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Westador has Merry Activities this December by Cindy Poetz  

“Mrs. Claus, I’d like a Dora Playhouse; and I’ve been very good this year!” five year old Payton Poetz bashfully proclaimed to Mrs. Claus as her friend Sara Perez and other children watched with excitement and waited patiently to make their request.  Santa and Mrs. Claus brought the Westador Christmas Potluck dinner to a halt as they flew in and surprised the children with a visit. 

Families gathered at the Cali clubhouse on December 11^th for a potluck dinner, caroling, and good company.  Followed by a hayride with Santa and Mrs. Claus as Grand Marshals, the children sang with glee and helped persuade judges in the Christmas decorating contest.

If you missed this year’s event, sponsored by the Westador Women’s Group and their spouses, mark your calendar to make plans to attend in 2006.  The night brought together families and the true meaning of Christmas.

A big thanks to everyone who helped make the evening joyful and to the judges who had a difficult time deciding on the best decorated homes.

The holiday lights warmed the streets of Westador. This is truly a Westador Christmas to remember!  The results are in!  The judges drove the streets of Westador for two nights straight taking note of the best Westador Holiday decorated homes.  They spent hours driving both sides of the neighborhood several times.  The final decision was so difficult that the three judges asked another judge to come on board and review the list they had finalized.  This was a difficult decision! Congratulations to the following homes selected in this years Westador Christmas Decorating:

Klein Soccer Club Begins Spring Registration by Bill Bryam

Spring registration is beginning soon.  Our season will begin February 11, 2006.  Any child born between August 1, 1986 and August 31, 2002 is eligible to play.  The early registration fee is $85.  After January 7, 2006, the registration fee will be $100.  The fee includes a full uniform for all ages and for our pre-k and kindergarten players a ball and shin guards.  Registration forms can be picked up at our office located in MEYER PARK.  It is located on Cypresswood between Stuebner Airline and Champion Forest Drive.  Forms are also available on our web site - KleinSoccerClub.Org.  All new players need to bring a birth certificate.  Our office hours are 4 PM until 7 PM Monday through Friday.  If the office is closed, forms are available outside by the side door and can be deposited into the mailbox by the side door.

Pre-k and kindergarten soccer is played under a modified set of rules.  The teams play 3 aside with no goalie.  We would like for the children to learn a little about soccer and have a lot of fun.  These teams are coed.  This is also a good time to ease parents (who don’t know anything about soccer) into this fast growing sport.

We offer “all boys” and “all girls” teams from 1^st grade through 10^th grade.  Teams are formed by subdivision and school.  Games are on Saturdays for boy and girl teams through the 8^th grade.  The older boy and girl teams play on Sunday afternoons.  We make technique-training sessions available to players 1^st grade and up.  These sessions led by professional trainers focus on improving individual skills. 

Pride Committee Sets up Westador Christmas Decorations by Dick Odehnal

Playground Committee Meeting is Set for December 21 by Doug Barnes

Some Homeowners Have Not Paid Their Annual Maintenance Assessments as of December 12

Homeowners who are delinquent on the annual maintenance fees incur interest, collection and legal fees, have lien notices filed on their property. and are prohibited from using common facilities such as the tennis courts, pools, and clubhouses.  This month two addresses were added where the homeowner had ceased making payments.

 The following list of addresses reflect only those homeowners who have a Lien Notice filed on their property or are delinquent for more than one year as of December 12, 2005.

Also, the Board has authorized stopping the trash and garbage collection service for homeowners who are delinquent for more than one year.  If a delinquent homeowner is making monthly payments in accordance with an arranged payment plan, that homeowner’s address will not be listed and trash and garbage collection service will not be suspended unless they cease to comply with the arranged payment plan.

Ponderosa Volunteer Fire Department Round Up

Happy New Year – Now is the time to make the New Year’s resolutions.  Here are some suggestions.  Check the smoke detector every month and replace it if it is over 7 years old; mark your calendar, or better yet, put a reminder in your computer.  Purchase a fire extinguisher and inspect it regularly to assure the gauge is in the “green”.  Have a certified company clean your home heating unit.  Do not store chemicals or cleaners where kids can reach, and never mix products.  Never burn anything other than logs in your fireplace.  If you use wood, have the chimney cleaned every few years.  Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids as a cleaner.  Use ladders safely; never work off the top of a stepladder.  Repair electrical problems immediately.  Candles – use a large plate, never place near anything, and always extinguish when you leave.  Never allow yourself to leave cooking unattended..

Westador Resident, Rissa Medlenka, Performs in ”A Christmas Carol” by Luci Medlenka 

Is there a little bit of 'bah humbug' in Westador this year?

Yes, there is...a five-year-old one!

Rissa Medlenka is in the production of "A Christmas Carol" at the Alley Theater, which will be shown through December 28.  She plays an Apple Cider Kid, a cherub, and Want (with the Ghost of Christmas Present).  The play is a colorful, funny, musical-filled telling of Charles Dicken’s "ghostly little book" about Scrooge and the three ghosts who visit him on Christmas Eve.

Holiday Trash Service is Discussed by Jerry Butler

Over the Christmas holiday this year, normal trash pickups will occur as usual on Thursday and Monday.

PLEASE do not put your holiday trash (Christmas tree, boxes, and wrappings) and your other household garbage and lawn debris at curbside before 6 PM on Sunday, Christmas evening and Wednesday nights.  Be a good neighbor and avoid any temptation to disregard this (our standard rule) over the holiday weekend when so many visitors will be in our beautiful subdivision.

Guidelines for Curbside Trash Service are Detailed by Jerry Butler

As always, bundles of tree branches, shrub and brush trimmings, or newspapers and magazines should be tied and neatly stacked, forming an easily handled package not exceeding 5 feet long or 50 pounds, and 18 inches in diameter.  Our contractor has the right to not pick up your bundles unless they meet these requirements.  Please note that such bundles and lawn clippings in bags will be left behind if not placed at curbside.

ACE Theatre Rings in the New Year with “The Last Five Years” by Steve McVille

Beginning December 29^th, ACE Theatre is proud to present a New York City cast in a limited engagement of Jason Robert Brown’s THE LAST FIVE YEARS.  A 2002 Drama Desk Award Winner for outstanding music and lyrics, THE LAST FIVE YEARS brims with persistent melodies, thoughtful lyrics, and a compelling story.  This funny and uplifting show captures some of the most heartbreaking and universally felt moments of modern romance!

Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM beginning December 29, 2005 through January 14, 2006.  Admission is $25 for adults and $20 for seniors and students.  1/2 price STUDENT RUSH TICKETS are available 1/2 HOUR before curtain.  On New Year’s Eve, a party will follow the 8 PM performance.  The party will include a cabaret, food, and champagne to toast the newyear.  Admission to the New Year’s Eve performance and party is $50. 

NYC actors Kristin Collura and Stuart Landon star in this fresh and contemporary musical about a young couple's romance.  Ms. Collura hails from New Orleans and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the Boston Conservatory.  Mr. Landon grew up in Houston, attended Cypress Creek High School, and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Department of Musical Theatre. 

Westador Civic Association has Forms

          Vacation watch forms and red bumper stickers are available from Sue Strawbridge.  The vacation security watch form is available to ensure added security in the event of your absence for any extended period of time.

Architectural control forms are available from Phil Bode or from any member of the Architectural Control Committee.  Residents desiring to make renovations must complete the Architectural Control Form

Directory update forms are available from Bill Streidl Changes to resident telephone numbers, E-Mail addresses, and other listing status are noted on this form.

Westador and the CCUCA

Westador Civic Association, together with other civic associations in the area, is a part of Cypress Creek United Civic Associations, Inc. (CCUCA).  The annual cost is minimal.  The CCUCA is an important part of the Westador Civic Association providing educational seminars, interchange of ideas between member associations, and legislative initiatives.  You are invited to visit their site at WWW.CCUCA.ORG.

Congress Approves “Katrina” Tax Relief

                While most of the tax legislation following hurricane Katrina was designed to aid the direct victims of the devastation, the United States Congress did approve certain measures to give relief to those who volunteered time, money, and materials to aid evacuees.

            A special mileage deduction (as an itemized deduction) of 70% of 48½ cents per mile has been set for taxpayers who use a vehicle in providing donated services, such as assisting at the evacuation centers in the Reliant Center.  Parking fees and tolls can be added to the deduction  Actual expenditures computed in accordance with business automobile deduction rules may be used as an alternative.  Also, any amounts that would otherwise be limited by the amount of the taxpayer’s adjust gross income will be allowed as an itemized deduction for all contributions made after August 28, 2005.

            With certain limits, a taxpayer may also claim an additional $500 personal exemption for housing displaced persons (up to 4) for at least 60 consecutive days. 

            To date, there has been no similar tax relief for hurricane Rita.

Westador Residents have Stories

Almost everyone has some event of note in his or her past, whether it is a direct or an indirect event.  The Westwind would like to print these stories. 

Laine Twining, a former WCA Director, provided an article on Lauren Grandcolas, a passenger on Flight 93, the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.  Lauren was a high school friend of both Laine and Tim Twining.  This article was printed in the September 2002 issue of the Westwind.

Senior Forum

Westfield High School Chamber Choir Charms Westador Seniors.   Twenty-two of Westfield High’s finest singers entertained about sixty Westador Seniors with a wonderful and international variety of seasonal songs at our Senior Forum Christmas Dinner at the Cali Clubhouse on December 6th.

Abigail Grabein, a choir member and Westador resident, dedicated the group’s last song to her grandfather, Ed Roth, the founder of our Senior Forum.

Westador Residents’ Directory is to be Printed in February 2006

Our Westador Civic Association Phone Directory will be published in hard cover during February 2006. Printing was originally set for January, but has been delayed until February to obtain Architectural Control Guidelines and to review the summary of deed restrictions.

Thanks to the approximately eighty residents who completed and returned their Westador Civic Association Survey Form during October, November, and December of 2005. Another sixty-five residents provided change information fro January through September of 2005.  Phone directory information for our other 565 residential households is two to five years old.

Fifty plus NAM December/January Activities.

One Stroke Painting with Linda Sue Carter Monday January 9 and January 23, 2006 1 PM.  Cost is $15 per class plus supplies and $1 daily user fee.

Antique Group Trip to Tomball Friday January 13, 2006 9:30 AM.   Cost is $10, plus lunch on your own.

Ceramics with Mary Jane Thursdays beginning January 19, 2006 9 AM for four weeks.  Cost is $1 daily user fee and supplies.

Precinct 4 Bus Trip to The Grand Opera House in Galveston for “Sing! Sing! Sing! The Music of  Benny Goodman  Sunday January 22, 2006 11:30 AM.  Cost is $26 plus lunch on your own at Shrimp and Stuff.

Guest Speakers Fran Gay of Logimedix (Diabetic and Respiratory Care) and Ellen Rininger of Assist-Med (Home Health Care and Pain Management) Friday January 27, 2006 9 AM.  Cost is $1 daily user fee and bring a friend.

New Class - Country Western Dance and Waltz Class Mondays at 10:45 AM beginning January 23, 2006.  Cost is $1 daily user fee.

Mahjongg Group Tuesdays at Noon.

Basic Beginner Line Dance Class Wednesdays at 1 PM.  Cost is daily user fee.

One Hour Exercise Class Mondays and Fridays at 9:30 AM. 

Duplicate Bridge Group Class Mondays at 12 Noon. 

Social Dance Class Tuesdays at 10:45 AM.

Yoga Classes Mondays and Wednesdays at 2 PM.  Cost is $85 for 17 classes and $1 daily user fee.

The Westador Information Sheet is Printed Quarterly

             The Westador information sheet is printed quarterly, or more often in the event of some major changes.  Of special interest are the teen helpers anxious to baby-sit, cook, and to do yard work while earning a buck or two in the process.

                Since last printing (November), Marie Butler has turned her Section Captain Duties over to Joanne Poetz .  Thanks to the many years of volunteering as Section Captain and other positions to Marie.

                In November’s information sheet, Nelson Jones was listed (erroneously) as a director of the Westador Municipal Utility District.  Bob Thomas is now the director in that position.

Residents are Encouraged to Purchase Flood Insurance

TSARP has published (in 2004) its flood plain maps on its website (WWW.TSARP.ORG) of the Cypress Creek watershed.  According to the map, a portion of Tigris falls within the floodway and the 100-year flood plain follows below Romaine in West Westador and along Timor in East Westador.  Just above Timor in East Westador is an area designated as being in the 500-year flood plain.  Generally speaking, the 100-flood plain follows the flooding experienced in Tropical Storm Allison in June 2001.

The 500-year flood plain parallels the 100-year flood plain, but about 2 to 300 yards south of the 100-year flood plain.

Westador’s Community Emergency Response Team is Planning CPR Class by Richard Murphy, WCERT Member

The Westador Community Emergency Response Team (WCERT) would like to thank those who responded to the neighborhood survey.  We got a number of responses and will use the information in the case of emergency.  Thanks again.