We are not powerless in our defense against wildfires…read more You've probably heard this said: "It's not a question of if Austin (or Central Texas) will have a major wildfire... it's a question of when." If you live in Austin, an assessment of your property by the Wildfire Division of our Fire Department may be free, especially if you live near a wooded area or are part of an HOA. Today, I had a highly useful meeting with a wildfire mitigation specialist. Our mutual goal: to determine the vulnerabilities of my tiny HOA that sits alongside a wooded area and discuss ways to address them. We spoke about creating defensible spaces, evacuation procedures, what to do if there's a fire nearby and ways to make it easier for the fire department to do its work. I learned that rubber mulch and rubber doormats (both present at our HOA!) are extreme fire hazards. We checked out the pergola and the vine climbing around it. How to monitor skylights and identify fire "ladders" in wooded landscapes. We also discussed how to select meeting places in a crisis. I realized that my previously selected venue was ridiculous, with only one road in and out, and in a wooded area, to boot. Duh! We all watched Los Angeles go up in flames. Austin is not immune. Tens of thousands of homes here sit in areas where development meets wildland, and Austin consistently ranks among the top U.S. cities at risk for wildfire damage. Those numbers stop being abstract when it's a fire on your own street. This meeting was not alarmist or preachy. It was... empowering! If you live near green space and have not had a wildfire mitigation conversation yet, I strongly encourage you to do it while you still have the luxury of time. Check out their website. Lots of helpful information there.

Such wonderful people who throw a mean Demolition Derby. Thanks for all you do and we will always…read moresupport the Derby.

Cars were stolen and detective/s were lazy working the case, called 3 times (once after I reached…read moreout to superior) and finally sent an email saying the case they they barely worked was suspended. Told them I wanted to press charges against thief that wrecked car since it was stolen from their county and was directed to the city it was found. Tried telling that county and they directed me bk to the other. Neither county seems too hung up about stolen or vandalized vehicles. There's articles on reddit and videos on tiktok regarding it. I'm also assuming that's why reviews have been turned off on their Google.

Thank you Robert Dickerson my angel who saved me! I was scared almost 30 feet up on the highway…read morewhen my car stopped out of no where. I was coming from San Antonio on the toll way. Sorry if I was acting jaded, been going threw so much and been so discombobulated. If I had car lol I would have brought you cupcakes or something. A+++++ How can I ever repay you Travis County. Thank you from me and my boys !

This cemetery is located on a side road just a stones throw away from RM - 620. What's really…read moreunique about this cemetery is that all the graves look as though they were "do it yourself" projects. These plots are well carved out on the sloping limestone hillside. Many of the gravesites have used the natural materials of the Hill country and embellished them with some personal items. This is still an active cemetery with many recent graves, however, I did not spot any markers from the 1800s. For the most part, the cemetery is well manicured and taken care of, and even has a paved road, running through it from the front gate to the rear gate. The graves and family plots are randomly arranged according to the topography of the hillside. Access to the property is simple with just an unlocked gate and a low perimeter wall. Many of the decedents here may well be associated with the Whitestone church just 100 feet away. There is also a recently built columbarium for those who wish to store their ashes here. Normally, this would be a nice quiet place in the country, but that's not the case with the noisy traffic on 620. I did not spot any Texas historical sign nor any information on making this your forever home. This is most likely a private cemetery, not a city one and I even spotted a grave where someone had their dog buried next to them. Informative photos below.

Check it at the front desk was quick and easy. I had a referral. I just came here for a stress…read moretest for my heart health and felt I got excellent treatment from the medical assistant that guided me thru the process. She fully explained what was gonna happen, then hooked up 10 of the EKG things to my chest and then had me run on the treadmill with it increasing difficulty and incline every 3 minutes. I was even able to complete the goals in less than 7 minutes, but continued running to 9 minutes and then slow down for a few more minutes. I felt comfortable and understood the procesz.

AKA Austin Fire Drill Tower. Originally used by the Austin…read moreFire Dept. as drill practice this sixty-seven foot tower made of brick is registered as an historic place (National Register of Historic Places). If you're like me and seek such places out, this is one not to be missed. I remember seeing it for the first time ten years ago and being in awe of it. Now that I live here, the appreciation of the architecture goes even deeper. I love the view of it when walking the Butler trail. Couple of facts: Built in 1930. In 1978 it was dedicated to James Buford who died in the line of duty six years prior. In 2021 a deliberately set fire at the bottom of the building caused massive damage. It's since been completed restored back to its original elements (2023). It's got a bell tower and you can hear the bells ringing everyday. It's now a memorial to firefighters, EMTs, etc. in Austin. So again, if you're into historical monuments and architecture this is something worth checking out.

Such a beautiful historic tower! Walked past it on our way to Zilker Park…read more As you cross over the bridge where the infamous bats reside here in Downtown Austin, you will come across it!!! Worth a stop to check out!

I mean, what's better than a state department whose main purpose is to save money for other state…read moreagencies? This group negotiates contracts with technology vendors so even the smallest state agencies can get significant savings for technology products and services. In addition, they offer some free services to agencies that qualify. If that doesn't catch your eye, I don't know what else will.

This past spring, I was a "student librarian" at Cook Elementary in AISD, which participates in…read moreRIF. I got to volunteer for the Reading is Fundamental Program at Cook and had a blast. Reading is Fundamental *is* fundamental! Three times a year, each student at Cook Elementary gets to choose and take home a beautiful book of their very own to read and read again. Studies show that having books at home is instrumental in getting kids to be good readers, and three a year is a great start. At Cook, 96% of students receive free or reduced lunch based on their family's incomes, so there isn't a lot of money left for books. RIF helps to fill that need, and it makes a big difference. Hooray for RIF! I love volunteering for them!