Archived newsletters (click on date to review)
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

2009

2010

2011 2012    
Feb Apr Jun Sep Dec              

Goldenwood West News
February 2008

Goldenwood West Directory Several residents have indicated that they would find a neighborhood directory useful. However, we are aware that many residents may not want to participate. As a result, a directory is to be published which will be (1) on a voluntary basis only and (2) funded by resident contributions, NOT neighborhood dues.

Property owners who are interested in participating should download the directory form from the website, and drop the completed form into the POA box care of Penny Jungerman. To be included in the directory you must return this form no later than March 1, 2008. To receive a directory, please include one dollar to cover copying costs. If property owners show sufficient interest, we hope to reissue the directory annually.

Privacy Policy: The Goldenwood West directory will be distributed exclusively to Goldenwood West homeowners. We ask that all recipients of the directory use it for private purposes only. While we do not anticipate the directory being used for other purposes, once the directory has been distributed, we will not be able to enforce the privacy policy. As a result, homeowners who want to ensure the privacy of their contact information may choose not to participate. • Penny Frohlich-Jungerman


Local history: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of the Antioch Colony

“ This is my roots, my history,” said LeeDell Bunton, referring to the seven acres of land he purchased in 1996. They are located a mile northwest of Buda off B.C. Road. Meaning Black Colony, B.C. refers to the Antioch Colony which was established by freed slaves.

In 1859, Joseph F. Rowley, a white man, who had emigrated from California to Texas, purchased 490 acres near Onion Creek. After the Civil War, by selling off tracts exclusively to freed slaves, he established a black farming settlement. By the early 1870s, about a dozen families, many from Missouri, were living in what became known as the Antioch or Black Colony.

The small family farms were basically subsistence in nature, so their owners supplemented their income by working in Buda. Corn, sorghum, cotton, and sugar cane were grown and processed in mule-powered mills. The settlement’s heyday was in the 1920s. It had its own school district whose school served over 50 students and was a meeting place for a Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star. An African Methodist Church and the Antioch Cemetery had been established. But, by the 1930s, decline had set in. In 1955, the Antioch Colony had disappeared from the map.

LeeDell Bunton was nine years old when his family left the area. Over the years, he made nostalgic trips back from Phoenix, vowing he would return when he retired. He wandered the overgrown ox-wagon roads, stopped by the limestone springs that watered the horses and mules, and touched the rusty chain, half embedded in a gnarly live oak, that was used during hog-killing time. There was no trace left of his great-grandmother, Kate Bunton’s house, but the day lilies she loved continued to thrive.

In the late 1970s, a few former residents returned and bought back their ancestors’ land. Gradually the colony came to life again. In 1997, the year after LeeDell Bunton returned, the Antioch Community Church was established. Two years later, 300 people attended the first Antioch Community Reunion.

LeeDell Bunton’s land is part of the 45 acres owned by his great-great grandparents, Dave and Mary Bunton. Extremely proud of the resurrection of the original settlement, he hopes that, a hundred years from now, descendents of the founding families will still reside in the Antioch Colony. After all, he says, “This is where our beginnings were after slavery.” • © 2008 J. Marie Bassett

Marcia Tolly
A Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) photographed in GWW in January 2007.

Beauty and kindness in Goldenwood West Three groups of volunteers in our neighborhood are working to make this an even better place to live for all of us, and they are in real need of help. These groups benefit so many folks here, and it would be great if a few new faces would step forward. Folks interested in joining in any of these efforts are warmly urged to contact the editor or the administrator.

Landscape Committee This committee may be in the most dire need of volunteers, especially with spring on the way! No one has come forward in response to our previous pleas for new members, and the three volunteers, who remain from the original committee formed three years ago, will not be able to keep up with the overwhelming task of planning for the new growing season alone. Existing plants need to be inspected, a count of which ones need replacement should be performed, and replacement plants will need to be purchased, picked up and planted.

The many beautiful yards in our community testify to the many folks we have among us who have landscaping talent. Members need not work on maintenance of the common areas (our professional landscape service takes care of this). This committee focuses on planning and overseeing the common areas to safeguard their value and benefit to our community.
The Landscape Committee gently but urgently asks that residents consider participating in this worthwhile project.

Welcoming Committee Eric and Mindy Russell continue to extend a friendly hand to newcomers on behalf of the neighborhood. They would greatly appreciate new volunteers.

The Appreciation Committee sends notes of thanks to the folks who perform tasks in service to the neighborhood. Unbeknownst to many of us, various neighbors go about quietly changing light bulbs, fixing fence posts, fixing plumbing and electrical problems and otherwise making things right at no charge to the community. Beth Blanchard leads the effort to acknowledge them, with help from Lisa Quinn. Beth would be very glad for additional helpers. • Editor


How do residents reserve the pavilion?
While the pool and common areas are always available for the use of all residents, the community permits property owners to reserve the pavilion for parties and other special occasions. When the pavilion is in use for a private event, the pool is still available for all residents’ use, and the host of the private event is requested to reserve one table in the pavilion for the use of other residents. To reserve the pavilion or recreation area, complete the Reservation form, available for download from the Resources for Residents page of our website or at the mail station. Drop the completed form in the POA box with the refundable deposit check enclosed, and Nova will call and confirm availability.
• Editor and Nova Birchfield

Dumping on neighbor’s property
Property owners whose lot is on Whitetail Run have been troubled by finding dumped materials on their property. They also noticed two men on four-wheelers on their lot. All residents are most earnestly reminded to respect the privacy of each of our neighbors, and to remind their children and guests to do the same. • Editor

Pool combination changing The combination for the pool area and tennis court is changed once a year. This year the new combination will be in effect on March 1, and will be listed in statements for property owners in good standing for the next several months. Remember that the closing time for the pool and tennis court is 10 PM. • Editor and Nova Birchfield

Want to post a notice on the bulletin board?
Advertising your message is simple for residents. All a property owner needs to do is drop the message in the POA box, which is generally checked daily, and Nova will place it into the locked board. She does exercise her discretion regarding appropriateness of items to be posted. Many folks don’t know Nova is the person who checks the box and also the person who maintains the bulletin board.

Also, a valuable community resource is currently under used: our online Notices page. This page of the Goldenwood West website has four sections: Wanted, For Sale, Lost and Found, and Notices. Property owners may list messages on the space free of charge, and many residents have used these pages over the years. Area youth, in particular, are encouraged to list services they offer, such as pet sitting, baby-sitting, or yard work there where neighbors can easily learn about them. For their protection and privacy, names and contact info is not posted online. The web master, Margaret Paine, serves as a contact person, and forwards enquiries to young entrepreneurs. • Editor and Nova Birchfield

J. Marie Bassett
Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) photographed in GWW in January 2007.


Why hasn’t PEC trimmed our trees yet? John Anderson contacted PEC and learned that our neighborhood is on record for making the request, but there seems to be some scheduling for the PEC to work out, possibly because of the size of our neighborhood. Updates on scheduling of this service will be given to property owners as it becomes available. • Editor and Nova Birchfield


Board of Trustees News

New officers As most members know from earlier news , the new Trustees elected at the December 4 meeting are Penny Frohlich-Jungerman and Steve Johnson. At their first meeting of the year, the Board determined which Trustees would hold each of the officer positions: Sue Ponder, President; Steve Johnson, Vice President; Penny Jungerman, Secretary; Audrey Pudder, Treasurer; and John Anderson, Member-at-large and APC Liaison.

Comments or questions for members of the Board may be directed to them through our Administrator, Nova Birchfield. Simply email Nova at Administrator@GoldenwoodWestPOA.org or place written communications in the POA drop box at the mail station.

Burn Ban
The Board is very concerned about folks violating the burn ban. All residents are urged to avoid any burning until we are assured by the fire department that the period of extreme danger is at an end.

In other news The Board is still discussing what to do about the new CCRs , and is also debating whether to join the Friendship Alliance. And, as owners have learned from the budget letter, the Board has voted into effect a budget which sets the monthly dues at $22 a month for 2008. The fee adjustment became necessary due to increased costs over the last two years.

The next meeting of the BOT will be on Tuesday, March 4 at 7 pm at the pavilion.


News from the APC

The next meeting of the APC will be on Tuesday, March 4 at 6 pm at the pavilion. Residents with questions for the APC are always welcome to attend the meetings. POA members and visitors may speak during the public forum at the beginning of the meeting.


News from the GWW Water Board

Wimberley is sponsoring an event on World Water Day, March 22. There will be a speaker and information available concerning rainwater harvesting. The Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District will also participate in the event. The event is free and open to the public. For more information go to www.harvesth20.com/billy.shtml.

The GWW Water Board meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 pm at the pavilion. Look for a posting on the mail station, or call the GWW Administrator at 858-9528 to verify meeting date and time.

Water service issues should be reported as soon as possible to PGMS at 866-643-3472.



Helpful Information

For useful reference information, such as a listing of area churches and telephone numbers for important local contacts, please go to our neighborhood web site at www.goldenwoodwestpoa.org or contact the webmaster.

This newsletter published for:

Goldenwood West
Property Owners’ Association
16200 Westview Trail
Austin, TX 78737-9068
(512) 858-9528 office
Administrator@GoldenwoodWestPOA.org
www.GoldenwoodWestPOA.org

Please direct comments, articles, email subscriptions and inquiries regarding advertisements to the above address.

Return to Goldenwood West main page

Archived newsletters (click on date to review)

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

2009

2010

2011 2012    
Feb Apr Jun Sep Dec