The March General Meeting of the WHCA will take place on Tuesday, March 20th at 7pm in the cafeteria at Hogg Middle School, 1100 Merrill.
The focus of this meeting will be the election of a new board of directors for the 2018-19 fiscal year. Matt Reynolds, President-Elect in 2017-18, will transition into the role of President for the coming year. All other board positions are up for election.
For the past six weeks the nominating committee has been seeking candidates to run for the board. Those who wish to run for a position must be WHCA members in good standing and submit a completed application form to the nominating committee no later than Monday, March 19th. Completed application forms can be emailed to nominations@woodland-heights.org.
Nominations from the floor of the meeting are not allowed. All WHCA Board members must be current homeowner members of the WHCA, and the VP of Deed Restrictions must also be a licensed attorney.
This meeting is your once a year opportunity to meet the candidates and cast your vote for who you think should help steer WHCA for the coming year. Come let your voice be heard!
Constable Patrol Program Renewals for 2018-19 /
WHCA VP Security, Brad Snead sent the following message was emailed to members of the Constable Patrol program. It's broadly applicable to the entire neighborhood, so we're posting it here as well.
Dear Neighbors:
It’s that time again. If you haven’t renewed already, please go ahead and do so. The new fiscal year starts April 1, 2018. I apologize in advance if you get more than one email or notice (you probably will), but we are trying to distribute the information as widely as possible.
We recently sent out our annual neighborhood mailer for the Constable Patrol and Association dues. You can respond to the mailer, or go to our website and pay via PayPal or download a membership form to use if you want to pay by check. Annual Constable Patrol Program participation is $330 by check, and $340 via PayPal. Here is the website link: https://www.woodland-heights.org/constable/
Any Interest in Serving as VP of Security?
Before getting to the other details, does anyone have interest in taking over the board position for VP of Security for the upcoming term? I’m planning to step down for the next term. Please let me know if you have any interest.
Sticker Distribution.
For those who renew by April 1st, we’ll plan to hand deliver the new stickers (and a new sign if you need it). If you are on auto-renew and don’t know when that will occur, I recommend going into PayPal, cancelling, and starting it again so it will auto-renew in March. For those who do not renew by April 1st, we’ll coordinate a pick-up location so you can come get a new sticker at your convenience.
Basic Info.
The WHCA has a contract with the Constable Patrol Program, serviced by Harris County Precinct One. We have two full-time deputies that patrol our neighborhood for a total of 80 hours each week, in two staggered shifts—one during the day and one at night.
The cost has increased 3% this year. The total cost for two deputies for year is roughly $158k. This is NOT paid for by property taxes or any other source. To maintain this service, we need approximately 460 households to donate $330 per year. Last year we had almost 400 subscribers. But because of a generous donation from Greystar Apartments, and a little surplus from the prior year, we were able to maintain two deputy shifts throughout the year. We still have about one month surplus going into the next term.
We hope you join or renew to help us sustain the program so that we can continue the program. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to join.
Benefits.
Finally, here is a summary of the benefits of the program:
- Police presence (dedicated deputies are visible, learn the neighborhood, and prevent crime);
- Prompt response (deputies usually respond more quickly than HPD);
- Vacation Watch (a deputy will do a physical, daily inspection of your home while you are on vacation);
- Home Security Check (a deputy will physically come to your home to provide a security assessment);
- Text/Email Crime Alerts (you may sign up for crime alerts from Precinct 1);
- Crime stats (the VP of Security will provide periodic crime updates and statistics);
- Coordination with alarm companies (you may give the Precinct One dispatch number to your alarm monitoring companies);
- Coordination with the Constable’s office (the VP of Security will act as a liaison with the department to coordinate any special requests or concerns);
- Coordination with surrounding neighborhoods (an unheralded benefit, allowing constables in surrounding areas to respond to calls when our deputies are off duty).
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments about the program.
Brad Snead
VP-Security WHCA
security@woodland-heights.org
WHCA February Newsletter En Route To Your Doorstep /
Hello again - the latest WHCA newsletter is currently being distributed by our block captains. Normally, our February newsletter would be in email form, but this year is a little different. The return of the biannual Home Tour on the weekend of March 23-25 prompted a decision to print this edition, which is chock full of details about eight fabulous homes on this year's home tour, and how you can get to see them.
This issue also includes an article by Matt Johnson about the status of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program. As WHCA VP of Infrastructure, Matt has been the WHCA's liaison to the Public Works Department, who are responsible for the traffic calming program.
While the printed version will be at your door shortly, you can download an electronic version right now by clicking on the image to the right.
This weary editor would like to thank everyone who contributed to this issue.
2018-2019 WHCA Board Candidates Needed - Get Involved! /
Hi Woodland Heights -
- Do you want to get more involved in the issues that face our wonderful neighborhood?
- Do you have a strong opinion about the future of the Woodland Heights or the WHCA and its mission?
- Do you want to get to know better some of the wonderful and talented people in this great neighborhood?
- Do you have talents in accounting, legal, social media, public relations, technology, fundraising or just a love of the history of the neighborhood you'd like to volunteer to our great neighborhood?
If so - then you should think about joining the Woodland Heights Civic Association Board for the 2018 - 2019 term, which starts April 1, 2018 and runs through March 31, 2019.
At present - we only have one candidate per position and would love to have multiple candidates per position to allow the WHCA membership to cast their votes accordingly at the Annual General Meeting on March 20th. I have attached a short description of the roles.
If you (or someone you know) are interested in a WHCA board position for the March 2018 to March 2019 term then please send an email to the nominating committee at nominations@woodland-heights.org. All candidates that wish to run for office (including those current board members running for re-election) must return a nomination form into the nomination committee one day prior to the election on March 20th.
Feel free to speak directly with a member of the nomination committee or an existing board member about these positions. The nominating committee members are:
- Tyson Greer (Board Member)
- Carla Reed (Board Member)
- Marian Wright (Non-Board Member)
- Kelly Hare (Non-Board Member)
- Roy Johnston (Non-Board Member)
All WHCA Board members must be current homeowner members of the WHCA, and the VP of Deed Restrictions must be a licensed attorney.
WHCA Financial Update /
Woodland Heights Civic Association
Statement of Financial Activity
Lights-In-The-Heights Toy Drive Revisited /
As you may know, this past year the LITH Gala committee added a toy drive to the event, in support of local families impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Everyone attending the sold out gala brought a toy. The toys collected were contributed to the Houston Fire Department’s Operation Stocking Stuffer.
Further, event sponsor Big Blue Whale Toys & Curiosities on 19th street bested their original offer to match every toy purchased there by people attending the gala, more than doubling-up on the good cheer!
Late in January we received a summary of the results of Operation Stocking Stuffer in 2017. Over forty pages long, it documents everything that went into producing the biggest and most successful toy drive in their history. It includes a specific call-out to the Woodland Heights for the truckload of toys donated as a result of the LITH Gala.
Little League teams will parade In neighborhood March 24th /
Norhill and Michaux will be the main streets for the opening day parade of the Heights-Norhill Little League season. The parade, which will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 24, features an entry for each team. Players will be wearing their complete uniforms. Traditionally, bands, cheering squads and HPD units are part of the pageantry.
The parade route starts at the corner of Forester and Usener, adjacent to Stude Park (where the league teams compete). The parade will head north on Norhill, turning east on Woodland, before making a turn onto Michaux and heading south, back to Stude Park.
For more information, email Heights.Norhill@gmail.com.
2018 Woodland Heights Home Tour /
Fresh Traditions - plus 3 Bonus - “Teardown Turnarounds.”
Woodland Heights will once again welcome visitors into some of its most charming historic homes during its “Fresh Traditions” biannual home tour March 24-25, from noon to 6 p.m. In addition to five original homes ranging in size and style, the tour will showcase three “teardown turnaround” bonus homes. Once considered unsalvageable, these houses are testament to how a homeowner’s vision and commitment, combined with creative architects and experienced contractors, can rescue even the most neglected house and turn it into a showplace.
Tickets $25 in advance, $30 starting March 23. Purchase today online. Tickets will also be available at a variety of local merchants beginning March 1st.
Yard-Of-The-Month: 1026 Omar St /
Yard of the Month goes to 1026 Omar St. This is a new house, with new neighbors, and a new kind of lawn that is gaining popularity in the Woodland Heights, artificial grass. The Woodland Heights has always been a diverse neighborhood where we celebrate and embrace different ideas. On my street alone, Omar, there are now 3 houses with front lawns made up of artificial turf. While most yards are looking pretty sad in our neighborhood after 2 hard freezes this month, 1026 Omar looks vibrant.
Artificial grass has been growing in popularity because it doesn’t have to be mowed, and has the eco-friendly quality of not needing fertilizer or water. Lawns use 1/3 of all residential water consumption. Some of the new artificial grasses are even partially manufactured out of recycled materials.
Nominations Committee Seeking Candidates for the WHCA Board /
The WHCA Nominating Committee is now accepting nominations for seats on the Woodland Heights Civic Association Board for the 2018 - 2019 term, which starts April 1, 2018 and runs through March 31, 2019. The following Woodland Heights neighbors have agreed to be on the nominating committee:
- Tyson Greer (Board Member)
- Carla Reed (Board Member)
- Marian Wright (Non-Board Member)
- Kelly Hare (Non-Board Member)
- Roy Johnston (Non-Board Member)
If you are interested in a WHCA board position for the April 2018 to March 2019 term then please send an email to the nominating committee (nominations@woodland-heights.org) with the completed nomination form.
All WHCA board members must be current homeowner members of the WHCA and the VP of deed restrictions must be a licensed attorney.
WHCA Financial Update /
Woodland Heights Civic Association
Statement of Activity
Questions about WHCA finances may be directed to treasurer@woodland-heights.org.
Heights-Norhill Little League Spring Registration Runs Until Feb. 12 /
Registration for the Spring 2018 the youth baseball league for the neighborhood is open until Feb. 12, 2018. Cost for registration is $75.00 per player, with a discount for siblings residing in the same household. Late registration fee is $100.00.
To determine the proper division for your child, a chart is available online at heightsnorhill.com. Mandatory skills assessments will take place on Feb. 16 and Feb. 17. Registration forms and details regarding league regulations are also available at heightsnorhill.com, as information on how to be a volunteer.
For more information, please contact the League as follows:
Heights-Norhill Little League
PO Box 70712, Houston, Texas 77270
Email heights.norhill@gmail.com
Heights-Norhill Little League is operated by adult volunteers. Games take place at Stude Park.
Woodland Park “Firefly Field” Sculpture Update /
The weather has played havoc with the completion of the Firefly Field installation. Our artist, Dylan Conner, has had the sculpture completed since late summer but delays due to the aftermath of our recent storms (Harvey, ice storms, etc.) have created distractions and other necessary priorities for our contractors and public support organizations. But final terms for the construction and adoption agreements are being circulated, and construction permit presentations are being prepared. Funds from the city and our council district that were committed for the project have been transferred to the Houston Parks Board, which oversees all such construction projects. And the remaining funds due from FWP are available for transfer as soon as we receive the instructions to do so.
As of this writing we expect to have the sculpture installed by early spring.
P.S. Please consider renewing your FWP membership.
IMPORTANT: WHCA Election Nominating Committee is Forming /
Hello Woodland Heights neighbors -
We need to find three WHCA members to serve on the nominating committee for the upcoming WHCA elections in March. If you would like to volunteer, please email me at president@woodland-heights.org. The task is simple - tell people about the upcoming election in March, understand and take nominations for WHCA Board positions, and monitor the March the voting on March 20 at the Annual General Meeting of the WCHA. There are five members; two from the WHCA Board (Tyson Greer and Carla Reed), and three non-Board members (these are the ones we are looking for).
Only requirement is that you are a paid Homeowner member (owner of a residence within the association boundaries) of the WHCA. The Nominating Committee will be finalized by January 31, 2018 and nominations for the 2018-2019 WHCA Board will be open starting February 1st, 2018.
Want to learn more about the board and its officers - please take a look at the WHCA Bylaws on our website https://www.woodland-heights.org/bylaws/.
Thanks,
Tyson Greer
President WHCA
WHCA January General Meeting Cancelled! /
This most recent bout of cold, freezy weather has resulted in HISD closing all their facilities today. As a consequence, we are forced to cancel the WHCA January General Meeting that had been planned for this evening at Hogg Middle School.
The next General Meeting will be Tuesday, March 20th. That will be the Annual General meeting, which includes the election of a new board of directors for 2018-19.
Be on the lookout for announcements about the Nominating Committee that will shortly be formed to seek candidates for the board. Also, for news about the WHCA Home Tour, which is coming up in March.
Most beautiful outdoor site for hiking, biking and contemplation? Gorgeous (and close by) Glenwood Cemetery /
Only a few feet from the intersection of Washington Avenue and Sawyer is Glenwood Cemetery, 84 acres of history, serenity, and beauty (natural as well as man-made).
Since it was established in 1871, Glenwood Cemetery has been recognized as one of Houston’s special landmarks. Enclosed within Glenwood’s confines is a priceless collection of Victorian statuary that is available for all to enjoy. Glenwood’s horticultural specimens rival those of many arboretums, and its gently rolling landscape, unique in Houston, provides a place for quiet refuge and peaceful meditation amid inspiring natural beauty.
Designed in the tradition of other romantic rural cemetery parks of the 19th century, Glenwood’s beautiful landscape and towering trees provide the visitor a place of quiet respite just one mile west of downtown Houston. Glenwood’s collection of statuary and monuments are reminders of Houston’s history and the people who shaped it. Among those buried at Glenwood are the last President of the Republic of Texas, four Governors, and more than 20 Houston Mayors, along with founders of major oil companies, religious and professional leaders, and celebrities of their eras such as Howard Hughes and movie star Gene Tierney (known in later life as Gene Tierney Lee).
Countless gravestones in Glenwood Cemetery, tell stories in a few words (lacking details that you know are painful. This gravestone memorializes the short lives of little brothers, laid to rest in the same grave. The little boys died together in a fire. Later that same year (1877) in December, the family lost a baby girl who died at eight months of age.
The cemetery gates are open every day from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. When Daylight Saving Time is in effect, the gate closing is extended to sunset or 5:30 p.m., whichever is earlier. The cemetery is protected by security guards, and no visitors are permitted when the gates are closed.
- Rosie Walker
WHCA Financial Update /
Woodland Heights Civic Association
Statement of Activity
Questions about WHCA finances may be directed to treasurer@woodland-heights.org.
Winter Weather Potential for Start of 2018 /
What is the danger?
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a strong cold front will cross the region on New Year’s Eve (Sunday). There is a low probability that this system will bring light rain, and moisture on the ground and roads may freeze. Temperature lows Tuesday and Wednesday morning could fall into the lower 20's and may result in a hard freeze.
- Overnight temperatures are expected to fall near to or below freezing by Monday morning and fall below freezing each night through Friday morning.
- Colder temperatures may impact individuals displaced or affected from Harvey that are utilizing temporary or makeshift housing.
- The Harris County Toll Road Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation are pre-treating roadways as a precaution.
What you should do:
Remember the 4 P’s for preparing your home for Winter Weather:
- PEOPLE: Keep your family warm and check on any elderly family or neighbors that may need extra blankets, winterizing their homes or a warm place to stay.
- PETS: Dogs and cats get cold too. Bring them inside at night to keep them healthy and safe.
- PLANTS: Either cover plants to keep them warm at night or bring them inside so they can flourish.
- PIPES: Cover exposed pipes to prevent freezing and breaks.
Stay safe on the roads
DRIVE SAFELY: Check roads before heading out. If icy conditions are present, drive slower and give yourself extra stopping distance. Take extra caution on bridges and overpasses as they will ice quickly.
PREPARE YOU CAR: Have a car safety kit and consider having a blanket and extra phone charger in case you are stranded.
Don’t forget…
SPACE HEATER SAFETY: Use electric space heaters with automatic shut-off switches and non-glowing elements. Remember to keep all heating sources away from drapes and furniture.
POWER OUTAGE: Have a flashlight, extra batteries, portable cell phone charger, warm clothes, blankets and a weather radio in case power goes out. If it gets too cold, go to a public place like the mall or a library to heat up.
STAY INFORMED: Check weather reports and local media for the latest conditions. Where you can learn more:
- Forecasts: National Weather Service Houston-Galveston - http://www.weather.gov/hgx/
- Road Conditions: Houston Transtar - https://traffic.houstontranstar.org/layers/ TxDOT
- Highway Conditions: DriveTexas.org
Yard/Tree Waste Collection Resumes January 2, 2018 /
In coordination with its Annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program, the Solid Waste Management Department will restart its Yard/Tree Waste Collection and Recycling Program on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.
Yard/Tree Waste will be collected on residents’ normal garbage collection day. Customers are reminded that yard waste should be properly placed at the curb in city approved recycling bags, or if tree/branch trimmings, they should be bundled and/or tied in lengths not greater than 36 inches. Material not properly prepared for ease of collection will be tagged and left at the curb for the customer’s proper preparation.
For further instructions on how to prepare yard waste for ease of collection, visit the Solid Waste Management website at www.houstonsolidwaste.org
What is Tree Waste?
“Clean” wood waste such as tree limbs, branches, and stumps. Lumber, furniture, and treated wood will NOT be accepted.
What is Yard Trimmings?
Yard Trimmings, grass clippings, small branches and leaves. They must be in city-approved compostable bags.
For more information about SWMD and its services, visit at www.houstonsolidwaste.org, “LIKE” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/houstonsolidwaste, follow us on Twitter @HoustonTrash, or call 3-1-1, the City of Houston’s Customer Service Helpline.
About the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department
The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) provides solid waste services to the citizens of Houston through the collection, disposal and recycling of discarded material in a manner that is safe, efficient, environmentally sound and cost-effective.
Property taxes for Woodland Heights homeowners (in general and in a nutshell) /
In recent weeks there has been considerable online chatter resulting from the new federal tax plan. In particular, some neighbors have inquired about the idea of "prepaying" for property taxes for 2018. The following research summary was submitted by Rosie Walker, who is a former writer and communications manager at the Harris County Tax Office.
Property taxes in Texas are paid in arrears, not in advance. January 31, 2018, is the due date for 2017 property taxes.
Below is a summary of the process taken from websites of the State Comptroller and the Harris County Tax Office.
- A large part of the job of the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) is to estimate what your property is worth on January 1 each year. January first each year is referred to as the “snapshot date.” What a property is used for on January 1, market conditions on that date and who owns the property on that date determine whether the property is taxed, its value and who is responsible for paying the taxes.
- Around May 15 every year, HCAD is supposed to begin hearing protests from property owners who believe their property values are incorrect. (Notifications are mailed to owner addresses on file with HCAD. Verify or update your address at hcad.org.)
- Upon completion of this work (protest hearings), HCAD is charged with providing each taxing jurisdiction (City of Houston, HISD, HCC, Port of Houston, Flood Control District, etc.) a list of taxable property within its boundaries. The Harris County Tax Office collects for most of the jurisdictions that tax property in Woodland Heights. You may verify your tax bill online at hctax.net/Property/TaxStatement.
- In August or September, the elected officials of each taxing unit should adopt tax rates for their operations and debt payments (i.e., budgetary items). Only then will we be able to know the exact dollar amount of property taxes we owe.
- Tax collection for 2018 property taxes will begin in the fourth quarter of 2018, with due date for 2018 property tax being January 31, 2019.