Local businesses give LISD’s SELF 30 students jobs, SELF 30 Looking for more work opportunities

By VAL OLIVAS, Four Points News

A handful of hard working, young adults who are mentally or physically challenged have jobs each week in Steiner Ranch, River Place and Grandview Hills.

“(The students) are an invaluable resource. They want to work so much and work hard while they’re here,” said Kristi Nordin, co-owner of Cups & Cones.

These students, who are 18 to 22 years old, are part of the Leander ISD’s SELF 30 program which stands for Skills for Enhancing Lifelong Fulfillment.

The SELF 30 program, which teaches life skills, currently serves 12 LISD students.

School of the Hills photo: Alicia Marker (Head of School) Kelly Taylor (SELF 30) photo by Sandy Frankum

School of the Hills photo:
Alicia Marker (Head of School)
Kelly Taylor (SELF 30)
photo by Sandy Frankum

 

 

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River Place MUD to re-open trail next month

From Sandy Perry, President, Friends of River Place Trail:

The 1600 ft section will still be off limits until the section is rebuilt on MUD land.

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At last some great news!  The River Place MUD has notified the Federal agencies that it intends to reopen the upper trail – up to just past the 1.5 mile mark (when starting at the highest entrance on River Place Blvd. between Treasure Island and Golf Vista) to hiking on Friday, February 7, 2014.

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McCormick Ranch approved by city

McCormick Ranch — a proposed 131 home development on 211 acres at the southeast corner of Quinlan Park Road and Selma Hughes Park Road — was approved on Jan. 7.
The City of Austin Zoning and Platting Commission reconsidered the application from

Thompson Realty. The exclusive development has 2,600 feet of frontage on Lake Austin.

Four Points residents and the Steiner Ranch Neighborhood Association attended the hearing. They wanted the city to account for traffic, safety and services.

“We have poor emergency egress options from Steiner. And our infrastructure for roads and schools are overloaded already,” said SRNA Chairman Brian Thompto, in an earlier report with Four Points New.

But the McCormick Ranch plan was approved as the zoning commission determined that it did not have a legal ability to deny the permit, Thompto said.

McCormick_Ranch_in_Steiner_ranch_close

Opinion: The Thief, a column on drinking alcohol or not

Sarah Doolittle

Sarah Doolittle

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, REPORTER’s POINT OF VIEW

Sarah Doolittle is a local resident who writes for Four Points News.

When people find out I don’t drink alcohol, they usually ask the same questions. “Really? Not at all? Why not?” The answers are always the same, in order: yes, not at all, and mostly because I have a family history of alcoholism and deaths from alcohol.

Sometimes I think of making a joke of it when they ask. “Oh yes, I’m six months sober!” But some deeper part of me understands that it’s not funny. Alcoholism–or drug addiction for that matter–is not funny.

According to popular media, though, it’s hilarious. Watch “Drunk History” on Comedy Central. Or movies like “Project X”, “Superbad”, and “21 & Over”. (The first two build their plots around underage drinking.) Search the word “drunk” on YouTube and over 15 million results are found. Endless music videos feature the ubiquitous red Solo cup, code for alcohol, and the party never stops. It is the rare film, always rated R so our kids can’t see it, that addresses the darker side of alcohol use.

I don’t mean this as a blanket condemnation of alcohol. Prohibition failed spectacularly, producing more alcoholics than preceded it. There are millions of adults who are able to enjoy alcohol responsibly and who genuinely enjoy the taste. (I’d rather a milkshake any day, but that’s just me.)

About guns we say, “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” The same cannot be said about alcohol, however. Unlike guns, alcohol (and other drugs) work on your brain first. Addiction and lesser negative side effects are very real possible consequences of alcohol use.

Alcohol, especially when consumed in excess, is a thief. First it steals your good judgement, your memory. Then you drink a little more, it takes your inhibitions, your reaction time, your balance. Eventually you can lose your lunch, your consciousness, even your life. Continue reading →