Newsletter November 2024
Talking about our different neighborhoods:
I had an opportunity to meet with 3 people that reside in different nearby neighborhoods. We talked about how their neighborhood associations communicate with their neighbors. I heard the same story from all of them. Every year, during the Fall, their association board members create an annual budget. They determine how much money they need for the next year.
For example, let’s say the estimate is $3,500. They collect voluntary dues from 88 neighbors ($40 each), they are solid for the upcoming year. If you have 295 homes, that means if any of the remaining 207 neighbors contribute, wow great extra money, but if not, no problem. The goal is set!
Once a year, in the Fall, they all have a large meeting with all the neighbors that are available at a nearby school to discuss the proposed budget. They also meet in the same place for their monthly association meetings. I learned that in each of these neighborhoods, every resident receives a “printed newsletter every month” so all neighbors can be updated, keeping all neighbors on the same page. Sometimes their newsletters have surveys. Although they have their neighborhood website and Facebook page, their “main communication” is the printed newsletter. Please know many neighbors are too busy & not checking the website or Facebook page, but all (even the Seniors) will read the printed newsletter. I believe it would be a good idea for our neighborhood … for every resident to get a printed newsletter, like it was done in Oak Hollow Park for the prior 25 years, or until about 2 years ago when we stopped. Prior to a couple years ago, we had (black & white) newsletter printing in the annual budget. What do you think?
If you walk around our neighborhood like I do, you will notice that our neighborhood dog owners are “not picking up after their dogs,” and are leaving proof on a regular basis on our sidewalks. If successfully reported, violators can be fined up to $500. Too bad too many of our neighbor dog owners don’t know.
Maybe posting guidelines in the printed newsletter would be helpful. To report an animal-related issue in San Antonio, you can contact 311 by phone at (210) 207-6000, online, or through the 311 mobile app: 311: Available 7 days a week from 7 AM–7 PM and on holidays from 8 AM–5 PM
How do rental homes, and Airbnb’s (short-term rentals) affect a neighborhood market values.
More rental homes & some Airbnb’s are coming into the neighborhood. Research indicates that when a neighborhood becomes more than 10% rentals, the neighborhood will have a negative impact on market values by potentially lowering the overall perception of the neighborhood’s quality due to concerns about less consistent maintenance, higher turnover rates, and a perception of reduced community involvement compared to owner-occupied homes, leading to declining property prices. We cannot prevent owners from renting out homes in Oak Hollow Park, however, we can keep residents informed (in the printed newsletter) about the neighborhood’s stance on rentals and their maintenance. And let residents know they can report violators ( maintenance neglect and/or noise complaints) by calling 311.
And dark areas invite vadalism. About 3 years ago, the City was talking about adding 10 more (City) street lamps, but apparently the proposal did not work out. Maybe someone here can revive that proposal. What do you think?
OHPNA Board surprise us with new creative events:
Imagine if you could look at last year’s neighborhood newsletter for the November issue and it didn’t look much like the November issue this year. Pretty much the same calendar. Imagine if there was more issues and new information in the monthly newsletter that would benefit all our neighbors.
What if our OHPNA did a few quarterly popup events. For example “next Tuesday November 26th at 6pm, the OHPNA will be sponsoring a “Popup” on the corner:
Fun & Profitable: Neighborhood Quarterly Popups; We don’t sell food!
We sell napkins $8 apiece. With every napkin we will throw in an ice-cream waffle cone, and a hot dog or a taco and a soda or glass of lemonade. Food & Drinks purchased with OHPNA funds and all proceeds put back in the OHPNA account to benefit our neighborhood. Profits could pay for printing the monthly newsletters.
The main difference between a Homeowners Association (HOA) and a Neighborhood Association (NA):
Is that HOAs are mandatory for homeowners, while NAs are voluntary for residents:
A Neighborhood Association is a voluntary organization of residents who work together to improve and maintain the quality of life in its neighborhood. Neighborhood Associations can form out of concern over a particular issue or as a means of enhancing a sense of community.
- Membership is open to all property owners and residents but participation is voluntary.
- There is no legal authority to enact or enforce maintenance or design requirements beyond those established by City and/or County Ordinances.
Homeowners Associations are formal legal entities created to maintain common areas and enforce private deed restrictions. Most have homeowners associations which are usually created when the development is built.
- Membership is mandatory for all property owners within the boundaries of the development.
- Members are usually charged mandatory dues.
- Homeowners associations have the legal authority to enact and enforce maintenance and design standards in addition to those established by City or County ordinance.
Can non-HOA neighborhoods enforce C,C& R’s.
Yes, even in non-HOA neighborhoods, Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) can still be enforced, with individual homeowners having the legal right to sue their neighbors in civil court to enforce them if there is no formal HOA to manage the process; however, this can be time-consuming and expensive, and enforcement may vary depending on state laws.
Historically, neighborhoods that have monthly printed newsletters for every resident are better educated and have fewer neighborhood problems. A good way for everyone to stay on the same page.
Neighbor Services for our Seniors:
This works best within a printed newsletter:
- Need someone to walk your dog ask: (names & #’s here)
- Need someone to mow your lawn ask: (names & #’s here)
- Need a ride to the pharmacy ask: (names & #’s here)
- Need a ride to the store ask: (names & #’s here)
- Need a ride to a doctor appointment ask: (names & #’s here)
Newsletter October 2024
On Monday afternoon, I heard a sound outside, like someone firing a fire hose against my master bedroom wall. I walked out of the bedroom, through the living room and looked out into my backyard. The patio was flooded, I thought we had a freak thunderstorm, but it was 90 degrees outside! No such luck.
I had a water leak underground in my back yard. Fortunately, I know a guy and he said he could come over to fix my leak, in the next day or two. To turn off the water and wait.
The water leak explosion happened at almost noon, and for over 24 hours, I had to turn off my water from the street. Imagine, no water in my home, no water for the toilet, or to take a shower. Guess I take it all for granted. When my wife came home from work, she took us to Walmart, we bought some buckets and we took water from our pool. We put it in the buckets so we could flush our toilets. No shower, no dishwasher, no clothes washer, for at least 24 hours but the TV worked fine, and I saw the devastation of hurricane damage, and I felt a pang of guilt. The following day my water leak was fixed and every day since, and I feel very grateful.
Life has a way of humbling us. As we grow older, the drive to chase big dreams often fades, and we start to find more value in the little things. We come to savor the quiet moments, like the first sip of coffee in the morning or the gentle touch of a loved one’s hand. The simple pleasure of laughter shared over a humble meal or the calm of a peaceful walk in the neighborhood becomes more precious.
Growing older shifts our focus from grand ambitions to the everyday joys that surround us. We begin to appreciate the beauty in routine. It’s in these small, simple moments that we find true contentment. In the end, it’s not the grand achievements that define our happiness, but the simple, tender moments that shape our lives. Do you agree?
Invite a Neighbor … We have room for a few more families, so bring your neighbor to our next coffee meeting in November. After you invite your neighbor, tell me so I can give you an extra coffee invite to give to them.
Road Trips … As often as possible, my wife and I make a quick (Saturday to Sunday) trip to Mexico to check in with Magda’s aging Parents. It takes about about 4 hours each way, including stops to eat & walking the dogs. The thing that is consistent is our Texas roads, most along the way are in really bad shape. I have spilled drinks, cold and hot, all over myself, while on these Texas roads. Getting into Mexico, we take toll roads, and lately, they are in better shape than our Texas roads. I wish our roads were better maintained, do you agree.
Putting “Oak Hollow Park” on the map …. A couple years ago, every time I searched Google for “Oak Hollow Park,” the results showed a different neighborhood, (not us) unless I searched “Homes for sale.” Since then, I have posted over 300 times with jokes, inspiring stories, and posts about Oak Hollow Park to create an identity. Today, if you search Google for “Oak Hollow Park San Antonio”, You will find our neighborhood. And now Santa can find us too!
Show & Tell – A Teacher’s Story … I’ve been teaching for around fifteen years now. I have two kids of my own, but the best birth story I’ve ever heard actually happened in my own second-grade classroom a few years ago.
I’ve always loved show-and-tell, so I make sure to include it in my class. It helps the kids get over any shyness and gives them a chance to share something they’re excited about. Most of the time, it’s pretty standard stuff, pet turtles, model airplanes, and a picture of a fish they caught. I never put any restrictions on what they bring in; as long as they can carry it and talk about it, they’re good to go.
One day, Erica, a bright, outgoing girl, took her turn. She waddled up to the front with a pillow stuffed under her dress, holding a photo of a newborn. “This is Luke, my baby brother,” she announced. “And I’m going to tell you all about his birthday.” She began by explaining, “First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love. Then Dad put a seed in Mom’s tummy, and Luke grew in there. He ate through an umbrella cord for nine months.”
At this point, she was standing with her hands on her “belly,” and I was doing my best to keep a straight face. The other kids were completely captivated. “Then, about two Saturdays ago,” she continued, “my Mom started going, ‘Oh, oh, oh, oh!’” She put her hand on her back, waddling back and forth, groaning. “She walked around the house like that for an hour, ‘Oh, oh, oh!’”
By now, Erica was doing a hilarious duck walk, and I wished I had my camcorder. “My Dad called the middle wife,” she explained, “who delivers babies but doesn’t have a car sign like Domino’s.” She demonstrated how they got her mom into bed.
“Then, pop! Mom had a bag of water in there in case he got thirsty, and it just exploded all over!” She spread her legs with water spraying everywhere, and I was trying not to lose it.
“The middle wife kept saying, ‘Push, push,’ and ‘Breathe, breathe,’” she went on. “They started counting, but they never got past ten. And then, out came my brother! He was covered in yucky stuff they said was from Mom’s play center. I guess there are a lot of toys in there! Then the middle wife spanked him for crawling up in there in the first place.”
With a big theatrical bow, Erica returned to her seat, and I’m sure I applauded the loudest. Since that day, whenever it’s show-and-tell time, I always bring my camcorder, just in case another “middle wife” story comes along.
My OHP Home Maintenance Checklist for my 40 year old OHP home.
What am I missing? What maintenance do you do? When was the last time you walked around your home’s exterior? Homeowners should walk outside their homes, observe, and access anything that doesn’t look right. The same should happen inside.
The most important home maintenance tasks that I do for my home:
- I change my HVAC air filters every month.
- Every 3 months, I pour a cup of vinegar into my (attic) HVAC drain pipe to avoid blockage.
- Annually, I clean my (outside) AC condenser with soap and water.
- Annually, I clean leaves and debris from my rain gutter.
- Annually, I lubricate my Garage Door track and rollers.
- Twice a year, I clean the inside of my dishwasher drain, screens and reservoir.
- Annually, I wash all my windows and screens, I also check for cracks.
- I try to mow my front and back lawn once a month.
- Annually, I trim trees, shrubs, and bushes away from my house.
- Pool, I make sure my pool chlorinator always has chlorine tablets.
What am I missing? What maintenance do you do?
Newsletter September 2024
Pay it Forward … I am sure during tough times, there are wonderful stories of hope and kindness between our neighbors happening every day. For example, a couple days ago, I had 3 errands to run and a tight schedule. As it was lunch time, I decided to drive through McDonalds for a quick simple bite. The line was long and with 2 order lines, I let a shiny little red sports car go in front of me. When I got to the window to pay, I was greeted with my ticket and “There is no charge – the car in front of you bought your meal.”
A huge smile came over my face and a chill. What a wonderful gesture to brighten my day. A simple act of kindness. So, I decided to pay it forward. I paid the ticket for the car behind me. Maybe their day was a little brighter also.
My Morning Walk … I’m a morning person. I like the freshness of a new day. Usually I’m out of bed by 5:30am. After a small breakfast and coffee, and some morning news on TV, I am ready to start my morning walk. I used to walk my 2 dogs at that time, but a while ago, they pulled one way and my knees went another so I take them to the McAllister Park dog park at least once a week. My doctor is pretty heavy on the “Do at least 30 minutes of exercise every day lecture.” So I walk for the exercise.
For me, morning walks are better than evening walks. The temperature is usually less than 80 degrees, but still humid. Sometimes the sky is relatively dark, so you can see the moon and some stars. If it is really dark, I carry my little flashlight so cars on the street can see me. You can learn a lot about a neighborhood when you walk through it compared to driving through it. I like the sounds in the morning. The sounds of neighbors getting ready for work, telling their families goodbye. Oh yeah, dogs barking, it would not feel like home if I didn’t hear dogs barking. Garage doors opening, cars starting, people leaving. I enjoy saying hello to other neighbors that are also walking, many with their dogs. I enjoy looking at the houses, their design and character. Some neighbors take so much pride in their homes and yards. Colorful flowers, plants & mature oak trees.
I try to be kind, but my wife is kinder and much more observant. We were eating a burger at a local restaurant. My wife told me there was a guy, that was sitting at a table, and he was eating ketchup and chili peppers. She excused herself, talked to him briefly, then she went to the food order line. She paid for a meal and drink and walked back to the guy and handed him the meal receipt. We were finished eating and getting ready to leave. We noticed him getting up to go retrieve his meal, and he had the biggest smile. I’m really proud of my wife.
Staying Positive … Staying positive when the news is gloom and doom can be hard, even for the most optimistic people. While it is true that bad news like the Corona Virus, fighting in the middle east, political unrest among our politicians, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, flooding and rain damage is constant messaging that we get on the news on most days, we need an antidote. One that helps you keep a positive attitude to move forward with determination and hope.
As our daily routines shift and we adjust to a new normal, it’s important to give yourself permission to feel and just be. Staying positive is not about trying to see the silver lining in all of this. It is more about appreciating what we have, Ironically, when you go through a tragedy like we did with the Corona Virus, you appreciate it more. You start to realize just how fragile life is and that there are so many things to still be thankful for.
If you want to know how to stay positive through all of this, start with enjoying the little things that bring you happiness. Rather than focusing on the negative, create more positive things by taking action. Here are 3 tips for staying positive:
Practice Random Acts of Kindness, Look after your neighbors, and Support small local businesses.
KEEP Oak Hollow Park Beautiful … What influenced you to move to your neighborhood in Oak Hollow Park?
You probably looked at many other places before you decided to make this your home. But what were the factors that convinced you to say “This is where I want to live? We all have different reasons why we decided to make our home in Oak Hollow Park. Maybe it is because of our great schools in our area. Maybe it is because it is close to work.
Perhaps, you wanted an established neighborhood close to shopping, recreational activities, or medical facilities. Maybe it fit your lifestyle or you knew someone that lives here. Or maybe, it just felt right.
You know that feeling, the one you get when it “fits.”
Which brings me back, “What influenced you to move in the Oak Hollow Park neighborhood? … I am hopeful to post your story, who you are, why you moved here, what has changed, what do you like about living here.
Please look @ https://oakhollowpark.com/neighbors/ & read about neighbors that live here, stories from neighbors in Oak Hollow Park.
Today I posted “online” about Rick & Linda Somers, in 1982, why they moved here, what has changed, what they like, and some about them, before they moved here, & some after.
Back to my request:
I am hoping I can persuade you to share something about you, your family, why you moved here, what has changed since you moved here, and what you like about living here. Let’s talk about it. I am interested in publishing your story.
Read the articles from current homeowners, Richard Oliver, Elyse Allen, and Rick & Linda Somers, and myself @ https://oakhollowpark.com/neighbors/