oakhillgazette.com
October 31, 2013 Volume 18, No. 21 Southwest Austin’s Community Newspaper Since 1995
Residents race to raise money to save tree by Bobbie Jean Sawyer OAK HILL - While the beloved century-old heritage oak tree standing in the way of road improvements at the intersection of U.S. 290 and William Cannon was granted a two-month reprieve by TxDOT, its ultimate fate—and possible relocation—is still to be determined. Now community members are
Clint Small Green Tech Academy offers new home for heritage oak racing the clock to secure the funds needed to transplant the tree by the Dec. 31 deadline. At an Oct. 16 Urban Forestry Board meeting, the Austin Heritage Tree Foundation received a $59,000 grant from the city to relocate the historic tree, leaving the Oak Hill
community with roughly $30,000 to raise, according to Austin Heritage Tree Foundation director Michael Fossum. The first priority, however, is raising the $3,000 needed to complete a feasibility study to determine if and how the tree could be relocat-
ed. Fossum said the organization has raised between $600 and $800 toward the goal and has received a donation in kind from local arborist Keith Brown of Austin Tree Experts, who has agreed to prune the tree so it has clearance of electrical wires. The fight to save the tree caught the attention of Clint Small Middle School environmental studies teach-
er Nate Rosenberg, who says Clint Small, which stands a short 1.8 miles away from the big tree, would be the perfect new home for the landmark oak, known locally as the Taco Bell tree, after the restaurant formerly located at that corner for many years. “We really would be able to help the tree survive and thrive,” said See RESIDENTS on page 8
Community goes to bat for Oak Hill ballfields by Ann Fowler Don’t mess with the Oak Hill ballfields. Two weeks after torrential rains caused an estimated $100,000 damage to the Oak Hill sports complex—six baseball fields and two softball fields—at Joe Tanner Lane and U.S. 290 West, the baseball and Oak Hill communities have stepped up to the plate and gone to bat for local youth baseball.
The environmental courses within the Green Tech Academy at Clint Small are designed to help students develop a connection with nature through hands-on learning, such as the planting and care of trees (above).
A local radio station, 104.9 FM (The Horn) will broadcast from the fields on November 1 for a live allday benefit. Several local restaurants are planning fundraisers, as is the Oak Hill Business and Professionals Association. Even the Round Rock Express is helping out. A record-setting deluge on October 13 caused Williamson Creek to overflow its banks, flooding the See COMMUNITY on page 9
The St. Edwards baseball team turned out in full force to help rebuild.