Circle C Ranch - October 2021

Volume 18, Number 10

October 2021

www.circlecranch.com

Circle C Newsletter: October 2021 Important Dates in October: Friday, October 1, 2021 World Vegetarian Day Saturday, October 2, 2021 National Custodian Day Sunday, October 3, 2021 National Kevin Day!! (No, really!)

Tuesday, October 5, 2021 World Teachers’ Day Friday, October 8, 2021 Food Trailer Night Sunday, October 10, 2021 World Mental Health Day Monday, October 11, 2021 Indigenous Peoples’ Day (formerly Columbus Day) Monday, October 18, 2021 Winter Pool Hours Begin Monday, October 25, 2021 Boo Bash at the Circle C Community Center Tuesday, October 26, 2021 National Pumpkin Day Wednesday, October 27, 2021 Circle C HOA Online Board Meeting at 6:30pm, via Zoom Sunday, October 31, 2021 Halloween November 2, 2021 General & Special Election (Voting @ the Community Center) SAVE THE DATE Saturday, November 20, 2021 Holiday Times Market @ the Circle C Community Center (10am-5pm) ** Vendor Information: email: Marlaswett@mac.com or call: 512-426-5128 Saturday, December 4, 2021 Children’s Holiday Party at the Community Center (10am-1pm) CCHOA Board Meeting The Circle C HOA Board of Directors meets the last Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm. The next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, October 27, 2021, via ZOOM. Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Homeowners may log in at www.circlecleranch.com and access the links for the meeting agendas and ZOOM meetings. The Board of Directors welcomes questions during the Homeowner’s Forum; questions can be submitted to the HOA office by close of business on the Monday prior to the meeting and we will answer at the end of the meeting. Homeowners may sign up to speak for the Homeowners Forum by calling the HOA manager at 512-288-8663 or sending an email to info@circlecranch.info by close of business on the Wednesday (October 20) before the meeting.

Homeowners are given 3 minutes to address the board and need to provide an email written copy of their concerns. The Board of Directors will discuss the concern and respond as a later date.

About our Newsletter: The Circle C Homeowners Association (HOA) has partnered with Peel, Inc. to publish our monthly newsletter gratis for our residents. We target our content to keep homeowners updated on appropriate Circle C announcements and notices. In addition to the printed version, residents may find the newsletters on the Peel.com website under Circle C; but the most current news and announcements may be found at www.circlecranch. com.

Articles herein are intended to offer information that might be of use to our residents and to share current or historical events. We do not provide legal, medical, or expert advice but welcome input from our neighbors with expertise. We would love to hear from you!

Request for Nominations: We are always interested in nominations of our wonderful residents for our recurring features below: • “Spotlight on a Circle C Teen”—If you know of impressive neighborhood teenagers that might be interested in being featured in an article showcasing their accomplishments, please feel free to reach out to us at the contact information below.

• “Angels Among Us”—Also, if you know extraordinary residents that are changing lives in some way, please reach out to us for consideration in our “Angels Among Us” recurring feature.

• Please note that, in an effort not to interfere with our advertisers that fund this publication, we may not promote or mention businesses.

We also do not publish letters or op-eds because we wish to keep our newsletter factual and neutral. Thank you for your understanding and for being a part of our community.

Contact Information: Our Circle C HOA manager may be reached by email at Info@ CircleCRanch.info or by phone at 512-288-8663.

Our Newsletter writer may be reached at CCWriter@CircleCRanch.info.

Continued on Page 3 Circle C Ranch Newsletter - October 2021

1

2

Circle C Ranch Newslette Octomber 2021

Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Continued from Cover

In this Issue: • Circle C’s New Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon • Learn about the history and effectiveness behind the Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons that are being placed on Slaughter Lane, near the entrance to the metropolitan park.

• A Halloween Short Story • Read a story about an important friendship that changed a life.

Fun Facts: Ôcto means “eight” in Latin and Greek. The month of October was so named because it was originally the eighth month of the Roman calendar. It was in 1582 that Pope Gregory XIII moved January and February to the first and second months, respectively, shifting October, despite its name, to the tenth month.

Circle C Community Wide Garage Sale (Recycle/Shred/Donate at the Community Center) Mark your calendars! The CCHOA will host the second Community Wide Garage Sale this year on Saturday, October 16th. Homeowners are encouraged to host their individual garage sales on this date. We will be advertising the event (in print and on the internet) from 8am-5pm. You will also be able to add your address to the garage sale map at http://gsalr. com/n/circle-c-hoa-austin-tx. In addition to the garage sale, there will be electronic collection provided by R2 Resource Recycling, paper shredding by Intel Armor and the Salvation Army will be available to take donations. All of these services will be available at the Community Center on Saturday, October 16th from 10am-2pm.

We will publish details of what items will be accepted during this event on our website, www.circlecranch.com closer to the date of the event.

New Swim Center Phone Number The new phone number for the Circle C Swim Center is 512363-5578. Please check our website at www.circlecranch.com for pool operating hours. COVID-19 waivers are required and may be found online via the Circle C Aquatics tab.

Hunter’s 5K Registration is open for the third annual edition of The Hunter 5K - which is a family-fun, Halloween costumes-encouraged, 5K taking place in Avana on October 30, 2021, starting at Bear Creek Elementary.

The race is held to honor four-year-old Hunter Henderson, a Circle C resident, who passed tragically away in December of 2018. Funds raised from the event benefit Dell Children's Medical Center who provided amazing care for Hunter and the Henderson family.

Both in-person and virtual race options are available. Register your entire family today!

Learn more at: https://thehunter5k.com Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

HOA Mgmt Office................................. info@circlecranch.info or 512.288.8663 HOA Financial Office................................tgiles@mgilescpa.com or 512.451.9901 Aquatics Director....................................... director@ccswim.net or 512.288.4239 Newsletter Publisher Peel, Inc....................................................advertising@PEELinc.com or 512.263.9181 Circle C Amenities Circle C Avaña Pool.........................................................................512.292.1518 Circle C Café...................................................................................512.288.6058 Circle C CDC..................................................................................512.288.9792 Circle C Swim Center......................................................................512.363.5578 Circle C Community Center Pool....................................................512.301.8259 Grey Rock Golf Course (City Owned/Operated)................................512.288.4297 Grey Rock Tennis Club....................................................................512.301.8685 Circle C Grey Rock Pool..................................................................512.291.8398

CIRCLE C GATED COMMUNITIES Enclave off Spruce Canyon Spectrum Management...................................Colleen Pritchard, 512.834.3900 Enclave off of La Crosse Relevant Management................................................... Kim Todd, 512.580.4212 Fairways Estates Spectrum Management...................................Colleen Pritchard, 512.834.3900 Park West Goodwin Management...................................Marilyn Childress 512.502.7509 Hillside Estates Real Manage.................................................. Christine Gamache, 866.473.2573 Avana Estates Relevant Management................................................ Kim Todd, 512.580.4212 Muirfield Real Management.......................................... Victoria Escamilla, 866.473.2573

Russ Hodes ……........………………………….....……President Natalie Placer McClure………………………........Vice President Michael Chu ……………………………………….......Treasurer Trinh Bartlett…………………………………………...Secretary Stephen Bega, Theresa Bastian and Jason Bram—Board Members Contact the Board at: directors@circlecranch.info City of Austin Solid Waste................................................512.974.1945 Dead Animal Collection....................................................512.974.2000 Abandoned Vehicle............................................................512.974.8119 Pothole Complaints...........................................................512.974.8750 Stop Signs.........................................................................512.457.4885 Street Light Maintenance..................................................................311 Schools

Clayton Elementary..................................................512.841.9200

Kiker Elementary......................................................512.414.2584

Mills Elementary.......................................................512.841.2400

Bear Creek Elementary..............................................512.414.0040

Cowan Elementary....................................................512.841.2700

Bailey Middle............................................................512.414.4990

Gorzycki Middle School............................................512.841.8600

Bowie High School...................................................512.414.5247 UTILITY PROVIDERS Electric Pedernales Elec.................................................... 512.219.2602 City of Austin. .................................................................512.494.9400 Texas Gas Service .............................................................800.700.2443 Water City of Austin ........................................................512.972.1000 MidTex Water Company...................................................866.654.7992 Solid Waste City of Austin ...............................................512.974.1945 Post Office Oak Hill Station .............................................800.275.8777 Circle C Ranch Newsletter - October 2021

3

News You Can Use

The Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon

Note: For quick reference purposes, a list of acronyms mentioned in this article is provided at the end.

You may have noticed a new light fixture on Slaughter Lane near the entrance to the Circle C Metropolitan Park. This device, called a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB), is designed to control traffic on busier streets and is intended to ensure safe crossings for pedestrians and bicyclists.

What are PHBs? PHBs are Traffic Control Devices (TCDs) that utilize red and yellow lights to slow, then stop vehicles for pedestrians wanting to cross the street safely. PHBs fall into the category of High Intensity Activated Crosswalks (HAWKs) and the two terms are used interchangeably.

Most are activated by pushing a button on either side of the busy street; however, some PHBs activate by a passive form of detection.

Who benefits from them?

PHBs, or HAWKs, are intended for busier streets where a need exists for pedestrians or bicyclists to cross, but either a cross street does not exist, or the cross street is not busy enough to warrant a standard traffic signal.

They are generally recommended for installation on streets where: (1) cars tend to reach higher speeds (40 miles per hour and higher); (2) the average annual daily traffic (AADT) count is great (above 9,000); or (3) the streets have 3 or more lanes and there is a reason (such as a park) for pedestrians to want to cross.

How do they work?

Beacons, by definition, are intended to be conspicuous to spark attention. Vehicle drivers have been trained to slow or stop for yellow and red lights, particularly when they are flashing.

HAWKs and PHBs are beacons consisting of a head of three lights: two red lights on the top level with one single yellow light on the bottom level.

When a pedestrian pushes the button to activate the PHB, the beacon first begins the process of flashing the yellow lights, then moves to a solid yellow light while the pedestrian stands by waiting. Finally, the PHB changes to a solid red light signaling cars to stop. At this time, the pedestrian signal changes from a hand indicating that the pedestrian must wait, to a waking figure, signaling that it is now safe to cross the street.

At the last stage, the beacon begins to flash the red lights to signal that drivers are allowed to proceed if pedestrians are not present in the crosswalk. The pedestrian signal also changes back to a hand to alert the pedestrian that they may no longer cross the road.

Are they effective?

A 2019 published study entitled, “Evaluation of Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons on Arizona Highways,” funded partly by the Federal Highway Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, reported that a total of 343 intersection sites were carefully monitored for evaluation. One hundred eighty-six of those sites had PHBs, while 56 had traffic signal intersections and 101 did not.

The study found that intersections with PHBs had a 25 percent reduction in severe crashes, a 46 percent reduction in pedestrian crashes, and a 29 percent reduction in severe rear-end crashes, as well as reductions in other types of crashes.

4

Circle C Ranch Newslette Octomber 2021

Are they expensive?

With an average cost of roughly $58,000, PHBs are significantly less expensive to implement and maintain than standard traffic lights. Solar powered HAWKs are also available for an off-the-grid option. The City of Austin does not have an operations budget line item for PHBs, so they usually utilize bond money to pay for them.

Because PHBs remain dark until they are activated by persons wishing to cross the street, they are also more energy efficient than standard traffic lights that stay constantly activated with functioning and changing lights.

What are the specifications?

PHBs must adhere to federal standards as written in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD, often referred to as “the law,” contains national standards for all traffic signs, signals, and road surface markings. Non-compliance to the laws set forth in the manual can result in loss of federal funds and tort law liability.

The MUTCD standards (Chapter 4F, 2009 Edition) states that a HAWK pole/mast arm must contain three items: (1) two different 3-signal beacon assemblies for both sides of the crosswalk; (2) a pedestrian signal head indicating when it is safe to walk or don’t walk at each end of the crosswalk (timers are optional); and (3) a pedestrian-activated system (either passive activation or manual push button).

A little history on HAWKs: According to their website, the City of Tucson, Arizona, developed and built the very first HAWK beacon in the country. A 2010 Federal Highway Administration report, “Safety Effectiveness of the HAWK Pedestrian Treatment,” supports this statement, noting that Tucson developed it in the 1990s “to assist in pedestrian crossings, especially at major arterials with minor street intersections.”

However, the HAWK beacon shares a significant amount of the same characteristics as Britain’s first TCD, the PELICAN, developed in 1969.

Subsequent British TCD designs were also named the PUFFIN and the TOUCAN. Both the PELICAN and the TOUCAN are also mentioned on the City of Tucson website. It seems fitting that America’s first version, developed over 20 years later, would also be named after a bird.

Continued on Page 6 Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Circle C Ranch Newsletter - October 2021

5

Around Circle C Continued from Page 4 Other British TCDs for us to emulate: Britain also has other interesting forms of pedestrian crossing systems that might prove to be entertaining and perhaps useful to imitate.

• PELICAN Crossings: Pedestrian Light-Controlled Crossings (PELICANs) were the grandfather of our United States HAWKs. PELICANs were first introduced in Britain in 1969. They use green walking figures to indicate when it is safe to cross and red standing figures to communicate that it is not yet safe to cross. The signal for the pedestrians (with both the red and the green figures) is placed across the road so that it is easier for pedestrians to keep their eyes on the road before crossing • PUFFIN Crossings: Pedestrian User-Friendly Intelligent Crossings (PUFFINs) are the next generation of TCDs for pedestrians.

Updated changes include the elimination of the distracting yellow and red flashing traffic lights for the intermittent periods. Also, the green and red man figures are close to the pedestrian (instead of on the other side of the road) to better assist visually impaired persons who might struggle with distance viewing.

• In addition, PUFFIN crossings have two sensors: a Pedestrian Crossing Detector (PCD) and a Pedestrian Kerb Detector (PKD). The PCD and PKD work together to detect the motion of the pedestrians. If persons should leave the waiting area (either by walking away or crossing the street early), the sensors detect that nobody is there and will automatically cancel the request for the traffic lights.

• Also, PUFFINs detect the speed of street-crossers, adjusting the timing of the red traffic light to accommodate slower crossers.

Newer model PUFFIN crossings may also contain an arm with small handles that rotate to show movement, signaling to pedestrians that it is safe to cross.

• Zebra Crossings: Zebra crossings are simply white stripes painted on a black road to show the area where pedestrians are allowed to cross. In Britain, white zig-zag lines are painted on the sides of the street leading up to the stripes. A black-and-white striped pole on each side of the street might have an amber globe, known as a Belisha Beacon on top.

• Toucan Crossings: Toucan crossings are PELICAN or PUFFIN crossings with slightly wider crossing areas and the addition of a bicycle figure to allow for bicyclists to cross along with the pedestrians. They are usually located near parks or other popular bicycle paths and are widened so that both of the “two can” cross together. (See what they did there?)

• Pegasus Crossings: Pegasus Crossings are PUFFIN crossings with wider lanes and push buttons placed high enough for horse riders to reach without dismounting. Like PUFFINs, Pegasus Crossings 6

Circle C Ranch Newslette Octomber 2021

detect movement and can hold the signal longer to allow for longer crossing times if the horse needs more time.

What about Circle C’s PHBs? Circle C will receive one PHB on the corner of Slaughter Lane and Vinemont Drive (leading to Vintage Place homes) and a second PHB on the corner of Slaughter Lane and Donald E. Carpenter Way (leading to the Circle C Metropolitan Park).

At the time of this writing, the City of Austin has not yet started but plans to begin work on the bases for the 2 PHBs on September 16, 2021. They expect them to be completed by the end of the year.

Terms: TCDs: Traffic Control Devices HAWKs: High Intensity Activated Crosswalks PHBs: Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons. These are a form of HAWKs AADT: Annual Average Daily Traffic [Count] FHWA: Federal Highway Administration MUTCD: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Device. This document contains national standards for traffic signs, signals, and road surface markings. The MUTCD is referred to as “the law,” and non-compliance to the laws set forth in the manual can result in loss of federal funds and tort law liability PELICAN: Pedestrian Light-Controlled Crossings in Britain that served as the models for our United States HAWKS PUFFIN Crossings: Pedestrian User-Friendly Intelligent Crossings PCD: Pedestrian Crossing Detectors on the PUFFIN crossing system in Britain PKD: Pedestrian Kerb Detector Zebra Crossings: Black-and-white stripes on a street that indicate a pedestrian crossing zone Belisha Beacons: Amber-colored globes atop black and white poles on either side of the road of a zebra crossing Toucan Crossings: Wider crossing areas with signals for both bicyclists and pedestrians so that “two can” cross at the same time Sources: http://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/tff/pedestrian_hybrid_ beacons.htm https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/kno-overview.htm https://apps.azdot.gov/files/ADOTLibrary/publications/project_ reports/pdf/spr756.pdf http://www.austintexas.gov/service/pedestrian-hybrid-beacons https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/step/docs/cs_austin110518.pdf https://nacto.org/publication/urban-bikeway-design-guide/bicyclesignals/hybrid-beacon-for-bike-route-crossing-of-major-street/ https://elteccorp.com/products/pedestrian-crossing-systems/hawkhybrid-pedestrian-crosswalk/ https://nacto.org/publication/urban-bikeway-design-guide/bicyclesignals/hybrid-beacon-for-bike-route-crossing-of-major-street/ http://pedbikesafe.org/PEDSAFE/countermeasures_detail.cfm?CM_ NUM=53 https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/learning-to-drive/road-crossings/

Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

The oldest known spider web is from the Jurassic Period, believed to be 110 million years old, and is preserved in amber along with its catchings: a fly, a mite, a beetle, and a wasp’s leg.

The web happens to be in the shape of a circle, indicating the spider was an orb weaver, like E. B. White’s spider in Charlotte’s Web. Orb weavers are commonly found today and range in all sizes and colors. Below are a few fun facts about orb weavers: • They are docile and usually drop from their web and run when they feel threatened • They are beneficial because they eat insects that we consider pests (flies, roaches, mosquitos, stink bugs, and poisonous widow spiders) • They are very reluctant to bite and will do so usually only when grabbed • They are the third largest family of spiders (after sheet weavers and jumping spiders) • There are over 2800 species of orb weavers (180 in North America) • They tend to exhibit “sexual-dimorphism” in that females are significantly larger, more complex, and may contain bright colors with intricate patterns, whereas males are smaller and less developed • They live an average of 12 months, from one summer to the next • They usually mate in late summer, lay eggs in September/October, and die shortly after • The eggs remain in a protected egg sac until the following spring when they usually hatch Two often-confused orb weavers that we see here in Circle C, particularly around Halloween, are the yellow garden spider and the golden silk orb weaver.

1. Yellow Garden Spider or “Zipper Spider” Argiope aurantia (Also called “Writing Spider”) Although the yellow garden spider (argiope) is a true orb weaver and therefore spins a circular web, it is not the circular part for which this spider is famous.

These spiders take their artwork much more seriously than spinning a simple orb web, and—like Charlotte— contain patterns, or perhaps messages, in their webs.

Usually, a vertical zig-zag pattern is placed in the center in a straight line. However, each spider has her own style of art, so sometimes the zipper (or zig-zag pattern) can be circular and flows in a different direction, appearing to look like writing.

The purpose for the zigzag or zipper pattern is not known, although some believe it helps larger creatures (such as birds and humans) to see the web, so the web might more likely be avoided and not destroyed. The yellow garden spider (argiope) takes great pride in creating her web, traveling back and forth, pulling on the silk to ensure it is placed properly. When first applied, the silk is moist. As it dries, it tightens. Every evening, she consumes the web—along with everything in it— then retires for night, starting the process over the next morning.

Argiopes are active in the day, and tend to create their webs in visible spots, like between trees. So, in October, it is likely we will see them in Austin here in our neighborhood. They don’t seem to fear humans and don’t mind getting close to us. Their main concern is that their web be left alone. They very rarely bite.

When they do bite, usually only when grabbed in a rough manner, the bite will likely only redden and might become itchy.

Female argiopes (yellow garden spiders) average around 1” in size, though, for some reason, here in Jurassic Park… er, Circle C, our female zipper spiders have been reported to be as large as 5 inches!

Male argiopes are much smaller and they build small webs close to a female’s web. When he begins the mating process, a male argiope will first test the waters by cautiously plucking a few strands on her web. If she doesn’t respond, he slowly approaches her, sometimes with an escape drop line ready if needed. Interestingly enough, the male’s Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

genitals are on his front and look like two boxing gloves on short arms.

To mate, the male inserts sperm from both palpal bulbs (boxing gloves).

After the second palpal bulb is inserted, he dies. Since he is already dead, sometimes the female will eat him.

2. Golden Silk Orb Weaver or “Banana Spider” Trichonephila clavipes Golden silk orb weaver spiders (T. clavipes) do, indeed, resemble bananas in that their bodies are elongated and often yellow, although their bodies could instead be black or contain a black-andyellow pattern. The yellow color of their abdomen changes as they age to a darker, more orange or brown color. Their legs remain long and spindly, with black and yellow stripes.

These spiders are very large, second only to the tarantulas in North America, some have reached close to 12 inches.

They are also docile, allowing people to gently pick them up, and will only bite if handled roughly. Their bite does contain venom, although it is harmless to humans, causing only a slight redness and minor pain in the bite area.

Whereas argiopes are neat and orderly with their webs, intentionally placing white zippers or more intricate designs strategically inside the round, web, the webs of the T. clavipes are larger and looser (not as tight at the argiope’s) and must be repaired throughout the day. As opposed to the white or clear webs of the argiopes, the webs of the T. clavipes have golden hues, hence the nickname “golden silk orb weaver,” because their silk contains a yellow pigment. Also, they place organic material in the web that smells of decay to help attract bugs. So, essentially, their webs are messier and stinkier than those of the argiope.

Silk from the T. clavipes, however, is particularly interesting and is proving to perhaps be extremely useful in medicine. This might be because T. clavipes contain all seven of the different silk glands found in orb-weaving spiders.

It seems that these large spiders can afford to be messy, then, because their silk is exceptional, containing various qualities from all seven glands.

The anchor silk of just one thread from a T. clavipes, for example, contains a tensile strength greater than steel. Combine that type of strength gained from one or two of the silk glands with the stickiness from another of the seven glands, and the flexibility of yet another gland, and the result of this yellow silk from the golden orb weaver is… well, better than gold.

The medical field seems to agree, as they have begun research on this golden silk. Currently, one plausible use is as a type of thread to tie severed neurons together, possibly restoring connections. This might eventually help with rehabilitating the use of muscles in trauma patients, among other uses. So far, testing shows that mammalian immune systems seem to accept the filaments from the silk of T. clavipes.

Since we mentioned a little about the mating ritual from this superstar’s doppelganger, we feel that we must share some information regarding the copulation of the T. clavipes as well. Luckily, for the T. clavipes male spider is allowed to mate more than once before he dies. So, there’s that. Also, his female partner is not prone to cannibalizing her mate.

In T. clavipes, it is often the older, more… shall we say, experienced of the female spiders that are more desired. This is for a number of unmentionable reasons, but especially because the newly molted virgins, greedy as they are, take all the sperm from the males, whereas the more experience females have learned to relax a little. Like their human counterparts, some male T. clavipes spiders remain monogamous while some prefer to share their wealth with others.

These two yellow-and-black, Halloween spiders that show up in October are often confused with each other. Searches on the web will often show pictures for one with the label for another. The best ways to tell these golden silk orb weavers apart from yellow garden spiders is by their body shape, Circle C Ranch Newsletter - October 2021

7

Around Circle C He met her in a barn in Brooklin, Maine.

It was a brisk, autumn morning, likely in October, and the year was 1949.

The address was 470 Bay Road. It was near his childhood home.

He didn’t notice her at first. It was her artwork that caught his eye.

Intricate loops and swirls of silk shining in the morning dew mesmerized him: a man so shy that he hid in fire escapes to avoid people he didn’t know.

She was shy, too. In that, they were alike.

Watching her work seemed to soothe his anxiety.

His name was Elwyn, and he was afraid of women and afraid of spiders.

She was both.

Her name was Charlotte, and they became friends, which was a tremendous thing.

One day, she disappeared, and Elwyn never saw her again.

She left behind for Elwyn her artwork, which he loved.

Eventually, he realized that within her web was an egg sac. To honor his friend, Elwyn cut the egg sac out of the web and took it with him, in a candy box with air holes punched out, to his workplace in New York City. The candy box was ultimately placed above his bedroom bureau in New York.

One day, Elwyn noticed little spider webs on his mirror and in his hairbrush and nail scissors and this delighted him. It seems that his friend had left for him a gift much greater than her artwork.

And so, he decided to write a book about his friend Charlotte.

E. B. White named her “Charlotte A. Cavatica,” after her Latin species name, A. cavaticus, although this type of spider is more commonly known as the “barn spider,” because they prefer to live near wood, so are often found in barns.

Barn spiders are nocturnal, so are usually noticed in the early morning, when E. B. White first saw Charlotte, or else in the evening, when they rebuild their web for the night. They are very shy and hide in crevices during the day so birds and other predators will not notice them, so it is unlikely to see one during the daytime.

The females are around 3/4” in size and have varied coloring, but the legs are most often striped with black and white. They are orb weavers, so spin a web in a spiral with symmetrical spokes.

As is typical with orb weavers, the barn spiders take apart their web every morning, taking time to conserve the silk to reuse and recycle when they spin their new web in the evening. This is repeated every day.

The males are much smaller (generally reaching only up to 1/2”) and do not spin webs as often.

Instead, they spend much of their time wandering around aimlessly, as males often do, hoping to find a female.

8

Circle C Ranch Newslette Octomber 2021

Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Circle C Ranch Newsletter - October 2021

9

10

Circle C Ranch Newslette Octomber 2021

Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Here’s what’s likely to be blooming, fruiting or setting seed in Central Texas and beyond this time of year. Look for these native plants around town, at the Wildflower Center, on Texas trips, and perhaps in your own backyard!

Cherisse (Callisia micrantha) We know we’re sweating this more than you, but in a recent email celebrating the colors and shapes of late summer, we identified a plant incorrectly. Yep, even botanical bosses like us get things wrong occasionally. We told you the flowers thriving in pots across from our Oberservation Tower were Trans-Pecos spiderwort (Tradescantia brevifolia). The pots in question are actually full of cherisse, which tends to bloom in hues closer to fuchsia than the delicate lavender of the Trans-Pecos spiderwort. Though both are purplish perennials in the spiderwort family, and both are native only to Texas in the U.S., Callisia micrantha is typical of southern coastal areas (rather than far West Texas). In gardens, it does well in part shade, making for an attractive and low-maintenance groundcover. Its genus name comes from the Greek root “charis,” which means "grace” or “kindness.” So we’re fairly confident those pretty pot-dwellers won’t hold the mistaken identity against us.

Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) Frostweed is definitely most known for its “ice trick,” as some call it: When temperatures drop below freezing, the plant pushes moisture from its stem as ribbons of ice. The resulting winter wonders seem truly magical, recalling everything from parchment scrolls to hard candy. The thing you might not know about Verbesina virginica is that its flowers are a very important nectar source for monarch butterflies; in fact, it’s one of our top five suggestions for supporting monarchs on their fall migration (learn more at wildflower.org/ learn/power-the-migration). They’re also quite beautiful, adding crisp sprays of white to fall gardens (typical bloom period is August through November).

Frostweed prefers shady areas, making it a perfect choice for understories. We also suggest using it as a segue between manicured and wild areas. This is truly a multifaceted plant — and a welcome source of enchantment in a sometimes mundane world.

Find these plants at the Wildflower Center and learn more about them at wildflower. org/plants-main.

Submitted by Amy McCullough, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Photography by Melissa Krenek (cherisse) and Ray Mathews (frostweed)

Circle C will hold its Halloween Boo Bash, Monday, October 25, 2021 from 5:30pm7:30pm at the Community Center. Bring the kids out for a night of games, trick-ortrunk, and family fun!

Fall is hopping at the Wildflower Center: Fortlandia returns with a new batch of unique forts in our Texas Arboretum. Oct. 2 and 3 is members-only opening weekend; the exhibition opens to the public Oct. 4. Plus, Tuesday Twilights — our fall happy hours featuring live music, food and fun — run through Oct. 26. And our Fall Native Plant Sale is underway Fridays through Sundays until Nov. 7. So many reasons to visit and take in the beauty of fall! Visit wildflower. org/featured-events for more info.

Cherisse (Melissa Krenek) Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Frostweed (Ray Matthews) Circle C Ranch Newsletter - October 2021

11

News You Can Use

Re-Sodding Your Yard Submitted by Circle C Landscape

Fall can bring yellowjackets into areas that are more closely associated with humans. These small wasps usually feed on protein but seek out sources of sugar in late summer and early fall. This can lead the wasps to areas of human habitation or parks to find garbage cans, recycling areas, or even sporting events or picnics for a sugar source.

Yellowjackets are small, about ½ an inch long, with yellow bodies with black markings. They create a paper-like nest out of chewed wood fiber.

The nest is completely enclosed except for a single opening for the wasps to enter. Nests can become fairly large in size and may contain up to 20,000 adult wasps.

Hornets are a type of yellowjackets and often create nests in aerial locations whereas yellowjackets are cavity or ground nesters. Nests are typically abandoned in October or November as next year’s queens fly off to locate suitable overwintering locations. Abandoned nests typically decompose and are not used the following year.

Yellowjackets may be confused with honey bees or paper wasps. While yellowjackets are approximately the same size and color as honey bees, they do not have hairy bodies. Paper wasps are colored differently than yellowjackets and make a open-faced paper nest.

Yellowjackets are beneficial insects because they feed on other insects within the landscape and can help to keep pest populations under control.

If nests are not near human activity, they should be left alone.

If treatment is necessary, it is best, and safer, for nests to be treated by a pest management professional. Underground and cavity nests are best treated with an insecticidal dust sprinkled around the opening.

Aerosol sprays may also be used but tend not to be as effective as dusts.

If wasps are foraging around garbage or recycling cans, make sure cans have tightly fitting lids and are emptied on a regular basis. Garbage and recycling cans should be cleaned with soap and water periodically to remove buildup of debris.

For more information or help with identification, contact Wizzie Brown, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist at 512.854.9600.

The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service or the Texas A&M AgriLife Research is implied.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides equal access in its programs, activities, education and employment, without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity.

12

Circle C Ranch Newslette Octomber 2021

If you are thinking about re-sodding your yard this fall, the King Ranch Turfgrass website is a great resource to use. They have a comprehensive “how to” guide that we have included below along with a great section of FAQs to get you started with your project. There may be other turf installation companies that provide detailed information as well.

In general, the best types of grasses for our Central Texas are Buffalo, Zoysia (which is found in many of the commons areas throughout Circle C), Bermuda and St. Augustine. There is a handy turfgrass selector available online to help you narrow down the best choice specific to your yard. You can find all of this information by visiting: http:// ww.kingranchturfgrass.com/.

King Ranch Turfgrass Sod Installation Guide Preparation – Prepare the area If at all possible, install a permanent underground irrigation system and check the water application is uniform. Most sod failures are due to improper coverage of irrigation. Eliminate draining problems by having soil slope away from foundation, etc. Rake and smooth the soil and remove rocks and roots prior to laying sod.

Water the prepared area and provide a moist base for the sod.

Turf Installation – Laying the Sod Install your sod immediately upon delivery. Sod should be laid within 24 hours of delivery. Begin watering the sod within 30 minutes of installation. Don’t wait to water the sod until you are finished with the entire project. Sod requires contact with the soil and moisture to survive.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • •

andle sod carefully to breakage H Fit sod pieces together snugly, with ends touching When needed, trim sod with a sharp knife Water as you go. Thoroughly water the sod An application of fertilizer 6 weeks after laying sod is recommended.

Sod comes fully fertilized. New roots need to grow into soil. Fertilizer can burn the new roots and prevent the sod from rooting in.

Begin mowing sod when roots are established. Root establishment takes approximately 2 weeks. Stay off of your sod for at least 14 days.

Control pets. Urine spots and foot printing on new sod can cause permanent damage.

Watering – How much, how often?

Proper watering is essential to the establishment of your new sod.

Check your local requirements regarding watering regulations.

During the first week, keep the sod and soil beneath thoroughly moist.

Frequency and length of watering will depend on how warm, how windy and how rapidly the lawn dries out following each watering.

The goal during the first week is to keep the sod and soil beneath moist all the time. A general guide, water twice a day during the first week.

Watering times should be 15 to 20 minutes (3/4”-1”) per watering.

These numbers may need to be increased during very hot weather.

If water starts to collect, or if local weather conditions provide rain, cut back a bit on the watering time.

Reduce watering during the second week, gradually allowing the soil to firm up After 3 weeks, your sod should be established.

Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

News You Can Use

Crape Myrtle Bark Scale Crape myrtles are a popular landscape tree in parts of Texas, prized for their beauty. While this tree has been relatively maintenance free for years, that is no longer the case now that crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS) has been found in Texas.

Crape myrtle bark scales are small, wingless insects, pinkish in color and covered with a white, velvety covering. When looking at the bark of an infested tree, check for round to oval shaped white velvety insects. If you puncture one with a toothpick, it will exude a pink substance.

When inspecting crape myrtles for CMBS, look along trunks and limbs, as well as smaller twigs and branches found towards the top of the tree. You’ll want to look for scale insects and sooty mold. Sooty mold is a black colored fungus that grows on honeydew. Honeydew is an excretion from scale insects (and other small, soft-bodied insects such as aphids and mealybugs).

Heavily infested crape myrtles have CMBS that produce copious amounts of honeydew on the tree and surrounding area which leads to growth of sooty mold, turning landscape plants and the surrounding area (or items underneath infested trees) black.

Infested crape myrtles produce fewer and smaller blooms which may be difficult to tell unless you have an uninfected tree to compare.

Only male crape myrtle bark scales fly. Females and immatures are wingless, but can be dispersed by wind, birds, other insects, or landscape maintenance equipment to nearby areas. Longdistance transport occurs through infested material. Once CMBS are in an area, they can move onto nearby trees.

Control options are varied for CMBS. There are predators and parasites that attack and eat CMBS, such as ladybugs, but this may awhile for you to see control and the scale insect population may outgrow the population of the predators. Try to avoid bringing home infested material by inspect plants and other landscape materials before buying.

Pesticide treatment for crape myrtle bark scale can be done with either a contact spray or a systemic. Studies from TAMU discovered that contact sprays should be used when pest numbers are peaking (crawler/ nymph numbers peak mid-April through May), and two treatments should be done with the second treatment taking place 2 weeks after the initial treatment.

Insecticides with bifenthrin as the active ingredient tend to work best.

Systemic treatments should be applied earlier when crape myrtle leaves are budding out. Systemics such as imidacloprid and dinotefuran are best used as a soil treatment in March so they are taken up by the tree and in place for the crawler population that emerges in April-May. These products should be used when trees are NOT in bloom to protect pollinators.

If you notice crape myrtle bark scale infesting your trees late in the season (approximately July and on), then you can use a Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

high-pressure water spray to knock the scale insects off the tree.

Another option is to get a scrub brush and dip it into a bucket of soapy water and wash the insects of the trunk and branches of the trees.

For a video on how to treat crape myrtles for CMBS, you should go to this link: https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2018/08/28/how-to-treat-yourcrapemyrtle-for-bark-scale/ For more information or help with identification, contact Wizzie Brown, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist at 512.854.9600.

The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service or the Texas A&M AgriLife Research is implied.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides equal access in its programs, activities, education and employment, without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity.

At no time will any source be allowed to use the Circle C Ranch Newsletter's contents, or loan said contents, to others in any way, 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 Circle C Ranch Newsletter is exclusively for the private use of the Circle C HOA and Peel, Inc. DISCLAIMER: The Circle C Homeowners Association (HOA) has partnered with Peel, Inc. to publish our monthly newsletter gratis for our residents. We target our content to keep homeowners updated on appropriate Circle C announcements and notices. In addition to the printed version, residents may find past newsletters on the Peel.com website with a search for “Circle C.” However, the most current news and announcements may be found at www. circlecranch.com.

Articles herein are intended to offer information that might be of use to our residents and to share current or historical events. We do not provide legal, medical, or expert advice but welcome input from our neighbors with expertise. We would love to hear from you!

If any of our residents have an idea for an article or would like to nominate a neighborhood teenager or volunteer for a featured article, please feel free to reach out to our HOA manager at info@circlecranch.info or call 512-288-8663. Please note that, in an effort to not interfere with our advertisers that fund this publication, we may not promote or mention businesses. We also do not publish letters or op-eds because we wish to keep our newsletter factual and neutral.

Thank you for being a part of our community.

Circle C Ranch Newsletter - October 2021

13

TEENAGE JOB SEEKERS

Name

Baby Pet House Yard Age Sit Sit Sit Work Phone

Abrameit, Kyle.....................17................................. *...................*...................... ...512.999.0337 Aguilar, Jacob........................15................................. *...................*...................... ...619-713-4469 Artigas, Emilio......................16................................. *.......................................... ...512.634.7416 Baird, Olivia.........................14.............. *..................................................................5 12.773.5443 Blackburn, Danielle*+^.......19.............. *................. *...................*...........................5 12.623.9994 Brauer, Nina ....................15..................................*..................................512.565.4480 Campsmith, Lucy ...........13..................................*..................................512-852-9846 Chatelain, Christelle*...........18.............. *................. *.......................................... ...512.963.3218 Cox, Claire*^........................18.............. *................................................. ...........512.644.4550 Cox, Ben*^...........................16.............. *................. *.. ............*.................512.963.9464 Eis, Ella*^.............................15.............. *................. *......................................... ...512.550.3422 Franke, Caroline*^...............15.............. *............................................................. ...512.590.1112 Havranek, Katie...................19.............. *................. *...................*...................... ...512.940.1671 Hoard, Jed*^........................19.............. *................. *...................*...................... ...512.656.0836 Hurd, Palmer........................ 16............. *................. *...................*... .................512.423.0737 Kaplan, Ben........................ 14............ *.................*..................*....................512.296.7548 Lim, Jacy *^..........................19.............. *................. *...................*.................... .. ....512.744.7338 Mahoney, Nicholas*............15.............. *................. *...................*.................... .* ..512.569.1823 Marzani, Jackson..................16.............. *................. *...................*.................... .. ..512-521-2474 McCurdy, Summer*+..........14.............. *...................................... .. ..................832.683.7759 Melsa, Olivia.........................19.............. *................. *...................*...................... ...512.576.9225 Mermis, Ana*^.....................17.............. *................. *...................*...................... ...512.529.7458 Mouw, Ella*..........................19.............. *................. *.......................................... ...512.987.0421 Parker, Mia...........................15................................. *..................................,,.*....512-565-4480 Patterson, Makena...............19.............. *................. *...................... .................512.506.1225 Salazar, Marisa*.....................19.............. *................. *...................*.................... .. ....512.288.9951 Terracina, Grace................... 19............. *................. *................... .* ...................512.988.7471 Terracina, Nicholas..............19................................. *................................................5 12.301.3068

Name

Baby Pet House Yard Age Sit Sit Sit Work Phone

Trautman, Parker.................14................................. *........................................ ......512.299.3117 Waltuck, Ella........................ 15............. *................. *.. ............*............512.658.4554 Wilson, Jake.......................... 16............. *................. *.. ............*...........*512.695.8278

OTHER SERVICES Name Age

Services

Phone

Aguilar, Jacob......................15.............. .Yardwork & Power Washing............ 619-713-4469

Andrusiank, Sophia............15...................Mother's Helper............................ 512.634.7416 NOT AVAILABLE Brauer, Nina........................14.............. .MH/Tutor K-5 all subjects............. ...512.565.4480 ONLINE Cox, Ben...........................16.........................Tutoring...........................512.963.9464

14

Circle C Ranch Newslette Octomber 2021

Hurd, Palmer......................15.......Clarinet/Piano/Math Tutor K-8.. ............512.423.0737

Kissinger, Aspen.............. 19..................... Tutor K-7............................... 512.961.2267 Laird, Caden.....................16...............Powerwash Services.......................5 12.468.7678 Latawa, Pari.......................16...............Tutor K-8th................................. .7 13-972-2217 Mahoney, Nicholas.......... 15... Tutor grades k-5; Beg. Mandarin........... .512.569.1823 Marzani, Jackson..................16..............Pressure Washing Service................ 512-521-2474 Patterson, Makena........... 19...............Tutor Grades K-5.........................512.506.1225 Wilson Jake..................... 16.....................Yard Work.............................. 512.695.8278

Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Circle C Ranch Newsletter - October 2021

15

PO Box 1148 Round Rock, Texas 78680

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PEEL, INC.

CC

16

Circle C Ranch Newslette Octomber 2021

Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.