RIVERHILL
Living Fall 2021 | Vol. 5, Issue 3
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Spotlight on the neighborhood’s outstanding coaches & educators
ROADSIDE REFLECTION Lessons from an inspirational journey recalled on the 20th anniversary of a national tragedy
RIVERHILL REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE Riverhill Q1
Riverhill Q2
Change
Kerrville Q2
Average List Price
$432,574
$485,900
12% Increase
$376,201
Average Sold Price
$426,865
$501,444
17% Increase
$370,493
Average Days On Market
76 Days
76 Days
No Change
75 Days
Average List-to-Sold
97.45%
96.97%
.49% Decrease
99.54%
CALL YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PROFESSIONAL Call me for a personalized analysis of your property’s current position in our market.
ANDREA ONEAL REALTOR®
830.285.7001
2020 Company Top Producer | 2020 Quality Service Pinnacle Award | 2020 Masters Ruby Award
Data taken from Kerrville Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service Single Family Home transactions in Riverhill 01/01/21-03/31/21 and 04/01/21-06/30/21 and Single Family Homes in Kerrville city limits 04/01/21-06/30/21 . Information deemed reliable but should be verified. ©2021 CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. CENTURY 21® and the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC. CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Housing Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated.
RIVERHILL
Living
The Kerrville Daily Times Staff Carlina Villalpando Publisher
Jillian Smith
Managing Editor
Jeanette Eastwood Nash
Assistant Managing Editor
Nicole Crapps
Creative Services Manager
Photography Tom Holden
Contributors
Nancy Foster, Niel Powers, Bill White, Doug Holmes, Roger Mathews
Composition Johanna Rangel
Contact Riverhill
www.riverhillpoa.com Send story ideas to composing@dailytimes.com
Contact The Daily Times 429 Jefferson St., Kerrville www.dailytimes.com 830-896-7000
Table of Contents 4 5 6 9 10 12 16 17
Courtney Cox
Advertising Director
18
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Bill White gives an update from the APOR Board
RIVERHILL: WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS
Submit your membership application for the year ahead
LASTING IMPACT: PHIL DEMASCO
Coach’s efforts reflect in success of players, family
COMMUNITY FOCUS: BOB GREEN
Former English teacher embraces acts of service
YEARS OF INSIGHT: TONI HYNDS
University volunteer offers technological expertise
TWO-WHEELED INSPIRATION
Motorcycle trip shortly after tragedy lends perspective
YARD OF THE MONTH: JULY
Charley and Nancy Chipman nurture flowering shrubs
YARD OF THE MONTH: AUGUST
Bob and Sue Fromm transform landscape ‘down to dirt’
ACHITECTURAL CONTROL COMMITTEE
Doug Holmes answers common homeowner questions
Party of Six ... Your table is ready.
There’s no better time to gather outdoors to enjoy family and friends. Come in to OutBack Patio Furnishings and let us help you create an outdoor space to remember. We’re here. Right in your own backyard.
Kerrville | Marble Falls 1000 Sidney Baker St. S. outbackpatiofurnishings.com
Riverhill Living 3
Message from the President I would be remiss if I did not begin without recognizing and thanking the association members for their support of the board throughout this most challenging time. As some of us approach the end of our terms, I believe it would be informative to report on our accomplishments as we worked to fulfill the responsibilities mandated by our bylaws and our endeavors to enhance the benefits of APOR membership. Our first task was to undertake a review of policies and practices put in motion by Past President Mindy Wendele. While these served past needs, legislative changes triggering the long overdue revision of the bylaws coupled with the operational deficits of the past five years were overriding factors. The most significant involved individual board members assuming more active roles in day-to-day activities. This resulted in several adjustments, updates and initiatives implemented throughout the year and planned for the near future. The following is a summary. Administrative Restructuring: Until this year, an Administrative Assistant was delegated the responsibilities for Association operations. These have now been assumed by board members. The benefits included a major reduction in cost and the board in playing a larger role daily in our daily business. The outcome is a number of changes and improvements. Secretarial Duties: We have been extremely fortunate to have benefited from the technical expertise of Niel Powers, leading to upgrades of the tools and streamlining the processes for communications with the members. Examples are the updating and consolidation of the Membership roster among several mailing and email lists. Technology: The website is being significantly enhanced to facilitate the information flow. Several web-based
4 Fall 2021
communications links have been added. These include fill-in screens as well as notifications and easy access to reference material that has been expanded and made more user friendly. In a major undertaking, virtually all Association files have or are in the process of being digitized and externally backed up. This has eliminated the cost of a storage facility, reams of old paperwork and yielded a much more efficient filing system. It also facilitates compliance with legally mandated document retention statutes. Financial Review and Action: The negative cash flow of the past five years necessitated an in-depth review and analysis of current budgeting procedures, spending controls and accounting practices. More frequent reporting of financial performance and projections have been added. Bank accounts have been realigned to match income and expense more accurately for the current year. These led to reporting of a surplus this fiscal year. Architectural Control: On Page 18, chairman Doug Holmes, provides a detailed update on the activities of the key Architectural Control Committee. It is a thankless, tedious and timeconsuming job requiring hundreds of man-hours. Assisted by board member Jill Giesecke and Bethany Mikeska, activity has been significantly ramped up from previous years. Several major processing changes have been initiated that will facilitate both increased action in cases of non-compliance and expedited project approval of projects submitted. Please refer to his excellent article for more specifics. Member Services: In a new initiative this year, Vice President Hut Smith was challenged with overseeing this important facet of the Association. This new focus will allow us to achieve our long-term goal of providing significantly more value to Membership. Traditional activities such as Yard of the Month, National Night Out, lost pet advisories and alerts will continue. New additions include the Poker Chip Run, spotlighting specific member groups in Riverhill Living Magazine such as veterans, teachers and coaches as well as informative and useful articles written by members. Finally, we are
initiating an outreach program for new residents in a concerted effort to increase our membership. Bylaw Amendment and Legal Status: The current bylaws were written in 1998 with the establishment of the Association of Property Owners of Riverhill. During the ensuing 20+ years, many statutory, technical and procedural changes have rendered them outdated and cumbersome to administer. The need for revision has been identified for some time and was included in the annual budget. Since cost was a major concern, the bulk of the core administrative work was completed internally. Following a competitive bidding process, a highly qualified law firm with a specialty in HOA law, Jackson Walker LP, was selected to provide legal review and guidance. The final document was approved by the board and posted for member review and vote. Additionally, key association-related legal filings and submittals were reviewed and revised to comply with current regulations. Our charter and tax-exempt status were reinstated as well as updating the management certificate, document retention policy and open meeting and records policy filings. Finally, contracts with vendors were rewritten prior to renewal to include specific scope of work, rates and invoicing procedures. One final thought. All residents of Riverhill benefit from the services we provide. Yet, many have not yet joined the association. I would urge those to give this serious consideration. This can be easily done by visiting our website (www.riverhillpoa.com) or completing the application on an ensuing page of this issue. As the board term ends, I would like to thank each board member for their efforts and contributions. Just as importantly, on behalf of the board, I would again like to thank our entire membership for their confidence and support throughout this past year. All on the board look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting on Oct. 18. Bill White, APOR Board President
APOR MEMBERSHIP FORM The Association of Property Owners of Riverhill, Inc. P.O. Box 293895, Kerrville, TX 78029-3895 www.riverhillpoa.com Association fiscal year is Oct. 1 through Sept. 30. Please send this form with your $75 check payable to APOR or pay through PayPal with a credit card on the website listed above.
Full Name(s): Property Address:
KCAD ID# (if known)
Full Mailing Address: (if different) Phone, Primary:
Secondary:
Email, Primary:
Secondary:
Kerrville Funeral KFH Home
Riverhill: Where everyone belongs From the moment we moved here, we knew we belonged in Riverhill. Whether it was 20 years ago or two months ago, you likely feel the same. Part of belonging in our community is joining and supporting APOR – The Association of Property Owners of Riverhill! All 650+ property owners are eligible (not just the country club members – all of you!). Each year, your $75 helps us maintain the common areas, enforce the covenants and brings you Riverhill community news and events. But most importantly, it gives you a voice in Riverhill. After a year of COVID quirks, we are back to a full annual meeting. As in the past, the meeting will be at the Riverhill Mansion on Monday, Oct. 18. Social time and registration starts at 5:30, the meeting at 6 p.m. And (yeah), drinks, appetizers and door prizes are back! But the real reason to attend, as always, is to support the wonderful community to which we all belong. So please join us at the Mansion as we provide updates, elect officers and celebrate a good year. I’ll see you on Oct. 18 (mark your calendar). Niel Powers, APOR Secretary
Gene and Katie Allen, his family and the staff take great pride in being a part of the Kerrville community.
“Serving each family with dignity, pride and honor since 1967.”
1221 Junction Highway • Kerrville, Texas 78028 830-895-5111 • www.kerrvillefuneralhometx.com TFSC Lic. #2355
LIVING
THE
BEAUTIFUL
LIFE
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE CELEBRATING THE UNIQUE AND COLORFUL STYLE OF LIVING IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY
a publication of
OVER 42,000 READERS PER ISSUE SCHEDULED PUBLICATION DATES
| GUARANTEED DELIVERY | BUDGET FRIENDLY PRICING
Call 830-896-7000 for advertising opportunities. Photo by Tom Holden
Riverhill Living 5
LASTING IMPACT Coach’s efforts reflect in success of players, family
“W
hat is most rewarding is when you get a phone call from a former player years later who just wants to tell you, ‘I landed my first job’ or ‘I’m getting married’ or some lifetime benchmark. The thought that you may have played a part in someone’s life is gratifying.” – PHIL DEMASCO, retired high school sports coach
6 Fall 2021
I
By Nancy Foster
t’s not uncommon for Phil (aka Coach) DeMasco to be out and about in Kerrville and hear someone call out, “How are you, Coach?” That person would likely be one of his former student athletes. After all, Phil’s roots are embedded deep in the Kerrville sports community, and he’s left a lasting – and favorable – impression on many a young athlete. Phil and his wife live on Antelope Trail in a beautiful home they built in 1997. They lived previously in Kerrville from 1975-1980. We interviewed him down by the country club on a sunny day, just after he’d finished a game. Phil is personable, mild-mannered and definitely a family man. He adeptly sidetracked the first interview question away from himself and onto the love of his life, wife Lynda. “Between us, we have 78 years in education,” he says with a bit of astonishment. “Lynda opened Nimitz Elementary School and taught there until we moved to Northside ISD in San Antonio, where she attained her Administrator Certification and was principal from 2002-2012. Then we retired and moved back to Kerrville. My own career in education dates back to 1968, so we’ve taught a lot of people along the way.” Phil was born and raised in Brownwood. He is a graduate of Texas State, has a master’s degree from Texas Tech and is a graduate of LSU School of Banking. He began coaching in September of 1968 at Del Valley High School in Austin. He coached there from 1968-1970, then had a stint from 1971-1974 at Estacado High School in Lubbock, 1993-1997 at John Jay High School in San Antonio, administrator at KISD from 1997-2002 and school administrator at Northside ISD from 2002 until his retirement in 2013. He says coaching has changed a lot. “When I was coaching, rivalries were a lot more fierce. The game is much more
sophisticated now. With the advances in technology, it is now possible for a coach and players to review plays and teams to improve their techniques and go much deeper into strategy than we ever could. It is interesting to see how the game has evolved.” Phil loves to reminisce. He’s a great name-dropper and can reel off names, years and positions played, and what each person is doing now. “Many of my former players have gone on to very impressive careers. Many are professional people in this community and include doctors and attorneys.” He does love to keep in touch. “I coached a kid in 1972 and just called him up three weeks ago – just to catch up.” “What is most rewarding is when you get a phone call from a former player years later who just wants to tell you, ‘I landed my first job’ or ‘I’m getting married’ or some lifetime benchmark. The thought that you may have played a part in someone’s life is gratifying.” Phil still loves football and says he can “count on the fingers of one hand the times we’ve missed a Tivy Friday night game. As for those who recognize me at a game and stop to say hello, I welcome the interaction, but admittedly I sometimes have a problem identifying someone I last saw as a teenage player.”
GOLF IN HIS DNA
Phil is usually out on the Riverhill course four times a week. “I have a standing date with friends on Tuesdays, and we have another group of guys who have been getting together since 1980 to play every Friday and Saturday morning,” he said. “We’re a pretty diverse group as far as our backgrounds go, but we have that one commonality – the love of golf.” He remarks that golf is an ideal sport for people who have aged out of playing football. “It is great exercise, both for body and the mind.” He adds that golf is truly a social game – “you make new friends constantly.” He also
loves to watch the up-and-comers. “It’s nice to see younger players and watch them develop an appreciation for the game. I credit a lot of that to Riverhill golf pro Matt Trevino. I appreciate his determination to develop an interest in golf to our younger people. We need players who will continue to perpetuate the love of golf long after many of us are no longer able to play.”
ALL IN THE FAMILY
The DeMascos are definitely an athletic family. Son Tate was recently named athletic director in Ingram, and father Phil is extremely proud. Phil and Lynda also have two daughters, Alyson DeMasco Zipp and Ashley DeMasco Jefferson from New Braunfels, plus five grandchildren. “My daughter Alyson learned to play right here at Riverhill and went on to play golf at Tivy,” he said. “My granddaughter also learned to play here. We spend a lot of our leisure time going to tournaments and events to watch them and it’s so meaningful. Even my daughter-in-law is into sports. Melissa is a collegiate all-state volleyball player.”
RIVERHILL LIVING
“We love it here, and we really enjoy Kerrville,” Phil said. “Riverhill has a casual, laid-back atmosphere that suits us, and of course, being able to play on a beautiful course steeped in tradition is a true joy.” He never tires of being on the links at Riverhill. “It’s fun to see members bring their children and grandchildren out to play. We see lots of multi-generational players on the course. I’m so fortunate to be able to be a member here and play at such a great course.” As we drive around in his golf cart, it’s pretty evident that Phil indeed has many friends. There’s a wave and friendly banter between many he encounters. Phil likes that – he’s definitely aced his happy place.
Riverhill Living 7
Educators of Riverhill • JUDY FERGUSON: Taught Religion and Education at
Schreiner University
• MARION GIESECKE: Taught and coached 47 years, the last five years at Tivy High School
2024 JUNCTION HWY. KERRVILLE 1.6 MILES WEST OF WALMART TOWARD INGRAM
• JENNY MITCHELL: Taught elementary school from 19731983; principal from 1983-1993 in Lawton, Oklahoma; Executive Director for Elementary Education for Lawton Public Schools from 1993-2003 • HANK ORTEGA: Taught CPR, EMT, Mountain Rescue, Extrication, Search and Rescue and First Aid for 30 years in California, Nevada and Oregon.
• GREG SHRADER: Taught Journalism at Schreiner University
from 1997-2008
• GREG SANDFORD: Teaches physics and coaches golf at Comfort High School • JERRY WILSON: Coached football and baseball and taught English at Burleson High School from 1968 to 1972 • BOB YOUNG: Coached women’s tennis at North Mecklenburg High School, Huntersville, North Carolina, from 1990 to 1998; coached men's and women's tennis at Schreiner University from 1999-2002; coached men's and women's tennis at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, from 2003 to 2011 • LYNDA ABLES: Taught voice, music history and music appreciation at Schreiner University and established the choral program • SHERRILYN BLASÉ: Taught 27 years, including 17 years in Midland, Texas, and 10 years in San Angelo, Texas • BARBARA PAUL: Taught elementary school art from 1983
to 2005
830-792-3833
WWW.MATTRESSOK.COM
Your “Go To” Locally Owned Mattress Store Since 2004!
• LANA TATSCH: Taught English and served as Special Education Counselor at Highlands High School in San Antonio • C. WARREN FERGUSON: Chairman of the Schreiner Board of Trustees twice and taught in the Business School for seven years • NANCY HUNTER CHIPMAN: Taught social studies at Bandera High School from 1977 to 1987; taught AP Economics and AP/Dual US History and Government at Tivy High School from 1987 to 2015; coached Academic Decathlon, UIL Current Events and Social Studies, and sponsored the National Honor Society; taught at Alamo Community College in 1995. Currently teaching history classes for the Alamo College District. Also, a past adjunct professor at Schreiner University. • SUE FROMM: Taught elementary school here and in
Missouri
• SARAH MCCRAE: Teaches Mathematics at Tivy High School
• MISSI PRATT: Served as principal in Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, both Matzke and Yeager Elementary. Also, a past adjunct professor at Sam Houston University.
8 Fall 2021
COMMUNITY FOCUS Former English teacher embraces service in myriad avenues
B
By Roger Mathews
ob Green’s relationship with Kerrville began when he moved here in 1971, but his love of teaching began much earlier. He started teaching English in 1969 in Edinburg, Texas, and stuck with the subject once he began teaching for the Kerrville Independent like Riverhill. School District. After teaching honors English and social studies, for the remainder of the 1970s he moved to administration, serving as principal for two years, then shifting to a secondary education director with the district, along with a time in human resources. He also served as deputy superintendent under Mark Jackson.
“I
There are genuinely friendly people, and lots of amiable people on the board of directors.”
– BOB GREEN, retired high school English teacher and owner of Kerrville Abstract & Title
“My education career kind of came to an end when my daughter was old enough to start at the high school, and she did not want me to be there when she was, so I retired,” said Green. “I think that was best for both of us.”
For the last 15 years, he has worked at Kerrville Abstract & Title, which he owns with his wife. It is the first and oldest title company in Kerr County, with records dating back to the Spanish Land Grants in the 1500s. “Most of the ranches when they are sold go through here,” Green said, “because we have the records needed to prove ownership.” The office on Earl Garrett Street is usually very busy, handling millions of dollars worth of real estate transactions each year, including title searches, real estate closings, deeds and deeds of trust. His daughter works with the title company, but most people these days will know her better by her married name and position on the Kerrville City Council, Kim Clarkson. Green is also known for his help in founding Hill Country High School, an institution that works with students who need an alternative method of learning. “Kerrville is considered by many as an affluent community,” Green said, “but it is really not. A great majority of our students are enrolled in the free or reduced-price lunch program, and that means they are not rich. However, we do still score in the top levels in the state in academics. I’m proud of that.” Riverhill, where he lives, has been an institution in Kerrville for more than 50 years, and has gone through changes over the years. “I like Riverhill. There are genuinely friendly people, and
lots of amiable people on the board of directors,” Green said. He was on that board twice over the years he has lived there. These days, according to him, he is seeing more and more young families moving into the neighborhood community, and remodeling the homes for their own families. “It gives me hope that Riverhill will continue a lot longer,” Green said. “Many of my friends and neighbors have moved away, downsizing to smaller places, but some want to come back.” For many years golf was a primary means of recreation for Green, but these days he no longer golfs, preferring to assist his grandchildren in learning to love the game. “I mainly play tennis now,” he said. “I am just very happy in Riverhill.” Green is also a founding member of the Morning Rotary Club of Kerrville and is a past president of the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center, where he served for several years. The center has been in operation since 2000, and sees more than 20,000 visitors a year. “I’m very proud of my association with the center,” he said. He is looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren in the coming fall months, as well as getting plenty of tennis playing time in. Along with tennis, Green will be working with his grandchildren on their golf games. “Some of them are getting pretty darn good,” he said.
Riverhill Living 9
YEARS OF INSIGHT Retiree shares technology expertise with Schreiner University students By Nancy Foster
10 Fall 2021
T
oni Hynds has lived in Riverhill for five years now, and she is enjoying every day. “I have wonderful, caring neighbors, and the location is great,” she says wholeheartedly. Toni had previously lived in Boerne for 13 years, but when looking for an idyllic place to retire, she felt Boerne was becoming more of a “suburb of San Antonio,” so she decided to “go deeper into the Hill Country” and wound up in Kerrville. She rented a house for a year while she made her plans, chose a pretty lot in the Garden Home District, hired Boerne architect Glen Echols and builder Thad Chambers and built her pretty 2/2 cottage-style home, which she’s been in since June of 2016.
EARLY LIFE & CAREER
Toni was born and raised in Indiana. She attended Purdue University and received her B.A., M.S. and Ph.D in Industrial Technology prior to pursuing a career in Construction Science. She was employed at Purdue Polytechnic from 1985-1991 and 1994-1997 and taught Organizational Leadership and Supervision courses with a focus on Team Development. It was here that a head of the Construction Department recognized her talents and strong work ethic and suggested she apply for an opening at Texas A&M University. TAMU was looking for people with leadership and supervisory skills who could put a team together and increase the number of females pursuing careers in the construction industry – specifically, architecture and technology. With her background in technology and a highly admirable resume from places such as General Motors, Toni fit the requirements and enthusiastically accepted the post.
KWF 1107506
She also taught Construction Science in the College of Architecture, Texas A&M University, and worked a stint as an adjunct faculty in the Department of Construction Science, College of Architecture, San Antonio. Her last assignment prior to retirement was International Technical Training Manager for Fluor, an international Engineering, Procurement, Construction & Maintenance company. It was a demanding yet rewarding job that kept her out of the country more than she was in, including work in Egypt, Australia, London, Norway, Kazakhstan and the Caribbean. As Director of Outsourcing in Manila, Philippines, it was her job to assist in the technical training and certification of those applying for jobs on construction projects. This required extensive training in international cultural differences as well as labor laws. Toni says the projects she worked on were significant. “Supplying labor for large petrochemical, railway and nuclear projects was the major focus,” she says.
RETIREMENT YEARS
Toni says the pandemic curtailed her regular activities, including time spent at Schreiner University assisting in the STEM programs and mentoring students interested in international work and study. She enjoys walking the River Trail in nice weather, sewing, candle making and other crafts. Her favorite pastime, however, is music, which has been a central part of her life since childhood. She began playing piano at age 6 and guitar at age 13 and holds an undergraduate minor in music theory as part of her undergraduate degree. She also sings and has participated in local folk “jam sessions” and church choir – up until COVID necessitated a hiatus. For relaxation, she plays her favorite Guild guitars at home, which brings her a great deal of contentment and joy.
Riverhill Living 11
Two-wheeled inspiration Motorcycle trip shortly after tragedy provides perspective — By Niel Powers
Contributed photo of the author and his wife, Carol, in their motorcycle gear.
12 Fall 2021
I
sat frozen over my bowl of Cheerios, the spoon, halfway to my mouth, dripping milk onto the table as I watched an airliner on TV fly straight into the tower. Like Americans everywhere, endless questions swirled through my head. But there was one question that kept coming to the forefront – do we go or do we stay? There was no other week like it in U.S. history, no guidance for decision making. My wife and I looked at each other across the table, communicating silently as couples do – “Now what? Do we go or do we stay?” The week of Sept. 11, 2001, began as expected. We rolled into Houston, arriving home on Sept. 10, completing a trip to see friends in the New Mexico mountains. We emptied the contents of the saddlebags on the motorcycles and set about preparing for the next two-wheeled adventure. Our plans were to head to North Carolina at the end of the week to visit east coast friends and attend a motorcycle rally in the Smoky Mountains. A mountainsto-mountains excursion with just a few days at home in Houston in between. We wanted to catch up with friends, add a few states to our riding adventures and escape the late-summer Texas heat. The stop back home was to accommodate a few days in the office, do the laundry, pay bills and then leave the heat of Houston behind. Then everything changed. As of Tuesday afternoon, there were no planes in the sky, no trains running and no traffic in the streets.
THE DECISION
I never made it to the office. I spent the day sitting in front of the TV, watching the loops repeated nonstop on the screen and thinking about our planned trip. On Thursday, we made the decision. We would load up the bikes and head out with the understanding that we might turn back at any point. Had the decision been to stay, hunkered down in our apartment, the story would end right here, as a “Where were you on 9/11?” memory. There are countless differences between traveling on two wheels and traveling on four. You get a much deeper – and often unwelcome – experience with Mother Nature.
You can be soaking wet, burning up, shivering cold and blistering in the bright sun, all in the same day. But the greater difference is in your interaction not with Mother Nature, but with the traveling – and nontraveling – public. Motorcyclists and bikers are not the same species. Bikers wear black leather and colorful do-rags. Motorcyclists wear protective jackets and helmets. Bikers grab attention with chrome and loud exhaust pipes, motorcyclists do their best to slip by un-noticed. We measure our passion by miles conquered and states visited. But to the non-riding public, bikers and motorcyclists are one and the same – a foreign group from which small children and vulnerable women should be protected. My wife and I have learned important lessons while riding across the country. When walking into a motel lobby, always have your best credit card visible in your outstretched hand. Otherwise, you may find all of the rooms already occupied, despite the empty parking lot. In a restaurant, always ask for a specific table up front, so you avoid the seat by the bathrooms or next to the constantly swinging kitchen door. Be very careful in parking lots, never walk away from the bikes at a rest stop, and never assume that you are safe, even when stopped at a red light. We motorcyclists are a defensive and somewhat paranoid bunch! Having decided to pack the bikes and go, we started thinking about what we might find out there. Would gas stations be open? Would we find motel rooms along the way? How would we be treated riding motorcycles made in Germany, not the United States? Uncertain, we made one tiny adjustment to our plans. To our usual gear of a tent, sleeping bags, first aid kit, rain gear and just enough underwear to get by, we added two small American flags, one attached to each bike. We were not at all sure of the reception we might receive riding through the deep American South, and perhaps those small symbols of American pride might ease our way.
EASTBOUND SURPRISES Our trip can be best summarized by our overnight in Knoxville, Tennessee. We rolled into the parking
lot, shutting the bikes down as we stopped under the portico. Credit card in outstretched hand, I asked the young lady at the desk if we could get a room on the first floor, preferably a room where we could park the bikes right outside, where we could see or hear anyone tempted to mess with them. Her response: “I’ll get you a room, but you’re going to leave those nice bikes right under the portico, under the lights where I can see them. I’m on duty all night and I won’t let anyone touch them.” It was a first for us, but it was just one of many pleasant surprises as we rolled across the country! In a little town in Louisiana we stopped for an early lunch on our first day out. I like finding local restaurants, but the only place open was a McDonalds, and it was jammed! Trays in hand, helmets slung over our arms, we looked around for a place to sit. There was the usual “coffee club” table of old men in the middle, a few tables of high school boys jostling each other and bragging just a bit too loudly, and quite a few families with children. Almost immediately, a family with two children waved us over. “Are you from out of town? Please, sit here with us, we’ll squeeze in,” the mother said. “We don’t want to interrupt,” I replied. “Nonsense, we insist.” So we joined them; mom, dad, son and daughter. Let me be clear: That never happens. Or at least it hadn’t happened before. They wanted to know where we were from, where we were headed and what it was like out there on the roads so soon after “well, you know.” When we were done with our meal, they insisted on seeing the bikes and even asked if their 6-year-old son could sit on one. Another “hardly ever” moment. Usually, mom has an arm around the shoulders of each child, moving them quickly in the other direction as dad looks enviously over his shoulder, remembering the bike he rode before he become a responsible adult. But it happened in that McDonalds parking lot, and it was a scene repeated almost every day as we made our way east.
Riverhill Living 13
There is no such thing as the perfect trip. There is always rain, a missed turn, a bad meal and 50 miles stuck behind a slow truck. But this trip was as close to perfect as they come. I cherish it through images in my mind and the pictures we took along the way. Like the picture of the two of us sitting in the porch swing of Elvis’s birth home in Tupelo, Mississippi. It’s just a little shotgun shack, and it was locked up tight on a Sunday morning. I was disappointed, but I wanted at least a picture. About that time a car pulled up. “Lookin’ for a picture of the two of you?” the older gentleman asked, as he slammed the car door shut. “Well, we were hoping to see the house, but a picture on the porch would be great, if you don’t mind.” He obviously didn’t mind. It wasn’t just the picture we received, it was the whole history of the place! He stood on that porch and told us about the house and Elvis’s time in Tupelo, sprinkling the story with small anecdotes and personal asides. Maybe our impromptu guide worked for the local tourist board, but I prefer to believe that he was just one more friendly and generous person we met along the way. As expected, the motorcycle rally itself was poorly attended. The mood in the campground was somber, matching the gray, misty weather we had for three days. The usual stories and B.S. would start around the tables in the beer tent,
14 Fall 2021
but then trail off into long periods of silence, people holding beer bottles, scratching off the labels while staring quietly into the distance. Only when the talk turned to our travels to the rally did people’s mood become more upbeat. It seems that most of the rally goers had similar great experiences on the road.
WESTBOUND WONDERS The journey home mirrored our experiences on the way out. We took time to enjoy the astounding scenery of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Natchez Trace. Both are American treasures, showing what we can achieve when we come together. Asheville, Huntsville, Tupelo, Knoxville, Jackson, New Iberia – and all the other towns and cities we visited along the way – each a unique experience. But the real memories are of the people.
There were the guys who wanted to tell us about the time they fixed up their old BSA and rode it across the country with a cousin. There were kids that wanted their pictures taken on the bikes, and their mothers who asked questions about how we survived the heat, the cold, the rain and the traffic. And everyone waved or gave us a thumbs-up through every town. Maybe it was those little flags still clinging to the bikes after all those miles, but I believe most just wanted to have someone to talk to during such an unnerving time. Every gas stop was an extended pitstop with
questions, conversations, pictures and stories. Every rest stop was a time to talk, answer questions about the bikes and share stories of the road. Somewhere, in boxes in attics across the South, are pictures of me, Carol and a couple of strangers grinning next to two BMW motorcycles. I always hope that should those boxes ever be opened and pictures examined, the people in those pictures will remember the few minutes we spent promoting calmness and connecting to people in that shell-shocked time.
MORAL OF THE STORY
We’ve had many motorcycle trips after 9/11. We’ve danced with the logging trucks on the backroads of West Virginia, laughed when stopped by a herd of sheep on a mountain pass in Oregon, and seemingly ridden straight into the sky on the Chief Joseph highway in Wyoming. But there has never been a trip like that one. Nobody wants to see another tragedy like 9/11. But for a short time it brought us together. For a short time, we were all citizens and neighbors again, despite differences in backgrounds, experiences and transportation choices. Carol and I were fortunate to have had a two-wheeled trip planned during that special time, and even more fortunate that when the question was, “Should we go or should we stay?” – we gathered up our resolve and decided to go.
SHOW US THIS RECEIVE $100 OFF
WATER HEATER COUPON INSTALLATION!*
Call us today to schedule a licensed, trained, and insured technician!
Serving the greater Texas Hill Country | Toll Free 833.450.1441 | www.hollowayplumbing.net *Water heater must be provided by Holloway Plumbing. Valid for Holloway Plumbing customers only. May not be combined with any other discount or offer. May not be submitted for cash in lieu of services.
Master Plumber M-42237
Riverhill Living 15
Yard of the Month
JULY
When your property faces a street on three sides, you have to consider every angle and view! And that describes Charley and Nancy Chipman’s property. OK, technically it is two streets and one alley, but you get the idea. Charley and Nancy’s property was chosen as the Yard of the Month for July here in Riverhill. The yard(s) feature a great blend of trees, shrubs, flowers, rocks, grasses, a cozy courtyard and even a fountain. Oh, and two cats named Shadow and Echo that patrol the property. Charley and Nancy have lived in Riverhill for less than three years, but they grew up here in Kerrville. They’ve known each other since first grade, and Charley notes that their current house is only 0.8 mile from where he was born – on the other side of the highway. Asked “why Riverhill?” Nancy talked about everyone she has met in Riverhill and how friendly everyone is in the community. “I’m sort of an introvert, but everyone has been so welcoming,” she said. Nancy taught for the Kerrville ISD for years, and she still teaches at Alamo Community College. Charley had a long career in various aspects of law enforcement and still works as an investigator. He is also an avid motorcyclist and softball player. In fact, he and Nancy rode from Kerrville to Branson, Missouri, after getting married nine years ago. Congratulations on being named Yard of the Month. It was a pleasure getting to know Charley and Nancy (and Shadow and Echo).
16 Fall 2021
Yard of the Month
AUGUST On Memorial Day, at 3 p.m., Bob Fromm stood out in front of his house and played taps on his saxophone. And that’s just one of the interesting facts about Bob and Sue Fromm, the Yard of the Month winners for August. Bob and Sue have lived in Riverhill since 2005. When the Bradford pear in their front yard died, they decided that it was time to re-landscape, “down to the dirt,” as Bob put it. And it looks great. But then, Bob and Sue are used to taking on projects and doing big things. Sue was a self-described “Air Force brat” in San Antonio that went on to teach elementary students (including nine years for Kerrville ISD). Bob was a pilot for TWA for 25 years. When Bob retired, they really pulled up roots, selling their house in Missouri and going “homeless,” full-timing it in their RV for almost four years! Their RV trips included a lot of time in Texas, traveling through Fredricksburg and Kerrville as they motored their way to the Rio Grande Valley. Sue eventually felt the need to “put down roots,” initially in Brownsville, Texas, then in Riverhill. Why Riverhill? The friendly people, the tight community and the fact that you “know all your neighbors and help them out.” It’s a relaxed lifestyle we all enjoy. Congratulations, Bob and Sue, on winning Yard of the Month.
Riverhill Living 17
Achitectural Control Committee Judging by some of the questions, comments and suggestions that the APOR Board and this Committee have received over the past eight months, there seems to be some misunderstanding of the role of the Architectural Control Committee. The ACC Chair is a member of the APOR Board and under Article IV, Item 2 of the Association Bylaws, Powers and Duties, “the board of directors shall have the powers and duties necessary for the administration of the affairs of the Association and for the operation, administration and enforcement of the restrictions and covenants in keeping with the character and quality of the neighborhoods. ...” The APOR Board and the Architectural Control Committee responsibilities cover all property owners in Riverhill, not just APOR members. This dates back to when Riverhill Country Club and Estates transferred the responsibility of enforcing the CCRs (Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions) to the Association of Property Owners of Riverhill. The only exceptions are Riverhill Oaks and High Point. Any other small groups of property owners who have their own mandatory Homeowners Association are still bound by the applicable CCR’s. The Architectural Control Committee, consisting of at least three members, is appointed by the board after each annual meeting of the Association. This committee is charged with the administration and enforcement of the CCRs which were put in place as each Section of Riverhill was developed. There are currently 18 Sections and 42 CCR’s, all of which are available on the APOR website (riverhillpoa.com). Several years ago, there was an attempt by the APOR Board to consolidate and update the existing CCRs. Unfortunately, the process was eventually terminated due to the cost of legal services to write and/or review
18 Fall 2021
the proposed documentation and the overwhelming logistical problem of getting buy-in from all Riverhill property owners. The day-to-day activities of this committee include, but are not limited to the following: • Review of all applications submitted for new construction. This includes detailed study of the plans to ensure compliance with set-backs, drainage, off-street parking and architectural requirements for exterior materials and finish. Committee members also regularly visit the site during construction and are empowered to stop construction if it is seen to be out of compliance with the CCRs or is at variance with the plans as submitted and approved. • Review of all applications submitted for exterior renovation/ addition/changes to existing residence/ property. These applications are typically for replacing fences, decks, exterior painting, etc. Issues evaluated during the review are similar to the above and will include any possible interference with sight lines from neighboring properties, compliance with architectural requirements for materials and finish colors. Note that earlier this year the city of Kerrville enacted an ordinance that requires application by the property owner to the city for a permit to erect any fence, new or replacement, over 30 inches high. ACC approval of applications for fence projects will be conditional upon the city permit being obtained prior to the start of any construction activities. • Responding to inquiries from realtors with potential buyers for Riverhill homes and new home owners wanting to know details of what is allowed relative to putting up fences, changing paint colors, etc. • Frequent inquiries about Association membership and dues. Since the annual meeting in October 2020, the Architectural Control Committee has dealt with more than 1,000 emails related to APOR/ACC business, including the following issues: • An average of one per week general or sometimes detailed inquiries requiring email or phone call responses.
• Three new home construction applications requiring multiple email clarifications and occasional in-person meetings. Routine site visits prior to and during construction activities. • Multiple applications for exterior renovations/changes/additions. Site visits as necessary to confirm details and monitor progress. • Issuing non-compliance letters for violations of the CCRs, including storing items such as boats and trailers and other articles in drive-ways, failure to keep lawns and landscaping in required good order and removal of unapproved fencing. Routine follow-up inspections to verify compliance. • A recent application related to the installation of solar panels raised some interesting issues. It is reasonable to assume that rising energy costs may well lead to other similar applications to the committee. The State of Texas Property Code Section 202.010 states that HOA’s and POA’s cannot prohibit or restrict a property owner from installing a solar energy device as defined by Texas Tax Code Section 171.107. However, the normal ACC application form submittal is still required. • The committee also recently received their first inquiry related to a residential stand-by electrical generator installation, to be used only during power outages. This brings up issues of location, potential noise pollution during routine testing and fuel storage among others. Recent improvements to the riverhillpoa.com website make the CCRs and application forms more accessible and further improvements are in process. Please help the Architectural Control Committee to expedite your applications for approval by including all necessary backup documents with your application, as specifically addressed on Page 1 of the Application Forms. Working together, we can maintain Riverhill as one of the most highly desirable residential neighborhoods in Kerrville and protect our property values at the same time. Doug Holmes, APOR Architectural Control Committee
elevatinghealth
We’re here when you need us. Peterson Urgent Care is ready to serve you and your family. We provide care for minor illnesses or injuries that can’t wait for the doctor but are not serious enough for a visit to Peterson’s Emergency Department. Our compassionate medical professionals are trained in pediatric to adult care, and typically treat most patients within an hour. Walk-in Clinic. No appointments necessary. We provide evaluation and treatment for: • Fevers • Cold & Flu • Cuts & Rashes • Simple Fractures • Sprains, Strains, & More
To learn more, call 830.258.7669 or visit PetersonHealth.com/UrgentCare Riverhill Living 19
Our Club Members Are Our Passion Our remarkable golf club started with a friendship between golf legend Byron Nelson and renowned course designer Joe Finger. That tradition continues today with the friendships still formed and strengthened on the rolling hills of Riverhill Country Club just as Byron Nelson had hoped. You are invited to be a part of that tradition and the present celebration of the game of golf, fabulous dining and events, world-class tennis, swim and fun for your entire family. Many families have taken part in what Riverhill has become over the past 112 years when it began as the mansion at Cedarcrest. Many families return generation after generation to enjoy the important history of this estate and the wonderful part the club continues to play in their lives.
Summer Fun for the Entire Family!
Riverhill Country Club • RiverhillCC.com • 896-1400 •100 Riverhill Club Lane • Kerrville Please contact Membership Director Bryan Hargrove at (830) 896-1400 x2230 for more information about memberships and initiation fees.