By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

When Jonathan and Polly Tommey moved to River Place from the U.K. in 2012, they had one dream in mind – to build a place where adults with autism could live and thrive. Now, a generous donation of land from one local family is helping to make that dream a reality.

The Tommeys learned first-hand about autism after their son, Billy, was diagnosed with the disorder at the age of 2. In 2007, while in the U.K., Polly Tommey founded The Autism Trust, a non-profit organization with the mission of providing vocational, educational, wellness, and semi-independent residential programs for individuals with autism.

“As a parent, our biggest concern is who’s going to look after my children,” said Jonathan Tommey. “We don’t want them in these institutions that offer them no opportunities.”

After the success of The Autism Trust in the U.K., the Tommeys were awarded an exceptional visa to build the same center of excellence in the U.S. They chose Austin because of the warm community atmosphere and the many autism experts who live here.

The Tommeys came with the goal of building a state-of-the-art center where adults with autism can live a safe, healthy and purposeful life. But first, they needed some land.

Tommey family

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​​Girls UIL State 5A Champions​: (L-R) Renee Jacops, Elizabeth Nelson, Jade Federlin, Lindsey Thompson, Hanna Brown, Kendall Shields, Sydney Sanders, Maddie Ibrahim​ and Hannah Palacios. ​Assistant Coach Carlee Bauer ​(front left) ​and Girls UIL State Coach of the Year Head Coach Kimberly Davies​ (front right).​
​​Photo by ​​Debbie Donohue

VHS girls swim & dive win state, Boys place 5th at state

By JULIE WOLK, Four Point Contributor

The Vandegrift Viper swim and dive girls team won the Girls’ UIL State 5A Championship title by 62.5 points last weekend. The boys team came in fifth overall, a dramatic rise from last year’s 19th placement.

Overall, the Vipers took the podium with three gold and two silver medals during the Feb. 20-21 state event at the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center at the University of Texas.

“The state title for the girls and the boys’ incredible rise in placement are due to depth, passion and teamwork,” said Kimberly Davies, VHS swim and dive head coach. “We don’t rely on one or two star athletes. Our focus has been to maximize each swimmer’s strength to contribute to the whole. We emphasized ’team’ this entire season.”

Davies also won the UIL State 5A Girls Coach of the Year.

​​UIL 200 Freestyle Relay State 5A Silver Medalists​ (L-R) Zach Bezella, Jack Hanna, Zach Wolk​ and John Winkler​.​
Photo by Debbie Donohue

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By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

All Four Points schools received the “met standard” classification for the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness or STAAR test results, and all exceeded state accountability ratings for 2014. Nearly all schools, with the exception of Grandview Hills Elementary, also exceeded Leander ISD averages.

Furthermore, several Four Points schools were given “distinction designations” for their above and beyond performance: Laura Bush and River Place elementaries, Canyon Ridge and Four Points middle and Vandegrift high schools. Continue reading →

Mighty Fine Burgers Fries Shakes at its first Steiner stop last Thursday. Cold temperatures didn’t keep customers away.
Photo by Carol Killgore

Mighty Fine comes to Steiner  with its first food truck

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Mighty Fine Burgers Fries Shakes launched its new food truck last week and will have a regular stop in Steiner Ranch on Thursday evenings at the Gene Arant Team office parking lot at 4304 Quinlan Park Rd.

“I think it’ll be a great family outing. There’s not a lot of convenient restaurants to Steiner or the area,” said local resident Marlis Oliver, executive director of K&N Management, which founded and owns Austin-area Mighty Fine Burgers Fries Shakes as well as Rudy’s Country Store & BBQ.

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By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

The leaders of two initiatives that have opposed the Cardinal Point affordable housing project — which was approved by Austin City Council on Feb. 12 — plan to take more steps in their opposition.

Stop Cardinal Point supporters will continue voicing opposition to the proposed 125-affordable housing units to be built off of Four Points Drive. Officials will make their rounds and voice their dissention with state officials who are  considering the project for tax credits.

Almost 900 people have signed a petition posted on the stopcardinalpoint.com website since it launched in mid January.

Marc Chase,
Four Points Against More Traffic

On another front, Marc Chase, a River Place resident, local developer and organizer of Four Points Against More Traffic said a group of citizens is contemplating legal recourse. A decision is expected in a week or two.

Cardinal Point is a proposed affordable housing apartment complex to be located near Four Points Centre. It is proffered by Foundation Communities Inc., a nonprofit developer operating 18 communities in Austin and north Texas.

The Austin City Council recently approved a $1.9 million loan to Foundation Communities for Cardinal Point. The loan is conditioned on the aforementioned tax credit award from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

TDHCA will host a public hearing in April to receive public comment on the proposal, along with additional, similar projects. A decision is not expected until July or later.

Walter Moreau, executive director of Foundation Communities, said in an earlier report, “(Funding) is not a guarantee but we think our odds are good.”

Challengers, however, said working against those odds may be in the best interest of Four Points.

Jay Wiley,
Stop Cardinal Point

Jay Wiley, River Place resident and organizer of Stop Cardinal Point said, “This is not an attack on Foundation Communities. Foundation Communities has developments all around Austin and they are a good fit. But a development like Cardinal Point in Four Points is an anomaly. There’s no public transportation, inadequate roadway capacity and no sidewalks.”

“Shoehorning more people into Four Points is not a good idea,” he added.

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