sna newsletter dec 2010

8/8/2019 SNA Newsletter Dec 2010

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Southwood Scene 1

Southwood SceneVolume 2, Issue 1 December 2010

Letter from SouthwoodsPast PresidentDear Friends,

Thank you for givingme the honor to serve asyour Southwood Neighbor-hood Association Presidentthese past two years. I LOVEliving in our neighborhood. Ifeel so fortunate to havefound it when I was searchingfor my first and most proba-bly, my only home, as I cantimagine ever moving fromhere. Our hood has contin-ued to become the kind of place that I was hoping it wouldbe when I moved here. Thanks to all of you, we have ac-complished a lot in the past few years. One of the things Iam most proud of is that we very successfully encouragedthe City Council to expand the McMansion Ordinance.This could not have been done without the shared respon-sibilities of attending the lively and usually entertaining

Planning and Zoning Commission, emailing our City Coun-cil, attending neighboring neighborhood meetings, attend-ing information meetings, talking to the press and attend-ing and lending support at the Council meeting when theyvoted unanimously in our favor. We all learned a tremen-dous amount about how our wonderful city of Austinworks. (I mean that seriously, but you are welcome to takeit facetiously!) We also FINALLY got our newsletter going!If anyone wins the lotto any time soon, wed love a dona-tion for mailing out the newsletter to every single house-hold (Over 1000!) in Southwood at least once a year.

We have slowly, but surely, gotten more

neighbors involved in various activities such as coming tothe meetings, volunteering for and attending the South-wood Thing, writing for the Southwood Scene Newsletter,getting down and dirty at Its My Park Days, forming Par-ent/Family Groups and Neighborhood Watch groups andfinally, just being dang good neighbors and friends.

Sincerely,

Missy Bledsoe

Note from our In-ComingPresidentHi Neighbors,

I'd like to start by saying thanks to everyone for makingme President of the Southwood Neighborhood Association(SNA). I love where I live and look forward to working withyou to make Southwood an even better place to live. I'dlike to also thank all of the past and current officers for set-

ting such an impressive (and intimidating!) precedent forwhat can be accomplished when neighbors work together.

I have two goals that I plan to personally focus on whilepresident. The first is to make sure more people are awarethat the SNA exists and what its goals are. I know that inour big neighborhood there are lots of great people whowould be willing to help out if they only knew that the SNAexists! All of the people that currently do come to meet-ings, events, and participate on the list serve are proof ofthis. The second goal is to reach out to all of the peoplewho know about the SNA but are not sure how they canhelp. I want to make sure they know all of the opportunities,

big and small, tocontribute. Wehave a lot of tal-ented people inour neighbor-hood and I can'twait to see whatthey can do.Lastly, I'd like tothank HelenRockenbaugh forstepping forwardto become our

new Vice President as well as brand new officer! I'm look-ing forward to a great year in Southwood!

Josh Maxwell, President

Southwood Neighborhood Association


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Southwood Scene 2

Neighborhood Lanes

Re-ConfiguredMichael CosperCOA Neighborhood Contact for Salem Walk

Association of Neighbors

Emerald Forest was recently resurfaced.

This triggered the City of Austin policy that looks

at bike lane configuration and parking modifica-

tions to eliminate parked cars in the bike lane.

After mail notification and a meeting with

the stakeholders the city decided:

To remove on-street parking on the east side

of Emerald Forest from Aberdeen south tothe bridge over Williamson Creek.

Vinson has no parking on both east and west

sides.

South of the bridge, parking was removed on

the west side of Emerald Forest from the bridge

south to Stassney.

Parking was removed on the east side of Emer-

ald Forest from Pine Meadow south to Stass-

ney.

A traffic study has been done to determine

if a four-way stop should be put in at the intersec-

tion of Emerald Forest and Radam Circle along

with a right-turn-only lane southbound at Emerald

Forest and Stassney. No decisions have been

made at this time.


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Southwood Scene 3

Free Tax Assistance near

Southwood Neighborhood

Joan Owens, Secretary Southwood

Neighborhood Association

Did you know that near our Southwood

Neighborhood boundaries that there are two con-venient locations for free tax assistance? Bothprovide no-cost tax preparation by certified volun-teer tax preparers, as well as free electronic taxfiling to those qualified.

New to our neighborhood is the Founda-tions Communities Community Financial Center at2600 W. Stassney Lane. In addition to TaxPreparation that begins in January, they also pro-vide year-round financial coaching, home buyereducation, self-employed/small business help, and

information on a Cash for College program.

AARP, the nations largest membershiporganization for people 50+, has provided taxpreparation at the South Austin Senior ActivityCenter, 3911 Manchaca Road for years. Althoughthey cater to those 50 years old and older, AARPTax-Aide program is there serving low-to-middleincome taxpayers of all ages.

Foundation Communities

2600 W. Stassney Lane at Westgate

(512) 447-2026

You may be eligible for free tax preparation if you

are:

An individual who makes $25,000 a year or less.

A family (2-4 people) making a total of $50,000 a

year or less.

For larger families, the income limit goes up

$5,000 for each individual (a family of 5 can

make up to $55,000, a family of 6 can make up to

$60,000, etc.).

You are qualified to use tax forms which volun-

teers are certified to prepare.

http://www.foundcom.org/get-financially-stable/

community-financial-center/

Have an idea?We are looking for contributors for Southwood

Scene. Please [email protected] to

volunteer and help grow ourneighborhood newsletter!


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Southwood Scene 4

December 20101st - Hanukkah starts at sundown4th-5th - UT Fall Graduation5th - Zilker Tree Lighting10th (6-10pm) - Urban Farmer's Market Extrava-ganza at 5109 Manchaca12th - Sunrise Community Church Youth Pro-gram Christmas18th (6:30pm) - Woodlawn Baptist Church Sin-gles Christmas Party20th-31st AISD Schools closed25th - Christmas, all area churches have pro-

grams as well as Christmas eve programs31st - First Night Austin

January 201117th - MLK Day (schools, banks, etc. closed)18th - Classes begin at UT for Spring semester

20th - (7PM) Southwood Neighborhood Associa-tion Meeting, ACC South Austin Campus (notethis is the 3rd Thursday of January)24th - (11AM-2PM) Austin Job Fair at EmbassySuitesFebruary 20115th - Carnival Brasiliero

20th - Austin Marathon (Livestrong)

*General SNA meetings fall on the second Thursday of odd-

numbered months. If youd like to include an event for the

neighborhood on this calendar in a future issue, please email

[email protected].

Calendar of Eventswhats happening in and around Southwood


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Southwood Scene 5

Custom Remodeling

& Handy Man Service30+ Years Experience

Ray Withers

(512) 970-4104

Kyle Withers

(512) 810-7434

5018 Lansing Drive

Austin, Texas 78745

[email protected]

October Park Work DayThanks to everyone who got down and dirty to help

clean up and improve the butterfly garden!

Before: lots of weeds.

The hard-working crew: Sara Dunn, Dawn Leach, Lupe Sosa, NicoleSanford and Jennifer Thomas (not pictured: Josh Maxwell)

After: weeds pulled, new plants put in,mulchedbeautiful!


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Southwood Scene 6

Urban Farmer's Market:

A Market in our Neighborhoodby Miriam McKinney, Southwood Neighbor

I had driven past the handmade signs for

weeks. "Urban Farmer's Market, 5109 Manchaca,

Saturdays 10AM-3PM". I had even driven by thehouse where I saw a few card tables set up and I

figured it to be this new farmer's market. A few

weeks later, I didn't see the signs and I thought that

the market hadn't made it.

I was wrong. It turns out that they had simply

closed as not to conflict with Halloween. The next

week, the signs were back up and I was determined

to go and investigate this new Farmer's Market that

is in Southwood Neighborhood. I have frequented

the Farmer's Markets in Sunset Valley and the one

at Barton Creek Mall in the past and was curious

what this market would have to offer.

I drove south on Manchaca just past Jones

Rd and saw the tables and tents up in the yard of a

residence. I pulled on to the next street and parked.

As I approached I realized that the offerings at this

market were much more than I had seen from the

road. I immediately met Robin Reid who owns the

house at 5109 Manchaca. She explained, "One dayI just realized that I couldn't eat all the food that was

growing in my garden." And that's how the Urban

Farmer's Market started. She placed some ads in

Craigslist offering up free booth space for interested

local merchants with natural, homemade or home-

grown goods. She hopes to expand to use more of

her lot and possibly some space just to one side of

her. On this particular Saturday, there were seven

booths set up by noon and it seemed a few more

were on the way. Robin has a vision of hosting fifty

booths one day.

Each person I talked to had a story about

what had brought them to be selling their goods at

this Farmer's Market. They were each equally en-

thusiastic about explaining what they had brought

on this day, suggesting that next time it could be

something a bit different. One of the woman, who

makes and sells natural lotions, soaps and hair ton-

ics was also offering some homemade cranberry

muffins since she decided that she, "felt like baking

this morning." I got a lesson on why it's easier and

better to raise quails than chickens. I was taught

how to "trim" my lettuce garden (if I had one or

wanted to purchase my own small one on this day),

I learned that a BBQ sauce can still taste great even

if it is a combination of Missouri and Texas flavors. I

found jars of pickled okra, which I love, and pickled

watermelon, which I'd never seen. There were arti-

sans who had made beautiful magnets and hand

knitted hats. And, of course, there was fresh pro-

duce. I chatted with a few of the patrons, too. Some

were from our neighborhood and others traveled to

South Austin to shop at all of our Farmer's Markets.

Everyone was warm and friendly, just what youdexpect from our neighbors.

Where in Southwood?

Do you know where this picture was taken in the

Southwood neighborhood? Email your answer to

[email protected] and a winner will be

drawn from the correct answers submitted. The win-

ner will receive a Southwood Neighborhood t-shirt!

Answers must be emailed by February 1, 2011.


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Southwood Scene 7

Recently in Southwood...

How long have you lived in Southwood?

I have lived in my home in Southwood 31 years

What do you like best about Southwood?I like the size of our lots, that NOW I know many of my neighbors share myconcern for the environment, belonging to SNA, the SNA Yahoo and thethings I have learned through the emails sent out by all.

What's your best tip to be a good neighbor?

To me, being a good neighbor is sharing what you have with each other,praying for the neighborhood and accepting the differences without conflict

What one thing about Southwood would you like to see improved?

Because of health for both my husband and I we are at doctors offices or

South Austin hospital often. I agree with Angie on S. 2nd

about James Casey

and St Elmo needing more visibility. I hate cutting down the brush/trees but it needs to be done. Not sure who owns

the lot on the eastside but maybe a nice garden with low bushes at the corner.

Carol, Southwood Neighbor

Meet Your Neighbor

Carol on Birchwood Ct.

Specializing in Remodels

Bathroom * Kitchen

Granite Counter Tops * Room Additions

Decks * Enclosures * Metal Roofs

Pro-Wor

kz

Jorge Perez

512.563.5976

[email protected]

National Night Out on Hank Ave.


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Southwood Scene 8

SOUTHWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2010-2011

Josh Maxwell President

Helen Rockenbaugh First Vice President

Missy Bledsoe Second Vice President

Dawn Leach Treasurer

Joan Owens Secretary

Park Beautification Chair: Nicole Sanford

Safety and Crime Prevention Chair: Jill Prikryl

Newsletter Chair: Julie Maxwell

Southwood Parents Network Chair: Jennifer Thomas

Cap Metro Committee Chair: David Foster

CONTACT US!

[email protected]

http://www.main.org/southwood

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SouthwoodNeighbors/

PURPOSEAND MISSIONOFTHE SOUTHWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD

ASSOCIATION

The purpose of Southwood Neighborhood Association is to seek

to preserve and improve the quality of life in the neighborhood and

to provide support in all matters of neighborhood concern. The

Mission Statement of the Southwood Neighborhood Association is

to promote a sense of community, and to encourage active

participation and pride in our neighborhood.

ABOUT SOUTHWOOD SCENE

Southwood Scene is an online newsletter for the Southwood

Neighborhood Association. Copies are printed by neighbors and

passed out at the Southwood Neighborhood Association meet-

ings. For those neighbors without internet access, we encourage

you to print a copy of the newsletter and take it to them. We

welcome everyone to contribute to the newsletter. To find out

about the next Southwood Scene meeting, please email

[email protected].

Southwood NeighborhoodBoundaries

sna newsletter dec 2010

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