PfCONA NewsFLASH: Pfoto Story Workshop (on June 28th/July 8th) and Independence Day Pfotos (correction)

Previous E-mail referred to "fireworks bursting" and we of course cannot be involved in taking pictures of that since fireworks are prohibited in city limits per city ordinance, and since this is about taking pictures of independence day celebrations in Pflugerville. Change will be made to flyer posted online as well.

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Dear Pfolks,

PfCONA needs your help in getting the word out about PfCONA's project to
capture Pflugerville Lives in Pfotos during the 4th of July holiday.

Just think of the possible images: red, white, and blue, American
flags, parades, tykes on bikes, patriotism, 1776 re-created, outdoor picnics, and our Pflugerville people celebrating the American Way. The summer of 2006 in full swing.

Please distribute the attached flyer PDF file. You can either print and
post it somewhere or E-mail to neighbors. A version is in color, too, at http://www.pfcona.org/.

Photographers at any level are welcome. The workshop on Wednesday, June
28th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. will cover helpful tips for taking pictures. Participants will be inspired to take pictures during the holiday and then share them on
Saturday, July 8th at 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Both sessions will be at the Pflugerville Library community room.

If you have a neighborhood Independence Day activity, please let Clay Leben
know at 512-251-0200, or send E-mail to cleben@swbell.net, and we'll arrange for a photographer if needed!

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

* How-to tips on taking better photos and creating slideshows with
computer software.

* How to use the Internet to display photos, sounds, and stories for
everybody to appreciate.

* How to open your eyes and see the community around you.

WHO SHOULD REGISTER?

* Persons who are proud to say they live in a great place—Pflugerville!
* Persons who have a camera and Internet access.
* Persons who enjoy photography, oral history, or storytelling.

WHEN & WHERE WILL IT BE?

* Wednesday June 28th from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 8, 2006 from
12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Pflugerville Community Library meeting room.
(Between classes you will take Independence Day photos and post them on a web
site.)

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

* The cost is only $5. Reference materials and refreshments included.
Class size is limited to the first 30 persons (at least age 16) who register.

HOW DO I REGISTER OR GET MORE INFORMATION?

* To register for the Photography Story Workshop or learn more, call
Clay Leben, 512-251-0200, or send E-mail to cleben@swbell.net.

PfCONA TIDBITS - COMMUNITY ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS/NEWSBYTES (share w/pfriends&neighbors)

MANY PEOPLE ARE WORKING TO MAKE PFLUGERVILLE A BETTER PLACE:

Neighborhoods can help foster a "sense of community" by sharing this E-mail with leaders / block captains / contacts and by posting on their web pages or putting in newsletters. Also, collaborate with other neighborhoods, churches, community organizations, and city services. If you want to be part of PfCONA's 40-plus neighborhood network, go to: www.pfcona.org/HowTo.htm.

June 7th - Keep Pflugerville Beautiful Meeting

To be held at Justice Center at 1611 E. Pfennig Ln. on Wednesday at 5:30pm. Click here for agenda.

June 7th - Charter Review Commission Meeting
Meets Wednesday at 7pm at 100 E. Main St., Ste 500. Click here for agenda.

June 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th - Summer Reading Program

Registration continues through mid-July. Scholastic Book Fair on June 23rd-24th. Weekly events at 10:30am include a puppet ventriloquist (9th), singing zooligist (16th), music and singing (23rd), and fire department (30th). Also, story times and crafts occur for grades 1-3 on Tuesdays at 10:30am, grades 4-6 on Wednesdays at 10:30am, and Pre-K and kindergarten on Thursdays at 10:30am. Please call 251-9185 or visit the Library for information.

June 9th, 16th, 23rd - MUSIC in the PARK

On Friday at Pfluger Grove Gazebo in Pfluger Park on three Fridays from 7pm - 9pm. Hear Blue Dog Band on 9th, Fab Tones Band on 16th, or Neighbor Band on 23rd. Bring a picnic dinner, blanket, or lawn chairs for some family fun at Pfluger Park. Pets are allowed on leashes. Please no glass containers of any kind. Click here for similar info or call Deb Dye at 251-5082.

June 12th - PfCONA Town Meeting on Engaging Citizens in Working with Senior Citizens

To be held at Justice Center at 1611 E. Pfennig Ln. on Monday from 7pm to 8:30pm.

Topics of discussion: Featured speaker is Serita Lacasse, Faith in Action Pflugerville Caregivers Executive Director, and then follow-up discussion on being involved in democracy and local issues. Pflugerville Caregivers is seeking to partner with neighborhood associations to spread the word that many seniors in our area need help.

June 13th - Chamber Chatter

On Tuesday at 11:30am at 16500 Yellow Sage and catered by El Rincon Mexican Restaurant. Parking is available along Yellow Sage. Topic will be Customer Service presented by Round Rock Express. Cost is $12 to attend. Please RSVP by Friday, June 9th, 1:00pm to the Chamber Office at 251-7799. "No shows" will be invoiced. Bring your business cards for a door prize drawing.

June 17th - Pfun Day at Lake Pflugerville (Grand Opening)

On Saturday from 10am to 1pm at corner of Pfluger Ln./Weiss. Join pfolks for a get acquainted day at the Lake. Bring the family and friends to explore the 184-acre lake, go jogging/walking on 3.1 mile trail, try fishing at piers, go swmming in posted areas, and utilize boat ramps (non-motorized boats), and take a tour of the new water treatment plant. Coast Guard will be on hand to give out information on water and boating safety. Grab a hot dog, sausage wrap, cool drink, and snow cone. Canoes and kayaks will be available for rides. A volksmarch will take place around the lake...and it is all free. T-shirts to the first 500 guests. Water bottles and frisbees will be given out until their gone. Make it a family day at the Lake! For more info, contact city offices at 990-4363 or call Parks and Rec at 251-5082.

June 17th - Pflugerville Professional Firefighters Golf Tournament

Pflugerville Professional Firefighters, Saturday, June 17th, 7:00am, The Golf Club at Star Ranch. For information, contact David Rodriguez at 848-9983 or E-mail: drodrig104@aol.com.

June 21st - Downtown Planning Committee Meeting

Starts at 7pm at City Council Chambers at 100 E. Main. Click here for agenda that is posted on city website by 5pm the Friday before meeting.

Note: PfCONA has been involved in this diverse committee for the past 2 years and plans to continue to be represented, as is the Old Town Neighborhood Association, in order to help revitalize downtown on behalf of neighborhoods and businesses. Groups with reps involved in this committee effort are: Planning & Zoning, Board of Adjustment, Pflugerville Community Development Corporation, Chamber of Commerce, Pflugerville Downtown Association, and Architectural Review Board. City Manager's Office and Building Inspection are involved when necessary as resources to committee.

June 22nd - Police Use of Force Forum

Starts at 7:30pm at Pflugerville High School Cafeteria. For more information, contact Chief Hooker's office at 670-5520.

July 2nd - Heritage House Museum Open to Public

Open every first Sunday from 1pm to 4pm at 901 Old Hutto Road. For more information contact 251-5082.

July 10th - PfCONA Neighborhood Leader Roundtable

To be held at Justice Center at 1611 E. Pfennig Ln. on 2nd Monday from 7pm to 8:30pm. A representative of each of the 40 homeowner/neighborhood/property owner associated organizations affiliated with Pflugerville Council of Neighborhood Associations is asked to attend in order to review and make recommendations on pertinent city and organization issues as well as dialogue and network with one another.

Note: See www.pfcona.org/Meetings-Minutes.htm for past town meeting and roundtable agendas/minutes.

August 1st - National Night Out

To sign up for your block and/or neighborhood party call Cpl. Mike Clowdus, NNO Coordinator, at 670-5512 or E-mail: mclowdus@cityofpflugerville.com. Police Department will be sending out party applications to those who have previously held parties. Let's see how many parties our Pflugerville neighborhood/homeowner associations can organize. NNO and Neighborhood Watch is a great way to invigorate a neighborhood and set the foundation for block captain/contact program and an active association/homeowner association.

October 21st - Pfamily Pfestival & Expo, "Come Home to Shop"

Mark your calendar for Saturday event, 9am - 4pm, outside on Pflugerville High School campus. If you know or are part of a group that would like to have a demonstration or to entertain, please contact the Chamber at 251-7799 or E-mail: gpcc@sbcglobal.net. Volunteers are needed to make this event a success. To join planning committee, contact the Chamber.

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Click here for June City Newsletter, "Pflugerville Pfacts", and past ones on city website. Current issue stories include: Highland Park neighborhood (featured), Pflugerville Community Library Welcomes New Director, Summer Reading Program 2006, A Message from Pflugerville Police Department Crime Prevention Team on Summer Safety.

Click here for other meeting/event dates listed on City Calendar on city website. E-mail request to communitycalendar@cityofpflugerville.com to place your school, non-profit, HOA/NA, or church events on calendar.
Click here for events at library.
Click here for public notices (annexation, rezoning, etc.) 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)
Click here for info to consider when buying a home in Pflugerville.
Click here for Latest Map showing properties signed up for ETJ expansion

Click here for Upcoming Elections dates on Secretary of State website.

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Democracy Challenge Follow-up

May 8th PfCONA Town Meeting was a chance for Texas Forum moderators (from LBJ Library) to get Pflugerville citizens discussing how to their voice is important and encourage leaders to listen to the voice of the community. Follow-up notes will soon be posted at http://www.pfcona.org/.

The event was one of a series of forums on the issue of “Democracy’s Challenge” in the greater Austin area. Another forum will take place in Austin on June 13th from 6:30pm - 8:30pm if you missed the one in May. Click here to RSVP or do so via Texas Forums website: www.texasforums.org where you can also learn about the various resources on this subject.

Note: Click here for info on The Deliberative Democracy Handbook. Click here for Richard Harwood book, Hope Unraveled: The People’s Retreat and Our Way Back.

Click here for a Podcast with a view of what it means to be a citizen (playing an active role/having some responsibility) and dysfunctional consumer model mentality; and, for other related podcasts included Rich Harwood presentation at LBJ library.

Speaking of Democracy - May Election Results

In case you haven't seen the results, the following individuals ran for City Council and School Board and congratulations are in order for those who prevailed:

City Council/PISD Election Results: Victor Gonzales won City Council Place 5 seat (57%-785 votes to Sidney Hacker's 43%-601 votes)...Cynthia Graves won Place 2 on PISD School Board (61%-1833 votes to Kenneth Thompson's 39%-1168 votes); Elva Gladney was reelected to PISD School Board Place 1 (56%-1575 votes to Jo Eubanks' 46%-1236 votes).

Pfennig Ln. Rezoning Follow-up

David Buesing, City Manager, held a meeting with area residents (stakeholders)
regarding proactive zoning along Pfennig Lane (Railroad Avenue to FM 685)
on May 30th. PfCONA is promoting neighborhood involvement in these and meetings such as those involving Heatherwilde/Pflugerville Parkway corridor and Heatherwilde/Wells Branch Corridor. Future meetings to be announced.

Pfennig Ln. Temporary Change to One Way

To be converted temporarily to one-way in westward direction while work is done to road in area of Wal-Mart facility being built. Date of change to be announced.

City Commercial Development Negotiations Policy Follow-up

Click here for policy approved on April 25, 2006 by Council, which includes mention of increasing efforts to notify concerned citizens about upcoming hearings, providing alternate avenues for submitting public comment, and may also include increasing the notification distance and/or allowing neighborhood associations to register for notification of upcoming public hearings.

Chamber says "Come Home to Shop"

Greater Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce's new slogan to encourage Pflugerville citizens to shop in Pflugerville and keep sales tax dollars in the community, so that 60 cents cents of every sales tax dollar does not leave the city to neighboring cities. For chamber info, or to see their latest newsletter or business directory, go to: www.gpcc.pflugerville.tx.us/.

Commercial Development News

Out of the 1,000 businesses in Pflugerville, including 50 in the downtown area, here's some highlights of what's happening:

1) Dot's Resturant is coming to P-Ville. They have their new sign out at the old Mr. Gatti's. Carolyn Graf, Pflugerville Downtown Association President says, "They are a wonderful addition to our city and their food is outstanding."

2) Hometown Animal Care of Pflugerville opens on June 12th off FM 685 (between Split Oak and Applewood)

3) Dazzle Coffee off Pecan in downtown (2nd/Pecan St.) ribbon cutting on June 8th and opening on June 12th

4) Wal-Mart broke ground May 4th and is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2007

5) City Council is trying to lure Concordia University to Pflugerville, including setup of a an ad hoc committee to develop plans to facilitate negotiations

6) Storehouse just had ribbon cutting for its new location at 1202 FM 685, Ste C-5.

7) "Friday Night Lights" series was approved and will be on NBC on Tuesday at 7pm in Fall. Much of series will be filmed in Pflugerville beginning in August or so. [Source: Austin American-Statesman, 5/17/06]

8) Cambridge Villas groundbreaking along Dessau Road took place on May 18th (senior housing)

9) Lake Pflugerville was dedicated in April

10) Travis County ESD#2 Groundbreaking at 203 E. Pecan St.

Chamber Chatter Follow-up

Pflugerville Pflag reporter CW Hulin had the following to say (excerpts) about recent PfCONA presentation at May 9th Chamber Chatter Luncheon, on the subject of getting neighborhood residents to "Come Home and Shop" in town:

Are you a D&B shopper? Rod Reyna says he is a Downtown and Beyond Pflugerville shopper, that is, and he wants Pflugerville residents to be that, too. Reyna, chair of the Pflugerville Council of Neighborhood Associations, was the keynote speaker for the Chamber Chatter on May 9^th that challenged the Chamber and its members, via an interactive session, to connect businesses with households in Pflugerville in order to encourage local patronage and creatively "live" the city's "Open for Business" theme.

"There are about 50 businesses in downtown Pflugerville now," Reyna said. With a 2006 population projected at 30,000 residents (per the City of Pflugerville's website), there are certainly plenty of locals that can help keep the businesses afloat. So why don't Pflugerville residents "Come home to shop" the 1,000 businesses in town?

Reyna believes the GPCC (Greater Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce) can do 10 specific things for the PfCONA /Neighborhoods* in order to encourage residents to do just that. The number one suggestion is to, "Co-sponsor activities with PfCONA and/or neighborhood's directly."

Reyna's number two suggestion was to, "Promote each other's activities." Reyna also reminded everyone about niche marketing. "You can target households, families, or just children," not to mention neighborhood leaders, singles, couples, teens, young adults, and seniors.

Reyna, on behalf of PfCONA organization neighborhoods and community, also brainstormed a 20-item list titled, "Getting Neighborhood Residents to Come Home to Shop" Downtown and Beyond* (Connecting households with businesses) that he noted can also apply to community organizations as well.

There are no guarantees that if put into practice, however, that any of these suggestions will work. The missing link in this chain seems to be to collaborate with groups like the Keep Pflugerville Beautiful committee, which Reyna referred this reporter to. Have you seen the colorful flags along Heatherwilde Drive? KPB President Diane Anderson has plans to put them all around town.

Anderson said, "Elements of each committee (PfCONA, GPCC, and KPB) can work together since we seem to have common goals." PfCONA models that by working together with community organizations such as GPCC, KPB, and Downtown Association as well as Downtown Planning Committee, Pflugerville Community Development Corporation, and local/county/state government.

KPB, an affiliate of Keep Texas Beautiful, is also starting a new program called, Commercial Curb Appeal. Her group of eight volunteers will be giving awards to Pflugerville businesses.

*Click here for "Getting Neighborhood Residents to Come Home to Shop Downtown and Beyond" document, which also includes "10 Things GPCC Can Do for PfCONA/Neighborhoods". Click here for past Discover the Heart of Pflugerville editorial in Pflag.

Community Business Directory on City Website

The City of Pflugerville continues to grow by leaps and bounds. With this growth, come convenient local businesses ready to serve you each and every day...You will find a listing of the businesses in the city sorted by the service or product they offer at: www.cityofpflugerville.com/index.asp?NID=544. Click on the heading and it will direct you to the business category. [Source: City website]

(If you are a business within the city limits of Pflugerville and would like to be included in this directory, send your information to: kathye@cityofpflugerville.com.)

Residents of Pflugerville on City Committees - 2006

The residents of Pflugerville are represented by board and commission members chosen by the City Council for their expertise and knowledge in selected areas of City service. The following citizens were similarly chosen to serve in 2006 on the Keep Pflugerville Beautiful Committee:

Keep Pflugerville Beautiful Committee:

Diane Anderson, Chairperson

Belinda Beyer

Gwen Blakeslee

Lucy Brownell

Terri Gebbia

Martha Glasgow

Jill Marsh

Angel Hernandez

Click here for more information on city website about KPB.

Note: Previously listed in last Tidbits were residents serving on City Board/Commissions/Committees, not including Deutschen Pfest Committee members, which will be included next time.

School Board Briefs Now Available

Pflugerville ISD is now publishing a new feature called Board Briefs after each meeting of the Pflugerville ISD Board of Trustees. It does not replace the minutes that are approved the following meeting, but is an attempt to give an overview of topics discussed and actions made. Our goal to is have the Briefs available within 48 hours of each meeting. Board Briefs may be found on the same page as Agendas and Minutes: www.pflugervilleisd.net/leaders/agenda_minutes.html [Source: PISD website]

2006-2007 PISD Student Dress Code Approved

The Pflugerville ISD Board of Trustees approved the final revisions to the student dress code policy for the 2006-07 school year at its May 22nd meeting. The dress code will be incorporated into all student handbooks. Thank you to all of our students, teachers, parents, and community members for providing input into this process. [Source: PISD website]

2006-2007 Student Dress Code

2006-2007 Student Dress Code (Spanish)

Saxony Neighborhood Pool Memberships Still Available

Quiet, private pool is located at 100 Elm Dr. Fee is $200. Pool is open 7 days a week. E-mail Saxony Pool Chair at nyland.mj@sbcglobal.net.

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E-mail from Pflugerville Council of Neighborhood Associations (PfCONA)
www.pfcona.org, info@pfcona.org

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. PfCONA has been working for the community for the past 21 years and counting.

Note: In regard to neighborhood acitvities, please send us your news items to promote and make neighborhoods aware of what you are up to (info@pfcona.org); and, please consider putting Tidbit items in your own newsletter, if not already. You may also consider mentioning that you are a PfCONA member and PfCONA's years of service on behalf of the community.