Published monthly by the Villages of Westcreek Owners' Association

Communications Committee - January 1, 2023 Edition!

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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

As we say goodbye to 2022 and look ahead to 2023, we would like to share some of the community projects and accomplishments of the past year.

Safety

The HOA has worked extensively with Bexar County Sheriff's Office and the County Commissioner's Office to bring forward the community's concerns about safety, gunshots, speeding, and the homeless encampments around the neighborhood. As a result, we can report the following:

• BCSO has increased patrols, and mounted Patrols have been canvassing green belts.
• HOA has contracted private security for daytime and evening patrols and off-duty BCSO for nighttime patrols. These are both marked and unmarked vehicles patrolling all days of the week.
• We began the process of starting up our COP program & continue to work on getting volunteers to be much-needed additional eyes & ears. (See additional article in this newsletter for more information.)
• We held a Town Hall meeting for the community to hear from Sheriff Salazar, the Chief of the West Patrol Division, and several SCORE deputies about educating the community on safety and were allowed to ask questions & bring concerns in an open forum.
• We have increased communication between the Community & Board and the Sheriff's Office to pass on information to decrease crime in our area and encourage the community to sign up for various programs to share information captured on home cameras.
• Several homeless encampments surrounding the neighborhood have been dismantled, and people relocated to shelters.
• BCSO has weekly initiatives to decrease speeding in various areas of the community, including school zones.

Projects

• Clocktower Island Beautification: This has been a long-term project the Board committed to tackling with the initial help of the Suggestion and Recommendation Committee. This project involved extensive work on the irrigation system, updating electrical boxes, sodding, reshaping flower beds, and planting drought-tolerant plants. Several crepe myrtles were also planted to fill in gaps where older trees had fallen.
• Monument Beautification: This beautification project is another project the Board has been working on for the past couple of years and will continue to work on in the future. Six monuments have been replaced so far. As reserve funds allow, more will be replaced in the next couple of years. All monuments will get new drought-tolerant plants. The next round of plantings will begin in March/April once the chance of freezing has passed.
• Powerwashing and Painting: Monuments not slated to be replaced soon have been power washed, and the paint refreshed, giving them new life.
• New Solar Lighting: The initial plan was to have electrical run to all the monument islands, but due to changes in permitting in the city & county, the increased cost was not feasible. As an alternative, new commercial-grade solar lighting was installed. We hope this will be a brighter and longer-lasting alternative to the small garden lights that we have been using. 
• Dog Park: A huge thank you to Zachary Roque for coordinating the additions to the Dog Park as a part of his Eagle Scout project. Thank you to all the volunteers who made this a success.
• Pools: The Community Center Pool got new furniture and the addition of umbrellas in 2022. The furniture has just arrived to replace all the old furniture at the Sports Park Pool in 2023. We've replaced pool pumps, hired a new pool contractor for 2023, and will have the pool lights replaced. We hope that many of the issues we've dealt with over the summer will be resolved with these changes.
• New Maintenance Building: This project is still ongoing. Due to multiple break-ins and thefts, the old maintenance building was destroyed beyond repair. The Board has approved the construction of a new building at the Community Center. This building is still in the City & County permitting process. The old building will be demolished.

Common Area Repairs

The not-so-glamorous expenditures this year include:

• Much-needed infrastructure repairs such as leaking and burst pipe repairs, fire system repairs at the community center, irrigation repairs at the Sports Park, and electrical repairs throughout our common areas.  
• We also conducted an extensive easement cleanup that included tree trimming, brush removal, cactus removal, and the addition of easements to the landscaping contract. 
• We enlisted the help of the County Commissioner's Office, Environmental Services Department, and Code Compliance to haul away items dumped in the easements and to help remove items left on curbs or non-working vehicles.  

Activities

Our Community Activities Department and Office Staff worked hard to bring homeowners various programs and activities this past year.

• Monthly BINGO
• Painting Parties
• Casino Night
• Quarterly Market Days
• Swim Lessons
• A robust "StrEATS of Westcreek" Food Truck Schedule
• The return of the Farmers Market
• A wide variety of Health and Fitness Classes such as Zumba, Yoga, Camp Gladiator, and Dance Programs
• Youth Sporting Activities, including Soccer, Flag Football, and Swim Team
• Northside Family Engagement Program
• Fall Festival
• Easter and Santa Events
• Movie Nights
• Bulk Trash Day
• Halloween Decoration Contest
• Christmas Decoration Contest

Giving Back

In the spirit of giving, our residents have fully supported our Angel Tree Program, Blue Santa, SA Food Bank Food Drive, Blood Bank donations, and the School Supply Drive, making each initiative a success.

Volunteers

Last but certainly not least, the Board would like to thank our volunteers! Your commitment to making our community the best place to live is greatly appreciated. We are always in need of more volunteers to make our committees and events a success!

• Communications Committee: We thank our dedicated team of volunteers who put together our monthly newsletter and ensure the website is up-to-date. Westcreek Living proudly celebrated its 4th year of publication in 2022!
• Architectural Review Committee: The ARC has worked hard this past year to get PIA approvals returned to homeowners within days. They have also worked all year on reviewing and updating the Standards, which should be finalized in early 2023. Thank you for your service to our community!
• Finance Committee: Thank you to the committee responsible for conducting line-by-line reviews of the yearly budget and making suggestions for cuts or improvements.
• Nomination Committee: Thank you for overseeing our Board nomination and election process!
• Youth Sports Coaches: Thank you for supporting our activities department and guiding our youth!

We look forward to all that 2023 will bring. Please watch the newsletter for updates on more community improvements, projects, and events. Happy New Year from the Board of Directors!

Submitted by: Elaine Maurer, VWOA President, and Heather Mallia, VWOA Treasurer

WESTCREEK VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Villages of Westcreek needs your help. Last July, we ran an article in the newsletter looking for volunteers for the Cellular on Patrol (COP) program. There are currently 3014 homes, and we had six people volunteer. Two of those are Board members, and of those six people, three are currently trained, but that isn’t nearly enough for the program to get up and running here in Westcreek. 

We can ALL agree that we want crime to be minimized, and the Board has done what we can to help make our community safer. We really need volunteers to help us get this program going again!

Many of you walk or run daily along different routes throughout our neighborhood. You could assist BCSO and report any suspicious activity if you were trained. COP is not a vigilante program; you do not take action to stop the crime other than reporting it to the proper authorities. 

We are looking for community members to volunteer and someone to lead this committee. By going through the Bexar County COP training program, you are taking the necessary action to make our community secure and safe. If we cannot get the volunteers necessary to make this program a success, we will not be moving forward with re-starting it up here in Westcreek. 

This program WILL NOT be in place of security patrols & off-duty deputies we currently employ to patrol Westcreek. This would be an addition that would offer another layer of patrols for observation & reporting. 

The next COP training session is Wednesday, February 22, 2023, from 6-9 p.m., located at WEST Patrol Substation, 6825 Cagnon Road, San Antonio, TX 78259. 

What you need to do to get started:

Fill out the attached application, send it to the COP program, and sign up for the training. Once you have completed your training, email the Villages of Westcreek Community Manager at cm@villagesofwestcreek.com to let her know you are ready to begin. Let the Community Manager know if you are interested in chairing this committee. If we don't get a volunteer to serve as Chair of this Committee, it will delay the program's implementation.

Click on the following link for more information and details about the Bexar County COPS program: https://www.bexar.org/771/Crime-Prevention-Programs.

Click on the following link to download the Cellular on Patrol Program Application:

https://files.constantcontact.com/a865254c001/c395a5aa-8af4-4e89-bab1-88af6efd9248.pdf

For additional questions, please email the Bexar County SCORE office at score@bexar.org.

Submitted by: Elaine Maurer, VWOA President

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

NEW NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES

Dear Association Members: 

Say goodbye to snail mail! 

Starting in January, courtesy property notices will be sent straight to your email currently on file, giving you a faster, more accessible way to stay on top of your account. To receive these notices via email, you will need to have registered with SpectrumAM through the homeowner portal and place an email on file. If a homeowner does not have an email on file, they will continue to receive the notices through USPS. 

It’s just one more way we make your life easier and create savings for your community!

Homeowners not already registered with the Spectrum portal may register at the following address:

https://spectrum.cincwebaxis.com/

These email notices will be from the following "No Reply" email address:

Spectrumadmin@cincsystems.net

You can add it to your Email Address Book to avoid it going to your spam folder.

More information about Courtesy Notices can be found in AR-53 (NOTIFICATION OF COVENANTS VIOLATIONS) at the following link:

https://villagesofwestcreek.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AR-53-Filed-with-the-County.pdf

Thank you for being a great neighbor.



Submitted by: Maria Robinson - VWOA Community Manager

2022 ANGEL TREE PROJECT & BLUE SANTA TOY DRIVE

A community-wide thank you goes to all those who responded by supporting our annual Angel Tree Project and Blue Santa Toy Drive.

Thanks for making this year’s holiday Toy Drive a huge success and making sure every child had a smile on Christmas.

The Angel Tree had a fantastic turnout this year as well. The Villages of Westcreek Community was able to sponsor gifts to 8 children at New Beginnings Children’s Home. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for making such a positive impact in a child's life this holiday season! We are striving to do the same for a new shelter in 2023. If you know a shelter that is in need for the holidays, please contact the office at 210-679-8761.

Your commitment of sharing joy with these children and the community is deeply appreciated.

Submitted by: Melissa Garcia - VWOA Office Manager

2022 CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

We were delighted to have the community attend the Christmas Bazaar and support the Blood Drive.

We would personally like to thank the VWOA Elves for putting the event together. We had such a great time at the Christmas Bazaar, seeing all the vendors come out and, of course, seeing all the kids’ faces light up when they saw Santa! 

We hope to continue hosting Vendor Events.

The Painting Party at the Villages of Westcreek Community Center was another fun successful event.

We are looking forward to yet another successful year filled with fun. The HOA staff is working very hard to bring new ideas and events to the Community this year. As always, we will release dates and times once all functions have been finalized, so please stay tuned! 

Submitted by: Melissa Garcia - VWOA Office Manager

2022 CHRISTMAS LIGHT CONTEST WINNERS

Thank you to all of our homeowners who participated in the 2022 Christmas light contest! Please click the following link to view the results:

https://conta.cc/3hvkJ0n

Submitted by: Melissa Garcia - VWOA Office Manager

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

In late December, we were hit with sub-freezing weather, which resulted in pipes bursting in some residential properties in the community. As we begin the new year, it is vital to recognize that more sub-freezing weather could make a return. Preparing and protecting your home and property when temperatures dip below freezing is essential. The video link below offers tips to identify and protect areas that could be vulnerable to freeze damage.

CLICK HERE to view the video!

Source: San Antonio Water System (SAWS)

Submitted by: Bill Fenstermacher, Communications Committee Vice-Chair

Did you ever wonder what happens to your lawn and garden debris when you blow it into the streets? 

The answer is that this debris usually ends up in the stormwater drainage system where, over time, it can clog pipes, resulting in street flooding. The water can also back up into homes. When the water flow in the drainage system is impeded, it also creates an ideal environment for mosquitoes to breed and flourish.

You can help our community by keeping your property's streets and drainage areas clean and clear of litter, leaves, and grass clippings.

Here are some tips on how to dispose of your garden waste:

• Compost your leaves and grass clippings.
• Invest in a mulching mower during the mowing season and leave your mulched grass clippings/leaves on the lawn.
• For significant accumulations, you can bag and dispose of them on your trash collection day.

Let's work together to keep the Villages of Westcreek beautiful and safe!

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!

Christmas

• Decorations Down - January 16, 2023

New Year's

• 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 way.    
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, The Summit, The Oaks, The Estates, Willowbrook, and The Hills. These have been completed as of the middle of December 2022. 
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/

2023 SPRING SOCCER SEASON

Starts: Mar 6, 2023

Ends: May 13, 2023

Location: Westcreek Sports Park

Westcreek Sports Spring 2023 Soccer

Coed, ages 3 through 16

Registration Dates:

Early bird - December 16, 2022 through January 1, 2023

$70.00 per child & $55.00 for additional children

Coach- $45.00 per child

Regular - January 2, 2023 through January 22, 2023

$80.00 per child & $65.00 for additional children

Coach- $55.00 per child

Late - January 23, 2023 through February 4, 2023

$90.00 per child & $75.00 for additional children

Coach- $65.00 per child

Proposed Schedule:

Practice begins the week of March 6, 2023

Practice day and time determined by the coach

First game is March 11, 2023

Last Regular Season Game is April 29, 2023

End of Season Tournament May 6 and 13, 2023

Click the "Read More" button below to see more details and to Register:

Contact:

Jason Dunbar

VWOA Parks & Recreation Manager

Phone - 210-748-2245

Email: activities@villagesofwestcreek.com

Submitted by: Jason Dunbar - VWOA Parks & Recreation Manager

If you’ve had houseplants for a while, you have probably encountered fungus gnats. These garden pests are generally no larger than 16th of an inch. Although they are winged, they stink at flying, which is why you often see them hovering around an infested plant and why they scatter and then settle back in when the soil or foliage is disturbed. While gnats are annoying, they can be controlled and prevented.

Overwatering houseplants is the top reason that fungus gnat populations develop. The gnats are attracted to the moist environment where they lay 100-300 eggs. The larvae feed on the organic material in the soil and any fungus that develops. Then the cycle repeats. Proper watering will go a long way toward preventing an infestation.

• It is imperative to reduce the watering of houseplants if you find any presence of fungus gnats. (This is especially important during winter when it takes longer for soils to dry out.)
• Make sure plant containers have good drainage. Use pots with holes in the bottom or drill your own holes.
• Allow the soil in pots to dry out between watering. Stick your finger into the soil to make sure it really needs water.

If you already have gnats, there are some remedies to control them.

• Start by replacing the top 1/2 inch to an inch of soil. If it’s a smaller potted plant and it repeatedly gets gnats, you might want to repot it in new soil.
• As for products, you can try Bacillus thuringiensis (as a spray or soil drench to kill the larvae), beneficial nematodes to treat the soil/kill larvae, or Neem Oil as a soil drench and a foliar spray (do not spray in direct sunlight or when temps are high). Read the product labels in case subsequent applications are needed.
• Yellow sticky cards are helpful for monitoring the presence of adult pests. Gnats get stuck to the card, so you’ll be able to see them clearly and take action. Also, when the adult gnats get stuck, they can’t lay eggs.

Extra advice: While we generally think of gnats as more of a nuisance than a destructive pest, it is important to note that gnat larvae can still cause some damage and they may eat tiny roots and root hairs on seedlings (when there is no fungus) and can even burrow into their tender stems at the base of the soil. They have also been known to spread disease to other plants.

Information courtesy of Rainbow Gardens www.rainbowgardens.biz.

Submitted by: Michelle de Jongh - Communications Committee Secretary