Published monthly by the Villages of Westcreek Owners' Association

Communications Committee - July 1, 2023, Edition!

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I just wanted to take a moment to publicly thank our neighbor, Duane Sipila, for his incredible kindness and generosity. Duane and his wife Diana are both retired nurses and have been an absolute godsend to us during a difficult time.

My husband has recently been diagnosed with cancer and there have been some complications along the way. We have called on Duane for help and support countless times, and he has always been there for us, no matter what. He truly embodies the spirit of "once a nurse, always a nurse," and we are so grateful for his unwavering kindness and compassion.

Diana has also been a tremendous help to us, always willing to lend a hand or offer a kind word when we need it most. We are so lucky to have them as neighbors and friends, and we cannot thank them enough for everything they have done for us.

Duane, you truly are an amazing person, and we feel blessed to know you. Thank you for all that you do and for being such a wonderful neighbor and friend. We appreciate you more than words can say.

Submitted by: Steve and Deborah Young, VWOA Members

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GOT A NEIGHBOR YOU WANT TO RECOGNIZE?

Remember that Neighbors don’t have to live next door, just someone who lives in Westcreek. It could be as simple as a mom who helps out by picking up a child from school. Or a neighbor who cuts your yard for you just because, or brings in your trash cans. Does not have to be a grand gesture just something that made your life easier, made you happy, or was just thoughtful. If you would like to recognize their good deeds and show your appreciation, please submit your recommendation by a deadline of the 20th day of the month prior to publication to: frontoffice@villagesofwestcreek.com.

Being a Good Neighbor: Tips for Building Strong Relationships

Being a good neighbor is essential for building a strong and vibrant community. When we take the time to get to know our neighbors, we create a sense of belonging and mutual support that can benefit everyone in the neighborhood. Here are some tips for being a good neighbor:

1. Introduce yourself. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. This can help establish a friendly and welcoming environment from the start.

2. Be respectful. Respect your neighbors' privacy and boundaries. Be mindful of noise levels and other factors that could disrupt their daily lives.

3. Offer assistance. If your neighbor needs help with something, offer to lend a hand. Whether it's helping to carry groceries or picking up their mail, or bringing in their trash cans, small acts of kindness can go a long way.

4. Keep your property tidy. You can take pride in your property and keep it well-maintained. A well-kept yard and home can help improve the neighborhood's overall appearance.

5. Communicate effectively. If you have a concern or issue with your neighbor, approach them calmly and respectfully to discuss it. Effective communication can help prevent misunderstandings and conflicts from escalating.

6. Get involved. Participate in neighborhood events and activities like block parties or community clean-up days. Consider volunteering in your community. This can help build community and foster positive relationships with your neighbors.

By following these tips, you can become a good neighbor and help create a solid, supportive, vibrant community. Remember, small actions can make a big difference in building positive relationships with those around us.

Submitted by: Elaine Maurer - President, VWOA Board of Directors

WESTCREEK LIVING IS CELEBRATING 5 YEARS OF PUBLICATION

We want to take a moment to offer our hearty congratulations to the VWOA Communications Committee for publishing "Westcreek Living" for the past five years. Westcreek Living is the longest monthly newsletter in the history of the VWOA.

The concept, initial design, and layout of the monthly newsletter were the brainchild and recommendation of the Communications Committee. Their members volunteered to take over putting the newsletter together, resulting in time and cost savings for our Association. This publication is 100% volunteer-driven and exemplifies what our volunteers can do.

The Communications Committee's contributions to the Villages of Westcreek are invaluable, and we are grateful for their impact. Once again, on behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, and community, congratulations and thank you for your dedication!

 Submitted by: Elaine Maurer - President, VWOA Board of Directors

Congratulations, Maria Robinson, on reaching your two-year anniversary as our VWOA Community Manager! 

Your dedication and hard work have helped foster a positive and supportive community. Your efforts are appreciated and valued by all of us. Thank you for your service and commitment to making our community a great place for everyone.

Submitted by: Elaine Maurer - President, VWOA Board of Directors

The construction on Military Drive West continues to be delayed due to various hurdles the workers face. The sidewalk and underground storm drain work are expected to continue. However, the biggest issue at the moment is the gas line, which has proven to be a significant challenge for the construction team.

Unfortunately, the plans provided by CPS were not fully constructible in certain areas, which means that the workers have had to come up with solutions on the fly. This has added to the overall delay of the project, causing frustration among those who are eagerly waiting for the construction to be completed.

Despite these setbacks, the construction team remains committed to completing the project as soon as possible while ensuring that all safety protocols are being followed. The workers are doing their best to overcome the challenges that have arisen, but it is clear that more time is needed before the project can be completed.

In the meantime, it is important for drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution when passing through the construction site. The delays are unfortunate, but safety should always be the top priority. We can only hope that the construction team will be able to overcome these obstacles soon and that the project will be completed without further setbacks.

Submitted by: Elaine Maurer - President, VWOA Board of Directors

In a few days, we will celebrate the Fourth of July. Like years past, you can count on fireworks being a part of the celebration. Fireworks also bring on the threat of house fires. With that in mind, we would like to share some simple tips on protecting your home from fires caused by fireworks.

CLEAN OUT YOUR GUTTERS

Most homeowners are guilty of having gutters filled with leaves, twigs, and other flammable debris. It just takes a stray spark from a firework to set off a fire that suddenly engulfs your gutters and roof. To avoid this, please ensure all your gutters are cleaned and cleared. Also, make sure you have no accumulation of leaves on your roof. Dispose of all the debris in your landscape because it can just as quickly catch fire.

WATER YOUR LANDSCAPE

Another tip is to water your landscape and fence line before you and your neighbors start a fireworks celebration. A fire in your landscape can quickly spread toward your home and cause fire damage.

If you plan to include fireworks in your celebration, please review the Fire Marshal's website for information regarding the Prohibited use of Fireworks.

Submitted by: Bill Fenstermacher, VWOA Communications Committee Vice-Chair

Following these tips can improve your home's curb appeal and attract potential buyers. Remember, a little effort can go a long way when selling your home. When it comes to selling a home, first impressions are everything. That's why curb appeal is so important. Curb appeal refers to the attractiveness of a property as viewed from the street. A home with great curb appeal will catch the eye of potential buyers and make them want to see more. Here are some tips for improving your home's curb appeal.

1. Start with the basics. Make sure the exterior of your home is clean and well-maintained. The basics include power washing the siding, cleaning the gutters, and mowing the lawn.

2. Add some color. A few well-placed flowers or plants can add visual interest to your home's exterior. Consider planting flowers in a window box or adding potted plants to your front porch.

3. Upgrade your front door. Your front door is one of the first things people will notice about your home. Make sure it looks great by giving it a fresh coat of paint or replacing it altogether.

4. Improve your lighting. Outdoor lighting can make a big difference in the look of your home at night. Consider adding some path lights or uplighting to highlight your landscaping.

Following these tips can improve your home's curb appeal and attract potential buyers. Remember, a little effort can go a long way when selling your home.

Submitted by: Bill Fenstermacher, VWOA Communications Committee Vice-Chair

This is a friendly reminder that the Board of Directors for our Homeowners Association (HOA) is responsible for enforcing the rules and regulations set forth in our governing documents, like the CC&Rs, Bylaws, and Standards. We use something called "Courtesy Notices" to help us with this.

We will send you a courtesy notice when we notice a violation, like parking in prohibited areas or failing to maintain landscaping and improvements on your property. This is just a heads-up and an opportunity for you to correct the violation before we take any further action. We get it, it can be easy to overlook a rule or restriction, and we want to help you make things right without any formal action.

The courtesy notice will include a description of the violation, a correction deadline, and the Standards Manager's contact information if you have any questions or concerns. We promise that this is not meant to be punitive. The goal is to maintain a harmonious and attractive community for all homeowners. We want to work together with you to address these issues promptly and respectfully, so our neighborhood can remain a desirable place to live for everyone.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Standards Manager at 210-679-8761 or via email at standards@villagesofwestcreek.com.

Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Submitted by: Eliel Perez, VWOA Standards Manager

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 - Secretary, VWOA Board of Directors

COMMUNITY UPDATES



1. Monuments at Daisy Field and Potranco-OPEN- The Community Manager reached out to her contact at TXDOT after the last Board meeting to confirm and get clarification on the right-of-way location. She is currently still awaiting a response.    
2. Garden Lily and Talley Road-OPEN- At the last Board meeting, the Community Manager informed those in attendance that she had been in contact with the county to get the information regarding permitting and placing a monument in this location. The Assistant Community Manager has contacted the monument company and they are working on sketches. 
3. Maintenance Shop Replacement-OPEN- The contract for this has been signed, and the deposit invoice paid. This project is currently scheduled to begin after the completion of the concrete pad and electrical installation.   
4. Maintenance Shop Concrete Pad-OPEN- The vendor has updated us to let the Board and staff know that we have completed the first steps of the permitting process. He is now working with Bexar County Public Works and the Fire Marshal to continue the permitting process.
5. Standards Revision-OPEN- The Board and the ARC members had a workshop on June 1, 2023, and completed the revisions to the Standards. This item will be closed out in the July 2023 Board meeting.

Submitted by: Maria Robinson - VWOA Community Manager

We have exciting news to share! At the VWOA Board Meeting on June 15th, the Board of Directors approved the new Standards proposed by the Architectural Review Committee. These updated Standards will ensure that our community remains a beautiful and safe place for everyone. We are thrilled to implement these changes and look forward to seeing their positive impact.

Once the updated Standards have been officially filed with the County, we will post the document on the VWOA website in the document section. Please keep an eye out for any updates and announcements on the website.

Thank you for your continued cooperation in making our community the best it can be.

Submitted by: Elaine Maurer - President, VWOA Board of Directors

Submitted by: Bill Fenstermacher - Alternate Member, Architectural Review Committee

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/

Submitted by: Melissa Garcia - VWOA Office Manager

Our Neighborhood has partnered, once again, with Training By Carol swim lessons to offer lessons to our members this summer.

She is starting to accept registrations from the neighborhood on April 1st. Go to the Facebook page Training By Carol for details and the registration link.

Weekday Sessions are 2 weeks long meeting M-TH with F as a makeup ONLY if the instructor has to cancel a class. Classes are 30 minutes running back-to-back from 8:00-10:00 am depending on age/ability. This summer there will also be a Weekend Session offered as well, meeting Saturday and Sunday for the month of June for the 8 thirty-minute classes. The ages of children in these group classes are 3 1/2 yrs. and up. The fee is $125 per swimmer per session with a $5 discount if paying cash. The $25 nonrefundable deposit is due upon registration and the remainder is due on day one. Participants must be a member of Villages of Westcreek or be a quest of and be with a member of Villages of Westcreek and have access to the pool. 

WE S2 June Sat./Sun. (Instructor: Karli)

S3 June 5-16 M-TH (Instructor: Cassie)

S4 June 19-30 M-TH (Instructor: Cassie) 

S5 July 10-21 M-TH (Instructor: Cassie)

S6 July 24-August 4 M-TH (Instructor: Cassie)

S7 August 7-18 M-TH (Instructor: Cassie) 

FARMERS MARKET - July 1^st, 2023

ENJOY BINGO on Tuesday, July 11^th at 1:00 PM

Note: All ages are welcome. Parents, feel free to bring your kids to play our fun and friendly game. It's only $2 per person (or a prize donation) for an hour of fun and prizes.

Upcoming Events Submitted by: Melissa Garcia - VWOA Office Manager

SOCCER CAMP - JULY 31^st THRU AUG 4^th, 2023

Villages of Westcreek is delighted to partner with Challenger International Soccer Camps this summer!

Professional coaches from Challenger Sports will be coming to Villages of Westcreek to deliver a week long camp for our players.

Please click the link below for more information on the camps & to register.

Registration Link: https://challenger.configio.com/orglandingpage?org=63597

Camp Dates: July 31-Aug 4



If you have any questions or need support registering for camp, please contact;

camps@challengersports.com | 1-844-674-8404

or

Jason Dunbar

Villages of Westcreek

Parks & Recreation Manager

Phone -210-748-2245

Email- activities@villagesofwestcreek.com

Thank you everyone for a great spring season and dealing with all the weather issues. 

Fall soccer is coming up quickly and the registration is open and can be found at:

http://www.westcreeksports.com/leagues/soccer/3952102-2023-fall-soccer

The end-of-season tournament will have to be 2 weekends as we will be losing daylight toward November.

Please consider signing up as a coach, especially for the younger age groups as we are always in need.

2023 Fall Soccer Season

Starts: Aug 28, 2023

Ends: Nov 18, 2023

Location: Westcreek Sports Park

Coed, ages 3 through 16

Registration Dates:

Early bird - June 12th, 2023 through July 2nd, 2023

$70.00 per child & $55.00 for additional children

Coach- $45.00 per child

Regular - July 3rd, 2023 through July 23rd, 2023

$80.00 per child & $65.00 for additional children

Coach- $55.00 per child

Late - July 24th, 2023 through July 30th, 2023

$90.00 per child & $75.00 for additional children

Coach- $65.00 per child

Proposed Schedule:

Practice begins the week of August 28th, 2023

Practice day and time determined by the coach

First game is September 9th, 2023

Last Regular Season Game is October 28th, 2023

End of Season Tournament November 11th and 18th, 2023

Looking for something more advanced and competitive for your player?

Westcreek Sports has teamed up with Rush Soccer to provide your children with the next level of soccer education and play. Rush is offering competitive soccer and coaching for your child's development. Rush offers access to their global network of over 160 clubs worldwide; with guest play options locally, nationally, and globally. Take your game to the next level! Rush is also giving free coaching education, bring your team or player to Rush! Club Soccer at an affordable cost! For more information check out their website:  www.rushsouthtexas.com.

Sports Submitted by: Jason Dunbar - VWOA Parks and Recreation Manager

Phone -210-748-2245

During summer, disease and pest issues are more prevalent.

• Summer plant disease issues to watch out for: Fruiting veggies: early blight, blossom-end rot. Trees/Shrubs: cotton root rot. Turf: brown patch, gray leaf spot (it’s also time to apply a second application of weed pre-emergent to ward off sticker burs).
• Summer pest issues to watch out for: Turf: chinch bugs, grubs. Trees: Webworms, Bagworms. Shrubs/Perennials: Lace Bugs, Leaf Rollers, Spider mites, aphids.

Planting for Summer in San Antonio.

• Sod: In July, you may have to water twice a day to keep the surface of the soil consistently moist. Keep to this watering schedule (whichever month you plant in) for at least 2-3 weeks while the turf gets good roots established.
• Trees and Shrubs: It’s best to wait until early fall to plant. But, if you are determined to plant, be prepared to water about every two days for the entire summer and into fall.
• Tropical Plants: Hibiscus, Mandevilla, Esperanza, Pride of Barbados, Bougainvillea, Ti Plant
• Hot Weather Annuals: Purslane, Gomphrena, Vinca (periwinkle), Caladiums, Coleus, Copper Plant, Moss Rose
• Veggies: During summer, it’s mostly harvesting time for early spring planted vegetables, and keeping your late spring veggies fed, watered, and adequately protected from pests and disease issues, so you can harvest mid to late summer.
• By the end of July, it will be time for our “second spring.” This is when we get to squeeze in another round of warm-weather crops before planting fall and winter crops. 

Pruning Maintenance Tips for Plants Through Summer.

• Turf is actively growing. Mow often (every 5 days or so).
• Pruning of blackberry canes that bore fruit is extremely important to do in summer for next year’s fruit production.
• Warm weather foliage plants (coleus, caladiums, lambs ear, and also basil) should have any potential flowers pinched off to keep production of stems and foliage growing. This pinching technique also corrects ‘leggy growth’ on warm weather annuals (like vinca/periwinkle, begonias). It will encourage new, fuller growth.
• By the end of July, cut back woody perennials (salvia, lantana, plumbago, etc.) by about ⅓ so they will start filling in again and be ready for a full flush of fall blooms. (Offer some slow-release fertilizer, scratching it into the soil and watering it in thoroughly.)

Information courtesy of Rainbow Gardens www.rainbowgardens.biz.

Submitted by: Michelle de Jongh - Communications Committee Secretary