SO WHERE IS THE WEBSITE?

The HOA website is under review - I'll bet some attorneys are involved. While I see it as innocent as a Hallmark Greeting Card, there are no doubt liabilities and 'exposures' with which I am unfamiliar. This is a brave new world, isn't it?

WELCOME THE DOYLES

Now into their beautiful new home on the right just past the gate. This house is way cool! I know many of us have a hobby(?) of walking through the homes under construction. So maybe you've been there already? Great site. Many nice touches. And nice people too. Maybe I can get a picture and post it so you'll know the new faces.

SNAKE ON A FRONT PORCH

Not quite the same as the movie SNAKES ON A PLANE, but our friends in the Preserve (gated area on Overlook Pass) send this picture of a rattler they killed on the neighbor's porch last night.

I am reminded of living in the Woodlands, north of Houston, where my mother-in-law stepped OVER a snake stretched along the step edge into the garage.

Herpitologists say they - rattlers - would rather just hide. Still, tell your kids and watch your dogs.

SKUNK /'nother SKUNK

Skunk Sighting

I saw a skunk same time, same place two times this week. 5:40ish in the morning on Musket Rim right across from Mondonedo Cove. It was in the ditch in front of that huge house under construction. Today it ran along and went into the culvert under the driveway -- that could be its home. Cute little thing -- heard they make good pets....

Lori Bailes

The Pigfords report another Skunk at the top of Pigford Hill, uh, Musket Rim.

NEW SPANISH OAKS HOA WEBSITE DOWN

The board and developer have asked me to pull the HOA website for now. There are legal and other issues for them to explore.

NEW SPANISH OAKS HOA WEBSITE

It's up and ready for a look-see, but relatively empty so far as we are in the process of translating certain documents into the proper text and formatting which will be viewable on the web by most browsers. But you'll get the idea.

Much more will be added shortly. Make a bookmark and come back often.

There will be a private (owner only) area. You will receive the "password" if you are in the opt-in list for weekly E mails. If you aren't on that list, but are a home or property owner, E me at rwood24@Austin.rr.com

Here's the hoa website address:

http://www.spanish-oaks-hoa.com

MEET SOFIA CARRILLO

A relatively new smile greets us on the east side gate.

Meet Sofia Carrillo:

About me - social butterfly, easy going and down to earth!
Interests - food, reading, and tennis
people who matter - friends, family, and co-workers.

In my own words -

Well I am very down to earth, I am very shy at first but as soon as I warm up, I won't stay quiet. I love meeting new people, and trying different things, I rarely don't have a grin on my face and I rarely have a bad day.

WEST SIDE GUARD HOUSE

WOW!

We all received Pam Chandler's E mail that the new guard house was operational and today we popped over to get a look and some pictures and also see our old pal Cottril who is posted there (we miss his smile on the east gate.)

But WOW!

This is a great build - VERY impressive as you can see. It even has an outdoor fireplace so, when the weather changes, people will see the fire and get that smell.

BABYSITTERS, ETC.

The HOA website will have certain private areas. In these we may post babysitter info and any neighborhood kids looking to do chores to pick up a little cash. Since this section will have the code only published to those property or homeowners who receive the weekly E mail (are on the list) then there shouldn't be any problems with predators. A shame we even have to consider such things, but better safe than sorry.

There will be other private areas - we hoep to publish the homeowners guide and much more.

E to rwood24@Austin.rr.com

The website will debut very soon. We are working to get certain content translated into web-friendly format.

NOT OUR TYPE!

It's a long shot I know - but we have a lot of material in the wrong incompatible format to translate to the website. Anyone with time, computer, Word, typing skills and interest to translate for us? Of course this is volunteer effort.

BLOG MILESTONE; WEBSITE SOON

It really amazes me that this blog has just passed 10,000 page views. Now, I have a friend who has had over 1 MILLION views of his blog, but he's on TV for one, and for two, has lots of data on that site and c, has been writing far longer than I. Besides, even on the WORLD WIDE WEB how many people care about Spanish Oaks with our 40 some residents?

Anyway, as they used to say on HeeHaw, "thank you for your support."

I have been given the go-ahead to construct a Home Owners Association website. This will be a great place to get 'the word' on design guidelines, etc., and so much more. Your ideas are welcome.

The blog will continue. The WEBSITE will link to it, and the Blog will link to the WEBSITE. The website will be a pretty good resource for us all. I'll keep you posted on its progress.

71 WRECK PICTURES UP CLOSE

Landon Marino, a neighbor on Paraiso, was next to the truck as it wrecked, and he sent these pictures. Thanks, Landon. These are frightening.

4:05 p.m. — Collision Hwy 71 West in Bee Caves, One Critical Injury

Austin- Travis County EMS is on the scene of a multiple vehicle collision with Oak Hill Fire Department, TCSO and DPS — Hwy 71 West / Spanish Oaks Club Drive. Cell Phone callers reported the incident at 3:10 p.m.

Updates from the scene indicate an 18-wheeler has collided with as many as ten other vehicles, pushing one vehicle from the roadway and into a ditch.

Eight person have been evaluated for injuries. Medic 9 has transported one patient with potentially critical injuries to Brackenridge Hospital. Three other crash victims are also being transported to Brackenridge Hospital, including one 2-year old patient. Their injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

TXDOT indicates traffic is stopped in both directions.

— From Austin Travis County EMS




Our issues about a traffic light, in this case, wouldn't have mattered as the truck lost its brakes.




If you have a teen about to drive, you might wish to show them these. And remind them that if ever they think they can 'beat' an oncoming car, if their engine misses or hesitates (quite possible with bad gas, by the way), they won't make it. Better safe than sorry. I know you know, but let's all be extra careful!

Below is Eye Opening research from Malcolm Pigform who points out many of the truckers are paid by the load - hence the need for speed, AND that they are likely flooring it to make it up the (next) hill.

Stopping Distances Required for Trucks

Speed
Reaction/Braking Distance/ Total Stopping Distance

30 mph
33' / 67'/ 100'

40 mph
44' / 125'/ 169'

55 mph
60' / 275'/ 335'

60 mph
66' / 360'/ 426'

65 mph
71' / 454'/ 525'


* Above estimates are for 80,000 lb., loaded tractor-trailers traveling on a dry, level road. Source: National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course for Professional Truck Drivers.

Stopping Distances for Cars Versus Trucks
1: Speed Reaction/Braking Distance Cars
2: Reaction/Braking Distance Trucks
3: Stopping Distance Cars /Stopping Distance Trucks

...................1...................2.......................3
40 mph 44' / 80'.........44' / 125'..........124' / 169'
55 mph 60' / 165'....... 60' / 275'..........225' / 335'
65 mph 71' / 245'....... 71' / 454'..........316' / 525'

* Above estimates are for 80,000 lb., loaded tractor-trailers and mid-size passenger cars traveling on a dry, level road. Source: National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course for Professional Truck Drivers.

This might not reproduce very clearly here becuase I can't copy tables, so here's the link

KIDS ACT UP!

Spanish Oaks community come see your neighbors Alex, Shelby and Paige Duncan in:

kidsActing presentation

BUGS! a hilarious family musical with original songs by Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Steven Fromholz, The Austin Lounge Lizards, Emily Kaitz and more!

at St. Stephen's Helm Fine Arts Center, 2900 Bunny Run

Sat. Aug. 5 2:30, 7:00
Sun Aug. 6 1:00, 5:00
Fri. Aug. 11 2:30, 7:00
Sat. Aug. 12 2:30, 7:00
Sun. Aug.13, 1:00, 5:00

Tickets are $14 for adults, $10 for children under 12 ($5 if child brings a new book to be donated to RIF -- Reading is Fundamental) Waldorf Students get $2 off regular ticket prices (not good with half price offer).

All the characters in the show are based on actual scientific bug facts!

FYI -- We will be on Natural Gardener John Dromgoogle's show Sunday July 30 and Aug. 6, after the 9AM news on KLBJ AM 590.

Hope you join us for the show!

Dede Clark
kidsActing director and Waldorf mom

New signage

BIG WRECK ON 71

JUST OVER THE BRIDGE OUTSIDE OUR EAST ENTRANCE. It's been on TV and will be in the paper tomorrow. A loaded dumptruck - the long kind - lost its brakes coming down the hill - westbound I think - hit 5 cars and took out the guard rail over the creek and dumped a hundred gallons or so of gasoline. Hazmat crews are there right now (10:30PM) Traffic westbound (I believe) will be one lane till they replace the guard rail.

Traffic was messed up for hours. We talked our way past the police and got to get home with a trunk full of groceries.

Someone was seriously hurt - no details on the TV report we saw.

KEYE-TV report here

"No one was killed, but several people were injured. Thousands were stuck in traffic for hours. People in the neighborhood say on Highway 71, there are a lot more wrecks than there used to be and they are usually pretty bad." KXAN Coverage here

CAT ANYONE? DOG ANYONE?

CAT

Hello, this message comes from our kids Spanish teacher. Teresa Duncan 351-9088

This message comes from our kids

Queridos,

A few years back, I adopted a beautiful stray kitten found on campus. This was before we had decided to go sailing again. Even though we have grown fond of her, we don't feel it would be fair to shanghai her into a traveling life.

She is a wonderful cat and I would like to find a home for her soon.

She is spayed, lives mostly outdoors, is very independent and undemanding. She prefers meow mix to more expensive cat food, doesn't talk much but is very receptive to praise. She isn't litter trained yet, but seems to be ready to try living indoors, and would not be difficult to train. She has Siamese coloring and markings, and blue eyes. E-mail me for pictures.

Any takers?
Rosa

DOG!

Hi folks,
Ebony, our bouncy, smiling, playful, eager black lab mix needs a new home. She is about 2 and a half and has been spayed. She's an indoor/outdoor dog, housebroken, eats dry food (the cheap, HEB brand supplemented occasionally with something more nutritious), and likes grapes, cheese, cat food and chocolate when she can steal them. She plays with cats, little children and teenagers, and loves running,
swimming, chasing balls -- and she's a good catcher although she's not very good at bringing them back.

Any help finding a family with more time than we have would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to put her on Craigslist or take her to the pound.

Thanks.
Ann Coltman
AWS mom

FINALLY!! RAIN!!

Saturday afternoon a couple of really good thunder cracks announced the cold front (ha!) and the storm that came with it. You could almost hear the greens (or formerly-greens-now-oranges) gasping.

Don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind a few solid days of rain.

Some of those lightning hits were close. Hope all is okay.

SPIDEY IN SPEEDO?

Let's have a critter photo contest, what do you say? You'd be surprised what's out there!

SPY SIGHTED

Cleverly disguised spy from Seven Oaks spies on Spanish Oaks as the battle of the upscale communities escalates!

THOMAS MERCADO

My name is Thomas James Mercado. I have lived in the central Texas area all my life.

I was born on July 3, 1975.

I enjoy reading self improvement, history (prefably ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, so on), and some Sci Fi (Star Wars) books. I like watching the History, Sci Fi, National Geographic, and Discovery channels, as well as PBS and some of the regular channels. I have been doing security work for about 2 years. I worked at Spanish Oaks as a security guard with Allied Barton then was hired with IZON in December.