Hello fellow homeowners, my name is Richard Gentry. I have lived in the Villages of Westcreek for just over 11 years now. I am a father of 3 and my wife is a teacher for NISD. I have worked in the Medical Sales Field for the last 16 years, and before that I served 6 years active duty in the US Army. My family and I all stay very active in the community and in the programs offered here in Westcreek. During my 11 years here, I have served on the Board of Directors for about 7 years with a few breaks in between terms, and I have participated as a coach in all of the youth sports programs for 9 years. I love this community and the people that live here. There are a lot of great things that Westcreek has to offer to all of us and our families, and that is what makes Westcreek such a great place to live.

During my time on the Board, I have consistently pushed for infrastructure improvements, additional adult and youth programs, and transparency from the Board to the community. Some recent achievements from the last 2 years have been additional lighting in the Sports Park, the Sports Park bathroom expansion, replacing the parking cables in the Sport Park parking lot with boulders, nightly constable patrol program for the neighborhood, security camera system in the park, food truck events, new family activity days in the park, and we are currently working on beautifying all of the monuments in the HOA. Even with all of these improvements the Board has still been able to put money into savings and kept the HOA financially sound, without raising the assessments. With that said, we still have plenty of room for improvement, and the Board is currently working on more ideas to keep Westcreek the best community in San Antonio and the surrounding areas.

If given the opportunity to serve on the Board for another 2 years, I promise to continue giving the same honesty, dedication, and passion to the HOA that I always have. I'm asking for your vote so that we can all continue with the improvements to our community and the effort to help keep Westcreek a great place to live and raise our families.

My name is Heather Mallia. I'm a homeschooling mom to two boys, 14 and 11. My husband and I have been married 23 years, eighteen of which we have called Villages of Westcreek home. My hobbies include reading, running, hiking, spending time with my family, Bunco nights in the neighborhood, and volunteering.

I love to stay actively involved in the community. I have previous Board experience, serving as Member-at-Large (now called Assistant Secretary) in 2006 and Vice President in 2007. More recently, I served as Vice President in 2018 and I'm currently serving as Treasurer. My committee experience extends to almost every committee in Westcreek. I am currently serving as Board liaison to the Communications Committee and the Suggestions & Recommendations Committee. I volunteered for the Finance Committee for several years and in 2019 served as the Chairman of that committee. Over the years I have also served on the Sports Park Committee (Chairman), RFID Committee (Secretary), Ad Hoc Fence Committee, Elections Committee, and Strategic Planning Committee. I feel having volunteered in so many different areas within the Villages of Westcreek, I have an extensive understanding of our community's needs and the inner workings of the HOA.

Serving on the Board is a huge commitment that I am prepared and willing to take on. I believe in full transparency by the Board and I'm a huge proponent of open communication. I have always believed that our homeowners deserve a voice and have worked to ensure homeowners' concerns are heard. Together we can ensure decisions made are for the best interest of the homeowners, the Association, and the community as a whole to maintain and increase our property values and to make this neighborhood a great place to live.

The Board of Directors and Staff are pleased to announce that  Benny Martinez was hired as the new  Maintenance Manager for the Villages of Westcreek effective  February 1, 2020.  Benny is a VWOA employee.

Benny is responsible for performing the day to day routine maintenance and upkeep of all common areas.  In addition, he will be providing oversight of all maintenance contracts, including but not limited to, Landscape, Electrical, Plumbing, etc.

On behalf of the Communications Committee, Board of Directors and Staff, we would like to extend our deepest appreciation to Melissa Motz for her contributions to Westcreek Living.  

Melissa was gracious to submit articles promoting healthy lifestyles and recipes each month.  Although Melissa won't have a regular column in the newsletter, you can still access her healthy recipes on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Michael-Melissa-Motz-Offering-Hope-269394356993220/. 

The only people that are making a difference are those who volunteer. We will miss her articles, but wish her well in all her endeavors.

You are simply the best!

"The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others." ~ DeAnn Hollis

Submitted by:  Bill Fenstermacher, Communications Committee Chair

The Villages of Westcreek Owners' Association is currently recruiting to fill vacancies on the Architectural Review Committee (ARC).  The ARC shall consist of 3 Regular Members and 2 Alternate Members. You must be a homeowner to be appointed by the Board of Directors to serve on this committee.

The Board and staff are working toward getting much needed repair work done to the leaning columns along the main thoroughfare.   All columns have been measured and their degree of tilt recorded, so we can track each column on an annual basis.   The Board has identified 11 columns whose repairs are the most urgently needed.   This project is currently in the bidding phase.  

Over the past several months, the Suggestions & Recommendations Committee (SARC), at the direction of the Board of Directors, has been working on design plans for the beautification of the clock tower island & monument.   The SARC has determined the project scope, design layout of new landscape cover, irrigation, and new plantings.   This is a large scope multiphase project.  The Board approved the SARC's plans in the February Board meeting.   This project has moved to the bidding phase.  

Handicap Access Issue being addressed

In response to concerns about handicap accessibility at the VWOA Sports Park, the Board of Directors approved the installation of two new sidewalks at the Sports Park.  The new sidewalks will allow wheelchair access to the Basketball and Tennis courts, so all residents have the ability to enjoy these fitness amenities.

Reserve Study 2020

At the January 2020 Board Meeting, the Board approved the vendor Reserve Advisors to conduct our 2020 Reserve Study.  For those unfamiliar with the Reserve Study, it's a long-term capital budget planning tool.  This study itemizes the life expectancy and suggested repair timeline for all facilities, amenities, and monuments in the Villages of Westcreek's common areas.  We have added many new items to our common areas since the last Reserve Study, such as new Sports Park bathrooms, lighting on the fields and track, refurbishment of both pools, and new handicap accessible picnic tables in the Sports Park.  

An updated Reserve Study will give management and the Board a better idea of what funds will be needed in our Reserve accounts to plan future repairs and expenditures.  Once completed, the Reserve Study will be posted under the documents section on the Villages of Westcreek website.

Submitted by: Heather Mallia, VWOA Treasurer

If you know of a Food Truck that you think would be interested in joining the "StrEATS of Westcreek," have them contact the VWOA Office at 210-679-8761 during our normal business hours. There is a small $25 fee for each truck that participates in the program.  We only allow one truck per evening.

CLICK HERE to view the StrEATS of Westcreek Food Truck schedule and menus!

A vine that blooms in mid-spring with a cluster

of purple blooms. This plant is freeze hardy and can become invasive if not controlled.

• Light Requirement:  Part sun to shade
• Water Demand:  Low
• Flower Color:   Purple
• Height:  15' to 30'
• Season:  Blooms in mid-spring

       

• Have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician.
• When you are buying or remodeling a home, have it inspected by a qualified private inspector or in accordance with local requirements.
• Only use one heat-producing appliance (such as a coffee maker, toaster, space heater, etc.) plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time.
• Major appliances (refrigerators, dryers, washers, stoves, air conditioners, microwave ovens, etc.) should be plugged directly into a wall receptacle outlet. Extension cords and plug strips should not be used.
• Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) shut off electricity when a dangerous condition occurs. Consider having them installed in your home.
• Use ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to reduce the risk of shock. GFCIs shut off an electrical circuit when it becomes a shock hazard. They should be installed inside the home in bathrooms, kitchens, garages and basements. All outdoor receptacles should be GFCI protected.
• Test AFCIs and GFCIs once a month according to the manufacturer's recommendations. You do not need a flame to start a fire. Fires can start when heat builds up near things that burn. This can happen when a hot light bulb is near things that burn, such as cloth or paper, or a cord has been placed under a carpet.
• Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways or under carpets. Extension cords are intended for temporary use. Have a qualified electrician add more receptacle outlets so you don't have to use extension cords.
• Use a light bulb with the right number of watts. There should be a sticker that indicates the right number of watts.

• Frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers
• A tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance
• Discolored or warm wall outlets
• A burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance
• Flickering or dimming lights
• Sparks from an outlet