Connections

The Communications Committee welcomes all to find out first hand about WS Connections. Our goal is to serve as a one-stop shop for reliable information, bringing together POA and WS curated content from trusted sources to provide owners with accurate, up-to-date, comprehensive insights, and community perspectives—all available from one convenient platform.

While we strive to provide accurate and error-free information, we acknowledge that we're only human—and mistakes may happen. We are committed to continuous improvement and welcome feedback to help us maintain the highest standards of reliability and trust. Feedback from the primary source is imperative for maintaining accurate information since dates, times, etc. can change unexpectantly. Your feedback also helps us improve, and we’re always open to it — together, we can make this platform even better.

Open communication is key to success. We’re committed to keeping you informed as we move forward together.

WS Communications Committee

Connie Swiderski

Chair

Our neighborhood came together in the sweetest harmony—literally and spiritually. Friends and neighbors gathered, bundled in scarves and smiles, to bring the warmth of Christmas carols to the doorsteps of our beloved shut-ins.

Before we stepped out, we assembled trays of homemade cookies—each one a small token of love, wrapped with care and prayer. As we sang, we saw eyes light up, hands reach out, and hearts open wide. The joy was mutual, the connection real.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:11

In every note sung and every cookie shared, we witnessed the truth of Proverbs 11:25:  

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

Tears welled up in more than one eye—some from the listeners, some from us. It was a reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can echo with eternal significance.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
—Matthew 25:40

We didn’t just bring music tonight; we brought presence, love, and the light of Christ into homes that needed it. And in doing so, we were reminded:

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
—Matthew 5:16

Libby Rhoden

The Westwood Shores Property Owners Association is thrilled to announce the official opening of our brand-new, 24/7 Fitness Center, located next to the beautifully renovated pool! This exciting addition reflects our continued commitment to re-imagining together,  improving amenities, and enhancing the quality of life for all our residents.

 

Access Made Easy
Entry to the Fitness Center will be through our new Sentry Solo app, available within your existing Gate Sentry application. You’ll find a new button in your app that serves as your virtual key.

For those who haven’t yet installed Gate Sentry, please contact the POA Office for assistance. If you don’t use a smartphone, you can still enjoy the Fitness Center — simply stop by the Pro Shop during business hours or the Access Control office after hours to verify your property ownership, and staff will grant you entry.

 

Waiver Requirement
Before your first workout, please complete the Fitness Center Waiver of Liability form, available inside the Center. This form only needs to be completed once and can be left at the Center after signing.

 

We’re Excited to See You There!
The WS POA Board of Trustees is incredibly proud of this new amenity and can’t wait for our community to begin enjoying it. We encourage everyone to make full use of the Fitness Center — safely, responsibly, and to your greatest benefit.

 

Welcome to a healthier, stronger Westwood Shores!

Believe me when I say, the Communications committee heard you loud and clear about the number of calendar notifications coming your way from the app.

We are proud to say we have finally programed a way to help you manage the amount of notifications. We have been able to categorize Calendar Events into 4 major categories. You can choose to enable or disable by each of the categories.

• Reminder notifications for Reoccurring Community Activity (games, crafts, exercise, etc.) events
• Reminder notifications for Reoccurring WS Services (trash day, heavy haul day, POA BoT meeting, etc.) events
• Reminder notifications for Community Activity (social, dinner, tournaments, etc.) events
• Reminder notifications for Special or Urgent Notices. Locked in enabled mode

You can either learn on your own to set your notifications with directions provided in the footer of all notifications notices or contact a Communications Committee member. 

The committee hopes this allows you to manage the notifications that you feel do not pertain to you. 

We know, for some this may not be as far as you or the committee wished to have notifications control but it is as far as we could program it within the confines of the Connections system. Also, guest will no longer see all calendar entries  (meaning a log in would be necessary to see all). None of us are Google programmers and our committee stipend does not pay for training. Just kidding, we make the same pay as all volunteers, extra work, bad press.

The Communications committee welcomes all to find out first hand about WS Connections. Our goal is to serve as a one-stop shop for reliable information, bringing together POA and WS curated content from trusted sources to provide owners with accurate, up-to-date, comprehensive insights, and community perspectives—all available from one convenient platform.

While we strive to provide accurate and error-free information, we acknowledge that we're only human—and mistakes may happen. We are committed to continuous improvement and welcome feedback to help us maintain the highest standards of reliability and trust. Feedback from the primary source is imperative for maintaining accurate information since dates, times, etc. can change unexpectantly. Your feedback also helps us improve, and we’re always open to it — together, we can make this platform even better.

Open communication is key to success. We’re committed to keeping you informed as we move forward together.

WS Communications Committee

Connie Swiderski

Chair

In an emergency, every second counts. Trinity County 911 has asked that all homes have clearly visible house numbers to help emergency personnel find your location quickly. If your house number isn’t easy to see from the street, valuable time may be lost — and in a life-threatening situation, that time could be critical.
To support this vital safety measure, the Westwood Shores Board of Trustees previously updated the ACC Policy with the following addition:

Section 7.16 – Address Identification
All residences are required to have address identification that is viewable from the street.

Because your safety and the well-being of our community are top priorities, the Board has requested that this requirement be actively enforced. Starting today, property owners will have 30 days to install a clearly visible house number that can be seen from the street. If your home is set back or obscured from view, this may mean placing a sign at the end of your driveway.

Additionally, with recent 911 address updates across the county, we encourage you to double-check your correct address with the Trinity County 911 Office at 936-642-3904, especially if you’ve had any recent mail or emergency service confusion.
Let’s work together to keep our community safe. Ensuring your address is easy to spot helps emergency responders get to you or your loved ones quickly when it matters most.

Thank you,
Westwood Shores Board of Trustees

by Interesting Facts

It’s a fact of life — people grow old. While modern society tends to obsess about the negatives of aging, studies suggest that we often experience more happiness and contentment in our later years. These 12 facts investigate the phenomenon of growing old, debunk some persistent myths about aging, and explore the brighter side of those golden years.

Say Goodbye To Migraines

As our bodies age, they naturally become more susceptible to a variety of illnesses and maladies — but migraines are the rare exception. Migraines often first develop in adolescence, and while both sexes are affected, women are three times more likely to develop migraines compared to men (often due to a fluctuation of estrogen levels). However, the frequency of migraines eventually peaks at the age of 40 and actually gets better as we enter our golden years. Stress and hormones are the most common triggers for migraines, and these two factors usually affect older people with less severity. That said, pain, smoking, and alcohol can still contribute to migraines in seniors, and although migraines generally subside with age, they are still the second-most-common headache disorder in older people (after tension headaches). One in 10 older adults still experience them about once a year.

Hair Doesn’t Actually “Turn” Gray

One of the hallmarks of aging is that our lifelong hair color begins to turn gray, or in some cases, white. Although an entire industry is built around hiding this fact, human hair isn’t actually turning gray so much as no longer supplying the pigments necessary to produce color. This occurs when hydrogen peroxide builds up after wear-and-tear on the hair follicles. That blocks the normal synthesis of melanin, which is responsible for all shades of hair color.

Older Adults Are Happier Than People in Their 20s on Average

As people age, we also gain a certain calm. A study published in 2016 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry analyzed a random sample of 1,546 people ages 21 to 100 in San Diego. Although younger people in the survey responded positively in terms of physical health compared to older folks (as anticipated), older adults far outperformed younger generations in terms of mental well-being. Panic disorders are also reported as less common among older cohorts compared to younger people, and developing a panic disorder later in life is a rarity.

They Also Sweat Less, Too

As we age, our skin loses collagen, gets thinner, and presses our sweat glands close to the surface of our skin. This process is a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, because these glands are squeezed, it’s harder for sweat to come out of our pores, meaning older people sweat less overall. This may be a check mark in the “pro” column for personal hygiene, but it does come with a few negative side effects. With a reduced ability to sweat, older adults can have trouble regulating temperature during strenuous exercise or excessive heat. Sweat also plays an important role in healing, as it helps stimulate wound closure in skin cells. Thankfully, a lifetime of physical fitness helps slow down this process so you can sweat long into your golden years.

Older People Vote More Than Any Other Age Group

Older people may not feel as strong as they did in their youth, but in terms of political power, they’re as strong as ever. In 2018, 64% of people 65 and over voted in the U.S. midterm election — the highest turnout of any age group — and the 65- to 74-year-old cohort also had the highest turnout in the 2020 election. There are a couple of reasons why the older vote is particularly robust. The biggest may be that older Americans, as well as seniors in other democracies, have government programs and initiatives they rely on, such as Medicare, prescription drug pricing, and Social Security, and because these policies so directly affect them, elections tend to turn out seniors in higher numbers. (There are other factors at play, too — older folks may simply have more time on their hands.) Senior citizens also grease the wheels of democracy, as they’re the most likely age group to volunteer as poll workers on Election Day.

Read the rest of the story

by POA Board of Trustees

We are excited to share a theme the POA Board of Trustees has selected to use for our community this year. “Reimagining Together”. This theme reflects our shared belief that the best communities are built through collaboration, creativity, and a collective vision for the future.

We have lived through the first 50 years of Westwood Shores as it was originally designed and now it is time for us to turn over a new leaf and “Reimagine Together” our community and future. As we have been moving ahead, we see incredible potential – not just for our common areas and amenities, but in the relationships, experiences, and shared goals that make Westwood Shores a special community. Whether you are a full time resident, or a weekender , “Reimagining Together” is an invitation to each of you to think boldly about what our community can become and how we can work together to bring that vision to life.

Whether you’ve lived here for years or just joined us, you can make a difference. In the coming weeks and months, you will hear more about “Reimagining Together” from the Board and our Committees. You’ll have opportunities to attend and participate in many activities that will further our improvements.

Let’s take this journey together – let’s reimagine what’s possible, because when we do it together, we create something far greater than we can alone.

Sincerely,

POA Board of Trustees

The following are suggested descriptions to try to help those that might not be sure.

Household Trash

• Everyday waste from your home, including food scraps, food wrappers, diapers, hygiene products, plastic bags, and paper products. This is the typical small, routine trash generated daily.

Household Cardboard

• Thin, smooth cardboard, such as cereal boxes, tissue boxes, and shoe boxes. These are usually made from a single layer of material and are primarily used for packaging lightweight items. Household cardboard can go in your regular bagged trash.

Heavier Cardboard

• Sturdier, thicker cardboard like shipping boxes or moving boxes, designed for strength and durability. Examples include Amazon or Chewy boxes and large moving boxes.  If styrofoam is inside the box, the styrofoam may be placed in household trash but the box will still need to be broken down
• These need to be broken down and must be placed out for cardboard pickup. Alternatively, they can be dropped off at the maintenance barn on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 8:00 AM and Noon.

Heavy Haul

• Large, bulky, or heavy items that don’t fit into regular trash collection. These may require special handling. Examples include furniture, appliances, and scrap metal (like old TVs or metal desks). Note: Tires, batteries, and paint are not accepted.

Neighborhood Watch is sponsoring the recycling project of flimsy plastic.

The reward for recycling this plastic will be a Trex made park bench for Westwood Shores. This will be available to order at the end of a year of collecting!

Update

Did you know we have gotten two white benches at the pool from collecting plastic? Trex recycling has a Community Program, that we participate in, for every 1000 pounds of FLIMSY PLASTIC that gets recycled, weighed and turned in, Westwood Shores gets a free bench. Anything in the above flyer counts! Plastic is collected in the clubhouse conference room/ladies’ locker room. If it crackles it doesn’t recycle! Thanks for your help as we work towards a couple more benches!

Check the chart to see what we may recycle in this program!

White-tailed Deer Season in Texas is Upon Us, Starts September 27th .... Ends January 4th!
 

Westwood Shores POA Subdivision will be conducting a controlled management archery hunt every Friday evening and on Saturday and Sunday during the morning and evening (Hunter Stands Map). The managed hunt will start on September 27, 2025, to January 4, 2026, with a goal of 50 deer harvested from our ever-growing population of the white tail deer herd. From September 27, 2025, to November 30, 2025, no antlerless permit required. A bag limit of two bucks, (either one buck and one spike or you can harvest two spikes with no buck), and two does can be harvested for the management of the deer population. The following are basic rules and procedures:

GOAL: Removal of 50 deer by a means of a controlled archery hunt.

RULES OF THE CONTROLLED ARCHERY HUNT:

• Compound and crossbows only. (NO GUNS)
• Maximum of numbered sites to be established by Constable Mark W. Cole, working with the Texas Parks & Wildlife law enforcement officers.
• Resident hunters of Westwood Shores may apply to be permitted as a participant and will be charged a $100.00 approved application fee. None resident hunters may also apply to be permitted as a participant and will be charged $250.00 for approved application fee. The application is non­ refundable. A maximum of 35 hunters will be approved for the deer harvest.
• Residents of Westwood Shores Subdivision will be approved first for the deer harvest. The first two weekends, starting September 27, 2024, residents will be the only hunters drawn to hunt. If the goal of 35 hunters are not met, then additional hunters can be signed up for the deer harvest.
• Hunters will submit their application to the Access Control Gate or Constable Mark W. Cole for approval.
• Hunters will be required to be licensed with the State of Texas and hold an archery endorsement.
• The archery endorsement must be shown, when submitting the application to Constable Cole.
• If born after September 2, 1971, a hunting safety education course is required, unless a one-time deferral is applied for.
• Hunters must be at least 16 years of age.
• The managed hunt will take place every Friday evening and during the morning and evening times on Saturday and Sunday except for the opening weekend, which will be on Saturday and Sunday. Bucks with at least a 13- inch spread and spikes can be harvested along with two does. Hunters are reminded that during the latter part of the deer harvest, does will not be permitted to be hunted after November 30, 2025. Hunters can read their hunting book to determine the last day of the doe harvest.
• Dates may be changed by the Board based on factors such as weather, events, and progress of the program to date.
• Hunters will be assigned a site by random draw.
• NO ROAMING OR STALKING WILL BE PERMITTED. A HUNTER CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE HARVEST PROGRAM FOREVER IF THE HUNTER VIOLATES THESE RULES AND OR TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE LAWS, WHILE HUNTING AT WESTWOOD SHORES SUBDIVISION.
• Corn or other feeding items can be used at the deer hunting locations.
• An orange colored hunting vest and hat or cap WILL BE required for hunters at all times.
• AII rules and regulations set forth by the Texas Parks & Wildlife will be strictly enforced.
• AII hunters will be permitted and encouraged to provide their own stand.
• Hunters will be signed in and out each day of the hunt at the front gate, NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Hunters will be permitted to check in no earlier than 4:30 am and must check out by 10:30 am during the deer harvest at the Access Control Gate. During the afternoon hunt, hunters can check in no earlier than 3:00 pm and must leave the hunting stand location at dusk, during the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening hunt and check out at the Access Control Gate. (EACH HUNTER MUST DO THIS FOR SAFETY.) {FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS RULE CAN HAVE THE HUNTER REMOVED FROM THE HUNTING PROGRAM.)
• Hunters are responsible for the removal of deer and shall not field dress the deer, except at a designated location, which is at the Westwood Shores Maintenance Yard.
• Hunters must show, at sign out at the Access Control Gate, any deer harvested, which the hunter had taken on Westwood Shores Subdivision property.
• AII deer must have the appropriate deer tag, before leaving the field. AllTexas Parks & Wildlife regulation will apply while hunting.
• Any violation of the above rules will not be tolerated and the hunter will not be allowed to hunt again on Westwood Shores Subdivision property.
• If a harvested deer runs onto a private property, the hunter must contact Constable Mark W. Cole or the Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Warden (936- 707-0686) to retrieve the deer.
• Every hunter must take into mind to not have a verbal confrontation with a resident of the Westwood Shores Subdivision during the hunting period.
• lf a hunter has a problem with a resident property owner, the hunter is encouraged to contact Constable Mark W. Cole or the Texas Parks and Wildlife law enforcement officers.
• Westwood Shores POA has the right to remove any hunter from the managed harvest of deer or hogs, which would violate Texas Parks & Wildlife laws; State of Texas Penal Code, and or POA Rules or Deed Restrictions.

If you have any questions please contact Constable Mark W. Cole

HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM
In 2013, the Westwood Shores POA Board of Trustees approved a managed harvest of the deer, using 10 hunting sights, assisted by the Parks & Wildlife of the State of Texas (Game Wardens).  The program consisted of the managed harvest of deer and hogs within the Westwood Shores Subdivision, with safety being the number one priority.  It was their determination that the average weight of a doe was approximately 30 to 35 pounds at that time.  The average weight of a heathy doe should be 60 to 80 pounds.  The large abundance of deer within the subdivision caused the deer to inter-breed with one another, which could cause genetic problems within the deer herd.  The deer looked very poor and the food abundance was rapidly growing short.  This caused the deer to forage the plants, flowers and gardens of the residents of Westwood Shores.  Residents were instructed to not feed the deer corn, because this was not a proper food item for them, but some residents continue to feed the deer corn.   A trapping program to catch and remove some deer was estimated to be very costly.   

After the third year of the deer harvest, the does showed an improvement in weight.  The average doe weighed between 60 to 80 pounds and looked healthier.  We as residents should make sure that the wild life that we have are able to forage for their natural food and not over populate.  And when we have visitors to our neighborhood, they observe healthier deer and not one that is under weight or diseased.

Due to the managed harvest and control of the deer herd within the Westwood Shores Subdivision, more of the residents can observe does that are having healthy twins and even triplets.          

Our goal is to help our deer population and we have been advised by the game wardens to not feed deer and it is a Westwood Shore POA policy to not feed deer and you can be fined if you do so.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE

The white-tailed deer is one of the most popular and recognizable species of wildlife in Texas. They are a significant recreational resource among hunters and those who just like to watch wildlife. White-tailed deer are also an important economic resource to many rural landowners who lease hunting rights on their property and the businesses that profit from traveling hunters. They are also an increasingly common animal in and around many Texas urban and suburban communities.

White-tailed deer are an important natural resource and a part of Texas’ natural heritage.  However, they are currently considered more of a nuisance in some parts of their range.  Thoughtful, proactive management of overabundant deer in urban and suburban settings can help ensure that white-tailed deer are always viewed in a positive light.
At one point in the late 19th century, white-tailed deer nearly disappeared from the Texas landscape. Over harvest and alteration of natural plant communities had reduced or eliminated deer numbers across much of Texas.  Protective measures were taken, including the first deer seasons, harvest limits and the establishment of the Game Warden Service.  This protection from exploitation was accompanied by adaptation of deer to altered landscapes and widespread restocking by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  From their near disappearance over 100 years ago, white-tailed deer have been restored to most areas they previously occupied and may have expanded their range into historically unoccupied areas of Texas. The restoration of white-tailed deer is a wildlife management success story in Texas and many other states.  The current status of white-tailed deer populations nationally is also a testament to the resiliency and adaptability of this species.  White-tailed deer can thrive side-by-side with human populations in Texas. The adaptability of white-tailed deer and the desire of people to live and work in areas that retain “green spaces” have resulted in deer overabundance in many areas.

An overabundant deer herd can be described as one that has exceeded the capacity of the native plant community.  Overabundant deer herds can result in concerns for the deer, for native plant communities, for urban landscapes and the health, safety and economic well-being of local communities.  Neighborhoods across Texas are beginning to confront these issues which have been a concern of communities in the northeastern states for several decades.  As overabundant white-tailed deer reduce the health of native plant communities, other wildlife species can become less common.  Over-abundant herds have deer-health problems such as starvation, increased numbers of parasites and more disease.  

Overabundance of deer living in close proximity to people also cause concerns such as:

• Automobile accidents from deer collisions or drivers trying to avoid deer
• Severe damage to landscaping.
• Buck (male) deer that are unafraid of people can be dangerous during the breeding season (fall and   winter).
• Increased numbers of disease-causing agents such as ticks carrying Lyme’s disease.
• Deer feeding resulting in more reproduction and further aggravation of all overabundant deer concerns.

What can be done to address homeowner concerns regarding overabundant deer populations?

• Do not feed deer. Supplemental feed will only increase the number of deer in the neighborhood.  And again, it is a Westwood Shore POA policy to not feed deer and you can be fined if you do so.
• Work with neighbors to monitor deer numbers in your neighborhood and impacts to your landscape.
• Landscape with plants that deer do not prefer to eat.
• Consider removal of adult deer through lethal and non-lethal means.
• Limit movement of deer into the neighborhood from surrounding areas with high fencing.
• Work cooperatively, from the start, with other residents and neighboring landowners in deer monitoring and management. This is particularly important in areas where deer numbers are high in surrounding areas.

Finally, as a reminder be respectful of the hunters during the hours when they are in their stands.  And again, please do not feed the deer.­­­