2025 WBNA Community Calendar Photo Contest:  “Wildlife of Wells Branch”

The annual WBNA Community Calendar Photo Contest has begun! Our 2024 calendar was hugely popular and each and every image was amazing.

The 2025 theme is “Wildlife of Wells Branch”, this includes critters, birds, flora, fauna—anything wild—including folks having a “wild” time in the neighborhood. Once again the contest will take place both live in the WB MUD Recreation Center main lobby as well as online via our Facebook gallery for viewing and voting. The WB MUD Rec Center will host the contest gallery and “live” votes will be collected in a drop box. You may vote often, but only once for a single image.   Voting will take place online via the WBNA Facebook page at bit.ly/WBNA2025CalendarContestAlbum

As a reminder, anyone who lives in Wells Branch can submit up to six photos. The image format MUST be in 8×10 landscape for the calendar. The only real “rules” are that images must be taken within Wells Branch by Wells Branch residents. Please visit bit.ly/WBNACalendarContest for rules and entry information. NOTE: Please plan to provide an 8×10 printed image for display in the Rec Center gallery.

Important Dates to Remember:

May 15: Contest opens. Use the online form and drop photo entry at the WB MUD Rec Center

Sept. 1: Contest closes and voting ends

Sept. 21: Winners announced

Sept. 28: Early sales begin at the WBNA Arts at the Library Marketplace

Oct. 1: The new 2025 Calendars will be available at National Night Out

Questions? Contact: Margaret Sufke,
Calendar Contest Coordinator, at mmsufke@gmail.com

Volunteers Needed!
WBE PTA Facelift Painting Project

July 11-14 • Day and evening volunteer slots available.

Wells Branch Elementary School • 14650 Merrilltown Drive

Have you walked the halls at WBE lately? They’re looking a little drab…..which is why we’re SO excited that under the direction of our new Principal, Ms. Negrete, we’re going to give WBE a little facelift over the summer! This will mostly be done with paint, so we can show our bright Explorer blue and green a bit more than the boring colors that are currently on the walls. There might be a few other surprises in store too when students return in August!

In order to make this a success, we’re asking for ANYONE who is willing to volunteer and paint during the day or evening July 11-14. PTA is providing paint and supplies, so we just need some extra arms to make it happen! The AC will be on 🙂

Please respond to president@wellsbranchpta.org to let me know if you’re interested and available. Also, spread the word to friends, family, and teenagers looking for some “fun” volunteer work – the more the merrier!

Volunteer Opportunities at St.Andrew’s Presbyterian Church 

14311 Wells Port Drive

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church needs your help in reaching out to the people we serve. We promise that you will feel good doing this, and you can be involved as much or as little as you wish, and your schedule allows.

Thursday night Homeless Dinner/Showers:  We offer this ministry every Thursday. It continues to grow in popularity. We open the doors at 5:30, and our clients enjoy meals, showers, and laundry services. Volunteers start at 5:30pm and leave at 8:30 – 9:30pm. However, we can accommodate your schedule. Email edwardkopas@gmail.com for more info.

Food Pantry:  We reach a variety of clients who face food insecurity from Wells Branch and the surrounding areas. With the help of volunteers, customers shop for shelf-stable foods, fresh fruit & vegetables, frozen meat, seasonal offerings from our church garden, pet food & child diapers.

Lots of volunteers are needed at the food pantries on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 9am to noon. We also need volunteers on Fridays to prep for pantry-day or pick up food at the Central Texas Food Bank.  Email landsmanlaura@gmail.com for more info.

It’s so very gratifying for us to make life easier for the those in and around Wells Branch.  We have a great group of volunteers, but often need substitutes for them. That’s why we’re asking you to volunteer.  Give us a try!

Water, Mosquito Control, Native Plants

Insight from Wells Branch Wild Conservancy

As the temperature rises during the hot Texas summer months, gardeners know that it becomes a challenge to keep the plants alive while conserving water. The presence of mosquitoes in our yards and parks is another challenge that faces everyone. Fortunately, native plants offer a great solution. Native plants are adapted to the local climate which make them ideal for hot summers and mild winters. Once established, they are drought tolerant due to deep roots that allow them to withstand longer periods without water, thus reducing the need for constant irrigation. Examples include yuccas, salvias, agaves, mistflowers, and turk’s caps.

In addition to using native plants the following options are available to save water. 1) Use drip irrigation such as soaker hoses instead of sprinklers to minimize evaporation during irrigation. 2) Harvest rainwater from the roof by collecting it in barrels and use it for watering. 3) Apply organic mulch around plants to retain moisture and control weeds. 4) If you have an irrigation system, check for leaks and only irrigate according to the schedule determined by WB’s MUD.

Native plants can also help with mosquito control by acting as mosquito-repellents. Plants to select include lantana, lavender, bee balm, and sage. Non-native plants to consider include rosemary, garlic, marigold, citronella grass, lemongrass, basil, catnip, eucalyptus, and mint. Due to climate change mosquitoes are appearing earlier in the spring and even breeding into the winter in Texas. We want to prevent mosquito bites as these insects may carry a variety of diseases such as the West Nile fever.

Other natural methods to control mosquitoes include: 1) Remove standing water and regularly clean out features that require water, such as bird baths to eliminate breeding grounds. 2) Cover water storage containers or use mesh smaller than a mosquito. 3) Consider installing lightning that mosquitoes are not attracted to such as LED in outdoor spaces. 4) Sprinkle used coffee grounds on areas where there had been drainage problems to deprive eggs of oxygen. 5) Attract natural predators such as birds, frogs, and dragon flies by providing them habitats. 6) Use an outdoor fan on the patio or deck as mosquitoes are not very strong flyers. 7) Use mosquito dunks in a bucket of water to make a mosquito trap to kill off mosquito larvae instead of fogging, because fogging also kills other insects.

For personal protection, use insect repellent, wear light loose fitted clothes with long sleeves and long pants.

Heat Stroke:  Know the Signs

Pflugerville Fire / Travis Co ESD No.2

During hot and humid weather, your body has a harder time cooling.  When the body heats up too quickly to properly cool itself – or when too much fluid/salt is lost through sweating or dehydration – the victim may suffer heat exhaustion or heat stroke which is very serious.  Below are tips on preventing heat stroke, recognizing its symptoms, and first aid. And remember: never leave kids, pets, or disabled adults alone in parked cars … not even for a few minutes!  Have a safe and enjoyable summer everybody.

PREVENTING HEAT STROKE

• Slow down! Reduce, cancel or reschedule strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day
• Even if you don’t feel thirsty, proactively bring and drink plenty of water (not very cold) or other non-alcoholic, decaffeinated fluids
• Prevent sunburn through sunscreen, sunhats, and minimizing direct exposure to the sun; a sunburn reduces your body’s ability to cool down
• Dress in lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight
• Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salad
• Take a cool bath or shower
• Spend time in air-conditioned locations
• When the room temperature is hotter than 90°, don’t direct the flow of portable electric fans toward you because the dry, blowing air may further dehydrate you

 HEAT STROKE SYMPTOMS

• Altered mental state or confusion
• Hot, red, dry, or moist skin
• One or more of these symptoms: dizziness, throbbing headache, nausea, shallow breathing
• Rapid and strong pulse
• Fainting or loss of consciousness
• Body temperature 103°F or greater

FIRST AID FOR HEAT STROKE

• Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency! Call 9-1-1 or get the victim to a hospital immediately
• Get to a cooler setting, preferably air-conditioned
• Do not give fluids
• Reduce body temperature with cool cloths or a bath •  Use a fan only IF the heat index is BELOW the high-90s