WB Eco Fair
Recycle – Reuse – Repurpose

Saturday, April 6 | 1:00-4:00pm
WB Rec. Center | 3000 Shoreline

Get ready for a world of fun at Eco Fair! Come to the WB Rec Center on Shoreline, April 6 from 1:00-4:00pm, and discover the evolution of WB parks, uncover future park plans, and learn how to transform your turf into an urban oasis. Come see the electric bike display, dive into activities, snag giveaways, and chat with environmental experts for a celebration as lively as the planet we love.

The WBNA team is proud to participate with a whole host of topics and booths. Are you recycling correctly? Find out by playing the “Recycle Game”—you could win a door prize! Learn how to make a rain gauge from a recycled water bottle and m0onitor your water usage. The local Buy Nothing Group and a repurpose clothing group will be on hand. There’s even a craft activity for the entire family made from recycled materials.
Go green, recycle and have FUN!

WBNA Easter Egg Hunt Extravaganza!

Saturday, March 30 • 10:30am • Come Early!
The Homestead at KF Park • 2106 Klattenoff Drive

Hop into Spring! Join your friends, neighbors and The Easter Bunny himself, at the annual Wells Branch Easter Egg Hunt. The “Hunts” will be by age group and begin at 10:30am SHARP! Plan to come early and visit with the Easter Bunny or have fun at our craft table. This is a community event and ALL Wells Branch residents and their invited guests are welcome.

The Easter Bunny will be available for photos beginning at 10:00am and will stay until everyone has had a chance to talk to him. Photos will be posted to an album on the WBNA Facebook page.

We need parents to set the example for behavior during this event. Please read and go over the rules with your hunters! ONE parent will be allowed in to help with the two youngest age groups (0-18mos & 18mos-3yrs.) We ask that you respect this restriction. Children in all other age groups must hunt on their own. There will be 7 minutes between each of the age groups hunts to allow parents with multiple children to navigate to the next area. Please, only allow your children to hunt with their respective age group. If for some reason, your child ends up with only a few eggs, please approach any of our WBNA volunteers in bunny ears, they will have extra goodies. Last, but not least, please remember that this event is put on by volunteers. We spend weeks getting ready and usually stuff 8,000-10,000 eggs (if you are wondering, yes we recycle those eggs.) It’s no small feat. So, if a volunteer asks something of you, please be respectful of their requests. Then for all your corporate event needs, consider the versatility and charm of tipi rentals from https://www.bareventsuk.com/tipi-hire-corporate-events. With spacious interiors and customizable layouts, these structures offer endless possibilities for creating memorable experiences.

We love our neighbors and our community. We’re asking for everyone’s help in advance in creating an enjoyable experience for all involved. Please help us and remember to recycle your eggs before you leave. We need volunteers to help things run more smoothly. Anyone whose kids have aged out of the hunt, community service groups, or older teens who need service hours, we would be so appreciative of your time! Please contact us for more information: Margaret Sufke at info@wbna.us or text 208-869-5224. To volunteer, sign-up here:  https://tinyurl.com/2024-WBNA-EEHUNT.

Easter Egg Hunt Rules:
Those of you who’ve attended our hunts in the past know we have very few rules, but we do ask parents to follow those rules and be courteous and respectful of your neighbors so that all of our children may enjoy the hunt.

• BE ON TIME (early is better) AS THE “HUNTS” GO QUICKLY
• Wait until your age group is called
• Check all eggs for prizes
• Let a volunteer know if there’s an issue
• Recycle your eggs with the WBNA
• MOST of ALL, Have FUN!

AGE GROUPS:

0-18mos & 18mos-3yrs
*Only 1 parent per child in egg hunting area
*Watch out for potential choking hazards
4-6yrs • 7-9yrs • 10-12yrs
* No parents or siblings allowed in egg
hunting area

WBNA Election Results & Event Updates

Please welcome our board members for 2024! We are excited to have a new member, Steve Cockrell, joining the team. Lara Bennett and Pam Wachholz have returned to the group
and their enthusiasm for the community is truly appreciated. On February 29, we had a quorum vote with 16 votes or proxies being recognized. Returning and new members were duly elected. Next year, positions 1, 3, 5 and 7 will be up for election in 2025.

Lara Bennett — (position 3) Nadia Bernard — (position 6)
Steve Cockrell — (position 2) Margaret Sufke — (position 7)
Juli Thatcher — (position 4) Pam Wachholz — (position 5)

There were no nominations from the floor for Position 1, so it remains open. We will continue to actively seek a volunteer for the remaining post. Following the general public meeting the new board will meet as a group and roles will be
assigned.

The board approved the Shot in the Dark at the Park solar eclipse event. We are partnering with the WB Photo group to host this event. The 2024 Arts at the Library—Craft
Marketplace has been confirmed for September 28 — look for more information in the next issue. We will also host a Candidate Forum closer to the elections in November.

Just a friendly reminder. If you have not joined or renewed, use the membership form on page 12 or pay online at: https://wbna-inc.square.site. If you have already paid your 2024 dues, thank you.

A sincere thank you to everyone who has volunteered and supported the WBNA. YOU make the Wells Branch Community better. We are all looking forward to another
fun-filled year!

2024 WBNA Annual Board
Update & Elections

Thursday, February 29, 2024 | 6:30pm
WB Community Center | 2106 Klattenhoff Drive

The WBNA Board has seven members, each serving a two year term with assigned place numbers. Even numbered places are elected during even years; odd numbered places in odd years. This year places 2, 4, and 6 are up for re-election. As governed by the WBNA Bylaws, roles vacated prior to the election are filled by appointees.

Transition defined 2023 for the WBNA board. Three board members, Darci Marter,  Mikella Maughan, and Terra Moses chose to step down mid-term. Each member was reluctant to leave, citing family related reasons, either moving out of area or additional family commitments. In the interim, we were so glad to welcome back Donna Lyons and Lara Bennett as appointees.

In early 2024, Heather Briggs and Donna Lyons stepped back due to family and time commitments. We are currently seeking two new board members and any resident of Wells Branch may join the board. Currently Places 1 and 6 are open and appointees will be ratified during the general meeting.

All Wells Branch residents (both in-district and out-of-district) are invited and encouraged to attend the 2024 general meeting. Your WBNA membership must be current in order to vote in the election or run for office. The membership form is available in the current newsletter or you may join online at: https://wbna-inc.square.site. It’s quick and easy! Please be sure and enter a valid email address. Continue reading 2024 WBNA Annual Board Update & Elections →

Neighborhood Watch Training Program

Deputy Alexis White, TSCO Community Outreach Program
Thursday, February 29 | 7:00-8:00pm
WB Community Center | 2106 Klattenhoff Drive
(immediately following the WBNA general meeting)

Last November the WBNA hosted the Travis County Sheriff’s Office community forum for public safety. Prior to that session, the WBNA conducted a short neighborhood safety survey. One of the biggest takeaways was that folks wanted to re-establish an active, hands-on Neighborhood Watch group. 76% of the survey respondents indicated there was not an ACTIVE neighborhood watch group either on their street or within their immediate subdivision. Getting new block captains educated and re-assigning streets or manageable areas is the first step.

Continue reading Neighborhood Watch Training Program →

Wells Branch Wild:
A Community Wildlife Habitat

by Jill Douglass

What do the United States Department of Agriculture, Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas Fish and Game, the Xerces Society, and the National Wildlife Federation all agree on?  Leaving the leaves!!  All of these organizations support wildlife, and they all promote using the fallen leaves in your yards as cover, food, and nurseries for animals.  With eight trees in my backyard, I do have trouble finding a spot for all those leaves.  The leaves on the gravel paths get blown or raked into the flower/landscape beds.  Some get piled into a small compost pile.  The ones on the grass get mowed and left in place (though shredded leaves will not provide the same cover as leaving them whole).  My lawn is small so the mown leaves are few.  In the end, a few bags of leaves do make it to the curb to contribute to our community composting.  Leaving the leaves provides two basic benefits.  First, the leaves provide food, cover, and a place for animals to raise their young. Butterflies, bumble bees, lightning bugs, moths, frogs, and turtles are just a few examples of animals that rely on leaf litter.  Without the leaves providing a habitat for insects, many birds will not have food.  Second, leaf mulch provides valuable organic matter to your garden.  No need to buy mulch if you are using your leaves.

To learn more about how to support wildlife, follow Wells Branch Wild on Facebook and Instagram (both can be found by searching Wells Branch Wild).  To date, we have 57 certified wildlife habitats in Wells Branch.  We are one-quarter of the way to our goal of 200. If you are interested in certifying or have questions on how to proceed, visit www.nwf.org/Certify or message us on Facebook or come to our presentation on February 15.  We would love to help.

Wells Branch Wild’s mission is to lead, inspire, and engage our community in stewardship of a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. 

Upcoming TCSO Citizens Academy Register Now!

TCSO Community Outreach Unit is excited to host the 37th Citizens Academy this Spring. The academy provides citizens valuable insights on the criminal justice process and the how’s and why’s of TCSO operations and services. We believe the education and dialogue the academy offers will further our efforts in improving community relations and the quality of life for Travis County residents.

The Citizens Academy is a 13-week program from March 21 – June 13, 2024. Citizens will meet every Thursday from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the TCSO Central Command located at 5555 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78751.

Citizens receive classroom instruction by corrections officers, law enforcement deputies, civilians, and supervisors who work in each division within the department. The weekly sessions are not intended to train participants to be officers, but to help develop a citizenry with TCSO. For more information on the course and how to enroll, please visit:  https://www.tcsheriff.org/about/community/citizens-academy

The Importance of Picking Up Pet Waste

While most pet owners know it is responsible to clean up after their dogs in public spaces, it is important to know the significance of this simple act, especially when visiting a contained space like Willow Bend Dog Park. Pet waste left unattended can lead to a host of problems, affecting not only human health but also our beloved environment in Wells Branch. When picking up your dog’s waste, think about the reasons why you are doing it. Continue reading The Importance of Picking Up Pet Waste →