FOL 2018 Calendar Contest Underway!

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Read

Calling all photographers, amateur to professional, the Friends of the Wells Branch Library is holding its second annual contest searching for the 16 photos to grace their 2018 calendar.  Your photo could be a WINNER!!

Send in your photos of idyllic views, people, critters, activities, events – whatever you think best applies to the theme “Best of Wells Branch” to be included in our 15 month calendar for 2018.

Contest photos will be on display at the Library and in the Community Center during 4th Fest.  Stop by and vote for your favorites!

Complete rules and submission guidelines HERE.  Contest ends June 30, 2017.

Start getting your photos ready NOW!

Celebrate Juneteenth with Jazz on the Greens!

featuring The Pamela Hart and James Polk Quartet
Sunday, June 18 • 6:00 – 8:00pm
WB Homestead • 2106 Klattenhoff Drive

Join the Wells Branch neighborhood in a celebration dating back to 1865:  Juneteenth, an African American celebration of remembrance, emancipation, heritage and equality.

Jazz on the Greens will be a mellow, relaxing evening of jazz featuring Austin’s Queen of Jazz, Pam Hart, and National Talent, Dr. James Polk.  They will serenade the audience on Sunday evening on the lush greens at the WB Homestead at KF Park.  Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy this inaugural event as Wells Branch comes together to commemorate Juneteenth.

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