Memorial  Weekend
Annual Members Meeting Saturday, May 29
&
Barbeque, Sunday, May 30 

Yes, Spring Time is in the air and when you're a RiverTree owner the next thought is the Texas Hill Country, the Beautiful Frio River and the Annual Members Meeting and Barbeque.  Mark your calendars now.  The Members Meeting, will be on Saturday May 29, at 10:00am., in the Pavilion.  Please be on time. All members are urged to attend the Annual Meeting of the Estates of RiverTree Owner's Association.  Should you not be able to attend, please complete and mail in your Proxy so that as many Members as possible may be represented at this meeting.
Then the next day, Sunday, May 30, at 6:00pm we will gather again at the Pavilion for the Barbeque Dinner.  There is no charge for the Dinner.  All we ask is that you fill out the post card included with this newsletter, so we know how many to prepare for and mail it ASAP!  Yes we know you will probably have guest for the holiday weekend, no problem just include them on the post card.  We want to get a good head count so we have enough food.  Please bring your lawn chairs, your own drinks and your favorite covered dish or dessert to share at the Barbeque.
Hope by now you noticed that we moved the barbeque from Saturday to Sunday.  This was done  to encourage RiverTree owners in helping to support The Chambers of Commerce of Leakey on Saturday May 29, at the Annual Shrimp Boil in town.   
The barbeques is a great time to get to know your neighbors in RiverTree.  So go ahead and introduce yourself to someone new. 
If you have any questions concerning the Members Meeting or the Barbeque, please contact Steve Sijanski,  361 994-0208.
Make planes now to Attend!

Mark your calendars ! ! ! ! ! !                     
Next meeting:   SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2004 at 10am

ALSO MARK THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Saturday, November 13, 2004
 

NOTES FROM OUR PRESIDENT..
By Steve Sijansky

Well it's newsletter time once more. As most of you have noticed if you have been to RiverTree, we are finally getting the asphalt and cement repairs made. I was at RiverTree on the weekend of the 13th and the 20th of March. The cement at the pavilion turned out great and the asphalt work is taking shape. After all the work is done in RiverTree, the entrance will be the last project to be completed . When we get to this part of the project we will have a temporary gate to the north of the existing gate. Please use caution this will be a tight fit. The gate will be out of service for about 6 or 7 Days.
   We are having a little problem with trash being left on the ground around the dumpster. If you see that the dumpsters are full DO NOT LEAVE IN FRONT OF THE DUMPSTER the trash people will not pick it up. After spring break I picked up about 10 bags of trash and put in the dumpster. If you would fill the dumpster all the way to the back we can take care of a lot more trash. If the dumpsters are full please contact one of the Board Members and take the trash with you.
     The barbeque will be changed to Sunday this year. This will make it possible for anyone wanting to be in town for the shrimp boil on Saturday and attend the barbeque on Sunday. I hope we can have as good of time as we had last year. Please get the RSVP back to me as soon as possible.
      Thanks again for all the support and team work. RiverTree is still a great place for all to enjoy. See you at the annual members meeting .
Thank, Steve

PLEASE REMEMBER..only household garbage in the dumpster!
Absolutely no building material, lawn chairs, bar-b-que pits or metal of any kind, etc.  When you abuse the dumpster, another RiverTree land owner has to depose of YOUR TRASH !

Architectural Control Committee
 Committee: Mark Pendleton, Henry Sijansky,
Carl Neira & John Goldman

A new year and RiverTree Construction continues at a brisk pace.  Steven Noll, blk VII, lot 21, Everret & Joy Ivey, blk I, lot 9 and Bill & Becky Doepenschmidt, blk V, lot 8, have submitted plans and have been approved for Storage buildings on their properties.  Mark & Lorraine Tyler, blk 6, lot 9, have nearly completed their driveway and will start their fence project shortly. Finally, Jim & Lisa Cox sent a proposal to build a log cabin on their property, blk VII, lot 10. They have already started and things are looking great. 
Congratulations everyone and thanks from Car, Henry and I for your cooperation, questions and suggestions.  Your continued support of our bylaws will insure the future of RiverTree's aesthetic appeal.. 

Remember, all building and improvement projects to your property must be approved by the Architectural Control Committee!    Thanks, Mark

 

A big thanks to all of the RiverTree owners that are utilizing our RV Storage Area.  We are almost finished numbering half of the RV spots.  Everyone has been very cooperative in sending in their RV information and the number of the spot in which they have chosen to park.  Remember, if you have not marked your spot it will be up for grabs.  Very soon, we will need to enlarge the area and make some additional spots.  The North West par of the area is in bad need of repair.  We have had a lot of washout in that area and there are some deep ruts.  The Board of Directors has advised us that a maintainer will go in soon and smooth out this area and possibly add some more fill to those areas. I think all will agree that the light in the RV storage area is a great addition.
Enjoy your summer, Ann Sijansky

If anyone has any question in regard to the parking and storing of their RV, please contact Ann Sijansky.  To contact Ann or any of the other RV Committee, please see the front page of this newsletter for phone numbers and email address. 

A note from our Treasurer...Pat Brown

We have $6,515.98 in savings and $7,296.26 in checking after paying almost 3/4 of the RiverTree Asphalt, Pavilion and Front Gate improvement project. 

Association dues are looking good, except for a few stragglers that have not paid their January dues. Please remember that no notices are sent for your dues. You alone are responsible for remembering when they are due.  Remember that there is a $9 past due fee that will need to be paid once your dues are over 10 days past your due date. If dues continue to go unpaid, a lien will be levied on your property.  If you will email me at patdbrown2@starband.net or call me at 830 232-6355 and I will be glad to let you know when they are due.  I want to remind you that I have a full-time job here in Leakey (that retirement thing just didn't work!) so I will call you back as soon as I can.  As soon as possible I will be posting when your Association dues are payable on our new Web site.  I think that will be a great help for most of you, I am sure.

Dues can be paid at $90 per quarter or annually, where a 10% discount is allowed.  The annual dues are $330 if paid within 10 days of your due date. 

Rick and Jackie Thomas have submitted all the numbers of the Gate Cards that will be canceled.  This was a big job, but I think we now have it under control. Only RiverTree owners, local Authorities (police fire, ambulance, etc) and a select few others (Light Co, Water Co., cleaning people, dumpster people, etc.) are authorized to hold RiverTree Cards and their numbers are registered.  Thanks everyone who responded. 

Please remember you are allowed only 6 cards per lot ! Cards are $12 each and are only sold by request.  Also, if you have your lot for sale or are having work done, it is your sole responsibility to give one of your cards and then MAKE SURE YOU GET IT BACK!  If you lose your card  or damage it, please notify us ASAP so we can cancel it and you can purchase a new one.

Additionally, owners are required to have a vehicle sticker on their vehicles.  These are $1 per sticker. Also your guests are required to have a guest pass hanging from their rearview mirrors.  These are also $1 each.  Cards, stickers and guest cards can be obtained by sending your check to the Estates of RiverTree Owners Association, P.O. Box 648, Leakey, TX  78873 

Yes, It's Here...RiverTree's Website!

RiverTree Estates now has an informational Website for  land owners!  The website will contain minutes of the meetings,  most of the newsletters and photographs of RiverTree.  The website is an excellent tool to keep abreast with the happenings at RiverTree.  Some Land owners do not have the opportunity to come out to RiverTree as much as they would like to, so this website which will be updated periodically will take RiverTree to you!  Our aim is to keep you updated on new construction, events, and the physical appearance of RiverTree by clicking on the photographs link.  The minutes link will keep you informed as to the discussions at our meetings which take place, February, May, August and November.  Clicking on the Newsletter link will provide you access to our newsletters which contain messages from our president, treasurer, the ACC board, the editor, events, recipes and important information.  Visit RiverTree's website by going to:  geocities.com/rivertreeestatesn83/home.html 

If you have any suggestions or ideas for our website please e-mail me, Ralph Silva at:
rivertreeestatesn83@yahoo.com    or   rasilva60@aol.com

Please keep in mind that the website is new, and some parts are still under construction.  I hope this website will serve as a communication tool and help keep everyone informed about RiverTree and it's community
Thanks.see ya'll on Memorial Day weekend,  Ralph & Stephanie Silva (blk VII, lot 23)

 

The Tin Lizzies are coming to Leakey!
Yes, that's right, The National Model T Ford Club of America, which is 300 members strong will be coming to town.  One hundred (100) Model Ts will gather around  the Wild Life Art Museum  in Leakey on Thursday April 22, 2004 at 11:00AM.  Come out to welcome them  and see their vintage cars. 

ARE YOU GUILTY OF THIS..??????

Could it be you??  Do YOU leave outside lights on when you're at RiverTree and even when your NOT?
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not leave your outside lights on after you go to bed or when you leave RiverTree.  One of the beauties of this area are the magnificent stars one can observe.  The next reason is that many of us come here to escape the city with all its lights and noise. 
Please respect your neighbors by turning off outside lights when not in use and especially when you leave. 
Which brings us to the next request.loud music...down at the Dam or on your lot.  You may not realize, but noise travel easily here in our little valley.  Please be respectful to the people around you day and/or night.  A good rule of thumb to use after dark is the same as our Texas State Parks..Shut it down at 11:00 PM.  Thanks for your cooperation!   
RiverTree's Weather &   Wild Life Report. 
By Gail Huckaby
 

The recipe received for this newsletter was from;
Ann Sijansky, Blk VI, lot 7  Thanks Ann!
BANANA CAKE     This recipe makes one super large bundt cake or three loaf cakes.

2 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup crisco
4 eggs
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup buttermilk
2 tsp vanilla
6 med. Sized bananas
1 cup chopped nuts
Cream sugar and Crisco, add eggs beating until combined.  Combine dry ingredients and add slowly to first mixture, alternating with buttermilk.  Add mashed bananas and chopped nuts and place in well greased baking pans.
Bake at 325 for 1 hour 10 minutes for the large cake and 50 to 60 minutes for the loaf cakes.

If you have questions about this recipe, Ann can be reached at home (361) 992-1620 or at the River (361) 813-9672 or by email sij58@swbglobal.net.

 

If you would like to contribute one of your special recipes, just send it to the editor along with your name, address, phone # and your block and lot #.  I will include as many as I can, depending on how many other articles are in that months newsletter and in order I receive. 

To submit your recipe either mail or email it to:
Jackie Thomas
1007 Shirkmere
Houston, TX  77008
713 861-0085 home or 830 232-5692 river
Email address:  rickjackieT@aol.com

 

 What You Missed in January 2004

Temp range low 30s to high 60s     Rainfall 2 1/2 inches

January began with a nice rain, which we really needed.  Days are warm, muggy and foggy in the mornings. Birds that have returned are house, red rosy and purple finches.  We watched a deer in the moonlight stand up on his hind legs and bat the bird feeders with his front hoofs to get the seeds.  We wondered why the feeders seemed to go down at night! I observed a mocking bird using his long beak to pull out harvester ants and eat them.  Mocking birds are high on my list of favorites now.  A red tailed hawk landed in the tree above my bird feeders one morning.  He sat there a long time trying to decide which bird to choose on the buffet table.  He finally picked a plump sparrow and took off with his morning snack.  One morning there was a group of deer prancing by our window with tails up high.  Behind them were 2 big black pigs, bring up the rear.  We usually only see the pigs at night. There are a lot of them in the area. You may not spot them, but if your yard looks like a bulldozer went through it, you had a visit from them.  Please be aware that theses pigs are wild and can be dangerous. Please don't approach them.
 

What You Missed in February 2004

Temp range low 25 highs 60s, Rain fall 7 inches

Birds returning are the brown headed cowbirds and the black backed gold finches.
We had a wild hail storm on the 24th.  The hail came down hard with the wind, thunder and lighting. It started out the size of peas, then marbles and ended up the size of peas again, making our yards look as though it had snowed.  The deer have taken on a new look to their coats. Their hides are a little lighter in color and look all burly and ruffed up looking, as they loose their winter coats. There are many babies in the Axis herd. You can usually hear them before you see them. They yip like a puppy when they loose sight of their mama. We spotted one under our Mom's porch, (Virginia Huckaby, who lives across the street). He was so small he was able to walk upright under the deck.  We left him alone for a while then check on him later, being careful not to disturb him. We knew the mama deer had stashed him there and would return for him later.  Which was the case!


 

Temps range low 40s highs upper 70s.  Rainfall 16 inches

Lots of rain this month.  We had a storm come in on Saturday afternoon that brought 4 to 5 inches in 4 hours. It was raining so hard at one time that we couldn't even see the house across the street.. It closed down Hwy 127 for a day and flooded the low crossing into Rio Frio Place.  The dam had 3 streams flowing around the picnic tables. The big boulders below the dam that everyone likes to sun themselves on, were completely underwater and the river itself ran hard and fast over the dam. I wonder what April will bring! The Wrens are into the Spring mode big time here. I left for work one day with my bathroom window open, returning to a wren in my bathroom, who in my absence of a day had started building a nest in my basket of hair barrettes. Needless to say it had to start building a new nest somewhere else.  Birds that have returned are Red Vermillion Flycatcher and the Humming Birds.

 

(lst-8th only)
Temps low 60s high 80s          Rainfall 5 (and it's only the 8th!)

April Showers doesn't seem to quite describe our flash flood that rose the river up to 18 feet on Sunday April 4.  The river was wild and fast, bringing down a lot of logs and debris with the water. The picnic area needs to be cleaned up, but no real damages reported. Quite a sight to see and hear the fury of the rushing water!
Blue Bonnets and other wild flowers are everywhere and the trees are budding out leaves the color of lime green. Summer Tanger birds have flown into the area. It is definitely Spring here.  The Tom Turkeys are strutting their stuff and spreading their tails to show off to any hen who will take notice. The wrens that tried to build a nest in my bathroom have decided to build a nest in our Ranger that sits outside on our sidewalk.
Keep your eyes open and enjoy our wildlife scenes at RiverTree!