The Barton Hills Neighborhood Association invites all residents to attend our upcoming Spring General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, April 8. These meetings are a great opportunity to stay informed, connect with neighbors, and take part in shaping the future of our community.

While a detailed agenda is still being finalized, the meeting will follow a familiar format with introductions, announcements, and updates from neighborhood leadership and committees. Topics typically include community initiatives, safety updates, neighborhood events, and opportunities for resident involvement.

Meeting Details
Tuesday, April 28
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall
2128 Barton Hills Drive

6:00 PM – Social Hour & Snacks
7:00 PM – Meeting Begins

Neighborhood meetings are an important way to stay engaged and ensure your voice is heard. Whether you’re a longtime resident or new to Barton Hills, your participation helps strengthen our neighborhood and build a more connected, informed, and resilient community.

We hope to see you there!

Residents of Barton Hills and the surrounding area are invited to attend an important community presentation hosted by the City of Austin focused on wildfire preparedness and evacuation planning.

This session will provide updates on local wildfire risks, preparedness strategies, and evacuation procedures specific to the Barton Hills and Zilker neighborhoods. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn how to better protect your home, family, and community in the event of a wildfire.

Event Details:
Date: Monday, April 27
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Kinney Avenue Baptist Church, 1801 Kinney Ave

City staff will share the latest planning efforts and practical steps residents can take now to be prepared. Whether you’re new to the area or a longtime resident, this information is timely and highly relevant given our proximity to greenbelt areas.

For additional resources, visit ReadyCentralTexas.org.

We encourage all Barton Hills neighbors to attend and stay informed.

This month’s featured program, “What’s the Buzz About?”, will be presented by Elissa Sexton, a beekeeper and licensed real estate professional who combines her passion for nature with a commitment to environmental stewardship. Elissa will share how beekeeping can be accessible and rewarding, offering insights into the vital role bees play in our ecosystem and how you can support pollinators at home.

The Barton Hills Garden Club invites neighbors and gardening enthusiasts to join us for our next meeting on Tuesday, April 28, from 9:00–11:00 AM at the Zilker Botanical Garden Auditorium.

Founded in 1960, the Barton Hills Garden Club is celebrating its 65th year of bringing neighbors together. The club’s mission is to provide a friendly, social forum for members while promoting the advancement of gardening and encouraging civic beautification throughout our community.

The Garden Club holds monthly meetings on the fourth Tuesday from September through May at 9:15 AM at Zilker Botanical Gardens.

This meeting is free and open to the public, and visitors are always welcome—no membership required to attend.

For those interested in becoming a member, annual dues are $35, and members receive a directory, brochure, and garden club card.

To join, please mail your check to:
Consuelo Davidson
11563 Shelleys Run
Montgomery, TX 77316

For more information, contact Debby McCray Shaw at 512-496-2094 or email austinbiz@yahoo.com

We hope you’ll join us for a morning of learning, community, and inspiration as we explore the fascinating world of bees and how they help our gardens—and Barton Hills—thrive.

Barton Hills Garden Club has been an existence since 1960. This will be its 65th year. The organization’s goal is to provide a friendly and social forum among its members and to promote the advancement of gardening and the encouragement of civic beautification.

Monthly meetings are the fourth Tuesday September through May at 9:15 AM and are held at Zilker Botanical Gardens in the auditorium. Membership dues are currently $35 annually. All members will receive a directory, a brochure, and a garden club card.

If you are interested in joining, please mail your check to:

Consuelo Davidson • 11563 Shelleys Run • Montgomery, TX  77316

For further information contact: Debby McCray Shaw  512-496-2094

The next Barton Hills Neighborhood Association meeting is Tuesday evening, Jan. 27, in the Parish Hall at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Social hour with snacks begins at 6:00 PM and the meeting itself will start at 7:00. Please join us if you can!

Winter General Membership Meeting
Tues, Jan 27, 2026
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall
2128 Barton Hills Drive

6 PM Social Hour & Snacks

7 PM Introductions & Announcements

• Chief Davis
• PTA Members
• Firewise informational meeting, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church ?
• Call for volunteers for the July 4th parade

7:10 Approval of Oct. 27, 2025, meeting minutes

7:15 Treasurer’s Report

7:20 Six-Month Follow-up with APD Chief Davis on the Zilker Shooting

• Update by Chief Davis
• Q&A

8:20 Committee Reports

• Firewise Committee –Robin McKeever
• Austin Neighborhood Committee (ANC) Update – Worthy LaFollette
• Other Committees

Barton Hills News – Winter 2025 is out!

This issue celebrates the strength and spirit of our neighborhood, with stories that highlight community connections, volunteerism, and what’s ahead for Barton Hills.

Inside, you’ll find reflections from outgoing BHNA President Pat Whiteside, an introduction to incoming 2026 officers, and details on upcoming BHNA meetings and events. The newsletter spotlights a nationally recognized “Pollinators’ Paradise” garden tour hosted by Barton Hills residents, along with practical winter gardening tips tailored to Austin’s La Niña conditions.

Readers will also learn about recent and ongoing improvements to the Homedale and Spyglass trails, important emergency-preparedness updates (including wildfire evacuation planning), and how to get involved with Neighborhood Watch. The issue includes coverage of AISD discussions affecting local schools, previews of upcoming arts and choir activities, and a call for volunteers and sponsors for the beloved Fourth of July parade.

Rounding out the issue are timely updates on South Lamar construction impacts, local history and character (including a fun armadillo feature), and ways neighbors can stay informed, connected, and engaged. Check it out now!

Wildfire may be the most serious but is not the only community-wide risk to the Barton Hills neighborhood.  Another risk, also increased by climate change, is electrical power outage.  As anyone who was in Texas during winter storm Uri in February 2021 remembers, a wide-spread outage can leave us shivering (or sweating) in our dark houses without heat, air conditioning, electronics, or water for days or weeks.  

An outage can happen in winter or summer, caused by a weather event, equipment failure, or system overload.  As the demand for electricity increases and the weather becomes more extreme, the risk goes up.  We can each take steps to prepare for a power outage whenever one occurs.

Austin Energy recommends the following preparations so we will be ready when the lights go out:

1. Sign up to receive outage alerts and ensure that Austin Energy can contact you in case of an emergency.  Register for text or e-mail alerts by texting REG to 287846 and entering your zip code.  Make sure that the phone numbers and e-mail address associated with your account are current.  Call 512-494-9400 to update your account information.
2. Know how to report an outage and view the outage map. To report an outage, text OUT to 287846,  To view the outage map if you have access to the internet, go to outagemap.austinenergy.com
3. See if anyone in your household qualifies for the Medically Vulnerable Registry.  If the person has a medical condition that could become life threatening during power outage, the Medically Vulnerable Registry could help.  Although it will not guarantee uninterrupted power or priority restoration in an emergency, the Registry can assign a designated team member to work with you on a personalized backup plan. You can apply online or call 512-494-9400.
4. Fill clean containers with water while you still have water service.  You may need it later for washing, flushing, and drinking.  Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed.  If you lose water service during a hard freeze, turn off the water at the valve next to your water meter, so that you do not have leaks caused by the surge in pressure when service is restored.
5. Prior to an approaching storm that has a high risk of power outage, fill up your vehicle with fuel.  In addition to carrying you to safety if you need to evacuate, your car can be your “survival pod,” offering heat and air conditioning, as well as power outlets for recharging your electronic devices.  Remember not to run your car’s engine in a closed garage to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
6. Make an emergency kit including the following items:
   Essential documents: copies (not originals) of personal documents such as driver’s license and passport, your Austin Energy account number, homeowner’s insurance, and family and neighbor contact information; Prescription medicine, flashlights, extra batteries, backup chargers for electronic devices, first aid kit, emergency blankets, portable battery-operated radio, bottled water, canned or dried food, hand-operated can opener, personal hygiene items; and a little cash. Store the kit in a safe, dry place, and make sure that everyone in your household knows where it is.
7. Take care of your pets.  Add pet food to your emergency kit.  If you have to evacuate, take your pets with you.
   
8. Make an evacuation plan.  If the power is out for several days, you may need to spend some time away from home.  Consider who you would call and where you could go.  The City of Austin would certainly open one or more emergency shelters if the outage is wide-spread or long-lasting,  Determine where the nearest one is and how to get there.
9. Regularly back up your computers to a separate device.  Unplug your computer during a storm to avoid damaging it.  Consider getting external poser sources for your electronic devices.  You can purchase auxiliary power supplies that use replaceable or rechargeable batteries or solar energy.  You can also purchase whole-house backup generators and battery power supplies, although they are expensive.
10. Take precautions against accidents. While portable generators can help during an outage, operating them indoors is dangerous.  Stay away from downed power lines.  Cat litter or rock salt can prevent slippery sidewalks and decks.  Contact Austin Energy by calling 512-494-9400 before trying to trim trees away from power lines.
11. Plan how to pass the time.  A power outage may last quiet a while, and you may be housebound.  A battery-operated radio can keep you entertained and up-to-date on the news.  Board and card games, books, and puzzles can also help you pass the time.

Craig Smith
ccraigsmith@icloud.com
BHNA Emergency Preparedness Committee
September, 2025