By Michelle Beck, HCEF Board of Directors

As ticket sales to the Hill Country Education Foundation’s 4th began entering my email inbox on opening day, I never expected a sold-out event in 10 short days! A very special thank you to the Four Points community for helping us break yet another record for our largest fundraiser, and turning this into the social event of the year.

Each year we focus our attention on funding a particular need, which we highlight in the Fund-A-Need portion of our evening. This year we identified three target areas at VHS that will raise the bar of excellence for our students and our standing as a top rated school. They include: 1) increasing the number of commended and national merit semi-finalists through a PSAT-concentrated curriculum, 2) fostering student participation in academic UIL competitions and 3) expanding professional development for educators.

HCEF Committee Chairs (front L-R) Susan Arant, Michelle Beck, Myra Roberts, Stephanie Johnson and Julie Petrucelli (back L-R) Cherisse Smyser, Kai Lamb and Chris Lee.

Continue reading →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

A new 65,000-square-foot self-storage facility will be constructed at the intersection of RM 620 and Marshall Ford Road, across from Randalls grocery store.

Crews are breaking ground this week on All Stor Self Storage, according to Brendan Callahan, development associate at Endeavor Real Estate Group. He said the project is owned by Endeavor and local partners.

The facility will be a three-story, climate-controlled self-storage facility and should be completed by next winter, Callahan said.

Crews are expected to break ground this week on All Stor Self Storage, a new 65,000-square-foot facility being built near this intersection at RM 620 and Marshall Ford Road, across from Quinlan Crossing.

Continue reading →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

A new 8-foot tall fence off of RM 2222 along the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve has many Four Points residents asking why it is necessary.

The stretch of fence along RM 2222 is costing $250,000 and the funding comes out of the 2014 City of Austin budget, , according to Jill Mayfield, public information officer with Austin Water. Construction began in December and will be complete by March 1.

This new 8-foot tall fence off of RM 2222 along the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve is costing $250,000 and is expected to be complete by March 1.
photo by Lynette Haaland

This fence is the newest section of an ongoing 10-year project by the City of Austin and is mandated by the federal government to protect the protected species within the preserve, Mayfield said.

 She said one reason the fence is needed is to keep people from trespassing in the preserve. She said BCP has had incidents of trespassing and litter and one big concern is unattended hikers who may cause wildfires.

 “Somebody walking with a cigarette through these lands could be very serious,” she said.

Continue reading →