The Manor Messenger

Copyright © 2009 Peel, Inc. Manor Messenger - March 2009 �

The Manor Messenger

TheManorMessengerisamonthlynewslettermailedtoallBentlyManorresidents.Residents,communitygroups,churches,etc.arewelcometo includeinformationabout theirorganizationsinthenewsletter. If you are involved with a schoolgroup, play group, boy scouts, girlscouts,sportsactivity,socialgroup,etc.andwouldliketosubmitanarticleforTheManorMessengeryoucandosobyemailingittoarticles@peelinc.com. PersonalnewsfortheStorkReport,Teenage Job Seekers, recipes, specialcelebrations,birthdayannouncementsandmilitaryservicearealsowelcome.

A Newsletter forBently Manor Residents

by Bently Manor Residents

Welcome toThe Manor Messenger

Go GreenGo PaperlessSign up to receive The Manor Messenger in your inbox. Visit PEELinc.com for details.

Our goal is to keepyou informed!

ManorMarch 2009 Volume 1, Issue 1

News for the Residents of Bently ManorMessenger

The

Alternatives to Microsoft OfficeSubmitted by Laurie Scott

Anyonewhoworksinanofficeandwitha computerprobablyhasMicrosoftOfficeinstalled on it. Word, PowerPoint andExcelandfoundinalmosteverycorporateenvironment. Butwhen it comes time tobuysoftwareforyourhomecomputer,mostpeopledon’trealizetherearefreeandlow-costalternative.

To start, Microsoft does offer an Office2007 “Home and Student” edition thatI’ve seen online for as low at $80. Thisedition includesWord, PowerPoint, Exceland OneNote, but not Outlook, which iswhat many Office users expect with their“office”suite.

ThemostpopularfreeoptionisprobablySun’s Open Office 3 (available at www.openoffice.org) It has powerful wordprocessing, presentation and spreadsheetprogramsthatarecompatiblewithMicrosoftOffice, and also includes a graphicsprogramanddatabase(butagain,noe-mailprogram.)

Another free alternative is a surprisingname from the past. Lotus (owned byIBM) has resurrected its Symphonysuite and is closer to Open Office thatMicrosoftOffice. Itsprogramsare IBMLotusSymphonyDocuments,IBMLotusSymphonyPresentationsandIBMLotusSymphony Spreadsheets and also offerMicrosoftOfficecompatibility.

Google has recently entered the officeapplication fray with their own product(which are still in “beta” – a Googletrademark),GoogleDocs.ItoffersMicrosoftOfficecompatibilityforWordandExcelwithatwist,everythingisstoredonline.Youcanaccessandshareyourfileswithanyonefromanywhere. Some consider this the future,knownas“cloudcomputing”(theinternetisthecloudincomputernetworkdiagrams.)

Corel offers an $89 alternative that iscompatiblewithOfficeWord,PowerPointandExcel,butincludesVideoStudioLEforeditingyour home videos, and MediaOne SE forenhancingandorganizingyourphotos.

At the time of this writing, the mostpopular (non-Microsoft) email client,Eudoraisundergoingarewritebuttheolderversionsare still availableatwww.eudora.com.Ifyou’realreadyusinghotmail,yahoo

(Continued on Page 2)

2 Manor Messenger - March 2009 Copyright © 2009 Peel, Inc.

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MissiOn stAteMentTheManorMessenger,ForBentlyManor

ThemissionofTheManorMessengeristoprovidetheBentlyManorCommunitywithonesourceoflocalnewscontentthatiswrittenbyBentlyManorresidents.Ourgoalistohelpbuildthecommunitybyconnectinglocalbusinesseswithresidentsandresidentswithrelevantneighborhoodinformation.

"Be the community."

Advertising infO Please support the advertisers that makeThe ManorMessenger possible. If you would like to support thenewsletterbyadvertising,pleasecontactoursalesofficeat888-687-6444oradvertising@PEELinc.com.Theadvertisingdeadlineisthe20thofthemonthpriortotheissue.

Article infO The Manor Messenger is mailed monthly to all BentlyManorresidents.Residents,communitygroups,churches,etc.arewelcometoincludeinformationabouttheirorganizationsinthenewsletter.PersonalnewsfortheStorkReport,TeenageJob Seekers, recipes, special celebrations, and birthdayannouncementsarealsowelcome.

TosubmitanarticleforTheManorMessengerpleaseemailittoarticles@peelinc.com.Thedeadlineisthe20thofthemonthpriortotheissue.

Attention Teenagers TheTeenage Job SeekerslistingserviceisofferedfreeofchargetoallBentlyManorteenagersseekingwork.Submityournameandinformationtoarticles@peelinc.combythe20thofthemonth!

Classified AdsPersonal classifieds(onetimesellitems,suchasausedbike...)run atno charge toBentlyManor residents, limit30words,[email protected] classifieds(offeringaserviceorproductlineforprofit)are$50,limit40words,pleasecontactPeel,[email protected].

teenage Job seekers Baby Pet House YardName Age Sit Sit Sit Work PhoneDoe,John...................... 15.........•......... •........•.................. 111-1111

*-CPRTraining+-FirstAidTrainingSAMPLE

DoYouHaveReasontoCelebrate?Wewanttohearfromyou!Emailarticles@peelinc.comtoletthecommunityknow!

DoyouhaveapictureofaneventthatyouwouldliketoruninTheManorMessenger?Sendittousandwewillpublishitinthenextissue.Emailthepictureto [email protected]. Besuretoincludethetextthatyouwouldliketohaveasthecaption.Pictureswillappearincoloronlineatwww.PEELinc.com.

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mail,Gmail,oryourInternetServiceProvider’s(ISP)web-basedmail,thenyoudon’tneedane-mailclienttorunonyourcomputeranyway.

So don’t automatically feel like you have to fork out a couplehundreddollarsjusttohaveOfficefunctionalityathome.ThereareaffordableandevenFREEalternativesoutthereforyou.

Happy Computing!

Financial Corner - (Continued from Cover Page)


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Healthier Homes - spring cleaningSubmitted by Charlie and Michelle Bubnis

It isthattimeofyearagaintobeginspringcleaningandgettingthehousefreshenedup.Whencleaningitsimportantthatyoucleansafe.Cleanersthatcontaindisinfectantseitherserveasantisepticsorsanitizers.Antisepticsdisinfectskinandmucousmembranesandarelessharshthansanitizersthatdisinfectinanimatesurfaces.Theirpurposeistokillbacteria,protozoaandfungi.Theyareantimicrobial.There are three main types of disinfectants:

1. Phenols-foundinLysol2. Halogenated compounds– suchasbleachandchloramines

foundindrinkingwater3. Quaternaryammoniumsalts–foundindetergentsDisinfectantsareregulatedbyfederallawbecausetheyaretheform

ofpesticidethatpeopleareexposedtothemost.Theyhaveanimpactonindoorairqualityinthehomethatcanbedetrimentaltohumanhealth.The“smellofclean”isnotnecessarilyagoodthing…ratheritisoftenthesignthattoxicchemicalsarebeingreleasedintotheair.The“smellofclean”shouldhavenosmelllikefresh,outdoorair.Oncetheseantimicrobialsarerinseddownthedraintheycanaccumulate in aquatic environments and end up in waste watertreatmentplants.

TheNationalAssociationofCleanWaterAgencies(NACWA)isconcernedthatthedisinfectantsinthewastewatercouldharmmicrobes in activated sludge which is a biological process thattreatment plants use to clean up wastewater. Some healthierdisinfectantoptionsaretousehydrogenperoxide3%inaspraybottle (wipedown) followedby vinegar in a spraybottle (wipedown). Another alternative is Borax or a borax spray made bymixing2tablespoonsofboraxwith¼cupoflemonjuiceand2cupsofhotwaterinaspraybottleanduseasanycommercialall-purposecleaner.Thiswillnothavethedetrimentalimpactonindoorairqualityandonwastewaterthatisrinseddownthedrain.

Remember,nolegalrequirementsexistforlistingingredientsonthelabelsofhouseholdcleaningproducts.ManycompaniesvoluntarilyprovideMaterialSafetyDataSheets(MSDS)forproductsbuttheycanbeincomplete.TheseMSDSsheetsdonotlistcarrierchemicalssuchasphthalateswhichyouhaveheardalotaboutinthenewslatelynordotheyspecifyfragrances.

Itistimetoconsiderspringcleaningahealthierway!Resources:

• LessToxicAlternativesbyCarolynGorman2004• www.womenandenvironment.org–safecleaningproductsinitiativeto

reducewomen’sexposuretotoxicchemicalsincleaningproducts.

� Manor Messenger - March 2009 Copyright © 2009 Peel, Inc.

The Manor Messenger

ThetournamentisafundraiserforanAustincharity,Colin’sHope,whichwasfounded in August 2008 in honor ofColinKroghHolst.Colinwasonly4yearsold when he drowned in a local publicpool last June. Sadly, after strugglingto understand how this could happen,his family and friends learned that hisdeath isonlyoneof somany like it, asdrowning is the second leading causeof death in children under the age of14.Armedwiththisknowledge,Colin’sfamilydecidedtofindawaytoturntheirunimaginable loss into an organizationdriven to save children from drowning,andColin’sHopewasborn.Thecharityisanonprofitfoundationwhichcreatesandsupportsprogramstoaidinthepreventionofchildhooddrowning.Colin’sHopehashadtheprivilegetoworkalongsideothernonprofits such asThe Junior Leagueof Austin, YMCA and Partnershipsfor Children to implement initiativessuch as sponsoring swim lessons forunderprivileged children and educatingparents,children,andlifeguardsonwatersafety.YoucanlearnmoreaboutColin’sHopeatwww.colinshope.org.

Thefoundation’sfirstfundraiserwasthesaleofColin’sCookbookinthefall.Thecookbook,whichbeganwithrecipesfromallthemealsprovidedtothefamilyafterColin’sdeath,wasahugesuccess,raisingmorethan$10,000forColin’sHopeandallowingthefoundationtobegintohaveapresenceinourcommunity.

The Colin’s Hope Classic will be thesecondmajorfundraiserforColin’sHope,and its all-volunteer staffhopes to raisemore then $40,000.This would allowthemtoinitiatemanymorewatersafety

calling All san Antonio residents!visit Austin for the “Best day ever”For anyone looking for a way to spend their “best day ever,” consider registering to play in the Colin’s Hope Classic golf

tournament on Thursday, April 23, 2009!

awarenessprogramsandeffortstoimprovewatersafetystandardsthroughoutthecommunityasthe summer swim season approaches! Colin’sHopeisprivilegedtohaveGarrettWeber-Gale,aGoldMedalOlympianat the2008BeijingOlympics andTexas Longhorn alum, as theHonoraryChairforthetournament.GarrettWeber-GalehasgeneratedhisownbuzzlatelybywinninghisfirstoftwoOlympicgoldmedalsaspartoftheU.S.4x100relayteamintheracethat isnowwidelyconsidered tobe thebestrelayswimmingraceofalltime!

ThetournamentwillbeheldatTheHillsofLakeway,Yaupon course, on April 23, 2009at 1:00pm. Registration fees are $150 perperson,whichgivesthegolferaspotinthe4-personscramble,lunch,dinnerandnumerousgenerously donated prizes. You can registertoplayinthisinauguraltournamentsecurelyonlineatwww.colinshope.org.Onceregistered, participants have theopportunitytohelpsupportColin’s Hope throughr a i s ing p l edge s .However, if golfis not your gamebutyouare interested inhelpingthisamazinggroupinhonoringColin and helping prevent childhooddrowning,thetournamentisstilllookingforsponsors,prizedonationsorsimplygood,old-fashionedvolunteers!Allquestionsorinterestedpartiesshouldbesenttoinfo@colinshope.org.Howeveryouchoosetoparticipate,wedoknow,as4-yearoldColinlovedtosay,thatitwillbeoneofyour“bestdaysever.”


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DISCLAIMER:Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions oftheir 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 madeintheadvertisingcontentaresolelythatoftheadvertiserandanysuchclaims 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.

The Manor Messenger is a private publication published by Peel, Inc. It is not sanctioned by any homeowners association or organization, nor is it subject to the approval of any homeowners association or organization, nor is it intended, nor implied to replace any publication that may be published by or on behalf of any homeowners association or organization. At no time will any source be allowed to use The Manor Messenger contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, 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.

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need More space? reclaim the space You Already Own

Submitted by Heather Bland-Ho

Manyofusmightbefeelingtheurgeformorespace.Inthecurrenteconomy,however,movingoutor“up”mightnotbeanoption.Butwaiting out the housing downturn doesn’t mean you need to putupwith spaces that are stressingyououtorbringingyoudown…RECLAIMTHESPACEYOUALREADYHAVEANDFALLINLOVEAGAINwiththehomeyoualreadyown! Followthesesimplestepstomakeyourhomeworkhardertomeetyourneeds:

Prioritize:Whatareasbugyouthemost?Whatareyourtroublespots?Fromthatlist,whicharea,whenimproved,wouldhavethebiggestimpactonyourlife?Look with an Outsider’s Eyes:Pretendyou’reastrangercomingintothehouse-whatdoyounotice?Youcanevenaskafriendtohelpwiththispart…theywillnoticepilesorunnecessaryobjectsbetterandfasterthanyouwill.Systematize:Whatworks andwhatdoesn’twork in the space?Createsystemstohelpalleviateproblems,suchasputtingbasketstocorralerrantshoesnearadoorwayordesignatingahomefornewspapersandmagazinesthatarealwayslyingaround.Organize:Getridofthingsthatyounolongerneed,arebrokenordon’tserveapurpose.Keeponlywhatyouneed,thinktobebeautifulorlove.Sortandpurgetolightenupandfocusonwhat’sreallyimportantinlife.Doyouwanttoconstantlypickhundredsoftoysaroundthehouse?Orwouldyouratherspendthattimeplayingwithyourchildren?Recognize when you need help:Oftenweneedanotherpersontogiveopinionsortohelpkeeptheprojectmovingalong;enlistafriendorcallaprofessionalorganizer.Forafractionofthecostofanewhome,aprofessionalorganizercanhelpyoutransformyourspaceandinspireyoutodoamazingthings.Ihaveworkedwithfamiliestoreclaimtoyrooms,gamerooms,bedrooms,garagesandmanyotherspaces.Recently,onemomwasoverjoyedtoseethathersix-year-olddaughtersatfortwohoursplayinghappilyonherownbecausenowshehadthespacetosetupherLittlestPetShop“village.”Thatsamesweetgirlalsotoldhermomhowhappyshewastobeabletodoacartwheel inherroomagainwithouthurtingherself!Realize the gain: Congratulations- you’ve just made a majorimprovementtoyourhome!You’vereclaimedspaceyoualreadyown,withoutthecostandhassleofrelocating.You’vefallenbackinlovewithyourhome,savingyourselfthousandsofdollars.

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Did You Know?“TheStar-SpangledBanner”wasdesignatedthenationalanthembyactofCongress in1931,117yearsafteritwaswritten.


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Color the drawing below and mail the finished artwork to us atPeel, Inc. - Kids Club

311 Ranch Road 620 S, Suite 200Lakeway, TX 78734

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