The first National Night Out, 'America's Night Out Against Crime,' was introduced in 1984 by The National Association of Town Watch (NATW).  NATW is a nonprofit, crime prevention organization that works in cooperation with thousands of crime watch groups and law enforcement agencies throughout the country.  Since 1981, NATW has been dedicated to the development, growth, and maintenance of organized crime and drug prevention programs nationwide.  Westador joined the national event with free hot dogs, sodas, snow cones, and conversation at the Nanes playground.   Lt. Guthrie of the Harris County Sheriff’s Department presented a certificate to Westador for sponsoring the event.  I and Beth Anne Lechmann  accepted the certificate on behalf of Westador.

While the traditional 'lights on' and front porch vigils remain a part of NNO, activities have expanded considerably over the years to include block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from police, festivals, neighborhood walks, safety fairs, contests, rallies, and meetings - with the event culminating on the first Tuesday in August. 

Westador Book Club is Being Formed by Kathleen Wilson

Civic Association is to Sponsor “End of Season” Pool Party by Beth Anne Lechmann

On Sunday, September 17, from 1 to 7 PM at the Nanes pool, all Westador residents are invited to visit with their neighbors for one last time before the pools close for the year.  Please bring a snack to share and a 2-liter bottle of soda and stay for a while.  Cups, napkins and plates, and cake will be provided.  The lifeguards will have games and fun for the kids all afternoon.  Beginning Tuesday September 5, the original filtration tank (from 1972) will be removed and a brand new filtration and chlorine system will be installed at the Nanes pool.  This is a much-needed improvement.  It will help the pool to use chlorine more efficiently and will keep the pool from turning green and keep it cleaner.

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, Kiel Sebesta was added for odd jobs, yard work, and house and pet sitting

Gene Blake was an Extraordinary Volunteer  A Tribute to Excellence by Richard Murphy

Westador mourns the passing of Gene Blake, a fine man; ask anyone who knew him.  My introduction to Gene was working with the Pride Committee.  He was a strong member of The Pride Committee and Westador was all the better because of Gene and those of his ilk.

Gene always had a jovial salutation and was rarely at a loss for words.  We played golf with other Westador residents, and it was always a very enjoyable event.  Gene was always in the center of activity, making a joke or pointing out some nuance of the situation.  He was a very accomplished individual but never looked down on anyone.  Always a kind word when I lost a golf ball, which gave him much reason to talk. 

It was a great day for Westador when Gene accepted the VP job on our civic association.  I can remember one of the first projects he tackled – keys.  Seems we have keys to open keys in Westador.  Gene marked every one of them meticulously; it was the engineer in him.  He did not take half steps when he approached an issue.  Always “hell for leather” with Gene but, he was always approachable and would listen to you.  Gene went on to serve as President of Westador Civic Association.

Gene put his stamp on Westador in a very illuminating fashion, he lead the effort to erect many new streetlights a few years ago.  Once again, meticulous in his approach, he worked with Richard Bailey and made sure every “i” was dotted and “t” crossed, as it should.

WCERT Will Not Have an August General Meeting by John Danner, WCERT Communications

                Westador’s Community Emergency Response Team (WCERT) has canceled its August general meeting but is expected to resume such meetings in September.  The team anticipates having a presentation by representatives of Harris County at that meeting.  The subject will be announced in the September Westwind.

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 July 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 August 10, 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 three addresses were deleted where the homeowner paid in full and two addresses were deleted where the homeowner began 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 August 10, 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. 

Plans Underway For Westador Veterans’ Reception by Nana Midcap

Our second Westador Veteran’s Reception will be held at the Cali Clubhouse at a day and date yet to be announced early in November. Nana Midcap, daughter of Westador World War II veteran Marvin Yarotsky, will again serve as coordinator for this year’s event. Veterans’ family members, including grandchildren, are also invited and urged to attend.

Volunteers are needed and welcomed to assist Nana in making this year’s reception an even better opportunity to honor Westador Veterans. Help is needed to assist in decorating the Clubhouse, preparing and serving refreshment and food, and several other support activities. Please call Nana.

All veterans are invited.  Any military service, regular or reserve, in the United States or overseas, during peace or war makes you a veteran. We were able to identify 75 Westador veterans prior to our 2005 Veteran’s reception. You may have moved to Westador since that time or we may not have known that you were a veteran.

If you are a veteran, you can help us by contacting Bill Streidl providing the following information:

• Name, address, telephone number, and E-Mail address (if available).
• Service Branch (US Army, US Air Force, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Nave)
• Years of Active and Reserve Service
• Year you moved to Westador

If you want to check on what we have recorded for you please call Bill Streidl

SAFD Is Set For An Exciting New Year by Pam Dube

Senior Forum

Northwest Assistance Ministries Names New Fifty Plus Director

                June McFadden is the new Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) Fifty Plus program director.  Her first day was August 1. 

                Fifty Plus has numerous ongoing group activities, including dancing and fitness classes, games (Bingo, Bridge, and Mahjongg), crafts, and parties.  On Wednesday, August 23 starting at 9:30 AM, the Cypress Woodlands Junior Forum will host a party for members and guests.  Entertainment will be by musician Buddy Griffin and lunch will be served.

The director arranges precinct 4 bus trips to area activities and events.

Your Presence is as Good as Presents by Denise Landers

Finding the right gift can be a stressor at any time of the year.  Your parents probably have everything they need and more knickknacks than they have room for.  Your own children may not need more toys or want you to pick out clothes for them.

Almost everyone has some area of their life that they would like to have better organized.  Reasons people often procrastinate on organizing are that it may be too big for them to tackle on their own, they don’t know where to start, and it is not fun to do it on their own.  When you give the gift of your time and assistance to get organized, you have provided what they needed:  help with the job, guidance in setting up the work, and companionship while they do it.

Your Parents:  Would your mother or father like help in cleaning out a garage or a closet that has accumulated years of possessions?  Your gift could be a four-hour time block devoted to organizing a specific area.  If they have boxes of old photos that they talk about organizing but have not gotten around to because it seems to be such a large project, choose photos albums together and work with them on the sorting.    

Your Children:  Are you always telling them to straighten out their rooms?  How about a special day where you work together and then shop?  You might buy bright-colored containers to hold their toys.  Drawer and closet organizers would help in putting clothes away.  When children have a say in how their rooms are set up, and they have places to put everything, it is easier for them to keep it up.  When you make it fun, they have spent quality time with you.

                If you have stacks of schoolwork and drawings, collected throughout the years, you might purchase scrapbooks together and then select the favorites to keep, creating memory books.  This will also give you a chance to clear out accumulated papers brought home.  Consider making this an annual project.

The catch is that the time has to be scheduled.  If you just say, “I’m going to help you get organized when we have time,” it won’t happen.  In the end you haven’t given any gift.

Westador’s Facilities are for the Use of Residents

                The Nanes and Cali Clubhouses are an asset for the residents of Westador. Their non-abusive use is to be encouraged.  In general, uses are without a rental charge when scheduled to Westador residents who qualify, such as Boy or Girl Scouts, Women’s Group, Senior Forum, and WCERT.

                Rental charges to our residents who have paid their maintenance fees are intended to just balance our wear and tear costs.  Rental to non-residents are intended to generate a modest profit, but such rentals are viewed more as a service to this area rather than primarily a source of funds.  In 2005, revenues after clubhouse rental expenses generated $4,500.