Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc. The Beacon - February 2013 1

The Beacon

Volume 4, Issue 2 February 2013

Some Healthy Heart FactsArticle provided by Greg Sedbrook

I hope everyone has been able to successfully adhere to their New Year’s resolutions about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This month we think about our hearts in two different ways. The most obvious being February 14th, Valentine’s Day, where we associate our hearts with love, as we celebrate the day with the people we cherish the most in this world. But February is also the time the American Heart Association designates as Heart Health month. The American Heart Association calls heart disease “the number one killer” for both men and women in the United States. The following are some healthy heart facts to help you in your fight against heart disease.

Walking 30 minutes a day 5 times a week can lower your chances of heart disease. It doesn’t seem like walking would count as much exercise, but it actually contributes to a healthy heart. Drink red wine as part of a heart healthy diet. Red grapes contain what researchers believe to be an antioxidant called resveratrol. Resveratrol can protect your heart against disease. Drinking wine is actually better than just eating the grapes because drinking moderately can lower your blood pressure and heart rate. This does not mean that you should drink an entire bottle of wine every day, but a glass or two is fine and might also reduce inflammation and blood clotting.

Having high blood cholesterol increases your chance for heart disease. Your total cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dL. Not all cholesterol is bad for your heart, so the most important heart healthy tip is to have an appropriate ratio of good to bad cholesterol. You can ask your doctor to run a blood test, called a “lipoprotein profile,” to find out your cholesterol numbers.

Lower your triglycerides to get your heart healthy. Triglycerides are a form of fat in your blood plasma and like cholesterol they can be detected with a lipoprotein profile. Elevated levels of triglycerides have been linked to diabetes and heart disease.

Limit your intake of foods containing unhealthy fats and cholesterol for a healthy heart. There has been a lot of talk recently about not eating trans fats, and you shouldn’t; but just because a product touts itself as being “trans fat-free” it does not mean that it is good for you. It is important to look at labels for saturated fat and cholesterol. Foods that contain saturated fat and cholesterol are usually animal products: bacon, butter, cream sauces.

Increase your intake of heart healthy fats. Polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats can contribute to a healthy heart. Look for items like avocados and cold water fish. Almonds and flaxseeds are also rich in antioxidant and heart healthy fat, just don’t go overboard. Indulging in some dark chocolate can promote a healthy heart. Just make sure that the cacao content is 70% or higher. Like wine, dark chocolate contains resveratrol. Cacao itself has cacao phenols, or flavonoids (an antioxidant).

Quit smoking or don’t start. Smoking can have even more serious effects on your heart than eating fast food. Smoking contributes to high triglycerides, high blood pressure and a lower immune system. Smokers increase their risk of heart disease by 50 percent and they are also most susceptible to blood clots.

If you have heart symptoms, don’t ignore them. While most people know that arm pain is an indication of a heart attack, some don’t know that heart attack symptoms also include feelings of weakness, dizziness, back pain and jaw pain.

And in closing, also remember that regular massage can be another good tool to use in the prevention of heart disease by reducing stress and a multitude of other ways. Kill two birds with one stone so to speak; give a gift certificate for a massage to your favorite Valentine! Till next month; stay safe, think healthy.

(Some of the above information was provided by the American Heart Association.)

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Sign up for email alerts by registering at

www.Spectrumam.com Our management website is a treasure trove of

information regarding neighborhood policies, community events, community safety and other helpful items. You can pay your assessment fee online and can also sign up to receive email updates/alerts that are sent out by the Board of Directors and site managers. If you need help registering or need to have your password reset, call our site manager, Jason Green at (210) 705-1121.

Your Board of Directors

RE-SODDING VS. REPAIRING

By Brian HubbellAvailable to assist you with landscaping, yard

maintenance, and basic handiworkIf the need to sod your lawn immediately arises due to an impending

home sale or move (many valid reasons exist), please know that it is a viable option but is a bit more expensive than other alternatives.

I am not opposed to re-sodding, however due to the necessity for sod to be laid down meticulously (attention must be paid to yard conditions, laying procedures, etc. etc.) it can become monetarily inefficient to do so, especially if it dies before becoming established. For instance, the conditions this past year were very extreme and many if not all of the yards sodded at the beginning of 2011 did not survive the drought and water restrictions.

I propose another option if re-sodding is not a viable option for you due to cost or maintenance requirements. (The use of this process assumes that you have not replaced the St. Augustine grass provided by Centex)

With a steel rake, pull all the dead grass back. This grass chokes the ground and prevents proper growth

Apply strong fertilizer (I personally prefer to use Vigoro or Scott’s Turfbuilder ) and fresh dirt (such as the topsoil mentioned throughout this issue of the newsletter) Be sure to water the topsoil in to help prevent erosion.

The healthy grass left after the raking (assuming a healthy root system) will grow and spread quickly under the right conditions (sufficient rainfall or watering/fertilization)

I offer this information for your use and I believe that February-April is the right time to work on yard maintenance. Getting started now and performing slight maintenance over the following 4-8 weeks will keep your yard on the path to proper development and will hopefully lead to you having a yard you are proud of and enjoy.

I typically offer the yard repair service for approximately $200-$300 (depending on yard size, condition, etc.) I supply the fertilizer and the primary additional expense for you would be any topsoil/seed you choose to purchase. I live in the community and have a vested interest in helping other Rivermist residents bring their yards back from the recent harsh conditions. I can provide you with examples of my work upon request. If you are interested in having work done for you or have any questions, please feel free to call me at (210) 459-8456.

* The Rivermist HOA Board of Directors does not endorse any of the business entities or residents that provide information/articles in the Rivermist Beacon. Exercise due diligence when hiring anyone to perform work at your residence.

BE AWARE OF IMPOSTORS

SAWS, CPS Energy and the San Antonio Police Department are urging residents to be on guard against individuals who may pose as utility or city workers to gain access to homes.

When SAWS employees call on customers in the field, there are clear procedures they follow:• All SAWS employees wear an ID badge with the employee’s

photo and SAWS logo on it. • Most field employees wear a blue uniform or shirt clearly

marked with our logo. • Most SAWS vehicles are white with a SAWS logo on the

doors. • SAWS personnel never request access to your home unless

you’ve specifically requested a SAWS employee to visit you, such as a water conservation check-up.

• Water testing can be conducted at an outdoor faucet, if and when necessary. If the person at your door claims to be a SAWS employee

and you have any doubt about their identity, please call 704-SAWS for verification. Of course, if you feel you’re in immediate danger, always call 911.

Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc. The Beacon - February 2013 3

The Beacon

Come see what your neighbors are talking about.Join Nextdoor Rivermisthoa, the private website for your neighborhood.

Get to know your neighbors • Share local recommendations • Lend, borrow and give away • Keep the neighborhood safe • Stay informed

To join, visit:rivermisthoa.nextdoor.com/join

Charles (Rivera Cv) writes: "We are coming together onlineas a community. Join us on Nextdoor. This will help usshare crime/safety info as well as help us get to know eachother. "

To accept your invitation, visit:rivermisthoa.nextdoor.com/joinYour flyer code: XEIGAR

Nextdoor Rivermisthoa

Nextdoor RivermisthoaYour neighbor, Charles Hasberry, invited you to join.

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The Beacon

SPRING CELEBRATIONEASTER EGG HUNT

The Board of Directors is tentatively planning an Easter Egg Hunt to be held at the neighborhood park on March 30th, 2012 from 10 am – 12 noon. Stay tuned to the Spectrum Website and the Rivermist Facebook page for more information. Potential

Activities include a rock climbing wall, video game truck, an appearance by the Easter Bunny and

many other fun activities for the family!!

Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc. The Beacon - February 2013 5

The Beacon

FREE WATER-EFFICIENT FIXTURES

DON’T HIBERNATE ON YOUR LANDSCAPE NOW

WINTER WATERING: HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

By Nathan Riggs As homeowners watch their landscapes enter winter dormancy,

many wonder, “How much do I need to water my landscape this winter?”

While there is no perfect answer, there are some key conditions and observations you should consider:

Is it raining regularly? Normally, a standard winter recommendation is to apply ½ inch of water once every four weeks for warm season grass like St. Augustine. But, significant rainfall is enough to delay irrigation for at least three weeks in the winter, sometimes more.

How deep is the soil beneath my landscape? Soil depth is very important for the water needs of plants and grass during the winter. Soil at least 6 inches deep holds moisture longer, requiring little-to-no supplemental water. Turf areas with soil less than 6 inches deep may require additional irrigation.

What kinds of plants are being watered? Native and adapted non-native shrubs and trees require much less water than grasses in winter. If water is needed, use a hand-held hose to apply water directly to individual shrubs and trees.

How will irrigation impact my sewer bill? Sewer bills are calculated based on water use during the winter months. The less water you use during this period, known as winter averaging, the lower your sewer bill will be for the following year.

During most winters, supplemental watering is not necessary. But this year, drought seems to have become a year-round phenomenon. Think about your landscape before adding additional water in the winter.

Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean your dormant landscape couldn’t use some TLC. Now is the time to make sure you’re correctly watering your lawn, pruning with care and getting your gardening tools in tip-top shape for spring. Peruse these past WaterSaver Newsletter editions for recommended winter gardening projects that’ll pay dividends when we thaw out.

Elevate Your Landscape: Add Raised Garden Beds - Small gardening space got you down? Try raised gardening beds to lift your spirits!

Get Your Garden and Tools in Gear for Spring - If you’re a gardening overachiever, these tasks will make you giddy.

Winter Wildlife - For the less active gardener, a little procrastination can pay dividends, too – for local wildlife.

Irrigation Maintenance and Care During Winter - Give your irrigation system a vacation. Your lawn and water bill will thank you.

Winter Watering: How Much is Enough? - It’s true what they say: Less is more.

Spruce Up Your Winter Garden - Winter doesn’t have to be synonymous with bleak and barren.

Got Crape Myrtles? Prune Prudently - Severe pruning is a crime of conscience: Crape murder (gasp!)

Treat Your Landscape to Some Post-Winter Pampering - Try a little, well, TLC: Tender Loving Compost.

No-Fail Fruit Trees for San Antonio - Fruit trees are on their way to nurseries. Get the lowdown on which ones do best in S.A.

Hiring an Arborist? Ask the Right Questions - ‘Tis the season to be pruning!

HIGH-EFFICIENCY SHOWERHEADSHigh-efficiency showerheads can save over 2 gallons per minute.

It feels like a regular showerhead. It gets you wet just like a regular showerhead. And no, the water doesn’t come out in little wimpy spurts. It just uses a lot less water than a regular showerhead. So why don’t you have one? Call 210-704-SAVE and we’ll give you your very own free showerhead. And don’t forget to wash behind your ears!

AERATORSNext time you’re washing the peanut butter off your knife, ask

yourself, “Hey do I really need this much water to wash off this

peanut butter?” Our answer is “no!” Those little gizmos up there are called aerators. Here’s how they can save you a lot of water.

Aerators save water just by adding air to the water. They don’t take away the water pressure, but they do use a lot less water. Install aerators in all of your faucets – the bathrooms, the kitchen, everywhere there’s a faucet. Aerators save you about 2 gallons of water per minute and they’re cheap. In fact, they’re free if you call 210-704-SAVE.

Seventy-five percent of water used inside the home is used in the bathroom. So follow our water-saving tips and be a WaterSaver!

www.saws.org

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The Beacon

Ross Hosea, OwnerISA Certified Arborist #TX-3811A

Texas Oak Wilt CertifiedSan Antonio native with more than

20 years experienceTrimming � Removal � Planting

Free Estimates(210) 912-4869 or rosshosea@hotmail.com

ArborPro Tree Care

Dear Homeowner, Here at Spectrum we strive to make the transition to our company as seamless and problem free as possible. This article is just a reminder on the different ways you can pay your homeowner association dues. The most traditional method of coming to our office to pay is available. Our address is 17319 San Pedro, Suite 318, San Antonio, TX 78232. You can also register at www.spectrumam.com and login to pay your dues by e-check or credit card. We accept payment from Mastercard, Discover and American Express. On this site you can also setup recurring payments, view current reports of any ACC requests, Violations, governing documents, upcoming events and other information. For your security, we do not take credit card payments over the phone. If you ever have questions on how to register or how to review something on the website, please feel free to contact us. Our policy is to return all calls and emails the same day. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Regards,

Jason M. GreenCommunity Manager Office: 210.494.0659 www.spectrumam.com

Check us out on the web atwww.rivermistsa.com

Our community website is a treasure trove of information regarding community events, community safety and other helpful items. You can sign up to receive email updates/alerts that are sent out by our talented webmaster.

Sincerely,Your Board of Directors