• Spring Plant Sale and Composting Workshop

    North Shoal Creek Community Garden
    Spring Plant Sale and Composting Workshop
    Sunday March 3
    Noon to 3pm
    3025 Crosscreek Dr. Austin, TX, 78757

    Open to the Public
    Tacos provided by the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Association

    Presentations will include:  
    – worm composting (vermicomposting) for apartment residents
    – 2-bin composting for residents with backyards

    Plant sale by Squeaky Frog Farm, https://www.squeakyfrogfarm.com/

  • Candidates’ Statements for 2024 Board Election

    PRESIDENT: open position

    VICE-PRESIDENT: Josh Conrad:  I am the current NSCNA president and I am running for vice-president in order to continue the great work we’ve been able to accomplish over the past two years. My family and I have been Austinites for over a decade and residents of the neighborhood since 2019. We love our neighborhood for its friendliness, diversity and convenience. As vice-president I hope to continue to find new ways for the association to be helpful to all residents and to build a sense of community through fun projects and events.

    SECRETARY: Clarissa Colley: My name is Clarissa Colley and I am a candidate for the position of Secretary. My partner Josh, our child Miles and I have lived in the neighborhood since 2019, and we have been members of the NSCNA since 2019.  I have a plot at the community garden and participate in twice yearly garden clean ups. I would like to support the NSCNA in the role of Secretary and am also interested in becoming involved with the Social Committee.

    TREASURER: John Anderson:  My wife, Denise, and I have lived in our house on Stillwood Lane for 32 years, since the first year of our marriage.  We have raised four children here and they all attended Pillow Elementary then Burnet Middle School and then Anderson High School.  I am nearing retirement and would like to give back in some way to the community.  Having worked with some of the members of the association in the past, I want to help with the neighborhood association going forward.  I currently work for a small company where I have worked as a controller and office manager.

    DIRECTORS:

    Ayesha Badar: My husband and I moved to 8303 Franwood in October 2021. As first- time homeowners, we feel so grateful to have found such a welcoming and lively community to start our married life. We’ve absolutely loved getting to know our neighbors and taking our daily evening walks around Pillow Elementary. Since I’m fairly new to the neighborhood, I’m excited to learn more about the neighborhood history, the residents, and how I can best give back and support this community. I’m also looking to get involved as a NSCNA Board Member with the hope to support cultivating a diverse and inclusive culture for our neighborhood and creating a sense of community and belonging for our residents. I have a professional background of working in nonprofit management and community-based organizations. A few years ago, I made the shift to corporate and currently work at Meta in their Diversity/Social Impact sector. My husband and I are both from the Midwest, specifically Saint Louis, Missouri, and moved to Austin 5 years ago. We are looking forward to starting our family here and making 8303 Franwood our forever home. 

    Tomas Rodriguez:   Our family moved to the neighborhood in 1980 and became NSCNA members around 1987. My children attended Pillow. I am a retired AISD teacher.  I’ve had an opportunity to serve on the Traffic committee and would like to continue serving on that committee for the coming year. I’ve served as president, participated in negotiations that have provided funds for the association by the  Nissan dealership and several nominating committee terms.  Other activities have been the recent Mosaic art project, our 4th of July parade and the annual Luminarias Christmas events.

    Michael Gully-Santiago: Hi, I’m Michael Gully-Santiago, most folks just call me “Gully”.  My wife Chelsey and I moved to our home on Briarwood Lane in September 2022.  I first moved to Austin in 2008 and got my PhD in Astronomy in 2015 from UT Austin.  Our family adores biking around the kid-friendly neighborhood streets and going to the playground at Pillow with our 3-year-old son.  I have been impressed with NSCNA’s organization and the community’s variety of perspectives.  Its initiatives and meeting presentations—the oral & website history projects, newsletter, and Shoal Creek Conservancy’s riparian restoration—stand out.  As a scientist and ham radio operator, I am eager to contribute to emergency preparedness as risks of extreme weather events like flooding become more common/extreme.  As a bicycle commuter, I am keen to work with the Traffic Committee on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.  And as a fun-loving dad, I look forward to helping with event planning, such as July 4th and Luminaria. As a prospective Board member, I will bring problem solving skills and professionalism to our collective decision making.  I generally aim to foster community through good old-fashioned talking to each other and learning from the long heritage of the Association and its members.

    Deborah Glast:  Greetings NSCNA! I am Deborah Glast and I’ve lived on Little Laura since 2011. As a member of NSCNA, I am so proud of our neighborhood, the association and all the volunteers. Before moving to town, I was an English professor at UT Arlington. I deeply enjoyed teaching and engaging with students of all ages. Over the years I have attended NSCNA events, like the Fourth of July parade and winter Luminaria event. I’ve been thrilled to see the community garden at Pillow blossom and the colorful mural brighten the street. As Austin has changed, so has our neighborhood. I believe an integral role of the board is to continue to be aware of and work with the city and developers to ensure the neighborhood’s safety and accessibility. Serving on the board of NSCNA would allow me to give back to my neighborhood as well as to show support and appreciation to those who served previously. My committee interests are varied and I would like to help in any way I can. Thanks again to all those who volunteered in the past and those offering to help continue to make NSCNA such a fabulous place to live.

    Dick Dunbar: I have lived in the NSCNA area on Ashdale St. for over 16 years and been a member of NSCNA for 6+ years. I was the chairman for the NSCNA Community Garden for its first three years. In addition, I currently serve on the City of Austin’s Contact Committee that reviews proposed commercial developments and zoning requests that are within NSCNA boundaries. I am a firm believer in “giving back.” If elected to a board position, a goal that I have is to help build a stronger sense of community for our neighbors and provide reasons for them to join NSCNA.

    Kathy Rudd: My name is Kathy Rudd, and I’m interested in serving as a director on the NSCNA board.  My husband Ron and I have lived in the neighborhood since 2015. Since last August, I’ve served as a director on the NSCNA board and as a member of the social committee, dedicated to growing and improving relationships and connectedness in our community, especially with Pillow Elementary. I would love to continue helping our neighborhood grow as an inclusive and caring family. Through events like our Fourth of July Parade, Playland Skate Party, Fall Bake/Gift Sale and Luminaria Walk, I’ve watched neighbors of all ages and backgrounds spending time together and supporting each other. This has given me hope for the healing and progress that can happen in diverse communities that believe in respect and love for everyone. 
                    Working with Pillow Elementary over the past year has been very rewarding. I have assisted Parent/Student Resource Specialist Dianna Perez in meeting the needs of students and refugee families through food, clothing, and home goods supply drives.  I also served as a member of the Campus Advisory Committee, gaining insight into Pillow’s planning process for campus goals and staff development. This year, I would like to continue building the relationship between NSCNA and Pillow. Together, we can really have a positive impact on students’ and families’ lives, helping them access resources they need to flourish!
                    My main goals are to strengthen the bonds between the NSCNA and Pillow, to help grow our membership and connectedness through neighborhood events, and to offer support for neighbors in need. Thank you for the opportunity to work with a group of talented people, committed to the challenge of creating a community that everyone can be proud to call home!

    There is one open director position in addition to the open position for NSCNA President

  • NSCNA January Membership Meeting To Include Election Of 2024 Officers And Directors — Please Come!

    NSCNA’s first Membership Meeting of the year will be held from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 in the Pillow Elementary School Library at 3025 Crosscreek.

    The meeting agenda includes election of officers and directors for 2024. So far, candidates have volunteered to serve in 9 of the 11 positions. Their names and the positions for which they are running are listed below. One director and the President’s position remain open. If you are interested in serving in either position, please email nominating@nscna.org ASAP.

    A copy of the candidates statements – which provide information about each candidate, including a statement about why they are running – will be posted at nscna.org later this week. Print copies of the statements will also be available at the January 9th meeting.

    Only members who have paid their $20/household dues on or after Jan 9, 2023 are eligible to vote in the election. If you haven’t paid your dues since Jan 9, 2023, you can pay via check or cash at the meeting. Or, you can pay  online via Paypal at www.nscna.org/join. Dues paid online will include a Paypal processing fee.

    You can also pay by mailing a $20.00 check, payable to “NSCNA” to NSCNA / PO Box 66443 / Austin, TX 78766-0443. When paying by mail, please include the names of any committees you want to serve on. (Note: Your check needs to arrive prior to the January 9th meeting for you to be eligible to vote in the 2024 election of officers and directors).

    Pillow E.S. is located at 3025 Crosscreek. Please enter through Pillow’s front door; the library is the first room to your left.

    All NSCNA meetings are open to the public. You do not need to be a member to come and participate. However, only members who have paid their dues on or after Jan 9, 2023 are eligible to vote in elections.

    We hope to see you there!

    NSCNA 2024 Candidates for Officer and Director Positions:

    Officers:
      open position, President
      Josh Conrad, Vice President
      Clarissa Colley, Secretary
      John Anderson, Treasurer

    Directors:
      Ayesha Badar
      Dick Dunbar
      Deborah Glast
      Michael Gully-Santiago
      Tomas Rodriguez
      Kathy Rudd
      open position

  • Winter Preparedness

    Post by Adam Powell, NSCNA Vice President

    Howdy Neighbors!

    Winter is upon us, and if you’re like me you’re concerned about the possibility of another winter emergency like we experienced last January and with Winter Storm Uri in 2021. Hopefully, we won’t experience another weather event like that at all, or even better, our grid will be stable if we do. That said, it’s always best to be prepared for the worst case scenario. I’m here to help! 

    Here are some of the most important recommendations that I’ve compiled from various sources, all of which I have linked at the bottom of this blog post. I highly, highly recommend clicking through those sources as well to be fully prepared – don’t take my word as gospel!

    • City of Austin Medically Vulnerable Registry: This is a program for City of Austin Utilities customers created to ensure that medically vulnerable individuals are supported in the case of a power outage. You can learn more about the criteria for this program and sign up at this link: tinyurl.com/NSCvulnerable
    • Sign Up for Alerts: It’s very important to receive the most up to date information in the event of an emergency. The city is recommending that everyone signs up for alerts specific to your location through warncentraltexas.org
    • Follow City Utility Social Media: Austin Energy and Austin Water have accounts on most social media platforms where they provide specific updates in the case of an emergency. I recommend following them on whatever social media platforms that you’re active on. 
    • Bookmark the Online Outage Map: Austin Energy has put a lot of effort towards improving their outage map given its shortcomings in January 2023’s winter storm. Bookmark it at this link to be ready to quickly access it if needed: outagemap.austinenergy.com
    • Prepare an Emergency Supply Kit: Don’t wait until the nightmare forecast airs on the news, shop for the materials you need now! The city has created an emergency supply kit checklist in multiple languages here: tinyurl.com/NSCsupplylist
    • Make an Emergency Communication Plan: It may sound simple, but in a moment of emergency it’s best to have an established plan for who you’ll reach out to and what you’ll do. Austin public health has helpful guide to Family Communication in case of an emergency: tinyurl.com/NSCcommunications

    I hope this information is helpful, and that the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood is the most prepared neighborhood in Austin this winter! Feel free to pass this post along to anyone who finds it useful across the city. 

    Sources and Further Resources

    City of Austin Press Release: https://www.austintexas.gov/news/prepared-proactive-powerful-get-ready-now-winter-weather-season

    Mayor Watson’s Newsletter: https://www.austintexas.gov/watson-wire-archives#WatsonWireTheGrid

    Ready Central Texas Resources: https://www.austintexas.gov/readycentraltexas

    Austin Emergency Preparedness Pop-up Events: https://www.austintexas.gov/readycentraltexas/emergency-preparedness-pop-events

    Ready Together In-Person Preparedness Events: https://www.austintexas.gov/readycentraltexas/education-training

  • VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP WITH DECEMBER 14TH LUMINARIA!

    This year’s Luminaria Walk will be Thursday, December 14, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. at Pillow’s Track. Please add this event to your calendar and please come!

    It takes volunteers to make our Luminaria a reality. We need about six volunteers to assemble and set out luminarias from 4:30-6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 14ᵗʰ. Another six are needed for cleanup afterward (from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m.). Lastly, we need 3 volunteers to serve refreshments from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

    If you can help with setting up or taking down the luminarias or by serving refreshments, please email social@nscna.org. In your email, tell us what you can do, when you’ll arrive, and for how long you can help.

    This is a family-friendly event; volunteers of all ages are welcome. Youthful energy is especially welcome assembling and placing the luminarias, so please bring along any kiddos needing to run off some energy!

    Please tell your neighbors that every North Shoal Creek resident is invited to visit the display from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. to enjoy a beautiful luminaria walk followed by hot cocoa and cookies with neighbors. We hope to see you there!

    Happy holidays to you!

    North Shoal Creek Social Committee

    Ayesha Badar, Chair

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