Deck the PAWS will combine holiday fun with fundraising for local animals in need, read a news release. Guests can bring their families and pets for holiday photos in front of a festive red vintage truck, professionally photographed by Carissa Hoopes Photography. A $15 donation to PAWS is requested for the photo session.

PAWS Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill rescue based in Dripping Springs that has served Central Texas since 1986. The organization rescues and cares for vulnerable dogs and cats, while working to find them permanent, loving homes. Donations help support needs ranging from food and everyday care to vaccinations, spay and neuter procedures and other veterinary care, continued the release.

The afternoon will also feature raffle opportunities and a special “PAWloma,” with a portion of proceeds from the Dripping Springs Distillery cocktail benefiting PAWS.

As part of the event, Dripping Springs Elite will present PAWS Shelter of Central Texas with a $1,000 donation, continuing the organization’s 2026 commitment to support local nonprofits through financial contributions, volunteerism and community engagement.

“What makes Deck the PAWS so special is the generosity behind it. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone donating their time and talents to help us support PAWS, including Carissa Hoopes, who is giving families and their pets a wonderful way to capture a holiday memory, and musician Frank Iarossi, who is helping make the afternoon even more festive. It takes a community to make an event like this happen and we’re so appreciative of everyone who is stepping up to be part of it,” said Samantha LeBlanc, agent and member of the Dripping Springs Elite Charitable Giving Committee.

“Deck the PAWS is designed to be something the whole community can enjoy, while supporting an organization doing important work right here in Dripping Springs,” said LeBlanc. “Come out, get a great holiday photo, enjoy the afternoon and help us raise even more for PAWS.”

The opening-night festivities feature the Wishes for Wimberley Lighted Parade at 6 p.m., followed by the downtown tree lighting. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to explore Wimberley Square, shop for gifts and enjoy dinner before the evening celebrations, read a news release.

Throughout the season, the Downtown Christmas Courtyard at 101 Wimberley Square will feature holiday lights, decorations, photo opportunities and free live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, along with special activities on select dates. Visiting the courtyard, parade and tree lighting is free.

Beyond downtown, the EmilyAnn Trail of Lights returns to EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens, inviting visitors to explore light displays created by local businesses, organizations and families. Together, these experiences offer plenty of reasons to turn a holiday outing into a Hill Country overnight getaway.

Additional season highlights include:

•   Dec. 5: Santa Pub Crawl. Dress as Santa or a favorite Christmas character for a festive stroll through downtown, with donations encouraged for Crisis Bread Basket.

•   Dec. 19: Photos with Texan Santa and Ben the Longhorn. The event time is to be announced.

•   Dec. 31, 7 p.m.: Downtown New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. Families can welcome the new year together with an early evening countdown in downtown Wimberley.

Between events, visitors can explore Wimberley’s boutiques, galleries, restaurants and tasting rooms, then settle into a local inn, cabin or vacation rental.

Hometown Holidays brings together events hosted by community organizations, local businesses and partners throughout Wimberley, continued the release. Dates, locations, admission requirements and schedules vary by event and additional activities will be announced as planning continues.

For the latest holiday calendar, visit www.HometownHolidays.com. Explore lodging and plan a stay at www.VisitWimberleyTX.org.

The agreement permanently protects 200.73 acres of Cypress Acres Ranch, preserving creek frontage, wildlife habitat and agricultural land, just north of Wimberley Square. The Gumbert family has cared for the property for more than six decades.

Frank Davis, Chief Conservation Officer for Hill Country Conservancy, said the agreement will help preserve a significant stretch of land along Cypress Creek as the surrounding area changes.

“Wimberley and the Hill Country are changing at an astounding rate that is obvious to residents and to most visitors,” Davis said.

The ranch contains 2,087 feet of Cypress Creek frontage and 11,567 feet — about 2.2 miles — of tributaries that feed the creek. Blue Hole Regional Park lies about one-third of a mile downstream, according to an assessment of the property.

Davis said the ranch’s location makes its protection particularly important to the creek and the park.

“It is well established that preserving the surface of a property from substantial development reduces runoff and mitigates flood risk, while enhancing infiltration and recharge,” Davis said. “This is most effective on lands that are closer to major waterways, such as Cypress Creek.”

The property assessment describes how preserving vegetation along waterways and surrounding uplands can stabilize soils, slow floodwaters and help filter pollutants, including fertilizers and herbicides. Those protections can benefit water flowing beyond the ranch’s boundaries.

The ranch also includes a tributary, dubbed “Plum Creek” by the owners. The assessment documents signs of flooding along that drainage, including damaged fencing, a damaged bridge and erosion along creek banks. Streams and water quality buffers were mapped through fieldwork and geographic data to help identify areas for protection.

Under the easement, the ranch must remain a single parcel, with a limited number of homes. Development cannot harm Cypress Creek or other water resources, Davis said, and significant habitat areas are protected.

“The property will never be a gravel quarry or contain any commercial cellular towers,” he said.

Existing uses will continue, “There will be no change to the cabins and agricultural operations,” Davis said.

The conservancy has also documented the ranch’s importance to wildlife. More than 70 bird species, including golden-cheeked warblers, have been recorded on the property, according to the conservancy.

Bird surveys were conducted by Rich Kostecke, a certified wildlife biologist on the conservancy’s team who holds a doctorate in conservation biology.

“Development is limited to areas outside of significant habitat and land management will be conducted to promote long-term ground cover and native biodiversity,” Davis said.

The easement was funded through two conservation programs. The federal Natural Resources Conservation Service awarded funding to Hill Country Conservancy and its partners through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Davis said the ranch was selected through a competitive process.

That funding was matched by an award from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program, though Davis said the conservancy does not typically disclose funding amounts for individual projects.

The protections will continue if ownership changes, as Davis said the conservancy will conduct regular monitoring visits and work with current and future landowners to uphold the agreement.

For Davis, the significance of protecting Cypress Acres Ranch will become more apparent over time.

“The legacy of our work will become increasingly visible as the landscape surrounding protected lands continues to change,” he said.

He described conservation as a gift to future generations who will need clean water and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.

“We sincerely believe that those future generations will cherish the legacy we are building today,” Davis said.

“I officially [started] Dripping Springs Clean in about 2012, I would say, and just started pulling over and picking up trash and trying to empower others to do the same,” Greenlee explained.

At first, she wanted to empower others to do what she was doing, but what she found was that there were others in the area who agreed and felt the same and were already cleaning up on their own.

“So, we formed this incredible team,” Greenlee said. “And you know why we do it? We love this town. We love it and we want to see a future of some kind of preservation of the town's core values.”

While she resides in and focuses the organization’s efforts on Dripping Springs, the founder doesn’t let that stop her from picking up trash wherever she is.

“So, while this is a local initiative, I try to empower people wherever they go in the world to make it better when they leave. Always leave no trace, but always leave it better,” she said.

To make a greater impact, Greenlee plans events one to two times a month to gather eight to 10 volunteers together in each specific cleaning area. When new members join, she makes it a point to ask what areas they want to see cleaned up and then, plan a visit in the future to do so. During these hotter summer months, the group will start early in the morning in a concentrated area and clean for approximately two hours.

Cleaning is not her only mission, though. She will often talk to local businesses or residents in the area to encourage them to clean up the area on a more frequent basis than the group is able.

One tactic she likes to suggest is  50/50 Friday.

“Go outside of your gate or your driveway or across the street — same thing — and just pick up, so that when you come home from wherever or go to work, you have a clean mind,” she explained.

In addition to roadside cleanups, she will host park cleanups when kids want to be involved, since that is a safer alternative.

While she has considered adopting a roadway through the Texas Department of Transportation’s Adopt-a-Highway Program, she chose not to, so that she wouldn’t be limited to cleaning up only a specific stretch of road.

Greenlee also recognizes the positive impacts she has personally experienced as a result of the work she does.

“When you do good things every day, good things happen to you because it's automatic. When you're a good person and you do right by the environment and Mother Nature, things just fall into place in your life,” she said.

As for the future, the founder hopes to keep the current momentum going. One goal is to become an official nonprofit organization and obtain some new sources of funding, as she is currently self-funding all of the efforts. She also wants to work with local sports fields and teams to help them make a plan to keep their facilities free of trash.

The most important thing to note, according to Greenlee, is that “This organization is not political. We absolutely agree that there are no red or blue sides to loving our Earth and teaching compassion. And keeping it beautiful and pristine for the future inhabitants.”

Dripping Springs Clean’s next event will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, in downtown Dripping Springs. Those interested in joining can RSVP by responding to the event on Facebook and meeting in front of Hudson’s on Mercer at the designated time.

To keep up with future events, follow @DRIPPINGSPRINGSCLEAN on Facebook and Instagram.

For more information, visit www.drippingspringsclean.com.

“Kyle’s never been able to stand still. We grow; we build; we argue a little and we build some more,” said Flores-Cale. “This year, we started talking about some difficult questions: Can we afford it? Do we need it? What will it cost us later? And most importantly, does it make Kyle better? Those questions have taken some conservations at city hall. They’ve changed some priorities and yes, they’ve made a few meetings a little longer, but what they’ve also helped us to do is to get a clear picture about where we’re going.”

The population in the city has nearly doubled, said Tobias, as it’s grown from 39,000 in 2016 to 71,000 in 2026. This is exactly why the city has aimed to focus on road improvements, especially following the passing of the 2022 Road Bond, he said.

These roads not only foster connectivity, but the economy, as every aspect of city infrastructure affects both small and large businesses. This is why the goal of city staff has been to improve the roads and drive plans not only for the residents, but also to boost the local economy, Tobias continued.

Roads like Bunton Creek, Center Street, Kohlers Crossing, Kyle Parkway, the Lehman Road extension, Marketplace Avenue and Old Stagecoach are integral to the city’s growth. If these roads are improved, investors can come in with retailers that can expand the quality of life within the city, he explained.

Langley, a road off of FM 150, also had a geotechnical survey completed in July, with a presentation slated for December about design construction.

However, Flores-Cale stated new developments cannot continue without the appropriate water infrastructure, which includes wells, tanks, hydrants, service connections and hundreds of miles of mainlines. Kyle currently has several water and wastewater projects ongoing that will provide the resources to support this infrastructure, though council and staff made sure to take a realistic approach, she said.

She then posed a question: What if residents didn’t have to leave the city limits to do their daily shopping or outings; what if they could stay within the city? The plan to make that a reality is several new developments within the city, one of which is Kyle Park.

Developed by NewQuest, the 101-acre development off of Bebee Road will include retailers, such as Boot Barn, Barnes & Noble, TJ Maxx, Homegoods, Burlington, Dick’s Sporting Goods and more. It will also bring more than 300 jobs, said Tobias.

“The goal throughout the Park is not simply just development. We want to create places where people can actually go and want to spend time,” said Flores-Cale. "These are developments that hopefully will enhance our city, so we no longer have to go to the surrounding areas, like San Marcos or South Austin, to do our shopping or to do our daily living.”

Other developments are also slated to come back to council for further direction.

Residents can’t contribute to the economy if they’re struggling, which is why it was important to try to create affordability, said the mayor, as the adopted tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year is 8.3% less than 2026’s tax rate. Additionally, there was no increase in water or wastewater rates.

Next, Tobias noted several upcoming projects coming to fruition: the Adell Hurst Senior Community Center, located at 1500 Dacy Lane, is expected to open in December; the all-wheels skatepark in downtown Kyle will open in the fall; and the city is making plans to invest $1.8 million into the Kyle Vista Park by Science Hall Elementary School and Chapa Middle School.

On the topic of parks, Tobias announced that Lucas Massie from the city of Austin will be joining Kyle as the new Parks and Recreation director in the fall. Massie has experience from handling events, such as Austin City Limits, and holds a master’s in sports and recreation management. Tobias shared that Massie will create new concept designs for more activities within the city.

“At the end of the day, roads, water and continued economic developments are our goal. Those priorities are connected. The roads will move people. The water supplies will allow homes and businesses to be built and the economic development is going to create opportunity for our residents. The work belongs to all of us because the future that we are building will be shared throughout all of Kyle,” concluded the mayor.

The event provided residents an opportunity to meet local firefighters and tour the fire station, which was under construction for more than a year.

As previously reported by the Hays Free Press, Jason — who had been with the Buda Fire Department in various capacities since 2010 — was initially diagnosed with rectal cancer in 2022. After several rounds of chemotherapy, he was given a clean bill of health and ready to head back to work, when it was discovered in 2024 that the cancer had moved to his lungs and clavicle.

On Saturday, Oct. 3, Jason’s wife, Megan Eckstrom, shared an update on the Eckstrom’s Fight Facebook page that the decision had been made to bring him home on hospice.

“His body is tired. He is sleeping most of the time now, he isn’t really eating and our focus has shifted completely to keeping him comfortable, peaceful and surrounded by the people he loves,” the update read. “If you know Jason, you know how hard he has fought. And if you’ve followed Eckstrom’s Fight, you’ve fought right alongside us through surgeries, chemo, radiation, brain metastases, hospital stays, scary scans, good news, bad news and more ‘one more rounds’ than I can count. He has given this everything he has.”

Megan continued by asking for prayers of comfort for Jason, as well as prayers for their children and herself as they faced the unknown days ahead.

The following day, Oct. 4, the Buda Fire Department announced Jason’s death.

“Jason fought a long, tough and courageous battle with incredible strength and determination. His loss is deeply felt throughout our Buda Fire family and he will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him,” said the announcement.

While arrangements are pending, the department said it will release additional details once plans are finalized.

“Rest easy, brother. We’ll take it from here,” the fire department concluded.

Waypoint is built around a simple idea: kids learn best when academics and the outdoors both get their due, according to a news release. The campus sits on eight acres tucked inside the 120-acre Hog Heaven Sporting Club property off of Ranch Road 12, serving students in four grade-band cohorts, each designed for where kids actually are developmentally.

Waypoint is a specialty school within the Alpha School family and shares Alpha's academic model. According to the release, the school makes three commitments to its families: kids will love school, they will learn 2X in two hours and they will learn life skills.

Through advanced technologies and mastery-based learning, Waypoint students complete core subjects in just two hours daily. The approach combines adaptive artificial intelligence for personalized 1:1 learning, mastery-based methods for deep understanding and time management techniques, like the Pomodoro method, to keep students focused and thriving.

The results show up in the data, the release continued. On average, students grow 2.6 times faster than their peers on nationally normed MAP tests, the majority consistently outperform national averages in the 99th percentile and top performers achieve up to 6.5 times growth.

That efficiency frees the rest of the day for what makes Waypoint distinct. Afternoons are devoted to life skills workshops covering resilience, grit, leadership, teamwork and communication, public speaking, financial literacy and more. Workshops take place outdoors, with students building, kayaking, hiking and working through everything from survival skills and navigation to archery and leadership exercises. In that kind of dynamic natural setting, kids build confidence, resilience and real-world skills that hold up well beyond a classroom.

At Waypoint, they believe that classrooms don't build leaders; the wild does.

Waypoint is a fit for kids who light up outside and for families who sense the lecture-based classroom is not working for their child, the release concluded.

To learn more or schedule a tour, visit https://waypointacademy.school or contact admissions@waypointacademy.school.

According to a news release, the man believed that he was visiting the Buda car dealership to test-drive vehicles with his mentor, Patrick Froelich. Instead, he was surprised to learn that the car was his as he walked into the dealership.

He also learned that he was named Austin Angels’ 2026 Youth of the Year.

This marks the third consecutive year City Limits Subaru employees have personally contributed their own funds to provide a vehicle to a young person connected with Austin Angels. The employee-led initiative reflects the dealership team's commitment to removing barriers helping young adults aging out of foster care pursue education, work and independence, continued the release.

"Our employees chose to make this possible because they understand what reliable transportation can mean for a young adult building his future," said Rachelle Grossman, City Limits Subaru marketing director. "We are honored to stand beside Austin Angels and to celebrate this young man’s accomplishments and support him for every opportunity that lies ahead."

Despite not having the best education growing up, Garcia has always loved reading. She recalled the first time she received a library card in middle school and the hours she’d spend inside, reading books and escaping to other worlds. However, it wasn’t until she read “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger that she really fell in love with the act. From there, she had a dream of becoming an author.

Although she loved books, she explained that there were never many that showcased representation for the Latino community. This continued to be an issue, she said, even for her daughter decades later.

So, when crafting a story, Garcia knew that she wanted to create a character that other Latinas could see themselves in.

Ultimately, the inspiration came from her mother, who grew up in El Salvador and migrated to the United States during the Civil War. As a child, she faced difficult situations and wasn’t able to finish grade school.

This experience is reflected in “The Enchanted Notebook,” which follows a young girl named Maya who is gifted an enchanted notebook that allows her anything she writes to come true. But, ultimately, said Garcia, she learns that magic cannot erase life’s hardships and recognizes that love and her family is all that she needs.

The author shared that when she initially pitched the story, it was in the form of a novel, but that the publisher suggested shifting it toward a younger audience. Although hesitant, Garcia decided to move in this direction, due to her career as an educator and the continued lack of representation for her daughter, who is the visual representation and namesake of the character.

“My daughter is of mixed cultures. I’m Salvadorian; my husband’s Mexican and I feel that the Mexican culture, especially here in Texas, was very abundant, but as far as the other side of her heritage, not so much. So, I really wanted to highlight that because I feel that I was still very connected to El Salvador growing up because my mom would take me [there],” said Garcia. “But as generations grow, I feel like there’s a disconnect between El Salvador and my daughter, so I wanted to make this as a way to bridge that gap a bit and now, she’s asking, ‘When are we going to go visit?’”

Along with seeing themselves in the book, she hopes that other Latinos feel the element of hope through the story.

“I feel the Latino community and especially the community that I serve here in education, a lot of the kids are going through very, very hard things. So, I just hope to give them a little bit of that hope back to them,” she emphasized.

Garcia also noted that the political climate can sway the way the Latino culture is viewed, so she hopes that she can provide a different light on her community that is more representative of what it really is.

“I initially just did this to have a voice or reflection out there of a world that I find to be very important to myself,” said Garcia. “[But] if it can positively influence one kid, I would be so grateful. I don’t really expect anything in return. I just hope that it’s something that can go out there and just give hope to anybody, even if it’s one person.”

“The Enchanted Notebook” releases Thursday, Oct. 1. It can be ordered at bit.ly/4dWDOT4 or anywhere books are sold. There will be a celebration for the book launch at 1 p.m. Oct. 24 at Red Salmon Arts and Resistencia Book Store, located at 2000 Thrasher Lane, Austin.

To keep up to date with Garica, follow @authoriangelicag on Instagram.

Attendees could visit vendor booths and eat local food, while listening to performers on two separate stages, including Dusty Miller and the Spurflowers, Clay Walker, Fastball and more.

The city of Woodcreek notified the community that on Monday, Sept. 28, a portion of Woodcreek Drive became closed for construction, read a news release. The closure will extend from Champions Circle in Woodcreek to Cypress Point — roughly the north side of the bridge near Cypress Falls.

The closure is expected to last approximately five weeks. The road is anticipated to re-open in early November.

This closure means that vehicles will be unable to travel through Woodcreek on Woodcreek Drive from FM 2325 to Ranch Road 12 and vice versa.

WISD is aware that many parents use this route to travel from Jacob’s Well Elementary or secondary campuses to Blue Hole Primary. Other routes include Jacob’s Well Road, Emergency Lane or La Buena Vista.

For questions regarding the construction project, reach out to the city of Woodcreek at 512-847-9390.

Except as noted elsewhere, Hays County parks, natural areas and trailways remain open to the public free of charge from sunrise to sunset, according to a news release. Beginning in 2027, every park in Hays County, except Gay Ruby Dahlstrom Nature Preserve, will also be open to the public on New Year’s Day.

“We are looking forward to hosting a First Day Hike at Karst Canyon Preserve this upcoming year,” education coordinator Katherine Sturdivant said. “First Day Hikes have become increasingly popular in recent years as a great way to get outdoors and start the new year off right.”

Fees and reservations apply at select locations, including Gay Ruby Dahlstrom Nature Preserve, Jacob’s Well Natural Area swimming reservations and, following its anticipated opening in spring 2027, Sentinel Peak Preserve.

“Our parks and preserves offer residents and visitors opportunities to experience some of the most remarkable natural spaces in Hays County,” Parks and Natural Resources director Karl Flocke said. “As our park system continues to grow, these fees help us manage visitation responsibly, maintain these special places and provide a safe, high-quality experience for the public, while protecting the natural resources that make them worth visiting in the first place.”

Gay Ruby Dahlstrom Nature Preserve
Gay Ruby Dahlstrom Nature Preserve will continue to operate on a reservation system, with a maximum of 60 entry permits issued per day.

From January through October, the preserve is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, with no entry permitted after 2 p.m. From November through December, it is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, with no entry permitted after 2 p.m.

Entry fees remain unchanged from FY 2026: $5 for adults ages 13 and older and $3 for children ages 5-12, seniors 60 and older, service members and Hays County residents. Children under 5 are admitted free.

The preserve will be closed Nov. 26, Dec. 12-Jan. 6, March 21-28 and Aug. 29-Sept. 4.

Jacob’s Well Natural Area
Jacob’s Well Natural Area is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with no entry permitted after 5:30 p.m. and general entry to the natural area remains free.

Swimming is available by paid reservation only; however, all swimming is currently canceled until further notice, due to low water levels. Check the county's Parks and Natural Resources webpage for the most up-to-date information about Jacob's Well conditions and access.

When swimming resumes, reservations will be offered in two-hour blocks, with four swim blocks available per day and a maximum of 40 people per block.

Fees only apply to swimming reservations. Under the FY 2027 fee schedule, swimming will cost $12 for adults ages 13 and older and $9 for children ages 5-12, seniors 60 and older, service members and Hays County residents. There is no cost for children under 5. This represents an increase from the FY 2026 rate of $5 for paid admission categories.
Jacob’s Well Natural Area will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, and Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

Sentinel Peak Preserve
Sentinel Peak Preserve is currently closed while improvements are underway, with an anticipated opening in spring 2027. This timeline matches previously announced plans for the preserve.

Once open, Sentinel Peak will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with no entry permitted after 4 p.m. and a maximum of 100 entry permits issued each day.

During peak season, April through September, admission will be $12 for adults ages 13 and older and $9 for children ages 5-12, seniors 60 and older, service members and Hays County residents. Children under 5 will be admitted free.
During the October through March off-season, admission will be $8 for adults and $6 for children ages 5-12, seniors, service members and Hays County residents. Children under 5 will remain free.

The FY 2027 fee schedule takes effect Oct. 1, 2026. Visitors are encouraged to review current hours, closures, reservation requirements and park information before visiting.

For current information about Hays County parks and natural areas, visit www.hayscountytx.gov/334/Parks-Natural-Resources.

Located at 395 County Road 202, Building 4, Kyle, the new location will provide food pantry services and connect local residents with resources, relationships and opportunities that support long-term stability and transformation, according to a press release.
 

For more than 90 years, The Community Mission has served individuals and families facing poverty, food insecurity and crisis. As community needs continue to grow, the organization is developing new Community Mission Hubs to bring support directly into neighborhoods where it is needed most. 
 

Unlike traditional models focused primarily on emergency assistance, Community Mission Hubs are built around the philosophy of “a hand up, not a handout.” The goal, the release stated, is not only to meet immediate needs, but also to help people build a stronger future through encouragement, accountability, education and community partnerships. 
 

“Our vision is to bring hope directly into neighborhoods that need it most,” said Chris King, executive director of The Community Mission. “Every Community Mission Hub will become a place where churches, businesses, volunteers and local organizations work together to help people move from crisis to stability. We believe lasting change happens when we invest in people, not just their immediate needs.” 
 

The Kyle location is currently focused on food pantry services for area residents. Pantry appointments are available by appointment only on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings.
 

The Community Mission plans to expand services at the Kyle location in the new year as partnerships and community resources continue to grow. Potential Community Mission Hub services may include: 
• Food assistance paired with personal goal setting 
• Resource navigation and community referrals 
• Financial literacy and life-skills education 
• Employment and workforce connections 
• Family support and mentoring 
• Volunteer engagement opportunities 
• Church and community partnership initiatives 
 

Additionally, The Community Mission is also introducing its Virtual Pantry, which gives community members an online way to support specific food and household needs. Supporters can browse available pantry items, select what they would like to provide and help make essential resources available to Kyle and Buda families. 
Community members interested in supporting the Kyle location can do so by: hosting a food drive through a church, school, business, neighborhood or community group; donating food, household essentials or financial support; purchasing items through the Virtual Pantry; volunteering with The Community Mission; sharing pantry information with neighbors who may need assistance; or Helping build partnerships among churches, businesses, civic groups and local organizations 
 

The Community Mission will host two ribbon cuttings for the Kyle location. The Greater Buda Chamber of Commerce will be Tuesday, Sept. 29, while the Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce will be Oct. 1. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations and join either ribbon cutting. 
 

“Our communities don’t just need more programs,” King said. “They need places where relationships are built, dignity is restored and people are equipped to thrive. That’s what a Community Mission Hub is all about.” 

To schedule a pantry appointment, call 512-472-7592. 

The Virtual Pantry is available at https://communitycentermission.org/give.

For more information, visit www.bccmission.org or contact Tamie Danks at tamie.sanchez-danks@bccmission.org.

Fenity is an independent journalist, living in Los Angeles, Calif., with what many would classify as a successful career, but when recalling the moments that led him here, he zeroes in on the tragedy of 9/11. 

He had always been interested in communications, Fenity said, whether that be through the walkie-talkies he played with or the opportunity to say the Pledge of Allegiance on the intercom at Kyle Elementary School. So, at 15, when he interned at the KLBJ Radio in North Austin, he was secure in his future career path. It was exciting, he said, to work in different departments at the business and learn how to interact with adults and behave in the newsroom. 

These skills would be applied not only in his future career, but when a question popped into his head a week after the twin towers fell in New York, the Pentagon was hit and United Flight 93 crashed into a field: Where were the kids?

“When I wasn’t at school, I was at home watching the news,” said Fenity. “I’ve always been sensitive to people who are left out or people who are ignored … I saw this blind spot in the media’s coverage and I don’t know why it took a kid from Texas to see that. Maybe that’s just it — it took a kid to see it. But I thought, ‘If I’m so bothered 1,500-plus miles — two timezones — away, if I’m so bothered down in Buda, Texas, what about those kids who are three blocks away?'”

As a teenager, he only saw the adults. It was an adult news anchor talking to an adult attorney or an adult city official talking to an adult airline representative. He wanted to know about people his age. 

He recalled struggling as a child, whether it be with a speech impediment or being the last in his class to tie his shoes. Fenity knew what it was like to feel overlooked, so when he saw that there was a lack of coverage on their experience, he felt called to remedy the issue. 

“I got it in my head. And I’m a very persistent and occasionally ambitious person and when I make up my mind, the good news and the bad news of it is, I make up my mind,” he said. 

What was made up? The decision that he, a 16-year-old from Hays County, needed to be the one to find the answer — by flying to New York City, N.Y. 

So, he brought this up to his Academy at Hays, now known as Live Oak Academy, teacher Vicki Jurica. Fenity said that she didn’t criticize him, didn’t tell him that his plans were over the top or flat out crazy, instead, she responded with, “Give me a pitch.”

Using the skills garnered at his internship, he researched the closest school to Ground Zero — Stuyvesant High School — and reached out to several people there, ultimately reaching the assistant principal, where he relayed his objective and the plan started to come together. 

“Essentially, we got approval to go into Stuyvesant High School and get exactly what I’d been looking for since 9/11 and that was firsthand accounts of young people, the future of America, the youth of America,” said Fenity.

The details of the discussion, which took six months to come to fruition, were not always privy to Fenity at his young age, though he did note that Jurica had written a grant to receive funds for editing equipment from the school. However, the trip, he said, from the flights to the hotel rooms, was entirely funded by his family. He remembered that, to convince his father, his first journalistic adventure had to encompass his sisters and mother, all of whom became his camerawomen. 

“I took my tripod from Live Oak Academy and the camcorder and a rented microphone — a really, nice, fancy, I’m-afraid-I’m-going-to-break-it-microphone — and I headed off to New York City with a legal pad and my two sisters and my mom,” said Fenity, adding that Jurica assured him through a multitude of lists of his goals and focal points. 

Also among his suitcase was a binder filled with hundreds of questions from classmates, to which he simply asked: “If you had the opportunity to ask students near the World Trade Center anything, what would it be?” 

At Stuyvesant High School, he set up his interview station inside an empty classroom and sought to select approximately 10 individuals to speak to. 

“Nobody cried and at the same time, nobody was excited to talk to me,” he recalled. “Stuyvesant had been such a spotlight of the media since the early days of 9/11 and so, by the time I got there, the media had really started doing what I had already started researching. The question I had early on in Buda, Texas, was a question that New York editors were finally asking themselves.”

Still, he pursued his goal and recorded the horrors of what the students had witnessed and experienced. He shared that they recounted the event of being dismissed early from school, without transportation, leading to many wandering the streets of New York alone. Additionally, they saw victims of the attack being wheeled into their school, which was being used as a makeshift hospital. 

“They told me these stories of how unbelievable it was. They told me the stories of how once they looked out their window, what we saw looking at a [television] in Kyle, Texas, they saw out their window,” recounted Fenity. “What stood out to me was this: the bravery [and] the resilience of a young person. As time goes by, as our clock ticks, I think we all just get a little less resilient, [but] there is something about being young. You are so resilient … These kids are brave and strong and they’re united. That’s the other thing about America at the time and the vibe of New York City six months after 9/11: Everyone had each other’s back. There was patriotism. You couldn’t turn a corner in New York City and not see an American flag."

After his trip, he returned home, edited the footage down to less than 15 minutes and featured the short film documentary, dubbed Project NYC, around town. 

The response from Hays CISD was overwhelmingly positive, he said, adding that, “They were so happy to see that one of their own had contributed to a national story.”

The support was great, Fenity shared, but the confidence that he gained was monumental. He didn’t care whether or not he received a good grade on the project because he knew that he had held a dialogue with these students and given them a voice.

“There was a lot of resistance along the way, with bits and pieces of this, but at the end of the day, I was a kid doing business as a reporter. I was a student doing business as a journalist and I took it seriously,” he emphasized. “Because the school district was so supportive and because the staff of Live Oak Academy was so supportive and because my parents were so supportive, I finished that project not only feeling like I had contributed to having something positive come out of a really horrific day in U.S. history, I, at the same time, had grown up a little bit in those six months.”

He continued, adding that, “[Then], in 2002, I had absolutely no reason to believe that I couldn’t do whatever it is that I wanted to do, that I couldn’t chase after any story, that I could not get anyone to sit down with me for an interview and I, still to this day, feel that way. I think that the reason I have the optimism that I can get any story and get anyone’s number and stick a microphone in front of anyone’s face is because Hays CISD told me I could.”

Those at Live Oak were instrumental to his success. He shared that Lisa Goodnow, who was the principal at the time, did her best to change the outlook on the school by labeling it as a school of choice, instead of an alternative school, and employing “outside the box thinkers,” that made it their goal to do all they could to ensure a student's success. What Fenity needed was the belief in his wild ideas.

Project NYC came and went, but this mentality carried into Fenity’s adult life, where he has continued in the field of journalism and brought the confidence grown down in Hays County with him to both the east and west coasts. 

Years later, Fenity was cleaning out a storage closet back in Hays County, when he discovered several treasures, including a journal documenting his time in New York, notes, pictures and then, the tapes themselves.

He found a company to digitize the VHS tapes and, upon listening to them, was transported back.

“I was just as inspired and touched by hearing these Stuyvesant student voices that I hadn't heard in 20 years and some that I had forgotten as in, they literally did not make the documentary’s final cut,” said Fenity.

In an effort to once more share their voices, he sent out the audio recordings to former teachers, friends and family. 

The choice to only include the audio was intentional, as there is a vast amount of 9/11 footage and “what’s even more powerful all these years later is their words,” the journalist said. 

Fenity began looking into the Library of Congress because he wanted these students’ voices to be preserved and after connecting with staff, the home of the tapes — consisting of additional recordings and titled The Stuyvesant Tapes — is now the American Folklife Center. The center’s focus is to preserve and present folklife in all its diversity, according to its website, while creating public programs and exchanging knowledge and expertise. 

Having his work preserved by the Library of Congress feels bittersweet, described Fenity. 

When thinking of the project, he sees the students that were initially unheard, now remaining in history for years to come — their bravery and resilience documented. 

He also sees a little boy who didn’t know how he would survive Kyle, let alone the world, but somehow did. 
“I still remember the front desk receptionist at Live Oak saying, ‘You can’t call that 212-number. That’s a New York area code,’” said Fenity. “Now, I walk into newsrooms and approach stories as the most confident person in the world … The only reason I have any of that, I really think goes back to the root of that era of my life at Live Oak and in Kyle and Buda.” 

To learn more or listen to the tapes, visit www.josephfenity.com. 

The 175-acre preserve, which opened to the public in March, is located next to Jacob’s Well Natural Area and offers visitors a chance to experience a piece of the Wimberley Valley that only a few years ago was being considered for a large residential development.

The first phase of the preserve includes approximately 2 miles of trails that connect with the North 40 Trail at Jacob’s Well Natural Area. Along the way, visitors can experience the rugged limestone landscape characteristic of this part of Hays County, as well as portions of Dry Cypress Creek and habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler. The property is also home to the Wimberley Bat Cave.

Beyond providing another place to hike, the preserve protects environmentally sensitive land within the Jacob’s Well watershed. Its caves, fractures and other karst features allow rainfall to make its way underground and help recharge the Trinity Aquifer, which feeds Jacob’s Well.

The property, formerly known as Coleman’s Canyon, was purchased by the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association in 2019 after plans had called for residential development of more than 1,000 lots. Hays County later acquired the property with funding from the voter-approved 2020 Parks and Open Spaces Bond. A conservation easement held by The Nature Conservancy provides permanent protection for the land.

As summer gives way to cooler Hill Country days, Karst Canyon Preserve offers residents another reason to head outdoors and a chance to see firsthand a landscape that has been permanently set aside for water, wildlife and future generations.

Now in its third year, the event brought together The Greater Mercy Foundation, the Wimberley ISD Wellness Center and Blue Hole Regional Park, along with student organizations and volunteers.

“This is an event about connecting and it is about conversations,” event organizer Jen Sabatier said.

Participants could take part in a 5K walk or run, visit a wellness fair featuring community resources and stop along a memorial lane where families and friends honored loved ones lost to suicide.

For Sabatier, the gathering is also a reminder that small interactions can make a difference for someone who may be struggling.

“It matters if you say hello to someone,” she said. “It matters if you're reaching out when you see someone struggling.”

Money raised through the event supports affordable and accessible mental health services in the community through the Mother Tree project. Organizer Amy Lyles said funds raised last year helped open the program, which has now been operating for a year.

“Our goal this year was met, so we'll be open for another year to serve our communities,” Lyles said.

The program includes 11 core practitioners and two case managers who help assess clients and connect them with appropriate therapists, counselors and other resources, regardless of their ability to pay.

For 27-year-old Seana Featherston, however, the importance of the event is deeply personal.

Featherston lost her mother when she was 20. She said the loss sent her to “a dark place for a long time” and she eventually discovered that talking with others and sharing experiences helped her heal.

She first attended the Wimberley event last year simply as a member of the community. Seeing others openly acknowledge experiences with suicide had an immediate impact.

“I just couldn't hold back the tears,” Featherston said. “I was very touched.”

She said messages people shared on a bulletin board helped her recognize something she had struggled to see after losing her mother.

“It helped me realize that I'm not alone,” she said.

Featherston said suicide can still be difficult for people to discuss openly, making events that bring people together especially meaningful.

For the organizers, that sense of connection is exactly the point — creating a community where people struggling with their mental health, as well as those grieving someone they have lost, know that someone sees them and cares.

Twenty-five years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the passage of time has done little to diminish the meaning of the day for those who gathered at the memorial plaza, located within the EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens.

Against the backdrop of the Texas Hill Country, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6441 hosted Wimberley’s annual Patriot Day ceremony — a morning devoted to remembering the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks, honoring the first responders and military personnel who answered the call afterward; and recognizing a local resident whose service has been devoted to the town he calls home.

“Today is the day that we have designated as Patriot Day and on this day, we remember all of the lives that we lost 25 years ago today on 9/11, 2001,” Mike Lukowiak, member of Wimberley’s VFW Post 6441, told those gathered. “We also honor our first responders and the military personnel who serve as our primary line of defense in times of need.”

The absence of many local first responders that morning offered its own reminder of what service can require. Lukowiak said several had spent the previous day battling a fire in the Woodcreek area, with firefighters not finishing their work until about 1 a.m.

The ceremony recalled the events of Sept. 11, when four commercial airliners were hijacked. Two were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, N.Y., another struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Va, and a fourth crashed near Shanksville, Pa, after passengers fought back against the hijackers. The attacks killed 2,977 people, including hundreds of emergency responders.

For retired U.S. Army Col. Mike Thibodeaux, who is active with Wimberley VFW, the anniversary was also an opportunity to consider everything that has followed in the quarter-century since.

“Most people remember where they were during that time and what they were doing during the time of the attacks,” Thibodeaux said.

He reflected on the wars, national security changes and sacrifices of American service members that followed 9/11. He pointed to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and changes in intelligence coordination, surveillance and airport security as part of the attack’s enduring legacy.

“As difficult as these years have been, and they have been, I believe we are a stronger nation after 9/11,” Thibodeaux said. “Our men and women, both in uniform and the civilians, have responded to the war on terrorism as a patriotic duty.”

But in Wimberley, Patriot Day has also become an occasion to recognize another kind of service - the quieter work of people who devote themselves to their neighbors and community.

As part of the ceremony, VFW Post 6441 named John Poe the 2026 Wimberley Patriot of the Year.

Poe served as an Air Force sergeant during the Vietnam War era and was stationed at Kadena Air Base in Japan before spending more than four decades working in Houston’s energy sector. After retiring to Wimberley, he turned his attention to community service, volunteering with organizations, including the Wimberley Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity and the Wimberley Institute of Cultures.

His wife of 41 years, Karen Poe, introduced him during the ceremony, describing a life shaped by family, hard work and service.

“Once here, John jumped into the ‘Wimberley Way’ with his volunteering,” she said. “Always ready to step up and help, he has volunteered with numerous organizations. We are blessed to be part of this community. Every day there is an opportunity to see neighbor helping neighbor.”

Karen Poe said her husband’s commitment to service was rooted in lessons learned early in life. His father served in the Army during World War II and was a prisoner of war in Germany, while his mother was a teacher. Those examples, she said, helped establish a lifelong commitment to family and community.

Standing before friends and family after receiving the recognition, Poe called the honor “unbelievable.”

He also reflected on the small poppy flower he had been given that morning, a symbol traditionally associated with remembrance of those lost in war. For Poe, it connected the sacrifices of generations past with those remembered on Sept. 11.

“9/11 was such a terrible event, but that’s one of the prices that we pay for our freedoms that we have,” Poe said.

He spoke of the balance between freedom and security and the need to remain vigilant, while expressing gratitude for the military, government personnel and first responders who continue to protect the public.

Then, with family members and friends present, Poe kept his response to the recognition simple.

“Thank you,” he said. “I appreciate it.”

It was a fitting sentiment for a morning built around remembrance and gratitude.

Twenty-five years after a September morning became permanently etched into the nation’s memory, the flags above the Wimberley Veterans Memorial Plaza were lowered to half-staff but continued to move in the Hill Country breeze, overlooking a community gathered not only to remember those who were lost, but to honor those who continue to serve.

The Kyle Sisters opened the evening with a selection of patriotic songs before Desert Highway, a local Eagles tribute band, took the stage. Both groups drew an enthusiastic response from the crowd, with Desert Highway filling the evening with familiar Eagles favorites.

Before the music began, Rob Parker, commander of the local VFW post, addressed the audience with remarks commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Parker remembered the nearly 3,000 people killed on 9/11 and said Patriot Day should serve not only as a remembrance of the past, but also as a reminder of the unity Americans demonstrated following the attacks.

“The greatest response to hatred is not hatred; it’s unity,” Parker told the crowd.

He also recognized veterans who served during years of conflict in Southwest Asia and North Africa, first responders who later died from illnesses connected to 9/11 and American troops and first responders who continue to serve.

“We must pass this precious inheritance of liberty unimpaired to the generations to come,” Parker said before closing with a prayer for those serving at home and abroad.

The concert was the largest fundraising event for the Friends of the Pound House Foundation, which operates and preserves the historic Pound House Farmstead Museum in Dripping Springs. Proceeds from the event will help support the foundation’s continuing preservation and operating needs.

Elected officials and business leaders throughout Buda and Hays County gathered in Driftwood Wednesday, Sept. 9, to hear about Buda’s latest achievements for the 2026 year.

“Henry Ford once said, ‘Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success.’ I think that quote significantly captures where we are as a community here in Buda,” said Mayor Lee Urbanovsky in his introduction.

City manager Micah Grau then took to the podium to discuss ongoing projects within the city. He shared that these projects wouldn’t be possible without both a council with direction and a united community vision amongst the various entities in the county.

“I’m going to share with you today some of the things that we are doing at the city to help build the infrastructure that supports the new growth, all the while clinging to the charm that defines the new development,” said Grau. “One of the ways that we expand infrastructure is through developer contributions. This is one of the most effective and lowest-cost ways for the city to add infrastructure. When a new, large development comes to the city, we use this opportunity to negotiate infrastructure contributions in exchange for the city-provided services, like water and wastewater.”

An example of this is the partnership with M/I Homes for the Colony at Cole Springs development. According to the city manager, in exchange for granting the developer zoning and utilities from the city, M/I Homes reconstructed approximately one-third of Old Black Colony Road, including a new traffic signal at RM 967. Additionally, a new bridge over Onion Creek was constructed, alongside rebuilding a section of Cole Springs Road.

These negotiations were strategic, continued Grau, as it was designed to alleviate traffic caused by the new development and to provide system improvements that were already planned and needed.

Another example is the Persimmon development, where Marathon Road, which has been in the transportation plans for years, is being developed by MileStone. The connector road is expected to be completed in 2027 and will provide an alternative to drivers traveling on FM 1626. There will also be direct access to SH 45.

“Along with privately constructed roads, the city continues to make progress on its 2021 bond program. [Currently], 58% of our transportation projects are either complete or under construction … The three largest transportation projects — West Goforth, Old Black Colony Road and Austin Street — comprise 71% of that funding. All three of thess projects are past the 60% design phase and the city is actively pursuing right-of-ways needed for the projects and is starting on utility relocation coordination,” said Grau. “Other projects, like the RM 967 turn lanes and the pedestrian crossing at Main [Street] and FM 2770 are in final design. We are patiently waiting for [the Texas Department of Transportation] to approve the plans and release us for construction, as these improvements are on state roadways.”

The city also recently learned that it was successful in obtaining a $10 million Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization grant to complete the full construction of East Main Street, which is expected to begin in 2028.

The other part of the bond projects were for quality of life improvements in parks, 100% of which are either complete or under construction, said Grau. More than two miles of trails along Onion Creek and Garlic Creek were added with this bond.

Garison Memorial Park is under construction and is expected to have swimming and kayaking opportunities, along with canopy walks, fishing and more.

“City council recently adopted a concept plan for the future East Side Park. Funding from the 2021 bond is helping lay the groundwork for the park’s major developments and the city is actively exploring funding and partnership opportunities to build upon that investment. These efforts could allow for a limited opening of the park in the future, providing the surrounding community access to the space, while we continued to explore the long-term vision of that space.”

Buda Championship Park, formerly known as the Buda Sportsplex, and the level of tourism it will bring was also a topic. Grau noted that the eight softball fields, 20 batting cages and four sports fields will bring upwards of 120 teams per weekend and approximately 3,000 visitors that will contribute to the local economy. It is expected to open in 2027.

Regarding utilities, the city is working on an elevated storage tank at the Colony at Cole Springs development, which will bring water storage for the Alliance Regional Water Authority water, as well as purple pipes, which can capture reclaimed water to use for services other than drinking water.

Next, the Buda Economic Development Corporation (EDC) CEO Jennifer Storm discussed the achievements of the organization.

“The city manager just showed you the foundation Buda is building for tomorrow — the roads, utilities, parks and infrastructure that make growth possible. My job is to talk about what we are building on that foundation,” said Storm. “We’re not simply trying to attract growth; we’re much more intentional about the kind of economy we want to build. We have the businesses already here growing and [ensure] those that are coming have a soft landing.”

So far in 2026, the EDC has had 49 requests for proposals, 74 businesses retention events, 35 new businesses open or relocate to Buda, six business expansions, awarded $350,000 in small business incentives to 65 businesses and more.

There are nine projects under construction that consist of business and retail opportunities for the city. One of which is the Roundabout in Buda — a retail development to be located off of RM 967 —the new H-E-B and the Onion Creek Trade Center, a 23-acre industrial development. Perseus Defense is also headed to the small town, said Storm. The company builds counter-uncrewed aircraft systems for the United States Department of War and Homeland Security.

She also shared that the historic train depot that arrived in Buda in late 2025 is being remodeled and will provide a space for entrepreneurs, visitors and residents. It is expected to open in the first quarter of 2027.

“No one in 2001 could have predicted every company, every building or every business we talked about today, but they built that foundation. Today, our responsibility is to do the same for the people who will be here 25 years from now,” concluded Storm.

Beginning with the history of the project, planning director Will Atkinson noted that in 2021, a task force was formed to investigate the trails program in Carmel, Ind., and Peachtree City, Ga. This resulted in the concept of the Vybe Trail in 2022, with the goal of a city-wide trail system to be used by pedestrians, cyclists and golf cart users.

According to the presentation, the pathway first began as an 80-mile network, but expanded to 110.5 miles with the adoption of the 2025 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan. Of this, developers will contribute 63 miles, or 57%, the road bond was supposed to provide 8 miles, or 7.2%, making the city’s remaining responsibility 39.5 miles, or 35.75%.

It’s also intended to be concrete and ADA compliant. Because golf carts will be allowed, they must be registered with the Kyle Police Department, have head and tail lights, license plates and travel at a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour.

“The system is split into two components. The first being the trail system itself at 12 [feet] in width, made of concrete with decorative lighting along the routes. The trail system is intended for recreational use. The second portion are the ‘Vybe Nodes’ that are higher density living [and] walkable, with ground floor commercial opportunities. The idea is to be able to spend the day on the trail and visit different nodes, each unique,” read agenda documents.

The estimated cost of the trail is $3 million per mile, continued the documents, with the intent of the project being to have private developers build individual segments that total 57% of the trail system.

At the $3 million per mile estimate, the Vybe Trail will cost $347,500,000. After removing developer and road bond funding, Kyle would pay $118,500,000.

Atkinson stated that although restrooms are not required by the city’s adopted Vybe Trail Ordinance, staff is looking to negotiate with developers to add them in at key intervals. He also shared that the ordinance requires Wi-Fi to be available, but that “the city expense and the logistical hurdles of it is astronomical, so we have not added that yet.”

For security, the ordinance dictates that each trailhead and mile marker have numbers on them, so that response teams will know where they are, if they get lost.

So far, 16.03 miles have been constructed, which is 14.5%. There is no current timeline for completion, as it is such a large scale project, said Atkinson.

Additionally, three projects are in the works: Steeplechase Park improvements for $220,000; East Plum Creek Trail improvements for $800,000 through the 2020 parks bond; and $6,903,048 for the 2022 road bonds.

Council member Melisa Medina noted that the Center Street improvements, which include 1.2 miles of the trail, are $19 million over budget and that the “12-foot really isn’t even necessarily all that safe, unless you’re going to stripe it like a regular road. Recommendations that I’ve seen are 14 to 16 feet. So, with that, are we even doing justice in trying to build a 12-foot path? One could argue that you really need to build it wider, but with that, we don’t have that option.”

The reason for adding golf carts, said council member Michael Tobias, was because council was looking for opportunities to allow community members to traverse the city, while removing traffic from roadways.

Council member Claudia Zapata stated that the reason the Vybe Trail needs to be built in the first place is because none of the roads in the city include bike lanes: “This city fails to provide multiple types of transportation options for those who may not have a vehicle, can’t afford a vehicle or would just like to bike … I, for one, don’t think golf carts should be included on there. I would be open to changing that because I just don’t think that’s safe.”

She also praised Austin for having days that visitors can bike to historic sites to learn about the city and proposed implementing a similar system in Kyle by having plaques throughout the trail with information.

“The plan has been poorly planned,” said Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale. “Sometimes, the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing and instead of having dedicated staff and a dedicated department, we have it mixed out everywhere. My hope is that will change in the future and that we could have dedicated people, so that we can all be on the same page.”

She also stated that during a past council meeting, when they were discussing the 2022 road bond, that $4 million was slated to be included in it for the Vybe Trail, but “somehow that amount, nor the Vybe in general, made it to the bond language and so, that for me is a bit of frustration because it was a big discussion/argument between me and the previous mayor, which then led to a motion to include it in the bond and for some reason, it never made it into the language … I just want the residents to know that I feel like we’re cleaning up yet another mess.”

Zapata added that while some specific listings in the road bonds are being considered, some are changed and are being overlooked. Council has every right to do this, she said, but wanted to ensure that they are not “just being nitpicky.” Flores-Cale rebutted that there are not many specific terms in the bond language, as it was very vague, which is why she voted against it to begin with.

An example of this is that the bond language states “sidewalk,” instead of Vybe Trail, said the mayor, which means that golf carts would not be allowed, as the city ordinance prohibits them, according to city attorney Aimee Alcorn-Reed.

Ultimately, council opted to ask staff to bring back an item to potentially amend the Vybe Trail Ordinance and update it to align more with the road bond.

Next, a resolution to reevaluate the Center Street on-system and off-system projects was presented. The goal of this item was for council to select either the proposed 12-foot Vybe Trail or a 6-foot sidewalk, determine whether electrical utilities should be relocated underground or remain overhead and potentially authorize the interim city manager to exceed the original budget.

As previously reported by the Hays Free Press, the off-system runs from Old Stagecoach Road to Veterans Drive, while the on-system is from Veterans Drive to Main Street.

For the off-system portion, the proposed plan includes a three-lane roadway configuration, with a 12-foot Vybe Trail on the north side and a 6-foot sidewalk on the south side. This plan also requires utilities to be relocated from overhead to underground. The on-system portion of the project would include widening the roadway to a three-lane configuration, adding a traffic signal at the intersection of Veterans Drive and Center Street, a 12-foot Vybe Trail on the north side, a 6-foot sidewalk on the south side and moving the overhead utilities underground.

City engineer Leon Barba noted that the city council will save approximately $8 million, if a 6-foot sidewalk is adopted, while maintaining overhead utilities.

The costs are as follows:

Off-system: Original budget is $12.3 million

• Option 1: 12-foot Vybe and underground utilities: $29 million

• Option 2: 6-foot sidewalk and overhead utilities: $23.6 million

• Option 3: 12-foot Vybe and overhead utilities: $24.2 million

On-system: Original budget is $10.2 million

• Option 1: 12-foot Vybe and underground utilities: $12 million

• Option 2: 6-foot sidewalk and overhead utilities: $9.6 million

• Option 3: 12-foot Vybe and overhead utilities: $10.2 million

“Maybe I’m doing the math wrong, [but it says] $41 million for this whole [part] from Stagecoach to Burleson. I thought last time it was $31 million,” questioned Flores-Cale.

Barba explained that these are just cost estimates and that the prices could either be more or less as details are finalized.

After discussion noting that a tree on Center Street will likely be affected, Flores-Cale stated that she is “going to make it very clear that at no point am I going to do eminent domain for this Vybe Trail. If other people are comfortable with doing that, that’s their vote. But I’m not a proponent or a fan of eminent domain for any reason … I’m not going to take somebody’s backyard, front yard, side way — I’m not interested in doing that. So, for me that option [3] is off the table.”

Rick Klatt, associate vice president of Lochner, which manages the road bond programs, stated that to do a 12-foot sidewalk at all, whether overhead or underground utilities, for the off-system would require two to three parcels to be obtained for utility easements, which could require eminent domain.

Council member Marc McKinney stated that he feels the trail would activate downtown. Not only would community members find new aspects of the city they hadn’t noticed before, but they could also have a 16- to- 18-passenger locomotive to drive around on nice weather days.

“There’s just so many little things you can do with a Vybe system network. What we’re envisioning. As we start carving it up and taking out segments though, it becomes less useful and provides less value overall. So, that’s my two cents,” said McKinney.

The mayor was also concerned about the cost, as with the current road bond projects, the city is expected to have a $55 million deficit.

Bunton and Lehman roads, specifically, will be affected, said Tobias, which are critical, and the eastern portion of Bebee Road.

“It’s not as simple as prioritizing which one goes first or second or third. The right-of-way acquisition, the status of design, the equipment ordering ahead of time — all of that is involved,” said interim city manager Perwez Moheet. “So, [it’ll be] depending on where we are when we run out of money.”

Zapata questioned why council is considering not finishing roads, as the option before them is to allow Moheet to exceed the budget. So, she suggested allowing him to exceed the budget to complete the roads, even if it meant putting a pause on the Vybe Trail.

“The voters of Kyle have authorized $294 million for the nine roads [in the bond]. You can make the budget $500 million — doesn’t really matter. The question is, if you go above $294 million, where’s the difference going to come from? Are you, as council, authorizing the city manager to issue non-voter authorized debt [with certificates of obligations]? If the answer is yes, we have unlimited money and your taxes will go up along with it. If your answer is stay with $294 million, then we stop where that money runs out,” said Moheet.

Continuing on with her idea, Zapata stated that residents are owed these roads.

“I want to get people their roads. I’m sick and tired of everyone complaining about, ‘Eastside doesn’t have this. The eastside doesn’t have that.’ We all know that and guess what? There have been members on this dais who have had the ability for years to get those things to the eastside,” she stressed.

“Then why are we having this discussion then,” prompted Tobias. “Why are we looking at economic development downtown? Why are we looking at this? … Why are y’all talking about sidewalks downtown?”

Flores-Cale was in agreement, stating that they should instead move forward with improving Bunton and Lehman roads and put the Vybe Trail on pause, which was also requested by the Trail Coalition.

Because council member Lauralee Harris, in whose district the Vybe Trail largely lies, was not in attendance and the fact that an item to pause the project was not on the agenda, staff was asked to bring it back at a later date. The resolution regarding the scope of the Center Street off-system and on-system was tabled 6-0, to be brought back.

“I want to apologize to everybody for all the pause. It’s tough for us, too. We want to see these things move forward, but we also want to make sure we’re doing it in a way that’s fiscally responsible and it makes sense to the totality of the residents,” concluded Flores-Cale.

To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/3VpPZRX.

Recalling the moment her world changed, Coleé said she knew something was wrong when ordinary sounds disappeared — the water running, toilet flushing and familiar background noise of everyday life — one morning.

At first, she wasn't alarmed. She had been battling allergies and infections in both ears and ear problems weren't new to her. Years spent singing in front of orchestras and big bands had already contributed to mild hearing loss.

She expected her ears to heal, but they didn't.

Afterwards, Coleé initially tried to keep anyone from knowing.

She continued coaching voice students by concentrating intensely on what she could see rather than what she could hear. For voice-over work, she relied on the sound waves displayed on her computer screen to guide her editing.

“I guess it worked because no one ever caught on that a deaf voice teacher and voice-over actress was seat-of-the-pants winging it,” she said.

Some clients later told her they were amazed by the quality of the work she produced during that period.

“I think I worked six times as hard to make sure my standards never slipped,” Coleé said, but behind the performance was fear.

After an initial visit to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist failed to resolve the problem, Coleé sought another opinion. A hearing test confirmed the extent of the loss and another ENT ordered a magnetic resonance imaging and a computed tomography scan.

The results brought another shock: Coleé had a brain aneurysm.

She cried in the doctor's office.

The aneurysm had damaged her left ear and nerves associated with hearing, she said, with the doctors noting that it may have been there for years. When her neurosurgeon showed her the small white spot on a screen, Coleé asked whether it was a boy or a girl. The doctor laughed and although the humor was real, so was the terror.

“I never dwelled on the aneurysm,” Coleé said. “I was terrified the rest of my life would be lived in silence.”

They also told her that removing it may impose a significant risk, so Coleé did what performers often do when reality becomes unbearable: She gave it a name — Annie Aneurysm.

Research eventually led her to cochlear implant surgery. Before the procedure, Coleé gathered close friends and family and listened as best she could to every song she had recorded during her career. It was, in some ways, a farewell.

“Everyone knew I was bidding farewell to the singer I was,” she said.

She wasn't, however, saying goodbye to being a performer.

Two days after cochlear implant surgery, despite severe vertigo, nausea and a bandaged head, Coleé had an audition. Unable to safely stand for much of the day, she stayed on the floor until it was time to get ready. She made it to the bathroom, put on makeup and a bathrobe and recorded the audition on her second take.

Her agent laughed when she saw it.

The project was ultimately canceled, but for Coleé, the audition demonstrated something more important: “I still saw myself as a performer.”

Although her hearing was able to be “recovered” through the cochlear implant, it did not restore what she once heard. Instead, Coleé had to teach her brain how to interpret an entirely different version of sound. For example, human speech, she said, doesn't sound human.

“I hear an alien in my head,” Coleé said.

She described it as static with an electronic voice emerging through it. Words came first, then occasional phrases. Depending on the acoustics of a room, complete sentences can still be difficult.

Music remains largely inaccessible. She can experience rhythm, but the technology does not reproduce singing and instruments in a way she recognizes as the music she once knew.

The adjustment requires patience.But so does accepting that some chapters are finished, she said.

Coleé eventually released her voice students, believing they deserved a teacher who could fully hear them. The decision brought financial worries along with the emotional loss, but, gradually, she began looking at her circumstances differently.

She couldn't be the singer she had been, nor could she be the 20- or 30-year-old version of herself she once was. What she could do was decide what came next.

“I can now be that quirky little grandma who bluntly tells you the truth about life,” she said.

This realization helped lead Coleé toward stand-up comedy and keynote speaking, including a program she calls “Mindset: The GPS of LIFE,” a three-step process focused on adapting to new circumstances while continuing to build a fulfilling life. Faith has also remained central to her recovery.

Coleé said she began recognizing that techniques she had spent years teaching students could be applied to her own trauma, grief and changed circumstances, which also exposed the gap between what people saw and what she was experiencing, as many called her brave, while, inside, she was anxious.

That contradiction became the foundation for “Are You Who You Say You Are?” a workshop series Coleé is bringing to Wimberley for people navigating unexpected transitions, self-doubt and the uncomfortable work of rebuilding a life when the old plan no longer applies.

Her workshops are designed for people facing their own disruptions — whether entering adulthood, losing a spouse, changing careers or struggling with self-doubt — with an emphasis on replacing the pursuit of outside approval with self-knowledge and service to others.

Bringing that message to Wimberley is also something of a homecoming.

Coleé has deep ties with the community through her work with the Wimberley Players and the students she coached over the years. She directed and performed in local productions, including a production of “1776” that she said opened the Playhouse on the Square.

Although she still considers herself a performer, Coleé said mentoring others may be closer to her true calling.

“It brings me enormous satisfaction to see my students thrive and be successful,” she said.

Despite entering a new era, her performing career hasn't disappeared. Coleé said she will be shooting a film in Austin. Television viewers may also recognize her from Season 29 of Food Network's “Worst Cooks in America.”

Now, she is experiencing a new normal built not around getting her old life back, but around making peace with the life she has now.

When asked what she would tell the woman who once gathered her family and friends to say goodbye to the singer she had been, Coleé returned to humor.

“Well, at least you don't have to memorize or remember song lyrics anymore,” she said, joking.

But behind the joke is the lesson she hopes to share in Wimberley: “I've come to terms with closing that chapter,” Coleé said. “I never want to be that person who lives in the past … Life is really good right now.”

The community workshop series, Are You Who You Say You Are?, will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. The series will be held online and is free to attend. Attendees can register by emailing leecoleevo@gmail.com with their name, phone number and preferred date. After the initial event, the workshop will continue on the third Friday of each month.

Patterson has always loved games, specifically, he recalled being drawn to them for the ability to escape reality. This began a childhood dream of his to create a game studio in grade school.

“I was already trying to figure out game ideas [and] taking notes on different video games to figure out how they could have done things better, where they just messed up,” he said.

His favorite was the Command & Conquer series, which is a real-time strategy game. So, after launching Dolphin Entertainment in 2012, he began fleshing out concepts for some of his own.

The one that stuck was Clockwork, a multiplayer steampunk word game, leading Patterson to put together a small team to bring his idea to fruition.

Players can create words out of a given set of letters in a four-minute game and — what makes Clockwork stand out, he explained — after each minute, the tiles shift off screen, where they reorder and are then brought back. Then, each tile previously used is worth more points than it was before.

The game can be played in various game modes, including an option to use power-ups. The founder is hoping to add more in the future on a rotating basis. For example, the game mode Wild adds a blank tile, allowing any letter to be used in its place. This will last for three days, until it switches out.

Although public response has been positive, Dolphin Entertainment aims to continue adding to the platform. Patterson and his team have been working on an update that will introduce the ability for players to taunt their opponents with customized avatars, a friend system and additional social features.

“This update represents a major step toward realizing the larger plans we have for Clockwork,” said Patterson. “Playing Clockwork has already become part of the daily routine for some, whether using it to pass the time or to help wake up their minds when first starting the day. We’re excited to see how these new changes will be received and how they can help to grow our overall player base with the ability to more easily connect with friends for matches.”

Clockwork is available as single- or multiplayer, with the option to play online or locally, and can be found in the iOS and Android app stores.

In the future, Patterson hopes to open up a storefront in Buda. He also has begun writing and hopes to turn his stories into games and vice versa.

To learn more about Clockwork or Dolphin Entertainment, visit lnk.at/DolphinEntLLC.

With the help of the community, the benefit concert, located at Dripping Springs Ranch Park (DSRP), will be the largest fundraiser undertaken by the Friends of the Pound House Foundation to date.

For Jeanne Polk, president of the Friends of the Pound House Foundation, the event is about more than filling seats for an evening of music. It is part of an effort to sustain The Poundhouse Farmstead, a historic property that has faced years of disruption, restoration work and the continuing expense of preserving structures and artifacts dating to the community's earliest days.

She noted that the foundation began facing financial challenges after the COVID-19 pandemic halted many of the activities that helped keep the Pound House connected to the community.

Additionally, prior to the pandemic, the site hosted school field trips, galas and other activities. Then, a leak was discovered in the historic house, Polk said, leading to mold and restoration work and effectively keeping the house closed for about three years. The closure came at a particularly difficult time, she said, since programs and visitors disappeared, but the bills did not.

Now, the organization is working to rebuild its public presence. Polk said that the Pound House is preparing for its first school field trip since before the pandemic, an important milestone because school visits introduce not only children, but also their parents, to the property.

The concert is another part of that effort and will feature Desert Highway and The Kyle Sisters.

Desert Highway is an Eagles tribute band and has developed a following for its performances of Eagles’ music. Polk said the band is "extremely talented” and does more than reproduce the songs; its members also tell some of the story of the Eagles during their performances.

The Kyle Sisters bring another local connection to the event. Polk described the group as a longtime Dripping Springs favorite with its own following.

Although held at DSRP, it will be inside. Organizers had originally envisioned an arena concert, but shifted the event indoors, a move Polk said should create a more intimate atmosphere, while protecting concertgoers from the September heat.

The indoor venue also means seating is limited. Polk said about 500 general admission seats can be accommodated after accounting for sponsor seating.

Proceeds will go into the foundation's general fund, helping cover operating expenses, as well as supporting the continuing work necessary to maintain the historic property.

Historic preservation often requires specialized restoration rather than ordinary repairs, Polk said. One project on the foundation's list involves a historic wagon whose wheels are in serious need of replacement.

"We fix it or we lose it," she said.

A link to the 1850s

The story the foundation is working to preserve begins in the 1850s with Dr. Joseph Pound and Sarah Pound.

The couple married in 1853 and arrived in the area the following year. Joseph was from Kentucky, while Sarah was from Mississippi. After initially going farther west, they returned and acquired a 700-acre tract in what would become Dripping Springs.

They were joined in the area by Sarah's sister, Indiana, and her husband. The Pounds, Mosses and Wallaces are considered the three founding families of Dripping Springs, Polk said.

Of those early family farmsteads, the Pound property is the one that remains.

Today, the Pound House Farmstead encompasses 4.97 acres of the original 700-acre tract.

"This is literally where people can come in and see 1850s history … where they can touch it," Polk said.

At the heart of the property is a log room dating to 1854. The farmstead also includes its original smokehouse, a historic cistern and a centuries-old oak tree that stands as another living connection to the property's past.

Polk said the oak is estimated to be about 500 years old. Preserving it requires its own form of maintenance, as an arborist regularly treats and fertilizes the tree and monitors its health, particularly because oak wilt is present in the area.

Even the architecture of the house tells visitors something about how early Texas settlers adapted to their surroundings, the president added.

The house incorporates a dogtrot, or open breezeway, designed to capture moving air and provide relief from the heat. Polk said visitors from other parts of the country are often unfamiliar with the design, which was common in parts of the South.

"They're interested in just the fact that it's still here," Polk said. "It truly is quite magnificent."

The house changed over generations, as the family added and removed sections to meet its needs. A dining room and kitchen were eventually added, along with bedrooms and a parlor. However, the latter was more than another room in a family home.

Joseph was a doctor and the property served at various times as a place where he treated patients and as a gathering place for the growing community. Polk said religious services were held in the parlor for a time, as well, and the property also functioned as a hospital, schoolhouse and community meeting place, which is integral to the history of Dripping Springs.

His work as a frontier doctor provides another window into life on the property. One of his surviving ledger books records the names of patients and shows that payment did not always come in cash. Polk said the doctor sometimes bartered for chickens and other goods. He grew medicinal herbs and mixed his own tinctures, carrying medicines in small glass bottles protected by partitions in his saddlebag as he traveled through the countryside treating patients.

His job demanded considerably more than medical knowledge.

"He had to be a farmer and a rancher," Polk said. "He had to be able to fix stuff."

The farmstead's cistern offers another example of that ingenuity.

Water collected from the roof passed through a charcoal box before entering the cistern, Polk said. The filtration system has been attributed to Joseph’s scientific and medical background. The cistern was positioned, so the family could reach the water from the house, and water remains visible at the bottom today.

Furthermore, she noted that life was quite different then, as meals were cooked over fire, family members shared rooms, baths were taken in tubs outside and every day items had to be made, repaired or reused.

For Polk, those experiences are an essential part of the farmstead's purpose.

"I want kids to know this is legit," she said. "This is your history."

A direct Pound descendant, Marguerite Cavett Hammack, granddaughter of Joseph, and her daughter Georgia lived in the house until 1983, Polk said. Although electricity had eventually arrived, the historic house still did not have running water. After the family left, however, the property deteriorated.

The land had been deeded to the city and, at one point, Polk said the house eventually reached a point where it was in danger of being lost. Dr. Dennis Cannon and his wife, Katherine Cannon, whose ranch was behind the property, became involved in efforts to save it and helped establish the organization that eventually became the Friends of the Pound House Foundation.

Although efforts have been made, rapid growth presents the Pound House with a different challenge.

The years when the property was closed coincided with an influx of new residents, meaning many people arrived in Dripping Springs without ever encountering the farmstead or learning the story behind it.

For Polk, bringing schoolchildren back may be one of the best ways to change that.

"It's so important to connect with history," she said. "They can come and see what it was actually like."

This requires more than money. Polk said the foundation also needs volunteers, particularly docents who can learn the history and share it with visitors. The organization offers docent training and other opportunities for people interested in helping at the farmstead.

Polk stated that she hopes the benefit concert will provide some of the money necessary to keep history intact because at the Pound House Farmstead, preservation is not simply about protecting an old house.

It is about making sure that, as Dripping Springs continues to grow, there remains a place where people can walk through a breezeway, stand beneath a centuries-old oak, peer into a pioneer cistern and encounter something tangible from the community's beginning, she concluded.

The event begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at DSRP. Tickets are $25. For more information on the event or the Pound House, visit www.phfmuseum.org.