By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

After recently going to the doctor for a routine check-up and blood work as required by his life insurance policy, Steiner Ranch resident Chuk Starrett, 44, received news that would turn his world upside down. Though he felt healthy and was in the best shape of his life, his doctor told him he had an aggressive form of cancer known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Chuk and his wife, Jennifer, could not believe the diagnosis. The doctor told him he needed to begin treatment immediately in Houston.

“I had zero symptoms,” Chuk said. “If it weren’t for the blood test for cholesterol, I never would’ve known. The doctors were like, ‘You feel great right now but that is going to change and it could change by tomorrow morning, so you’ve got to go now.’”

Chuk Starrett (middle), of Steiner Ranch, is battling an aggressive form of cancer known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He has completed two of eight rounds of chemotherapy.
Chuk and Jennifer Starrett with their sons Jack, 12, Dalton, 11, Ryan, 8, and Chuk’s mom Pat Evans.

Before he could go, the couple had to have a very difficult conversation with their three sons, ages 12, 11 and 8.

“They were in shock,” Jennifer said. “Our oldest son had the toughest time. He’s in middle school and is a very tough kid. He cried and held onto Chuk for about half an hour and wouldn’t let him go. It was just so hard, we had to explain to them what leukemia is.” Continue reading →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

The Mansfield event center and the Oasis Texas Brewing Company are opening at Oasis Texas, the highest point on Lake Travis.

The Mansfield is an 800-person capacity event center with nearly 1,600-square-feet of indoor and outdoor event space for weddings, receptions, corporate functions or charitable events.

Oasis Texas Brewing is housed in the Mansfield. The full-scale brewery and taproom also opens this weekend and will serve original beers brewed on-site.

Located at 6550 Comanche Trail #300 where Uncle Billy’’s Brew & Que was, neither the Mansfield nor Oasis Texas Brewing are affiliated with the Oasis Restaurant. Continue reading →

After a nationwide search process, the 17-person board of regents of Concordia University Texas announced its unanimous decision to name Dr. Donald Christian the institution’s next leader, effective August 1. Announced today, Christian will follow Dr. Thomas Cedel, who is retiring after more than a decade of leading Concordia, one of the region’s fastest-growing universities.

Dr. Donald Christian to be Concordia University Texas’ CEO starting August 1.

“We are extraordinarily grateful for Tom’s leadership over the last 12 years,” said Keith Weiser, immediate past chairman of the Concordia board. “Further, we are fortunate to have someone with Don Christian’s strong capability and leadership skills to take the helm of the university and build upon the remarkable momentum we have going.”

During Cedel’s tenure, Concordia moved in 2008 after 82 years on a 23-acre campus in Central Austin to its current home, a 389-acre property in Four Points.

Additionally, Concordia experienced tremendous gains in undergraduate and graduate-level admissions, growing from 1,073 students in 2002 to nearly 2,600 students in 2013; increased fundraising; saw programmatic growth, including the additions of a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing program in 2008 and Masters of Business Administration program in 2010, among others; enjoyed ever-increasing prominence of faculty members; and saw unprecedented athletic success.

Continue reading →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Due to public education cuts made by the Texas Legislature in 2011, Leander ISD is now having to make some restructuring changes, which will go into effect in the fall. Changes will include some revisions to elementary school fine arts curriculums and middle school student/teacher ratios.

Leander ISD Superintendent Bret Champion during a presentation last fall. Photo by Scott W. Coleman

“You probably remember that in the spring of 2011, Leander ISD, along with the majority of Texas public school districts, discussed at great length how the Texas Legislature significantly reduced our budgets,” Champion wrote in a February district update. “In LISD, we faced about $22 million in cuts (and were restored only about $5 million in the last legislative session). That spring, the district gathered feedback where we could reduce our expenses.”

One element of the restructuring will be the combining of music and theater arts curriculums for elementary school students. Up until now, elementary schools have had three fine arts strands – visual arts, music and theater arts. Beginning in the fall, the music and theater arts curriculums will be combined into one strand.

For example, Steiner Ranch Elementary music teacher Laura Elorreaga will be going into a grade level classroom to teach.

Veronica Sopher, Leander ISD executive director of school/community relations.

“The community of fine arts teachers will be working with our fine arts director to write curriculum to combine the two together using the same model that almost every other district in the state of Texas utilizes,” said LISD district spokesperson Veronica Sopher.

“We’re looking at how to embed all those TEKS that are required by the state to ensure kids are not only getting those but able to complement each other in those skill sets. It will include instruction and opportunities for appreciation and performance in both music and theater,” Sopher said.

Continue reading →