Tag Archives: Volente

Steiner DI team brings backpacks to homeless teens

The Tick Tock Tigers Destination Imagination team reached its goal of 100 backpacks filled with supplies that were delivered to LifeWorks Austin for their celebration on Dec. 21.

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

The Destination Imagination team Tick Tock Tigers, made up of 5th and 6th graders from Laura Welch Bush Elementary and Canyon Ridge Middle School, is raising money to donate backpacks to homeless teens in Austin.

Named Project Survive, the team’s project involves working with the organization LifeWorks Austin, which every year helps over 4,000 local teens and adults who are transitioning from homelessness, unemployment and trauma.

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River Place Limited District board holds inaugural meeting

Patricia Rybachek (center), representing the River Place Limited District’s management company Inframark, leads a discussion Dec. 19 regarding signage changes needed in the neighborhood after the area was annexed by the
city of Austin Dec. 15.

Issues remain for some residents following Dec. 15 annexation

By LESLEE BASSMAN , Four Points News

The past week has seen large changes for River Place residents, with the city of Austin finalizing its annexation of the western Travis County development Dec. 15 and the area’s new Limited District board of directors holding its Dec. 19 inaugural meeting.

At the Dec. 19 meeting, Limited District board members—which included all officers of the River Place Municipal Utility District—unanimously voted to adopt and ratify the Strategic Partnership Agreement, or SPA, between the district and the city of Austin. This agreement allowed the development, upon annexation, to form a governing body tasked with maintaining River Place parks, nature trails and solid waste services, while the remainder of neighborhood utilities and properties come under Austin governance.

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VHS percussion goes to Midwest Clinic in Chicago

Vandegrift percussion students performed in Chicago at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic during their trip Dec. 20 – 23. They played a total of nine pieces, with two pieces specifically written for Vandegrift to perform at this concert.

By JENNY ROSAS, Contributor

The Vandegrift band drumline, led by percussion director Joe Hobbs, performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, which takes place Dec. 20 – 23.

This marks the first time in VHS history for the school to attend this event. A total of 24 VHS students attended, along with all four band directors, parents and family. Seven of these students have participated in the Midwest event as middle schoolers from Four Points and Canyon Ridge middle schools.

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Happy New Year

What are your New Year’s Resolutions?

Tripp Weigelt, River Ridge Elementary
Go on more Mobile Loaves and Fishes
trips, no more sodas (that’s going to be hard), try to keep my dog out of trouble, stop picking favorites in my family, helping my sister with her homework more, and trying to teach my sister not to use the same words like “like” all the time.

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Travis County taxing authority drops taxes on eight River Place homes

Four homes located on Lagood Drive—3700, 3701, 3704, 3705—and four homes located on James Ryan Way—10200, 10201, 10206, 10207— were not taxed River Place Municipal Utility District ad valorem taxes for 18 years due to an error. An estimated loss in the range of approximately $87,000 in taxes were not paid.

Error cost local utility district tens of thousands of dollars over 18 years

By LESLEE BASSMAN, Four Points News

During the Dec. 19 meeting of the River Place Limited District board of directors, members discussed Travis Central Appraisal District’s failure to include eight River Place homes in the former River Place Municipal Utility District’s tax rolls for the past 18 years. Therefore, the homeowners of these properties have not paid MUD ad valorem taxes since 2000, the year the parcels were annexed into the district, said Patrick Reilly, president of the River Place Limited District.

“A homeowner at the River Place Homeowners Association annual meeting came up to me and inquired about why he was being charged MUD taxes and one of his neighbors did not appear to be charged taxes by the MUD,” said Scott Crosby, board member of the River Place Limited District. “I went in and looked at several addresses on Travis County’s website and found that was in fact the case.”

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