BARTON HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BARTON HILLS NEWS A Quarterly Newsletter January 2013
Birds of Prey: NEXT MEETING Rescue and Rehabilitation Tuesday, Jan. 22 6-9 p.m. Sallie Delahoussaye, wildlife rescue animals were welcomed and her expertise Join us at St. Mark’s Church expert and long-time Barton Hills resi- continued to grow through hands-on (corner of Barton Skyway and dent, will present a unique program on training and formal classes. She now Barton Hills Dr.). All are welcome! Social hour 6 p.m. Pizza, salad and the rescue and rehabilitation of birds of specializes in the rescue and rehabilitation pasta from Rockin Tomato $7. prey at the Jan. 22, 2013, Barton Hills of birds of prey, including a variety of Neighborhood Association meeting. owls and hawks. Agenda Sallie will bring some beautiful owls along Some of her charges will be released 7:00 Call to order to assist in her presentation. into the wild after rehabilitation. Sadly, 7:05 Brief announcements This will be an excellent opportunity others have suffered injuries that pro- 7:10 Approval of Oct. 23, 2012 to learn more about wildlife in our neigh- hibit release. However, those who will meeting minutes borhood and get an up-close look at some not return to the wild do earn their keep 7:12 Treasurer’s report of the birds we hear at night, but seldom by assisting Sallie in programs at schools Kerry Price see. You will love this presentation. and other educational venues. 7:20 Committee reports: Sallie is a renowned expert in the field Sallie is indeed a special kind of urban • Neighborhood Watch of wildlife rescue and has had a lifelong hero. Her devotion to the care and reha- John Luther interest in birds and mammals since she bilitation of birds of prey can be and has • Membership Outreach was a child in southern Louisiana. As an been the difference between life or death Committee adult, she expanded her knowledge in for these special birds, some of which Sunny Luther the field by volunteering her time to work will fly again above Barton Hills. • Area Development with rescued wildlife and attending spe- When asked why she became so in- Peter Hess cialized training opportunities. volved in this work given the time and • Emergency Preparedness In 1979, Sallie became a member of dedication involved, her response was Susan Donaldson Wildlife Rescue, where her knowledge simply: “I love the critters.” • ANC Report and skills in working with birds and What better reason could there be? Tom Nuckols • Greenbelt Guardians Join BHNA or renew your membership! Glee Ingram See membership form on page 8. • Barton Hills Park Kathleen Schneeman Volunteer opportunities 7:45 Update from City of Austin Neighborhood Connectivity See page 2 for more about how you can get involved. Department In this issue 8:00 Birds of Prey: Rescue and Rehabilitation Neighborhood Watch update...... 3 Sallie Delahoussaye Greenbelt Guardians: 10 years and going strong ...... 4 8:55 Other business brought to floor by membership Neighborhood traditions ...... 5 9:00 Adjourn Public works in the neighborhood ...... 6
1 • January 2013 http://bartonhills.org Barton Hills News President’s message The Barton Hills Neighbor- hood Association newsletter is Onward Vision published quarterly and sup- By Melissa Hawthorne ported by advertisers. It’s distrib- BHNA President uted to homes in the Barton Hills neighborhood of Austin, Texas. The year rolls out before us and we have pull together the resources for our park For more about membership and many things on the horizon to be grate- revitalization. neighborhood affairs, contact the ful for. We are all here, alive and well, The Barton Community Park is ap- appropriate person below. and we live in the best neighborhood in proximately 4.76 acres of land adjacent 2013 Executive Committee the City of Austin. We have the countless to and a part of the Barton Hills Elemen- President efforts of our wonderful neighborhood tary School. The park was formally deeded Melissa Hawthorne committees and what they [email protected] to the City of Austin in bring to our community Let’s create a space October 1975. The Barton OPEN: Vice President to be proud of: our Neigh- within the Hills Community Park Secretary borhood Watch, Com- Master Plan will be for- neighborhood we David Poisson munity Outreach (cur- mally heard at the City of [email protected] rently bringing you the are all proud of and Austin Parks Board OPEN: Newsletter Editor Independence Day Parade then use it joyfully meeting Jan. 22, 2012. Treasurer and Spring Fling), Green- because we can be This vision has been sup- Kerry Price belt Guardians, Neighbor- the change we want ported by many. [email protected] hood Park Improvements, to see in the world. So let’s move forward Austin Neighborhoods Emergency Preparedness together and see what we Council Representative and Area Development. Tom Nuckols as a group can do to bring [email protected] At the end of the last year, we were change upon our park. Let’s create a space fortunate to have two grants awarded to within the neighborhood we are all proud Committee Chairs us here in Barton Hills to our own Green- of and then use it joyfully because we can Committee on Area Development belt Guardians and our Barton Hills be the change we want to see in the world. Peter Hess Community Park from the Austin Parks Truly Yours, [email protected] Foundation. This year’s focus for me will Greenbelt Guardians be working in the community trying to Melissa Glee Ingram [email protected]
Neighborhood Watch John Luther [email protected]
Emergency Preparedness Susan Donaldson [email protected]
Neighborhood Outreach Sunny Luther [email protected]
Barton Hills Community Park Kathleen Schneeman [email protected]
http://bartonhills.org Newsletter printed on 100% recycled paper.
2 • January 2013 http://bartonhills.org Neighborhood Watch Volunteer Today By John L. Luther Director, Barton Hills Neighborhood Watch Program
The Barton Hills neighborhood con- out and report criminal activity, as well Crime prevention is something like tinues to use the Neighborhood Watch as suspicious persons or vehicles. Our fishing; you just can’t catch them all. As patrol, the most proactive approach to neighborhood currently has over 30 of such, there still some bad guys plying crime prevention employed by volunteer these dedicated volunteers. Working their trade in our neighborhood. The organizations in the state. The patrol hourly shifts, they looking out for us all, following is a list of home burglaries and program is labor intensive and can only every day. So don’t forget to wave when burglaries of vehicles committed in be successful when neighborhood resi- they pass. Barton Hills during October, November dents volunteer their time to assist in Remember your wave and smile will and the first half of December. providing roving patrols to actively seek be their only compensation. Thank you.
October November December (partial) Burglary of a Residence: 23xx Burglary of a Residence: 23xx Burglary of a Residence: 28xx Westrock, 23xx Westoak, 23xx Westrock, 27xx Oak Park, 24xx Barton Cedarview, 22xx Forest Bend Westrock, 26xx Forest Bend, 28xx Skyway, 33xx Westhill, 24xx Bluffview, Burglary of a Vehicle: 29xx Oakhaven, Oak Haven. 25xx Homedale 27xx Tether Trail, 24xx Wildgrove Burglary of a Vehicle: 12xx Barton Burglary of a Vehicle: 26xx Deerfoot Hills Drive, 26xx Rockingham, 11xx Trail, 23xx Westrock, 29xx Kassirine Pass, Special thanks to Rachel Coen for main- Hollow Creek 23xx Westworth, 23xx Arpdale taining BHNA crime statistics file.
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Autumn Elias License# 030980 www.vitawellnessllc.com http://bartonhills.org January 2013 • 3 Greenbelt Guardians: 10 years and going strong! By Stan Ostrum Greenbelt Guardians
Lots of good news to share as we reach the end of our 10th year of taking care of our stretch of the Barton Creek Greenbelt. As we reported a few weeks ago, we received the $35,000 Austin Parks Foundation grant that we applied for this fall, money that will be used to fund a two person E-Corps crew that will remove invasive plants from over 30 acres of our adopted portion of the Greenbelt during 2013. Our last workday of 2012, at the Homedale entrance on Nov. 10, had about 30 volunteers who repaved the first part of the entry trail that was badly eroded, resurfaced parts of the upper trail to cover some rough and low areas, removed invasives in some areas along the lower trail and creekbed, re-decked the wooden footbridge near the rock flats, and weeded, trimmed, and cleaned up the whole entry area. Check out our Picasa gallery at https://picasaweb.google.com/ greenbeltguardians. The number of volunteers we’ve had and the amount of work that’s been accomplished over the years is pretty impressive. Here’s our tentative schedule of workdays for 2013: Saturday March 2 Austin Park Foundation’s “It’s My Park Day” Saturday, June 1 American Hiking Society’s “National Trails Day” (the country’s largest celebration of trails) Saturday, Sept. 28 National Public Lands Day (celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2013) There will be one or two more, with dates still to be decided. We’re planning some special events to celebrate our 10th anniversary this spring. Stay tuned for more details.
4 • January 2013 http://bartonhills.org Neighborhood Traditions: Deerfoot Denizens By Carole Price
On a recent Saturday night building a house on the street the Denizens of Deerfoot at that time, was an early at- and admit it was a mistake to concerns or questions, and Trail were gathering as they tendee and became Cyndy’s ever leave Barton Hills in the who is going to host next year. have yearly since 1985, the partner in the organization of first place! There are so many They always find or cajole year that early resident of the the event each year, helping benefits to this kind of gather- someone. Trail, Cyndy Perkins, invited get the word out and planning ing: putting names and stories Nowadays the format is her neighbors to a touring the meal. to people you just wave to in slightly different. We only dinner. The idea was simple: Per- passing, catching up with the visit two houses, as the “It was a way to get to know suade three sets of homeown- lives of your childrens’ school numbers have grown so large the people on the street, ers to host a different part of friends, finding out how a that sitting down to dinner is Cyndy said. “From the start the meal, invite everyone on parent you met last year is not possible. It’s heavy ap- it was a success. We had seven the street to bring a dish, and doing and, best of all, looking petizers and drinks at the first to eight houses, then a dozen, show up to meet and eat. at the fabulous remodels after house followed by dessert at now we get 55 to 60 people. Those who have lived on or watching the activity for the second house. And don’t We always knew it would go near Deerfoot Trail are deni- months! worry, football fans: If there’s this long, but it has exceeded zens for life. Many people Each year Carol and Cindy UT game, it will be on! our expectations!” who have moved away still do the famed announcements Continued on page 7 Carol Klausmeier, who was frequent the party to catch up with news from the street,
http://bartonhills.org January 2013 • 5 Public works in the neighborhood Palmer Events Center for westbound By Sara Hartley Barton Springs Road cyclists. Completion Date: Spring 2013 Contact: Chad Crager, As the neighborhood is well aware, patience as we work in your “backyard!” Public Works Department (974-3570), Public Works and other city departments Project Manager Barton Springs Bicycle and have been working to improve the Barton Pedestrian Improvements Barton Springs Pool Water Hills neighborhood quite a bit lately. We Project Quality Retrofit Project have several projects ranging from recon- Description: Provide continuous Description: This project has several struction of streets, to waterline repairs, bicycle facilities and upgrade sidewalk to phases. Phase 1 is the construction of a to bicycle and pedestrian improvements. ADA standards on Barton Springs Road low earth berm to prevent sediment laden While we understand that construction from Zilker Park to Congress Avenue. runoff from the gravel parking lot from can be painful, we believe in making sure Status Update: Crews have completed reaching Barton Springs Pool. In addition that our neighborhoods have the upgrades trail upgrades in Zilker Park and are cur- to the berm, the athletic field was recon- to their infrastructure that are needed. rently upgrading the Butler Trail entrance ditioned to increase infiltration of runoff Below you will find an update on those on the north side of the intersection of into the soil and rejuvenate the field for various projects in your area that we are Barton Springs Road and Robert E. Lee. recreational use. Status Update: Phase 1 working on, specifically to improve your This trail entrance should be complete is complete. The temporary fence should community. by the first of the year. Next phase: Crews be removed by Jan. 1, 2013, after the turf Please never hesitate to contact is with will begin to upgrade the sidewalk on has had a chance to establish. Next Phase: concerns, ideas, questions, and even com- Barton Springs Road to meet current Phase two is focusing on controlling the pliments if our crews are impressing you ADA standards. This spring crews will soil erosion on the disc golf course. The in any way. Thank you always for your construct a multi-use trail in front of the Continued on page 7
Dr ncliff Thank You for Making Blaireld the Barto DeerFoot T rail Barto n Hills Driv S e p r i #1 Real Estate Company in Barton Hills. B n . r g d i R a C e r Robert E Le g r r e o e r v k C D e D li f D r - Donna Blair Miller & Je Embree - le f R s r a i i d d d e g e e Dr m v o H ie
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B 2611 Deerfoot Trail a r are looking for homes in your area. t r o 2631 Barton Hills Drive ill D n sth We S k Call today for a free market 2901 Oak Park y w a 2700 Rae Dell y analysis on your home! 2702 Rae Dell 2800 Cedarview 2932 Kassarine Donna B. Miller Je Embree 2905 Cedarview 512.968.9080 512.750.6280 2207 Forest Bend 2404 Oakhaven Circle 2313 Westforest www.BlairfieldRealty.com 2725 Tether 2120 Oxford Avenue Austin, TX 78704
6 • January 2013 http://bartonhills.org Public works
Continued from page 6
project is going to be using low impact soil conservation measures such as contour berms, terraces, mulch, and native vegetation. This will help to prevent the large amount of erosion that clogs up the area inlet by the MoPac frontage road and Barton Springs Road after heavy rains. Completion Dates: Design will be complete this summer, with construction anticipated for fall/ winter of 2013/14. Contact: Charlie Kaough, Watershed Protection Depart- ment, (974-3397) project engineer and Work continues on Rockingham at Barton sponsor Skyway (above), while the Butler Trail entrance nears completion (right). Group 10: Miscellaneous Streets Reconstruction, • Rockingham (Barton Skyway to Next Phase: The contractor has begun Barton Hills and Zilker Barton Parkway) street reconstruction on Rock Terrace Neighborhoods and Paramount, which should be com- Description: Full depth street recon- • Westridge (Michael to end) pleted by Christmas week. However, the struction on the following streets. Water, • Ridgeview (Barton Skyway to road may not be paved with asphalt until wastewater and storm sewer improve- Westridge) early January. The road has a tack coat ments will be included prior to the street • Cliffside (Wildgrove to Spring in place for dust reduction until that time. reconstruction. Creek) Upon completing/testing of all the lines • De Verne (Rae Dell to Paramount) Project Status: The contractor has most on Rabb Glen, Cliffside and Ann Arbor, • Paramount (Rabb Glen to end) of the underground utilities installed on the road reconstruction will begin on • Rabb Glen (Rae Dell to Ann Arbor) the project and should have all of the these streets as well, expected at the begin- underground utilities installed by the end ning of the year. • Arpdale (Paramount to Bluebonnet) of January to early February. The only Completion Date: The contractor’s • Rock Terrace (Barton Skyway to utilities that are not fully installed are the substantial completion date is mid-May; Barton Parkway) water line on Cliffside Drive, which however, we are hopeful the contractor Deerfoot should be completed by the beginning will be finished with the project and in Continued from page 5 of January, and the storm drains on the restoration phase earlier in the spring. Contact: Demira Wyatt, Public Works Kerry and I have been going since the Arpdale Street and Westridge Drive. The Department (974-7213), Project year we moved to the Trail. After 22 installation of the storm drain should Manager dinners we still look forward to each year take a couple of weeks and thereafter the and seeing people who are not just neigh- street reconstruction will take place. bors but friends we have come to treasure BHNA listserv: One of your membership benefits knowing. When you join the Barton Hills Neighborhood Association, you can Why not start this tradition on your join the BHNA Yahoo! group, also known as the listserv. The listserv lets street and get the great benefits? The more you keep up with your neighbors from the comfort of your computer. events like this, the better for our wonder- Posts cover everything from lost-and-found pets to crime stats and local events. See page 8 for the BHNA membership form.
Photo by Leah Golden ful Barton Hills community.
http://bartonhills.org January 2013 • 7 Barton Hills Neighborhood Association PRESORT STD P.O. Box 2042 U.S. POSTAGE Austin, TX 78768-2042 PAID AUSTIN, TX PERMIT#1120
INSIDE THIS ISSUE OF BARTON HILLS NEWS
u Birds of prey: Rescue and rehabilitation u Neighborhood traditions u Neighborhood Watch update u Public works in the neighborhood
Once you’re a BHNA member, you can join the Barton Hills listserv. Visit groups.yahoo.com/group/barton_hills/ for more information about how to sign up.
2013 MEMBERSHIP FORM Fill out this form to join or renew your membership in the Barton Hills Neighborhood Association. Annual dues are $10 per household, payable when you join (for a new membership) or every January (for renewal).
Your Name: ______Other 18+ members of your household: ______Address: ______Phone: ______Email: ______
Please send this form along with your annual dues to: Barton Hills Neighborhood Association, PO Box 2042, Austin TX 78768-2042 Make checks payable to BHNA. You can pay dues online through PayPal at www.bartonhills.org/membership.html. (PayPal service fee of $1 will be added to your total.)