VILLAGES OF WESTCREEK NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 2017
October's Quote
It's only the Farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a Harvest in Autumn
In The Kitchen with
Villages of Westcreek

Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients
  • 4 eggs
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Prep time 15 min. Cook time 45 minutes.
  2. In a large mixing, combine sugar, oil and eggs; beat until smooth. Add water and beat until well blended. Stir in pumpkin, ginger, allspice cinnamon, and clove.
  3. In medium bowl, combine flour, soda, salt, and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture and blend just until all ingredients are mixed. Divide batter between prepared pans.

From the Community Manager's Desk  

Happy October Everyone,

There have been a lot of questions as to why we removed the bottom boards off the main road fences also referred to as "kick' or "rot" boards. We are in the process of assessing the condition of all 6 miles of main and perimeter fences. This process as you can imagine is a lengthy one and we are being as diligent as we can so that we can assure these fences get back to "like new" conditions. We are looking at the bottom 12 inches of fence to determine if these picket boards need to be replaced and, how many need to be replaced. If you are informed that boards on your fence line need to be replaced please make sure that the new boards are NOT in contact with the ground. The pickets should be 2 inches off any surface that has dirt or moisture, the purpose of the "rot" or "kick" board is to complete the fence enclosure. The new boards should be either pressure treated wood or cedar. If this is done correctly, then in the future the only board that will need to be replaced is "rot" or Kick" board not an entire picket. If you have questions about the fences and what is going on please contact the office. There have been multiple conversations on NextDoor and all this seems to be achieving is getting residents mad due to false information being passed around which is not helping anyone. 
If your fence is one that will need to replaced in its entirety please make sure that the fence is NOT connected to the brick columns in any manner. These brick columns are between 5 and 6 thousand dollars, depending on the extent of the repair/replacement.
If you have anything that is contacting the fence at all please make arrangements to have this removed .

This includes the following:
1. Dirt
 2. Landscaping materials such as bricks, timbers, mulch, pots. 
 3.Toys- Slides, Bikes, Old play houses.
 4.Tools- Ladders, saw horses, yard equipment. 
5.Trees'-Tress are actually the main culprit in the degradation of the
fences in Westcreek and this makes certain fences a potential hazard to
people using the sidewalks.
6. Irrigation- you are watering the fence then you are wasting water and
exacerbating the rotting wood. Our water is very hard and this causes
the oils in the wood to breakdown making them susceptible to insects
and weather.
7. Firewood or older lumber.

In short, nothing at all should be touching your fence except sunlight, rain, wind and the moonlight. We, and other neighbors appreciate you addressing this as soon as possible.

We will start replacing the "rot" boards as soon as we get inspections done and homeowner repairs have started. 

I f you see something that needs attention please email the office at infoaction@villagesofwestcreek.com


Regards,
Mike Hunsucker
Community Manager-VWOA
   ASSOCIATION REPORT CARD

A positive change in the last several months!
As of December 2016 we had $283,275.31 due to the association,
as of August 2017 that amount is $150,780.66

Thank you to everyone making efforts to stay on top of getting assessments paid on time. Although it will be a long road, we are well on our way to getting totally caught up with past due assessments!!  

  


FROM THE FRONT OFFICE

The VWOA Staff would like to wish all residents a Very Safe and Happy Halloween. 
The suggested times for trick or treating on Tuesday, October 31, 2016, are 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.

Second Saturday!!!
Saturday October 14 th 2017
The office will be open from 9:00 A.M 1:00 P.M
Yard Sale Weekend!!!
Don’t forget to pick up your permit in VWOA office
$15.00
My Pool People
Just A Reminder:
This is the last month for the swimming pools. Both pools will be closing October 29,2017
ADULT ACCOMPANIED SWIM This means that all children under the age of 12 must be supervised by a parent or guardian over the age of 18 at all times during.
 
Front office staff has new email addresses!
Please see below
Melissa Garcia-Administrative Director
Norma Vaquera- Office Administrative Assistant
Michelle Hinojosa-Communications
                                              Just a reminder!!! 
                      SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION

Times to be extra vigilant when you're driving are 6:45-7:45 a.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m. in and around the Villages. It is everyone's responsibility to keep an eye out for the children.
The pool hours have now been adjusted until the closing on October 29th.

The hours are as follows :
SPORTS PARK
Monday-Friday 4pm-10pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am-10pm

COMMUNITY CENTER

Early morning swim Monday, Wednesday, Friday 5-7am
Monday-Friday 10am-5pm must check in at the office.

          AS USUAL ALL SWIM TIMES ARE ADULT ACCOMPANIED

Farmers Market
  • Every Thursday from at 9:00 A.M. till 1:00 P.M.
  • The market will be located in the overflow parking lot adjacent to the Community Center.
 
 Just a friendly reminder VWOA office is open every second Saturday of each month from 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. Please remember to be observant in your neighborhood.

Report any suspicious activities or persons to the Bexar County Sheriff's office
at 210-335-6000 . If you see graffiti or vandalism in the Villages of Westcreek , please report it to the office at 210-679-8761 .
  
To monitor your account online register your account at  www.spectrumam.com      
From the Standards Desk
Tips For Winter Lawn Care

Winter Lawn Care Tips for a Better Spring:
The winter is when you spend the least amount of time thinking of your lawn. Unless you live in an area that is relatively warm all year long, chances are you have put the lawn mower away and are ready for a few months of relaxation before you have to start the lawn maintenance routine again. There are a few things you can do during even the harshest winter that can ensure a beautiful, lush yard once spring rolls around again

Fertilizing in the Winter :
Late fall or early winter are the best times to fertilize cool season grasses . Since the majority of the lawns in North America are made from these grasses, like Bermuda and Bluegrass, it is a good bet your yard has a typical cool season blend. Before the first freeze, give your lawn a thorough fertilizing to replace all of the nutrients that can be lost from the soil during the hot summer months. Once the weather turns cold, the fertilizer will remain in the soil and feed your lawn’s roots all winter long. When spring comes your lawn will be full of healthy, lush, green grass that has been feeding on good fertilizer nutrients.

Mowing Strategies:
During the last month of the summer you should gradually lower the cutting base of your lawn mower each time you mow the lawn. Slowly cutting your grass shorter will allow it to winter well without shocking it by cutting it all off at once. If you leave your lawn too tall during the winter months it will be prey to field mice and other burrowing animals that want a warm place to sleep. Mice can destroy large parts of your lawn by building nests. They create dead spots where they spend all of their time as well as pulling up large amounts of grass to build their structures. Make sure your grass is as short as possible at the end of the season. Short grass also protects any new growth that may be more fragile near the end of the growing season.

Avoid Excessive Lawn Traffic:
When the grass is brown and short it can be easy for people to forget that it shouldn’t be walked on. Try to prevent very much foot traffic on your winter lawn. Grass is relatively resilient, but it will have a difficult time recovering if a path becomes well-worn across the lawn.

Prepare in the Fall:
 There really is not much lawn care that needs to be done during the cold months of winter. If you properly prepare the lawn during the fall, it will be fine until the warm days of spring arrive once more.
  • Make sure you aerate, fertilize, and mow the lawn before the first freeze of the season.
  • Rake away any dead leaves that may have fallen and collected on your yard to avoid wet spots that can become mossy or moldy.
  • Keep the lawn cleared of debris and help everyone in the family respect the yard while it is dormant.Once you have taken care of everything that needs to be done during the fall you will be ready to enjoy a nice cozy winter indoors with your family before lawn care season begins again in the spring.
 
The Importance of Youth Sports
A Coach's Perspective

About two months ago, I received a call from one of my former athletes. I was her high school cross country coach. She graduated in 2010, has finished her junior year of college and is taking the semester off to earn a little money. She asked how cross-country practice was going, and if it would be all right if she came out and ran with us.

I remembered this girl well. She came from a large family that was struggling to get by. When she first joined the team as a sophomore in high school, her grades were just barely good enough to get cleared to participate. I worked with her teachers and counselors and her grades started to improve.

By her senior year, she was captain of the girls’ team and a natural leader. She was taking college prep courses and doing well. She also participated in track and field, and her talent as a field athlete helped her to get a partial scholarship to the University of Redlands. She was on her way to success.

This story isn’t unusual. In fact, it is almost the norm. When I have my first parents’ meeting, I tell them, yes, your children will be tired. Between homework, cross country practice, and family responsibilities, they won’t have much time or energy for much else. But, and it’s a huge  but , what they get out of it all will more than make up for it. Here is my perspective on the importance of youth sports. 

Teamwork:
Learning to play with others is something we want for our children from the time they are toddlers. The qualities of being a good team player are something that will help them throughout life. When a child commits to being on a team, they become responsible for the outcome of that team. They must come to practice, play their hardest, and assist their teammates, or the team will not be successful. 

Responsibility :
Kids have a lot going on in their life. School and homework can take up many hours a day. Family time, chores, church, hobbies, friends all add to their responsibilities. Adding sports into the mix will challenge a child to manage their time appropriately in order to fit it all in successfully. With the help of coaches, teachers and parents, children will learn responsibility and self-discipline, things that will help them succeed throughout their life.

Accountability:
As with teamwork, sports makes children accountable to others and to themselves. Whether it’s missing the final game or not finishing a big project at work, learning accountability is important throughout our lives .

Commitment :
Starting and sticking with a project, whether it is at work or in our personal lives, takes commitment. Young people learn this commitment when they join and stay with a team, attending all practices and games, overcoming fear, illness, fatigue and sometimes pain .

Healthy Lifestyle:
The obesity rate in children is so high that it is frightening. Getting children involved in sports will help lead them to a healthy lifestyle. Sports require attaining a high fitness level, proper nutrition and awareness of what is required to perform in their sport. This also leads to emotional health and improved self-esteem.

College:
There is a lot of competition getting into colleges these days. Having excellent grades is no longer enough to get into the better colleges. When a college admissions counselor sees an applicant, who has performed well academically and athletically, they see a well-rounded student who would be welcome in their program.

Personally, I have seen children who seemed destined to drop out of high school, or even end up in jail, based on their personal situations, who were inspired by their participation in sports to not only make it through high school, but to continue through college and become successful adults. I know that the accountability, commitment, and improved self-esteem that they acquired from being involved in sports was directly responsible for their success.

As for Adriana, the young woman who wanted to run with the team?  She’s now my assistant coach, excited to pass on the lessons that she once learned to a new class of student athletes.

BY  DEBBIE WOODRUFF    
~ Upcoming Events ~
Board of Directors Executive Session
Community Center
October 13, 2017
6:00 p.m.

Town Hall Meeting
Community Center
October 14, 2017
9:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.

Yard Sale
October 14, 2017
7:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m.

Board of Directors Executive Session
October 19, 2017
6:00 p.m.

Board Meeting
October 19, 2017
7:00 PM
Community Center

Trunk or Treat
Sports Park
October 28, 2017
5:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.

Community Event Information Line Now Open!!!!

If you do not have access to the internet or use e-mail. Learn about our up coming events, by calling the VWOA Event Information Line at 210-679-7241.

If you have a business that you would like to advertise in this newsletter please contact the office for details at 210-679-8761.