A VERY SPECIAL TREE
In late November, a wagon drawn by two smart Belgian draft horses drew up outside
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Their proud owner handed over his precious cargo
to First Lady Laura Bush. It was an 18-foot Fraser fir from Laurel Springs,
North Carolina. For the last forty years, the National Christmas Tree Association
has held a competition among growers to provide the White House with its
official tree.
The first use of trees as decoration is lost in the mists of history, but,
by the 17th century, the custom was well established in central Europe. It
is believed that Hessian soldiers, who fought as mercenaries in the War of
Independence, first introduced the idea of live Christmas trees to America.
A couple of decades earlier, a Moravian church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania,
had made a tree out of a wooden pyramid decorated with evergreen branches and
lit by candles.
Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, is credited with introducing
the Christmas tree into England at Windsor Castle in 1834, although the queen’s
grandmother may actually have beaten him to it. It would be another two decades
before President Franklin Pierce set one up at the White House to be enjoyed
by his family and friends. Like all trees at the time, it was lit with candles,
a practice that caused many a mishap. First Lady Frances Cleveland switched
to electric lights in 1895. On Christmas Eve 1923, President Calvin Coolidge
lit the first official National Christmas Tree.
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy started a trend in 1961 by using the theme of
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. This year’s theme is “Holiday
in the National Parks.” Hanging on the tree are 347 beautiful hand-painted
ornaments representing 391 National Park Service sites. By accessing www.whitehouse.gov/2007/holidayornaments.html,
and clicking on Big Bend, you can see an ornament representing the stark magnificence
of West Texas.
Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
• © 2007 J. Marie Bassett
PEC will soon start trimming trees near power
lines This routine maintenance
is an important service for PEC customers. PEC reports that a large percentage
of power outages occur as a result of downed lines due to broken branches.
Of particular interest to GWW is the report from the Water Board that the
last two water outages were the result of power outages resulting from
fallen branches.
• Editor
GWW needs you Are you a successful gardener? Would you like to meet more
of your neighbors? Several groups in our community are looking for new members.
The Welcoming Committee needs bakers to donate simple baked goods for new
residents.
Folks interested in delivering these goods, and visiting with new neighbors,
are also very much needed.
The Landscape Committee plans for improvements to our common areas. This
group has dwindled down to two members who are very eager for some help in
planning.
To learn more about either of these two committees, contact our Administrator
at administrator@goldenwoodwestpoa.org or 858-9528.
A new group, the Appreciation Committee is being formed as the brainchild
of resident Beth Blanchard. Beth is looking for folks to help her write thank
you notes to the many folks who donate time and services to our neighborhood.
If you would like to join Beth, please contact her at bethblan@gmail.com.
•
Editor
Congratulations to our High School Band Members! The
band, which included several students from GWW, placed sixth in the state
preliminary competition,
which
qualified them for the finals. In the finals round they placed eighth. There
are 230 4A bands in the state. Our Dripping Springs band is in the top three
percent of the 4A bands in the state! The whole experience of marching in
the Alamodome was exciting for the entire band, their supporters and their
parents.
Way to go, band. • Editor and Vicki Sherrill
Free Admission to the Lady Bird
Johnson Wildflower Center Resident Marie Bassett reminds us to take advantage
of this great opportunity. Admission to the Wildflower Center is FREE for
the month of January! This is a wonderful activity to share with visiting
family
members. • Editor and J. Marie Bassett
Journey of Wise Men One weekend remains
to enjoy this outdoor event at the Wizard Academy. This is a neat, and very
nearby, opportunity for folks looking
for a peaceful way to consider the spiritual aspects of Christmas. Tours
are offered every few minutes and include a brief walk along the trails of
the
Academy grounds. The event is held from 6 to 9 pm on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday. For more information, and background information about the event,
visit http://www.chapeldulcinea.org/content.asp?id=257.
• Editor
New POA fax number The GWW administration office now has a fax number. Please
make a note of the new fax number: (866) 683-9592.
BOT considering joining
Friendship Alliance At the Annual Property Owners’ Association
meeting at Tuscan Hall on November 21 members heard a presentation about
the organization, activities
and purpose of Friendship Alliance (FA) by Rob Baxter, member of the Board
of FA and also president of Goldenwood’s POA. GWW’s Board of
Trustees is considering joining FA for the benefit of our Association, and
is interested
in receiving input on this issue from our general membership. According to
past BOT president Delbert Bassett, one reason we haven’t yet joined
may be that our bylaws prohibit any payment of dues or donations to any other
organization. This issue will be further studied by your Board. For more
information about the Alliance, please go to http://friendshipalliance.org.
• Editor
Board of Trustees News
New Trustees Congratulations to Penny Jungerman and Steve Johnson who were
elected to serve on the BOT at the make up meeting of the POA held on Tuesday,
4 December. Beginning January 1, 2008, Steve and Penny will join returning
officers John Anderson, Sue Ponder & Audrey Pudder to serve as Goldenwood
West’s Board of Trustees Thanks to all who participated in the election
by proxy or ballot (in person) voting.
The next meeting of the BOT is currently scheduled for Tuesday, 1 January,
at 7 pm at the pavilion. Due to the holiday this meeting may be rescheduled.
Any change to the meeting time or place will be announced via email and
posted on the mail station bulletin board.
News from the APC
The APC reminds folks not to park on the grass along yards near bus stops
when waiting for the school bus in vehicles. The grass along these corners
is looking
worn.
The next APC meeting will be January 8 at 7 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
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.
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