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Four Points News January 19th, 2012
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On Sunday afternoon Austin Christian Fellowship hosted a service project to help homeless in the Austin area. Around 50 participated in the event which included el-ementary aged kids, parents and teen helpers. Everyone brought a backpack and then filled it
with toiletries, water, socks and snacks. “They all took the backpacks we made and we gave them a list of suggested locations where they can give those out,” said Ju-lie Washington, ACF Director of Children's Ministries. “Isn’t that awesome!”
H-E-B kicks off “Healthy at H-E-B” program for customers this weekend. H-E-B Four Points Healthy Living manager Kevin Polk and Healthy Living Lead Emilie Marrero assist shoppers with purchases for a fitter lifestyle.
By LESLEE BASSMAN,LYNETTE HAALAND
Those who began 2012 with a com-mitment to leading a healthier lifestyle, the Four Points H-E-B is trying to help. It kicked off its Healthy at H-E-B pro-gram last week with freebies and dis-counts on many items, including bulk foods, power bars and vitamins. “Obesity is a huge problem in the U.S. and we’re trying to tackle that, not only for our employees but for the public as well,” said Kevin Polk, HEB Four Points Healthy Living Manager. Healthy at H-E-B is a comprehensive commitment to improving the health of Texans and provide them with fresh, healthy food that is affordable and easy to prepare, according to H-E-B officials. To demonstrate its commitment, H-E-B is investing an estimated $20 mil-lion in lower prices on fresh produce across its 335 store chain in Texas and Mexico. “We are facing a health crisis in Tex-as,” said Craig Boyan, President and Chief Operating Officer. “Last June, Texas was listed as the
13th most obese state in the nation. An estimated 64 percent of the total popula-tion and one in five Texas kids are now considered overweight or obese. Given our position as the leading food retailer in the state, we have a unique opportu-nity to help those who want to make a change for themselves and their fami-lies.” In addition to lower prices on pro-duce, the 107-year-old grocery chain is offering its new Healthy Savings meal solutions, packages of fresh ingredients with recipes for preparing a healthy meal for four for under $10 after a $4 coupon. H-E-B will also challenge custom-ers to get fit with contests such as Slim Down Showdown, in which 25 contes-tants from around the state compete for a $10,000 grand prize. “With Healthy at H-E-B, we want to do everything we can to give customers the tools they need to adopt healthy hab-its such as cooking and eating healthy meals at home and getting at least 150 minutes of exercise per week,” said Kate Rogers, Vice President of Communica-
By LYNETTE [email protected]
The Market at Steiner Ranch was burglarized over the weekend and police are looking for the suspect. “The burglar smashed the front door, breaking the glass, and en-tered the store,” said Keith Brown, Co-Owner of The Market located at 4300 N. Quinlan Park Rd. Surveillance cameras inside the store give clues about the suspect. “The description of the suspect in this case is: approximately 6’ tall, thin build, wearing a grey hooded jacket, blue jeans (tight fit-ting) and a white belt. There is no photo to release at this time,” said Roger Wade, Travis County Sheriff ’s Office Senior Public Informa-tion Officer. The suspect stole cigarettes, beer and lighters. He was seen in the video filling up a bag. “That tells you that it wasn’t an adult,” Brown said. “There was only one person inside, we don’t know if there were more outside.” Store owners do not know exactly what time it happened. The
A one car accident hap-pened in Steiner Ranch on Jan. 14. This car would have likely gone into a home on Country Lake Drive if it wasn't for a couple of deco-rative boulders and large potted plants that stopped it. The driver of the car was going too fast in a residential neighborhood and did not negotiate the turn properly, sources say.
The Market was robbed for beer, cigarettes over the weekend
One car accident in Steiner
ACF kids make backpacks for Austin’s homeless
Kids, parents and teens helped fill backpacks toiletries, water, socks and snacks on Sunday afternoon as a service project for Austin area homeless people.
H-E-B trying to improve the health of Texans
Leslee Bassman
HEALTHY, 2
Keith Brown and Matt Young co-own The Market at Steiner Ranch. Their specialty market and delicatessen was broken into over the weekend. The suspect stole beer, cigarettes and lighters.
By LYNETTE [email protected]
Last week’s Austin City Coun-cil’s public hearing on Austin En-ergy’s suggested rate hikes brought out many against the proposal. Dozens of people spoke at the Jan. 12 public hearing. They di-rected their comments to the City Council, which will decide wheth-er to adopt the increase. Council chambers were packed. Last week prior to the meeting, Homeowners United For Rate Fairness sent a letter to Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell stating 10 reasons why HURF opposes the rate increases for the 45,000 ho-meowners who are Austin Energy customers outside of the City of Austin. Steiner Ranch’s Mark Farrar is
Executive Director of HURF and several months ago he launched Austin Energy Rate Protest, a website to inform neighbors about AE’s plans. Farrar thinks the HURF letter made an impact because the May-or is not backing the rate increase as proposed. On Sunday Mayor Leffingwell stated in a blog post on his website that he does not support Austin Energy’s proposed rate increase for several reasons, including that it places most of the burden on home owners and renters. Additionally the Mayor ac-knowledged that out-of-city Aus-tin Energy customers - like com-munities in Four Points - should possibly pay a lower rate, since they do not receive the benefits of being in the city.
Austin Energy spends about $150 million on city operations that are not directly related to the electric business, such as parks, roads and police and that do not benefit those outside the city lim-its. “What became clear very quickly (at the public hearing) is that a broad cross section of our community does not support Austin Energy’s current proposal,” Leffingwell said in his post. Council Members Sheryl Cole and Kathie Tovo told news sourc-es on Sunday that they do not sup-port the rate proposal either. The City Council plans to hold a Tuesday work session intended to allow its members to dig into specifics about the complicated new rate structure. Austin Energy proposes rais-
ing its rates for the approximately 400,000 customers. The utility has not raised base rates in 17 years. A home which uses an average of 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month over the year would see its rates rise about $16 a month. Large homes that use an average of 6,269 kilowatt-hours a month over a year would see its rates rise about $154 a month. Austin Energy officials hope the rates are approved soon so that they can be in place by summer, allowing for an expected review by the state Public Utility Com-mission. Utility officials say Austin En-ergy will be strapped even more financially if new rates are not put into place by the summer. The utility is operating at annual defi-cits of about $50 million.
Austin Energy’s proposed rate increase is being met by opposition
MARKET, 5
January 12, 2012Hon. Lee Leffingwell, MayorCity of Austin301 West Second StAustin, TX 78701
Dear Mayor Leffingwell: By way of introduction, Hom-eowners United For Rate Fairness
(HURF) is an association of hom-eowners who are customers of Aus-tin Energy (AE) and live outside the City of Austin. The mission of HURF is to advocate on behalf of the 45,000 Austin Energy custom-ers who reside outside the City of Austin. The purpose of this letter is to
advise you that HURF is opposed to the proposed Austin Energy rate increase, for the reasons stated be-low. (1) We have no confidence in the estimates and assumptions used by Austin Energy to justify the pro-posed rate increase. The viability of Austin Energy’s
proposed rate plan hinges on the accuracy of the utility’s calculations and projections. However, history indicates that management’s ability to make credible forecasts is prob-lematical. In 2008, for example, manage-ment projected a FY 2009 operat-ing deficit of $27 million, but the
ultimate shortfall was $77 million--almost 200 percent more than es-timated. In 2009, a deficit of $11 million was forecast for FY 2010, but the actual number was $68 mil-lion. More recently, a shortfall of $52 million was estimated for FY
Homeowners United For Rate Fairness send letter to Mayor
LETTER, 4
tion and Engagement. The company launchedHealthy at H-E-B in 2004 with its 76,000 employees. (See side story with employee Doug Macis who lost 80 pounds last year.)
"The next big step is engag-ing our customers in our health journey. Our goal is to be the health resource for all Texans who are looking for guidance and support,” Rogers said. Each month, H-E-B’s team of dietitians will select recom-mended items that follow gov-ernment guidelines around reduced sugar, fat and sodium content, and will provide reci-pes and demonstrations with the featured products in a series of seven pilot stores in Austin, San Antonio and Waco. Beginning in March, H-E-B will launch an 8-week challenge for both employees and custom-ers to encourage them to cook and eat from home at least one additional night per week and to try at least one new recipe and one new fruit or vegetable each week. Participants will be asked to track their progress online for a chance to earn incentives and prizes. Customers will also be asked to submit their favorite un-healthy recipe to be modified by H-E-B’s team of dietitians. The Top 100 will be pub-lished this fall in a Healthy at H-E-B cookbook.
Page 2 • Four Points News, Thursday, January 19, 2012
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When Doug Macis lost his grandfather 12 years ago, he stepped into role his grandfather had always occupied — the family cook. “I knew all my grandfather’s recipes. He taught me growing up,” Macis said. “To remember him, I was doing it through food.” Playing family cook may have eased his mind, but it took an enormous toll on his body. Over the years, Macis gained nearly 250 pounds, putting the 6’3 former basketball player at 440 pounds. “Things were just not right with me,” said Macis, a 40-year-old administrative assistant at the H-E-B store on Brodie Lane and William Cannon in Austin. “I had always been happy-go-lucky and I was having issues at work, issues at home. All my health numbers were out of whack. I was diabetic and had high cholesterol.” The image of his three young nephews having to bury their un-cle finally jolted Macis into action, and he entered H-E-B’s first Slim Down Showdown competition for employees in 2011.
With the help of a therapist, a nutritionist, a life coach and a gym membership, Macis lost 80 pounds and has significantly improved his health numbers, not to mention his outlook on life. Since his first week in the Slim Down Showdown — when Ma-cis broke down because he could not even do three sit-ups without cramping — he has completed a triathlon and swims and lifts weights regularly. Macis also works out with his fellow Slim Down contestants to help stay on the path of healthy living. “The scale doesn’t reward you like you think it should, you have to look to other positives to keep you going,” Macis said. One of the most profound ben-efits of Macis’ Slim Down journey has nothing to do with calories or calisthenics. “When you look within, you start to understand why people are the way they are. It has opened my eyes,” Macis said. “I try to be less judgmental and more understand-ing. I want to mimic that support that I got during this contest.”
Doug Macis, H-E-B Administrative Assistant, lost 80 pounds last year and improved his health numbers and his outlook on life - all part of enrolling in his work's Slim Down Showdown challenge.
Austin H-E-B employee loses 80 pounds last year
HEALTHY, FROM 1
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The Steiner Ranch Old Pros presented a check to Leander ISD at a recent Austin Toros basketball game to support af-ter school activities at Canyon Ridge and Four Points middle schools. Superintendent Bret Cham-pion accepted the one thousand dollar gift to LISD at the Toros’ Dec. 18 game. SROP is a charitable men’s organization that focuses on promoting the participation of youth in sports and education opportunities in the Four Points area. “Giving children the oppor-tunity to participate is central to SROP’s mission,” said Tyler Elwood, SROP co-founder and chairman. “These funds are just the be-ginning of SROP’s efforts to make a difference in the lives of children in this area,” Tyler added. This first donation will be dis-tributed to students that lack the financial means to participate in many of the after school activi-ties that LISD provides. As part of the SROP fam-ily night charity event, SROP members, along with their fam-ilies were in attendance for the Austin Toros basketball game versus the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Before the game R.C. Buford, General Manager for the San Antonio Spurs, spoke to the group about the importance of athletics in lives of children. Children of SROP members were on hand during the open-ing ceremonies of the game as basketball buddies, getting to meet the Austin Toros basket-ball players and standing with them on the court while the national anthem was sung. The children also helped out during the game by collecting towels and handing out water to the
players. Money raised at the event from proceeds of ticket sales will help the SROP fund more opportunities for children in the year to come. SROP is a men’s organization that holds monthly meetings at the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse.
Past events have hosted speak-ers such as Champion, Bobby Steiner, Dallas Federal Reserve Economist Keith Phillips, and representatives from Formula 1 Austin, Garrison Brothers Dis-tilleries and the Austin Toros.
In Leander ISD, we believe in the power of life-long learn-ing and encourage our students to never end their quest for knowledge. In fact, our com-mitment to providing learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom allows us to bring parents into the learning process to model life-long learning for their children, while empower-ing them to become “teachers” too. One upcoming activity de-signed to engage adults in learn-ing experiences is the LISD Life Science Institute, a series of classes created specifically for teachers, parents and communi-ty members that focuses on cur-rent issues and local resources related to life science. The first seminar of the Life Science Insti-tute is set for Thursday, February 2 at 4 p.m. at the LEO Center in room 112. Guest speakers are
Pamela R. Owen, Ph.D., who will discuss the impact wildfires have on local wildlife, and Chris-topher Murray, who will address how citizens can experience na-ture in preserves located in the Austin area. The event is free, but those interested in attend-ing are asked to reserve a seat by calling 570-0289. Additional Life Science Institute seminars are planned for February and March. Through the Life Science In-stitute, LISD will broaden par-ents’ knowledge of the natural world and science-related re-sources right in our own back-yard. More importantly, we be-lieve we will bridge the learning experiences that students have in our classrooms to conversa-tions parents can have around the dinner table. Another program that equips parents with the skills to be
teachers at home is appropri-ately called Parents as Teachers. Instructors with the Parents as Teachers program work with parents and their children, from birth to age four, to nurture school readi-ness. While kindergarten may seem in the far distant future to par-ents of such young chil-dren, Parents as Teachers instructors reinforce the notion that it’s never too early to start preparing for school. The program provides nu-merous resources, including in-dividualized child development information, age-appropriate learning experiences and group socialization opportunities to empower parents with the abil-
ity to support learning at home. (LISD’s Parents as Teachers pro-gram currently serves families zoned to attend Bagdad, Fau-bion, Giddens, Knowles, Mason, Plain, Pleasant Hill, Whitestone
and Winkley el-ementary schools. If you are zoned for one of these schools and are interested in learning more about Parents as Teachers, please call 570-0320.)
No matter what their age, we know that the home is where our children learn the most impor-tant lessons. Yet some parents struggle with talking to their children about tough subjects, such as sexual health, peer-pressure and personal bound-aries. While LISD maintains that sexuality education begins
at home with parents as the primary educators, the district strives to provide parents with fact-based information to help them feel confident in address-ing this important subject. One way the district does this is by periodically hosting informa-tional workshops through Aus-tin Life Guard, an abstinence-based curriculum provider that covers topics found in the LISD Health Matrix and in the state standards, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. These workshops give parents help-ful tips for communicating with their children, allow them to review the curriculum, explore statistics from health officials and ask questions of Austin Life Guard and LISD staff. The next workshop is scheduled for April 18 at Leander Middle School, beginning at 7 p.m. For more in-formation about these parenting
workshops, or if you have ques-tions about Austin Life Guard, please contact LISD Assistant Director of Athletics, Health and Wellness, Ray Langlois at 570-0168. These programs are just a few of the ways LISD is providing parents with the resources and knowledge to deepen their chil-dren’s education. I invite you to visit www.leanderisd.org to get more information or to find oth-er parent learning opportunities such as Eighth-Grade Parent Nights and Financial Aid Satur-days. Know that your involve-ment plays an important part in sustaining our culture of life-long learning because the most influential teachers our students will ever have are parents just like you.
Have a great week!
Four Points newswww.FourPointsNews.comschool thursday
January 19, 2012 • Page 3Four Points newswww.FourPointsNews.com
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The Steiner Ranch Old Pros presented a $1,000 check to Leander ISD at a recent Austin Toros basketball game to support after school activities at Canyon Ridge and Four Points middle schools. LISD Superintendent Bret Champion accepted the gift.
The Leander ISD Board of Trustees is hosting “Coffee with the Board” on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. in the library at Deer Creek Elementary, 2420 Zeppelin Dr.,Cedar Park. The event is an informal op-portunity for parents and com-munity membersto sit and discuss school-related issues with their elected school boardofficials. Board President Will Streit, Board Vice President Pamela Waggoner andBoard member Don Hisle are scheduled to attend. For more information on the LISD Board of Trustees, visit www.leanderisd.org.
Coffee with the LISD Board
Steiner Ranch Old Pros present gift to LISD at Austin Toros game
Last week I met one of the oldest resi-dents in Four Points. Ray Brown was having coffee at our local Starbucks with his friend Trooper Keeton. Trooper was a walking billboard for Texas Tech so I wanted to say hello to a fellow Red Raider. Next thing I knew I was at their table and we were chatting like old friends. Ray, an architect, is turning 80 in March! He lives on Co-manche Trail and has his office in Lakeway. Over his career, Ray has designed some 50 cus-tom homes in Lakeway and a number in Comanche Trail. The local community sits on some of our richest Four Points history, Ray said. Sev-eral hundred years ago, Comanche Trail was a travel route created by the Comanche nation. The “trail” was actually branching trails that followed water sources. By 1857 parts of the trail appeared on maps, accord-ing to Wikipedia. Fast forward a century, the area off of Lake Travis was starting to fill with week-
end retreats including small cabins around 600 square feet. They served as gathering points for fishing parties and recreational use, the Comanche Trail Community As-
sociation website states. Significant development of Co-manche Trail started after World War II ended. In 1946, the first plat of 24 waterfront lots was recorded by H. O. Fisher. The next year Bob Wentz platted a number of lots and platting continued through the ’50s and early ’60s. Permanent homes began in the early 1960s after major road im-provements were made. Only re-
cently have home sizes in Comanche Trail increased substantially. Ray Brown has literally had a hand in the development of this community. He bought property decades ago and has de-signed a number of the 250 plus Coman-che Trail homes. No two are alike, he said. Much like his creative neighbors who he speaks so highly of.
2011, but the final number was only $6.5 million. Further questions regarding the credibility of Austin Energy’s num-bers have been raised as a result of the recent audit of the utility’s fi-nances and operations. The cost of the $281,000 audit (“Benchmarking and Program Review”), which was completed months ago, was paid by Austin Energy ratepayers. Yet AE and its auditor, Navigant Consult-ing, have copyrighted the audit to restrict its distribution. According to a report by YNN News, ratepayers may look at some parts of the audit, but complete sec-tions of the document have been re-moved. An AE attorney explained that the redacted sections contain trade secrets that cannot be dis-closed. Attempting to hamper public access to the audit suggests that it contains information that is not helpful to Austin Energy. This epi-sode does not engender confidence in the credibility of the information supplied by the utility. (2) The proposed Austin Energy rate plan continues the City’s cur-rent practice of requiring out-of-city ratepayers to (a) subsidize the cost of services rendered to Austin citizens and (b) maintain the City’s tax rate at an artificially-low level. We are opposed to this unfair and discriminatory practice. We estimate that 15 percent of every monthly AE bill paid by out-of-city AE customers is diverted to the City’s general fund or otherwise spent on City services and projects unrelated to the utility. This 15 per-cent surcharge is hidden in the rates of outside-city customers; it is man-datory; and it has the same effect as a tax. Outside ratepayers cannot vote on the council members who im-pose and collect the 15 percent tax that is imputed into their bills. The clear result is taxation-without-rep-resentation. Because of the 15 percent tax, outside ratepayers are double taxed. They must pay taxes to fund their own local services, and also pay an-other tax to fund services and other benefits for Austin’s citizens. This situation is unjust, and must be cor-rected. (3) The transfers of Austin En-ergy’s revenues are excessive. The City Council’s use of $178 million of Austin Energy’s revenues for non-utility purposes is unrea-sonable. It is also unreasonable that
out-of-city customers are forced to pay a pro- rata share of this enor-mous amount. Members of the EUC have re-peatedly cautioned the City Coun-cil that continued reliance on the utility as a “cash cow” could cause problems at the Texas Public Util-ity Commission, should Austin En-ergy’s new rates be appealed. They have also said that excessive spend-ing of AE’s money on non-utility items is a bad practice that could af-fect the long-term financial health of the utility. The amount of the transfer should be reduced or eliminated when the utility is running a defi-cit, since there would be no “profit” to transfer. It is counterintuitive to require a business enterprise that is bleeding money to pay large sums to a third party. (4) Transfer policies must be re-formed. It is often said that transferring Austin Energy’s revenues to the City’s operating budget, and as-signing non-utility costs to AE, are analogous to the dividends paid by investor-owned utilities. In actual-ity, there is no resemblance between the two. Most investor-owned utilities pay dividends according to profit-ability, which is why some pay no dividends at all. However, though Austin Energy has accumulated op-erating deficits totaling $245 mil-lion since 2008, hundreds of mil-lions of the utility’s dollars continue to be spent for non-utility purpos-es. Also, Austin Energy’s transfers and assigned costs represent 15 per-cent of its gross revenues. However, the dividends of investor-owned utilities average less than 5 percent (e.g., El Paso Electric - 2.5%, Center Point Energy - 3.9%.) Plainly, the excessive use of Aus-tin Energy funds for non-utility purposes is a major factor behind the proposed rate increase. The need for the current increase, and future increases, will be significant-ly alleviated when the City Council adopts a narrower transfer policy that is more consistent with divi-dend policies in the private sector. (5) Outside ratepayers are being subjected to multiple increases in the cost of electric service. Oddly, Austin Energy staff dif-ferentiate between electric “rates” and “bills.” They say basic “rates” have not increased in 17 years, but they fail to mention the increases in customers’ “bills” that have oc-
curred during the same time. In fact, customers’ bills have increased by 10 percent just during the past five years, due to fuel charges. In addition, a January 1, 2012 increase in the fuel charge has raised bills by another 5 percent. Despite AE’s distinc-tions between “rates” and “bills,” the utility’s cus-tomers are paying 15 per-cent more today than they paid five years ago. If the proposed 2012 rate increase is implemented, individual customers’ bills will be 25 to 45 per-cent higher than five years ago. Under Austin Energy’s rate plan, the future electric bills of many ho-meowners will be higher than their mortgage payments. That is unac-ceptable. (6) The revenue requirement cited by Austin Energy is excessive and must be reduced. Austin Energy’s estimated rev-enue requirement has been closely studied by numerous parties, including utility attorneys, rate consultants hired by the City and members of the City’s own Electric Utility Commission. Without ex-ception, all of the parties concluded that the revenue requirement is ex-cessive and should be reduced by amounts ranging from $14 million to $100 million. We concur that the revenue re-quirement is excessive. We believe that the revenue requirement could be reduced by a minimum of $45 million without impairing the util-ity, and even the $100 million figure may be too small. (7) The proposed rate structure is complex and punitive. The struc-ture needs to be revised to conform to the prevailing rate designs of investor-owned and municipally-owned electric utilities in the state. The 5-tier rate structure pro-
posed by Austin Energy is com-plicated and confusing. No other electric utility in Texas has a rate structure resembling it, which should raise concerns. The City’s own residential rate advisor said it “will be among the most complex rate structures in the country…[and] fails AE’s ‘simple and under-standable’ principle.” The proposed structure is mod-eled after the rate design of a ma-jor California utility that has since abandoned it. As noted by the City’s rate advi-sor, “this structure is unlikely to re-main in effect for long in the coun-try.” Further, the proposed rate structure is punitive. The bills of low-consumption ratepayers, for example, would be increased by 50 percent overnight. Also, the pro-posed structure would force higher-consumption customers (including large families and low-income fam-ilies) to subsidize the bills of other customers. The City’s rate advisor stated that “the 5-tier structure charges high-usage customers much higher rates than the cost of service and there-fore, in my opinion, fails the ‘fair-ness’ principle.” The advisor also noted that tiered rates have been rejected [in various jurisdictions] “and replaced by simpler, less-puni-tive rates.” Austin Energy staff assert that
high rates will incentivize high-consumption customers to reduce their consumption. However, we are not aware of any studies pro-duced by AE which support that belief. Implementing the 5-tier rate structure would simply make the contentious rate plan even more controversial. What reason would the City Council have for adopting a punitive structure that is being re-jected or abandoned by other elec-tric utilities around the nation? (8) The proposed increase will cause rate shock for many custom-ers, and must be phased in. In the private sector, investor-owned electric utilities change their rates often, sometimes even daily. For any utility, whether public or private, waiting 17 years to increase rates signifies poor management. Instituting an immediate $126 million increase would create a fi-nancial shock for tens of thousands of AE’s customers. To punish rate-payers in this manner for Austin Energy’s lack of planning would be irresponsible. Under Austin Energy’s proposal, large increases for certain commer-cial customers would be phased in over three years, to alleviate rate shock. Regardless of the amount of the increase that is finally approved, the same phase-in plan must be ap-plied to all AE customers. (9) Statewide rates are declining
while Austin Energy’s rates are es-calating. During the past five years, state-wide average residential electric rates fell by 14 percent. If the pro-posed rate increase is adopted, residential customers’ bills will have increased by 15 percent, and their rates will have been increased by 10 to 30 percent at a time when rates elsewhere in the state are declin-ing. This will make Austin Energy unique in Texas, but not in a good way. (10) Many Austin Energy cus-tomers will be paying the highest electric rates in Central Texas. If the proposed rate increase is implemented, the 210,000 Aus-tin Energy residential customers who use more than 1000 kWh per month will pay the highest margin-al summer electric rates in Central Texas. AE’s new residential rates might be competitive with the rates of some utilities in the state. How-ever, having rates that are remark-ably higher than the rates charged in nearby areas will make it difficult for the utility to meet any rational affordability standard, and will drive future growth to non-served areas, contrary to the City’s stated policies of discouraging sprawl.
Thank you for considering this information.
Sincerely yours,Mark L. Farrar
Four Points newswww.FourPointsNews.comoPinionthursday
Page 4 • January 19, 2012Four Points newswww.FourPointsNews.com
Publisher’s Point of View
LYNETTE HAALAND
Local architect is part of Comanche Trail history
Barbara WellsGrandview Hills
“Although I support it, I think it’s going to be really, really tough to remember to bring grocery bags on top of all this kid stuff.”
What do you think of Austin’s proposed ban on disposable paper and plastic bags at local checkout counters?
Four Points oF View
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Editor & Publisher ..........................................................................LYNETTE HAALANDAdvertising Sales Representative ...................................................HOLLIE KENNEYCirculation ...................................................................................................FRED FRANCOReporter.................................................................................................LESLEE BASSMANCreative Services ............................................................................. JENNIFER ROBERTSContributors ................................................................BRET CHAMPION, RICH KEITH
Published weekly in Four Points, Texas by Four Points News LLC. For subscription information, email inquiries [email protected]
Kim ForlizziAlara at Cantebrea Crossing
“I agree with it. We’re put-ting too much plastic into the earth. My father was a geologist and said we are destroying our earth. Before they had plastic, everyone brought sacks or boxes.”
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Market closed at 10 p.m. and the last employee left at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night. The incident happened between then and 4:30 a.m. when the first employee ar-rived for their shift on Sunday morning.
A report was filed with the Travis County Sheriff ’s Office. On Monday morning detectives came by to see if other surveil-lance photos of another Austin area crime matched the suspect but they did not, Brown said. No money was taken. “We were very fortunate in that part,” he said. But still it was a costly break in. The Market owners have insurance but the losses did not meet the deductible. The door was replaced within hours after the discovery of the break in. This is the first time The Mar-ket has been broken into. Brown
hopes that crime is not on the rise in Four Points with this in-cident following the Four Points Bank of America robbery on Dec. 30. “I don’t know if it’s moving into the area or if we are just more aware of it,” he said. If anyone saw anything suspi-cious during the possible hours of this crime, please call the Robbery Tip Line 512-974-5092, Crime Stoppers at 472-TIPS, or text “Tip 103” + your message to CRIMES. “We’ve got to stop it before it happens to someone else,” Brown said.
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Jan. 28 Leander ISD Board of Trust-ees Coffee from 10 -11:30 a.m. Deer Creek Elementary library 2420 Zeppelin Dr. Cedar Park
Feb. 3 Pennies for Pasta Viper Cancer Fundraiser Finishes
Feb. 8 Four Points Whataburger Grand Opening 5pm - 8pm
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Boston-based fiction writer Daphne Kalotay will be in Austin this week to accept an award from the Writers' League of Texas for her recent novel, Russian Winter. On Jan. 20, Kalotay will vis-it Concordia University Texas in Four Points. She will give a reading from the novel and answer questions about the life of a professional writer. The event will take place in Building A auditorium at Concordia from noon to 1:15 p.m.
Travis County Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt, Precinct 2, reap-pointed Jerry Stein as Fire Commissioner to the Emergency Servic-es District 6 Board of Commissioners and Charles Cannon as Fire Commissioner to the Emergency Services District 4 Board of Com-missioners. Eckhardt is grateful for their continued service.
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Congratulations to the Class of 2012 VHS superlative winners. Nominations were done by seniors in October. All seniors had the opportunity during the first semester to vote using Naviance. Superlative winners will be photographed and included in the yearbook.Best Looking: Rand Fredrickson and Madison TierneyMost Athletic: Yuron Shears and Cody CoxFriendliest: Grant Joseph and Diane KimMost Talented: Joe Grismore and Ashlee CloudBest Smile: James Gonzales and Lauren SmithMost Spirited: Andrew Barstow and Moriah GonzalezMost Likely To Star In A Reality Show: Parker Morrow and Glenda RadtkeMost Altruistic: Tyler Handrick and Kristen AbbarnoMost Original: Rainer Swan and Mitzi NaiserMost Intellectual: Matthew Szostak, Andrew Toungate (tie) and Anna ZanotWittiest: Cody Witt and Jenna DivenBest Dressed: Drew Higginbotham and Sofia ColoradoMost Likely To Be President: Michael Lundy and Taylor WatsonMost Likely To Succeed: Cameron Corinaldi and Ashley MunozMr. and Miss VHS: Dominick Caputo and Cody Cox
Class of 2012 VHSsuperlative winners
Concordia will host author this Friday
ESD 6 and District 4 Fire Commissioners reappointed
Flores Mexican Restaurant plans to open its new Four Points site at the Trails at 620 in early February. “We’re building our own free standing building that is almost two and a half times bigger,” said Jose Flores, who helped his family build their four-chain restaurant over the last two decades. Flores has out grown its space after nearly six years located in a small shopping center near the Four Points Home Depot. The restaurant will be one of the first to open at the new Trails at 620 located across RR 620 from Concordia University Texas and near the Grandview Hills neighborhood. “We’ll have the homemade flour tortillas being made up front, cus-tomers like that. We’ll have a nice playscape for the kids,” Flores said.
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Home of the Week
Cody Witt - SeniorFavorite part about being involved in Viper Basketball: I like my team the most because we have all known each other and have been playing together now for almost 3 years. We’re like family.
BASKETBALL
StarS of the WeekthurSdayJanuary 19, 2012 • Page 6
four PointS neWSwww.FourPointsNews.com
Megha Pandya - JuniorFavorite part about being involved in Viper Basketball: The team and traveling.
Grant Wilburn - JuniorFavorite part about being involved in Viper Soccer: I really like the bond between the team we have had for the last couple of years, definitely something special to be a part of.
SOCCER
Megan Welliver - FreshmanFavorite part about being involved in Viper Soccer: I love viper soccer because of how close all the girls are and how competitive we are!
Cole Adams - FreshmanFavorite part about being involved in Viper Swimming and Dive:My favorite part about swim team is to compete with others, improve my time and being part of such a talented group of swimmers.
S W I
M MiNG
Tristan Prukop - SophomoreGoal for this Viper Wrestling Season: I like wrestling because when you’re on the mat it is just you and your opponent. There is no way to cheat out of it, no excuses, and for us Vandegrift Wrestlers – No Regrets!
WRESTLING
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Cameron Corinaldi - SeniorFavorite part about being involved in Viper Theater:I like theatre because it is a lot of fun to act and spend time with the cast and crew of productions. Vandegrift Theatre is great because the director is really nice and we are always putting on fun shows. In our in-class production, Little Women, I acted as Mr. Brooke, a tutor. Earlier this year, I worked on the sound crew for our Fall Show, The Odd Couple. I liked doing the sound because it gave me a chance to experience the “behind the scenes” to putting on a show. This spring, I’ll be acting as Goren, a man with only one leg, in our One Act Play, Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon.
T H E A T ER
Lauren Daniels - SeniorFavorite part about being involved in Viper Theater: Viper Theater is filled with so many amazing people with so many wonderful talents. There is room for everyone to share their abilities and for everyone willing to learn something new. I love the chance to create something different and entertaining for the audience and watch them enjoy something not only I, but the rest of the cast and crew, have worked hard on.
T H E A T ER
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It was a small dual format tournament with 8 teams and the Vipers provided two of those teams. "We placed Black team 1st and Silver team 2nd at the PISD Duals," said Greg Cooper, Viper Wrestling Coach. The Black team won all for of their duals - Connally HS B (66 to 12), Travis HS (60 to 6), Hendrickson HS (63 to 18) and Con-nally HS A (52 to 18). The Silver team started out with a tie - Con-
nallyHS A (36 to 36), Rouse HS (30 to 28), Pflugerivlle HS (45 to 15) and Connally HS B (60 to 18). The first dual was for seeding in pools. Black and Silver got placed in two different pools and then won their respective pools each. The Black team won 44 out of 48 total matches and Silver won 30 out of 40 total matches.
The Vandegrift High School Girls Basketball Team hosted the Marble Falls Lady Mustangs on Friday, Jan. 13. The Lady Vipers won by a score of 37-17 and improved their district record to 3-3. The Lady Vipers begin the second half of district play this week by hosting Cedar Park's Lady Wolves on Tues-day, Jan. 17.
The Vandegrift High School Boys Basketball team played against Mar-ble Falls on Friday Jan. 13.The game went into over-time but the Vipers played and fought hard and won. The final score was Vande-grift 72, Marble Falls 66.
Thomas Graham
VHS Boys win over Marble Falls, 72 - 66
Senior Raine Hoffmain draws 3 pointer.
Viper Wrestling does well at Pflugerville ISD Duals
Sophia Duffield (#3, junior) finishing a drive with a nice jump shot over the Mustang defense.
John Lichtenberger
Lady Vipers win against Mustangs, 37 - 17
1. What has to happen for your team to be successful this sea-son?
They are all already talented play-
ers so to be successful this season we are looking to come together as a team even more and look to increase our speed of play.
2. What is your biggest concern heading into the season?
My biggest concern for this season is staying healthy. Last year we had some issues with injury in the middle of district play. This year I took precautions and decided to carry a larger roster and therefore have more depth.
3. Who is Vandegrift’s biggest rival or biggest game to prepare for and why?
Cedar Park is without a doubt our biggest rivalry game. Many of the players here would have been at CP had Vandegrift not been built. A lot of the girls play club together as well. I think it’s just a built in contest of which school is better.
4. Is there a hidden treasure on your team might be unknown
right now, but could have a major impact on your season? Why?
I think my entire team is a hid-den treasure! Seriously though, we are still a very new program and many people have never even heard of Vandegrift. I think that gives us a little bit of an edge each time we head into the season and even more so the play off season. That won’t last for long though, this group of girls will force people to take notice.
5. Do you have a story to share about a team habit that most don’t know about?
I love that the girls always sing “Hail to the bus driver” as we turn into the school when return-ing from a successful away game or trip. It always makes me laugh.
6. What motivates you as a coach and why did you choose the sport you did?
These girls motivate me to do
what I do. They are such talented, smart group of young women. Sometimes it’s enough just to be around them and get to know them. The privileged part is get-ting to watch them all come to-gether as a family and relate that into a bonded team on the field.
I choose this sport because I love the game of soccer and I love what it looks like when everything just clicks. People who say soccer is boring have been watching the wrong games!
2010 record overall: 14-5-3District play: 4-2-3
Returning statistical leaders:Quinn Zullkowski Leading scorer and leading over all pointsNew comer of the year last year: Mason Everett 2yr first team all-district picks: Ali Jones, Taylor Allen Top newcomers:Megan Welliver Freshman For-ward
CMYK
“The Table”8:30 am
TraditionalWorship
Holy Communion{Sanctuary}
“The Vine”11:00 amTraditional
Worship {Sanctuary}
“The Way”11:00 am
ContemporaryWorship
{Ministry Activities Center, MAC Hall}
9:45 amSunday School
forAll Ages
Photo Texas Photography
Nikki barouxis 99Lauren Brigham 1Clarissa Branca 2Naomi miller 3Brook heitman 4Megan Steichen 5Anna zanot 6Quinn zullkowski 7Rachael Landry 8
Regan Williams 9Bailey Phillips 10Taylor allen 11Ali jones 12Paige Welch 13Karina batek 14Mason Everett 15Savannah Cavanaugh 16Keyana noorbakhsh 17
Cody cox 18Landry Everett 19Kyndal howard 20Megan welliver 21
Coach- Jenifer HardyAssistant- Kaylin Tindol
2012 Vandegrift Lady Vipers Soccer Schedule
2011-2012 Vandegrift Lady Vipers Soccer Roster
ViPer soccer sPotlight thursdayJanuary 19, 2012 • Page 7
Four Points newswww.FourPointsNews.com
Lady Vipers won 2-0 against the recent scrimmage versus Bowie. #2, Junior Clarrissa Branca, and #18, Sophomore Keyana Noorbakhsh, helped their team win the victor
Date Opponent Location Time Team1/24 N.B. Canyon Home 5:30/7pm JV/Varsity1/27&28 Kerrville Tourney Kerrville Fri 2 Sat 10, 3 Varsity2/3 Dripping Springs Home 5/7:00pm JV/Varsity2/7 St. Stephens St. Stephens 5pm Varsity2/10* Marble Falls Away 5:30/7:30 JV/Varsity2/14* Vista Ridge Away 5:30/7:30 JV/Varsity2/17* Lake Travis Home 5:30/7:30 JV/Varsity2/21* Rouse Away 5:30/7:30 JV/Varsity2/24* Cedar Park Home 5:30/7:30 JV/Varsity2/28* Marble Falls Home 5:30/7:30 JV/Varsity3/2* Vista Ridge Home 5:30/7:30 JV/Varsity3/8* Lake Travis Away 5:30/7:30 JV/Varsity3/20* Rouse Home 5:30/7:30 JV/Varsity3/23* Cedar Park Away 5:30/7:30 JV/Varsity3/27 Westlake Westlake 6pm Varsity3/30 Bi-District TBD TBD Varsity4/3 AREA TBD TBD Varsity* Denotes District game
&QA
with Lady Viper Soccer Coach
Jennifer Hardy
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CMYKPage 8 • Four Points News, Thursday, January 19, 2012
We want to hear your Sweetheart Story and possibly publish it in our Valentines is-sue. Tell us why the love of your life is so amazing and you may win a prize! You may have a fun engagement story to share or recall a time when you knew you were made for each other. Entries should be emailed to [email protected] by Wed. Feb. 1st and be about 300 words in length. Please include a photo of you and your sweetheart.
Sweetheart contest to be held by Four Points News
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Annual Percentage Rate (APR) applies to well-qualified borrowers & is subject to underwriting approval. APR may increase depending borrower qualification & on applicable finance charges. Offer not eligible on existing United Heritage mortgage loans. Membership required. Limited time offer. Rates & fees subject to change without notice. Terms, conditions & restrictions apply. Application required: All applicants will not be approved. Full documentation required. Applies to loan balances up to $417,000. Maximum loan to value (LTV) is 95%. Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) required for LTV exceeding 80%. Normal closing costs apply. Rate shown reflects payment of one discount point. For each $10,000 borrowed at 3.25% APR for 15 years, the monthly principal and interest payment is $70.27; at 3.75% APR for 30 years, the monthly principal and interest payment is $46.31.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR) applies to Traditional Home Equity loans and well-qualified borrowers. Offer not eligible on existing United Heritage loans and excludes HELOC loans. Limited time offer. Applicable Texas law and United Heritage lending policies apply. Closing costs may apply. Consult your tax advisor about interest deductibility. For each $10,000 borrowed at 3.49% APR with a repayment term of 5 years, the payment is $181.91; at 3.99% APR with a repayment term of 15 years, the payment is $73.95.
Membership is open to anyone who lives or works in Travis, Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell or Hays county.
512.435.4545 800.531.2328 www.uhcu.org
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River Place10815 Ranch Rd 2222
Austin, TX 78730
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Steiner Ranch Yoga
www.steinerranchyoga.com | 512-243-7441
“Quieting the Monkey Mind”
