Wednesday, August 13, 2008

More restaurants on Leander's horizon





From Hill Country News, August 13, 2008...

Restaurants have been opening in Leander, more are scheduled to open and the city is beginning a letter-writing campaign to bring even more lavish sit-down places to eat.


Leander currently has 16 restaurants. In the last 16 months, openings have included Spoonz Cafe (inside H-E-B plus!), a Subway next to H-E-B plus!, Moody's Subway across from Leander High School and Taco Bell in the Lowe's parking lot. Lily's has opened in the old spot where Tony's used to be. Closings have included Como's and Snack Shack.



Scheduled to open by Spring 2009 are McDonald's, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks and Southern Sports Bar. Maid-Rite has also expressed interest in coming.

Safety Tip


PUT YOUR CAR KEYS BESIDE YOUR BED AT NIGHT

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, and the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and ; requires no installation.

Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar rapist won't stick around... after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that.

And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there.... This is something that should really be shared with everyone. ~Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

P.S. I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is fantastic. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him. ~He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem.

--The Landers

Web site launches Austin in 3-D


From KXAN, August 12, 2008...

Creator of "The Real World Online," EveryScape, launched a virtual 3-D version of Austin Monday.


EveryScape is creating the first photorealistic interactive experience that lets anyone online explore Austin's interiors and exteriors by walking down streets and going inside local restaurants, hotels, landmarks and more.


Austin visitors can virtually explore the Pennybacker Bridge, stroll through the Zilker Park and the State Capitol.

Read more...

Monday, August 11, 2008

Reasons you should go organic


From KXAN, August 10, 2008...

1. Organic food delivers more nutrition. Studies have repeatedly found increased levels of some nutrients in various organic foods. "That means more nutritional quality per calorie and food serving," explains Dr. Charles Benbrook, chief scientist at the Organic Center for Education and Promotion in Greenfield, Massachusetts...

Read more...

Got Camera? Got $150? You could win a house in Leander


From KVUE, August 11, 2008...

When it comes to houses, it's currently a buyers' market in Central Texas, with a growing number of homes up for sale.


Now one local woman has come up with a creative way to sell a 3-bedroom home in Leander, and it will only cost potential buyers $150.

Read more...

Transit Oriented Development


The City of Leander has a nice web page about the TOD.


"The TOD is the area in the northeast quadrant of the City, including “Old Town”, areas west of US 183, south of FM 2243, and going north, almost to the San Gabriel River. It is made up of “Transect Zones” that describe the levels of density and intensity (i.e. T1=rural to T3=suburban to T5 and T6=urban). The Transect Map (TOD Master plan) shows the transect districts for the TOD."

Read more...

Country Folks Saddle Club


I stumbled across this web site while looking for something else. It looks like fun. You might want to check it out.


From the KXAN bulletin board:

Come ride with us at the Country Folks Saddle Club playday in the Gerogetown showbarn. Playday is open to all. Visit our website at http://www.cfsc.us/ for more information.

Country Folks Saddle Club is a family orientated organization that strives toprovide low cost family fun for horse enthusiasts of all ages. We promoteand sponsor playdays, parades, and trail rides; always following our motto of“Horsemanship, Sportsmanship, Citizenship, and Fellowship”
All of our playdays are held at the Georgetown Showbarn in San Gabriel Park in Georgetown, Texas. Playdays are held RAIN or SHINE.

Anyone with an interest and love of horses is welcome to participate with us. You do not have to own a horse to be an active part of our organization we have a place for everyone.

August 11th, 2008
Starts at 09:30 AM

Location: Country Folks Saddle Club, San Gabriel Park showbarn, Georgetown, TX 78626
Contact Sharon Balyney
Phone: 512-789-0952

HOA Documents Available For Download


HOA Documents are now available on the Overlook Estates web site. You can now download the following:

  • Architectural Review Committee Improvement Request Form
  • Overlook Estates CCRs
  • CCR Amendments - Handout at Annual Meeting
  • Resale Certificate
  • Proxy Form
  • Overlook Estates Policies
  • Overlook Estates Budget 2008

You can find these documents on the "Etc." page, under the heading, "HOA Documents."

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Austin Ice Cream Festival This Weekend

From News 8 Austin, August 6, 2008...

Imagine that. An entire festival devoted to the celebration of the Godly mixture of milk and cream.

The second annual Austin Ice Cream Festival will be chock full of people blanketing their palates with ice cream, polishing off anything from bite-size cups containing twirls of churned heaven to simply taking a spoon to a container of butter pecan until it's gone.

The festival is Saturday, August 9th at Waterloo Park.

Read more...

LISD rankings improve


From Hill Country News, August 6, 2008...

The Texas Education Agency posted its 2008 accountability ratings report last week, giving Leander ISD many reasons to cheer, as well as a few concerns.

The standard was made more rigorous this year to align with the dropout definition of the federal No Child Left Behind law and the National Center for Education Statistics. The new definition considers any student who does not graduate within four years, receive a GED, or remain in school, to be a "non-completer."

Even though most of its performance measures were ranked as recognized, LISD risked being classified as academically unacceptable over the dropout rate.

However, the TEA extended its "School Leaver Provision" for 2008. The provision states that a campus or district can’t be rated lower because of the completion rate alone.

Read more...