Village of Oak Lake Homeowners Association

N e w s l e t t e r November, 2014 Volume XIII, No. 011

Message from the Board The town hall meeting was held on Octo-ber 14th at Oak Lake Baptist church. We'd like to thank the few residents that took time to attend the meeting.

Since this meeting was not a normal board meeting, no formal business took place.

The current board members were intro-duced. A request for a new board mem-ber was made. If you are interested please contact Sterling Association Ser-vices.

Progress on projects and accomplish-ments were discussed including the col-laboration with MUD41, Kidz Village park, monuments, ongoing repairs and walking trail restoration.

Volunteer projects were also highlighted, including the ongoing work by the fence committee. Please complete a brief sur-vey online. The link can be found on www.volhoa.com.

We also had our first VOL family movie night at the tennis courts in October 18th. While we had a small turnout, all that at-tended had a nice evening. Mr. Peabody & Sherman was shown and then the blu-eray movie was awarded to resident by a random drawing. Children enjoyed having their faces painted, a balloon artist, popcorn and cotton candy. Hot dogs and hamburg-ers were enjoyed by everyone in attendance. We hope to enjoy another outdoor movie soon considering there was a technical issue that prevented us from watching the last ten minutes of the movie. The vendor promised a discount and reimbursement for the damaged dvd. We hope more come out to the enjoy commu-nity events in the future.

-VOL Board

Fun at the Movie!

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All right! We welcome the additional info. Your VOLHOA board now will offer information on important HOA events, probably quarterly, and include special occasions. The HOA has only about 65 emails from homeowners so far. Offer your email. The information will always be of value to you. For any issues, questions or comments, your first point of contact is Ry Reid, your as-sociation manager, at webmaster@volhoa.com, or 832-678-5390 or fax at 281-598-4487.

***** For the thousands of VOL residents who missed the HOA movie at the tennis courts, there was a surprise ending. The good news is that the eats were well received. See Message from the Board on Page One. If you’ve traveled on West Airport west across FM 1464 toward the Grand Park-way you’ve noticed all the construction of new houses and infrastructure in Aliana. Millions of dollars are being spent in more houses and infrastructure. There must be nearly 1,000 houses either completed on being built now. Even-tually there’ll be 4,000 homes in this 2,000- acre subdivision.

***** MOUNTAIN BUILDING: That tall mound of dirt and grass , visible as you travel Old Richmond Road between West Airport and West Bellfort, is growing. Someday it’ll be 100 feet tall and have a couple of other small mountains nearby. See Page 4.

***** BIG SALE!! Maybe the best sale of Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, will be at the TriCity Resale Shop. Every clothing item in the store will be sold for $1. That’s ONE dollar! The store , with thousands of clothing items, may be sold out by the end of Black Friday.

***** Dan Wolterman, Memorial Hermann Health System’s CEO said at a retirees luncheon that there’s a $2.6 billion expansion plan for the next five years, which will add to its 211 hospital sites in the Greater Houston area, including some In Sugar Land.

***** Pheasant Creek’s David Lowman reports there are coral snakes in his neighborhood. A neighbor killed one last October 6, and David’s wife was hit in the heel by a coral snake 18 months ago. She was treated at Memorial Her-man Hospital where it was confirmed that the culprit was an Eastern Coral Snake which is venomous. David notes that color markings on both a coral snake and a King Snake (nonvenomous) are very similar. He says, “Just re-member: Red touches yellow, kills a fellow; Red touches black, alright.” But David doesn’t take any chances when it’s a snake.

***** Important November Dates: Sunday, November 2 - Daylight Saving Time (fall back Saturday night and get an extra hour’s sleep)

(Continued on page 3)

The LetterWorks

...the letter works

Steve McHale Publisher

Wayne Chandler Editor

This newsletter is published privately, but with the concern and support of the Village of Oak Lake Homeowners Association. It is delivered, door-to-door, to 1,150 homes in VOL the last two days of each month. For advertising information, call

281-277-5267. The Newsletter reserves the right to reject, edit or omit an ad for any reason, and is not liable for any losses sustained as a result of printing errors.

For newsletter matters, call

281-277-5267 or e-mail to: stmchale@yahoo.com waynechandler@windstream.net

For matters regarding the Village of Oak Lake Homeowners Assn., Including Architec-tural Control and Landscaping Committee. Sterling Association Services, Inc 11201 Lake Woodbridge Dr. Sugar Land, Tx 77498 Ry Reid Phone: 832-678-4500 Fax: 281-598-4487 E-mail: Ry@sterlingasi.com

FOR VOL WEBSITES : WWW.VOLHOA.COM

WWW.STERINGASI.COM

AROUND THE ‘LAKE’

VOL OFFICERS

L. Montalvo, President lauravol@windstream.net

P. Reed, Vice President Patricia1014pa@yahoo.com

JR Garcia, Secretary Ygarcia@pgal.com

Dan Wingerson, Treasurer danvolhoa@wingernet.com

RENT THE VOL SIGN

Rent the VOL sign at the entrance of the subdivision.. Use it for birth announcements, birthday wishes, awards, wedding congratulations, bon voyages, anniversaries, special occasions, welcome home, etc. It's $10 a day per side. Contact: Alan Ligh by e-mail at ajl.vol13@yahoo.com

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Tuesday, November 4 - Midterm elections 7 to 7 Tuesday, November 11 - Veteran’s Day Thursday, November 27 – Thanksgiving Day

***** Speaking of Election Day, you must vote in your assigned loca-tion (precinct). If you don’t have a voter registration card you will be required to show one of the below: Texas driver license Texas election ID certificate issued by the Department of Safety Texas personal ID card issued by the DPS Texas concealed handgun license issued by DPS U.S. military ID card with photo U.S. citizenship certificate with photo U.S. passport

***** Speaking of Veteran’s Day: Number of living U.S. military veter-ans (as of June, 2013) -- 21.9 million ( 2.2 million are women) U.S. WW II vets remaining -- 1.2 million, dying at the rate of 413 per day. Veterans population, percentage by race: White 82.7, Black 12.1, Hispanic 6.3

***** Just a reminder about the upcoming holiday school breaks: Thanksgiving - November 24-28 Holiday/Winter - December 22 – January 2 Spring Break - March 9-13, 2015

***** At a state water boards seminar last January, some weather ex-perts were predicting a very dry 2014 for the Greater Houston area. Fortunately, they were “all wet.” In the first nine months this year, we’ve had 35 inches of rain, which is on schedule for

(Continued from page 2) the annual average of about 52 inches. The San Antonio and Austin areas haven’t been so blessed, but recent rains have placed them slightly above “moderate drought, ” according to the U.S. Weather Service. ***** Alaska may be “The Last Frontier, ” but it’s not being ignored. Cruise companies have scheduled 26 ships to make trips to the 49th state in 2015! See Travel Time on Page . And Vi has scheduled another trip to fabulous Branson for next May. Read about that, too, and see the insert in this newsletter. ***** PERSONAL NOTE: Some 21,900 days ago (October 23,1954) Vi and I were married. That computes to 60 years, and we’re still motoring. ***** Any of you drivers have a Suburu WRX? That’s the vehicle most ticket by police for traffic violations in the U.S., according to the study Insurance.com. This report said that 33.6% of these own-ers got pulled over and ticketed , through last October 7. Second most ticketed, by percentage, was Pontiac GTOs at 32.7%. The rest of the Top Ten: Scion FR-S, Toyota Supra, Subaru Tribeca, VW Rabbit, Mercury Topaz, Scion C, Toyota FJ Cruiser and Mazda2, Even the little Toyota Prius C made No. 20 at 27%. We’re about to go into early darkness again. Enjoy the one-hour bonus this Saturday night. --- wayne chandler

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Do you know where the highest point of land is in Fort Bend County? It’s that levee-like mound of dirt and grass just west of Old Richmond Road between West Airport and West Bellfort, behind the sand and gravel operation. From the top of it, you get a good look at the Imperial Sugar smokestacks in Sugar Land, the Pecan Grove development, as well as a nice view of the Galleria and downtown Houston skylines. The current height is only about 60 feet, but it is destined to be about 40 feet higher within the next few years. The property is owned by Sprint Fort Bend County Landfill and has been providing local businesses and residents with a convenient, safe disposal site for construction de-bris for over 20 years. According to Will Swinbank, Presi-dent, “When complete, the site will actually consist of three mini-mountains designed to provide a nice, park-like ap-pearance and good drainage for the local area.” Swinbank stresses that the site has been, and will be, carefully constructed and the large “mountains” containing only inert, discarded construction and landscaping materi-als – roofing scraps, plastics, wood, concrete, bricks, old furniture, and appliances. Trees and other clean organics are processed for beneficial reuse as mulch and compost. No household trash, garbage or recyclables that are picked up at our homes ever goes there. This local, family-owned operation is monitored by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) un-der a Type IV permit. Swinbank noted that the site is carefully engineered so the bottom of these mounds are lined with a four-foot foundation of compacted clay and protective cover, designed to protect groundwater and the environment from contamination. Our Precinct 4 Fort Bend County Commissioner James Patterson attests that Sprint, through the years, has been a good neighbor, and a willing supporter of improving many Fort Bend communities. Sprint is a listed supporter for more than 20 organizations in the county including ARC, Fort Bend Museum, Literary Council of Fort Bend, Sugar Land Rotary, West Houston Community Center, YMCA – Houston, and Four Corners Park softball field. Patterson noted that Sprint has cooperated with the county to make possible several projects. In June 12, 2012, Sprint financed the $3,000 pool house renovations in Village of Oak Lake. The Sprint companies were founded in 1976 by Joe Swin-bank and Don Poarch with the opening of Sprint Sand and Gravel. Since that time, Sprint has spawned several other companies operating or providing services in Fort Bend County, bringing more than 200 jobs to the local economy. The initial TCEQ permit for the landfill was granted in 1982 for an 80 acre hole left by a sand mining operation that began in the early 1970’s. Now, the site is more than 340 acres with managed storm water run-off controls and en-hanced buffer and screening zones. The property is all

(Continued on page 5)

MOUNTAIN BUILDING-BY THE TRUCKLOAD

Sprint’s Will Swinbank , atop the growing mountain... and a view from Old Richmond Road

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west of Old Richmond and south of the Company’s offices at 16007 and 16011 West Bellfort, where some 100 per-sons are employed. Joe Swinbank’s sons, Will and Reagan, took over the day-to-day operation of the business, after growing up in the Spring Branch area, attending Stratford High School, and then graduating from Texas A & M. Reagan handles sales, while Will takes care of daily operations. It’s been a family business, and the brothers say they plan to keep it that way for the forseeable future. “My brother and I have been picking up trash around here since we were 10 years old and we expect our kids will be doing the same someday!” Will said. Both boys attribute their success and their desire to support the local commu-nity to their father. In 2006, Sprint got into the trash hauling business, too, operating 8 trucks and now run on average 40 trucks daily hauling construction ruble. About half of the volume of trash taken at the landfill is delivered by Sprint trucks while the other half is provided by private companies. There’s a constant parade of trucks in and out of the primary landfill area, with workers inspecting the incoming loads and di-recting the dumping. The landfill is available to anyone who brings the proper materials to the West Bellfort site. The minimum charge is $36, which covers 4 cubic yards of waste. A pick-up truck

(Continued from page 4) filled with trash that’s piled no higher than the top of the truck’s cab is considered 4 cubic yards. Over 4 cubic yards is $9 per cubic yard. The landfill is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. There’s daily sweeping and watering of all of the areas that helps control litter and dust. And, now Sprint has expanded to Port Arthur, Louisiana and to South Texas, starting waste collection operations in all 3 locations. The need for safe, efficient landfill space becomes in-creasingly important, particularly in Fort Bend and the Greater Houston area, as thousands of newcomers are seeking a good life here. Will says that Sprint, along with building owners and the construction industry are increasingly sensitive to the im-pact that their products have on the environment. He said the Sprint companies are leaders in this area with LEED certified solutions for waste disposal and recycling needs. “We want to be a good neighbor and give back to the com-munity,” Will said. “It’s important that we do things the right way.” The landfill development goes on. We’ll watch the moun-tains grow. -- wayne chandler

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C E N T E RC E N T E R

OCE November Calendar

13 Math/Reading Night 17-21 Book Fair 20 Grandparents Day 24-28 Thanksgiving Break

Healthier Habits

Walking and bicycling to school enables children to incorporate the regular physical activity they need each day while also forming

healthy habits that can last a lifetime. Regular physical activity helps children build strong bones, muscles and joints, and it decreases the risk of obesity. In contrast, insufficient physical activity can contribute to chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and stroke. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children and adolescents get one hour or more of physical activity each day. Research suggests that physically active kids are more likely to become healthy, physically active adults, underscoring the importance of developing the habit of regular physical activity early. See the following resources for additional information: · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Physical Activity and Health Read about the benefits of physical activity. http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/health/index.html · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Physical Activity Statistics Find physical activity statistics for states and metropolitan regions. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/stats/ · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention How much physical activity do you need? Learn about physical activity and guidelines for children and adults. http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/index.html · Let’s Move—Physical Activity Read facts on physical activity and find promotional ideas for families, schools and communities. http://www.letsmove.gov/get-active

AT the OCE Walk to School, Ms. Richter, assistant principal, left, and Ms. Schwinger, principal, handed out fruit and water donated by H.E.B

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TRAVEL TIME

By Vi Chandler

Sugar Land

Church of Christ

Sugar Land Church of Christ

“The Church where you are never a Stranger”

Early Morning Worship 7:00 a.m. Bible Study 9:00 a.m. Morning Worship 10:00 a.m. Evening Worship 5:00 p.m. Wednesday: Mid-Week Bible Study 7:00 p.m.

Roy Beaty Minister

Wendell Hart Asst. Minister

281-561-0881

15590 Voss Road

Serving you since 1994

When You’re ready to buy or sell.

Okay, we’re planning a fun trip to Branson, Missouri this May 12-16 when the weather is beautiful and the travel will be quick and easy! We’ve planned a dinner show, three other shows, three other group dinners, plus other attractions. We’ll go via the new Buzz Airlines on a direct flight out of Hobby Air[port, and stay at a convenient Holiday Inn Express which offers a hot breakfast every morning. See details in an insert in this newsletter. It’s always fun in a group and it’s a great time of year to go there. More later.

***** We just returned from the inaugural voyage of

Norwegian Jewel out of the Port of Houston since 2009. We had a great celebration of our 60th wedding anniversary with our three children, spouses, and a couple of grandsons, and neighbors and friends. The Jewel has been totally renovated, the entertainment was outstanding, and the food was great. The endless buffet absolutey is endless with a wide variety of cuisine. And there are two major elegant dining rooms, plus specialty restaurants. Norwegian is committed to , at least, the next three years out of Houston.

***** The Houston Texans football; team is one of four in

the NFL to develop a sponsorship with Princess Cruise Lines. The other teams are the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers and the 2014 champion Seattle Seahawks. Gordon Ho, Princess marketing vice president, says that each city “represents a strong supplier of Princess guests,” with Houston, San Francisco and Seattle being homeports for Princess ships. Ho said that research showed a correlation between NFL fans and the kind of “meaningful traveler” Princess is targeting.

***** The Hurricane Odile damage at Los Cabos on the

Baja Peninsula last September 14 created more havoc than originally believed.. The storm not only left the area’s 250,000 inhabitants without power (and many without shelter), but it stranded some 30,000 tourists. Commercial

air service wasn’t possible for a week. Some of the five star hotels had to evacuate guests and notify new guests that they couldn’t accommodate them until some time in November.

***** Alaska , for years, has been called the “last Frontier”

for tourism. Cruise lines are in hot and heavy competition for a variety of cruises in 2015. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines will have two of its big ships there next summer. Norwegian Cruise Line will have three ships there. Carnival Cruise Line’s Legend will operate 16 one-week cruises from Seattle, and Princess will have seven ships in Alaska next year. Disney Wonder will offer seven night cruises from June 1 to August 31, Celebrity Cruises will have three ships there, and there’ll be luxury voyages by Oceana Cruises and Regent Seven Seas. Holland America, which always has been a dominant force in Alaska, again will have seven ships and 124 departures there. Take your choice!

***** We mentioned last month that the cruise business is

becoming global now since major cruise companies are competing in China. Carnival Corp. COO Alan Buckelew , who was in New York and Miami for decades, now is directing Carnival in Shanghai. One big difference, Buckelew said, “There are 24 million people in the Greater Shanghai area. Now when I go back to LA or Miami, they seem like small villages.”

***** Let me book your next cruise or trip anywhere. It

won’t cost you a cent and save you time on the internet. I’m available at 281-277-5267 or vitravel@gmail.com.

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You Sugar Land residents, or former residents, or relatives of former residents: Don’t trash that old photo, program, ticket stub, farm tool, musket, and/or reins from a mule who worked the sugar cane fields…. Do you know of any article that was in the Imperial Sugar Com-pany’s hardware store, gasoline station, bank, Telephone Com-pany or Palms Theater, or any of the schools, or any of the churches…? If so, Chris Bohannan, lead archivist for the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation, would like to scrounge it from you. It might be a welcome addition to the future Sugar Land Museum which will retain a lot of memories of an early Sugar Land, which con-tributed to this vibrant community today. Bohannan will be glad to receive your mementos. Contact him at 281-494-0261, or email at cbohannan@slheritage.org, or by mail at P.O. Box 2998. You can also browse the website… www.slheritage.org, and get an idea of the mission of this foundation. It’s a noble cause. Bohannan, now in his third year with the heritage foundation, has sorted through and organized volumes of items. “There were a lot of boxes, jammed into a large room, which we’ve finally gone through,” Bohannan smiled.

Bohannan said that about 35% of what has been collected has come from what is called the Company Town Era (1909-1959), with about 20% each from the Modern Era (1960 to present) and the Plantation Era (1836-1908), mostly the post-Civil War era of the Kyle-Terry-Eldridge pioneers, and from the 1821-36 era of first colonization. There’s only about 5% from pre-1821 when the area was sometimes populated by Karankawa Indians. All of this, and more, will be housed in the new museum, ap-proved recently by the City of Sugar Land, in some 12,600 square feet of space on the second floor of an historic container warehouse once occupied by Imperial Sugar Company. Bohannan came to this heritage museum after being the adminis-trative assistant at the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum in Austin for three years, (2008-11) where he supervised visitor rep-resentatives and was active in educations/program development. After that, 2011-12, he was the museum associate for the French Legation Museum in historic East Austin, built in 1847, where he was involved in artifact and archival management, fund raising, grant writing and program development and project management. Bohannan received a BA degree in anthropology from Southwest Texas State, San Marcos, and a master’s degree from University of West Florida, Pensacola, in museum studies. In his current position he is doing exhibit design and fabrication, grant writing and, most of all, community outreach. Until then the museum’s temporary space is in the two-story building next to the eight-story Imperial Char House on Old Main (Highway 90A) between Ulrich and Brooks Streets. It’s open to visitors on Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. during Imperial Farmers Market, free to the public.

Chris Bohannan

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