Join us for

Gracywood's 4th of July Parade

Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

 

9:00 am - Bittern Hollow entry to greenbelt (at the water fountain)

Come decorate your non-motorized bikes, strollers and wagons in American colors.

 

9:30 am - Parade along park path towards Parkfield and back to water fountain

 

10:00 am - Live Music, awards, iced watermelon, cupcakes and mingling

 

Cupcake Contest: Bring decorated cupcakes to share and for judging.

 

Bring a neighbor, chairs, and your red, white and blue spirit!

 

To volunteer contact: Bill Glass 836-3330

 

 

2nd Annual Gracywoods 4th of July Parade

Join us for

Gracywood's 4th of July Parade

Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

 

8:30 am - Bittern Hollow entry to greenbelt (at the water fountain)

Come decorate your non-motorized bikes, strollers and wagons in American colors.

 

9:00 am - Parade along park path towards Parkfield and back to water fountain

 

9:30 am - Live Music, awards, iced watermelon, cupcakes and mingling

 

Cupcake Contest: Bring decorated cupcakes to share and for judging.

 

Bring a neighbor, chairs, and your red, white and blue spirit!

 

To volunteer contact: Bill Glass 836-3330

 

 

GWNA Monthly Meeting - Tuesday, June 1st @ 7:00 p

Join us for the June meeting of the

Gracywoods Neighborhood Association

Tuesday, June 1st

Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ

Family Life Center - Bldg. A

11908 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78753

7:00 p.m.

 

We will vote on our new By-laws and Articles of Incorporation for Gracywoods Neighborhood Association.  We are modifying these two important documents to become a non-profit organization.

 

We will also have pictures of the preliminary site plan for the new North Central Community Clinic, to be built by
Central Health (formerly Travis County Health District).

 

We will also start our planning for the

 

Second Annual Gracywoods

4th of July Parade

(Tentatively scheduled for Saturday, July 3rd, 9a.m.)

 

Come meet your neighbors and share your concerns for our neighborhood.

Bring a neighbor.

 

GracyWatch Notice

Stay Alert.

Crime spikes in the summer months

We must stay vigilant.

We must call 911 for any suspicious activity

 

How do we stop crime in our neighborhood this summer?

 

1. Harden your house. Your sliding glass door should have either a lock or a pole at the bottom to prevent it from sliding when you are not home. If your sliding glass door is on backwards, install a pin in the top metal rail to prevent the doors from sliding.

 

2. Deadbolts screws:  Change the screws on your deadbolt plate. The plate on the doorframe, where your deadbolt catches, is your home's weak spot. Most homes in our neighborhood had plates that were installed with short screws. Remove the short screws and put in longer screws, at least 6 inches, these hold the plate to the stud around the door. If you do not replace these screws, it will take a thief about 10 seconds to smash in your door. The screws cost about a dollar - the cheapest insurance against break-ins you can get.

 

3. Don't be a target:  Don't make your house a target when you are gone for a while. Unplug the garage door opener, make sure neighbors are aware you are gone, and have a trusted person pick up mail and newspaper. Don't call to have services stopped - you have no idea who can see that list!

 

4. Be suspicious.  Criminals are lazy and they will go to a different neighborhood if we make it difficult to score in our neighborhood.  Criminals work in teams to observe who is not paying attention to their belongings.  When you see strangers in your area, stop them and ask questions – or call 911.  Get an incident number and send us a description of your situation and incident number to info@gracywoods.org

 

5. Daytime vigil:  Be extra vigilant between 8 am and 12 noon. That is the main time that we have problems with crime in the summer months.

 

6. Do the five. Get to know your neighbor on either side of you and the three across the street from you.  These are your 'five'.  Get their phone numbers (work, home, cell numbers.) Watch their homes, pick up newspapers and flyers on the door. If they are going to be away a while, park your car in their drive. Turn your/their lights on at night or use stagged timers through out the house to turn on and off lights and radios when you are away.  (Tune radio to talk-news stations.)

 

United We Stand.

Join your neighborhood watch program.

Call your Austin Police Dept. district rep with extra information about past incidents.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/helpfulnum.htm

 

Neighborhood Wide Garage - Saturday, May 22nd 8:00a - 3:00p

Come shop our neighborhood for special treasures.

11400 Titian Drive

11901 Swearingen Drive, #83

11800 Swearingen Drive: Women's clothes, TV's, kitchen appliances

1301 Monica Drive:  Jewelry, accessories, household items, construction materials

11085 Eubanks: Lot's of furniture, headboard, doors, books, clothing and chandeliers

1804 Rainy Meadows:  Mens clothes, household items, end table, bookcase

840 North Bend: Vintage dresser, children items, household items

1202 Knoll Park Circle: Dining room set, other furniture, household items

1108 Gemini Dr:  Golf clubs, Pelican boat, aquariums, doors, chairs, children clothes & toys

1604 Kimmerling Lane: clothes, jeans, leather vest, baby toys, strollers, furniture, facepainting for kids

Great deals from great neighbors.

The GWNA + NPENA wide Garage Sale will be held this Saturday, May 22nd starting at 8a.

 

If you are interested in participating and having your name included on this website and Craigslist, please follow these instructions.

 

Please Email president@gracywoods.org - by noon on Friday, May21st,  only if you intend to participate.

 

1.) Change the subject line of your email to: 

YES= (add your street address), 

 

2.) in the body of the email,

please provide your name and phone number (Saturday morning) just in case I need to call you on Saturday morning. 

 

3.) and finally, please tell me what you are selling (books, furniture, baby clothes, etc), I will post this info next to your address.  (Last week we got a lot of requests for tools, sports equipment, jewelry, baby clothes and books.)

 

We will put out some Garage Sales signs - however, please put out as many signs as like.

 

Thanks you for participating.

 

Francoise Luca

President

Gracywoods Neighborhood Association

 

Tonight: You are invited to a community meeting for North Austin

Special Community-Wide Meeting for North Austin

May 19th - 7:00p
Austin Revival Center

305 Deen Street

(one block south of Lamar & Peyton Gin - Deen street only runs between Georgian and Lamar)

 

 

6:30p     Doors will be open for a 'meet and greet'

7-8:00p  Meeting


We know that a lot of people in North Austin continue to be frustrated with crime and the problems in our community, so we are holding a special community meeting on May 19th. We will be talking openly about North Austin's problems and what can be done to fix our main issues:

* I-35 corridor of crime

* Lack of urban planning when areas of North Austin were annexed

* big city issues of urban growth and crime

We will also talk about how these problems are adversely affecting Austin's future.

Please come if:

** You are worried about the crime and problems that plagues North Austin neighborhoods.

** You are worried about Austin's I-35 corridor of crime and how it might be affecting you.

** You live above or below North Austin, and you are worried these problems could spread into your neighborhoods.

** You care about the future of Austin and want to support North Austin in finding solutions.

** You want to send a strong message to the City and County that you support our community's efforts to insist things must change. We have invited many people from the City and County to come to this meeting and we've had quite a few folks who are promising to be there.

Our promise: There will be NO volunteer sign-up sheets, or donation cans at this meeting. The only thing we are asking is that you pass this info along, and invite your friends and neighbors to this meeting. We really need everybody who cares about North Austin to be there.

The Gracywoods Neighborhood Association is one of six neighborhoods that will be participating in this meeting.  We encourage you to come, meet some neighbors and share your concerns.

 

May 15th Spring Fling - Pot Luck Dinner Postponed

Attention:

Due to the uncertainity of the weather today, we are postponing the "Spring Fling - Pot Luck Dinner" this evening.

 

Please check back here next week for the new date.

 

Update:  Neighborhood-wide Garage Sale

Since some folks didn't open up for a garage sale today, so we will hold a neighborhood wide garage sale next Saturday from 8a-2p.

If you would like to be included in the advertising (address posted on the website), please email us at:  president@gracywoods.org

 

Include your name, address and the kinds of items you have for sale.

(example:  baby clothes, tools, electronics, furniture)

 

Thanks,

Francoise Luca

President, Gracywoods Neighborhood Association

 

GRACYWOODS' BIG WEEKEND! - UPDATED!!

Weather Permitting

Saturday, May 15th

(Rain Date – May 22^nd)

Gracywoods + North Park Estates Neighborhood Association

Annual Garage Sales

1607 Garnaas Dr.

12023 Lincolnshire Dr.

1604 Kimmberling

1804 Rainy Meadows

1811 Rainy Meadows

11610 Bittern Hollow

1601 Kathy Lynn Ct.

1105 Huntridge Circle

11610 Parkfield

1301 Monica Street

1201 Doonesbury Dr.

11805 Eubanks Dr.

11400 Titan Dr.

1006 Huntridge

11703 Lochridge

840 North Bend Drive

11800 Swearingen Dr.

1113 Gemini Dr.

1108 Gemini Dr.

Donate to:

The St. Vincent dePaul Thrift Store

Saturday, May 15th

1:00 to 4:00pm

A donation truck will be parked in the St. Albert the Great Catholic Church parking lot on Bittern Hollow/Metric, accepting donations of usable clothing, household items and furniture.

Tax receipts will be given.

* * Please check this site on Saturday afternoon for weather updates on this event.* *

Spring Fling

Potluck & Dance in the Park

Saturday - May 15th

6:00pm – 8:30pm

Greenbelt at Bittern Hollow

Come join your neighbors for

a first-of-its kind event!

Bring a covered dish, sandwiches, snacks or a dessert to serve about 6-8 persons.

GWNA will provide the drinks and paper items.

Please invite one neighbor to join us!

We are rolling out the dance floor (literally) to celebrate our community. Don't worry if you can't dance - instructors will teach us the moves. No worries, if you don't like to dance - just enjoy the fun, good food and our park.

Everyone is welcome!

Dance floor by: American Party Rentals

Dance instruction by: David Cantu

Info Contact: Kate Stewart at kate.stewart@ironscaffold.com

May Meeting

GWNA May Meeting

Tuesday, May 4th
7:00 PM

Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ, Bldg. A (in the church)
11908 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78753


Please join us and bring a neighbor, so we can build a stronger and safer community.

♥ Bring a neighbor and get a prize ♥

Join us!

Email questions to: president@gracywoods.org

Spring Fling! - POSTPONED

UPDATE: The SPRING FLING HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER

Join us for

the
Gracywoods Neighborhood Association
First Annual
Spring Fling!

The When:
Saturday, April 17
6:00 – 9:00 pm

The Where:
North Star Green Belt @ Bittern Hollow

The What:
A Pot Luck dinner - Bring a dish to serve 6-8 people (appetizers, snacks, stews & chili, casseroles, desserts...) 

Plus: Free dance instruction (Come watch and learn!)

Bring a chair or blanket
Presented by the Gracywoods Neighborhood Association
For more details, call 289-2920.

It's My Park Day: March 6, 9am 'till 2pm

UPDATE: Click here to sign up!

Its time once again to do the necessary maintenance on our neighborhood's living room - the greenbelt! As you know, PARD doesn't have the budget to maintain our greenbelt, so its up to us as a neighborhood to pull together and make our park spaces clean and safe for everyone.

We will have a table for volunteers to sign in and help at Tallowfield Ln, at the Metric Blvd end of the greenbelt and the event will be from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. We will not cancel unless there is constant and heavy rain that day - yes, we have slogged through the occasional rain shower before!

This year we will be doing a creek clean up, so if you have kids this will be an easy (if slightly muddy) way to teach them about how to take care of the environment and giving back to their community.

We are also looking for donations of crepe myrtles, as well people willing to temporarily loan tools and wheel barrels and ladders. Please make sure all your equipment is labeled with your phone number - and thank you to the neighbor who couldn't come last year, but sent their tools anyway! That was an inspired way to help us out!

More info can be found here:

http://www.austinparks.org/itsmypark.html

The sign up link should be up soon. Last year, the sign up for our park was closed prematurely, so please contact us at info@gracywoods.org if you have any questions, or you need help to sign up a group.

Also, we may need prep or follow up work done, so if you are interested in helping us with this, please drop us an email - it helps to know who can pinch hit for the little stuff!

Special thanks to Taurus Dog Training on Metric Blvd (512-832-1012, metric@taurusdogtraining.com) and to AGR Tree Service (512-663-7794, ausgr@grandecom.net) for being our sponsors for this event.

Don't Let the Train Catch You: A Press Release from Capital Metro

MetroRail trains to begin afternoon/evening testing Nov. 16

Faster, more frequent trains prompt another call to safety for motorists and pedestrians

 

Austin, Texas, November 11, 2009 – Capital MetroRail trains will shift to afternoon/evening testing beginning on Nov. 16. MetroRail trains will be out on the line from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, testing the tentative afternoon schedule for MetroRail service in real-time conditions. The testing also gives DMU train engineers additional practice operating the train at night.

 

During this testing, freight trains will run from 9 p.m. each evening until 2 p.m. the next day.

 

MetroRail trains will be traveling at full operating speeds, nearly twice as fast as freight trains. Additionally, train activity will increase significantly.

 

For these reasons, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are encouraged to always expect a train, and to stay off the tracks.  

 

Capital Metro is contacting schools and neighborhoods adjacent to the line to inform students and parents, erecting rail safety signs at grade crossings, and working with rail safety advocates in the community to assist the agency in spreading the message. 

 

For the past three years, Capital Metro has worked closely with neighborhoods, schools, community organizations and the Austin Police Department to raise awareness about train safety in advance of the safe arrival of Capital MetroRail in Central Texas . Police will be ticketing motorists who park on the tracks or within 15 feet of the railroad crossing arms.

 

Learn more about rail safety at http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/capital-metrorail-safety.shtml.

 

 

John-Michael V. Cortez
512.436.0250

Special Neighborhood Meeting - Tuesday, October 20

At our regular meeting last Monday, October 5th, at the Walnut Creek Baptist Church on North Lamar, residents voted to accept the offer of Austin Energy to remove the seven (7) live oak trees in the North Star Green Belt, contingent upon GWNA committee reaching an agreement about a mitigation plan.

The oaks are located in the North Star Greenbelt near Swearingen. A mitigation plan would include a landscaping design, plantings, and irrigation.

On Tuesday, 10/20, the GWNA committee will meet with the Austin Energy Forester to discuss mitigation plan requirements and options. The public is invited to attend. Walnut Creek Baptist Church Hall (north Lamar) at 7pm.

THIS IS AN OPEN MEETING. ALL RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.


Background on the Trees to be Removed

There are seven live oak trees in the greenbelt between Swearingen and Bittern Hollow that were severely trimmed this summer. This greenbelt area is owned by Austin Energy. They also own a set of power lines running down the middle of the greenbelt. Austin Energy is responsible for the safety of these power lines, and for trimming the trees to a safe clearance distance from the power lines. Four years ago, neighborhood representatives and Austin Energy signed an agreement stating these trees would be trimmed every four years, and offering to remove and replace these seven oak trees for smaller native trees sometime in the future.

Recently, Austin Energy received several complaints about the agreed trimming project. GWNA was approached to review this situation and decide if the community wanted to continue having these trees trimmed every four years, or to have the trees removed now and replaced with other height appropriate native trees.

(Please do not call Austin Energy. They will be attending the meeting.)

Gracywoods Picnic!

Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
11701 Tallow Field Dr

Join your neighbors for a potluck dinner in the park

This is an annual, nation-wide event designed to promote neighborhood safety

Where: From Braker Ln, go North on Metric Blvd, turn Right on Gold Wing Dr (2^nd Right). The park is at the end of that block.

Who: Neighbors of all ages, APD officers, firefighters, EMS officials

Why: To encourage a safer community and get to know your neighbors

Bring: Your favorite dish and a chair or blanket. Or, bring a cooler of drinks in lieu of a dish. (If you’re unable to make a dish, please come anyway!)

Print this Flyer for your Fridge or for a Friend!

You'll Love a Parade

You are invited to the First Annual Gracywoods 4th of July Parade!

8:30 a.m. - Registration
Sign in at Bittern Hollow entry to the North Star greenbelt (11737 Bittern Hollow, near the drinking fountain). We will help you decorate your non-motorized bikes, strollers and wagons. Or bring your wagons pre-decorated. Prizes will be awarded for the best Red, White and Blue decorations. Please bring decorated cupcakes to share. Prizes for best-looking cupcakes.

9:00 a.m. - Parade
We will march along park path towards Parkfield and back to the water fountain (About 15 minutes)

9:30 a.m. - Awards & Refreshments
Awards for costumes, decorations and decorated cupcakes. Refreshments for all. Come enjoy iced watermelons, soda floats, cupcakes and mingling.

For information or to volunteer, contact Bill Glass 836-3330, wlglass@sbcglobal.net

Every Dog Has Its Day

Coming up on Thursday, June 25, Rattan Creek Park (just down Parmer Ln) will be host to a Dog Fair, sponsored by the nearby Crossroads Community Church. Contests of skill and appearance are scheduled, and a veterinarian and a trainer will be on-site to take questions. The fun starts at 6:30 in the evening, so come on out and don't forget the little ones, both four- and two-legged.

Take Our Park Survey, Please!

The Parks and Recreation Department is in the process of gathering input across the city to create "Comprehensive Plans" for respective greenbelts and park within communities. A survey for the North Star greenbelt and Gracywoods Park is on-line and the neighborhood association would appreciate your taking a few minutes to participate and have your voice heard.

You might be surprised to learn there are greenbelts and parks within the city that do not have walking paths, a drinking fountain, no Mutt Mitt dispensers, no trash cans, no more than one park bench, no workout equipment, street parking, no picnic tables or shaded pavilions and literally only two trees. You might also be surprised to learn that those neighborhoods or communities do not want anything other than what they currently have. Sometimes we lose sight; we have a tremendous amount to be grateful for to have such a nice greenbelt and park so close by that have many amenities, wildlife, trees and irrigation to water those trees. We have individuals, a neighborhood association and a neighborhood garden club all of who take pride in what we do have and when they are able, volunteer their time to help the neighborhood association and community continue to be good stewards of the greenbelt and parks in our area.

The North Star comprehensive plan will reflect the vision of our community and could include additional amenities, structures or other ideas that you include with your survey responses. Add anything you want to see (shade coverings over park benches that have no mature trees nearby, plant or tree identification markers, kiosks, a dog park, a plaque to dedicate a tree, bench or bridge, a succulent garden - add anything you think of). Keep in mind the fact that submitting an idea does not guarantee that it will become part of the plan. All community input will be provided to PARD; they will review it, look at the viability of the submittal and provide us with a draft for the community to review and approve before the plan is solidified. Cost and maintenance will be big factors in what the Parks department agrees to fund and support from Gracywoods input.

Your engagement is important; please take a few minutes to participate in this survey.

Warblers in the 'Woods

Over on his blog, GracyWILD, Dr Nazor has penned a piece about that most controversial of Austin avians, the Golden-cheeked Warbler, featuring fine photographs of the fowl as it rested in his pecan tree.

Volunteers Wanted for GWNA's First-Ever Fourth of July Parade!

That’s right, GWNA, will be presenting our first annual Fourth of July Parade. We need volunteers to help organized and produce this family-oriented event. Flags, food, fun and new friends are guaranteed. If you would like to help make this event happen, please contact us at events@gracywoods.org.