REMINDER:  PLEASE UPDATE YOUR PET’S
MICROCHIP INFO and MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THEIR COLLAR & TAGS!

Every year we see an increase in lost pets around the 4th of July, as they try to escape the noise and confusion of fireworks.

IF YOU FIND A LOST PET please TEXT the Wells Branch microchip scanner volunteer at (512) 270-1026 for a free scan, or take the pet to your nearest fire station, vet office, or pet supply store such as Petsmart or Petco to have them scanned.

Please post on the Wells Branch Lost and Found Pets page on Facebook, Austin Lost & Found Pets, Pflugerville Lost & Found Pets, Nextdoor, and the Wells Branch Google Group.

Fireworks Safety

Pflugerville Fire / Travis Co ESD No.2

Every year around July 4th and New Year’s Eve, we are often asked the question, “Are fireworks legal around here?” The answer depends on where you are located!

In unincorporated Travis County outside of city limits, fireworks generally are legal, but THERE ARE SEVERAL LIMITATIONS, some of which are listed below. Call the the Sheriff’s dispatch number (512) 974-0845 then press OPTION 3 for fireworks issues in unincorporated Travis County.

• Fireworks cannot be used on public roadways.
• Fireworks cannot be used on school district property.
• Fireworks cannot be used within 600 feet of any church, a licensed child-care center, a hospital, or a public or private school or higher-education facility unless the person received written permission from that organization.
• Fireworks are illegal in Travis County parks.
• Fireworks are illegal to use on Wells Branch Municipal Utility District (MUD) property, which includes all MUD facilities, parks, trails, greenbelts, the Pond, drainage detention areas, the veloway, and the grassy area located at Robert I. Walker and Charla Circle.
• For all other properties, you must get written permission from the property owner to light any personal fireworks – even if it’s a commercial property not in use at nighttime.

Even where fireworks are legal, they are risky to use and cause many fires and injuries around the U.S.!  The safest legal way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a professional fireworks show, such as the Pfirecracker Pfestival in Pflugerville or the 4th Fest in Wells Branch. Here are a few other fireworks safety tips:

Make Fireworks a Family Activity

• Before the holiday, make a point to discuss fireworks safety with everyone in your family to decrease the chance of someone getting hurt.
• Never let children purchase fireworks without parents there — even older kids.
• Insist on adult supervision whenever fireworks are being lit – even for older kids. Children age 10 to 14 years old actually receive the second-highest number of fireworks burns and injuries, right behind preschoolers and toddlers!
• Kids who are younger than kindergarten-age should never be allowed to hold any fireworks on their own, including sparklers. Sparklers reach temperatures hot enough to melt metal. Give little kids glow-sticks instead! Pass the sparklers to much older kids and adults to carefully light ONE at a time – ideally wearing gloves. Check out this PSA from the Texas State Fire Marshal https://bit.ly/SparklersScary

Respect Vets, Pets, and Neighbors

• Keep in mind that the sound of fireworks can be very stressful for some veterans and others who experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It also scares many dogs and other pets.
• When a holiday falls on a weeknight, remember that most people will be getting up early the next day and go to work. Please respect your neighbors’ work schedule.
• Fireworks are poisonous to pets. Be sure not to leave behind any used fireworks where pets (yours or someone else’s) spend time.
• You must get written permission from the property owner to light any personal fireworks there – even if the property is currently vacant.

Preparing to Light Fireworks

• Only light fireworks OUTSIDE on a flat surface that’s far from any homes or buildings. Don’t light fireworks near dry grass or leaves – you can catch them on fire.
• Before you light a firework, take a good look around to be sure there aren’t any people or pets in range of possibly getting hurt.
• Don’t lean over firework devices or place your hand over them when lighting. Immediately back up as far as you can after lighting! The body parts that suffer the most fireworks injuries are fingers, hands, eyes, face, and ears.

Safely Disposing of Fireworks

• Don’t try to re-light fireworks that didn’t work on the first try!
• Thoroughly soak all fireworks, even the ones that did not work, in a bucket of water or with a hose before putting in the trash.

2024 Silent Auction Donations Needed

Looking for treasures? The WBNA Silent Auction is coming up faster that you think! The annual auction is our BIG fundraiser and takes place during the WB MUD 4th Fest celebration on July 4th. Monies raised help to fund the various WBNA community events: the Easter Egg Hunt, National Night Out, Pumpkin Painting and our participation in WB MUD Halloween Trunk or Treat, and the crafts at Luminary Fest as well as on-going town hall meetings, candidate forums and safety awareness sessions throughout the year.

Donating to the WBNA Silent Auction is a GREAT way to promote your business and give back to our community! We are seeking donations of merchandise, gift cards/certificates, themed baskets, and service certifcates to auction. In return, you will receive exposure for your business at the live auction and on the auction website. The online auction has a rotating featured item section along with item details and links to your site. There’s also a special “Thank You” section in the September issue of this newsletter. If you have items or services to donate please email us at silentauction@wbna.us.

Along with support from our local businesses, services, and Austin area attractions, we would LOVE donations from community friends and family. Neighbors through the years have put together some awesome baskets with themes such as “Summer Fun”, “Game Night”, “Movie Night”, “Italian Feast”, “Date Night”, “Kids Fun”…. use your imagination!

We will begin accepting donations Friday, May 10. Donations to be included in the online auction must be received by June 18. Live auction donations will be gratefully accepted through June 30. We would also like to welcome the return of baked goods donations, please contact Margaret Sufke, 512-341-0428, for details.

Volunteers Needed

We are actively seeking event volunteers to help solicit items, prepare the baskets and/or work the auction. If you have any empty baskets leftover from last year, we’d love to have them! Please email us at silentauction@wbna.us and watch for the link to the event volunteer site.

Silent Auction Details

We are excited to run the auction during WB MUD 4th Fest. 2024 marks the 4th year of our special hybrid format with the online auction followed by a “live” event for the final bids on July 4th. The LIVE event will be at the heart of WB MUD 4th Fest in the Community Center from 9:00am – 2:00pm. The online auction will go live the week before. Watch the WB Google Group, our website, and the WBNA Facebook page for updates. An auction link will be included in the next issue of the Neighborhood News.

Friday, June 21: The Silent Auction site goes live!
Monday, July 1: The online site closes and we transition all active bids to the live event.
Thursday, July 4: The LIVE auction opens at 9:00am and the final tables close at 2:00pm.
Online Buy-It-Now purchases may be collected at anytime between 9:00am and 5:00pm on Thursday, July 4.
***Please note: the Silent Auction will be closed from 2:00pm – 3:00pm on July 4 for tallying of bid sheets.
Payments and Pick Up for winning on-site bids will available from 3:00pm – 5:00pm on Thursday, July 4 and on Friday, July 5 from 12:00 – 5:00pm in the WB Community Center, 2106 Klattenhoff Drive.