January 21st

oakhillgazette.com

January 21, 2016 Volume 21, No. 2 Southwest Austin’s Community Newspaper Since 1995

Church, neighbors working toward amphitheater resolution

by Ann Fowler OAK HILL - Local neighbors who have complained about sound from the LifeAustin Church amphitheater are actively working with church officials to find a resolution that all can live with.

Concern about the sound level from performances at the amphitheater have been a concern for some locals since church officials first announced plans for the outdoor venue. Despite assurances by the church that no expense would be spared for sound mitigation, some neighbors still worried.

The church and the city did sound testing prior to the amphitheater’s opening in August, but several residents still criticized the sound level, bringing their complaints to the Austin Board of Adjustments (BOA) in December. The Board urged both sides to find a compromise by February.

Mike Kirk, president of the Covered Bridge Property Owners Association, told the Gazette that local neighborhood representatives have met twice in recent weeks with representatives of the LifeAustin Church. “We are attempting to build

relations and solutions to the noise problem outside of litigation,” he said, adding that no attorneys have attended those meetings.

David VanDelinder, a representative of Midwood Parkway, said, “Our discussions with the church revolve around finding a compromise that restores our quality of life and still enables events at the venue.”

Pastor Randy Phillips of LifeAustin agreed that negotiations between church and the neighborhoods are moving forward. He said they are “making progress; trying to find See CHURCH on back page

Update: Bike trail to Zilker Park

Bowie vs Austin High Sports on p. 12 Gazette: Sarah Weeks

by Ann Fowler OAK HILL - MoPac Expressway in south Austin is experiencing overnight closures through January 25 as construction crews hang beams for Phase 1 of the MoPac Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge Project.

The city and state have partnered to add improvements from Loop 360 to Southwest Parkway, adding connectivity and safety for local bicyclists.

The road closure requires motorists to take U.S. 290 West and Loop 360 to bypass the construction area from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Oak Hill bicycling enthusiast Tom Thayer said of the project, “I have See UPDATE on page 14

Gazette: Will Atkins

This bridge, well under construction, crosses Loop 360 at MoPac.

2 ...Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016

Letter to the Editor

SOS causes sprawl, threatens aquifer

Dear Editor The reason I argued for the Oak Hill Neighborhood Planning effort a few years ago was to address sprawl threatening Oak Hill. In 2006 the future of Oak Hill was not clear but everyone could see growth in Bee Cave and out 290 to our west. The toll road / 290 / 71 highway project of that day was a monster threatening Williamson Creek. Traffic congestion also posed a significant environmental threat to say nothing of the impact upon the lives of Oak Hill residents.

Fast forward to today and Laurel

Robertson’s “Drippin’ Lowdown” Gazette article adds a chapter documenting the dysfunction of Austin’s governing bodies and environmental community to protect what Austin voters approved with the 1992 SOS referendum.

SOS fought the wrong battles with the wrong tools. Austin’s environmental leaders clearly misinterpreted the science and lobbied hard to teach that misinterpretation to the staff including the then head of Watershed Protection Development Review Greg Guernsey. That is the same Greg Guernsey that lives in Oak Hill who gave administrative approval to the controversial Dream City / Life Austin amphitheater in

Civic Agenda

This space is reserved for information on civic happenings that occur in, or relate to the Southwest Austin area. To be included in the Civic Agenda, a meeting or event must relate to public policy. For other community events please see our community calendar on page 10. If you would like to be included, please e-mail editorial@oakhillgazette.com with the subject “Civic Agenda” and include details of your meeting or happening, along with any relevant agenda items.

Austin/Travis County Community Health Plan forum Wed., February 3, 6:00-7:30 pm Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina St, Austin, TX 78702 The community is invited to this Community Health Assessment

(CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) forum.

Since August 2011, the AustinTravis County Health and Human Services Department, Travis County Health and Human Services and Veteran’s Services, Central Health, St. David’s Foundation, Seton Healthcare Family, Austin/Travis County Integral Care, Capital Metro, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health Austin Regional Campus have been leading a comprehensive community health planning effort to measurably improve the health of Austin/Travis County residents. For more information about the event, call 512-972-5888.

Oak Hill Business and Professional Assn. (OHBPA) Monthly Luncheon trust your home to the best and the brightest

all-natural, non-toxic residential, commercial, and vacation rental cleaning email: bonnie@britecleaningtx.com 512.351.5543 • britecleaningtx.com

Now in our 20th year, the Oak Hill Gazette is locally owned and is published every other Thursday. With a circulation of 7.500, it is home delivered to over 5,000 homes in Southwest Austin and is sold in stands for 50¢.

Publisher/Editor: Will Atkins Co-Publisher/Advertising: Penny Levers Webmaster: Taylor Christensen

e-mail us:

editorial@oakhillgazette.com All letters must be signed

2011.

The very public conversation I had with both former president of Save Barton Creek Association Donna Tiemann and SOS Alliance head Bill Bunch on ANCtalk in 2014 documented both of their (and many others’) failure to understanding of Edward’s Aquifer water science. SOS

Circulation Manager: Ingrid Morton Reporters/Writers: Ann Fowler, Tony Tucci, Patrick Olson, Travis Atkins, Roger White, Mike Jasper, and Laurel Robertson To advertise or subscribe: 301-0123 • advertising@oakhillgazette.com

Piano & Voice Lessons in Oak Hill

Continued on p. 20

Thursday, February 4 at 11:30 am Mandola’s at Arbor Trails 4301 W. William Cannon Dr. The public is invited. This month’s speaker is Ira Siegel who will be talking about tax matter you need to know about for 2016. For more information go to ohbpa.org.

mariam@operalady.com www.operalady.com

Mariam McFalls (832) 523-2078 call/text Piano Lessons ages 6 to adult Voice Lessons ages 12 to adult

Member of: Austin District Music Teachers Association • Bay Area Music Teachers Association Gulf Coast Music Association - President 2011 to Present National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)

Personal Assistant for Hire!

Errands • Cooking • Shopping Housekeeping • Gardening • Etc.

Continued on p. 20

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Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016 ...3

Need a dump truck?

512.758.0791 One of the three bears tears into a birthday pinata of the number 2 as hundreds of cubs fans looked on.

Hundreds celebrate three bears story and photos

by Ann Fowler

The Austin Zoo held a birthday party on Saturday to celebrate the second birthday of a trio of bear cubs—and 250 people attended.

That was in addition to 1,000 visitors to the zoo that day, according to Austin Zoo Director Patti Clark.

Korben, Tilly and Ruby were born in the Portland, Oregon, area, where logging activity accidentally drove away their mama bear. Oregon authorities reached out to Austin Zoo officials, who quickly agreed to make a home for them.

Zoo staffers showed the crowd

some of the training the bears have learned, such as climbing the fence to touch a tennis ball. Emcee Toni Alberty, the Guest Relations staff member, explained that staff members hide the bears’ food throughout their enclosure so the bears could forage for food as they would in the wild.

No Texas birthday would be complete without piñatas. Large papier-mache “2”s filled with special bear food were quickly pulled down by the cubs, to the delight of onlookers.

Girl Scout Troop 2243 led celebrants in singing Happy Birthday as the

bears enjoyed their birthday treats.

The Austin Zoo was originally called Good Day Ranch in 1990 and provided homes to goats, pigs, fallow deer, donkeys and ponies. When it began to accept exotic animals that needed a refuge, the name changed to the Austin Zoo, which has been a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation since 2000.

The 15-acre facility, located at 10808 Rawhide Trail, has an additional 40 acres available for expansion.

For more information, including Wish Lists for the Zoo, see http:// austinzoo.org/.

The bears’ party was hosted by Toni Alberty, with Austin Zoo’s guest relations staff.

•SHOE REPAIR•

4 ...Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016

This Old Spouse

family humor

Think you’ve seen it all? Nope!

by Roger White

Quality Boot & Shoe Repair 6781 290W at the “Y” in Oak Hill

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8

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Boy, it happens every time. Without fail, every time I throw my arms up in disgust and utter an exasperated “I’ve seen it all now,” something worse comes along to heave a brick upside the noggin of my jaded sensibilities and inform me that, no, I have not seen it all. Not. Even. Close.

Despite how ridiculously vile and frighteningly xenophobic the foul-smelling arena of politics has become, no, I’m not talking about that. Politics parodies its own self so well these days that no comment is required. Except God help us all. No, what sparked yet another ISIAN (I’ve Seen It All Now) self-rebuke of late came from the one field of human endeavor that manages to run a close second to politics in its ability to horrify and nauseate: advertising.

Let me take you back. It wasn’t long ago, a matter of weeks perhaps, and the weather was rotten. So was my health. I had a stubborn chest cold. I’d settled myself down in front of the TV with a meal of my favorite comfort food: a hot bowl of split-pea soup, saltines, and iced tea.

With a side of crispy baby gherkins.

Awaiting me was an afternoon of recuperation with nourishing reruns of “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Twilight Zone.” It was just the therapeutic prescription I needed.

Suddenly, there on the screen, rudely interrupting my sick-day fare of Opie, Aunt Bee, Thelma Lou and Rod Serling, was a commercial for some cough medicine featuring an anthropomorphic glob of mucus.

That’s right. A walking, talking sickly-green lump of phlegm with stumpy, phlegmy arms and legs.

I don’t have to tell you that half of my bowl of hot split-pea soup with saltines went cold and uneaten. The gherkins didn’t go down so well, either.

If you watch any television,

you, too, have probably seen this more. On the same day, on the same chubby little humanoid snotball channel, came an ad featuring an (no, not Trump—this is about adorable pink little walking knot of advertising, remember?). Are they intestines. Really. This creepy duoserious? These cough medicine denum dude, who I can only guess moguls are hawking is called Barry Bowels or their health-restoring something, is the mascot elixir with a revolting for an Irritable Bowel ball of human effluence, Syndrome medication. presumably nicknamed Yes, Intestine Man is the Muky the Mucus Man? best they could conjure.

Can you just picture Never in my most dethese marketing geniuslirious fever dreams have es at deadline time?

I ever envisioned my “Joe, you got anybowels as a funny-faced thing?” little pink dude—and in “No. I’m empty.” all candor, I shudder to “Bob? Anything?” imagine what my lower “I dunno. How ’bout innards would look like Roger White a talking loogie?” with a face and limbs.

“Okay, that’s good.

Especially my innards.

We’re just about out of time. Let’s Gak. What’s next? A cutesy brown go with it.” cartoon poop named Danny Doody And yeah, when I saw this slimy, concocted as a stool softener masgloppy bit of Madison Avenue cre- cot? A cuddly little mouth ulcer ativity, my arms reached skyward, called Herpey Harry designed to and I uttered forth: “I’ve seen it sell cold sore cream? An anthropoall now.” morphic little mascot called Limpy And yet again, it wasn’t long after the Member used to sell erectile that that my latest ISIAN declaration dysfunction pills? was roundly rejected. Just when I Boy, I’ve seen it all. No, wait. I’m thought that advertising types could quite certain that I haven’t. sink no lower, the next week I was introduced to a pink little anthroRoger White is a freelance writer pomorphic bladder. It was an ad living in Austin, Texas, with his lovely for bladder control medicine, and spouse, two precocious offspring in it this adorable roundish little units, a morbidly obese dachshund, bladder walks along holding hands and a cat with Epstein-Barr Synwith its owner, constantly reminding drome. For further adventures, visit her that she has to pee. Wait, there’s oldspouse.wordpress.com. Or not.

Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016 ...5

Commissioner’s Corner

Precinct 3

A look back, a glimpse forward

by Gerald Daugherty, Precinct 3 Commissioner

lead by example for your other taxing jurisdictions. Hopefully they’ll This is the time of year when also consider doing their part to many publications take a look at “hold the line” on taxes, to help all of major events of the previous year, you impacted by the “affordability” issue of living in this area. and what to look Even individual members for in the upcoming of your Commissioners year. With the start Court are leading by perof 2016, I’ll use that sonal example. Several of us theme to recap 2015’s didn’t take our authorized major happenings for pay raise, and I continued Travis County and my tradition of cutting my the Commissioners own pay between 8 and 10 Court, and take a look percent for each year I’ve at issues and challengheld office. es we’ll face in 2016.

Another major issue for One of the major issues that affected Gerald Daugherty this community in 2015, that will continue to be at numerous decisions made by your Commissioners Court the forefront, is that of ever-increasin 2015 was that of “Affordability”. ing congestion on our roadways How many times did you hear people throughout the County. In 2016, say, “I can’t afford to pay my con- we’ll continue working on transportinually rising property taxes, rent, tation and mobility in many major utilities, etc.” The County’s ability to corridors in this region: -Keep Highway 45 Southwest help is mainly limited to how high we set our property tax rate. Last year moving forward, with the start of we decreased the County portion of construction this year.

-Looking forward to the comproperty taxes on an average Travis county home for the second year in pletion of Highway 71 West ima row. And I’ll do my best to see that provements from the Y in Oak Hill the County continues that streak westward.

-Keeping an eye on the 290/71 to three years in a row, by pushing to keep our County budget at the intersection enhancements at the minimum necessary to deliver core Y in Oak Hill.

-Work with Lakeway and Bee services to citizens.

Since the Travis County portion Cave to see that Highway 620 gets of your property tax bill is less than improved and enhanced.

- Move forward with a study of Loop 20% of your total bill, we’re trying to

360 corridor on needed improvements for that heavily used road.

- Support the MoPac South project because of the needed added capacity in this major corridor.

As I’ve always done as Commissioner, for 2016 I’ll continue working hard to be a voice of reason for: True mobility enhancements; Looking at ways to improve our transportation infrastructure in sensible and cost-effective ways; Advocating for a comprehensive road system in Travis County for the 95% of you who use automobiles by choice and necessity.

A major event and wake-up call for the County was the November 3rd rejection (though narrowly) of Travis County’s bond proposal for a new Civil and Family Courthouse.

One of the main reasons for the bond proposition’s defeat was the “Affordability” issue—taxpayers didn’t want to see another increase in their taxes. While that proposal was defeated, the need for more and upgraded Civil and Family Courthouse space is still with us. In this beginning of 2016, we’ve regrouped and started the process of figuring out what our options are—what we can feasibly do, what is affordable for our taxpayers, what kind of new proposal (or proposals) we can develop. We’ll need to be creative in our thinking and planning to be successful in this endeavor.

Other major items your Commis-

•ELECTRICIAN•

PALOMA ELECTRICAL SERVICES

One of the major issues that affected numerous decisions made by your Commissioners Court in 2015 was that of “Affordability”. sioners Court will continue dealing with in 2016 are: Building new headquarters for the District Attorney’s Office; Adding new Criminal District and County Courts; Possibly establishing a Sobriety Center…

Restoring in-person visitations at our jails… Finishing a County Organizational Review to identify operational efficiencies, and areas where the County could improve its processes and structure.

As you can see, Travis County

Welcomes Another Lisa...

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Piano & Voice Lessons in Oak Hill

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Commissioners Court will have a busy 2016, with a number of important decisions to make and policies to implement. If you want to stay informed, follow County issues and happenings, as well as the actions of your Commissioners Court, on the County website <www.traviscountytx.gov> . You can also call my office at 512-854-9386 with any input you might have about your County government.

Mariam McFalls (832) 523-2078 call/text Piano Lessons ages 6 to adult Voice Lessons ages 12 to adult

Member of: Austin District Music Teachers Association • Bay Area Music Teachers Association Gulf Coast Music Association - President 2011 to Present National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)

6 ...Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016

Gazette Health Guide

• FITNESS •

•ACUPUNCTURE• Sophia Andras L. Ac. Licensed Acupuncturist

ADULT BASIC BOOT CAMPS

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• Affordable custom care • Healthy meal preparation • Transportation and errands • Light housekeeping

REIKI HEALING CENTER

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Deborah Riverstar, RN, FNP-C

• Solo practitioner— your child

BODY MIND SPIRIT Reiki • Chakra Balancing

• Most insurances accepted

REIKI MASTER TEACHER

512-291-2464

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• DENTIST •

Board Certified Pediatrician

7500 West Hwy 71 in Peachtree Office Center

• DENTIST • General & Cosmetic DENTISTRY Dr. William (Bo) Carrick, D.D.S.

288-0400

7010 Hwy 71 West #225(

In the HEB Center at the Y in Oak Hill

Info: (512)964-4844 www.OakHillYogaAustin.com

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OAK HILL YOGA

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Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016 ...7

Pet Page

Two Austin rescue puppies part of Puppy Bowl XII Puppy Bowl XII, the Animal Planet’s original pet adoption extravaganza, will feature two puppies from Austin Animal Center and Austin Pets Alive! during its Sunday, Feb. 7, broadcast.

The show will air Super Bowl Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. The pups, Hailey and Poppy, will vie for the title as part of Team Fluff against Team Ruff.

Hailey is a terrier mix who came to Austin Animal Center with a leg injury. Austin Pets Alive! took her into their foster program and worked to rehabilitate her leg. Poppy, a poodle mix, came to Austin Animal Center as a lost pet that was never reclaimed by her owner. Both dogs have now been adopted.

More than 80 puppies in Puppy Bowl XII will be competing for the famed title of Bissell MVP (Most Valuable Puppy), with 20 kittens in

the Bissell kitty halftime show.

Animal Planet hosts Puppy Bowl each year to bring awareness to pet adoptions from animal shelters and animal rescues across the country.

“We are so pleased to be bringing back this two-hour event full of fuzzy faces, sloppy kisses and puppy penalties,” Animal Planet’s Event Coordinator Jared Albert said. “This year, die-hard super-fans can get closer to the action than ever before with the introduction of “Puppy Bowl Virtual Reality,” which invites viewers onto the turf for the first time ever to rumble up close and personal with this year’s puppy players for a full 360-degree experience.”

The puppies range in age from 12 to 24 weeks. Breeds represented include Basset Hound, Beagle, Boxer, English Bulldog, Chihuahua, Continued on page 14

Poppy, a poodle mix, came to Austin Animal Center as a lost pet that was never reclaimed by her owner. She has now been adopted.

Precious is a two year old female pit bull mix looking for a loving home. Great with dogs and loves going to the dog park. She has not been around many children but we are pretty sure she will be excellent with them. She is a mellow, go with the flow kind of girl.

Please contact us at (512) 892-4158 if interested.

Gazette Pet Guide

Call us at 301-0123 or email us at advertising@oakhillgazette.com to advertise your business in our Pet Guide

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8 ...Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016

Arts & Entertainment Ongoing Events

Fridays

Sundays

Friday night Dance Club - w/ Western bands and a Pot Luck break. 7:30pm-10pm at South Austin Activity Center, 3911 Manchaca RD, Austin. $4.50.

Live Jazz Brunch - 10am-2pm. Nutty Brown Cafe, 12225 Hwy. 290 W., 78737. 301-4648. nuttybrown.com.

Tessy Lou Williams & The Shotgun Stars - 4pm at Poodie’s Hilltop Bar & Grill, 22308 Hwy. 71 W., Spicewood.

No cover.

New Events January 22 - March 5

Charles Thibodeaux and the Austin Cajun Aces - 6:30pm at Evangeline Cafe, 8106 Brodie 512.282-2586.

Texas Songwriters Showcase 6:30pm Poodie’s Hilltop Bar & Grill, 22308 Hwy. 71 W., Spicewood. No cover.

Wednesdays No Bad Days Open Mic - 7pm at Poodie’s Hilltop Bar & Grill, 22308 Hwy. 71 W., Spicewood.

50+ Singles Dance- 7:30-9:45 Live Music. Senior Activity Center 29th & Lamar. 2874 Shoal Crest. fiftyplusdanceaustin.com Trivia Night - Wednesdays at Waterloo Ice House, Southpark Meadows, 9600 South I-35 Service Rd. SB, Suite D-100. 512-301-1007 waterlooicehouse.com.

January 23 - January 31 Floyd’s Of Mice & Men - 7:30pm, Sun. @ 3pm Presented by Austin Opera The Long Center 701 W. Riverside Drive (512) 457-5100 thelongcenter.org

Karaoke - at Boomerz Nightclub, 6148 Hwy 290 W.. 892-3373.

“Thirsty Thursday” gathering- Poems and songs will be shared in a round robin, open mic atmosphere following the featured presentation. On the third Thursday of every month. Free. Food pantry donations are welcomed. 7pm at New Life Lutheran Church, 120 Frog Pond Ln in Dripping Springs. Info: 512.858-2024 Third Thursday at The Blanton - free evening of art and activities.

5-9pm at Blanton Museum, Brazos and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. blantonmuseum.org

Kool & the Gang with The Nightowls - Doors: 6:30pm · Show: 8pm Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater 310 Willie Nelson Blvd (512) 225-7999 acl-live.com February 2 - February 7

Bill W. and Doctor Bob - This is the amazing and often humorous story of the two men who pioneered Alcoholics Anonymous, as well as the story of their wives, who founded Al Anon.

Rollins Studio Theatre The Long Center 701 W. Riverside Drive (512) 457-5100 thelongcenter.org

Deepak Chopra - Doors @ 6pm Show @ 7pm the Paramount Theatre 719 Congress Avenue 512.472.5470 austintheatre.org January 27 - February 28

Thurs., Jan 28 & Fri., Jan 29

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo - 7:30pm Hairy- chested ballerinas with attitude for days, the allmale Trockaderos having been delighting audiences for four decades with their hilarious parodies of classical and contemporary dance. The Long Center 701 W. Riverside Drive (512) 457-5100 thelongcenter.org Thursday, February 4

Harlem Globetrotters 90th An-

Overeaters Anonymous - Fridays at 8pm open meeting. No dues, fees or weigh-ins. Everyone welcome!

Unity Church of Austin, 5501 W. US Hwy 290, Service Rd. Vicki (512) 925-7854 or Candy (432) 349-1512

Classes and meditation - with Western Buddhist nun, Gen Kelsang Ingchug. Every Sunday at 9:30am at Chittamani Buddhist Center, 1918 Bissel Lane, 78745. Everyone welcome. Spiritual counselling by appointment. Call for free brochure.

916-4444. meditationinaustin.org.

Sisters in Crime Heart of Texas Chapter - Meets monthly on the second Sunday of the month at 2pm at the Recycled Reads (part of the Austin Library system) 5335 Burnet Rd www.hotxsinc.org.

Wednesday, February 3

Tribes - This provocative and touching play is as much about the tyranny of language, as it is about the challenge of not being able to hear it. Topfer at Zach Theater 202 South Lamar 512-476-0541 zachtheater.com

Woodworkers Club of Austin 7pm on the 1st Tuesday of the month in the training room at Seaton Hosp SW, on FM 1826 We are a non profit org. and make toys etc for charity.

Call Bill at 512-288-3252 Free

Conversation Cafe - Drop in for open, public dialogue on a variety of topics. Every third Saturday from 10:30am-11:30am at the Hampton Branch Austin Public Library at Oak Hill, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. 512-9749900 cityofaustin.org/library. FREE

Wild Kratts Live - 2pm Bass Concert Hall 2350 Robert Dedman Drive 512.471.1444 www. texasperformingarts.org Sunday, January 24

Ongoing Events

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous Meeting - Bannockburn Baptist Church room 103 Every Wednesday, 7pm - 8:30pm Anne Slater 512-215-9719 for more info

Saturday, January 23

Thursdays

Open Mic with your host, Garett Endres. Starts at 9pm every Thursday 290 West Club 12013 W Hwy 290

Improvised Shakespeare Company - Doors @ 6pm Show @ 7pm Each play is completely improvised, so each play is entirely new! Paramount Theatre 719 Congress Avenue 512.472.5470 austintheatre.org

Shit-faced Shakespeare - Shitfaced Shakespeare by Magnificent Bastard Productions is the hilarious combination of an entirely serious Shakespeare play with an entirely shit-faced cast member. Spider House Cafe and Ballroom 2908 Fruth Street spiderhouseaustin.com

The Peacemakers - 10pm at Evangeline Cafe, 8106 Brodie 282-2586..

Tony Harrisson / Dance Lessons / Jesse Dayton- 6pm - 9:15pm 9:15pm at the Broken Spoke, 3201 S. Lamar. 442-6189.

January 28 - January 30

Friday, January 29

Sunday/Fundays - Every first Sunday of the month the Neill-Cochran House Museum will be open to the public for free from 1pm - 4pm 2310 San Gabriel St. 512-478-2335 nchmuseum.org

Mondays

niversary World Tour - 7pm Erwin Center 1701 Red River 512-471-7744 uterwincenter.com

Community Clubs & Events

Dancing With The Stars 8pm Bass Concert Hall 2350 Robert Dedman Drive 512.471.1444 texasperformingarts.org

VFW Post 4443 meeting - Meets on first Tues. of month from 7-8:30pm at 7614 Thomas Springs Road in Oak Hill. Members and potential members are encouraged to be there around 6pm to gather for dinner. There is no cost.

The Oak Hill Rotary Club - Meeting the first two weeks each month for lunch on Thursday at Johnny Carinos on Brodie and then join us for social/networking events the other weeks as posted on our website.

Circle C Area Democrats - 6:308:30pm Santa Rita in the Escarpment Village. Meets on second Mondays of month. For information:circle careademocrats.org.

Toastmasters Groups - Build leadership and communication skills in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.

Visitors welcome. Tejas Toastmasters: 288-7808/ tejastoastmasters. org. Meets every Mon. at 6 pm at IHOP, 1101 S. Mopac. South Austin Toastmasters: meets first and third Tuesday at noon at ACC South Austin Campus, 1820 W. Stassney Lane.

Phone 443-7110 or 288-7808. Oak Hill Toastmasters: meet every Thursday from 6:45-8pm at Western Hills Church of Christ, 6211 Parkwood

Drive. Open to ages 18 & up. 956494-4809 / oakhill.freetoasthost.biz

Austin Public Library. FREE Contact: Jinji Willingham (512) 350-8505

Alzheimer’s Caregiver SupporGroup - 2nd Wednesday of the month at noon at Arveda Alzheimer’s Family Care, 11013 Signal Hill Drive, 78737. Anyone caring for a loved-one with dementia and needing support is invited. RSVP to 512637-5400 and feel free to bring your own lunch. www.arvedacare.com.

Retired Austin Travelers - a group for people who love to travel. Regular meetings are held at the Oak Hill Library 5124 Convict Hill Rd. More information & directions can be found at the web site, ratsonline.org.

Senior Luncheon Program - Seniors (over 60) meet at 8656 Hwy. 71 W, Bldg A, next to JP bldg every Tues, Wed and Thurs from 10am2pm. Transportation available. Call 512-854-2138 for more info.

Oak Hill Neighborhood Planning Contact Team - OHNPCT’s next meeting will be: January 27, 2016 6:30pm at the ACC Pinnacle Campus, 10th Floor Board Room. www. ohnpct.org.

MOMS Club of Austin - Are you a stay at home mom looking for support, daytime activities and other moms like you? The MOMS® Club of SW Oaks/Oak Hill offers all that and more. You can find us on Meetup at www.meetup.com/MOMSClub-of-Austin-SW-Oaks/ Southwest Networking Group (SWING) - meets for breakfast at Waterloo Ice House, Slaughter Ln. & Escarpment Blvd., 9600 Escarpment Blvd.. 8-9:30am. Bring business cards. For more info call 4829026 or 921-4901. Thursdays.

South Austin AARP Chapter 2426 - Tom Bauer will talk about leadership styles and best practices, 1pm - 4pm at South Austin Senior Activity Center, 3911 Manchaca Rd. Free.

Meets on third Wednesday of the month. For more info call Mary at 280-8661. www.southaustinaarp.org.

OHBPA Meeting - (Oak Hill Business Professionals Association).

Meets every first Thursday of the month from 11:30am-1pm at Mandola’s Italian Market, 4301 W. Wm. Cannon $15. ohbpa.org.

Hill Country Republican Women -- meets second Thursday of the month from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at Santa Rita in Escarpment Village.

For more information: http://www.hillcountryrw.org/ or call Deborah Penn at (512) 288-2054.

Creative Arts Society - Meets on first Wed. of month (except Jan.,July, Aug.) at ACC Pinnacle, 10th floor, faculty lounge. 6pm networking.

7pm program. All artists and art enthusiasts are welcome. creativeartssociety.org 288-0574.

ALS Caregivers Support Group Group will meet from 12:15 to 2:15 pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday afternoons of each month, at the Yarborough branch (2nd Tues) and the Twin Oaks branch (4th Tues) of the

South Austin Civic Club - Dedicated to making South Austin a better place to live, work and conduct business by advoacting for issues that affect the quality of life in South Austin. Monthly luncheons are at 11:30 on the 2nd Tuesday at Red Lobster 3815 S. Lamar. For info contact: Linda Clarke at 512-899-2120.

New Events Saturday, January 23 Tree Festival - 9am - 5pm 6 guided walks with experts, 70+ tree and shrub species to plant that are Texas natives, and tons of fun for kids, including supervised tree climbing.

LBJ Wildflower Center 4801 La Crosse Ave. (512) 232-0100 wildflower.org Thurs., Jan. 28 & Fri., Jan. 29 2016 Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo Symposium - 8:30am Dialogue and discussion regarding the latest research, management, and conservation efforts. LBJ Wildflower Center 4801 La Crosse Ave. (512) 232-0100 wildflower.org Saturday, January 30 “Organic Vegetable Gardening 101 - 10am, when Linda Wall will be presenting her first ever Vegetable Gardening 101 class. The Natural Gardener 8648 Old Bee Cave Road Phone (512) 288-6113 www.naturalgardeneraustin.com January 31 - February 16 AISD Celebrates 2016 Youth Art Month - Mon.-Fri. 8am-8pm; Sat. 10 am-3pm; and Sun. noon-4pm More than 1,500 works of all kinds of art in an exhibit representing 113 elementary, middle and high schools.

AISD Performing Arts Center, 1500 Barbara Jordan Blvd. 512-414-4730 or kristen.marstaller@austinisd.org Tuesday, February 2 Oak Hill Parkway Project Stakeholder Meeting - 6pm - 8pm Attendees are invited to come and go at their own convenience. No formal presentation is planned. Representatives from TxDOT and the Mobility Authority, as well as technical team members, will be on hand to answer questions and provide information.

Walnut Springs Elementary School (gym) 300 Sportsplex Dr. Dripping Springs 512-858-4725

Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016 ...9

Outdoors & Fitness Ongoing Events Farmer’s Market at Sunset Valley - Locally grown fresh produce at Tony Burger Center, 3200 Jones Rd. Saturdays from 9am-1pm. www. sfcfarmersmarket.org.

Docent Tours of AMOA - Each Sat. & Sun. 1pm Docent-led tours of the recently restored 1916 Driscoll Villa, the intimate art exhibition Laguna Gloria Grounded and the historic gardens overlooking Lake Austin.

Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress 512-495-9224 www.amoa.org.

Texas Outdoor Women’s Network - Open to women of all ages interested in outdoor activities. fishing, kayaking, camping, hiking and more! No experience required. Free monthly meetings on fourth Tuesday of each month at 6pm at the LCRA Red Bud Complex, 3601 Lake Austin Blvd. . www.townaustin.org.

Hill Country Outdoors- “Austin’s Most Active Outdoor, Sport an Social Club” Specializing in adventure with outdoor events such as hiking, camping, biking, road trips and rafting. hillcountryoutdoors.com.

Westcave Preserve public weekend tours- Sats. and Sundays,

Ongoing Events

10am., noon, 2pm & 4, $5 adult/$2 child/$15 family. One mile hike into the canyon & back. Kids welcome w/ adult. No pets. For more info call (830)825-3442 westcave.org .

Guided Hikes - Second Sat. & second Sun. of each month at 9am at Bright Leaf Natural Area, 4400 Crestway Dr., Hikes are usually 4 miles long and last about 2 hours.

Wear sturdy shoes and bring your own water. brightleaf.org

Sunday, January 24

New Events

Sunday, January 24

Friday, January 29

2016 3M Half Marathon - 7am The 3M Half Marathon is one of Austin’s largest road racing events. The route follows a fast, fun, mostly downhill course through an urban setting. This perennial Austin favorite offers one of the best goodie bags in distance running. The 2016 event features an expo and benefits Girlstart. Start Line: 10201 Stonelake Boulevard www.3mhalfmarathon.com

Thursday, January 21

Jon Napier Song Swap with Guest Billy Broome - 7:30pm Poodie’s Hilltop Bar & Grill, 22308 Hwy. 71 W. 512-264-0318 poodies. net

Michael Ballew - 6pm Broken Spoke 3201 S. Lamar(512) 4426189 brokenspokeaustintx.com

Senior Safari Adventure - Tues. Fri., 1pm - 2:30pm Calling all Seniors (60+)Put on your walking shoes and join us as we stroll around the Zoo to meet and learn about some of our animals. Please bring bottled water as we do not have drinkable water on grounds. $5 caregiver $13 Senior 10808 Rawhide Trail (512) 288-1490

Sunday, January 31

Nature Hike at McKinney State Falls - Free interpretive hikes to discover the diverse range of flora and fauna that can be seen at McKinney Falls. Hikes are offered the 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month starting at 10am from the Smith Visitors Center.

Wear comfortable shoes, a hat, and bring water. Hikes last approximately 1.5 hours. jeanneffia@gmail.com

New Events

Relay For Life Fun Run - 9am Join the Relay For Life of Central Austin and the American Cancer Society as we kick off our 2016 Relay For Life season with a fun run at the Shops at Arbor Trails trail. Donations are suggested, but there is no registration required to run or walk around the 1.42 mile trail. Live DJ mixing your favorite tracks to encourage you along the way! Warm-up stretches will start at 9 a.m. and the race will begin at 9:30 a.m. Stick around after the run for food, goodie bags and a dance party! Participants are encouraged to wear purple. All donations benefit the American Cancer Society. 4301 W William Cannon www.relayfunrun.org

Kids Calendar

Second Saturdays are for Families - $7 per family; $5 Member families.

Noon-4pm at Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress Ave. Please RSVP to akichorowsky@amoa.org to give an idea of materials needed. 512-4959224 / www.amoa.org.

Every Wednesday Thinkery Community Nights - 4pm - 8pm MAKE and DO together at Community Night! Every Wednesday the museum stays open late for families to discover new ideas and learn together.

Enjoy the exhibits and educational programs facilitated by staff. Admission is by donation, with a suggested $1 dollar donation. Bilingual Storytime Wednesdays at 6 pm Thinkery At the Meredith Learning Lab 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org Homeschool Days at the Science Mill - Homeschool families and groups to join us on the second Wednesday of each month to explore the Science Mill. In addition to museum exhibits, we will offer special demonstrations and guests. Museum hours are 10am-4pm. Cost: $6 per student. 1 free educator per student.

Additional adults are $8. No reservations required.Learning Labs will be offered at 11:30am and 1pm for an additional cost of $4 per student (limited space for Learning Labs).

Storytime - Tuesdays & Wednes-

Arts & Entertainment cont.

days at the Hampton Library, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. Toddlers Fridays at 11am, . 892-6680. wiredforyouth.co

New Events January 15 - February 14

Narnia - Fri & Sat 7:30pm; Sun 2pm Indoor Musical EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens 1101 FM 2325 512-8476969 emilyann.org Sunday, January 31

Wink Keziah’s Birthday - 6pm Poodie’s Hilltop Bar & Grill, 22308 Hwy. 71 W. 512-264-0318 poodies. net Derailers - 9:30pm Broken Spoke 3201 S. Lamar(512) 442-6189 brokenspokeaustintx.com

Sunday Gospel Brunch with the Purgatory Players - 11am - 1pm at Strange Brew 5326 Manchaca Rd 512-828-7636 strangebrewloungeside.com

Terra Mia - 6:30 at Central Market Westgate 4477 S. Lamar 512-8994300 centralmarket.com

Monday, January 25

Friday, January 22

Cari Hutson & Good Company - 8pm” at Strange Brew 5326 Manchaca Rd 512-828-7636 strangebrewloungeside.com Tuesday, January 26 Dime Store Poets - 7pm Evangeline Cafe 8106 Brodie Ln 512 2822586 evangelinecafe.com Wednesday, January 27

Asleep at the Wheel - 9:30pm Broken Spoke 3201 S. Lamar (512) 442-6189 or brokenspokeaustintx. com Undead Joe Trio - 8pm - Jesse Stratton Band- 10:30pm Poodies Hilltop Bar and Grill 22308 Hwy. 71 W. 512-264-0318 poodies.net Hill Country Hoedown w/ Doug Moreland & the Flying Armadillos - 8pm Mercer Street Dance 332 Mercer Street Dripping Springs, TX 78620 (512) 858-4314 HallMercerstreetdancehall.com Two Hoots and a Holler - 10pm Evangeline Cafe 8106 Brodie Lane 512-282-2586 evangelinecafe.com Saturday, January 23

Finger Pistol - 9:30pm Broken Spoke 3201 S. Lamar(512) 4426189 brokenspokeaustintx.com Soul Wagon - 8pm Satellite Bistro & Bar 5900 Slaughter Lane #400 512288-9994 satellitebistroandbar.com

Pollyanna Theatre presents Pattern People - Sat. 4pm, Sun. 2pm This play is a theatrical exploration of many of the preliteracy skills needed to success in kindergarten. grades pre-k thru 2. The Long Center 701 W. Riverside Drive (512) 457-5100 thelongcenter.org

Johnny Buck and the Gulftones 6:30pm Poodie’s Hilltop Bar & Grill, 22308 Hwy. 71 W. 512-264-0318 poodies.net

January 29 - February 21

The Pearl Snaps - 8:30pm Mercer Street Dance 332 Mercer Street Dripping Springs, TX 78620 (512) 858-4314 HallMercerstreetdancehall.coml

Saturday, January 30 Billy Mata - 9:30pm Broken Spoke 3201 S. Lamar (512) 442-6189 or brokenspokeaustintx.com Rambler Rose - 8pm Baby Atlas 10:30pm Poodie’s Hilltop Bar & Grill, 22308 Hwy. 71 W. 512-264-0318 poodies.net

Joe Ely - 7pm & 9:15pm at Strange Brew 5326 Manchaca Rd 512-8287636 strangebrewloungeside.com Betty Soo - 6:30 at Central Market Westgate4477 S. Lamar 512-8994300 centralmarket.com The Warhorses - 8:30 332 Mercer St, Dripping Springs, TX (512) 8584314 Mercerstreetdancehall.coml Sunday, January 31 Sunday Gospel Brunch with the Purgatory Players - 11am - 1pm at Strange Brew 5326 Manchaca Rd 512-828-7636 strangebrewloungeside.com

The Greers - 8pm Mayeux and Brussard - 10:30pm Poodies Hilltop Bar and Grill 22308 Hwy. 71 West 512-264-0318 poodies.net Elephant & Piggie’s We Are In A Play - 2pm In Mo Willems’s beloved, award-winning, best-selling children’s books, Elephant Gerald and Piggie are best friends! “We Are in a Play!,” a brand-new vaudevillian romp of a musical. the Paramount Theatre 719 Congress Avenue 512.472.5470 austintheatre.org

Danny B and Annie Lewis with a Very Special Guest - 10pm Evangeline Cafe 8106 Brodie Ln 512 282-2586 evangelinecafe.com

Derailers - 9:30pm Broken Spoke 3201 S. Lamar(512) 442-6189 brokenspokeaustintx.com

Tessy Lou and the Shotgun Stars - 7pm The Rusty Mule 9201 Hwy 290 (512) 704-6416

Alvin Crow - 9:30pm Broken Spoke 3201 S. Lamar (512) 4426189 or brokenspokeaustintx.com

Bobby Mack - 8:30 332 Mercer St, Dripping Springs, TX (512) 8584314 Mercerstreetdancehall.com

Thursday, January 28

Sad Daddy - 6pm Central Market Cafe Westgate 4477 S. Lamar Blvd 512-899-4300

January 23 - January 31

Brian Kremer - 6pm Central Market Cafe Westgate 4477 S. Lamar Blvd 512-899-4300

Hillary York - 7pm Evangeline Cafe 8106 Brodie Ln 512 282-2586 evangelinecafe.com

Beatles Tribute & Nick Randolphs Birthday Celebration - 7pm Strange Brew 5326 Manchaca 512828-7636 strangebrewloungeside. com

Tomás and the Library Lady - This inspirational story suggests what reading — and self-respect — can make possible. On the Whisenhunt Stage Zach Theater 202 South Lamar 512-476-0541 zachtheater.com

Shawn Nelson - 7:30pm Southern Drawl Band - 9:30pm Poodie’s Hilltop Bar & Grill, 22308 Hwy. 71 W. 512-264-0318 poodies.net

McMercy Family Band - Noon 3pm at Central Market Westgate 4477 S. Lamar 512-899-4300 centralmarket.com Jess Klein - 8pm Strange Brew 5326 Manchaca 512-828-7636 strangebrewloungeside.com T Jarrod Bonta - 7pm Evangeline Cafe 8106 Brodie Ln 512 282-2586 evangelinecafe.com

Monday, January 18 Texas Songwriters Showcase: WC Jameson Hosts Daniel Thomas Phipps - 6:30pm Poodie’s Hilltop Bar & Grill, 22308 Hwy. 71 W. 512-264-0318 poodies.net

10 ...Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016

Drippin’ Lowdown

Dripping Springs

No fowl play for seniors says City Council Hill Country Care residents can keep, but not touch, “therapy chickens” The Dripping Springs City Council, in one of its more difficult decisions last week, resolved that residents at a local nursing home could keep their “therapy chickens” - but they can no longer touch the birds or allow them inside the facilty. The dozen docile hens must remain in the outdoor pen at Hill Country Care, says City Sanitarian Kyle DeHart. The 60 residents in the skilled nursing facility may no longer let the chickens nap in their laps or take them for walks (on leashes) down the halls, as they had been doing.

“Chickens can be a dirty bird.....I

cannot as a public health official condone or approve the use of chickens as a therapy animal,” wrote DeHart in a letter to HCC. The staff at HCC was as surprised as most Dripping Springs residents to learn that keeping livestock within the city limits requires a permit.

Unless they’re on ag-exempt land or kept for agricultural education, livestock in the city require a Conditional Use Permit with a fee of $150.

(It’s still ok to discharge a firearm within the city limits - just don’t get caught with an unregistered hen!)

The therapy chickens are part of a

new initiative at HCC to bring live plants and animals into residents’ daily lives. Executive director Cindy Kindle and director of admissions Debra Maddox were inspired by the Eden Alternative program, an international non-profit which aims to elimate the “Three Plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom” - which account for the bulk of suffering among our Elders,” says their website.

The dynamic duo at HCC have constructed (with the help of Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and other members of the Dripping Springs community)

a new herb garden and chicken yard, and are planning a hydroponic setup that will raise vegetables to use in the nursing home’s kitchen.

Indoors, they replaced all the silk flowers with live plants and installed Laurel Robertson an essential oils diffuser that wafts invigorating

scents like lemon during the day, and calming scents like lavendar for nighttime. They’ve noticed a positive effect on the residents’ moods since, says Maddox.

Though the chickens are banned from coming inside, other therapy animals visit the residents on a regular basis. The Austin Zoo regularly brings in unusual animals (a python, armadillos, etc.) and Jack the Rabbit visits once a month. Guests may bring their own dogs (along with their shot records) for visits. “We call these the Grandpuppies, and the

Continued on p. 19

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Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016 ...11

Oak Hill transit causes Sunset Halos commuter headaches

by Ann Fowler The new year has been a tough one for some Oak Hill transit riders.

Passengers of the South MoPac Flyer (Route 111) were surprised to find that the schedule of the first of its two daily buses was delayed by two minutes. That may not seem like much, but local wisdom is that every minute past 7 a.m. adds two minutes (or more) of time spent in rush hour traffic. Riders who exit the bus at Third Street and Lavaca each morning in time to catch a connecting bus found themselves late for work as the earliest connecting bus would come in about 15 minutes.

Katherine Utz, a UT employee affected by the change in schedule time, told the Gazette that no riders she knows requested such a change.

Capital Metro did not respond to a request asking why the time had changed.

Utz said, “I love the South Mopac Flyer route and want it to continue. It’d be great if they added one earlier run in the morning. I don’t understand why they changed the morning time to two minutes later.

Most people have to be at work (at their desk) by 8 a.m., and I know people who need to be at their desk as early as 7:30 a.m.”

She said adjusting the morning route to leave earlier would have been understandable and acceptable for riders. “I do not understand what in the world they are thinking,” she said of starting the route later.

The other Flyer route for the area, the Oak Hill Flyer (Route 171), had its own issues that made some passengers late for work. Two different bus drivers told passengers they could not leave the Park and Ride until 7:02, even though the schedule sets the departure time at 7:00 a.m.

Then, when the bus got downtown, the drivers pulled over and stopped on Cesar Chavez, advising passengers they would be fired if they did

not wait until 7:18—translating to a 5-minute stop.

Passengers told the drivers that Flyer routes are “make best time” at the destination area (downtown in the morning, Oak Hill in the evening) with no timed stops, but the drivers would not listen. Many of these passengers were either late for work or missed connecting buses.

Roberto Gonzalez, a Capital Metro planner, told the Gazette that the schedule for the 171 had not changed, and the late start and the stop on Cesar Chavez was due to operator error.

Tom Thayer is a regular rider of the 171. Although the delayed bus did not affect him personally, he said, “It does concern me that it inconveniences others and could reduce ridership on the route. I feel any drop in ridership will be an excuse to reduce 171 bus trips.”

Several bus riders stopped using the 111 when one of the afternoon buses Continued on page 15

According to KXAN’s Jim Spencer, the halos seen around recent sunsets in Oak Hill are caused by cedar pollen in the air. This view was taken in the Scenic Brook area.

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12 ...Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016

Gazette Sports: Austin • Bowie • Crockett Student Athlete Spotlight Bowie Micah Stennfeld beats Austin High

by Patrick Olson

By committing to play soccer at Lamar University, Micah Stennfeld secured her athletic future.

In her fourth semester of assisting special education students, the Maroons center midfielder is beginning to plan her future after college. “Micah’s had a great start to the season,” coach Amy Simpson said. “She’s just a great kid. She’s really stepped it up this year.”

Born in San Francisco, Micah moved to Austin at an early age and attended Patton Elementary before progressing to Small Middle School where she also played basketball, volleyball and tennis.

Upon arriving at Austin High, she played tennis as a freshman and sophomore before concen-

Bowie 68, Austin High 59

by Patrick Olson After allowing momentum to slip away in the second quarter, the Bowie boys’ basketball team rebounded in the third quarter during a 68-59 road win over Austin High Tuesday evening. “We were hurting ourselves by doing things that were uncharacteristic of what we do,” Bowie coach Celester Collier said afterward. “In the second half, we settled down. I told the kids to ‘block it out’ just like in practice.”

Andrew Miller scored inside for Bowie before Jeffrey Gary tied the game 12-12 with a spot up jump shot in the paint. Each team committed four fouls in the first period as both clubs were diving relentlessly for loose balls and leaping ferociously for rebounds. Gary, working as the Maroons point guard, opted to locate teammates for scoring plays instead of attempting shots. Beau Kalbacher hit nothing but net on a three-pointer from the corner to put the home team in front 15-12 on the first offensive play of the second quarter.

Bowie (13-9, 6-3) took a 19-17 lead with a three-pointer by Justin Continued on next page

Micah Stennfeld, Austin High trating exclusively on soccer. She moved up to the varsity soccer Continued on next page

Eric Verastegui

by Patrick Olson

Gazette: Sarah Weeks

Each team committed four fouls in the first period as both clubs were diving relentlessly for loose balls and leaping ferociously for rebounds in a hard fought rivalry game.

As a senior starting midfielder for the Crockett boys’ soccer team, Eric Verastegui must consistently maintain superior field awareness for the Cougars to be successful. “Eric is an outstanding organizing midfielder that every coach would love to have,” said coach David Dupont.

“His vision is forward and backward. He plays the ball in every direction.”

A native Austinite, Eric attended Casey Elementary before moving up to Bedichek Middle School.

He began playing soccer at the age of four and fondly recalls competing on the Vipers when he was eight years old with current teammate Emmanuel Villanueva.

English instructor Mrs. Tremaine

Eric Verastegui, Crockett is Eric’s favorite teacher at Crockett. “I didn’t take much interest in the subject at first,” he admitted.

“But when she started giving advice, it got me interested.”

Continued on next page

Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016 ...13

Micah Stennfeld Continued from p. 12

contingent for the playoffs as a freshman, but sustained a back injury and missed six games during her sophomore campaign.

Micah’s father John Stennfeld provided a positive influence for Micah. “It’s always been a dream of mine to play college soccer, but my dad has actually been my number one fan,” she confided. “There is no way I could have played soccer if he hadn’t encouraged me.”

During the off-season, Stennfeld keeps her soccer skills sharp playing for the Lone Star Red 98 with current Bowie players Taylor Farr, Whitney Johnson and Kyleigh Lugo.

Micah’s older sister Divina played tennis at Austin High.

Social studies instructor Ms. Attra is Micah’s favorite teacher at Austin High. “I’ve been in her Link Crew class for two years now helping freshman with the transition to high school and helping special education students,” Stennfeld added. Following graduation, Micah will be studying to become a special education teacher. On Saturday, the Maroons open district competition at Del Valle.

Action begins at 10:45 a.m.

Eric Verastegui Verastegui eventually earned an A in the class.

Following graduation, Eric plans to attend college and pursue a degree in kineseology. During the off-season, Eric keeps his soccer skills sharp playing for club team Lone Star with current teammate Jose Mejia and Bowie player Jarred Tomasek. With a 1-0 victory over McCallum to open district play, the Cougars are looking to notch multiple victories in 2016. “We are committed to the plan and training,” Eric added.

Bowie gets tough win Continued from p. 12

Ng. Ryan Trevino then blocked an Austin High shot, but the Bulldogs committed a technical foul by taunting the home team. Gary proceeded to convert a pair of free throws and Josh Harris scored inside as the Maroons reclaimed the advantage 21-19. Gary found Rafael Ramirez cutting toward the basket for a scoring play and Harris extended the lead with a free throw. Austin High (13-8, 5-4) led 26-19 at intermission.

Cole Blagdon’s three-pointer from the corner started the Bowie scoring in the third period. Micah Carlson rebounded his own miss and put the ball in the basket to put the Maroons on top 28-22.

Austin Duffin scored inside for the Bulldogs but Carlson countered with a trey. Left unguarded, Josh Wainwright drilled a three-pointer before Ramirez scored a bucket in

the paint and sank one free throw after being fouled. A powerful dunk

by Duffin preceded a steal and layup

by Wainwright. Blagdon knotted the contest 34-34 with a three pointer at the elbow.

Field goals by Duffin and Miller moved the Bulldogs in front 38-34.

An Austin High technical foul led to a free throw by Blagdon. Gary hit three straight free throws at the end of the third period after being fouled shooting a trey. Bowie led 41-39 entering the fourth quarter.

Less than half a minute into the final period, Collier called timeout and the Bulldogs began to dominate in the paint with Miller, Duffin and Will Walton repeatedly snagging defensive rebounds.

Bowie point guard Josh Wainwright began to aggressively attack Austin High and Bowie built a 60-43 advantage. “The last six or seven

Gazette: Sarah Weeks

games, Josh has played well,” Collier noted. “When Josh plays well, the team goes.” Beau Kalbacher hit three consecutive treys and converted two free throws scoring eleven of the Maroons final thirteen points.

Sonny Martinez capped offensive production in the contest with a three-pointer for Austin High.

Bowie hosts Westlake on Friday while Austin High visits Akins. Both games are set to tip at 8 p.m.

14 ...Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016

Two Austin rescue puppies part of Puppy Bowl XII Continued from p. 7 Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund, French Bulldog, German Shepherd, Great Dane, Labrador Retriever, pit bull, Pomeranian, poodle, Shar Pei, Shi Tzu, Springer Spaniel and many more.

Animal Planet worked with 44 shelters and rescue groups representing 25 states to secure animals to participate in Puppy Bowl XII. Some pups have come from as far west as California, as far south as Florida and from everywhere in between including Texas, Tennessee, Michigan, New York, Arizona,

Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada and even Puerto Rico.

Animal Planet Animal Planet, a multi-media business unit ofDiscovery Communications, is the world’s only entertainment brand that immerses viewers in a full range of life in the animal kingdom with rich, deep content via multiple platforms and offers animal lovers and pet owners access to a centralized online, television and mobile community for information and enrichment. Visit www.animalplant.com for more information.

Hailey is a terrier mix who came to Austin Animal Center with a leg injury.

Update: Bike trail to Zilker Park Continued from p. 1 been watching it for a while with great interest. I can’t wait for it to be completed.”

While Thayer said the bridge is not convenient for him to bicycle to work, he does know others who look forward to using it to commute downtown.

The project will create a safe way

for people to get from southwest Austin to Zilker Park, so will no doubt attract recreational bicyclists to and from Oak Hill.

Phase I includes restriping of southbound MoPac lanes over Barton Creek to help with traffic flow.

Phase II will bring a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over Loop 360 at MoPac. Thayer is looking forward to the

project affording bicyclists a protected route to use. He said, “The big change will be safety. This will be a separated path from the vehicle lanes, and there are very few cross streets or driveways as compared to alternate routes. I think this will encourage many more people to bike from Oak Hill due to the safety aspect.”

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Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016 ...15

City of Austin news

Oak Hill transit causes commuter headaches District 8 leads Recycling Games Continued from p. 11

was consistently 30 minutes late.

Several of the 171 riders stopped taking the bus in January until the bus returned to its normal schedule and could get them to work on time.

Riders say they would like to see appropriate training with each new driver, as many substitute drivers have stopped on Cesar Chavez for the imaginary timed stop. Gonzalez said the agency would clarify the instructions the drivers use to make it clear that no timed stops exist downtown in the morning.

Overall Utz said she is happy with the service on the South MoPac Flyer. She said the bus had some timing issues in the fall, but now the bus arrives on time or within 10 minutes of the schedule. She would like to see Capital Metro invest more buses in Oak Hill, particularly the 111 route.

Thayer also believes Capital Metro should increase service

to Oak Hill. He said, “With the traffic we have in Oak Hill, Cap Metro should be proactive in encouraging ridership on both the 171 and 111. I would like to see them do more outreach and advertisement to encourage southwest Austinites to use the bus as well as making sure that the routes function smoothly in terms of timeliness.”

One last question riders have is why some drivers say they are not allowed to pass other buses in the downtown area. Some local buses have timed stops and will sit at a stop for several minutes.

This can lead to a very slow commute for buses whose drivers are unwilling to pass.

Thayer said, “I have not had the issue of buses not passing other buses, but that does raise a concern of putting all the buses on the same street downtown. If they can’t pass each other, you could end up with a logjam of buses, which defeats the purpose of having bus-only lanes.”

Grab a Gazette at your local HEB

On November 30, 2015, Austin Resource Recovery kicked off the Austin Recycles Games, a competition among the 10 city council districts to increase Austin’s recycling. The goals of the competition are to increase residential recycling rates and help residents overcome barriers to recycling.

The baseline numbers set in October 2015 showed a citywide average of 47.79 pounds recycled per household. From November 30 through December 31, 2015 Austin residents recycled an average of 59 pounds in each blue recycling cart; that is over 11 more pounds per household—a 19 percent increase citywide. Austin’s curbside customers recycled almost 2.1 million pounds more in December!

“There has been a significant increase in residential recycling since the announcement of the Austin Recycles Games,” said Austin Resource Recovery Director Bob Gedert.

“Nine of the 10 council districts saw an increase and four of the 10 are currently surpassing the goal of recycling a minimum of 60 pounds per household! We are enthusiastic about the continuing success of the Recycles Games!”

Currently in first place is District

Austin Recycles Games Update – 19 Percent Increase! First month of Austin Recycles Games increases residential recycling 19 percent 8 with an average 72.94 pounds recycled per household from November 30 through December 31, 2015.

District 10 takes the number two slot with 70.69 pounds per household, and District 4 rounds out the top three with 63.32 pounds.

This initiative follows a community engagement process conducted in August 2015 where City officials asked for residents’ help to identify barriers to recycling. More than 1,500 residents participated and contributed insights for increasing recycling. Some of the insights identified that residents still have questions about what and how to recycle and that they want to understand how their recycling compares to others.

The Austin Recycles Games are designed to bring specific recycling how-to’s into each council district and will provide monthly updates

for how much households are recycling in each district from December 2015 through March 2016. Districts can win in one of two categories: most overall recycling and most improved.

The two winning council districts will receive a beautification project for a library or public park and will be announced at the Earth Day event on April 23, 2016. Visit austinrecycles.com for more details and to keep up with the monthly updates.

Increasing Austin recycling is important not only to win the Recycles Games, but to reach the City’s goal of reaching Zero Waste by 2040.

There are many benefits to recycling long-term: The use of recycled instead of virgin materials reduces carbon dioxide emissions by significantly scaling back the total energy needed to Continued on page 21

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16 ...Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016

Religious Services ANGLICAN

St. Philip’s Anglican Church 1408 W. 9th St, Austin. 78703 Fr. Gary Francis, Vicar Holy Communion 1928 Book of Common Prayer Sunday 11:00 am gkfrancis@suddenlink.net Traditional Anglican Worship

BAPTIST

Bee Cave Baptist Church 13222 Hwy. 71W (at Hwy. 620) (512) 263-5058 Pastor: Rev. Jim Roquemore Services: Sun. 10:45am & 6:30pm, Sunday School 9:30am Children’s church available Sun. am Wed. Prayer & Bible Study 7 pm First Baptist Church of Oak Hill 6907 Convict Hill Rd 78749 512) 288-7570 Pastor: Rob Satterfield Services: Sun. 10:50am & 6:00pm Bible Study Sun. 9:30am Thursday Abide student ministry 6:30pm www.fbcoakhill.org Oak Hill Primitive Baptist Church 11408 Camp Ben McCulloch Rd. Pastors: Richard Halbgewachs and mark Huffman Services: Sunday Prayer 9:00 am, Coffee Fellowship 9:30 am, Worship 10:30 am, Wednesday 7:00 pm www.oakhillpbc.org Scenic Hills Baptist Church 8305 Mowinkle Dr. (off Circle Dr.) (512)288-0244 Pastor Matthew Cox Adult and children’s Sunday School classes- 10am Sunday worship service- 11am Sunday evening service- 6pm Wednesday prayer and preaching service- 7pm More info found at- scenichillsbc.com

BAUTISTA

Iglesia Bautista Oak Hill 6907 Convict Hill Rd., 78749 Cell (512)828-9545/Home(512)719-4366 Pastor Leonel Flores Sr. Servicios Bilingües- Domingo: 9:45am- Escuela Dominical, 11 am- Adoración & Mensaje Miércoles: 7pm- Estudio Bíblico & Oración Música Tradicional y Contemporánea ¡Visitarnos!

CATHOLIC

St. Catherine of Siena 4800 Convict Hill Rd. 78749 892-2420 Pastor Rev. Patrick Coakley Weekend Masses: Sat. 9am, 5pm vigil; Sun 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, 1:15pm, 5pm Weekday Masses: Mon-Fri. 12noon, Sat. 9am, Tues & 1st Fri 7pm

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Western Hills Church of Christ 6211 Parkwood Drive 892-3532 www.whfamily.org westernhillsoffice@gmail.com Sunday Services:9am Bible Classes (all ages),10am Worship (with Children’s Church) Evening - groups & worship alternating weeks Wednesday: 7pm Worship, classes for all ages, 6pm Meal together We have an inspiring and Biblically rich worship service, a very active Youth Ministry and a growing Children’s Ministry!

“We are... a place to believe, a place to belong, a place to call home”

COWBOY CHURCH Cowboy Church of the Hill Country 120 Frog Pond Lane(4 miles west of Nutty Brown Road on Hwy 290) (512) 587-2242 Pastor: Jerry Kelley pastor@cowboychurchhc.com Services: Sunday 10 a.m. www.cowboychurchhc.org facebook.com/Cowboy ChurchHC info@ cowboychurchhc.org We do things the Cowboy way!

EPISCOPALIAN

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church Seeking the transformation of lives through sharing God’s love and grace 11819 So. IH-35 (exit #223, FM 1327; take north access road 1.1 mile) 512-282-5631 www.stalbansaustin.org Rector: The Rev. Erin Hensley Sunday Schedule: Holy Eucharist Rite II with Children’s Chapel at 9am* & 11:15am*, Choir at 11:15 service, Christian Education for All Ages 10:15 am* *We occasionally have Christian education at 9:30am and Holy Eucharist at 10:30am.

Please check our website.

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church 8724 Travis Hills Dr. 78735 (between SW Parkway & Old Bee Caves) (512) 288-0128 www.stchristopher.net Rector: The Rev. Bo Townsend Services: Holy Communion at 10am Sundays; Children’s Chapel at 10 am Christian Ed. 9am (Sept. 10-May 20) Seeking God’s Truth, Sharing God’s Love St. Michael’s-South St. Michael’s Episcopal Church-New South Campus Meeting at Covington Middle School Auditorium, 3700 Convict Hill (1 block SW of Brodie & Wm. Cannon) 9:00 A.M. Worship, Sunday School, Nursery All are welcome around God’s table st-michaels.org

HINDU TEMPLE

Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani Temple 400 Barsana Road, Austin, TX 78737 512-288-7180 Visiting Hours: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm www.radhamadhavdham.org

ISLAM

Masjid Ibrahim Islamic Center Religious Services/Youth & Children Activities 8521 Hwy 71W 78735 512-693-2924 Friday Sermon @ 1:00 PM Mosque open 7 days for 5 daily prayers Check Mosque website for prayer timings and weekend programs www.masjidibrahim.org Email: admin@masjidibrahim.org

LUTHERAN

Abiding Love Lutheran Church “Sharing God’s Love” 7210 Brush Country, 78749 (512)892-4040 Sr. Pastor:Lynnae Sorensen Assoc. Pastor: Brad Highum Sunday Services: 8:30am and 11am Education Hour: 9:45 am (for all ages) Children’s Center 892-2777 Director: Debbie Tonne Full & PT programs M-F, 7am-6pm Food Pantry- Mondays 1:00-3:00pm info@abidinglove.org www.abidinglove.org Bethany Lutheran Church “Where Jesus Meets His Friends” 3701 W. Slaughter (next to Bowie) 512-292-8778, info@bethanyaustin.com www.bethanyaustin.com Pastors: William B. Knippa and Martin D. Danner Services: 8 am traditional; 9:30 am blended; 11:00 am blended ACTS242 services: 11am and 5pm in the gym (contemporary) Sunday School & Bible Study: 9:30am Preschool: Mon-Thurs Holy Cross Lutheran Church 4622 S. Lamar 892-0516 Rev. Magdalene Holm-Roesler, Pastor Services: 10:00 am Sunday Study Hour: 9:00 am Sunday Fellowship & Coffee after services Adult and Children’s Sun. School www.hclcaustin.org You’re always welcome here.

Mt. Olive Lutheran Church 10408 Hwy 290 West (4 miles from the “Y” in Oak Hill) 512-288-2370 info@ConnectwithJesus.org www.Mt.OliveAustin.org Pastors: Paul Meyer and Ben Braun Services: 8 am traditional and 10:30 am contemporary.

Education Hour: 9:15-10:15 am

Preschool: 18 months to Pre-K, Preschool Phone: 512-288-2330 Full and part-time hours.

Risen Savior Lutheran Church-WELS 2811 Aftonshire Way 78748 512-280-8282 Rev. Bilas Glaeske, interim pastor Services: Sunday Worship— 9:30am Sunday School/Bible Classes for all ages, Sunday— 11:00am¡ www.risensavioraustin.net

METHODIST Oak Hill United Methodist Church 7815 Hwy. 290 W. 78736 288-3836 Rev. Jim Roberts, Rev. Pam Sheffield, and Rev. Katy Fitzhugh Services: Sunday 8:45, 10 & 11:15am (Interpreted for the deaf at the 10 and 11:15am services) Wednesday ReCharge service 6:15pm Sunday School: 10 & 11:15am Children’s Sunday School: 8:45, 10 & 11:15am, Youth group: 5pm www.oakhillumc.org open hearts, open minds, open doors!

Manchaca United Methodist Church Open hearts, Open minds, Open doors!

1011 FM 1626 (SE corner of FM 1626 & Manchaca Rd) www.ManchacaUMC.org; office@ ManchacaUMC.org; 512.282.7274 Pastors: Rev. Laura Adam, Rev. Tracey Beadle Sunday Schedule: 8:30 am – Traditional Worship with Communion in the Sanctuary.

9:45 am - Sunday School; adult, youth and children.

11:00 am - Traditional Worship and Hymns in the Sanctuary.

11 am - Life on the Road - Casual Praise Service in the Family Life Center 5 pm - High School & Middle School youth programs Wednesday Worship: 6:00 am Individual Prayer and Meditation with Communion

NON - DENOMINATIONAL

Austin Ridge Southwest 7416 Hwy 71 W, 78735 512-288-8000 Worship services: 9:15 and 11:00 Children’s Ministry: 9:15 and 11:00 Middle/High School 6 pm www.austinridge.org Hope in the City 4407 Monterey Oaks Blvd, 78749 Phone; 512-892-4673 Senior Pastor: Britt Tucker Sun. Service 10:15 am www.hopeinthecity.org We value loving God, loving one another and loving Austin and the Nations.

LifeAustin 8901 W Hwy 71 78735 Phone: 512-220-6383

Lead Pastor: Randy Phillips Sun. Services: 8:30, 10:00 & 11:30 am Wed Services: 7 pm Life University, 7 pm Student Life LifeAustin is a Bible Church - a cosmopolitan community of healing and hope.

We are all about connecting people to Christ and to each other.

ORTHODOX

St. Sophia Orthodox Church 225 Rose Dr. in Dripping Springs Fr. Peter Smith, Pastor 512) 638-0721 / pcmsmith@hotmail. com (Fr. Peter’s email) www.stsophiachurch.us Services: Sundays- 8:45 a.m. Orthros (Matins) & 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy- Weds- 7p.m.

Daily Vespers or other special services according to the season Saturdays- 5:45 pm. Ninth Hour & 6:00 pm Great Vespers and Confession Special feast day services as an-nounced All services are in English and visitors are always welcome.

The Orthodox Church is the original, historic, pre-denominational Church of the New Testament. Please join us for worship soon!

PRESBYTERIAN

Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church 5226 W William Cannon 78749 Pastor James Capps Assoc. Pastors Michael Killeen, Britta Dukes Worship Schedule: 9:30 & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School: 9:30 & 11:00 a.m.

UNITY

UNITY of Lake Travis is here! The new congregation, led by the Rev. John Connor & Rev. Bonnie Connor, meets Sundays at 10:30AM at the Old Bee Cave Schoolhouse, 13333 Texas Hwy 71, Bee Cave TX. (Located behind Shops at the Galleria, next to the Bee Cave fire station.) Visit facebook.com/unitylaketravis for more information, or email John@ReverendConnor.com. UNITY is a positive, accepting path for spiritual living, based in the teachings and example of Jesus.

Unity of Austin

5501 West Hwy 290– Monterey Oaks exit www.unitychurchaustin.org Information - unity@unitychurchaustin. org and 512-892-3000 Inspiration Line Recorded Daily Uplift– 512-892-3010 Senior Minister – Rev. Anna Shouse, Ph.D. Sunday Celebration – 11 AM; Activities

throughout the week Unity of Austin is open-hearted, positive, progressive, joyful, and welcoming to all people —committed to studying, teaching, and living the Unity principles of universal Christ Consciousness expressed

through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

We believe that developing spiritual maturity results in creative abundant lives, families, communities, and a peaceful world.

Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016 ...17

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20 ...Oak Hill Gazette October 4-October 17, 2012 18 ...Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016

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Drippin’ Lowdown, cont. from p. 10 residents love them!” says Maddox.

She keeps Wally, a Green Cheeked Conyur (bird), in her office and uses water from the large fish tank in the main gathering room to fertilize the live plants she’s brought in.

Besides benefitting the daily lives of the residents, the Eden Alternative program makes visiting the nursing home a better experience for children who visit, says Maddox. “When kids have something to do that interests them, they’re happier to come visit.

We named the path to the chicken yard ‘Grandma’s Hideaway.’ Kids love to go see it when they come visit their grandparents,” she says. *** Hill Country Care is one of several organizations focused on the welfare of seniors in the community. Just across Hwy 290 from the nursing home, the Senior Citizens Activity Center is a hub of activity and meals for area seniors and their guests. Lunch is served weekdays at noon ($3) and health screenings, educational programs, physical fitness and recreational activities are

scheduled on a regular basis. The Center provides transportation to medical appointments, shopping, banking and other errands in the Dripping Springs area.

Next door, the Senior Citizens Thrift Shop (owned by the Senior Citizens Activity Center) is a glorious emporium offering everything a household could need - at amazing prices! Since Chris Kelley took the helm as manager three years ago, the Thrift Store has expanded and improved its organization to the point that it’s now an absolutely posh shopping experience.

Quality furniture (much of it from Home Consignment in Bee Caves) fills the large front room. Clothing for men, women and children has been moved to the rear of the store; housewares, home accessories, artwork, electronics, books and more are arranged throughout. All sales at the Thrift Store benefit the Senior Citizens Activity Center and donations are tax-deductible.

Just east of the Thrift Store, Hill Country Cottages offer affordable apartments for independent living

for seniors.

Both the Bluebonnet Auxiliary and the Friends Foundation non-proft organizations work to provide extra funds for senior citizens’ care in Dripping Springs. The Bluebonnet Auxiliary is dedicated to helping at Hill Country Care; the Friends Foundation delivers meals, repairs housing, and helps with many unmet needs of area seniors living at home and in Hill Country Care. *** On the horizon (I mean literally, atop of the highest ridge in Dripping Springs) Merritt Hill Senior Living will soon offer independent living apartments for seniors. Plans call for ten separate “casitas” and a 70-unit apartment building on the eight-acre site. Still in the planning and permitting process, the complex should break ground in the next few months and be completed within the year. Some of the units will receive funds from the low-income housing tax credit program through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

Laurel Robertson

Deborah Maddox feeds therapy chickens in their pen at Hill Country Care.

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Cedar Valley

Letter to the Editor, cont. from p.2 impervious cover limitations are equivalent to the common definition of sprawl: 25% impervious cover. If sprawl got us where we are today with traffic and threatens our water and air quality, more sprawl will not improve that situation.

Oak Hill, Bee Cave and in our not so distant future Dripping Springs will continue to generate and provide the infrastructure for development that threatens what (I believe) we all want to protect, the Edwards Aquifer and Barton Springs.

At this point it is clear Austin lost the opportunity to sequester and protect open space in the Barton Springs Zone. We might have had a chance when that land was available for $10,000 / acre. Today, at five times that price, that possibility is beyond our reach.

Projected sprawl is the impetus for our current 290 / 71 highway “improvement” through the heart of Oak Hill. The counter argument for this highway solution comes from none other than TxDOT’s own Texas Transportation Institute reporting that spending over $4 billion on I 35 “improvements” will have virtually no impact on congestion through Austin. Echoing that sentiment lead engineer of the 290 / 71 EIS Wade Strong (Rodriguez Transportation Group) noted at a recent meeting “We cannot build our way out of traffic congestion.”

The Central Texas region is also saddled with transportation agen-

cies as dysfunctional as the environmental community. Growth and transportation issues are complex and the agencies finding solutions look still for overblown silver bullet solutions.

TxDOT is the 800 pound gorilla determining where State money goes. The CTRMA toll funding mechanisms approach junk bond status (according to local pundit Roger Baker). Cap Metro struggles for credibility that transit works (it does). And the City builds bicycle paths (useful but does not really addressing commuter congestion). All the while Austin impedes mobility and connectivity on our local roadways, especially in Oak Hill.

Christy Muse – Executive Director of Hill Country Alliance recently spoke in favor of the Lone Star Rail District proposal to build commuter rail from San Antonio to Georgetown and serving all the towns along the current Union Pacific rail freight corridor. Mayor Adler is rethinking a rail referendum for this fall following (for once) community input ongoing from neighborhood plans dating back to early 2000’s for light rail along the Guadalupe / Lamar corridor south to William Cannon and Springdale Road.

Recent presentations by Cap Metro’s Todd Hemmingson document the positive impact the existing Red Line has had on stimulating high value development along the Red Line rail corridor. Is it reasonable

to project a similar impact along the Lone Star / UP line? Will it be the role of Cap Metro to feed commuter traffic into the more efficient rail where possible?

Not everyone has to ride the train to benefit from it. If our existing roads serve us longer it prevents disruptions to our community and preserves our natural resources. As rail service matures, it will serve us more frequently, and unlike highways, improve service over time. I am a visionary and some call me crazy for thinking mass transit belongs in the Hill Country. But considering the impact future development Laurel Robertson writes about will have on Oak Hill traffic and our natural resources, I think transit, even rail, will be a safer bet to preserve and protect our Oak Hill community.

People in leadership positions are starting to realize the limited impact expanding our roadway capacity will have on traffic congestion. They are starting to take seriously the positive impact rail will have on Austin not necessarily in the immediate future but ten, twenty, thirty years into the future. The Mayor and Cap Metro and some council members are starting to integrate the “compact and connected” vision of Imagine Austin with the transportation infrastructure and land use that will make that vision a reality. Rail is not a silver bullet but it needs to be part of Austin’s future.

— David Richardson

Civic Agenda, cont. from p. 2 Oak Hill Association of Neighborhoods (OHAN) Wednesday, Februqary 10, 7 pm ACC Pinnacle Building, 10th floor OHAN is an association of neighborhood associations. It is a voluntary group of people, from Oak Hill and surrounding areas, who meet monthly to review proposed changes to our community and offer input.

The public is encouraged to attend the monthly meetings and ask questions.

For more information go to ohan.org.

Find volunteer opportunities at GivePulse.com City of Austin leaders have announced a partnership with GivePulse, a local civic good startup, to make it easier for Austinites to find volunteer opportunities.

The online tool at GivePulse.com, matches community members and service-learning students who want to make a difference with nonprofits and organizations seeking volunteers On GivePulse, residents can

register to be notified of volunteer opportunities that interest them from the City of Austin and several Central Texas agencies. Volunteer opportunities range from one-time events to ongoing activities for individuals, youth and large groups.

City departments often rely on volunteers to provide an enhanced level of public service. Needs include youth sports coaches, docents, dog walkers, tree-planters and volunteers to help seniors in library computer labs.

Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016 ...21

City of Austin news Continued from p. 15 manufacture the products that we buy, build and use every day.

Recycling helps avoid harmful effects of landfills, including hazardous air pollutants and methane emissions.

Austin’s recycling and reuse industries generated $720 million in economic activity in 2014 and supported over 2,600 jobs.

Austinites can also help their district win the Austin Recycles Games and reach the City’s Zero Waste Goal by visiting austinrecycles.com and exploring the new web app. The app allows citizens to: Look up your trash, recycling and yard trimmings collection days, as well as your semi-annual bulk item and large brush pickup days

Sign up for weekly reminders that you can receive via text, email or phone call Receive messages when there are changes or disruptions to your service Search for hundreds of items and find out whether to recycle them, throw them away, or drop them off For more details about the Austin Recycles Games, district information and recycling tips, visit austinrecycles.com.

About Austin Resource Recovery Austin Resource Recovery provides a wide range of services designed to transform waste into resources while keeping our community clean. Services include curbside collection of recycling, trash, yard trimmings and large brush and bulk items; street

green infrastructure by highlighting turing our many collective efforts departmental achievements, budget and achievements over the last allocations, and the sources and use fiscal year.”

Top highlights of the report include sweeping; dead animal collection; of funds.2015 was a big year for the household hazardous waste disposal department, as they became one the following data: and recycling; and outreach and of the honored cities to earn full 99% of potholes were filled within education. In December 2011, the accreditation from the American 72 hours of reporting, with a total Austin City Council approved the Public Works Association (APWA). of 3,154 potholes repaired Austin Resource Recovery Master The APWA Accreditation program 51,165 students were trained in safe Plan, which is the City’s roadmap recognizes public works agencies street crossing, bicycle safety and to Zero Waste. The City of Austin is that are leaders in the industry safe bus riding committed to reducing the amount through the application of best 80% of streets reported to be in of waste sent to area landfills by 90 technical and business practices. In excellent to fair condition percent by 2040 or sooner. achieving accreditation, the depart- Nearly 22 miles of ADA-compliant ment became the 101st accredited sidewalks were constructed and City of Austin Public Works agency in North America. repaired Department Releases Fiscal “This report is a testament to the 130 miles of trails maintained Year 2015 Annual Report hard work that our professional 4,936 volunteer hours pledged and Today, the City of Austin’s Public and technically skilled staff deliver eight projects completed for the Works Department published its throughout the year and around the Neighborhood Partnering Program fiscal year 2015 Annual Report. clock,” says Public Works Director, The Public Works Department deThis report catalogs the diligent Howard Lazarus. “It also provides signs, manages and inspects capital work that goes into maintaining our stakeholders a detailed look at improvement projects; promotes active23transportation; plans and Hill Gazette 4- October 17, 2012... the City’s complex system of trails,Oakhow we utilizeOctober the public funding roadways, sidewalks, bridges, and that is entrusted to us while cap- builds sidewalks and urban trails.

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22 ...Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016

St. Michael’s students win awards Three art students at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy have won Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for five separate submissions.

Madeleine Montgomery, a sophomore, has won Honorable Mention for a black and white photograph entitled “The Wave,” a Silver Key Award for her color photograph entitled “Canyon Colors,” and a Gold Key Award for her photograph titled “Dust and Shadow.” Madeleine will also have the distinguished opportunity to compete at the national level with “Dust and Shadow.”

In the school’s first award for the editorial cartoon category, junior Andrew Butler has earned Honorable Mention for his editorial cartoon entitled “Syrian Affairs.”

Junior Heeyoung Lee has won Honorable Mention for her exquisitely detailed graphite drawing entitled “Bow Wow.” Since 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have provided opportunities for creative teens to be celebrated. The awards are presented

by The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, whose mission is to identify

students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and to present their work to the world through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

Student submissions are judged blindly by leaders in the visual and literary arts who look for works that exemplify the Awards’ core values:

originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice or vision.

Artwork from this year’s regional Gold Key winners will be exhibited in the Scanlan Art Gallery on the St. Stephen’s campus from Sunday, January 24, to Friday, February 5.

Madeleine Montgomery’s photograph “Dust and Shadow” won a Gold Key Scholastic Art & Writing Award and will compete at the national level.

Property tax deadline is February 1 As the Feb. 1 property tax deadline approaches, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo takes you inside his home to demonstrate how easy it is to pay your property taxes online with an eCheck.

The camera catches the police chief getting out of bed, slipping into his tiger slippers and heading to the dining room table to fire up his laptop to pay –and yes, even the police chief has to pay his property taxes – online. View the Acevedo public service announcement http:// bit.ly/1WcyPOjAustinPoliceChief.

The online eCheck payment only costs $1 and if you are bumping up against the Feb. 1 deadline, it is the fastest and most secure way to pay your property taxes to ensure you will not incur a financial penalty and interest on your tax bill.

“We are all extremely busy in our everyday lives, which leads many people to procrastinate when it comes to paying their tax bill,” says Bruce Elfant, the Travis County tax assessor-collector. “And let’s face it, no one likes having to pay their tax bill but we all have to do it so why

not choose the quick and easy online method?”

When you pay online, the system will automatically send you a “paid” email. State law requires penalty and interest be added to the tax bill for anyone who pays after Feb. 1.

A homeowner or business owner having difficulty paying their property taxes can set up a payment plan online.

Both can be done on the Travis County Tax Office website www.TravisCountyTax.org.

Call us at 512-301-0123 to advertise or subscribe

Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016 ...23

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ART IS FUN AND EASY! Artist and degreed art teacher is starting classes in January for toddlers through adults. Home-schooled and private lessons also available.

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24 ...Oak Hill Gazette January 21 - February 3, 2016

Church and neighbors working toward resolution “Our lawsuit against the city contends that the amphitheater permitting was illegal. We have not abandoned that suit.”

Continued from p. 1 middle ground.”

A sound study is likely on the horizon to determine if and how weather and topography affects the sound. It is unlikely that the study can be completed by the February BOA meeting. Kirk pointed out that the March meeting falls during spring break, so likely the groups will return to the Board in April.

The neighborhoods remain unhappy with the city for granting the church a restrictive covenant

that allows the amphitheater to operate as long as no commercial for-profit events are held. Vandelinder said, “Our lawsuit against the city contends that the amphitheater permitting was illegal. We have not abandoned that suit.”

The LifeAustin Church is located on 68 acres at 6801 Highway 71 across from the Travis County Precinct 3 offices. Amenities include a dog park, a disc golf course and walking trails available for use by local residents.

The LifeAustin Church Amphitheater is located on 68 acres at 6801 Highway 71 across from the Travis County Precinct 3 offices.

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