HORSESHOE BEND BULLETIN

October Message

Dear HSB Friends and Neighbors,

Fall is my favorite time of year at HSB. The temperatures have fallen and we have seen some much needed rain. And our neighborhood looks beautiful. One of the things I love about Horseshoe Bend is that there is such a sense of pride in our community with members who work to maintain the beauty and continuity of our neighborhood.

The Compliance Committee is charged with the obligation to enforce the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions. This committee acts as a liaison between the board and the homeowners in order to facilitate resolutions of all violations of the Declaration. Specific areas of enforcement are listed under Articles X and XI of the Declaration. This committee receives complaints from the homeowners regarding violations of the Declarations. They investigate reported violations, notify the homeowner who is in violation, and ask for their compliance. They carry out any other instructions of the Board in order to help resolve a violation.

Over the past year, the Compliance Committee has focused on updating the Declaration of Covenants to meet current Texas Code. Significant time has also been spent on consideration of various changes and additions to the CCR’s to address needs and concerns not adequately addressed in the current document. This has been an enormous job for committee chairman Doug Endicott, co chairman Dean Catanzaro, and the entire committee. Thank you for your commitment to our community! At this time the board is reviewing the changes made to the document and will share these changes with the membership in the next few months.

October is Annual Members Meeting month. Our Hospitality Committee has organized a fantastic lunch. Chefs Blizzard and McCord will be flipping burgers and dogs, and as a special treat, Pokey-O’s Cookies & Ice Cream will be on site creating tasty desserts for members to enjoy. I hope everyone will plan to attend this event. Lunch will begin at 11:00 AM and the meeting will start at 1:00 PM. Don’t forget to RSVP. You will also have the opportunity to sign up to serve on one or more committees, and vote for three board candidates for 2024.

Take care everyone, have a fabulous fall, and I’ll see you at the Annual Meeting.

Nancy McCord

You are cordially invited to attend the 2023 Annual Membership Meeting of the Horseshoe Bend HOA that will be held at the Horseshoe Bend Dogwood Lodge located at the above address on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 1:00 pm.

Prior to the meeting, all HOA members are invited to attend a Member’s Burger Cookout, hosted by the HSB Hospitality Committee. As a special treat, to show our appreciation, the Pokey-O's Cookies & Ice Cream truck will be on site, with a tasty dessert for all members! The luncheon will begin at 11:00 am and will conclude 20 minutes prior to the start of the Annual Meeting.

• Please let us know if you are attending the Annual Meeting & Luncheon, so that we can plan accordingly. Click here to RSVP!

• If not attending the luncheon, please arrive and register for the meeting no later than 12:30 pm, so that eligible votes can be confirmed prior to the start of the meeting.

• Sign up sheets for the 2024 committees will be available.

• Regular Board meeting will be held after the Annual Members Meeting ends.
  

The HSB Annual Members HOA Meeting, held each October, provides all of the HSB members the opportunity to have a voice in our community and to gather together to learn more about:

• the status of our community,
• the financial budget
• our community leadership
• planned projects for the upcoming year
• how to get more involved in our community
• and MORE!

We will have 2024 committee member sign-ups at the Annual Meeting, but you can get a headstart on adding your name to the list by using the link below!

Committees are an integral part of the operations of our community. Being a member on a committee offers homeowners a chance to have a voice in important decisions that are made about our community, help keep our community vibrant and allow members an opportunity to contribute their expertise to our community.

Click here to indicate your interest in being on a HSB committee today!

In an effort to highlight information and answer questions about HSB's governing documents, guidelines, policies, etc...(and bring back the 80's slogan as well!) there will be a short The More You Know... section in each edition of the HSB newsletter!

HSB residents have been asking....Since the Annual Members Meeting is scheduled for October 7th and there will be an election of new board members, how do I know what my voting rights are as a HOA member?

ARTICLE V. VOTING RIGHTS

1. All OWNERS shall be entitled to one vote for each UNIT owned by an OWNER. When more than one person holds an interest in a UNIT, all such persons shall be members of the ASSOCIATION but the vote for such UNIT shall be exercised as they determine among themselves, but in no event shall there be more than one vote cast with respect to any UNIT.

2. An OWNER may cast an eligible vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the ASSOCIATION.

3. No cumulative voting shall be permitted.

4. Any action of the ASSOCIATION or any consent or approval of the ASSOCIATION may be taken or deemed given if agreed to in writing by OWNERS entitled to cast the number of votes necessary to approve such action or to grant such consent or approval whether or not a meeting has been held or called.

5. Except as specifically set forth in this DECLARATION, notice, voting and quorum requirements for all actions to be taken by the ASSOCIATION shall be as set forth in its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as same may be amended from time to time.

On September 16th, if you have an email address on the HSB directory you should have received a system-generated email from a "mailing list manager", with the subject: Request for confirmation of subscription to the mailing list". This is not a phishing email. Our webmaster had our web hosting company send this out to create a resident only distribution list. Lately, with all the spam filtering email providers, the Newsletter and other bulk emails from HSB have been not always making it to all of our residents. In an effort to help the "bounce back" rate we are going to try a distribution list that you must confirm your participation.

Please click the link on the email to confirm your participation in the distribution list. The webmaster will send out another automated email in October to anyone that might have missed the first one. Thank for your help on this matter. We'd like to start using the distribution list in November.

David & Alicia Booth live in Lavon Texas and they purchased their property here in May 2023, so that they could enjoy some time away at their HSB lake house!

Both David and Alicia graduated from Texas A&M. Alicia is a former teacher and David is a CPA, who works in the Land Acquisition department of DR Horton.They have four children who are all in their 20's.They also have one fur baby named Paisley who enjoys spending time with them at the lake house too!

Both David & Alicia enjoy home projects and spending time with their kids. They are already enjoying getting away to their lake house in Horseshoe Bend whenever we can!

When asked what they love most about living in HSB, they shared they love, ""the trees and the peacefulness!"

Great neighbors = a great neighborhood! We are so happy David & Alicia are part of our HSB community!

It has been communicated in the past two newsletters that the Lake Management Committee's proposal to lower the lake was approved by the board in March 2023 and that this effort will begin in October.

The LMC will begin to lower the lake 3-4 feet in October so that they will be able to address several maintenance needs, including:

• Repairs to the community boat ramp
• Repairs to community fishing dock
• Removal/treatment of some of the invasive aquatic vegetation that will be exposed due to lower water levels

Their goal is to survey the scope of work needed and complete as many projects as possible before the spring rains begin, to help replenish the lake. When the lake siphon valve is open, approximately 1-2 inches of water is released each 24 hrs, so it will take approximately 3-4 weeks to lower the lake to the desired level.

The community should expect the lake levels to begin to be lowered in October, which should allow for the lake levels to be at the targeted levels of 3-4 feet lower in November. At this point, maintenance work will begin. Please note that when the boat ramp can no longer be safely used due to the lower lake levels, a sign will be posted to inform all boaters that the boat ramp is closed until further notice. The community fishing dock may also be closed temporarily due to repairs.

Homeowners who have lake lots are encouraged to take advantage of this effort to address any repairs/maintenance that needs to be done on personal boat docks.

The HSB Volunteer Support Committee will be hosting a fun event on November 11th at 4:00 pm the Dogwood Lodge called Friends Around the Bend.

All HSB residents and owners, both long-time & new, are invited to come to the lodge for an afternoon of laughs and sharing of memories about the Horseshoe Bend community over time.

Falll in HSB - November, 2022

Photo Credit: TONA BLIZZARD

In April 2024, Winnsboro residents will bear witness to one of nature's greatest shows as a total solar eclipse crosses our area. A mere 25 miles from the center of the shadow's path, we will be treated to almost four minutes of twilight darkness.

On October 14th at 10:25 AM, an annular eclipse will begin in South Texas. We will be able to view it in Winnsboro as a partial eclipse. We will witness 83% coverage of the sun. Eclipse glasses, as well as telescopes and other viewing hacks will be provided at the Winnsboro Depot, (while supplies last) following a presentation by Ken Ruffin. Major coverage of the sun will occur at 11:54 AM.

Join Ken Ruffin, president of the National Space Society of North Texas, as he speaks on "The Future of NASA and Commercial Spaceflight." His talk will segue into the eclipse which will be nearing the largest portion of coverage that we will be able to see. The event will be held in the Winnsboro Depot Community Room 101 East Broadway Street beginning at 10:30 am.

All ages are welcome to come to the Gilbreath Memorial Library on October 11, 2023, at 10 AM and learn how to view a solar eclipse.

Mr. James will be sharing stories and demonstrating how to view the different types of solar eclipses safely. All are asked to try and bring either an empty cereal box or a piece of cardboard 12" x 12". They will have some provided if needed in addition to other supplies.

This will take place outside in Kate Park Memorial Park, weather permitting, inside if needed.

Gilbreath Memorial Library
916 North Main Street
Winnsboro, TX 75494

October is a magical time of year in Winnsboro! The history. The fun. The memories. Winnsboro has been the "Home of the Autumn Trails" since 1958. This month-long festival is one of the most popular events in October for East Texas residents and the 2023 schedule of events looks amazing!

Check out the schedule below and stay on top of additional events by visiting their Facebook page or website.

October 14-15, 2023 | 10am-5pm

At this outdoor festival you will find jewelry, pottery, photography, sculpture, baskets, woodworking, glass, and original garden art. Shop for one-of-a-kind pieces of clothing, paintings, handmade journals and mixed media creations made from recycled materials. Watch a blacksmith demonstrate his skill at the forge, and perhaps a potter at the wheel, or a raku pottery firing demonstration.

In addition, in the Wine Garden under the trees, some great acoustical singer/songwriter musicians will performe, along with the offerings of a few local wineries.

Great food is available from local vendors with culinary treats such as Cajun gumbo, homemade sorbet and gourmet small batch ice cream, to frothy root beer and corn dogs, barbeque and pork sandwiches, and wonderful food trucks for all your dining pleasures!

Free parking is provided behind the festival, and paid parking at the Methodist Church as a fundraiser. Handicap parking is available just west of the entrance at the corner of FM 279 and FM 314.

Quitman Outdoor Quilt Show

October 14, 2023

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Get ready for a fun day of quilts, quilts, and more quilts! Stitchin' Heaven is hosting the annual Quitman Outdoor Quilt Show in Quitman, Texas.

They will have quilts on display at Stitchin' Heaven, along with the Rockin S&S Grill food truck and a free bounce house for the kids to enjoy!

• 100+ Beautiful Quilts on display
• Admission - FREE!!!
• All Ages are welcome
• Food Truck
• Bounce House
• 
  

Click here for more information about these events!

Check out the Mt. Vernon Country Fest on October 14th for a full day of fun! There will be lots of vendors, a car show, stew cook-off and MORE!

Looking for a fun and safe place to take your kids or grandkids for Halloween trick or treating? Make plans to visit downtown Winnsboro on October 31st where local businesses and organizations will be set up to hand out Halloween treats!

SAVE THE DATE! The Winnsboro Art & Wine Festival 2023 is coming soon! Mark your calendars for November 10- 11 and be ready for a weekend of fun! Winnsboro’s annual Art & Wine Festival attracts artists from around the country to participate in this event. Texas Wineries show off their award-winning wines while providing tastings and bottles for sale. Craft Breweries, specialty foods, and other vendors will be there as well. Each year brings something new!

Learn more about this year's festival by clicking here!

Follow the Winnsboro Art & Wine Festival Facebook page to see highlights on this year's participants, vendors, and events!

While we will be able to view a partial eclipse in Winnsboro in October, in less than 200 days, Winnsboro residents will bear witness to a TOTAL solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Winnsboro is in the path of totality, which means that when the moon eclipses the sun, the sky will go dark for approximately 4 minutes. On this date in, the totality phase in Winnsboro will begin at 1:44 p.m. and last 3 minutes and 59 seconds. The map below shows the path of the partial and total eclipses in October 2023 and April 2024.

A total solar eclipse can only be seen from a narrow path on Earth called the path of totality. The path of totality is about 100 miles wide. During a total solar eclipse, the sky will darken as if it were twilight, or just after sunset, with a golden band on the horizon for 360 degrees. The Sun's corona, the outermost layer of its atmosphere, will become visible. The corona is normally too faint to see, but it becomes visible during a total solar eclipse because the Sun's bright disk is blocked by the Moon. You will even be able to see some stars and brighter planets if they happen to be in the sky at that time. This is what we will experience on April 8, 2024. Click here to see a rough animation of what the total eclipse will look like in Winnsboro on April 8th.

Total solar eclipses are rare events. They happen about every 18 months, but the path of totality is narrow, so only a small area of the Earth can see them at any one time. Total solar eclipses happen about once every 18 months. However, any given location on Earth will only see one about every 300 to 400 years. That's why it's such an event to have two solar eclipses in Texas within months of each other. We will not see another solar eclipse in the United States until 2045. See the video below for a tour of the 2023/2024 solar eclipse locations.

Remember, it is important to never look directly at the Sun, even during a solar eclipse, unless you have protective eyewear. To see the sun during totality, you will have to wait until the Sun's disk is completely covered or risk eye damage, and then be sure to put your eyewear back on before totality is over. Always use special eclipse glasses or a solar filter to safely view a solar eclipse.

The photo below was taken during the last time the Dallas area saw a total eclipse of the sun, which was July 29, 1878. It cut a path similar to the path that the annular eclipse on October 14 will take. The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, will only be the fourth total eclipse that the Dallas area will have seen in a thousand years.

Website: http://www.hsb-hoa.org/index.php
Location: 197 County Road 4550, Winnsboro, TX, USA
Phone:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Horseshoe-Bend-Lake/153565784843855