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Published monthly by the Villages of Westcreek Owners' Association
Communications Committee - October 2018 Edition!
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WHO ARE THE COMMUNITY LEADERS?
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We've all heard the old African proverb "It takes a village to raise
a child."
After all, it is one of the most widely quoted phrases when examining the partnerships required during the maturation of our youth.
But, what about the maturation of our community?
Let's take a moment to reflect on a shortened version of that phrase to simply say "It takes a village."
It not only takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a village to build a community, and to encourage community involvement.
Stop and take a moment to ask yourself how many times you've looked at our community and wished it would do better.
Take a moment to think about how many times you've complained about what our community lacks.
There is a fallacy that one needs to be in a position of authority to create change, to make a difference, or to be a leader.
The reality is, we are all community leaders if we choose to be a leader in our community.
You see, a community leader is someone who cares deeply about the community they live in.
They not only care deeply but have the ability to influence the people living there.
A community leader feels the sense of responsibility for the well-being and improvement of the neighborhood.
Does this sound like you?
The honest truth is that the day-to-day acts of community leadership are usually not very dramatic; they also don't usually inspire a chorus of recognition.
It is the lady who stands out in the heat, the rain, on the good days, and bad, to help our children cross the street at a busy crosswalk.
It is that person who posts an encouraging word on the local Facebook Page.
It's the member who volunteers their time to run a BINGO game, or the neighbor that opens their home to host a game night.
It is the person who sees and places value in those who don't feel very valuable.
You don't have to be a person in a position of authority or take over someone's leadership role in order to help things go well.
In fact, one way of helping a group function better is by supporting the official leaders.
You can do this by organizing others to help with the work, by listening to one another, and by encouraging each other; especially if someone is feeling discouraged.
Trust me when I say there is room in this world for more community leaders.
One or two leaders can't possible solve all the complex problems that our community faces.
With more leaders, we will do better.
The more people who become leaders and get involved, the more problems we will solve.
So, who are the community leaders? You, the neighbors who make this community a village.
Leadership skills are built step-by-step.
No matter what your skills are right now, you can become a better leader if you work at it.
Leading will help you grow and expand your life.
You may find yourself doing things you never imagined you would.
You may find yourself making the difference that is longed for.
I leave you with this quote from author Yehuda Berg, "A true community is not just about being geographically close to someone or part of the same social web network.
It's about feeling connected and responsible for what happens.
Humanity is our ultimate community, and everyone plays a crucial role."
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UPDATE ON OUR VWOA BUDGET FOR 2019
The Finance and Reserve Study Committee completed their recommendations to the Board for our 2019 VWOA Operating Budget.
The Board will review the committee recommendations, and make any adjustments/changes they believe necessary before final review and approval at the October Open Board Meeting. The good news is that, at present, the committee is not proposing any assessment increases or increases in other fees in the 2019 VWOA Operating Budget.
CLICK HERE to view our upcoming meetings schedule!
Submitted by: Judi Cannon, VWOA Treasurer
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A community-wide THANK YOU for all your support in the recent School Supply Drive and San Antonio Food Bank Drive! A special thank you to Glennda Bruce for coordinating the School Supply Drive and Danielle Bell for coordinating the San Antonio Food Bank Drive. Your commitment toward helping others in our community is greatly appreciated.
Thanks to the generosity of our community members, hundreds of school supply items were donated. The staff was able to fully pack and donate 12 backpacks to New Beginnings Children's Home. All additional supplies were divided and delivered to the offices at Galm Elementary, Ott Elementary, and Luna Middle School.
The food drive for the San Antonio Food Bank is ongoing. The big red containers will remain in the Community Center lobby until December. The Food Bank shelves are at a historic low and they urgently need donations. Please consider contributing something from their 12 Most Wanted Items list today!
"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members." - Coretta Scott King
Submitted by: Heather Mallia, VWOA Vice President
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KEY DATES FOR THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION
The
Texas General Election will take place on
Tuesday, November 6, 2018. With that in mind, here are some important dates you should be aware of so that you can fully participate in this Democratic Process!
- Last day to register to vote is Tuesday, October 9, 2018.
- Early voting takes place from Monday, October 22, 2018 - Friday, November 2, 2018.
CLICK HERE
for
detailed
information on how to register to vote, where to get
a
voter registration application and ID requirements!
CLICK HERE for election information on the Bexar County Elections Department website or you can contact them at 210-335-VOTE.
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FINAL ANNEXATION COMMUNITY MEETING
The city of San Antonio notified Property Owners and/or Registered Voters that they were calling for a Special Election on Annexation for the area located within five miles of the boundary of Lackland Air Force Base and the Lackland Air Force Base - Medina Training Annex. Parts of the Villages of Westcreek that fall within the proposed annexation area include the Woods, Oaks, Gardens, Park, Reserves, Hills, Bluffs Willowbrook, Hollows and Summit.
There will be a critical Community meeting scheduled so you can learn more about this Special Election. This meeting is scheduled as follows:
- October 4, 2018, at 6:00 PM, Calvary Hills Baptist Church, 910 W Loop 1604 N, San Antonio, TX 78251
If you missed the meeting held on September 25, 2018, at Ott Elementary, we strongly encourage that all property owners and registered voters attend this final meeting. This meeting will provide you with vital information so you can make an informed decision when you cast your vote in the upcoming General Election on
November 6, 2018.
Handouts from the Community Meeting held on September 25, 2018
CLICK HERE to access the City of San Antonio Planning Department Annexation website. On this site you will find detailed information such as:
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This November, parts of the Villages of Westcreek will be given a choice of voting for one of two options as it relates to annexation by the City of San Antonio. It is important that if you live in the targeted areas of the community, that not only do you register to vote and exercise your right to vote, but also that you become fully informed about the ballot initiatives. You will have two options on the ballot.
Option 1 - Allows the City of San Antonio to annex our community, impose property taxes and all planning, zoning, health and safety ordinances.
Option 2 - Prevents annexation while permitting the City of San Antonio to adopt and enforce land use ordinances to protect our military bases and their missions.
If you leave the ballot blank or vote for both Option 1 and 2, the result will be authorization of Option 2.
Remember that
Early Voting is from
Monday, October 22 thru Friday, November 2.
ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 6TH!
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TRICK OR TREAT RECOMMENDED HOURS
The VWOA Staff would like to wish all residents a Very Safe and Happy Halloween.
The suggested times for trick or treating on Wednesday, October 31, 2018, are 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
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National Night Out is an annual community event that promotes police community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
Come meet our law enforcement partners and neighbors as we join together to create a sense of community on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, from 4:00 PM till 8:00 PM at the Community Sports Park!
We will have a wide variety of booths to include the following:
- Food Trucks
- Brisket Boys BBQ
- The Hot Dog Guy
- Security
- Advance Protection Texas
- BSG
- IP View Security
- Public Safety
- Bexar County ESD 2 Fire Department
- Bexar County Sheriff Department
- Bexar County Constables Precinct 1
- DARE Program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
- MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
- Health, Fitness and Self Defense
- Walgreens (Flu Shots)
- Smash
- Yoga
- Dance 2 Fit
- Low Impact Fitness
- MMA (Mixed Martial Arts)
- Girl Power Self Defense
- Utilities
- Metro Waste
- AT&T Mobility
- Fun Stuff
- Painting Party
- Westcreek Poker Club
- DV&J Face Painting
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We are happy to announce that the Villages of Westcreek will be hosting several local Food Truck vendors in our Community Center overflow parking lot located at 12395 Military Drive West.
CLICK HERE to view the
"Streats of Westcreek" calendar!
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BRISKET BOYS BBQ
Brisket Boys offers you hometown BBQ.
Slowly smoked BBQ so delicious you will leave wanting more.
Come visit them
every Saturday from 2:00 PM till 7:00 PM.
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D.A.D.S. SMOKING BARREL
Make yourself happy and fill your bellies with D.A.D.S. Smoking Barrel.
Choose from their Mini Brisket Tacos, Street Tacos, Chicken Fajita Quesadillas, Sausage on a Stick, Corn in a Cup or Specialty Item of the Day!
Come visit them
every Monday and Friday from 4:00 PM till 9:00 PM.
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COUSINS MAINE LOBSTER
Cousins Maine Lobster is the leading provider of the tastiest Maine Lobster rolls across the United States. We bring the Maine Lobster shack vibe to your neighborhood by way of food truck. All of our lobsters are sustainably harvested from the Gulf of Maine, from the icy Downeast waters to the Mid-Coast.
Come visit them on Wednesday, October 17th and December 12th from 5:00 PM till 8:00 PM.
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POOL SEASON ENDING
This is the last month for the swimming pools.
Both pools will be closing October 28, 2018.
OFFICE CLOSURE
In observance of
Columbus Day,
VWOA office will be closed on
Monday,
October
8, 2018.
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Your Fourth Quarter Assessment of $99.00 is due on October 1, 2018.
As of October 29, 2018, all accounts with outstanding balances begin incurring a late fee of $20.00, plus a delinquent interest charge.
CLICK HERE
for more information about how to pay your assessments and our
Billing/Collection Policy
.
NOTE
: The Office is open Monday thru Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, excluding holidays. In addition, the Office is open on the 2nd Saturday each month from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
- Payments can still be made here at the VWOA onsite office during business hours.
- Payments may also be mailed to our office, made payable to VWOA, at 12395 Military Dr. West, San Antonio, TX 78253.
- You may drop off cash (in a sealed envelope), check, or money-order at the drop box, located to the right of our front entry doors at the business office. Make sure you include your address on your check/money order.
- Cash is accepted in the office.
- Card Payments will be accepted only after the homeowner is registered with Spectrumam.com.
- Pay by Phone- 1-877-342-6233 (your account number needed).
PAYMENT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE
If you need extra time to pay your assessments, fill out the form below to see if you qualify for a payment plan. Payment plan requests are reviewed within two business days, and if approved, a payment plan agreement will be emailed to sign and return to our office within five business days.
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SEEKING COMMUNITY MARKET DAY VENDORS
Our next Community
"Market Day" will be held on
Saturday, October 13, 2018, from 8:00 AM till 1:00 PM.
Vendors are responsible for providing their own chairs, tents, and tables to set up in their spot. Only one vendor per product type will be allowed. Space is on a first come first serve basis. Spots are $20 each.
If you are a Vendor and would like to participate
in this event, please register your Market Day Booth during normal business hours. Contact the VWOA Office at 210-679-8761 for details.
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Our next scheduled Community Yard Sales will be held on October 13, 2018
. Community Yard Sales listings will be posted on the
VWOA website,
the day prior to the event. To add your yard sale to the listing, please call the VWOA Office at 210-679-8761 by 12 noon on the Friday before the scheduled yard sale.
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WESTCREEK FARMERS MARKET
T
he VWOA is hosting a Farmers Market from
9:00 AM till 4:00 PM every Wednesday.
Stop by the market and select from among their fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables. The market is located in the overflow parking lot adjacent to the Com
munity Center. They accept cash, checks and credit cards.
Support our Local Farmers!
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| Submitted by: Melissa Garcia |
VWOA FORCED MAINTENANCE POLICY
Under the VWOA's Forced Maintenance Policy:
When grass and weeds in front
of the home and outside the fencing of corner lots are not controlled by the homeowner according to the VWOA's Governing Documents, these areas are subject to Forced Mowing. If the homeowner fails to take corrective action, within the time frames shown in the Forced Maintenance Policy or an extension has not been approved, Spectrum will notify the homeowner that arrangements will be made to perform the necessary mowing. After the work is completed, a fine of $75.00 will be added to the homeowner's assessments.
When the
front fencing of the home; outside the fencing on corner lots; and the fencing that faces the easements are not maintained in accordance with the VWOA's Governing Documents, they are subject to Forced Repair. If the homeowner fails to take corrective action, within the time frames shown in the Forced Maintenance Policy or an extension has not been approved, Spectrum will notify the homeowner that arrangements will be made to perform the necessary repairs. After the repairs are completed, the cost will be added to the homeowner's assessments.
If the fencing for homes that back-up to Military Drive West, Westcreek Oaks Drive, Westcreek View, North Grosenbacher Road, Talley Road and Potranco Road are not maintained in accordance with the VWOA's Governing Documents, they are subject to Forced Repair.
If the homeowner fails to take corrective action, within the time frames shown in the Forced Maintenance Policy or an extension has not been approved, Spectrum will notify the homeowner that arrangements will be made to perform the necessary repairs.
After the repairs are completed, the cost will be added to the homeowner's assessments.
Reference:
Section 6.11.2.e of the Standards
The ARC meets every Tuesday at 4:30 PM at the Community Center.
Submitted by: Gene Hopkins, Chair, Architectural Review Committee
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ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?
That's right, Westcreek Sports is doing a full 8 week season of Flag Football to coincide with the NFL season! Register your player today for the opportunity to get some great experience and have a lot of fun playing flag football and emulating their favorite players.
Open to ages 3 through 15.
R
egistration ends October 12, 2018.
CLICK HERE
for program details and registration!
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WESTCREEK SPORTS 3v3 ADULT BASKETBALL - WINTER 2018
Did you know that
3v3 basketball has recently grown in popularity?
Make your team of 3 or more and register individually or as a group. Depending on the amount of teams registered, we will have one game a week on Tuesdays. We will provide a referee and track the scores through the season to determine an overall champion team at the end of the 8 game season. Open to Men and Women ages 16 and older.
Teams will be responsible for their jerseys. Just bring 2 different color t-shirts or jerseys to the game; home team gets choice of color (no profanity, obscene things or any shirts that are not family friendly).
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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING THE WESTCREEK POKER CLUB?
The Westcreek Poker Club was established by homeowner
Michael Rico to bring community members together for an evening of fun. This club is exclusively for Westcreek residents.
Poker Club Rules:
- Each Westcreek resident must present a current VWOA ID card.
- Each resident may bring one guest to play.
- No alcoholic drinks (food, water, soda, snacks, etc. are okay).
- Sign-in sheet for residents.
- $20 tournament with rebuys and late entries for the first 90 minutes.
- Tournament payouts depend on the number of entries and rebuys.
Be sure to drop by the
Villages of Westcreek National Night Out event on October 2, 2018 from 4:00 PM till 8:00 PM and visit with us at the
Westcreek Poker Club table!
For additional information or questions about the requirements and tournament format, email
Michael Rico.
CLICK HERE to view the Westcreek Poker Club schedule!
Submitted by: Michael Rico
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October is an exciting month, filled with Halloween planning for many families including costumes, parties and trick-or-treat routes. While the kids (and parents) relish the treats acquired in the weeks surrounding, it is important to consider a few Halloween safety factors.
Did you know:
"Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year."- Safe Kids Worldwide
Travel Safety:
- Always ensure a trusted adult accompanies children while trick-or-treating.
- Consider pedestrian safety, like looking left-right-left before crossing streets and only crossing at crosswalks or street ends.
- Think visibility, for you to see and to be seen by traffic (flashlights, reflective strips, glow-bands or sticks) as daylight reduces.
- Consider costume length to avoid tripping and masks that limit field of vision while walking.
Treat Safety:
- Have all candy checked by an adult carefully. If the wrapper is tampered with or something seems odd, throw it out.
- Be aware of non-edible treats given out, such as small toys, which may be choking hazards for kids.
Special Considerations:
- Many children may have food allergies, such as milk or nuts, that prohibit their ability to enjoy the edible treats traditionally given out. Some allergic reactions can be quite serious, causing difficulty breathing and leading to medical emergencies.
- People may consider handing out non-edible treats to ensure children with food allergies feel included.
- The Food Allergy Research & Education's (FARE) Teal Pumpkin Project has tips listed for becoming part of this allergy awareness movement. Some of the suggestions are listed below:
- Provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters.
- Place a teal pumpkin in front of your home to indicate to passersby that you have non-food treats available.
- Add your home to the Teal Pumpkin Project map.
- Spread the word! Share the Teal Pumpkin Project with your friends and family.
- For more information on this project, visit: https://www.foodallergy.org/education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project/get-started
Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!
Sources:
Submitted by: Jacqueline Khalaf, RN, CPST
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OCTOBER IS FIRE PREVENTION MONTH FOR BEXAR COUNTY 2 FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage. This horrific conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.
The purpose of Fire Prevention Week is to bring awareness to the risk of death in case of a fire and provide educational resources to people of all ages, races, and socioeconomic status to keep everyone safe.
This year's FPW campaign, "Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere," works to educate people about three basic but essential steps to take to reduce the likelihood of having a fire--and how to escape safely in the event of one:
LOOK
Look for places fire could start. Take a good look around your home. Identify potential fire hazards and take care of them.
LISTEN
Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm. You could have only minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Go to your outside meeting place, which should be a safe distance from the home and where everyone should know to meet.
LEARN
Learn two ways out of every room and make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter.
This year's Fire Prevention Week: October 7-13th, 2018. However, Bexar County 2 Fire Department has dedicated the entire month of October to ensure children, adults, and teachers will learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. BC2FD provides lifesaving public education with the goal of drastically decreasing casualties caused by fires. If you would like to schedule a fire & lifesaving public education visit, please visit our website www.bc2fd.org and submit a request under the Community Outreach section.
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CHECK YOUR HOUSE NUMBER
Clear house number markings are important when it comes to emergency responses to your home.
Your address number should be clearly viewable from the street and free from obstructions. Numbers placed in a lighted area on your home are ideal.
Please check and make updates as needed. This also may help with response times when placing calls for service in rural or unlit areas of Bexar County. Reflective numbers can be found at your local hardware store. Stay safe, Bexar County residents.
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FALL LAWN PREPARATION
Now that it's fall there are a few things we can do to ensure we have a beautiful lawn and garden. The first step to this recipe is to fertilize! I use a slow release organic granular by either Medina or Ladybug brand for a few reasons. The first being with organic fertilizers, you don't run the same risk of burning your lawn as you would with synthetic fertilizers.
The second part of this recipe is
pre-emergent
.
Apply this
in
mid-September
through October and again in February.
Pre-emergent
works by preventing the germination of seeds. So it doesn't necessarily kill your existing
weeds
but prevents them from spreading any further.
Also, with all of the recent heavy rains and high humidity, you may be seeing yellow patches in certain parts of your yard. These are the early signs of a fungal infection. It's always best to have a landscape professional come out and diagnose if you are unsure what's causing the damage. I personally use a product by Fertiliome that is a fungicide/ miticide/ insecticide which will take care of the problem from spreading any further.
If you have any questions or concerns about your landscape, please feel free to call me at 210-480-5073.
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WESTCREEK MOSQUITO POPULATION EXPLODING AFTER SEPTEMBER SHOWERS
During the month of September, San Antonio saw record rainfall rates. Although this rain was helpful in ending the drought, the downside is that we are now experiencing an increase in mosquitoes.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends the following steps to control and kill mosquitoes indoors and outdoors:
Control mosquitoes outside your home
- Remove standing water where mosquitoes could lay eggs.
- Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out any items that hold water like tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, or trash containers. Mosquitoes lay eggs near water.
- Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets, cisterns, rain barrels) so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs.
- For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
- Use larvicides to treat large containers of water that will not be used for drinking and cannot be covered or dumped out.
- If you have a septic tank, repair cracks or gaps. Cover open vent or plumbing pipes. Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
Kill mosquitoes outside your home
- Use an outdoor insect spray made to kill mosquitoes in areas where they rest.
- Mosquitoes rest in dark, humid areas like under patio furniture, or under the carport or garage. When using insecticides, always follow label instructions.
Control mosquitoes inside your home
- Keep mosquitoes out.
- Install or repair and use window and door screens. Do not leave doors propped open.
- Use air conditioning when possible.
Kill mosquitoes inside your home
- Use an indoor insect fogger or indoor insect spray to kill mosquitoes and treat areas where they rest. These products work immediately and may need to be reapplied. When using insecticides, always follow label directions. Only using insecticide will not keep your home free of mosquitoes.
- Mosquitoes rest in dark, humid places like under the sink, in closets, under furniture, or in the laundry room.
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WITCHES FINGERS
A Bewitching Halloween Treat!
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CLICK HERE to view the approved minutes from the Board of Directors Meetings.
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