THEY ARE PAVING 71

I tried to grab a picture on the run but was unable to get anything but this. Safety first! This is certainly no secret to those who live here, but I post for those who may own but be away. Not that anyone reads this, but I pretend.

There's still work to be done, and rain on the way, so the project may be delayed a few days. Soon, though, and very soon, we'll have a light at the east entrance, a great new wider 71 with a turn lane from the east, and sugar plum fairies dancing on or in our heads.

CATHOLICS NOTE

St. Gabriel's Catholic School invites you to a Fall Open House on Tuesday, November 15th from 8:30am-10:30am. This is an informal event, so please stop by any time between 8:30am-10:30am. Attending an Open House will give you the opportunity to tour the campus, observe classes in session, and meet current parents, faculty, and administrators. Children are welcome, and RSVPs are appreciated but not required.

If you are interested in more information or scheduling an individual tour, please contact us: 512-327-7755 or admissions@sgs-austin.org. Visit us online at: www.sgs-austin.org.

DOTS

Maybe you've seen the dots on SO Club Blvd and wondered what it's about - if so, here's Pam Chandler on that:

"The gas company is required by the Railroad Commission to periodically do a "leak survey" of their entire network of lines. They will be doing this for the next two weeks, which involves marking all their lines and then doing small probes (a puncture about the size of a quarter) along the lines to ensure there are no leaks."

WHACK-A-RAIL

Would love to know how this one happened. It's recent - and a pretty hard hit. East entrance.

GAS LINE HIT

Apparently while digging to unearth the broken irrigation pipe, workers hit a gas line as the east entrance was closed and the smell very obvious. Firecrew and Amerigas on site.

STOP THE LEAK

After weeks of trickle, workers have begun to dig for the irrigation feed pipe which apparently is to blame for the leak we have seen at the east guard gate. They didn't want to cut off irrigation water while we were baking under triple digit temperatures.

NICELY SHAPING UP

No news to report as communication is still weak from the top down, but must say the development is looking much better and the entrances have been enhanced. Now we look forward to Texas 71 being complete and our own east entrance traffic light! Ooooo!

REALTORS and SO

There's much more accessibility now than under Discovery - and a SIGN back up in the east entrance. Apparently once upon a time a realtor couldn't show a home without someone from Discovery present. Now the 'rules' have lightened up/are much more reasonable - just yesterday there was a luncheon for realtors in one of the big unsold specs.

HIGHWAY 71

Still a way to go. There will come a day when it's all over and we will feel like pioneers who braved the traffic back when there was no light. I think the original plan was to finish in... August? Certainly there haven;t been rain delays! Maybe the heat slows everything down for some reason.

EAST ENTRY

There's still work going on - a nice low wall has been built to better define the left turn lane.

It also seems like the grounds guys are everywhere.

Sure is hot and dry, though. Probably imagination, but it sure seems that many small thundershowers veer away from Bee Cave for some reason!

THE FUTURE OF SPANISH OAKS

This article outlines Daniel Porter's plans for SO in detail. Note retail will be at either entrance... on the east side before the creek. On the west as well.

Also some lower price points coming. A good article. The map expands, and you can see...

4TH OF JULY POOL PARTY

Triple digits? Ha!

4th OF JULY OLD FASHIONED PICNIC

11A - 5P at the lodge/pool. $15 for adults, $12 for kiddos. Burgers and dogs, desserts, etc. Kid games. RSVP to Pam Chandler by the 30th or sign up at pool.

KEYPAD

Keypad access codes are about to go away with the keypad itself July 31st. This is to improve security. Have visitors use the attended gate. Use the gate pass to get in yourself. Contact Pam Chandler for more.

RAY WARE R I P

The cheerful 'face' of Spanish Oaks Sales circa 2004, has passed away. Ray was a good salesman, full of enthusiasm and likability.

Raymond M. Ware, 59, passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at the home of his sister in Pittsburg, TX after a 3 1/2 year battle with brain cancer. Ray was born in Ypsilanti, MI on June 18, 1951 to Delores and Raymond Ware. He graduated from the University of Toledo in 1974 and began a long career in men's retail with J. Riggings menswear in St. Louis, MO. In 1990, Ray moved his family to Hilton Head Island to realize a lifelong dream of owning his own retail business. He owned and operated a small chain of shoe stores, known locally as Shoes, Etc., for 10 years. In 2001, he embarked on a new career in real estate development which took him to Austin, TX, Las Vegas, NV and Steamboat Springs, CO. He returned to Hilton Head Island in 2007 to be closer to his family after being diagnosed with cancer. Ray is survived by his two children, Tanner M. Ware of Hilton Head Island and Caitlin J. Ware of Des Moines, IA; his sister and brother-in-law, Pamela and Jerry Goforth of Pittsburg, TX; his nephew, Todd Goforth and family of Plano, TX; his former wife, Kathleen Ware of Hilton Head Island and his beloved Golden Retriever, Lucy. Memorial services will be held at the end of the month in Plano, TX. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Ray's name to Texas Home Health Hospice, 500 E. Loop 281, Longview, TX 75605 or the RET Pediatric Cancer Foundation, 14 Wells East, Hilton Head Island, SC, 29926.

TRAFFIC LIGHT EAST ENTRANCE

Yes! Finally! Bookending this picture you can see poles upon which we believe we will eventually see our own dedicated traffic light. To the right of the exit (not pictured) you will see a pad which I believe will be for the control box. Of course there's a lot of bulldozing to be done before the north lanes are completed.

Speaking of exits, there's a protocol at the east exit which only some "get" and that's the first car there, waiting for a pause in the traffic to exit, should not be blocked by the second car, even if it's turning the opposite direction. Too often, an SUV will pull up alongside cutting off your view of traffic. Please?

SIGN

I never understood why Discovery took down the sign at the east entrance. Being 'unlisted' is perhaps more exclusive, but how are you going to get people to know where it IS? Also, the SPANISH OAKS CLUB BOULEVARD street sign gave it/us away. For my money, Discovery should spell their name Duh-scovery.

But these are brighter days, indeed, as we are once again in the Daniel Porter years.

MUCH TRAFFIC AT OPEN HOUSES

The first of monthly open houses under renewed Daniel Porter management appeared to be quite a success as we saw more traffic at our end of the neighborhood than EVER. There was a nice display ad in the paper, too, perhaps the reason for the activity.

Telling: we know several of those with homes for sale are simply selling to build elsewhere within Spanish Oaks.

Having visitors enter from the west entrance was a good call for a better impression, given the road construction at the east side.

As for Highway 71, work progresses on the north side of the bridge and lanes and the projected August completion seems impossible, but then we don't drive earth movers!

OWNER MEETING 5 24 11

It was a decidedly sunny mood within this gathered group, notably different from other annual stormy meetings we've had in years past under another set of developers.

The new board of directors of the HOA was introduced: President Jack Krevling, VP Robbie Kidd, Secretary/Treasurer Diego Rubio. There is no homeowner rep on this board as of yet, but one is expected in the future. Pam Chandler stays on as HOA manager.

Original developer and SO visionary Daniel Porter was in attendance but did not speak.

Upon taking over the project, the new Declarant set to paying down the nearly $225,000 shortfall/debt left behind. They have also and obviously taken on the project of bringing the development back to much higher standards than we've seen in the past few years. Roads and landscaping are the first issues to be tackled, and they are about to replace damaged or dead landscaping. Trail repair is now a monthly item on the new operating plan.

The guards will be monitored for compliance to our standards. Starting soon we will return to a roving guard in daytime hours.

A study is underway to see how we could recycle water for irrigation in all common areas. There would be no watering restrictions on recycled non-potable water usage.

Lighting has fallen into some state of disrepair and is being fixed, replaced, or adjusted.

Design guidelines have been changed minimally (said to streamline and make more easily understood.) Cement roof tiles will be allowed. Copper gutters no longer required.

We are on track to have a fully functioning stop light at the east entrance.

A discussion of vandalism at the fishing camp and lodge may lead to removal of keycode access to the development. "Monitoring" of these areas is likely.

Signage will be placed to identify our community, and other development signage is in process of being restored, maintained, or replaced.

After the HOA meeting, Jack took questions regarding the Golf club, which is scheduled to reopen this Friday. There will be three types of membership: Local $40k; "National" (for those who live elsewhere, for example, Houston). I didn't get a price on that; and Social, at $12k and $260/mo.

Greg Smith is the new director of Golf.

NEWS

The annual meeting NEW DATE is May 24th at 6PM at the lodge. The board will outline their plans for the neighborhood.

If you find a small gold necklace, please return to Pam Chandler. It was perhaps lost while the owner was walking his dog around our streets. It's 36 years old, a keepsake.

The POOL OPENS weekends starting 5/14; opens for the season 5/27 (open Tuesday-Sunday) - hours 10A-9P. The Grille also opens 5/27 - Wednesday-Sunday - Noon-7PM.


Group Swim Lessons for Spanish Oaks Families
will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays

2011 Summer Schedule
• June session starts June 7
• July session begins July 5
• August session begins August 2
• (8) 30-minute classes per session (twice per week)

Group Swimming Information
• Private 1-on-1 or organize your own small group for up to 4 children
• Instruction provided by certified Aqua-Tots Swim Instructors
• Lessons are customized to be age- and skill-appropriate
• Pre-Beginner Levels for 6 month to 4 year old children
• Beginner Levels for 2 to 6 year old children
• Advanced Swim Levels for 5 to 12 year old children
• Each swimmer receives an Aqua-Tots T-shirt

Special Pricing for Members
• $169 per month for each child in a private group of 3 or 4
• $239 per month for each child in a 2-child private group
• $299 per month for individual private lessons
• $25 Annual Registration Fee ($40 per family)

For more information contact:
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools
(512) 336-8687

REALTORS WELCOME

There was a 'do' for Realtors today to reintroduce Spanish Oaks under new owners. Here are the highlights, as reported:

Golf club opens late May. Old members will be grandfathered in. New members - need not be owners - $40,000. Social membership and Junior membership to come (I have no details but welcome any input.)

Developer lots reduced.

Owner meeting in early June. Looks like June 2 is a bad date as it is Lake Travis' Graduation.

Meanwhile the backside of Spanish Oaks Club Blvd is reported to be in reconstruction for repair.

HOME OWNERS MEETING

Reserve the date: June 2. Announcement forthcoming.

PAVING CONTINUES

Paving appears complete now (unless there's another 'coat',) from the east entrance up the hills both east and west. (The north side of the road will be lowered next.) The entrance driveway is temporarily both entrance and exit while a turn lane is being built into the exit drive.

FIRE

This was Sunday the 17th, facing East. The fire seems to have been beyond the road on the next ridge. This was not on Spanish Oaks property and appeared to have quite a way to go to reach us.

It turns out the fire was some distance beyond the next ridge, in West Oak Hill where homes were destroyed and many more threatened.

Click here for more. More here.

Windy warm low-humidity days have raised fire concerns.

TAR

Large trucks were lined up today as the paving-machine-beast was gobbling their loads and outputting a nice stream of paved highway 71 east of the east entrance. This will be more than obvious to those who live here, but I am posting for those absentee owners.

HIGHWAY 71

As of April 1st, 42.5% of the project is completed. CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS.

PROPANE? CONPANE?

Underground community propane systems are made of several homes in a neighborhood connected to the same propane tank. There are 73 in the state, with 48 in Travis County and about 40 of those in western Travis County.

As you know, we have no choice. However, there's a pretty comprehensive story which you may have missed: Here it is. Click here.

FLAGMAN

Expect east entrance Flagging as they are starting to cut our traffic island back, prior to paving.

It'll be interesting to see if Daniel Porter puts back the Spanish Oaks name in stone, etc., which Discovery took out.

ANNUAL MEETING IN MAY

Said to be a "Meet the new board."

Dogs will no doubt have their noses temporarily out of joint as fireplugs are scheduled to be re/painted as part of the new Declarant's clean up fix up campaign said to include other overdue items.

It will be interesting to see what affect the Highway 71 widening will have on the East Entrance. It appears we will lose some ground, which I believe we'd all willingly donate for a real traffic light (see below).

TRAFFIC LIGHT EAST ENTRANCE?

A reader writes: "Yes, the plan does include a traffic light, and not just a blinking light. I called TxDot to confirm. They said the light would be installed in March or April, but would probably still be a month or so after before it was functioning. Good news for all.
By scott on HIGHWAY 71 WORK on 3/19/11"

Thanks Scott. See, this is the type of thing that grows the blog to not just one person. The Blog should be viewed as a community.

HIGHWAY 71 WORK

I believe the plan is for completion by August. Here are pictures taken from our east entrance for those who have property but haven't moved here yet.

I doubt you can tell from these, but the eastbound lanes have been lowered, to reduce the hill, and change sight lines. Once paved, they will lower the westbound lanes.

Once upon a time we were told that the reason we COULD NOT have a traffic light at our east entrance was the sight lines, that someone could come barreling east on 71, only to rear-end any backup at that light. Lowering the crest will take that issue off the table. Perhaps we WILL have an actual traffic light.

BLOG REBIRTH

I bet few will notice, so spread the word if you think someone might care. After a long period of dormancy, this blog will resume. What with spring, the return of Daniel Porter as controller of Spanish Oaks' fate, we see progress and obvious efforts to clean the development up and attend to the things which were neglected by Discovery, then the bank.

I invite you to send pictures, news, etc.

The header says what the purpose of the blog is - a very small community voice, to help us all know what's going on and share with each other.

So let me share a positive discovery: we hired a company to come refresh our teak outside furniture. The process involves powerwashing, several applications of cleaner and after sanding, oil. Two days of hard labor. The results look as new: www.theteakpro.com

I can attest that the before and after pictures on their site are for real!