Proposal to Apply for Urban Forest Grant

Posted Aug 31, 2010 9:35am by Beautification Committee in Beautification | no comments

The NSCNA Beautification Committee is working on a grant proposal to submit to the City of Austin’s Urban Forest Grant Program. We’re requesting money to purchase and plant trees to mitigate our neighborhood’s urban heat island effect, which, bounded as we are by commercial development and freeways, is likely to be considerable. We’re also asking for money to hire a certified arborist to assess where it’ll be more effective to plan the trees.

For additional information on this grant program, including grant restrictions on where the trees can be planted, visit the city’s Urban Forest Grant Program web page.

The Beautification Committee proposal will be presented to the association membership at our September 7 General Meeting. Here is a review draft of the grant application. If you have any questions on the proposal or want to participate in the project, please contact the Beautification Committee at beautification [at] nscna [dot] org.

Yard of the Month – May 2010

Posted Jun 21, 2010 10:00am by Cheri Hartman in Beautification | Comments Off

Congratulations to the Jackoskie Residence of 80xx Briarwood.

This home at the corner of Briarwood and Ashdale presents a “Welcome”  image with Adirondack chairs in the front yard and a matching sign on the back gate.   A scalloped picket fence frames the backyard which is beautifully appointed for all members of the family.  The lovely curved stone wall, complete with pig, ties it all together.  Mystery flowers grow here !

Austin Energy Tree Pruning and Removal Underway

Posted Jun 14, 2010 8:30am by Chip Rosenthal in Beautification | Comments Off

Austin Energy is in the process of pruning and removing trees that are near electric lines in our neighborhood. They maintain the lines to ensure customers’ safety and to maintain reliable electric service. At the same time, trees are beneficial to our quality of life, health and property values, so they should be trimmed with great care. You have rights in this process and so do your large trees.

We have prepared an information sheet for North Shoal Creek residents, so you can understand the tree maintenance process and what you can do to ensure minimal harm to the trees on your property.

The Austin Energy tree trimming process is underway now, so please review this information as soon as possible. If you know of any neighbors who have received a tree removal notification, please make them aware of this information.

Contact Chip Rosenthal at (512) 573-5174 or chip [at] unicom [dot] com for assistance, or if you know of a neighbor who would like to receive a printed copy of the information sheet.

Download the information sheet as a PDF: NSCNA Austin Energy Tree Trimming Information Sheet

Hazardous Waste Disposal, June 5

Posted Jun 2, 2010 7:30am by Alyssa Hedge in Beautification, Events | Comments Off

Date: Saturday, June 5
Time: 8 – 10 am
Location: In front of Pillow Elementary

Some kinds of waste, such as paint and oil, should not be disposed of in standard trash cans. These so-called “hazardous wastes” should be brought to a special City of Austin facility for disposal.

The North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Association (NSCNA) has worked with the city to plan a collection of household hazardous waste for disposal. The collection is open to North Shoal Creek neighborhood residents.

Please Note

State regulations place strict limits on what we can accept and transport to the waste facility. Please read the following instructions carefully.
We are doing this event as a trial, with a small number of volunteers. Once the trucks are full, we will close collections and head to the waste facility.
Your waste materials are going to be transported in the trunk or bed of a neighbor’s vehicle. Please be a good neighbor and ensure all materials are properly boxed or bagged so they do not harm your neighbor’s vehicle.

What We Can and Can’t Accept

BOPA Waste

We can accept as much “BOPA” waste as the trucks can hold. This includes:

  • Batteries (car and household)
  • Oil
  • Latex paint
  • Anti-freeze

Limited Hazardous Waste

State regulation prevents us from transporting more than 100 lbs of the following types of hazardous waste. We will accept small amounts of these kinds of waste, capacity permitting. These items include:

  • Thermometers
  • Fluorescent lights
  • Empty containers
  • Other paints and solvents: Solvents, oil-based paint, furniture strippers, paint thinners, etc.
  • Lawn care chemicals: Fertilizers, pesticides, pool chemicals, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, etc.
  • Household cleaning products: Bleach, products that contain bleach, ammonia, ammonia-based products, all-purpose cleaners, furniture polish, spot removers, scouring powder, oven cleaner, bathroom cleaners, bug spray, etc.
  • Other automotive products: Gasoline, lubricants, brake fluid, transmission fluid, car wax, metal polish, etc.

IMPORTANT: If you want to dispose any of the above items, please separate them from “BOPA” waste so they can be weighed and tallied. We have strict limits on the amount of these hazardous (non-BOPA) waste items we can accept.

Unacceptable Materials

The following items cannot be disposed of at this event, because the hazardous waste facility will not accept them.

  • Any waste generated by a business
  • Computers or other appliances
  • Explosive materials
  • Medical waste
  • Radioactive waste
  • Tires

Instructions

  • Sort and separate BOPA waste from other types of hazardous waste.
  • Place waste in boxes or bags so they can be easily transported.
  • Leaking items will NOT be accepted.
  • Please do NOT accept items for friends who live outside of our neighborhood. We have limited space and want to serve as many neighbors as possible.
  • You will be asked to give your address so we can keep statistics for the waste facility.

Please drive into the circle drive in front of Pillow Elementary. Collection begins at 8 am. Collection ends at either 10 am or when the trucks are filled, whichever occurs first.

Our pickup trucks will be lined up so we can take items from your car and place them directly in the truck. After your car has been unloaded, we ask that you promptly leave the drive so the next car can pull in. If there is a wait, form a line by pulling off to the side of the road to make room for through traffic.

To learn more about the City of Austin Hazardous Waste facility, see: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/residential_hazardous_waste.htm

Yard of the Month, April 2010

Posted Jun 1, 2010 10:28am by Cheri Hartman in Beautification | Comments Off

Congratulations to the Smith residence of 82xx Stillwood for becoming NSCNA’s Yard of the Month for April.

This charming landscape features two Oriental-style stone “temples” which are complimented by Nessie, a small visitor from Loch Ness that frolics in the front garden.  The smiling cherub was found in the backyard.

Click the thumbnail images below for larger versions.

New Solid Waste Services Website

Posted Apr 13, 2010 11:55am by Chip Rosenthal in Beautification | Comments Off

The City of Austin Solid Waste Services (SWS) is responsible for our garbage and recycling pickup, and provides other services. Waste disposal is a complicated business these days. It’s important for our budgets and our environment that spent materials are disposed of properly.

The City of Austin has unveiled a new SWS website, which should help provide answers to our waste disposal questions. A recent blog post provides information on this new resource:

We’ve reworked the Solid Waste Services site to be more customer oriented and easier to navigate with the most sought after information right at your fingertips.

We’ve added an entire section devoted to customer service. Check it out for answers to the most commonly asked questions from the community, such as fees and rates, what to do about a missed pickup, and schedules for the various services we offer. If you don’t find what you need there, we’ve made it easy for you to get in touch with us online so we can answer any questions you may have.

For more information, visit the Austin GO blog: New design for Solid Waste Services website

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