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AUGUST 2016 VOLUME 5, ISSUE III

What is a Lifestyle Director & Upcoming Events, page 5Legislative Changes for Our Upcoming POA Election, page 6ACC & LRPC Reports, pages 7-9Venomous Snakes, pages 10-11Remembering Two Great Communitarians, pages 12-13RC Website Stats & Another New Development, page 14Wildlife Committee Update, page 15

Kathy Rogers Keller Williams Realty

Serving My Neighbors in RC!

Highlights ~ Regular Meeting of theBoard of Directors

July 14, 20161. Treasurer’s Report

· On track with budget comparison· Suspending reserve funding until a later date

when monies even out2. River Park cameras

· Some issues remain· Maintenance man and Security Chair monitor

(live stream)· Cameras have monitoring and recording

abilities· Increased speed with GVTC for better

performance3. Other Maintenance/Common Areas

· Sam Arizpe assisting Mel McMurtry· Lighting at Highway 46 mailboxes updated

and running on electricity● Walking paths at Sports Park damaged due

to rains once again. Will define the scope ofwork with the possibility of eliminatingsections continuously causing problems

(continued on page 4)

Changes in theStatus of the

Burn Ban, page 18

Hampton Inn &Visitor’s CenterArriving in 2017!Plus, OtherCommunity Interest Items, page 19

Have You Readthe Fine Print?

page 16

Details & Proxies will be mailed

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Volunteering is a gift that lasts forever!You Can Be That Gift To River Crossing!

The Nominating Committee is looking for big-hearted residents to step up as candidates for the twoopenings on the Board of Directors and one of the three vacancies on the Architectural ControlCommittee (ACC). The length of the terms for either opportunity is two years.

Isn't River Crossing great? It is through the time and efforts gifted by many previous neighbors thatwe are such a wonderful community. We enjoy some of the lowest dues in the area, are financiallysound, and because of that, we are able to improve and enhance areas within River Crossing.

To learn more, click this text to be directed to the website to send an inquiry, or if you are absolutelyready to present yourself as a candidate, simply add that information in the Comments box on theform.

Serving on the Board or ACC is important work and a tremendous responsibility. We appreciate yourwillingness to volunteer in making a positive impact on the direction of our River Crossingneighborhood.

River Crossing 2016 Nominating Committee

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BOD Meeting Highlights (continued from front cover)

4. Architectural Control Committee (Committee Update article)· Residents can now apply for refunds on-line (RCPOA website)· The ACC is preparing a comprehensive update of the Construction Guidelines:Ø Compatibility with the SmartWebs systemØ Incorporate suggestion from FirstService, e.g. flag poles, swimming pools, etc.

5. Long Range Planning Committee (Committee Update article)· Boulevard Median ProjectØ Satisfied with work by South Texas GrowersØ Pleased with the response from South Texas Growers on the replacement of some

plantings (all plants have a one-year guarantee)Ø Requesting bid from South Texas Growers for easternmost portion of BoulevardØ With the new drip irrigation system, it is likely the Association will be able to downsize the

meter to recognize even more significant savings· RV & Outdoor Storage (boats/trailers) Study for the 11 AcresØ Subcommittee created to research the feasibility of this projectØ Survey will be conducted to gather input from property ownersØ Fees to be collected from users (no cost to POA)

6. RC Teens 4 Hire Website Link (Read more)· Representing the group, Gwen Pain asked for a link to the teens’ website to be placed on

the POA website, along with a disclaimer removing any liability to the POA· The River Crossing-only service website will offer on-line booking for babysitting, pet sitting,

etc. Screening for RC residency andregistration is required to use the site:!Sign Up

7. Communications (More info)· Website created via Nord Enterprises

functioning well8. Social

· Ladies Luncheon next event· Social Committee to meet with

FirstService’s Lifestyles Director (Relatedarticle on next page)

Next Meeting: Workshop in September (AnnualMeeting Preparation)

November

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What is a Lifestyle Director?As part of FirstService Residential’s commitment toexcellence, they have a Lifestyle Division staffed withprofessionals with extensive experience and successin this sector to meet the needs of their managedcommunities. The specialized division provides:

● Activity Director / Lifestyle Director services● Training for Board members, committee

members and lifestyle directors● Amenity, lifestyle, fitness and wellness

program development and management● Activity, community and marketing event

planning● Value-added programs, such as collective

buying power and negotiated vendor pricingSource: First Service Residential

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84th Legislative Law Changes for Associations

Approximately 6,200 bills and joint resolutions were filed during the 84th Texas Legislative sessionin 2015. Among those was the passage of Senate Bill 1168 that created many changes for propertyowners associations. With our upcoming Annual Meeting in October, and some specific lawsaddressing voting and elections, this article summarizes some of the more important changes invoting and elections as they apply to River Crossing.Ø The Association only needs to provide one method of voting to owners, but must in all cases

make voting available by either absentee or proxy ballot.

Ø Secret voting (an unsigned ballot) is now allowed, if, and only if, the POA adopts rulesaddressing secret ballots, including rules to help ensure owners only cast the number of votesthey are entitled to cast. Further, if secret voting is used for a board member election, eachcandidate must be allowed to name one person to observe ballot counting, but that person isnot allowed see the names on the ballots.

Ø Floor nominations in election meetings do not invalidate previously cast absentee or proxyballots.

Ø Demands for recounts must follow a specific timeline. The new law provides very clear steps tofollow.

Ø The tabulator of a vote or a recount cannot disclose how individual owners voted, unlessrequired to do so by Court order.

Ø Unless required by our deed restrictions, the Association meeting is not necessary for a vote ofowners, but all owners must be given notice of a vote at least twenty days before the ballot isdue.

Ø Written ballots (either signed or secret) are no longer required for every vote, but they arerequired for the following votes:○ Votes not taken at a meeting○ An election to fill a board position○ A proposed amendment of dedicatory instruments○ An increase in assessments or adoption of special assessments○ Votes for the proposed

removal of a boardmember

Ø If an HOA has more than100 lots, a notice must besent to owners solicitingcandidates for members ofthe board and must be sentat least ten days beforeballots are sent or madeavailable to owners forvoting. All names of eligibleowners who request to beon the ballot must be put onthe ballot.

Source: Texas Community AdvocatesAssociation

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Long Range Planning Committee NewsThe first phases of the River Crossing Boulevard landscape renovation are complete with the

walking path along the south roadway and the landscaping of the western median finished.Plantings were selected from native varieties, focusing on low water usage and deer resistant plants.

South Texas Growers, the contractor for the first phase of median rehabilitation, has beenasked to prepare a similar proposal for the next segment of the median between River Way and therenovated median. The LRPC will submit this bid to the Board of Directors for their incorporation inthe 2017 budget planning.

The LRPC has also been tasked to evaluate the viability of a fenced RV/boat storage lot onPOA owned land on River Crossing Boulevard (11 acres). One of our nearby neighborhoods, MysticShores, has constructed such a facility and the members of the LRPC have spoken to themregarding operation and maintenance of such an amenity. The following has been outlined:

● Subcommittee created to research the feasibility of this project● Survey† will be conducted to gather input from property owners● Fees to be collected from users (no cost to POA)

† An online property owner survey will be an important part of this process. The survey will be onthe www.rivercrossingpoa.com website and will be announced by an e-blast from the POA.

Seasonal Hours: Please Call First!

Photo: Mystic Shores RV/Boat Outdoor StorageNo specific plans have been developed for RiverCrossing. However, the Mystic Shores facility offersits residents:

● Secure access● 20 large and 60 small covered stalls that

accommodate large recreational vehicles● 153 open air storage spaces

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Refunds 9Fence 9Pools 2

Other (repainting) 2New Construction 3

Shed 1Variance (Granted) 1Variance (Pending) 1

More Information from the Architectural Control Committee….

The River Crossing ACC continues the transition to online tools and documentationwhich began in January with the move to SmartWebs online software. With this tool theACC can receive, review and approve projects without any paper plans or specifications.Less complicated projects can be reviewed and online collaboration frequentlyaccelerates approval.

The recent activation of the River Crossing website provides online access to all DCCRsand Construction Guidelines. Additionally, a deposit refund request form has beenrecently added. Residents can complete a short form with the information being sent tothe management company and the ACC. If you have a completed project, pleaserequest a refund of your deposit via this new method.

If you have questions, or are requesting help about upcoming projects, you can contactthe ACC at acc@rivercrossingpoa.com.

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FYI – Deck MaintenanceEveryone enjoys gathering on the deck for relaxation andsocializing. Most people use their deck all the time withoutany thought of danger beneath their feet. However, just asany part of home maintenance, your deck should be on yourlist for performing an annual safety inspection, starting fromthe ground up and remembering that deficiencies in any partcan lead to trouble. We all want to savor our outdoor living ina beautiful and safe environment, so here is a short checklistto assist you in examining your deck (NOTE: Use of aprofessional inspector is critical for evaluating thoroughly):

● Split or decaying wood – Check several different areas of the deck to be sure the wood isstill sound. Pay special attention to any areas that tend to remain damp, are regularlyexposed to water, or are in contact with fasteners. This is also a good time to look for smallholes in the wood that may indicate insects.

● Flashing – Flashing is a metal or plastic guard that directs water out and away from sensitiveareas. It’s often installed where the deck and house come together, keeping moisture anddebris from collecting between the house and the deck’s ledger board. Be certain theflashing is sound and firmly in place.

● Loose or corroded fasteners – Fasteners include nails, screws or anchors in the ledgerboard. Tighten any loose fasteners and pound in any nails that may have popped up. Note:The ledger board should not be fastened with only nails. If a fastener appears rusted orcorroded, consider replacing it.

● Railings and banisters – These should besecure. This is especially important thehigher your deck is off the ground.

● Stairs – Check any railings or handrails tobe sure they are firmly held in place; checkthe risers and stringers to be certain theyare securely attached and not decayed.

● Cleaning and maintenance – Clean awayany leaves and debris. If mildew is presentor the deck coating has worn away, cleanand apply a new waterproofing coating.

● Lighting and electrical – Be sure all lightingis working; clean any light covers to allowmaximum light to shine through and trimany plants or tree limbs that may beblocking light. Be sure all electrical outlets,appliances and features are up to code, ingood condition, and childproof if childrenare present. Watch that any electricalcords do not present a tripping hazard.

Source: North American Deck & RailingAssociation (NADRA) serves as a tradeassociation with emphasis on safe buildingpractices, and deck safety.

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Venomous Snakes in TexasA recent discussion among neighbors on Nextdoor trying to determine the breed of snake and

whether is was venomous has prompted this article to elaborate and to add some facts. First, there arefour kinds of venomous snakes in Texas: coral snakes, copperheads, cottonmouths (water moccasins)and rattlesnakes. Unfortunately, there is no one simple hard and fast criterion a person can use to tella venomous snake from a harmless one. None of the popular criteria such as a broad, triangular head,a heavy body, vertical pupils, a flat body, or rough scales are safe since both harmless and dangeroussnakes are known to share some or all of these traits. The only unfailing method is an examination ofthe snake hollow of grooved fangs and venom glands. For obvious reasons, this is not a practicalapproach. A better method is to know which venomous snakes occur in our area and have a good ideaof their appearance.

Copperheads have chestnut or reddish-brown cross bands on a lighter colored body. Thesesnakes are found in rocky areas and wooded bottomlands and are rare in dry areas. In the spring theycan be found along streams and rivers, as well as in weed-covered vacant lots. There are threesubspecies of Copperheads in Texas; Southern copperhead, 20-30 inches long and found in theeastern one-third of the state; Broadbanded copperhead, about two feet long, widely scattered incentral and western Texas; and the Trans-Pecos copperhead, 20-30 inches in length and found nearsprings in the southern part of the Trans-Pecos. (continued on next page)

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Snakes (continued from previous page)

The coral snake is slender with a small indistinct head and round pupils. It usually is 2-1/2 feetor shorter. Its distinctive pattern is a broad black ring, a narrow yellow ring and a broad red ring, withthe red rings always bordered by the yellow rings. Several harmless snakes are similarly marked, butnever with the red and yellow touching. Coral snakes are found in the southeastern half of Texas inwoodlands, canyons and coastal plains. They often travel in pairs.

Cottonmouths can be dark brown, olive-brown, olive green or almost solid black. They aremarked with wide, dark bands, which are more distinct in some individuals than in others. Thecottonmouth gets its name from the white tissue inside its mouth. This heavy-bodied snake, whichaverages about 3-1/2 feet in length, is found over the eastern half of the state in swamps, coastalmarshes, rivers, ponds and streams. Myths exist about the aggressive nature of cottonmouths. Somesay it is false, but from personal experience, I can honestly say, I had one leave the safety of the waterto pursue its perceived nemesis. Maybe, it didn’t like having rocks thrown at it, but…

Nine kinds of rattlesnakes are found in Texas. Rattlesnakes usually "rattle" before striking, butif they are totally surprised, they may strike before rattling. Most of the rattlesnakes are active at night,when they hunt for prey such as mice, rats and rabbits. A more in-depth description of rattlesnakesand venomous snake safety can be found at Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Also, a rattlesnake vaccine for dogs was developed to provide protection against WesternDiamondback Rattlesnake venom. Venom from many other snakes found throughout the UnitedStates is similar to the venom of the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. Thus, this vaccine may alsoprovide protection against the venoms of other snake breeds. This vaccine does not provide protectionagainst venom from the Water Moccasin, Mojave Rattlesnake or Coral Snake.

Snakes are not something to be feared, but rather a creature to be respected as a fascinatingand helpful member of the outdoors as many feed upon other rodents and nuisance creatures.

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In Memory of Two Great “Communitarians”During the memorial service for Curtis Bremer, Reverend Daryl Higgins described Mr.

Bremer as a great communitarian. I thought, what a perfect way to paint a picture of not only Mr.Bremer, but also of someone else I knew who had recently passed, Brenda Stewart. These twoindividuals truly epitomize the essence of a communitarian, one who upholds the importantconnection among individuals and their community.

Brenda and her husband Jerry moved to The Overlook in 2004. I first met Brenda when shejoined the Long Range Planning Committee. Through the years, I saw her often at meetings,Garden Club, and of course, H-E-B. She was never hurried, always finding the time to chat. Shewas a powerful force for River Crossing, accomplishing any task assigned or achieving one of herown personal goals, all in betterment for River Crossing. One particular cause that I recall was hermovement to have a light installed at the Highway 281 and River Crossing Boulevard intersection,sooner, rather than later. The serious incidents at this intersection were becoming toocommonplace and Brenda realized that only more accidents would occur before a light wasinstalled. Two of her personal experiences really motivated her to get this job done. One was whenBrenda and her daughter were at the intersection and a vehicle was hit with that car coming to restright in front of them. There were children involved and injuries were serious enough that Life Flightwas needed. Brenda reached out to me to start this campaign. I received a phone call from herasking that an article be drafted for the newsletter to help spread the word about the much neededsignal light. She was still irritated as she recounted her experience a few days earlier with animpatient driver behind her at the intersection. She described the driver’s rude behavior, blowingthe horn repeatedly, and finally, pulling out from behind her to unsafelyenter the highway. Her frustrations over this incident, the previousvehicle accident, and her tenacity with the powers that be, resulted in theinstallation of that light ahead of schedule.

Brenda was a resident committed to making River Crossing thebest it could be, serving on the Boardof Directors for The Overlook from2005 until 2011. She held thepositions of treasurer and president.She was a member of the Long RangePlanning Committee from 2008 until2015 when her illness prohibited heractive involvement. Brenda gave usthe visions for an improved RiverCrossing entrance and median. Weknow she would be proud of what hasbeen accomplished recentlyon the Boulevard. Also aMaster Gardener, she lovedwhen her yard filled withbluebonnets, but I believeshe gained even more joyfrom teasing Aggies abouttheir loses to LSU. Herpassion for all things goodand right will be missed inRiver Crossing.

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Curtis Bremer – Another Great “Communitarian”Some River Crossing residents may not know Mr. Bremer, but his

service made a huge impact on our neighborhood. For fifty-sevencontinuous years, until his death, Mr. Bremer was an instrumental leader inemergency services. In 1959, he and six other gentlemen worked to formthe Spring Branch Fire Department and he never stopped bringing the bestin emergency services to our area.

Mr. Bremer was born on November 15, 1934 in Smithson Valley toAlice Weidner Bremer and Julius Bremer. A life-long Texan, he graduatedfrom Texas A&M University in 1955 with an Agricultural Engineeringdegree and was commissioned into the United States Air Force as a 1stLieutenant. While in the Air Force, Mr. Bremer flew the B-47 bomber andserved in the Strategic Air Command. He was also a self-employed realestate appraiser, rancher, and life-long member of the First ProtestantChurch in New Braunfels. Those who ran into Mr. Bremer will fondly recallhis confession that he spoke German and Spanish much more fluently than English, not learningEnglish until he started elementary school. Quite the storyteller, he could paint a vivid picture ofSmithson Valley in the early days, long before the area was dubbed Bulverde Spring Branch.

In recognition and honor of his fifty-one years of continuous service to the Spring BranchCommunity and the Fire Department and Emergency Services, the Board of Commissioners ofESD #4 unanimously approved designating the building at 9850 FM 311 as the Curtis W. BremerEmergency Services and Training Center on March 28, 2012. Mr. Bremer and his wife, Edna whopreceded him in death, lived on the family property in their pioneer home they called the “SundayHouse” that had been enlarged and modernized over the years. Throughout his manyadventures, Mr. Bremer always stayed true to his Comal County roots and family. He lovedTexas, Aggie football, and collectingearly Texas pottery. In his later years,his greatest joys were feeding hiscattle, spending time with family andfriends, and enjoying a cold beverageat the end of a good day.

Mr. Bremersharing afew good

stories

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User/Resident Friendly ChangesThe POA Board of Directors launched the newly designed website on June 8th withdifferences geared to empower residents with functional abilities that were not possiblewith our previous myrivercrossing site. Neighbors are now able to (after approval):

  Upload their favorite photographs from events. NOTE: Photo size is 200K orfewer kilobytes. It is recommended to resize to a smaller format first

  Add an event to the Community Calendar  Submit a Classified Ad, Service Provider Recommendation, and/or News Item

with copy of your own drafting  Request a refund from the Architectural Control Committee

Behind the curtain, the Directors are able to report to members the exact usage thewebsite is receiving. A sampling of visits to specific pages since launching (51 days asof this publication):Home Page: 5,336Neighborhood Directory: 735Photo Gallery: 336ACC: 379Classifieds: 78Recommended Service Providers: 42OTHER DATA AND TRAFFIC:Number of submissions: 2 (Classifieds)Unique Visits: Forthcoming

If you have any questions or need assistance, you can reach that “help desk” atinfo@rivercrossingpoa.com or support@rivercrossing.com

Content Hidden for Privacy

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Wildlife Committee UpdateThe River Crossing Wildlife Committee is looking forinterested volunteers. Our activities begin in the next fewweeks as we perform our annual whitetail deer survey.Knowing that deer cannot report for themselves, we are inimmediate need of active volunteers to help conduct theAugust deer census. The surveys are normally conductedweekly, during early evenings, requires 4-5 volunteersand takes about two hours each week. The results of oursurvey allow the Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) to

estimate the community deer population and herd composition. With this information,they can help us determine if our habitat has the carrying capacity to support a healthyand productive deer population.

We're also searching for property owners willing to grant access to their property duringthe January to March trapping season. Anyone wishing to be involved may contactcommittee chair Mike Biviano via an e-mail.

Of note, it appears this year’s birthing cycle has been extended. We’re seeing late fawnswhich seem to confirm what we saw last winter with the bucks interested in the does intoJanuary. Keep an eye open for the naïve youngsters running into traffic and their moms’protective behavior.

The Root Causes of Deer Overabundance

Deer are superbly adapted to exploit the resources in suburban areas and can easilydevelop exponential growth patterns because of the following conditions:

1. Lack of hunting in residentially developed areas and regulatory protection at thegovernmental level

2. Abundant alternative food resourcesin the form of ornamental shrubs,garden plants, succulent grasses,small plants, and supplemental feed

3. Low abundance of natural predators4. Tolerance of suburban disturbances,

including human presence and theiractivities

5. High production and survival rates ofoffspring

6. Longer life spans in developed areaswhen compared to undevelopedcountryside

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Does Anyone Read the Fine Print…and Why You ShouldA true story goes that a company, in its quest to determine whethercustomers were reading their End User License Agreement (EULA),placed a clause in the downloaded document offering $1,000 to the firstperson to respond that they had read the agreement. It was located at thevery end of the EULA, and the company sadly reported that it took fourmonths and 3,000 downloads before receiving that e-mail. Additionally, inproven research conducted by the University of Chicago, the University

tracked the Internet browsing behavior of 48,154 monthly visitors to the websites of 90 onlinesoftware companies to study the extent to which potential buyers accessed the end-user licenseagreement. They found that only one or two of every 1,000 retail software shoppers accessed thelicense agreement, and that most of those who did, read no more than a small portion.

With the mounting number of software solutions, apps and social media sites available inthe marketplace, paying attention to the EULA is critical as the areas of vulnerability to the userand the opportunity for exploitation have become commonplace. By clicking on the relevantbuttons, and by the computer bringing up all terms needed to purchase, the whole transactionmeets the legal requirements binding the parties.

An often overlooked document with which River Crossing residents should familiarizethemselves is the Nextdoor agreement. Nextdoor is a private company and users agree to theterms and policies of this company. Consequences for not adhering to them can result insuspension, deletion or deactivation of an account or other privileges, or otherwise refusal ofservice to members. Some other important fine print from Nextdoor:

Why can't I join as a couple?We have found that members strongly prefer knowing exactly whom they are communicatingwith rather than having to guess which half of a couple posted a message or is reading theirreplies. We encourage members to create separate accounts rather than sharing a singlemembership. Nextdoor doesn’t limit the number of accounts per household.

Why are some posts deleted?Leads may be alerted to inappropriate content because a member in the neighborhood or in anearby neighborhood has flagged the content for review. If a post or reply violates theGuidelines, it will be removed. Finally, it is never permissible to discuss concerns about deletedor flagged messages in the news feed.

What do you mean by personal attacks?It's okay to disagree with someone on Nextdoor. In fact, one of the purposes of Nextdoor is toprovide a venue where neighbors can discuss important local issues -- and that will inevitablylead to some disagreements. When you disagree, it's critical that the discussion remain civiland neighborly on Nextdoor, which means expressing disagreement with the person’s positionor actions, rather than attacking their character or calling them names.

When is a private message more appropriate than posting to the main news feed?If someone is trying to work out the timing of when to pick up an item a neighbor is selling orgiving away or having a dialog with a neighbor on the news feed that has become simply aback and forth between two people, those discussions should be conducted via privatemessage.

What is the best practice for listing items for sale?If you are moving, or want to post multiple items for sale, we recommend listing multiple itemsin the same post. This will prevent your neighborhood news feed from being overwhelmed withclassified listings.

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Venmo: The Easiest Way to Pay Your Friends, or Not?

An up and coming app, mainlyamong young people, is Venmo.

First online in beta testing in 2009, itwas released two years later to thepublic. The app provides a way tosend money from person to personthrough the web. Like PayPal, whichowns Venmo, the Internet andmobile device-linked serviceconnects to your major U.S.-basedbank account or debit card so it canpull funds from and make depositsinto your checking or savingsaccounts. It’s free to download and use, so long as you link your account to your banking accountor a debit card. When using a credit card, that type of transaction carries a 3% processing fee. Theapp links your Facebook friends and e-mail contacts to your bank account. All data is sent over a256-bit encrypted connection and transactions are protected by the Federal Deposit InsuranceCorporation.

However, a few words of caution as it seems Venmo’s popularity is outpacing criticallyneeded security capabilities. Here are some of Venmo’s security issues and how you can try toavoid them:● Venmo doesn’t make it easy to logout of your account. In fact, many users just stay logged in at all

times, putting their money in jeopardy. It might be inconvenient, but the safest practice is to set astrong password on your account and logout after every time you use it.

● While you are using the app, you can also set a pin for that session that you must enter afterleaving the app or letting your device go to sleep.

● With Venmo’s new security update, they will now send you an e-mail if your password, e-mail,or phone number are changed. Adding other notifications will help you monitor for suspiciousactivity on your account.

● It is a good idea to keep the following notifications on: Payment Received, Payment Sent, BankTransfers to Venmo Completed, Venmo to Bank Transfer Requested, Login Attempted, andAdded Remembered Device.

● Venmo encourages users to link their debit cards, credit cards, and routing numbers to theirVenmo accounts. While connecting to any of these is risky, connecting to your bank accountwith your routing number is the most dangerous. If you are the victim of fraud, your whole bankaccount and/or card will be compromised.

● The safest way to use Venmo is to try to maintain a small balance in your account and don’tlink any cards or accounts.

● Don’t use Venmo with strangers--only friends!Venmo has an extremely limited support staff for its growing size. If you are the victim of

identity theft or fraud, you probably won’t be able to depend on Venmo to help you out quickly. Youshould still try to contact Venmo as soon as you find out about the fraud because it will limit yourliability, but rely more on your bank. Venmo’s security and data encryption are only as secure asyou make them. Source: Santa Clara University

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Burn Ban Status Rapidly Going Back & ForthOn July 14th, the County Commissioners reinstated the Burn Ban as the KBDI (see

inset for explanation of KBDI) reached 500 or more. With rain occurring on several daysafter the 14th, on July 28th, the burn ban was lifted for the unincorporated areas of ComalCounty. However, Fire Marshal Kory Klabunde urged citizens to “please be verycautious as the KBDI is 445 and there is still a fire danger. He went on to state, “I cannotsee the ban being off for very long at this time. Again, please be very cautious with anyfire you light and follow all TCEQ burn rules.”

Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS stands ready to respond with the most highlytrained firefighters and medics and the best equipment to handle our emergencies.

Keetch-Byram Drought Index

Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is an index used todetermining forest fire potential. The drought index is basedon a daily water balance, where a drought factor is balanced with precipitation and soil moisture(assumed to have a maximum storage capacity of 8-inches) and is expressed in hundredths ofan inch of soil moisture depletion. The drought index ranges from 0 to 800, where a droughtindex of 0 represents no moisture depletion, and an index of 800 represents absolutely dryconditions. Presently, this index is derived from ground based estimates of temperature andprecipitation derived from weather stations and interpolated manually by experts at the TexasForest Service (TFS) for counties across the state. Source: Texas Weather Connection

Where can you easily and conveniently locateinformation on the status of the burn ban?

● Comal County Fire Marshal’s website

● Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS’s Facebook

● Is the Burn Ban On website

● Is the Burn Ban On Facebook

Pictured from left to right:Brush Truck and Gator (utilized for wildland fires and has the capability to traverserugged terrain)

Mobile Intensive Care Units, akaAmbulances (MICU: equipped withspecialized equipment and carryexceptionally trained paramedics)

Engine Pumper (responds to major vehicleaccidents, house fires, and other majormedical emergencies),

Water Tender (apparatus for responding tofires when hydrants aren’t available, which iscritical in our area because only 30% of ourDistrict currently has hydrants)

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For more than 35 years, theAmerican Water Works Associationand its members have celebratedDrinking Water Week – a uniqueopportunity for both waterprofessionals and the communitiesthey serve to join together inrecognizing the vital role waterplays in our daily lives. This year,Canyon Lake Water ServiceCompany is not only celebratingtheir 3rd annual Drinking WaterWeek, this year will also mark their10th year serving the CanyonLake/Spring Branch/Bulverde area.Source: CLWSC

In the Community…

Hampton Inn to Build in Singing HillsVisitors & Convention Center Included

A four-story, 84-room Hampton Inn by Hilton is the latest tenant to becomea part of the Singing Hills development. Adjacent to the hotel will be theBulverde Visitors & Convention Center, containing 5,300 square feet of

meeting, office and pre-function space. This location will employ an estimated 30 people. “Ourvision was to design a premium hotel that maximizes the property’s extraordinary positioning at theconfluence of two major central-Texas thoroughfares at the most visible site in the beautiful SingingHills master development,” said Charles Leddy, CEO of Presidian Hotels and Resorts. SherryMosier, President of the Bulverde/Spring Branch Economic Development Foundation stated, “Thecity will benefit from additional revenue through municipal hotel occupancy tax dollars, and the hotelwill add value to the visitors and new businesses moving to this area.”

About Presidian Hotels & Resorts: Based in San Antonio, Texas, Presidian Hotels owns,operates and develops select service and upscale hotel properties under the Hilton, Starwood,Marriott and IHG family of brands. The quality of the portfolio has been nationally recognized by thecompanies they represent, and by the portfolio performance in the markets they cover. Source:Bulverde Spring Branch Chamber of Commerce

Highway 281 and Highway 46 Turnaround: Plagued with problems, the turnaroundwas a topic of discussion on Nextdoor with residents taking action and calling TXDoT tocomplain. While the City of Bulverde’s hands are tied and they have no recourse againstthe contractor as it is solely a TXDoT project, Mayor Krawietz has also spoken toTXDoT. He reported that the company is being fined $970 per day and the project is 18months past completion deadline. The math would indicate a total of $523,800 in fines,unless any weekends, holidays or weather days are taken out lessening that amount.

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When you shop at your locally owned businesses, you are supporting thelocal economy!

· Your dollars spent in locally-owned businesses have more impact on your community asdollars spent in other surrounding counties. When shopping locally, you simultaneouslycreate jobs, fund more city and county services through sales tax, invest in neighbor-hood improvement and promote community development.

· Save on gas! With the high prices at the gas pumps, why make that trip into SanAntonio or other distant establishments?

· Local businesses cater to their customers. They stock the items you want to buy, whenyou want to buy them.

· Hometown businesses build strong neighborhoods by sustaining communities, linkingneighbors, and by contributing more to local causes.

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ANIMAL HOUSE VETERINARY CLINIC 11 HENDRIX AUTO REPAIR 8

ARTIZEN SPA 4 KATHLEEN BANSE--STATE FARM 6

BULVERDE DENTAL-DR. PETERSON ü 5 KATHY ROGERS--KELLER WMS ü 2

CANYON ANIMAL CLINIC/HOSPITAL 13 PHYLLIS BRUNNER -REMAX 7

CHC ELECTRIC 8 RANDOLPH BROOKS FCU 9

DELIA SPRADLEY INTERIOR DESIGN 4 SOUTH TEXAS GROWERS 7

GVTC 10