Milwood Neighborhood Assoc.

As an FYI to folks who may have missed the CapMetro report to the community in mid-May, I linkit below, and not the commitment for another update in “mid-June”

http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/capital-metrorail-update.shtml

Resident Cheryl Harrison sends us informaiton on the following gardening seminars:

Rainwater Harvesting for Your Garden
Saturday, June 13, 2009
10am-Noon
Riverplace Country Club
4207 River Place Blvd
Austin TX 78730

Come enjoy a free seminar concentrating on capturing rainwater and lowering water usage in your landscape. This session will teach you all the basics on building a non-potable rainwater harvesting system.

In addition, learn about rain gardens which capture valuable rainwater in your landscape. Vendors representing tank and gutter companies will be available to answer specific questions. City of Austin representatives will be available to answer permit and rebate questions. This seminar is free and open to the public and does not require reservations.

Becoming a Garden Detective: Diagnosing Plant Problems
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
7-9pm
Steiner Ranch Towne Square Community Center
12550 Country Trails Lane
Austin 78732

Just when you think you’ve done everything right by your plants, one of them starts to go downhill. One of the biggest challenges for gardeners is correctly diagnosing plant problems and finding effective, safe solutions. Is your plant dying because of an insect, environmental or disease problem? Join us to learn the causes of plant problems, the process for diagnosing plant problems, and preventive garden management techniques. This class is free and open to the public. A plant clinic will run during the seminar to help you diagnose current problems so please bring samples of problem plants.

In case you have not heard, TV’s go digital on Friday, and if you have an analog TV without a convertor box, you’re going to turn on a box of static. Read here for more:

http://www.austin360.com/tv/content/tv/stories/2009/06/0607tvcolumn.html

Nine city pools would be closed and public libraries would open an hour later and close an hour earlier under new proposed budget cuts unveiled this afternoon. Read more at the Statesman.

Please attend your neighborhood Spring General Meeting Thursday, April 30th at 7pm in the Milwood Library.

A few notes about the meeting:

Agenda Change
We made a call earlier this month that a political debate format this time around wasn’t in the cards. Frankly, the Council candidates are run ragged right now with (literally) multiple debates a night, debate fatigue has definitely set in, and it just didn’t make sense. We are still happy to allow candidates an opportunity for a short address if they come, but it won’t be the meeting focus.

Instead, we will have a topical presentation from city staff on local bike/sidewalk capacity and its tie-in to commuter rail, and a neighborhood discussion about the upcoming July 4th event.

Bike & Pedestrian presentation
First, Annick Beaudet from city staff come and talk about the potential for a bike trail that would connect Duval with the frontage road, and ultimately to the Kramer station through the Domain. This would be a major time saver and safety improvement, so if you have any interest in getting to commuter rail on your own power, you should come out and show the city that the Community is interested in this. Annick is a critical player for the city Bicycle Plan, as well as city sidewalk planning, so she can speak to any other items you may have.

July 4th discussion
Second, we’d like to engage the neighborhood on how to have a great July 4th, our best neighborhood event that always draws hundreds of people. It seems far away, but it’s not. This is an event that only successful with active neighborhood support. With the economy as an obvious backdrop, we need your time, talent and ideas more than ever to ensure we do a great job with an important neighborhood tradition.

Please come out on Thursday and be an active part of your community.

Early Voting for city elections goes from Monday, April 27, 2009 through Tuesday, May 05, 2009. The link below has information on all early voting locations (and yes, you can vote at any of them).

http://www.co.travis.tx.us/county_clerk/election/20090509/early.asp

The closest to the neighborhood is:

Randalls Research and Braker
10900-D Research Boulevard @ Braker Lane
Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm

AISD, along with the E3 Alliance and Austin Voices, is sponsoring a series of Community Conversations to gather input from the public about education in our city. Over 30 neighborhood groups will gather in homes, libraries, schools, churches and other community spaces to talk about what we can do to educate the community’s children for the 21st century.  Notes from all of the community conversations will be compiled into a report that will be used by our new superintendent, Dr. Meria Carstarphen, and the AISD Board of Trustees as they develop a new strategic plan for the district.

The closest Community Conversation to Milwood is:

Friday, May 1
Davis Elementary 5214 Durval Rd.
8:30 – 10 a.m., cafeteria