COVNA Newsletter 9/10

Black
Soldier
Fly

The
Composter's
Friend

COVNA still has no Vice-President. If willing to serve, contact any officer listed at right.

2010 COVNA BOARD

Mark Tilley
Floyd Clark (temporary)
Dan Anderson
Hal Ferguson
Doug Tabony
Doug DuBois
Dominic Chavez

President (280-2572)
Vice President (282-8245)
Secretary (282-1932)
Treasurer (282-0601)
Newsletter (280-4080)
ANC Delegate (292-9323)
Past President (695-5457)

February 15th
April 19th
Neighborhood Picnic - June 19th

September 16th
November 15th
Dec Party - (TBA)

Advertise in the COVNA Newsletter
Only $10.00/month. Reaches over 400 homes & Online at COVNA.org
Email Hal Ferguson at: hferguson3@yahoo.com

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Many of you are aware that back in May a young boy on his bicycle was sent to the hospital with serious injuries when he was hit by a speeding car on Monarch Dr. Traffic through the neighborhood is always a topic that stirs people's passions, and this horrible incident brought the topic back to everyone's attention.
Neighbor Jessica Deleon was inspired by the incident to organize a Bike Rodeo to teach neighborhood children basic bicycle safety skills. Labor Day weekend, Jessica, her family, Amanda Hartley and her husband, Al the Handyman, and many other neighbors spent their Saturday morning at the Kocurek Elementary School parking lot performing safety checks on children's bikes, giving out free helmets to kids that needed them, and providing hands-on instruction. Over 30 children went through the different stations of the Bike Rodeo (some kids went through multiple times) and learned skills that will hopefully help prevent another terrible accident.

Thank you to Jessica for organizing and to Amanda and Al for volunteering and sponsoring the event. Thanks to the other sponsors: Yours Mine and Our Kids Child Care Center, Asian Auto Works, Austin's Yellow Bike Project, and the Austin Cycling Association.

I enjoyed the opportunity to volunteer for such an important event, but I also enjoyed meeting lots of neighbors. My wife and I are expecting our first child in October. We were drawn to COVNA by the old trees and wide streets, but also because we desire to raise our family in a neighborhood like the ones we grew up in, a neighborhood where neighbors knew one another and took care of one another and where it was safe for kids to play outside. Whether you are the original owner of your house or just moved here, we can all contribute to make our neighborhood a great place to live.

The next opportunity to meet your neighbors is National Night Out on Tuesday, October 5. National Night Out is a nationwide program meant to strengthen neighborhoods and police-community partnerships. Neighbors are encouraged to have block parties, cook-outs and flashlight walks around the neighborhood after sunset. Our neighbors on Mosswood Circle have graciously offered to host a cul-de-sac gathering that night where first responders from the City of Austin will come for a visit. I hope to see you there. Stay tuned to the COVNA e-mail list for more details. If you are not on the e-mail list, send a request to: tabonyproductions@austin.rr.com.

AUSTIN 3-1-1

Austin 3-1-1
Your All Day, Any Day, Info Center

If you have questions about or need help with your City of Austin services, call Austin 3-1-1. Ambassadors are available 24/7 including holidays to provide information on City programs and events and enter service requests for a variety of issues. Kind, courteous, customer service is the number one goal of Austin 3-1-1. We are here to help!

Here are a few reasons to call:
· Info on trash & recycling collection
· To report malfunctioning traffic lights
· To report potholes
· Information about City holidays & events
· To report malfunctioning street lights
· Information about street closures
· Non-emergency police matters
· To report animal issues
· To report graffiti
· To report Code Enforcement concerns

In addition, you can submit a number of service requests online. Just go to www.austin311.org to go the request form. If it is a situation that needs immediate attention or you can't find the service that you need, just call 3-1-1. Can't call 3-1-1? Use 512-974-2000.

Austin 3-1-1 History

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established the 3-1-1 number in the early 1990s for cities to use to alleviate non-emergency calls to local 9-1-1 centers. The Austin Police Department successfully launched 3-1-1 in 2001. In 2004, the Citywide Information Center started taking calls for several divisions in Public Works, Animal Control and Drainage Field Operations. Other departments were added and eventually the APD 3-1-1 and Citywide Information merged to form Austin 3-1-1.

CRIME CORNER
1/1/2010—8/31/2010

Crime	#
Abandoned Vehicle	1
AGG Assault Family/Date Violence	2
ASLT by Contact Family/Dating Violence	1
Assault w/Injury-Family/Date Violence	5
Breach of Computer Security	1
Burglary of Residents	2
Burglary of Vehicle	8
Credit Card Abuse by Forgery	2
Credit Card Abuse/Other	1
Criminal Mischief	5
Curfew Violation	1
Deceased Person	1
Disturbance/Other	1
Driving while License Invalid	1
DWI	1
Evading/Foot	1
Fail to Stop and Render Aid	1
Family Disturbance	6
Harassment	4
Junked/Nuisance Vehicle	1
Leaving the Scene Crash/Accident	1
Lost Property	1
Murder	1
Possession Marijuana	1
Possessions of Prohibited Weapon	1
Terroristic Threat	2
Theft	4
Theft of Auto Parts	1
UCW	1
Warrant Arrest Non-Traffic	1

MAGGOTS AND RED WRIGGLERS

We’re talking compost here. My son, Alan has been toiling daily in his garden. This year he got a late start due to construction of an added room to our house. He has fabricated raised beds using soil removed for the new room’s foundation. He has crafted an inexpensive drip irrigation system and is developing a 2-staged compost system, the first using Black Soldier Fly larvae and the secong using Red Wriggler worms. I hope he will share some of the knowledge he has gained by talking to nurserymen and using the internet to look up text and video descriptions in future newsletters.

Another unusual bird sightig. Not an unusual bird for the area but one that, like the opposite of the proverbial child, is heard but not seen. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo (sometimes called a rain crow) lighted in plain view on a large sunflower in the middle of our back yard and sat for quite a while. Unfortunately, it kept it's back to us and we had no chance to see the dramatic, spotted underside of it's tail.