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Village of Oak Lake Homeowners Association
N e w s l e t t e r
June, 2017 Volume XVI, No. 06
Message from the Board
END OF AN ERA… A voluminous three-story building, which for dec-ades was the business center of downtown Sug-ar Land, is being erased.
Once the headquarters for the historic Imperial Sugar Company, the oldest continuous busi-ness in the state of Tex-as and home of what was the largest sugar conglomerate in the world, is being cleared away, but memories prevail.
Just across SH 90A from the Imperial processing plants, this building, in the last decades of the 20th century, also housed the Sugar Land Telephone Company, a drygoods store, a wellknown cafeteria, a popular drug store, Kitty’s beauty shop, Oscar’s barber shop, and offices, including one for more than seven years by Mel and Loretta Knesek, owners of K-2 Realty, Inc., still housed today on Brooks Street, less than half mile from this once thriving center.
Mel remembers starting their com-pany in a brand new building of the 1980s when the three-story section was add-ed. K-2, after two years , moved to a larger space for five years and , as the sugar company expanded, he was offered an office across Brooks Street, where he operated for 16 years.
During Imperial’ expansion, I recall visiting a ground floor room, about 20 by 30 foot, occupied almost entirely by the first computer I’d ever seen. It was about six feet tall and impressive. Most of that same data capacity now is avail-able in a hand-held i-pad.
A Sugar Land neighbor of the Kneseks, Herbert Michalek, worked for 40 years for Imperial Sugar, and he remembers this building well. He particularly remembers catching the Greyhound bus in front of the drug store, for trips into Hou-
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Knesek, left, and Sergio Velez, who has the project of removing this Sugar Land landmark.
REALTOR REMEMBERS -- Mel Knesek started his K-2 Realty, Inc., a half century ago.
The HOA Board meeting was held on Monday, May 8, 2017 in the Village of Oak Lake Pool house room B. Quorum was established with three board members in attendance. As always we welcome neighbors to stop by and join us for the community forum portion of the meeting at 6:30pm. We welcomed Mr. Tejani from The Learning Experience, the newest business in VOL. He was very transparent about their plans. Traffic control, child safety, lighting, landscaping and advertising was discussed and Mr. Tejani was very sup-portive of our suggestions and concerns. We ask that all residents surrounding The Learning Experience check their fences. Please submit an ACC form (you can download form at vol.com) if you need to install a new fence. Promptly re-place missing pickets. ALL residents must have a proper fence surrounding their property even if it is not visible from the road! One resident wanted to discuss the wording on a letter he had received from the “Homeowner’s Association” and how it was not concise and specific to the deed violation listed. Since we are talking about deed violations and notices, let’s take a moment to clarify several things:
• The language on violation letters are not written by the board. For the most part is written in accordance with the rules and laws governing homeowner associations. As with most legal jargon, it can be vague. If the infor-mation on the notice is incorrect immediately contact Sterling (832-678-4500) and ask for clarification. Be sure to ask for the name of the person who assisted you.
• If you ignore the notices and your account is being han-dled by our attorney, all communication must go through their office and not Sterling or the Board members.
• The “Homeowner’s Association” is EVERYONE living in Village of Oak Lake INCLUDING the five board mem-bers. The Board members volunteer their time. So when you ask the HOA to waive fees you are asking everyone including yourself.
• Sterling Association is the management company hired to manage the funds, communications and to ensure our community flourishes to keep our property values in check. They don’t make the “rules.”
• We communicate the rules by various methods of com-munication including a monthly newsletter, website and email. The responsibility falls on the homeowner! Need a new roof, fence, paint, or driveway? Submit an ACC Form BEFORE doing the work. Imagine if we told someone to remove a new roof, because a form was not on file? Are trees growing in your gutters? Does your home need power washing? Are you parking in the street instead of the driveway? Are you playing loud mu-sic at odd hours into the night? Do you have chickens?
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The LetterWorks
...the letter works
Steve McHale
Publisher
Wayne Chandler
Editor
This newsletter is published privately, but with the concern and support of the Village of Oak Lake Homeowners Association. It is delivered, door-to-door, to 1,150 homes in VOL the last two days of each month. For advertising information, call
281-277-5267. The Newsletter reserves the right to reject, edit or omit an ad for any reason, and is not liable for any losses sustained as a result of printing errors.
For newsletter matters, call
281-277-5267 or e-mail to: [email protected] [email protected]
For matters regarding the Village of Oak Lake Homeowners Assn., Including Architec-tural Control and Landscaping Committee. Sterling Association Services, Inc One Avalon Place Sugar Land, Tx 77479 Becky Salinas Phone: 832-678-4500 Ext. 303 Fax: 281-966-1785 E-mail: [email protected]
AROUND THE ‘LAKE’
VOL OFFICERS
Laura Montalvo, President [email protected]
Leo Furman, Vice President [email protected]
JR Garcia, Treasury [email protected]
Joe Hernandez, Secretary
Walter Young, Director [email protected]
RENT THE VOL SIGN
Rent the VOL sign at the entrance of the subdivision.. Use it
for birth announcements, birthday wishes, awards, wedding
congratulations, bon voyages, anniversaries, special
occasions, welcome home, etc. It's $10 a day per
side. Contact: Alan Ligh by e-mail at [email protected]
FB MUD 41 has just learned that construction on the outgoing West Airport right turn lane probably will begin this July.
I thought it might be interesting for you to know how long that VOL residents have been talking about get-ting this extra lane which should help during the early morning rush. This is a quote from the March 2008 VOL newsletter – nine years ago!:
“And, wouldn’t it be nice if we could get a right turn lane outgoing on West Airport at the SH 6 traffic light? One driver going straight ahead can keep a score of others from turning right on red. It’s perfectly legal for drivers to go straight across because there is a lane for them. But it is the courteous thing for drivers who are going straight across SH 6 to get in the middle lane. Commissioner James Patterson, long ago, persuad-ed TXDOT to give us a long green during rush hours. Patterson said that it would cost about $50,000, to relocate utility poles and create a separate right-only lane. But Mr. Patterson, our favorite commissioner, says that he’ll talk to the powers that be…again. Thanks, James.”
Well, this project was included in the county mobility bond issue which we all approved four years ago. And, now it’s happening NINE YEARS later. We hope.
*****
If you have an irrigation system, why not get a free evaluation of it, which will help your Fort Bend County MUD 41 achieve some its water conser-vation goals. No obligation, but a comprehensive look at your system. And, you get $15 if you’re present for the evaluation report. See Page 7
*****
We’re into the hurricane season again, June 1 to November 30. Ac-cuWeather meteorologists claim we’re in for a “below normal season,” with a prediction of 10 named storms, 5 of which may become hurri-canes, and 3 of which may be major storms.
El Nino in the Pacific is expected to come on late in the season with warmer than normal temperatures, so October and November might have the strongest storms.
Names of the storms this year by the National Hurricane program: Ar-lene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irma, Jose, Katia, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince and Whitney.
*****
It was just a year ago that we were recovering from the most devastating floods in these parts since Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. It was the Tax Day Floods of April 17-18, 2016, most damaging in the Waller-Cypress
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areas. Such a rainfall of 16-22 inches in 12 hours always turns a lot of Houston streets into canals for a couple of days. Fort Bend County flood control engineers, combining with key MUDs, have virtually eliminated serious flooding here with dams, levies and deep drainage waterways.
The entire Greater Houston area is virtually flat and free of drainage from any surrounding plains. But when the sky falls in, the water is only going to stand for a while, unless there’s programmed drainage. Fort Bend County has planned ahead.
And, as one important Fort Bend MUD icon, Andre Mac-Donald, has always said, “Elevation is the Solution to Inun-dation.”
*****
ASTRODOME MEMORIES: News last May 18 that the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus had its last show after 146 years jogged some personal recollections for me.
In 1966, Judge Hofheinz went to Rome, and along with two partners, Irving and Isreal Feld, purchased this historic leg-end entertainment company from John Ringling North.
This show was brought to Houston that summer, premiering in the Astrodome, and then appearing twice a day in nextdoor Astrohall most of that summer.
As astounding as that circus was, the Astrodome seemed to drawf it. Attendees sitting in the upper levels of the Astro-dome looked down on the high-flying aerial acts.
Judge Hofheinz made it possible for thousands of young-sters in Houston's various community programs to see this Greatest Show On Earth, as his guest. It was a busy sum-mer!
*****
Electric cars are on the way. Chevy Bolt will be out this year with a battery warranty for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Many other automakers, in-cluding Tesla, will be out within the next twq years. Experts say that if you only drive your car to a normal work distance and back, you’ll avoid extra charging or recharging, and you may never buy another gallon of gasoline.
*****
The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross, and which bridge to burn.
*****
LIVES SAVED? The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says that 14,362,688 airbags have been repaired, as of last March 31.
*****
In my many years I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is Congress. – John Adams, U.S. president 1797-1801.
*****
We offered some INDOOR water conservation tips in May. Here’s some important OUTDOOR water conservation tips which are pertinent now: 1) Remember that your lawn only
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ston. He and his parents lived in Schulenberg, but after he served in the Army in World War II, he took the bus from Schulenberg to Sugar Land, saw a sign at Imperial which said “Help Wanted.” Michalek said, “Two days later I was working there…for 40 years.” He also, later, shopped at Western Auto, next to the drygoods store, when he finally could af-ford a car.
The building is being razed by Sergio Velez and his Velez Environ-mental Services, Inc. Ve-lez claims that an invest-ment firm which bought the property, has no im-mediate plans for develop-ment.
“A lot of memories go with this building,” Velez said. “People have been coming up to me, recalling their time here.” Velez said.
This landmark now is just a memory.
#
(Continued from page 1, End of an Era)
SUGAR LAND OLDTIMERS -- Herbert Michalek planted a tree sprout from a coffee can back in 1968. That tree has survived while his old stopping grounds on SH 90A isn't.
The list goes on and on. If we are to keep our com-munity looking nice and property values high, we must first look to ourselves as homeowners, to do our part in ensuring we are maintaining our prop-erty and home.
• Annual Assessments are NOT optional. Every year statements are mailed out in November/December with the due date of January 31st. This does not change. Our fees are one of the lowest if not the low-est in our area. To date, the assessments are $420. Saving $70 per month now will ensure that there is enough to pay for this fee in January. If you are experi-encing a hardship, please contact Sterling and inquire about a payment plan now to avoid problems later.
There was discussion about the damage to the tennis courts. A sign was made but received damaged therefore we must wait for a replacement sign to be made and deliv-ered. Without proper evidence such as a picture or video with a time stamp we cannot be certain who the culprits are. When the person or persons are caught, they will be responsible for the cost of repairs. The court is not just a painted surface! There is a large open space at Kidz Village Park, please use that field if you want to play cricket or baseball. If you see someone playing cricket or baseball on the tennis court please call the sheriff’s de-partment at 281-342-6116 and report the defacing of the court. DO NOT PLAY CRICKET OR BASEBALL ON THE TENNIS COURT!
The remainder of our meeting was business as usual. I’ll end with a reminder about our upcoming event:
Pool Opens May 27th at 10am
Snow Cones will be served from 11am-1pm
Please notify Sterling (832-678-4500) immediately if your card is lost or stolen to schedule a time to pick up a new card. There is a $25 fee for all replacement cards. If you are renting a house please include copy of leasing docu-ments and proper identification when requesting a card. Please note that the property owner must be up to date with assessments. If the annual assessment is not paid, renters do not have access to the pool or tennis court.
Thank you from the VOL HOA Board
#
(Continued from page 1, Board Notes)
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TRAVEL
TIME
By Vi Chandler
We just got back from two weeks in paradise.. one in Playa del Carmen and the last week at Moon Palace Sunrise in Cancun. The last week was all-inclusive, and while I don’t drink, I may have gained a couple of pounds. (YES!) Food and drink is only part of the great attraction at Palace. You’re treated as royalty and the accommodations are superb. We ‘re going back in October.
*****
What percentage of pilots licensed to fly U.S. commercial jetliners would you guess are women? According to the FAA it’s 5 per cent. That’s up just one per cent from 10 years ago. That’s in spite of the fact that pay scales are equal, and promo-tions are by seniority. Experienced pilots now start at about $35 an hour for a 75 hour month.
Why then? Pilot training veterans say, it’s because of the woman’s role in raising a family, and because most airline pi-lots have received their training in the military, still dominated by men. There’s a growing need for airlines pilots, and some of the companies are looking for ways to lure more women into the flight business.
*****
The recent passenger removal hassle on a United Airlines flight is still causing rumblings, and some major changes re-garding the airlines’ long-standing policy of overbookings prob-ably is coming to a halt. Southwest already has announced that it will cease overbookings by July 1.
United claims that it only overbooks flights by 3%, and only about one in 25 flights ends up with more ticketed passengers at the gate than there are seats available. United has an-
nounced that it won’t physically remove any more passen-gers, but it still plans to overbook. But Congress is getting into the act now, with several bills pending that would put more regulations on this policy.
*****
For you skiers next season, there are big changes in the works. Vail, which has the two biggest ski resorts in the U.S., in Vail and Brecken-ridge, Colorado, also owns Whistler Black-comb in British Columbia. But Aspen Ski-ing Company and KSL-Capital Partners have announced a joint venture to oversee 12 North American ski resorts, which will match Vail’s holdings. Aspen-KSL also has one in Australia. Upgrades are planned for ski resorts from Utah to Vermont, ready for the 2017-18 season.
*****
I appreciate the response that I’m getting from you folks in all of the neighborhoods where Travel Time is in your newsletter. Please let me know when I can help you with any bookings. Call me at 281-277-5267 or email me at [email protected]. It doesn’t cost you a penny more to book through a travel agent. #
Monday June 19 -Friday June 23
9:00 to Noon
This years theme Savannah Safari!
Attention Kids!
You’re invited to attend
Vacation Bible School
At
Oak Lake Baptist Church 15555 West Airport Blvd.
Children will have fun exploring different ways we can help others in our community as well as others from a different part of the world.
Our missions project will go towards helping organizations raise funds to aid churches as they provide and care for different missions programs in their represented country.
Preparation and decorations are in full swing, so make plans to join us for an exciting week.
Our mornings will begin at 9 and go until noon. Snacks will be provided and the cost is absolutely FREE. For more information, please visit our website
at oaklakebaptist.org.
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VOL 2017 POOL SCHEDULE
JUNE Starting fulltime Friday, June 2 Mondays - Closed Tuesdays-Saturdays 10 to 9 Sundays 1 to 8
JULY Mondays - Closed Tuesdays-Saturdays 10 to 9 Sundays 1 to 8
AUGUST Open fulltime until August 20, then weekends only Mondays - Closed Tuesdays-Saturdays 10 to 9 Sundays 1 to 8
SEPTEMBER Pool closes for the season after Labor Day Saturday, Sept. 2 10 to 9 Sunday, Sept. 3 1 to 8 Monday, Sept. 4 10 to 9 (Labor Day)
281-933-1825
THANK YOU!
You’ve found us and you’ve come back for three years!
We love it!
15550 W Airport Blvd B, Sugar Land, TX
Mon - Sat 7:30AM - 9:00PM We Cater & Deliver
QUOTES ABOUT FATHERS
▪ I don’t know who my grandfather was; I am more con-cerned to know what his grandson will be – Abraham Lincoln
▪ Small boy’s definition of Father’s Day. It’s just like Moth-er’s Day only you don’t spend so much. – Anonymous
▪ A father is a guy who has snapshots in his wallet where his money used to be. – Unknown
▪ You don’t deserve your mother’s love. You have to de-serve your father’s. He’s more particular. – Robert Frost
▪ Any man can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad. -- Anne Geddes
▪ A father is a banker provided by nature. – French prov-erb
▪ I cannot think of any need in childhood as stron g as the need for a father’s protection. – Sigmund Freud
▪ If the new American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort in the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right. – Bill Cosby
▪ I talk and I talk and I talk, and haven’t taught people in 50 years what my father taught by example in one week. – Mario Cuomo
▪ By the time that a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son that thinks he’s wrong. -- Charles Wadsworth
takes an inch of water a week in the Summer months, 2) water in the morning or late at night, 3) set your lawn mow-er on a higher setting because taller grass helps hold in moisture, and 4) set your sprinkler on a timer and adjust during the different seasons.
*****
With vacations coming, don’t forget to use the Sugar Land Branch Library, 550 Eldridge Road in Sugar Land for all your reading needs. Remember, they have hours that are different almost every day: Monday noon to 9; Tuesday & Thursday 10-9; Wednesday 10-6; Friday noon to 5; Satur-day 10-5 and Sunday CLOSED.
*****
Shoppers, don’t forget the bargain day of all bargain days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 30 at the Tri-City Churches Resale Shop, on Stafford Run just off Avenue E in Stafford. All clothing is just $1 (ONE DOLLAR!), and there’s a wide variety of items from which to choose. All these items exclude the Boutique Shop items. It’s a rare shopping event, and easy to get to the shop.
*****
Have a safe and Happy Father’s Day!
wayne chandler
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Esther Andrews Independent Sr. Sales Director
281-493-3613 281-633-1219 [email protected] www.MaryKay.com/Esther Enriching Women’s Lives
TM
DON’T FORGET: FREE IRRIGATION CHECK
Some VOL residents already are taking ad-vantage of the free irrigation inspection, made available now through your Fort Bend MUD 41 and the North Fort Bend Water Authority (NFBWA).
If you sign up (www.nfbwa.com/conservation/wiseguys) you can get a comprehensive evalu-ation of your irrigation system by a licensed irri-gator to identify any malfunctions.
Residents will have access to the results of the evaluation online. There is no obligation to make the repairs recommended, and these would be the responsibility of the homeowner.
A $15 incentive is provided to a resident pre-sent for completion of the evaluation.
This conservation program is one of several of-fered by MUD 41 and NFBWA in an effort to save water.
If you encounter a problems while scheduling your evaluation please contact Chiffon Walker at713-488-8182.
#
Oyster Creek Elementary principal Lisa Lang-ston and staff, and PTA parents showered the teachers during OCE Teacher Appreciation Week, with a luncheon, treats and 72 gift cards, plus this sign near the school drive.
TEACHER APPRECIATION
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Call Us Today
It’s Easy! *
281 565 2222
www.insurancesolutions.com
Serving Fort Bend County since 1993. Thank You!
Carrie Cumming Associate Agent
HOME INSURANCE YOU
CAN AFFORD!
REALTY, INC.
602 Brooks
Sugar Land, TX 77478
Melvin L. Knesek Broker
Bus: (281) 491-5880
Fax: (281) 491-5723
Res.: (281) 980-1984
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.k2realty.com
When six-year old Sophia Santos comes to her parents' restaurant Elbita’s after school each day, she shows them her artwork from school, and then proudly displays it on the restaurant walls, along with some of her school-mates' artwork. Sophia likes showing it.
SOPHIA's ARTWORK
Black Neck Stilt Photographed at Arch-bishop Joseph Fiorenza Park at Westpark and Eldridge Dr. by Milly McHale
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School Health BY NANCY CARTIE, RN
Jason Bradley Realtor /Agent
832-724-3750
Exercise and Hydration in the Texas Summer Sun
Summer is a great time to get outside and exercise - but you must be hydrated and follow a few simple rules to avoid heat - related illnesses. The signs and symptoms include:
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea or vomiting
• Weakness
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Confusion If any of these occur, stop
your exercise immediately, get out of the heat and get hydrated. You may not even know that you are suffering from a heat related illness, so if your workout buddies tell you that you are acting different, take their advice, get out of the sun and get hydrated. Many times getting hydrated is the last thing you want to do, since you may not know what is occurring. Have someone stay with you and listen to their advice since you may be confused.
Prevention is always the key - follow these simple rules:
Hydrate before you exercise (1-2 glasses of water) and hydrate with water and/or a sports drink during extended periods of exercise in the heat.
Wear loose fitting light colored clothing.
Avoid the hottest part of the day, i.e. 10-4 PM. Go early or later. Sunscreen is a must. Remember when you exercise you are loosing both fluids
and electrolytes, so you must keep both your water and sodium intake in balance.
You can also help stay
hydrated by consuming fruits and vegetables with a high water content, plus most are nutrient dense, high in fiber and low in calories.
Good choices are: watermelon, grapefruit, cucumbers, strawberries, iceberg lettuce, celery, tomatoes, cauliflower, spinach, raspberries, and cantaloupe to name a few.
The Oliver Foundation is a non-profit
organization dedicated to the prevention of childhood obesity.
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Most Insurance. Medicare. Auto Injuries. Workman’s Comp Accepted.
Family Practice • Internal Medicine Industrial Medicine • Appointment or
Walk-ins • Extended Hours Electronic check in and check out
Immigration Physicals
BHARAT GANDHI, MD, MRO Board Certified in Internal Medicine
24 hour Answering Service Se Habla Espanol
Urgent Care
281-564-3300
9130 Highway 6 South (Just North of Bissonnet,
across from Wendy’s)
Several Nurse Practitioners
medinetclinic.com LONE STAR FLOORS
281-564-1345 Fax 281-564-3492
10009 Hwy 6 South @ Old Richmond Rd.
Carpet • Ceramic • Hardwood • Laminate • Granite Countertops
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Formerly
Caring Dentists ∙ Quality Dentistry
10581 S Highway 6 South, Suite 105 @ West Bellfort (Across From Home Depot)
832-243-4169 Braces (Orthodontics) ∙ Open 9 am to 5 pm plus Saturday
• Implants
• Comprehensive Dentistry
• Relaxing Sedation Options
• Braces • Exceptionally Clean &
• Oral Cancer Screening • Professional Teeth
Whitening • Digital X-Rays • Sports Mouth Guards • Dentures
