TC Notes 03.16 PDF

Updated Travis Country
Architectural Rules pg. 3
TC NOTES
The Official News Source of the travis country community service association
march 2016
TC
EVENTS
Saturday - Sunday
April 2nd - 3rd
Movies
in the Park
Saturday
March 5th, 6:00 p.m.
Free pizza,
drinks & snacks!
Easter
Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 26 th,
9 a.m. at Blue Valley
Petting Zoo
Food & Coffee
Balloon Animals
Egg Hunt Times
9:15 a.m. / 3 years and <
9:30 a.m. / 4-6 years
9:45 a.m. / 7-9 years
10 a.m. / 10+ years
Austin’s first environmentally planned neighborhood
Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/traviscountry
Travis Country Becomes a Crime Scene
Jim McNabb, TC NOTES
The Hilltop Pool parking lot became a crime scene
Thursday, February 18, 2016, with patrol units, motorcycles,
and APD’s Air One helicopter swarming the neighborhood
for several hours.
Regents School was put on lock-down briefly.
Austin Police were investigating what appeared to be
a “drug deal gone bad” in the parking lot during the noon
hour. The search was continuing for two suspects, but police
said they know who they are.
“The investigation is ongoing and it
involves adults and juveniles. This is all we
can share at this time without jeopardizing
the integrity of the investigation.”
A third suspect was detained. According to a post on
Nextdoor, the suspect was apprehended by Regents’ school
employees and a constable in the Regents’ gym
shortly before 2:00 p.m.
Austin Police completed
a full perimeter check of
the campus before the
lockdown was lifted.
“We believe we have
identified all the parties
involved in the incident.
No arrests have been
made at this time, even
though people were detained at the scene,” according to an APD statement. “Evidence was seized at the
scene as well. We are still pursuing leads and talking to people involved and conducting interviews,” the statement said.
“The investigation is ongoing and it involves adults and
juveniles. This is all we can share at this time without jeopardizing the integrity of the investigation.”
The driver’s side window of a Chevrolet pickup parked
in the pool lot was shattered, but no shots were fired, police
said at the scene. The person said to be
the victim in the case was unharmed.
• Daylightsavingtime •
Sunday, March 6 th, 2016 ~ Don’t Forget to Spring Forward!
GUARANTEED Home Sale Program
Our team approach, proven systems and award-winning
service will result in you selling your home for a price you
agree to within 7 weeks or we will sell it for FREE!
512-522-4659 | www.traviscountryonline.com
TRAVIS COUNTRY REAL ESTATE STATS
SECTION
ACTIVE
ACTIVE
$/SQ FT
AVG DAYS
PENDING
PENDING
$/SQ FT
AVG DAYS
SOLD
2015
# SOLD
SOLD
$/SQ FT
2015
$/SQ FT
AVG DAYS
2015
AVG DAYS
ORIGINAL
NEW
CONDOS
0
1
0
n/a
235.26
n/a
n/a
273
n/a
2
1
0
252.41
237.70
n/a
2
3
n/a
0
0
0
2
1
0
n/a
n/a
n/a
225.31
190.27
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
8
12
n/a
“Original” section consists of Travis Country and Trailwood Village. “New” section consists of Village Park, TC Green, Parke at TC and
Lost Creek at Gaines Ranch. Current data was taken from MLS February 10th and sold data is from January 2015/2016.
The Cain Team delivered on what they promised and exceeded
our expectations. They delicately managed a difficult estate
sale and helped bridge the location gap since the co-sellers
were not residing near the home. I was very happy with the real
estate services that they provided. Thank you Cain Team!
Lisa Thai
4404 Travis Country Circle #3A
Keep up with the real estate market in
Travis Country by receiving our monthly report.
Sign up at TravisCountryOnline.com
TRAVIS COUNTRY 2015 STATISTICS
Ricky, REALTOR®
KodiKay, Client Care Manager
Chandler, Security Expert
Jaxon, Playground Specialist
101%
9
ORIGINAL PRICE / SALES PRICE
While quickly approaching $200,000,000 in homes sales,
we are blessed to be one of the top selling and most
respected real estate teams in the country. More than
70% of our business comes by way of referral, and as an
Austin Platinum Top 50 Realtor, an Austin Five Star
Realtor, Austin Business Journal award winner
and a Real Trends Top Real Estate Team, you
can count on receiving world class
service from our group. Call us today
at 5 1 2 -5 2 2 -4 6 5 9 to schedule a
no-obligation home evaluation.
AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET
23
97.8%
#1
THE CAIN TEAM
TRAVIS COUNTRY
Year after year, Ricky has consistently sold
homes in Travis Country faster and for more
money than average. You deserve Travis
Country’s top home selling real estate team!
ASK US ABOUT OUR
ONE DAY LISTING!
Hire us for just one day and if
any day after that you don’t
feel absolutely amazed by
our world class service you
can cancel our agreement!
New Architectural Rules Less Restrictive, Easier to Read
Pam Bixby, TC NOTES
If you are familiar with Travis Country’s Architectural Control Committee (ACC) Rules…forget everything you know! The committee’s recent
revision includes very little direct mapping from the old document—last updated in 2010—to the new one, now posted on the Travis Country website.
You’ll just have to start over.
The ACC rules had been challenged again and again beginning with a
surge of renovation activity in the neighborhood in the early 2000s. “Obviously, times had changed,” said Cynthia Wilcox, Travis Country Board member and former ACC member.
“Over the years, the committee adapted rules to fit modern tastes. But
the rules had been revised so many times and there were so many formatting
errors and typos, that we just started fresh,” explained Wilcox, who served as
lead author of the new rules document. The extensive rewrite began in 2012,
she said, when she was still on the committee.
“We are a relatively new committee,” confirmed Josh Hildebrand, current
committee member. “We finished what the previous group started: they were
well under way on the new rules design.” The previous committee wanted to
make the rules a little easier to read and understand. “We agreed,” he said.
The document is reduced from 14 pages to seven, but still covers most
exterior design issues including landscaping, lighting, fencing, outbuildings,
playscapes, sport courts, satellite dishes, roofs, solar panels, patios, paint and
more. One element no longer included is mailbox designs. “Really the only
thing we changed was to simplify them so that they were more readable and
less restrictive,” added Kelly Greenheart, ACC chair.
First written by the 1970s-era ACC of the original developer-heavy Travis Country Board of Directors, the rules reflected the trends and sensibilities of the time (remember avocado countertops, anyone?) and were very
prescriptive. Unfortunately, as new sections were added to the Travis Country development, successive Boards did not think to make sure the Restrictive Covenants (which affect the ACC rules) were consistent across sections.
Thus, the oldest neighborhoods (Section One, Trailwood Village One,
and Trailwood Village Two) had rules that were more restrictive or did not
give authority for the ACC to issue variances from restrictions. More than 30
years later, the inconsistencies prove confounding in practice.
An additional difficulty with the ACC rules has been that rules cannot
conflict with Travis Country’s Restrictive Covenants. “If there are any discrepancies between these rules and the Travis Country Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, the latter document shall prevail,” boldly declares
both the previous and the new ACC Rules document.
As worded in the Travis Country Covenants, the ACC may grant deviations to the rules on a case-by-case basis (for a specific fence, for instance,
if the particulars of the lot or the availability of new materials make a variance necessary or desirable). But, because the governing documents were
not made to be consistent as new sections came on-line, that authority to
grant deviations is NOT given to the Section One and Trailwood Village One
and Two sections, depending on the restriction.
“To make all documents jibe, we would have to get notarized signatures from
75 percent of the residents in those sections agreeing to change the Covenants
that give deviation authority to the ACC,” explained John McCulloch, former
Travis Country Board member and long-time ACC liaison.
Working with the Board, McCulloch tried to do just that in 2010, instigating an amendment drive that would bring the older subdivision sections’
rules into agreement as much as possible. Like amending the U.S. Constitution, getting such overwhelming agreement is extraordinarily difficult to do,
as he discovered.
“People didn’t understand what we were trying to accomplish, and without a door-to-door effort, reaching that percentage of households is very difficult,” he said. The fact that the TCCSA attorney required notarized signatures from all lot owners did not help either, McCulloch indicated. It proved
to be too much of a barrier for people to come into the office, especially if
there was more than one official owner.
Due to these difficulties, the Board gave up on the amendment process
after about a year. Technically, that 2010 amendment process is still open
as there is no official ending date to complete the process. However, new lot
owners have the right to override a previous owner’s approval.
The new ACC Rules ignore overlook this quibble. For instance, in section C. Fencing or non-vegetative screening, the new rules declare “Firewise
metal fencing is now allowed in all sections.” Yet, the Covenants in some
parts of the neighborhood expressly forbid such material. The Board will
have to choose to abandon enforcement of certain covenants (such as the
one forbidding metal roofs that applies to Trailwood Village Two or fencing
requirements in Section One and Trailwood Village One), in essence playing
the role of the ACC in granting a de facto variance.
In McCulloch’s opinion, however, Board decisions and attorney’s opinions on
this matter are often not properly documented or easily accessible in TCCSA records and Travis County public records. As membership on the ACC and Board
changes over time, new members often have no idea of the official history on this
subject and how we got to where we are now. Without the historical knowledge,
the technical issues governing ACC authority may come up over and over again.
McCulloch believes the should neighborhood fix discrepancies at the Covenant level to remove all doubt concerning the decision-making authority of the
ACC once and for all. But until someone else is willing to take up that battle and
start knocking on doors, the new ACC rules and the Board’s non-enforcement
of certain Covenant restrictions in certain sections, will have to do.
“The approval process has not changed with the new published rules.”
Hildebrand said. The process was simply clarified. And while the rules give
the ACC 30 days to respond to architectural requests, Hildebrand said the
process is typically much quicker.
“The ACC has converted to a 99 percent digital approval process,” he
pointed out. “We do most approvals on-line and only meet to discuss applications that we can’t agree upon or to do rules updates.”
He added, “We hope the new ACC Rules document is easier to understand than the previous ones. I hope to revamp the application next. We
haven’t discussed that in much detail yet, but it needs an overhaul, for sure.”
Notable ACC Rules Updates
Fences - More decorative fences with eco-friendly materials, as well as
Firewise metal fences, are encouraged
Solar Panels and Rain Barrels - Some notes about these green-wise
improvements are standardized
Paint – Specific colors and palettes are removed
Roof Coverings – Allowance for newly invented, durable, attractive and
weather resistant materials as they become available is made
Mailbox Designs – Removed
To read the ACC Rules Document: Sign in to in the website at travis
country.com, click on Documents, Applications & Forms.
Online at traviscountry.com
3
TRAVIS
COUNTRY BIRD WALKS — SPRING OF 2016
Movies
in the Park
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Blue Valley Park
6:00 p.m. - Pizza Delivered
6:30 p.m. - Pokemon 2000
8:30 p.m. - Raiders of the Lost Ark
Come one, come all—young and old,
friends and family!
Free refreshments. Movie style popcorn,
double feature, pizza, and drinks (water, Capri
Suns, and sodas) and pizza (starting at 6:00 p.m.)
generously provided by the TC Social Committee
and Travis Country HOA. Yummy snacks (chips,
candy, etc.) provided by Emily Matthews, Realtor®, Austin Urban
Agent Realty.
Be sure to bring blankets and possibly chairs (especially the short
river chairs so you don’t obstruct folks’ views behind you) to spread
out on the lawn behind the TC Office.
Please go to the event Evite to RSVP so that we are sure to order
enough pizza and drinks: evite.me/rQ5EFbBPvg.
If you are interested in volunteering for this or other TC Social
Committee events, please contact us at [email protected] or
sign up online: eepurl.com/39Oqv
Soon it will be spring and the
birds will be coming back from their
winter in the south. Some will spend
the spring and summer with us, and
others will just be passing through
Travis Country on their annual migration northward. We will have TC
Bird Walks each month from March
through June to see the new ones that have arrived and identify each species.
Join us again this year at 8:30 a.m. on the following Saturdays at Blue Valley near the Community Office:
B March 12 BApril 9
B May 14
B June 11
Please bring your binoculars if you have them. We will walk for about 1
1/2 miles. Feel free to bring your children if they are old enough to be quiet
so as to not scare away the birds. The bird walks will last from 8:30 a.m. to
about 10:00 a.m., but you can leave earlier if necessary.
april 2nd - 3rd
Garage sale will be
advertised in the Austin
American-Statesman
as neighborhood-wide,
with no set times. No
registration is required
for participation.
TC FITNESS Club
Join your
neighbors at
Blue Valley for
BootCamp!
M-W-F 5:30 a.m.
Contact: Lorrie Tezak 512-627-3403
4
Online at traviscountry.com
Travis Country Outdoors: Barton creek trails
Jim Robillard, TC RESIDENT
Which way to the creek?
One common question I get from both new and longtime residents is, “How do I get to Barton Creek?” In this
article I’ll share three of the most popular routes. Keep
in mind that none of these is a quick stroll. The shortest is half a mile, the trails can be rough in places, and
since we’re about 150 feet higher than the creek, there will always be a hill
involved.
If you have a smart phone, Google maps can be helpful once you get to
the creek, but our local trails aren’t shown (probably a good thing). Although
the official greenbelt trail is on the other side of the creek, with the exception of a short section at Sculpture Falls, there’s a secondary trail on our side.
Here are a few ways down.
Copperwood
The shortest route
starts at the dead end at
Copperwood Drive. Follow the main trail, and
when you get to any fork
take the branch that looks
like it’s heading down hill.
The first section is level
and mostly smooth, but
once the trail heads downhill in earnest, things get a
bit rough. At the bottom a
turn to the right will take
you to Twin Falls (about
one mile) and, after another five miles, to Barton
Springs Pool.
Sculpture Falls is a
short walk upstream, but
you’ll want to cross the creek to get there. Follow the trail a short distance
upstream till you get to a large downed tree and then look for the shallow
crossing just beyond. You can find Twin Falls, Sculpture Falls, and the greenbelt trail on Google maps.
A couple of other interesting features upstream are Twin Springs, which
runs all year, and the swimming hole where Twin Springs empties into the
creek. This is a great spot to swim if you want to avoid the weekend crowds
at the more popular spots.
can turn left or right depending on your final destination.
Turning right will get you to Twin Falls for a total distance of about one mile.
Take a left and follow the trail along to the creek and you’ll get to the
bottom of the Copperwood Trail. In the fall this section has a great display
of American Beauty Berries. Along the way, you’ll see another well-traveled
trail heading uphill. This will also take you back to the Copperwood Trail.
Either route makes a nice three-mile walk or run.
Powerline
The easiest path to follow is the power line trail at the end of Sendero.
This is a service road for the power line that will take you most of the way,
leaving just a short walk downhill to the creek. Total distance is about one
mile. At the bottom you can turn right (downstream) for a very short walk to
Sculpture Falls. From there you’ll need to cross the creek to continue downstream, unless you’re up for a scramble.
Heading upstream, after about half a mile you’ll get to the swimming
holes at the base of the Hill of Life. This is where the official greenbelt trail
heads uphill to the end at the Scottish Woods trailhead.
By taking one of these routes down and another back up you can create a
three to four mile hike without retracing your steps. Happy hiking!
Community Garden
If you’re heading to Twin Falls or
farther downstream,
a good place to start
is at the community
garden across from
Blue Valley Park. This
trail follows Sycamore
Creek for the most
part until it gets close
to the end, where you
Online at traviscountry.com
5
Speed Mitigation is Here
Jim McNabb, TC RESIDENT
The first phase of promised speed mitigation measures is now in place
on Travis Country’s two major thoroughfares, Travis Country Circle and Republic of Texas Blvd. City of Austin Transportation Department crews began
measuring and marking the roads February 16, 2016.
“We are putting in the delineators and new markings to narrow the lanes,”
says Anna Martin, City of Austin traffic engineer. The delineators are the first
step to slow traffic through the designated areas.
On Travis Country Circle, lanes are narrowed from the top of the hills on
each side of Blue Valley. Similar measures are in place on Republic of Texas
southwest and northeast of Travis Green Lane.
“ If drivers have slowed down due to social media, the
sign campaign, or threat of tickets or speed cushions,
then the neighborhood is safer for all, and we have
accomplished something in a concerted effort.”
The engineers and residents hope the delineators will slow traffic, but will
they slow it enough? The City will begin measuring speeds in a few weeks,
once digital signs are installed that will show real-time radar readings for
vehicles moving through the mitigation area. The signs will also keep track
of the traffic. “We won’t start recording speeds and looking at data until after
the signs are installed,” Martin says.
The traffic data collected will determine whether Travis Country Circle
and Republic of Texas Blvd will get harsher measures: either speed cushions
or permanent landscaped
islands. To avoid installation of such devices, average speeds cannot be
greater than 33 miles per
hour.
Most residents seem to
be complying with the 30
mile-per-hour speed limit
voluntarily. Signs on each
roadway warn of the consequences of speeding, and
law officers have handed
out tickets. Further, social
media seems to be helping curb the neighborhood
6
speeding habit.
“I saw the Constable out the other night pulling people over...as we came
into the ‘hood. Be careful! Drive 30. Obey signs,” reads one post to the Next
Door website. Other posts have been more specific, citing the make, model and color of cars, trucks and even a school bus seen racing through the
neighborhood.
“The definite test will be over time, of course, but if drivers have slowed
down due to social media, the sign campaign, or threat of tickets or speed
cushions, then the neighborhood is safer for all, and we have accomplished
something in a concerted effort,” says Janet Ngo, the former chair of the Travis Country Safety Committee. Ngo has been working to slow traffic and the
trouble it brings for more than five years.
City engineers will continue checking back every few months to ensure the mitigation is working and that Travis Country drivers are keeping
speeds contained. An engineer overseeing the installation in February indicated that the so-called speed cushions will be installed if the delineators
don’t do the job.
Online at traviscountry.com
TC Homeowners firewise Greenbelt Management
Darrell Hutchinson, TC Firewise Committee & TC RESIDENT
One of the many benefits of living
in Travis Country is all the green space
surrounding the neighborhood. While
the green space certainly adds to the
appeal of living here, it must be respected and, to some degree, maintained. With this in mind, the Board
has provided the means for homeowners to modify
the TCCSA-owned greenbelt areas adjacent to their
property for Firewise reasons and to maintain the area’s natural state. For Firewise purposes, homeowners who live adjacent to TSSCA owned greenbelts should maintain
an area up to 30 feet from their fence or property line.
Simple things homeowners can do that don’t require a permit include keeping grasses under control
by mowing or using a weed whacker and removing
fallen dead limbs. The City will pick up the refuse from
these activities on a weekly basis as long as it is put to
the curb in lawn/leaf paper bags or reusable containers such as 34-gallon plastic trash bins. Anything that
doesn’t fit into those containers must be bundled and
tied according to the City’s rules for yard-trimming
pick-up. See the City of Austin’s website for more information (www.austintexas.gov/department/yardtrimmings-collection).
For Firewise reasons, the green belt behind your
house may need additional hardening, such as a
shaded fuel break. Homeowners are required to submit a Firewise Management Permit for projects that
require some clearing to prevent ladder fuels. Once
the permit has been approved, homeowners can address an area up to 30 feet behind their property. The
Board will provide matching funds up to $200 upon
approved project completion and submission of payment receipts.
If the adjacent greenbelt requires maintenance beyond Firewise reasons, a homeowner can submit the
Greenbelt Management and Modification Permit. The
purpose of this permit is to encourage residents to
maintain or improve the natural state of commonly
owned greenbelt areas. Examples of greenbelt management and modification projects include invasive
plant removal, oak wilt mitigation, Firewise management, flood control, reforestation, and student projects. You can find the TCCSA Firewise and Greenbelt
Management and Modification Permits on the Travis Country website (TravisCountry.com) under the
“Documents Applications & Forms” link and filter
on the Firewise Committee, or contact the Firewise
Committee via email at [email protected]. Wildfire Protection
Workshop
On Saturday, January 23, Travis Country volunteers joined Will Boettner from
the Texas Forest Service to practice Firewise fuel management. The TC Firewise
Committee selected two homes along Sendero Drive that back up to the greenbelt.
Mr. Boettner instructed us on how to select small saplings underneath the canopy
for removal and how to limb up larger trees
to reduce ladder fuels. Then we sawed, we
lopped, we dragged, and we stacked. Volunteers braved dozens of sharp
blades, volumes of cedar pollen, a grove
of prickly Greenbriar, and one particularly spiky giant Agave. Fortunately, we
were fortified by coffee and bagels provided by an appreciative homeowner.
How much fuel can ten dedicated volunteers amass in 3 hours? Take a look!
GOOD NEWS AUSTIN!
Simple and affordable healthcare
has arrived at your front door.
Don’t take our word for it, try it
out yourself and give us a call.
remedyurgentcare.com
512.900.5844 @remedycare
Online at traviscountry.com
7
TC Real Estate Update
May 1st is right around the corner
Sherri Williams, TC RESIDENT
What a great year for sellers in the city of Austin! And,
we live in Travis Country, one of the more popular communities in the city, where the demand and lack of supply
for housing continues.
When it is time to sell, we all want top dollar and, because pricing is not an exact science, it can be tricky. (It is
important to note that although you do not want to price low, a “good price”
will encourage offers where a price that is too high can discourage.) Let’s say
your home has recent HVAC, shingles, and a new water heater, yet it looks
dated. Most people want to take a large hunk off of the price because they
just see “work.” Think about an inexpensive update with recent fixtures, colors and appliances helping to give your home a contemporary feel.
If you plan on staying around, then a major renovation may be best for
you. Either way, why not do it and enjoy it now? Your home continues to
be one of your biggest investments and, as I have said before, “It is good to
invest in your investment.”
We live in a great community with so many plusses: close proximity to great
schools, greenbelts, a community garden, and wonderful events. Enjoy what you
have and remember: “If you are looking for a great place to live - you found it!”
TC Sharks Swim Team
Kicks Off 2016 Season
May 2 nd through June 26 th
The 2016 Pool Calendar will be out soon. Reminder – SAYOR keycards expire March 31st
and need to be renewed each year by April 1st.
Please bring your keycard and a check for $10 to
the TC Office to update your paperwork and renew your keycard.
Easter Egg Hunt
Blue Valley Park
Saturday, March 26, 2016
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Petting Zoo, Balloon Animals, Breakfast & Coffee, Raffle
Egg Hunt Times
9:15 a.m. / 3 years and under
9:30 a.m. / 4-6 years
9:45 a.m. / 7-9 years
10:00 a.m. / 10+ years
Interested in volunteering? Got time to stuff some eggs or help out
the day of the event? Contact: [email protected].
Check www.SwimSharks.org for updates on the
upcoming season schedule and events.
Senior Caregiver
Nancy Baniukiewicz
You do not have to live with pain
512-423-6255
[email protected]
• 8 years experience
• References available
• Light housekeeping/meals
• Help with errands
Please call for more information
Yard Work • Power Washing
HandYman Services
For estimates, contact
Advanced Laser Pain Relief
Randy McLerran
892-0303 home
903-5373 cell
Back pain • Neck pain • Knee pain • Shoulder pain • Arthritis • Neuropathy
TexStarChiro.com
4601 Southwest Parkway, Suite 101 | (512) 899 -2228
8
Resident of 4194 Travis Country Circle
since 1986 • No contracts required
Online at traviscountry.com
A Bug by Any Other Name Would Still Be a Bomb
Roger White, TC RESIDENT
It has been brought to my attention recently that I spend
much time and space in this forum pining for yesterday. As
one of my daughters’ buddies put it: “If you love the olden
days so much, why don’t you marry them?” How does one
respond to that? Looking back, I realize I should have said,
“Your face!” or something to that effect. Apparently, insults
regarding one’s visage are the comeback du jour among the teen set.
The kid has a point, I guess. In my defense, however, I must emphasize
that waxing nostalgic is a cherished rite of passage into geezerdom. Besides,
what else am I going to pine for? Tomorrow? That’s just silly. And if there’s
one thing I won’t tolerate in this column, it’s silliness! So there. Nyah.
Besides, it has always been this way. Surely, Joe Cro-Magnon sat around
the cave in his declining years (which was probably about age 17) grunting
on about the salad days of his youth.
“Ah, Neanderthal. Good times. Cave warmer. Women slower.”
“Ugh, Dad.”
“Don’t ‘ugh, dad’ me!”
Despite my yearning for all things moth-balled, outmoded, and sepiatoned, I must confess that the yesterday of my memory likely glosses over
events and places and conquests as they really were. The mind has a way of
sanding down the warts.
Case in point: my recent Volkswagen adventure. Or as my wife terms it,
the Great Bug Fiasco. It’s important to note that in the spring of my years, I
drove, among other bombs, a VW, cherry red with a killer eight-track stereo
and an exhaust system held on with coat hangers. I loved that little car like a
boy loves his dog. And this thing smelled like one.
But, man, she was fun—when she was running. This is a crucial detail I
conveniently fogged over as the years went by.
As I grew older, like so many other family men driving nondescript
workaday sedans, I spent much of my adulthood wishing I still had my hippie wheels. Oh, if that old VW could talk, the tales she could tell—and the
money I would make because I would have a talking car!
Anyway, one of my benign fantasies of late was searching for just the right
Bug to bring back those carefree days. In my spare time, at home, at work, at
lunch, at work, at the coffee shop, at work—mainly at work—I would browse
websites like eBay and various car-sales sites. It was purely a personal fiction;
I knew I’d never actually go through with it.
For one thing, we hadn’t the money nor the room for a third car, and
swapping the trusty sedan (with all its airbags and terrific gas mileage and
dependable brakes and styling like a refrigerator) for a 40-year-old antique
KEEP
AUSTIN
Academic Tutoring,
Keep Austin
LEARNING.
Test Preparation (ISEE, SAT, ACT),
Learning.Study Skills Coaching and more!
Private Tutoring + Study Skills Coaching + Test Prep
Locally owned & operated by a TC resident!
Private Tutoring + Study Skills Coaching + Test Prep
Located in Westlake Hills with Satellite Locations
around
including
UTwith
Campus
LocatedAustin
in Westlake
Hills
Satellite Locations
around Austin including UT Campus
Owned + Operated by a TC Resident!
Owned + Operated by a TC Resident!
AustinLearningCenter.com
512.330.9007 AustinLearningCenter.com
BEST
BestTUTORING
Tutoring
Austin
2015WINNER
WinnerINinAUSTIN
2015
512.330.9007
wasn’t the most prudent move for a middle-income family with two teenage
girls and two and a half mortgages.
Thing two, I’m about as mechanical as a blind nun—and before all you
seeing-impaired women of
the cloth start besieging me
with treatises on your intimate knowledge of carburetors and intake manifolds, it
just sounded good, OK?
Thing Three (and this
is a big one, so I capitalized
the Three), wifey would
have absolutely none of it.
With all this in mind,
sure enough, I found just
the right Bug. Oh, was she a sweetie. A 1979 Super Beetle convertible, with
new silver paint and a new black cloth top, immaculate interior, working A/C
(a VW rarity if there ever was one), and an engine, as far as I could tell. And
to top it off, the seller lived in Taylor, just down the road a piece!
Against all odds and adult judgment, I began the beseeching process.
Honey, the bug would actually be good on gas. Honey, I could teach the girls
how to drive a stick. Honey, the motor on this thing is so simple, even I could
fix it. Honey, pleeeeeeease!
Pretty embarrassing, all right. I think she gave in just to shut me up. We met
the guy in a Wal-Mart parking lot east of town. I insisted on a thorough inspection and test drive, of course. I drove her once around the Wal-Mart parking lot
and said I’d take it. So happy was I, I even named it: Herman the German.
I will say I did have a mechanic give Herman the once-over. He said, and
I quote, “It seems to be functioning.”
That was good enough for me, so we sealed the deal at my credit union,
where Mr. Bug Seller actually shed a few tears. It was then and there I should
have remembered my Shakespeare: “The seller doth protest too much, methinks.” Hamlet wasn’t buying a Volkswagen, but you get the gist.
And you can guess the rest of the story. A week after my proud purchase,
Herman began listing severely to the right every time I tapped the brakes. I
began to fear the car would keel over on its side if I ever slammed on them
too hard.
Then one day, on the way home from work, Herman coughed like a cat
with a five-pound furball and crapped out right there on the highway. One
grim towing bill later, I was told by a mechanic that the engine’s fuel intake
regulator had compression re-uptake over-valve flatulence or some such.
Anyway, he said he fixed it.
He didn’t. A week after that, Herman died going to work. I dared to look:
the engine was hissing and steaming and spewing black muck like an espresso machine. I didn’t know whether to call a mechanic or put a coffee mug
under the motor. Mmm. Espresso.
The mechanic got him running again, but the romance was over. I sold
Herman to a man from Dallas, and he had that same dreamy look I once had.
He had his mechanic look Herman up and down, too, and his grease guy said
the same thing mine did. The buyer called me the next week to say the motor
konked out on the highway.
What can I tell ya, I said. You want nostalgia, buy a tie-dye t-shirt. It’s a
hell of a lot cheaper.
Roger White is a freelance writer whose column, Old Spouse, regularly
appears in the Oak Hill Gazette. The TC Notes is reprinting selections from
among Roger’s past columns. To read more, visit oldspouse.wordpress.com.
Online at traviscountry.com
9
It’s a Dog’s Life
• we want you for the •
Sophie Tynes, 4-legged, and Jenny Tynes, 2-legged, TC RESIDENTs
home
& yard
t o u r
2016
Travis country 13th Annual Home & Yard Tour
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Noon – 4 p.m.
Have you remodeled or put in some creative landscaping that you
are willing to share with our neighbors?
Please contact Sherri at [email protected] to volunteer or
to have your home featured on the home tour.
THE OAK HILL ELEMENTARY PTA
Annual Spring Carnival and Silent Auction
Friday, April 8, 2016
Carnival 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Silent Auction bidding 7:45 a.m. - 7:45 p.m.
Oak Hill Elementary Campus
Free Admission
The fun includes: rock wall, obstacle course, moonwalk, face painting, swings, food, train ride, confetti eggs and more. Visit www.OHEPTA.org for more details.
10
It seems that some of my four-legged friends have recently been enjoying the weather by taking a walk in the
neighborhood without their families. Not good. When we
dogs go missing, it tends to cause a bit of panic back home.
So I researched a few things to consider, knowing that
your pup might be heading out alone sometimes:
• Make sure your dog has an ID tag and his collar fits properly. It may
seem tight but you should be able to fit only two fingers under the
collar. Otherwise, dogs can give the collar “the slip.”
• Have your dog microchipped. For an average cost of $45 at your vet,
a microchip can be injected (like a shot). It is a small glass cylinder
about the size of a grain of rice that contains a radio transmitter and
an electronic device containing an ID number. When a dog arrives at
an animal shelter or vet, employees can scan the microchip for the ID
number, search the database, and contact the owner.
• Check out the Finding Rover app on your cell phone or at www.findingrover.com. It allows you to take a photo of your dog that has facial
recognition! If your dog gets lost, report her lost on the app and drop
a pin on the map where your dog went missing. You can add important information on the digital lost dog poster (phone, email, dog
med needs, etc.). Everyone using the app in a 10-mile radius will get
a notification to keep an eye out for your dog. When someone reports
your dog as found, you will get matched with 98 percent accuracy.
If somehow your pup does go missing:
• Visit the Austin Animal Shelter website. The shelter has lots of immediate tips to follow: www.austintexas.gov/department/lost-found-pet.
• As soon as possible, go to the Austin Animal Shelter in person to look
for your pup. The address is 7201 Levander Loop, Bldg. A, Austin, TX
78702.
• Post on the Next Door Travis Country social media site at traviscountry.nextdoor.com. This is a great way to get the word out to neighbors
to be on the lookout for your lost baby.
• Post a screenshot of your dog’s photo on any and all social media to
help get the word out. The more eyes looking out, the better.
• Dogs usually do not go further than 10 to 20 miles from home, so use
the oldie-but-goodie technique of putting physical photo posters in
high-traffic areas all around your neighborhood.
• Last, do not give up! Keep checking the Austin Animal Shelter and
website, explore social media, Next Door, and possible matches on
Finding Rover.
Dogs should all be with their families. Here’s hoping this helps keep more
of us all happily together!
Online at traviscountry.com
TIPS FOR A HEALTHY LAWN
TC Grounds Committee
Spring is around the corner, and soon Travis Country lawns will begin to
emerge from dormancy. Here are some tips for keeping lawns healthy in our
thin rocky soils over the Edwards Aquifer.
The City of Austin launched the “Avoid Weed and Feed” campaign in order to reduce the presence of fertilizer nutrients and weed killers in Austin’s
waterways. The goal of the campaign is to help homeowners improve their
lawn and landscape fertilizer and pesticide choices, application rates, and
disposal habits. For more information, visit: www.austintexas.gov/department/weed-feed.
• Lawns are dormant right now, and nutrients should not be applied until
grass has grown enough to be mowed twice – usually after April 15th.
• “Feeding” or fertilizing before grass is actively growing encourages fungal diseases like Brown Patch and Take-All Patch. Even though these
brown spots look dry, watering them causes the fungal disease to spread. • A thin ¼” layer of organic compost can be used in place of fertilizer
and is the best product to encourage a green, healthy lawn. This can
be applied in the spring and fall, and will help protect turf from fungal
diseases. Dillo Dirt or other products containing sewage effluent are
not recommended where children, pets, or edible plants are found.
• Weeds can be effectively controlled by an application of corn gluten
meal (which also provides a mild source of nitrogen) or simply by
mowing or manual removal. Corn gluten is a safe, organic weed suppressant that can be applied now, and from late September through
early October when weed seeds are actively germinating.
• “Weed & Feed” is toxic to trees, bushes, flower and other shallow-rooted
plants. It contains a broad-leaf herbicide and trees are broad-leaf plants.
• Any fertilizer with the three numbers adding up to greater than 14 is
not appropriate for this area, is not recommended for lawns, and will
cause algae blooms in area creeks and streams.
• Chemical fertilizers & herbicides kill beneficial micro-organisms in
your soil, which actually makes your soil more susceptible to weeds
and diseases.
• Texas A&M researchers found that Lady Bug Brand 8-2-4 Fertilizer
is superior to synthetic fertilizers in creating overall plant health and
beauty. For maximum effectiveness, apply Lady Bug 8-2-4 in mid-late
April after your lawn is actively growing. It is available at the Natural
Gardener and at many other local retailers.
• The Central Texas climate includes dry periods followed by heavy
rains, which is why a light application of slow-release products is more
responsible and effective than the application of chemical products formulated for the deep moist soils of the Northeastern United States.
try t0 avoid “weed and feed” fertilizers
Travis Country is in the most sensitive watershed in Austin – the Barton Springs Zone of the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, and also within
Austin’s Drinking Water Protection Zone. What homeowners apply to their
yards winds up in the pond in Blue Valley, Barton Creek, Barton Springs, the
Edwards Aquifer, and Ladybird Lake. Let’s do our part to keep Austin’s water clean and free of chemicals and algae. Try to refrain from using ‘Weed
and Feed’ products that contain fertilizer and pre-emergent weed killer.
If you’d like to try an alternative to turf grass, visit the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center for inspiration (wildflower.org), ask about native
grass seed, or check out this rebate the City of Austin is offering: www.
austintexas.gov/department/waterwise-landscape-rebate
travis country 5k
and kids’ k
may 1
Register by
April 29th!
Register online
unt Code
www.traviscountry5k.com
Resident Disco
16
TC-RESIDENT-20
Three Sponsorship Levels Available
Go to www.traviscountry5k.com/sponsor/
hool
Middle & High Sc
th us
wi
r
tee
Students, volun
IT!
ED
CR
ICE
RV
SE
for
Like Us on Facebook for Updates
Travis Country 5K
Online at traviscountry.com
Benefiting the Hill Country Conservancy
11
TC NOTES
CO-EDITORS
Pam Bixby
Jill Shiffert
ASSOCIATION REPORTS T RA V I S C O U N T R Y C O MM U N I T Y S E R V I C E a ssoci a tion
Board Meeting Report
Board of Directors Meeting: February 18, 2016
CONTRIBUTORS
Jim McNabb
Ruth Schwab
Sherri Williams
Darrell Hutchinson
Jenny Tynes
Jim Robillard
Roger White
MOTION: To approve an amount not to exceed $13,000 to contract with AE Construction for stonework to replace the wood borders with masonry at the Blue Valley Tennis Courts. By: Cynthia Wilcox. 2nd: Leonard Saenz. Result: Unanimous approval.
MOTION:To approve an amount not to exceed $6,000 to contract with Pro-Fence to install un-painted, galvanized railings to
replace the rotted wood handrails at Blue Valley Tennis Courts. By:
Cynthia Wilcox. 2nd: Angie Wagner. Result: 5 in favor, 1 opposed.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jim McNabb
Roger White
Darrell Hutchinson
MOTION: Motion: To remove rocks and weeds, and level dirt in
the bed inside wood benches by the Lifeguard room; leaving a mound
with a rock border around the Yaupon; and to plant Silver Ponysfoot
in the area leveled at the height of the surrounding decking; for an
amount not to exceed $500. By: Cynthia Wilcox. 2nd: Angie Wagner.
Result: 5 in favor, 1 opposed.
PROOFREADERS
Candy Goodrich
Kim Oswald
DELIVERY
50-plus dedicated,
amazing TC Neighbors!
TCCSA BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
board@traviscountry.
com
Mark Carroll
PRESIDENT
Cynthia Wilcox
VICE PRESIDENT
Amy Sasser
SECRETARY
Steve Byrne
TREASURER
Leonard Saenz
John Hawkins
Deena Perkins
Angie Wagner
Trent Brackenridge
TRAVIS COUNTRY
OFFICE
Frank Craparo, Manager
512-892-2256 (O)
512-891-9554 (FAX)
512-289-1616
(After Hours Emergency)
tcoffice@traviscountry.
com
traviscountry.com
12
TC
MOTION: To hire Bo Masters to remove all dead branches, suckers and ball moss/parasites from all the trees in the Blue Valley Pool
fenced in area for an amount not to exceed $3000. By: Leonard Saenz.
2nd: Cynthia Wilcox. Result: Unanimous approval. Discussion: This
needs to be done immediately as the oak trees are struggling to survive and trimming must be done in the winter.
MOTION: To approve the 2016 Lifeguard Contract proposed by
Austin Pool Pros in the amount of $99,371.80. By: Steve Byrne 2nd:
Cynthia Wilcox. Result: Unanimous Approval. Discussion: Manager
was asked to invite representatives of Pool Pros and the Pool Committee to address the May Board meeting, and to provide the Board with
monthly updates during pool season.
MOTION: To approve Saturday, March 26, 2016 for the Easter
Bash event at Blue Valley park. Budget is included in already approved
2016 Social Committee budget and should not exceed $1,850. By:
Cynthia Wilcox. 2nd: Angie Wagner. Result: Unanimous approval.
MOTION: To approve an amount not to exceed $9,800 for additional architectural fees for renovation of the Blue Valley Amenity
Center. By: Leonard Saenz. 2nd: Angie Wagner. Result: Unanimous
approval. Discussion: Due to an increase in the scope of work there is
a corresponding increase in architectural fees.
MOTION: To review the changes that have been proposed by the
Pool Committee to the following paperwork: Annual TC Pool Registration for Childcare Provider for the 2015 Swim Season. Result: TABLED. Board requests more information from the Pool Committee
regarding this request.
MOTION: To approve adding a “date” line to the TCCSA Liability Waiver for Pool & Keycard use. By: Leonard Saenz. 2nd: John
Hawkins. Result: Unanimous approval, Discussion – no other changes were approved other than adding “date” line.
Motion: To approve changes to SAYOR Exercise Swim Rules
(amended) upon approval of final draft by the HOA Board. By: Leonard Saenz. 2nd: John Hawkins. Result: Unanimous approval. MOTION: To approve the Travis Country Shark’s Club Sanctioning Application. By: Cynthia Wilcox. 2nd: Mark Carroll. Result:
Unanimous approval.
MOTION: To post the entire audio recording of each TCCSA HOA
Board Meeting to the website after the meeting for resident access. By:
Leonard Saenz. 2nd: Cynthia Wilcox. Result: Unanimous approval. Discussion: Since any homeowner is welcome to come down to the office to
listen to the recording of the meeting in its entirety, why not post it to the
website? And because the TC Notes is no longer printing Homeowners
Comments, providing a written transcription of those comments is no
longer necessary, but the audio version would be available via the website. If there is concern with the size of the file in terms of data storage,
maybe just post it until the next meeting’s recording is available.
MOTION: To direct the HOA manager to email members of the
“Hash House Harriers” copying TCCSA’s regional commander, informing them that they trespassed on and damaged private-property owned
by TCCSA, and endangered homeowners and their property by irresponsible and unlawful activities, and that this unlawful activity has
been reported to the police, and notice is hereby given to the “Hash
House Harriers” that any future trespassing and property damage will
be prosecuted to the full extent of the law by TCCSA. By: Cynthia Wilcox. 2nd: Angie Wagner. Result: Unanimous approval. Discussion: There
were multiple complaints by homeowners about this activity and the aftermath on HOA-owned private property.
HOMEOWNER COMMENTS from the February 18th board meeting can be found online on the TC message boards, under “Agendas
and Minutes” at www.traviscountry.com.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Firewise Committee
The Wildfire Protection Workshop was a huge success (see article
and photo on page 7). Firewise home assessments were conducted on
seven properties. We cleared behind two homes on Sendero with help
from 10 volunteers. The Firewise Committee wants to repeat the activity next year to coincide with City of Austin’s large brush pickup.
The Fuel Mitigation Project along Republic of Texas should be finished
by mid-February. First phase of clearing was inspected and approved.
The first application for the new Greenbelt Management Permit
was put forward by the Firewise Committee and approved by the BOD
in January. The homeowner removed four invasive Ligustrum trees
from the HOA greenbelt with the help and approval of his neighbors.
TC was recognized as a National Firewise Community in 2016. So
far this year, TC has accumulated about 100 volunteer hours and spent
$3,000 on firewise activities. Our 2016 decals should arrive soon and
will be placed on Firewise Community signs around the neighborhood.
The committee will submit an article to TC Notes and Nextdoor
to reintroduce homeowners to the Firewise Management Permit. The
permit sanctions specific fuel mitigation activities in our communityowned greenbelt and instructs homeowners on how best to create an
effective “shaded fuel break.”
Travis Country will not take part in the National Fire Protection
Association’s May 7th Wildfire Preparedness Day because of concerns
about hot weather, spread of oak wilt, endangered species protections,
and difficulty of removing large brush.
The committee will investigate partnering with the TC Social
Committee to invite Austin Fire Dept.’s Fire Safety Trailer to a community event.
We reviewed our TC Community Wildfire Action Plan.
The TC Notes © is owned by Travis Country CSA. All rights reserved. Reproduction is prohibited without written permission from the Board of Travis Country CSA. With respect to information
available from the Association's website and/or information found inthe TC Notes, neither the Travis Country Community Service Association Inc. (the Association), nor its officers, directors,
employees, or agents make any warranty, express or implied, concerning any information referenced therein, or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information set out therein or the quality of the services provided by any person or business identified therein. The presence therein of information on any specific products or services
shall not be construed as, and does not constitute or imply an endorsement or recommendation of such products and/or services by the Association and/or its officers, directors, or agents.
Online at traviscountry.com
Grounds Committee
Y’all
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s Volunteer Services Manager, Carrie
McDonald, attended the November Grounds Committee meeting to speak to residents about solutions for a native lawn using HABITURF® grass mix. About a dozen
residents were in attendance. HABITURF®, developed by the Wildflower Center, is a
mixture of three native grasses (buffalograss, blue grama, and curly-mesquite) that
requires less water, less mowing, and less weeding. However, Carrie admonished us
that it is not “magic grass.” If you over-water, over-fertilize, mow too much, or do not
prepare the soil adequately, you will get weeds. The HABITURF® grass mix is currently available for sale online from the Wildflower Center Store and may also be purchased from Douglas King Seeds and Native
American Seed (seedsource.com). You can learn more about this new ecological lawn
alternative at www.wildflower.org/nativelawns/. SLOW
DOWN
POOL COMMITTEE
The committee discussed SAYOR rules regarding “Pool Closed” sign on the HT
gate. This sign means that HT is closed to open swimming and there are no guards on
duty. SAYOR swimmers can continue to swim during SAYOR hours. SAYOR forms
are being updated and will be available at the office. SAYOR cards/forms are due for
renewal for the 2016 swim season in April. Anyone wanting a SAYOR card will need
to deliver a $10 check to the TC Office and complete an updated form listing all family swimmers who will use the card.
The committee will follow up with the TC manager regarding repairs outlined on
the November walk-through. HT repairs were to be completed first since the BV area
is under construction.
After a lengthy discussion on the 2016 Lifeguard contract, the committee decided
Austin Pool Pros offers the best lifeguard service. APP is able to keep both pools
open with adequate lifeguard coverage from May 1st to October 1st because they hire
international college exchange students to work when local students cannot due to
school activities and vacations. (Pools all over Austin were closed parts of the summer due to lifeguard shortages, while the TC pools remained open).
OR CONCRETE BUMPS
WILL SLOW YOU DOWN!
Speed cushions will be installed on Travis Country Circle and Republic
of Texas Boulevard this year unless drivers start following the law.
for real
2016 LIFEGUARD certification options
TC youth who are interested in securing lifeguard certification have four ways to become certified for the 2016 swim season. Austin Pool Pros (APP), our lifeguard service, will accept
certification from all four groups. However, all of our guards
must have certification before they can be employed at TC.
As has been customary in the 40 years that TC has hired lifeguards, each
guard pays for his or her own certification. Parents of lifeguards should verify
all information at the beginning of each pool season because it could change.
Options for lifeguard certification include:
• Ellis & Assoc.: https://www.jellis.com/lifeguard-training-programs.
Questions, [email protected].
• YMCA: www.austinymca.org/programs/lifeguard-trainingcertification.
• American Red Cross: www.redcross.org/take-a-class/program-highlights/lifeguarding. Click on "Find A Class.”
• City of Austin: www.austintexas.gov/department/lifeguarding-austin.
important 2016 pool season
information for residents
caleNdar input needed
The committee is creating the 2016 Pool
Calendar and needs input from the Swim Team,
SAYOR, Water Aerobics, Social Committee (Last Day of School & Last Day
of Summer parties), and any other groups who wish to reserve the pools
for neighborhood events. Please contact Carolyn at CarolynStorey03@
yahoo.com.
IT’S UP TO YOU!
EVERY SUMMER HAS A STORY
YMCA OF AUSTIN
2016 SUMMER CAMP
Austin YMCA Summer Camps offer children & teens, ages 4-14, a safe, exciting,
and memorable day camp experience at 20 area locations in three counties. Kids
have the opportunity to build self-confidence, independence, and creativity, and
parents have peace of mind knowing your kids are in a safe and enriching place.
At YMCA day camps, kids make friends and create stories they’ll share for a
lifetime. What will your child’s summer story be?
Camps fill up fast!
Register today at AustinYMCA.org
or call Program Services at 512.236.9622
Check it out!
Spring Youth Sports Registration Open Now
Online at traviscountry.com
13
CLASSIFIEDS: FOR SALE
travis country student services
Area Rug in Excellent Condition, $50.
512-797-4311
*CPR Training
+ Red Cross Course Certified
# First Aid Training
Name
Age Baby House Plant Pet Lawn Parental Contact / OTHER INFORMATION
Sit
Sit
Care Care Care Supervision
Bauer, Xan *+
17
●
Borrego, Natali+
15
●
Bourgeois, Abby *+#
16
●
Carlson, Elin*#
12
●
Noritake China, Mirano pattern: 11 dinner plates, 10 salad plates, 5 bread/dessert
plates; 9 cups/saucers, sugar and creamer,
oval platter, gravy boat, round vegetable bowl,
oval vegetable bowl. Matching black glasses:
6 iced tea, 7 water, 8 dessert. Excellent condition. Rarely used. NOTE – A similar pattern,
Silver Palace, sells for $140 for one 5-piece
place setting. What I’m offering at this price
is a STEAL for someone. Asking $200. Must
sell. ALL REASONABLE OFFERS CONSIDERED. 512-940-4958
Curran, Meredith
16
●
Davis, Katie+
17
●
●
●
●
Escobedo, Jessica
15
●
●
●
●
Escobedo, Rachel *+
18
●
●
Gilbert, Katey & Megan
14
●
●
Gostisha, Ella
12
Hadd, Evan
14
Isensee, Ava
15
Isensee, Ramon
12
J&S Lawn Care
-
Do you love to collect black and white
cows as much as I do? Here’s your chance to
add to your collection. Various pieces. All for
$20. MUST SELL! PLEASE - GIVE THESE
COWS A HAPPY HOME! 512-940-4958
Jourdan, Dustin
17
Kelly, Fiona
11
Kelly, Izzy*+
13
●
Lanier, Spencer
13
●
Lauritzen, Tessa
18
●
Leuzinger, Sophie+
17
●
512-923-1493 [email protected] Also tutors.
Levatino, Grace
13
●
512-481-8887 Also Mothers helper.
Malachowski, Rhyan
15
●
●
●
●
Marsales, Nathan *#
16
●
●
●
●
Martin, Emily
12
McFee, Kaile
14
McFee, Avery
10
McLarty, Franny
16
●
Muñoz, Mia
15
●
Peterman, Brooke
13
●
Peterman, Claire
15
●
Peterman, William
16
Pillman, Zach *+#
16
●
Porter, Brianna
15
●
Porter, Melissa*+#
18
●
Rose, Ben
13
Rusek, Erin
15
Tagle, Nico
11
Tagle, Sam *#
15
●
●
Waggoner, Charlie
15
●
●
Waggoner, Cate
13
●
●
Solid Oak Wood Young Hinkle “Ships
Ahoy” Collection Desk with three side drawers and top lap drawer. Also matching hutch
top, two shelves with three drawers and builtin light. $350 for set or $200 each piece. 512797-4311
Pioneer 101-CD Changer/Player with
manual and remote. Rarely used. These are
selling on Amazon from $174 and up. It’s
yours for $75, OBO. MUST SELL.512-9404958
Very comfortable swivel rocker. Great
condition, no tears or sagging. Formal living
room chair, rarely used. $75, OBO. MUST
SELL. 512-940-4958
Fully articulating Sansus TV Wall Mount,
Model VMAA26. Designed to mount up to a
50” Flat panel TV weighting up to 130 lbs. All
parts, pieces, and manual. Already assembled
except for mounting to the TV. 512-940-4958
US Capitol Collectible Christmas ornaments - 1996 and 2003. $15 each. Excellent
condition, in boxes with paperwork. 512940-4958
Vintage solid wood school desk. $50,
OBO. 512-940-4958
Antique mirrored fireplace mantle with
beveled mirrors. Great condition. $400 OBO.
512-940-4958
NOW HIRING! TC 2016 Lifeguards
We are looking for
TC residents, age 16+, to
guard Hilltop and Blue
Valley Pools the 2016
swim season. Training scheduled for
Spring Break (March 2015).
Please contact Austin Pool Pros directly at [email protected].
14
●
●
●
●
●
Ref.
512-919-063, [email protected]
Ref.
[email protected], 512-981-8048 (C)
●
891-9194 [email protected] Mother’s helper & tutoring.
●
●
Ref.
Ref.
●
●
Ref.
Ref.
●
●
●
●
●
512-892-2601 [email protected]
[email protected] James Schultz, 16; Samuel Levatino, 17
●
●
512-925-3095
●
●
●
512-891-8199
●
●
●
512-891-8199, [email protected]
●
●
Mom’s helper, potty trained kids.
●
512-284-2120, [email protected]
Ref.
512-906-7744 (Collect mail & papers)
512-203-6858 text/call
892-5939 / Power wash drive/patio
●
●
●
[email protected]
●
●
●
[email protected]
●
●
512-891-9852 [email protected]
512-892-2601 [email protected]
●
●
●
512-891-5351 (Twin-Sit)
512-657-0207 [email protected]
●
●
Call/Text: 512-298-8503 [email protected]
Call or text: 512-750-8056
●
●
512-940-1373 [email protected]
512-550-4534 [email protected], Swim lessons/stroke clinics
●
●
●
Mother’s Helper & babysitting ages 2-8. Call/Text 512-750-8984
512-750-3602
●
●
● + Ref.
●
●
Ref.
512-415-2775. Experience with toddlers. Mother’s helper
Ref.
512-574-0730. Experience with infants & toddlers. Mother's helper.
[email protected]
512-695-8661. Math tutor, teachs trombone & chess.
●
●
●
●
Weldon-Carroll, RyalJames 11
Weldon-Carroll, RyanCole
17
●
●
White, Jamie
16
●
Waggoner, Charlie
15
●
●
Waggoner, Cate
13
●
●
●
●
●
●
Ref.
512-899-1699 (H) 512-705-3360 (C)
●
●
Ref.
Experienced w/ kids of all ages. 899-1699 (H) 705-8578 (C)
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
[email protected], 512-903-8424, experienced, Eagle Scout.
512-203-4264 Cats, dogs, fish, lizards.
512-899-2923 (H), 917-969-0080 (C), [email protected]
●
●
512-784-5788 [email protected]
512-784-5788 [email protected] Potty-trained kids.
●
●
Ref.
Text/Call 512-739-4331
Ref.
Text/Call 512-497-3387. Completed babysitting course.
●
●
Ref.
775-8537. Comm. powerwash, odd jobs, mother's helper w/exp.
●
●
Ref.
512-775-8537. Exp. babysitter. Comm. powerwash drive/patio
●
●
512-350-4841
●
Ref.
Text/Call 512-739-4331
●
Ref.
Text/Call 512-497-3387. Completed babysitting course.
For increased advertising exposure, see the TC Buy/Sell page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/TCBuySell. This is
closed group -- for TC residents only. The page is managed by Angie Wagner. You will need to be approved to join the group.
TC NOTES CLASSIFIEDS POLICY: The Classifieds are open to Travis Country residents only. Free student service ads for non-professional students ages 18-andunder all year, and for college-age residents from June- August. College students must be attending a college or university during the regular school year and living
at home, in Travis Country, during the summer months. Services cannot be conducted on TC Common Property or use TC facilities. All ads except Student Services
ads must be renewed monthly and may run for up to three months. It is the residents’ responsibility to notify the TC Notes of any changes to student ads, including
when a student turns 18 and/or graduates from high school. The TC Notes reserves the right to edit all ads. Contact [email protected] with questions.
Online at traviscountry.com
living, loving, selling
In Travis Country!
Licensed in the State of Texas
512.771.7082
!
D
L
O
S
“Sherri Williams guided me
every step through the selling
process. She is a REALTOR®
Austin Business Journal Top 50
Residential Nominee
who listens and cares about
her clients; she provides sound
advice and is prompt to
Platinum Top 50 Finalist
respond to my questions or
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015
Five Star Professional Winner
concerns.”
-- Alice Bell, Seller
4829 Trail Crest Circle
[email protected] | SherriWilliams.com
Your
Your Travis
Travis Country
Country
Mortgage
Mortgage Specialist
Specialist
TC march EVENTS CALENDAR
COMPILED by Ruth Schwab, TC RESIDENT
3/01 Pool Committee Meeting
7:00 p.m.
3/01Travis County Elections
7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.Small Middle School
3/10Safety Committee Meeting
6:00 p.m.TBD
4323 Sendero Dr.
We’re Committed to World Class Service!
3/10 Board of Directors Meeting 6:00 p.m.Regents School, Rm. 227
3/11 TC Notes Deadline
5:00 p.m.
3/14Grounds Committee Meet
6:30 p.m.TBD
Each office is Independently
Owned and Operated.
• Purchase
• Home Improvement
[email protected]
• Refinance
• Cash Out
3/22TC Land Preservation Meet 7:00 p.m.TBD
3/31TC Notes Delivery
via volunters
TBDTC History CommitteeTBD
Shane P. Moe
NMLS #164686
TBDArchitectural CommitteeSee TC Message Board
5316 Hwy. 290 West Ste. 560
Austin, TX 78735
512-560-0000
www.leader1mortgage.com
TBD Communications CommitteeSee TC Message Board
TBDTennis Committee MeetingSee TC Message Boad
Occasional scheduling conflicts or other events may cause a meeting to be delayed, cancelled or rescheduled
without notice. If you are not a committee member, please confirm that the meeting will take place as scheduled.
LeaderOne Financial Corporation is licensed by the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending. Corporate Headquarters: 11020
King Street, Suite 390; Overland Park, KS 66210, NMLS ID #12007. www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. This advertisement does not constitute a loan approval or a loan commitment. Loan approval and/or loan commitment is subject to final underwriting review and approval.
Online at traviscountry.com
15
Molly Austin ,
Realtor ®
Blackburn Properties
512 771 0721
[email protected]
www.mollyaustin.com
M
MOLLY ’S 2¢ (ON TRAVIS COUNTRY REAL ESTATE)
ost Monday mornings
I plan a neighborhood
walk with a neighbor
friend of mine, where we wander
through beautiful Travis Country. We talk about everything under the sun, and often touch on the
subject of real estate. As we were
coming to the end of one of those
walks, and had been talking about
our fabulous community, my friend
had an “A-HA” moment. She said
“do you realize that on every street
we have walked this morning, you
have helped buy or sell at least one
if not more houses on that street,
and some of those houses you have
helped clients buy or sell more than
once.” This realization made me
feel a great sense of accomplishment, knowing that I had helped
Travis Country families transition
in and out of houses, and found
them new homes to cherish with
their families.
I absolutely LOVE the opportunity
to help clients buy and sell houses
here in Travis Country and this is
where I call home. I am asked quite
a bit if I only sell houses in Travis
Country. Although Travis Country
is where the majority of my business
has been, and is the neighborhood I
continue to focus on, but I do work
all over Austin and the surrounding
cannot predict what is in store for
Austin, but it is my hope that more
houses become available for sale,
and that the supply and demand of
the market becomes a bit more balanced. Not to say that the current
seller should benefit any less, but
if that seller is then looking for a
house, especially in Travis Country,
“ This realization made me feel a great sense of
accomplishment, knowing that I had helped Travis
Country families transition in and out of houses, and
found them new homes to cherish with their families.”
area. From Leander to Wimberley
and all places in between, I have
helped clients buy and sell houses.
it can be a roller coaster ride. An
experienced agent can certainly help
with smoothing out that bumpy ride.
Spring is the season that people tend
to focus on the opportunity of selling
or buying a house. In Austin it is a bit
different, because houses are in such
demand, that the search for buying a
house can be a year round venture. I
If selling your house is something
you are thinking about further down
the line, I can help you plan the
transition between houses that will
hopefully allow for the least amount
of stress and the biggest sense of accomplishment. It doesn’t need to be
tomorrow when you plan on selling
your house. It can be six months
or more, or just the possibilities of
“what if”. I have worked with some
clients here in the neighborhood for
years now, that when the time is
right, we will be ready to make the
right move for them.
I live in Travis Country.
I love
where I live and I love what I do for
a living, which is to help families
find houses they can call home. If
you are considering buying or selling a house here in Travis Country,
please allow me to represent you as
your trusted advisor in the real estate
business. I appreciate your support.
All About Austin
Don’t miss the fun at
RODEO AUSTIN March
12th - 26th at the Travis
County Exposition Center. Headline
concerts include Willie Nelson, Smokey
Robinson, and more. More information
and to buy tickets visit rodeoaustin.com.
Tip of t he Mont h
Join in the family-friendly fun at two great
Travis Country events this March. First
up, grab a blanket for fun under the stars
at the Spring Movie Night Double Feature. Saturday March 5th, 6:30 p.m. at
Blue Valley Park. On March 26th the annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held at Blue
Valley Park. Thanks to the many volunteers that continue to make these great
events possible.
TC ST I C K E RS
Show your love of Travis
Country and display your sticker on
your car, bike, or just about anything!
Need extra stickers? Drop me an email.