Whispering Oaks Homeowners Association The · PDF fileMrs. Lisa Abramson 210 408-8110 ... Marcos Cruz Juan Escamilla Hughey Hancock Judy Mansell ... to see the very porch where her

Published bi-monthly by Neighborhood News, Inc.

Whispering Oaks Homeowners Association

The WhispersWhispering Oaks

APRIL/MAY 2018

President’s Message

The Romo ReportBirds are singing, trees and plants are budding, a sign that Spring has sprung. Spring is the favorite season of many; it reminds us that the life cycle is constantly evolving. As such, the WOHA board is moving forward with plans to benefit our community.

The Board and I are proud to announce the completion of the lighting project at Whispering Winds/Lockhill-Selma. We have received many compliments. The biggest benefit is, of course, a safer neighborhood. The lights on Whisper Sound have been enhanced by the addition of two larger spotlights, for a total now of six lights.

The Board is in the process of obtaining and reviewing proposals for lawn maintenance, and landscaping designs/installation. Different terrain conditions require different approaches to the design, in addition to being compatible with the irrigation system. We are reviewing SAWS rebates—which can save our neighborhood quite a bit of money—based on the type of system selected.

There are many administrative duties performed by members of the WOHA board that are not only unsung, but that are most certainly not glamorous. But we chose to serve because we care about and love our community. Next time you meet one of our board members, shake their hand and say “thank you!”

Your $125.00 annual dues are a small contribution to maintain an affable neighborhood. If you have forgotten to pay your dues, your payment will be greatly appreciated.

Words of wisdom this month:“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet.”

- Stephen Hawking

Respectfully,Sylvia S. Romo, PresidentWhispering Oaks Homeowners Assn.

This photo shows the new entranceway lighting at Whispering Wind and Lockhill-Selma.

What stands out here is the glow of the new illumination.

LEASON B. “BO” MAYNEINDEPENDENT INSURANCE ADVISOR

210.243.8608Medicare Advantage Health PlansMedicare Part D Prescription Drug PlansMedicare Supplement Insurance PlansLife Insurance and Final ExpenseDental and Vision Insurance PlansAnnuities

PRIVATE TUTORING

Help your child strengthen and maintain skillsand develop stronger self esteem.

• Certified in Language/Learning differences

• Elementary Teacher (K-8)• Reading Readiness• Math / Study Skills

Mrs. Lisa Abramson210 408-8110

[email protected]

April/May 2018 Pg. 2WWW.NEIGHBORHOODNEWS.COM/WHISPERINGOAKS

PresidentSylvia Romo

1st Vice PresidentPam Harrison Martínez

2nd Vice PresidentBrad Hollenquist

TreasurerRobert Rodríguez

SecretaryD’Annis Wright

Marcos CruzJuan Escamilla

Hughey HancockJudy MansellFred PrevicBrian SmithJim Stewart

Richard Pressman,Editor, The Whispers

Publisher:Neighborhood News

3740 Colony Dr. Ste. LL100San Antonio, TX 78230

210-558-3160www.NeighborhoodNews.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Swim Team InformationThe 2018 Whispering Oaks Blue Marlins swim team is for kids who live in and around our neighborhood. Signup dates are listed!

Sign-up Days:Saturday, April 21st ... 11:30am - 1:00pmSunday, April 22nd ..... 4:00pm - 6:00pmSaturday, May 12th ... 11:30am - 1:00pm

First Day of Practice:Monday, May 14th @ 4:30 pm.

NOTE: Evening practices until school is out.

Cost:$122 per swimmer, includes the team t-shirt.

Non WOSTC members are required to pay a $50 swim membership fee per family.

For more information text or call LoGina Vinceslio at 389-3363 or email her at [email protected].

Pool Clean UpPool Clean Up Day is set for

Saturday, April 21st from 8:00am - 4:00pm.

This is a great opportunity for young adults to earn service hours. Volunteers are theonly way we will get this accomplished. Come help sweep, power wash, paint, rake, clean, etc. to get the pool ready for the upcoming season.

Questions? Contact Brent Eilers at [email protected] or John Moore at 408-1478.

Not available online.

Not available online.

Mary Jane Bell861-9587 (mobile)

829-2520 (o�ce)[email protected]

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Successfullyselling homes

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neighborhood since 1983.

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Pg. 3 April/May 2018WWW.NEIGHBORHOODNEWS.COM/WHISPERINGOAKS

Memorial Day Party

Sunday, May 27th1:00 pm - 8:00 pm

All are invited to join our Memorial Day Celebration;no guest fees.

The WOSTC board will be grilling and serving hamburgers and hot dogs.

Please bring a side dish to share.

Serving will begin approximately 5:00 pm.

$5 per plateSoda/water and sides are included in that fee.

Important DatesMarch 24

10:00 - 11:30 am Easter Egg Hunt & Party

April 218:00 am - 4:00 pm Pool Cleanup Day11:30 am - 1:00 pm Membership/Swim Team Sign Up

April 225:00 pm - 6:30 pm Membership/Swim Team Sign Up

April 26/2710:00 am - noon Membership/Swim Team Sign Up

May 4/5/6TBA Lifeguard Training

May 12/131:00 - 8:00 pm Pool Open! Guest Fees Apply

May 144:50 pm Swim Team practice begins

May 19/201:00 - 8:00 pm Pool Open! Guest Fees Apply

June 2/31:00 - 8:00 pm Pool Open! Guest Fees Apply

June 8TBA Home Swim Meet

June 18TBA Home Swim Meet

July 191:00 - 4:00 pm Adjusted Pool Hours

July 194:00 - 9:30 pm Mega Swim Social

June 239:00 - 11:00 am Swim Team Pics

July 41:00 - 8:00pm Pool Open - Open Swim

July 81:00 - 8:00pm Open Swim - Swim Team Party

Sept 21:00 - 8:00pm Labor Day Party - Open Swim

Sept 31:00 - 8:00pm Labor Day - Guest Fees Apply

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Living with anHOA Board...

Some people love them, some people love to hate them—but either way, homeowner’s associations play a huge role in a modern community lifestyle. Depending on who’s in charge, they can make your life a lot better or a lot worse, and even that depends on who you are and how you like to live.

The Good:• It’s like living in a small town

“But I already live in a town!” is probably what you’re saying. But think about this: When was the last time you mowed the grass alongside the highway? Or commissioned to build a new park? Or had to put in lighting in the neighborhood entryways? Or had to put on small activities for everyone? The little burdens and tasks that you don’t have to deal with in your town are the same small tasks that a homeowner’s association frees you from. They collect dues, impose fines, and provide services—everything a town council would do.

• They bring people togetherThere isn’t anything like a homeowner’s association meeting to bring together neighbors. You get to see people in your community whom you might otherwise not meet, and it makes for a more unified, harmonious experience. Nobody wants to feel out of place where they live, but very few can find the time to get to know everyone in the community, so your HOA takes care of that for you.

The Not-So-Good• Restrictions, restrictions, restrictions

The most universal complaint about homeowner’s associations everywhere is the restriction. If you want to paint your house, or plant something in your front yard, or do really any kind of remodeling, it has to go through the HOA for approval first.

Luckily for Whispering Oaks residents, though, dues are very low and (unfortunately) voluntary. There is an elected board who volunteer many hours for the community. And there is fostered a spirit, not of compliance, but of neighborly cooperation.

Did You Forget Something?

Maybe it’s what you owe yourself by paying your annual WOHA does. To keep up the value of your own home, it’s not enough to keep your house up. We all must keep our neighborhood up. That means that everyone needs to pitch in! Everyone.

Whispering Oaks has among the lowest dues in San Antonio, at only $125. Please send a check today to WOHA / Box 780454 / SA TX 78278 or, to pay by credit card, go to whisperingoaks.org, login, and then go to HOA Info.

AdjustedAfter Hours

This applies to our After Hour Program Members. We’ve done our best to provide the dates/times in which the pool will have adjusted hours due to the swim team activities. The dates/times below are adjusted after hours and only the swim team would be allowed in the pool.

May 14th - June 7th, 4:30pm - 8:00pmJune 8th, TBA (practice and home swim meet)

June 11th - June 29th, Monday - Friday, 9:00am - noonJune 18th TBA (practice and home swim meet)

June 19th, 4:00pm - 9:30pm

If you answer YES to any one of these questions, you may qualify to participate in a vaccine research study

for the potential prevention of C.difficile infection!

To learn more call 210.692.7157

or visit www.dxrg.com

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Were you in the ER recently?

Do you live in a nursing home? Have you taken

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Whispering OaksJanuary - March 2018

Real Estate Sales

Sales Price Per Sq. FootTotal Sales 8Highest Price $320,000 $138Lowest Price $212,000 $109Median Price $302,500 $123Average DOM 84

Currently Active 10Highest Price $379,000 $139Lowest Price $199,900 $95Median Price $256,150 $113

Pending Sales 4Median Price $275,000 $120

“In the local market, it’s harder to buy a home. The local housing market grew even more unfriendly to buyers in February as prices continued to rise and the supply of homes for sale remained extremely tight.

Last month, 2012 homes were sold in the San Antonio - New Braunfels area, an increase of 3.2% over February 2017. The median price of a home was $215,000 a 6.1% increase from a year earlier.

The local area’s inventory of available homes was 3.3 months, still extremely tight. An inventory of 6 months indicates a balance between buyers and sellers. The last time the market was balanced was November 2012.” San Antonio Express News.

Prepared by Jean Marie Ruffini, Resident Realtor®

$ $WA N T T O M A K E S O M E E X T R A M O N E Y ?

We are looking for advertising sales people in your area!

• Work at home• Set your own hours• Work in or around Your Neighborhood

Send an e-mail telling us a bit about yourself to:[email protected] with the

neighborhood/area you are interested in, in the subject line.


A Whispering Oaks Wedding

Two of the longest-residing families in Whispering Oaks are now related by marriage! Ben Stier and Susie Einstein were married on February 26th at the Bexar County Courthouse.

Susie is the daughter of Ed Einstein and Penny Habbeshaw, 27-year residents of the neighborhood. Ben is the great-grandson of Roz and Sig Moroh (who lived in Whispering Oaks for over 40 years, both now deceased) and grandson of Arthur and Ivy Moroh Stier, residents also of many years.

Susie grew up in this neighborhood, and Ben visited his great-grandparents often, then lived in WO with his grandparents during college years and vacations from the Navy.

After the celebrations, the newlyweds headed to Japan where Ben is stationed at a naval base near Tokyo. We know they will come back and visit Whispering Oaks often...for it’s hard to get that oak sap out of one’s veins!

We’re Looking for Heroes!

Can you recommend someone who has been a hero for our neighborhood? Can you think of someone who has given a great deal to the welfare of Whispering Oaks—and us all?

Please let the editor know so the story can be written up and and our hero get his or her just desserts by being featured in The Whispers. Write to [email protected].

Original Residents

Sue and Michael Weintraub

Back in 1973, when Drs. Sue and Michael Weintraub were looking for a neighborhood, they first looked at Colonies North. But then they saw those “whispering oaks”...and that was it!

The Weintraubs moved in in August of 1973, among the very first to be here. At first, the living was kind of primitive. They were the first residents on their block, the 11300 block of Whisper Falls, and maybe, Sue thinks, the first on the west side. The primitive state of the streets meant that there were occasional floods, until the streets were all paved and the sewers built in.

Back then, there was no Elm Creek across the way. Instead, it was the Algo Diferente Country Club that, before even that, had been the country estate of Emilie and Alfred Friedrich, owners of the famed Buckhorn Saloon. The estate was turned into a golf club in 1948, but eventually went bankrupt. Word has it that a very young Hank Williams, Jr. (not Sr.) entertained there.

Sue and Michael came to San Antonio when Sue was hired as a researcher at the Health Science Center. Michael set up practice as a dentist. Unfortunately, Michael passed on in 2012, but Sue is still working away and living in their original Whispering Oaks home.

Terry Caesar, Ph.D.1941–2018

Beloved neighbor of nearly 15 years, Terry Caesar passed on 19 February. A retired professor from Clarion State University, near Pittsburgh, Pa., he moved to San Antonio when St. Mary’s University hired his wife, Dr. Eva Bueno. He continued to teach at various institutions around town.

Terry and Eva served for a time as editors of The Whispers. They brought a new liveliness and personality to the newsletter that subsequent editors have striven to emulate.

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Tips to Prevent Mosquito BitesUsing the right insect repellent and other preventive actions can discourage mosquitoes, ticks and other biting insects from landing on you. Here are tips for other preventive actions you can take against mosquitoes.

Remove Mosquito Habitats• Eliminate standing water in rain gutters, old tires, buckets,

plastic covers, toys, or any other container where mosquitoes can breed.

• Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels, and potted plant trays at least once a week to destroy potential mosquito habitats.

• Drain or fill temporary pools of water with dirt.• Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating.

Use Appropriate Pesticides• Control mosquito larvae using the appropriate methods for the

habitat• Control adult mosquitoes using insecticides.

Use Structural Barriers• Cover all gaps in walls, doors, and windows to

prevent mosquitoes from entering.• Make sure window and door screens are in good

working order.• Completely cover baby carriers and beds with

netting.

Avoid Getting Bitten• Keep mosquitoes away from exposed skin by wearing long-

sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks.• Tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks to cover gaps in

your clothing where mosquitoes can get to your skin.• Stay indoors when possible, especially if there is a mosquito-

borne disease warning in effect.• Use EPA-registered mosquito repellents when necessary and

follow label directions and precautions closely.• Use head nets, long sleeves and long pants if you venture into

areas with high mosquito populations, such as salt marshes.• Replace your outdoor lights with yellow “bug” lights, which

tend to attract fewer mosquitoes than ordinary lights. The yellow lights are NOT repellents, however.

Source: www.EPA.gov

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSAN ANTONIO, TXPERMIT NO. 1568

Whispering Oaks HOA

P.O. Box 780454San Antonio, TX 78278

Time Dated

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Documents

Whispering Oaks Homeowners Association The · PDF fileMrs. Lisa Abramson 210 408-8110 ... Marcos Cruz Juan Escamilla Hughey Hancock Judy Mansell ... to see the very porch where her