Issue No. 28 - Summer 2009

News from the Bridge
Issue No. 28
Summer 2009
From the Developer
Social Committee
Calendar
June 13—Summer Kickoff Pops
at the Pool. Come enjoy a sweet treat at
your local swimming hole from 10 a.m.
–12 p.m. Volunteers will be on hand to
pass out a limited quantity; come early
to enjoy them while they last!
S
pring is here and passing quickly
into summer. It won’t be long now
until school is out and kids will be doing
the things kids do in the summertime.
Please be careful when driving through
the neighborhood, especially around the
park areas and pool locations. Speaking
of pools, please take time to familiarize
yourself with the pool rules. They are in
place for everyone’s enjoyment. Underage
children must be supervised by an adult,
not an older child. If not, they will be
asked to leave the premises. Don’t allow
anyone without a pool card to enter the
pool area. If they do not have a pool card,
they don’t belong in the pool area.
There is an update to the Woodbridge
Parkway railroad crossing. The Presiding
Judge of Collin County Court at Law No.
2 issued a Writ of Possession on April 1,
2009. This document ordered the railroad
to surrender possession of the crossing
property and allowed the City of Sachse to
take immediate possession.
Plans for the final design of the railroad crossing are being completed. After
the railroad crossing plans are approved
by the City Engineer, they will be submitted to TXDOT and KCS Railroad for
approval. It is anticipated that construction
will be coordinated with the widening of
SH78. According to TXDOT, the opening
of the bid for the SH78 widening is
scheduled for August of this year with the
awarding of the contract for construction
this fall.
If you have driven through the newer
sections of the neighborhood lately, you
will notice a number of homes under
construction. This speaks well of Woodbridge’s ability to sustain new home
construction under the current economic
conditions. Builder incentives, low interest
rates and tax credits for first time homebuyers are providing opportunities for
those interested in purchasing a home.
There appears to be a sense of cautious
optimism among DFW Metroplex builders
that the local home building industry
seems to be turning around. The consensus
is that the Metroplex may have hit bottom
in the fourth quarter of last year.
We wish you well this summer.
June 27—Community Flea
Market/Garage Sale, Cox Elementary
School 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Contact the
Social Committee at [email protected] to reserve your
spot for the event. Bring your garage
sale or craft items to sell. There is
limited space available so reserve your
space soon. Bring your own table.
July 31—Woodbridge Community Meet and Greet. Come meet
your local neighbors at the Woodbridge Golf Club from 5 p.m.–8 p.m.
Enjoy light hors d’oeurves, soda,
coffee and tea. Drink specials will be
offered at the Golf Club, Cash Bar.
August 11—Social Committee
Family Fest Planning Meeting. All
interested volunteers are asked to attend
this meeting to help kick start the planning of the Family Fest for October.
The meeting will be held at the Woodbridge Golf Club at 6:30 p.m.
August 15—Kick Start the
School Year Pops at the Pool. Come
enjoy a sweet treat at your local
swimming hole from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Volunteers will be on hand to pass out
a limited quantity, so come early to
enjoy them while they last!
1
Golf Tip from the Pro
By Rick Woodson
Woodbridge PGA Director of Instruction
H
ave you ever noticed that the ball sounds different when
the PGA Tour players make contact? The correct shaft
position, or shaft lean, at impact is what allows this to happen.
Notice the left picture and how the handle is leaning toward the
target upon impact. This is absolutely necessary for solid contact.
How is this accomplished? There are a couple of key movements. When they happen in sequence, your results are exceptional. Through contact, your weight must shift onto the lead leg
(closest to the target) and the trailing shoulder needs to move
toward the ball, not back away from the target. Your right elbow
and wrist (for right handed golfers) will maintain their hinged
angles deep into the forward motion. I think you will find your
strikes to be more consistent and solid if you can produce these
necessary impact alignments.
For additional help with your golf game, contact Rick
Woodson: (972) 429-5100 ext.17 or e-mail [email protected].
Now featuring state of the art video swing analysis system.
Woodbridge Babysitters Club
Need a break? We can help!!!
All sitters are experienced, trained
and live right here in Woodbridge!!!
Contact Jennifer Darwin for more info:
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.woodbridgesitters.weebly.com
2
May 2009 Election Results
City of Sachse
City Council, Place 1 — Charles W. Smith
City Council, Place 2 — No candidate received 50% of votes.
The top two candidates, Jared Patterson and Hal Hinckley, will
be in a runoff election on June 13, 2009.
Refer to the Sachse City Secretary’s website for details:
www.cityofsachse.com/administration/citysecretary.asp
City of Wylie
City Council, Place 2 — M.G. “Red” Byboth
City Council, Place 4 — Bennie Jones
Wylie ISD
Trustee, Place 3 — Barbara Goss
Trustee, Place 4 — Lance Goff
Wylie ISD Bond Proposition
For 48.99%, Against 51.01%
Summer 2009
Woodbridge Municipal Affairs Committee: What We Do
By Nicole Tucker, Chairperson
T
he MAC group stays current with Woodbridge community
issues as they pertain to the cities of Sachse and Wylie.
Some MAC members are on city Boards and Commissions and
Woodbridge Committees. Therefore, we have first-hand knowledge of some city and community events and happenings. We
also attend other city meetings and events.
The committee is also involved in community outreach
projects. For example, last summer we organized a donation
drive for the Sachse Animal Shelter. In addition, we deliver food
trays to the Sachse and Wylie Police Department every month.
Since the last newsletter, our neighbors who donated money for
the food trays are Michael and Heidi PeCoy (two months) and
Lana Bass. If you would like to donate, please contact Kathy
Hashimoto at [email protected]. The cost is $40 for
both trays for one month.
We closely follow the elections and try to encourage voter
turnout and awareness. As I write this, the yearly spring election
is underway. There are over 10,000 registered voters in Sachse,
and yet only 375 voted in last year’s Sachse City Council race.
The margin of victory for the winner was only 19 votes. There
are eight early voting days and one final Election Day. Some of
our city’s elected officials have won by a margin of 5 votes.
It is troubling that less than 4% of voters participate in our
important, local elections. Woodbridge’s turnout is even less.
That is why some city officials tend to overlook Woodbridge.
Their impression is that Woodbridge doesn’t vote so Woodbridge
doesn’t care what happens.
Want to see change in your city or school government? The
way to get change is to show up at the polls! Voting is not just a
choice. It is a responsibility.
For more information about the Woodbridge Municipal
Affairs Committee, or if you are interested in joining the committee, contact Nicole Tucker at [email protected].
Editorial Policy
It is the editorial policy of Woodbridge Association
Newsletter to inform residents of the Association in an
unbiased manner of issues and information that would be
of help and of interest. It is also the editorial policy that no
disparaging remarks regarding race, creed, color, national
origin, marital status, or sexual orientation will be permitted.
No personal attacks or comments, nor political endorsements,
either local, state, or national will be permitted. Submit comments or articles to [email protected].
Woodbridge Advertising
For information, contact Nicole Tucker at:
[email protected]
Please submit Ad artwork as 300dpi at 100% of the size
purchased. They should be Grayscale or CMYK. You may
send JPG, EPS or PDF files.
Eighth page (3.5” x 2”): $50
Quarter page (3.5” x 4.25”): $100
Half page (7.375” x 4.25”): $200
All dimensions are width x height. Quantity discounts
are given if ordered by the year (4 issues).
3
Summer Fun for the Kids
L
ooking for something fun and
exciting for your kids over the
summer? Do you need a break from the
kids during the day? Here is a list of summer camps and activities to help keep the kids occupied and protect your sanity!
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Garland YMCA Cool Days Summer Programs
and Family Fun – www.garlandymca.com
City of Wylie Summer Camp Programs
Click Program then Summer Camp or Sports depending upon
your interest.
• Super Hero Camp, Ages 5–8
• Camp Wannagoa, Ages 9–12
• Teen Camp, Ages 13–16
• Sports Camps, Ages 5–10
• Soccer Camp
• Multi-Sport Camp July 27–30
Primrose School of Firewheel
www.primroseschools.com
Click Accredited Program then Summer Camps for more
information.
Some featured camp programs are:
• What’s Cooking? Kids learn about nutrition and food
• Passport to Adventure — Your child will learn and
explore different travel destinations.
• When I Grow Up — Personal experience with various
occupations
Sachse Parks & Recreation Camps
www.cityofsachse.com/parks/
Click the top link labeled Spring/Summer 2009 Program
Brochure for more detail.
• Cooking Camp, Ages 5–12
• Adventures in Art Camp, Ages 5–13
4
Young Rembrandts Camp, Ages 7–13
3-D Camp, Ages 5–13
2-D Camp, Ages 7 and up
Performing Arts Camp, Ages 4–9
Performance Fun for Vocalists Camp, Ages 6–11
Wylie Wave Day Camp — Open to Wylie ISD and Residents only, www.wylietexas.gov/Programs/wave.htm. Kids
entering 1st thru 8th grade (13 year old age maximum).
Skyhawks Sports – Summer 2009
www.skyhawks.com
All camps held Monday–Friday at Cooper Middle School
and Draper Intermediate School.
Sport
Ages
Parent & Me Soccer
3 1/2–4
Mini-Hawk (Soccer, Baseball, Basketball) 4–7
Soccer
6–12
Cheerleading
5–9
Basketball
6–12
Volleyball
6–12
Summer 2009
Easter Egg Hunt
By Janet Smith
T
hank you to all volunteers and families that braved the
windy weather to help put together a wonderful Easter
Egg Hunt. Although the wind was blowing strong, the sun was
shining. Families had the opportunity to have their pictures taken
with the Easter Bunny and participate in the Easter Egg Hunt
and Neighborhood Challenge. Although turnout for the Neighborhood Challenge was low due to the weather, several kids
from various neighborhoods banded together in order to compete
in the events. It was a fun and silly time.
There were 12 winners of the Easter Egg Hunt. A special
thank you goes to Brooklyn’s Pizza at Firewheel Town Center
for donating gift certificates for the 9–12 year old Egg Hunt.
The younger age group winners received Easter baskets filled
with toys and goodies. Winners of the Neighborhood Challenge
received Golden Egg Trophies.
We look forward to next year and are hopeful for warmer
weather!
We are requesting volunteers to join the social committee. We still have a vacancy for Chair of the Social Committee
as well as Event Chairs. Visit the committee at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WHOASocialCommittee.
5
Freebie Opportunities!
By Janet Smith
I
am a huge fan of FREE! If I can get something for nothing,
I have hit the jackpot. So when the “Mike and Juliet” show
on Fox had a two part series on getting Free Products, I set
my DVR and had my notebook handy. Here, I share this much
needed information in this unstable economy.
www.KraftFirstTaste.com
Get the inside scoop on the latest Kraft products and be one of
the first to try them. You have to join in order to receive the free
or deep discounted product coupons.
www.KidsMealDeals.com
The ultimate restaurant search engine for Kids Eat Free & Kids
Meal Specials!
www.Walmart.com
Yes, you did not see wrong. Wal-Mart offers free products to try.
On the Home page click on Save & Live Green hyperlink. On
the left column scroll to and click on the hyperlink Free Samples
& Trials.
www.Vocalpoint.com
Members get access to fun, thought-provoking experiences and
explore products and services. You will receive valuable coupons
along with sample products to refer the products to friends as well.
www.StartSampling.com
StartSampling is ABSOLUTELY FREE! All you need is a willingness to try something new! Then enjoy it as a member of the
country’s leading online sampling company. Besides receiving
samples, as a member you can also participate in their Frequent
Tryer Miles program. Frequent Tryer Miles (FTM) are points
you collect for participating in their sampling program and can
be used to receive gifts that are absolutely free.
6
www.avvo.com
Free Legal advice.
Free 411 information service
Dial: 1-800-FREE-411 (Must listen to short advertisement
before getting information)
Upcoming Events
June 4–
July 30
Sachse Library Summer Reading Program 11 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. Thursdays, www.cityofsachse.com.
June 11– Wylie Concert Series 7:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Aug. 15 at Olde City Park.
June 27
Allen USA Celebration at Celebration Park,
Allen, TX. Begins at noon.
July 3
Sachse Fireworks Spectacular at Heritage Park.
Begins at 7:30 p.m.
July 2
July 4
Wylie Fireworks, Founders Park. Begins at 9:30 p.m.
Killis Melton Ice Cream Crank Off in McKinney at
Chestnut Square Historic Village.
July 10-12 Taste of Dallas at the West End Historic District.
Aug 8
Aug 15
Wylie Family Movie Night at Old City Park
Kung Fu Panda begins at 9:30 p.m.
Wylie Family Movie Night at Old City Park
High School Musical 3 begins at 9:30 p.m.
Summer 2009
A Reminder about
Dog Responsibilities
Interest Groups
By Mike Roha
Bible Study Group
W
ith warm weather here, it is a good
time to remind all Woodbridge residents of safe and responsible dog ownership. Some residents let dogs roam without
leashes and don’t pick up the waste. It
seems it is a “few” that can dampen the
experience for the whole.
Please be aware that both the cities of
Sachse and Wylie have leash laws in effect.
They have been listed here for reference. To
some it might seem overly onerous to keep
their well behaved dogs on a leash. Please
consider that other dogs may not be so
friendly or of the same size. If your dog is the
one not on a leash, you will most likely be
considered at fault in the event of an incident.
Woodbridge has great trails which allow
neighbors to get outside and meet each other.
Please help to keep them fun for all!
Pet Restraint Laws
(text taken from respective city websites)
We meet two Sundays a month at 6:00 p.m.
Mignon Morse at: [email protected].
Bunco
Jennifer Darwin at: 214-392-5310 or [email protected].
Homeschoolers Group
Angela Snodgrass at: [email protected].
Newcomers/Singles Group
You do not have to be a recent homeowner, just an adult who wants to get out for
fun events! Nicole Tucker at: 972-992-8204 or [email protected].
Play Groups
12–24 months. Ginger Dennie at: 972-429-3529 or [email protected].
Mah Jongg at the Sachse Library
Are you interested in learning to play the Chinese tile game, Mah Jongg? Come
to the Sachse Library on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 1:00
p.m. for an afternoon of Mah Jongg. For more information, contact Jan Doleh at:
[email protected].
Woodbridge Book Club Meets Monthly
The Woodbridge Book Club meets every month on the second Wednesday at 7:00
p.m. Here are our upcoming selections:
City of Sachse: For dogs, if they are
“not confined to the premises of the
owner, the dog must be under the control of the owner by means of a leash
or metal chain of sufficient strength
and length to control the actions of the
dog.” Dogs must be kept confined to the
owner’s property in such a manner that
it cannot escape. If cats are “permitted
to run at large, they must have a valid
rabies and license tag attached to their
collar or harness.” www.cityofsachse.
com/police/animalcontrol.asp
April 8
Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson;
May 13
Dewey: The Small-town Library Cat Who Touched the World,
by Vicki Myron;
June 10
The Necklace: Thirteen Women and the Experiment that Transformed
their Lives, by Cheryl Jarvis.
City of Wylie: Wylie City Ordinance
requires all pets to be restrained by a
leash, a chain or a fenced yard. It is
unlawful for an owner to fail to prevent
their pet from running at large within
city limits or allow them to run free
in city parks. www.wylietexas.gov/
AnimalControl/fines.htm
Search “Woodbridge Residents” or type in the link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=42337834364&ref=ts
Join for updates, networking, etc!
For more information, contact Diane Model at: 972-429-1170 or
[email protected]; or Jan Doleh at: 972-461-9911 or
[email protected].
Exercise Group
Looking for people to work out together in the mornings. Contact Charlene Scott
at: 214-356-1735 or [email protected].
Woodbridge is on Facebook!
Want to start your own Woodbridge Interest Group?
E-mail: [email protected].
7
1800 Preston Park Blvd., Suite 101
Plano, Texas 75093
Association Inc.
STANDARD B
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
WYLIE, TX
PERMIT NO. 207
The Woodbridge Social and
Newsletter Committees
both need volunteers!
You can visit the Social Committee at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WHOASocialCommittee
The Newsletter Committee needs your
ideas and articles. Please e-mail the
editor at [email protected] if
you are interested in submitting content
to the newsletter.
8
Think Xeriscape
Maribeth Flowers, APLD
Flowers’ Gardens & Landscapes
T
he Texas summer takes a toll on everyone’s landscape. The
key to a beautiful landscape in this weather is to pick the
proper plant and use proper maintenance techniques. Xeriscape
is a set of principles that enables you to have an attractive green
landscape with less water use and less maintenance. Contrary to
popular belief, it is not just cacti and rocks.
Choose plants that are native to Texas or plants that are
drought tolerant and adapted to our soil. There are hundreds
of varieties of plants that do well in our environment. Plan and
design your landscape prior to purchasing your plants. Amend the
soil with compost. Locate your new plants properly in the landscape by putting plants with similar water needs together. Match
plants that need the most water with those areas that stay moist or
shady. Grass requires more frequent watering. Replace small or
narrow spots of grass that you cannot water effectively.
Proper maintenance is critical to conserving water. Add
mulch and regularly replenish it. Bare soil loses twice as much
water to evaporation as compared to mulched areas. Don’t
over fertilize with high nitrogen fertilizer. When lawns start to
turn green, add a balanced fertilizer containing slow release
nitrogen. Check your irrigation system regularly and look for
leaks or excessive runoff. Water deeply and thoroughly only
when needed. Generally, you can reduce the time and frequency
of watering without harming your landscape. Remember, it is
better to underwater than overwater.
A properly designed, planted and maintained landscape
will continue to thrive no matter what the conditions. Flowers’
Gardens & Landscapes can assist you in making this happen.
Call us at 972-429-7707.