oakhillgazette.com
December 4, 2014 Volume 19, No. 25 Southwest Austin’s Community Newspaper Since 1995
Package delivery security a local concern during holidays by Ann Fowler
OAK HILL - Two weeks ago, a UPS driver delivering a package to a resident of the GK Beckett Estates neighborhood pointed out a car pulled up nearby that he thought might be following him. The driver had recently received complaints of missing packages—packages that he had left on residential porches. As they watched, the car quickly made a U-turn and drove away. As the holidays approach and online shopping increases, security for packages becomes a concern.
Suspicious vehicle seen following UPS driver in local neighborhood A warning about the incident was posted on Nextdoor, a social networking service that allows neighborhood residents to communicate. The notice turned into neighborly offers of assistance from some in the Westcreek area. Jennifer Voss, president of the Westcreek Neighborhood Association, explains: “One of the Westcreek
neighbors saw a post on Nextdoor about suspicious vehicles following UPS and FedEx trucks delivering holiday packages. She took it upon herself to post to the Westcreek Yahoo Group that she was happy to ‘babysit’ packages if people needed a nearby drop location during the holidays. After her email, several See PACKAGE on p. 24
OHAN elects new board members by Bobbie Jean Sawyer OAK HILL - As voters across Austin turn out for early voting in the City Council and mayoral elections, board members of the Oak Hill Association of Neighborhoods look forward to improvement opportunities for Oak Hill in the coming year. At the Nov. 12 monthly meeting four board members were elected. Darryl Pruett of Legend Oaks 2, Rich De Palma of Meridian, Betsy Boyt
Gazette: Dudley Hawthorne
Bowie Bulldogs Andrew Miller (#53) and Austin Duffin (#30) fight for a rebound in action Tuesday night against Round Rock. Sports, p. 12.
Time for the Oak Hill Gazette Holiday Gift Guide, p. 14
of Scenic Brook and Alan Watts of Circleville were elected to the board to serve 2015-2016 terms. Rick Perkins, Jim Schissler and Wendell Mills are currently serving two-year terms, which will conclude next November. Newly elected board member Rich DePalma said he wants to ensure that all Oak Hill neighborhood voices are heard and represented. “I really wanted to help increase the dialogue for all the different
neighborhoods and make sure that all the different neighborhoods have their say within what’s being discussed in OHAN,” DePalma said. “I think that’s important—to be able to find where we can actually come together on common solutions and push those as a neighborhood organization rather than ones that we personally feel more attached to.” DePalma said one of the major challenges facing Oak Hill is an See OHAN on p. 21