President Reviews the Year Just Ended by Ann Koelling, WCA President

A whole year has passed since the last Westador Civic Association director election.  Here we go again. 

At this time, I would like to take a few minutes to tell all of you what a wonderful experience it has been for me to serve as President of the Westador Civic Association.

When I was asked to fill the vacancy position of President, I accepted thinking of the many people who were anxious about  Westador issues that were of grave concern to them.  To be specific: deed restrictions and maintenance fees collection.  So my focus and my goal was to bring about change and set in motion a different way to accomplish that objective.

It isn’t fair to residents to have to take up the slack of people who choose not to pay their maintenance fees, (which in the long run causes increases in maintenance fees), and it isn’t fair to residents to have to live with others who violate the deed restrictions, because, after all, a large percentage of us chose to live here because Westador is so beautiful - along with all the other amenities Westador has to offer.  We want to keep it that way.

Well, this year, your board made great strides in both these areas.  Collections in this neighborhood have been seriously delinquent for a  number of households.  We tried cutting off trash collection to delinquent households – that stunk.  We came to the conclusion, after much deliberation and, after being as gracious, understanding, accommodating and fair, that we had to take a hard stand on collections.  We forged ahead.  We hired an attorney who is experienced and knowledgeable in her field – she guided us with the proper protocol – and in the end,  we had to go as far as a default judgment against one home which gives us the right to foreclose on that property any time we choose.  We will follow suit in the future with every seriously delinquent account we have.  Our board gives every resident the opportunity to pay their fees.  If someone is having a hardship, we ask that you approach the board.  We can work out a plan that is acceptable to anyone.  But when we enter into that agreement, we expect it to be kept. Often times, it is just another ploy to put off the inevitable. 

In an effort to keep the beautification of Westador at the forefront, we are considering a deed restrictions management company to visit our subdivision a couple of times a month, write up violations, send out the violation letters and take resident’s calls regarding deed restriction violations.  We do not intend to nit pick the houses to death, but we do intend to keep Westador  looking its best according to the deed restrictions that were put into place thirty five plus years ago.

President Offers Heartfelt Thanks to Three Departing Board Members by Ann Koelling, WCA President

Cindy Poetz – Community Activities  Thank you for all the great parties you put together for the kids and the adults. We appreciated your volunteer efforts.  We know your teaching career and your family keeps you very busy, and yet you had time to serve on the board.  You did a great job.

Phil Bode - Architectural control

Just wanted you to know that we appreciated all the hard work and dedication to your position as architectural control director.  It was difficult at times, but you got the job done, and done very well, and we will miss you on the board.

Mosquito Spraying Extended Through November by Jerry Butler

Westador will continue to spray for mosquitoes one month longer than usual.  We felt this was a prudent action, since the incidence of the West Nile virus (WNV) in Harris and Montgomery Counties has been up this year.  Westador residents should be aware of, but not panic about, the 1^st death this year in the Houston region (in August in Montgomery County).  Even more unsettling, one of our Westador residents is slowly recovering from a confirmed case of WNV that traces back to July.  Please see the following Westwind article for more details.

I have looked into the incidence of WNV in Harris County and have determined that the discovery of the virus in birds and mosquitoes is widespread across the majority of the zip codes in all quadrants.  The experts are unsure whether the incidence is really up or whether awareness and detection are improved.  Fortunately, our zip code was one that was targeted by Harris County for aerial spraying in late August.  Several residents noticed the spraying in progress.  For more information, visit WWW.HarrisCountyHealth.Com. 

It bears repeating what Dr. Jim Olson, Texas A&M entomologist, told us when he made a presentation to Westador residents last year.  According to Dr. Olson, Houston subdivisions are “target-rich” environments for 50 or more of the world’s 2,500 mosquito species, including the potentially deadly culex variety.  And, your own backyard may be a prime breeding ground.  While our commercial spraying aids in control, the best measure is to make sure nothing you have outside holds water.  Since it takes about a week for mosquitoes to hatch and fly away, emptying your flowerpot bases frequently and cleaning your gutters will be effective.  When you look for these trouble spots, don’t forget to check your in-ground water meter.  You can purchase “mosquito dunks” on EBay and at Home Depot and other hardware and garden stores for about $1.50 for 6 of these doughnut-shaped larvacides.  Drop one of them in your birdbath or fishpond; they will last at least 30 days and are harmless to fish and other animals.  Put them in your gutters. Drop another one in your in-ground water meter, or your roof gutter, even your street drain.  If you attach a washer or nut, they won’t float away easily.  Have holes in your trees?  Some species love those to breed in. Dr. Olson recommends filling the holes with sand.

Dr. Olson frowns on installing indiscriminate house perimeter spray systems that are new in the marketplace. Though advertised as “natural” ingredients, that doesn’t make them “safe,” says Dr. Olson.  He also says that mosquito “magnets” and bug-zappers attract more mosquitoes than they kill.  Amber street lamps and house bulbs attract fewer mosquitoes than the white versions.  If you purchase a hand-held fogger, Dr. Olson recommends starting close to your house and spraying outwards to “herd” them away from your house and your neighbors’ houses.

Westador Resident Diagnosed with West Nile Virus

A Westador resident was diagnosed with the West Nile virus in August. West Nile, viral infection although rare, can be deadly to the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.  There is no cure.  The Westador resident is recovering, but has missed two months of work and is under examination of six doctors.

The virus can be detected through a specialized viral test, which examines the blood for several viruses including West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis.  It cannot be discovered in a standard drug test. It may also be detected in the eyes, but most eye doctors do not readily know this examination.  A viral infection specialist is suggested.

Among the symptoms to watch for: high fever, exhaustion, weakness and unusually long hours of sleep, a rash, chills, seizures, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, swollen lymph glands, and severe dehydration.  In its most severe form, West Nile moves very quickly, and it is extremely important to get medical attention.

Both West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis are caused by mosquito bites.  Residents should use a mosquito repellent with deet as an ingredient when outdoors.

Westador Welcomes New Residents

          On a monthly basis, Hays Utilities (contractor for the Westador Municipal Utility District) provides Bill Streidl with a listing of residences that have had their water turned on or off.  The purpose of this list is to assist the Civic Association in the maintenance of the Residents’ directory, the electronic version of which is distributed quarterly.   The process is not totally accurate for a variety of reasons.

                The most recent list follows, and Westador welcomes these newcomers to the subdivision.  These new residents have been reported by Hays covering the month of September 2006.  Telephone numbers often are subject to change since many new residents have the water turned on before move in and their new telephone numbers have not yet been obtained. Therefore, new residents are urged to contact Bill Streidl to update their information for the directory.  In any event, welcome to -

Some Homeowners Have Not Paid Their Annual Maintenance Assessments as of October 7, 2006

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 four addresses were deleted where the homeowner paid in full and four addresses were added where the homeowners had stopped making regular 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 October 7, 2006 (and are not making regular payments). 

Also, the Board has authorized stopping the trash and garbage collection service for homeowners who are delinquent for more than one year.  If delinquent homeowners are 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.

All homeowners who have not yet paid their maintenance fee are urged to do so promptly.  The billing for the 2006 fee, due January 1, 2006, was mailed to homeowners in mid November.  On June 15, 2006, Lien Notices were filed on properties that had no payments on their 2006 fee. 

Westador MUD Flood Relief Project Completed

The $1.9 million joint project by the Westador Municipal Utility District and the Harris County Flood Control District is now complete.  Listed from west to east and north, key results include:

o Successfully negotiated with Harris County Flood Control for them to install flap gates on two main storm drains in Ponderosa.  This will decrease the backflow into Ponderosa when Cypress Creek is at flood stage.  In turn, this will decrease the sheet flow from Ponderosa into drainage ditch K-126 and on to Westador during Cypress Creek flood stage. 

o Widened and shaped drainage ditch K-126 from Bamwood to where it crosses under Nanes just north of Maranon. 

o Installed a second 5 ft x 10 ft box culvert for K-126 under Nanes.

o Shaped and concrete slope paved the entire north bank of K-126 and the west bank of K-141 as well as their bottoms from the Nanes crossing all the way to the outfall to Cypress Creek located at the east end of Tigris.  (K-141 runs parallel to Nanes and takes all the flow from K-126 at the ditch angle point near the end of Zagar.)  This paving will stop the erosion that threatened residential fences and yards along the west side of K-141.  It will also improve flow and greatly reduce ditch maintenance needs.

o Shaped and concrete slope paved the south bank of K-126 and the east bank of K-141 from the Nanes crossing to a point near the east end of Belaya.  

o Installed a 180 ft long weir on the east bank of K-141 where the eastern slope paving ends.  This weir will allow flow from K-141 to pass eastward when the water in K-141 is some two feet from the top of its banks or higher.

o Widened the east side of K-141 from the north end of the weir to the Tigris outfall to provide a 30 ft wide wetlands along the bottom of K-141.  Planted appropriate vegetation in this wetlands and grass on the east slope.

o Excavated a 5 ft deep by 180 ft wide by 1300 ft long new drainage channel from the weir northeastward to Cypress Creek where the elevation of water in the creek is always about one foot lower than it is at Westador’s old discharge point.  Grassed this entire area.  

These improvements will reduce, perhaps eliminate, house flooding in Westador that is caused by very heavy local rains.  They will reduce, but NOT eliminate, flood waters in Westador that occur when Cypress Creek overflows its banks.

Westador MUD Board Plans to set Lower Tax Rate for 2006

The Westador Municipal Utility District will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the year 2006 on October 17, 2006 at 6:30 PM at the Nanes clubhouse, 17101 Nanes Drive.  Your MUD Directors unanimously propose a rate of $0.21 per $100 valuation (from a current $.25). 

Your Board will vote to adopt this rate unless compelling reasons to do otherwise are presented at the October 17 meeting.  The tax rate is set after careful consideration to assure that it will generate sufficient income to pay off maturing bonds that voters previously approved and have been sold to provide water, sewer and drainage facilities for Westador.

Barking Dogs Can be a Nuisance

          A Westador resident says “I would like to ask you to keep your dogs from barking endlessly.  It’s the repetitious barking, not the warning or excited bark, that sometimes goes on for hours.  It is hard to work outside or sleep at night with the incessant barking.  I know that if I can hear the barking in my home, you can hear it in your home.  Perhaps your pet is lonely, you just don’t hear it anymore, or you are at work and don’t realize it.  Please notice and let’s try to resolve it.  We want to be good neighbors and live together in harmony.”

AAUW Announces its Holiday Tour of Homes by Barbara Hine

The North Harris County Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) announces its 33rd Holiday Tour of Homes.  This traditional holiday event will be held on Sunday, November 12th between noon and five PM.  The tour will highlight five homes selected for their unique interior design and architectural style.

Ponderosa Volunteer Fire Department Round Up

Thanksgiving and deep fried turkeys – Almost every year we respond to some type of fire involving deep frying turkeys.  You must be very careful, read the instructions, and cook OUTSIDE and away from any overhangs, structures, or other combustibles.  Wear gloves, eye protection, and a long sleeved jacket.  Be very aware that when you lower the turkey into the hot oil the remaining moisture will BOIL and cause the oil to splash, sometimes enough to spill over and cause an oil fire from the direct propane flame.  The key to safely cooking a turkey is to measure the oil by using water FIRST.  Dip the turkey (before seasoning) into the pot and mark the water level, then replace the water with the oil.  Leave at least 6 inches of open space above the submerged bird since some water will be within the bird. 

Assure that your propane supply is as far away as possible; consider a “shield”.  If the worst happens, call 9-1-1, and don’t use water on the burning oil.  If you follow this procedure you should be eating that wonderful turkey without exposure to a disaster.

Please be safe during this holiday season.  Common sense is an appropriate way to reduce injuries and preventing fires.

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.  This month, Erin Lichnovsky was added for babysitting, light housework, and pet sitting.    

New Book Club is to meet October 19 at 815 Baltic by Kathleen Wilson

General Election will be Held November 7 by Casey Westell, Presiding Election Judge

Fifty plus NAM October/November Activities.

Precinct 4 Bus Trip to Mercer Arboretum Monday October 23, 2006 9 AM.  Cost is $1 daily users fee.

Cypress-Woodlands Junior Forum Party Wednesday October 25, 2006 9:30 AM.  Cost is $1 daily user fee.

Montgomery College Vocational Nursing Program Wednesdays November 1, 8, 15, and 29 8:30 AM.  Free blood pressure check.

Seventh Annual Auction and Potluck Luncheon Thursday November 9, 2006 9 AM. 

Precinct 4 Bus Trip to the Nutcracker Market Sunday November 12 9 AM.  Cost is $10 plus $1 daily user fee.  Bring your own lunch.

Beginning 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. 

Country and Western Dancing Class Mondays at 10:45 AM.

Social Dance Class Tuesdays at 10 AM.

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

Arts and Crafts Class Thursdays at 10 AM.  Cost is $1 daily user fee.

SAFD Is on the Road for November by Pam Dube

Join us for a road trip to Southern Floral to design you own Thanksgiving centerpiece.  The hands on event will begin at 4 PM on Tuesday, November 21^st.  Southern Floral is located at 1313 W. 20^th Street, Houston, Texas.  There will be a cost associated with the workshop.  We estimate each arrangement will cost about $40.  Also space will be limited so you must sign up early.  If you just wish to come and watch, you are also welcome.  Hope you have made your plans to attend our Tabletop Gala on November 2^nd at Shirley Acres.

“Street of Shoppes" Fall Festival is Set for October 27 and 28

Westador Veterans Reception is to be on November 11

Westador Veterans and their families are cordially invited to attend a reception in their honor at the Cali Clubhouse from 5:30 PM  to 7:15 PM on Saturday, November 11, 2006. (sign-in begins at 5 PM).  Nana Midcap, daughter of Westador World War II Veteran Marvin Yarotsky, will again serve as coordinator for this year¹s event.

If you served in the US Military, regular or reserve, war or peacetime, you are invited and urged to attend along with your family members.  Plan to swap your favorite “War Stories” with other Westador Veterans.  If a family member on active duty is with you at that time please have them join you.

Please contact Ann Koelling no later than Tuesday, November 7, 2006 if you can participate.  Food and refreshment supplies are planned based upon your contact.

Patriotic Poster Contest   Westador children are invited to use their imagination and artistic skills to develop posters in honor of Westador veterans’ military service.  Posters should be delivered to Nana Midcap at 1106 Rhine no later than 7 PM on Thursday November 9, 2006.  All posters will be displayed at the veteran¹s reception.

Volunteers Needed  Volunteers are needed to assist Nana in making this year¹s reception an even better opportunity to honor Westador Veterans.  Volunteers will assist in decorating the Clubhouse, preparing and serving refreshment and food, and several other support activities.  Please call Nana Midcap

WCERT’s September General Meeting Featured SAT Presentation by John Danner, WCERT Communications

                The Harris County Constable office’s Search and Assist Team (SAT) made a presentation at the September general meeting of the Westador Community Emergency Response Team (WCERT).

Annual Board Member Elections Will be at General WCA Meeting October 30

As the fall season approaches, our thoughts turn to election time for the Civic Association Board.  There are three Directors leaving the Board and several incumbents standing for re-election.  Each year a portion of the Board completes a two-year term and may decide to stand for re-election or depart the Board.  Those who depart are replaced through a nomination process that solicits homeowners who are interested in serving the community through volunteer service on the Board.  Nominees must agree to a two-year term, and are allocated to Directorships based on positions available.  After existing Board members are given the opportunity to change positions, the remaining positions are available for fill by newly elected members.  Each year, the Board officers (President, Vice President, and Treasurer) are nominated and elected from current members.  This creates additional possibilities for incoming Board members as well.  Candidates newly nominated to fill vacant Board positions are listed below.

Westador Adult Boo-fest at Cali

Why should kids have all the fun on Halloween?  On Saturday, October 28^th from 6:30-10:00 PM gather your adult neighbors and help celebrate the holiday at the Cali Clubhouse.  It’s the Westador Boo-fest!  No charge! Music, finger foods, and sodas will be provided. Bring a dessert to share.  Prizes for the most imaginative costumes and makeup will be given.  No one under the age of 21 will be admitted.  Put your dancing shoes on and don’t miss the fun…see you there!