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2021 • COVID, URI . . . AND SO MUCH MORE, JUNE–SEPTEMBER
JUNE
June 2 • The McCallum High School community honored its seniors at the March of the Knights Senior Parade and Celebration Party. Details were featured on the McCallum High School website at the time.
JULY
July 5 • Tenth anniversary of the Voices of the Violet Crown website. Thanks to Diane Larson, editor of the Brentwood Neighborhood Association newsletter, and Chip Harris, editor of the Crestview Neighborhood Association newsletter, for sharing the news. VVC began as history and community displays featured at the Violet Crown Festival and other events beginning in 2003. The project expanded with oral history interviews, films, and this website.
July 16 • The Austin Chronicle published a story, “Seven Decades and One Wall Apart: Finding Friendship on Either Side of a Bouldin Creek Duplex.” A similar story, “She’s nearly 100. He’s 2 and lives next door. Here’s how they became best friends,” was published July 28 in The Washington Post. The value of different generations getting to know each other echoes a story Brad Buchholz shared with me. Chester Hilmar Blomquist Sr., well known for doing tilework throughout Austin, once lived on Aggie Lane in Crestview. (He was one of the neighbors here whose ancestors immigrated from Sweden and settled on farms outside Austin.) When he was in his 50s, Chester became ill and was homebound. Through his open bedroom window (before air conditioning), he was able to visit with the neighbors’ young children as they played outside during the day.
AUGUST
August 6 • Crestview Neighborhood Association board member Chris “Lippy” Lippincott, 47, died. An Austin American-Statesman article published after his death described him as an Austin political insider and media expert, with decades of experience that made a difference in Austin and beyond. The article also mentioned that “outside of his family, [his] real love was UT baseball.” He was remembered by CNA as “smart, witty, and [with] a sweet heart.” A GoFundMe was set up to help the family.
On August 9, his wife shared this online: “Please hug your loved ones a little harder today, say the words that are in your heart, listen to some good music, and grab the most out of this beautiful day. We always think we have more time, but sometimes it’s just not enough.”
And, sometime before he died, Chris posted this: “Take time to stop and smell your neighbors’ wildflowers. And make sure you get in there nice and close.”
August 20 • The Austin Business Journal reported that a new mixed-income community, June West, would be built near the northwest corner of Koenig Lane and Grover Avenue in Brentwood.
August 26 • The Austin City Council moved forward on an agreement to develop the 5.5-acre Ryan Drive property, between Justin Lane and Crestview Station, after recommending the proposal presented by 3423 Holdings, LLC. According to the city, the proposal includes: 344 total housing units, including affordable housing; 3.2 acres of parkland; more than 16,000 square feet of community services and commercial and art space; a transit plaza across from Crestvivew Station; and pedestrian access through the site to the station.
Since early 2018, neighbors on the Ryan Drive Working Group have reviewed site materials, gathered input from other neighbors, and crafted recommendations for redevelopment of the site. The working group has been facilitated by the Crestview Neighborhood Association Executive Committee, with support from the office of Austin City Council Member Leslie Pool.
SEPTEMBER
September 19 • The Violet Crown Clubhouse held an Oktoberfest at Crestview Shopping Center, benefitting G.I.F.T. (Grow. Inspire. Feed. Teach.) on Justin Lane.
September 21 • Brentwood neighbor Lauren Cook reached out to me after reading about the popular neighborhood icon Domino the Violet Crown Pig (see the original Domino, right). Lauren was exploring new ways to teach kids the value of community, including writing a children’s book. Domino has inspired a number of projects bringing local neighbors together. I also shared with Lauren experiences I had as a volunteer in the early years of other community-building projects, Violet Crown Community Works and the Violet Crown Festival, where Domino first appeared, live, in May 2003. Lauren said she was grateful to learn about it all. Our conversations inspired me to share one final story with her and with another neighbor, too, in the spirit of rebuilding a bridge from that long-ago time. It’s my take on The Little Red Hen. You can read it here. Check out Lauren’s book Domino’s Dots here.