RSVP - 2012 Fall Festival & Volunteer Day

The Hidden Springs Ranch Homeowners Association will be hosting the second Fall Festival at the neighborhood pavilion on Saturday, November 3. We will be serving fajitas and hotdogs followed by popcorn and a movie at dusk.  Entertainment this year will include a bouncy castle for the kiddos!  See the flier below for more details.

2012 Fall Festival

To help get ready for the festival, volunteers will be meeting at the pavilion at 11:00 that morning to install new lights in the rafters. We’d love to see you there!

In order to help us with our planning, please either contact the HOA Social Coordinator, or complete the online RSVP,  by October 24th to let us know if you can join us and how many will be coming.

UPDATE - Swimming Pool Maintenance

Repairs to the pavilion emergency phone are complete and the swimming pool has been reopened. Thanks to Leslie’s Pool Supplies for dealing with the warranty issues and delivering the replacement phone at no cost to the association..
Any questions about this announcement can be forwarded to the HOA Administrator or any board member.

Hays County Lifts Burn Ban

Hays County today lifted its ban on outdoor burning effective Friday, September 14, 2012 until further notice.
Hays County Fire Marshal Mark Chambers urged residents to use common sense when burning outdoors – never leave a fire unattended by an adult, have a water source nearby, alert your local fire department (not the Sheriff’s Office) that you are going to burn and as a courtesy, notify your immediate neighbors.
The need for a burn ban is reviewed each week during Tuesday’s Commissioners Court meetings. County Judge Bert Cobb, M.D., can reinstate a burn ban on an emergency basis if the need arises.
For more information about outdoor burning rules, the drought index and a wildland fire planning guide for residents visit the Hays County web site at www.co.hays.tx.us, or the Fire Marshal’s website and choose Fire Marshal from the Law Enforcement dropdown at the top of the County’s home page.

UPDATE - Dripping Springs Suffers Major Water Line Breaks

DSWSC staff announced today that water service has been fully restored after two major breaks were repaired in the water mains. Members are reminded that we are still under a restricted watering schedule (see Water Corp Urges Compliance).

According to staff at the Dripping Springs Water Supply Corporation crews worked through the night to repair a major break in the water mains near the intersection of Meadow Oaks and Old 290. Later in the day, a second major break was discovered that is jeopardizing water availability.
All Hidden Springs (I & II) and Meadow Oaks residents are urged to take steps to have clean water on hand and to conserve water to the greatest extent feasible until the water main breaks are repaired.
Questions about this story can be forwarded to the Dripping Springs Water Supply Corporation at 512.858-7897.

AWARENESS Alert!

On Sunday, August 19, a woman jogging in the neighborhood was approached by an unknown man in an older white sedan who attempted to talk her into getting in his car. The man drove off when a neighbor noticed the events and asked the woman if she needed assistance.

Please be alert when exercising in the neighborhood. If you see anything suspicious, be prudent and cautious. Keep your cell phone with you and use it if you feel uncomfortable or threatened. Please report any incidents to the Hays County Sheriff’s Department at 512.393-7896.

The Hidden Springs Ranch Board of Directors

City to Repair Broken Lance

According to Jon Thompson, Dripping Springs’s Development Coordinator, the city will be cutting and patching Broken Lance, and re-grading the culvert near the intersection of Silver Hawk, between now and the end of September (see inset for approximate location). In addition, city roads personnel may be spraying for weeds and sealing cracks along the edge of Broken Lance at the same time.

Neighbors may need to find alternate routes out of the neighborhood while road crews are at work. Please use extra caution while you are in the area and advise your children to stay clear of the road work.

Questions about this announcement can be forwarded to the HOA Administrator or any board member. If you need more information about the specific timing of the road work, contact the City of Dripping Springs at 512.858-4725.

Mosquito Control

Local newscasts have been reporting on outbreaks of West Nile virus in the Austin area. Mosquitos are the primary vector for this virus and, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), prevention is the most effective way to fight the disease. There are simple steps we can take to control the mosquito populations and minimize the risks of contracting this disease:

1. Use insect repellent when you are outdoors.
2. Cover outside vents with a fine mesh to prevent adult mosquitos from entering your home.
3. Eliminate standing water near your homes by making sure yards and culverts are draining properly.
4. Completely replace bird bath and fountain water at least weekly. Use bird-friendly anti-larval tablets (Mosquito Dunks are one example) if you recirculate your fountain water and cannot replace it on a regular basis.
5. Put anti-larval tablets into your aerobic tank at least once per month.

If you would like additional information on preventing West Nile or controlling mosquito populations, see the following publications from the CDC or the American Mosquito Control Association:

• www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/prevention_info.htm
• www.mosquito.org