Northwest Austin Impacts — August 2008

Northwest Austin Impacts — August 2008

Friday, 22 August 2008

Doss Elementary

• 7005 Northledge Drive • 414-2365, www.austin.isd.tenet.edu/schools/website.phtml?id=063
• Principal: Janna Griffin
• Open Since: 1970
• 2007 Total Students: 650
• 2007 Students per Teacher: 16:1
• 2007 Economically Disadvantaged: 12.2%
• 2007 Accountability Rating: Recognized
• 2007 TAKS Results: Reading: 99%, Math: 98%
• 2008 Preliminary TAKS Scores:
  • Grade 3: Reading 100%, Math 97%
  • Grade 4: Reading 99%, Math 99%
  • Grade 5: Reading 100%, Math 99%

Last month, Doss Elementary School was left off Austin Independent School District’s education focus section.

Source: Austin Independent School District and Texas Education Agency

See other Austin ISD schools in Northwest Austin at more.impactnews.com/1390

1. Ease your pain

Moving Synergy recently opened at 8108 Mesa Drive, Ste. C-101, in the Martial Arts Fitness Center, offering posture alignment therapy and massage therapy for the relief of chronic pain. Owner Andrea Adams is a licensed massage therapist certified by Egoscue as a posture alignment specialist. Call 924-5454, e-mail andrea@movingsynergy.com or visit www.movingsynergy.com.

2. New insurance office

Complete Insurance Solutions recently opened on 12001 Burnet Road, Ste. I, in the Gracy Farms Center. The company offers auto, homeowners and commercial insurance. CIS represents more than 15 carriers and has licensed agents that perform both house and office calls. Call 888-CIS-0020 or visit www.CISTexas.com.

3. Auto additions

Covert Auto Group, located at 11750 Research Blvd., has recently added GMC trucks and SUVs and Pontiac to its Buick and Cadillac lineup. Call 583-3000 or visit www.covertbuickpontiacgmc.com.

4. New coffee shop

Coffee-A-Deli recently opened at 11800 N. Lamar Blvd. It offers coffee, espresso drinks, pastries, sandwiches, soups, salads, free Wi-Fi and a meeting and party room. Call 833-6000 or e-mail coffeeadeli@sbcglobal.net.

5. Dance studio moving

Arthur Murray Dance Studio recently moved to a new location at 13343 N. US 183 Ste. 285 in the Anderson Arbor Shopping Center. The studio offers dance lessons for couples and singles of all skill levels. Dances taught at the studio include ballroom, country/Western, Latin, swing and zumba fitness classes. Call 454-7663 or visit www.texdance.com.

6. Hot yoga

Sunstone Yoga recently opened at 10710 Research Blvd., Ste. 326. Sunstone offers “hot yoga,” which is yoga performed in a heated environment to increase flexibility and make stretching easier. The studio’s core class is “fire yoga,” performed in a 98-degree room. Free towels and mats are available, along with shower rooms and corporate discounts. Call 287-7047 ext. 114 or visit www.sunstoneyoga.com.

7. Austin Access Award

Borders Books, 3309 Esperanza Crossing in The Domain, was one of three businesses to receive this year’s Austin Access Award. The awards were presented to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Winners of the award are recognized for their efforts to eliminate barriers to their business and demonstrate a welcoming attitude for customers with disabilities.

8. Wells Branch Park

The Wells Branch MUD board approved an agreement for landscape architecture services for a nature park east of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 14311 Wells Port Drive. The project is expected to begin later this year and includes a low-impact park that will blend with nearby residences. Call 251-9814 or visit www.wellsbranchmud.com.

9. Fancy photos

Akasha Studios, a full-service professional photography studio, recently opened at 13812 Research Blvd. Ste. B-2. Akasha specializes in portraits for graduating seniors, families, children, maternity, weddings, events, fashion, headshots, commercial and product photography. Call 336-9100 or visit www.AkashaStudios.com.

10. Swim season

Capital of Texas Aquatics, a year-round swim team, provides opportunities and challenges for all levels and ages of swimmers, and offers instruction and training for its athletes. Fall registration will be held on Aug. 23 from 8-10 a.m., Aug. 27 from 4-7 p.m., and Sept. 4 from 4-7 p.m. at the Great Hills Country Club pool, 5914 Lost Horizon Drive. Tryouts will be held every Saturday during the fall starting Sept. 6. Visit www.capitaloftexasaquatics.com.

11. Mall renovations

Renovations to Lakeline Mall, 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive, were recently completed. Along with new decorative renovations, the project included an updated food court with new furniture and a common area for live entertainment, a new elevator relocated to make room for additional tenants, new seating in front of anchor retailers and at center court and an updated guest services booth. Visit www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=227.

12. New smiles

Lakeline Ranch Dental recently opened a satellite office at 10900 Lakeline Mall Drive, Ste. 250. Lakeline Ranch Dental is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call 583-0700 or visit www.averyranchdental.com/SisterOffice.aspx.

13. The Domain’s first hotel

Construction is expected to start in September on Austin’s first Westin hotel at The Domain with completion planned for September 2010. The eight-story hotel will have 340 rooms and more than 14,000 sq. ft. of meeting room and banquet space, a full restaurant, fitness center and bar. White Lodging will develop the hotel at a cost of $70 million to $75 million. Visit www.thedomainaustin.com/Hotels/Westin-Hotel.aspx.

Paint the walls

Zebra Custom Paint & Remodel, based in Northwest Austin, is a recently opened home-based business specializing in painting new and existing homes and businesses in Central Texas. The full-service painting company offers color consultation and custom painting for interior and exterior of homes and businesses. Call 750-8120 or visit www.zebrapainters.com.

Nearby happenings

14. Grant writing

The Grantsmanship Training Program, designed for novice and experienced grant seekers, will be Sept. 8 through Sept. 12 at the Goodwill Community Center, 1015 Norwood Park Blvd.This is a five-day program taking participants step-by-step through all aspects of searching for grants, writing grant proposals and researching funding sources. The event is sponsored by the YMCA of Austin and Goodwill Industries of Central Texas and led by representatives from The Grantsmanship Center. The program fee of $895 includes workshop tuition and a one-year membership to The Grantsmanship Center. Enrollment is limited to 30, and scholarships are available for organizations with operating budgets under $300,000.Call 800-421-9512 or visit www.tgci.com.

15. New field house

Concordia University received a $5,000 check from Independence Ridge retirement community, which will be built next to Concordia’s new campus on 8311 N. RM 620. The money is allocated to construction of Concordia’s new field house, where flooring for the basketball court is being installed. Independence Ridge will open at the entry to the Concordia campus with 92 independent living apartment residences plus several townhouse-style “casitas.” The community expects to interact extensively with the Concordia campus as it expands to a 680-unit retirement village complete with a clubhouse, restaurants, pub, fitness center and other amenities. Call 313-3000 or visit www.concordia.edu.

16. Hey Cupcake

After about a year of selling cupcakes out of a small, silver trailer on South Congress Avenue, Hey Cupcake has plans to open a permanent headquarters at 5530 Burnet Road in October. The business plans to keep its original location open and eventually add more silver trailers throughout town. At the Hey Cupake headquarters, customers will be able to peer through large windows to see cupcakes being made, enjoy live music and purchase clothing. Visit www.heycupcake.com.

Performing arts classes

Zachary Scott Theatre Center’s Performing Arts School at 1510 Toomey Road offers classes and special workshops in acting, comedy improvisation, musical theater and voice, and a series of Homeschool Production classes. Classes are from Sept. 15 through Dec. 13. Call 476-0594 or visit www.zachtheatre.org/education/performing-arts-school/index.html.

Wild homes

Austin is working to become Texas’ first National Wildlife Federation certified Community Wildlife Habitat. The city is challenging Austin neighborhoods to certify the most number of yards within their boundaries as wildlife habitats by Oct. 31. The challenge is limited to Neighborhood Associations and groups registered with the city of Austin. Visit www.nwf.org/community.

2009 budget

The Austin City Council will review the proposed $2.8 billion fiscal year 2009 budget throughout August, and final approval is expected in early September. The budget will take effect Oct. 1 and is expected to increase funding for growth planning, neighborhood initiatives, additional police officers, social services, transportation and infrastructure improvements. Visit www.cityofaustin.org/news/2008/budget_release_2008.htm.

Volunteer to conserve wildlife habitat

The National Wildlife Federation, City of Austin Parks & Recreation and Travis Audubon Society are partnering together to offer specialized training to teach Austin residents how to restore wildlife. Topics include native plants for wildlife, attracting birds and butterflies, natural water features and landscape design. All classes must be attended and participants must have an Austin address to register. Registration deadline is Aug. 29, and the fee is $40. Call 327-8181 ext. 29 or visit www.keepaustinwild.com.

Fare increase

The Local Government Approval Committee recently approved Capital Metro’s proposed fare structure that would increase the local bus fare by 25 cents, from 50 cents to 75 cents this fall, and to $1 in fall 2010. Fares for senior riders and riders with disabilities will remain free.

The Capital Metro Board is also exploring the financial impact of increasing fares for MetroRail and Express routes and establishing a sliding scale for fares for the working poor. Fare would be $1 for one-way travel within one of the 32-mile line’s two zones and $1.50 to transfer between zones. Dillos, no longer free, will cost 50 cents for a two-hour pass. The next meeting of the Capital Metro Board is Aug. 27. Visit www.capmetro.org.