september october 2015 edition of the caddie online
DESCRIPTION
Your copy of the latest edition of "The Caddie Online" fresh off the proverbial presses! Enjoy and have a great day!TRANSCRIPT
We
have an
action
packed
fall
ahead of us here in Forest Creek!
Check page 4 for upcoming
events and be sure to mark your
favorites on your calendar so
you don’t miss out!
FOREST
CREEK GOES
BACK TO
SCHOOL!
FIRST
DAY
PHOTOS
ON
PAGES
42-43!
F O R E S T C R E E K T E X A S
The Caddie Online
September/October 2015 VOLUME 41
Be a good
neighbor and pick
up after your
dogs when you
take them for a
walk!
E C O -
W I S E
O N L I N E
E D I T I O N
More Content
New Columns
Written by
Residents for
Residents
Environmentally
Friendly
Sponsored
by Resident
Owned
and Local
Businesses
If you made the cookies on page 46 for the Neighborhood BBQ , please contact the Editor at [email protected] to collect your prize!
10 Safety Tips for
Hiring a Teen
Babysitter
Ensure your children are safe
with a teen sitter.
Page 28
2
News from the Board…..3
Save The Dates ………..4
Yard of the Month……..5
Announcements,
Accomplishments,
and Accolades……8-9
Fresh Food & Farmers
Markets Listings 10-11
Health and Well-
ness……..12-13
Real Estate Pages…. 14-22
Business Pages…...23-27
Teenage Job Seekers 28-30
Parents pages 34-35
School News ………36-39
Back 2 school photos40-41
Neighborhood Watch
News ………… 42
Fast Frogs………..44-45
Neighborhood BBQ 46-47
TABLE OF CONTENTS
“THE FOREST CREEK HOA NEWSLETTER, THE CAD-
DIE, IS NO LONGER PUBLISHED ON PAPER . IN-
STEAD, THE CADDIE IS AVAILABLE IN ELECTRONIC
FORM ON THE HOA WEBSITE, WITH PAPER COPIES
AVAILABLE FROM OUR PROPERTY MANAGER IF
REQUESTED.” The Peel Inc. publication named the
Forest Creek Forum is not sponsored by the Forest
Creek HOA nor does it publish articles sponsored by the
Forest Creek HOA. If you wish to remove yourself
from their mailing list. go to peelinc.com, click on
“newsletters” then on “Receive a newsletter” (even
though you are opting out you must go through the same
process as if you were opting in), when you get to the
second line entitled “newsletter format”, you must click
on the down arrow for the drop down menu and choose
“None, remove me from your e-mail and postal mail
lists” Then fill in the rest of the form and submit it.
POST YOUR GREETING
ON THE MARQUEE
Just contact Stephanie at her new
e-mail address….
THANK YOU STEPHANIE
FOR ALL YOU DO!
3
N E W S F R O M T H E B O A R D
President – Pat Flynn……………...……….………………………………..… ……[email protected]
Vice-President – Keith Chandler ……. ……………………………… …… .…[email protected]
Treasurer–Hector Quintanar…...………………………………….……… …[email protected]
Secretary-Angel Donato…..……………………………...…………….……….……[email protected]
Caddie Editor-Angel Donato….………………………………..………..……..… [email protected]
B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S / C O M M U N I T Y C O N T A C T S
DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opin-
ions of the Forest Creek Homeowners’ Association’s Board of Directors, The Management Co. or the newsletter editor
(collectively, the Publisher). The Publisher assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any facts, representations, or warran-
ties stated in any article authored, or submitted, by others. Publisher reserves the right to refuse to publish material that it
deems to be offensive, inflammatory, or otherwise inappropriate for this newsletter. This newsletter is published solely for the
private use of members of the Forest Creek Homeowners’ Association. .
MANAGEMENT RealManage H.O.A. WEBSITE
phone 1-866-4732573 forestcreekhoa.org
BOARD MEMBER
IDALYN “LYNN”
BANKS RESIGNS
It was with a heavy
heart that I resigned
my position as the
HOA Board Secretary
effective August 10,
2015.
As some of you al-
ready know, my hus-
band, Michael, has recently
accepted a position in Long-
mont, Colorado and it is neces-
sary that we move as soon as
possible.
It has been a true pleasure to
serve as your Board represen-
tative since 2011. During this
period I filled the positions of
Treasurer, Vice President and
finally Secretary. Personal ac-
complishments that I provided
to help Forest Creek stay the
best Community in Round Rock
are as follows: Fought and won
for accountability and open
transparency of our books from
Centex Management, success-
fully advocated the City of
Round Rock to award Forest
Creek Neighborhood of the
Year 2015 and pushed for the
entry into Neighborhood USA
(NUSA) contest for Neighbor-
hood of the Year 2015 where
we won second place for the
Purple Pipe Project!
I can only hope that
my future career
path lands me in
similarly supportive
environments in
which I can continue
to grow profession-
ally. I can't tell you
how much I appreci-
ate the knowledge
you have shared and
the experience I've
gained here.
Thank you again for voting for
me and granting me the privi-
lege of serving you. I wish
nothing but the best for our
HOA. I will miss y’all and will
carry you in my heart when I
am in Colorado and always.
Sincerely,
Idalyn “Lynn” Banks
4
Casino Night!
Saturday, September 19th 7-10pm
at the Forest Creek Park.
With the exception of an optional
10 dollar raffle, no money is involved
and the event is free so come on out
and have some fun! Adults only ...
Appetizers will be served ….BYOB
Housewives of Forest Creek
Sept 25, 7:30pm 2034 Golden Bear Dr.
This is a great way to get to meet with old neighbors and new, network, relax, and just have some fun! Appetizers will be
provided but you can bring a bottle
of wine to share if you like!
Board Meeting
Monday, September 28, 2015, 7:00 p.m.
Chandler Residence
Round Rock, TX 78664
3216 Bay Hill Lane
Go to ForestCreekHOA.org for agenda
[email protected] for queries
about any of the events
…….. SAVE THE DATES Upcoming Forest Creek Neighborhood Events
National Night Out and Business Expo
Tuesday October 6th 5:30-7:30pm Bring the whole family for a fun filled evening!
Events Planning Committee Meeting Wednesday October 7th @ 7pm [email protected] for
location and details. New Members are always welcome!
Adult Social at the Pool
Saturday, October 1oth @ 7:30 The last of the season!
Come meet new neighbors and join old friends for a fun and relaxing evening at the Pool! Bring your own beverage and
an appetizer to share. (please remember, no glass at the pool)
Board Meeting Monday, October 19th, 2015, 7:00 p.m.
Chandler Residence
Round Rock, TX 78664
3216 Bay Hill Lane
Movies in the Park
Saturday, October 24th Movie: Hotel Transylvania
At dusk
Fall Fest! Saturday, October 31st 2-4pm One of our biggest
events of the year! Join us for a Spooktacular time!
Volunteers needed to bring individually wrapped
baked goods for the cake walk!
5
AUGUST
YARD
OF THE
MONTH
.
JUNE YARD OF THE MONTH
3824 Royal Troon A lot of spikey texture in the free formed beds. An accent Bradford pear in the lawn
3914 Harvey Penick Way
Staggered height bushes with brilliant red
laropetelum, annual and potted color.
3909 Lord Byron Circle Begonias in stone edged beds around trees and along front of house. Laropetelum gives good bush color.
JULY YARD OF THE MONTH
3806 Harvey Penick Beautiful glazed river rock edging,bench, patio, gazing ball, floral pots and great textured greenery
. 3201 Bay Hill Dark brown stone beds with yellow Lantana, rose trees and Pride of Bar-
bados . Great accent boulder!
2216 Shark Loop Beautiful Magnolia tree, Golden
Euonymus bushes, Burford Holly and Yellow Bells
6
Ladies, Looking for a Friend;
Something to do?
Round Rock New Neighbors is
Women Welcoming Women for Fun
& Friendship.
Whether you are a newcomer
or have lived here for years,
WE WELCOME YOU.
We are ideal for empty nesters or
women who have left the work
place and are looking to get back
to a social life.
Round Rock New Neighbors -
Where Friendships Bloom!
We are initiating a new Logo
and we hope that you will take
the opportunity to visit our
website and view all of
the activities that we have to
offer and the many ways we
have for you to do exactly that,
Bloom ( Make New) or perhaps
(Grow) in Friendships with
us . Remember, you do not
have to be New to the area, as
we have many women who
have lived in the area for a
while and we also welcome
women who are moving here
from other places.
Our temporary new home for
the General Monthly Meetings,
which start up again on
Sept. 9th, is very close to our
current facility off hwy 620.
Situated 1/2 mile from
FM 620, Brushy Creek
Community Center at:
16318 Great Oaks Drive
Round Rock, TX 78681
Phone: 512.255.7871
Please visit our website
www.RRNewNeighbors.org
for more information and
phone numbers regarding
personal contact information
and location s as well as any
membership information..
7
Why I Don’t Recommend Retractable Leashes By Dr. Becker
A retractable leash is not so much a leash as it is a length of thin cord wound around a spring-loaded de-
vice housed inside a plastic handle. The handles of most retractable leashes are designed to fit comforta-
bly in a human hand. A button on the handle controls how much of the cord is extended.
Retractable leashes are popular primarily because they aren't as confining as regular leashes, allowing
dogs more freedom to sniff and poke around on walks. But unfortunately, there are many downsides to
this type of leash.
1 0 R e a s o n s N o t t o U s e a R e t r a c t a b l e L e a s h
1.The length of retractable leashes, some of which can extend up to 26 feet, allows dogs to get far enough away from their
humans that a situation can quickly turn dangerous. A dog on a retractable leash is often able to run into the middle of the
street, for example, or make uninvited contact with other dogs or people.
2.In the above scenario, or one in which your pet is being approached by an aggressive dog, it is nearly impossible to get con-
trol of the situation if the need arises. It's much easier to regain control of – or protect -- a dog at the end of a six-foot stan-
dard flat leash than it is if he's 20 or so feet away at the end of what amounts to a thin string.
3.The thin cord of a retractable leash can break – especially when a powerful dog is on the other end of it. If a strong, good-
sized dog takes off at full speed, the cord can snap. Not only can that put the dog and whatever he may be chasing in danger,
but also the cord can snap back and injure the human at the other end.
Continued on page 23
The Forest Creek Pet Nanny
“Loving on your pets while
you’re away”
Beth Parli
512-592-9429
www.forestcreekpetnanny.com
8
Announcements, Accomplishments, and Accolades!
A Huge Congratulations
to this years Forest
Creek Young Explorer
Graduates!
These precocious young ladies
have worked hard all year and
have started kindergarten
already reading and doing basic
math equations! They have also
lived up to the Young Explorer
pledge to be “Peaceful with our
words and actions, Respectful of
people and things, Responsible
for all we say and do, and to be
enthusiastic learners and always
work with excellence!’ We are
so very proud of them and
although sad to see them go,
we sent them off with a sprin-
kling of Fairy Dust and high
hopes for a very bright future!
Congratulations to Barrington Miles,
for earning the Male Teen Ambassador of the Year Award!
In May of this year, Barrington Miles was chosen to serve as an
Ambassador of Hope for the Texas Advocacy Project (http://
www.texasadvocacyproject.org/), an organization that provides
FREE legal services statewide to victims of domestic and dating
violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 14 nominees/teens across Texas between the ages of 13-18 years were
chosen by the Board of Directors, based upon their community involve-
ment and social engagement. As a Teen Ambassador, Barrington took Teen Dating Violence and leadership training and engaged family,
friends and peers to raise awareness about dating violence and healthy relationships; promote the Project’s
mission and services; and raise funds for the organization. He took his mission very seriously and raised
more funds than all the other nominees! Great Job Barrington! You are a credit to your community!
9
Announcements, Accomplishments, and Accolades!
F.A.S.T. Frogs win at
Champs Meet once again!
The Forest Area Swim Team (F.A.S.T. Frogs) brought back the NAAL CHAMPS title for 2015! Seven teams com-peted over two days at the Avery Ranch neighborhood pool. Ages 10 and under competed the first day and ages 11 and up competed the second day. Frogs 10 and under started strong, putting the team in first at the half-way mark. The next day, the 11 and ups gained momen-tum and continued the lead. The team finished with 557.5 points overall. The Gators (Great Hills, Jester, Lake-wood areas) and the Bal-
cones Woods Blue Wave teams rounded out the top three with 444 and 435 points respectively. This is the 5
th
year Frogs have won the NAAL title.
While winning is always excit-ing, that’s not the primary fo-cus of the team. F.A.S.T Frogs is a non-profit, recrea-tional summer swim team formed to give our children the opportunity to have fun and improve swimming skills while exposing them to the sport. In addition to daily practice and weekend meets during the 9 week season, the team also hosted several social events including a kick-off party, age group carb-up parties and an awards ban-quet that ended in a big pool party.
This was the 12th season for
the team comprised of Forest Creek, Forest Creek III, Lake Forest and Forest Ridge area children ranging in age from 4 to 18. The inaugural season included 168 swimmers. While swimming in general continues to grow in popular-ity in the area, so does this swim team. F.A.S.T Frogs accepted 280 swimmers this year with 40 of their youngest swimmers joining as “Tadpoles”. The number of swimmers is dependent on pool and coach availability; they strive to include as many children as possible each summer. The team has been grateful to retain Head Coach Mark and Tadpole Coach Liz since the first season.
Continued on pages 46 and 47
10
99 Twin Ridge Parkway
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 388-2874
“Hearts for Health Natural Food Source is a local food share program
providing easy access to healthy whole foods from local farms.
They Currently offer dairy, eggs, almonds, grass-fed beef and
Poultry. Pick up is right here in Forest Creek. Make this year the
year you start your family on the path to cleaner eating and enjoy
the discounts of bulk purchasing! To find out more, contact
Kristen at [email protected] or join the facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/h4hfoodsource.”
Player Development Membership Benefits
Unlimited Driving Range Usage
Complimentary Instructional Clinics
$18 Golf w/ Cart After 2 pm Daily
$12 Golf w/ Cart After 4 pm Daily
$28 Golf Before 2 pm - Non Holiday Weekdays
20% Golf Merchandise Discount
Forest Creek Golf Association Events & Handicap
Daily Special $1 Draft Beer & Fountain Drink Pricing
10% Discount on Weekday Accompanied Guests
Preferred pricing at Blackhawk & Riverside
11
SUNDAYS 3-6PM STARTING MOTHERS DAY
WEEKEND SURROUNDING THE LAWN AREA
IN FRONT OF IPIC THEATER
3225 Amy Donovan Plaza Austin, Texas 78758
ROUND ROCK
FARMERS MARKET
Year Round , Rain or Shine!
Saturday mornings from 9am - noon ,
in the Scott & White Hospital Parking
Lot at the corner of Oakmont & Univ.
behind the Round Rock Outlet Mall and IKEA.
For more information feel free to contact
Greg Coley, Round Rock Market Manager,
(512) 215-4193 or,
GEORGETOWN SUN CITY
FARMER'S MARKET
THURSDAYS 9 A.M. - NOON, YEAR ROUND
EXTRA, EXTRA read all about it…
GEORGETOWN Thursday market HAS MOVED,
formerly in San Gabriel Park. The new location is
in the Georgetown Church of Christ parking lot
at the corner of DB Woods and Hwy 29. The
physical address is 1525 W. University Ave.
Fresh produce, free range eggs, pasture raised
beef, cheese, nuts, canned goods, artisan
breads & edible and ornamental plants.
CEDAR PARK FARMERS MARKET
EVERY SATURDAY FROM 9AM-1PM,
RAIN OR SHINE.
North Austin's only YEAR ROUND, all Texas
products, Farmers Market! Providing local
area farmers and ranchers a direct sales op-
portunity to our local community. 50+ vendors
Fresh vegetables, fruit, nuts, meats, dairy,
seafood, eggs, citrus, bakery items, coffee, teas,
tamales, breakfast tacos, Napalese, Indian
foods, soups, olive oil, granola, hummus, pies,
charcuterie, spices and more!
LOCATED AT LAKELINE MALL, IN THE PARK-
ING LOT BEHIND SEARS AND DILLARD'S AT THE
CORNER OF 183N AND 620 in the northern area
of Austin TX. Local food and music. Half the
vendors are producers, the other half is
comprised of artisans and prepared food
vendors. Sampling, chef demos,
live local music. Come visit, it's an event !
PFLUGERVILLE PFARMER'S MARKET
Tuesdays: 3 p.m.- 7 pm. MAY—OCT.
The mission of the Pflugerville Pfarmers Market
is to bring fresh, locally grown and prepared
foods to the Pflugerville community. Vendors sell
locally grown produce including tomatoes, cu-
cumbers, beans, squash, okra, garlic, melons,
peaches and grapes; artisan baked goods; honey;
flowers; eggs; free-range meats; jarred salsas,
pickles and jams; fruits and plants.
Cash is preferred. Credit card purchases depend
on the vendor's capability. Some of the vendors
are now accepting WIC vouchers.
Location:
The Green Red Barn - Heritage Park
901 Old Austin-Hutto Road.
BUY LOCAL
12
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Considered a veggie but
technically a fruit related to
melons, the cucumber is
often an afterthought or
garnish for most. Too bad.
It's not only a tasty addi-
tion to many foods and
very hydrating with it's 90-
plus percent water con-
tent; cucumbers are packed
with a load of health-benefiting
nutrients too.
Non-organic cucumbers are
heavily sprayed according to the
Environmental Working Group.
And they are coated for ship-
ping with synthetic waxes. It's a
no-brainer to opt for organic
cucumbers that are not sprayed
and coated with synthetic pe-
troleum-based waxes.
As with most produce, the skin
contains a lot of nutrients. If de-
sired, the organic wax can be
washed off organic cucumbers.
But non-organic cucumber skins
should be peeled off before us-
ing. Cucumbers are the fourth
most cultivated plant in the
world. But you may want to
grow our own.
Sliced cucumbers go well in just
about any salad, are great
"veggie" additions to almost any
sandwich, and they are easily
juiced or mixed into smoothies.
One recipe calls for ice and cu-
cumber with a fruit of choice
run through a blender as a quick
summer cooler.
There are several how-to make
"cuke" cooler videos here.
Here are those 10 health bene-
fits
(1)Highly alkalizing: Whenever I
use cheese, which is acid-
producing, in a sandwich, I com-
fort myself by balancing out the
cheese's acid forming in my
body with sliced cucumbers to
offset and balance out the pH
factor.
(2) High silica content: Silica is
not granted the importance that
it deserves. It's a major compo-
nent for building bone and binds
to aluminum to offset its toxicity
and flush it out of organs.
(3) Reduce cancer risk:
Cucumbers' polyphenol
lignans and phytonutri-
ents have anti-cancer
properties that have
been isolated by some
studies.
(4) Prevent brain health
decline: Cucumber's anti-
inflammatory flavonol, fisetin,
plays an important role in brain
health. Fisetin protects against
progressive memory loss and
cognitive decline according to
animal testing.
(5) Support digestion: Cucumber
skins contain insoluble fiber,
which helps add bulk to your
stool. This helps food to move
through your digestive tract
more quickly for healthy elimi-
nation. Ayurveda recommends
cucumbers to release excess
stomach heat and resolve bad
breath.
(6)High in antioxidants: Cucum-
bers contain vitamin C and beta-
carotene. They also contain an-
tioxidant flavonoids, such as
quercetin, apigenin, luteolin and
kaempferol, which provide addi-
tional benefits
13
Continued from last
page….. (7) Resist inflammation: Animal studies with cu-cumber extract have dem-onstrated their ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes. (8) Manage stress: Cu-cumbers are high in vita-min B, especially B1 (thiamine), B5 (pantothenic acid) and B7 (biotin). These are water-soluble vitamins in a wa-terlogged fruit/veggie that support the nervous sys-tem.
9) Support heart health:
Cucumbers contain potas-
sium. As a vital electro-
lyte, it is associated with a
healthy heart. A proper
balance of potassium and
sodium is essential to
good overall health.
10) Weight watcher com-
patible: Besides creating
soft gel in the stomach
with its insoluble fiber to
feel full faster, cucumbers
are incredibly low in calo-
ries. A cup of sliced cu-
cumbers weighs in at 16
calories.
So pick up two or three
organic "cukes" soon and
see how often you can
include some cucumber in
your daily diet.
Painted pinecones make a beautiful
low maintenance floral arrangement!
14
Active Forest Creek Properties for sale
The Real Estate Section
Actives – Average Days on Market -- 41
Address List Price Square Feet
2311 Arnie Lane $264,900 1982
3224 Bay Hill LN $675,000 5732
3915 Blue Monster CV $389,000 3914
3800 Bobby Jones WAY $650,000 4060
3802 Bobby Jones WAY $625,000 3711
3300 Daufuskie Island RD $589,900 4964
2100 Faldo LN $325,000 2764
3818 Forest Creek DR $484,900 4084
3704 Harvey Penick DR $335,000 3034
3731 Harvey Penick DR $398,000 3990
3930 Harvey Penick DR $320,000 2793
4009 Harvey Penick DR $400,000 2997
4508 Harvey Penick DR $449,900 4536
2147 Hilton Head $529,000 4977
3503 Palmer CV $575,000 4787
3602 Penwood CV $575,000 4307
3738 Royal Port Rush DR $269,000 2105
2222 Shark LOOP $255,000 2491
3807 Spanish Bay CT $389,892 4033
1532 Weiskopf LOOP $450,000 4041
1542 Weiskopf LOOP $450,000 3644
15
Prepared by: Marianne Iamele, Class Act Realty on
August 18th, 2015.
Information Deemed Reliable, But Not Guaranteed. Buyer/
Seller Must Verify. Data used from Austin Multi-
ple Listing Service.
PENDING Pendings – Average Days on Market – 42
Address List Price Square Feet
3988 Lord Byron Circle $355,000 3820
3833 Royal Troon DR $349,000 3025
3869 ROYAL TROON DR $350,000 2679
2028 Golden Bear DR $380,000 3606
2122 Faldo LN $275,000 2734
2205 SHARK LOOP $275,000 2653
List Price Round Rock East Round Rock West
0-99,000 0 0
100-199,000 44 14
200-299,000 132 47
300-399,000 76 69
400-499,000 39 49
500-599,000 8 16
600,000+ 3 10
Totals 302 205
ROUND ROCK STATISTICS
16
The Real Estate Section ….continued
You’re planning a bathroom
remodel. Exciting! It’s time to
talk about flooring and finishes,
light fixtures and storage space.
Oh, yeah, and walkers, slips
and broken hips! Wait. What?!
We know, we know, that’s not
you. It may never be you. But
the truth is: Thinking about
some of the challenges of aging
as you remodel will actually
make your house more accessi-
ble to everyone in your life,
whether it’s your adult daughter
trying to take a shower while
her baby is conked out in the
stroller, a toddling grandchild
who won’t sit still in the tub, a
spouse recovering from knee
surgery or an elderly parent
with failing vision.
“Most of us find it difficult to
plan ahead,” says gerontologist
Jodi Olshevski, executive direc-
tor for the Hartford Center for
Mature Market Excellence.
“And some of us have a certain
aversion to growing older.”
But planning ahead and antici-
pating the changing needs of
your family is the key to pre-
venting your bathroom from
looking institutional down the
road, says Amy Levner, man-
ager of Housing and Livable
Communities for AARP.
“Universal design done well is
invisible, and it looks a lot bet-
ter than a quick fix,” she adds.
Continued on next page
HOW TO REMODEL HOW TO REMODEL HOW TO REMODEL
YOUR BATHROOM YOUR BATHROOM YOUR BATHROOM
FOR NOW AND THE FOR NOW AND THE FOR NOW AND THE
FUTUREFUTUREFUTURE
With universal design,
your bathroom will
be more accessible
to everyone
Knowledge + Focus + Energy = Positive Results
Certified Negotiation Expert
Providing Real Estate Services since 2006
Forest Creek Resident since 2000. I will utilize the latest technologies, market research
and business strategies to meet your expectations. Whether you are buying or selling a
property, I will guide you through each step of the process with a professional approach,
honesty & confidentiality.
For client testimonials & other information please visit my website.
www.youraustinproperty.com
Shaista Salahuddin Realtor,GRI,CNE
Cell: 512-771-8749
Email: [email protected] Website: YourAustinProperty.com
Each office is independently owned and operated
17
Continued from last page
If, for example, you or a family
member suddenly suffers an in-
jury or illness, Levner says, you
can’t instantly install a sleek
grab bar that doubles as a towel
rack. Or a backlit faucet. Or fold
-down teak seats in the shower.
Instead, you’ll be forced to make
accommodations of the nursing-
home-chic variety. Often in
white or beige plastic. Not
pretty.
On the other hand, if you ap-
proach your remodel thought-
fully using the principles of uni-
versal design now, you’ll have
all the accommodations you or a
loved one might need one day
already in place — in a style that
suits your taste. In the meantime,
activities like shaving in the
shower and bathing a baby will
be easier.
“There’s really no downside,”
Olshevski says. You just need to
think a little differently as you
turn your bathroom into the uni-
versally accessible oasis of your
dreams.
What to Think About
Flooring. Look for flooring that
is slip-resistant, even-surfaced,
low-glare, durable and easy to
maintain. “The bathroom is a
really dangerous room because
it’s slippery when wet,” Levner
says, “but you can select tiles
that are naturally slip-proof.”
Hallways and doorways. To
accommodate walkers, strollers
or a wheelchair, widen hallways
and doorways to at least 32
inches — 36 inches is ideal, says
Olshevski. And eliminate thresh-
olds, which are an unnecessary
obstacle.
Doorknobs. Replace knobs with
levered handles, which are easier
for both little hands and arthritic
ones to manipulate.
Continued on next page
18
Continued from last page
Lighting. Most people don’t
think much about lighting in the
bathroom, Olshevski says, but
good lighting is crucial not only
for good design but also for
preventing slips and scalds. In
addition to letting in as much
natural light as possible, she
suggests multiple sources of
lighting and points out the im-
portance of lighting over the
bathtub and shower. Of course,
don’t forget a nightlight for
those midnight bathroom trips.
Light switches. Install backlit
rocker switches instead of stan-
dard switches. They are easier
to find in the dark, and you can
flip them with your elbow or
shoulder if your hands are full.
Faucets. Choose single-lever
faucets — or touchless sensor
faucets — which are easier to
manipulate and provide better
water-temperature control.
Toilet. Comfort-height toilets
are 17 to 19 inches high com-
pared to the standard 14 to 16
inches. You’ll just need to pro-
vide a stepping stool for little
ones.
Vanity and medicine cabinet.
Not only are pedestal sinks in
fashion, they are more accessi-
ble to those with wheelchairs
and walkers than enclosed vani-
ties, Olshevski says, because
they provide clearance under
the sink. And a well-lit medi-
cine cabinet makes reading pre-
scription bottles and finding
toiletries easier.
Shower and tub. “We would
suggest a walk-in shower with a
hand-held shower hose,” Ol-
shevski says. “They are de-
signed so the water doesn’t get
on the floor, and you can install
a seat, which is very practical if
you’re shaving.” Walk-in bath-
tubs, which are accessible
through a door and have built-
in seating, are another option.
Grab bars. Perhaps the most
important feature for an acces-
sible, safe bathroom is a grab
bar. When you’re remodeling,
be sure to have the walls rein-
forced so you can install a grab
bar in the tub or shower when-
ever you’re ready without hav-
ing to rip up the walls again,
Levner says. But really there’s
no need to delay, since so many
grab bars double as stylish
towel racks.
Continued on next page
19
Continued from last page The Fun Part: Shopping Around! Once you’ve decided to em-
brace universal design in the
bathroom, the next step is
finding products that match
your style. Architects, con-
tractors and designers famil-
iar with universal design can
lead you to products that are
right for you.
Most architects are up to speed
on universal design, Levner
says. Locating designers and
contractors might take a little
sleuthing. She recommends
looking for certified Aging in
Place contractors and contacting
your local chapter of the Ameri-
can Society of Interior Designers
(ASID) for designer recommen-
dations.
Half the fun is doing research on
your own. And maybe creating a
Pinterest board of your favorite
things.
Melinda Avila-Torio, a designer
with THW, an architecture firm
that specializes in building sen-
ior living facilities, recommends
checking out the following for
inspiration:
Pressalit Sterling plumb-ing Kohler Moen
Elio
Toto
Robern
“We know from research that
most people want to stay in their
home as they age,” Olshevski
says. Universal design makes
that possible. And if you do the
remodel right, your guests won’t
want to leave either
20
The concept of “try before you
buy” is a hard one to implement
in the world of real estate. But a
new partnership between Airbnb
and realtor.com aims to do just
that for potential homebuyers,
letting them experience a spe-
cific neighborhood before pur-
chasing there.
The partnership is particularly
focused on millennials, who now
represent the largest group of
homebuyers in the U.S. at 32
percent. This age cohort, born
from the early 1980s to the early
2000s, is about 79 million
strong, and its purchasing power
is estimated to be $170 billion
per year.
The Airbnb-realtor.com partner-
ship aims to reduce some of the
unknown factors associated with
relocating to a new community.
Here’s how it will work: Visitors
to realtor.com will see an
“Airbnb before buying” option
for certain properties, and the
choice will also appear on the
homepage and on for-sale listing
pages. Potential buyers will be
able to book accommodations on
Airbnb ranging from single-
family homes to condos, lofts
and other properties located near
their chosen neighborhood.
“As we offer a variety of unique
accommodations in neighbor-
hoods across the country, we’ll
be able to allow potential home
owners the special opportunity
to experience those neighbor-
hoods as if they already live
there,” says Chip Conley,
Airbnb head of global hospitality
and strategy.
Millennials are extremely tech-
nology driven in their home-
buying efforts, according to
the 2015 National Associa-
tion of Realtors (NAR)
Home Buyer and Seller
Generational Trends study.
This partnership plays per-
fectly into that, allowing
them to make all arrange-
ments online.
“I think it’s brilliant — this
could give [millennials] a
taste of a neighborhood and
change them from renter to
buyers,” says Jay Forrester,
a Realtor with Ebby Halli-
day Preston Center.
“This collaboration with
Airbnb reinforces our com-
mitment to giving consum-
ers unparalleled insight to
make informed real estate
decisions,” says Ryan
O’Hara, CEO at Move,
Inc., a subsidiary of News
Corp that operates real-
tor.com under an agreement
with the National Associa-
tion of Realtors.
Founded in 2008, Airbnb is
a website that allows people
to rent out lodging in their
homes. It has more than 1
million listings in 34,000
cities and 190 countries.
Try Before You Buy
By Leah Shafer
21
.
Texas grocery giant H-E-B has
announced a formal agreement
with San Francisco-
based Instacart — a grocery
delivery service whose per-
sonal shoppers hand-pick and
deliver items from local
stores — in Austin and Hous-
ton.
Instacart already provides ser-
vice from H-E-B under an infor-
mal partnership, but the new
agreement solidifies the ar-
rangement and gives users the
ability to shop for virtually any
product offered at the store,
according to the Houston Busi-
ness Journal.
"Don't have time to come to H-
E-B? No problem. We'll bring H
-E-B to you with Instacart," said
Scott McClelland, president of
H-E-B Houston Division, in a
press release. "Instacart's abil-
ity to deliver on-demand
clearly matches our focus of
making our customers' lives
better. We are excited to offer
a larger assortment of H-E-B
items to customers in Austin
and Houston."
Instacart initially launched in
Austin May 2014. The service,
which can be accessed through
a phone app or online, prom-
ises items to be delivered in as
little as an hour.
New customers can open an
account online and receive free
delivery and $10 off their first
order using promo code HE-
BLOVE through September 30.
Instacart also offers Instacart
Express — an annual member-
ship that eliminates delivery
fees for all orders of $35 or
more — for $99 per year.
H-E-B teams up
with smart service
to deliver groceries
to your door in an
hour!
22
KEEP YOUR OUTDOOR
COOKING SAFE Contributed by Forest Creek Neighbor
Foodborne illnesses occur to
about 128,000 people in the
USA from outdoor cooking. So
keep food safety in mind when
cooking outdoors.
Packing the Food It is important to Prepare & Plan
ahead to keep your food safe
throughout the day. Remember
to:
Wash fruits and vegetables
ahead of time. There may not be
running water at the picnic site. Store raw meat separate from
other foods to avoid cross-
contamination. Place drinks and perishable
foods in separate coolers. When
guests grab drinks, they won’t
expose the perishable items. Use ice packs to keep perish-
able items at a safe temperature
in the cooler. Pack a meat thermometer so you
can be sure meats are cooked to
safe temperatures. Storing the Food As you enjoy your time outside
in the high temperatures, it is
critical to keep cooked food cool
while you are storing it before
and after you eat. Don’t forget
to:
Fill large bowls with ice and
set foods that need to stay cool
on top. Don’t forget to replace
the ice as it melts. Keep perishable items in the
cooler until time to eat. Make
sure these items stay cool. The
Food and Drug Administration
recommends 40 degrees F or
colder. Discard any food that’s been
sitting out for more than two
hours. Keep coolers out of direct
sunlight, and avoid opening
them excessively. Cooking the Food for time and
temperature The same rules you follow at
home apply to cooking outdoors.
A food thermometer is helpful to
assure you have cooked your
food well. You’ll need to:
Cooking food at a slow pace
with a longer time period and
lower cooking temperatures
(around 250) gets great results. Cook meat to the proper tem-
perature to destroy potentially
harmful bacteria. Hamburgers
are critical to cook through since
it is ground meats. Use a ther-
mometer to help you assess they
are cooked to your liking at the
recommended temperature. Separate different types of raw
meat from each other. Don’t place cooked meat on a
plate that once held raw meat.
This goes for utensils too.
Switch out your tongs to serve
cooked meat. Place cooked meats in a pan by
the side of the grill. The heat
will help maintain a safe internal
temperature.
23
Retractable leashes...Continued
from page 7…
4. If a dog walker gets tangled
up in the cord of a retractable
leash, or grabs it in an attempt to
reel in their dog, it can result in
burns, cuts, and even amputa-
tion. In addition, many people
have been pulled right off their
feet by a dog that reaches the
end of the leash and keeps go-
ing. This can result in bruises,
"road rash," broken bones, and
worse.
5.Dogs have also received terri-
ble injuries as a result of the sud-
den jerk on their neck that oc-
curs when they run out the leash,
including neck wounds, lacer-
ated tracheas, and injuries to the
spine.
6.Retractable leashes allow dogs
more freedom to pull at the end
of them, which can look like ag-
gression to another dog who
may decide to "fight back."
7.The handles of retractable
leashes are bulky and can be eas-
ily pulled out of human hands,
resulting in a runaway dog.
8.Along those same lines, many
dogs – especially fearful ones –
are terrorized by the sound of a
dropped retractable leash handle
and may take off running, which
is dangerous enough. To make
matters worse, the object of the
poor dog's fear is then "chasing"
her, and if the leash is retracting
as she runs, the handle is gaining
ground on her – she can't escape
it. Even if this scenario ulti-
mately ends without physical
harm to the dog (or anyone else),
it can create lingering fear in the
dog not only of leashes, but also
of being walked.
9.Retractable leashes, like most
retractable devices, have a ten-
dency to malfunction over time,
either refusing to extend, refus-
ing to retract, or unspooling at
will.
10.Retractable leashes are an
especially bad idea for dogs that
haven't been trained to walk po-
litely on a regular leash. By their
very nature, retractables train
dogs to pull while on leash, be-
cause they learn that pulling ex-
tends the lead.
If your dog is well trained, gen-
tle mannered and smart enough
to master a regular leash and a
retractable leash without being
confused, you could be one of
the rare guardians that can walk
your pooch on any kind of leash
24
The Fourth Annual Forest Creek
Business Expo
Be sure to make reservations to represent your
Business at The 4th Annual Forest Creek Business
Expo!
The Business Expo is held in conjunction with
Forest Creeks National Night out Event on the
first Tuesday in October every year and is very
well attended!
This years National Night Out and Business Expo
will take place on Tuesday October 6th from
5:30-7:30pm at The Forest Creek Park,
3600 Forest Creek Drive.
All Spaces are 10x10 and assigned on a first come
first served basis. There is no charge to Forest
Creek Residents for the first booth.....additional
booths and booths for non-residents are $25
payable in advance in the form of a check made
out to “The Round Rock Serving center”
All Businesses are required to offer a raffle prize
with a minimum value of $25 to be raffled off that
evening. The prize should be related to your
business and displayed at your table along with a
container (clearly marked) to drop raffle tickets
in. Attendees will be given 20 free raffle tickets
per household with the opportunity to purchase
additional tickets for 50 cents each or 3 for $1. (all
proceeds from the extra tickets will also be going
to The Round Rock Serving Center) They will then
drop tickets into the containers that correspond
with the prizes they would like to win as they
move around the Expo.
The winner of your prize will contact you to make
arrangements to claim it!
Don't miss this low cost opportunity to connect
with folks face to face and tell them about your
business!
25
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR
BUSINESS SPONSORS!
All proceeds from Ads and Sponsorships are used towards, enhancing existing
and adding new, Forest Creek HOA events. Every month we try to highlight one
or more of our neighborhood businesses to promote inter-community commerce.
If you are a FC resident with a business and would like to participate please
contact the Editor at …[email protected] or Call 508-922-1306
Fall into Savings !!!!
BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS
AD SIZE RESIDENT RATE NON-RESIDENT RATE
Business Card * $120. a year (only $10. a month!) $240. a year (only $20. a month!)
1/8 Page $150. a year (only $12.50 a month!) $300. a year (only $25. a month!)
ALL RATES ARE YEARLY AND PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. All AD COPY MUST BE PRESET AND SENT AS A
PDF OR JPEG FILE. AD COPY MAY BE CHANGED EVERY MONTH BUT, ALL CHANGES MUST BE RECEIVED
BY THE 17th OF THE MONTH PRIOR TO THE MONTH OF PUBLICATION. Please contact the Editor at
[email protected] for more information!
BUY LOCAL & SUPPORT OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES
*Become an Event Sponsor and get a FREE Listing in the upcoming Business Directory!
Call Angel @ 508-922-1306 for more info.
1/4 Page $275. a year (only $23. a month!) $550. a year (only $46. a month!)
SALE!!! #237 SALE!!! $437
1/2 Page was: $500. a year (only $42. a month!) $1000. a year (only $84. a month!)
SALE!!! $337 SALE!!! $637
28
TEENAGE JOB SEEKER SPOTLIGHTS
Dayal Raj is a pre-med student of-
fering private tutoring to students of
all ages in the Round Rock area. He graduated
from Westwood high school with full honors and
is also a graduate of Westwood’s IB program.
Dayal is a National Merit Scholar semi-finalist
and a member of MENSA.
Dayal can teach any subject as well as provide
test-prep for skill-specific tests like the SAT. He
has been tutoring for nearly two years and has
received positive feedback from all of his stu-
dents as well as their parents.
As a tutor, he is very detail oriented and goal-
focused but flexible as well. Dayal follows a me-
thodical approach to tutoring using a combina-
tion of diagnostics and evaluations to maximize
on your student’s learning potential.
Contact Dayal: Phone - 512 826 3566
10 Safety Tips for Hir-
ing a Teen Babysitter Ensure your children are safe
with a teen sitter.
by Jennifer Geisman,
Times have changed since the
days when your neighborhood
teen could pop over last minute
to babysit for the first time. A
teenage babysitter is still a great
solution for when you want to go
on a date night or run some er-
rands, but parents need to think
about safety issues and prepare
the sitter for emergencies.
Safety should always be your
top priority when it comes to
leaving your kids with a sitter.
Nearly thirty percent of parents
have rejected a potential babysit-
ter because of safety concerns,
according to a survey from the
Red Cross.
Do your homework before hiring
a teenage sitter -- just as you
would with any sitter -- and fol-
low these tips to ensure all safety
concerns are addressed before
you step out the door.
Determine if the Sitter is
Ready Most teenagers start babysitting
around 14 to 16 years old, but
how do you know when a poten-
tial sitter is up to the task of
watching your child?
When you're hiring a teen sitter,
"the key attributes to look for are
maturity, trustworthiness and
responsibility," says child safety
and health expert Debra Holtz-
man, author of "The Safe Baby:
A Do-Yourself Guide to Home
Safety and Healthy Living,"
She encourages potential em-
ployers to speak with the sitter's
parents before hiring and "ask
for references from past employ-
ers, teachers, camp counselors,
etc., and check them out thor-
oughly."
When interviewing the teen, ask
questions about school, friends
and extracurricular activities.
Talk about his or her social life.
Look them up on sites like Face-
book, Twitter and Instagram, to
see how much time they spend
on social media and if they are
posting anything objectionable.
Look for Proper Training Age isn't the end-all, be-all
qualification for a sitter. Look
for teens that are serious about
babysitting and have taken train-
ing and safety classes.
Holtzman emphasizes the impor-
tance of confirming your sitter is
trained in CPR, first aid and in-
fant and toddler safety. "If you
and your family like a potential
sitter who has not had training,
recommend that he or she take a
training course at a local hospi-
tal, school or safety organization
[like the Red Cross]," she says.
Introduce Your Sitter to Your
Home Once you've decided a sitter is a
good fit, Holtzman recommends
giving a tour of your home and
acquainting her with the dos and
don'ts of the house.
She suggests that you "point out
and demonstrate how to use all
the safety devices you have in-
stalled [like gates, child-resistant
latches and locks]. Show him or
her where you store supplies,
such as a flashlight, first-aid kit
and fire extinguisher. Identify
those areas of your home that are
off-limits to your children."
In addition, familiarize your new
sitter with your family's fire es-
cape and earthquake procedure
(if applicable), and establish a
meeting place should your sitter
and children be evacuated.
Continued on page 31
29
Beginner Guitar lessons
I’m offering beginner guitar lessons to
those ages 6-10 years old. My cur-
riculum teaches students all the ba-
sics that are the foundation of any
style of music that interests you. This
will give you the building blocks to
begin your musical career. Students
will walk away with basic knowledge of the guitar
and how to play with a showcase at the end of
each session to show what they’ve learned. Les-
sons are done in my home for $40 month, one 30
minute lesson per week and will do lessons in your
home for an add. nominal fee.
I an a 10th grader at Cedar Ridge and
have been playing guitar for the last
eight years. I am lead vocalist and bass
player in my own band that has been to-
gether for 3 years and am pursuing my
own solo project, performing around
Round Rock and Austin for the last 3
years. I have been writing music and
performing both guitar and singing since
I was 9. Music is my life and I love the opportunity
to share this with younger kids and encourage
them to pursue their dreams.
Please feel free to contact me if interested at:
TEENAGE JOB SEEKER SPOTLIGHTS
Photo by gblair pho-
tography
My name is Meagan George, I
am 14 years old I am a Sophomore at
gateway college prep and have lived in
the forest creek area for 5 years. I love
to play volleyball, bake and hang out
with my friends. I am certified by the
Red Cross in CPR, First aid and babysit-
ting. I have taken care babies as young 4
months and kids as old as 10. I know
how to hold, feed and burp infants, I will play games
with your toddler and help your child with home-
work. MY HOUSE OR YOURS.
I can also dog sit and/ or house sit.
I have 2 dogs myself One of my dogs is
a Labrador retriever and the other is a
Chihuahua so I have experience with
small or large dogs.
References upon request
So if you’re going on vacation or just going
looking for a “date night” I’m your sitter
for all. Looking forward to meeting you.
-Meagan George CALL: (512) 386-1990
Nicholas Winckel is a 16 year old member of the Cedar Ridge Marching Band who is looking to work odd jobs in the area. He needs to earn
money so he can audition for the DCI - Crossmen
Drum and Bugle Corp., which is a professional level competition marching band. This is a project that he is working towards for the summer of 2013 & 2014. If you have any odd jobs that he can work after school or on weekends, please contact him at [email protected]. You can also copy
his mom at [email protected].
30
Name Age
Baby
Sit
Pet
Sit
House
Sit
Yard
Work Phone
Micaela Phillips 17 X 909-8683.
Analise Flatt 13 X x 218-9308
Ryan Phillips 18 X X X 905-0435.
Marissa Phillips 13 X X 785-9710
Kennedy Rolston+ 15 x X X 238-8191
Sarah Reeve#+ 14 x X X 828-6793
Josh Potter 13 X 319-610-2310
Audrey M 12 X X 238-1365
Jaclyn Guyette# 17 X X X 423-5878
Veronica Remmert# 15 X X X 246-0859
Gloria Remmert# 12 X X 246-0859
Mary Clyde 13 X X X 248-9781
Shelby Rogers * 16 X X X 966-4108
Alana Leal* 16 X X X 246-9105
Brynn McFarlen, 12 X X X 214-886-6441
Tyanna Thompson* 16 X X X 632-7450
Trey Taylor 16 X X X X 923-8239
Tristen Taylor 12 X X 921-6375
Kyle Randle 13 X X 944-7420
Hannah Sugden# 14 X X 255-6453
Madison Fulp# 16 X X X 704-6552
Kylie Fulp 13 X X X 704-6552
Emily Engstrom 14 X X X 310-0031
Jessica Singer# 14 X X X 218-9631
Elisabeth Worthen *+# 15 X X X 750-1857
Hannah Odom*+# 13 X X 970-6199
Mackinsey Sanders 15 X X 289-9969
Ashley Rowe 14 X X X 788-1513
Logan Wright 17 X X X X 258-0825
Robyn Lawrence 13 X X X X 246-7843
Hailey Henderson 13 X X X X 341-8552
Alexa Cordeiro*+ 16 X X X 535-1340
Nicholas Houser 16 X X 388-3286
Abigail Houser 14 X X 388-3286
Meagan George *+# 14 X X X 386-1990
TEENAGE JOB SEEKERS
*CPR Training + First Aid Training # Red Cross babysitting Cert.
31
Continued from page 28
Introduce Your Sitter to Your Kids Before you leave your kids with a new sitter,
you want to make sure they get along and the
sitter knows how to behave. Think about hiring
the sitter to watch your kids for a few hours
after school, while you stay in the house and
get chores done.
Tell your sitter anything she should know about
your kids, like how you expect your children to
behave, their routines and any their favorite
toys and games.
Define Responsibilities and Expectations This groundwork should be laid out long before
your sitter arrives for a first night on the job.
"Be specific about your expectations and what
information is important for the sitter to know.
Write these down and discuss them, too," says
Holtzman.
Here are some things you may want to go over:
No friends/boyfriends/girlfriends allowed over No smoking in the house No sleeping on the job (even when the baby is napping) No high-risk activities, like swimming in the pool when you're not around No bath time for babies, unless the sitter has been trained and has your permission No leaving the house with the child without your permission What food/drinks the kids are allowed to have Discuss Discipline While your kids are always angels (ahem), tan-
trums and bad behavior do happen. What
should your babysitter do in these instances?
Talk about Electronics Make sure the sitter understands his or her pri-
mary concern is the safety and well-being of
your child and they should put away all distrac-
tions or leave them at home (phones, tablets,
computers, etc.).
"It's difficult to properly supervise children
while you're multitasking, so tell the sitter to
avoid texting, talking on the cell or using the
Internet, unless absolutely necessary," says
Holtzman.
Set ground rules for when the kids are sleeping
-- what's allowed and where?
Continued on page 34
32
Takota’s Ponies Ranch childrensponyrides.com
We offer pony and horse parties at your location or at our
party house on location!
Trackless train for all types of events.
Summer, Day, and Horsemanship Camps for children and teens ages 6 to 18.
Western horseback riding lessons for all ages, even adults!
Horse training, On-site Play dates, and Advanced “Off-site” trail rides.
At Takota’s Ponies Ranch our passion is to bring the love of horses to those
of all ages! To us, if a child or adult gets to experience the chance of riding
and caring for a horse or pony for even just a short amount of time it gives
them a great sense of self-worth!
Come and spend the day, week, or just a few hours with us and experience fun
and excitement to last a lifetime! Lynn Garcia – Owner/Teacher (512) 801-9964 901 Indian Springs Rd. GT, TX 78633
We Can’t Wait to See Y’all at the Annual Forest Creek
Fall Fest on October 30th!
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal
Yield: One 8 x 10-inch dish Active Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes
2 cups rolled oats 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon large-flake sea salt 1 1/3 cups grated carrots 1 apple, peeled and grated Scant 1/2 cup mixed raisins and/or currants 2 eggs 2 1/4 cups almond milk 6 tablespoons maple syrup 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1 cup pecans
3/4 cup mixed pumpkin, sun-flower, and/or hemp seeds
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease an 8 x 10-inch baking dish with coconut oil.
Combine rolled oats baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, cinna-mon, cardamom, vanilla, and salt together in a large bowl. Stir in grated carrots, apples, raisins and currants.
In a small bowl, beat the eggs, add in almond milk and 1 table-spoon maple syrup, and whisk to combine.
Spoon the oat mixture into the pre-greased baking dish and pour egg mixture over to evenly coat.
In a separate bowl combine the pecans and seeds with 5 table-spoons maple syrup and coco-nut oil. Sprinkle this mixture on top of oats and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until oatmeal is set and nuts are golden. Let cool slightly before serving.
Calling this recipe
"oatmeal" really doesn't
do it justice. Plain old
oats are transformed
into a lusciously thick
spice pudding-cake, with
carrots, apples, and
raisins lending just
enough sweetness to
make this breakfast
seem decadent.
33
IS THE FUTURE OF THE
FOREST CREEK GOLF
COURSE IN JEPARDY?
Anyone on the RR Parks and
Rec mailing list recently re-
ceived a survey regarding the
future of the Forest Creek
Golf Club.
All Forest Creek Homeown-
ers were encouraged to par-
ticipate since it impacts our
neighborhood. One option
is to convert the golf course
to a public park, which would
obviously change our
neighborhood significantly.
One of the questions was :
Because of past flooding at
the Forest Creek Golf Club
and the capital investment
required to continue this fa-
cility as an 18 hole golf
course, which of the follow-
ing alternatives would you
support?
1) Retain the facility as an 18
hole public golf course with
on going minimum capital
investment
2) Retain the facility as an 18
public golf course with an
extensive renovation of the
course to ensure it remains
market competitive
3) Sell the golf course with
the covenant that the golf
course be operated as a public
facility.
4) Sell the golf course with
the probable outcome that it
will likely be converted into
an 18 hole private golf course
5) Transition the golf course
to open park space
6) N/A - Indifferent with
what happens to the golf
course.
The results of the survey are
expected to be reported by
the end of October
34
PARENTS PAGES
Five Wholesome Snacks for Families On-the-Go
.
For more information, please contact Kate Jarboe.
Babysitters….continued from
page 31
And under no circumstance
should your sitter be posting on
social media sites about the
babysitting job, including who,
when and where he or she is
babysitting -- this includes tak-
ing photos of the family or the
home. Teenagers use social me-
dia all the time, so it may not
even occur to them why this is a
problem.
Explain Medicines and Aller-
gies "If your child has special medi-
cal needs or takes medicine the
sitter may need to administer,
explain the dosage," states
Holtzman."Be sure the sitter un-
derstands that he or she should
never give the child any medi-
cine without your permission
and instructions."
What should the babysitter do if
your child gets sick while you're
gone? What warrants a phone
call to you?
If your child has any allergies,
create a guideline that includes
all allergies (food, pets, grass,
etc.), a description of the reac-
tion signs and procedures to fol-
low in the event your child does
experience an episode
Vet Activities The babysitter you hire should
plan lots of fun games and ac-
tivities to keep your kids enter-
tained while you're gone. Ask
what your sitter has in mind and
make sure they are safe and age-
appropriate for your kids. Know-
ing your children are home hav-
ing fun can be a relief for par-
ents who may be feeling guilty
about leaving (you're allowed to
enjoy yourself!).
Offer Parting Instructions "It won't hurt to have last-minute
instructions written down along
with the other guidelines," con-
cludes Holtzman. A few exam-
ples include:
Keep the doors and windows locked Turn on outside lights in the
evening Never open the door to anyone, unless you personally know him or her and you have specific permission Always check before opening the door to anyone -- look through a peephole or window first Know the emergency plan Before you leave, make sure
your sitter knows where you're
going, how long you'll be gone
and how you can be reached.
Stress several times that your
sitter should never hesitate to
contact you for any questions,
says Holtzman. "I always ex-
plain that no matter how minor
or silly it might appear, I would
always welcome the call."
A teenage babysitter can be a
safe and convenient for finding
child care. Do your research to
find a sitter with the necessary
personality, safety know-how
and maturity to care for your
kids.
When they are done
bathing, simply tip the
basket up to drain the
toys and leave them in
the tub to dry or put
them out in the sun for a
few hours for some
“natural disinfection”
35
THE FOREST CREEK
YOUNG EXPLORERS Where Everyday is an Adventure and
Every Child A Treasure!!
THE ONLY LICENSED, PRIVATE, IN-
HOME PRE-K IN FOREST CREEK!
ORGANIC MEALS, SNACKS & ALL ART SUPPLIES INCLUDED IN ONE LOW PRICE!
Highly rated by Children and Parents alike! Years of references available!
Ages 2.9 and up. 508-922-1306 Register now for our 2015 fall class!
Five Wholesome Snacks for Families On-the-Go
.
For more information, please contact Kate Jarboe.
Buy the cheap pack of 4 sponges from the dollar store to make the loss-impact even less.
To make, just satu-
rate a clean sponge
with water and place
into a ziplock
bag. Lay flat in the
freezer and freeze
overnight. In the
morning, just toss
them into the lunch
boxes. As they melt,
they will reabsorb the
water so just toss them back in the freezer after school!!!
36
SCHOOL NEWS
Any Volunteer Opportunities can be found online at
PTAvenue.com Login: FCEPTA
You must go through the Volunteer Application Proc-
ess online at: https://hrsapp.roundrockisd.org/appentry/
FOREST CREEK ELEMENTARY www.forestcreek.roundrockisd.org
Upcoming Activities and Events
Monday, September 21
6:45pm
Cub Scout Pack Meeting
Tuesday, September 22
12:00pm
Author Visit: Bridget Heos
Wednesday, September 23
Early Release at 12:45 PM and
Kona Ice
12:45pm
Kona Ice
Monday, September 28
Book Fair
Tuesday, September 29
Book Fair
Wednesday, September 30
Book Fair
Thursday, October 1
Book Fair
Friday, October 2
Book Fair
Monday, October 12
Student Holiday/Staff Develop-
ment
Tuesday, October 13
9:30am
PTA Exec Board meeting
11:00am
PTA General Meeting
Thursday, October 15
Skype Author Visit: Jarrett Kro-
soczka
Saturday, October 17
9:30am
Marathon Kids Kick-Off Mile
Monday, October 19
5:00pm
PTA Family Fun Night at Hat
Creek Burger Co.
Monday, October 26
Red Ribbon Week
Tuesday, October 27
Red Ribbon Week
Wednesday, October 28
Red Ribbon Week
Early Release at 12:45 PM and
Kona Ice
Thursday, October 29
Red Ribbon Week
Fall Pictures
Friday, October 30
Red Ribbon Week
9:30am
Kindergarten Field Trip to The
Thinkery
38
READING ROCKS!
RRISD Elementary school reading teachers gath-
ered this month to kick off two year-long cohorts
aimed at building strong readers in their class-
rooms.
The district is hosting two cohorts — a group fo-
cused on kindergarten through second grade and
another for third through fifth grade. The teams,
which consist of 52 teachers, will meet twice each
month to continue learning the best techniques to
serve students.
Teachers were selected through a competitive ap-
plication process. Each participant will complete 32
hours of professional development, in addition to
40 hours of outside coursework with students from
their classroom in order to apply knowledge from
the course.
”Reading Rocks has given me the opportunity to
deepen and refine my knowledge and practices,”
said Kate
Mamot,
Bluebonnet
Elementary
School read-
ing recovery
teacher. “The
course has
allowed me
to collabo-
rate with col-
leagues
about stu-
dents with
different ex-
periences and background. Hearing other teachers’
practices and experiences enhanced my teaching.”
The goals of Reading Rocks are for participants to:
analyze and understand readers’ use of systems of
strategic actions and literacy behaviors;
utilize a variety of assessment lenses for differen-
tiating reading instruction;
delve into strategies for teaching students to read
more complex texts;
increase understanding of how the processes im-
pact classroom instruction; and
collaborate with colleagues to spread the program’s
knowledge across the district.
Reading Rocks are courses that focus on the peda-
gogy of teaching young students to read — going
back to the fundamentals of early literacy behav-
iors, understanding how students process text and
how teachers support and learn as students develop
as proficient readers, said Melissa McCarroll,
RRISD literacy and intervention coordinator.
“This course is a must for all teachers,” said Ebony
Morehead, Chandler Oaks Elementary School
teacher. “In order to teach kids to read for meaning
and becoming lifelong learners, this course offers
the basics to understanding what reading is and
how to help kids as they grow on their reading jour-
ney.”
Post your
school news and
upcoming events Free of charge in
The Caddie Online
Send your submissions by
the 21st of the current month to :
[email protected] to guaran-
tee inclusion in the following
months edition!
39
FUNDRAISERS FOR
SCHOOLS, SCOUTS, AND
OTHER NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS ARE
ADVERTISED FREE OF
CHARGE TO ALL FOREST
CREEK RESIDENTS.
SUBMIT YOUR INFO
TO MYENERGY
BY THE 17TH OF THE
MONTH FOR THE NEXT
MONTHS PUBLICATION
TO RESERVE A SPACE!
40
With smiles on their faces,
like they were off to the races,
these Forest Creek Kiddos
started the first day of school
with a wonderful attitude and
hopes for a great year!
42
The Neighborhood Watch
Committee will be joining
with the EPC Committee to
present the 2015 National
night out and Business
Expo on Tuesday, October
6th from 5:30-8pm
The Events Planning Com-
mittee had hoped to give
this event back over en-
tirely to the Neighborhood
Watch Committee but due
to the extremely low # of
volunteers from the NW
Committee for the Snow
Day and Spring Carnival,
NW Co-Coordinators Angel
Donato and Lori Hartnett
have asked fellow EPC
members to coordinate the
National Night Out portion
of the event again this year
with hopes that NW partici-
pation will increase enough
to continue its existence
and take it back next year.
The Business Expo was
added to the NNO Event by
Angel Donato, a Member
of the EPC , Editor of the
Caddie Online and founder
of the Forest Creek Busi-
ness Association as a way
for Residents to get to
know and support their
entrepreneurial neighbors.
It has not only achieved
that goal but has more than
doubled NNO attendance!
If you are a Local business
owner and live in or near
Forest Creek and would like
the opportunity to promote
your business at this event
contact Angel @ 508-922-
1306. There is no cost for
FC Residents. Others must
write out a $25. check to
the RR Serving Center to
reserve a space and all
vendors must offer a raffle
prize with a $25 minimum
retail value.
See you there!
Forest Creek Neighborhood Watch News
44
Continued from page 9 The coaches, sponsors and many volunteers that support the team all believe in exposing our youth to the lifelong sport of swimming. Over the past 12 years, F.A.S.T. Frogs has been proud to watch Tadpoles grow into Frogs, coaches, competitive swimmers, college graduates and overall great members of society!
A Huge Thank You to all of our
F.A.S.T. Frog Sponsors!
Family Tree Dental Group
Wildflower Orthodontics
Mathnasium
Be The Light Tees
Fleming & Conway Insurance Agency
Forest Creek Animal Hospital
Forest Creek Dental, PA
Forest Creek Mini Storage
Johnson Remodeling
Lane 4
MasFajitas
Nicole Kim, REALTOR
Pioneer Vision
Point Security
Primrose Schools
Ready Go Swim
Ricardo's Tacos & More
Rock Sports
Round Rock Orthodontics
Second Nature Hair
Silicon Hills Wealth Management
Van Houten & Associates, PC
45
Overall Team Awards
Team Frog: Drew Ramirez & Meaghan Rous-
set
Team Most Improved: Katie Lehman & Jack
Stoner
Team Coaches Award: Luis Garza & Tressa
Langenohl
CHAMPS High Point Individual Awards
1st Place in their Age Group:
Susan Mashayekhi -- 7 & 8 Women
Caleb Nunez -- 11 & 12 Men
Sydney Stoner -- 13 & 14 Women
Meaghan Rousset -- 15-18 Women
2nd Place in their Age Group:
Sofia Cardenas -- 6 & Under Women
Anna Duarte -- 7 & 8 Women
Scott Roberts -- 15-18 Men
3rd Place in their Age Group:
Jamie Bong -- 6 & Under Women
Sydney Boudreaux -- 9 & 10 Women
Julia McCurley -- 11 & 12 Women
Kathleen Rousset -- 15-18 Women
Team Frog: Drew Ramirez & Meaghan Rousset
Team Most Improved: Katie Lehman & Jack
Stoner
Team Coaches Award: Luis Garza & Tressa
Langenohl
F.A.S.T. Frog Scholarships
Minta Stohrer
Devon McCourry
46
It was a beautiful day for the Annual Neighborhood BBQ and Back to School Splash!
A big Thank You to all the EPC ladies who worked the event and to all the kind neighbors
who brought desserts to share especially the home made ones! The winner of the recipe
contest was the person who made the white chocolate chip cranberry oatmeal cookies!
47
On the same day as the BBQ, the Forest Creek
Young Explorers celebrated 7 years here in
Forest Creek by having a Reunion along with
this years graduation! Over 40 students and
family members came out to the park to
celebrate old friendships and new beginnings!
The Young Explorers is a highly rated, in home,
licensed Preschool here in Forest Creek that
specializes in Kindergarten Readiness for 3-5
year-olds and also has a great summer
program for 6-12 year-olds!
The festivities included a talent show
which featured art and singing!