December 2010 Volume 2 Issue 12. News for the Residents of Hidden Glen. Cocoa with Santa Claus 2010

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1 Hidden Glen Happenings December 2010 Volume 2 Issue 12 News for the Residents of Hidden Glen Cocoa with Santa Claus 2010 Come and visit with Santa right here in Hidden Glen! We will have cocoa, cookies and moonwalks. Again Kerr Photography will be available to take pictures of your family should you choose. $10 for 3-5 shots and they will be available to you on Shutterfly to use as you wish for cards, gifts, etc. Please feel free to bring your own camera too! Come visit with neighbors and meet new friends! Hidden Glen Amenity Area Sunday, December 12th 3:30-5 PM See you there! Bring on the Christmas Cheer, Holiday Yard of the Week is here! Starting after Thanksgiving and ending after Christmas, show us your best holiday yard display and win a $25 gift card. Judging will take place every Sunday evening with members of the social committee driving throughout Hidden Glen. The winning Yard receives a Lowe s Gift Certificate and hosts the Holiday Yard of the Week sign. We have 5 Sundays of judging. Be sure to get your yard all ready for the Holidays and for this coming Sunday night! Hidden Glen Luminary and Caroling Evening! Sunday December 19th Luminaries out at dusk Carolers to meet at 6:30 PM Have you seen a neighborhood all aglow with luminaries along the sidewalks and driveways? How festive!! Please join your neighbors on Sunday, December 19th by placing your luminaries along your stretch of sidewalk at the street at dusk. Luminaries are simple to make. All supplies are available at HEB, WalMart, Target, etc. Start by taking however many bags you wish to make (10-15 would be a good number for our yards.) Some craft stores now sell Luminary bags if you wish to have a design on them. Next you take sand or kitty litter and tea lights for the candles. A little sand or kitty litter in each bag will keep the flame safe and weigh down the bag, or you can even use the battery powered tea light candles now available. Light the candles at dusk and then you can let your luminary burn until the candle goes out. Then simply pick up the bag and throw away at the end of the evening. If you are unable to set out your luminaries or will be out of town, please ask a neighbor to set them out for you. When everyone participates the result is stunning! Calling All Carolers!! Every year a group of carolers join in walking around the neighborhood and singing during the luminary evening. This year carolers are asked to meet in front of the mailboxes at the corner of Hidden Glen Drive and Los Colinas at 6:30 pm to carol with everyone. Battery operated candles will be provided. Copyright 2010 Peel, Inc. Hidden Glen Happenings - December

2 Board of Directors President Liaison to Architectural Review Board and Landscape Committee Paul Pulley... Vice President / Treasurer Liaison to Social Committeee & Pool Committee Ken Miller... kmiller18@austin.rr.com Secretary Liaison to Communications Committee and Safety Committee Cella Lancaster...cellalancaster@hotmail.com Communications Committee Chair Peggy Kyler...pkyler@austin.rr.com Landscaping Committee Chair Kate Wells...katee.wells@yahoo.co.uk Pool Committee Chair Michelle Quick...michelle.q@sbcglobal.net Safety Committee Chair Doug Meek...dmeek@austin.rr.com Social Committee Chair Molly Brabham... mbrabham1@austin.rr.com Green Tips to Save Money and Water by Dale Bulla The time is here again for the City of Austin to assess your sewer consumption. There are higher water and sewer rates in effect next year so this can save you money as well as water. December, January and February are the months when your monthly water bill is averaged. You will then be charged that monthly amount for sewer usage for the rest of the year. So limit outside watering until after the three-month measuring period and save money all year. Remember, if you have native yards, you probably need no supplemental irrigation during the winter months anyway since most plants are dormant. With this year s great rainfall, very few folks will need to water at all during the winter months. Reporting Streetlight Outages The web link listed below has provided great results when used to report street light outages. It is a very simple form for inputting your information and the light is usually replaced within the week. If requested updates are provided on the progress of your request. Management Info Goodwin Management Inc Research Blvd., Suite 100 Austin TX Marilyn Childress...Cell: marilyn.childress@goodwintx.com...fax: Newsletter Info Publisher Peel, Inc Article Submission...Peggy Kyler, pkyler@austin.rr.com Advertising... advertising@peelinc.com advertising information Please support the businesses that advertise in the Hidden Glen Happening. Their advertising dollars make it possible for all Hidden Glen residents to receive the monthly newsletter at no charge. If you would like to support the newsletter by advertising, please contact our sales office at or advertising@ PEELinc.com. The advertising deadline is the 8th of each month for the following month's newsletter. BUSINESS FORMS NEWSLETTERS FLYERS ENVELOPES LETTERHEADS NCR SNAP APART FORMS RUBBER STAMPS BUSINESS CARDS Solving all your printing needs ext Hidden Glen Happenings - December 2010 Copyright 2010 Peel, Inc.

3 December Events At the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center 20th Annual Wild Ideas Shopping Event Friday and, Saturday, December 3 and 4, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, December 5, noon to 5 p.m. Free admission. Discounts and ornament signings in the store, all three days. Artists and artisans sell their wares in the Visitors Gallery on Saturday and Sunday Luminations Saturday and Sunday, December 11 and 12, 6 to 9 p.m. Our festival of lights! Luminarias, local musicians, children s crafts, food and fun! Free with a donation to the Capital Area Food Bank. Wildflower Center Closed December 24 through January 4 hidden glen happenings MERRY CHRISTMAS Neighborhood SpecialiSt I Live Where You Live. Well Rounded RealtoR WoRld Class service! During this holiday season and every day of the year, we wish you all the best. Kent E Brenneman Financial Advisor. Old Town Square 1 Chisholm Trail Ste 205 Round Rock, TX Member SIPC tara KNight Keller Williams Realty Direct Office Copyright 2010 Peel, Inc. Hidden Glen Happenings - December 2010

4 FINANCIAL FOCUS Still Time for Year-end Financial Moves But Hurry 'Cause... The holiday season is always a busy time of year, so you re probably pretty busy. But it is important to take some time now to evaluate year-end financial moves that may be beneficial in preparing for your financial future. Which year-end moves should you consider? You will want to talk to your financial advisor and tax and legal professionals first, but here are a few ideas to get you started: Boost your IRA contributions. You have until April 15, 2011, to fully fund your IRA for the 2010 tax year, but the sooner you finish with your 2010 contribution, the quicker you can get started on your 2011 contribution and the earlier in the year you fund your IRA, the more time you give your account the opportunity to grow. Put more money into college savings plans. If you have a 529 college savings plan for yourself or someone else, consider putting more money in before year-end. You can gift up to $13,000 ($26,000 per married couple) per person per year without gift tax consequences. However, this must be accomplished by year-end. Be generous. If you ve been thinking of making charitable gifts, don t put them off any longer. As long as you make a donation to a qualified charity before the year ends, you can claim a deduction on your 2010 tax return. For example, if you donate $100 to a charitable group [either a religious organization or one that has received 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service], and you re in the 25% tax bracket, you can deduct $100 (with a tax benefit of $25) when you file your taxes for 2010, providing, of course, that you itemize. If you donate stocks or other types of assets, you may also be able to save on capital gains taxes, because it will be the charity, not you, that eventually sells those assets. Sell your losers. If you own investments that have lost value since you purchased them, you can sell them before 2010 ends and then use the tax loss to offset capital gains you may have earned in other investments. If you don t have any capital gains, you can use up to $3,000 of your tax losses to offset other ordinary income. If your loss is greater than $3,000, you can carry over the excess and deduct it from your taxes in future years. However, if you then want to repurchase the investment you sold, you ll need to wait at least 31 days to avoid violating the IRS wash sale rules. Take capital gains. In 2011, the tax rate on long-term capital gains is scheduled to increase to 20% for most investors, up from the 15% rate it s been the last several years. If you have stocks or other appreciated assets that you were thinking of selling in the near future, you might want to do so before the year comes to a close. However, it s generally not a good idea to make investment decisions strictly because of tax consequences. If your appreciated assets are still a part of your overall financial strategy, you may be better off holding them for the long term, even with a higher capital gains rate. Considering these moves before the year ends may help you better prepare to address you financial picture in Peel, Inc. Printing & Publishing Publishing Community Newsletters Since Kelly Peel VP Sales and Marketing kelly@peelinc.com Support Your Neighborhood Newsletter. Advertise your business to your neighbors. Hidden Glen Happenings - December 2010 Copyright 2010 Peel, Inc.

5 As low as NOW OPEN Home Equity Loans hidden glen happenings Commercial Real Estate 4.29 %* 5.25 %** As low as LAKEWAY TAYLOR San Marcos Branch Opening December 9 Auto Loans As low as 2.75 %* Call for details , x7194 Money Market Account 0.85 %*** 0.95 $75,000 to $124,999 $125,000 and Above 20 Metro Locations Free Checking 250+ Free ATMs 1.10 %*** 1.51 %*** 24 Months (Minimum Deposit of $95,000) %*** 12 Months (Minimum Deposit of $95,000) Follow Us twitter.com/austintelco commercial real estate loans with a loan to value of 80% or less; construction/development loan rates/terms may be different. No prepayment penalty. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice. This credit union is federally insured to at least $250,000 per member by the National Credit Union Administration. Copyright 2010 Peel, Inc. Hidden Glen Happenings - December 2010

6 The average Texas homeowner pays more in property taxes than the national average, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data conducted by the Tax Foundation. The Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group ranked Texas third in the nation for its tax burden relative to home value. The median annual property tax payment in Texas last year was $2,275 14th highest in the nation and above the national average of $1,917. When calculated as a percent of home value, Texans paid 1.81 percent of their home s value in property taxes the third highest burden in the country, behind New Jersey and Connecticut. For Travis County, the median property tax payment was $3,985 or 1.85% percent of home value. The total property tax bill ranked Travis County 65th among all counties surveyed, but as a percent of home value paid, the county came in at 88th. On average, property tax burdens were highest in Northeastern states, largely New Jersey and New York, while Southern states generally had the lowest property tax burdens, according to the Tax Foundation s analysis of American Community Survey data. Austin Currents Texans Pay More In Property Taxes Submitted by Rich Keith Louisiana has the lowest property tax burden, where homeowners payer $180 on every $100,000 in value. Visit to use an interactive property tax comparison tool created by the Tax Foundation. Detailed tables of property tax burdens by state and county can be downloaded on the foundation s website. Source: A r t i c l e b y Melissa Castro, Dallas Business Journal. For more information contact RKeith@Primerica. com Rich Keith, (512) WATCH LIVE services Sunday mornings or view any time at Sunday Morning Schedule 9:30 - Blended Worship 11:00 - Contemporary Worship 9:30 & 11:00 - Bible Life Groups (all ages) Great Hills Baptist Church Jollyville Road. Austin, Texas Hidden Glen Happenings - December 2010 Copyright 2010 Peel, Inc.

7 Tackle Hunger in Texas with the Souper Bowl of Caring! What would happen if every American that celebrates the Big Football Game donated one can of food or $1 to fight hunger and poverty in their local community? The result would be an astounding $90 million in cash and cans to help feed the hungry, provide shelter to the homeless and help our neighbors in need. With all eyes on North Texas this year as they host the Big Game, you can join the Souper Bowl of Caring and help make this vision a reality! For more than 20 years, groups all over the country have joined forces to demonstrate the power of caring. To date, more than $71 million in cash and cans has been collected and 100% was donated in communities throughout the U.S. Every penny stays local and every collection matters! Learn more at tacklehunger.org. Last year, 1,900 schools, churches, businesses and grocery stores in Texas collected more than $4.5 million for local charities that fight hunger and poverty. The need is growing and we need your help! Join the Team. Get started today! 1. REGISTER your school, church or business at tacklehunger. org and designate an organizer for your Souper Bowl of Caring event. You ll receive a free Resource Kit! 2. COLLECT money and/or canned foods anytime January 17- February 6, Super Bowl Sunday is February 6, REPORT the amount of your collection to the Souper Bowl of Caring so it can be added to the national tally. 4. DONATE 100% of your collection to the charity of your choice in your own community. Don't want to wait on the mail? The Hidden Glen Happening can be viewed online at At no time will any source be allowed to use Hidden Glen Happening contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, , 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 newsletter is exclusively for the private use of Peel, Inc. DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser. * The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising. * Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. * Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above. Recycling Center In this economy why not take advantage of some of your tax dollars already at work? The Brush Recycling Center 310 Deep Wood Dr, Round Rock offers FREE MULCH if you load it yourself. If you choose to have them load it with their front-end loader the cost is $10. This fee covers the cost of insurance on their equipment. Unless you just need a small amount this is definitely the quickest loading process! They request that you bring in a copy of your water bill so they can confirm you live within the city limits. If you have questions the recycling center can be reached at Copyright 2010 Peel, Inc. Hidden Glen Happenings - December 2010

8 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PEEL, INC. HD Thank You to all the businesses who advertised with us in 2010 and made this newsletter possible. Merry Christmas! Hidden Glen Happenings - December 2010 Copyright 2010 Peel, Inc.