oakhillgazette.com
November 26, 2013 Volume 18, No. 23 Southwest Austin’s Community Newspaper Since 1995
Final ICRC map gives Oak Hill its own district by Bobbie Jean Sawyer OAK HILL - Oak Hill residents seemed happy with the final map settled on by a citizen commission, though some were surprised to see Zilker Park included in the Oak Hill district. The Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC) voted unanimously to adopt the final map for single member districts for the Austin City Council on Monday evening, November 18. The map keeps all of what most people consider Oak Hill together in District 8, which also encompasses Zilker Park and a neighborhood off of Stratford Drive north of Rollingwood. The vote came after months of meetings, public forums and citizen testimonies, which helped the commission develop the historic map. Eliza May, a resident of Travis Country and member of Austinites for Geographic Representation, has been involved with the redistricting process since the beginning. May said the single-member districts provide a long See FINAL on page 26
The shape of things to come: Oak Hill’s new district 8 includes parts of Zilker Park (upper right).
Citizens rally to save tree by Bobbie Jean Sawyer
OAK HILL - Cars honked in support as volunteers held signs and waved flyers at passersby at the busy William Cannon and U.S. 290 intersection. The scene at the Nov. 17 rally for the Taco Bell heritage tree reflected the level of devotion many Oak Hill neighbors have for the 1 3 0 - y e a rold landmark. It was that devotion t hat kept event organizer Andrea Street going, despite battling a migraine headache and a sudden temperature spike in the late November weather. “We’ve been getting a lot of donations. I’ve just been going
right up to the car and (saying) ‘Hey, this is what’s going on.’,” Street said. “More times than not people are receptive.” The goal of the rally was to raise awareness that the tree is in danger of removal because of its proximity to TxDOT’s renovations at William Cannon. The community has b e e n given until Dec. 31 to relocate the tree if possible. The Austin Heritage Tree Foundation received a $59,000 grant from the city to relocate the oak, leaving the community with roughly $30,000 more to raise. Street said local businesses also offered help. The UPS Store See CITIZENS on page 3
Bowie bows out of playoffs Snapshot of a tough loss that ended Bowie’s season—from left to right: Touchdown, the agony of defeat, the joy of victory. Story and more sports on p. 9.
Gazette: Emmeline R. Aguirre