Category Archives: Neighborhood News

Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrar Training

Saturday, June 10 • 11am
WB Rec. Center • 3000 Shoreline Drive

Voter Registration – We need Volunteers!  It only takes an hour of your time to get certified and you can be as involved (or uninvolved) as you’d like. Training enables you to be a resource to new neighbors, at community events, school, church, and social groups.  We’re starting early this election cycle.  With this training, your certification won’t expire until December 31, 2018, so you’ll be set to register through mid-term elections.  PLEASE, help us to register ALL of our Wells Branch neighbors!

If you’d like to be a part of this effort (however big or small), we have a training session set for Saturday, June 10, 11am at the Rec. Center, 3000 Shoreline Drive.  We need an approximate head count so that Travis County can bring adequate supplies.  Please reserve your spot at vote@wbna.us.  Questions? Call 512-656-0654.

We will have a few extra packets so please come even if you haven’t RSVP’d!

Summer Reading starts today at the Wells Branch Community Library!

It’s time for another Summer Reading Challenge at the Wells Branch Community Library! Throughout June and July, log your reading progress on the library’s ReadSquared page to compete with friends and neighbors, unlock fun games and challenges, and earn chances to win raffles for fantastic prizes. Any and all reading counts: reading the newspaper, listening to an audiobook on your morning drive, reading aloud to kids, and more can all be counted toward your summer reading progress.

In addition to our online reading challenge, summer means a lot of free and fun library events! Join us each week for new kids’ programs, including:

  • LEGO Lab: Mondays from 4 to 5 p.m. (ages 5-12)
    Build and program a LEGO robot or get creative with LEGO free-play! To sign up for LEGO robotics, visit the kids’ desk beginning at 3:30.
  • Circle Time: Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. (ages 0-3)
    Learn about the alphabet, days of the week, weather, and more through song in this first classroom experience.
  • Block Parties: Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. (ages 3+)
    Build with Keva planks, cardboard bricks, and blocks of all sizes.
  • Little Helpers: Fridays at 2 p.m. (ages 4-8)
    Meet community helpers, like firefighters and police officers, and learn how to become a helper yourself!

Grown-ups can have fun, too, with programs like DIY Wednesdays each week throughout June and July. For more information about all of the library’s summer programs, visit the library’s website.

Finally, the library’s still your place to find your favorite books, magazines, and movies! Stop by any day of the week to browse and borrow, or use our digital collections for 24/7 access to library materials.

Don’t have a library card? Visit the library to sign up! All Texas residents 18 and older are eligible for a free library card, with valid ID and proof of current physical address. (Minors ages 5-17 can sign up with a parent or guardian.) The library is located at 15001 Wells Port Drive.

Got a question? Call the library at 512-989-3188, email staff@wblibrary.org, or stop by the library during open hours.

7th Annual WB Garden Guild Tour

Saturday, May 20 • Meet at the Recreation Center 3000 Shoreline Drive at 8:45am to Carpool! Departing at 9 am.
Join us at 9am to sneak a peek behind the fences and see some of the best and most interesting gardens in Wells Branch.  Take a look at how neighbors are planting to create an oasis in the shade or a sunny paradise.  We’ll visit both vegetable and flower gardens and take away lots of great ideas.

  • Joan Mead |3600 Mocha Trail | Cozy backyard xeriscape with interesting lighting
  • Barbara Romero | 2440 Rick Whinery Drive | Low maintenance, peaceful and pretty
  • Jeaneane McNulty | 2207 Fuzz Fairway | Front yard with live oaks, turf-less water conscious with stone patio and paths, featuring rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation. Backyard is veggies, native plants and play areas
  • George and Wanda Holcombe |14900 Yellowleaf Trail | Butterfly garden
  • Marlene Counts | 14583 Robert I Walker | Informal English garden including stone path
  • Vicky Linsalata | 14975 Doria | Bird and butterfly friendly native plants
  • Donna Howe | 14979 Doria | Lovely, low maintenance garden
  • Wells Branch Elementary School 14650 Merrilltown Drive | Vegetable gardens
  • Jack and Mary Hendren | 14809 Jacks Pond Rd | Front yard is shade garden featuring rock pathway with native plants
  • Glen Garey and Noe Gonzales | 14925 Jacks Pond Rd | Large, peaceful yard where they will offer some light refreshments; tea, lemonade, small sandwiches and some fruit.

Download the WB Garden Guild Tour 2017 Map HERE.

For a printable list, click HERE.

Attn:  RRISD Parents & Taxpayers!

The WBNA hosted a brief informational presentation on the Round Rock School District’s current bond proposals up for consideration in the May 6 election on Tuesday, April 25.  Here’s the link to the recording:  https://www.facebook.com/205101652856649/videos/1541236522576482/

Early voting continues through next Tuesday, May 2 with the general election on Saturday, May 6.  Please see the article below for polling places in Wells Branch.  We encourage you to seek information from every source, ask questions and make informed decisions.  Your vote is your voice!

A PAC has formed in support of the bonds (you’ve probably gotten the mailer) and parents have created a campaign to fight the bonds (in their current form).  In the interest of providing our residents with as much information as possible, here are links to each of their sites.  PLEASE research all sides and most importantly, VOTE! 

Pro Bond PAC:
Website:  ClassroomsForKids.org
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/classroomsforkids/

Against Bond Groups:
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/notthisbond/
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/RoundRockParentsAndTaxpayers/

To view the District’s Bond Presentation, please visit:  bond.roundrockisd.org/.

Attn:  Pflugerville ISD Parents & Taxpayers – Candidate Info HERE!

If you missed the opportunity to attend the Candidate Forum for the PfISD School Board, we have all the links right here for you to view both forums and access the candidates websites.

PfCONA PfISD Candidate Forum from April 19 here:
https://www.facebook.com/PfCONA/videos/1698926296791320/

Trailer Park Show with PfISD Candidates from April 24:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0gAuCTId_8&feature=youtu.beite: 

Find out more with these links to the candidates individual websites/Facebook pages:

Place 2 – Special Election (1 year unexpired term)

Place 6 – General Election (3 year term)

Place 7 – General Election (3 year term)

 

Early Voting Sites in Wells Branch

We are so fortunate this election cycle to have early voting right here in WB for Travis County residents nearly every single day it’s offered!  Below is the schedule.  RRISD residents have $572 million in bonds to vote on and PfISD residents are electing school board trustees.  Both districts have extremely important choices to make.

I sent out two emails earlier with links for the individual districts and posted them to the WBNA, WB Melting Pot, and the WB Parents Facebook pages if you’d like to share them.  Both posts are non-partisan and include links for both sides on the bond issues and each of the PfISD candidates.

This is your chance to have a voice and the best way for school boards and trustees to know that Wells Branch is an informed and involved community.  The voting booths are coming to us!  There’s no excuse not to VOTE!  The polls will be open each day from 7am to 7pm.

Early VOTING Sites in WB:

Monday, April 24 • WB MUD  Rec. Center • 3000 Shoreline Drive

Tuesday, April 25 • WB MUD  Rec. Center • 3000 Shoreline Drive

Wednesday, April 26 • WB MUD  Rec. Center • 3000 Shoreline Drive

Thursday, April 27 • WB Community Center • 2106 Klattenhoff Drive

Friday, April 28 • WB MUD  Rec. Center • 3000 Shoreline Drive

 Saturday, April 29 • No WB Site – but the Tax Office in P’ville is open

Sunday, April 30 • No WB Site – but the Tax Office in P’ville is open

Monday, May 1 • WB MUD  Rec. Center • 3000 Shoreline Drive

Tuesday, May 2 • WB MUD  Rec. Center • 3000 Shoreline Drive

The Travis County Tax Office in Pflugerville, 15822 Foothill Farms Loop, will offer early voting from April 24-May 2.

Election Day Voting in WB – Saturday, May 6

  • WB MUD  Rec. Center • 3000 Shoreline Drive
  • Northwest Elementary • 14014 Thermal Drive

As always, Travis County residents may vote anywhere within Travis County and Williamson County residents may vote at any Wilco polling location.  For a list of polling locations, visit: http://traviscountyclerk.org or http://www.wilco.org/elections.

Upcoming Events!

WB MUD Memorial Day Casino Night
Saturday, May 27 • 6:00-9:00pm
WB Rec. Center • 3000 Shoreline Drive

We have a winner!   It’s Wells Branch!  From 6-9pm, the MUD presents an adults-only evening of gaming for our residents ages 21 and up ONLY; IDs will be checked at the door.  Join your neighbors at 3000 Shoreline Drive as the MUD transforms the Recreation Center into a casino using professional tables and dealers.  Stick around following the gaming for more fun with situs slot gacor and the opportunity to “spend” your winnings on a variety of prizes. 

WB MUD Splash Day!
Sunday, May 28 • Noon-4:00pm
KF Pool • 2106 Klattenhoff Drive

Wells Branch is kicking off the summer with our third annual Splash Day at KF Pool, 2106 Klattenhoff Drive.  Come out from noon to 4 pm for swimming, pool games and water safety education.  Admission is free and the MUD will have giveaway items for children.

FOL Financial Foundations Session 4:
Family Law & Estate Planning (see article below)
Thursday, June 8 • 6:30pm
WB Community Center, 2106 Klattenhoff

Bike & Trail Connectivity Meeting

Thursday, May 18 • 7pm
WB Community Center, 2106 Klattenhoff

The WBNA will be hosting a meeting coordinated by the Public Works division of the City of Austin to include the planners for COA urban trails, bike lanes, and sidewalks, as well as the corresponding Travis County departments as WB is in the COA ETJ.  There’ll be a presentation followed by a Q & A session with a basic overview of the current systems in place and what is planned (Urban Trails, Tier I & Tier II and forecast timeline for safe overall connectivity for Wells Branch and far North Austin, off road where possible.

Our neighborhood has invested heavily in our trail system, but the MUD can only affect trails within its boundaries; we’re isolated here and cannot easily and safely connect to any other trail system.  Coordination of central authorities (Travis County, COA, MUD) to develop plans to connect our neighborhood with other communities would be ideal.  As one resident put it, “I can ride my bike pretty much anywhere but the level of safety that I feel varies greatly depending on the infrastructure.  If I could ride with my boys up to train station SAFELY, we could get downtown and tool around the lake.  Same goes for getting to Walnut Creek.”

Our goal for this meeting is to find out, as residents in the ETJ, how can we impact the plan and where to start.  We look forward to learning more and hope you’ll join us! Continue reading Bike & Trail Connectivity Meeting →

Free Property Tax Seminar

Sunday, April 23 • 4:00-5:30pm
WB Community Center • 2106 Klattenhoff Drive

Join Bruce Elfant, Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector and Chief Appraiser, Marya Crigler, for an informative session on protesting your home’s appraised value to reduce your annual property taxes.  This event will cover a variety of helpful topics from filing your exemption forms to understanding how properties are appraised to completing an informal/formal protest. Home values are expected to substantially increase again this year so don’t miss this invaluable information that could save you hundreds of dollars!

As you prepare to navigate the complexities of property taxes and potential savings on your home, it’s worth noting that for real estate investors seeking to optimize their investments, consulting with experienced professionals like 1031 Specialists can be a strategic move. Just as understanding property appraisals and exemptions can lead to savings on your annual property taxes, being well-informed about 1031 exchanges can significantly impact your financial strategy. These specialists are well-versed in tax-deferred property exchanges and can provide invaluable guidance to investors looking to maximize their returns and protect their investments in a changing real estate market. So, whether you’re focused on property tax reductions or real estate investment optimization, expert advice can lead to substantial savings and financial growth. If you’re new to property letting, letting agents can guide you through the process and help you avoid common pitfalls.

This free event is brought to you by local Wells Branch Realtor, Tammy DeWitt Le.  There is limited space so please register for the event by visiting Wells Branch Real Estate on Facebook.  Reminders will also be sent via the WB Google Group.

Keeping up with receipts, records, and forms all year long is challenging…even for people who are naturally wired to be organized. It’s just too easy to misplace important documents and other tax information. By outsourcing the job of keeping your taxes organized to a dedicated tax professional, you can be sure that everything will be right where it needs to be when you need it. Businesses can also acquire Acclime’s tax accounting services hong kong for filing season.