By HADLEY HUDSON
Four Points News

The Hill Country Special Needs Alliance is well into its second year of helping support local families who have children with special needs. The non-profit formed in 2016 with the focus of providing financial support for Four Points families by offsetting the cost of things such as therapy, sensory tools, equipment, insurance gap coverage, respite care, camp scholarships and family counseling.

“It is a way for us to help our neighbors shoulder some of the financial burden incurred with providing proper support to children with special needs as well as providing funds for opportunities that some may not have been able to participate in without our assistance,” said William “Biff” Farrell, the co-founder and treasurer of the HCSNA.

HCSNA was born from Run the Ranch, an annual run held in Steiner Ranch. The race had been organized by Hill Country Bible Church, and it was looking for another entity to be able to use the funds raised to help the community.

The HCSNA board includes (L-R) William “Biff” Ferrell, Melissa Miltonberger, Monique Burr, Amy Roberts and Elizabeth Carrero. Kathy Mervin, is not on the board this year, and Matt Roberts is a co-founder. Deepali Poladia is also on the board.

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The Vandegrift band and Vision Dance Co. performed for a full house at Leander ISD’s Festival of Bands on Sept. 25 at AC Bible Memorial Stadium. Canyon Ridge and Four Points middle school bands also performed concerts.

The band wowed the crowd with its “Symphony in Silence” show. The show is being built upon and the full program will be performed at the Bands of America Houston regionals on Saturday, Oct. 7.

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(Right) Pam Waggoner, Leander ISD Board of Trustees president and founder of the Four Points Traffic Committee, updated the community on the progress of the second access road to Vandegrift at the LISD community meeting on Sept. 27 at VHS. (L-R) Jimmy Disler, LISD chief facilities and operations officer, Charlie Little, VHS principal, and were at the presentation.

Leander ISD is proposing a second access road behind Vandegrift through the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve that would be one mile with a 100-foot right of way and an 800-foot bridge to protect habitat below.

Second meeting this week

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Leander ISD has a second meeting this week with local representatives of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as it continues the discussion on building a second access road to Vandegrift HS through the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve.

The first meeting was Sept. 13 and school officials say it was successful.

“The first one was a very good meeting,” said Jimmy Disler, LISD chief facilities and operations officer. “We worked together, addressed concerns. Everyone got different tasks to complete and information to gather. Both sides were getting information. The meeting this week is to continue dialogue with them. It’s been positive so far. We’re happy.”

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Vandegrift Vipers senior outside hitter Ryan Palmieri (15) in action during Leander ISD’s annual Volleypalooza tournament at Vandegrift High School in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, August 24, 2017.

By ZACH SMITH
Hill Country News

Listen closely before the next Vandegrift volleyball match. Before the JV game is even over, the varsity team has already begun their pregame routine, blasting a trio of songs in the locker room and sweating after jumping around together.

It always ends with the same song, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” right before the team goes out.

“I’m pretty sure you can hear it playing in the gym,” senior Simone Priebe said.

After a fantastic non-district schedule, the Lady Vipers were ranked for a few weeks. But they began district play with two losses in their first three games. Since then they have won against Leander, Vista Ridge and Westlake.

Vandegrift has always relied on younger players to play key roles. Priebe and fellow senior outside hitter Ryan Palmieri have been on varsity since they were freshmen. And with a first-year head coach and a roster yet again filled with youth, their leadership has been key to the team’s success.

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