WBNA | Wells Branch Neighborhood Association

Wells Branch ECO FairSunday, April 3 | 1:00-4:00pm
WB Rec. Center | 3000 Shoreline Drive

The Wells Branch ECO Fair, an Earth Day Celebration, will be a little early this year – April 3, 2022, 1:00-4:00pm in the gym at the Wells Branch Recreation Center.  Come celebrate our wondrous planet and discover ways we can better use our precious resources for the benefit of all.

Energy — Solar Vendors will be on hand to share information on rooftop solar and battery solutions, costs and rebates.

Oncor and Austin Energy will be onsite to speak to residential rebates and Energy Saving programs.

The 4 Rs — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Repurpose
The WBNA will showcase the 4Rs — There will be a display on how to greatly reduce the use of plastics, including ways to create your own household products plus  examples of recycled art and on-site art projects to make from repurposed materials. If you would like to show your recycled artwork or volunteer for one of the 4 Rs, please contact Margaret Sufke, (mmsufke@gmail.com or 512-341-0428).  Local scouting groups will be on hand with bulk trash hauling service information and younger scouts will help the kids with the popular “cardboard construction” activity.  Recycling information will be available including an interactive activity to highlight what everyday items can and should be recycled.

Water Conservation — The Wells Branch MUD will speak to water delivery, conservation and wastewater.  There will be science-based presentations and educational demonstrations that will help you understand how the water utility hardware works in your home.  The Wells Branch Water Drop will be there handing out water conservation gear and prizes.

The Great Outdoors area is focused on the message “you are nature’s best hope”.  There’ll  be a lot to learn from growing mushrooms to great info about our native plants.  We’ll have examples of low maintenance projects you can do in small spaces to benefit our pollinators, the kids can make seed balls, there will be a great tree give away and we will even send you home with pet lady bugs!  We will explore Wells Branch’s Urban Forest efforts and where we go next.  Great Texas groups like the A&M Urban Foresters, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, Audubon and our own local Ask an Arborist will be there.  The Natural Grocer and others will be on hand to speak to healthy food and a plant-based diet. Come early for our Tree Maintenance 101 class at 12-noon in the front conference room at the recreation center.

Come celebrate spring with us, there will be many hands-on events for children and adults, we are sure you will have fun and learn new ways to make a positive impact on the environment and a better future for us all.

If you’re interested in working with us on the ECO Fair, contact spalmer@wellsbranchmud.com

Upcoming Holiday Events

The holidays are upon us!  We hope you’ll join in celebrating these wonderful Wells Branch traditions with family, friends, and neighbors.  We look forward to seeing each of you this season!

The WBNA Team—Building Community Together

Light Up the Night at Luminary Fest
Friday & Saturday, December 10 & 11 • 6:00-9:00pm
Sponsored by WB MUD Parks & Rec. Dept.

Experience the glow of the holidays as our trails light up with luminaries around Katherine Fleischer Park on December 10 & 11.  Santa will be visiting the Homestead Cabin both nights from 6-9pm with FREE digital photos provided by WB Community Church available the next day on the WBNA Facebook page.

Join us outdoors for a caroling hayride or enjoy a peaceful stroll among the luminaries.  Download our traditional caroling songbook to follow on the hayride at wbna.us.

Warm up inside the Community Center with hot cocoa and cookies provided by the WB MUD Parks & Rec. Dept.  WBNA sponsored craft tables will be set up both nights and children will have the opportunity to create ornaments and keepsakes.  Volunteers will be on hand to assist with crafts and MUD staff will keep the refreshments flowing. Look for the Friends of the Library and their holiday tattoos!  The 2022 WBNA Community Calendar will be available for purchase inside the Community Center both nights as well.

Sadly, many businesses are still getting back on track after the COVID closures and the Holiday Express Train and Saturday Night Kids’ Karaoke will not be joining us this year, but there’ll be lots of crafts, music, cocoa and cookies both nights.

Help to light the luminary candles on Friday and Saturday at 3:30pm.  The MUD will have lighters on hand but feel free to bring your own long lighter and meet in the courtyard at the Community Center.  Wagons are encouraged Saturday to help carry the replacement candles along the trail.  We hope to see you there!

Polar Express Pajamarama
Saturday, December 11 • 6:00 & 7:00pm
Hosted by Wells Branch Community Library

All aboard, for Wells Branch Community Library’s yearly Polar Express Pajamarama!  Enjoy holiday crafts, hot cocoa and cookies, a bedtime reading of The Polar Express and a special visit from Santa Saturday, December 11 at 6:00pm & 7:00pm!

Register at wblibrary.eventbrite.com.

WB MUD Parks & Rec Bingo Nights
Wednesday, December 15 • Wednesday, January 19
 6:30pm-8:30pm • Recreation Center • 3000 Shoreline Dr.

Get your daubers ready — you’re in for a real treat! Wells Branch Recreation Department is hosting Bingo Nights this winter.  Grab your bingo buddy and lucky charm and join your neighbors at the Recreation Center Gym every third Wednesday of the month from November through February.  The lucky winners will have a selection of gift cards to choose from.  Light refreshments will be available at no cost.  Bingo will begin at 6:30pm and prizes will wrap up around 8:30pm.

Tis’ the Season of Joy!
Get Ready to Sparkle!

The WBNA is sponsoring a Wells Branch Holiday Lighting Contest.  Let’s see you shine!

We’ve added a Holiday Lights Trail Map this year and set up an online site for entering nominations.  Once entered, the entry will be “pinned” the map.  Please nominate as many addresses as you’d like at https://bit.ly/WBNAholidaylights, to be added to our map.  The map will be updated as nominations arrive, it can be viewed and shared here:
https://bit.ly/WBNAholidaylightsmap.

One grand prize will be awarded for each category. The winners will also get to display an award sign in their yard through the holidays.

Categories will be labeled on the map as well, they include: Best Use of Lights, Most Traditional, Most Visible from Outer Space, Most Elaborate, Most Energy Efficient, Most Patriotic, Most Original,  and new for 2021, Most Whimsical.

Important Dates:

DEC 15: Displays complete, entries submitted
DEC 16: Lights on 6:00 – 9:00 pm for early previews
DEC 17-18: Drive by Judging and “online voting” from the community – “Lights On”
DEC 19: Winners announced, signs installed, and prizes awarded

Good Luck & Have Fun!

2022 Wells Branch
Community Calendar Sale

The WBNA is excited to announce that the Wells Branch 2022 Community Calendar is now on SALE every Saturday from 9am-1pm at Malone Specialty Coffee & Roastery in Bratton Square through January 8, 2022.  The cost remains the same. It’s ONLY $10!There are several ways to purchase your calendar:

• Order the 2022 WBNA Calendar online, click https://tinyurl.com/2022WBNACalendarOrder (with home delivery available)
• Stop by Malone’s Coffee on Saturday mornings from 9:00 am until 1:00pm.
• The WBNA will host “Calendar Sale” tables at upcoming community events.

Contact the WBNA board at info@wbna.us

Reasons to consider purchasing the calendar:

• Wells Branch events, national dates and holidays all in one place
• All proceeds are returned to the community through WBNA events
• The calendar is FREE when you renew your WBNA annual membership

The 2022 WB Community Calendar is offered as a limited edition, so when they are gone, they are gone! Get yours today and grab an extra one as a special gift.

Thank you for your support!

The WBNA Team
Building Community Together