April 2021
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Welcome to the rebirth of the RCNA newsletter! It’s been long overdue and we couldn’t be more excited to bring it back to you. Velisia Escobar has graciously taken the reigns as our new editor. And as you can see, she’ll be working alongside many of your neighbors to provide locally relevant articles and information- as well as a bit of fun!
We want to make this something you’ll look forward to reading, so we’re very open to hearing from you. Let us know what you think and how we can improve. Our hope is that over time this digital newsletter will morph back into the physical neighborhood newspaper so many of us loved and were excited to see turn up at our door steps.
As many of you already know, I am your new RCNA President. In January, I stepped into the shoes of the extremely giving and very capable April Bliss. It’s been an interesting time to take on the role, to say the least. With events on hold for so long, it’s giving us time to turn over every organizational stone so to speak. We’re looking at ways to improve and organize better so we can hit the ground running once events begin again. Fingers and toes are crossed that those events aren’t too much further down the road now. We’ll be kicking things off slowly this month with our Semi-annual neighborhood garage sale. Ads are being placed by the RCNA to bring shoppers to your sales, and we wish you the greatest success if you’re choosing to partake on April 10th.
I’m really excited with what’s ahead for the RCNA. We are looking forward to not only rebuilding it to where it left off at this time last year, but to make it even better. A top task for us is increased community involvement, and alongside that increased membership numbers. I want to make every resident of the RCNA district feel not only welcome, but encouraged to jump right in this adventure with us. It may be impossible to get every single resident into the RCNA, but that is and should always be the goal. And I’m so honored and proud to be the President you have selected to move forward with that!
Christine Newman
Neighborhood Garage Sale - April 10
Spring cleaning can be a drag, why not make it fun? See some neighbors, save useful items from the landfill, and maybe even make a little money too! It’s time again for the Rattan Creek Neighborhood Garage Sale, scheduled for April 10.
This event is simply a weekend for folks to have their own individual garage sales, but hopefully with more traffic across the entire neighborhood since many houses will be doing the same. RCNA will place ads in local papers and on Craigslist, but you are encouraged to post your own listings and signs too.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, shoppers should bring masks and social distance when visiting neighbors’ garage sales. Please respect each home’s requirements for COVID precautions. If you have items left over after your sale, please consider offering them on the Rattan Creek Neighborhood Buy-Sell-Trade-Give or local Buy Nothing pages. But if an item has simply reached the end of its usefulness, fear not! Bulk Pickup is the following Saturday, April 17th.
See you at the sales!
Bulk Item Pickup - April 17
TDS will collect large bulk items and white goods curbside on a scheduled Saturday cleanup event – twice Annually (1 spring date and 1 fall date).
“White Goods” are further described as follow: Appliances: Stoves, water tanks, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, air conditioners, sinks, toilets, and like items. Refrigerators and air conditioners must have their freon removed by a certified technician and be properly tagged before they can be picked-up. The Contractor is not required to pick-up bathtubs, shower stalls and like items. Furniture: Couches, beds, mattresses, love seats, tables, chairs, TV’s, lamps, microwaves, etc. Tires shall not be accepted for collection as a bulky item from residential, without special preparation. All tires must be quartered or shredded prior to being accepted for regular collection or they will not be picked-up. Construction debris, dead animals, toxic or hazardous waste, batteries, stable matter, rubbish, rocks, dirt, concrete, ammunition, hot ashes, medical waste, auto parts, tires, special waste, stumps and any item containing CFC’s are not accepted as bulky items and will not be collected as part of normal residential service.
by Kristi Copeland
Hey neighbors! The days are getting longer and warmer, so now is the perfect time to get outdoors and tackle some much needed home projects. Now that Snowmageddon 2021 has come and gone, it’s time to look for damage and make any needed repairs, as well as prep your home and garden for summer. Here are some helpful tips on what to look for –from proper irrigation to mosquitoes to termites!
1. Clean Gutters and Downspouts. Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause the wood trim at the eaves of your home to rot, and that can invite all kinds of critters into your attic and space around your chimney. Having your gutters and downspouts cleaned early in the season can also help prevent damage from spring rains. Properly installed and maintained gutters and downspouts divert water away from the house so that no water collects around your foundation.
2. Repair and Seal Exterior Woodwork. Wood decks, fences, railings, trellises, pergolas and other outdoor structures take a beating in Texas weather. Replace any missing fence slats and repair broken gates & latches to keep kids and pets safe. Exterior structures will last longer and stay looking better longer if they’re stained or resealed every year or two. It’s cheaper to maintain it than it is to replace it!
3. Check for Signs of Termites. Through the spring and early summer, be on the lookout for these little winged buggers. Termites swarm in the spring, so if you see insects flying out of a hole in the woodwork, you very likely have termites. Don’t waste any time calling a licensed professional pest control company. It will save you money and damage to your home in the long run.
4. Look for Roof Damage. Even during normal Texas winters, storms can take quite a toll on your roof, and we all know that this winter was anything but normal! Now that the weather has started warming up, make a simple visual inspection of your roof. It doesn’t require a ladder, and you don’t have to get all the way up on your roof to look. You can use binoculars, or a camera or smartphone with a zoom feature. Keep an eye out for missing shingles, metal pipes that are damaged or missing, or anything that just doesn’t look right. If you notice anything that needs closer inspection or repair, call a qualified roofer.
5. Paint Your Exterior. Keeping the paint on your home’s exterior in good shape goes a long way to protecting it from water intrusion, especially if you have the old original Masonite siding on your Rattan Creek home. Spring is the best time to repaint your home’s exterior before the heat of summer starts beating down on us. Want to paint but can’t decide on a color? Explore around town and snap pictures of house colors you like, browse photos on Houzz & Pinterest, or work with a color consultant to get that color combo just right.
6. Inspect Driveways, Sidewalks & Garden Paths. We’re not used to this in Texas, but freezing and thawing is rough on concrete, stone work and other hardscaping materials. Take a walk around your property to look for damage to walkways, paths and driveways, and schedule repairs as needed.
7. Check Sprinkler and Irrigation Systems. Checking your sprinklers or irrigation systems in the spring can save water – and save your plants. Here are some handy tips for checking your watering system:
Run the system through all the zones manually and walk the property.
Look for any broken or damaged sprinkler heads and have them replaced.
Adjust any heads that are spraying the house, especially windows, as this can cause moisture problems.
Adjust heads that are spraying the street, sidewalk or porches to avoid wasting water.
If you don’t know how to maintain your sprinkler system, call a professional to do it. You’ll save money on your water bill and protect one of our most valuable natural resources.
8. Prevent Mosquitoes. Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying, they’re dangerous. The West Nile and Zika viruses are just the latest diseases caused by these pests. Keep yourself and your family safe by preventing mosquitoes around your home by getting rid of any standing water. Walk around your property and if you see any object or any area where water collects, pools or stands, then fix it, tip it, get rid of it, or maintain it regularly.
9. Check Screen Doors and Windows. Screens are designed to let the breeze flow in and keep bugs out – but they can only do their job if they’re free from holes and tears. Before serious open-window weather kicks into gear, be sure to carefully check each screen and repair any holes or tears, no matter how small. You can find screen repair kits at most hardware and home improvement stores, and you can even have new screens made that are pet-proof!
10. Schedule Air-Conditioning service. Most people don’t think about their AC system as long as it’s pumping out cold air when it’s hot outside. But the truth is, most AC systems are just not taken care of properly or regularly, and that affects their efficiency – and your electric bill. To get the longest life out of your cooling system, keep it running as efficiently as possible, and keep your electric bill down, make sure to change the filters once each month, and hire a licensed professional to service the equipment before the start of summer. The last thing you want when it’s 100 degrees outside is waiting for the AC repair guy to show up!
Recipes!
Every month we’ll share some recipes from our neighborhood! If you would like to submit – email us!
NOLA BBQ Shrimp with Jalapeno Cheddar Grits
NOLA BBQ Shrimp
Seasoning mix:
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon rosemary leaves, crushed
- 1/8 teaspoon oregano
Other ingredients:
- 1/4 pound (1 stick) butter, plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, in all
- 1 to 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup seafood stock or vegetable stock
- 1/4 cup beer at room temperature
Instructions
1. Rinse the shrimp in cold water and drain well. Leave shells on.
2. In a small bowl, combine seasoning mix ingredients.
3. Combine one stick of the butter, the garlic, Worcestershire sauce and seasoning mix in a
large skillet over high heat. When the butter is melted, add the shrimp.
4. Cook for 2 minutes, shaking the pan (do not stir), in a back and forth motion. Add the
remaining 3 tablespoons butter and the stock, cook and shake pan for 2 more minutes. Add the
beer and cook and shake the pan 1 minute longer. Remove from heat.
5. Serve immediately with rice (plain or dirty), cornbread, grits or hot French bread!
NOTES
You can reduce the sauce after the shrimp is cooked, if you would like a thicker sauce to coat the shrimp.
Jalapeno Cheddar Grits
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 jalapeno peppers, minced
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup stone-ground grits
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Melt butter over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan. Add jalapeno and cook for
minutes to soften.
2. Add water, milk, and salt and bring to a boil.
3. Turn heat to low and gradually whisk in the grits.
4. Cover and cook for 40 to 50 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Stir in cheddar cheese and black pepper to taste.
6. Add extra salt if desired.
NOTES
For the liquid, you can use just water, milk or stock (veg or chicken). This is depend on how
much of a corn flavor you desire.
Remove the seeds of the jalapeno before mincing, if you want the grits less spicy.
New Orleans BBQ Shrimp is a staple of any good Cajun/Creole restaurant and chef. Though this is a simple dish, it can pack a punch and is a big hit at any party or dinner. After visiting NOLA for over 15 years and living on the North Shore, Cajun/Creole has become a specialty of mine, where I will make a fusion or a dish cajun by changing a few ingredients.
#thekidsaregoingtobealright
by Carolyn Jennings Brown
The past year has served each of us many challenges. Some of our work days look very different and many aspects of our home life have shifted. As we have waded through murky waters with nothing to guide us- we have each developed our own pandemic pattern. Every family has painted their own picture of what parenting and growing up in a pandemic looks like for them. Our normally tight ship became a little loose around the edges. In the beginning, I tried to hold our pre pandemic expectations firmly. Screen time was one hour, dinner was at 7:30, lights out at 10pm, chores done in an alternating order between the two children and the dishwasher was started before bed. That was the pattern that had served us well for years and suddenly in March of 2020, it just wasn’t. It was a constant battle ending in disappointment, arguments, frustration and usually a long winded lecture by me about the rules. The children were using screen time not only for school and for entertainment but for much needed connection. They were running out of minutes and they missed their friends. By limiting their screen time I found that I was also limiting their connection. So after some thought I decided, that I would go back over and review the expectations and family rules regarding screen time and back off on the time restrictions. The children were so excited to connect with their peers in this new way. I saw my 16 year old teach her best friend to ride her bike via FaceTime and my 14 year has a standing D & D game every Sunday at 2pm. This is not how I envisioned them growing up this past year. However, instead of lowering my expectations I just changed them completely. This new way of human connection only blossomed because I un tightened a few screws while still keeping an eye on how things were held together. They have more screen time these days, dinner floats around 6 to 8:30, lights out time varies but is always before 11, sometimes chores are skipped and the sink is full until morning and that’s what our pandemic pattern looks like. Its a bit loose around the edges but we are still afloat. Seeing them smile and enjoy the ‘company’ of their pals via their screens taught me a lesson that I have learned over and over and over again in my nearly two decades of parenting. It is perhaps the biggest and most important lesson I have learned. Happiness matters above all and the rules are subject to change at any time. Every family’s rule book is different and every child’s needs are specific, however if you have had to loosen a few screws in your household over the past year- try not to be hard on yourself about it. We are mapping the waters as we go.
Happy parenting, y’all.
Jollyville Gardening with Friends & Neighbors
by Cathleen Gail
This is a unique year for the garden. The weeklong arctic front damaged—even devastated— many of our existing plants. It will take time before we know the full extent of the damage. Try to resist the temptation to remove more than the broken/damaged areas of your plants, as many are just now showing signs of life. Please be patient; many plants are recovering below the surface. Time and sunshine are at work to strengthen and revive stressed plants. The plants that did survive are much appreciated and a testament to planting native and adapted plants in our yard. To find recommendations for new plantings, there is nothing better than the free City of Austin book “Grow Green Guide” available at nurseries and most stores where plants are sold. You can ask for the popular guide at the register. It is also available online, along with many other resources, at www.austintexas.gov. For vegetables see Vegetable Gardening in Austin which lists suitable varieties and a planting timeline at www.travis-tx.edu. Additional resources include: Central Texas Gardener: An award winning KLRU TV show brimming with great ideas and advice. Local gardeners and backyard enthusiasts can watch the show anytime and anyplace on the PBS app and the CTG YouTube channel. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Information by county that includes pretty much anything you want to know about soil testing and improvement to Master Gardener programs. Jollyville Gardening with Friends: A neighborhood Facebook page that was created by neighbors to assist our efforts this year. This is an excellent source for asking specific questions and swapping plants and advice. Ready, Set, Plant! Tips for a successful spring garden: Consider having your soil tested at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ($12 per sample for routine analysis) and fertilizing accordingly. Lawns should be fertilized after the second mowing. For blooming trees and shrubs, fertilize when blooms fade. Pick appropriate plants for your location. It is well worth researching your options. Often small, local nurseries can assist you with the right plant for the spot. Plant as early as possible to establish new plants with deep roots. For best results: - Dig a hole two to three times the width and the same depth as the current root ball. If the roots are densely bound or growing in the shape of the container, it is absolutely necessary to break the bound pattern up! In severe situations, cut off the bottom layer of dead roots and gently pull-out roots from the sides. - Amend the soil with compost. Place the plant in the hole, half-fill with soil, add water and finish filling the hole with soil. Water in well to provide moisture and eliminate air pockets. - - Add 3 inches of mulch or shredded leaves at least out to the drip line of the plant. I believe in daily watering for several weeks, depending on rainfall and temperatures, and then gradually decreasing over the next few weeks to make sure roots are reaching deeply for moisture. - Practice watering deeply to 8 inches rather than surface watering. This helps plants and lawn to survive times of drought and saves water. These steps will give plants a great start. We will have the most rainfall of the year soon so take advantage of this growing opportunity early. Oak Wilt Oak wilt is one of the most destructive tree diseases in the United States, and it is killing oak trees in central Texas at epidemic proportions. It is Oak wilt is caused by a fungus which disables the water conducting system in susceptible oak trees. To prevent new infections, Texas A & M Forest service advises that the following steps should be taken: • Cut and dispose of diseased red oaks immediately. • Avoid wounding oak trees, including pruning, from February through June, and paint all wounds and fresh stumps regardless of season. Any type of paint will mask the smell of the fresh wound from the beetle that can carry the oak wilt spores • Handle oak firewood cautiously, burn all firewood before spring, and never store unseasoned oak wood from infected trees near healthy oaks. • Cover unseasoned firewood (from infection centers and unknown origins) with clear plastic and bury the edges of the plastic.
School Corner
Find out what’s happening in the neighborhood schools of Jollyville, Pond Springs, Deerpark and McNeil!
Donate to PSE Online Auction
PSE ONLINE AUCTION - APRIL 23-30, 2021
Bid on the silent auction at www.32auctions.com/pondsprings
Neighborhood Groups for Kids - SCOUTS AND HURICANES
Learn about the latest events and news from the neighborhood scout troops and the neighborhood swim team!
Girl Scouts
Hello from your neighborhood Girl Scouts! Our neighborhood is part of the Lake Creek Service Unit in Girl Scouts of Central Texas (GSCTX). We have troops for all ages of girls, from kindergarten to high school seniors. You can join us at any time of the year! Right now is a great time to join if your girl is interested in summer camp, available for girls entering 2nd grade in fall 2021 and older. Just go to http://gsctx.org/join
If your girl isn’t a kindergartener quite yet, GSCTX has special Make New Friends sessions throughout April! Give your girl a great start. Get more information and sign up for these free programs at https://www.gsctx.org/kinder
Boy Scouts
The Scouting movement in Rattan Creek is alive and well, even through times of COVID-19. Scouting is a great opportunity for our neighborhood youth, both male and female of almost all ages, to participate in a social activity with their peers to learn life lessons and build leadership capabilities. There are several opportunities for various ages in our neighborhood:
Cub Scout Pack 159 – Chartered on October 1, 1971, Pack 159 is one of the older and more established Cub Scout packs in the Northwest Austin area. Many of our scouts attend Pond Springs Elementary or Jollyville Elementary. We welcome scouts and families from all different backgrounds. Pack 159 is open to boys and girls in Kindergarten through 5th grade.
Online: pack159.org | Facebook: facebook.com/pack159tx
Scouts BSA Troop 259 – Troop 259 serves male youth aged from 11 to 17. Many of our Scouts attend from junior high schools such as Deerpark, Grisham, Canyon Vista, Pearson Ranch, and Cedar Valley along with high schools such as McNeil or Westwood. We meet weekly, camp monthly, and attend summer and high adventure camps annually. We are firm believers in giving back to our community through service. You will likely find our Scouts involved in local school and neighborhood activities.
Online: scout259.org | Facebook: facebook.com/scout259
Hurricanes - 2021 Registration is OPEN until April 15
The Hurricane Swim Team is a family-friendly summer swim team in northwest Austin. As a member of the Northwest Swim Circuit, our mission is to provide a structured recreational activity that teachers swimmers the value of competition, sportsmanship, teamwork and individual achievement, while they make new friends and get a great workout! Our season runs from May through mid of July. Practices take place after school until the school year ends, then we switch to morning practices.
Jokes, Riddles and FUN!
I SPY!
Every month we’ll have something to find within the neighborhood – when you find it – upload it to the Rattan Creek neighborhood page! HAPPY SEARCHING!
We were lucky enough to get copies of all the old RCNA newsletters! Every month we;ll include something that was in a past newsletter in the same month or time of year. Enjoy the history lessons!
MARCH 1999 RCNA NEWSLETTER
Robinson Park Trail was just in the planning phases!
Join the RCNA Today!
You can choose either a one time payment or an auto renewing payment. Selecting the auto renewing payment option helps us keep dues as low as possible as we will not need to dedicate resources to follow up and remind you when your dues are due!
Membership dues are $25 per year regardless of which payment option is best for you.
Helpful Links to Neighborhood Info
- North Austin MUD 1: https://northaustinmud1.org/
- Rattan Creek Neighborhood Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RattanCreekNeighborhood
- Rattan Creek Neighborhood Buy Sell Trade Give: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RCNBuySellTrade
- Rattan Creek Buy Nothing: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bnplosindioshunterschaserattancreek
- Rattan Creek Tots Playgroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/766011216785046
- Rattan Creek Pokemon Go: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1378225265618880
- Rattan Creek Women’s Book Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rcwomensbookclub