Dog Park Task Force, Mailboxes, Boat Parking, Egg Hunt and Farewell to Former VM

The Bridges

The great mailbox approval process has ended, with a majority of homeowners voting in favor of the change to black aluminum mailboxes. It has taken a long time, but we are finally done. A big thank you goes out to Alternate Voting Member Linda Nijem Ryan for coordinating the project and Pam Wilcox for tirelessly walking, gathering petitions and counting up the results. We especially thank each of you who took the time to express your wishes on this important project for our neighborhoods. This change applies only to Baybridge, Sturbridge and Wakesbridge. Stonebridge already had double black aluminum mailboxes installed, so they were not included in the petition drive.

The new mailboxes are $291.67 each (plus tax), at the bulk order price. This price includes removing the old mailbox, cutting it up for curbside pick-up by Waste Management and installing and securing the new one. Any mailbox ordered after the cut-off date (estimated to be the end of September) will incur an additional $90-$100 charge. We will post a mailbox FAQ sheet and order form on the Westchase Community Association (WCA) Web site once we have received final approval on the change from the voting members in June. You will send your completed order form and payment directly to Mailbox Designs.

I have planned a neighborhood meeting for Saturday morning, May 18, at 9 a.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard. Sorry about the time. I hope that you early risers will drop by to meet and greet and express any concerns you have about our neighborhoods.

One suggestion I received while walking the mailbox petitions around was to allow both white and bronze screen enclosures. That is possible, but it will take a number of Bridges homeowners interested in the change. Then we will have to get a majority of approval from them just like we did for the mailboxes.

If you have any issues that need attention, or if you would like to be added to our Bridges e-mail list, please contact me at bridgesvm@gmail.com.

By Cynde Mercer, The Bridges VM

Castleford

I just wanted to update everyone on a few things. First, regarding the recent mailbox vote, we received overwhelming support and new mailboxes have been approved by Castleford residents. For those who returned ballots, the mailbox vote results showed 90 percent in support versus 10 percent opposed. I thank Julie Smith and Tracy Urso for helping to distribute and collect votes in their cul-de-sacs. I will provide more detailed updates via e-mail and in next month’s WOW regarding how to order the new mailboxes. In short, you will be able to order your new mailbox between June and August, so please put aside $315.65 as this change is a required change for all Castleford residents.

In the process of obtaining votes, I had the pleasure of meeting some residents whom I had not met before, and received quite a bit of feedback about Castleford and some concerns about general upkeep. The biggest area of concern regarded recent boat storage/parking in the neighborhood. I want to eliminate any confusion by stating that parking or storing boats outside of garages is strictly prohibited by community guidelines. As voting member, however, I do not have the authority to issue violations, so any concerns must be directed to the Westchase Community Association (WCA) office at 926-6404 in order to initiate a violation notice.

In order to receive specific information regarding the mailbox conversion process, if you did not provide your e-mail address on a ballot, please send an e-mail to castlefordvm1@verizon.net and I will make sure you are provided with instructions and timing.

By Dave Mantione, Castleford VM

Chelmsford

As other neighborhoods are doing, we are in the midst of selecting an updated mailbox design to replace our old white mailboxes with black metal mailboxes and street signs. We decided on the same design that Castleford just approved and have received a quote from Creative Mailbox Designs.

In upcoming weeks, neighbors will be coming around to get your vote. We need 51 percent of our homes to agree to pass this change and, if approved, each home will individually have three months to order its new mailbox. Please keep in mind that this is a small investment to increase our property values and keep our neighborhood updated.

By Bill Dennis, Chelmsford

The Greens

Residents, please always be aware of your surroundings when walking in The Greens. Keep an eye out for strangers and be careful when driving throughout both The Greens and all of Westchase. Children are everywhere, particularly with the warm weather.

If you are in the process of selecting a color for painting your home or if you selected it from the former color palette, please make sure that the color(s) exist on the new palette.  Further, if you have any questions, please contact the Westchase Community Association (WCA) office and speak to either Debbie or Charlotte at 926-6404. The new color palette is on display at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center, which is located just off of Countryway Boulevard.

A friendly reminder: formal approvals are normally required from the WCA office for just about anything that is visible around the front exterior of your home, including painting. When you have questions, please contact them at 926-6404.

Please send all new e-mail addresses to me at gpappa@tampabay.rr.com so we can add all new Greens residents to the Greens database.

Have a safe Memorial Day weekend!

By Gerald (Jerry) Pappa, The Greens VM

Stockbridge

Several voting members (VMs) and alternates have generously volunteered their time to become a part of the new Dog Park Task Force: Ron Boyington (Stockbridge), Ray Chiaramonte (Townhomes of West Park Village), Terence Dutton (Chelmsford), Ira Hoffman (Woodbay), David Love (Bennington), Karen Nelson (Traditional Townhomes) and Tuyen Tran (Village Green). Our membership also includes Westchase Community Association (WCA) Board Member Edward Santiago.

It is a privilege for me to chair this group, which held its first meeting on April 10. At that time the task force discussed the feasibility of a dog park as a complement to the many excellent recreational facilities we now enjoy. April’s meeting then focused on determining a park vision, including its size, possible locations, essential facilities, safety factors, separate large dog and small dog areas and architectural standards. We hope to present our conclusions to the governing entities that could make this a reality. Naturally, a fair amount of time will pass before we reach a definitive point. Great enthusiasm, however, exists for the project. Everyone looks forward to the next steps. As always, your comments, questions and suggestions are welcomed.

Earlier in 2013, efforts were made to help reduce parking within 30 feet of the stop sign at Stockbridge Drive and Montague Street immediately before and after school. This is a particularly dangerous practice because it forces Stockbridge’s exiting traffic onto the wrong side of the street and creates the possibility of collisions with entering traffic. Increased sheriff’s office patrols were discussed earlier in the year. It’s a challenge to monitor the location fully during the early-morning and late-afternoon hours. Stockbridge owners are invited to let me know if they have seen an improvement or if problems still exist.

I thank everyone for being such good neighbors and I wish a happy Mother’s Day to all our Stockbridge moms!

By Joe Odda, Stockbridge VM

Villas of West Park Village

As a result of last walk-thru with our property manager and our landscape contractor, some villas’ front lawns had some work done in order to eliminate the crab grass that was beginning to take over. We had to do it as quickly as possible as the first sidewalk pressure washing of 2013 was about to begin.

By the time you are reading this, the pressure washing of your front sidewalk, front and back curbs, the lead walk to your front steps and your garage entrance will have been completed. As we announced last year, this was to be a two-year program which will be completed late in October. 
Your board would like to hear from villa owners if they would like to continue this program for years to come or whether we should have the owners do this on their own.

I wish to remind villa owners once again that the Villas association is responsible for providing maintenance upon each lot, including (1) the exclusive right to conduct exterior maintenance of your villa, including but not limited to the repair, replacement and maintenance of residential gutters, patios, lawns, shrubs, landscaped areas, irrigation system; and other exterior improvements installed by the builder; (2) the painting and repair of exterior building surfaces; and (3) the repair and replacement of roofs.

Any improvement in your lot, such as fences and unit additions, must be presented to the Westchase Community Association’s Modification Committee for their approval.  No owner is authorized to make any change to the outside of their unit and afterwards request approval from committee. In case of doubt, please contact in writing our property manager, Denise Scheck, at dschek@greenacre.com.     

By Carlos Quiros, Villas of WPV HOA President

The Vineyards

Greetings, Vineyards residents. In case you missed it, The Vineyards’ elections took place on April 7 at The Vineyards’ pool. Congratulations to our new/old board members, as all five positions remained exactly the same. We thank Amanda Wynne, Marissa Martin, Dan Fibkins and Josh Butts for their service in 2012-13 and I am looking forward to their hard work and dedication in 2013-14.

A regular board meeting took place immediately after the elections. Several large projects were approved: sidewalk repair, conservation area planting (next to the gazebo), removal of fan palms at The Vineyards entrance and new pool furniture. Please visit http://www.westchasevineyards.net for answers to general questions. Take care!

By Kevin Kwan, The Vineyards HOA President

Woodbay

It is with great regret that I make you aware of the passing of Gene McArthur. Gene was the past voting member of Woodbay. He cared a great deal about this neighborhood and the people in it. All knew how passionate Gene, a long-time resident, was in his beliefs about what this development could become. Thanks for you service, Gene! You will be missed…

Ira Hoffman, Woodbay VM

Wycliff

Howdy, neighbors! The wonderful months of March and April brought some interesting weather, don’t you think?

Our Wycliff Eggstravaganza was a success. I thank everyone who helped to make it a fun experience for our young ones. If you were not able to make it, no worries! Here in Wycliff we are always looking for a reason to celebrate. There will be plenty more opportunities to hang out. 

May your May be bright and sunny! See you around.

By Shaney Nadel, Wycliff VM

Pet Poop Punks, Brighter Street Lights, Block Parties and Driving with Deer

Brentford

I’m sorry to report that we are experiencing a wave of crime in the neighborhood for the past several months, and I’m asking each of you to be vigilant so that we can identify the culprits. No, it’s not the occasional burglary from a parked car, but something more pernicious. We have multiple daily violations of Article XII, Section 4 of the Westchase Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions as well as Article II, Sec. 6-32 of Hillsborough County Ordinance. The latter states, “Any feces deposited by a dog, cat, or pet pig on public property, public walks, recreation areas or the private property of others must be immediately removed by the person who has custody or control of the animal unless otherwise authorized by the property owner.”

I can attest that my own yard is the daily crime scene of a very large offender. Before you poo-poo this activity as a victimless crime, consider the following. Dog feces can contain millions of fecal coliform bacteria that can remain in the grass for months. This bacteria is transferred to children and adults that have contact with the grass and can make them ill. Also, this feces is carried into the waste water system, carrying the bacteria with it, which affects the environment and the Tampa Bay watershed. It carries a cost to the county (and therefore taxpayers) to remove the bacteria from drinking water. Unlike cow and chicken feces, dog feces are not fertilizer and can kill grass, which must be replaced at a cost to homeowners.

But what this really comes down to is that there are people who just don’t have any respect for others and common-use areas (examples range from the break room’s microwave oven to the former Soviet Union). I ask everyone to do what you can to fix this problem. For my part, if I can identify the culprit, I shall return the feces to the dog’s owner. I’ve done this in the past and found it to be pretty effective. If I get video evidence of the violation I will turn it over to the WCA office and county authorities and ask for the dog owner to be cited. I think this is a reasonable response.

By Marty Hamilton, Brentford VM

The Greens

For those of you traveling evenings along Gretna Green within The Greens, please note that we have recently had the street light upgraded with increased wattage along Gretna Green Drive. The light is located near the “tree island” between the entrance to Village Green and Greenhedges Drive. This increase of wattage will provide a dramatic improvement of evening light in a much needed area.

If you are in the process of selecting colors for painting your home, and/or you selected them from the former color palette, please make sure that the colors exist on the new palette. Further, if you have any questions, please contact Westchase Community Association (WCA) office and speak to either Debbie or Charlotte at 926-6404.

Please be aware that as of Feb. 13, a new exterior color palette, approved by the Westchase Voting Members, is applicable to all of Westchase. The new color palette is on display at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center, which is located just off of Countryway Boulevard.

Formal Modification Committee approvals are normally required for changes to just about anything that is visible around your yards and the exteriors of your homes, including painting. When you have questions, please contact the WCA office at 926-6404.

Please be aware of your surroundings, keep an eye out for strangers in your neighborhood and be careful when driving throughout The Greens and Westchase. Children are everywhere, especially with this unusually warm weather.

Please send all new e-mail addresses to me at gpappa@tampabay.rr.com so we can add all new Greens residents to our database.

By Gerald ( Jerry ) Pappa, The Greens VM

Radcliffe

My family and I are pleased to be hosting our spring Radcliffe block party at our home on Saturday, April 13, beginning at 4 p.m. Please feel free to bring the whole family. Basic food and beverages (for kiddies and adults) will be provided, but all are invited to bring a dish to share! An R.S.V.P. sent to radcliffevm@gmail.com is appreciated, but not required. We are located at 11916 Keating Dr.

Spring is once again upon us and it’s time to recruit for the palm-tree trimming program. Many of us have already benefitted from our collective forces in the form of discounted rates. We need as few as ten homes to participate in order to receive prices as low as $20 per palm tree from Mays Trees Service. If you are interested in getting your palm trees trimmed under our Radcliffe program next month, just let us know by sending an e-mail to radcliffevm@gmail.com. As a reminder, we are on a May/November cycle. Once you are in, it works out beautifully each season.

Everyone on our e-mail list has hopefully received my recent update on mailbox maintenance, repair and replacement moving forward. While our new boxes were seen as a much needed upgrade by the majority of homeowners back in 2008, we have had to address some on-going and unanticipated maintenance concerns. A few of you have suggested we consider installment of a central mailbox. I think this is worth further review, and I have begun to take steps to determine if the option is available for us to consider. I’ll keep everyone informed. If you’d like to stay in the loop, please be sure we have your current e-mail address.

By Eric Holt, Radcliffe VM

Stockbridge

At 10:20 p.m. on Christmas Eve, 2011, my wife Linda and I were saying goodnight to her parents, sister and our brother-in-law after a day of snacks, dinner and gift opening. As they approached their vehicle in the driveway, we all (including Boston terrier, Libby, on leash) heard a loud clattering sound coming from up the street. Within seconds, what we initially thought was a large dog running down the middle of Stockbridge Drive actually turned out to be a six-point buck frantically dashing from the top of the street toward a suitable exit. He darted past us and – ours being the fourth house from the right turn onto the Stockbridge curve – cut through to the back of a home a few doors away, presumably planning to get to the wide fields on Montague Street. Within a few seconds, there was a brief thrashing sound and we heard no more. Several of us ran to the exit yard to be certain he was not trapped or hung up on something. He was gone. That buck seemed to have easily cleared about six feet of fence and shrubbery and was on his way home.

As this epic was concluding, some neighborhood children were coming outside with their parents. We explained what had just happened and (who could resist?) I speculated that one of Santa’s reindeer must have gotten lost and just found his way back. One does not have many chances to get adorable children saucer-eyed with a tale like that. They were astonished.

It has been many months since that Christmas Eve, but just a few weeks ago a Stockbridge neighbor was driving at night in The Bridges on Montague Street when several deer rocketed across the road. Collisions were narrowly avoided by my neighbor and some other vehicles. He related this incident to me in the context of taking necessary precautions while driving where there is unpredictable animal traffic. Deer have learned to live well in an urban environment and there are probably far more of them than we know. These remarkable creatures can emerge suddenly and easily collide with a vehicle, so please be vigilant this spring and beyond.

By Joe Odda, Stockbridge VM

Pool Cages, Mailboxes, Street Parking, Annual Elections and Block Parties

Brentford

As of Feb. 12 Brentford residents have had the option of white or bronze-colored pool cages. Let the rejoicing begin. For those whose current cages look very bronze already, you’re in the clear now. Sincere thanks are in order to D.J., Jana and Mike for driving this ball down the field and over the goal line.

You will also see reported in the March WOW that the new exterior color palette was approved so any future painting you may do must follow the new rules.

On the topic of outside improvements, Stamford also received approval to have the option of using vinyl fencing that looks like wood rather than actual wood. If this is an option that interests anyone in Brentford, now would be a good time to work on the approval process through the Westchase Community Association (WCA) office. That office is very helpful for helping neighborhoods work through the required steps to change guidelines.

By Marty Hamilton, Brentford VM

Castleford

Hello, Castleford! As you may already know, some of the other Westchase neighborhoods are in the process of upgrading their old, beat-up, white mailboxes to more current, subtle (and far less obnoxious), black metal mailboxes in an effort to give their neighborhoods a much needed facelift. I’ve had several neighbors approach me to get this project going in Castleford and we are now underway. We will soon be approaching each of you to seek your vote to approve this project, which is vital to keeping our neighborhood current and competitive with newer communities. Without question this will help support our property values in what we all know is a very tough market.

I’ll be communicating updates, pictures, and progress via e-mail, so if you are not already on the neighborhood e-mail distribution list, please send me your e-mail address (along with your street address) to castlefordvm@verizon.net and we will add you to distribution.

Each mailbox will be approximately $300 installed; we will have an exact figure as we ask for your vote over the next several weeks.

Please keep in mind that this is a small investment to update our neighborhood and appeal to new buyers, who determine market pricing for our homes.

By Dave Mantione, Castleford VM

The Greens

Please be aware that as of Feb. 13, a new exterior color palette, approved by the Westchase Voting Members, is applicable to all of Westchase. The new color palette is on display at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center, which is located just off of Countryway Blvd.

If you are in the process of selecting colors for painting your home, and/or you selected them from the former color palette, please make sure that the colors exist on the new palette. Further, if you have any questions, please contact Westchase Community Association (WCA) office and speak to either Debbie or Charlotte at 926-6404.

Also, please be aware that once the new colors were approved, there is no grandfathering of previous colors. In simple terms, if your existing home color is not on the new color palette, you may not repaint your home with its existing color.

Formal Modification Committee approvals are normally required for changes to just about anything that is visible around your yards and the exteriors of your homes, including painting. When you have questions, please contact the WCA office at 926-6404.

A friendly reminder: your annual WCA dues of $320 were due Jan. 1. Did you pay them yet?

Please be aware of your surroundings, keep an eye out for strangers in your neighborhood and be careful when driving throughout The Greens and Westchase. Your children and grandchildren are everywhere, especially with this unusually warm weather.

Please send all new e-mail addresses to me at gpappa@tampabay.rr.com so we can add all new Greens residents to our database.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

By Gerald ( Jerry ) Pappa, The Greens VM

The Shires

At The Shires annual meeting Ruben Collazo and Manny Parad were reelected to our village committee. Thank you for your votes. We look forward to continuing to serve our village. There is much to tell – more than can fit in this column. I send regular news updates via e-mail, so please subscribe to The Shires e-mail distribution list.

It's spring, which is great excuse for a block party in The Shires. This event will take place in the Ayrshire cul de sac on Sunday, March 24, from 1-4 p.m. This is open to all Shires residents.

The block party will be a great time for neighbors to get together and enjoy our beautiful Florida weather. We will have a DJ, cookout and egg hunt. Please bring your chairs, drinks and a dish to share. If you would like to help with the block party or donate towards the expenses, please e-mail Trish Blocker at trishandkevin@yahoo.com.

As a rule, e-mail is always the best way to reach me. I typically respond to e-mail within the hour but definitely within the same day. To be added to The Shires e-mail list, please send your name and address to theshires@verizon.net; all requests are verified for residency in The Shires. Thanks for your continued confidence and I’ll see you around the neighborhood.

By Ruben Collazo, The Shires VM, and Trish Blocker

Stamford

Hi, everyone! I wanted to let you know that Stamford’s new fence guideline amendment was passed at February’s Westchase Voting Members meeting. If you are interested in making a change to your fence, please let me know and I will forward a copy of the new guideline to you. Remember to first submit a form to the Modification Committee before making any changes.

On another note, I know that currently I do not have updated e-mail addresses for everyone for the neighborhood e-mail list. If you have not been receiving the occasional e-mail regarding neighborhood items, please send your e-mail address to stamfordwestchase@yahoo.com and I will add you to the distribution list. This is a great way to quickly get out information to everyone. As always, please feel free to contact me if I can help with anything.

By Lisa Jones, Stamford VM

Stockbridge

By mid-February, initial steps were taken to address two items that fall within the agenda I published for this year.

Dangerous Intersection Parking: As a reminder, this issue involves potential collisions when individuals park within 30-feet of our Stockbridge/Montague stop sign. This causes exiting Stockbridge traffic to be forced over to the left lane. Traffic turning into Stockbridge from Montague can then collide with vehicles. We have had several near collisions, and an actual one about two years ago. This situation typically occurs during school drop-off and pick-up times.

On Feb. 5 I was on the agenda for the Community Development District (CDD) meeting to discuss this issue. After my presentation and the discussion that followed, there were essentially three outcomes. First, the group’s consensus was that this is a matter best handled by the sheriff's office through regular patrols issuing citations as needed. Second, the supervisors indicated they are unlikely to allocate any supplemental patrol resources for off-duty deputies. It was, however, noted that the deputy coordinating patrols has been alerted to the problem, so some re-focusing of patrols on this intersection might be possible. I am hopeful this will improve matters. A supervisor also suggested that, if still operational, the Traffic Calming Program of Hillsborough County could, by neighborhood petition, enable placement of the suggested "No Parking or Standing from Here to Corner" signs within the area of concern. A search has begun to determine whether or not that is a resource for Stockbridge.

Standing Water: In ten areas on Stockbridge Drive, standing water in the street gutter is a constant problem. The water pools and becomes dirty and unsanitary. Water will remain in these places for weeks unless there is a drought or lawn irrigation stops. I have provided a description of the situation to Hillsborough County’s Public Works Department. The response so far is not conclusive, as the county needs to explore the matter.

Emerging from winter this month, we also look forward to spring break, Passover and Easter. A lot is going on in March. Allow me to wish our students and their families well in their respite from the rigors of the academic year. Additionally, I extend good wishes to all for joyous holidays.

By Joe Odda, Stockbridge VM

Woodbay

Hey, Woodbay! Group pricing for the mailboxes has officially ended. The group discount which began Oct. 2 has expired as of Feb. 28. The new price is $390, including tax and installation. For those who have yet to get your order forms and checks into Creative Mailbox, please e-mail me at hoffmanplace@tampabay.rr.com and I will forward you the forms that you need. Order forms and information can still be found on the Westchase HOA Web site, http://westchasewca.com

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In other news, the new exterior color palette for Westchase homes has been approved, so if you selected colors in the past and have yet to turn your forms into the Modifications Committee, you will want to check to make sure the color is on the new list. The updated list is now on the Westchase HOA Web site. Click on “Documents” and then “Forms” and view under “New Guidelines.”

Last but not least, I have been approached by some people in the neighborhood about having a Woodbay block party. I think that this is a wonderful idea! If you are interested in helping us organize something, please drop me a line and we can get a committee together to iron out the details.

By Ira Hoffman, Woodbay VM

Villas of West Park Village

Your Villas Board of Directors will hold its first 2013 meeting on Monday, March 4, at the Westchase Community Association (WCA) Office at 10049 Parley Dr. The board wishes to extend an invitation to all Villa owners, especially all who bought a villa during the past year. It is our custom to have members in attendance and allow them to participate in our meetings.

At last month’s WCA Voting Members meeting I received, as your representative, a list of violations the master association had found in our villas. I noticed that some of these violations, like mailboxes in need of paint, are beginning to appear more frequently. I wish to remind all villa owners/renters that if you receive a door hanger (courtesy notice) or a violation letter making you aware that your mailbox and/or the post need to be painted, please take care of it immediately. If you don’t, you could receive another violation letter and ultimately a fine of $100 a day for a ten day period. There is no doubt in my mind that it would be much more beneficial – and cheaper – to correct any violation the WCA manager sends. Other violations should be immediately corrected; once you have done so, I suggest you let the WCA manager know it has been resolved.

Finally, I wish to remind all association members that the Villas are a maintenance-free neighborhood. Article IV, Section 1(a) and 1(b), of our Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions clearly states the responsibility of the association and owners regarding the maintenance of the properties. If any owner or renter has any question regarding this particular issue, they should contact, in writing or via e-mail, our property manager, Denise Schek. Denise can be contacted at dschek@greenacre.com.

By Carlos Quiros, Villas of WPV HOA President

The Vineyards

Greetings, Vineyards residents! The annual meeting and elections for The Vineyards Board of Directors is quickly approaching. If you are interested in volunteering to serve on the BOD or on a committee, please send an e-mail to vineyardshelp@yahoo.com. Please look for a letter in your mailbox with the meeting’s date and candidacy information.

By Kevin Kwan, The Vineyards HOA President

Wycliff

Happy March, everyone! The new paint palette was approved at the last voting member (VM) meeting. Make sure to check it out on the Westchase Community Association (WCA) Web site, http://westchasewca.com befor,e you do any painting. Our annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place this month although the date and time has not been set. I will e-mail everyone once it is determined. Have a great month!

By Shaney Nadel, Wycliff VM

Village Voices, Feb. 2013

Bennington

Well, we are off to another year and many of you have ordered the new mailboxes for your home. If you have not, you are in luck! We have extended the deadline until Feb. 28 to get your order in at Creative Mailbox. You can download the form and all of the information on http://westchasewca.com

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If you are thinking about painting your home, please send in a modification request even if you are repainting with the same color. A new paint palette has been developed and it’s in the approval process. Don't paint without an approval. Your old color may not be on the new palette.

Since the holidays are over, we would like to remind everyone that street parking is only allowed in West Park Village and the Westchase Town Center. Please be mindful of the speed limit as well.

By David Love, Bennington VM

Brentford

I missed the WOW deadline last month but still want to share a few New Year comments. Thanks to everyone who made our little piece of Westchase look so beautiful during December (thus earning us an honorable mention in the neighborhood judging…whatever that means). For me nothing evokes the feelings of holiday spirit like palm trees wrapped with thousands of tiny lights. I offer special accolades this year to the Brentford cul-de-sac for providing cheer in surround-o-vision. I struggled this year with fuses and circuit breakers so I think I will be a re-engineering for 2013.

I believe 2012 was another good year for Brentford. Every house that went up for sale was bought. Good neighbors left and good neighbors moved in. Our outstanding brewmeisters treated us to a Novemberfest, and there were lots of fun evenings in various driveways.

Last year I resolved to update the neighborhood e-mail list and, just like the previous two years, it didn’t get done. If you live in Brentford and are not getting an occasional e-mail from me and would like to, please e-mail me at ltcmartyhamilton@hotmail.com and I’ll add you to the list.

Last, in January the voting members reversed course and have approved a color palette that allows for trim colors that are darker than the house’s body color. This should be a relief to the minority of homes, like mine, that are thusly adorned.

By Marty Hamilton, Brentford VM

The Greens

With the month of February upon us, please be aware of your surroundings, keep an eye out for strangers in your neighborhood and be careful when driving throughout The Greens and Westchase. With the warm weather, kids will be everywhere.

Did you know that Westchase is close to finalizing a new color palette that will likely take effect in February after the voting members (VMs) meeting? Please be aware that once the new colors are approved, you won’t necessarily be able to repaint your home its existing color. If you wish to express your opinion on the new color choices, please attend the February VM meeting.

Formal Modification Committee approvals are normally required for changes to just about anything that is visible around your yards and the exteriors of your homes, including painting. When you have questions, please contact the Westchase Community Association (WCA) office at 926-6404.

A friendly reminder: your annual WCA dues of $320 were due Jan. 1. Did you pay them yet?

Please send all new e-mail addresses to me at gpappa@tampabay.rr.com so we can add all new Greens residents to our database.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

By Gerald (Jerry) Pappa, The Greens VM

Radcliffe

Hello, neighbor! By now this may seem redundant, but last month the Westchase Voting Members (VMs) voted to approve a new Westchase home exterior color palette. While it is not quite yet official, we expect it to be finalized within the next few weeks. This means that we have to consult with the Westchase Community Association (WCA) office before painting our homes, even if we’re repainting them the same colors. Your existing paint color may no longer be an approved color. Therefore, be sure you are using an approved one before doing any exterior painting.

On another note, I have been speaking with the owner of MetalCraft Industries over the past couple of months. I initiated these discussions after several owners expressed concerns over the chipping and peeling of their mailbox finishes. Many of you may have already had your mailbox replaced by MetalCraft in the past due to this problem. Unfortunately, the issue persists.

MetalCraft has cited the cause as the “corrosive nature of our reclaimed water.” I have received a formal proposal from MetalCraft to address mailbox replacement and refinishing over the next several years. I will review this document with other mailbox manufacturers and consult with the Hillsborough County Water Department. I will be sure to communicate more details when they are available.

By Eric Holt, Radcliffe VM

The Shires

The Shires annual meeting will be held on Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center, located at 10405 Countryway Blvd. behind the fire station. So far on the agenda are security cameras, pet etiquette, house painting, new business and election of our voting member.

One of our neighbors recently lost a beautiful, little cat. She got out, never returned and has not been found. Our neighbor feels that she may have been consumed. I agree. There are still many significant predators in the woods behind The Shires. We have bobcats, coyotes, large owls, hawks and the occasional gator. With all of these natural predators it makes sense to safeguard your pets, particularly small ones. If you do lose a pet, let me know immediately so that we can quickly put the word out.

To be added to The Shires e-mail list, send your name and address to theshires@verizon.net.

See you around the neighborhood!

By Ruben Collazo, The Shires VM

Stockbridge

I thank everyone for electing me to another term as your Stockbridge Voting Member (VM). It is also a pleasure to note that you selected Ron Boyington as first alternate and Brian Kennedy as second alternate.

I prepared a tentative agenda for 2013, which was discussed immediately following our Dec. 19 neighborhood annual meeting elections. The goals follow:

I hope to eliminate standing/parking of vehicles up to the stop sign on Stockbridge Drive at Montague Street by individuals dropping off and picking up Davidsen students. They are dangerously blocking the exit lane to Montague Street, increasing the chance of collisions between Stockbridge vehicles forced to exit on the wrong side of the street and those trying to turn into Stockbridge. My Jan. 14 meeting with our Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Community Resource Officer has begun a more structured approach to resolving the issue. I also look forward to exploring appropriate resources from our Community Development District (CDD), which is helping address this dangerous situation.

Several owners have expressed a need to identify solutions for full drainage of curb water. In several locations on Stockbridge Drive, unsanitary water is pooling in front of residences. Only with a drought or non-use of irrigation systems will they ever dry up – and those are rare possibilities.

The feasibility of a Westchase Dog Park needs to be explored this year as an addition to our fine facilities. There were, as of this last spring, more than 800 dogs registered within Westchase.

Defining more Stockbridge fence options appears to be an important goal for 2013. Wrought iron-styles for areas such as backyards fronting ponds, synthetic board and perhap, white vinyl materials could be approved as we work our way through the decision process.

I hope you will comment on these goals or suggest additional issues we should explore.

I wish a happy Valentine’s Day to all. Maybe we can each consider a Valentine’s gift to our favorite charity to help feed hungry children and adults in our area.

By Joe Odda, Stockbridge VM

Woodbay

Hey, Woodbay! Sorry to keep harping on the mailbox orders, but please remember that Feb. 28 is the last day to have your check and order form turned into Creative Mailbox and Sign. If you do not have your order in by this date, you will not be eligible for the $300 group price. You can get copies of all necessary paper work by going to http://westchasewca.com and clicking on Woodbay Mailbox Order Form on the left side of the page or by e-mailing me at hoffmanplace@tampabay.rr.com and requesting the forms. Please keep an ear and eye out for neighbors who are not aware yet. We need to get them in the loop as soon as possible.

Please make sure your teenagers are driving the speed limit and stopping at posted stop signs. I have gotten a few more complaints about this issue and we need to take care of this before we experience a tragedy.

Last, Cindy and I would like to wish all the couples out there a very happy Valentine’s Day!

Wycliff

Hi, neighbors! It looks like we are starting off the new year with a new paint color palette for Westchase homes. The details will be published in the WOW meeting notes, but here is the gist: Upon approval, the paint palette is effective immediately; if you plan to repaint your house the same color, you still need to get Modification Committee approval on the paint color because it may no longer be on the palette. My house color, for example, is no longer there.

In the meeting I requested that a couple of the Movie in the Parks take place at Glencliff Park. I was told that the Westchase Community Association (WCA) board had decided to try a couple over there. I will pass along details once I have them.

By Shaney Nadel, Wycliff VM

Annual Meetings, Proxy Cards, Pet Safety and a Happy New Year

Keswick Forest

I hope all of you had a joyful holiday season and happy New Year. First, I would like to express how delightful it was to see the long-time residents and so many new faces at our annual holiday party. What a great celebration it was! It would not have been possible without our wonderful party organizers and helpers, including David Smith, Christophe and Sandra Setin and Sylvaine Clarkin. You guys are awesome! Thank you!

Next, all Keswick homeowners should have received their blue proxy cards to cast your ballot for those you want to represent your village as voting member and alternate(s). Please be sure to take a moment to return it so we can meet our quorum. The bonus of sending it in as soon as possible is you won’t receive a half dozen annoying reminders via e-mail. Keswick Forest’s annual meeting will take place Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard. All homeowners and renters are welcome to attend.

In closing, we have had some newcomers to the neighborhood and I would like to welcome you to join our Keswick e-mail distribution list. You can do so by e-mailing me (lmccluskie@tampabay.rr.com), Heather Greeley-Hessefort (heather.greeleyhessefort@gmail.com) or Brian Loudermilk (bloudcct@gmail.com). Happy January, everyone!

By Leslie McCluskie, Keswick Forest VM

Radcliffe

Happy New Year, everyone! The most important neighborhood business this month is ensuring that we have our voting member and alternates chosen for the coming year. Our annual meeting will take place on Jan. 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the Westchase Community Association (WCA) offices on Parley Drive. You should now have your voting proxies in hand; they were mailed to everyone in mid-December. For those not planning to attend our annual meeting: please take the one minute necessary to complete and return your choices via the self-addressed, postmarked proxy card. We need 30 percent of Radcliffe ownership represented (about 50 homes) to reach quorum. If we don’t hit that target, we may have to incur additional expenses to conduct a re-vote in February.

Residents on our neighborhood e-mail list had plenty to read about the wildlife sighted in the area last month. Encounters between wild animals and pets often do not end well for the pet. Unfortunately, there have been recent reports of pet casualties. In addition to many other animals, we have had snakes, raccoons, alligators, coyotes, bobcats and an even what was believed to be a panther seen in the area. While all of these animals are beautiful and fascinating in their own right, it is important to protect your pets and family from potential harm by using some basic precautions and common sense. It’s best to keep your distance and keep your pets in at night if at all possible.

By Eric Holt, Radcliffe VM

Stockbridge

When the Westchase Santa Claus, holiday greeters and gift collectors passed through Stockbridge Drive on Dec. 8, they created a remarkable atmosphere. For some time before the caravan’s arrival, children and adults were bordering the pathway and wondering about the exact time the sights and sounds would appear.

Apart from their eagerness to see and hear this annual spectacle, many neighbors were also eager to reach a designated wagon to present gifts for children who might otherwise have none during the holidays. The December 2012 response was preceded by major growth in our Thanksgiving Food Drive for the preceding November. The spirit of generosity is strong and consistent on Stockbridge Drive. Please allow me, again, to thank everyone for responding with such kindness. My appreciation is added for those who spent so many hours on parade for Westchase.

We now look to the New Year of 2013, with its set of holidays, celebrations, remembrances and priorities. During the year our board, voting members and committees will be carrying forward a vigorous agenda devoted to the many facets of maintaining the quality of life we value so much in Westchase. Please plan to share your observations, ideas and suggestions with me throughout the year. It is always a pleasure and honor to serve our Stockbridge Drive neighborhood. 

Finally, I hope this will be the best New Year ever for all of us, with peace, good health and prosperity.

By Joe Odda, Stockbridge VM

Villas of West Park Village

On behalf of your Villas Board of Directors, I wish all villa owners and renters a happy New Year full of happiness and health.

As I mentioned in last month’s Village Voices, on Dec. 3 the Villas held its annual meeting and following the meeting, the 2013 board of directors met, elected its officers and proceeded to discuss and approve a couple of issues.

Over 50 percent of Villas’ members were present in person or by proxy. During the annual meeting the two declared candidates, Kevin Riley and Richard Johnson, were re-elected to the board for 2013. During the regular meeting which followed, last year’s board officers were reelected to their positions, with Carlos Quiros as president, George Pennington as vice-president, Kevin Riley as treasurer and Christine Miller as secretary.

A motion was discussed and approved to accept the Westchase Community Association (WCA) Board of Directors’ motion to work with WCA sub-associations regarding owner delinquency on the master association’s annual dues as specified by the agreement between both parties. The Villas Board also discussed and approved a motion that applied any excess of income over expenditures for 2012 to the 2013 budget, as provided by IRS Revenue Ruling 70-604.

By Carlos Quiros, Villas of WPV HOA President

Woodbay

Happy New Year, Woodbay!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! I wanted to thank all of you who mailed your proxy ballots for Woodbay’s VM election into the office. I was told that this was the first time in Woodbay history that we met our quorum.

As for the mailboxes, one of our neighbors made the suggestion that we extend the Jan. 31 deadline to have our order forms and checks mailed to Feb. 28 to give a bit of recovery time from the holidays. I have spoken to Creative Mailbox and they will be holding group pricing until that time. All order forms and checks must be received by Creative no later than Feb. 31 to get the group rate of $300.

Creative also called my attention to the fact that they did not receive the required 30 orders to go into production for the month of November. They have decided this one time to build and install those boxes but will be unable to run more until they receive a full 30 orders. So, if 20 neighbors mailed their order forms and checks in December, they will not go into production until another 10 are received. This will make it difficult to pinpoint when installation will be, so please make sure your neighbors are aware of the required change and pass along my e-mail address (hoffmanplace@tampabay.rr.com) to them.

Of the 165 homes in Woodbay I currently have 104 e-mail addresses. I am hoping that I can acquire all of the remaining in the next two months.

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

By Ira Hoffman, Woodbay VM

Mailboxes, Exterior Color Palette and Holiday Greetings

Bennington

Voting members’ final approval for our mailboxes have occurred and now it is time for the residents to place their orders with Creative Mailbox. If you proceed to the Westchase Community Association’s (WCA) Web site, http://www.westchasewca.com on th,e left you’ll see a box called Latest News. There you will see a link to the mailbox order form. Simply download it, print it, fill it out, and mail it with your $300 check (there is a place to fill out information for a credit card as well) before Jan. 31, 2013.

This is not an option. The mailbox standard is mandatory. You could face fines if the order is not placed by Jan. 31. If you are unable to download the form, please call me or preferably e-mail me, provide your name and address, and I will hand deliver a form to you.

I appreciate the great response we have had for the new mailbox design, and thank everyone for the orders that have been placed. Soon our subdivision will share the updated look of Westchase!

By David Love, Bennington VM

Brentford

At the November Voting Members Meeting the neighborhood representatives reviewed the work done by the Color Palette Committee. This is important to homeowners since decisions on the color palette impact the colors that you can paint your house. Imagine my shock and dismay when I discovered that I am living in a potentially ugly house. I learned that my house may potentially be ugly because my trim is darker than the body of my house. Adding to my house’s potential to be ugly is that my trim is not a minor variation of the color white.

Apparently during previous iterations of the WCA approved color palette, my current paint scheme, selected by the previous owners, was potentially less ugly. I tried to stand firm against the tyranny of the majority on behalf of all the homeowners of Westchase whose homes are potentially ugly, but we didn’t have the votes (as I’m sure will be ably reported elsewhere in WOW). As I drove home from the meeting, head hanging, I contemplated how this decision would affect the other residents of Brentford. After a short walkabout, I discovered (because I’m a male and don’t notice color unless it is on a car or dog) that there are actually only a handful of potentially ugly homes in Brentford.

So the bottom line is that the new color palette will soon be approved and will apply to you next time you paint your house.

By Marty Hamilton, Brentford VM

The Bridges

The great mailbox approval process continues. It has taken so long, we may have to get some of the old petitions signed again. Linda Nijem Ryan and her helpers have done a great job gathering signatures, but we are not there yet. You can help by picking up a proxy form, completing it and dropping it off in the sample mailbox at 10363 Lightner Bridge Dr.

The mailbox proxy voting form can be found in two places. Bridges homeowners may find a copy on the Westchase Community Association’s (WCA) Web site (http://www.westchasewca.com) or inside the sample mailbox in front of 10363 Lightner Bridge Dr. Just fill it out and leave it in the mailbox as it is checked daily.

The new mailboxes will run $291.67 each (plus tax) at the bulk order price. This price includes removing the old mailbox, hauling it away, and installing and securing the new one. Any mailbox ordered after the cut-off date (four months after the new guideline’s approval) will incur an additional $90-$100 charge.

The new black mailboxes are made of heavy duty aluminum. They come with a two-year product guarantee and are manufactured in Tampa.

If there are any immediate questions, contact Linda at bridgesvmalt@yahoo.com or 892-6686.

Village elections are coming up. The Bridges will hold its annual meeting at the WCA offices at 6 p.m. on Jan. 24. Watch your mail during the holidays for the voting card and be sure to indicate your vote and return your card.

If you have any issues that need attention, please contact me at bridgesvm@gmail.com.

By Cynde Mercer, The Bridges VM

The Greens

The holiday season is here with days of cleaning and decorating the house, putting up the Christmas tree and holiday entertaining. The kids will be at home, playing outdoors and visiting their friends. Please be aware of your surroundings. Keep an eye out for strangers in your neighborhood and be careful when driving throughout Westchase.

How do you like our new Greens message board? Have you noticed the changing messages on the board, announcing community events and news? It’s also illuminated at night. A special shout out to Greens residents Jennifer Foster and John Trentacoste for taking charge of this project. I appreciate their assistance.

A friendly reminder: your annual HOA dues of $320 are due Jan. 1. Look for the many great improvements that are coming to Westchase in 2013. WOW will feature them in January.

Please remember that approvals are usually required from the property manager’s office for changes to just about anything that is visible around the front exteriors of your homes, including painting. When you have questions, please contact the Westchase Community Association office at 926-6404.
Please send all new e-mail addresses to me, so we can add all new Greens residents to the Greens database.

Last, please remember to advise the gatehouse of your guest list in advance of your holiday parties, so we don’t experience backups there.

A merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and your family!

By Gerald (Jerry) Pappa, The Greens VM

Keswick Forest

The results of this year’s Thanksgiving Food Drive are in and you, my fellow village people, rocked it! We came in first place. With that WOW has generously awarded our Village $300 towards a holiday party. Thank you, WOW!

As of the writing of this article our party planners are busily planning this event. Details will be sent out via Keswick e-mail list, so if you haven’t already signed up, please do so at lmccluskie@tampabay.rr.com, Heather Greeley-Hessefort (heather.greeleyhessefort@gmail.com) or Brian Loudermilk at (bloudcct@gmail.com).

Congratulations and our greatest thanks to all who were able to contribute! In total, 13 turkeys and two fully loaded vehicles of canned goods came from our little village of 64 homes. Hats off to our team captains, Val and Hunter Harris; captain’s helpers Mel and Karen Holmes, Tracy and Cameron Bowers, Daniel McCluskie, Sylvaine, Kelly and Coco Clarkin, Matthew Getty and Heather Greeley-Hessefort. We also thank our adorable little helper elves, Mia, Sophie, Jake and Jack. You guys were awesome!

By Leslie McCluskie, Keswick Forest VM

Radcliffe

Here we are at the end of another year. It’s amazing how quickly the months pass by. Despite the rapid pace of our lives, I do hope that everyone has the chance to truly enjoy the holiday season this year, no matter what holiday you celebrate.

Although we could not host the block party as intended last month due to a double case of the chicken pox, I encourage everyone to hang out in the neighborhood and enjoy the Santa Parade with family and friends this month. Santa is scheduled to cruise through Radcliffe from 4-6 p.m. on the Dec. 8.

I would also like to remind everyone that the Radcliffe Annual Meeting will take place on Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Westchase Community Association (WCA) office on Parley Drive. Attendance is typically low for this meeting, but it’s an ideal opportunity to ask any questions or express any concerns about what’s happening (or not happening) in our neighborhood. In either case, please be sure to complete your voting proxy and return it to the WCA by the designated deadline. Without a quorum, we can’t conduct the business of voting in our VM team!

Finally, please keep an eye out for each other as we move closer to year-end. Many residents leave town to reunite with family or friends during the holiday break. Unfortunately, the holiday season is also a time of opportunity for those who seek to take advantage of the situation. Let a good neighbor know if you’re going to be gone for awhile.

Happy New Year!

By Eric Holt, Radcliffe VM

Stockbridge

Activities in November have taken Stockbridge Drive residents happily into a spirited December. The holiday season really began with 157 percent growth over last year in the number of Stockbridge homes contributing abundantly to the Thanksgiving food drive for Metropolitan Ministries. Many of the lesser-resourced in our Tampa community have experienced a memorable Thanksgiving because of your generosity. You responded energetically to last month’s appeal for support published in WOW and in this Village Voices column. Our rate of participation in Stockbridge went from 10.8 percent last year to 28 percent in 2012. Thank you for giving! Additional appreciation is directed to Jeff and Lorie Chilcott, who picked up all gifts and brought them to the collection center with promptness and good cheer.

Please keep in mind that you are invited to attend the Stockbridge Annual Meeting on Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. We will be at the Westchase Community Association (WCA) offices at 10046 Parley Dr. The meeting will conclude by 7 p.m. Election of a voting member and alternate(s) will take place and there will be a brief overview of plans for 2013, including any proposals you would like to suggest. Please be certain you have returned your proxy by mail or personal delivery well in advance of Dec. 19. It has been my privilege to serve as your voting member since March of 2012 and I would welcome re-election for another one-year term. Do let me know your attendance plans.

A fine committee of voting members (VMs) has been laboring to develop a revised exterior color palette for Westchase. With the help of a talented designer, they have reviewed a huge spectrum of potential main, trim and accent colors. Moreover, much preliminary review and commentary have taken place at recent VM meetings. A fine work product is coming forward for use by our community. When the final palette is available for review, I hope you will join others in thanking this group of residents for their efforts.

Finally, you have my thoughts and prayers for the happiest of holidays and a new year of peace, good health and prosperity.

By Joe Odda, Stockbridge VM

Villas of West Park Village

On Monday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m., our Villas sub-association will conduct its annual meeting. It will be held at the Westchase Community Association (WCA) offices, at 10049 Parley Dr. If by any chance any Villa Owner has not yet returned his or her proxy, please give me a call and I’ll stop by your unit and pick it up. We hope many of you will attend and participate during the meeting. Once the meeting is concluded, the elected directors will meet to elect the board officers as well as discuss pending issues. Owners attending the annual meeting are welcome to stay for the board meeting. Your board has always maintained that this is your association and that you should actively participate in its meetings.

Recently I forwarded to all members for whom we have electronic addressees an annual report. In it I presented what your board has accomplished during 2012. If you have not received a copy, please e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send you one.

I wish to take this last opportunity during 2012 to offer a reminder. In order to maintain the best possible curb appeal, it is the responsibility of all of us – the association and Villa owners – to comply with the requirements of Article IV, Section 1 of our Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, especially where it refers to the rights and obligations of the association and the owner’s responsibilities. I honestly believe that the new pressure washing program together with our landscaping maintenance contract has made our neighborhood second to none in curb appeal. It is the intention of your board to keep it that way.

Finally, on behalf of your board, I wish everyone the very best during Christmas and hope that 2013 brings health and happiness to all of you.

By Carlos Quiros, Villas of WPV Board President

Woodbay

Hello, Woodbay! At the November Voting Members Meeting, we were shown a new home exterior color palette. There are more discussions to come before it is finalized. I can assure you, however, that the issues many of you have approached me about have been addressed. A great number of the more questionable colors have been deleted.

I have also been approached by a few residents with concerns about vehicles rolling through or not stopping at posted stop signs in the neighborhood. I am sure that we can all agree that accidents or loss of a life are just not worth the extra three seconds we will lose when trying to get somewhere.

The neighborhood mailbox initiative has been moving along, and I was just informed by Creative Mailboxes that they have received the necessary amount of orders to begin building them. By the time you read this, I hope they will have already been installed. Please keep those orders coming in. The Jan. 31 deadline to have your order form and full payment mailed is fast approaching and we do not want anyone at risk of incurring a fine for non-compliance.

As always, if you have any questions about anything, please feel free to e-mail me at hoffmanplace@tampabay.rr.com. If you have not received an e-mail from me, it means you are not on the mailing list yet, so please reach out with your e-mail.

Last, as we wrap up another great year in Woodbay, I would like to again thank all of you who have either e-mailed or told me face to face how excited you are about our neighborhood’s new direction. There is much work to be done and together we are limitless in what we can accomplish.

Cindy and I wish you all a happy holiday season filled with love, health and happiness.

By Ira Hoffman, Woodbay VM

Wycliff

Holy cow! Father Time, stop the train! I want to get off. I can’t believe we are already preparing for our December block party (mark your calendars for Dec. 8). A big thank you to everyone that contributed to the Halloween party – you know who you are. It was a great success and the kids had a blast.

As you all know, we have several neighbors that are hitting the road and moving onto greener pastures. We wish you all much luck and happiness in your new adventures! We also look forward to welcoming our new neighbors (pssst…the block party is a great way to meet everyone).

Now for some voting member (VM) business. In our last VM meeting we discussed a new paint palette. The main concern was what to do about trim colors. Do you keep it white or cream for every house? Do you provide the option of only a lighter shade on the same color strip of the house color? Or do you allow darker shades? I would like to know your thoughts.

I have left a message with the county regarding repaving of the streets. I will e-mail you once I have some information to share. Please provide me your e-mail address if you are not receiving my neighborhood e-mails. You can reach me at ksmagee@aol.com. Don’t forget to e-mail any shout outs to editor@westchasewow.com.

Take care!

By Shaney Nadel, Wycliff VM

Village Voices, Sept. 2012: Trick-or-Treaters, Tree Trimming and VM Elections

The Greens

October brings cooler weather, shorter days and Halloween. Children are boarding school buses, playing outside and trick-or-treating, so be careful when driving throughout Westchase.

Have you noticed The Greens new message board? It’s been installed near The Greens’ entrance to announce community events and news. I hope by the time you read this, the Community Development District (CDD) will have also installed a spotlight to illuminate the board at night. Now we need to form a committee that will work with both The Greens and the Village Green Voting Members (VMs) to post regular messages on the board. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please send me an e-mail to gpappa@golfviewteam.com.

In September the Westchase VMs and ultimately the Westchase Community Association (WCA) Board conducted their annual budget meeting and review. The result was that we held the line on the annual HOA fee at $320. We’re still, however, happy to announce that many great improvements are coming to Westchase in 2012, including a tennis cabana, a multipurpose court, a geothermal heating/cooling system and a rock slide for the West Park Village pool.

Please remember that formal approvals are normally required from the association manager’s office for just about anything that is visible around the front exteriors of your homes, including painting. When you have questions, please contact the Westchase HOA office at 926-6404.

Please send all new e-mail addresses to me, so we can add new Greens residents to The Greens database.

Happy Halloween!

By Gerald (Jerry) Pappa, The Greens VM

Radcliffe

School is back in full swing and I’ve seen quite a few new, little faces at the bus stop these days. That includes our youngest son Reid. If you are like Tamara and me, it’s now a guilty pleasure to send both boys off together in the morning and enjoy some down time at home!

In all seriousness, the truth is that we are very fortunate to live in a place like Westchase and in a great neighborhood like Radcliffe. We thank you all for being good neighbors and friends. We love it here.

Along those lines, my family is once again excited to be your host at our fall neighborhood block party. Mark your calendars for Saturday, Nov. 3! We will communicate more details next month.

Discount tree trimming season is here! All Radcliffe residents can once again take advantage of the volume discount program we have negotiated with Mays Tree Service. As was the case this past spring, we need just over 10 homes to get rates as low as $20 per palm tree. Cutting will most likely take place in early November, so if you are ready for your bi-annual trimming, let us know by sending an e-mail with your contact information to radcliffevm@gmail.com.

Last, I’d like to recognize and thank Radcliffe resident Darrick Sams on behalf of the entire neighborhood. After narrowly missing a plurality of votes last year, Darrick stepped up to the plate once again and this time successfully filled one of the open Westchase Community Association (WCA) Board positions. Not many are able or willing to consider that sort of commitment to the community. He deserves our thanks and praise for his persistence and readiness to volunteer his time and effort on our behalf. Thanks, Darrick!

By Eric Holt

Stockbridge

Signs of autumn are appearing everywhere. Our neighborhood’s children are preparing for Halloween and houses are displaying images of scarecrows, pumpkins, ghosts and witches. Most telling, however, are the conversations you hear among the small army of potential trick-or-treaters, who share their costume plans with the opening line, “I’m going be a….”

Parents and neighbors are also planning ahead with early purchases of handout items, but not at our house. We learned years ago that we will attack and devour all the candy long before the last day of October and then have to go to the store again. So we buy everything the morning of Oct. 31. In these instances, procrastination pays off with less poundage.

Sometimes autumn brings elements of mischief. We have had to alert our owners of two instances of major, late-night mailbox damage. Evidence of drug abuse has also been left on one or two lawns, adding to concerns in an otherwise quiet and friendly neighborhood. We appreciate how readily owners have been sharing information with Westchase leadership and urge you to continue doing so. “If you see something, say something” is an appropriate piece of advice.

Good wishes to all of our trick-or-treaters and to our generous owners who welcome them for Halloween, 2012.

By Joe Odda, Stockbridge VM

Villas of West Park Village

During the Villas’ September board meeting, directors discussed and approved the 2013 annual budget and the extension of contracts with Greenacre Properties and Davy Commercial Grounds Management. We had few members of the association present and they had the opportunity to offer their input.

The Villas’ 2013 budget will see an increase of $10 per month in our assessments. Directors have noticed that more maintenance issues for which the association is responsible have begun to appear more frequently. This should take no one by surprise as the villas are already over 10-years-old.

The contracts with our management company and our landscaping maintenance company, Greenacre Properties, Inc. and Davey, Commercial Grounds Management, were extended for periods of five years and three years respectively. The board felt that the service provided by both companies deserved high marks and that it would be to the association’s advantage to maintain their services. This opinion is shared by many villa owners.

The next pressure washing of the villas’ sidewalks and curbs, front lead walks, our garage entrances and the alley curbs will begin in early October, depending on weather. All owners will be notified by flyer regarding the approximate days when the work will be done at their villas. It will also advise everyone of the steps they should take in order to assure the job is done without any problems.

Last, the board wishes to remind every villa owner or renter that every one of us is responsible for the maintenance of our mailboxes. At the last Westchase Voting Members meeting, I was given a list of villa owners to whom the Westchase Community Association has sent a friendly reminder to paint and/or replace the “W” or numbers on their mailboxes. The maintenance of the mailboxes is not the responsibility of your association; it is yours. Let’s keep all of our mailboxes nice and clean. Remember that they are part of the villas’ curb appeal.

By Carlos S. Quiros, Villas of WPV President

Wycliff

Happy October, Wycliff! I hope you all are well!

I have a couple reminders for you. First, the annual yard sale will take place Saturday, Oct. 6, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Second, Wycliff’s annual meeting and its election of its voting member is just around the corner. I will let you know once the date is set. In the meantime the Westchase Community Association (WCA) is preparing the election proxy cards and the manager requires the names of anyone interested in running to serve as VM or alternate VM. At this time I am happy to continue as voting member for Wycliff; however, I encourage anyone else who might be interested in the VM position or Alternate VM position to let me know as soon as possible so we can get your name on the proxy card.

Last, if you have any special shout outs that you would like published in WOW, please e-mail editor@westchasewow.com.

By Shaney Nadel, Wycliff VM

Junk Mail, Street Signs, Solicitors and Mailboxes

Bennington

It has been a while since our village has had representation. Carol Lambert and I felt it was time to give Bennington a voice. We have had an unusual series of events happen.
There are a group of residents who feel the same way and believe during these economic down times that we need to improve the look of our community. Many of you have met us as we’ve traveled the neighborhood requesting your signature to replace the mailboxes. We have acquired the number of signatures needed to change Bennington’s mailbox guideline and will now go through the requisite number of public meetings to make the change.

I have recently attended the Community Development District (CDD) meeting for possible financing of the mailboxes. Because our rights of way and streets are not CDD property, this will not be possible. The Westchase Community Association manager will instead send out special assessments to each residence after the final approval of the mailbox standard.

I also presented another improvement for the CDD to consider – street signs in Westchase. If you have visited some of our other subdivisions, you will notice their street signs match their black metal mailboxes. My request for a community-wide change to these signs did not go unnoticed by CDD supervisors. I look forward to future discussion of this issue by the CDD.

Many thanks to the residents who have inspired these changes and all of their hard work collecting signatures.

Keswick Forest

I would like to thank Aaron and Joellyn Thompson for the baby-revealing party last month. During the weeks leading up to the event, the comment I heard most was: “What the heck is a gender revealing party?”

Well, I can now say without a doubt that it was quite the occasion. Seeing the mother- and father-to-be celebrating with family and friends as they found out the gender of their first child turned out to be a very emotional and memorable experience. Thank you, Aaron and Joellyn, for sharing it with us. We are all looking forward to meeting your little girl!

As school gets back into full swing, I offer a reminder to please keep an eye out for children and parents as you enter the neighborhood. With the curves and narrow roadway we have a unique entrance to our neighborhood. Parents, if you must pick your child up in your vehicle, please try to keep your cars on the side of the road with the sidewalk. This will help make room for cars to pass and will prevent your child from having to cross the street.

Last, for those who might have missed it, Keswick Forest dominated the “Great Neighbors List” in the August WOW. We also had some great quotes from our residents as part of the article. We continue to lead the way in community involvement and generosity, which makes Keswick Forest such a positive place to live. I look forward to seeing everyone at the next neighborhood function!

As always, we welcome you to join our Keswick e-mail list. You can e-mail Leslie McCluskie (lmccluskie@tampabay.rr.com), Heather Greeley-Hessefort (heather.greeleyhessefort@gmail.com) or me (bloudcct@gmail.com).

By Brian Loudermilk, Keswick Forest VM

The Shires

Hi, neighbors! The mailbox upgrade is proceeding in an orderly fashion. The process has been smooth, reliable and stress-free. There have been no major hiccups. That’s what you get when you work with a vendor who has proven experience. I thank Patrick Knight and the mailbox committee for a job well done.

The mailbox order form and mailbox Q and A can be found on the homeowners association Web site, http://www.westchasewca.com All q.uestions are answered there. Any other questions, concerns or comments can be e-mailed to me at theshires@verizon.net. (I am on e-mail all day and I typically answer within the hour.)

The last day to order your mailbox is Sept. 30. Orders placed in September will be installed at the end of October. Effective Oct. 1, homeowners must have either (a) the new mailbox already installed or (b) an order on file for a new mailbox. As of Oct. 1 any home without the new mailbox or on the schedule for replacement is in violation of the deed restrictions.

Also remember that we do have a Facebook page, “The Shires at Westchase, Florida.” This page is open to all. Feel free to share your comments, thoughts, concerns and especially your block watch observations. This page was originally created to be our crime watch information center. Because most people have Facebook apps on their phones, it works extremely well as a real-time crime watch notification forum. Please use it for that purpose.

We do have a Shires e-mail distribution list. We currently have 234 e-mails on that list. Considering that we have 235 homes, it’s safe to assume that we reach more than 95 percent of the homes via e-mail. To join the e-mail list, please send your name and address to theshires@verizon.net.

See you around the neighborhood.
By Ruben Collazo, The Shires VM

Stockbridge

They arrive with regularity: unrequested complimentary newspapers and similar publications thrown onto our driveways and tree lawns. There they remain until the owners, concerned neighbors or kind elves remove them. Sometimes they sit in place for several days, giving potential burglars a suggestion that no one is home. Recently, a good neighbor expressed the concern that we usually make careful arrangements to suspend mail and newspaper delivery when we are away, but the arrival of these unwanted and unexpected pieces neutralizes our efforts. (Worry not, WOW staff, everyone understands that a mass drop the first day of the month is the only reasonable way to deliver our community magazine.)

Less than a year ago, I called the circulation department of one of the daily newspapers to explore possible alternatives to unsolicited deliveries of the papers. They advised that this is all under the management of marketing firms who make the decisions to circulate them among non-subscribers. It seems to me, however, that any publication’s marketing should be under the publisher’s control, but that is another story for another time.

Here is an approach that might address the issue: extend the Westchase non-solicitation policy on door-to-door contact to unwanted complimentary newspapers and other publications. Your comments, suggestions, and recommendations on that idea would certainly be welcomed. Feel free to reach me at 391-5706 or joeodda@hotmail.com at your convenience.

Last, as this school year gets underway, an expression of appreciation goes to Davidsen Middle School students who are remarkably conscientious about avoiding littering along Montague Street and in nearby neighborhoods. Best wishes go to all for another productive, successful year at Davidsen.

By Joe Odda, Stockbridge VM

Wycliff

Hi, Wycliff! I hope you had a great summer. Voting Member (VM) meetings are resuming so if anyone would like to add anything to the agenda, please let me know. There have been several concerns regarding residents’ safety and solicitation in our area. They may seem like legitimate businesses, but they are not supposed to be soliciting in our community.

Our community resource officer and VMs have made several suggestions for handling solicitors. The first is to avoid opening the door. They can leave a business card outside by the door. If you do receive a business card, you can provide the information to Westchase Community Association Manager Debbie Sainz and she will contact them and let them know they are not to be soliciting in Westchase.

Please keep yourself safe.

By Shaney Nadel, Wycliff VM

Message Boards, Vacation Tips, Weather and Wi-Fi

The Greens

The return to school this month will bring increased activity at the bus stop at The Greens entrance. I hope you have noticed that lighting has been improved on the TECO pole just inside the entrance gate, across from the Village Greens entrance. Please note that this stronger light improves night visibility there.

A new message board will soon be installed near either the entrance or exit of The Greens to update residents about community news. We intend to form a committee that will work with both the Greens and Village Greens voting members to post regular messages on the board. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please send me an e-mail to gpappa@golfviewteam.com.

As a reminder, formal approvals are normally required from the association manager’s office for any visible changes to the front exterior of your home, including painting. When you have questions, please contact the Westchase Community Association office at 926-6404.

Please send all new e-mail addresses to me, so we can add all new Greens residents to the Greens database.

Happy August!

By Gerald (Jerry) Pappa, The Greens VM

Stockbridge

One impression from this year’s Fourth of July holiday was that there seemed to be far fewer fireworks in the neighborhood than in previous years. Moreover, the number of blasts decreased rapidly shortly after 10 p.m. By about 10:30 p.m., it was pretty quiet.

Work continues on the issue of parking adjacent to the stop sign during school hours. There will be more to share later. Further, I am currently reviewing the historic treatment of the dog park idea in Westchase.

Driving and walking through Stockbridge is bringing to mind a matter of home security. The concern is that newspapers, magazines and door hangers are being left out for days in front of some of our units. Naturally, they are unsightly. The real problem, however, is that they can cause burglars to think that no one is home, inviting illegal entry.

You will increase your home’s security by not allowing mail, papers and promotional items to accumulate in front. We are a friendly neighborhood and here are ways to help each other. First, pick up any items on your property each day. Second, suspend newspaper and mail delivery when you are away from home. Third, arrange with your neighbors to pick up promotional items, complimentary newspapers and door hangers while you are away – and offer to do the same for them. Last, if you are going to be away, buy timers for selected lights inside your home and set them to go on during the evening hours.

In just a few days the welcome, happy voices of students returning to school will fill our streets. Good wishes to all for a successful school year!

By Joe Odda, Stockbridge VM

Townhomes of West Park Village

Recently we had a little excitement with Tropical Storm Debbie paying us a visit. I find the press’ insistence that this was just a minor storm a little interesting. While it was, the problem is that from Friday through Monday it was just hanging around raining on us. That is not a typical situation.

Usually a storm will pass through within a few hours and be gone, yet this storm just would not move on. I really do not remember us getting this much rain since May of 1979. The good part is that we live in a community that was built to more recent regulations – unlike many of the areas that badly flooded. While we have occasional problems, they are usually minor in comparison. Hopefully not too many of you had any leaks. Unfortunately my wife Debbie and I had a problem with our flashing around one of our attic vents.

We are continuing the long process of trying to get past dues brought up to date for our association. It’s a problem when homeowners in our association fall behind in their dues and the rest of our residents have to deal with the situation.

Hopefully we will be spared any more storms this season, especially during Tampa’s upcoming major event. A political convention is the largest media event in the world next to the Summer Olympics. Over 15,000 reporters from all over the world will be covering the convention. This will likely be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Tampa Bay to show the world what a great place this is to live. Other communities’ experiences show the positive effects can continue for years. If we do a great job hosting this event, it may help jumpstart our economy by showcasing our attributes to the largest audience Tampa Bay has ever had.

By Ray Chiaramonte, VM of Townhomes of WPV

The Vineyards

Happy summer, Vineyards residents!  The Vineyards is joining the 21st century as we now have Wi-Fi at The Vineyards swimming pool.  Please review and accept the terms and conditions posted at the pool bulletin board.  Please also make sure to close the pool umbrellas to avoid damage from summer storms. 

On a sad note, one our original owners and long-time residents, Katherine Griffin, moved out of The Vineyards.  We will miss you, Katherine! 

Last, we offer a fond goodbye to another original owner and long-time resident, Jim Senk. Rest in peace, our good friend.

By Kevin Kwan, The Vineyards HOA President

Modifications, Dog Parks, Collection Policies, Noise and Fireworks

The Greens

As a reminder, formal approvals are normally required from the association manager’s office for any visible changes to the front exterior of your home, including painting. When you have questions, please contact the Westchase Community Association office at 926-6404.

I hope by the time you read this, you will notice that a brighter light has been added to the TECO pole just inside the entrance gate, across from the entrance to the Village Green. We hope this improves night visibility in that area.

A committee is currently reviewing and updating the official Westchase Color Palette. Once it’s completed, we intend to form a Greens Color Palette Committee to establish the new standard colors for our neighborhood. If you are interested in serving on the Greens Color Palette Committee, please e-mail me at gpappa@golfviewteam.com.

Please send all new e-mail addresses to me, so we can add all new Greens residents to the Greens database.

Happy Fourth of July!

By Gerald (Jerry) Pappa, The Greens VM

Keswick Forest

Happy Fourth of July! As summer break continues I would like to send out a friendly request to all adults and kids. Although no one is looking to put a damper on the fun, I’d ask everyone to turn the noise level down a few notches, especially after dark. If parents could remind their kids of this, I know folks experiencing sleepless nights would be most appreciative.

Every year I’m also asked about Westchase rules on fireworks. Well, don’t shoot the messenger with a bottle rocket, but our guidelines prohibit items that “explode, move or make noise anywhere within the Properties.” Those flying missiles can be costly when they land on screen enclosures and they can result in a violation letter and fine. Please be considerate and refrain from using explosive devices.

In closing, I’d like to acknowledge our very thoughtful Keswick neighbors, Leslie Glick and Judith Mihara. For years they have carried bags around and picked up the trash that sometimes gets discarded at our neighborhood’s entryway. Their good deed has not gone unnoticed and I thank them for keeping our neighborhood beautiful.

As always, we welcome you to join our Keswick e-mail list. You can e-mail me at lmccluskie@tampabay.rr.com, Heather Greeley-Hessefort at heather.greeleyhessefort@gmail.com or Brian Loudermilk at bloudcct@gmail.com.

By Leslie McCluskie, Keswick Forest VM

Stockbridge

As background information relating to the prospects for a Westchase Dog Park, I recently asked Hillsborough County Animal Services Project Manager Mike Honer to provide me with a number of the licensed dogs in the 33626 zip code. I thank Mr. Honer for being so helpful and responding quickly.

As of April 2012 there were 2,555 licensed dogs in 33626 with Westchase accounting for 832. Stockbridge has 17; the Westchase street with the largest population was Gretna Green Drive with 46. (Please e-mail or call me and I will be glad to share the list with you.) There clearly is a sizable number of dog owners who would welcome a Westchase Dog Park.

As I requested, Dyan Pithers and Mary Turnbull of the Master Plan Committee included a dog park idea in their June 14 report to the board of directors. It suggested exploring why the Community Development District (CDD) had rejected one in the TECO easement near the library. The CDD recently announced that a dog park wasn’t feasible given its cost and the lack of land. Let’s press on to other ideas for such a facility.

I have shared my concern about the amount of standing and parking adjacent to the Stockbridge Drive stop sign near Montague Street. This creates a dangerous situation when school is dismissing and when events are held at Davidsen Middle School. I spoke with the Hillsborough County Senior Traffic Engineer about installing an additional no-parking reminder sign on that side of the street. The county is reluctant to do so because a law prohibiting parking or standing within 30 feet of a stop sign already exists. If we wished to apply for one, however, the owners of the unit fronting that area would have to make application and approve the sign’s placement. That does not seem feasible at this time. Two other ideas I will explore are: 1) increased police patrol at those hours and 2) the school board and Davidsen Middle School helping to educate parents on parking limitations at the intersection.

By Joe Odda, Stockbridge VM

The Vineyards

Happy July, Vineyards residents! The Vineyards is in for a very busy month. Ongoing projects include painting of the light/sign posts, sidewalk repairs (grinding and replacement) and various landscaping projects.

Since we are in the middle of the summer, I would like to offer a few reminders. Please close the umbrellas upon leaving the pool area as these can get damaged in summer thunderstorms. Please close your garage doors when not in use to avoid petty thefts. Also ask neighbors to keep an eye on your home when you are away on vacation. Last, please visit http://www.westchasevineyards.org for a couple of new polls relating to wifi at the pool and the possibility of extending the lakeside boardwalk to include a dock. The Web site also offers answers to frequently asked questions.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

By Kevin Kwan, The Vineyards HOA President

Villas of West Park Village

Your Villas Board met on June 4 and it was nice to see many association members present. Our next board meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 3, at which time the board will discuss the 2013 budget as well as the contracts with Greenacre Properties and Davy Commercial Grounds Management. Both contracts expire Dec. 31. I hope many of you will be present.

At our last Villas Board meeting, directors amended the association’s collection policy, which was established in October 2005. The new policy is as follows: a) first collection letter to be sent at 14 days past due; b) attorney demand to be sent at 45 days past due date with intent to lein, by certified mail; c) interest charge at 18 percent per annum; d) payment plans may be made on a case-by-case basis per board approval (late fees will be considered).

The board discussed the issue of basketball hoops, which will be presented to the Westchase Voting Members, and unanimously approved a motion “to agree with the existing policy of the WCA on the issue of basketball hoops.”

The last issue discussed and approved by the board was to buy light bulbs for the exterior carriage lights, at association expense, for replacement as needed.

Once again we wish to remind all Villa owners that we are already in hurricane season. Everyone should be prepared. Please know your evacuation zone and route; have a first aid kit at home; and be ready to take any action the county suggests. We all hope and pray that we will not be affected, but as the saying goes: “It is better to be prepared and not be hit that to be hit without being prepared.”

By Carlos S. Quiros, Villas of WPV HOA President

Pool Cages, Hoops, Mailboxes, State Law Complications and Adverse Possession

Brentford

In early May I was surprised to learn that my understanding of Brentford’s deed restrictions was woefully incomplete. When the voting members approved measures last year that allowed bronze pool enclosures for all of Westchase, I thought that was the end of the story. This is apparently not the case.

A few neighborhoods, including Brentford, have a neighborhood-specific guideline on the books that addresses pool enclosures. If you want to put a bronze pool enclosure frame in Brentford, the following guideline currently applies: “Upon request for a variance to the guidelines, screened enclosures with bronze frames and charcoal screens may be approved only when all three of the following are satisfied: a. The window frames must be bronze; b. The enclosure is not visible across a lake, pond, or mitigation area; c. The enclosure is located on an interior or a conservation lot.”

Given these restrictions, most or all of us do not have an option for bronze enclosures. While most are probably satisfied with the current white enclosures, if you were putting in a new pool with a new enclosure, you may very well want to opt for a bronze enclosure. This is the case for our neighbor, D.J. Schmitt, who discovered the additional Brentford guideline when he applied to the Modifications Committee to build a pool.

By the time this article is published in the June WOW, you may already have seen D.J. at your door asking you to support a change in the Brentford guidelines. The first step is to get 51 percent (43 of 85) of the Brentford households to approve the change. After notifying all of Westchase about the suggested change in WOW, VMs representing at least 66 percent of Westchase homes must vote to approve the change. In the best case, this is a three-month process.

If you agree with changing the Brentford guidelines, sign D.J.’s petition when he comes around and we’ll start rolling the rock towards the goal line.

As always, you can e-mail me at ltcmartyhamilton@hotmail.com to comment or to get on the Brentford e-mail list.

By Marty Hamilton, Brentford VM

The Greens

Hello, summertime!

Have you voted in the voting members (VMs) basketball hoops survey running on WOW online, http://www.westchasewow.com? If you have not submitted your vote, please do so. When you choose one of the four alternatives, remember that if you are pro-hoops, only one alternative can be chosen: either permanent or portable hoops.

As a reminder, formal approvals are normally required from the property manager’s office for just about any visible change you make to your home’s front exterior, including painting. When you have questions, please contact the Westchase Community Association (WCA) office at 926-6404.

In May The Greens’ violations report was dominated by 1) mailboxes and mailbox posts that need to be refurbished or repainted, etc.; 2) driveways and sidewalks that need to be cleaned; and 3) un-stored basketball hoops. If you were one of those homeowners who received a notice, please work with the WCA to resolve the violation at your earliest convenience to avoid a fine.

By the way, a committee has been established to review and update the official Westchase Color Palette. Once that palette is complete this fall, we intend on forming a Greens Color Palette Committee to establish the new standard colors for our neighborhood. If you are interested in serving on the Greens Color Palette Committee, please e-mail me at gpappa@golfviewteam.com.

Please also send all new e-mail addresses to me, so we can add all new Greens residents to the Greens database.

Have a great summer!

By Gerald (Jerry) Pappa, The Greens VM

Radcliffe

Squatters! That was the initial buzz around Radcliffe when a few of our neighbors noticed some unexpected guests moving into the long abandoned home at 11906 Wandsworth Dr. last month. Knowing that something didn’t seem quite right, several calls were quickly made to the local sheriff’s office expressing concern. After a quick response by a few local residents and a vigilant effort by our Westchase Community Association (WCA) office, the unfortunate truth surfaced. Turns out, they were merely victims.

In a strange way, it’s a shame that after all of the hard work the new occupants put in to cleaning up that tattered front lawn, they were soon after served notice of their adverse possession of the property by our local deputy. Why? They were taken for a ride by some unscrupulous con man. It appears that after scoping out the home and confirming its abandoned status, someone falsely posted the home for rent on Craigslist. More than likely, they made a quick buck collecting a first month’s rent and perhaps even a security deposit in the process.

While we expect that the family who moved into this home under false pretenses will have moved by the time you read this, it is another reminder of the importance and value of a neighborhood that’s engaged in their surroundings. While this truly is a sad circumstance for one family, the reality is that the situation – under a slightly different scenario – could have been much worse for Radcliffe.

Kudos to our neighbors, our association and our local deputy for paying attention and acting swiftly!

By Eric Holt, Radcliffe VM

The Shires

Hello, everyone! After a much deserved rest, I am back at the helm as voting member of The Shires. I'm looking forward to doing this job again. Believe it or not, it gets into your blood.

There are many questions about the new mailbox. If you want to see what it looks like, my mailbox will soon be installed. I think you’ll like the way it looks. I’ll let you know as soon as it is installed. Please stop by my home and take a look when it arrives.

Details about the rollout of the new mailbox are still being hammered out. I’ll tell you what I currently know with a disclaimer that some details may change for operational reasons. The final cost of the mailbox is $291.71. We will begin taking orders on June 1. Orders must be pre-paid in full because the mailboxes are manufactured to order. The vendor will combine the orders every month until either 40 units are reached or the month closes.

If the month closes with fewer than 40 units, then the bulk order remains open until the next month that a minimum of 40 units is attained. Closing dates are June 30, July 31, Aug. 31 and Sept. 30. Our drop-dead date is Sept. 30, at which time all mailboxes must be installed. After Sept. 30 failure to install the mailbox is a violation of deed restrictions that will be enforced. After Sept. 30 the unit price will also increase because the production runs will be in single units. The cost at that time will be $382 per installed mailbox.

I will make order forms and other details available as I have them. Stay tuned to e-mail, Facebook and the association’s Web site, http://www.westchasewca.com To jo.in The Shires e-mail list please send an e-mail to theshires@verizon.net. All requests are verified for Shires residency.

Last, I know that the mailbox issue has been debated for many years. We conducted four votes to get to this point. I would like to suggest that we all just move forward and not rehash the mailbox debate. There are other fish to fry. Basketball goals are next.

My phone number is 855-6336 and my e-mail is theshires@verizon.net (Please be aware that my phone does not accept blocked, private or anonymous calls). As a rule, e-mail is always the best way to reach me. I often respond to e-mail within minutes if not within the hour.

I’m glad to be back at the helm. See you around the neighborhood.

Stockbridge

With an appropriate blush, I must note that my correct phone number is 391-5706 (in May’s column I gave you the wrong one). My e-mail address remains joeodda@hotmail.com. It will help me reach owners rapidly on Westchase matters if each would share his or her e-mail address for my Stockbridge Drive owners list. This is used exclusively for Westchase. I assure you that such things as cartoons, political items and chain e-mails will not flow from my laptop.

There were about 175 responses to the poll on basketball hoops. Its outcome is currently being compiled into the best reporting format. I trust the information will be available shortly.

This past week I took steps to learn more about the history of discussions and actions on the idea of a dog park within Westchase borders. I contacted the Westchase Community Development District (CDD) Board of Supervisors with a request for information. Additionally, I have asked to have this topic considered by the Westchase Community Association’s Master Plan Committee, currently working on developing a two-year master plan. Our supervisors and Master Plan Committee chair have been most helpful and I truly appreciate their responses.

One of our Stockbridge residents recently expressed concern about the risks associated with exiting Stockbridge onto Montague when school is in session. While there is a "no parking or standing" sign on the north side of the street, parents are parking right up to the stop sign on the south side to wait, forcing exiting residents to drive on the left side of the road. This risks a dangerous, head-on collision with anyone turning into Stockbridge from Montague. The law prohibits parking or standing within, I believe, 30 feet of a stop sign. A reminder sign, however, might help. CDD staff has advised that I need to contact the county’s public works department or sheriff’s office since this is a public street. I’ll keep you advised of progress. School is out soon and it would be good to resolve this problem before August.

By Joe Odda, Stockbridge VM

Townhomes of West Park Village

Even during a beautiful spring the realities of issues involving our association can creep in. Our board of directors had a special meeting with our attorney to discuss a situation that could have a significant effect on our ability to collect back homeowners’ dues. A new law in Tallahassee has put master associations such the Westchase Community Association (WCA) in front of our townhome association in its ability to collect past due association fees.

The problem is that it appears to our attorney that the WCA could move to collect their dues, which would also include the fees charged by their attorneys. This would put our association in a subordinate position and make us responsible for the WCA's attorney's fee if we wanted to try and get our back dues paid. Our lost dues would most likely be a higher amount since our dues represent monthly fees rather than the yearly fee the WCA collects. The legal fees could be quite expensive and we would have to pay them if we wanted to try and get our past due association fees back.

As a result, several association presidents held a special meeting with the WCA president. It was agreed that the WCA will not make future moves against homeowners with past due fees until we are notified and can decide if we want to pay the WCA's back fees in order to keep us in the first position. We will have to decide on a case-by-case basis depending on how much is owed.

We hope this will be a more equitable way to address the problem. The attorneys are working out the details now. I will keep you posted on the outcome. It is my hope that this will be a reasonable solution to a complicated situation in which the new state legislation has put our association.

By Ray Chiaramonte, WPV Townhomes HOA President

Villas of West Park Village

Just a reminder that on Monday, June 4, your Villas Board of Directors will meet at the Westchase Community Association (WCA) offices on 10049 Parley Dr. at 7 p.m. We would like to have as many villa owners as possible present since we’ll be discussing topics that will have a direct impact on all of our residents.

As summer gets closer, we would like to remind everyone that hurricane season is around the corner and everyone should be prepared in case we get hit by one of them. Everyone should know the evacuation route; have a first aid kit at home; and be ready to take any action the county might suggest. Aside from this possible headache we confront every year, remember these months represent our kids’ summer vacation. It’s the best time of the year to go swimming or visit our state’s amusement parks. Florida is the capital of the world as far as amusement parks are concerned.

Also, as we approach mid-year, the Villas Board wishes to express to all members that our association’s financial status is healthy. Except for a case or two, everyone else is currently paying assessed dues. At the same time our contractors are complying fully with their work, making the Villas’ curb appeal very attractive. We intend to keep it that way.

Recently you received an e-mail regarding the issue of basketball hoops in Westchase. The e-mail included four different options in order to gauge resident feedback. As of this writing, I have received only 22 responses, which I believe is not enough. Please take just a minute to let me know what your opinion is. When the issue comes before the Westchase Voting Members, I can then truly represent your wishes.

By Carlos S. Quiros, Villas of WPV HOA President

Basketball Hoops Poll, Mailboxes, Master Plan Suggestions and Nuking Varmints

Brentford

I was sitting in Baybridge playground recently watching a spirited group of 6-year-old boys playing on the fitness equipment behind the iron fence with the black and gold “adults only” sign. It was then I recalled that the Westchase Community Association (WCA) Board of Directors has appointed a committee to make recommendations on a two-year plan for beneficial ways that the board can spend our money to improve the community.

I’m better at shooting down ideas than originating them, so I’ll toss out their request to the Brentford community at large to make suggestions. If you have an idea for something you would like to see the WCA do in the next two years to improve Westchase, contact me, ltcmartyhamilton@hotmail.com, or the WCA office and share it.

On an unrelated note, I’ve heard from more than one neighbor that they are dealing with rodents in their landscaping and garages. My creed on varmints is always to “go nuke early,” so I encourage everyone to be vigilant and take steps to destroy (not dissuade or drive away) any rodents on your property while safeguarding pets.

By Marty Hamilton, Brentford VM

The Bridges

A survey is being done door to door by Alternate Voting Member (VM) Linda Ryan to see if we can approve changing our mailbox style to the black metal box-type already in use in many other Westchase neighborhoods.

The voting members have again been asked to reconsider the rules regarding basketball hoops. We are taking an informal survey to gauge our homeowners’ opinions on this. At this time, this is only a straw poll. If it is decided to change the association rules, you will be offered the opportunity to cast an official vote that I will be required to cast at the VM meeting when the decision comes to a vote.

The survey addresses the current version of Article XII, Section 9 of the Westchase Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CCRs), which specifies rules for sports equipment. That section currently reads, “The erection or installation on any part of any Unit of any sports equipment that is not portable is prohibited. The term ‘sports equipment’ shall include, but not be limited to, basketball hoops, backboards, bicycle ramps, soccer or hockey nets, and any other item used in connection with sports, recreation, exercise, or fitness activities. Portable sports equipment may be used within any unit and must be stored out of view from any road or right-of-way between sundown and sunrise.”

The poll requests residents select one of the following options relating to the restriction on basketball hoops: (1) leave the basketball goal restriction as currently noted in Article XII, Section 9; (2) allow portable basketball hoops to remain out at all times; (3) allow only permanent installation of basketball hoops; or (4) no basketball hoops permitted at all at any time.

This is an informal poll and is being used to gauge resident feedback only. The results of this poll do not imply any rule change will be made at this time. To participate in the poll online, log on to http://www.westchasewow.com

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Since I do not have e-mail addresses for all 300 Bridges residents, please send an e-mail to me at bridgesvm@gmail.com to let me know which of the above choices you prefer. The third choice would eliminate the option of having portable hoops in our community in lieu of a permanently mounted hoop. When you send your e-mail, please indicate what subdivision of The Bridges you live in: Baybridge, Wakesbridge, Sturbridge or Stonebridge. Residents of Stockbridge and Woodbridge are represented by other VMs and need not respond to me.

By Cynde Mercer, The Bridges VM

The Greens

Welcome to May 2012, the month that transitions us into the summertime…the hot summertime!

By now each of you should be aware of the newly revised Basketball Hoops survey running on WOW online (http://www.westchasewow.com). If you have not submitted your vote, by all means please do. Go online to WOW right now. When you choose one of the four alternatives, remember if you are pro-hoops, only one alternative can be chosen, i.e., either permanent or portable.

Now that we are officially in the month that begins outdoor activities, please keep in mind that formal approvals are normally required from the association manager’s office for just about anything that is visible around the exterior front of your home, including painting. When you have questions, please contact the Westchase Community Association office at 926-6404.

By the way a committee has been established to review and update the official Westchase exterior color palette…once that palette is complete, hopefully by this fall, we intend on forming a Greens Color Palette Committee to establish the new standard colors for our neighborhood based on the revised master palette. If you are interested in serving on the Greens Color Palette Committee, please e-mail me at gpappa@golfviewteam.com.

I wish you the very happiest and safest Memorial Day.

God bless America!

By Gerald (Jerry) Pappa, The Greens VM

Stockbridge

In March 2012 you submitted the proxies that elected me your voting member (VM) for Stockbridge and my first Village Voice message begins with a statement of appreciation for your votes. It has been a pleasure meeting and talking with many of you in the weeks before and since election. Since then I’ve attended my first VM meeting on April 10 and board of directors meeting on April 12 as a VM guest. Here are some items of note from those meetings.

You are encouraged to respond to the new, four-option poll on basketball hoops appearing on WOW Online at http://www.westchasewow.com Inter.esting perspectives have already been shared by a few owners on a face-to-face basis. The poll will provide valuable feedback on consensus views, which will be shared accordingly.

Summaries of the proceedings of the board and voting member meetings will, of course, be conveyed by those components of our governance, but I must comment that the organization, management and conduct of both meetings were truly impressive.

Noting the extraordinary quality and extent of park and recreational areas within Westchase, several Stockbridge dog owners lament that we have not yet identified the potential for a fenced dog park located centrally within our remarkable community. Naturally there would be factors of dollars, land, materials, equipment, water and sewage, as well as ongoing safety and maintenance to address. In any case initiating discussion on this possibility is an agenda item we wish to bring forward.

For those who have not circled and counted, there are 68 units in Stockbridge and is it a wonderfully diverse community.

You can reach me at 240-4753 or joeodda@hotmail.com. I look forward to your thoughts, comments, questions and suggestions.

Again, thank you for electing me.

By Joe Odda, Stockbridge VM

Villas of West Park Village

The directors on the Villas Board wish to express our satisfaction with the assistance given by every Villa owner or renter regarding the board-approved program to pressure wash all property line sidewalks; curbing; walkways to front porch; driveway concrete slabs, and alley curbing of all villas. The first pressure washing was recently completed and the second will likely take place in September. We’ll keep all owners informed.

Also during the past month many shrubs or landscape plants that were not on the WCA’s list of acceptable plants were replaced. We shall continue to be on the lookout for any front landscaping which might require a change as it is our wish to maintain the very best possible curb appeal for our units.

Through its voting members group the Westchase Community Association requested World of Westchase (WOW) carry out an informal online poll, with four different options, regarding the issue of basketball hoops, in order to gauge resident feedback. The result of this poll does not imply any rules changes will be made at this time. Every Villa owner for whom I have an electronic address was notified of this poll and I requested a reply stating a preferred option. As of the date of this writing – April 14 – I have received 13 replies. I exhort every Villa owner to express his or her opinion as it will help me to better present our Villas’ point of view whenever the issue is discussed at a voting members meeting.

Last, our next board of directors’ meeting will be held on Monday, June 4, at 7 p.m. As usual the meeting will be held at the WCA offices at 10049 Parley Drive. I hope to see many of you at the meeting.

By Carlos S. Quiros, Villas of WPV HOA President

Opting Out of Garage Sales?

Radcliffe

Hello, neighbor! First, let me get the fun stuff out of the way. My family will once again be hosting our semi-annual Radcliffe Block Party on Saturday, April 21, starting at 4 p.m. Please come by with the family and enjoy some time chatting with your friends and neighbors. Complimentary snacks and beverages will be provided, but all contributions to good food and drink will be welcome!

I hope many of you received the garage sale survey I sent out via e-mail last month. This was in response to a few recent proposals that we consider “opting out” of the Westchase garage sales that occur in May and October of each year. While there were a handful of residents that indicated a desire to see our participation in these events halted, it appears that the overwhelming majority of us either accepts or embraces them.

The net result? No additional action will be taken in this area. Radcliffe will remain accessible and open for garage sales moving forward. There were some good suggestions offered to try to mitigate the traffic flow issues associated with the event, such as the strategic placement of no parking signs on our street corners or in front yards. We need, however, to be aware that our roads are public. While we can attempt to influence certain behaviors on our neighborhood roads, we cannot necessarily control them.

Spring is once again upon us, and it is time to recruit for Radcliffe’s palm tree-trimming program. Many of us have already benefitted from collectively seeking discounted tree trimming rates. We need as few as ten homes to participate in order to receive prices as low as $20 per palm tree from Mays Trees Service. If you are interested in getting your palm trees trimmed under our Radcliffe program next month, just let us know by sending an e-mail to radcliffevm@gmail.com!

By Eric Holt, Radcliffe VM

Annual Meetings, Mailboxes, Trees and Pressure Washing

Keswick Forest

I’d like to begin with thanking all of you for taking the time to mail in your proxy cards. For those who were unable to attend our Keswick Forest Annual Meeting, I will continue to represent you as your voting member along with Heather Greeley-Hessefort as first alternate. This year we welcome a new volunteer, Brian Loudermilk, as second alternate.

At the meeting, we discussed the pedestrian crosswalk at the entrance of Keswick and the possibility of widening the area or creating a turnaround where cars park for the bus stop. The bus stop area represents a bit of a challenge because the street is owned by the county and the land surrounding the area is protected conservation. We do, however, continue to ask that parents not park along the curve or on the grass.

As for the Countryway Boulevard crosswalk, in the next month we will be reaching out to law enforcement to see if they can assist us by addressing drivers who are failing to yield to pedestrians.

Last, those who missed the Super Bowl party hosted by Brian and Michelle Loudermilk missed a great time. We thank them for hosting their fellow Keswickians. I also thank Ed Kupsche for organizing the Super Bowl pool even though I didn’t win.

As always, we welcome you to join our Keswick e-mail list. You can e-mail me at lmccluskie@tampabay.rr.com, Heather Greeley-Hessefort at heather.greeleyhessefort@gmail.com or Brian Loudermilk at bloudcct@gmail.com.

By Leslie McCluskie, Keswick Forest VM

Radcliffe

Hello, Radcliffe! Our annual meeting was held on Jan. 24 at the Westchase Community Association (WCA) office on Parley Drive. Although we barely reached a quorum with only 49 out of 154 homes having submitted their proxies, a special thanks goes out to those neighbors that made it a success. The results are in and it appears that I will remain your voting member (VM) for the upcoming year. Thank you for your confidence! Keith Heinemann, Sadye Melchiorre and Chuck Hoppe round out the local team as your alternates.

Topics of discussion were limited during the meeting, which I take as a good sign. Concern about solicitors, fencing and drainage issues were addressed with attendees. The possibility of opting out of the bi-annual garage sales was also brought up. As always, you can send me an e-mail with any questions or concerns at radcliffevm@gmail.com.

In support of my own efforts to institute a new VM tradition, my family will once again host a spring block party for the neighborhood. Mark down Saturday, April 21, on your calendar. There will be more details to come!

By Eric Holt, Radcliffe VM

The Shires

I hope that everyone has survived Valentine’s Day without any major altercations and life will now proceed normally as there are no major holidays for a few months. I would like to thank residents for their participation at our first town hall meeting and I hope that the other two will be as fruitful. Making our neighborhood and community a better place is contingent upon your participation and it is much appreciated. I will keep you updated on the mailbox referendum as we move forward with the vote.

A few other items have come to my attention. Please remember that we have covenants and guidelines that govern our community and everyone should at least have a basic understanding of them. You can get a copy from the manager’s office or go to the World of Westchase’s Web site (http://www.westchasewow.com) and find them there. Two that seem to go unheeded in our neighborhood need to be fixed. Under Westchase rules you aren’t supposed to place your trash at the curb until after 6 p.m. on the night before the trash collection. Second, for those who park multiple cars in your driveway: please realize that you are not allowed to block the sidewalk. When you do so, you are forcing your neighbors and our neighborhood children into the street. Please look before you put it into park.

Thanks again for all of your participation.

By Patrick Knight, The Shires VM

Townhomes of West Park Village

The holidays are finally over and life is back to normal – whatever that means in the times in which we live. Recently many items have been discussed at the voting members (VMs) meetings. One of them included a discussion of whether we need to revise the list of acceptable exterior paint colors again. The current list is the result of a major effort a few years ago. After considerable discussion, VMs felt that the effort that took place offered enough choices with maybe just a few additions. A committee is going to look at possibly adding a few colors to keep current with changing styles and colors while ensuring original colors are allowed. As it stands now, the permissible colors for West Park Village are separate and will not be revised at this time.

Another interesting discussion was trees. We need to understand that the county has rules on the removal of trees and they must be followed. There was some concern about trees sometimes cracking or raising the sidewalks, which does sometimes take place. Being the street tree lover that I am, I spoke up and reminded other voting members that street trees add value to property as well as the community in general. Many of the most desirable communities like Hyde Park, which we are patterned after, are beautiful because of the street trees. Sometimes sidewalks do crack but it is much less expensive to fix a cracked or raised sidewalk than to remove a tree. Trees add tremendous benefits, including reducing air pollution and providing shade that can reduce electric bills.

There was also a lot discussion about the success of the Movies in the Park and other activities that the community association plans. Attendance at the VM meeting each month has been good, although a couple of neighborhoods are not represented because of the difficulty of finding someone willing to serve on the board.

Most of the other discussions were more minor and specific to areas of Westchase that are not part of West Park Village.

Please e-mail me if you have any issues you want to discuss and I will try to get an answer. My e-mail is ramondchiaramonte@msn.com.

I hope you all are looking forward to spring as much as I am.

By Ray Chiaramonte, Townhomes of WPV HOA President

Villas of West Park Village

Your Villas Board of Directors met on Monday, Feb. 6. At the meeting the board discussed and approved a two-year experiment to provide pressure washing twice yearly for all sidewalks, driveways and curbs for all 92 villas. The first pressure washing will commence on Monday, March 12.

It’s very important that every owner or renter makes sure that no vehicle is parked anywhere along the property line sidewalk or at the garage entrance concrete slab. Neither the Villas HOA nor the contractor assumes any responsibility for dirt vehicles or damage caused to cars parked along the sidewalk while the pressure washing is being done. At the same time the contractor has been instructed not to return to any lot to pressure wash a curb because a car was parked there. It is very important for all Villa residents to follow these instructions.

Also at the meeting the board approved a resolution to request from the Westchase Community Association (WCA) Modifications Committee authorization to change any shrub or cover that is located in the front yard of any villa and which is not in keeping with the WCA’s acceptable standards. Ten different shrubs,out of over 100 that are included in the WCA-approved Guidelines (under Section 2.2.8’s Plant Material List) were submitted to the Modifications Committee as suggested by our landscaping company, Davey Commercial Grounds Management. The board wishes to express its sincere thanks to the Modifications Committee for their approval during their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14.

During our next walk through the neighborhood, we’ll be on the lookout for any front landscaping which might require a change. The association will pay for the cost of these changes unlike two years ago when the damage was caused by a hard freeze. Then the owners had to pay for the installation of new flora as indicated by our declaration.

By Carlos S. Quiros, Villas of WPV HOA President

The Vineyards

Greetings, Vineyards residents! It is already March 2012, which means that it’s time for the Vineyards 2012-2013 Board of Directors elections. The annual meeting and elections will take place on Sunday, March 25, at 5 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center on Countryway Boulevard. Please watch for the meeting notice and proxy card/ballot in the mail over the next couple of weeks. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please make sure to return a signed proxy in order to establish a quorum and insure your vote counts.

We will once again place on the ballot a proposal to change painting requirement from once every five years to every seven years. Were just eight votes short of passing the proposal last year!

Thanks again to the Social Committee for putting together a great program in 2011. We look forward to great events in 2012, including the Easter Egg Hunts and Halloween and Christmas parties.

Last, we are experiencing issues with parking, speeding, incomplete stops at stop signs and wrong way drivers in the neighborhood. The board voted to retain an off-duty deputy to enforce the moving violations, so make sure drivers observe the speed limit (15 miles per hour), drive the right way and completely stop at stop signs. Residents who do not comply with the parking rules are subject to towing.

If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to hoa@westchasevineyards.org.

Take care.

By Kevin Kwan, The Vineyards HOA President

Wycliff

Hi, Wycliff! During our February voting members (VMs) meeting, VMs discussed updating the master exterior color palette for Westchase homes. In addition, a presentation was made to possibly have a mini triathlon here in Westchase. Proceeds would be donated to several charities that are yet to be decided.

As always please feel free to e-mail me with any questions or concerns.

Happy March!

By Shaney Nadel, Wycliff VM

Decorations, Village E-mail Lists, Volunteerism and Annual Meetings

Brentford

I thank everyone who made our little piece of Westchase look so beautiful during December. For me, nothing evokes the feelings of holiday spirit like palm trees wrapped with thousands of tiny lights.

Special accolades are offered to those who have embraced the future and converted to LED bulbs, (I’m still waiting for my strings of old-school incandescent bulbs to kick the bucket, so I can make the switch) and to Joe Davis, who added lights synchronized to music which surprisingly wasn’t annoying.

I believe 2011 was a good year for Brentford. Almost every house that went up for sale was bought, there were plenty of kids and dogs out playing in yards (and the street), the corner of Gretna Green and Gretna Green didn’t flood (that I can recall), we had an awesome Oktoberfest hosted by three outstanding brewmeisters, and my lawn didn’t have a summer swoon (condolences if yours did). I wish all of you a happy 2012.

This year I have resolved to update the neighborhood e-mail list. Of course, that has been my resolution for the past two years as well so I’m not too optimistic that I’ll get it done. Nevertheless, if you live in Brentford and are not getting an occasional e-mail from me and would like to, please e-mail me at ltcmartyhamilton@hotmail.com and I’ll add you to the list. Last, space in the WOW is not solely reserved for me, so I encourage anyone in Brentford who has something to say to send it in to the editor.

By Marty Hamilton, Brentford VM

The Greens

Welcome to 2012!

On Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Westchase Community Association (WCA) conference room we will have The Greens Annual Meeting, where we will elect a voting member and alternates to represent the Greens in 2012. If you know of anyone who is interested in serving, please have them contact either the Westchase Association Manager or me so we can have their names placed on the ballot.

With the new year, please review those who have access to The Greens via your guest/service providers’ list. Please make the necessary corrections so the gatehouse can be more efficient in processing guests and creating fewer backups at the gates.  

Last, should you know of any new residents, please advise them to send me their e-mail addresses, so I can pass them on to our Greens Webmaster for inclusion on all Greens and Westchase news.

By Gerald (Jerry) Pappa, The Greens VM

Keswick Forest

Happy New Year! I would like to say thank you for being one of the most proactive neighborhoods in all of Westchase.  As your voting member and dedicated alternate, Heather Greeley-Hessefort and I take great pride when we get showered with compliments on how actively involved all of you are.  We now ask that you once again let us beam with pride – simply mail in your proxy card before Keswick Forest’s Jan. 19 annual meeting.  One hundred percent participation would be really awesome.  All you have to do is fill out that card and drop it in the mail. For those who would like to attend the Keswick Forest annual election, it’s Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center across the street. This is the time to come out and discuss neighborhood issues, so please feel free to join us. 

Second, I would like to thank Nikki and David Smith for doing such a great job organizing our Keswick Santa visit this year.  For those who missed it, we had a jolly time with Old St. Nick. We also offer our kudos to Brian and Michelle Loudermilk for again hosting this year’s New Year’s Eve bash.  What a great party with wonderful friends!   

Last, as a reminder, all holiday decorations have to be down no later than Jan. 15.

To sign up or make changes on our Keswick e-mail list, please e-mail me at lmccluskie@tampabay.rr.com or Heather Greeley-Hessefort at heather.greeleyhessefort@gmail.com.

By Leslie McCluskie, Keswick Forest VM

The Shires

Happy New Year! I hope that I have represented our community well as voting member and I hope to continue serving you in the future. I nevertheless still encourage each of you to take more of an interest in our community’s affairs. While The Shires inhabits a far corner of Westchase, we need to represent ourselves on committees or even just help out in any way possible.

Please remember that your association always needs volunteers. Just contact me or any other voting member, board member or the association manager and they will direct you to the right person. As always, if you are new to the neighborhood and would like to be included in the e-mails that I send out – or if you have a new e-mail address, please contact me at theshireswestchase@hotmail.com. Last, if you are on Facebook, please join the page for The Shires. Lots of information gets posted there as well.

By Patrick Knight, The Shires VM

Villas of West Park Village

On behalf of your Villas Board of Directors, I offer my best wishes to all association members for a happy new year full of happiness and health.

As mentioned in our last month’s Village Voice, on Dec. 5 we held our Villas annual meeting. Following the meeting, your 2012 board of directors met, elected the officers and took action for a new program.

During the annual meeting we had 51 out of 92 members present in person or by proxy. The three declared candidates, George Pennington, Christine Miller and Carlos Quiros, were elected to the board for the year 2012. During the regular meeting the officers remained the same as last year with Carlos Quiros as president; George Pennington as vice president; Kevin Riley as treasurer; and Christine Miller as secretary.

A motion was made and approved that board meeting times and information related to association activities were to be relayed to association members via e-mail. The Villas’ e-mail list is still incomplete as we still lack some 22 electronic addresses. I wish to take this opportunity to request that those members send me an e-mail so I can complete our members list. Also, a motion was approved to apply the excess of income over expenditures in 2011 against the year 2012 members’ assessments as provided by IRS Ruling 70-604.

The final issue discussed and approved was for the board to assume, for a two-year period, the responsibility assigned to owners in our Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for the pressure washing of lead walks and driveways. The board will also cover the pressure washing of the property line sidewalks and the curbs in the front of the units and in the alleys. We received two bids and the contract will be formally awarded to the lowest bidder. This service will be performed twice a year as determined by the president with the advice from our property manager.   

By Carlos Quiros, Villas HOA President

Holiday Parties, Santa’s Visit and Annual Meetings

The Greens

Welcome to the holiday season in Westchase!

On Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Westchase Community Association (WCA) office building on Parley Drive, we will have The Greens Annual Meeting, where we will elect a voting member and alternates to represent The Greens in 2012. If you know of anyone interested in serving, please have them contact either the Westchase property manager or me so we can place them on the ballot.

Please make sure the gatehouse knows of your holiday party/dinner guests prior to their arrival so there are fewer backups at the gatehouse.   Further, if the gatehouse is not made aware of a delivery in advance or if they cannot reach you, the delivery will not be made (this does not apply to the USPS, UPS or FedEx).  

Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

By Gerald (Jerry) Pappa, The Greens VM

Keswick Forest

With December already here, please mark your calendars for our annual Santa's Coming to Keswick Party on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. The children will have the opportunity to tell Santa what they would like for Christmas as well as listen to Santa read his classic poem, A Visit from Saint Nicholas. Please bring a dish to share and your favorite holiday spirit. If interested, we will be taking up a collection of unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. To help cover the cost for Santa’s visit, we ask for a $10 donation per family. Don’t forget your cameras.

As a reminder, we’re still looking for any homeowner that might be interested in running for Keswick voting member and/or alternate. Leslie and I have decided to keep our names on the ballot again this year but we could always use one more. As of this writing, we have not confirmed the dates of our annual meeting, but details will be sent out via Keswick e-mail distribution list. To sign up for e-mails please contact Leslie at lmccluskie@tampabay.rr.com or me at heather.greeleyhessefort@gmail.com.

By Heather Greeley-Hessefort, Keswick Forest Alternate VM

Radcliffe

Thanks to all who stopped by to enjoy our Oktoberfest block party on Oct. 8. We appreciated all of the delicious food and drink that so many brought. We hope the spring/fall block party format remains a tradition for voting members (VMs) moving forward. Tamara and I are already prepared to host again next spring.

I have heard several mentions of theft from cars in recent weeks. Please keep your cars locked when parking in your driveway overnight and never leave valuables in plain sight.

The success of our discount palm trimming program continued last month with our highest participation levels to date. When you participate, your palm trimming costs can get as low as $20 per tree. If you’re interested in taking advantage of this deal next spring (May 2012), please let me know at radcliffevm@gmail.com.

Last, just a quick note that our annual neighborhood meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Jan. 24 at the Westchase Community Association (WCA) office on Parley Drive. This marks the time of year when the Radcliffe VM is elected into office. Please consider joining your neighbors in attending this meeting as it is a great opportunity to express your opinions, concerns or praise. If you can’t attend, please make certain to mail in your election proxy when it arrives. A quorum of at least 30 percent is necessary to ensure that the VM election occurs.

Happy holidays to everyone!

By Eric Holt, Radcliffe VM

The Shires

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

We will be having The Shires voting member/alternate elections on Jan. 15. If you would like to run for the position, I encourage you to join me and the other candidates. If you can’t get me your name in advance, please list yourself as a write-in. We can always use more volunteers.

On the proxy there will be a space for a vote on the replacement of our Shires mailboxes. Fifty-one percent of Shires homeowners must vote in support of the change for it to go into effect. I will leave it up to you to either sell it to your neighbors and friends or not.

The Mailbox Committee is working diligently to get bids. As soon as we get the best one, I will send it and related information about its appearance and installation via e-mail.  We are looking to stay in line with what some of the other neighborhoods like Radcliffe have done.  I understand concerns about the economy. Please realize that I am doing this because multiple residents have asked me as voting member to do so.  I am aware that there are very passionate views on both sides and I ask that you discuss it with your neighbors during the next two months. Personally I believe that new mailboxes are needed and that a few hundred dollars is very little compared to keeping our neighborhood looking as good as possible.

Last, if you are not on my current e-mail list, please e-mail me at theshireswestchase@hotmail.com or knight.patrickj@gmail.com to be added.

Additionally please check The Shires Facebook page as I will post current information, including mailbox news, there.

By Patrick Knight, The Shires VM

Village Green

It was wonderful to see all the neighbors who came out for our annual Halloween street party. As usual, you outdid yourselves with the tasty food offerings and fantastic costumes. Special thanks to the Tran and McElroy families for generously sharing their electricity to power the bounce houses. Also, thank you very much to Vivian and Lisa for their tireless dedication to organizing the get-together. Everyone seemed to have a great time.

A number of neighbors have contacted me regarding the recent break-ins here in the Village Green. If you have any knowledge of break-ins, unlawful activities or even shady characters, please share that information. I would be happy to put out a timely village e-mail alert regarding possible threats.

Another issue that has been brought to my attention is that vehicles are parking in the center of the intersection of Green Links and Gretna Green in the morning. The traffic congestion combined with the cluster of vehicles at that intersection has become a safety hazard for our high school and middle school kids, who wait at that corner for their bus. With all that is going on there, it is sometimes very difficult to see them.

By the time you read this note, the updated Village Green Directory should be in hand. Please forward any additions or changes to me. I greatly appreciate those neighborhood business owners who purchased ads to support its printing. Please remember their contribution when you are in need of the services that they provide.

I wish everyone a very special holiday season!

By Bobbi Pitcher, Village Green VM

Villas of West Park Village

On Monday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. our Villas sub-association will conduct its annual meeting. It will be held at the Westchase Community Association offices, at 10049 Parley Dr. If by any chance any Villa owner has not yet returned his/her proxy, please do it today. We expect many of you will be in attendance and will participate during the meeting. Once the meeting is concluded, the elected directors will meet to elect the board officers as well as discuss and approve any legally presented issues. Owners attending the annual meeting are welcome to stay for the board meeting. Your board has always maintained that this is your association and that you should actively participate in its meetings.

Recently I forwarded to all members for whom we have electronic addressees an annual report were I presented what your board has accomplished during the 2011. If you have not received a copy of the annual report, please e-mail me and it will be my pleasure to send one.

In order to maintain the best possible curb appeal, it is the responsibility of all of us – the association and Villa owners – to comply with the requirements of Article IV, Section 1 of our Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, especially where it refers to the rights and obligations of the association and the owner’s responsibilities. I honestly believe that of all the neighborhoods in West Park Village, our villas are second to none when it comes to curb appeal and it is the board’s intention to keep it that way.

Finally, on behalf of your board I want to wish everyone the very best during Christmas. I hope that the year 2012 brings health and happiness to all Villa owners.

By Carlos Quiros, Villas of WPV President

Wycliff

Hi, Wycliff! I start by offering our big thanks to Melinda for organizing our annual kiddie Halloween party for the kids, Nancy and Ken for letting us trash their driveway and everyone else who helped out.

Speaking of parties, our annual Pot Luck Block Party is just around the corner. The festivities will be held Dec. 10 from 3-7 p.m. The Santa parade will be down our road around 3:30 p.m. The party will feature live music, a bounce house, and, as always, some of the best home-cooked dishes and desserts. If you plan to come, R.S.V.P. by Dec. 4 to me (Shaney) at 727-0082 or ksmagee@aol.com with what you plan to bring. Don’t forget an unwrapped gift to donate!

Happy holidays!

By Shaney Nadel, Wycliff VM

VM Candidates, Food Drive, Chili Cookoff and Holiday Block Parties

The Greens

Welcome to fall in Westchase and the unofficial beginning of the holiday season 2011! With the cooler days and evenings, look out for more Greens residents outdoors running, bike riding and walking.

As we approach the end of 2011, please think about serving the Westchase community in 2012. Did you know that there are a variety of programs and committees throughout Westchase that need your help?

Come January we will have our Greens Annual Meeting, where we will elect a voting member and alternates to represent The Greens in 2012. If you know of anyone who is interested in serving, please have them contact either the Westchase Community Association Manager or me so we can place them on the ballot.

By the way, when did you update your list with The Greens gatehouse last? Does it include your cell phone number?

Last, should you know of any new resident, please advise them to send me their e-mail address, so I can pass it onto our Greens Webmaster. That way they can be included on all Greens and Westchase news.

Happy Thanksgiving!

By Gerald (Jerry) Pappa, The Greens VM

Keswick Forest

Hi, fellow Keswickians! I hope that everyone had a fun Halloween with more treats than tricks! Let's start out this month by congratulating our newest homeowners in the neighborhood, Samuel and Lindsey Dorrance and Naim Hamdar. Welcome to the neighborhood! Christy Grimste will be delivering your official welcome bag as she has enthusiastically volunteered to take over as our new Welcome Committee representative. Thank you, Christy!

It’s time to pull out your favorite chili recipe for the annual Keswick Forest Chili Cook-off. Details on the event will be sent out via e-mail to the Keswick Forest distribution list.

If you would like to be included on our e-mail distribution list, please e-mail me at heather.greeleyhessefort@gmail.com or Leslie McCluskie at lmccluskie@tampabay.rr.com.

By Heather Greeley-Hessefort, Keswick Forest Alternate VM

Townhomes of West Park Village

Our Townhomes of West Park Village association had its annual meeting on Oct. 6 and we just achieved the quorum to make it all legal. We were able to accomplish a few things that needed to be done. Mary McQuinn and Mike Niemis were re-elected to the board for new terms. Karen Harte will continue on the board and was named secretary/treasurer. Mary Rodriguez will also continue as the board’s vice president and I will continue to serve as president.

The most important item taken up was the dues. The board unanimously voted to raise the dues $16 a month starting Jan. 1 to cover maintenance expenses such as irrigation repairs, tree trimming, landscape maintenance as well as general maintenance so we do not have to dip into our reserves.

The contract for mulching has been signed and we will all see new mulch soon to complement our beautiful new fences. We are going to review the covenants over the next couple of months to address two major items. One will change our requirement for audits every year to just a financial review, which will save us some money. The state does not require an audit yearly so we are planning on changing our covenants to match state law. The other change will clarify the association’s responsibilities regarding painting, roof replacement and other repairs. Changes to our covenants require a 51 percent vote in favor of any change so we will need to have a majority of our owners support the revisions. We plan to take action in the spring on these items.

Last year we voted to use some of our roof reserves to pay for the new fences. Unless we can extend the life of our roofs beyond 15 years, we will have to make that reserve money up over the next few years. We tried to not raise the dues too much this year, but we will likely have to raise them more in the future to make up for the expense of replacing the fences, which were not originally budgeted by the developer as part of our dues. Considering all that is going on in the world of real estate, we should consider ourselves very lucky to be living in such a nice neighborhood and be in the financial shape we are in as an association. Others have it much worse.

On the lighter side, one of my family’s favorite holidays occurred on Oct. 31. There is no better place to be that night than West Park Village. It is truly a community made for Halloween. There were lots of decorations and people out for a good time coupled with the perfect atmosphere to celebrate the day. If Halloween can measure the health of a neighborhood, ours is doing great. Most of our family and friends cannot believe what a big deal it is here in our own neighborhood. We are so lucky to live here.

If you would like to get on an e-mail list to be aware of what affects our association, please send your e-mail address to ne at ramondchiaramonte@msn.com and I will put you on the list. I appreciate the chance the serve our association as president and look forward to any input or guidance you would like to provide.

By Ramond Chiaramonte, Townhomes of WPV President

The Vineyards

Greetings, Vineyards residents! November is suddenly upon us, which means that it is time for the holidays, Vineyards flag football and the pool heater (set at 86 degrees). Please remember to contact The Vineyards Compliance Committee if you need a parking pass for your guest (three or more days).

The first week of November features the annual Westchase food drive. Please try to participate to help families in need enjoy their holidays.

Last, we thank the social committee, especially organizers Kristin Butts and Sarapage Bauguss, for the Halloween social on Oct. 28.

Please stay posted for news about our annual December party, which includes horse-drawn rides. Go to http://www.westchasevineyards.org

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By Kevin Kwan, The Vineyards HOA President

Wycliff

Happy November, Wycliff! First let me say that it has been a pleasure being your voting member (VM). Due to family and work obligations, however, I can no longer provide the necessary commitment for the VM position. I ask that one of my fellow Wycliffers please consider taking over the position. Wycliff’s annual meeting and election will be held Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested.

Wycliff’s Holiday Block Party will take place Dec. 10 from 3-7 p.m. Santa will visit around 3:30 p.m. so please don’t forget your unwrapped gifts for his sleigh. It will be a potluck, so please e-mail me if you plan to attend and let me know what you would like to bring. As always, bring a chair and your own beverages. A bouncy and band will provide our entertainment.

By Shaney Nadel, Wycliff VM

Halloween, Oktoberfest, Mailboxes, the New WOW Online and Annual Meetings

The Greens

Here we are entering the month of October! As we enter fall, we’ll experience some great, cooler evenings along with the kids trick or treating in Westchase. Let’s all be extra careful driving throughout The Greens.

If you’re thinking of painting your home, contact the Westchase HOA office first !

When did you last update your list with The Greens’ gatehouse and does it include your cell phone number?

Also, this month I’d like to invite you to check out the new Web site for WOW Online. If you log on to http://www.westchasewow.com you&r,squo;ll find a new site that allows residents to read WOW’s content, post comments and classifieds, and offer reviews of businesses within its online business directory. To participate fully, simply register for your online profile. (Note: The information residents provide to WOW within their profile is not shared with other entities or businesses for commercial purposes.)

Last, should you know of any new residents, please advise them to send me their e-mail addresses so I can pass them onto our Greens Webmaster. That will enable them to be included on all Greens and Westchase news.

Happy Halloween!

By Gerald (Jerry) Pappa, The Greens VM

Keswick Forest

It’s that time of year to start hunting and gathering for that perfect costume for Keswick’s annual Halloween party, sponsored by yours truly, me. It’s going to be tough to outdo some of the fantastic costumes and food we saw last year, but I know you will give it your best Girl/Boy Scout effort. Any brave soul not dressed in proper attire (a costume) will be promptly camouflaged in whatever remnants that have been leftover through the years. The date and time will be sent via Keswick e-mail. If you haven’t signed up to be on the list, please e-mail me at lmccluskie@tampabay.rr.com or Heather Greeley-Hessefort at heather.greeleyhessefort@gmail.com.

By Leslie McCluskie, Keswick Forest VM

Radcliffe

Hello, neighbor! Hopefully you have already received your invitation to our Oktoberfest block party taking place next Saturday, Oct. 8. Our family is excited to be your host and we are looking forward to a great time, complete with festive favorites like bratwurst, pretzels, music and beer (of course)! Please consider stopping by even if for a brief stay.

Discount tree trimming season is here! We are inviting all residents to once again take advantage of the volume discount program we have negotiated with Mays Tree Service. As was the case this past spring, we only need 11 or more homes to get rates as low as $20 per palm tree. Cutting will most likely take place in early November, so if you are ready for your bi-annual trimming, let us know!

Last, I’d like to recognize and thank Radcliffe resident Darrick Sams on behalf of the entire neighborhood. Darrick recently stepped up to the plate and agreed to run for one of the open Westchase Community Association (WCA) Board positions last month. Truth be told, many are simply unwilling to consider that sort of commitment to the community. Even though he was not voted into the position (this time), he deserves some thanks and praise for his readiness to volunteer his time and effort on our behalf.

Thanks, Darrick!

By Eric Holt, Radcliffe VM

The Shires

School is back into full swing and that includes all of the activities that go along with it! From soccer to Scouts, from football to tap dancing, your time management is key to making sure that everything is accomplished on time. Please make sure to plan out your days well in advance. My advice is to get a large, dry-erase calendar or chalkboard and have each day’s/week’s activities listed so that everyone always remembers what’s going on around the house.

A couple of items for your review for the upcoming months:

I will be gathering bids for new mailboxes at the request of quite a few Shires residents. I will be utilizing the same companies that some of our other neighborhoods have been using. So no one has sticker shock, they were in the neighborhood of $300 per mailbox, including installation. Realize that this is the bidding procedure for me to get a cost estimate. Final approval for the project will depend upon Shires homeowners’ votes during the election for next year’s voting member. Now is either your time to express your disdain or sell this to your neighbor. It will come down to majority rules – 50 percent plus one of Shires homeowners.

I have noticed more and more people exercising around our community and a lot more in our neighborhoods. This includes joggers, families riding bikes, parents taking the newest addition out for a stroll, or residents taking the dog out for a walk. Please remember to utilize our sidewalk system for safety. If you decide to jog or run on the streets, please use the proper precautions by wearing reflective clothing so that the drivers can see you. If you are wearing earbuds, make sure that the music isn’t so loud that it prevents you from hearing what is going on around you.

Don’t forget that the Fall Westchase Garage Sale is Oct. 1, so start cleaning out those closets and empty that chest of drawers for some extra holiday cash.

By Patrick Knight, The Shires VM

Townhomes of West Park Village

We have an important meeting coming up on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Westchase Community Association (WCA) offices located at the Village Swim and Tennis Club. This is the date and time of our annual budget meeting and also the election of board members for our Townhomes association. I hope we can have a good turnout for this important meeting, as well as people interested in running for the board. Nominations from the floor are allowed. This meeting is a chance to ask questions and better understand the issues of our association. Please plan on attending.

The association still has not settled the sale of the townhouse it owns but we are working hard on bringing it to a conclusion. Somehow this has been extremely complicated even for a short sale and some problem always seems to appear at the last minute. Hopefully we will have solid news at our meeting.

One of the other important issues at our meeting will be our dues and the need to increase them to make sure we keep the proper reserves in our accounts. We will have relevant information at the meeting for review and discussion.

I hope everyone has had a great summer and be sure to remember that the Westchase Fall Garage Sale is Oct. 1.

I hope to see many of you at the annual meeting Oct. 6.

By Ray Chiaramonte, Townhomes of WPV VM

Village Green

The 2011 Village Green Directory assembly is under way. I have received many of the neighbor info-update forms, but not all. If you haven’t given yours to me, please do so as soon as possible. If you have not received the info-update form, please get in touch with me so that I can make sure that you are included. Also, we are still in need of business owners in the neighborhood who would like to support our directory by purchasing an ad. Additionally, we will need artwork for the directory cover as our former cover artist has moved away. I am hoping to have one of the Village Green children create a picture for the front cover. I will update more about that via e-mail at a later date.

One online message board that is available to us is the Greens Yahoo group. It has proven to be very helpful in many ways and puts us in touch with all of the Greens neighborhoods and events. If you have not received an invitation and would like to become a part of the Greens Yahoo group, please get in touch with me and I will be happy to help with that.

Once again, I extend the invitation to let me know if there are any concerns that you have regarding our neighborhood. I am always happy to help. Some fall get-togethers are in the works. I hope to see everybody soon.

By Bobbi Pitcher, Village Green VM

West Park’s Single Family Homes

Hello, neighbors!

I am certainly appreciative and thankful for the trust and confidence you have placed in me by allowing me to serve this past year as your voting member (VM). I assure you I have dutifully tried to represent your interests in the VM meetings. As we wrap up the year, I highlight a few items that affect West Park Village.

A couple of years ago, the Westchase Community Association (WCA) Board of Directors established a working group of residents to interface with the Westchase Town Center (formerly The Avenue) and its tenants. This committee was intended to work with our commercial neighbors to address and solve any continuing problems that adversely affect our community. I invited you to e-mail me with any issues that you would like the committee to address. It seems the growing neighborhood consensus is that the benefits outweigh the detriments.

In recent months, the flooding of our streets and yards has worsened. We have engaged the Community Development District (CDD) in the process of identifying a solution, and CDD staff is working with the county to press for a resolution (There has even been talk of sending a diver into the storm-water drains!). Please alert CDD staff of any problems or issues.

During this past month, it has unfortunately been reported that we had a mid-day break-in of a single family home. Please be on the lookout for vehicles staking out the community; do not hesitate to report any strange occurrences to the legal authorities. Also, continue to implement safe measures for securing your home and its contents. On that note, if anyone has seen the brass sundial missing or stolen from the CDD park at West Park Village Drive and Rowlett Way, please contact me.

The general feedback is that folks appreciate the WCA’s efforts to add community activities, such as pool parties and movie nights, even if they potentially impact our neighborhood. Please let the WCA know if you have any requests or suggestions or if you are experiencing any particular problems.
As always, thanks for being a great neighbor.

Brian Ross, WPV Single Family Homes VM

Wycliff

Hi, everyone! The September voting members (VM) meeting was dedicated to filling three positions on the Westchase Community Association (WCA) Board of Directors. After all nominees introduced themselves, answered written questions presented by the VMs and issued closing comments, the VMs voted. The three people selected to serve on the board of directors were Dyan Pithers, Joaquin Arrillaga and Ken Blair.

Also, make sure to check out our new WOW Online Web site, http://www.westchasewow.com

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Happy Halloween!

Shaney Nadel, Wycliff VM

VM Elections, Foreclosure, Flower Beds, Traffic, Budgets and Document Changes

Keswick Forest

Hi, fellow Keswickians! Let's start out this month by congratulating our newest homeowners in the neighborhood, Steve and Rachel Gage, along with their two boys, Tom and Luke. It’s great to see that you decided to stay and put down roots! Also, we offer a great big welcome to our newest bundle of joy, Lily Norris. Congrats to Heather and Craig and big sister Maya!

It might be seem early to send out a call for volunteers, but it is never too early to get involved. If you are interested in running for Keswick Forest Voting Member or alternate, I encourage you to contact Leslie or me for details. I also encourage you to attend a voting members meeting. It is a great opportunity to give back to the community.

Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day!

If you would like to be included on our e-mail distribution list, please e-mail me at heather.greeleyhessefort@gmail.com or Leslie McCluskie at lmccluskie@tampabay.rr.com.

By Heather Greeley-Hessefort, Keswick Forest Alternate VM

Radcliffe

Over the past several months, many of you have noticed the persistent, unappealing condition of 11906 Wandsworth Dr. To help shed some light on the situation, I reached out to Radcliffe’s Nena Cox (one of our neighborhood real estate gurus), who has offered a brief explanation of the foreclosure process.

Technically, foreclosure begins once a homeowner is 30 days past due on their mortgage payment. It varies by bank, but if the mortgage remains unpaid, a homeowner is served legal notification of foreclosure proceedings at about the four- to six-month mark. Then the path can fork, depending on whether the property remains occupied. If the property is abandoned (as is the case with 11906), the bank moves into “property preservation,” during which time the bank doesn’t own the property, but has an obligation (and interest) in doing limited maintenance. The bank occasional checks the home, primarily to ensure that there has been no security breach. The home will remain in this stage until the foreclosure process is completed, which can take up to two full years. Unfortunately the home cannot be put up for sale during this time. Given that the home cannot be sold until the bank owns it, the bank has a minor interest in spending money on curb appeal.

Naturally, that leads to the question of whether the association should step up and address the property’s maintenance needs. There is an outlet for this called self help, but getting on the list requires a formal process. Once approved, the cost of this maintenance is borne entirely by Westchase’s existing owners. Although the association can make an attempt to collect these costs when the home is sold, it’s extremely unlikely that they will be recouped.

Just as important, the bank immediately loses any incentive to maintain the property if the association or neighbors are doing it.

So, there you have it. The ugly result of a national mortgage crisis. It’s certainly less than ideal and I keep hearing that it’s far from over.

By Eric Holt, Radcliffe VM

The Shires

I hope everyone has had an enjoyable summer! Now that the kids are back in school, I want to remind everyone about some of the things that happen around our neighborhood around school time. Please remember these few things and I believe that everyone will be safer for it.

First, remember that we have children that are walking from their homes to the front of the neighborhood to catch the bus in the mornings. Please therefore slow down when driving through The Shires. The posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour but you don’t have to go that fast.

Second, I’d ask that parents of children who walk up the front of the neighborhood please instruct their children that the area around the brick wall leading into Aryshire is a flowerbed. It also has sprinkler heads, so they should not be standing in it, walking through it, or playing there. Doing so causes damage to the sprinkler system and kills the plants.

Third, traffic in Westchase continues to get worse every month. As new apartment buildings on Countryway Boulevard, Waters Avenue and even Sheldon Road are finished, we will see more people moving to the Westchase area. This, in turn, increases traffic on all feeder streets as well as the main arteries like Linebaugh Avenue, Waters Avenue, Hillsborough Avenue and especially Veterans Expressway. Make sure you stay alert and give yourself extra time in the mornings so that we all remain safe.

There are a few other items that we all need to remember. Please remember that your garbage is not supposed to be placed at the curb untill after 6 p.m. on the night before trash collection. Last, with all of the recent rain, I still notice a considerable amount of water running down the gutters every morning. This tells me that some folks’ yards are saturated with water. Remember that it is possible to water your lawn to excess, which is just as bad as a lack of water. Just because we are using reclaimed water doesn’t mean we have to waste it. With that in mind, adjust your sprinkler systems and cut them back until drier weather returns.

By Patrick Knight, VM The Shires

Townhomes of West Park Village

Another summer is coming to a close and vacations are ending, but things continue to happen regardless of the season. The most important news for our residents is that it looks like the townhouse that the association owns is finally close to being sold. The remaining issues look on track to being resolved soon. Owning this unit has been an unpleasant experience for our association and it will be a great day when this closes and we get our past dues paid back. It is always a problem for us when dues go unpaid, when we have to spend money on legal action and when we find ourselves short of money that should be in our funds.

Our fences are finally finished and certainly have improved the appearance of our community. It shows how important it is to be able to adjust our regulations when new products prove to be a better solution. My thanks go out to our past board, led by Mike Niemis, who had the foresight to deal with this issue and do what was necessary to find a solution.

I want to clarify responsibilities of our association since some confusion exists regarding homeowners’ responsibilities. We are not condominiums, but fee-simple townhomes. Therefore nearly everything is the responsibility of the homeowners. The association is solely responsible the periodic painting of the outside of the units and the townhomes’ roof replacements. Maintenance of landscaping in the front and side yards is also done by the association, but typically not the rear yards, especially if the gates are locked. Normal maintenance, such as replacement of rotted wood or other types of damage, is not covered by the association.

It is always important for us to keep up the appearance of our homes since it affects the property values in our community. After coming back from a long vacation this summer, it was certainly pleasant to return to Westchase and see through different eyes how good our community looks compared to so many other places.

I cannot think of another place in the Tampa Bay area where I would rather live.

By Ray Chiaramonte, Townhomes of WPV HOA President

Villas of West Park Village

At the last Villas Board meeting, held Aug. 8, our property manager presented a draft budget for 2012. After explaining all budget items and answering questions from board members as well as from association members, on a motion made by Richard Johnson and seconded by George Pennington, the board resolved to approve – unanimously – the 2012 budget as presented. The 2012 budget includes no increase to our current monthly assessment.

As mentioned in the August WOW, some villa owners had their trees in front of their units replaced as result of the last walk-through, during which it was noticed that the previously planted trees were dying. It is board policy to do whatever is needed to maintain the best possible curb appeal of the villas. Also, we expect to complete the Villas’ painting project and the affected owners will receive written notification of the painting schedule as well as information regarding what they must do with furniture on the front or back porches.

At the meeting board members also approved holding the annual meeting on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. This meeting will be held at the Westchase Community Association (WCA) offices at 10049 Parley Dr. We wish to remind all villa owners that there are three board positions up for election. If any owner wishes to be on the ballot, please let Property Manager Denise Schek know via e-mail at dschek@greenacreproperties.com, by Wednesday, Sept. 28. Remember that ballots have to be prepared, mailed and received before the annual meeting. Notification of your interest in appearing on the ballot should be through written communication – via U.S. mail or e-mail – as telephone calls will not be accepted for this purpose.

By Carlos S. Quiros, Villas of WPV HOA President

The Vineyards

Greetings, Vineyards residents! I hope you had a great summer. By now, all the kids are back to school and all of the traffic has returned.

As you recall, The Vineyards residents voted this spring/summer on three issues: (A) amending The Vineyards painting requirement from five years to seven years; (B) eliminating the requirement for a secret ballot during annual elections; and (C) removing language requiring an audit of the annual financial statements.

The good news is that we were able to secure enough proxies/votes to pass items B and C. We did not, however, receive enough votes to address the painting issue (we were eight votes short). Therefore, Vineyards residents are still required to paint every five years.

A couple of other recurring issues that I would like to remind Vineyards residents about are parking and caring for the pool furniture. Vineyards residents are required to park in their garages or completely on their driveways, which means that your car should not be sitting halfway in the street. Vineyards residents are also not allowed to park on the street or alleyways.

Last, we ask that you please care for the Vineyards pool furniture as if it were your own. This means moving the furniture back to its original location and closing umbrellas upon leaving. The biggest risk is losing open umbrellas in a summer storm.

Please direct any questions or concerns to our Web site, http://www.westchasevineyards.org

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By Kevin Kwan, President of The Vineyards HOA

Wycliff

Hi, everyone! I hope you all have had a great summer. We welcome our new neighbors, the Crowleys. We hope they had an easy move and we look forward to having them on the block.

There was no voting member (VM) meeting in July. At their August meeting VMs discussed updating some of the language in our governing documents. Some of the verbiage is very generic and in need of updating.

To complete Wycliff’s mailbox project, we have one remaining mailbox to which we must attend. We are working with the Westchase Community Association (WCA) on this particular home. It will eventually get done.

As for roads, we are still on the re-pavement schedule for 2012.

Please feel free to e-mail me at ksmagee@aol.com or call my cell at 727-0082 with any questions. Please do not call my home phone; I never answer that line.

Also, if you have any shout outs, please e-mail them to Chris Barrett at editor@westchasewow.com.

Looking good Wycliff!

By Shaney Nadel, Wycliff VM