LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN IN PFLUGERVILLE:
See further below for updated event info/briefs and contact info on Hurricane Relief Efforts, especially since they are now evacuees in relation to Hurricane Rita, not just Katrina...remember "this is a marathon, not a sprint." Neighborhoods can help by sharing this E-mail with all who need to know (e.g., block captains/contacts) and by posting on their web pages to help tap the untapped folks who are needed. Also, collaborate with other neighborhoods, churches, community organizations, and city services. Also, winter is coming around and clothing collection will soon be turning to winter clothing being needed.
September 6th - 30th - Falcon Pointe Residents' Club Collecting Items for Hurricane Victims
Location is 19015 Falcon Pointe Blvd. right off Kelly Lane to drop off items from Tuesday thru Saturday between 10am to 2pm. Clubhouse Phone: 670-1400. Items will be delivered to a local charity assisting disaster victims, such as North Rural Community Center, which has received some of the donations. Greatest need for collection points is food (preferably industrial size) or money. Other needs include blankets, sheets, and pillows.. Other items include: school supplies; new socks and underwear; baby formula; diapers; ointment for babies; flashlights; batteries; plastic gloves; and personal hygiene and feminine hygiene items.
Note: Falcon Pointe is also holding a softball tournament called "Kash for Katrina". See Oct. 1st calendar entry below.
September 25th - Pflugerville Police Department "Open House" (cancelled)
Cancelled. No reschedule date. Was from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday at 1611 E. Pfennig Ln. Included checking out police and D.A.R.E. cars, gun range, jail, fatal vision goggles, paint ball target shooting, Child ID, H.E.A.T. registration, bicycle registration, Moonwalk, and fire department displays. Also, involved checking out various departments and K-9s (police dogs). Call Police Department at 251-4004 for more information.
September 25th - St. Elizabeth Church "Jamaica" (Fall Festival)
From 11am to 6pm at 1520 N. Railroad. BBQ, food booths, live/silent auction, music, game booths, pettting zoo, bingo, 50-50, raffle, and rummage sale.
September 26th - Second Annual Pflugerville Pfestival of Bands
Middle School and High School bands to perform on at 6:30pm at Hendrickson H.S. football stadium at 2905 FM685.
October 1st (was September 24th) - Pflugerville Pfamilies Pfirst Pancake Breakfast for Fallen Warrior Memorial
Was rescheduled. Will now be on Oct. 1st at same time/place from 7am-11am at Pflugerville Baptist Church Fellowship Hall at 306 S. 10th (10th & Pfluger). Suggested minimum donation: $5. Will include: Veteran exhibits, special guests, kids activities, raffles, and family fun.
Click here for more info or see:
www.teamppp.com.
October 1st - Second Annual Richland Hall Oktober Fete
Richland Community Club is hosting an authentic German meal with sausage and sauerkraut including sides, drinks, and dessert for $7-adults, $3-children, will be served from 5:30pm to 7pm. Split-the-Pot bingo begins at 6:30pm. Cards will be $.50 per card per game or 3 for $1. Snacks, cold drinks, and adult beverages will be available. Proceeds go to the preservation effort of century-old Richland Hall. For more information call Shirley Pokorney at 251-1185.
October 1st - "Kash for Katrina" Softball Tournament
To be held at Hendrickson H.S. softball/baseball fields at 2905 FM 685 at 8am. Sponsored by Falcon Pointe Residents' Club. Teams are still signing up. Is open to everyone. Go to: www.centexsoftball.com to do so. $150 per team. Proceeds go to Katrina Relief Fund via Louisiana Baptist Convention. For time and more info call Clubhouse Phone: 670-1400.
October 1st thru November 11th - Fallen Warrior Memorial Site Prep
The memorial site will need preparation in order to install the ampitheater, granite slab, and bronze figures. Volunteers will perform manual labor. Great project for teens/groups. At least 30 volunteers needed. Call 670-5527 for more information.
October 10th - PfCONA Town Meeting - HOA Attorney/Pflugerville Firefighters Assoc.
To be held at Justice Center at 1611 E. Pfennig Ln. from 7pm-8:30pm.
Speaker: Attorney Connie Nieman, on HOA bylaws and property law (an expert in Texas on these issues)
Short Presentation: Greg Monroe, Pflugerville Professional Firefighters Association, on what fire department has to offer, including information handouts.
Announcement: ESD#2 Annexation of 11.5 square miles of farmland east of Pflugerville
Note: See http://www.pfcona.org/Meetings-Minutes.htm for past town meeting agendas/minutes. The Mayor, City Councilperson Duane Blakeslee, City Manager, Chief of Police are scheduled to attend monthly PfCONA Town Meetings. PISD/School Board has been invited to send a representative like council does on a rotating basis. PISD Public Information Officer has been frequently attending.
October 13th - ESD#2 Annexation Public Hearing
At 6pm at Central Fire Station at Pecan St/Railroad Ave. The proposed annexation area includes land bounded generally on the west by FM 973, on the east by Manda Carlson Road, on the south by New Sweden Church Road and by Jacobson Road and on the north by the Travis-Williamson County Line. If the area is annexed into the district, the ESD will provide property owners with fire protection and emergency medical first response. Property owners in the area will pay the same ad valorem tax that other residents of the ESD pay, and the area will be subject to the half-cent sales tax levied for the ESD.
October 17th - Conceptual Plan Public Hearing by Planning and Zoning Commission
At 7pm at 100 E. Main, Ste 500. To receive public comment on 73.142 acres along east side of Dessau Road known as Alexander Walters Survey No. 67, Abstract No. 792, to be known as Cambridge Villas. Also, see Nov. 8th P&Z Hearing below.
October 27th - Hendrickson High School PTO Golf Tournament
Shotgun start at 1pm at Forest Creek Golf Club. Is a four person scramble. Entry fee is $100/player and sponsorships are available and tax deductible. Deadline is Oct. 13th. All proceeds benefits HHSPTO/Senior Celebration. For more info call Kevin Leatherman, 252-1085 or E-mail at leathermakevin@sbcglobal.net.
October 29th - Second Annual Arts and Crafts Bazaar at Hendrickson H.S.
Hendrickson H.S. Silver Dance Team will host in H.S. cafeteria from 9am to 3pm. For more info or vendor registration, contact Shelli Hankins at 251-8081 or Tammy Hester at 252-3364.
October 31st - Halloween on Main Street
Details to be announced by Greater Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce.
November 4th-5th - Library Semi-annual Book Sale Fundraiser
The Library is needing contributions of DVDs, CDs, videos, hard cover books and paperback books for the sale. Any items that people are willing to contribute can be taken to the Library during their open hours. If you have questions or need more info, please contact Jacki Robertson during the day at the Pflag at 251-2220 or in the evening at 990-9402. Thanks for any help you can give us, the Friends of the Pflugerville Community Library, fundraiser sponsor.
November 5th - Dumpster Day (KPB Fall event)
From 8am-Noon at 300 East Pecan (between the old cotton gin & El Rincon Mexican Restaurant) and 1340 Heatherwilde Blvd (Community Pool Parking Lot of WestPark/ParkPlace) . Similar to March Pflugerville Citywide Cleanup (Spring event) also hosted by city's Keep Pflugerville Beautiful committee.
Dumpsters will be provided by IESI Trash Company. Absolutely No hazardous material will be accepted (For example: batteries, tires, paint, gasoline & oil base products). Take advantage of this opportunity to remove those unwanted items that have been cluttering up the garage and backyards. For more information, contact Jill Marsh at 512-251-2222 or Angel T. Hernandez at 670-5114.
November 6th - Saxony HOA Quarterly Meeting
From 7pm-8:30pm at Justice Center at 1611 E. Pfennig Ln.
November 8th - ESD#2 Annexation Election
Regarding 11 1/2 square miles of mostly farmland northeast of Pflugerville. See above for Oct. 13th public hearing. Early voting in the Nov. 8 election runs from Oct. 24 to Nov. 4.
November 8th - Constitutional Amendments Election
See pamphlet mailed by state to Pflugerville area households, which lists all nine amendment propositions in English and Spanish. Go to www.sos.state.tx.us or call 1-800-252-VOTE (8683) with any questions about amendments.
November 8th - Conceptual Plan Public Hearing by City Council At 7:30pm at 100 E. Main, Ste 500. To receive public comment on 73.142 acres along east side of Dessau Road known as Alexander Walters Survey No. 67, Abstract No. 792, to be known as Cambridge Villas.
November 11th - Veteran's Day - Possible Fallen Warrior Memorial Dedication
Fallen Warrior Memorial could be dedicated in ceremonies on Friday, November 11, 2005, Veteran's Day.
November 12th - GPCC 20th Anniversary Gala
From 6pm-11pm at Pfluger Hall. Includes a Silent Auction.
November 17th (was initially promoted as Nov. 14th) Town Hall Meeting - regarding Austin Community College. To be held at a school location (to be announced) from 7pm-8:30pm.
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Click here for September City Newsletter, "Pflugerville Pfacts", and past ones on city website. Current issue covers upcoming board and commission openings and meeting schedules; plus, 5th Annual Police Department "Open House" on September 25th from 1pm to 5pm.
Click here for other meeting/event dates listed on City Calendar on city website.
Click here for events at library.
Click here for public notices on City website.
Click here for city council and other boards/commissions/committee agendas and minutes on city website.
Click here for Community Calendar sponsored by PfCONA.(ask how to put something on it)
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OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS/ITEMS OF NOTE:
See above calendar for local events regarding Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
NATIONAL/STATE HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS
Federal Emergency Management Agency/Other
* Click here for FEMA webpage for evacuees and disaster victims. Contact info: (800) 621-3362 or TTY: (800) 462-7585, www.fema.gov.
* Click here for goverment FirstGov.gov webpage regarding finding loved ones, finding shelter, getting helping, offering help, and more. Also, see ready.gov, CDC.gov, and click here for your own family readiness kit at www.aap.org. Go to: www.katrinasafe.org for American Cross website to help people find each other. Also go to: www.missingkids.org.
* Call (866) 487-2365 (USA-DOL) toll free for unemployment assistance (individuals from impacted areas and at evacuation sites) via U.S. Department of Labor, including information on registering for unemployment insurance and disaster unemployment assistance.
* Call 916-5404 for Social Security at 903 San Jacinto #102 in Austin.
* Call 800-ASK-USPS about change of address by phone.
* For National Hurricane Center go to: www.nhc.noaa.gov/.
* Call Travis County WIC Office at (512) 251-2120 at 15822 Foothill Farms in Pflugerville or (512) 719-3007 at 9411 Parkfield, Suite 320 in Austin. City of Austin Relief Hotline is 974-1110.
* Call (800) 937-8097 for mental health issues.
* Call ESRD of TX at (972) 503-3215 for dialysis patients.
* Call or (800) 452-9292 or (888) 588-2848 for travel/road condition information.
* Call State Operations Center at (512) 424-2208 regarding price gouging complaints.
* Call Travis County HHSC for food stamps, Medicaid, and TANF at (512) 929-7330 at 1165 Airport Blvd, Austin or visit www.txstars.net. Call Sheriff's Office at 974-0845 about car seat installment certification, including offering of free car seats.
* Call Texas Workforce Commission for unemployment assistance (is helping displaced Louisiana residents apply) at 340-4300.
* The Texas Department of Insurance has set up a toll-free consumer help line to assist evacuees with questions regarding their insurance: (800) 252-3439.
* University of Texas Students and employees affected by the disaster can call the Counseling and Mental Health Center, 471-3515, or the Employee Assistance Program, 471-3366.
* Austin Community College: Displaced students may call ACC's admissions office at 223-7503 or e-mail admission@austincc.edu. Displaced faculty and staff can learn about ACC employment opportunities at www.austincc.edu/.
* Huston-Tillotson University: Displaced students and faculty can call 505-3000.
* The Texas Education Agency has set up a phone line for families looking to enroll in public schools: (800) 957-5109.
* Federal Trade Commission "Hurricane Katrina" consumer alert link regarding giving wisely: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/katrinaarlt.htm.
* Texas Attorney General Sept. 1 press release on reporting fraudulent charities exploiting tragedy: https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?id=1136. LOCAL AUSTIN AREA HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS
Pflugerville Community-wide Relief Effort (Churches, City, County, PISD, PfCONA Members, and more)
Above and beyond Katrina evacuees, 40K people are expected to flee the Texas Gulf Coast and come to Austin area. Shelters have been identified by the Office of Emergency Management and will be opened in consecutive order beginning with the Delco center and
moving to school campuses north on IH 35 (including Round Rock and Pflugerville campuses) then east on 183, then south on Mopac. In other words, new shelters will be opened as others reach capacity.
A Pflugerville partnership developed on Sept. 6th and has since grown to include: Charles Simon, Pflugerville Assistant City Manager, Pastor Richard Coaxum of St. Mary's Baptist, along with area churches such as First United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, and Pflugerville Community Church. Also on board is PISD, PfCONA, North Rural Community Center, Pflugerville Victims Services, Blue Santa program, Sheriff's department, The Storehouse, and others. St. Mary's Baptist Church is leading Pflugerville relief effort and NRCC is serving as an intake center for greater Pflugerville area.
There is an unknown number of evacuees (being researched) in the Pflugerville area from Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Pflugerville has resident families who are hosting family members that have evacuated. There are 173 kids (evacuees) in PISD schools. The partnership is focusing on evacuees coming to Pflugerville area and families assisting those families, since others are being taking care of in Austin.
Note: For 9/22/05 Statesman articles* on Hurricane/Natural disaster Preparation, go to: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/rita/prep.html. For another story regarding Evacuation and Home Preparedness Tips, go to: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/life/stories/09/22consumer.html.
*May only be accessible for free within 7 days of publication.
Pflugerville Relief/Evacuee Effort Contact: Pastor Richard Coaxum or Necee Grayson at 251-5578 or E-mail pastor@stmarybaptist.com. Address: 1202 Pecan St. Click here for additional info/links on city website. Office Hours: 10am-2:30pm, but has been earlier and later lately.
PISD Hurricane Relief Efforts
Randy Reese, Public Information Officer, reported that there are 173 students as of Sept. 21st enrolled via Project HELP, which places students in schools and provides them breakfast, lucnh, school supplies, clothing, and other support/programs. Also, 6-7 substitute teachers have been hired who have relocated here. School counselors have been involved in counseling and will be offering related training to PISD counselors, social workers, APs, and LSSPs on Sept 27th. He said almost every campus has something going on in relation to raising money or collecting items/supplies (see examples below). At least 2,000 backpacks have been donated to PISD along with school supplies. Monies go to district and then is distributed to organizations. District is funneling some donations to The Storehouse at AAA Storage at 445 FM 685 and North Rural Community Center at 15822 Foothill Farms Loop. Some items such as school supplies are being kept at PISD Opportunity Center for distribution via Project HELP.
He said the district is beginning to work with Pflugerville Relief/Evacuee efforts through main Pflugerville Community-wide Initiative contact, St. Mary's Baptist Church. Some PISD schools will either be temporary shelters (e.g., Parkcrest and Pflugerville M.S.) or Red Cross shelters (e.g., Connally H.S. and PHS) as needed. FEMA and Governor's Division of Emergency Management has said the schools will be eligible for 100% reimbursement of emergency expenses.
Other examples of schools helping with relief effort:
- Connally High School HOSA (Health Occupations) members collected money during lunchtimes. Coaches collected over $1000. School total is over $2200. Booster Club will do a canned food drive. They may do supply drive for displaced teachers.
- Pflugerville High School Student Council held a fund drive at last weeks football game.
- Hendrickson High School has collected and deposited $2,927.52 for relief efforts.
- Dessau Middle School collected $525. Student council is sponsoring a gently used clothing drive next week.
- Park Crest Middle School PTO has collected money for displaced families, including a new faculty member from New Orleans. They are also offering clothing and supplies for their new students. PCMS currently has 14 evacuees.
- Pflugerville Middle School held a fund drive in science classes and raised $887.31 for the district fund.
- Westview Middle raised $240 in Dimes for Diapers and donated the diapers to the Red Cross. They also have a food drive going.
- Copperfield Elementarys total was $880.33. Goal was $1 per student. Was beat by $150!
- Dessau Elementary collected the 5 essential items last week. The response completely surrounded the gym.
- Murchison Elementary has collected over $3000 in the past week towards the relief effort! They are also collected clothing items to go in our clothes closet for any "in need" person; not just Katrina Evacuees.
- Northwest Elementary held a School‑wide book drive and the Northwest PTO donated $550 to the American Red Cross.
- Parmer Lane raised $927.24 and is distributing supplies they collected to students as they enroll.
- Pflugerville Elementary is conducting a supply drive for all district students.
- River Oaks has collected about $443. A private donor gave $500 and they have put them in contact with an individual so that can be handled separately for the 10 evacuees they currently have. They are planning to have a drive now to collect gently used items to help our students.
- Rowe Lane collected the 5 essentials and a parent took them to the collection site.
- Spring Hill Elementary collected $463.97 and is collecting socks for a program called "Solemates" sponsored by the Salvation Army, the Assistance Leagues of Austin and Georgetown, and KXAN.
- Timmerman Elementary asked students to bring coins to toss into the Wishing Well (a plastic kid's pool) and make a wish. They raised over $960!
- Windermere Primary PTO has a food drive for peanut butter, drink boxes, and granola bars...cub/boy scout troops will be giving a soft stuffed animal and board games to our evacuee students...school supplies and back packs have been given to all evacuees.
Pflugerville Downtown Association
The PDA has adopted a family and its membership has donated or purchased the following for an apartment: table, chairs, sofa, dresser, ottoman, TV, bath set, bed linens/conforter/pillows/blankets, dishes/pots/pans/silverware/glasses, towels/shower curtain, coffee table, an end table, and more. The PDA received the referral from Sandy Flora, editor of the Pflugerville Pflag.
Greater Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce
The Board of Directors of the GPCC has decided to support two families who are victims of the hurricane and have been relocated to our area. They will work with the Pflugerville Independent School District to identify and select those families.
Shelters In Austin Area
Call 974-2000 - This line is sponsored by the Office of Emergency Management and will be staffed 24 hours a day. Those with pets will have their situation dealt with.
Or, dial 2-1-1. Or, call Travis County North Rural Community Center at 251-4168 at 15822 Foothill Farms Loop, Building D. Hours M-F 8a-5p.
Radio station KLBJ, 590 AM will provide up-to-date shelter information on an ongoing basis and there should be signage to locations along some roads. City of Austin Relief Hotline is 974-1110. Some PISD schools will either be temporary shelters on 9/23 from 8p Friday to 1p Saturday (e.g., Parkcrest and Pflugerville M.S.) or Red Cross shelters (e.g., Connally H.S., Windermere M.S., and PHS) as needed.
Also, see: www.hurricanehousing.org to search for or list space in private homes (265,458 beds have been volunteered so far). People staying with family/friends/other should still register with Red Cross and FEMA so they can be officially listed as an evacuee and receive news about services as they become available.
Volunteer to Provide Foster Care for the Pets
Contact the Texas Federation of Humane Societies at 282-1277 or E-mail txfederation@austin.rr.com, or contact Megan Karpinski at the Austin Humane Society by calling 837-7985 or by E-mail at mkarpinski@austinhumanesociety.org to let them know you can provide foster care for one or more animals. Homes providing foster care for TFHS are inspected by them. If you are sending an E-mail, include the following information: name, phone number, address, a statement that you want to help with Hurricane Katrina or Hurrican Rita displaced pets, a listing of how many you can take of each species, and how long you are able to house the animals.
Hurricane Relief Effort - Pflugerville and Greater Austin Notes:
North Rural Community Center (Evacuee Intake/Collection Location)
Call 251-4168 at 15822 Foothill Farms Loop, Building D. Hours M-F 8a-5p. Need any food (greatest need), water, and toilet paper, paper cups, baggies, and especially canned meat with pull tabs. Also collect clothing and furniture (call ahead and hold till needed). Are doing assessments (intake) and families are getting food from NRCC, but have been running low. Badly need volunteers to sort clothing and stock food M-F between 9am to 5pm.
Also, have Goodwill Job Assistance, WIC, health clinic, senior assistance, utility/rent/mortage/prescription/food assistance, and more. Contact: Pamela Johnston at 251-4168, ext. 202 or E-mail: pamela.johnston@co.travis.tx.us.
The Storehouse food pantry (Collection Location)
Is at 445 FM 685 and has provided groceries to hurricane victims who have come to Pflugerville and Austin. They hope to continue to do so and your donations will help them do that. They accept meat, milk, frozen food, canned goods, and dry food. Contact: Jack and Sandra Cochrun. E-mail: thestorehouse@sbcglobal.net. Phone: 989-9989. They now have PayPal on their website at: www.thestorehouseofaustin.org.
E-mail from The Storehouse to PfCONA: We want to say a BIG THANKS to Lakes of Blackhawk; Bohl's Place; Falcone Point for all the food and other necessities they have so generously given to The Storehouse. Also, due to others generousity we were able to pay for 10,000 lbs of food we picked up yesterday.
We do pray others will join in with regular support. Not only during this time of the Katrina crisis, but help us continue to be a hand up; not a hand out to so many in our city as our numbers continue to grow. Just two short years ago we started with one bag of groceries and one family. Last month we had a total of 1,641 individuals.
Falcon Pointe Residents' Club - Is organizing a Falcon Pointe Softball Tournament ("Kash for Katrina") on Oct. 1st to raise money for the Katrina Relief Fund via Louisiana Baptist Convention. If anyone out there would like to participate and has a team put together please contact Janie Balderas, Falcon Pointe Activities Director, at: janie_balderas@sbcglobal.net, 989-7656, or Clubhouse Phone at 670-1400. To be held at Hendrickson H.S. softball/baseball fields at 2905 FM 685 at 8am. Go to: www.centexsoftball.com to do so. $150 per team.
Pflugerville Victim's Services Volunteers
Call Police Department at 251-4004. Training is not being offered at this time but trained volunteers are available as needed and community support will be needed (toys and food) as Victim Services as well as Crime Prevention program do Blue Santa Program, which may ramp up sooner than usual due to long-term relief situation. Blue Santa will be needing volunteers to collect food and toys.
Goodwill Thrift Store (Collection Location and employment)
Dropoff clothing, toys, shoes, housewares, etc. at any Goodwill store or at Goodwill trucks. Specify that items are for hurricane victims. Victims that are screened are given vouchers for clothing at Goodwill stores. For employment call (512) 480-0772 to register.
Covert Hippoplex in Hutto (Collection Location)
At 1200B E. Highway 79. Accepting bottled water, canned goods, and clothing.
Volunteer with the American Red Cross
Call locally at 928-4271 or 1-877-929-1224 or call 493-2085 (from 8am to 8pm, Mon. - Sat). Volunteers wanting to work at a shelter need to make an apppointment.
The Red Cross is coordinating nationwide to bring help to all the evacuees. It might take time for them to contact you with an assignment. Other contact info: www.redcross.org or (800) HELP NOW (435-7669); (800) 257-7575 in Spanish. They are asking for volunteers to man the phone lines.
Also, they're going to be teaching classes for anyone who wants to deploy to the effected area. Anyone wanting to help in either of these capacities could call 512-928-4271. (Deployment have been for 2 weeks.)
Volunteer with the Capital Area Food Bank (Collection Location)
At 8201 South Congress. Call 282-2111. The CAFB is collecting specific items for distribution by the Red Cross for Austin shelter and affected states. Collection Sites have been: All Randall's grocery stores; HEB at 1000 E 41st at Red River (Hancock Center); HEB at Bee Caves Road at Highway 71; HEB at Parmer Lane at IH-35; and, HEB at 115211 N RR 620 at Anderson Mill. Preferred Items are: Money; Bottled Water; Canned Meat (w/ pop tops); Diapers; Peanut Butter; and, Granola / Cereal Bars. Other contact info: America's Second Harvest (CAFB parent): (800) 344-8070.
Volunteer with the Salvation Army (Collection Location)
Call 476-1111. Other contact info: www.salvationarmyusa.org, (800) SAL-ARMY (725-2769). Drop off clothing to any Salvation Army thrift stores (is no longer 501 E. 8th St.).
Volunteer with Jewish Community Association
Call 735-8078. E-mail: relief@jcaaonline.org or go to: www.jcaaonline.org. Are no longer collecting clothing. Please help by sending a contribution to: Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, JCAA, 7300 Hart Lane, Austin, Texas 78731 or click here to make an online contribution.
For Other Ways to Volunteer
Purchase and donate school supplies to any Washington Mutual Branch (Collection Location)
Washington Mutual is working in conjunction with Austin Partners for Education to provide supplies for evacuee students entering AISD. Use the school supply list on www.austin.isd.tenet.edu (go to "Academics", then "Parent Information") as a guide for what supplies to donate.
Drop off HEB, Target, Wal-Mart, bus vouchers at: 901 Neal St., Portable 451. AISD contact info: 414-0760. No longer need clothes but need volunteers.
OTHER LOCAL/NATIONAL CHARITIES
Although a variety of government and private agencies are en route to assist victims of hurricanes, federal officials said people wanting to help should not head to the affected area unless directed by an agency. People are aruged to make cash contributions to these groups:
* American Red Cross, www.redcross.org or (800) HELP NOW (435-7669); (800) 257-7575 in Spanish.
* America's Second Harvest, www.secondharvest.org or (800) 771-2303.
* Adventist Community Services, (800) 381-7171.
* Catholic Charities, www.catholiccharities usa.org, (703) 549-1390.
* Children's Defense Fund, working with Red Cross on Operation Move-in in Austin. Contact: Anne Wingler at Childrens Defense Fund - Texas, 480-0990 or 567-5816. Has used volunteers and trucks to sort/package/deliver donated furniture.
* Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, (800) 848-5818.
* Church World Service, www.churchworldservice.org, (800) 297-1516.
* Convoy of Hope, (417) 823-8998.
* Episcopal Relief and Development, (800) 334-7626, Ext. 5129
* Lutheran Disaster Response, (800) 638-3522.
* Mennonite Disaster Service, (717) 859-2210.
* Nazarene Disaster Response, (888) 256-5886.
* OneStar Foundation, a statewide clearinghouse for volunteers and donations, www.onestarfoundation.org, (800) 707-6768.
* Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, (800) 872-3283.
* Salvation Army, www.salvationarmyusa.org, (800) SAL-ARMY (725-2769).
* Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief, (800) 462-8657, Ext. 6440.
* United Methodist Committee on Relief, (800) 554-8583.
* The Humane Society of the United States (saving stranded/sick animals), 202-452-1100, disaster@hsus.org, www.hsus.org.
Local charities
* Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, www.austinfoodbank.org, 282-2111.
* Mobile Loaves & Fishes, www.mobileloavesandfishes.org, 328-7299.
* The Arc of the Capital Area, www.arcofthecapitalarea.org, 476-7044.
Note: See PfCONA blog (go to lower left column link on www.pfcona.org) for recent Hurricane-related E-mails to neighborhood/community leaders.
Other Pflugerville Fundraising Efforts
In addition to the national efforts underway on behalf of hurricane disaster victims, a local effort is still underway in regard to Fallen Warrior Memorial. See www.fallenwarriormemorial.org. $100K is needed and $80K has been raised. Way to go Pflugerville! Just a little bit more to go! Also, AngelHeart Children's Shelter recently completed raising funds for a down payment on the property they lease along SH130. Old Town NA did a garage sale on Sept. 10th on behalf of this shelter for abused and neglected children.
Annexation of Steeds Crossing
On Sept. 6th, City Council held a second and last public hearing on December 2007 annexation of land that includes The Ridge at Steeds Crossing and lots on Rowe Loop. The meeting was an opportunity for the community to ask questions and address concerns about the annexxation while learning about the services the city will provide. Resident Steve Monfrini, former HOA president of The Ridge at Steeds Crossing was among the handful of residents who attended.
Wastewater, school, and fire services will not see an increase in taxes. These services, along with EMS and the water supply, currently provided by Manville, are among those that will remain the same. The city will provide services like street lighting and repair, tree limb chipping, park maintenance, traffic control, animal control, building standards, and police protection, many of which are now being provided by Travis County. The city will also take over the sewer system services. Once the annexation occurs the city will have control over zoning. Other services provided by the city to newly annexed areas include sidewalk shifting repairs, no-outlet signs on dead end streets, and street crack repairs.
Before annexation is complete, five members of the annexed neighborhoods can be appointed by the Travis County Commisioners Court to a negotiation committee to refine the service plan so that it more closely reflects their needs. Interested persons should submit their names to City Planning Director Clyde von Rosenberg. [Excerpts from 9/22/05 Pflugerville Pflag]
Update on SH45/SH130 Southwest Corner Frontage Road/Entrance & Exit
PfCONA E-mail to and from Rep. Mark Strama:
Rep. Strama,
Last month, during a Pflugerville City Council Meeting, Councilman Chuck Larosche challenged residents to let you and the Texas Turnpike Authority know, via a petition drive or whatever is needed, that we need a frontage road along SH45 at the southwest corner of SH45/SH130 intersection for vehicles to access commercial development and for resident access (connectivity). He said that he has met with Sen. Barrientos and yourself to help make this happen. If you could let me know what progress has occured on this issue I can share this with Pflugerville residents and community leaders in your district, especially if you have ideas of how they might choose whether to become a supporter of such an effort and what they can do to make it happen, for the benefit of Pflugerville.
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Thanks for asking. At the City of Pflugervilles request, I convened a meeting last winter with TXDOT officials and City officials to discuss this issue (I think Chuck was there for the meeting). We pushed hard on TXDOT to complete the frontage road; they argued that they would be violating their covenant with their bondholders if they created an easy way for drivers to bypass the toll booths on SH45 by driving along a continuous frontage road. I argued that by not placing frontage road along SH45, they were actually costing themselves money because they were making it almost impossible for folks either north or south of SH45 near Heatherwilde to get access to (and pay the tolls on) SH45.
Pflugerville commissioned a study by URS, a company TXDOT uses to do population and traffic projections, to demonstrate this point. That study has recently been turned in to TXDOT, which has forwarded the study to its analysts to project the revenue implications of connecting the frontage road. I checked with Bob Daigh, TXDOTs chief official for our region, at Mondays CAMPO meeting, and as yet they have no report back from their revenue analysis.
If we cannot get TXDOT to connect the frontage road, then we must persuade them to at least add an entrance and an exit to SH45 at Heatherwilde. This is an idea I feel Mr. Daigh is more receptive to, and I discussed this idea again with Charles Simon and David Buesing at Tuesdays Chamber Chatter luncheon. It is urgent that we move forward with these plans as quickly as possible, before construction has progressed too far to make changes. Im copying Eleanor Dambrosio on my staff, who was checking with Charles [Simon] this afternoon to see whether he had heard anything new from TXDOT on this.
Applications being accepted for Board and Commission Appointments
The City of Pflugerville offers a number of ways for its citizens to become involved in their local government. Citizens who are interested in volunteering to serve on a board or commission are encouraged to find out more, to attend a meeting of the board or commission of interest, and to make an application for appointment. Applications are available through the City Secretarys Office by calling 990-4363 or on the Citys website: www.cityofpflugerville.com. The deadline for applications is October 31, 2005 for terms beginning January 1, 2006. Click here to download application.
The Pflugerville Pflag has developed a program to promote literacy and reading
Is asking for partners to sponsor newspapers for Newspapers in Education. By becoming a partner, you will help encourage students to develop their reading ability and more! For more information, contact Sandy Flora, 251-2220.
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E-mail from Pflugerville Council of Neighborhood Associations (PfCONA)
PfCONA's efforts include being a clearinghouse of information for the Pflugerville community and to foster collaborative efforts, workgroups, and forums to develop solutions for the community.
