Also, please remember to spay or neuter your pets. And if you have not already done so, remember that you can get FREE identification for your pets by calling 3-1-1. That way, if your pet is ever lost, they can be easily identified by a veterinarian.

Topics of interest include:

• A Balcones District Park Hike and Bike Trail update
• Election of board members (several board positions are available)
• Drop box for Recycled Reads (please bring your used paper and audio books for donation)
• Volunteer to be a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain

Balcones District Park in the Milwood subdivision is getting help from small hands this Saturday, April 14, when students from the Austin International School (AIS), guided by their families, will be cleaning the park as a part of Keep Austin Beautiful’s city-wide Clean Sweet initiative. Students from Austin International School will be picking up trash and cleaning playground equipment in order to show their commitment to public works in their new adopted neighborhood. The school will be relocating to its new location at 4001 Adelphi Lane in June.

Not only is AIS joining in on the city-wide effort sponsored by Keep Austin Beautiful, the school has committed to conducting such community service projects several times a year. Last November, students partnered with Little Helping Hands volunteer service organization to help clean up Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park.

“Community service is extremely important for AIS. It is a way for us to support our local community while teaching our students to embrace the challenges brought by the world out there,” said AIS Head of School Christophe Bonnet. “AIS will increasingly become more involved in the Austin community to show our appreciation and give opportunities to our students to become positive contributors to their local community.”

About Us

AIS provides an international education based on solid academic foundations, lifelong social skills and a positive forward-thinking outlook, allowing students to thrive in the world of today and tomorrow.
Our curriculum, delivered in three languages and built on a French curriculum framework, develops students’ critical thinking and intellectual curiosity. This will prepare them for academic success in French, American, and international institutions.
Academically this will prepare them to, amongst others, take the International Baccalaureate (IB) or the French International Baccalaureate diplomas.
Our goal is to cultivate independent thinking, build confidence and broaden our students’ perspective to lay the foundation for success in a global community.

AIS Today

Our school is a non-profit organization, composed of approximately 161 students from 30 nationalities, speaking 16 different languages. At AIS everyone is welcome and diversity is encouraged. We are fully accredited by the French Ministry of Education, which is the recognition of all our efforts over the past 10 years to provide a traditional and solid foundation to our children, combined with a forward thinking outlook. Only three schools in Texas and 37 in all in the USA have attained this highly sought-after recognition.

For further information, please contact Suzanne Krause:
Email: suzanne.krause@austininternationalschool.org | Phone: (512) 331-7806 ext 3

I have been in discussions with John Gillum of the Austin Public Library for some years now about the future expansion of the Milwood Branch into what has been called a “Regional Hub”, “Resource Library”, “mini-central libraries” or various other names for what is to be one of four significantly larger satellites to the Central Library.

It provides an opportunity to create a major focal point for our neighborhoods for decades to come, so whether it is a success or a failure is in my opinion of vital importance.

This is a very long term endeavor, with funding for it years away still. HOWEVER, John has asked me to start the process of developing and compiling the community’s thoughts into a BUILDING PROGRAM that will be created with the library staff. This document will help shape a future bond proposal and subsequently would be used to guide the design of the building with whatever firms and architects are eventually brought on board.

Toward that end, I am extending an invitation to folks in the neighborhoods who would be interested in being part of a working group that would help craft this document. At this point I am first just compiling an email list of people who would like to be actively involved in some capacity. Eventually we will hold some public forums or surveys for people to come and give ideas or opinions, but that is still a bit in the future. First I’m looking for the people who might be interested in organizing those events, researching ideas, doing surveys and helping me guide the effort.

If you are one of those people, or have other skills that may be of help in this, email Javier Bonafont and he’ll put you on the list and we can coordinate a meeting sometime soon.

You can, of course, always call 3-1-1 to ask questions and get clarifications about code compliance violations or just about anything else in Austin. We are a neighborhood association rather that an HOA with specific rules. As such, we rely on the City codes for guidance in upkeep and maintenance issues throughout the neighborhood. Examples of typical inquiries we receive include yards not being maintained; too many vehicles on the property; and homes in disrepair.

Cap Metro will review the service periodically to see whether early Saturday service is justified. If eventually approved, the service could be expanded to begin on Saturdays at 10 am.

Finally, Cap Metro is working extend the nighttime service for the entire route, including Leander. This is a separate budgeting issue, however, and may take some time.

For more information see the MetroRail web site.

- Biggest Fur Ball (Sponsored by Mud Puppies)

Your dog’s hair can help us bring a new Guinness World Record to Austin! – Brush your dog and help us build the Ball!

- Most Dogs Sitting Simultaneously – Sponsor this Ring!

- Most Dogs Wearing the Same Bandana (provided by Petco!)

Dog and family friendly sponsors like Petco, Purina and Mud Puppies will be back sharing samples and information for dogs and their best friends. The popular Groovy Dog Bakery’s Doggie Cake Walk will be back as will the Canine Center for Training and Behavior’s cool Agility Course. Try it out with your pooch.

Proceeds benefit nonprofit Texas Hearing and Service Dogs, now in its 24th year of turning strays into stars that assist disabled Texans. Learn more and register at www.servicedogs.org.

By attending, you will help feed the community for Thanksgiving! Please bring a two item donation per person to the Harvest Fest. The Gateway food pantry provided nearly 100 turkeys with fixings to families last year through help from neighbors like you.

The most needed food items are:

• Frozen Turkey’s
• Boxed Stuffing
• Rice
• Dry Beans
• Canned hearty soups
• Canned Chili
• Canned Stew
• Canned Meats
• Canned Beans
• Oatmeal
• Boxed Cereal

Next up is our bi-annual Neighborhood Garage Sale on Saturday, October 15, 2011. If you plan to participate, please send us your address so that we can add you to the list we will publish prior to the sale day.

Also on Saturday, October 15, 2011 the local branch of the Raindrop Foundation, at 12400 Amherst Drive will be holding a Turkish Food and Crafts Fair from noon until 6 pm. All proceeds will benefit the Bastrop restoration efforts.