The Allandale Reporter

Join Allandale Neighborhood Association

You should have received an envelope in the December Allandale Neighbor newsletter for your 2009 Allandale Neighborhood Association membership dues. Please complete and mail it in or click on the membership tile in the upper right corner of this page to renew online. Our goal is 600 members in 2009. Some of the activities the Allandale Neighborhood Association are involved in include the newsletter, this web site, events like the 4th of July parade, the Spring Tyke and Bike Ride, and the Celebrate Allandale Picnic. The neighborhood association also monitors and responds to growth-related issues that impact traffic, zoning and development in around the neighborhood. This past year ANA coordinated a number of beautification efforts and strengthened its block captain network that resulted in the replacement and installation of a number of crime watch signs. All done by volunteers. Show your support. Only $15.

December Newsletter on your doorstep

It is wet and foggy outside so if you don't want to open the door and get your latest Allandale Neighbor newsletter you can just can just click here and read it online. Here are some reasons why you will want to do one or the other. In this issue we cover the City's Wildlife Habitat Challenge in which Allandale placed second. We also include an interview with current Allandale Neighborhood Association President, Allan McMurtry. We have photos and a write-up on the December 7th Concert in the Park with Sarah Pierce. (BTW, the 2 really good photos of Sarah from the concert contributed by professional photographer Dale Rempert). Plus, we have articles on: how to save money on your homeowners insurance through a city home inspection,  Gullett activities,  cockroaches, and the new restaurant on Anderson, Cover 3 among other things. It's time to renew your annual Allandale Neighborhood Association membership. We included a dues envelope for you to insert a check (only $15) and mail it in but if you think that's the old fashioned way of doing it, you can just click on the "Click to Pay Online" tile in the top right corner of this page and pay online. Once again thanks to the Newsletter Committee for their work on this newsletter and thank our advertisers when you see them. Merry Christmas!

Revised Northcross Mall Site Plan Approved

Lincoln Northcross, LTD resubmitted the site plan for the Northcross Mall redevelopment in August that included the scaled down Wal-Mart. On November 24, 2008 that site plan was approved. The revised plan is for a single-story structure that is 98,800 SF - 75,000 SF general retail and 23,800 SF food sales. You can get the details on the site plan at the City's Permit web site. This link should take you to a summary of what was submitted. The permit number is 2008-091847 EV. The Allandale Neighborhood Association met with Lincoln's attorney Bruce Scrafford in August just prior to the filing. They also met with the City of Austin during the review process. 

Dog Talk: It’s That Time of the Year Again

By Cheryl Silver csilver2@austin.rr.com 454-7219

This is the time of the year when people start thinking about getting a puppy or adult dog as a present for a child or other family member. Try as I might, few people listen when I urge them to not get a dog as a present for anybody and, to certainly avoid doing it at holiday time when everyone is busy, households are full of activity and objects that can lead to problems, such as Christmas trees, presents, candy, extra electric cords, etc. are everywhere.

A new store in Allandale - Capitol Exchange

Jamie McVaney just opened Capitol Exchange on Burnet Rd just behind Ginny's Little Longhorn. Capitol Exchange is a bike and outdoor equipment consignment store. You will find used bikes, kayaks, tents, camping gear, and other outdoor equipment. 5434b Burnet Rd.

Save the plants - Landscaping at great northern dam to be uprooted

From Linnea Lemon, Allandale Beautification Committee Chair: The City of Austin Watershed protection is trying to identify the residents who planted landscaping in the retention pond also known as the Great Northern Dam. That area will be ripped up during the upcoming work on the Dam. The landscaping needs to be moved before construction starts.

 

If we can find out who it is, we can rally some volunteers to help move the plants.  I have an agreement with PARD that we can *temporarily* relocate the plants during the construction.

 

If you planted landscaping here or know someone that did, please contact Linnea Lemon at linneakay@austin.rr.com or 750-8902 ASAP. We want to save and preserve those plants.

Report on Tuesday's Commander's Forum

Just wanted to fill everyone in on the Commander's Forum last night. Handouts were available on burglary prevention, code enforcement, maps of Baker 1 and 2 which are areas within Central West Command, and area crime statistics for 1/08-12/08. In the crime stats sheet, Allandale was listed as having 35 burglary of residence, 35 burglary of non-residence, 132 burglary of vehicle, 61 crimes of mischief, and 13 instances of graffiti. 


Central West recent initiatives have included targeting day time curfew to keep kids at school and away from places like Highland Mall where thefts have occurred, Operation Serenity (to keep noise down throughout Central West Command), and Operation Peter Piper (to clean up Guadalupe). There has also been a recent 

Wastewater Averaging Begins

The city conducts its wastewater averaging during the winter months. Usage during these months determines what appears on your bill for the subsequent 12 months. You can find out more about how the City's wastewater averaging works and what you can do to lower you wastewater average from the latest edition of the Water Wise Newsletter. 

Commander's Forum Tonight

Austin Police Department

Central West Area Command

You are cordially invited to attend our Commander's Forum.  We want to share information and discuss those issues and concerns that are important to you.  Our desire is to open lines of communication in order to improve the quality of life within your community.

Tuesday December 9th, 2008, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, McCallum High School, 5600 Sunshine Drive, Austin, TX 78756

Agenda

6:30pm – 6:35pm Introduction/ Central West Area Commander

6:35pm – 7:20pm CWAC Lieutenants

7:20pm – 8:00pm District Representative Breakout Sessions

8:00pm Adjourn

For more information, please contact Sergeant Edward Peek, 974-5927.

Sarah Pierce and Friends Concert in the Park

Sometimes everything just comes together. Sunday, December 7th, 2008 at Northwest Park was one of those days. For a late Fall afternoon, the weather was perfect. The sun was out, there was a slight breeze and the temperature was in the comfortable 70s. Friends and neighbors sauntered into Northwest Park with their children and/or their dogs or by themselves for what was to be a very relaxing and enjoyable event. The setting was perfect. The stage was positioned just up the hill from the pond next to the picnic tables with Cypress trees all around showing off their dramatic fall colored leaves. 

But what made the event special was the music. It started with Eric Hanke, a wonderful young musician who kicked the event off with five or six songs from his current and forthcoming CDs. (You can learn more about Eric and his music at www.erichankeband.com). He was followed by Sarah Pierce and band who played for a little over an hour.

Sarah is a very talented Austin singer/songwriter supported by what she referred to as a group of musicians who are singer/songwriters in their own right (www.sarahpierce.com). They truly are very gifted artists. The free outdoor concert at Northwest Park went from 3:00 to 5:00 on Sunday. Russell's Bakery came with a wonderful array of holiday treats. Ice Cream in late Fall might not work in other parts of the country but it was perfect for this event.

The concert  was the first introduction to many in the audience  to Sarah Pierce and her band even though Sarah and her husband and drummer, Merel Bregante, are residents of Allandale. Sarah played a mix of  her own songs as well as a few well-known songs from other artists including Patsy Cline. Sponsors of the event included Roger Beasley, Little Bear Records, Cribworks Digital Media, and the Allandale Neighborhood Association.

There is talk about doing this again, perhaps in the Spring. I am sure that everyone who attended will agree that is a good idea but it will be a challenge having it all come together as it did on Sunday. Thanks to Sarah Pierce, Eric Hanke, and all of the musicians who played at Sunday's Concert in the Park for making it a truly enjoyable afternoon. Click here to view photos from the concert.