B e l ter ra C o m m u n i t y New s

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1 t h e THe Bulletin B u l l e t in B e l ter ra C o m m u n i t y New s August July Volume 2, Issue 7 News for the Residents Volume of 1, Belterra Issue 1 Pet Corner Submitted by Luis Escobar, Dog Behavioral Therapist & Master Trainer Thunderstorms, Firecrackers, and Other Loud Sounds Does your dog jump at the clap of thunder? Does he bark at the bang of fireworks? Or is he calm with seemingly no reaction to the loud crashes? Dogs have varying reactions to loud noises. Some may tear up the house, others may try to hide or run from the scary sounds, while others seem just fine. If your dog appears fearful of clamoring sounds, check with your vet. Some dog s ears are so sensitive that the noisy clapping of thunder may actually hurt their ears. If a dog is somewhat deaf, these sounds may also cause adverse reactions. Your vet also can help if your pup needs a sedative to calm him during a noisy storm or explosive celebrations of the 4th of July. Also check with your vet about using Bach Rescue Remedy if a sedative is not appropriate. Since you are not always home when storms hit, you will want to set up an area for your dog in which he feels safe. Crate training your dog offers him that safe haven. He should be able to access the designated refuge whenever you are not at home. Some dogs react to an approaching storm long before it even reaches the area. It is as though that the dog is reacting to the sound of thunder from the distanced storm. The dog, however, is actually reacting to the presence of static electricity in the atmosphere (as happens with the drop of barometric pressure prior to a storm). These dogs need to the grounded. An anti-static mat can be placed in or under the dog s kennel. The kennel should be situated in a way that the dog thinks it has entered the house. The kennel should be soundproofed with rubber-backed carpet with an extra piece of carpet across the opening to create a flap that closes after the dog enters. If the kennel is a safe place, the dog should be allowed to come and go as it wishes. Some dogs become so fearful that they may hurt themselves if the kennel is closed and they cannot escape. If the kennel is soundproofed, the bang of thunder and fireworks may be diminished and the dog may remain calm. If crating your dog is not a possibility or you do not have a crate, find a place where the sound is less intense. In a thunderstorm, the dog should be in a closed-in area that does not let in the flash of light. The best solution, however, for dogs that are fearful of noises is desensitization. This is the process of helping your dog work through his fear of storms and other loud noises. It can be a slow process, and you must take time every day to work with your dog. Do not console your dog when he is fearful. Instead, distract him with something like play. He will be so busy playing that he may not even hear the thunder. You may also want to use a soundtrack of storm noises, firecrackers, car backfiring or other sharp sounds. Play the tape at a low level and simultaneously distract him by keeping him focused on play, on you or on another activity. Over time, increase the volume of the recording. Repeat this process until your dog has become accustomed to the noises. Case Study: Rex, a Rottweiler, would begin acting anxious when a storm approached. The owner could not settle the dog, and he would hurt himself when the storm arrived. Rex would run through the house or the backyard crashing into things. One time he had escaped trying to run from the storm and was not found until after the weather calmed. The solution of using a crate with antic-static pads helped to calm Rex. The soundproofed crate diminished the sound of the thunder and the carpet prevented the flash of light inside. Rex is now calmer during a storm and much happier. The owner now has a calm dog and no longer needs to search for Rex after a storm. Copyright 2008 Peel, Inc. The Bulletin - July 2008

2 The Bulletin IMPORTANT Newsletter Information NUMBERS EMERGENCY NUMBERS EMERGENCY Fire Ambulance Schools Dripping Springs ISD Dripping Springs Elementary Walnut Springs Elementary Rooster Springs Elementary Dripping Springs Middle School Dripping Springs High School Utilities Water WCID # 1 & Trash Texas Disposal Gas Texas Community Propane Electricity Pedernales Electric OTHER Oak Hill Post Office Animal Control Newsletter Publisher Peel, Inc Article Submissions... articles@peelinc.com Advertising... advertising@peelinc.com Personal Classifieds BELTERRA MOTORCYCLE OWNERS: If you are looking for someone to ride with on day trips (2 hours out lunch 2 hours back) in the greater Austin area, please tonyque@ yahoo.com Teenage Job Seekers Baby Pet House Yard Name Age Sit Sit Sit Work Phone Rice, Zoe Napiorkowski, Mike Not Avaliable Online Recipe for the Summer 1-3 oz. package jello 1 package Kool-Aid 1 cup sugar 2 cups boiling water 2 cups cold water Popscicles Dissolve jello, sugar and Kool-Aid in boiling water. Add cold water. Pour into molds and freeze. If you would like to submit YOUR recipe it to articles@peelinc.com. CAREER OPPORTUNITY - INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES New York Life Insurance Company is interviewing qualified applicants for sales positions. New York Life and its affiliate companies offer a variety of insurance and financial products and services. Our representatives receive comprehensive professional training and generous benefits. Their potential earnings are unlimited. Prior sales experience is helpful, but not mandatory. Management opportunities are available for those who qualify after a period in sales. If interested, please call Dan Rioux or drrioux@newyorklife.com *-CPR Training +-First Aid Training Attention Teenagers The Teenage Job Seekers listing service is offered free of charge to all Belterra teenagers seeking work. Submit your name and information to belterra@peelinc.com by the 9 th of the month! Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V 2 The Bulletin - July 2008 Copyright 2008 Peel, Inc.

3 THe Bulletin Copyright 2008 Peel, Inc. The Bulletin - July 2008

4 The Bulletin NatureWatch by Jim and Lynne Weber Dazzling Dragonflies on the stem of a plant, break through its skin (called the exuvia) and With their large, multi-faceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent enlarge its body and wings by pumping fluids into them. wings, and an elongated body, the dragonfly is an ancient insect that Mature dragonflies are known for their aerial acrobatics, capable of inspires myth and lore in many world cultures. For Native Americans, hovering and rapid acceleration, and can both hunt and mate on the their form can represent swiftness and energy, pure water, and even wing. They need to make the most of their time as aerial predators, symbolize renewal after a time of great hardship. since adults live only up to two months. Adult dragonflies are often Usually found around lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands, confused with damselflies, but they are two distinct insect species. dragonflies typically eat mosquitoes, midges, and other small insects When at rest, damselflies often hold their wings together or slightly such as flies, bees, and even some butterflies. They capture their prey open above their body, whereas dragonflies hold their wings fully by clasping them with their spike-studded legs, and their prey cannot open horizontally or slightly down and forward. Additionally, the use their usual form of escape by diving away, since dragonflies eyes on a damselfly are separated, while the eyes of most dragonflies always attack from underneath! Normally, dragonflies do not bite touch. Both damselflies and dragonflies are members of the scientific or sting humans, but if you grasp one by the abdomen, it will bite in order Odonata, so their lifecycles are very similar. order to escape. The common names for dragonfly species that occur in Texas The lifecycle of a dragonfly consists of three stages: egg, nymph, are as colorful as the insects themselves Twin-Spotted Spiketail, and adult. The female will lay her eggs directly on aquatic plants Roseate Skimmer, Eastern Pondhawk, Black or merely drop them in water. Once hatched, these nymphs begin Saddlebags, Blue-Faced Meadowhawk, their life living underwater, eating other aquatic creatures. Nymphs Halloween Pennant, and Jade Clubtail to of larger dragonflies will even eat the nymphs of smaller species! name a few. To some extent, the presence This nymphal stage can last as long as four years in some species, of dragonflies may be taken as an but most overwinter in ponds and marshes and emerge in the spring indicator of ecosystem quality. Local as adults. Once fully grown, the nymph will crawl out of the water (Continued on page 5) HEY!... You Need To Lighten Up You ve invested in nice landscaping, why limit yourself to enjoying it in the daylight only? With professionally installed landscape lighting from ABC, you ll be able to enjoy your yard, flowers & trees, well after the sun goes down. In addition to making your yard more attractive it also provides the added bonus of increased safety and security. Curious about how your home can look with elegant landscape lighting call today for your free, no obligation nighttime demonstration. Our professionals will install portable lighting and you can see how lovely your home can look when the sun goes down. Call today for your free appointment (512) IH 35 North Austin, Texas (512) FREE LANDSCAPE LIGHTING DEMO Coupon good for FREE, no obligation nighttime landscape lighting demo. The Bulletin - July 2008 Copyright 2008 Peel, Inc.

5 THe Bulletin Nature Watch - (Continued from page 4) populations and diversity may be strongly affected by changes in water flow, turbidity, and in aquatic or waterside vegetation. Not surprisingly, the greatest number of species are found at sites with natural water flows, high water quality, native plants, and a variety of microhabitats. When you see dragonflies this summer, admire their maneuverability, enjoy their jewel-like colors, appreciate their mosquitoeating, and be thankful that we no longer have the giant dragonflies from the Jurassic & Cretaceous geologic periods, when their wingspans were up to six times larger than those we have today! Send your nature-related questions to naturewatch@austin.rr.com and we ll do our best to answer them. Teen Drivers: Accidents Waiting For A Place to Happen? Submitted by Victor Thompson Mom, where are the car keys? Your teen can t wait to start driving. But I know how worried you must be about your child getting behind the wheel of a car. Although the number of auto-accident injuries and fatalities among drivers between ages 15 and 20 is falling, accidents are still the leading cause of death for that age group. The good news: You can take steps to help keep your young driver safer: Limit night driving. Most fatal accidents involving young drivers occur between 9 p.m. and midnight. Night driving requires more skill than driving in daylight, and young drivers may be more prone to distraction, carelessness or fatigue when driving after dark. Let your teen get plenty of daytime-driving experience before you allow nighttime driving. Restrict the number of passengers. Nearly two-thirds of teen passenger deaths occur when the driver is also a teen. Teen friends in the car may distract a novice driver. And sometimes peer passengers encourage recklessness in a normally safe young driver. Limit the number of passengers your teen may have in the car. Choose safer wheels. That flashy red sports car or cool SUV may be your teen s dream machine, but think safety when shopping for a vehicle, and look for one with protective features. For example, midsize cars typically withstand crashes better than small ones, and many newer models hold up better in crashes than older ones. Newer cars also offer improved safety features such as airbags and antilock brakes. Copyright 2008 Peel, Inc. The Bulletin - July 2008

6 The Bulletin Some Like It Hot! Structure of Receptor for Hot Chili Pepper and Pain Revealed HOUSTON (May 19, 2008) You can now not only feel the spicy kick of a jalapeno pepper, you can also see it in full 3D, thanks to researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Using sophisticated equipment, the research team led by Dr Theodore G. Wensel, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at BCM, generated the first three dimensional view of the protein that allows you to sense the heat of a hot pepper. The report appears in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This protein, known as TRPV1, not only senses spicy foods, but also makes it possible to feel real heat and the pain and inflammation related to other medical conditions, said Wensel, senior author on the study. This method of viewing the protein now gives us the chance to clearly see the functional relationship between outside stimuli and the nerve cell. The outside stimulus used in this study was the heat of a chili pepper. It has been known for years that the burning sensation results from the action of a chemical known as capsaicin on TRPV1 found on the nerve cell membrane. TRPV1 is an ion channel, a tiny pore on the cell membrane that allows chemicals such as calcium to flux in and out. Any time you feel a burn or pain sensation, it is mediated by a TRPV1 channel. Different levels of heat are mediated by different TRP channels, said Dr. Vera Moiseenkova-Bell, a postdoctoral associate in Wensel s laboratory at BCM and first author of the study. They are all related but each is regulated in a different manner. Wensel said the three-dimensional image of TRPV1 revealed surprising information about its structure. It is made up of a pore domain embedded in the cell membrane, and a hanging basket of regulatory domains that extend into the interior of the cell. Baylor College of Medicine It s an unusual thing. There is a whole hollow basket area but we don t know what s that s for, Wensel said. Now the search is on to understand how the basket area regulates the channel. Isolating TRPV1 gives researchers an idea of how other channels are structured as well. Visualization of TRPV1 gives us insight on other TRP channels since they are structurally similar, said Moiseenkova- Bell. Pharmaceutical companies target these TRP channels to make sure the drug binds properly. With this first structure we can start to build models of binding sites and hopefully in the future design more effective pharmaceuticals for a wide range of medical conditions. Studying these channels is nothing new. In the past, scientists could measure the activity in the cells but it was unclear what each channel was responding to. Determining which proteins interacted with TRPV1, however, required Wensel s lab to create a purified model. The protein had to be removed from cells, purified, and reconstituted in a synthetic membrane so researchers could control channel activity. Since calcium is involved in cell signaling, following the calcium movement confirmed the protein is active, said Wensel. We are the first group to purify a TRPV1 channel and control what goes in and out when the channel opens. Others who took part in this work are Dr. Lia Stanicu, of Purdue University, Dr. Irina Serysheva, adjunct associate professor of biochemistry at BCM, and BCM graduate student, Ben J. Tobe. Funding for this work came from the National Institutes of Health. The article is available at Are you ready for SuMMer? Mr. Cool HVAC Do You Know a DirtY air ConDitioner Can... Spread dust, mites, allergens, mold and foul smells? Cause water leaks and damaged ceilings? easily consumes more electricity than a clean one? taclb013299c A/C & Heater Check-Ups Servicing all Makes and Models. In Your Area. Family Owned and Operated Out of Oak Hill. brian Weiss Honest. Dependable Service. Serving austin for 18 years. $25.00 Complete Check-Up A/C and Heater no Bull! ($65.00 Value) VAlUAble COUpOn The Bulletin - July 2008 Copyright 2008 Peel, Inc.

7 THe Bulletin Sunday, June 8 was the official Ice cream kickoff for the 1st annual Locks of Love campaign, the brainchild of Sandra Bennett. Locks of Love is a not-for-profit organization that provides free hairpieces to children 18 years and younger in the US and Canada suffering from any type of medical hair loss. The exceptionally well attended event was hosted by Rick and Kristi Nordin, at Cups and Cones in Steiner Ranch, Chandi Wagner, an executive with the Girl Scouts of America and other business sponsors. The 69 girls, women and Moms who recently signed up to shed their locks for this worthy cause were treated to fancy nails & toes administered by local Girl Scouts, ice cream cones, fun games and more. Each participant was provided a beautiful headband to embellish and wear to all the coming events. Jewels, puffy paints and glue were supplied at the craft table. Most participants were photographed by Liz Humphrey. The girls will be treated to a Back to School Measurement Party in October. On December 7, 2008, the girls will be photographed again with their sleek new look. Girls ranging in age from 3 years old to Moms have signed up to donate their luxurious locks to kids who cannot grow their own hair. Moms and daughters have joined together to support this great cause. Girls from all over Austin, including Georgetown, Round Rock, South Austin, Steiner Ranch, Grand View Hills, River Place and Leander are participating. Many local Girl Scout Troops (including one entire Troop) and their leaders are also among the participants. Each contributing Girl Scout will earn a Merit Badge. It s not too late to donate your long tresses to this most deserving group of kids. Hair must be ten inches long at time of cut and can be colored, but not highlighted or permed. The next event created for these great girls is a fabulous Girls Night Out. There will be more fun activities in store for the donors over the next 6 months. Mom and Daughter teams are encouraged to join in on the merriment...all in the name of fun, fun fun! Local businesses have come together to support and help implement Sandra s idea. For more information, contact Sandra Bennett at Jon Offord Belterra Realtor GRI Free Right Price Analysis for your home I live & work in South West Austin s best community, Belterra. I would love the opportunity to discuss your real estate needs. You can call me or visit my website for further details Free Home Warranty Packages Exclusive Texas Move-Up Program Copyright 2008 Peel, Inc. The Bulletin - July 2008

8 The Bulletin Garage Doors Certainly are Beasts of Burden Submitted by Bill Cook One of the most ignored and overlooked maintenance components of your home is your garage door and opener. These beastsof burden are frequently ignored, neglected and taken for granted...that is until they stop working. An average two-car garage door has nearly forty moving parts and weighs approximately 300 pounds. When in the up position, the door is usually 8 feet above the floor with your second most expensive investment parked directly underneath. Last year approximately 20,000 garage door related injuries were treated in America s emergency rooms. Given these facts, proper maintenance and repair should be a higher priority on our never-ending to do lists. Basic routine maintenance should be performed every six months to maximize performance and extend the life of the moving parts of your garage door(s). While repairs should be left to the professionals, the following activities should be completed every six months: Door: 1. Lubricate hinge joints with a silicone-based lubricant. Be careful in selecting a product as many common spray lubricants are alcoholbased and can actually dry out moving parts. 2. Do not lubricate track and rollers. This common misconception only serves to attract dust particles and cause further wear. While it does appear to be a short-term fix, over that short time, problems will become worse. 3. Release the door from the opener by disengaging the trolley (pull the red string down).* Raise the door to the halfway point. A properly balanced door should remain in that position. If the door falls or rises on its own this is a symptom of spring failure. Improperly balanced garage doors can cause opener and/or door damage. * Raise and lower the door manually. The door should require no more than ten pounds of force to raise. This is the maximum weight residential openers are designed to raise. Clacking, screeching or popping sounds also indicate moving parts failure. *Please Do Not attempt any repairs as certain garage door components can cause serious injury! Opener: 1. Chain and belt drive openers should have a light coating of siliconebased lubricant sprayed on the boom (bar from the motor unit to the door) twice per year. 2. If the system has safety eye sensors (located at the bottom of the door tracks), make sure these are properly aligned and free of dust and debris. An obstruction could stop the opener from closing the door. (Continued on page 9) Elegant Sophistication in Beauty Serving Austin for 33 Years Day Of Beauty Makeovers Hair Designers Master Color Specialists Curly Hair Experts Professional Manicures/Pedicures Spa Packages Skin Facial Services IPL/Photofacial Rejuvenation Laser/IPL Hair Removal Refreshing Spa/Body Treatments Professional Waxing Extraordinary Massage Services GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE BUY ON-LINE azizsalon.com Downtown Salon located at 710 W. 7th St NEW SOUTH LOCATION NOW OPEN! 5400 BRODIE LANE IN ACADEMY SHOPPING CTR., NEXT TO BED, BATH & BEYOND Discount R AT E S without discount S E R V I C E. It s no accident more people trust State Farm to insure their cars. Call today. Lee Ann LaBorde, Agent 8400 Brodie Lane, Suite 105 Austin, TX Bus: lee.a.laborde.b32a@statefarm.com State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (Not in NJ), Bloomington, IL P /04 8 The Bulletin - July 2008 Copyright 2008 Peel, Inc.

9 THe Bulletin Garage Doors - (Continued from page 8) POWER SURGES to your home can severely damage the electronics of electric door openers. Should your opener operate erratically, DO NOT attempt to continue using it as it may damage your garage door. It is always wiser to error on the side caution concerning this large, heavy moving wall in your home. Classified Ads Personal classifieds (one time sell items, such as a used bike...) run at no charge to Belterra residents, limit 30 words, please belterra@ peelinc.com. Business classifieds (offering a service or product line for profit) are $50, limit 40 words, please contact Peel, Inc. Sales or advertising@peelinc.com. A Pain In the Neck May Be a Thing of the Past Baylor College of Medicine HOUSTON (May 27, 2008) Getting rid of a pain in the neck is usually easier said than done. Patients who suffer from muscle pain don t always find immediate and lasting relief, however, a new treatment option may be the solution. According to experts at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, injecting Botulinum toxin into trigger points in the muscle may offer longer lasting relief for patients suffering from muscle pain in the back or neck that is due to muscle spasms. This treatment used in conjunction with physical therapy can help loosen the muscles and provide relief for several months, said Dr. Benoy Benny, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation and director of the spine, sports and pain program at BCM. Many patients suffering with this type of pain have tried several treatment options including non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, physical therapy and trigger point injections with a local anesthetic. Those who felt shortterm relief from the trigger point injections may find that Botulinum toxin injections provide the same relief for a longer period of time, said Benny. Whereas the trigger point injections may last for a few hours, days or weeks, Botulinum toxin injections can last for as many as three months for some and can be repeated if necessary. Over time, the frequency of the injections can be reduced as the patient continues with physical therapy. Doctors are now exploring what other areas of pain this treatment can be used in, and whether it may be an alternative to surgery for those suffering from refractory back pain. However, the treatment is not recommended for patients with neurological symptoms as it is not meant to treat these symptoms, said Benny. Peel, Inc. Printing & Publishing Publishing community newsletters since 1991 Support This Neighborhood Newsletter. Kelly Peel Sales Manager kelly@peelinc.com Advertise your business to your neighbors Copyright 2008 Peel, Inc. The Bulletin - July 2008

10 The Bulletin Meet Austin DOB March 2001 Austin is a playful and loving boy who enjoys playing in the water. He also loves Sesame Street books and his favorite character is the Cookie Monster. Austin is diagnosed with Autism and is learning how to communicate through sign language. He is also working on potty training. Austin is in special education and in kindergarten. His teacher reports that she enjoys having him in her class and that he has made a lot of progress. Austin is legally free for adoption and would do well with parents who can make and unconditional commitment to him. For more information please contact: Vanessa Coppola, MSSW Adoption Coalition of Texas/Wendy s Wonderful Kids Recruiter vcoppola@adoptioncoalitiontx.org (512) office Packages start as low as $895. Standard and HD options. Ask us about our Wedding Story package Mention this ad & recieve 15% off! ConCrete Film ProduCtions For inquiries Please Contact kale@concretefilmproductions.com 10 The Bulletin - July 2008 Copyright 2008 Peel, Inc.

11 THe Bulletin Send Us Your Event Pictures!! Do you have a picture of an event that you would like to run in The Bulletin? Send it to us and we will publish it in the next issue. the picture to belterra@peelinc.com. Be sure to include the text that you would like to have as the caption. Pictures will appear in color online at Sudoku The challenge is to fill every row across, every column down, and every 3x3 box with the digits 1 through 9. Each 1 through 9 digit must appear only once in each row across, each column down, and each 3x3 box. Newsletter Article Submissions Interested in submitting an article? You can do so by ing belterra@peelinc.com or by going to 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 Bulletin. Personal news for the Stork Report, Teenage Job Seekers, special celebrations and military service are also welcome. *See solution at PEELinc.com Feature Exchange The Bulletin 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 Bulletin contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, , 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. 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. Announcing the opening of our new office at Hwy 290 West, Suite 115 (Directly across from the entrance of Belterra) Individual, Marital and Family Therapy (ages 6 and up) Specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma and eating disorders For an Appointment Call ext.1 Copyright 2008 Peel, Inc. The Bulletin - July

12 The Bulletin ADVERTISE HERE Peel, Inc. 203 W. Main Street, Suite D Pflugerville, Texas PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PEEL, INC. % Voice V 12 The Bulletin - July 2008 Copyright 2008 Peel, Inc. BT