Copyright © 2009 Peel, Inc. The Village Gazette - July 2009 �

THe Village gazeTTejuly 2009 Volume iii, issue Vii

News for THe resideNTs of THe Villages aT wesTerN oaks aNd legeNd oaks iTM

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Mills ElementaryReading Rocks All Summer

Long at Mills LibrarySubmitted by Kristen Card

Mills Elementary is once again promoting the fun, imagination and adventure of reading this season through its Summer Reading Rocks program.

The Mills school library is open every Tuesday and Thursday from June 16th to August 6th to help keep kids reading through the summer months. Students can come to the library to check out books, practice their reading skills, or participate in book clubs, storytimes and workshops.

Summer Reading Rocks is intended for all Mills students, but originated through the school’s Roaring Readers initiative, an early intervention program for struggling readers that is staffed during the school year by more than 100 volunteers.

Summer Reading Rocks events for July include Positively You! storytimes, Roaring Readers coaching sessions, Take Flight All-Stars Summer Book Club, Parent & Child Yoga classes, reading and cooking Noodles from Scratch, and paper-folding a story character.

For the complete Summer Reading Rocks schedule, please visit www.millspta.org.

Dear Friends, Greetings! It’s time again to gather your neighbors and team up with your Law Enforcement Agency to give crime a going-away party. National Night Out is an annual event held on the first Tuesday of October. National Night Out is sponsored by the National Night Out Association of Town Watch. This past year’s National Night Out campaigns involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, business, neighborhood organizations and local public officials from more than 9,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, more than 29.5 million participated in National Night Out last year. National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts, and to strengthen neighborhood spirit and law enforcement – community partnership. But its primary goal is to send a strong message to criminals to let them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. Along with the traditional display of porch lights and front-yard vigils, cities, towns and neighborhoods celebrate NNO with a variety of events and activities such as block parties, cookouts, visits from local law enforcement officers, parades flashlights walks contests and youth programs. NNO has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for safer communities. The benefits that your community will derive from NNO will most certainly extend well beyond the one night. The Travis County Sheriff ’s Office has promoted National Night Out for the past 25 years. Our participation has grown from helping with a handful of neighborhood get-togethers to more than 4,000 participants enjoying block parties, carnivals, parades and an assortment of other activities. Our involvement has grown from a couple of crime prevention officers, to dozens of patrol officers, sergeants, lieutenants, captains, majors, county commissioners and the Sheriff. National Night Out is a great way to get together with your neighbors, find out what’s going on in your community and visit with local law enforcement officers about what you can do to help reduce the opportunities for crimes to occur.

National Night Out 2009

(Continued on page 3)

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Participation can be as simple as a small block party, or as big as a parade or carnival. To get involved, or to find out how to register your event for National Night Out, call the Travis County Sheriff ’s Office at 854-8413 or 854-9770. Deputy James KitchensTravis County Sheriff ’s OfficeCommunity Services & Outreach Unit (512) 854-8413Fax: (512) 854-4719

National Night Out - (Continued from Cover Page)

DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser.* The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising.* Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction.* Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above.

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July Events at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenteriNDEpENDENcE DAY - Wildflower Center is closed.

NATuRE NigHTS - 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays in JulyTalks, crafts, hikes and fun for the family. $1 admission and free to members

and Eco-Explorers. Fossils, July 9; Birds of prey, July 16; Bees, July 23; Water ecology, July 30.

THE ORigAMi DiVA - July 9 through October 4An intricate installation of origami by Austin artist Joan Son in the McDermott Learning Center. Origami merchandise in the store.

BOOk SigNiNg - 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 11Terry Thompson-Anderson signs The Texas Hill Country: A Food and Wine

Lover’s Paradise, in the store.

LADY BiRD JOHNSON TRiBuTE DAY - 9 a.m. to 5:30 Sunday, July 26Remember our founder with a visit to the Wildflower Center. Book signings,

videos and a porcelain display. Free admission.

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Saturday, July 25, 2009 11:00am to 3:00pm

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We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities.

6219 Oakclaire Dr. & Hwy. 290 • 891-YMCA (9622)

Give your child the summer of a lifetime at the YMCA!

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Call 891-YMCA for details.

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Kinder Camp: (ages 4-5)Offers age-appropriate games,

fi eld trips, crafts, books and character-building activities.

Schedule: M-F, 7:30am-6pm. Weekly sessions through Aug 17

Fee: $150/wk for Y members; $180/wk nonmembers

Theme Camp: (ages 5-10)Campers thrive in activitiescentered around a new theme each week; includes games, arts & crafts, fi eld trips and swimming. Schedule: M-F, 7:30am-6pm. Weekly sessions through Aug 17Fee: $150/wk for Y members; $180/wk nonmembers

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healthier homes Easy Ways to Improve Household Air Quality

By: Michelle & Charlie Bubnis

Home cleaning products contain an array of harmful chemicals that are not required by law to be listed on the products’ label. These chemicals have a toxic effect on indoor air quality. The best way to avoid this unknown risk to your family is to create your own cleaning products which is much easier than one may think. Here are some suggestions:

Almond Oil: Furniture polishBaking Soda: Cleans, deodorizes, removes stains and softens fabrics BonAmi: Functions as an abrasive cleanserBorax: Natural mineral that can be used to bleach, deodorize, remove stains, and boost soap. It also kills bacteria and mold. It can also be used in your dishwasher as 1 part borax and 1 part washing soda. Add ¼ cup to dishwasher loadCastile Soaps: All purpose cleanerCitrus peels: Deodorize garbage disposalCornstarch: Absorb oil and grease, starches clothesClub Soda: Pre-wash and stain removerHydrogen Peroxide: Germicidal. Hydrogen Peroxide and cream of

••

••

•••••

tartar paste make a good cleaner for sinks and bathtubsLemon Juice: Bleach alternative, grease cutter, stain and perspiration remover for clothing. Lemon juice and salad oil as a furniture polish. Lemon juice on a cloth cleans aluminum Table Salt: Abrasive cleanerVinegar : Water softener, cuts grease, removes stains; strips lime deposits from showers, removes white haze on glasswareWashing Soda :Cleans clothes, boosts soap’s cleaning power, softens water, cuts grease and disinfects

Consider always avoiding fragranced cleaning or fragranced laundry products as 95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic and derived from petroleum. These chemicals are combined in untested combinations. They are capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions.

•

••

•

(Continued on page 9)

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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.

Please call the church office at 288-3836 or visit our website at

www.oakhillunitedmethodistchurch.org for additional information.

Oak Hill United Methodist Church7815 Highway 290 West

Austin, Texas 78736

Come join us for a little fresh air and a whole lot of fun this summer! We’ll gather every Wednesday evening, June 10 through July 29 at Dick Nichols Park on Beckett Road, about 5:30 p.m. each week. Come and go, come and stay, whatever your family’s schedule allows. Bring lawn chairs, a light picnic supper if you’d like (water will always be provided), and join your church family for some fun, fellowship and exercise. Each week we will have a featured activity, and we’ll provide equipment for pick-up games of volleyball, softball and basketball. We’ll also bring washers, tailgate golf, horseshoes, etc. and the park has tennis courts, a playscape, and a one mile paved trail, too. Swimming is free at Dick Nichols pool. We’ll start our first mile walk on June 10, for those who wish to participate. It’s summertime! Make time to join your church family for Wednesdays in the Park and exercise a little, laugh a lot!! Take care of yourselves in body, mind, and spirit.

Wednesdays in the Park with Oak Hill UMC!

SCHEDULEJune 10 - Featured event: Volleyball!

First mile walk. Fruit and water provided.

June 17 - Featured event: Basketball! Second mile walk. Fruit and water provided.

June 24 - Featured event: Silly Games! (potato sack races, relays, etc.) Third mile walk.

Fruit and water provided.

July 1 - Featured event: Watermelon Night, includ-ing a seed spitting contest! Fourth mile walk. Church will provide watermelons and water.

July 8 - Featured event: Supper together in the park!Lots of activities to participate in. Fifth mile walk.

Church will provide dinner and water.

July 15 - Featured event: Wheels/Dancing/Football!Bring your bikes, roller blades, skateboards, wheel-chairs, etc., and enjoy mobility via wheels! We’ll also have folks on hand to lead us in stretching, simple

dance team routines, and some line dancing! Sixth mile walk. Fruit and water provided.

July 22 - Featured event: Lawn Games! Horseshoes and washers, lawn darts, croquet, bocce, tailgate golf,

etc. Seventh mile walk. Church will provide water.

July 29 - Featured event: Supper together again!Come celebrate this final evening of Wednesdays in the Park with all kinds of activities! Eighth mile walk

(won’t you be proud?!). Church will provide dinner and water.

Join Us SUNDAYS For Vibrant Worship with Inspiring Music and a

Positive Message!8:45 a.m. Blended Worship Service,

Sunday School10:00 a.m. Pathways Contemporary Praise

Worship Service, Sunday School11:15 a.m. Traditional Worship Service,

Sunday School

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So pick up a few of the suggested items listed above at the grocery store and the air quality in the home will improve along with the health of your family.

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The Village Gazette is a private publication published by Peel, Inc. It is not sanctioned by any homeowners association or organization, nor is it subject to the approval of any homeowners association or organization, nor is it intended, nor implied to replace any publication that may be published by or on behalf of any homeowners association or organization. At no time will any source be allowed to use The Village Gazette contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from Peel, Inc. The information in the newsletter is exclusively for the private use of Peel, Inc.

Healthier Homes- (Continued from Page 7)

Newsletter article Submissions

Interested in submitting an article? You can do so by emailing VillageGazette@PEELinc.com or by going to http://www.peelinc.com/articleSubmit.php. All news must be received by the 9th of the month prior to the issue. So if you are involved with a school group, scouts, sports etc – please submit your articles for The Village Gazette. Personal news for the Stork Report, Teenage Job Seekers, special celebrations and military service are also welcome.

advertising information Please support the businesses that advertise in The Village

Gazette. Their advertising dollars make it possible for all residents to receive the monthly newsletter at no charge. If you would like to support the newsletter by advertising, please contact our sales office at 512-263-9181 or advertising@PEELinc.com. The advertising deadline is the 10th of each month for the following month's newsletter.

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Signature plantsThe hill country of central Texas is defined as an environmental ecoregion, which

means it contains a certain set of plants and animals whose presence indicates specific conditions such as temperature range, rainfall, food supply, and physical characteristics of the land. This set of species, called indicator or signature species, can be among the most sensitive in a region, acting as an early warning of changing conditions to monitoring biologists. There are several signature plant species found on the Edwards Plateau, many of which are common, and several that are quite rare.

Found only in 5 Texas counties (Blanco, Comal, Hayes, Kendall, and Travis), canyon mock orange is a rare low shrub with small glossy green leaves and fragrant white blossoms. It grows near springs, among boulders and on bluffs in shady, moist canyons. Endemic to the hill country, this plant is almost identical to a more common but still uncommon species called Texas mock orange, which occurs in Bandera, Edwards, Real, and Uvalde counties. Aside from slight geographic differences in location, the key to properly identifying each species lies in the hairs that cover the lower leaf surface – canyon mock orange has only short straight hairs and Texas mock orange has a mix of short straight hairs and long tangled hairs. Listed as a state “species of concern” due to its declining numbers, canyon mock orange is in need of environmental protection.

One of the most beautiful and uncommon shrubs found only on the Edwards Plateau is the sycamore leaf snowbell. A sprawling, irregular, deciduous shrub, it grows on or

Nature watchBy Jim and Lynne Weber

Canyon mock orangePhoto: Mrs. W.D. Bransford

Sycamore leaf snowbellPhoto: Mrs. W.D. Bransford

(Continued on Page 11)

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Great Hills Baptist ChurchChildren’s Fine Arts Workshop | July 6-10Veggie Tales Day Camp | July 27-31Middle / High School Camps - Baylor University | July 27-31Celebrate Recovery |

Summer Activities

Regular Sunday Schedule:9:30 & 11 am Bible Life Groups for all ages9:30 am Celebration - Connection | Worship Choir & Orchestra11:00 am Life - Connection | Worship Band

10500 Jollyville Road . Austin, TX . 78759 | www.ghbc.org | 512.343.7763

under steep bluffs near creeks, offering showy white bell-shaped flowers in the spring and large green leaves with angular projections in the summer, turning to bright yellow in the fall. As a larval host plant, its leaves offer food for the caterpillars of tiger swallowtail butterflies. Several protection efforts by concerned citizens and botanists to propagate this plant are occurring on private lands.

Once scattered throughout central Texas, the bracted twist-flower is now a rare plant, likely due to the combined effect of picking and over-grazing. Found on rocky, wooded slopes it grows 2-4 feet tall, with a base of long, lobed green leaves that become shorter and more rounded as they travel up the stem. Striking violet-purple multi-flower spikes 4-10 inches tall grace the plant in late spring, with each individual flower having a small bract or leaf at its base.

Climbing on shrubs and small trees and found in a variety of environments, the uncommon bracted passion flower vine is yet another native jewel of the hill country. While its pale yellow-green flowers are small at only one inch across, they exhibit the typical intricacy of passion flower structure. Smooth, deeply lobed green leaves provide food to zebra longwing and gulf fritillary caterpillars, but also frequently sport tiny yellow spots, presumably to mimic butterfly eggs and discourage excessive egg laying.

While the signature plant species described above are rare and unique on their own, together they help define the true nature of the Texas hill country. Monitoring and preserving them is not only good for the sake of maintaining biological diversity and understanding changing environmental conditions, but for the future beauty of our ecoregion as well.

Send your nature-related questions to naturewatch@austin.rr.com and we’ll do our best to answer them.

Bracted twist-flowerPhoto: Mrs. W.D. Bransford

Bracted passion flowerPhoto: Joseph A. Marcus

Nature Watch - (Continued from Page 10)

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