Auston Grove Apartment Homes Blog

Attention Residents:

Below are the 2011-2012 assigned schools for Auston Grove residents. You can visit www.wcpss.net to view alternate options including traditional calendar, multi-track calendar and magnet schools. The only change is the Middle School changing from Carnage to East Wake. All else remains the same.

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Can cats and dogs live together in peace? Could your cat get along with another cat?

Whether you’re blending households with a roommate or partner who’s bringing a pet or adopting another animal for your current menagerie, you will have to figure out how all these creatures will share space. You may need to play guidance counselor for your furry friends, and we’ve got some tips to help you get started.

When You Can Choose Your New Pet
If your current pet is an older one, consider how it will feel about having a young puppy or kitten underfoot. Youngsters can often make an older pet feel young again. On the other hand, if your current pet is a real curmudgeon, you might want to avoid a young animal that may make it crankier. In either case, don’t leave old and young pets alone together until you see how they get along together.

Consider how different breeds might get along. If you are looking to adopt a new pet, you might be successful in choosing its characteristics and temperament based on the new pet’s breed. Also, if possible, make a point to spend some time observing the new animal before you adopt. It’s a good idea to try to match energy levels and easygoing natures to difficult ones, though the truth is that chemistry between animals, like people, is fairly unpredictable.

If you bring together two or more dogs or cats of different sexes, make sure they are all spayed or neutered so you don’t end up with a litter on your hands!

Making Introductions
Whether you are inheriting pets from a new roommate or a significant other or bringing a newly-adopted pet into your household, the way the animals meet could have a lot to do with how they end up getting along. For dogs, meeting in a neutral location, such as a park that neither one has been to before, is a great way for them to get to know each other without territorial disputes. Be sure the dogs are each on a leash and handled by a different person, in case they have to be separated.

Watch the animals’ body postures. If there is teeth-baring, deep growls, or stiff-legged stances, separate them, encourage them, and then reintroduce them. Once the dogs are in the same space, use plenty of positive reinforcement with each one to encourage them to get along.

With a Cat in the Equation
Cats, typically temperamental, can become even more so around dogs or other cats. Before introductions happen, keep the animals in different, but nearby, rooms so they can get used to the smells and sounds of the other. After a few days, let them share space in small bursts to see how they get along.

You may discover that a cat ends up claiming a certain part of the apartment for its own, at least initially. Keeping the dog’s bowls and the cat’s bowls, litter box and scratching post in separate places should help give your persnickety kitty the space it needs.

No matter what combination of pets you try to unite under a single roof, make patience and gentle support your priorities. Your new animals will need to adjust to new humans and a strange apartment, as well to their peer critters, so give them a chance to be scared and uncomfortable while they settle into their new home. In most cases, with time, animals that initially can’t stand to be in the same room together end up becoming good friends – or they at least learn how to tolerate each other.

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Auston Grove will be hiring part time grounds help this Summer and wanted to see if any residents were interested before we posted to the public. This position is for grounds assistance and will entail outside work, climbing stairs and light lifting. Duties will include but not limited to help with many different projects, cleaning and grounds trash pick up however, no experience is necessary. The position is for the months of May, June, July, August and September. It is for 20 hours per week (almost any schedule can be accommodated). This position will pay $13 hour but doesn’t include any benefits or rent reductions. It is simply a way to make some extra Summer cash. Please contact Chris Jones at (919) 217-9995, cpjones@hhhunt.com, or stop in the office.

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Auston Grove will be hiring part time grounds help this Summer and wanted to see if any residents were interested before we posted to the public. This position is for grounds assistance and will entail outside work, climbing stairs and light lifting. Duties will include but not limited to help with many different projects, cleaning and grounds trash pick up however, no experience is necessary. The position is for the months of May, June, July, August and September. It is for 20 hours per week (almost any schedule can be accommodated). This position will pay $13 hour but doesn’t include any benefits or rent reductions. It is simply a way to make some extra Summer cash. Please contact Chris Jones at (919) 217-9995, cpjones@hhhunt.com, or stop in the office.

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Do you like to attend music concerts or art gallery openings? Do you enjoy live theater or improv comedy? If these activities are exciting to you, you will want to locate arts and culture opportunities that are convenient to your apartment community.

Read on for suggestions to help you find the creative outlets you are looking for.

Find your “scene”
What brings people who live elsewhere to visit your community? Perhaps people visit your city because of interesting things it offers to see and do. If you look for information tailored to guests of the area, you may discover that you have access to all kinds of creative outlets.

If you enjoy viewing fine art, keep your eyes open for museums and art galleries open for your patronage. Check for show openings or performance art “happenings” to take part in, and frequent your local music store to keep your finger on the pulse of your local music scene. To satisfy your craving for live music, look for everything from small clubs to large arena venues.

Maybe movies or live comedy are more your thing. You may want to investigate the types of cinema available near your home. Perhaps your town has an art-house cinema in addition to a large multiplex theater. Or look for a stand-up comedy club or a theater that specializes in improvisational comedy.

Start your search at home
Start with your computer. Go online and let your fingers do the searching for theaters and concert halls in your area. You might enter your zip code and the type of creative activity you enjoy. You may discover local venues which cater to your interest. Check their online schedules and get an idea of how often they hold concerts or gatherings. Try both general and specific searches: either way, an online search should help you narrow down local options for an artistic night out.

Keep up with local arts and culture
Look for information about arts organizations from local publications and blogs, including your local newspaper’s arts and culture pages. Getting into the habit of regularly checking these sources — such as an art council’s Web site — will both help you find the options of most interest to you and keep you abreast of what’s going on in your artistic community.

Also, visit your chamber of commerce, either online or in person. These organizations are great places to find information about your community, including active arts opportunities. Your city’s chamber should be able to provide current and comprehensive listings of open art galleries, working theaters, and live music venues. Remember to sign up for newsletters from your Chamber, retail stores, or news outlets that will send information to you regarding the kinds of art you are most interested in.

Get involved with the arts
You may wish to start a deeper involvement in a particular area of arts interest. When you visit your local museum, you might stop by the information desk and inquire about groups that meet regularly, for instance, to help you do this.

A community’s commitment to its art and artists can tell you a lot about who lives there. Show your support by finding and attending the arts and culture events that fire your imagination. You are sure to meet like-minded individuals who share your excitement about experiencing the world of artistic expression.

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THE AUSTON GROVE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 FOR AN OFF-SITE MEETING IN RICHMOND, VA.

IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT HAVING A MAINTENANCE EMERGENCY, PLEASE DIAL 217-9995 TO LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE MAINTENANCE STAFF. FOR ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS OR LOOKING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO LEASINGOFFICE@AUSTONGROVELIVING.COM OR CALL LEAVE A MESSAGE AND WE WILL RETURN ALL CALLS AND EMAILS ON FRIDAY.

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Why not try your hand at social networking in the apartment community where you live? You’ll find the returns may not only enhance your day-to-day life, but might benefit your professional one, as well.

Meet your neighbors
In our fast-paced lives, the days of front porches and sidewalk strolls have mostly passed away. We need another way to meet our neighbors. With busy schedules and few organized ways to meet, it’s no wonder that online social networking has become the way to connect — to folks both faraway and next door.

A social network that includes the residents of your apartment community is a great way to meet and share with the people you live close to. Like a neighborhood association, social networking within your community presents a chance to get to know your neighbors and discuss apartment living issues.

Discover professional opportunities
Business and social networking have become so intertwined that it’s now relatively easy to connect what you do with who you know. Sometimes the best business connections are the ones made casually and personally, and you might discover some great professional opportunities through social interactions with your neighbors. Connections to a business, for instance, can be made through chit-chat around the pool or via a posting of your product or service on your social networking venue.

Share information
Social networks can be used by residential groups to share information about the community, coordinate get-togethers, help residents find repair assistance, discover new businesses in the area — even monitor weather concerns and neighborhood watch issues. With an online neighbors’ network, you’ll likely be better informed about what’s happening around you, and you may discover new ways to get involved.

Neighbor networking sites
Facebook is, of course, one of the most popular social networking tools around. On the site, you can create “members-only” groups, where membership could be set up and limited to residents of your apartment community.

You might also look at other sites designed to unite a very specific population - the people you live near. OneTwib lets you see other users in your area via a virtual map. You can say hello, exchange information, buy or sell things, or offer services. i-Neighbors is another site that includes discussion groups, bulletin boards and photo albums.

Social networking can make friends out of virtual strangers, and help connect you to your neighbors, as well. You may discover that online social networking is another great way to feel at home in your apartment community.

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The Wake Education Partnership presented a student assignment proposal for the Wake County Public Schools at a media briefing Feb. 11. This proposal, made in response to the school board’s request for input on student assignment, provides the stability and predictability families need without sacrificing the quality of educational options in any part of what is a large and growing country.

This assignment proposal is built on four pillars, which are given equal treatment:

1. STABILITY. In the initial year, all families can choose to be grandfathered in their current schools with transportation. Once enrolled, you remain in your school unless you choose to leave.
2. CHOICE. Families choose the schools they prefer from the options provided. The choices include 10 elementary, five middle, and five high schools. Most choices will be the schools closest to home, with magnet and year-round options provided.
3. Proximity. Families residing within a walk zone (1.5 mile radius) are given a strong enrollment preference. For those outside of a walk-zone, preferences are based on their closest school.
4. Student Achievement. When granting choices, attention must be given to the academic mix of a school. No school should enroll a heavily concentrated number of low-performing students. The achievement mix will be determined by the school board.

This plan represents a fundamentally different way of assigning children to our schools. It would replace our current student assignment system. For more information, visit www.wakeschoolchoice.com. You can download an executive summary and a copy of the full plan on the site, and review possible school choices if you are a Wake County Resident.

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Boot camp fitness might sound like grueling army exercise, but it’s actually the hottest fitness trend in the nation. Rooted in military basic training philosophy, boot camp combines a variety of exercises to help you drop extra pounds, increase strength, boost cardiovascular efficiency and — most importantly — learn to stick to a fitness routine.

What to expect

Boot camp sessions usually last 4-6 weeks and take place outdoors to allow for working out in a variety of environments. Boot camps are usually limited to small groups of roughly a dozen participants in order to facilitate working together, challenging each other, and making new friends.

Typical boot camp programs get participants together to train for one hour a day, 4-5 days a week. The workout generally starts with a warm-up, such as walking or jogging. Then, the exercise moves into strength training activities such as push-ups and squats. These activities are interspersed with competitive games and cardio training to get hearts pumping. The last few minutes are designed as a cool down to bring heart rates back to normal.

Variety is the key to boot camp workouts, and trainers mix up the activities every day to keep participants interested and motivated. Most camps track individual progress, so you’ll stay inspired to reach your fitness goals.

Why It Works

Boot camp sounds tough, so why is it so popular?

The variety of exercises experienced and new friendships developed make boot camp a fresh and fun fitness option. The benefits of boot camp fitness go beyond the basic health bonuses of exercise. The experience provides a group environment for trying new activities. This social aspect of small group training helps campers stay on track, in part because of group morale. Training with a coach is also a great motivator, helping participants set fitness and nutrition goals, and accomplish them.

Boot camp stresses developing a routine that will make personal exercise a habit, long after the boot camp session is over. Many people find themselves signing up for a short-term boot camp experience and loving it so much, however, that they continue with boot camp training.

Find Your Group

Boot camps are available in nearly every city in the United States. Simply do a Google search for the keywords “boot camp” along with your city name, and you should be able to find one. Franchise boot camp businesses run locations across the country. Look for a group where you think you’ll feel comfortable with the other campers, as camps vary from co-ed groups to women-only sessions to senior citizen groups. Because the camaraderie of the experience is so intense, many campers have so much fun together that they sign up for future sessions as a team!

Local Parks and Recreation departments often offer boot camps at nearby parks. The fitness industry has also joined the boot camp brigade; you can typically find a boot camp session at your local gym. Your apartment community might have a boot camp organized in your neighborhood, or you might take the initiative and start one yourself. One of the best ways to get connected to a cool camp is to ask friends to join with you.

The bottom line on boot camp fitness is that the experience will push your fitness limits. Consult with your doctor before starting any new exercise program, but with the okay, go ahead and give it a try — you may find that six weeks of intense fitness begins a lifetime of better health for you!

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UPDATE:  As of 12 Feb 11, all items are SOLD.  Look for more deals in the future.

All furniture are 7 years old but in excellent shape since all items were used as a model or clubhouse and unused. You can go to our website at www.austongroveliving.com to see the furniture in the model. All items will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

* Photos above may differ from actual items being sold *

Furniture for Sale:

• TV stand/Entertainment console - $25
• A coffee table and sofa table from our clubhouse. Never used - $20 each
• Two red chairs that were in our model living room. Neveer used - $25 each
• Guest bedroom bed frame and master bedroom bed frame from model. Never used. $75 each or $125 for both
• Two wicker chairs that were in our model sunroom. Never used - $25 each (card table not for sale)

Feel free to stop by our office for more details about the items or call today, 866-766-7492.