Neighborhood Watch activated for Goldenwood West On Monday, February 13, an informational meeting was held at the Wizard Academy’s Tuscan Hall at which Sheriff Allen Bridges and Deputy Pam Robinson presented an outline of the crime prevention activities of their department, and of the Neighborhood Watch program in particular.

Here’s how the system works. A deputy with the sheriff’s department prepares notices of criminal activity which may affect residents in our area, then sends the notice to our Neighborhood Coordinators, Rick Bondurant and Margaret Paine. The coordinators then forward the notice to the residents who wish to receive them. Email addresses of residents who participate are known only to the neighborhood coordinators, and kept strictly confidential.

Sheriff Bridges said his department uses the Neighborhood Watch system to keep citizens informed of breaking events when necessary. Some months ago, helicopters were deployed to help search for a missing person and Neighborhood Watch participants in the area were notified of what was going on through the email system at the time the event was taking place. In another neighborhood, when the phone system was down for several hours, residents were able to receive information about the service outage through the Neighborhood Watch email network.

Individual residents keeping watch over their neighbors’ properties is a critical aspect of the program. The Sheriff encouraged residents to call 911 to have suspicious activities or persons investigated. He said the department would prefer to be called out for a false alarm than not to be called if a residents sees something which concerns them.

Additionally, residents may choose to request a Crime Prevention evaluation from the sheriff’s Crime Prevention unit. Residents can contact the department at 393-7373 to schedule a visit from a deputy who will help determine the areas of vulnerability to burglary in a home or business.

Neighborhood Watch is a very useful way of helping everyone remain informed about important safety issues in the neighborhood. Residents who would like to be included in the email alert network should contact Margaret Paine (gww@zpgraphic.com) or Rick Bondurant (rbond@iiat.org). • Editor

Neighborhood History: The Burke Foundation

On a curve on TX-150, between Driftwood and Dripping Springs, stands an oft-times missed sign, “The Burke Center for Children.” You may have wondered what this ranch does.

It houses the main office of the Burke Foundation, an agency in existence since 1973, that assigns abused and neglected children to foster homes. Moreover, it is the site of the Pathfinders Boys Treatment Program – a licensed therapeutic camp that nurtures severely traumatized Texas boys. In the rural atmosphere of Hays County, it has been shown that these young men can “turn back the hands of time,” and be helped “to build self respect, self reliance, and self esteem.” In other words, they can leave the camp “as productive, responsible citizens.”

Placements are made by Texas Child Protective Services and funded by Texas Health and Human Services. For a year, 24 boys (between the ages of 11 and 17) sleep in dormitories, spending their days in structured activities, with emphasis on the outdoors. Mornings begin early with chores, including care of the ranch’s horses, followed by formal education, provided on site by University of Texas Charter School teachers. Therapist-led group sessions in the afternoons are followed by recreational activities that do not include television or video games. A professional musician sent by Hurricane Katrina has begun a music program. The importance of the bond with nature in developing “pride, independence, and personal strength” is reinforced by frequent trips to state parks and wilderness areas, with overnight camping. More information is available at their web site – www.burkefoundation.com

As with any such organization, the ranch is in need of extra funds. The wish list includes building two new dormitories and remodeling two unused buildings to include an area for vocational training such as culinary arts. The gravel roads need attention, new vehicles are required for transporting the boys, and, with the introduction of weekly worship services, an outdoor chapel would be ideal.

The first-ever fund raiser last year netted about $7000, a drop in the bucket compared to the wish-list total of $900,000. A committee of concerned local citizens has been formed to attempt to reach this goal. If you have any interest in helping, in any way, or would like to know more, the Burke Foundation can be contacted at: The Burke Foundation, P. O. Box 40, Driftwood, TX, 78619. The contact person is Karyn Rogers, Executive Director. She maybe reached by phone, 858-4285 or email, burkefou@gte.net. • 2006 J. Marie Bassett

A new web address for GWW Our Goldenwood West web site has a new web address. Please make a note of the new URL, which is more intuitive and appropriate for the neighborhood: www.goldenwoodwestpoa.org. Visit regularly for information useful to residents and others interested in our area. • Editor

Damaged pillar at entrance The damaged pillar at our entrance on the mail station side of the fenced common property was accidentally hit by a construction worker employed by the Wizard Academy. A representative of the Academy telephoned the BOT the same morning to report the incident and assure GWW that the Academy would take responsibility for repairing the damage. Fortunately, the worker involved was not seriously injured. • Editor

Online rain data for GWW The City of Austin’s Watershed Protection and Development Review Department operates a Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) which is designed to mitigate citizens’ exposure to flash-flooding hazards. The system consists of a variety of field sensors which transmit stream stage and rainfall data to a central data management computer system. These rain gauges include a weather data transmitter, a tipping bucket, a funnel, and a 12-volt solar energy charged battery, all housed in a ten foot tall aluminum standpipe. One of these rain gauges is located in our neighborhood, behind the tennis courts near the bluff. Live rain gauge data is available at http://162.89.0.110. Our rain gauge is called “Goldenwood West” and is the second on the list. Data from our gauge may not always be available, but the site provides an interesting look at our weather patterns, and is a potential source of useful historical information for residents. • Editor, with content contributed by Gary Kosut

Wandering pets Several residents have complained to the BOT that wandering pets are disturbing their properties, and barking after them in the street. Dog owners are reminded that it is their responsibility to keep their pets confined on their property or on a leash. Dogs leaving their property to chase or bark after pedestrians may be reported to the Animal Control officer, in which case the owners may be fined. Cat owners should be aware that wandering cats may fall prey to coyotes after dark, and it is advisable to bring cats into the house or garage at night. Also, cats preying on birds feeding at backyard feeders have caused grief for some of our bird-watching residents. A bell on a quick-release safety collar not only identifies your cat as one with a home, but also gives our bird population a sporting chance to escape attack.• Editor

Welcome Committee Over the years several attempts have been initiated to set up a welcome committee for newcomers to GWW, but for various reasons none have succeeded in becoming established. Dena Seligman has volunteered to spearhead this long-needed effort, and will be assisted by Warren Hayward. A welcome committee will contribute substantially to improving the cohesiveness and sense of community in our neighborhood. Volunteers are needed to help Dena and Warren by donating home made items or services, or by calling local businesses to ask for coupons, gift certificates, or other goods. All residents who are interested in becoming a member of a committee to welcome our newcomers are asked to contact Dena at 858-1993. Thanks to Warren and Dena for recognizing this need in our neighborhood.• Editor

Landscape Committee The improvement work begun by the Committee last fall, with the help of many wonderful volunteers, will continue this spring. In April committee members will add the remaining, smaller plants to the bed created in October, completing Phase I of the improvement plan for the common area. Look for a beautiful display of native plants around the pavilion and pool area in late April and May. • Editor

Board of Trustees News

Retiring administrator commended Vanessa Kolar tendered her resignation to the Board in January of this year, and has stepped down from her position as GWW Administrator. All members of the Board heartily commend her for the wonderful job she has done in serving our neighborhood. Her dedication and generosity in training her replacement is greatly appreciated. She will be missed.

New administrator After conducting a solicitation and interview process, the BOT has hired resident Nova Birchfield to assume the position of Administrator. The Board welcomes Nova and looks forward to working with her for the benefit of the neighborhood.

Fence repair The section of split rail fence adjacent to the mail station and directly across Westview Trail has been replaced. Replacement of the fence, which has been in place for over eighteen years, was necessary because normal aging and wear on the upright posts had caused several to decay and become weakened. The other section of split rail fencing, around the area of land on which the pool and tennis courts are situated, is planned for next year. The BOT decided to accomplish the replacement project over more than one year in order to distribute the cost of the replacement.

News from the APC

Spring yard recognition The APC will once again give special recognition to the most beautiful yard in the neighborhood this spring, to be selected at its May meeting. The selected yard will be announced at the mail station and in the May issue of the newsletter.

The next two APC meetings will be held on April 19 and May 17 at the pavilion at 7:00 pm.

News from the GWW Water Board

The next two GWW Water Board meetings will be held on April 20 and May 18th at the pavilion at 7:30 pm, however this time may be subject to change. Please call the GWW Administrator to verify the meeting time.