Winter Weather Potential for Start of 2018 /  by Lori Bigler

What is the danger?

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a strong cold front will cross the region on New Year’s Eve (Sunday). There is a low probability that this system will bring light rain, and moisture on the ground and roads may freeze. Temperature lows Tuesday and Wednesday morning could fall into the lower 20's and may result in a hard freeze.

  • Overnight temperatures are expected to fall near to or below freezing by Monday morning and fall below freezing each night through Friday morning.
  • Colder temperatures may impact individuals displaced or affected from Harvey that are utilizing temporary or makeshift housing.
  • The Harris County Toll Road Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation are pre-treating roadways as a precaution.

What you should do:

Remember the 4 P’s for preparing your home for Winter Weather:

  1. PEOPLE: Keep your family warm and check on any elderly family or neighbors that may need extra blankets, winterizing their homes or a warm place to stay.
  2. PETS: Dogs and cats get cold too. Bring them inside at night to keep them healthy and safe.
  3. PLANTS: Either cover plants to keep them warm at night or bring them inside so they can flourish.
  4. PIPES: Cover exposed pipes to prevent freezing and breaks.

Stay safe on the roads

DRIVE SAFELY: Check roads before heading out. If icy conditions are present, drive slower and give yourself extra stopping distance. Take extra caution on bridges and overpasses as they will ice quickly.

PREPARE YOU CAR: Have a car safety kit and consider having a blanket and extra phone charger in case you are stranded.

Don’t forget…

SPACE HEATER SAFETY: Use electric space heaters with automatic shut-off switches and non-glowing elements. Remember to keep all heating sources away from drapes and furniture.

POWER OUTAGE: Have a flashlight, extra batteries, portable cell phone charger, warm clothes, blankets and a weather radio in case power goes out. If it gets too cold, go to a public place like the mall or a library to heat up.

STAY INFORMED: Check weather reports and local media for the latest conditions. Where you can learn more:

Yard/Tree Waste Collection Resumes January 2, 2018 /  by Lori Bigler

In coordination with its Annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program, the Solid Waste Management Department will restart its Yard/Tree Waste Collection and Recycling Program on Tuesday, January 2, 2018. 

Yard/Tree Waste will be collected on residents’ normal garbage collection day. Customers are reminded that yard waste should be properly placed at the curb in city approved recycling bags, or if tree/branch trimmings, they should be bundled and/or tied in lengths not greater than 36 inches. Material not properly prepared for ease of collection will be tagged and left at the curb for the customer’s proper preparation. 

For further instructions on how to prepare yard waste for ease of collection, visit the Solid Waste Management website at www.houstonsolidwaste.org  

What is Tree Waste?

“Clean” wood waste such as tree limbs, branches, and stumps. Lumber, furniture, and treated wood will NOT be accepted. 

What is Yard Trimmings?

Yard Trimmings, grass clippings, small branches and leaves. They must be in city-approved compostable bags. 

For more information about SWMD and its services, visit  at www.houstonsolidwaste.org, “LIKE” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/houstonsolidwaste, follow us on Twitter @HoustonTrash, or call 3-1-1, the City of Houston’s Customer Service Helpline. 

About the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department

The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) provides solid waste services to the citizens of Houston through the collection, disposal and recycling of discarded material in a manner that is safe, efficient, environmentally sound and cost-effective.

Property taxes for Woodland Heights homeowners (in general and in a nutshell) /  by Lori Bigler

In recent weeks there has been considerable online chatter resulting from the new federal tax plan. In particular, some neighbors have inquired about the idea of "prepaying" for property taxes for 2018. The following research summary was submitted by Rosie Walker, who is a former writer and communications manager at the Harris County Tax Office.

Property taxes in Texas are paid in arrears, not in advance. January 31, 2018, is the due date for 2017 property taxes.

Below is a summary of the process taken from websites of the State Comptroller and the Harris County Tax Office.

  1. A large part of the job of the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) is to estimate what your property is worth on January 1 each year. January first each year is referred to as the “snapshot date.” What a property is used for on January 1, market conditions on that date and who owns the property on that date determine whether the property is taxed, its value and who is responsible for paying the taxes.
  2. Around May 15 every year, HCAD is supposed to begin hearing protests from property owners who believe their property values are incorrect. (Notifications are mailed to owner addresses on file with HCAD. Verify or update your address at hcad.org.)
  3. Upon completion of this work (protest hearings), HCAD is charged with providing each taxing jurisdiction (City of Houston, HISD, HCC, Port of Houston, Flood Control District, etc.) a list of taxable property within its boundaries. The Harris County Tax Office collects for most of the jurisdictions that tax property in Woodland Heights. You may verify your tax bill online at hctax.net/Property/TaxStatement.
  4. In August or September, the elected officials of each taxing unit should adopt tax rates for their operations and debt payments (i.e., budgetary items). Only then will we be able to know the exact dollar amount of property taxes we owe.
  5. Tax collection for 2018 property taxes will begin in the fourth quarter of 2018, with due date for 2018 property tax being January 31, 2019.

Lights in the Heights 2017 Winning Homes Gallery /  by Lori Bigler

Neighbors have once again stepped up, decorating in preparation for Lights in the Heights. As a result, Woodland Heights has once again appeared on numerous lists of best places to see holiday lights in Houston.

The gallery below contains images from all of the winning homes. Judging occurred the evening of Thursday, December 7th, under the direction of Head Judge Robyn Klepper.

Clicking on the large image cycles to the next, or navigate using the strip of images below.

Yard of the month: 404 Bayland /  by Lori Bigler


Craig and Katherine Vollmers, residents of Woodland Heights for over 18 years, get yard of the month for their corner lot at 404 Bayland. Although it is one of the few lots on lower Bayland with only one mature oak tree, it is rimmed with crepe myrtles. It has several lovely wisteria vines, Aztec grass, liriope, and azaleas for year round interest and color. There is also a beautiful mature sycamore tree in full fall color thanks to that dusting of snow the Woodland Heights received on December 8th.
 

How to prevent typhus, which is on the rise in Houston area /  by Lori Bigler

Yellow-lab-200px.jpg

Woodland Heights and surrounding neighborhoods are home to numerous animal species: both family pets and wild critters. The Texas Department of Health Services (TDHS) issued a health alert Nov. 30, 2017, dealing with the connection between animals and people. This alert is relative to increased incidents of flea-borne typhus in the Dallas and Houston areas.

Here is advice from the experts:

  • Don’t  leave pet food out at night
  • Use flea-control products as advised by your veterinarian
  • When handling sick or dead animals, wear gloves

Flea-borne typhus is rarely fatal; however, it can be lethal. “Since 2003, eight deaths have been attributed to flea-borne typhus infection in Texas. When left untreated, severe illness can cause damage to one or more organs, including the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain. ... Prompt antibiotic treatment is recommended; treatment should not be delayed pending diagnostic tests,” warns TDHS.

Typhus is easily treated in the early stages. People of all ages can be infected, but over 25 percent of cases occur among those between the ages 6 and 15.

For more information (it’s very clinical), visit http://www.dshs.texas.gov/news/releases/2017/HealthAlert-11302017.aspx

 

Lights-in-the-Heights Winning Houses /  by Lori Bigler

The following are the judges results. Pictures to follow.

BEST SINGLE COLOR
419 EUCLID

MOST COLORFUL
808 BAYLAND

HO-H0-HO
620 BAYLAND

MOST FESTIVE
405 WOODLAND

MOST CREATIVE
3216 BEAUCHAMP

MOST RELIGIOUS
1108 7th ST

MOST TRADITIONAL
804 EUCLID

MOST WATTAGE
1020 7th ST

BEST THEME
402 BYRNE

PICK OF THE NIGHT
903 HIGHLAND

BEST PORCH
308 WOODLAND

PEACE,LOVE,LIGHTS
927 MERRIL

MOST LUMINOUS
412 EUCLID

#HOUSTONSTRONG
803 OMAR

MOST HOMETOWN NEAR DOWNTOWN
719 RIDGE

JURASSIC LIGHTS
PENNEBAKER ESPLANADE

MOST NOSTALGIC
1105 BAYLAND

BEST NOD TO TEXAN TRADITION
1016 BAYLAND

MOST YEE-HAW
1127 BAYLAND

Coming Soon: Lights in the Heights T-Shirts! /  by Lori Bigler

The recent newsletter hinted at the possible return of LITH T-Shirts. We're happy to report that they are being made!

The LITH merchandise, including the T-Shirts, will be available for sale at LITH events this week. They're also available at "It's a Houston Thing" a pop-up store located at Christian's Tailgate on White Oak Drive starting on Thursday, December 7th.

LITH 2017 Ornaments Sold Out! /  by Lori Bigler

As of December 2nd the limited edition Lights-in-the-Heights cloisonné Christmas ornaments are completely sold out! Only 75 were produced.

Delivery of the ornaments is expected about a week before Christmas. Once the goods have arrived, Jan Rynda Greer, LITH Committee Chair, will provide pickup details to everyone who purchased an ornament.

WHCA November Newsletter; LITH Special Edition /  by Lori Bigler

The latest WHCA newsletter is a LITH Special Edition with all the details about LITH. It has been printed. Distribution by the team of volunteer block captains happened over the past few days.

If you didn't receive a copy you can click here to download a color PDF version.

Questions or comments about the newsletter can be directed to: communications@woodland-Heights.org.