’s missionis not to destroy the white-tail herd, but to ensure River Crossing has a healthypopulation and safe environment for not only the deer, but residents as well.Research shows that our habitat can only support one deer for every 10 to 20 acres,and while this year ran short of our target numbers, the Committee plans to continuethe worthwhile efforts of this program. The Committee appreciates the support of theboard and residents!
Right: Four Picnic TablesBottom Left: Stone Retaining Wall withRiver Rock FillBottom Right: More B-B-Q Grills wereadded close to the pavilion
Bulverde Spring Branch Fire and EMS–A Consolidated Structure
The Emergency Service Districts #4 and #5 in Western Comal County havecontracted the existing Bulverde-Spring Branch Emergency Services (BSBES) toprovide fire service which began March 29, 2014. The BSBES has been providingaward winning emergency medical services for 36 years in exactly the sameservice territory as Emergency Services Districts #4 and #5 cover. With this newapproach, citizens will see better response times to their 911 calls, more efficientuse of tax dollars, and will be able to more easily understand the organizationunder one management structure. More importantly, during this transition andimplementation, there will be no interruption in services. The BSBES will have thesame number of fire fighters and the fire protection service will remain at the samelevel as is currently available. The resulting arrangement will be that all emergencyfirst responder services will be under the same management, and therefore,resources can be more efficiently scheduled and utilized. The management of theday to day operations by the BSBES will free up the boards of the EmergencyService Districts to focus on managing budgets and providing the stations, firefighting trucks and equipment for the first responders. Many emergency organiza-tions, such as Canyon Lake and the City of San Antonio, have already consolidat-ed fire and medical emergency response efforts into one organization.
One of the benefits will be the savings created by the new managementstructure allowing for the construction of new stations to serve the growingdemand in our area. One such area on the forefront for a new building is on theeastern part of the district around Highway 46 and FM 3159. There has been anoticeable increase in calls, and at this time,a vehicle is being staged there to improveresponse time. BSB Fire and EMS’s plans areto construct a temporary building with a fu-ture station being built as funds becomeavailable.
Our local emergency services organiza-tions have recognized the synergies andcommon goals of their departments and havedetermined that by forming this consolida-tion of management structure, the efficacyand efficiency of services to the communitywill be vastly improved. If you would like tostay informed about events and happeningswith your emergency services department,you can subscribe to our quarterly newslet-ter, The Community Responder, by clickingthe cover image.
In April, a message was sent to ratepayers who have providedCEWR with their e-mail addresses. The message included detailsregarding actions taken by CEWR volunteers and the currentstatus of the regulatory proceedings for the rate increase. TheCommittee will regularly send out notices to keep customersinformed about this important issue. If you would like to receivethose updates directly in your in-box, please visit the CEWRwebsite to sign up: http://www.cewr.net. If you didn't receive theApril Update, and would like to have that sent to you, please letus know in the Comments section of the submission form.The Steering Committee hopes to have an update prepared with-in the next couple of weeks that will be sent via the CEWR blastlist once again.Residents may check the status of our case at any time byvisiting www.cewr.net for the latest developments, to direct ques-tions to the CEWR team, and/or to donate to the cause.
When you shop at your locally owned businesses, you are supporting thelocal economy!
· Your dollars spent in locally-owned businesses have more impact on yourcommunity as dollars spent in other surrounding counties. When shoppinglocally, you simultaneously create jobs, fund more city and county services
through sales tax, invest in neighborhood improvement and promote community devel-opment.
· Save on gas! With the high prices at the gas pumps, why make that trip into SanAntonio or other distant establishments?
· Local businesses cater to their customers. They stock the items you want to buy, whenyou want to buy them.
· Hometown businesses build strong neighborhoods by sustaining communities, linking
