Category Archives: Volente

Two VHS grads earn Eagle rank in Troop 441 9 in original pack earn Eagle

Sea base 2014, Troop 411 sailed for a week through the Florida Keys.

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Two scouts from the local Boy Scouts of America Troop 441 have earned their Eagle Scout rank. Caden Edwards and Chas Wright, recent 2018 Vandegrift graduates and Steiner Ranch residents, are part of the estimated 4 percent of scouts nationwide who earn this rank.

An Eagle Court of Honor was held for the two boys to celebrate their accomplishments. The ceremony was held at the Vintage Villas on April 15 with nine other Eagle Scouts in attendance.

“We had almost all of our boys from their original pack from 201 at Steiner Ranch Elementary, who joined in 1st grade, crossover together to Troop 441 at Lake Travis United Methodist. It’s either nine or 10 who have finished with their Eagle, which is just a tremendous feat,” said Brandi Wright, mother of Chas.

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Local Firewise committee chairs urge wildfire preparedness

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

Nathasha Collmann and Randy Jamieson, Firewise committee chairs for Steiner Ranch and River Place respectively, are worried that local residents have become too complacent about wildfire preparedness.

“After the 2011 fires here in Steiner Ranch, there was obviously a flood of focus and attention and participation around wildfires,” said Jamieson. “And that’s died off.”

He continues that, “Since then, every year all the rain that we’ve had has just made things grow and grow… So we have an even greater fuel source than we had before.” Increased carbon dioxide has also meant increased vegetation growth.

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Steiner votes to hire company to manage community

LYNETTE HAALAND

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Steiner Ranch leaders approved a measure on Sunday that moves the community — of more than 4,500 homes with a budget of roughly $4.5 million — from its current self-managed structure to an on-site management company.

With about 15 residents in attendance, the Steiner Ranch Master Association board of directors held a special meeting on July 15 at 4:30 p.m. and voted to hire GrandManors, a full-service on-site HOA management brand of RealManage.

Negotiations are underway for a one-year, fixed-fee contract with GrandManors RealManage to work with a hybrid model that uses some existing onsite staff in conjunction with professional onsite management services.

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Poppy’s Southern Recipes opens mid-August

Chicken ‘n Sausage Gumbo is a specialty of Cajun restaurant Poppy’s, set to open in Steiner Ranch in August. Courtesy Deidra Harvey

By LESLEE BASSMAN, Four Points News

Hudson Bend residents Deidra and Mark Harvey are convinced number 13 will be lucky when the couple opens Poppy’s Southern Recipes in mid-August.

The restaurant is named after Deidra’s father, Don Gonzales, Jr., who is called “Poppy” by his 13 grandchildren. Gonzales and wife, Alice, are also co-owners with the Harveys in the new venture located at 4300 N. Quinlan Park Road, Ste. 100, Austin, formerly Hecho En Mexico.

“We’re from Beaumont originally, which is 30 minutes from Louisiana,” Deidra said. “There’s a lot of influence from Louisiana in Beaumont.” Continue reading →