By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Several more reports of graffiti, vandalism, trespass, mischief cases have been reported to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office over the past week or so in Four Points. This is added to the long list of reports since mid-March including the March 25 graffiti case at Canyon Ridge Middle School.

Two more graffiti reports in the past week included one on March 30 at 9:41 a.m. in the 4800 block of Steiner Ranch Blvd. and another on March 27 at 1:20 p.m. in the 10800 block of RM 2222. Earlier that day at 10:44 a.m., a report of criminal mischief was filed in the 11300 block of RM 22222. On March 29 a case of criminal trespass was reported at 3:57 p.m. in the 7300 block of RM 620 N.

There were two vandalism cases reported last week as well, one on March 28 at 3:42 p.m. in the 7300 block of RM 620 N and one on March 29 at 3:38 p.m. in the 6600 block of Sitio Del Rio Blvd.

These new cases in the Four Points area are added to a dozen reported cases since mid-March of the same type of crimes including criminal trespassing, criminal mischief, vandalism and graffiti.

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office has a person of interest in the March 24 criminal mischief case at the Meritage Apartments were a toilet in the pool house was damaged, said Kristen Dark, TCSO spokesperson.

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This is a portion of the Austin annexation map from 1960 to 2012. It shows that River Place was declared to be annexed like others in dark blue between 2000-2009. Also other sections along RM 620 and RM 2222 in Four Points were claimed for annexation at that time. Source: City of Austin

By KIM ESTES
Four Points News

River Place leaders are asking their neighbors and other Four Points residents to support proposed Texas Senate Bill 715, which would give property owners the right to vote for or against municipal annexation.

River Place leaders believe annexation will bring higher taxes and fewer services to their community, and they also want to draw attention to the fact that other local communities may be next on Austin’s annexation list.

The River Place Homeowners Association intends to have representatives at the bill’s public hearing and hopes others will register and testify.

The Senate hearing is Wednesday, April 5, starting at 9 a.m. in room E1.028 at the State Capitol building. The House hearing is the same day starting at 2 p.m.  in room E2.026.

It is an urgent matter for River Place, which is scheduled for annexation by the city of Austin on December 15, as set forth in a 2009 Strategic Partnership Agreement between the city of Austin and the River Place Municipal Utility District. The SPA was originally negotiated to delay annexation as long possible, said Scott Crosby, a 13-year River Place resident and board member for both MUD and the River Place HOA.

If passed as now proposed, SB 715 would go into effect September 1 making the SPA’s future unclear. “I do not know if the SPA would be void or whether it would require a vote. Either way, the annexation would require a vote,” said Crosby.

“The bill as written would give River Place residents a vote on whether or not to be annexed by the city of Austin. I believe that residents should have a vote in this important decision,” said Tim Mattox, a 17-year River Place resident and HOA board member.

Sen. Donna Campbell, R-San Antonio, filed SB 715, also known as the Texas Annexation Reform Act, on Feb. 2. She co-authored the bill with five other Republicans, including Sen. Dawn Buckingham, Lakeway, and Sen. Charles Schwertner, Bryan.

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Local resident Nicole Patel and her Delysia Chocolatier shop was recently named a Top 10 Chocolatier & Confectioner in the Americas by the International Chocolate Salon and Taste TV for 2017.

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Nicole Patel, local chef and owner of Delysia Chocolatier — an award-winning chocolate company with over 60 handcrafted chocolates on the menu — is expanding the business she started nearly a decade ago.

“In 2017 we are trying to grow more here in Austin and become a household name and push more nationwide,” said Patel, a Steiner Ranch mother of two and former corporate America engineer.

She is well on her way. Delysia was recently named a Top 10 Chocolatier & Confectioner in the Americas by the International Chocolate Salon and Taste TV for 2017. This is the second time she has gotten this accolade.

Delysia has expanded its offerings to retail customers over the past year. It offers complimentary chocolate tastings hosted every weekend at its Culinary Center & Chocolate Boutique at 2000 Windy Terrace Suite 2C Austin 78613, near RM 620 N and Anderson Mill Road.

Patel is also introducing chocolate tasting classes this year as well as special events like its free Easter egg decorating competition, which is Sunday, April 9 from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Families are invited and kids can decorate a chocolate egg, and then Facebook followers will vote on their favorites. The winners will receive Easter themed chocolate treats.

Patel went to college at Texas A&M University and has a master’s degree in industrial engineering. She never imagined how her experience working at a Fortune 100 company as a supply chain and business process improvement expert would prime her for distributing her own products across the country.

“I made my first batch of truffles in 2006 when I was pregnant with my oldest,” she said.

She didn’t have a lot of extra money to go shopping and was watching TV when she came across a show on how to make candy truffles. “I thought, ‘this looks fun and easy, and I can do this,’” she said.

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Residents urged to give testimony

By TIM MATTOX
River Place Resident

The Texas legislature is considering a bill (Senate Bill 715) that would allow communities targeted for annexation, including River Place, to vote on whether or not the community should be annexed.

The River Place HOA board supports this bill and the efforts to prevent River Place from being annexed by the city of Austin.

The main reasons for the HOA board’s opposition are high taxes and diminished services. The average home in River Place would pay over $2,000 dollars in higher property taxes and significantly higher electric bills. River Place is already paying significantly higher water rates under the SPA agreement between the River Place Municipal Utility District and city of Austin.

Hearings on SB 715 will be held in the next three weeks on a Wednesday. There is only a 24-hour notice of when the bill will be considered by the committee and testimony allowed at the state capitol building.

All Four Points residents who support the bill should attend, sign in, and testify in support of the bill, as physical support influences legislatures.

If River Place is annexed, the city of Austin will look for the next target in the Four Points area which could be Steiner Ranch.

More information on the bill can be found at Texas Legislature Online, at www.legis.state.tx.us. Also setting up a MyTLO account will allow alerts sent when SB 715 is being considered in committee.