A Newsletter for the Residents of the Long Canyon

Transcription

1 Long Canyon Gazette July 2008 A Newsletter for the Residents of the Long Canyon Volume 1, Issue1 Dazzling Dragonflies With their large, multi-faceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, and an elongated body, the dragonfly is an ancient insect that inspires myth and lore in many world cultures. For Native Americans, their form can represent swiftness and energy, pure water, and even symbolize renewal after a time of great hardship. Usually found around lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands, dragonflies typically eat mosquitoes, midges, and other small insects such as flies, bees, and even some butterflies. They capture their prey by clasping them with their spike-studded legs, and their prey cannot use their usual form of escape by diving away, since dragonflies always attack from underneath! Normally, dragonflies do not bite or sting humans, but if you grasp one by the abdomen, it will bite in order to escape. The lifecycle of a dragonfly consists of three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The female will lay her eggs directly on aquatic plants or merely drop them in water. Once hatched, these nymphs begin their life living underwater, eating other aquatic creatures. Nymphs of larger dragonflies will even eat the nymphs of smaller species! This nymphal stage can last as long as four years in some species, but most overwinter in ponds and marshes and emerge in the spring as adults. Once fully grown, the nymph will crawl out of the water on the stem of a plant, break through its skin (called the exuvia) and NatureWatch by Jim and Lynne Weber enlarge its body and wings by pumping fluids into them. Mature dragonflies are known for their aerial acrobatics, capable of hovering and rapid acceleration, and can both hunt and mate on the wing. They need to make the most of their time as aerial predators, since adults live only up to two months. Adult dragonflies are often confused with damselflies, but they are two distinct insect species. When at rest, damselflies often hold their wings together or slightly open above their body, whereas dragonflies hold their wings fully open horizontally or slightly down and forward. Additionally, the eyes on a damselfly are separated, while the eyes of most dragonflies touch. Both damselflies and dragonflies are members of the scientific order Odonata, so their lifecycles are very similar. The common names for dragonfly species that occur in Texas are as colorful as the insects themselves Twin-Spotted Spiketail, Roseate Skimmer, Eastern Pondhawk, Black Saddlebags, Blue-Faced Meadowhawk, Halloween Pennant, and Jade Clubtail to name a few. To some extent, the presence of dragonflies may be taken as an indicator of ecosystem quality. Local 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. (Continued on page 2) Welcome to the Long Canyon Gazette A newsletter for Long Canyon residents by Long Canyon residents. The Long Canyon Gazette is a new monthly newsletter mailed to all Long Canyon residents. Each newsletter will be filled with valuable information about the community, local area activities, school information and more. If you are involved with a school group, play group, scouts, sports activity, social group, etc. and would like to submit an article for the newsletter you can do so online at or you can it articles@peelinc.com. Personal news for the Stork Report, Teenage Job Seekers, special celebrations, birthday announcements and military service are also welcome. Our goal is to keep you informed!

2 Newsletter Information Publisher Peel, Inc Article Advertising Information Please support the businesses that advertise in the Long Canyon Gazette. Their advertising dollars make it possible for all Long Canyon residents to receive the monthly newsletter at no charge. No homeowners association funds are used to produce or mail the newsletters. If you would like to support the newsletter by advertising, please contact our sales office at or The advertising deadline is the 10th of each month for the following month's newsletter. Do You Have Reason to Celebrate? We want to hear from you! to let the community know! Nature Watch - (Continued from Cover Page) When you see dragonflies this summer, admire their maneuverability, enjoy their jewel-like colors, appreciate their mosquito-eating, 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. Stork Report in Long Canyon Submit your information on the arrival of your little one to articles@peelinc.com. 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 2

3 B A R T L E T T real estate group You've Seen Our Signs Now See Our Results! These Properties Sold for 98% to 100%++ of List Price at an Average of 16 Active Days on the Market! B A R T L E T T real estate group Call us for a FREE market analysis of your home! 50,000,000 in Sales ( 07) #1 Keller Williams Real Estate Group (NWMC 07 Volume) Each of ce is independently owned and operated.

4 Deep in the Hear t of Texas: Family Road Trips By Wendi Baird I have a new neighbor from out of state who recently asked if I could suggest some places around Texas for family vacations. As a 5th Generation Texan, I could easily think of a few suggestions for her. So if you re also new to Texas, or just looking for new places to visit, here are my family s favorite summer destinations in the Lone Star State. 1) Garner State Park Texas has some really great State Parks for camping, as well as many private campgrounds. But one stands out above the rest for being the kind of place where families return generation after generation. Garner State Park is located 90 miles west of San Antonio in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. Situated down in a valley, one of Garner s main attractions is the clear, cold waters of the Frio River the same river that was immortalized in George Strait s song All My Ex s Live in Texas. In addition to swimming & tubing in the Frio River, Garner offers hiking trails, miniature golf, and even jukebox dances at an outdoor pavilion. You ll find kids of all ages 2 to 92 dancing under the stars every summer night at Garner State Park. 2) Port Aransas Anyone who s been in Texas long enough knows that Port Aransas is a favorite destination for both fishermen and beach bums. Another fun activity in Port Aransas is eating! There are an abundance of restaurants offering enough fresh seafood to satisfy any appetite. For rainy days at the beach, Corpus Christi is just a 30-minute drive down the coast. The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus is always popular with the kids. 3) Moody Gardens, Galveston Another popular beach destination in Texas is Galveston, just south of Houston. This is the place to go when you want more than just sun-nsand. Moody Gardens in Galveston is a Resort Hotel/Theme Park/IMAX/Beach all in one. There is enough to do there to occupy an entire weekend. Next to Moody Gardens is the newest Schlitterbahn, an indoor water park open year round. And when leaving Galveston, be sure to detour through the small town of Kemah. The Kemah Boardwalk and Marina has an old-fashioned feel to it with a giant ferris wheel and carousel, and there are several great restaurants with outdoor seating on the water. The kids love to watch the boats coming and going while waiting for their food. 4) San Antonio This is my hometown, and definitely one of our favorite vacation destinations. There is so much to see and do there, you really need to plan on several trips to fully enjoy it all. The Downtown area with the Riverwalk is a great destination for romantic getaways. Then moving away from Downtown toward the outskirts of San Antonio, you have the Theme Parks Sea World and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. And in between are numerous restaurants serving up some of the best Mexican food in Texas. 5) Fredericksburg This quaint little German town in the Texas hill country has become world renowned as a vacation destination. Main Street offers some of the best eating and shopping in the whole state. And be sure to stop by the Admiral Nimitz Museum of the Pacific War. There are also several wineries near town that are well worth a visit to their tasting rooms. If you plan to stay overnight, you can choose from numerous Bed-n-Breakfast Inns, in addition to the national chain hotels. Or if you have a camper, then make reservations at one of the local RV parks. Like the motto says, Texas really is like a whole other country. And there is something to do for everyone. These are just a few of our favorite getaways. If you have one to add to the list, let us know!

5 Limited Time Offer! EXCLUSIVE TO THE LONG CANYON RESIDENTS Call for a FREE Quote! Builders Stone Source Proudly Offers the Long Canyon Community Tremendous Discounts on Granite No One Can Offer This Selection at This Price! SELECT YOUR GRANITE AT LOCAL GRANITE YARDS Purchase Your Granite Countertops for the Kitchen at our Discounted Price - Receive FREE Matching Cutting Board and Your Bathroom Granite at $30/sf Installed Think you can not afford Granite? AT OUR DISCOUNT YOU CAN GRANITE, MARBLE, TRAVERTINE, AND MORE... Increases your property value. Transforms your home, statistics reveal that home buyers in the community expect and some demand Granite countertops. All custom made for your home. Serving Austin & San Antonio References within the community & Austin Builders Stone Source Donna Fultyn - Austin Area Sales Executive Quality Service and Experience Insured

6 Teenage Job Seekers Baby Pet House Yard Name Age Sit Sit Sit Work Phone Doe, John SAMPLE *-CPR Training +-First Aid Training 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. Attention Teenagers The Teenage Job Seekers listing service is offered free of charge to all Long Canyon teenagers seeking work. Submit your name and information to articles@peelinc.com by the 9 th of the month! Classified Ads Personal classifieds (one time sell items, such as a used bike...) run at no charge to Long Canyon residents, limit 30 words, please articles@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. *Solutions at Feature Exchange Long Canyon Newsletter 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 Long Canyon Newsletter 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. Flat Fee listing OPtiONs Buyer rebate PrOgraM Office #: Mobile #: Nicole Peel Broker/Owner 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.

7 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 Peel, Inc. Printing & Publishing Publishing community newsletters since 1991 We currently publish newsletters for the following subdivisions in Austin: Avery Ranch Barton Creek Barton Hills Belterra Canyon Creek Cherry Creek on Brodie Lane Circle C Ranch Courtyard Davenport Ranch Forest Creek Granada Hills Highland Park West Balcones NA Jester Estates Lakewood Laurel Oaks Legends Oaks II Lost Creek Pemberton Heights River Place Scenic Brook Sendera Shady Hollow Sonoma South Lamar NA Steiner Ranch Stone Canyon Stone Oak & Preserve at Stone Oak The Hills of Lakeway Travis Country West Twin Creeks Villages at Western Oaks Westcreek Wood Glen Kelly Peel, Sales Manager kelly@peelinc.com

8 Long Canyon Residents: I go a L O N G way to get you R E $ U L T $! Just ask my extensive list of satisfied sellers! Experience you can count on! Peel, Inc. 203 W. Main Street, Suite D Pflugerville, Texas July Events Compliments of... Tuesdays & Saturdays Thursdays Thursdays Sundays Saturdays Sundays July 4 July July 26 COMPARE SERVICES! Let me show you how I go the distance to SELL your HOME! Austin Junior Golf Clinics Introductory golf instruction covering beginning basics of golf and conduct on the course. Ages: 5-18 years Nature Nights at the Wildflower Center Interactive explorations of plants, animals and the ecology of Central Texas. 50th Annual Zilker Summer Musical Celebrate their 50th year of family-oriented musical FREE entertainment presenting Disney s Beauty and the Beast. Splash Party Movie Nights Every summer Saturday night, catch a flick and take a swim- at the same time. The Hartman Foundation Concerts in the Park Enjoy a different ensemble of the Austin Symphony at the new enchanting outdoor Hartman Concert Park. FREE. H-E-B Austin Symphony & Fireworks Come early, bring a picnic, claim a grassy spot and enjoy the patriotic music of the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Custom Sounds Texas Heatwave One of the largest custom truck & car shows in the nation. News 8 Austin Mighty Mud Mania Kids run through obstacles and giant mud pits! Happy 4th of July! City of Austin Parks ci.austin.tx.us/parks LBJ Wildflower Center wildflower.org Zilker Hillside Theater zilker.org Deep Eddy Pool ci.austin.tx.us/parks The Long Center austinsymphony.org Auditorium Shores austinsymphony.org Travis Co. Expo Center heatwaveinc.com Round Rock Parks roundrocktexas.gov PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PEEL, INC. % Voice V 8 LY