“World's Most Complete Neighborpedia”
Explore:   What's happening in your neck of the woods?

Dorie Dillard: Canyon Creek & NW Austin Living

48 Hours With No Taxes

school

The annual sales tax holiday in Texas is coming up soon on August 21-23, 2009.

Retailers will not collect sales tax on most clothing and shoes as well as backpacks for elementary and secondary school students.clothes

shoe

Retailers are not required to participate but most will!!

Smart thinking retailers time their back-to-school sales to occur on the same weekend.

The sales tax varies according to locality. The potential savings is 6.23% to 8.25% for every $100.00 spent.

backpack

Check out the list of exempt and non-exempt items on the Window on State Government website.

Every penny counts these days!

Green Garden Award ~ Canyon Creek

canyon creek

Canyon Creek is sponsoring a Canyon Creek Garden Award. Yards will be judged on their attractiveness as well as their earth-wise practices. The garden being submitted must be in the front yard, visible to the neighbors. Entries must be made by September 1, 2009 by calling Gladys Porter at 512 257-2362 or gpoorte@austin.rr.com

In order to qualify at least 11 of the following practices must be met:

  • Landscape is aesthetically pleasing
  • Mulch is used to conserve water and discourage weeds
  • Do not exceed the City of Austin's mandatory water schedule
  • Collect rainwater to use for plants
  • Leave the grass clippings on the lawn
  • Use compost to improve the soil
  • Use fertilizer sparingly, if at all. Never fertilize right before rain
  • Use fertilizers that are organic or labeled natural
  • Compost some of the years trimmings and vegetable scaprs
  • Plant mostly native or adapted species
  • Plant species that will provide food and shelter for butterflies, birds and other wildlife
  • Do not use pesticides/herbicides or only as a last resort
  • Pathways are made of permeable material
  • There is a rain gardengarden

It will be fun to learn from those who utilize the earth-wise practices and enjoy the fruits of their labor!

Canyon Creek Rises to The Challenge

booklet

In July, the residents in Canyon Creek began participating in the Neighbor Challenge sponsored by the city of Austin. A booklet was distributed to the households in the community informing residents of the challenge to protect and improve Austin's environmental resources.

Adopting earth-wise practices and making them a habit earns credits. Recording the practices and filling out a postcard found in the back of the booklet earns credits and leads to winning a prize! You get a choice of T-shirts for the entire family or free passes to Barton Springs Pool.

The goal is to become a Green Neighborhood. If 30% of the community joins in protecting Austin's environment or have earned 50 credits in the neighborhood challenge, Canyon Creek will earn the distinction of a Green Neighborhood!

The benefits of individual actions: reducing our carbon footprint, protecting our natural resources and reducing waste will help us preserve, or better yet, improve Austin's environment for us and for generations to come.l

We are fortunate to have our 5 granddchildren live in Austin agrandkidsnd we care about their future and want to see them enjoy clean and plentiful resources.

Westwood High School ~ Continued Renovations

Westwood

Westwood High School is still underway with their 3 year construction plan in NW Austin. They are busy pouring concrete sidewalks and finishing the addition to the front of the school with new offices, with the old offices turning into additional classrooms.Westwood

The race is on as summer is slipping away and school bells will be tolling in less than 5 weeks!

construction

The parking lot is being scraped and resurfaced and the tennis courts are being relocated to across the street thus allowing for more parking.

There is a new softball field undergoing construction next to the existing baseball field.

All construction is continuing inside and out and Westwood HS is getting a new look!

sign

Screaming Success

food

Another fun and productive NW Coldwell Banker United office way to raise money for the American Cancer Society!

Look at all that food!!! desserts

It was delicious and some real cooking talent was exposed.

Freshteh

Freshteh Kosari, a new agent in our office wowed us with a home made gourmet Persian cake called Rolet that she sometimes makes for their family restaurant ~ Alborz Persian Cuisine ~ on Anderson Lane in Austin.

It was yummy...as was all the food!

The silent auction went well and we raised $1,452! auctionWe now are at $4,252 of our $6,200 goal. Only $1,949 to go!!

Any ideas for productive events that we can spend time with our peers, have fun and raise money for our cause...The American Cancer Society!

We are all thankful for having had the opportunity to help such a worthy cause.

Think Pink and I'd love to hear your ideas!