Annual Meeting The annual Property Owners Association meeting was held at the pavilion on Saturday, November 13 at 2:00 p.m. The number of members in attendance was less than that necessary to form a quorum, so an election for officers to fill the three available positions on the Board of Trustees was necessarily deferred to a special meeting which took place on Monday, November 15th. Three individuals were elected to fill three positions: Dena Seligman, who has served as Board President for the past year, Tom Watson, also a returning Board member, and Rick Bondurant, a member who has recently moved into GWW. Rick has served on several boards, including a school board, in his previous place of residence.•Editor

Neighborhood History: Camp Ben McCulloch

On FM 1826, directly across the road from the Salt Lick (arguably Texas’ most famous BBQ spot) stands Camp Ben McCulloch. It is a quiet shady area on the banks of Onion Creek, once known by the less savory name of Garrapata (Sheep-tick) Creek. Camp Ben was called after the famous Confederate general who was born in Tennessee in 1811.

Benjamin McCulloch’s colorful career began when he agreed to follow one of his neighbors, David Crockett, to Texas. Fortunately for him, a bout of measles prevented him from arriving in time for the Battle of the Alamo. He did, however, participate in the Battle of Jacinto, earning a battlefield commission as a first lieutenant. After the battle, McCulloch left the army to become a surveyor on the Texas frontier before joining the Texas Rangers. Earning himself a reputation as an Indian fighter, he ran for the House of Representatives of the Republic of Texas. During the campaign, his right arm was permanently damaged during a duel. After one term in office, McCulloch returned to surveying. He acted as a scout at the Battle of Plum Creek near Lockhart in 1840 and also during the Mexican-American War a few years later.

The intrepid adventurer, infected by gold fever, became a 49-er in California. He did not strike it rich, but did serve as sheriff in Sacramento County. Once again, Texas beckoned, and McCulloch returned to a relatively quiet life until the outbreak of the Civil War. Joining the Confederates, he was commissioned brigadier-general. On 7 March 1862, the second day of the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge), the general was shot and killed. Buried on the battlefield, his body was later moved to a cemetery in Little Rock, then exhumed and interred in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

In 1896, the Hays County United Confederate Veterans decided to hold an annual reunion on the site they named for the legendary Ben McCulloch. The three-day event, attended by as many as 5000 people, began at 5 a.m. with a rendition on the piano of Dixie. At the Golden Jubilee on 9 August 1946, a memorial service was held for the two last surviving veterans who had passed away the previous year. Since then, the Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy have remembered their deceased relatives at an annual reunion held in early June.

The shaded campgrounds, picnic areas, and picturesque swimming hole make Camp Ben a popular haunt for other get-togethers. One of the most popular, the Old Settler’s Music Festival, echoes the simple pleasures of the early Confederate-veteran reunions.•©2004 J. Marie Bassett

Hunting Wildlife A resident has reported seeing a pickup truck in the cul-de-sac of Westview Trail stop one night recently with its lights on a deer, turn off the engine, and shoot at the deer. Use of firearms and hunting are not permitted within our subdivision. Anyone who sees a person shooting within our neighborhood should try to obtain a description of the individual and/or vehicle and call the sheriff immediately at 911. •Editor

Conservation Issues: Water Quality and Land Ethics Residents might be interested in a plan under development by grass roots and local governmental representatives to protect water quality in our area. This plan is significant to us because of our close proximity to the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. We are in the contributing zone but the recharge zone may be close to the western perimeter of our subdivision. In fact some of GWW may be in the recharge zone. This puts a special responsibility on our shoulders to help protect the Aquifer that feeds Barton Springs in Austin. It has been determined from hydrological studies that water entering the recharge zone near our area reaches Barton Springs Pool in just a few days. Copies of the initial draft plan and accompanying maps are available online at: http://www.waterqualityplan.org/index.php?BODY=draftplans.

Residents of GWW should be aware that what each of us does on our residential properties has broader implications for regional water quality and for local wildlife ecology. Such implications argue for special conservation practices to minimize use or disposal of chemical agents and wastes (herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, engine oil, etc.) while regulating precipitation runoff from our properties and preserving native wildlife habitat. As we destroy our native vegetation and replace it with exotics (carpet grasses, roses, non-native trees, etc.), we may create increased runoff conditions and may impoverish the habitats of our native species; some results being (1) increased runoff carrying chemical residues from our yards and (2) replacement of native organisms with invasive species. You may have already noticed an increase in the numbers of grackles and starlings in our neighborhoods over the last few years. These are birds associated with the ecologies of urban and suburban neighborhoods. As they invade, they gradually displace native song birds that are such a delight to us all. In addition, some have noticed an increasing paucity of wildflowers in our subdivision; they have fallen victim to various ecological disruptions, most notably the abnormally high deer population size. Increased environmental awareness accompanied by conservation practices in our subdivision will permit us to live closer to harmony with our rural countryside and help us to avoid the drift towards typical suburbia which many of us sought to escape by coming here.
•Tom Watson

Waste Disposal Service At this time two separate companies provide waste collection service to our neighborhood: TDS provides Wednesday service, IESI provides Thursday service. Earlier this year TDS offered to reduce their rates to our residents if a majority would use their service. A majority of residents did elect to use this company’s services, which includes pickup of recyclable materials for an additional fee. An advantage to having only one company providing waste collection service to GWW is that this would reduce heavy garbage truck traffic on our roads, thereby reducing the need for future road repairs. Residents are free, however, to select either of these companies to provide waste collection service. Contact information for each can be found on the GWW website on the Resident Resources and Emergency Contacts pages. •Editor

Board of Trustees News

Landscape Committee The seven members of the Landscape Committee have held two meetings to begin the task of devising a comprehensive plan for improving and protecting the common areas of our neighborhood. These areas include the pool, tennis court and pavilion and surrounding areas, as well as the land around the mail station and sign median. Anyone wishing to offer suggestions to the Committee is invited to contact the editor and their comments will be forwarded to the Committee members.

Pool Replastering This year a major task facing our POA will be replastering of the pool interior. The BOT and the neighborhood administrator are in the process of researching materials and costs for this important and necessary project. Plans are to have the pool resurfaced and ready for use by the arrival of swimming season.

Fence Repair Several recent accidents have resulted in damage to the split rail fence around our pool and pavilion area. One resident, Warren Hayward, has generously donated his time on several occasions to repair these sections. Due to the expense facing the POA for resurfacing the pool, the BOT has decided to defer replacement of the fence to a future year’s budget, and Mr. Hayward has expressed a willingness to continue making repairs as his time permits over the next year. The BOT asks that any residents willing to assist with this important task as it becomes necessary please contact the editor. Materials are available for the repairs, so all that is needed is time and effort. The BOT extends a hearty and grateful thank you to Mr. Hayward on behalf of the POA membership for his civic spirit.

Commendation The Board extends its gratitude to Delbert Bassett for the ten years he has dedicated to serving his community as a Trustee. Delbert chose not to run again for a position on the Board in order to pursue his personal education goals.

News from the APC

The next meeting of the Architectural and Protective Committee will be on December 21, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. at the GWW pavilion. Meetings are open to all property owners.

Holiday Yard Recognition The APC will again give public recognition to the most beautiful holiday yard in Goldenwood West. Judging will take place on December 21st, so residents are encouraged to go all out in making their yards reflect the joy of the season. The winning yard will be announced on the website, and in the January edition of this newsletter.

News from the GWW Water Board

The next Water Board meeting will be held on December 15 at 7:00 p.m. at the pavilion. The board will discuss the 2005 budget at this meeting.


Business Sponsors

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors®
Audrey Pudder
Goldenwood West resident for seven years, specializing in Northern Hays County.
Cell 512.925.9720