By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

Jorge Eurán of Steiner Ranch created the company Believe & Train one year ago as a result of his passion for running.

Already a successful business owner in his native Mexico, Eurán moved with him wife and two children to Austin in 2011 as part of a federal government program to bring Mexican information technology companies to the U.S. Eurán says he was one of only eight chosen to come to Austin from over a thousand applicants.

Believe & Train has a line of die-cut, metal, wall-mounted racks for displaying medals earned for a variety of sporting events. The racks are emblazoned with words of pride and inspiration: for example, Live Love Swim, My Marathons, and the soccer-themed Play for Life.

In addition to his line of racks produced for commercial sale at sporting events and on Amazon.com, Eurán has recently started partnering with local organizations to produce custom fundraising items, like a rack for Steiner Elementary School.

Eurán started running 15 years ago as a means of reducing stress while he earned his MBA. He eventually graduated to marathons, and at the same time, encouraged his wife and kids to start running with him.

“I had all my medals in a drawer. And my business (Alveni, LLC) is something totally different from this,” making interactive touch screen kiosks. “One day (my daughter) said, ‘So dad, what do I do with all my medals?… I just want to show them. I’m really proud of what I’ve done.’”

Jorge Eurán with one of the medal display racks from his company Believe & Train.
Photo by Sarah Doolittle

Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Leander ISD Superintendent Bret Champion announced that 769 students earned 827 Advanced Placement Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the 2015 AP exams.

This is a 21-percent increase from the previous year when 638 students earned 684 distinctions.

“Leander ISD is pleased that a growing number of students are participating in the AP Program and earning AP Scholar Awards,” Champion said. Continue reading →

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

Steiner Ranch families mingled with local heroes at the First Responders Appreciation event on Sept. 23 at John Simpson Park. About 50 people attended including 20 first responders, reported Sherri Smetana, organizer.

“I wanted to show my appreciation to first responders and I thought the community would support the idea and it did,” Smetana said.

Steiner Ranch residents said a big “thank you” to police, firefighters and medics at a First Responders Appreciation event on Sept. 23 at John Simpson Park. About 50 people attended, including 20 first responders.

Continue reading →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

River Place residents living on Milky Way Drive are organizing their opposition to a developer’s request for a zoning change for a 40-acre tract at the end of Milky Way Drive that would allow for the development of 110 single-family homes.

Milestone Community Builders is under contract to buy the land from longtime landowner Berta Bradley. Milestone is requesting an SF2 zoning to build 110 homes, with a density of three homes per acre. According to the zoning application which was submitted to the City of Austin on June 23, the homes would be large, with three to four bedrooms, and range in value from $700,000 to $900,000. The developer plans to designate 14.9 acres as drainage and green space.

The homes along Milky Way Drive are zoned SF1 with a conditional overlay that limits the lot sizes to one home per acre. Homes are valued at around $1.5 million. Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Leander ISD Superintendent Bret Champion announced that 30 students were distinguished as semifinalists in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program based on their outstanding performances on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

National Merit semifinalists, who represent less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, include the highest scoring entrants in each state. The number of National Merit semifinalists in LISD represents a 43-percent increase from last year, Champion said.

Fourteen students at Vandegrift High School are semifinalists.

“These students scored a 220 or higher on their 2015 PSAT,” said Christa Thompson Martin, VHS dean of instruction. “This is an incredible academic accomplishment for our Vipers.” Continue reading →