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

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.

Our usual complaints relating to animals are most often 1) loose cats wandering around and 2) dogs pooping on lawns without the waste being disposed of properly.

Now we have received a complaint that some folks are putting the poop they DO pick up in other people’s trash bins. However, the deposits are happening, apparently, without first closing the poop bag or otherwise just dumping the poop directly in the bin.

After checking with the City of Austin via 311, I confirmed that putting poop (bagged or otherwise) into someone else’s trash bin is considered “illegal dumping.” Yes, really.

Another curious tidbit that I learned on the call to 311 is that if you catch someone leaving dog poop in a yard without picking it up, you must (presumably after identifying said offender) file a report with the Municipal Court.

The bottom line is, should you catch someone in the act of “illegally dumping” poop in your trash bin, you should call 911 immediately (yes, 911 and not 311) and report the illegal dumping.

Or, you might just smile and be happy that the nice neighbor walking their dog had the courtesy to take the time to dispose of their dog’s waste appropriately.

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.

Where

Oak Meadow Baptist Church

6905 South IH-35

Austin, Texas 78744

The Austin Police Department and Greater Austin Crime Commission are partnering again in Guns4Groceries, a “no questions asked” gun buyback program. Nearly 350 guns were collected in the first buyback last June. Similar programs in Chicago, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Philadelphia have been successful in removing thousands of guns from the streets.

RECEIVE CASH FOR UNWANTED GUNS AND RIFLES

$10 air gun, BB gun, or replica

$100 handguns and rifles

$200 assault rifles

Two gun limit per person. No gun dealers.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SURRENDERING GUNS AND RIFLES

Unload the gun. Put the gun and ammunition in separate paper bags. Bring gun and ammunition to Oak Meadow Baptist Church (6905 South IH-35), Saturday, February 26, 2011, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Upon arrival, tell an officer you are there to turn in a gun. Do not remove the gun from the bag unless asked to do so.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Austin Police Department 512-974-5017 or police3@ci.austin.tx.us

Greater Austin Crime Commission 512-482-8107 or info@austincrime.org

I reported it to 311 Ref # 15318. Just want everyone to be aware and to keep small dogs and cats indoors.
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Following is additional information about coyotes from Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Description

The Coyote is very similar in size to a small German Shepherd and weighs an average of 25 to 40 pounds. It has long, slender legs, a bushy tail with a black tip, and large ears that are held erect. The Coyote’s coat can vary, but it is usually gray or buff-colored. From a close vantage point, there is no mistaking the yellow eyes and black, round pupils. The Coyote is a strong swimmer. It characteristically runs with its tail down instead of horizontally like foxes, or up like wolves and dogs.

Life History

The Coyote is an extremely intelligent animal with keen senses of hearing, sight and smell. It primarily is nocturnal and very opportunistic. Coyotes will eat just about anything. They feed primarily on rabbits, rodents and insects, but they also eat carrion, lizards, snakes, fruit, vegetable matter and even fish. This adaptability also is evident in their use of cover. The Coyote requires minimal shelter to survive, but it will use a den for the birth and care of its young. Coyotes usually prefer to take use an abandoned badger den or natural cavities rather than dig their own den; however, they will make the necessary renovations by excavating multiple escape tunnels linked to the surface.

Coyotes are considered monogamous, with pairs remaining together for several years, although not necessarily for life. They breed from mid-January to early March. After a gestation period of 63 to 65 days, a litter of five to seven pups is born. During the weeks following the birth, the male will bring food to the family, but the female will not allow him inside the den. Coyotes normally may live from 10 to 12 years.

Habitat

The adaptability of the Coyote and its acute sense of survival make it difficult to identify preferred habitat, although they most typically are associated with open plains in the West and brushy areas in the East. Their opportunistic nature has provided them the full advantage of surviving in a rapidly changing environment.

Distribution

Coyotes have an extensive range across the United States. They have slowly filled the void left by the declining population of wolves throughout the country. In Texas, they range throughout the state.

No other info is available at this time and Tattershall does not currently have a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain. If you live on Tattershall and would like to volunteer to help keep your neighborhood safe, please contact us.

Prior to this, these same neighbors had their house broken into on June 27th, between 9 and 10 pm. They know the time, because the teenager had come home at 9 pm, was home for a few minutes, and then he left. He returned at 10 pm to find that the back window had been broken into. They have two small windows in the back of their living room. The robbers had first tried her bedroom window (evidenced by the screen being torn), and then moved to the living room window. They took only things they could carry. They took: knives, rings, Ps2, xbox, psp handheld game, gameboy sp, multiple games and controllers, a Black and white Fender Squire guitar in it’s case, 2 quarter collections, several uncirculated 1972 Eisenhower Silver dollars, prescription bottles with old pain meds, two backpacks and a large canvas bag with teddy bears on it. The creepy part is that our neighbor has some coin jars on her dresser. One of the jars on her dresser had a dried rose in it. They took the coins and placed the dried rose on her bed. These were kids. They ate strawberries from the fridge, left the milk and chocolate syrup on the counter. Since the hours are so limited, they know that these are happening by someone that knows when they are home, and knows what they have in their house and garage.

Please keep a watch out for anyone trying to sell the above mentioned items. Watch your neighbors yards for any suspicious people or vehicles. If anything looks out of place, call 311 or 911, write down vehicle descriptions and license plates. Be aware of your surroundings.