The Allandale Reporter

Agencies team up for flood monitoring system

From City of Austin's Watershed Protection and Development Review Department:

What:  News conference about new flood guages that will help COA prepare better for floods.

When: Friday, March 21, 2008 - 9:30 - 10:30 AM

Where: Pedestrian Bridge on Silverway, on the west side of the creek.

"I'm hoping you can help me spread the word to residents in your neighborhood about a small event we're hosting on Friday, March 21, at 9:30 a.m. at the pedestrian bridge on Silverway Drive, on the west side of the creek. The City of Austin together with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Weather Service will be holding a brief news conference about the installation of 10 new flood gauges and how they will help the City prepare better for floods.

Home Burglaries Map for Allandale

submitted by Kelle B

Since we have had so many incidents of home burglaries, I charted the crime stats for us on a google map.

The data is from Sept 06 to the present - so 2006 and 2008 have smaller numbers. You can zoom in by clicking the vertical bar on the left of the screen. Each color represents a year and the legend should be on the left of the screen. If you click on a point, you will find the time, date, and day the crime was reported - hopefully similar to the time the crime actually occurred, but I guess that may not be the case.

Observations:
1) There are clusters of areas where burglaries occur
2) 75% of crimes happened during the day
3) Most crimes happened on a Friday or Monday

Here's the link

Please watch out for your neighbors especially during the day since that's when it seems most crimes occur.

If you are interested in starting a neighborhood watch or becoming more involved with the neighborhood safety committee, please let me know.

Regards,
Kelle B

14th Annual Rosedale Ride

The Rosedale Ride is an annual bike ride benefiting Rosedale School, the Austin Independent School District's only school for children with multiple disabilities. The Rosedale Foundation has raised over $300,000 for Rosedale School since 1999.

The Roseddale ride is open to cyclists of all abilities, the ride offers different courses to suit anyone. This year the Rosedale Ride has four courses to choose from: a Kid’s Fun Ride; or courses of 20+, 42+ or 62+ miles. The ride begins and ends at Samsung, winding through the gently rolling countryside east of Austin.

The 2008 Rosedale Ride is Saturday, March 29th, and is followed by entertainment, food vendors, silent auction and more...

You will find more information and registration here.

How do you see Central Texas Growing?

Here is your chance to give input on growth of the region. Please read the following letter sent from Diane Miller, Assistant Director, Envision Central Texas asking for participation in a survey and/or upcoming Regional Growth Meetings:

What’s on your mind? Envision Central Texas wants to know.

How has the rapid growth in Central Texas over the past few years affected you and the community in which you live and work? Have you seen changes in your city or county? Do you have concerns about how additional growth in the region will affect traffic congestion, housing prices and education?

CAMPO seeking public comment on Project Funding and Short-Range Plan Amendments

If you want to take a look at proposed upcoming transportation projects and provide input you can review and complete this area wide transportation questionnaire being conducted by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO).  The first project on the list relates to the intersection at 2222/Northland/Parkcrest that backs up at Northland due to traffic coming off MoPac and coming from the Burnet Rd area heading west on 2222. 

This online questionnaire is not the only way to learn about the area projects and provide input. CAMPO is also hosting community meetings. Go here to learn more.

Lost Dog

Sweet, shy B&W Siberian Husky. No collar, but is micro-chipped. Answers to "Grizz". Last seen 3/5 near 2222 @ Shoal Creek. Reward if found. Call
560-7688.

Household Hazardous Waste North Austin Collection Event

Here's an opportunity to dispose of household hazardous waste responsibly and relatively conveniently. The details are:

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Location: Anderson High School, 8403 Mesa Drive, in
North Austin.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Limit: 30 gallons / per customer
For more information, or to download the event flyer,
visit www.austinrecycles.com or download the event flyer here.

APD VIN Etching March 12th

APD is hosting a VIN Etching at the Randall's located at 715 S. Exposition. The date is March the 12th from 10-1p and it's located at the Randall's at Lake Austin and Exposition.

As we all know the parts on the vehicle are worth more than the whole vehicle itself, so the help prevent auto thefts come on out have the VIN etched onto your vehicle.

Hope to see y'all there;

SPO David V. Crowder Jr. #4398
Austin Police Department
Central West Area Command
District Representative
512-974-5545

Allandale's Precinct239 Caucus

Like precincts all around Austin, the Gullett cafeteria was packed. Precinct 239 chair, Jim Bryce said they were anticipating about 100 to 150 attendees because they knew there was a lot of interest. They ended up with more than double that amount. The overflow didn't last though. The caucus started at 7:00 and it wasn't until 9:00 that everyone signed in. By that time, many people, myself included, felt that making their candidate preference known was enough and went home.

What follows is Jim's post to the Allandale newsgroup at 2:50 a.m. regarding last night's event.

Update on Coyote Sigthings

This was a note posted to the Allandale newsgroup:

From: Randy.O.Farrar@aphis.usda.gov
Date: March 1, 2008 11:54:17 AM CST

Subject: Re: Coyote Sightening on Turnabout Lane.....AGAIN

FYI

Wildlife Services has been actively trapping coyotes in your neighborhood for several months now. A total of 4 coyotes have been removed, and I estimate that two to three more coyotes need to be removed. The good news is that the most recent capture (19 February 2008) was a bred alpha female weighing 33 pounds, so there should not be any active coyote den in your neighborhood this year . The remaining coyotes were avoiding the area after the capture (this is typical), and traps were removed 22 February 2008. Trapping was scheduled to resume when coyote activity resumed or observations were reported. The first report of coyotes in your neighborhood received after 19 February 2008 was received 28 February (non 311 telephone call). Consequently, trapping was scheduled to resume 03 March 2008. Please contact me if you have any further questions or concerns.

Randy O. Farrar
Wildlife Damage Management Biologist
Texas Cooperative Extension - Wildlife Services
1600-B Smith Road
Austin, TX 78721-3541

512-854-9613 (o)
512-854-9611 (fax)