Highland Park West Balcones Area
HIGHLAND PARK WEST BALCONES AREA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION VOLUME 17, NUMBER 07 • JULY 2021 • WWW.HPWBANA.ORG
The Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association News - July 2021
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Highland Park West Balcones Area
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The Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association News - July 2021
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Highland Park West Balcones Area
Austin Citywide Information Center... 974-2000 or 311 Emergency Police, Fire and EMS.............................. 911 Non-emergency Police (coyote sighting, etc.)......... 311 Social Services (during work hours)........................ 211
APD REP. - Officer Darrell Grayson........ 512-974-5242
BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Jason Lindenschmidt................ president@hpwbana.org VICE PRESIDENT Bill McMillin.........................................vp@hpwbana.org TREASURER George Zwicker........................ treasurer@hpwbana.org SECRETARY Dawn Lewis.............................. secretary@hpwbana.org NEWSLETTER EDITOR Pam Keller.............................. newsletter@hpwbana.org WEBMASTER Henry Tang.............................webmaster@hpwbana.org BOARD MEMBERS Bill Hyland...................................... board@hpwbana.org Michael R. Levy.............................. board@hpwbana.org Rebecca Spratlin............................. board@hpwbana.org
The HPWBANA Board meets on the fourth Monday of each month except December. Please go to HPWBANA. org for our current meeting location or contact president@ hpwbana.org. HWPBANA is bordered on the north by 2222, on the south by 35th Street, on the west by Mt. Bonnell Road, and on the east by MoPac and by Bull Creek Road between Hancock Drive and 45th Street. Mail your membership dues to HPWBANA, P.O. Box 26101, Austin, Texas 78755.
The Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association News - July 2021
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Jason Lindenschmidt has called Highland Park West home since 2003. Originally from Del Rio, Texas, Jason moved to Austin in 1997 to work for Tivoli Systems after graduating from Texas A&M University. Jason is a 15-year veteran in the Austin real estate market and is the current owner and broker of LindenDwell Real Estate. His wife, Katie, is active on the Highland Park Elementary PTA, where daughter, Ray, will be attending 1st grade in the fall. Jason has served on the HPWBANA board since 2014.
William Hyland and his wife Diana have lived in Austin for 24 years, the last eight in Highland Park West. William and Diana curate a neighborhood social group oriented around outings to premium food and drink venues and unusual destination activities. They have a garden that produces fresh vegetables and fruits throughout the year. William is entering his second year as a Board member and looks forward to serving in 2021.
Arriving in Austin from Pittsburgh in 1976, Bill McMillin attended St. Edward’s University, graduating with a Theatre Management degree. He has had 40 years experience as a stage manager, actor, and voice artist, as well serving on numerous non-profit boards. Bill has served on the National Council of Actors Equity, and during that time, was a Broadway Tony Award voter. He currently teaches Theatre and Stage Management at St. Edward’s University. Bill resides on Ridge Oak Drive with his wife Mary, daughter, MAE, and their three dogs Batty, Norman, and Sammie.
Michael R. Levy moved to Austin in 1969 to attend the University of Texas School of Law. Mike founded TEXAS MONTHLY in 1973 and was its publisher until 2008. In 1976, Mike along with three physicians, were part of founding the Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services. He has lived in the HPWBANA area since 1980.
Rebecca Wolfe Spratlin is an Austin businesswoman and artist who enjoys painting, sculpting and studying art and art history. Rebecca earned a BA in Fine Arts (painting, sculpting, medical illustration) and an MBA (marketing, finance). After spending 27 years as an executive in the corporate world, she initiated a second career in real estate. She is the well-known owner of Rebecca Realty, LLC, a premier brokerage firm specializing in Balcones Park, Highland Park West and Central Austin. Rebecca and her husband, John Spratlin, have loved living in Balcones Park/Highland Park West for 17 years. She has served on the HPWBANA Board for five years and leads the Events Committee.
Dawn Lewis has lived in the HPWBANA neighborhood since 1993, and this is her second stint on the HPWBANA board. She loves the charm and beauty of the neighborhood and is glad to be able to serve on the board to support neighborhood interests. She has three grown children and two cats who grew up in this neighborhood, and her children attended and loved Highland Park Elementary. She currently works for an education non-profit and serves as the District 10 appointee and chair of the Parks and Recreation Board. She enjoys jogging, drawing, and watching her favorite college baseball and football teams.
George H. Zwicker has been a resident of HPWBANA since 2013 and a board member since 2015. He was elected treasurer a year later. After a 40+-year career in the Houston office furniture industry, George and his wife, Carol, were relocated to Austin for Carol’s job. They both love being in Austin, enjoying their children and many grandchildren. They traveled extensively prior to the pandemic and hope to resume soon. George’s goal is to help HPWBANA involve many more neighbors in neighborhood activities once everyone can meet up again in person.
The Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association News - July 2021
HPWBANA Signs Highland Park West Balcones Area
The HPWBANA has installed several of these “Drive Like Your Kids Live Here” signs in our neighborhoods. The firefighters at Station 19 on Balcones gladly took one to put in front of their station. Please go into the site below and buy signs for your neighbors and you to place near your homes and throughout the area. https://www.drivelikeyourkidslivehere.com They are only $12.98 for a two pack and $23.98 for a four pack, and each comes with an easy-toinstall stand. No tools necessary. Just a willingness to give a
gift to kids, pedestrians, bicyclists, and pets!
This is especially important because the Council’s APD funding program has eliminated the motorcycle and DWI units. The Council has reduced the speed limits in neighborhoods, but there are no longer officers available to enforce these new speed limits, along traffic laws in school zones. So please buy and install these signs. They are not as good as visible police enforcement, but they will help.
The Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association News - July 2021
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The Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association News - July 2021
On Two Wheels: Excursions from HPW
Highland Park West Balcones Area
By: William Hyland, Highland Park West resident
Emerging from our lengthy stay-at-home year, many residents are seeking out activities to enjoy this summer and get a little more exercise. Maybe you were one of the enthusiastic purchasers of a pandemic bike, or you owned a bike and have been meaning to take a spin on the bike lanes around town. If you are a casual cyclist looking for safer roadways to interesting destinations, here’s a route that runs north from our neighborhood. This safe, beginner route starts at Russell’s Bakery at the corner of Hancock and Balcones and accommodates all types of riders and bikes—it is paved throughout and has minimal hills. You’ll be riding about six miles north to the turnaround point, primarily using protected bikeways, designated bike lanes, and neighborhood streets. It’s 30-40 minutes each way depending on how fast you pedal. Before you head out, make sure you have water and a phone for bike issues along the way. After fueling up on coffee and pastries, you’ll pedal east on Hancock, picking up speed on the downhill to use that momentum to get over the MoPac bridge, the most significant incline on this excursion. As you descend to the other side, you’ll continue on Hancock, turning left at Shoal Creek Blvd., joining the protected bike lanes northbound. Shoal Creek has always had many beautiful homes, and an easy bicycle pace of 10-12 mph allows the rider to take it all in. You’ll come to a stop at 2222, waiting for the bicycle signal to cross. Continuing steady north on Shoal Creek for about three miles, you’ll pass Northwest District Park on your right, cross with the light at Anderson Lane, breeze past Lowes, and continue past Steck. Nearing the northern-most end of Shoal Creek, you’ll see what appears to be the deadest of dead-ends for a cyclist—a highway—the 183 feeder road specifically. You’re at the five-mile mark of your ride at this point, but notice at your left a paved pedestrian walkway leading to a protected underpass, built for cyclists wanting to traverse 183. Safely passing under 183 and continuing northbound, you’ll ride above the banks of a pond surrounded by seasonal wildflowers and frequently populated by ducks and migrating birds. Only a killjoy would point out that this beautiful natural feature is a highway retention pond. The pond parkway will drop you off in an industrial/ business park area.
Perfect for cycling, this area is deserted on weekends, with wide roads and very little traffic. Making your first right on Industrial Terrace Dr., you’ll continue to the six-mile halfway point at #3301, your destination for a break, Austin Beerworks. This brewery has a new large outdoor patio, racks to lock up your ride and offers water, soda, as well as (lots of ) beer and restrooms. Food truck if you are hungry. The Sun Shovel APA, light and citrusy, and only 4.5% ABV is a refreshing choice.
Heading back, the route largely retraces the outbound with one scenic detour. After crossing Anderson Lane on Shoal Creek south, turn right on Foster Lane, until it joins up with Great Northern Blvd. This stretch, adjacent to MoPac, runs southbound for two miles and has both bike lanes and minimal traffic. Great Northern dead ends at White Rock Dr., where you’ll take a smooth left until you rejoin Shoal Creek southbound. Emerging from Shoal Creek onto Hancock Dr. westbound, you’ll encounter a slight uphill grade starting at Shoal Creek Nursery, culminating in the MoPac bridge incline. It seems unfair that this more-challenging half-mile stretch should be at the fatigued end of your route, but think of it as a final sprint to finishing strong. Once you get the top of the bridge, there is a nice downhill to carry you back to your Balcones starting place and final destination. Enjoy your ride!
The Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association News - July 2021
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The Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association News - July 2021
Highland Park West Balcones Area 2021 Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association Meeting Schedule, Fourth Monday of each Month (except December) Beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Zoom link to be posted before each meeting in the Listserv July 26, 2021 August 23, 2021 September 27, 2021 October 25, 2021 November 22, 2021 Annual Meeting TBD, between Labor Day (September 6, 2021) and Thanksgiving (November 25, 2021)
The Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association News - July 2021
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Highland Park West Balcones Area WISHCYCLING “Wishcycling” is hoping that what you place in the recycling and composting bin is really recyclable. This has greatly contributed to recycling contamination and has led to many recycling markets, like China, no longer accepting recyclables from the United States. Wishcycling has become one of the recycling industry’s greatest challenges to date. When our recycling and compost streams become contaminated, the materials end up in the landfill. We have only one earth and there are only so many places to put our trash. We have to do better. HOW WE CAN DO BETTER • The most important thing is to know your community’s recycling rules. In Austin, we have a great website called “What Do I Do With…..” (http://www.austintexas.gov/what-do-i-do). This website will tell you how to recycle or compost many things. • As a trained Zero Waste Block Leader with The City of Austin, I am always available to answer your recycling and compost collection questions. Please email
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by Dena Houston
me at recycling@hpwbana.org. • WHEN IN DOUBT – THROW IT OUT! – This always seems difficult for serious recyclers to accept, but it is critically important to put questionable items into the trash rather than contaminate the recycling or compost stream. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: HOW DO I RECYCLE PVC PIPE? Habitat for Humanity accepts PVC pipe if it is at least three feet long. Shorter pieces must go into the trash cart. CAN I USE COMPOST BAGS AS TRASH BAGS? Compost bags do not compost in a landfill. There is not enough heat in a landfill to make that happen. Also, compost bags are more expensive than trash bags and are not as sturdy. ARE WAX-LINED CUPS AND BOWLS RECYCLABLE? No, they are made of layers of materials that cannot be separated for recycling. These need to go into the trash cart. ARE CORNSTARCH PACKING PEANUTS COMPOSTABLE IN THE GREEN BIN? No, they are not. If they can be reused, that would be best. The official position from the City is that testing to be sure they are in fact compostable is difficult and industry labeling is not always reliable. To be sure the compost is not contaminated, these must go into the trash cart. DO PAPER ENVELOPES WITH PLASTIC WINDOWS AND TISSUE BOXES WITH PLASTIC FILM ON TOP GO INTO THE RECYCLING BIN? Yes, they can go into the blue recycling cart. However, they cannot go into the green compost cart. MY CART LABELS HAVE ALL FADED. HOW DO I GET NEW ONES? Austin Resource Recovery has a link for you to make your own cart labels. Go to https://www.austintexas.gov/page/sign-maker to print the labels you need. Here is a very informative City of Austin recycling website: http://www. austintexas.gov/what-do-i-do. Stay tuned for future tips that will include creative ways to recycle or reuse. If you have any questions, please send them to recycling@hpwbana.org.
The Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association News - July 2021
Highland Park West Balcones Area
The Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association News - July 2021
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Highland Park West Balcones Area PO Box 1148 Round Rock, Texas 78680
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The Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association News - July 2021