2006 COVNA BOARD
Floyd Clark Greg Estes Lisa Lyons Hal Ferguson Doug Tabony Doug DuBois Doug DuBois	President (282-8245) Vice President (282-2782) Secretary (266-3379) Treasurer (282-0601) Newsletter (280-4080) ANC Delegate (292-9323) Past President (292-9323)

2006 COVNA CALENDAR Monthly meetings are held on the third Monday of the month.
January 16th February 20th March 20th April 17th May 15th	June Picnic 17th September 18th October 16th November 20th Dec Party 18th

Hopefully, our long hot summer is pretty much over. Our next COVNA meeting will be September 18, at 7:00 p.m. The program will be about damage to private property. Our vice president has arranged for Tony Casarez to talk about graffiti. The meeting will again be at the Southwest Church of Christ on Manchaca Road.

In the past we have discussed the importance of Neighborhood Watch programs. Watching out for our neighbors is very important, especially when few people are home during the daytime. Theft from some of our neighbors’ homes happened in the daytime this summer. At night, an automobile was stolen.
Also, there is a serious problem with the presence of coyotes. These, at present, are feeding at night. Some cats have been killed and partially eaten. Over the Labor Day weekend a deer was killed and partially eaten near the corner of Comburg Castleway and Collingwood.

These and other problems should make us more observant of things happening around us. If you see something unusual or potentially harmful, it is important to pay attention. If you determine there is an emergency, or if you see someone acting suspicious, call the police (that is a 911 call).

Call 311 to request police services if there is a non-emergency. Call 311 if there is a non-life threatening event or a crime not currently in progress. An example of a typical 311 call would be a property crime that is no longer in progress and where the offender is no longer on the scene. Others include crimes such as vandalism, thefts, graffiti, stolen autos and garage burglaries. If the criminal is still around, call 911.

Please come to the meeting to discuss these and other things important to you and your neighbors.

Floyd Clark.

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  Man-made Neighborhood Threats

Below are crime events reported in posts on the COVNA Email List between June and now. To keep abreast of neighborhood events and receive helpful suggestions such as who does good AC, plumbing, tree, electrical, and remodeling work to name a few, send a request to join with your name(s) and email address to: tabonyproductions@austin.rr.com.

6/4 - Some eggs were thrown at cars on Friday night on the end of Ramblewood Dr. Also, one egg was thrown on a car and two at the garage door on the corner of Comburg Castleway and Collingwood.
7/3 - Along Roxana and Monarch someone, or a group of pranksters, tipped over garbage cans and recycling bins, spilling the trash out on the yards and street. This also happened on Castlewood Drive.
7/5 - A garbage can at 9001 Comburg went missing yesterday afternoon between 11 am - 5 pm. The theft was reported to City of Austin police.
8/8 - Saturday night the back window was broken out of a car parked at the SE end of Comburg-Castleway and some items stolen.
8/23 - There was a burglary on Collingwood on Friday afternoon.
9/2 - The house at 9204 Queenswood was attacked with paint balls last night. It appears to be a drive by attack with 5 shots all across the front from roof line to just above the ground. The house on the NW corner of Heatherwood and Toulouse (Morgan) received some pink paintballs the same night.
9/6 - A vehicle, believed to be locked, was stolen from a driveway on Crownspoint Monday early am. The thieves, after getting into the vehicle, took enough time to find a hidden key. The owner was awakened by the police around 3:00 am. They reported that the vehicle had been found in the Sendera neighborhood. Someone in that area interrupted the car thieves, one 16, the other 17, breaking into another vehicle and ran one down and held him until the police arrived. The police found stolen goods in the stolen vehicle. The vehicle was unharmed. Maybe these kids are responsible for a number of burglaries in our area.

Thanks to Floyd Clark for providing the majority of the information below.

There are Coyotes in our neighborhood. So far they have killed or attacked at least four cats. These incidents were reported to the Austin Police Department and Animal control. They will take the report but nothing can/will be done by their departments. All domestic animals are at risk. If you see one do not approach, but report it to the following people: Jacob with the State of Texas Wildlife Services: 854-9613. If his department gets enough calls the county agency will help us with a resolution. Also call City of Austin Wildlife/Animal Control (so a case number will be created) at 972-6060.

According to the Texas Wildlife Services these animals have a 3,000 acre hunting/roaming area. It’s pup season, they are all starving and attempting to not only feed themselves, but their litters as well. Please remember that all small domestic animals are at risk, especially between the hours of 6pm and 10 am. For additional information about our neighborhood risk, and help in this problem, call Elizabeth Lutes at 736-6626

The coyote (Canis latrans, meaning "barking dog", also prairie wolf ) is a member of the Canidae (dog) family and a relative of the domestic dog. Coyotes are native to North America and are only found in North America south to Costa Rica. European explorers first encountered these canines during their travels in the American Southwest. They may occasionally assemble in small packs, but normally hunt alone. Coyotes live an average of about 6 to 10 years. The word "coyote" was borrowed from Mexican Spanish, which itself borrowed the term from the Náhuatl (Aztec) word cóyotl which may have meant "singing dog". The coyote stands less than 2 feet tall and varies in color from white-gray to tan with sometimes a reddish tint to its coat. A coyote's ears and nose appear long and pointed, especially in relation to the size of its head. It weighs between 20 - 50 lbs, averaging 31 lbs. The coyote can be identified by its thick bushy tail, which it often holds low to the ground. The coyote is an extremely lean animal and may appear underfed even if healthy.

Urban Coyotes

There has been a request for an article about xeriscaping in Austin. I’ll tackle that next month and hope to produce a newsletter with a more positive tone. Meanwhile, here are 50 tips for conserving water from the city. For much more about water and the City of Austin visit:
www.ci.austin.tx.us/watercon/50ways.htm
• Replace older toilets with low-flow models to save up to 50%. You could qualify for a $100 rebate.
• More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering. Be sure only to water plants when necessary.
• Install FREE water-saving showerheads that use 2.5 gallons per minute or less.
• Report water waste from malfunctioning irrigation systems -- call 974-2199.
• Use a grease pencil to mark the water level of your pool at the skimmer. Check the mark 24 hours later. Your pool should lose no more than 1/4 inch each day.
• Make your next clothes washer a water-saver, and get up to $100 in rebates.
• Use sprinklers that throw big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller drops of water and mist often evaporate before they hit the ground.
• When washing dishes by hand, use a sink full of soapy water -- don't let the water run.
• Water lawns during the early morning when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces evaporation and waste.
• Place an empty tuna can on your lawn to catch and measure the water output of your sprinklers.
• Scrape food from your plates instead of rinsing. Newer dishwashers and detergents get dishes just as clean without the need to pre-rinse.
• Hand-water with a hose where possible. Homeowners who water with a handheld hose can use one-third less water outdoors than those who use automatic sprinklers.
• Cook food in as little water as possible. This will also retain more of the nutrients.
• Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or set the water level for the size of load you are using.
• Fix toilet leaks. Plumbing leaks as a whole account for 14 percent of water consumed in the home, according to a study sponsored by the American Water Works Association.
• Install FREE water-saving aerators on household faucets.
• Buy a rain gauge to track how much rain or irrigation your yard receives.
• Fill your pool a few inches lower than usual.
• Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulch also helps control weeds that compete with landscape plants for water.
• Chill drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the faucet until the water is cold
• Clean your driveway or sidewalk with a broom, not a hose.
• Purchase a rainbarrel to capture rainwater for use on your landscape.
• Choose drought-tolerant plants when landscaping, and group plants with similar water needs together (hydrozoning).
• Divide your watering cycle into shorter periods to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption every time you water.

• Use a commercial car wash that recycles water. If you wash your own car, park on the grass and use a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
• Position sprinklers so they're not watering driveways and walkways.
• Make sure you know where your master water shut-off valve is located. This could save gallons of water and damage to your home if a pipe were to burst.
• Fix leaky faucets. A steady faucet drip can waste 20 gallons of water a day.
• Adjust your lawnmower to cut grass to a height of 3 inches or more. Taller grass encourages deeper roots and shades the soil to reduce moisture loss.
• Encourage your employer to promote water conservation in the workplace. Call 974-2199 for commercial and industrial water-saving programs and incentives.
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. That's 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
• Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
• Start a compost pile or scrape food into the trash instead of running your garbage disposal, which requires a lot of water to work properly.
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily.Dispose of tissues, insects and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
• Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water for use on plants.
• Don't install or use fountains or other water ornaments unless they use recycled water.
• Avoid overseeding your lawn with winter grass. Once established, ryegrass needs water every three to five days, whereas dormant Bermuda grass needs water only once a month.
• Stick to the 5-Day watering schedule during the summer, and turn off your irrigation system in winter.
• Wash vegetables and fruits in a bowl or basin using a vegetable brush; don't let the water run.
• Use a timer on hose-end sprinklers to avoid overwatering. If you're an Austin Water customer, call 974-2199 for details on getting your free hose timer.
• When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
• Only water your lawn when needed. You can tell this by simply walking across your lawn. If you leave footprints, it's time to water.
• Take a 5 minute shower or a 6-inch-deep bath.
• If you own a pool, use a cover to reduce evaporation.
• While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.
• Aerate your lawn. Punch holes in your lawn about six inches apart so water will reach the roots rather than run off the surface.
• Check your water meter and bill to track your water usage.
• Turn the water off while you shampoo and condition your hair and you can save more than 50 gallons a week.
• Support projects that will lead to an increased use of reclaimed waste water for irrigation and other uses.
• Get involved in water management issues. Voice your questions and concerns at public