Happy New Year! Montage took a vacation as RonTom and I took an impromptu 3-week adventure with Christmas visits to family and a leisurely road trip to and from the Gator Bowl (lots of A&M touchdown kisses) with a 6-day stop in Deep East Texas, dog sitting for my sister. This started with an emergen...

Having served as a first responder for most of his adult life, Buda Fire Chief Clay Huckaby is used to working in high-stress, dangerous situations. But it was one of the first fires he responded to, a 1994 fire on Main Street that destroyed several buildings, that nearly cost him his life. Through ...

Having grown up in the Kyle area, Hays High alumnus Clayton Jones knows a thing or two about life in small-town Texas. Dripping Springs resident Preston Alkier (left) and Clayton Jones film a scene in “Clod.” After striking out to California several years ago to chase a film career, Jones was discou...

T owards the end of this month my garden thoughts turn to the potato patch. Potatoes have to be one of the most satisfying vegetable crops for me ... in the growing, the harvest, and in the kitchen. Ounce for ounce, potatoes have just about the greatest nutritional package one can imagine. They are ...

From the moment her family moved into their San Marcos home in 1969, Rebecca Ramirez’ childhood residence symbolized the love and loss they all experienced. As the structure of the Ramirez family changed over time, so did the structure of the house. Time, along with wear and tear, impacted the home,...

For the majority of her life, Janelie Rodriguez’ world centered around Buda and Central Texas. A native of Mexico, Rodriguez’ family emigrated to the U.S. when she was two years old in order to find a better life. But a 2017 incident changed that perspective, as Rodriguez, an undocumented resident w...

Congratulations to Loving Mountain City 2018 Holiday Decor Honorees! Let me invite everyone to enjoy these spectacular displays.   LEGACY (new): 213 Live Oak Court; 317 Live Oak Drive Grand Prize:  102 Pecan @Pin Oak (with oval drive) "Merry Christmas" on corner, heavily wrapped trees, inflatable pi...

‘T’is the season, and I’m sure at least some readers have sung ‘We Wish you a Merry Christmas’ in the past few days, which includes the line ‘Now bring us some figgy pudding.’  This seasonal dessert dates back to 16th century England, and was a mixture of custard, croutons and mashed figs. (There ar...

Up to 95 percent of elder abuse cases in the U.S. go unreported, leaving the nation’s aging population as one of the most vulnerable, according to recent reports. Other issues, including depression, isolation and anxiety, are other components that can also lead to detrimental issues for senior citiz...

Buda Trail of Lights The city of Buda will host its annual Trail of Lights featuring thousands of lights, food and pictures with Santa in Historic Stagecoach Park. The event is free and there is a free shuttle between Cabela’s and the park. The Trail of Lights will be open Dec. 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 an...