Anderson Mill Limited District VOLUME 18 ~ ISSUE 5 COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER SEPT & OCT 2010 Scary Freaks and Circus Clowns, Hiking Adventure Program! Find these acts all around. This fall marks the beginning of the AMLD Adventure Pro- Are they acting in their usual way? gram! The initial activity will be a series of hikes in and Or has something gone astray? around Austin, the majority of which will be at Texas State Parks and Natural Areas. I am excited about this program Welcome Ladies and and hope that it will grow and evolve over the years to include Gentleman, boys and girls of Geocaching, camping, kayaking and mountain biking at the all ages…. Do you hear abundance of Texas State Park facilities that are so close to sounds of maniacal laugh- AMLD. I would also like to see the program develop into ter? The devious minds at something that reflects the activities that the residents have Anderson Mill Limited District requested be a part of the Adventure Program. have created another house The first hike for the new pro- of haunts. We are inviting gram will be for adults only, 18 everyone who’s courageous and up. This will be a great op- enough to come to Anderson portunity for adults to test there Mill’s Second Annual hiking legs before bringing along Haunted House. This year the little ones. We will be visiting we are featuring a Sinister the Barton Springs Greenbelt in Circus. Under the big top we downtown Austin. The trail is a will showcase a fortune little deceiving because of it’s lo- teller, a freak show, and if cation and relative flatness. that’s not enough, don’t miss our scary clown labyrinth. Though it is in the heart of Austin Please be advised that this Haunted House is not for young- this trail is very technical and has sters under the age of 10. several water crossings that are Last year’s Haunted House, Asylum at Massacre Mill, was very tricky when the water is flow- a dreadfully exciting new experience to many here in the ing. This trail is also extremely Anderson Mill Limited District. Those who came out last year long, approximately seven miles each way. Fortunately, we got to experience the beginning of a new tradition. We had will not be hiking the entire trail. more than a few people, (both kids and teenagers), who did The duration of the first hike will be approximately two to not make it all the way through our labyrinth of haunts. We three hours depending on the participants. We will begin at challenge all comers to visit this year’s terrifying haunt and the Barton Springs trailhead and go as far as we can in 60 to see if you can make it all the way through without bailing out. 90 minutes. This is a great trail to test your legs for the other It is suggested that children who are 10 years of age or hikes that we will be going on because it is an “out and back” who might be a little apprehensive of entering the Sinister Cir- trail. Since you always know how far it is to get back to the cus be accompanied by an adult. Admission to the Haunt in- trailhead it is easy to judge when to stop and turn around. cludes $5 presales at the Anderson Mill Community Center The other hikes that we will be taking are on “loop trails” that located on 11500 El Salido Pkwy, and $10 at the door. Pre- require a little more use of a map to determine how far the sale tickets will start selling on Monday, October 11th, 2010 end of the trail may be. and will end Thursday, October 21st, 2010. Sorry but there will So, if you have never been out to Barton Springs Green- be no refunds for scaredy cats that need to bail out before belt or any of the Texas State Parks that are close by or you completing the Haunted House. would just like some company during your hikes, come down The Sinister Circus Haunted House will be located at our to the AMLD office and get signed up for our new Hiking Ad- new Parks and Recreation Building located on 12507 Mellow venture Program. Prices per person are minimal: Barton Meadow Dr. (Former Jollyville Fire Station adjacent to West- Springs $10, Enchanted Rock $35, Bastrop State Park $20, wood High School). This year we will be open for two week- Pedernales State Park $25, and McKinney Falls State Park ends, providing more opportunities to scare, from 7-10pm. $15. Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult. Friday, October 22nd ~ Saturday, October 23rd ~ Sunday, All hikes can be strenuous in nature. Participants must be October 24th, and Friday, October 29th ~ Saturday, October able to walk on various terrains in multiple outdoor climates 30th ~ Sunday October 31st . for extended periods of time. Where Community Matters !!! Anderson Mill Limited District Recreation Specialists! Greg Williams West Baxter Robyn Weiss Greg Williams West Baxter Robyn Weiss Program Youth Camps & Rentals Development Senior Center & Events As a Limited In the past Events are District more of our year working for always happening attention is now fo- Anderson Mill Limited around the parks, cused on community District Parks and pools and community programming. Both pools have al- Recreation, I have had the opportunity center here in the Anderson Mill Lim- ways been a big hit and will continue to be both the Coordinator for the new ited District. Are you taking part in the to provide all of the swim classes that Senior Center located in Millrun Park action? Here at Anderson Mill we look you have seen for so many years. We and Director of the Day Camp at the El forward to everyone’s participation in plan to build up a strong programming Salido Community Center. (Bruce the community by taking part in all of portfolio by steadily adding new pro- Lockwood has overseen the Senior our fun and exciting events. My work grams to which I think the community Center this summer while I am coordi- as Event Coordinator for AMLD has will respond. Here are a few new ad- nating the Day Camp.) It is remark- brought many challenges and re- ditions you will see in the Fall 2010/ able looking back at this last year to wards. As I continue to grow in this Winter 2011 Activity Guide. Spanish see all of the achievements that position I look to you, the residents, for Conversation will be with Instructor Anderson Mill Limited District has ac- community involvement. Every now Mariela Prato-Williams and each ses- complished. I have realized that the and then a survey will pop up on our sion will include four meetings per community of Anderson Mill does not website. This is a great way to com- month on Mondays from 6:30pm to take their resources for granted. They municate to me your personal choices 8pm. French Conversation will be are a community that cares about their and opinions. A couple of other ways with Instructor Amy Cepparo and each parks and surroundings. Currently our to communicate with the staff are to session will include four meetings per summer Splish-Splash Day Camp reg- send us an email or stop by the Com- month on Tuesdays from 6:30pm to istration is greater than last year. This munity Center for a chat. Our summer 8pm. Angela Fox will by introducing year we have added and created new events have been successful and re- AMLD to Kinderdance. She will in- games, crafts, and themed weeks, warding. The Movies in the Park, struct two classes, Kinderdance and which I believe have definitely contrib- Concerts in the Park, Teen Nights, Kindercombo. Kinderdance will meet uted to the growth of our camp. We and Float Flicks have been popular on Wednesdays from 3pm to 4pm and also added a Counselor in Training attractions for our neighborhood. is for ages 3–5. Kindercombo will program, (CIT), for 12 to 15 year olds Keep a lookout for the upcoming Fall/ meet on Wednesdays from 4pm to that teaches values and teamwork. Winter events such as our 2nd annual 5pm and will be for ages 5–6. A Hik- Some of the advantages of our Day Haunted House in October, (this ing Adventure Program is the final Camp compared to others are afford- year’s theme is a Sinister Circus), a addition to the Fall line up of new of- able pricing, a great counselor to Fall Barn Dance in November, and ferings. The Hiking Program will be camper ratio, plenty of fun and differ- our 2nd annual Sweetheart Valen- led by me, Greg Williams, and our ent games, educational sessions with tine Dance in February. Last year’s Parks and Recreation Director Kelly guest speakers, and creative crafts. program, Parent’s Night Out, had a Schmidt. There will be five hikes. The Also, this year I have seen Anderson great start and we look forward to con- first hike will be in the heart of Austin Mill’s new Senior Center grow to over tinuing and expanding this program for at the Barton Springs Greenbelt and is two hundred members. Our Senior the Fall/Winter. Kids ages 4-12yrs are for adults only. This will be a nice so- Center provides a safe-haven with welcome to spend 4hrs with us once a cial gathering and will also test your many different programs and activities month, September to February, giving legs to see if you would like to attend like bingo, potluck lunches, clubs, and mom and dad a night to themselves.