Way to go Wells Branch!  Our participation rate was 78.65% for the month of November and 78.3% for December!  We were down a little in volume, but more folks are participating.  Our recycling efforts for November & December brought in $714 & $682 respectively to buy trees for the park system.  Please, recycle wherever you can and encourage your neighbors to join you.  For more info regarding your area’s participation, please visit our website.

Recycling pickup only occurs every other week on regular trash pickup days.  Clip and save this calendar of recycling pickup days or download a calendar thru May 2012 from our website:  wbna.us.  Just search “Recycling” for the calendar and list of materials accepted.

The generosity of the residents of Wells Branch shone bright as more than 105 pairs of  shoes were donated to Soles4Souls, a charity that collects gently used and new shoes and distributes them to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria.  During the 2011 shoe drive, over 354 pairs of shoes were donated.  With 105 of those coming from here in Wells Branch, our community was responsible for donating almost 30% of the total number of shoes collected.

In November and December, Horizon Realty sponsored a shoe drive to benefit Sole 4 Souls with donation bins in the Wells Branch Rec. Center.  For some children and adults, this is the first pair of shoes they have ever owned.

Since 2005, Soles4Souls has delivered over 16 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes. The shoes have been distributed to people in over 127 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal, Peru, Iraq and many more.  Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages.  Visit their site at www.soles4souls.org

Thank you so much Wells Branch!  We really appreciate you helping Horizon Realty and Soles 4 Souls “Changing the World, One Pair at a Time.”  Many in need around the world will benefit from your generosity during this shoe drive.

Special thanks to Matt Fuller at the Wells Branch Recreation Center, Laurie DeLeon from Horizon Realty, and Debby Thompson for helping to make this happen.

Winter averaging has begun!

Wells Branch residents can save money year-round by conserving water during the winter wastewater averaging that started November 14, 2011 and ends February 14, 2012.

There are no meters on customers’ wastewater lines.  To determine wastewater usage, a customer’s water usage is reviewed over three consecutive, low demand winter months when lawn watering and irrigation are less frequent. The customer’s wastewater charge for future billings will be based on the new wastewater average or actual monthly water usage, whichever is lowest.  Customers may contact Margret at 246-5908 or mwingrove@crossroadsus.com with any questions. Continue reading ‘Tis the season to water wisely →

Hope you and yours had a safe and Happy Halloween!!  Thanks go out to all who participated in the WB MUD’s first “Trunk or Treat”.  Halloween photos are up and more are coming!  Check out our page – here’s the link –  WBNA Facebook – “Like us” and share your Halloween pictures too!  Thanks go to Madonna Johnson for taking pictures for us!

Whether you’ve been doing the “right thing” all along and following our water schedules or just want to learn more about water conservation, we have a sign for you.  These signs provide an educational opportunity and conversation piece and can help create that culture of conservation that is so important to us all.

They can be used no matter what stage of water conservation we’re in – whether we’re watering 1x per week or 2x per week or not at all and they can also be stored and used during our next dry cycle (just in case it starts raining right after we get them).

Thanks go to Donna Howe and her work with the Central Texas Water Efficiency Network for this opportunity to help the WBNA get the word out to all our neighbors!

To receive your FREE sign, email WBConserves@wbna.us

For more information, see:  www.texaswaterfoundation.org

Submitted by Joy Smith

It’s that time of the year again, with TV ads for various Medicare supplement and alternative plans flooding the airwaves. Younger people under 65 may find these ads annoying, similar to the barrage of political ads during election time. But for those 65 and above, it’s tough to navigate the information and sort through claims to find the best healthcare option, especially after last year’s healthcare reforms. However, if a patient goes to Richmond Hill urgent care, they don’t have to go anywhere else for treatment as they have all the necessary facilities to diagnose emergencies.

For the “under-age” folks, what’s going on is that there is an annual open enrollment period for Medicare Advantage programs and Part D prescription drug plans.  If “seniors” (those eligible for enrollment in Medicare) do not choose to enroll in either of these two programs during this period…this year, October 15 through December 7….they lose their opportunity to do so until the open enrollment period next year, except for very specific situations. Medicare supplement plans are not impacted by these dates (you can sign up for or switch supplement plans anytime.)

Continue reading What you don’t know about Medicare may cost you more than money →

Submitted by Shelley Palmer

I’ve been thinking about trees and water or lack of it.  Folks have been so conscientious about conserving water that they’ve just stopped watering and I think that’s probably the right thing to do with the turf grasses but we should all be keeping the trees alive if we can.   I’m seeing a lot of dying or dead trees and that is just way sad if just a watering every two weeks might keep it alive. Those who need professional tree services Greensboro may contact General Tree Service, Inc..

Hand watering is OK anytime and that’s what I’ve been doing with my trees (at night, of course).  If you see that a neighbor has trees that are croaking, you might say something to them also.  It’s a lot to lose – a 20 year old tree – or even a year old tree.  This is just my two bits as the tree situation is making me very depressed….. The City of Austin arborist site is where I got the “water every two weeks” bit and they’re on the same bent as I as far as doing the minimum to just keep them alive til the drought breaks…

To download the City of Austin’s Guide for Watering Distressed Trees, click HERE.  For more information on tree care,  please visit:  http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/trees/

Please visit our gardening pages under ‘Community’ for information on lawn care during drought and drought resistant landscaping.