westside at buttercup creek westside… · westside at buttercup creek volume 2, number 1 january...

Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc. Westside News - January 2011 1

Westside at Buttercup Creek

Volume 2, Number 1 January 2011

Offficial Newsletter of the Westside at Buttercup Creek HOA

WestsideneWs

Message froM the hoa Board

Dear Homeowners,We hope everyone had a wonderful 2010. As we enter a new year, the Board is looking forward

to serving the community and ensuring that our neighborhood remains a great place to live.Recently, the Board has been advised of a potential problem in our beautiful community. There

have been a few cases of Oak Wilt identified in the neighborhood. As most of you know, Oak Wilt is an aggressive disease caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum. It attacks the vascular system of the tree, disabling the water conducting tissue. The fungus is spread from diseased to healthy trees by insects or via connections between tree roots. If left untreated, most live oaks die within a 1 to 6 month period following the initial appearance of symptoms. Red oaks are more susceptible, and generally die within 3 to 4 weeks following the initial appearance of symptoms.

Symptoms of the disease vary by tree species but generally consist of leaf discoloration, wilt, defoliation and death. Leaves on diseased live oaks often develop chlorotic (yellow) veins that eventually turn necrotic (brown), a symptom called veinal necrosis. Symptoms of oak wilt on red oaks are less distinct. In early spring, young leaves simply wilt, turning pale green and brown. Mature leaves develop dark green water soaking symptoms or turn pale green or bronze, starting at the leaf margins and progressing inward.

There is no cure for oak wilt, but with prompt intervention, infected live oak trees can be kept alive and healthy trees can be protected against the fungus. To prevent the spread of oak wilt, avoid wounding oak trees, including pruning, from February through June, and paint all wounds regardless of season. The best time to cu is when it’s hottest and coldest. Other preventative measures include using caution when selecting and transporting oak wilt killed firewood and destroying diseased red oaks that can potentially produce oak wilt spores.

Early detection and prompt action are essential for successful management of oak wilt. Management of the disease consists of preventing infection by avoiding tree wounds, removing diseased trees, chemical treatments, and digging trenches that disrupt root connections.

If you suspect one of your trees may be infected, you should contact a trained and licensed arborist for diagnosis and treatment. If one of your trees is diagnosed with oak wilt, please notify Westside at Buttercup HOA as soon as possible.

For more information on oak wilt in Texas, do a search on the web. There is a wealth of information available to help us keep our trees looking great.

2 Westside News - January 2011 Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.


board of directors

advertising infoPlease support the businesses that advertise in the Westside

News. Their advertising dollars make it possible for all Westside at Buttercup Creek residents to receive the monthly newsletter at no charge. No homeowners association funds are used to produce or mail the newsletters. If you would like to support the newsletter by advertising, please contact our sales office at 512-263-9181 or [email protected]. The advertising deadline is the 8th of each month for the following month's newsletter.

President, Darrell Park [email protected]. President, Dennis Domanski .... [email protected], Randy Woods [email protected], Jerry Bordic [email protected], Terry Thomas ........................ [email protected] Website .............................http://wbc.goodwintx.com/

Kathy TaylorProperty Manager

Goodwin ManagementOffice: 512-852-7998Cell: 512-934-3736Fax: 512-346-4873

management info

newsletter infoeditor Darrell Park. ................... [email protected]

Publisher Peel, Inc. ..................................................... 512-263-9181 Advertising............................... [email protected]

classified adsPersonal classifieds (one time sell items, such as a used bike...)

run at no charge to Weside at Buttercup Creek residents, limit 30 words, please e-mail [email protected]

Business classifieds (offering a service or product line for profit) are $50, limit 40 words, please contact Peel, Inc. Sales Office @ 512-263-9181 or [email protected].

committees

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socialcommittee 2010

The social committee had a very successful 2010. We hope that you enjoyed attending the neighborhood events as much as we enjoyed planning and hosting them. For 2011, we hope to continue our annual events and introduce a new event or two. In order to make that happen, we need volunteers. The 2011 planning meeting will be held on February 10, 2011. Additional details will be provided in the February newsletter. In the meantime, if you have questions about volunteering, please feel free to contact me.

Thanks!Terra Thomas

[email protected]

Do you want to help out in the community but don’t have a lot of time? Join one of the following Committees and help out as much or as little as you want.

Cave Preserve ............ Darrell Park [email protected] ...... Darrell Park [email protected] ......................... Ross Burns ..................... [email protected] Fowler .... [email protected] ......................... Open ....................................................Modifications .........Torsten Weirich .......... [email protected] Watch ..... Paul BlorPool ............................ Jay Clover [email protected] ....................... Terra Thomas ............ [email protected]

Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc. Westside News - January 2011 �


If you’re considering plastic surgery, you don’t have to worry about traveling far from home. Dr. Paul Berry is experienced in both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, and provides comprehensive care right here in Cedar Park. He takes the time to listen and discuss your expectations and options so you can make an informed decision. Dr. Berry is skilled, dedicated and here to care for you.

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article X of the declaration of covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for Westside at Buttercup Creek

Each month a section of this Article will be reviewed to help homeowners be better informed. The complete set of Bylaws and CCR’s were given to you when you closed on your house, but can also be found at the HOA website which is www.westsidehoa.org.

Section 2. Reasonable Enjoyment. No nuisance shall ever be erected, placed or suffered to remain upon any Lot in the Property and no Owner or Occupant of any Lot in the Property shall use the same so as to endanger the health or disturb the reasonable enjoyment of any other Owner or Occupant. The Association’s Board of Directors is hereby authorized to determine what constitutes a violation of this restriction.

Comment:Reasonable Enjoyment is a very vague statement, which means

that it can be interpreted many ways. The bottom line is, don’t do something that would make things uncomfortable for someone else. If you do, then you risk making bad neighbors and having to correct whatever it was. In the past, this has not only included structures, but

also noise. Late parties and barking dogs are a good way to violate this section. As is noted in the section, the Board of directors has the authority to decide what qualifies as a violation.

Section 3. Animal Husbandry. No sheep, goats, horses, cattle, swine, poultry, dangerous animals

(the determination as to what is a dangerous animal shall be in the sole discretion of the Association’s Board of Directors), snakes or livestock of any kind shall ever be kept in or upon any part of the Property except that no more than two ( 2) dogs, and not more than two (2) cats or other common household pets may be kept by the Owner or Occupant of any Living Unit, provided they are not kept for any commercial purpose. Any allowable pet that is kept in a household must be confined to its Owner’s Lot either by constraints of a backyard fence, a leash or within the Living Unit. No animal shall be permitted to run freely away from its Owner’s Lot and must be controlled by a leash. All applicable leash and licensing laws in effect in the City of Cedar Park and Williamson County, to the extent

(Continued on Page 4)

� Westside News - January 2011 Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc.


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more restrictive than this provision, shall also apply to this animal husbandry provision and shall be complied with by all Owners and Occupants of Lots.

Comment:I think the main thing to recognize here is that you can have 2 dogs and 2 cats and you need to contain them. Other common household pets might include things like small rodents, fish and reptiles. Don’t start a farm and don’t bring something dangerous into the subdivision.

do You Park in the street? Your car should be parked in your garage or in your driveway. Cars should only be parked in the street temporarily, and then put back in the garage or in the driveway. The only cars that should be parked in the street are those belonging to a visitor, or someone who doesn’t live in the HOA. Even those cars should not be there for more than a total of 48 hours in a 7 day period. This is a rule that everyone agreed to when moving into this HOA. It’s safer and makes the neighborhood look less cluttered.

article X - (Continued from Page 3)

The new HOA website is up and running, with all the HOA info you need, right at your fingertips.

Go to www.westsidehoa.org and see what’s there. If you have any suggestions on how to make it better, just let a board member know.

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guidelines for Proper Pruning to Preventoak wilt infection

To Paint or Not to Paint, That is the Question.By Kim Camilli, Oak Wilt Coordinator, Texas Forest Service

Many of you have heard of the disease oak wilt and some of you may have an intimate knowledge of this destructive fungus. The fungus that causes oak wilt (Ceratocystis fagacearum) has evolved over time with an insect to develop a highly specialized relationship to disseminate the oak wilt spores over long distances and infect new trees. The insect that is known to transmit the oak wilt fungus is a sap-feeding beetle, known as the Nitidulid beetle. Nitidulids are the size of a pinhead and can fly for a distance of one mile. Their peak activity times are early February through late May when temperatures start to increase. Nitidulid beetles are also very active for the months of June through late October, but not in the proportions exhibited in the spring. In November through January beetle activity is minimized due to colder temperatures. These beetles are attracted to sweet smelling odors. For example, a rotten banana or melon on your porch will easily attract nitidulids. If any of you have pruned your oak trees, you may have noticed that there is a sweet aroma coming from the fresh wound. Nitidulids are attracted to this sweet smell.

These beetles feed on the sap draining from fresh wounds, and the sweet smell is an indicator that food is in the area.

There are particular requirements of the oak wilt fungus that match very closely with the life cycle of these beetles. This is why wounding of trees, including pruning cuts are an important role in the oak wilt disease process. There are structures that contain the spores for this fungus known as fungal mats. These are only produced on red oak trees (such as shumard oak, Texas red oak) and occur when specific environmental conditions take place. These structures smell like rotten bananas or melons and the nitidulid beetles can’t resist. These beetles feed and breed on these fungal mats and as a result they get spores all over their body. When this food source is gone these hungry beetles travel to find a meal elsewhere. If you have recently pruned your trees when this hungry beetle is flying around your area, your freshly pruned trees look like a buffet they can’t pass up. One very effective thing you can do is to paint the pruning wounds you


Westside at Buttercup CreekAt no time will any source be allowed to use the Westside News 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 Westside News is exclusively for the private use of the Westside at Buttercup Creek HOA and Peel, Inc.

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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created. The main goal is to provide a barrier to keep the nitidulids from feeding on these fresh wounds. If a barrier is not established the oak wilt spores will be introduced into the fresh wound from the body of the nitidulid and your tree will become infected with the oak wilt fungus. Painting your pruning wounds with pruning paint or even latex paint provides an effective barrier. Make sure to paint the wound immediately after it’s created for the best protection. Nitidulids beetle are attracted to fresh wounds and only fresh wounds are suitable for the oak wilt fungus to become established. Wounds over 3-4 days old are no longer suitable for infection by the fungus even though contaminated beetles may still visit these wounds.

The best way you can control oak wilt from infecting your gorgeous oak trees in your yard is to paint any wounds that you create throughout the year. That way you’ll be able to enjoy the shade of your beautiful oak trees for years to come.

guidlines for Proper Prunning - (Continued from Page 5)



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smart financial moves for new ParentsIf you’ve just had a new baby, your life is filled with more joy (but

less sleep). You’re probably already aware of the time and effort you must invest in raising your child, but you may not have thought as much about another aspect — the financial one.

Consider this: The average cost of raising a child to age 17 is now $222,360, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report on how much middle-income, two-parent families spend on their offspring. And this is the amount you might spend before your son or daughter heads to college. Clearly, you need to start making the financial moves necessary to take your child from diapers to a degree. Here are some suggestions for doing just that:

• Purchase sufficient life insurance. When it was just you and your spouse, it was a good idea for you to have life insurance — but now that you have a child, it’s an absolute necessity. If you have any doubts about the value of life insurance, just look again at that $222,360 figure above, and then tack on the costs of four years of college. If you or your spouse were to die unexpectedly, would the survivor earn enough to raise and educate your child? In this day and age, that isn’t likely. So make sure that you have adequate life insurance in place.

• Prepare a will. Obviously, you hope to enjoy a long life — one in which you see your child grow to adulthood. But none of us can predict the future, so it’s essential that you draw up a will to provide for the care of your child, both financially and physically. When you create a will, you can name a guardian to step in and take care of your child, if necessary, and you can make sure your child receives your financial assets. However, many people go beyond writing a will and establish a living trust, which gives them more control over how and when they want their assets distributed. Your legal advisor can help you prepare a will and determine if a living trust is appropriate for your needs.

• Maintain adequate cash. To help pay for



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all those expenses related to child rearing, keep enough cash on hand. By having enough resources available in liquid accounts, you can avoid having to dip into your long-term investments to pay for short-term needs.

• Save early and often for college. It’s never too soon to start saving for the high costs of higher education. A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged vehicle and may be a great option for your college savings. Contributions to a 529 plan are made with after-tax dollars, and have the opportunity to grow tax-free. Withdrawals used for qualified higher education expenses are also tax free. Furthermore, your 529 plan contributions may be eligible for a state tax deduction or credit depending on the plan and state.

• Stay balanced. As we’ve seen, it takes a lot of money to raise a child. But even as you’re meeting these expenses, think about your own future, particularly your retirement. Strive to strike a balance between the money you spend on your child and the amount you invest in your 401(k), IRA and other retirement-savings vehicles.

You can’t put a price-tag on your child’s future, but when it comes to taking care of that child, you’ll want to know the costs involved — and be prepared for them.

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Jermaine is 11 years old and his siblings; Tibreauna, Keatrick, Jaderrion and Treyveonne are 10, 5, 2 and 8 years old respectively. Jermaine enjoys all outdoor activities including riding his bike, scooter, and skateboard. Tibreauna is sweet child who enjoys school. She is protective and nurturing of her brothers. Keatrick is described as silly and funny and likes to play with his guitar and toy cars. Jaderrion is an incredibly cute, active toddler. Treyveonne is an outgoing child who enjoys all sports. The children need a loving family that can provide them with structure and stability. For more information contact Grace Lindgren, LMSW, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter at the Adoption Coalition of Texas at 512-810-0813 or [email protected]

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When it comes to experienced and compassionate OB/GYNs, Frank Hinds, M.D., and John Thoppil, M.D., of Cedar Park OB/GYN Associates, are here for you. Dr. Hinds and Dr. Thoppil specialize in caring for women at every age and stage of life. Their goal is to provide quality care for patients with individualized attention and education to help them make informed health decisions.

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3 steps to Kick-start your Career - (Continued from )3 steps to Kick-start your career iN 2011

By Amy Wolfgang, M.Ed.

It’s a new year and many of us spend this time evaluating different aspects of our lives: our health, our finances, and our career. Below are the 3 most important actions you can take to kick-start your career in 2011!

identifY Your career goalsBefore you can begin to make changes in your career, you need to

identify what you are looking to change. Identify a few career goals that you want to achieve in 2011. Sample goals include:

• Develop new skills in a particular area• Make a lateral move at your company• Earn a promotion• Start a new job in a different industry

Once you know what you want to achieve you can begin the work to make those changes happen.

Action Item: Write down your career goals for 2011. This does not need to be a formal document, but write them down on paper or type them into a document.

get Your resume in shaPeWhen was the last time you updated your resume? For some it

was years ago when they last applied to a job. For others, it was only a few months ago. Regardless of when you viewed your resume last, now is the time to review it and make sure it includes all of your latest accomplishments.

look at the bullet points on your resume and ask yourself the following questions: • Do they describe your responsibilities or do they focus on

results? A good resume focuses on what you accomplished rather than the tasks that filled your day.

• Is your resume attractive to read or is it too dense with information? Sometimes it can be hard to edit your own work.

We feel a personal connection to what we have accomplished and we should, however, we do not need to include every accomplishment for every position we have ever held.

Action Items: Review the bullet points on your resume and make sure your accomplishments jump out. Then make sure your resume is easy to read. Ask others to help you decide what you should and should not keep on your resume.

develoP connectionsFinding a new job typically takes more than just applying for a

position on a website. You need to tap into the hidden job market by making connections with other professionals. These connections can often help get your resume on top of the pile in front of the hiring manager. Additionally, knowing people at the company you are applying to can help you understand the culture better and the type of individuals that succeed at that company. Developing relationships now will help you in the future, even if you are happy at your current job.

Are you already using professional social networking sites? Great. Are you utilizing them effectively? Have you recently added connections to your sites? Have you joined all relevant groups on the sites?

Professional social networking sites are an important tool to use in a tech-savvy town like Austin, Texas. Once you are connected virtually, it’s time to start making an effort to connect with people in your network. Take them to coffee or schedule a phone conversation. You want individuals to keep you in the front of their mind for when an opportunity comes up. Remember, part of developing relationships is reciprocating. It’s a two way street. Think about how you can help the individual you are connecting with and offer that help.

Action Items: Join professional social networking sites and “invite” those you know to join your network. Then search for good contacts to have personal meetings and conversations with.

In a tight job market, you need every advantage you can get. These actions will give you a leg up and lead to a great career in 2011!

Good Luck!

Copyright © 2011 Peel, Inc. Westside News - January 2011 11


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(Continued on )

3 steps to Kick-start your Career - (Continued from Page 10)3 steps to Kick-start your career iN 2011

By Amy Wolfgang, M.Ed.

It’s a new year and many of us spend this time evaluating different aspects of our lives: our health, our finances, and our career. Below are the 3 most important actions you can take to kick-start your career in 2011!

identifY Your career goalsBefore you can begin to make changes in your career, you need to

identify what you are looking to change. Identify a few career goals that you want to achieve in 2011. Sample goals include:

• Develop new skills in a particular area• Make a lateral move at your company• Earn a promotion• Start a new job in a different industry

Once you know what you want to achieve you can begin the work to make those changes happen.

Action Item: Write down your career goals for 2011. This does not need to be a formal document, but write them down on paper or type them into a document.

get Your resume in shaPeWhen was the last time you updated your resume? For some it

was years ago when they last applied to a job. For others, it was only a few months ago. Regardless of when you viewed your resume last, now is the time to review it and make sure it includes all of your latest accomplishments.

look at the bullet points on your resume and ask yourself the following questions: • Do they describe your responsibilities or do they focus on

results? A good resume focuses on what you accomplished rather than the tasks that filled your day.

• Is your resume attractive to read or is it too dense with information? Sometimes it can be hard to edit your own work.

We feel a personal connection to what we have accomplished and we should, however, we do not need to include every accomplishment for every position we have ever held.

Action Items: Review the bullet points on your resume and make sure your accomplishments jump out. Then make sure your resume is easy to read. Ask others to help you decide what you should and should not keep on your resume.

develoP connectionsFinding a new job typically takes more than just applying for a

position on a website. You need to tap into the hidden job market by making connections with other professionals. These connections can often help get your resume on top of the pile in front of the hiring manager. Additionally, knowing people at the company you are applying to can help you understand the culture better and the type of individuals that succeed at that company. Developing relationships now will help you in the future, even if you are happy at your current job.

Are you already using professional social networking sites? Great. Are you utilizing them effectively? Have you recently added connections to your sites? Have you joined all relevant groups on the sites?

Professional social networking sites are an important tool to use in a tech-savvy town like Austin, Texas. Once you are connected virtually, it’s time to start making an effort to connect with people in your network. Take them to coffee or schedule a phone conversation. You want individuals to keep you in the front of their mind for when an opportunity comes up. Remember, part of developing relationships is reciprocating. It’s a two way street. Think about how you can help the individual you are connecting with and offer that help.

Action Items: Join professional social networking sites and “invite” those you know to join your network. Then search for good contacts to have personal meetings and conversations with.

In a tight job market, you need every advantage you can get. These actions will give you a leg up and lead to a great career in 2011!

Good Luck!

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