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August 20 NACA General
Meeting
YMCA to Propose Takeover of Recreation
Center
The main topic of the August 20 NACA meeting was a joint
venture proposed by the YMCA with Austin PARD to operate our new Recreation
Center.
Mark Schruben of the City was on hand, with representatives of
the YMCA.
There had already been lively
e-mail
debate (updated 9/27), hosted by Martha
Dempsey, as to the pros and cons of this proposal. The debate centered around
the fact that the recreation center is already funded by
voter-approved bonds for the benefit of the entire community, which is
fully involved in its development. The YMCA already has a facility only a block
away which it is free to operate under its own rules and restrictions.
In addition, there is the misunderstanding that our proposal to have
"pool" was not a wet hole in the ground, but pocket billiards. The addition of
a wet pool would greatly add to the expense of construction and upkeep and, as
there is already a pool available at Lanier High, was not initially considered
an option.
For information on the meeting of August 20, see the
Meeting Minutes. |
Ron Rigsby
Park
Its Past and its
Future |
Neighbors enjoy the Garden Club's picnic at
Ron Rigsby Park |
| An Open Letter
from Cecil Rigsby |
On May 30, the NACA Garden Club hosted a picnic at Ron Rigsby Park
to discuss how we might develop the park as a neighborhod beautification
project. A survey is being prepared to gather suggestions; you'll see it here
soon.
Meanwhile, we present a letter from Cecil H. Rigsby, the father of
Ron, that will give you the history of the park and what may happen with it in
the future.
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When our son, Ensign Ronald Cecil Rigsby, was
killed in a Navy aircraft accident on April 1st, 1977, at age 26, I was working
for the Northrop Corporation and living in Saudi Arabia with my family. We had
leased our house at 9001 Collinfield Dr. and of course we returned to the
States for Ron's funeral. He was buried with full military honors at Austin
Memorial Park. It was some months later when we returned to Austin on leave,
driving through the neighborhood we noticed the sign, Ron Rigsby Park. We had
no notice what-so-ever of this Honor bestowed on our son. It is indeed an Honor
and the family appreciates the efforts of the North Austin Civic Association
(NACA) who made it possible.
On my return from a
combat tour in Vietnam in May, 1971, I was assigned to 12th Air Force
Headquarters, Bergstrom Air Force Base. We found a house we liked in Quail
Creek and moved in May 1971. It was not long before a number of us in Quail
Creek formed the North Austin Civic Association to battle the construction of
apartment complexes in our area. We lost our original fight because the
apartments had already been approved by the City Planning Commission. But it
was the beginning of many battles to follow.
I was one
of the founding members of NACA and served on the Board for several years. Ron
Rigsby lived at home, graduated from University of Houston in June 1972 with a
BA Degree, and took a job in State Government. At the request of the Board Ron
attended City Council Meetings, City Planning Commission Meetings, passed out
Newsletters and worked the elections. He was as interested in the Neighborhood
as the leaders of our Association. He volunteered his time like the rest of us
who battled to keep undesirable commercial ventures out of our
Neighborhood.
The Rigsby family is impressed and
grateful to present NACA Members who have expressed a desire to improve the
appearance, utility and desirability of Ron Rigsby Park. Some have sought our
views on what if anything should be done. After a family conference, here are a
few thoughts for your consideration.... |
| More.... |
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NACA Meetings
are held on the third
Thursday of every month, except July and December.
The next NACA meeting
will be
November 19, 2009 at 7:00 PM
at
Little Walnut Creek Library,
835
W. Rundberg. |
NACA
Information
Meeting Minutes
Archives
 to view pdf files.
If you have trouble pulling
up a pdf, reload with the latest version of Adobe Reader. |
| New Arts Organization in North Austin |
From the MANA website (http://manifoldarts.wordpress.com/):
Manifold Arts in North Austin (MANA) is a
multi-disciplinary arts organization devoted to bringing together the
communities of North Austin by developing programs, hosting events, and
creating artistic environments to explore issues of community building and
fostering unexpected friendships.
MANA expressly
encourages cross-cultural communication, especially between people who speak
English as a primary language, and those who speak English as a second
language. MANA also focuses on taking a multi-generational approach to
community arts, promoting events, exhibitions, and opportunities for arts and
learning that brings people of all ages together to grow from one another's
experiences.
For more information, visit:
http://manifoldarts.wordpress.com/.
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| The Friday Morning Coffee Group
meets at Kiefer's Cafe, 2007 Kramer Lane (near Metric) every Friday morning at
9 am. Come by and join in! |
| And don't forget the Little Walnut Creek Book
Club! It meets monthly at the newly renovated Library.
Click for
details. |
UPDATED:
NACA has a new Garden
Club! Check out Ye Olde Quail Creek Garden
Club for the latest news and gardening tips!
Saturday, Sept 26th at 10:00am at
the Little Walnut Creek Library - Master Gardener
Margarine Beaman will discuss Fall Gardening
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