Published monthly by the Villages of Westcreek Owners' Association

Communications Committee - December 1, 2022 Edition!

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Q. What is your role here at Westcreek? 

A. Community Activities Director and Assistant Community Manager.

Q. What brought you here/what makes you stay? 

A.  I was originally brought here back in 2016 to help with the sports program. I thoroughly enjoy working with the members of the community, the Board, and my fellow staff, and that is what keeps bringing me enjoyment in this position.

Q. How long have you been with Villages of Westcreek?

A.  I have been with VWOA since 2016.

Q. What are your hobbies outside of work?

A. Outside of work I enjoy playing soccer, shooting, motocross, and spending time with my family.

“We are so proud to have you as part of our team!”

Submitted by: Brian Bush, VWOA Assistant Secretary

BOARD MEETING DATE CHANGED

The VWOA Board meeting will be held via Zoom on Thursday, December 1^st at 6:00 PM instead of the third Thursday.

Please use the link below to see the agenda and instructions for attending via Zoom:

https://villagesofwestcreek.com/open-board-meeting-via-zoom-december-1-2022-at-600-pm/

Submitted by: Maria Robinson - VWOA Community Manager

The Military Drive improvement project began and is expected to take about 16 months. Traffic will be maintained during this construction period by closing traffic on one side and routing two-way traffic to the other side of Military Drive. Please use the link below to see the details:

https://files.constantcontact.com/a865254c001/5020b890-90f3-49ea-abc9-f0f8dc706829.pdf

Submitted by: Elaine Maurer - VWOA President

The next quarterly assessment is due on January 1, 2023. A grace period is allowed, as shown above. If you need a coupon, you can download the coupons as a pdf file by clicking on the coupon image above or using the link below:

https://files.constantcontact.com/a865254c001/d3132047-7f6e-433d-bc41-7fc849d77dfb.pdf

Submitted by: Heather Mallia, VWOA Treasurer

SOLICITATION FOR VOLUNTEER ARC REGULAR MEMBER

The Villages of Westcreek Owners' Association is currently recruiting to fill a Regular Member vacancy on the Architectural Review Committee (ARC).  You must be a homeowner to be appointed by the Board of Directors to serve on this committee.

The primary objective of the ARC is to enhance and preserve property values throughout the community while being as consistent and fair as possible with their decisions and recommendations. The ARC has the authority to:

•  Adopt and administer the review process on behalf of the VWOA;  
• Review and approve or disapprove plans and specifications for each Property Improvement Application (PIA) regarding changes to the premises;  
• Make changes to the "Standards for Architectural Design and Property Maintenance" as deemed necessary in accordance with the CC&Rs and applicable Federal, State, and local laws; and, 
• Make reasonable efforts to assist the applicants with their requests and any other concerns regarding the "Standards."

ARC members will be trained and expected to conduct business using an automated system. This system allows ARC members to digitally view, comment, approve or deny PIAs.

Ideal candidates will need to

• have access to a computer and the internet.
• be available consistently to meet in person should homeowners request a meeting to discuss their PIA. 
• have knowledge of the CC&Rs and the VWOA's standards.

Additional duties and responsibilities are outlined in the "Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (Article IX - Architectural Review Committee)" and "Standards for Architectural Design and Property Maintenance."

HOW TO APPLY!

CLICK HERE to send an email to the VWOA Community Manager to submit your name for consideration. Be sure to include your home address, phone number, and email address.

Submitted by: Lynette Bradley - Chair, Architectural Review Committee

Submitted by: Bill Fenstermacher, Communications Committee Vice-Chair

During the week of Thanksgiving, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office held a Security Blitz in our neighborhood. This blitz included increased police presence in all community areas during the overnight hours of 10:00 p.m.-5:00 a.m. During this operation, they made one arrest for car burglary. I have requested that they also plan a daytime operation during the week; this operation would include traffic control and would also have code compliance involved with several other BCSO departments. This will happen on their timeline and will not be announced. An ongoing traffic control program is held here in our neighborhood weekly. These deputies make many stops weekly, so please be mindful of traffic laws and speed limits.

These operations directly respond to my reaching out and opening a dialogue with the Sheriff's office about things in our community that we are all concerned about. I have direct contact with the department, and anytime we have gunshots reported, and residents send us video footage, I forward it to the Sheriff's office. It is shared with all the West Patrol deputies. The same goes for any other concerns that arise. It is everyone's responsibility to report suspicious activity to the Sheriff's office. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen a post on social media, and no one has reported it to BCSO. How are they supposed to stop this illegal activity if no one is reporting it or waiting for someone else to report it?

The VWOA Board of Directors is doing what we can. However, it takes all of us to help lower crimes of opportunity; essentially, it is your job to protect your property.

Please do your part in protecting our neighborhood. If you see OR hear something, call the Bexar County non-emergency number 210-335-6000 or 911 if you feel in imminent danger. Reporting IS making a difference!!

WE ALL NEED TO BE PROACTIVE VS BEING REACTIVE!!

Submitted by: Elaine Maurer - VWOA President

The Board of Directors strongly encourages all residents to join our "Let's Light Up Westcreek Crime Prevention Campaign."  By turning on your outdoor lighting from "dusk to dawn" every night, criminals and vandals will have no place to hide in our community!

Submitted by: Elaine Maurer - VWOA President

Submitted by: Elaine Maurer - VWOA President

It is hard to believe that we will celebrate the New Year in a few weeks. Like years past, you can count on fireworks being a part of the celebration. Fireworks also bring on the threat of house fires. With that in mind, we would like to share with you some simple tips on protecting your home from fires caused by fireworks.

CLEAN OUT YOUR GUTTERS

• Most homeowners are guilty of having gutters filled with leaves, twigs, and other flammable debris. It just takes a stray spark from a firework to set off a fire that suddenly engulfs your gutters and roof. To avoid this, ensure all your gutters are cleaned and cleared out. Also, make sure you have no accumulation of leaves on your roof. Dispose of all the debris in your landscape because it can just as quickly catch fire.

WATER YOUR LANDSCAPE

• Another tip is to water your landscape and fence line before you and your neighbors start a fireworks celebration. A fire in your landscape can quickly spread toward your home and cause fire damage.

If you plan to include fireworks in your celebration, please review the Fire Marshals website for information regarding the Prohibited use of Fireworks.

Submitted by: Bill Fenstermacher, Communications Committee Vice-Chair

We respectfully ask that if your New Year's Celebration includes the use of Fireworks, you are considerate and respectful of our Pets and Vets who may be suffering from PTSD.

Submitted by: Bill Fenstermacher, Communications Committee Vice-Chair

Submitted by: Bill Fenstermacher, Communications Committee Vice-Chair

Submitted by: Bill Fenstermacher, Communications Committee Vice-Chair

HOLIDAY DECORATION SCHEDULE

As we approach the Holiday Season, we thought it would be a good time to review the timelines on when you can display your outdoor holiday decorations! 

Holiday decorations may be displayed on the premises, without ARC approval. Under our current guidelines, you can display your Christmas holiday decorations forty (40) days prior to the holiday thru the following 16th of January (which corresponds to the last day that the New Year's decorations may be displayed). At the 11/18/2021 Open Board Meeting, the Board reviewed and approved the request to change the standards to allow 45 days for Halloween decorating.

For all other holidays during the year, the decorations can be displayed 30 days before the holiday and must be removed no later than 15 days following the actual holiday date.

Special event decorations such as birthdays, anniversaries, newborns, returning veterans, etc., may only be displayed on the premises for three (3) days without the Standards Department's approval if the number of decorations are minimal and, the decorations and signs are not placed anywhere else within the Villages of Westcreek, including the properties fronting any entrance to the Villages of Westcreek.  

We hope you find the chart below helpful as you decorate for the upcoming Holiday Season!

Thanksgiving

• Decorations Down - December 9, 2022

Christmas

• Decorations Up - November 15, 2022
• Decorations Down - January 16, 2023

New Year's

• Decorations Up - December 2, 2022
• Decorations Down - January 16, 2023

Reference:  Section 6.7 of the Standards

CLICK HERE to view the Standards!

Submitted by: Lynette Bradley, Chair Architectural Review Committee

COMMUNITY UPDATES



1. Monuments at Daisy Field and Potranco-OPEN- The Community Manager spoke with a representative from TXDOT, and they informed her that TXDOT does not typically allow any type of construction within their right of ways.    
2. Garden Lily and Tally Rd.-TABLED- The Board has decided to table this project until the construction on Talley Road has been completed.     
3. Pointe Monument-OPEN- The electrician has connected the side of the monument that has the CPS box, and it is currently working and lit. The solar vendor is working to design a fixture that will match the current inset of the monument and match what is on the opposite side.
4. Monument Solar Lighting-OPEN- The Board has approved solar lighting to be installed at the following monuments: The Hollows (completed), The Summit, The Oaks, The Estates, Willowbrook, and The Hills. These will be completed when the weather permits, as the concrete cannot be set in the wet ground. 
5. Maintenance Shop Replacement-OPEN- The contract for this has been signed, and the deposit invoice has been paid; this project is currently scheduled to begin after the completion of the concrete pad and electrical installation. 
6. Maintenance Shop Concrete Pad-OPEN- The vendor has provided the engineer drawings and is beginning the permitting process with the county. 

Submitted by: Maria Robinson - VWOA Community Manager

The Villages of Westcreek offers a variety of Health and Fitness Programs throughout the year. Please click on the following link to see the latest information about these programs:  https://villagesofwestcreek.com/recreation/healthandfitness/

Submitted by: Melissa Garcia - VWOA Office Manager

Submitted by: Melissa Garcia - VWOA Office Manager

Contact:

Jason Dunbar

VWOA Parks & Recreation Manager

Phone - 210-748-2245

Email: activities@villagesofwestcreek.com

Submitted by: Jason Dunbar - VWOA Parks & Recreation Manager

1. Most succulents need full to mostly full sunshine to thrive. Outside: Watch for shadows from trees that might cast too much shade in the afternoon. Inside: Pots can be moved around to follow the cast of the sun at different times of the year. Opt for southern-facing windows where the sunlight is bright and shining most of the day.

2. Good drainage is a must. Finding a spot in your landscape where water never pools is essential. Succulents will not tolerate having their roots in standing water. You can add peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and other amendments to soils to lighten them up and increase drainage or buy premixed specialty soils that have many of these products included.

3. Handle your succulents with care. Gently tip your succulent to the side and slowly slide the plant out of the pot, cupping and supporting the top of the plant. Succulents break easily so really take extra time maneuvering it out of its nursery pot. For large succulent plantings, two pairs of hands are helpful.

4. If digging in the garden, the hole should be dug at least 2” wider than the diameter of the succulent root ball, but only as deep, at crown level. Succulents should always be planted at crown level. This means that the soil level in its pot should end up even with the soil level of the garden. If planted in a pot, it should be no more than about 2” larger than the nursery pot you bought it in. Make sure it has a drainage hole.

Ground: Gently backfill and firm the plant into the hole, pressing slightly to make sure there is good soil contact for the roots. Pots: Fill the pot with at least 2”-3” of your chosen succulent potting soil, (more if the pot is larger), then backfill and tamp the soil gently around the rootball. Make sure to leave at least a 2” margin from the top of the pot to the top of the soil line to allow for correct water absorption.

5. Time to water your succulents. If you watered both the garden you are planting in and the succulents in their pots before planting, you are done after this step. If you didn’t pre-water, go ahead and water within a few minutes of planting. Most succulents like to dry out before being watered again. When you do have to water, make sure it is a slow, deep, thorough watering that allows for maximum penetration to the roots. In pots, the water should run out of the bottom of the drainage holes. Empty any saucers under the pot no more than 30 minutes after watering

Information courtesy of Rainbow Gardens www.rainbowgardens.biz.

Submitted by: Michelle de Jongh - Communications Committee Secretary